Cover Member for a Storing Means for Stacked Flat Elements

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cover member for a storing means, a respective storing means and a gripping system, comprising said storing means. Further, the present invention relates to a method for gripping and separating stacked flat elements. The cover member is adapted for being installed on a top side of a storing means for storing a stack of multiple flat elements 100 having a predefined size. The cover member 1 defines a first opening 13 having a rim portion 13a, 13b, wherein the first opening 13 is adapted to be associated with at least one gripping unit 30, so that the gripping unit 30 can access the storing means for gripping and removing a flat element 102 through the first opening 13, when the cover member 1 is installed on the top side of the storing means 10. The first opening is sized so that a gripped flat element 102 abuts the rim portion 13a, 13b when being removed through the first opening 13 from the storing means, so as to be bend and separated from an underlying flat element 104.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A cover member adapted for being installed on a top side of a storing means for storing a stack of multiple flat elements having a predefined size, the cover member comprising a first opening having a rim portion, wherein the first opening is adapted to be associated with at least one gripping unit, so that the gripping unit is able to access the storing means for gripping and removing a flat element through the first opening, when the cover member is installed on the top side of the storing means, wherein the first opening is sized so that a gripped flat element abuts the rim portion when being removed through the first opening from the storing means, so as to bend and be separated from an underlying flat element.

17. The cover member according to claim 16, comprising at least two separation bars, wherein the separation bars define the first opening at least partially, and wherein the rim portion is provided on the separation bars.

18. The cover member according to claim 16, wherein the first opening is arranged in a center portion of the cover member so that the at least one associated gripping unit is adapted to grip the flat element centrally, when the cover member is installed on the top side of the storing means.

19. The cover member according to claim 16, wherein the rim portion comprises a rounded edge that is adapted to abut the gripped flat element, wherein the rounded edge is optionally formed on a protector element that forms the rim portion of first opening at least partially.

20. The cover member according to claim 19, wherein the cover member further comprises second and/or third openings adapted to be associated with a second gripping unit, so that the second gripping unit can access the storing means through the second and/or third openings, when the cover member is installed on the top side of the storing means.

21. A storing means for storing a stack of multiple flat elements having a predefined size, the storing means being further adapted for being accessible by a gripping unit, wherein the storing means comprises a cover member according to claim 1, defining a first opening having a rim portion, wherein the first opening is adapted to be associated with at least one gripping unit, so that the gripping unit is able to access the storing means for gripping and removing a flat element through the first opening, wherein the first opening is sized so that a gripped flat element abuts the rim portion, when being removed through the first opening from the storing means, so as to bend and be separated from an underlying flat element.

22. The storing means according to claim 21, further comprising a blower connection member, that is adapted to connect the storing means with a blower to provide a lateral air flow on the stack of multiple flat elements, so that a separating air flow is established at least between a top flat element and an underlying flat element of the stack of multiple flat elements.

23. The storing means according to claim 22, wherein the storing means comprises a sidewall including at least one groove that is in communication with the blower connection member.

24. The storing means according to claim 23, wherein the at least one groove extends in a stack direction (z) of the stack of multiple flat elements.

25. A gripping system for stacked flat elements, wherein the gripping system comprises: a storing means according to claim 21, and at least one gripping unit that is associated with the first opening of the cover member of the storing means, wherein the at least one gripping unit is adapted to grip a flat element from a stored stack of multiple flat elements and to remove the gripped flat element through the first opening, so that the gripped flat element abuts the rim portion of the first opening when being removed through the first opening from the storing means, so as to be bend and separated from an underlying flat element.

26. The gripping system according to claim 25, wherein the gripping unit comprises at least one gripping device being a vacuum gripper.

27. The gripping system according to claim 26, wherein the gripping unit comprises multiple vacuum grippers being arranged in a row.

28. The gripping system according to claim 25, wherein the at least one gripping unit is a first gripping unit, and wherein the gripping system further comprises a second gripping unit that is adapted to grip a gripped flat element after being removed through the first opening.

