GB2462499A - Improvements to non-ferrous sheet transport systems - Google Patents

Improvements to non-ferrous sheet transport systems Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2462499A
GB2462499A GB0904019A GB0904019A GB2462499A GB 2462499 A GB2462499 A GB 2462499A GB 0904019 A GB0904019 A GB 0904019A GB 0904019 A GB0904019 A GB 0904019A GB 2462499 A GB2462499 A GB 2462499A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
sheet
sheets
parts
stack
transport system
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0904019A
Other versions
GB0904019D0 (en
Inventor
John Charles Cooke
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
COCATALYST Ltd
Original Assignee
COCATALYST Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by COCATALYST Ltd filed Critical COCATALYST Ltd
Publication of GB0904019D0 publication Critical patent/GB0904019D0/en
Publication of GB2462499A publication Critical patent/GB2462499A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21D43/00—Feeding, positioning or storing devices combined with, or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, apparatus for working or processing sheet metal, metal tubes or metal profiles; Associations therewith of cutting devices
    • B21D43/20—Storage arrangements; Piling or unpiling
    • B21D43/24—Devices for removing sheets from a stack
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/08—Separating articles from piles using pneumatic force
    • B65H3/0808—Suction grippers
    • B65H3/0816—Suction grippers separating from the top of pile
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/16—Separating articles from piles using magnetic force
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/46—Supplementary devices or measures to assist separation or prevent double feed
    • B65H3/60—Loosening articles in piles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/46—Supplementary devices or measures to assist separation or prevent double feed
    • B65H3/60—Loosening articles in piles
    • B65H3/62—Loosening articles in piles by swinging, agitating, or knocking the pile
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/50—Auxiliary process performed during handling process
    • B65H2301/51—Modifying a characteristic of handled material
    • B65H2301/513—Modifying electric properties
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
    • B65H2701/17—Nature of material
    • B65H2701/173—Metal

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)

Abstract

An automatic sheet or part transportation system intended to remove and feed individual non-ferrous metallic sheets or parts e.g. aluminium sheets or parts from a stack of sheets or parts to a subsequent processing stage wherein the separation of the uppermost sheet or part from subsequent sheets or parts is facilitated by the application of electromagnetic fields. The applied electromagnetic field may either be alternating to create periodic and ultrasonic vibration within the upper sheet or part in the stack, facilitating separation by reducing the viscosity of the oil coating on the sheet or part and/or it may be configured to interact with a current applied to or induced in the uppermost sheet or part, such that the sheet or part is forced away from any subsequent sheet or part. Vibrational transducers e.g. piezoelectric or magneto-strictive devices may be used. The aluminium sheets or parts removed may be fed automotive body panel presses to formbody panels for the automotive industry.

