Patent Publication Number: US-8522576-B2

Title: Glass sheet bending station

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/912,548, filed Jun. 17, 2008, which is the U.S. national phase of PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2006/014725, filed Apr. 19, 2006, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/128,450, filed May 13, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,162,893, issued Jan. 16, 2007, which are all hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to a bending station for bending glass. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Glass sheet bending to a constant radius of curvature has previously been provided as disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,275 Reunamacki, U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,444 Reunamacki, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,999 Reunamacki all of which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY 
     A glass sheet bending station, according to the present disclosure, for bending heated glass sheets includes a framework, lower and upper deformable molds for receiving therebetween a glass sheet to be bent, and lower and upper linkages that respectively support the lower and upper deformable molds on the framework. The lower and upper linkages are configured to respectively control movement of the lower and upper deformable molds from a first shape to a second bent shape. Each linkage includes connector links that are fixedly connected to the associated deformable mold and that have pivotal connections to each other, wherein the pivotal connections define pivot axes that are parallel to a shape defined by the connector links between the lower and upper linkages throughout the bending. Each linkage also has control links that have respective pivotal connections to the connector links thereof such that the control links are pivotable about axes that extend perpendicular to the shape defined between the lower and upper linkages throughout the bending. Furthermore, at least one of the control links of each linkage is configured to permit glass sheet bending by linkage movement on one side thereof independently of the other side thereof. The bending station further includes an actuating mechanism that is operable to move each linkage on the one side of the associated at least one control link to provide bending of the glass sheet independently of the other side of the at least one control link. 
     While exemplary embodiments are illustrated and disclosed, such disclosure should not be construed to limit the claims. It is anticipated that various modifications and alternative designs may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of glass sheet bending apparatus including a bending station; 
         FIG. 2  is an end elevational view taken through the bending station along line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1  and is illustrated with the deformable molds of the bending station in a flat shape prior to the bending cycle; 
         FIG. 3  is an end elevational view similar to  FIG. 2  but shown after the deformable molds of the bending station have been moved to a bent shape of a constant radius; 
         FIG. 3   a  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  but shown with the molds performing an asymmetrical bend of a J shape; 
         FIG. 4  is an end elevational view taken along the direction of line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 1  and illustrates linkages and an actuating mechanism that cooperatively move the deformable molds between the flat shape and bent shapes of constant radius; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view taken along the direction of line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4  to further illustrate the construction of the actuating mechanism and the locations of the linkages that cooperatively move the lower and upper deformable molds between the flat shape and the bent shapes; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged view taken in the same direction as  FIG. 4  and illustrates the constructions of the linkages that control the movement of the deformable molds; 
         FIG. 7  is a further enlarged view taken partially in section to illustrate the construction of connector links and control links at the left side of each linkage as shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 7   a  is similar to  FIG. 7  but illustrates the construction of connector links and control links that have detachable connections at the right side of each linkage as shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 7   b  is a view taken along the direction of line  7   b - 7   b  in  FIG. 7   a  to illustrate the construction of detachable connections of the linkages at their right side as shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a still further enlarged partial view of the linkage illustrating the manner in which the control links thereof are connected to each other by universal connections that are preferably embodied by spherical bearings; 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom plan view of the upper linkage taken along the direction of line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 6  to show the control links thereof pivoted toward alignment with each other but shown without the detachable connections on the right side; 
         FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the lower linkage taken along the direction of line  10 - 10  in  FIG. 6  to show the control links thereof pivoted farther out of alignment with each other in an X shape but shown without the detachable connections on the right side; 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic view illustrating an actuating mechanism that includes a primary actuating mechanism and a secondary actuating mechanism for moving the linkages to perform the different modes of bending; 
         FIG. 11   a  is a perspective view that further illustrates the secondary actuating mechanism; 
         FIG. 11   b  is a view illustrating just the lower linkage and shown performing bending with a constant radius of curvature as illustrated also in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 11   c  is a view similar to  FIG. 11   b  but showing the lower linkage bent with two different radii of constant curvature; 
         FIG. 11   d  is another view similar to  FIG. 11   b  but showing the lower linkage bent with a J shape similar to the bending also shown in  FIG. 3   a;    
         FIG. 11   e  is a further view similar to  FIG. 11   b  but showing the lower linkage bent to a shallow V shape; 
         FIG. 12  is a side elevational view taken along the direction of line  12 - 12  in  FIG. 2  to illustrate a drive mechanism that drives rotatable conveying elements of the lower deformable mold; 
         FIG. 13  is a longitudinal view taken along the direction of line  13 - 13  in  FIG. 1  to illustrate the manner in which the glass sheet is positioned between the lower and upper deformable molds; 
         FIG. 14  is a side elevational view taken in the direction of line  14 - 14  in  FIG. 13  to further illustrate the manner in which the glass sheet is supported between the lower and upper deformable molds; 
         FIG. 15  is a bottom plan view taken along the direction of line  15 - 15  in  FIG. 14  to further illustrate quench plenums of the deformable molds; and 
         FIG. 16  is taken along the direction of line  16 - 16  in  FIG. 14  through the upper deformable mold and illustrates the positioning of rotatable conveyor elements that engage the glass sheet during the bending. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-5  of the drawings, glass sheet bending apparatus includes a bending station generally indicated by  20  and is operable to perform the method of the invention upon receiving a heated glass sheet to be bent from an unshown furnace which may be of any conventional construction. The bending station  20  ultimately delivers a bent glass sheet according to the invention to an unshown delivery apparatus which may be of any suitable construction. As shown by the drawings and hereinafter described, the bending by bending station  20  starts with a heated flat glass sheet and is performed to provide a bent shape of a constant radius or other bent shape as is hereinafter described. 
