Abstract: A method for bending a glass sheet (1) in a glass bending furnace utilizing gravity and a bending mould, whereby the glass sheet is put onto the mould and heated into bending temperature to make the glass bend into a wanted shape by means of the mould. The glass sheet (1) is supported by means of the mould adjustable middle component (6), by means of which bearing impact the glass sheet is supported and its getting down onto mould support (4) regulated and which beating element, when let down, forms a part of the mould.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a method for bending a sheet of glass involving heating the sheet of glass to a softening temperature, transporting the sheet of glass in an essentially horizontal path as far as a station for bending it between two forms, shaping the sheet of glass by pressing between the two forms, cooling the sheet of glass in an appropriate station, these means comprising shaped rollers receive the sheet of glass after it has been bent and said rollers being oriented parallel to the direction defined on the sheet of glass via the direction in which it is conveyed into the bending station.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for supporting the middle section of a glass panel to be bent in a mold. During a preheating process of a glass panel, its middle section is supported by middle support elements carried along with a mold carriage. At the start of a bending process, the middle support is released by pushing bearing rods through the bottom of the mold carriage. The middle support for the glass panel is lowered upon the bearing rods gradually under the control of glass panel thermometry. A controlled hoisting and lowering of the bearing rods is performed by a hoisting and lowering mechanism present in a carriage elevator. The invention makes it possible to implement a middle support also in an automatically operating serial furnace.

Abstract: An apparatus for bending a glass sheet includes a final hearth bed. This final hearth bed has a top surface that is upwardly convexly curved along a plane perpendicular to an axis of the glass sheet. The top surface has an upstream end, a downstream end that is at a level lower than that of the upstream end, and an intermediate point defined therebetween. The top surface has (a) a first section that extends from the upstream end to the intermediate point and that is parallel with the axis or upwardly inclined relative to the axis and (b) a second section that extends from the intermediate point to the downstream end and that is downwardly inclined relative to the axis. The final hearth bed has a bottom surface that is along the first direction or inclined downwardly relative to the first direction.

Abstract: An arrangement in the loading end of a multi-section glass bending furnace, where the glass sheets travel along a special rail from one furnace section to the next section in mould carriages (8) moving in cycles on the said rail. For unloading and loading the mould with the bent glass (10) resting on it is shifted in mould carriage (8) from the rail over to side station (7), while the carriage keeps moving forward on the rail. There is in or will be removed to said rail from the side station one or more moulds earlier brought from the rail. In the side station the first transmitter (5) is to take the mould out of the mould and the second transmitter (6) is there to take the mould to the carriage and both transmitters are operating with the furnace section.

Abstract: Apparatus (16) and a method for roll bending heated glass sheets includes a pair of sets of bending rolls (40) and a support and drive mechanisms (44) that supports and rotatively drives the bending rolls at progressively increasing inclinations within a heating chamber (32) of a roll bending station (18) to provide engagement and bending at opposite lateral sides of a conveyed glass sheet. The bending rolls (44) are positioned in their progressively inclined inclinations by cooperation of an elongated connector (60) and clamps (64) for providing securement to curved support ribs (48) of an associated frame at the adjacent lateral side of the roll bending station housing.

Abstract: Apparatus (26) and a method for forming heated glass sheets in a heated chamber (22) of a housing (20) includes an upper mold support assembly (28) for supporting an upper mold (38) within the heated chamber for cyclical vertical movement between upper and lower positions. A lower mold shuttle (50) supports a lower mold (36) for movement between an idle position horizontally spaced from the upper mold and a use position below the lower mold. The apparatus also includes a lower mold support assembly (60) to which the lower mold is transferred from the lower mold shuttle (50) to provide support thereof while permitting horizontal alignment with the upper mold upon each cycle of downward movement to form a heated glass sheet between the molds. The lower mold shuttle (50) is supported by vertically movable rollers (70) to provide the transfer between the lower mold shuttle and the lower mold support assembly (60).

Abstract: A process for fabricating a face plate for a flat panel display such as a field emission cathode type display is disclosed, the face plate having integral spacer support structures. Also disclosed is a product made by the aforesaid process.