Description

Field
THE PRESENT INVENTION RELATES TO AUTOMATIC TRANSPORT SYSTEMS FOR SUBSTANTIALLY
PLANAR SHEETS, SUCH AS ARE USED IN THE PROCESSING OF METAL SHEETS TO PRODUCE FORMED METAL PANELS, I.E. AUTOMOTIVE BODY PANELS. MORE SPECIFICALLY, THIS INVENTION RELATES
TO AUTOMATIC TRANSPORT SYSTEMS FOR DE-STACKING AND FEEDING METAL SHEETS INTO PANEL
FORMING PRESSES.
Background
STEEL IN SHEET FORM HAS BEEN USED FOR MANY YEARS AS RAW MATERIAL FOR PRESSED STEEL
AUTOMOTIVE BODY PANELS. THE SYSTEMS FOR DE-STACKING AND FEEDING STEEL SHEETS INTO
PANEL FORMING PRESSING HAVE BEEN WELL KNOWN AND OPTIMISED SO THAT COMMONLY USED
SHEET STEEL FEEDING SYSTEMS CAN OPERATE AT FEED RATES OF UP TO 30 SHEETS PER MINUTE.
THIS HIGH FEED RATE HAS BEEN ACHIEVED LARGELY THROUGH USE OF THE MAGNETO-FERROUS
PROPERTIES OF THE STEEL SHEETS. THE STEEL SHEETS ARE OFTEN MANIPULATED BY ELECTROMAGNETIC HANDLING DEVICES, SUCH AS THE GOUDSMIT "MAGVACU COMBIGRIPPER", AND
THE STEEL SHEETS CAN BE PRE-SEPARATED WHILE STILL STORED IN STACK FORM BY MEANS OF
PERMANENT MAGNET SYSTEMS SUCH AS THE GOUDSMIT TB SPO2 SERIES MAGNETIC SHEET SEPARATOR SYSTEM. SUCH PRE-SEPARATION OF THE STEEL SHEETS CAN COMPLETELY OBVIATE THE EFFECT OF STICKY OIL COATINGS ON THE STEEL SHEETS, WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE
SEVERELY LIMIT FEED RATE BY CAUSING TWO OR MORE STEEL SHEETS TO STICK TOGETHER WHEN FED.
DUE TO THE NEED TO REDUCE THE FUEL CONSUMPTION AND C02 EMISSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH ROAD VEHICLES, THERE IS AN EMERGING TREND WITHIN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY TO REDUCE
VEHICLE WEIGHT THROUGH REPLACEMENT OF STEEL COMPONENTS BY PARTS MADE FROM
ALUMINIUM. STEEL SHEET FEEDING AND DE-STACKING SYSTEMS, ADAPTED TO WORK WITH ALUMINIUM, HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN MANY AUTOMOTIVE FACTORIES TO MANUFACTURE CARS WITH ALUMINIUM BODY PANELS (FOR EXAMPLE THE JAGUAR XJ6 AND AUDI A8). THE FEED RATE FOR THESE SYSTEMS IS SEVERELY LIMITED, HOWEVER, BECAUSE ALUMINIUM IS NON-FERROUS AND CANNOT BE MANIPULATED IN THE SAME WAY AS STEEL. IN PARTICULAR, WHEN ALUMINIUM SHEETS ARE SUPPLIED WITH AN OIL COATING, IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO SEPARATE THE FIRST SHEET TO BE FED FROM THE SECOND SHEET IN THE STACK. THIS PROBLEM IS ESPECIALLY SEVERE WHEN THE SHEET TO BE MOVED IS THIN, OF A LARGE SURFACE AREA AND THE VISCOSITY OF THE OIL COATING ON THE SHEETS IS RELATIVELY HIGH.
Brief Summary of the invention
AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND, THE OBJECT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION IS TO IMPROVE THE
CURRENT SHEET METAL DE-STACKING AND FEEDING SYSTEM TO OVERCOME THE ISSUE OF POOR
SHEET SEPARATION AND TO ENABLE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN FEED RATE TO BE ACHIEVED FOR
NON-FERROUS METALLIC SHEETS. THE INVENTIVE SHEET DE-STACKING AND FEEDING SYSTEM
DESCRIBED IN THIS DOCUMENT ACHIEVES GREATLY IMPROVED SEPARATION EFFECTIVENESS THAN
PREVIOUS DESIGNS THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF ELECTROMECHANICAL FIELDS TO INTERACT
ADVANTAGEOUSLY WITH BOTH THE FIRST SHEET OF THE STACK OF NON-FERROUS SHEETS AND ITS
ASSOCIATED OIL COATING CONTACTING THE SECOND SHEET IN THE STACK.
THE FIRST INVENTIVE CONFIGURATION IMPROVES SHEET SEPARATION EFFECTIVENESS THROUGH
APPLICATION OF PERIODIC VIBRATION OR OSCILLATIONS TO THE FIRST SHEET TO BE SEPARATED
