Method for forming glass sheets
US6422040B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 15, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jul 23, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 1, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC03B35/24
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method for forming glass sheets is performed by a system (10) that includes a furnace (12) having a heating chamber (14) in which a vacuum platen (20) has a downwardly facing surface (22) to which a vacuum is supplied to support a heated glass sheet received from a conveyor (16). A forming station (24) located externally of the furnace has a vertically movable upper mold (28) whose temperature is not greater than 500° C. The upper mold (28) cooperates with a horizontally movable lower ring (34). A first actuator (39) moves the vacuum platen (20) vertically to transfer a heated glass sheet from the conveyor (16) to the lower ring (34) which is then moved by a second actuator (40) to the forming station (24). A third actuator (42) then moves the upper mold (28) downwardly to cooperate with the lower ring (34) in forming the glass sheet. The forming station (24) includes apparatus (43) for reducing heat loss of the glass sheet during the forming. A vacuum impulse is provided to the upper mold (28) to assist in the forming. A cooling station (3) cools tHe formed glass sheet.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.