Method and apparatus for transporting sheet metal stamping

Claim 1

A method of handling and transporting planar members comprising the steps of: providing a rack structure; positioning a plurality of leaves in serial relation along a surface of said rack structure with each leaf hinged at one edge thereof to said surface in generally parallel spaced relation to the hinge axes of the adjacent leaves and with each leaf pivotally movable between angularly spaced first and second positions; positioning said rack structure proximate a source of said planar members; pivoting said leaves to their first positions; pivoting one of said leaves to its second position; placing a planar member adjacent said one leaf; pivoting the next adjacent leaf to its second position while providing a space between said one leaf and said adjacent leaf greater than the thickness of said planar member so as to protectively position said planar member between said one leaf and said adjacent leaf; repeating steps E, F and G until a plurality of said planar members are positioned in sandwich, interspersed fashion between successive pairs of leaves; and transporting said rack, with said planar members interspersed between said leaves, to a location remote from said source.

Claim 2

A method of handling and transporting planar members comprising the steps of: providing a rack structure; positioning a plurality of leaves in serial relation along a surface of said rack structure with each leaf hinged at one edge thereof to said surface in generally parallel spaced relation to the hinge axes of the adjacent leaves and with each leaf pivotally movable between angularly spaced first and second positions; positioning said rack structure proximate a source of said planar members; pivoting said leaves to their first positions; pivoting one of said leaves to its second position; placing a planar member adjacent said one leaf; pivoting the next adjacent leaf to its second position while providing a space between said one leaf and said adjacent leaf greater than the thickness of said planar member so as to protectively position said planar member between said one leaf and said adjacent leaf; repeating steps E, F and G until a plurality of said planar members are positioned in sandwich, interspersed fashion between successive pairs of leaves; and transporting said rack, with said planar members interspersed between said leaves, to a location remote from said source.

Claim 8

A method of loading sheet metal stampings emerging from a stamping facility, said method comprising: providing a rack structure; positioning a plurality of leaves in serial relation along a surface of said rack structure with each leaf hinged at one edge thereof to said surface in generally parallel spaced relation to the hinge axes of the adjacent leaves and with each leaf movable between a first position on one side of a plane generally normal to said surface and passing through the hinge axis of the leaf to a second position on the other side of said plane; positioning said rack structure adjacent said stamping facility; pivoting said leaves to their first positions; pivoting one of said leaves to its second position; placing a sheet metal stamping adjacent said one leaf; pivoting the next adjacent leaf to its second position while providing a space between said one leaf and said adjacent leaf greater than the thickness of said stamping so as to protectively position said stamping between said one leaf and said adjacent leaf; repeating steps E, F and G until a plurality of said stampings are positioned in sandwich in the interspersed fashion between successive pairs of leaves; and transporting said rack, with said stampings interspersed between said leaves, to a location remote from said stamping facilities.

Claim 9

A method of loading sheet metal stampings emerging from a stamping facility, said method comprising: providing a rack structure; positioning a plurality of leaves in serial relation along a surface of said rack structure with each leaf hinged at one edge thereof to said surface in generally parallel spaced relation to the hinge axes of the adjacent leaves and with each leaf movable between a first position on one side of a plane generally normal to said surface and passing through the hinge axis of the leaf to a second position on the other side of said plane; positioning said rack structure adjacent said stamping facility; pivoting said leaves to their first positions; pivoting one of said leaves to its second position; placing a sheet metal stamping adjacent said one leaf; pivoting the next adjacent leaf to its second position while providing a space between said one leaf and said adjacent leaf greater than the thickness of said stamping so as to protectively position said stamping between said one leaf and said adjacent leaf; repeating steps E, F and G until a plurality of said stampings are positioned in sandwich in the interspersed fashion between successive pairs of leaves; and transporting said rack, with said stampings interspersed between said leaves, to a location remote from said stamping facilities.

Claim 11

An apparatus for handling and transporting planar members, said apparatus comprising: a rack including spaced end structure and means to facilitate transport of said rack between spaced locations; a plurality of leaves positioned in serial relation along a surface of said rack extending between said end structures with each leaf hinged at one edge thereof to said surface in generally parallel spaced relation to the hinge axes of the adjacent leaves and with each leaf pivotal between a first position on one side of a reference plane passing through the hinge axis of that leaf and a second position on the other side of said plane so that one of said leaves may be pivoted from its first to its second position, one of said planar members maybe positioned adjacent said one leaf, and the next adjacent leaf may be pivoted from its first to its second position to sandwich said one planar member between said one leaf and said adjacent leaf; and coacting means on adjacent leaves operative to maintain the adjacent leaves in spaced relation with the leaves in their second position so as to provide a cocoon therebetween to protectively receive a planar member.

Claim 12

An apparatus for handling and transporting planar members, said apparatus comprising: a rack including spaced end structure and means to facilitate transport of said rack between spaced locations; a plurality of leaves positioned in serial relation along a surface of said rack extending between said end structures with each leaf hinged at one edge thereof to said surface in generally parallel spaced relation to the hinge axes of the adjacent leaves and with each leaf pivotal between a first position on one side of a reference plane passing through the hinge axis of that leaf and a second position on the other side of said plane so that one of said leaves may be pivoted from its first to its second position, one of said planar members maybe positioned adjacent said one leaf, and the next adjacent leaf may be pivoted from its first to its second position to sandwich said one planar member between said one leaf and said adjacent leaf; and coacting means on adjacent leaves operative to maintain the adjacent leaves in spaced relation with the leaves in their second position so as to provide a cocoon therebetween to protectively receive a planar member.