Abstract: A furnace (10) and method for heating conveyed glass sheets within a housing (12) includes forced convection heaters (24) spaced along the direction of conveyance both below and above a roll conveyor (20). Each forced convection heater (24) includes a gas burner assembly (32) generally adjacent one of the housing side walls and has an outlet (34) through which products of combustion are supplied to the housing heating chamber (18) at a location intermediate its side walls. A hot gas distributor (38) of each forced convection heater (24) includes an inlet (40) that is spaced from the outlet (34) of the gas burner assembly (32), and the hot gas distributor (38) has a suction fan (42) for drawing in heated products of combustion together with spent recirculating gas in the heating chamber (18) for mixing to provide heated gas that is distributed to the conveyed glass sheets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating glass sheets in preparation of tempering. A furnace (1) is provided with upper and lower convection blasting conduits (11, 14) extending lengthwise of the furnace. The furnace is also provided with upper and lower radiation heating elements (12, 16). The convection heating air is pressurized with a compressor (3), cleaned with a filter (4). The upper convection heating air is heated with air discharged from the furnace in a plurality of separate heat exchangers (7), through which the convection heating air is passed into the upper convection blasting conduits (11). The amount of air discharged from the furnace (1) through the heat exchangers (7) is substantially equal to that blasted into the furnace for convection heating.

Abstract: A method for roll forming a heated glass sheet utilizes a forming conveyor (62) including forming rolls (66) that are pivotally moved upwardly between horizontal rolls (46) of a horizontal conveyor (44) on opposite sides of a centerline (C/L) of the horizontal conveyor to rollingly engage the heated glass sheet above a plane of conveyance of the horizontal conveyor at its centerline to roll form the glass sheet in cooperation with a forming press (80) having rotatable forming members (82) that rollingly engage the heated glass sheet from above. A second set of forming rolls (68) cooperates with the first set of forming rolls (66) to provide the roll forming. First and second sets of roll cradles (76,90) are mounted by pivotal supports (128,142) on associated first and second carriages (154,156) and moved by first and second actuators (78,92). Lateral movement of the carriages (154,156) provides versatility in the glass sheet shapes that can be formed.

Abstract: This invention provides a belt for bending a glass sheet without surface defects caused by roller marks, belt junctions or belt deformations. A strip of heat-resistant member is joined together while the ends of the heat-resistant member are arranged so that they are not exposed at the surface defined by an endless track for bending the glass sheet. Alternatively, fitting portions are arranged along the endless track, and the glass sheets are bent while these fitting portions prevent a deformation of the belt. Bent glass sheets can be manufactured efficiently and without surface defects by bending the sheets while conveying them with such a belt.

Abstract: A press bending station (12) for heated glass sheets includes a lower wheel bed (36) having a lower support (38) and wheel assemblies (40) with detachable connections (46) to a drive mechanism (48) of the lower support to provide rotational driving of a wheel (44) of each wheel assembly. An actuator (62) provides relative vertical movement that lifts a heated glass sheet received by the wheel bed (36) to provide press bending thereof between a lower press ring (52) and an upper press mold (58). The wheel bed (36) can have a curved shape or a flat shape. Connection and detachment of the wheel assemblies (40) facilitates switching from one production job to the next.

Abstract: A system (10) and method for forming and quenching glass sheets with curvatures both along and transverse to a direction of conveyance includes a furnace (12) having an exit end (22) with a roll bending station (14), a press bending station located downstream from the exit end of the furnace and having a lower ring mold (46) and an upper press mold (48) operated by an actuator (50), and a quench station (18) that provides toughening of the formed glass sheet. The location of the roll bending station (14) with sets (30) of inclined bending rolls (32) having increasing inclinations along the direction of conveyance together with the external press station (16) and the quench station (18) provides the glass sheet forming without the necessity for excessive heating so that the glass is sufficiently hot upon quenching to provide the toughening.

Abstract: Apparatus (16) and a method for roll bending heated glass sheets includes a pair of sets of bending rolls (40) and a support and drive mechanisms (44) that supports and rotatively drives the bending rolls at progressively increasing inclinations within a heating chamber (32) of a roll bending station (18) to provide engagement and bending at opposite lateral sides of a conveyed glass sheet. The bending rolls (44) are positioned in their progressively inclined inclinations by cooperation of an elongated connector (60) and clamps (64) for providing securement to curved support ribs (48) of an associated frame at the adjacent lateral side of the roll bending station housing.

