Separating unit and system comprising such unit

Abstract

Separating unit (1) and system, for separating blanks (3) from a blank stack (2), comprising a slide (7), a driving unit (6), a separating arm (10) guided by the slide (7) via a curve part (21) and is kept down against a bearing point (8) of the slide (7) by a bearing (14), an angled separating tool (13) arranged at a free outer front end (10a) of the separating arm (10), which separating tool (13) comprises one or several friction surfaces (13a) facing the blank stack (2). The separating arm (10) comprises a front part (101) and a back part (102), wherein a back-end portion of the front part (101) of the separating arm (10) and a front-end portion of the back part (102) of the separating arm (10) are removably connected to each other.

Description

SEPARATING UNIT AND SYSTEM COMPRISING SUCH UNITTechnical field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a separating unit and a system for separating, blank by blank, of mainly plane sheet- or disc-shaped blanks, which are piled up in a blank stack.Background art

[0002] Within different production facilities, stacks of steel sheet or other types of blanks are handled. Particularly within automated production processes, stacks of blanks of different kinds of materials are positioned close to machines which are to cut, press and in different ways handle the individual blanks piled up in a stack. When taking out a blank for further processing in a press or the like, some kind of collecting and / or feeding means are used, like for example suction cups or the like. To be able to separate one blank from the stack of blanks, different kinds of tools and methods are used. One problem, when separating one blank from the piled up blank stack, is to overcome the vacuum force which is created between the blanks, when piled up on top of each other.

[0003] Due to increased environmental demands and high energy prices, the development has resulted in that new and lighter materials are developed and used, for example within the vehicle industry. Thus, not only steel sheet material is used nowadays, wherein other materials like aluminum materials and plastic materials, i.e. non-magnetic materials, are often used. This means that a separation, blank by blank, of magnetic as well as non-magnetic blanks is desirable. One solution which has solved these problems is developed by the applicant and is disclosed in EP 2 099 703 B1 . The invention provides a separating unit, which in an excellent way fulfils its purpose to separate one blank from a stack of blanks, at the same time as it is both cheap and simple to manufacture. The solution provides a method for a safe and effective separating of magnetic and non-magnetic blanks of sheet, blank by blank from a stack of blanks, which is not limited to only quadratic and rectangular blanks, having parallel opposite areas, but can also handle a variety of formed-cut blanks. The inventionalso has a unique trigonometry, which adjusts the grip force of the teeth of the separating tool in relation to the force which is needed to separate and lift the uppermost blank of the blank stack.

[0004] Since thinner and thinner material is developed and new technological areas are developed, separating units which may handle even thinner material, compared to which may be handled by the solution of EP 2 099 703 B1 , is needed. Further, technologies which have really high demands on the surface of the individual blank, for example for battery industry and vehicle industry (lacquered details for example), where no burrs are accepted, need even better separating units to cope with the high demands.Summary of invention

[0005] An object of the present invention is to solve at least some of the above- mentioned problems. This object is met by a separating unit according to claim 1 and a system according to claim 10.

[0006] According to an aspect, a separating unit is disclosed, which separating unit is arranged for separating, blank by blank, of mainly plane sheet- or discshaped blanks, which are piled up in a blank stack. The blanks may be of any material such as aluminium, steel or plastic. The separating unit comprises a slide, which is displaceable in the separating unit, back and forth along a first movement direction. The blank stack is to be positioned such that, when the slide moves forward in the first movement direction, the slide moves towards a side of the pile of blanks in the blank stack, preferably perpendicular to the side of the blank stack. This, to be able to grip the uppermost blank in the blank stack to separate it from the stack. The slide comprises a bearing point and a bearing, which bearing is fixedly arranged in the slide. The separating unit further comprises a driving unit, arranged to displace the slide (back and forth) along the first movement direction and a separating arm, which is displaceable by the slide, and which comprises a free outer front end and an opposite back end. The separating arm comprises a curve part at a back-end portion of the back end of the separating arm, which curve part supports against the bearing of the slide. The movement of theseparating arm is guided by the slide via the curve part at the same time as said separating arm is kept down against the bearing point of the slide by the bearing. The separating unit further comprises a separating tool which is arranged at the free outer front end of the separating arm, and which is angled relative the separating arm. The separating tool comprises one or several friction surfaces which faces away from the back end of the separating arm that is, in direction towards the side of the blank stack. The friction surface may be any kind of machine finishing (for example spark-erosion cutting, wire cutting, other types of cutting, any other surface pattern production methods etc.). The separating unit further comprises that the separating arm comprises a front part and a back part, wherein the back part comprises the back-end portion of the separating arm and an opposite front-end portion, distal from the back-end portion, and the front part comprises the free outer front end of the separating arm and an opposite back-end portion, distal from the free outer front end. The back-end portion of the front part and the front-end portion of the back part of the separating arm are removably connected to each other.

