A method and apparatus for forming a glass ribbon comprising a forming body configured to form a continuously moving glass ribbon that is drawn therefrom, a first heating or cooling apparatus to initiate a crack in a viscoelastic region of the continuously moving glass ribbon, and a second heating or cooling apparatus to locate or stop the initiated crack in the continuously moving glass ribbon.

The present invention relates to a laser cutting technology for cutting and separating thin substrates of transparent materials, for example to cutting of display glass compositions mainly used for production of Thin Film Transistors (TFT) devices. The described laser process can be used to make straight cuts, for example at a speed of >0.25 m/sec, to cut sharp radii outer corners (<1 mm), and to create arbitrary curved shapes including forming interior holes and slots. A method of laser processing an alkaline earth boro-aluminosilicate glass composite workpiece includes focusing a pulsed laser beam into a focal line. The pulsed laser produces pulse bursts with 5-20 pulses per pulse burst and pulse burst energy of 300-600 micro Joules per burst. The focal line is directed into the glass composite workpiece, generating induced absorption within the material. The workpiece and the laser beam are translated relative to each other to form a plurality of defect lines along a contour, with adjacent defect lines have a spacing of 5-15 microns.

Methods of producing a glass sheet each comprise the step of creating a vacuum to force the entire lateral portion of the glass ribbon to engage an anvil portion of a breaking device in the elastic zone. The vacuum is provided by a plurality of pressure zones that are operated independent from one another, wherein each pressure zone is provided with a set of suction cups. In further examples, glass ribbon breaking devices each include a plurality of pressure zones that are configured to be operated independent from one another with each pressure zone being provided with set of suction cups.

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.

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.

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.

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 method includes scoring a glass sheet to form a scored region of the glass sheet. The scored region extends in a longitudinal direction and comprises a plurality of deep score portions and a shoulder portion disposed longitudinally between adjacent deep score portions. The glass sheet is severed along a severing line extending in a transverse direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and through the shoulder portion of the scored region.

A fusion draw apparatus includes a pair of engagement rollers. At least one of the pair of engagement rollers includes a circumferential knife edge configured to cooperate with the other of the pair of engagement rollers to thin the edge portion or sever the edge portion from a central portion of the glass ribbon within the viscous zone of the glass ribbon. In further examples, fusion draw methods include the step of thinning the edge portion or severing the edge portion from the central portion of the glass ribbon within the viscous zone.

A glass plate separating apparatus, as one example, includes: a trigger device that forms a start point flaw in a first main surface of a glass ribbon on a division-planned line; a pair of holding members disposed at the first main surface side of the glass ribbon; and a heater disposed at a second main surface side of the glass ribbon. The pair of holding members, each of which extends parallel to the division-planned line, is brought into contact with the glass ribbon at both sides of the division-planned line while being lowered together with the glass ribbon. The heater extends along the division-planned line, and is brought into contact with and pressed onto the glass ribbon on the division-planned line while being lowered together with the glass ribbon.