METHOD AND TAB FOR HANDLING OF A MOLDED PLASTIC GLAZING PANEL DURING MANUFACTURING

A METHOD OF HANDLING MOLDED PLASTIC GLAZING PANELS DURING PROCESSING IS DISCLOSED, USING ONE OR MORE STABILIZING HANDLING TABS (10) PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM THE PERIMETER OF EACH PANEL, AND WHICH IS MOLDED AT THE SAME TIME AS WITH THE GLAZING PANEL(12) ITSELF IS MOLDED. EACH TAB (10) HAS SPACED APART BOSSES(16), EACH HAVING THROUGH OPENING(18) ADAPTED TO MATE WITH PINS(28) PROJECTING FROM A HOLDER STRUCTURE(26). GUSSETS (22) MAYBE MOLDED INTO THE BOSSES(16) TO CONTROL DRIP WHEN THE PANEL (12) IS COATED WITH A LIQUID AND TO STIFFEN THE BOSSES.THE TABS(10) ENABLE STABLE POSITIONING OF THE PANEL(12) TO AVOID FORMATION OF OPTICAL FLAWS IN THE PANELS, AND TO FACILITATE COMPACT VERTICAL STACKING OF THE PANELS DURING HANDLING.FIGS. 1 & 3