Edge-protected product and finishing method

摘要

An edge-protected product and finishing method therefor. The product comprises a first we and a second web bonded intermittently to the peripheral regions of a major surface of the sheet material to be protected. The bonded webs provide the desired level of protection to the peripheral regions and the edge surfaces of the sheet material. The intermittent bonding allows for the clean and convenient separation of the sheet material and the webs that a continuously bonded web would not be able to provide. Where laser cutting is used to separate the protected product, the edge-protected product with intermittent bonding areas allows for the separation without laser irradiation to the web material, thus no generation of toxic fume or charring due to oxidation, melting and/or disintegration of the web material caused by laser heating. The invention is particularly useful for protecting thin glass sheets, especially those in the form of a spool.

主权项

1. An edge-protected product comprising:
(A) a sheet material having: (A1) a first major surface comprising a first peripheral region and a second peripheral region; (A2) a second major surface opposing the first major surface, comprising a third peripheral region and a fourth peripheral region, wherein the first and third peripheral regions are in opposing relationship, and the second and fourth peripheral regions are in opposing relationship; (A3) a first edge surface connecting the first and the third peripheral regions; (A4) a second edge surface connecting the second and the fourth peripheral regions; (B) a first web comprising a continuous portion extending along a longitudinal axis and tongue structures extending from the continuous portion, the tongue structures being spaced from one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis, the tongue structures of the first web being bonded to at least one of the first and third peripheral regions at a plurality of first intermittent bonding locations, so that the continuous portion of the first web is spaced from the first edge surface whereby a portion of the first edge is uncovered; and (C) a second web comprising a continuous portion extending along a longitudinal axis and tongue structures extending from the continuous portion, the tongue structures of the second web being spaced from one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis and being bonded to at least one of the second and fourth peripheral regions at a plurality of second intermittent bonding locations, so that the continuous portion of the second web is spaced from the second edge surface whereby a portion of the second edge is uncovered.