Patent Description:
Conventionally, the grinding of a glass plate, for example, is carried out by a grinding apparatus disposed on a transport passage of glass plates.

<CIT> discloses a glass-plate working apparatus in accordance with the pre-characterizing section of claim <NUM>. <CIT> discloses a glass plate working apparatus.

Incidentally, the grinding of glass plates is conventionally carried out by a grinding apparatus disposed on a transport passage of glass plates, so that it takes time and the glass plate working efficiency as a whole is poor.

The present invention has been devised in view of the above-described aspects, and its object is to provide a glass-plate working apparatus in which the efficiency of working with respect to the end face of the glass plate is excellent, and which makes it possible to shorten the working time required therefor and is high in productivity.

A glass-plate working apparatus in accordance with the present invention is defined in independent claim <NUM>.

According to the glass-plate working apparatus in accordance with the present invention, since there are provided the at least one first working head means for working the end face in the one region of the glass plate; the first moving means for moving the at least one first working head means along the end face in the one region of the glass plate; the at least one second working head means for working the end face in the other region of the glass plate; and the second moving means for moving the at least one second working head means along the end face in the other region of the glass plate, the working of the end face of the glass plate can be effected by the first working head means and the second working head means. Therefore, the efficiency of working with respect to the end face of the glass plate is high, and the working time of the operations can be shortened, making it possible to carry out glass plate working with high productivity. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the working time with respect to the end face of the glass plate.

With the glass-plate working apparatus in accordance with the present invention, in a preferred embodiment, the first moving means is adapted to move the at least one first working head means along the end face in the one region of the glass plate to cause the at least one first working head means to work the end face in the one region of the glass plate, and the second moving means is adapted to move the at least one second working head means along the end face in the other region of the glass plate to cause the at least one second working head means to work the end face in the other region of the glass plate. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time for working the end face including the one region and the other region of the glass plate, thereby making it possible to efficiently carry out the working of the end face of the glass plate.

In still another embodiment of the glass-plate working apparatus in accordance with the present invention, the at least one first working head means has at least one grinding wheel or at least one polishing wheel, or at least one grinding wheel and at least one polishing wheel, and the at least one second working head means has at least one grinding wheel or at least one polishing wheel, or at least one grinding wheel and at least one polishing wheel. Therefore, for example, in a case where the at least one first working head means has the at least one grinding wheel and the at least one polishing wheel, and the at least one second working head means has the at least one grinding wheel and the at least one polishing wheel, the operation ranging from grinding to polishing can be performed continuously with respect to the end face including the one region and the other region of the glass plate, and the working time can be shortened, thereby making it possible to efficiently effect working for the end face of the glass plate.

In a further embodiment of the glass-plate working apparatus in accordance with the present invention, the first working head means is constituted by a plurality of first working head means, and the second working head means is constituted by a plurality of second working head means. Therefore, since working (grinding or polishing, or both grinding and polishing) with respect to the end face of the glass plate can be effected by the plurality of first working head means and the plurality of second working head means, respectively, the working time with respect to the end face including the one region and the other region of the glass plate can be made even shorter, and a glass-plate working apparatus with high productivity can be obtained.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a glass-plate working apparatus in which the efficiency of working with respect to the end face of the glass plate is excellent, and which makes it possible to shorten the working time required therefor and is high in productivity.

Next, a more detailed description will be given of the present invention on the basis of a preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.

In <FIG>, a glass-plate working apparatus <NUM> in accordance with this embodiment is comprised of: a base <NUM>; a supporting table <NUM> which is provided on the base <NUM> and supports, in this embodiment, a rectangular flat plate-shaped glass plate <NUM>; a transporting means <NUM> which is provided on the base <NUM> and transports the glass plate <NUM> within a plane parallel to a surface of the glass plate <NUM>, i.e., in this embodiment in an X direction which is one direction within an horizontal plane and a direction in which the glass plate <NUM> is transported; a working head <NUM> which serves as a working head means for working an end face in a region R1 as one region of an end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> (the region R1 being a region from one end <NUM> of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> to a working point A on the end face <NUM> side of the glass plate <NUM> in the X direction), i.e., in this embodiment for grinding the end face in the region R1 of the glass plate <NUM>; a moving means <NUM> for moving the working head <NUM> in the X direction along the end face in the region R1 of the glass plate <NUM>; a working head <NUM> which, in the same way as the working head <NUM>, serves as a working head means for working an end face in a region R2 as another region of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> (the region R2 being a region from another end <NUM> of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> to a vicinity of a central portion on the end face <NUM> side of the glass plate <NUM> in the X direction) and a region R3 (the region R3 being a remaining region obtained by subtracting the regions R1 and R2 from the entire region of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM>), i.e., in this embodiment for grinding the end face in the regions R2 and R3 of the glass plate <NUM>; a moving means <NUM> for moving the working head <NUM> in the X direction along the end face in the regions R2 and R3 of the glass plate <NUM>; a working head <NUM> which serves as a working head means for working an end face in a region R4 as one region of another end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> opposing the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> in another direction intersecting the one direction within the horizontal plane, i.e., in this embodiment in a Y direction perpendicular to the X direction (the region R4 being a region from one end <NUM> of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> to a working point B on the end face <NUM> side of the glass plate <NUM> in the X direction), i.e., in this embodiment for grinding the end face in the region R4 of the glass plate <NUM>; a moving means <NUM> for moving the working head <NUM> in the X direction along the end face in the region R4; a working head <NUM> which, in the same way as the working head <NUM>, serves as a working head means for working an end face in a region R5 as another region of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> (the region R5 being a region from another end <NUM> of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> to a vicinity of a central portion on the end face <NUM> side of the glass plate <NUM> in the X direction) and a region R6 (the region R6 being a remaining region obtained by subtracting the regions R4 and R5 from the entire region of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM>), i.e., in this embodiment for grinding the end face in the regions R5 and R6 of the glass plate <NUM>; and a moving means <NUM> for moving the working head <NUM> in the X direction along the regions R5 and R6.

