Abstract: A horizontal press bending arrangement wherein heat softened glass sheets are engaged by a shuttling vacuum pickup. The pickup and sheet are transferred out of the furnace and into a shaping station wherein the glass sheet is deposited and repositioned between a pair of vertically aligned full surface press faces.

Abstract: A glass sheet press bending system (20) disclosed has a bending station (30a,30b,30c,30d) for providing press bending between upper and lower molds (32,42) without intrusion into or through a conveyor (26) on which glass sheets are heated prior to the bending. The upper mold (32) is positioned above the conveyor (26), while the lower mold (42) is movable horizontally at an elevation above the conveyor from a first position adjacent the upper mold to a second position below the upper mold whereupon vertical movement therebetween performs the press bending between the molds. A transfer mold (48) receives the bent glass sheet from the upper mold (32) for cooling.

Abstract: The invention relates to a frame for supporting a glass sheet in horizontal position during tempering. The frame is formed by a body and includes bearing members with bearing surfaces which support the glass sheet and which between them delimit channels for evacuation of blowing gases. The bearing members are located in at least a selected region of the body.

Abstract: Disclosed is a shaped glass panel for use as a rear window or an all-glass rear door of an automobile. The glass panel has an upwardly projecting rear spoiler portion which is inseparably contiguous to the main portion of the panel and is formed by bending the glass panel in its bottom edge portion along a line parallel to the bottom edge of the panel. The main portion of the glass panel may include two generally downwardly projecting side edge regions. In such a case, press bending of a preheated glass sheet into the shaped panel is performed in two stages such that bending of the glass sheet in its bottom edge portion to form the spoiler portion and bending of the same glass sheet in its side edge portions are done sequentially. Preferably the preheating is performed so as to produce such a temperature gradient in the glass sheet that the glass temperature in the bottom portion becomes higher than in the top edge portion by 30.degree.-50.degree. C.

Abstract: A glass sheet forming system (10') including a vertically movable topside transfer apparatus (12) for transferring glass sheets from a heating conveyor (18) to a curved mold (22) for forming.

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

Abstract: A glass sheet bending apparatus has a lower mold and conveyor rolls for conveying a heated glass sheet horizontally to a position over the lower mold, the lower mold having slots for receiving the conveyor rolls when the lower mold is lifted. The glass sheet bending apparatus has a main ring mold disposed around the outer peripheral surface of the lower mold which has a first shaping surface for shaping the central area of the glass sheet, the main ring mold having a second shaping surface for shaping the peripheral edge of the glass sheet. The glass sheet bending apparatus also has an auxiliary ring mold disposed between the main ring mold and the lower mold and having a substantially horizontal, flat support surface for supporting the glass sheet between the central area and peripheral edge of the glass sheet. The auxiliary ring mold is lifted prior to the upward movement of the lower mold and the main ring mold for raising the glass support off the conveyor rolls with its support surface.

Abstract: The apparatus for manufacturing of tempered, bent glass sheets comprises bending means (5) receiving the heated glass sheet in a horizontal position, said bending means (5) including a bending die (8) which, as well as the base supporting the glass sheet, is provided with coolant connections (13).

Abstract: A shaping rail uses tungsten alloy inserts to support a glass sheet during sag bending. As the glass sheet is heated and sags to shape, tungsten alloy inserts provide support points over which the glass sheet can slide without scuffing the glass sheet surface or embedding particles in the glass sheet that can result in venting.

Abstract: A stop assembly for positioning glass sheets that are pressed between upper and lower shaping molds. The stop member is pivoted into a sheet engaging position as the sheet is heated and conveyed onto a gas hearth. As a lifting ring which surrounds the gas hearth moves vertically, lifting the sheet off the gas hearth and towards the upper mold face, the stop assembly rotates to a position outside the pressing surface of the upper and lower molds.

