Patent ID: 7225644

Claim:
A bendable support structure in a bending section or bending and tempering section of glass sheets or panels, the support structure comprising 1) a plurality of support arms, which are attached to each other by a plurality of pivotal joints to form a vaulting bridge, each support arm including a bracket member protruding from between two pivotal joints, and 2) a guide lever mechanism established by lever arms articulated between the bracket members of the support arms, which directs vaulting or bending of the support arms about said pivotal joints to define a support structure with a constant-radius curvature, wherein the guide lever mechanism comprises a) a first guide lever or wheel, which is pivotably bearing-mounted to the bracket member by means of a first articulated axle and which is provided with second and third articulated axles placed on the opposite sides of the first articulated axle; b) a second guide lever, which extends between the second articulated axle and a fourth articulated axle attaching to a first adjacent support arm; and c) a third guide lever, which extends between the third articulated axle and a fifth articulated axle attaching to a second adjacent support arm; and all articulated axles of the guide lever mechanism have an axial direction which is the same as that of the joints between the support arms.