     With continuing reference to  FIGS. 1-5 , bending station  20  includes a lower deformable mold  22  having a plurality of mold members  24  that are movable with respect to each other to bend the glass sheet. A linkage  26  illustrated in  FIG. 4  extends between the mold members to control movement thereof with respect to each other. The linkage  26  includes connector links  28  that are fixedly connected to the mold members  24  by connections  30  illustrated in  FIG. 14 . Connector links  28  also have pivotal connections  32  through each other as shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  7  and  10 . These pivotal connections  32  have axes A that extend parallel to the glass sheet while flat as in  FIG. 2  and throughout the bending thereof such as to the bent shape illustrated in  FIGS. 3 ,  3   a ,  11   b ,  11   c ,  11   d  and  11   e . The linkage  26  also includes control links  34  which, as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 ,  7 ,  9  and  10  have respective pivotal connections  36  to the connector links  28  in a spaced relationship from the pivotal connections  32 . The pivotal connections  36  of the control links  34  to the connector links  28  are about axes B ( FIGS. 7 and 7   a ) that extend perpendicular to the glass sheet while flat as illustrated in  FIG. 2  and throughout the bending thereof such as to the bent shape shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  3   a ,  11   b ,  11   c ,  11   d  and  11   e . These control links  34  as best illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8  have universal connections  38  to each other such that the linkage  26  moves the mold members  24  to bend the glass sheet with a constant radius of curvature. More specifically with reference to  FIG. 7 , the pivoting of the connector links  28  to which the mold members are fixed is controlled about their associated pivotal axes A by the pivoting of the control links  34  about their associated pivotal connection axes B to the connector links, and the universal connections  34  permit this pivoting about axes B as well as about associated axes C ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ) parallel to axes A. As shown schematically in  FIG. 6 , and as is hereinafter more fully described in connection with  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b , the lower linkage  26  has at least one control link detachable connection  39  that is detachable to permit glass sheet bending by linkage movement on one side thereof independently of linkage movement on the other side thereof. As illustrated, there are a plurality of the control link detachable connections  39  at the center of lower linkage  26  and to its right which accommodates for different shapes to be bent as is hereinafter described. 
     As best illustrated by  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the deformable mold  22  is embodied by a horizontal conveyor  40  having rotatable conveying elements  42  supported by the mold members  24  to support and convey the glass sheet G for horizontal movement while flat and during the bending. 
