A method of separating a transparent mother sheet includes contacting a first surface of the transparent mother sheet with an open ended pressure assembly including a pressure vessel shell, thereby forming a shell cavity defined by the first surface of the transparent mother sheet and the pressure vessel shell, where the transparent mother sheet comprises a damage path. The method also includes removing gas from the shell cavity through a fluid removal outlet extending through the pressure vessel shell to reduce a cavity pressure in the shell cavity, thereby applying stress to the damage path to separate a portion of the transparent mother sheet along the damage path.

A method of separating a transparent mother sheet includes contacting a first surface of the transparent mother sheet with an open ended pressure assembly including a pressure vessel shell, thereby forming a shell cavity defined by the first surface of the transparent mother sheet and the pressure vessel shell, where the transparent mother sheet comprises a damage path. The method also includes removing gas from the shell cavity through a fluid removal outlet extending through the pressure vessel shell to reduce a cavity pressure in the shell cavity, thereby applying stress to the damage path to separate a portion of the transparent mother sheet along the damage path.

In a method of manufacturing a glass film, in a cutting step, a crack (CR) formed in a non-product portion (Gc1, Gc2) along a longitudinal direction of a glass film (G2) is guided by a guiding member (17a, 17b) so as to propagate to an outer end portion (Gd) of the non-product portion (Gc1, Gc2) in a width direction.

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 for separating and releasing a closed-form piece from a workpiece made of a brittle material is disclosed. A first pulsed laser-beam creates defects along the outline of the closed-form piece. A second laser-beam selectively heats the closed-form piece for a first time that is sufficient to initiate cracking between the defects. The heating is stopped for a period sufficiently long for the cracks to propagate completely between the defects. The second laser-beam is applied for a second time that causes melting and deformation of the closed-form piece. The deformation opens a gap between the closed-form piece and the rest of the workpiece, thereby allowing release of the closed-form piece.

A method of manufacturing a glass sheet includes a start point forming step of forming a scribe line on a preset cutting portion of a glass sheet, a setting step of causing, through use of a support member having a groove-shaped recess, the support member to support the glass sheet having the scribe line formed thereon from one surface side so that the preset cutting portion is arranged on the recess, and a cutting step of generating a negative pressure in the recess to bend the preset cutting portion on the recess so that the one surface side protrudes, to thereby cut the glass sheet along the preset cutting portion with the scribe line as the start point. At the time of performing the cutting step, the entire recess is covered with a cover member from another surface side of the glass sheet through intermediation of the glass sheet.

A method of manufacturing a glass sheet includes a start point forming step of forming a scribe line on a preset cutting portion of a glass sheet, a setting step of causing, through use of a support member having a groove-shaped recess, the support member to support the glass sheet having the scribe line formed thereon from one surface side so that the preset cutting portion is arranged on the recess, and a cutting step of generating a negative pressure in the recess to bend the preset cutting portion on the recess so that the one surface side protrudes, to thereby cut the glass sheet along the preset cutting portion with the scribe line as the start point. At the time of performing the cutting step, the entire recess is covered with a cover member from another surface side of the glass sheet through intermediation of the glass sheet.

Systems and methods are described for controlled crack propagation in a material using ultrasonic waves. A first stress in applied to the material such that the first stress is below a critical point of the material and is insufficient to initiate cracking of the material. A controlled ultrasound wave is then applied to the material causing the total stress applied at a crack tip in the material to exceed the critical point. In some implementations, the controlled cracking is used for wafering of a material.

Systems and methods are described for controlled crack propagation in a material using ultrasonic waves. A first stress in applied to the material such that the first stress is below a critical point of the material and is insufficient to initiate cracking of the material. A controlled ultrasound wave is then applied to the material causing the total stress applied at a crack tip in the material to exceed the critical point. In some implementations, the controlled cracking is used for wafering of a material.

A glass plate bend-breaking machine for a glass plate includes a supporting mechanism by which a glass plate with a predetermined bend-breaking line as a cut line formed on an upper surface, i.e., one surface, thereof is supported at a lower surface, i.e., another surface, of the glass plate; and press-breaking devices and for press-breaking the glass plate along the predetermined bend-breaking line. Each of the press-breaking devices has a pressing body for simultaneously pressing a plurality of parts and along the predetermined bend-breaking line on the upper surface of the glass plate at the time of press-breaking the glass plate along the predetermined bend-breaking line at each of press-breaking positions on the glass plate.