Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A forming apparatus includes a frame, an air grid system, and a forming system; the air grid system includes a plurality of upper air grids and a plurality of lower air grids; the upper air grids are mounted at an upper part of the frame through a lifting mechanism, and the lower air grids are mounted in the forming system at a lower part of the frame; a gradual transition section is arranged at an inlet side of the forming system to enable a glass pane to be gradually arched in a transverse direction, and the gradually arched glass pane is conveyed into the forming system; and the forming system includes two groups of longitudinal forming and arching mechanisms and a plurality of transverse forming and arching mechanisms arranged in a glass pane conveying direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a tempering furnace for a glass sheet, which has a conveyor for the glass sheet, first convection blow means over the conveyor to heat the glass sheet by hot air jets blown on its top and/or bottom surface, and second convection blow means to help lead pressurized air from outside the tempering furnace to second blow nozzles from which air is discharged as jets towards the top and/or bottom surface of the glass sheet. The heating effect of the air jets on the glass sheet is adjustable by adjusting the feeding of electric current to electric elements inside blowing channels. Blow nozzles of the second convection blow means form blow zones. The heating effect on the glass sheet of the jets discharged from the second blow nozzles inside the blow zones is adjustable by adjusting the blowing pressure of feed pipes.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method for making a contoured glass article and the resulting contoured glass article are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the method includes cold bending a flat glass sheet having first and second opposing major surfaces, at least one region having a first thickness, and at least one region having a second thickness that is less than the first thickness, to produce cold bent glass sheet having at least one bend region along a portion of the at least one region having the second thickness; and restraining the cold bent glass sheet to produce the contoured glass article. One or more embodiments pertain to the resulting contoured glass article.

Abstract: Methods of shaping a glass sheet include providing a shaping support for supporting the glass sheet; providing a press bending apparatus comprising at least a first and a second mould member, each mould member being movable relative to the shaping support; heating the glass sheet; positioning the glass sheet on the shaping support; moving at least one of the shaping support and the press bending apparatus toward the other to press the glass sheet in a first region thereof between the shaping support and the first mould member; moving the second mould member relative to the first mould member to press the glass sheet in a second region thereof, and moving the first mould member relative to the shaping support to further press the glass sheet in the first region thereof between the first mould member and the shaping support. Apparatus useful to carry out the methods is also described.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device and a sheet conveying method whereby it is possible to convey a sheet more accurately. This sheet conveying device includes a holder capable of holding a sheet, bringing the sheet into a stretched state while holding the sheet, and conveying the held sheet. This sheet conveying device also includes a sheet state recognizer that recognizes the state of the sheet when the sheet is held in a stretched state by the holder.

Abstract: A method for bending a glass pane in a furnace, wherein the furnace has an inlet and an outlet, includes providing a glass pane on a mounting, wherein the mounting is preheated, introducing the mounted glass pane into the inlet of the furnace for bending, discharging the bent, mounted glass pane out of the outlet of the furnace, withdrawing the bent, mounted glass pane from the mounting, installing thermal insulation on the mounting, returning the mounting and the thermal insulation using a transport device, removing the thermal insulation prior to renewed mounting, wherein the aforementioned steps are carried out again in a cyclical manner.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a glass article having a three-dimensional shape includes heating a glass article blank to a temperature above a setting temperature and coupling the glass article blank to an open-faced mold. The open-faced mold includes a molding region that has a three-dimensional shape that generally corresponds to the shape of the glass article and has an anisothermal temperature profile within the molding region. The method further includes maintaining an anisothermal temperature profile along the glass article blank and cooling the glass article blank while the glass article blank is coupled to the molding region of the open-faced mold to set the shape of the glass article.

Abstract: Non-contact, liquid-ejecting bearings (3) are provided for conveying flexible glass sheets (13), such as LCD substrates, at high conveyance speeds, e.g., speeds of 15 meters/minute and above. The operating parameters and physical properties of the bearings satisfy at least one of the following conditions: (a) the average flow rate from the bearing's orifices (22) is in the range of 100-800 milliliters/minute/orifice; (b) the orifices' average horizontal pitch (P) is in the range of 20-55 millimeters; and/or (c) the orifices' average size (e.g., D0) is in the range of 1.0-4.5 millimeters. The bearings (3) can reduce the time-averaged, peak-to-peak variation in the spacing between a LCD substrate (13) traveling at 15 meters/minute and the face (20) of the bearing (3) to less than 100 microns, thus reducing the chances that the bearing (3) will lose control of the substrate (13) or that the substrate (13) will hit the bearing (3).

