CA1274694A - Apparatus for and method of bending glass sheets - Google Patents
Apparatus for and method of bending glass sheetsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1274694A CA1274694A CA000491572A CA491572A CA1274694A CA 1274694 A CA1274694 A CA 1274694A CA 000491572 A CA000491572 A CA 000491572A CA 491572 A CA491572 A CA 491572A CA 1274694 A CA1274694 A CA 1274694A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- mold
- glass sheet
- ring mold
- lower mold
- shaping
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
- C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
- C03B27/00—Tempering or quenching glass products
- C03B27/04—Tempering or quenching glass products using gas
- C03B27/0404—Nozzles, blow heads, blowing units or their arrangements, specially adapted for flat or bent glass sheets
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
- C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
- C03B23/00—Re-forming shaped glass
- C03B23/02—Re-forming glass sheets
- C03B23/023—Re-forming glass sheets by bending
- C03B23/03—Re-forming glass sheets by bending by press-bending between shaping moulds
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
- C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
- C03B27/00—Tempering or quenching glass products
- C03B27/04—Tempering or quenching glass products using gas
- C03B27/044—Tempering or quenching glass products using gas for flat or bent glass sheets being in a horizontal position
- C03B27/0442—Tempering or quenching glass products using gas for flat or bent glass sheets being in a horizontal position for bent glass sheets
- C03B27/0445—Tempering or quenching glass products using gas for flat or bent glass sheets being in a horizontal position for bent glass sheets the quench unit being adapted to the bend of the sheet
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
- C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
- C03B40/00—Preventing adhesion between glass and glass or between glass and the means used to shape it, hold it or support it
- C03B40/005—Fabrics, felts or loose covers
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02P40/00—Technologies relating to the processing of minerals
- Y02P40/50—Glass production, e.g. reusing waste heat during processing or shaping
- Y02P40/57—Improving the yield, e-g- reduction of reject rates
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A glass sheet bending apparatus has a lower mold and conveyor rolls for conveying a heated glass sheet horizontally to a position over the lower mold, the lower mold having slots for receiving the conveyor rolls when the lower mold is lifted. The glass sheet bending apparatus has a main ring mold disposed around the outer peripheral surface of the lower mold which has a first shaping surface for shaping the central area of the glass sheet, the main ring mold having a second shaping surface for shaping the peripheral edge of the glass sheet. The glass sheet bending apparatus also has an auxiliary ring mold disposed between the main ring mold and the lower mold and having a substantially horizontal, flat support surface for supporting the glass sheet between the central area and peripheral edge of the glass sheet. The auxiliary ring mold is lifted prior to the upward movement of the lower mold and the main ring mold for raising the glass support off the conveyor rolls with its support surface. There is also disclosed a method of bending a glass sheet.
A glass sheet bending apparatus has a lower mold and conveyor rolls for conveying a heated glass sheet horizontally to a position over the lower mold, the lower mold having slots for receiving the conveyor rolls when the lower mold is lifted. The glass sheet bending apparatus has a main ring mold disposed around the outer peripheral surface of the lower mold which has a first shaping surface for shaping the central area of the glass sheet, the main ring mold having a second shaping surface for shaping the peripheral edge of the glass sheet. The glass sheet bending apparatus also has an auxiliary ring mold disposed between the main ring mold and the lower mold and having a substantially horizontal, flat support surface for supporting the glass sheet between the central area and peripheral edge of the glass sheet. The auxiliary ring mold is lifted prior to the upward movement of the lower mold and the main ring mold for raising the glass support off the conveyor rolls with its support surface. There is also disclosed a method of bending a glass sheet.
Description
~'74~i~4 APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF BENDING GLASS SHEETS
BACKG~OUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the invention:
The present invention relates to an apparatus for and a method of bending a gla8s sheet heated to its softening point in a furnace, between upper and lower molds.
BACKG~OUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the invention:
The present invention relates to an apparatus for and a method of bending a gla8s sheet heated to its softening point in a furnace, between upper and lower molds.
2. Description of the Prior Art:
Various methods and apparatus for producing bent glass sheets for use in automobiles have been known in the art. In such known methods and apparatus, the glass sheet is heated in a furface to its ~oftening point, and the heated glass sheet is fed horizontally by conveyor rolls to a bending station in which the glass sheet is bent to desired shape. U.S. Patents Nos. 3,4?6,S40 and 3,554,724 to Ritter, Jr., et al reveal gla~s sheet bending apparatu~
in which when a heat softened glass sheet i~ deposited on conveyor rolls in the bend$ng apparatus, a ring-type lower mold member is moved upwardly to cau~e the glass ~heet to sag into conformity with the shaping surface of_~he lower mold member under lnertial and gravitational forces on the glass sheet. ~.S. Patent No. 3,734,706 to Ritter, Jr.
discloses a glass sheet bending apparatus includlng a rapid quenching device for rapidly chllling and tempering a glass sheet as it is bent in the same manner as described above.
In the disclosed apparatus in which the glass ~L2'74~
sheet is raised off the conveyor rolls by the ~ing-type lower mold, the glass ~heet sags or flexes in its central area heated to the softening point under inertial forces since the ring-shaped shaping surface of the lower mold i6 inclined toward its center in conformity with the shape of the concave glas~ sheet. The central area of the gla~s sheet having the inertia-induced sag remains in contact with the conveyor rolls for a prolonged period of time.
Those portions of the glass sheet which are kept in contact with the converyor rolls are cooled more rapidly than the other glass sheet portions, and are subject to optical defect~. U.S. Patents Nos. 4,197,108 and 4,272,274 to Frank et al show apparatus in which a lower shaping mold is not ring-shaped, but iB composed of a solid block having a plurality of elongated shaping m~lbers over its entire surface, and the lower shaping mold is lifted to raise the glass sheet off the conveyor rolls for bending the glass sheet on the lower ~haping mold. However, inasmuch as the peripheral edge portion of the concave shaping su~race of the lower shaping mold, which edge portion i5 the first surface for the glass sheet to contact, is inclined toward the center of lower shaping mold, the heated glass sheet also tends to sag at its central area under inertial for~es when the glass sheet is lifted.
The present invention has been made in an effort to eliminate the aforesaid shortcomings of the conventional apparatus and methods.
" ~ X74~3~
SUMAR~ OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to reduce any inertia-induced sag of a heat softened glass sheet at its central area aq mu~h as possible for shortening the time period in which the glass sheet remains in contact with eonveyor roll~, thereby reducing optical defects eventually produced in the bent glass sheet.
