Method and apparatus for separating a pane of brittle material from a moving ribbon of the material

Abstract

A pane is separated from a moving ribbon of brittle material by restraining the ribbon upstream of a score line prior to separating the pane. The ribbon is restrained by selectively contacting a first side and a second side of the ribbon in one of an opposite, overlapping or offset relation. The ribbon can be restrained prior to, substantially simultaneous with or subsequent to forming the score line. The restrained status of the ribbon is maintained during and immediately after separation of the pane from the ribbon, thereby reducing the introduction of a disturbance or bending moment into the upstream ribbon.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for separating a pane from a moving ribbon of brittle material traveling in a moving direction with a velocity vector V, the moving ribbon having a first side, a second side and a width direction substantially orthogonal to the moving direction, the apparatus comprising:
 a scoring assembly for forming a score line in the first side of the moving ribbon of brittle material along the width direction, the scoring assembly configured to move at a velocity vector substantially matching the velocity vector V;   a first press bars extending along the width direction and configured to contact the first sides upstream of a score line at a velocity vector substantially matching the velocity vector V;   a first backing bar extending along the width direction and configured to contact the second side along substantially the entire width of the moving ribbon of brittle material at a velocity vector substantially matching the velocity vector V; and   a second press bar extending along the width direction configured to contact the first side downstream of the score line at a velocity vector substantially matching the velocity vector V.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the first press bar and the first backing bar are in an offset relation relative to the draw direction. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein each of the first press bar and the first backing bar comprise a cross beam and a polymeric contact surface. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the polymeric contact surface of the first press bar comprises silicone having a Shore A hardness of 60±10. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein a hardness of the polymeric contact surface of the first backing bar is harder than a hardness of the polymeric hardness of the first press bar. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the first press bar, the second press bar and the first backing bar are connected to a carriage assembly. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the first press bar and the first backing bar are movable between a retracted non-contacting position and an extended contacting position relative to the moving ribbon of brittle material. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the first press bar and the first backing bar overlap in the width direction. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , further comprising a load sensor connected between the carriage and at least one of the respective first press bar, second press bar or first backing bar.