Back to results
US 4,804,173 AGranted
Method and apparatus for moving individual sheets from a stack of sheets
AssigneeRoberts Corporation
InventorsKenneth J. Pol, James F. Foster, Jack D. Gyger, Lawrence P. Hyland
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A measuring device (60) measures the value (t) of a chosen parameter (thickness) of what has been lifted by a lifting assembly (40) from a stack of sheets (1) of material and allows the lifted material to be moved from the stack when the value is in a predetermined relationship to a reference value (T). One (45a) of a plurality of selectively releasable members (45) on the lifting assembly (40) is moveable in two horizontal directions to locate a sheet attached to the one releaseable members (45a) against locating pins (5, 6) on the work table (3) of the punch press (4). The entire system may be operated automatically by a controller (90).
Claims32
A method of lifting and moving individual sheets (1) from a stack of sheets said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a work processing table for a punch press onto which sheets are to be placed for processing by said punch press:
- generating a first signal (T) that is a function of a predetermined value of the thickness of a single sheet;
- lifting the top sheet (1) from the stck of sheets;
- measuring the value of the thickness of what has been lifted and generating a second signal (t) that is a function of said measured value;
- comparing the first signal (T) to the second signal (t) that is a function of said measured value;
- comparing the first signal (T) to the second signal (t);
- generating a third signal when the values of the first (T) and second (t) signals are in a predetermined relationship to each other including that only one sheet has been lifted;
- moving the lift sheet (1) to the punch press table (3) in response to said third signal;
- applying a first force in a first horizontal direction to the sheet (1) placed on the work table (3) to move the sheet (1) in said first horizontal direction against at least one locating pin (5) on the work table (3) and applying a second force to the sheet (1) in a second horizontal direction to move the sheet (11) against another locating pin (6) on the work table (3) before releasing the sheet.
6 more elements
An apparatus for lifting and moving individual sheets (1) frm a stack of sheets onto a work processing table (3) of a punch press (4), characterized by:
- a lifting assembly (40) comprising:
- a plurality of means (45) releasably attachable to the upper surface of the top sheet (1) on said stack of sheets;
- and
- means supporting (43) and for moving (41, 42) said plurality of attachable means (45) up and down;
- means (10,20) for moving the lifting assembly (40) between the stack of sheets (1) and the work processing table (3) of the punch press (4);
- means (60) for measuring the thickness (t) of what has been lifted by said attachable means (45);
- means (91) for comparing the measured thickness (t) of what has been lifted by said attaching means (45) to a predetermined reference parameter (T) and allowing said means for moving the lifting assembly (10,20) to move the lifting assembly (4) from the stack of sheets (1) to the work processing table (3) of the punch press (4) when the measured thickness (5) of what has been lifted is in a predetermined relationship to the reference parameter (T);
- and
- means (50) for moving one (45a) of said attachable means (45) in at least one horizontal direction relative to said means (43) supporting said plurality of attachable means (45) in a plane and for moving said one attachable means (45a) in a vertical direction relative to said supporting means (43) and to the other attachable means (45).
6 more elements
An apparatus for locating sheets (1), characterized by:
- a plurality of means (45) releasably attachable to a sheet (1) of material and including a plurality of pneumatically operated suction cups;
- means (43) supporting said plurality of attachable means (45) in a plane;
- and
- means (50) for moving one (45a) of said attachable means (45) in first and second horizontal directions relative to said means (43) supporting said plurality of attachable means (45) in a plane and for moving said one attachable means (45a) in a vertical direction relative to said supporting means (43) and to the other attachable means (45).
1 more element
An apparatus for moving individual sheets (1) from a stack of sheets onto a work processing table (3) of a punch press (4), the apparatus comprising:
- a frame (10);
- a carriage (20);
- means (21) mounting the carriage to the frame (10) and for moving the carriage (20) between the stack of sheets (1) and the work processing table (3) of the punch press (4);
- and
- a lifting assembly (40) comprising:
- a plurality of horizontal members (43);
- a vertical member (41);
- means (42) connecting said vertical member (41) to said carriage and said horizontal members (43) and for moving said horizontal members (43) in a vertical direction;
- a plurality of means (45) for attaching to a sheet (1) on said stack of sheets;
- means (47) mounting each of said attaching means (45) to respective horizontal members (43);
- means (50) for moving at least one of said attaching means (45a) in at least one horizontal direction relative to said horizontal members (43);
- means (60) for measuring the thickness of a sheet (1) lifted by said attaching means (45);
- means (70) mounting said measuring means (60) to said lifting assembly;
- and
- means (90, 91) for comparing the thickness (t) of a sheet (1) picked up by said attaching means (45) to a predetermined reference thickness (T) and allowing said carriage (20) to move from the stack of sheets to the work processing table (3) of the punch press (4) when the measured thickness (t) of the sheet (1) picked up is in a predetermined relationship to said reference thickness (T).
12 more elements
An apparatus for moving individual sheets (1) from a stack of sheets onto a work processing table (3) of a punch press (4), the apparatus comprising:
- a frame (10);
- a carriage (20);
- means (21) mounting the carriage to the frame (1) and for moving the carriage (20) between the stack of sheets (1) and the work processing table (3) of the punch press (4);
- and
- a lifting assembly (40) comprising:
- a plurality of horizontal members (43);
- a vertical member (41);
- means (42) connecting said vertical member (41) to said carriage and said horizontal members (43) and for moving said horizontal members (43) in a vertical direction;
- a plurality of means (45) for attaching to a sheet (1) on said stack of sheets;
- means (47) mounting each of said attaching means (45) to respective horizontal members (43);
- means (50) for moving at least one of said attaching means (45a) in at least one horizontal direction relative to said horizontal means (43) and for moving said one attachable means (45a) in a vertical direction relative to said supporting means (43) and to the other attachable means (45).
- means for generating a signal (w) that is a function of the weight of what has been lifted by said attaching means (45);
- and
- means (90, 91) for comparing the weight (w) of what has been lifted by said attaching means (45) to a predetermined reference weight (W) and allowing said carriage (20) to move from the stack of sheet to the work processing table (3) at the punch press (4) when the weight (w) of what has been lifted is in a predetermined relationship to said reference weight (W).
11 more elements
A method for lifting and moving individual sheets (1) from a stack of sheets, comrising the steps of:
- (A) releasably attaching a plurality of holding members (45) to the top sheet (1) of the stack of sheets;
- (B) lifting said top sheet (1) by lifting all of said holding members (45);
- (C) moving said top sheet (1) horizontally away from said stack of sheets to a first preselected position by moving all of said holding members (45) horizontally;
- (D) then releasing only certain of said holding members (45) from said top sheet (1) and continuing to hold said top sheet (1) with one (45a) of said holding members;
- (E) then, moving said top sheet (1) horizontally to a second preselected position by moving said one holding member (45a) horizontally in either of two horizontal directions relative to said certain holding members (45).
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.