US 12,134,118 B2
Workpiece transport unit, hot pressing equipment, workpiece transport method, and hot pressing method
Naruhiko Nomura, Tokyo (JP); Toshiya Suzuki, Tokyo (JP); and Kenta Uenishi, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Appl. No. 17/602,782
Filed by NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
PCT Filed May 29, 2020, PCT No. PCT/JP2020/021436
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 11, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/246396, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 10, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-104321 (JP), filed on Jun. 4, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0152685 A1, May 19, 2022
Int. Cl. B25J 15/00 (2006.01); B21D 22/20 (2006.01); B21D 28/02 (2006.01); B21D 37/16 (2006.01); B21D 43/02 (2006.01); B21D 43/08 (2006.01); B21D 43/10 (2006.01); B23Q 7/14 (2006.01); B25J 15/08 (2006.01); B65G 47/90 (2006.01); C21D 1/34 (2006.01)
CPC B21D 43/105 (2013.01) [B21D 22/208 (2013.01); B21D 28/02 (2013.01); B21D 37/16 (2013.01); B21D 43/026 (2013.01); B21D 43/08 (2013.01); B23Q 7/1494 (2013.01); B25J 15/08 (2013.01); B65G 47/90 (2013.01); C21D 1/34 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A workpiece transport unit, comprising:
a pair of arms;
an opening/closing mechanism configured to open and close the pair of arms in a horizontal direction;
a pair of first placement surfaces provided at the pair of arms and configured for a first workpiece to be placed thereon; and
a pair of second placement surfaces provided at the pair of arms and configured for a second workpiece to be placed thereon, wherein:
a width of the second workpiece is narrower than a width of the first workpiece,
the workpiece transport unit further comprises, at the pair of arms, a pair of first hooks and a pair of second hooks,
the pair of first hooks include the pair of first placement surfaces,
the pair of second hooks include the pair of second placement surfaces,
when the pair of arms are in a closed state, each of the pair of first hooks and each of the pair of second hooks extend toward a side of an opposing arm of the pair of arms, which oppose each other in the horizontal direction,
the pair of first hooks are respectively provided between leading end portions and base end portions of the pair of arms,
the pair of second hooks are respectively provided at the leading end portions of the pair of arms, and
when the pair of arms are in a closed state, an interval between leading ends of the pair of first hooks is wider than an interval between leading ends of the pair of second hooks.