Material handling for the insulating glass industry

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for handling material for the insulating glass industry are disclosed. One method of handling material for the insulating glass industry in accordance with the present invention includes the step of arranging a plurality of bars into a plurality of stacks with adjacent stacks defining spaces dimensioned to receive a bar engaging member. The stacks of bars may then be transported to a desired destination. A bar engaging member may be inserted into a space defined by the stacks, and one or more bars may be grasped using the bar engaging member. A container for handling material for the insulating glass industry is also disclosed. The container may advantageously include a plurality of prearranged bar locating members configured to hold a predetermined type of bar stock.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of handling material for the insulating glass industry, comprising the steps of: 
 arranging a plurality of bars into a plurality of stacks with adjacent stacks defining spaces dimensioned to receive a bar engaging member;    transporting the bars to a desired destination;    inserting the bar engaging member into a space defined by the stacks; and    grasping at least one bar using the bar engaging member.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of grasping at least one bar using the first bar engaging member includes the steps of; 
 inserting a second bar engaging member into a second space defined by the stacks; and    trapping at least one bar between the bar engaging member and the second bar engaging member.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further including the step of lifting at least one bar using the bar engaging member.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each stack comprises a plurality of bars arranged one on top of the other.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further including the step of providing a container having a plurality of prearranged bar locating members.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of arranging the bars includes the step of placing the bars between adjacent bar locating members.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of transporting the bars to the desired destination includes the step of placing the container inside a vehicle.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , further including the step of mating the container with a second container.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of mating the container with the second container includes the step of inserting a male mating member of one of the containers into a female mating member of another of the containers.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the second container is substantially identical to the container.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of transporting the container to the desired destination includes the step of locating the carrier relative to a robot.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the container comprises a plurality of alignment sockets; and 
 the step of locating the container relative to the robot includes the step of mating the alignment sockets with a plurality of alignment pins.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein each alignment pin is located a predetermined distance from the robot.  
     
     
         14 . A container for handling material for the insulating glass industry, comprising: 
 a container frame;    a plurality of combs selectively fixed to the frame;    each comb including a plurality of tines;    the tines being spaced to define a plurality of channels dimensioned to accept bars having a predetermined width;    the tines being dimensioned to create spaces between adjacent channels; and    each space being dimensioned to receive a bar engaging member.    
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein each tine comprises a shaft and a sleeve disposed over the shaft.  
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the sleeve comprises a polymeric material.  
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the polymeric material comprises polyethylene.  
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the sleeve comprises an elastomeric material.  
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the elastomeric material comprises polyurethane.  
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein each comb is selectively fixed to the frame by a coupling mechanism.  
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 20 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a plunger fixed to one of the frame and the comb, and a detent defined by the other of the frame and the comb; and 
 the detent being dimensioned to accept at least a portion of the plunger.    
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein the plunger comprises a ball and a spring arranged to bias the ball toward the detent.  
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 1 , further including a first forklift interface and a second forklift interface.  
     
     
         24 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein each forklift interface comprises a first receptacle and a second receptacle.  
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 24 , wherein each receptacle comprises a lumen defined by a tube.  
     
     
         26 . The container of  claim 25 , wherein each forklift interface comprises a first tube positioned on a first side of a centroid of the container and a second tube disposed on a second side of the centroid of the container.  
     
     
         27 . The container of  claim 26 , wherein the first tube and the second tube are positioned substantially equidistantly from the centroid of the container.  
     
     
         28 . The container of  claim 25 , where in the lumens of the second forklift interface are disposed at an angle relative to the lumens of the first forklift interface.  
     
     
         29 . The container of  claim 28 , wherein the angle is about a 90 degree angle.  
     
     
         30 . A method of handling a first type of bars having a first dimension and a second type of bars having a second dimension, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a container including a frame and a first set of combs selectively fixed to the frame;    each comb in the first set of combs having a plurality of tines spaced to accept bars having the first dimension;    removing the first set of combs from the container; and    selectively fixing a second set of combs to the frame of the container.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein each comb in the second set of combs has a plurality of tines spaced to accept bars having the second dimension.