US3713799A

US3713799A - Apparatus for conveying glass sheets through adjacent bending and tempering stations

Info

Publication number: US3713799A
Application number: US00133092A
Authority: US
Inventors: Master H Mc
Original assignee: Guardian Industries Corp
Current assignee: Guardian Industries Corp
Priority date: 1967-12-18
Filing date: 1971-04-12
Publication date: 1973-01-30
Anticipated expiration: 1990-01-30
Also published as: US3723085A; US3700425A; US3607200A

Abstract

An apparatus for curving a sheet of glass including a furnace having an elongated gas support bed for supporting sheets of glass thereover, conveying means for moving a sheet from the first end to the second end of the bed, a bending station disposed adjacent the second end of the bed and including a sheet supporting surface for supporting a sheet of glass on gases thereover, a shuttle means for moving a sheet of glass from the second end of the bed to the gas supporting surface in the bending station, a blasthead adjacent the bending station for impinging fluid against opposite sides of the sheet for cooling thereof, oscillating means in the blasthead for oscillating a sheet therein, and unitary frame means for lifting a sheet from the gas supporting surface in the bending station for bending the sheet and for thereafter moving the sheet into the blasthead while at the same time removing a sheet from the oscillating means in the blasthead to remove the sheet from the blasthead. The independently novel features of the conveying assembly are the shuttle means and its specific structure for moving a sheet of glass from the furnace to the bending station, the single unitary frame means for supporting a sheet in the bending station and moving it into the blasthead while simultaneously removing a sheet from the blasthead, the unique support of the forming surface means in the bending station against which a sheet is pressed for curving thereof, and an oscillating means in the blasthead for removing a sheet from the frame means and oscillating the sheet in the blasthead while it is being cooled.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 McMaster 1 Jan. 30, 1973 [54] APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING GLASS SHEETS THROUGH ADJACENT BENDING AND TEMPERING STATIONS [75] Inventor:

Ohio

Guardian Industries C0rp., Detroit, Mich.

[22] Filed: April 12, 1971 [21] Appl. No: 133,092

[73] Assignee:

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 691,326, Dec. 18, 1967, Pat. No.

Primary Examiner-Arthur D. Kellogg Att0rneyMcGlynn, Reising, Milton & Ethington Harold A. McMaster, Woodville, F

[57] ABSTRACT [A d apparatus for curving a sheet of glass including a jfurnace having an elongated gas support bed for suplporting sheets of glass thereover, conveying means for ,moving a sheet from the first end to the second end of the bed, a bending station disposed' adjacent the ?second end of the bed and including a sheet supportjing surface for supporting a sheet of glass on gases thereover, a shuttle means for moving a sheet of glass from the second end of the bed to the gas supporting 'surface in the bending station, a blasthead adjacent the bending station for impinging fluid against op- 'posite sides of the sheet for cooling thereof, oscillating "means in the blasthead for oscillating a sheet therein,

and unitary frame means for lifting a sheet from the ,gas supporting surface in the bending station for bend- -ing the sheet and for thereafter moving the sheet into the blasthead while at the same time removing a sheet from the oscillating means in the blasthead to remove the sheet from the blasthead. The independently novel features of the conveying assembly are the shuttle means and its specific structure for moving a sheet of glass from the furnace to the bending station, the single unitary frame means for supporting a sheet in the bending station and moving it into the blasthead while simultaneously removing a sheet from the blasthead,

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SHEET 11 0F 12 ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING GLASS SHEETS THROUGH ADJACENT BENDING AND TEMPERING STATIONS This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 691,326 filed Dec. 18, 1967, now U.S. Pat. 3,607,200.

This invention relates to apparatus for curving and tempering a sheet of glass and particularly to a means for conveying a sheet through the apparatus.

In the prior art, the most predominately utilized apparatus to curve or bend a sheet of glass is one utilizing a pair of complimentary mold surfaces wherein a sheet of glass is pressed between two surfaces. The disadvantages of such an apparatus are well known in the art, as for example, the marring or pitting of the sur faces of the sheet of glass as it is being pressed between the mold surfaces and/or the difficulties in maintaining the necessary shape in the sheet as it is inserted and removed from between the mold surfaces.

In some apparatuses, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,294,516, a frame presses a sheet of glass against a mold surface. The problem with such devices is that after the sheet is curved or bent it cools sufficiently that a proper tempering is not attained when it is moved into an adjacent cooling atmosphere.

