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: A laminated article is provided which is particularly well adapted for use as an automotive sidelite. The laminated article includes a first ply, a second ply and an interlayer located between the two plies, with the two plies and interlayer dimensioned such that the laminated article has a total thickness of about 4.0-6.0 mm, more preferably of about 4.0-5.0 mm. The plies are preferably heat strengthened glass in the thickness range of about 1.0-3.0 mm. The interlayer is preferably a plastic material, such as polyvinyl butyral, and has a thickness in the range of about 0.50-0.80 mm. A coating, such as a solar control coating or electroconductive coating, can be formed or deposited on one or more surfaces of the plies and/or interlayers. A method and apparatus are also provided for producing a laminated sidelite of the invention.

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: A hot glass sheet shaping apparatus for shaping glass sheets with selected portions wider than its trailing edge as it is conveyed to the shaping station. Flotation blocks are positioned adjacent a gas hearth bed support in the shaping station to support the selected portions of the glass sheet as they are conveyed thereover, to prevent these portions from contacting the gas hearth bed.

Abstract: Glass edge engagement members for use with an outline bending mold having mold portions with upwardly facing shaping surfaces are spring biased to enable the glass edge engaging members to move between an extended position above the shaping surface due to spring biasing force and a retracted position due to abutment force that opposes the spring biasing force when said outline bending mold abuts another shaping mold.

Abstract: The invention involves a method and apparatus for bending glass sheets to an S-shaped transverse bend with a longitudinal bend. The heat softened glass sheets are serially conveyed onto a gas hearth bed having a downwardly curved end portion at the downstream end thereof such that the glass sheet curves into conformation with the gas hearth, then by means of a curved outline mold lifting the glass sheet vertically into conformation with an overlying vacuum mold, holding the shaped sheet into contact with the vacuum mold by vacuum while lowering the outline mold, then moving a shuttle ring beneath the glass sheet, discontinuing the vacuum such that the glass sheet is deposited onto the shuttle ring and then moving the shuttle ring and glass sheet laterally for further processing.

Abstract: A ring-like member for use in lifting a glass sheet from a given path to the vicinity of a vacuum holder at a shaping station has its movement coordinated mechanically with stop means that engages the leading edge of a glass sheet at an edge locating position when said ring-like member is below said given path and mechanically retracts from said edge locating position in unison with said ring-like member when said ring-like member moves in the direction of the thickness of said glass sheet to engage and lift said glass sheet. This mechanical coordination of movements avoids rubbing the glass sheet edge in the direction of the glass sheet thickness during its lifting without requiring complicated and expensive coordinating equipment.