[0007] By such a solution, where the separating arm is divided into two parts, the front part and the back part, it is possible to quick and easy change the front part to another front part, which may be a front part of the same type, comprising the same type of separating tool, for example a new one if the used one is worn out. It is also possible to change front part to another type, which is arranged for another type of separating tool, with another field of use. If the application concerns a relatively “thick” blank or a blank which is thin but not so sensitive concerning presence of burrs and the like, it may be handled by a relatively narrow separating tool, for example by a saw blade-like separating tool, like the one in EP 2 099 703 B1 . If there are even higher demands on the application, for example if blanks very sensitive to the presence of burrs should be separated from the stack, or if very thin blanks are to be separated from the stack, another type of separating tool may be needed. By the inventive concept, it is possible to have a plurality of different separating tools, adapted to different demands, but still use the same separating unit, which is a very cost efficient and adaptable solution. The inventive solution by that provides a solution which is adaptable to a variety of applicationsconcerning for example different thicknesses, materials, sensitiveness etc. without the need of changing separating units or the need of having many different separating units, one for each application.

[0008] According to an embodiment, the front part of the separating arm comprises a base part and a clamping part, wherein the separating tool is arranged to be removably connected to the front part of the separating arm, by being clamped between the base part and the clamping part. Preferably, the separating arm also comprises fixation means or clamping means, to fixedly clamp / attach the clamping part to the base part, and to clamp the separating tool therebetween. Such solution provides the possibility to quickly change the separating tool if it is worn out or if it of other reasons needs to be changed.

[0009] According to an embodiment, the front-end portion of the back part comprises a recess and the back-end portion of the front part comprises a corresponding tongue, wherein the tongue of the front part is fixedly arrangeable in the recess of the back part by means of fixation means. The tongue of the front part is preferably dimensionally coordinated with the recess of the back part, to fit in the recess without a large play. The play may of course be enough to fit the tongue in the recess, but not too large so create unnecessary loose fit. The fixation means may be for example screws, screw and bolt, some kind of clamping means or wedge or the like.

[0010] According to an embodiment, the friction surface of the separating tool comprises projections, projecting in direction away from the back end of the separating arm, that is, in direction towards the side of the blank stack. The projections may be of any kind, for example tooth-like, pins, heels, elevations in a pattern (for example with recesses combined with elevations in some kind of pattern), etc. Thus, any kind of surface creating methods for making a “gripping” pattern is disclosed (any kind of machine finishing like spark-erosion cutting, wire cutting, other types of cutting, any other surface pattern production methods etc.). The projections may have different heights in relation to a base of the friction surface (or in relation to recesses or similar between the projections), and havethe purpose of gripping a blank, when the separating arm with its angled separating tool is moved towards the blank stack (i.e. near the top of the stack), and finally abuts one or more of the uppermost blanks of the stack. The projections are designed to, together with the motion of the separating arm (described in detail in EP 2 099 703 B1 and below), grip the uppermost lying blank in the pile of blanks and lift it up from the stack, just enough for allowing further transport by another tool (suction cup or the like). This separating motion may be combined with one or more air beams from one or more air channel systems, which blow air towards the blank stack, to improve the separating function, i.e. to eliminate the vacuum between the uppermost blanks, which gives the separated blank a lifting force. This is described in EP 2 099 703 B1 and is a function which may be turned on and off depending on the need.

