Carrier for flat panel displays

A rigid carrier of substantial size for flat glass panels and other substrates of the type for use in flat panel displays, comprising

• a pair of end walls with peripheries thereabout of melt processible plastic in confronting and spaced relation to each other;
• a multiplicity of elongate sidewall segments of melt processible plastic in spaced relation from each other, the segments extending between and to the adjacent end walls with glass panel supporting and spacing means extending inwardly, each sidewall segment being tubular with end portions extending to and welded to the adjacent end wall periphery;
• and
• large opening in the end walls to allow access to the glass panels by glass panel handling equipment and to enhance fluid processing by minimizing end wall shadowing.

An strong and rigid fabricated carrier of substantial size for flat glass panels, other substrates and the like for use in the manufacture of flat panel displays, comprising:

• a pair of end walls of melt processible plastic in confronting and spaced relation to each other each having central and peripheral ribs in one plane and an inclined end wall panel adjoining the central ribs and traversing the height of the central ribs to add strength and rigidity to the end walls, and further having two sidewall and one back wall mounting flanges adjoining the peripheral rib and extending outwardly with a multiplicity of annular bosses protruding inwardly from the flanges;
• a multiplicity of elongate sidewall segments of melt processible plastic in spaced relation from each other extending between and to the end walls adjacent the peripheries thereof with inwardly extending glass panel supporting and spacing means, the segments being tubular and oblong in cross section with end portions extending to and welded to the adjacent annular boss of the adjacent sidewall flange thereby enclosing the segments;
• a back wall including a multiplicity of melt processible plastic tubular rails in spaced relation from each other, each extending between and welded to the adjacent annular boss of the adjacent back wall flange to confine the glass panels within the carrier and to enclose the tubular rails;
• and
• large openings in the end walls to allow access to the glass panels by glass panel handling equipment and to enhance fluid processing by minimizing end wall shadowing.