Glass sheet separating device

Abstract

A scoreless separation device and method are described herein for separating a glass sheet without needing to score the glass sheet. In one embodiment, the device shears a stationary glass sheet without needing to score the glass sheet. In another embodiment, the device shears a moving glass sheet to remove outer edges from the moving glass sheet without needing to score the moving glass sheet.

1 - 45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . A method for producing a glass sheet, said method comprising the steps of:
 causing the glass sheet to travel in a traveling direction;   separating the glass sheet which is moving using a scoreless separation device which comprises a separation mechanism that generates a stress profile within the moving glass sheet that produces a crack in a predefined location within the moving glass sheet to shear off an edge of the moving glass sheet;   breaking and collecting the edge, which is performed after the edge has been sheared off of the moving glass sheet;   constraining the edge after it has been sheared off of the moving glass sheet and before it is broken and collected; and   winding the remaining portion of the moving glass sheet onto a take-up roller.   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the separation device further comprises a crack initiator that interfaces at the predefined location of the moving glass sheet to initiate the crack which is formed and then propagated along a desired path within the moving glass sheet. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein constraining the sheared-off edge comprises directing the sheared-off edge between at least one pair of air bearings. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein constraining the sheared-off edge comprises directing the sheared-off edge between at least one pair of rollers. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein before the step of causing the sheet to travel in a traveling direction, there are performed the steps of:
 melting batch materials to form molten glass and processing the molten glass to form the glass sheet; and   drawing the glass sheet.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein a thickness of the remaining portion of the moving glass sheet is ≦100 microns. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the separation device further comprises a cutter which cuts or partially cuts a coating on the moving glass sheet prior to shearing the edge from the moving glass sheet 
     
     
         53 . A glass manufacturing system comprising:
 a scoreless separation device that generates a stress profile within the moving glass sheet where the stress profile produces a crack which is subsequently formed in a predefined location within the moving glass sheet to shear off an edge of the moving glass sheet;   a conveyance mechanism having a travel path extending in a traveling direction leading to the scoreless separation device, and a travel path leading away from the scoreless separation device; and   a cullet bin to collect the sheared-off edge after it has been broken, the cullet bin being located along the travel path leading away from the scoreless separation device;   a constraining device for directing the edge after it has been sheared off of the moving glass sheet, the constraining device being located along the travel path between the scoreless separation device and the cullet bin; and   a take-up roller on which there is wound the remaining portion of the moving glass sheet.   
     
     
         54 . The glass manufacturing system of  claim 53 , wherein the constraining device further comprises at least one pair of air bearings that sandwich the sheared-off edge. 
     
     
         55 . The glass manufacturing system of  claim 53 , wherein the constraining device further comprises at least one pair of rollers that sandwich the sheared-off edge. 
     
     
         56 . The glass manufacturing system of  claim 53 , wherein the separation device further comprises a crack initiator that interfaces with the moving glass sheet to initiate the crack which is formed and then propagated along a desired path within the moving glass sheet. 
     
     
         57 . The glass manufacturing system of  claim 53 , further comprising, upstream from the scoreless separation device:
 at least one vessel for melting batch materials and forming molten glass;   a forming device for receiving the molten glass and forming a moving glass sheet; and   a pull roll assembly for drawing the moving glass sheet.   
     
     
         58 . The glass manufacturing system of  claim 53 , wherein the separation device further comprises a cutter which cuts or partially cuts a coating on the moving glass sheet prior to shearing the edge from the moving glass sheet.