     With further reference to  FIGS. 1-5 , the bending station  20  also includes an upper deformable mold  44  that cooperates with the lower deformable mold  22  in an opposed relationship and has a plurality of mold members  46  that engage the glass sheet and are movable with respect to each other to bend the glass sheet. The upper deformable mold  44  includes a linkage  48  that extends between the mold members  46  thereof to control movement thereof with respect to each other with substantially the same construction as the previously described lower linkage  26 . More specifically, the upper linkage  48  includes connector links  28  fixedly connected such as by connections  50  shown in  FIG. 14  to the mold members  46  thereof and also have pivotal connections  32  to each other about axes A that extend parallel to the glass sheet while flat and during the bending. The upper linkage  48  like the lower linkage  26  also has control links  34  having pivotal connections  36  to the connector links about axes B that extend perpendicular to the glass sheet while flat as in  FIG. 2  and during bending such as to the bent shapes shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  3   a ,  11   b ,  11   c ,  11   d  and  11   e . The control links  34  of the upper linkage  48  like the lower linkage  26  have universal connections  38  to each other. This construction of the upper linkage  48  moves the mold members  46  of the upper deformable mold  44  in generally the same manner as the lower deformable mold and linkage described above to provide bending to the constant radius curved shape in cooperation with the lower deformable mold or to other bend shapes such as shown in  FIGS. 3   a ,  11   b ,  11   c ,  11   d  and  11   e . The upper deformable mold  44  like the lower deformable mold  22  has its linkage  48  provided with at least one and, as illustrated schematically in  FIG. 6 , actually with a plurality of control link detachable connections  39  that are detachable to permit glass sheet bending by linkage movement on one side thereof independently of linkage movement on the other side thereof in the same way previously described above in connection with the lower linkage  26 . More specifically, the upper linkage  48  like the lower linkage has a center control link detachable connection  39  and a plurality of these control link detachable connection  39  to the right thereof just like the lower linkage  26 . Provision of a plurality of the control link detachable connections  39  as previously discussed in connection with the lower linkage  26  allows glass sheets of different sizes to be bent to different bent shapes. 
     As previously described, the lower deformable mold  22  is illustrated as being embodied by a horizontal conveyor  40  whose rotatable conveying elements  42  are supported by the mold members  24  thereof to support and convey the glass sheet for horizontal movement while flat and during the bending. The upper deformable mold  44  is embodied as an upper deformable mold located above the lower deformable mold that conveys the glass sheet in an opposed relationship. The upper deformable mold has its mold members  46  provided with rotatable elements  52  that engage the glass sheet. Movement of the mold members  46  under the control of linkage  48  in a generally similar manner to the previously described first linkage  26  causes the bending of the glass sheet G to a constant radius curved shape in cooperation with the lower deformable mold or to other bend shapes permitted by the control link detachable connections  39  as shown in  FIGS. 3   a ,  11   b ,  11   c ,  11   d  and  11   e.    
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , each of the connector links  28  has a pair of the control links  34  pivotally mounted thereon in an X shape. Such a construction reduces the loading on the pivotal connections  32  between the connector links to thereby provide a more rigid construction. Furthermore, as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the universal connections  38  between the control links  34  are illustrated as being constructed as spherical bearings  54 . More specifically, each control link has a forked end  56  that mounts a pin  58  and also has another end  60  that is received by the forked end  56  of the adjacent control link. Each pin  58  mounts the inner spherical bearing element  62  with respect to the associated control link forked end  56 , while each control link end  60  mounts the outer spherical bearing element  64 . The engaged spherical surfaces of the inner and outer elements  62  and  64  thus provide the pivoting as previously described. Each connector link  28  thus has a pair of the control links  34  mounted thereon in an X shape with the control links connected to each other by these spherical bearings  54 . While other universal type connections could be utilized, the use of spherical bearings in association with the pair of control links  34  in the X shape provides accurate control of the linkage movement with a relatively economical construction that can be readily assembled. 
     As the lower and upper deformable molds  22  and  44  move from the flat shape of  FIG. 2  to a bent shape, the lower linkage  26  that controls movement of the lower deformable mold is lengthened while the upper linkage  48  that controls movement of the upper deformable mold is shortened. As such, the lower linkage  26  is constructed as shown in  FIG. 10  so that its control links  34  move inwardly from the X shape to a more straightened shape as the bending proceeds and move outwardly from the more straightened shape to the X shape upon movement back to the flat shape in preparation for the next cycle. On the other hand, the upper linkage  48  that controls movement of the upper deformable mold has its control links  34  moved from a more straightened configuration outwardly to a greater X shape as the bending proceeds, and these control links  34  pivot inwardly to a lesser X shape as the second deformable mold is moved back to the flat shape in preparation for the next cycle. 
     As illustrated by  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  14 , the mold members  24  and  46  of the lower and upper deformable molds  22  and  44  each have an elongated shape including opposite ends  24   a , 24   b  and  46   a , 46   b  ( FIG. 14 ). The linkages  26  and  48  of the lower and upper deformable molds  22  and  44  have the fixed connections  30  and  50  previously described to adjacent ends  24   a  and  46   a  to the respective mold members  24  and  46  at adjacent ends  24   a  and  46   a . The lower and upper deformable molds  22  and  44  each have another lower and upper linkage  26  and  48  of the same construction as the previously discussed linkages and having fixed connections  30  and  50  to the respective mold members  24  and  46  at the opposite adjacent ends  24   b  and  46   b  as the other linkages. Each elongated mold member  24  and  46  is constructed as a quench tube having quench openings  66  ( FIG. 15 ) through which quenching gas is supplied to quench the glass sheet after the bending such as for heat strengthening or tempering. More specifically as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , an elongated quench duct  68  is mounted on the factory floor  70  and has a round cross-section from which flexible quench conduits  72  extend along spaced locations to each of the elongated lower quench tubes  24 . Pressurized quench air is supplied through supply ducts  74  to the lower quench duct  68  under the control of associated dampers  76  such that the pressurized quenching gas can be fed through the flexible ducts  72  to the lower side of the bent glass sheet. 