FROM THE STACK OF SHEETS. THIS VIBRATION MAY BE GENERATED THROUGH DIRECT CONTACT
WITH A VIBRATIONAL TRANSDUCER SUCH AS A PIEZOELECTRIC OR MAGNETO-STRICTIVE DEVICE OR
MORE PREFERABLY THROUGH EXCITATION OF THE ALUMINIUM SHEET BY APPLICATION OF A
DIRECTED ELECTRO-MAGNETIC FIELD OR FIELDS GENERATED BY AN INDUCTIVE COIL OR COILS
POSITIONED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE FIRST SHEET TO BE MOVED. PREFERABLY, AT LEAST ONE OF
THE FREQUENCIES OF THE INDUCED VIBRATION WILL MATCH EITHER THE RESONANT FREQUENCY
OR HARMONIC OF THE RESONANT FREQUENCY OF THE FIRST SHEET. MORE PREFERABLY, AT
LEAST ONE OF THE INDUCED FREQUENCIES WILL INTERACT WITH THE OIL COATING BETWEEN THE
FIRST SHEET AND SECOND SHEET TO REDUCE THE VISCOSITY OF THE OIL. MORE PREFERABLY, AT LEAST ONE OF THE FREQUENCIES INDUCED IN THE FIRST SHEET WILL BE ULTRASONIC (AT LEAST KHz) SUCH THAT THE OIL VISCOSITY IS SUBJECT TO THE ULTRASOUND INDUCED VISCOSITY REDUCTION EFFECT, WHICH PATENT NUMBER W02008024532 TEACHES CAN RESULT IN A 7 TO 1 5 TIMES VISCOSITY REDUCTION. MORE PREFERABLY, THE ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY INDUCED
WILL INTERACT WITH DISSOLVED GASSES IN THE OIL COATING IN SUCH A WAY AS TO CAUSE THE
GASSES TO BE RELEASED FROM THE OIL COATING, COUNTERACTING THE ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE HOLDING THE FIRST SHEET AND THE SECOND SHEET TOGETHER. MOST PREFERABLY, VIBRATION
CAN EFFECTIVELY BE LIMITED TO THE FIRST SHEET IN THE STACK THROUGH USE OF THE SKIN
EFFECT WHEREIN A HIGHER APPLIED FREQUENCY RESULTS IN A SMALLER DEPTH IN WHICH
CURRENTS ARE INDUCED.
THE SKIN DEPTH CAN BE CALCULATED USING THIS EQUATION: 54J3 ipi. *\ ,I
WHERE: = Skin depth p = reststivit of the condwtcn p = relative permeohiii tv of condiwtor I = freqiwiicy FOR EXAMPLE, TO ACHIEVE A SKIN DEPTH OF LESS THAN 0.5MM, THE APPLIED FREQUENCY FOR AN ALUMINIUM SHEET SHOULD BE MORE THAN 28,300 Hz.
THE SECOND INVENTIVE CONFIGURATION IMPROVES SHEET SEPARATION EFFECTIVENESS THROUGH
THE INTERACTION OF AN ELECTRIC CURRENT FLOWING THROUGH THE FIRST SHEET TO BE MOVED
IN THE STACK AND AN APPLIED MAGNETIC FIELD. PREFERABLY, THE ELECTRIC CURRENT IS
CAUSED TO FLOW IN THE FIRST SHEET BY DIRECT CONTACT WITH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE
ELECTRODES POSITIONED TO CREATE A CURRENT FLOW AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE APPLIED
MAGNETIC FIELD SUCH THAT A RESULTANT MOTION IS INDUCED IN THE FIRST SHEET AWAY FROM
THE SECOND. THE RESULTANT MOTION IN THE FIRST SHEET CAUSES THE PARTIAL VACUUM
BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND SHEET TO BE BROKEN AND CAN BE INDUCED AS PART OF THE
LIFTING CYCLE ITSELF OR, PREFERABLY, DURING THE WAITING TIME BETWEEN LIFTING CYCLES OR. ADDITIONALLY A SECOND CURRENT MAY BE CAUSED TO FLOW IN THE SECOND SHEET, FLOWING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO THAT IN THE FIRST SHEET, FURTHER INCREASING THE FORCE SEPARATING THE TWO SHEETS. THE MAGNETIC FIELD MAY BE STATIC SUCH AS RESULTS
FROM THE USE OF A SUITABLY POSITIONED PERMANENT MAGNET OR MAGNETS ADJACENT TO THE
STACK OF SHEETS OR, PREFERABLY, MAY BE ADJUSTABLE AND/OR DYNAMIC SUCH THAT THE
MAGNETIC FIELD OR FIELDS INTERACT MOST STRONGLY WITH THE FIRST SHEET IN THE STACK
MORE PREFERABLY, THE ADJUSTABLE OR DYNAMIC MAGNETIC FIELD OR FIELDS ARE GENERATED BY ONE OR MORE ELECTRO-MAGNETS. MOST PREFERABLY THE ELECTRO-MAGNETS WILL BE
