Abstract: A method is provided in which a glass sheet is bent on a mould having a movable end, comprising the steps of: heating the glass sheet to its bending temperature; subjecting the glass sheet to an initial gravity bending step; providing support to a portion of the glass sheet located on the movable end of the mould; while providing said support, lowering said movable end away from the glass sheet; subjecting the glass sheet to a press bending step; cooling the bent glass sheet. Support may be provided by a reduced pressure within an upper mould, a mechanical arm, or gas directed in a generally upwards direction. The invention may be used for bending glass for architectural or automotive purposes, e.g. for bending a pair of glass sheets, one on top of the other, for use in the manufacture of a laminated windscreen, to achieve deep and/or complex bent shapes.

Abstract: The problem of unevenness of bottle temperatures at the entry of slow annealing furnace due to the variation of time periods necessary for respective bottles discharged from an IS bottle manufacturing machine to reach the annealing furnace has been solved by an equalization of said time periods. For this purpose, the bottle discharging order from the IS bottle manufacturing machine is controlled and use is made of two conveyors having different running speeds and/or direction of running. As a result, a precise temperature control in the Hot-End-Coating apparatus provided upstream from the annealing furnace can be carried out owing to the equalized temperatures of bottles entering into the annealing furnace.

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

Abstract: A method of forming a drape-shaped glass structural element are disclosed. The element may be used as a support for a glass table top. The glass element is formed by a unique method which involves initially supporting a glass sheet on both fixed and movable members within a mold. The movable members are moved after the glass has begun to soften and move to a final shape. This causes the final glass element to have a complicated shape which cannot be formed by conventional glass forming methods.

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

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

Abstract: A bending fixture for gravity bending a glass sheet or sheets to produce, for example, automobile windshields. The bending fixture has a pair of fixture sections, each having a shaping surface segment with two ends. The fixture sections are hinged to each other at their ends to define a single hinge axis. The hinge axis is immediately adjacent the support surface at the ends of the shaping surface segments and is generally laterally centered in the fixture. The bending fixture supports a flat cold glass sheet or sheets at the hinge area and at points laterally remote from the hinge area. In the closed position after bending, the support segments together form a continuous peripheral support surface for the glass sheet.

Abstract: A mold for forming a curved window glass with deeply bent end portions includes a stationary main frame for forming a gently curved main portion of the window glass and a pair of swingable side frames for forming the deeply bent end portions. A weight plate is installed on each side frame so as to be movable toward and away from same. A plurality of pushing members are installed on the weight plate and alignable with corresponding ones of supporting members for supporting the glass plate on the side frame. The pushing members are constructed and arranged so as to contact with only an edge of a lateral end of the glass plate.

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

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

Abstract: An apparatus for producing two-dimensionally bent and optionally tempered glass plates includes a roller oven (1), a pressing and bending station (2) and a cooling station (3). A lower male mold-like, full surface bending mold (10) with two-dimensionally shaped bending surface is arranged in the pressing and bending station (2). The top surface of the bending surface of the bending mold (10) is located in the conveying plane defined by the conveying rollers (5). The wall of the bending mold (10) forming the bending surface is provided with bores (14), which can be supplied with hot gas for forming a hot gas cushion. After positioning the glass plate (4) on the hot gas cushion, the female mold-like frame bending mold (11) is lowered onto the glass plate (4). The bent glass plate slides on the hot gas cushion into the cooling station (3).

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

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the shape of heat softened glass sheets. A pan member is positioned inboard of the shaping rails of a bending iron. The upper surface of the pan member has a curvature corresponding to the final desired shape of a selected portion of the glass sheet. As the glass sheet is heated and sags to conform with the contoured shaping rail, it also sags into contact with the pan member and conforms to its shape.

Abstract: For positioning a glass sheet moving on a conveyor, two substantially identical assemblies are positioned on opposite lateral sides of the conveyor. Each of the assemblies includes an arm carrying an abutment and extending in proximity to the conveyor such that a glass sheet moving on the conveyor will contact the abutment and be prevented from movement along the conveyor beyond the abutment. Contact between the glass sheet on the conveyor and an abutment will cause the abutment to move slightly, so that such contact can be detected. When the glass sheet contacts both abutments, the arms are driven for permitting passage of the glass sheet.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for bending and tempering a glass sheet. A heated glass sheet is carried from a furnace onto a conveyor in a bending and tempering section, said conveyor comprising a plurality of individual conveyors in the form of an endless belt or caterpillar track. The conveyor serves as a bending mould, a transfer conveyor and a tempering support. A glass sheet is bent by pivoting the body structures (6) of individual conveyors relative to each other in a manner that the lower runs of individual conveyors pull away from each other in lateral direction while, at the same time, the upper conveyor runs are bending to an arched shape. The chilling blast for bent glass is effected through openings (17, 18) in the halted conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating, bending and quenching glass sheets (10) is disclosed as including a first platen (14) and a second platen (22). Both platens (14,22) are deformable for bending a heated glass sheet (12) therebetween. A first heater (18) is integral with the first platen (14) and provides heat in close proximity to the heated glass sheet (12) during the bending to maintain an optimal glass bending temperature.