According to the present invention, the above object can be achieved by an apparatus for bendlng a qla~s sheet, comprising a vertically movable lower mold having a first upwardly facing ~haping surface ~or shaping the central area of the glass sheet, a plurality of conveyor rolls for conveying the gla~s sheet as heated horizontally to a pre~cribed position over the first shaping surface, means in the lower mold for accommodating the conveyor rolls when the lower mold is moved upwardly, a vertically movable main ring mold dispo~ed around the lower mold in spaced relation to the outer peripheral surface thereof, the main ring mold having a second downw~rd~y facing Rhaping surface for shaping the peripheral edge of the glass sheet, means in the main ring mold for accommodating the conveyor rolls when the main ring mold is moved upwardly, an auxiliary ring mold vertically movably disposed between the lower mold and the main ring mold, the auxiliary ring mold having an upwardly facing support surface for supporting the glass sheet between the central area and peripheral edge th~reof, and means in the 74~
auxiliary ring mold for accommodating the conveyor rolls when the auxiliary ring mold is moved upwardly.
The upwardly facing support surface of the auxiliary ring mold is sub~tantially flat horizontally.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the pre6ent invention will become more apparent from the following de~cription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in whlch preferred embodiments of the present invention are 3hown by way of illustrative example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 i~ a front elevational view of a gla~s sheet bendLng apparatus according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the gla6s sheet bending apparatus shown in FIG. l;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a lower mold, a ring mold, and an auxiliary ring mold FIG. 4 is a front elevational view showing the positional relationship between the lower mold and conveyor rolls;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cros~-sectionaL
view illustrating the positional relationship between the lower mold, the ring mold, and the auxiliary ring mold;
FIGS. 6(A) through 6~E) are side elevational views of a shaping station, showing the progressive steps of a glass ~heet bending process according to the present invention;
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FIG. 7 is a fr~nt elevational view of a glass sheet bending apparatu6 incorporating another oscillation device;
FIG. 8 is a side elevational view, partly in cross section, of the gla~ sheet bending apparatus shown in FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 i5 an enlarged cro~s-sectional view of a portion of the glass sheet bending apparatus illustrated in FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a plan vlew of the structure illustrated in FIG. 9, with the lefthand half viewed from the plane I and the rigthhand half viewed rom the plane II;
FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the structure of FIG. 10, with the lefthand half viewed from the plane III and the righthand half viewed from the plane IV;
FIG. 12 i8 a fragmentary perspective view of a mechanism by which a ring mold support frame is held in engagement with rods; and FIGS. 13~A) through 13~C) are schematic plan views showing operation of the oscillation device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in FIGS, 1 and 2, a glass sheet ~ending apparatus 1 according to the present invention is po~itioned adjacent to a furnace 2 having a plurality of conveyor rolls 3 for conveying a heated gla6s sheet G
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toward the bending apparatua l.
The bending apparatu~ l has a frame 4 housing therein an upper mold (convex mold) 5 and a lower mold (concave mold) 6. The upper mold 5 is fixed to a support plate 7 movable or positionally adjustable upwardly and downwardly by a motor or a fluid cylinder unit ~not shown).
Roll support beams 8, 8 are fixed horizontally to the frame 2 at a vertically intermediate position, and converyor rolls 9 are rotatably mounted on and extend between the roll support beams 8, 8, the conveyor rolls 9 having axes extending perpendicularly to the direction of travel o~ the glass sheet G through the bending apparatu~ l.
The lower mold 6 i~ movable upwardly and downwardly by a flu~d cylinder unit 10 mounted on the bottom of the frame 4 or a floor. The lower mold 6 is illustrated in greater detail in FIGS, 3 through 5.
As shown in FIGS. 3 through 5, the lower mold 6 is in the form of a hollow structure for introducing cooling air therein ~FIG. 5) and has its substantially entire upper surace ~erving as a concave shaping surface to which the~mal insulating members ll such as glas~ fiber mats are attached. The shaping ~urace of the lower mold 6 has plurality of holes 6a opening upwardly. As shown in FIG. 5, the lower mold 4 has a plurality of cooling nozzles 12 disposed re~pectively in the holes 6a for blowing cooling air against the glass sheet when it is bent. The nozzles 12 may be integral with the lower mold 6. The ~74~
nozzles 12 may be of any structure insofar a~ their tip ends do not project upwardly beyond the 6haping ~urface of the lower mold 6 or the surfaces of the thermal lnsulating members 11. Although not shown, the upper mold 5 is also of a hollow structure having its substantially entire lower surface serving as a convex shaping surface to which thermal insulating members are attached and which has cooling nozzles in the same manner as the lower mold 6.
The lower mold 6 has a plurality of vertical ~lots 13 positioned out of interference with the nozzles 12 and extending fully transverseIy across the lower mold 6 to divide the shaping surface in~o segments, the slots 13 opening upwardly. When the lower mold 6 i9 lifted, the conveyor rolls 9 enter the slots 13, respectively.
A main ring mold 14 i8 disposed around the lower mold 6 in spaced relation to the outer peripheral surface thereof. The ring mold 14 serves to shape the peripheral edge of the glass ~heet G against the upper mold 5 when the glass sheet G is pressed between the upper and lower mold~
5, 6 ~he ring mold 14 has an upper end surface lS
inclined inwardly in conformity with the shape of the peripheral edge of the glass sheet G. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the ring mold 14 is fixed to the upper ends of arms 16 of an oscillatlon device. The 3rms 16 are fixedly mounted on a reciprocally movable bed 30 which can be driven by a motor 17 through a link mechanism 18. When the motor 17 is energized, the ring mold 14 is reciprocally ~ 7~
moved in a linear or circular pattern. The oscillatlon device serves to temper the glass sheet G uniformly by allowing cooling air to be blown uniformly against the surface of the gla~s sheet G from the upper and lower mold~
5, 6 while the glass sheet G as bent is held by the ring mold 14 between the upper and lower molds 5, 6. The ring mold 14, which is movable upwardly and downwardly independently of the lower mold 6, has recesses 19 for receiving the conveyor rolls 9 therein when the ring mold 14 is moved upwardly with re~pect to the lower mold 6.
Between the ring mold 14~snd the lower mold 6, there is dispo~ed an auxiliary ring mold 20 movable upwardly and downwardly by a fluid cylinder unit 21 independently of the lower mold 6 and the ring mold 14.
Since the auxiliary r~ng mold 20 has a plurality of pins 22 extending through guide membe_s 23 attached to the lower mold 6, the auxiliary ring mold 20 can be moved upwardly and downwardly while keeping a constant gap between the outer peripheral surface of the lower mold 6 and the inner peripheral ~urface of the auxiliary ring mold 20. The auxiliary ring mold 20 is not involved in bending the glass sheet G, but aerves to support the glas~ sheet G between lts central area and peripheral edge for allowing the glass shet G to be picked up from the conveyor rolls 9.
Therefore, the upper end surface of the auxiliary ring mold 20 is ~ubstantially flat horizontally. Since the auxiliary ring mold 20 is also independently movable upwardly and . ~ .
~ ~74~;~4 downwardly, it has recesses 25 for receiving the conveyor rolls 9 therein. When the lower mold 6, the ring mold 14, the auxiliary ring mold 20 are in the lowest position, the slots 13 and the recesses 1~, 25 are aligned with each other when seen in front elevation.
