A conveying device (14) for a glass film (G) includes: a first support (21) configured to support a first portion (Gc) of the glass film (G) having been cut; a second support (22) configured to support a second portion (Gd) of the glass film (G) having been cut; and an opening (23) formed at a position between the first support (21) and the second support (22) and below a laser irradiation apparatus (19). A cutting step for the glass film (G) includes deforming the glass film (G) so as to be convex downward through the opening (23), and radiating a laser beam (LB) from the laser irradiation apparatus (19) to a position which is within a range of the opening (23), and which is prevented from coinciding with a top (GT) of the glass film (G).

A gripping device (10) for sheet-shaped elements (L) comprising: at least one longitudinal bar (20) adjustable in length and provided with a plurality of suction gripping members (30) connected along a longitudinal axis (A) of the longitudinal bar (20).

A substrate holding device includes a base body that has a flat plate-like shape and that includes gas passages that open in an upper surface of the base body, and a plurality of protrusions that protrude from the upper surface of the base body. At least an upper part of each of the protrusions has a conical frustum shape having a base angle of 70 or more and 85 or less.

A noncontact support platform system is configured to support a workpiece and includes pressure ports and vacuum ports that are interspersed on a top surface of a table. The ports are arranged along columns such that a pressure port alternates with a vacuum port along each column. The columns include at least one longitudinal column that is oriented substantially parallel to a direction of motion of the workpiece. Mutually parallel rotated columns are each oriented at an oblique angle to the direction of motion. At least one transition column is located between a longitudinal column and its proximal rotated column and has an orientation that is intermediate between the two columns that are adjacent to that transition column. Each vacuum port and pressure port is located at an intersection of a column with a row that is oriented substantially perpendicular to the direction of motion.

A noncontact support platform system is configured to support a workpiece and includes pressure ports and vacuum ports that are interspersed on a top surface of a table. The ports are arranged along columns such that a pressure port alternates with a vacuum port along each column. The columns include at least one longitudinal column that is oriented substantially parallel to a direction of motion of the workpiece. Mutually parallel rotated columns are each oriented at an oblique angle to the direction of motion. At least one transition column is located between a longitudinal column and its proximal rotated column and has an orientation that is intermediate between the two columns that are adjacent to that transition column. Each vacuum port and pressure port is located at an intersection of a column with a row that is oriented substantially perpendicular to the direction of motion.

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.

Disclosed is an apparatus for conveying glass panels contains a conveying device including a feed conveyor and a removal conveyor, and also a region with a processing station. A lifting device for glass panels is provided upstream of the processing station and a lowering device for glass panels is provided downstream of the processing station, wherein a linear-conveying device is provided between the lifting device and the lowering device. It is thus possible for glass panels to be moved, by raising action, linear movement and lowering action, around a first component located in the region in the processing station, the second component therefore passing the first component. During the passing operation, the second component always remains in the conveying plane, which is the same as the plane of the second component.

A noncontact support platform includes pressure ports distributed on a surface of a table, each connected to a pressure source. Vacuum ports are distributed on the surface of the table, each connected to a vacuum source. Outward flow through the pressure ports and inward flow through the vacuum ports form a fluid cushion to support a workpiece at a nonzero distance from the table. A plurality of channels each connect at least two of the vacuum ports to enable flow of fluid between the connected vacuum ports. When one of the connected vacuum ports is covered by an edge of the workpiece and the other is not, a suction force that is exerted by the connected vacuum ports on the edge is weaker than the suction force that is exerted on a part of the workpiece where both of the connected vacuum ports are covered.

The invention relates to a device and to a method for safely and quickly transferring new glass sheets from the production line to a transport vehicle, having the following features; a) a glass-sheet roller conveyor (8) having a glass-rack gripping and stacking device (7) for receiving glass sheets (9) from a production line, b) two parallel running rails (12) extending centrically at a right angle toward the glass-sheet roller conveyor (8), an underfloor energy supply rail (24) being arranged in the region between the running rails (12), c) at least one glass-rack carriage (3), which moves on the running rails (12) and which has at least one glass rack (4, 6) lying on said glass-rack carriage, a glass rack (4, 6) being able to be loaded with obliquely positioned glass sheets (9) and the glass racks (4, 6) being fixed in the oblique position by means of a pivoting device (14), and d) a rotary device (2) arranged in the course of the running rails for rotating a glass-rack carriage (3) by 180 degrees for loading one glass-rack carriage (3) at a time.

A method of cutting a glass article includes translating a laser beam relative to a first surface of the glass article. The laser beam includes a beam waist having a center. The center of the beam waist of the laser beam is positioned at or below a second surface of the glass article. The laser beam creates a plurality of defects along a score line in the glass article such that the plurality of defects extends a distance into the glass article, and at least some individual defects of the plurality of defects are non-orthogonal to the first surface of the glass article and are biased in a direction of translation of the laser beam. Glass articles having edge defects are also disclosed.