Articulated mold arrangement for a glass processing system

An articulated lower mold arrangement for use with an upper mold for bending a heated glass sheet, the lower mold arrangement comprising:

• first and second side portions that each include:
• a side mold portion having an outer end, an inner end, and a mold surface that defines outer and inner mold areas, wherein the outer mold area comprises a sharp bend area positioned near the outer end of the side mold portion for bending a respective end portion of the glass sheet, and the inner mold area extends from the outer mold area to the inner end of the side mold portion and comprises a flat area or a curved area having a larger radius of curvature than the sharp bend area;
• a first guide member connected to the side mold portion at a first location proximate the outer end;
• and
• a second guide member connected to the side mold portion at a second location proximate the inner end and spaced laterally away from the sharp bend area;
• wherein, for each side portion, the side mold portion and the first and second guide members are configured to cooperate to allow the outer end of the side mold portion to move from a lowered position to a raised position in order to move the respective end portion of the glass sheet toward a mold surface of the upper mold and so that the outer end of the side mold portion moves along a path substantially the same as a path taken by an end edge of the respective end portion of the glass sheet, while also allowing the inner end of the side mold portion to move upwardly and substantially laterally toward the inner end of the other side mold portion.

An articulated lower mold arrangement for use with an upper mold in a glass bending system, the articulated lower mold arrangement comprising:

• a mold portion configured to bend a heated glass sheet, the mold portion having a first end, a bend area proximate the first end for bending an end portion of the glass sheet, and a second end opposite the first end and spaced away from the bend area;
• a first guide member connected to the mold portion at a first location proximate the first end;
• and
• a second guide member connected to the mold portion at a second location proximate the second end and spaced away from the bend area;
• wherein the mold portion and the first and second guide members are configured to cooperate to allow the first end of the mold portion to move from a lowered position to a raised position in order to move the end portion of the glass sheet upwardly, while also allowing the second end of the mold portion to move laterally, and wherein the first guide member comprises a first link pivotally connected to the mold portion at the first location so that the first link is pivotable about a first axis that extends through the first location.

An articulated lower mold arrangement for use with an upper mold in a glass bending system, the articulated lower mold arrangement comprising:

• a mold portion configured to bend a heated glass sheet, the mold portion having a first end, a bend area proximate the first end for bending an end portion of the glass sheet, and a second end opposite the first end and spaced away from the bend area;
• a first guide member connected to the mold portion at a first location proximate the first end;
• a second guide member connected to the mold portion at a second location proximate the second end and spaced away from the bend area;
• and
• a glass support pad at least partially positioned inside of the mold portion for supporting the glass sheet;
• wherein the mold portion and the first and second guide members are configured to cooperate to allow the first end of the mold portion to move from a lowered position to a raised position in order to move the end portion of the glass sheet upwardly, while also allowing the second end of the mold portion to move laterally, and wherein the mold portion is movable with respect to the glass support pad.

An articulated lower mold arrangement for use with an upper mold in a glass bending system, the articulated lower mold arrangement comprising:

• a mold portion configured to bend a heated glass sheet, the mold portion having a first end, a bend area proximate the first end for bending an end portion of the glass sheet, and a second end opposite the first end and spaced away from the bend area;
• a first guide member connected to the mold portion at a first location proximate the first end;
• and
• a second guide member connected to the mold portion at a second location proximate the second end and spaced away from the bend area;
• wherein the mold portion and the first and second guide members are configured to cooperate to allow the first end of the mold portion to move from a lowered position to a raised position in order to move the end portion of the glass sheet upwardly, while also allowing the second end of the mold portion to move laterally, and wherein one of the first and second guide members comprises a roller or a guide for a roller.

An articulated lower mold arrangement for use with an upper mold for bending a heated glass sheet, the lower mold arrangement comprising:

• first and second side portions that each include:
• a side mold portion having an outer end, an inner end, and a mold surface that defines outer and inner mold areas, wherein the outer mold area comprises a bend area positioned near the outer end of the side mold portion for bending a respective end portion of the glass sheet, and the inner mold area extends from the outer mold area to the inner end of the side mold portion and comprises a flat area or a curved area having a larger radius of curvature than the bend area;
• a first guide member connected to the side mold portion at a first location proximate the outer end;
• and
• a second guide member connected to the side mold portion at a second location proximate the inner end and spaced laterally away from the bend area;
• and
• an intermediate mold portion positioned between the side mold portions;
• wherein, for each side portion, the side mold portion and the first and second guide members are configured to cooperate to allow the outer end of the side mold portion to move from a lowered position to a raised position in order to move the respective end portion of the glass sheet toward a mold surface of the upper mold, while also allowing the inner end of the side mold portion to move laterally toward the inner end of the other side mold portion, wherein each side mold portion is movable relative to the intermediate mold portion, and each side mold portion has a length that is at least as long as a length of the intermediate mold portion.