Method for transporting workpiece parts

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for transporting a workpiece part from a cutting area of a laser cutting machine to a storage area, comprising: driving at least one first holding device for holding the workpiece part along a first guide in a transport direction transverse to the movement direction of the laser cutting head of the laser cutting machine; and driving at least one second holding device for holding the workpiece part along a second guide in the transport direction transverse to the movement direction of the laser cutting head. A first workpiece part cut in a first half of the workpiece with respect to the movement direction of the laser cutting head in the cutting area is transported from the cutting area to the storage area by the first holding device. A second workpiece part cut in a second half of the workpiece with respect to the movement direction of the laser cutting head in the cutting area is transported from the cutting area to the storage area by the second holding device. The transport of the first workpiece part and the second workpiece part occurs alternately.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a method for transporting a workpiece part from a cutting area of a laser cutting machine to a storage area, the method comprising: moving at least one first holding device for holding the workpiece part along a first guide in a transport direction transverse to the movement direction of the laser cutting head of the laser cutting machine; and moving at least one second holding device for holding the workpiece part along a second guide in the transport direction transverse to the movement direction of the laser cutting head. Background Art

[0002] In a laser cutting facility (where the movement of the workpiece occurs in one direction and the movement of the cutting head occurs in a direction perpendicular to this direction), as described in, for example, DE 102014209811 B4, DE 102017216828 B4 or DE102018203061, the cutting of the workpiece part and the transport of the workpiece part can occur alternately or simultaneously, that is, the cut-out workpiece part is transported out of the cutting area into the storage area before or during the cutting of another workpiece part from the workpiece (hereinafter also referred to as: workpiece plate).

[0003] The holding devices described in the aforementioned documents have holding means which can, for example, be formed as surface absorbers in order to hold the cut-out workpiece parts and transport them from the cutting area of the laser cutting machine to the storage area. The holding devices can be attached to the guides individually or in groups, which extend transversely with respect to the movement direction of the laser cutting head or with respect to the gap forming the cutting area. The guides, for example in the form of guide rails, can in turn be attached to equally movable beams which, for example, can move along the movement direction of the laser cutting head. In this way, these holding devices can each travel through a part of the workpiece storage plane without colliding with each other.

[0004] In the case of such a laser cutting facility, when the workpiece plate is occupied by many relatively small workpiece parts (especially without internal contours) that can be cut quickly, it may happen that: during the conventional row-by-row processing of the workpiece plate, the holding device that is transporting a workpiece part to the storage area cannot be used again in time to pick up or transport the cut-out next workpiece part at the end of the cutting of the next workpiece part. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Object of the present invention

[0006] The object underlying the invention is to provide a method for increasing the speed of picking up or transporting workpiece parts on a laser cutting machine.

[0007] Subject matter of the present invention

[0008] According to a first aspect of the invention, this object is achieved by a method of the type mentioned at the beginning, in which a first workpiece part cut in a first half of the workpiece in the cutting area, with reference to the direction of movement of the laser cutting head, is conveyed from the cutting area to the storage area by means of the at least one first holding device, in which a second workpiece part cut in a second half of the workpiece in the cutting area, with reference to the direction of movement of the laser cutting head, is conveyed from the cutting area to the storage area by means of the at least one second holding device, and in which the conveyance of the first workpiece part and the second workpiece part occurs alternately correspondingly.

[0009] According to a first aspect of the invention, it is proposed to cut out workpiece parts from a workpiece plate in an optimized working sequence and convey them away. For this purpose, the workpiece plate is divided into two halves along a (virtual) center line extending perpendicular to the direction of movement of the laser cutting head, with respect to which the workpiece is occupied by the workpiece parts. With reference to the direction of movement of the laser cutting head, workpiece parts arranged and cut in the same half of the workpiece are conveyed by one or more of the holding devices arranged or attached to the same guide. In this way, the (one or more) first and second holding devices can alternately pick up and convey (at least) one workpiece part each from the corresponding first half and second half of the workpiece without interfering with each other. If there are holding devices on more than two guides in a laser cutting facility, then for example, it can be that the holding devices arranged on two guides (individually or together) convey workpiece parts from one workpiece half, while the holding device of the third guide conveys workpiece parts from the second workpiece half.

[0010] Preferably, during the conveyance of the first workpiece part by the at least one first holding device, the second workpiece part is cut (cut out) from the workpiece, and vice versa, i.e., during the conveyance of the second workpiece part, the first workpiece part is cut (cut out) from the workpiece.

