JP2014105121A - Apparatus and method for bending formation of glass - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a glass bending apparatus and a glass bending method, and a method for appropriately bending a glass plate from a flat shape to a desired shape without making the forming ring a simple structure and increasing the size of the forming ring itself. I will provide a.
A glass bending apparatus including a forming ring (12) provided to bend a flat glass plate (16) heated to a desired temperature into a desired shape. The flat glass plate (16) is formed on the forming ring (12). Prior to contact, a peripheral edge supporting jig 30 is provided which movably supports the glass plate 16 while being in contact with the peripheral edge of the glass plate 16, and the peripheral edge supporting jig 30 is a flat glass plate 16. After the contact with the peripheral portion of the glass plate 16, even if the peripheral portion of the glass plate 16 moves as the bending of the glass plate 16 proceeds, the contact with the peripheral portion of the glass plate 16 is maintained at substantially the same location. Configured as follows.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a glass bending apparatus and a glass bending method, and in particular, a glass bending apparatus suitable for bending a flat glass plate heated to a desired temperature into a desired shape using a forming ring, and The present invention relates to a glass bending method.

  There is known a bent glass bending apparatus that bends a flat glass plate heated to a softening point in a heating furnace into a desired shape (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This glass bending apparatus includes a molding ring as a lower mold formed in a concave shape on which a glass plate heated to a softening point is placed, and an upper mold formed in a convex shape that forms a pair with the molding ring. As a molding mold. A flat glass plate is transferred to the forming ring. Then, the glass plate placed on the molding ring is pressed against the lower surface of the molding mold by moving in a direction in which the molding ring and the molding mold relatively approach each other, and follows the convex shape of the molding mold. It is bent into a shape.

  In the above glass bending apparatus, the forming ring includes a fixed frame supported by the support frame and a movable frame connected to both ends of the fixed frame via hinge portions. The fixed frame is formed to be smaller than the size of the glass plate to be placed, and the movable frame is arranged to support the peripheral portion of the glass plate to be placed. . The movable frame is in a wide open state before the glass plate is placed, and after the glass plate is placed, the movable frame is rotated inwardly with the hinge portion as a fulcrum by the motor operation. The shape changes to a shape corresponding to the desired shape.

  In such a configuration, the size of the planar shape surrounding the outer edge of the molding ring in plan view can be changed before and after the flat glass plate is transferred to the molding ring. For this reason, it can prevent that a shaping | molding ring contacts on the peripheral part of the flat glass plate at the time of transfer to a shaping | molding ring of a flat glass plate, and after the transfer, When the deformation progresses, it is possible to prevent the peripheral edge from being scratched.

International Publication Number WO2008 / 077564

  However, in the glass bending apparatus described in Patent Document 1 described above, since the shape of the movable frame is changed after the glass plate is placed on the forming ring, the glass frame is placed on the lower surface of the glass plate placed on the forming ring. There is a possibility that a trace will be generated due to the shape change of the movable frame, and it is necessary to provide a complicated mechanism for changing the shape of the movable frame. On the other hand, in order to eliminate the formation of such traces or eliminate the need for such a complicated mechanism, the molding ring is only a fixed frame, and the size of the fixed frame is further reduced to that of a flat glass plate. It can be considered to be larger than the size. However, in such a configuration, since the size of the molding ring itself is increased, the compaction of the glass bending molding apparatus is hindered, and there is a possibility that a longer stroke of the molding ring on the molding line may be caused.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and the glass plate is changed from a flat plate shape to a desired shape without increasing the physique (area and height) of the molding ring itself while making the molding ring a simple structure. An object of the present invention is to provide a glass bending apparatus and a glass bending method that can be appropriately bent.

  The above object is a glass bending apparatus provided with a forming ring provided for bending a flat glass plate heated to a desired temperature into a desired shape, wherein the flat glass plate is the forming ring. A peripheral edge supporting jig that movably supports the glass plate while being in contact with the peripheral edge of the glass plate before contacting the peripheral edge of the glass plate. After the contact with the glass plate, the glass is configured such that the contact with the peripheral edge of the glass plate is maintained at substantially the same place even if the peripheral edge of the glass plate moves as the glass plate is bent. This is achieved by a bending apparatus.

