CN217781016U - Glass forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

A glass forming device comprises a glass forming roller, a glass forming chamber and a glass forming roller isolation chamber. The glass forming roll is movable from a first position within the glass forming roll isolation chamber to a second position within the glass forming chamber.

Description

Glass forming device

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application serial No. 63/147,847, filed 10/02/2021 and U.S. provisional application serial No. 63/286,286, filed 06/12/2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to a glass forming apparatus and, more particularly, to a glass forming apparatus with forming roll isolation.

Background

Glazings, such as thin glass sheets, are used in display applications such as televisions, tablets and smart phones. In view of the ever-tightening requirements for display quality and resolution, it is becoming increasingly important to manufacture such glass articles with minimal defects. Common defects in the manufacture of glass articles include impurity defects (onclusion defects), for example, such defects may be caused by the presence of unintended particles in the environment surrounding the glass during the forming process.

Sources of impurity defects include defects resulting from the operation of the forming rollers used in the manufacturing process. For example, forming roll wear can result in the presence of small particles in the glass forming environment. In addition, over time, the temperature of the environment surrounding the forming rolls can degrade their structural integrity, thereby causing not only impurity defects, but also glass breakage and other defects. It is desirable to minimize the occurrence of such defects.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

Embodiments disclosed herein include a glass forming apparatus. The glass forming device comprises a glass forming roller, a glass forming chamber and a glass forming roller isolation chamber. The glass forming roll is movable from a first position within the glass forming roll isolation chamber to a second position within the glass forming chamber.

Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the embodiments described herein, including the detailed description which follows and the appended drawings.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the embodiments as they are claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles and operations of the disclosure.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary fusion downdraw glass manufacturing apparatus and process;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the glass ribbon and glass shaping rollers;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional end view of an exemplary glass forming apparatus with glass forming rolls positioned in glass forming roll isolation chambers;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional end view of the glass forming apparatus of FIG. 3 with the gate in an open position;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional end view of the glass forming apparatus of FIGS. 3 and 4 with the glass forming rolls positioned in the glass forming chamber;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional end view of an exemplary glass forming roll isolation chamber in fluid communication with an air circulation system;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional end view of an exemplary glass forming roll isolation chamber including a heating and/or cooling mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional end view of an exemplary glass forming apparatus with glass forming rolls positioned in glass forming roll isolation chambers;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional end view of the glass forming apparatus of FIG. 8 with the gate in an open position;

FIG. 10 is an end cross-sectional view of the glass forming apparatus of FIGS. 8 and 9 with the glass forming rolls positioned in the glass forming chamber.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

Ranges can be expressed herein as from "about" one particular value, and/or to "about" another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent "about," it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently thereof.

Directional terms used herein (e.g., upper, lower, right, left, front, rear, top, bottom) are given only with reference to the drawings as drawn, and are not intended to imply absolute orientations.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, any method set forth herein should not be construed as requiring that its steps be performed in a particular order, nor should it be construed as requiring any apparatus-specific orientation. Thus, if a method claim does not actually recite an order to be followed by its steps, or an apparatus claim does not actually recite an order or orientation of individual elements, or it is not otherwise specifically stated in the claims or descriptions that the steps are to be limited to a specific order, or a specific order or orientation of apparatus elements is not recited, it is not intended that an order or orientation be inferred, in any respect. This is true for any possible non-expressive basis of interpretation, including: logical issues related to the arrangement of steps, operational flow, order of parts, or orientation of parts; a plain meaning derived from grammatical organization or punctuation, and; the number or type of embodiments described in the specification.

As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, by way of example, reference to "a" component includes aspects having two or more such components, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

The term "heating mechanism" as used herein refers to a mechanism that either increases the temperature of a component of the glass forming apparatus relative to the absence of such a heating mechanism or provides reduced heat transfer from at least a portion of the glass ribbon relative to the absence of such a heating mechanism. The heating mechanism may affect heat transfer by at least one of conduction, convection, or radiation. For example, the heating mechanism can provide a reduced temperature difference between at least a portion of the glass ribbon and its environment relative to the absence of such a heating mechanism.

