Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing a glass sheet are disclosed. The apparatus includes a glass delivery device, a puddle forming device positioned to contact and redirect at least a portion of a stream of molten glass as it falls from the glass delivery device, and a side roller configured to contact the stream falling from the glass delivery device and redirected from the puddle forming device at a target position and lose contact with the stream at a departure position to form a ribbon of glass. The puddle forming device and the side roller can be relatively positioned to form a puddle of molten glass on a surface of the side roller positioned upstream from the target position and a thickness control gap between the puddle forming device and the side roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a glass sheet including a forming apparatus, a transition member, and a heat transfer device. The forming apparatus forms a glass ribbon from a supply of molten glass. The transition member encloses the glass ribbon adjacent the forming apparatus, and defines an interior space through which the glass ribbon passes. The heat transfer device is disposed within the interior space, and comprises a tube and a fin. The tube defines an exterior surface and an interior passage. The fin projects from the exterior surface. With this construction, the heat transfer device functions to extract heat radiated by the glass ribbon while minimizing the formation of flow vortices.

Abstract: Embodiments of glass forming apparatuses are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a glass forming apparatus may include a forming body defining a draw plane extending from the forming body in a draw direction. An actively-cooled thermal sink may be positioned below the forming body in the draw direction and spaced apart from the draw plane. An infrared-transparent barrier may be positioned between the actively-cooled thermal sink and the draw plane. The infrared-transparent barrier may comprise an infrared-transparent wall positioned proximate the actively-cooled thermal sink or an infrared-transparent jacket positioned around the actively-cooled thermal sink.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a glass sheet including a forming apparatus, a transition member, and a heat transfer device. The forming apparatus forms a glass ribbon from a supply of molten glass. The transition member encloses the glass ribbon adjacent the forming apparatus, and defines an interior space through which the glass ribbon passes. The heat transfer device is disposed within the interior space, and comprises a tube and a fin. The tube defines an exterior surface and an interior passage. The fin projects from the exterior surface. With this construction, the heat transfer device functions to extract heat radiated by the glass ribbon while minimizing the formation of flow vortices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing glass comprising a forming apparatus in a first processing zone, the forming apparatus configured to form a glass ribbon having a first direction of travel in the first processing zone. The apparatus also includes a first cutting apparatus in a second processing zone, the first cutting apparatus configured to separate one or more portions of the glass ribbon, the glass ribbon having a second direction of travel. The apparatus includes a first buffer zone between the first processing zone and the second processing zone in which the glass ribbon is supported in a first catenary between two, spaced-apart payoff positions. The second direction of travel in the second processing zone can be orthogonal to the first direction of travel in the first processing zone.

Abstract: A glass manufacturing apparatus includes a forming device that is configured to produce a glass ribbon that includes a width extending between a first edge and an opposite second edge of the glass ribbon. A lower draw roll apparatus includes a first pair of draw rolls arranged and configured to draw the first edge of the glass ribbon within a lower draw zone along the draw path. The lower draw roll apparatus is located between a setting zone and a separation location where the glass ribbon is separated to form a glass sheet.

Abstract: A method of continuously processing glass ribbon having a thickness ?0.3 mm. The method includes providing a glass processing apparatus having a first processing zone, a second processing zone and a third processing zone. The glass ribbon is continuously fed from the first processing zone, through the second processing zone to the third processing zone. The feed rate of the glass ribbon is controlled through each processing zone using a global control device. A first buffer zone is provided between the first processing zone and the second processing zone in which the glass substrate is supported in a first catenary between two, spaced-apart, payoff positions. A second buffer zone is provided between the second processing zone and the third processing zone in which the glass substrate is supported in a second catenary between two, spaced-apart, payoff positions.

Abstract: A method of continuously processing glass ribbon having a thickness?0.3 mm. The method includes providing a glass processing apparatus having a first processing zone, a second processing zone and a third processing zone. The glass ribbon is continuously fed from the first processing zone, through the second processing zone to the third processing zone. The feed rate of the glass ribbon is controlled through each processing zone using a global control device. A first buffer zone is provided between the first processing zone and the second processing zone in which the glass substrate is supported in a first catenary between two, spaced-apart, payoff positions. A second buffer zone is provided between the second processing zone and the third processing zone in which the glass substrate is supported in a second catenary between two, spaced-apart, payoff positions.

Abstract: A glass manufacturing apparatus comprises a forming device configured to produce a glass ribbon and a control device configured to independently operate a first pull roll apparatus and a second pull roll apparatus such that the first pull roll apparatus rotates with a substantially constant torque the second pull roll apparatus rotates with a substantially constant angular velocity. The control device is further configured to adjust the substantially constant torque of the first pull roll apparatus based on an operating condition of at least one of the first pull roll apparatus and the second pull roll apparatus. In further examples, methods of manufacturing a glass ribbon are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for continuous processing of a thin, flexible glass ribbon through various processing zones and maintaining a concave or substantially linear machine directional (MD) and/or cross-directional (CD) curvature of the flexible glass ribbon through at least two or more contiguous zones in the process. Apparatuses for the continuous processing of a thin, flexible glass ribbon while maintaining a desired MD and/or CD curvature are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A glass manufacturing apparatus includes a glass former to form a glass ribbon from a quantity of molten material, a thermal sensor oriented to sense a temperature of the glass ribbon, and a processor programmed to estimate a thickness of the glass ribbon based on the sensed temperature from the thermal sensor. A method of manufacturing glass includes forming a glass ribbon from a quantity of molten material, sensing a temperature of the glass ribbon, and estimating a thickness of the glass ribbon based on the sensed temperature.

