Method and apparatus for packing glass sheets in a container

The distinguishing feature of the method is that a glass stack is formed in a space between container straps, and the glass stack is restrained by positively expanding the elastic straps by means of individual expanding systems which are provided between straps and guides, with concurrent pressing of a stack in the direction parallel with its plane. An apparatus for carrying out the method comprises a casing, upper and lower guides secured thereto which are installed in a mirror reflecting position and have elastic straps, and individual systems for expanding the elastic straps which are made in the form of two rows of similar members dispersed with respect to the straps and axially shift. The upper row of the members is rigidly coupled to said straps and the lower row is disposed freely on the guides. Another apparatus for carrying out the method comprises individual systems for expanding the elastic straps which are made in the form of pivotally interconnected links having upper and lower pivots. The upper pivots are coupled by means of brackets to abutments which are secured to the elastic straps and the lower pivots have rollers which are supported by the guides for movement therealong.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to the field of packing, transportation and storage 
of products and materials such as flat and bent sheets which are 
particularly subjected to damages caused by shocks, shaking and other 
mechanical actions; and, it may be used in the glass-making industry for 
the delivery of glass for delivery and also for interplant 
transportations, as well as for glass transfer inside factories using 
glass for industrial processing, e.g. at furniture and mirror-making 
factories. 
The invention may also be used for packing and transportation of other 
products which require safety of surfaces such as polished wooden panels, 
plastic sheets, and sheets of materials provided with a high-quality 
plastic coating and also other types of products which are capable of 
withstanding a certain longitudinal load applied to the end faces. 
More specifically, the invention relates to the methods of placing glass 
sheets into a container, and in particular for packing glass sheets in a 
container for the purposes of package and transportation, and also to the 
equipment for these purposes, e.g. to the design of containers for glass 
or other brittle materials which are subjected to destruction or damage 
due to even the slightest mechanical actions. 
In view of the development of new, highly-productive manufacturing methods 
in the glass-making industry and further improvement of conventional 
techniques of glass-making, and also in view of the evergrowing demand for 
glass in the construction industry, the scale of operations associated 
with packing, transporting and storing glass has been substantially 
enlarged. 
Glass sheets are generally stored in a vertical position in large packs at 
storage facilities and in shops at glass-making factories. It is not 
unfrequent that the glass surface is damaged, especially if there is 
broken glass in the pack. To avoid damage to the glass, paper cardboard 
strips, cords, and similar spacers are provided between glass sheets. 
Glass sheets are separated by means of removable spacers placed on top or 
laterally of the stack only, and use is also made of specially comb-shaped 
members providing an air space between individual sheets of glass. For the 
transportation of glass, containers are generally used in which stacks of 
glass sheets separated by spacers are placed. The danger of damage to the 
glass is usually maximum during the handling and transportation 
operations, and certain technical difficulties also arise in using 
mechanical equipment for glass packing so that large waste of glass occurs 
in performing such operations, large quantities of packing materials are 
spent, and a considerable labour effort is required. 
All these factors resulted in the demand for new methods for glass packing. 
There are a number of methods and apparatus for packing glass which are 
largely used. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
Thus, known in the art is a method for packing glass using paper as the 
spacer material. During packing into a container each glass sheet is 
wrapped in paper, thereby preventing individual sheets from contacting 
each other during their subsequent transportation. The paper may also be 
impregnated with a special composition depending on the transportation 
conditions, e.g. with paraffin. 
The disadvantage of this method is that the use of a great quantity of a 
spacer material, such as paper, makes the glass transportation very 
expensive. Generally the size of a paper spacer is only slightly smaller 
than the glass sheet size so that the consumption of the spacer material 
increases with an increase in the size of the transported glass sheets. In 
addition, the use of paper as a spacer does not necessarily eliminates 
glass losses since complete wear of the spacer may occur during 
transportation under the action of continuously effective mechanical 
actions owing to friction forces, as well as rubbing and scratching caused 
by the friction between the glass and spacer or between adjacent glass 
sheets after the spacer has been completely worn out. 
Known in the art is another method for packing glass, such as bent car 
glass, which places the glass sheets, installs strip-shaped spacers of an 
elastic material therebetween, and restrains the glass in this position. 
