A method of continuously processing glass ribbon having a thickness0.3 mm. The method includes providing a glass processing apparatus having a first processing zone, a second processing zone and a third processing zone. The glass ribbon is continuously fed from the first processing zone, through the second processing zone to the third processing zone. The feed rate of the glass ribbon is controlled through each processing zone using a global control device. A first buffer zone is provided between the first processing zone and the second processing zone in which the glass substrate is supported in a first catenary between two, spaced-apart, payoff positions. A second buffer zone is provided between the second processing zone and the third processing zone in which the glass substrate is supported in a second catenary between two, spaced-apart, payoff positions.

Methods and apparatus provide for: conveying a glass web from a source toward a destination in a transport direction; scoring the glass web in a width direction thereof to produce a score line having a plurality of separated score segments, thereby defining a section of the glass web between the score line and a leading edge of the glass web; supporting the glass web such that an increasing portion of the section of the glass web becomes cantilevered as the glass web is conveyed such that the portion of the section of the glass web is sufficiently large to generate stress in the respective score segments and drive respective cracks through the thickness of the glass web; and permitting the section of the glass web to separate from the glass web along the score line.

A manufacturing method for a glass roll includes cutting a glass ribbon along a longitudinal direction thereof in a cutting region on a conveyance path while conveying the glass ribbon, and taking up the cut glass ribbon around a roll core at a downstream end of the conveyance path. A conveyance-mode changeable region is provided between the cutting region and the downstream end of the conveyance path. The conveyance-mode changeable region enables a change in conveyance mode between a first mode of conveying the glass ribbon in a tensioned state and a second mode of conveying the glass ribbon in a loosened state. After the leading end portion of the glass ribbon is wound around the roll core in the first conveyance mode, the conveyance mode is shifted from the first conveyance mode to the second conveyance mode.

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 cutting a substrate of irregular pattern comprises: forming a cutting line on the substrate, wherein the closed region enclosed by the cutting line is the irregular pattern that is required; forming a trough line at the cutting line; and applying an external force to the substrate so as to divide the substrate at the trough line. The method can remarkably improve accuracy and efficiency of cutting a substrate of irregular pattern.

A method for cutting a thin glass including the steps of guiding, by a transport device, the thin glass ribbon over a levitation support, and directing, within a range of the levitation support, a laser beam onto the thin glass ribbon, which heats up the thin glass ribbon at an impingement point of the laser beam. The method also includes the step of blowing, by a cooling jet generator, a cooling fluid onto the track heated by the laser beam so that a region heated by the laser beam is cooled down and a mechanical stress is created. The cooling fluid contains vapor of a liquid at a saturation ratio of at least 0.5 or a plurality of liquid droplets. The liquid droplets form a contact angle on a surface of the thin glass ribbon which is smaller than that of water on the same surface.

Methods are provided for laser processing arbitrary shapes of molded 3D thin transparent brittle parts from substrates with particular interest in substrates formed from strengthened or non-strengthened Corning Gorilla glass (all codes). The developed laser methods can be tailored for manual separation of the parts from the panel or full laser separation by thermal stressing the desired profile. Methods can be used to form 3D surfaces with small radii of curvature. The method involves the utilization of an ultra-short pulse laser that may be optionally followed by a CO.sub.2 laser for fully automated separation.

A sheet-like glass element has a thickness less than or equal to 0.5 mm and an edge with an edge face intersecting opposite glass faces along two edge lines. The edge face has strip-like sections with each one adjoining a respective one of the edge lines. The strip-like sections interface along a boundary line that extends between the edge lines. The strip-like sections have a first section with a width ranging from 2 ?m to 8 ?m and have a first waviness that is lower than a second waviness of a second strip-like section. The second waviness decreases towards the edge line

A method of separating a strengthened glass sheet includes positioning a serrated scribing wheel at a position spaced apart from a first edge of the glass sheet and offset below a top surface of the glass sheet, where the glass sheet comprises a surface compression layer of layer depth DOL and a central region. The method also includes translating the serrated scribing wheel in a first direction at an initiation speed such that the serrated scribing wheel forms a crack initiation site comprising surface indentations extending into the surface compression layer, accelerating the serrated scribing wheel in the first direction from the initiation speed to a scoring speed to scribe a score line extending into the glass sheet to a median crack depth greater than DOL, and stopping the serrated scribing wheel in the first direction before the score line reaches a second edge of the glass sheet.

A method of separating a strengthened glass sheet includes positioning a serrated scribing wheel at a position spaced apart from a first edge of the glass sheet and offset below a top surface of the glass sheet, where the glass sheet comprises a surface compression layer of layer depth DOL and a central region. The method also includes translating the serrated scribing wheel in a first direction at an initiation speed such that the serrated scribing wheel forms a crack initiation site comprising surface indentations extending into the surface compression layer, accelerating the serrated scribing wheel in the first direction from the initiation speed to a scoring speed to scribe a score line extending into the glass sheet to a median crack depth greater than DOL, and stopping the serrated scribing wheel in the first direction before the score line reaches a second edge of the glass sheet.