DE29621422U1 - Device for processing plate-like glass or stone bodies - Google Patents

Description

Device for processing plate-like glass or Stone body Description

The present invention relates to a device for processing plate-like glass or stone bodies, in particular for making holes, grooves, slots or the like in such a plate-like glass or stone body, comprising: a glass or stone body carrier, which has a support/processing plane for the glass to be processed.

ls or stone body, processing means for processing the glass or stone body, which processing means can be moved between a retracted rest position and an advanced processing position towards and away from the support/processing plane, whereby for processing the glass or stone body by the processing means at any point on the glass or stone body, the glass or stone body and the processing means can be moved relative to one another in mutually independent directions, hereinafter referred to as coordinate directions, whereby for producing a

2s Relative movement in a first essentially horizontal coordinate direction, hereinafter referred to as the X-direction, the glass or stone body can be moved back and forth in the support/processing plane in the X-direction.

Such devices are used, for example, to create hinge mounting holes in glass doors. In these devices, glass panes are supported on a processing table in a horizontal support/processing plane. For this purpose, the table has, for example,

3s a plurality of rollers, such as ball rollers or the like, are provided, or a plurality of air outlet openings are provided in the table, through which air under pressure

and thus keeps a glass pane supported on the table suspended. In this way, the glass panes can be moved on the table in any direction. Furthermore, two drilling machines are provided in a central position on the table, i.e. one drilling machine is positioned above the support/processing level, the other drilling machine is positioned below the support/processing level. Both drilling machines can be moved along the same vertical axis towards the support/processing level in order to

&iacgr;&ogr; to drill holes in the glass pane to be processed from both sides at the same position. The drilling machines can only be moved vertically in relation to the table. In order to be able to process the glass panes at any position, they are, as already mentioned,

is shifted from the support/machining plane in such a way that the area to be machined is positioned opposite the drilling machines.

In order to be able to process plate-like glass or stone bodies with relatively large dimensions, it is necessary with these known devices to provide a processing table whose support area for the glass or stone body, which defines the support/processing level, must be significantly larger than the glass or stone body itself, in order to bring the glass or stone body into the desired processing position by appropriate back and forth movement. This in turn means that the floor space required by such a large table in a workshop is relatively large and thus cannot be used for other equipment. Furthermore, the drilling machines are arranged in an almost central area of the table and are therefore difficult to access for manual operation or, for example, for exchanging drilling tools. Rinsing water supplied during the drilling process, which serves to remove chips generated during drilling, is distributed over almost the entire surface of a processed glass or stone body and runs off its outer edge areas, so that a correspondingly large

large area of the machining table and therefore also a correspondingly large area of the workshop floor is contaminated.

In contrast, it is the object of the present invention to provide a device for processing plate-like glass or stone bodies, in particular for making holes, grooves, elongated holes or the like in a plate-like glass or stone body, with which the processing of plate-like glass or stone bodies can be carried out in a simple manner with only a small footprint.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a device for processing plate-like glass or stone bodies, in particular

ls particularly for making holes, grooves, slots or the like in such a plate-like glass or stone body, comprising: a glass or stone body carrier, which provides a support/processing plane for the glass or stone body to be processed, processing means for processing the glass or stone body, which processing means can be moved between a retracted rest position and an advanced processing position towards and away from the support/processing plane, whereby for processing the glass or stone body by the processing means at any point on the glass or stone body, the glass or stone body and the processing means can be moved relative to one another in mutually independent directions, hereinafter referred to as coordinate directions, whereby for producing a. Relative movement in a first essentially horizontal coordinate direction, hereinafter referred to as the X-direction, the glass or stone body can be moved back and forth in the support/processing plane in the X-direction.

In the device according to the invention, the support/processing plane provided by the glass or stone body carrier is arranged with respect to a horizontal plane in a plane connected to a vertical

plane. Furthermore, in order to generate a relative movement in a second coordinate direction, hereinafter referred to as the Y direction, the processing means can be moved back and forth in the Y direction.

With the device according to the invention, the plate-like glass or stone bodies can be moved and processed in an almost vertical orientation, i.e. in an orientation in which they are stored and transported. Tilting the glass or stone bodies is therefore not necessary, so that on the one hand the loading of the device according to the invention with the glass or stone bodies is easier to carry out and on the other hand the risk of glass or stone bodies breaking when tilting into a horizontal position is reduced.

is level can be avoided.

Positioning in an almost vertical plane also has the advantage that the operator of the device has direct access to the area in which a glass or stone body is being processed. This means that the positioning of the processing means in the Y direction can be carried out with great precision, while at the same time the footprint required by the invention can be significantly reduced compared to the prior art due to this almost vertical positioning of the glass or stone bodies.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that an angle enclosed between the support/processing plane and the vertical plane is in the range of 0° to 20°, preferably approximately 8° to 10°.

