Slab handling apparatus

A slab handling apparatus comprising:

• a foundation structure;
• a plurality of longitudinally spaced buffer members positioned on the foundation structure;
• and
• a plurality of longitudinally spaced roller assemblies connected to the buffer members with a lost motion connection allowing relative movement between the buffer members and the roller assemblies between a slab loading position in which the buffer members are supported on the foundation structure with upper edges thereof above the roller assemblies, whereby to allow the loading of a slab onto the upper edges without damage to the roller assemblies, and a slab slitting position in which the roller assemblies are above the upper edges of the buffer members, whereby to allow the roller assemblies to rollably support the slab to facilitate selective longitudinal adjustment of the slab to accommodate the slab slitting operation;
• the apparatus further including a table defining a window and mounted for pivotal movement between a generally horizontal slab loading position in which the slab window overlies the foundation structure and an upwardly tilted slab slitting position;
• the roller assemblies being mounted in longitudinally spaced relation on the table and the buffer members being supported in longitudinally spaced relation on the table by the lost motion connections between the roller assemblies and the buffer members;
• with the table in the horizontal slab-loading position, the buffer members being positioned in the table window and being supported on the foundation structure;
• each lost motion connection comprising a vertical slot receiving a pin;
• and
• the pins being spaced from the top end of the slots with the apparatus in the slab loading position and moving upwardly in the slots as the table is pivoted upwardly until the pins engage the top end of the slots whereafter, with continued upwardly pivotal movement of the table, the buffer members move upwardly with the roller assemblies.

A slab handling apparatus comprising:

• a foundation structure;
• a table defining a window and mounted for pivotal movement between a generally horizontal slab loading position in which the slab window overlies the foundation structure and an upwardly tilted slab slitting position;
• a plurality of roller assemblies spaced longitudinally on the table and extending laterally across the table and across the window;
• and
• a plurality of buffer members each connected to a roller assembly with a lost motion connection allowing relative movement between the buffer member and the roller assembly between a slab loading position in which the buffer member is supported on the foundation structure within the window with upper edge of the buffer member above the roller assembly and a slab slitting position in which the roller assembly is above the upper edge of the buffer member, the movement of the roller assemblies and buffer members from the slab loading position to the slab slitting position occurring in response to upward pivotal movement of the table from the horizontal slab loading position to the upwardly tilted slab slitting position.