[0011] According to an embodiment, the separating tool is a first type of separating tool which friction surface has a first width wi which is < 2.5 mm. This is a relatively narrow tool which may be suitable in a number of known applications handling a blank by blank separating function.

[0012] According to an embodiment, the separating tool is a saw blade, wherein the projections are teeth of the saw blade.

[0013] According to an embodiment, the separating tool is a second type of separating tool which friction surface has a second width W2 which is > 2 mm, but more preferred have a greater width, for example 5 mm up to for example 30 mm. This is especially suited for separating very thin blanks and blanks which are very sensitive to the presence of burrs. Narrow separating tool tend to have the drawback of causing burrs when gripping the blank, which burrs might end up on the surface of the blank or an underlying blank. This is negative if for example a lacquering operation is to follow later in the process. And further, narrow tool may also impact the edge of the blank, and causing marks, especially if the blank is very thin, which also may not be allowable for certain applications, like within the car industry, battery production etc. By having a wider width than previous known art, a large grip surface is provided, which eliminates or at least decreases the riskof marks and burrs dramatically, due to the large area of the friction surface. Further, this inventive separating tool, both by its larger width (as described above) and / or by being in the form of a “file blade” (as will be described below), it is possible to handle also the very last blank of the blank stack, which is not possible with known solutions for thin blanks. In the industry, especially within the car manufacturing industry, safety demands for handling and transport pallets drive towards solutions where the pallet, on which the blanks are stacked, must we larger than the area of the blank. This, since accidents have occurred, where employees have come into contact with protruding blanks from the stack. Therefore, the blank stacks need to be inside the dimensions of the pallet and the pallet often have upwardly, protruding rods or the like, to support the blank stack and prevent the blanks from falling / slid ing off the pallet, to avoid injuries of the personnel. With the inventive second type of separating tool (being wide and / or designed like a file blade etc.), the last blank / blanks can be separated from the stack / the pallet.

[0014] According to an embodiment, the separating tool is a file blade with a file pattern, wherein the projections are protrusions of the file pattern of the file blade. The file pattern may for example be single cut pattern (linear pattern, normally diagonal or perpendicular to the length of the file blade) or double cut pattern (normally crossed diagonal pattern). A saw blade, which normally has a width between 0.5-2.5 mm and a relatively large distance between the top of the teeth, for example 2.5 mm, may be used for blanks with a thickness down to about 0.7 mm. The file blade with its file pattern provides more or less infinite distance between the tops of the protrusions of the file pattern, both in direction along the length of the file blade as well as in the width direction of the file blade, especially if a diagonal pattern is used. This means that very thin blanks may be gripped, for example down to 0.2 mm thick blanks, and this without risk of burrs or marks on the blank. No prior art solutions provide such advantages and the inventive separating unit, with its divided separating arm, has a much wider range of use compared to known art. Further, as discussed above, it is possible to handle also the very last blank of the blank stack, which is not possible with known solutions for thin blanks.

[0015] According to an embodiment, the friction surface of the separating tool comprises a resilient surface. For example, the friction surface may have a rubber surface or any other kind of resilient surface, with or without protrusions, which may be applicable to even more sensitive blank materials.

[0016] According to an aspect of the invention, a system arranged for separating, blank by blank, of mainly plane sheet- or disc-shaped blanks, which are piled up in a blank stack, is disclosed. The system comprises a separating unit according to any of the preceding claims, a first type of separating tool and a second type of separating tool. By such a system, it is possible to adapt the separating unit to the specific application, depending on the demands of the application. With the same separating unit, it is possible to separating blanks of a wide range of thicknesses, even down to 0.2 mm, or even further, and by a quick and easy shifting of the separating tool, a cost effective and broad range system is achieved. The inventive system provides a solution which is adaptable to a variety of applications concerning for example different thicknesses, materials, sensitiveness etc. without the need of changing separating units or the need of having many different separating units, one for each application. This is not at hand in any known applications for separating blanks from a blank stack.

[0017] According to an embodiment, the front part comprises a plurality of front parts, each arranged for one separating tool. Thus, one front part may be adapted to a saw blade or saw-blade-like separating tool and another front part may be adapted to a file blade or file-blade-like separating tool or the like.

