Methods and apparatus for handling fragile bars
AssigneeCardinal IG Company
InventorPaul Trpkovski
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for handling material for the insulating glass industry are disclosed. One method of handling material for the insulating glass industry in accordance with the present invention includes the step of arranging a plurality of bars into a plurality of stacks with adjacent stacks defining spaces dimensioned to receive a bar engaging member. The stacks of bars may then be transported to a desired destination. A bar engaging member may be inserted into a space defined by the stacks, and one or more bars may be grasped using the bar engaging member. A container for handling material for the insulating glass industry is also disclosed. The container may advantageously include a plurality of prearranged bar locating members configured to hold a predetermined type of bar stock.
Claims32
A method, comprising the steps of:
- providing a container having a plurality of tines and a sensor target;
- placing a plurality of bars between a first tine and a second tine to form a stack;
- transporting the container to a workstation;
- locating the container relative to the workstation;
- sensing the presence of the sensor target to verify that the container is properly oriented relative to the workstation.
In combination;
- a container having a plurality of tines;
- a plurality of bars disposed between a first tine and a second tine;
- the bars forming a proximal stack having a proximal side;
- a plurality of sockets for locating the container relative to a workstation;
- a sensor target fixed to the container for indicating the orientation of the container relative to the workstation;
- the sensor target having an offset location relative to a centroid of the container.
A method comprising the steps of:
- providing a stack of bars disposed between a first tine and a second tine;
- inserting a first finger into a first space defined in part by the first tine;
- inserting a second finger into a second space defined in part by the second tine;
- contacting a first side of a top bar with a first finger;
- contacting a second side of the top bar with a second finger;
- removing the top bar from the stack.
An apparatus for handling bars, comprising;
- a first tine and a second tine defining a channel for holding a stack of bars;
- a first finger and a second finger capable of removing bars from the stack;
- the first tine contacting a first wall of a bar at a first interface having a first coefficient of friction;
- the second finger contacting a second wall of the bar at a second interface having a second coefficient of friction;
- the second coefficient of friction being greater than the first coefficient of friction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.