BENDING MOLD FOR BENDING GLASS SHEETS

Abstract: The invention relates to a bending mold for bending glass sheets and comprises a housing (1) and support devices (4) in connection with the housing (1). The support devices (4) and the housing (1) include means (5, 6, 10) for connecting the housing (1) and the support device (4). Further, the support devices (4) include support surfaces (12), wherein the bending mold comprises a sheet like, at least in one of the main surfaces of the sheet form flexible, and to connection with the support surfaces (12) of the support devices (4) positioned support part, against whose support surface the glass sheet to be bent is arranged to bend to a bending form determined by the support surfaces (12) of the support devices and the support surface of the support part. In connection with the bending form there is arranged means (7, 8, 9, 10, 11; 13, 14, 15, 16) for adjusting the position of at least one support device (4) in order to vertically convert the projection of the support surface (12) of said at least one support device (4) to convert the bending form of the bending mold to a bending form desired at a time.

Description: Bending mold for bending glass sheets Invention relates to a bending mold for bending glass sheets com¬ prising: - a frame, - support devices in connection with the frame, wherein the support devices and the frame include means for con¬ necting the frame and the support devices, wherein - the support devices include support surfaces, wherein - the bending mold comprises a sheet like, at least in one of the main planes of the sheet form flexible, and in connection with the support surfaces of the support devices positioned support part, against whose support surface the glass sheet to be bent is arranged to bend to a bending form determined by the support surfaces of the support devices and the support surface of the support part. Bending molds of this type are known for example from publications SE-32919 and DE-228049. These publications disclose support appa- ratus mounted in connection with the frame of the bending mold and placed in a detachable manner, but as to the functions of the bending mold fixedly in relation to the frame. Support devices for various bend¬ ing forms have been manufactured for reserve, wherein for a certain bending form support devices having the corresponding support sur- faces are placed in connection with the frame. In the apparatus known from the above mentioned publications, on the support devices there is positioned a sheet like support part formed of parallel tubes, on which the glass bends to the bending form determined by the support surfaces of the support devices and the support surface of the support part. Bending mold solutions known from the above mentioned publications SE-32919 and DE-228049 are advantageous because the same frame of a bending mold can be used in various types of bending forms by changing supporting devices corresponding to each bending form to connection with the frame. The disadvantage, however, is that the re¬ serve of support devices grows considerable since each bending form has to be provided with a support device of its own. An obvious conse¬ quence is that considerable amount of capital is tied up in the support device reserve. Further, the need to plan and control the production in¬ creases significantly. Personnel is required to maintain the support de¬ vice reserve and to transport the support devices, whereby the produc¬ tion costs increase. The object of the present invention is to obviate the above presented problems to a great extent and thus to improve the state of art in the field. To attain these objects, the bending mold in accordance with the present invention is mainly characterized by the fact that the bending mold comprise means for adjusting the position of at least one support device in order to change the vertical projection of the support surface of said at least one support device to a bending form desired at a time. The above presented solution thus provides the advantage that by means of a single support device it is possible to perform a plurality of glass sheet formings having a different bending form. Thus, changing of the bending form is implemented by transferring the support device in relation to the frame to a new position, wherein the vertical projection of the support surface, usually in a perpendicular vertical level against the longitudinal direction of the bending mold changes, wherein a sheet like support part placed on the support surface of the support device, due to its flexibility, adopts the form of said projection, particularly an arch form and the glass sheet to be bent bends to the bending form con¬ verted in this manner. By choosing the basic forms of the support sur- faces of the support device, particularly basic arch forms, in a manner that they form a suitable series, it is possible by a few support device series to cover a wide and versatile bending area for the glass sheets. The bending mold in accordance with the invention thus provides the possibility to perform very individual bending forms, however in a man¬ ner that the advantages of serial production are