Glass Bending Mold Layout for High-Accuracy Curved Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glass bending technologies, such as gravity bending and press bending, struggle to achieve high surface accuracy for curved glass surfaces, which are required for advanced vehicle window applications.
Innovation Solution
A bending device comprising a gravity bending furnace, carriers, a conveyor, upper and lower molds, lifting mechanisms, and a slide mechanism, which allows for precise control of glass plate positioning and simultaneous bending of multiple glass plates to improve surface accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If gravity bending or press bending is used to bend glass plates, then the bending process can be performed, but the surface accuracy of the curved surface is low
Solution Approach 1:
The bending process is divided into two distinct stages: gravity bending in a first zone to achieve initial curvature, and press bending in a second zone to refine surface accuracy. This segmentation allows each stage to optimize for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between achieving curvature and achieving high surface accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Gravity bending is performed as a preliminary action before press bending. The glass plate is first bent into the desired curved shape using gravity, then subsequently refined using press bending. This preliminary action prepares the glass plate for the final high-precision shaping, achieving both curvature and surface accuracy.
2Productivity
If multiple glass plates are bent simultaneously, then productivity increases, but positioning precision and uniform pressure distribution become difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple glass plates are processed simultaneously in separate processing zones within the same apparatus. Each plate receives gravity bending in the first zone and press bending in the second zone, maintaining individual positioning control while achieving high productivity through parallel processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The bending apparatus is designed with universal components that can handle multiple glass plates simultaneously. The gravity bending zone and press bending zone are configured to accommodate multiple plates, allowing the system to process several plates through the same standardized process sequence, thereby increasing productivity without sacrificing precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device enhances the surface accuracy of curved glass surfaces by ensuring uniform pressure and support across the entire glass surface, preventing cracking of coatings and maintaining low emissivity and reflection integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a gravity bending furnace that defines a pressing zone and a retracting zone therein
Implementation Method 2
a first lifting mechanism that lifts and lowers the upper mold in the pressing zone; a second lifting mechanism that lifts and lowers the carrier detached from the conveyor in the retracting zone
Implementation Method 3
The upper mold presses the glass plate from above in the pressing zone
Implementation Method 4
The conveyor moves the plurality of carriers collectively
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(A)~2(C)
Figure 3(A)~3(C)
AI summary
The bending device includes a gravity bending furnace, carriers, a conveyor, an upper mold, a first lifting mechanism, a lower mold, a second lifting mechanism, and a sliding mechanism. The furnace defines a pressing zone and a retracting zone therein. Each carrier includes a ring mold that supports the peripheral edge of a glass plate from below. The second lifting mechanism attaches and detaches the carrier to and from the conveyor in the retracting zone, and lifts and lowers the carrier detached from the conveyor in the retracting zone. The slide mechanism attaches and detaches the carrier to and from the conveyor in the pressing zone, and slides the carrier detached from the conveyor between the pressing zone and the retracting zone. The upper surface of the lower mold supports the entire lower surface of the glass plate when the upper mold presses the glass plate from above.