Process and system for precision glass sheet bending

摘要

An apparatus and method for precision bending a glass sheet that includes an oven for heating the glass sheet to a temperature near the softening temperature of the glass sheet. A stage for supporting the glass sheet. A pair of reference surfaces on the stage for precisely locating the glass sheet on the stage. At least one bending mechanism on a pair of arms inside the oven for bending an edge portion of the glass sheet. Inward facing first stop surfaces on the arms that contact reference surfaces on the stage for precisely locating the bending mechanism on the arms relative to the stage and the glass sheet.

主权项

1. A method of precisely bending at least one edge portion of a glass sheet in a bending oven comprising:
locating a glass sheet on a support surface of a stage having a first edge and an opposing second edge, with a first edge portion of the glass sheet extending beyond the first edge of the stage, the first edge of the stage having a pair of spaced outward facing first reference surfaces located thereon; providing a pair of first arms having inner ends extending into a bending oven from a first side of the oven, an elongate first bending mechanism mounted near inner ends of the first pair of arms for bending a first edge portion of a glass sheet on the stage down over the first edge of the stage, the inner end of each first arm having inward facing first stop surfaces in opposition to a respective first reference surface; a pair of second arms having inner ends extending into the oven from a second side of the oven, the inner end of each second arm having an inward facing second stop surface in opposition to the second edge of the stage; locating the stage with the glass sheet supported thereon in the bending oven and heating the glass sheet to a processing temperature between the annealing temperature and the softening temperature of the glass sheet; and moving the first arms and moving the second arms inward toward the stage until the first stop surfaces contact the first reference surfaces and the second stop surfaces contact the second edge of the stage, whereby the stage is held between the first stop surfaces and the second stop surfaces with the first edge of stage and the first edge portion of the glass sheet is precisely located relative to and aligned with the first bending mechanism; and bending the edge of the glass sheet with the first bending mechanism.