CONSTRUCTED ON A LAMINATED IRON OR STEEL CORE IN ORDER TO GENERATE SUFFICIENT
MAGNETIC FIELD STRENGTH. THE ELECTRIC CURRENT MAY ALSO BE UNIDIRECTIONAL OR ALTERNATING IN SYNCHRONISATION WITH THE APPLIED MAGNETIC FIELD, CREATING A SEPARATION ACTION BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND SHEETS.
IT WILL BE APPRECIATED THAT THE FEATURES MENTIONED ABOVE AND THOSE YET TO BE
EXPLAINED BELOW MAY BE USED NOT ONLY IN THE COMBINATION SPECIFIED IN EACH CASE, BUT ALSO IN OTHER COMBINATIONS OR ALONE, WITHOUT DEPARTING FROM THE SCOPE OF THE PRESENT INVENTION AS WILL BE CLEAR TO A PERSON SKILLED IN THE ART.
Brief description of the drawings within the patent document FIGURE 1 SHOWS A DIAGRAMMATIC SIDE VIEW OF THE FIRST CONFIGURATION OF THE INVENTIVE
NON-FERROUS SHEET DE-STACK FEEDER WHERE THE TOP-MOST SHEET IS CAUSED TO VIBRATE BY
ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION.
FIGURE 2 SHOWS A DIAGRAMMATIC PLAN VIEW OF THE FIRST CONFIGURATION OF THE INVENTIVE
NON-FERROUS SHEET DE-STACK FEEDER SHOWING THE ARRANGEMENT OF INDUCTION COIL AND
VACUUM MANIPULATORS.
FIGURE 3 SHOWS A DIAGRAMMATIC PLAN VIEW OF THE SECOND CONFIGURATION OF THE
INVENTIVE NON-FERROUS SHEET DE-STACK FEEDER SHOWING ONE ARRANGEMENT OF THE
MAGNETS AND ELECTRODES
FIGURE 4 SHOWS A DIAGRAMMATIC SIDE VIEW OF THE SECOND CONFIGURATION OF THE
INVENTIVE NON-FERROUS SHEET DE-STACK FEEDER WHERE THE TOP-MOST SHEET IS CAUSE TO
MOVE AWAY FROM THE SECOND SHEET BY THE INTERACTION OF A CURRENT FLOWING THOUGH
THE TOP SHEET AND AN APPLIED MAGNETIC FIELD
FIGURE 5 SHOWS A DIAGRAMMATIC SIDE VIEW OF THE THIRD CONFIGURATION OF THE INVENTIVE
NON-FERROUS SHEET DE-STACK FEEDER WHERE THE TOP-MOST SHEET IS CAUSE TO MOVE AWAY
FROM THE SECOND SHEET BY THE INTERACTION OF A CURRENT FLOWING THOUGH THE TOP SHEET
AND AN APPLIED MAGNETIC FIELD FROM AN ELECTROMAGNET
FIGURE 6 SHOWS A DIAGRAMMATIC SIDE VIEW OF THE FORTH CONFIGURATION OF THE INVENTIVE
NON-FERROUS SHEET DE-STACK FEEDER WHERE THE TOP-MOST SHEET IS CAUSE TO MOVE AWAY
FROM THE SECOND SHEET BY THE INTERACTION OF INDUCED EDDY CURRENTS FLOWING THOUGH
THE TOP SHEET AND AN APPLIED MAGNETIC FIELD FROM AN INTERMEDIATE INDUCTOR AND AN
ELECTROMAGNET
Detailed description of the invention
A FIRST EMBODIMENT OF THE NOVEL DE-STACK FEEDER FOR NON-FERROUS CONDUCTIVE SHEETS
ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION IS SHOWN IN FIGURES 1 AND 2. THE SYSTEM CONSISTS OF THE STACK OF SHEETS, 7, SUPPORTED BY BASE PLATE 3, MANIPULATION DEVICES, FOR EXAMPLE VACUUM SUCKERS, 4 AND 5 AND ELECTROMAGNETIC COIL 6 POSITIONED ABOVE THE STACK AND OPTIONALLY MOUNTED TO THE MANIPULATION ASSEMBLY. IN THIS FIRST EMBODIMENT, THE MANIPULATION DEVICES, 4 AND 5, ARE BROUGHT INTO CONTACT WITH THE UPPERMOST SHEET, 1,
OF NON-FERROUS MATERIAL AND AN ALTERNATING CURRENT IS FED FROM FREQUENCY
GENERATOR AND AMPLIFIER 15 THROUGH THE ELECTROMAGNETIC COIL 6. THE FREQUENCY IN
THE CURRENT THROUGH THE COIL IS TUNED TO CREATE ULTRASONIC VIBRATION THROUGH THE
ENTIRE SURFACE OF THE NON-FERROUS SHEET 1 WITHOUT EXCITING VIBRATION IN SHEET 2. FOR EXAMPLE, IN ALUMINIUM, AN APPLIED FREQUENCY OF 20 KHz WILL ACT TO A SKIN DEPTH OF APPROXIMATELY 0.6MM. WITH AN APPLIED POWER LEVEL OF LESS THAN 500W, THE VISCOSITY OF THE OIL COATING BETWEEN THE TWO SHEETS WILL BE REDUCED BY AT LEAST 7 TIMES,
CAUSING ANY OBSTRUCTIVE OIL TO FLOW EASILY AND IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT ALLOWS AIR TO
