METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING SHAPED ARTICLES FROM SHEET MATERIAL

摘要

The invention concerns a method and an apparatus for making shaped articles. The apparatus includes a container (102) having at least one vacuum port (108) and a surface (124) for receiving a sheet of glass-based material (130). At least one positive mold (116) is supported in the container (102), where the at least one positive mold (116) has an exterior surface (118) including a profile defining an interior of a shaped article. An open volume (115) is defined between the container and the at least one positive mold and is in communication with the vacuum port. The> method comprises providing an array of positive molds (116) and sagging the sheet (130) onto the surfaces (118) of the molds to form an array of shaped articles interconnected by sagging 'webs, said webs extending below a base of the array of shaped articles.