Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for: conveying a glass web from a source toward a destination in a transport direction; scoring the glass web in a width direction thereof to product a score line having a plurality of separated score segments, thereby defining a section of the glass web between the score line and leading edge of the glass web; supporting the glass web such that an increasing portion of the section of the glass web becomes cantilevered as the glass web is conveyed such that the portion of the section of the glass web is sufficiently large to generate stress in the respective score segments and drive respective cracks through the thickness of the glass web; and permitting the section of the glass web to separate from the glass web along the score line.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for: conveying a glass web from a source toward a destination in a transport direction; scoring the glass web in a width direction thereof to produce a score line having a plurality of separated score segments, thereby defining a section of the glass web between the score line and a leading edge of the glass web; supporting the glass web such that an increasing portion of the section of the glass web becomes cantilevered as the glass web is conveyed such that the portion of the section of the glass web is sufficiently large to generate stress in the respective score segments and drive respective cracks through the thickness of the glass web; and permitting the section of the glass web to separate from the glass web along the score line.

Abstract: A method for forming an initiation defect in a glass substrate to facilitate separating the glass substrate into a plurality of substrates is provided. The method includes providing the glass substrate and contacting a broad surface of the glass substrate with an abrasive surface thereby forming a field of initiation defects in the broad surface of the glass substrate. The field of initiation defects has a width of at least about three millimeters between outermost initiation defects. At least one initiation defect is heated with a laser source. The at least one initiation defect is cooled with a cooling fluid such that a crack initiates from the at least one initiation defect, the crack extending through a thickness of the glass substrate and propagating across the glass substrate to separate the glass substrate into the plurality of substrates.

Abstract: A method of continuous processing of flexible glass ribbon having a thickness of no more than 0.35 mm using a glass processing apparatus is provided. The method includes providing the glass processing apparatus having at least three processing zones including a first processing zone, a second processing zone and a third processing zone. The flexible glass ribbon is continuously fed from the first processing zone, through the second processing zone to the third processing zone. Rate of the flexible glass ribbon is controlled through each of the first processing zone, second processing zone and third processing zone using a global control device. The second processing zone has a conveyance path for the flexible glass ribbon through a cutting zone having a radius of curvature of from about 100 inches to about 400 inches.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for: conveying a glass web from a source toward a destination in a transport direction; scoring the glass web in a width direction thereof to produce a score line having a plurality of separated score segments, thereby defining a section of the glass web between the score line and a leading edge of the glass web; supporting the glass web such that an increasing portion of the section of the glass web becomes cantilevered as the glass web is conveyed such that the portion of the section of the glass web is sufficiently large to generate stress in the respective score segments and drive respective cracks through the thickness of the glass web; and permitting the section of the glass web to separate from the glass web along the score line.

Abstract: A method for forming an initiation defect in a glass substrate to facilitate separating the glass substrate into a plurality of substrates is provided. The method includes providing the glass substrate and contacting a broad surface of the glass substrate with an abrasive surface thereby forming a field of initiation defects in the broad surface of the glass substrate. The field of initiation defects has a width of at least about three millimetres between outermost initiation defects. At least one initiation defect is heated with a laser source. The at least one initiation defect is cooled with a cooling fluid such that a crack initiates from the at least one initiation defect, the crack extending through a thickness of the glass substrate and propagating across the glass substrate to separate the glass substrate into the plurality of substrates.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are described for separating glass sheets from lengths of flexible glass. According to one embodiment, a glass processing apparatus comprises a vent forming device configured to provide a partial or full vent in a surface of a length of flexible glass along an intended line of separation, a break table comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first second portions of the break table configured to rotate with respect to each other along a hinging line, and a glass securing device configured to secure the length of flexible glass to the first and second portions of the break table for separating the length of flexible glass into multiple lengths of flexible glass along the intended line of separation.

Abstract: A method of managing edge trim of a flexible glass ribbon includes directing the flexible glass ribbon to an edge trimming apparatus including a cutting device. The flexible glass ribbon includes a first broad surface and a second broad surface that extend laterally between a first edge and a second edge. The first edge of the flexible glass ribbon is separated as the flexible glass ribbon moves by the cutting device forming a continuous strip of edge trim connected to a central portion of the flexible glass ribbon. The continuous strip of edge trim is collected separate from the central portion while the continuous strip of edge trim remains connected to the central portion of the flexible glass ribbon.

Abstract: A multi-camera skin inspection system for inspecting the outer skin and the skin perimeter of extruded ceramic honeycomb structures is disclosed. The system has a camera that captures first digital line images of a line-illuminated portion of the outer skin as the ceramic honeycomb structure rotates to form a scanned digital image of the outer skin. The system also has second and third cameras that respectively capture second and third digital line images of illuminated first and second endfaces, including the corresponding first and second skin perimeters, as the ceramic honeycomb structure rotates to form scanned digital images of the ceramic honeycomb structure perimeters. The system also forms a composite image from the three scanned images and identifies at least one defect in the ceramic honeycomb structure from the composite image.

Abstract: A multi-camera skin inspection system for inspecting the outer skin and the skin perimeter of extruded ceramic honeycomb structures is disclosed. The system has a camera that captures first digital line images of a line-illuminated portion of the outer skin as the ceramic honeycomb structure rotates to form a scanned digital image of the outer skin. The system also has second and third cameras that respectively capture second and third digital line images of illuminated first and second endfaces, including the corresponding first and second skin perimeters, as the ceramic honeycomb structure rotates to form scanned digital images of the ceramic honeycomb structure perimeters. The system also forms a composite image from the three scanned images and identifies at least one defect in the ceramic honeycomb structure from the composite image.