A substrate guide of the present invention is provided on a carrier frame of a carrier which holds a substrate substantially vertically so that a surface of the substrate is in a substantially vertical direction and supports the substrate by being in contact with at least a peripheral edge end surface portion of the substrate. The substrate guide includes a base attached to the carrier frame, a substrate support which comes into contact with the peripheral edge end surface portion of the substrate held by the carrier and is attached to the base to be movable in a normal direction of the peripheral edge end surface portion in a direction parallel to the surface of the substrate, and a force-applying member which applies a force to the substrate support toward the substrate with respect to the base.

Provided are a glass transportation apparatus and a system including the glass transportation apparatus for manufacturing a multi-pane glass unit. The glass transportation apparatus includes a plate including a main surface facing a main surface of a glass pane, a gas blowing device configured to blow a gas towards the main surface of the glass pane such that the main surface of the glass pane is spaced apart from the main surface of the plate, and a conveyer including a belt having an upper surface and a plurality of pulleys configured to circulate the belt.

A vacuum cup is described comprising a body portion having an elongate cavity and a contact surface for contacting a glass sheet to form a chamber with the elongate cavity and the glass sheet. An opening in the body portion is in fluid communication with the elongate cavity for connection to a low-pressure source so that the contact surface can form a seal with the glass sheet to attach the vacuum cup to the glass sheet. The periphery of the elongate cavity has major and minor axes orthogonal to one another, the major axis being longer than the minor axis. The periphery of the elongate cavity has first and second end portions at respective ends of the major axis, the first end portion being larger than the second end portion. Methods of using such vacuum cups to support a glass sheet during processing are also described.

A device for picking up, shaping, and placing a thin glass pane, includes a frame with an upper side and a lower side, which is suitable to be directed at a glass pane with a thickness of less than 1 mm, and which is provided with a plurality of picking up pins that are arranged substantially parallel to one another and whose end directed at the glass pane is equipped with a suction cup, wherein the picking up pins are movable along their direction of extension independent of one another in order to adapt the arrangement of the suction cups to an intended shape of the glass pane.

Provided is an apparatus for manufacturing a multi-pane glass unit. The apparatus includes: a first plate configured to hold a first glass pane; a second plate configured to hold a second glass pane such that the second glass pane faces the first glass pane; and a conveyer including a first portion configured to convey the first glass pane onto the first plate and a second portion configured to convey the second glass onto the second plate.

A deployable rack platform for loading and transportation of flat glass comprising a system allowing the rack platform to turn from a horizontal position, being totally flat, to a different position featuring diverse opening angles within a vehicle chassis. Particularly, a deployable rack for loading and transportation of flat glass wherein the rack platform achieves a horizontal position within a maximum period of 5 minutes, enabling the platform to take advantage up to 100% of the original surface of the platform initial position (e.g., before loading flat glass) wherein the process does not require the transportation of flat sheets or where the proceed needs to be loaded with different goods, merchandise, or raw materials. The rack platform comprises a highly versatile system for different types of transportation by optimizing space and savings, since the platform supports a load up to 20 tons.

The present invention discloses a material integrating device, which comprises a material transferring mechanism, an integrating mechanism and a conveying mechanism that are linked to a control system signal, wherein the material transferring mechanism is used to place the material to be integrated on the integrating mechanism and transfer the integrated material to the conveying mechanism, a vacuum adsorption platform is installed on a manipulator and is used to adsorb materials; the integrating mechanism comprises a vacuum negative pressure worktable, an angle adjusting platform and an electric push rod, the angle adjusting platform is slidably provided on the top surface of the vacuum negative pressure worktable and is located on the side of the material to be integrated, and the electric push rod is used to push the material to be integrated to be level; and the conveying mechanism comprises a conveyor belt for placing the integrated material.

The present invention relates to a substrate carrier for accommodating and transporting a substrate, to a changing station comprising such a substrate carrier as well as to a method for treating a substrate.

Substrate loading device including a frame adapted to connect the substrate loading device to a substrate processing apparatus, the frame having a transport opening through which substrates are transported between the substrate loading device and the substrate processing apparatus, a cassette support connected to the frame for holding at least one substrate cassette container for transfer of substrates to and from the at least one substrate cassette container through the transport opening, and selectably variable cassette support purge ports with a variable purge port nozzle outlet, variable between more than one selectable predetermined purge port nozzle characteristics, disposed on the cassette support, each of the more than one purge port nozzle characteristics being configured so that the purge port nozzle outlet with each selected predetermined purge port nozzle characteristic complements and couples to at least one purge port of the at least one substrate cassette container.

A sheet conveying device and a sheet conveying method whereby it is possible to convey a sheet more accurately. This sheet conveying device includes a holder capable of holding a sheet, bringing the sheet into a stretched state while holding the sheet, and conveying the held sheet. This sheet conveying device also includes a sheet state recognizer that recognizes the state of the sheet when the sheet is held in a stretched state by the holder.