Patent ID: 6321570
Filing Date: 2001-11-27
Classification: C03B

Abstract:
A method of bending and tempering a sheet of glass having a perimeter and a central portion, said method of bending and tempering comprising:heating the sheet of glass to a formable state;moving at least one of a rigid mold and a conformable pressing element from a holding position in which the rigid mold and the conformable pressing element are spaced apart to an initial pressing position, the rigid mold having a shape;pressurizing the conformable pressing element;pressing a portion of the sheet of glass in the formable state against the rigid mold with a portion of the conformable pressing element when the one of the rigid mold and the pressing element is moved to the initial pressing position;said pressurizing being independent from said pressing;moving one of the rigid mold and the conformable pressing element from the initial pressing position to a final pressing position, said moving including rolling the heated sheet onto the rigid mold with the comformable pressing element to conform the sheet of glass to the shape of the rigid mold; andcooling and, thereby, tempering at least portions of the heated sheet while it is being rolled onto the rigid mold.