Operation of the glass sheet bending apparatu~ of the foregoing construction for bending and tempering the glass sheet G will be described with reference to FIG. 6.
The glass sheet G as it is heated to its softening point is fed from the furface 2 over the conveyor rolls 3, 9 into the bending ~tation between the upper and lower molds 5, 6. At this time, the lower mold 6, the ring mold 14, and the auxiliary ring mold 20 are positioned below the conveyor rolls 9 as shown in FIG. 6~A). The upper end of the auxiliary ring mold 20 i5 positioned upwardly of the upper surface of the lower mold 6 and the ring mold 14.
Then, the auxlliary ring mold 20, the lower mold 6, and the ring mold 14 are lifted as shown in FIG. 6tB).
Since the upper end of the auxiliary ring mold 20 is higher than the lower mold 6 and the ring mold 14, the glass sheet G is lifted off the conveyor rolls 9 by the auxiliary ring mold 14.
When the glass sheet G held by the auxiliary ring mold 14 is raised closely to the lower surface of the upper mold 5, the upward movement of the auxiliary ring mold 20 is arrested, and the lower mold 6 and the ring mold 14 are _ g _ '~
~ ~ 4~
continuously lifted to receive the gla~ sheet G from the auxiliary ring mold 20. A~ illustrated in FIG. 6(D), the auxiliary ring mold 20 is lowered after the glass ~heet G
has been transferred therefrom to the lower mold 6 and the ring mold 14.
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6(E), the gla~s sheet G is pressed and bent to desired shape between the upper mold 5 and the lower mold 6 together with the ring mold 14. The central area of the glass sheet G is shaped between the upper and lower molds S, 6, and the peripheral edge of the glass sheet G i8 shaped between the ring mold 14 and the upper mold 5.
Then, the lower mold 6 and the ring mold 14 are lowered. At this time, the lower mold 6 is lowered a greater distance than the ring mold 14 such that if the lower mold 6 is lowered 50 mm, for ex~mple, then the ring mold 14 is lowered 25 mm. Therefore, the gla~s sheet G as it is placed on the ring mold 14 is held intermediate between the upper mold 5 and the lower mold 6. Thereafter, air i8 ejected from the nozzles on the upper and lower molds 5, 6 against the surfaces of the glass sheet G. At the same time, the oscillatlon devlce 1~ opera~ed to reciprocally move the ring mold 14 and the glas~ sheet G
thereon in a linear or circular pattern to permit the air to be applied evenly to the surfaces of the glass sheet G
for thereby uniformly quenching and tempering the glass sheet G.
.~
7 4 ~ j ~3 L~
While in the above embodiment the lower mold 6, the ring mold 14, and the auxiliary ring mold ~0 are simultaneously lifted, only the a~xiliary ring mold 20 may first be lifted, and then the lower mold 6 and the ring mold 14 may thereafter be raised. With this movement pattern, the upper end of the auxiliary ring mold 20 before it is lifted may not necessarily be positioned above the upper surface of the lower mold 6 and the upper end of the ring mold 14.
FIGS. 7 through 13 illustrate a modified oscillation device which may be incorporated in the bending apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 through 6. Although the oscillation device of FIGS. 1 through 6 ha~ the single movable bed 30 moun~ed on its base, the modified o~cillation device has a pair of movable plates supported respectively on roll support beams disposed on the opposite sides of the gla~ 8heet feed line.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a substantially ring-shaped mold 113 i~ disposed on the upper end of a support frame 114 extending around a lower mold 104. The mold 113 has open }ateral ~ides ~o that it will not interfere with conveyor roll~ llOa when it is moved upwardly with the lower mold 104.
A pair of movable plate~ 112 and a mechaniqm for moving the movable plates 112 are shown in ~IGS. 9 khrough 11 .
Each of the movable plates 112 is supported on a ''~
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support beam 111 for movement in the directions of the arrows X, Y. More specifically, a ~tationary plate 115 i5 fixed to the ~upport beam 111 exteding along the glass sheet feed pat~. ln a bending apparatus 101 (FIG. 7). Rails 116 are secured to the underPide of the stationary plate 115 and extend in the direction of the arrow Y. A rail guide 117 extending in the direction of the arrow X is attached to the upper side of the movable plate 112. The rails 116 and the rail guide 117 are ~lidably fitted in and over an intermediate member 118 disposed between the stationary plate 115 and the movable plate 112. The intermediate member 118 has a rail 119 extending in the direction of the arrow X and rail guides 120 having guide groove~ 120a extending in the direction of the arrow Y.
The rail 119 is slidably fitted in the guide groove 117a in the rail guide 117, and the rail~ 116 are slidably fitted in the guide grooves 120a, respectively, in the rail guides 120. The rails 116, 119 have a cross-sectlonal shape with a constricted intermediate portion, and the guide grooves 117a, 120a have a complemen~ary cro~s-~ectional shape.
The movable plate 112 i8 thus supported on the beam 111 for movements in the direction~ of the arrows X, Y. The movable plate 112 can therefore be moved in a circular or elliptical horizontal pattern resulting from the combined movements ln directions of the arrows X, Y.
A fluid cylinder unit 121 is fixed to the lower side of the movable plate 112 for movLng a rod 122 ln the ~ ~74~4 transverse direction of the bending apparatus. As shown in FIG. 12, each of the rods 122 as it pro~ects engages a retainer 123 on the support frame 114 of the ring mold 113 to hold the support frame 114 on the movable plate 112.
Stationary plates 124 are fixed to the support beam 111. A drive shaft 126 extending parallel to the support beam 111 is rotatably ~upported by bearings 125 mounted on the stationary plate 24. A~ shown in FIG. 7, the drive shaft 126 i~ rotatable by a motor 127 mounted on the bottom of the bendiny apparatus 101. A plurality (four in the illustrated embodiment) of helical gears 128 are fitted over the drive shaft 126 at spzced intervals therealong.
A plurality (four in the illu~trated embodiment) of bearings 129 are mounted on the lower side of the stationary plates 124, and vertically extending shafts 130 are rotatably supported by the bearings 129~ respectively.
The shafts 130, four in number on each side of the glass sheet f eed path, support helical gears 131 respectively on their upper ends, which are held in mesh with helical gears 128, respectively, on the dr$ve shaft 12~. Therefore, rotation of the drive shaft 126 can be transmitted through the helical gears 128, 131 to the shafts 130.
As illustrated in FIG. 10, two pairs of fir~t and second rotors 132, 133 are fitted over the lower ends of the shafts 130, the first and second rotors 132, 133 in each pair supporting pins 134, 135 extendlng axially and .~
74~i~4 positioned in eccentric relation to the shaft~ 130.
