1. A method for handling a workpiece having at least one through-opening, the method comprising:
providing at least one through opening of the workpiece with a covering;
placing at least one suction element and the workpiece against each other to form a suction chamber; and
drawing a vacuum in the suction chamber to fix the workpiece and the suction element to each other with a holding force for subsequent manipulation of the workpiece;
wherein the covering is configured to reduce the flow of air through the through-opening to the suction chamber sufficiently so that the vacuum gives rise to the holding force.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the workpiece comprises a perforated metal sheet.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein providing the covering comprises detachably joining the covering to the workpiece.
4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the covering is substantially planar.
5. A method according to claim 1, wherein providing the covering comprises covering at least one side of the workpiece substantially completely with the covering.
6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising providing a plurality of workpieces in a stack, wherein the suction element and a workpiece that is disposed in the stack are placed against each other after at least one through-opening of the workpiece has been at least partially provided with a covering.
7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising providing a plurality of workpieces in a stack, wherein the at least one through-opening of the workpiece is at least partially provided with a covering during or after removal of the workpiece from the stack.
8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising, after the workpiece and the suction element have been fixed to each other with a holding force, feeding the workpiece to a processing device.
9. A system for handling a workpiece having at least one through-opening, the system comprising:
a suction element, configured to form a suction chamber when placed against the workpiece;
a vacuum generator configured to draw a vacuum in the suction chamber in order to fix the workpiece and the suction element to each other with a holding force for subsequent manipulation of the workpiece; and
a device configured to apply a covering to workpiece to at least partially cover the at least one through opening in order to reduce the flow of air through the through-opening to the suction chamber sufficiently so that the vacuum gives rise to the holding force.
10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the device comprises a covering unit.
11. A system according to claim 10, further comprising a destacking device for removing a workpiece from a stack, wherein the covering unit is associated with the destacking device.
12. A method according to claim 4, wherein the workpiece is substantially planar.
13. A method according to claim 4, wherein the covering comprises a film.
14. A method according to claim 8, wherein the processing device comprises a bending device or a cutting device.
15. A system according to claim 10, wherein the covering unit comprises a film coating unit.
16. A system according to claim 9, wherein the device comprises a stacking unit configured to stack a plurality of workpieces, and a covering unit configured to interpose coverings between adjacent workpieces during stacking.
17. A system according to claim 9, comprising a plurality of suction elements.
18. A system according to claim 9, further comprising a manipulator arm on which the suction element is mounted.
19. A system according to claim 1 further comprising a numerical control unit configured to provide coordinated control to the system.
20. A method according to claim 6 wherein providing the covering comprises alternating workpieces with coverings in the stack.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An ink supply apparatus for supplying ink to a printer, comprising:
an ink filling port configured to receive inflow of ink;
an ink storage section communicated with the ink filling port, and configured to store the ink;
an ink flow path communicated with the ink storage section, and configured to allow the ink to flow from the ink storage section;
a displacement section defining a portion of the ink flow path, which is displaced according to internal pressure in the ink flow path so as to be detected by the printer;
an ink supply port communicated with the ink flow path for supplying the ink from the ink flow path to the printer; and
a sealing structure sealing an inner section of the ink flow path at least in a low ink remaining amount state where a remaining amount of the ink in the ink storage section is a predetermined amount or less.
2. The ink supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising
a communication port allowing the ink flow path to be communicated with the ink storage section,
wherein
the ink storage section is open to the atmosphere, and
the sealing structure includes
a buoyancy generating section provided in the inner section of the ink storage section and configured to generate buoyancy with regard to the ink in the ink storage section, and
a valve section configured and arranged to open and close the communication port according to the buoyancy generated by the buoyancy generating section and to block off the communication port in the low ink remaining amount state.
3. The ink supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
the buoyancy generating section has a plurality of buoyant bodies with a density which is lower than the ink.
4. The ink supply apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
the buoyant bodies are aligned along a Z axis direction which is parallel to a direction of gravity in the ink supply apparatus mounted into the printer.
