Methods and apparatus for manufacturing a ribbon

A method of manufacturing a ribbon comprising:

• contacting the ribbon with a recess of a forming roll to impart a protrusion to the ribbon traveling along a ribbon travel path in a first travel direction;
• receiving the ribbon on a surface positioned downstream from the forming roll;
• and then
• altering a position of the protrusion relative to a major surface of the ribbon.

A method of manufacturing a ribbon comprising:

• contacting the ribbon with a recess of a forming roll to impart a protrusion to the ribbon traveling along a ribbon travel path in a first travel direction;
• reducing a temperature difference between the protrusion and a major surface of the ribbon to less than about 5° C. as the ribbon reaches an inlet of a cooling apparatus;
• passing the ribbon through the inlet, the ribbon comprising a viscosity within a range from about 109 poise to about 1013 poise;
• changing a temperature of the protrusion within an interior of the cooling apparatus while maintaining the temperature difference between the protrusion and the surrounding portion of the ribbon to less than about 5° C.;
• and
• passing the ribbon through an exit of the cooling apparatus, the ribbon comprising a viscosity upon exiting that is greater than about 1016 poise.