Glasstech, Inc.

Thomas J Zalesak

Alfredo Serrano

Dean M Nitschke

James P Schnabel, Jr

Paul D Ducat

Ashoka G Jinka

Scott Charles Morrow

Gilbert L Reed

Eustace H Mumford

A support structure for supporting a heated glass sheet in connection with a bending operation includes a frame, a support ring adjustably supported on the frame for supporting a peripheral portion of the glass sheet, and multiple rib assemblies associated with the frame. Each rib assembly includes a laterally extending rib supported on the frame and multiple spaced apart support members connected to the rib and configured such that at least a portion of each support member is adjustable with respect to the rib. Furthermore, each support member is configured to contact a respective inner portion of the glass sheet to support the respective inner portion of the glass sheet until the glass sheet has been sufficiently cooled.

Glass sheet support structure

A method for supporting a heated glass sheet in connection with a glass processing operation may include adjusting a support structure so that multiple spaced apart support members of the support structure cooperate to define a shape that corresponds to a desired end shape of the glass sheet. The method may further include contacting the glass sheet with the support members until the glass sheet has been sufficiently cooled. Furthermore, the support structure may include a frame and a support assembly associated with the frame, the support assembly including the support members and a support connected to the support members such that at least a portion of each support member is adjustable with respect to the support. The support may further be connected to the frame at two locations on the frame such that the support spans an open area between the two locations on the frame.

Method for supporting a glass sheet

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.

Glass sheet bending station

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

Glass sheet bending method

A glass sheet forming system () 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 () having a shape retaining quench () associated with a lower deformable roll bed () and an upper deformable roll former (). An adjustment mechanism () provides adjustment of the extent of the minor curvature and an actuating mechanism () is operable to provide the major curvature.

Apparatus for glass sheet forming with cross curvature

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

Glass sheet bending station and method for glass sheet bending

A method for roll forming a heated glass sheet utilizes a forming conveyor ( ) including forming rolls ( ) that are pivotally moved upwardly between horizontal rolls ( ) of a horizontal conveyor ( ) 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 ( ) having rotatable forming members ( ) that rollingly engage the heated glass sheet from above. A second set of forming rolls ( ) cooperates with the first set of forming rolls ( ) to provide the roll forming. First and second sets of roll cradles ( ) are mounted by pivotal supports ( ) on associated first and second carriages ( ) and moved by first and second actuators ( ). Lateral movement of the carriages ( ) provides versatility in the glass sheet shapes that can be formed.

Method for roll forming glass sheets

A glass sheet forming system ( ) includes apparatus ( ) having a forming station ( ) for forming glass sheets by cooperation of a lower deformable roll forming conveyor ( ) and an upper deformable roll forming press ( ). The upper deformable roll forming press ( ) includes upper deformable rolls ( ) whose axes are located along a direction of conveyance between the axes of lower deformable rolls ( ) of the lower deformable roll forming conveyor ( ) in a manner that prevents leading glass edge curling as the lower conveyor and upper forming press are moved between flat and curved shapes to provide glass sheet forming.

Apparatus and method for glass sheet forming

A forming station (26) for roll forming a heated glass sheet include a forming conveyor (62) including forming rolls (66) that are 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.

Apparatus for roll forming glass sheets

A method for bending glass sheets is disclosed in which a heated glass sheet (12) is introduced between spaced lower and upper bending platens (16,18). The glass sheet (12) is moved in one direction between the spaced lower and upper bending platens (16,18) during deformation of the platens (16,18) which forms the bent shape in the glass sheet (12). Movement of the glass sheet (12) in the said one direction is continued for at least 1/2 second during a subsequent cooling phase to initiate a freeze in the surfaces of the glass sheet (12) which thereby eliminates mechanical distortion in the formed glass sheet associated with interrupting the movement of the glass sheet (12) prior to cooling.

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Rossford, OH, United States of America

Thomas J Zalesak