Abstract: A device and a process for manufacturing a bent individual glass sheet including a peripheral compression belt, wherein the process includes the heating thereof to its bending temperature in a furnace, the individual bending thereof, and the general cooling thereof. One zone of the sheet at least partially inside the peripheral compression belt, referred to as locally cooled zone, undergoes, after the heating of the sheet, a local cooling faster than the general cooling, when the sheet is at a temperature of at least 530° C. The cutting of the sheet on the locally cooled zone creates edges having edge compressive stresses.

Abstract: A sheet bending device includes a sheet shaping rail having a stationary shaping rail portion mounted on a support member and an articulating shaping rail portion pivotally mounted on the support member for movement from a non-shaping position to a shaping position. A retention member limits movement of a sheet to be shaped relative to the stationary shaping rail portion when the articulating shaping rail portion moves to the shaping position. A “cut-to-size” method is also disclosed to shape a sheet for use in making an aircraft transparency.

Abstract: Apparatus for shaping at least one glass sheet wherein a lower press ring and an upper press ring are configured to clamp a perimeter section of the glass sheet between the lower press ring and the upper press ring. The apparatus also includes an upper press at least partially disposed within the upper press ring and configured to shape at least a section of the glass sheet inside the perimeter section of the glass sheet, including forming by use of applied vacuum. The inner press may include openings that apply vacuum in selected areas of the inner press to vacuum form the ply within the selected areas. To control the ply on the upper press assembly, vacuum that is applied though passageways in the upper press ring to the gap between the upper press ring and the inner press is controlled through a seal in the gap. The upper press ring includes pivotal joints that increase adjustability of the forming surface of the upper press ring to the face surface of the inner press.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a glass, the apparatus including a lower mold, a fixing mold and an upper mold is disclosed. The lower mold may be configured to support a central portion of a lower surface of the glass. The fixing mold may be configured to support a central portion of an upper surface of the glass. The upper mold may press two edge portions of the upper surface of the glass to form rounded portions at the two edge portions of the glass. An apparatus for forming a glass, the apparatus including: a lower mold configured to press two edge portions of a lower surface of the glass to form rounded portions at the two edge portions of the glass; a fixing mold configured to support a central portion of the lower surface of the glass; and an upper mold configured to support a central portion of an upper surface of the glass is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a glass, the apparatus including a lower mold and an upper mold is disclosed. The lower mold may be configured to support a central portion of a lower surface of the glass. The upper mold may be configured to make point contact with an edge portion of an upper surface of the glass. The upper mold may press the edge portion of the upper surface of the glass to form a rounded portion of the edge portion of the glass. An apparatus for forming a glass, the apparatus including: a lower mold configured to make point contact with an edge portion of a lower surface of the glass; and an upper mold configured to press an interior portion of the upper surface of the glass to form a rounded portion at the edge portion of the glass, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A reformable area and a non-reformable area of a sheet of glass material are heated to a first temperature corresponding to a first viscosity. The reformable area is subsequently locally heated to a second temperature corresponding to a second viscosity, where the second viscosity is lower than the first viscosity. A bend is formed in the reformable area during the local heating of the reformable area by contacting a first pusher with the non-reformable area and translating the first pusher along a linear path to apply a pushing force to the non-reformable area that results in the bend in the reformable area or by contacting a second pusher with an edge area of the reformable area and rotating the pusher along a circular path to apply a pushing force to the edge area of the reformable area that results in the bend in the reformable area.

Abstract: A gravity bending mold for bending glass sheets is disclosed. The gravity bending mold comprises an intermediate mold having an intermediate movable mold section and a final mold having a final movable mold section. Each movable mold section is movable between an operable position and an inoperable position respectively. The intermediate and final movable mold sections are adapted successively to engage a glass sheet during a gravity bending operation. There is a mechanical connection between the intermediate and final movable mold sections, the mechanical connection being selectively disposable in a first configuration, at which the intermediate and final movable mold sections are in the operable and inoperable positions respectively, and in a second configuration, at which the final and intermediate movable mold sections are in the operable position and inoperable positions respectively.

