Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a glass sheet, which comprises a conveying step of conveying a glass sheet (G3) by holding an upper part of the glass sheet (G3) in a vertical posture. The conveying step comprises a first conveying step of conveying the glass sheet (G3) in a first direction along a direction perpendicular to a main surface of the glass sheet (G3), and a second conveying step of conveying the glass sheet (G3) in a second direction along a direction parallel to the main surface after the first conveying step. When a conveying direction of the glass sheet is changed from the first direction to the second direction, a lower part of the main surface (G3y) is supported by a roller (41) of a support portion (4) from a forward side in the conveying direction of the glass sheet (G3) conveyed in the first direction.

Abstract: A manufacturing apparatus prevents small defects from being formed in a surface of a glass film ribbon to the extent possible when the glass film ribbon is transported toward a downstream side while curved. The apparatus includes a direction converting device for converting a traveling direction of the glass film ribbon, which is drawn downward vertically from a forming device, from a vertical direction to a horizontal direction by transporting the glass film ribbon toward a downstream side while curved in a longitudinal direction of the glass film ribbon. The direction converting device includes a curve-supporting unit for supporting the glass film ribbon curved in the longitudinal direction. The curve-supporting unit includes two lines of end portion supporting parts for supporting widthwise end regions of the glass film ribbon without supporting a widthwise central region of the glass film ribbon.

Abstract: A non-contact dancer mechanism for conveying a web of brittle material includes a guide rail and a variable position web support plenum adjustably positioned on the guide rail. The variable position web support plenum may include an arcuate outer surface with a plurality of fluid vents for emitting a fluid to support the web of brittle material over and spaced apart from the arcuate outer surface thereby preventing mechanical contact and damage to the web of brittle material. A support plenum counterbalance may be mechanically coupled to the variable position web support plenum, wherein the support plenum counterbalance supports at least a portion of the weight of the variable position web support plenum on the guide rail. Apparatuses incorporating the non-contact dancer mechanism and methods for using the non-contact dancer mechanism for handling continuous webs of brittle material are also disclosed.

Abstract: A non-contact dancer mechanism for conveying a web of brittle material includes a guide rail and a variable position web support plenum adjustably positioned on the guide rail. The variable position web support plenum may include an arcuate outer surface with a plurality of fluid vents for emitting a fluid to support the web of brittle material over and spaced apart from the arcuate outer surface thereby preventing mechanical contact and damage to the web of brittle material. A support plenum counterbalance may be mechanically coupled to the variable position web support plenum, wherein the support plenum counterbalance supports at least a portion of the weight of the variable position web support plenum on the guide rail. Apparatuses incorporating the non-contact dancer mechanism and methods for using the non-contact dancer mechanism for handling continuous webs of brittle material are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described, with which individual rectangular glass panes of thickness between 0.03 mm and 2 mm can be cut from a glass band (2) drawn vertically from a hot forming device (1) in an in-line process with reduced rejects and reduced waste. The method provides that the glass band (2) drawn vertically downward through a vertical zone is cooled below a lower cooling point of the glass and subsequently is deflected through a bending zone (3b) with a bending radius between 0.1 m and 4 m into a horizontal zone (3c) in which it is horizontally oriented. The vertical alignment of the glass band (2) in the vertical zone (3a) is continuously monitored. At least one cutting process is performed on the horizontally oriented glass band (2) in the horizontal zone (3c). The device (20) for monitoring the vertical alignment of the glass band (2) includes at least three sensors (22a, 22b, 22c; 22a′, 22b′, 22c′) that detect the glass edges These sensors can be mechanical rollers.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing glass sheets from molten glass contained in a vertical drawing chamber includes the step of placing a stratified liquid layer on the mass of molten glass, the stratified liquid layer comprising at least two phases of densities different to each other, and vertically drawing a glass sheet from the glass mass through the stratified liquid layer.

Abstract: Molten glass 1 flows continuously from a glass melting furnace 2 to a drawing tank 7 whence the glass is drawn as a continuous ribbon 10 from a slot 11 in a refractory device 12 such as a debiteuse partially immersed in the molten glass.The center of the slot 11 is spaced from each of upstream 6 and downstream 9 end walls of the drawing tank 7 by at least 550 mm. The debiteuse 12 is preferably spaced from those walls by at least 350 mm.This promotes and facilitates production of a high yield of glass of a high standard of thickness uniformity and of good planeity.These advantages are enhanced when the ribbon is passed over a bending roll 13 in a drawing chamber 8 above the drawing tank 7 and thence to a horizontal annealing lehr 14.

Abstract: Molten glass 1 flows continuously from a glass melting furnace 2 to a drawing tank 7 when the glass is drawn as a continuous ribbon 10 and is passed over a bending roll 13 in a drawing chamber 8 above the tank 7 and then to a horizontal annealing lehr 14.A high yield of glass, especially thin glass, of a high standard of thickness uniformity and good planeity is promoted and facilitated by causing the molten glass 1 to flow upwardly through a slot 11 in a refractory device 12 partially immersed in molten glass in a deep drawing tank.

Abstract: A flat glass manufacturing facility is provided with a threshold for supporting and delivering a layer of molten glass from a glassmaking furnace to a glass forming chamber containing a pool of glass-supporting molten metal wherein the threshold has an upper glass-supporting surface having one or more transverse grooves, each of which extends from an upstream point near the center of the threshold outwardly to the sides of the threshold and in a direction that is oriented slightly in the direction of the glass delivery over the threshold in order to divert a small portion of molten glass in the lowermost part of the delivered layer of glass to the marginal regions of the delivered layer of glass whereby small bubbles or seeds, products of reaction or other contaminants may be diverted from the main portion of the glass to its marginal portions.

Abstract: In the manufacture of sheet glass by drawing a ribbon of glass upwardly from a molten glass bath via a meniscus located at the glass surface in the drawing zone, a pool of molten material is contained in the bath beneath the drawing zone by a refractory member and the molten material pool is thermally conditioned to maintain a predetermined temperature profile in at least part of the drawing zone.