Process and apparatus for bending glass plates in a horizontal position

US4682997A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Saint-Gobain Vitrage · FR

Inventors

• Friedrich Halberschmidt · Herzogenrath, DE
• Heinz-Josef Reinmold · Aachen, DE
• Norbert Schwarzenberg · Herzogenrath, DE
• Herbert Radermacher · Raeren, BE
• Kurt Blank · Großenhain, DE
• Josef Audi · Aachen, DE
• Luc Vanaschen · Eupen, BE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 10, 1985
• Grant date: Jul 28, 1987
• Expiry date: Jul 10, 2005

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C03B23/035
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Process and apparatus for bending glass plates in horizontal or approximately horizontal position. The invention includes processing the glass plates by means of an installation comprising a glass reheating furnace, a bending station, and a horizontal conveyor for routing the glass plates through the furnace and bending station. A curved surface is placed above the horizontal conveyor in the bending station, and a blower is adapted to deliver a hot air current to bend the glass plates by heating them and applying pressure to urge them against the curved surface to which the desired configuration has been given. Then the glass plates are gently rested on a carrying frame where they continue to be supported, only in part, by said hot air current. The invention makes possible the bending of glass plates individually or, for example, in pairs.