Methods of finishing an edge of a glass sheet

Abstract

Methods of finishing an edge of a glass sheet comprise the step of machining the edge of the glass sheet into a predetermined cross-sectional profile along a plane taken transverse to the edge of the glass sheet with an initial average edge strength ES i . The methods also include the step of finishing the edge with at least one finishing member, such as an endless belt, without substantially changing a shape of the predetermined cross-sectional profile. In one example, a wet slurry including an abrasive can be applied to at least one of a finishing member and the edge of the glass sheet. After finishing the edge, example finished average edge strengths ES f can be at least about 250 MPa. In addition or alternatively, in another example, the ratio ES f /ES i can be within a range of from about 1.6 to about 5.6.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of finishing an edge of a glass sheet comprising the steps of:
 (I) machining the edge of the glass sheet with a grinding tool into a predetermined cross-sectional profile along a plane taken transverse to the edge of the glass sheet;   (II) applying a wet slurry including an abrasive to at least one of a finishing member and the edge of the glass sheet, wherein the abrasive includes a material selected from the group consisting of alumina and ceria; and   (III) finishing the edge with the finishing member and the wet slurry.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the average edge strength of the glass sheet is at least about 300 MPa. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the average edge strength of the glass sheet is within a range of from about 300 MPa to about 450 MPa. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the shape of the cross-sectional profile of the edge after step (I) is geometrically similar to the shape of the cross-sectional profile of the edge after step (III). 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the finishing member is at least one endless belt and, during step (III), a portion of the endless belt travels in a direction substantially parallel to the edge of the glass sheet. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein, during step (III), a portion of the endless belt travels in a direction that is at an oblique angle with respect to the edge of the glass sheet. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein during step (II) a roller is used to press the endless belt against the edge. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the roller has a durometer within a range of from 0 to about 60. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the endless belt includes a groove configured to receive the edge of the glass sheet. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the groove is geometrically similar to the shape of a predetermined cross-sectional profile of the edge of the glass sheet. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the glass sheet has a thickness of less than or equal to 3 mm. 
     
     
         12 . A method of finishing an edge of a glass sheet comprising the steps of:
 (I) machining the edge of the glass sheet with a grinding tool into a predetermined cross-sectional profile along a plane taken transverse to the edge of the glass sheet with an initial average edge strength ES i ; and then   (II) finishing the edge with at least one finishing member without substantially changing a shape of the predetermined cross-sectional profile of the machined glass sheet, wherein finishing the edge provides the glass sheet with a finished average edge strength ES f , wherein the ratio ES f /ES i  is within a range of from about 1.6 to about 5.6.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the ES f  of the glass sheet is at least about 250 MPa. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the shape of the cross-sectional profile of the edge after step (I) is geometrically similar to the shape of the cross-sectional profile of the edge after step (II). 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein, during step (II), a portion of the endless belt travels in a direction substantially parallel to the edge of the glass sheet. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein, during step (II), a portion of the endless belt travels in a direction that is at an oblique angle with respect to the edge of the glass sheet. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein, during step (II), a wet slurry is used to apply an abrasive used to finish the edge with the endless belt. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein during step (II) a roller is used to press the endless belt against the edge. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the endless belt includes a groove configured to receive the edge of the glass sheet. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein machining the edge during step (I) provides the glass sheet with an average edge strength in a range of from about 90 MPa to about 150 MPa. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the glass sheet has a thickness of less than or equal to 3 mm.