Abstract: There is provided a plate-shaped member positioning apparatus comprising a conveyor for conveying a plate-shaped member, a positioner for contact with a front end of a conveyed plate-shaped member, a moving unit for moving the positioner along a conveyance direction of the plate-shaped member, and a controller for controlling operations of the conveyor and the moving unit; wherein the controller moves the plate-shaped member in the conveyance direction with the positioner kept in contact with the front end of the plate-shaped member, decelerates an advancing speed of the plate-shaped member and positions the plate-shaped member at a certain standby position.

Abstract: A furnace particularly for heat treatments of glass sheets, comprising a longitudinally-elongated chamber which contains roller conveyor elements for the glass sheets. The furnace comprises irradiation-heating elements combined with first and second elements for heating by forced air convection in which the air temperature is controlled by adjusting its circulation rate, the elements being located respectively above and below the conveyor elements and therefore above and below the sheets being treated.

Abstract: A method of bending glass, in which glass (5) is heated in a bending furnace (1). Before the bending, the glass (5) is transferred from the heating point or zone onto a mould (7) located thereafter. While the glass (5) is being transferred onto the mould (7), the mould (7) moves in such a way that the horizontal velocity of at least the front edge of the mould (7) is substantially as high as the horizontal velocity of the glass (5).

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for heating glass panels in a tempering furnace equipped with rollers, glass panels are carried on a conveyor defined by rollers into a tempering furnace for the duration of a heating cycle, followed by carrying the glass panels into a tempering station. The glass panels are heated in the tempering furnace by bottom-and top-heating radiation elements as well as by bottom-and top-heating convection elements through whcih convection air is supplied to the tempering furnace. The glass panels' bottom side is heated by the bottom-heating convection elements, which are arranged lengthwise along the furnace and define convection heating zones side by side in a lateral direction of the tempering furnace. Thus, convection heating effects of the convection. heating zones can be altered relative to each other for profiling the heat transfer coefficient in a lateral direction of the furnace.

Abstract: In the process for partially shaping, a glass/glass ceramic article (5) is held on a planar support plate (1) by suction. The glass/glass ceramic article is heated to soften it, so that it has a viscosity below 106 dPa·s. After the softening one or more shaping dies (4) is or are moved upward through an opening or respective openings (3) in the support plate to form raised regions in the softened glass/glass ceramic article (5). The suction force is produced by a low pressure in a hollow compartment (2) below the support plate (1) and acts on the glass/glass ceramic article (5) by means of a gap (G) formed between each shaping die (4) and the support plate. Additional openings can be provided in the support plate and/or in one or more of the shaping dies to assist in applying the suction force to the glass/glass ceramic article. After solidification of the softened glass/glass-ceramic article the shaping die or dies (4) is or are withdrawn.

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: The invention relates to an apparatus for bending glass panels. An upper tier of successive mould carriages (9) defines a number of heating stations, the final one being an actual bending station (4b). A lower tier of successive mould carriages (9) defines a number of cooling stations (5, 6, 7), which are located underneath the heating stations. The mould carriages have an open-structured or otherwise highly heat transmitting floor (10). A pre-bending station (4a) preceding the bending station (4b) and at least the final preheating station (3b) have a floor (15), on top of which are radiation heating elements (16) positioned below a floor (10) of the carriage (9) for speeding up the heating of a bottom glass panel for preventing it from falling behind from the heating of a top glass panel.

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: A method for forming glass sheets is performed by a system (10) that includes a furnace (12) having a heating chamber (14) in which a topside transfer device (20) has a downwardly facing surface (22) to which vacuum and pressurized air are supplied to receive and support a heated glass sheet from a conveyor (16) without any direct contact. A forming station (24) located externally of the furnace has a vertically movable upper mold (28) whose temperature is not greater than 500° C. The upper mold (28) cooperates with a horizontally movable lower ring (34) that transfers the heated glass sheet from the topside transfer device (20) to the forming station under the control of a first actuator (40). A second actuator (42) moves the upper mold (28) downwardly to cooperate with the lower ring (34) in forming the glass sheet. The external forming station (24) includes heat loss reducing apparatus (43) for reducing heat loss of the hot glass sheet during the forming.

