CA1050870A - Method and apparatus for manufacture of laminated glazing - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for manufacture of laminated glazingInfo
- Publication number
- CA1050870A CA1050870A CA200,745A CA200745A CA1050870A CA 1050870 A CA1050870 A CA 1050870A CA 200745 A CA200745 A CA 200745A CA 1050870 A CA1050870 A CA 1050870A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- membrane
- sheet
- flexible sheet
- extensible
- container
- 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
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B17/00—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres
- B32B17/06—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material
- B32B17/10—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin
- B32B17/10005—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing
- B32B17/10807—Making laminated safety glass or glazing; Apparatus therefor
- B32B17/10816—Making laminated safety glass or glazing; Apparatus therefor by pressing
- B32B17/10825—Isostatic pressing, i.e. using non rigid pressure-exerting members against rigid parts
- B32B17/10834—Isostatic pressing, i.e. using non rigid pressure-exerting members against rigid parts using a fluid
- B32B17/10844—Isostatic pressing, i.e. using non rigid pressure-exerting members against rigid parts using a fluid using a membrane between the layered product and the fluid
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B17/00—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres
- B32B17/06—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material
- B32B17/10—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin
- B32B17/10005—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing
- B32B17/10009—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing characterized by the number, the constitution or treatment of glass sheets
- B32B17/10018—Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material of synthetic resin laminated safety glass or glazing characterized by the number, the constitution or treatment of glass sheets comprising only one glass sheet
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B2605/00—Vehicles
- B32B2605/006—Transparent parts other than made from inorganic glass, e.g. polycarbonate glazings
Landscapes
- Laminated Bodies (AREA)
- Joining Of Glass To Other Materials (AREA)
- Lining Or Joining Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A plastic sheet is laminated to a glass sheet for the manufacture of laminated safety class by means of an elastic membrane rigidly held at its periphery and subjected to increas-ing gas pressure, the membrane thereby pressing the plastic sheet against the glass sheet progressively from the center out toward the edges of the latter.
A plastic sheet is laminated to a glass sheet for the manufacture of laminated safety class by means of an elastic membrane rigidly held at its periphery and subjected to increas-ing gas pressure, the membrane thereby pressing the plastic sheet against the glass sheet progressively from the center out toward the edges of the latter.
Description
'~ ''''~` ~o~os7~
The present invention pertains to a process and apparatus for the manufacture of laminated s~fety glass comprising a simple or composlte sheet of glass and a sheet of plastic material adhered to an exterlor face of the glass sheet.
According to a known process for the manufacture of laminated safety glass of this type, the sheet of glass and the sheet of plastlc material to be ~oined are superposed, optionally with an adhesive coating or layer between them.
For processing purposes only there is then placed on the free face of the plastic sheet a protective or guard sheet of glass ~1 having the shape which the safety glass being made is to possess. -This three-element assembly is then subjected to the usual treatment for the fabrication of lamlnated glass by action of ~ ~
heat and pressure in an autoclave, and the guard sheet is ` ~' thereafter separated from the flnished laminate, which com-prises a slngle or composlte sheet of glass and a plastlc sheet adhered to an exterior face of that simple or composite glass sheet. While the laminate may be plane, i.e. flat, it may be non-plane, with slmple or compound curvature, as in the case of ;
windshields, read windows or the slde glass of motor cars. Prior art processesof this character are described in ~lach Glas Delog : :.- . ~.
Detag West German DAS 2,055,361 published May 16, 1972 and Saint-Gobain West German DAS 2,161,217 published June 15, 1972 and in PPG Belgian Patent No. 788,868 published March 15, 1973.
,, . ,' ~:`' .-'' , ,,', , l 30 ~
,, -1- . ~, - ':
-, jl/ ~
.. .
.
.;, .E3 ~ .
87~
In such known processes, it is hencc ~ecessary to util-ize a guard sheet whose shape must correspond exactly to that of the glass sheet of the laminate being manufac-tured. It is then necessary to have available guard sheets of clos21y con-trolled shapes and dimensions and also to perform the manip~la-tive steps for application of the guaxd sheet to the unfinished laminate and for its removal rom the finished laminate.
The invention provides a process for the manufac-ture of laminated safety glass having on one exterior face a shee, of plastic, ~hich process dispenses with the guard sheet in the bonding of that sheet of plastic to the remainder of the laminaLe -~and which produces laminated safety glass of high optical quality sucl1 as is necessary for the windshields of motor vehicles.
The process of the invention moreover makes it possible to produce such laminated glass having curvature either of one direction or of t~lO opposite directions. ~ ~
In accordance with the invention the sheet of plastic, ~! , optionally coated with an~adhesive, is pressed against the glass~
sheet with the help of a membrane made of a highly stretchable or extensible material, such as rubber, firmly held at its perl-phery and subjected to the action of a fluid under pressure.
The periphery of the membrane is~held at a fixed distance Erom .
the edge of the glass. In consequenc~ of this, as the mem~rane bulges or stretc'les progressively into three-dimensional curva-ture with the gradual application of fluid pressure, it presses ~gainst the plastic sheet and présses the latter against the glass, first in the central region thereof, and then progressively out to the edges of the glass.
By means of the process of the invention lamina~ed ~ 30 safety glass with an exterior plastic sheet can ~e produced of .: ' ~' ~'. ' :' ,; , . :~
,
The present invention pertains to a process and apparatus for the manufacture of laminated s~fety glass comprising a simple or composlte sheet of glass and a sheet of plastic material adhered to an exterlor face of the glass sheet.
According to a known process for the manufacture of laminated safety glass of this type, the sheet of glass and the sheet of plastlc material to be ~oined are superposed, optionally with an adhesive coating or layer between them.
For processing purposes only there is then placed on the free face of the plastic sheet a protective or guard sheet of glass ~1 having the shape which the safety glass being made is to possess. -This three-element assembly is then subjected to the usual treatment for the fabrication of lamlnated glass by action of ~ ~
heat and pressure in an autoclave, and the guard sheet is ` ~' thereafter separated from the flnished laminate, which com-prises a slngle or composlte sheet of glass and a plastlc sheet adhered to an exterior face of that simple or composite glass sheet. While the laminate may be plane, i.e. flat, it may be non-plane, with slmple or compound curvature, as in the case of ;
windshields, read windows or the slde glass of motor cars. Prior art processesof this character are described in ~lach Glas Delog : :.- . ~.
Detag West German DAS 2,055,361 published May 16, 1972 and Saint-Gobain West German DAS 2,161,217 published June 15, 1972 and in PPG Belgian Patent No. 788,868 published March 15, 1973.
,, . ,' ~:`' .-'' , ,,', , l 30 ~
,, -1- . ~, - ':
-, jl/ ~
.. .
.
.;, .E3 ~ .
87~
In such known processes, it is hencc ~ecessary to util-ize a guard sheet whose shape must correspond exactly to that of the glass sheet of the laminate being manufac-tured. It is then necessary to have available guard sheets of clos21y con-trolled shapes and dimensions and also to perform the manip~la-tive steps for application of the guaxd sheet to the unfinished laminate and for its removal rom the finished laminate.
The invention provides a process for the manufac-ture of laminated safety glass having on one exterior face a shee, of plastic, ~hich process dispenses with the guard sheet in the bonding of that sheet of plastic to the remainder of the laminaLe -~and which produces laminated safety glass of high optical quality sucl1 as is necessary for the windshields of motor vehicles.
The process of the invention moreover makes it possible to produce such laminated glass having curvature either of one direction or of t~lO opposite directions. ~ ~
In accordance with the invention the sheet of plastic, ~! , optionally coated with an~adhesive, is pressed against the glass~
sheet with the help of a membrane made of a highly stretchable or extensible material, such as rubber, firmly held at its perl-phery and subjected to the action of a fluid under pressure.
The periphery of the membrane is~held at a fixed distance Erom .
the edge of the glass. In consequenc~ of this, as the mem~rane bulges or stretc'les progressively into three-dimensional curva-ture with the gradual application of fluid pressure, it presses ~gainst the plastic sheet and présses the latter against the glass, first in the central region thereof, and then progressively out to the edges of the glass.
By means of the process of the invention lamina~ed ~ 30 safety glass with an exterior plastic sheet can ~e produced of .: ' ~' ~'. ' :' ,; , . :~
,
- 2 -cb/
:. . .: .
Q~
high optical quality. An advantaye of the process o the inven- `
tion resid~s in the fact that -the plastic sheet is pressed first against the center of the glass sheet and then progressivcly over the entire surface thereof in a regular fashionO ~he sur- `
face of the plastic sheet is thus applied progressively against tne glass. The result is a smooth and substantially p~rfect lamination of the glass and plastic sheets together.
~ In a presently preferred form of practice of the inven-;~ tion, the glass sheet is held horizontally and the plastic sheet is pressed by the elastic membrane against the lower face of the glass. `
It is desirable to degas the assembly under vacuum ` before laminating the glass and plastic sheets together, in order to eliminate gas or air bubbles between the two. During the degassing operation, i~ the face of the membrane a~.~ay from the laminate being formed is subjected to atmospheric pressure, the .~ , vacu~m emp1oyed for degassing will bulge the membrane against ~ ;
the plastic sheet so that an initial~portion of the pressing ~ ;
or laminating step will be carried out. In may however,~ be preferable to carry out the degassing without applying to the plastic and glass sheets any pressure tending to laminate tne two together. To this end, tlle vacuum or partial vacuum for , degassing may be provided on both sides of the membrane. When .
the desired degree of vacuum has been obtained between tne glass and plastic sheets to be laminated together, the process of laminating or pressing can begin. It may be be~un by re-establishing atmospheric or supra-atmospheric pressure on the side of the membrane away from the plastic sheet.
The process may be carried out by e~ploying~a plastic sheet previously coated with a layer of adhesive on the face thereof which is to contact the glass. It is also possible cb~ ~
` ' ' ' . .
