Sheet handling process and apparatus
AssigneeGs-Mr Glass and Stone (Machinery and Robotics) UK & Ireland Ltd.
InventorRobert Owen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process and apparatus for handling a rigid sheet is disclosed. The process comprises engaging opposing faces of a sheet at its periphery with engagement means providing a second engagement means, movable relative to the first and engaging the sheet with the second engagement means. The sheet is then moved relative to the second engagement means whilst the sheet is engaged with the first engagement means and is then clamped. The sheet is then moved to a desired orientation or location whilst maintaining the first and second engagement means in fixed relative position. The process is useful in handling glass sheeting and in the production of multiple glazed units and on an insulating glass production line.
Claims20
A process for handling a rigid sheet having two faces, each face comprising a peripheral area extending around the periphery of the sheet and the remainder of the face comprising an inner area, enclosed by the peripheral area, the process comprising:
- i) providing first engagement means adapted to engage the sheet on the peripheral area of at least one face on a first edge of the sheet and providing second engagement means adapted to engage the sheet on the peripheral area of the same edge of the sheets the first engagement means, the first and second engagement means being arranged so as to enable relative longitudinal movement between the first and second engagement means and able to carry the weight of the sheet;
- ii) locating the first engagement means adjacent to the sheet and engaging the sheet on the at least one peripheral area of the said face;
- iii) locating the second engagement means adjacent to the sheet;
- iv) effecting relative longitudinal movement between the sheet and the second engagement means whilst the sheet is engaged by the first engagement means;
- v) engaging the sheet with the second engagement means so the sheet is held and its weight borne by the first and second engagement means;
- and
- vi) retaining the first and second engagement means engaged with the sheet in fixed relation and moving the engagement means and sheet to a second location.
Apparatus for handling a rigid sheet having two faces, each face comprising a peripheral area extending around the periphery of the sheet and the remainder of the face comprising an inner area, enclosed by the peripheral area, the apparatus comprising first engagement means adapted to engage at least one face of the sheet in the peripheral area on a first edge of the sheet, second engagement means adapted to engage at least one face in the peripheral area on the same edge of the sheet as the first engagement means, the first engagement means and/or second engagement means being adapted to move longitudinally relative to the other engagement means along the first edge so as to enable relative movement therebetween, the first and second engagement means further being adapted to move in concert in a fixed relative position whereby the sheet is movable from a first location to a second location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.