Glass sheet feed system

Abstract

A system for feeding glass sheets to a processing line for processing the sheets has a sheet pickup station; a number of movable carriages which are moved into the pickup station and each support one or more packs of sheets positioned substantially on edge; a movable loading machine for removing the sheets off the carriages and transferring them to the processing line; a store for housing the carriages with respective packs of sheets; and a supply station for restocking the store and which is separate from the pickup station.

1 ) A system for feeding glass sheets to a sheet processing line, the system comprising a sheet pickup station; a number of carriages which are moved into said pickup station, and each support at least one pack of sheets positioned substantially on edge; a loading machine which moves, in a first straight direction, between said pickup station, where it removes one sheet at a time from said carriages, and said processing line, where it releases the sheet onto said processing line; a sheet store; and guide means for guiding said carriages, in respective second straight directions perpendicular to said first straight direction, between said pickup station and said store; the system being characterized by also comprising a supply station for restocking said store, and which is separate from said pickup station. 
     
     
         2 ) A system as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that said store is interposed between said supply station and said pickup station. 
     
     
         3 ) A system as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that said supply station is located along said second straight directions.