JP4064740B2 - Method and apparatus for bending glass plate - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for bending a glass plate by spraying a hot jet air stream onto a heated glass plate from the lower surface and pressing it against the curved lower surface of an adsorption mold, and in particular, an egg curved from the center of the glass plate. It is suitable for forming curved glass that is bent deeply from the center in the shape, spherical shape, or two directions of X-axis and Y-axis.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In order to match the vehicle window glass with the vehicle body, the front window glass and the rear window glass are often curved on both sides, and the side window glass often has a gently curved surface.
[0003]
In general, as a method of forming such a glass plate, a gas hearth method in which the glass plate is bent while being conveyed on a refractory having curvature, or a press die after heating the glass plate to near the softening temperature by supporting the glass plate with a lifting tool. The glass plate is heated by high-temperature jet air from the lower part of the transport roll, or the glass plate is heated while being transported by a transport roll in a heating furnace while being heated, and the softened glass plate is stopped at a predetermined position in the heating furnace. There is known a so-called quick sag bend method or the like that presses against the curved lower surface of the suction mold disposed on the upper portion so that the bent shape is formed on the lower surface of the suction mold.
[0004]
Among the various methods described above, the gas hearth method described above is a technique generally used for a bent shape having a large bending radius in one direction. In recent years, a shape bent in two directions is being developed. It is limited to the shape, and it is difficult to cope with a deep bending shape with a small bending radius.
[0005]
In addition, when manufacturing a side window glass for a vehicle having a small bending radius, etc., for the quick sag bend method, high-temperature jet air is blown over the entire surface of the glass plate, and a particularly high temperature is locally applied to a portion having a small bending radius. Conventionally, a desired shape is obtained by blowing jet air at a pressure stronger than that of other portions.
[0006]
As an example of this, for example, in Japanese Patent No. 2511066, at least partially in the peripheral edge portion of the glass plate, in the radial direction from the center to the outside along the glass plate surface. A method in which the static pressure component of the gas flow is increased at the peripheral edge portion of the glass plate by reducing the flow velocity of the flowing partial hot gas flow by a blocking wall disposed in the course of the partial flow. And an apparatus are disclosed.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When there is a portion with a small bending radius only in the vicinity of the peripheral portion of the glass plate, the nozzle of the portion is approached in order to increase the pressure of the high-temperature jet air sprayed to the peripheral portion with the small bending radius. The glass plate adsorbed on the adsorption mold may be formed by press molding or the like.
[0008]
However, the portion where the bending radius is small is not only the peripheral portion of the glass plate, but also a curved surface shape such as a so-called egg shape or a substantially spherical shape in which the bending radius decreases as a whole from the central portion to the periphery of the glass plate. When manufacturing a glass plate, after the glass plate is adsorbed to the adsorption mold, the glass plate cannot be uniformly adapted to the adsorption mold, so that wrinkles are generated around the glass plate and deformed into a wavy shape. Therefore, even if it is press-molded after that, a wavy distortion remains and the optical quality is deteriorated.
[0009]
In order to prevent the occurrence of wavy wrinkles, it is necessary to cause the glass plate to be adsorbed to the adsorption mold by the jet pressure of the high-temperature jet air ejected from the nozzle, and the glass plate needs to be deformed so as to conform to the curved surface of the adsorption mold. There is an air pressure at a level that has been generally used in the past, and when blowing air at a stronger pressure than before on the glass surface through the gap between the rolls from the tip of a nozzle provided at a position further below the lower surface of the roll. It is not realistic because it involves a major remodeling of the dedicated high-pressure air supply equipment. In addition, the air pressure is increased from the current maximum capacity by the large remodeling of the air supply equipment, and the nozzle is sprayed away from the glass surface. Even when the air pressure is increased, since the air diffuses before reaching the glass surface, there is no guarantee that the desired effect can be obtained.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention aims to solve the above problems, that is, when a vehicle window glass is formed by the quick sag bend method, the bending radius is small over the entire surface of the glass plate, that is, a glass plate having a curved surface shape such as an egg shape or a spherical shape. The purpose of this is to prevent wrinkling and optical distortion from occurring in the glass plate after molding.
