WO2020008782A1 - Glass article manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Where molten glass Gm having a state adjusted in a state adjustment tank 7 is supplied to a molding body 8 to mold a glass ribbon Gr, an inflow pipe 11 is connected to an inflow port 7a of the state adjustment tank 7, and the inflow pipe 11 is bent so that a flow direction d1 at the time of inflow faces the left or right side with respect to a reference flow direction d0 in a plan view of the inflow pipe 11, where the reference flow direction d0 is the flow direction of the molten glass Gm passing through one end 11a of the inflow pipe 11 that is the upstream end in the flow direction of the molten glass Gm, and the flow direction d1 at the time of inflow is the flow direction of the molten glass Gm flowing into the state adjustment tank 7 from the other end 11b of the inflow pipe 11.

Description

Method and apparatus for manufacturing glass articles

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a glass article, and more particularly to a technique for improving a layout of a manufacturing line by improving a conveying route of a molten glass to a molded article.

As is well known, a production line for a glass roll or a flat glass includes a melting line in which molten glass flows and a processing line in which a glass ribbon flows. In this case, for example, the melting line includes, in order from the upstream side, a dissolving tank, a refining tank, a homogenizing tank such as a stirring tank, a condition adjusting tank, and a molded body. Are connected by a supply pipe of molten glass (for example, see Patent Document 1). In a glass roll manufacturing line, the transport direction of a glass ribbon is changed from a vertical direction to a horizontal direction (for example, see Patent Document 2). For this reason, the processing line extends in a direction perpendicular to the melting line from the end (molded body) of the melting line in a state where the production line is viewed in plan.

JP 2016-88754 A JP 2011-16705 A

Thus, in the glass roll production line, the melting line and the processing line are arranged in a direction orthogonal to each other. In this case, if the production lines for the glass rolls are arranged in parallel, the distance between the melting lines must be increased by the amount corresponding to the processing lines, which wastes installation space. Further, if the melting line and the processing line seem to have only a perpendicular positional relationship, the layout of the manufacturing line is limited, and it is difficult to flexibly change the layout.

レ イ ア ウ ト As a measure for solving the above problem, for example, a layout shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 can be considered. In this layout, the condition adjusting tank 101 is located downstream of a not-shown homogenizing tank, and the molded body 102 is located downstream of the condition adjusting tank 101 (see FIG. 9). Then, the homogenizing tank and the condition adjusting tank 101 are connected by a connection pipe 103 having a predetermined shape (see FIG. 10), and the condition adjusting tank 101 and the molded body 102 have a shape bent in a predetermined direction. They are connected by a connection pipe 104 (see FIG. 9). In this case, the outlet 101a of the condition adjusting tank 101 faces downward (see FIG. 9), and the connecting pipe 104 connected to the outlet 101a adjusts the state of the connecting pipe 104 in a plan view. It is bent in a direction orthogonal to the inflow direction d0 of the molten glass Gm into the tank 101 (see FIG. 10). In this manner, by bending the connection pipe 104, the feeding direction D0 of the glass ribbon Gr and the flow direction of the molten glass Gm (inflow direction d0 of the molten glass Gm into the inside of the condition adjusting tank 101) are parallel. Therefore, the melting line and the processing line can be arranged in parallel. 9 and 10, reference numeral 101b indicates an inlet of the condition adjusting tank 101, reference numeral 102a indicates an inlet of the molded body 102, and reference numerals Gr1 and Gr2 indicate both ends in the width direction of the glass ribbon Gr to be formed. .

By the way, when the production line provided with the above-mentioned melting line is operated, the stagnation region R1 of the molten glass Gm is placed in each of the tanks (for example, the homogenizing tank 105 and the condition adjusting tank 101 shown in FIG. 11) up to the compact 102. , R2 may occur. The molten glass Gm1 'and Gm2' in the stagnation regions R1 and R2 are likely to be different from the molten glass Gm that has reached the molded body 102 without passing through the stagnation regions R1 and R2 because they have different temperature histories. In the case of a conventional melting line, as shown in FIG. 12, the molten glass Gm1 ′ and Gm2 ′ in the stagnation regions R1 and R2 flow through the connecting pipe 106 from below the condition adjusting tank 101, and The glass ribbon Gr passes through the upper or lower part of the inflow port 102a and becomes both ends Gr1 and Gr2 in the width direction of the glass ribbon Gr as a molded product. Since both ends Gr1 and Gr2 in the width direction of the glass ribbon Gr are usually removed by cutting or the like in a subsequent processing line, there is no particular problem without the foreign molten glass Gm1 ′ and Gm2 ′ remaining in the final product. . On the other hand, in the case of the melting line proposed above (see FIGS. 9 and 10), the connecting pipe 104 is moved from below in a direction orthogonal to the flowing direction d0 of the molten glass Gm into the conditioning tank 101. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 13, the molten glass Gm1 ′, Gm2 ′ in the stagnation regions R1, R2 is different from the portion (FIG. 12) of the connecting pipe 104 flowing in the conventional melting line. It flows through a different portion, passes through an intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the inlet 102 a of the molded body 102, and flows into the molded body 8. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13, the molten glass Gm1 ′ and Gm2 ′ of the stagnation regions R1 and R2 are mixed into the product portion located between both ends Gr1 and Gr2 in the width direction of the glass ribbon Gr and processed. Foreign glass melts Gm1 'and Gm2' remain on the glass ribbon Gr (that is, a glass roll or a glass plate as a product), causing a product defect.

