Patent ID: 8033138
Filing Date: 2011-10-11
Classification: C03B

Abstract:
1. A method of bending a glass sheet, comprising: a heating step of heating the glass sheet to soften the glass sheet; and a bending step of bending the heated and softened glass sheet to have a predetermined shape, wherein the bending step comprises a step of pressing the heated and softened glass sheet whose edges are supported by a supporting frame against a forming surface of a mold opposed to the supporting frame, and a vacuum forming step of providing a negative pressure through a plurality of suction holes formed on the forming surface so that the shape of the pressed glass sheet is bent along the forming surface of the mold, wherein, in the vacuum forming step, the plurality of suction holes are grouped into at least first and second groups and pressure of the first group is controllable independently of pressure of the second group, an amount of negative pressure of the first group is lowered at a first time, and an amount of negative pressure of the second group is lowered at a second time different from the first time, and wherein, in the vacuum forming step, the negative pressures are lowered to a predetermined pressure at which the glass sheet G is suctioned and held.