[0011]
That is, according to the present invention, a glass plate heated in a heating furnace is levitated by high-temperature jet air, pressed against the lower surface of the curved shape of the adsorption mold provided above, and the glass plate is deeply bent in two directions of the spherical shape or the XY axis. In this method, after moving a nozzle gantry provided with a plurality of nozzles for jetting jet air to the lower part of the adsorption mold in the heating furnace and positioning the nozzle cradle in a freely movable state, the wheels of the nozzle gantry and the running rail at the position In between, the trapezoidal plate-like member provided on the traveling rail is inserted so that the nozzle base is lifted by raising and lowering the nozzle base, and the tip of the nozzle protruding between the conveying rolls is inserted into the glass plate. A method of bending a glass plate, characterized by increasing the pressure of jet air injected over the entire lower surface of the glass plate by approaching the lower surface. It is.
[0013]
Alternatively, according to the present invention, the lower surface of the curved surface shape of the adsorption mold that is transported in the heating furnace by the transport roll, floated by high-temperature jet air on the glass plate positioned and stopped at a predetermined position, and disposed above the glass plate. In a device for deeply bending the glass plate into a spherical shape or two directions of the XY axis by pressing the glass plate, a plurality of jet air is jetted upward at a lower portion of the transport roll for transporting the glass plate and at a lower position of the suction mold. A nozzle unit having a nozzle is disposed, and a traveling unit that allows the nozzle unit to travel on and off the traveling rail on the traveling rail, and between the traveling frame and the wheel of the nozzle frame that is positioned and fixed at a predetermined position in the furnace. is inserted a plate-like member in the form it consists of a lifting means for raising and lowering the nozzle frame by slightly from the highest portion of the conveying rolls tips of all the nozzles when the nozzle mount raised Is raised to between transport roll position of parts, a bending apparatus for a glass plate, characterized in that the air jets was possible injection in a state of being close to the entire lower surface of the glass plate.
[0014]
Alternatively, the present invention is a trapezoidal plate-like member in which the elevating means is capable of traveling on the traveling rail of the nozzle gantry and is formed of an inclined portion and a horizontal portion at the upper center line of the traveling rail. A first lifting jig that can be inserted and removed between the lower wheel at the front end portion on the insertion side in the furnace and the traveling rail, and the lower wheel at the rear end of the outer side of the nozzle frame that can travel on the traveling rail of the nozzle base. And the second elevating jig that can be inserted and removed between the traveling rails.
[0015]
Alternatively, the present invention is the above-described glass sheet bending apparatus, wherein the first lifting jig and the second lifting jig are integrated.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the present invention, the flat glass plate 1 carried into the heating furnace 3 is heated while being conveyed by the conveying roll 5, and the glass plate 1 that has reached the softening point temperature is stopped at a predetermined position, as shown in FIG. High temperature jet air is jetted from the nozzles 6, 6,... Provided below to float the glass plate 1. The glass plate 1 is placed above the floated glass plate 1, and the lower surface side is convex. A curved glass 1 that is pressed against the lower surface of a curved suction mold (bending mold) 4 by pressing the suction mold 4 and pressing the jet air from the lower surface to match the curved shape of the lower surface of the suction mold 4. A method and apparatus for manufacturing
[0017]
A plurality of suction holes are provided on the lower surface of the suction mold 4, and the glass plate 1 can be sucked to the lower surface of the suction mold 4 through the suction holes communicated with a suction device (not shown) provided separately.
[0018]
The nozzles 6, 6,... Are arranged with a plurality of nozzles 6, 6,... So that jet air can be jetted in the vertical direction onto the lower surface of the flat glass plate 1 over almost the entire lower surface of the glass plate 1. The nozzles 6, 6,... Are connected to an air pipe 8 that supplies high-temperature jet air and are fixed on a nozzle mount 7.
[0019]
The air pipe 8 is provided on a nozzle base 7 that can be inserted and removed horizontally between the lower position of the adsorption mold 4 in the heating furnace 3 and the outside of the heating furnace 3.