The supporting table <NUM> includes a pair of sucker devices <NUM> each having a rectangular sucker which sucks and fixes the glass plate <NUM> from a reverse surface side of the glass plate <NUM> and extends in the X direction, as well as a supporting table body <NUM> which is provided on the base <NUM> and on an upper end of which the pair of sucker devices <NUM> are disposed. The supporting table <NUM> is adapted to support the glass plate <NUM> by sucking and fixing the glass plate <NUM>, which has been transported by the transporting means <NUM>, by means of the pair of sucker devices <NUM> at a working position with respect to the glass plate <NUM>.

The transporting means <NUM> includes a sucker device <NUM> having a rectangular sucker which sucks and fixes an unworked glass plate <NUM>, which is carried in from an upstream side <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM>, from the reverse surface side of the glass plate <NUM> and extends in the X direction; a supporting stand <NUM> on an upper end of which the sucker device <NUM> is disposed and which supports the glass plate <NUM>; a traveling table <NUM> on which the supporting stand <NUM> is disposed and which is linearly movable (reciprocatable) in the X direction; a pair of guide rails <NUM> which are disposed on the base <NUM> and guide and support the traveling table <NUM> linearly movably (reciprocatably) in the X direction; and a driving means <NUM> for linearly moving (reciprocating) the traveling table <NUM> in the X direction along the guide rails <NUM>.

The driving means <NUM> includes a rack <NUM> which is disposed on the base <NUM> and extends in the X direction in parallel therewith; a pinion gear <NUM> meshing with the rack <NUM>; and a servo motor <NUM> which has an output rotating shaft (motor shaft) with the pinion gear <NUM> fitted at one end thereof and is mounted on the traveling table <NUM>. Concerning the glass plate <NUM> sucked and fixed by means of the sucker device <NUM>, the transporting means <NUM> is adapted to carry in the unworked glass plate <NUM> from the upstream side <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> onto the supporting table <NUM> and meanwhile to carry out a worked glass plate <NUM> from the supporting table <NUM> to a downstream side <NUM> by moving (reciprocating) the traveling table <NUM> in the X direction through the rotation of the pinion gear <NUM> by the operation of the servo motor <NUM> of the driving means <NUM> and through the meshing of the pinion gear <NUM> with the rack <NUM>.

The respective ones of the working heads <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are formed similarly to one another, and the respective ones of the moving means <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are formed similarly to one another. Therefore, a detailed description will be given hereafter of the working head <NUM> and the moving means <NUM>, while, as for the working heads <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and the moving means <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, the same reference numerals will be given in the drawings, as required, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The working head <NUM> includes a grinding wheel <NUM> for working the end face in the region R1 of the glass plate <NUM>, i.e., in this embodiment for grinding the end face in the region R1 of the glass plate <NUM>; a spindle motor <NUM> having an output rotating shaft (motor shaft) on one end of which the grinding wheel <NUM> is mounted; a slide body <NUM> on which the spindle motor <NUM> is mounted and which is capable of raising and lowering the spindle motor <NUM> in a Z direction which is a vertical direction; a pair of guide rails <NUM> for guiding and supporting the slide body <NUM> liftably movably (reciprocatably) in the Z direction; a ball screw nut (not shown) mounted on the slide body <NUM> and a ball screw <NUM> engaged threadedly with the ball screw nut; and a raising/lowering servo motor <NUM> which is coupled to the ball screw <NUM> and effects the raising and lowering movement (reciprocating movement) of the slide body <NUM> in the Z direction along the pair of guide rails <NUM>.

The moving means <NUM> includes a traveling table <NUM> which is linearly movable (reciprocatable) in the X direction; a pair of guide rails <NUM> which are disposed on the base <NUM> and guide and support the traveling table <NUM> linearly movably (reciprocatably) in the X direction; a driving means <NUM> for linearly moving (reciprocating) the traveling table <NUM> in the X direction along the guide rails <NUM>; and a cutting amount adjusting means <NUM> for adjusting a cutting amount (grinding amount) in the Y direction of the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> with respect to the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> by linearly moving (reciprocating) the grinding head <NUM> in the Y direction.

