Vacuum belt conveyor for plates

1. A conveyor for holding glass plates in position during grinding and drilling operations comprising:

a) a first belt having a longitudinal first axis and having a first surface for rotating in a first direction;

b) a suction generator for generating a vacuum on the first surface; and

c) a first support connected to the first belt, the first support comprising one or more than one vacuum chamber;

where the first belt comprises a plurality of suction recesses with a long axis oriented obliquely to the longitudinal first axis of the first belt; and

where the first belt comprises one or more than one through-hole in each suction recess.

2. The conveyor of claim 1 , where the suction generator comprises a liquid loop pump or a multi-stage ejector pump.

3. The conveyor of claim 1 , where the first support comprises a plurality of vacuum chambers.

4. The conveyor of claim 1 , further comprising a cleaner for cleaning the one or more than one hole.

5. The conveyor of claim 4 , where the cleaner comprises one or more than one wheel comprising a plurality of projecting pins configured to penetrate into the one or more than one hole.

6. The conveyor of claim 1 , further comprising a second belt attached to a second support comprising a translocator, where the translocator moves the second belt in a second direction transverse to the first direction.

7. The conveyor of claim 6 , where the translocator comprises an electro-cylinder or reducers.

8. A conveyor system for holding glass plates in position during grinding and drilling operations comprising a plurality of conveyors according to claim 1 .

9. The conveyor system of claim 8 , where each of the pluralities of conveyors is capable of rotating at a rate that is independent of the rate of rotation of the other conveyors.

10. A method for holding glass plates in position during grinding and drilling operations comprising:

a) providing a conveyor according to claim 1 ;

b) placing a glass plate on the conveyor;

c) enabling the suction generator, thereby, holding the glass plate on the conveyor;

d) operating on the glass plate; and

e) disabling the vacuum, thereby releasing the glass plate from the conveyor.

11. A method for holding glass plates in position during grinding and drilling operations comprising:

a) providing a conveyor according to claim 6 ;

b) moving the second belt in a second direction transverse to the first direction;

c) placing a glass plate on the conveyor;

d) enabling the suction generator, thereby, holding the glass plate on the conveyor;

e) operating on the glass plate; and

f) disabling the vacuum, thereby releasing the glass plate from the conveyor.

12. The conveyor of claim 3 , further comprising a guide positioned between the first belt and the first support, where the guide comprises a plurality of openings corresponding to each one of the vacuum chambers.

13. The conveyor of claim 1 , further comprising a guide positioned between the first belt and the first support.

14. The conveyor of claim 12 , where the guide is integral with the first support.