Glass Plate Bend-Forming With Lower Ring Mold Gap Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glass plate bending apparatuses suffer from unintended deformation of the lower ring mold due to thermal expansion or support issues, leading to inconsistent gaps between the upper and lower molds, which affects the precision of shaping.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a lower ring mold supported by height-fixed and height-variable supporting members, spacers to regulate the gap, and guides to control deformation, ensuring a constant gap and precise bending.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the lower ring mold is heated by heating conductors to enable glass plate bending, then the glass plate can be deformed to desired shape, but the lower ring mold experiences thermal expansion causing unintended deformation and inconsistent gap
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by switching from conductive heating to radiant heating. Radiant heating changes the heating parameter from direct contact/conduction to radiant energy transfer, which heats the glass plate without significantly heating the lower ring mold, thereby maintaining dimensional stability of the mold while achieving the required glass deformation temperature
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces radiant heating as an intermediary method between the heat source and the glass plate. This intermediary heating method allows thermal energy to be transferred to the glass plate without directly heating the lower ring mold, thus preventing thermal expansion of the mold while still achieving glass plate deformation
2Stability of the object's composition
If the lower ring mold is supported by deformable supporting members to accommodate thermal expansion, then the mold can adjust to temperature changes, but the gap between upper and lower molds becomes inconsistent leading to uneven pressing force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the support parameter from deformable/elastic supporting members to rigid/fixed supporting members. This parameter change ensures that the lower ring mold maintains constant positioning and consistent gap with the upper mold, while the radiant heating system prevents thermal expansion that would otherwise require deformable support
3Temperature
If heating conductors are used to heat the lower ring mold, then the mold reaches appropriate temperature for bending, but thermal expansion causes unintended deformation of the mold
Solution Approach 1:
Radiant heating serves as an intermediary that selectively heats the glass plate without significantly heating the lower ring mold. The radiant energy is absorbed by the glass plate to reach deformation temperature while the mold remains thermally stable, preventing shape changes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating a localized heating effect on the glass plate only. The radiant heating system delivers thermal energy precisely to where it is needed (the glass plate) while leaving the lower ring mold thermally unaffected, thus maintaining mold shape stability
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
Minimizes variations in the gap between the upper and lower molds, enabling high-precision bending of glass plates with controlled force distribution.
Implementation Method 1
the lower ring mold could cause unintended deformation due to thermal expansion because of being heated by the heating conductors
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided an apparatus for bending a glass plate, which is capable of minimizing variations in the gap between an upper mold and a lower ring mold and of bending a glass plate with high precision. An apparatus for bending a glass plate includes a lower ring mold to be disposed under a glass plate and configured to support an edge portion of the glass plate; a plurality of supporting members configured to support the lower ring mold; an upper mold to be disposed above the glass plate and having a downwardly convex forming surface configured to be pressed against the glass plate supported by the lower ring mold; a lower heater configured to heat the lower ring mold; and a spacer attached to the lower ring mold, the spacer configured to control a gap between the upper mold and the lower ring mold.