Unico Corp.

James A Beck

Thomas L Beck

Ramdas M Pai

A position monitoring device for accurately determining a plurality of distances, velocity or acceleration along a line using a plurality of electromagnets. The position monitoring device includes an ultrasound transducer disposed along a line, an ultrasound generator to provide an ultrasound wave pulse along the ultrasound transducer and a plurality of electromagnets disposed along the line at selected positions. The electromagnets generate a magnetic field which interacts with the ultrasound pulse to generate a reflected pulse. A sensor measures the time lapse between generation of the initial pulse and receipt of the reflected pulse, and electronic components convert the time lapse interval to a position measurement.

Magnetostrictive multiple position sensing device

A plurality of magnetic elevator devices disposed along the sides of a vertical stack of magnetizable steel objects, such as sheets or rods, separates them and raises the uppermost one vertically. Sensing devices in a control system sense when the object reaches a transport position and actuate a transport mechanism to move to another location. Each magnetic elevator device comprises a magnetic structure (permanent magnet or electro-magnet) and a pair of elongated, vertically extending, laterally spaced apart contact rails of opposite magnetic polarity which engage the edges of the stacked objects. Each contact rail comprises a magnetic portion having a point of minimum reluctance near its top and a non-magnetic, low-friction surface portion (plastic or stainless steel) which slidably engages each object to guide it and to hold it spaced from the magnetic portion. The pair of contact rails cooperate with the stacked objects to complete a magnetic circuit whereby the objects are repelled from each other, raised and advanced upwardly toward the point of minimum reluctance.

Apparatus for raising a magnetizable object from a stack and for moving

A transport and stacker system in which the articles being transported are propelled in their path of travel by the moving magnetic field of a linear induction motor. The magnetic field also functions to attract the moving articles toward the linear motor and in order to overcome this attracting force and air bearing is provided. The air pressure acting against the attracting force is just sufficient to move the articles a slight distance away from the linear induction motor so that the articles move in the path of travel while suspended in air out of contact with the physical surface of the motor. When the desired position is reached, the article is dropped on a stack by deenergizing the magnetic field.

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Franksville, WI, United States of America

James A Beck