The term "cooling mechanism" as used herein refers to a mechanism that either reduces the temperature of components of the glass forming apparatus relative to the absence of such a cooling mechanism or provides increased heat transfer from at least a portion of the glass ribbon relative to the absence of such a cooling mechanism. The cooling mechanism may affect heat transfer by at least one of conduction, convection, or radiation. For example, the cooling mechanism can provide an increased temperature difference between at least a portion of the glass ribbon and its environment relative to the absence of such a cooling mechanism.

The term "air circulation system" as used herein refers to a system that circulates or augments the flow of air through a defined area.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary glass manufacturing apparatus 10. In some examples, glass manufacturing apparatus 10 can include a glass melting furnace 12, and glass melting furnace 12 can include a melting vessel 14. In addition to melting vessel 14, glass melting furnace 12 may optionally include one or more additional components, such as heating elements (e.g., burners or electrodes) that heat and convert the raw materials into molten glass. In still further examples, glass melting furnace 12 may include a thermal management device (e.g., an insulating member) that reduces heat loss from the vicinity of the melting vessel. In still further examples, glass melting furnace 12 may include electronic and/or electromechanical devices that facilitate melting of the raw materials into a glass melt. Still further, glass melting furnace 12 may include support structures (e.g., support pans, support members, etc.) or other components.

The glass melting vessel 14 is typically constructed of a refractory material, such as a refractory ceramic material, for example, a refractory ceramic material comprising alumina or zirconia. In some examples, the glass melting vessel 14 may be constructed of refractory ceramic bricks. Specific embodiments of the glass melting vessel 14 will be described in more detail below.

In some examples, a glass melting furnace may be incorporated as a component of a glass manufacturing apparatus to manufacture glass sheets, such as a continuous length of glass ribbon. In some examples, the glass melting furnace of the present disclosure can be incorporated as a component of a glass manufacturing apparatus comprising: a slot draw apparatus, a float bath apparatus, a down draw apparatus (e.g., a fusion process), an up draw apparatus, a press roll apparatus, a tube draw apparatus, or any other glass manufacturing apparatus that would benefit from aspects disclosed herein. By way of example, FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a glass melting furnace 12 as a component of a fusion downdraw glass manufacturing apparatus 10 for fusion drawing a glass ribbon for subsequent processing into individual glass sheets.

The glass manufacturing apparatus 10 (e.g., fusion downdraw apparatus 10) may optionally include an upstream glass manufacturing apparatus 16 located upstream relative to the glass melting vessel 14. In some examples, the entire upstream glass manufacturing apparatus 16 or a portion thereof can be incorporated as part of the glass melting furnace 12.

As shown in the illustrated example, the upstream glass manufacturing apparatus 16 can include a storage silo 18, a raw material delivery device 20, and a motor 22 coupled to the raw material delivery device. As indicated by arrow 26, holding bin 18 may be configured to store a quantity of raw material 24 that may be fed into melting vessel 14 of glass melting furnace 12. The raw material 24 typically includes one or more glass-forming metal oxides and one or more modifiers. In some examples, the raw material delivery apparatus 20 may be powered by a motor 22 such that the raw material delivery apparatus 20 delivers a predetermined amount of raw material 24 from the storage bin 18 to the melt container 14. In still further examples, the motor 22 may power the raw material delivery apparatus 20 to introduce the raw material 24 at a controlled rate based on the level of molten glass sensed downstream of the melting vessel 14. Thereafter, the raw materials 24 within the melting vessel 14 may be heated to form molten glass 28.

The glass manufacturing apparatus 10 can also optionally include a downstream glass manufacturing apparatus 30 located downstream relative to the glass melting furnace 12. In some examples, a portion of the downstream glass manufacturing apparatus 30 can be incorporated as part of the glass melting furnace 12. In some cases, the first connecting conduit 32 or other portions of the downstream glass manufacturing apparatus 30 discussed below may be incorporated as part of the glass melting furnace 12. The components of the downstream glass manufacturing apparatus, including the first connecting conduit 32, may be made of a precious metal. Suitable noble metals include platinum group metals selected from the group of metals consisting of: platinum, iridium, rhodium, osmium, ruthenium, and palladium, or an alloy thereof. By way of example, the downstream components of the glass manufacturing apparatus may be made from a platinum rhodium alloy comprising about 70% to about 90% by weight platinum and about 10% to about 30% by weight rhodium. However, other suitable metals may include molybdenum, palladium, rhenium, tantalum, titanium, tungsten, and alloys thereof.

