Abstract: A furnace includes a section defined as a heating section capable of attaining a predetermined temperature, the heating section having an entrance end and an exit end; a section defined as a cooling section capable of having a temperature gradient from entrance end of the cooling section to exit end of the cooling section, the entrance end of the cooling section mounted in a fixed relationship to the exit end of the heating section; a section defined as an edge cooling section between the exit end of the heating section and the entrance end of the cooling section; and an edge cooling device positioned in the edge cooling section relative to a predetermined area, and capable of cooling at least selected peripheral portions of the predetermined area at a faster rate than center portions of the predetermined area.

Abstract: A mold includes a pair of spaced elongated deformable members and spaced elongated flexible strap members between and connected to the deformable members with the axis of the deformable members parallel to one another and transverse to the axis of the strap members. A set of a plurality of donut rolls spaced from one another along the length of the strap members is provided in the space between adjacent strap members to move a heat softened glass sheet over the strap members and below shaped surface of a vacuum mold. The strap members are moved to lift the sheet off the rolls toward and into contact with the shaping surface. The deformable members are deformed as the flexible members bias the sheet against the shaped surface. Vacuum pulled through the shaping surface maintains the sheet against the shaped surface as the strap members move away from the shaped surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for shaping heat softened glass sheets includes a shaping station to receive a heat softened glass sheet to be shaped, first and second transfer stations positioned along opposing sides of the shaping station, and first and second cooling stations positioned adjacent a corresponding transfer station. An upper vacuum mold having first and second downwardly facing, shaped sheet engaging surfaces moves between the transfer stations and within the shaping station. The sheet engaging surfaces of the vacuum mold each have a shaped configuration generally corresponding to a final desired shaped of a glass sheet to be shaped. Heat softened glass sheets are positioned within the shaping station and moved into engagement with one of the sheet engaging surfaces to shape the sheet. Vacuum is drawn along the sheet engaging surface to hold the shaped sheet thereagainst.

Abstract: The present invention provides a shaping mold for shaping heat softenable sheet material which includes a flexible rail having a sheet shaping surface to support a marginal edge portion of a sheet to be shaped and a plurality of controllable actuators secured to the rail and capable of deforming the rail to provide its surface with configurations each having a desired elevational contour. In one particular embodiment of the invention, the shaping rail is a shaping ring having a peripheral configuration which provides generally continuous support about the marginal edge portion of the sheet. A controller is used to control each actuator and deform the sheet shaping surface of the ring from a first configuration having a generally flat elevational contour to a second configuration having an elevational contour that generally corresponds to the final desired contour of the marginal edge portion of the sheet.

Abstract: The present invention provides an arrangement for shaping multiple sheets of heat softenable material which includes a shaping station and a conveying system to deliver a plurality of heat softened sheets into the shaping station. The shaping station includes an upper vacuum mold having a plurality of downwardly facing sheet shaping surfaces each generally conforming to a desired shape of a sheet to be shaped and a plurality of stops positioned below the upper mold such that each of the sheets is aligned below a corresponding one of the upper mold sheet shaping surfaces when the sheet contacts selected stops. Lower molds are positioned below the upper mold sheet shaping surfaces to lift and press the aligned sheets against the upper mold sheet shaping surfaces to shape the sheets. A vacuum is drawn along the upper mold sheet shaping surfaces to secure the sheets to the upper mold and shape the sheets.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ring mold for shaping heat-softenable sheet material. The mold includes peripheral wall members enclosing a central cavity having an open upper end. The wall members have an upper sheet shaping surface with a peripheral shape and elevational contour that generally corresponds to a desired peripheral shape and elevational contour of a sheet to be shaped. A first set of slots are positioned along and extend through portions of one of the wall members and a second set of slots are positioned along and extend through portions of an opposing wall member. Each of the slots in the second set is generally horizontally aligned with a corresponding slot in the first set.

Abstract: A flexible shaping ring for shaping heat softened glass sheets lifts a heat softened glass sheet and presses it against the shaping surface of an upper mold. As the shaping ring presses the marginal edge portion of the sheet against the upper mold, its shaping surface deforms to generally conform to a corresponding portion of the upper mold. A press ring subsequently contacts the shaping ring and presses it against the upper mold to further shape the marginal edge portion of the glass sheet and ensure the marginal edge completely conforms to the shape of the upper mold.

Abstract: The present invention provides a quench for cooling hot sheet material. The quench includes a plurality of generally horizontally extending, spaced apart nozzle assemblies, each having a longitudinally extending air supply conduit with orifices extending to an outer surface of the conduit. A first plenum is interconnected to a first end of each of the conduits and a second plenum is interconnected to a second end of each of the conduits to allow cooling fluid to pass from the plenums into each of the nozzle assemblies through the conduit. The plenums are located at positions spaced laterally outward from the nozzle assemblies.

Abstract: The present invention provides a glass sheet shaping arrangement whereby a glass sheet may be conveyed through a shaping station without being shaped and deposited into a glass collector beneath an upstream portion of the adjacent quench without impacting the lower quench or interfering with the operation of the quench. A furnace, shaping station and cooling station are all linearly aligned so that a glass sheet progresses through the glass sheet shaping arrangement without changing its advancing direction. A glass sheet is conveyed in a first direction along a first generally horizontal plane through the furnace to heat the sheet to its heat softening temperature. The sheet continues into the shaping station where it is lifted into engagement with an upper vacuum surface.

