GB913154A - Apparatus for shaping sheet material - Google Patents

Abstract

913,154. Bending glass sheets. COMPAGNIE DE SAINT-GOBAIN. Feb. 18, 1959 [Feb. 18, 1958], No. 5679/59. Class 56. Apparatus for shaping sheet glass brought to a plastic condition comprises a rigid mould with an operative face of the desired shape and a flexible frame secured by a central portion to a support and connected at its ends to driving members whereby the frame is adapted to apply pressure to the sheet to cause it to conform to the shape of the mould. As in Figs. 1 and 2, the frame 1 comprises iron strips 4, 5, 6, 7, secured by rivets 3 allowing movement between the strips, and cross strips 8, 9, 10, 11 similarly secured to the longer strips 4, 5. Each long strip 4, 5 is provided with a number of flexible strips 12 and end reinforcing elements 14, 14<SP>1</SP> secured on the face remote from the mould 2 by stirrups 13 which allow lengthwise movement. Auxiliary strips 16, 16<SP>1</SP> and 17, 17<SP>1</SP> at each end are used to secure an endless ribbon 18 of refractory material which preferably is used to contact the glass F rather than the frame 1 itself. The ends 23, 24 of the frame 1 are pivoted at 25, 26 to the piston-rods of cylinders 27, 28 pivoted to a girder 29 secured on the support 30, 30a to which the central part of the frame 1 is secured. In operation, the frame 1 and mould 2 are moved towards each other until the ribbon 18 contacts and holds the central part of the glass F against the mould 2, compressed air then being supplied to the cylinders 27, 28 to press the whole sheet against the mould. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the flexible frame is formed by a tubular member 31 secured by its central part 31a to a support 32, the shape being held by adjustable spacers 46, 47, 48, 49. The member 31 is formed from a coil spring 34 enclosed in a sheath 33 of a heat resistant rubber or the like. The frame is held by clips 39a, 39b and 40a, 40b to vertical shafts 39, 40, the shafts being pivotally connected by arms 37, 38 to beams 35, 36 secured to support 32 and to the piston-rods of cylinders 43, 44 pivoted to a cross-member 45 fast with support 32. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 11, a flexible frame 55 is centrally secured to a support 53 (not shown) and each end is secured to a right-angled member 64 pivoted to one end of a curved arm 54 pivoted to the support 53 (not shown) and secured intermediately to the piston-rod of a cylinder. A lost-motion connection between the frame 55 and arms 54 is provided by securing the member 64 to a member 63 on one end of a screwthreaded rod 61, a spring 65 pressing the member 63 outwardly. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 773,733.