A method of processing a continuous glass ribbon comprising the steps of: drawing a portion of the glass ribbon from a forming member into a draw zone located downstream from the forming member so as to produce a first selected thickness in the glass ribbon; passing the portion of the glass ribbon having the first selected thickness through a transition zone to a first location downstream from the draw zone; reducing the thickness of the glass ribbon at the draw zone to a second selected thickness that is less than the first selected thickness while advancing the glass ribbon to the first location; separating the glass ribbon at the first location after the second selected thickness is reached at the first location to create an initial leading end in the glass ribbon having the second selected thickness; feeding the initial leading end of the glass ribbon through the first location to a second location downstream from the first location; reducing the thickness of the glass ribbon at the draw zone to a final predetermined thickness that is less than the second selected thickness while advancing the glass ribbon to the second location; separating the glass ribbon at the second location after the final predetermined thickness is reached at the second location to create a final leading end in the glass ribbon having the final predetermined thickness; and (VIII) passing the final leading end of the glass ribbon through the second location to a third location downstream from the second location, wherein a travel path of the glass ribbon is changed from a draw direction in the draw zone to a transitional direction in the transition zone, and as the glass ribbon passes through the transition zone, an upstream area of the glass ribbon is bent such that a first surface of the glass ribbon is at the upstream area is in compression and a downstream area of the glass ribbon is bent such that the first surface of the glass ribbon at the downstream area is in tension, and wherein the first surface of an intermediate area of the glass ribbon between the upstream area and the downstream area is substantially free of compressive and tensile forces. drawing a portion of the glass ribbon from a forming member into a draw zone located downstream from the forming member so as to produce a first selected thickness in the glass ribbon; passing the portion of the glass ribbon having the first selected thickness through a transition zone to a first location downstream from the draw zone; reducing the thickness of the glass ribbon at the draw zone to a second selected thickness that is less than the first selected thickness while advancing the glass ribbon to the first location; separating the glass ribbon at the first location after the second selected thickness is reached at the first location to create an initial leading end in the glass ribbon having the second selected thickness; feeding the initial leading end of the glass ribbon through the first location to a second location downstream from the first location; reducing the thickness of the glass ribbon at the draw zone to a final predetermined thickness that is less than the second selected thickness while advancing the glass ribbon to the second location; separating the glass ribbon at the second location after the final predetermined thickness is reached at the second location to create a final leading end in the glass ribbon having the final predetermined thickness; and (VIII) passing the final leading end of the glass ribbon through the second location to a third location downstream from the second location,