PASS RAPIDLY BETWEEN SHEETS 1 AND 2, GREATLY REDUCING THE TIME NEEDED FOR SHEET 1 TO SEPARATE FROM SHEET 2. ADDITIONALLY, THE VIBRATION IN SHEET 1 WILL HELP TO ACCELERATE SEPARATION OF SHEET 1 FROM 2.
A SECOND EMBODIMENT OF THE NOVEL DE-STACK FEEDER FOR NON-FERROUS CONDUCTIVE
SHEETS ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION IS SHOWN IN FIGURES 3 AND 4. THE SYSTEM IS SHOWN AT A POINT IN THE OPERATING CYCLE WHEN THE MANIPULATION DEVICES, 4AND 5, ARE NOT YET CONTACTING SHEET 1 50 THAT IN THIS VIEW THE SYSTEM CONSISTS OF A STACK OF SHEETS, 7, SUPPORTED BY BASE PLATE 3, WITH ADJACENT PERMANENT MAGNETS, 8 AND 9, WITH NEGATIVE ELECTRODE 10 AND POSITIVE ELECTRODE 11, BEING BROUGHT INTO CONTACT WITH THE UPPER SHEET IN THE STACK 1. WHEN A CURRENT IS PASSED THROUGH SHEET 1, BETWEEN ELECTRODES AND 11, THE INTERACTION OF THE INDUCED MAGNETIC FIELD IN SHEET 1 AND THE MAGNETIC FIELD FROM THE PERMANENT MAGNETS 8 AND 9, CREATES AN UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SHEET 1 AWAY FROM SHEET 2. THIS ACTION CAN BE GENERATED BEFORE THE MANIPULATORS, 4 AND 5, ARE BROUGHT INTO CONTACT WITH SHEET 1 50 THAT SHEET 1 IS EFFECTIVELY PRE-SEPARATED FROM SECOND SHEET, 2.
A THIRD EMBODIMENT OF THE NOVEL DE-STACK FEEDER FOR NON-FERROUS CONDUCTIVE SHEETS
ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION IS SHOWN IN FIGURE 5. THE SYSTEM IS SHOWN AT A POINT IN THE OPERATING CYCLE WHEN THE MANIPULATION DEVICES, 4AND 5, ARE NOT YET CONTACTING SHEET 1 50 THAT IN THIS VIEW THE SYSTEM CONSISTS OF A STACK OF SHEETS, 7, SUPPORTED BY BASE PLATE 3, WITH ADJACENT ELECTRO-MAGNET, 13, WITH NEGATIVE ELECTRODE 12 AND POSITIVE ELECTRODE 14, BEING BROUGHT INTO CONTACT WITH THE UPPER SHEET IN THE STACK 1. WHEN A CURRENT IS PASSED THROUGH SHEET 1, BETWEEN ELECTRODES 10 AND 11, AND A CURRENT IS PASSED THROUGH THE ELECTRO-MAGNET 13, THE INTERACTION OF THE INDUCED MAGNETIC FIELD IN SHEET 1 AND THE MAGNETIC FIELD FROM THE ELECTRO-MAGNET 13 CREATES AN UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SHEET 1 AWAY FROM SHEET 2. THIS ACTION CAN BE GENERATED BEFORE THE MANIPULATORS, 4 AND 5, ARE BROUGHT INTO CONTACT WITH SHEET 1 50 THAT SHEET 1 IS EFFECTIVELY PRE-SEPARATED FROM SECOND SHEET, 2. THE FIELD IN THE ELECTRO-MAGNET, 13 IS VARIED TO INTERACT FAVOURABLY WITH THE FIRST SHEET IN THE STACK, 1, IN PREFERENCE TO THE SECOND SHEET IN THE STACK, 2. THE ELECTRO-MAGNET, 13, CAN OPTIONALLY BE MOUNTED ONTO OR SEPARATED FROM THE MANIPULATION DEVICE SUPPORT STRUCTURE (NOT SHOWN).
A FORTH EMBODIMENT OF THE NOVEL DE-STACK FEEDER FOR NON-FERROUS CONDUCTIVE SHEETS
ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION IS SHOWN IN FIGURE 6. THE SYSTEM IS SHOWN AT A POINT IN THE OPERATING CYCLE WHEN THE MANIPULATION DEVICES, 4AND 5, ARE NOT YET CONTACTING SHEET 1 50 THAT IN THIS VIEW THE SYSTEM CONSISTS OF A STACK OF SHEETS, 7, SUPPORTED BY BASE PLATE 3, WITH ADJACENT ELECTRO-MAGNET, 13, AND INTERMEDIARY NON-FERROUS INDUCTOR, 1 6. WHEN AN ALTERNATING CURRENT IS PASSED THROUGH THE ELECTROMAGNET, 13, EDDY CURRENTS ARE INDUCED IN THE INTERMEDIARY NON-FERROUS INDUCTOR, 1 6, WHICH IN TURN
INDUCES EDDY CURRENTS IN THE UPPERMOST SHEET WHICH CREATE AN ATTRACTION OF THE
UPPERMOST SHEET TO THE ELECTROMAGNET. THE ATTRACTION MAY BE LIMITED TO ONE SHEET THICKNESS THROUGH APPLICATION OF THE SKIN EFFECT AS PREVIOUSLY DESCRIBED.

