Glass cutting apparatus

Claim 2

In an apparatus for cutting glass sheets having a glasssupporting table (16) and a template ring (48) supported above said table having an outer peripheral surface (146) and an inner peripheral surface providing one cam track (144) with a shape corresponding to the outline of a windshield pane, a cutter unit (40) adapted to ride around said ring, said cutter unit comprising: a block (65) rotatably supporting an external drive roller (77) for engaging said outer peripheral surface, motordrive means in said block for rotating said drive roller, a cutting tool (46) for engaging the glass, means for supporting said cutting tool comprising an antifriction cam follower (80) for engaging said one cam track while the drive roller (77) engages said outer peripheral surface to locate said cutting tool and cause it to follow the outline of said one cam track, means (68) on said block for pressing said cam follower toward said drive roller, means (110) for moving said cam follower away from said drive roller to release the cam follower from the cam track, and means (118) for moving said cam follower (80) vertically relative to said block from a first position for engagement with a different cam track (145) when said cam follower is released from said one cam track.

Claim 3

A cutter as defined in claim 1 wherein said last-named means comprises a pneumatic cylinder (118) on the cutter unit having a piston (120) which reciprocates vertically and a vertical piston shaft (82) which supports said cam follower (80).

Claim 4

A cutter as defined in claim 2 wherein said piston shaft (82) has a cylindrical bore that slidably receives a vertical cutter shaft (83) which supports said cutting tool (46), and means (107, 90, 98) are provided for moving said cutter shaft axially relative to said piston shaft.

Claim 5

A cutter as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for moving the cam follower to release it from the cam track includes a push rod (110) mounted to slide in said block and wherein means (107) are provided on said block to effect lifting of said cutting tool relative to said block when said push rod is moved in a direction toward said cam follower.

Claim 6

A cutter as defined in claim 1 wherein an arm (170) extends downwardly from the cutter unit (40) to support an antifriction member (140, 140a) for engaging the bottom surface (147) of the template ring.

Claim 7

A cutter as defIned in claim 1 wherein a second block (66) is provided on each unit (40) adjacent said first-named block (65) to support said cam follower (80), said blocks being mounted on parallel push rods (110 and 110a) to slide toward and away from each other, spring means (68) are provided for biasing said blocks toward each other and for pressing the drive roller (77) and the cam follower (80) against the template ring (48), said push rods projecting outwardly from said first-named block (65) to provide the means for releasing the cam follower from the track.

Claim 8

A cutter as defined in claim 6 wherein said means for moving the cam follower vertically is a pneumatic reciprocating piston motor (118) operably connected to said cam follower (80), and passage means (122) are provided in said push rods for supplying air to and exhausting air from said motor.

Claim 9

A cutter as defined in claim 6 wherein a rod (107) is slidably mounted in said first-named block (65) to be actuated when said push rods (110 and 110a) are moved into the first-named block (65) to release the cam follower (80) from the cam track (144 or 145), and means (90, 98) are provided for raising the cutting tool (46) in response to movement of said rod (107).

Claim 10

In an apparatus for cutting glass sheets having a glass-supporting table, means for repeatedly feeding sheets of glass to a predetermined cutting position on said table, a cutter unit having a cutting tool for scoring the glass and having a cam follower, a template ring supported above said table and having a peripheral cam track for engaging the cam follower to guide said cutter unit around said ring to score the glass, and motor means for driving the cutter unit in one direction around said ring, the improvement which comprises a stop ramp having stop means for engaging each cutter unit to bring it to a halt at a predetermined stop position adjacent said template ring, means mounting said ramp to swing from an advanced position for engagement with the cutter unit to a retracted position out of the path of movement of said unit, means on each cutter unit engageable with said ramp to discontinue driving of the cutter unit by said motor means, means for automatically raising said cutting tool when the cutter unit is in contact with said ramp, means for initiating feeding of the glass when the cutting tool is raised and for lowering the cutting tool after the glass is in said cutting position, and means for automatically moving said stop ramp to said retracted position to release the cutter unit and restart the driving of the cutter unit around the ring in said one direction by said motor means after lowering of said cutting tool.

