Systems and methods for processing thin glass ribbons

A system for processing a continuous glass ribbon, the system comprising:

• a conveying apparatus comprising:
• a conveyor device establishing a primary plane of travel from an upstream side to a downstream side opposite the upstream side,
• a pulling device located at the downstream side, the pulling device configured to convey the continuous glass ribbon along a travel path with a first major surface of the continuous glass ribbon facing a downward direction toward the primary plane of travel, and a second major surface of the continuous glass ribbon facing an upward direction away from the primary plane of travel,
• a first bending tool proximate the upstream side, the first bending tool configured to establish a first bend of the travel path defining a curve that is convex in the upward direction, wherein the first bending tool is configured to interface with the continuous glass ribbon to cause, at least in part, the first bend at a first location of the travel path between the upstream side and the pulling device where the viscosity of the continuous glass ribbon is not greater than 1×108 Poise,
• a second bending tool between the first bending tool and the downstream side, wherein a vertical distance between the second bending tool and the primary plane of travel is greater than a vertical distance between the first bending tool and the primary plane of travel, wherein the second bending tool is configured to establish a second bend of the travel path defining a curve that is concave in the upward direction, wherein the second bending tool is configured to interface with the continuous glass ribbon to cause, at least in part, the second bend at a second location between the first location and the pulling device, and
• a third bending tool between the second bending tool and the downstream side, wherein a vertical distance between the third bending tool and the primary plane of travel is greater than the vertical distance between the second bending tool and the primary plane of travel, wherein the third bending tool is configured to establish a third bend of the travel path defining a curve that is convex in the upward direction, wherein the third bending tool is configured to interface with the continuous glass ribbon to cause, at least in part, the third bend at a third location between the interface of the second bending tool with the continuous glass ribbon and the interface of the third bending tool with the continuous glass ribbon where the viscosity of the continuous glass ribbon is not less than 1×108 Poise, wherein the glass ribbon is configured to not interface with any bending tool along the travel path between the second bending tool and the third bending tool,
• wherein the primary plane of travel extends from a location downstream of the third location and to the pulling device.