Apparatus and method characterizing glass sheets

A method for trimming a moving glass ribbon comprising a quality portion and an edge portion, the method comprising the steps of:

• supplying the moving glass ribbon to a trimming apparatus, the moving glass ribbon moving through the trimming apparatus along a first path;
• supporting the moving glass ribbon over a support body having an upper surface defining a plurality of orifices from which a gas is emitted that levitates the glass ribbon over the upper surface;
• contacting the edge portion of the glass ribbon with a roller of a scribing device, thereby forming a flaw region extending in a width-wise direction within the edge portion of the glass ribbon, the flaw region comprising a plurality of flaws on the edge portion of the glass ribbon;
• forming a crack in the moving glass ribbon, the crack propagating through a thickness of the moving glass ribbon in a direction opposite a direction of travel of the moving glass ribbon to separate the edge portion from the quality portion of the moving glass ribbon, the quality portion following the first path;
• diverting the edge portion along a second path different from the first path as the crack propagates along a length of the glass ribbon;
• and
• wherein the edge portion remains attached to the glass ribbon as the edge portion is diverted.