Patent ID: 8459061

Claim:
A gravity bending mould for bending glass sheets comprising: a final mould having a final peripheral shaping rim and an intermediate mould having an intermediate peripheral shaping rim; the final mould comprising a final movable mould section mounted at an end of the gravity bending mould, the final movable mould section having an upper shaping surface; the intermediate mould comprising an intermediate movable mould section mounted at the end of the gravity bending mould adjacent to the final movable section, the intermediate movable mould section having an upper shaping surface; wherein the gravity bending mould is movable between a first arrangement, wherein the intermediate mould is closed and the upper shaping surface of the intermediate movable mould section is higher than the upper shaping surface of the final movable mould section; and a second arrangement, wherein the final mould is closed and the upper shaping surface of the intermediate movable mould section is lower than the upper shaping surface of the final movable mould section; wherein the final movable mould section is connected via a mechanical linkage to the intermediate mould such that upon moving one of the intermediate mould and the final mould vertically with respect to the other, and at the same time at least one of the intermediate mould and the final mould moves with respect to the mechanical linkage, the gravity bending mould is caused to move between the first arrangement and the second arrangement; and wherein the entire upper shaping surface of the intermediate movable mould section is located inwardly or outwardly of the upper shaping surface of the final movable mould section.