Schuler stacking systems with intermediate-stop function ensure excellent edge quality

Schuler supplies a variety of stacking systems for shaped and contoured blanks. The main focus is placed on protecting the surface and edges of the blanks as well as achieving an exact stacking result. The new intermediate-stop function of Schuler¡¯s stacking systems ensures even greater edge quality for the individual parts.

In the past, blanks were thrown from continually running transport belts against a stop system from where they fell onto the stack. Although this stacking process is fast, the edges of the blanks can be damaged. Thanks to the new intermediate-stop function, the transport belts are briefly halted, thus preventing the blanks from being thrown against the stop system. In this way, the quality of the blank edges remains unimpaired.

For blanks whose edges are not sensitive to damage, the blank to be cut is pushed onto the lifter rails and then lowered with the cut onto the constantly running belts of the telescope conveyor. The blank is then taken by the continually running stacking belts and dropped when over the stack.
One, two or four blanks can be processed per press stroke. In the case of multiple parts back-to-back, the parts in the die are fed onto the telescope belts by a continually running magnetic roll. This operating system offers the greatest degree of freedom regarding the positioning of the stack on a pallet in the belt¡¯s running direction. With the aid of the NC-controlled stop system, 2 x 2 stacks can be formed. The universal stacking frame enables 2 x 4 stacks.

In the case of edge-sensitive blanks for two-out parts back-to-back (two blanks per stroke), the stacking belts accelerate to the right speed to accept the blanks from the telescopic conveyor and then stop to discharge them over the stack. This enables the use of simple conveying technology for continual operation in the die for multiple parts back-to-back. The destacking process is also gentle on part edges in intermediate-stop mode.

In the case of edge-sensitive blanks for one-out parts (one blank per stroke) and two-out parts side-by-side (two blanks per stroke), the blank to be cut is pushed by the feeder onto the lifting rails and then lowered onto the stationary belts of the telescopic conveyor with the cut. In synchronization with the press cycle, the blank is transported to a position above the stack and then discharged. In order to make the stacking stations as short as possible, the telescopic conveyor belts and stacking belts can be operated with varying step sizes. There is therefore no need for a moving platform on the stacking cart to compensate the step in the case of long blanks.
With the aid of the NC-controlled stop system, 2 x 2 stacks can be formed both with flying changes as well as in operating mode with intermediate stops. By using a universal stacking frame, 2 x 4 stacks can also be formed. The respective positioning of the stack depends on the step size of the belts.