Abstract: The rollers or curved rods and other elements supporting the glass sheets as well as the apparatus necessary for bending and/or tempering are preferably mounted on a pair of longitudinally flexible strips that rest on a pair of rigid templates having the desired curvature. Each flexible strip advantageously is a chain whose links are hinged on one another, these links being provided with flanges to which are fastened the rollers or curved rods, all other elements for supporting the glass sheets, and the elements necessary for bending and tempering. To permit modification of the curved profile, the templates are removable and interchangeable. To facilitate changing of the templates, the apparatus is equipped with a system for lifting the strips or chains. Such lifting system comprises one or more pivoting beams that are lifted by drive means such as a jack and a bent connecting rod.

Abstract: An apparatus for bending or bending and tempering of thermoplastic sheets such as glass sheets heated to their softening temperature by passing the glass sheets over a bed of straight or curved supporting rollers placed along a profile with an upward concavity. The apparatus comprises a pivoting assembly which transfers the glass sheets from a supporting bed of rollers with one slope to a conveyor with a different slope. The last supporting roller of the bed of supporting rollers constitutes the first support roller of the conveyor. The apparatus permits the transfer of glass sheets from a transport system with one slope to another transport system with a different slope without damaging either the glass sheets themselves or any coatings that may have been applied to the glass sheets.