Attaching device, attaching arrangement and method for attaching an object to be worked to a working base

• US 9,067,290 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2011
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ixtur Oy
• Original Assignee: Ixtur Oy
• Inventors: Ntti, Reijo, Pulkkinen, Janne
• Primary Examiner(s): BARRERA, RAMON M
• Application Number:
  US13/698,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20130055551A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,497 Days
• Field of Search: 335/285, 335289-295, 269/8, 294/65.5
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/154 Stationary devices
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/1543 using electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/1546 using permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2007/208 combined with permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0226 PM with variable field strength H01F7/0284 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0273 Magnetic circuits with PM for magnetic field generation
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/064 Circuit arrangements for actuating electromagnets circuit arrangements for obtaining special operating characteristics H01F7/18; driving circuits for electromagnets making use of a switching regulator H01H47/325
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/206 Electromagnets for lifting, handling or transporting of magnetic pieces or material electromagnets for guidance of vehicles, workpieces B65G21/2009; for magnetic suspension or levitation H02N15/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49998 Work holding

Abstract

The invention relates to an attaching device, an arrangement and a method for attaching an object to be worked to a working base. The attaching device comprises: a first holder in the first end of the attaching device for attaching the attaching device to the working base or to another attaching device or to the object to be worked; a second holder in the second end of the attaching device for attaching the attaching device to the working base or to another attaching device or to the object to be worked; and a controller for controlling the holding forces produced by the first and second holders.

Claims

1. A magnet, wherein the magnet comprises

a shell and a centre, which are arranged to guide a magnetic flux to a piece to be grabbed, which centre is arranged to be mobile in relation to rest of the magnet, in order to close and open a circuit of the magnetic flux,

a permanent magnet for forming a magnetic field and thereby for keeping the centre in connection to the rest of the magnet, and

an electric magnet coil arranged at least partly around the centre for partly turning off the magnetic flux provided by the permanent magnet, when necessary,

wherein an edge of the shell meant to be in contact with the piece to be grabbed is bevelled to be thinner.

2. The magnet according to claim 1, wherein the magnet comprises one or more springs, which are arranged to mechanically detach the centre and the other parts of the magnet from each other when the magnetic flux produced by the permanent magnet weakens sufficiently due to a magnetic field produced by the electric magnet, i.e. the coil.

3. The magnet according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the centre is constricted at the part meant to be inside the coil.

4. An attaching device for attaching an object to be worked to a working base, the attaching device comprising

first holding means in the first end of the attaching device for producing a first holding force to attach the attaching device to the working base or to another attaching device or to the object to be worked, the first holding means including a first magnet;

second holding means in the second end of the attaching device for producing a second holding force to attach the attaching device to the working base or to another attaching device or to the object to be worked;

control means for controlling the holding forces produced by the first and second holding means; and

wherein the first magnet is according to claim 1.

5. The attaching device according to claim 4, wherein the second holding means is a second magnet, the second magnet comprising:

a shell and a centre, which are arranged to guide a magnetic flux to a piece to be grabbed, which centre is arranged to be mobile in relation to a rest of the second magnet, in order to close and open a circuit of the magnetic flux,

a permanent magnet for forming a magnetic field and thereby for keeping the centre in connection to the rest of the second magnet, and

an electric magnet coil arranged at least partly around the centre for partly turning off the magnetic flux provided by the permanent magnet, when necessary.

6. The attaching device according to claim 4, wherein the control means comprise an electric power source, such as a battery, and means for leading the electric current in a controlled manner from the electric power source to the first and/or the second magnet in order to control its function.

7. The attaching device according to claim 5, wherein the control means are arranged so that the first and the second magnet are separately controllable.

8. The attaching device according to claim 4, wherein the attaching device comprises a wireless receiver for receiving a control signal of the control means.

9. The attaching device according to claim 5, wherein the attaching device comprises a frame, in different ends of which the first and the second magnet are attached, and the length of which frame may be selected as desired.

10. The attaching device according to claim 5, wherein the attaching device comprises a frame, in different ends of which the first and the second magnet are attached, and that the frame is arranged to be bent in a desired position.

11. An arrangement for attaching an object to be worked to a working base, wherein the arrangement comprises

at least one attaching device according to claim 4;

a control unit for producing control signals for the first and/or the second magnets of the attaching devices; and

data transfer devices for transmitting the control signals to the control means of the attaching devices.

12. The arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the arrangement comprises a robot or a corresponding NC-programmable device, which comprises means for placing the attaching devices in desired places on the working base.

13. A method for attaching an object to be worked to a working base by an attaching device, the method comprising:

attaching an attaching device by its first end to the working base or to another attaching device or to the object to be worked, with the aid of a first holding force produced by first holding means;

attaching the attaching device by its second end to the working base or to another attaching device or to the object to be worked, with the aid of a second holding force produced by second holding means;

the method comprising using one or more attaching devices and/or an arrangement;

the one or more attaching devices comprising;

first holding means in the first end of the attaching device for producing a first holding force to attach the attaching device to the working base or to another attaching device or to the object to be worked, the first holding means including a first magnet;

second holding means in the second end of the attaching device for producing a second holding force to attach the attaching device to the working base or to another attaching device or to the object to be worked; and

control means for controlling the holding forces produced by the first and second holding means; and

the arrangement being in accordance with claim 11.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the method comprises

moving the centre in relation to rest of the magnet, in order to close and open a circuit of the magnetic flux, i.e. in order to change a state of the magnet between a holding position and an open position;

holding the centre in connection with the rest of the magnet with a magnetic field of the permanent magnet, when the circuit of the magnetic flux is closed, i.e. when the magnet is in the holding position; and

turning off the magnetic flux provided by the permanent magnet at least partly, when necessary, by producing a magnetic field with the electric magnet coil arranged around the centre, in order to change the state of the magnet to the open position.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method comprises producing a force with one or more springs, which force strives to mechanically detach the centre and the other parts of the magnet from each other when the magnetic flux produced by the permanent magnet weakens sufficiently due to the magnetic field produced by the electric magnet, i.e. the coil.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method comprises

monitoring movement of the centre in relation to the rest of the magnet with a sensor, and if movement is detected when the magnet is in the holding position, the holding force of the magnet is increased by giving more electric current to the electric magnet coil.

17. The use of an attaching device according to claim 4 under water.