Method of and apparatus for working a glass plate

Abstract

An apparatus for working a glass plate includes: a transporting device for bending a glass plate in a concave shape in a cross-sectional view in a transporting direction and transporting the glass plate from a cutting section to a bend-breaking section; a cutting device for forming cut lines on the glass plate in the cutting section; and a bend-breaking device for bend-breaking the glass plate in the bend-breaking section.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of working a glass plate, comprising the steps of: 
 bending a glass plate in a concave shape in a cross-sectional view in a transporting direction and transporting the glass plate from one section to another section; and    working the glass plate in at least one of said one section and said other section.    
     
     
         2 . The method of working a glass plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the glass plate is sucked and bent.  
     
     
         3 . The method of working a glass plate according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the glass plate is bent in a downwardly convex shape.  
     
     
         4 . The method of working a glass plate according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the glass plate is bent in an upwardly convex shape.  
     
     
         5 . The method of working a glass plate according to any one of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein one surface of the glass plate is coated.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for working a glass plate comprising: 
 transporting means for bending a glass plate in a concave shape in a cross-sectional view in a transporting direction and transporting the glass plate from one section to another section; and    a working section for working the glass plate in at least one of said one section and said other section.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus for working a glass plate according to  claim 6 , wherein said transporting means is adapted to carry one glass plate from said one section into said other section and to carry out another glass plate from said other section synchronously with the carrying-in.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus for working a glass plate according to  claim 6  or  7 , wherein said transporting means is adapted to carry one glass plate into said one section and to carry out another glass plate from said one section to said other section synchronously with the carrying-in.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus for working a glass plate according to any one of  claims 6  to  8 , wherein said transporting means is adapted to bend the glass plate in a downwardly convex shape.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus for working a glass plate according to any one of  claims 6  to  8 , wherein said transporting means is adapted to bend the glass plate in an upwardly convex shape.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus for working a glass plate according to any one of  claims 6  to  10 , wherein said transporting means has suction means for sucking and bending the glass plate.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus for working a glass plate according to  claim 11 , wherein said suction means has recessed portions formed by recessing portions of a holding surface which is concave in the cross-sectional view in the transporting direction, so as to suck and hold the glass plate from one surface thereof or another surface opposing said one surface.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus for working a glass plate according to  claim 11 , wherein said suction means has recessed portions formed by recessing portions of a holding surface which is convex in the cross-sectional view in the transporting direction, so as to suck and hold the glass plate from one surface thereof or another surface opposing said one surface.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus for working a glass plate according to any one of  claims 11  to  13 , wherein said suction means has recessed portions formed by recessing portions of a holding surface which is V-shaped in the cross-sectional view in the transporting direction, so as to suck and hold the glass plate from said one surface thereof or said other surface opposing said one surface.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus for working a glass plate according to any one of  claims 6  to  14 , wherein said transporting means has raising/lowering means for raising or lowering the glass plate.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus for working a glass plate according to any one of  claims 6  to  15 , wherein one surface of the glass plate is coated.  
     
     
         17 . A glass-plate transporting means for use in said apparatus for working a glass plate according to any one of  claims 6  to  16 , wherein said glass-plate transporting means is adapted to bend the glass plate in the concave shape in the cross-sectional view in the transporting direction and transport the glass plate from said one section to said other section.