[0018] According to an embodiment, the front part is arranged for a first type of separating tool which friction surface has a first width wi which is < 2.5 mm. The advantages of this are described above.

[0019] According to an embodiment, the separating tool is a saw blade, wherein the projections are teeth of the saw blade.

[0020] According to an embodiment, the front part is arranged for a second type of separating tool which friction surface has a second width W2 which is > 2 mm. The advantages of this are described above.

[0021] According to an embodiment, the separating tool is a file where the friction surface is a file pattern, wherein the projections are protrusions of the file pattern of the file blade.

[0022] According to an embodiment, the friction surface of the separating tool comprises a resilient surface. For example, the friction surface may have a rubber surface or any other kind of resilient surface, with or without protrusions, which may be applicable to even more sensitive blank materials.

[0023] Further possible features and benefits of this solution will become apparent from the detailed description below. Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. Further features of, and advantages of, the present invention will become apparent when studying the appended claims and the following description. The skilled person realizes that different features of the present invention may be combined to create embodiments other than those described in the following, without departing from the scope of the present invention.Brief description of drawings

[0024] The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain aspects and exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments and aspects set forth herein; rather, the embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that manychanges and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the description.

[0025] Fig. 1 a-c are section views from the side of the inventive separating unit, showing different positions of a separating arm during its motion for separating a blank from a blank stack (blank and stack are not visible).

[0026] Fig. 2a-b are side views with a cut out in the front of the separating unit with a first type of separating tool, showing the separating of a blank from a blank stack. Fig. 2c is a top view of the separating unit of Fig. 2a.

[0027] Fig. 3a-b are side views with a cut out in the front of the separating unit with a second type of separating tool, showing the separating of a blank from a blank stack. Fig. 3c is a top view of the separating unit of Fig. 3b.

[0028] Fig. 4a is a side view of a separating arm of the separating unit with the first type of separating tool in the form of a saw blade, and which is shown in Figs. 2a-c. Fig. 4b is an exploded view from the side of the separating arm of Fig. 4a, showing a front part and a back part of the separating arm. Fig. 4c shows a side view of a clamping part of the front part of the separating tool and Figs. 4d-e show a side view and a cross-section view of the separating tool.

[0029] Fig. 5a is a side view of a separating arm of the separating unit with the second type of separating tool in the form of a file blade, and which is shown in Figs. 1a-c and Fig. 3a-c. Fig. 5b is an exploded view from the side of the separating arm of Fig. 5a, showing front parts and a back part of the separating arm. Fig. 5c shows a side view of the separating tool of the second type and Fig. 5d shows a cross-section view of the second type of separating tool.Detailed description

[0030] Fig. 1a-c are section views from the side of an inventive separating unit 1 , showing different positions of a separating arm 10, during its motion for separating a blank from a blank stack (blank and stack are visible in Figs. 2a-c and Figs. 3a-c).

[0031] The separating unit 1 is arranged for separating of mainly plane sheet- or disc-shaped blanks 3, which are piled up in a blank stack 2, and the separating unit 1 comprises a slide 7, which is displaceable, back and forth in the separating unit 1 , along a first movement direction X. The slide 7 comprises a bearing point 8, which is arranged at a bottom of the slide 7, and which preferably is arranged as groove of the slide 7. The slide 7 further comprises a bearing 14 which is fixedly arranged in the slide 7, preferably vertically above the bearing point 8. The separating unit 1 also comprises a driving unit 6, which is arranged to displace the slide 7, back and forth along the first movement direction X. The separating unit 1 further comprises a separating arm 10, which is displaceable by the slide 7 and which comprises a free outer front end 10a and an opposite back end 10b. The separating arm 10 comprises a curve part 21 , which is arranged at a back-end portion 10bb of the back end 10b of the separating arm 10. The curve part 21 supports against the bearing 14 of the slide 7, such that the curve part 21 of the separating arm 10 is arranged between the bearing 14 and the bearing point of the slide 7. The back end 10b of the separating arm 10 is arranged as a tapered end which ends in a top, which top is arranged to rest in / at the bearing point 8 of the slide 7. By that, the movement of the separating arm 10, when the driving unit 6 pulls or pushes the slide 7, the movement of the separating arm 10 is guided by the slide 7 via the curve part 21 , at the same time as said separating arm 10 is kept down against the bearing point 8 of the slide 7, by that the curve part 21 is arranged between the bearing 14 and the bearing point 8, wherein the curve part 21 is kept down.