Abstract: A method for forming glass sheets is performed by a system (10) that includes a furnace (12) having a heating chamber (14) in which a vacuum platen (20) has a downwardly facing surface (22) to which a vacuum is supplied to support a heated glass sheet received from a conveyor (16). A forming station (24) located externally of the furnace has a vertically movable upper mold (28) whose temperature is not greater than 500° C. The upper mold (28) cooperates with a horizontally movable lower ring (34). A first actuator (39) moves the vacuum platen (20) vertically to transfer a heated glass sheet from the conveyor (16) to the lower ring (34) which is then moved by a second actuator (40) to the forming station (24). A third actuator (42) then moves the upper mold (28) downwardly to cooperate with the lower ring (34) in forming the glass sheet. The forming station (24) includes apparatus (43) for reducing heat loss of the glass sheet during the forming.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a face plate for a flat panel display such as a field emission cathode type display, the face plate having integral spacer support structures is disclosed. Also disclosed is a product made by the aforesaid process. The support structures are designed to be load bearing so as to prevent implosion of a planar, transparent face plate toward a parallel spaced-apart base plate when the space between the face plate and the base plate is sealed at the edges of the display to form a chamber, and the chamber is evacuated in the presence of atmospheric pressure outside the chamber. Unlike most spacer support structures proposed for such flat panel displays, the support structures are made from the same material as the substrate from which the face plate is fabricated. For a preferred embodiment of the process, a perforated laminar template is sealably sandwiched between a laminar silicate glass substrate and a manifold block to form a temporary sandwich assembly.

Abstract: A glass sheet forming system (10) includes apparatus (12) having a forming station (22) for forming glass sheets by cooperation of a lower deformable roll forming conveyor (26) and an upper deformable roll forming press (32). The upper deformable roll forming press (32) includes upper deformable rolls (34) whose axes are located along a direction of conveyance between the axes of lower deformable rolls (28) of the lower deformable roll forming conveyor (26) in a manner that prevents leading glass edge curling as the lower conveyor and upper forming press are moved between flat and curved shapes to provide glass sheet forming.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing an image display device in which a panel member constituting a panel of an image display device is transferred to a plurality of processing chambers each comprising a temperature control unit, and subjected to a plurality of processing steps under temperature control. The temperature of the panel member in each of the processing chambers is set to be not more than the set A temperature of the panel member in the previous processing chamber by the temperature control unit.

Abstract: A roller furnace for heating windows to their softening temperature. The furnace is provided above a roller transportation track. Vanes forming blowing nozzles are arranged transversely to the direction of movement of the windows in order to blow hot gas onto the top surface of the window. A radiative heater is provided below the roller transportation track to heat the bottom of the window.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a curved sheet of glass which includes a heating furnace for heating a sheet of glass therein, the heating furnace having an outlet opening for discharging a curved sheet of glass, and an array of beds housed in the furnace for transferring a sheet of glass successively over the beds in the furnace in a first direction toward the outlet opening while shaping the sheet of glass complementarily to an upper surface of the beds, each of the beds having a plurality of hot air ejecting holes for ejecting hot air to keep the sheet of glass out of contact with the beds, the beds including a final bed disposed near the outlet opening and inclined upwardly toward the outlet opening, the final bed having an upper panel including at least a portion curved in the first direction near the outlet opening to curve the sheet of glass in the first direction.

Abstract: A method for heating LowE glass panels in a tempering furnace (1) provided with rollers. LowE glass panels are carried on a conveyor constituted by rollers (2) into the tempering furnace and then the discussed glass panels are set in an oscillating motion within the tempering furnace for the duration of a heating cycle. This is followed by delivering the discussed glass panels into a tempering station (3). In the tempering furnace, the glass panels are heated by means of top and bottom radiation heating elements (4, 5), as well as by top and bottom convection heating elements (6, 7). In the early stage of a heating cycle the top glass surface is subjected to convection heating more powerful than that applied to the bottom surface and in the final stage of a heating cycle the bottom glass surface is subjected to convection heating more powerful than that applied to the top surface.

Abstract: A roller assembly for use in a glass bending machine comprises a base bracket, a bending roller rotatably mounted on said base bracket, the bending roller having a three-piece construction comprises a central hub having an annular outer surface, opposed side surfaces, and a central axis of rotation; a collar fixed to each side surface of said central hub, the collars having an annular outer surface, inner and outer side surfaces, and a central axis of rotation; the collars comprising a material and shape which resists scratching glass, the collars being spaced apart with a center section of the hub between them to allow the roller to be driven individually by a friction member whereby the friction member is adapted to run on the center section of the roller to rotate the roller, and a glass sheet is adapted to run on the larger collars and not be scratched by the center section.

