FR2633601A1 - Device for handling support frames of stacked panes of glass - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for handling support frames of stacked panes of glass, which device is intended to allow handling of the stack which rests on the frame via its internal face in complete safety by means of lifting machines. According to the invention, the device 20 comprises a cross-member 21 and lateral arms 22 and 23 which can be detached from the frame 1 and which leave the stack accessible via the external face. The device comprises linking and fastening means for each of the uprights and longitudinal members of the frame 1, which enhances its rigidity during handling. The invention mainly relates to the producers of flat glass.

Description

 The invention relates to a device for handling support frames and for transporting stacked glass sheets, intended to allow safe handling of the stack of glass sheets by lifting devices. It mainly concerns producers of flat glass.

 Currently, the production of glass sheets is carried out continuously from the oven in which the glass is produced. The glass comes out in the form of a continuous ribbon which is gradually cut into sheets and the sheets are taken up by an automatic loader to be placed on a transport desk.

 The stack of glass sheets thus loaded weighs approximately 10 to 12 tonnes for a dimension of approximately 6.20 meters by 3.20 meters and 0.30 meters thick.

 The bundle of glass sheets placed on the desk is then directed to the storage store where it is unloaded to be stored on suitable supports with an inclination of the order of 5 to 6 degrees.

 When, following an order, the stack of glass sheets must be sent to a customer, it is taken back to the storage store, placed on a desk and the whole is loaded onto a means of transport such as a truck trailer for delivery to destination.

 These numerous manipulations of the stack of glass sheets are extremely harmful and cause a significant percentage of breakage. An analysis of the stresses that caused the glass sheets to break shows that they are caused by the tendency to slip from the bottom of the pile. The glass sheets sag and gradually curl at the base as and when handling or breakage during transport or during loading.

 The remedy that has been brought to this problem consists in associating the stack of glass sheets with a support frame. The frame must be of economical and rigid construction to prevent the base of the glass sheet stack from sagging.

 The handling equipment is supported on the frame and no longer directly on the stack.

 Until then, to carry out transport in complete safety, a cover is associated with the frame which encloses the stack of glass sheets so that it is trapped between the frame and the cover during transport.

The cover also has a lifting ring which allows the use of a crane to handle the load. It should be noted that the cover plays a role only during handling. During storage or transport on the console, the cover is removed to reduce the bulk on the one hand and for economic reasons on the other hand; the number of covers to be put into circulation is thus limited.

 In practice, this combination of a frame and a cover gives satisfaction at least in terms of security. Breakages are considerably reduced and no longer have their origin in a collapse of the stack of glass sheets. On the other hand, the installation of covers as they are currently designed poses some problems.

First of all, they are not compatible with automated handling. In fact, by their design, the covers are fitted into the upper part of the frame and are fixed by locking on the feet of the frame. These interlocking and locking operations must be carried out manually and the same applies to an operation for clamping the stack of glass sheets on the frame.

 In addition, the fact of enclosing the stack under a cover does not allow to work directly with an automatic destacker or stacker, especially with machines working flat. I1 must necessarily remove the cover to work with this type of machine. In addition, on flat destackers, the glass support ablots which are not retractable, cause breakage during the separation of the glass sheet handled with the rest of the stack which remains flat on the base of the destacker.

 Under these conditions, the number of assembly and disassembly operations of the cover on the frame is high.

 The main object of the present invention is to present a device for handling support frames for stacked glass sheets which makes it possible to deposit the stack of glass sheets directly from its support frame on the base of the automatic destacker without having to use another fork-type handling means by recovering for another use the support frame and the upper cross member or which also allows the support frame to be deposited with its glass stack on a storage, handling or transport member by only releasing the upper cross member .

 In addition, the handling system of the present invention which allows the gripping of the support frame without any manual locking intervention, is compatible with an automated environment.

 The handling device of the invention can easily be dissociated from the glass support frame in order to reduce the space requirement during storage and transport, especially in drawer trucks, and which also makes it possible to reduce the number of handling devices necessary to manage all handling in a production unit.

 Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear during the description which follows which is however given only for information and which is not intended to limit it.

 The device for handling stacked glass sheet support frames intended to allow safe handling of the stack of glass sheets which rests on the frame from the inside using lifting devices is characterized by the fact that it comprises a cross member and lateral arms which can be separated from the frame, which leave the stack accessible from the external face.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description accompanied by attached drawings, among which
FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of the frame assembly and its handling device according to the invention,
FIG. 2 shows in cross-section view the frame and the handling device,
- Figure 3 shows a side view of the side arm mounted on the handling device of the invention.