Abstract: Straight advance bars in the shaping region are moved plumb downward between the upper advance position and the lower shaping position for the purpose of curving glass sheets heated to the softening point; a pressing means is deposited in time-relation to this motion on the top side of the glass sheet and together with the advance bars is displaced downwardly; when in the shaping position, the glass sheet rests on stationary forming bars curving plumb downwardly and of which the shape is fitted to the desired curvature of the glass sheet. The shaping region is followed by a tempering zone wherein the curved glass sheets are cooled by gas-blowing without their surfaces being affected thereby.

Abstract: A vacuum press for shaping both left and right hand sidelights, quarterlights and the like which are asymmetric in bend and mirror images of each other. The shaping surfaces of the mold have certain overlapping shaping areas that shape both the left and right hand windows and additional shaping areas bend only the left or right hand window. A timing sequence positions each glass sheet to be bent at the correct location between the shaping surface of the molds.

Abstract: A vacuum mold for shaping hot glass sheets having a rigid back plate, a flexible perforated lower shaping wall, adjustable spacers positioned between the back plate and shaping wall and easily removable side wall members that seal the vacuum chamber and allow easy access to the internal adjustable spacers. The peripheral edge portions of a refractory cloth which covers the mold is coated with heat resistant silicone rubber to seal the vacuum chamber of the mold.

Abstract: A glass sheet processing system including topside transfer apparatus (12) for transferring glass sheets during processing. The transfer apparatus (12) supports glass sheets at a downwardly facing surface (36) by a vacuum drawn through a first set of holes (38) in the surface and by pressurized gas supplied through a second set of holes (40) in the surface. The topside transfer apparatus (12) has particular utility when utilized in a glass sheet forming system (10, 10') to transfer a heated glass sheet from a heating conveyor to a curved mold for forming. In addition, the topside handling apparatus has other uses such as conveying glass sheets during heating prior to processing, supporting a heated glass sheet on a deformable platen for forming, and loading a glass sheet onto a conveyor for processing.

Abstract: The invention relates to bending of glass plates moving in a horizontal position, under the effect of their own weight, with a device comprising a shaping bed made of rotating shaping elements whose surfaces in contact with the glass plates, as they advance, define increasingly curved generatrices, these shaping elements being carried by a frame that can be inclined by pivoting around a transverse axis located at its upstream end. The frame is mounted on pivoting axes (XX', YY', ZZ') that are adjustable in height. Particular zones of the glass plates can be kept at a constant level during bending, which improves the optical quality of the glass plates thus bent.

Abstract: A lift assembly for a glass press bending apparatus of the type having upper and lower press bending members and including a reciprocally movable frame, a plurality of rotatable screwjacks operatively connected to the frame for moving the frame and a fluid actuator mounted on the movable frame by a trunnion mechanism and operatively connected to one of the press members by a self-aligning trunnion. A gear-drive mechanism operatively connected to the screwjacks rotate the screwjacks in unison.

Abstract: An apparatus for bending or bending and tempering of thermoplastic sheets such as glass sheets heated to their softening temperature by passing the glass sheets over a bed of straight or curved supporting rollers placed along a profile with an upward concavity. The apparatus comprises a pivoting assembly which transfers the glass sheets from a supporting bed of rollers with one slope to a conveyor with a different slope. The last supporting roller of the bed of supporting rollers constitutes the first support roller of the conveyor. The apparatus permits the transfer of glass sheets from a transport system with one slope to another transport system with a different slope without damaging either the glass sheets themselves or any coatings that may have been applied to the glass sheets.

Abstract: The rollers or curved rods and other elements supporting the glass sheets as well as the apparatus necessary for bending and/or tempering are preferably mounted on a pair of longitudinally flexible strips that rest on a pair of rigid templates having the desired curvature. Each flexible strip advantageously is a chain whose links are hinged on one another, these links being provided with flanges to which are fastened the rollers or curved rods, all other elements for supporting the glass sheets, and the elements necessary for bending and tempering. To permit modification of the curved profile, the templates are removable and interchangeable. To facilitate changing of the templates, the apparatus is equipped with a system for lifting the strips or chains. Such lifting system comprises one or more pivoting beams that are lifted by drive means such as a jack and a bent connecting rod.