Claim 16

An apparatus for handling and transporting planar members, said apparatus comprising: a rack including spaced end structures and means to facilitate transport of said rack between spaced locations; a plurality of leaves positioned in serial relation along a surface of said rack extending between said end structures with each leaf hinged at one edge thereof to said surface in generally parallel spaced relation to the hinge axes of the adjacent leaves and with each leaf pivotal between a first position on one side of a reference plane passing through the hinge axis of that leaf and a second position on the other side of said plane so that one of said leaves may be pivoted from its first to its second position, one of said planar members may be positioned adjacent said one leaf, and the next adjacent leaf may be pivoted from its first to its second position to sandwich said one planar member between said one leaf and said adjacent leaf; said leaves being positioned in spaced relation along said surface substantially from end structure to end structure and said plane for each leaf being substantially normal to said surface so that the leaf nearest one end structure is supported by said one end structure with that leaf pivoted to its first position and the leaf nearest the other end structure is supported by said other end structure with that leaf pivoted to its second position; each of said leaves including a main body generally planar portion having a size and configuration conforming to the size and configuration of said planar members and edge portions along opposite sides of said main body portion, including internestable structure; said internestable structure on the edge portions of adjacent leaves being operative to internest with the leaves in said reference plane and being operative to assume a stacked relative disposition as the leaves move away from said reference plane.

Claim 17

An apparatus for handling and transporting planar members, said apparatus comprising: a rack including spaced end structures and means to facilitate transport of said rack between spaced locations; a plurality of leaves positioned in serial relation along a surface of said rack extending between said end structures with each leaf hinged at one edge thereof to said surface in generally parallel spaced relation to the hinge axes of the adjacent leaves and with each leaf pivotal between a first position on one side of a reference plane passing through the hinge axis of that leaf and a second position on the other side of said plane so that one of said leaves may be pivoted from its first to its second position, one of said planar members may be positioned adjacent said one leaf, and the next adjacent leaf may be pivoted from its first to its second position to sandwich said one planar member between said one leaf and said adjacent leaf; said leaves being positioned in spaced relation along said surface substantially from end structure to end structure and said plane for each leaf being substantially normal to said surface so that the leaf nearest one end structure is supported by said one end structure with that leaf pivoted to its first position and the leaf nearest the other end structure is supported by said other end structure with that leaf pivoted to its second position; each of said leaves including a main body generally planar portion having a size and configuration conforming to the size and configuration of said planar members and edge portions along opposite sides of said main body portion, including internestable structure; said internestable structure on the edge portions of adjacent leaves being operative to internest with the leaves in said reference plane and being operative to assume a stacked relative disposition as the leaves move away from said reference plane.

Claim 19

An apparatus for handling and transporting sheet metal stampings, said apparatus comprising: a rack including a base structure defining a floor surface, upstanding end structures at each end of said base structure, and means to facilitate transport of said rack between spaced locations; and a plurality of generally planar, generally rectangular leaves positioned in serial relation along said floor surface from a location proximate one end structure to a location proximate the other end structure with each leaf including a hinge structure along its lower edge defining a hinge axis extending generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said rack and with each leaf being pivotally movable between a first position on one side of a plane generally normal to said floor surface and passing through the hinge axis of that leaf and a second position on the other side of said plane; the leaf nearest one of said end structures being spaced longitudinally from said one end structure by a distance to allow that leaf to assume a pivoted position on one side of the respective plane in which the upper end of that leaf is supported by said one end structure; the leaf nearest the other end structure being spaced longitudinally from said other end structure a distance to allow that leaf to assume a pivoted position on the other side of its respective plane in which the upper end of that leaf is supported by said other end structure; and said rack being open along one side thereof between said end structures to allow stampings to be inserted between adjacent leaves from said open side of said rack.

Claim 20

An apparatus for handling and transporting sheet metal stampings, said apparatus comprising: a rack including a base structure defining a floor surface, upstanding end structures at each end of said base structure, and means to facilitate transport of said rack between spaced locations; and a plurality of generally planar, generally rectangular leaves positioned in serial relation along said floor surface from a location proximate one end structure to a location proximate the other end structure with each leaf including a hinge structure along its lower edge defining a hinge axis extending generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said rack and with each leaf being pivotally movable between a first position on one side of a plane generally normal to said floor surface and passing through the hinge axis of that leaf and a second position on the other side of said plane; the leaf nearest one of said end structures being spaced longitudinally from said one end structure by a distance to allow that leaf to assume a pivoted position on one side of the respective plane in which the upper end of that leaf is supported by said one end structure; the leaf nearest the other end structure being spaced longitudinally from said other end structure a distance to allow that leaf to assume a pivoted position on the other side of its respective plane in which the upper end of that leaf is supported by said other end structure; and said rack being open along one side thereof between said end structures to allow stampings to be inserted between adjacent leaves from said open side of said rack.