Abstract: A device for making a window includes a main body defining a first space and a second space, a first shaft provided in the first space and connected to the main body, a first die provided in the first space and connected to the first shaft, a second shaft connected to the main body, movable relative to the first shaft and extending to the first space from the second space, and a second die provided in the first space and connected to the second shaft.. The device further includes an air-tight chamber surrounding the first and second dies, a gas supply conduit and a gas discharge conduit connected to the chamber, and an actuator connected to the second shaft and configured to move the second shaft relative to the first shaft. At least one of the first and second dies has a flat area and a curved area.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for precision bending a glass sheet that includes an oven for heating the glass sheet to a temperature near the softening temperature of the glass sheet. A stage for supporting the glass sheet. A pair of reference surfaces on the stage for precisely locating the glass sheet on the stage. At least one bending mechanism on a pair of arms inside the oven for bending an edge portion of the glass sheet. Inward facing first stop surfaces on the arms that contact reference surfaces on the stage for precisely locating the bending mechanism on the arms relative to the stage and the glass sheet.

Abstract: A glass sheet bending station includes a framework, lower and upper deformable molds for receiving therebetween a glass sheet to be bent, and lower and upper linkages that respectively support the lower and upper molds on the framework. Each linkage includes connector links that are fixedly connected to the associated mold and that have pivotal connections to each other, wherein the pivotal connections define pivot axes that are parallel to a shape defined by the connector links between the lower and upper linkages throughout the bending. Each linkage also has control links connected to the connector links thereof such that the control links are pivotable about axes that extend perpendicular to the shape defined between the lower and upper. Furthermore, at least one of the control links of each linkage is configured to permit glass sheet bending by linkage movement on one side thereof independently of the other side thereof.

Abstract: A glass sheet bending method for glass sheet bending utilizes a primary actuating mechanism (154) for moving lower and upper mold support linkages (26, 48) from a flat shape to a curved shape of a constant radius provided by connection links (28) and control links (34) of the linkages. The lower and upper linkages (26, 48) having one pair of connector links (28) with control links (34) configured to allow a secondary actuating mechanism (155) to provide linkage movement on one lateral side thereof independently of on their other lateral side.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for cambering a glass sheet, said device comprising a pressing station provided with a male press and a female press which are arranged opposite each other in a complementary manner. The male press is formed from at least two distinct resilient parts, a base and at least one forming complement, which are adapted in such a way as to be fixed to each other. Said forming complement is detachable and interchangeable according to the form to be applied to the glass sheet, and comprises a fixing surface which is adapted in such a way as to be fixed to a fixing surface of the base, and a forming surface which is adapted in such a way as to be pressed against the glass sheet in order to apply the desired form thereto. The invention also relates to an industrial installation comprising one such device, and to a method for implementing said device.

Abstract: A deformation apparatus for reforming a glass sheet comprises a central portion, a first edge mold movably coupled to a first end of the central portion and configured to be linearly translated along a linear mold axis in a first direction toward the central portion. The deformation apparatus further includes a second edge mold movably coupled to the second end of the central portion and configured to be linearly translated along the linear mold axis in a second direction opposite the first direction and toward the central portion. Methods are also provided including the step of cooling a reformed glass sheet, wherein a greater shrinkage of the reformed glass sheet relative to a shrinkage of the deformation apparatus is accommodated by a movement of at least the first edge mold in a first direction toward the central portion of the deformation apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for bending a glass sheet and a method for bending a glass sheet including an apparatus and a method for conveying a glass sheet, and it aims at producing with good efficiency a glass sheet of high quality, having complicated configuration.

Abstract: A method for bending a glass sheet is provided wherein the glass sheet is put on a bending surface of a frame unit to be preliminarily bent by gravity before the glass sheet is pressed by an upper mold and frame unit. The method is utilized for controlling the amount of preliminary bending so as to control deformation of the glass sheet caused by the preliminary bending and pressing occurs on the preliminary bent glass sheet by the upper mold and the frame unit.

Abstract: A device and method for bending a glazing unit or plural glazing units positioned one on top of the other, with a first train of carriages, bearing transport supports and running between a loading zone in which at least one glazing unit is deposited on a transport support of a carriage and a transfer zone, a furnace section heating the glazing units to their bending temperature in their path towards the transfer zone, and a second train of carriages running between the transfer zone and a final cooling section with an unloading station, which is equipped with transport supports that differ from the transport supports of the first train of carriages.

Abstract: A deformation apparatus for reforming a glass sheet comprises a central portion, a first edge mold movably coupled to a first end of the central portion and configured to be linearly translated along a linear mold axis in a first direction toward the central portion. The deformation apparatus further includes a second edge mold movably coupled to the second end of the central portion and configured to be linearly translated along the linear mold axis in a second direction opposite the first direction and toward the central portion. Methods are also provided including the step of cooling a reformed glass sheet, wherein a greater shrinkage of the reformed glass sheet relative to a shrinkage of the deformation apparatus is accommodated by a movement of at least the first edge mold in a first direction toward the central portion of the deformation apparatus.