5. The ink supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising
an atmosphere opening port which opens the ink storage section to the atmosphere,
wherein, when a direction toward an opposite side to gravity in the ink supply apparatus mounted into the printer is set as a +Z axis direction, an end portion on the +Z axis direction side of the atmosphere opening port is positioned more to the +Z axis direction side than an end portion on the +Z axis direction side of the ink filling port.
6. The ink supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising
a communication port allowing the ink flow path to be communicated with the ink storage section,
wherein, when a direction of gravity in the ink supply apparatus mounted into the printer is set as a \u2212Z axis direction, the communication port is provided on a wall surface that partitions the \u2212Z axis direction side of the ink storage section.
7. The ink supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising
a circuit member having a circuit board where a connection terminal is formed;
a housing with the ink storage section being provided in an inner section of the housing; and
a sliding member to which the circuit member is attached and detached, and configured and arranged to be attached and detached by sliding with regard to the housing mounted into the printer in a state where the circuit member is mounted on the sliding member,
wherein, in a state where the sliding member, to which the circuit member is mounted, is mounted into the printer along with the housing, the connection terminal is in contact with and electrically connected to a connection terminal provided in the printer, and
when a direction where the sliding member is mounted by sliding with regard to the housing is set as a \u2212Y axis direction, the circuit member is positioned more to the \u2212Y axis direction side than the ink filling port in a state where the sliding member is mounted into the housing.
8. The ink supply apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising
an atmosphere opening port which is provided in the housing and opens the ink storage section to the atmosphere,
wherein the sliding member covers the atmosphere opening port in a state of being mounted into the housing.
9. The ink supply apparatus according to claim 7, wherein
the circuit member has a position aligning section which positionally aligns the connection terminal with regard to the connection terminal provided in the printer.
10. The ink supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising
a circuit member having a circuit board where a connection terminal is formed;
a housing with the ink storage section being provided in an inner section of the housing, the housing being configured and arranged to allow the circuit member to be attached and detached;
a housing side terminal provided in the housing and in contact with and electrically connected to the connection terminal in the circuit member mounted into the housing; and
relay wiring which is provided in the housing to relay an electrical connection between the housing side terminal and a connection terminal provided in the printer,
wherein, when a direction toward an opposite side to gravity in the ink supply apparatus which is mounted into the printer is set as a +Z axis direction, the housing side terminal is positioned more to the +Z axis direction side than the ink filling port.
11. An ink supply apparatus for supplying ink to a printer, comprising:
an ink storage section configured to store the ink;
an ink flow path configured and arranged to be connected to the ink storage section so as to be sealed from the atmosphere;
a displacement section defining a portion of the ink flow path, which is displaced according to pressure in the ink flow path so as to be able to be detected by the printer;
an ink supply port communicated with the ink flow path, and configured and arranged to supply the ink from the ink flow path to the printer; and
a sealing structure sealing the inner section of the ink flow path at least in a low ink remaining amount state where a remaining amount of the ink in the ink storage section is a predetermined amount or less.
12. The ink supply apparatus according to claim 11, wherein
the ink storage section is provided with an atmosphere opening port.
13. An ink supply apparatus for supplying ink to a printer, comprising:
an ink storage section configured to store the ink;
an ink flow path detachably connected to the ink storage section;
a displacement section defining a portion of the ink flow path, and configured and arranged to be displaced according to pressure in an inner section of the ink flow path so as to be able to be detected by the printer; and
an ink supply port communicated with the ink flow path for supplying the ink from the ink flow path to the printer;
wherein the ink storage section and the ink flow path are sealed from the atmosphere when the ink storage section and the ink flow path are connected and the displacement section is displaced into a low ink remaining amount state where a remaining amount of the ink in the ink storage section is a predetermined amount or less.
14. The ink supply apparatus according to claim 11, wherein
the ink storage section is arranged outside the printer.
15. An ink storage container for supplying ink to a printer, comprising:
an ink supply port for supplying the ink to the printer;
an ink flow path communicated with the ink supply port;
a displacement section defining a portion of the ink flow path, which is displaced according to pressure in the ink flow path so as to be detected by the printer; and
an ink storage section detachably connectable to the ink flow path at an upstream side of the displacement section in such a manner as to be sealed from the atmosphere, the ink storage section being configured and arranged to be sealed from the atmosphere when connected to the ink flow path.