Glass web separating devices and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10870601-B2
Application number	US-201615780044-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2016
Priority date	Dec 1, 2015
Publication date	Dec 22, 2020
Grant date	Dec 22, 2020

Abstract

A method of separating a glass web includes the steps of placing the glass web in tension by applying an in-plane tension to the glass web in a tensile direction and producing a region of increased tension on a first major surface of the glass web by imparting a curvature in the glass web. The method further includes separating the glass web along a separation path parallel to an axis of the curvature and transverse to the tensile direction by applying a defect to a portion of the first major surface in the region of increased tension.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of separating a glass web comprising the steps of:
placing the glass web in tension by applying an in-plane tension to the glass web in a tensile direction;
producing a region of increased tension on a first major surface of the glass web by imparting a curvature in the glass web; and
separating the glass web along a separation path parallel to an axis of the curvature and transverse to the tensile direction by applying a defect to a portion of the first major surface in the region of increased tension.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the glass web comprises a thickness within a range of from about 50 μm to about 500 μm.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the glass web separates along the separation path in response to the application of the defect.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the separating comprises applying the defect to the portion of the first major surface in the region of increased tension while the in-plane tension is applied to the glass web and while the curvature is imparted in the glass web.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the defect is applied to the portion of the first major surface in the region of increased tension within a distance of greater than zero and less than or equal to about 25 mm from an outer edge of the glass web.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the defect comprises a depth from the first major surface of from about 25% to about 100% of a thickness of the glass web.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the separating comprises applying the defect to the portion of the first major surface in the region of increased tension without contacting the glass web with a solid object.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the producing a region of increased tension comprises imparting the curvature in the glass web without contacting the glass web with a solid object.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the producing a region of increased tension comprises imparting the curvature with a cushion of air.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of continuously conveying the glass web in a travel direction coincident with the tensile direction while applying the in-plane tension, while imparting the curvature, and while applying the defect.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the region of increased tension comprises a tensile bending stress from the imparted curvature and an in-plane tensile stress from the applied in-plane tension.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein, at an apex of the curvature within the region of increased tension, the first major surface comprises an axis of maximum tensile stress parallel to the axis of the curvature.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the axis of maximum tensile stress comprises tensile stress within a range from about 15 MPa to about 30 MPa.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein, opposite the apex of the curvature, a second major surface of the glass web comprises a second axis of stress parallel to the axis of the curvature, wherein tensile stress along the axis of maximum tensile stress is greater than tensile stress along the second axis of stress.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein, opposite the apex of the curvature, a second major surface of the glass web comprises an axis of compressive stress parallel to the axis of the curvature.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the axis of maximum tensile stress is coincident with the separation path.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the separating comprise applying the defect to the portion of the first major surface at a location on the axis of maximum tensile stress.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the producing a region of increased tension comprises imparting the curvature across an entire width of the glass web, and wherein the axis of maximum tensile stress extends along the entire width.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the axis of maximum tensile stress comprises a uniform stress across the entire width of the glass web.

20. A method of processing a glass web including the method of separating the glass web of claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of:
forming the glass web from a quantity of molten material with a process selected from the group consisting of: a fusion down draw process, a slot draw process, a float process, a down-draw process and an up-draw process; and
separating the glass web in accordance with the method of claim 1 .

Assignees

• Corning Inc

Inventors

• Bayne John Frederick
• Deming Scott Winfield
• Fleming Todd Benson
• Kittleson Andrew Peter
• Kudva Gautam Narendra
• Marshall Dale Charles
• Miller Eric Lee

Classifications

• B65G49/065

  supported partially or completely on fluid cushions, e.g. a gas cushion (in general B65G51/00) · CPC title

• C03B33/0222

  Scoring using a focussed radiation beam, e.g. laser · CPC title

• Y02P40/50

  Glass production, e.g. reusing waste heat during processing or shaping · CPC title

• C03B17/068 Primary

  Means for providing the drawing force, e.g. traction or draw rollers · CPC title

• C03B17/064

  by the overflow downdraw fusion process; Isopipes therefor · CPC title