Methods and systems for determination of warpage in a workpiece supported by a non-contact support platform, including a surface with a plurality of pressure ports and a plurality of fluid evacuation ports on the surface, a supply system with a pressure supply connected to the plurality of pressure ports on the surface and configured to supply pressure at a substantially constant level and cause a fluid to flow out of the plurality of pressure ports, so as to support a workpiece by fluid-bearing formed under the workpiece, and at least one flowmeter, coupled to a controller and configured to measure the flowrate at the surface, wherein the workpiece is determined to be warped when the measured flowrate is outside a predefined flowrate range.

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.

This application discloses an apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel and a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel. The manufacturing apparatus includes a vacuum attaching station, a pneumatic transmission mechanism and a sealant curing station, the vacuum attaching station is configured to support the liquid crystal panel on which sealant coating and substrate attaching have been completed, the pneumatic transmission mechanism is disposed at the vacuum attaching station and between the vacuum attaching station and the sealant curing station, the pneumatic transmission mechanism is provided with a plurality of air holes, and an angle included between an air discharging direction of the air holes and the liquid crystal panel is an acute angle.

A method of separating a glass web includes the steps of placing the glass web in tension by applying an in-plane tension to the glass web in a tensile direction and producing a region of increased tension on a first major surface of the glass web by imparting a curvature in the glass web. The method further includes separating the glass web along a separation path parallel to an axis of the curvature and transverse to the tensile direction by applying a defect to a portion of the first major surface in the region of increased tension.

The destacker apparatus (1), comprises: a succession of conveyors (10, 11, 12) arranged inclined relative to the horizon, each comprising a mobile surface (S) for receiving and supporting articles (J, K) carried upwards by the conveyors (10, 11, 12); and a device for varying the pressure of a fluid (2). The surface (S) of the conveyors (10, 11, 12) has through holes and the pressure varying device (2) is fluid dynamically connected to this surface (S).

A carrying method of carrying a substrate with a substrate holder, including: holding a part of the substrate located above the substrate holder using holding pads; controlling and driving downward the holding pads holding the substrate so that the substrate is supported on the support surface of the substrate holder, when releasing the hold of an other part of the substrate by a substrate carry-in hand that holds the other part of the substrate located above the substrate holder. Accordingly, the substrate carriage to the substrate holder can be swiftly performed.

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 glass processing apparatus to convey a glass sheet along a conveyance path can include a plurality of air bars spaced apart from each other along a first direction extending perpendicular to a central axis. Each air bar can include a surface with a plurality of fluid outlet ports. The glass processing apparatus can include a plurality of plates, and at least one of the plurality of plates can be positioned between ones of the plurality of air bars. Each plate can include a surface with a plurality of fluid inlet ports. The plurality of air bars and the plurality of plates can be symmetrically arranged relative to the central axis. Methods of processing a glass sheet can include emitting fluid from the plurality of fluid outlet ports of each of the plurality of air bars, thereby providing a cushion of fluid.

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.