Method of and apparatus for bending glass sheets

An improved support structure for an upper press member that broadens the bending capabilities of a conventional press bending apparatus. The support structure is carried on the upper platen frame of the bending apparatus and is adapted for providing reciprocating movement between the upper press member and the upper platen frame. The support structure comprises a base plate which is attached to the platen frame and a subplate which is adapted for supporting the upper press member. Fluid activated cylinders are mounted on the base plate, with the free end of their piston rods affixed in a supporting manner to the subplate whereby actuation of the cylinders will provide relative movement between the subplate and base plate and therefor the upper press member and the platen frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates generally to the production of curved glass 
sheets, and more particularly to an improved method of and apparatus for 
bending glass sheets to a relatively deep curvature. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Curved or bent glass sheets are commonly employed as glazing closures for 
automobiles and the like. The configuration of the glazing closure, that 
is, the size, shape and curvature, is dictated by the opening in which the 
unit is to be installed and the overall design of the automotive vehicle. 
As will be readily apparent, with the many different designs and body 
styles of automotive vehicles in production at any one time, it is 
necessary to produce many different styles of glazing closures. The 
curvature, or bend, of the glazing closures can vary from a simple, 
shallow curvature to a relatively deep, compound curvature. 
It has recently been proposed to use glass to form the satellite dishes 
employed in the telecommunication industry for receiving and focussing 
broadcast microwave radiation. The dish can be produced from a sheet of 
clear or colored glass that is provided with an appropriate metal oxide 
coating which reflects microwave radiation. The glass sheet may be bent to 
the necessary dish form on a conventional press bending apparatus utilized 
to produce the automotive glazing closures and may be either tempered or 
annealed, as desired. 
In a preferred method of producing the automotive glazing closures and 
satellite dishes in the large quantities required for efficient 
production, flat sheets of glass are typically heated to their softening 
temperature in a suitable heat treating furnace. The softened sheets are 
thereafter pressed to the desired curvature between complemental shaping 
surfaces. The curved or bent sheets are then either rapidly chilled so as 
to develop a desired degree of temper or are gradually cooled in a 
controlled manner within the annealing range of glass. These operations 
are generally carried out in successive steps while the sheets of glass 
are being substantially continuously advanced by conveyor along a 
horizontal path including, in succession, a heating area, a bending area, 
and a tempering or annealing area wherein the residual heat in the sheet 
following bending can be utilized for the final heat treating or tempering 
operation. 
The aforementioned complemental shaping surfaces are formed on opposed 
press members, each mounted on a supporting platen. The press members and 
their respective platens are normally located one above and one below the 
horizontal path of movement of the advancing glass sheets to receive the 
sheets therebetween, and are relatively movable toward and away from each 
other for pressing the sheets to the desired shape. A hydraulic cylinder 
is generally employed for raising the lower platen and press member 
upwardly to engage and lift a heated glass sheet from the conveyor system, 
out of the horizontal path, and press it against the shaping surface of 
the opposed or upper press member. The lower platen is then lowered to 
deposit the bent sheet upon the conveyor system for advancement into and 
through an adjacent tempering or annealing section. The conveyer system is 
typically comprised of a plurality of longitudinally spaced rolls which 
provide suitable support for the heat softened glass sheet as it is 
conveyed through the bending area. Alternatively, the upper press member 
may be of the vacuum-type to support the sheet after bending as the lower 
press member is retracted and a carrier ring is moved into position to 
receive the sheet and advance it into the appropriate cooling section. 
As heretofore mentioned, the upper and lower press members are mounted on 
their respective platens and are relatively movable toward and away from 
each other to bend the sheets to the desired shape. A hydraulic cylinder 
is generally employed for raising and lowering the lower platen during the 
pressing cycle, while a screw jack system or the like, is utilized for 
adjusting the elevation of the upper platen and associated press member 
relative to the lower press member. The upper press member generally is 
set at a predetermined elevation for the particular part being run and the 
lower press member is activated to lift the sheet from the conveyor and 
press it against the stationary upper press member. The elevation at which 
the upper press member is set is determined by several factors including 
the stroke of the hydraulic cylinder of the lower platen and the curvature 
and thickness of the glass sheet being run. To properly position the upper 
press member, the lower press member first is raised to an elevation above 
the supporting surface of the conveyor. The jack system associated with 
the upper platen is then manipulated to position the shaping surface of 
the upper press member at a distance from the lower shaping surface 
representative of the thickness of glass sheet to be bent. 