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

Abstract: In apparatus for shaping sheets of heat-softenable material, such as glass and plastics, an upper vacuum mold is provided with an apertured wall member of low expansion refractory material to engage a heat-softened sheet during a portion of its shaping. In order to improve its durability, metal clamping devices that cause high local stresses in the refractory wall member are not used to secure the refractory wall member to metal structural elements of the vacuum mold. The present invention comprises novel mold structure to support a lower apertured wall member of refractory material on an inverted metal box member without metal attachment devices that induce high local stresses.

Abstract: Glass sheet handling devices are provided with glass sheet engaging surfaces composed of a phenolic resin reinforced with fibers of an aromatic polyamide composition. In a specific embodiment of this invention, a sufficient number of said fibers extend to an exposed surface of said devices to develop a coefficient of friction sufficient to prevent relative sliding between the exposed surface of said glass sheet engaging member and said glass sheet.

Abstract: A press bending mold having a flexible, continuous shaping surface that is readily adjustable to produce a wide variety of simple as well as more complex, compound shapes. The mold includes a plurality of adjustment controls that are operably connected at select points on the backside of the shaping surface. The controls are conveniently located outwardly of the press area to enable alterations to be made to the contour of the shaping surface, quickly and easily, without interference or interruption of the glass bending and tempering operation.

Abstract: Sheets of heat-deformable material, such as glass, are shaped to non-uniform curvatures that include a localized sharply bent portion near one side portion of the sheet by lifting the sheet while the latter is at a deformation temperature range on a lower lifting mold of special construction that includes spaced, transversely extending slats having upper edge surfaces defining the non-uniform bend and a longitudinally extending end slat whose upper edge surface defines a transverse curve that merges with the upper edge surfaces of said transversely extending slats.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-leveled storage system located immediately above a glass sheet bending lehr. The multi-leveled storage system includes an elevator which enables an operator to transfer empty bending molds in groups from a return conveyor located above the roof of a bending lehr onto any one of several storage levels and to replace the tranferred molds with molds needed to produce a different pattern by transferring the different pattern molds from a selected storage level and to transfer said molds needed for said different pattern onto the return conveyor of the conveyor system used for handling glass sheet bending molds. The present invention also enables an operator to shuffle molds between different storage levels to facilitate future mold exchange operations.

Abstract: Sheet glass is heated during conveyance on a conveyor within a furnace. A vacuum holder is horizontally movable within the furnace immediately above the conveyor in close proximity to the heated glass sheet. The holder has a downwardly facing surface with spaced openings in which a vacuum is drawn to receive the heated glass sheet from the conveyor, support the sheet above the conveyor, move the heated glass sheet horizontally along the longitudinal axis of the furnace and drop the heated glass sheet onto a carrier mold ring positioned within the furnace by removing the vacuum so that the glass sheet bends under the force of gravity in a manner that allows the heated glass sheet to be accurately bent. In a preferred embodiment the mold ring subsequently is removed from the furnace to a quench unit that tempers the bent glass.

Abstract: A method of deforming a plastic glass sheet from a generally two-dimensional shape into a generally three-dimensional shape at first supports the plastic glass sheet with its two-dimensional upper face juxtaposed underneath the three-dimensional lower face of a vacuum-forming die. The sheet and die are then relatively displaced vertically toward each other so that one portion of the sheet face engages a respective portion of the die face. The two portions are secured together by suction so that the sheet adheres at the one portion of its face to the respective portion of the die face. Finally, the sheet and die are relatively displaced with deformation of the sheet to press the rest of the sheet face and die face together and adhere the faces entirely together by suction. The sheet is supported on a planar conveyor that is rocked about a horizontal axis to engage the faces together. This conveyor and the die can be relatively rocked about a horizontal axis, or even about two transverse horizontal axes.

