US 2010/0180637 A1 · METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BENDING AND TEMPERING A GLASS PANEL

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for bending a glass panel. A heated flat glass panel is fed from a furnace onto a bending conveyor while the bending conveyor is in a straight configuration. The bending conveyor and the glass panel are arched to a desired curvature while the glass panel travels along the bending conveyor. An interpolating position-setting for the tempering conveyor's upstream end with respect to the tempering conveyor's bending radius is performed in such a way that a certain point at the tempering conveyor's upstream end coincides with a certain point at the bending conveyor's stationary downstream end. This position-setting is performed by moving the tempering conveyor in vertical and horizontal directions and by pivoting the tempering conveyor so as to change an angle between its center line of curvature and a vertical line.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for bending and tempering a glass panel, said method comprising the steps of:

heating a glass panel in a heating furnace for bending and tempering
feeding a flat glass panel from the furnace onto a bending conveyor with the bending conveyor in a straight configuration
arching the bending conveyor and a glass panel to a desired curvature while the glass panel travels along the bending conveyor, and
tempering the bent glass panel on a tempering conveyor
wherein an interpolating position-setting is performed for the tempering conveyor's upstream end with respect to the tempering conveyor's bending radius, such that a certain point at the tempering conveyor's upstream end coincides with a certain point at the bending conveyor's stationary downstream end, and that wherein said position-setting is performed by moving the tempering conveyor in vertical and horizontal directions and by pivoting the tempering conveyor so as to change an angle between its center line and a vertical line.

2 more elements

An apparatus for bending and tempering a glass panel, said apparatus comprising:

a heating furnace for heating glass panels to a bending temperature
a bending conveyor for bending glass panels, the bending conveyor comprising horizontal conveyor rolls,
means for arching the bending conveyor to a curve matching the desired curvature of a glass panel,
a tempering conveyor as an extension of the bending conveyor, and
means for cooling the bent glass panel for tempering,
wherein
the bending conveyor's downstream end is stationary in its position,
the tempering conveyor's upstream end is capable of moving in a conveyance-directed plane with respect to the bending conveyor's stationary downstream end,
i.e. the conveyors' interconnecting ends are mechanically disengaged from each other in said traveling direction, and
wherein the apparatus is provided with positioning means for positioning the tempering conveyor's upstream end at the same location with respect to the bending conveyor's stationary downstream end.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for bending and tempering a glass panel

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for bending and tempering a glass panel

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20