Magnetic sheet stacker selects and stacks plate

A Goudsmit Magnetics Groep product story

Edited by the Manufacturingtalk editorial team Jul 7, 2003

A magnetic sheet-stacker has provided a Dutch steel plate stockholder an efficient solution for picking different plate sizes and thicknesses and stacking them onto one pallet.

The magnetic sheet-stacker that was recently developed by Goudsmit Magnetic Systems has provided a Dutch wholesale company that works with steel plate and related products an efficient solution for supplying orders.

The customers of the wholesaler wanted to be supplied with no more than a specific amount (weight) per pallet.

The recently developed sheet-stacker does this and can pick an order containing steel sheets of different dimensions and thicknesses for one pallet automatically.

The sheets are separated and lifted using dispersion and grab head magnets.

The system has reduced the cycle time for stacking a 3-metre long sheet to approximately 30 seconds.

Performing the same operation manually takes at least 5 minutes and also requires two workers.

Supply and collection station - the system contains three pallet positions.

The left and right positions are supply stations; the central position is the collection station.

A sheet separator pulls stacked steel sheets apart and then a manipulator arm picks the sheets up from the supply stations and places them on the collection station.

The automatic control system indicates how many steel sheets the machine has to collect.

The manipulator arm picks up the sheets and places them neatly in the middle of the central collection position.

To do this, the manipulator arm is fitted with grab head magnets that grip the steel sheets safely one by one.

The system can process steel sheets with minimum dimensions of 2,000 x 1,000 x 0.75mm and maximum dimensions of 3000 x 1500 x 6mm weighing 216kg.

Firm grip - the switchable permanent magnetic grab heads hold steel sheets firmly even if there is a drop in air pressure or if the control system malfunctions.

The system has sheet separators that can be switched on and off fitted in the supply stations that ensure that the topmost steel sheet can be picked up quickly and easily.