# US 8,788,086 B2 · Portal re-positioning device for large-area glass plates > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,788,086 B2 - Document ID: US8788086B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/864,801 - Filed: 2009-01-27 - Published: 2010-12-09 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-01-31 - Assignees: Grenzebach Maschinenbau GmbH - Applicants: Roland Franz - Inventors: Roland Franz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8788086B2 ## CPC - B65G 49/061: {Lifting, gripping, or carrying means, for one or more sheets forming independent means of transport, e.g. suction cups, transport frames (suction means as load-engaging elements attached to the lifting or lowering gear of cranes B66C1/02; suction cups for attaching purposes F16B47/00; suction cups on gripping heads B25J15/0616; suction cups in general B65G47/91; suction cups combined with cutting means on vertical conveyors C03B33/00 - C03B33/10; devices for turning sheets B65G49/067; suspending devices B65G49/066)} - B65G 49/067: {Sheet handling, means, e.g. manipulators, devices for turning or tilting sheet glass (suction cups B65G49/061; combined with vertical conveyors C03B33/00 - C03B33/10; stacking and destacking B65G49/068)} - B65G 49/068: {Stacking or destacking devices; Means for preventing damage to stacked sheets, e.g. spaces (stacking in general B65G57/00; destacking in general B65G59/00; spacer sheets in general B65H)} - B65G 2249/04: Arrangements of vacuum systems or suction cups - B65G 2249/045: Details of suction cups suction cups - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## Abstract The invention relates to a method and device for changing the position of large-area glass plates which are stationary or moving, having the following features: one or more devices located on a level plane, each having a plurality of suction devices (12), are connected to the glass plates (10) to be re-positioned by means of a vacuum, b) the devices are connected to a lifting column (4) in a rotatable and pivotable manner, c) the devices can travel horizontally in the gripping area of the glass plates (10), d) the lifting column (4) has a counterweight (5) supplied with compressed air to compensate for the moving weight of the devices, e) the suction device (12) disk caps are spring-loaded in their holders, can be tilted in every direction, and are provided with a filter element (27), f) a controllable vacuum can be applied to each of the suction devices (12) individually, with a computer program as the controller. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for changing the position of large-area glass plates which are stationary or moving, comprising: a) a set of horizontal guide beams, each of said horizontal guide beams extending between and supported by a pair of portal supports; b) a lifting column slidably coupled to said horizontal guide beams between said portal supports; c) one or more rotating and pivoting devices coupled to a lower end of the lifting column; and d) a plurality of suckers coupled to said rotating and pivoting devices, said plurality of suckers arranged in a level plane, said suckers adapted for picking up and connecting to a glass plate to be moved by said device, wherein the lifting column comprises a counterbalance weight to compensate for the weight of objects being moved by said device, and wherein each sucker comprises a filter element and a spring loaded disk capable of tilting in all directions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising sensors coupled to a control system, wherein said sensors detect a position, a speed or both of a glass plate to be moved by said device, and wherein signals of said sensors are processed by said control system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the counterbalance weight can be adjusted infinitely. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a flow resistance of a filter element is detected and displayed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lifting column is slidably coupled to said horizontal guide beams by a column carriage and said lifting column is rotatably coupled to said lifting carriage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lifting column is slidably coupled to said horizontal guide beams at an intermediate portion of said lifting column. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lifting column extends between said set of horizontal guide beams. ### Claim 8 A device for changing the position of large-area glass plates which are stationary or moving, comprising: a) a set of horizontal guide beams, each of said horizontal guide beams extending between and supported by a pair of portal supports; b) a lifting column slidably coupled to said horizontal guide beams between said portal supports; c) one or more rotating and pivoting devices coupled to a lower end of the lifting column in a rotatable and pivotable manner; and d) a plurality of suckers coupled to said rotating and pivoting devices, said plurality of suckers arranged in a level plane, said suckers adapted for picking up and connecting to a glass plate to be moved; wherein the lifting column comprises a counterbalance weight to compensate for the weight of objects being moved by said device, wherein each sucker comprises a filter element and a spring loaded disk capable of tilting in all directions, and wherein vacuum applied to each sucker is independently controllable. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device as claimed in claim 8, further comprising sensors coupled to a control system, wherein said sensors detect a position, a speed or both of a glass plate to be moved by said device, and wherein signals of said sensors are processed by said control system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the counterbalance weight can be adjusted infinitely. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein a flow resistance of a filter element is detected and displayed. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said lifting column is slidably coupled to said horizontal guide beams by a column carriage and said lifting column is rotatably coupled to said lifting carriage. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said lifting column is slidably coupled to said horizontal guide beams at an intermediate portion of said lifting column. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said lifting column extends between said set of horizontal guide beams. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A method for changing the position of large-area glass plates which are stationary or moving, comprising: a) providing a device according to claim 1; b) detecting the dimensions of a glass plate using sensors; c) determining the speed of the glass plate and the point in time of the contact of a glass plate with the plurality of suckers arranged in a level plane, d) connecting the plurality of suckers to the glass plate by applying negative pressure to a plurality of the suckers; e) lifting the glass plate using the lifting column and the counterbalance weight, and pivoting the glass plate using the rotating and pivoting device; and f) setting down the glass plate at a target location by reducing the negative pressure applied at the suckers. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the counterbalance weight (5) can be adjusted infinitely variably. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1, 15) The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein more than one device according to claim 1 is arranged and controlled in a coordinated manner. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) A computer program with a program code for carrying out the method steps as claimed in claim 15 when the program is executed in a computer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) A machine-readable carrier with the program code of a computer program for carrying out the method as claimed in claim 15 when the program is executed in a computer.