preserved, only by means of changing the position of the support devices. However, the versatile nature of the invention does not lead to costly investments since the support device reserve can be decreased to a fraction com- pared to the conventional technology. According to one particularly advantageous embodiment of the inven¬ tion, means for adjusting the support device, which are placed in con- nection with the bending mold, are arranged to perform twisting movement around a substantially horizontal twisting centre. Thus, if the support surface in the support device is an arch form, growth or de¬ creasing of the radius of the arch form is obtained by said adjustments of the position, naturally within the scope of the basic arch form. The bending width of the glass sheet can thus be kept constant. Further, according to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the means for adjusting the position of the support device, which are in connection with the bending mold, are arranged to perform twisting movement around a substantially vertical twisting centre. Thus, the arch form of the support surface of the support device becomes narrower or broader in the vertical projection and the depth of the arch form keeps constant. Furthermore, according to one advantageous embodiment, the bending mold comprises means for providing both vertical and horizontal twist¬ ing of the support device. This solution provides the advantage that both the arch of the bending form and the width of the bending form can be adjusted simultaneously. Furthermore, according to one advantageous embodiment, where the bending mold comprises two or more support devices, all the support devices are connected to means which they share, in order to adjust the support devices, at least if needed, to a uniform position in relation to the frame. The other depending claims present some advantageous embodiments of the bending mold in accordance with the invention. The invention is illustrated in more detail in the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating one advanta¬ geous embodiment of the bending mold. In the drawings Fig. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the bending mold in accor¬ dance with the invention, as seen from the top, and Fig. 2 illustrates cut II — II of Fig. 1 , Fig. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the bending mold in ac¬ cordance with the invention, as seen from the top, Fig. 4 illustrates cut IV— IV of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 — 7 illustrate in a schematic form bending forms obtained by a bending mold in accordance with the invention, wherein the figures illustrate in a corresponding manner projections of support surfaces in vertical level seen in the longitudinal di¬ rection of the mold. When seen from the top, the bending mold illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a rectangular frame 1 , which can, if needed, be equipped with wheels and it can be fixedly in connection with the bending fur¬ nace. The bending furnace proper and heating apparatus therein can be constructed by using various methods. A multitude of bending furnace solutions are described e.g. in the patent literature of the field; they are not described in this context in more detail, as they are regarded as an obvious construction alternative by an expert in the field. Frame 1 can comprise side walls 2 longitudinally parallel with the frame, and a horizontal bottom 3. Support devices 4, the presented embodiment having three of them between the side walls 2, after each other parallel in the longitudinal direction of the frame 1 , are supported in the upper edge of the side walls 2 of the frame 1 to twist vertically around the horizontal axis, for example by means of projective shaft parts 4a. Under the support devices 4 in connection with the bottom of the bend¬ ing mold there is placed an elongate means 7, which substantially ex¬ tends over the entire length of the bottom 3 of the bending mold. In this means 7, which can have a cross section of an downward directing C- balk, there is coupled supporting arms 8 between each support de- vice 4 and the elongate means 7, wherein the coupling points include on the other hand a joint 9 between said supporting arm 8 and the elongate means 7, and on the other hand a joint 10 between the sup¬ port device 4 and the supporting arm 8. The elongate means 7 is transferred in relation to the frame 1 for example by means of a motor- driven toothed bar - gear wheel combination 11 , wherein vertical twisting of the support devices 4 is obtained around a horizontal twist¬ ing centre K1 (Fig. 1 , shaft parts 4a). Thus, there is then obtained a projection flock of support surfaces 12, illustrated in Fig. 5 when seen from the direction of PV of Fig. 1 (and also Fig. 3). Figs. 3 and 4 show another embodiment of the bending mold according to the invention, by means of which it is possible to implement the twisting around the horizontal axis in accordance with Figs. 1 and 2, and if needed, also a cophasal twisting of the support devices 4 around a vertical shaft (twisting centre K2). In this situation, the elongate means 7 is arranged freely to move in relation to the