Processing a plate-like workpiece having a transparent, glass, glass-like, ceramic and/or crystalline layer

Abstract

A plate-like workpiece having a transparent, glass, glass-like, ceramic and/or crystalline layer, such as for use in an electronic display screen, is processed into separate segments by first incompletely severing the workpiece along outer contours of bounded segments, by forming holes through the layer with a laser beam, leaving the segments interconnected at narrow connections, and then separating the segments by severing the web-like connections.

Claims

1. A method for processing a plate-like workpiece having a layer of a transparent glass, ceramic, or crystalline material to form a plurality of partial segments of the plate-like workpiece, the method comprising: providing a plate-like workpiece comprising a layer of a transparent glass, ceramic, or crystalline material; forming a plurality of partial segments within the plate-like workpiece by incompletely severing the partial segments from the rest of the workpiece by forming holes along an outer contour of each partial segment by laser-induced selective etching, such that the formed holes each extend completely through a thickness of said layer, leaving each partial segment connected to other portions of the workpiece by one or more web-like connections; and forming at least one of the web-like connections by laser-induced selective etching to have a connecting point at a lower outer edge of a partial segment, wherein the lower outer edge is set back with respect to an upper outer edge of the partial segment in a direction of a principal plane of the partial segment to form an undercut or a reverse offset with respect to the upper edge; and separating the partial segments from the plate-like workpiece by severing the one or more web-like connections.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the web-like connections is formed to have a thickness, at least in some regions, that is reduced in comparison with an overall thickness of the layer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the web-like connections has at least one of a reduced web width and a reduced web thickness towards the connection point to an associated partial segment, to define at least one fracture point.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming an edge geometry at an outer edge of each of the partial segments.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the edge geometry comprises one of an edge radius, an edge chamfer, and a groove in one or both of the lower outer edge and the upper outer edge.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the edge geometry is formed as the partial segments are incompletely severed.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising, during the incomplete severing of the partial segments, processing the partial segments modifying an optical or mechanical material property of each partial segment.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the severing of the web-like remaining connections is performed by a different severing method than the incomplete severing of the partial segments.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the severing of the web-like connections is performed by mechanical fracture.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising, between the incomplete severing of the partial segments and the severing of the web-like connections, glass toughening of the partial segments.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein dimensions of the web-like connections are selected such that connecting regions of the outer contours of the partial segments to which the web-like remaining connections are attached are toughened during the glass toughening.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows an installation for processing plate-like workpieces, in particular of glass panels for producing glass panes for screens.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a basic illustration of the modification of an internal region of a transparent glass panel by means of a laser beam.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a first example of a product from a plate-like workpiece, such as a glass panel, having a plurality of partial segments connected via web-like remaining connections.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a second example of a product from a plate-like workpiece, such as from a glass panel, having a plurality of partial segments connected via web-like remaining connections.

(5) FIG. 5 is a plan view of a first example of a web-like remaining connection of an intermediate product made from a plate-like workpiece, such as from a glass panel.

(6) FIG. 6 is a section view taken along line 37 in FIG. 5.

(7) FIG. 7 is a plan view of a second example of a web-like remaining connection of an intermediate product made from a plate-like workpiece, such as from a glass panel.

(8) FIG. 8 is a section view taken along line 37 in FIG. 7.

(9) FIG. 9 is a plan view of a third example of a web-like remaining connection of an intermediate product made from a plate-like workpiece, such as from a glass panel.

(10) FIG. 10 is a section view taken along line 37 in FIG. 9.

(11) FIG. 11 is a plan view of a fourth example of a web-like remaining connection of an intermediate product made from a plate-like workpiece, such as from a glass panel.

(12) FIG. 12 is a section view taken along line 37 in FIG. 11.

(13) FIG. 13 shows a detail from a third example of a product made from a plate-like workpiece, such as from a glass panel, having a plurality of partial segments connected via web-like remaining connections.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(14) FIG. 1 shows a system 1 for processing a plate-like workpiece. In particular the system is designed to process a plate-like workpiece from an individual transparent glass layer. In particular, processing of a glass panel 2 for the production of individual panes for use in screens is carried out by the system.

(15) The system 1 comprises, from left to right in FIG. 1, a loading device 3, a severing device 4, a further processing device 5 and a separating device 6, which in this example is also an unloading device. A conveyor belt 7 is used to transport the glass panels 2 in FIG. 1 from left to right. In the following text, the individual components of the system 1 will be described more extensively.

