FLEXIBLE SURFACE MOLD AND METHOD OF USE

摘要

A mold includes a pair of spaced elongated deformable members and spaced elongated flexible strap members between and connect to the deformable membe rs with the axis of the deformable members parallel to one another and transver se to the axis of the strap members. A set of a plurality of donut rolls spaced from one another along the length or the strap members is provided in the space between adjacent strap members to move a heat softened glass sheet ove r the strap members and below shaped surface of a vacuum mold. The strap membe rs are moved to lift the sheet off the rolls toward and into contact with the shaping surface. The deformable members are deformed as the flexible members bias the sheet against the shaped surface. Vacuum pulled through the shaping surface maintains the sheet against the shaped surface as the strap members move away from the shaped surface.