bottom 3 and freely movable in relation to the bending form, during adjustments of the support devices 4. In the elongate means 7, at each support device, telescopic height ad¬ justing means 13 are placed, whose first part 13a is composed of a vertical tube or the like coupled to the elongate means, and a second part 13b, further up, is of balk or the like equipped with a toothed- bar 14, wherein the second part 13b is arranged vertically to move in relation to the first part 13a. Vertical transfer of the second part 13b takes place by means of a gear wheel use 15 pivoted to the first part 13a. Gear wheels 15a communicating with the toothed bar 14 are used on a horizontal twisting bar 15b combining different height adjust¬ ing means 13, for example by using a crank 15c. By means of a con¬ struction described above there is implemented a functional entirety in connection with the second embodiment in accordance with Figs. 1 and 2, in a manner that the height adjusting means 13 affect the support devices 4 effecting them to twist. In the upper part of the height adjusting means 13 there are vertical extensions 16 pivoted at their lower part to twist around a vertical axis (twisting centre K2) supported by the edge of the vertical second part 13b. At their upper part, the vertical extensions 16 are joint by means of a joint 10 to the support devices 4. With reference to a partial cross diagram shown particularly in Fig. 3, each vertical extension 16 comprises a twisting arm 17 joint to a threaded sleeve 18. The threaded sleeves 18 are coupled together by means of a twisted bar 20 used by a crank 19. The twisted bar 20 is supported to the elongate means 7 by means of telescopically operating support balks 21. First support means 5, in this case horizontal support arches, meet each other in pairs in the upper edge of the both side walls 2 in the frame 1 , in the crosswise direction of the frame 1. The support de¬ vices 4 in their turn have second support means 6, in this case rolls 6 supported by the shaft 6a and communicating with the support arches 5. The combination 5, 6 of support arch and roll can also be a combination composed of an arched toothed bar and a gear wheel. The second support means 6 are positioned in the upper part of the support means 4 to project from both side edges of the support means 4. By means of an arrangement presented above, it is possible by twisting the twisting bar 20 to provide a reaction in which the support devices 4 twist around the vertical twisting centre K2 passing through joints 10, wherein the second support means 6 are transferred in the arch control¬ ler formed by the first support devices 5 in a corresponding manner. Above described method provides a projection flock shown in Fig. 6 as seen from the direction PV of Fig. 3. Further, Fig. 7 illustrates some options to implement both above men¬ tioned adjustments simultaneously. The support devices 4 have for example a configuration of steel sheets in which a suitable arch form for the support surface 12 has been formed. When on top of these support surfaces there are placed for ex¬ ample flexible sheets of prior art, there is obtained a bending form cor- responding the projection flock part in accordance with the above men¬ tioned construction, which is determined by a vertical projection of the support surfaces 12 together with a flexible sheet placed upon it, not shown in the figures. It is obvious that a bending mold according to the invention can be modified in various ways, wherein the above presented functions, or if needed, only a part of them are obtained. Thus, it is for example possi¬ ble to form the support devices 4 different as for the form of the support surfaces 12, wherein novel, surprising bending forms are obtained. In addition, if required, one or some of the support devices 4 can be locked in an unmovable manner in relation to the frame 1 and to per¬ form above mentioned adjustments only relating to one or some sup- port devices 4. The support devices 4 are easy to change in connection with the bending mold by detaching the joint 10 and by lifting the support devices 4 away from the support of the first support means 5 by placing in a corresponding manner new support devices 4 equipped with a different type of support surface 12 to connection with the frame 1 of the bending mold. It is particularly advantageous to form a specific series of basic arch forms of support surfaces 12, wherein by means of a few support device series it is possible to cover a broad and versatile bending form area, particularly for substantially cylindrical glass form bendings. In this specification the used terminology is "horizontal", "vertical" and "longitudinal" in the normal operating position of the bending form, where it substantially horizontally passes through the bending furnace to various departments or is in a department in the horizontal position. Although the bending form in accordance with the invention is in this context treated solely as an application related to bending of glass sheets, the invention can be applied also in so-called bending temper¬ ing by equipping the sheet formed or the like support part with temper¬ ing nozzle unit.

