Patent ID: 6220056
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: B65G,Y10T

Abstract:
A device for handling a thin pane of glass or fragile workpieces and products, comprising at least two plates, each plate having a planar surface, the plates being arranged in a substantially horizontal manner and so that the planar surfaces are parallel to and facing each other at a distance from each other sufficient to position a pane of glass therebetween without contacting the planar surfaces, each plate further having a multiplicity of gas passages extending therethough, each gas passage being connected to a gas delivery and removal system via one or more ducts through which a gas stream is delivered to or removed from the plates, the gas delivery and removal system having a first and a second mode of operation, in the first mode of operation, gas is delivered to the gas passages of both plates so that a pane of glass can be kept apart from the planar surfaces in order to convey the pane of glass parallel to the planar surfaces without contacting them and, in the second mode of operation, gas is removed through the gas passages of one of the plates so that a pane of glass can be held in contact with the planar surface of the same plate in order to enable work to be done on the pane of glass.