[0020]
The nozzle gantry 7 has a plurality of wheels 11, 11,... At a lower corner portion thereof, and traveling means capable of traveling on the pair of traveling rails 12, 12 by rotating the wheels 11, 11,. 10 and the upper end of the nozzle 6 is located at a fixed position from the lower end of the transport roll 5 for transporting the glass plate 1, so that they interfere with each other even when the nozzle mount 7 is moved in and out of the heating furnace 3. There is no.
[0021]
When the nozzles 6, 6, and the nozzle base 7 are put into and out of the heating furnace 3 and outside the heating furnace 3, the upper ends of the nozzles 6, 6,. Therefore, they do not interfere with each other, and can be freely taken in and out of the heating furnace 3 and outside the heating furnace 3.
[0022]
The fixing position of the nozzle base 7 in the heating furnace 3 is a position below the adsorption mold 4 and a plurality of nozzles 6 directed upward between a plurality of transport rolls 5, 5,. , 6,...
[0023]
Further, a first lifting jig 21 and a second lifting jig 22 are provided on the traveling rail 12 on the tip end side of the nozzle frame 7 in the heating furnace 3 and on the rear end side outside the furnace. The nozzle base 7 is provided so as to freely run as 20 and is positioned and fixed at a predetermined position in the heating furnace 3.
[0024]
The first elevating jig 21 and the second elevating jig 22 are capable of running on a pair of running rails 12 and 12 that run the nozzle mount 7, respectively. The first elevating jig 21 is a heating furnace. The second lifting / lowering jig 22 is disposed outside the heating furnace 3.
[0025]
Further, each of the first lifting jig 21 and the second lifting jig 22 is provided with a pair of trapezoidal or wedge-shaped plate-like members composed of inclined portions 21a, 22a and horizontal portions 21b, 22b. The wheels 21d and 22d that are rotatable on the traveling rails 12 and 12 are attached to the lower positions of the pair of plate-like members, respectively, and the connecting members 24 and 24 'are connected between the pair of plate-like members. It is connected with.
[0026]
As for the first lifting jig 21, an operating rod 23 is attached and fixed in the middle position of the connecting member 24 in parallel to the traveling rails 12 and 12. The operating rod 23 is a rod-shaped member extending to the outside of the heating furnace 3, and a hook 21 e is provided at the tip of the operating rod 23 protruding outside the heating furnace 3.
[0027]
On the other hand, the second lifting jig 22 is provided with a hook 22e at the intermediate position of the connecting member 24 ′.
[0028]
The nozzle frame 7 that can travel and move on the traveling rails 12, 12 is configured to move the wheels 11, 11,... Of the nozzle frame 7 from the traveling rails 12, 12 to the inclined portion 21 a of the first lifting jig 21 and the second lifting / lowering. The nozzle base 7 is raised by moving onto the inclined portion 22a of the jig 22 and stopping the wheels 11, 11,... On the horizontal portions 21b, 22b.
[0029]
The wheels 11, 11,... Provided at the lower corners of the nozzle gantry 7 are used to prevent the wheel from falling off after being transferred onto the horizontal portions 21 b and 22 b of the plate-like member. The stoppers 21c and 22c can prevent the wheel from falling off from the plate-like member.
[0030]
When the nozzle base 7 is raised using the first lifting jig 21 and the second lifting jig 22, the hook 21 e of the first lifting jig 21 located outside the heating furnace 3 and the second lifting / lowering are provided. Each of the hooks 22e of the jig 22 is screwed to a rod (not shown) having a reverse screw, and the rod is rotated by a handle or the like (not shown), thereby causing the first lifting jig 21 and the second lifting jig 22 to rotate. Are moved closer to and away from each other so that the first lifting jig 21 and the second lifting jig 22 are trapezoidal or wedge-shaped between the wheels 11, 11,. The plate member can be inserted, and the nozzle mount 7 can be lifted and raised.