A pair of guide plates 1~6 is mounted on the upper surface of the movable plate 112. Each of the guide plates 136 has a slot 137 extending in the direction of the arrow x and a slot 138 extending in the direction of the arrow Y. The pin 134 on the ~irst rotor 132 has a lower end movably engaging in the 910t 137, whereas the pin 135 on the second rotor 133 ha~ a lower end movably engaging in the slot 138.
Operation of the oscillation device of the above con~truction will be described primarily with reference to FIG, 13. In FIG. 13, only one of the guide plates 136 and one pair of first and ~econd rotors 132, 133 thereon are illu~trated for the sake of brevity.
It i~ assumed that the guide plate 136 and the rotors 132, 133 are initially positio~ed as shown in FIG.
13(A). The motor 127 is energized to rotate the drive ~haft 126. The rotation of the drive shaft 126 is transmitted via the hel~cal gears 128, 131 to the 6hafts 130 and the first and second rotors 132, 133 mounted thereon. When the first rotor 132 is rotated clockwise ~FIG. 13~A)), the guide plate 136 is moved to the right from the initial position, and the pin 135 is moved relatively toward the lefthand end of the slot 138 for an interval equal to the distance over which the guide plate 136 is moved ~o the left. In response to ~imultaneous clockwise rotation of the second rotor 133, the guide plate 1.~74~i~4 136 is moved downwardly (FIG. 13(A)) from the initial position, and the pin 134 is moved relatively toward the upper end of the slot 137 for an interval equal to the distance over which the guide plate 136 is moved downwardly. AQ the above movements of the guide plate 136 are combined, the guide plate 136 i~ moved rightward and downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 13(B). Upon continued clockwise rotation of the rotors 132, 133, the guide plate 136 is moved to the position of ~IG. 13(C) and then back to the initial position of FIG. 13(A).
With the pins 134, 135 displaced equally off center from the corresponding shats 130, the guide plate 136 and the movable plate 112 joined thereto are caused to move in a circular path. Where the pins 134, 135 displaced different distances off center from the associAted shafts 130, the guide plate 136 and the movable plate 112 are caused to move in an elliptical path. The si~e of the circular or elliptical pattern can be varied as desired by changing the distances by which the pins 134, 135 are spaced off center from the shafts 130. However, it is preferable that such off-center distance6 of the pins 134, 135 from the ~hafts 130 be selected to allow nozzles 103a, 104a in the upper and lower molds 103, 104 to follow overlapping paths over a glass sheet G when it i~ ~uenched by cooling air ejected from the nozzles 103a, 104a.
Although there have been described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of the 7~
present invention, it will be understood that the invention ~ay be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all aspects as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of th~ invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description.
~,
Various methods and apparatus for producing bent glass sheets for use in automobiles have been known in the art. In such known methods and apparatus, the glass sheet is heated in a furface to its ~oftening point, and the heated glass sheet is fed horizontally by conveyor rolls to a bending station in which the glass sheet is bent to desired shape. U.S. Patents Nos. 3,4?6,S40 and 3,554,724 to Ritter, Jr., et al reveal gla~s sheet bending apparatu~
in which when a heat softened glass sheet i~ deposited on conveyor rolls in the bend$ng apparatus, a ring-type lower mold member is moved upwardly to cau~e the glass ~heet to sag into conformity with the shaping surface of_~he lower mold member under lnertial and gravitational forces on the glass sheet. ~.S. Patent No. 3,734,706 to Ritter, Jr.
discloses a glass sheet bending apparatus includlng a rapid quenching device for rapidly chllling and tempering a glass sheet as it is bent in the same manner as described above.
In the disclosed apparatus in which the glass ~L2'74~
sheet is raised off the conveyor rolls by the ~ing-type lower mold, the glass ~heet sags or flexes in its central area heated to the softening point under inertial forces since the ring-shaped shaping surface of the lower mold i6 inclined toward its center in conformity with the shape of the concave glas~ sheet. The central area of the gla~s sheet having the inertia-induced sag remains in contact with the conveyor rolls for a prolonged period of time.
Those portions of the glass sheet which are kept in contact with the converyor rolls are cooled more rapidly than the other glass sheet portions, and are subject to optical defect~. U.S. Patents Nos. 4,197,108 and 4,272,274 to Frank et al show apparatus in which a lower shaping mold is not ring-shaped, but iB composed of a solid block having a plurality of elongated shaping m~lbers over its entire surface, and the lower shaping mold is lifted to raise the glass sheet off the conveyor rolls for bending the glass sheet on the lower ~haping mold. However, inasmuch as the peripheral edge portion of the concave shaping su~race of the lower shaping mold, which edge portion i5 the first surface for the glass sheet to contact, is inclined toward the center of lower shaping mold, the heated glass sheet also tends to sag at its central area under inertial for~es when the glass sheet is lifted.
The present invention has been made in an effort to eliminate the aforesaid shortcomings of the conventional apparatus and methods.
" ~ X74~3~
SUMAR~ OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to reduce any inertia-induced sag of a heat softened glass sheet at its central area aq mu~h as possible for shortening the time period in which the glass sheet remains in contact with eonveyor roll~, thereby reducing optical defects eventually produced in the bent glass sheet.
According to the present invention, the above object can be achieved by an apparatus for bendlng a qla~s sheet, comprising a vertically movable lower mold having a first upwardly facing ~haping surface ~or shaping the central area of the glass sheet, a plurality of conveyor rolls for conveying the gla~s sheet as heated horizontally to a pre~cribed position over the first shaping surface, means in the lower mold for accommodating the conveyor rolls when the lower mold is moved upwardly, a vertically movable main ring mold dispo~ed around the lower mold in spaced relation to the outer peripheral surface thereof, the main ring mold having a second downw~rd~y facing Rhaping surface for shaping the peripheral edge of the glass sheet, means in the main ring mold for accommodating the conveyor rolls when the main ring mold is moved upwardly, an auxiliary ring mold vertically movably disposed between the lower mold and the main ring mold, the auxiliary ring mold having an upwardly facing support surface for supporting the glass sheet between the central area and peripheral edge th~reof, and means in the 74~
auxiliary ring mold for accommodating the conveyor rolls when the auxiliary ring mold is moved upwardly.
