Patents Assigned to Glasstech, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20110247367
    Abstract: A press bending station (12) for heated glass sheets includes a conveyor (36) having a lower support structure (38) and central conveyor assemblies (40r) with horizontal rollers (41) as well as having lateral outward wheel conveyor assemblies (40w) with wheels 44 and/or laterally outward inclined roller conveyor assemblies (40r) with inclined rollers (43) for supporting and conveying upwardly formed portions of a preformed heated glass sheet with an upwardly concave shape. Each conveyor assembly has a detachable connection (46) to a drive mechanism (48) of the lower support to provide rotational driving of a roller (41 or 43) or wheel (44) of each conveyor assembly. An actuator (62) provides relative vertical movement that lifts the heated preformed glass sheet received by the conveyor (36) to provide press bending thereof between a lower press ring (52) and an upper press mold (58).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: GLASSTECH, INC.
    Inventors: Dean M. Nitschke, David B. Nitschke, Terry A. Bennett, Roger E. Hummel
  • Patent number: 7958750
    Abstract: A system (10) and method for forming glass sheets includes a forming station (14) having lower and upper molds (28, 30) between which glass sheets G are cyclically received from a furnace (12) on a vacuum transfer platen (34), formed between the lower and upper molds (28, 30), and transferred to a delivery mold (42) for delivery such as to a quench station (16). The vacuum transfer platen (34) and the delivery mold (42) are moved at different elevations and operated by a controller (18) for movement into the forming station (14) in respective underlapping and overlapping relationships to each other so each glass sheet forming cycle can begin within the forming station before the prior forming cycle is completed in a time overlapping manner that reduces the cycle time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Vild, David B. Nitschke, Dean M. Nitschke, James P. Schnabel, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20100180638
    Abstract: A forming system (10) having particular utility for making outer and inner formed windshield glass sheets provides glass sheet positioning centrally on a forming face (34) of a forming mold (32) to form each glass sheet to a design shape regardless of any size difference between the glass sheets from one cycle to the next.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: GLASSTECH, INC.
    Inventors: Terry A. Bennett, Steven M. Connell
  • Patent number: 7716949
    Abstract: A method having particular utility for making outer and inner formed windshield glass sheets is performed by glass sheet positioning centrally on a forming face (34) of a forming mold (32) to form each glass sheet to a design shape regardless of any size difference between the glass sheets from one cycle to the next.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry A. Bennett, Steven M. Connell
  • Publication number: 20090282871
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for measuring transmitted optical distortion in a glass sheet includes a glass stand which receives a glass sheet for mounting between a background screen which includes a matrix of spaced apart dots, and a digital camera which captures (1) an image of the glass sheet surface, and (2) an image of the dot matrix transmitted through the glass sheet. The captured images are downloaded to a computer that is suitably programmed to analyze the image data to (1) determine the presence of any markings or elements on the surface of the glass sheet that should be isolated from the dot matrix image, (2) modify the background image to eliminate the image data corresponding to any such surface markings or elements from the image, and (3) determine characteristics indicative of optical distortion in the modified image of the dot matrix background transmitted through the glass sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: Glasstech, Inc.
    Inventors: Donivan M. Shetterly, Jason C. Addington, Michael J. Vild
  • Publication number: 20080307830
    Abstract: A method for forming glass sheets is performed by a system (10) that includes a forming station (14) having lower and upper molds (28, 30) between which glass sheets G are cyclically received from a furnace (12) on a vacuum transfer platen (34), formed between the lower and upper molds (28, 30), and transferred to a delivery mold (42) for delivery such as to a quench station (16). The vacuum transfer platen (34) and the delivery mold (42) are moved at different elevations into the forming station (14) in respective underlapping and overlapping relationships to each other so each glass sheet forming cycle can begin within the forming station before the prior forming cycle is completed in a time overlapping manner that reduces the cycle time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: GLASSTECH, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Vild, David B. Nitschke, Dean M. Nitschke, James P. Schnabel, JR.
  • Publication number: 20080260999
    Abstract: A glass sheet bending method for glass sheet bending utilizes a primary actuating mechanism (154) for moving mold support linkages to provide glass sheet bending with a constant radius and utilize control link detachable connections (39) that allow a secondary actuating mechanism (155) to provide bending of a glass sheet independently of linkage movement on the other side of the detached connections. The resultant bent glass sheet has two portions of different constant radii of curvature and also has a junction between the two portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: GLASSTECH, INC.
    Inventors: Alfredo Serrano, Gilbert L. Reed, Thomas J. Zalesak, Paul D. Ducat
  • Publication number: 20080245107
    Abstract: A method and forming system (10) having particular utility for making outer and inner formed windshield glass sheets provide glass sheet positioning centrally on a forming face (34) of a forming mold (32) to form each glass sheet to a design shape regardless of any size difference between the glass sheets from one cycle to the next.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: GLASSTECH, INC.
    Inventors: Terry A. Bennett, Steven M. Connell
  • Publication number: 20080236200
    Abstract: A glass sheet quench station (16) and method for quenching glass sheets includes quench control valves (55, 57) that are operated to reduce unnecessary quenching air and thereby provide efficiency in the quenching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: GLASSTECH, INC.
    Inventor: Terry A. Bennett
  • Publication number: 20080127678
    Abstract: A three step method and apparatus for quenching a formed glass sheet in a manner that reduces cycle time without excessive temporary surface tension that can cause excessive breakage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: GLASSTECH, INC.