[0031]
Further, the hook 21e of the first lifting jig 21 and the hook 22e of the second lifting jig 22 are hooked with a wire or rope (not shown), and a first pulling jig such as a chain block (not shown) is used. By pulling the elevating jig 21 and the second elevating jig 22 together, the first elevating jig 21 and the second elevating jig between the wheels 11, 11,... It is also possible to insert a trapezoidal or wedge-shaped plate-like member of the tool 22 and raise the nozzle base.
[0032]
The first elevating jig 21 and the second elevating jig 22 are allowed to run independently as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, but are connected and run integrally. Things can be used.
[0033]
When connected and integrated, the direction of the inclined portion of the trapezoidal or wedge-shaped plate-shaped member of the second lifting jig 22 is made to be the same direction as the first lifting jig 21, and in the horizontal direction. The inclined parts 21a, 22a of the first lifting jig 21 and the second lifting jig 22 can be inserted in the same direction between the wheels 11, 11,... Of the fixed nozzle base 7 and the traveling rails 12, 12. It is necessary to.
[0034]
The nozzle mount 7 is lifted by riding the wheels 11, 11,... Of the nozzle mount 7 on the wedge-shaped inclined portions 21a, 22a of the first lift jig 21 and the second lift jig 22. However, a jack-like jig (not shown) may be provided at the lower part of the nozzle gantry 7, and the nozzle gantry 7 may be lifted by raising and lowering the jack-like jig from outside the heating furnace 3 with a handle or the like.
[0035]
As described above, the nozzle base 7 fixed at a predetermined position in the heating furnace 3 is made to approach the entire glass surface by the lifting means 20 including the first lifting jig 21 and the second lifting jig 22. The tip of the nozzles 6, 6,... Can be approached to a place slightly lower than the topmost part between the transport rolls 5, 5,..., And the flat softened glass plate 1 is so-called oval or spherical. The glass plate 1 having a shape with a small bend radius on the entire surface can be molded so as to have a curved surface matched to the curved surface by being adsorbed on the lower surface of the adsorption mold 4 and can be molded without wrinkles or optical distortion. be able to.
[0036]
When the production of the glass plate 1 to be bent is completed, the first lifting jig 21 and the second lifting jig 22 are separated from the nozzle rack 7 and the nozzle rack 7 is lowered to cause the nozzle rack 7 and the first lifting jig 22 to move downward. The lifting jig 21 is carried out of the heating furnace 3.
[0037]
The arrangement of the nozzles 6, 6,... Varies depending on the type of the glass plate 1 to be bent, but the shape of the nozzle mount 7 and the positions of the wheels 11, 11,. In this case, it is convenient that the first lifting jig 21 and the second lifting jig 22 need not be replaced even if the type to be produced is changed.
[0038]
Next, a method for bending the glass plate 1 using the bending apparatus 2 for the glass plate 1 provided with the lifting means 20 for moving the nozzles 6, 6,.
[0039]
First, the same transport rail 12 as that for transporting the nozzle platform 7 from the outside of the heating furnace 3 to the inside of the heating furnace 3 with the first lifting jig 21 and the nozzle 6 supporting and mounting the nozzle 6 and the air pipe 8. , 12 carry in.
[0040]
The nozzle base 7 is stopped below the suction mold 4 and stopped at a predetermined position where the top ends of the nozzles 6, 6.
[0041]
In this state, the rear end side of the nozzle gantry 7 and the front end side of the operating rod 23 of the first lifting jig 21 are outside the heating furnace 3, and the second cradle on the running rail on the rear end side of the nozzle gantry. An elevating jig 22 is arranged, and the nozzle mount 7 is arranged between the first elevating jig 21 and the second elevating jig 22.
[0042]
Moreover, the distance from the front-end | tip of the nozzle 6, 6, ... to the lower surface of the glass plate 1 on the conveyance rolls 5, 5, ... is about 70-75 mm.
