Provided is a transfer apparatus. The transfer apparatus includes, in addition to a non-contact chuck that lifts and holds a workpiece in a non-contact manner, a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators that radiate ultrasonic waves. The plurality of ultrasonic vibrators are configured to radiate the ultrasonic waves to generate a standing wave that attracts the workpiece and are configured for the non-contact chuck to hold the workpiece at a position where forces attracting in a plurality of directions toward outside of the workpiece are balanced when viewed from a direction facing the workpiece.

Described herein is a packaging system comprising a sleeve having a plurality of sides, an open top, and an open bottom, each of the sides having an inner surface, an inner liner located on the inner surfaces of the sides of the sleeve, the inner liner having an inner surface that defines a cavity, a plurality of building panels located in the cavity, and an outer wrapping surrounding at least a portion of the sleeve and at least a portion of the plurality of building panels.

Glass printing machine with continuous glass transport comprising a loading station (1), viewing means (2) or a mechanical positioning system, a printing bridge (3), and an unloading station (4), where the machine comprises an upper level (9) arranged above a lower level (10), with a series of carriages (11) running continuously driven by linear motors (6) in one direction on the upper level (9) and in the opposite direction on the lower level (10); to achieve this change of direction, a first vertical drive (7) in the loading station (1) lifts the carriages (11) from the lower level (10) to the upper level (9) and a second vertical drive (8) in the unloading station (4) lowers the carriages (11) from the upper level (9) to the lower level (10). Achieving a machine with a precision of less than 0.1 mm that can be used for large loads.

Methods and apparatus provide for sourcing a glass web, the glass web having a length and a width transverse to the length; continuously moving the glass web from the source to a destination in a transport direction along the length of the glass web; and cutting the glass web at a cutting zone into at least first and second glass ribbons as the glass web is moved from the source to the destination, the first glass ribbon having a first width and the second glass ribbon having a second width, where the first and second widths are not equal.

A conveying apparatus can comprise one or more support members defining an interior passage and a first plurality of apertures. A first cross-sectional area of the interior passage at a first end portion of a support area can be greater than a second cross-sectional area of the interior passage at a second end portion of the support area. A tube can extend within the interior passage and comprises a second plurality of apertures. Methods are also provided for conveying a ribbon with one or more support members.

A pallet for transferring a glass plate includes: a lower frame; an upper frame seated on a top of the lower frame to allow a glass plate to be seated; and a side clamp comprising: a fixating plate provided on a side of the upper frame to prevent horizontal shaking of the glass plate; and a distance adjusting part making the fixating plate approach or move away from the glass plate at a predetermined distance.

A pallet for transferring a glass plate includes: a lower frame; an upper frame seated on a top of the lower frame to allow a glass plate to be seated; and a side clamp comprising: a fixating plate provided on a side of the upper frame to prevent horizontal shaking of the glass plate; and a distance adjusting part making the fixating plate approach or move away from the glass plate at a predetermined distance.

A laser irradiation apparatus includes a laser generation device, a levitation unit to levitate an object to which the laser light is applied, and a conveyance unit to convey the levitated object. The conveyance unit includes a holding mechanism for holding the object by absorption, and a moving mechanism for moving the holding mechanism in a conveyance direction. The holding mechanism includes a base including a plurality of through holes, a plurality of pipes respectively connected to the through holes, a vacuum generation device configured to evacuate air from the pipes, and a plurality of absorption assistance valves each disposed in the middle of a respective one of the pipes, each of the plurality of absorption assistance valves being configured to be closed when a flow rate of a gas flowing into the pipe through the through hole becomes equal to or higher than a threshold.

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, dimensions of the workpiece and a velocity of the workpiece while supported by the surface.

A glass cutting line includes automatic remnant storage and retrieval including cutting table with integrated squaring stop and y-break breaking bar facilitating sub-plate cutting. The cutting table is configured for sub-plate cutting mode which provides the ability to cut portions of a stock sheet and release the cut portion in the form of a remnant and or individual workpieces to breakout before the entire sheet is finished scoring without the sub-plate leaving the cutting table.