The instant invention is, therefore, directed to a novel apparatus for curving or bending a sheet of glass and thereafter tempering the sheet of glass so that successive sheets of glass are within tolerances heretofore unobtainable, i.e., successive sheets of glass are substantially equal or the same in shape. The apparatus includes a furnace through which sheets of glass are moved while supported on gas over a bed and heated. A bending station is disposed adjacent the second or output end of the furnace. The bending station has a gaseous support surface for supporting sheets of glass thereover and a forming surface means 'is disposed thereabove. Adjacent the bending station, a blasthead is disposed for receiving and cooling sheets of glass. This invention involves a combination of novel features which cooperate or coact to provide sheets of glass having tolerances heretofore unobtainable. Additionally, each of these respective features are independently novel. The first such feature is a shuttle means disposed adjacent the second end of the furnace for moving a sheet of glass from the second end of the furnace to and over the gas support surface in the bending station. Another novel feature is the utilization of a unitary frame means which lifts a sheet of glass from the gas support surface in the bending station and presses it against the forming surface means for bending the sheet and thereafter moves the sheet into the blasthead while at the same time removes a sheet of glass from the blasthead. An additional novel feature is an oscillating mechanism or means utilized in the blasthead for removing a sheet of glass from the frame means as it is moved into the blasthead from the bending station and for oscillating the sheet until the unitary frame means removes the sheet therefrom to remove the sheet from the blasthead. More specifically, the oscillating mechanism engages a sheet for supporting the sheet while oscillating and is, in addition, retractable to allow movement of the frame means into and out of the blasthead. Another novel feature is the support of the forming surface means on the support structure through adjustment means so that the position of the forming surface means may be adjusted in any position and more specifically wherein the adjustment means is remotely disposed from the forming surface means to allow the position thereof to be adjusted from a position remote from the heat immediately adjacent the forming surface means. As alluded to above, these various features also coact in combination to provide a novel apparatus obtaining results not heretofore obtainable with prior art apparatuses.

The specific conveying means for moving respective sheets of glass through the furnace while the sheets are heated is also a novel feature but is the invention of another and is set forth is copending application Ser. No. 692,807 filed 12-22-67 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,574,588 in the name of Norman C. Nitschke and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention.

Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a complete apparatus for curving and tempering a sheet of glass;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view disclosing the shuttle means for moving a sheet of glass from the bed within the furnace to the adjacent bending station;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one side of the shuttle means and showing the sheet engaging members thereof in the sheet engaging position in full lines and in the retracted position in phantom;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view taken substantially along line 55 of FIG. 4',

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line 66 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line 7 7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8-is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially along line 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary elevated view disclosing the bending station;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line 10l0 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line l1ll of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken substantially along line 1212 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 13-l3 of FIG. 12 and showing the unitary frame means;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view disclosing the oscillating mechanism in the blasthead as well as the unitary frame means;

FIGS. 15 and 15a are enlarged views taken substantially along line l5-- 15 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view taken along line 16-16 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 17l7 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a view taken substantially along line 18- 18 ofFIG.15a;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line 19-19 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a view of reduced scale taken substantially along line 20-20 of FIGS. 15 and 15a;

FIG. 21 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line 21-21 of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line 22-22 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 23 is a fragmentary view taken substantially along line 23-23 of FIG. 22; and

FIG. 24 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line 24-24 of FIG. 22.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the severalv views, an apparatus for bending a sheet of glass is generally shown at 30 in FIG. 1.

The apparatus 30 includes a furnace generally indicated at 31, a bending station generally indicated at 32, and a blasthead generally indicated at 33.

The furnace 31 includes an elongated gas support bed 34 for supporting sheets of glass on a film of gas thereover, such as indicated at 35 in FIG. 2. The gas support bed 34 has a first end 36 extending from a first end of the furnace to provide a loading station.

A conveying means generally indicated at 37 moves a sheet of glass along the bed 34 from the first end 36 to a second end 38.

The bending station 32 is disposed adjacent the second end 38 of the support bed 34 and includes a glass sheet supporting surface for supporting a sheet on a film of gas thereover. In the preferred embodiment, the glass sheet supporting surface has apertures therein through which gases flow to support a sheet of glass on the film of gases over the sheet supporting surface. A forming surface means or mold 39 is disposed above the support surface in the bending station 32 for bending a sheet as the sheet is pressed thereagainst.

A shuttle means, which is generally shown at 40 in FIG. 2, moves a sheet of glass from the second end 38 of the bed 34 to and over the sheet supporting surface in the bending station 32.

A unitary frame means which is generally indicated at 41, lifts a sheet of glass from the sheet supporting surface in the bending station to press the sheet against the forming surface means 39 for bending the sheet and thereafter moves the sheet laterally or generally horizontally into the blasthead. Instead of utilizing the forming surface means 39, the frame means 41 may merely support a sheet to allow the sheet to sag under the force of gravity to the desired curvature and then move horizontally into the blasthead. As will become more clear hereinafter the unitary frame means 41 also includes a section which removes a sheet from the blasthead simultaneously with the movement of a sheet from the bending station to the blasthead. The sheet moved out of the blasthead is received by the conveyor which is generally indicated at 42 in FIG. 1.

There is also included an oscillating means, which is generally indicated at 43 in FIGS. 14 and 22, disposed in the blasthead for removing a sheet from the frame means 41 and for oscillating the sheet in the blasthead.

In the generally overall operation of the apparatus 30, hot gases are supplied through the bed 34 to provide a film or blanket of hot gases over the surface of bed 34. The furnace 31 also includes an upper module system 44 for supplying hot gases to the upper surfaces of the sheets as they move through the furnace. A sheet of glass is disposed on the bed 34 at the loading station 36.The conveying means 37 moves the sheet of glass along the gas support bed 34 toward the second end 38. During such movement the sheet of glass is being heated to a temperature to allow it to be deformed or bent. When the sheet of glass reaches the second end 38 of the bed 34, the shuttle means 40 will move the sheet of glass from the second end 38 of the furnace 31 to the bending station 32. Thereafter the frame means 41 will lift the sheet of glass upwardly to allow the sheet to deform or sag under the force of gravity or to press the sheet against the forming surface means 39 for bending the sheet. In the preferred embodiment, a vacuum is applied to the forming surface means 39 to pull the sheet into conformance with the surface thereof. An appropriate means may be utilized to apply a vacuum to passages in the forming surface means 39. After the sheet has been curved or bent, the frame means 41 moves laterally or horizontally to move the sheet into the blasthead 33 where it is removed from the frame means 41 by the oscillating means 43, the oscillating means 43 in turn oscillates the sheet in the blasthead while it is being cooled, annealed or tempered. As will be more clear hereinafter the frame means 41 also includes a section which removes a sheet from the oscillating means 43 and moves the sheet out of the blasthead to the conveyor 42.

