Multi-stage glass pressing systems and methods

A multi stage press for shaping at least one ply, said press comprising:

• (a) an upper press assembly that includes:
• an upper press ring that defines an outer peripheral edge and a wall that defines a central opening of said upper press ring, said upper press ring also defining a forming surface between the outer peripheral edge of said upper press ring and that wall that defines said central opening;
• and
• an inner press that defines a face surface and a peripheral side that terminates in a peripheral edge at the face surface, said face surface including at least one opening in at least one portion of said face surface, said inner press being located in the central opening of said upper ring to define a gap between the peripheral side of the inner press and the wall that defines the central opening of the upper press ring, said inner press being movable within said central opening of said upper press ring between a retracted position at which the peripheral edge of the inner press is recessed into the central opening of said upper press ring and a forming position at which the peripheral edge of said inner press is located closer to the forming surface of said upper press ring than at said retracted position;
• (b) a lower press ring that defines a clamping surface that is oriented to oppositely face the forming surface of the upper press ring, at least one of said lower press ring and said upper press assembly being movable such that the upper press ring and the lower press ring are moveable toward each other to clamp at least one ply between the forming surface of the upper press ring and the clamping surface of the lower press ring, and such that the upper press ring and the lower press ring are moved apart from each other to release the ply from between the forming surface of the upper press ring and the clamping surface of the lower press ring;
• (c) a vacuum source that is in fluid communication with said gap between the wall of the central opening of said upper press ring and the wall of said inner press, said vacuum source selectively applying a partial vacuum within said gap at times when said ply has been clamped between said upper press ring and said lower press ring such that said ply is held against the forming surface of said upper press ring at times when the upper press ring and the lower press ring are moved apart, said vacuum source also being in fluid communication with the openings in at least one portion of the face surface of said inner press to contribute to forming the ply within said portion of the face surface;
• and
• (d) a cold ring that is laterally moveable between said upper press ring and said lower press ring at times when said upper press ring and said lower press ring are moved apart from each other, said cold ring receiving the ply from the upper press assembly when the vacuum pressure in said gap has been relieved.