The upwardly facing support surface of the auxiliary ring mold is sub~tantially flat horizontally.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the pre6ent invention will become more apparent from the following de~cription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in whlch preferred embodiments of the present invention are 3hown by way of illustrative example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 i~ a front elevational view of a gla~s sheet bendLng apparatus according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the gla6s sheet bending apparatus shown in FIG. l;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a lower mold, a ring mold, and an auxiliary ring mold FIG. 4 is a front elevational view showing the positional relationship between the lower mold and conveyor rolls;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cros~-sectionaL
view illustrating the positional relationship between the lower mold, the ring mold, and the auxiliary ring mold;
FIGS. 6(A) through 6~E) are side elevational views of a shaping station, showing the progressive steps of a glass ~heet bending process according to the present invention;
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FIG. 7 is a fr~nt elevational view of a glass sheet bending apparatu6 incorporating another oscillation device;
FIG. 8 is a side elevational view, partly in cross section, of the gla~ sheet bending apparatus shown in FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 i5 an enlarged cro~s-sectional view of a portion of the glass sheet bending apparatus illustrated in FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a plan vlew of the structure illustrated in FIG. 9, with the lefthand half viewed from the plane I and the rigthhand half viewed rom the plane II;
FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the structure of FIG. 10, with the lefthand half viewed from the plane III and the righthand half viewed from the plane IV;
FIG. 12 i8 a fragmentary perspective view of a mechanism by which a ring mold support frame is held in engagement with rods; and FIGS. 13~A) through 13~C) are schematic plan views showing operation of the oscillation device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in FIGS, 1 and 2, a glass sheet ~ending apparatus 1 according to the present invention is po~itioned adjacent to a furnace 2 having a plurality of conveyor rolls 3 for conveying a heated gla6s sheet G
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toward the bending apparatua l.
The bending apparatu~ l has a frame 4 housing therein an upper mold (convex mold) 5 and a lower mold (concave mold) 6. The upper mold 5 is fixed to a support plate 7 movable or positionally adjustable upwardly and downwardly by a motor or a fluid cylinder unit ~not shown).
Roll support beams 8, 8 are fixed horizontally to the frame 2 at a vertically intermediate position, and converyor rolls 9 are rotatably mounted on and extend between the roll support beams 8, 8, the conveyor rolls 9 having axes extending perpendicularly to the direction of travel o~ the glass sheet G through the bending apparatu~ l.
The lower mold 6 i~ movable upwardly and downwardly by a flu~d cylinder unit 10 mounted on the bottom of the frame 4 or a floor. The lower mold 6 is illustrated in greater detail in FIGS, 3 through 5.
As shown in FIGS. 3 through 5, the lower mold 6 is in the form of a hollow structure for introducing cooling air therein ~FIG. 5) and has its substantially entire upper surace ~erving as a concave shaping surface to which the~mal insulating members ll such as glas~ fiber mats are attached. The shaping ~urace of the lower mold 6 has plurality of holes 6a opening upwardly. As shown in FIG. 5, the lower mold 4 has a plurality of cooling nozzles 12 disposed re~pectively in the holes 6a for blowing cooling air against the glass sheet when it is bent. The nozzles 12 may be integral with the lower mold 6. The ~74~
nozzles 12 may be of any structure insofar a~ their tip ends do not project upwardly beyond the 6haping ~urface of the lower mold 6 or the surfaces of the thermal lnsulating members 11. Although not shown, the upper mold 5 is also of a hollow structure having its substantially entire lower surface serving as a convex shaping surface to which thermal insulating members are attached and which has cooling nozzles in the same manner as the lower mold 6.
The lower mold 6 has a plurality of vertical ~lots 13 positioned out of interference with the nozzles 12 and extending fully transverseIy across the lower mold 6 to divide the shaping surface in~o segments, the slots 13 opening upwardly. When the lower mold 6 i9 lifted, the conveyor rolls 9 enter the slots 13, respectively.
A main ring mold 14 i8 disposed around the lower mold 6 in spaced relation to the outer peripheral surface thereof. The ring mold 14 serves to shape the peripheral edge of the glass ~heet G against the upper mold 5 when the glass sheet G is pressed between the upper and lower mold~
5, 6 ~he ring mold 14 has an upper end surface lS
inclined inwardly in conformity with the shape of the peripheral edge of the glass sheet G. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the ring mold 14 is fixed to the upper ends of arms 16 of an oscillatlon device. The 3rms 16 are fixedly mounted on a reciprocally movable bed 30 which can be driven by a motor 17 through a link mechanism 18. When the motor 17 is energized, the ring mold 14 is reciprocally ~ 7~
moved in a linear or circular pattern. The oscillatlon device serves to temper the glass sheet G uniformly by allowing cooling air to be blown uniformly against the surface of the gla~s sheet G from the upper and lower mold~
5, 6 while the glass sheet G as bent is held by the ring mold 14 between the upper and lower molds 5, 6. The ring mold 14, which is movable upwardly and downwardly independently of the lower mold 6, has recesses 19 for receiving the conveyor rolls 9 therein when the ring mold 14 is moved upwardly with re~pect to the lower mold 6.
Between the ring mold 14~snd the lower mold 6, there is dispo~ed an auxiliary ring mold 20 movable upwardly and downwardly by a fluid cylinder unit 21 independently of the lower mold 6 and the ring mold 14.
Since the auxiliary r~ng mold 20 has a plurality of pins 22 extending through guide membe_s 23 attached to the lower mold 6, the auxiliary ring mold 20 can be moved upwardly and downwardly while keeping a constant gap between the outer peripheral surface of the lower mold 6 and the inner peripheral ~urface of the auxiliary ring mold 20. The auxiliary ring mold 20 is not involved in bending the glass sheet G, but aerves to support the glas~ sheet G between lts central area and peripheral edge for allowing the glass shet G to be picked up from the conveyor rolls 9.
Therefore, the upper end surface of the auxiliary ring mold 20 is ~ubstantially flat horizontally. Since the auxiliary ring mold 20 is also independently movable upwardly and . ~ .
~ ~74~;~4 downwardly, it has recesses 25 for receiving the conveyor rolls 9 therein. When the lower mold 6, the ring mold 14, the auxiliary ring mold 20 are in the lowest position, the slots 13 and the recesses 1~, 25 are aligned with each other when seen in front elevation.
Operation of the glass sheet bending apparatu~ of the foregoing construction for bending and tempering the glass sheet G will be described with reference to FIG. 6.
The glass sheet G as it is heated to its softening point is fed from the furface 2 over the conveyor rolls 3, 9 into the bending ~tation between the upper and lower molds 5, 6. At this time, the lower mold 6, the ring mold 14, and the auxiliary ring mold 20 are positioned below the conveyor rolls 9 as shown in FIG. 6~A). The upper end of the auxiliary ring mold 20 i5 positioned upwardly of the upper surface of the lower mold 6 and the ring mold 14.
Then, the auxlliary ring mold 20, the lower mold 6, and the ring mold 14 are lifted as shown in FIG. 6tB).
Since the upper end of the auxiliary ring mold 20 is higher than the lower mold 6 and the ring mold 14, the glass sheet G is lifted off the conveyor rolls 9 by the auxiliary ring mold 14.
When the glass sheet G held by the auxiliary ring mold 14 is raised closely to the lower surface of the upper mold 5, the upward movement of the auxiliary ring mold 20 is arrested, and the lower mold 6 and the ring mold 14 are _ g _ '~
~ ~ 4~
continuously lifted to receive the gla~ sheet G from the auxiliary ring mold 20. A~ illustrated in FIG. 6(D), the auxiliary ring mold 20 is lowered after the glass ~heet G
has been transferred therefrom to the lower mold 6 and the ring mold 14.
