A method for separating a glass sheet from a glass ribbon is provided in which the glass ribbon has a bead region and a quality region. The method includes scoring a score line across a surface of the quality region and applying an energy source, such as a burner or laser, to at least one surface of the bead region so as to generate a thermal gradient between the surface and the center of the bead region in the thickness direction.

A method for separating a glass sheet from a glass ribbon is provided in which the glass ribbon has a bead region and a quality region. The method includes scoring a score line across a surface of the quality region and applying an energy source, such as a burner or laser, to at least one surface of the bead region so as to generate a thermal gradient between the surface and the center of the bead region in the thickness direction.

Apparatuses and methods for heating moving continuous glass ribbons at desired lines of separation and/or for separating glass sheets from continuous glass ribbons are disclosed. An apparatus includes a translatable support portion and a heating apparatus coupled to the support portion. The heating apparatus is configured to contact the continuous glass ribbon across at least a portion of a width of the continuous glass ribbon at the desired line of separation as the support portion moves in a draw direction, thereby preferentially applying heat to a first side of the continuous glass ribbon at the desired line of separation as the continuous glass ribbon moves in the draw direction.

Apparatuses and methods for heating moving continuous glass ribbons at desired lines of separation and/or for separating glass sheets from continuous glass ribbons are disclosed. An apparatus includes a translatable support portion and a heating apparatus coupled to the support portion. The heating apparatus is configured to contact the continuous glass ribbon across at least a portion of a width of the continuous glass ribbon at the desired line of separation as the support portion moves in a draw direction, thereby preferentially applying heat to a first side of the continuous glass ribbon at the desired line of separation as the continuous glass ribbon moves in the draw direction.

A glass plate production method includes (1) preparing a glass material having a first main surface and a second main surface opposite to each other; (2) irradiating the first main surface of the glass material with a laser to form an in-plane void region having a plurality of voids arranged on the first main surface, and forming a plurality of internal void rows each having one void or two or more voids arranged from the in-plane void region toward the second main surface of the glass material; and (3) chemically strengthening the glass material having the internal void rows formed therein.

A method for processing glass elements is provided. The method includes introducing a perforation line for parting a glass element introduced into the glass element during or after a hot processing process at an elevated temperature of at least 100 C. Spaced-apart filamentary flaws are introduced into the glass element along the predetermined course of the perforation line by a pulsed laser beam of an ultrashort pulse laser, and, during or after the introduction of the filamentary flaws, the glass element is cooled down so as to produce a temperature gradient, which induces a mechanical stress at the filamentary flaws, whereby the breaking force required for parting the glass element along the perforation line is reduced.

Provided is a method of manufacturing a glass film, including a cleaving step (S5) of cleaving a band-like glass film (G1) conveyed in a predetermined conveying direction (X) through irradiation of the glass film (G1) with a laser beam (L). The cleaving step (S5) includes: a step of, while supporting a lower surface of the glass film (G1) by a surface plate (22) including an opening (25a), suctioning the glass film (G1) through the opening (25a); and a step of irradiating the glass film (G1) suctioned through the opening (25a) with the laser beam (L).

A method is disclosed for dividing a composite material in which a brittle material layer and a resin layer are laminated, including radiating a laser light oscillated from a CO.sub.2 laser source to the resin layer along the scheduled dividing line of the composite material and thereby forming a processed groove along the scheduled dividing line; radiating a laser light oscillated from an ultrashort pulse laser source to the brittle material layer along the scheduled dividing line and thereby forming a processing mark along the scheduled dividing line; and dividing the composite material by applying an external force along the scheduled dividing line. The method is characterized in that the processing mark to be formed is perforated through holes along the scheduled dividing line, and the pitch of the through holes is 10 m or less.

A method is disclosed for dividing a composite material in which a brittle material layer and a resin layer are laminated, including radiating a laser light oscillated from a CO.sub.2 laser source to the resin layer along the scheduled dividing line of the composite material and thereby forming a processed groove along the scheduled dividing line; radiating a laser light oscillated from an ultrashort pulse laser source to the brittle material layer along the scheduled dividing line and thereby forming a processing mark along the scheduled dividing line; and dividing the composite material by applying an external force along the scheduled dividing line. The method is characterized in that the processing mark to be formed is perforated through holes along the scheduled dividing line, and the pitch of the through holes is 10 m or less.

A full body of a glass sheet (G) is cut by forming an initial crack (6a) on a preset cutting line (5) of the glass sheet (G) that is supported by a support member (2 (8)) from a back surface side of the glass sheet (G), followed by propagating the initial crack (6a) while passing through the glass sheet from a front surface to the back surface thereof due to a stress generated through localized heating along the preset cutting line (5) and cooling of a heated region that is formed through the localized heating, the glass sheet (G) being supported by the support member (2 (8)) from the back surface side through an intermediation of an elastic sheet (E) having low thermal conductivity.