Abstract: A method of making a shaped glass article includes placing a glass sheet on top of a mold. A heat exchanger is arranged relative to the mold such that a heat exchange surface of the heat exchanger is in opposing relation to a back surface of the mold and separated from the back surface of the mold by a gap containing a layer of gas. The height of the gap is selected such that the dominant heat transfer between the heat exchange surface and the back surface of the mold is by conduction through the layer of gas. The glass sheet is heated and formed into a shaped glass article with the mold. The heat exchanger is operated to remove heat from at least part of the mold during at least one of heating the glass sheet, forming the shaped glass article, and cooling the shaped glass article.

Abstract: Apparatus for shaping at least one glass sheet wherein a lower press ring and an upper press ring are configured to clamp a perimeter section of the glass sheet between the lower press ring and the upper press ring. The apparatus also includes an upper press at least partially disposed within the upper press ring and configured to shape at least a section of the glass sheet inside the perimeter section of the glass sheet, including forming by use of applied vacuum. The inner press may include openings that apply vacuum in selected areas of the inner press to vacuum form the ply within the selected areas. To control the ply on the upper press assembly, vacuum that is applied though passageways in the upper press ring to the gap between the upper press ring and the inner press is controlled through a seal in the gap. The upper press ring includes pivotal joints that increase adjustability of the forming surface of the upper press ring to the face surface of the inner press.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for bending sheet glass are disclosed. The present invention improves on the state-of-the-art by providing apparatus and methods that prevent unwanted distortion of the glass sheet. The apparatus and methods utilize localized heating at the bend to allow for overall glass sheet temperatures to be reduced, along with optional mechanical devices for improved bend quality.

Abstract: A reformable area and a non-reformable area of a sheet of glass material are heated to a first temperature corresponding to a first viscosity. The reformable area is subsequently locally heated to a second temperature corresponding to a second viscosity, where the second viscosity is lower than the first viscosity. A bend is formed in the reformable area during the local heating of the reformable area by contacting a first pusher with the non-reformable area and translating the first pusher along a linear path to apply a pushing force to the non-reformable area that results in the bend in the reformable area or by contacting a second pusher with an edge area of the reformable area and rotating the pusher along a circular path to apply a pushing force to the edge area of the reformable area that results in the bend in the reformable area.

Abstract: A drawing method for glass is described. The method provides glass components that have a strongly increased ratio of width to thickness when compared to the preform, which makes the manufacturing of flat glass components more economical. The method purposefully controls the temperature distribution within the preform.

Abstract: A method for the production of glass components, an apparatus for carrying out the method and a glass component that is obtainable through the method are provided. The method is a drawing method wherein a forming zone of a preform is heated to a temperature that allows drawing of the glass. The method is characterized in that the forming zone of the preform is very small. Thereby the width of the preform is decreased to a smaller extent than its thickness. The glass components that can be obtained by this method have very smooth surfaces.

Abstract: A process using a three-piece mold for making a three-dimensionally shaped glass article having a flat area and a curved/bend area is disclosed. The process includes placing a glass sheet on a mold having a shaping surface with a desired surface profile for the shaped glass article including a flat area and a bend area, moving a flat area plunger toward the glass sheet to compress the glass sheet, heating a portion of the glass sheet corresponding to an area above the bend area of the mold to a temperature above a forming temperature, and moving a bend area plunger toward the heated glass sheet to compress the heated glass sheet. A temperature of the glass sheet in the area above the bend area of the mold is higher than a temperature of the glass sheet in the area above the flat area of the mold when compressing the heated glass sheet with the bend area plunger.

Abstract: To produce a meniscus lens from synthetic quartz glass for use in a microlithography apparatus, which lens has a first optical surface (7) and a second optical surface (8) with the same direction of curvature as the first optical surface (7), SiO2 particles are formed by oxidation or flame hydrolysis of a silicon-containing starting compound and deposited layer by layer on a substrate to form a cylindrical SiO2 blank which contains layers with a surface normal extending in the direction of growth. To allow such layers, which have however the least possible adverse effect on optical or mechanical properties, it is proposed according to the invention that the blank is plastically worked in a hot forming process under the effect of a deforming force to form a preform (6), which has at least the first curved surface (7) and in which the layers are curved in the direction of curvature, and that the meniscus lens is obtained from the preform.

