Systems and methods for glass streak improvement via high resolution heating

Abstract

Systems and methods for remediating streak in glass ribbons formed from glass forming processes are disclosed. The systems include a laser that produces a stationary laser beam having a wavelength of from about 1 μm to about 12 μm and a beam width less than or equal to a full width half maximum of a change in the thickness of the glass ribbon over a streak width at a streak location and optical components to condition and direct the laser beam at the streak location. The methods include forming the glass ribbon, identifying a streak in the glass ribbon, and directing the laser beam at the streak location. The laser beam heats the glass ribbon at the location of the streak, which reduces a viscosity of the glass ribbon to cause glass thinning that reduces the severity of the streak.