Patent GB-1203135-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to glass cutting machines
IPC: C03B33/027
Filed: 1968-03-26
Abstract: 1,203,135. Glass-cutting apparatus. BOUSSOIS - SOUCHON - NEUVESEL. 26 March, 1968 [14 April, 1967], No. 14390/68. Heading ClM. A machine for cutting sheet-glass comprises a wheel-carrier frame 1 on which is pivotally mounted a tool-holder lever 5 and an electromagnetic control system 22 for actuating said tool-holder lever 5, wherein the wheel-carrier frame 1 carries a rocker-arm bracket 7 which is pivotally mounted coaxially with the toolholder lever 5 and urged elastically (as by spring 13, Fig. 5) towards a stop position defined by the wheel-carrier frame, the toolholder lever being in turn urged elastically (as by spring 33) towards a stop 32 defined with respect to the rocker-arm bracket 7 which is subjected to the action of the electromagnetic system 22. The carrier frame 1 is triangular shaped with one vertical side affixed to a main beam 20. A lower outer corner forms a yoke which carries a pivot-pin 3 on which both the tool-holder lever 5 and the L-shaped rocker-arm bracket 7 are mounted. To the outer end of the horizontal leg 16 of bracket 7 is pivotally attached a linkage 17 also connected to the movable core 21 of electromagnet 22. The vertical leg 11 of bracket 7 has its upper end angled at p degrees to the horizontal and carries a plate 41 terminating at its inner end with a lug 12. An adjustable spring 13 is attached to the lug and to the frame 1. The lever 5 is substantially parallel with the leg 16 of the bracket 7 and has a portion which extends outwardly of the bracket and carries at one end a roller 29 and the cutting wheel 27 of tungsten carbide. The wheel 27 just extends below roller 29. The spring 33 is also connected to a spindle extending through an aperture in leg 11. A weight 42 is mounted on the spindle and is permitted to move radially over a plate 41 with low friction. Back-to-back pairs of machines can be mounted to form score lines 1 cm. apart on a glass sheet. For ease of mounting each frame 1 is provided with a grooved upper end designed to co-operate with teeth on a part of beam 20, and has locating means at its base co-operating with complementary means on the beam 20. Further, for electrical contact, the frame 1 has lugs 75 which slide into conducting channels 61. In operation, when the electromagnet is off, the bracket 7 bears against frame 1 under the action of spring 13. Similarly, spring 33 causes lever 5 to bear against the bracket 7. The weight 42 rests against spindle 38 downwardly on plate 41 (see Fig. 6, not shown). Upon receipt of a suitable signal for commencement of cutting the magnet is energized and drags its core 21 upwardly. This causes the bracket to pivot as in direction H (Fig. 7) abruptly until spindle 38 hits against weight 42. This slows its movement, reducing impact of the cutting wheel 27 on the glass. Further pressure is applied when the weight moves again against spindle 38. Initially the lever 5 travels with the rocker arm, through action of spring 33; but when the wheel 27 contacts the glass this is prevented and the spring 33 is stretched, thus providing a known force for the cutting wheel to bear on the glass sheet. At the end of the cutting operation the magnet is de-energized and consequently the spring 13 takes over quickly returning the rocker-arm bracket 7 against the frame 1. Since this is a fast abrupt movement some rebound occurs which is rapidly damped by the weight 42, thus preventing damage to the sheet of glass. Each cutter can be individualy operated where there are a plurality in use.