US 12,343,780 B1
Sheet metal processing cell with part capture table
Kollin N. Liefer, Waterloo, IL (US); Scott McIntyre, Sparta, IL (US); and Dean C. Linders, Baldwin, IL (US)
Assigned to Red Bud Industries, Inc., Red Bud, IL (US)
Filed by Red Bud Industries, Inc., Red Bud, IL (US)
Filed on May 10, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/195,642.
Int. Cl. B21D 43/08 (2006.01); B21D 28/26 (2006.01); B65G 13/00 (2006.01); B65G 57/03 (2006.01)
CPC B21D 43/08 (2013.01) [B21D 28/26 (2013.01); B65G 13/00 (2013.01); B65G 57/03 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sheet metal processing cell comprising:
(i) a stacker, the stacker being adapted and configured to form a stack comprising a length of sheet metal, the stacker comprising:
an inlet through which the length of sheet metal is receiving in a direction of advancement through the processing cell;
a stack forming portion adapted and configured to move adjacent the inlet and receive the length of sheet metal and place the length of sheet metal in a stack;
an exit conveyor on which the stack comprising the length of sheet is positioned when forming the stack, the exit conveyor being adapted to convey the stack out of the stacker, the exit conveyor of the stacker being vertically below the stacker forming portion; and
(ii) a part capture table, the part capture table being movable between an inserted position and withdrawn area relative to the stacker, wherein when the part capture table is in the inserted position, the part capture table is positioned within a frame structure of the stacker below the stack forming portion and above the exit conveyor, wherein when the part capture table is in the withdrawn area, the part capture table is positioned outside of the frame structure of the stacker, when the part capture table is in the inserted position, the part capture table is configured to at least one of receive a captured length of sheet metal from the stack forming portion and transfer the captured length of sheet metal from the part capture table to the stack comprising the length of sheet metal positioned on the exit conveyor, the part capture table comprising a conveyor adapted and configured to convey the captured length of the sheet metal off the part capture table onto the stack when the part capture table is in the inserted position.