Glasstech, Inc.

Mace L Odneal

Dean M Nitschke

David B Nitschke

Eustace H Mumford

Ashoka G Jinka

A press station () and system () for forming glass sheets that are initially formed with an upwardly concave curved shape with end portions () and an intermediate portion () 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 () still has the straight line elements. The glass sheet intermediate portion is subsequently formed to provide curvature to its straight line elements so the entire glass sheet has curvature in transverse directions.

Station and system for press forming glass sheets

A method, press station (), and system () for forming glass sheets that are initially formed with an upwardly concave curved shape with end portions () and an intermediate portion () 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 () 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.

Method for press forming glass sheets

A mold assembly (,) for cyclically forming heated glass sheets includes a lower mold (,) having an upwardly oriented mold face (,) and an upper mold face having a downwardly oriented mold face (,) that opposes the upwardly oriented mold face of the lower mold to form a heated glass sheet during movement of the molds toward each other. Alignment guides (,) align the molds (,) with each other as necessary during movement of the molds toward each other. Detachable connectors (,) detachably connect the molds to each other for installation and are disconnectable to permit the molds to be used for glass sheet forming. In one embodiment, the detachable connectors (,) are latches that include a latch member (,) and a keeper (,), and in another embodiment the detachable connectors are retainers (,) engageable and disengageable from the molds to provide their detachable securement. The upper mold (,) includes a support plate (,) having mounting portions (,) and mounting guide portions (,) for providing alignment during mounting.

Method for installing mold assembly

A mold assembly (34) for cyclically forming heated glass sheets includes a lower mold (36) having an upwardly oriented mold face (356) and an upper mold face having a downwardly oriented mold face (56) that opposes the upwardly oriented mold face of the lower mold to form a heated glass sheet during movement of the molds toward each other. Alignment guides (122,124) align the molds (36,38) with each other as necessary during movement of the molds toward each other. Detachable connectors (362) detachably connect the molds to each other for installation and are disconnectable to permit the molds to be used for glass sheet forming. In one embodiment, the detachable connectors (362) are latches that include a latch member (364) and a keeper (366), and in another embodiment the detachable connectors are retainers (370) engageable and disengageable from the molds to provide their detachable securement. The upper mold (38) includes a support plate (372) having mounting portions (374,376) and mounting guide portions (378,380,382) for providing alignment during mounting.

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Rossford, OH, United States of America

Mace L Odneal