Abstract: A process for bending a glass sheet, in particular one for motor vehicles, with curved areas having small radii of curvature. The bending device used is a bending press having a male type mold and a female type mold. The female type mold consists of at least two mold parts hinged together. After part of the glass sheet heated to bending temperature has been received by the bending press, at least one swivelling mold part of the female type mold is swivelled around the swivel axis, against the male type mold. An adjustable electric motor serves as the drive motor to move the swivelling mold parts. The angular velocity of the swivel action of the swivelling mold parts during the bending process is adjusted as a function of the temperature of the glass sheet and the desired degree of deformation.

Abstract: A method for bending glass sheets is disclosed in which a heated glass sheet (12) is introduced between spaced upper and lower bending platens (16,18). Heat source (19), integral with platen (18), is operable for applying heat in close proximity to the glass sheet (12) between the platens (16,18) to maintain an optimal bending temperature and the glass sheet (12) is bent such that a specific geometric orientation of the bend on the glass sheet (12) is controllable and repeatedly reproducible during a production operation.

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

Abstract: An apparatus (10) is disclosed for bending and tempering a heated glass sheet (12) between first and second bending platens (14,32). Platens (14,32) include actuators (22,36) respectively, for deforming the platens (14,32) to form the desired bend in the glass sheet (12) therebetween the platens (14,32). A vertical guide (16) constrained at both ends (18,20) controls vertical movement of the first platen (14) and a central actuator (42) constrained at both ends (44,46) controls vertical movement of the second platen (32). The vertical guide (16) and central actuator (42) cooperably operate to control the specific geometric orientation of the bend on the glass sheet (12).

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

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

Abstract: An adjustable glass forming apparatus includes a peripheral frame having a shape which generally conforms to the shape of the glass sheet to be formed. Though preferably defining an L-shape in cross section, the frame may define other suitably rigid cross sections. A plurality of adjustable supports are disposed in close proximity about the frame. Each support includes a curved upper surface which contacts the lower face of the glass and a stanchion or shank which is received within a suitable opening in the frame. Preferably, the shank and opening define complementary male and female threads or other adjustable structures. The support may be readily adjusted up or down by rotation thereof and a jam nut maintains the support in the selected position.

Abstract: A partial press for shaping heat softened glass sheets as they are supported on a bending mold and conveyed through a lehr includes a press member that contacts selected portions of the glass sheet. The press member moves with the glass sheet so that there is no relative horizontal movement between the press member and the glass sheet as the glass sheet is conveyed through the lehr.

Abstract: A horizontal press bending arrangement wherein heat softened glass sheets are shaped between a lower mold with a sheet shaping surface having a generally convex upward elevational configuration and an upper vacuum mold. After shaping the shaped glass sheet is deposited on an adjustable tempering ring. The ring adjusts in size from a first configuration corresponding to the contours of the shaped sheet immediately after shaping, to a second configuration corresponding to the contours of the shaped sheet after it has been cooled.

Abstract: An extended surface pressing mold for a horizontal press bending arrangement. The lower mold provides a glass sheet engaging surface having a first portion which complements and generally parallels a first portion of an upper sheet engaging surface of an aligned upper mold, a wing portion which extends from the first portion of lower mold and is nonparallel to a corresponding second aligned portion of the sheet engaging surface of the upper mold, and a ring portion positioned outwardly from the wing portion and generally complementing a third aligned portion of the upper sheet engaging surface of the upper mold near a portion of the perimeter of the glass sheet. The ring portion moves from the first position wherein the ring portion is in a non-engaging position relative to the heat softened glass sheet to a second position wherein the ring portion contacts and engages a perimeter portion of the heat softened glass sheet to press the perimeter portion against the third portion of the upper mold.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for bending a glass pane in which undesirable elongations, localized deformations and residual stresses are eliminated by the advantageous use of such practices as preventing relative sliding movement between the glass pane and the bending apparatus and controlling the path followed by movable elements of the bending apparatus that accomplish the bending. The movable elements are mounted for motion about articulated axes, and the articulated axes themselves undergo constant dislocation during the bending.

Abstract: A tempering ring for supporting a hot shaped glass sheet during tempering has inner and outer rings conforming in shape and outline to that of the hot glass sheet. Individual glass sheet support members with pivoting head members are mounted around the perimeter of the tempering ring. The head members pivot to conform to the peripheral contours of the hot shaped glass sheet. The glass sheet support members are each adjusted in both a longitudinal and vertical direction.

Abstract: A tempering ring for supporting a hot shaped glass sheet during tempering has inner and outer rings conforming in shape and outline to that of the hot glass sheet. Individual glass sheet support members are mounted around the perimeter of the tempering ring so that the glass sheet support surfaces of the support members define a peripheral contour similar to that of the hot shaped glass sheet. The glass sheet support members are each adjusted in both a longitudinal and vertical direction.

