Abstract: In one embodiment, a pulling roll for drawing glass sheet in a down-draw process includes a shaft member and a compliant cover assembly positioned on the shaft member. The compliant cover assembly includes at least one traction disk positioned on the shaft member. The at least one traction disk includes an annular hub and a plurality of spring elements integrally formed with the annular hub. The spring elements project outward from the annular hub such that an end of each spring element is positioned radially outward from a base of each spring element and is circumferentially offset relative to the base of each spring element.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a pulling roll for drawing glass sheet in a down-draw process includes a shaft member and a compliant cover assembly positioned on the shaft member. The compliant cover assembly includes at least one traction disk and at least one deflection limiting disk positioned on the shaft member. The at least one traction disk includes an annular hub and a plurality of spring elements integrally formed with the annular hub. The at least one deflection limiting disk includes at least one deflection limiting element positioned on each deflection limiting disk. The at least one deflection limiting element engages at least a portion of at least one traction disk upon a predetermined amount of inward radial deflection of the plurality of spring elements, thereby limiting the inward radial deflection of the plurality of spring elements.

Abstract: A roll forming apparatus includes at least one forming roll being spaced from a forming body to define a gap. The forming roll includes a working zone portion having a working zone surface with a length extending along a rotation axis of the forming roll and a thermal resistance boundary extending at an acute angle relative to the rotation axis. In further examples, methods include the step of feeding a stream of molten glass through the gap to form a glass ribbon including a formed thickness. The thermal resistance boundary facilitates substantial uniform radial expansion of the working zone surface relative to the rotation axis across the length of the working zone surface in response to heating of the working zone portion by the molten glass.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of shaping a glass sheet in one dimension, by roll forming in a manner to selectively minimize/eliminate undesired curvature from the glass sheet. Such shaping is achieved by the selective location in first and second, shaping zones, of shaping rolls having first and second shaping configurations and, optionally, by varying the velocity of the glass sheet as it moves through the shaping zones, thus varying the time portions of the glass sheet are in contact with certain shaping rolls.

Abstract: Pulling rolls for used in forming glass ribbons with reduced defects and cracking are disclosed. In one embodiment, the pulling roll may include a shaft member and a roll assembly. The roll assembly may be positioned on the shaft member for rotation with the shaft member. The roll assembly may include an axially compressed stack of ring elements formed from an inorganic material such as mica paper. The mica paper may include layers of overlapping mica platelets oriented substantially in parallel with one another. A contact surface of the roll assembly may have a Shore D hardness greater than or equal to about 10 and less than or equal to about 60.

Abstract: An inclined roller conveying assembly (40) includes a horizontally inclined roller (74) having opposite ends respectively supported by first and second supports (64, 66), with one support (64) having an idler bearing (80) and with the other support (66) having a drive coupling (94) that provides rotation of the inclined roller from a horizontal support and drive axis to provide support for the lower surface of an upper portion Gu of a hot upwardly concave formed glass sheet G being conveyed.

Abstract: An annealing apparatus for a float glass continuously anneals a glass ribbon molded in a float bath. The annealing apparatus includes a lehr housing having an inlet and an outlet for the glass ribbon, a plurality of lehr rolls rotatably installed to the lehr housing in a width direction of the lehr housing, and labyrinth seals installed between the lehr rolls and sidewalls of the lehr housing, respectively, to prevent sulfurous acid gas supplied into the lehr housing from discharging out.

Abstract: Roller pairs and draw apparatus for processing glass ribbons are disclosed. The roller pairs applying force to a glass ribbon moving through the draw apparatus. The roller pairs include a first roller assembly and a second roller assembly positioned along opposite sides of the glass ribbon. A shaft of the second roller assembly is coupled to an actuation system that includes a repositionable support member allowing translation of the shaft of the second roller assembly in a direction transverse to the draw direction of the glass ribbon, a pneumatic actuator controlling a position of the contact wheel of the second roller assembly in the direction transverse to the draw direction of the glass ribbon, and a pneumatic reservoir in fluid communication with the pneumatic actuator delivering fluid at an elevated pressure to the pneumatic actuator.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a pulling roll for drawing glass sheet in a down-draw process includes a shaft member and a compliant cover assembly positioned on the shaft member. The compliant cover assembly includes at least one traction disk positioned on the shaft member. The at least one traction disk includes an annular hub and a plurality of spring elements integrally formed with the annular hub. The spring elements project outward from the annular hub such that an end of each spring element is positioned radially outward from a base of each spring element and is circumferentially offset relative to the base of each spring element.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a pulling roll for drawing glass sheet in a down-draw process includes a shaft member and a compliant cover assembly positioned on the shaft member. The compliant cover assembly includes at least one traction disk and at least one deflection limiting disk positioned on the shaft member. The at least one traction disk includes an annular hub and a plurality of spring elements integrally formed with the annular hub. The at least one deflection limiting disk includes at least one deflection limiting element positioned on each deflection limiting disk. The at least one deflection limiting element engages at least a portion of at least one traction disk upon a predetermined amount of inward radial deflection of the plurality of spring elements, thereby limiting the inward radial deflection of the plurality of spring elements.