The driving means <NUM> includes a rack <NUM> which is disposed on the base <NUM> and extends in the X direction in parallel therewith; a pinion gear <NUM> meshing with the rack <NUM>; and a servo motor <NUM> which has an output rotating shaft (motor shaft) with the pinion gear <NUM> fitted at one end thereof and is mounted on the traveling table <NUM>. The moving means <NUM> is adapted to linearly move (reciprocate) the traveling table <NUM> in the X direction through the rotation of the pinion gear <NUM> by the operation of the servo motor <NUM> of the driving means <NUM> and through the meshing of the pinion gear <NUM> with the rack <NUM>.

The cutting amount adjusting means <NUM> includes a moving stand <NUM> on which the working head <NUM> is mounted and which is supported on the traveling table <NUM> linearly movably (reciprocatably) in the Y direction; a pair of guide rails <NUM> for guiding and supporting the moving stand <NUM> linearly movably (reciprocatably) in the Y direction; a ball screw nut (not shown) mounted on the moving stand <NUM> and a ball screw <NUM> engaged threadedly with the ball screw nut; and a servo motor <NUM> which is coupled to the ball screw <NUM> and linearly moves (reciprocates) the moving stand <NUM> in the Y direction along the pair of guide rails <NUM>. The moving means <NUM> is adapted to adjust the cutting amount (grinding amount) in the Y direction of the grinding wheel <NUM> of the grinding head <NUM> with respect to the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> by moving the moving stand <NUM> in the Y direction by means of the ball screw <NUM> by the operation of the servo motor <NUM> of the cutting amount adjusting means <NUM>.

The moving means <NUM> and <NUM> are adapted to move their respective working heads <NUM> and <NUM> in such a manner as to cause the working heads <NUM> and <NUM> to approach each other or move away from each other by simultaneously starting the respective grinding operation of the grinding wheels <NUM> of the working heads <NUM> and <NUM> under numerical control (NC).

In the same way as the moving means <NUM> and <NUM>, the moving means <NUM> and <NUM> are adapted to move their respective working heads <NUM> and <NUM> in such a manner as to cause the working heads <NUM> and <NUM> to approach each other or move away from each other by simultaneously starting the respective grinding operation of the grinding wheels <NUM> of the working heads <NUM> and <NUM> under numerical control.

In addition, the moving means <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be adapted to move their respective working heads <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> in such a manner as to cause the working heads <NUM> and <NUM> and the working heads <NUM> and <NUM> to approach each other or move away from each other, respectively, by simultaneously starting the respective grinding operation of the grinding wheels <NUM> of the working heads <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> under numerical control.

The respective moving speeds in the X direction of the working heads <NUM> and <NUM> may be mutually different or identical. Further, the respective moving speeds in the X direction of the working heads <NUM> and <NUM> may be mutually different or identical. Furthermore, the respective moving speeds in the X direction of the working heads <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be mutually different or identical.

On the side of the working heads <NUM> and <NUM>, the pair of guide rails <NUM> on that side of the working heads <NUM> and <NUM> are used in common for the working heads <NUM> and <NUM> and, on the side of the working heads <NUM> and <NUM> as well, the pair of guide rails <NUM> on that side of the working heads <NUM> and <NUM> are used in common for the working heads <NUM> and <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, a description will be given of an embodiment of the method of working the glass plate <NUM> by the glass-plate working apparatus <NUM> in accordance with the above-described embodiment.

As shown in <FIG>, in the working of both end faces <NUM> and <NUM> of the rectangular flat plate-shaped glass plate <NUM>, the glass plate <NUM> carried in from the upstream side <NUM> is sucked and fixed by means of the sucker device <NUM> and is transported onto the supporting table <NUM> by the transporting means <NUM>, and the unworked glass plate <NUM> transported by the transporting means <NUM> is sucked and fixed at the working position for the glass plate <NUM> by means of the pair of sucker devices <NUM>.

