A process of forming a sintered article includes heating a green portion of a tape of polycrystalline ceramic and/or minerals in organic binder at a binder removal zone to a temperature sufficient to pyrolyze the binder; horizontally conveying the portion of tape with organic binder removed from the binder removal zone to a sintering zone; and sintering polycrystalline ceramic and/or minerals of the portion of tape at the sintering zone, wherein the tape simultaneously extends through the removal and sintering zones.

Embodiments of a method of forming a glass article are disclosed. The methods include supplying a glass ribbon in a first direction and redirecting the glass ribbon to a second direction different from the first direction without contacting the glass ribbon with a solid material. The glass ribbon may exhibit a viscosity of less than about 10.sup.8 Poise and a thickness of about 1 mm or less. Embodiments of a glass or glass-ceramic forming apparatus are also disclosed. The apparatus may include a glass feed device for supplying a glass ribbon in a first direction and a redirection system disposed underneath the glass feed device for redirecting the glass ribbon to a second direction. In one or more embodiments, the redirection system comprising at least one gas bearing system for supplying a gas film to support the glass ribbon.

A conveying apparatus can comprise one or more support members defining an interior passage and a first plurality of apertures. A first cross-sectional area of the interior passage at a first end portion of a support area can be greater than a second cross-sectional area of the interior passage at a second end portion of the support area. A tube can extend within the interior passage and comprises a second plurality of apertures. Methods are also provided for conveying a ribbon with one or more support members.

A process of forming a sintered article includes heating a green portion of a tape of polycrystalline ceramic and/or minerals in organic binder at a binder removal zone to a temperature sufficient to pyrolyze the binder; horizontally conveying the portion of tape with organic binder removed from the binder removal zone to a sintering zone; and sintering polycrystalline ceramic and/or minerals of the portion of tape at the sintering zone, wherein the tape simultaneously extends through the removal and sintering zones.

A workpiece conveyance apparatus having: a conveyance path on which the workpiece moves; a gas flotation section that gas-floats the workpiece over the conveyance path; a movable holding section that holds the workpiece to move on the conveyance path along with the workpiece; and a treatment region conveyance path that is located on the conveyance path, and has a treatment region where predetermined treatment for the workpiece is performed, wherein the movable holding section has at least two or more holding sections along a movement direction of the conveyance path, each of the holding sections is capable of switching between release of holding and holding for the workpiece during movement of the workpiece, operation for releasing holding of the workpiece by the holding section on the treatment region conveyance path, and holding the workpiece on the conveyance path other than the treatment region conveyance path.

A workpiece conveyance apparatus having: a conveyance path on which the workpiece moves; a gas flotation section that gas-floats the workpiece over the conveyance path; a movable holding section that holds the workpiece to move on the conveyance path along with the workpiece; and a treatment region conveyance path that is located on the conveyance path, and has a treatment region where predetermined treatment for the workpiece is performed, wherein the movable holding section has at least two or more holding sections along a movement direction of the conveyance path, each of the holding sections is capable of switching between release of holding and holding for the workpiece during movement of the workpiece, operation for releasing holding of the workpiece by the holding section on the treatment region conveyance path, and holding the workpiece on the conveyance path other than the treatment region conveyance path.

Methods of fabricating a glass ribbon comprise the step of bending a glass ribbon in a cutting zone to provide a bent target segment with a bent orientation in the cutting zone. The methods further include the step of severing at least one of the edge portions from the central portion of the bent target segment within the cutting zone. Further methods are provided including the step of bending a glass ribbon in a bending zone downstream from a downward zone, wherein the glass ribbon includes an upwardly concave surface through the bending zone. The methods further include the step of severing at least one of the edge portions from the central portion of a target segment within the bending zone.

A conveying apparatus can comprise one or more support members defining an interior passage and a first plurality of apertures. A first cross-sectional area of the interior passage at a first end portion of a support area can be greater than a second cross-sectional area of the interior passage at a second end portion of the support area. A tube can extend within the interior passage and comprises a second plurality of apertures. Methods are also provided for conveying a ribbon with one or more support members.

A strengthened glass sheet product as well as process and an apparatus for producing the product. The process comprises cooling the glass sheet by non-contact thermal conduction for sufficiently long to fix a surface compression and central tension of the sheet. The process results in thermally strengthened glass sheets having improved breakage properties.

A strengthened glass sheet product as well as process and an apparatus for producing the product. The process comprises cooling the glass sheet by non-contact thermal conduction for sufficiently long to fix a surface compression and central tension of the sheet. The process results in thermally strengthened glass sheets having improved breakage properties.