Method and apparatus for bending glass sheets to complicated shapes including an S-shaped transverse bend

A method of shaping a glass sheet having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis to a complicated shape comprising, a longitudinal component of bend containing a concave element in elevation about a transverse axis of bending combined with a transverse bend including a component of bend of generally S-shape configuration about a longitudinal axis of bending containing both concave and convex elements of bending to one side of the center line of the glass sheet comprising,

• orienting said glass sheet with its longitudinal axis extending transversely of a path of movement and with its portion destined to develop said component of bend of generally S-shape configuration disposed as the leading edge portion of said glass sheet,
• conveying said sheet while so oriented along a path through a tunnel-like furnace and onto a gaseous hearth bed having a downwardly curved end portion downstream of said path such that the glass sheet is heated to its deformation temperature with its leading edge slightly hotter than its trailing edge en route to said downwardly curved end portion whereby said leading edge flows downwardly to sag toward said downwardly curved end portion,
• supporting a vacuum mold having a downwardly curved downstream end portion superimposed over said downwardly curved end portion of said gaseous hearth bed in sufficiently spaced relation over said gaseous hearth bed to provide clearance for entry of said glass sheet between said vacuum mold and said gaseous hearth bed,
• lifting said glass sheet on an outline shaping mold above said gaseous hearth bed and toward said vacuum mold with the sagged downstream end portion of the glass sheet supported on a rail portion of said outline shaping mold having an upper surface of S-shaped configuration in elevation about an axis extending transverse to said path,
• applying vacuum to said vacuum mold when said lifted glass sheet nears the vicinity of said vacuum mold to engage said glass sheet by vacuum against said vacuum mold,
• lowering said outline shaping mold while continuing to apply vacuum to engage said glass sheet by vacuum against said vacuum mold,
• shuttling a ring-like member into position below said vacuum mold when said outline shaping mold is lowered sufficiently to provide clearance for said ring-like member,
• discontinuing said vacuum to deposit said glass sheet onto said ring-like member, and
• removing said glass sheet from below said vacuum mold while supported by said outline shaping mold.