A process and system for forming a curved glass article from a sheet of glass material is provided. The process and system includes supporting a glass sheet on a shaping frame and then heating the sheet of glass material while supported by the shaping frame such that the central region of the sheet of glass material deforms into an open central cavity of the bending frame. The process and/or system are configured such that a steep, localized temperature differential is formed in the region adjacent the outer edge of the glass sheet during the heating stage of the shaping process.

A method for producing a bent glass article includes a heat treatment step of heat-treating a bent glass. The bent glass includes a first main stir-face, a second main surface and an end face. In the heat treatment step, the bent glass is supported by a support jig with one of the main surfaces facing downward. The support jig supports at least a part of one of the main surfaces or the end face in a higher position than the lowest position of one of the main surfaces.

A laminated includes two bent glass substrates, a polymer interlayer between the glass substrates, and a notch or orifice cut in an entire thickness of the glazing. The glazing includes a border of compressive edge stresses obtained by general controlled cooling of the substrates in a paired state so that compressive stresses are generated at the border, and a local compression zone, different from the border, and obtained by local controlled cooling of a local area of a main surface of the glazing so that compressive stresses are generated in theid local compression zone. The notch or orifice is located in the local compression zone and made in the substrates in a paired state after forming the local compression zone so that cut contours of the substrates in the notch or orifice have a perfect superposition. The compressive edge stresses of the cut contours are greater than 4 MPa.

A process and system for forming a curved glass article from a sheet of glass material is provided. The process and system includes supporting a glass sheet on a shaping frame and then heating the sheet of glass material while supported by the shaping frame such that the central region of the sheet of glass material deforms into an open central cavity of the bending frame. The process and/or system are configured such that an aspect of the heating experienced by an outer region of the sheet of glass material is less than an aspect of the heating experienced by the central region of the sheet of glass material. The aspect of heating may be the average temperature, the maximum temperature and/or the heating rate, which Applicant believes may reduce certain defects during the shaping operation.

A device for heating objects and a method that has recourse to the device, particularly for heating and/or bending one or more glass panes positioned one on top of the other, covering each other. The device includes a furnace line, plural supports, particularly transport molds that transport and/or bend the objects, the objects being placed on the supports positioned on transport carriages, a drive device that progresses the transport carriages through the furnace line and plural heating elements provided above the objects in the furnace line. In the device the heating elements are positioned on the whole above the entire furnace line and the heating elements can be operated and regulated so as to form heating zones suited to dimensions of the objects.

Methods and systems are provided for automated shaping of a glass sheet. The methods comprise preheating the glass, bending the glass through selective, and focused beam heating through the use of an ultra-high frequency, high-power electromagnetic wave, and computer implemented processes utilizing thermal and shape (positional) data obtained in real-time, and cooling the glass sheet to produce a glass sheet suitable for use in air and space vehicles.

Apparatus and methods for bending thin glass sheets are described. The methods and apparatus described include positioning an auxiliary heater between a furnace and an entrance to glass bending station and/or positioning a downstream auxiliary heater between a glass bending station and a quench station. Also described are apparatus and methods for bending thin glass sheets by compensating for heat loss and maintaining the glass viscosity within a workable range for the bending or forming operation. Auxiliary heating elements can be placed in locations that would otherwise provide for excessive heat loss.

A system for shaping glass or metal sheets or panels for use in solar collectors or microwave antennae may include an oven and an adjustable mold. The adjustable mold may comprise a molding surface located within the oven. The molding surface may be coupled to position actuators located outside of the oven via coupling elements. A sheet or panel may be placed in the oven and heated until the sheet or panel softens and takes the shape of the molding surface. The molding surface may be adjusted to achieve different shapes for glass or metal sheets or panels.

Methods and systems are provided for automated shaping of a glass sheet. The methods comprise preheating the glass, bending the glass through selective, and focused beam heating through the use of an ultra-high frequency, high-power electromagnetic wave, and computer implemented processes utilizing thermal and shape (positional) data obtained in real-time, and cooling the glass sheet to produce a glass sheet suitable for use in air and space vehicles.

Provided is a method of thermoforming a molding material to have a bent portion and a flat portion extending from the bent portion. The method includes: placing the molding material on a bending mold, the bending mold having a curved surface; and forming the bent portion of the molding material by heating a portion of the molding material at least to a fluidization temperature such that the portion of the molding material bends due to the weight of the flat portion of the molding material to form the bent portion according to a shape of the bending mold.