Abstract: A device for gravity bending of at least one glass sheet supported by at least one support forming part of a bending assembly, plural supports supporting the sheet during bending. The device includes a drive system for changing the shape of the support, the drive system controlling the rate of the change. A method of bending glass sheets utilizes the device.

Abstract: A method and device for bending superposed sheets of glass. The sheets are picked up by a top form furnished with a suction creating an upward airflow blowing over the rim of the sheets, the suction being sufficient to lift and hold the superposed sheets against the top form, then the sheets are pressed between the top form and a full surface solid concave bottom form furnished with openings, the pressing beginning conducted while the suction is not yet finished or is finishing, then the superposed sheets are formed, by suction of the main face of the bottom sheet through the openings of the bottom concave mold, the forming by suction beginning while the pressing is not yet finished, and then the sheets are cooled. Windshields free of optical defects may thus be produced.

Abstract: A method, press station (12), and system (10) for forming glass sheets that are initially formed with an upwardly concave curved shape with end portions (86) and an intermediate portion (88) having straight line elements that are subsequently formed with curved shapes to provide curvature along transverse directions. The forming is performed by initially providing curvature to the straight line elements of the glass sheet end portions while the intermediate portion (88) still has the straight line elements. The glass sheet intermediate portion is subsequently formed to provide curvature to its straight line elements so the glass sheet has curvature in transverse directions.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for bending a glass sheet which can appropriately prevent cloth mark due to suctioning.

Abstract: A method and machine for obtaining bent glass sheets. Glass sheets are brought to their softening temperature, then they are caused to travel over a shaping bed of advancing elements for advancing them which are arranged along a path having a circular arc-shaped profile, the sheets progressively assuming their shape on entering the bed and over a first shaping zone, then being hardened by tempering or cooling in a second zone of the bed until they leave, and then the bent glass sheets thus obtained are recovered. The shaping bed is produced with a profile extending in a circular arc of more than 90°, and, on leaving the shaping bed, the hardened glass sheets are moved in a direction opposite that in which they were fed in.

Abstract: A glazing element-bending process including first to fourth stages. The first stage bends the glazing element through gravitational depression on a first support providing it with a first central depression. The second stage continues the bending of the glazing element through gravitational depression on a second support, providing it with a second central depression more pronounced than the first and until such time as the whole periphery of the glazing element enters into contact with the second support, the glazing element being at a sufficiently high temperature to enable its central part to continue to sag following contact of the whole of the periphery. The third stage continues the bending of the glazing element through gravitational depression, providing it with a third central depression more pronounced than the second, the periphery being always in contact with the second support. The fourth stage halts the depression of the glazing element by cooling and gives it the desired final shape.

Abstract: A gravity bending mould for bending glass sheets is disclosed. The gravity bending mould comprises an intermediate mould having an intermediate movable mould section and a final mould having a final movable mould section. Each movable mould section is movable between an operable position and an inoperable position respectively. The intermediate and final movable mould sections are adapted successively to engage a glass sheet during a gravity bending operation. There is a mechanical connection between the intermediate and final movable mould sections, the mechanical connection being selectively disposable in a first configuration, at which the intermediate and final movable mould sections are in the operable and inoperable positions respectively, and in a second configuration, at which the final and intermediate movable mould sections are in the operable position and inoperable positions respectively.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bending apparatus and a bending method for a glass sheet, which realize bending of a glass sheet with high precision by carrying out up-down movement of each of conveying rollers at an appropriate timing with an appropriate amount.

Abstract: A production method for laminated glass capable of performing a firing step for a fired substance and a bend-forming step to an inner sheet and an outer sheet in the same forming furnace when laminated glass having a fired substance between an inner sheet and an outer sheet is produced, whereby the inner sheet and the outer sheet overlap each other with high accuracy and a production device thereof, are provided. A production method for laminated glass having a fired substance between an inner sheet 2 and an outer sheet 3 wherein a firing step for firing a fired substance in a state that the inner sheet 2 and the outer sheet 3 are kept away and a bend-forming step in a state that the inner sheet 2 and the outer sheet 3 overlap each other, is carried out in the same forming furnace.

Abstract: A forming system (10) having particular utility for making outer and inner formed windshield glass sheets provides glass sheet positioning centrally on a forming face (34) of a forming mold (32) to form each glass sheet to a design shape regardless of any size difference between the glass sheets from one cycle to the next.

