# US 2022/0002108 A1 · Method of transporting members and conveying apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0002108 A1 - Document ID: US20220002108A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/331,039 - Filed: 2021-05-26 - Published: 2022-01-06 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-06 - Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Takuya Sukeda; Naoki Hirai; Akinori Tomioka - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220002108A1 ## CPC - B65H 29/18: and introducing into a pile - B65G 15/58: with means for holding or retaining the loads in fixed position, e.g. magnetic - B21D 43/20: Storage arrangements; Piling or unpiling (in general B65G, {B65H}) - B65H 2301/4212: of articles substantially horizontal - B65H 2404/283: magnetic - B65H 2515/70: Electrical or magnetic properties, e.g. electric power or current - B65H 2701/173: Metal - H10P 72/3202: {Mechanical details, e.g. rollers or belts} - H10P 72/3204: {using magnetic elements} - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - 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) - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) - H10P: GENERIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10 ## Abstract A method of transporting a plurality of sheet-like members containing a magnetic material includes a first step of placing one of the members on an endless belt, and a second step of releasing the member from a portion of the endless belt which is moved and folded back along a roller. The endless belt includes a first magnetic force generating portion that generates first magnetic force, and a second magnetic force generating portion that generates second magnetic force that is stronger than the first magnetic force. In the first step, the member is placed on the belt, such that a first portion of the member containing the magnetic material is located in the first magnetic force generating portion, and a second portion of the member containing the magnetic material and located rearward of the first portion in a conveying direction is located in the second magnetic force generating portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of transporting a plurality of sheet-like members each containing a magnetic material, comprising: a first step of placing one of the sheet-like members on an endless belt; and a second step of releasing the one of the sheet-like members placed in the first step, from a portion of the endless belt which is moved and folded back along a roller, wherein the first step and the second step are repeated, wherein the endless belt includes a first magnetic force generating portion configured to generate a first magnetic force, and a second magnetic force generating portion configured to generate a second magnetic force that is stronger than the first magnetic force, and wherein, in the first step, the one of the sheet-like members is placed on the endless belt, such that a first portion of the sheet-like member containing the magnetic material is located in the first magnetic force generating portion, and a second portion of the sheet-like member containing the magnetic material and located rearward of the first portion as viewed in a conveying direction of the sheet-like member is located in the second magnetic force generating portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the sheet-like members has a thickness that is equal to or smaller than 0.1 mm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein: the first magnetic force generating portion extends in a moving direction of the endless belt; the second magnetic force generating portion is disposed on opposite sides of the first magnetic force generating portion, and extends in the moving direction of the endless belt; and each of the sheet-like members is positioned, such that a leading end of a portion of the sheet-like member containing the magnetic material as viewed in the conveying direction is included in the first portion, and a trailing end of a portion of the sheet-like member containing the magnetic material as viewed in the conveying direction is included in the second portion. ### Claim 4 A conveying apparatus that transports a plurality of sheet-like members each containing a magnetic material, comprising: an endless belt on which the sheet-like members are placed; and a roller around which the endless belt is looped, the roller being configured to move and fold back the endless belt, the sheet-like members being successively released from the endless belt while the endless belt is moving along the roller, wherein the endless belt includes a first magnetic force generating portion configured to generate a first magnetic force, and a second magnetic force generating portion configured to generate a second magnetic force that is stronger than the first magnetic force, and wherein a first portion of each of the sheet-like members which contains the magnetic material is located in the first magnetic force generating portion, and a second portion of each of the sheet-like members which contains the magnetic material and is located reward of the first portion as viewed in a conveying direction of the sheet-like members is located in the second magnetic force generating portion.