While the above-described apparatus has been successful for bending glass 
sheets to satisfy most present day requirements, the trend to aerodynamic 
styling in the automotive industry has resulted in glazing closures with 
more pronounced curvatures and complex shapes. The relatively deep 
curvatures of some of these closures are becoming increasingly more 
difficult and, in some instances, impossible to form on conventional 
bending apparatus. 
On conventional apparatus, the glass sheets are generally formed to a 
concave curvature as viewed in elevation, and the degree of curvature has 
a determining effect as to the elevation or vertical position at which the 
sheets are pressed. The deeper the curvature of the sheet, the farther the 
lower press member is required to travel to lift the sheet from the 
conveyor to a position thereabove for pressing against the upper press 
member. Since the upper press member is fixed at this elevation, it must 
not be in a position to interfere with the glass sheets entering and 
leaving the press area. Due to the stroke limitation of the lower 
hydraulic cylinder and structural obstructions on the lower press member, 
it is oftentimes impossible when bending deeply curved sheets to establish 
the fixed position of the upper press member at an elevation that does not 
interfere with the travel of the glass sheet. The problem is further 
complicated when employing a shuttle carrier system for removing the 
curved sheet after bending. In this instance, a vacuum male mold is used 
to support the sheet after bending, and sufficient space must be provided 
between the conveyor and the supported sheet to permit entry of the 
carrier ring. 
Of course, it is conceivable to utilize the existing upper screw jack 
system for maneuvering the platen frame in a reciprocating manner to 
alternately move the upper press member from a position that permits 
unobstructed conveyance of the glass sheet to the preselected position for 
pressing the glass sheet. While the system is capable of functioning 
properly in this manner on a production basis, the maneuvering of the 
entire platen frame assembly with the press member during each bending 
cycle would substantially reduce the speed of the operation, adversely 
affecting productivity. 
While these problems are evident when bending automotive glazing closures 
having relatively deep curvatures as discussed above, they also are 
encountered when bending other deeply curved glass products such as 
architectural glazing and the heretofore mentioned glass satellite dish. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention overcomes the above-noted shortcomings of the prior 
art by providing an improved method and apparatus for press bending glass 
sheets to a relatively deep curvature in a continuous and efficient 
manner. The apparatus of the invention comprises a novel support structure 
for supporting the upper press member on the platen frame of a 
conventional press bending apparatus that permits vertical reciprocation 
of the press member relative to the platen frame. The novel support 
structure includes a base plate for attachment to the platen frame in a 
conventional manner and a subplate that is mounted on the base plate in a 
manner to permit reciprocation of the subplate relative to the base plate. 
The subplate is adapted for carrying any of a variety of press members in 
typical fashion. 
Thus, when the curvature or complex shape of a particular part dictates the 
pressing of the sheet at an elevation wherein the fixed position of the 
upper press member would interfere with the conveyance of the glass sheet, 
the present invention provides apparatus to quickly and easily move the 
upper press member into and out of the pressing elevation in a timely and 
efficient manner. The novel apparatus of the invention also may be 
utilized to increase efficiency on more conventional parts by decreasing 
the press cycle time by maintaining the upward travel of the lower press 
member at a minimum. To that end, the elevation at which the sheet is to 
be press bent is set at a short distance above the conveying surface. The 
upper press member can either be lowered to this position and the lower 
press member raised to press the sheet thereagainst, or the lower press 
member and the sheet elevated to this position and the upper press member 
lowered into pressing engagement therewith. For that matter, the two press 
members may be operated simultaneously to converge and bend the sheet at 
this elevation. In any instance the upper press member is reciprocated 
into and out of the press bending elevation by means of the novel 
apparatus of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a 
glazing closure 10 bent to the desired configuration in accordance with 
the method and apparatus of the invention and which is intended for use as 
a backlight in an automotive vehicle. The glazing closure, or backlight 10 
is comprised of a single glass sheet having a deeply curved central 
portion 11 and opposite end potions 12. While the method and apparatus of 
the invention will be described in connection with the production of a 
single glass sheet for a backlight, it should be understood that the 
principles of the invention are equally applicable in the production of 
other automobile glazing closures such as conventional laminated 
windshields, for example, having multiple layered sheets of glass. 