The downstream glass manufacturing apparatus 30 may include a first conditioning (i.e., processing) vessel, such as a fining vessel 34, located downstream from the melting vessel 14 and coupled to the melting vessel 14 via the first connecting conduit 32 as described above. In some examples, molten glass 28 may be gravity fed from melting vessel 14 to fining vessel 34 via first connecting conduit 32. For example, gravity may cause molten glass 28 to pass from melting vessel 14 to fining vessel 34 through the internal path of first connecting conduit 32. It should be understood, however, that other conditioning vessels may be located downstream of the melting vessel 14, such as between the melting vessel 14 and the fining vessel 34. In some embodiments, a conditioning vessel may be used between the melting vessel and the fining vessel, wherein the molten glass from the primary melting vessel is further heated to continue the melting process, or cooled to a lower temperature than the temperature of the molten glass in the melting vessel prior to entering the fining vessel.

Bubbles can be removed from molten glass 28 within fining vessel 34 by various techniques. For example, the raw material 24 may include a multivalent compound (i.e., fining agent) that will chemically reduce and release oxygen when heated, such as tin oxide. Other suitable fining agents include, but are not limited to, arsenic, antimony, iron, and cerium. Fining vessel 34 is heated to a higher temperature than the melting vessel, thereby heating the molten glass and fining agents. Oxygen bubbles generated by the temperature-induced chemical reduction of the one or more fining agents rise through the molten glass inside the fining vessel, wherein gases in the molten glass generated in the furnace may diffuse or otherwise be incorporated into the oxygen bubbles generated by the fining agents. The expanding bubbles then rise to the free surface of the molten glass in the fining vessel and are then discharged from the fining vessel. These oxygen bubbles may further result in mechanical mixing of the molten glass in the fining vessel.

The downstream glass manufacturing apparatus 30 may further include other conditioning vessels, such as a mixing vessel 36 for mixing the molten glass. Mixing vessel 36 may be located downstream of fining vessel 34. Mixing vessel 36 may be used to provide a uniform glass melt composition, thereby reducing chemical or thermal inhomogeneity cord (cord) that may otherwise be present in the interior of the clarified molten glass exiting the fining vessel. As shown, the fining vessel 34 may be coupled to the mixing vessel 36 via a second connecting conduit 38. In some examples, molten glass 28 may be gravity fed from fining vessel 34 to mixing vessel 36 via second connecting conduit 38. By way of example, gravity may cause molten glass 28 to pass from fining vessel 34 to mixing vessel 36 through the internal passage of second connecting conduit 38. It should be noted that while mixing vessel 36 is shown downstream of fining vessel 34, mixing vessel 36 may also be located upstream of fining vessel 34. In some embodiments, downstream glass manufacturing apparatus 30 may include multiple mixing vessels, such as a mixing vessel located upstream of fining vessel 34 and a mixing vessel located downstream of fining vessel 34. These mixing vessels may be of the same design or they may be of different designs.

The downstream glass manufacturing apparatus 30 may further include additional conditioning vessels, such as a delivery vessel 40, which may be located downstream of the mixing vessel 36. Delivery vessel 40 can condition molten glass 28 to be fed to a downstream forming apparatus. For example, the delivery vessel 40 can act as an accumulator and/or a flow controller to adjust and/or provide a consistent flow of molten glass 28 to the forming body 42 via the outlet conduit 44. As shown, the mixing vessel 36 may be coupled to the delivery vessel 40 via a third connecting conduit 46. In some examples, molten glass 28 may be gravity fed from mixing vessel 36 to delivery vessel 40 via third connecting conduit 46. By way of example, molten glass 28 may be gravity fed from mixing vessel 36 to delivery vessel 40 through the internal passage of third connecting conduit 46.