  Further, the above object is a glass bending method in which a flat glass plate heated to a desired temperature is bent into a desired shape using a forming ring, and the flat glass plate contacts the forming ring. Before this, the peripheral edge supporting jig is movably supported while being in contact with the peripheral edge of the glass plate, and the peripheral edge supporting jig is in contact with the peripheral edge of the flat glass plate. This is achieved by a glass bending method in which the glass plate is maintained at substantially the same location even if the peripheral edge of the glass plate moves as the glass plate is bent.

  In the inventions of these aspects, the peripheral edge supporting jig is configured such that the glass plate is in contact with the peripheral edge of the glass plate before the flat glass plate contacts the forming ring during transfer to the forming ring. Is supported movably. The contact between the peripheral edge supporting jig and the peripheral edge of the flat glass plate is maintained at substantially the same position even when the peripheral edge of the glass plate moves as the glass plate is bent. The In such a configuration, the peripheral portion of the glass plate and the peripheral portion supporting jig come into contact with each other without slipping in the process of deformation until the flat glass plate is transferred to the forming ring. For this reason, it is possible to appropriately bend the glass plate from a flat shape to a desired shape. Conversely, when the glass plate is appropriately bent from a flat plate shape to a desired shape, it is not essential to provide a movable frame on the forming ring, and it is not necessary to increase the size of the forming ring itself. Therefore, according to the present invention, the glass plate can be appropriately bent from a flat plate shape to a desired shape without increasing the physique of the forming ring itself while making the forming ring a simple structure.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, a glass plate can be appropriately bend-formed from flat form to a desired shape, without making a shaping | molding ring simple structure and increasing the physique of shaping | molding ring itself.

It is a block diagram of the glass bending apparatus which is one Example of this invention. It is a block diagram of the shaping | molding ring with which the glass bending apparatus of a present Example is provided. It is a figure for demonstrating the inconvenience which may arise when a glass plate is transferred on a shaping | molding ring. It is a principal part block diagram of the glass bending apparatus of a present Example. It is the figure showing the area | region where the peripheral part support jig should be arrange | positioned in the glass bending apparatus of a present Example. It is a principal part block diagram of the glass bending apparatus which is a modification of this invention. It is a principal part block diagram of the glass bending apparatus which is a modification of this invention. It is a principal part block diagram of the glass bending apparatus which is a modification of this invention. It is a principal part block diagram of the glass bending apparatus which is a modification of this invention. It is a principal part block diagram of the glass bending apparatus which is a modification of this invention. It is a principal part block diagram of the glass bending apparatus which is a modification of this invention.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments of a glass bending apparatus and a glass bending method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a glass bending apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Moreover, FIG. 2 shows the block diagram of the shaping | molding ring 12 with which the glass bending shaping | molding apparatus 10 of a present Example is provided. 2A is a perspective view, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view. The glass bending molding apparatus 10 of the present embodiment includes a molding ring 12 and a molding mold 14. By using the molding ring 12 and the molding mold 14, for example, a windshield of a transportation device such as an automobile or a railway. It is an apparatus for bending and press-molding a glass plate 16 used for glass for buildings or the like in accordance with a desired desired curved shape.

  In the glass bending apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, a heating furnace 20 is provided on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the forming ring 12 and the forming mold 14. A flat glass plate 16 cut into a desired shape is horizontally carried into the heating furnace 20. The heating furnace 20 has a heater, and heats the flat glass plate 16 to a temperature at which the flat glass plate 16 can be bent (softening point; for example, about 600 ° C. to 700 ° C.). Therefore, the glass plate 16 carried into the heating furnace 20 is heated to a temperature at which bending can be performed. Then, the heated glass plate 16 is conveyed to the glass bending apparatus 10 by the roller conveyor 22.