 The invention relates to a device for handling support frames for stacked glass sheets intended to allow the safe handling of the stack which rests on the frame by its inner face. It mainly concerns producers of flat glass.

 The glass sheets are obtained by cutting the continuous ribbon from the oven. Currently, the sheets are grouped on a stiffening frame which facilitates their handling on transport registers to storage stores or during shipments.

 So as not to have to intervene directly on the stack of glass sheets, currently a cover which can be fitted onto the frame is used so as to enclose the stack of glass sheets, the cover comprising hooking members such as a lifting ring. compatible with the use of a crane or other machine.

 This technique gives complete satisfaction in terms of security, however the assembly and disassembly operations of the cover are numerous. In addition, the rework of the glass stack by fork is made necessary to deposit the glass stack on a certain handling, storage or cutting device. Under these conditions, manual interventions are numerous and automation suffers.

Specifically, one of the objects of the present invention will be to present a handling device which offers the same advantages in terms of security and which, on the other hand, is well suited for being incorporated into an automated assembly, in order to eliminate the use forks
The present invention is presented as a glass stack handling fork, the upper crosspiece and the attachment point with a lifting member being detachable from the backrest and the fins which form the frame and support the glass.

 The support frame for stacked glass sheets constitutes the lower element of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. I under the reference (1). The frame must be rigid and provide support surfaces for the stack of glass sheets not shown. The frame (1) is made up of uprights (2, 3, 4, 5), these are tubular uprights terminated at the base by feet respectively (6, 7, 8 and 9) on which the stack of sheets rests of glass and which also serve as support for the frame on the ground. According to a preferred embodiment of the feet (6, 7, 8, 9) these are attached to the ends of the uprights (2, 3, 4, 5), which makes it possible to adjust the inclination of the frame according to the needs. To do this, the lower uprights of the legs which have a certain inclination are fitted.

 The uprights (2, 3, 4, 5) are connected by horizontal beams (10, 11, 12). I1 are tubular profiles which can strengthen the rigidity and the ability to take up the vertical forces through the installation of inclined bars (13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18) as illustrated in the figure 1.

 Preferably, the manufacturing of the frame (1) is mechanically welded and the various elements are assembled in such a way that they form a flat bearing surface on which the stack of glass sheets will be deposited.

 Figure 2 shows the stack of glass sheets (19) which rests on the inclined frame (1). The stack (19) rests on any surface and rests on the feet so that it cannot sag.

 The dimensions of such a frame (1) may be adopted according to the formats of glass sheets to be deposited, however as standard the dimensions of 6.20 meters by 3.20 meters for a thickness of .0.30 meters are generally adopted. Such a frame (1) weighs approximately 600 kilograms for a payload of 12 tonnes.

 FIG. 3 illustrates the handling device (20) of the support frame (1), the frame assembly plus device constituting the handling fork. This device (20) comprises a cross member (21) and lateral arms (22 and 23) separable from the frame (1) which leave the stack (19) accessible from the external face (24), that is to say the face of the stack (19) opposite to that (25) internal which rests against the frame (1).

 The handling device (20) can be separated from the frame (1) for reasons of convenience and economy. Indeed, during prolonged storage or transport operations, it is not necessary to add to the frame (1) an assembly which promotes handling.

 Furthermore, the fact of leaving the external face (24) of the stack of glass sheets (19) accessible is of interest to allow the work for example of a destacking stacker. When it is necessary to constitute the stack of glass sheets, it is not necessary to remove the handling device from the frame (1), the latter can be directly loaded. Similarly, when it is necessary to adjust the number of glass sheets to satisfy an order, it is not necessary to dismantle the handling device which can remain associated with the frame (1). In these conditions, time savings can be made and this minimizes the number of interventions.

 The crosspiece (21) comprises means for positioning on the uprights (2, 3, 4, 5) of the frame (1).

Thus, the alignment of the crosspiece (21) on the frame (1) can easily be achieved. These positioning means are in the form of studs (26, 27, 28, 29) projecting at the base of the crosspiece (21), and which are intended to fit into the tubular uprights. Here, it has been adopted as many studs as amounts, however it should be noted that two studs are enough to achieve the target.

The advantage is that the crosspiece (21) strengthens the rigidity of the frame during handling.

