Destacker Tooling Design Feeds Aluminum and Steel Blanks

Bilsing Automation North America (Clinton Township, MI) applied its pressroom tooling expertise to the development of a flexible destacking solution that can successfully separate and feed both steel and aluminum blanks in various sizes and configurations. The solution was designed and engineered for flexibility where the end effector can handle multiple parts. It is comprised of the company’s 2.5 in diameter aluminum round-body tooling and other components.

Whereas traditional steel blank destacking systems rely on magnetic holders for separating the blanks before lifting and transfer, aluminum has no magnetic qualities. Typical aluminum destacker systems employ peel cylinders to lift the corners of the blank with air knives that shoot air in that space to break the vacuum. Another issue is that lubrication on the blanks acts like a glue-agent, causing the blanks to stick together.

To overcome these issues, field data was compiled for strategic placement of the peel cylinders in its design. During a cycle, the automation lowers so that the peeler suction cups are all level, with the front cups being spring-loaded and programmed to fire just slightly prior to the other cups. The air knives then fire to help peel back the top sheet – breaking the vacuum, which assists in separating the blanks.

This solution was originally developed for a customer that wanted to bring components of varying materials running on three different lines to a single press line. Whereas other suppliers had struggled to solve the issue, Bilsing successfully developed a flexible solution that can handle different materials and sheet sizes.

An overview of various tooling, clamping and vacuum products from Bilsing.

The company also offers Carbon Fiber (CF) Master Booms that meet dimensional specification and standards as set by General Motors for its World Tool Boom. In independent laboratory tests comparing steel, aluminum, and carbon fiber booms tested to 1,000,000 cycles with approximately 350 lb force of tension and compression loaded, Carbon Fiber Master Booms proved to be lighter and more robust than aluminum yet stronger than steel booms of the same size.

The company has proven success in replacing traditional aluminum or steel structures in a variety of applications with carbon fiber tools that meet dimensional and performance specification requirements as defined by various OEM or governing organization standards and offers a wide variety of CF profiles, including customized profiles for specific applications.

Bilsing Automation North America is a subsidiary of Bilsing Automation GmbH (Attendorn, Germany), a global leader in the development and manufacturing of modular tooling systems for the pressroom, body shop and plastic molding applications in the automotive, food, packaging and glass industries. The company is focused on providing optimum product performance that results in cost reductions, supporting the customer through planning, design, engineering, assembly and commissioning.  Bilsing Automation also offers 3D digital simulation and on-site training as part of its service offerings.

Bilsing Automation North America, 22287 Starks Drive, Clinton Township, MI 48036, 586-463-0686, info.na@bilsing-automation.com, www.bilsing-automation.com.