Abstract: Manual and automated racking systems and associated methods for loading/unloading glass panels (e.g., insulating glass units (IGU), laminated glass units, glass composites, monolithic glass, and the like) onto/from a transportable rack, and a rack for use with the manual and automated racking systems.

Abstract: Manual and automated racking systems and associated methods for loading/unloading glass panels (e.g., insulating glass units (IGU), laminated glass units, glass composites, monolithic glass, and the like) onto/from a transportable rack, and a rack for use with the manual and automated racking systems.

Abstract: Manual and automated racking systems and associated methods for loading/unloading glass panels (e.g., insulating glass units (IGU), laminated glass units, glass composites, monolithic glass, and the like) onto/from a transportable rack, and a rack for use with the manual and automated racking systems.

Abstract: An insulating gas unit, and a method and apparatus for filling and sealing the insulating gas unit with an insulating gas, such as argon or krypton. The insulating glass unit includes a spacer frame having at least one elongated or oblong opening dimensioned to receive a gas filling nozzle. A mating elongated or oblong plug is dimensioned to be received within the opening in order to seal the insulating space of the insulating gas unit. A dimpling tool engages with the plug to form dimples that secure the plug in the opening.

Abstract: An insulating gas unit, and a method and apparatus for filling and sealing the insulating gas unit with an insulating gas, such as argon or krypton. The insulating glass unit includes a spacer frame having at least one elongated or oblong opening dimensioned to receive a gas filling nozzle. A mating elongated or oblong plug is dimensioned to be received within the opening in order to seal the insulating space of the insulating gas unit. A dimpling tool engages with the plug to form dimples that secure the plug in the opening.

Abstract: A glass slat rack is provided. The glass slat rack secures glass panels within slots. The glass slat rack includes a base frame, a vertical slat rack and a pivoting slat rack. The vertical slat rack is attached to the base frame and extends substantially perpendicular from the base frame. The vertical slat rack may include a plurality of slats substantially parallel to one another and running vertically, from the bottom end to the top end of the vertical slat rack. The pivoting slat rack is pivotally mounted to the glass slat rack. In certain embodiments, the pivoting slat rack is pivotally connected to the base frame. The pivoting slat rack also includes a plurality of slats 16 forming slots in between. The slots of the pivoting slat rack align with the slots of the vertical slat rack, and thereby secure the glass panels within.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for filling insulating glass units with one or more insulating gases (e.g., Argon and Krypton gas). The insulating gases are supplied to gas filling tubes that are inserted into one or more interpane spaces of the insulating glass units. Each interpane space may be filled with more than one insulating gas. A control unit controls the injection of the insulating gases in accordance with gas filling data received by the control unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a video image so as to feature the boundaries between light and dark regions of the image. The method and apparatus are applicable to a video image which is represented by an array of pixels, in which each pixel is associated with a gray scale intensity value. According to the invention a center pixel is selected along with a plurality of pixels forming a two-dimensional neighborhood of the center pixel. From the intensity values associated with the pixels of the neighborhood, a determination is made whether or not the center pixel lies in a transition region, in which the image undergoes a rapid variation between light and dark. A bit value is then assigned to the center pixel, indicating whether the center pixel is to be black or white in the processed image. The bit value is assigned according to one of two predetermined algorithms depending on whether the center pixel was determined to lie within or not to lie within a transition region.

Abstract: Method of transporting and processing of substrates. Particularly, transporting the substrate in a double floating mode within a confined passageway and selectively rotating the substrate within the passageway by applying pressurized fluid medium across the planar surface of the substrate. Processing of the substrate may be accomplished during the rotating by directing processing agents such as cleaning medium, rinsing medium, developing agent, etching agent, and the like, onto a surface of the substrate.

Abstract: This invention relates to method and apparatus of transporting and coating substrates within a confined longitudinal passageway. The method is characterized by the transport and coating of substrates without human or mechanical contact. The method includes supplying a fluid medium into the confined passageway and discharging the fluid medium from the passageway, such that the moving fluid cushions while longitudinally transporting the substrate within the passageway.

Abstract: Method of transporting and processing of substrates, including wafers of the type used for semiconductors. Particularly, a method of flowing fluid medium longitudinally within a confined passageway so that the substrate is supported, transported and processed in a double floating condition without touching the walls of the passageway. The method is characterized by the restricting of flowing of fluid medium into the passageway, so as to guide the substrate during transport and processing by injecting pressurized coating medium into the passageway at a series of processing stations defined intermediate transport sections of said passageway.

Abstract: In a static optical bar code reader, a stationary bar code is disposed in operative relationship to a light sensitive charge coupled device. The photosites of the charge coupled device convert light from the contrasting segments of the bar code to an analog voltage. The analog output of the charge coupled device is applied to a circuit which converts it to a digital signal. The digital signal is transmitted to a suitably programmed microprocessor which preferably decodes the digital signal and recovers the information included in the bar code. The output of the microprocessor may be applied to a display, a host computer or some other utilization device.

Abstract: In an apparatus for storing articles, bins have a sensor for detecting the presence of an article in a bin and an optical code reader for reading a bar code on the article. The presence detector and the optical code reader are coupled to a circuit which provides an indication of the identity and location of a coded article. The apparatus is particularly well suited for use in the manufacture of semiconductor devices, when wafer cassette boxes are provided with a suitable bar code. Alternatively, the bins may be disposed upon a remotely guided vehicle, thereby making the apparatus useful in an automated manufacturing process.

Abstract: Module for processing advancing substrates including an elongated housing enclosing pairs of superposed transporters defining a longitudinal passage; a source of pressurized gaseous transport medium communicating with the longitudinal passage, so as to provide a free floating transport of the substrates through the passage; and a series of processing chambers interposed between the pairs of transporters, so that a non-processing side and a processing side of the advancing substrates are exposed within the processing chamber. A plurality of gaseous transport medium discharge ducts extends laterally across the longitudinal passage above and below the substrates so as to collect and remove excess gaseous transport medium, while assisting the advance of the substrates in the passage.

Abstract: Improved installation (10), whereby in a first section (22) coating (24) is applied on substrate (14), moving through a passage (16) under double floating condition, in a following section (26) a layer fluid (28) is applied on said layer coating (24) and in the following sections (30) and (32) the removal takes place of said fluid layer with thereafter a drying of the remaining coating layer.

Abstract: Method of transporting and processing substrates with developing agent within a confined passage. Pressurized fluid medium is supplied and discharged on both sides of the substrate via sequentially located fluid medium supply and discharge channels intersecting the top and bottom of the passage, such that the moving fluid medium cushions the substrate and both sides of the substrate remain free of the passage. Developing agent is introduced via a developing agent supply channel intersecting the passage.