Abstract: A device for engaging and tensioning a glass ribbon includes a center frame member, and first and second outer frame members connected thereto. The first outer frame member includes a suction cup that engages an edge area of the glass ribbon and an actuator for moving the suction cup of the first outer frame member. The second outer frame member includes a suction cup that engages an opposite edge area of the glass ribbon and an actuator for moving the suction cup of the second outer frame member. The actuators of the first and second outer frame members moves the suction cups of the respective frame members in directions away from each other.

Abstract: Process for removing peripheral portions such as bead regions of a glass sheet including a step of pushing the glass sheet in the peripheral portion using a pushing mechanism such as a pushing bar, and corresponding apparatus. As a result of the use of the pushing mechanism, the engagement completion time for suction cups, if used, are reduced significantly. A process without using suction cups is enabled with enhanced yield. The increased process stability and enlarged process window are particularly advantageous for processing glass sheets having high flexibility.

Abstract: A glass treatment apparatus, in one example, can include a fluid dispensing device configured to dispense a substantially laminar flow of a fluid film. In another example, a shroud substantially circumscribes an outer peripheral surface of a working wheel. The shroud includes a slot configured to receive an edge portion of a glass sheet. Methods of treating glass, in one example, include the step of dispensing a substantially laminar flow of a fluid film along a fluid plane to subsequently land on a first side of a glass sheet. In further examples, a fluid is passed over an inner surface of a shroud to carry away machined particles from a glass sheet. In still further examples, an outer peripheral surface of a working wheel is impacted with a fluid stream to clean the working wheel from glass particles generated when machining an edge of the glass sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a shape profile of a surface of a sheet of material includes a light source for providing a light beam to be directed at the surface of the sheet of material, a linear translation stage coupled to the light source for translating the light source over the surface of the sheet of material such that the light beam, when directed at the surface, is incident on the surface at multiple positions and produces a reflected light beam at each of the multiple positions, a plurality of light receivers located at predetermined positions for selectively intercepting the reflected light beam produced at each of the multiple positions, a data acquisition device configured to receive information related to position difference between the light source and a selected one of the plurality of light receivers intercepting the reflected light beam produced at each of the multiple positions, and a data analysis device configured to correlate the position difference information to a shape profile of the su

Abstract: Process for removing peripheral portions such as bead regions of a glass sheet including a step of pushing the glass sheet in the peripheral portion using a pushing mechanism such as a pushing bar, and corresponding apparatus. As a result of the use of the pushing mechanism, the engagement completion time for suction cups, if used, are reduced significantly. A process without using suction cups is enabled with enhanced yield. The increased process stability and enlarged process window are particularly advantageous for processing glass sheets having high flexibility.

Abstract: Methods of producing a glass sheet comprise the step of fusion drawing a glass ribbon along a draw direction into a viscous zone downstream from a root of a forming wedge. The method further includes the steps of drawing the glass ribbon into a setting zone downstream from the viscous zone and an elastic zone downstream from the setting zone. The method also includes the step of creating a vacuum to force the entire lateral portion of the glass ribbon to engage an anvil portion of a breaking device in the elastic zone. The method still further includes the steps of forming a score line along the lateral portion of the glass ribbon and breaking away a glass sheet from the glass ribbon along the score line while the entire lateral portion is forced against the anvil portion by the vacuum.

Abstract: A method of cutting glass that prevents uncontrolled crack propagation when high background stress is present, either in the form of thermal residual stress, external mechanical stress or a combination thereof. The method includes masking an edge of the glass by blocking the beam using highly reflective or absorptive material located near the glass surface, or deposited on the surface in a form of a thin film (or highly reflective paint) to prevent uncontrolled crack initiation and propagation starting from the glass edge. The initiation of the laser scoring is located at a predetermined distance from the glass edge. Yet another aspect of the invention embodies stopping propagation of the vent at the exiting end of the score line.

Abstract: A glass edge finishing system, a belt assembly and a method are described herein for finishing an edge of a glass sheet. The glass edge finishing system comprises: (a) a base; and (b) one or more belt assemblies located on the base, where each belt assembly includes: (i) a support frame; (ii) a motor; (iii) a pair of pulleys rotatably mounted on the support frame and driven by the motor; (iv) a belt engaged to and driven by the pair of pulleys, where the belt contacts and finishes the edge of the glass sheet; (v) a belt cleaning device that removes glass debris from the belt as the belt moves past the belt cleaning device; and (vi) a cleaning containment enclosure within which there is located the belt cleaning device, where the cleaning containment enclosure contains the glass debris removed from the belt by the belt cleaning device.

Abstract: A spray nozzle is used in a process of quenching a hot glass sheet during a laser scoring process or other high energy glass heating process. The nozzle is located in proximity to the glass sheet, creating gas in liquid used to quench the glass located in the nozzle (e.g., water). The gas (e.g., air bubbles) is removed from the quenching liquid. Then, the spray nozzle is used to spray the quenching liquid onto the sheet at a location trailing laser scoring of the sheet. The spray nozzle has a purge opening and tubing leading to a discharge location. The spray nozzle can have a sloped passageway that pre-stages gas bubbles near the purge opening. The spray nozzle can include a cooling coil passing around the nozzle passagewayto cool the quenching liquid passing through the nozzle, and increase the solubility of bubbles in the quenching liquid.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for cutting a continuous glass ribbon involving the use of edge restrainers such as suction cups and clamps connected to an actuator of a robot tooling through a flexible linkage capable of reciprocal motion in the direction of the ribbon velocity. The use of the flexible linkage reduces peak pulling-force when the glass ribbon is pulled or pushed laterally to during bending and separation along a pre-formed score-line. The invention can be advantageously used in the bottom of the draw of a vertical down-draw forming process.

