Patent Abstract:
A workpiece separating device for separating workpieces from support sheets includes a lifting unit and a positioning assembly supporting the support sheets with the workpieces adhered. The lifting unit includes a lifting cylinder and two pins raised and lowered by the lifting cylinder. The two pins are raised by the lifting cylinder to push the workpieces, thereby separating the workpieces from the support sheets in turn. A method for separating workpieces from support sheets using the present device is also provided.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure generally relates to devices for separating workpieces (e.g., foam) from support materials. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Foam is widely used in the manufacturing of electronic devices. Before being assembled, foam is adhered on support materials, such as paper boards. During assembly, the foam having a relatively large size, can be effectively separated from the support materials using vacuum grip devices. However, it is difficult to separate the foam with small sizes, 4.8 mm×4.8 mm for example, from support materials using vacuum grip devices alone. 
     Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the views. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a workpiece separating device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded, isometric view of the workpiece separating device of  FIG. 1  viewed from another angle. 
         FIG. 3  is an assembled, isometric view of the workpiece separating device of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of circled portion IV of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1-3  show an exemplary embodiment of a workpiece separating device  100 . The workpiece separating device  100  may be used for separating workpieces  63  from support sheets  60  where the workpieces  63  are adhered. Each of the support sheets  60  defines two through holes  612  (best shown in  FIG. 4 ) corresponding to each workpiece  63 . The workpieces  63  can be foam pieces or other elements of electronic devices. The workpiece separating device  100  includes an assembling board  10 , a first driving unit  20 , a second driving unit  30 , a lifting unit  40 , and a positioning assembly  50 . The first and second driving units  20 ,  30  are assembled on the assembling board  10 . The lifting unit  40  is slidably assembled to the second driving unit  30 . The positioning assembly  50  is slidably assembled to the first driving unit  20 . The support sheet  60  is positioned on the positioning assembly  50 . 
     The first driving unit  20  includes two first sliding rails  21 , a first sliding block  23 , a first ball screw  25 , and a first driving element  27 . The two first sliding rails  21  are attached on the assembling board  10  and are substantially parallel to each other. The first sliding block  23  defines two sliding grooves  231  engaged with the two first sliding rails  21 . The first ball screw  25  is positioned between the two first sliding rails  21  and includes a first threaded shaft  251  and a first nut  253  slidably coiled around the first threaded shaft  251 . The sliding block  23  is attached to the first nut  253  and is capable of sliding relative to the first threaded shaft  251  and the two sliding rails  21 . The first driving element  27  can be a motor and drives the first threaded shaft  251  of the first ball screw  25 . When the first driving element  27  rotates the first threaded shaft  251 , the first nut  253  slides along the first threaded shaft  251 , thereby driving the sliding block  23  to slide along the two first sliding rails  21 . A direction parallel to the two first sliding rails  21  is defined as a first direction. 
     The second driving unit  30  is positioned adjacent the first driving unit  20 . The second driving unit  30  includes two second sliding rails  31 , a second sliding block  33 , a second ball screw  35 , and a second driving element  37 . The two second sliding rails  31  are attached on the assembling board  10  and are substantially parallel to each other. The two second sliding rails  31  are substantially perpendicular to the two first sliding rails  21 . An end of the two second sliding rails  31  is adjacent to and aligned with a substantially middle portion of one of the two first sliding rails  21 . The second sliding block  33  defines two sliding recesses  331  engaged with the two second sliding rails  31 . The second ball screw  35  is positioned between the two second sliding rails  31  and includes a second threaded shaft  351  and a second nut  353  slidably coiled around the second threaded shaft  351 . The second sliding block  33  is attached to the second nut  353  to be capable of sliding relative to the second threaded shaft  351  and the two first sliding rails  31 . The second driving element  37  can be a motor and drives the second threaded shaft  351  of the second ball screw  35 . When the second driving element  37  rotates the second threaded shaft  351 , the second nut  353  slides along the second threaded shaft  351 , thereby driving the second sliding block  33  to slide along the two second sliding rails  31 . A direction parallel to the two second sliding rails  31  is defined as a second direction. 
