JP5708782B2 - Sheet glass cutting method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for cutting a sheet glass by performing at least local heating along a planned cutting line of the sheet glass.

  As is well known, in recent years, the mainstream of video display devices is a flat panel display (FPD) represented by a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display (PDP), a field emission display (FED), an organic EL display (OLED), and the like. It has become. Since the weight reduction of these FPDs is promoted, the glass substrate used for the FPD is currently being thinned.

  In addition, organic EL is being used as a planar light source such as a backlight of an LCD or a light source for indoor lighting by causing only three colors (for example, white) to emit light without causing the TFT to flicker the three primary colors unlike a display. In addition, since the organic EL lighting device can freely deform the light emitting surface if the glass substrate has flexibility, the glass substrate used in this lighting device is also sufficiently flexible. From the standpoint of securing, a significant reduction in thickness (glass film) is being promoted.

  The method of cutting the glass substrate used in these FPDs, lighting devices, and the like is such that a scribe process in which a scribe of a predetermined depth is engraved on the front surface or the back surface of the glass substrate, and the scribe line is straddled after the execution of this process. In general, it is composed of a breaking process in which a glass substrate is divided by applying a bending moment.

  As an improved example of this type of glass substrate cutting method, according to Patent Document 1, an initial crack is formed at the end of the lower surface of the glass substrate, and a heating unit that locally heats the glass substrate, The cooling unit that cools the region forms a scribe line extending from the initial crack by scanning the lower surface of the glass substrate, and in the subsequent process, the glass is bounded by a roller that rolls across the glass substrate. A method for dividing a substrate is disclosed.

  According to Patent Document 2, thermal stress cleaving for a work made of a brittle material (for example, a glass substrate for FPD) is performed by separating it into thermal stress distribution and crack expansion with the stress propagation speed as the upper limit. A full-body cleaving method is disclosed in which the formation of the temperature distribution is performed by a combination of heating by irradiation laser light and cooling by heat conduction.

JP 2006-199553 A JP 2009-40665 A

  By the way, the glass substrate cleaving method disclosed in Patent Document 1 installs the first stage and the second stage whose upper surfaces are suction surfaces so as to be able to approach and separate from each other, and straddles the upper surfaces of both stages. A glass substrate is placed on the glass substrate, and initial crack formation, laser beam irradiation, and cooling water injection are performed on the planned cutting line of the glass substrate.

  However, the glass substrate cleaving method disclosed in Patent Document 1 is similar to a general method, in which a scribe is made on the lower surface of the glass substrate and the so-called cleaving is performed with this scribe as a boundary. There is a difficulty in that the surface properties deteriorate due to the occurrence of microcracks on the end face. In addition, this cleaving method requires three steps, that is, a step of forming an initial crack, a step of advancing a scribe line, and a step of cleaving, which complicates the cleaving operation and the apparatus. Invites fatal problems such as low productivity and high costs. Furthermore, this cleaving method also has a drawback that it is forced to perform extremely difficult work if it is intended to cleave the strip-shaped plate glass that is continuously fed.

  On the other hand, according to the cleaving method disclosed in Patent Document 2, only the two steps of the step of forming an initial crack and the step of full-body cutting the glass substrate by causing the initial crack to propagate by thermal stress are executed. Since the cleaving of the glass substrate can be finished, it can be expected to speed up the cleaving operation, and the cleaved end surface can be made into a mirror surface or a surface property equivalent thereto, so that the cleaved end surface can be optimized. I can expect. However, the publication does not disclose or suggest what kind of aspect the glass substrate is supported, and lacks the concreteness of a method for properly performing full-body thermal stress cleaving. ing.

  That is, in order to more appropriately optimize the full-body thermal stress cleaving, the support mode of the glass substrate is an extremely important factor. Conventionally, as shown in FIG. It is general that the glass substrate g is placed on the substrate, and as shown by the arrow z, local heating by a laser or the like and cooling of a heating region by cooling water or the like are performed from above to advance the initial crack. It had been. In addition, such a method is a method that the present inventors have performed for a long time than before, and does not perform an act of publishing in a publication.

  However, in such a simple method, when local heating is performed on the glass substrate g, the heated portion ga of the glass substrate g rises upward due to expansion, as shown in FIG. When the glass substrate g is subsequently cooled, as shown in FIG. 3C, the cooling part gb of the glass substrate g is depressed due to contraction. And if the hollow part gb accompanying cooling arises in this glass substrate g on this surface plate 20, the surface plate 20 will become obstructive, an initial crack will meander, a direction will be out of order, etc. will progress. This causes a problem that the glass substrate g cannot be cleaved accurately along the planned cutting line. Moreover, because the glass substrate g is in surface contact or substantially surface contact with the surface plate 20, heat is absorbed by the surface plate 20 and sufficient local heating cannot be performed, and cooling is performed in such a state. However, since the temperature gradient becomes insufficient and the thermal efficiency is deteriorated, there arises a problem that the accurate cleaving along the planned cutting line is further prevented. Such a situation becomes prominent when the thickness of the glass substrate g is reduced.

  And in full body thermal stress cleaving, since a large amount of heat is required, the contact state between the support member such as the surface plate and the glass substrate at the time of local heating is extremely important. The actual situation is that appropriate measures have not been taken. In this case, the technique disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 does not perform full-body thermal stress cleaving, and it is not necessary to take measures against heat escape during local heating. Is not intended to solve such problems.

  That is, in the technique disclosed in the publication, the supporting member is separated into the first stage and the second stage, and compressive stress and tensile stress necessary for forming a scribe line on the planned cutting line of the glass substrate are obtained. In order to act, the second stage is configured to approach the first stage at a relative movement distance of 10 μm or more and 100 μm or less and to be separated by a relative movement distance of 10 μm or more and 50 μm or less.

