Unit for sorting and transferring sheets of glass

Material or article handling – Movable rack having superposed – charge-supporting elements,... – Wheeled rack

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C414S331060, C414S331080, C414S400000, C414S331030

Reexamination Certificate

active

06382897

ABSTRACT:

The present invention relates to a unit for sorting and transferring sheets of glass.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As is known, processed and/or contoured sheets of glass are produced on systems comprising a break-off station for successively producing a number of sheets of the same or different size and shape, and from where the sheets are normally transferred to respective finishing stations for further processing. To simplify transfer to the finishing stations, the sheets from the break-off station are first sorted and then each transferred to the respective station.
As is known, for example, from Patent EP 0 620 171 B1, the sheets are sorted and transferred using a sorting and transfer unit comprising a number of racks movable to and from respective work stations and each comprising a number of compartments arranged side by side in a straight direction and extending perpendicularly to the straight direction to each receive a respective sheet. The sheets are each conveyed to the respective compartment by a carriage traveling in a direction parallel to said straight direction, and are inserted inside the respective compartments by means of a linear actuator controlled, together with the carriage, by a central control unit.
Though used, known sorting units of the above type have the major drawback of being extremely bulky, especially in the straight rack alignment and carriage travel direction, so that application is limited, especially in existing plants.
Moreover, using known sorting units, the time taken to insert the sheets inside the compartments increases alongside the number of racks, since, the greater the number of compartments, the longer the carriage takes to travel in said straight direction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a unit for sorting and transferring sheets of glass, designed to provide a straightforward, low-cost solution to the above problems.
According to the present invention, there is provided a unit for sorting and transferring sheets of glass; the unit comprising a number of carriages, each having a number of compartments, each for receiving at least one respective sheet of glass; and sorting means for supporting the sheets and feeding each of the sheets into a respective compartment; characterized in that said sorting means comprise rotary supporting means rotating about an axis of rotation; and in that said carriages are arranged in a ring about said rotary supporting means.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5511671 (1996-04-01), Zumstein
patent: 5823732 (1998-10-01), Lisec
patent: 0 620 171 (1994-10-01), None
patent: 195 25 515 (1997-01-01), None
patent: 198 26 949 (1999-12-01), None
patent: WO 95/25688 (1995-09-01), None

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