Abstract: A method of forming a shaped glass article includes placing a glass sheet on a mold such that a first glass area of the glass sheet corresponds to a first mold surface area of the mold and a second glass area of the glass sheet corresponds to a second mold surface area of the mold. The first glass area and the second glass area are heated such that the viscosity of the second glass area is 8 poise or more lower than the viscosity of the first glass area. A force is applied to the glass sheet to conform the glass sheet to the mold surface. During the heating of the second glass area, the first mold surface area is locally cooled to induce a thermal gradient on the mold.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing glass hard disk substrates comprises annealing and then tempering previously formed glass hard disk substrates. The annealed and tempered glass hard disk substrates have improved strength and stress resistance without chemical treatments.

Abstract: A glass molding system and a method of making glass articles using the glass molding system are disclosed. The glass molding system includes an indexing table, a plurality of enclosures arranged along the indexing table, and a plurality of stations defined on the indexing table such that each of the stations is selectively indexable with any one of the enclosures. At least one radiant heater is arranged in at least one of the enclosures. A radiation reflector surface and a radiation emitter body are arranged in the at least one of the enclosures. The radiation emitter body is between the at least one radiant heater and the radiation reflector surface and has a first surface in opposing relation to the at least one radiant heater and a second surface in opposing relation to the radiation reflector surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cutting a strengthened glass sheet 10, and the strengthened glass sheet 10 including a front surface layer 13 and a rear surface layer 15 which have a residual compressive stress, and an intermediate layer 17 which is formed between the front surface layer 13 and the rear surface layer 15 and has an inside residual tensile stress is cut by moving an irradiation region 22 of the laser beam. In addition, when initiating the cutting of the strengthened glass sheet 10, a thermal stress which induces the generation of a crack is exerted on a cutting initiation location, the extension of the crack is suppressed simultaneously with the generation of the crack at the cutting initiation location, and then the strengthened glass sheet 10 is cut while suppressing the extension of a crack caused by the inside residual tensile stress in the intermediate layer 17.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for shaping a substantially planar glass substrate are disclosed. The glass substrate is supported on a shaping body having a substantially planar central portion and arcuate edge portions. The substrate is heated by a suitable radiant heat source wherein a thermal shield is used to shield a centrally located surface of the glass substrate so that only edge portions of the glass substrate are heated and softened. Gravity causes the glass substrate edge portions to sag and conform to the shape of the shaping body. In some embodiments, shaping members are pressed against the glass substrate edge portions to aid in the conforming. In certain other embodiments, a plurality of glass substrates are sequentially deformed by a shaping die.

Abstract: A convection heating furnace for a glass sheet, into which oven glass sheet (3) arrives along a hauling track, as on moving rolls (4), and said furnace further comprises of heating elements (12), in order to heat the air, which is blasted against glass sheet (3), a blaster and blast air channelling in order to blast said air against the glass sheet, and the blast air channelling has, elongated channels (1), into which at least a part of the blast air heating elements 12 are fitted, and each channel comprises air blasting means on its flank directed against the glass sheet (3). As air blast elements there are nozzle groups fixed on the channel (1) flank, where the nozzle group formed of sheet metal, as of two, into shape formed sheets joined together to form a casing, whereby said casing comprises one or several for blast air directed discharge channels (6), and the direction of air flow in said casing (2) is essentially in the same direction as in said discharge channels (6).

Abstract: A thickness of at least one preselected portion of a substrate, such as glass substrate for example, is controlled. A laser beam is directed to the at least one preselected portion of the substrate in a viscous state, thereby increasing a temperature and reducing a viscosity of the at least one preselected portion of the substrate in a viscous state sufficiently to cause the at least one preselected portion of the glass substrate to attain a desired thickness. The laser beam after it is generated can be directed to a reflecting surface from which the laser beam is reflected to the at least one preselected portion of the substrate in the viscous state. The substrate can comprise a glass ribbon produced in a downdraw glass forming process for example, and the laser beam can be directed onto a plurality of preselected portions of the glass ribbon.

Abstract: A glass molding system and a method of making glass articles using the glass molding system are disclosed. The glass molding system includes an indexing table, a plurality of enclosures arranged along the indexing table, and a plurality of stations defined on the indexing table such that each of the stations is selectively indexable with any one of the enclosures. At least one radiant heater is arranged in at least one of the enclosures. A radiation reflector surface and a radiation emitter body are arranged in the at least one of the enclosures. The radiation emitter body is between the at least one radiant heater and the radiation reflector surface and has a first surface in opposing relation to the at least one radiant heater and a second surface in opposing relation to the radiation reflector surface.

