Patent ID: 6336775
Filing Date: 2002-01-08
Classification: B65G,C03B,F27B,H01L,Y02P

Abstract:
A gas floating-transporting apparatus comprising:a gas floating mechanism including: a gas ejection device for expelling a gas toward a surface of a material to be floated such that a force applied against the surface of the material by the expelled gas is sufficient to float the material, and a gas supply device for supplying the gas to said gas ejection device; a transporting mechanism including an abutting member for abutting an end of the material while the material is being floated by said gas floating mechanism, said abutting member being adapted to move in a predetermined direction so as to push against the end of the material and move the material in the predetermined direction while the material is being floated by said gas floating mechanism; a thermal treatment space for thermally treating the material, said gas floating mechanism and said transporting mechanism being accommodated in said thermal treatment space; a loading part for supplying the material to be thermally treated into said thermal treatment space, said loading part including a loading gas floating mechanism and a loading transporting mechanism; and an unloading part for removing the material from said thermal treatment space, said unloading part including an unloading gas floating mechanism and an unloading transporting mechanism.