     With continuing reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , a framework  78  of the bending and quenching bending station supports a pair of upper quench ducts  80  that have elongated shapes with round cross-sections like the lower quench duct  68  mounted on the factory floor as described above. Flexible quench conduits  82  connect the upper quench ducts  80  at spaced locations along the length of the bending station with each of the upper quench tubes  46  of the upper deformable mold  44 . Supply ducts  84  controlled by associated dampers  86  supply quenching gas to the upper quench ducts  80  for flow through the flexible quench conduits  82  to the elongated upper quench tubes  46  and eventual flow through the quench openings thereof to quench the upper surface of the bent glass sheet in cooperation with the quenching gas supplied to the lower surface thereof by the quench tubes  24  of the lower deformable mold as described above. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , each quench tube  24  and  46  includes quench plenums  88  mounted thereon with the rotatable elements  42  and  52  of the respective deformable molds  22  and  44  mounted on the quench tubes between the quench plenums. Each quench plenum  88  actually has a one-piece cast aluminum construction but as shown has a two-piece cast aluminum construction which is secured by connectors  90  such that a round inlet  92  ( FIG. 15 ) of each quench plenum supplies the quenching gas from the associated quench tube to its quench openings  66 . Quench plenums  88  also have ends  94  that interfit with the quench openings  66  positioned and oriented to provide a uniform distribution of the quenching gas that quenches the glass sheet after the bending. 
     With reference to  FIG. 13 , the lower deformable mold  22  includes a plurality of deformable drive shafts  96  positioned along its length. These deformable drive shafts  96  support the rotatable conveyor elements  42  of the lower deformable mold  22  and may be constructed of a suitable plastic with a cross-section that provides driving engagement with openings through the conveyor elements  42 . Opposite ends of each drive shaft  96  are received by drive journals  98  mounted on a pair of laterally spaced mold mounting members  100  respectively located on the opposite lateral sides of the lower deformable mold. As illustrated by combined reference to  FIGS. 4 and 12 , each mounting member  100  of the lower deformable mold has a drive mechanism  102  mounted thereon to drive the adjacent ends  104  ( FIG. 13 ) of the deformable drive shafts  96 . This driving is performed by an electric motor  106  whose output  108  drives a continuous chain  110  that is received by idler sprockets  112 , a tension adjuster socket  114  and drive sprockets  116  connected to the ends  104  of the deformable drive shafts. This driving of the drive shafts  96  is performed as the flat glass sheet is received between the lower and upper deformable molds  22  and  44  as illustrated in  FIG. 2  and while being bent and after the bending during the quenching to provide heat strengthening or tempering as previously described. 
     It should be noted that the deformable drive shafts  96  as illustrated in  FIG. 13  have L-shaped journals  118  whose orientation is preferably switched along the direction of conveyance from one drive shaft to the next so that the conveyor elements  42  engage the glass sheet at different locations in order to prevent strip marking of the glass sheet being bent. These journals  118  are supported by mounts  120  on the lower quench tubes  24  and receive the deformable drive shaft between adjacent conveyor elements  42  with tubular spacers spacing the conveyor elements from each other and from the journals  118 . More specifically, the central drive shaft extends through the tubular spacers as well as through the drive openings of the conveyor elements  42  as previously described to provide the driving with the spacers locating the conveyor elements with respect to each other and with respect to the journals  118 . Furthermore, it should be noted that each conveyor element  42  as well as the rotatable elements  52  of the upper deformable mold has an outer annular ring of an aromatic polyamide fiber such as Kevlar that engages the glass sheet. 