Abstract: A reformable area and a non-reformable area of a sheet of glass material are heated to a first temperature corresponding to a first viscosity. The reformable area is subsequently locally heated to a second temperature corresponding to a second viscosity, where the second viscosity is lower than the first viscosity. A bend is formed in the reformable area during the local heating of the reformable area by contacting a first pusher with the non-reformable area and translating the first pusher along a linear path to apply a pushing force to the non-reformable area that results in the bend in the reformable area or by contacting a second pusher with an edge area of the reformable area and rotating the pusher along a circular path to apply a pushing force to the edge area of the reformable area that results in the bend in the reformable area.

Abstract: A laser crystallization apparatus includes a laser generator that generates a laser beam, a stage mounted with an object substrate with an object thin film to which the laser beam is firstly incident, the stage is relatively movable such that the laser beam scans the object thin film for crystallization, and a reflection mirror that secondly reflects a second reflection laser beam to the object thin film from a first reflection laser beam that is reflected from the object thin film to the reflection mirror.

Abstract: A device for making a window includes a main body defining a first space and a second space, a first shaft provided in the first space and connected to the main body, a first die provided in the first space and connected to the first shaft, a second shaft connected to the main body, movable relative to the first shaft and extending to the first space from the second space, and a second die provided in the first space and connected to the second shaft.. The device further includes an air-tight chamber surrounding the first and second dies, a gas supply conduit and a gas discharge conduit connected to the chamber, and an actuator connected to the second shaft and configured to move the second shaft relative to the first shaft. At least one of the first and second dies has a flat area and a curved area.

Abstract: A method for bending a sheet is described. The method includes the following steps: a) at least one sheet is inserted into a pre-bending ring with a movable bending ring holder, the movable bending ring holder is moved into a furnace and the at least one sheet is heated to softening temperature and is pre-bent to 5% to 50% of a final edge bending, b) the at least one sheet is lifted by means of a suction device and is bent further, beyond the bending obtained in the pre-bending ring, c) the at least one sheet is laid down by means of the suction device in a final-bending ring on the movable bending ring holder and is bent to the final edge bending, and an area pre-bending of the at least one sheet is performed by means of thermal irradiation, d) the at least one sheet is lifted out of the final-bending ring by means of a second suction device, pressed against an opposing mould and bent, and the at least one sheet is laid down on the final-bending ring and the at least one sheet is cooled down.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for precision bending a glass sheet that includes an oven for heating the glass sheet to a temperature near the softening temperature of the glass sheet. A stage for supporting the glass sheet. A pair of reference surfaces on the stage for precisely locating the glass sheet on the stage. At least one bending mechanism on a pair of arms inside the oven for bending an edge portion of the glass sheet. Inward facing first stop surfaces on the arms that contact reference surfaces on the stage for precisely locating the bending mechanism on the arms relative to the stage and the glass sheet.

Abstract: Apparatus (36, 36?) and a method for forming glass sheets utilizes a press ring assembly (50) adjacent a heating furnace to receive a heated class sheet therefrom for press forming. The press ring assembly (50) includes a press ring (52) for mounting on a support (48), with the press ring having an open interior and peripheral shape including an upwardly oriented forming face (74) for contacting the heated glass sheet periphery. A heater (75) extends along the peripheral shape of the press ring (52) to provide heating under the control of at least one thermocouple (110), and insulation (78) extends along the periphery of the press ring within the interior, around the exterior and below the press ring to reduce heat loss, with the heater located between the insulation and the press ring. An upper press mold (58) cooperates with the press ring assembly (50) to provide press forming.

Abstract: A method and system for preparing polysilicon slim rods, the method and system including: placing a piece of polysilicon on a fixture; applying a predetermined laser beam or abrasive jet to the piece of polysilicon; and separating a polysilicon slim rod from the piece of polysilicon. The laser beam may be used for either cutting or for cracking depending on the operating parameters chosen. There may also be various combinations of cutting and cracking used in order to separate the slim rod from the piece of polysilicon. For example, the laser cut may be a scribing and/or partial cut and the separation may be completed by cracking the remaining silicon. In this case, the cracking may be accomplished by, for example, mechanical bending or laser cracking. Generally speaking, a laser beam used for cracking may be different from and have differing operating parameters from a laser beam used for cutting.