Abstract: In a glass-ribbon conveyance assisting device which is applied to a glass-ribbon conveyance device configured to convey a glass ribbon on a plurality of rotating glass-conveyance rolls, the glass-ribbon conveyance assisting device includes a rotary drive section, a plurality of rolls configured to be rotated by the rotary drive section, an annular belt configured to rotate while running with flexion under a state where the rolls have been inserted into the belt, and a wheel configured to press the glass ribbon which is conveyed on the belt. The glass ribbon is conveyed on the belt by a drive of the belt under a state where width-directional both end portions of the glass ribbon are sandwiched between the belt and the wheel.

Abstract: A disc roll includes a plurality of annular disc members each defining a hole and having a peripheral surface; and a rotary shaft fitted into the holes of the annular disc members by insertion, whereby the peripheral surfaces of the disc members serve as a conveying surface of the disc roll. The disc members include an inorganic fiber, mica and a clay having a content of particle components that have a particle size of 5 ?m or larger of not higher than 30% by weight based on the weight of the clay.

Abstract: A downstream roll for glass manufacture comprises at least one millboard piece. At least a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the downstream roll comprises infiltrated ceramic particles. The infiltrated ceramic particles are infiltrated to a depth of about 1 mm to about 10 mm. Further examples of the disclosure include methods for manufacturing a glass ribbon and a downstream roll for glass manufacture.

Abstract: A disk roll includes a shaft, and a plurality of disks that are fitted to the shaft, the plurality of disks fitted having been fired, having a density of more than 1.20 g/cm3 and 1.50 g/cm3 or less, and including 20 to 50 wt % of ceramic wool, 5 to 30 wt % of kibushi clay, 2 to 20 wt % of bentonite, and 20 to 45 wt % of a filler, the filler being selected from mica, alumina, wollastonite, cordierite, and calcined kaolin.

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: A fused silica roll with a heating system internally built inside the roll for use in horizontal glass tempering furnaces or for thermal treatment of glass or other materials; made of a fused silica roll of heating, built in the shape of a cylinder with longitudinal circular tunnel of housing to the electrical resistance of heating, connected to the electrical terminals of the rotary contacts of mercury.

Abstract: A method and apparatus (54) for positioning glass sheets for forming includes positioners (55) that are moved slower than the speed of glass sheet conveyance to provide rotational adjustment of a glass sheet into alignment above a forming mold (52). The forming mold (52) is moved upwardly for the forming in a pressing manner against a downwardly facing upper mold (58). Both preformed and flat glass sheets can be positioned by different embodiments of the apparatus.

Abstract: A non-contact dancer mechanism for conveying a web of brittle material includes a guide rail and a variable position web support plenum adjustably positioned on the guide rail. The variable position web support plenum may include an arcuate outer surface with a plurality of fluid vents for emitting a fluid to support the web of brittle material over and spaced apart from the arcuate outer surface thereby preventing mechanical contact and damage to the web of brittle material. A support plenum counterbalance may be mechanically coupled to the variable position web support plenum, wherein the support plenum counterbalance supports at least a portion of the weight of the variable position web support plenum on the guide rail. Apparatuses incorporating the non-contact dancer mechanism and methods for using the non-contact dancer mechanism for handling continuous webs of brittle material are also disclosed.

Abstract: Pulling rolls for used in forming glass ribbons with reduced defects and cracking are disclosed. In one embodiment, the pulling roll may include a shaft member and a roll assembly. The roll assembly may be positioned on the shaft member for rotation with the shaft member. The roll assembly may include an axially compressed stack of ring elements formed from an inorganic material such as mica paper. The mica paper may include layers of overlapping mica platelets oriented substantially in parallel with one another. A contact surface of the roll assembly may have a Shore D hardness greater than or equal to about 10 and less than or equal to about 60.