Next, as shown in <FIG>, with respect to the glass plate <NUM> sucked and fixed at the working position for the glass plate <NUM> by means of the pair of sucker devices <NUM>, the working head <NUM>, whose cutting amount (grinding amount) of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> has been adjusted in advance, is moved by the moving means <NUM> in an X1 direction, which is one direction of the X direction parallel to a direction directed from the one end <NUM> to the other end <NUM> of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> along the end face in the region R1 of the glass plate <NUM>, so as to cause the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> to grind the end face in the region R1 of the glass plate <NUM>. During the movement in the X1 direction of the working head <NUM> by the moving means <NUM>, the working head <NUM>, whose cutting amount (grinding amount) of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> has been adjusted in advance, is moved by the moving means <NUM> in an X2 direction, which is another direction of the X direction parallel to a direction directed from the other end <NUM> to the one end <NUM> of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> along the end face in the regions R2 and R3 of the glass plate <NUM>, so as to cause the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> to grind the end face in the region R2 of the glass plate <NUM>. Meanwhile, the working head <NUM>, whose cutting amount (grinding amount) of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> has been adjusted in advance, is moved by the moving means <NUM> in the same way as the moving means <NUM> in the X1 direction from the one end <NUM> of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> along the end face in the region R4, so as to cause the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> to grind the end face in the region R4 of the glass plate <NUM>. During the movement in the X1 direction of the working head <NUM> by the moving means <NUM>, the working head <NUM>, whose cutting amount (grinding amount) of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> has been adjusted in advance, is moved by the moving means <NUM> in the same way as the moving means <NUM> in the X2 direction from the other end <NUM> of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> along the end face in the regions R5 and R6 of the glass plate <NUM>, so as to cause the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> to grind the end face in the region R5 of the glass plate <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, after the grinding of the region R1 and the region R2 of the glass plate <NUM> and the region R4 and the region R5 of the glass plate <NUM>, the working head <NUM> is moved from the working point A of the glass plate <NUM> in the X2 direction by the moving means <NUM>, and during the movement of the working head <NUM> in the X2 direction by the moving means <NUM>, the working head <NUM> is further moved by the moving means <NUM> in the X2 direction from the vicinity of the central portion on the end face <NUM> side of the glass plate <NUM> along the end face in the region R3 of the glass plate <NUM>, so as to cause the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> to grind the end face in the region R3 of the glass plate <NUM>. Meanwhile, the working head <NUM> is moved from the working point B of the glass plate <NUM> in the X2 direction by the moving means <NUM>, and during the movement of the working head <NUM> in the X2 direction by the moving means <NUM>, the working head <NUM> is further moved by the moving means <NUM> in the X2 direction from the vicinity of the central portion on the end face <NUM> side of the glass plate <NUM> along the end face in the region R6 of the glass plate <NUM>, so as to cause the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> to grind the end face in the region R6 of the glass plate <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, after the grinding of the end face in the regions R1, R2, and R3 of the glass plate <NUM> by the moving means <NUM> and <NUM>, the working head <NUM> is further moved in the X2 direction by the moving means <NUM>, and during the movement of the working head <NUM> in the X2 direction by the moving means <NUM>, the working head <NUM> is moved from the working point A of the glass plate <NUM> in the X1 direction by the moving means <NUM>, to thereby return the working heads <NUM> and <NUM> to the positions shown in <FIG> by the moving means <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. Meanwhile, after the grinding of the end face in the regions R4, R5, and R6 of the glass plate <NUM> by the moving means <NUM> and <NUM>, the working head <NUM> is further moved in the X2 direction by the moving means <NUM>, and during the movement of the working head <NUM> in the X2 direction by the moving means <NUM>, the working head <NUM> is moved from the working point B of the glass plate <NUM> in the X1 direction by the moving means <NUM>, to thereby return the working heads <NUM> and <NUM> to the positions shown in <FIG> by the moving means <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively.

After the return of the working heads <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, the glass plate <NUM>, whose both end faces <NUM> and <NUM> (the respective end faces in the regions R1, R2, and R3 and the regions R4, R5, and R6) have been ground, is carried out by the transporting means <NUM> from the supporting table <NUM> to the downstream side <NUM> while being sucked and fixed by means of the sucker device <NUM>.

The moving means <NUM> allows the end face in the region R1 of the glass plate <NUM> to be ground by the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM>, while the moving means <NUM> allows the end face in the respective regions R2 and R3 of the glass plate <NUM> to be ground by the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM>, to thereby effect the grinding of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM>. Meanwhile, the moving means <NUM> allows the end face in the region R4 of the glass plate <NUM> to be ground by the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM>, while the moving means <NUM> allows the end face in the respective regions R5 and R6 of the glass plate <NUM> to be ground by the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM>, to thereby effect the grinding of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM>.

In this embodiment, in the grinding of the end face in each of the region R1 of the glass plate <NUM> by the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> and the region R2 of the glass plate <NUM> by the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM>, the moving means <NUM> and the moving means <NUM> are respectively adapted to move the working head <NUM> in the X1 direction along the end face in the region R1 of the glass plate <NUM> and move the working head <NUM> in the X2 direction along the end face in the region R2 of the glass plate <NUM>, respectively, so as to cause the working head <NUM> and the working head <NUM> to approach each other.

In this embodiment, in the grinding of the end face in each of the region R4 of the glass plate <NUM> by the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> and the region R5 of the glass plate <NUM> by the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM>, the moving means <NUM> and the moving means <NUM> are respectively adapted to move the working head <NUM> in the X1 direction along the end face in the region R4 of the glass plate <NUM> and move the working head <NUM> in the X2 direction along the end face in the region R5 of the glass plate <NUM>, respectively, so as to cause the working head <NUM> and the working head <NUM> to approach each other.