Claim 11

In an apparatus for cutting glass sheets having a glass-supporting table, means for repeatedly feeding sheets of glass to a predetermined cutting position on said table, a cutter unit having a cutting tool for scoring the glass and having a cam follower, a template ring supported above said table and having a peripheral cam track for engaging the cam follower to guide said cutter unit around said ring to score the glass, and motor means for driving the cutter unit in one direction around said ring, the improvement which comprises a stop ramp having stop means for engaging each cutter unit to bring it to a halt at a predetermined stop position adjacent said template ring, means mounting said ramp to swing from an advanced position for engagement with the cutter unit to a retracted position out of the path of movement of said unit, means on each cutter unit engageable with said ramp to discontinue driving of the cutter unit by said motor means, means for automatically raising said cutting tool when the cutter unit is in contact with said ramp, means for initiating feeding of the glass when the cutting tool is raised and for lowering the cutting tool after the glass is in said cutting position, and means for automatically moving said stop ramp to said retracted position to release the cutter unit and restart the driving of the cutter unit around the ring in said one direction by said motor means after lowering of said cutting tool.

Claim 12

Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein each cutter unit has a drive roller engaging the template ring with a hollow vertical shaft, said drive roller being driven by said motor means and having a vertical plunger extending through said shaft for operating said switch means, said plunger projecting downwardly and being engageable with said stop ramp, said drive roller being engageable with the stop means of said ramp.

Claim 13

Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein pusher means are provided at each stop position for engaging the cutter unit to raise said cutting tool and fluid motor means are provided for operating each said pusher means.

Claim 14

Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said template ring has a second peripheral cam track below said first-named cam track, said cam follower is mounted to move toward and away from the template ring into and out of engagement with either of said cam tracks, and means are provided for automatically moving said cam follower from a position in horizontal alignment with one cam track to a position in horizontal alignment with the other cam track when said pusher means is advanced to raise said cutting tool.

Claim 15

A cutter as defined in claim 1 wherein an air motor is provided on said block for driving said drive roller.

Claim 16

Apparatus for cutting windshield glass comprising a glAss-supporting table, a template ring having two adjacent peripheral cam surfaces with curved shapes corresponding to that of desired windshield panes, said ring being supported above said table to permit feeding of glass sheets between the table and the ring, at least one cutter unit mounted on said template ring having at least one drive roller engaging said ring and a motor for driving said roller to cause movement of the cutter unit along the periphery of said template ring, each cutter unit having a glass-engaging cutting tool below said template ring and a cam follower engaging one of said peripheral cam surfaces to locate said cutting tool and cause it to follow the outline of that peripheral cam surface, and means on each cutter unit for automatically moving said cam follower vertically from a first position for engagement with one of said peripheral cam surfaces to a second position for engagement with the other of said cam surfaces each time the cutter unit is stopped.

Claim 17

Apparatus for cutting windshield glass comprising a glAss-supporting table, a template ring having two adjacent peripheral cam surfaces with curved shapes corresponding to that of desired windshield panes, said ring being supported above said table to permit feeding of glass sheets between the table and the ring, at least one cutter unit mounted on said template ring having at least one drive roller engaging said ring and a motor for driving said roller to cause movement of the cutter unit along the periphery of said template ring, each cutter unit having a glass-engaging cutting tool below said template ring and a cam follower engaging one of said peripheral cam surfaces to locate said cutting tool and cause it to follow the outline of that peripheral cam surface, and means on each cutter unit for automatically moving said cam follower vertically from a first position for engagement with one of said peripheral cam surfaces to a second position for engagement with the other of said cam surfaces each time the cutter unit is stopped.

Claim 18

Glass cutting apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein a fixed station is provided for each cutter unit along the periphery of said template ring, said last-named means comprises a fluid motor mounted on the cutter unit, stop means are provided at each station for causing the associated cutter unit to stop at a predetermined location, and means are provided at each station to supply fluid under pressure to said fluid motor to effect vertical movement of said cam follower each time the cutter unit stops at its station.