With reference now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated the novel glass sheet 
bending apparatus of the invention comprehensively designated 14, embodied 
in a conventional horizontal press bending apparatus, identified generally 
at 15. The apparatus 15 more particularly includes a continuous conveyor 
system 16 for supporting and conveying glass sheets S along a generally 
horizontal path through a heating furnace 17 for heating the sheets to 
their softening point or bending temperature, a press bending station 18 
embodying the nov.RTM.1 bending apparatus 14 whereat the sheets are bent 
to the desired shape, and thereafter to subsequent stations (not shown) 
where the heated bent sheets are appropriately cooled so as to be tempered 
or annealed for subsequent fabricating steps. 
The glass sheets S are conventionally heated in a controlled manner while 
being carried sequentially through the furnace 17 on aligned conveyor 
rolls 19 forming part of the conveyor system 16. The sheets, heated to 
their proper bending temperature, exit the furnace through an opening 20 
in the rear end wall 21 and are transferred onto a second series of 
conveyor rolls 22, also forming a part of the conveyor system 16. The 
rolls 22 support and convey the glass sheets S horizontally into and 
within the bending station 18 before and after bending, and then advance 
the bent sheets to the next processing step (not shown) typically 
tempering or annealing of the sheets. 
The press bending station 18 more particularly, comprises a skeletal 
framework 25, generally in rectangular parallelpiped form, including 
upstanding corner posts 26 interconnected at their top and bottom by 
longitudinal beams 27 and transverse beams 28 to form a rigid box-like 
structure. The rolls 22 of the bending station are drivingly mounted upon 
the framework in a conventional manner not shown). Mounted within the 
framework 25 for reciprocating relative movement toward and away from each 
other are the upper and lower press members 29 and 30 which are provided 
with opposed complemental shaping surfaces conforming to the curvature to 
which the sheets are to be bent. 
The upper or male press member 29 comprises a substantially solid shaping 
element 31 and is mounted upon the novel support structure of the 
invention, generally designated 32. The support structure 32, as will be 
hereinafter more fully described, is in turn carried upon a platen frame 
33. The platen frame is preferably constructed to be vertically adjustable 
in order to accommodate glass parts bent to varying degrees of curvature 
between the opposed press members. Accordingly, the platen frame 33 is 
operatively attached at each of its corners within the framework 2$ to the 
lower ends of screw jack rods 34 of associated screw jacks 35 carried on a 
framework comprised by the beams 27 and 28 atop the framework 25. Also 
carried atop the framework is a motorized drive unit 36 adapted to drive 
the screw jacks 35 in unison for retracting or extending the rods 34 to 
correspondingly raise or lower the platen frame 33 and the shaping element 
31 carried thereby. 
The lower or female press member 30 is mounted for vertical reciprocal 
movement and is carried upon a platen frame 38 similar in construction to 
the platen frame 33. In order to insure that the platen frames move freely 
up and down along a precise vertical path within the framework 2$, they 
are provided at each of their corners with stabilizing roller guide means 
39. The guide means 39 include brackets 40 affixed to the corners of the 
platen frames 33 and 38. Each bracket carries a plurality of rollers 41 
suitably mounted to rollingly engage track plates 42 affixed to adjacent 
angularly disposed faces of the associated corner posts 26. The platen 
frames are thus held firmly against lateral movement while being able to 
move freely up and down along a vertical path. 
The lower press member 30 is of conventional outline or ring-type 
construction, and normally resides in a rest position below the rolls 22 
of the bending station 18. The press member 30 is mounted for vertical 
reciprocal movement to lift a sheet S from the rolls 22 and press it 
against the upper press member 29, and then return the bent sheet to the 
rolls 22 for advancement out of the bending station 18 for further 
processing. 
