Abstract: A conveyor system includes a transfer section conveyor arrangement for quickly transporting glass sheets from a furnace conveyor to a glass processing apparatus and accurately positioning the glass sheet for further processing. The conveyor system includes specially designed locator pads, which are designed to engage the glass sheet, upon the glass sheet exiting the furnace. The locator pads are designed to engage and properly align the glass sheet for the bending process. The pads are driven by a gearing apparatus, which allows conveyance in two substantially perpendicular directions of motion so that the glass sheet can be properly aligned in the press bending molds.

Abstract: A pressure pad array is used to float glass sheets from a glass heating furnace to a ring mold in a press bending station. The pressure pads have transversely spaced, longitudinally-extending slotted nozzles angled towards one another to provide a static pressure area for floating the glass sheet. The slotted nozzles are aligned with the direction of glass sheet travel and the space between adjacent pressure pads is covered by a spacer baffle to generate additional static pressure flotation areas. The static pressure areas formed by the slotted nozzles generally produce uniform pressure profiles extending longitudinally and transversely against the sheet's underside to stably float the glass sheets on a heated gas cushion.

Abstract: A pressure pad array is used to float glass sheets from a glass heating furnace to a ring mold in a press bending station. The pressure pads have transversely spaced, longitudinally-extending slotted nozzles angled towards one another to provide a static pressure area for floating the glass sheet. The slotted nozzles are aligned with the direction of glass sheet travel and the space between adjacent pressure pads is covered by a spacer baffle to generate additional static pressure flotation areas. The static pressure areas formed by the slotted nozzles generally produce uniform pressure profiles extending longitudinally and transversely against the sheet's underside to stably float the glass sheets on a heated gas cushion.

Abstract: An improved female mold is used in conjunction with a heated male mold for press bending glass products, such as vehicle windshields. The female mold is made of a material having thermal expansion properties equivalent to those of the corresponding male mold, preferably ceramic and most preferably the same ceramic material as the male mold. Additionally, the female mold is preferably heated so that the glass sheet to be press bent is contacted by heated surfaces on both sides.

Abstract: An improved male mold for press bending sheets of glass includes, as heating elements, heating wires which are disposed in the male mold in a manner which conforms to the outer surface of the male mold. These heating wires provide a more uniform temperature profile over the pressing surface of the male mold, thus more uniformly heating sheets of glass. Additionally, a method is provided of making a male mold for press bending sheets of glass with such conformal heating elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for aligning sheets of material moving along a path of travel with respect to a reference line or center line or reference point is shown. A lifter and conveyor will lift a sheet of material traveling in a plane of movement along a path of travel above said plane of movement and move it laterally of said path of travel into contact with an alignment plate, the alignment plate places the sheet of material in a pre-alignment position, the lifter and conveyor lowers, redepositing the sheet of material in the plane of travel, and the alignment plate moves the sheet of material into a final alignment position.