Apparatus and method for processing a glass sheet

An apparatus for removing a peripheral portion from a central region of a glass sheet, the glass sheet comprising a first major surface opposite a second major surface, the apparatus comprising:

• a support device adapted for placing the glass sheet in a predetermined position, the predetermined position comprising a primary retention plane;
• a scoring device adapted to form a score line on the first major surface, wherein the score line demarcates the peripheral portion and the central region;
• a force applicator device comprising a push bar;
• a back-up bar assembly comprising a first engagement face;
• and
• servo motor actuator for driving the push bar,
• wherein the apparatus comprises a cycle start state in which the push bar and the first engagement face are arranged at opposite sides of the primary retention plane;
• and further wherein the force applicator device is adapted to move the push bar in a direction of the first engagement face via operation of the servo motor actuator to sequentially cause:
• the push bar to apply a pushing force onto the first major surface at the peripheral portion to cause the peripheral portion to separate from the central region at the score line thereby producing a separated peripheral portion,
• the push bar to apply a pushing force onto the first major surface of the separated peripheral portion to cause the separated peripheral portion to contact the first engagement face,
• the push bar to apply a pushing force onto the first major surface of the separated peripheral portion to capture the separated peripheral portion between the push bar and the back-up bar assembly.

A method for making a glass sheet article, the method comprising:

• forming a glass ribbon;
• separating a glass sheet from the glass ribbon;
• delivering the glass sheet to a removal apparatus, the glass sheet comprising a first major surface opposite a second major surface, a first side edge surface opposite a second side edge surface, and a third side edge surface opposite a fourth side edge surface;
• operating the removal apparatus to:
• place the glass sheet in a predetermined position,
• form a score line on the first major surface,
• wherein the score line demarcates a central region of the glass sheet and a peripheral portion of the glass sheet, the peripheral portion defined between the score line and the first side edge surface,
• a) move a push bar in a direction of a back-up bar assembly such that the push bar contacts the first major surface along the peripheral portion,
• wherein prior to the step of moving the push bar, the push bar is spaced from the first major surface and the back-up bar assembly is located opposite the push bar relative to the glass sheet and is spaced from the second major surface,
• b) following step a), further move the push bar in the direction to produce a separated peripheral portion by causing the peripheral portion to separate from the central region along the score line without contacting the back-up bar assembly, and
• c) following step b), further moving the push bar in the direction to capture the separated peripheral portion between the push bar and the back-up bar assembly,
• wherein following step b), the central region comprises the glass sheet article.