     The rotatable elements  52  of the upper deformable mold are actually mounted on deformable but undriven shafts like the ones shown in  FIG. 12  on the lower deformable mold. However, as shown in  FIGS. 13 ,  15  and  16 , the rotatable elements  52  of the upper deformable mold can also each be rotatably mounted by an unsymmetrical journal  122  that is secured to the associated upper quench tube  46  by fasteners  124  with alternate positioning along the direction of conveyance from one rotatable element to the next so that, as with the conveyor elements  42  of the lower deformable mold, there is no strip marking of the heated glass sheet due to engagement only at one location. 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 , the lower and upper rollers  42  and  52  are in a vertically aligned relationship as are the lower and upper quench plenums  88 . However, it is also possible for the upper rollers  52  to be located intermediate the lower rollers  42  such as disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,339 of Thomas J. Zalesak and Alfredo Serrano, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention and the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     The lower and upper linkages  26  and  48  illustrated in  FIG. 6  as previously described each has connector links  28  whose construction is best illustrated in  FIG. 7 . More specifically, each connector link  28  has a connector link member  126  which, as illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , has a forked end  128  and another end  130  that is received by the forked ends of the adjacent link member  126  in an interfitted relationship that is secured by a pivot pin  132  of the associated pivotal connection  32 . Each connector link  26  also has a link tube  134  that is secured by welds  136  to the link tube  126  with an interfitted engagement  138  that rigidifies the connection. A link shaft  140  of each connector link  28  is received within the link tube  134  and has one end secured to the link member  126  by an axial connector  142  embodied by a threaded bolt. Adjacent the other end of the link tube  134 , threaded adjusters  144  which are spaced at 90° degree intervals locate the link shaft  144  along axis B of the connector link. 
     To the left of center of the lower and upper linkages  26  and  48  as shown in  FIG. 6 , the connector links  28  and control links  34  have the construction illustrated in  FIG. 7 . More specifically, the control links  34  are mounted on the end of the link shaft  140  opposite the connector  142  and are secured by a threaded lock nut  146  with a bushing  148  spacing the control links from each other. Furthermore, each control link  34  has a pair of antifriction bearings  150  whose inner races are mounted by a reduced diameter link shaft portion  152  and whose outer races are secured to the control shaft so that the bearing elements between the races by rolling contact support the control links for their pivoting. Also, the spaced relationship of the control links  34  from the pivotal connections  32  of the adjacent connector links  28  and the parallel relationship of the axes A of pivotal connections  32  with respect to the glass sheet as well as the perpendicular relationship of the axes B of control link pivoting provides a constant radius of curvature of the bent glass sheet as previously described. In this connection, it should be noted that the extent to which the control links  34  straighten from their angular relationship shown should be limited to about 10°-15° from a straight line so that binding does not take place upon attempted reverse movement toward the more angular location as previously described in connection with  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
     At the center of the lower and upper linkages  26  and  48  shown in  FIG. 6  and to the right thereof, the connection links and control links are constructed as shown in  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  wherein the control links  34  have the detachable connections  39  whose detachment permits bending of the linkage on the right side thereof independently of the bending of the linkage on the left side thereof. More specifically, the portions of each control link  34  embodied by the forked end  56  and end  60  extend in opposite directions from the pivotal axis B thereof and are selectively attached to each other or detached from each other by pins  39   p . When attached, these control links portions  56  and  60  of each control link pivot with each other to function as the control links described in connection with  FIG. 7  in order to provide constant radius bending of the glass sheet. Removal of the pins  39   p  permit the control link ends  56  and  60  to pivot independently of each other so that bending to the right thereof can be performed independently of bending to the left thereof since the disconnected control links then do not function to coordinate the bending of the connector links  28  on the opposite sides of the disconnections. Attachment clip assemblies  39   a  detachably secure the opposite ends of each pin  39   p  extending through the holes in the two different portions of the associated control link  34  to attach the portions, while detachment of the control clip assemblies  39   a  permits removal of the pins  39   p  for the different modes of bending on the opposite sides thereof as previously described. All of the control clip assemblies  39   a  associated with the two control links  34  of vertically aligned pairs of the connector links  28  may be attached to each other with a key that identifies the particular location at which these control links are utilized along the linkage. Such location identification may be monitored by a suitable control panel to which the key is inserted so that the operating control of the bending station can determine the appropriate extent of bending actuation needed for that location. Before proceeding with further discussion of the different modes of bending in addition to those previously described, a discussion of the manner in which bending actuation is provided will be helpful in understanding all aspects of the bending station. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the glass sheet bending station  20  includes an actuating mechanism  153  including a primary actuating mechanism  154  and a secondary actuating mechanism  155  that are mounted on the framework  78  and selectively operable to provide different modes of the bending. The primary actuating mechanism  154  moves the lower and upper linkages  26  and  48  so that the deformable platens move between the flat shape of  FIG. 2  and a constant radius bent shape as illustrated in  FIG. 3  to perform the bending and is also usable to perform other bending when symmetrical about a detached connection at the center of the linkages between their ends as is hereinafter more fully described. The secondary actuating mechanism  155  is operable to perform asymmetrical bending about detached control linkage connections of the lower and upper linkages as is hereinafter more fully described. Both the primary actuating mechanism  154  and the secondary actuating mechanism  155  are schematically illustrated in  FIG. 11 . Operation of the secondary actuating mechanism  155  will follow an initial discussion of the operation of the primary actuating mechanism  154 . 