The furnace also includes motor-blower combinations generally indicated at 45 for moving hot gases through the furnace to impinge upon the opposite surfaces of sheets of glass moving therethrough.

With this general background each of the features will now be described in detail.

CONVEYING MEANS FOR MOVING SHEETS OF GLASS THROUGH THE FURNACE This is a specific description of the conveying means generally indicated at 37 in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The foremost problem associated with any conveying means utilized to move sheets of glass through a furnace where the sheets are being heated to a very high I temperature is the effect of that high temperature upon the conveying means. Such high temperatures cause elongation and contraction of the conveying means and causes very rapid wear and frequent breakdown of the conveying means. These problems are greatly minimized by the conveying means 37.

The furnace 31 includes a support structure comprising the beams 46. The upright beams 46 are spaced a short distance from the side walls of the furnace 31. The furnace 31 has an elongated opening 47 in each side thereof and the openings are co-extensive with the bed 38. The furnace 31 also includes heating means preferably comprising gas burners disposed in the furnace for heating the hot gases therein to in turn heat the glass sheets moving over the bed 34.

The conveying means 37 includes sheet engaging means comprising a plurality of pusher bars 48 which extend into the furnace 31 through the opening 47 for moving sheets of glass along the bed 34. The conveying means 37 also includes drive means comprising a chain 49 disposed exteriorly of the furnace and connected to the pusher bars 48 for moving the latter along the furnace without being exposed to the heat within the furnace. In other words, each pusher bar extends through the furnace with its ends extending through the openings 47 on each side of the furnace. Thus, the ends of the pusher bars 48 are disposed exteriorly of the furnace. As best shown in FIG. 2, there is also included means comprising the tabs 50 projecting from each pusher bar to limit movement of a sheet along the longitudinal axis of each pusher bar.

As best illustrated in FIG. 1, each chain 49 is an endless loop which extends between the ends of the furnace adjacent the openings 47 and thereafter extends back to the first end to complete the endless loop.

There is also included means comprising a pair of first and

second sprockets

51 and 52 on each side of the furnace and spaced from the second end of the furnace for disengaging each pusher bar 48 from a sheet of glass as the sheet of glass approaches a first station at said second end of said furnace, such first station being illustrated in FIG. 2 (the

sprockets

51 and 52 being shown only on one side of FIG. 2). The

sprockets

51 and 52 are positioned relative to one another so that the chains 49 move under the respective first sprockets 51 and then upward and over the respective second sprockets 52, as best illustrated in FIG. 1.

The conveying means 37 also include a plurality o sprockets 53 attached to the furnace for guiding the chains 49 along the openings 47 to the second end of the furnace and then upward to the top of the furnace and then along the top of the furnace to the first end of the furnace and then downward to complete the endless loop. As alluded to hereinbefore the bed 34' extends from the first end of the furnace to provide a loading station for positioning sheets of glass to be conveyed through the furnace by the pusher bars 48.

An important aspect of the apparatus is the fact that the upper surface of the bed 34 is disposed at an angle with respect to a horizontal plane so that the respective sheets of glass are pushed uphill, so to speak, against the force of gravity. In other words, the bed slants upwardly a very slight amount from the loading station to the other end 38. This disposition of the bed provides positive control of each sheet of glass. Hence, each sheet of glass will remain against the rear pusher bar when the forward or front pusher bar moves upwardly over the

sprockets

51 and 52.

There is also included a tensioning means comprising the cylinder-piston arrangement 54 and the sprocket 55 associated with each chain 49 for maintaining a predetermined tension on the chains 49. The sprockets 55 are rotatably connected to the piston of the respective cylinder-piston arrangements 54.

The

sprockets

51 and 52 disengage the pusher bars 7 SHUTTLE MEANS The shuttle means 40 is a conveying assembly for moving a sheet of glass between spaced first and second stations. As illustrated, the first station is at the end 38 of the bed 34 in the furnace and the second station is in the bending station 32. As alludedto hereinbefore, the

beams 46 provide a support structure and the bed 34 is a means for supporting the sheet. The shuttle means 40 is operatively connected to the support structure and is movable back and forth between first and second stations while at the same time is movable between a sheet engaging position, as illustrated in full lines of FIG. 2, and a retracted non-sheet engaging position, as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 2.

The shuttle means 40 includes a pair of opposed sheet engaging members 56. Each sheet engaging member 56 includes a plurality of interconnected elements forming a four sided frame with pad means 57 attached to the side opposite the other frame for engaging the edge of a sheet to be moved thereby.