More particularly, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower press member 30 
comprises a base member 44 secured to the platen frame 38 and a shaping 
rail 45 affixed in spaced relation to the base member by means of a series 
of mounting posts 46. The shaping rail conforms in outline to the glass 
sheets to be bent, and is provided on its upper face with an upwardly 
directed shaping surface 47 to impart the desired curvature to the sheet. 
The particular outline of the shaping rail 45, as well as the specific 
curvature of the shaping surface 47, of course, are dictated by the 
predetermined finished shape of the glass sheet being bent and can vary as 
desired. A spaced pair of vertically reciprocal stop means 48 is 
conventionally provided on the base member 44 between adjacent ones of the 
rolls 22 for precisely positioning incoming glass sheets S relative to the 
upper and lower press members 29 and 30, respectively 
The base member 44 is carried by the lower platen frame 38 and is movable 
therewith. A fluid actuated cylinder 50 is mounted beneath the platen 
frame 38 and carried by the beams 27. The cylinder includes a piston rod 
51 affixed at its distal end to the platen frame 38 for reciprocally 
moving the lower or female press member 30 between its retracted position, 
whereat the shaping rail 45 is below the conveyor rolls 22, and its raised 
position whereat the shaping rail lifts a heated sheet S from the conveyor 
rolls and presses it against the male press member 29 between the 
complementary shaping surfaces of the male element 31 and the shaping rail 
45, to bend it to a predetermined curvature. Upon completion of bending, 
the piston rod 51 is retracted to lower the platen frame 38, thereby 
retracting the shaping rail 45 beneath the conveyor rolls 22 and 
depositing the bent sheet thereon for advancement out of the bending 
station. 
The conveyors rolls 22 employed in the bending area are preferably of the 
contoured type comprising an inner, hollow, stationary core member and an 
outer, flexible, load carrying sleeve rotatable thereabout. Such contoured 
conveyor rolls are disclosed and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,905,794 
which is incorporated herein by reference. The construction of the roll 
per se does not constitute part of the present invention, and reference 
may be had to the patent for details of the construction of a preferred 
form of core member and rotatable sleeve. 
Contoured rolls of increasing curvature may be employed leading into the 
press bending area to preform the glass sheets prior to bending between 
the opposed shaping surfaces. Likewise, such contoured rolls may be 
advantageously employed in conveying the bent sheets from the press 
bending apparatus into an adjacent processing station. 
As best shown in FIG. 3, the contoured conveyor rolls 22 include a core 
member $2 as of stainless steel tubing and an outer, flexible, load 
carrying sleeve 53 surrounding and freely rotatable about the inner core 
member. At one end of the contoured rolls the stationary core member 52 
extends beyond the end of the rotatable sleeve 53 and is secured against 
rotation by suitable mounting means 54 upon a side rail 55 of the 
structural framework. At its other or driving end, the core member 52 
telescopingly receives a stub shaft (not shown) which is fixed to the core 
member and concentrically journalled within a rotatable cellar 57. The 
collar 57 is journalled for rotation in a bearing 58 carried on a side 
rail 59 of the structural framework. The end of the outer sleeve 53 is 
attached to the rotatable collar 57 by a coupling member 60 fixedly 
secured on the collar. A pinion 61, adapted to be driven by a suitable 
endless drive chain (not shown), is rigidly secured on the collar 57. 
Driving of the pinion 61 by the drive chain thus rotates the collar 57 
about the stationary stub shaft affixed to the core member 52 and, in 
turn, rotates the coupling member 60 so as to cause the outer sleeve 53 to 
rotate about the core member. 
The series of rolls which are disposed in the press area are configured so 
as to permit unhindered operation of the lower or female press member 30. 
To that end, the rolls 22 include a generally concave central portion 63 
which engages the lower surface of the sheet, and opposite generally 
U-shaped end portions 64 which pass beneath the lower shaping rail 45 
while in its lowered position. 
The upper male press member 29 of the invention is of the so-called solid 
or continuous type. To that end, the male shaping element 31 includes a 
continuous glass shaping surface identified generally at 66, having a 
configuration complementary to that of the lower female press member 30. 