The downstream glass manufacturing apparatus 30 can further include a shaping device 48, the shaping device 48 including the shaping body 42 and the inlet conduit 50 as described above. Outlet conduit 44 may be positioned to deliver molten glass 28 from delivery vessel 40 to inlet conduit 50 of forming apparatus 48. For example, the outlet conduit 44 may be nested within and spaced from the inner surface of the inlet conduit 50, thereby providing a free surface of molten glass between the outer surface of the outlet conduit 44 and the inner surface of the inlet conduit 50. The forming body 42 in a fusion downdraw glass manufacturing apparatus may include a trough 52 in an upper surface of the forming body and converging forming surfaces 54 that converge in a draw direction along a bottom edge 56 of the forming body. Molten glass delivered to the forming body trough via delivery vessel 40, outlet conduit 44, and inlet conduit 50 may overflow the side walls of the trough and descend as separate streams of molten glass along converging forming surfaces 54. The separate flows of molten glass merge along bottom edge 56 below bottom edge 56 to create a single glass ribbon 58 that is drawn from bottom edge 56 in a draw or flow direction 60 by applying tension to glass ribbon 58 (as by gravity, edge rolls 72, and pull rolls 82) to control the size of the glass ribbon as the glass cools or the viscosity of the glass increases. Thus, the glass ribbon 58 undergoes a viscoelastic transformation and acquires mechanical properties that impart stable dimensional characteristics to the glass ribbon 58. In some embodiments, glass ribbon 58 can be separated into individual glass sheets 62 by glass separation device 100 in the elastic region of the glass ribbon. Robot 64 may then use gripping tool 65 to transfer individual glass sheets 62 to a conveyor system, whereby the individual glass sheets may be further processed.

Fig. 2 shows a side perspective view of glass ribbon 58 and glass forming roll 90. Although glass forming rollers 90 are shown on one side of glass ribbon 58, embodiments disclosed herein include embodiments with opposing glass forming rollers 90 on opposite sides of glass ribbon 58. In certain exemplary embodiments, the glass forming roll 90 may be positioned below the bottom edge 56 of the forming body 42 and between the edge roll 72 and/or the pull roll 82 in the drawing or flow direction 60.

As shown in fig. 2, the glass forming rolls 90 extend across the width of the glass ribbon 58. In certain exemplary embodiments, the glass forming roll 90 comprises a ceramic material. For example, embodiments disclosed herein include those in which glass forming roll 90 includes a plurality of ceramic disks, each of which extends in an axial direction along a portion of glass forming roll 90. Such glass forming rolls are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,896,646, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The embodiments disclosed herein include those in which the glass forming rollers 90 contact the glass ribbon 58 in the event of a disturbance event (upset event) during the manufacture of the glass sheet 62 and do not contact the glass ribbon 58 during the normal manufacture of the glass sheet 62 from the glass ribbon 58. Thus, the glass shaping rollers 90 can be moved from a position where the glass shaping rollers 90 contact the glass ribbon 58 to a position where the glass shaping rollers 90 do not contact the glass ribbon 58 (e.g., laterally away from the glass ribbon 58). Such movement may be facilitated by, for example, a motor (e.g., a servo motor) or a pivot, swing arm, and counterweight mechanism known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

FIG. 3 shows an end cross-sectional view of an exemplary glass forming apparatus 48 in which glass forming rolls 90 are positioned in a glass forming roll isolation chamber 94. In particular, FIG. 3 shows glass forming chamber 96 having glass ribbon 58 flowing therein, and glass forming roll isolation chamber 94 located on the opposite side of glass forming chamber 96 and glass ribbon 58. A gate 92 is disposed between glass forming chamber 96 and each glass forming roll isolation chamber 94 on each side of glass forming chamber 96. Each gate 92 includes a hinge 192 (see fig. 6 and 7) and is configured to swing (as indicated by arrow 'a') between an open position, as shown in fig. 4, and a closed position, as shown in fig. 3 and 5. Also, while FIGS. 3-10 illustrate swinging doors, embodiments disclosed herein include other types of doors, such as sliding, folding, rolling, or movable doors.

