Vacuum Technology for the Glass Industry

Requirements for Vacuum Technology

Vacuum Technology for Automation

High shear forces even on separation powder
To avoid the adhesion force between stacked glass sheets, the sheets are coated with separation powder. The special suction cups SGF and SAB generate high shear forces even when separation powder is used. The specially developed profile of the suction cups ensures high friction for a secure handling.

Mark-free handling
Marks on the surfaces of the glass sheets should be avoided throughout the entire production process. Suction cups made of the markless material HT1,can also be used at temperatures of up to 170°C. In combination with a low surface pressure, the suction cups SGF and SAB are ideal for meeting these requirements. With the suction cup covers SU, any contact between the suction cup and the glass can be prevented. We developed a special foam layer with a protective coating so that the vacuum area gripping system can be used for handling soft coatings, such as those used for low emissivity windows, because of its large contact surface and minimal surface pressure.

Short cycle times and high precision
These handling processes require short cycle times. The compact ejector SXMPi offers an integrated suction and blow-off function. This minimizes suction and release times, as well as energy consumption, since the integrated automatic air-saving function means that the ejector is only activated when vacuum is needed. The intelligent compact ejector also features numerous functions for energy and process control.

Plant availability and low energy costs
Not only to avoid capping, but also to detect possible contamination and capping is of central importance for plant availability. The detection allows an early and targeted avoidance of an unplanned plant shutdown. The vacuum generator SCTSi, a terminal with up to 16 individual vacuum circuits, enables direct integration into the control system via IO-Link or Ethernet. Thus, the internally processed and pre-interpreted data can be transferred directly to the control system and, for example, a leakage in a suction circuit can be detected early on. We also speak here of EPC - Energy and Process Control. In addition, the pneumatic vacuum generators have an integrated air-saving control, thus minimising energy consumption.

Vacuum Clamping Technology

In addition to powerful holding forces, the height tolerance also plays an important role in the grinding process of glass, because even minimal height differences can cause significant fluctuations in quality. With the vacuum blocks VCBL-G, the workpieces are clamped safely and precisely. In addition to the high shear force, the vacuum blocks ensure minimal height tolerances for a high quality of theglass edges.

Vacuum Block VCBL-GL

• Grinding of building, design and automotive glass
• Extreme holding forces on dry or wet glass
• Workpiece surfaces left entirely free of marks

Vacuum Lifters and Crane Systems

A variety of manual handling steps are involved in the manufacturing process and final installation of building glass. Fast, ergonomic handling plays a key role in these processes. Schmalz’ manual lifting device VacuMaster Window offers the optimum solution for every process, from the loading of cutting tables to the installation of windows – quickly, ergonomically and safely.

• Low-impression handling
• Ergonomic working
• Safe and precise handling
• Swiveling, rotating and turning the workpieces

VacuMaster Window 200/300

• Vertical handling of windows, glass sheets and glass components up to max. 300 kg
• For windows with sash parts or frames protruding up to 45 mm

VacuMaster Window Comfort 500

• Simultaneous rotation and swivelling of windows, glass sheets and glass components up to max. 500 kg
• Handling of workpieces with a depth offset up to 50 mm (with reduced load)

Outdoor handling: VacuMaster Glass

• Attached to the site crane, it permits effortless lifting of loads either in a horizontal or vertical Position
• Manual swiveling up to 90°

Requirements for Vacuum Technology

Vacuum Technology for Automation

High shear forces on separation powder
To avoid the adhesion force between stacked glass sheets, the sheets are coated with separation powder. The special suction cups SGF and SAB generate high shear forces even when separation powder is used. The specially developed profile of the suction cups ensures high friction for secure handling. The low stroke of the suction cups SGF enables maximum precision while the flexible bellows of the SAB also adapt to shaped glass, e.g. side lites.

Mark-free handling
Marks on the surfaces of the glass sheets should be avoided throughout the entire production process chain. Suction cups made of the markless material HT1can also be used at temperatures of up to 170°C (e.g. unloading the bending furnace). In combination with a low surface pressure, the suction cups SGF and SAB are ideal for meeting these requirements. With the suction cup covers SU, any contact between the suction cup and the glass can be prevented. We developed a special foam layer with a protective coating so that the vacuum area gripping system can be used for handling soft coatings, such as those used for low emissivity windows, because of its large contact surface and minimal surface pressure.

Short cycle times and high system availability
These handling processes require short cycle times. The compact ejector SXMPi offers an integrated suction and blow-off function. This minimizes suction and release times, as well as energy consumption, since the integrated automatic air-saving function means that the ejector is only activated when vacuum is needed. The intelligent compact ejector also features numerous functions for energy and process control as well as predictive maintenance funtions to increase system availability.

Energy-saving and quiet
In the assembly processes for automotive glass, manual and automated processes are often closely connected. The glass has to be fixed in place for a long period. The compact ejectors SEAC-RP offer suction and blow-off functions in minimal installation space, enabling them to be used right on the suction cup. The integrated pneumatic air-saving regulation reduces the compressed air consumption to a minimum, while ensuring that the system produces very little noise.

Gentle area gripping
The area gripping systems FXP/FMP grip large areas of the glass so that only low local surface pressure is generated. This allows even sensitive coatings or imprints to be handled without damage. Thanks to the integrated valve technology, the grippers can also handle workpieces that are smaller than the actual gripping surface. The universal gripper FXP also offers an integrated vacuum generator.