  Therefore, the glass substrate support mode disclosed in the publication is not for appropriately increasing the thermal efficiency during local heating of the glass substrate, and for providing a sufficient temperature gradient for full-body cutting. Since it is not a thing, the full body thermal stress cutting | disconnection of a glass substrate cannot be performed appropriately. Specifically, it is not clear whether this support mode can cope with a large amount of heat required for full-body cleaving of the glass substrate, and the second stage moves closer to the first stage and If the glass substrate is not moved away from the glass substrate, the glass substrate cannot be cut, which causes a fatal problem that the support structure and thus the support device become complicated.

  In addition, the above problems or similar problems can occur in the same manner when a glass substrate or the like is melted.

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention, when cutting a sheet glass such as a glass substrate by performing at least local heating on the planned cutting line, without complicating the support structure or reducing productivity. It is a technical problem to appropriately cut the glass sheet.

The method according to the present invention , which was created to solve the above technical problem, is the method for cutting the plate glass by performing at least local heating along the cutting line of the plate glass. a support member for their respective supporting lifting the spaced part from the planned cutting line on both sides from the back side of the glass, as well as spaced apart from each other such that a space is formed on the back side of the cutting line, the The supporting member is a conveying member of a conveying means for conveying the plate glass, and at least local heating is performed along the planned cutting line of the plate glass while the conveying member conveys the plate glass. By doing so, the sheet glass is characterized by full body cutting. Note that “full body cutting of sheet glass” includes melting of sheet glass (hereinafter the same).

In this case, it is preferable that each of the support members arranged at a distance from each other adsorbs and supports the portions separated from both sides from the planned cutting line of the sheet glass from the back side .

In addition, the distance between the support members arranged at a distance from each other is determined in the direction along the separation direction of any part of the two parts where the plate glass is supported by the support members. It is preferable to be shorter than the dimension .

According to the above configuration, the plate-like glass portion spaced on both sides from the cutting line is supported by a respective support member from the back side, and, when being supported in the space on the back side of the cutting line Therefore, when full body cutting is performed by local heating along the planned cutting line of the sheet glass, it is difficult to be affected by heat from the support member. In detail, if a plate glass is to be cut in a full-body manner using local heating, a large amount of heat is required, so if much of this amount of heat is absorbed by the support member, waste is generated. Not only that, it will hinder smooth full body cutting. Therefore, in the present invention, the contact portion between the support surface of the support member and the plate-like glass is separated on both sides from the planned cutting line, and a space is formed between both contact portions, so that full body cutting can be performed. Even when local heating is performed with a large amount of heat necessary, absorption of heat by the support member is reduced as much as possible. As a result, the glass sheet is cut with improved thermal efficiency, and with the synergistic effect of full body cutting, speeding up is promoted. This is extremely advantageous. Moreover, even if the vicinity of the planned cutting line of the glass sheet is deformed due to a large thermal gradient, the presence of the space on the back side does not hinder the support of the glass sheet. A high-precision full-body cutting can be achieved along the line, and the surface properties of the cut surface are extremely good. In addition, such full body cutting eliminates the need for both support members to move toward and away from each other, thereby avoiding the complexity of the support structure or the support device. And when the above full body cutting | disconnection is performed, since a supporting member is used as the conveyance member of the conveyance means which conveys sheet glass, plate glass is conveyed by the member for conveyance. . The support surface of the support member (conveying member) is preferably a flat surface, and the support surface is preferably an adsorption surface capable of adsorbing and holding plate glass by negative pressure suction or the like. In the case of a glass film having a thickness of, for example, 200 μm or less, the distance between the supporting members (space width dimension) is preferably 2 mm to 50 mm, more preferably the upper limit is 20 mm, and the lower limit. Is 5 mm.

  In this case, after the initial crack is formed on the planned cutting line of the plate-like glass, the initial crack is developed by the local heating along the planned cutting line and the stress generated by the cooling to the heating region, and the plate It is preferable to cut the glass in full body.

  In this way, as the heating region by local heating on the glass sheet and the cooling region corresponding to the heating region are scanned along the planned cutting line, the region where stress (thermal stress) is generated is also cut. It moves along the planned line, whereby the initial crack propagates along the planned cutting line, and the sheet glass is cut in full body. In such a cutting process, it is possible to secure a sufficient temperature gradient due to heating and cooling due to the above-described support mode of the plate-like glass, while reducing waste of heat as much as possible. It becomes possible to cut the glass-like glass smoothly and properly. In addition, when a thin plate glass having a thickness of 200 μm or less, that is, a glass film, is used, the back surface of the plate glass near the planned cutting line is in a non-contact state on the support surface of the support member. Since it is not restrained by adsorption or friction, the glass sheet can be expanded to the maximum by local heating, and can be contracted to the maximum by subsequent cooling. The difference between expansion and contraction is the main cause of tensile stress for full-body cutting by advancing the initial crack, so the maximum strain generated by extremely efficient heating and cooling is effectively utilized. It becomes possible to cut (cleave) the plate glass.

  Said structure WHEREIN: While the said plate glass is a strip-shaped plate glass sent continuously, the said cutting projected line is extended along the feed direction of this strip-shaped plate glass, and this strip shape You may make it employ | adopt the method of carrying out full body cutting | disconnection of the plate-like glass continuously along the said cutting projected line.

  In this way, full-body cutting along the feeding direction of the continuous sheet-like sheet glass that was impossible in the past is possible, and the length of one side of the rectangular glass substrate is limited as in the past. Since it is not necessary to perform cutting in the cut state, cutting efficiency is greatly improved. That is, since full-body cutting is performed in the above-described support mode, such continuous cutting is possible, and thereby, the handling of plate-like glass after cutting and diversification of usage modes are achieved.

  And when performing such continuous cutting | disconnection, it is preferable that the said supporting member drives so that the said strip | belt-shaped plate glass may be sent continuously.

  In this way, since the belt-shaped plate glass is fed along with the feed drive of the support member, sliding or the like hardly occurs between the support member and the plate glass. There is no risk of scratches and the like, and the sheet glass is fed stably. Thereby, it is possible to improve the quality of the glass and to increase the speed and smoothness of the cutting operation.

