Shaping glass sheets

Claim 2

In an apparatus for conveying and shaping glass sheets along a horizontal path of movement, comprising an elongated heating furnace and a shaping station disposed in end-to-end relation, an outline shaping ring mold disposed in said shaping station, a first porous bed within said heating furnace providing gas for supporting glass sheets in floating relation thereover during movement therethrough, a second porous bed within said shaping ring mold providing gas for supporting one of said glass sheets at a timE in floating relation thereover, said shaping ring mold having a trailing longitudinal edge and a leading longitudinal edge, at least one terminal portion of said trailing longitudinal edge being disposed so that a substantial space exists between said portion of said trailing edge and said first porous bed, and roller means rotatably supported in said space so as to contact and support a portion of the glass sheet that sags below its horizontal path of movement.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 having means to adjust the vertical position of said roller means.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said vertically adjustable roller means comprises a series of stub rolls rotatably supported at the upper portion of movable bracket means.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a plurality of adjustable cam means is operatively connected to said movable bracket means to adjust the position and orientation of said bracket means.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said vertically adjustable roller means of said movable bracket means comprises a plurality of stub rolls, at least one of said stub rolls having a different axial length than another of said stub rolls.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second porous bed has a non-rectangular outline conforming to the outline of said glass sheets undergoing shaping and said shaping station comprises an upper mold having a downwardly facing curved shaping wall and a lower shaping ring mold conforming to said outline and movable between a lowered position surrounding said second porous bed and a raised position in juxtaposition to said upper mold.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said roller means is free running.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said space extends between a lateral edge portion of said first bed and a corresponding lateral edge portion of said second bed and said roller means is located in said space.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8, further including a second space extending between a lateral edge portion of said first bed opposite said first named lateral edge portion and a corresponding lateral edge portion of said second bed and additional roller means is located in said second space.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said roller means and said additional roller means are free running.

Claim 12

In an apparatus for conveying and shaping glass sheets along a horizontal path of movement, comprising an elongated heating furnace and a shaping station disposed in end-to-end relation, an outline shaping ring mold disposed in said shaping station, a first porous bed within said heating furnace providing gas for supporting glass sheets in floating relation thereover during movement therethrough, a second porous bed within said shaping ring mold providing gas for supporting one of said glass sheets at a time in floating relation thereover, said shaping ring mold having a trailing longitudinal edge and a leading longitudinal edge, at least one terminal portion of said trailing longitudinal edge being disposed so as to provide a non-rectangular shaping ring of an outline shape such that a substantial space exists between said portion of said trailing edge and said first porous bed, and roller means rotatably supported in said space so as to contact and support a portion of the glass sheet that sags below its horizontal path of movement.

Claim 13

In an apparatus for conveying and shaping glass sheets along a horizontal path of movement, comprising an elongated heating furnace and a shaping station disposed in end-to-end relation, an outline shaping ring mold disposed in said shaping station, a first porous bed within said heating furnace providing gas for supporting glass sheets in floating relation thereover during movement therethrough, a second porous bed within said shaping ring mold providing gas for supporting one of said glass sheets at a time in floating relation thereover, said shaping ring mold having a trailing longitudinal edge and a leading longitudinal edge, at least one terminal portion of said trailing longitudinal edge being disposed so as to provide a non-rectangular shaping ring of an outline shape such that a substantial space exists between said portion of said trailing edge and said first porous bed, and roller means rotatably supported in said space so as to contact and support a portion of the glass sheet that sags below its horizontal path of movement.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 11, having means to adjust the vertical position of said roller means.