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US 11,230,487 B2Granted
Glass processing system with variable bending station
AssigneeGlasstech, Inc.
InventorJames P. Schnabel, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A glass processing may include a heating station to heat glass sheets, and a bending station disposed downstream of the heating station to bend the heated glass sheets. The bending station may include first and second independent movement mechanisms configured to independently move first and second molds when the glass processing system is operated in a first mode, and to cooperate to move a third mold when the glass processing system is operated in a second mode. The system further includes a control system to control the movement mechanisms so that they operate independently when the glass processing system is operated in the first mode, and so that they operate simultaneously when the glass processing system is operated in the second mode.
Claims31
A glass processing system comprising:
- a heating station to heat glass sheets;
- a bending station disposed downstream of the heating station to bend the heated glass sheets, the bending station comprising first and second independent movement mechanisms configured to independently move first and second molds when the glass processing system is operated in a first mode, and to cooperate to move a third mold when the glass processing system is operated in a second mode;
- and
- a control system to control the movement mechanisms so that they operate independently when the glass processing system is operated in the first mode, and so that they operate simultaneously when the glass processing system is operated in the second mode;
- wherein the first and second molds comprise first and second upper molds, respectively, and wherein, when the glass processing system is operated in the first mode, the bending station further comprises a lower mold mounted on a movable mold support that is movable laterally to move the lower mold from a position beneath the first upper mold to a position beneath the second upper mold so that the lower mold is spaced laterally away from the first upper mold.
2 more elements
A glass processing system comprising:
- a heating station to heat glass sheets;
- a bending station disposed downstream of the heating station to bend the heated glass sheets, the bending station comprising a movement arrangement configured to independently move first and second molds when the glass processing system is operated in a first mode, and to move a third mold when the glass processing system is operated in a second mode;
- a controller to control the movement arrangement to independently move the first and second molds when the glass processing system is operated in the first mode, and to move the third mold when the glass processing system is operated in the second mode;
- and
- a quench station positioned adjacent the bending station for cooling the glass sheets;
- wherein the bending station comprises a conveyor system for conveying the glass sheets along a horizontal plane of conveyance, an opening for allowing each glass sheet to pass from the bending station to the quench station, and a door that is movable between an open position and a closed position for covering the opening, and wherein, when the glass processing system is operated in the first mode, the conveyor system is operable to convey a first set of the glass sheets so that any glass sheet of the first set is only positioned on the conveyor system in lateral alignment with the opening when the door is in the closed position.
3 more elements
A method for processing glass sheets using a glass processing system having a bending station with first and second movement mechanisms, the method comprising:
- operating the glass processing system in a first mode in which the bending station includes first and second molds connected to the first and second movement mechanisms, respectively, wherein the first mode includes operating the movement mechanisms independently to independently move the first and second molds;
- and
- operating the glass processing system in a second mode in which the bending station includes a third mold connected to the first and second movement mechanisms, wherein the second mode includes operating the movement mechanisms simultaneously to move the third mold;
- wherein the first and second molds comprise first and second upper molds, respectively, and wherein, when the glass processing system is operated in the first mode, the bending station further comprises a lower mold mounted on a movable mold support that is movable laterally to move the lower mold from a position beneath the first upper mold to a position beneath the second upper mold so that the lower mold is spaced laterally away from the first upper mold.
1 more element
A glass processing system comprising:
- a heating station to heat glass sheets;
- a bending station disposed downstream of the heating station to bend the heated glass sheets, the bending station comprising a movement arrangement configured to independently move first and second molds when the glass processing system is operated in a first mode, and to move a third mold when the glass processing system is operated in a second mode;
- and
- a controller to control the movement arrangement to independently move the first and second molds when the glass processing system is operated in the first mode, and to move the third mold when the glass processing system is operated in the second mode;
- wherein the heating station includes a conveyor system for conveying the glass sheets longitudinally along a plane of conveyance, wherein when the glass processing system is operated in the first mode, the conveyor system is operable to convey a first set of the glass sheets so that a center of each glass sheet of the first set is positioned on a first side of a longitudinal centerline of the heating station, and when the glass processing system is operated in the second mode, the conveyor system is operable to convey a second set of the glass sheets so that a center of each glass sheet of the second set is positioned on an opposite second side of the longitudinal centerline of the heating station.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.