Patent ID: 8443863

Claim:
A material sheet handling apparatus, comprising: a frame supporting at least one Bernoulli chuck, at least one retaining structure, and at least one gas jet; the at least one Bernoulli chuck, mounted to the frame to impart a balanced draw and repellant gas flow to a surface of the material sheet in response to a controlled supply of gas and thereby selectively lift and move the material sheet without contacting the material sheet with the at least one Bernoulli chuck; the at least one retaining structure mounted either directly or indirectly to the frame to extend from the frame toward the material sheet and contact at least one edge of the material sheet and thereby prevent lateral movement of the material sheet when engaged and lifted by the at least one Bernoulli chuck; the at least one gas jet mounted to the frame proximate to at least one edge of the material sheet to selectively impart a stream of gas to a junction of the material sheet and a support surface, when the material sheet is supported on the support surface, and thereby promote separation of the material sheet from the support surface when being lifted from the support surface by the at least one Bernoulli chuck; and a gas temperature regulator coupled to the at least one Bernoulli chuck such that the supply of gas thereto is provided at an elevated temperature substantially matching a temperature of the material sheet prior to imparting the gas flow.