  Moreover, when performing such continuous cutting | disconnection, the said cutting planned line can be made to exist in the position which divides | segments the said strip | belt-shaped plate-shaped glass continuously in the arbitrary parts of the width direction.

  In this way, since the strip-shaped glass sheet can be divided at any part in the width direction (direction orthogonal to the feed direction), the desired width is obtained from the strip-shaped sheet glass formed with a long width dimension. It becomes possible to obtain a plurality of strip-shaped plate-like glasses having the widthwise dimension. Accordingly, it is possible to quickly and efficiently manufacture a sheet glass having a width according to a demand while enhancing the forming ability of the band-shaped sheet glass in the forming apparatus.

  Furthermore, when performing such continuous cutting | disconnection, the said cutting projected line can also be made to exist in the position which cuts out the ear | edge part formed in the width direction both ends of the said strip | belt-shaped plate glass.

  If it does in this way, while maintaining sufficient shaping efficiency of strip shaped plate glass with a forming device, the operation which cuts the ear part which is an unnecessary thick part in the plate glass can be performed continuously. Therefore, it becomes possible to efficiently and smoothly perform the ear excision work.

  In addition, in the case of performing continuous cutting as described above, the strip-shaped glass sheet that is continuously fed may be a strip-shaped glass sheet that has been cooled through the slow cooling zone of the molding apparatus. it can.

  In this way, the strip-shaped plate-like glass is continuously fed through a series of continuous forming processes in which the molten glass is formed by the forming apparatus and then cooled through the slow cooling zone. In the meantime, the sheet glass is continuously full-body cut with local heating. Thereby, the shaping | molding process of the strip | belt-shaped plate glass by a shaping | molding apparatus and the full body cutting | disconnection with respect to the plate glass will be performed as a series of continuous operations, and work efficiency will be improved significantly. The molding apparatus is preferably an apparatus capable of performing a downdraw method, particularly an overflow downdraw method. However, a molding apparatus capable of performing the float process or the like is not excluded.

  Furthermore, in the case of performing the continuous cutting as described above, the strip-like plate glass that is continuously fed is continuously cut into a full body along the planned cutting line while being rolled around the core. It can also be configured to be wound.

  In this way, as described above, the band-shaped plate-shaped glass after the ear portion has been excised, or the respective band-shaped plate-shaped glass after being divided so that the dimension in the width direction becomes a desired dimension. Since it is wound around the winding core in a roll shape, it becomes possible to store and package a belt-like thin plate glass, that is, a glass film in a compact and easy manner. In this winding, it is preferable from the viewpoint of preventing scratches due to contact between the plate-like glasses that the belt-like plate-like glass is wound up in a roll shape while overlapping a belt-like protective sheet (for example, an organic resin film). In addition, it is preferable that each strip-shaped plate-like glass after being divided in the width direction is wound in a roll shape around different winding cores with different feeding directions.

  In the above configuration, a pressing member that is disposed to face the support member and sandwich the plate glass with the support member may be disposed on the surface side of the plate glass.

  In this way, not only when the glass sheet is in a flat position, but also when it is in a vertical position, local heating is performed in a state where the glass sheet is sandwiched and held between the support member and the pressing member. Full body cutting can be performed, and appropriate cutting can be performed regardless of the posture of the glass sheet. In this case, the pressing member can be substantially the same member and the same structure as the supporting member.

  In the above configuration, it is preferable to interpose an organic layer between the back surface of the plate glass and the support surface of the support member, and also when using a press member, the surface of the plate glass and the presser It is preferable to interpose an organic layer between the pressing surface of the member. Here, the “organic layer” includes an organic film (for example, an organic resin film) and the like.

  In this way, due to the presence of the organic layer, heat conduction to the support member and the presser member during local heating with respect to the cutting line of the plate glass is suppressed, and the support member and presser member of the plate glass are suppressed. Generation of scratches due to contact is avoided.

  In the above configuration, it is preferable that the thickness of the sheet glass is 200 μm or less.

  That is, if it is a thin plate glass having a thickness of 200 μm or less, that is, a glass film, for example, when a scriber is engraved by rotating a wheel cutter with a weak pressing force, the plate glass is not crushed. Have difficulty. In addition, when the pressing force of the wheel cutter becomes stronger than necessary, not only vertical cracks necessary for splitting, but also horizontal microcracks that cause a reduction in strength of the cut end face easily occur. . Furthermore, when a glass film having a thickness of 200 μm or less is wound in a roll shape and is to be broken along a planned cutting line extending in the longitudinal direction, it becomes necessary to form a scribe over a long distance. Is complicating and difficult. As described above, the problem in the case where the scribing is engraved on the glass film having a thickness of 200 μm or less can be solved all at once by the above-described method according to the present invention. It is possible to obtain a thin glass film having high bending strength and high quality. In addition, the thickness of a glass film becomes like this. Preferably it is 100 micrometers or less, More preferably, it is 50 micrometers or less.

  In the above configuration, the local heating is preferably performed by a carbon dioxide laser.

  In this way, if a carbon dioxide laser is used as a local heating means for the planned cutting line of the glass sheet, the glass (particularly non-alkali glass) can efficiently absorb the laser energy, so that it can be easily and stably localized. Heating can be performed and the cost is low.

  If the above method is used (implemented), a plate glass corresponding to each method can be obtained (manufactured).

  If the above method is used (implemented), it is possible to obtain (manufacture) a sheet glass having at least one side cut and a thickness of 200 μm or less.

  This plate-like glass, that is, a glass film, can withstand strong tensile stress due to bending with a small radius of curvature because of the high bending strength of the cut surface, and can be used over a wider range than before. At the same time, it is excellent in handleability.

  Moreover, if the above method is used (implemented), a plate-like glass having at least one side cut and a bending surface strength of 200 MPa or more and a thickness of 200 μm or less can be obtained (manufactured). .

