Method and apparatus for shaping sheets
AssigneePPG Industries, Inc.
InventorsDennis M. Goolsbay, Larry W. Deffendoll, Patrick L. Singleton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flexible ring mold for shaping heat softened glass sheets is provided with an inner ring having a plurality of posts which help support the ring mold and maintain the mold's generally planar configuration during the initial lifting and shaping of a supported glass sheet. Prior to the entire glass sheet being pressed against an upper mold surface, the ring mold is separated from the support posts.
Claims19
A method of shaping heat softened sheet material comprising:
- engaging peripheral portions of a sheet with a ring type mold having a flexible sheet engaging surface;
- moving said ring mold and sheet toward an upper shaping mold;
- contacting and progressively biasing said sheet against a contoured shaping surface of said upper mold while deforming said flexible surface of said ring mold to conform to corresponding peripheral portions of said upper mold;
- and
- maintaining said ring mold in a generally planar configuration at least during said engaging and moving steps.
An apparatus for shaping heat softened sheet material comprising:
- an upper mold having a sheet shaping surface generally corresponding to the desired contours of said sheet to be shaped;
- a lower flexible ring mold vertically aligned below said upper mold, said ring mold having a deformable sheet engaging surface;
- a plurality of deformable supports secured to said ring mold;
- means to move said ring mold to engage said sheet, such that said deformable surface supports said sheet about its periphery, and lift said sheet into contact with said sheet shaping surface of said upper mold, such that said sheet is pressed between said ring mold and said upper mold;
- and
- means to prevent deformation of said sheet engaging surface of said ring mold prior to said sheet contacting said shaping surface of said upper mold.
An apparatus for shaping heat softened sheet material comprising:
- an upper mold having a sheet shaping surface generally corresponding to the desired contours of said sheet to be shaped;
- a lower flexible ring mold vertically aligned below said upper mold, said ring mold having a deformable sheet engaging surface;
- a plurality of deformable supports secured to said ring mold;
- means to move said ring mold to engage said sheet, such that said deformable surface supports said sheet about its periphery, and lift said sheet into contact with said sheet shaping surface of said upper mold, such that said sheet is pressed between said ring mold and said upper mold;
- and
- means to maintain said sheet engaging surface of said ring mold in a generally planar configuration prior to selected portions of said sheet contacting said sheet shaping surface of said upper mold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.