Apparatus for shaping glass and methods

摘要

An apparatus for shaping a glass sheet includes an engagement member including a flexible bumper comprising a flexible material. The flexible bumper is configured to operate at the forming temperature to reduce an impact stress between the engagement member and the edge portion of the glass sheet. In another example, an apparatus for shaping a sheet of glass includes a push member configured to engage an end edge portion of the glass sheet to push the glass sheet to be transported over the support surface. The push member includes a push flange extending in a direction away from the support surface. The push flange includes a plurality of apertures configured to increase the resistance of conductive heat transfer between the end edge portion of the glass sheet and the push member. In a further example an engagement member can fabricated from a material having a coefficient of thermal conductivity that is less than a coefficient of thermal conductivity of the stainless steel. In further examples, methods include using the apparatus to shape a glass sheet.

主权项

1. An apparatus for shaping a glass sheet comprising:
a heating device configured to maintain the glass sheet at a forming temperature of from about 450° C. to about 760° C.; a support surface configured to provide a fluid cushion between a surface of the glass sheet and the support surface to levitate the glass sheet over the support surface while the heating device maintains the glass sheet at the forming temperature; and an engagement member including a flexible bumper comprising a flexible material, wherein the engagement member is configured to engage an edge portion of the glass sheet as the glass sheet is transported over the support surface, and wherein the flexible bumper is configured to operate at the forming temperature to reduce an impact stress between the engagement member and the edge portion of the glass sheet, wherein the engagement member comprises an edge support member configured to engage a lateral edge portion of the glass sheet to counter a lateral edge force of the glass sheet when the glass sheet is being transported over the support surface, wherein the flexible bumper comprises a flexible lateral edge bumper configured to reduce an impact stress between the edge support member and the lateral edge portion of the glass sheet, and wherein the edge support member includes an outward support segment including a plurality of support apexes and a plurality of valleys that are each positioned between a corresponding pair of the support apexes, wherein the flexible lateral edge bumper is positioned with respect to the outward support segment to engage the support apexes without engaging the valleys of the outward support segment.