Claims (11)

  1. What we claim is: 1. AN AUTOMATIC SHEET OR PART TRANSPORT SYSTEM INTENDED TO REMOVE AND FEEDINDIVIDUAL NON-FERROUS METALLIC SHEETS OR PARTS FROM A STACK OF SHEETS ORPARTS TO A SUBSEQUENT PROCESSING STAGE characterised in that THE SEPARATION OFTHE FIRST SHEET OR PART TO BE FED FROM ITS SUBSEQUENT SHEET OR PART ISENHANCED BY THE ACTION OF A PERIODIC OSCILLATION OR OSCILLATIONS APPLIED TOTHE FIRST AND/OR SUBSEQUENT SHEETS OR PARTS
  2. 2. AN AUTOMATIC SHEET OR PART TRANSPORT SYSTEM AS DESCRIBED IN CLAIM 1 WHEREINTHE PERIODIC OSCILLATION OR OSCILLATIONS IN THE FIRST SHEET OR PART ARE INDUCED
    BY ONE OR MORE FLUCTUATING ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
  3. 3. AN AUTOMATIC SHEET OR PART TRANSPORT SYSTEM AS DESCRIBED IN CLAIM 1 WHEREIN THE PERIODIC OSCILLATION OR OSCILLATIONS IN THE FIRST SHEET OR PART AND/ORSUBSEQUENT SHEETS OR PARTS ARE INDUCED BY THE ACTION OF ONE OR MOREVIBRATIONAL TRANSDUCERS THROUGH MECHAN ICAL CONTACT
  4. 4. AN AUTOMATIC SHEET OR PART TRANSPORT SYSTEM AS DESCRIBED IN CLAIM 1 WHEREIN SOME OR ALL OF THE PERIODIC OSCILLATIONS IN THE FIRST SHEET OR PART AND/OR SUBSEQUENT SHEETS OR PARTS ARE OF A FREQUENCY RANGE OF MORE THAN 10KHZ
  5. 5. AN AUTOMATIC SHEET OR PART TRANSPORT SYSTEM AS DESCRIBED IN CLAIM 1 WHEREIN SOME OR ALL OF THE PERIODIC OSCILLATIONS IN THE FIRST SHEET OR PART AND/OR SUBSEQUENT SHEETS OR PARTS ARE IN THE ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY RANGE (AT LEAST 20KHZ) SUCH THAT THE VISCOSITY OF ANY OIL COATING ON THE METALLIC SHEET OR
    PART TO BE FED IS TEMPORARILY REDUCED
  6. 6. AN AUTOMATIC SHEET OR PART TRANSPORT SYSTEM AS DESCRIBED IN CLAIM 1 WHEREIN SOME OR ALL OF THE PERIODIC OSCILLATIONS IN THE FIRST SHEET OR PART AND/OR SUBSEQUENT SHEETS OR PARTS ARE IN THE ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY RANGE (AT LEAST 20KHZ) SUCH THAT ANY DISSOLVED WITHIN THE OIL COATING ON THE METALLIC SHEETOR PART TO BE FED ARE RELEASED
  7. 7. AN AUTOMATIC SHEET OR PART TRANSPORT SYSTEM INTENDED TO REMOVE AND FEEDINDIVIDUAL NON-FERROUS METALLIC SHEETS OR PARTS FROM A STACK OF SHEETS ORPARTS TO A SUBSEQUENT PROCESSING STAGE characterised in that THE SEPARATION OFTHE FIRST SHEET OR PART TO BE FED FROM ITS SUBSEQUENT SHEET OR PART ISENHANCED BY THE INTERACTION OF ONE OR MORE UNIDIRECTIONAL OR ALTERNATINGELECTRIC CURRENTS FLOWING THROUGH THE UPPER MOST NON-FERROUS METALLICSHEETS OR PARTS AND ONE OR MORE STATIC, DYNAMIC OR ALTERNATING MAGNETIC FIELDS, RESULTING IN AN UPWARD MOVEMENT IN PART OR ALL OF THE FIRST SHEET ORPART AWAY FROM THE REMAINING SHEETS OR PARTS IN THE STACK OF SHEETS OR PARTS
  8. 8. AN AUTOMATIC SHEET OR PART TRANSPORT SYSTEM AS DESCRIBED IN CLAIM 6 WHEREINTHE ELECTRIC CURRENT FLOWS ARE BETWEEN ELECTRODES BROUGHT INTO CONTACTWITH THE FIRST SHEET OR PART AND/OR SUBSEQUENT SHEETS OR PARTS SUCH THAT THECURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE FIRST SHEET OR PART IN A DIRECTION TO INTERACT WITHONE OR MORE STATIC MAGNETIC FIELDS FROM ONE OR MORE MAGNETS POSITIONEDADJACENT TO THE STACK OF SHEETS OR PARTS SO AS TO CREATE AN UPWARD MOVEMENTIN PART OR ALL OF THE FIRST SHEET OR PART AWAY FROM THE REMAINING SHEETS ORPARTS IN THE STACK OF SHEETS OR PARTS AND THE CURRENT FLOWS IN THE OPPOSITEDIRECTION IN ONE OR ALL OF THE REMAINING SHEETS OR PARTS SUCH THAT THE SECONDSHEET OR PART IS FORCED AWAY FROM THE FIRST SHEET OR PART
  9. 9. AN AUTOMATIC SHEET OR PART TRANSPORT SYSTEM AS DESCRIBED IN CLAIM 6 WHEREINTHE ONE OR MORE MAGNETIC FIELDS ARE CONFIGURED SUBSTANTIALLY TO INTERACTWITH THE TOPMOST SHEET OR PART IN THE STACK OF SHEETS OR PARTS
  10. 10. AN AUTOMATIC SHEET OR PART TRANSPORT SYSTEM AS DESCRIBED IN CLAIM 6 WHEREINTHE ONE OR MORE MAGNETIC FIELDS ARE PROVIDED BY ONE OR MORE ELECTROMAGNETS
  11. 11. AN AUTOMATIC SHEET OR PART TRANSPORT SYSTEM AS DESCRIBED IN CLAIM 6 WHEREIN THE ONE OR MORE MAGNETIC FIELDS ARE ADJUSTABLE AND/OR DYNAMIC AND/ORALTERNATING SUCH THAT THEY ARE CONFIGURED TO INTERACT MOST STRONGLY WITH THEELECTRIC CURRENTS INDUCED OR CONDUCTED IN THE FIRST SHEET OR PART TO BESEPARATED FROM THE STACK OF SHEETS OR PARTS, CREATING A FORCE TO SEPARATE THE FIRST SHEET OR PART FROM THE SECOND SHEET OR PART.
GB0904019A 2008-08-15 2009-03-09 Improvements to non-ferrous sheet transport systems Withdrawn GB2462499A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0814885A GB2462636A (en) 2008-08-15 2008-08-15 Separating non-ferrous metal sheets from a stack