Abstract: The method of making a curved glass-ceramic panel by bending a green glass panel to be ceramicized avoids formation of stresses in the bending zone. The method includes performing the bending process in a heated chamber at a temperature of from 10° C. to 50° C. above a transformation temperature of the green glass panel to be bent; providing a forming body acting as a workpiece support (3) with a geometric shape according to a bend geometry of the glass-ceramic panel and tempering the forming body at the temperature of the heated chamber; bringing the forming body into effective mechanical contact with the green glass panel in a bending zone of the green glass panel to form a curved green glass panel and ceramicizing the curved green glass panel to form the curved glass-ceramic panel.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for bending and tempering a sheet of glass heated to a formable state provides an improved rigid mold and pressing member for pressing the heated sheet against the rigid mold which cools and bends the sheet. The pressing member includes a conformable pressing element which permits a manifold to be positioned between the rigid mold and the pressing member to direct a gas to cool the heated sheet of glass during bending. The conformable pressing element is pressurized into a convex shape for initially pressing on a portion of the heated sheet and for rolling the heated sheet onto the rigid mold. The rigid mold and the conformable pressing element may each include a cover to increase the heat transfer from the heated sheet to the bending and tempering apparatus. Furthermore, the covers may have increased thermal conductivity in their peripheral regions for increased cooling of the edge of the sheet of glass.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for heating glass sheets in a tempering furnace. The tempering furnace (1) includes rollers (3) for conveying and oscillating the glass sheets (4) during heating, and resistors (5, 6) for heating the glass sheets (4) from above and from below. The lower part of the tempering furnace (1) is cooled at the initial stage of the heating period, and the lower surfaces of the glass sheets (4) are heated at the final stage of the heating period by forced convection. This ensures good control over heat equalization in the tempering furnace (1), increases furnace power, prevents curving of the glass sheets (4), and also reduces heat shock from ceramic rollers at the initial heating stage.

Abstract: A method for making a furnace for heating a glass sheet by lower electric resistance elements (50) supported by a furnace housing (12) below a roll conveyor (40) and by supplying a gas burner heated hot gas flow from a forced convection heater (56) that provides a dominant mode of external heat for heating the conveyed glass sheet from above. The furnace is manufactured by retrofitting an electric resistance heater type glass sheet furnace that initially has both lower and upper electric resistance elements (50) located below and above the roller conveyor (40). The lower electric resistance elements (50) are maintained while the upper electric resistance elements (50) are replaced with a gas burner forced convection heater (56).

Abstract: A process for fabricating a face plate for a flat panel display such as a field emission cathode type display, the face plate having integral spacer support structures is disclosed. Also disclosed is a product made by the aforesaid process. The support structures are designed to be load bearing so as to prevent implosion of a planar, transparent face plate toward a parallel spaced-apart base plate when the space between the face plate and the base plate is sealed at the edges of the display to form a chamber, and the chamber is evacuated in the presence of atmospheric pressure outside the chamber. Unlike most spacer support structures proposed for such flat panel displays, the support structures are made from the same material as the substrate from which the face plate is fabricated. For a preferred embodiment of the process, a perforated laminar template is sealably sandwiched between a laminar silicate glass substrate and a manifold block to form a temporary sandwich assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming glass sheets is provided wherein in a furnace structure of a heating furnace where molds with glass sheets carried thereon are intermittently conveyed, the staying period in the heating zone just before an annealing zone is variable, and the annealing zone includes a lifting device to separate a mold from a conveying device. By such arrangement, glass sheets having different shapes can be successively produced with a period for job change being greatly shortened.

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 bending apparatus for glass sheets, at least some of distances between conveyor rolls are set so as to be unequal, forming glass sheets having good quality and free from optical distortion. For the purpose, the distances between conveyor rolls which are provided from an outlet of a heating furnace are set so as to be unequal and to gradually expand toward a downstream direction.

Abstract: A method and an equipment for heating glass in a tempering furnace provided with rollers. In a tempering furnace glass (3) is heated from above with upper resistors (4) and from below with lower resistors (5). The heating resistors (4, 5) are dimensioned such that their combined power is greater than the maximum heating power needed by the furnace, and that the resistors are controlled such that the maximum amount of resistor power being used simultaneously corresponds to the maximum heating power needed by the furnace. This allows heat to be directed at a desired place in the furnace also at the initial stage of heating, and a single resistor is efficient and fast, allowing heat to be directed quickly at places where it is needed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for bending glass sheets. This process involves bending the glass sheet or sheets in at least two stages. The first stage employing the action of gravity leading to a shaped blank which is used in the formation of the final shape. The last stage which leads to the final shape, involves the simultaneous or nonsimultaneous, combined actions of gravity and at least one additional mechanical force. The invention also includes a bending apparatus providing at least one section having two separately useable parts with one of the parts being movable with respect to the other to permit the section to be arranged in one of two positions. In addition, the invention includes bent glazing having at least one docking angle exceeding 50.degree. and a radius of curvature below 200 mm.