Abstract: An apparatus disclosed for use in bending heated sheets of glass transported generally horizontally on a conveyor within a furnace heating chamber includes a holder and a counterbalanced bending member, both of which are located above the conveyor in a spaced relationship such that a heated sheet of glass can be transported under the holder. The holder includes a curved, downwardly facing surface with spaced openings in which vacuum is drawn to receive the glass sheet from the conveyor. Gas, such as air, is blown upwardly from below the conveyor against the heated sheet of glass such that the sheet is moved upwardly and into engagement with the curved surface of the holder. The bending member then moves downwardly below the holder surface and thereafter upwardly against the heated sheet of glass to provide bending thereof to the curved shape of the holder surface. The bending member then moves back to its home position above the holder surface.

Abstract: A vacuum holder for holding sheets of heat-softenable material such as glass thereagainst by vacuum during their fabrication into shaped sheets comprising a lower sheet wall that has flanking portions slit longitudinally to provide strips extending longitudinally from a central portion, the width of the strips being limited to limit transverse bulging as the holder becomes hot during a sheet shaping campaign. Longitudinal slots of increasing length from a selected transverse line, preferably one traversing the geometric center of the sheet, control longitudinal bulging of the holder.

Abstract: A deformable vacuum holder having a glass facing wall of flexible sheet material subject to local distortion for shaping heat-softened material, such as glass sheets, has a deformable sheet of insulator material attached mechanically to said glass facing wall for engaging the flexible glass facing sheet wall of the vacuum holder. The deformable sheet has a smooth surface less subject to distortion than said glass facing wall facing the engaged glass sheet surface to avoid having scratches and other surface irregularities of the glass facing wall mar the vision area of the shaped glass sheet and is mechanically supported against the flexible sheet wall beyond the margin of the engaged glass sheet instead of being adhered to said flexible sheet wall.

Abstract: A method of and a furnace assembly for bending glass sheets. Glass sheets (6) are conveyed in bending moulds (5) supported by cars (4) along an upper transport run (2) periodically from one heating section (10) to another. In the final heating section, temperature is risen so high that a glass sheet bends by the action of heat and gravity to conform with the surface of the mould. Thereafter, a car (4) together with a bent glass sheet is lowered onto a lower run (3) and returned to the outset of a furnace (1). On cooling, the glass sheets on said lower run emit heat to the glass sheets on said upper run through the open bottom structures of cars (4). The weight and heat capacity of the cars have been made as low as possible by removing the side and back walls thereof, whereby only the front or leading walls (8) provide locking walls between sections (10) successive in the longitudinal direction of the furnace.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for press bending sheets into complex shapes wherein the apparatus includes at least one press member of outline or ring-type construction having an array of spaced apart shaping rail elements mounted in a composite array and adapted to pass upwardly between adjacent conveying rolls to contact and support the undersurface of a sheet of heat-softened glass. Another array of shaping rail extensions is disposed above the conveying rolls mounted for movement into and out of association with the spaces between the spaced apart shaping rail elements of the first mentioned array.

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

Abstract: Vacuum is applied to help separate a press bent glass sheet from between a pair of complementary press bending molds during the separation of said molds after completing said press bending.

Abstract: A deformable vacuum holder used in the shaping of sheets of glass or other deformable materials is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending helical coil springs that enhance the durability of the deformable vacuum holder. When the outer diameter of the springs approximates the thickness of a chamber comprising said holder, the springs improve the resistance of the holder to collapse in response to the application of vacuum to said holder.