Vacuum Clamping Technology

In addition to powerful holding forces, the height tolerance also plays an important role in the grinding process of glass, because even minimal height differences can cause significant fluctuations in quality. With the Quick-Change System SQC and the vacuum blocks VCBL-GL, the workpieces are clamped safely and precisely. In addition to the high shear force absorption, the vacuum blocks ensure minimum height tolerances for a high quality of the glass edges.

Vacuum Block VCBL-GL

• Grinding of building, design and automotive glass
• Extreme holding forces on dry or wet glass
• Workpiece surfaces left entirely free of marks

Quick-Change System SQC

• Used for grinding high-quality building, design and automotive glass
• Tool-free changeover to reduce set-up times and downtimes as well as simple retrofitting of existing machine tables
• Working heights of 80 mm and 120 mm

Vacuum Lifters and Crane Systems

In the production of automotive glass, there are a large number of manual handling steps in addition to the automated application. Especially in the area of assembly processes, such as overmoulding seals or attaching holders. Of course, manual handling also plays a central role in the logistics and packaging of the glass.

• Low-impression handling
• Ergonomic working
• Safe and precise handling

Vacuum Tube Lifter JumboFlex

• One-hand operation for workpieces weighing up to 50 kg
• Endless turning of horizontally suctioned workpieces

Vacuum Tube Lifter JumboErgo

• For workpieces of many different shapes and sizes weighing up to 300 kg
• The operator handle can be varied for a safe distance from the load
• Workpieces can be swiveled by 90°

Requirements for Vacuum Technology

Highforces and maximum acceleration rates
These handling processes require minimal cycle times. The glass also has to be gripped quickly and then handled safely and precisely with high acceleration rates. Schmalz’ specially designed thin glass gripper STGG has a large suction area to absorb high shear forces for fast, highly precise handling of glass.

Gentle, contamination-free handling
Any contamination of the glass – before or after the coating – significantly affects the functionality of the displays. For this reason, the grippers STGG are equipped with a contact surface made of contamination-free PEEK. The large suction area of the grippers enables a high suction force to be generated with low vacuum levels. This allows handling with low surface pressure. In addition, Schmalz offers a broad range of suction cups made oft he markless material HT1, that leaves no visiblemarks. The inner support structure oft he suction area of the suction cups SGPN makes it ideal for thin glass.

System availability and low energy costs
These handling processes require short cycle times. The compact ejectors SCPSi and SCPM offer an integrated suction and blow-off function. This minimizes suction and release times, as well as energy consumption. The integrated automatic air-saving function means that the ejector is only activated when vacuum is needed. In addition, the intelligent compact ejector features an IO-Link interface for reading out process data and configuring the ejector. The small size of the ejector allows it to be positioned close to the suction cup for minimal evacuation times.

Flexible handling in assembly processes
The large-area gripping systems FXP/FMP grip a large area of the glass. This generates only a low local surface pressure so that even sensitive coatings or imprints can be handled without damage. An optionally available protective coating minimizes contamination. The integrated valve technology means that the grippers can handle even workpieces that are smaller than they are, allowing different glass workpieces to be gripped flexibly. The gripper FXP also offers an integrated vacuum generator based on the Venturi priciple.

Low-contact handling
By taking advantage of the Bernoulli principle, SBS floating suction cups allow you to handle workpieces with very little contact. The suction cup floats on an air cushion, and horizontal forces can be transmitted by means of an elastomer buffer made of HT1. High flow rates combined with low vacuum permit gentle handling and long-range effectiveness for safe separation of glass sheets.

ESD compliant handling
Suction pads made of the ESD-compliant material NBR-ESD have a resistance range of 10⁶ to 10⁹ Ω and are also free of conductive soot. This means that the suction pads made of the yellow material NBR-ESD not only provide a defined leakage resistance, but also prevent damage to components due to soot. In combination with the spring plungers FSTIm and FSTImc, the suction pads offer reliable point-to-point and point-to-ground resistance in the ESD range.

Requirements for Vacuum Technology

Flexible and adaptable
Different shapes of glass and layer structures are no problem for the large-area grippers with patented combi foam. The large-area gripping systems FXP/FMP can be used to grip an enormous range of different glass workpieces without complex gripper changes or modification processes during production. The adaptable foam levels out the height differences within a layer. The integrated valve technology allows reliable handling even with low coverage oft he suction area, for example handling just one glass out of an entire layer.

Gentle handling
Even the thinnest glass, such as drinking glasses, must be transported without damage or tension. The large-area gripping systems FXP/FMP with soft foam contact surfaces are the optimal solution to this application problem. The necessary vacuum value is adjusted to the application to avoid high forces and tensions in the glass.

Short cycle times
The glass workpieces must be gripped, transported and released again with short cycle times. The integrated valve technology allows the layer grippers SPZ and the large-area grippers FXP/FMP to quickly generate the vacuum and then quickly and precisely reduce it using the integrated blow-off function.

Handling intermediate layers
In most applications, not only the workpieces themselves, but also intermediate layers such as cardboard or plastic must be handled with the same gripper system. The integrated valve technology of the grippers allows different intermediate layers to be gripped directly. In addition, suction cups can be added to the gripping system to hande intermediate layers.