Patent ID: 7148446

Claim:
In a method for cutting sheet metal blanks from a coil of thin sheet metal strip: (a) uncoiling and straightening the metal strip in the longitudinal direction in a stepwise manner; (b) gripping the metal strip above a processing platform ( 10 ) in a lateral clamping frame ( 14 ) having clamping elements; (c) initially cutting the clamped metal strip in a cutting position ( 6 ) to leave only residual webs that hold the blanks in the residual strip ( 4 ); (d) moving the metal strip ( 4 ) while still clamped into a depositing position ( 7 ) above a depositing platform ( 12 ); (e) cutting the webs to free the blanks and stacking the blanks in sorted fashion on the platform ( 12 ); (f) releasing the clamping elements and returning the clamping frame ( 14 ) to its initial position; and (g) thereafter conveying the residual metal strip ( 4 ) from the depositing position ( 7 ) for disposal.