US2228298A - Sheet handling device - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 14, 1941. A, R, BRQTHERSON 2,228,298v

SHEET HANDLING DEVICE nventor E 1 :I: E.. ALP/Lim rorHg/so/v.

d ttorneg 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 dnomeg A. R. BROTHERSON SHEET HANDLING DEVICE Filed Dec. l2, 1938 Jan. 14', 1941.

m a z Z Pv AL/ Uli Jan. 14, 1941.

A. R. BRoTHERsoN 2,228,298 SHEET HANDLING DEVICE Filed Dec. 12, 1938 s sheets-sheet s l* h j@ En? u ,//O `\`\-`z5 f` T /e f f Patented Jan. 14, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE SHEET HANDLING DEVICE Application December 12, 1938, Serial No. 245,113

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in. sheet handling devices.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved sheet clamping device primarily designed for the handling oi plate or window glass but which can also be used to advantage in the lifting and carrying of sheets or plates of other materials.

Another important object of the invention is to provide `an improved clamping device of relatively simple, inexpensive construction for handling a plurality of sheets or plates simultaneously and for maintaining them a predetermined distance from one another during such handling.

A further important object of the invention is to provide an improved clamping device for facilitating the lifting and carrying of a plurality of sheets or plates simultaneously, so constructed as to apply a positive gripping action to the said sheets or plates to avoid slipping thereof rela-tive to one another or the accidental displacement of the sheets or plates whereby to minimize the danger of breakage.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course of the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Fig. l is an end View of a sheet handling device constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the handling device;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the handling device taken substantially on line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the stationary clamping unit of the device;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the movable clamping unit of the device;

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the device; and

Fig. 7 is a vertical section through a portion of one of the movable clamping fingers taken substantially on line 1-1 of Fig. 5.

With reference now to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, there is illustrated in Fig. 4 the outer stationary clamping unit designated in` its entirety by the numeral IIl and embodying the ltwo transversely spaced series of clamping fingers II and I2, while in Fig. 5 is i1- lustrated the inner movable clamping unit designated in its entirety by the numeral I3 and insluding a. series of clamping fingers I4. The two clamping units Ill and I3 are adapted to be associated with one another, as will be more c1ear- 1y hereinafter described, in such a manner as to effect the clamping of a plurality of sheets of glass or the like between the ngers II-I2 of Y spacer blocks I1 and are secured together by a 3 bolt I8. The two series of iingers II and l2 are disposed in transverse alignment with one another and are connectedv together intermediate their upper and lower ends by the transverse spacing strips I9. spacing strips I9 are received between the lingers I I and I2 and are secured together and also to the fingers II and I2 by bolts 2l] and 2| extending transversely therethrough.

Arranged at one end of the series of lingers l I and I2 is'a plate 22 also secured in place by the bolts 20 and 2I. Positioned between the opposed ngers II and I2 at the opposite end of the unit, and suitably secured thereto, is a spacer plate 23.

The lingers I4 of the movable clamping unit I3 are maintained a predetermined distance from one another adjacent their upper ends by the spacer blocks 24 and are secured together by bolts 25 passing transversely through the fingers and also through the spacer blocks. The space between adjacent fingers I4 is preferably the same as the spaces between the fingers Il and I2. Arranged at the opposite ends of the series of lingers I4 `are the metal plates 26 and 21 also secured in place by the bolts 25. The ngers Iii, spacerblocks 24, and end plate 26 are notched at their upper edges to provide a substantially V-shaped groove 28. The end plate 21 is not notched but instead is provided with an opening 29 disposed inv alignment with the groove 23.

In assembling the stationary and movable clamping units I Il and I3, the ngers I4 of the movable clamping unit are adapted to be slipped downwardly between the spacing strips I9 of the stationary clamping unit so that the movable clamping unit will be received between the two series of fingers II and I2 of said stationary clamping unit. The two units are then loosely connected together by a pair of bolts 30 which pass throughaligned openings 3l and 32 in the I.

The opposite ends of the n spacing strips I9 and end plates 22 and 23 of the stationary unit and through openings 33 and in the fingers I4 of the movable clamping unit. In this way, the movable clamping unit is supported intermediate the upper and lower thereof upon the bolts 39. The openings E15 and 34 in the ngers I4 of the movable clamping unit are relatively larger than the bolts 3l) so as to provide a comparatively loose t which permits the movable clamping unit to be rocked upon the bolts to move the fingers i4 thereof either into or out of alignment with the fingers il and I2 of stationary clamping unit l0 as will be more clearly hereinafter described.

