Method and apparatus for curving sheets of glass and the like
AssigneeSaint-Gobain Industries
InventorsHeinz Ueberwolf, Hans-Pieter Siemonsen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The sheet to be curved, such as glass at a softening temperature, is advanced on a fixed curved bed formed by a series of curved rods having different angles of inclination to form an ascending convex bed with an increasing curvature profile. The sheet is thus gradually raised and simultaneously curved by sagging of the edges. The curved rods have aligned end sections mounted in the same horizontal plane and the inclinations progressively increase. The bed is followed by a bed of constant curvature profile formed by curved rods having the same inclination. Means are provided for independently adjusting the inclination of each rod. Particular ranges of spacing and rate of advance are given.
Claims10
A process for bending to a predetermined curvature a sheet of material in the plastic state, such as a sheet of glass brought to the softening temperature, on a curved bed formed by a series of curved rods mounted for pivoting about axes disposed in the same horizontal plane, which comprises inclining the curved rods at different angles of inclination with respect to said horizontal plane to form an ascending convex bed with a curvature profile which increases progressively to a curvature corresponding to the predetermined curvature which is to be imparted to the sheet, maintaining the rods at said angles of inclination to form a fixed bed having said increasing curvature profile and advancing the sheet on said fixed bed in the direction of increasing curvature thereof by a rotationally driven sleeve disposed about at least one of the curved rods.
Apparatus for bending to a predetermined curvature a sheet of material in the plastic state, such as a sheet of glass brought to softening temperature, which comprises a series of curved rods forming a curved bed for receiving said sheet, said rods having aligned end sections forming respective axes of rotation, means for pivotally mounting said curved rods with the axes of rotation thereof in the same horizontal plane, a rotationally driven sleeve disposed about at least one of said rods for advancing a sheet along said bed, and means for holding said rods at different angles of inclination to form a fixed ascending convex bed having a curvature profile which increases progressively in the direction of advancement of the sheet to a curvature corresponding to said predetermined curvature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.