Low-Emission Glass Tempering with Adaptive Zoned Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods fail to provide homogeneous heating of glass panes with varying heat absorption coefficients, leading to non-uniform deformation and suboptimal quality.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that adjust heat application based on the glass pane's shape and heat absorption zones by selectively activating or deactivating heating elements and nozzles, using a vision system to map heat absorption and control heat distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If generic heating is applied to glass panes with screen-printed zones, then the heating process is simple, but the heating becomes non-homogeneous causing deformation and poor quality
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is segmented into multiple independently controllable heating zones corresponding to different regions of the glass pane. Each zone can be individually activated or deactivated based on the detected heat absorption characteristics of screen-printed areas, allowing differentiated heating control across the glass surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different heating characteristics to different regions of the glass pane. Screen-printed zones with high heat absorption are subjected to reduced or no heating, while non-printed zones receive normal heating. This localized differentiation ensures uniform overall heating despite varying material properties across the glass surface.
2Temperature
If radiative heating elements are focused on central areas, then supplementary heating is provided, but the heating remains non-homogeneous across the entire pane
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system transitions from static uniform heating to dynamic adaptive heating. The control system continuously detects the glass pane characteristics and dynamically adjusts the heating power distribution across different zones in real-time, optimizing temperature distribution throughout the heating process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by using detection systems to identify screen-printed zones and their heat absorption properties, then using this information to adjust the heating element activation patterns. This closed-loop feedback ensures that heating is continuously optimized to achieve uniform temperature distribution across the glass pane.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures uniform heating of glass panes with different heat absorption areas, preventing deformation and enhancing quality.
Implementation Method 1
acquiring, before entering the furnace, a map of heat absorption coefficient in the glass pane conveyed on the conveyor rollers
Implementation Method 2
adjust heat application based on the glass pane's shape and heat absorption zones by selectively activating or deactivating heating elements and nozzles
Implementation Method 3
upper and lower nozzles for blowing hot convection air to heat the glass panels
Data Source
AI summary
A method for tempering glass panes involves acquiring an image of a glass pane conveyed on conveyor rollers, acquiring a distribution map of heat absorption coefficient in the glass pane, recognizing, by an electronic processing unit, geometric shape and overall dimensions of the glass pane based on the acquired image, and a position of one or more parts with respective heat absorption coefficient within the geometric shape, conveying the glass pane into a furnace provided with resistances and nozzles, determining, by an electronic processing unit, an instantaneous position of the glass pane and of the one or more parts with respective heat absorption coefficient inside the furnace, and individually activating the resistances and the nozzles as a function of their proximity to the one or more parts with respective heat absorption coefficient, in inversely proportional manner to the respective heat absorption coefficient. A furnace is configured to perform the method.