# US 10,870,601 B2 · Glass web separating devices and methods

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- Number: US 10,870,601 B2
- Document ID: US10870601B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/780,044
- Filed: 2016-11-30
- Published: 2018-12-20
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2015-12-01
- Assignees: Corning Incorporated
- Applicants: Corning Incorporated
- Inventors: John Frederick Bayne; Scott Winfield Deming; Todd Benson Fleming; Andrew Peter Kittleson; Gautam Narendra Kudva; Dale Charles Marshall; Eric Lee Miller
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870601B2

## CPC

- C03B 33/033: Apparatus for opening score lines in glass sheets
- B65G 49/065: {supported partially or completely on fluid cushions, e.g. a gas cushion (in general B65G51/00)}
- C03B 17/064: {by the overflow downdraw fusion process; Isopipes therefor}
- C03B 33/0235: {Ribbons}
- C03B: MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
- B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D)

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

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

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

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

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

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.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

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.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

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.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

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.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

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.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

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

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

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.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

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.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

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.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

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.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

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.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

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.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

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

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

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.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

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.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

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

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

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.