This method also cannot prevent friction forces from developing between the 
glass and spacer, although the consumption of the spacer material is 
reduced owing to a smaller surface area of the spacer. Rub portions and 
scratches appear on the glass surface under the action of friction forces 
so that some glass sheets have to be rejected. While transporting the 
stack of glass sheets separated by spacers according to this method, some 
spacers can fall out from the spaces between the glass sheets thus causing 
destruction of glass sheets which may result in the damage to the whole 
glass stack. 
Known in the art is an insert for packing bent glass into a pack, 
consisting of a base and sockets defined by pivotally interconnected 
plates which are installed between retainers of which one retainer 
comprises a lug and the other is made in the form of a flat box-shaped 
member of a width which is at least equal to the maximum curvature of 
glass. 
The glass sheets being packed are inserted one after another with their 
ends into the sockets formed by the pivotally interconnected plates and 
then they are restrained by means of the two retainers so as to form a 
stack having a certain rigidity which depends on the rigidity of the 
retainers. 
This method is deficient in that it cannot be used for packing and 
transportation of flat glass products so that the field of application of 
the method is limited. In addition, though the concept involving the use 
of special sockets for receiving glass edges can enable preservation of 
glass during transportation, the cost-effectiveness of transportation is 
nevertheless lowered since rather large spaces are to be left between 
individual sheets, and the insert design does not makes it possible to 
reduce these spaces. The most serious disadvantage of this prior art 
method is an unreliable restraint of the glass stack by the box-shaped 
member, so that the stack may be displaced during transportation up to the 
engagement with the container walls which, in the majority of cases, ends 
up in breakage of glass or rejection of individual sheets. It is this 
disadvantage that was the reason for limited application of the 
above-described method for packing glass in the glass-making industry. 
During recent years the search for more efficient ways of glass packing was 
aimed at solving a complex of problems, associated with optimum and 
efficient arrangement of glass in the container, further reduction of 
consumption of spacer materials and improvement of the reliability of 
glass restraint. One of the new methods is a method for restraining glass 
in a container which involves placing glass into the container, placing 
removable elastic spacers on the glass edges, and compressing the stack 
for restraining it, the stack being first compressed by applying force to 
the glass edges and then in the direction at right angles with the glass 
plane. 
An apparatus for carrying out this method comprises a framing, a support 
frame formed by horizontal and vertical bars, and removable spacers made 
of an elastic material, one of the horizontal bars being pivotally fixed 
and the other provided with sockets to receive glass edges. 
After being installed into the sockets which in this case form means for 
separating glass sheets, the glass is first restrained at the top by means 
of the removable spacers and then by means of the horizontal bars which 
effect deformation of the stack in two directions. Owing to the provision 
of the sockets and spacers air spaces are formed between individual glass 
sheets which prevent the glass sheets from contacting one another. 
This method and apparatus exhibit a certain reliability of glass restraint 
in use; however, this is only true for small-size car glass pieces. With 
an increase in the glass size the reliability of restraint by this method 
decreases since, owing to the heavy weight of large-dimension glass 
pieces, they are capable of a certain degree of mobility during 
transportation which becomes more pronounced owing to the use of a large 
number of spacers which are subjected to both compression and tension in 
the direction opposite to the compression. It generally results in causing 
the slipping of the spacers away from the glass edges, thus causing damage 
to the transported material. Moreover, owing to a low efficiency of 
restraining the glass stack by means of the bars, the slippage of spacers 
away from the glass edges occurred also in transporting small-size car 
glass pieces. The previous method reduces the consumption of a spacer 
materials owing to a small area of the removable spacers, which are 
re-used at that, but this consumption is, nevertheless, considerable and 
in view of an evergrowing increase in the amount of transportation it has 
a steady trend towards growth. The abovedescribed method and apparatus 
cannot eliminate the contact of a part of the glass piece with the spacer 
which can cause the appearance of rough spots and scratches on the glass 
surface during transportation. Finally, a serious disadvantage of the 
method is that it cannot dispense with the use of a spacer material 
altogether even if the use of such material is minimized owing to the fact 
that the spacers are only placed at the top of the stack and at every 
second glass piece. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is the main object of the invention to provide a method for packing 
glass in a container which eliminates the need to use a spacer material 
for separating glass pieces. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a method for packing glass in 
a container which eliminates any contact both between both glass pieces 
and glass pieces and spacers. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide for more cost-effective 
packing of glass in a container. 
It is also an object of the invention to provide apparatus for packing and 
transportation of glass in a container. 
