Patents by Inventor David B. Nitschke
David B. Nitschke has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7958750Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 21, 2005Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Vild, David B. Nitschke, Dean M. Nitschke, James P. Schnabel, Jr.
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Publication number: 20080307830Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2008Publication date: December 18, 2008Applicant: GLASSTECH, INC.Inventors: Michael J. Vild, David B. Nitschke, Dean M. Nitschke, James P. Schnabel, JR.
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Publication number: 20080127678Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2006Publication date: June 5, 2008Applicant: GLASSTECH, INC.Inventors: David B. Nitschke, Dean M. Nitschke, Cristin J. Reinhart, Donivan M. Shetterly
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Patent number: 6729160Abstract: Apparatus (26) and a method for forming heated glass sheets in a heated chamber (22) of a housing (20) includes an upper mold support assembly (28) for supporting an upper mold (38) within the heated chamber for cyclical vertical movement between upper and lower positions. A lower mold shuttle (50) supports a lower mold (36) for cyclical movement between an idle position horizontally spaced from the upper mold and a use position below the lower mold. The apparatus also includes a lower mold support assembly (60) to which the lower mold is cyclically transferred from the lower mold shuttle (50) to provide support thereof while permitting horizontal alignment with the upper mold upon each cycle of downward movement to form a heated glass sheet between the molds. The lower mold shuttle (50) is supported by vertically movable rollers (70) to provide the transfer between the lower mold shuttle and the lower mold support assembly (60).Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 1997Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.Inventors: David B. Nitschke, Eustace Harold Mumford, Dean M. Nitschke
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Patent number: 6718798Abstract: Apparatus (26) and a method for forming heated glass sheets in a heated chamber (22) of a housing (20) includes an upper mold support assembly (28) for supporting an upper mold (38) within the heated chamber for cyclical vertical movement between upper and lower positions. A lower mold shuttle (50) supports a lower mold (36) for movement between an idle position horizontally spaced from the upper mold and a use position below the lower mold. The apparatus also includes a lower mold support assembly (60) to which the lower mold is transferred from the lower mold shuttle (50) to provide support thereof while permitting horizontal alignment with the upper mold upon each cycle of downward movement to form a heated glass sheet between the molds. The lower mold shuttle (50) is supported by vertically movable rollers (70) to provide the transfer between the lower mold shuttle and the lower mold support assembly (60).Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2003Date of Patent: April 13, 2004Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.Inventors: David B. Nitschke, Eustace Harold Mumford, Dean M. Nitschke
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Publication number: 20030106340Abstract: Apparatus (26) and a method for forming heated glass sheets in a heated chamber (22) of a housing (20) includes an upper mold support assembly (28) for supporting an upper mold (38) within the heated chamber for cyclical vertical movement between upper and lower positions. A lower mold shuttle (50) supports a lower mold (36) for movement between an idle position horizontally spaced from the upper mold and a use position below the lower mold. The apparatus also includes a lower mold support assembly (60) to which the lower mold is transferred from the lower mold shuttle (50) to provide support thereof while permitting horizontal alignment with the upper mold upon each cycle of downward movement to form a heated glass sheet between the molds. The lower mold shuttle (50) is supported by vertically movable rollers (70) to provide the transfer between the lower mold shuttle and the lower mold support assembly (60).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2003Publication date: June 12, 2003Applicant: Glasstech, Inc.Inventors: David B. Nitschke, Eustace Harold Mumford, Dean M. Nitschke
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Patent number: 6418754Abstract: A method for heated mold changing at a forming station (24) is performed by apparatus (32) in a heated chamber (22) where heated glass sheets are cyclically formed. A switching station (318) is located adjacent the forming station (24). An unloading station (320) and a mold preheating station (322) are each located adjacent the switching station. An unloading cart (324) is initially movable from the loading station (320) to the switching station (318) and then to the forming station (24) to receive one or more heated molds from the forming station and is subsequently moved from the forming station back through the switching station to the unloading station to permit unloading of each heated mold. A loading cart supports a second mold or a pair of molds for heating within the mold preheating station (322) and is movable from the mold preheating station to the switching station (318) and then to the forming station for mold loading.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 1999Date of Patent: July 16, 2002Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.Inventors: Dean M. Nitschke, Robert D. Caswall, Eustace Harold Mumford, David B. Nitschke