The shaping element 31 is formed of any suitable refractory material 
capable of withstanding the elevated temperatures to which it is 
subjected. Angle brackets 67 affixed to the upper edge of the shaping 
element 31 as by fasteners 68, are provided for mounting the shaping 
element to the support structure 32 of the invention, as will be 
hereinafter more fully described. 
To provide a resilient non-abrasive surface for contact with the heat 
softened glass sheet and to provide insulation, the shaping surface 66 is 
covered with a sheet 69 of heat-resistant cloth, such as woven or knit 
fiberglass or the like. The cloth sheet 69 is stretched tautly over the 
shaping surface 66 and held in place by any suitable means such as the 
mounting brackets 70 affixed as by welding, to the lower end of the angle 
brackets 67. 
The upper mold member is commonly adapted to provide positive and negative 
air pressure to assist in the shaping and handling of the glass sheets. 
The negative air pressure, or vacuum, for example may be employed on the 
shaping surface of the upper mold to assist in the shaping of the glass 
sheet as the sheet is being pressed between the opposed shaping surfaces. 
After bending, the sheet is retained by vacuum against the upper shaping 
surface as the lower mold member is retracted and a carrier ring is 
brought into position to receive the sheet and convey it out of the press 
area. The vacuum is discontinued and a slight positive pressure is 
generally initiated to release the sheet from the upper shaping surface 
and deposit it on the carrier ring. 
To that end, the shaping element 31 is formed with a chamber 72 that serves 
as a manifold for the positive and negative air pressure. A conduit 73 is 
appropriately and selectively connected to a source of air under pressure 
or vacuum (not shown) and in communication with the chamber 72. The 
shaping element is provided with suitable air passages on the shaping 
surface 66 that communicate with the chamber 72. The air passages may be 
in the form of drilled holes such as at 74, or the shaping element 31 may 
be formed of a suitable porous refractory material that would permit a 
uniform flow of air along the shaping surface without the need for drilled 
passageways. 
In a conventional press bending apparatus, the shaping elements of the 
upper and lower press members are mounted on base plates that are carried 
by the respective upper and lower platen frames. The upper platen frame, 
as heretofore described, is provided with a jack system which permits 
vertical displacement of the platen frame and associated press member to 
properly position the upper shaping element relative to the lower shaping 
element as determined by the part to be produced. The elevation at which 
the upper press member is positioned is determined primarily by the 
curvature and thickness of the part. This displacement system for 
adjusting the elevation of the upper shaping element performs admirably 
and is suitable for most present day requirements. However, the trend 
toward aerodynamic styling has resulted in some automobile windows having 
an exaggerated curvature which is difficult if not impossible to produce 
efficiently on the conventional bending apparatus. 
In accordance to the present invention a novel support structure 32 for 
carrying the upper shaping element is provided which enhances the 
versatility of the conventional press bending apparatus. The support 
structure includes means that permit rapid and controlled reciprocation of 
the upper press member into and out of the pressing elevation in the 
bending cycle. 
The novel support structure 32 comprises a base plate 76 adapted for 
attachment to the upper platen frame 33, in a conventional manner as will 
be hereinafter more fully described, and a subplate 77 for carrying the 
shaping element 31. The shaping element is secured to the subplate by 
means of fasteners 78 through appropriate apertures (not shown) provided 
in the angle brackets 67 and subplate 77. 
The subplate 77 is mounted for reciprocation on the base plate 76. To that 
end, a plurality of linear actuators, such as fluid cylinders 79, for 
example, are suitably mounted on the base plate 76 with the associated 
piston rods 80 extending through appropriate openings 82 provided in the 
base plate. The piston rods are connected at their free ends the subplate 
77. Guideposts 83, connected at their lower ends to the four corners of 
the subplate 77, respectively, extend upwardly through suitable bushings 
84 mounted on the base plate 76 for sliding movement therethrough to 
properly guide the subplate in its vertical reciprocating movement. 