  Since this plate-like glass, that is, a glass film, has a bending strength of the cut surface of 200 MPa or more, it can reliably withstand stronger tensile stress due to bending with a smaller radius of curvature and the like, and has a high value of 200 MPa or more. By clarifying the bending strength as a value, the handling of this sheet glass can be embodied in an appropriate manner.

  Furthermore, if the above method is used (implemented), a plate-shaped glass wound body wound around the winding core in a roll shape can be obtained.

  According to this plate-shaped glass wound body, storage and handling are facilitated, and transportation efficiency is also improved. In addition, while carrying out a method (roll to roll) of drawing out a belt-like plate-like glass from one plate-like glass wound body and rolling it around another core, a cutting planned line extending in the longitudinal direction The process in the case of full body cutting along can be performed smoothly and easily.

  Moreover, you may make it form an organic layer in at least one surface of the cut surface and front and back of plate-like glass obtained (manufactured) by the above method.

  That is, when an organic layer is formed on the cut surface, front surface, or back surface of the obtained plate glass, the strength of the cut surface or the front and back surfaces is increased. For example, a plate glass having a thickness of 200 μm or less, that is, glass In the film, sufficient strength against bending can be secured, and the flexibility of the thin plate glass can be effectively utilized.

The apparatus according to the present invention , which was created to solve the above technical problem, is a plate glass cutting apparatus provided with local heating means for performing local heating along a planned cutting line of the plate glass. a support member for their respective supporting lifting the spaced part from the planned cutting line on both sides from the back side of the glass, as well as spaced apart from each other such that a space is formed on the back side of the cutting line, the The supporting member is a conveying member of a conveying unit that conveys the plate glass, and at least a local heating unit along the planned cutting line of the plate glass while the conveying member conveys the plate glass. It is characterized in that the sheet glass is configured to be cut in a full body by performing local heating.

In this case, it is preferable that each of the support members arranged at a distance is configured to adsorb and support portions separated from both sides from the planned cutting line of the sheet glass from the back side .

In addition, the distance between the support members arranged at a distance from each other is determined in the direction along the separation direction of any part of the two parts where the plate glass is supported by the support members. It is preferable to be configured to be shorter than the dimension .

Descriptive matter including effects on device having the above configuration is essentially the same as the matters explained how these devices substantially component according to the invention described above are the same.

  For these devices, the apparatus further comprises a crack forming means for forming an initial crack on the planned cutting line of the sheet glass, and a cooling means for cooling a heating region locally heated by the local heating means, the local heating means In addition, by generating a stress by the cooling means, the initial crack may be propagated to cut the plate glass in a full body.

  The explanation items including the operational effects of the apparatus having this configuration are essentially the same as those described for the above-described method according to the present invention having substantially the same components as the apparatus.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the contact portion between the support surface of the support member and the sheet glass is separated from both sides from the planned cutting line, and a space is formed between both contact portions. Even if local heating is performed with a large amount of heat necessary for full-body cutting along the planned cutting line, the absorption of heat by the support member is reduced as much as possible, thereby cutting the sheet glass with improved thermal efficiency. Since the speeding up is promoted in conjunction with the synergistic effect with the full body cutting, it is extremely advantageous in improving the productivity. Moreover, even if the vicinity of the planned cutting line of the glass sheet is deformed due to a large thermal gradient, the presence of the space on the back side does not hinder the support of the glass sheet. A high-precision full-body cutting can be achieved along the line, and the surface properties of the cut surface are extremely good. In addition, such full body cutting eliminates the need for both support members to move toward and away from each other, thereby avoiding the complexity of the support structure or the support device.

It is a schematic perspective view which shows the implementation condition of the cutting device of the plate glass which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention, and its cutting method. It is a principal part perspective view which shows the implementation condition of the cutting device of the plate glass which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and its cutting method. It is a principal part perspective view which shows the implementation condition of the cutting device of the plate glass which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention, and its cutting method. It is a schematic side view which shows the implementation condition of the cutting device of the sheet glass which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention, and its cutting method. It is a schematic side view which shows the implementation condition of the cutting device of the sheet glass which concerns on 5th Embodiment of this invention, and its cutting method. It is a schematic side view which shows the implementation condition of the cutting device of the plate glass which concerns on 6th Embodiment of this invention, and its cutting method. It is a schematic side view which shows the implementation condition of the cutting device of the sheet glass which concerns on 7th Embodiment of this invention, and its cutting method. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which formed the organic layer in the cut surface of the sheet glass cut | disconnected by the cutting device in the 1st-7th embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which formed the organic layer in the surface of the sheet glass cut | disconnected by the cutting device in the 1st-7th embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the state which is evaluating plate glass. (A), (b), (c) is a schematic front view which respectively shows the conventional problem.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following embodiments, a plate-like glass having a thickness of 200 μm or less, that is, a glass film, used for an FPD, an organic EL lighting device, or a solar battery is used.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a state of implementation of a sheet glass cutting device and a cutting method thereof according to the first embodiment constituting the basic structure of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the cutting device 1 is provided with a pair of support members 2 that are spaced apart from each other, and a sheet glass G placed on the support surface 2a of these support members 2. A local heating unit 3 that performs local heating by irradiating a laser beam L from the surface side, and a cooling unit 4 that jets cooling water W from the surface side to the heating region H heated by the local heating unit 3 are provided. In this case, each of the pair of support members 2 is composed of a rectangular parallelepiped surface plate or a similar member. In this embodiment, a carbon dioxide laser is used as the local heating means 3, but it may be a means capable of performing other local heating such as heating wire or hot air injection. The cooling means 4 injects the cooling water W as a refrigerant by air pressure or the like. This refrigerant is a cooling liquid other than the cooling water, a gas such as air or inert gas, or a gas and a liquid. What mixed, Furthermore, what mixed solids, such as dry ice and ice, and the said gas and / or the said liquid, etc. may be sufficient.

