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US 2026/0166754 A1Published application
Magnetic coupling device with movable workpiece interfaces
AssigneeMagswitch Automation Company
InventorsCengiz Kizilkan, Paul J. Karp, David H. Morton, Ethan Pemberton
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Abstract
Magnetic coupling devices may include movable pole portions. The movable pole portions may be retractable along a first direction and may be locked into place.
Claims58
A magnetic coupling device for magnetically coupling to a ferromagnetic workpiece, comprising:
- a housing;
- a switchable magnetic flux source supported by the housing, the switchable magnetic flux source being switchable between at least an OFF state and at least one of a partial ON state and an ON state;
- and
- a plurality of pole portions, each including at least one workpiece interface having a workpiece engagement surface, the plurality of pole portions including a first pole portion including a first workpiece interface having a first workpiece engagement surface and a second pole portion including a second workpiece interface having a second workpiece engagement surface, each of the first pole portion and the second pole portion are moveable relative to the housing when the switchable magnetic flux source is in the OFF state and are held relative to the housing when the switchable magnetic flux source is in the at least one of the partial ON state and the ON state, wherein the first engagement surface of the first pole portion maintains a first position relative to the housing when the switchable magnetic flux source is in the OFF state independent of an orientation of the housing and in the absence of contact with the ferromagnetic workpiece and the second engagement surface of the second pole portion maintains a second position relative to the housing when the switchable magnetic flux source is in the OFF state independent of the orientation of the housing and in the absence of contact with the ferromagnetic workpiece.
1 more element
A magnetic coupling device for magnetically coupling to a ferromagnetic workpiece, comprising:
- a housing;
- a switchable magnetic flux source supported by the housing, the switchable magnetic flux source being switchable between at least an OFF state and at least one of a partial ON state and an ON state;
- and
- a plurality of pole portions, each including at least one workpiece interface having a workpiece engagement surface, the plurality of pole portions including a plurality of north pole portions which form a north pole of the magnetic coupling device when the switchable magnetic flux source is in the at least one of the partial ON state and the ON state and a plurality of south pole portions which form a south pole of the magnetic coupling device when the switchable magnetic flux source is in the at least one of the partial ON state and the ON state, each of the plurality of pole portions are translatable relative to the housing along respective axes when the switchable magnetic flux source is in the OFF state and each includes a respective workpiece interface having a respective workpiece engagement surface;
- a plurality of biasers which bias the plurality of pole portions into an extended position relative to a lower surface of the housing;
- and
- a plurality of lock portions which fix the plurality of pole portions relative to the housing when the switchable magnetic flux source is in the ON state.
4 more elements
A magnetic coupling device for magnetically coupling to a ferromagnetic workpiece, comprising:
- a housing having a top side and a bottom side;
- a plurality of pole portions extending downward relative to the bottom side of the housing, each of the plurality of pole portions having a workpiece interface and each of the plurality of pole portions being movable relative to the housing between an extended position and at least one retracted position, each of the plurality of pole portions being biased to the extended position;
- a switchable magnetic flux source including a first permanent magnet movable relative to the housing;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to the switchable magnetic flux source to configure the switchable magnetic flux source in each of a first state wherein the switchable magnetic flux source establishes a first magnetic field strength at a first workpiece interface of a first pole portion of the plurality of pole portions and a second workpiece interface of a second pole portion of the plurality of pole portions and a second state wherein the switchable magnetic flux source establishes a second magnetic field strength at the first workpiece interface of the first pole portion of the plurality of pole portions and the second workpiece interface of the second pole portion of the plurality of pole portions, the second magnetic field strength being less than the first magnetic field strength.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.