    Inventors: David B. Nitschke, Dean M. Nitschke, Cristin J. Reinhart, Donivan M. Shetterly
  • Publication number: 20080060385
    Abstract: A hot glass sheet roll assembly wheel (60) and resultant roll assembly utilizing such wheels includes an annular tire (64) having a central axis A, a synthetic resin rim (70) molded in situ within the tire, and a central formation (70) for supporting the wheel about the central axis A.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: GLASSTECH, INC.
    Inventors: Alfredo Serrano, Thomas J. Zalesak
  • Patent number: 7287401
    Abstract: A system (10) and method for cylindrically forming and quenching glass sheets includes a furnace (12), a bending station (16) at the exit end of the furnace for providing cylindrical bending, a roll bending station (18) located externally of the furnace downstream from its exit end and having a lower roll conveyor (20) and an upper roll former (21) with complementary cylindrical shapes to further cylindrically bend the glass sheet, and a quench station 24 to which the formed glass sheets are conveyed for rapid cooling to provide toughening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.
    Inventor: James P. Schnabel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7228717
    Abstract: A glass sheet forming system (20) provides continuous roll conveyed forming of heated flat glass sheets to formed shapes having a major axis of curvature and a minor axis of curvature perpendicular to each other. The forming is performed by a roll station (30) having a shape retaining quench (36) associated with a lower deformable roll bed (32) and an upper deformable roll former (34). An adjustment mechanism (78) provides adjustment of the extent of the minor curvature and an actuating mechanism (56) is operable to provide the major curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Zalesak, Alfredo Serrano
  • Publication number: 20070089459
    Abstract: A system (10) and method for forming glass sheets includes a forming station (14) having lower and upper molds (28, 30) between which glass sheets G are cyclically received from a furnace (12) on a transfer platen (34), formed between the lower and upper molds (28, 30), and transferred to a delivery mold (42) for delivery such as to a quench station (16). The transfer platen (34) and the delivery mold (42) are moved a different elevations into the forming station (14) in respective underlapping and overlapping relationships to each other so each glass sheet forming cycle can begin within the forming station before the prior forming cycle is completed in a time overlapping manner that reduces the cycle time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Publication date: April 26, 2007
    Applicant: Glasstech, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Vild, David Nitschke, Dean Nitschke, James Schnabel
  • Patent number: 7162893
    Abstract: A glass sheet bending station (20) and method for glass sheet bending utilize a primary actuating mechanism (154) for moving mold support linkages to provide glass sheet bending with a constant radius and utilize control link detachable connections (39) that allow a secondary actuating mechanism (155) to provide bending of a glass sheet independently of linkage movement on the other side of the detached connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfredo Serrano, Gilbert L. Reed, Thomas J. Zalesak, Paul D. Ducat
  • Patent number: 7086252
    Abstract: A glass sheet forming system (20) includes a roll bending station (28) having a lower roll conveyor (30) and an upper roll former (32) between which a heated glass sheet is progressively formed with a curved shape by lower and upper rolls (50) and (52) supported on lower and upper elongated beams (46) and (48) that extend along the direction of conveyance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald A. McMaster
  • Publication number: 20060150683
    Abstract: An apparatus for quenching a heated glass sheet includes a roll conveyor system for conveying the glass sheet in a direction of conveyance C generally along a plane of conveyance. The apparatus further has upper and lower sets of flow control members respectively located above and below the plane of conveyance. Each set includes multiple flow control members that each have multiple outlets for supplying quenching fluid for impingement with the glass sheet in inclined directions both upstream and downstream with respect to the direction of conveyance C. Moreover, each outlet provides a fluid flow path to the conveyed glass sheet. For each flow control member viewed in a direction generally transverse to the direction of conveyance C, the flow paths define a maximum angle of less than 75 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Applicant: Glasstech, Inc.
    Inventor: Troy Lewandowski
  • Publication number: 20050274148
    Abstract: A glass sheet forming system (20) and method provides continuous roll conveyed forming of heated flat glass sheets to formed shapes having a major axis of curvature and a minor axis of curvature perpendicular to each other. The forming is performed by a roll station (30) having a shape retaining quench (36) associated with a lower deformable roll bed (32) and an upper deformable roll former (34). An adjustment mechanism (78) provides adjustment of the extent of the minor curvature and an actuating mechanism (56) is operable to provide the major curvature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Applicant: Glasstech, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Zalesak, Alfredo Serrano
  • Publication number: 20050274147
    Abstract: A glass sheet forming system (20) includes a roll bending station (28) having a lower roll conveyor (30) and an upper roll former (32) between which a heated glass sheet is progressively formed with a curved shape by lower and upper rolls (50) and (52) supported on lower and upper elongated beams (46) and (48) that extend along the direction of conveyance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Applicant: Glasstech, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald McMaster
  • Publication number: 20050274146
    Abstract: A system (10) and method for cylindrically forming and quenching glass sheets includes a furnace (12), a bending station (16) at the exit end of the furnace for providing cylindrical bending, a roll bending station (18) located externally of the furnace downstream from its exit end and having a lower roll conveyor (20) and an upper roll former (21) with complementary cylindrical shapes to further cylindrically bend the glass sheet, and a quench station 24 to which the formed glass sheets are conveyed for rapid cooling to provide toughening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Applicant: Glasstech, Inc.
    Inventor: James Schnabel