Separation of the glass sheets by will emerge more clearly, prehension of the two parts and prehension elements in the plane of the sheet

摘要

For separating glass sheets, especially sheets of wired glass, into separate sheet portions and stacking the sheet portions in spaced stacks, the sheets are cut to define the sheet portions, which are gripped by respective relatively movable groups of suction gripping devices. The cutting may be effected by scoring the glass sheet before it is gripped by the suction devices, and then snapping it either before or after gripping it with the suction devices. The sheets may be lifted from a roller delivery conveyor into engagement with the suction gripping devices by a series of transverse lifting tines. The groups of suction gripping devices are then moved apart to separate the cut sheet portions, and in the case of wired glass this also severs the wires. The suction gripping devices are mounted on a carriage so that, while still held by the suction gripping devices, the separated sheet portions can be transported laterally to a stacking station, at which they are released to drop on to respective stacks of similar sheet portions on a stacking table. A transfer carriage with lifting arms is provided to transfer the stacks to the pivoted arms of a tilt table for swinging the stacks into a vertical position ready for subsequent removal.