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: 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

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a bent glass sheet. A glass sheet (9) carried by rollers (7) included in a furnance (1) is transferred onto rollers (8) of a bending mould (10) included in a mould station (3) built as a part of the furnace. By adjusting the position of rollers (8) of bending mould (10) in vertical direction a glass sheet is bent to a desired curvature while heating it in furnace mould station (3). The roller mould (10), along with its bent glass sheet (9'), is carried out of furnace (1) and into a chilling station. When using a transferable and adjustable roller mould (10), the apparatus does not set limitations for the size or degree of bending of glass sheets to be bent.

Abstract: A glass sheet is supported on a shaping rail and conveyed through a heating lehr. A press assembly moves along with the glass such that there is no relative horizontal movement between the glass sheet and press assembly and shapes a selected portion of the sheet. A rail support membe moves along with the press assembly to maintain the shaping rail configuration during the shaping operation.

Abstract: Two glass plates on a bending mold are heated in a heating/bending furnace so that they are subjected to provisionally deep-bending operations by their own deadweight, and the provisionally shaped deep-bent portion is pressed by an auxiliary pressing member to thereby form a laminated glass for, for instance, an automobile.

Abstract: A plurality of glass plates are positioned under upper units capable of bending and/or transferring those plates, the pick up and release of each plate being independent of each other. The plates are bent either on the upper station, or on a lower unit onto which they are released from the upper station. The plates are subsequently subjected to tempering. Mass production of tempered glass plates at both high quality and high output levels is thus achieved.

Abstract: A batch method and apparatus for bending glass sheets includes an oven where the glass sheet is oscillated back and forth on mini-rollers until it reaches a hot, softened condition, at which point the vertical position of the rollers is changed so that the top surface of the rollers have the contour of a desired bent glass sheet. The hot glass sheet conforms to the contour of the rollers and is quickly transferred to a quench section for quenching. The quench section includes rollers and quench tubes which have the same contour as the bent glass sheet.A continuous method and apparatus for bending glass sheets includes an oven having a heating section where a glass sheet is heated to a hot, softened condition while being conveyed on full faced rollers, and a bending section having minirollers which support the flat glass sheet and then change in vertical position to the contour of the desired bend for bending the hot, softened glass sheet.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved method of heating a glass plate for bending the glass plate into a predetermined shape having a radius of curvature not greater than 3000 mm, and not greater than 2000 mm if the glass plate is thinner than 6 mm. The glass plate is heated in its entirety in a usual manner, and during the heating at least one end region of the glass plate is additionally heated by forced convection such that the heat transfer coefficient on at least one major surface of the glass plate in the end regions(s) becomes greater than in the remaining region by 5-50 kcal/m.sup.2 .multidot.h.multidot..degree.C. in bending a glass plate thinner than 6 mm and by 10-65 kcal/m.sup.2 .multidot.h.multidot..degree.C. in bending a thicker glass plate. The additional heating has the effect of preventing optical distortion of the bent glass plate in end regions by diminishing local and irregular concavities.

Abstract: Apparatus for bending glass plates provides a conveyor of serverable sections, each of which feeds glass plates to separate stations for bending the glass plates, the glass plates having first passed through a reheating furnace. The stations for bending or transfer employ a common upper unit, which is provided with a plurality of means for retaining the glass by aspiration under a vacuum. Each means for retaining the glass plate, and vacuum means associated therewith, is operable independently, such that the glass plates can be aspirated and released at each station independently of the actions of the remaining stations. After having been bent or shaped either on the upper retaining means, or lower bending units provided thereunder, the glass plates may be subjected to temper. Mass production of bent or shaped, and tempered, glass plates, with high, reproducible quality, and varying requirements, is made possible through such a system.

Abstract: Glass plates are bent by discharging a glass plate from a suction plate onto a concave circumferential bending ring. Within the furnace (1) the glass plate is gripped by the suction plate (27) and is moved with the latter out of the furnace (1) into a combined bending and tempering station (10) and is discharged there onto the circumferential bending ring (19) located between two blowing boxes (11,13). Immediately following the discharge of the flass plate onto the circumferential bending ring (19), the suction plate (27) moves back to its starting position and the glass plate is tempered in this position.

Abstract: A heat transfer method in a glass sheet bending furnace and a glass sheet bending furnace for carrying out the method are disclosed. The furnace includes a top array of successive heating sections and a bottom array of successive cooling sections, and glass sheets are placed on bending moulds supported by wagons and are advanced on conveyor tracks through the heating and cooling sections. Heat is transferred from bent, hot glass in a cooling section to unbent, cold glass in a heating section by air which is sucked from the cooling section and blasted into the heating section.

