Patent ID: 7488145
Filing Date: 2009-02-10
Classification: B28D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for machining a glass sheet to manufacture a doughnut-shaped glass substrate by use of a glass substrate manufacturing apparatus, the glass substrate manufacturing apparatus including a work stage having a buffer layer thereon so as to be capable of fixing a glass sheet thereon; three drilling machines, each of the three drilling machines including a core drill; and a conveying device capable of moving the work stage, wherein the respective three drilling machines include a first drilling machine having a first core drill mounted thereon so as to direct a blade edge vertically upward, the core drill of the first drilling machine having a blade diameter corresponding to a diameter of an inner circular hole to form in a doughnut-shaped glass sheet; a second drilling machine having a core drill mounted thereon so as to direct a blade edge vertically downward, the core drill of the second drilling machine having a blade diameter corresponding to the diameter of the inner circular hole to form in the doughnut-shaped glass sheet; and a third drilling machine having a core drill mounted thereon so as to direct a blade edge vertically downward, the core drill of the third drilling machine having a blade diameter corresponding to an outer diameter of the doughnut-shaped glass sheet, and wherein the work stage has an annular groove for clearance formed therein so as to avoid contact with the blade edge of the core drill of the third drilling machine, the annular groove being formed by drilling both of the buffer layer and a portion of a body of the work stage lying therebelow by the core drill of the third drilling machine, the method comprising: fixing a glass sheet on the work stage by a vacuum suction force given by an annular suction groove formed inside the annular groove for clearance; after fixing the glass sheet, moving the glass sheet to a position just above the core drill of the first drilling machine by use of the conveying device; after moving the glass sheet above the drill of the first machine, partially drilling the glass sheet from a position below the glass sheet by use of the core drill of the first drilling machine; after drilling from below the glass sheet, moving the glass sheet to a position just under the core drill of the second drilling machine by use of the conveying device; after moving the glass sheet under the drill of the second machine, forming the inner circular hole in the doughnut-shaped glass substrate by drilling the partially drilled portion from a position above the glass sheet by use of the core drill of the second drilling machine; after forming the inner circular hole, moving the glass sheet to a position just under the core drill of the third drilling machine by use of the conveying device; and after moving the glass sheet under the drill of the third machine, separating the doughnut-shaped glass substrate from the glass sheet by drilling the glass sheet from a position above the glass sheet so as to insert the blade edge of the core drill of the third drilling machine into the annular groove for clearance formed in the work stage by use of the core drill of the third drilling machine.