In order to be able to carry out a very fast and efficient positioning of the glass or stone body and the processing means for processing the glass or stone body at any point by moving the glass or stone body on the one hand and the processing means on the other hand in their respective coordinate directions, it is proposed that the

The X-direction and the Y-direction are mutually orthogonal and parallel to the support/machining plane or are contained in it.

If it is provided that surface support means are provided on the glass or stone body carrier, by means of which the glass or stone body is held in the support/processing plane and which enable a displacement of the glass or stone body relative to the glass or stone body carrier in the X direction γ, then a very easy displacement of the glass or stone body in the support/processing plane is possible without causing damage to the glass or stone body, i.e. scratching or the like.

is Advantageously, the surface support means comprise a plurality of roller elements or the like arranged distributed in the X-direction and the Y-direction.

Since glass or stone bodies of a wide variety of dimensions can be processed with the device according to the invention, it is advantageous if a distance between roller elements in the Y direction in a lower support area of the glass or stone body carrier is smaller than in an upper support area of the glass or stone body carrier. This ensures that even glass or stone bodies with smaller dimensions, which are essentially positioned in the lower support area of the glass or stone body carrier, are safely supported in the support surface/processing plane without there being any risk of tipping over. In the case of glass or stone bodies with a relatively large extension in the Y-direction, a secure hold in the support/processing plane is also provided by the roller elements arranged in the upper support area with a greater distance in the Y-direction, whereby, however, due to the greater distance in the Y-direction in the upper support area of the glass or stone body carrier, the number of roller elements there is reduced and thus the structure of the inventive

- 6 Device
can be simplified.

In order to further simplify the displacement of the glass or stone body in the X-direction, it is proposed that edge support means are also provided in the lower support area of the glass or stone body carrier, which support a lower edge of the glass or stone body carried in the support/processing plane and enable a displacement of the glass or stone body in the X-direction.

Here too, it can be provided, for example, that the edge support means comprise a plurality of roller elements or the like arranged one after the other in the X-direction. The provision of roller elements as the edge support

The device also has the advantage that the glass or stone bodies can be positioned relatively easily in the support/processing plane. For example, a glass or stone body can be grasped at its lower edge with one hand and then positioned in the support/processing plane in such a way that the hand grasping the glass or stone body from below is positioned between two roller elements that follow one another in the X direction and the glass or stone body is then lowered until its lower edge rests on the roller elements. There is therefore no risk of the hand or hands carrying the glass or stone body being trapped or crushed.

Since, as already mentioned, glass or stone bodies with a wide variety of dimensions can be processed, it is again advantageous if the distance between roller elements in the X direction increases with increasing distance from the processing equipment in the X direction. This also ensures that glass or stone bodies with a relatively small extension in the X direction are supported safely and without tipping in the area of the processing equipment. To support glass or stone bodies with relatively large dimensions in the X direction,

In the area further away from the processing means, rollers arranged at a greater distance are sufficient. This also contributes to a relatively simple structure of the device according to the invention.

In the device according to the invention, a processing means carrier device is advantageously provided which is firmly connected to the glass or stone body carrier and on which the processing means are arranged so as to be displaceable in the Y direction.

For example, it can be provided that the processing means carrier device comprises sliding beam means which extend essentially in the Y direction and are arranged at a distance from and essentially parallel to the support/processing plane.

A displacement device can be provided to generate the displacement of the processing device in the Y direction.

In order to prevent further displacement after positioning the processing means in the desired position in the Y direction and to ensure an exact processing process, it is proposed that a processing means locking device is also provided for locking the processing means on the processing means carrier device against displacement in the Y direction.

The processing means are advantageously arranged on the processing means carrier device so that they can be moved between the rest position and the processing position. In particular, for producing grooves or elongated holes in plate-like glass or stone bodies, it is advantageous if the processing means can be locked in relation to the processing means carrier device at least in the processing position. In this case, the processing means are thus moved into the processing position

are brought, are locked there, and then, for example, the processing tools are moved in the Y direction by means of the displacement device, thus creating a slot or a groove in the Y direction.
s

To create holes through the plate-like glass or stone bodies, it is advantageous if the processing means comprise two processing units which are arranged opposite one another on both sides of the support/processing plane and which can be displaced along the same axis of movement between their respective rest position and their respective processing position. This prevents, when only a single processing unit is used on one side at the end of the processing process, glass or stone parts from splintering off the surface of the glass or stone body which faces away from the processing unit.

Especially for making holes in plate-like glass or stone bodies, it is advantageous if the movement axis is orthogonal to the support/processing plane.

When two processing units are provided on both sides of the support/processing plane, the 2s processing means carrier device according to the invention preferably comprises a sliding beam means for each processing unit. This ensures safe guidance of the processing units and correspondingly precise processing of the glass or stone bodies.