In this embodiment, the moving means <NUM> is adapted to move the working head <NUM> in the X1 direction along the end face in the region R1 of the glass plate <NUM> to thereby cause the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> to grind the end face in the region R1 of the glass plate <NUM>, while the moving means <NUM> is adapted to move the working head <NUM> in the X2 direction along the end face in the regions R2 and R3 of the glass plate <NUM> to thereby cause the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> to grind the end face in the respective regions R2 and R3 of the glass plate <NUM>, so as to effect the grinding of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM>. Meanwhile, the moving means <NUM> is adapted to move the working head <NUM> in the X1 direction along the end face in the region R4 of the glass plate <NUM> to thereby cause the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> to grind the end face in the region R4 of the glass plate <NUM>, while the moving means <NUM> is adapted to move the working head <NUM> in the X2 direction along the end face in the regions R5 and R6 of the glass plate <NUM> to thereby cause the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> to grind the end face in the respective regions R5 and R6 of the glass plate <NUM>, so as to effect the grinding of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM>. On the other hand, the following arrangement may be adopted in substitution for this arrangement. As shown in <FIG>, the moving means <NUM> is adapted to move the working head <NUM> from the working point A of the glass plate <NUM> in the X2 direction along the end face in the region R1 of the glass plate <NUM> to thereby cause the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> to grind the end face in the region R1 of the glass plate <NUM>, while the moving means <NUM> is adapted to move the working head <NUM> from the working point A of the glass plate <NUM> in the X1 direction along the end face in the regions R3 and R2 of the glass plate <NUM> to thereby cause the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> to grind the end face in the regions R3 and R2 of the glass plate <NUM>, so as to effect the grinding of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM>. Meanwhile, the moving means <NUM> is adapted to move the working head <NUM> from the working point B of the glass plate <NUM> in the X2 direction along the end face in the region R4 of the glass plate <NUM> to thereby cause the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> to grind the end face in the region R4 of the glass plate <NUM>, while the moving means <NUM> is adapted to move the working head <NUM> from the working point B of the glass plate <NUM> in the X1 direction along the end face in the regions R6 and R5 of the glass plate <NUM> to thereby cause the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> to grind the end face in the regions R6 and R5 of the glass plate <NUM>, so as to effect the grinding of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, a description will be given of another embodiment of the method of working the glass plate <NUM> by the glass-plate working apparatus <NUM> in accordance with the above-described embodiment.

As shown in <FIG>, with respect to the glass plate <NUM> sucked and fixed at the working position for the glass plate <NUM> by means of the pair of sucker devices <NUM>, the working head <NUM> is moved by the moving means <NUM> from the one end <NUM> of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> to the working point A of the glass plate <NUM> in a state of noncontact with the end face in the region R1 of the glass plate <NUM>, and during the movement of the working head <NUM> in the X1 direction from the one end <NUM> of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> to the working point A of the glass plate <NUM> by the moving means <NUM>, the working head <NUM> is moved by the moving means <NUM> from the other end <NUM> of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> to the vicinity of the central portion on the end face <NUM> side of the glass plate <NUM> in a state of noncontact with the end face in the regions R2 and R3 of the glass plate <NUM>. Meanwhile, the working head <NUM> is moved by the moving means <NUM> in the same way as the moving means <NUM> from the one end <NUM> of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> to the working point B of the glass plate <NUM> in a state of noncontact with the end face in the region R4 of the glass plate <NUM>, and during the movement of the working head <NUM> in the X1 direction from the one end <NUM> of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> to the working point B of the glass plate <NUM> by the moving means <NUM>, the working head <NUM> is moved by the moving means <NUM> in the same way as the moving means <NUM> from the other end <NUM> of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> to the vicinity of the central portion on the end face <NUM> side of the glass plate <NUM> in a state of noncontact with the end face in the regions R5 and R6 of the glass plate <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, after the movement of the working heads <NUM> and <NUM>, by using the moving means <NUM>, the moving stand <NUM> of the moving means <NUM> is moved in the Y direction by operating the servo motor <NUM> of the cutting amount adjusting means <NUM> of the moving means <NUM> so as to cause the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> to be brought into contact with the glass plate <NUM> and grind the vicinity of the working point A of the glass plate <NUM>. Meanwhile, after the movement of the working heads <NUM> and <NUM>, by using the moving means <NUM>, the moving stand <NUM> of the moving means <NUM> is moved in the Y direction by operating the servo motor <NUM> of the cutting amount adjusting means <NUM> of the moving means <NUM> so as to cause the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> to be brought into contact with the glass plate <NUM> and grind the vicinity of the working point B of the glass plate <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, after the grinding of the vicinity of the working point A of the glass plate <NUM> by the working head <NUM>, the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> is moved by the moving means <NUM> in the X2 direction from the working point A of the glass plate <NUM> along the end face in the region R1 of the glass plate <NUM> in a state of contact with the glass plate <NUM>, to thereby grind a part of the end face in the region R1 by the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM>. During the movement of the working head <NUM> in the X2 direction by the moving means <NUM>, by using the moving means <NUM>, the moving stand <NUM> of the moving means <NUM> is moved in the Y direction by operating the servo motor <NUM> of the cutting amount adjusting means <NUM> of the moving means <NUM> so as to cause the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> to be brought into contact with the working point A of the glass plate <NUM>. Meanwhile, after the grinding of the vicinity of the working point B of the glass plate <NUM> by the working head <NUM>, the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> is moved by the moving means <NUM> in the X2 direction from the working point B of the glass plate <NUM> along the end face in the region R4 of the glass plate <NUM> in a state of contact with the glass plate <NUM>, to thereby grind a part of the end face in the region R4 by the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM>. During the movement of the working head <NUM> in the X2 direction by the moving means <NUM>, by using the moving means <NUM>, the moving stand <NUM> of the moving means <NUM> is moved in the Y direction by operating the servo motor <NUM> of the cutting amount adjusting means <NUM> of the moving means <NUM> so as to cause the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> to be brought into contact with the working point B of the glass plate <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the working head <NUM> is further moved in the X2 direction along the end face in the region R1 of the glass plate <NUM> by the moving means <NUM>, so as to cause the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> to grind the end face in the remaining region of the region R1 of the glass plate <NUM>. During the movement of the working head <NUM> in the X2 direction by the moving means <NUM>, the working head <NUM> is moved by the moving means <NUM> in the X1 direction from the working point A of the glass plate <NUM> along the end face in the regions R3 and R2 of the glass plate <NUM>, so as to cause the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> to grind the end face in the regions R2 and R3 of the glass plate <NUM>, and the working heads <NUM> and <NUM> are respectively returned to the positions shown in <FIG> by the moving means <NUM> and <NUM>. Meanwhile, the working head <NUM> is further moved in the X2 direction along the end face in the region R4 of the glass plate <NUM> by the moving means <NUM>, so as to cause the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> to grind the end face in the remaining region of the region R4 of the glass plate <NUM>. During the movement of the working head <NUM> in the X2 direction by the moving means <NUM>, the working head <NUM> is moved by the moving means <NUM> in the X1 direction from the working point B of the glass plate <NUM> along the end face in the regions R6 and R5 of the glass plate <NUM>, so as to cause the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> to grind the end face in the regions R5 and R6 of the glass plate <NUM>, and the working heads <NUM> and <NUM> are respectively returned to the positions shown in <FIG> by the moving means <NUM> and <NUM>.

