Method and apparatus for supporting and heating glass sheets on a hot gas cushion

摘要

A method and apparatus for supporting and heating glass sheets for tempering or bending on a hot gas cushion. One edge of the glass is supported on transport rollers (6) and the rotation axes of the rollers (6) are transverse relative to the plane of the glass. The glass sheet is supported by means of gas pressure on a planar surface (1) which has an angle of inclination of 2-20° relative to horizontal plane. The angle of inclination is sloping towards that edge of the glass which is supported by the transport rollers (6). Gas is expelled through the planar surface (1) by way of gas outlet slots (5) or holes. As the glass is moving, a gas is drawn or blown by fans (15) from a certain part of the glass through the planar surface more than from the rest of the area by adjusting the rotating speed of the fans or by changing the suction pressure or delivery side pressure of the fans (15).