Abstract: A roller assembly for use in a glass bending machine comprises a base bracket, a bending roller rotatably mounted on said base bracket, the bending roller having a three-piece construction comprises a central hub having an annular outer surface, opposed side surfaces, and a central axis of rotation; a collar fixed to each side surface of said central hub, the collars having an annular outer surface, inner and outer side surfaces, and a central axis of rotation; the collars comprising a material and shape which resists scratching glass, the collars being spaced apart with a center section of the hub between them to allow the roller to be driven individually by a friction member whereby the friction member is adapted to run on the center section of the roller to rotate the roller, and a glass sheet is adapted to run on the larger collars and not be scratched by the center section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the heat-soak treatment of tempered glass panels. After tempering, the glass is heated or cooling of the glass is stopped for maintaining the temperature for the duration of e.g. a good minute within the range of 340-370.degree. C., such that the glasses, which break spontaneously in time as a result of NiS-stones, can be broken already in a so-called heat-soak treatment. During the heating sequence or the cooling stop sequence and during the subsequent cooling sequence, the glass panel is carried in a horizontal plane, e.g. back and forth on rollers in an oscillating fashion. The process is a continuous-action process and the apparatus for implementing the same can be hooked up with a tempering machine for an on-line operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for the localization or focusing of heating in a tempering furnace for glass panels. Glass panels are carried and supported in a furnace (2) by rollers (11). The furnace is provided with upper and lower nozzle boxes (4, 14), including nozzle heads (5, 15) for blasting hot convection air to heat the glass panels to a tempering temperature. The arrival of a load in the furnace is preceded by reading a load picture and by controlling radiation heat resistances (10) present in the furnace in such a way that radiation heating can be focused on the central areas of critical glass panels to provide extra heating therefor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for stopping a glass panel conveyed from a furnace into a tempering station or a bending and tempering station. In the method, a glass panel is carried upon rolls and pressed by means of overhead press rollers, as the conveying speed of the rollers is decelerated for stopping the glass panel. Over a deceleration distance, the rate of deceleration is within the range of 0.6-3 m/s.sup.2. By virtue of the overhead press rollers, the rate of deceleration can be increased, such that the glass exit speed from a furnace can be raised and, at the same time, the glass cooling time can be minimized prior to a tempering process.