Glass manufacturing – Processes – Reshaping or surface deformation of glass preform
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-02
2001-10-16
Derrington, James (Department: 1731)
Glass manufacturing
Processes
Reshaping or surface deformation of glass preform
C065S107000, C065S291000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06301933
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a bending mold for bending glass sheets comprising:
a frame,
support devices in connection with the frame,
the support devices and the frame including means for connecting the frame and the support devices,
the support devices including support surfaces,
the bending mold comprising a sheet like, at least in one of the main planes of the sheet formed to be flexible, and in connection with the support surfaces of the support devices being positioned support part, against whose support surface the glass sheet to be bent is arranged to bend to a bending form determined by the support surfaces of the support devices and the support surface of the support part.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Bending molds of this type are known for example from publications SE-32919 and DE-228049. These publications disclose support apparatus mounted in connection with the frame of the bending mold and placed in a detachable manner, but with the functions of the bending mold being fixed in relation to the frame. Support devices for various bending forms have been manufactured for reserve, wherein for a certain bending form support devices having the corresponding support surfaces are placed in connection with the frame. In the apparatus known from the above mentioned publications, on the support devices there is positioned a sheet like support part formed of parallel tubes, on which the glass bends to the bending form determined by the support surfaces of the support devices and the support surface of the support part.
Bending mold solutions known from the above mentioned publications SE-32919 and DE-228049 are advantageous because the same frame of a bending mold can be used in various types of bending forms by changing supporting devices corresponding to each bending form to connect with the frame. The disadvantage, however, is that the reserve of support devices grows considerably since each bending form has to be provided with a support device of its own. An obvious consequence is that a considerable amount of capital is tied up in the support device reserve. Further, the need to plan and control the production increases significantly. Personnel is required to maintain the support device reserve and to transport the support devices, whereby the production costs increase.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to obviate the above presented problems to a great extent and thus to improve the state of art in the field. To attain these objects, the bending mold in accordance with the present invention comprises means for adjusting the position of at least one support device in order to change the vertical projection of the support surface of at least one support device to a bending form desired at a time.
The above presented solution thus provides the advantage that, by means of a single support device, it is possible to perform a plurality of glass sheet formings having different bending forms. Thus, changing of the bending form is implemented by transferring the support device in relation to the frame to a new position: wherein the vertical projection of the support surface, usually in a perpendicular vertical level against the longitudinal direction of the bending mold changes; wherein a sheet-like support part placed on the support surface of the support device, due to its flexibility, adopts the form of the projection, particularly an arch form, and the glass sheet to be bent bends to the bending form converted in this manner. By choosing the basic forms of the support surfaces of the support device, particularly basic arch forms, in a manner that they form a suitable series, it is possible with a few support device series to cover a wide and versatile bending area for the glass sheets.
The bending mold in accordance with the invention thus provides the possibility to perform very individual bending forms, but in a manner that the advantages of serial production are preserved, only by means of changing the position of the support devices. However, the versatile nature of the invention does not lead to costly investments since the support device reserve can be decreased to a fraction compared to the conventional technology.
According to one particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, means for adjusting the support device, which are placed in connection with the bending mold, are arranged to perform twisting movement around a substantially horizontal twisting center. Thus, if the support surface in the support device is an arch form, increasing or decreasing of the radius of the arch form is obtained by the adjustments of the position, naturally within the scope of the basic arch form. The bending width of the glass sheet can thus be kept constant.
Further, according to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the means for adjusting the position of the support device, which are in connection with the bending mold, are arranged to perform twisting movement around a substantially vertical twisting center. Thus, the arch form of the support surface of the support device becomes narrower or broader in the vertical projection and the depth of the arch form keeps constant.
Furthermore, according to one advantageous embodiment, the bending mold comprises means for providing both vertical and horizontal twisting of the support device. This solution provides the advantage that both the arch of the bending form and the width of the bending form can be adjusted simultaneously.
Furthermore, according to one advantageous embodiment, where the bending mold comprises two or more support devices, all the support devices are connected to means which they share, in order to adjust the support devices, at least if needed, to a uniform position in relation to the frame.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)
The other depending claims present some advantageous embodiments of the bending mold in accordance with the invention.
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Derrington James
Tambest Oy
LandOfFree
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