Secured to the outer edges of the ngers l and I2 of stationary clamping unit Il! are the metal hangers 35 and 31 respectively, said hangers being fastened at their lower ends by bolts 33 and 39 which pass through openings 4Q and fil respectively. The hangers '25 and 31 are bent inwardly as at 42 and 53 and terminate in the upm wardly extending substantially parallel end portions 44 and 45 with which is associated a handle 45. The handle d5 is provided to facilitate the lifting and carrying of the device by the operator and comprises a horizontal rod 41 passing transversely through openings in the end portions 44 and 45 of hangers 35 and 31. Carried upon the rod 41 outwardly of the hangers are sleeves 48 and 49 while interposed between the end portions of said hangers is a spacer block 50 through which the said rod t1 also passes. The device can be lifted and carried about by the operator by simply grasping the handle 55.

Secured to the inner adjacent edges of the iingers II and I2 of stationary clamping unit I0, by means of the bolts 38 and 39, are the metal plates 5| and 52 respectively provided at one end with projecting ears 53 and 54. Received between the ears 53 and 54 are ccmplemental ears 55 and 56 provided at the upper end of the operating lever 51. The ears 55 and 56 on lever 51 are pivotally carried by transverse 'bolts '58 which pass through the ears 53 and 54 on plates 5I and 52 so that the lever 51 can be vswung upwardly and downwardly to either a substantially horizontal position as shown by the broken lines in Fig. 3, or to a substantially vertical position as shown by the full lines.

Received within the V-shaped groove 28 `at the upper end of the movable clamping unit I3 is a bolt 59, said bolt passing at one end through the opening 29 in plate 21 and having threaded thereon nuts 60. The opposite end of the bolt is provided with a head 6I formed with an opening 62. Passing through the opening 62 is a horizontal pin 63 carried by the substantially L- shapedbrackets 64 and 55 riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the operating lever 51 as at 5t, (Fig. 2). The bolt 59 is loosely mounted upon pin t3 which is oifset with respect to bolts 58 upon which the operating lever 51 pivots. Upon raising and lowering of the lever 51, pin 53 acts in the nature of an eccentric to swing the movable clamping unit I3 in'one direction or the other upon the supporting bolts 3B.

When the lever 51 is swung to horizontal position as shown by the broken lines in Fig. 3, the movable clamping unit I3 will be disposed in such position that the fingers I4 thereof will be in substantial alignment with the fingers II and l2 of the stationary clamping uniti, II). When the lingers are in this position, the clamping device can be slipped, downwardly over aI plurality of sheets'or plates V5"'as shownin Fignl.- IThe clamping device illustrated in the drawings is capable of handling six sheets simultaneously, although it may, of course, be constructed to handle either a smaller or a greater number of sheets. The upper portions of the sheets will be received within the spaces between the fingers II, I2, and I4 and the device can be slipped downwardly over the sheets until the upper edges thereof engage the spacing strips I9. After the device has been properly associated with the sheets, the lever 51 is swung downwardly, at which time the pin 63 will move in an arc about the bolts 58 to draw the upper end of the movable clamping unit I3 forwardly or to the left as viewed in Fig. 3. This will cause the movable clamping unit I3 to rock upon bolts 30 and swing the lower ends of the lingers I4 thereof in the opposite direction to grip the glass sheets and clamp them rmly against the lingers II and I2 of the stationary unit.

In order to provide suilicient clearance for the proper ro'cln'ng movement of the movable `clamping unit I3 upon bolts 3D, the spacing strips I 9 are preferably notched or cut away between the iingers I I and I2 as indicated at 61 in Figs. 3 and 4. When it is desired to release the sheets y5, the lever 51 is simply swung upwardly to horizontal position thereby rocking the movable clamping unit I3 in the opposite direction to move the lower ends of the ngers I4 thereof away from the sheets. The movable clamping unit I3 is normally urged into non-clamping position by means of a spring member 68 received at its lower end upon the bolts 30 outwardly of plate 22 and bearing at its upper end against the metal plate 25 at the upper end of the movable clamping unit. Also carried by the bolts 30, outwardly of spring member B8, is a metal plate 69 provided witha stop 19 for limiting the downward swinging movement of the lever 51. spring member 58 and metal plate 69 are secured against the end plate 22 by the nuts 35 threaded upon bolts 30.