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6(E), the gla~s sheet G is pressed and bent to desired shape between the upper mold 5 and the lower mold 6 together with the ring mold 14. The central area of the glass sheet G is shaped between the upper and lower molds S, 6, and the peripheral edge of the glass sheet G i8 shaped between the ring mold 14 and the upper mold 5.
Then, the lower mold 6 and the ring mold 14 are lowered. At this time, the lower mold 6 is lowered a greater distance than the ring mold 14 such that if the lower mold 6 is lowered 50 mm, for ex~mple, then the ring mold 14 is lowered 25 mm. Therefore, the gla~s sheet G as it is placed on the ring mold 14 is held intermediate between the upper mold 5 and the lower mold 6. Thereafter, air i8 ejected from the nozzles on the upper and lower molds 5, 6 against the surfaces of the glass sheet G. At the same time, the oscillatlon devlce 1~ opera~ed to reciprocally move the ring mold 14 and the glas~ sheet G
thereon in a linear or circular pattern to permit the air to be applied evenly to the surfaces of the glass sheet G
for thereby uniformly quenching and tempering the glass sheet G.
.~
7 4 ~ j ~3 L~
While in the above embodiment the lower mold 6, the ring mold 14, and the auxiliary ring mold ~0 are simultaneously lifted, only the a~xiliary ring mold 20 may first be lifted, and then the lower mold 6 and the ring mold 14 may thereafter be raised. With this movement pattern, the upper end of the auxiliary ring mold 20 before it is lifted may not necessarily be positioned above the upper surface of the lower mold 6 and the upper end of the ring mold 14.
FIGS. 7 through 13 illustrate a modified oscillation device which may be incorporated in the bending apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 through 6. Although the oscillation device of FIGS. 1 through 6 ha~ the single movable bed 30 moun~ed on its base, the modified o~cillation device has a pair of movable plates supported respectively on roll support beams disposed on the opposite sides of the gla~ 8heet feed line.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a substantially ring-shaped mold 113 i~ disposed on the upper end of a support frame 114 extending around a lower mold 104. The mold 113 has open }ateral ~ides ~o that it will not interfere with conveyor roll~ llOa when it is moved upwardly with the lower mold 104.
A pair of movable plate~ 112 and a mechaniqm for moving the movable plates 112 are shown in ~IGS. 9 khrough 11 .
Each of the movable plates 112 is supported on a ''~
~ 7 4~L~
support beam 111 for movement in the directions of the arrows X, Y. More specifically, a ~tationary plate 115 i5 fixed to the ~upport beam 111 exteding along the glass sheet feed pat~. ln a bending apparatus 101 (FIG. 7). Rails 116 are secured to the underPide of the stationary plate 115 and extend in the direction of the arrow Y. A rail guide 117 extending in the direction of the arrow X is attached to the upper side of the movable plate 112. The rails 116 and the rail guide 117 are ~lidably fitted in and over an intermediate member 118 disposed between the stationary plate 115 and the movable plate 112. The intermediate member 118 has a rail 119 extending in the direction of the arrow X and rail guides 120 having guide groove~ 120a extending in the direction of the arrow Y.
The rail 119 is slidably fitted in the guide groove 117a in the rail guide 117, and the rail~ 116 are slidably fitted in the guide grooves 120a, respectively, in the rail guides 120. The rails 116, 119 have a cross-sectlonal shape with a constricted intermediate portion, and the guide grooves 117a, 120a have a complemen~ary cro~s-~ectional shape.
The movable plate 112 i8 thus supported on the beam 111 for movements in the direction~ of the arrows X, Y. The movable plate 112 can therefore be moved in a circular or elliptical horizontal pattern resulting from the combined movements ln directions of the arrows X, Y.
A fluid cylinder unit 121 is fixed to the lower side of the movable plate 112 for movLng a rod 122 ln the ~ ~74~4 transverse direction of the bending apparatus. As shown in FIG. 12, each of the rods 122 as it pro~ects engages a retainer 123 on the support frame 114 of the ring mold 113 to hold the support frame 114 on the movable plate 112.
Stationary plates 124 are fixed to the support beam 111. A drive shaft 126 extending parallel to the support beam 111 is rotatably ~upported by bearings 125 mounted on the stationary plate 24. A~ shown in FIG. 7, the drive shaft 126 i~ rotatable by a motor 127 mounted on the bottom of the bendiny apparatus 101. A plurality (four in the illustrated embodiment) of helical gears 128 are fitted over the drive shaft 126 at spzced intervals therealong.
A plurality (four in the illu~trated embodiment) of bearings 129 are mounted on the lower side of the stationary plates 124, and vertically extending shafts 130 are rotatably supported by the bearings 129~ respectively.
The shafts 130, four in number on each side of the glass sheet f eed path, support helical gears 131 respectively on their upper ends, which are held in mesh with helical gears 128, respectively, on the dr$ve shaft 12~. Therefore, rotation of the drive shaft 126 can be transmitted through the helical gears 128, 131 to the shafts 130.
As illustrated in FIG. 10, two pairs of fir~t and second rotors 132, 133 are fitted over the lower ends of the shafts 130, the first and second rotors 132, 133 in each pair supporting pins 134, 135 extendlng axially and .~
74~i~4 positioned in eccentric relation to the shaft~ 130.
A pair of guide plates 1~6 is mounted on the upper surface of the movable plate 112. Each of the guide plates 136 has a slot 137 extending in the direction of the arrow x and a slot 138 extending in the direction of the arrow Y. The pin 134 on the ~irst rotor 132 has a lower end movably engaging in the 910t 137, whereas the pin 135 on the second rotor 133 ha~ a lower end movably engaging in the slot 138.
Operation of the oscillation device of the above con~truction will be described primarily with reference to FIG, 13. In FIG. 13, only one of the guide plates 136 and one pair of first and ~econd rotors 132, 133 thereon are illu~trated for the sake of brevity.
It i~ assumed that the guide plate 136 and the rotors 132, 133 are initially positio~ed as shown in FIG.
13(A). The motor 127 is energized to rotate the drive ~haft 126. The rotation of the drive shaft 126 is transmitted via the hel~cal gears 128, 131 to the 6hafts 130 and the first and second rotors 132, 133 mounted thereon. When the first rotor 132 is rotated clockwise ~FIG. 13~A)), the guide plate 136 is moved to the right from the initial position, and the pin 135 is moved relatively toward the lefthand end of the slot 138 for an interval equal to the distance over which the guide plate 136 is moved ~o the left. In response to ~imultaneous clockwise rotation of the second rotor 133, the guide plate 1.~74~i~4 136 is moved downwardly (FIG. 13(A)) from the initial position, and the pin 134 is moved relatively toward the upper end of the slot 137 for an interval equal to the distance over which the guide plate 136 is moved downwardly. AQ the above movements of the guide plate 136 are combined, the guide plate 136 i~ moved rightward and downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 13(B). Upon continued clockwise rotation of the rotors 132, 133, the guide plate 136 is moved to the position of ~IG. 13(C) and then back to the initial position of FIG. 13(A).
