Method and apparatus for orienting a lamination
AssigneeNidec Minster Corporation
InventorsJohnathan A. Rankin, Rohan V. Patel, David A. Schmitz
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Abstract
A method of orienting a selected item from a stack of similar items, the method comprising the steps of separating, engaging and orienting. The separating step separates the selected item from the stack using a first attraction force of a transport apparatus. The engaging step engages the selected item with a second attraction force from the transport apparatus. The second attraction force being greater than the first attraction force. The orienting step orients the selected item relative to the transport apparatus as the transport apparatus is en route to a destination location.
Claims12
A method of orienting a selected item from a stack of similar items, the method comprising the steps of:
- separating the selected item from the stack using a first attraction force of a transport apparatus;
- engaging the selected item with a second attraction force from said transport apparatus, said second attraction force being greater than said first attraction force;
- orienting the selected item relative to said transport apparatus as said transport apparatus is en route to a destination location;
- and
- disengaging said first attraction force after said engaging step and prior to said orienting step, said first attraction force is provided by at least one first magnet, said at least one first magnet being fixed in position relative to said transport apparatus, said second attraction force is provided by at least one second magnet, said orienting step includes the step of moving said at least one second magnet and the selected item relative to said at least one first magnet.
An orienting device for a selected item from a stack of similar items, the orienting device comprising:
- a transport apparatus including:
- a first attraction force apparatus;
- a second attraction force apparatus;
- and
- an orientation apparatus coupled to said second attraction force apparatus;
- an operational apparatus configured to be a destination location for the selected item and to perform at least one further operation on the selected item;
- and
- a controller configured to engage said first attraction force apparatus to separate the selected item from the stack using a first attraction force;
- said controller being further configured to additionally engage the selected item with a second attraction force from said second attraction force apparatus, said second attraction force being greater than said first attraction force, said controller being further configured to activate said orientation apparatus to orient the selected item relative to said transport apparatus as said transport apparatus is en route to said operational apparatus, said controller being further configured to disengage said first attraction force apparatus after said second attraction force is engaged and prior to engaging said orientation apparatus, said first attraction force apparatus is at least one first magnet, said at least one first magnet being fixed in position relative to said transport apparatus, said second attraction force apparatus is at least one second magnet, said orientation apparatus is configured to move said at least one second magnet and the selected item relative to said at least one first magnet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.