  The forming ring 12 is provided outside the furnace on the outlet side of the heating furnace 20. The forming ring 12 is disposed below the conveyance surface of the glass plate 16 conveyed by the roller conveyor 22. The shaping | molding ring 12 is formed in the shape along the outline shape of the glass plate 16 so that the peripheral part of the glass plate 16 may be supported, and is a lower type press ring which supports the glass plate 16 from the downward direction. In addition, the peripheral part of the glass plate 16 which the shaping | molding ring 12 supports may include the peripheral edge of the glass plate 16, and may be the vicinity of the peripheral edge which does not include the peripheral edge. Moreover, the shape of the shaping | molding ring 12 may support the perimeter of the glass plate 16, and may support only a part of the perimeter. Moreover, the shape of the shaping | molding ring 12 respond | corresponds to the desired curve shape of the glass plate 16 bend-formed by the conveyance direction or the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction.

  The glass plate 16 conveyed by the roller conveyor 22 is placed on the forming ring 12. The forming ring 12 can be moved upward with respect to the conveying surface of the glass plate 16 by the lifting device 24. That is, the lifting device 24 can move the forming ring 12 upward. The glass plate 16 placed on the forming ring 12 moves upward while being supported by the forming ring 12 as the forming ring 12 rises.

  On the other hand, the molding mold 14 is disposed above the conveyance surface of the glass plate 16, opposite to the molding ring 12, and is disposed opposite to the molding ring 12 with the conveyance surface of the glass plate 16 interposed therebetween. . The molding mold 14 is formed in a convex shape so as to have a lower surface shape corresponding to the desired curved shape of the glass plate 16 corresponding to the entire surface of the glass plate 16, and is placed on the molding ring 12. It is an upper mold press mold for pressing the plate 16 from above. The shape of the lower surface of the molding mold 14 may correspond to the final curved shape of the product of the glass plate 16 that is bent in the conveying direction and / or the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction.

  The shaping | molding ring 12 and the shaping | molding mold 14 are a pair of shaping press apparatuses for implement | achieving the bending shaping | molding of the glass plate 16 to the desired curve shape. Each of the shape of the forming ring 12 and the shape of the forming mold 14 has a forming surface that matches each other, and is formed so as to match the required one from the thickness of the glass plate 16 and the desired curved shape.

  The molding mold 14 is fixed to the conveyance surface of the glass plate 16 and does not move downward and upward. On the other hand, the forming ring 12 can be moved upward by the elevating device 24 until the placed glass plate 16 is sandwiched between the forming mold 14. The glass plate 16 placed on the molding ring 12 is pressed against the lower surface of the molding mold 14 by being lifted by the lifting device 24, and is bent into a shape along the convex shape of the lower surface.

  An air-cooling strengthening device that cools the bent glass plate 16 may be provided on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the forming ring 12 and the forming mold 14. In this case, the glass plate 16 bent and formed by the forming ring 12 and the forming mold 14 in the glass bending apparatus 10 is conveyed to the air-cooling strengthening apparatus, and then cooled and strengthened by air cooling.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining inconveniences that may occur when the glass plate 16 is transferred onto the forming ring 12.

  By the way, when the flat glass plate 16 is bent into a desired curved shape by the glass bending apparatus 10, the size of the glass plate 16 bent into the desired curved shape in a plan view is a flat plate before bending. It becomes smaller than the size of the glass plate 16 in plan view. In this regard, when the forming ring 12 is formed to have a minimum size necessary to support the peripheral edge of the glass plate 16 bent into a desired curved shape, as shown in FIG. When the conveyed flat glass plate 16 is transferred onto the forming ring 12, the forming ring 12 (particularly, the end portion on the curved side) is concentrated on the peripheral edge of the flat glass plate 16. As a result, after the transfer, when the deformation of the glass plate 16 proceeds, the peripheral edge of the glass plate 16 is easily scratched.

