Work Piece Gripper Pre-Separation Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for removing substantially planar work pieces, such as metal sheets, from a stack face challenges due to adhesion issues, especially when high throughput is required, leading to complications and potential damage to equipment.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that involve gripping the top surface of the work piece, lifting it partially to introduce a separator element between the work piece and the next one below, facilitating pre-separation before removal by a transport device, which increases efficiency and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional gripping and lifting methods are used to remove work pieces from a stack, then the work piece can be transported to the processing station, but adhesion between neighboring sheets causes multiple sheets to be seized together, leading to equipment damage and reduced productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The separator element is introduced between the top work piece and the stack before the gripping operation is completed. This preliminary separation action prevents adhesion between sheets during the lifting process, ensuring that only the top work piece is removed while maintaining high processing speeds suitable for automated production lines
2Device complexity
If conventional gripping methods are used without pre-separation, then the removal process is simpler, but adhesion causes severe damage up to destruction of press tool
Solution Approach 1:
A separator element is introduced as an intermediary component between the top work piece and the stack. This separator prevents direct adhesion between the work pieces during gripping and lifting, eliminating the harmful effect of multiple sheets being seized together and potential damage to the press tool, while adding only moderate complexity to the removal process
3Productivity
If more than one sheet is seized and fed to the downstream process line, then the adhesion problem is bypassed, but this leads to severe damage up to destruction of a press tool
Solution Approach 1:
The separator element is introduced in advance to counteract the adhesion force between sheets before the gripping operation completes. This preliminary anti-action prevents the harmful effect of multiple sheets being seized together, allowing the system to maintain high throughput while avoiding damage to the press tool by ensuring only the top work piece is removed
Data Source
AI summary
A method for removing a substantially planar work piece (11) from the top of a stack (10) of work pieces comprises the steps of gripping the work piece (11) on a top surface of the work piece, lifting the gripped work piece, pre-separating the work piece from the stack by introducing a separator element (43) in between the lifted work piece and a neighboring work piece underneath the lifted work piece (11) and gripping and removing the pre-separated work piece (11) by a transport device. An apparatus for carrying out the method comprises a gripper (33) for gripping the work piece (11), the gripper (33) being movable in a vertical direction for lifting the gripped work piece (11), a separator element (43) being movable in a horizontal direction to be introduced in between the lifted work piece (11) and a neighboring work piece underneath the lifted work piece (11) and a transport device for gripping and removing the pre-separated work piece (11). The method and apparatus allow for fast and reliable removal of substantially planar work pieces from the top of a stack.