Magnetic handling equipment

{
  "publication_number": "US3989164A",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A",
  "title": "Magnetic handling equipment",
  "abstract": "For the handling, especially sorting, of devices which at least partly consist of a ferromagnetic material, at least one switchable electromagnet in a fixed position produces an electromagnetic field which penetrates a first steady magnetic field and is dimensioned and timely switched according to the special handling process to be performed.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An apparatus for handling devices consisting in part of a ferromagnetic material comprising: sliding means for guiding said devices; a first magnet arrangement producing a first steady inhomogeneous magnetic field whose intensity has a maximum value along the sliding means in the transporting direction and whose lines of force penetrate said sliding means generally vertically in relation to a surface of said sliding means, wherein the magnetic field of said first magnet arrangement first increases in the transporting direction of the devices and then decreases after having passed a maximum value at the end of said sliding means so that the devices will collect at one end of said sliding means; a switch; and at least one geometrically firmly arranged transporting electromagnet controlled by said switch and producing a second inhomogeneous magnetic field which overlaps said first magnetic field of said first magnet arrangement, said electromagnet capable of being switched in relation to time in such a way that said devices, when correspondingly dimensioning the magnet field and subsequent to their insertion on said sliding means, can be geometrically affected by said transporting electromagnet and wherein by weakening said second inhomogeneous magnetic field below a value necessary for pulling off additional devices, at least one device can be pulled off said end of said sliding means.",
    "2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said devices are geometrically affected by rotation.",
    "3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said devices are geometrically affected by further transportation out of the area of said apparatus, said transportation being accomplished by acceleration imparted by the electromagnet.",
    "4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said sliding means comprises two sliding surfaces arranged in a parallel spaced relation.",
    "5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first magnet arrangement comprises two permanent-magnetic plates.",
    "6. An apparatus according to claim 5 further including a plurality of transporting magnets controlled by said switch and arranged in such a way that said devices can be moved passed said transporting magnets in the transporting direction.",
    "7. An apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising at least one switchable hold magnet for producing a third inhomogeneous magnetic field and arranged in such a way with respect to said sliding means that upon energization of said hold magnet, the flow of devices will be interrupted.",
    "8. An apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising means for processing said devices while retained by said hold magnets.",
    "9. An apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising at least two rows of switchable transporting magnets; and a switching unit for controlling the time and switch-on period of said transporting magnets in such a way as to provide for acceleration of said devices in a transporting direction along one of said rows of transporting magnets.",
    "10. An apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising a plurality of rotary magnets individually capable of being switched for producing a magnetic field comprised of the overlapping of the magnetic fields of the individual rotary magnets, each controlled in such a way by time and switch-on period selection such that the devices will become geometrically aligned."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "For the handling of devices which at least partly consist of a ferromagnetic material, the use of magnetic fields results in more speedy operation and fewer wear problems than conventional mechanical systems. The invention relates generally to an apparatus for handling devices which at least partly consist of a ferromagnetic material and more particularly wherein said devices are guided by means of two sliding surfaces having a spaced parallel relation and which are penetrated by the lines of force of a magnet arrangement serving as the source of a static magnetic field. The field strength of this magnetic field has a maximum value along the sliding surfaces in the direction of transportation of the devices. Such equipment is known from the U.S. Pat. No. 3,581,889. In this conventional equipment, permanent magnets are provided as the means for transporting the devices, with the permanent magnets being mounted to the circumference of a transporting wheel coupled to a stepping motor. This requires a considerable mechanical investment and is subjected to wear.\n\nIt is an object of the present invention to provide a handling device which requires no movably guided transporting means.",
  "cpc": [
    "H01F 7/206",
    "B65G 47/24",
    "B65G 54/02",
    "H05K 13/029",
    "H10W 72/0198"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B65G 47/24",
    "B65G 54/02",
    "H01F 7/20",
    "H05K 13/02"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "ITT"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "HAGER GEORG"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1975-05-29",
  "publication_date": "1976-11-02",
  "grant_date": "1976-11-02",
  "priority_date": "1974-06-08",
  "application_number": "US-58201875-A",
  "family_id": "5917662",
  "citations": [
    "US3120890A",
    "US3263796A",
    "US3353822A",
    "US3388795A",
    "US3692168A",
    "US3741436A",
    "US3753513A"
  ]
}