  The pair of support members 2 respectively support portions separated from the planned cutting line 5 of the sheet glass G by the same dimension on both sides from the back surface side, and the back surface side of the planned cutting line 5 of the sheet glass G is a space S. In addition, the plate glass G is adsorbed and held by negative pressure suction or the like so as not to move relatively on the support surfaces 2a of the two support members 2. In this embodiment, the pair of support members 2 are configured to move at the same speed in the direction of the arrow a (the direction along the planned cutting line 5), and the local heating means 3 and the cooling means 4 are held stationary. The pair of support members 2 may be held stationary and the local heating means 3 and the cooling means 4 may be moved.

  About the heating area H by the laser irradiation of the local heating means 3 and the cooling area C by the cooling water jet of the cooling means 4, the heating area H is scheduled to be cut from one end side of the sheet glass G while preceding the cooling area C. The line 5 is scanned. In this case, since the initial crack 6a is formed in advance on the planned cutting line 5 at one end of the sheet glass G by a crack forming means (crack imparting means) (not shown), the heating region H and the cooling region described above are formed. The initial crack 6a develops due to the stress (thermal stress) generated during scanning with C, whereby the cut surface 6 penetrating from the front surface to the back surface is formed on the planned cutting line 5 while progressing. In such a manner, the plate glass G is full-body cut (full body thermal stress cleaving) along the planned cutting line 5.

  In the cutting process as described above, the contact portion between the support surface 2a of the support member 2 and the sheet glass G is separated by 10 to 20 mm on the back surface side of the planned cutting line 5, and both of the contact portions are in contact with each other. Since the space S is formed between them, the heat conduction to the support member 2 is reduced as much as possible even when local heating is performed with a large amount of heat necessary for full-body cutting along the planned cutting line 5. . As a result, the sheet glass G is cut in a state where the thermal efficiency is improved, and the speeding-up is promoted along with the synergistic effect with the full body cutting, so that the productivity can be improved. Is very advantageous. Moreover, even if deformation occurs in the vicinity of the planned cutting line 5 of the sheet glass G due to a large thermal gradient, there is no problem in supporting the sheet glass G due to the presence of the space S on the back surface side. High-accuracy cutting along the planned cutting line 5 can be performed, and the surface properties of the cut surface 6 become extremely good. In addition, such full body cutting eliminates the need for the pair of support members 2 to move toward and away from each other, thereby avoiding the complexity of the support structure and thus the support device 1. Further, when a thin plate-like glass G having a thickness of 200 μm or less is targeted, the back surface of the plate-like glass G near the planned cutting line 5 is in a non-contact state on the support surface 2 a of the support member 2. Therefore, the glass sheet G is expanded to the maximum by local heating, and can be contracted to the maximum by subsequent cooling. The difference between expansion and contraction is the main cause of the tensile stress that causes the initial crack 6a to propagate and perform full body cutting, so the maximum tensile stress generated by extremely efficient heating and cooling is effective. It becomes possible to cleave the sheet glass G by using it.

  In addition, it is preferable to interpose an organic layer (for example, organic resin film) between the support member 2 and the sheet glass G from a viewpoint of the damage prevention of the sheet glass G by both contact. Moreover, according to the figure, although the initial crack 6a is formed in the one end part on the cutting projected line 5 in the surface of the sheet glass G, this initial crack 6a is from the surface one end part of the sheet glass G. It may be formed over the end face.

  As is clear from FIG. 1, the distance between the pair of support members 2 (the dimension in the width direction of the space S) is two portions where the glass sheet G is supported by the pair of support members 2. Is set shorter than the dimension (width direction dimension) in the direction along the separation direction of any part.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part showing a state of implementation of the sheet glass cutting device and the cutting method according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, in the cutting device 1 according to the second embodiment, a pair of support members is a conveyance member composed of a conveyance belt of a conveyor 7 as a conveyance means (a plurality of conveyances of a roller conveyor as a conveyance means). Each of the conveyor belts 8 is driven at the same speed in the direction of the arrow a so as to send the strip-like glass sheet G in the direction along the planned cutting line 5. The Each of the conveyor belts 8 has a support surface 8a that holds the plate-like glass sheet G by suction or the like on each outer peripheral surface, and the planned cutting line 5 that exists at the center in the width direction of the belt-like plate glass G A space S is formed over the entire length in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor 7 on the back side of the planned cutting line 5 of the belt-like plate-like glass G. And this cutting device 1 is provided with the local heating means 3 which performs local heating with the laser beam L on the planned cutting line 5 of the strip | belt-shaped plate-like glass G, and the cooling means 4 which injects and supplies the cooling water W. Yes. According to the configuration as described above, the transport belt 8 of the conveyor 7 sends the strip-shaped glass sheet G, so that the heating region H by the local heating means 3 is strip-shaped plate-shaped prior to the cooling region C by the cooling means 4. The glass G is scanned on the planned cutting line 5 from one end side. Thereby, the initial crack 6a formed in the one end part of the strip | belt-shaped plate-shaped glass G progresses, and the cut surface 6 penetrated from the surface to the back surface on the planned cutting line 5 is formed. (Full body thermal stress cleaving) is performed continuously. Other configurations, operational effects, and supplementary explanation items are the same as those in the first embodiment described above. Therefore, the description thereof is omitted here, and the same reference numerals are used for common components.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the main part showing the state of implementation of the sheet glass cutting device and the cutting method according to the third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the cutting device 1 according to the third embodiment cuts relatively thick ears Gx existing at both ends in the width direction of the band-shaped plate glass G. The planned cutting lines 5 exist slightly at the center position in the width direction of the ear part Gx. A pair of conveyors 7 that support and send the belt-like plate-like glass G from the back surface side are arranged at portions separated from both sides of each of the planned cutting lines 5, and the back surface of the planned cutting line 5. A space S is provided on the side. Further, on the surface side of the belt-like plate-like glass G, a local heating means 3 that performs local heating and a cooling means 4 that jets the cooling water W are disposed on the planned cutting lines 5. One or a plurality (one in the illustrated example) of auxiliary conveyors 9 for preventing the sheet glass G from drooping are installed on the back surface side in the central region in the width direction of the belt-shaped sheet glass G. Has been. In addition, when the width direction dimension of the strip | belt-shaped plate-shaped glass G is short, not only the auxiliary conveyor 9 is unnecessary but two conveyors each arrange | positioned near the width direction center side among the two pairs of conveyors 7. A configuration in which a total of three conveyors 7 are arranged by sharing 7 may be used. According to such a configuration, while the belt-like plate glass G is being sent by the conveyor 7 (and the auxiliary conveyor 9), the heating area H by the local heating means 3 and the cooling area C by the cooling means 4 are respectively By scanning the planned cutting line 5, the band-shaped plate glass G is cut in full body between the effective portion Ga and the ear portion Gx as the initial crack 6a progresses, and thereby the ear portion Gx. Are continuously excised. Other configurations, operational effects, and supplementary explanation items are the same as those in the first embodiment described above. Therefore, the description thereof is omitted here, and the same reference numerals are used for common components.

