Automation press line
Front of Line
Front of Line automation - Blankloaders for press lines
The Front of Line has a major effect on the speed and availability of a press line. The Strothmann Front of Line for press lines consists of established standard systems. The blankloader can be combined with additional modules based on the customer’s requirements. The blank stacks are supplied to the system without interruption by carriages on our RoundTrack system. The automatic spreading station separates steel and aluminium blanks in a reliable process at maximum performance. The highlight of the Front of Line is the optical centring station, which does not even need a centring robot when combined with the FeederPlus 6neo and achieves up to 16 cycles/min.
System overview Front of Line
Front of Line: Layout
Blank feeding on two blank carts with a lifting table (uninterrupted stack change)
Spreading station
Destacking feeder 3-120 Dynamic including double blank detection
Tooling changing unit for destacking feeder
Double blank disposal
Magnetic belt 1, adjustable (vacuum for aluminium blanks can be integrated)
Washing machine, oil lubrication unit, brush depending on customer’s requirements
Magnetic belt 2, including bridging belt (vacuum for aluminium blanks can be integrated)
Double blank detection
Camera system
Magnetic belt 3 (vacuum for aluminium blanks can be integrated)
Safety dividers with lifting function
Optional: Centring robot (for HighSpeedTransfer)
Technical data
Dimensions L x W x H approx. |
16,000 mm x 21,500 mm (24,500 mm)* x 5,000 mm |
Max. performance |
16 parts/min. |
Max. blank weight |
60 kg |
Max. stack weight including pallet |
16,000 kg |
Max. transport speed |
3 m/s |
Double blank detection |
Redundant: Destacking feeder tooling and sensor bridge downstream of oil lubrication unit |
Centring station |
optical |
*Figure in brackets for centring with robots
Blank carts with lifting table
The blank carts are automatic carriages on the Strothmann RoundTrack system. Two carts per line are used for an uninterrupted stack change. Depending on the customer’s requirements, the carts are equipped with one or several spindle lifting tables and a customized cover plate.
Load-bearing capacity | 16,000 kg |
Max. blank | 2,100 mm x 4,100 mm |
Lifting table design | servo motor powered |
Effective stroke of lifting table | 700 mm |
Overall height | 650 mm |
Final blank detection | Optical sensor in cover plate |
Cover plate | Customer-specific hole pattern for pallet position adapters and centring aids |
Options | 2 lifting tables per cart, laser module as positioning aid |
Destacking feeder 3/120 Dynamic
The main task of the destacking feeder is transporting blanks from the stack to the conveyor belts. The 3/120 Dynamic used for this purpose is based on the traversing feeders of the SFT series and achieves extremely high speeds through movement overlay in the main movement direction. Depending on the customer’s requirements, different tooling interfaces can be used. An integrated double blank detection increases process reliability.
Centred load-bearing |
120 kg |
Traversing path Y |
11400 mm |
Traversing path Z |
500 mm |
Transport step Y |
4950 mm |
Tooling interface |
Robot coupling; up to 12 vacuum circuits for universal tooling |
Safety |
Pneumatically extendable travel range limiter to secure the destacking point |
*Standard values. Different values on request
Automatic spreading station
The fully automatic spreading station separates stacks of blanks of any contour. All magnetic heads are designed to pivot and can be locked in their position. They can also be activated and deactivated separately. Air blades are used for aluminium parts. Position adapters on the side are used for return drop centring.
Spreading units per destacking point | 20 units |
Spreading bar approach | 480 mm (powered by servo motor) |
Approach per spreading unit | 495 mm (pneumatic) |
Magnetic head pivoting range | ± 35° |
Max. blank | 2,100 mm x 4,100 mm |
Min. blank | 500 mm x 500 mm |
Options | Additional blast nozzles with saw tooth for separating aluminium blanks |
Optical centring station
When combined with the FeederPlus 6neo our optical centring station has no need for a centring robot – even for double parts, thanks to its intelligent double-picking function. A camera system is used for position detection. Afterwards the blanks are cycled forward to the removal position. Magnets or vacuum belts that can be activated and deactivated prevent the blank from slipping out of place. The FeederPlus 6neo picks up the blanks based on the camera information and aligns them correctly during transport into the press.
Max. performance |
16 cycles/min |
Max. position deviation X |
±100 mm |
Max. position deviation Y |
±100 mm |
Max. twist C |
±10° |