[0032] The separating unit 1 further comprises a separating tool 13, which is arranged at the free outer front end 10a of the separating arm 10. The separating tool 13 is angled relative the separating arm 10, such that an upper end of the separating tool 13, which is attached to the front end 10a of the separating arm 10, is farthest from the back end 10b of the separating arm 10 (i.e. closest to the stack 2), and a lower end of the separating tool 13 is closer to the back end 10b of the separating arm 10 (i.e. farthest from the stack 2). Thus, the separating tool 13 may grip into an uppermost lying blank 3 of the stack 2 without other parts of the separating tool 13, other than the small grip area, comes into contact with thestack 3, see further Figs. 2a-c and Figs. 3a-c. The separating tool 13 comprises one or several friction surfaces 13a, which face away from the back end 10b of the separating arm 10, and which are arranged to grip / contact a blank 3 of the stack 2.

[0033] The separating arm 10 is divided into two parts, a front part 101 and a back part 102, wherein the back part 102 comprises the above-described back- end portion 10bb and an opposite front-end portion 10ba, which is distal from the back-end portion 10bb. The front part 101 of the separating arm 10 comprises the above-described free outer front end 10a and an opposite back-end portion 10ab, which is distal from the free outer front end 10a. In the inventive separating unit 1 , the back-end portion of the front part 101 and the front-end portion of the back part 102 of the separating arm 10 are removably connected to each other, to enable quick and easy changing of separating tools 13, such that the range of applications, in which the separating unit 1 may be useful for, is extended greatly.

[0034] The working cycle of the separating unit 1 and its trigonometric relationship between the parts are thoroughly described in the applicant’s European patent EP 2 099 703 B1 , which is incorporated here for reference. An overview of the working cycle is yet here described. In Fig. 1a, the slide 7 and the separating arm 10 are in a home position. From this position, the driving unit 6 pushes the slide 7 in the first movement direction X and the movement of the slide 7 forces the separating arm 10 to move forwards (in the direction of the arrow) by that the top of the back-end portion 10bb of the separating arm 10 is arranged in the bearing point 8 at the same time as the curve part 21 is kept down against the bearing point 8 the bearing 14, as described above. As can be seen in Fig. 1a, an upper first slide surface 12, of the separating unit 1 , guides an upside of the separating arm 10 and prevents it from moving upwards. In Fig. 1 b, the motion is in a second position, which is an end position of the motion in the movement direction X, towards the stack 2 (see Figs. 2a-c and Figs. 3a-c). Notice that the upside of the separating arm 10 now is free from the upper slide surface 12 of the separating unit 1 and that the upper first slide surface 12 transitions into an upper second slide surface 16, which opens towards the stack 2. The free outer front endthrough a front opening of a housing 20 of the separating unit 1 and the separating tool 13 is angled relative the arm (and the first movement direction in this position). When the driving unit 6 pushes the slide 7 further in the first movement direction X, the separating arm 10 starts to move upwards, in a second movement direction Y, which is substantially perpendicular to the first movement direction X, guided by the interaction between the top of the back-end portion 10bb of the separating arm 10 and the bearing point 8, and the bearing 14, pressing against the curve part 21. Since the upper second slide surface 16 of the separating unit 1 opens upwards, the separating arm 10 is allowed to move upwards in the second movement direction Y. After this lifting operation, the driving unit 6 pulls the slide 7 backwards in the first movement direction X, the separating arm 10 moves in the opposite way, downwards and then backwards, inwards in the housing 20 of the separating unit 1.

