IP Library Granted Patent US 8,785,812
Granted Patent B2
US 8,785,812 · App. 11/597,856 · Granted Jul 22, 2014

Table for receiving a workpiece and method for processing a workpiece on such table

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,785,812
App. No.
11/597,856
Granted
Jul 22, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for the treatment of a workpiece, in particular of a substantially flat substrate, comprising a table ( 2 ) for supporting the workpiece ( 5 ), a flow generation apparatus ( 6, 11 ) producing a gas flow ( 22 ) on a top face ( 17.1, 17.2 ) of the table ( 2 ) in a region between the workpiece ( 5 ) and the top face ( 17.1, 17.2 ) of the table ( 2 ), on which gas flow the workpiece ( 5 ) is supported during the treatment.

Claims (36)

1. A device for processing a workpiece, comprising:

a table having a flat support surface for holding the workpiece where the support surface comprises at least two surface sections which follow one another in a longitudinal direction and are separated by a gap running transversely to the longitudinal direction and where, in each surface section, outflow orifices for feeding compressed gas for producing a gas cushion between each said surface section and a bottom of the workpiece are distributed over the surface sections;

a feed apparatus and a receptacle for the workpiece and a drive device suitable for displacing the receptacle in the longitudinal direction across the gap;

a processing device for processing the workpiece, the processing device comprising at least one laser unit directed towards the gap;

at least one detector for markings, the detector being used for controlling the position of the workpiece, the workpiece having thereon, a plurality of said markings that are detected by the detector to establish a position of the workpiece relative to the table or to the processing device; and

a plurality of groups of orifices arranged in a row in succession over an entire width of the table, each group of orifices having a take-off orifice and an outflow orifice which surrounds the take-off orifice.

2. The device of claim 1 , where the processing device is arranged below the gap.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein to focus the at least one laser unit the at least one laser unit is adjustable in height.

4. The device of claim 1 , where the feed apparatus comprises a linear guide traversing the gap in the longitudinal direction.

5. The device of claim 1 , where the processing device is arranged below the gap.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein to focus the at least one laser unit the at least one laser unit is adjustable in height.

7. A device for processing a workpiece, comprising:

a table having a flat support surface for holding the workpiece where the support surface comprises at least two surface sections which follow one another in a longitudinal direction and are separated by a gap running transversely to the longitudinal direction and where, in each surface section, outflow orifices for feeding compressed gas for producing a gas cushion between each said surface section and a bottom of the workpiece are distributed over the surface sections;

a feed apparatus and a receptacle for the workpiece and a drive device suitable for displacing the receptacle in the longitudinal direction across the gap;

a processing device for processing the workpiece, the processing device comprising at least one laser unit directed towards the gap;

at least one detector for markings, the detector being used for controlling the position of the workpiece, the workpiece having thereon, a plurality of said markings that are detected by the detector to establish a position of the workpiece relative to the table or to the processing device;

the at least one detector being arranged in the gap or above the gap; and

a plurality of groups of orifices arranged in a row in succession over an entire width of the table, each group of orifices having a take-off orifice and an outflow orifice which surrounds the take-off orifice.

8. The device of claim 7 , where the at least one detector is mounted on a movement device.

9. The device of claim 8 , where the at least one detector is mounted on the movement device together with the processing device.

10. The device of claim 9 , where the feed apparatus comprises a linear guide traversing the gap in the longitudinal direction.

11. A device for processing a workpiece, comprising:

a table having a flat support surface for holding the workpiece where the support surface comprises at least two surface sections which follow one another in a longitudinal direction and are separated by a gap running transversely to the longitudinal direction and where, in each surface section outflow orifices for feeding compressed gas for producing a gas cushion between each said surface section and a bottom of the workpiece are distributed over the surface sections;

a feed apparatus and a receptacle for the workpiece and a drive device suitable for displacing the receptacle in the longitudinal direction across the gap;

a processing device for processing the workpiece, the processing device comprising at least one laser unit directed towards the gap;

at least one detector for markings, the detector being used for controlling the position of the workpiece, the workpiece having thereon, a plurality of said markings that are detected by the detector to establish the position of the workpiece relative to the table or to the processing device; and

a plurality of groups of orifices arranged in a row in succession over an entire width of the table, each group of orifices having a take-off orifice and an outflow orifice which surrounds the take-off orifice, the take-off orifices removing said compressed gas from between the bottom of the workpiece and a respective surface section adjacent the groups of orifices.

12. The device of claim 11 , where the at least one detector is arranged in the gap or above the gap.

13. The device of claim 12 , where the at least one detector is mounted on a movement device.

14. The device of claim 13 , where the at least one detector is mounted on the movement device together with the processing device.

15. The device of claim 14 , where the feed apparatus comprises a linear guide traversing the gap in the longitudinal direction.

16. The device of claim 11 , wherein the row of groups of orifices extends adjacent the gap.

17. The device of claim 11 , wherein each outflow orifice in each group of orifices, surrounds the take-off orifice in each respective group in a frame-like manner.

18. The device of claim 11 , wherein each outflow orifice in each group of orifices, is rectangular and continuously surrounds the take-off orifice in each respective group.

19. The device of claim 11 , wherein each take-off orifice in each respective group, has a double T-shape.

20. The device of claim 11 , wherein each outflow orifice in each group of orifices, is rectangular and continuously surrounds the take-off orifice in each respective group, each take-off orifice in each respective group having a double T-shape.

Assignments (5)
LICENSE Recorded Aug 1, 2014
From: TEL SOLAR AG
To: OC OERLIKON BALZERS AG
Reel/Frame 033459/0821 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 2, 2013
From: OERLIKON SOLAR AG, TRUEBBACH
To: TEL SOLAR AG
Reel/Frame 030333/0046 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 2, 2011
From: OERLIKON TRADING AG, TRUEBBACH
To: OERLIKON SOLAR AG, TRUEBBACH
Reel/Frame 025732/0707 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 11, 2007
From: OC OERLIKON BALZERS AG
To: OERLIKON TRADING AG, TRUBBACH
Reel/Frame 020226/0875 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2007
From: GRUNDMULLER, RICHARD; MEIER, JOHANNES; BUCHEL, ARTHUR
To: OC OERLIKON BALZERS AG, A CORPORATION OF LIECHTENSTEIN
Reel/Frame 018885/0652 →