Abstract: A method of continuous processing of flexible glass ribbon having a thickness of no more than 0.35 mm using a glass processing apparatus. The method includes providing the glass processing apparatus having at least three processing zones, including a first processing zone, a second processing zone and a third processing zone. The flexible glass ribbon is continuously fed from the first processing zone, through the second processing zone to the third processing zone. The feed rate of the flexible glass ribbon is controlled through each of the first processing zone, the second processing zone and the third processing zone using a global control device. Lateral position of the flexible glass ribbon is controlled through the second processing zone using a multi-axis steering apparatus comprising a first roller set and a second roller set, located downstream of the first roller set.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing glass comprising a forming apparatus in a first processing zone, the forming apparatus configured to form a glass ribbon having a first direction of travel in the first processing zone. The apparatus also includes a first cutting apparatus in a second processing zone, the first cutting apparatus configured to separate one or more portions of the glass ribbon, the glass ribbon having a second direction of travel. The apparatus includes a first buffer zone between the first processing zone and the second processing zone in which the glass ribbon is supported in a first catenary between two, spaced-apart payoff positions. The second direction of travel in the second processing zone can be orthogonal to the first direction of travel in the first processing zone.

Abstract: A method of continuously processing glass ribbon having a thickness<0.3 mm. The method includes providing a glass processing apparatus having a first processing zone, a second processing zone and a third processing zone. The glass ribbon is continuously fed from the first processing zone, through the second processing zone to the third processing zone. The feed rate of the glass ribbon is controlled through each processing zone using a global control device. A first buffer zone is provided between the first processing zone and the second processing zone in which the glass substrate is supported in a first catenary between two, spaced-apart, payoff positions. A second buffer zone is provided between the second processing zone and the third processing zone in which the glass substrate is supported in a second catenary between two, spaced-apart, payoff positions.

Abstract: Methods for producing a glass ribbon include the step of drawing a glass ribbon from a quantity of molten glass and detecting an instability in the glass ribbon. In response to the detected instability, the method can further include the step of automatically adjusting an operating variable for each of a plurality of stabilizing elements simultaneously with a controller to at least partially counter the detected instability.

Abstract: A glass manufacturing apparatus comprises a forming device configured to produce a glass ribbon and a control device configured to independently operate a first pull roll apparatus, a second pull roll apparatus, and a third pull roll apparatus such that at least one of a first upstream pair of draw rolls rotates with a substantially constant torque, at least one of a first midstream pair of draw rolls rotates with a substantially constant torque, and at least one of a first downstream pair of draw rolls rotates with a substantially constant angular velocity. In further examples, methods of manufacturing a glass ribbon are provided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for fabricating continuous glass ribbons are disclosed. The method includes forming the continuous glass ribbon by drawing the continuous glass ribbon from a draw housing in a drawing direction, heating at least one portion of a central region of the continuous glass ribbon at a heating location downstream of the draw housing, sensing a temperature of the continuous glass ribbon at a sensed temperature location downstream of the draw housing, and automatically controlling the heating of the at least one portion of the central region of the continuous glass ribbon based on the sensed temperature to mitigate distortion of the continuous glass ribbon.

Abstract: Methods for producing a glass ribbon include the step of drawing a glass ribbon from a quantity of molten glass and detecting an instability in the glass ribbon. In response to the detected instability, the method can further include the step of automatically adjusting an operating variable for each of a plurality of stabilizing elements simultaneously with a controller to at least partially counter the detected instability.

Abstract: A glass manufacturing apparatus comprises a forming device configured to produce a glass ribbon and a control device configured to independently operate a first pull roll apparatus and a second pull roll apparatus such that the first pull roll apparatus rotates with a substantially constant torque the second pull roll apparatus rotates with a substantially constant angular velocity. The control device is further configured to adjust the substantially constant torque of the first pull roll apparatus based on an operating condition of at least one of the first pull roll apparatus and the second pull roll apparatus. In further examples, methods of manufacturing a glass ribbon are provided.

Abstract: Roller pairs and draw apparatus for processing glass ribbons are disclosed. The roller pairs applying force to a glass ribbon moving through the draw apparatus. The roller pairs include a first roller assembly and a second roller assembly positioned along opposite sides of the glass ribbon. A shaft of the second roller assembly is coupled to an actuation system that includes a repositionable support member allowing translation of the shaft of the second roller assembly in a direction transverse to the draw direction of the glass ribbon, a pneumatic actuator controlling a position of the contact wheel of the second roller assembly in the direction transverse to the draw direction of the glass ribbon, and a pneumatic reservoir in fluid communication with the pneumatic actuator delivering fluid at an elevated pressure to the pneumatic actuator.