(16) The loading device 3 has, for example, a suction frame having a plurality of suction grippers 8, by means of which a glass panel 2 can be gripped from above while on a workpiece stack 9, and deposited on the conveyor belt 7.

(17) The severing device 4 is in this example a device for laser-induced selective etching, by means of which incomplete severing of partial segments 17 of the glass panel 2 is carried out, leaving web-like remaining connections. Device 4 has a laser processing device 10 and at least one etching dip bath 11.

(18) The laser processing device 10 focuses a laser beam 12 (FIG. 2) on various regions of the glass panel 2. For this purpose, the laser processing device 10 has, for example, a laser optics unit, not shown, by means of which the focus of the laser beam 12 can be moved along a plurality of movement axespossibly movement axes also overlaying one anotherrelative to the glass panel 2. The laser beam 12 is preferably a pulsed laser beam 12. Use is preferably made of a laser beam 12 with a pulse duration between 100 and 10,000 femtoseconds. The wavelength of the laser beam 12 preferably lies between 0.2 and 2 m. The raw laser beam has, at least virtually, a fundamental mode and a beam quality factor of M2<1.5.

(19) FIG. 2 schematically illustrates modification of the material by the laser processing device 10. In general, the laser beam 12 can pass through the glass panel 2, which is largely transparent to the wavelength of the laser beam. Only in the region of the laser focus is modification of the material carried out by means of non-linear absorption of the laser beam. In this way, a multiplicity of continuous regions can be modified gradually. In FIG. 2, two adjacent modified regions 13 disposed in the interior of the glass panel 2 are shown by way of example. In one example, an individual modified region 13 has an extent of 1 to 20 m parallel to the laser beam axis and an extent of 0.5 to 5 m perpendicular to the laser beam axis.

(20) Referring back to FIG. 1, connected downstream of the laser processing device 10, the severing device 4 has at least one etching dip bath 11 in which the glass panels 2 are immersed. In this example, the etching dip bath 11 is provided with an alkaline solution, e.g. a 30% by weight KOH solution, at 85 C. The etching solution, the dwell time of the glass panels 2 in the etching dip bath 11, the temperature of the etching solution, and the type of laser modification are coordinated with one another in such a way that the modified regions 13 are removed, while the unmodified regions do not dissolve or dissolve only to a substantially lower extent. A region that is to be removed, which can comprise a plurality of modified regions 13, should adjoin the surface of the glass panel 2 and should not be enclosed by unmodified regions, in order that the etching solution can reach said region to be removed.

(21) Connected downstream of the etching dip bath 11 is a further dip bath 15 for removing residues of the etching solution. However, it is also possible for still further etching dip baths, not shown, and a device for applying etching protection masks and so on, to be provided.

(22) The processing device 5, which is connected downstream of the severing device 4, is used for example for glass toughening or for further functionalization or integration of further functions or components on the incompletely separated partial segments 17.

(23) The separating device 6 is provided, in a manner comparable with the loading device 3, with a plurality of suction grippers 16, which are able to grip the glass panel 2 from above. The grippers 16 can be raised and lowered independently of one another by a separating stroke, so that the grippers 16 can move, for example twist, various regions of a fixed glass panel 2 in relation to each other. As a result of the relative movement, the web-like remaining connections are broken and thus the partial segments 17 separated. The separated partial segments 17 and, if appropriate, a residual lattice 18, are deposited on various stacks 19, 20 by means of the separating device 6.

(24) In summary, the processing of the glass panels 2 in the installation 1 can be described as follows. First, the glass panels 2 are deposited on the conveyor belt 7 by means of the loading device 3. At the separating device 4, a plurality of partial segments 17 are incompletely severed from the rest of the workpiece by means of laser-induced etching. In the process, holes which go through the glass panel 2 are introduced along the outer contour of the partial segments 17. However, the partial segments 17 still remain connected to the rest of the workpiece by web-like remaining connections. The product which thus results may be subjected to further processing (glass toughening, functionalization, integration) at the processing device 5. The partial segments 17 are then separated at the separating device 6 by severing the web-like remaining connections and are deposited on stacks 19, 20.