[0035] Fig. 2a-b are side views of the separating unit 1 , with a first type of separating tool 13, in the form of a saw blade, and the figures show the separating movement of one blank 3 from a blank stack 2. The figures have a cut out in the front of the separating unit 1 , to show the separating arm 10, and the separating tool 13 more clearly. Fig. 2c is a top view of the separating unit 1 of Fig. 2a, where it may be seen that the front end 10a of the separating arm 10 tapers in direction towards the stack 2 (i.e. in direction away from the back end of the separating arm 10) and the separating tool 13 in the form of a saw blade, is narrow. The blank stack 2 is positioned in close vicinity to the separating unit 1 such that the separating tool 13, when it reaches out from the separating unit 1 , may grip the uppermost blank 3, from the stack 2. As explained above, when the separating arm 10 leaves its home position, by that the driving unit 6 pushes the slide 7 (not visible) in the first movement direction X, the separating arm 10 moves forwards in direction towards the stack 2, wherein the free outer front end 10a of the separating arm 10, or at least the separating tool 13 (saw blade), now protrudes from the housing 20 of the separating unit 1 . When the driving unit 6 pushes the slide 7 further in the first movement direction X, the saw blade 13 grips the uppermost blank 3 with one of its sharp teeth 13a at he same time as the separating arm 10 starts to move upwards, in a “swinging” motion to the secondmovement direction Y. The motion is as mentioned above guided by the interaction between the top of the back-end portion 10bb of the separating arm 10 and the bearing point 8, and the bearing 14, pressing against the curve part 21 . Since the upper second slide surface 16 of the separating unit 1 opens upwards, the separating arm 10 is allowed to move upwards in the second movement direction Y. Since the separating tool 13 is angled relative the arm only one tooth of the plurality of teeth 13a grips the uppermost blank, or between the two uppermost blanks, and the geometrical design of the tool (as explained in detail in EP 2 099 703 B1 ) enables a precise and adapted force to lift the blank 3 from the stack 2. To eliminate vacuum, air beams may be activated to blow air towards the stack 2, wherein the vacuum force between the lifted blank 3 and the blank below this blank 3, is eliminated. As may be seen in Fig. 2c, the contact between the blank 3 and the separating tool / saw blade 13 is narrow, which is okay for many applications, which is discussed above.

[0036] Fig. 3a-b are side views of the separating unit 1 , with a second type of separating tool 13, in the form of a file blade, and the figures show the separating movement of one blank 3 from a blank stack 2. Similar with Figs. 2a-b, the figures have a cut out in the front of the separating unit 1 , to show the separating arm 10, and the separating tool 13 more clearly. Fig. 3c is a top view of the separating unit 1 of Fig. 3a, where it may be seen that the front end 10a of the separating arm 10 is relatively wide compared to the tapered front end of Figs. 2a-b. The separating tool 13 in this embodiment is in the form of a file blade, which is much wider than the saw blade. In the same way, the blank stack 2 is positioned in close vicinity to the separating unit 1 such that the separating tool 13 / the file blade 13, when it reaches out from the separating unit 1 , may grip the uppermost blank 3, from the stack 2. The motion of the slide 7 and the separating arm 10 is the same as described above, and when the driving unit 6 pushes the slide 7 further in the first movement direction X, the file blade 13 grips the uppermost blank 3, by that the friction surface 13a in the form of a file pattern 13a abuts the uppermost blank 3, at the same time as the separating arm 10 starts to move upwards, in a “swinging” motion to the second movement direction Y as described above. When this separating motion has separated the blank 3 from the stack 2, another liftingequipment, for example equipped with suction cups, transports the blank 3 to a next operation or position. Since the separating tool 13, in the form of a file blade 13, is relatively wide, the contact surface between the file blade 13 and the blank 3 is large, wherein the risk of unwanted marks and / or burrs is eliminated or greatly reduced. And further, the file pattern, i.e. the preferably diagonal single or double- crossed pattern of grooves and ridges, enables a friction surface which provides almost infinite grip protrusions, wherein very thin blanks 3 may be separated from the blank stack 2.

