Handling device and handling method for handling a plate-shaped material

A handling method for handling a plate-shaped material with a handling device comprising a support frame with at least one longitudinal strut and at least one transverse strut, on which a gripping device is provided, which has two guide strips aligned at a distance to one another, configured to be moved in a mutually spaced manner on the support frame and having at least one gripper which is arranged on a guide strip and comprises a clamping element and a gripping element, configured to be converted into an open position and a closed position, and having a support structure provided on the support frame which support structure extends at least partly on a plane or parallel to a plane of the support frame, comprising:

• positioning the handling device above the plate-shaped material to be handled in an initial position in which the guide strips are spaced apart from each other by a distance greater than a format of the plate-shaped material;
• moving the support frame towards the plate-shaped material until the plate-shaped material is aligned to a gripping area of the grippers, or the support structure rests on the plate-shaped material;
• moving the grippers towards a respective edge of the plate-shaped material by a traversing movement of the guide strips, and
• converting the grippers into a gripping position and fixing the plate-shaped material in a transport position adjacent to the support structure.