[0011] During the conveyance of the first workpiece part away from the cutting area by a holding device or a set of holding devices along a first guide, the second workpiece part can be cut out. Additionally, the second workpiece part can be clamped or held and conveyed in the cutting area by a second holding device or a second set of holding devices of a second guide. In this way, the working speed of the workpiece plate can be significantly increased: the positioning of the holding devices can occur during the cutting time, and the productivity of the laser cutting machine can be increased.

[0012] In a variant case, the alternating conveyance of the first workpiece part and the second workpiece part starts respectively from the lateral edges of the workpiece, with respect to the movement direction of the reference laser cutting head, and proceeds to the center line of the workpiece, or vice versa, i.e., outward from the center line of the workpiece. In this case, the alternating cutting and alternating conveyance of the first workpiece part and the second workpiece part occur in a working sequence from the outside to the inside, or from the inside to the outside, i.e., the working directions of the cutting and conveyance of the first / second workpiece part in the respective halves of the workpiece proceed in opposite directions. The movement direction is determined based on two optimization objectives: on the one hand, the distance between the holding devices should be maintained as much as possible so that they do not interfere with each other; on the other hand, the positioning time of the laser head between two machining operations should be as short as possible.

[0013] In an alternative variant case, the conveyance of these first workpiece parts starts from the first lateral edge of the workpiece, with respect to the movement direction of the reference laser cutting head, and proceeds to the center line of the workpiece, and the conveyance of these second workpiece parts starts from the center line of the workpiece and proceeds to the second lateral edge of the workpiece, with respect to the movement direction of the reference laser cutting head, or vice versa (i.e., the second workpiece part from the second edge to the center line, and the first workpiece part from the center line to the first edge). In this case, the working directions in the two halves of the workpiece have the same orientation with respect to each other. In this way, the holding devices of the first guide and the second guide are always approximately the same distance apart from each other, and thus the possibility of their interfering with each other is low.

[0014] In another variant case, the first workpiece part and the second workpiece part of the alternating conveyance are arranged in multiple rows extending parallel to the movement direction of the laser cutting head. In this case, the workpiece parts are cut row by row, and the alternating conveyance of the first workpiece part and the second workpiece part also occurs row by row. The workpiece parts cut from the workpiece can in this case in particular be arranged in multiple rows and columns on the workpiece in a regular arrangement (matrix, grid).

[0015] In an improved solution case, the workpiece part cut on the center line of the workpiece in the corresponding row is conveyed from the cutting area to the storage area as the first or the last workpiece part of the corresponding row. Typically, for the case where an odd number of workpiece parts are intended to be cut in a row, there will be a workpiece part on the center line of the workpiece that extends into the first half and the second half from the center line (center axis) of the workpiece. Such a workpiece part cannot thus be clearly assigned to one half of the workpiece, and during the machining operation of the corresponding row, it is preferably cut and conveyed away first or last because in this way the short positioning time of the machining head and the holding device can be most simply achieved.

[0016] In the case of a further refinement, the last workpiece part cut in the first row is conveyed from the cutting area into the storage area by the first holding device, and the last workpiece part cut in the second row following the first row is conveyed from the cutting area into the storage area by the second holding device, or vice versa. The last workpiece part is generally the workpiece part cut on the center line of the workpiece. Such workpiece parts extending into the two halves of the workpiece are alternately conveyed away in successive rows by the first holding device or the first set of holding devices and the second holding device or the second set of holding devices. The corresponding other holding device or the corresponding other set of holding devices starts to participate in the cutting of the first workpiece part in the next row. In particular, in this case, it is advantageous if the first workpiece part cut in the first row is the first workpiece part and the first workpiece part cut in the second row is the second workpiece part, or vice versa, i.e., the processing sequence in two successive rows adjacent to each other is interchanged.

[0017] In another variant, these first workpiece parts are cut out along their cutting contours at a first cutting-out position, and these second workpiece parts are cut out along their cutting contours at a second cutting-out position, and these first and second cutting-out positions are positioned on opposite sides of the respective cutting contours with respect to the direction of movement of the laser cutting head. In this variant, not only the cutting-out of the respective workpiece parts but also the initial cutting (i.e., the start of the cutting) generally takes place on opposite sides of the respective cutting contours.

[0018] This approach is particularly advantageous in the case where the holding devices or their holding means (such as in the form of a surface adsorber) have been placed downwards on the workpiece part before cutting out in order to stabilize ("pre-fix") its position. For this purpose, the cutting-out position should be located on the side of the workpiece part facing away from the entry path of the holding device, so that the holding device does not collide with the laser cutting head during the cutting-out of the workpiece part. Since the entry paths of the first holding device and the second holding device from the storage area and the conveying paths to the storage area generally extend substantially mirror-symmetrically with respect to the center line of the workpiece, it is advantageous if the cutting-out positions of the first workpiece part and the second workpiece part are also arranged mirror-symmetrically with respect to the center line.

