Sheet metal processing cell with traversing part sorter
AssigneeRed Bud Industries, Inc.
InventorsKollin N. Liefer, Scott McIntyre, Dean C. Linders
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sheet metal processing cell has a stacker for forming a stack of sheet metal. The stacker has a stack forming portion and a diverter. The diverter is movable relative to the inlet of the stacker to receive a diverter length of sheet metal and convey it away from the inlet. A traversing part sorter of the cell has a first conveyer and a second conveyor. The traversing part sorter first conveyor receives the diverted length of sheet metal from the diverter conveyor and conveys it away from the diverter. The second conveyor conveys the diverted length of sheet metal from the stacker inlet conveyor in a direction transverse the direction of advancement into a respective scrap bin or onto a measuring table.
Claims16
A sheet metal processing cell comprising:
- a stacker, the stacker being adapted and configured to form a stack comprising a length of sheet metal,
- the stacker comprising:
- an inlet through which the length of sheet metal is received in a direction of advancement through the processing cell;
- a stack forming rail assembly adapted and configured to move adjacent the inlet and receive the length of sheet metal and place the length of sheet metal in a stack;
- a diverter adapted and configured to move adjacent the inlet and receive a diverted length of sheet metal and convey the diverted length of sheet metal away from the inlet of the stacker;
- and
- a part sorter adapted and configured to receive the diverted length of sheet metal from the diverter, the part sorter having a part sorter conveyer that is adapted and configured to receive the diverted length of sheet metal from the diverter and convey the diverted length of sheet metal away from the diverter, wherein the part sorter is movable relative to the diverter of the stacker between a receiving position and a plurality of diverting positions, wherein when in the receiving position, the part sorter is aligned with the diverter of the stacker in a manner so as to receive the diverted length of sheet metal from the diverter of the stacker, wherein when in any one of the plurality of diverting positions, the part sorter is away from and out of alignment with the diverter of the stacker.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.