In view of the above circumstances, the present specification solves the problem of increasing the degree of freedom regarding the layout of a manufacturing line of glass articles while preventing a situation in which a foreign molten glass that may be generated in a melting line remains in a product portion of a glass ribbon. It is a technical task to be done

の The solution to the above-mentioned problem is achieved by the method for manufacturing a glass article according to the present invention. In other words, this manufacturing method includes forming a molten glass in a molten glass generating apparatus, forming a molten glass in a state adjusting tank, and adjusting a state of the generated molten glass in a state adjusting tank. And a forming step of forming a glass ribbon by supplying the molten glass to the body, in the method of manufacturing a glass article, the molten glass inflow port provided in the conditioning tank, from the side of the molten glass generating device into the conditioning tank. An inflow pipe for inflow of the molten glass is connected, and the flow direction of the molten glass when passing through one end of the inflow pipe on the upstream side in the flow direction of the molten glass is set as a reference flow direction, and the state is adjusted from the other end of the inflow pipe. When the flow direction of the molten glass when flowing into the inside of the tank is the flow direction at the time of inflow, the flow direction at the time of inflow is either one of the left and right sides with respect to the reference flow direction in a state where the inflow pipe is viewed in plan. As directed, characterized with a point where the inlet tube is bent.

As described above, in the manufacturing method according to the present invention, attention is paid to the shape of the inflow pipe connected to the inflow port of the conditioning tank. The inflow so that the flow direction of the molten glass when flowing into the inside of the tank is directed to one of the left and right sides with respect to the reference flow direction (the flow direction of the molten glass when passing through one end of the inflow pipe). The tube was bent. As described above, even if a stagnation region of the molten glass is generated in a layer (such as a homogenization tank) upstream of the condition adjusting tank by bending the inflow pipe which has been conventionally formed in a straight line, the stagnation area of the stagnation region is not changed. The molten glass reaches the other end of the inflow pipe, that is, the inflow port of the conditioning tank, while maintaining as much as possible the position (for example, the lower part of the inflow pipe) at the time of flowing into one end of the inflow pipe. Therefore, the molten glass passes through the upper or lower part of the inflow port of the molded body without changing the relative position of the molten glass in the connection pipe by connecting the condition adjusting tank and the molded body in a conventional manner. Will be. Thereby, even if the molten glass in the stagnant area flows in, the molten glass can be flowed into the regions at both ends in the width direction of the glass ribbon formed by the molded body. In addition, by bending the conventional inflow pipe that has been formed in a straight line as described above, the direction of the inflow port of the conditioning tank connected to the downstream end of the inflow pipe is such that molten glass is generated by the molten glass generation device. Later, the flow direction is different from the flow direction leading to the conditioning tank. Therefore, by adjusting the flow direction (flow direction at the time of inflow) when flowing into the inside of the condition adjusting tank, the direction of the inflow port of the molded body can be appropriately set. As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom in the layout of a production line while preventing as much as possible a situation in which a foreign molten glass remains on a glass ribbon after processing and causes a deterioration in product quality. It becomes possible.

Further, in the manufacturing method according to the present invention, the outlet of the condition adjusting tank and the inlet of the molded body are connected by a connecting pipe, and the connecting pipe is formed by flattening the connecting pipe from the same direction as the outlet of the condition adjusting tank. It may be bent in the same direction as the flow direction at the time of inflow when viewed.

By connecting the outlet of the conditioning tank and the inlet of the molded body with the connecting pipe bent in the same direction as the flow direction at the time of inflow, the relative position of the molten glass in the connecting pipe is maintained, Molten glass can be supplied to the upper or lower part of the inlet of the molded body. Therefore, even if the molten glass in the stagnation area flows into the condition adjusting tank through the inflow pipe, the molten glass in the stagnation area is located at the position (for example, the lower part of the inflow pipe internal space) when it flows into one end of the inflow pipe. It is maintained to reach the inlet of the conditioning tank, and also to the inlet of the molded body (in this case, the lower part of the inlet) while maintaining its relative position in the connection pipe. Thus, even if the molten glass in the stagnant area flows in, it is possible to reliably prevent the undesirable molten glass from being mixed into the product part of the glass ribbon.

Further, in the manufacturing method according to the present invention, the inflow pipe extends straight from the one end side of the inflow pipe to the other right and left sides with respect to the reference flow direction in a state where the inflow pipe is viewed in plan. And a bent portion bent from the downstream end of the straight portion in the flow direction at the time of inflow and connected to the inflow port of the conditioning tank.

