Patent ID: 6024530
Filing Date: 2000-02-15
Classification: B21D,B65H

Abstract:
An apparatus for transfer of plate-like objects from a first position to a second position, comprising:(A) a supporting stationary structure (7);(B) an essentially U-shaped inner supporting structure (24) comprising:an inner holding device including an inner transverse member (22) wherein at least one of the plate-like objects is holdable by the inner holding device,inner horizontal slides (15) movable on the stationary structure in a horizontal longitudinal direction, andinner vertical slides (17) connected to the inner transverse member and movable in a vertical direction on the inner horizontal slides (15); and(C) an essentially U-shaped outer supporting structure (23) comprising:an outer holding device including an outer transverse member (21) wherein at least one of the plate-like objects is holdable by the outer holding device,outer horizontal slides (15) movable on the stationary structure in the horizontal longitudinal direction, andouter vertical slides (17) connected to the outer transverse member and movable in the vertical direction on the outer horizontal slides (15);(D) wherein a first lateral distance (a) between the outer vertical slides is larger than a second lateral distance (b) between the inner vertical slides, whereby the inner vertical slides (17) are located, as viewed along the horizontal longitudinal direction, between the outer vertical slides (17);whereby the inner supporting structure (24) and the outer supporting structure (23) are independently movable both horizontally and vertically and are simultaneously movable in opposite directions along the horizontal longitudinal direction.