FIG. 4: is a schematic side view which shows the implementation condition of the cutting apparatus of the plate glass which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention, and its cutting method. As shown in the figure, in the fourth embodiment, a molding apparatus 10 for molding a strip-shaped glass sheet G, and the strip-shaped glass sheet G after the molding are wound around a core 11a in a roll shape. The above-described cutting device 1 shown in FIG. 3 is interposed between the winding device 11. That is, the molding apparatus 10 performs an overflow downdraw method, and in order from the top, a molding zone 10A having a molded body 10x in a molding furnace, and a slow cooling zone 10B having an annealing means (annealer) And a cooling zone 10C having a cooling means. Then, the strip-shaped glass sheet G drawn downward from the cooling zone 10C of the molding apparatus 10 is smoothly curved and sent in the lateral direction by the conversion roller 12, and is conveyed to the conveyor belt 8 in the conveyor 7 of the cutting apparatus 1. It will be in the state supported by adsorption | suction etc. on the top. In this way, while the belt-like plate glass G is supported by the conveyor belt 8 and fed in the lateral direction, the local heating means 3 and the cooling means 4 perform local heating and cooling on the planned cutting line 5. As a result, the belt-like plate glass G is cut in full body between the effective portion Ga and the ear portion Gx. Thereafter, the effective portion Ga of the sheet glass G is wound around the core 11a of the winding device 11 in a roll shape, and when the roll outer diameter reaches a predetermined value, the sheet glass G is widened. Cut in the direction. This cutting is performed by, for example, putting a scribe in the width direction of the sheet glass G and breaking it with a cutter. As a result, a roll-shaped glass roll as a final product is obtained. In this embodiment, the protective sheet winding body 13 is disposed above the core 11 a of the winding device 11, and the protective sheet 14 drawn out from the protective sheet winding body 13 is a plate-like glass G. Is wound around the core 11a in a roll shape in a state of being overlapped on the surface side of the effective portion Ga. On the other hand, the ear | edge part Gx of the strip | belt-shaped plate-shaped glass G is sent below, and is discarded. In this case, since the configuration of the cutting device 1 and the operation and effect thereof are substantially the same as those of the third embodiment described above, the description thereof is omitted here, and the same reference numerals are used for common components. .

  FIG. 5: is a schematic side view which shows the implementation condition of the plate glass cutting device and its cutting method which concern on 5th Embodiment of this invention. The fifth embodiment is different from the above-described fourth embodiment in that the belt-like plate glass G drawn from the cooling zone 10C of the forming apparatus 10 is wound up in a roll shape without cutting off the ear portion Gx. After producing the original glass wound body 15, the band-shaped plate glass G drawn out from the original glass wound body 15 is sent in the horizontal direction, while undergoing the cutting process of the ear portion Gx in the cutting device 1, By winding in a roll around the winding core 11a of the winding device 11, a glass roll as a final product is obtained. In this case, since the configuration of the cutting device 1 that performs the cutting process of the ear portion Gx of the band-shaped plate-like glass G and the operation effect thereof are substantially the same as the cutting device 1 according to the third embodiment described above, Here, the description thereof is omitted, and the same reference numerals are used for common components. In the fifth embodiment as well, the protective sheet winding body 13 is disposed above the core 11a of the winding device 11, and the protective sheet 14 drawn out from the protective sheet winding body 13 is a plate. In a state of being overlaid on the surface side of the effective portion Ga of the glassy glass G, it is wound around the winding core 11a in a roll shape to obtain a glass wound body as a final product.

  FIG. 6: is a schematic side view which shows the implementation condition of the sheet glass cutting device which concerns on 6th Embodiment of this invention, and its cutting method. The sixth embodiment differs from the fourth or fifth embodiment described above in that the strip-shaped glass sheet G drawn from the cooling zone 10C of the molding apparatus 10 or the original glass roll 15 is laterally arranged. While cutting, the ear portion Gx of the sheet glass G is cut out, and then, after passing through a two-dividing step in the cutting device 1, by winding it around the two cores 11 a of the winding device 11 in a roll shape, respectively. In addition, two glass rolls as the final product are obtained. In this case, since the configuration of the cutting device 1 that performs the two-step process of the band-shaped plate glass G and the operation effect thereof are substantially the same as the cutting device 1 according to the second embodiment described above, here, The description thereof is omitted, and the same reference numerals are used for common components. In addition, in this 6th Embodiment, the protection sheet 14 pulled out from each protection sheet winding body 13 rolls around the core 11a in the state where it overlapped with the back surface side of the effective part Ga of the sheet glass G, respectively. Rolled up into a shape.

