A glass manufacturing apparatus includes a forming device that is configured to produce a glass ribbon that includes a width extending between a first edge and an opposite second edge of the glass ribbon. A lower draw roll apparatus includes a first pair of draw rolls arranged and configured to draw the first edge of the glass ribbon within a lower draw zone along the draw path. The lower draw roll apparatus is located between a setting zone and a separation location where the glass ribbon is separated to form a glass sheet.

Methods for producing a glass sheet are provided. The methods can include forming a glass ribbon from molten glass, applying a polymer precursor to at least a portion of a first or second major surface of the glass ribbon, curing the polymer precursor to form a polymer coating, and separating the glass ribbon to produce at least one glass sheet. Glass ribbons and glass sheets produced by these methods are also disclosed.

A glass manufacturing apparatus can include a first elongated member, a second elongated member, and an elongated anvil member aligned with a space disposed between the first elongated member and the second elongated member. Methods can include rotating the first elongated member and the second elongated member while the elongated anvil member contacts a first major surface of the glass ribbon. In another embodiment, a glass manufacturing apparatus can include a first and second row of suction cups, and an elongated anvil member. The elongated anvil member can be engaged with a first major surface of the glass ribbon between the first and second row of suction cups that are attached to the first major surface of the glass ribbon. The glass manufacturing apparatus is configured to produce a score line on the second major surface of the glass ribbon along the elongated anvil member.

A method for laser processing a transparent workpiece includes forming a contour line having defects in the transparent workpiece, which includes directing a pulsed laser beam oriented along a beam pathway through a beam converting element and through a phase modifying optical element such that the portion of the pulsed laser beam directed into the transparent workpiece includes a phase shifted focal line having a cross-sectional phase contour that includes phase contour ridges induced by the phase modifying optical element and extending along phase ridge lines. Moreover, the phase shifted focal line generates an induced absorption within the transparent workpiece to produce a defect within the transparent workpiece including a central defect region and a radial arm that extends outward from the central defect region in a radial defect direction oriented within 20 of the phase ridge lines of the phase shifted focal line.

The present disclosure relates to a process for cutting and separating arbitrary shapes of thin substrates of transparent materials, particularly tailored composite fusion drawn glass sheets, and the disclosure also relates to a glass article prepared by the method. The developed laser method can be tailored for manual separation of the parts from the panel or full laser separation by thermally stressing the desired profile. The self-separation method involves the utilization of an ultra-short pulse laser that can be followed by a CO.sub.2 laser (coupled with high pressure air flow) for fully automated separation.

A glass manufacturing apparatus may be configured to facilitate a process of separating a glass ribbon along a separation path extending across a width of the glass ribbon. In one example, the glass manufacturing apparatus comprises at least one anvil-side vacuum port defined by an elongated nose and an elongated anvil member. The anvil-side vacuum port is configured to remove glass debris during the process of separating the glass ribbon. In another example, the glass manufacturing apparatus comprises a scoring device and a score-side vacuum port configured to remove glass debris generated during the process of separating the glass ribbon.

A method for forming a glass sheet includes forming a glass ribbon. A robot arm is operated to move an end effector through a preprogrammed cycle. The cycle includes engaging a segment of the glass ribbon with the end effector, separating the engaged segment from the glass ribbon to generate a glass sheet, and moving the glass sheet away from the glass ribbon. The preprogrammed cycle designates predetermined positions of the end effector at predetermined points in time. While the robot arm is operating through the preprogrammed cycle, a parameter indicative of a force being exerted on the glass ribbon by the end effector is sensed. A position of the end effector is altered to differ from the predetermined position at the corresponding point in time when the sensed parameter deviates from a target value. An excessive force applied to the glass ribbon can be reduced in real-time.

A cutter head includes: a support platform; a double curved surface member mounted on the support platform and having a first curved surface and a second curved surface; a cutter wheel support member and a roller wheel support member moveably mounted on the support platform, respectively; a cutter wheel and a roller wheel mounted on the cutter wheel support member and the roller wheel support member, respectively; a first transmission mechanism mounted on the support platform, configured to be mated with the first curved surface, and connected to the cutter wheel support member, so as to transmit a movement of the double curved surface member to the cutter wheel; and a second transmission mechanism mounted on the support platform, configured to be mated with the second curved surface, and connected to the roller wheel support member, so as to transmit a movement of the double curved surface member to the roller wheel. The cutter head has a compact structure, and it improves the levelness of the cutter wheel and the roller wheel, and increases the mechanical precision.

A manufacturing method for a band-shaped glass film (GF) includes use of: a plurality of rollers (10) configured to change a direction of the falling band-shaped glass film (GF) to a horizontal direction; and a first horizontal-conveyance unit (4) configured to convey the band-shaped glass film (GF) in the horizontal direction after the changing of the direction of the band-shaped glass film (GF). After a lower end of the band-shaped glass film (GF) passes through a position between the plurality of rollers (10) being at a retreated position (P2) and the first horizontal-conveyance unit (4), the plurality of rollers (10) are moved from the retreated position (P2) to a regular position (P1) to apply a pressing force to the band-shaped glass film (GF), to thereby cut the band-shaped glass film (GF) along a width direction by bend-breaking.

A method for severing a glass sheet includes preferentially heating a region of the glass sheet to form a softened region. A slit is formed in the softened region of the glass sheet to form a slit region. The slit extends at least partially into a thickness of the glass sheet. Heat is preferentially applied to the slit region of the glass sheet.