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US 11,901,141 B2Granted
Variable field magnetic couplers and methods for engaging a ferromagnetic workpiece
AssigneeMagswitch Technology, Inc.
InventorsDavid H. Morton, Cengiz Kizilkan, Paul J. Karp
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Magnetic coupling devices are disclosed which may be configured in at least three states. The various states may be provided through one or more of altering a position of a permanent magnet relative to another permanent magnet and altering a current level in a coil surrounding a permanent magnet.
Claims23
A method of moving a ferromagnetic workpiece positioned on a support with a magnetic coupling device, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting the ferromagnetic workpiece with a plurality workpiece contact interfaces of the magnetic coupling device, the magnetic coupling device having at least one permanent magnet which contributes to a level of magnetic flux available to the ferromagnetic workpiece at the workpiece contact interfaces;
- (b) transitioning the magnetic coupling device from a first state having a first level of magnetic flux available to the ferromagnetic workpiece at the workpiece contact interfaces to a second state having a second level of magnetic flux available to the ferromagnetic workpiece at the workpiece contact interfaces, the second level being greater than the first level;
- (c) moving the ferromagnetic workpiece relative to the support with the magnetic coupling device from a first position to a second position while the magnetic coupling device is in the second state;
- (d) transitioning the magnetic coupling device from the second state to a third state having a third level of magnetic flux available to the ferromagnetic workpiece at the workpiece contact interfaces, the third level being greater than the second level;
- (e) moving the ferromagnetic workpiece with the magnetic coupling device from the second position to a third position while the magnetic coupling device is in the third state;
- and
- (f) decoupling the ferromagnetic workpiece from the magnetic coupling device, wherein the ferromagnetic workpiece remains the same throughout steps (a) through (e).
4 more elements
A method of moving a ferromagnetic workpiece positioned on a support with a magnetic coupling device, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) receiving an identification of ferromagnetic workpiece to be moved with a magnetic coupling device having a plurality of workpiece contact interfaces adapted to contact the ferromagnetic workpiece, the magnetic coupling device having at least one permanent magnet which contributes to a level of magnetic flux available to the ferromagnetic workpiece at the workpiece contact interfaces;
- (b) determining based on information stored in a memory related to the identified ferromagnetic workpiece at least one state of the magnetic coupling device that corresponds to the identified ferromagnetic workpiece, the at least one state having a corresponding level of magnetic flux available to the ferromagnetic workpiece at the workpiece contact interfaces of the magnetic coupling device;
- (c) contacting the identified ferromagnetic workpiece with the workpiece contact interfaces of the magnetic coupling device;
- (d) moving the identified ferromagnetic workpiece relative to the support with the magnetic coupling device from an initial position to a final position while sequentially configuring the magnetic coupling device in at least three states, each of the three states having a corresponding level of magnetic flux available to the ferromagnetic workpiece at the workpiece contact interfaces of the magnetic coupling device, the at least three states including the at least one state of the magnetic coupling device that corresponds to the identified ferromagnetic workpiece;
- and
- (e) decoupling the identified ferromagnetic workpiece from the magnetic coupling device.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.