1~5(:3387~
however to employ a separate adhesive foil interpos~d ~etween the glass and plastic sheets.
It is also possible to use for the plastic sheet a material which is self-adheslve to the glass when in ~h~ plastic state, without the employment of any further adhesives.
In one mode of carrying out the process of the inven-tion, there are employed for the plastic slleet (and for the adhesive, if a separate one is used~, materials ~hich can be -activated by heat. The pressing thereof against the glass sheet is then carried oUL at elevated temperature. For exa~ple, it is possible to preheat the glass sheet to the temperature necessary to obtain activation of the plastic and adhesion thereof to the glass, pressing of the plastic sheet to thQ
preheated glass being then carried out in an enclosure which is either at ambient temperature or at a temperature which need be only slightly higher than ambient.
During the pressing of the plastic sheet against the glass the latter is advantageously ~uttressed or backed up on the side thereof away from the plastic sheet by a rigid form~
,. :
2~ corresponding to the shape of the glass sheet itself. In this practice of the invention, lt~is of course necessary to possess such a form for every shape of windot~ ta ~e manu-factured. According to a variant of the process o~ the invention, the glass is supported during the pressing step -~
with~t~e help of a second highly elastic membrane whlcn is disposed on the side of the glass away from the plastic . ~ .
sheet a~d against which a pressure~is exerted equal;~to that 28 whicll is to be exerted on the membrane which is to press , c~
~ :
S01~70 ~ ~ ~
against the plastic sheet.
The inven~:ion also provides apparatus suitable .
: for practice of the process thereof. ~ccordlng to one feature thereof, this apparatlls compr:Lses ~ two-par~ contalner or receiver which can be tightLy closed, means to support the sheet ~ :~
of glass in ~ substantially horiæontal posltion and means to support within the container and benea~h the glass and at a ' certa:Ln distance thereErom an elastic membrane which extends `. over the entire cross-section of the container and which is . 10 fixed at its periphery, The apparatus further includes means to exhaust air from the container and means to maintain a `~ ~.
~ supra-atmospheric pressure below the lower surface of the :. . membrane, ~ ::
In one particular aspect the invention provides ,~
a method of laminating a flexible sheet to a surface of a ~
.~ ,. .member compris:Lng placing the flexible sheet on an extensible membrane, with the peripheral edges of the flexible sheet being :j free to be moved by the membrane; supporting the member above the extensible membrane with said surface for receiving the `:.
~1 20 flèxible sheet facing said flexible sheet; extending the membrane.l .1 to lift first a central portion of the flexible sheet toward said surface of the member and press said central portion onto said surface and thereafter progressively press the sheet onto . the surface radially outwarclly from said central portion of :~
the sheet. :
In another aspect the invention provides . ~.
.,., :
. a method of laminating a flexible sheet to a member comprising -:
I supp~rting the`member within a gas-evacuable enclosure, with a .~ first surface thereof facing downwardly; supporting the :-,. . ,~
.j 3Q flexible sheet on an extensible membrane mounted in the :~
enclosure and spaced from said one surface of the member, with ;~
,1f~ ,~ . "
105087~D
peripheral edges of the sheet beiag free to be moved by the membrane; evacuating the space between the surface and the exten~
sible membrane while maintaining the membrane spaced from said flrst surface; establishing a pressure differentia7 between the siae of the membrane facing said first surface and the side of the membrane ~ ;
remote from the surface whereby the membrane first lifts the central p~rtion of the flexible sheet into engagement: with a portion of the ` surface and thereafter progressively presses the sheet outwardly onto the surface. ~-In yet another aspect the invention provldes a method for laminating a plastic sheet to a surface of a glass sheet ~ ;
comprising: placing the plastic sheet on an extensible membrane wlth the peripheral edges of the sheet.being free to be moved by the mem-brane, supporting the glass sheet above the extensible membrane wi~h the surface to receive the plastic sheet facing said plastic sheet, extending the membrane to llft first a central portion of the plastic :~
sheet toward said surface of the glass sheet and press.said central portion onto said surface and thereafter progressively press the ~ -plastic sheet onto sald surface of the glass sheet radially ou~wardly 20 from said central portion of the sheet.
In a further aspect the invention provides : apparatus for la~inating sheets comprising, a base member9 an. exten~
.. sible:membrane having a surface :eor receiving a irst sheet wit:h the peripheral edges of said first sheet being free to be moved by the ~.
membrane, means fo-r mounting the periphery of the extensible member on the base member, support means spaced abo~e the membrane or:
releasably engaging peripheral edge portions o a second sheet, ~i~.h .
a surface of the second sheet facing the extensible membrane, means ;
for extending the membrane toward said surface of the second sheet - 30 to press the first sheet onto said surface progressi~ely radially .~: outwardly therefrom, means for releasing said support means as ~he ~ -,:. , , ~ Sa- ~
.~ ?
)5087~ ~
~ brane presses the first sheet onto ss~d surface of the second sheet, and an abutment for engagin8 the second sheet and the mem-brane presses the fi~st sheet onto the second sheet. ;~
- In yet a further aspect the invention provides apparatus for laminatlng a flex~ble sheet to a member comprisin~
a container having a base member~ an extenslble membrane mounted on ;~
` the base member for receiving the flexible sheet, with the peripheral ; edges of the flexible sheet being free to be moved by the membrane~
means mounting the membrane on the base membe.r with the periphery of .
the membrane fixed relative to the base member, support ~leans in the container spaced sbove the membrane for supporting the =ember above ~ ~;
the membrane with the surface thereof for receiving the flexible .
sheet faclng the membrane, means for reducing the pressure within the container beloa atmospheric pressure, means or extending the membrane toward said surface of the member, and an abutment in the contai~er ~or restralning movement of the member as the membrane is :
extended toward sald surface of the member.
- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TH~ DRAWINGS -:~
The invention will now be further described :
in terms of a number of presently preferred modes of practice thereof, ~ ~
I and in terms of a number of presently preferred exemplary embodiments ~`
of the apparatus thereof, all with respect to the accompanying draw~
ings, ln which~
.
Figure 1 is a vertical secti.onal viaw thlotlgh ona form of apparatus according to the invention suitable for practice of the process of the invention;
Figure 2 is a sectlonal view taken on the lin~
II of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a fragmentary view similar eo that - -~ 5b~
: : :
: ' ~
',: ~ . , :
;j ' :
. , ~ . .. . . . . . . . .
- ` oE Figure 1, on wh:icl~ llave been schemat:lcally :indicated three successive sta~es or pl~ ses in the process of the invention; ~:
FLgure 4 :is a section taken on the l:Lne IV-LV
of F:igure 3;
Flgure 5 is a vertical sectional view :~
illustrat:Lng a second form o apparatus in accordance with the invention; and Figure 6 .ts a sec~ional v:Lew talcen on the ~ line VI-VI of ~ i '; 1 0 . ~
-.~ `' ~'.
.... ..
: :~ .' . . ' -~
2 0 . r ~ ~
. . ;
' ,';
"1 ,` .
,~ - ;
` ~ ~
~ :~
., . ' ~ ~
,, ' :.. ~,;~, ,::
:, `', ~ '~
., . -:
~ Jl/ -Sc-~ ::
:-, , .. ~ . .
~05~87(~
FIG. 5.
D~scription of Preferr~d Modes of the Process and of Preferred Embodiments of the pparatus of the Invention The container illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises upper and lower halves 1 and 2. The two halves of the container and consequen~ly the container itself exhibit a shape which approxi~
mates that of the laminated glass to be manufactur2d. Con~
sequently, the internal yolume of the container is small and the container is evacuated or can be evacuated in a short period `:
of time. The lower halE 2 rests on feet 3. The upper half 1 is joined to the lower half 2 at a pivoting bearing or hinge 4 ~IG~ 2). The arm a of this hinge lS fixed to the upper half : 1.. At the end of the arm 5 there is provided a counterweight 6. The arm 5 is subjected to the action of a rod 7 coupled to the piston o~ a hydraulic cylinder 8, by means of which the container can be opened or closed, the upper half pivoting .
: about the axis of the bearing 4, : The upper half 1 of the container possesses aro~d ; the periphery of the cover 22 thereof~a downwardly~extending ~
sidewall 9, advantageously of~box-like cro~ss-sectLon as shown, ~nd the lower half 2 presents:~a;corresponding upwardly extendlng sidewall 10. On the upper edge of the lower sidewall ther~
is provided a gasket or sealing lip 11 of elast1c~material~
-which is compressed between tl-e sidewalls when~the two halves :~
~of the container are joined so as to close~the~container in~an air-tight fashion~for the maintenance-~of a vacumm or of supr~
atmospheric~pressure within it.~
: The bottom or floor~l2 of the lower half 2, from:which the wall~l0 extends upwardly, includes~an e~largement or sump ~ :
~. ~ 30 ~ 13 having conical walls 14 leading~to a conduit~15. The conduit : ~ 15 may be coupled through valves 16, 17~and 18 (FIG. :L~ to pipes ::
: ~; : leading to~a source of supra-àtmospherlc pressure suc~ as a cb~
87~
pump 101, to the atmosphere, and to a source of vacuum such as a pump 102 respectivelyO A metallic cloth 19 o~ fine mesh is disposed over the hottom of the lower half and is covered with a membrane 20 of silicone rubber having a thickness ~hich may be of the order of 2 millime-ters. The membrane 20 is firmly held along its entire periphery between the bottom 12 and an annular frame or clamping member 21. The metallic cloth 19 may for example be of brass, and it holds the membrane 20 a short distance above the bottom 12 so as to prevent the membran_ -from being drawn into the conical portion 14 when the containeris subjected to a vacuum.
The upper half 1 of the container is of similar con-struction. The cover 22 likewise possesses in the cen.ral portion thereof an enlargement 23 with conical walls 24, connect-ing to a conduit 25. The conduit 25 is connected to the conduit 15 and may therefore be subjected to supra-atmospheric pressure, -~to the atmosphere or to a sub-atmospheric pressure by operation ' o valves 16, 17 and 18. There thus exists within the conduit 25 the same pressure as in the conduit 150 Beneath the cover 22 there is likewise provided a metallic fabric 26 of fine mesh which serves as a spacer for the membrane 27 of silicone rubber.
