Glass manufacturing – Processes – With measuring – sensing – inspecting – indicating – or testing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-12
2003-07-22
Vincent, Sean (Department: 1731)
Glass manufacturing
Processes
With measuring, sensing, inspecting, indicating, or testing
C065S162000, C065S273000, C065S290000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06595027
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for supporting the middle section of a glass panel to be bent in a mould, in which method the middle section of a glass panel placed on a mould is supported during loading and a preheating process and the support is released at the start of a bending process for allowing the glass panel to deflect so as to be supported by the mould over its middle section as well.
The invention relates also to an apparatus for supporting the middle section of a glass panel to be bent in a mould, said apparatus comprising support elements for the middle section of a glass panel, which are secured to a mould or a mould carriage, as well as elements for releasing the middle support at the start of a bending process.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A problem encountered in the process of bending large glasses, such as windshields for buses or trucks, is that the unsupported span or bearing distance for the middle section of a glass placed on a mould becomes excessively long, whereby the glass may break up upon bending under its own weight during a loading process in a cold condition or in a preheating process prior to reaching a bending temperature. It is prior known to provide a mould with various middle support systems for avoiding the break-up of a glass. However, the prior known middle support systems are such that the implementation thereof is impossible in an automated serial furnace.
It is an object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for supporting the middle section of a glass panel to be bent in a mould in such a way that the middle support can be implemented also in an automated serial furnace.
A second object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus, whereby the middle support can be controllably lowered during a bending process.
A third object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus, whereby the two foregoing objects can be accomplished without having to construct the carriages and moulds with complicated actuators, which are replaced with an actuator common to all moulds and set up in a bending station.
These objects are achieved by means of a method of the invention.
These objects are also achieved by means of an apparatus of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 833436 (1906-10-01), Borland et al.
patent: 3023542 (1962-03-01), Babcock
patent: 3166397 (1965-01-01), Hohmann et al.
patent: 3281227 (1966-10-01), Leflet, Jr. et al.
patent: 3433616 (1969-03-01), Wampler et al.
patent: 5302176 (1994-04-01), Shibuya et al.
patent: 5306324 (1994-04-01), Vehmas et al.
patent: 0 162 264 (1991-07-01), None
patent: 0 697 375 (1996-02-01), None
Keinonen Pentti
Koivisto Heikki
Burns Doane , Swecker, Mathis LLP
Tamglass LTD Oy
Vincent Sean
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for supporting the middle section of a... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for supporting the middle section of a..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for supporting the middle section of a... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3056780