Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for steering flexible glass webs are disclosed. In one embodiment, a steering device for non-contact steering of a glass web having a conveyance direction and a cross direction normal to the conveyance direction includes a fluid injection bar having an elongate axis oriented in a cross direction of the glass web. The steering device also includes a pivot bearing assembly coupled to the fluid injection bar such that the fluid injection bar is pivotable in a plane perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the glass web, an actuator coupled to the fluid injection bar for adjusting the orientation of the fluid injection bar with respect to the glass web, and an edge detection device positioned proximate to an edge of the glass web for evaluating a position of an edge of the glass web.

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: An apparatus for downwardly drawing glass ribbon comprises edge directors, wherein an outer portion defining a first pair of surfaces and a second pair of surfaces. In one example, the first and second pair of surfaces of each edge director includes a glass wettability with a static contact angle within a range of from about 30° to about 60°. In another example, the outer portion comprises a platinum alloy including from about 0.05 weight % tin to about 5 weight % tin. Methods for forming glass include the step of providing the edge director with a desired glass wettability and/or a desired platinum alloy.

Abstract: The present invention significantly modifies “The Overflow Process”. It includes a method and apparatus for measuring glass flow rate and maintaining a constant glass flow rate. It also embodies design features and methods that support and stress the forming apparatus in a manner such that the deformation that results from thermal creep is corrected, thus minimizing the effect of the thermal creep on the thickness variation of the glass sheet. The present invention also embodies design features that change the process from a single step (combined flow distribution and cooling) to a two step process; step one being flow distribution and step two being cooling.

Abstract: A glass film laminate includes a glass film and a supporting glass. The glass film and the supporting glass have surfaces in contact with each other, and each of the surfaces has a surface roughness Ra of 2.0 nm or less.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming laminated sheet glass and a method for forming laminated sheet glass or articles using the glass laminating apparatus, the apparatus including: a lower fusion pipe providing a first liquid stream that forms the core of the laminate; a first upper fusion pipe having a pair of adjustable baffles situated between the bottom of the upper fusion pipe and the top of the lower fusion pipe, the first upper fusion pipe provides a second liquid glass stream onto the first liquid glass stream that forms the clad of the laminate on the core of the laminate, the adjustable baffles being separated from the lower fusion pipe by a gap, and the adjustable baffles control the landing angle (?) and drop point of the second liquid glass stream onto the first liquid glass stream.

Abstract: Methods for cutting a fragile material are provided. The methods comprise the step of heating the fragile material along a separation path to separate the fragile material into a first portion and a second portion. At least the first portion includes a first thermal affected zone extending along the separation path. The methods further include the steps of spontaneously splitting at least part of the first thermal affected zone from the remainder of the first portion along a first split path extending a first distance from the separation path. The spontaneous splitting occurs as a consequence of the step of heating the fragile material.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing sheet glass having two faces, at least one of which has a high surface quality, the method comprising a treatment step wherein a stream of glass is contacted with a forming tool, and wherein a reversible adhesion force exists between the stream of glass and the forming tool after contacting. An apparatus is also disclosed for producing sheet glass according to the disclosed and various other methods of sheet glass manufacture, the apparatus comprising a forming tool having a means for controlling the temperature of at least a portion of the surface thereof.

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

Abstract: Provided is a method, including: a melting step of melting glass in a melting furnace 2; a distribution step of supplying the molten glass in the melting furnace 2 to a plurality of branched channels 4; and a forming step of supplying the molten glass flowing out from each of the plurality of branched channels 4 to one of a plurality of forming apparatuses 51 to 53 communicating with the plurality of branched channels 4, respectively, and forming the molten glass into a plate-shaped glass by a down-draw method, in which one or more of the plurality of forming apparatuses 51 to 53 are used to form a glass film having a thickness of 1 to 200 ?m.

Abstract: A method keeps the width of the manufactured sheet substantially the same by attaching edge directors for the formed sheet to the manufacturing apparatus structure instead of to the forming block. Thus, sheet glass may be manufactured to specification for a longer time with the same forming block. An additional method adjusts the width of the manufactured sheet by changing the distance between the edge directors. Thus sheet glass may be manufactured to different width specifications with the same forming block.

Abstract: A molten glass supply device is provided, which can solve unavoidable problems for high viscosity characteristics in connection with the conventional molten glass supply device for high viscosity glass. Such problems include improperly high heating cost caused by excessive heat radiation in a melting furnace, reduction in the grade of products deriving from an excess amount of an erosion foreign material and reduction in the product yield. High viscosity molten glass having a property in which a temperature at which the molten glass exhibits a viscosity of 1000 poise is 1350° C. or higher is supplied to a forming device through a melting furnace, a distribution portion in communication with the outlet of the melting furnace, and a plurality of branch paths branching from the distribution portion. In the branch paths, distribution resistance providing portions that provide distribution resistance to molten glass passed through the branch paths are provided.