There is also included an actuation means generally indicated at 58 in FIGS. 2 through 7 for moving the sheet engaging members 56 back and forth between the first and second stations. In addition, there is also included linkage means generally indicated at 59 in FIGS. 2 and 3 which operatively interconnects the sheet engaging members 56 and the actuation means 58 for controlling the movement of the members 56 so that the members 56 move away from one another in moving to the retracted position and move toward one another in moving to the sheet engaging position. The linkage means 59 includes means generally indicated at 60 in FIG. 3 for maintaining the sheet engaging members 56 in the sheet engaging position shown in full lines in FIG. 2 as the members 56 are moved from the first station to the second station, i.e., moved from the furnace to the bending station 32. A retract means is generally indicated at 61 for moving the sheet engaging members 56 to the retracted position shown in phantom in FIG. 2 as the members 56 are moved from the second station back to the first station, i.e., from the bending station back to the first station in the furnace.

At the beginning of a cycle the sheet engaging members 56 are in the retracted position illustrated in phantom in, FIG. 2 and a conveying means comprising a pusher bar 48 moves a sheet into position between the sheet engaging members 56. A means comprising a roller 62 secured to each member 56 is included to contact a pusher bar as illustrated in FIG. 3 for moving the members 56 from the retracted position to the sheet engaging position as the sheet is moved between the members 56. In other words, as a pusher bar 48 moves a sheet of glass 35 into the space between the sheet engaging members 56, the rollers 62 engage the pusher bar 48 so that the pusher bar 48 moves the sheet engaging members 56 toward the sheet engaging position. It will be noted that during this movement, the velocity of the members 56 in a direction along the furnace is equal to the velocity of the engaging pushing bar 48 along the furnace; thus, the members move at the same velocity as the sheet to be engaged.

The movement of the sheet engaging members 56 from the retracted position to the sheet engaging position is controlled by the linkage means 59. The linkage means 59 includes a plurality of links 63 pivotally interconnecting the sheet engaging members 56 and the actuation means 58 so that the members 56 move with a sheet of glass in the direction the sheet of glass isbeing moved by the pusher bar 48 and simultaneously move in a direction toward one another, these directions being transverse to one another. In other words, when a pusher bar 48 contacts the rollers 62, the members 56 move longitudinally of the furnace and also move transversely of the furnace from the retracted position illustrated in phantom in FIG. 2 to the sheet engaging position illustrated in full lines in FIG. 2. It is to be noted that the linkage means 59 is disposed to coact between the actuation means 58 and the member 56 so that the members 56, in moving toward one another to engage a sheet, move toward one another rapidly at first and then slowly as they approach a sheet. In other words, the velocity of the outward ends of the links 63 in a direction transverse to the bed is greater when the links 63 first begin to pivot from the retracted or inclined position than when the links approach the sheet engaging or extended position.

The actuation means 58 includes an elongated rail 64 associated with each of the sheet engaging members 56, i.e., a rail 64 disposed along each side of the furnace. Each rail 64is operatively connected to the support structure by

roller assemblies

65 and 66 for longitudinal movement relative thereto as best illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. It will be noted that each rail 64 is a substantially C-shaped beam with the rollers 65 disposed therein to prevent lateral movement and the rollers 66 disposed therein to prevent vertical movement. A spaced pair of the links 63 interconnect 'each rail 64 and its associated sheet engaging member 56. The links 63 of each pair are pivotally connected at a first end 67 to one of the sheet engaging members 56 and are pivotally connected at a second end 68 to the associated rail 64. The links 63 of each pair are substantially parallel to one another in all positions.

The means 60 for maintaining the members 56 in the sheet engaging position includes an elbow link comprising first and

second sections

69 and 70 operatively interconnecting each member 56 and its associated rail 64. The first section 69 of each elbow link is pivotally connected to a rail 64 by a stud 71. The second section 70 of each elbow link is pivotally connected to the associated member 56 as indicated at 67. The first and

second sections

69 and 70 are pivotally connected together through a pin 72 to pivot relative to one another as the members 56 are moved between the sheet engaging position and the retracted position. There is also included stop means 73 to limit relative pivotal movement between the first and

second sections

69 and 70 for limiting pivotal movement of the links 63 relative to the rail 64 in the sheet engaging position. In other words, the first and

second sections

69 and 70 of each elbow link pivotrelative to one another between a cocked position as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 3 and a stop position as illustrated in full lines in FIG. 3. In the cocked position the members 56 are in the retracted position and the

elbow link sections

69 and 70 cross one another while each pair of links 63 are disposed at an acute angle relative to the rails 64 and extend from the rails 64 in a direction generally oppositeto the direction of movement of the sheet of glass. .In the stop position, the stop means 73 limit relative pivotal movement between the

sections

69 and 70 of the elbow links and the links 63 are substantially perpendicular to the rails 64 in this position as illustrated in full lines in FIG. 3. There is also included a biasing means comprising the spring 74 for maintaining each elbow link in the cocked and stop positions respectively. More specifically, a support plate 75 is secured in position on the rails 64 by the stud 71 and the bolt 76 and includes an upwardly extending projection 77 to which one end of the spring 74 is attached. The other end of the spring 74 is secured to the pin 72. As is evident from viewing FIG. 3, when in the stop position the spring 74 urges the stop means 73 into engagement with the respective sides of the

sections

69 and 70 to prevent further relative pivotal movement therebetween; thus, the spring 74 maintains the elbow link in the stop position. When the members move to the retracted or cocked position shown in phantom in FIG. 3, the spring 74 has moved overcenter and biases the elbow link sections 69 and70 into the cocked position.

