Method and apparatus for handling sheet blanks

A method for taking a sheet blank from a sheet divided into a plurality of sheet blanks used for production of laminated glass, from a cutting table, the method comprising:

• dividing, on a cutting table, a sheet used for production of laminated glass into a plurality of sheet blanks;
• bringing a takeoff roller into position over the cutting table at an edge of a sheet blank to be taken from among the plurality of sheet blanks on the cutting table;
• holding the edge of the sheet blank on the takeoff roller by underpressure, wherein the takeoff roller includes openings parallel to an axis of the takeoff roller through which the underpressure is applied;
• opening a selected subset of the openings so that a lateral extent of the selected subset of openings corresponds to a lateral extent of the sheet blank;
• removing the sheet blank from the surface of the cutting table by rolling up the sheet blank onto the takeoff roller;
• moving the takeoff roller perpendicular to the plane of the cutting table and then moving the takeoff roller parallel to the plane of the cutting table while rotating around its own axis to roll up the sheet blank onto the takeoff roller;
• and
• moving the takeoff roller with the rolled up blank sheet thereon over a glass pane and unrolling the rolled up blank sheet from the takeoff roller onto the glass pane.