As described above, the inflow pipe is provided with a straight portion that extends linearly from one end of the inflow pipe to the other side on the left and right sides with respect to the reference flow direction, and from the downstream end of the straight section to the flow direction during inflow. By providing a bent portion that is bent and connected to the inlet of the molded body, the straight portion is inclined in the right and left opposite directions to the bending direction (one of the left and right sides) of the bent portion with respect to the reference flow direction (described later). 3 etc.). Therefore, the length of the pipe from one end of the inflow pipe to the upstream end of the bent portion can be reduced.

Further, in the production method according to the present invention, the molded article is a method of molding a glass ribbon by causing molten glass overflowing from the overflow groove to flow down along both sides, and the inlet of the molded article is formed on both sides. And the angle between the reference flow direction and the inflow flow direction may be set to 90 °. In the manufacturing method according to the present invention, the glass article may be a glass roll formed by winding a glass ribbon into a roll.

By connecting the inflow pipe (or bent portion) having the bent shape as described above to the molded body configured as described above, the reference flow direction and the orientation of the main surface of the glass ribbon molded by the molded body are connected. (In the normal direction). In the manufacturing process of the glass roll, the formed glass ribbon is drawn downward, and then turned and transported in the horizontal direction via the catenary.According to the above configuration, the melting line, the processing line, Can be arranged in parallel. As a result, the production line of the glass roll is narrowed in the width direction (the same direction as the short direction in the melting line, and the width direction of the glass ribbon in the processing line; hereinafter the same in the present specification). This is suitable when a plurality of glass roll production lines are arranged in parallel.

解決 In addition, the solution of the above-mentioned problems is also achieved by the apparatus for manufacturing a glass article according to the present invention. That is, this manufacturing apparatus includes a molten glass generating apparatus that generates molten glass, a state adjusting tank that adjusts the state of the generated molten glass, and a molded body that forms the molten glass whose state has been adjusted into a glass ribbon. In a glass article manufacturing apparatus comprising: an inflow pipe for flowing molten glass from the side of the molten glass producing device into the inside of the conditioning glass, to an inlet of the molten glass provided in the conditioning glass, The flow direction of the molten glass when passing through one end of the inflow pipe on the upstream side in the flow direction of the glass is defined as the reference flow direction, and the flow direction of the molten glass when flowing into the inside of the condition adjusting tank from the other end of the inflow pipe is defined as the flow direction. When the flow direction at the time of inflow is set, the point at which the flow direction of the inflow pipe is bent is such that the flow direction at the time of inflow is directed to one of the left and right sides with respect to the reference flow direction in a state where the inflow pipe is viewed in plan. Attached butterflies.

As described above, even in the manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, even if a stagnation region of the molten glass is generated in the layer on the upstream side of the conditioning tank by bending the inflow pipe that has been conventionally formed linearly, The molten glass in the stagnant region reaches the inlet of the condition adjusting tank while maintaining as much as possible the position of the molten glass at one end of the inflow pipe. Therefore, by connecting the condition adjusting tank and the compact in a conventional manner, the molten glass can be supplied to the compact without changing the relative position of the molten glass in the connection pipe. Thereby, even if the molten glass in the stagnation region flows in, it is possible to pass the lower or upper portion of the inflow port of the molded body, and to flow the molten glass into regions that are both ends in the width direction of the glass ribbon. Become. In addition, by bending the conventional inflow pipe that has been formed in a straight line as described above, the direction of the inflow port of the conditioning tank connected to the downstream end of the inflow pipe is such that molten glass is generated by the molten glass generation device. Later, the flow direction is different from the flow direction leading to the conditioning tank. Therefore, by adjusting the flow direction when flowing into the inside of the condition adjusting tank, the direction of the inlet of the molded body can be appropriately set. As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom in the layout of a production line while preventing a situation in which a foreign molten glass remains in a product and causes deterioration in product quality as much as possible.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom regarding the layout of a glass article manufacturing line while preventing a situation in which a foreign molten glass that may be generated in a melting line remains in a product portion of a glass ribbon. It becomes possible.

It is the figure which looked at the principal part of the manufacturing device of the glass article concerning one embodiment of the present invention from the front. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a main part of the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is the figure which looked at the 3rd connection pipe shown in FIG. 1, and its peripheral part from top view. It is the side view which looked at the 3rd connection pipe shown in FIG. 1, and its peripheral part from the Y direction. It is the figure which looked at the 3rd connection pipe shown in FIG. 3, and its peripheral part from the front. FIG. 2 is a front view schematically illustrating a flow of molten glass in a stagnant region to the inside of a molded body in the manufacturing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. It is the side view which looked at the flow of the molten glass around the 3rd connection pipe shown in FIG. 6 from the Y direction. It is the figure which looked at the principal part of the manufacturing device of the glass article concerning other embodiments of the present invention from the front. It is the figure which looked at the principal part of the manufacturing apparatus of the glass article used for comparison with this invention from the side, and was the side view which looked at the connection pipe which connects a condition adjustment tank and a molded object from the Y direction. It is the figure which looked at the connecting pipe shown in FIG. 9 and its periphery from top. FIG. 11 is a front view schematically illustrating a flow of molten glass in a stagnant region to the inside of a molded product in the apparatus for manufacturing a glass article provided with the connection pipe illustrated in FIG. 10. It is the front view which drawn typically the flow until the molten glass of the stagnation area reaches the inside of a molded object in the manufacturing device of the glass article concerning the conventional composition. It is the side view which looked at the flow of the molten glass of the stagnation area shown in Drawing 11 from the Y direction.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a glass article manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same glass article manufacturing apparatus 1. As shown in these drawings, the manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a melting line 2 through which a molten glass Gm flows, and a processing line 3 for a glass ribbon Gr formed by the melting line 2. Among these, the melting line 2 is a melting tank 4 serving as a molten glass generating device arranged in the uppermost stream area, a refining tank 5 disposed downstream of the melting tank 4, and disposed downstream of the refining tank 5. A homogenizing tank 6, a conditioning tank 7 disposed downstream of the homogenizing tank 6, a molded body 8 disposed downstream of the conditioning tank 7, and respective tanks 4 to 7, and Connection pipes 9 to 12 for connecting between the molded bodies 8 are provided.

