Corning Incorporated

Visteon Global Technolgoies, Inc.

Larry Gene Smith

Michael Timothy Brennan

John Christopher Thomas

Thomas Michael Cleary

Anurag Jain

Chad Michael Wilcox

Kevin Lee Wasson

William Edward Lock

Nikolaos Pantelis Kladias

Michael John Moore

Eric Lee Miller

Stephane Poissy

Chunhe Zhang

Philippe Dardart

Stéphane Poissy

Michèle Marie-Louise Fredholm

Various embodiments disclosed relate to a method for bending a glass substrate. The method includes actuating at least one heat shield to a first position at least partially covering an edge portion of a first major surface of the glass substrate. The method further includes heating the glass substrate. The method further includes actuating the at least one heat shield to a second position at least partially uncovering the edge portion of the glass substrate.

Assemblies and methods for bending glass

Apparatus and methods for bending thin glass sheets are described. The methods and apparatus described include positioning an auxiliary heater between a furnace and an entrance to glass bending station and/or positioning a downstream auxiliary heater between a glass bending station and a quench station. Also described are apparatus and methods for bending thin glass sheets by compensating for heat loss and maintaining the glass viscosity within a workable range for the bending or forming operation. Auxiliary heating elements can be placed in locations that would otherwise provide for excessive heat loss.

Apparatus and method for shaping or forming heated glass sheets

Methods of manufacturing a glass pane comprise the steps of providing a glass sheet with a thickness of less than about 1.6 mm between a first major surface and a second major surface of the glass sheet. The methods include scoring the first major surface of the glass sheet to provide a boundary score line and a relief score line. In some examples, the method provides a relief score depth that is greater than a boundary score depth. In another example, the method includes the step of placing the glass sheet on a conveyor belt including a Shore A hardness of greater than or equal to 70. In further examples, methods of breaking a glass sheet with an oversized template are provided.

Methods of manufacturing a thin glass pane

Disclosed herein are systems for shaping a glass sheet comprising a roll conveyor comprising a plurality of rollers for conveying the glass sheet along a plane; a lift jet array comprising a plurality of nozzles, one or more of the plurality of nozzles comprising a tip having a plurality of orifices; and a shaping mold located above the roll conveyor, wherein the lift jet array is positioned below the roll conveyor such that each nozzle tip is located above the centerline of the plurality of rollers. Also disclosed herein are methods for shaping a glass sheet comprising heating the glass sheet and conveying the glass sheet on a roll conveyor to a position between the lift jet array and the shaping mold, wherein gas flows from the lift jet array with a force sufficient to lift the glass sheet from the roll conveyor.

Method and lift jet floatation system for shaping thin glass

An apparatus for shaping a glass sheet includes an engagement member including a flexible bumper comprising a flexible material. The flexible bumper is configured to operate at the forming temperature to reduce an impact stress between the engagement member and the edge portion of the glass sheet. In another example, an apparatus for shaping a sheet of glass includes a push member configured to engage an end edge portion of the glass sheet to push the glass sheet to be transported over the support surface. The push member includes a push flange extending in a direction away from the support surface. The push flange includes a plurality of apertures configured to increase the resistance of conductive heat transfer between the end edge portion of the glass sheet and the push member. In a further example an engagement member can fabricated from a material having a coefficient of thermal conductivity that is less than a coefficient of thermal conductivity of the stainless steel. In further examples, methods include using the apparatus to shape a glass sheet.

Apparatus for shaping glass and methods

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.

Bending rail band guide

Growing community of inventors

Tulsa, OK, United States of America

Larry Gene Smith