Abstract: The present invention provides an air-cooling/tempering device and an air-cooling/tempering method for a glass sheet, which are capable of uniformly air-cooling and tempering a glass sheet as a whole without being affected by the pitch between adjacent rollers and a roller diameter. The roller body of each roller forming the air-cooling/tempering device includes a rotary shaft formed of a guide shaft permitting a bendable action; and a plurality of ring rollers carried on the guide shaft and engaged and coupled with adjacent ring rollers; and disc rollers fixedly carried at intervals on ring rollers so as not to overlap the disc rollers on an adjacent roller with respect to a conveying direction of the glass sheet. Further, outlet modules are disposed on ring rollers between adjacent disc rollers through bearings so as to be rotatable with respect to the rotary shaft.

Abstract: In a glass-ribbon conveyance assisting device which is applied to a glass-ribbon conveyance device configured to convey a glass ribbon on a plurality of rotating glass-conveyance rolls, the glass-ribbon conveyance assisting device includes a rotary drive section, a plurality of rolls configured to be rotated by the rotary drive section, an annular belt configured to rotate while running with flexion under a state where the rolls have been inserted into the belt, and a wheel configured to press the glass ribbon which is conveyed on the belt. The glass ribbon is conveyed on the belt by a drive of the belt under a state where width-directional both end portions of the glass ribbon are sandwiched between the belt and the wheel.

Abstract: There are the steps of conveying a glass plate by a roller conveyor including a plurality of rollers; and moving a roller in contact with the glass plate in conveyance to position the glass plate so as to conform a posture of the glass plate to a reference posture.

Abstract: Methods of reinforcing a fibrous roller cladding material, reinforced roller cladding materials and clad lehr rollers wherein the cladding comprises a reinforced fibrous material are disclosed. The roller cladding material, which comprises a fibre board, is reinforced by a method comprising firstly contacting the cladding material with a fluid medium comprising a reinforcing agent whereby fluid is absorbed by the cladding material, and secondly, drying the cladding until the surface of the cladding is dry to the touch, characterised in that the reinforcing agent comprises a compound of phosphorus or a compound of boron. Roller cladding materials reinforced according to the methods disclosed have an improved resistance to cullet damage. The reinforced roller cladding material may be used as the cladding of a clad lehr roller, of the type used for example to convey flat glass in sheet or ribbon form.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying a curved glass sheet includes a disk roll conveyor and a roll conveyor set positioned downstream of the disk roll conveyor. The roll conveyor set has a plurality of roll conveyor units. In this apparatus, first and second adjusting devices are operable to provide the curved glass sheet with (a) a first conveyance route in which the disk roll conveyor and the roll conveyor set are in a horizontal position to provide a smooth horizontal conveyance surface or (b) a second conveyance route in which the disk roll conveyor is in a downward position and in which at least one roll conveyor unit at a downstream side of the roll conveyor set is in an upward position to provide a continuous concave conveyance surface.

Abstract: A pull roll assembly is described herein that is used to draw a glass sheet. The pull roll assembly includes a first roll assembly, a second roll assembly and a device (e.g., differential drive, sensor(s)). The device enables one to control the first and/or second roll assemblies based in part on pulling forces (e.g., glass contact normal force and/or required sheet pulling force) associated with a glass sheet while the glass sheet is being drawn between the first and second roll assemblies. A glass manufacturing system and method for using the pull roll assembly are also described herein.

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: A system (10) and method for cylindrically forming and quenching glass sheets includes a furnace (12), a bending station (16) at the exit end of the furnace for providing cylindrical bending, a roll bending station (18) located externally of the furnace downstream from its exit end and having a lower roll conveyor (20) and an upper roll former (21) with complementary cylindrical shapes to further cylindrically bend the glass sheet, and a quench station 24 to which the formed glass sheets are conveyed for rapid cooling to provide toughening.

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: A method for bending a sheet of glass involving heating the sheet of glass to a softening temperature, transporting the sheet of glass in an essentially horizontal path as far as a station for bending the sheet of glass between two forms, shaping the sheet of glass by pressing between the two forms, and cooling the sheet of glass in an appropriate station. Shaped rollers receive the sheet of glass after it has been bent and the rollers are oriented parallel to the direction defined on the sheet of glass by the direction in which it is conveyed into the bending station.

