Abstract: The invention relates to a method for heating glass sheets to be tempered or heat-strengthened, in which method glass sheets are heated in a preheating furnace (1) by applying a hot-air blast and convection heating produced thereby to the opposite sides of a glass sheet and the preheated glass sheet is transferred from the preheating furnace (1) into a radiation heating furnace (2) for heating the glass sheet to a tempering temperature. During the convection heating of a glass sheet, the rotating speed of a hot-air fan (5) is increased while adjusting the heating effect of heating resistances (6) so as to maintain the temperature of blasted air substantially constant. Thus, the diminishing temperature difference between glass and air is compensated for by controlling the coefficient of heat transfer.

Abstract: An apparatus for bending and tempering glass sheets includes a roll conveyor for supporting a glass sheet, the glass sheet having a top and a bottom surface. The roll conveyor includes a plurality of vertically movable rolls for arching the conveyor to a curvature corresponding to a desired degree of bending in the glass sheet. The rolls each have two opposed ends, and at least some of the rolls being deflectable such that at least mid-sections thereof are movable relative to a vertical position of ends thereof. The apparatus further includes a plurality of movable press rollers disposed above the rolls. The press rollers are movable in a vertical direction to apply a pressing force to the top surface of the glass sheet.

Abstract: Invention relates to a method and apparatus for laminating glass sheets by placing a plastic film between the glass sheets. A refrigerated space (1) arranged above a laminating space (2) contains a plurality of unwinding units (6) for film rolls and therebelow a conveyor (9) taking up a film unwound from a roll. The laminating space (2) includes an intermediate conveyor (10) onto which a film sheet is transferred for heating prior to transferring said film sheet onto a glass sheet advancing on a laminating conveyor (4).

Abstract: A method for transferring mould-carrying wagons in a bending furnace for glass sheets as well as to a bending furnace for glass sheets, comprising preheating stations (1.3, 1.4, 1.5) and more than two bending stations (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4) in succession and therebelow a number of cooling stations (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4), a first number of mould-carrying wagons (3, 4) on an upper track (1) and a second number of mould-carrying wagons (3, 4) on a lower track (2), an end wall (4) of the mould-carrying wagons defining said preheating, bending and cooling stations when the mould-carrying wagons (3, 4) are stationary. After a bending, the mould-carrying wagon (3, 4) is transferred under one or more bending stations (2.3, 2.2) to a location directly below the first bending station (2.1) or the final preheating station (1.5).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for laminating glass sheets. A sandwich structure to be laminated is preheated with radiation heat to a temperature of about 30.degree. C.-45.degree. C. This is followed by a first pressing operation between a pair of rolls (1). Next, the sandwich structure is heated by two-sided hot-air blasting (4, 5) for raising the temperature of glass and film to a temperature range of 60.degree. C.-85.degree. C. This is followed by a pressing operation between a second pair of press rolls.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for measuring the degree of bending in a bent glass sheet. The measuring is effected by cameras having a common imaging field within the boundaries of a surface being measured. The cameras are set at an arbitrary but stationary angle relative to each other. The glass surface along a profile to be measured is made visible to the cameras by an illuminating line whose light has a high intensity over the wavelength ranges of 250-330 nm. Hence, an extremely thin film of tin, left on the glass surface in the manufacture thereof, becomes visible.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for developing an edge stress in a windshield bending furnace. Adjacent to a ring mould is located a metallic, flat extra frame in a manner that the lower surface of a bent windshield remains at a small distance from extra frame. The compression stress of glass edge can be adjusted by varying the distance of extra frame from glass and/or by varying its glass-oriented dimension.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and furnace apparatus for bending and tempering glass sheets. A glass sheet is supported on the same outline mold throughout the entire handling process. A bending furnace (10) is designed to be sufficiently long in the traveling direction for carrying a partially bent glass sheet towards a tempering section (16) in such a manner that the glass sheet reaches its final shape during the passage occurring within the bending furnace (10). For this purpose, the glass sheet is heated in the bending furnace (10) with such a high effect that it reaches its tempering temperature before reaching its final shape. The movements and heating of glass sheets are controlled individually on the basis of the thickness and measured temperature of each glass sheet.

Abstract: A method and a furnace for bending glass sheets. Glass sheets are heated to a bending temperature by supporting them on a mould (11) and carrying them from one heating station to another. In a bending station (4), the glass sheet is heated for effecting a desired bending partially or entirely through the action of gravity. During a bending operation, the temperature distribution of a glass sheet is subjected to the action of convection blasting. By focusing the blast on the mid-section of a glass sheet it is possible to create a progressively curving pocket.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bending and tempering station for glass sheets, comprising an archable roll conveyor and upper and lower tempering boxes (5, 7) provided with tempering orifices (8, 6). The upper tempering boxes (7) are fitted with a number of press rollers (11) having a top rest position and a bottom working position. The rollers (11) are capable of moving against the force of a pneumatic spring (17) from the working position towards the rest position. The pneumatic spring (17) can be further used for operating the rollers (11) between the working position and the rest position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a furnace for bending glass sheets. Glass sheets supported on ring molds are heated to a bending temperature and are carried from one heating station to another. In a heating and bending station, the glass sheet is heated for effecting a desired bending partially or entirely through the action of gravity. During a bending operation, the temperature distribution of radiation heat is adjusted. In the heating stations, the glass sheet is subjected to the action of convection blasting.