  On the other hand, when the forming ring 12 is formed to have a size large enough to support the peripheral portion of the glass plate 16 bent into a desired curved shape, the size (area and height) of the forming ring 12 itself. When the flat glass plate 16 conveyed by the roller conveyor 22 is transferred onto the forming ring 12, the glass plate 16 first contacts the forming ring 12 at the peripheral edge, and then the glass When the deformation of the plate 16 proceeds, the vicinity of the peripheral edge slides down on the surface of the forming ring 12, so that the peripheral portion of the glass plate 16 may be damaged due to the slip.

  Therefore, in the glass bending apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, such a situation is prevented from occurring. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the characteristic part of a present Example is demonstrated.

  FIG. 4 shows a configuration diagram of main parts of the glass bending apparatus 10 of the present embodiment. 4A shows a view of the principal part of the glass bending apparatus 10 as viewed from above (plan view), and FIG. 4B shows a straight line III-- shown in FIG. 4A. Sectional views when cut along III are shown. Moreover, FIG. 5 shows the figure showing the area | region where the rotating roller 30 should be arrange | positioned in the glass bending apparatus 10 of a present Example.

  In the glass bending apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the molding ring 12 is completely included in the planar shape of the flat glass plate 16 in the planar shape surrounding the outer edge of the molding ring 12 in a plan view of the molding ring 12. The flat glass plate 16 is configured to have a size (area) smaller than the planar shape. A rotating roller 30 that can rotate around the axis is provided outside the outer edge of the forming ring 12. The rotating roller 30 is disposed with a gap from the outer edge of the forming ring 12, and a plurality of the rotating rollers 30 are provided around the forming ring 12. The rotating roller 30 is formed in a cylindrical shape and has a predetermined length in the axial direction. The rotating roller 30 is rotatably attached to the forming ring 12 via a bracket 32.

  The rotating roller 30 is configured such that the glass plate 16 is in contact with the peripheral edge of the glass plate 16 before the flat glass plate 16 before bending is brought into contact with the forming ring 12 when being transferred to the forming ring 12. It is a jig | tool which supports movably (deformable). Even if the peripheral edge of the glass plate 16 moves with the progress of the bending (deformation) of the glass plate 16 after the rotating roller 30 comes into contact with the peripheral edge of the flat glass plate 16, the glass plate It rotates so that contact with the peripheral part of 16 may be maintained at the substantially same location. That is, the contact portion 34 of the rotating roller 30 with which the peripheral edge portion of the flat glass plate 16 is in contact with the glass as the rotating roller 30 rotates in accordance with the movement trajectory along which the peripheral edge portion of the glass plate 16 moves. The position is moved while maintaining contact with the peripheral edge of the plate 16. Then, before the glass plate 16 is bent into a desired curved shape, that is, before the glass plate 16 is bent into the desired curved shape, the glass plate 16 is separated from the peripheral edge of the glass plate 16.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, there are two rotating rollers 30 corresponding to each side of the forming ring 12 provided in the direction in which the glass plate 16 is to be bent (the left-right direction in FIG. 4A). Are provided corresponding to each of the four corners of the molding ring 12. Hereinafter, the rotation roller 30 corresponding to the side of the forming ring 12 is referred to as a side roller 30a, and the rotation roller 30 corresponding to the four corners of the forming ring 12 is referred to as a corner roller 30b.

  Each rotary roller 30 is a free roller that can rotate around its axis independently. The side roller 30a has an axis extending in parallel along the side of the corresponding forming ring 12, and can rotate around the axis. The side roller 30a is disposed such that the roller surface faces the side of the corresponding molding ring 12. Further, the corner roller 30b has an axis passing through the corner of the forming ring 12 to which the perpendicular corresponds, and can rotate around the axis. The corner roller 30b is disposed so that its roller surface faces the corner of the corresponding molding ring 12.

