Abstract: Apparatus (20,120) for forming a heated glass sheet G is disclosed as including a vacuum mold (22,22a,122,122a) having a full surface (24,24a,124,124a) against which a peripheral mold (26,26a,126,126a) presses the glass sheet periphery and with which at least one vacuum reservoir (32,33) is communicated within the interior of the sealed glass sheet periphery to form the glass sheet to the shape of the vacuum mold surface. Valving (38) of a vacuum system (28) is preferably operable to provide the vacuum impulse in two stages with an initial limited extent of vacuum and a subsequent greater extent of vacuum by communication first with one vacuum reservoir (32) and subsequently with another vacuum reservoir (33). Different embodiments of the vacuum mold have the vacuum mold surface facing upwardly and downwardly with convex and concave shapes.

Abstract: In a process and to an apparatus for bending a glass sheet heated to the bending temperature in a horizontal furnace, through which it is passed by a motor roller conveyor, which passes it into a bending cell where it is kept at an ambient temperature substantially identical to the bending temperature, the glass sheet is immobilized in the bending cell in an upper bending mold perpendicular to an annular countermold surrounding an element for supporting the central part of the glass sheet in the bending cell. The annular countermold is raised in order to press the glass sheet against the upper bending mold.

Abstract: A glass sheet that has been heated nearly to a softening point thereof is preliminarily bent by a conveyor roll device while being fed along a feed path to a bending press. The conveyor roll device has a succession of first straight rolls spaced along the feed path for supporting a central region of the glass sheet, and a succession of second straight rolls spaced along the feed path for supporting a marginal edge portion of the glass sheet. The second straight rolls are vertically tilted through progressively differing angles, respectively, along the feed path with respect to the first straight rolls. The first and second straight rolls alternate with each other along the feed path.

Abstract: A process for bending a glass sheet according to which the glass sheet is heated in horizontal position until its bending temperature is reached and is brought into contact with an upper bending form by a force of a pneumatic nature. A fluid barrier is generated at the periphery of the glass sheet, the fluid barrier limiting the entry and exit of air near the upper bending form.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for bending glass sheets. A glass sheet supported by a ring mould (5) is caused to sag while being heated in successive heating stations. The glass sheet reaches a final bending temperature in a bending station (14). A press-bending mould (16) is transferred from outside bending station (14) into the bending station through an opening (22') in its wall. The ring mould (5) along with its glass sheet is lifted by means of a hoist mechanism (6) upwards for pressing the glass sheet against press-bending mould (16) for completing the bending. The same bending station (14) can also be used solely for gravitational bending when said press-bending mould (16) is retained outside the bending station.

Abstract: In a method for bending glass plates, the glass plates are heated in a horizontal position in a continuous furnace (1) to the bending temperature and in a following bending chamber (5) are pressed by an upwardly flowing hot gas stream against a convex bending mold (7) positioned above the conveying plane. The bent glass plates (3') are placed on a displaceable shaping ring (13) and transferred with the latter into a following cooling station (16). The glass plates (3) are raised from the conveying roller train (2) of the continuous furnace (1) by a suction plate (3) are positioned relative to the transfer ring (28) on the latter. With the aid of the transfer ring (28) the glass plates (3) are transferred into the bending chamber, where in the end position of the transfer ring (28) they assume the desired end position relative to the bending mold (7).

Abstract: A motorcycle helmet with a brake light includes a duty cycled receiver circuit for receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal from a transmitter located on the motorcycle. The receiver circuit is generally turned off if the RF signal is not present. When the receiver detects the RF signal, the receiver is turned on. The brake light is illuminated when the receiver receives the RF signal. The brake light includes LEDs for providing light. The lens is a plastic lens which provides superior performance having spherical indentations on an interior surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for bending and tempering a glass sheet. From a preheating furnace a glass sheet is advanced into a positioning and bending station supported by a gas bed between the stations. In the positioning and bending station the glass sheet is lifted by a ring mold from a gas bed and the glass sheet is heated for gravitational bending to close to a final profile. The glass sheet is pressed to its final profile or shape by an overhead press plate, which also serves as a vacuum pickup for carrying the bent glass sheet into a station for heating for tempering. After tempering, the glass sheet is advanced into a quenching station.

Abstract: A quartz tank member produced by a new method of production having continuous inner corner surfaces formed through bending and welding processes with welded seams being smooth without any hills, valleys, pits, crevasses, or irregularities therein.