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0904019D0 GB0904019D0 (en) 2009-04-22
GB2462499A true GB2462499A (en) 2010-02-17

Family

ID=39790778

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0814885A Withdrawn GB2462636A (en) 2008-08-15 2008-08-15 Separating non-ferrous metal sheets from a stack
GB0904019A Withdrawn GB2462499A (en) 2008-08-15 2009-03-09 Improvements to non-ferrous sheet transport systems

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0814885A Withdrawn GB2462636A (en) 2008-08-15 2008-08-15 Separating non-ferrous metal sheets from a stack

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB2462636A (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2508276A1 (en) * 2011-04-04 2012-10-10 Trumpf Maschinen Austria GmbH & CO. KG. Sheet metal removal station
CN104139996A (en) * 2013-05-08 2014-11-12 新东超精密有限公司 A metal mask sheet supplying system
DE102016123492B4 (en) 2015-12-04 2020-06-18 GM Global Technology Operations LLC PACKING DEVICE FOR THE AUTOMATED HANDLING OF IRON-FREE METAL OBJECTS
DE102016123360B4 (en) 2015-12-04 2020-06-25 Gm Global Technology Operations, Llc MAGNETODYNAMIC DEVICE
US11224975B2 (en) 2018-10-23 2022-01-18 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Impulse electrically generated force separation of blanks for the automated destacking of metal sheet
US11292675B1 (en) * 2020-11-10 2022-04-05 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Apparatus having integrated electromagnetic coil and suction cup assembly for destacking a stack of blanks

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102011106214A1 (en) * 2011-06-07 2012-12-13 Brötje-Automation GmbH end effector
CN103949558A (en) * 2014-04-30 2014-07-30 池海平 Feeding mechanism of stamping equipment for motor rotor piece
CN104477500B (en) * 2014-11-21 2017-12-22 江苏跃发建设工程有限公司 A kind of sheet material is into block assembly
CN106694738A (en) * 2016-12-15 2017-05-24 东莞市豪顺精密科技有限公司 Method for separating two steel plates on receiver and feeding steel plates into die
CN107161403B (en) * 2017-07-10 2023-11-24 南京工程学院 Cup cover stacker
CN110000302B (en) * 2019-04-26 2020-10-16 青岛伟利达钢材加工配送有限责任公司 Intelligent feeding device for steel plate cutting

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS4317935Y1 (en) * 1965-12-13 1968-07-25
SU442979A1 (en) * 1971-02-22 1974-09-15 Специальное Конструкторское Бюро Станков-Автоматов И Автоматических Линий The method of separation of blanks
EP0939047A1 (en) * 1998-02-27 1999-09-01 Renault Method and device for separating metal sheets
DE19961648A1 (en) * 1999-12-21 2001-07-05 Nsm Magnettech Gmbh & Co Kg Method and device for de piling parts such as piles of aluminum sheets from electrically conductive material causes a feeder area for a parts stack with an eddy current generator to create magnetic fields and pick out a top sheet.
US6746063B1 (en) * 1999-04-26 2004-06-08 Albert Redo Sanchez Device for separating, lifting and moving aluminium sheets or other non-ferromagnetic material

