Patent ID: 7217077

Claim:
A storage system for glass offcuts, the storage system being provided for use next to a glass processing line having a loading table, a glass cutting table and a breakout table, the storage system comprising: a first tilt table comprising: a main frame; a movable frame pivotally connected to the main frame of the first tilt table, the movable frame being movable between a horizontal position and a substantially vertical position of less than 90 degrees with reference to the horizontal; a glass supporting assembly located on an upper side of movable frame of the first tilt table; a tilt mechanism connected between the main frame and the movable frame of the first tilt table; a conveyor unit mounted on the movable frame of the first tilt table, the conveyor unit being configured and disposed to move a selected glass offcut when the movable frame of the first tilt table is at the substantially vertical position; a second tilt table comprising: a main frame; a movable frame pivotally connected to the main frame of the second tilt table, the movable frame of the second tilt table being movable between a horizontally position and a substantially vertical position of less than 90 degrees with reference to the horizontal; a glass supporting assembly located on an upper side of movable frame of the second tilt table; a tilt mechanism connected between the main frame and the movable frame of the second tilt table; a conveyor unit connected to the movable frame of the second tilt table, the conveyor unit of the second tilt table being configured and disposed to move a selected glass offcut when the movable frame of the second tilt table is at the substantially vertical position; a storage rack positioned between the first tilt table and the second tilt table, the storage rack comprising: a main frame; a plurality of slot dividers defining a plurality of parallel storage slots extending longitudinally within the main frame of the storage rack, the storage slots individually storing the glass offcuts at a substantially vertical position of less than 90 degrees with reference to the horizontal; a conveyor unit located under the main frame, the conveyor unit being configured and disposed to move a selected glass offcut in and out of the storage rack; and a carriage unit located under the main frame, the carriage unit being configured and disposed to transversally displace the main frame of the storage rack with reference to the first and second tilt tables; and means for controlling operations of the first tilt table, the storage rack and the second tilt table; whereby, in use, the first tilt table receives a selected glass offcut from the breakout table and sends it to the storage rack, and whereby, in use, the second tilt table receives a previously-stored glass offcut from the storage rack to be directed to the loading table.