Magnetic holding apparatus for holding workpieces

Abstract

An electro permanent magnetic apparatus with monolithic working face for holding workpieces magnetically or mechanically comprises a base plate and a ferrous monolithic working face. The base plate has a pocket or recess which houses reversible magnets and electrical windings; the working face has magnetic poles which are demarked by slots. On the opposite side of the working face recesses are provided beneath the slots for housing non-reversible permanent magnets.

1 . An magnetic holding apparatus for holding workpieces comprising:
 a base plate;   a plurality of recesses provided within said base plate;   a plurality of reversible magnets received within said recesses;   a plurality of electrical windings received within said recesses together with said reversible magnets configured for reversing said reversible magnets upon application of an electrical current flowing through said electrical windings;   a monolithic ferromagnetic working face arranged above said base plate and being configured for supporting workpieces;   a plurality of magnetic poles formed within said monolithic working face demarked by slots extending from an outer surface of said working face toward said base plate;   a plurality of non-reversible permanent magnets received below said slots within recesses of said base plate;   wherein said non-reversible permanent magnets are configured for magnetically clamping workpieces by magnetic flow extending through said magnetic poles and through said workpieces; and   wherein said reversible permanent magnets are configured for either substantially neutralizing said magnetic flow of said non-reversible permanent magnets upon activating said electrical windings with a first electrical current, thereby allowing removal of a workpiece, or for transferring said magnetic flow of said non-reversible permanent magnets through said magnetic poles to said workpiece for magnetic clamping thereof.   
   
   
       2 . The magnetic holding apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said slots are configured for mechanical clamping of workpieces supported upon said outer surface of said monolithic working face. 
   
   
       3 . The magnetic holding apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising clamps supported within said slots for mechanically clamping workpieces supported upon said monolithic working surface. 
   
   
       4 . The magnetic holding apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the said working face has quadrangular sections, wherein said recesses are arranged underneath said working face for housing said reversible and non-reversible permanent magnets together with electrical windings and demarked magnetic poles. 
   
   
       5 . The magnetic holding apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said slots are configured as tee-slots separating said magnetic poles and enabling a securing of clamp means for mechanically holding workpieces. 
   
   
       6 . The magnetic holding apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said slots are configured as truncated dumb-bell shaped slots. 
   
   
       7 . The magnetic holding apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said slots extend around a perimeter of said poles, ensuring minimum reduction in active magnetic area of said working face. 
   
   
       8 . The magnetic holding apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said holding apparatus is configured for clamping ferroelectric workpieces magnetically and for clamping diamagnetic or paramagnetic workpieces mechanically. 
   
   
       9 . The magnetic holding apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said holding apparatus is configured as a machine bed. 
   
   
       10 . A magnetic holding apparatus for holding workpieces comprising:
 a base plate;   a plurality of recesses provided within said base plate;   a plurality of reversible magnets received within said recesses;   a plurality of electrical windings received within said recesses together with said reversible magnets;   a monolithic ferromagnetic working face arranged above said base plate and being configured for supporting workpieces;   a plurality of magnetic poles formed within said monolithic working face demarked by slots extending from an outer surface of said working face toward said base plate;   a plurality of non-reversible permanent magnets received below said slots within recesses of said base plate.   
   
   
       11 . The magnetic holding apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said non-reversible permanent magnets are configured for magnetically clamping workpieces by magnetic flow extending through said magnetic poles. 
   
   
       12 . The magnetic holding apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said working face comprises quadrangular sections, wherein said recesses are arranged underneath said working face for housing said reversible and non-reversible permanent magnets together with electrical windings and demarked magnetic poles. 
   
   
       13 . The work holding apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said slots are configured as tee-slots separating said magnetic poles and enabling a securing of clamp means for mechanically holding workpieces. 
   
   
       14 . The work holding apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said slots are configured as truncated dumb-bell shaped. 
   
   
       15 . The work holding apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said slots extend around a perimeter of the poles, ensuring minimum reduction in active magnetic area of said working face. 
   
   
       16 . The work holding apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said holding apparatus is configured as a machine bed suitable for clamping ferroelectric workpieces magnetically and for clamping diamagnetic or paramagnetic workpieces mechanically. 
   
   
       17 . The magnetic work holding apparatus of  claim 10  comprising at least two poles, each one of which having a non-reversible permanent magnet and a reversible permanent magnet surrounded by an electrical winding which is used for effecting reversal of magnetic polarity of said reversible permanent magnets. 
   
   
       18 . The work holding apparatus of  claim 17 , which comprises two pieces of ferromagnetic material, one serving as the top working face and the other as the base plate, wherein poles are demarcated on the top working face of the work holder by recesses in the monolithic block and cavities are provided on the opposite side of poles for placing reversible and non-reversible permanent magnets, the former being placed on the backside of the pole surrounded by an electrical winding and the latter being placed on the surface nearest said top working face. 
   
   
       19 . The work holding apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein a second monolithic ferromagnetic surface is provided so as to hold said reversible permanent magnets between said poles and said base plate in a sandwiched manner, and wherein said cavities are configured for housing said non-reversible permanent magnets directly below said demarcated poles. 
   
   
       20 . A magnetic holding apparatus for holding workpieces comprising:
 a base plate;   a plurality of recesses provided within said base plate;   a plurality of reversible magnets received within said recesses;   a plurality of electrical windings received within said recesses together with said reversible magnets;   a monolithic ferromagnetic working face arranged above said base plate and being configured for supporting workpieces;   a plurality of magnetic poles formed within said monolithic working face demarked by slots extending from an outer surface of said working face toward said base plate;   a plurality of non-reversible permanent magnets received below said slots within recesses of said base plate;   wherein said slots are configured for mechanical clamping of workpieces supported upon said outer surface of said monolithic working face; and   wherein said recesses are arranged underneath said working face for housing said reversible and non-reversible permanent magnets together with electrical windings and demarked magnetic poles.