Patent ID: 6490888
Filing Date: 2002-12-10
Classification: C03B

Abstract:
A method of heating a glass sheet for subsequent processing, said glass sheet having a length with a lengthwise edge, a width with a widthwise edge said lengthwise edge is longer than said widthwise edge a lengthwise extending central portion, and widthwise quarter points, comprising the steps of:a) loading the sheet onto a longitudinally extending conveyor; b) orienting the sheet such that the longer lengthwise edge of the sheet is parallel to the length of the conveyor and the direction of conveyance of the glass sheet; c) conveying the sheet into a heating chamber; d) convectively heating, in a specified sequence and at selected areas of the glass sheet measured along the width, the entire length of the longer edge of the glass sheet at one time along said selected areas by creating a downward flow of heated air proximate the selected areas of the glass sheet, and applying the heat uniformly over the entire length of the sheet to reduce or eliminate oil canning and bubbling.