With the pins 134, 135 displaced equally off center from the corresponding shats 130, the guide plate 136 and the movable plate 112 joined thereto are caused to move in a circular path. Where the pins 134, 135 displaced different distances off center from the associAted shafts 130, the guide plate 136 and the movable plate 112 are caused to move in an elliptical path. The si~e of the circular or elliptical pattern can be varied as desired by changing the distances by which the pins 134, 135 are spaced off center from the shafts 130. However, it is preferable that such off-center distance6 of the pins 134, 135 from the ~hafts 130 be selected to allow nozzles 103a, 104a in the upper and lower molds 103, 104 to follow overlapping paths over a glass sheet G when it i~ ~uenched by cooling air ejected from the nozzles 103a, 104a.
Although there have been described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of the 7~
present invention, it will be understood that the invention ~ay be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all aspects as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of th~ invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description.
~,
Claims (11)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An apparatus for bending a glass sheet, comprising:
a vertically movable lower mold having a first upwardly facing shaping surface for shaping the central area of the glass sheet;
a plurality of conveyor rolls for conveying the glass sheet as heated horizontally to a prescribed position over said first shaping surface;
means in said lower mold for accommodating said conveyor rolls when said lower mold it moved upwardly;
a vertically movable main ring mold disposed around said lower mold in spaced relation to the outer peripheral surface thereof, said main ring mold having a second upwardly facing shaping surface for shaping the peripheral edge of the glass sheet;
means in said main ring mold for accommodating said conveyor rolls when said main ring mold is moved upwardly;
an auxiliary ring mold vertically movably disposed between said lower mold and said main ring mold, said auxiliary ring mold having an upwardly facing support surface for supporting the glass sheet between the central area and peripheral edge thereof; and means in said auxiliary ring mold for accommodating said conveyor rolls when said auxiliary ring mold is moved upwardly.
a vertically movable lower mold having a first upwardly facing shaping surface for shaping the central area of the glass sheet;
a plurality of conveyor rolls for conveying the glass sheet as heated horizontally to a prescribed position over said first shaping surface;
means in said lower mold for accommodating said conveyor rolls when said lower mold it moved upwardly;
a vertically movable main ring mold disposed around said lower mold in spaced relation to the outer peripheral surface thereof, said main ring mold having a second upwardly facing shaping surface for shaping the peripheral edge of the glass sheet;
means in said main ring mold for accommodating said conveyor rolls when said main ring mold is moved upwardly;
an auxiliary ring mold vertically movably disposed between said lower mold and said main ring mold, said auxiliary ring mold having an upwardly facing support surface for supporting the glass sheet between the central area and peripheral edge thereof; and means in said auxiliary ring mold for accommodating said conveyor rolls when said auxiliary ring mold is moved upwardly.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said upwardly facing support surface of said auxiliary ring mold is substantially flat horizontally.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1, including first, second, and third means for vertically moving said lower mold, said main ring mold, and said auxiliary ring mold, respectively, independently of each other.
4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lower mold has means for quenching the shaped glass sheet.
5. An apparatus according to claim 4, including means for horizontally oscillating the shaped glass in cooperation with said quenching means.
6. An apparatus according to claim 1, including a vertically movable upper mold having a third downwardly facing shaping surface for shaping the glass sheet in cooperation with said lower mold and said main ring mold.
7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each of said upper and lower molds has means for quenching the shaped glass sheet.
8. A method of bending a glass sheet, comprising:
conveying a heated glass sheet with a plurality of conveyor rolls to a prescribed position over a first upwardly facing shaping surface of a lower mold for shaping the central area of the glass sheet;
lifting an auxiliary ring mold between said lower mold and a main ring mold having a second upwardly facing shaping surface and disposed around said lower mold in spaced relation to the outer peripheral surface thereof, prior to upward movement of said lower mold;
raising said glass sheet off said conveyor rolls by a substantially horizontal upwardly facing flat support surface of said auxiliary ring mold;
arresting the upward movement of said auxiliary ring mold;
lifting said lower mold and said main ring mold to transfer the glass sheet from said support surface of the auxiliary ring mold to said first and second shaping surfaces of said lower mold and said main ring mold;
lowering said auxiliary ring mold; and shaping the central area of the glass area on said first shaping surface of the lower mold and shaping the peripheral edge of the glass sheet on said second shaping surface of the main ring mold.
conveying a heated glass sheet with a plurality of conveyor rolls to a prescribed position over a first upwardly facing shaping surface of a lower mold for shaping the central area of the glass sheet;
lifting an auxiliary ring mold between said lower mold and a main ring mold having a second upwardly facing shaping surface and disposed around said lower mold in spaced relation to the outer peripheral surface thereof, prior to upward movement of said lower mold;
raising said glass sheet off said conveyor rolls by a substantially horizontal upwardly facing flat support surface of said auxiliary ring mold;
arresting the upward movement of said auxiliary ring mold;
lifting said lower mold and said main ring mold to transfer the glass sheet from said support surface of the auxiliary ring mold to said first and second shaping surfaces of said lower mold and said main ring mold;
lowering said auxiliary ring mold; and shaping the central area of the glass area on said first shaping surface of the lower mold and shaping the peripheral edge of the glass sheet on said second shaping surface of the main ring mold.
9. A method according to claim 8, including the step of quenching the shaped glass sheet.
10. A method according to claim 9, including the step of horizontally oscillating the shaped glass sheet simultaneously with the quenching step.
