Magnetic Sheet Fanners, End-Of-Arm-Tooling for More Efficient, Safer Press Room Operations

In Booth A-3332, Industrial Magnetics, Inc. (IMI; Boyne City, MI) will display magnetic sheet separation fanners and magnetic end-of-arm-tooling for a wide variety of applications. Their Air Spring Magnetic Fanner (ASF) is ideal for automotive, office furniture, appliance, stamping and fabrication and features a powerful rare earth circuit to fit applications from 30 ga sheets to 3/16 in plate. An innovative On/Off indicator alerts the operator whether or not the fanner is safe to operate, transport or perform maintenance in the surrounding work cell. The ASF Series features a unique On/Off system that pushes the magnetic circuit into the “On” operating position when air pressure is present. When the air pressure is turned off, disconnected or unexpectedly interrupted, the magnetic circuit will return to “Off/Fail-Safe” mode.

The next-generation SheetSeeker™ fanner features a patented sliding mechanism that allows the powerful rare earth magnetic circuit to index down automatically as sheets are removed from the stack. By focusing the magnetic circuit right where it’s needed, the overall weight of the unit is reduced by 60 percent compared to traditional permanent fanners with the same strength. The SheetSeeker’s lightweight design features a convenient carry handle for user-friendly transport and allows safe and efficient mid-stack changeover of blanking lines.

Also on display will be Patented Transporters™ that magnetically transfer metal blanks, stampings and parts in automated station-to-station, press-to-press transfer or robotic pick-and-place applications. Engineered with powerful rare earth magnets that positively hold the part during transfer – even during unexpected loss of shop air – the Transporter family greatly reduces chances for slipping and shifting of parts due to mill oil coatings, dust, dirt, rust or weld splatter. Transporters also provide more options for pick-up points on stamped, perforated and odd-shaped parts, and they offer a significant reduction over vacuum and suction cups in shop air costs. The Original Transporter is designed for use on heavier gauge, non-flexing parts and uses a single burst of shop air to actuate the magnet. It’s available in three sizes with holding capacities up to 670 lb.

The Transporter LP allows for minimal die clearance and can be easily installed to existing air connections on tooling booms or robotic faceplates. Transporter LP magnets are designed to directly replace vacuum cups with only minor tooling adjustments. Ideal for applications in the appliance, automotive, and office furniture industries, as well as numerous other material handling applications, the Transporter LP is next-generation sheet handling technology that requires only a short, single burst of shop air to quickly release parts. It is available in three standard sizes, with the strongest unit holding up to 162 lb. Included in the LP line is the TPLP50, a 5 in low-profile Transporter that is ideal for lifting thin sheets. It is also available with a de-stacking option that features a special magnetic circuit, designed to de-stack metal sheets as thin at 0.030 in (22 ga). Each Transporter is million-cycle-tested for endurance and incorporates a fail-safe feature that prevents the magnet from releasing ferrous parts in the event of air loss.

Industrial Magnetics, Inc., 1385 M-75 South, Boyne City, MI 49712-9689, 231-582-3100, www.magnetics.com.