The membrane 27 is, like the membrane 20, bound at its edge between annutar clamp 28 and the cover 22.
.
The space within the container an~ between the mem- ~
- ; . . . ~ ~ .: :
branes 20 and 27 may be subjected to~sub-atmospheric or to .. :
atmospheric pressure via conduits 30 and 31 which pass through the sidewall 10.
Re~ractable struts 34 are provided the lower half of the container which extend toward the interior from the sidewall 30 and whlch serve as~supports for the glass sheet 35. These struts are coupled to the pistons oX hydraulic cylinders such , as the cylinder 36, and may therefore be retracted by action ..
_ ~b/
of those cylinders.
To produce a laminate the container i5 flrst op~ned by action of the cylinder 8 to pivot the upper half 1 of the container upwardly. A plastic sheet 38 is then placed in the lower half of the container, it being the upper face of this sheet which is tocome into contact with the glass. This upper surface may optionally be coated with an adhesive material activated by heat. Thereafter the sheet o glass 35 is set down on the struts 34, the glass having been previously heated in a suitable oven to a temperature suitable or activation of the adhesive~ The container is then clos~d by operation of the cylinder 8, to produce between the membranes 20 and 27 an air-tiyht enclosure containing the glass sheet 35 and the plastic sheet 38. Valve 18 is thereafter opened, and via con-duits 15 and 25 the pressure outside this enclosure, i.e. in ; tne spaces 13 and 23 between the membranes 20 and 27 ana the bottom 12 and the top 22 of the container respecL ~ly, is reduced to a suitable low value, which may be for example of the order of one-half millimeter of mercury. This reduction~
in pressure outsiae the enclosure is carried out in order to prevent premature squeezing together of -the glass and plas,ic ~ -sheets by the membranes during evacuation of the enclosure.
Evacuation of these spaces outside~tlle enclosure may be carried out before the container is closed. After the container has been closed and after the pressure in these spaces has been ~
suitably lowered, the valve 39 is opened, the valve in line 3}
being closedO~ This connects the conduit 30 to a vacuum pump - 103 so as to ex~aust the interior of the container, i.e. the enclOsure within ~hich the sheets 35~and 38 are disposed.
30 ~fter a time, which may ~e of the order of one minute, a ~--~ :
pressure of about half a milllmeter of mercury is obtained in the interior of the container. As soon as this degree of cb/~ - 8 -~ ~15087~ ~
vacuum has been reached, the valve 18 is closed and the valve 17 is slightly opened. This slowly re~establish~s a-tmospheric pressure outside the membranes 2C and 27. As indicated in FIGS.
:. . .: .
Q~
high optical quality. An advantaye of the process o the inven- `
tion resid~s in the fact that -the plastic sheet is pressed first against the center of the glass sheet and then progressivcly over the entire surface thereof in a regular fashionO ~he sur- `
face of the plastic sheet is thus applied progressively against tne glass. The result is a smooth and substantially p~rfect lamination of the glass and plastic sheets together.
~ In a presently preferred form of practice of the inven-;~ tion, the glass sheet is held horizontally and the plastic sheet is pressed by the elastic membrane against the lower face of the glass. `
It is desirable to degas the assembly under vacuum ` before laminating the glass and plastic sheets together, in order to eliminate gas or air bubbles between the two. During the degassing operation, i~ the face of the membrane a~.~ay from the laminate being formed is subjected to atmospheric pressure, the .~ , vacu~m emp1oyed for degassing will bulge the membrane against ~ ;
the plastic sheet so that an initial~portion of the pressing ~ ;
or laminating step will be carried out. In may however,~ be preferable to carry out the degassing without applying to the plastic and glass sheets any pressure tending to laminate tne two together. To this end, tlle vacuum or partial vacuum for , degassing may be provided on both sides of the membrane. When .
the desired degree of vacuum has been obtained between tne glass and plastic sheets to be laminated together, the process of laminating or pressing can begin. It may be be~un by re-establishing atmospheric or supra-atmospheric pressure on the side of the membrane away from the plastic sheet.
The process may be carried out by e~ploying~a plastic sheet previously coated with a layer of adhesive on the face thereof which is to contact the glass. It is also possible cb~ ~
` ' ' ' . .
1~5(:3387~
however to employ a separate adhesive foil interpos~d ~etween the glass and plastic sheets.
It is also possible to use for the plastic sheet a material which is self-adheslve to the glass when in ~h~ plastic state, without the employment of any further adhesives.
In one mode of carrying out the process of the inven-tion, there are employed for the plastic slleet (and for the adhesive, if a separate one is used~, materials ~hich can be -activated by heat. The pressing thereof against the glass sheet is then carried oUL at elevated temperature. For exa~ple, it is possible to preheat the glass sheet to the temperature necessary to obtain activation of the plastic and adhesion thereof to the glass, pressing of the plastic sheet to thQ
preheated glass being then carried out in an enclosure which is either at ambient temperature or at a temperature which need be only slightly higher than ambient.
During the pressing of the plastic sheet against the glass the latter is advantageously ~uttressed or backed up on the side thereof away from the plastic sheet by a rigid form~
,. :
2~ corresponding to the shape of the glass sheet itself. In this practice of the invention, lt~is of course necessary to possess such a form for every shape of windot~ ta ~e manu-factured. According to a variant of the process o~ the invention, the glass is supported during the pressing step -~
with~t~e help of a second highly elastic membrane whlcn is disposed on the side of the glass away from the plastic . ~ .
sheet a~d against which a pressure~is exerted equal;~to that 28 whicll is to be exerted on the membrane which is to press , c~
~ :
S01~70 ~ ~ ~
against the plastic sheet.
The inven~:ion also provides apparatus suitable .
: for practice of the process thereof. ~ccordlng to one feature thereof, this apparatlls compr:Lses ~ two-par~ contalner or receiver which can be tightLy closed, means to support the sheet ~ :~
of glass in ~ substantially horiæontal posltion and means to support within the container and benea~h the glass and at a ' certa:Ln distance thereErom an elastic membrane which extends `. over the entire cross-section of the container and which is . 10 fixed at its periphery, The apparatus further includes means to exhaust air from the container and means to maintain a `~ ~.
~ supra-atmospheric pressure below the lower surface of the :. . membrane, ~ ::
In one particular aspect the invention provides ,~
a method of laminating a flexible sheet to a surface of a ~
.~ ,. .member compris:Lng placing the flexible sheet on an extensible membrane, with the peripheral edges of the flexible sheet being :j free to be moved by the membrane; supporting the member above the extensible membrane with said surface for receiving the `:.
~1 20 flèxible sheet facing said flexible sheet; extending the membrane.l .1 to lift first a central portion of the flexible sheet toward said surface of the member and press said central portion onto said surface and thereafter progressively press the sheet onto . the surface radially outwarclly from said central portion of :~
the sheet. :
In another aspect the invention provides . ~.
.,., :
. a method of laminating a flexible sheet to a member comprising -:
I supp~rting the`member within a gas-evacuable enclosure, with a .~ first surface thereof facing downwardly; supporting the :-,. . ,~
.j 3Q flexible sheet on an extensible membrane mounted in the :~
enclosure and spaced from said one surface of the member, with ;~
,1f~ ,~ . "
105087~D
peripheral edges of the sheet beiag free to be moved by the membrane; evacuating the space between the surface and the exten~
sible membrane while maintaining the membrane spaced from said flrst surface; establishing a pressure differentia7 between the siae of the membrane facing said first surface and the side of the membrane ~ ;
remote from the surface whereby the membrane first lifts the central p~rtion of the flexible sheet into engagement: with a portion of the ` surface and thereafter progressively presses the sheet outwardly onto the surface. ~-In yet another aspect the invention provldes a method for laminating a plastic sheet to a surface of a glass sheet ~ ;
comprising: placing the plastic sheet on an extensible membrane wlth the peripheral edges of the sheet.being free to be moved by the mem-brane, supporting the glass sheet above the extensible membrane wi~h the surface to receive the plastic sheet facing said plastic sheet, extending the membrane to llft first a central portion of the plastic :~
sheet toward said surface of the glass sheet and press.said central portion onto said surface and thereafter progressively press the ~ -plastic sheet onto sald surface of the glass sheet radially ou~wardly 20 from said central portion of the sheet.
In a further aspect the invention provides : apparatus for la~inating sheets comprising, a base member9 an. exten~
.. sible:membrane having a surface :eor receiving a irst sheet wit:h the peripheral edges of said first sheet being free to be moved by the ~.
membrane, means fo-r mounting the periphery of the extensible member on the base member, support means spaced abo~e the membrane or:
releasably engaging peripheral edge portions o a second sheet, ~i~.h .
a surface of the second sheet facing the extensible membrane, means ;
for extending the membrane toward said surface of the second sheet - 30 to press the first sheet onto said surface progressi~ely radially .~: outwardly therefrom, means for releasing said support means as ~he ~ -,:. , , ~ Sa- ~
.~ ?
)5087~ ~
~ brane presses the first sheet onto ss~d surface of the second sheet, and an abutment for engagin8 the second sheet and the mem-brane presses the fi~st sheet onto the second sheet. ;~
- In yet a further aspect the invention provides apparatus for laminatlng a flex~ble sheet to a member comprisin~
a container having a base member~ an extenslble membrane mounted on ;~
` the base member for receiving the flexible sheet, with the peripheral ; edges of the flexible sheet being free to be moved by the membrane~
means mounting the membrane on the base membe.r with the periphery of .
the membrane fixed relative to the base member, support ~leans in the container spaced sbove the membrane for supporting the =ember above ~ ~;
the membrane with the surface thereof for receiving the flexible .
sheet faclng the membrane, means for reducing the pressure within the container beloa atmospheric pressure, means or extending the membrane toward said surface of the member, and an abutment in the contai~er ~or restralning movement of the member as the membrane is :
extended toward sald surface of the member.
- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TH~ DRAWINGS -:~
The invention will now be further described :
in terms of a number of presently preferred modes of practice thereof, ~ ~
I and in terms of a number of presently preferred exemplary embodiments ~`
of the apparatus thereof, all with respect to the accompanying draw~
ings, ln which~
.
Figure 1 is a vertical secti.onal viaw thlotlgh ona form of apparatus according to the invention suitable for practice of the process of the invention;
Figure 2 is a sectlonal view taken on the lin~
II of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a fragmentary view similar eo that - -~ 5b~
: : :
: ' ~
',: ~ . , :
;j ' :
. , ~ . .. . . . . . . . .
- ` oE Figure 1, on wh:icl~ llave been schemat:lcally :indicated three successive sta~es or pl~ ses in the process of the invention; ~:
FLgure 4 :is a section taken on the l:Lne IV-LV
of F:igure 3;
Flgure 5 is a vertical sectional view :~
illustrat:Lng a second form o apparatus in accordance with the invention; and Figure 6 .ts a sec~ional v:Lew talcen on the ~ line VI-VI of ~ i '; 1 0 . ~
-.~ `' ~'.
.... ..
: :~ .' . . ' -~
2 0 . r ~ ~
. . ;
' ,';
"1 ,` .
,~ - ;
` ~ ~
~ :~
., . ' ~ ~
,, ' :.. ~,;~, ,::
:, `', ~ '~
., . -:
~ Jl/ -Sc-~ ::
:-, , .. ~ . .
~05~87(~
FIG. 5.
D~scription of Preferr~d Modes of the Process and of Preferred Embodiments of the pparatus of the Invention The container illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises upper and lower halves 1 and 2. The two halves of the container and consequen~ly the container itself exhibit a shape which approxi~
mates that of the laminated glass to be manufactur2d. Con~
sequently, the internal yolume of the container is small and the container is evacuated or can be evacuated in a short period `:
of time. The lower halE 2 rests on feet 3. The upper half 1 is joined to the lower half 2 at a pivoting bearing or hinge 4 ~IG~ 2). The arm a of this hinge lS fixed to the upper half : 1.. At the end of the arm 5 there is provided a counterweight 6. The arm 5 is subjected to the action of a rod 7 coupled to the piston o~ a hydraulic cylinder 8, by means of which the container can be opened or closed, the upper half pivoting .
: about the axis of the bearing 4, : The upper half 1 of the container possesses aro~d ; the periphery of the cover 22 thereof~a downwardly~extending ~
sidewall 9, advantageously of~box-like cro~ss-sectLon as shown, ~nd the lower half 2 presents:~a;corresponding upwardly extendlng sidewall 10. On the upper edge of the lower sidewall ther~
is provided a gasket or sealing lip 11 of elast1c~material~
-which is compressed between tl-e sidewalls when~the two halves :~
~of the container are joined so as to close~the~container in~an air-tight fashion~for the maintenance-~of a vacumm or of supr~
atmospheric~pressure within it.~
: The bottom or floor~l2 of the lower half 2, from:which the wall~l0 extends upwardly, includes~an e~largement or sump ~ :
~. ~ 30 ~ 13 having conical walls 14 leading~to a conduit~15. The conduit : ~ 15 may be coupled through valves 16, 17~and 18 (FIG. :L~ to pipes ::
: ~; : leading to~a source of supra-àtmospherlc pressure suc~ as a cb~
87~
pump 101, to the atmosphere, and to a source of vacuum such as a pump 102 respectivelyO A metallic cloth 19 o~ fine mesh is disposed over the hottom of the lower half and is covered with a membrane 20 of silicone rubber having a thickness ~hich may be of the order of 2 millime-ters. The membrane 20 is firmly held along its entire periphery between the bottom 12 and an annular frame or clamping member 21. The metallic cloth 19 may for example be of brass, and it holds the membrane 20 a short distance above the bottom 12 so as to prevent the membran_ -from being drawn into the conical portion 14 when the containeris subjected to a vacuum.
The upper half 1 of the container is of similar con-struction. The cover 22 likewise possesses in the cen.ral portion thereof an enlargement 23 with conical walls 24, connect-ing to a conduit 25. The conduit 25 is connected to the conduit 15 and may therefore be subjected to supra-atmospheric pressure, -~to the atmosphere or to a sub-atmospheric pressure by operation ' o valves 16, 17 and 18. There thus exists within the conduit 25 the same pressure as in the conduit 150 Beneath the cover 22 there is likewise provided a metallic fabric 26 of fine mesh which serves as a spacer for the membrane 27 of silicone rubber.
The membrane 27 is, like the membrane 20, bound at its edge between annutar clamp 28 and the cover 22.
.
The space within the container an~ between the mem- ~
- ; . . . ~ ~ .: :
branes 20 and 27 may be subjected to~sub-atmospheric or to .. :
atmospheric pressure via conduits 30 and 31 which pass through the sidewall 10.
Re~ractable struts 34 are provided the lower half of the container which extend toward the interior from the sidewall 30 and whlch serve as~supports for the glass sheet 35. These struts are coupled to the pistons oX hydraulic cylinders such , as the cylinder 36, and may therefore be retracted by action ..
_ ~b/
of those cylinders.
To produce a laminate the container i5 flrst op~ned by action of the cylinder 8 to pivot the upper half 1 of the container upwardly. A plastic sheet 38 is then placed in the lower half of the container, it being the upper face of this sheet which is tocome into contact with the glass. This upper surface may optionally be coated with an adhesive material activated by heat. Thereafter the sheet o glass 35 is set down on the struts 34, the glass having been previously heated in a suitable oven to a temperature suitable or activation of the adhesive~ The container is then clos~d by operation of the cylinder 8, to produce between the membranes 20 and 27 an air-tiyht enclosure containing the glass sheet 35 and the plastic sheet 38. Valve 18 is thereafter opened, and via con-duits 15 and 25 the pressure outside this enclosure, i.e. in ; tne spaces 13 and 23 between the membranes 20 and 27 ana the bottom 12 and the top 22 of the container respecL ~ly, is reduced to a suitable low value, which may be for example of the order of one-half millimeter of mercury. This reduction~
in pressure outsiae the enclosure is carried out in order to prevent premature squeezing together of -the glass and plas,ic ~ -sheets by the membranes during evacuation of the enclosure.
Evacuation of these spaces outside~tlle enclosure may be carried out before the container is closed. After the container has been closed and after the pressure in these spaces has been ~
suitably lowered, the valve 39 is opened, the valve in line 3}
being closedO~ This connects the conduit 30 to a vacuum pump - 103 so as to ex~aust the interior of the container, i.e. the enclOsure within ~hich the sheets 35~and 38 are disposed.
30 ~fter a time, which may ~e of the order of one minute, a ~--~ :
pressure of about half a milllmeter of mercury is obtained in the interior of the container. As soon as this degree of cb/~ - 8 -~ ~15087~ ~
vacuum has been reached, the valve 18 is closed and the valve 17 is slightly opened. This slowly re~establish~s a-tmospheric pressure outside the membranes 2C and 27. As indicated in FIGS.
3 and 4, with growing pressure outside the membranes 20 and 27, the membranes are pressed fi~stly, and substantially simultaneously as between the two, against the center area of the plastic and `;~
glass sheets. The valve 39 being open to connect the conduit 30 to the source of vacuum, air remaining within the shrinking volume of the enclosure between the mem~ranes flow ou, through conduit 3Q, and the ~ressure in that enclosure remains at about half a millimeter of mercury. Thus the lower mem~rane 20 will stretch a little faster than the upper membrane, lifting the center portion of the plastic sheet into contact ~ith the glass.
The weight of the glass on the struts 34 is thereby reduced, and these are then withdrawn by operation of their hydraulic cylinders, as soon as the glass 35 is supported by the lower me~brane.
The condition of the mem~rane 20, at the time when it presses the center portlon of the~plastic sheet 38 against the glass sheet 35 t is indicated by the dash line 20' in FIG.
3~ whereas the condition of the upper membrane 27 at the same instant is shown by the dash line 27'. Gradually with inflation or deformation of the membranes due to the difference in air pressure on ~he two sides thereof, the limit of their contact~
with the glass and plastic sheets, and therefore the llmit o~ the area over which those *wo sheets have been pressed together, moves outward from the center toward the edges of .
those shee~s. In view of the fact that the tuo membranes are steadily and simultaneously inflate~ at the same rate, the glass is held in the central positlon shown in FIG. 3~ In consequence of the progr~ssive increase of the surface thereof with the lower me~brane 20, the plastic sheet 38 is laminated ¢b~ ~ 9 ~
~LO SID 8~
against the glass sheet 35 and is radially smoothed against the surface thereof. Two subse~uent phases of the deforma~ion of the membranes 20 and 27 are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 at the dash lines bearing those reference characters, doubly and triply primed. By virtue of intimate contact with the not glass sheet, the heat sensitive adhesive coating on the pl~stic sheet, or alternatively the plastic sheet itself, becomes plasticizea and thus insures adhesion of the plastic sheet to the glass. When atmospheric pressure has been re-established outside the mem~
10branes, i.e. in the spaces 13 and 23, the valve 17 is c:Losed , and air under pressure is introduced through the valve 16 until ., a pressure of approximately two atmospheres is applied to the ~ ~
. . , - .
laminate. This further improves the pressing and aahesion bet-ween the two sheets. The pressure of two atmospheres is main-tained for some 20 seconds, for example. Thereafter the va1ve 17 is opened, and atmospheric pressure is~re-established in the enclosure between the membranes Dy closing valve 39 and by opening the valve in line 31. The container is then finally opened by operation of the cylinder 8. The finished glass~
and plastic laminate rests under its own weight on`the lower;
::;
membrane 20 and may thereupon be removed from tlle container.