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: A heated sheet of glass discharged from a heating furnace is lifted by a ring mold until it is held against a fully continuous lower molding surface of a bent shape of an upper mold. After the sheet of glass is held against the lower molding surface by the ring mold, a vacuum is developed in the upper mold to attract the sheet of glass to the lower molding surface through suction holes defined in the lower molding surface. Thereafter, the ring mold is lowered away from the upper mold to allow the sheet of glass to be bent by the lower molding surface while the sheet of glass is being attracted thereto only under the vacuum developed in the upper mold. The sheet of glass is continuously attracted under the vacuum to the lower molding surface until the sheet of glass is annealed.

Abstract: A furnace for heating a glass sheet therein has a gravity bending zone for bending the glass sheet due to gravity, a press bending zone for bending the glass sheet under pressure, and an annealing zone for annealing the bent glass sheet. In the gravity bending zone, the glass sheet on a ring mold is preliminarily bent due to gravity. After the preliminarily bent glass sheet has been fed from the gravity bending zone into the press bending zone, the glass sheet is transferred from the ring mold to a movable lower mold assembly. The lower mold assembly is lifted to press the glass sheet against a fixed upper mold for finally bending the glass sheet. Thereafter, the lower mold with the finally bent glass sheet is lowered until the glass sheet is placed on the ring mold. Then, the glass sheet is fed with the ring mold into the annealing zone in which the glass sheet is annealed.

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: For the manufacture of curved insulating glazing panes having close tolerances of form, surface and thickness, the curved single glass sheets (2; 22) are brought to their desired shape via rigid suction mold plates (1; 21) and are glued together in this condition. A device suitable for carrying out this method consists of a press having two rigid plates (3; 23), template strips (4, 5; 24, 25) and positioning stops (8, 10; 28, 30) corresponding to the theoretical shape of the glass sheets, and also retractable suckers (15; 26) disposed between the template strips (4, 5; 24, 25), being mounted on the rigid plates (3; 23).

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for establishing a predetermined thermal profile in a glass sheet immediately prior to press bending outside the heating furnace. The press bending members are provided with arrays of heating elements that are individually or zone regulated to assist in establishing an optimum temperature profile in the glass sheet conducive to proper bending. The temperature profile established in the heated sheet by the arrays of heating elements is coordinated with that established in the furnace and subsequently, modified by heat dissipation as the glass sheet advances to the bending station to achieve the proper bending temperature. The heating elements can also be utilized to create a temperature profile in the glass sheet generally higher than that originally established in the furnace.

Abstract: In a glass front-panel for a cathode ray tube, whose surface layer contains more potassium ions than those in the interior thereof, and whose flange is stuck to a rear panel to form a vacuum vessel, only the surface layer of the flange portion is substantially removed, or in a glass front-panel for a cathode ray tube, comprising an image displaying portion, a side wall portion and a flange portion, a belt-like electrode for making a gradient of electric potential easier is disposed on a surface of the side wall portion, so that the cathode ray tube is prevented from being damaged due to dielectric breakdown.

Abstract: A process for producing a curved glass plate, which comprises coating a crystallizable ceramic color composition to a predetermined portion of a glass plate, followed by baking at a temperature of from 500.degree. to 620.degree. C. to fuse the ceramic color composition to the glass plate, then crystallizing the fused ceramic color composition at a temperature of from 600.degree. to 700.degree. C., followed by bend-shaping by a pressing apparatus in a furnace.

Abstract: A process for bending glass sheets, preheated to bending temperature, includes passing the glass sheets along a longitudinal trajectory having substantially the form of a cone of revolution in a shaping bed having substantially the form of a cone of revolution.

Abstract: Shaped gradient profiles of index of refraction in lenses are fabricated from axial gradients. While the resulting lens has both radial (or cylindrical) and axial components, and, strictly speaking, is not a pure radial (cylindrical) gradient, nonetheless, the presence of both the radial and axial components or cylindrical and axial components provides lens designers with greater flexibility in lens design than heretofore existed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for bending and tempering a glass sheet. A glass sheet is supported on a ring mould during the course of heating, bending and tempering and the glass is heated for gravitational bending thereof. After a bending operation, the glass temperature is allowed to decrease to the range of 500.degree.-550.degree. C. throughout, followed by increasing the overall glass temperature to a tempering temperature by heating as quickly and uniformly as possible.

Abstract: A method of and device for curving a glass sheet, in which the glass sheet is brought through a reheating furnace by a conveyor defining a substantially horizontal transportation plane, and is then taken over by a tool, by means of which the glass sheet is curved and/or transferred to a curving and/or discharge device. The effective position of the glass sheet is detected and the taking-over tool is repositioned as a function of the effective position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a production line for curved panes, in which the panes of glass are heated, brought in a horizontal position into a curving station where they are taken over by curving tools, and then finally conveyed into a quenching station, the stages of quenching and of entry of the glass into the curving station being at different heights.

