Apparatus for centering and loading flat format parts in a press

An apparatus for loading flat format parts of a first shape in a press, the apparatus comprising:

• the press, the press including a first surface onto which each of the flat format parts is to be placed in a theoretical loading position, the press further including a second surface facing the first surface, the first and second surfaces are configured to repeatably cooperate with one another to act on the flat format parts to create parts having a second shape that is different than the first shape;
• a first conveyor located upstream the press and configured to carry the flat format parts in a forward movement direction towards the press;
• an optical measuring device that is configured to determine a real position of each of the flat format parts on the first conveyor;
• a first transfer device and a second transfer device that is each configured to respectively grab a first flat format part residing in a first real position on the first conveyor and a second flat format part residing in a second real position on the first conveyor;
• a control unit configured to receive output signals from the optical measuring device that are indicative of the first and second real positions, the control unit configured to determine a first deviation between the first real position and the theoretical loading position of the first flat format part and to determine a second deviation between the second real position and the theoretical loading position of the second flat format part, the control unit is configured to use the calculated first deviation to command the first transfer device to alter the position of the first flat format part to correct the first deviation and to place the first flat format part on the first surface of the press in the theoretical loading position of the first format part after altering the position of the first flat format part, the control unit is configured to use the calculated second deviation to command the second transfer device to alter the position of the second flat format part to correct the second deviation and to place the second flat format part on the first surface of the press in the theoretical loading position of the second format part after altering the position of the second flat format part;
• and
• an unstacking area located upstream of the first conveyor, located in the unstacking area are first and second unstacking devices that is each configured to unstack the flat format parts arranged in one or more stacks in the unstacking area, each of the first and second unstacking devices includes a flexible gripping device with support arms having gripping elements coupled thereto, the flexible gripping device being coupled to a crossbar that is movable according to a first translational movement (T1) parallel to the forward movement direction (A) to respectively move the first and second unstacking devices outside the first and second part collecting areas, the crossbar being attached to a translation carriage that is movable on a beam according to a second translation movement (T2) perpendicular to the forward movement direction (A).

An apparatus for loading flat format parts of a first shape in a press, the apparatus comprising:

• the press, the press including a first surface onto which each of the flat format parts is to be placed in a theoretical loading position, the press further including a second surface facing the first surface, the first and second surfaces are configured to repeatably cooperate with one another to act on the flat format parts to create parts having a second shape that is different than the first shape;
• a first conveyor located upstream the press and configured to carry the flat format parts in a forward movement direction towards the press;
• an optical measuring device that is configured to determine a real position of each of the flat format parts on the first conveyor;
• a first transfer device and a second transfer device that is each configured to respectively grab a first flat format part residing in a first real position on the first conveyor and a second flat format part residing in a second real position on the first conveyor;
• a control unit configured to receive output signals from the optical measuring device that are indicative of the first and second real positions, the control unit configured to determine a first deviation between the first real position and the theoretical loading position of the first flat format part and to determine a second deviation between the second real position and the theoretical loading position of the second flat format part, the control unit is configured to use the calculated first deviation to command the first transfer device to alter the position of the first flat format part to correct the first deviation and to place the first flat format part on the first surface of the press in the theoretical loading position of the first format part after altering the position of the first flat format part, the control unit is configured to use the calculated second deviation to command the second transfer device to alter the position of the second flat format part to correct the second deviation and to place the second flat format part on the first surface of the press in the theoretical loading position of the second format part after altering the position of the second flat format part;
• and
• a third transfer device that is configured to grab a third flat format part residing in a third real position on the first conveyor, the control unit configured to receive an output signal from the optical measuring device that is indicative of the third real position and to determine a third deviation between the third real position and the theoretical loading position of the third flat format part, the control unit configured to use the calculated third deviation to command the third transfer device to alter the position of the third flat format part to correct the third deviation and to place the third flat format part on the first surface of the press in the theoretical loading position of the third flat format part after altering the position of the third flat format part.