Abstract: A method of reducing localized tensile stresses in shaped glass sheets formed by sag bending. An unperforated thermal insulating member is mounted throughout the area within a shaping rail and spaced below a heat softened glass sheet shaped on the shaping rail to thermally insulate the glass from heat reradiated from the shaping rail and reduce air circulation beneath the sheet so as to support structure during the cooling of the shaped glass sheet and provide more uniform cooling of the entire glass sheet.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus in a glass sheet bending furnace are disclosed for preventing the deflection of a mould wagon bearing rail as the mould wagon is carried along a conveyor track made up of rollers on which the bearing rails rest, wherein the furnace includes a top array of successive heating sections and a bottom array of successive cooling sections. Deflection of the bearing rails is prevented by blasting cooling air to the top surfaces of the bearing rails in a cooling section of the 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: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for bending and tempering a glass sheet. A heated glass sheet is carried from a furnace onto a conveyor in a bending and tempering section, said conveyor comprising a plurality of individual conveyors in the form of an endless belt or caterpillar track. The conveyor serves as a bending mould, a transfer conveyor and a tempering support. A glass sheet is bent by pivoting the body structures (6) of individual conveyors relative to each other in a manner that the lower runs of individual conveyors pull away from each other in lateral direction while, at the same time, the upper conveyor runs are bending to an arched shape. The chilling blast for bent glass is effected through openings (17, 18) in the halted conveyor.

Abstract: The invention relates to the bending and annealing of two, or more than two, glass sheets to be united into a curved and laminated glass member such as an automobile windshield. In a shaping furnace a heated first glass sheet is bent into a curved glass sheet and layed on a ring-like holder. Then the holder is moved into and kept in a high-temperature section of an auxiliary furnace which is movably disposed adjacent the shaping furnace, and a second glass sheet is bent in the shaping furnace. Then the holder is moved into the shaping furnace to lay the second curved glass sheet on the first curved glass sheet, while the auxiliary furnace is moved to bring its low-temperature section to a position adjacent to the exit of the shaping furnace. Then the holder on which the two curved glass sheets are lying as a stack is moved into the low-temperature section to simultaneously anneal the two curved glass sheets.

Abstract: Two glass plates on a bending mold are heated in a heating/bending furnace so that they are subjected to provisional deep-bending operations by their own deadweight, and the provisionally shaped deep-bent portion is pressed by an auxiliary pressing member to thereby form a laminated glass for, for instance, an automobile.

Abstract: A device for air-tempering, optionally associated with bending of glass plates includes a covering made of a metal fabric and exhibiting a thermal conductivity less than 3 and preferably less than 0.2 W.M.sup.-1.K.sup.-1. It has utility for coverings of frames intended to carry glass plates during their tempering and/or their bending and/or their transport.

Abstract: A heat softened glass sheet is conveyed directly from a heating furnace onto an advancing conveyor belt which is supported on a scissor table. The glass sheet is advanced on the belt to a position below an upper press face. The scissor table increases the sag of the belt and the corresponding curved configuration of the supported glass sheet as it lifts the glass sheet into pressing engagement with the upper press face. During pressing, the glass sheet and belt generally conform to the shaping surface of the press face.

Abstract: Glass sheets are positioned on a shaping rail of an outline shaping mold form movement through a heating lehr and subsequent preliminary sag bending. The mold with the glass sheet supported thereon is positioned between a pair of vertically aligned pressing molds. The lower mold includes a full surface press face corresponding to the final desired curvature of the glass sheet to be shaped. The upper mold includes a peripheral shaping surface and a chamber defined by the shaping surface. After the lower mold lifts the glass sheet off the outline mold and into engagement with the upper mold, gas in the chamber is pressurized to urge those portions of the glass not contacted by the upper mold against the press face of the lower mold.

Abstract: The critical peripheral sections of glass sheets are bent to a deep or sharp curvature through the use of a plurality of press forming means integrally provided on the mold ring of a gravity bending and tempering horizontal lehr, said press forming means each comprising a machined press forming die articulated to a retractible arm, said press forming die having a shape complementary to the specific shape desired at the sheet glass section to be press formed, said retractible arm being actuated between a retracted and an operative or press forming position by driving means capable of providing thereto a controlled motion, speed and pressure to carry out the press forming operation an instant after the glass sheet has been deposited on the mold ring ant to be retracted an instant before the glass sheet enters the tempering section.