The base plate 76 is detachably secured to the platen frame 33 in a 
conventional manner which permits easy removal for maintenance and 
changeover from one part to another. The platen frame 33 includes a 
mounting platform 85 having a plurality of actuating cylinders 86 attached 
thereto that are adapted for supporting the base plate 76. To that end, as 
best shown in FIG. 5, the free end of each respective piston rod 88 is 
provided with an enlarged head 89 that is captured by the opposed upper 
walls 90 of an associated C-shaped mounting bracket 91 affixed to the base 
plate 76. Thus, as can be readily appreciated, retracting the piston rods 
88 with the heads 89 captured by the associated brackets 91, will urge the 
base plate upwardly into intimate engagement with the platform 85 securely 
attaching the press member 29 to the platen frame 33. Conversely, the 
piston rods 88 are extended to relieve the upward force exerted by the 
heads 89 against the upper walls 90 of the brackets 91, to permit 
disengagement therefrom and easy removal of the press member. 
In a typical press bending operation, the sheet is heated in a furnace to 
the bending temperature and thereafter carried on horizontally aligned 
conveyor rolls into position for bending between the upper and lower press 
members. The lower press member is then raised to lift the sheet off the 
rolls and into pressing engagement with the upper press member bending the 
sheet to the desired curvature. The upper press member, generally, is 
stationary as the sheet is lifted into engagement with its shaping surface 
and at an elevation that does not interfere with the sheet as it is 
conveyed into and out of the press area. The elevation at which the upper 
press member is set is primarily determined by the curvature and thickness 
of the part being produced. The deeper the curvature, the greater the 
distance the lower press member must travel to lift the sheet off the 
conveyor rolls. Since this travel is limited by the maximum stroke of the 
cylinder employed and by structural obstructions that may exist on the 
press member, it is not always possible when bending deeply curved parts 
to set the stationary position of the upper press member at an elevation 
high enough to insure that it will not interfere with conveyance of the 
glass sheet. As previously mentioned, while the conventional jack system 
associated with the upper press member can be employed to cycle the press 
member into and out of position for pressing, it is relatively slow and 
will have an adverse effect on the rate of production. 
Reviewing briefly operation of the invention hereinabove described, glass 
sheets s are carried through the furnace 17 by the conveyor 16 where the 
temperature is gradually raised to the softening point of the glass. The 
heated sheets are received from the furnace upon contoured rolls whereupon 
they tend to sag into conformity with the rolls as they are advanced into 
position for press bending between the upper and lower press members 29 
and 30. Prior to the sheet entering the press area, the piston rods so of 
fluid actuators 79 are retracted to raise the upper press member 29 into 
the elevated rest position as shown in solid lines in FIG. 3, to allow for 
the unobstructed conveyance of the sheet into the press area. Of course, 
at this time the lower press member 30 is in the lowered position, with 
the shaping rail 45 below the supporting surface of the rolls. 
When the leading edge of the sheet engages the stop means 48 the sheet is 
properly positioned, at which time a suitable timing mechanism (not shown) 
is activated to extend the piston rods so to lower the upper press member 
31 into the press bending position shown in phantom in FIG. 3. At the same 
time the cylinder 50 raises the lower press member 30 to lift the sheet 
from the conveyor for press bending between the shaping surfaces 47 and 
66. 
The elevation at which the sheet is press bent between the shaping surfaces 
is determined by the stroke of the lower cylinder $o and is conveniently 
set to substantially correspond to the maximum extension of the piston rod 
$1. The upper press member 29 is then set to this elevation by appropriate 
adjustment of the screw jacks 35 in a manner to properly position the 
shaping surface at the bending elevation upon full extension of the piston 
rods 80. It will be appreciated that the press bending sequence of 
operation can be varied without departing from the scope of the invention. 
The upper press member 29 may be lowered to the press bending elevation 
and stationary when the lower press member 30 is raised to press the sheet 
thereagainst. Conversely, the lower press member may be raised to elevate 
the sheet to the proper bending position and stationary as the upper press 
member is lowered to press bend the sheet. Likewise, the two press members 
may converge to simultaneously meet at the press bending elevation to 
press the sheet therebetween. 
