A non-contact support platform with open-loop control, including: a surface, to support a workpiece by fluid-bearing of fluid flowing through a plurality of nozzles, a supply system, connected to the surface and configured to maintain the fluid-bearing by applying pressure to cause flow of the fluid out of a subset of the plurality of nozzles, and a controller, to control fluid flow in the supply system with an open-loop circuit to support the workpiece while it moves over the non-contact support platform, wherein the fluid flow is controlled based on at least parameter of a group of workpiece parameters consisting of a position of the workpiece, dimenions of the workpiece and a velocity of the workpiece while supported by the surface.

The invention provides systems and methods for robotically stacking sheets. The systems and methods involve a robot arm and a conveyor line. The robot arm has attached thereto a suction frame. In some embodiments, the systems and methods involve first and second robot arms. In such embodiments, the system and method facilitate and involve a sequentially alternating unloading operation such that the system has a first position in which the first robot arm is elevated and has the first suction frame loaded with one or more sheets while the second robot arm is lowered and has the second suction frame unloaded and the system has a second position in which the second robot arm is elevated and has the second suction frame loaded with one or more sheets while the first robot arm is lowered and has the first suction frame unloaded.

An inkjet printer is described. The inkjet printer has a gas cushion substrate support; a print assembly comprising a dispenser with an ejection surface facing the gas cushion substrate support; and a proximity sensor disposed in a surface of the gas cushion substrate support facing the ejection surface. A method is described that includes disposing a workpiece on a gas cushion support of an inkjet printer; supporting the workpiece on a gas cushion above a surface of the gas cushion support; detecting a distance of the workpiece from the surface of the gas cushion support; determining a difference between the distance and a target distance; comparing the difference to a tolerance; and adjusting the distance of the workpiece from the surface of the gas cushion support based on the comparison.

A cutting system for slabs which includes a longitudinal guide having a pair of surfaces opposite to each other, the pair made up of a lower surface and an opposite upper surface, a suction cup coupled to the lower surface of the longitudinal guide suitable to selectively adhere to a slab and defining a contact surface of the longitudinal guide on the slab, the longitudinal guide further including a pair of rails parallel to each other coupled to the upper surface of the longitudinal guide and suitable for slidably coupling to a scoring slider. The rails are arranged on opposite sides with respect to a median plane of the suction cup perpendicular to the contact surface thereof.

A packaging machine having several work stations, a transport chain and a chain deflection pulley on which the transport chain is mounted. The transport chain comprises chain clips, each chain clip having an upper part and a lower part, wherein the upper part and/or the lower part may be moveable relative to each other to move the chain clips between an open position and a closed position. The material blank may be introduced into the open chain clips and secured in the closed chain clips to transport the material blank in a direction of transport using the transport chain. A chain opening mechanism may be actively and operably changed between an opening state and a closing state in order to open and close at least one chain clip disposed on a planar oriented section of the transport chain and/or to maintain an already opened chain clip in an open state.

A method for forming a glass sheet includes forming a glass ribbon. A robot arm is operated to move an end effector through a preprogrammed cycle. The cycle includes engaging a segment of the glass ribbon with the end effector, separating the engaged segment from the glass ribbon to generate a glass sheet, and moving the glass sheet away from the glass ribbon. The preprogrammed cycle designates predetermined positions of the end effector at predetermined points in time. While the robot arm is operating through the preprogrammed cycle, a parameter indicative of a force being exerted on the glass ribbon by the end effector is sensed. A position of the end effector is altered to differ from the predetermined position at the corresponding point in time when the sensed parameter deviates from a target value. An excessive force applied to the glass ribbon can be reduced in real-time.

A fuel cell separator conveying device that ensures reducing dirt adhesion on a sealing surface of a stacked fuel cell separator using a protection sheet and reducing the protection sheet being left adhered when the fuel cell separator is conveyed is provided. The fuel cell separator conveying device that lifts up and conveys the fuel cell separator placed on the protection sheet includes a grasping portion that grasps the fuel cell separator by a suction force, a moving unit that moves the grasping portion in a lift-up direction of the fuel cell separator, and an air blowing portion that applies a downward force in an opposite direction of the lift-up direction of the fuel cell separator to the protection sheet through an opening of the fuel cell separator when the moving unit moves the grasping portion.

A method of manufacturing a glass roll includes separating unnecessary portions from a glass ribbon by cutting the glass ribbon along a longitudinal direction while conveying the glass ribbon. The method also includes passing the glass ribbon, from which the unnecessary portions are separated, through a looseness conveyance region on a conveyance path where the glass ribbon is loosened, and taking up the glass ribbon around a roll core at a downstream end of the conveyance path. A suction conveyor is provided between the looseness conveyance region and the downstream end on the conveyance path. While the glass ribbon is conveyed by the suction conveyor, the glass ribbon is tensioned between the suction conveyor and the downstream end on the conveyance path along with taking up the glass ribbon around the roll core.

The invention provides systems and methods for robotically stacking sheets. The systems and methods involve a robot arm and a conveyor line. The robot arm has attached thereto a suction frame. In some embodiments, the systems and methods involve first and second robot arms. In such embodiments, the system and method facilitate and involve a sequentially alternating unloading operation such that the system has a first position in which the first robot arm is elevated and has the first suction frame loaded with one or more sheets while the second robot arm is lowered and has the second suction frame unloaded and the system has a second position in which the second robot arm is elevated and has the second suction frame loaded with one or more sheets while the first robot arm is lowered and has the first suction frame unloaded.

A machine for breaking out an inner shape in a glass sheet, includes a cutting tool and a displacement system to produce a cutting line on a first side of the glass sheet that delimits an outer contour of the inner shape and an inner contour of a peripheral shape; a bearing system to bear against a second side of the sheet along the outer contour of the inner shape; a deformation system to deform one of the inner and peripheral shapes by convex bending toward the second side, the convex bending creating a differential deformation between the inner and peripheral shapes to break out the inner shape along the cutting line and separate the inner shape from the peripheral shape so that a distance needed for a contactless extraction is created, and an extraction system to extract the inner or peripheral shape while the convex bending is maintained.