Abstract: In a method of forming a glass product having a smooth surface according to this invention, a glass plate is placed on a male mold which is formed to have dimensions corresponding to the inner dimensions of the glass product and contacts its inner peripheral edge portion, an outer peripheral portion to be deformed of the glass plate is heated to a temperature higher than that of a central portion, serving as the smooth surface, of the glass plate so as to be deformed on the male mold by its weight, and the deformed glass plate is pressed by a female mold formed to have dimensions corresponding to the outer dimensions of the glass product.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques of heating and bending glass sheets by gravity, in particular for the production of laminated automobile glazings. In the techniques considered, the glass sheet is carried in a horizontal position by a carriage that brings it step by step into the cells of a furnace where it remains successively during its heating. According to the invention, the heat capacity of walls (26) of the cells has a value lower than that of carriage (18) and of the glass sheet. To heat all the glass sheets in the same way and to limit the reaction time of the furnace, the temperature of heating resistors (31) is regulated, and the weight of the carriage to be heated is limited. The latter can advantageously consist of two parts, one of which remains outside the furnace.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for conveying formed, heated glass sheets from a glass forming station, through a glass tempering station, to a lehr, utilizes a shuttle ring conforming in outline and elevation to the marginal edges of the glass sheet. The shuttle ring receives the glass sheet from the lower shaping mold, by the relative downward vertical movement of the lower shaping mold away from the upper shaping mold. The glass sheet thus deposited on and supported by the shuttle ring is transported through the tempering station to the lehr.

Abstract: A mold blank for manufacturing eyeglass lenses containing a flat top bifocal segment. A ceramic platform is first constructed containing an optical surface having a recess corresponding to the flat top bifocal segment. A concave-convex glass mold blank polished on both sides is placed on the optical surface and across the recess of the platform and the mold blank together with the platform is placed in a furnace. The furnace is then heated to a preselected temperature at which the mold blank thermally deforms and sags against the optical surface and into the recess. Upon cooling the mold blank can be used to mold plastic eyeglass lenses. A method for making the mold blank is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of bending a glass sheet to be tempered as well as to a glass sheets bending and tempering apparatus. An array of conveyor rollers in a glass sheets bending and tempering section is adapted to be curved around an axis of curvature transverse to the traveling direction in a manner that, beginning from a horizontal plane, the plane of a roller line curves with a continuously diminishing radius of curvature until the final radius of curvature is reached. During the curving process, the tangent of the mid-portion of a curved conveyor section is maintained substantially in a horizontal plane. Thus, each point in a glass sheet curves substantially at the same rate over the entire glass sheet area and, hence, local rapid deformations do not occur. During the curving process, a glass sheet is maintained in motion by means of the rollers of a curved roller conveyor.

Abstract: A method and installations for curving sheets of glass. The sheets of glass (9) are heated to the curving temperature in a horizontal position in a continuous furnace (1) and are pressed in a curving station (4) which is adjacent to the continuous furnace (1) by means of an annular frame against a solid surface curving form (40). During the pressing between the annular frame and the solid surface curving form (40), the sheets of glass (9) are pressed against said solid surface curving form (40), in the area located inside the annular frame, by the static pressure of a hot gas under pressure, with the static pressure of the gas being produced in a chamber (32) whose upper surface (33) is defined by the annular frame and is closed by the sheet of glass (9) applied in a sealed manner against said annular frame.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method and apparatus for forming a glass sheet with differential gas pressure over opposite surfaces thereof. The glass sheet is formed by the action of differential gas pressure over a forming area located on a curved exterior surface of a rotatable glass former. The forming area moves on an arcuate path about an axis of rotation of the glass former. The glass sheet forming operation is carried out in an incremental manner by rotational contact of the forming area of the glass former and the glass sheet being formed. Full dimensional control can be achieved, whereby glass sheets may be produced which are substantially identical copies of one another.