In order to be able to bring the two processing units into the exact position aligned along the same axis when they are moved in the Y direction, it is proposed that the displacement device is designed to move the two processing units together in the Y direction.

To carry out the machining operations, the machining means or each machining unit can comprise at least one machining device, in particular a drilling machine, milling machine or the like.

To create groups of boreholes or the like, it is advantageous if the processing means or each processing unit comprise a plurality of processing devices. The processing devices can then be brought into the desired relative position to each other, corresponding to the group of boreholes, and the processing process can thus be carried out without the processing units or processing means having to be moved again to create each individual borehole.

In order to be able to remove glass or stone dust or chips generated during the drilling process from the processing area, flushing water supply means can also be provided for supplying flushing water to the processing area of the glass or stone body during the processing process.

In this case, a water collecting tray device is advantageously provided in a lower area of the glass or stone body carrier, in which the rinsing water supplied during the processing process is collected and thus prevented from dripping onto the workshop floor or the like.

It is also proposed that a glass or stone body fixing device for fixing glass or stone bodies against displacement in the X direction is provided on the glass or stone body carrier. For example, the glass or stone body fixing device can comprise pressure plate means pivotably mounted on the displacement beam means about a pivot axis running essentially in the Y direction, which preferably extend in the Y direction over essentially the entire support area of the glass or stone

body carrier. This ensures that regardless of the extension in the Y direction, glass or stone bodies of different sizes are always held securely during the processing process.

In order to avoid having to manually hold the glass or stone body fixing device in the fixing position during the processing process, it is proposed that the glass or stone body fixing device be pre-tensioned into a fixing position that fixes the glass or stone body against displacement in the X direction on the glass or stone body carrier and/or be lockable in the fixing position.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the

The device according to the invention is constructed in a modular manner. It comprises at least one central module part with a central glass or stone body support part and with the processing means. At least one side module part is also provided, which comprises a glass or stone body support side part, which can be arranged adjacent to the central glass or stone body support part and/or another side module part. With such a design, easy transportability of the device according to the invention is ensured, whereby by appropriately arranging different module parts next to each other, a device can be created which has a relatively large extension in the X direction and is therefore suitable for processing relatively large glass or stone bodies. Furthermore, by appropriately arranging different module parts next to each other, it is possible to create different processing stations, each of which is defined by the central module parts. These processing stations can include, for example, drilling stations, milling stations or grinding stations or the like, which are either directly adjacent to one another or separated by side module parts so that the glass or stone bodies can be moved directly between the various processing stations.

In particular in the modular design, it is advantageous if the water collecting tray device also comprises a plurality of water collecting tray segments arranged consecutively in the X direction.

The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments are shown. It shows:

 Fig. 1 is a side view of a device according to the invention for processing plate-like glass or stone bodies;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along a line II-II in Fig. is I;

Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view of the device of Fig. 1 in the area in which drilling machines are arranged, in the viewing direction III in Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of the drive for the two drilling machines shown in Fig. 3.

The device according to the invention for processing plate-like glass or stone bodies is described below with reference to the figures using a device generally designated 10, with which in particular plate-like glass bodies, such as a glass pane 12 shown in dashed lines in the figures, can be processed. However, such a device can be used in the same way for processing plate-like stone bodies.

The device 10 comprises a glass body carrier 14, which has a plurality of almost vertically extending vertical struts 16 3s and a plurality of approximately horizontally extending and arranged one above the other horizontal struts 18. The vertical struts 16 and the horizontal struts 18 are connected to

firmly connected to one another by welding, screwing or the like. A plurality of roller elements 20 are attached to the horizontal struts 18 in succession in an X direction. The roller elements 20 define a support/processing plane E for the glass pane 12. In particular, the rollers 20 are attached to the respective horizontal struts 18 in such a way that they enable the glass pane 12 supported on them to be moved in an X direction.

&iacgr;&ogr; On a lower horizontal strut 18, a plurality of roller elements 22 with rotation axes essentially orthogonal to the support/processing plane E are mounted one after the other in the X direction. The roller elements 22 delimit a support area of the glass body carrier 14 according to

is downwards and provide a support for the lower edge 24 of the glass pane 12. Since the roller elements 22 are again arranged one after the other in the X direction, they allow, in conjunction with the roller elements 20 on the horizontal struts 18, a displacement of the glass pane 12 resting on them in the X direction. Although roller elements 20, 22 are shown in the figures, it is self-evident that other elements that allow the glass pane 12 to be easily displaced can be provided here, such as roller elements, ball rollers or the like. A

2s Use of sliding elements conceivable.

