Magnetic Feeding of Elongated Metal Profiles Without Tangling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatuses for untangling and feeding elongated metal elements, such as metal profiles for reinforced concrete, are bulky, costly, and unreliable, particularly due to the elements' flexibility and ribbed surfaces, which complicate untangling and handling.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus using a gripping unit with magnetic attraction and a transfer unit with support members to lift and transfer elongated elements without rolling or sliding, allowing for untangling and feeding in an ordered configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If transport chains with oscillatory motion are used to untangle elements, then untangling capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical oscillatory transport chains with a simple magnetic field-based gripping system. The magnetic gripping unit directly lifts elements from the support plane without requiring mechanical chains or oscillatory motion, thereby eliminating the complexity while maintaining effective element handling and untangling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the gripping unit and the metal elements. This magnetic intermediary enables contactless gripping and lifting, avoiding the need for complex mechanical contact systems while effectively handling the elements for untangling and transfer operations.
2Reliability
If magnetic attraction is used to grip elements, then gripping reliability is improved, but handling of non-magnetic or lightly magnetic elements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs adjustable magnetic field parameters (strength, distribution, and configuration) to adapt to different element types. By varying magnetic field parameters, the system can effectively grip both heavily magnetic and lightly magnetic elements, as well as elements with different geometries and weights, thereby maintaining versatility while ensuring reliable gripping.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables efficient, reliable, and cost-effective untangling and feeding of elongated elements, avoiding the need for bulky structures and ensuring quick operation at adjacent processing stations.
Implementation Method 1
by acting on the gripping portion itself by means of magnetic attraction
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~2a
Figure 3~3a
AI summary
The method for feeding elongated elements, in particular metal profiles, for example intended for a cutting and/or bending cycle, comprises the steps of preparing a plurality of elongated elements (2), arranged side by side, in particular in a disordered way, along a longitudinal direction, resting on a support plane (3), actuating a gripping unit (4) according to a collecting motion at the support plane (3), so that at least a part of the elements (2) is collected at a respective gripping portion (2a), actuating the gripping unit (4) according to a lifting motion so as to lift the gripping portion (2a) from the support plane (3), actuating in a inserting motion a transfer unit (5) comprising at least one support member (51) arranged on the side of the gripping unit (4) along the longitudinal direction to be inserted below the elements (2) collected at least at a respective portion (2b) spaced from the gripping portion (2a).