FIGS. 5 and 6 show another embodiment of the appar~
.
atus of the invention for practice of the method thereof.
This apparatus similarly possesses a lower container half 40 resting on feet 41 and an upper contain~er half or cover 42.
The cover 42 may pivot about the hinge 43 (FIG. 6~ which is supported in the lower half 40. A gasket 44 insures a vacuum , , ~ -. ~ .
~ and pressure-tight closure between the t~Jo halves~of the contain-~
- ~er. The hydraulic cylinder 46 coupled to the arm 45 serves 30 to open and close the container. ~ ' The cover 42 includes a rigid form 47 fixed to the cover by threaded rods 48. The form 47 is provided with a : ~ , cb/~ - 10 -: ~
,........... ., :. . .
- 3~05~87C~ ~
surface 47' conforming to the surface which the finished laminate, and more particularly the exterior ~ace of the , glass in the finished laminate, is to possess. ~dvantag~usly, e.g. in the case of ~indshields, this is a concave surf~ce.
By adjustment of hand wheels 49 it is possible to rotate these ~, rods and to adjust the height of the rigid form 47 inside the cover, as may be necessary when one form 47 is to be replaced with another of different shape. ~,~
The concave surface of this form corresponds exactly to that of the sheet of glass S0 with which it is to come in contact. When the apparatus is loaded for performance of a ~ -, laminating operation, the glass sheet 50 is fixed to this form by a pneumatically operated clamp. This clamp comprises pneumatic cylinders 51 ~FIG. 6) whose operating pistons 52 ~ ~ , carry fingers 53 protruding downwardly and which engage the edges of the glass sheet 50. The,lower surface ,of the glass ~
sheet 50 is thereby lef~ free for engagement against the ~ , plastic sheet, indicated at 54, which is to be laminated with . . . .
it. ` '~
In the lower half 40 of the container tnere is pro~
~ided a convex mating or counterform 55. ~t its centér form 55 possesses a conical opening 56 coupled with a conduit 57.
The conduit 57 can be subjected to supra-atmospheric pressure, , '' ' . .. .
,' to the atmosphere or to sub-atmospheric pressure ~y operation of the valves 58, 59 and 60 respectively. On the convex sur~
~ , face of the form 55 there is disposea a metallic fabric 61 of -i ~ fine mesh. Above this fabric is disposed a highly elastic ~'' and stretchable membrane 62 of silicone ru~ber which may have~
. ~, -, a t~ickness of the order of 2 miilimeters and which is held ~30 at its periphery against the form~S5 by means of an annular Glamp 63. The clamp 63 possosses a vertlcal flange which,~inen - the container~halves are closed, as~indicated in FIG. 5, ~ ;~
:. : .: ~ : : :
~ ~ c~
1~15~87~
extends above the lower edye of the form 47. The cle~rance between this flange and the vertical sidewa:Lls of the form 47 i~ made small enough to prevent expulsion through that clear-ance when the pressure below the membrane rises above the press~
ure above it. Evacuation and the establishmen-t of supra-atmospheric pressure within the closed container and above the membrane 62 are effected through the valved lines 65 and 66 respectively with the help of pumps 104 and 105.
In certain cases, when the plastic sheet 54 is very soft, it may be advantageous to rest on it an annular weight or frame 67. This frame corresponds approximately to the shape of the glass sheet 5~ but is somewhat larger so that the glass sheet may pass through it. The frame is of massive metal and rests freely on the plastic sheet 54. Its function is to hold the latter down at its periphery while the central portion thereo~ is being raised against the glass sheet 50 by operation ~ of the me~brane 62. There is thus obtained a supplementary - tension on the plastic sheet which hinders the formation o~
undesirable crea~es in that sheet.
The frame 67 may be fastened to the cover 42 in such fashion that when the container is closed it will auto-matically be applied against the plastic sheet. Sucn a frame may also be provided in the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2.
The difference between the apparatus of FIG. 4 and that of FIGS. 5 and 6 resides essentially in the fact that in the latter there is employed only a single membrane to press and to adhere the plastic sheet against the glass sheet, which , is held in a rigid form. The process o adhering the plastic ;~
5h~et 54 to the glass sheet 50 is in every respect the same as th~t~hereinabove described.
The invention thus provides a process for lam:inating ~ together a plurality of sheets in which the sheets are supported - c~ 12 -, il 05087~
in juxtaposition between two abutments at least one of which includes an extensible membrane, and in which fluid pressure is applied against the side of that membr~ne away from the sheets. The sheet adjacent that membrane is desirahly a flexi ble one, and the periphery of the membrane is de~irably held in fixed position~ According to the process of the invention an adhesive may be applied to one of the adjac~nt faces of the sheets being laminated. Desirakly, in the process oE the invention, the abutments are superposed one above the other with the abutment including a flexible membrane below the otller abutment and witn the sheets supported substantially horizontally - between the abutment and with the flexible sheet below the other sheet. According to another feature of the process of the invention, the pressure between the sheets is reduced to a level below atmospheric prior to application of pressure to the outside of the membrane. Desirably however, the~pressure lS
~ xeduced below atmospheric on both sides of the membrane before t~e pressure applying step, which may be performed by raising the pressure on the side o the membrane away from the sheets.
One of the abutments may be rigid, but both may be ~lexible membranes, and fluid pressure may tnen be applied a~ainst the sides of both of the membranes away from the sheets.
When one~of the sheets is stiff and the other is fle~ible, the - sheets are supported for lamination together with the flexible .
sheet adjacent the abutment including the membrane, i~ only one abutment includes a membrane.
Accoraing to a further feature~of the process to ~ the in~ention, t~e periphery of the flexible sheet is releasably - ~restrained during the pressure applying step. When one of the 30- sheets is stiff, support for the stiff sheet may be withdrawn ;~
after initiation of the pressure applying step.
From another aspect; the process of laminating a / ~ - 13 -- ~)50870 flexible sheet to a second sheet according to the invention comprises enclosing the sheets in an evacuable cha~ber having a flexible, extensible wall, e.g., as pro~ided by a membrane, reducing the pressure in the chamber below atmospheric, and thereafter applying to the side of the extensi~le wall remote ' from the chamber a supra-atmospheric pressure. Especially ~ ;
when one of the sheets being laminated is a sheet of glass J
it may be heated prior to introduction into the evacuable `
chamber. Whether or not the glass sheet is so heated, the plastic sheet and glass sheet are desirably pressed toqether at a central area thereof, and are thereafter pressed together over an area simultaneously increasing radially outwardly in all directions from that central area toward the edges of the sheets.
:. .
The invention also provides apparatus for laminat~
ing sheets which comprises means to support a sheet, an elastic ~ membrane, means to hold the periphery~of the membrane in~fixed position adjacent the support means~ and m~ans to apply~a fluid under pressure to the side of the membrane remote from th support means. The support means may be the retractable~
pins of FIG. 1, or the clamps of FIG. 5, or they may be merely the abutment, fixed or yielding, against which one of the sheets bears during the progressive process of 1aminatlon, such ~pins and clamps being dispensed with. The apparatus of the invention for laminating sheets may also be defined as compris~
ing means defining a closable;container, an abutment within the container for restraint of a sheet, conduit means through which the pressure within the container may be reduced below ~atmospheric~ a flexlble and extensible membrane~supported within the container adjacent the abutment, means to hold~the ,~ , . . .
periphery of the membrane a~aLnst a wall of the container, and conduit means~throu~h which fluld pressure between the mem~
~b~ 14 - ~
:~ .
` ~05~37(:~
brane and wall may be controlled. The abutment may be fixed, as in the case of the abutment 4~ of ~IG. 5, and the apparatus may further include means such as the flange ~3 surrounding that abutment w.ith close clearance to limit eY~tension of the membrane under pressure applied to the side thereof away from said abutment.
From another poin-t of view, the apparatus of the i.nvention for laminating a flexible sheet to ~ stiff sheet comprises a closable container (e.g. the space ~e~ween the .
membranes 20 and 27 of FIG. 1 and between the membrane 62 and the inside of cover 42 in FIG. 5), ahutment means within tne ~ ~
container against which the stif sheet can ~e stressed, an ~ :
.
. elastic membrane disposed adjacant the abutment and having .~
its periphery affixed to a wall of the container whe:reby the : ~:
membrane defines a boundary surface of the container. This is the case in both of the embodiments illustrated. The appar-atus then further comprises means defining, as at 13 in FI&. 1 and 55 in FIG. 5, a closed chamber~bounded in part by the face `
of the membrane opposite the face thereof exposed to the container, and means such as the lines 15, 30 and 31 of FIG. 1 and 57, 65 and 66 of FIG. 5, to control independently the pressures within the container and chamber.
~While the invention has been described hereinabove in terms of a number of presently preferre~ exemplary embodiments ~ :
thereof, the invention itself is not limited thereto but rather comprehends all modifications of and departures from those ~ :;
: embodiments properly; falling within the~spirit and scope of . 28 the appended claimsO ~ ; :
.
, cb~ . :
. :
,`, . ' :
glass sheets. The valve 39 being open to connect the conduit 30 to the source of vacuum, air remaining within the shrinking volume of the enclosure between the mem~ranes flow ou, through conduit 3Q, and the ~ressure in that enclosure remains at about half a millimeter of mercury. Thus the lower mem~rane 20 will stretch a little faster than the upper membrane, lifting the center portion of the plastic sheet into contact ~ith the glass.
The weight of the glass on the struts 34 is thereby reduced, and these are then withdrawn by operation of their hydraulic cylinders, as soon as the glass 35 is supported by the lower me~brane.
The condition of the mem~rane 20, at the time when it presses the center portlon of the~plastic sheet 38 against the glass sheet 35 t is indicated by the dash line 20' in FIG.
