Patent ID: 6718798
Filing Date: 2004-04-13
Classification: C03B

Abstract:
A method for forming a glass sheet comprising:heating the glass sheet during conveyance thereof on a horizontally extending conveyor; cyclically moving an upper mold downwardly to receive the heated glass sheet from the conveyor and then moving the upper mold upwardly with the glass sheet supported thereby; cyclically moving a lower mold horizontally on a lower mold shuttle from an idle position horizontally spaced from the upper mold to a use position below the upper mold with the glass sheet supported thereby; cyclically transferring the lower mold in the use position from the lower mold shuttle to a lower mold support assembly; cyclically thereafter moving the upper mold downwardly toward the lower mold and moving the lower mold horizontally on the lower mold support assembly as necessary into alignment with the upper mold and then forming the glass sheet between the molds; and cyclically thereafter moving the upper mold upwardly and transferring the lower mold from the lower mold support assembly back to the lower mold shuttle for horizontal movement thereon from below the upper mold back to the idle position to permit delivery of the formed glass sheet from the upper mold for cooling.