| US 7,401,476 B2 | ||
| Method and apparatus for bending a glass sheet | ||
| Masao Fukami, Aichi (Japan); Shinya Oota, Tokyo (Japan); Tatsuo Yajima, Kanagawa (Japan); Tomio Kajikawa, Aichi (Japan); and Mikinao Sasaki, Aichi (Japan) | ||
| Assigned to Asahi Glass Company, Limited, Tokyo (Japan) | ||
| Filed on Dec. 02, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/724,824. | ||
| Application 10/724824 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP03/03015, filed on Mar. 13, 2003. | ||
| Claims priority of application No. 2002-068608 (JP), filed on Mar. 13, 2002. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2004/0107729 A1, Jun. 10, 2004 | ||
| Int. Cl. C03B 23/035 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 65—106 [65/182.2; 65/273] | 12 Claims |
| 1. An apparatus for bending a glass sheet, comprising
an upper mold having a bending surface facing downward in a substantially vertical direction, and a frame unit having a bending
surface facing upward in the substantially vertical direction so as to be engageable with the bending surface of the upper
mold, whereby a preliminarily heated and softened glass sheet is pressed by the upper mold and the frame unit so as to be
bent in a desired shape;
means for controlling an amount of preliminary bending to control deformation of the heated and softened glass sheet caused
by the preliminary bending, the glass sheet being put on the frame unit;
sticking means for holding the heated and softened glass sheet and for dropping the glass sheet on the frame unit to put the
glass sheet thereon; and
means for conveying the frame unit with the glass sheet put thereon to a position just under the upper mold;
wherein the means for controlling an amount of preliminary bending comprises a heater incorporated into the sticking means,
whereby a desired portion of the heated and softened glass sheet is heated while the glass sheet is stuck and held by the
sticking means to accelerate the preliminary bending of the glass sheet between just before putting the glass sheet on the
frame unit and just before pressing the glass sheet.
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