[0037] Fig. 4a is a side view of the separating arm 10 with the first type of separating tool 13, namely the saw blade 13. Fig. 4b is an exploded view from the side of the separating arm 10, showing the front part 101 and the back part 102 of the separating arm 10. Fig. 4c shows a side view of a clamping part 101 b of the front part 101 of the separating tool 10 adapted to the first type of separating tool 13, the saw blade13. Fig. 4d-e show a side view and a cross-section view of the saw blade 13. The separating arm 10 with its front part 101 and a back part 102 is as understood divided in two separate parts to allow an easy change of the front part 101 and the belonging type of separating tool 13. The back part 102 comprises a back-end portion 10bb of the and an opposite front-end portion 10ba, which is distal from the back-end portion 10bb. The curve part 21 is arranged at the back-end portion 10bb of the back end 10b of the separating arm 10. The front part 101 comprises the free outer front end 10a of the separating arm 10 and an opposite back-end portion 10ab, which is distal from the free outer front end 10a. Further, the back-end portion of the front part 101 and the front-end portion of the back part 102 are removably connected to each other, by that the back part 102 comprises a recess 102a arranged at the front-end portion 10ba and the front part 101 comprises a tongue 101 c which is arranged to fit into the recess 102a. The front part 101 is fixedly connected to the back end 102 by fixation means, for example screws (in the preferred embodiment 4 screws). The front part 101 comprises a base part 101a and a clamping part 101 b, wherein the saw blade 13 of the separating tool 13 is clamped between the base part 101a and the clamping part 101 b, and fixed by means of fixation means, for example screws (in the preferred embodiment, 3 screws). Preferably, the clamping part 101 b comprises arecess or folding to create a space for the saw blade 13, between the base part 101a and the clamping part 101b, when they are fixed to each other, wherein the saw blade is in a clamped position in the recess, between the base part 101a and the clamping part 101 b. The friction surface 13a of the saw blade 13 comprises protrusions in the form of a plurality of teeth (13aa), which are arranged along the length of the blade 13 (in the second direction Y) and the width wi of the blade is relatively narrow, for example between 0.5-2.5 mm (0.5 < wi < 2.5 mm).

[0038] Fig. 5a is a side view of the separating arm 10 with the second type of separating tool 13 in the form of a file blade. Fig. 5b is an exploded view from the side of the separating arm of Fig. 5a, showing front parts 101 and the back part 102 of the separating arm 10. Fig. 5c shows a side view of the file blade 13 and Fig. 5d shows a cross-section view of the file blade 13. The back part 102 is exactly the same as the back part described in Figs. 4a-b, concerning the first type of separating tool 13 (the saw blade), which of course in line with the inventive concept, to keep most parts of the separating unit 1 in common for all variants of separating tool. The front part 101 is however adapted to fit different separation tools 13. At this second type of separating tool 13, the file blade version, the separating arm 10 comprises a base part 101a and a clamping part 101b, and the file blade 13 is arranged to be removably connected to the front part 101 of the separating arm 10, by being clamped between the base part 101a and the clamping part 101 b.The friction surface 13a of the file blade 13 comprises a pattern which in the preferred embodiment of Figs. 5a and 5c-d, is a file pattern 13bb with double-cut design, i.e. with diagonal grooves in two directions in an angle relative the length direction of the file blade 13. The file blade 13 further comprises a neck part 13c arranged to be clamped between the base part 101a and the clamping part 101 b of the front part 101 . The file blade 13 is fixed by a number of fixation means (screws), which fixes the parts 101a, 13 to each other. The front parts 101 are fixed as one unit to the back part 102 with fixation means in the same way as described above. The file blade 13 has a second width W2, which is much larger compared to the first width wi of the saw blade, such that a large contact area is achieved for gripping / contacting the blank 3 which are to be separated from the blank stack 2. As explained above, the file pattern 13bb alsoprovides a very “forgiving” surface, so to speak, which means that there is no or minimal risk for burrs and the file pattern 13bb also makes it possible to separate very thin blanks 3, down to such thin blanks as 0.25 mm.

[0039] The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention by no means is limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

[0040] Reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only one" unless explicitly so stated, but rather "one or more."

