PRESS BENDING STATION AND METHOD FOR BENDING HEATED GLASS SHEETS

摘要

A press bending station (12) for heated glass sheets includes a lower wheel bed (36) having a lower support (38) and wheel assemblies (40) with detachable connections (46) to a drive mechanism (48) of the lower support to provide rotational driving of a wheel (44) of each wheel assembly. An actuator (62) provides relative vertical movement that lifts a heated glass sheet received by the wheel bed (36) to provide press bending thereof between a lower press ring (52) and an upper press mold (58). The wheel bed (36) can have a curved shape or a flat shape. Connection and detachment of the wheel assemblies (40) facilitates switching from one production job to the next.