Abstract: A glass flux composition consisting essentially by weight of 45-65% Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3, 25-36% SiO.sub.2, 4-6% TiO.sub.2, 1-3% Na.sub.2 O, 0.5-2% K.sub.2 O, 2-6% Li.sub.2 O, 0-3% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0-1% ZrO.sub.2, 0-1% BaO, 0-1% CaO, 0-1% MgO, 0-1% ZnO, 0-3% PbO and 0-0.5% CdO is useful for preparing a glaze or enamel composition especially for application to glass such that the composition is then fired in contact with a mould surface or with another glass surface.

Abstract: In the manufacture of bent or curved car glass plates or panes with more markedly bent areas, the latter are additionally locally heated with acetylene--oxygen, or acetylene--air, flames. An apparatus suitable for this includes a continuous furnace (1) and a bending station (3) with a bending mold (41) positioned above the conveying plane of the glass plates (9), as well as a ring mold (45) which serves as a countermold and a conveying ring and which is located on a movable carriage (44). In the areas of more marked bending below the ring mold (45) are provided burner tubes (42), which are supplied via flexible hoses with the acetylene gas and the combustion air or oxygen. Alternatively, the plates are locally heated in a transition zone (7) located between the furnace and the bending station by a gas burner (8), and thereafter pressed in the bending station by an upper bending mold (14) and a lower ring mold (16).

Abstract: A glass sheet forming apparatus (20) for continuously forming a heated glass sheet includes a roller conveyor (30) defined by a plurality of interposed first and second conveyor rolls (32,34). The first conveyor rolls (32) are mounted in a plane defined by X and Y axes for conveying the glass sheet. The second conveyor rolls (34) include independent first and second roll portions (36,38). At least one of the roll portions (36) is movable in the plane to establish rotation of the roll portion (36) with respect to a Z direction. The second conveyor rolls (34) are mounted in a plane defined by X' axis. A first actuator (44) moves the movable roll portions (36) so that part of the movable rolls (36) are elevated above the X' axis and above the first conveyor rolls (32) whereby the roller conveyor (30) becomes non-planar and a heated glass sheet is formed as a result of the non-planar conveyor shape and upward action of the second conveyor rolls (34).

Abstract: The method and the apparatus for bend-shaping a glass plate of the present invention a bending mold which includes a fixed split mold portion having a bend-shaping surface which corresponds to an intermediate curved portion of the glass plate and movable split mold portions each of which has a bend-shaping surface corresponding to the side portions of the glass plate having the predetermined shape and which are respectively placed at the sides of the fixed split mold portion so that the bend-shaping surfaces are movable around pivotal shafts for movement into alignment with the bend-shaping surface of the fixed split mold portion. The method includes a press-shaping step including heating the glass plate placed on the bending mold in a heating furnace and pressing from via an auxiliary pressing member the portion to be deeply bent of the glass plate while the glass plate is placed on the bending mold.

Abstract: First and second glass sheets, which are to be combined together into a single laminated glass sheet, are heated in a heating furnace so that the temperature of the first glass sheet at the exit of the heating furnace and the temperature of the second glass sheet at the exit of the heating furnace are substantially equal to each other.

Abstract: A process and a device for the bending on a frame of at least one glass sheet by gravity, the bending being performed in at least two stages during which the glass sheet or sheets undergo a deformation by gravity. In a first stage, the glass sheet or sheets are bent according to a first shape corresponding to a blank or precursor of the final shape. In a second stage, the glass sheet or sheets are bent according to the final shape. The device includes a frame 1 of which at least one part has two elements, one element forming a blank frame (2, 3, 4, 5) and another element forming a final frame (2, 3, 12, 13).

Abstract: A method of making a curved glass surface with a solar panel formed thereon. A window for an automobile, especially for a sunroof is formed by heating a glass sheet from 500.degree. to 600.degree. C. A transparent electroconductive film is then formed on one side, such as by a CVD method and bending the sheet with the film after heating the temperature from 580.degree. to 650.degree. C.

Abstract: A sheet of glass is bent with a system including a feed mechanism for feeding the sheet of glass along a predetermined path, a heating furnace disposed along the path, for heating the sheet of glass, and a shaping device disposed along the path for bending the sheet of glass heated by the heating furnace. Before the sheet of glass is bent by the shaping device, the sheet of glass is thermally processed to different degrees at leading and trailing end portions thereof along the path, thereby uniformizing temperatures of the sheet of glass from the leading end portion to the trailing end portion thereof.