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A separating unit (1 ) arranged for separating of mainly plane sheet- or disc-shaped blanks (3), which are piled up in a blank stack (2), the separating unit (1 ) comprising:- a slide (7), which is displaceable in the separating unit (1 ), back and forth along a first movement direction (X), wherein the slide (7) comprises a bearing point (8) and a bearing (14) which is fixedly arranged in the slide (7),- a driving unit (6), arranged to displace the slide (7) along the first movement direction (X),- a separating arm (10), which is displaceable by the slide (7) and which comprises a free outer front end (10a) and an opposite back end (10b), wherein the separating arm (10) comprises a curve part (21 ) at a back-end portion (10bb) of the back end (10b) of the separating arm (10), which curve part (21) supports against the bearing (14) of the slide (7), wherein the movement of the separating arm (10) is guided by the slide (7) via the curve part (21 ) at the same time as said separating arm (10) is kept down against the bearing point (8) of the slide (7) by the bearing (14),- a separating tool (13) arranged at the free outer front end (10a) of the separating arm (10) angled relative the separating arm (10), wherein the separating tool (13) comprises one or several friction surfaces (13a) facing away from the back end (10b) of the separating arm (10), characterized by that the separating arm (10) comprises a front part (101 ) and a back part (102), wherein the back part (102) comprises the back-end portion (10bb) of the separating arm (10) and an opposite front-end portion (10ba) distal from the back-end portion (1 Obb), and the front part (101 ) comprises the free outer front end (10a) of the separating arm (10) and an opposite back-end portion (10ab) distal from the free outer front end (10a), wherein the back-end portion of the front part (101 ) and the front-end portion of the back part (102) of the separating arm (10) are removably connected to each other.

2. Separating unit (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the front part (101 ) of the separating arm (10) comprises a base part (101a) and a clamping part (101b), wherein the separating tool (13) is arranged to be removably connected to thefront part (101 ) of the separating arm (10), by being clamped between the base part (101a) and the clamping part (101 b).

3. Separating unit (1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the front-end portion (10ba) of the back part (102) comprises a recess (102a) and the back-end portion (1 Oab) of the front part (101 ) comprises a tongue (101 c), wherein the tongue (101c) of the front part (101) is fixedly arrangeable in the recess (102a) of the back part (102) by means of fixation means.

4. Separating unit (1 ) according to any preceding claims, wherein the friction surface (13a) of the separating tool (13) comprises projections, projecting in direction away from the back end (10b) of the separating arm (10).

5. Separating unit (1 ) according to any preceding claims, wherein the separating tool (13) is a first type of separating tool which friction surface (13a) has a first width (wi) which is < 2.5 mm.

6. Separating unit (1 ) according to any of claim 4 - 5, wherein the separating tool (13) is a saw blade (13), wherein the projections are teeth (13aa) of the saw blade (13aa).

7. Separating unit (1 ) according to any of claims 1 - 4, wherein the separating tool (13) is a second type of separating tool which friction surface (13a) has a second width (W2) which is > 2 mm.

8. Separating unit (1 ) according to claim 7, wherein the separating tool (13) is a file blade (13) with a file pattern (13bb), wherein the projections are protrusions of the file pattern (13bb) of the file blade (13).

9. Separating unit (1 ) according to any of claims 1 - 4, wherein the friction surface (13a) of the separating tool (13) comprises a resilient surface.

10. A system arranged for separating of mainly plane sheet- or disc-shaped blanks (3), which are piled up in a blank stack (2), comprising a separating unit (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims, a first type of separating tool and a second type of separating tool.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the front part (101 ) comprises a plurality of front parts (101 ), each arranged for one separating tool (13).

12. The system according to claim 10 or 11 , wherein the front part (101 ) is arranged for a first type of separating tool (13) which friction surface (13a) has a first width (wi) which is < 2.5 mm.

13. The system according to any of claims 10 - 11 , wherein the separating tool (13) is a saw blade (13), wherein the projections are teeth (13aa) of the saw blade (13aa).

14. The system according to claim 10, wherein the front part (101 ) is arranged for a second type of separating tool (13) which friction surface (13a) has a second width (W2) which is > 2 mm.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the separating tool (13) is a file blade (13) with a file pattern (13bb), wherein the projections are protrusions of the file pattern (13bb) of the file blade (13).

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