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Patent number: 6079094Abstract: A glass sheet quench station loader (42) and method for installing a quench module set (44) of lower and upper quench modules (46,48) includes a quench carriage (440) of a horizontally opening U shape that receives the quench modules for the loading. Mounts (446,454) mount the quench modules for movement to the quench station (40) and for subsequent movement from the quench station to permit installation of another quench module set for another production run. The quench loader (42) includes an overhead crane (447) and an overhead railway (448) along which the crane moves to move the quench carriage (440) and the quench modules mounted thereby to and from the quench station.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 1999Date of Patent: June 27, 2000Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.Inventors: Paul D. Ducat, David B. Nitschke, Dean M. Nitschke, Eustace Harold Mumford
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Patent number: 6032491Abstract: Apparatus (32) and a method for heated mold changing at a forming station (24) in a heated chamber (22) where heated glass sheets are cyclically formed. A switching station (318) is located adjacent the forming station (24). An unloading station (320) and a mold preheating station (322) are each located adjacent the switching station. An unloading cart (324) is initially movable from the loading station (320) to the switching station (318) and then to the forming station (24) to receive one or more heated molds from the forming station and is subsequently moved from the forming station back through the switching station to the unloading station to permit unloading of each heated mold. A loading cart supports a second mold or a pair of molds for heating within the mold preheating station (322) and is movable from the mold preheating station to the switching station (318) and then to the forming station for mold loading.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 1997Date of Patent: March 7, 2000Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.Inventors: Dean M. Nitschke, Robert D. Caswall, Eustace Harold Mumford, David B. Nitschke
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Patent number: 5951733Abstract: Glass sheet forming apparatus (12) and a glass sheet forming method utilize a mold (20) having a curved forming face (22) with holes (26) in which a vacuum is drawn to form a glass sheet. A vacuum distributor (48) of the apparatus distributes a vacuum impulse of at least 0.1 atmospheres of vacuum from a valved vacuum reservoir (52) through a plurality of tubes (58) to a limited number of the holes (26) to provide additional forming of the glass sheet. The vacuum impulse distributor (48) is located within a vacuum chamber of the mold (20) that draws the vacuum by a gas jet pump in the holes (26) to which the vacuum impulse is not distributed.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 1998Date of Patent: September 14, 1999Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.Inventors: Scott L. Clark, Thomas L. Shaw, Edward G. Bollin, David B. Nitschke
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Patent number: 5925162Abstract: A mold support assembly (28) includes a support (164) located within a heated chamber (22) and having a construction that reduces thermal expansion. A vertical guide (170) located externally of the heated chamber has a vertically movable connection (172) to the support (164) to permit vertical movement thereof at a horizontally fixed location. A mold support (174) for supporting a mold that provides forming of heated glass sheets is supported on the support (164) by support mounts (176) and is positioned by positioners (178,180) that provide a thermally stable center. The support (164) is constructed as a tubular support having fluid inlet (166) and a fluid outlet (168) through which a liquid coolant flows to reduce thermal expansion.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 1997Date of Patent: July 20, 1999Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.Inventors: Dean M. Nitschke, David B. Nitschke, Eustace Harold Mumford
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Patent number: 5917107Abstract: A glass sheet quench station loader (42) and method for installing a quench module set (44) of lower and upper quench modules (46,48) includes a quench carriage (440) of a horizontally opening U shape that receives the quench modules for the loading. Mounts (446,454) mount the quench modules for movement to the quench station (40) and for subsequent movement from the quench station to permit installation of another quench module set for another production run. The quench loader (42) includes an overhead crane (447) and an overhead railway (448) along which the crane moves to move the quench carriage (440) and the quench modules mounted thereby to and from the quench station.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 1997Date of Patent: June 29, 1999Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.Inventors: Paul D. Ducat, David B. Nitschke, Dean M. Nitschke, Eustace Harold Mumford