Abstract: Multiple chamber vacuum holders for use in shaping sheets of glass or other heat-softenable material to complex shapes require a different level of vacuum in adjacent vacuum chambers. A porous fiber glass cover used with such vacuum holders provide passages for residual air in adjacent passages to tend to equalize when a sheet is held against the porous cover. The present invention helps maintain a difference in level of vacuum between adjacent vacuum chambers by interposing a narrow space vented to atmosphere between adjacent vacuum chambers of the multiple chamber vacuum holder.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for curving and tempering or heat toughening thin glass sheets, with thickness less than 4 mm and with camber over 60 mm, regardless of the type of curve described by their profile (cylindrical, parabolic, etc.). A continuous feed system is provided for curving rings, such system including a horizontal carrousel which permits individual curving rings to pass under a forming station every 3 seconds. Rolls are provided in the curve forming station designed to pass across the curving ring or forming mould, regardless of the camber of the latter, even if it exceeds 60 mm, as the rolls are not secured to the rings. The carrousel includes the combination of two racks or horizontal chain conveyors with two pairs of roller conveyors.

Abstract: An improved apparatus including a localized heater that moves along the direction of conveyance with conveyed glass sheets to provide localized heating of a portion of each glass sheet to be bent without heating the rest of the glass sheet prior to its subsequent treatment. This invention is especially suitable for locally heating designated portions of glass sheets as they are heated while being conveyed through a furnace on a horizontal roller conveyor where the designated portion of glass sheets are to be formed with bends having relatively short radii of curvature at a bending station. The apparatus includes a pair of elongated localized gas heaters, each of which is positioned above the portion of the glass sheet which requires significant bending. These heaters are mounted on a carriage driven by a drive mechanism.

Abstract: This invention concerns shaping sheets of glass or other deformable material to compound shapes. A sheet having a desired transverse component of curvature engages the downward facing surface of a deformable vacuum mold having a lower transversely curved wall and is held thereagainst by vacuum while still hot enough to be distorted as the vacuum mold deforms to apply the longitudinal bending component to the sheet to be shaped.

Abstract: This invention relates to a stop adapted for attachment to outline molds of different outline configurations defining shapes of different depths of bend desired for glass sheets to be shaped to different patterns. The stop comprises a glass engaging member of disc-like configuration having a front surface oriented to face an edge surface of a glass sheet to be mounted in engaging relation to said front surface when loaded onto a selected one of said outline molds. The glass engaging member of disc-like configuration is supported in eccentric relation to a rod supported in fixed relation relative to a localized portion of an upwardly facing shaping surface defined by a shaping rail of said selected outline mold.

Abstract: A glass sheet bending system (10) is disclosed as including a compressed gas bending unit (28) located above a horizontal conveyor (22) on which glass sheets are heated within a furnace (12) of the system. A downwardly facing curved surface (26) of a holder (24) above conveyor (22) receives a heated glass sheet from the conveyor for bending. Compressed gas fed through outlets (34) of the bending unit (28) provides inclined gas jets directed in a generally perpendicular relationship to the holder surface (26) with a sufficient intensity to bend the glass sheet on the holder (24) to the curved shape of its surface. The conveyor (22) of the system is preferably of the roller type including spaced rolls (36) and the bending unit (28) is disclosed as including a pair of supply conduits (48) extending upwardly between the rolls to supply compressed gas to a pair of delivery conduits (52) which define the outlets (34).

Abstract: A lightweight outline mold for shaping glass sheets comprising a shaping rail having low thermal inertia, tabs attaching said rail to a reinforcing frame through rods by welding said rods at points spaced from said shaping rail and using fastening means that do not require localized heat, such as rivets, to attach the shaping rail to the tabs in a manner that avoids localized heating of the shaping rail during mold fabrication that would distort the shaping rail if the latter were welded directly to the reinforcing frame.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for manufacturing glass progressive power lenses. The lenses are manufactured by a vacuum forming technique in which a glass lens is placed upon a forming block, heated to its softening point, and then forced to sag against and assume the shape of the forming block surface by the creation of a vacuum between the lens blank and the block surface. The forming block is provided with a plurality of apertures through which the vacuum is drawn and these apertures are positioned so as to ensure the maintenance of an adequate pressure differential between the two surfaces of the lens blank as it sags in a wave-like manner from its center towards its periphery.