As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the roller elements 20 and 22 are each positioned in such a way that the distance between such rollers in the X direction decreases with increasing distance from the central area in which the drilling machines 38 are arranged. Accordingly, the distance between the roller elements 20 in the Y direction also decreases with increasing distance from the lower section of the support area towards the top. The reason for this is that when processing smaller glass plates, these are stored essentially in the central area of the device 10 and thus a relatively high roller density must be provided there. When processing

When processing larger glass plates or glass bodies that are supported along a relatively large area in both the X and Y directions, support by a relatively small number of rollers is sufficient in the sections of the same that are further away from the processing area.

As can be seen in particular in Fig. 2, between the support/processing plane E defined by the roller elements 20 on the glass body carrier 14 and a vertical plane V there is a

γ angle α in the range from 8 to 10°. This angle α is intended to support the glass pane 12 in a secure manner on the glass body carrier 14 without there being any risk of it tipping forwards. The angle range of 8 to 10° proves to be advantageous here because, on the one hand, it enables an almost vertical and thus very space-saving arrangement in the device according to the invention, but on the other hand is sufficiently large to prevent the glass pane 12 from accidentally tipping out of the support/processing plane E. In principle, it would also be conceivable to arrange the support/processing plane completely vertically. In this case, however, additional holding elements would have to be provided which then prevent the glass pane 12 from tipping.

The horizontal struts 18 and vertical struts 16 forming the glass body carrier 14 are attached to a floor stand 26, generally designated 26. The floor stand 26 comprises a plurality of feet 28 and struts 30 to which the feet 28 are secured, for example by welding or the like. The struts 30 form a frame to which the vertical struts 16 are then secured and held by additional support struts 32.

The device 10 further comprises two sliding beams 34 extending parallel to the plane E and orthogonal to the X-direction, i.e. in a Y-direction. The sliding beams 34 are arranged in the X-direction approximately in the middle of the length of the

Device 10 is arranged and firmly connected to the struts 3 0 of the floor stand 26 by welding, screwing or the like. Linear guides 3 6 are attached to the sliding beams 34, which extend in the Y direction. A drilling machine 3 8 is attached to each linear guide 3 6 by a drilling machine carrier 4 0 and guided in the Y direction. The linear guides 36 are precision guides that provide extremely precise guidance and positioning for the drilling machines 38.

A mechanism for moving the drilling machines 38 with their respective supports 40 on the displacement beams 34 is shown schematically in Fig. 4. The mechanism 42 has in each displacement beam 34 in an upper region thereof

is arranged a first wheel 44. In a lower area of the sliding beams 34 there is a second wheel 46 of the

■ Sliding mechanism 42 is arranged. The wheels 44, 46 can be, for example, gear wheels, and a chain 48 is then guided over each of these. It goes without saying that other designs can be provided for the wheels, such as pulleys, in which case an endless belt is provided instead of the chains 48.

The gears 46 and 44 are each rotatably mounted in the sliding beam 34. A first spur gear 52 is rigidly connected to the lower gear 46 on the left in the illustration in Figure 4 via a shaft 50. A second spur gear 54 with a smaller diameter meshes with the first spur gear 52. The second spur gear 54 is in turn rigidly connected to a handwheel 58 via a shaft 56. In particular, the arrangement is such that the shaft 56 protrudes outwards from the sliding beam 34 on the left in the illustration in Figure 2, so that the handwheel 58 is exposed on the outside for operation. For this purpose, a handle 60 is attached to the handwheel 58. By turning the handle 60 like a crank, the second axis 56 is rotated with the second front edge 54. The rotation is transmitted to the first spur gear 52 by the second spur gear 54, whereby due to the

A reduction in revolutions occurs due to the different diameters of these two spur gears. The rotation of the first spur gear 52 is transmitted to the left lower gear 46 and via the chain 48 to the left upper gear 44. The two s upper gears 44 are in turn rigidly connected to one another via a shaft 62. The shaft 62 extends in a connecting support 64 that connects the two sliding beams 34 to one another in their upper area and can be supported in this, for example, by ball or roller bearings or the like.

&iacgr;&ogr; be mounted. The rotation transmitted to the left upper gear 44 by the left chain 48 is transmitted by the shaft 62 to the right upper gear 44 and the right chain 48 also to the right lower gear 46. This means that when the handwheel 58 is rotated, the two chains 48 each move in

is synchronous to one another, whereby, however, due to the speed reduction via the first and second spur gears 52, 54, a very sensitive displacement of the chains 48 is possible. A drill driver 66 is fixed to each of the two chains 48, which can be displaced back and forth in the Y direction when the gears 44, 46 rotate and the chains 48 rotate accordingly. The drill drivers 66 can be designed in such a way that they protrude outwards again beyond the displacement beams 34 and are coupled to the drill supports 40 guided on the linear guides 36 for displacing the drills 38.