Abstract: A traveling vacuum pickup engages heat softened glass sheets in a transfer station and transfers them to one of two shaping stations positioned along opposing sides of a transfer station. After depositing the sheet within one of the shaping stations, the pickup return to the transfer station to receive the next heat softened sheet. The shaping stations may include pressing arrangements that shape successive sheets to different configurations. The vacuum pickup may include two sheet engaging surfaces positioned relative to each other such that as one engaging surface engages a glass sheet and transfers it to one of the shaping stations, the other engaging surface is being positioned within the transfer station to receive the next glass sheet.

Abstract: Glass sheets are heated to their heat softening temperature and transferred to a shaping station having an upper vacuum mold with a downwardly facing shaping surface corresponding to the desired shape of the glass sheet. The glass sheet is lifted into engagement with the shaping surface and held thereagainst by vacuum. The mold and the glass sheet are then moved to a transfer station and the vacuum is released to deposit the shaped glass sheet onto a contoured conveying surface which generally conforms to the shaped glass sheet. The glass sheet is deposited onto the contoured conveying surface as it is moving from the shaping station to the transfer station to impart movement in the glass sheet along the contoured conveying surface and minimize marring of the glass sheet as it contacts the contoured conveying surface.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling a hot glass sheet during conveyance from a hot atmosphere to a cold atmosphere comprising a ring-like member having an upper surface engaging a glass sheet outline that consists essentially of a phenolic resin reinforced with fibers composed of an aromatic polyamid composition and a support ring attached to the ring-like member in facing relation to the ring-like member and sufficiently smaller in the dimensions than those of the ring-like member to permit the ring-like member to interpose between the support ring and a supported edge of a glass sheet so as to provide thermal insulation as well as shielding between the metal support rings and the edge of the glass sheet.

Abstract: A longitudinally extending row of closely spaced elongated flexible springs extend over an elongated slot of a furnace to prevent heat loss. The springs are deflected in turn as an arm moves along the length of the slot and the springs return to their original state after the arm passes by. The arm holds a glass handling device which holds a glass sheet within the furnace. The arm moves along the length of the slot so as to transport the glass sheet through the sections of the heat treating furnace.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the shape of heat softened glass sheets. A pan member is positioned inboard of the shaping rails of a bending iron. The upper surface of the pan member has a curvature corresponding to the final desired shape of a selected portion of the glass sheet. As the glass sheet is heated and sags to conform with the contoured shaping rail, it also sags into contact with the pan member and conforms to its shape.

Abstract: A sectional curved article e.g. an automotive window is made by cutting a piece of glass, shaping the piece of glass, cutting the shaped piece to provide inner and outer segments. The edges of the segments are seamed, and the segments chemically tempered to provide a sectional curved automotive window having an opening in the outer segment to receive the inner segment.

Abstract: A partial press for shaping heat softened glass sheets as they are supported on a bending mold and conveyed through a lehr includes a press member that contacts selected portions of the glass sheet. The press member moves with the glass sheet so that there is no relative horizontal movement between the press member and the glass sheet as the glass sheet is conveyed through the lehr.

Abstract: A horizontal press bending arrangement wherein heat softened glass sheets are shaped between a lower mold with a sheet shaping surface having a generally convex upward elevational configuration and an upper vacuum mold. After shaping the shaped glass sheet is deposited on an adjustable tempering ring. The ring adjusts in size from a first configuration corresponding to the contours of the shaped sheet immediately after shaping, to a second configuration corresponding to the contours of the shaped sheet after it has been cooled.

Abstract: A press bending apparatus includes a shaping station having an upper mold with a shaping surface having a generally concave downward elevational configuration and a lower mold with an apertured shaping surface complementing the shaping surface of the upper mold. A vacuum shuttle transfers heat softened glass sheets from a heating furnace to the shaping station where it deposits the glass sheets on the lower vacuum mold. The glass sheet is shaped between the molds. A rotating arrangement rotates the lower mold and the shaped glass sheet held thereagainst by vacuum from a first position wherein the shaping surface of the lower mold faces upward to a second position wherein the shaping surface of the lower mold faces downward. The shaped glass sheet is then deposited on a tempering ring. A rotating arrangement maintains vacuum in the lower mold as the mold rotates.

Abstract: A glass sheet positioning system to correctly position a heat softened glass sheet between a pair of vertically aligned upper and lower full surface press faces. A video camera identifies a reference point on an edge of a glass sheet while supported on a frame between the press faces. A programmable computer and controller determine the distance between the reference point and a predetermined set point corresponding to the proper location between the press faces. The controller signals a drive that moves the frame with the glass sheet thereon to the proper predetermined position.

Abstract: A heat softened glass sheet is lifted within a heating furnace by a vacuum pickup and moved to a shaping station adjacent the furnace where it is deposited on an aligning frame. The location of the sheet is identified and the frame is moved to position the supported glass sheet at a predetermined location between a pair of vertically aligned upper and lower full surface press faces. A shuttle frame which moves the vacuum pickup has integral vacuum passageways so that vacuum for the pickup can be drawn through the shuttle frame.