Methods of separating a glass web include exposing a separation path on the glass web to a laser beam that produces thermal stress along the separation path without damaging the glass web. The methods further include redirecting a portion of the laser beam to create a defect on the separation path while the separation path is under thermal stress produced during the exposing the separation path on the glass web to the laser beam, whereupon the glass web separates along the separation path in response to creating the defect. Apparatus are further provided for separating a glass web with at least one laser beam generator that produces a laser beam to heat a separation path and a mirror configured to reflect an end portion of the laser beam to create a defect at a location of the separation path on the glass web.

A glass manufacturing system including a scoring assembly. The scoring assembly including a scoring device disposed along a first surface of a glass ribbon and a backing device disposed along a second surface of the glass ribbon directly opposite the scoring device. The scoring assembly is configured to delineate a peripheral region from a central region of the glass ribbon by forming a vertical score line along the first surface as the glass ribbon moves downward in a y-axial direction between the scoring device and the backing device.

Method and apparatus for removing a peripheral portion of a glass sheet. The glass sheet is placed in a predetermined position. A score line is formed on a major surface of the glass sheet. The score line demarcates a central region and a peripheral portion. A push bar is moved in a direction of a back-up bar assembly such to contact the major surface along the peripheral portion. The push bar is further moved in the direction to cause the peripheral portion to separate from the central region, and then become captured between the push bar and the back-up bar assembly. With some embodiments, the glass sheet is vertically oriented and the peripheral portion is not constrained during formation of the score line.

A method includes heating a glass preform having a plurality of glass layers and drawing the glass preform in a distal direction to form a drawn glass sheet extending distally from the glass preform and having the plurality of glass layers. The drawn glass sheet is thinner than the glass preform. The drawn glass sheet can be rolled onto a collection spool. At least a portion of a glass layer can be removed from the drawn glass sheet. An exemplary glass sheet includes a first glass layer, a second glass layer adjacent to the first glass layer, and a thickness of at most about 0.1 mm. An exemplary ion exchanged glass sheet includes a thickness of at most about 0.1 mm and a surface layer that is under a compressive stress and extends into an interior of the glass sheet to a depth of layer.

A method includes heating a glass preform having a plurality of glass layers and drawing the glass preform in a distal direction to form a drawn glass sheet extending distally from the glass preform and having the plurality of glass layers. The drawn glass sheet is thinner than the glass preform. The drawn glass sheet can be rolled onto a collection spool. At least a portion of a glass layer can be removed from the drawn glass sheet. An exemplary glass sheet includes a first glass layer, a second glass layer adjacent to the first glass layer, and a thickness of at most about 0.1 mm. An exemplary ion exchanged glass sheet includes a thickness of at most about 0.1 mm and a surface layer that is under a compressive stress and extends into an interior of the glass sheet to a depth of layer.

Method and apparatus for removing a peripheral portion of a glass sheet. The glass sheet is placed in a predetermined position. A score line is formed on a major surface of the glass sheet. The score line demarcates a central region and a peripheral portion. A push bar is moved in a direction of a back-up bar assembly such to contact the major surface along the peripheral portion. The push bar is further moved in the direction to cause the peripheral portion to separate from the central region, and then become captured between the push bar and the back-up bar assembly. With some embodiments, the glass sheet is vertically oriented and the peripheral portion is not constrained during formation of the score line.

In a water-jet cutting installation for machining substantially vertical material panels such as glass panes, at least one section of the high-pressure line is guided, by a guide system including at least one guide element, to the rear of the device in order to improve access to the intake and/or discharge region of the machining installation and to increase operator safety.

Method and apparatus for processing a glass sheet having opposing, first and second major surfaces. The glass sheet is delivered to a pre-positioning station. The pre-positioning station is operated to spray a liquid onto the first major surface to stabilize the glass sheet. The stabilized glass sheet is delivered to a washing station. The washing station is operated to wash the glass sheet. The washed glass sheet is delivered to a drying station. The drying station is operated to dry the glass sheet. With some methods of the present disclosure, by stabilizing the glass sheet at the pre-positioning station immediately prior to the washing station, the likelihood of physical contact between the glass sheet and components of the washing station are minimized.

A method produces a structured element by machining a workpiece with pulsed laser radiation, the workpiece including a workpiece material transparent to the laser radiation, the laser radiation being radiated into the workpiece from an entry side and, in an area of a rear side of the workpiece located opposite the entry side, being focused within the workpiece in a focus area such that workpiece material is removed in the focus area by multi-photon absorption, and includes bringing the rear side of the workpiece, at least in a machining area currently being machined around the focus area, into contact with a free-flowing liquid transparent to the laser radiation, wherein at least some of the liquid flows in a direction towards the machining area such that the liquid flows into the machining area at an angle of 60 or less to the rear side.

Methods of separating a glass web include exposing a separation path on the glass web to a laser beam that produces thermal stress along the separation path without damaging the glass web. The methods further include redirecting a portion of the laser beam to create a defect on the separation path while the separation path is under thermal stress produced during the exposing the separation path on the glass web to the laser beam, whereupon the glass web separates along the separation path in response to creating the defect. Apparatus are further provided for separating a glass web with at least one laser beam generator that produces a laser beam to heat a separation path and a mirror configured to reflect an end portion of the laser beam to create a defect at a location of the separation path on the glass web.