Further, the processing line 3 for the glass ribbon Gr, for example, although not shown, is located below the molded body 8, and is provided with a slow cooling processing unit that performs a slow cooling process on the glass ribbon Gr formed by the molded body 8. A cooling unit that cools the glass ribbon Gr that has been subjected to the slow cooling process to a predetermined temperature, for example, around room temperature, and a direction change unit that changes the feeding direction of the cooled glass ribbon Gr from the vertical direction to the horizontal direction, The first cutting portion for separating both ends (also called ears) in the width direction of the glass ribbon Gr conveyed in the lateral direction from the glass ribbon Gr main body, and the glass ribbon Gr with both ends in the width direction removed along the width direction. A second cutting unit for cutting and a winding unit for winding the glass ribbon Gr that has passed through the second cutting unit into a roll shape are provided. Of course, the above-described configuration is merely an example, and some of the above-described components may be changed or omitted, or components other than the above may be added as necessary. Hereinafter, the melting line 2 will be described focusing on the connection between the homogenizing tank 6 and the condition adjusting tank 7.

(4) The melting tank 4 is a container for performing a generation process of melting the charged glass raw material to generate the molten glass Gm. The dissolution tank 4 is connected to the fining tank 5 by a first connection pipe 9.

The refining tank 5 is a container for performing a refining step of refining the molten glass Gm supplied from the melting tank 4 through the first connection pipe 9 by the action of a refining agent or the like. The fining tank 5 is connected to the homogenizing tank 6 by a second connection pipe 10.

(4) The homogenizing tank 6 is a container for performing a homogenizing step of stirring and homogenizing the clarified molten glass Gm. The homogenizing tank 6 is connected to the condition adjusting tank 7 by a third connection pipe 11. The number of the homogenizing tanks 6 may be one as shown in the figure, or two or more may be arranged side by side.

The condition adjusting tank 7 is a container for performing a state adjusting step of adjusting the molten glass Gm to a state suitable for molding, and adjusts, for example, a flow rate of the molten glass Gm supplied to the molded body 8. In this embodiment, the state adjusting tank 7 is connected to the third connection pipe 11, and the upper part 7 a into which the molten glass Gm flows from the third connection pipe 11, and the molten glass Gm whose state has been adjusted flows out. And an intermediate portion 7c connecting the upper portion 7a and the lower portion 7b. An inflow port 7d through which the molten glass Gm flows is provided on a side surface of the upper portion 7a. An outlet 7e for molten glass Gm is provided at the lower end of the lower portion 7b. The condition adjusting tank 7 having the above configuration is connected to the molded body 8 by the fourth connection pipe 12.

The molded body 8 is for molding the molten glass Gm into a desired shape. In the present embodiment, the molded body 8 is formed by molding the molten glass Gm into a belt shape by an overflow down draw method. Specifically, the molded body 8 has a substantially wedge-shaped cross section, has an overflow groove 8a at an upper portion thereof, and has both side surfaces 8b, 8b through which the molten glass Gm overflowing from the overflow groove 8a flows. In the molded body 8 according to the above configuration, the molten glass Gm that has flowed down along the side surfaces 8b, 8b is fused at the lower apexes of the side surfaces 8b, 8b, and can be formed into a belt-shaped glass ribbon Gr. The formed glass ribbon Gr has a thickness of, for example, 0.01 to 2 mm (preferably 0.3 mm or less), and is a substrate for a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, an organic EL lighting, a solar cell, or the like. And used for protective covers. The molded body 8 may execute another downdraw method such as a slot downdraw method.

The first connection pipe 9 to the fourth connection pipe 12 are each formed of a cylindrical pipe made of, for example, platinum or a platinum alloy, and are connected to the tanks 5 to 7 adjacent to the downstream side from the melting tank 4 and the molded body 8. The molten glass Gm is sequentially conveyed.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the third connection pipe 11 that connects the homogenization tank 6 and the condition adjustment tank 7 and a peripheral portion thereof. As shown in FIG. 3, the third connection pipe 11 has a shape bent in a predetermined direction. This third connection pipe 11 corresponds to the inflow pipe according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, the third connecting pipe 11 bends in a predetermined direction from the downstream end of the straight section 13 and the straight section 13 extending linearly in a state where the third connecting pipe 11 is viewed in plan, It has a first bent portion 14 connected to the inlet 7 a of the condition adjusting tank 7 and a second bent portion 15 connecting the outlet 6 a of the homogenizing tank 6 and the upstream end of the straight portion 13.