29. The gripping system according to claim 28, wherein the second gripping unit is adapted to hold the gripped flat element in a gripping plane, wherein the gripping plane may be substantially horizontal.

30. The gripping system according to claim 38, wherein the first gripping unit and the second gripping unit are able to be moved in the stack direction (z) of the stack of multiple flat elements.

31. The gripping system according to claim 30, wherein the first gripping unit is able to be moved independently of the second gripping unit in the stack direction (z) of the stack of multiple flat elements.

32. A method for gripping and separating stacked flat elements, the method comprising the steps of: providing a gripping system according to claim 25; storing a stack of multiple flat elements in a storing means of the gripping system; gripping a flat element through the first opening, using the first gripping unit; removing the gripped flat element through the first opening, thereby bending the gripped flat element due to abutment with the rim portion of the first opening, so as to separate the gripped flat element from an underlying flat element.

33. The method according to claim 32, further comprising laterally blowing, using a blower, on the stack of multiple flat elements, and establishing a separating air flow at least between a top flat element and an underlying flat element of the stack of multiple flat elements.

34. The method according to claim 32, further comprising gripping the flat element after being removed through the first opening using the second gripping unit.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein the second gripping unit is set to an inactive state, while the first gripping unit grips and removes a flat element through the first opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0045] In the following, the accompanying figures which show embodiments of the present invention are briefly described:

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a gripping system, in an initial state.

[0047] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a gripping system, during gripping.

[0048] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a gripping system, with a gripped flat element.

[0049] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a gripping system, with a gripped bend flat element.

[0050] FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of a gripping system, with a removed gripped flat element.

[0051] FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of a gripping system, with a gripped flat element, being gripped by the first and the second gripping unit.

[0052] FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration of a top view of a gripping system.

[0053] FIG. 8 shows a schematic illustration of a top view of a storing means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0054] FIGS. 1 to 6 show a schematic illustration of a gripping system 1 in different operation states. The gripping system 1000 comprises a storing means 10 for storing a stack 100 of stacked flat elements 102, 104 and optionally a blower 20. Further, the gripping system 1000 comprises a first gripping unit 30 and a second gripping unit 40, 50. Each gripping unit 30, 40, 50 may comprise (multiple) gripping devices 32, 42, 52 that may be provided as vacuum grippers. The first gripping unit 30 is adapted to initially grip a flat element 102 from the stored stack 100 of multiple flat elements, stored in the storing means 10.

[0055] The storing means 10 comprises a cover member 1 that is installed on a top side of the storing means 10. The cover member 1 defines a first opening 13 having a rim portion 13a, 13b, wherein the first opening 13 is associated with at least one gripping unit 30. The gripping unit 30 can access the storing means 10 for gripping and removing a flat element 102 through the first opening 13. Further, the first opening 13 is sized so that a gripped flat element 102 abuts the rim portion when being removed through the first opening 13 from the storing means 10, so as to be bend and separated from an underlying flat element 104, as will be described in greater detail with respect to FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0056] The second gripping unit 40, 50 is adapted to grip a gripped flat element 102 after being removed through a first opening 13 of the storing means 10. The second gripping unit 40, 50 is optionally adapted to hold the gripped flat element 102 in a gripping plane that may be substantially horizontal (cf. FIG. 6).

[0057] The blower 20 is adapted to blow laterally on the stack of multiple flat elements 100, so that a separating air flow is established at least between a top flat element 102 and an underlying flat element 104 of the stack of multiple flat elements 100. The blower 20 is connected with the storing means by means of a blower connection member 11. Further, the storing means 10 and/or the cover member 1 may comprise a sidewall including at least one groove 16. Said groove 16 is in communication with the blower connection member 11 and therefor with the blower 20. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the at least one groove 16 extends in a stack direction z of the stack 100 of multiple flat elements.