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SU579079A1 (en) * 1976-04-02 1977-11-05 Тульский Проектно-Конструкторский Технологический Институт Комбайностроения "Проектип" Apparatus for separating a sheet blank from pile
SU735540A1 (en) * 1976-11-05 1980-05-25 Предприятие П/Я А-3724 Sheet separation method
JP2921772B2 (en) * 1991-01-31 1999-07-19 川崎製鉄株式会社 Prevention method and apparatus for hanging two laminated thin plates
JP3044834B2 (en) * 1991-04-15 2000-05-22 石川島播磨重工業株式会社 Non-magnetic metal plate removal device
JPH05139554A (en) * 1991-11-21 1993-06-08 Fuji Seisakusho:Kk Sucking cup for separating laminated plate members
DE102005002499B4 (en) * 2005-01-19 2018-10-18 Josef Moser Device and method for separating and moving plate-shaped substrates with metallic properties

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS4317935Y1 (en) * 1965-12-13 1968-07-25
SU442979A1 (en) * 1971-02-22 1974-09-15 Специальное Конструкторское Бюро Станков-Автоматов И Автоматических Линий The method of separation of blanks
EP0939047A1 (en) * 1998-02-27 1999-09-01 Renault Method and device for separating metal sheets
US6746063B1 (en) * 1999-04-26 2004-06-08 Albert Redo Sanchez Device for separating, lifting and moving aluminium sheets or other non-ferromagnetic material
DE19961648A1 (en) * 1999-12-21 2001-07-05 Nsm Magnettech Gmbh & Co Kg Method and device for de piling parts such as piles of aluminum sheets from electrically conductive material causes a feeder area for a parts stack with an eddy current generator to create magnetic fields and pick out a top sheet.

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2508276A1 (en) * 2011-04-04 2012-10-10 Trumpf Maschinen Austria GmbH & CO. KG. Sheet metal removal station
AT511305A1 (en) * 2011-04-04 2012-10-15 Trumpf Maschinen Austria Gmbh METAL COLLECTION STATION
AT511305B1 (en) * 2011-04-04 2013-09-15 Trumpf Maschinen Austria Gmbh METAL COLLECTION STATION
CN104139996A (en) * 2013-05-08 2014-11-12 新东超精密有限公司 A metal mask sheet supplying system
DE102016123492B4 (en) 2015-12-04 2020-06-18 GM Global Technology Operations LLC PACKING DEVICE FOR THE AUTOMATED HANDLING OF IRON-FREE METAL OBJECTS
DE102016123360B4 (en) 2015-12-04 2020-06-25 Gm Global Technology Operations, Llc MAGNETODYNAMIC DEVICE
US11224975B2 (en) 2018-10-23 2022-01-18 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Impulse electrically generated force separation of blanks for the automated destacking of metal sheet
US11292675B1 (en) * 2020-11-10 2022-04-05 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Apparatus having integrated electromagnetic coil and suction cup assembly for destacking a stack of blanks

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0904019D0 (en) 2009-04-22
GB0814885D0 (en) 2008-09-17
GB2462636A (en) 2010-02-17

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
GB2462499A (en) Improvements to non-ferrous sheet transport systems
TW476791B (en) Non-oriented electromagnetic steel sheet and method for producing the same
US7891226B2 (en) Electromagnetic blank restrainer
US20130270070A1 (en) Vibratory feeder for conveying components
US20180193899A1 (en) Ferromagnetic sheet fanning and gripping device
WO2013136364A1 (en) Power generation device
US20060027443A1 (en) Conveying apparatus with piezoelectric driver
JP5949930B2 (en) Indirect spot welding method
EP1685046B1 (en) Device for the contactless transport of flat elements
CN102164818A (en) Electronic component with three associated functions
JP6502215B2 (en) Magnetic adsorption device
JP2010254438A (en) Method and device of separating sheet-like magnetic material
JPH04317935A (en) Non-magnetic metal plate takeout device
CN104860092B (en) For the method and apparatus in the transport platform for the machine that page is pressed on to processing page
CN111745032B (en) Electromagnetic forming device and method based on ultrasonic assistance
CN102144408B (en) Sensory signal output apparatus
KR100764488B1 (en) A dividing device of blank panel
JPH0331140A (en) Sheet feeder
DE2965914D1 (en) Method and apparatus for the separation of flexible sheets from a stack and their transportation to a processing unit
CN1057032C (en) Method for forming of seperated layer especially in metallurgy
TW201228908A (en) Vibrating parts feeder
KR20190085357A (en) Metal panel seperator
CN217528286U (en) Automatic material sieving device for plastic-coated reinforcing ring
CN209427585U (en) A kind of straight line feeder
JPH0814762A (en) Molten metal retaining device

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)