     The primary actuating mechanism  154  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  has connections  156 ,  158  and  160  to the lower and upper linkages  26  and  48  to provide movement thereof to the upwardly concave shapes such as illustrated in  FIG. 3  to move the mold members  24  and  46 , i.e. quench tubes, and bend the glass sheet therebetween to an upwardly concave shape of a constant radius as previously described. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the lower linkage  26  has a fixed center connection  162  to the framework  78 . This fixed center connector is provided by a suitable link extender  164  ( FIG. 6 ) from the connector link tube  134  of the central connector link  28 , with this extender having portions located on opposite sides of the associated control links  34  so as not to interrupt their pivoting as previously described. Each end of the lower linkage  26  as shown in  FIG. 4  also has an associated end connection  156  to the actuating mechanism  154 . Furthermore, the upper linkage  48  of the upper deformable mold has a center support  166  which includes the connection  160  of the actuating mechanism to the center of the upper linkage  48 . More specifically, this center connection  160  is provided as shown in  FIG. 6  to the central connector link  28  by a link extender  168  that extends around the associated control links  34  so as not to prevent their pivoting as previously described. The upper linkage  48  of the upper deformable mold also has end connections  158  to the actuating mechanism  154  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     As illustrated in both  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the primary actuating mechanism  154  includes flexible members  170  and  172  connected to the end connections  156  and  158 , respectively, of the lower and upper linkages  26  and  48  of the lower and upper deformable molds. These flexible members are preferably embodied by chains. The primary actuating mechanism  154  as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 11  has wheels  174  and  176  that have outer spiraling or cam surfaces receiving the flexible members  170  and  172  embodied by the chains connected to the linkage end connections  156  and  158 . A first actuator  178 , which is an electric motor, rotates the wheels in opposite directions as is hereinafter described to wind and unwind the flexible members  170  and  172  on their associated wheels  174  and  176  in order to move the deformable molds between the flat and bent shapes. Of course, a greater extend of rotation provides a greater amount of winding and hence bending to a greater extent from the flat shape to a shorter radius of constant curvature. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the primary actuating mechanism  154  includes first and second rotary actuator members  180  and  182  one of which is driven by the first actuator  78 , specifically the actuator member  180 . A second rotary actuator  184  of the actuating mechanism connects the first and second rotary actuator members  180  and  182  and is operable to selectively prevent or provide relative rotation between these actuator members. More specifically, this second rotary actuator  184  like the first one is an electric motor and is mounted on the rotary actuator member  182  with its rotary output rotatively connected such as by belting, gearing or chain driving to the other rotary actuator member  180 . 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 11 , the wheels  174  that receive the flexible members  170  connected to the movable end connections of the lower linkage of the lower deformable mold are fixed on one of the rotary actuator members, which specifically is the one rotary actuator member  180  that is driven by the actuator  178  as previously described. The wheels  176  that receive the flexible members  172  connected to the movable end connections of the linkage of the upper deformable mold are fixed to the other rotary actuator member, which is the rotary actuator member  182  as shown. More specifically, these rotary actuator members  180  and  182  are respectively illustrated as a central shaft and a tube that receives the shaft such that the second rotary actuator  184  provides a connection between the shaft and the tube and is operable to provide the relative rotation therebetween as previously described. It should also be noted as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5  that the flexible members  170  and  172  extend over associated idler wheels  185  which are preferably embodied by sprockets rotatably mounted on the framework  78  so that the centrally mounted actuating mechanism  154  can be connected vertically to both ends of both of the linkages  26  and  48  by making angular bends as needed. As is hereinafter more fully describe, the idler wheels  185  on one side of the linkage centers are supported for vertical movement on the framework under the control of the secondary actuating mechanism  155 . Furthermore, the linkages  26  and  48  at both ends of each deformable mold  22  and  44  have respective flexible members  170  and  172  as well as associated wheels  174  and  176  so that the linkage at each end of each deformable mold is bent in the same manner as the linkage at the other end. Likewise, there is a center support  166  supporting the center of each upper linkage  48  as is hereinafter more fully described. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , each center support  166  for the upper linkage  48  of the upper deformable mold has a wheel assembly  186  and, as shown in  FIG. 4 , has the previously mentioned connection  160  to the center of the upper linkage  48  that controls the bending of the upper deformable mold. More specifically, the center support  166  includes a journal  188  through which a shaft  190  extends and has a pair of wheels  192  mounted on its opposite ends, and a support member  194  depends downwardly from the journal  188  to the connection  160  shown in  FIG. 4  to the center of the upper linkage as previously described. The center support  166  as best shown in  FIG. 11  also has a pair of flexible members  196  preferably embodied by chains wrapped in opposite directions about the wheel assembly  186 . The center support  166  also includes a pair of wheels  198  and  200  respectively mounted by the first and second rotary actuator members  180  and  182  which, as previously mentioned, are the shaft and the tube through which the shaft extends. These wheels  198  and  200  respectively receive the flexible members  196  in oppositely wrapped directions to each other. 