An additional object of the invention is to provide conditions for 
mechanized loading of glass into a container according to the invention. 
These and other objects are accomplished by a method for packing glass in a 
container which is internally provided with top and bottom guiding 
elements having elastic straps, consisting of forming a stack of glass in 
the space between the straps and restraining the stack the invention, 
restraining is effected by positively expanding the elastic straps by 
means of individual expanding systems which are provided between the 
guiding elements and straps, with concurrent pressing of the stack in a 
direction parallel with the stack plane. 
The purpose is also achieved by an appratus for carrying out the method for 
packing glass, comprising a casing, and top and bottom guiding elements 
secured thereto and arranged in a mirror reflecting position with elastic 
straps. According to the invention, the systems for expanding the elastic 
straps comprise two rows of similar members which are distributed with 
respect to the straps and axially shifted, the upper row of the members 
being rigidly coupled to the straps and the lower row of the members being 
disposed freely on said guiding elements. 
To ensure a desired amount of expansion of the elastic straps, the systems 
for expanding the straps preferably comprise two rows of trapesoidal 
members installed with their bases facing alternately upwards and 
downwards. 
The same purpose may be accomplished by using expanding systems comprising 
two rows of hexagonal members. 
The expanding systems may also comprise cylindrical members. 
Members of an elliptical shape may also be used for forming expanding 
systems. 
In another embodiment, the method may be carried out by an apparatus having 
the expanding systems made in the form of pivotally interconnected links 
having their upper pivots coupled by means of brackets to abutments 
secured to the elastic straps and lower pivots provided with rollers 
suppoted by the guides for movement therealong. 
The invention substantially consists in the following. 
When a stack of glass pieces is placed on shock-absorbers having elastic 
straps which are disposed on the bottom of a container, with concurrent 
compression of the stack by means of similar shock-absorbers placed over 
the glass pieces, the elastic straps are positively caused to expand by 
means of individual systems for expanding the elastic straps. The 
individual systems for expanding the elastic straps are disposed between 
the guiding elements and the straps so as to act positively on the elastic 
material of the straps, e.g. rubber and to cause a controllable elongation 
of the straps. During the expansion of the straps the stack of glass 
pieces, which was originally formed as an integral body, is transformed 
into a pack of glass pieces in which individual glass sheets are separated 
from each other by air spaces. Therefore, the glass pieces are restrained 
in this case owing to a positive expansion of the elastic straps under the 
action of individual expanding systems and also owing to a concurrent 
pressing of the glass stack in the direction of the edges, that is in 
parallel with the stack plane. 
The individual expanding systems are made in the form of two rows of 
similar members of an appropriate shape which are shifted, the upper row 
being rigidly coupled to the strap and the lower disposed freely on the 
guiding element. When the glass weight and the pressing force act on such 
an expanding system, the two-row pattern of the similar members is 
converted into a single-row pattern, which is accompanied by a certain 
elongation of the whole system owing to the interaction of the members. 
Since a part of the members are rigidly coupled to the strap, the strap is 
immediately expanded (elongated) upon conversion of the two-row system 
into the single-row system, and at the same time the glass pieces are 
caused to re-arrange with air spaces therebetween. Consequently the 
expansion of the strap occurs owing to the provision of the members of a 
exactly predetermined shape which, upon a displacement of one row of the 
members e.g. of the upper row, downwards causes a concurrent lateral 
displacement of the members re-arranged into the single-row configuration. 
Accordingly, the expanding systems may comprise two rows of members of 
trapezoidal, hexagonal, cylindrical, and elliptical shape. The 
above-mentioned configurations of the members forming the systems for 
expanding the straps ensure an elongation of the entire system as a whole 
when they are arranged in two rows of which one (upper) row is rigidly 
coupled to the straps and the other (lower) row is disposed freely on the 
guiding element and when their side surfaces cooperate with each other. 
The system for expanding the elastic strap may also comprise pivotally 
interconnected links, the upper parts of the links being rigidly coupled 
to the strap and the lower parts of the links being installed on the guide 
for movement therealong. When the weight of a glass stack and the pressing 
force act on such a system, the links are aligned in the horizontal plane 
or, in other words, the initial angle between adjacent links increases. 
Since the upper part of the links is rigidly coupled to the strap, such 
conversion of the system causes the elongation of the system as a whole 
resulting in a respective elongation of the strap. 