Abstract: An improved support structure for an upper press member that broadens the bending capabilities of a conventional press bending apparatus. The support structure is carried on the upper platen frame of the bending apparatus and is adapted for providing reciprocating movement between the upper press member and the upper platen frame. The support structure comprises a base plate which is attached to the platen frame and a subplate which is adapted for supporting the upper press member. Fluid activated cylinders are mounted on the base plate, with the free end of their piston rods affixed in a supporting manner to the subplate whereby actuation of the cylinders will provide relative movement between the subplate and base plate and therefor the upper press member and the platen frame.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for manufacturing glass with functional coating by the steps of: 1) forming a film on a predetermined portion of a glass plate by screen-printing or flexographic printing of a liquid for forming functional coating which contains therein a metal oxide material; and 2) baking said printed film simultaneously while heating the glass plate for the bending treatment and/or tempering treatment, to thereby form the functional coating containing the metal oxide as the principal constituent.

Abstract: A process for bending a glass sheet according to which the glass sheet is heated in horizontal position until its bending temperature is reached and is brought into contact with an upper bending form by a force of a pneumatic nature. A fluid barrier is generated at the periphery of the glass sheet, the fluid barrier limiting the entry and exit of air near the upper bending form.

Abstract: A glass sheet is transferred from a bending cell to a tempering cell on a continuous frame, after which it is held during tempering by discontinuous gripping device. Lifting studs lift the glass sheet above the frame prior to gripping.

Abstract: A metehod of manufacturing planar optical waveguides in which a planar optical preform which is stretched to form a planar optical cane with substantially smaller cross-sectional dimensions than the original preform, and in which the optical circuitry pattern is achieved by lithographic techniques. Optical fiber preforms may be inserted in slots in a substrate to form the planar optical preform.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for curving a glass sheet is described in which a glass sheet is held by forces of a pneumatic nature against an upper element of dimensions smaller than those of the glass sheet. According to the invention, the parts of the glass sheet projecting beyond the upper element are held against a flexible material, the dimensions of which are greater than those of the glass sheet. The flexible material is interposed between the glass sheet and the upper element, and is secured so that portions of the flexible material which extend beyond the upper element are held in directions tangential to the surface of the upper element in its marginal zones. The invention is applicable, notably, to the production of automobile panes.

Abstract: A glass sheet is heated nearly to its softening point while being passed through a heating furnace. The heated glass sheet is then clamped at its peripheral edge between first and second molds. Thereafter, a third mold is pressed against a central region of the glass sheet with the peripheral edge thereof clamped, thereby to project the central region from one side to the other side thereof. The glass sheet is thus pressed to a desired highly curved shape with no wrinkles or cracks developed therein. The glass sheet is clamped and pressed by a pressing apparatus which includes a fixed concave ring mold as the first mold, and a movable convex mold comprising a peripheral mold assembly as the second mold and a central mold member as the third mold. The glass sheet thus curved is typically used as a front or rear window glass sheet for automobiles.

Abstract: An improved insulating glass assembly incorporates an articulated low relief structured glass sheet as one or both external faces of the assembly. The low relief structured glass sheet is composed of a formation of external convex curvatures and a corresponding array of internal concavities, defined and separated by a plurality of imparted graphic lines and a corresponding plurality of internal retaining ridges. Unique optical effects are intrinsic to the structured glass sheet. The disclosure includes the mold apparatus for manufacturing low relief structured glass sheets.

Abstract: The number of bent laminated glass windshields having bull's-eyes that adversely affect its optical properties is reduced by using amorphous precipitated silica particles such as is used as flatting agents for paints, as a parting material between a pair of glass sheets during bending. The particles form relatively soft agglomerates that are milled and classified to produce a narrow distribution of particle sizes as compared to the distribution found in untreated silica, such as diatomaceous earths previously used as a parting material.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for manufacturing glass with functional coating by the steps of: 1) forming a film on a predetermined portion of a glass plate by screen-printing of a liquid for forming functional coating which contains therein a metal oxide material; and 2) subjecting the glass plate to the bending treatment and/or tempering treatment by heating the same, with simultaneous baking of the printed film to thereby form the functional coating containing the metal oxide as the principal constituent.