     Operation of only the first actuator  178  of primary actuating mechanism  154  as previously described moves the end connections  156  and  158  ( FIG. 4 ) of both linkages to perform the bending of the glass sheet between the lower and upper deformable molds while the center support  166  maintains the center connection  160  of the upper linkage  48  stationary. This stationary support results from the fact that while one wheel  198  or  200  unwinds the associated flexible member  196  as shown in  FIG. 11  during operation of the first actuator  178 , the other wheel  198  or  200  will then wind the associated flexible member such that even though the wheels  192  may rotate, the shaft  190  remains in the same vertical position such that the support member  194  depending from its journal  188  to the upper linkage center connection  160  shown in  FIG. 4  does not move. However, operation of the second rotary actuator  184  provides relative rotation between the first and second rotary actuator members  180  and  182  which moves the end connections  158  and the center connection  160  of the upper linkage  48  shown in  FIG. 4  vertically to provide a change in the spacing between the lower and upper deformable molds. More specifically, the adjustment of the end connections takes place due to relative rotation between the rotary members  180  and  182  such that the flexible members  172  adjust the end connections. Furthermore, while the one wheel  198  of the center support  166  remains stationary on the first actuator member  180 , the other wheel  200  of the center support  166  is rotated with the net effect being a rotation of the wheel assembly  186  and an effective winding or unwinding that changes the vertical position of the shaft  190  and its journal  188  from which the support member  194  depends to the center connection  160  ( FIG. 4 ) of the upper linkage  48 . 
     It should also be noted that during a bending cycle it is possible to operate both actuators  178  and  184  of primary actuating mechanism  154  at the same time. This concurrent operation of actuators  178  and  184  allows a greater spacing between the lower and upper deformable molds  22  and  44  while in the flat shape to facilitate movement of the glass sheet between the molds. Thereafter, the concurrent operation of the actuators moves the upper deformable mold  44  downwardly toward the lower deformable mold  22  as the bending is performed. Of course, the second actuator  184  should terminate operation after the upper deformable mold  44  has moved downwardly toward the lower deformable mold  22  into a spaced relationship approximately equal to the glass sheet thickness. During movement back to the flat shape in preparation for the next cycle, operation of both actuators  178  and  184  moves the upper deformable mold  44  upwardly away from the lower deformable mold  22  into the farther spaced relationship from which the bending begins. This operation allows the opposed deformable molds  22  and  44  to be initially spaced from each other a greater thickness than the thickness of the glass sheet and to thereafter simultaneously bend the deformable molds and move the molds toward each other such that both molds engage the glass sheet to provide its bending. The deformable molds may then provide the quenching gas as previously described to quench the bent glass sheet. Furthermore, the deformable mold  22  is located below the deformable mold  44  in a lower and upper arrangement with the lower deformable mold  22  functioning as a conveyor as previously described, and the molds are bent to upwardly concave shapes as they are simultaneously moved toward each other with the upper deformable mold  44  being moved downwardly to provide the movement of the molds toward each other. Also, it should be appreciated that this mold movement toward each other at the ends of the linkages is a relative movement in that the upper linkage ends move upwardly slower than the lower linkage ends as the bending is performed with both rotary actuators  178  and  184  operating the actuating mechanism as described above. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 11   a , the secondary actuating mechanism  155  is illustrated as operating on one side of the bending station and is operable to provide glass sheet bending on one side of detached linkage connections from any bending on the other side of the detached connections so that the bending can be other than with just a constant radius of curvature as shown in  FIG. 11   b . For example, the bending may be with two different areas of constant curvature as shown in  FIG. 11   c , with a J-shaped bend having a straight portion and a curved portion of constant radius as shown in  FIG. 11   d , or with a V curvature as shown in  FIG. 11   e.    
