A vacuum plate lifting system for lifting sheet material articles, comprises a vacuum lifter apparatus for lifting sheet material articles, a lifter actuation system configured to lift and/or move the vacuum lifter apparatus during use and a control system, the control system being configured to control the lifter actuation system during said movement. The vacuum lifter apparatus comprises: a substantially horizontal suction plate; an airflow suction system for conveying vacuum air pressure to said perforated suction lifting surface; at least one mount for connection of the suction plate to at least one actuator of the lifter actuation system for lifting and/or moving the suction plate during use. At least one elongate bar is movably mounted along an edge of the suction plate. A bar actuation system is configured to drive movement of said bar between a raised orientation and a lowered orientation.

An apparatus for picking a product, including: at least one vacuum cup including at least one axis passing through the at least one vacuum cup; and at least one damping device surrounding at least a portion of the at least one vacuum cup in a radial direction orthogonal to the at least one axis. The at least one vacuum cup is arranged to create negative pressure and adhere, with the negative pressure, the at least one sheet of material to the at least one vacuum cup. The at least one damping device is arranged to contact the at least one sheet of material to limit displacement of the at least one sheet of material with respect to the at least one vacuum cup.

A paper sheet conveyance device for generating an airstream in a conveyance duct and for conveying a paper sheet inserted into the conveyance duct by being pushed from behind by a conveyance subsidiary body moving in the conveyance duct by receiving the airstream. The paper sheet conveyance device includes an air volume adjustment unit that adjusts a strength of the airstream according to a position of the conveyance subsidiary body moving in the conveyance path.

A paper sheet conveyance device for generating an airstream in a conveyance duct and for conveying a paper sheet inserted into the conveyance duct by being pushed from behind by a conveyance subsidiary body moving in the conveyance duct by receiving the airstream. The paper sheet conveyance device includes an air volume adjustment unit that adjusts a strength of the airstream according to a position of the conveyance subsidiary body moving in the conveyance path.

A substrate unloading system comprising a gripper mounted on a slanted plane and movable along the slanted plane, and a platen onto which the substrate is attached, the platen configured to be moved down in a vertical direction and away from the gripper in a horizontal direction, the gripper and the platen configured to move simultaneously so that the substrate remains substantially horizontal.

A medium feeding mechanism includes: a feeder that feeds a medium; a transport path that is coupled to the feeder; a transporter that transports the medium through the transport path; a transport drive that drives the transporter; an entry detection sensor that detects when the medium fed from the feeder has entered the transport path; a take-in transporter that takes in the medium transported by the transporter; and a transport controller that controls the feeder and the take-in transporter, wherein when the entry detection sensor detects entry of the medium at a time that falls within a first range set in advance, the controller controls the take-in transporter so as to take in the medium, and when the entry detection sensor detects entry of the medium at a time that falls within a second range following the first range.

A medium feeding mechanism includes: a feeder that feeds a medium; a transport path that is coupled to the feeder; a transporter that transports the medium through the transport path; a transport drive that drives the transporter; an entry detection sensor that detects when the medium fed from the feeder has entered the transport path; a take-in transporter that takes in the medium transported by the transporter; and a transport controller that controls the feeder and the take-in transporter, wherein when the entry detection sensor detects entry of the medium at a time that falls within a first range set in advance, the controller controls the take-in transporter so as to take in the medium, and when the entry detection sensor detects entry of the medium at a time that falls within a second range following the first range.

An apparatus for supporting a process of debonding a carrier glass sheet and an ultrathin glass sheet. A suction plate includes a plurality of suction hole portions defining suction holes for suction-holding a glass laminate seated thereon and at least one recess portion defining at least one recess accommodating at least one device layer protruding from one surface of an ultrathin glass sheet of the glass laminate. A plurality of suction cups are fitted to the plurality of suction hole portions, respectively, such that the plurality of suction cups are elastically compressible, in response to contact pressure of the ultrathin glass sheet and the device layer. A vacuum pump is connected to the plurality of suction hole portions to apply negative pressure to the plurality of suction hole portions. A controller controls the vacuum pump to adjust the negative pressure applied to the plurality of suction hole portions.

A pick-up device picking up stacked sheet-shaped workpieces from the top, the device includes a nozzle mechanism that includes a pick-up nozzle pulling up a first workpiece from the top of the stacked workpieces by air blowing, and a holding mechanism that holds the first workpiece from the top. The pick-up nozzle includes a ventilation groove provided on a bottom surface opposite to an upper surface of the first workpiece from the top and passing through to an air blowing side end part of the bottom surface, and a nozzle port blowing air toward the air blowing side end part of the bottom surface along the inside of the ventilation groove, and the air blowing side end part of a groove inner bottom surface of the ventilation groove is formed in a shape directed in a direction of being separated from the workpiece.

A veneer sheet feed device for multistage veneer sheet dryer is provided between an auto feeder including a carry-in conveyor and a roll dryer (veneer sheet dryer). The veneer sheet feed device is provided with a guide member and a feed conveyor for feeding a veneer sheet carried in from the carry-in conveyor to each conveyance unit of the roll dryer in this order from a conveyance up stream side. The veneer sheet feed device further provided with a pivot mechanism that allows a starting end of the guide member belonging to the conveyance stage immediately above the conveyance stage in which the veneer sheet is carried this time from the carry-in conveyor to pivot to a portion above a horizontal position of a roller shaft located at a terminal end of this guide member.