[0058] In FIG. 1, the gripping system 1000 is shown in an initial state. The first gripping unit 30 and the second gripping unit 40, 50 are positioned outside the storing means 10, which stores a stack 100 of stacked flat elements 102, 104. The first gripping unit 30 and the second gripping unit 40, 50 are inactive.

[0059] In FIG. 2, the gripping system 1000 is shown during initial gripping. The first gripping unit 30 has entered the storing means 10 via the associated first opening 13 of the cover member 1. Likewise, the second gripping unit 40, 50 may enter the storing means 10 via associated second and third openings 14, 15 of the cover member 1. During the initial gripping, the first gripping unit 30 is active and grips the top stacked flat element 102 centrally. The second gripping unit 40, 50 may either be inactive (as shown) or may be operated in a blower mode, so as to provide an air flow that is directed onto the surface of the top stacked flat element 102 (not shown). Alternatively, the second gripping unit 40, 50 may not enter the storing means 10, but may be installed outside the storing means 10 (not shown). The blower 20 may move the stacked flat elements within the storing means 10 and/or may cause a separating air flow between adjacent stacked flat elements 102, 104.

[0060] In FIG. 3, the gripping system 1000 is shown with an initially gripped flat element 102, wherein the flat element 102 is gripped by a gripping device 32, such as a vacuum gripper, of the first gripping unit 30. In this state, the first gripping unit 30 is partially retracted from the storing means 10. As the gripped flat element 102 is gripped only by the first gripping unit 30, an initial bending of the gripped flat element 102 may occur.

[0061] This initial bending is increased in the state shown in FIG. 4. Here, the first gripping unit 30 is further retracted from the storing means 10. The first opening 13 of the cover member 1 is sized so that the gripped flat element 102 abuts the rim portion 13a, 13b when being removed through the first opening 13 from the storing means 10. Said abutting increases the bending and leads to a separation of the gripped flat element 102 from the underlying flat element 104.

[0062] In case the first gripping unit 30 unintentionally gripped initially multiple flat elements (not shown), those elements are bend with different bending radii, leading to a gap between the gripped multiple flat elements. A separating air flow can enter said gap, and thus, the gripped top flat element 102 is separated from the underlying unintentionally gripped flat element(s) 104.

[0063] In FIG. 5, the gripping system 1000 is shown with an initially gripped flat element 102, wherein the gripped flat element 102 is separated and removed from the storing means 10. In this state, the second gripping unit 40, 50 may become active (switched to gripping/suction mode). Thereby, the initially gripped flat element 102 is additionally gripped by the second gripping unit 40, 50, as shown in FIG. 6. Here, the gripped flat element 102 is gripped and held in a gripping plane and can be provided to a further processing unit.

[0064] FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration of a top view of a gripping system 1000, particularly of a storing means 10. In this embodiment, the storing means 10 comprises one first opening 13 with rim portions 13a, 13b. The first opening is sized so that a gripped flat element abuts the rim portions 13a, 13b when being removed through the first opening 13 from the storing means 10. The rim portions 13a, 13b of the first opening 13 may be arranged in parallel and spaced from each other in a distance x, wherein the distance x of the rim portions 13a, 13b of the first opening 13 may be adjustable, so as to adapt the first opening 13 to the dimensions of the stored flat elements. Particularly, the rim portions 13a, 13b of the first opening 13 can be provided on respective separation bars (not shown) that form the first opening at least partially.

[0065] Said first opening 13 is associated with the first gripping unit 30, which comprises multiple gripping devices 32, 32′, 32″, being vacuum grippers. Said vacuum grippers are arranged in a row.

