Corning Incorporated

Robert G Schaeffler

James William Brown

Clive Darrell Gierbolini

Babak Robert Raj

Toshihiko Ono

Roger A Allaire

An apparatus and method are described herein which help prevent particles and other contaminants that are generated when an edge of a glass sheet is processed from contaminating or damaging the glass sheet. The apparatus includes an encapsulation device and a processing device. The encapsulation device is capable of supporting two surfaces of a glass sheet. And, the processing device is capable of processing (e.g., cutting, scribing, grinding or polishing) the edge that is adjacent to the supported two surfaces of the glass sheet which are located on a first side of the encapsulation device. The encapsulation device is also capable of substantially preventing particles and other contaminants that are generated when the processing device processes the edge of the glass sheet from reaching the two surfaces of the glass sheet which are located on a second side of the encapsulation device.

Apparatus and method for grinding and/or polishing an edge of a glass sheet

A rotating belt () is used to finish the edges () of glass sheets (), such as, the thin sheets (e.g., 0.7 mm) used as substrates for liquid crystal displays (LCDs). The edge () of the sheet () engages the working zone () of the belt () along a line segment () whose included angle with the direction of motion () of the belt () is less than 10&#xb0;. The working zone () is brought into contact with the edge () by a pressure sensitive platen () which can accommodate errors in the positioning of the sheet () at the finishing station ().

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Pine City, NY, United States of America

Robert G Schaeffler