Abstract: A moisture sensor consistsof an array of spaced apart, highly abrasion-resistant electrodes disposed on the outside surface of the windshield of a vehicle. When moisture moisture is present, the spaces between the electrodes are bridged by the water and the output impedance of the sensor significantly decreases. This signals the presence of moisture. The electrodes have particles of a conductive metal oxide, e.g., ruthenium oxide, dispersed within a glass matrix which is fused to the windshield glass. The electrodes are formulated as an ink including particles of the metal oxide, a glass frit, and an organic binder. The ink is silk screened onto the windshield in the desired electrode pattern. After drying of the ink, the glass frit is fused to the windshield during normal heating of the windshield to shape it in a known windshield shaping (sagging) process. Novel two layer sensor arrangements, providing even greater resistance to abrasion, are also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a curved automobile glass pane. The glass sheet heated in a continuous roller conveyor furnace to bending temperature, is picked up by a traveling suction device and transported to a curving station adjoining the furnace. In the curving station the glass sheet is deposited onto a curving device which is comprised of a curving-form frame and a curving form which form occupies the interior space of the frame. The suction device is withdrawn, and a hot gas stream is applied from above, which stream impinges on the glass sheet, whereby said sheet is forced against the curving device comprised of the curving-form frame and interior curving form. Then the glass sheet is lifted from the interior curving from by means of the curving-form frame which frame now serves as a support ring, and sheet is transported to the neighboring cooling station.

Abstract: Each glass plate, brought to a high temperature, arrives flat on a conveyor by resting there by its lower face, is picked up by its lower face, is turned over to bring its initially lower face into the upper position, and is then placed on a bending form the profile of which it assumes. A device for accomplishing this process has a pivoting plate capable of turning the glass plate over, a bending form, optional pressing means, and a frame for conveying bent glass plates to a succeeding work station.

Abstract: The invention relates to the precise positioning of sheets of glass on a conveyer, particularly in an installation for curving sheets of glass. Positioning the sheets of glass by means of a combination of actions, in whole or in part, comprising orientations, longitudinal centerings and transversal centerings.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for bending glass sheets. In a first embodiment a heated glass sheet is moved into a bending section by rollers which are retracted to drop the heated glass sheet onto a mold where the glass sheet sags into a desired bent shape, then quenched between quench heads and lifted off the bending mold up to the upper quench head by air pressure, the rollers then close beneath the glass sheet and the glass sheet is deposited onto the rollers for conveying to a cooling station. In a second embodiment, the hot bent glass sheet is transferred on a mold from a bending section by a first shuttle to a position between the quench heads for quenching then removed from the mold by blowing air through the lower quench head until the glass sheet contacts an upper second shuttle which is transported to a blow-up section where the sheet is lowered onto a roller conveyor to a cooling section.

Abstract: In glass enamel coating compositions containing a glass frit system and a vehicle therefor, the improvement comprising the presence therein of copper sulfide or copper sulfate as an anti-stick agent; the resulting coatings being effective for application to glass sheets which are subsequently subjected to high temperature forming procedures.

Abstract: A method for bending a glass plate for a laminated glass comprises a step of heating at least two glass plates separately at a temperature suitable to conduct bending operation and bending them; a step of gradually cooling each of them; a step of transferring the at least two glass plates onto a bending ring mold in an overlapping state; and a step of heat-shaping the overlapping glass plates on the bending ring mold so that the surfaces of the glass plates are fitted to and are in coincidence with each other.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing taxidermic glass eyes and the like utilizes flat sheets of glass. This glass is printed with the markings and coloring for the eye image. The printing is accomplished by silk screening or other production methods. The eye is then shaped by heating the glass to a plastic state while being positioned over an opening. The heated glass slumps to form the eye shape. Excess material is trimmed away once the glass has cooled. A double wall, parabolic curve taxidermic eye is thereby provided.

Abstract: A heated glass plate is bent by moving over a bed or rollers defining a path curved along the direction of movement of the glass plate so as to define an upwardly facing concavity. The glass plate moves with a speed of at least 10 cm/second and is curved by the bed without contact from above. The glass plate is subsequently tempered.

Abstract: Process for bending and tempering glass sheets wherein the sheet (16) is heated up to its plastic state, and it bends by effect of gravity resting on a skelet-type mold (14), and next it is tempered by sudden cooling, in which process during the bending stage the glass sheet (16) is tilted with respect to the vertical direction by an angle of less than 90.degree.. Apparatus for carrying out said process, comprising a heating chamber (1) and a cooling chamber arranged in a sequence and assembled on a rotatable cylindrical frame whose axis is horizontal, said chambers being tiltable through rotation of the frame.

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 process for bending glass plates into convex shape and, in particular, to their precise positioning with a view to that bending. The glass plates to be convexed are centered while a hot gas is blown under said plates in order to take up a part of the weight of the glass thanks to that blown gas. It makes possible a recentering of the glass plates without deterioration of said plates in spite of their friction on the rollers carrying them.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the transfer of pane objects such as glass comprises a conveyor along which the pane is accelerated past the downstream end of the conveyor. As the pane leaves the conveyor, it is received by a device which is aligned substantially parallel to the trajectory of the path of the pane. The device receives the pane, and transfers it to the next work station.