3~ whereas the condition of the upper membrane 27 at the same instant is shown by the dash line 27'. Gradually with inflation or deformation of the membranes due to the difference in air pressure on ~he two sides thereof, the limit of their contact~
with the glass and plastic sheets, and therefore the llmit o~ the area over which those *wo sheets have been pressed together, moves outward from the center toward the edges of .
those shee~s. In view of the fact that the tuo membranes are steadily and simultaneously inflate~ at the same rate, the glass is held in the central positlon shown in FIG. 3~ In consequence of the progr~ssive increase of the surface thereof with the lower me~brane 20, the plastic sheet 38 is laminated ¢b~ ~ 9 ~
~LO SID 8~
against the glass sheet 35 and is radially smoothed against the surface thereof. Two subse~uent phases of the deforma~ion of the membranes 20 and 27 are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 at the dash lines bearing those reference characters, doubly and triply primed. By virtue of intimate contact with the not glass sheet, the heat sensitive adhesive coating on the pl~stic sheet, or alternatively the plastic sheet itself, becomes plasticizea and thus insures adhesion of the plastic sheet to the glass. When atmospheric pressure has been re-established outside the mem~
10branes, i.e. in the spaces 13 and 23, the valve 17 is c:Losed , and air under pressure is introduced through the valve 16 until ., a pressure of approximately two atmospheres is applied to the ~ ~
. . , - .
laminate. This further improves the pressing and aahesion bet-ween the two sheets. The pressure of two atmospheres is main-tained for some 20 seconds, for example. Thereafter the va1ve 17 is opened, and atmospheric pressure is~re-established in the enclosure between the membranes Dy closing valve 39 and by opening the valve in line 31. The container is then finally opened by operation of the cylinder 8. The finished glass~
and plastic laminate rests under its own weight on`the lower;
::;
membrane 20 and may thereupon be removed from tlle container.
FIGS. 5 and 6 show another embodiment of the appar~
.
atus of the invention for practice of the method thereof.
This apparatus similarly possesses a lower container half 40 resting on feet 41 and an upper contain~er half or cover 42.
The cover 42 may pivot about the hinge 43 (FIG. 6~ which is supported in the lower half 40. A gasket 44 insures a vacuum , , ~ -. ~ .
~ and pressure-tight closure between the t~Jo halves~of the contain-~
- ~er. The hydraulic cylinder 46 coupled to the arm 45 serves 30 to open and close the container. ~ ' The cover 42 includes a rigid form 47 fixed to the cover by threaded rods 48. The form 47 is provided with a : ~ , cb/~ - 10 -: ~
,........... ., :. . .
- 3~05~87C~ ~
surface 47' conforming to the surface which the finished laminate, and more particularly the exterior ~ace of the , glass in the finished laminate, is to possess. ~dvantag~usly, e.g. in the case of ~indshields, this is a concave surf~ce.
By adjustment of hand wheels 49 it is possible to rotate these ~, rods and to adjust the height of the rigid form 47 inside the cover, as may be necessary when one form 47 is to be replaced with another of different shape. ~,~
The concave surface of this form corresponds exactly to that of the sheet of glass S0 with which it is to come in contact. When the apparatus is loaded for performance of a ~ -, laminating operation, the glass sheet 50 is fixed to this form by a pneumatically operated clamp. This clamp comprises pneumatic cylinders 51 ~FIG. 6) whose operating pistons 52 ~ ~ , carry fingers 53 protruding downwardly and which engage the edges of the glass sheet 50. The,lower surface ,of the glass ~
sheet 50 is thereby lef~ free for engagement against the ~ , plastic sheet, indicated at 54, which is to be laminated with . . . .
it. ` '~
In the lower half 40 of the container tnere is pro~
~ided a convex mating or counterform 55. ~t its centér form 55 possesses a conical opening 56 coupled with a conduit 57.
The conduit 57 can be subjected to supra-atmospheric pressure, , '' ' . .. .
,' to the atmosphere or to sub-atmospheric pressure ~y operation of the valves 58, 59 and 60 respectively. On the convex sur~
~ , face of the form 55 there is disposea a metallic fabric 61 of -i ~ fine mesh. Above this fabric is disposed a highly elastic ~'' and stretchable membrane 62 of silicone ru~ber which may have~
. ~, -, a t~ickness of the order of 2 miilimeters and which is held ~30 at its periphery against the form~S5 by means of an annular Glamp 63. The clamp 63 possosses a vertlcal flange which,~inen - the container~halves are closed, as~indicated in FIG. 5, ~ ;~
:. : .: ~ : : :
~ ~ c~
1~15~87~
extends above the lower edye of the form 47. The cle~rance between this flange and the vertical sidewa:Lls of the form 47 i~ made small enough to prevent expulsion through that clear-ance when the pressure below the membrane rises above the press~
ure above it. Evacuation and the establishmen-t of supra-atmospheric pressure within the closed container and above the membrane 62 are effected through the valved lines 65 and 66 respectively with the help of pumps 104 and 105.
In certain cases, when the plastic sheet 54 is very soft, it may be advantageous to rest on it an annular weight or frame 67. This frame corresponds approximately to the shape of the glass sheet 5~ but is somewhat larger so that the glass sheet may pass through it. The frame is of massive metal and rests freely on the plastic sheet 54. Its function is to hold the latter down at its periphery while the central portion thereo~ is being raised against the glass sheet 50 by operation ~ of the me~brane 62. There is thus obtained a supplementary - tension on the plastic sheet which hinders the formation o~
undesirable crea~es in that sheet.
The frame 67 may be fastened to the cover 42 in such fashion that when the container is closed it will auto-matically be applied against the plastic sheet. Sucn a frame may also be provided in the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2.
The difference between the apparatus of FIG. 4 and that of FIGS. 5 and 6 resides essentially in the fact that in the latter there is employed only a single membrane to press and to adhere the plastic sheet against the glass sheet, which , is held in a rigid form. The process o adhering the plastic ;~
5h~et 54 to the glass sheet 50 is in every respect the same as th~t~hereinabove described.
The invention thus provides a process for lam:inating ~ together a plurality of sheets in which the sheets are supported - c~ 12 -, il 05087~
in juxtaposition between two abutments at least one of which includes an extensible membrane, and in which fluid pressure is applied against the side of that membr~ne away from the sheets. The sheet adjacent that membrane is desirahly a flexi ble one, and the periphery of the membrane is de~irably held in fixed position~ According to the process of the invention an adhesive may be applied to one of the adjac~nt faces of the sheets being laminated. Desirakly, in the process oE the invention, the abutments are superposed one above the other with the abutment including a flexible membrane below the otller abutment and witn the sheets supported substantially horizontally - between the abutment and with the flexible sheet below the other sheet. According to another feature of the process of the invention, the pressure between the sheets is reduced to a level below atmospheric prior to application of pressure to the outside of the membrane. Desirably however, the~pressure lS
~ xeduced below atmospheric on both sides of the membrane before t~e pressure applying step, which may be performed by raising the pressure on the side o the membrane away from the sheets.
One of the abutments may be rigid, but both may be ~lexible membranes, and fluid pressure may tnen be applied a~ainst the sides of both of the membranes away from the sheets.
When one~of the sheets is stiff and the other is fle~ible, the - sheets are supported for lamination together with the flexible .
sheet adjacent the abutment including the membrane, i~ only one abutment includes a membrane.
Accoraing to a further feature~of the process to ~ the in~ention, t~e periphery of the flexible sheet is releasably - ~restrained during the pressure applying step. When one of the 30- sheets is stiff, support for the stiff sheet may be withdrawn ;~
after initiation of the pressure applying step.
From another aspect; the process of laminating a / ~ - 13 -- ~)50870 flexible sheet to a second sheet according to the invention comprises enclosing the sheets in an evacuable cha~ber having a flexible, extensible wall, e.g., as pro~ided by a membrane, reducing the pressure in the chamber below atmospheric, and thereafter applying to the side of the extensi~le wall remote ' from the chamber a supra-atmospheric pressure. Especially ~ ;
when one of the sheets being laminated is a sheet of glass J
it may be heated prior to introduction into the evacuable `
chamber. Whether or not the glass sheet is so heated, the plastic sheet and glass sheet are desirably pressed toqether at a central area thereof, and are thereafter pressed together over an area simultaneously increasing radially outwardly in all directions from that central area toward the edges of the sheets.
:. .
The invention also provides apparatus for laminat~
ing sheets which comprises means to support a sheet, an elastic ~ membrane, means to hold the periphery~of the membrane in~fixed position adjacent the support means~ and m~ans to apply~a fluid under pressure to the side of the membrane remote from th support means. The support means may be the retractable~
pins of FIG. 1, or the clamps of FIG. 5, or they may be merely the abutment, fixed or yielding, against which one of the sheets bears during the progressive process of 1aminatlon, such ~pins and clamps being dispensed with. The apparatus of the invention for laminating sheets may also be defined as compris~
ing means defining a closable;container, an abutment within the container for restraint of a sheet, conduit means through which the pressure within the container may be reduced below ~atmospheric~ a flexlble and extensible membrane~supported within the container adjacent the abutment, means to hold~the ,~ , . . .
periphery of the membrane a~aLnst a wall of the container, and conduit means~throu~h which fluld pressure between the mem~
~b~ 14 - ~
:~ .
` ~05~37(:~
brane and wall may be controlled. The abutment may be fixed, as in the case of the abutment 4~ of ~IG. 5, and the apparatus may further include means such as the flange ~3 surrounding that abutment w.ith close clearance to limit eY~tension of the membrane under pressure applied to the side thereof away from said abutment.
From another poin-t of view, the apparatus of the i.nvention for laminating a flexible sheet to ~ stiff sheet comprises a closable container (e.g. the space ~e~ween the .
membranes 20 and 27 of FIG. 1 and between the membrane 62 and the inside of cover 42 in FIG. 5), ahutment means within tne ~ ~
container against which the stif sheet can ~e stressed, an ~ :
.
