Glass bending process

Abstract

A glass bending line for quickly shaping a complex bent glass sheet is provided that includes moving a ring-type female mold, which has a heated glass sheet placed on it, and a full face heated male mold, toward one another. Upon making shaping contact between the glass sheet and the male mold, a vacuum is applied through holes extending through the male mold, for a time sufficient to form the glass sheet to a desired shape. When the glass sheet has been shaped, the vacuum is terminated and pressurized air is connected to the holes to release the bent glass sheet from the male mold. The bent glass sheet is then quickly transported to a quenching station or an annealing station on a continuous conveying device. Hence, the complex bent glass sheet is achieved without the use of a shuttle ring.

Description

technical field [0001] This invention relates to press bending of heated glass sheets. Background technique [0002] There are various press-bending processes for forming curved glass sheets, particularly automotive glazing, which operate in different ways and which produce bends with varying degrees of shape complexity and complexity associated with the type of bend glass plate. [0003] Early press bending processes (see, e.g., FIG. 1, which is similar to U.S. Patent No. 4,043,782 to Bamford et al., which is incorporated herein by reference) typically consisted of an unheated punch between a male and female die. The relatively short cycle time bends the heated glass sheet. After release from the male and female molds, transfer rollers are used to move the glass article to subsequent steps in the process, such as glass quenching or annealing, which are usually performed using cooling gases. [0004] Subsequent press-bending processes (see, eg, FIGS. 2-3 , which are simil...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, to their disadvantage, bending processes such as those disclosed in the Woodward patent require longer cycle times than those disclosed in the Bamford patent, so bending processes such as those disclosed in the Woodward patent Those processes that are disclosed generally result in higher manufacturing costs

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