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Patent number: 5900034Abstract: A support and actuating mechanism (30) includes an actuator (244) mounted adjacent a vertical post (242) of a framework (236) and also includes a plurality of connectors (246) extending from the actuator to a mold support assembly (28) located within a heated chamber (22) of a housing (20) to perform forming of heated glass sheets. Each connector (246) includes a vertical connector rod (248) that extends upwardly from the actuator, an upper pivot link (254) connected to the vertical connector rod (248) and to a horizontal connector rod (258), a sector wheel (264) connected to the horizontal connector rod (258), and a flexible member (268) that extends from the sector wheel (264) to a mold support rod (270) that supports the mold support assembly (28) to provide vertical movement thereof under the operation of the actuator. The sector wheels (264) are preferably constructed as sprockets and the flexible members (268) are chains received by the sprockets.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 1997Date of Patent: May 4, 1999Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.Inventors: Eustace Harold Mumford, David B. Nitschke, Dean M. Nitschke
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Patent number: 5086907Abstract: A glass sheet transferring device (20) is disclosed as including a movably driven frame (30), a glass sheet lifting mechanism (32) and a walking beam mechanism (28) connected to the movably driven frame (30) to provide indexed transfer of a glass sheet G during its movement from a glass sheet forming station (22).Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 1990Date of Patent: February 11, 1992Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.Inventors: David B. Nitschke, Christopher Hersch
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Patent number: 4886540Abstract: A blow back control device (10) for use in a glass tempering system (12) is disclosed as including an air supply member (28) mounted between a glass heating furnace (14) and a quenching station (24). The air supply member (28) supplies a planar jet of high pressure blow back control air generally in a direction of glass sheet conveyance (A) away from an exit opening (20) of the furnace (14) and toward the quenching station (24) at an angle in the range of between 0.degree. and 25.degree. formed between the planar jet of high pressure air and a plane of conveyance of a glass sheet (16) along a conveyor (22) to deflect cooling air, supplied by blastheads (26,26') from entering the furnace (14).Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 1988Date of Patent: December 12, 1989Assignee: Glasstech International L.P.Inventor: David B. Nitschke
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Patent number: 4877437Abstract: Apparatus (10) for bending glass sheets (12) disclosed provides press bending between a shaping surface (16), and a press ring (26) of a complementary shape. The apparatus (10) utilizes vacuum drawn through vacuum chambers (22, 30) and thereby on the shaping surface (16), to control the bending and avoid negative curvature associated with press bending sharp bends into glass sheets (12).Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 1988Date of Patent: October 31, 1989Assignee: Glasstech International L.P.Inventor: David B. Nitschke
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Patent number: 4661141Abstract: A glass sheet press bending system (20) disclosed has a bending station (30a,30b,30c,30d) for providing press bending between upper and lower molds (32,42) without intrusion into or through a conveyor (26) on which glass sheets are heated prior to the bending. The upper mold (32) is positioned above the conveyor (26), while the lower mold (42) is movable horizontally at an elevation above the conveyor from a first position adjacent the upper mold to a second position below the upper mold whereupon vertical movement therebetween performs the press bending between the molds. A transfer mold (48) receives the bent glass sheet from the upper mold (32) for cooling.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 1986Date of Patent: April 28, 1987Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.Inventors: Dean M. Nitschke, David B. Nitschke, John S. Nitschke, Harold A. McMaster
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Patent number: 4386952Abstract: A glass sheet bending system (10) is disclosed as including a compressed gas bending unit (28) located above a horizontal conveyor (22) on which glass sheets are heated within a furnace (12) of the system. A downwardly facing curved surface (26) of a holder (24) above conveyor (22) receives a heated glass sheet from the conveyor for bending. Compressed gas fed through outlets (34) of the bending unit (28) provides inclined gas jets directed in a generally perpendicular relationship to the holder surface (26) with a sufficient intensity to bend the glass sheet on the holder (24) to the curved shape of its surface. The conveyor (22) of the system is preferably of the roller type including spaced rolls (36) and the bending unit (28) is disclosed as including a pair of supply conduits (48) extending upwardly between the rolls to supply compressed gas to a pair of delivery conduits (52) which define the outlets (34).Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1982Date of Patent: June 7, 1983Inventor: David B. Nitschke