# US 2017/0257989 A1 · System and method for separating workpieces > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0257989 A1 - Document ID: US20170257989A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/445,471 - Filed: 2017-02-28 - Published: 2017-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-04 - Assignees: Nagaoka Seisakusho Corp. - Applicants: Nagaoka Seisakusho Corp. - Inventors: Soichi YANAGISAWA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170257989A1 ## CPC - H05K 13/0061: {Tools for holding the circuit boards during processing; handling transport of printed circuit boards} - B65G 59/00: De-stacking of articles (B65G60/00 takes precedence) - B65G 59/045: {with a stepwise upward movement of the stack} - H05K 13/0069: {Holders for printed circuit boards} - H05K 13/021: {Loading or unloading of containers (H05K13/028 takes precedence)} - B65G 2814/0308: Destacking devices - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## Abstract A system for separating a workpiece from workpieces is provided. The system includes a stocker on which a plurality of workpieces are stored in a stacked state, a holding unit including at least one pair of inverted V-shaped pads that sandwich and clamp both ends of one of the workpieces, and a moving unit that moves at least one of the holding unit and the stocker so as to relatively move the stocker downward with respect to the holding unit, which is in a state where the one of the workpieces is clamped by the at least one pair of pads, and to separate the one of the workpieces from other workpieces. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a stocker on which a plurality of workpieces are stored in a stacked state; a holding unit including at least one pair of inverted V-shaped pads that sandwich and clamp both ends of one of the workpieces; and a moving unit that moves at least one of the holding unit and the stocker so as to relatively move the stocker downward with respect to the holding unit, which is in a state where the one of the workpieces is clamped by the at least one pair of pads, and to separate the one of the workpieces from other workpieces. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, further comprising a conveying unit that relatively moves in and out below the holding unit and conveys the one of the workpieces released from the holding unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system according to claim 2, wherein the conveying unit moves in and out between the holding unit and the stocker. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system according to claim 2, wherein the conveying unit includes a pair of feeding units that move to first positions, which are below the holding unit and are withdrawn to an outside from both ends of the plurality of workpieces, and to second positions, which are located inside of the first positions so that under sides of both ends of the one of the workpieces are loaded on the pair of the feeding units. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the holding unit includes a driving unit that opens and closes the at least one pair of pads relative to both ends of the one of the workpieces. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the holding unit includes a support unit that supports the at least one pair of pads in a state where the at least one pair of pads are pressed onto both ends of the one of the workpieces so that a distance between the at least one pair of pads changes in a front-rear direction along both ends of the one of the workpieces. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system according to claim 6, wherein the holding unit includes a plurality of pairs of the pads and the support unit supports the plurality of pairs of the pads so that distances between the pads change in the front/rear direction along both ends of the one of the workpieces. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, Wherein the moving unit moves the stocker above the holding unit to the position where the plurality of workpieces are stacked on the stocker. ### Claim 9 A method that includes separating one of workpieces from other workpieces by using a system, the system including a stocker on which the plurality of plate-like workpieces are stored in a stacked state and a holding unit with at least one pair of inverted V-shaped pads that clamp both ends of the one of the workpieces, wherein the separating comprises: moving at least one of the holding unit and the stocker relatively so that the at least one pair of pads hold an uppermost workpiece stacked on the stocker; and moving at least one of the holding unit and the stocker, after the pair of pads have held the uppermost workpiece as the one of the workpieces, so that the stocker is relatively downward with respect to the holding unit to separate the one of the workpieces. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the system further includes a conveying unit that moves in and out between the holding unit and the stocker and conveys the one of the workpieces, wherein the method further comprises: setting the conveying unit between the holding unit and the stocker; releasing the one of the workpieces held by the at least one pair of pads; conveying the released workpiece using the conveying unit; and withdrawing the conveying unit from between the stocker and the holding unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the method further comprises: moving the stocker above the holding unit to the position where the plurality of workpieces are stacked on the stocker; and moving the stocker on which the plurality of workpieces are stacked below the holding unit.