The present invention provides for a method and apparatus for bending multiple sheet of thin glass at the same time on a single set of molds. Multiple sheets of thin glass are stacked onto a full surface female mold. A partial surface male mold is placed onto the thin glass stack. The male mold serves to hold the edges in place and prevents the formation of wrinkles as the glass is heated and sags to conform to the shape of the female mold. Optionally, the top mold can be enclosed and pressurized to provide a pneumatic pressure assist to form the glass. In addition, the bottom mold can be enclosed to allow for vacuum assist to form the glass.

There is provided a method for heating a thermoplastic plate to be subjected to bending which is horizontally arranged while holding at least part of a peripheral edge portion of the thermoplastic plate, causing a portion inside the peripheral edge portion to sag under a self-weight, and bending the thermoplastic plate to a desired curvature. The method includes applying tension in a planar direction of the thermoplastic plate at the time of holding at least the part of the peripheral edge portion of the thermoplastic plate in a molding frame defining a peripheral edge shape in a shape as a goal for reshaping. Since the thermoplastic plate is pulled in the planar direction during the heating of the thermoplastic plate, moderate tension acts on the thermoplastic plate to prevent breakage. The degree of curvature of the thermoplastic plate can be adjusted by adjusting the mass of each weight.

Methods for making articles comprising crystalline material. Exemplary articles made by a method described herein include electronics enclosure (e.g., a watch case, cellular phone case, or a tablet case).

A method of fabricating an acoustic device includes forming a plurality of holes in a panel, disposing the panel in a support frame, and heating the panel to a temperature such that the panel sags while disposed in the support frame and each hole of the plurality of holes is modified.

A vacuum mold shuttle system in a glass sheet forming system includes a vacuum mold mounted on a support frame. A shuttle frame including a pair of generally parallel elongate beams for receiving and supporting the mold support frame thereon. A vacuum source is mounted on the shuttle frame near the end of the beams opposite to the end supporting the mold, a conduit and coupling port for releasably connecting the mold to the vacuum source. At least one guide element is mounted on the support surface of one of the beams for receiving and fixing the position of the mold support frame relative to the shuttle frame to align and prevent movement of the mold support frame with respect to the shuttle frame in any direction as the mold support frame is supported thereon.

Embodiments of a laminate including a first curved glass substrate comprising a first viscosity (poises) at a temperature of 630 C.; a second curved glass substrate comprising a second viscosity that is greater than the first viscosity at a temperature of 630 C.; and an interlayer disposed between the first curved glass substrate and the second curved glass substrate, are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the first curved glass substrate exhibits a first sag depth that is within 10% of a second sag depth of the second curved glass substrate. In one or more embodiments, the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate exhibit a shape deviation therebetween of about 5 mm or less as measured by an optical three-dimensional scanner or exhibit minimal optical distortion. Embodiments of vehicles including such laminates and methods for making such laminates are also disclosed.

Embodiments of a laminate including a first curved glass substrate comprising a first viscosity (poises) at a temperature of 630 C.; a second curved glass substrate comprising a second viscosity that is greater than the first viscosity at a temperature of 630 C.; and an interlayer disposed between the first curved glass substrate and the second curved glass substrate, are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the first curved glass substrate exhibits a first sag depth that is within 10% of a second sag depth of the second curved glass substrate. In one or more embodiments, the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate exhibit a shape deviation therebetween of about 5 mm or less as measured by an optical three-dimensional scanner or exhibit minimal optical distortion. Embodiments of vehicles including such laminates and methods for making such laminates are also disclosed.

An automotive laminated glass includes a thermoplastic interlayer film, a curved first glass sheet, and a curved second glass sheet. The thermoplastic interlayer film is disposed between the first and second glass sheets. The first glass sheet is a 0.7- to 3-mm thick non-chemically strengthened glass sheet including a convex-side first main surface and a concave-side second main surface facing the thermoplastic interlayer film. The second glass sheet is an ion-exchanged, 0.3- to 1.5-mm thick chemically strengthened glass sheet including a convex-side third main surface facing the thermoplastic interlayer film and a concave-side fourth main surface. The second glass sheet is thinner than the first glass sheet. The convex-side third main surface has a compressive stress layer thicker than that on the concave-side fourth main surface, and the second glass sheet is adjusted to fit the curvature of the first glass sheet.

A production device and production method for single curved tempered glass. Glass to be processed is heated in a heating section to a temperature required for a glass bending and tempering process; under the combined transfer of a ceramic roller group of the heating section and a forming roller group of a forming section, the heated glass enters the forming section, each roller of the forming roller group of the forming section being in the respective initial state, and under the action of gravity or other external forces, the glass is closely attached to the forming roller group and is then pre-formed accordingly; each roller of the forming roller group is bent from its initial state to a final state, and the softened glass after heating is, under the action of gravity or other external forces, closely attached to the forming roller group and is then formed accordingly; and air blowing and cold quenching are carried out until the formation and tempering of the glass are finished, thus obtaining a single curved tempered glass product.

Method for strengthening and bending glass sheets, wherein a saturated saline solution is applied to glass sheets, followed by a rapid temperature change, allowing the salt to 5 precipitate. The glass sheets are then evenly coated with a recrystallized salt. Subsequently, the glass sheets are ion exchanged and bent at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time.