When the elbow links are in the stop position they limit further forward movement of the sheet engaging members 56. However, the first section 69 of each elbow link is pivotally connected to the associated rail 64 through a lost motion connection provided by the slot 78 for allowing limited movement of the members 56 beyond the sheet engaging position when the elbow links are in the stop position. In other words, should a pusher bar 48 continue to push the sheet engaging members 56 after they have reached the sheet engaging position, which might occur if the shuttle means is not moved out of the furnace at the proper time, the lost motion connection provided by the slot 78 will allow slight additional forward movement'against the biasing action of the springs 74 to prevent damage to the components.

The first sections 69 of each elbow link include a distal'end 79 which extends beyond the, pivotal connection 71' thereof to the associated rail 64. The retract means 61 is disposed to coact with the distal ends 79 for moving the elbow links to the cocked position as the rails 64 move from the second station back to the first station.

More specifically the retract means 61 includes a projection taking the form of a roller 80 supported by a shaft 81 extending downwardly from each of the distal ends of the elbow links. The retract means 61 also includes a gate 82 and an associated stop 83 disposed adjacent each rail. Each gate 82 is pivotally connected by a shaft 84 to the support structure for abutting its associated stop 83. The gates 82 have a spring means (not shown) associated therewith so that each gate is biased against its associated stop 83. Each gate 82 is disposed so that the roller 80 of the associated elbow link engages and pivots the gate 82 from its stop 83 to allow the roller 80 to move past the gate as the members 56 are moving to the second station, i.e., as the members 56 are moving from the furnace to the bending station 32. The gates 82 are also positioned so that each roller 80 engages a gate 82 and forces the associated elbow link to the cocked position for moving the members 56 to the retracted position as the members 56 are moving back to the first station, i.e., from the bending station back to the end 38 of the bed 34. A plate 85 is secured to the support structure adjacent each rail 64. Plates 85 are vertical and substantially parallel to the rails 64 and are disposed adjacent the gates 82 so that the rollers 80 move along the plates 85 as the members 56 move back to the first station which is illustrated in FIG. 2. Each plate 85 is of a length so that the projections, i.e., the

rollers 80, are free to move therepast as the members 56 are moved to the sheet engaging position while at the first station.

Now to more specifically describe the actuation means 58. There is included a rack 86 secured to each rail 64. A drive gear 87 operatively engages each rack. It will be noted that the drive gear 87 on one side of the furnace operatively engages the associated rack 86 through an idler gear 88 so that the drive gears 87 may rotate in the same direction to move the rail 64 in unison. There is also included means, best illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, for rotating the drive gears 87 to move the rails 64 which in turn move the members 56 back and forth between the first and second stations.

More specifically, the means for rotating the drive gears 87 includes a pair of parallel shafts 89 which are rotatably supported on the support structure by the brackets 90. Each shaft 89 supports one of the drive gears 87 adjacent the first end thereof. An input sprocket 91 is secured to each shaft 89 adjacent the second or upper end thereof. An endless loop chain means 92, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, is entrained or disposed in driving engagement with the input sprockets 91. There is also included a crank 93 rotated by a shaft 94. The shaft 94 in turn being rotated by a gear 95 and the gear 95 is rotated by a gear 96, the gear 96 being rotated by a motor 97 through the gear box 98. An arm 99 is attached to the chain means 92 at one end 100 and is attached to the crank 93 at the other end 101. The

gears

95 and 96 and the motor 97 comprise a means for selectively rotating the crank 93 whereby the members 56 are moved back and forth between the first and second positions. In other words, when the members 56 are at one station, the crank 93 is in line with an axis extending between the sprockets 91 and extending away therefrom and, when the members 56 are at the other station, the crank 93 extends toward the sprockets 91 and is in line therewith. Rotary movement of the crank 93 oscillates the loop chain means 92 back and forth to move the rails 64 back and forth which in turn moves the members 56 back and forth between the first and second stations. As shown, the crank 93 is in an intermediate rotary position. It is to be noted, that the preferred actuation means includes a crank which produces a velocity of movement of the shuttle means which is a sinusodal function, i.e., approximates a sine curve when plotted. Thus, the velocity is low at first, then increases to a maximum, and then decreases to a low as the movement ends.

To summarize the operation of the shuttle means 40, a sheet of glass 35 is moved between the sheet engaging members 56 by a pusher bar 48. The pusher bar 48 contacts the rollers 62 to move the members 56 from the retracted position shown'in phantom in FIGS. 2 and 3 to the sheet engaging position shown in full lines in FIGS. 2 and 3. During this movement the links 63 are moved from the rearwardly inclined or angulated position to the perpendicular position illustrated in full lines. The movement of the links 63, to maintain the members 56 in the sheet engaging position, is limited by the elbow links comprising the first and

second sections

69 and 70. As the sheet engaging members 56 reach the sheet engaging position, the pusher bar 48 moves upward due to the fact that the chains 49 move upward over the sprockets 52; thus, the pusher bar 48 moves over the shuttle means 40. Once the sheet engaging members 56 are in the sheet engaging position illustrated in full lines in FIG. 2, a sensing device, such as a microswitch, senses the sheet engaging position to actuate the motor 97 to rotate the crank 93 which in turn rotates the shafts 89 to move the rails 64 to the right as illustrated in FIG. 2 to move the sheet from the first station to the second station, i.e., from the furnace to the bending station 32. As will be described hereinafter a frame means moves the sheet vertically upwardly in the bending station 32 and thereafter the motor 97 is actuated to move the rails 64 back toward the first station or to the left as illustrated in FIGS. 2 1