It will be apparent from the above that the substance of the method resides 
in providing a positive expansion of the elastic straps engaging the glass 
edges, by means of individual expanding systems acting on the straps and 
causing their elongation, and the construction of an apparatus for 
carrying out the method is determined by the use of the expanding systems 
either in the form of two rows of similar members of which the upper 
member is rigidly coupled to the strap and the lower member is disposed 
freely on the guiding element, or in the form of pivotally interconnected 
links, the upper part of the links being rigidly coupled to the strap and 
the lower part installed on the guiding element for movement therealong. 
As a result, a highly economically effective method for packing glass in a 
container designed for its transportation and storage is provided. 
The formation of air spaces between glass sheets completely eliminates the 
need of using a spacer material and ensures the desired safety of the 
glass. This facility permits the glass to engage the container equipment 
only along the end faces of the stack; the glass surface cannot come in 
contact with other materials, e.g. during transportation. This eliminates 
the possibility of formation of rough spots and scratches on the glass. 
Bearing in mind high reliability of restraining glass by the method, which 
is provided with the arrangement of systems for expanding elastic straps 
exhibiting an increased rigidity in the vertical plane, the advantages of 
glass packing with the formation of air spaces between individual sheets 
as regards the elimination of glass breakage will become apparent. Tests 
of an experimental container made in accordance with said method showed an 
improved reliability of glass restraint under continuous mechanical 
actions on the container during transportation, and also the complete 
absence of glass displacements both in vertical and horizontal planes. 
With the reliable glass restraint by means of shock-absorbers having 
individual expanding systems and with a rather strong action on the stack 
from the top owing to the pressing of the stack, no wear of the rubber 
straps occurred. Not only there was no cutting through of the rubber by 
the glass edges pressed into the rubber, which was due to the cushioning 
capacity thereof, but the glass edges were additionally restrained in the 
rubber thus preventing them from performing even minor displacements 
during transportation. 
The method for packing glass in a container is simple in its embodiment. In 
addition, the method is versatile as it is equally suitable for packing, 
transportation and storage of both flat and bent glass sheets. The concept 
of the method proves applicable to practically all existing glass 
containers after their minor modifications and also to any new containers. 
The formation of minimum spaces between glass sheets results in an 
improved cost effectiveness of their transportation as the useful area of 
the container is utilized more completely with such packing of the glass.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Apparatus shown in the drawings (FIGS. 1 through 5) comprise a casing 1 
having upper shock absorbers 2 and lower shock-absorbers 3, a pressing 
mechanism 4, and lateral retainers 5. 
The casing 1 has an open front wall 6, a rear wall 7 in the form of 
cross-bars 8, and metal side walls 9 in which the lateral retainers 5 are 
secured. A top wall 10 is designed for securing the pressing mechanism 4 
thereto and it has rings 11 for slinging and tilting the container. The 
lower shock-absorbers 3 are secured to a bottom wall 12 of the container 
to which are also secured hinged rear legs 13 each having an arm 14 and an 
arm retainer 15. Front legs 16 of the container comprise channel bars 
having openings for inserting forks of a fork-truck (not shown in the 
drawings). The vertical cross-bars 8 of the rear wall 7 of the container 
are internally lined with a shock-absorbing material 17 such as rubber. 
The upper shock-absorbers 2 are secured to the pressing mechanism 4 of a 
conventional type. They are installed in a mirror reflecting position to 
the lower shock-absorbers 3. Each shock-absorber 2 and 3 comprises an 
elastic, e.g. rubber, strap 18 and a guiding element 19 between which is 
provided an expanding system which may comprise two rows of trapezoidal 
members 21 installed in the guiding element 19. The members 21 are 
installed with their bases 22 facing alternately upwards and downwards, 
the members having their bases 22 facing upwards being secured, e.g. by a 
dovetail joint, to the strap 18. Therefore, when in the unloaded 
condition, the expanding system 20 comprises two rows of members of 
similar configuration of which an upper row 24 is secured to the strap 18 
and the lower row 25 is installed in a shifted position thereto so that a 
space 26 is formed between the row 25 of the members installed on the 
guiding element 19 and the strap 18. The peripheral surfaces 27 of the 
members 21 are made for their movement over each other both downwards and 
into the initial position, the return back to the initial position being 
enabled by the elasticity of the strap 18. 
