Abstract: A conveyor roll for use in a tempering section of a glass sheet fabrication line includes an elongated inner core member and an outer helical spring member mounted for rotation about said core member. The spring member can be coated with a suitable supporting material or attached to a plurality of collars for supporting and conveying glass sheets.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning glass sheets moving on a conveyor line prior to shaping on a bending apparatus includes a pair of stops for engaging the leading edge of the glass sheets and a pair of side pushers for engaging the end edges of the glass sheets to align the glass sheets with respect to a reference line. The spacing between the side pushers is automatically selected in accordance with the predetermined sequence of glass sheets. In addition, a sensor detects a mark on the sheets to generate a sequence signal identifying the sheets. The sequence signal is utilized to signal that a sheet is missing or an improper sequence, and/or the signal is utilized to control the means for automatically adjusting the spacing of the side pushers. The stop pins can be adjusted individually in a direction parallel to the reference line and a direction transverse to the reference line.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for press bending glass sheets to a desired shape wherein heated glass sheets are advanced on a series of contoured conveyor rolls having arcuately curved central portions, into position above a press member of outline or ring-type construction. The press member includes a continuous peripheral shaping rail adapted to engage and lift the sheets from the conveyor rolls for pressing between complemental shaping surfaces. The end segments of the contoured rolls extend beneath the shaping rail and away from the glass sheets, and free-wheeling rollers are provided adjacent the shaping rail for supporting the end segments of the sheets while the shaping rail is in its retracted or lowered position.