GLASS MANUFACTURING APPARATUS AND METHODS

Glass manufacturing apparatus can comprise a laser apparatus defining a laser path intersecting an outer peripheral surface of a roll. In some embodiments, methods of cleaning a roll of a glass manufacturing apparatus can comprise irradiating a target location on surface material formed on the roll with a laser beam and producing a relative movement between the roll and the target location while removing a portion of the surface material from an area of the outer peripheral surface of the roll with the laser beam. In some embodiments, methods of manufacturing a glass ribbon can comprise passing glass-forming material through a gap defined between first and second rotating rolls and removing surface material from an area of an outer peripheral surface of the first roll with a first laser beam. 提供了玻璃制造设备，所述玻璃制造设备可以包括限定与辊的外周表面相交的激光路径的激光设备。在一些实施例中，清洁玻璃制造设备的辊的方法可包括：用激光束辐照在形成在所述辊上的表面材料上的目标位置；以及在利用所述激光束从所述辊的所述外周表面的区域去除所述表面材料的一部分的同时，在所述辊与所述目标位置之间产生相对运动。在一些实施例中，制造玻璃带的方法可包括：使玻璃成形材料通过限定在第一旋转辊与第二旋转辊之间的间隙；以及利用第一激光束从所述第一辊的