and 3. During this movement to the right, the rollers pivot the gates 82 and move therepast; however, during the return movement the rollers 80 engage the gates 82 to force the elbow links to the cocked position illustrated in phantom, which moves the sheet engaging members 56 to the retracted position illustrated in phantom in FIGS. 2 and 3. Once the shuttle means 40 is back at the first station, the sheet engaging members 56 are in the retracted position illustrated in phantom in FIGS. 2 and 3 and ready to receive another sheet of glass to be transferred from the furnace to the bending station 32. It is to be understood, that the shuttle means may be positioned at various positions along the second end of the bed without moving the

sprockets

51 and 52 since a sensing means moves the shuttle means as soon as it reaches the sheet engaging position; hence, the pusher bars 48 need not be lifted since the shuttle means moves out of the furnace. Theprimary reason for lifting the pusher bars 48 is to allow the shuttle means to move back into the furnace after having moved a sheet to the bending station.

FRAME MEANS FOR BENDING THE SHEET OF GLASS, MOVING THE SHEET INTO THE BLASTHEAD AND MOVING THE SHEET OUT OF THE BLASTHEAD This portion of the description relates to the frame means generally shown at 41 which is best shown in FIGS. 9 through 21.

As set forth hereinbefore, the apparatus includes a sheet bending station 32 to which a sheet at a very high temperature is moved for bending or curving thereof. In addition, adjacent the bending station is disposed a blasthead 33 for impinging fluid on the bent or curved sheets for cooling, annealing or tempering the sheets. There is disclosed at 41 a unitary means for moving a sheet from the bending station 32 to the blasthead 33 while simultaneously moving the sheet out of the blasthead 33 where it is received by the'conveyor 42.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, the unitarymeans 41 includes a first frame means 102 for moving a sheet from the bending station 32 to the blasthead 33 and a second frame means 103 for moving a sheet out of the blasthead 33 as a sheet is moved into the blasthead by the first frame means 102. The first and second frame means 102 and 103 are rigidly connected together by the studs or bolts 104. The first frame means 102 is an endless loop for engaging the periphery of a sheet of glass of a particular shape. The first frame means 102 may however take different shapes depending upon the glass sheet to be treated; therefore, various different first frame means 102 may be connected to the second frame means 103 by the studs 104.

As alluded to hereinbefore, the bending station includes a gas support bed or surface 105 having passages 106 therein for supplying gases to the surface 105 for supporting a sheet of glass on the gases. In the preferred embodiment hot gases are supplied through the passages 106 for heating the sheet. This prevents the sheet from cooling and maintains the sheet at a sufficiently high temperature to obtain an appropriate temper in the blasthead. The bed 105 in the bending station includes a first recess means or groove 107 for allowing the firstframe means 102 to be moved to a recessed position below the surface. It is to be understood that the recess means may be about the periphery of the bed 105 instead of within its periphery as illustrated.

The blasthead 33 includes upper and

lower modules

108 and 109 respectively for impinging gases against opposite surfaces of a sheet disposed between the modules in the blasthead so that the sheet may be cooled, annealed or tempered. There is included a second recess means 110 which is shown shaded in FIG. 14, in the lower module 109 for receiving a portion of the second frame means 103 for allowing the second frame means to be recessed in the lower module 109 when the first frame means 102 is in its recessed position.

The second frame means 103 includes a pair of spaced beams 111 disposed along opposite sides of the lower module 109.'A pair of parallel arms 112 are attached to each beam and extend toward the opposite beam as best illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. A finger 113 extends upwardly from the distal end of each arm 112 for engaging a sheet of glass as illustrated in FIG. 12.

At this point the movement of the first and second frame means will be summarized for the purpose of clarity. As alluded to hereinbefore, normally a forming surface means 39 is employed and a sheet of glass is moved over the recessed first frame means 102 in the bending station. Operating means then moves both the first and second frame means 102 and 103 upwardly from the recessed positions so that the first frame means 102 lifts the sheet of glass from the gas support surface 105 in the bending station 32 and presses the sheet of glass against the forming surface means or mold 39. While this is being accomplished the fingers 113 of the second frame means 103 move upwardly from the recess position and engage a sheet of glass (as illustrated in FIG. 12) to remove the sheet of glass from the oscillating means 43, which will be more specifically described hereinafter. Once the frame means 102 and 103 are in this raised position, the operating means then moves both the first and second frame means 102 and 103 laterally or generally horizontally so that the sheet of glass on the first frame means 102 moves into the blasthead in the space between the upper and

lower modules

108 and 109. At the same time, the sheet of .glass disposed on the fingers 113 of the second frame means 103 moves out of the blasthead to the right as illustrated in FIG. 1 where the sheet of glass is removed from the fingers 113 by the conveyor 42.