This means that when the handwheel 58 is operated and the previously described displacement of the drill driver 66 in the Y direction, the two drills 38 are moved in synchronism with each other in the Y direction. Both drills can thus be moved together by operating the handwheel 58 in such a way that their respective axes of rotation lie on a common axis A that is orthogonal to the support/processing plane E.

Furthermore, on each of the chains 4 8, at the sections between the gears 4.4 and 46, where the drilling machine

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A counterweight 53 is fixedly attached to the chains 48 and the carriers 66 are not connected to the chains 48. These counterweights 53 each provide a weight balance to the drills connected to the drill carriers 66. When actuated via the handwheel 58, only the mass inertia must be overcome, the weight of the drills themselves does not have to be lifted manually.

Each of the counterweights 53 has a Y-direction

‘ extending through opening 55 through which a rod 51 also extends in the Y direction. Each rod 51 is fixed, for example, to an inner side of the sliding beams 34 and thus guides the counterweights 53. Each of the counterweights 53 is secured by screws or bolts 57 or the like.

is fixed to the respective assigned chain 4 8.

The two drilling machines 38 are each attached to their associated supports 40 in such a way that their drilling tools can be moved in the direction of the axis A, i.e. a Z direction, towards or away from the glass pane 12. For this purpose, an actuating lever 70 is provided for the drilling machine 38 on the left in the illustration in Fig. 2, which can be pivoted by an operator and thereby moves either the entire drilling machine 38 or just a front shaft section 72 of the same in the direction of the axis A. The structure of this mechanism can be similar to that used in conventional drilling stands. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, it is provided here that a guide groove, guide rail or the like extending in the Z direction is provided on each of the supports 40, in which the entire drilling machine can be moved in the Z direction. This is particularly advantageous when machining relatively thick glass panes in order to ensure the unhindered ejection of drill cores. The drilling machine on the left in the illustration in Fig. 2 is actuated in a corresponding manner via an actuating lever 74 and a cable element 76, e.g. a Bowden cable. The actuating lever 74 is attached to the

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Representation of Fig. 2 left strut 30 of the floor stand 26. This means that an operator can operate both drilling machines from the same side of the device 10 to move their drilling tools 6 8 in the direction of the axis A. The two drilling machines are supplied with electrical energy from a central supply station 78, which is attached to the connecting support 64, via power lines 8 0. For the drilling machine 3 8 on the right in the representation of Fig. 2, a switch 82 is also provided, which is attached to the sliding bar 34, on which the drilling machine 38 on the left in Fig. 2 is guided. This drilling machine 38 on the left in Fig. 2 has its own switch element 84. This means that all functions of both drilling machines 38, i.e. switching on/off, regulating the rotation speed-

ls speed, movement in the direction of the A axis, and translation in the direction of the Y axis, can be carried out from one side.

Furthermore, both drilling machines 38 are supplied with rinsing water via lines 86. During the drilling process, rinsing water can be supplied through these lines 86 in the area of the drilling tools 68, through which any dust or chips produced during drilling are rinsed away, run down along the glass pane 12 and are collected in a drain provided on the floor stand 26 and extending over its entire length.

2s water collecting tray 88. To switch the water supply on and off, a corresponding shut-off valve is provided on the left-hand side in the illustration in Fig. 2, which is not shown in the figures. In the area where the water pipes 86 are connected to the drilling machines 38, fine-adjusting valves can be provided, by means of which the water discharge quantity can be precisely adjusted in accordance with the drilling process being carried out. Furthermore, a water drain (not shown in the figures) is provided for the water collecting tray 88 in order to be able to prevent this water collecting tray 88 from overflowing. Splash guards 90 are provided on the drilling machines 38, which prevent rinsing water from leaking out during operation due to

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of the rotating drilling tool 68 to the front or to the back.

To supply the rinsing water, the device according to the invention can be connected to a conventional pipe system, or a water tank (not shown) can be provided on it, which is, for example, directly connected to the water collecting tray 88 via a filter device. A water circuit is then created in which the dust or chippings washed away by the rinsing water are filtered out by the filter device and impairment of the circulatory system is avoided.

To enable displacement in the Y direction, the power lines 80 and the water lines 86 are designed in a spiral or similar manner so that they can expand or contract when the drilling machines 38 are displaced in the Y direction and thus do not impair the operation of the device according to the invention.

In Figures 3 and 3 it can be seen that the horizontal struts 18, to which the roller elements 20 and 22 are also attached, are interrupted in the X direction in the area where the drilling machines 38 are positioned, so that a free passage 19 is formed between them. This enables free movement of the drilling machine 38, which is arranged behind the horizontal struts 18 in the illustration in Figure 3, in the Y direction.

