GB1476066A - Heat treatment of glass sheets - Google Patents

Abstract

1476066 Heat treating glass sheets; bending and tempering glass sheets SAINT GOBAIN INDUSTRIES 4 Feb 1975 [8 Feb 1974] 4731/75 Heading C1M In the heat treating of glass sheets 3, 4 in which vertically suspended sheets are introduced into a furnace 1 through an opening 2 and from which they are extracted for treatment at a station B and/or C, a sheet 3 having reached the desired temperature is transported to the treatment station B while in the same place E<SP>1</SP> and a second sheet 4 is introduced into the furnace 1 in a plane E<SP>11</SP> parallel to the plane E<SP>1</SP> and during treatment of the first sheet 3, is heated to a desired temperature and is moved into the first plane E<SP>1</SP> before being extracted from the furnace and transported to the treatment station. As shown, Fig. 1, a sheet 3 at treatment station B is bent between moulds 10, 11 and is then lifted to treatment station C where it is tempered between blast boxes 12, 13, the sheet 3 then being returned to station B, where it is transferred from plane E<SP>1</SP> to plane E<SP>11</SP> and removed. Preferably the transfers of the two sheets take place at the same time. The treatment station may alternatively be for coating the glass sheets and more than two treatment stations may be provided. The treatment stations may succeed each other in a horizontal direction. The glass sheets 3, 4 are suspended from self closing clamps 5, 6 fixed to carriages 7, 8 which are connected to suspension devices which bring them to the different positions and planes. As shown in Fig. 2 in which the furnace 1 has a cover 16 pivoted out of the way during extraction and introduction of the sheets 3, 4, each carriage 7, 8 comprises a traverse 17 and a suspension bar 16 on which the clamps 5, 6 may be hooked at any position. The traverse 17 carries lugs 19 for engagement by an elevator 20 to take the carriage from station B to station C and a projection 25 (or 25<SP>1</SP>) at each end which rests on a finger 26 (or 26<SP>1</SP>) fixed to a chain 27. The elevator 20 has ratchet mechanisms 23 to engage the lugs 19 and moves vertically along guide rails 22 under the action of chains 21. The endless chain 27 turns on sprocket wheels 28, 29, driven by a shaft 30, the straight sections of chains 27 lying in the planes E<SP>1</SP> and E<SP>11</SP>, so that when moved thereby, the traverses 17 first transfer from one plane to the other and then the arc is raised as the other is lowered. In an alternative apparatus, two side by side sliders move vertically on guide rails, one having a flat support for the end of the traverse and the other, which also extends upwardly to the treatment station C, having a catch to engage the traverse, the sideways movements being by means of arms engaging the traverse at the furnace and treatment station B.