Scott L. Clark - Oregon OH Thomas L. Shaw - Findlay OH Edward G. Bollin - Rossford OH David B. Nitschke - Perrysburg OH
Assignee:
Glasstech, Inc. - Perrysburg OH
International Classification:
C03B 1106 C03B 23035
US Classification:
65106
Abstract:
Glass sheet forming apparatus (12) and a glass sheet forming method utilize a mold (20) having a curved forming face (22) with holes (26) in which a vacuum is drawn to form a glass sheet. A vacuum distributor (48) of the apparatus distributes a vacuum impulse of at least 0. 1 atmospheres of vacuum from a valved vacuum reservoir (52) through a plurality of tubes (58) to a limited number of the holes (26) to provide additional forming of the glass sheet. The vacuum impulse distributor (48) is located within a vacuum chamber of the mold (20) that draws the vacuum by a gas jet pump in the holes (26) to which the vacuum impulse is not distributed.