  The side roller 30a is provided above the height position of the side portion of the corresponding forming ring 12, and is arranged so that the upper end of the roller surface is higher than the side portion of the corresponding forming ring 12. Yes. Further, the corner roller 30b is provided above the height of the corner portion of the corresponding molding ring 12, and is arranged so that the upper end of the roller surface is higher than the corner portion of the corresponding molding ring 12. Yes. Each of the side roller 30a and the corner roller 30b is provided at a position where the peripheral edge of the glass plate 16 is in contact with the upper end of the roller surface when the flat glass plate 16 is placed.

  The contact portions 34 of the side roller 30a and the corner roller 30b, which are in contact with the peripheral portion of the flat glass plate 16, contact the upper end of the roller surface with which the peripheral portion contacts when the flat glass plate 16 is placed. It is. The contact portion 34 of each of the side roller 30a and the corner roller 30b is flat when the flat glass plate 16 is initially placed, that is, when contact with the peripheral edge of the flat glass plate 16 is started. The glass plate 16 is positioned on the inner side in a plan view than the peripheral edge of the glass plate 16, and is positioned on the outer side in a plan view on the peripheral edge of the glass plate 16 having a desired curved shape after bending, and the desired curved shape after the bending is formed. Is located above the trim line defined by (region shown by shading in FIG. 5).

  The trim line is the outer peripheral shape on the convex surface side of the glass plate 16 bent into a desired curved shape, and is the concave surface (upper surface) shape of the molding ring 12 or a part thereof. The trim line in press molding of the molding ring 12 and the molding mold 14 is a curved surface defined by the convex surface (lower surface) shape of the molding mold 14 that matches the desired curved shape and the thickness of the glass plate 16.

  In such a structure, when the flat glass plate 16 heated to the softening point is transferred from the roller conveyor 22 to the forming ring 12, first, the peripheral edge of the glass plate 16 is the upper end of the roller surface of the rotating roller 30. To touch. Thereafter, the glass plate 16 is deformed downwardly by being supported by the rotating roller 30 due to its own weight. And when the deformation | transformation of the glass plate 16 progresses to some extent, the glass plate 16 will be supported by the shaping | molding ring 12 after that the glass plate 16 contacts the shaping | molding ring 12.

  When the glass plate 16 is deformed downward while being supported by the rotating roller 30, the rotating roller 30 supporting the glass plate 16 rotates about its axis in accordance with the deformation of the glass plate 16 (FIG. 4). (A state indicated by a dotted arrow in (B)). In this case, even if the glass plate 16 moves with the progress of deformation (bending molding) of the glass plate 16 when the flat glass plate 16 is transferred to the forming ring 12, The contact portion 34 of the rotating roller 30 is moved by the rotation of the rotating roller 30 in accordance with the movement trajectory along which the peripheral edge moves, so that the contact between the glass plate 16 and the roller surface of the rotating roller 30 begins to contact. Is maintained at approximately the same location. That is, in the process of deforming the flat glass plate 16 until it is transferred to the forming ring 12, the peripheral edge portion of the glass plate 16 and the rotating roller 30 continue to contact each other without slipping. For this reason, according to the present embodiment, when the flat glass plate 16 is transferred to the forming ring 12, the surface of the peripheral portion of the glass plate 16 to be bent is scratched due to contact with the rotating roller 30. Sticking is suppressed.

  Further, when the glass plate 16 is transferred to the forming ring 12, the glass plate 16 contacts the forming ring 12 while being deformed after contacting the rotating roller 30. In this case, when the forming ring 12 and the glass plate 16 come into contact with each other, it is avoided that the contact is concentrated on the peripheral portion of the glass plate 16. For this reason, according to the present embodiment, when the glass plate 16 is transferred to the forming ring 12, the surface of the peripheral portion of the glass plate 16 to be bent is scratched due to contact with the forming ring 12. It is suppressed.

  Therefore, in the glass bending apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of local distortion on the surface of the glass plate 16 in the process of bending the glass plate 16 from a flat plate shape to a desired curved shape, The glass plate 16 can be appropriately bent from a flat plate shape to a desired curved shape.