Abstract: A roller assembly for a glass sheet bending apparatus has a guide shaft bent to have a predetermined curvature and a plurality of ring rollers fitted rotatably to the guide shaft whereby a glass sheet is bent while the glass sheet is transferred into a predetermined direction by the rotation of the ring rollers, wherein the guide shaft is formed by overlapping a plurality of strip members bendable to have predetermined curvatures and the ring rollers are rotatably fitted to the guide shaft by means of bearings.

Abstract: Rolls for generally conveying sheets, such as of steel or glass over a roller typically have a steel mandrel and fiber-containing roll cover, with the fiber roll cover pressed between end plates. In a roll end assembly including the end plates there is now provided an axial shaft beyond the end plate. The shaft incorporates a roll compression means. The compression means includes a compression element which element engages the end plate. Pressure from the compression means, which may be exerted from beyond the shaft, can thereby be transmitted to the fiber roll.

Abstract: A transparent substrate for a cover for a solar battery and a method for producing the same are presented. Hemispherical concave portions are formed in a surface of light entering side of a cover glass almost over the entire surface wherein the ratio d/D of the depth d of the central portion of each concave portion to the radius D of the opening of the concave portion is from 0.10 to 0.50 and the proportion of area occupied by a flat portion where no concave portion is formed in the surface of light entering side is not more than 40%.

Abstract: A device for supporting a ribbon of glass, having at least one roller arranged in an area of an underside of the ribbon of glass. In order to keep a ribbon of glass as free as possible of mechanical damage during production, at least one support device is assigned to the roller. With an actuating device the roller or the support device can selectively be contacted with the underside of the ribbon of glass, wherein the support device is in contact, at least in some areas, with the underside of the ribbon of glass by way of a gas cushion. The rollers are then employed at the start of production or after a ribbon of glass has snapped off in order to transmit an advancement force to the ribbon of glass.

Abstract: A roller table for supporting and transporting a hot glass strand. A plurality of rollers arranged parallel to each other and perpendicular to the transport direction of the glass strand are capable of being selectively rotated in the direction of transport of the glass strand. At least some of the rollers are sleeves, the casings of which are which are gas-permeable on at least a portion of their surfaces and the casings are provided with a supply of pressurized gas which is emitted through the openings of the gas-permeable surfaces.

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

Abstract: 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 the position of the glass sheet to curve a part of the conveying plane with respect to the 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 conveying a curved glass sheet includes a disk roll conveyor and a roll conveyor set positioned downstream of the disk roll conveyor. The roll conveyor set has a plurality of roll conveyor units. In this apparatus, first and second adjusting devices are operable to provide the curved glass sheet with (a) a first conveyance route in which the disk roll conveyor and the roll conveyor set are in a horizontal position to provide a smooth horizontal conveyance surface or (b) a second conveyance route in which the disk roll conveyor is in a downward position and in which at least one roll conveyor unit at a downstream side of the roll conveyor set is in an upward position to provide a continuous concave conveyance surface.

Abstract: A glass sheet G, which has been heated to the bending temperature by a heating furnace 12, is preliminary bent in the course of being conveyed to a bending position by a roller conveyer for preliminary bending 20. When the glass sheet thus preliminary bent is put on a press ring at the bending position, the glass sheet is pressed against the bending surface 26 of a mold 24 by upward movement of the press ring 22 to be bent so as to have a desired radius of curvature. After that, the press ring 22 is moved toward an air-cooling/tempering apparatus 16. When the press ring 22 is introduced into a certain tempering position S, cooling air is ejected from an upper blowing head 30 and a lower blowing head 32 toward the glass sheet G to air cool and temper the glass sheet G.

Abstract: A microstructure is formed in a viscous glass or plastic substrate by pressing a structured surface of a forming tool corresponding to a negative of the microstructure to be produced in the viscous glass or plastic substrate. After the microstructure has been formed, the forming tool is removed from the surface. In order to help form the microstructure and remove the forming tool from the substrate the forming tool has an at least partially porous base body (1) and an operative layer (2) structured with a negative structure consisting of grooves (11) extending to the porous base body (1). The forming of the microstructure in the substrate is assisted by applying suction to the porous base body (1) so that the grooves (11) fill more easily and completely with melted glass or plastic material. The removal of the forming tool after forming the microstructure is assisted by applying an overpressure to the porous body to help release the solidified glass or plastic material from the forming tool.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making cylindrical glass preforms with convex, optical quality convex end surfaces is taught. A glass ball preform is placed on a heated lower platen. The temperature of the glass ball preform is raised to a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the glass ball preform. The glass ball preform is engaged with an upper platen. At least one of the upper platen and the lower platen is moved vertically to cause the gap between the upper platen and the lower platen to narrow to a predetermined dimension. Simultaneously, at least one of the upper platen and the lower platen is moved horizontally relative to the other platen to cause the glass ball preform to roll between the upper platen and the lower platen and form a cylindrical preform having a predetermined diameter, the cylindrical preform having convex, optical quality end surfaces.