11. A method according to claim 8, wherein the glass sheet is shaped on said first and second shaping surfaces of said lower mold and said main ring mold in cooperation with a third downwardly facing shaping surface of an upper mold.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP59201200A JPS6183640A (en) | 1984-09-26 | 1984-09-26 | Pressing of glass plate and device therefor |
| JP59-201200 | 1984-09-26 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1274694A true CA1274694A (en) | 1990-10-02 |
Family
ID=16437003
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000491572A Expired - Fee Related CA1274694A (en) | 1984-09-26 | 1985-09-26 | Apparatus for and method of bending glass sheets |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4606749A (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS6183640A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1274694A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3534349A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2570691B1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2166133B (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1200122B (en) |
Families Citing this family (23)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KR900004120B1 (en) * | 1986-03-18 | 1990-06-16 | 니혼 이다가라스 가부시끼가이샤 | A ring mold unit for shaping glass sheet |
| DE3640892A1 (en) * | 1986-11-29 | 1988-06-09 | Ver Glaswerke Gmbh | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR BENDING A GLASS DISC |
| JPS6424034A (en) * | 1987-07-20 | 1989-01-26 | Nippon Sheet Glass Co Ltd | Method for bending sheet glass |
| JPH0426420Y2 (en) * | 1987-12-18 | 1992-06-25 | ||
| JPH0226845A (en) * | 1988-07-12 | 1990-01-29 | Nippon Sheet Glass Co Ltd | Apparatus for producing bent glass |
| JPH0726341Y2 (en) * | 1988-07-18 | 1995-06-14 | 日本板硝子株式会社 | Molding mold for tempered bent glass |
| US4883526A (en) * | 1989-03-30 | 1989-11-28 | Libbey-Owens-Ford Co. | Method and apparatus for shaping and conveying glass sheets |
| US4979977A (en) * | 1989-09-18 | 1990-12-25 | Ppg Industries, Inc. | Bending iron having member to effect reverse bend and method of using same |
| EP0431895A3 (en) * | 1989-12-05 | 1991-08-21 | Nippon Sheet Glass Co. Ltd. | Method of and apparatus for bending and tempering sheet glass |
| JPH0764575B2 (en) * | 1990-01-11 | 1995-07-12 | 日本板硝子株式会社 | Method and apparatus for press bending of flat glass |
| DE4020708A1 (en) * | 1990-06-29 | 1992-01-09 | Ver Glaswerke Gmbh | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PRODUCING CURVED AND TEMPERED GLASS PANELS |
| US5158592A (en) * | 1991-01-15 | 1992-10-27 | Buckingham James W | Universal glass sheet mold support assembly |
| GB9304286D0 (en) * | 1993-03-03 | 1993-04-21 | Pilkington Glass Ltd | Bending apparatus |
| US5383950A (en) * | 1993-10-04 | 1995-01-24 | Ford Motor Company | Apparatus for supporting a glass sheet during a tempering process |
| GB9407594D0 (en) * | 1994-04-15 | 1994-06-08 | Pilkington Glass Ltd | Bending glass sheets |
| US5656055A (en) * | 1995-05-24 | 1997-08-12 | Ppg Industries, Inc. | Sheet shaping press |
| US6076373A (en) * | 1997-06-16 | 2000-06-20 | Ppg Industries Ohio, Inc. | Apparatus and method for bending glass sheets |
| GB9715124D0 (en) * | 1997-07-17 | 1997-09-24 | Gillette Co | Ballpoint pen and ink therefor |
| JPH1179765A (en) * | 1997-09-03 | 1999-03-23 | Futaba Corp | Production of glass container and apparatus for production |
| JP4671159B2 (en) * | 2000-07-19 | 2011-04-13 | 旭硝子株式会社 | Method and apparatus for bending glass plate |
| US9296637B2 (en) * | 2010-06-09 | 2016-03-29 | Glasstech, Inc. | Method for press forming glass sheets |
| KR102117337B1 (en) * | 2013-06-28 | 2020-06-02 | 삼성디스플레이 주식회사 | Apparatus for forming a glass |
| JP7168561B2 (en) * | 2016-11-11 | 2022-11-09 | ピルキントン グループ リミテッド | Method for forming glass sheet and glass forming line used therefor |
Family Cites Families (18)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NL301271A (en) * | 1962-12-03 | |||
| US3476540A (en) * | 1966-08-22 | 1969-11-04 | Libbey Owens Ford Co | Method of bending glass sheets |
| US3595636A (en) * | 1968-05-03 | 1971-07-27 | Ppg Industries Inc | Apparatus for shaping and cooling glass sheets |
| US3554724A (en) * | 1968-05-24 | 1971-01-12 | Libbey Owens Ford Co | Method and apparatus for bending glass sheets |
| US3734706A (en) * | 1971-04-16 | 1973-05-22 | Libbey Owens Ford Co | Producing bent tempered glass sheets |
| US4204854A (en) * | 1978-05-01 | 1980-05-27 | Mcmaster Harold | Apparatus and method for bending glass sheets |
| US4285715A (en) * | 1978-10-25 | 1981-08-25 | Ppg Industries, Inc. | Cycle of mold movement while press bending glass sheets |
| US4197108A (en) * | 1978-10-25 | 1980-04-08 | Ppg Industries, Inc. | Slotted glass sheet shaping mold |
| US4272274A (en) * | 1978-10-25 | 1981-06-09 | Ppg Industries, Inc. | Slotted glass sheet shaping mold |
| US4217126A (en) * | 1979-01-05 | 1980-08-12 | Libbey-Owens-Ford Company | Method of and apparatus for press bending glass sheets |
| US4252552A (en) * | 1979-09-25 | 1981-02-24 | Ppg Industries, Inc. | Shaping glass sheets using molds of different shapes |
| US4260408A (en) * | 1979-11-02 | 1981-04-07 | Ppg Industries, Inc. | Use of speed changes during cycling of a shaping mold |
| US4265650A (en) * | 1979-11-02 | 1981-05-05 | Ppg Industries, Inc. | Method of bending glass sheets in unison to complicated shapes |
| US4305746A (en) * | 1980-05-01 | 1981-12-15 | Libbey-Owens-Ford Company | Method of and apparatus for bending glass sheets |
| US4501603A (en) * | 1983-03-30 | 1985-02-26 | Ppg Industries, Inc. | Method and apparatus for shaping glass sheets to complicated shapes |
| DE3407173C1 (en) * | 1984-02-28 | 1985-01-03 | Mannesmann AG, 4000 Düsseldorf | Plant for the production of strongly curved glass panes |
| US4529433A (en) * | 1984-06-04 | 1985-07-16 | Ppg Industries, Inc. | Spring loaded stop member for glass sheet shaping molds |
| US4508556A (en) * | 1984-06-04 | 1985-04-02 | Ppg Industries, Inc. | Method and apparatus for bending glass sheets to complicated shapes including an S-shaped transverse bend |
-
1984
- 1984-09-26 JP JP59201200A patent/JPS6183640A/en active Pending
-
1985
- 1985-09-25 IT IT48590/85A patent/IT1200122B/en active
- 1985-09-26 DE DE19853534349 patent/DE3534349A1/en active Granted
- 1985-09-26 CA CA000491572A patent/CA1274694A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1985-09-26 US US06/780,688 patent/US4606749A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1985-09-26 FR FR858514245A patent/FR2570691B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1985-09-26 GB GB08523770A patent/GB2166133B/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FR2570691B1 (en) | 1992-04-03 |
| FR2570691A1 (en) | 1986-03-28 |
| US4606749A (en) | 1986-08-19 |
| GB2166133B (en) | 1988-05-18 |
| GB2166133A (en) | 1986-04-30 |
| GB8523770D0 (en) | 1985-10-30 |
| DE3534349C2 (en) | 1987-11-12 |
| JPS6183640A (en) | 1986-04-28 |
| IT8548590A0 (en) | 1985-09-25 |
| IT1200122B (en) | 1989-01-05 |
| DE3534349A1 (en) | 1986-03-27 |
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| MKLA | Lapsed |