APPARATUS FOR CURVING AND TEMPERING GLASS SHEETS

摘要

Apparatus (A, B and C) for producing curved tempered sheets of glass (S), including means (16) for heating the glass sheets to softening temperature, means (B) for receiving the softened sheets from said heating means and shaping them to the desired curvature, and means (C) for receiving the curved sheets from the shaping means and for tempering the same, characterized in that said shaping means comprises upper (24, 26) and lower (25) shaping members, and a plurality of relatively narrow endless belts (55) arranged in spaced parallel relation and having a substantially horizontal flight for conveying the glass sheets between the shaping members, said lower shaping member having an upper concavely curved shaping surface (36) of a length and width at least equal to those of the glass sheets, with the curvature of said shaping surface being disposed transversely to the line of movement of said belts and said belts passing over and in contact therewith, means (19-22) for lowering and raising the upper shaping member, and means (62) for driving said endless belts for receiving the softened glass sheets from the heating means, carrying them over the said shaping surface and subsequently delivering the curved glass sheets to the tempering means. The apparatus further includes a horizontal guide member (56) concavely curved to correspond to the curvature of the shaping surface and over which the endless belts pass upon leaving said shaping surface, and means (74-77) on said guide member for preventing said belts from riding inwardly toward the center of said shaping surface. The glass sheets are carried through the tempering means (C) upon a series of horizontally spaced rolls (17), with the adjacent rolls (17A and 17B) being inclined in opposite directions to form a substantially v-shaped saddle for supporting the curved glass.