Claims: Claims: 1. A bending mold for bending glass sheets comprising: - a frame (1), - support devices (4) in connection with the frame (1), wherein the support devices (4) and the frame (1) include means (5, 6, 10) for connecting the frame (1) and a support de¬ vice (4), wherein - the support devices (4) include support surfaces (12), wherein - the bending mold comprises a sheet like, at least in one of the main planes of the sheet form flexible, and in connection with the support surfaces (12) of the support device(4) positioned support part, against whose support surface the glass sheet to be bent is ar¬ ranged to bend to the bending form determined by the support sur¬ faces (12) of the support devices and the support surface of the support part, characterized in that the bending form comprise means (4a, 6, 6a, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11; 13, 14, 15; 5, 6, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20) for adjusting the position of at least one support device (4) in order to convert the vertical projection of the support surface (12) of at least one support device (4) to convert the bending form of the bending mold to a bending form desired at a time. 2. A bending mold as set forth in claim 1 , characterized in that means (4a, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10; 13, 14, 15) in connection with the bending mold for adjusting the position of the support device (4) are arranged to perform a twisting movement taking place around a substantially hori¬ zontal twisting centre (K1). 3. A bending mold as set forth in claim 1 , characterized in that means (5, 6, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20) in connection with the bending mold for adjusting the position of the support device (4) are arranged to perform a twisting movement taking place around a substantially verti¬ cal twisting centre (K2). 4. A bending mold as set forth in claim 1 , characterized in that the bending mold comprises means (4a, 6, 6a, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11; 13, 14, 15; 5, 6, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20) for effecting both vertical and horizontal twisting in the support device (4). 5. A bending mold as set forth in claim 1 comprising two or more support devices positioned one after another in the longitudinal di¬ rection of the bending mold, characterized in that all the support de¬ vices (4) are connected to means (4a, 6, 6a, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 ; 13, 14, 15; 5, 6, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20) common to all the support devices (4) in order to adjust the support devices (4), at least when needed, to a uni¬ form position in relation to the frame (1). 6. A bending mold as set forth in claim 1 , characterized in that the support devices (4) are connected by support arms (8) or the like to an elongate means (7) or the like, which is preferably positioned on the bottom of the bending mold and longitudinally parallel with the bending mold, wherein each support arm (8) is vertically connected twistingly by means of joints (9, 10) both to said support device (4) and to the elongate means (7), and that the support devices (4) are con¬ nected to the frame (1) by means of horizontal shaft parts (4a) or the like, which enable twisting of said support device (4) vertically around a substantially horizontal axis. 7. A bending mold as set forth in claim 6, characterized in that in connection with the elongate means (7) there are arranged means (11) for transferring the elongate means in the longitudinal direc¬ tion of the frame (1) of the bending mold. 8. A bending mold as set forth in claim 1 , characterized in that the support devices (4) are connected to substantially vertically functioning height adjusting means (13) fixed to the elongate means (7) or the like which moves freely in relation to the frame (1), and that in connection with the height adjusting means (13) there are arranged means (15) for twisting support devices (4) via the horizontal twisting centre (K1) and means (16, 17, 18, 19, 20) for twisting the support de¬ vices (4) via the vertical twisting centre (K2). 9. A bending mold as set forth in claims 1 or 8, character¬ ized in that each support device (4) is supported at their lateral edges to connection with the bending form by means of first support means (5) in the frame (1) and second support means (6) in connection with the support device (4), which are arranged in a manner that the support device (4), supported by the support means (5, 6), is capable of per¬ forming twisting movement around the vertical twisting centre (K2). 10. A bending mold as set forth in any of the claims 1, 6, 8, 9, characterized in that the first support means (5) is a support arch or the like in connection with the frame (1) and the second support means (6) is a roll or the like, which is in connection with the support device (4) and coupled to the shaft (6a), wherein the support means (5, 6) are positioned in connection with both lateral edges of the support device (4).

Inventors: LAMMI PETRI, LAMMI, PETRI
Applicants: LAMMI PETRI, TAMBEST OY, LAMMI, PETRI
Application year: 1996
Main classification: C03B23
IPC codes: C03B23