[0019] In a refinement, the first cutting-out position and the second cutting-out position are located on the sides of the respective cutting contours facing the center line of the workpiece. Advantageously, the respective storage surfaces in the storage area for the first workpiece part and for the second workpiece part are arranged further outwards with respect to the center line of the workpiece than the respective workpiece parts to be conveyed. In this case, the entry paths of the holding devices extend from the outside inwards in the direction of movement of the cutting head, and thus the collision between the holding device and the laser cutting head can be avoided by this arrangement of the cutting-out positions.

[0020] In the case of another variant, these first workpiece parts are stored on a first side of the storage surface of the storage area with respect to the midline of the workpiece, and wherein these second workpiece parts are stored on a second side of the storage surface of the storage area with respect to the midline of the workpiece. To avoid collisions between the first holding device and the second holding device, the first workpiece parts cut from the first half of the workpiece are stored on the same side, i.e., the first side, of the storage surface with respect to the midline of the workpiece. Correspondingly, the second workpiece parts cut from the second half of the workpiece are stored on the second side of the storage surface. In this way, during the conveyance of the workpiece parts, it can be avoided that the first holding device or the second holding device has to cross the midline or the centerline of the workpiece.

[0021] In the case of one variant, all the first workpiece parts have the same geometry. In this way, the number of stacks of (the same type of) workpiece parts formed on the first side of the storage surface of the storage area can be reduced. It goes without saying that, correspondingly, all the second workpiece parts can also have the same geometry, with the result that the number of stacks of (the same type of) workpiece parts formed on the second side of the storage surface of the storage area can be reduced.

[0022] In the case of an improved embodiment, all the workpiece parts, i.e., both the first workpiece parts and the second workpiece parts, have the same geometry. In this case, the number of stacks of (the same type of) workpiece parts on the storage surface can be minimized.

[0023] In the case of another variant, the first workpiece parts and the second workpiece parts have different geometries. The workpiece parts with different geometries or different types are preferably arranged on the workpiece in such a way that one type of workpiece part is located in the first half of the workpiece and the second type of workpiece part is located in the second half of the workpiece. In this way, the storage area is better utilized because the number of stacks of workpiece parts that can be formed on the storage surface is smaller.

[0024] In the case of a second aspect of the present invention, which can in particular be combined with the first aspect of the present invention, the method comprises: cutting a workpiece part along a first section of a cutting profile, during which the at least one first holding device or the at least one second holding device moves in the conveying direction, and, before the workpiece part is cut out at the cut-out position, cutting the workpiece part along a second section of the cutting profile, during which the workpiece part is held by the at least one first holding device or by the at least one second holding device.

[0025] In the context of this aspect of the invention, the cutting profile is divided into a plurality of sections in the programming system in order to further increase the processing speed of the workpiece part to be held by the holding device at the moment of cutting out. The first section of the cutting profile (which preferably forms the majority of the cutting profile of the workpiece part) can in this case be cut during the conveying movement of the (one or more) holding devices along the guide. Only in the second section (which forms the last section of the cutting profile before the cutting-out position) must the (one or more) holding devices be placed on the workpiece. In this way, waiting times can be reduced or avoided.

[0026] Other advantages of the invention emerge from the description and the drawings. Similarly, the features mentioned above and those yet to be presented further can be used individually in each case or in any desired combination together. The embodiments shown and described should not be understood as exhaustive, but rather as exemplary features for the description of the invention. Description of the Drawings

[0027] In the drawings:

[0028] Figure 1 A schematic illustration of an example of a machine assembly having a laser cutting machine and a pick-up device for conveying workpiece parts is shown,

[0029] Figure 2 An illustration of two groups each having three holding devices is shown, which two groups are respectively guided displaceably on a first guide rail and a second guide rail,

[0030] Figure 3a 、 Figure 3b An illustration of a workpiece is shown, which workpiece includes a plurality of workpiece parts arranged in rows and columns, and the processing sequence of the first three rows of workpiece parts is respectively shown,

[0031] Figure 4 An illustration of a workpiece from Figure 3a 、 Figure 3b is shown, showing the cutting-out position and the storage area of the workpiece part, and

[0032] Figure 5 An illustration of a workpiece part is shown, the cutting profile of which is divided into a first section and a second section.