Abstract: A sag-bending system is disclosed. The sag-bending system comprises a sag-bending glass support mold and a perimeter thermal manager. The support mold comprises a plurality of rib members extending in a first direction, each of the plurality of rib members having a curved upper surface shaped to form the collective upper surface having a position and shape to support a quadrilateral-shaped sag-bent glass sheet into a desired contour, each of the rib members further having a lower surface, and a plurality of support members extending in a second direction between at least two of the plurality of rib members, the second direction traverse to the first direction. The perimeter thermal manager is sized and positioned to surround, to extend at least partially over, and to extend at least partially under the periphery of the support mold.

Abstract: A processing device is configured to irradiate a laser beam onto a glass substrate for processing. The processing device has a work table, a laser beam output section, a multi-spot focus section, a rotation drive mechanism, an optical system, and a laser beam scan section. The multi-spot focus section receives a laser beam, and splits and focuses the laser beam inputted therein into a plurality of beam focus spots. The rotation drive mechanism rotates the plurality of beam focus spots about a single center axis that is arranged in a center of the plurality of beam focus spots. The optical system guides the laser beam to the multi-spot focus section. The laser beam scan section moves all the plurality of beam focus spots rotating about the single center axis in a desired direction within a predetermined range of a plane arranged along a surface of the glass substrate.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for: an electrically conductive heating element having a length extending in a lateral direction between first and second ends, and one or more output surfaces operating to direct heat therefrom in a direction transverse to the lateral direction; and a carrying structure operable to support a glass sheet such that a major surface of the glass sheet is oriented towards the heat emanating from the one or more output surfaces of the heating element, where the electrically conductive heating element includes at least one heat flux variation feature operating to produce differing magnitudes of heat to emanate from at least two of the output surfaces of the heating element.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for precision bending a glass sheet that includes an oven for heating the glass sheet to a temperature near the softening temperature of the glass sheet. A stage for supporting the glass sheet. A pair of reference surfaces on the stage for precisely locating the glass sheet on the stage. At least one bending mechanism on a pair of arms inside the oven for bending an edge portion of the glass sheet. Inward facing first stop surfaces on the arms that contact reference surfaces on the stage for precisely locating the bending mechanism on the arms relative to the stage and the glass sheet.

Abstract: A substrate cutting method includes the steps of aligning a panel including two or more substrates, along a cutting line, forming groove lines in the respective substrates of the panel along the cutting line, by oscillating respective ultraviolet UV laser beams along the cutting line, and cutting the panel along the groove lines, by applying force to the panel.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for bending sheet glass are disclosed. The present invention improves on the state-of-the-art by providing apparatus and methods that prevent unwanted distortion of the glass sheet. The apparatus and methods utilize localized heating at the bend to allow for overall glass sheet temperatures to be reduced, along with optional mechanical devices for improved bend quality.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a glass manufacturing method and a mold for glass manufacture. The glass manufacturing method includes cutting raw flat glass having a large size into a suitable size for a product, inserting the flat glass into a mold formed with a cavity having a curved surface shape to mold the flat glass so that a front face portion has a concave curved surface shape and a back face portion has a convex curved surface shape, processing the back face portion having the convex curved surface shape into a flat surface shape by a grinding process, and processing the back face portion processed into the flat surface shape to have a specular surface through a polishing process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of heating glass panels for tempering. The horizontal glass panels are heated in a lehr by upper and lower convection blast and by upper and lower radiation heating, information representing a load of the glass panels and used for the control and/or regulation of heating is read, the upper radiation heating is controlled and/or regulated in the way of a matrix by a profiling both in a conveying direction and a direction lateral thereto. At least the upper convection blast is controlled and/or regulated in various sections of the lehr in the way of a matrix by a profiling both in a conveying direction and a direction lateral thereto, and the relative blast effects of convection blowing elements successive in the conveying direction are regulated for a profiling in the conveying direction. The invention relates also to an apparatus applying the method.