Abstract: In the shaping of sheets of heat-softenable material such as glass and other deformable materials, a hot sheet engages an apertured lower sheet of a deformable vacuum box while the sheet and the box are flat and conforms to the changing shape of the box. Since the box intermittently engages a hot deformable sheet for shaping and releases the deformed sheet after shaping, its lower apertured sheet is exposed to a wide temperature cycle, which causes the lower apertured sheet to warp away from the shape desired for the deformable sheet. The present invention provides structure for the deformable box that avoids such warpage while retaining the ability of the box to maintain sufficient vacuum to hold and distort the hot sheet while the box changes shape into its desired configuration with minimum warpage therefrom so that the hot sheet develops a desired curved configuration while held thereagainst during deformation of the box.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for press bending sheets into complex shapes including at least one press member of outline or ring-type construction having a plurality of shaping pads mounted within the outline of the shaping ring in combination with configurated conveyor rolls for preliminarily bending a heat-softened glass sheet prior to final bending into the ultimately desired configuration.

Abstract: When glass sheets are shaped by drop forming a glass sheet released from vacuum engagement against the bottom perforated plate of a vacuum platen to drop onto a shaping mold of ring-like construction, the intermediate portion of the glass sheet can develop excessive downward sag. The present invention discloses different techniques to develop an upward bow in the intermediate portion of the glass sheet sufficient to compensate approximately for the undesired excessive downward sag.

Abstract: Glass sheets are shaped while heat-softened by engaging a surface thereof against an apertured surface of a vacuum mold within a heating furnace. After releasing the glass sheet for further processing, the vacuum mold is removed from the furnace without the glass sheet for cooling and returned to the furnace in sufficient time to engage the next glass sheet to be shaped. This invention avoids the need to overheat the glass to compensate for cooling that occurs when a mold engages a glass sheet outside a furnace to shape the latter without losing control of the maximum temperature to which the mold is subjected during a glass sheet shaping program.

Abstract: Apparatus for shaping glass sheets to a complicated shape including a longitudinal component of bend and a complicated transverse component of bend within a tunnel-like lehr. An outline mold with guides for aligning one or more glass sheets for proper orientation and alignment thereon supports the glass while the glass is bent by gravity sagging to provide a longitudinal component of bend and to deliver the sag bent glass to a position between upper and lower pressing molds having complementary shaping surfaces conforming to a complicated bend including a complicated transverse bend component. Special alignment means are provided to orient and align the outline mold relative to said pressing molds so that the lower pressing mold can lift the sag bent glass off the outline mold into engagement with the upper pressing mold to impress the transverse bend component and return the glass with its complicated shape to the outline mold for controlled cooling and removal from the lehr.

Abstract: A method for bending glass sheets is provided wherein glass is heated just to the softening point in a molten salt bath, then mechanically forced around a cylindrical or conical form using a forming member which hinges to follow the glass sheet onto the form, thereby maintaining the optical characteristics of the glass sheet by avoiding exertion of force along the plane of the glass sheet.The apparatus for use with the invention comprises a forming member which maintains contact with the part being formed at the same spot throughout the forming operation, means for supporting the part, and means for actuation.

Abstract: A glass sheet is suspended from a series of tongs which grip the upper margin of the sheet and apply individual forces at the gripping locations at least some of which have components acting out of the plane of the sheet. The magnitude and direction of each of said forces is selected to ensure that the suspended sheet, when at forming temperature, adapts towards a predetermined curved shape. The sheet may be bent with the forces acting at the gripping points before and/or after bending, and the sheet adopts the required curved shape when it is sufficiently stiffened to be influenced by the remanent forces applied at the gripping points.

Abstract: A device for transporting a sheet of glass through sheet processing stations of a furnace. The device comprises a carriage having a carrying frame including a longitudinal horizontal member supporting a plurality of sheet hangers. The longitudinal horizontal member is rigidly connected at its center portion to the carriage and movably connected to the carriage at other portions.