Method and apparatus for cutting glass blanks

Apparatus for cutting glass blanks according to a particular contour, comprising:

• a scoring machine including a separate drive therefor for scoring the contour on the glass blank;
• a breaking machine for severing the scored contour from the glass blank;
• a grinding machine including a table for supporting the glass blank, two grinding heads on opposite sides of said table, and a motor for driving each of said grinding heads, for smoothing the edges of the severed blank;
• a conveyor for conveying the glass blank to each of the above machines for performing their respective scoring, severing and grinding operations thereon;
• and a control system for controlling said scoring machine including its separate drive according to a digital scoring file, for controlling said breaking machine according to a digital breaking file, and for controlling said grinding machine including said grinding head motors according to a digital grinding file;
• said scoring machine further comprising:
• a table for supporting the glass blank after conveyed thereto by a conveyor;
• a first carriage movable by the scoring machine drive along a first axis with respect to said table;
• a second carriage movable by said scoring machine drive along a second axis with respect to said table perpendicular to said first axis;
• a scoring head;
• and mounting means for mounting said scoring head and edge sensor to said second carriage.

Apparatus for cutting glass blanks according to a particular contour, comprising:

• a scoring machine including a separate drive therefor for scoring the contour on the glass blank;
• a breaking machine for severing the scored contour from the glass blank;
• a grinding machine including a table for supporting the glass blank, two grinding heads on opposite sides of said table, and a motor for driving each of said grinding heads, for smoothing the edges of the severed blank;
• a conveyor for conveying the glass blank to each of the above machines for performing their respective scoring, severing and grinding operations thereon;
• and a control system for controlling said scoring machine including its separate drive according to a digital scoring file, for controlling said breaking machine according to a digital breaking file, and for controlling said grinding machine including said grinding head motors according to a digital grinding file;
• said breaking machine comprising a plurality of heating devices, and positioning means for positioning each of said heating devices with respect to a glass blank on the table;
• said control means including programmed means for controlling said positioning means to position each of the heating devices in alignment with the point of the smallest radius of curvature in each corner of the scored glass blank on the table;
• and means for energizing said heating devices when properly located with respect to the scored glass blank to apply a thermal shock to the glass blank such as to sever the scored contour from the glass blank.

Apparatus for cutting glass blanks according to a particular contour, comprising:

• a scoring machine including a separate drive therefor for scoring the contour on the glass blank;
• a breaking machine for severing the scored contour from the glass blank;
• a grinding machine including a table for supporting the glass blank, two grinding heads on opposite sides of said table, and a motor for driving each of said grinding heads, for smoothing the edges of the severed blank;
• a conveyor for conveying the glass blank to each of the above machines for performing their respective scoring, severing and grinding operations thereon;
• and a control system for controlling said scoring machine including its separate drive according to a digital scoring file, for controlling said breaking machine according to a digital breaking file, and for controlling said grinding machine including said grinding head motors according to a digital grinding file;
• said grinding machine further comprising:
• a grinding head;
• and a table for supporting the glass blank after conveyed thereto by the conveyor;
• said grinding machine drive including a motor for rotating said table around a first axis, and another motor for moving said grinding head along a second axis perpendicular to said first axis towards and away from the glass blank on the table;
• said control system including programmed control means for controlling said latter motor to cause it to smoothen the outer edges of the glass blank on said table.