Claim 19

Glass cutting apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said drive roller engages a peripheral surface of said template ring on the side of said ring opposite said peripheral cam surfaces, spring means biases said cam follower toward said drive roller to hold said roller against the template ring and to maintain the cutter unit in an upright position, and means are provided to move the cam follower away from the template ring each time the cutter unit stops at its station.

Claim 20

Glass cutting apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said last-named means comprises a hollow push rod mounted on each cutter unit, a motor-driven pusher mounted on the table at each station for engaging said push rod, and means on each cutter unit responsive to movement of said push rod to separate the cam follower from the template ring, and wherein means are provided to supply fluid under pressure through said push rod to said fluid motor while the cutter unit is at its station to effect vertical movement of the cam follower.

Claim 21

Glass cutting apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein two stations are provided at locations at the periphery of said template ring, one of said cutter units is provided at each station, and means are provided for causing each cutter unit to move about half way around the template ring from one station to the other each time a glass pane is cut on said table.

Claim 22

Glass cutting apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein an antifriction member is mounted on each cutter unit and engages a bottom surface of said template ring to assist in maintaining the cutter unit in an upright position as it travels on said ring.

Claim 23

Glass cutting apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said template ring has a smooth upper surface and each cutter unit has a slider mounted thereon for engaging said upper surface to support the cutter unit on the template ring, said slider being formed of a non-metallic antifriction material.

Claim 24

Glass cutting apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein a fixed station is provided for each cutter unit, each cutter unit has two blocks mounted on horizontal push rods to move toward and away from each other, one block having one or more drive rollers, a motor, and gear means for connecting the motor to said drive rollers, the other block supporting said cam follower and said cutting tool and having a pneumatic motor with a piston connected to said cam follower to move it vertically, spring means are provided for biasing said blocks toward each other to cLamp said template ring between said drive rollers and said cam follower, motor-driven pusher means are provided at each station to effect lifting of the cutting tool and to engage said push rods to separate said blocks and move the cam follower out of engagement with the template ring, and means are provided at each station to supply air under pressure to said pneumatic motor after the cam follower is released from the template ring.

Claim 25

Glass cutting apparatus as defined in claim 21 wherein the glass cutting tool is supported by a vertical hollow shaft located within the cam follower and movable vertically independently of said follower and wherein means are provided to direct cutting fluid through said hollow shaft to said cutting tool.

Claim 26

Glass cutting apparatus as defined in claim 21 wherein the glass cutting tool is supported by a vertical shaft mounted in eccentric relation within a second vertical shaft of larger diameter which carries said cam follower, means are provided for mounting said second shaft to turn about its vertical axis to adjust the position of said cam follower relative to said cutting tool, and means are provided for holding said second shaft in its adjusted position.

Claim 27

A cutter unit (40) comprising two main blocks (65 and 66) mounted on guide means (110 and 110a) to move toward and away from each other, spring means (68) biasing the blocks toward each other, at least one template-engaging drive roller (77) carried by one block (65) and projecting downwardly below the bottom of said block, motor-driven gear means (74, 75) in said one block for rotating said drive roller, a vertical shaft (82) mounted in the outer block (66) having a template-engaging cam follower (80) mounted thereon, means (83) carried by said vertical shaft for supporting a glass cutting tool, and means (120) in said other block (66) for moving said shaft vertically to shift said cam follower (80) from a first cam-track-engaging position to a second cam-track-engaging position.

Claim 28

A cutter unit (40) comprising two main blocks (65 and 66) mounted on guide means (110 and 110a) to move toward and away from each other, spring means (68) biasing the blocks toward each other, at least one template-engaging drive roller (77) carried by one block (65) and projecting downwardly below the bottom of said block, motor-driven gear means (74, 75) in said one block for rotating said drive roller, a vertical shaft (82) mounted in the outer block (66) having a template-engaging cam follower (80) mounted thereon, means (83) carried by said vertical shaft for supporting a glass cutting tool, and means (120) in said other block (66) for moving said shaft vertically to shift said cam follower (80) from a first cam-track-engaging position to a second cam-track-engaging position.

