A method of manufacturing a strengthened glass substrate, the method including: thermoforming a glass substrate, wherein a surface of the glass substrate includes defective depressions generated by the thermoforming; forming a silica rich layer by adding an acid to the surface of the glass substrate including the defective depressions generated by the thermoforming; removing the silica rich layer and a portion of the defective depressions by cleaning the surface of the glass substrate on which the silica rich layer is formed with an alkali; and eliminating the remaining portion of the defective depressions by polishing the surface of the glass substrate including the remaining portion of the defective depressions.

Disclosed are apparatuses for shaping a glass structure, the apparatuses having a plurality of rib members, each rib member comprising at least one void and at least one shaping edge; and at least one support member. The apparatuses can further comprise a shaping member and/or a guide member and/or a shaping groove. Also disclosed herein are methods for shaping a glass structure, the methods comprising positioning the glass structure on a shaping apparatus and heating the glass structure to shape the glass structure.

The disclosure relates to fame constructions comprising a glass substrate and a curved surface defining at least one curvature, wherein the engagement of the glass substrate with the curved surface imparts a curvature on the glass substrate.

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.

A method for manufacturing a bent substrate, which forms a bent part in at least a part of a substrate, in which the substrate includes a second region and a first region, the method for manufacturing including: supporting the first region of the substrate on a substrate support surface of a support member including a mold surface having a same curved surface shape as that of the bent part and the substrate support surface that supports the first region, in a state of facing the second region of the substrate to the mold surface; heating the second region of the substrate to soften the second region of the substrate by the heating; placing the second region along the mold surface of the support member by an own weight of the second region; and transferring the curved surface shape of the mold surface to the second region by an external force.

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 for producing, without a mold, a shaped glass article having a predefined geometry is provided. The method includes providing a starting glass, supporting the starting glass, heating a portion of the starting glass so that in the portion a predetermined spatial viscosity distribution of the starting glass is obtained from 10.sup.9 to 10.sup.4 dPa.Math.s and so that at points where the starting glass is supported a predetermined spatial viscosity distribution of the starting glass does not fall below 10.sup.13 dPa.Math.s, and deforming the heated starting glass by action of an external force until the predefined geometry of the glass article is obtained.

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.

The present invention relates to a device and method for bending at least one glass pane. The device includes: a gravity bending mould with a supporting surface, which is suitable for arranging at least one glass pane thereon; an upper shaping tool arranged opposite the supporting surface, the upper shaping tool being suitable for producing an overpressure on a surface of the at least one glass pane arranged on the supporting surface, and the surface of the at least one glass pane faces away from the supporting surface. The shaping tool has a cover that forms a hollow space open in the direction of the gravity bending mould and is equipped with a sealing lip arranged on an edge section of the cover for making contact with the surface of the at least one glass pane, and the shaping tool is equipped with means for introducing a gas into the hollow space in order to produce the overpressure.

A device and method for bending a glass pane. The device includes a gravity bending mould with a supporting surface, which is suitable for arranging a glass pane thereon; and an upper shaping tool arranged opposite the supporting surface. The upper shaping tool is suitable for producing an overpressure on the top surface of the glass pane arranged on the supporting surface. The top surface faces away from the supporting surface. The shaping tool has a cover that forms a hollow space open in the direction of the gravity bending mould and is equipped with means for introducing a gas into the hollow space in order to produce the overpressure. The hollow space is divided by a separating wall into two subspaces such that a different pressure can be produced in two regions of the surface. The shaping tool is equipped with a common gas feed line, and the separating wall extends to the common gas feed line.