GB756289A - Method and apparatus for bending and handling glass sheets - Google Patents

Abstract

756,289. Glass manufacture LIBBEY-OWENS-FORD GLASS CO. Oct. 12, 1954 [Oct. 12, 1953], No. 29326/54. Class 56 [Also in Groups XII and XXX] Glass sheets, particularly a pair of sheets 38 for a curved windscreen, are bent by sagging on to a conventional hinged mould, Fig. 1, when complex bends are needed or on to a conventional "solid ring" mould, Fig. 5, when simple bends are required, and the glass is separated from the mould as soon as possible so that it is cooled apart from the mould. This avoids non- uniform cooling and "chill cracks" due to temperature differences with the mould, and allows the moulds to be withdrawn from the heating and cooling line for recharging with flat glass. The sheets are transversed through a furnace with transfer means connecting the mould conveyer and the cooling conveyer (see Group XII or XXX). In Fig. 1, the mould 24 has a central part 29 and ends 30, 31 hinged thereto at 36, the whole being supported by transverse rods 32, fixed to the parts 30, 31, and connected by swinging links 33 to pivots 34 on parts 35 upstanding from the base 26. The mould, when a flat sheet, or sheets, is applied breaks at the hinges 36, the glass resting on the free ends of the parts 30, 31. When the glass softens. and sags, the mould resumes its unbroken contour and the glass is shaped accordingly. The bent glass is separated, as shown, in Fig. 1, from the mould by swinging arms 39 which are moved by linkage 43, 44, 45, 55, 50, the arms having graphite or like tips 40, and are spaced along a transverse rocking- shaft 41 to engage marginal parts of the glass. The lever 50 is pivoted to the base 26 at 51 and has an end roller 53 which engages a stationary cam as the mould passes through the preliminary cooling zone whereby the glass is lifted from the mould for engagement with the transfer means. The mould shown in Fig. 5 is designed for supporting the bent sheet while passing between the blast heads of tempering apparatus. The glass-lifting arms 84, the operating linkage 79, 85, 81, 90, and the rack 68 on which the mould is supported, lie within upper and lower limits imposed by the location of the blast heads. To this end, the rack 68 is curved similarly to the mould, the levers 79, 90 also are curved and the cam-operated lever 89 is arranged in an inverted position. The mould comprises a central section 74, end sections 75 and intermediate sections 76, hinged together at pivots 77. The end sections are suspended by links 72 from side rails 70 of the rack 68. The "solid ring" moulds are provided with lifters 39 as in Fig. 1, but the glass when applied flat rests upon the tops of interconnected levers adjacent the highest ends of the mould. As the glass sags the levers move inwardly towards the mould, in synchronism, and deposit the glass on the mould.