. elastic membrane disposed adjacant the abutment and having .~
its periphery affixed to a wall of the container whe:reby the : ~:
membrane defines a boundary surface of the container. This is the case in both of the embodiments illustrated. The appar-atus then further comprises means defining, as at 13 in FI&. 1 and 55 in FIG. 5, a closed chamber~bounded in part by the face `
of the membrane opposite the face thereof exposed to the container, and means such as the lines 15, 30 and 31 of FIG. 1 and 57, 65 and 66 of FIG. 5, to control independently the pressures within the container and chamber.
~While the invention has been described hereinabove in terms of a number of presently preferre~ exemplary embodiments ~ :
thereof, the invention itself is not limited thereto but rather comprehends all modifications of and departures from those ~ :;
: embodiments properly; falling within the~spirit and scope of . 28 the appended claimsO ~ ; :
.
, cb~ . :
. :
,`, . ' :
Claims (36)
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A method of laminating a flexible sheet to a surface of a member comprising:
placing the flexible sheet on an extensible membrane, with the peripheral edges of the flexible sheet being free to be moved by the membrane;
supporting the member above the extensible membrane with said surface for receiving the flexible sheet facing said flexible sheet;
extending the membrane to lift first a central portion of the flexible sheet toward said surface of the member and press said central portion onto said surface and thereafter progressively press the sheet onto the surface radially outwardly from said central portion of the sheet.
placing the flexible sheet on an extensible membrane, with the peripheral edges of the flexible sheet being free to be moved by the membrane;
supporting the member above the extensible membrane with said surface for receiving the flexible sheet facing said flexible sheet;
extending the membrane to lift first a central portion of the flexible sheet toward said surface of the member and press said central portion onto said surface and thereafter progressively press the sheet onto the surface radially outwardly from said central portion of the sheet.
2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the membrane is extended by fluid pressure.
3. A method as in claim 1 wherein the member is peripherally supported before the membrane is extended.
4. A method as in claim 1 wherein, while the flexible sheet is pressed onto said surface of the member, the member is engaged by a second extensible membrane on a second surface oppo-site to the first mentioned surface.
5. A method as in claim 4 wherein the second extensible membrane is extended by fluid pressure.
6. A method as in claim 5 wherein the extensible membranes engage the member substantially simultaneously.
7. A method as in claim 6 wherein the second membrane engages a central portion of the second surface and the membranes are extended radially outwardly at substantially the same rate.
8. A method as in claim 1 wherein the surface of the member is heated before the sheet is pressed onto the surface.
9. A method as in claim 1 wherein the member is a trans-parent sheet.
10. A method as in claim 9 wherein said surface of the transparent sheet onto which the flexible sheet is pressure is concave.
11. A method as in claim 1 wherein an adhesive is disposed between the flexible sheet and said surface of the member.
12. A method of laminating a flexible sheet to a member comprising:
supporting the member within a gas-evacuable enclosure, with a first surface thereof facing downwardly;
supporting the flexible sheet on an extensible membrane mounted in the enclosure and spaced from said one surface of the.
member, with the peripheral edges of the . sheet being free to be moved by the membrane;
evacuating the space between the surface and the extensi-ble membrane while maintaining the membrane spaced from said first surface;
establishing a pressure differential between the side of the membrane facing said first surface and the side of the mem-brane remote from the surface whereby the membrane first lifts the central portion of the flexible sheet into engagement with a portion of the surface and thereafter progressively presses the sheet outwardly onto the surface.
supporting the member within a gas-evacuable enclosure, with a first surface thereof facing downwardly;
supporting the flexible sheet on an extensible membrane mounted in the enclosure and spaced from said one surface of the.
member, with the peripheral edges of the . sheet being free to be moved by the membrane;
evacuating the space between the surface and the extensi-ble membrane while maintaining the membrane spaced from said first surface;
establishing a pressure differential between the side of the membrane facing said first surface and the side of the mem-brane remote from the surface whereby the membrane first lifts the central portion of the flexible sheet into engagement with a portion of the surface and thereafter progressively presses the sheet outwardly onto the surface.
13. A method as in claim 12 wherein the member is supported in the enclosure with said first surface substantially with said horizontally disposed.
14. A method as in claim 12 wherein said first surface is heated before the flexible sheet is pressed onto the surface,
15. A method as in claim 12 wherein the member is supported at its periphery prior to pressing of the flexible sheet onto said first surface.
16. A method as in claim 12 wherein a second extensible membrane engages a second surface of the member remote from said first surface while the sheet is applied to said first surface.
17. A method as in claim 16 wherein a pressure differential is established between said second surface of the member and said second membrane to cause said second membrane to engage progress-ively said second surface of the member.
18. A method as in claim 16 wherein, during the pressing of the flexible sheet onto said first surface, the member is supported between the first and second membranes.
19. A method as in claim 12 wherein said first surface of the member is concave.
20. A method as in claim 12 wherein the member is a light transmitting sheet and the flexible sheet is light-transmitting.
21. A method as in Claim 12 wherein the member is an automotive windshield and the flexible sheet is transparent.
22. A method as in claim 12 including the step of releasably restraining the periphery of the flexible sheet as it is pressed onto the first surface.
23. A method for laminating a plastic sheet to a surface of a glass sheet comprising:
placing the plastic sheet on an extensible membrane with the peripheral edges of the sheet being free to be moved by the membrane, supporting the glass sheet above the exten-sible membrane with the surface to receive the plastic sheet facing said plastic sheet, extending the membrane to lift first a central portion of the plastic sheet toward said surface of the glass sheet and press said central portion onto said surface and thereafter pro-gressively press the plastic sheet onto said surface of the glass sheet radially outwardly from said central portion of the sheet.
placing the plastic sheet on an extensible membrane with the peripheral edges of the sheet being free to be moved by the membrane, supporting the glass sheet above the exten-sible membrane with the surface to receive the plastic sheet facing said plastic sheet, extending the membrane to lift first a central portion of the plastic sheet toward said surface of the glass sheet and press said central portion onto said surface and thereafter pro-gressively press the plastic sheet onto said surface of the glass sheet radially outwardly from said central portion of the sheet.
24. A method as in Claim 23 wherein said surface of the glass sheet is concave.
25. Apparatus for laminating sheets comprising, a base member, an extensible membrane having a surface for receiving a first sheet with the peripheral edges of said first sheet being free to be moved by the membrane, means for mounting the periphery of the exten-sible member on the base member, support means spaced above the membrane for releasably engaging peripheral edge portions of a second sheet, with a surface of the second sheet facing the extensible membrane, means for extending the membrane toward said surface of the second sheet to press the first sheet onto said surface progressively radially outwardly therefrom, means for releasing said support means as the membrane presses the first sheet onto said surface of the second sheet, and an abutment for engaging the second sheet as the membrane presses the first sheet onto the second sheet.
26. Apparatus as in Claim 25 wherein the abutment comprises an extensible membrane.
27. Apparatus for laminating a flexible sheet to a member comprising:
a container having a base member, an extensible membrane mounted on the base member for receiving the flexible sheet, with the peripheral edges of the flexible sheet being free to be moved by the membrane, means mounting the membrane on the base member with the periphery of the membrane fixed relative to the base member, ~ support means in the container spaced above the membrane for supporting the member above the membrane with the surface thereof for receiving the flexible sheet facing the membrane . means for reducing the pressure within the container below atmospheric pressure, ~ means for extending the membrane toward said surface of the member, and an abutment in the container for restraining : `
movement of the member as the membrane is extended toward said surface of the member.
a container having a base member, an extensible membrane mounted on the base member for receiving the flexible sheet, with the peripheral edges of the flexible sheet being free to be moved by the membrane, means mounting the membrane on the base member with the periphery of the membrane fixed relative to the base member, ~ support means in the container spaced above the membrane for supporting the member above the membrane with the surface thereof for receiving the flexible sheet facing the membrane . means for reducing the pressure within the container below atmospheric pressure, ~ means for extending the membrane toward said surface of the member, and an abutment in the container for restraining : `
movement of the member as the membrane is extended toward said surface of the member.
28. Apparatus as in claim 27 wherein the means for extending the membrane toward said surface comprises means for establishing a fluid pressure differential between the side of the membrane facing the said surface and the side of the membrane:
remote from said surface.
remote from said surface.
29. Apparatus as in claim 27 wherein the support means includes means for engaging the member and means for disengaging the engaging means from the member as the membrane is extended toward said surface.
30. Apparatus as in claim 27 wherein the membrane comprises an elastic sheet.
31. Apparatus as in claim 27 wherein the abutment comprises an extensible membrane mounted above said member and means for extending the abutment membrane toward the member.
32. Apparatus as in claim 31 and further including means for maintaining the membranes in spaced relation to the member as the pressure within the container is reduced below atmospheric pressure.
33. Apparatus as in claim 27 wherein the container comprises upper and lower separable sections and means for forming a fluid seal between the sections.
34. Apparatus as in claim 33 wherein the extensible membrane is mounted in the lower section.
35. Apparatus as in claim 34 wherein the abutment comprises an extensible membrane and means mounting the periphery of the abutment membrane on the upper section of the container.