  The contact portion 34 of the rotating roller 30 is moved by the rotation of the rotating roller 30 in accordance with the movement locus of the peripheral edge of the glass plate 16, and then the glass plate 16 is bent and formed on the forming ring 12 into a desired curved shape. It is good also as separating from the glass plate 16 before it. That is, the glass plate 16 may be released from contact with the contact portion 34 of the rotating roller 30 after being contacted with the rotating roller 30 and before being bent into a desired curved shape on the forming ring 12. According to such a configuration, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of local distortion due to the continuation of contact with the rotary roller 30 on the surface of the peripheral edge portion of the glass plate 16 that is bent into a desired curved shape. 16 can be appropriately bent from a flat plate shape to a desired curved shape.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the glass plate 16 is appropriately bent from a flat plate shape to a desired curved shape, a movable frame that changes its shape is provided as the forming ring 12 for mounting and supporting the glass plate 16. It is not essential, and it is not necessary to make the size of the forming ring 12 larger than the planar shape of the flat glass plate 16. Therefore, according to the glass bend forming apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the glass plate 16 is desired from a flat plate shape without increasing the physique of the forming ring 12 while making the forming ring 12 a simple structure without a movable frame. It can be appropriately bent into a curved shape. For this reason, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce and simplify the mechanism for realizing the bending while appropriately bending the glass plate 16 without causing local distortion. is there.

  By the way, in the above-described embodiment, the rotating roller 30, the side roller 30a, and the corner roller 30b are included in the "peripheral edge supporting jig" and the "rotating body" described in the claims, and the side roller 30a is provided. The contact portion 34 of the rotating roller 30 corresponds to the “first rotating roller” recited in the claims and the “contact portion” recited in the claims.

  In the above embodiment, the glass bending apparatus 10 is used as a side corresponding to each side in the glass plate bending direction of the forming ring 12 as the rotating roller 30 provided outside the outer edge of the forming ring 12. Although the roller 30a and the corner roller 30b corresponding to each of the four corners of the forming ring are provided, the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. It is good also as what has the roller 30c corresponding to each of the remaining edge | sides which are not the edge | side of the glass plate bending forming direction.

  In the above embodiment, the rotation roller 30 is provided with corner rollers 30b corresponding to the four corners of the forming ring 12, but the present invention is not limited to this, and FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, rollers 30d may be provided in the vicinity of the four corners of the forming ring 12. In this case, the roller 30d provided in the vicinity of the four corners of the forming ring 12 may have an axis extending in parallel along the remaining side that is not the side of the forming ring 12 in the glass plate bending direction.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the size of the planar shape surrounding the outer edge of the molding ring 12 in the plan view of the molding ring 12 is larger than the size of the planar shape of the flat glass plate 16. The rotary roller 30 is disposed outside the outer edge of the molding ring 12 after being formed so as to be small. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the molding ring 12 is arranged on the molding ring 12. In the plan view, the size of the planar shape surrounding the outer edge of the forming ring 12 is made larger than the size of the planar shape of the flat glass plate 16, and the rotating roller 30 (especially the side roller) 30a and the roller 30c) are arranged outside the position corresponding to the peripheral edge of the glass plate 16 after being bent into at least the desired curved shape of the forming ring 12. It is also possible to be.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the rotating roller 30 is arranged integrally with the forming ring 12 inside the outer edge of the forming ring 12. It is good also as providing the hole 40 for arrange | positioning and arrange | positioning the rotation roller 30 in the hole 40, and accommodating. In this case, the rotating roller 30 has an axis extending in an appropriate direction in the surface of the forming ring 12, and the glass plate is brought into contact with the contact portion 34 on the roller surface and the flat glass plate 16. The contact portion 34 is arranged so that the position of the contact portion 34 is appropriately moved in accordance with the deformation caused by the weight of the 16. Also in this case, the contact portion 34 of the rotating roller 30 is flat when the flat glass plate 16 is initially placed, that is, when the contact with the peripheral portion of the flat glass plate 16 is started. From the desired curved shape after bending forming, located inside the peripheral edge of the glass plate 16 in a plan view, positioned outward from the peripheral edge of the glass plate 16 having a desired curved shape after bending. Located above the defined trim line.