As can also be seen in Fig. 3, the device 10 according to the invention also has a glass body fixing device 92. This comprises a pressure plate part 94 which is attached to the left-hand sliding bar 34 in the illustration in Fig. 2 so as to be pivotable about an axis extending in the Y direction and which can be pivoted about its pivot axis via an actuating lever 96. If the actuating lever 96 is pushed forwards in the direction of

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of an arrow S, the pressure plate part 94 pivots in the direction of an arrow P and comes to rest on the glass pane 12 with an elastic support part 98, which is attached to the end section of the latter remote from the pivot axis. The fixing device 92 also comprises a locking device (not shown), by means of which the actuating lever 96 and/or the plate part 94 can then be locked in the position fixing the glass pane 12. It can be provided that the pressure plate part 94

&iacgr;&ogr; is elastically deformable, so that when the operating lever 96 is pivoted forwards, i.e. in the direction of arrow S, and the plate part 94 is pivoted accordingly in the direction of arrow P and after the plate part 94 has been placed on the glass pane 12 via the elastic support part 98, the plate

ls ten part 94 is bent against the direction of arrow P and the device is locked in such a position. The glass pane 12 is then pressed under prestress against the roller elements 20 on the horizontal supports 18. In addition to providing a locking device, it is also possible to provide means which prestress the entire fixing device 92 into a position in which it fixes the glass pane 12 arranged in the device 10. For example, the provision of a spring or the like acting between the sliding bar 34 and the plate part 94 is possible here.

possible.

In order to be able to securely fix glass plates of any size in the Y direction to the device 10, the plate part 94 extends in the Y direction almost over the entire support area provided by the glass body carrier 14.

The procedure in which a drilling process is carried out using the device 10 according to the invention is described below. First, the glass pane 12 is placed on the roller elements 22. This is possible in a simple manner, since a hand grasping a lower edge 24 of the glass pane can be arranged between individual rollers 22 and

then the glass pane 12 can be lowered until it rests on the roller elements 22. Before or after this, a stop part 99 for the glass pane 12 can be brought into a predetermined position. The stop part 99 is adjustable on a horizontal rail 100 in the X direction. The horizontal rail 100 carries a scale, in which, for example, the position of the drilling machines 3 8 in the X direction is taken as the zero point. The stop element 99 thus ensures that when the glass pane 12 is placed on it, the

Î glass pane is positioned in a previously defined position in the X direction with respect to the drilling machines 38. The drilling machines 38 are then moved into the desired Y position using the handwheel 58. Once this Y position has been reached, a locking device for the drilling machines 38 (not shown in the figures) can be used to prevent further displacement of the same in the Y direction. Due to the precision linear guide and the very fine displacement mechanism shown in Fig. 4, the drilling machines 38 can be adjusted very precisely in the Y direction. The glass pane 12 is therefore moved in the X direction and the drilling machines 38 are moved in the Y direction for the drilling process for the relative displacement between the glass pane 12 and the drilling machines 38 in order to be able to process the glass pane 12 at any position on it. Once a desired relative position has been reached and the drills 3 8 are locked, the water supply is switched on. The drill on the right in Fig. 2 is then switched on via the switch 82 and moved with its drilling tool 68 towards the glass pane 12 via the operating lever 74.

A first shallow hole is then drilled into the glass pane 12 using the right-hand drilling machine 3 8. The drilling tool 6 8 of the right-hand drilling machine 3 8 is then moved away from the glass pane 12 into its rest position away from the support/processing plane E.

After the drilling process with the right-hand drill 38 has been completed, this drill is switched off again via the switch 82.

switches.

Subsequently, the left drilling machine 38 in Fig. 2 is switched on via the switch 84 and its drilling tool 68 is moved via the operating lever 70 from the rest position shown in Fig. 2 in the direction of the support/processing plane E and thus the glass pane 12 and a second hole is drilled into the glass pane 12 from the other side. The second hole is drilled until a connection to the first hole is made and thus a hole through the glass pane 12 is formed. The introduction of two holes formed in the direction of the axis A in the glass pane 12 has the advantage that it can be prevented that glass parts splinter from the back and

This creates an unclean drilling edge.

Once the hole has been drilled through the disk 12, the left drilling machine 38 is moved back to its rest position and switched off again via the switch 84. The water supply is then also switched off again, whereby it can be provided, for example, that the water supply to both drilling machines 38 can be switched separately so that water is only supplied to the drilling machine that is currently in operation.

The drilling process described above can of course be carried out in such a way that first drilling is carried out with the drill 38 on the left in the illustration and then drilling is carried out with the drill 38 on the right in the illustration.