Abstract: A method for bending glass plates comprises a step of softening by heating at least two glass plates placed in an overlapping state on a bending ring mold to shape them in a curved form by their own deadweight in a processing zone of a heating oven, a step of pressing the at least two overlapped glass plates from the top, which are bent or being bent in a predetermined form by their deadweight on the bending ring mold, by a pressing mold in a pressing zone in the heating oven or in the pressing zone under heating condition which is connected to the heating oven, and a step of gradually cooling the at least two glass plates in a cooling zone outside the heating oven.

Abstract: A device and process for transferring glass panes for bending comprise the raising of glass panes with a gaseous flow until they meet with an upper conveyor, maintaining contact with that conveyor and simultaneously shifting them along that conveyor, then bringing them down anew on a bending form upon which they subside.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for registering a glass sheet (12) on a mold (24) is disclosed as including a plurality of glass sheet locators (26) movably mounted on the mold. Each locator (26) includes a connector (28) pivotal in a horizontal plane about a pivotal axis (A) extending vertically from the mold. Each connector (28) also is vertically moveable along its pivotal axis (A) between a raised position above the mold (24) for locating the glass sheet (12) as the glass sheet moves along a topside transfer platen (14) and a lowered position below a curved mold surface (25). Linkages (30) connect the locators (26) for cooperable operation to position the glass sheet (12) with respect to the mold (24). An actuator (32) moves the linkages (30) to raise the locators (26) above the mold to locate the glass sheet (12) on the topside transfer platen (14) with the cooperable operation of a back gate (22).

Abstract: The invention concerns a glass molding process and system according to which glass sheet is heated in a horizontal position in a heating furnace, transferred vertically to an upper mold having a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature that it is desired to give the glass sheet and dropped on a bending frame where the glass sinks under the effect of inertia and gravity. Vertical transfer of the glass is obtained by a vacuum created on the periphery of the upper mold.

Abstract: An adjustable roll forming arrangement for shaping heat softened glass sheets. Each end of a series of transversely curved, longitudinally spaced forming rolls are mounted on first and second longitudinally extending flexible members. The members may be adjusted so that each roll end is positioned along a desired longitudinal radius of curvature that can be modified by flexing the flexible member.

Abstract: A horizontal press bending arrangement for press bending heat softened glass sheets during transfer into a shaping station. The glass sheet is conveyed through a roller hearth or gaseous support hearth type furnace to heat the sheet to its heat deformable temperature. The sheet is then transferred beneath a vacuum/pressure pick-up to support the glass sheet in non-engaging contact therewith. The sheet is next deposited on a lower mold. The vacuum/pressure pick-up thereafter splits in two and moves out of the shaping station to allow the sheet to be shaped between a pair of vertically aligned shaping molds. After shaping the shaped sheet is removed for further processing, e.g., tempering.

Abstract: Curving of glass sheets by application of said sheets against an upper curving form and possibly subsequently, after the deposit of said sheets onto a lower curving form, by depressing in accordance with said upper form is improved. After the taking up of a sheet of glass by the upper form, a current of hot gas is blown under the glass sheets in order to produce a pneumatic pressing. The process and opportunities enables the manufacture of curved glasses in accordance with complicated shapes and/or with an accentuated curvature but, nevertheless, with a surface free from defects.

Abstract: Glass sheets are positioned on the shaping rail of an outline shaping mold for movement through a heating lehr and subsequent preliminary sag bending. The mold with the glass sheet supported thereon is then positioned between a pair of vertically aligned full surface pressing molds. The mold includes selected press surface areas that extend outside the perimeter of the outline mold. As the lower mold raises to lift the glass sheet off the outline mold, selected portions of the shaping rail move outwardly to allow the lower mold to pass through the outline mold. The glass sheet is then pressed between the upper and lower pressing molds.

Abstract: This specification teaches a method for making an electrically heatable windshield of laminated construction. In the method, a pair of glass templets are cut (10) and they include a long glass templet and a short glass templet. The templets are separated (20) from one another. An opaque ceramic paint is applied (30) to an edge portion of a coatable surface of a selected glass templet and is dried (40) thereon. Bus bars are also applied (50) to and dried (60) on the coatable surface of the long glass templet. The glass templets are united (70) and subjected to a bending operation (80) to form a shaped windshield pair. The long glass templet and short glass templet are separated (90). A transparent electrically conductive coating is applied (100) between the bus bars located on the selected glass templet.