The system 20 for expanding the elastic straps 18 in another embodiment may 
be made in the form of pivotally interconnected links 28 (FIGS. 6 through 
7) which are provided between the elastic strap 18 and the guiding element 
19. At the top these members comprise pivot joints 29 which are secured in 
brackets 30 of abutments 31 installed on the lower side of the elastic 
strap 18. The abutments 31 are secured by means of joints, e.g. in the 
form of dovetail joints 32 to the strap 18. At the bottom the links have 
rollers 33 which are supported by the guiding element 19. The abutments 31 
also have stops 34 for limiting the stroke of the pivotally interconnected 
links. A stop roller 35 of the multiple link expanding system is fixed to 
the guiding element 19. 
In other embodiments the expanding system 20 may comprise two rows of 
hexagonal, cylindrical, and elliptical members as shown in FIGS. 3-5. 
The number of the upper and lower shock-absorbers 2 and 3 depends on the 
weight of a glass stack loaded into the container. With an increase in the 
stack weight the number of lower shock-absorbers 3 may be increased to 
three or four, and two upper shock-absorbers are enough in such case. The 
upper shock-absorbers 2 are installed on the pressing mechanism 4 which 
effects pressing of the stack downwards. The pressing mechanism may be of 
various types including known components and assemblies, but in any case 
it should ensure uniform distribution of load both over shock-absorbers 
and over the glass stack. 
The lateral retainers 5 are also of a conventional type and consist of 
known components and assemblies. The lateral retainers may be made in the 
form of shock-absorbers, but in such case they should have individual 
pressing mechanisms. 
The above-described apparatus functions in the following manner. 
Before loading glass into a container, the container is installed in an 
inclined position. This operation is aimed at imparting to the glass a 
certain inclination in the vertical plane, so that each sheet is 
successively placed on the shock-absorbing material 17 of the cross-bars 8 
of the rear wall 7 of the container while at the same time retaining its 
perpendicular position with respect to the bottom wall 12 of the 
container. The inclined position of the container also prevents the glass 
sheets from accidentally falling out during the formation of the stack 36 
of material. The stack 36 is formed by feeding individual glass sheets in 
a sequence into a space formed between the shock absorbers 2 and 3. The 
upper shock-absorbers 2 should be lifted by the pressing mechanism 4 to 
the upmost position. The glass sheets are installed on the lower 
shock-absorbers 3, mechanized feeding of the glass to the container, e.g. 
by means of a conventional feeder, being most preferable. When the glass 
is fed onto the lower shock-absorbers 3, it is installed with its end 
faces on the rubber strap 18. In the unloaded condition, the strap 18 is 
slightly expanded so that the members 21, e.g. of trapezoidal 
configuration, which are rigidly coupled thereto by means of the joints 
23, are offset upwards. Therefore, the glass is fed, during the formation 
of the stack, to the shock-absorbers 3 having the straps 18 and their 
expanding system 20 which consists of two rows of the members 21 of 
similar shape which are arranged with shift in the guiding element 19. The 
space 26 is formed between the row 25 of the members 21 which are disposed 
on the guiding element 19 and the strap 18. Bearing in mind that the 
members 21 are installed with their bases 22 facing alternately upwards 
and downwards, it will be apparent that the system 20 for expanding the 
straps 18 represents a structure which is capable of moving both downwards 
and laterally. It is this process that occurs upon complete loading of the 
container with glass and subsequent pressing of the stack 36 downwards. 
Thus, the members 21 of the upper row 24 start moving down along the 
guiding element 19. Since the members 21 are installed with their bases 22 
facing alternately upward and downward, the remaining members move 
laterally apart concurrently with the movement of the row 24. This 
movement apart causes an expansion of the strap 18 owing to the rigid 
coupling between the strap 18 and the members 21. The end faces of the 
glass pieces fixed under their own weight and rubber elasticity start 
moving apart, and air spaces separating them are formed therebetween. 
The above-described processes occur when the glass stack 36 is pressed 
down. At the same time, similar processes occur also with the upper 
shock-absorbers which are installed in the mirror reflecting position to 
the lower ones. Bearing in mind the similarity of the members 21 making up 
the expanding systems 20 of both upper shock-absorbers 2 and lower 
shock-absorbers 3, that is their absolutely identical dimensions and 
shape, it will be apparent that the expansion of the elastic straps 18 of 
the upper shock-absorbers 2 occurs concurrently with the formation of the 
air spaces at the bottom of the stack, that is just the same spaces are 
formed at the top of the stack. Therefore, the glass stack is arranged in 
space between the elastic straps 18 with spaces between glass sheets. 