Furthermore, different types of drilling tools can be used. For example, diamond hollow drills can be used to drill larger holes, whereby these can have a centering which, for example, engages in a hole previously provided in the glass pane 12. In particular for such purposes, it is advantageous if

the drilling machines 38 can be operated at different rotational speeds, whereby when using conventional drills to drill holes with a relatively small diameter, a higher speed can be used and when using hollow drills with a relatively large diameter, a lower rotational speed can be used, so that the peripheral speed of the drill does not become excessively high. Furthermore, milling tools can be used with which long holes or grooves can be milled. For this purpose, when carrying out the drilling process, the two drilling machines 38 can be moved in the Y direction via the handwheel 58, so that long holes can be milled with a milling tool attached to these drilling machines. Furthermore, it can be provided that in order to produce

In the grooves, the drilling machines, after they have penetrated the glass pane 12 with their tool to a certain extent, are locked in the direction of the axis A and then moved in the Y direction via the handwheel 58. In particular in such machining processes, it is advantageous if the two drilling machines 38 can be locked in their various movement positions in the direction of the axis A via corresponding locking devices.

It can also be provided that instead of the individual drilling machines 3 8, drilling machine arrangements consisting of several drilling machines are arranged on each side of the support/processing plane E. The drilling machines of each drilling machine arrangement can then in turn be displaceable together in the direction of the axis A via corresponding displacement mechanisms, so that several holes or the like can be drilled simultaneously.

can be introduced into the glass pane 12.

The device according to the invention can also be constructed in such a way that the displacement of the drilling machines 38 in the Y direction is carried out by a motor, so that, for example, a drive motor is provided instead of the handwheel 58. In a corresponding manner, it is also conceivable that the displacement

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the drilling machines 38 in the direction of the axis A, i.e. the Z direction, is carried out by motor, hydraulic or pneumatic means. The actuation of the fixing device 92 can also be carried out, for example, by means of corresponding cylinder elements, motor elements or the like. The device according to the invention can thus be designed in such a way that it can be controlled fully automatically, i.e. all movement processes required for processing are carried out automatically and controlled by a central control device.

It is also possible to construct the device 10 according to the invention in a modular manner, for example by providing a central module part 102 which, in the illustration in Fig. 1, is delimited by the two inner vertical struts 16 and

is the sliding beams 34 and the drilling machines 38 and the associated mechanisms. Furthermore, the collecting tray 88 is then also segmented accordingly. Side module parts 104, 106 can be mounted adjacent to this central module part, the size or number of which can be selected according to the specific requirements. It is thus possible to set up a "processing line" in which several processing stations, such as drilling stations, milling stations, grinding stations or the like, are arranged in a linear sequence in the X direction. Such a modular design also facilitates the transport of the device according to the invention from its place of manufacture to the place of use. In a modular design, it can also be provided that the central module part 102, in the area of which the processing of the glass bodies is carried out, is constructed particularly solidly, and the lateral module parts 104, 106, which are then subjected to less stress, are designed to be correspondingly lighter.

With regard to the roll density, it can then be provided, for example, that the rolls in the central module part 102 have a higher density than in the side module parts 104 and 106, or it can be provided that in the central module

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In the module part 102, the roller elements 20 and 22 have a first distance from each other in the X-direction and in the lateral module parts 104 and 106 each have a second distance which is greater than the first distance in the central module part.

The device according to the invention enables a machining process for making holes, grooves or the like in glass bodies, in particular plate-like glass bodies, in particularly

&iacgr;&ogr; easily carried out. The glass bodies are processed in an almost vertical position, so that they can be placed in the device in the position in which they are transported and do not have to be swiveled. Furthermore, due to the vertical positioning of the glass body carrier, the

The area in which the glass bodies are machined is very easily accessible for the operating personnel, so that the relative position between the drilling machines and the glass bodies can be adjusted extremely precisely and this can also be observed visually.

In particular, when designed in a modular manner, the device according to the invention can be easily adapted to a wide variety of processing requirements.

Claims (28)

