Mask plate handling method

A method of handling polygonal masks to orient the masks in sequence with their corners in a particular orientation prior to transferring said masks from an orienting station to a treating station, comprising:

• A. providing a directional fluid bearing track structure at said orienting station,
• B. feeding a series of polygonal masks in sequence from a supply thereof and positioning said masks in sequence upon said track structure,
• C. providing stop means adjacent said track structure which includes an angular stop shoulder contoured in accordance with the corner configurations of said polygonal masks,
• D. mounting said stop means along an edge of but separate from said track structure for movement relative to said track structure while said track structure remains stationary,
• E. supporting said polygonal masks on a fluid cushioning emanating from said track structure and moving such masks when thus supported by said fluid cushion in sequence along said track structure with an edge thereof in generally leading relationship,
• F. as each said polygonal mask moves along said track structure, urging each such mask generally laterally of said track structure while such mask is supported by said fluid cushion to move a corner thereof into close conformity with said angular stop shoulder of said stop means, and,
• G. as each said polygonal mask in sequence is urged against said stop shoulder, grasping each such mask with transfer means and moving such mask away from said track structure to a treating station without disturbing the orientation of said corner imparted to each such mask by said stop shoulder.