Ford Motor Company
EDDY CURRENT SEPARATION OF BLANKS FOR THE AUTOMATED DESTACKING OF ALUMINUM SHEET

Abstract:

A method of separating blanks from a stack includes positioning a magnetic field generator in a fixed location proximate a peripheral edge of an upper portion of the stack, activating the magnetic field generator such that eddy currents are generated and result in a force vector in a direction away from a top-most blank of the stack, and pushing a blank, or multiple blanks, immediately below the top-most blank away from the top-most blank by the eddy currents.