Abstract: A method and machine for obtaining bent glass sheets. Glass sheets are brought to their softening temperature, then they are caused to travel over a shaping bed of advancing elements for advancing them which are arranged along a path having a circular arc-shaped profile, the sheets progressively assuming their shape on entering the bed and over a first shaping zone, then being hardened by tempering or cooling in a second zone of the bed until they leave, and then the bent glass sheets thus obtained are recovered. The shaping bed is produced with a profile extending in a circular arc of more than 90°, and, on leaving the shaping bed, the hardened glass sheets are moved in a direction opposite that in which they were fed in.

Abstract: For bending a glass sheet so that the glass sheet has a compound curvature, an apparatus comprises a furnace including hearth beds on a bed support and a quenching unit provided with upper and lower air blowers. The final hearth bed may have a top surface with a simple curvature, be provided with one upstream corner cut away thereby defining a cut surface section and arranged in such a manner that the cut surface section is nearly parallel to the hearth bed adjacent to the final hearth bed. Alternatively, the final hearth bed may have a top surface with a compound curvature, so that the glass sheet is bent under the conditions set by controlling a temperature in a downstream part of the furnace, adjusting the inclination of the lower air blower and/or rotating final hearth bed so as to reverse the upstream and downstream ends thereof.

Abstract: A glass sheet is heated to a forming temperature in a heating furnace, the heated glass sheet is conveyed along a conveying plane defined by a plurality of rollers of a roller conveyer, and is moved up and down on the rollers according to a position of the glass sheet to curve a part of the conveying plane with respect to a glass sheet conveying direction to bend the glass sheet to have a desired curvature by its own weight. The rollers are curved rollers.

Abstract: An apparatus for bending and tempering glass panels includes a number of ring moulds for supporting and conveying glass panels; a number of preheating sections for heating glass panels to a bending temperature; at least one prebending section for sagging a glass panel gravitationally; a bending section provided with a hoistable and descendable press mould; and a quenching section for tempering a bent glass panel. The bending section is provided with a hoistable and descendable mould supporting frame for supporting the mould from below during a press-bending operation. The supporting frame is mounted on a mobile cassette wagon which constitutes a replaceable floor for the bending section.

Abstract: An apparatus for shaping heat softened glass sheets includes an upper mold having a full surface press face with a shaping surface generally contoured to the desired curvature of the sheets; a support device to support the sheets below the upper mold; a shaping rail having an upper sheet supporting surface that supports selected peripheral portions of the sheets, the sheet supporting surface having a profile corresponding to desired elevational contours of the selected peripheral portions of the sheets and complimenting corresponding portions of the upper mold shaping surface; a chamber positioned below the sheets; a moving device for moving the upper mold and the shaping rail relative to each other so as to press at least a periphery of the sheets against the upper mold shaping surface, and a connector to direct pressurized gas into the chamber to urge the sheets towards the upper mold press face.

Abstract: A mold includes a pair of spaced elongated deformable members and spaced elongated flexible strap members between and connected to the deformable members with the axis of the deformable members parallel to one another and transverse to the axis of the strap members. A set of a plurality of donut rolls spaced from one another along the length of the strap members is provided in the space between adjacent strap members to move a heat softened glass sheet over the strap members and below shaped surface of a vacuum mold. The strap members are moved to lift the sheet off the rolls toward and into contact with the shaping surface. The deformable members are deformed as the flexible members bias the sheet against the shaped surface. Vacuum pulled through the shaping surface maintains the sheet against the shaped surface as the strap members move away from the shaped surface.

Abstract: A glass sheet forming system (20) provides continuous roll conveyed forming of heated flat glass sheets to formed shapes having a major axis of curvature and a minor axis of curvature perpendicular to each other. The forming is performed by a roll station (30) having a shape retaining quench (36) associated with a lower deformable roll bed (32) and an upper deformable roll former (34). An adjustment mechanism (78) provides adjustment of the extent of the minor curvature and an actuating mechanism (56) is operable to provide the major curvature.

Abstract: An apparatus for bend-shaping a glass sheet is disclosed, which comprises a heating furnace, a plurality of in-furnace beds disposed within the heating furnace, at least one out-furnace bed disposed externally of the heating furnace proximately to an outlet of the heating furnace, and an elevating mechanism disposed below that one of the in-furnace beds which is positioned proximately to the outlet and the out-furnace bed. The in- and out-furnace beds have upper surfaces curved transversely and capable of jetting air to floatingly support a glass sheet. For producing a dual curved glass sheet, the elevating mechanism is operated to elevate opposed ends of the one in-furnace bed and the out-furnace bed so that these beds jointly form a hill. For producing a single-curved glass sheet, the elevating mechanism is operated to lower the opposed ends of those beds to their original flat positions.

