A glass sheet forming and annealing system disclosed provides control of edge stresses by maintaining a press formed glass sheet on an annealing ring (72) below a heated upper forming mold (58) within a forming station (12) for slow cooling toward the glass strain point temperature.

In a method for tempering a glass sheet, based on identified glass sheet properties, a tempering furnace temperature and/or glass sheet heating time are adjusted, the blowing pressure and/or distance of cooling unit air jets are adjusted, the glass sheet is heated in a tempering furnace, the achieved temperature is thereafter measured from the glass sheet surface, and the glass sheet is cooled. The development of the thickness direction temperature profile of the sheet during the tempering cooling is calculated, the residual stress profile achieved in the glass sheet during tempering is calculated, a reference variable for the glass sheet tempering level is selected and the selected reference variable is compared to a predetermined threshold value. If the comparison between the reference variable and the threshold value fulfils a predetermined criterion, an alarm is created and/or the glass sheet is found not to qualify as safety glass.

In a method for tempering a glass sheet, based on identified glass sheet properties, a tempering furnace temperature and/or glass sheet heating time are adjusted, the blowing pressure and/or distance of cooling unit air jets are adjusted, the glass sheet is heated in a tempering furnace, the achieved temperature is thereafter measured from the glass sheet surface, and the glass sheet is cooled. The development of the thickness direction temperature profile of the sheet during the tempering cooling is calculated, the residual stress profile achieved in the glass sheet during tempering is calculated, a reference variable for the glass sheet tempering level is selected and the selected reference variable is compared to a predetermined threshold value. If the comparison between the reference variable and the threshold value fulfils a predetermined criterion, an alarm is created and/or the glass sheet is found not to qualify as safety glass.

A strengthened cover glass or glass-ceramic sheet or article as well as processes and systems for making the strengthened glass or glass-ceramic sheet or article is provided for use in consumer electronic devices. The process comprises cooling the cover glass sheet by non-contact thermal conduction for sufficiently long to fix a surface compression and central tension of the sheet. The process results in thermally strengthened cover glass sheets for use in or on consumer electronic products.

A strengthened cover glass or glass-ceramic sheet or article as well as processes and systems for making the strengthened glass or glass-ceramic sheet or article is provided for use in consumer electronic devices. The process comprises cooling the cover glass sheet by non-contact thermal conduction for sufficiently long to fix a surface compression and central tension of the sheet. The process results in thermally strengthened cover glass sheets for use in or on consumer electronic products.

A blower box for thermal prestressing of glass panes, includes a stationary part having a cavity and a gas feed line connected to the cavity, and at least one closure element having a plurality of nozzles connected to the cavity for applying an air flow to a surface of a glass pane, wherein the at least one closure element is connected to the stationary part at least via a connection element of variable length, and the at least one closure element is movable relative to the stationary part such that the distance between the closure element and the stationary part is variable, and the blower box is equipped with a system for moving the at least one closure element.

The disclosure relates to a method for controlling a glass sheet heating furnace using information describing a glass load including a plurality of glass sheets. The method includes transporting the glass sheets toward a heating furnace, before thermal treatment, photographing the glass load by a camera to obtain a camera image, sending first information of the camera image to a computer, on the basis of which the computer determines a first value of a dimension of the glass load and selects a value of at least one adjustment parameter of the heating furnace on the basis of the first value before the glass load has been transferred into the heating furnace, and reading second information by a line scanner, which is sent to the computer, on the basis of which the computer determines a second value of the dimension of the glass load.

The present disclosure relates to a thermoforming method, a thermoforming mold, and a thermoforming device. The method comprises: providing a glass sheet to be processed at a softening point temperature and above; providing a thermoforming mold which comprises a male mold, a female mold arranged above the male mold and matched therewith, and a limiting block for limiting the female mold from deviate from the male mold, wherein the female mold comprises a central body module and a female mold frame surrounding the central body module and matched therewith; a first pressurizing process, wherein the central body module and the male mold are matched to press a central plane portion of the glass sheet; and a second pressurizing process, wherein the female mold frame and the male mold are matched to press a peripheral portion of the glass sheet so that the peripheral portion is bent and molded relative to the central plane portion; wherein the central plane portion is always pressed by the central body module in the second pressurizing process. The method improves the quality of a molded glass product and enhances the manufacturing yield of the glass product.

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.

The disclosure relates to a method for controlling a glass sheet heating furnace using information describing a glass load including a plurality of glass sheets. The method includes transporting the glass sheets toward a heating furnace, before thermal treatment, photographing the glass load by a camera to obtain a camera image, sending first information of the camera image to a computer, on the basis of which the computer determines a first value of a dimension of the glass load and selects a value of at least one adjustment parameter of the heating furnace on the basis of the first value before the glass load has been transferred into the heating furnace, and reading second information by a line scanner, which is sent to the computer, on the basis of which the computer determines a second value of the dimension of the glass load.