Patent ID: 8794036

Claim:
A method of forming a glass sheet comprising: a) flowing molten glass from a forming body in a downdraw process to form a continuously moving glass ribbon having a free length and a free end, and wherein the free length of the glass ribbon is defined as the length of the glass ribbon from the lowest contact point between the glass ribbon and a structure supporting a weight of the glass ribbon to the free end of the glass ribbon, and where the free length varies as a function of time; b) engaging the continuously moving glass ribbon along the free length with a first weight compensating apparatus, the first weight compensating apparatus comprising an engaging device that contacts and engages the continuously moving glass ribbon and a conveyor, the engaging device traveling along the conveyor in a downdraw direction of the continuously moving glass ribbon; c) applying a first downward force to the continuously moving glass ribbon with the first weight compensating apparatus, wherein the first downward force applied by the first weight compensating apparatus is inversely proportional in magnitude to the free length of the glass ribbon such that as the free length of the continuously moving glass ribbon increases, the force applied by the weight compensating apparatus decreases; d) forming a score in the continuously moving glass ribbon; and e) separating a portion of the continuously moving glass ribbon at the score to form a glass sheet.