To improve the gripping action of the ngers i4 of movable clamping unit I3, they are each preferably provided with a pair of resilient gripping pads 1I of rubber, rubber composition or the like. These pads normally project slightly beyond the faces of the fingers I4 as shown in Fig. '1, and serve to yieldably but firmly clamp i'.

the sheets in place against the fingers II and I2 of the stationary clamping unit. The pads 1I may be formed with cylindrical portions 12 inserted within openings 13 in the fingers I4.

rIfhe clamping device above described may ob- I viously be employed for handling sheets or plates of any material and for any desired purpose. One use, however., to which this device is especially adapted is for the handling of sheets or plates of glass to facilitate the lifting of a plu' rality of sheets simultaneously from a buck or the like and placing them in proper position upon a horizontal roller yrunway leading to an edge grinding machine. The device can also be used for removing the glass sheets from the edge ol the lower edges being ground. By way of eX- ample, the clamping, device is illustrated in Fig. l as being usedfor positioning a plurality of glass sheets 5 uponahorizontal roller runway consisting of a plurality of 'rolls 14. As shown, the

rolls-14 are'provided'witligrooves 15 and-the The spacing of the grooves is substantially the same as the spacing between the lingers Il, l2, and I4 of the clamping device so that the lower edges of the sheets can be readily positioned within the .grooves 15 by simply lowering the sheets upon the rolls.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit ofthe invention or the sc'ope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In a sheet handling device of the character described, a stationary clamping unit provided with spaced stationary clamping lingers for receiving the sheets therebetween, a movable clamping unit carried by said stationary clamping unit and including'spaced movable clamping lingers arranged at one side of said stationary lingers in substantially transverse alignment therewith and between which the sheets are also received, and means for actuating said movable clamping unit to move the lingers thereof out of alignment with the lingers of said stationary unit to grip the sheets between the said stationary and movable fingers.

2. In a sheet handling device of the character described, a stationary clamping unit provided with spaced stationary clamping lingers for receiving the sheets therebetween, a movable clamping unit` including spaced movable clamping lingers arranged at one side of said stationary lingers in substantially transverse alignment therewith and between which the sheets are also received, means for rockably mounting said movable clamping unit upon said stationary clamping unit, and means lor rocking said movable clamping unit relative to said stationary clamping unit to move the fingers thereof out of alignmentl with thelingers of said stationary unit to grip the sheets between the said movable and stationary lingers.

3. In a sheet handlingdevice of the character described, a stationary clamping unit provided with spaced stationary clamping lingers for rereceiving the' sheets therebetween, a movable clamping unit including spaced movable clamping fingers arranged at one side of said stationary lingers in substantially transverse alignment therewith and between which the sheets are also received, means for rockably mounting said rnov able clamping unit upon said stationary clamping unit, means for rocking said movable clamping unit in one direction upon said stationary clamping unit to move the fingers thereof out of alignment with the lingers of said stationary unit to grip the sheets between the said movable and sta.. tionary lingers, and spring means acting to normally rock said movable clamping. unit in the opposite direction to move the lingers thereof out of gripping engagement with the sheets and into substantial alignment with said stationary lingers.

4. In a sheet handling device of the character described, a stationary clamping unit provided with spaced vertical stationary clamping fingers for receiving the sheets between the lower ends thereof, a movable clamping unit including spaced vertical movable clamping lingers arranged at one side of said stationary fingers in substantially transverse alignment therewith and between the lower ends of which the sheets are also received, means for rockably mounting said movable clamping fingers intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof upon said stationary clamping unit, and means carried by said stationary clamping unit and connected with the upper end of said movable clamping unit for rocking the latter to move the lingers thereof out of alignment with the lingers ofsaid stationary unit to grip the sheets between the said movable and stationary fingers.

5. In a sheet handling device of the character described, a stationary clamping unit provided with spaced vertical stationary clamping lingers for receiving the sheets between the lower ends thereof, a movable clamping unit including spaced vertical movable clamping lingers arranged at one side of said stationary lingers in substantially transverse alignment therewith and between the lower ends of which the sheets are also received, means l or rockably mounting said movable clamping fingers intermediate the upper and lower ends 'thereof upon said stationary clamping unit, means carried by said stationary clamping unit and connected with the upper end of said movable clamping unit for rocking the latter in one direction to move the fingers thereof out of alignment with the lingers of said stationary unit to grip the sheets between the said movable and stationary lingers, and spring means acting to normally rock said movable clamping unit in the opposite direction to move the lingers thereof out of grippingA eng-agement with the sheets` and into substantial alignment with said stationary fingers.

v6. In a sheet handling device of the character described, a stationary clamping unit embodying two transversely spaced series of stationary clamping fingers, means for .connecting the lingers of each series in spaced relation, means for connecting the two series of fingers together in transverse alignment with one another, the sheets to be handled extending between the two `series of lingers and received within the spaces between the lingers of each series, a movable clamping unit carried by said stationary clamping unitvbetween the two series of fingers thereof, said movable clamping unit including a series of `spaced movable clamping fingers between which the sheets are also received, and means for actuating said movable clamping unit to cause the lingers thereof to clamp the sheets against the two series of lingers of said stationary clamping unit.

