Device for picking up, depositing and transporting thin metal foils by means of a vacuum lifting device

Claim 1

A system for picking up, depositing, and transporting thin foils, comprising: (a) a transport frame having a flat support frame and foil clamps; (b) a vacuum pick-up device; (c) traversing means for conveying the vacuum pick-up device from a foil receiving station to a foil depositing station; (d) a frame guide rail supporting said transport frame at the depositing station; (e) means for positioning the vacuum pick-up device over a central region of a foil to be picked up so that the foil is suspended in curved form when picked up by its central region; (f) said vacuum pick-up device comprising a suction body means which is vertically movably secured to said traversing means and is connected to a vacuum line, the suction body means being surrounded by a foil curver which is likewise vertically movably secured to said traversing means, and said suction body means picking up the foil at its central region at the receiving station; (g) means for raising and lowering the vacuum lifting device; (h) means for opening and closing the transport frame foil clamps at the depositing station; and (i) said foil clamps being positioned on sides of the transport frame and being spaced from one another a sufficient distance to permit edges of the foil suspended in a curved form to slip thereunder when the foil is lowered onto the transport frame with the clamps in an open position whereby the foil reassumes a flat elongated position as it is lowered onto the transport frame and is locked in position when the clamps close.

Claim 2

A system for picking up, depositing, and transporting thin foils, comprising: (a) a transport frame having a flat support frame and foil clamps; (b) a vacuum pick-up device; (c) traversing means for conveying the vacuum pick-up device from a foil receiving station to a foil depositing station; (d) a frame guide rail supporting said transport frame at the depositing station; (e) means for positioning the vacuum pick-up device over a central region of a foil to be picked up so that the foil is suspended in curved form when picked up by its central region; (f) said vacuum pick-up device comprising a suction body means which is vertically movably secured to said traversing means and is connected to a vacuum line, the suction body means being surrounded by a foil curver which is likewise vertically movably secured to said traversing means, and said suction body means picking up the foil at its central region at the receiving station; (g) means for raising and lowering the vacuum lifting device; (h) means for opening and closing the transport frame foil clamps at the depositing station; and (i) said foil clamps being positioned on sides of the transport frame and being spaced from one another a sufficient distance to permit edges of the foil suspended in a curved form to slip thereunder when the foil is lowered onto the transport frame with the clamps in an open position whereby the foil reassumes a flat elongated position as it is lowered onto the transport frame and is locked in position when the clamps close.

Claim 9

A system for picking up, depositing, and transporting thin foils to a foil processing station, comprising: (a) a foil receiving station comprising a planar surface with a foil to be picked up resting thereon; (b) a vertically movable vacuum lifting device means for positioning over a central region of the foil to be picked up and for suspension of the foil from said central region by suction, edges of the thin suspended foil bending downwardly in curved fashion by gravitational attraction, said vacuum lifting device means including a separately movable curving means for causing additional downward curving of the suspended foil; (c) traverse means for moving the device means and suspended foil from the receiving station to a foil depositing station; (d) conveying means at the depositing station for conveying a transport frame means to a processing station; and (e) said transport frame means comprising a frame with first and second foil clamps at sides of the frame, and means adjacent the foil clamps for opening and closing the same.

Claim 10

A system for picking up, depositing, and transporting thin foils to a foil processing station, comprising: (a) a foil receiving station comprising a planar surface with a foil to be picked up resting thereon; (b) a vertically movable vacuum lifting device means for positioning over a central region of the foil to be picked up and for suspension of the foil from said central region by suction, edges of the thin suspended foil bending downwardly in curved fashion by gravitational attraction, said vacuum lifting device means including a separately movable curving means for causing additional downward curving of the suspended foil; (c) traverse means for moving the device means and suspended foil from the receiving station to a foil depositing station; (d) conveying means at the depositing station for conveying a transport frame means to a processing station; and (e) said transport frame means comprising a frame with first and second foil clamps at sides of the frame, and means adjacent the foil clamps for opening and closing the same.

Claim 12

A system for picking up, depositing, and transporting thin foils to a foil processing station, comprising: (a) a foil receiving station comprising a planar surface with a foil to be picked up resting thereon; (b) a vertically movable vacuum lifting device means for positioning over a central region of the foil to be picked up and for suspension of the foil from said central region by suction, edges of the thin suspended foil bending downwardly in curved fashion by gravitational attraction, said vacuum lifting device means including a separately movable curving means for causing additional downward curving of the suspended foil; and (c) traverse means for moving the device means and suspended foil from the receiving station to a foil depositing station, said foil depositing station comprising means for supporting the foil in a flat position when the vacuum lifting device releases the foil.

Claim 13

A system for picking up, depositing, and transporting thin foils to a foil processing station, comprising: (a) a foil receiving station comprising a planar surface with a foil to be picked up resting thereon; (b) a vertically movable vacuum lifting device means for positioning over a central region of the foil to be picked up and for suspension of the foil from said central region by suction, edges of the thin suspended foil bending downwardly in curved fashion by gravitational attraction, said vacuum lifting device means including a separately movable curving means for causing additional downward curving of the suspended foil; and (c) traverse means for moving the device means and suspended foil from the receiving station to a foil depositing station, said foil depositing station comprising means for supporting the foil in a flat position when the vacuum lifting device releases the foil.