[0043]
Here, the hooks 21e of the first lifting jig 21 and the hooks 22e of the second lifting jig 22 are respectively connected to the first lifting jig 21 and the second lifting jig by using a pulling jig such as a chain block (not shown). By pulling and bringing the lifting jig 22 close to each other, a trapezoidal or wedge-shaped plate-like member of the first lifting jig 21 is placed between the wheels 11, 11 on the tip side of the nozzle base 7 and the traveling rails 12, 12. The nozzle base is raised by inserting it, and a trapezoidal or wedge-shaped plate-like member of the second lifting jig 22 is inserted between the wheels 11, 11 on the rear end side of the nozzle base 7 and the traveling rails 12, 12. Thus, the nozzle base was raised, and the distance between the lower surface of the glass plate 1 and the tip of the nozzle 6 was about 20 mm.
[0044]
Next, the inside of the heating furnace 3 is heated, and while the inside of the heating furnace 3 is heated, the flat glass plate 1 that has been transported on the transport rolls 5, 5,... And has reached the softening point as shown in FIG. When stopped at a predetermined position, a plurality of nozzles 6, 6 having tips arranged at positions slightly below the top of the transport rolls 5, 5,. The glass plate 1 is lifted by high-temperature jet air that is jetted upward from the flat, softened glass surface.
[0045]
The flat glass plate 1 is pressed against the lower surface of the convex shape of the suction mold 4 provided above by jet air from below, and the lower surface of the suction mold 4 by a plurality of suction holes (not shown) provided on the lower surface of the suction mold 4. Although the glass plate 1 is softened, it is curved along the curved surface shape of the lower surface of the suction mold 4.
[0046]
When the glass plate 1 is brought into close contact with the lower surface of the adsorption mold 4 in this way and bent into a desired shape after a lapse of a certain time, the cold ring 6 and the cold ring 6 are attached to the lower portion of the glass plate 1 held by the adsorption mold 4 from the side. A receiving frame of a curved high-temperature glass plate 1 called is inserted, and the glass plate 1 bent and formed by releasing suction of the suction mold 4 immediately after insertion of the receiving frame and stopping jet air from below is placed on the cold ring 6. The tempered glass is dropped and conveyed together with the cold ring 6 to the quenching strengthening process 15 which is the next process, and is quenched and strengthened to obtain tempered glass curved into a desired shape.
[0047]
As described above, since the tips of the plurality of nozzles 6, 6... Are made very close to the lower surface of the glass plate 1, the entire surface of the glass surface is brought into close contact with the bottom surface of the suction mold 4. Even if the bent shape has a curved surface with a small bending radius, the glass plate 1 can be prevented from generating wrinkles and optical distortion when bent and formed with high accuracy. Can be bent.
[0048]
Here, the reason why the nozzle discharge hole and the top of the transport roll 5, that is, the lower surface of the glass plate 1, are brought into close proximity by the elevating means is flattened by high-temperature jet air from the discharge hole at the tip of the nozzle. The glass plate 1 is floated and the glass plate softened from the central portion of the flat glass plate 1 toward the peripheral region is brought into close contact with the adsorption mold 4 so that wrinkles are formed on the bent glass plate. This is to prevent it from occurring.
[0049]
Nozzles 6, 6,..., Air pipes and the like were made of metal in order to be installed in a furnace having a high temperature that softens the glass plate 1.
[0050]
Moreover, it is preferable to make 5-20 mm between the vertex of the conveyance roll 5 which conveys the glass plate 1, and the front-end | tip of the nozzle 6. FIG. This is because if it is less than 5 mm, there is a problem that the glass plate 1 is distorted, and if it exceeds 20 mm, the effect cannot be obtained.
[0051]
Further, the supply pressure of the jet air sprayed from the nozzle 6 onto the glass surface to the air pipe 8 is about 9 kgf / m ² at the maximum.
[0052]
The nozzle that injects high-temperature jet air needs to be taken in and out of the heating furnace 3 when changing the shape of the curved glass plate to be manufactured. The nozzles 6, 6,... Are arranged at a lower position of about 10 to 15 mm from the lower end of the transport roll 5 in the heating furnace 3 so as not to contact the roll 5.