Bearing in mind the rigidity of the expanding system 20, especially in the 
vertical plane, the formation of the air spaces between individual glass 
sheets automatically results in restraining the whole stack in the 
vertical plane. 
Restraining the stack in the horizontal plane to prevent it from displacing 
toward the side walls 9 of the container is effected by means of the 
lateral retainers 5 of a conventional type. After this operation is 
completed, the glass stack is completely restrained, and the container is 
ready for placing it into the initial position, that is in the vertical 
position. It should be noted that with such loading of glass into the 
container the guiding elements 19 of the shock-absorbers 2 and 3 on the 
side of the rear wall 7 may be provided with stops (not shown in the 
drawings) for limiting the stroke of the members 21 of the expanding 
system 20. In such case the expansion of the straps 18 is of a 
predetermined glass-loading oriented nature since the expanding systems 20 
of the shock-absorbers 2 and 3 can only move apart in one direction, 
namely towards the open front end of the container. 
It will be apparent that the degree of expansion of the strap 18 depends on 
the weight of the glass stack, natural elasticity and dimensions of the 
members 21 of the expanding system 20, and friction forces acting during 
the movement of the members 21 downwards between the peripheral surfaces 
27 and during the movement of the members 21 laterally along the guiding 
element 19. Depending on the above-mentioned parameters, three cases of 
expansion of the strap 18 during loading of the glass or formation of the 
stack on the lower shock-absorbers 3 may occur. 
It has been found during the tests of the container that the expansion of 
the straps 18 of the lower shock-absorbers 3 may occur immediately upon 
installation of the glass pieces thereon, and a partial expansion of the 
straps 18 is possible, or there may not be such expansion at all during 
formation of the stack. These options are explained by the fact that 
properties of the strap made of rubber may vary and depend completely on 
its dimensions, and first of all on its thickness. The strap width is 
equal to the length of the members 21. In case the elasticity of the 
strap, taken together with the friction forces in the expanding system 20, 
exceeds the stack weight, there will be no expansion during formation of 
the stack, or such expansion will be minimum or partial, but in any case 
not final in case they are about equal, the expansion occurring 
immediately upon placing the glass into the container only if these forces 
are smaller than the stack weight. In the latter case the air spaces 
between glass sheets are formed immediately upon placing the glass sheets 
on the lower shock-absorbers 3, and the upper shock-absorbers 2 or the 
pressing of the stack are used for adjusting the stack by forming similar 
spaces at the top. With a partial expansion of the strap 18 minimum spaces 
between glass sheets are formed at the bottom of the stack, and these 
spaces are enlarged by pressing the stack downwards. The pressing causes 
the row 24 of the members 21 to come in touch with the guiding element 19, 
that is the rows of oppositely installed members of similar congruent 
shape are aligned up to the complete expansion of the strap 18. 
In case there is no expansion at all during formation of the stack, such 
expansion is achieved just the same only by pressing by means of the 
pressing mechanism 4. Bearing in mind that the elongation of the strap in 
any case occurs owing to the provision of the expanding system 20 which 
reacts differently on the external conditions--the stack weight in this 
case, it will be apparent that such elongation is artificial or 
compulsory. 
The expansion of the strap 18 enabling the formation of spaces between 1 
and 1.5 mm between glass sheets is the most preferred. The degree of 
expansion of the straps 18 in choosing its thickness depends on dimensions 
of the members 21 making up the expanding system, and, in particular, on 
the difference between dimensions of the upper part of the trapezoidal 
members and their bases. 
Apart from being trapezoidal, the members 21 may be of various 
configurations. It should be, however, kept in mind that the trapezoidal 
shape of the members 21 is the most preferred as it provides for minimum 
friction between the adjacent members in movement and also contributes to 
uniform distribution of load represented by the glass stack weight and 
pressing force over the guiding element 19. 
In other embodiments the expanding system 20 may consist of hexagonal, 
cylindrical, and elliptical members. It should be, however, noted that 
with any such embodiment of the expanding system substantial friction 
forces develop between adjacent members of the system, and there is 
evidently non-uniform distribution of load over the guiding element. 
