Automatic cleaning system and method for removing debris from dies
AssigneeMagna International Inc.
InventorJohn Richard Potocki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic system (10) and method for cleaning grease and debris from a die (12), such as a die (12) which stamps or trims aluminum or steel sheets used to form exterior vehicle body panels and thus should be free of dents and scratches, is provided. The system (10) includes multiple stations (22) and die handling arms (18), (20) or a conveyor (28) for moving the die (12) between the multiple stations (22). One of the stations (22) includes a spraying device (26) for cleaning and rinsing the die (12). Another one of the stations (22) includes an air blower (24) for removing loose debris from the die (10) and also for drying the die (10) after the washing step.
Claims13
A system for cleaning a die, comprising:
- an air blower for blowing air onto the die,
- a spraying device for spraying liquid onto the die,
- a human machine interface for activating the air blower and the spraying device,
- a first station for loading and unloading the die,
- a second station for polishing or holding the die,
- a third station including the air blower,
- a fourth station including the spraying device, and
- doors surrounding the third station to prevent debris from escaping the third station, and doors surrounding the fourth station to prevent waste water from escaping the fourth station, the doors being capable of rolling up and down.
A system for cleaning a die, comprising:
- an air blower for blowing air onto the die,
- a spraying device for spraying liquid onto the die,
- a human machine interface for activating the air blower and the spraying device, wherein the die includes an upper die half and a lower die half, the air blower is movable horizontally and vertically to accommodate various sizes of dies, the spraying device is movable horizontally and vertically to accommodate various sizes of dies, the system further comprising:
- a conveyor for conveying the upper die half and the lower die half to a plurality of stations, the conveyor being activated by the human machine interface,
- the plurality of stations including a first station for loading and unloading the upper die half and the lower die half, a second station for holding and/or polishing the upper die half and the lower die half, a third station including the air blower for blowing loose debris off the upper die half and the lower die half prior to washing and for drying the upper die half and the lower die half, a fourth station including the spraying device for washing the upper die half and the lower die half, and a fifth station for holding the upper die half and the lower die half,
- doors surrounding the third station to prevent debris from escaping the third station, the doors being capable of rolling up and down,
- doors surrounding the fourth station to prevent waste water from escaping the fourth station, the doors being capable of rolling up and down,
- a waste management system for removal of used water and debris, and
- wherein the system is capable of running automatically after being activated by the human machine interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.