After the return of the working heads <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, the glass plate <NUM>, whose both end faces <NUM> and <NUM> have been ground, is transported and carried out by the transporting means <NUM> from the supporting table <NUM> to the downstream side <NUM> while being sucked and fixed by means of the sucker device <NUM>.

The glass-plate working apparatus <NUM> in accordance with this embodiment is comprised of: the base <NUM>; the supporting table <NUM> which is provided on the base <NUM> and supports the glass plate <NUM>; the transporting means <NUM> which is provided on the base <NUM> and transports the glass plate <NUM> in the X direction; the working head <NUM> for grinding the end face in the region R1 of one end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM>; the moving means <NUM> for moving the working head <NUM> in the X direction along the end face in the region R1 of the glass plate <NUM>; the working head <NUM> for grinding the end face in the regions R2 and R3 of the glass plate <NUM>; the moving means <NUM> for moving the working head <NUM> in the X direction along the end face in the regions R2 and R3 of the glass plate <NUM>; the working head <NUM> for grinding the end face in the region R4 of the glass plate <NUM>; the moving means <NUM> for moving the working head <NUM> in the X direction along the end face in the region R4 of the glass plate <NUM>; the working head <NUM> for grinding the end face in the regions R5 and R6 of the glass plate <NUM>; and the moving means <NUM> for moving the working head <NUM> in the X direction along the end face in the regions R5 and R6 of the glass plate <NUM>. Therefore, since the working of the end face in the respective regions R1, R2, and R3 of the glass plate <NUM> can be effected by the working head <NUM> and the working head <NUM>, and the working of the end face in the respective regions R4, R5, and R6 of the glass plate <NUM> can be effected by the working head <NUM> and the working head <NUM>, the efficiency of working with respect to the end faces of the glass plate is high, and the working time of these operations can be shortened, thereby making it possible to carry out glass plate working with high productivity.

In the embodiment of the method of working the glass plate <NUM> by the glass-plate working apparatus <NUM> in accordance with this embodiment shown in <FIG>, the following arrangement may be adopted. After the grinding of the end face in the region R1 of the glass plate <NUM> by the working head <NUM>, the moving stand <NUM> of the moving means <NUM> is moved in the Y direction by operating the servo motor <NUM> of the cutting amount adjusting means <NUM> of the moving means <NUM>, so as to move the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> away from the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM>. Subsequently, by operating the servo motor <NUM> of the driving means <NUM> of the moving means <NUM>, the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> is moved in the X2 direction from the working point A of the glass plate <NUM> in a state of noncontact with the end face in the region R1 of the glass plate <NUM>. Meanwhile, after the grinding of the end face in the region R4 of the glass plate <NUM> by the working head <NUM>, the moving stand <NUM> of the moving means <NUM> is moved in the Y direction by operating the servo motor <NUM> of the cutting amount adjusting means <NUM> of the moving means <NUM>, so as to move the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> away from the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM>. Subsequently, by operating the servo motor <NUM> of the driving means <NUM> of the moving means <NUM>, the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> is moved in the X2 direction from the working point B of the glass plate <NUM> in a state of noncontact with the end face in the region R4 of the glass plate <NUM>. In addition, an arrangement may be provided such that the respective grinding wheels <NUM> of the working heads <NUM> and <NUM> are not moved away from the end face <NUM> and the end face <NUM>, respectively, of the glass plate <NUM>, and are moved in the X2 direction by operating the respective servo motors <NUM> of the moving means <NUM> and <NUM>.

