Abstract: A method of manufacturing a glass sheet according to the present invention comprises the steps of creating split flows of molten glass in a forming body 10 and causing the molten glass to flow down, subsequently merging the flows at a merging point to form a glass sheet G and causing the glass sheet to flow downward in the vertical direction. In this method of manufacturing a glass sheet, a partition member 20 is disposed facing the glass sheet G in the vicinity of a location below the forming body 10, and a facing surface of the partition member 20 is shaped so as to correspond to a sheet thickness variation of the glass sheet G, so that a gap between the glass sheet G and the partition member 20 is substantially uniform.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a glass sheet includes a forming wedge with a pair of inclined forming surface portions converging along a downstream direction to form a root. The apparatus further includes an edge director intersecting with at least one of the pair of downwardly inclined forming surface portions, and a thermal shield configured to reduce heat loss from the edge director. Methods are also provided for reducing heat loss from the edge director with a thermal shield.

Abstract: An apparatus for drawing a glass ribbon including a shroud surrounding the glass ribbon and an edge roll that penetrates the shroud to contact the glass ribbon. The apparatus includes regulating a pressure within the seal assembly to be equal to or less than a pressure within the shroud and prevent ingress of relatively cooler outside gas into the hot interior of the shroud. The edge roll utilizes an air bearing to minimize friction that can produce periodic fluctuation of the ribbon as the edge roll is displaces in response to variations in the ribbon thickness or equipment dimensions.

Abstract: Molten glass 1 flows continuously from a glass melting furnace 2 to a drawing tank 7 whence the glass is drawn as a continuous ribbon 10 from a slot 11 in a refractory device 12 such as a debiteuse partially immersed in the molten glass.The center of the slot 11 is spaced from each of upstream 6 and downstream 9 end walls of the drawing tank 7 by at least 550 mm. The debiteuse 12 is preferably spaced from those walls by at least 350 mm.This promotes and facilitates production of a high yield of glass of a high standard of thickness uniformity and of good planeity.These advantages are enhanced when the ribbon is passed over a bending roll 13 in a drawing chamber 8 above the drawing tank 7 and thence to a horizontal annealing lehr 14.