  Moreover, in said Example, when the flat glass plate 16 is transferred to the shaping | molding ring 12, before contacting the shaping | molding ring 12, the glass plate 16 is contacted with the peripheral part of the glass plate 16. As a peripheral edge supporting jig that is movably supported (deformable), the glass plate 16 is brought into contact with the peripheral edge of the flat glass plate 16 and then the glass plate 16 is bent and deformed (deformed). A rotating roller 30 that rotates about its axis is provided so that contact with the peripheral edge of the glass plate 16 is maintained at substantially the same location even when the peripheral edge moves. However, the peripheral edge supporting jig moves in accordance with the movement of the peripheral edge of the glass plate 16 as the glass plate 16 is bent, and the peripheral edge supporting jig and the glass plate move. What is necessary is just to keep 16 in contact with each other at the same place. That is, even if the absolute position of the contact portion 34 of the peripheral edge support jig that contacts the peripheral edge portion of the glass plate 16 changes, the contact portion 34 of the peripheral edge support jig and the peripheral edge portion of the glass plate 16 It is sufficient that the relative position of each does not change.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 9, when the peripheral portion of the glass plate 16 moves as the glass plate 16 is bent, a slide type link 50 that moves in accordance with the movement of the peripheral portion of the glass plate 16 is provided. It is good also as using. In this case, the slide-type link 50 only needs to be moved by rotation about a predetermined axis. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, when the peripheral portion of the glass plate 16 moves as the glass plate 16 is bent, the chain member 60 that moves in accordance with the movement is used as a peripheral portion supporting jig. It may be used. In this case, the chain member 60 only needs to be moved by rotation about a predetermined axis.

  Moreover, in said Example, it is formed in the shape along the outline shape of the glass plate 16 so that the peripheral part of the glass plate 16 may be supported, and the shaping | molding ring which is a lower type press ring which supports the glass plate 16 from the downward direction 12 includes only a fixed frame without a movable frame, but the present invention is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 11, both ends of the fixed frame 70 are provided with hinge portions 72, respectively. The movable frame 74 may be connected to each other. In this modification, the glass plate 16 transferred to the forming ring 12 is bent and press-formed between the forming ring 12 and the forming mold 14 after the movable frame 74 is closed from the opening side.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the glass bending apparatus 10 is not moved downward and upward with the forming ring 12 that is a lower mold ring that is moved upward with respect to the conveying surface of the glass plate 16 by the lifting device 24. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the molding ring 12 that is the lower mold ring and the molding mold 14 are moved in a relatively approaching direction. If it is enough. That is, the molding ring 12 that is the lower mold ring cannot be moved downward and upward, and the molding mold 14 may be moved downward with respect to the conveying surface of the glass plate 16 by the lifting device. . Alternatively, the molding ring 12 and the molding mold 14 may be moved in a direction in which they approach each other.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the glass bending apparatus 10 includes the forming ring 12 and the forming mold 14 that are relatively displaced up and down to constitute a pair of forming press apparatuses. It is not limited to this, and it may consist only of the forming ring 12 necessary for bending and deforming the glass plate 16 by its own weight.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the forming ring 12 and the forming mold 14 of the glass bending apparatus 10 are provided outside the furnace 20, but may be provided inside the furnace 20. Since the above-described effects can be obtained with a simple and compact configuration, it can be suitably used for in-furnace forming exposed to a high-temperature atmosphere, and high-quality bending of a more complicated glass plate can be realized at low cost. This is because it is not necessary to make major modifications such as expansion of the furnace even when applied to existing heating furnaces, and because the structure is simple, maintenance is easy, compact and heat capacity is small, This is because advantages such as time reduction can be obtained.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Glass bending apparatus 12 Molding ring 14 Molding mold 16 Glass plate 30 Rotating roller (peripheral edge support jig)
30a Side roller 30b Square roller 50 Sliding link (peripheral edge support jig)
60 Chain member (peripheral edge support jig)

