Method for removing a substantially planar work piece from the top of a stack of work pieces

摘要

A method for removing a substantially planar work piece (11) from the top of a stack (10) of work pieces comprises the steps of gripping the work piece (11) on a top surface of the work piece, lifting the gripped work piece, pre-separating the work piece from the stack by introducing a separator element (43) in between the lifted work piece and a neighboring work piece underneath the lifted work piece (11) and gripping and removing the pre-separated work piece (11) by a transport device. An apparatus for carrying out the method comprises a gripper (33) for gripping the work piece (11), the gripper (33) being movable in a vertical direction for lifting the gripped work piece (11), a separator element (43) being movable in a horizontal direction to be introduced in between the lifted work piece (11) and a neighboring work piece underneath the lifted work piece (11) and a transport device for gripping and removing the pre-separated work piece (11). The method and apparatus allow for fast and reliable removal of substantially planar work pieces from the top of a stack.

主权项

1. A method for removing a substantially planar, non-ferromagnetic metal sheet from the top of a stack of metal sheets, comprising the steps of
a) gripping the metal sheet on a top surface of the metal sheet, using a gripper; b) lifting the gripped metal sheet; c) pre-separating the metal sheet from the stack by introducing a separator element in between the lifted metal sheet and a neighboring metal sheet underneath the lifted work piece; d) gripping and removing the pre-separated metal sheet by a transport device wherein the metal sheet is gripped by the transport device when it is at least partially supported by the separator element,
wherein the gripper is removed from the metal sheet after having introduced the separator element and prior to the approach of gripping elements of the transport device toward the metal sheet; and e) wherein the steps of (a) gripping and (b) lifting the metal sheet and (c) introducing the separator element are performed during removal of a preceding metal sheet by the transport device.