In the embodiment of the method of working the glass plate <NUM> by the glass-plate working apparatus <NUM> in accordance with this embodiment shown in <FIG>, the following arrangement may be adopted. After the grinding of the end face in the regions R2 and R3 of the glass plate <NUM> by the working head <NUM>, the moving stand <NUM> of the moving means <NUM> is moved in the Y direction by operating the servo motor <NUM> of the cutting amount adjusting means <NUM> of the moving means <NUM>, so as to move the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> away from the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM>. Subsequently, by operating the servo motor <NUM> of the driving means <NUM> of the moving means <NUM>, the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> is moved in the X1 direction from the working point A of the glass plate <NUM> in a state of noncontact with the end face in the regions R3 and R2 of the glass plate <NUM>. Meanwhile, after the grinding of the end face in the regions R5 and R6 of the glass plate <NUM> by the working head <NUM>, the moving stand <NUM> of the moving means <NUM> is moved in the Y direction by operating the servo motor <NUM> of the cutting amount adjusting means <NUM> of the moving means <NUM>, so as to move the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> away from the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM>. Subsequently, by operating the servo motor <NUM> of the driving means <NUM> of the moving means <NUM>, the grinding wheel <NUM> of the working head <NUM> is moved in the X1 direction from the working point B of the glass plate <NUM> in a state of noncontact with the end face in the regions R6 and R5 of the glass plate <NUM>. In addition, an arrangement may be provided such that the respective grinding wheels <NUM> of the working heads <NUM> and <NUM> are not moved away from the end face <NUM> and the end face <NUM>, respectively, of the glass plate <NUM>, and are moved in the X1 direction by operating the respective servo motors <NUM> of the moving means <NUM> and <NUM>.

In this embodiment, after the grinding of both end faces <NUM> and <NUM> (the respective end faces in the regions R1, R2, and R3 and the regions R4, R5, and R6) of the glass plate <NUM>, polishing may be performed with respect to both end faces <NUM> and <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> in a separate process (online or offline) on the downstream side <NUM> of the glass-plate working apparatus <NUM> in accordance with this embodiment.

In addition, in the case where polishing is performed with respect to both end faces <NUM> and <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> in the separate process, polishing may be performed with respect to both end faces <NUM> and <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> by another working head having a polishing wheel, and the other working head may be comprised of a similar arrangement to those of the moving means <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and the working heads <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> in accordance with this embodiment.

In this embodiment, each of the working heads <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> has the grinding wheel <NUM>, and in the case where polishing is performed with respect to both end faces <NUM> and <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM>, each of the working heads <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may have a polishing wheel in substitution for the grinding wheel <NUM>.

In this embodiment, each of the working heads <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> has the grinding wheel <NUM>, and in the case where grinding and polishing are consecutively performed with respect to both end faces <NUM> and <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM>, each of the working heads <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may further have a polishing wheel in addition to the grinding wheel <NUM>. In this case, since each of the working heads <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> is provided with the grinding wheel <NUM> and the polishing wheel, it is unnecessary to perform polishing with respect to both end faces <NUM> and <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> in the separate process (online or offline), and the operation ranging from grinding to polishing can be performed continuously with respect to both end faces <NUM> and <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM>, thereby making it possible to shorten the working time in grinding and polishing.

Each of the working heads <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> has the grinding wheel <NUM> or the polishing wheel, or the grinding wheel <NUM> and the polishing wheel. However, by combining these grinding wheel(s) <NUM> and the polishing wheel(s), each of the working heads <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may have, for example, the grinding wheel <NUM> and a plurality of polishing wheels, or a plurality of grinding wheels <NUM> and a polishing wheel, or a plurality of grinding wheels <NUM> and a plurality of polishing wheels.

Furthermore, each of the working heads <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be comprised of pluralities of working heads <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. According to the glass-plate working apparatus <NUM> having such pluralities of working heads <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, grinding or polishing, or both grinding and polishing, can be performed with respect to both end faces <NUM> and <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> by the pluralities of working heads <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, the working time with respect to both end faces <NUM> and <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> can be made even shorter, and the glass-plate working apparatus <NUM> with high productivity can be obtained.

Each of the pluralities of working heads <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may have any one of at least one grinding wheel <NUM> or at least one polishing wheel, or at least one grinding wheel <NUM> and at least one polishing wheel.

In this embodiment, each of the moving means <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and the working heads <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be numerically controlled independently, or each of the moving means <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and the working heads <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be numerically controlled synchronously.

In this embodiment, as each of the moving means <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and the working heads <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> is numerically controlled independently or synchronously, both end faces <NUM> and <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> may be ground respectively continuously.

In this embodiment, although each of both end faces <NUM> and <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> is adapted to be ground, working may be provided for either one end face between both end faces <NUM> and <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM>.