The flow direction of the molten glass Gm passing through the upstream end 11a of the third connection pipe 11 (reference flow direction d0) and the flow direction of the molten glass Gm passing through the downstream end 11b (flow direction d1 during inflow). Speaking of the relationship, the third connection pipe 11 is configured such that the flow direction d1 at the time of inflow with respect to the reference flow direction d0 is either left or right in a state where the third connection pipe 11 is viewed in plan as shown in FIG. The third connecting pipe 11 is bent so as to face the side. In the present embodiment, the X direction and the Y direction are horizontal directions, and the Z direction is a vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the reference flow direction d0 is in the Y direction when viewed from above vertically. The inflow flow direction d1 is in the X direction when viewed from vertically above. As described above, the reference flow direction d0 and the inflow flow direction d1 are orthogonal to each other on the XY plane that is the horizontal plane.

In the present embodiment, the straight portion 13 extends linearly from the upstream end 11a of the third connection pipe 11 in a state of being inclined to the other right and left sides with respect to the reference flow direction d0. On the other hand, the first bent portion 14 connected to the downstream end of the straight portion 13 is bent such that the inflow flow direction d1 faces one of the left and right sides with respect to the reference flow direction d0. In the present embodiment, while the straight portion 13 extends linearly while being inclined rightward (downward in FIG. 3) with respect to the reference flow direction d0, the first bent portion 14 , From the extending direction of the straight portion 13 to the right (downward in FIG. 3) with respect to the reference flow direction d0. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the condition adjusting tank 7 is at a position shifted from the outlet 6a of the homogenizing tank 6 in the −X direction (to the left in FIG. 4). As shown in FIG. 5, the straight portion 13 is inclined upward at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal direction so as to move in the + Z direction from the upstream end side (left side) to the downstream end side (right side). are doing. Therefore, the first bent portion 14 is at a position higher than the second bent portion 15.

The fourth connection pipe 12 connects the condition adjusting tank 7 and the molded body 8 so that the molten glass Gm flowing out of the condition adjusting tank 7 can be supplied to the molded body 8, and as shown in FIG. , From the same direction as the outflow port 7e of the condition adjusting tank 7 to the same direction as the inflow flow direction d1. When the lower portion 7b (outflow port 7e) of the condition adjusting tank 7 faces vertically downward as in this embodiment, the fourth connection pipe 12 is moved from the Z direction (vertical direction) as shown in FIG. It is bent 90 ° in the X direction (horizontal direction). In this case, the inflow direction d2 of the molten glass Gm into the molded body 8 and the inflow direction (inflow flow direction d1) into the condition adjusting tank 7 are parallel to each other.

Next, an example of a method for manufacturing a glass article using the manufacturing apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration will be described, particularly focusing on the flow mode of the molten glass Gm from the homogenization tank 6 to the molded body 8.

When manufacturing a glass article using the manufacturing apparatus 1 having the above configuration, first, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a glass raw material is charged into a melting tank 4 located at the uppermost stream area of a melting line 2, By melting the raw materials, molten glass Gm is generated. Next, the molten glass Gm is supplied to the fining tank 5 via the first connection pipe 9, and the molten glass Gm clarified in the fining tank 5 is supplied to the homogenization tank 6 via the second connection pipe 10. The molten glass Gm supplied to the homogenizing tank 6 is homogenized by stirring or the like, and then supplied to the condition adjusting tank 7 through the third connection pipe 11. The molten glass Gm whose flow rate has been adjusted, for example, in the condition adjusting tank 7 is supplied to the molded body 8 through the fourth connection pipe 12. In the molded body 8, the molten glass Gm is formed into a strip-shaped glass ribbon Gr by, for example, an overflow down draw method. The formed glass ribbon Gr is conveyed on a processing line 3 extending in parallel with the melting line 2 and subjected to the above-described appropriate processing or processing such as cutting, thereby obtaining, for example, a glass roll. In this way, the production of glass articles is performed continuously.

In the meantime, when glass articles are continuously manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration, a stagnation region R1 of the molten glass Gm may be generated at the bottom of the homogenization tank 6, as shown in FIG. 6, for example. In this case, the molten glass Gm <b> 1 ′ in the stagnation region R <b> 1 flows from the outlet 6 a of the homogenization tank 6 to a lower portion of the upstream end 11 a of the third connection pipe 11. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, a stagnant region R2 of the molten glass Gm may be formed at the top of the condition adjusting tank 7 (region of the upper part 7a above the inlet 7d). In this case, the molten glass Gm2 'in the stagnation region R2 flows into the upstream end of the fourth connection pipe 12 through the side of the outlet 7e close to the formed body 8 (the side in the + X direction in the XYZ coordinate system).

