Method for forming heated glass sheets

A method for forming a glass sheet comprising:

• heating the glass sheet during conveyance thereof on a horizontally extending conveyor;
• moving an upper mold downwardly to receive the heated glass sheet from the conveyor and then moving the upper mold upwardly with the glass sheet supported thereby;
• moving a lower mold horizontally on a lower mold shuttle from an idle position horizontally spaced from the upper mold to a use position below the upper mold with the glass sheet supported thereby;
• locking the lower mold on the lower mold shuttle to prevent movement with respect thereto along the direction of travel during the movement thereof between the idle and use positions;
• transferring the lower mold in the use position from the lower mold shuttle to a lower mold support assembly;
• thereafter moving the upper mold downwardly toward the lower mold and moving the lower mold horizontally on the lower mold support assembly as necessary into alignment with the upper mold and then forming the glass sheet between the molds;
• thereafter moving the upper mold upwardly and transferring the lower mold from the lower mold support assembly back to the lower mold shuttle for horizontal movement thereon from below the upper mold back to the idle position;
• depositing the formed glass sheet from the upper mold onto a quench ring moved on a quench shuttle for delivery to a quench station for quenching;
• and
• locking the quench ring on the quench shuttle during movement between the upper mold and the quench station, and unlocking the quench ring from the quench shuttle at the upper mold to permit movement thereof with respect to the quench shuttle as necessary into alignment with the upper mold.

A method for forming a glass sheet comprising:

• heating the glass sheet during conveyance thereof on a horizontally extending conveyor;
• moving an upper mold downwardly to receive the heated glass sheet from the conveyor and then moving the upper mold upwardly with the glass sheet supported thereby;
• moving a lower mold horizontally on a lower mold shuttle supported by rollers for movement from an idle position horizontally spaced from the upper mold to a use position below the upper mold with the glass sheet supported thereby;
• locking the lower mold on the lower mold shuttle to prevent movement with respect thereto along the direction of travel during the movement thereof between the idle and use positions;
• moving the rollers vertically to transfer the lower mold in the use position from the lower mold shuttle to a lower mold support assembly;
• thereafter moving the upper mold downwardly toward the lower mold and moving the lower mold horizontally on the lower mold support assembly as necessary into alignment with the upper mold and then forming the glass sheet between the molds;
• thereafter moving the upper mold upwardly and transferring the lower mold from the lower mold support assembly back to the lower mold shuttle for horizontal movement thereon from below the upper mold back to the idle position;
• depositing the formed glass sheet from the upper mold onto a quench ring moved on a quench shuttle for delivery to a quench station for quenching;
• and
• locking the quench ring on the quench shuttle during movement between the upper mold and the quench station, and unlocking the quench ring from the quench shuttle at the upper mold to permit movement thereof with respect to the quench shuttle as necessary into alignment with the upper mold.