After the sheet S is precisely curved between the shaping surfaces 47 and 
66, the lower press member 30 is retracted and the sheet is deposited on 
the contoured rolls for advancement into a further processing station. 
While the sheet has by this time generally cooled sufficiently to retain 
its shape, the contoured rolls provide support to assure that further 
sagging does not occur upon immediate removal of the support of the 
shaping rail 45. 
It will thus be apparent that the reciprocating action provided by the 
novel support structure 32 of the invention when utilized in conjunction 
with the screw jack system of a conventional bending apparatus, is capable 
of press bending glass sheets having various degrees of curvature without 
adversely affecting the normal rate of production. Moreover, in many 
instances the support structure can be utilized to increase the production 
rate when bending glass sheets having more shallow curvatures. To that 
end, the elevation above the conveyor rolls at which the sheet is bent is 
reduced to the minimum distance allowable to adequately clear the rolls 
instead of the elevation as determined by the maximum stroke of the lower 
cylinder. Thus, the travel of the lower press member is reduced which 
ultimately results in a decrease in the press cycle time. 
Referring now to FIG. 6 there is shown a communication satellite dish or 
parabolic reflector 93 produced in accordance to the present invention on 
a press bending apparatus utilizing a shuttle carrier ring for 
transporting the curved sheet out of the bending area after it is shaped 
to the desired curvature. The satellite dish 93 is bowel-shaped in the 
form of a paraboloid of revolution and includes a deeply curved or 
displaced central portion 94 and an upper circumferential edge portion or 
rim 95. The central portion 94 is provided with a plurality of suitable 
apertures 96 for mounting the dish and attaching associated equipment 
thereto. 
The press members utilized to produce the satellite dish 93 are similar in 
construction to the press members utilized to produce the backlight 10 and 
comprise a socalled solid upper male press member 98 and a continuous 
ring-type lower female press member 99. The upper and lower press members 
98 and 99 are provided with opposed complemental shaping surfaces and are 
mounted for reciprocating movement toward and away from each other within 
the framework 25 on the respective upper and lower platen frames 33 and 
38. 
The upper press member 98 is carried upon the novel support structure 32 of 
the invention and comprises a substantially solid shaping element 100 
having a continuous glass shaping surface 101 in the form of a paraboloid 
of revolution. The shaping element 100 is formed of a suitable refractory 
material with the shaping surface 101 covered with a sheet 102 of 
heat-resistant cloth, such as woven or knitted fiberglass or the like. A 
chamber 103 is formed in the shaping element 100 and serves as a manifold 
for maintaining positive and negative air pressure supplied through the 
conduit 73 on the support structure 32, as previously described. Air 
passages 104 that communicate with the chamber 103 are provided in the 
shaping surface 101. Thus, a vacuum may be applied at the shaping surface 
101 to assist in the shaping of the heat softened glass sheet and 
thereafter to support the curved sheet thereagainst as the lower press 
member 99 is retracted. The curved glass sheet may be returned to the 
conveyor rolls after the sheet has cooled sufficiently to set its 
curvature or a shuttle carrier ring, as will be hereinafter more fully 
described, may be introduced to receive the curved sheet from the upper 
press member and transport it into an adjacent processing station. 
The lower press member 99 comprises a base plate 106 that is secured to the 
platen frame 38 and a continuous shaping rail 107 affixed in spaced 
relation to the base plate by means of a series of mounting posts 108. The 
shaping rail includes an upwardly directed shaping surface 109 
complemental to the upper shaping surface 101 of the shaping element 100. 
The heat softened glass sheet is supported in a generally horizontal plane 
on the conveyor rolls 22 as it exits the furnace and is positioned for 
bending between the opposed press members 98 and 99. To that end, at least 
the rolls that extend through the lower press member 99 are of the 
contoured type and include a horizontally extending central portion 111 
and opposite generally U-shaped portions 112 which pass beneath the lower 
shaping rail 107 while in its lowered position. 