Abstract: A bend-shaping press mold comprising a pair of pressing dies for bending a glass plate into a shape having a convex surface and a concave surface in a plane by pressing the glass plate with the pair of pressing dies, wherein each of the pressing dies has a convex surface portion to shape the glass plate by pressing it from each side which is finally shaped to have a concave surface portion, and the convex surface portion of one of the pressing dies is not substantially in contact with the glass plate in pressing operations when the convex surface portion of the other die is in contact with the glass plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for cambering glass sheets includes a reheating furnace for reheating a glass sheet, a sealed cambering station and a conveyor for transferring a heated glass sheet from the furnace to the cambering station. The cambering station includes a shaping upper member. The glass sheet therein is raised into engagement with the upper member, for example by gas pressure, in order to camber the glass sheet. Hot gas ducts surrounding the upper member blow hot gas onto the upper member in such a way as to increased the temperature thereof to a temperature higher than that of the glass sheet when the glass sheet enters the cambering station. Therefore, the glass sheet can be introduced into the cambering station at a relatively low temperature and heated to a temperature high enough for cambering only when in contact with the upper member. The cambered glass sheet can then be discharged to a cooling station.

Abstract: A machine cambering glass plates as a curved shaping bed formed of vertically aligned pairs of rollers. Each roller of each pair has an end mounted to a pivoting arm so that it can be elastically bent in a middle portion thereof, while keeping the ends of the rollers straight. Needle bearings support the rollers in the bending plane. The support arm for the lower roller supports the support arm for the upper roller, so that the two pivot together so as to provide uniform bending for the upper and lower pairs of rollers.

Abstract: A method to produce a microstructure on glass which is of excellent quality and allows for repeated use of a stamper. The method comprises heating the glass to a surface temperature corresponding to a log viscosity between about 13 to 8 poise, supporting the glass and impressing it with the stamper heated to about the same temperature as the glass so that a microstructure on the heated stamper will deform the surface of the glass to give a corresponding microstructure on the surface of the glass, which when separated from the stamper and cooled in a controlled manner gives the desired surface microstructure on the glass. The method is particularly suitable for forming tracking grooves on optical disk substrates.

Abstract: A metal powder is added to ceramic paint to prevent scratches on the painted surfaces of glass sheets formed by the gas hearth process.

Abstract: A method for bending glass sheets is disclosed in which a heated glass sheet (12) is introduced between spaced lower and upper bending platens (16,18). The glass sheet (12) is moved in one direction between the spaced lower and upper bending platens (16,18) during deformation of the platens (16,18) which forms the bent shape in the glass sheet (12). Movement of the glass sheet (12) in the said one direction is continued for at least 1/2 second during a subsequent cooling phase to initiate a freeze in the surfaces of the glass sheet (12) which thereby eliminates mechanical distortion in the formed glass sheet associated with interrupting the movement of the glass sheet (12) prior to cooling.

Abstract: The invention relates to a glass sheet bending or supporting mould which is made primarily by casting of a ceramic material and which includes a curving or flat shaping surface, a number of orifices (10, 11) in a shaping surface (7, 8) as well as channels (16, 17) extending through the mould material and in communication with orifices (10, 11). Said channels (16, 17) are formed as distribution channels common to a plurality of orifices (10, 11) and connected to each other by means of transverse connecting channels (161, 171) for building a ladder-like or lattice-like distribution manifold (16, 161; 17, 171). The invention relates also to a mould manufacturing method, wherein a ceramic-based material is cast in a manufacturing mould which, prior to a casting operation, is fitted with a temporary filling matching a desired distribution manifold and having a ladder-like or lattice-like configuration.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for bending difficult bending shapes such as an S-shape in a glass sheet. The downward bending of an outline-mould supported, heated glass sheet is assisted by a non-engaging lower partial surface mould used for blowing to a bending line (BL) or its vicinity a gas having a temperature at least equal to that of glass, the gas serving simultaneously as a glass carrier preventing its falling or excessive downward sagging. Blasting orifices in the shaping surface are adapted to concentrate heating on the most problematic areas of a bending line.

Abstract: First and second glass sheets, which are to be combined together into a single laminated glass sheet, are heated in a heating furnace so that the temperature of the first glass sheet at the exit of the heating furnace and the temperature of the second glass sheet at the exit of the heating furnace are substantially equal to each other.

Abstract: Glass plates for a laminated glass are bent and strengthened by provisionally shaping by heating two overlapping glass plates placed on a deadweight bending mold having a shaping surface by elevating the temperature to a temperature capable of bending glass and by locally heating side portions of the two overlapping glass plates to be deeply bent at a higher temperature in a heating/pressing stage so that the two overlapping glass plates are provisionally shaped by their own deadweight into a shape substantially corresponding to the shape of the shaping surface of the bending mold, pressing a portion of the two overlapping glass plates to be deeply bent from the top by a pressing member after the provisional shaping step in a heating/pressing stage, separating the two overlapping glass plates from the bending mold by pushing up the portion of the glass plates other than the deeply bent peripheral portion of the two overlapping glass plates thereby cooling the peripheral portion of the glass plates in a periph