SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING THIN GLASS RIBBONS

Systems, apparatuses and methods for processing a glass ribbon (22). A glass ribbon is supplied to an upstream side of a conveying apparatus (32) comprising a conveyor device and a pulling device (72). The conveyor device establishes a primary plane of travel (P) from the upstream side to a downstream side. The pulling device (72) is located at the downstream side and applies a pulling force on the glass ribbon (22) to convey the glass ribbon along a travel path that includes first, second and third bends (100, 102, 104), and into the primary plane of travel from a location downstream of the third bend and to the pulling device (72). At least one of the first, second, and third bends imparts a stress into a surface of the glass ribbon to flatten the glass ribbon. A viscosity of the glass ribbon at the third bend is greater than a viscosity of the glass ribbon at the first bend.