As best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a shuttle mechanism indicated generally at 
113, including a carrier ring 114 and a carrier ring transport apparatus 
115 is provided for transporting the curved glass sheets from the bending 
station 18 to an unloading station 117 whereat the curved sheet is removed 
from the carrier ring 114 and placed on a take-away roller conveyor 
section 118. Such shuttle mechanism and unloading station is disclosed and 
described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,526, which is incorporated herein by 
reference. The construction and operation of the same per se does not 
constitute part of the present invention, and reference may be had to the 
patent for details of the construction and operation of a preferred form 
of the shuttle mechanism and unloading station. 
The carrier ring 114 is connected to a framework 119 which is carried by a 
pair of cantilevered longitudinally extending support arms 120, affixed at 
their one end to respective guide plates 122 (only one of which is shown). 
The guide plates include bearings 123 which engage horizontal rails 124 
disposed on opposite sides of the path of travel, thereby allowing 
horizontal movement of the cantilevered support arms 120 and carrier ring 
114 in the direction of movement of the glass sheets through the facility. 
A suitable drive unit (not shown) is interconnected with the guide plates 
122 for transporting the carrier ring 114 in a controlled reciprocating 
manner between the bending and unloading stations 18 and 117. 
The unloading station 117 includes an elevator 126 located below the 
conveyor rolls of the take-away roll section 118, and comprises cross 
supports 127, which are generally shaped to conform to the curvature of 
the bent glass sheet. A suitable lift mechanism such as a fluid actuator 
128, is provided to elevate the cross supports 127 to lift the bent sheet 
form the carrier ring 114 when the carrier ring is properly positioned at 
the unloading station. While the bent sheet is in the elevated position, 
opposed support members 129 affixed to the free end of the piston rod of 
respective actuating cylinders 130, are extended to occupy positions below 
the undersurface of the glass sheet. As the cross members 127 are lowered 
the bent sheet is deposited on the extended support members 129 as shown 
in phantom liens in FIG. 7, and the carrier ring 114 is shifted to a rest 
position outside of the unloading station. Once the carrier ring is clear 
of the supported sheet, the cross members 127 are elevated to lift the 
glass sheet from the support members 129 at which time the support members 
are retracted and the cross members 127 lowered to deposit the sheet on 
the take-away roll section 118 whereupon it is advanced to the next 
processing station. 
Reviewing briefly operation of the invention, the heated glass sheets S are 
advanced upon the conveyor rolls 22 into position for press bending 
between the upper and lower press members 98 and 99. When properly 
positioned, the sheet is lifted from the conveyor rolls 22 by the shaping 
rail 107 to a stationary pressing location above the rolls 22 at which 
time the fluid actuators 79 are activated to lower the shaping element 100 
from its rest position into engagement with the glass sheet for press 
bending between the shaping surfaces 101 and 109. A vacuum is initiated on 
the shaping surface 101 to support the curved sheet thereagainst as the 
shaping element 100 is raised to a holding position at an elevation to 
allow entry of the carrier ring 114. At the same time the shaping rail 107 
is retracted to its rest position below the conveyor rolls 22. The carrier 
ring 114 is moved into position beneath the shaping element 100 and the 
shaping element is lowered to position the curved sheet S approximate the 
support surface of the carrier ring 114, as indicated in phantom lines in 
FIG. 8. The vacuum on the shaping surface 101 is aborted, depositing the 
sheet onto the carrier ring 114. The shaping element 100 then is retracted 
to the upper rest position and the carrier ring 114 and the supported 
curved sheet are transported to the unloading station 117 whereat the 
sheet is transferred to the take-away roll section 118 as heretofore 
described. 
While the aforementioned sequence of operation describes the upper shaping 
element 100 as being lowered into pressing engagement with glass sheet on 
the stationary lower shaping rail 107, it is anticipated that the upper 
shaping element 100 can, as well, be lowered to the press bending 
elevation and held stationary as the lower shaping rail 107 is raised to 
lift the sheet from rolls for press bending between the shaping surfaces 
101 and 109 It also is anticipated that the upper shaping element 100 and 
lower shaping rail 107 may arrive simultaneously at the press bending 
elevation for press bending the sheet. 
It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and 
described are to be taken as illustrative embodiments of the same, and 
that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts, as well 
as various procedural changes, may be resorted to without departing from 
the spirit of the invention.