The members 21 of the expanding system 20 may be made of wood, plastic, and 
metal. The criteria for selecting the material for making the members 21 
should be their small weight and absence of substantial friction when they 
are in contact with each other. 
The number of shock-absorbers 2 and 3 depends on the size of loaded glass 
pieces, the embodiment "two at the top and two at the bottom" being the 
most preferred. For transportation of large-size glass pieces in big packs 
the number of the lower shock-absorbers 3 may be increased. 
In a further embodiment, the expanding system is made in the form of 
pivotally interconnected links 28 which are also installed between the 
elastic strap 18 and the guiding element 19. In this case, when the glass 
is installed on the lower shock-absorbers 3, the strap 18 may expand 
immediately during formation of the stack, but it may also expand partly 
or remain unchanged. The complete expansion of the strap in the two latter 
cases is achieved by pressing the stack downwards. At any rate, the 
expansion of the strap is obtained owing to the straightening of the 
system of the pivotally interconnected links 28 which are at an angle of 
about 90.degree. to each other in the initial position (in the underloaded 
condition). The load provided by the weight of the glass stack and by the 
pressing mechanism 4 is re-distributed between the links 28 by means of 
the stops 31 secured by means of the joints 32 to the lower side of the 
strap 18, brackets 30, and pivotal joints 29, so as to straighten the 
position of the links. The rollers 33 which are supported by the guiding 
element 19 start moving horizontally to expand the links. This movement 
continues until the links 28 come in touch with their stroke limiters 34 
which engage the links to stop their straightening. Since the abutments 31 
are rigidly coupled to the strap 18, the straightening of the links 28 
causes the expansion of the strap. The glass sheets are thus separated by 
air spaces, the size of the air spaces depending on the dimensions of the 
links 28 and length of the stroke limiters 34. 
Since the upper shock-absorbers 2 in this embodiment are installed in 
mirror reflecting position to the lower ones, similarly to the 
above-described embodiments, their operation does not differ greatly from 
that of the shock-absorbers 3, with the only difference that here the 
expanding systems 20 function only under the action of the force developed 
by the pressing mechanism 4. 
After the vertical restraining of the stack by means of the shock-absorbers 
2 and 3, the stack is restrained horizontally by means of the lateral 
retainers 5. 
It will be apparent from the above description that the method for packing 
glass sheets in a container and the apparatus for carrying out this method 
have the following advantages: 
The method does not require the use of special materials for providing 
spaces between individual glass sheets. Rubber which is used for the 
elastic straps is in this case part of the equipment, and the consumption 
of rubber is small. In addition, the method does not exclude the use of 
other materials with an appropriate elasticity to replace rubber. 
The method described above is simple in its implementation so that it may 
be quickly introduced in the glass-making industry. 
The method is versatile as it is suitable for packing, transportation and 
storage of both flat and bent glass. In addition, the concept of the 
method proves applicable to both existing containers, crates, and racks 
and new containers. 
The concept of the method determines an improved reliability of the 
formation of air spaces between glass sheets in a stack owing to the 
positive expansion of elastic straps. The absence of contact between the 
glass sheets and the strap, in combination with reliable restraint of the 
glass by means of the shock-absorbers, results in a substantial reduction 
of glass losses through breakage during transportation. The provision of a 
sufficient rigidity of the shock-absorbers, in combination with the 
provision of an elastic strap, makes it possible to place glass under 
conditions where there is no contact between the sheet surface and the 
spacer material, thus not only eliminating breakage of the glass but even 
minor deterioration of surface quality. 
The method eliminates glass losses through leaching when transported 
without air spaces between sheets, which is very important, especially 
taking into account the shortage of spacer materials, and first of all, 
paper. 
The method makes it possible to dispense with the conventional packing of 
glass at an angle to the vertical plane. The packing of glass in the 
position perpendicular to the bottom wall of the container ensures the 
most complete utilization of the useful area of the container thus 
improving the cost-effectiveness of transportation. In addition, this 
advantage makes it possible to dispense with the conventional pyramid-type 
containers with oblique walls. The use of rectangular containers 
substantially improves the cost-effectiveness of glass transportation by 
all types of transports, especially by automobile, railway and water 
transports. 
Owing to the possibility of placing the container in an inclined position, 
the method enables mechanized glass loading into the container. 
The design of the above-described apparatus makes it possible to provide 
containers of larger capacity.