A strengthened cover glass or glass-ceramic sheet or article as well as processes and systems for making the strengthened glass or glass-ceramic sheet or article is provided for use in consumer electronic devices. The process comprises cooling the cover glass sheet by non-contact thermal conduction for sufficiently long to fix a surface compression and central tension of the sheet. The process results in thermally strengthened cover glass sheets for use in or on consumer electronic products.

A strengthened cover glass or glass-ceramic sheet or article as well as processes and systems for making the strengthened glass or glass-ceramic sheet or article is provided for use in consumer electronic devices. The process comprises cooling the cover glass sheet by non-contact thermal conduction for sufficiently long to fix a surface compression and central tension of the sheet. The process results in thermally strengthened cover glass sheets for use in or on consumer electronic products.

A frame for supporting a sheet of glass, referred to as a suction frame, includes a contact path for receiving the periphery of the underside face of the sheet of glass, and includes a suction system able to apply suction to the underside face of the sheet in order to enhance the retention of the sheet by the frame. This frame may form part of a device for the hot-bending of the sheet and convey the sheet with high acceleration or deceleration through a heating enclosure for the purposes of the hot-bending of the sheet.

A glass manufacturing apparatus includes a forming apparatus forming a glass ribbon. An enclosure is positioned downstream from the forming apparatus and includes a first chamber, a first end defining an inlet opening, and a second end defining an outlet opening. A first enclosure wall of the enclosure includes an enclosure wall opening defining a gas travel path from the first chamber to an exterior of the enclosure. A ribbon travel path extends through the first chamber. A first conduit extends along a first side of the enclosure and includes a second chamber. A gas opening provides fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber. A first gas source is in fluid communication with the second chamber. The first gas source delivers a first gas to the first chamber through the second chamber. Methods of manufacturing a glass ribbon are provided.

Embodiments of a method of forming a glass article are disclosed. The methods include supplying a glass ribbon in a first direction and redirecting the glass ribbon to a second direction different from the first direction without contacting the glass ribbon with a solid material. The glass ribbon may exhibit a viscosity of less than about 10.sup.8 Poise and a thickness of about 1 mm or less. Embodiments of a glass or glass-ceramic forming apparatus are also disclosed. The apparatus may include a glass feed device for supplying a glass ribbon in a first direction and a redirection system disposed underneath the glass feed device for redirecting the glass ribbon to a second direction. In one or more embodiments, the redirection system comprising at least one gas bearing system for supplying a gas film to support the glass ribbon.

Disclosed are apparatuses and methods for non-contact processing a substrate, for example a glass substrate, overtop a gas layer. The support apparatus includes a plurality of gas bearings positioned on a pressure box supplied with a pressurized gas. Some embodiments are directed to a method of supporting and transporting softened glass. The method includes placing the glass in proximity to a gas bearing device having a support surface with a plurality of outlet ports disposed therein. Some embodiments are in directed to a glass processing apparatus comprising an air table configured to continuously transport and support a stream of glass and a plurality of modular devices supported by a support structure and disposed above the air table. Some embodiments are directed to a method for flattening viscous glass using a two-sided gas bearing device or a one-sided gas bearing device.

Provided is a method of manufacturing a glass film, including: a forming step of forming a band-shaped glass film (1); a conveyance direction changing step of changing a conveyance direction of the band-shaped glass film (1) from a vertically downward direction to a horizontal direction by conveying the band-shaped glass film (1) along a curved conveyance path (R1); and a horizontal conveyance step of conveying the band-shaped glass film (1) in the horizontal direction along a horizontal conveyance path (R2), wherein, when some sections of the band-shaped glass film (1) are to be discarded, the method involves: a separating step of separating a discard glass part (1x) from the band-shaped glass film (1) on the horizontal conveyance path (R2); and a discarding step of discarding the separated discard glass part (1x) by causing the discard glass part (1x) to leave the horizontal conveyance path (R2) downward.

The invention discloses a method and an apparatus for drying and cooling a glass substrate. The method comprises the steps described below. The method delivers the glass substrate cleaned by a cleaner into a baking oven by a first roller device. It dries the glass substrate using an infrared heating plate installed in the baking oven. It delivers the dried glass substrate into a cooling chamber by a second roller device. It cools the dried glass substrate using a cooling plate installed in the cooling chamber. And it delivers the cooled glass substrate onto a platform of an air floating type coater, and coating the glass substrate. This invention also discloses an apparatus corresponding to the method. According to the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the number of foreign particles on the glass substrate before coating, and the drying effect is excellent.

The invention discloses a method and an apparatus for drying and cooling a glass substrate. The method comprises the steps described below. The method delivers the glass substrate cleaned by a cleaner into a baking oven by a first roller device. It dries the glass substrate using an infrared heating plate installed in the baking oven. It delivers the dried glass substrate into a cooling chamber by a second roller device. It cools the dried glass substrate using a cooling plate installed in the cooling chamber. And it delivers the cooled glass substrate onto a platform of an air floating type coater, and coating the glass substrate. This invention also discloses an apparatus corresponding to the method. According to the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the number of foreign particles on the glass substrate before coating, and the drying effect is excellent.

Embodiments of a method of forming a glass article are disclosed. The methods include supplying a glass ribbon in a first direction and redirecting the glass ribbon to a second direction different from the first direction without contacting the glass ribbon with a solid material. The glass ribbon may exhibit a viscosity of less than about 10.sup.8 Poise and a thickness of about 1 mm or less. Embodiments of a glass or glass-ceramic forming apparatus are also disclosed. The apparatus may include a glass feed device for supplying a glass ribbon in a first direction and a redirection system disposed underneath the glass feed device for redirecting the glass ribbon to a second direction. In one or more embodiments, the redirection system comprising at least one gas bearing system for supplying a gas film to support the glass ribbon.