  FIG. 7: is a schematic side view which shows the implementation condition of the cutting device of the plate glass which concerns on 7th Embodiment of this invention, and its cutting method. The cutting device 1 according to the seventh embodiment is basically different from the above-described second to sixth embodiments in that the conveyance belt 8 as a support member in one conveyor 7 and the other conveyor 7z. The belt-shaped glass sheet G is supported by the conveying belt 8z as a pressing member in a sandwiched state. As a further difference, the belt-shaped glass sheet G is directed downward in a vertical posture. It is in the point being sent. Therefore, the structure of the conveying belt 8 as the support member and the conveying belt 8z as the pressing member are substantially the same, and both the conveying belts 8 and 8z are arranged to face each other, and each of them is in the a direction and b. Driven at the same speed in the direction. In addition, when it becomes the aspect which the conveyance belt 8z as a pressing member contacts the effective part Ga of the strip | belt-shaped plate-like glass G, an organic film (for example, organic resin film) is interposed between both of them 8z and G. It is preferable to make it. Since the structure for cutting the strip-shaped glass sheet G by the cutting device 1 and the operation effect thereof are substantially the same as those in the second to sixth embodiments, the description thereof is omitted here. The same reference numerals are used for common components. In addition, the attitude | position of the strip | belt-shaped plate-shaped glass G is not specifically limited, The centerline of the length direction of the plate-shaped glass G inclines with respect to the horizontal, even if it is a flat position (horizontal position). It is possible to apply this configuration.

  FIG. 8 shows an organic layer (preferably an organic resin layer) 16 formed on the cut surface 6 of the sheet glass G (Ga) cut by the cutting device 1 in the above embodiment. In addition, in the example of the figure, since the cut surfaces 6 are provided at both ends in the width direction of the plate glass G (Ga), the organic layer 16 is formed at both ends, but the cut is only performed at one end in the width direction of the plate glass G (Ga). When the surface 6 is provided, the organic layer 16 may be formed only at the one end. In this way, since the strength of the cut surface 6 of the sheet glass G is increased, in the sheet glass G having a thickness of 200 μm or less, sufficient strength against bending can be secured, and a thin plate The flexibility of the glass sheet G can be effectively utilized.

  FIG. 9 shows an example in which an organic layer (preferably an organic resin layer) 16 is formed on the surface of the sheet glass G (Ga) cut by the cutting device 1 in the above embodiment. Even in such a case, the strength of the surface of the sheet glass G (Ga) is increased, so that sufficient strength against bending can be secured, and the thin sheet glass G (Ga). Can effectively utilize the flexibility.

  In the above embodiment, the sheet glass G is cut through a full body by so-called thermal stress cleaving, but the present invention can be similarly applied to a case where the sheet glass G is cut through a full body by fusing. It is.

In [Example 1] of the present invention, a non-alkali glass plate having a long side of 460 mm, a short side of 360 mm, a thickness of 200 μm, and a thermal expansion coefficient of 38 × 10 ⁻⁷ / ° C. is used. On a support surface of a pair of support members made of a stainless steel workbench arranged with a space having a width of 20 mm on the side, it was placed via a foamed polyethylene sheet as an organic layer (basically shown in FIG. 1). State). Then, after making an initial crack on the planned cutting line with a wheel tip made of a super steel alloy or the like, using a carbon dioxide laser as a local heating means, an elliptical shape having a length of 20 mm and a width of 3 mm at an output of 60 w The laser spot was irradiated onto the planned cutting line, and then, as a cooling means, a refrigerant mixed with air and water was sprayed at an air pressure of 0.05 MPa and a water amount of 0.3 ml / min while being 200 mm / second. Full body cut at speed. By repeatedly performing this local heating and cooling at portions at intervals of 15 mm in the width direction, 50 samples Sa made of plate glass having a width of 15 mm and a length of 360 mm were manufactured. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 10, these samples Sa are sequentially sandwiched between two plate-like bodies 17 and are bent in a U-shape so as to bend in the longitudinal direction at a speed of 50 mm / min. The strength was evaluated by bending. This evaluation is performed by calculating the fracture strength based on the distance between the two plate-like bodies 17 when fractured by pushing and bending, and the fracture strength has a minimum value of 200 MPa and an average value of 500 MPa. It was. When compared with the fracture strength of the end face obtained by folding after the scribe formation with the super steel alloy wheel tip as in Comparative Example 1 described later, this fracture strength obtained an average value of 3 times or more. .

In [Example 2] of the present invention, an alkali-free glass plate having a long side of 460 mm, a short side of 360 mm, a thickness of 50 μm, and a thermal expansion coefficient of 38 × 10 ⁻⁷ / ° C. By the same method, laser cleaving was carried out with a carbon dioxide laser output of 100 w and a cutting speed of 700 mm / sec. As a result, 50 samples Sa made of plate glass having a width of 15 mm and a length of 360 mm could be produced by full body cutting. As a result of sequentially evaluating these samples Sa by the same method as in Example 1 described above, the fracture strength was 220 MPa at the lowest value and 600 MPa as the average value, which was compared with Comparative Example 1 described later. Then, the average value was 3 times or more.

In [Example 3] of the present invention, a non-alkali glass plate having a long side of 460 mm, a short side of 360 mm, a thickness of 100 μm, and a thermal expansion coefficient of 38 × 10 ⁻⁷ / ° C. By the same method, laser cleaving was carried out with a carbon dioxide laser output of 40 w and a cutting speed of 150 mm / sec. As a result, 50 samples Sa made of plate glass having a width of 15 mm and a length of 360 mm could be produced by full body cutting. And the ultraviolet curable acrylic resin was apply | coated by the thickness of 10 micrometers to the cut surface along the longitudinal direction of these samples Sa, and it hardened | cured by irradiating with a 100W high pressure mercury lamp for 1 minute. After the curing, the # 2000 sandpaper was used to scratch the top surface of the UV curable resin with a load of 1N, and then evaluated by the same method as in Example 1 above. The minimum value was 200 MPa, the average value was 530 MPa, and the strength of the cut surface did not decrease.

