Abstract: Sheet glass is heated during conveyance on a conveyor within a furnace. A vacuum holder is horizontally movable within the furnace immediately above the conveyor in close proximity to the heated glass sheet. The holder has a downwardly facing surface with spaced openings in which a vacuum is drawn to receive the heated glass sheet from the conveyor, support the sheet above the conveyor, move the heated glass sheet horizontally along the longitudinal axis of the furnace and drop the heated glass sheet onto a carrier mold ring positioned within the furnace by removing the vacuum so that the glass sheet bends under the force of gravity in a manner that allows the heated glass sheet to be accurately bent. In a preferred embodiment the mold ring subsequently is removed from the furnace to a quench unit that tempers the bent glass.

Abstract: An improved glass sheet quench (14) is disclosed as including opposed blastheads (26,28) each of which includes elongated plenum housings (34) including openings (42) positioned therealong in a spaced relationship and oriented to supply jets (44) of quenching gas angularly in opposite directions from the plenum housing toward a heated glass sheet therebetween for impingement therewith to cool the glass sheet. This angular supply of the quenching jets permits the use of half as many plenum housings as is ordinarily needed such that the plenum housings can be spaced farther from each other to provide a greater flow area for spent quenching gas to escape from between the blastheads. Flat glass embodiments of the quench (14,14a) and bent glass embodiments of the quench (14' 14a) are disclosed and may incorporate sheet metal and tube plenum housings (34) or drilled metal bar plenum housings (34').

Abstract: A drive chain (38) disclosed is utilized with glass sheet processing equipment (10) to provide frictional driving of conveyor rolls (22) upon rolling movement of the drive chain over an associated support surface (30). Drive chain (38) includes antifriction rollers (40) supported for rolling movement on the support surface (30) and also includes interconnected links (42,44) supported by the antifriction rollers (40) for movement over the support surface in a spaced relationship and having upper surfaces (46) that support and frictionally drive the rolls. Connecting pins (48) interconnect the links and have opposite ends (50) respectively supported by an associated pair of the antifriction rollers (40). Chain links (42,44) are preferably arranged in a side-side relationship in alternating inboard and outboard pairs between the associated pair of antifriction rollers (40). The antifriction drive chain construction reduces friction to eliminate "stick-slip" motion and to also reduce power requirements.

Abstract: A composite blasthead (18,20,70,72,118,120) for a quench station (16) of a glass sheet tempering system (10) is disclosed as including outer layers (28,71,73,128,128') and an inner layer comprising inserts (30,32,34,74,76,130,130') therebetween for defining passages (36,80,82,136) through which cooling gas is supplied to a glass sheet in order to provide tempering. All of the inserts have inner end portions (38,40,42,81,138,138') that cooperate to define inlets (44,86,144,144') to the passages and also have outer end portions (46,48,50,88,146,146') that cooperate to define passage outlets (52,90,152,152') through which the quenching gas exits. All of the passages have a circular cross section along substantially the entire length of the passages.

Abstract: A conveyor roll (20,21,20') for conveying heated glass sheets on a horizontal roller conveyor of a glass sheet processing system is disclosed as including a shaft (42,70,42) having a support (44,72,80) of aromatic polyamide fibers for engaging the conveyed glass sheets. Kevlar fibers are preferably utilized for the support (44,72,80) so as to have the requisite thermal stability and resistance to cutting by broken glass. One embodiment of the roll (20) has a helically wrapped support (44) comprising braided Kevlar rope or an outer Kevlar sleeve (64) and a central core (62) which may be longitudinally extending metallic or glass fiber strands (66) or a helical spring (68). Another embodiment of the conveyor roll (21) includes a ceramic roll shaft (70) of fused silica extending through an outer sleeve (72) of Kevlar fibers. A further embodiment of the conveyor roll (20') includes a support (80) having annular conveying discs (82) made of Kevlar fibers and spaced along the length of the shaft (42).

Abstract: An end cap (18) for use with a conveyor roll (12) of the thermally low expansive ceramic type used to convey hot glass sheets includes a metal sleeve (20) that receives an end (16) of the roll to provide rotational support and/or driving and also includes a retention spring (22) interposed between and engaged with both the roll end and the sleeve in order to retain the sleeve on the roll. The retention spring (22) preferably includes a plurality of leaf springs (44) that are sufficiently deflected at room temperature so as to remain partially deflected upon heating in order to provide the end cap retention.

Abstract: A roll drive mechanism (14) for a horizontal roller conveyor (12) of glass sheet processing equipment (10) has particular utility with a heating furnace (18) of a glass sheet tempering system. First and second continuous drive loops (22,24) of the drive mechanism extend along the conveyor and are alternately engageable in a driving relationship with conveyor rolls (16) over associated lengths (26,28,30) of the conveyor that are selectively adjustable to provide a desired transition between adjacent conveyor sections driven by different drive loops. First and second electric motor drives (32,34) respectively drive the loops to provide synchronous or independent glass sheet conveyance over the different lengths of the conveyor.