Abstract: While avoiding the disadvantages of the screen printing technique employed until now, the invention provides a shaping tool (1) with a structured surface for creating structures on glass (2) which, in an economical way, makes it possible to form high-precision microstructures by local heating of the region of glass to be structured. The shaping tool (1) has a rolling cylinder (3) including a metal hollow cylinder (7) and a shaping sheet (8) secured in a surface contact to it, as well as a continuous shaft (5) for continuously driving the rolling cylinder (3) via drivers (4) coupled to the hollow cylinder (7). Between the shaft (5) and the hollow cylinder (7), an electric heater (6) for targeted local heating of the glass during structuring is disposed in an electrically insulated fashion. The electric heater (6) is advantageously thermally insulated from the shaft (5) with a ceramic cylinder (14).

Abstract: A roller for use in plate glass manufacturing apparatus for making softened glass flow down like a belt from a melting furnace and hardening the softened glass meanwhile so as to work the softened glass into plate glass. The roller pinches the belt-like softened glass flowing down and moves the belt-like softened glass downward forcibly, or pinches the plate glass of the hardened belt-like softened glass and guides the plate glass downward. The roller includes a shaft longer than the full width of the belt-like softened glass or the plate glass, and pinching portions made of a heat-resistant material and provided to project over a predetermined width in positions of the shaft facing opposite end portions of the belt-like softened glass or the plate glass.

Abstract: A roller assembly for a glass sheet bending apparatus has a guide shaft bent to have a predetermined curvature and a plurality of ring rollers fitted rotatably to the guide shaft whereby a glass sheet is bent while the glass sheet is transferred into a predetermined direction by the rotation of the ring rollers, wherein the guide shaft is formed by overlapping a plurality of strip members bendable to have predetermined curvatures and the ring rollers are rotatably fitted to the guide shaft by means of bearings.

Abstract: A glass sheet 18 is heated to a forming temperature in a heating furnace 16, the heated glass sheet is conveyed along a conveying plane defined by a plurality of rollers of a roller conveyer 13, and is moved up and down on the rollers 12A to 12M according to the position of the glass sheet 18 to curve a part of the conveying plane with respect to the glass sheet conveying direction to bend the glass sheet 18 to have a desired curvature by its own weight. The rollers 12A to 12M are curved rollers.

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: The invention concerns a roller table for carrying and transporting a hot glass band.

Abstract: A roll-forming unit of a curved glass manufacturing apparatus includes a cooperating pair of upper and lower forming roll mechanisms. Each mechanism includes a forming roll having a resilient rod covered with a cover member except opposite end portions thereof, a pair of support members rotatably supporting the opposite end portions of the resilient rod while allowing the resilient rod to tilt about said support members, a bending unit coupled with at least one of the opposite end portions of the resilient rod for applying to the one end portion an external force tending to flex the forming roll into either an upwardly arched configuration or a downwardly arched configuration, and at least one backup roller unit being in rolling engagement with the forming roll to maintain the arched configuration of the forming roll.

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

Abstract: A variable radius bending apparatus is disclosed for bending a glass plate. The variable radius bending apparatus includes a bending rail having a longitudinal rail member and a drive drum and a tension drum rotatably attached thereto. A drive band is positioned around the drive drum and tension drum and in frictional engagement therewith. A plurality of rollers are in driven contact with the drive band and are tiltable to a desired bend radius for forming the desired bend radius in the glass plate. Finally, a band guide is fixedly attached to the bending rail and in juxtaposition with the drive band for preventing the drive band from moving transversely with respect to the drive drum and tension drum, whereby the band is prevented from contacting a surface adjacent to the band.

Abstract: Apparatus (32) for handling hot glass sheets includes a roll conveyor (14) and a topside transfer platen (18) that overlap to provide assistance in the initial support of heated glass sheets by the topside transfer platen through the use of a vacuum and pressurized air respectively applied to first and second sets of holes (40, 42) in a downwardly facing surface (38) of the topside transfer platen.