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: 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: 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: 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 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 deformable vacuum mold for shaping glass sheets to complicated shapes includes mold stiffening structure engaging the central portion of the mold, mold lifting means engaging the longitudinal end portions of the vacuum mold to lift the latter relative to the mold stiffening structure and optional bar means adjustable in position and orientation to provide local control imparted to the shape of the vacuum mold when the longitudinal end portions of the mold are lifted. The deformable vacuum mold may also include a pair of lifting means providing different amounts of lift to the longitudinal end portions on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the mold and approximately equal amounts of lift to the longitudinal end portions on opposite sides of the transverse center line of the mold.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ring-like member for use in a glass sheet bending and tempering process most adapted to a process wherein a glass sheet is released from engagement against a vacuum mold of a shape having sharply bent regions about longitudinally spaced, transversely extending lines of relatively sharp bending onto said ring-like member. The vacuum mold has a distance between the sharply bent regions at operating conditions that either equals or is slightly less than the distance desired in the bent glass. In a preferred embodiment, the ring-like member is split into two shaping rails, which are separable to adjusted positions wherein the sharply bent regions are spaced to conform to the distance desired therebetween in the bent glass sheet.

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: 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: An articulated press member having pivotal end sections for imparting complex shapes to glass sheets. The end sections are pivoted in unison by a single fluid cylinder operatively connected to a rack and pinion assembly in turn connected to both end sections for effecting concurrent and equal pivotal movement thereof. A series of adjusting screws are associated with the rack and pinion assembly for angularly adjusting the positions of the end sections in various operative positions of the press member.

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: A method and apparatus for forming a bent plate glass using a forming bed, in which a plate glass mounted on the forming bed is locally heated along a heating line whereby the plate glass is locally softened, after first heating the entire flat plate glass. The heating line is positioned offset from a desired bending line and curved outwardly therefrom whereby the heating line becomes coincident with the desired bending line due to transformation of the initial heating line as the plate glass deforms under its own weight as it is heated to softening temperature.

Abstract: Glass sheets are shaped while heat-softened by engaging a surface thereof against an apertured surface of a deformable vacuum mold and deforming the vacuum mold while maintaining the heat-softened glass sheet in vacuum engagement thereagainst.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for press bending glass sheets to special configurations including a press member of outline or ring-type construction having at least one shaping pad mounted for limited floating movement within the outline of the shaping ring for imparting a specially configurated curvature to the glass sheet. The shaping pad is provided with a cover of suitable material maintained in a wrinkle-free condition along both the length and width of the pad. Means are provided for adjusting the vertical disposition of portions of the pad.

Abstract: A process for making a convex sheet of glass having a substantial bent portion of small radius of curvature comprising vertically suspending a heated flat sheet of glass between two molds having matching center elements and matching jointed elements mounted on the center elements for movement about an axis, moving the molds together to confine the sheet and moving the jointed elements with respect to the center elements to bend a portion of the heated sheet.A device for making a convex sheet of glass having a bent portion of small radius of curvature including a female mold and a male mold adapted to engage a vertically suspended sheet of glass therebetween and where the molds have matching center elements and at least one set of two matching jointed elements connected to the center elements and including means for moving the joined elements of a set about an axis to bend a portion of the sheet.

Abstract: This invention relates to shaping glass sheets and particularly to a mold capable of shaping glass sheets having many different outline shapes but bent to the same radius of curvature. Such molds have dimensions larger than those of a family of windows of a given radius of curvature but different outline shapes. Such molds need not be removed or replaced until such time as production requirements call for bent windows having a different radius of curvature.A specific embodiment of this invention is provided with a series of transversely extending grooves that extend completely across the entire width of the shaping mold and have sufficient width and depth to permit clearance for raising the mold above a horizontal path of glass sheet travel defined by spaced conveyor rolls. The grooves have a maximum width of one inch (25.4 millimeters) and are separated by a minimum distance approximating the width of said grooves.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for shaping one or more glass sheets by gravity sag bending to a shape including one or more sharp bends by combining overall heating and localized heating using one or more electroconductive heating ribbons and guiding means to locate the ribbons below the shaping surface of a sectionalized mold in positions which do not interfere with loading or unloading of glass sheets on said mold.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vacuum envelope comprises heating a glass plate clamped at at least several points around its periphery and, when the glass begins to soften, pressing a stamp against the glass to deform it, the deformed glass then having its rim, formed by the clamping, removed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for bending glass sheets in pairs to a so-called double V-bend in which the glass is bent sharply across its width along two lines of sharp bending to form a pair of sharply bent longitudinal extremity portions. The gist of the invention is the application to a sectionalized mold of weighted elongated electroconductive ribbons which are unattached to any mold structure and each of which is readily applied to and removed from positions above the upper surface of the glass sheets mounted on the mold for bending in sliding superimposed relation to a pair of electrodes along lines aligned with the lines of sharp bending. The ribbons are maintained in spaced relation to the glass throughout the bending operation so as to avoid marking the glass. The mold sections terminate at locations along transverse lines aligned with and slightly below the ribbons.