(25) FIG. 3 shows a plan view of an example of an intermediate product 21 from the glass panel 2 after leaving the severing device 4. The product 21 has a plurality of partial segments 17, which are in each case severed incompletely from the rest of the workpiece in preparation for the following separation. The partial segments 17 are identical. Formed along their outer contour 22 are holes 23, which are interrupted by a plurality of web-like remaining connections 24. The remaining connections are illustrated in FIG. 3 only by black dots, the positions of which are illustrated by dashed circles 25, using the example of one of the partial segments 17. Overall, eight partial segments 17 are separated incompletely and are surrounded by a residual lattice 18. The partial segments 17 each have an internal cutout 26, which has likewise been produced on the severing device by laser-induced selective etching.

(26) FIG. 4 shows a further example of a product 21 from the glass panel 2 following the incomplete severing operation. The partial segments 17 are formed identically, like those of the example according to FIG. 3. The residual lattice 18 differs from the residual lattice 18 of the example according to FIG. 3, however. The residual lattice 18 is pierced by rectilinear holes 27 which extend in extension of the rectilinear holes 23 on the outer contour 22 of the partial segments 17. Thanks to these holes 27 in the residual lattice 18, entire strip-like sections of the glass panel 2 can be moved in relation to one another in order to separate the partial segments 17, all of the web-like remaining connections 24 arranged along the resultant straight fracture line 28 being severed. By way of example, such a strip-like section is emphasized in FIG. 4 by a dashed outline 29.

(27) In the following text, four examples are described as to how the web-like remaining connections 24 of the product 21 from the glass panel 2 can be configured following the incomplete severing operation. In FIGS. 5 to 12, a detail of the product 21 in the region of a web-like remaining connection 24 is shown. FIGS. 5, 7, 9 and 11 each show a plan view of the detail, i.e. the glass panel main plane extends parallel to the drawing plane. FIGS. 6, 8, 10 and 12 each show a sectional illustration of the detail in a section plane 37 indicated in FIGS. 5, 7, 9 and 11, respectively, the glass panel main plane extending perpendicular to the drawing plane.

(28) All the examples correspond in that the web-like remaining connection 24 has a web thickness that is reduced as compared with the glass panel thickness. The web thickness and/or width is in particular less than 50 m.

(29) The connecting points 30 of the web-like remaining connections 24 to the outer contour 22 of the associated partial segments 17 are set back in the glass panel thickness direction as compared with both outer edges 31 of the partial segment 17. In the example according to FIGS. 11 and 12, the connecting point 30 is additionally set back in the direction of the glass panel main plane with respect to the upper outer edge 31.

(30) All the web-like remaining connections 24 shown have an intended fracture point 32 at the connecting point 30 to the outer contour of the associated partial segment 17. In the examples shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and also 11 and 12, the intended fracture point 32 is formed by a reduction in the web width and thickness toward the connecting point 30. In the example shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the intended fracture point 32 is formed by weakening on account of a plurality of micro-channels 33. In the example shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the intended fracture point 32 results from material stresses 34. The micro-channels 33 and/or the material stresses 34 have been introduced during the laser-induced selective etching by means of laser modification at the connecting point 30. The micro-channels 33 additionally have the possible advantage of aiding in the toughening of the connecting regions of the outer contour 22 of the partial segments 17 at the connecting points 30.

(31) The partial segments 17 have an edge geometry that deviates from a sharp edge. Thus, the examples shown in FIGS. 5 to 10 have a radius 35 extending about both outer edges 31. In the example shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the upper outer edge 31 also has a radius 35 but the lower outer edge 31 has a chamfer 36. The edge geometries shown have been produced during the laser-induced selective etching.

(32) FIG. 13 shows, as a detail, a third example of a product 21 from the glass panel 2 following the incomplete severing operation, largely coinciding with the example according to FIG. 4. It differs from the example shown in FIG. 4 in that the residual lattice 18 of the product 21 of FIG. 13 has auxiliary or weakening holes 39. Each web-like remaining connection 24 has an associated auxiliary hole 39. The auxiliary holes 39 are formed in a region which adjoins the residual lattice 18 at the connecting points 38 of the web-like remaining connections 24. The auxiliary holes 39 are configured in such a way that the connecting points 38 together with the web-like remaining connections 24 can be forced away from the attached partial segments 17 more easily and individually, in order to fracture the web-like remaining connections 24 during separation of the partial segments 17. The auxiliary holes 39 have been introduced by means of laser-induced selective etching during the incomplete severing.

(33) By way of example, a description has been given of a system 1 and a processing method in which the incomplete severing, additional processing and the separation of the partial segments 17 are carried out in a flow process. Alternatively, however, the processing method can also be carried out at different individual stations.

(34) A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.