Abstract: A scoring device is described herein that applies a constant force while scoring a piece of material so that there is a consistent score quality (or vent depth) within the scored piece of material. In one embodiment, the piece of material is a bowed shaped glass sheet that is supported by a conformable nosing device which has been configured to have a bowed shape that substantially matches the bowed shape of the glass sheet.

Abstract: Methods for separating glass sheets from glass ribbons are disclosed. One method includes forming a glass ribbon having a curvature in a lateral direction. A conformable nosing is engaged with a first surface of the glass ribbon such that the conformable nosing conforms to the curvature of the glass ribbon. The glass ribbon is scored along a scoring line on a second surface of the glass ribbon. The conformable nosing is then at least partially disengaged from the first surface of the glass ribbon by adjusting a bow of the conformable nosing. A bending moment is applied to the glass ribbon to separate a glass sheet from the glass ribbon at the scoring line. Application of the bending moment conforms the curvature of the glass ribbon to the bow of the conformable nosing prior to the glass sheet separating from the glass ribbon.

Abstract: A spray nozzle is used in a process of quenching a hot glass sheet during a laser scoring process or other high energy glass heating process. The scoring is conducted by a high energy means such as a laser. The nozzle is located in proximity to the glass sheet, creating gas in liquid used to quench the glass located in the nozzle (e.g., water). The gas (e.g., air bubbles) is removed from the quenching liquid. Then, the spray nozzle is used to spray the quenching liquid onto the sheet at a location trailing laser scoring of the sheet, such as using a traveling anvil machine at the bottom of the draw. The spray nozzle (purge nozzle) has a purge opening and tubing leading to a discharge location. The purge nozzle can have a sloped passageway that pre-stages gas bubbles near the purge opening in the nozzle. The spray nozzle can include a cooling coil passing around the nozzle passageway that enables a coolant to travel along the coil.

Abstract: Apparatus and equipment for making glass sheet from a glass ribbon including scoring, bending and separation in vertical state with improved glass ribbon stability provided by edge restrainers located above the score-line that also travel with substantially the same vertical velocity with the elastic ribbon. The edge restrainers on both sides of the glass ribbon serve to limit the motion and perturbation of the ribbon during scoring, bending and separation, advantageously by tensioning the glass ribbon where needed. The invention can reduce disturbance of the glass ribbon in upstream visco-elastic and/or viscous zones due to scoring, bending and separation, therefore enhance forming process stability and product attributes such as thickness variation, stress and stress variation, and the like. The invention can be particularly advantageous for making glass sheet with large width and/or low thickness using the fusion down-draw, slot down-draw, re-draw down-draw, and other down-draw processes.

Abstract: A scoring device is described herein that applies a constant force while scoring a piece of material so that there is a consistent score quality (or vent depth) within the scored piece of material. In one embodiment, the piece of material is a bowed shaped glass sheet that is supported by a conformable nosing device which has been configured to have a bowed shape that substantially matches the bowed shape of the glass sheet.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for laser scoring a sheet material. An elongated laser beam having S-mode intensity profile in the width direction and a flat-top-mode profile in the length direction is used to achieve high precision scoring. The invention can be used for scoring large-size glass substrates for LCD displays.

Abstract: Methods of producing a glass sheet comprise the step of fusion drawing a glass ribbon along a draw direction into a viscous zone downstream from a root of a forming wedge. The method further includes the steps of drawing the glass ribbon into a setting zone downstream from the viscous zone and an elastic zone downstream from the setting zone. The method also includes the step of creating a vacuum to force the entire lateral portion of the glass ribbon to engage an anvil portion of a breaking device in the elastic zone. The method still further includes the steps of forming a score line along the lateral portion of the glass ribbon and breaking away a glass sheet from the glass ribbon along the score line while the entire lateral portion is forced against the anvil portion by the vacuum.

Abstract: A method for determining a position of a selected area of a sheet of material relative to a reference plane includes launching a first incident light beam at the selected area of the sheet of material such that the first incident light beam strikes the selected area at a first position and a first angle, thereby producing a first reflected light beam. A second incident light beam is launched at the selected area of the sheet of material such that the second incident light beam strikes the selected area at a second position and a second angle, thereby producing a second reflected light beam. The second position and second angle are different from the first position and first angle, respectively. The first reflected light beam and the second reflected light beam are intercepted at the reference plane.

Abstract: A scoring device is described herein that applies a constant force while scoring a piece of material so that there is a consistent score quality (or vent depth) within the scored piece of material. In one embodiment, the piece of material is a bowed shaped glass sheet that is supported by a conformable nosing device which has been configured to have a bowed shape that substantially matches the bowed shape of the glass sheet.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems for scoring non-flat materials including non-flat glass sheets (1000). In one embodiment, a laser scoring system is described. The laser scoring system includes a laser (102) and an optical head (106). The optical head (106) is configured to receive output from the laser (102) and focus the output into an elongated laser beam having a beam waist and an extended focal depth of greater than +/?5 mm relative to the center of the beam waist with a power density sufficient for scoring a material having at least a portion within the extended focal depth. In one aspect the system can include a beam expander (104). The beam expander (104) receives the output from the laser (102), expands the output from the laser to an expanded laser beam, and transmits the expanded laser beam to the optical head (106).