Abstract: A method for printing a precision structure on the surface of a glass strip advancing continuously at a rate of at least 1 m/min, using an etching roller (27) applying a printing force against the surface to be etched, the structure to be produced including protruding and recessed regions which have radii of curvature, a preliminary thermal conditioning (26 and 32) being performed upstream of the etching roller; the thermal conditioning is designed to ensure a temperature of the strip (J) over the print thickness and a cooling (29) downstream of the etching roller (27) to ensure a controlled fixing of the structure; the method according to the invention making it possible to determine the parameters that are intimately linked for obtaining a particular structure, notably the print temperature, the printing force and the cooling rate, taking into account a degree of creep between the molding radius (R1) and the post-creep radius (R2).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for bending a glass sheet, and has an object of achieving high forming accuracy of a glass sheet along a perpendicular direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of the glass sheet, in particular, to obtain high forming accuracy both along the conveying direction and the perpendicular direction.

Abstract: A method for bending a sheet of material into a shaped article includes providing the sheet of material. A reformable area and a non-reformable area of the sheet of material are heated to a first temperature range corresponding to a first viscosity range. The reformable area of the sheet of material is subsequently heated to a second temperature range corresponding to a second viscosity range. The reformable area of the sheet of material is reformed into a selected shape by at least one of sagging the reformable area of the sheet of material and applying a force to the sheet of material outside of or near a boundary of the reformable area.

Abstract: A cleaving apparatus holds at least one surface (effective surface) of a band-like glass film in a non-contact state to suppress a situation that wavy portions reach a region in which the band-like glass film is to be cleaved. The cleaving apparatus cleaves the band-like glass film, which is being conveyed in a longitudinal direction thereof, along a conveyance direction thereof using a thermal stress generated through localized heating and cooling of a heated region. The localized heating and the cooling is performed on a preset cleaving line extending along the conveyance direction of the band-like glass film. The cleaving apparatus includes an air knife for supplying air to a front surface of the band-like glass film to retain the film on a conveyor at a position on an upstream side of a cleaving region in the conveyance direction.

Abstract: A device for gravity bending of at least one glass sheet supported by at least one support forming part of a bending assembly, plural supports supporting the sheet during bending. The device includes a drive system for changing the shape of the support, the drive system controlling the rate of the change. A method of bending glass sheets utilizes the device.

Abstract: A method for forming glass sheets is performed by a system (10) that includes a forming station (14) having lower and upper molds (28, 30) between which glass sheets G are cyclically received from a furnace (12) on a vacuum transfer platen (34), formed between the lower and upper molds (28, 30), and transferred to a delivery mold (42) for delivery such as to a quench station (16). The vacuum transfer platen (34) and the delivery mold (42) are moved at different elevations into the forming station (14) in respective underlapping and overlapping relationships to each other so each glass sheet forming cycle can begin within the forming station before the prior forming cycle is completed in a time overlapping manner that reduces the cycle time.

Abstract: In a cleaving apparatus (1) for a glass film, an initial crack (10), which is formed at a leading end portion of a preset cleaving line (7) of a glass film (G), is propagated along the preset cleaving line (7) by a thermal stress generated in the glass film (G) through localized heating performed along the preset cleaving line (7) and cooling of a heated region resulting from the localized heating. At this time, a resin sheet (R) having higher flexibility than the glass film (G) is arranged in a cleaving region, and the resin sheet (R) is floated by blowing a gas on a lower surface of the resin sheet (R) by a floating unit (3). Then, a preset cleaving portion of the glass film (G) including the preset cleaving line (7) is lifted and supported while being covered with the floated resin sheet (R) from below, and in this state, the glass film (G) is cleaved.

Abstract: A method for heating glass sheets includes alternately loading on a conveyor system two different sets of glass sheets with the glass sheets of each set having different properties than those of the other set so as to require different heating than each other; conveying the alternately loaded sets of glass sheets on the conveyor system along a plane of conveyance through a heating chamber having a heating system; and controlling operation of the heating system to provide two different sets of heating zones alternating along the direction of conveyance and respectively moving with the two sets of glass sheets so as to provide heating in the heating chamber of each set of glass sheets as required and in a different way than the heating of the other set of glass sheets.

Abstract: The present invention is related a method and a system for bending glass sheets with complex curvatures comprising: heating at least a pre-selected area of at least a glass sheet using microwave energy and then superficially forming the sheet against a die.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gravity bending oven for glass panes, provided with several heating groups (5) (16) which are arranged in a cistern-shaped oven lower part (1) and a cover-shaped oven upper-part (2), and heat insulation (8) arranged on the inside of the oven walls (7). According to the invention, a plurality of channels (9) are arranged in the heat insulation, said channels being cross-flown by a heat transfer medium and are used to guide heat away from the heat insulation. The invention also relates to a gravity bending method for glass panes, which can be carried out, preferably, using said type of oven.