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US 4,226,608 AGranted
Method and apparatus for curving glass sheets
AssigneeShatterproof Glass Corporation
InventorHarold E. McKelvey
Life of this patent
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AssigneeShatterproof Glass Corporation
InventorHarold E. McKelvey
Estimating the term…
The flat glass sheet to be curved, which is at softening temperature, is advanced in a horizontal position on a curved bed formed by a series of flexible shaping rolls including coiled springs having progressively increasing degrees of curvature such that as the sheet moves thereon it will be caused to bend under its own weight to gradually assume the curvature of the shaping rolls. The shaping rolls are provided with end sections which are angularly adjustable to independently alter the degree of curvature of the rolls. The shaping bed is followed by a second bed formed of flexible rolls having a constant curvature on which the curved sheet is supported and subjected to a tempering and or cooling procedure. Means is also provided for driving the rolls of the shaping bed and the rolls of the second bed to move the glass sheets forwardly at a constant speed.
Apparatus for curving glass sheets brought to a softening temperature, comprising a series of horizontally spaced flexible shaping rolls forming a curved concave bed for receiving the softened glass sheets, end sections for supporting the rolls at their opposite ends, means for driving the rolls in rotation to move the glass sheets forwardly thereover, and means for moving said end sections inwardly and angularly downward toward one another to apply end pressure to the opposite end of the said rolls to cause said rolls to assume a predetermined concave curvature.
Apparatus for curving glass sheets brought to a softening temperature, comprising a series of horizontally spaced flexible shaping rolls forming a curved concave bed for receiving the softened glass sheets, means for supporting the rolls at their opposite ends, means for driving the rolls in rotation to move the glass sheets forwardly thereover, and means for applying pressure to the opposite ends of the rolls to cause said rolls to assume a predetermined concave curvature.
A method of bending heat softened sheets of glass to a predetermined curvature, which comprises conveying the softened glass sheets horizontally in a longitudinal direction over a shaping bed composed of a series of flexible shaping rolls of progressively increasing degrees of concave curvature in the direction of movement of the glass sheets and upon which said glass sheets sag under their own weight to gradually assume the final curved shape, and independently varying the relative degrees of concave curvature of succeeding shaping rolls in said bed by the application of pressure to the opposite ends of the said rolls to alter the concave profile of the shaping bed and thus the final curved shape of the glass sheets.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.