In [Embodiment 4] of the present invention, a strip-shaped plate glass made of non-alkali glass having a length of 250 m, a width of 600 mm, a thickness of 100 μm, and a thermal expansion coefficient of 38 × 10 ⁻⁷ / ° C. is used as the core. The glass winding body is manufactured by winding around the area, and then the both ends in the width direction are shown in FIG. 3 as described above while being drawn out from the glass winding body as a band-shaped plate glass. 50 mm each was cut in substantially the same manner. And it wound up on the acrylic core with a diameter of 100 mm newly in the state which accumulated the PET film of width 550mm and thickness 20 micrometers on the strip | belt-shaped plate glass of width 500mm obtained by this. As a result of sampling this wound strip-shaped plate glass and evaluating it by the same method as in Example 1 described above, the fracture strength is 210 MPa and the average value is 515 MPa. In comparison with Comparative Example 1 to be performed, the average value was three times or more.

In [Example 5] of the present invention, a non-alkali glass plate having a long side of 460 mm, a short side of 360 mm, a thickness of 300 μm, and a thermal expansion coefficient of 38 × 10 ⁻⁷ / ° C. By the same method, laser cleaving was attempted with a carbon dioxide laser output of 10 to 200 w and a cutting speed of 50 mm / sec to 700 mm / sec. As a result, it was difficult to perform full body cutting due to the large thickness. However, full-body cutting could be performed by adjusting the output of the carbon dioxide gas laser and the cutting speed.

In [Comparative Example 1], an alkali-free glass plate having a long side of 460 mm, a short side of 360 mm, a thickness of 50 μm, and a thermal expansion coefficient of 38 × 10 ⁻⁷ / ° C. is placed on a single surface plate. At the same time, using a wheel tip made of a super steel alloy with a blade edge angle of 95 °, scribing was made on the glass plate at intervals of 15 mm with a pressing force of 2 N and a speed of 50 mm / second, and was manually broken. Went. Of the 50 samples Sa obtained in this way, 10 samples were virtually impossible to collect because horizontal cracks progressed in all directions during engraving. The remaining 40 were evaluated by the same method as in Example 1 described above. As a result, the fracture strength was extremely low, with the minimum value being 60 MPa and the average value being 130 MPa.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cutting device 2 Support member 2a Support surface 3 Local heating means 4 Cooling means 5 Cutting planned line 6 Cut surface 6a Initial crack 8 Conveying belt (support member)
8a Support surface 10 Molding device 11 Winding device 11a Core 14 Protective sheet G Sheet glass (glass film)
Ga Effective part Gx Ear part H Heating area C Cooling area

Claims (15)

In the method of cutting the sheet glass by performing at least local heating along the planned cutting line of the sheet glass,
The supporting members that respectively support the portions separated from both sides from the planned cutting line of the plate-like glass from the back side are arranged so as to be separated from each other so that a space is formed on the back side of the planned cutting line, and The supporting member is a conveying member of a conveying means for conveying the plate glass, and at least local heating is performed along the planned cutting line of the plate glass while the conveying member conveys the plate glass. A cutting method for sheet glass, wherein the sheet glass is subjected to full body cutting. 2. The sheet glass according to claim 1, wherein each of the support members arranged at a distance from each other adsorbs and supports a portion separated from both sides of a cutting line of the sheet glass from the back side. Cutting method. The distance between the support members arranged at a distance from each other is a dimension in a direction along the distance direction of any part of the two parts where the plate-like glass is supported by the support members. The sheet glass cutting method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the glass sheet is also shortened .   After forming an initial crack on the planned cutting line of the sheet glass, the initial glass is developed by advancing the initial crack by stress generated with local heating along the planned cutting line and cooling with respect to the heating region. Full plate cutting is performed, The cutting method of the plate glass in any one of Claims 1-3 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The method for cutting plate glass according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an organic layer is interposed between the back surface of the plate glass and the support surface of the support member.   The thickness of the said plate glass is 200 micrometers or less, The cutting method of the plate glass in any one of Claims 1-5 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The method for cutting plate glass according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the local heating is performed by a carbon dioxide laser.   The manufacturing method of the plate glass characterized by implementing the method in any one of Claims 1-7.   The manufacturing method of the plate glass characterized by manufacturing the plate glass which is cut | disconnected at least one side and is 200 micrometers or less by implementing the method in any one of Claims 1-7.   By carrying out the method according to claim 1, at least one side is cut, and the bending strength of the cut surface is 200 MPa or more and the thickness of the plate glass is 200 μm or less. The manufacturing method of the plate-like glass characterized.   A sheet glass having an organic layer formed on at least one of the cut surface and the front and back surfaces cut by performing the method according to claim 1. Production method. In the sheet glass cutting device provided with local heating means for performing local heating along the planned cutting line of the sheet glass,
The supporting members that respectively support the portions separated from both sides from the planned cutting line of the plate-like glass from the back side are arranged so as to be separated from each other so that a space is formed on the back side of the planned cutting line, and The supporting member is a conveying member of a conveying unit that conveys the plate glass, and at least a local heating unit along the planned cutting line of the plate glass while the conveying member conveys the plate glass. A sheet glass cutting device characterized in that the sheet glass is cut into a full body by performing local heating. The support members arranged at a distance from each other are configured to adsorb and support portions separated from both sides from the planned cutting line of the sheet glass from the back side. The plate glass cutting device described in 1 . The distance between the support members arranged at a distance from each other is a dimension in a direction along the distance direction of any part of the two parts where the plate-like glass is supported by the support members. The sheet glass cutting device according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the device is configured to be shorter . It further comprises a crack forming means for forming an initial crack on the planned cutting line of the sheet glass, and a cooling means for cooling the heating region locally heated by the local heating means, and stress is applied by the local heating means and the cooling means. The sheet glass cutting device according to any one of claims 12 to 14 , wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the initial crack to propagate to cause full body cutting of the sheet glass.

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