Embodiments disclosed herein include the following: wherein when gate 92 is in the closed position (as shown in fig. 3), the atmosphere in glass forming chamber 96 is not in fluid communication with the atmosphere in glass forming roll isolation chamber 94.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional end view of the glass forming device 48 of FIG. 3 with the gate 92 in an open position. When the shutter 92 is in the open position, the glass forming roller 90 is movable between the glass forming chamber 96 and the glass forming roller isolation chamber 94. In particular, as shown in FIG. 4, the glass forming roll 90 can be moved from a first position within the glass forming roll isolation chamber 94 to a second position (as indicated by arrow "B") within the glass forming chamber 96. This movement may also be in the opposite direction (i.e., from the glass forming chamber toward the glass forming roll isolation chamber 94). Further, such movement may be facilitated by motors (e.g., servo motors) or pivot, swing arm, and counterweight mechanisms known to those of ordinary skill in the art, as examples.

Fig. 5 shows an end cross-sectional view of the glass forming apparatus 48 of fig. 3 and 4 with the glass forming rollers 90 positioned in the glass forming chamber 96. In particular, fig. 5 shows the glass forming rollers 90 contacting opposite sides of the glass ribbon 58 (e.g., after the glass forming rollers 90 are moved from the glass forming roller isolation chamber 94). Once glass forming rolls 90 are positioned in glass forming chamber 96, gate 92 can be moved to a closed position, as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional end view of an exemplary glass forming roll isolation chamber 94. The atmosphere enclosed by the glass forming roll isolation chamber 94 is in fluid communication with an air circulation system 98. The air circulation system 98 facilitates air movement within the glass forming roll isolation chamber by injecting and/or evacuating air through the glass forming roll isolation chamber 94 (e.g., as by operation of one or more fans, nozzles, or systems introducing vacuum suction known to those of ordinary skill in the art).

In certain exemplary embodiments, the air circulation system 98 may include a filter mechanism that prevents recirculation of particles above a predetermined size into the glass forming roll isolation chamber 94. For example, when the gate 92 is in the closed position and the atmosphere in the glass forming chamber 96 is not in fluid communication with the atmosphere in the glass forming roll isolation chamber 94, the air circulation system 98 can cause the atmosphere in the glass forming roll isolation chamber 94 to have a smaller amount of particulate matter than the atmosphere in the glass forming chamber 96. This condition may also result in the removal and/or filtration of particles generated by the wear of the shaping rollers 90 by the air circulation system 98, thereby reducing the presence of such particles in the glass shaping chamber 96.

As shown in fig. 6, the gate 92 includes a hinge 192 and is configured to swing between an open position and a closed position. The gate 92 also includes at least one heating and/or cooling mechanism 194. For example, the heating and/or cooling mechanism 194 may include a resistive heating element, an inductive heating element, an evaporative cooling element, and/or at least one circulating heating and/or cooling fluid.

In certain exemplary embodiments, the heating and/or cooling mechanism 194 can facilitate a temperature differential between the glass forming roll isolation chamber 94 and the glass forming chamber 96, such as when the gate 92 is in the closed position and the atmosphere in the glass forming chamber 96 is not in fluid communication with the atmosphere in the glass forming roll isolation chamber 94. By way of example, embodiments disclosed herein include the following: wherein the temperature of the atmosphere in the glass forming roll isolation chamber 94 is lower than the temperature of the atmosphere in the glass forming chamber 96. Embodiments disclosed herein also include the following: the temperature of the atmosphere in the glass forming roll isolation chamber 94 is equal to or higher than the temperature of the atmosphere in the glass forming chamber 96.

Embodiments disclosed herein can reduce the presence of fine particles in the glass forming environment, such as particles generated by the wear of forming rolls. In addition, embodiments disclosed herein may improve the structural integrity and/or the service life of the glass forming roll. Such embodiments, in turn, can reduce defects in glass articles (e.g., thin glass sheets), as well as reduce the occurrence of glass breakage and other defect phenomena.

