Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
WATER JET MACHINE FOR CUTTING FLAT GLASS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present application is directed to the industrial sector and
relates to
a water jet machine employed in flat glass cutting, with horizontal cutting
occurring by
means of high pressure water combined with abrasives to perform holes and cut-
outs in
said flat glass sheets, with the large differential, compared to the Water Jet
machines
existing in the market, to be able to work in automated production line, with
feeding of
the glass pieces, squaring and automatic referencing, serving in this format
to the glass
branch with high productivity and standardization of the productive process.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[002] By means of an ultra-high-pressure abrasive fluid jet the abrasive
particles are sucked and directed against the glass of a pressurized source.
Currently,
the market offers various configurations of machines for the cutting and
reaming of flat
glass, whether machines equipped with milling cutters or water jet combined
with
abrasives. Although functional, such machines always rely on auxiliary
equipment to
carry and position the glass below the car responsible for cutting or reaming
the part.
In the same way, the car always acts on the three axes (X, Y, and Z) while the
part
remains static during the cutting.
[003] Referring to the most relevant prior art, US patent 4703591 discloses
a
system for making single cuts, in raw glass of various thicknesses at a high
speed. For
initial penetration into the glass, the pressurized source is maintained at a
first pressure
level so that the glass is initially penetrated without fracturing or flaking
unduly at the
penetration point and wherein the flow of abrasive fluid can be advanced along
the
desired path to the glass at a first speed.
[004] Although performing the task as determined by its specification, the
ultra-high-pressure jet cutting machine does not have automated means for
capturing
and positioning the glass below the car, requiring the work of at least four
people to
insert the glass on its table, which action can compromise the appearance of
the piece
due to scratches possibly produced on its surface during the process. Another
deficiency of the device is in the car which works on the three axes (X, Y,
and Z), and
may cause inaccuracies if the car is not perfectly calibrated or if there is
an involuntary
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movement of the part during the process.
[005] Realizing the absence of automated machines having water jet cutting
combined with abrasives and deficiencies detected in the state of the art, the
present
invention aims at making available to the market a new technology capable of
performing the cutting or reaming of glass parts in a more precise, automated,
safe
manner and without the possibility of generating faults in the parts, mainly
scratches
commonly caused in the prior arts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[006] The following description seeks to highlight the proposal at its
principle
level, without limiting itself to drawings or models of the components, with
reference
to the following illustrations listed below:
[007] Figure 1, schematic drawing depicting the water jet machine for
cutting
flat glass in front view;
[008] Figure 2, perspective view of the machine detailing its main
mechanical
and electronic components;
[009] Figure 3, isometric view depicting the integration of new tools in
the
waterjet machine for cutting flat glass;
[010] Figure 4, a schematic diagram depicting the item referred to as
carriage
and its applied components;
[011] Figures 5 and 6, schematic diagrams in partial views highlighting the
components inserted in the equipment carriage;
[012] Figure 7, side view depicting the components applied to the equipment
carriage;
[013] Figure 8, isometric view of the loading and unloading counters
detailing
the replacement of belts by wheeled drive shafts;
[014] Figures 9 and 10, partial side and isometric views of the machine
depicting the set identified as the gripper;
[015] Figure 11 depicting the insertion of a second car at the base of the
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equipment;
[016] Figures 12 and 13, side and front view of the second car depicting
its
main mechanical components.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[017] In accordance with figures 1 and 2, the water jet machine for cutting
flat
glass (1) consists of the input table (2A) equipped with input conveyor belts
(2.1)
positioned along its longitudinal path and moved in the axis X, photoelectric
sensors
(2.2) (detail B) and sizing ruler (2.3) with respective sensor (2.4) (detail
C), computer
system (3) data storage in the supervisory, whether part measures, its cutouts
and
positions, main car (4A) (detail A and D) with cutting head (4.1) moved
horizontally
on the Y axis and vertically on the Z axis and, finally, an output table (2B)
equipped
with output conveyor belts (2.5) located on the equipment's longitudinal
position.
