A mold shuttle positioning system in a glass sheet forming system includes a 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. At least one support wheel assembly including a wheel and a shuttle guide is mounted in proximity to each of the shuttle beams to position and support each one of the beams as the shuttle frame is moved to position the mold supported thereon at one of multiple desired processing locations. At least one mold guide 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.

A mold apparatus for bending a glass sheet includes a main frame structure and a first mold arrangement having a first mold and a guide frame connected to the first mold. A first guide member of the guide frame is guidable by the frame structure such that it is inhibited from moving laterally in any direction, and a second guide member of the guide frame is guidable by the frame structure such that it is movable laterally away from the first guide member due to thermal expansion. The apparatus further includes a second mold arrangement including a second mold and a frame that supports the second mold such that the second mold is movable laterally relative to the frame. A sensor is also included for sensing position of one of the molds to determine whether the one mold is in a suitable position for mating with the other mold.

A glass-plate working apparatus 1 includes a feeding section 7, a scribing and bend-breaking section 8, a grinding section 9, and a discharging section 10. The feeding section 7, the scribing and bend-breaking section 8, the grinding section 9, and the discharging section 10 are provided by being arranged from a right end R side toward a left end L side, and the scribing and bend-breaking section 8 is adapted to effect the formation of a scribe line on a glass plate 2 and the bend-breaking and separation of the glass plate 2 along the scribe line in a state in which the glass plate 2 is fixed as it is at the same position.

A hot glass sheet processing system includes a roller conveyor (22) having sintered bonded fused silica rollers (24) and a roller support structure (34) located within a heated location (32) together with an elongated cooling unit (36) having a housing (38) defining a cooling chamber (40) that receives and has bearings (42) that rotatably support an aligned set of roller ends (30) having end caps (86) adhesively bonded to the roller ends. The cooling unit includes a cooling circuit that supplies cooling fluid to the cooling chamber (40) to provide cooling of the aligned set of roller ends (30) and the bearings (42).

The present invention relates to a device for bending at least one glass pane, having a lower bending mould with a working surface that is suitable for influencing the shape of at least one glass pane, an upper shaping tool arranged opposite the working surface that is suitable for generating a positive pressure on the surface of the at least one glass pane facing away from the working surface,
where the upper shaping tool has a hollow space with at least one opening oriented toward the lower bending mould and a membrane closing the opening and is equipped with means for introducing a gas into the hollow space in order to deform the membrane in the direction of the lower bending mould and to thus generate the positive pressure.

A lift device for lifting a glass sheet in a glass processing system includes a lift jet array having peripheral lift jet outlets and inner lift jet outlets disposed inwardly of the peripheral lift jet outlets. Furthermore, each lift jet outlet is operable to allow gas to flow toward the glass sheet. The lift device also includes a control unit for controlling operation of the lift jet outlets, and the control unit is configured to commence operation of at least one of the inner lift jet outlets prior to commencing operation of at least one of the peripheral lift jet outlets.

A hot glass sheet processing system includes a conveyor roller support structure (34) located within a heated location (32) and has an elongated cooling unit (36) having a housing (38) defining a cooling chamber (40) that receives and has bearings (42) that rotatably support an aligned set of roller ends (30). The cooling unit includes a cooling circuit that supplies cooling fluid to the cooling chamber (40) to provide cooling of the aligned set of roller ends (30) and the bearings (42).

A hot glass sheet processing system includes a roller conveyor (22) having sintered bonded fused silica rollers (24) and a roller support structure (34) located within a heated location (32) together with an elongated cooling unit (36) having a housing (38) defining a cooling chamber (40) that receives and has bearings (42) that rotatably support an aligned set of roller ends (30) having end caps (86) adhesively bonded to the roller ends. The cooling unit includes a cooling circuit that supplies cooling fluid to the cooling chamber (40) to provide cooling of the aligned set of roller ends (30) and the bearings (42).

A system (10) for forming glass sheets includes a glass location sensing assembly (80) having a fluid switch (82) that is actuated by a roller conveyed glass sheet (G) to control operation of transfer apparatus (69) that transfers the glass sheet from the roller conveyor (22) to a forming mold (48) at a design position for forming. A frame of the sensing assembly (80) supports a carriage (124) on which the fluid switch (82) is mounted for lateral movement with respect to the direction of conveyance of the glass sheet (G) so as to sense its leading extremity. A lateral positioner (130) adjusts the lateral position of the carriage (124) and the fluid switch (82) mounted on the carriage.

A bending tool for bending at least one glass pane by means of suction, comprising a frame-like convex contact surface and a cover having a peripheral air guide plate that surrounds the contact surface at least in regions is described. The bending tool is suitable for generating a first, reduced pressure in a first pressure region between the air guide plate and the contact surface; a second reduced pressure in a second pressure region. The second pressure is less than the first pressure; and a third pressure in a third pressure region, wherein the third pressure is greater than the first pressure.