Press for blanking metal plates

#This application claims the priority of Germany, filed Apr. 18, 2002, the disclosure of which is (are) expressly incorporated by reference herein.

#The present invention relates to a press for blanking metal plates, particularly stator segments of a generator or electric motor, having a blanking tool and a stacking device for stacking the blanked-out workpieces.

#When manufacturing stators of a generator or electric motor, frequently only stator segments are blanked out of a plate metal strip in order to minimize the occurring blanking waste. When stator segments are blanked out, narrower plates can therefore also be processed. The use of narrower plates permits a manufacturing of the stator plates which is more accurate to size because narrower plates have lower rolling tolerances. The individual stator plate layers are stacked upon one another in the tool until the desired stator thickness has been achieved.

#Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

#FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a press and a stacking device according to the present invention; and

#FIG. 2 is a top view of the press and the stacking device of FIG. 1.

#FIG. 1 shows a press 10 having an upper die 11. A stacking device 12 receives blanked-out parts 13 from the press 10. In the stacking device 12, the blanked parts 13 are stacked on one another up to a desired stacking height. The stacking device 12 has a rotatable platform 14 so that round parts, such as stators of a generator or of an electric motor, can be produced. The platform 14 is provided with holding arbors 15 onto which the blanked parts 13 can be fitted. An exchangeable pallet 16 is arranged on the platform 14, and receives the blanked parts 13. In order to be able to feed the blanked parts 13 coming from the press 10 to the stacking device 12, a known fetching or feeding device (not shown in detail) to feed the blanked-out parts 13 to the stacking device 12.

#The fetching device may be configured, for example, as a magnet or a hook or in another manner known to a person skilled in the art. In addition, the stacking device 12 has a device for compensating the increasing height of the mutually stacked blanked parts 13, this devices also not being shown here in detail. The height compensation can, for example, take place in that the height of the fetching device can be varied or in that the platform 14 together with the pallet 16 can be lowered.

#FIG. 2 illustrates the press 10 and the stacking device 12. Below the press 10, an empty pallet 16 is guided to the stacking device 12 in order to receive blanked parts 13. In the illustrated embodiment, the stator 22 of a generator or of an electric motor is produced. In the illustrated production step, a stator segment 20 is just being inserted into a gap 21 formed by already deposited blanked parts 13. As soon as the pallet 16 has received a sufficient number of blanked parts in the defined stacking height, the pallet 16 is further moved to the right. Finally, a finished workpiece 22 is transported to a conveyer belt 23 for further processing or use.