Embodiments disclosed herein may also facilitate heating and/or cooling of the glass forming roll 90 prior to introducing the glass forming roll 90 into the glass forming chamber 96. For example, in certain applications, it may be desirable to heat the glass shaping rollers 90 prior to their introduction into the glass shaping chamber 96 and/or to heat the glass shaping roller isolation chamber 94 in order to minimize thermal shock to the shaping body 42 that would otherwise occur when the shaping rollers 90 are introduced into the shaping chamber 96 from a relatively cool environment.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional end view of an exemplary glass forming roll isolation chamber 94'. The glass forming roll isolation chamber 94 'includes a heating and/or cooling mechanism 150, and the heating and/or cooling mechanism 150 can be configured or controlled to raise or lower the temperature within the glass forming roll isolation chamber 94'. For example, the heating and/or cooling mechanism 150 may include a resistive heating element, an inductive heating element, an evaporative cooling element, and/or at least one circulating heating and/or cooling fluid.

In certain exemplary embodiments, the heating and/or cooling mechanism 150 can facilitate and/or minimize the temperature difference between the glass forming roll insulating chamber 94 'and the glass forming chamber 96, such as when the gate 92 is in the closed position and the atmosphere in the glass forming chamber 96 is not in fluid communication with the atmosphere in the glass forming roll insulating chamber 94'. By way of example, embodiments disclosed herein include the following: wherein the atmospheric temperature in the glass forming roll isolation chamber 94' is lower than the atmospheric temperature in the glass forming chamber 96. Embodiments disclosed herein also include the following: wherein the atmospheric temperature in the glass forming roll isolation chamber 94' is equal to or higher than the atmospheric temperature in the glass forming chamber 96.

Also, while FIGS. 6 and 7 show glass forming roll isolation chambers 94, 94' with air circulation system 98 and heating and/or cooling mechanism 150, respectively, embodiments disclosed herein also include the following: wherein the glass forming roll isolation chamber includes both an air circulation system 98 and a heating and/or cooling mechanism 150.

3-5 illustrate forming device 48 having glass forming roll isolation chamber 94 and glass forming rolls 90 located on opposite sides of glass forming chamber 96 and glass ribbon 58, the embodiments disclosed herein also include the following embodiments: with the glass forming roll isolation chamber 94 and glass forming rolls 90 located on only one side of the glass forming chamber 96 and glass ribbon 58. Fig. 7-10 illustrate forming device 48 having a single forming roller 90', which single forming roller 90' is movable between a position within glass forming roller isolation chamber 94 and a position within glass forming chamber 96, wherein the forming roller 90' is in contact with one side of glass ribbon 58. Movement of the glass forming rollers 90 'between the glass forming roller isolation chamber 94 and the glass forming chamber 96 can be accomplished in a manner similar to that shown and described in fig. 3-5, except that only a single glass forming roller 90' is moved on one side of the glass forming chamber 96 and the glass ribbon 58, rather than moving multiple forming rollers 90 on the opposite side of the glass forming chamber 96 and the glass ribbon 58.

Although the above embodiments have been described with reference to a fusion down-draw process, it should be understood that such embodiments are also applicable to other glass forming processes, such as float processes, slot draw processes, up-draw processes, tube draw processes, and roll compaction processes.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments of the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims (8)

1. A glass forming apparatus, comprising:

a glass forming roll, a glass forming chamber, and a glass forming roll isolation chamber, wherein the glass forming roll is movable from a first position within the glass forming roll isolation chamber to a second position within the glass forming chamber, an

An air circulation system in fluid communication with the atmosphere in the glass forming roll isolation chamber and comprising a filtration mechanism.

2. The glass forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein a gate is positioned between the glass forming chamber and the glass forming roll isolation chamber.

3. The glass forming apparatus of claim 2, wherein the gate includes a hinge and is configured to swing between an open position and a closed position.

4. The glass forming apparatus of claim 3, wherein the atmosphere in the glass forming chamber is not in fluid communication with the atmosphere in the glass forming roll isolation chamber when the gate is in the closed position.

5. The glass forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the glass forming rollers are of a ceramic material.

6. The glass forming apparatus of claim 4, wherein the temperature of the atmosphere in the glass forming roll isolation chamber is lower than the temperature of the atmosphere in the glass forming chamber.

7. The glass forming apparatus of claim 4, wherein the temperature of the atmosphere in the glass forming roll isolation chamber is equal to or higher than the temperature of the atmosphere in the glass forming chamber.

8. The glass forming apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one of the gate or the glass forming roll isolation chamber comprises at least one of a heating mechanism or a cooling mechanism.

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