Here, in the manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the present invention, the flow direction d1 at the time of inflow of the molten glass Gm faces either the left or right with respect to the reference flow direction d0 in a state where the third connection pipe 11 is viewed in a plan view. Thus, the third connection pipe 11 as the inflow pipe was bent (see FIG. 3). Even if the stagnation region R1 of the molten glass Gm is generated in the homogenization tank 6 as shown in FIG. 6 by bending the third connection pipe 11, the molten glass Gm1 ′ of the stagnation region R1 becomes The position at the time of flowing into the upstream end 11a of the three connection pipes 11 is maintained as much as possible (here, the lower part of the upstream end 11a, the lower part 15a of the second bent part 15, the lower part 13a of the straight part 13, the first part 13a, (Through the lower portion 14a of the bent portion 14 and the lower portion of the downstream end 11b) to reach the inlet 7d of the conditioning tank 7. Further, by connecting the condition adjusting tank 7 and the molded body 8 with the fourth connection pipe 12 having a bent form as shown in FIG. 4, the molten glass Gm1 ′ in the stagnation region R1 becomes as shown in FIG. Out of the outlet 7e of the condition adjusting tank 7, from the side farther from the formed body 8 (the −X direction side in the XYZ coordinate system), the outer side 12a of the bent portion of the fourth connecting pipe 12 passes through the outer side 12a of the formed body 8 It passes below the inflow port 8c. Alternatively, even if a stagnant region R2 of the molten glass Gm occurs at the top of the condition adjusting tank 7, the molten glass Gm2 'of the stagnant region R2 is closer to the molded body 8 in the outlet 7e of the condition adjusting tank 7. From the (in the XYZ coordinate system, the side in the + X direction) passes through the inside 12b of the bent portion of the fourth connection pipe 12, and passes above the inlet 8c of the molded body 8. The molten glass Gm1 ′, Gm2 ′ in each of the stagnant regions R1, R2 that has passed through the inlet 8c of the molded body 8 as described above flows into the regions that will be both ends Gr1, Gr2 in the width direction of the glass ribbon Gr (FIG. 7). See).

As described above, according to the present invention, the position of the molten glass Gm1 ′ in the stagnant region R1 when flowing into the third connection pipe 11 is set to the lower part of the third connection pipe 11 and the position of the fourth connection pipe 12 It is possible to pass through the lower part of the inlet 8c of the molded body 8 while maintaining as much as possible on the outside 12a of the bent portion. Further, the position of the molten glass Gm2 ′ in the stagnation region R2 when flowing into the fourth connection pipe 12 is maintained as much as possible inside the bent portion 12b of the fourth connection pipe 12, and It can pass through the upper part of the inflow port 8c. Therefore, it is possible to prevent as much as possible such a situation that these different molten glasses Gm1 ′ and Gm2 ′ remain on the processed glass ribbon Gr and the quality of the product (the processed glass ribbon Gr) is reduced. . Further, the bending direction of the third connection pipe 11 may be any one of the left and right directions with respect to the reference flow direction d0 in a state where the third connection pipe 11 is viewed in a plan view. By appropriately setting the direction of the inflow port 7d (flow direction d1 during inflow) of the condition adjusting tank 7, the direction of the inflow port 8c of the molded body 8, and thus the feeding direction D0 of the glass ribbon Gr formed by the molded body 8 are set. (That is, the direction of the processing line 3) can be set relatively freely.

Further, in the present embodiment, the inlet 8c of the molded body 8 is provided in a direction perpendicular to both side surfaces 8b, 8b through which the molten glass Gm overflowing from the upper overflow groove 8a flows down, and the reference flow direction d0. And the flow direction d1 at the time of inflow are set to 90 °, and the bending direction of the fourth connecting pipe 12 (the inflow direction d2 into the molded body 8) is the same as the outlet 7e of the condition adjusting tank 7. From the direction, the fourth connection pipe 12 is bent in the same direction as the inflow flow direction d1 in a state where the fourth connection pipe 12 is viewed in a plan view (see FIGS. 3 and 4). In this manner, the bending direction of the third connection pipe 11 and the bending direction of the fourth connection pipe 12 are determined based on the relationship between the inlet 8c of the molded body 8 and the reference flow direction d0 and the molding by the molded body 8. The direction of the main surface of the glass ribbon Gr to be performed (that is, the feeding direction D0 of the glass ribbon Gr) can be matched. After the formed glass ribbon Gr is drawn downward, it is conveyed while turning in the horizontal direction via the catenary, so that according to the above configuration, the melting line 2 and the processing line 3 are arranged in parallel. can do.

As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, the manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus of the glass article which concern on this invention take various forms within the scope of this invention, without being limited to the said embodiment. Is possible.

