Method and apparatus for breaking prescored ceramic substrate plates

An apparatus for sequentially fracturing a ceramic plate along parallel, uniformly-spaced transverse score lines to produce a plurality of separate substrates, said apparatus comprising:

• a body for supporting the plate in a predetermined plane, said body having an end, a linear break edge across said end and an exit path adjacent said break edge;
• first means for moving the plate along a predetermined path in said plane toward said break edge;
• means positioned near said break edge for forcing said plate against said body as the plate is moved toward said break edge;
• and
• a break roller positioned ahead of said forcing means and canted in the X-axis at a predetermined angle with respect to said break edge for applying a graduated downward pressure onto the plate against said break edge to sequentially cause the plate to fracture incrementally along each score line and produce a separate substrate as that portion of the plate located at the previously fractured adjacent score line moves into said break roller.