Claim 29

A cutter unit as defined in claim 24 wherein said vertical shaft (82) has an eccentric vertical bore which receives a cylindrical shaft (83) that is connected to said cutting tool (46) and means (121) are provided for rotating said vertical shaft (82) to adjust the position of the cutting tool relative to said cam follower.

Claim 30

A cutter unit comprising a first housing member (65) having a motor (45) and gear means (74, 75) for driving a template-engaging drive roller (77), a cutter block (66), spring means (68) connecting said housing member and said cutter block, an externally cylindrical eccentric shaft (82) mounted in said block for rotation about a vertical axis and projecting downwardly therefrom, a template-engaging cam follower (80) rotatably mounted on the lower end portion of said shaft, said shaft having an offset vertical bore containing a long vertical shaft (83) which projects from opposite ends of said eccentric shaft, a cutting tool (46) connected to the lower end portion of said long shaft, means (118) connected to said long shaft to raise the cutting tool relative to said block, and means (121) for holding said eccentric shaft in different angular positions to permit adjustment of the position of the cutting member relative to said cam follower.

Claim 31

A cutter unit comprising a first housing member (65) having a motor (45) and gear means (74, 75) for driving a template-engaging drive roller (77), a cutter block (66), spring means (68) connecting said housing member and said cutter block, an externally cylindrical eccentric shaft (82) mounted in said block for rotation about a vertical axis and projecting downwardly therefrom, a template-engaging cam follower (80) rotatably mounted on the lower end portion of said shaft, said shaft having an offset vertical bore containing a long vertical shaft (83) which projects from opposite ends of said eccentric shaft, a cutting tool (46) connected to the lower end portion of said long shaft, means (118) connected to said long shaft to raise the cutting tool relative to said block, and means (121) for holding said eccentric shaft in different angular positions to permit adjustment of the position of the cutting member relative to said cam follower.

Claim 32

A cutter unit as defined in claim 26 wherein pneumatic motor means (118) are provided in said block (66) to move the cam follower (80) vertically between two cam-track-engaging positions.

Claim 33

A cutter unit as defined in claim 26 wherein said long shaft has a central oil passage in communication with the cutting member, and wherein means are provided at the top of said long shaft to direct oil into said oil passage.

Claim 34

A cutter unit as defined in claim 26 wherein a rotatable dial (121) is connected to the upper portion of said eccentric shaft to rotate with said shaft, and releasable holding means (137) are provided for holding said eccentric shaft in adjusted positions.

Claim 35

Apparatus for cutting windshield glass having a glass-supporting table, means for repeatedly feeding sheets of glass to a predetermined cutting position on said table, a template ring supported above said table having an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface comprising an upper cam track and a lower cam track, said cam tracks corresponding in shape to the outline of a windshield pane, a cutter unit adapted to ride in one direction around said template ring and having at least one drive roller for engaging said outer peripheral surface and a cam follower for alternately engaging one or the other of said cam tracks, said cam follower supporting a glass cutting tool, a motor on said cutter unit for driving said drive roller, spring means for biasing said cam follower toward said drive roller to hold the roller against the template ring, means for stopping the unit in at least one predetermined stop position, means for raising the cutting tool and for moving the cam follower away from the drive roller to free the cam follower from the cam track including a pneumatic cylinder having a piston member which is advanced into engagement with the cutter unit when it is located at said stop position, start means for energizing said motor means to cause feeding of the glass and for simultaneously energizing said pneumatic cylinder to advance the piston and raise the cutting tool while causing movement of the cam follower vertically from a position in alignment with one cam track to a position in alignment with the other track, means for thereafter retracting said piston to lower the cutting tool and to cause said spring means to move the cam follower against the adjacent cam track, and for starting said motor to drive the cutter unit around the template ring, means engageable with the cutter unit for deenergizing said motor when it approaches said stop position and for initiating operation of said start means to repeat the automatic cycle, and means for reversing the direction of movement of the cam follower each time the cutter unit completes one cycle.

