Process and apparatus for dividing glass sheets into cuts

Abstract

A lifting bar (12) for breaking scored glass sheets along score lines extending in the X direction and a device (30) for breaking the glass sheets along score lines extending in the Y direction are provided at a glass breaking table (1), conveyor belts (10, 11, 20, 21) being included in order to move the scored and/or partially broken glass sheets to the various locations of the glass breaking table (1). Additionally, rim snap-off tools (50 and 60) are associated with the glass breaking table (1), these tools breaking off marginal strips located outside of score lines corresponding to zero lines from the glass sheet by twisting these marginal strips with respect to the glass sheet. The procedure herein is such that first the marginal strips extending in the X direction are broken off by the rim snap-off tool (50) before the glass sheet is broken along the score lines extending in the X direction. Then, from the individual thus-obtained glass strips, the further marginal strips located along the zero score lines extending in the Y direction are broken off by rim snap-off tools (60). Only thereafter are the glass strips divided into the desired glass cuts along the score lines extending in the Y direction and are carried away by the conveyor belt (21) of the glass breaking table (1).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.