A glass sheet processing apparatus includes a first gantry assembly that extends across a glass sheet in a cross-machine direction. The first gantry assembly includes a processing head that moves along a length of the first gantry assembly and includes a laser comprising an optical arrangement positioned in a beam path of the laser providing a laser beam focal line that is formed on a beam output side of the optical arrangement. A second gantry assembly extends across the glass sheet in the cross-machine direction. The second gantry assembly includes a processing head that moves along a length of the second gantry assembly.

After a glass sheet (G) having a scribe line (S) formed thereon is placed on a placement table (10) and positioned so that the scribe line (S) is positioned in a bending stress applying portion (15) of the placement table (10), when the glass sheet (G) is split along the scribe line (S) by applying a bending stress to a formation region of the scribe line (S) by the bending stress applying portion (15), the glass sheet (G) is positioned by laying a resin sheet (9) under the glass sheet (G) on the placement table (10) and aligning one side (G1) of the glass sheet (G) extending in a direction along the scribe line (S) with marks (Ma to Nd) projected onto a protruding portion (9a) of the resin sheet (9) by laser markers (16a to 16d).

A method for generating a cutting plan of a complex glazing product including a glass sheet and a layer other than a glass sheet, the method including obtaining a map of the defects of the glass sheet; obtaining at least one other defect map, the defects of the other map not being defects of a glass sheet; each of the maps including, for each of its defects, a position of the defect, a size of the defect, and a criticality level of the defect; generating a cutting plan of the complex glazing product using the maps and a specification taking into account the criticality levels, the cutting plan including a cutting line and being such that none of the cutting lines passes through an exclusion zone of the defect of the glass sheet, wherein a cutting line passes through an exclusion zone of a defect of the other map.

A method for generating a cutting plan of a complex glazing product including a glass sheet and a layer other than a glass sheet, the method including obtaining a map of the defects of the glass sheet; obtaining at least one other defect map, the defects of the other map not being defects of a glass sheet; each of the maps including, for each of its defects, a position of the defect, a size of the defect, and a criticality level of the defect; generating a cutting plan of the complex glazing product using the maps and a specification taking into account the criticality levels, the cutting plan including a cutting line and being such that none of the cutting lines passes through an exclusion zone of the defect of the glass sheet, wherein a cutting line passes through an exclusion zone of a defect of the other map.

A method and apparatus for scoring thin glass for the purpose of score and break separation as well as an accordingly prepared scored thin glass are provided. The scoring tool is pressed onto the thin glass and drawn along the scoring line with an adjusted scoring contact pressure force as a vertical scoring force component. This permits to production of prescored ultrathin glass of Knoop hardness from 350 to 650 with a score depth from 1/20 to of the material thickness.

A method and apparatus for scoring thin glass for the purpose of score and break separation as well as an accordingly prepared scored thin glass are provided. The scoring tool is pressed onto the thin glass and drawn along the scoring line with an adjusted scoring contact pressure force as a vertical scoring force component. This permits to production of prescored ultrathin glass of Knoop hardness from 350 to 650 with a score depth from 1/20 to of the material thickness.

A cut-out glass plate positioning apparatus includes: a cut line forming device 4 provided in a cut line forming position 4a; a bend-breaking and separating device 6 for cutting out unworked plate glasses 5 from an unworked plate glass 2 along the cut lines 3; a pair of position and angle correcting devices 8 for effecting correction of the position and angle with respect to the unworked plate glass 5; a pair of sucking and transporting devices 9 for suckingly lifting and transporting the unworked plate glass 5 to each position and angle correcting device 8; and two CCD cameras 10 respectively installed above the position and angle correcting devices 8.

A cut-out glass plate positioning apparatus includes: a cut line forming device 4 provided in a cut line forming position 4a; a bend-breaking and separating device 6 for cutting out unworked plate glasses 5 from an unworked plate glass 2 along the cut lines 3; a pair of position and angle correcting devices 8 for effecting correction of the position and angle with respect to the unworked plate glass 5; a pair of sucking and transporting devices 9 for suckingly lifting and transporting the unworked plate glass 5 to each position and angle correcting device 8; and two CCD cameras 10 respectively installed above the position and angle correcting devices 8.

Methods of conveying a glass ribbon are provided that each includes the step of conveying the glass ribbon over a support device with a cushion of fluid supporting the glass ribbon over the support device. Each method further includes the step of monitoring a physical contact event between the glass ribbon and the support device by detecting an acoustic signal associated with the physical contact event. In further examples, glass ribbon conveying apparatus are provided that each includes a support device configured to support a glass ribbon over the support device with a cushion of fluid. Each apparatus further includes an acoustic sensor configured to monitor a physical contact event between the glass ribbon and the support device by detecting an acoustic signal associated with the physical contact event.

Methods of conveying a glass ribbon are provided that each includes the step of conveying the glass ribbon over a support device with a cushion of fluid supporting the glass ribbon over the support device. Each method further includes the step of monitoring a physical contact event between the glass ribbon and the support device by detecting an acoustic signal associated with the physical contact event. In further examples, glass ribbon conveying apparatus are provided that each includes a support device configured to support a glass ribbon over the support device with a cushion of fluid. Each apparatus further includes an acoustic sensor configured to monitor a physical contact event between the glass ribbon and the support device by detecting an acoustic signal associated with the physical contact event.