Abstract: The invention relates to an air-exhausting and pre-pressing apparatus for laminated glass sheets. In the manufacture of laminated windscreens, the glass sheets are carried on a conveyor in a substantially upright position through a heating tunnel. The suction tubes included in a suction track adjacent to the conveyor are coupled with suction rings surrounding the edges of the laminated glass sheets. A preheating station, a heating station, and a recooling station are set successively to define together a heating tunnel, the conveyor extending through the heating tunnel. The preheating station and the recooling station are linked with each other by at least two air circulation ducts for circulating air from the recooling station to the preheating station and from the preheating station back to the recooling station. The arrangement saves heating energy and achieves a uniform heating and cooling of glass sheets.

Abstract: The invention relates to a press-bending method and apparatus for bending glass sheets. The press bending is effected between an upper curved mold surface (12) and a lower ring mold (13). Air is blown through pores included in an upper mold (2) into a space (3) between mold surface (12) and a glass sheet (11), and vacuumed from the edges of the space for developing in the space (3) a negative pressure (P.sub.2) capable of bearing a glass sheet (1) in the immediate proximity of the mold surface (12), yet without contacting the mold surface (12).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for equalizing the temperature profile of glass sheets in a roller-equipped furnace included in a horizontal tempering plant. At least in the early stage of a heating cycle, the upper surface of a glass sheet is exposed to an intensified convection heat effect by blasting air into the furnace from blasting pipes (3) located close to the upper surface of a glass sheet. This blasting compensates for the vigorous heat transfer to the lower surface of a glass sheet in the early stage of a heating cycle, which is caused by hot rollers. The blasting range and spot is manoeuvred in the longitudinal direction of a furnace in a manner that, at any given time, the blasting is only applied to that longitudinal section of a furnace in which a movable glass sheet is located at a given time.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for bending glass sheets. A glass sheet supported by a ring mould (5) is caused to sag while being heated in successive heating stations. The glass sheet reaches a final bending temperature in a bending station (14). A press-bending mould (16) is transferred from outside bending station (14) into the bending station through an opening (22') in its wall. The ring mould (5) along with its glass sheet is lifted by means of a hoist mechanism (6) upwards for pressing the glass sheet against press-bending mould (16) for completing the bending. The same bending station (14) can also be used solely for gravitational bending when said press-bending mould (16) is retained outside the bending station.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for bending and tempering a glass sheet. From a preheating furnace a glass sheet is advanced into a positioning and bending station supported by a gas bed between the stations. In the positioning and bending station the glass sheet is lifted by a ring mold from a gas bed and the glass sheet is heated for gravitational bending to close to a final profile. The glass sheet is pressed to its final profile or shape by an overhead press plate, which also serves as a vacuum pickup for carrying the bent glass sheet into a station for heating for tempering. After tempering, the glass sheet is advanced into a quenching station.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nozzle assembly for a flat-glass tempering machine. A nozzle cover (2) includes two types of orifices side by side. A number of orifices (7, 8) are linked to the pressure of a compressor (11) and another number of orifices (6) are linked to the pressure of a blower (12). Thus, the different orifices supply air of different pressures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cutting and grinding apparatus for a glass sheet edge, comprising a grinding machine (5) which includes two rotatable glass-supporting tables (10) and displacement guides (11) for shifting tables (10) aside from a conveyor track (6) included in a primary conveyor (6, 7, 8). Two grinding heads (12) are mounted on the outer ends of displacement guides (11) of said tables (10) and a displacement mechanism (15) for tables (10) is controlled to carry out the shifting movement of tables (10) between conveyor track (6) and grinding head (12). The same displacement mechanism (15) is also controlled to perform the advancing movement during a grinding operation for maintaining the edge of a glass sheet (9) in contact with a grindstone (13) during the rotation of a glass sheet having a shape other than circular.

Abstract: An outline is cut in a glass sheet to form an inner zone and an outer marginal zone. The glass sheet is positioned on a support which supports the inner zone and marginal zone from below. A carrier is arranged such that suction pads thereof adhere to the inner zone, and such that a beveled bottom surface of a mechanical removing device carried by the carriage contacts an outer edge of the marginal zone. When the carriage is raised, the suction pads move up relative to the mechanical removing device. The inner zone is raised, but the outer edge of the marginal zone is restrained against upward movement by the mechanical removing device so that the marginal zone breaks along the outline.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for bending and tempering a glass sheet. A glass sheet is supported by one and the same ring mould (3) throughout all its working operations. Following the preheating of a glass sheet from a temperature of about 500.degree. C., its heating to a final bending and tempering temperature is effected at a high output and rate of speed. For example, on 4 mm thick glass, this final heating is performed within a period of time of 15-25 s. Therefore, the temperature of bending station is 800.degree.-1000.degree. C. Since rapidly heating glass bends quickly, the bending flexure or temperature of glass is monitored and the glass is advanced to tempering as soon as a predetermined bending flexure or temperature is reached.