APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF BENDING GLASS SHEETS

摘要

A glass sheet bending apparatus has a lower mold and conveyor rolls for conveying a heated glass sheet horizontally to a position over the lower mold, the lower mold having slots for receiving the conveyor rolls when the lower mold is lifted. The glass sheet bending apparatus has a main ring mold disposed around the outer peripheral surface of the lower mold which has a first shaping surface for shaping the central area of the glass sheet, the main ring mold having a second shaping surface for shaping the peripheral edge of the glass sheet. The glass sheet bending apparatus also has an auxiliary ring mold disposed between the main ring mold and the lower mold and having a substantially horizontal, flat support surface for supporting the glass sheet between the central area and peripheral edge of the glass sheet. The auxiliary ring mold is lifted prior to the upward movement of the lower mold and the main ring mold for raising the glass support off the conveyor rolls with its support surface. There is also disclosed a method of bending a glass sheet.