Claims (16)

A glass bending apparatus provided with a forming ring provided to bend a flat glass plate heated to a desired temperature into a desired shape,
Before the flat glass plate comes into contact with the forming ring, it comprises a peripheral edge supporting jig that supports the glass plate movably while contacting the peripheral edge of the glass plate,
Even if the peripheral edge of the glass plate moves with the progress of bending of the glass plate after the peripheral edge supporting jig is brought into contact with the peripheral edge of the flat glass plate, the peripheral edge of the glass plate A glass bending apparatus characterized by being configured to maintain contact with the substantially same place.   The glass bending apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a contact portion of the peripheral edge supporting jig, which is in contact with the peripheral edge portion of the flat glass plate, moves in accordance with a movement trajectory along which the peripheral edge portion of the glass plate moves. .   The contact part is located at the inner side in a plan view than the peripheral edge of the flat glass plate at the beginning of contact with the peripheral part of the flat glass plate, and is a glass plate bent and formed into the desired shape. The glass bending apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the glass bending apparatus is located on an outer side in a plan view than a peripheral edge of the glass and above a trim line defined by the desired shape.   4. The glass bending apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the peripheral edge supporting jigs are provided around the forming ring. 5.   5. The glass bending apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral edge supporting jig is provided to face a side and / or a corner of the forming ring.   The glass bending apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral edge supporting jig is a rotatable rotating body or a slidable sliding mechanism. The peripheral edge support jig is a rotatable rotating body,
The said rotary body has a 1st rotation roller rotated centering on the axis | shaft extended in parallel along the edge | side of the said shaping | molding ring or the edge | side of the said flat glass plate transferred to the said shaping | molding ring. The glass bending apparatus as described. The planar shape surrounding the outer edge of the molded ring in a plan view of the molded ring has a smaller size than the planar shape of the flat glass plate,
8. The glass bending apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral edge supporting jig is disposed outside an outer edge of the forming ring. The planar shape surrounding the outer edge of the molded ring in a plan view of the molded ring has a larger size than the planar shape of the flat glass plate,
The glass bending apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the rotating body is disposed integrally with the forming ring inside an outer edge of the forming ring.   The glass bending apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the forming ring has a movable frame in which an outer edge portion is movable.   The glass bending apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the forming ring is a lower press ring for press forming. A glass bending method of bending a flat glass plate heated to a desired temperature into a desired shape using a molding ring,
Before the flat glass plate comes into contact with the forming ring, the glass plate is movably supported while contacting the peripheral edge of the glass plate with a peripheral edge supporting jig,
Contact between the peripheral edge supporting jig and the peripheral edge of the flat glass plate is maintained at substantially the same location even if the peripheral edge of the glass plate moves as the glass plate is bent. A glass bending method characterized by comprising:   The glass bend forming method according to claim 12, wherein a position of a contact portion of the peripheral edge supporting jig, which is in contact with a peripheral edge portion of the flat glass plate, is moved in accordance with a movement trajectory along which the peripheral edge portion of the glass plate moves. . The glass plate formed by bending the contact portion into the desired shape at the beginning of contact with the peripheral portion of the flat glass plate at the beginning of the contact from the peripheral edge of the flat glass plate. And located above the trim line defined by the desired shape, and located outside the peripheral edge of the plan view in plan view,
The glass bending method according to claim 13, wherein before the bending of the flat glass plate into the desired shape is completed, the peripheral edge of the glass plate and the peripheral edge supporting jig are separated from each other.   13. The glass plate is movably supported by the peripheral edge supporting jig which is a rotatable rotating body or a slidable slide mechanism before the flat glass plate contacts the forming ring. The glass bending method as described in any one of thru | or 14. The molding ring has a movable frame whose outer edge is movable,
The glass plate transferred to the molding ring is bent and press-molded between the molding ring and an upper press mold disposed opposite to the molding ring after the movable frame is closed. A glass bending method according to claim 1.

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