Patent ID: 6457932
Filing Date: 2002-10-01
Classification: B24B,B24D,G01N

Abstract:
A system for transferring panels, said system comprising:a rail system; a supply assembly comprising a plurality of said panels disposed in a stack and disposable at a first location relative to said rail system; a shuttle assembly movably interconnected with said rail system, wherein said shuttle assembly is movable along said rail system between at least a first position and a second position, wherein said shuttle assembly is disposed under said supply assembly when said supply assembly is at said first location and when said shuttle assembly is at said first position, wherein said shuttle assembly is displaced from said supply assembly when at said second position, and wherein said shuttle assembly comprises: a carriage assembly adapted to supportably engage at least one of said plurality of said panels; and a position adjustment system interconnectable to said carriage assembly, wherein said position adjustment system raises said carriage assembly when said shuttle assembly is at said first position to initiate an unloading of a lowermost of said panels in said stack from said supply assembly and a loading of said lowermost of said panels onto said carriage assembly; a drive system, interconnectable to said shuttle assembly, for at least moving said shuttle assembly between said first and second positions; and a control system, in electrical communication with at least said drive system, for controlling movement of said shuttle assembly.