Apparatus for press shaping hot glass sheets

A method of bending hot glass sheets comprising:

• providing a rigid, lower mold of ring-like configuration, the mold having a composite glass sheet supporting member having an outer sheet engaging layer of a heat insulating material that does not mar hot glass at elevated temperatures and a wire mesh reinforcement means, for imprinting a heated glass sheet, embedded within the thickness of the sheet engaging layer to separate said glass sheet supporting member into a upper portion that initially contacts the hot glass sheet and a lower portion for imparting a fine imprint on hot glass upon contact therewith, to indicate deterioration of the glass sheet supporting member without marring the hot glass sheet to reject same due to excessive marking;
• heating a glass sheet to temperature sufficient to bend the sheet and to imprint the sheet when exposed to the wire mesh reinforcement means;
• positioning the heated glass sheet on the glass sheet supporting member;
• lifting the mold to lift the heated glass sheet towards an upper vacuum mold;
• engaging the hot glass sheet by vacuum against the upper vacuum mold to bend the hot glass sheet;
• removing the hot glass sheet from engagement with the vacuum mold;
• repeating said heating, positioning, lifting, engaging and removing steps with subsequently heated glass sheets;
• examining selected ones of the bent sheets after the removing step to determine if the bent sheet has a fine imprint from said wire mesh reinforcement means indicating excessive wearing of said glass sheet supporting member and the need to replace same with a new member;
• practicing said providing step after the practice of said examining step determines whether a bent glass sheet has a fine imprint;
• and thereafter
• practicing said repeating and examining steps.