Method and apparatus for bending a sheet of material

摘要

An apparatus for bending a sheet 20 of glass heated to a formable state includes a rigid molding surface 24 and a pressing member for pressing the heated sheet 20 against the rigid molding surface 24. The pressing member includes a flexible diaphragm 33 which is pressurized by fluid 36 into a convex shape for intially pressing on a portion of the heated sheet 20 and for rolling the heated sheet onto the rigid molding surface 24. The rigid molding surface 24 and the flexible diaphragm 33 may each include a cover to increase the heat transfer from the heated sheet to the bending apparatus. Furthermore, the covers may have increased thermal conductivity in the peripheral regions for increased cooling of the edge of the sheet of glass. <IMAGE>