Abstract: A method and furnace for heating a glass sheet by lower electric resistance elements (50) supported by a furnace housing (12) below a roll conveyor (40) and by supplying a gas burner heated hot gas flow from a forced convection heater (56) that provides a dominant mode of external heat for heating the conveyed glass sheet from above. The furnace can also be manufactured by retrofitting an electric resistance heater type glass sheet furnace.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a face plate for a flat panel display such as a field emission cathode type display, the face plate having integral spacer support structures is disclosed. Also disclosed is a product made by the aforesaid process. The support structures are designed to be load bearing so as to prevent implosion of a planar, transparent face plate toward a parallel spaced-apart base plate when the space between the face plate and the base plate is sealed at the edges of the display to form a chamber, and the chamber is evacuated in the presence of atmospheric pressure outside the chamber. Unlike most spacer support structures proposed for such flat panel displays, the support structures are made from the same material as the substrate from which the face plate is fabricated. For a preferred embodiment of the process, a perforated laminar template is sealably sandwiched between a laminar silicate glass substrate and a manifold block to form a temporary sandwich assembly.

Abstract: Glass sheets are bent in stages into the final shape in a horizontal position in two successive bending stations. The glass sheets heated to bending temperature are laid on a fabric carrier arranged resiliently on a rigid support frame. The glass sheets are conveyed stepwise with the fabric carrier and the support frame through the bending system, and are bent together with the fabric carrier which adapts to the shape of the glass sheets.

Abstract: In a quenching apparatus for quenching a glass sheet that has been heated and bent in a heating furnace, a cooling gas blows onto the glass sheet to provide a distribution of a temperature and/or a distribution of a static pressure in at least one section in the quenching apparatus. The distribution of a temperature provides different temperatures between the both surfaces of the glass sheet, while the distribution of a static pressure is nonuniform in a part of at least one surface of the glass sheet. The distributions can modify a shape of the glass sheet given in the heating furnace so that a degree of freedom in shape for manufacturing a bent and tempered glass sheet by utilizing its self-weight can be improved.

Abstract: A bending mold for bending glass sheets is provided. The mold comprises a frame having longitudinally parallel side walls and a bottom. Support devices having support surfaces are connected between the side walls. An elongated member is provided on the bottom of the frame and is movable in relation to the frame. Support arms are connected by joints between the support device and the elongated member. Movement of the elongated member twists the support devices about a horizontal twisting center.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a glass container and an apparatus therefor capable of providing the container by pressing of a glass substrate using a die while keeping the glass substrate uniformly heated and softened. The glass substrate is heated while being kept lifted from a lower mold of a forming die and then subject to integral forming by the forming die. This permits the glass substrate to be integrally formed into the glass container in the form of a finished product, resulting in the number of steps and time required for processing being reduced.

Abstract: A forced convection furnace (20) and method for heating glass sheets includes a forced convection heater (42) having lower hot gas distributors (44) located below alternate conveyor rolls (38) to provide upward gas flow both upstream and downstream thereof along a direction of conveyance to provide heating from below of the glass sheets being conveyed within a heating chamber (32) of a housing (22) of the furnace. The forced convection heater (42) also includes upper hot gas distributors (52) for providing heating from above of the glass sheets being conveyed within the heating chamber (32).

Abstract: A forced convection heating apparatus and process for heating glass sheets therewithin includes a housing (200) having an interior region, a conveyor for conveying the glass sheets through the interior region of the housing (200), a gas burner (204) operably associated with the housing (200) for producing hot combustion gases, thereby providing a heat input to the apparatus. An adjustor (210) is operably connected to, and controls, the inputs to the gas burner (204) to vary the heat input, and, thereby, maintain the temperature of the working fluid at a preselected set point. At least one velocity control for controlling the impingement velocity of the working fluid onto the top and/or bottom surfaces of the glass sheet is also provided. The impingement velocity, and thereby the rate of convective heat exchange between the working fluid and the glass sheet, is controlled independently of the heat input to the apparatus.