Magnetic coupling device

The magnetic coupling device of claim 1, wherein the first subset of the plurality of permanent magnets is interposed between the first subset of the plurality of pole portions.

The magnetic coupling device of claim 2, wherein the second subset of the plurality of permanent magnets is interposed between the second subset of the plurality of pole portions.

The magnetic coupling device of claim 1, wherein each of the first subset of the plurality of permanent magnets, first subset of the plurality of pole portions, second subset of the plurality of permanent magnets, and second subset of the plurality of pole portions is moveable toward the upper end of the housing to a third position relative to the plurality of workpiece interfaces and above both the first position and the second position to generate a third magnetic field through at least one workpiece interface of the plurality of workpiece interfaces whereby the at least one ferromagnetic workpiece is decoupled from the plurality of workpiece interfaces.

The magnetic coupling device of claim 4, further comprising a ferrous piece supported by the housing and positioned adjacent the upper end of the housing, wherein in the third position the plurality of permanent magnets generate a magnetic field through the ferrous piece.

The magnetic coupling device of claim 1, further comprising an arresting member operable to maintain a position of the first subset of the plurality of permanent magnets and the first subset of the plurality of pole portions relative to the housing.

The magnetic coupling device of claim 6, further comprising an actuator operably coupled to the first subset of the plurality of permanent magnets and the first subset of the plurality of pole portions to move the first subset of the plurality of permanent magnets and the first subset of the plurality of pole portions relative to the housing.

The magnetic coupling device of claim 7, wherein the arresting member is operably coupled to the actuator.

The magnetic coupling device of claim 8, wherein the arresting member is a brake.

The magnetic coupling device of claim 6, further comprising an actuator operably coupled to the second subset of the plurality of permanent magnets and the second subset of the plurality of pole portions to move the second subset of the plurality of permanent magnets and the second subset of the plurality of pole portions relative to the housing

The magnetic coupling device of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor supported by the housing, the sensor operable to measure a characteristic of the magnetic coupling device.

The magnetic coupling device of claim 11, wherein the at least one sensor is a magnetic flux sensor.

The magnetic coupling device of claim 1, wherein the at least one ferromagnetic workpiece includes a first ferromagnetic workpiece and a second ferromagnetic workpiece stacked below the first ferromagnetic workpiece along the vertical axis, and the first magnetic field is operable to extend substantially through the first ferromagnetic workpiece but substantially not through the second ferromagnetic workpiece such that the first ferromagnetic workpiece is magnetically coupled to the first subset of the plurality of workpiece interfaces with a sufficient strength to and destack the first ferromagnetic workpiece from the second ferromagnetic workpiece.

The magnetic coupling device of claim 13, wherein the second magnetic field is operable to extend substantially through each of the first ferromagnetic workpiece and the second ferromagnetic workpiece such that the first ferromagnetic workpiece and the second ferromagnetic workpiece are magnetically coupled to the second subset of the plurality of workpiece interfaces with a sufficient strength to destack both the first ferromagnetic workpiece and the second ferromagnetic workpiece together.

The magnetic coupling device of claim 1, wherein the first subset of the plurality of permanent magnets, the first subset of the plurality of pole portions, the second subset of the plurality of permanent magnets, and the second subset of the plurality of pole portions are movable along the vertical axis together.

The magnetic coupling device of claim 1, wherein the first subset of the plurality of permanent magnets, the first subset of the plurality of pole portions, the second subset of the plurality of permanent magnets, and the second subset of the plurality of pole portions are part of a platter.

The magnetic coupling device of claim 1, wherein when the first subset of the plurality of permanent magnets and the first subset of the plurality of pole portions are in the first position relative to the plurality of workpiece interfaces the second subset of the plurality of permanent magnets and the second subset of the plurality of pole portions are also in the first position relative to the plurality of workpiece interfaces.

The magnetic coupling device of claim 1, wherein when the second subset of the plurality of permanent magnets and the second subset of the plurality of pole portions are in the second position relative to the plurality of workpiece interfaces the first subset of the plurality of permanent magnets and the first subset of the plurality of pole portions are also in the second position relative to the plurality of workpiece interfaces.