Claim 36

Apparatus for cutting windshield glass having a glass-supporting table, means for repeatedly feeding sheets of glass to a predetermined cutting position on said table, a template ring supported above said table having an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface comprising an upper cam track and a lower cam track, said cam tracks corresponding in shape to the outline of a windshield pane, a cutter unit adapted to ride in one direction around said template ring and having at least one drive roller for engaging said outer peripheral surface and a cam follower for alternately engaging one or the other of said cam tracks, said cam follower supporting a glass cutting tool, a motor on said cutter unit for driving said drive roller, spring means for biasing said cam follower toward said drive roller to hold the roller against the template ring, means for stopping the unit in at least one predetermined stop position, means for raising the cutting tool and for moving the cam follower away from the drive roller to free the cam follower from the cam track including a pneumatic cylinder having a piston member which is advanced into engagement with the cutter unit when it is located at said stop position, start means for energizing said motor means to cause feeding of the glass and for simultaneously energizing said pneumatic cylinder to advance the piston and raise the cutting tool while causing movement of the cam follower vertically from a position in alignment with one cam track to a position in alignment with the other track, means for thereafter retracting said piston to lower the cutting tool and to cause said spring means to move the cam follower against the adjacent cam track, and for starting said motor to drive the cutter unit around the template ring, means engageable with the cutter unit for deenergizing said motor when it approaches said stop position and for initiating operation of said start means to repeat the automatic cycle, and means for reversing the direction of movement of the cam follower each time the cutter unit completes one cycle.

Claim 37

Apparatus as defined in claim 30 wherein a closed chamber is provided below the template ring and below the surface of the table and a multiplicity of air holes are provided in the table surface above said chamber which engages the glass to permit movement of air into said chamber, and valve means are provided for connecting said chamber to a source of subatmospheric pressure to apply a vacuum to the glass sheet below said template ring to hold the glass as it is being cut.

Claim 38

A cutter as defined in claim 1 wherein a second external drive roller (77) is carried by said block (65) for engaging said outer peripheral surface (146), an arm (170) extends downwardly from the cutter unit (40) to support an antifriction member (140, 140a) for engaging the bottom surface (147) of the template ring, and an antifriction member (149) is provided on the bottom of said block (65) for engaging the upper surface (148) of the template ring.

Claim 39

Apparatus for cutting glass sheets, comprising a table for receiving a glass sheet to be cut, a template ring supported above said table and having two adjacent peripheral cam tracks provided with curved surfaces corresponding to the shape and size of the glass sheets to be cut, with one of said cam tracks being different from the other cam track, a cutter unit mounted to move along said template and including a cutting tool for cutting the glass, means for driving the cutter unit along said template, guide means carried by said cutter unit and engaging said template for guiding the cutter unit around the template, and means for automatically moving the cutter unit guide means upwardly or downwardly to bring said guide means into selective engagement with one or the other of said cam tracks.

Claim 40

Apparatus for cutting glass sheets, comprising a table for receiving a glass sheet to be cut, a template ring supported above said table and having two adjacent peripheral cam tracks provided with curved surfaces corresponding to the shape and size of the glass sheets to be cut, with one of said cam tracks being different from the other cam track, a cutter unit mounted to move along said template and including a cutting tool for cutting the glass, means for driving the cutter unit along said template, guide means carried by said cutter unit and engaging said template for guiding the cutter unit around the template, and means for automatically moving the cutter unit guide means upwardly or downwardly to bring said guide means into selective engagement with one or the other of said cam tracks.

Claim 41

Apparatus for cutting glass sheets as claimed in claim 33, including means operable when the cutter unit reaches a predetermined position along the template for automatically releasing the cutter guide means from engagement wIth the template and for raising the cutting tool from the glass sheet.

Claim 42

Apparatus for cutting glass sheets as claimed in claim 33, including means responsive to movement of the cutter unit for first slowing down the speed of travel thereof and then bringing it to a stop when said cutter unit reaches a predetermined stop position.