For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the reference flow direction d0, which is the reference when defining the bending direction of the third connection pipe 11 (the direction of the downstream end 11b, which is the direction after bending), is set as the horizontal direction. However, the reference flow direction d0 is not limited to the horizontal direction (see FIG. 5). The flow direction d1 at the time of inflow is not limited to the horizontal direction. As described above, the flow direction d1 faces one of the left and right sides with respect to the reference flow direction d0 when viewed from above vertically (in a plan view). As long as it is possible, the flow direction d1 at the time of inflow can be set to an arbitrary direction. Further, the flow direction d2 of the molten glass Gm into the molded body 8 is not limited to the illustrated direction (+ X direction). For example, the inflow direction d2 can be set to a direction other than the + X direction. From the above, the bending angle (the angle between the reference flow direction d0 and the inflow flow direction d1 when the third connection pipe 11 is viewed in a plan view) in the third connection pipe 11 is limited to 90 °. Absent. Similarly, the bending angle of the fourth connection pipe 12 (the angle between the direction of the outflow port 7e of the condition adjusting tank 7 and the inflow direction d2) is not limited to 90 °, but may be any angle within a range satisfying the above-described conditions. Can be adopted.

Further, in the above embodiment, the third connecting pipe 11 is formed by connecting the straight portion 13 extending linearly, the first bent portion 14 connecting the straight portion 13 and the condition adjusting tank 7, and the homogenizing tank 6 to the straight portion. Although the case where the third connection pipe 11 is constituted by the second bent portion 15 connecting the first connection pipe 13 and the second connection pipe 13 is exemplified, the third connection pipe 11 can of course adopt a configuration other than the above. For example, although not shown, a first straight portion extending in the −X direction is connected to the downstream end of the second bent portion 15 in a plan view, and a third bent portion is connected to the downstream end of the first straight portion. The second straight portion extending in the + Y direction is connected to the downstream end of the third bent portion, the first bent portion 14 is connected to the downstream end of the second straight portion, and the downstream end of the first bent portion 14 is connected to the conditioning tank. It is also possible to take a form connected to the inflow port 7d of 7.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the third connection pipe 11 having a constant outer diameter is directly connected to the condition adjusting tank 7 is exemplified (see FIGS. 3 and 4). Of course, other connection forms are used. It is also possible to take. FIG. 8 is a view of a connection portion between the third connection pipe 11 and the condition adjusting tank 7 according to one example (another embodiment of the present invention) viewed from the Y direction. As shown in FIG. 8, the third connecting pipe 11 is located on the downstream side of the first bent portion 14, and is located between the first bent portion 14 and the condition adjusting tank 7. A cross-sectional area changing portion 16 whose cross-sectional area (area in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, hereinafter, also simply referred to as “cross-sectional area”) gradually changes from the side toward the condition adjusting tank 7 side. Thereby, the first bent portion 14 of the third connection pipe 11 and the condition adjusting tank 7 are connected via the cross-sectional area changing portion 16. In this case, the cross-sectional area change portion 16 becomes the downstream end 11b of the third connection pipe 11.

In this embodiment, assuming that the sectional area of the first bent portion 14 of the third connection pipe 11 is S1 and the sectional area of the upper portion 7a of the condition adjusting tank 7 is S2, the sectional area S1 of the first bent portion 14 is the upper portion 7a. More specifically, the cross-sectional area S1 of the first bent portion 14 is smaller than the cross-sectional area S2 of the upper portion 7a. In this case, the shape of the inner surface 16a of the cross-sectional area changing portion 16 is set such that the cross-sectional area of the cross-sectional area changing portion 16 gradually increases from the first bending portion 14 side toward the condition adjusting tank 7 side. Specifically, the vertical cross section (cross section along the longitudinal direction) of the inner surface 16a of the cross-sectional area changing portion 16 is arc-shaped. For this reason, the inner surface 16a of the cross-sectional area changing portion 16 is cylindrical, and the diameter is increased from the first bending portion 14 side toward the condition adjusting tank 7 side.

断面 The cross-sectional area S1 of the first bent portion 14 is preferably set to be 0.75 times or more and 1.25 times or less the cross-sectional area S2 of the upper portion 7a. When the cross-sectional area S1 of the first bent portion 14 is smaller than the cross-sectional area S2 of the upper portion 7a as in the present embodiment, the cross-sectional area S1 of the first bent portion 14 is set to 0. It is preferable to set it to 75 times or more and 0.96 times or less. For example, the inner diameter of the first bent portion 14 can be set to 150 mm or more and 300 mm or less, and the radius of curvature of the inner surface 16a of the cross-sectional area change portion 16 can be set to 10 mm or more and 50 mm or less, and is preferable. Is preferably set to 20 mm or more and 40 mm or less.

The lower part 7b of the condition adjusting tank 7 and the upstream end 12c of the fourth connecting pipe 12 are cut off (a state in which the lower part 7b of the condition adjusting tank 7 does not contact the upstream end 12c of the fourth connecting pipe 12). ), The molten glass Gm can be supplied from the condition adjusting tank 7 to the fourth connection pipe 12. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, in a state where the lower portion 7b is inserted into the inner periphery of the upstream end 12c of the fourth connection pipe 12, the molten glass Gm whose state has been adjusted in the state adjustment tank 7 is The molded product 8 can be supplied through the fourth connection pipe 12.

