A glass handling system and method are described herein where an enhanced
robot is used to engage and hold a glass sheet in a manner that minimizes
the motion of the glass sheet as it is moved from one point to another
point in a glass manufacturing facility. The enhanced robot engages and
holds the glass sheet by using one or more suction cups and one or more
aero-mechanical devices. The suction cups contact and support the outer
edges or non-quality area of the glass sheet while the glass sheet is
moved. And, the aero-mechanical device(s) emit gas towards the center
portion or quality area of the glass sheet in a manner which enables the
aero-mechanical device to support and hold the quality area of the glass
sheet without contacting the glass sheet while the glass sheet is moved.
The system may also use a temperature control system to regulate a
temperature of the gas emitted from the aero-mechanical device towards
the glass sheet such that the temperature of the gas emitted from the
aero-mechanical device substantially matches a temperature of the glass
sheet.