A method for bending and tempering of curved glass using flexible shafts is provided. During production of curved glass, after discharged from a heating furnace, glass is preformed with the two edge portions of the glass in the transverse direction being kept in the same plane and the middle portion of the glass in the transverse direction gradually sinks along the conveying direction. The glass then enters a forming and tempering section with the two edge portions in the transverse direction being supported and is finally formed and tempered. In this method, when the glass gradually becomes curved and enters the forming and tempering section, the two edge portions of the glass in the transverse direction are always supported by flexible shaft roller beds, thereby preventing the edge portions from being dangled and avoiding the formation of wavy edge portions.

A method for bending and tempering of curved glass using flexible shafts is provided. During production of curved glass, after discharged from a heating furnace, glass is preformed with the two edge portions of the glass in the transverse direction being kept in the same plane and the middle portion of the glass in the transverse direction gradually sinks along the conveying direction. The glass then enters a forming and tempering section with the two edge portions in the transverse direction being supported and is finally formed and tempered. In this method, when the glass gradually becomes curved and enters the forming and tempering section, the two edge portions of the glass in the transverse direction are always supported by flexible shaft roller beds, thereby preventing the edge portions from being dangled and avoiding the formation of wavy edge portions.

The invention relates to a method for bending and tempering a glass sheet, the method comprising: heating a flat glass sheet in a furnace for the purpose of bending and tempering; feeding a flat glass sheet by a transfer conveyor from the furnace onto a bending conveyor, when the bending conveyor is straightened; bending the bending conveyor and the glass sheet to the desired curvature; cooling the glass sheet by air blasts, when the bending conveyor and the glass sheet are at the desired curvature. The transfer conveyor transfers the glass sheet away from the furnace to the bending conveyor in the longitudinal direction of the rollers of the furnace, which is the transverse direction in relation to the direction of movement of the glass sheet in the furnace during heating. The invention also relates to a device applying the method.

A roller for conveying sheets of glass, includes at its surface a conveying zone for the sheets of glass, the roller including a straight axis of revolution, the conveying zone forming a curved surface of revolution about the axis of revolution, the roller being asymmetric on either side of its, minimum or maximum, extreme diameter. A plurality of the rollers can also serve to bend running sheets of glass.

A roller for conveying sheets of glass, includes at its surface a conveying zone for the sheets of glass, the roller including a straight axis of revolution, the conveying zone forming a curved surface of revolution about the axis of revolution, the roller being asymmetric on either side of its, minimum or maximum, extreme diameter. A plurality of the rollers can also serve to bend running sheets of glass.

A device for conveying sheets of glass running one after another, includes at least one roller including a conveying zone for the sheets of glass, the device including actuators situated on either side of the conveying zone that are able to curve the roller in its range of elastic deformation while leaving it able to be driven in rotation about fixed centers of the sections thereof, the actuators being able to give the roller, on either side of the conveying zone, a level and a direction that give it an asymmetric shape with respect to the plane that is orthogonal thereto and situated equidistantly from the actuators.

A device for conveying sheets of glass running one after another, includes at least one roller including a conveying zone for the sheets of glass, the device including actuators situated on either side of the conveying zone that are able to curve the roller in its range of elastic deformation while leaving it able to be driven in rotation about fixed centers of the sections thereof, the actuators being able to give the roller, on either side of the conveying zone, a level and a direction that give it an asymmetric shape with respect to the plane that is orthogonal thereto and situated equidistantly from the actuators.

A processing fixture can be employed for processing a glass cover plate and include: a fixture body, a first sensing component, a roller component, and a control module connected with the first sensing component. The fixture body is made from flexible materials and provided with a positioning groove matched with shape of an outer surface of the glass cover plate. The first sensing component is configured to detect current dimension parameter of the glass cover plate and/or an attaching layer attached to the glass cover plate in the positioning groove, and transmit the detected current dimension parameter to the control module. The control module is configured to control cooperation of the roller component and the fixture body according to the current dimension parameter, so as to correct the current dimension parameter of the glass cover plate or the attaching layer as a target dimension parameter.

A processing fixture can be employed for processing a glass cover plate and include: a fixture body, a first sensing component, a roller component, and a control module connected with the first sensing component. The fixture body is made from flexible materials and provided with a positioning groove matched with shape of an outer surface of the glass cover plate. The first sensing component is configured to detect current dimension parameter of the glass cover plate and/or an attaching layer attached to the glass cover plate in the positioning groove, and transmit the detected current dimension parameter to the control module. The control module is configured to control cooperation of the roller component and the fixture body according to the current dimension parameter, so as to correct the current dimension parameter of the glass cover plate or the attaching layer as a target dimension parameter.

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.