A loading/unloading system for flat ceramic products comprising at least one loading/unloading assembly for flat ceramic products, the loading/unloading assembly in turn comprises:
- a conveying unit, which is configured to convey a plurality of flat ceramic products;
- at least one loading/unloading device for flat ceramic products, which has a bottom and is configured to receive a support structure;
- the support structure is configured to be capable of being picked up by a pick-up apparatus and comprises at least one support plane, which is configured to support a plurality of flat ceramic products stacked on top of one another;
- and
- at least one pick-up device to pick up and transfer at least one flat ceramic product from said conveying unit to said support structure and/or vice versa;
- the loading/unloading device being configured to move at least said support structure between a first position at a first height from said bottom and at least one second position at a second height from said bottom, said second height being greater than the first height, and comprises a bearing device, which is configured to bear at least said support structure, a moving device to move said bearing device between the first position and the second position, and a further bearing device;
- said moving device comprising at least one guide device to guide said bearing device at least between said first position and said second position;
- said guide device defining a first path, along which said bearing device remains at least partially facing and in contact with a lower surface of said support plane so as to move at least said support structure while shifting from said first position to said second position and/or vice versa;
- and a second path, along which said bearing device moves from said first position to said second position and/or vice versa;
- the first path and the second path being separated from one another and not intersecting one another;
- the loading/unloading system further comprises:
- at least one pick-up vehicle, which comprises said pick-up apparatus, which is at least vertically movable and is configured to support at least said support structure and to transfer at least said support structure to said loading/unloading device so that said support structure rests on said bearing device or on said further bearing device;
- and
- a control unit, which is configured to operate:
- said at least one pick-up vehicle so as to pick up and transport at least said support structure from and/or to said loading/unloading device;
- said pick-up device so as to pick-up and transfer at least one flat ceramic product between said conveying unit and said loading/unloading device;
- and
- said loading/unloading device between said first position and said second position,
- wherein said control unit is configured to control said at least one pick-up vehicle, said pick-up device and said loading/unloading device in such a way that:
- when the pick-up vehicle transfers at least one first loaded support structure to said loading/unloading device so that it rests on said bearing device or on said further bearing device,
- said pick-up device picks up and transfers said flat ceramic products stacked on top of one another on said support plane of said first loaded support structure towards said conveying unit so as to obtain a first unloaded support structure;
- said loading/unloading device, in particular said moving device, moves said first unloaded support structure from said second position to said first position or vice versa;
- and
- said at least one pick-up vehicle transports a further loaded support structure towards said loading/unloading device and places it resting on said further bearing device or on said bearing device;
- and
- the pick-up vehicle picks up said first unloaded support structure;
- and
- when the pick-up vehicle transfer at least one second unloaded support structure to said loading/unloading device so that it rests on said bearing device or on said further bearing device, said pick-up device transfers, onto said second unloaded support structure, a plurality of flat ceramic products stacked on top of one another so as to obtain a second loaded support structure;
- said at least one pick-up vehicle transports a further unloaded support structure towards said loading/unloading device and places it resting on said bearing device or on said further bearing device and said at least one pick-up vehicle picks up said second loaded support structure;
- and said loading/unloading device, in particular the moving device, moves said further unloaded support structure from said first position to said second position or vice versa.