Method for positioning glass sheets for forming

摘要

A method for positioning glass sheets for forming includes positioners (55) that are moved slower than the speed of glass sheet conveyance to provide rotational adjustment of a glass sheet for accurate alignment above a forming mold (52). The forming mold (52) is moved upwardly for the forming in a pressing manner against a downwardly facing upper mold (58). Both preformed and flat glass sheets can be positioned by different embodiments of the apparatus.

主权项

1. A method for positioning a heated glass sheet with respect to a forming mold, comprising:
conveying a heated glass sheet horizontally on a roll conveyor at a decelerating conveyor speed in a direction of conveyance along a path toward a vertically aligned position above a forming mold; moving a pair of positioners along the direction of conveyance at laterally spaced locations in the path of the conveyed glass sheet and at a decelerating speed that is slower than the decelerating conveyor speed so the conveyed glass sheet contacts the positioners for a sufficient time in order to rotate the glass sheet on the roll conveyor to correct any rotation from a design rotational position with respect to the forming mold; then continuing to decelerate the speed of the conveyor and accelerating the speed of the positioners until the speed of the conveyor and the speed of the positioners are the same as each other and then continuing to increase the relative speed of the positioners with respect to the speed of the conveyor so the positioners move out of contact with the conveyed glass sheet in order to permit the glass sheet to move into vertical alignment with the forming mold for forming; and wherein, after the speed of the conveyor and the speed of the positioners are the same as each other, the speed of the conveyor continues to decelerate and the speed of the positioners continues to accelerate but at a greater rate of acceleration than before the positioners move out of contact with the glass sheet.