 The lateral arms (22 and 23) comprise means for hooking and locking on the side members (10, 11 and 12) of the frame (1). These attachment means are in the form of fingers (30, 31 and 32) which come to fit at the ends of the tubular beams (10, 11 and 12). The lateral arms (22 and 23) are movable in translation at the ends of the crosspiece (21) so that they can pinch the frame (1) as illustrated in the left part of Figure 1 or on the contrary release from the frame (1) by opening the arms (23) as illustrated on the right-hand side of FIG. 1.

 For this, the cross member (21) is tubular and the arms (22 and 23) are integral with beams (33 and 34) respectively fitted into the cross member (21). The arms (22 and 23) are mounted telescopically in the crosspiece (21) and can therefore be maneuvered longitudinally to move aside or pinch the frame (1). This maneuver could for example be ensured by means of jacks incorporated in the cross-member (21) or arranged outside and acting directly on the beams (33 and 34). Preferably, the crosspieces (21), beams (33 and 34) are of hollow profile forming a box as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

 To guarantee the locking of the attachment of the lateral arms (22 and 23) to the frame (1) during the lifting operations, the fingers (30 and 31) are provided with hooks at their end. These hooks cooperate with edges (35 and 36) produced at the ends of the side members (10 and 11) so that the edges (35 and 36) engage in the hooks when the handling device (20) is lifted.

Then, any disengagement of the fingers (30 and 31) from the crosspieces (10 and 11) is impossible, which guarantees the locking of the assembly.

 The lateral arms have a profile in the shape of a tapered box as illustrated in FIG. 3. It is a very strong mechanically welded manufacture which forms a rim for the stack of glass sheets.

 To allow the attachment of the assembly by a lifting device, the cross member (21) is provided in its central part with a lifting head (37). This lifting head (37) can either be of fixed geometry or on the contrary of variable geometry to allow the stack of glass sheets to be tilted for example between -5 and +2 degrees, this in order to compensate for the forces by an intermediate position from the stack.

 Thus, whether the handling device (20) is placed or not on the frame (1), access to the stack of glass sheets is made possible that this operation is carried out for a vertical or horizontal destacker.

 Other implementations of the present invention, within the reach of ordinary skill in the art, could also have been envisaged without departing from the scope thereof.

Claims (10)

 1. Device for handling frames supporting stacked glass sheets intended to allow safe handling of the stack which rests on the frame (1? By its internal face (25), by means of lifting devices, character laughed at by the fact that it comprises a crosspiece (21) and lateral arms (22 and 23) which can be dissociated from the frame (1) which leave the stack (19) accessible from its external face (24) during its handling.  2. Device for handling support frames for stacked glass sheets, according to claim J, the frames (1) of which are formed of side members (10, 11 and 12) and uprights (2, 3, 4 and 5), character laughed at by the fact that the crosspiece (21) comprises means for positioning on the uprights (2, 3, 4 and 5) of the frame (1).  3. Device for handling stacked glass sheet support frames, according to claim 1, characterized in that the lateral arms (22 and 23) comprise means for hooking and locking on the side members (10, 11 and 12) of the frame (1).  4. Device for handling support frames for stacked glass sheets, according to claim 3, c a r a c t é r i ized by the fact that the lateral arms (22 and 23) are movable in translation along the crosspiece (21).  5. Device for handling support frames for stacked glass sheets, according to claim 3, characterized in that the hooking means are in the form of fingers (30, 31 and 32) placed on the arms lateral (22 and 23) intended to fit into the tubular beams (10, 11 and 12).  6. Device for handling support frames for stacked glass sheets, according to claim 5, characterized in that the fingers (30 and 31) have at their end a hook which cooperates with an edge (35 and 36) made at the end of the side members (10 and 11).  7. Device for handling support frames for stacked glass sheets, according to claim 3, characterized in that the lateral arms (22 and 23) comprise at their end a beam (33 -and 34) telescopic in the crosspiece (21).  8. Device for handling stacked glass sheet support frames, according to claim 7, characterized in that a jack ensures the displacement in translation of the beams (33 and 34) integral with the lateral arms (22 and 23 ) to ensure their movement in the crosspiece (21).  9. Device for handling support frames for stacked glass sheets, according to claim I, c a r a c t e r i ed by the fact that the cross member (21) comprises a lifting head (37).  10. Device for handling stacked glass sheet support frames, according to claim 9, characterized in that the lifting head (37) is of variable geometry to adjust the inclination of the stack (19) of glass sheets.