Apparatus for flexible substrate position control

An apparatus for position control of a flexible substrate in a width direction in a processing apparatus transporting a strip-shaped flexible substrate and processing the substrate on a transport path, said apparatus comprising:

• first and second sandwiching roller pairs on each side for sending the flexible substrate while sandwiching a side edge thereof in a width direction of the substrate;
• the first sandwiching roller pairs having rotation shafts each being inclined such that a rotation direction in each of sandwiching portion has a deflection angle directed outward from the width direction relative to a first transport direction of the flexible substrate;
• and
• the second sandwiching roller pairs having rotation shafts each being inclined such that the rotation direction in each of sandwiching portions has a deflection angle directed outward from the width direction relative to a second transport direction of the flexible substrate opposite the first transport direction,
• a support mechanism rotatably supporting each of the first and second sandwiching roller pairs, and providing a support for one roller or both rollers forming each of the roller pair to contact or apart from the other roller;
• urging means for urging a clamping force to each of the roller pairs through the support mechanism;
• and
• switching means for switching the first and second sandwiching roller pairs between operative and inoperative states by withdrawing the respective second sandwiching roller pair during the transport in the first transport direction and withdrawing the respective first upper sandwiching roller pair during transport in the second transport direction.