Systems and methods utilizing two Airy beams to process a non-rounded edge of a glass substrate or to cleave a glass substrate are disclosed. The method includes generating first and second Airy beams and causing them to cross at a crossing to define a curved intensity profile in the vicinity of the crossing point where the first and second Airy beams have respective local radii of curvature RA and RB. The method also includes scanning the curved intensity profile either along the non-rounded outer edge or through the glass along a scan path to form on the glass substrate a rounded outer edge having a radius of curvature RE that is smaller than the first and second local radii of curvature RA and RB. The radius of curvature RE can be adjusted by changing a beam angle between the first and second Airy beams.

A glass sheet processing method is provided for irradiating a laser beam on a glass sheet and forming a cleavage in the glass sheet with thermal stress. If each of an irradiation area of the laser beam on the surface and an irradiation area of the laser beam on the back face of the glass sheet includes a peak position of a power density of the laser beam, each irradiation area has an asymmetrical power density distribution that is asymmetrical with respect to a reference line that passes through the peak position and is parallel to a moving direction of the peak position. If each irradiation area has no peak position, each irradiation area has an asymmetrical shape that is asymmetrical with respect to a reference line that passes through a centroid position of the irradiation area and is parallel to a moving direction of the centroid position.

Provided herein is an apparatus that includes a first and second laser source. The first and second laser sources are each operable to cut a substrate and are each independently movable with respect to one another. Further, the first and second laser sources are included within a multitude of laser sources that are arranged in a circular array.

An apparatus for processing a glass web can include a gas nozzle to generate a curtain of gas to entrain debris generated during a separation procedure. In further embodiments, apparatus for processing a glass web includes a washing device including a housing with a partition dividing an interior of the housing into a first area and a second area. In still further embodiments, apparatus for processing a glass web includes a coating chamber positioned down-stream from a washing device, wherein the coating chamber includes at least one port configured to dispense a coating on at least one major surface of the glass web. Methods can include entraining debris generated during a separation procedure into a gas curtain. Further methods include washing a glass sheet within a housing including two interior areas and coating a washed glass sheet with a protective coating.

Methods of separating a glass web that is moving at a glass web velocity. The method includes exposing a separation path on the glass web to at least one laser beam spot that moves with a laser beam spot velocity vector that is equal to a glass web velocity vector in a conveyance direction. The method also includes creating a defect on the separation path while the separation path is under thermal stress from the laser beam spot, whereupon the glass web spontaneously separates along the separation path in response to the defect. In further examples, a glass web separation apparatus includes a first reflector that rotates such that a laser beam spot repeatedly passes along a separation path and a second reflector that rotates such that the laser beam spot moves in a conveyance direction of the glass web.

Methods and apparatus for fabricating glass substrates for use in magnetic recording media are described. A support plate for fabricating a glass substrate disk from a glass sheet includes a baseplate, a first circular protrusion disposed on the baseplate and configured to provide a support surface for an inner diameter edge of the glass substrate disk and to enclose a first recess configured to receive a circular portion of the glass sheet after separation of the circular portion, a second circular protrusion disposed on the baseplate and configured to provide a support surface for an outer diameter edge of the glass substrate disk, and vacuum holes to facilitate application of a vacuum on a portion of the glass sheet to affix the glass sheet to the support plate. Further, a method and an apparatus for fabricating the glass substrate disk using the support plate are described.

A method for cutting and separating an item from a workpiece made of a brittle material is disclosed. The method uses straight and circular release features that are arranged to cause controlled cracking in scrap material close to each inside curve in the outline of the item. A first pulsed laser-beam weakens material along the outline of the item and along the release features. A second laser-beam selectively heats the release features for sufficient time to cause melting and deformation, thereby initiating the controlled cracking.

Apparatus and methods for processing a glass sheet can include a coating chamber including a dispensing port to dispense a coating on a major surface of the glass sheet. In some embodiments, an apparatus can include a fog chamber including an enclosure, a fog generator to provide fog to the enclosure, and a passage in the enclosure from which fog can exit the enclosure to contact a major surface of the glass sheet. In some embodiments a method can include providing a glass sheet to a coating chamber, and dispensing a coating on a major surface of the glass sheet. In some embodiments, a method can include providing a glass sheet to a fog chamber, providing fog to an enclosure of the fog chamber, and contacting a major surface of the glass sheet with the fog by passing the fog from the enclosure through a passage in the enclosure.

Methods of separating a glass web include the step (I) of exposing a path on the glass web to at least one laser beam to produce thermal stress along the path without damaging the glass web. The methods further include the step (II) of creating a defect on the path while the path is under thermal stress produced during step (I), whereupon the glass web spontaneously separates along the path in response to the defect.

Method for cutting a glass layer having a first surface and a second surface. The method includes moving a first laser beam, which is generated by a pulsed laser, along a cutting line, where material modifications are produced in the interior of the glass layer between the first surface and the second surface; moving a second laser beam along the cutting line where the glass layer is heated by the laser radiation; and cooling the glass layer along the cutting line, where the glass layer breaks along the cutting line.