Here, when the sectional area of the lower part 7b of the condition adjusting tank 7 is S3 and the sectional area of the upstream end 12c of the fourth connection pipe 12 is S4, the sectional area S3 of the lower part 7b is changed to the sectional area S4 of the upstream end 12c. It is preferable to set it to 0.75 times or more and 0.96 times or less.

When the third connection pipe 11 has the above-described configuration, the viscosity of the molten glass Gm passing through the cross-sectional area changing portion 16 between the first bending portion 14 and the condition adjusting tank 7 is preferably 800 Pa · s or more. , More preferably 1000 Pa · s or more. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of suppressing devitrification, it is preferable that the viscosity of the molten glass Gm passing through the cross-sectional area changing portion 16 be set to 50,000 Pa · s or less.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the third connecting pipe 11 has a sectional area between the first bent portion 14 and the condition adjusting tank 7 that gradually increases in cross section from the first bent portion 14 side toward the condition adjusting tank 7 side. It has a cross-sectional area changing portion 16 that changes. According to this configuration, a situation in which a separation flow is generated in the molten glass Gm flowing into the inside of the condition adjusting tank 7 from the third connection pipe 11 is prevented as much as possible, and the molten glass stagnating at the bottom of the homogenizing tank 6 is prevented. The glass Gm1 ′ (see FIG. 6) passes through the outer side 12a of the fourth connection pipe 12, and is surely formed in the region of the molded body 8 that becomes one end portion Gr2 (see FIG. 7) of the glass ribbon Gr in the width direction. Can be poured. Further, the molten glass Gm2 ′ stagnating in the upper portion 7a of the condition adjusting tank 7 passes through the inner side 12b of the fourth connection pipe 12, and the other end Gr1 in the width direction of the glass ribbon Gr of the molded body 8 (see FIG. (See Reference)). As described above, according to the method and the apparatus for manufacturing a glass article according to the present embodiment, the foreign molten glass Gm1 ′ (Gm2 ′) that causes a molding defect remains on the processed glass ribbon Gr and serves as a product. It is possible to prevent a situation in which the quality of the glass article is deteriorated as much as possible.

Claims (6)

A generating step of generating molten glass in a molten glass generating apparatus, a state adjusting step of adjusting the state of the generated molten glass in a state adjustment tank, and supplying the molten glass whose state has been adjusted to a molded body. Comprising a forming step of forming a glass ribbon, a method of manufacturing a glass article,
An inflow pipe for allowing the molten glass to flow into the inside of the condition adjusting tank from the side of the molten glass generating device is connected to an inlet of the molten glass provided in the condition adjusting tank,
The flow direction of the molten glass when passing through one end of the inflow pipe on the upstream side in the flow direction of the molten glass is defined as a reference flow direction, and when flowing into the inside of the condition adjusting tank from the other end of the inflow pipe. When the flow direction of the molten glass is the flow direction at the time of inflow,
The method of manufacturing a glass article, wherein the inflow pipe is bent such that the flow direction at the time of inflow is directed to one of left and right sides with respect to the reference flow direction in a state where the inflow pipe is viewed in a plan view. Method. An outlet of the condition adjusting tank and an inlet of the molded body are connected by a connection pipe,
The method for manufacturing a glass article according to claim 1, wherein the connection pipe is bent in the same direction as the flow direction at the time of inflow in a state where the connection pipe is viewed in a plan view from the same direction as the outlet of the condition adjusting tank. A straight portion extending straight from one end of the inflow pipe to one of the right and left sides with respect to the reference flow direction in a state where the inflow pipe is viewed in a plan view; The method for producing a glass article according to claim 1, further comprising a bent portion that bends from the downstream end in the flow direction at the time of the inflow and that is connected to an inflow port of the conditioning tank. The molded body is for molding the glass ribbon by flowing down the molten glass overflowing from the overflow groove along both side surfaces,
The inflow port of the molded body is provided in a direction orthogonal to the directions of the both side surfaces, and an angle formed by the reference flow direction and the inflow flow direction is set to 90 °. The method for producing a glass article according to any one of the above. The method for producing a glass article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the glass article is a glass roll formed by winding the glass ribbon into a roll. A molten glass generating apparatus that generates molten glass, a condition adjusting tank that adjusts the state of the generated molten glass, and a formed body that flows down the molten glass whose state has been adjusted to form the glass ribbon. In a manufacturing apparatus of a glass article provided,
An inflow pipe for allowing the molten glass to flow into the inside of the condition adjusting tank from the side of the molten glass generating device is connected to an inlet of the molten glass provided in the condition adjusting tank,
The flow direction of the molten glass when passing through one end of the inflow pipe on the upstream side in the flow direction of the molten glass is defined as a reference flow direction, and when flowing into the inside of the condition adjusting tank from the other end of the inflow pipe. When the flow direction of the molten glass is the flow direction at the time of inflow,
The method of manufacturing a glass article, wherein the inflow pipe is bent such that the flow direction at the time of inflow is directed to one of left and right sides with respect to the reference flow direction in a state where the inflow pipe is viewed in a plan view. apparatus.

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