In this embodiment, each of the working heads <NUM> and <NUM> effects working of the end face in the respective regions R1, R2 and R3 of the glass plate <NUM> by moving in the X direction along the end face in the region R1 and the regions R2 and R3 of the glass plate <NUM>, while each of the working heads <NUM> and <NUM> effects working of the end face in the respective regions R3, R4, and R6 of the glass plate <NUM> by moving in the X direction along the end face in the region R4 and the regions R5 and R6 of the glass plate <NUM>. However, an arrangement may be provided such that, as the servo motors <NUM> of the driving means <NUM> of the moving means <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and the servo motors <NUM> of the cutting amount adjusting means <NUM> are numerically controlled synchronously, the respective ones of the working heads <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be moved in the X direction and the Y direction (made to undergo XY plane coordinate movement) along the end face in the regions R1, R2, and R3 and the regions R4, R5, and R6 of the glass plate <NUM> so as to effect working of both end faces <NUM> and <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM>, e.g., working of curves with respect to both end faces <NUM> and <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM>.

In this embodiment, although the working point A of the glass plate <NUM> is provided on the one end <NUM> side of the glass plate <NUM>, the working point A may be provided on the other end <NUM> side of the glass plate <NUM>, or the vicinity of a central portion on the end face <NUM> side of the glass plate <NUM>, or a central portion in the X direction of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> (this central portion being located between the one end <NUM> and the other end <NUM> of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> in the X direction). In addition, although the working point B of the glass plate <NUM> is provided on the one end <NUM> side of the glass plate <NUM>, in the same way as the working point A, the working point B may be provided on the other end <NUM> side of the glass plate <NUM>, or the vicinity of a central portion on the end face <NUM> side of the glass plate <NUM>, or a central portion in the X direction of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> (this central portion being located between the one end <NUM> and the other end <NUM> of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> in the X direction). In each case, it is possible to shorten the working time of the grinding or polishing, or both grinding and polishing, of the glass plate <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the glass plate <NUM> has a rectangular flat plate shape, and the glass plate <NUM> may alternatively have any shape among an elliptical shape, a circular shape, a polygonal shape, a square shape, a quadrilateral shape, and the like.

In this embodiment, as the servo motor <NUM> of the driving means <NUM> for moving the traveling table <NUM> in the X direction and the servo motor <NUM> of the cutting amount adjusting means <NUM> for moving the moving stand <NUM> in the Y direction are numerically controlled, the working heads <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are also capable of effecting corner cutting (cornering) of four corners of the glass plate <NUM> (the one end <NUM> and the other end <NUM> of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM> and the one end <NUM> and the other end <NUM> of the end face <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM>).

In this embodiment, the working heads <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may effect chamfering of the glass plate <NUM> together with the working of both end faces <NUM> and <NUM> of the glass plate <NUM>, or may effect chamfering together with corner cutting of four corners of the glass plate <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the driving means <NUM> of the transporting means <NUM> includes the rack <NUM> which is disposed on the base <NUM> and extends in the X direction in parallel therewith; the pinion gear <NUM> meshing with the rack <NUM>; and the servo motor <NUM> which has the output rotating shaft (motor shaft) with the pinion gear <NUM> fitted at one end thereof and is mounted on the traveling table <NUM>. Alternatively, however, the driving means <NUM> may include a ball screw nut, a ball screw engaged threadedly with the ball screw nut, and a servo motor which is coupled to the ball screw, in which case the transporting means <NUM> is capable of transporting the glass plate <NUM> more precisely with respect to the supporting table <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the driving means <NUM> of each of the moving means <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> includes the rack <NUM> which is disposed on the traveling table <NUM> and extends in the X direction in parallel therewith; the pinion gear <NUM> meshing with the rack <NUM>; and the servo motor <NUM> which has the output rotating shaft (motor shaft) with the pinion gear <NUM> fitted at one end thereof and is mounted on the traveling table <NUM>. Alternatively, however, the driving means <NUM> may include a ball screw nut, a ball screw engaged threadedly with the ball screw nut, and a servo motor which is coupled to the ball screw, in which case each of the moving means <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> is capable of effecting working more precisely by each of the working heads <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> in the working of the glass plate <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A glass-plate working apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
at least one first working head means (<NUM>) for effecting grinding or polishing, or both grinding and polishing, of a first region (R1) in an end face (<NUM>) of a glass plate (<NUM>);
a first moving means (<NUM>) for moving said at least one first working head means (<NUM>) along the first region (R1) in the end face (<NUM>) of the glass plate (<NUM>);
at least one second working head means (<NUM>) for effecting grinding or polishing, or both grinding and polishing, of a second region (R2, R3) in the end face (<NUM>) of the glass plate (<NUM>); and
a second moving means (<NUM>) for moving said at least one second working head means (<NUM>) along the second region (R2, R3) in the end face (<NUM>) of the glass plate (<NUM>),
characterized in that
said first moving means (<NUM>) is adapted to move said at least one first working head means (<NUM>) in a first direction among the X directions (X1, X2) along the first region (R1), and said second moving means (<NUM>) is adapted to move said at least one second working head means (<NUM>) in a second direction among the X directions (X1, X2) along the second region (R2, R3) such that said at least one first working head means (<NUM>) and said at least one second working head means (<NUM>) approach each other or move away from each other.