Abstract: A press bending mold having a flexible, continuous shaping surface that is readily adjustable to produce a wide variety of simple as well as more complex, compound shapes. The mold includes a plurality of adjustment controls that are operably connected at select points on the backside of the shaping surface. The controls are conveniently located outwardly of the press area to enable alterations to be made to the contour of the shaping surface, quickly and easily, without interference or interruption of the glass bending and tempering operation.

Abstract: Bending a glass sheet to a complicated shape that comprises one portion bent sharply relative to a main portion of the sheet involving the use of a vacuum holder, an auxiliary shaping rail and means to correlate the movement of the shaping rail with that of the glass sheet during a bending cycle to insure that the glass sheet is clear of the auxiliary shaping rail except for such time in the glass sheet bending cycle that requires the auxiliary shaping rail to engage the glass sheet portion to be sharply bent against the corresponding portion of the vacuum holder. Another feature incorporated in a preferred embodiment of the present invention facilitates ready removal of glass fragments whenever a flawed glass sheet fractures at or beyond a shaping station outside a furnace where the glass sheet is heated to its deformation temperature.

Abstract: This invention relates to a stop adapted for attachment to outline molds of different outline configurations defining shapes of different depths of bend desired for glass sheets to be shaped to different patterns. The stop comprises a glass engaging member of disc-like configuration having a front surface oriented to face an edge surface of a glass sheet to be mounted in engaging relation to said front surface when loaded onto a selected one of said outline molds. The glass engaging member of disc-like configuration is supported in eccentric relation to a rod supported in fixed relation relative to a localized portion of an upwardly facing shaping surface defined by a shaping rail of said selected outline mold.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for press bending glass sheets into nonsymmetrical shapes including opposed press rings having complementary nonsymmetrical shaping surfaces, one of said press rings having a displaceable segment forming a part of the shaping rail to clamp the sheet against the opposed shaping rail and avoid drifting of the sheet relative to said shaping rails.

Abstract: An articulated press member having pivotal end sections for imparting complex shapes to glass sheets. The end sections are pivoted in unison by a single fluid cylinder operatively connected to a rack and pinion assembly in turn connected to both end sections for effecting concurrent and equal pivotal movement thereof. A series of adjusting screws are associated with the rack and pinion assembly for angularly adjusting the positions of the end sections in various operative positions of the press member.

Abstract: A method for bending glass sheets is provided wherein glass is heated just to the softening point in a molten salt bath, then mechanically forced around a cylindrical or conical form using a forming member which hinges to follow the glass sheet onto the form, thereby maintaining the optical characteristics of the glass sheet by avoiding exertion of force along the plane of the glass sheet.The apparatus for use with the invention comprises a forming member which maintains contact with the part being formed at the same spot throughout the forming operation, means for supporting the part, and means for actuation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a bent plate glass using a forming bed, in which a plate glass mounted on the forming bed is locally heated along a heating line whereby the plate glass is locally softened, after first heating the entire flat plate glass. The heating line is positioned offset from a desired bending line and curved outwardly therefrom whereby the heating line becomes coincident with the desired bending line due to transformation of the initial heating line as the plate glass deforms under its own weight as it is heated to softening temperature.

Abstract: A glass sheet is suspended from a series of tongs which grip the upper margin of the sheet and apply individual forces at the gripping locations at least some of which have components acting out of the plane of the sheet. The magnitude and direction of each of said forces is selected to ensure that the suspended sheet, when at forming temperature, adapts towards a predetermined curved shape. The sheet may be bent with the forces acting at the gripping points before and/or after bending, and the sheet adopts the required curved shape when it is sufficiently stiffened to be influenced by the remanent forces applied at the gripping points.

Abstract: In fabricating a press bending mold having a flexible metal shaping member such as a plate or a frame, a reinforcing grate and adjustable attachment means extending through certain apertures in the reinforcing grate to adjust the shape of the metal shaping member, localized distortion of the shaping member that formerly occurred when the attachment means were bonded to the shaping member by welding or soldering is eliminated by using a thermosetting adhesive capable of application at room temperature, such as an epoxy resin adhesive, to bond the attachment means to the flexible metal shaping member. When the former and the latter have bonding surfaces composed of aluminum, an epoxy resin containing finely divided aluminum filling is preferred.

Abstract: In bending glass sheets to a complicated shape by a combination of gravity sagging the glass to a longitudinal component of bend while supported on an upward facing shaping surface of an outline mold and then lifting the glass so shaped off the outline mold onto a solid shaping mold of continuous extent to impress a complicated transverse component of bend, glass edge engaging members are provided closely adjacent to said outline mold to the outside thereof, means is provided to support said glass edge engaging members so that the upper edges thereof are located in position to abut the edge of one or more glass sheets as the latter sag toward said outline mold and to remove said glass edge engaging members suddenly and automatically from the vicinty of the edge of the supported glass sheets just before the glass sheets are lifted from said outline mold to said solid shaping mold to reduce edge distortion of the mold supported glass sheets.

Abstract: Apparatus for shaping a glass sheet to a complicated shape including a pair of sharply bent areas extending across its transverse dimension and a substantially spherically sagged portion intermediate the areas of sharp bending.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for bending glass sheets to relatively sharp angles. The apparatus includes a sectionalized primary press bending member having articulated end sections for sharply bending portions of a glass sheet about lines superheated by a radiant energy heat source located above the primary press member. A reciprocal brake bar is extended into engagement with the glass sheet along the heated focal line to assist the articulated press end sections in bending the glass. Clamping devices can be used in lieu of the brake bar to secure the heat-softened glass sheet to the press member shaping surface during bending. A supplemental press member, mounted above the primary press member, is provided with shaping elements having shaping surfaces complemental to the shaping surfaces of the primary press articulated end sections for pressing the glass end portions therebetween into conformity with these shaping surfaces.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for shaping a glass sheet by the gravity sag bending process to include a sharp bend by a combination of overall heating and localized heating.

Abstract: In apparatus for bending a flat sheet of glass to a relatively sharp angle wherein the apparatus includes a sectionalized, gravity mold structure provided with means for supplying electrical power to electrical conductor lines formed on the glass sheet supported on the mold apparatus and which lead to an electrically conductive path also formed on the sheet along the line about which it is desired to bend the sheet. Opposed electrical contactors, forming a part of the electrical supply means, are urged into engagement with portions of the conductor lines leading to the path to provide continuous contact therewith and uninterrupted current flow during the bending operation. After bending, these contactors are displaced from such conductor lines into an out-of-the-way position for easy removal of the bent sheet and the replacement thereof with a fresh sheet.