Patent ID: 9586302
Date: 2017-03-07
CPC Classifications: B23Q,B24C

Claim:
1. A method for cyclically shielding an inlet opening in a work chamber when loading workpieces into said chamber using a conveyor device having a succession of workpiece placement locations that cyclically move through a workpiece loading station located outside of said chamber adjacent said opening and thereafter pass through the work chamber, said method comprising the following steps: (a) placing a first workpiece on a workpiece placement location of the conveyor device at the workpiece loading station; (b) placing a first shielding element on the conveyor device in front of the first workpiece placed thereon, as viewed in the conveying direction; (c) placing a second shielding element on the conveyor device behind the first workpiece placed thereon, as viewed in the conveying direction; (d) loading the first workpiece that was placed on the conveyor into the work chamber and placing the second shielding element at the work chamber opening by advancing the conveyor device; (e) placing a second workpiece on a workpiece placement location of the conveyor device at the workpiece loading station; (f) removing the first shielding element from the conveyor device and placing the same on the conveyor device behind the second workpiece that was placed thereon, as viewed in the conveying direction, by using a transporting device; and (g) repeating steps (d) (e) and (f) with successive workpiece placements on the conveyor device at the workpiece loading station and with respective cross-over changes of the shielding elements.