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the secondary actuating mechanism  155  has connections to the wheels  185  of the first actuating mechanism  154  on one lateral side of the bending station. Flexible members  170  and  172  of the first actuating mechanism  154  extend to these wheels  185  controlled by the second actuating mechanism  155  and downwardly to the linkage ends as previously described. Furthermore, the flexible members  170  and  172  each extend below a wheel  202  (e.g. chain sprocket) that is mounted for rotation on the framework in any suitable manner. Vertical upward movement of the wheels  185  by the secondary actuating mechanism  155  causes the flexible members  170  and  172  to extend downwardly to the fixed wheels  202  and then upwardly to the wheels  185  so as to provide upward movement of the associated linkage ends on one side of the bending station independently of any linkage movement on the other side of the bending station. It will be remembered that this is possible due to the detached control link connections previously described. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 11   a , the secondary actuating mechanism is disclosed as including a pair of electric actuator motors  204  and  206  each of which drives a pair of wheels or sprockets  208  from which flexible members embodied by chains  210  extend. These chains  210  extend to wheels or sprockets  212  that extend downwardly to vertically movable housings  214  on which the wheels  185  are rotatably supported on one side of the bending station. It will be recalled from the above description of  FIG. 11  that these wheels  185  support the flexible members or chains  170  and  172  that extend from the primary actuating mechanism  154  and downwardly to the associated linkage ends. Each of the vertically movable housings  214  is supported on the framework by an associated antifriction linear bearing  216  as shown in  FIG. 11   a . In order to reduce any chain stretching, portions of the flexible chains  210  that do not bend around wheels or sprockets  208  or  212  may be solid rods supported by slideways on the framework. 
     One of the electric motors  204  provides vertical movement of the wheels  185  associated with the lower linkage on one side of the bending station, and operation of the other electric motor  206  provides vertical movement of the wheels  185  associated with the upper linkage on the one side of the bending station. 
     As previously discussed, the primary actuating mechanism  154  is operated with all of the control links  34  connected in order to provide constant radius bending of the glass sheet such as illustrated in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 11   b . Disconnecting one of the sets of control links  34  associated with vertically aligned connector links  28  of the lower and upper linkages such as shown in  FIG. 6  allows different vertical movements on each side thereof while the other connected control links provide constant radius bending on each side of the disconnected control links, the result being two different constant radii of curvature of shown in  FIG. 11   c . More specifically, both the primary and secondary actuating mechanisms  154  and  155  are operated with the net result being there is greate upward movement of the linkage ends and bending on the one lateral side of the bending station where the secondary actuating mechanism provides additional upward movement of the adjacent linkage ends. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3   a  and  11   d , it is also possible to provide J bends which can be performed by operation of only the secondary actuating mechanism to move the one end of the linkage upwardly while its other end remains stationary at the other side of the detached control links. To ensure planarity, it is also possible to utilize a lock member  218  which may have different constructions extending between fixed connections to certain connector links to prevent pivotal movement therebetween about their connected pivotal axes. It is also possible to have a tubular member  220  preventing such bending by mounting thereof on the mold members  46  as shown in  FIG. 14  for insertion of the lock member  218  of an appropriate length. Regardless of the construction utilized, the lock member will ensure flatness on the straight portion of the J bend. 
     The bending station can also be utilized to provide V bends as shown in  FIG. 11   e . Such bends require a pair of lock members  218  located on opposite sides of detached control links. When the control link detachment is at the center of the linkages, it is possible to perform the V bending utilizing operation of only the primary actuating mechanism  154 . For other V bends where the detached linkages cannot be located at the linkage center between its ends, only the secondary actuating mechanism is operated to perform the V bending since the center of the lower linkage is fixed with respect to the framework. 
     The extent to which the primary and secondary actuating mechanisms  154  and  155  are operated for any given bend depends upon the bend shape, the extent of the bending, and the location of the detached control links along the linkages. 
     It should be appreciated that for dedicated machines that only operate a single glass sheet bending shape, the detachable connections of the linkages can remain detached throughout the use of the machine without the need for any control links at the linkage locations where the secondary actuating mechanism functions either by itself or with the primary actuating mechanism on one side independently of the linkage movement and any glass sheet bending on the other side. However, for most machines, it is preferable for the detachable connections to have the control links which can be attached and detached. Likewise, the construction of the primary actuating mechanism  154  and the secondary actuating mechanism  155  can be modified although the construction shown is preferred due to the simplicity of operation and construction. 
     Thus, while the best mode for carrying out the invention has been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention as defined by the following claims. 
     While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.