The operating means, which is best illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19, moves the first and second frame means 102 and 103 upwardly from the respective recessed positions for engaging respective sheets and moves the first and second frame means laterally to move the first frame means 102 from the bending station into the blasthead while simultaneously moving the second frame means 103 out of the blasthead. More specifically, the operating means includes a vertical guide means generally shown at 114 attached to the blasthead for vertical movement relative thereto and horizontal guide means generally indicated at 115 attached to the vertical guide means 114 for horizontal movement relative thereto. There is also included connecting means including the

members

116 and 117 for attaching the first and second frame means 102 and 103 to the horizontal guide means 115 for movement therewith. The operating means also includes a vertical drive means, generally indicated at 118 in FIGS. 15a and 20, which is operatively connected to the vertical guide means 114 for moving the first and second frame means 102 and 103 vertically. In addition, there is included horizontal drive means generally indicated at 119 in FIG. 20 and operatively connected to the horizontal guide means for moving the first and second frame means 102 and 103 horizontally. It is a very important feature that the sheet of glass remains on the first frame means while being curved and until moved into the blasthead and cooled sufficiently that it will not change shape. This allows a sheet to be heated to a very high temperature for curving yet maintains the shape to very close tolerancesuntil it is cooled thereby producing successive sheets having almost exactly identical shapes.

The vertical guide means includes a pair of vertical elongated support beams 120 attached to the vertical structural beams 121 oneach side of the blasthead. That is to say, there are a pair of such vertical elongated support means 120 on each side of the blasthead. A vertically movable beam 122 is operatively connected to each of the vertical support beams 120 through a plurality of

roller assemblies

124 and 125, as best illustrated in FIG. 119. The

roller assemblies

124 and 125 are disposed in opposite directions to prevent transverse movements of the vertically movable beams 122 relative to the vertical support beams 120. Thus, the vertically movable beams 122 may move vertically relative to the vertical support beams 120 upon actuation of the vertical drive means 118.

The horizontal guide means 115 includes a horizontal elongated support beam 126 attached to each pair of the vertically movable beams 122 on each side of the blasthead 33. There is also included a horizontally movable beam 127 operatively connected to each of the horizontal support beams 126 through a plurality of

rollers

128 and 129 so that the horizontally movable beams 127 may move horizontally relative to the horizontal support beams 126 upon actuation of the horizontal drive means 119. It will be noted that the connecting means comprising the

members

116 and 117 attaches the first and second frame means 102 and 103 to the horizontal movable beams 127.

Referring now more specifically to the horizontal drive means 119, there is included a rack 130 operatively connected through the plates 130 to each of the horizontally movable beams 127. The plates 130 are bolted or otherwise attached to the beams 127. In addition, there is also included a drive gear 131 engaging each of the racks 130 for moving the latter. First and second shafts 132 are respectively rotatably supported by brackets 133 and support and rotate the drive gears 131. A first sprocket 134 is connected to the first shaft 132 for rotating the latter. A third shaft 135 is rotatably supported by brackets adjacent the second shaft 132 as viewed in FIG. 20. A pair of

intermediate gears

136 and 137 are respectively connected to the third and

second shafts

135 and 132 and are in in driving engagement with one another. A second sprocket 138 is connected to the third shaft 135 and an endless loop chain means 139 is disposed or entrained in driving engagement about the sprockets 134 and 138.

The chain means 139 is reciprocated by a crank 140 and an arm 141. The arm 141 is attached to the chain means 139 at one end 142 and is attached to the crank 140 at the other end 143. There is also included means including the gear 144, the gear 145, the gear box 146, and the motor 147 for selectively rotating the crank 140 whereby the horizontally movable beams 127 are moved horizontally to move the first and second frame means laterally or horizontally. It will be noted as illustrated in FIG. 21 that the drive gears 131 are elongated so that they remain in meshing engagement with the racks 130 as the racks 130 are moved vertically by the vertical drive means.

Turning now to the vertical drive means 118, there is included a horizontally extending shaft 148 rotatably supported on each side of the blasthead 33 by the brackets 149. An input sprocket 150 is secured to each of the shafts 148. A second endless loop chain means 151 is disposed about or entrained about the input sprockets 150. In this assembly, there is also included another or second crank 152 which is rotated by a motor 153 through a gear reduction box 154. Another or second arm 155 is connected at one end 156 to the chain means 151 and at the other end 157 to the crank 152. Thus, as the motor 153 is actuated the arm 155 is reciprocated to oscillate the loop chain means 151.

A pair of lift sprockets 158 is secured to each of the shafts 148. There is also included a coacting lift sprocket 159 associated with each of the lift sprockets 158 and rotatably supported on the blasthead by the brackets 160. Each coacting lift sprocket 159 is disposed in vertically spaced relationship to the associated lift sprocket 158. A chain 161 is entrained about each lift sprocket 158 and its associated coacting lift sprocket 159. There is included means comprising the brackets 162 interconnecting the vertically movable beams 122 and the chains 161, it being noted that the brackets 162 are attached to corresponding reaches of the chains 16]. In other words, each chain 161 is an endless loop disposed in parallel relationship to the other chain and both chains are driven in the same direction at the same time since the sprockets 158 are rotated in unison in the same direction at the same time. Thus, corresponding reaches of the respective chains 161 are moving in the same direction at the same time and, therefore, the brackets 162 are attached to corresponding reaches of the chains 161.

Thus, it will be understood that upon actuation of the motor 153, the shafts 148 will rotate to move the chains 161 which will in turn vertically move the vertically movable beams 122 to vertically move the

beams

126 and 127; thus, resulting in vertical movement of the first and

second frames

102 and 103.

