Patent ID: 8887529

Claim:
A process for making a target glass sheet, comprising the following steps: (A) providing a precursor glass ribbon comprising an elastic portion, the elastic portion having a thickness T 1 , a width W 1 , a first major surface S 1 having a target point TP traveling with a velocity V 1 , a second major surface S 2 opposing S 1 , S 1 comprising a first peripheral region PR 1 , a second peripheral region PR 2 and a first center region CR 1 ; S 2 comprising a third peripheral region PR 3 , a fourth peripheral region PR 4 and a second center region CR 2 , where PR 1 is in opposing relation to PR 3 , PR 2 is in opposing relation to PR 4 , and CR 1 is in opposing relation to CR 2 ; (B) engaging a first pair of edge rollers FR 1 having a substantially stationery rotation axle relative to the earth with PR 1 and PR 3 at a first edge roller position; (C) engaging a second pair of edge rollers FR 2 having a substantially stationery rotation axle relative to the earth with PR 2 and PR 4 at a second edge roller position; (D) contacting a first edge restrainer ER 1 traveling with a velocity substantially equal to V 1 with at least one of PR 1 and PR 3 at a first edge restrainer location downstream of a line SL passing through the target point TP substantially perpendicular to V 1 ; (E) contacting a second edge restrainer ER 2 traveling with a velocity substantially equal to V 1 with at least one of PR 2 and PR 4 at a second edge restrainer location downstream of the line SL; (F) forming a transverse score-line along the line SL on S 1 upstream of the locations of the first edge restrainer and the second edge restrainer; and (G) applying to the elastic portion a breaking force F 1 perpendicular to the elastic portion below the score-line and a supporting force F 2 above the score-line in a direction opposite to that of F 1 , the direction of F 1 being pointing from S 1 to S 2 , thereby breaking the elastic portion along the score-line to obtain the target glass sheet below the score-line; wherein during step (G), a maximal force F 3 in the same direction of V 1 other than gravity is applied to the elastic portion below the score-line, and 0≦F 3 ≦400 newton; and wherein before step (G), a step (G-1) is carried out: (G-1) connecting ER 1 and ER 2 with an actuator through a flexible linkage capable of reciprocal motion in a direction parallel to V 1 essentially free of resistance.