'7.,In a sheet handlingdevice of the character described, a stationary clamping unit embodying two transversely spaced series of stationary clamping lingers, means for connecting the fingers of each series in spaced relation, means for connecting the two series of lingers together in transverse alignment with one another, the sheets to be handled extending between the two series of fingers and received within the spaces between the lingers of each series, a movable clamping unit including a series of spaced movable clamping ,lingers between which the sheets are `also received,

means for rockably mounting said movable clamping lingers upon said stationary clamping unit between the two series of lingers thereof, and means for rocking said movable clamping unit relative to said stationary clamping unit to cause the lingers thereof to clamp the sheets against the two series of lingers of said stationary clamp-- ing unit.

8. In a sheet handling device of the character described, a stationary clamping unit embodying two transversely spaced series of clamping lingers, means for connecting the lingers of each series in spaced relation, means forconnecting the two series of fingers together in transstationary verse alignment with one another, the sheets to be handled extending between' the two series of fingers and received within the spaces between the fingers of each series, a movable clamping 5 unit including a series of spaced movable clamping ngers between which the sheets lare also received, means for rockably mounting said movable clamping fingers upon said stationary clamping unit between the two series of fingers thereof, means for rocking said movable clamping unit in one direction upon said stationary clamping unit to cause the fingers thereof to clamp the sheets against the two series of fingers of said stationary clamping unit, and spring, means acting to normally rock said movable clamping unit in the opposite direction to move the fingers thereof out of gripping engagement with the sheets.

9. In a sheethandling device of the character described, a stationary clamping unit embodying two transversely spaced series of stationary clamping ngers, means for connecting the fingers of each series in spaced relation, means for connecting the two series of fingers to-gether in transverse alignment with one another, the sheets to be handled extending between the'two series of fingers and received within the spaces between the fingers of each series, a movable clamping unit including a series of spaced movable clampi ing fingers between which the sheetsare also re- 30 ceived, means for rockably mounting said movable clamping fingers intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof upon said stationary clamping unit between the two series of fingers thereof, and means carried by said stationary clamping unit and vconnected with the upper end of said movable clamping unit for rocking the latter to cause-the iingers thereof to clamp the sheets against the two series of iingers of said stationary clamping unit. ,40 l0. In a sheet handling device of the character described, a stationaryclamping unit embodying two transversely spaced series of stationary clamping fingers, means for connecting the fingers of each series in spaced relation, means for connecting the two series of ngers together in transverse alignment with one another, Vthe sheets to be handled extending between the two series of lingers and received within the spaces between the fingers of each series, a movable clamping unit including a series of spaced movable clamping fingers between which the sheets are also received, means for rockably mounting said movable clamping fingers intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof upon said stationary clamping unit between the two series of fingers thereof, means carried by said stationary clamping unit and connected with the upper end of said movable clamping unit for rocking the latter in one direction to cause the fingers thereof to clamp the sheets against the two series of fingers of said stationary clamping unit, and spring means acting to normally rock said movable clamping unit in the opposite direction to move the fingers thereof out of gripping engagement with the sheets.

11, In a sheet handling device of the character described, a stationary clampingv unit embodying two transversely -spaced series of stationary clamping ngers, `means for connecting the fingers of each series in spaced relation, means for connecting the two series of fingers together in transverse alignment with one another, the sheets to be handled extending between the two series of ngers and received within the space between the fingers of each series, a movable clamping unit including a series of spaced movable clamping fingers between whichr the sheets are also received, means for rockably mounting said movable clamping lingers intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof upon said stationary clamping unit between the two series of stationary fingers and intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof, means carried by said stationary clamping unit and connected with the upper end of said movable clamping unit for rocking the latter in one direction to cause the fingers thereof to move relative to said stationary fingers to clamp the sheets against the two series of fingers of said stationary clamping unit, and spring means acting to normally rock said movable clamping unit in the opposite direction to move the fingers thereof out of gripping engagement with the sheets and into substantial alignment with said stationary fingers.

12. In a sheet handling device of the character described, a stationary clamping unitembodying two transversely spaced series of stationary clamping fingers, means for connecting the iingers of each series in spaced relation, transverse plates extending between and secured to the two series of fingers intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof for maintaining the two series of fingers in transverse alignment with one another, bolts passing through said plates between the two series of fingers, the sheets to be handled extending between the two series of fingers beneath said plates and received within the spaces between the fingers of each series, a movable clamping unit including a series of spaced movable clamping fingers received between the two series of stationary fingers and rockably mounted upon said bolts intermediate their upper and lower ends, the sheets also being received between said movable clamping fingers, means for rocking said movable clamping ngers in one direction upon said bolts to cause said fingers to clamp the sheets against the two series of fingers of said stationary clamping unit, and spring means acting to normally rock said movable clamping fingers in the opposite direction to move them out of gripping engagement with the sheets and into substantial alignment with said stationary clamp.- ing ngers.

ALPI-IIA R. BROTHERSON.

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