[018] The operation of the water jet machine for cutting flat glass (1) is
initiated by operation at the input table (2A) which, through its input
conveyor belts
(2.1), receives the glass plate of a process prior to processing, it is moved
and finished
with automatic sizing of the part on sizing ruler (2.3) and pick-up by means
of
actuation of photoelectric sensors (2.2). In this initial stage, the operator
recognizes the
bar code of the part generated from the drawing made within a dedicated CAD
software. The machine, in front of its system, stores the measures of the
part, its
cutouts and positions in the supervisor. Further, on the inlet conveyor belts
(2.1), the
part to be bored or sized is sent to the machine input where the second sensor
(2.4)
causes the conveyors to collect and move the part to the axis referencing
mechanism
responsible to find the zero point of the part. The machine now starts its
cutting
process by moving the part through the X axis through the input conveyor belts
(2.1)
while the main car (4A) carries out the cutting movement on the Y axis and
approaches
or retreats the cutting head (4.1) in the Z axis, the combination of these
axes and
interpolation of movements in an efficient and coordinated manner via PLC,
taking
into account the predefined drawing in the CAD software.
[019] The cutout is generated by the high pressure of a water pumping
intensifier system as of an external unit integrated into the machine, by
sending to the
cutting head (4.1) an abrasive water jet which cuts the glass sheet. After the
machine
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has cut out all the defined patterns, the part is transferred by the input
conveyor belts
(2.1) to the next conveyors referred to as output conveyors (2.5) belonging to
the
output conveyor belts (2B) which can be coupled to another process machine of
glass
sheet processing.
[020] In addition to the pattern presented, the waterjet glass cutting
machine
(1) according to Figures 3, 4 and 5, can use in its carriage (4A) a second
tool referred
to a diamond point (4.2) (detail E and F), which rotates by electric motor
(4.3), is
coupled parallel to the cutting head (4.1) and has movement in the Z-axis
through the
set of blocks (4.4) with rails or linear guides (4.5). The introduction of the
point is
intended to make the functions even more dynamic, as it is possible to cut,
drill and
finish the glass sheets with one equipment.
[021] Another tool that can be used with the waterjet glass cutting machine
(Figures 6 and 7) is a linear movement in X to the carriage (4A) to increase
process
precision and work possibilities. It is accomplished by inserting a second set
of blocks
(4.6) with rails or linear guides (4.7) into the upper section of the
carriage, above the
set of blocks (4.8) and rails or linear guides (4.9) already installed on the
square section
guide base (5) and responsible for the movement on the axis Y.
[022] As for the loading (2A) and unloading (2B) counters of the glass
sheets,
the belts used (2.1 and 2.5) can be replaced by drive shafts (2.6) equipped
with rubber
or polymer wheels (2.7) (detail G of figure 8) over the entire length of said
counters.
When the drive shafts (2.6) are placed, the precision and stability in the
transport and
handling of the sheets are increased. There are also casters (2.8) which are
randomly
movable and fixed along longitudinal rods (2.9), assisting in the displacement
of the
sheet after its locking by the clamping set (6) during cutting or reaming
thereof. The
clamping set (6) (Figures 9 and 10) consists of two drive belts (6.1) and
(6.2), the
upper conveyor (6.1) is moved vertically by an actuator (6.3), thereby
generating
responsible pressure for keeping the glass sheet stabilized for the cutting or
reaming
process.
[023] Finally, the last tool to be implemented is a second carriage (4B)
(Figures 11, 12 and 13) at the subsequent end of the square section guide base
(5); this
carriage (4B) is moved linearly in Y by a set of blocks (4.6) with rails or
linear guides
(4.7) located in its upper section and consists of a cutting head (4.1),
together with the
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diamond point (4.2), which performs in the same way the rotational movement by
electric motor (4.3) and linear displacement in X by a set of blocks (4.4) and
rails or
linear guides (4.5) (detail H). By doubling the functionality of the
equipment, it is
possible to drill holes, cut out or ream the sheets on both sides
simultaneously in one or
two pieces with the same or different dimensions, saving time and reducing the
number
of sheets movements on the loading counter.
[024] According to its function, the waterjet glass cutting machine
performs
the holes, cutouts and reaming in glass sheets of various sizes in length,
thickness and
width, especially by the action of the positioning tools and functional
machining
movements (holes and/or cutouts), configured for the main carriage (4A),
loading
counter (2A) and unloading counter (2B) functions, in particular by
positioning and
synchronized functional movements during the drilling or cutting process of a
specific
part, ensuring better performance, precision and productivity of the
equipment,
dispensing complementary equipment.
[025] The inventive step must be understood in representative and non-
limiting details and may undergo variations and modifications in its
execution,
provided that these modifications do not change the essence of the equipment.
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