36. Apparatus as in claim 27 wherein the container includes a conical sump in fluid communication with the side of the exten-sible membrane remote from said surface.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR7319035A FR2230599B1 (en) | 1973-05-25 | 1973-05-25 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1050870A true CA1050870A (en) | 1979-03-20 |
Family
ID=9119988
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA200,745A Expired CA1050870A (en) | 1973-05-25 | 1974-05-24 | Method and apparatus for manufacture of laminated glazing |
Country Status (20)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5812140B2 (en) |
| AR (1) | AR199256A1 (en) |
| AT (1) | AT361650B (en) |
| BE (1) | BE815526A (en) |
| BR (1) | BR7404234D0 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1050870A (en) |
| CH (1) | CH599063A5 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2424085C3 (en) |
| DK (1) | DK154551C (en) |
| ES (1) | ES426674A1 (en) |
| FI (1) | FI56367C (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2230599B1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB1449767A (en) |
| IN (1) | IN140352B (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1012730B (en) |
| LU (1) | LU70154A1 (en) |
| NL (1) | NL7406988A (en) |
| NO (1) | NO741896L (en) |
| SE (1) | SE408769C (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA743335B (en) |
Families Citing this family (23)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS51126276A (en) * | 1975-04-25 | 1976-11-04 | Victor Co Of Japan Ltd | Manufacturing sheet-overlaid products |
| JPS5343772A (en) * | 1976-10-01 | 1978-04-20 | Victor Company Of Japan | Apparatus for production of article overrlayed with sheet |
| JPS5548727A (en) * | 1978-10-02 | 1980-04-08 | Hitachi Ltd | Asembling device of liquid crystal displaying cell |
| US4300966A (en) * | 1979-10-15 | 1981-11-17 | B & H Manufacturing Company, Inc. | Base cup applying apparatus and method |
| IT1129885B (en) * | 1979-11-27 | 1986-06-11 | Bfg Glassgroup | PROCEDURE FOR FORMING A MULTI-LAYER LAMINATE |
| JPS5761560A (en) * | 1980-09-30 | 1982-04-14 | Matsushita Electric Works Ltd | Manufacture of building board |
| FR2513940A1 (en) * | 1981-10-05 | 1983-04-08 | Corning Glass Works | LAMINATED OPHTHALMIC GLASS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME |
| GB2124548B (en) * | 1982-04-30 | 1985-09-11 | Glaverbel | Process of forming a curved glass-plastics laminate |
| FR2530186A1 (en) * | 1982-07-19 | 1984-01-20 | Saint Gobain Vitrage | PROCESS FOR COVERING A PLASTIC PROTECTION FILM A GLASS OF GLASSES OF GLASSES AND DEVICE FOR CARRYING OUT SAID METHOD |
| FR2546635B1 (en) * | 1983-05-25 | 1986-07-04 | Saint Gobain Vitrage | PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR COVERING A BLIND OF GLASSES GLASSES WITH A PROTECTIVE SHEET |
| FI74239C (en) * | 1985-08-14 | 1988-01-11 | Artlog Oy | FOERFARANDE FOER FRAMSTAELLNING AV CROEKTA LAMINATYTOR GENOM LIMNING. |
| DE3538986C3 (en) * | 1985-11-02 | 1994-11-24 | Deutsche Aerospace | Method of manufacturing a solar generator |
| DE69619085T2 (en) | 1995-12-28 | 2002-06-20 | Asahi Glass Co., Ltd. | Cross-linked polyurethane sheet and composite made from it |
| DE19903171C2 (en) * | 1999-01-27 | 2003-03-20 | Saint Gobain Sekurit D Gmbh | Method and device for laminating composite panes |
| DE10002277B4 (en) * | 2000-01-20 | 2004-10-28 | Glaswerke Arnold Gmbh & Co. Kg | Process for the production of laminated safety glass |
| DE10323234B4 (en) * | 2003-05-22 | 2008-10-30 | Webasto Ag | Method for producing a curved pane arrangement for a vehicle |
| DE102004034175B3 (en) * | 2004-07-15 | 2005-09-08 | Webasto Ag | Curved vehicle screen, is formed by applying a plastic film onto a glass sheet using a die, and then heat treating the composite material formed under reduced pressure |
| DE102005024857B3 (en) * | 2005-05-31 | 2006-11-16 | Webasto Ag | Lamination process for curved windscreen for motor vehicle involves inserting at least one flexible spacer in thinned-out region of cover foil between it and windscreen |
| CN110073101B (en) | 2016-12-21 | 2024-01-23 | 西门子歌美飒可再生能源公司 | Method for applying a protective layer to a wind turbine rotor blade |
| DE102017207452A1 (en) * | 2017-05-03 | 2018-11-08 | Faurecia Innenraum Systeme Gmbh | Method and mold for producing a component for use in a vehicle interior |
| DE102017208038A1 (en) * | 2017-05-12 | 2018-11-15 | Karl Wörwag Lack- Und Farbenfabrik Gmbh & Co. Kg | Method and tool for bubble-free application of a flat substrate on a surface of a workpiece |
| KR101959167B1 (en) * | 2018-06-29 | 2019-03-15 | 김진방 | Double Glass Manufacturing Method and Double Glass Produced Thereby |
| US11173696B2 (en) * | 2019-08-01 | 2021-11-16 | B/E Aerospace, Inc. | Conduction heating for HVA lamination process |
Family Cites Families (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DK42149C (en) * | 1928-10-17 | 1930-05-05 | Morris Greenhill | Method and Apparatus for the manufacture of composite glass sheets which do not shatter or crack. |
| FR2034169B1 (en) * | 1969-02-17 | 1974-02-22 | Saint Gobain Pont A Mousson | |
| DE2026258A1 (en) * | 1970-05-29 | 1971-12-09 | Kalle Ag | Method and device for the manufacture of a format flat structure |
-
1973
- 1973-05-25 FR FR7319035A patent/FR2230599B1/fr not_active Expired
-
1974
- 1974-05-16 AT AT406274A patent/AT361650B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1974-05-17 DE DE2424085A patent/DE2424085C3/en not_active Expired
- 1974-05-20 GB GB2249774A patent/GB1449767A/en not_active Expired
- 1974-05-22 IT IT23069/74A patent/IT1012730B/en active
- 1974-05-22 AR AR253872A patent/AR199256A1/en active
- 1974-05-22 SE SE7406871A patent/SE408769C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1974-05-23 BR BR4234/74A patent/BR7404234D0/en unknown
- 1974-05-24 LU LU70154A patent/LU70154A1/xx unknown
- 1974-05-24 CH CH713074A patent/CH599063A5/xx not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1974-05-24 FI FI1607/74A patent/FI56367C/en active
- 1974-05-24 BE BE144743A patent/BE815526A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1974-05-24 NL NL7406988A patent/NL7406988A/xx not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1974-05-24 CA CA200,745A patent/CA1050870A/en not_active Expired
- 1974-05-24 ZA ZA00743335A patent/ZA743335B/en unknown
- 1974-05-24 NO NO741896A patent/NO741896L/en unknown
- 1974-05-24 DK DK284574A patent/DK154551C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1974-05-25 ES ES426674A patent/ES426674A1/en not_active Expired
- 1974-05-25 JP JP49058429A patent/JPS5812140B2/en not_active Expired
- 1974-05-25 IN IN1155/CAL/74A patent/IN140352B/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB1449767A (en) | 1976-09-15 |
| NO135241C (en) | 1977-03-09 |
| DE2424085C3 (en) | 1976-01-02 |
| BE815526A (en) | 1974-11-25 |
| IN140352B (en) | 1976-10-23 |
| DE2424085A1 (en) | 1974-12-12 |
| DK154551C (en) | 1989-04-17 |
| NO135241B (en) | 1976-11-29 |
| ZA743335B (en) | 1975-05-28 |
| DE2424085B2 (en) | 1975-05-07 |
| JPS5812140B2 (en) | 1983-03-07 |
| NL7406988A (en) | 1974-11-27 |
| FR2230599B1 (en) | 1976-11-12 |
| IT1012730B (en) | 1977-03-10 |
| SE408769B (en) | 1979-07-09 |
| AU6906674A (en) | 1975-11-20 |
| ATA406274A (en) | 1980-08-15 |
| CH599063A5 (en) | 1978-05-12 |
| FI56367B (en) | 1979-09-28 |
| FR2230599A1 (en) | 1974-12-20 |
| ES426674A1 (en) | 1976-07-16 |
| SE408769C (en) | 1985-04-29 |
| AR199256A1 (en) | 1974-08-14 |
| AT361650B (en) | 1981-03-25 |
| FI56367C (en) | 1980-01-10 |
| JPS5027874A (en) | 1975-03-22 |
| FI160774A (en) | 1974-11-26 |
| DK284574A (en) | 1975-01-20 |
| DK154551B (en) | 1988-11-28 |
| BR7404234D0 (en) | 1975-09-30 |
| NO741896L (en) | 1974-11-26 |
| LU70154A1 (en) | 1975-02-24 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| CA1050870A (en) | Method and apparatus for manufacture of laminated glazing | |
| US4247355A (en) | Apparatus for manufacture of laminated glazing | |
| US4944822A (en) | Method for press-bonding laminated assembly | |
| CA2388107C (en) | Method and film for producing laminated safety glass panes | |
| JP3464671B2 (en) | Pre-lamination of glass and plastic and formation of double-layer glass | |
| US4504341A (en) | Fabricating shaped laminated transparencies | |
| US4724023A (en) | Method of making laminated glass | |
| CA1189781A (en) | Method of forming shaped laminates | |
| KR100531029B1 (en) | Method for producing a compound glazing sheet and method for implementing same | |
| US3960627A (en) | Manufacture of glazing | |
| US4647327A (en) | Process of forming multi-play laminates | |
| EP0194555B1 (en) | Process for producing a laminate | |
| US4704174A (en) | Method for manufacturing a laminated window | |
| US3972766A (en) | Apparatus for fabricating flat objects | |
| US6942751B1 (en) | Method and apparatus for thermoforming of plastic sheets | |
| JPH11207911A (en) | Method for molding composite material and molding device | |
| US2673822A (en) | Preliminary pressing of bent laminated glass | |
| JPH02162016A (en) | Method for forming composite material | |
| CA1209892A (en) | Fabricating shaped laminated transparencies | |
| CN111361239B (en) | Wet laminated glass using inflatable surrounding edge strips and preparation method thereof | |
| US4419176A (en) | Apparatus comprising arrangement of vacuum cups to assemble one or more bent glass sheets with a sheet of flexible interlayer material | |
| GB2045681A (en) | Manufacture of glass laminates | |
| JPH09241046A (en) | Pressure bonding device for laminate | |
| JPS6371332A (en) | Manufacture of laminate material | |
| JPH0375246A (en) | Bonding method for laminated glass and system therefor |