Another important aspect, is that each of the racks 130 is connected to its associated horizontally movable beam 127 through a lost motion connection as defined by the slots 163 in FIG. 19. This lost motion connection allows the horizontally movable beams 127 to move between first and second positions relative to the racks 130. In other words, the bolts or screws 164 extend through the slots 163 in the plates 130' and engage the racks 130 but are slidable along the slots 163. A biasing means comprising the springs 165 react between the racks 130, by being attached to one of the bolts 164, and the horizontally movable beams 127, by being attached to the extension 166, for urging the horizontally movable beams and the racks to the first position as illustrated in FIG. 19. The strength of the springs 165, however, is sufficient that the horizontally movable beams 127 will move with the racks 130 upon rotation of the drive gears 131. The assembly also includes means operatively coacting with the horizontally movable beams 127 for oscillating the latter by moving the horizontally movable beams 127 relative to the racks 130 and against the biasing action of the springs 165, such means being the offset cams 167. Plates 168 are supported by the members 116 and are engaged by the offset cams 167 when the first frame means 102 is disposed in the blasthead 33. The offset cams 167 are in reality eccentric cams which engage the plates 168 to move the frames against the biasing action of the springs 165; thus, oscillating the horizontally movable beams 127 independently of movement of the racks 130. The rotation of the offset cams 167 will be explained more fully hereinafter in connection with the description of the oscillating means in the blasthead.

In accordance with the foregoing description, therefore, a sheet of glass may be lifted vertically upward from the gas support surface 105 in the bending station and then move horizontally into the blasthead between the upper and

lower modules

108 and 109 by the first frame means 102 and thereafter oscillated in the blasthead'while on the first frame means 102 due to the fact that the horizontally movable beams 127 may oscillate independently of movement of the racks 130, all of this while another sheet is simultaneously lifted from the oscillating means and moved from the blasthead while supported on the fingers 113 of the second frame means 103.

In summation of the operation of the unitary frame means, an appropriate sensing means is utilized in the bending station to sense when a sheet of glass is supported on the bed 105 above the first frame means 102 to actuate the motor 153. Upon actuation of the motor 153 the shafts 148 are rotated which results in upward movement of the vertically movable beams 122. The

' horizontally movable beams 127 are operatively con-

Claims

1. An apparatus for bending a sheet of material comprising: a support structure, a sheet bending station including at least one forming surface means, a blasthead disposed adjacent said bending Station for impinging fluid on sheets, frame means for pressing a sheet vertically upward against said forming surface means to bend the sheet, and lift means for raising said forming surface means after a sheet has been pressed thereagainst to allow said frame means to move generally horizontally away and into said blasthead, at least one support beam connected to said forming surface means adjacent one end thereof and extending generally horizontally to a second end, said second end being operatively connected to said support structure for pivotal movement relative thereto, said lift means being operatively connected to and extending generally upwardly from said forming surface means and being operatively connected to said support structure.

2. An apparatus for bending a sheet of material including at least one forming surface means, heating means establishing a heated environment about said forming surface means, frame means for pressing a sheet against said forming surface means to bend the sheet, a support structure, at least one beam supporting said forming surface means adjacent a first end thereof and extending generally horizontally away from said forming surface means to a second end thereof, said beam extending from said forming surface means exteriorly of said heated environment to said second end thereof, and adjustment means for adjusting the position of said forming surface means in any direction, said adjustment means including first and second means operatively interconnecting said second end of said beam and said support structure for respectively changing the vertical and horizontal positions of said forming surface means.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 including a pair of said spaced support beams.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including third means connected to and extending generally upwardly from said forming surface means and operatively connected to said support structure.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including lift means interconnecting said third means and said support structure for selectively raising said forming surface means.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein each support beam is rotatably supported on a generally horizontal stub shaft and including means to adjust the position of said support beams axially of said stub shafts, at least a portion of said first and second means interconnecting said stub shafts and said support structure so that the vertical position of said stub shafts may be adjusted in a direction which is perpendicular to the axis of said stub shafts.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first and second means include a compound interconnecting each stub shaft and said support structure, each compound including a horizontally movable member and a first lead screw operatively coacting therewith, and a vertically movable member and a second lead screw operatively coacting therewith.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein each stub shaft is connected to one of said support beams through a spherical bearing which allows each beam to move angularly relative to the axis of the associated stub shaft.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said third means includes a triangular shaped member having one apex thereof operatively connected to said forming surface means and the other two apexes thereof operatively connected to said support structure.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein each apex is operatively connected through a spherical bearing.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said first means includes means for changing the vertical position of said triangular shaped member.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said lift means interconnects said triangular shaped member and said support structure for selectively raising said forming surface means.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said lift means includes a lift shaft rotatably supported on said support structure, a pair Of lift arms extending from said shaft and operatively connected to said two apexes respectively, and means for selectively rotating said lift shaft.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said means for rotating said lift shaft includes a lever connected to said lift shaft for rotating the latter, a fluid actuated cylinder-piston supported on said support structure with said piston being operatively connected to said lever for vertically moving said forming surface means between raised and lowered positions.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14 including an adjustable stop means disposed on said support structure to engage said lever to limit movement thereof and for changing the vertical position of said forming surface means when in said lowered position.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 15 including biasing means reacting between said support structure and said lever to urge said forming surface means to said lowered position.