Abstract: A glass sheet bending station (20) and method for glass sheet bending utilize a primary actuating mechanism (154) for moving mold support linkages to provide glass sheet bending with a constant radius and utilize control link detachable connections (39) that allow a secondary actuating mechanism (155) to provide bending of a glass sheet independently of linkage movement on the other side of the detached connections.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for bending glass panels. The upper tier of successive mould carriers defines a number of heating sections, the last one of which is an actual bending section. The lower tier of successive mould carriers defines a number of cooling sections, which are located below the heating sections. The mould carriers are provided with an open-structured or otherwise highly heat transmissive bottom. Underneath bending sections, effecting gravitational bending on an upper mould carrier track, lie cooling sections, each of which is individually provided with controlled cooling air circulation by means of cooling air exhaust fans. Following the sections performing the controlled cooling or annealing, the mould carriers are adapted to be conveyed along a lower mould carrier track nonstop under a plurality of preheating sections by a single passage.

Abstract: For bending a glass sheet so that the glass sheet has a compound curvature, an apparatus comprises a furnace including hearth beds on a bed support and a quenching unit provided with upper and lower air blowers. The final hearth bed may have a top surface with a simple curvature, be provided with one upstream corner cut away thereby defining a cut surface section and arranged in such a manner that the cut surface section is nearly parallel to the hearth bed adjacent to the final hearth bed. Alternatively, the final hearth bed may have a top surface with a compound curvature, so that the glass sheet is bent under the conditions set by controlling a temperature in a downstream part of the furnace, adjusting the inclination of the lower air blower and/or rotating final hearth bed so as to reverse the upstream and downstream ends thereof.

Abstract: A glass forming assembly and method for forming complex shaped glass, with the glass forming assembly having a hood assembly including a hood lift superstructure movable horizontally back and forth over a cold ring and a cooling shuttle and movable vertically relative to the cold ring and the cooling shuttle, and a hood frame supported by the hood lift superstructure by a hood tilt mechanism. The hood tilt mechanism includes an air cylinder assembly actuable to tilt the hood frame relative to the hood lift superstructure, which allows for proper orientation of the glass prior to dropping it on the cooling shuttle, thus allowing for reduced glass chipping and cracking.

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 for bending a glass sheet, comprising using a first mold for supporting a peripheral portion of a glass sheet and a second mold provided inside the first mold; heating the glass sheet put on the first mold to a temperature to bend the glass sheet by gravity; and then transferring the glass sheet onto the second mold to bend the glass sheet only by the second mold, the glass sheet is transferred from the first mold onto the second mold by moving the first mold in a direction to spread the first mold laterally with respect to the second.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for bending and tempering glass panels. The apparatus comprises a number of ring moulds (1) for supporting and conveying glass panels; a number of preheating sections (2) for heating glass panels to a bending temperature; at least one prebending section (2a) for sagging a glass panel gravitationally; a bending section (3) provided with a hoistable and descendable press mould (4); and an annealing section (12) for tempering a bent glass panel. The bending section (3) is provided with a hoistable and descendable mould supporting frame (7) for supporting the mould (1) from below during a press-bending operation. The supporting frame (7) is mounted on a mobile cassette wagon (8) which constitutes a replaceable floor for the bending section (3).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for thermal treatment of glass and method and thermally treated glass therefrom. The apparatus is capable of supporting the glass during thermal treatment such as tempering, annealing, bending, and/or shaping which can include any cooling or quenching to remove heat or any combination of these. The apparatus is a support member like a ring or outline mold with a horizontal surface suitable for contacting the glass. The support member has at least a surface with or without a coating for contact with the glass of one or more metals having a thermal conductivity such that the glass heated for shaping cools at a rate not much slower than the cooling rate of unsupported sections of the glass. Suitable metals include those with a thermal conductivity of greater than around 16 BTU/(hour×feet×° F.).

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for manufacturing a bent glass sheet. The apparatus comprises a plurality of height adjusting sections which are separately configured at both sides of a body of the apparatus along a lengthwise direction of the body adjacent to an upper end of the body and each of which has a link mechanism, the link mechanism being connected with a threaded shaft which extends in a widthwise direction of the body, so as to be folded and unfolded by virtue of normal and reverse rotations of the threaded shaft; and a forming mold positioned at the upper end of the body so that the forming mold is supported by the plurality of height adjusting sections, the forming mold extending over an entire length of the body.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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.