# US 7,608,304 B2 · Substrate carrying method and substrate carrying apparatus

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- Number: US 7,608,304 B2
- Document ID: US7608304B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/353,457
- Filed: 2006-02-14
- Published: 2006-09-14
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2005-03-08
- Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Inventors: Minoru Koyama
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7608304B2

## CPC

- G02F 1/1333: Constructional arrangements; {Manufacturing methods}(G02F1/135, G02F1/136 take precedence)
- G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS

## Abstract

A substrate carrying method for removing the electrical charges on a substrate and then carrying the substrate includes forming a conductive layer with conductivity on a part of the surface of the substrate, and carrying the substrate while supporting a conductive layer-forming region of the substrate by a grounded substrate supporting unit with conductivity.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A substrate carrying method for removing electrical charges on a substrate while the substrate is being transported by a substrate supporting unit, the method comprising:
providing a substrate supporting unit having three rows of rollers that are parallel to each other;
determining first and second paths, on opposite edges of a surface of the substrate respectively, through which two rows of the rollers of the substrate supporting unit travel during transportation of the substrate;
determining a cutting line of the substrate in the middle of the substrate and parallel to each of the first and second paths;
forming only three conductive strips with conductivity on the surface of the substrate to cover the first path, the second path, and the cutting line respectively; and
transporting the substrate by the substrate supporting unit, wherein each row of the three rows of rollers of the grounded substrate supporting unit is in contact only with a respective one of the three conductive strips during transportation of the substrate;
cutting the substrate into two pieces along the cutting line.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The substrate carrying method according to claim 1, wherein the conductive strips are formed by applying a liquid material on the substrate using a droplet discharging head that discharges the liquid material with conductive particles as droplets, and then by solidifying or hardening the liquid material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The substrate carrying method according to claim 1, wherein the substrate supporting unit comprises an attaching part that attaches on the substrate by vacuum.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The substrate carrying method according to claim 1, wherein the substrate supporting unit comprises a guide rail that guides the substrate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The substrate carrying method according to claim 1, wherein the conductive strips are formed along a carrying direction of the substrate.

### Claim 6

A system, comprising:
a grounded substrate supporting unit with conductivity having three rows of rollers that are parallel to each other,
a substrate having only three conductive strips including
first and second conductive strips with conductivity formed on opposite edges of a surface of the substrate, respectively, and
a third conductive strip with conductivity formed on a cutting line of the substrate, wherein the cutting line is in the middle of the substrate and is parallel to each of the first and second conductive strips, and
wherein the substrate is supported by the substrate supporting unit, wherein each of the three rows of rollers of the grounded substrate supporting unit is in contact with a respective one of the first, second, and third conductive strips of the substrate.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The substrate carrying apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the substrate supporting unit comprises an attaching part that attaches on the substrate by vacuum.

### Claim 8

A system, comprising:
a grounded substrate supporting having first and second guide rails as well as a row of rollers that are between and parallel to the guide rails,
a substrate having only three conductive strips including
first and second conductive strips with conductivity formed on opposite edges of a surface of the substrate, respectively, and
a third conductive strip formed on a cutting line of the substrate, wherein the cutting line is in the middle of the substrate and is parallel to each of the first and second conductive strips, and
wherein the substrate is supported by the substrate supporting unit, wherein each of the first and second guide rails guides the substrate and is in contact with a respective one of the first and second conductive strips of the substrate, wherein the row of rollers is in contact with the third conductive strip.