Apparatus and method for aligning scoring needles and for scoring glass substrates

Abstract

A method is provided for aligning scoring tools and for scoring glass, in particular thin glass, along predetermined scoring lines in preparation for breaking along the score. Glass substrates, in particular thin glass substrates, produced by such method are also provided. The method includes the determination of the actual orientation of the cutting edge of the scoring tool and aligning of the cutting edge to a target orientation of the cutting edge.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for aligning a scoring tool for scoring thin or ultra-thin glass substrates along a predetermined scoring line for score and break separation, comprising:
 a scoring tool having a cutting edge;   a driving mechanism configured to move the scoring tool with respect to a surface of the glass substrate to be scored;   a position detection device for detecting an actual orientation of the cutting edge relative to the scoring line and relative to a surface of the glass substrate to be scored;   an adjustment device configured to adjust a position of the scoring tool by tilting and/or rotating with respect to the surface; and   a processing unit for determining control values for aligning the scoring tool with respect to the surface, wherein the processing unit is programmed to:
 control the driving mechanism to move the scoring tool to the glass substrate so that the scoring tool does not yet touch the glass substrate; 
 control the adjustment device to pre-align the cutting edge of the scoring tool with respect to the predetermined score line along an advancement direction; 
 control the position detection device to determine an actual orientation of the cutting edge with respect to the predetermined score line along the advancement direction; 
 control the adjustment device to align the scoring tool by changing the actual orientation of the cutting edge by rotating the cutting edge in a plane perpendicular to the planar surface and/or tilting the cutting edge to change an inclination so as to arrange the cutting edge in a desired orientation relative to the advancement direction; and 
 control the driving mechanism to move the cutting edge onto the planar surface in an area of the scoring line once the cutting edge of the scoring tool has been aligned in the desired orientation. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is further programmed to control the driving mechanism to move the scoring tool to subject the cutting edge to a predetermined cutting force once the cutting edge of the scoring tool has been moved onto the surface. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the processing unit is further programmed to control the driving mechanism to move the scoring tool along the score line in the advancement direction once the cutting edge has been subjected to the predetermined cutting force to produce a score. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the cutting force deviates at most 0.05 N when moving the cutting edge along the scoring line. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the cutting force is not more than 1 N. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the cutting force is not more than 0.5 N. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the position detection device comprises a beam source that emits electromagnetic radiation and a photodetector that receives electromagnetic radiation reflected at the scoring tool. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the photodetector is arranged and configured to detect at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation reflected at the cutting edge. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the beam source comprises a point light source. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the beam source is arranged in the advancement direction and is adapted for irradiating the cutting edge to detect the actual orientation of the cutting edge relative to the scoring line and to the planar surface. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the scoring tool comprises a scoring needle. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein, wherein the scoring needle comprises a scoring diamond. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the position detection device is configured to determine the actual orientation based on planar ground surfaces of the scoring tool. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for aligning a scoring tool for scoring thin or ultra-thin glass substrates along a predetermined scoring line for score and break separation, comprising:
 a scoring tool having at least one cutting edge;   a driving mechanism for drawing the scoring tool along the predetermined scoring line;   a position detection device for detecting an actual orientation of the at least one cutting edge relative to the scoring line and to a surface of the glass substrate to be scored; and   an adjustment device configured to adjust the scoring tool on the basis of control values in order to bring the scoring tool from the actual orientation to a predetermined orientation by tilting and/or rotating.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a processing unit for determining the control values for aligning the scoring tool. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the cutting edge has a shape selected from the group consisting of acute truncated shape, a truncated pyramid shape, a truncated tetrahedron shape, and a truncated octahedron shape. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for aligning a scoring tool for scoring thin or ultra-thin glass substrates along a predetermined scoring line for score and break separation, comprising:
 a machine tool;   a drivable feed unit;   a cutting head;   a scoring tool having at least one cutting edge;   a driving mechanism for drawing the scoring tool along the predetermined scoring line;   a position detection device for detecting an actual orientation of the at least one cutting edge relative to the scoring line and to a surface of the glass substrate to be scored; and   an adjustment device configured to adjust the scoring tool on the basis of control values in order to bring the scoring tool from the actual orientation to a predetermined orientation by tilting and/or rotating.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a processing unit for determining the control values for aligning the scoring tool.