     The lifting unit  40  includes a lifting cylinder  45 , a support board  47 , and two pins  49 . The lifting cylinder  45  is attached on the second sliding block  33 . The support board  47  is connected to the lifting cylinder  45  to be raised and lowered by the lifting cylinder  45 . The two pins  49  are attached upright to the support board  47 . When the support board  47  is driven by the lifting cylinder  45  to move up and down, the two pins  49  are raised and lowered by the support board  47 . A moving direction of the pins  49  is substantially perpendicular to the first and second directions and is defined as a third direction. 
     The positioning assembly  50  includes a rotating cylinder  53 , a rotating board  55 , and two fixing plates  57 . The rotating cylinder  53  is attached to the first sliding block  23 . A center portion of a lower surface of the rotating board  55  is connected to the rotating cylinder  53  for rotation by the rotating cylinder  53 . The rotating board  55  defines two positioning recesses  553  in an upper surface. The two positioning recesses  553  are located at opposite ends of the rotating board  55 . Each positioning recess  553  is configured for receiving one support sheet  60  and one fixing plate  57 . Each positioning recess  553  has a plurality of limiting posts  5531  protruding from a bottom  5533 . The limiting posts  5531  are configured for limiting a position of the support sheets  60 . Each positioning recess  553  further defines a plurality of slots  555  to allow the pins  49  to be inserted through to separate the workpieces  63  from the support sheets  60 , by pushing the workpieces  63  via the through holes  612  of the support sheets  60 . Each fixing plate  57  defines a plurality of latching holes  573  corresponding to the limiting posts  5531  and defines a plurality of openings  571  corresponding to the slots  555 . The plurality of openings  571  are configured for a vacuum grip device attached on a robot (not shown) to take out the workpieces. When the support sheets  60  and the fixing plates  57  are received in the positioning recesses  553 , each support sheet  60  is located between the rotating board  55  and the corresponding fixing plate  57  with the through holes  612  aligned with the slots  555 . The limiting posts  5531  are inserted into the latching holes  573 , thereby securing the support sheets  60  in the positioning recesses  553 . 
     In use, referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the first driving element  27  drives the first ball screw  25  to rotate. The first ball screw  25  drives the first sliding block  23  bringing with the positioning assembly  50  to move along the first direction. The second driving element  37  drives the second ball screw  35  to rotate. The second ball screw  35  drives the second sliding block  33 , moving the lifting unit  40  along the second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and enabling the pins  49  to be aligned with two through holes  612  corresponding to a workpiece  63 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . At this time, the vacuum grip device can be driven to be aligned with and in touch with the workpiece  63 . Then, the two pins  49  are moved towards the workpiece  63  by the lifting cylinder  45  to be inserted through the corresponding slot  555  to separate the workpiece  63  from the support sheet  60 , by pushing the workpiece  63  via the through holes  612  of the support sheet  60 . The separated workpiece  63  can be taken by the vacuum grip device. Then, the first driving unit  20  and the second driving unit  30  adjust the positioning assembly  50  and the pins  49  again, enabling the pins  49  to be aligned with another two through holes  612  corresponding to another workpiece  63 . The above steps are repeated until the workpieces  63  on the support sheet  60  positioned at one end of the rotating board  55 . The rotating cylinder  53  then drives the rotating board  55  to rotate, positioning another support sheet  60  at another end of the rotating board  55  correctly to allow the workpieces  63  thereon to be separated. 
     In other embodiments, the lifting unit  40  can have more than two pins  49 , multiples of two secured on the support board  47 , for example. The lifting unit  40  can also have only one pin  49 . 
     It is to be understood, however, that even through numerous characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of assembly and function, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8