[0066] Further, the storing means 10 includes multiple second openings 14, 14′ and 14″ and multiple third openings 15, 15′ and 15″. The second openings 14, 14′ and 14″ are associated with the second gripping unit, particularly with multiple gripping devices 42, 42′, 42″, being vacuum grippers, of the second gripping unit 40. The gripping devices 42, 42′, 42″ are arranged in a first row of gripping devices of the second gripping unit 40. Further, the third openings 15, 15′ and 15″ are associated with the second gripping unit 50, particularly with multiple gripping devices 52, 52′, 52″, being vacuum grippers, of the second gripping unit. The gripping devices 52, 52′, 52″ are arranged in a second row of gripping devices of the second gripping unit 50. The first and second row of gripping devices of the second gripping unit 40, 50 sandwich the row of gripping devices 32, 32′, 32″ of the first gripping unit 30.

[0067] The design of the first, second and third openings 13, 14 and 15 is not limited to the design shown in FIG. 7. Alternatively, only one second and third opening 14 and 15 may be provided, wherein first, second and third openings 13, 14 and 15 may be separated from each other by separation bars of the storing means 10.

[0068] FIG. 8 shows a schematic illustration of a top view of a storing means 10*. In this embodiment, the storing means 10* comprises one first opening 13* with rim portions 13a*, 13b*. The first opening 13* is sized so that a gripped flat element abuts the rim portions 13a*, 13b* when being removed through the first opening 13* from the storing means 10*. The rim portions 13a*, 13b* of the first opening 13* are arranged in parallel and spaced from each other in a distance x, wherein the distance x of the rim portions 13a*, 13b* of the first opening 13* may be adjustable, so as to adapt the first opening 13* to the dimensions of the stored flat elements. Particularly, the rim portions 13a*, 13b* of the first opening 13* are provided on separation bars 2a, 2b that form the first opening 13* at least partially. In the embodiment shown, the cover member is substantial formed by the separation bars 2a, 2b, which are installed on top of the storing means 10*. The separation bars 2a, 2b divide a top side of the storing means 10* in to a first opening 13*, a second opening 14* and a third opening 15*.

[0069] Having now fully described the present invention in some detail by way of illustration and examples for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the same can be performed by modifying or changing the invention within a wide and equivalent range of conditions, formulations and other parameters without affecting the scope of the invention or any specific embodiment thereof, and that such modifications or changes are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the appended claims.

[0070] As used herein, “comprising” is synonymous with “including,” “containing,” or “characterized by,” and is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps. As used herein, “consisting of” excludes any element, step, or ingredient not specified in the claim element. As used herein, “consisting essentially of” does not exclude materials or steps that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claim. Any recitation herein of the term “comprising”, particularly in a description of components of a composition or in a description of elements of a device, is understood to encompass those compositions and methods consisting essentially of and consisting of the recited components or elements.

[0071] One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that starting materials, device elements, analytical methods, mixtures and combinations of components other than those specifically exemplified can be employed in the practice of the invention without resort to undue experimentation. All art-known functional equivalents, of any such materials and methods are intended to be included in this invention. The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention that in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. The invention illustratively described herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element or elements, limitation or limitations which is not specifically disclosed herein. Headings are used herein for convenience only.

[0072] All publications referred to herein are incorporated herein to the extent not inconsistent herewith. Some references provided herein are incorporated by reference to provide details of additional uses of the invention. All patents and publications mentioned in the specification are indicative of the levels of skill of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. References cited herein are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety to indicate the state of the art as of their filing date and it is intended that this information can be employed herein, if needed, to exclude specific embodiments that are in the prior art.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0073] 1 cover member [0074] 2a, 2b separation bar [0075] 10 storing means [0076] 11 blower connection member [0077] 13 first opening [0078] 13a rim portion [0079] 13b rim portion [0080] 14 second opening [0081] 15 third opening [0082] 16 groove [0083] 20 blower [0084] 30 first gripping unit [0085] 32 gripping device [0086] 40, 50 second gripping unit [0087] 42, 52 gripping device [0088] 100 stack of flat elements [0089] 102 flat element [0090] 104 flat element [0091] 1000 gripping system [0092] z stack direction [0093] x distance between rim portions [0094] l first dimension of flat element