초록 ▼

As a precursor to forming a glass sheet, a soot layer is formed on a deposition surface using a roll-to-roll glass soot deposition process. A soot layer-separating device is configured to bring a stream of gas into contact with at least a portion of a free surface of the soot layer. The impinging ga

As a precursor to forming a glass sheet, a soot layer is formed on a deposition surface using a roll-to-roll glass soot deposition process. A soot layer-separating device is configured to bring a stream of gas into contact with at least a portion of a free surface of the soot layer. The impinging gas stream affects local thermal expansion stresses at the soot layer/deposition surface interface, which separates the soot layer from the deposition surface.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of separating a glass soot layer from a substrate, the method comprising: forming a glass soot layer on a substrate, the glass soot layer having a first main surface in direct physical contact with the substrate, and a second main surface opposed to the first main surface; andcontacting

1. A method of separating a glass soot layer from a substrate, the method comprising: forming a glass soot layer on a substrate, the glass soot layer having a first main surface in direct physical contact with the substrate, and a second main surface opposed to the first main surface; andcontacting at least a portion of the second main surface with a gas stream so as to separate a corresponding portion of the first main surface from the substrate, wherein the gas stream comprises an aerosol. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the contacting comprises locally contacting one or more edge regions of the glass soot layer. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the contacting comprises locally contacting the glass soot layer in one or more areas downstream of a deposition zone. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gas stream has a substantially constant gas flow rate. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gas stream comprises a gas selected from the group consisting of helium, nitrogen, oxygen, argon, forming gas, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and mixtures thereof. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein an impingement angle of the gas stream on the glass soot layer relative to normal incidence is less than 45°. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein an impingement angle of the gas stream on the glass soot layer relative to normal incidence is less than 10°. 8. The method according to claim 1, where the contacting occurs during rotation of the substrate.