Protection claims 1. Device (10) for processing plate-like glass or stone bodies (12), in particular for making holes, grooves, elongated holes or the like in such a plate-like glass or stone body, comprising: a glass or stone body carrier (14) which provides a support/processing plane (E) for the glass or stone body (12) to be processed,
Processing means (38) for processing the glass or stone body (12), which processing means (38) can be moved between a retracted rest position and an advanced processing position on the Support/processing level (E) can be moved to and from this, wherein for processing the glass or stone body (12) by the processing means (38) at any point on the glass or stone body (12), the glass or stone body (12) and the processing means (38) are movable relative to one another in mutually independent directions, hereinafter referred to as coordinate directions, wherein for generating a relative movement in a first essentially horizontal coordinate direction, hereinafter referred to as X-direction, the glass or stone body (12) is displaceable back and forth in the support/processing plane (E) in the X-direction,
characterized, - that the support/processing plane (E) provided by the glass or stone body carrier (14) is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane to an extent approximating a vertical plane (V), and
that in order to generate a relative movement in a second coordinate direction, hereinafter referred to as the Y direction, the processing means (38) can be displaced back and forth in the Y direction. · - 26 - 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that an angle (α) enclosed between the support/processing plane (E) and the vertical plane (V) is in the range from 0° to 20°, preferably approximately 8° to 10°. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the X-direction and the Y-direction are orthogonal to each other and parallel to the support/processing plane. &iacgr;&ogr; or coordinate directions contained therein. 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that on the glass or stone body carrier (14) Surface support means (20) are provided, by means of which the glass or stone body (12) is held in the support/processing plane (E) and which enable a displacement of the glass or stone body (12) with respect to the glass or stone body carrier (14) in the X direction. 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the surface support means (20) comprise a plurality of roller elements (20) or the like arranged distributed in the X-direction and the Y-direction. 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that a distance between roller elements (20) in the Y direction in a lower support region of the glass or stone body carrier (14) is smaller than in an upper support region of the glass or stone body carrier (14). 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising edge support means (22) in the lower support area of the glass or stone body carrier (14), which support a lower edge (24) of the glass or stone body (12) carried in the support/processing plane (E) and prevent displacement of the glass or stone body (12) in - 27 of the
X-direction. 8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the edge support means (22) comprise a plurality of roller elements (22) or the like arranged successively in the X-direction. 9. Device according to claim 5 or 6 or according to claim 8, characterized in that a distance between roller elements (22) in the X-direction increases with increasing distance from the processing means (38) in the X-direction. 10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a processing means carrier device (34, 36) which is firmly connected to the glass or stone body carrier (14) and on which the processing means (38) are arranged so as to be displaceable in the Y direction. 11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the processing means carrier device (34, 36) comprises displacement beam means (34) which extend substantially in the Y direction and are arranged at a distance from and substantially parallel to the support/processing plane (E). 12. Device according to claim 10 or 11, further comprising a displacement device (42) for causing the displacement of the processing means (38) in the Y direction. 13. Device according to one of claims 10 to 12, further comprising a processing means locking device for locking the processing means (38) on the processing means carrier device (34, 36) against displacement in the Y direction. 14. Device according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized characterized in that the processing means (3 8) are arranged on the processing means carrier device (34, 36) so as to be displaceable between the rest position and the processing position,
s 15. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the processing means (38) can be locked with respect to the processing means carrier device (34, 36) at least in the processing position. 16. Device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the processing means (38) comprise two processing units (38) which are arranged opposite one another on both sides of the support/processing plane (E) and which are displaceable along the same movement axis (A) between their respective rest position and their respective processing position. 17. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the movement axis (A) is orthogonal to the support/processing plane (E). 18. Device according to claim 11 and one of claims 16 or 17, characterized in that the processing means carrier device (34, 36) comprises a displacement bar means (34) for each processing unit (38). 19. Device according to claim 12 and one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the displacement device (42) is designed for the joint displacement of the two processing units (3 8) in the Y direction. 20. Device according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the processing means (38) or each processing unit (38) has at least one processing step - 29 - device (38), in particular a drilling machine, milling machine or the like. 21. Device according to claim 20, characterized in that the processing means (38) or each processing unit (38) comprise a plurality of processing devices (3 8). 22. Device according to one of claims 1 to 21, further comprising rinsing water supply means (86) for supplying rinsing water to the area of processing of the glass or stone body (12) during the processing process. 23. Device according to one of claims 1 to 22, further comprising a water collecting trough device (88) in a lower region of the glass or stone body carrier (14). 24. Device according to one of claims 1 to 23, further comprising a glass or stone body fixing device (92) for fixing the glass or stone body (12) against displacement in the X-direction on the glass or stone body carrier (14). 25. Device according to claim 11 and claim 24, characterized in that the glass or stone body fixing device (92) comprises pressure plate means (94) which are pivotably mounted on the displacement beam means (34) about a pivot axis running substantially in the Y direction and which preferably extend in the Y direction over substantially the entire support area of the glass or stone body carrier (14). 26. Device according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that the glass or stone body fixing device (92) is arranged in a position which secures the glass or stone body (12) against displacement in the X-direction on the glass or stone body. per carrier (14) is pre-tensioned in the fixing position and/or can be locked in the fixing position. 27. Device according to one of claims 1 to 26, characterized in that it is constructed in a modular manner with at least one central module part (102) comprising a central glass or stone body carrier part (102) and the processing means (38)> and
at least one side module part (104, 106), comprising a glass or stone body support side part (104, 106) which can be arranged adjacent to the central glass or stone body support part (102) and/or a further side module part (104, 106). 28. Device according to claim 23 and optionally one of claims 24 to 27, characterized in that the water collecting trough device (88) comprises a plurality of water collecting trough segments arranged successively in the X-direction.