IP Library Granted Patent US 8,978,418
Granted Patent B2
US 8,978,418 · App. 13/990,399 · Granted Mar 17, 2015

Method and device for bending sheets

Inventors: Michael Balduin (Alsdorf, DE); Benno Dunkmann (Eupen, BE); Jean-Marie Le Ny (Gemmenich, BE); Lothar Schmidt (Aachen, DE); Herbert Radermacher (Raeren, BE)
Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
C03B23/0307C03B23/0252C03B23/03C03B23/0357C03B35/145C03B35/202B60J1/008C03B2225/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,978,418
App. No.
13/990,399
Granted
Mar 17, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for bending a sheet is described. The method includes the following steps: a) at least one sheet is inserted into a pre-bending ring with a movable bending ring holder, the movable bending ring holder is moved into a furnace and the at least one sheet is heated to softening temperature and is pre-bent to 5% to 50% of a final edge bending, b) the at least one sheet is lifted by means of a suction device and is bent further, beyond the bending obtained in the pre-bending ring, c) the at least one sheet is laid down by means of the suction device in a final-bending ring on the movable bending ring holder and is bent to the final edge bending, and an area pre-bending of the at least one sheet is performed by means of thermal irradiation, d) the at least one sheet is lifted out of the final-bending ring by means of a second suction device, pressed against an opposing mould and bent, and the at least one sheet is laid down on the final-bending ring and the at least one sheet is cooled down.

Claims (21)

1. A method for bending a pane, comprising:

placing at least one pane in a pre-bending ring with a movable bending ring holder, the movable bending ring holder being moved into a furnace, and the at least one pane being heated to a softening temperature and pre-bent to a pre-bending, which comprises from 5% to 50% of a final bend of an edge;

lifting the at least one pane by a first suction device;

further bending, with a first suction made by means of the first suction device, the at least one pane beyond the pre-bending obtained in the pre-bending ring, wherein during the further bending on a bent contact surface of a counter framework of the first suction device, a minimum distance of 3 mm to 50 mm between the at least one pane and an air baffle of a cover of the first suction device that surrounds the counter framework is present;

placing the at least one pane by means of the first suction device in a final bending ring on the movable bending ring holder;

bending the at least one pane to the final bend of the edge, wherein a surface pre-bending of the at least one pane in the final bending ring takes place by means of a thermal irradiation;

by means of a second suction device:

lifting the at least one pane;

pressing, with a second suction made by means of the second suction device, the lifted at least one pane against a counter mold, wherein the lifted at least one pane is bent into a final surface geometry; and

replacing the pressed at least one pane, onto the final bending ring; and cooling the replaced at least one pane.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one pane is bent by the first suction device to 100% to 130% of the final bend of the edge.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one pane is bent by the first suction device to 105% to 120% of the final bend of the edge.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one pane is bent by the first suction device with a locally different final bend of the edge.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one pane is bent locally in the first or second suction device by a stream of air or a lower bending ring.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one pane is heated by a temperature gradient on a glass surface with a maximum of 0.05 K/mm to 0.5 K/mm.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one pane is heated by a temperature gradient on the glass surface with a maximum of 0.1 K/mm to 0.2 K/mm.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one pane is heated to a temperature of 500°C. to 750°C.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one pane is heated to a temperature of 580° C. to 650° C.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one pane is pre-bent by gravity in the pre-bending ring to 10% to 30% of a local final bend of the edge.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the suction device builds a suction pressure of 1 kg/m 2 to 100 kg/m 2 .

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein two panes are bent.

Assignments (2)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded May 16, 2025
From: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
To: SAINT-GOBAIN SEKURIT FRANCE
Reel/Frame 071969/0743 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 12, 2013
From: BALDUIN, MICHAEL; DUNKMANN, BENNO; LE NY, JEAN-MARIE; SCHMIDT, LOTHAR; RADERMACHER, HERBERT
To: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
Reel/Frame 030989/0666 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 10194711 · Dec 13, 2010 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130313852A1 · Nov 28, 2013