[0053]
Therefore, the distance from the tip of the nozzles 6, 6,... To the lower surface of the upper glass plate 1 on the transport rolls 5, 5,... Is about 70 to 75 mm, and the lifting means 20 of the nozzle gantry 7 of the present invention is not used. In the past, the nozzle 6 could not be brought closer to the glass plate 1, but according to the present invention, the nozzles 6, 6,... Therefore, it has become possible to form a glass plate free from wrinkles and wavy distortion in the production of a glass plate that is bent into an egg shape or a spherical shape.
[0054]
The preferred embodiment has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various applications can be considered.
[0055]
In this embodiment, the nozzle angle is 90 degrees, that is, high-temperature jet air is blown in the direction perpendicular to the flat glass plate 1 surface. However, the nozzle angle is set in advance according to the curved shape of the glass plate 1. You can tilt it.
[0056]
【The invention's effect】
In the present invention, when a glass plate for an automobile is formed into a desired curvature shape by a quick sag bend method and bent into a spherical shape or an egg-shaped bi-directional deep bending shape, which has been difficult in the past, the glass plate is levitated. By increasing the pressure applied to the glass surface of the jet air that presses the softened glass plate against the curved lower surface of the adsorption mold in the heating furnace, and blowing high jet air so as to stretch the ridge in the process of forming the curved surface It became possible to mold an extremely high quality glass plate without wavy distortion.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view before a nozzle base is lifted by lifting means according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state where a nozzle base is lifted by the lifting means of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the glass sheet forming apparatus of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Glass plate 2 Bending device 3 Heating furnace 4 Adsorption mold (bending mold)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 Transfer roll 6 Nozzle 7 Nozzle mount 8 Air piping 10 Traveling means 11 Wheel 12 Traveling rail 20 Lifting means 21 First lifting jig 22 Second lifting jig 23 Operation rod 24 Connecting member

Claims (4)

In a method in which a glass plate heated in a heating furnace is levitated by high-temperature jet air and pressed against the lower surface of the curved shape of the adsorption mold provided above, the glass plate is deep bent in two directions of the spherical shape or the XY axis. After moving the nozzle gantry equipped with a plurality of nozzles for jetting jet air to the lower part of the adsorption mold in the heating furnace so that it can be raised and lowered, at that position between the wheels of the nozzle gantry and the traveling rail, By inserting a trapezoidal plate-like member that is provided so as to be able to run and raising and lowering the nozzle base by raising and lowering the nozzle base, the tip of the nozzle protruding between the conveying rolls is brought close to the lower surface of the glass plate A method for bending a glass plate, comprising increasing the pressure of jet air sprayed on the entire lower surface of the glass plate. A glass plate that has been transported through a heating roll by a transport roll and positioned and stopped at a predetermined position is levitated with high-temperature jet air, and pressed against the lower surface of the curved shape of the suction mold placed above the glass plate to make the glass plate a spherical surface. In a device that performs deep bending in the two directions of the shape or the XY axis, a nozzle gantry having a plurality of nozzles that inject jet air upward at a lower portion of a conveyance roll that conveys a glass plate and below a suction mold A trapezoidal plate-like member is inserted between the traveling means that allows the nozzle base to travel on and off the furnace on the traveling rail, and the wheel of the nozzle base that is positioned and fixed at a predetermined position in the furnace and the traveling rail. by consists of a lifting means for raising and lowering the nozzle mount, somewhat between the lower transport rollers position than the highest portion of the conveying rolls tips of all the nozzles when raising the nozzle mount or Raised, the apparatus for bending a glass sheet, characterized in that to enable injection of air jets in a state of being close to the entire lower surface of the glass plate. The elevating means is a trapezoidal plate-like member that is capable of traveling on the traveling rail of the nozzle gantry and includes an inclined portion and a horizontal portion at the upper part of the center line of the traveling rail, and the tip of the nozzle gantry on the insertion side in the furnace The first lifting jig that can be inserted and removed between the lower wheel of the nozzle and the traveling rail, and can travel on the traveling rail of the nozzle frame, and is inserted and removed between the lower wheel and the traveling rail at the rear outer end of the nozzle frame. glass sheet bending apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the second lifting jig possible. 4. The glass sheet bending apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first lifting jig and the second lifting jig are integrated.

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