Process and apparatus for charging and discharging multi-level presses

Claim 1

A SYSTEM FOR THE CHARGING AND DISCHARGING OF A MULTI-LEVEL PRESS ADAPTED FOR THE COMPRESSING OF SHEET MATERIAL, SAID PRESS HAVING A CHARGING SIDE AND A DISCHARGING SIDE OPPOSITE SAID CHARGING SIDE, COMPRISING TRACK MEANS FORMING A CLOSED PATH SURROUNDING SAID PRESS WITH A PAIR OF PARALLEL BRANCHES RESPECTIVELY LEADING PAST SAID CHARGING SIDE AND SAID DISCHARGING SIDE, AT LEAST ONE MULTI-LEVEL TRUCK DISPLACEABLE ALONG SAID PATH, SUPPORTING MEANS ON SAID TRUCK FOR A PLURALITY OF STACKED TRAYS CAPABLE OF CARRYING SAID SHEET MATERIAL, AND MEANS ON SAID TRUCK FOR GUIDING SAID TRAYS OUT OF AND BACK INTO SAID TRUCK IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO THE MOTION OF SAID TRUCK OVER SAID PARALLEL BRANCHES WHEREBY THE LOADED TRAYS ARE TRANSFERRABLE FROM SAID TRUCK TO SAID PRESS AND VICE VERSA UPON THE ARRIVAL OF SAID TRUCK OPPOSITE SAID CHARGING SIDE AND SAID DISCHARGING SIDE, RESPECTIVELY; SAID PATH BEING PROVIDED WITH A COOLING STATION AT A LOCATION REMOTE FROM SAID PRESS, A LOADING STATION BETWEEN SAID COOLING STATION AND SAID CHARGING SIDE, AND AN UNLOADING STATION BETWEEN SAID COOLING STATION AND SAID DISCHARGING SIDE.