[0033] In the following description of the drawings, the same reference numerals are used for the same or functionally identical components. Detailed Description

[0034] Figure 1shows a machine component 1 having a laser cutting machine 2 and a device for conveying workpiece parts, which forms an unloading station 3 of the laser cutting machine 2. The laser cutting machine 2 shown here by way of example has a guiding structure (not shown) having a gantry beam 4, along which a moving unit 5 with a laser cutting head 6 can move in a direction of movement perpendicular to Figure 1 the plane of the drawing, which direction of movement forms the X-direction of the XYZ coordinate system. In addition, the laser cutting head 6 can perform a movement in the vertical direction (Z-direction) relative to the gantry beam 4.

[0035] The gantry beam 4 spans a workpiece support 7, on the upper side of which a support brush is provided in a conventional manner. The workpiece support 7 includes a processing-side support table 8 and an unloading-side support table 9 arranged in a straight line with the processing-side support table in the horizontal direction. The processing-side support table 8 and the unloading-side support table 9 are separated by a support gap 10 (gap), in which there is an adsorption extraction device, and / or one or more workpiece support slides 11 can be movably arranged in the support gap in the X-direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing.

[0036] On the processing-side support table 8, a cross rail 12 extending in the X-direction (i.e., perpendicular to the plane of the drawing) is guided in a manner that can be motor-driven in the positive and negative Y-directions with the help of a movement device 13 schematically indicated by a double-headed arrow. The cross rail 12 is provided with a plurality of jaws 14, which are offset relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the cross rail 12. Before and during the cutting operation by the laser cutting head 6, the jaws 14 hold the plate-shaped workpiece 15, and the cutting operation of the workpiece 15 takes place in the cutting area S between the two support tables 8, 9 of the laser cutting machine 2. After the processing operation of the workpiece 15 and thus the separation of the workpiece parts 16a, 16b (see Figure 2 )(these workpiece parts are separated from the workpiece 15 and are produced as workpiece cut-out parts), the jaws 14 hold the remaining workpiece part, which is produced in addition to the workpiece parts 16a, 16b during the processing operation of the workpiece 15 and is in the form of a residual grid.

[0037] The unloading station 3 includes a frame 18 on which a horizontal beam 19 is mounted. A cantilever 20 extending perpendicular to the plane of the drawing supports a first guide 21a and a second guide 21b (also see Figure 2 ) in the form of a first guide and a second guide extending in the Y-direction during the movement of the respective guides 21a, 21b along the cantilever 20 perpendicular to the plane of the drawing (i.e., in the X-direction). As Figure 2As can be seen, the three first holding devices 22a, 23a, 24a can move along the first guide rail 21a above the workpiece support portion 7 in the positive and negative Y directions (transport direction) by means of a first moving device 25a schematically indicated by a double arrow. Correspondingly, the three second holding devices 22b, 23b, 24b can move independently of the three first holding devices 22a, 23a, 24a along the second guide rail 21b above the workpiece support portion 7 in the positive and negative Y directions by means of a second moving device 25b. The holding devices 22a,b, 23a,b, 24a,b can move or be displaced along the transport direction Y from the cutting area S to the storage area L in order to transport the workpiece parts 16a, 16b cut in the cutting area S to the storage area L. The storage area L can form part of the support table 9 and is arranged, for example, at the outer edge of the support table 9. Alternatively, if the guide rails 21a, 21b are formed to be longer than shown in Figure 1 or are telescopically extendable, the storage area L can be arranged adjacent to the support table 9 and adjacent to the frame 18.

[0038] Each of the three first holding devices 22a, 23a, 24a has a first holding means in the form of a first surface-type adsorber 26a, 27a, 28a. Correspondingly, each of the three second holding devices 22b, 23b, 24b has a second holding means in the form of a second surface-type adsorber 26b, 2 7b, 28b. The three first and second holding means or surface-type adsorbers 26a,b, 27a,b, 28a,b have the same construction and can be displaced and fed in the vertical direction (Z direction) correspondingly by means of three first and second pneumatic piston-cylinder units 29a,b, 30a,b, 31a,b serving as adjustment drives. The holding means 26a,b, 27a,b, 28a,b in the form of surface-type adsorbers enable the workpiece parts 16a, 16b cut from the workpiece 15 to be held, as described, for example, in DE 10 2014209 811 B4 (the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference) cited at the beginning.

[0039] Figure 1 The programmable digital control device 40 schematically represented in controls all the main functions on the laser cutting machine 2 and the unloading station 3 of the machine assembly 1. In particular, controlled by the digital control device 40 are: the motor-driven drive 13 serving as a workpiece drive and also as a workpiece remainder drive for the cross rail 12 on the laser cutting machine 2, which motor-driven drive is schematically indicated by a double arrow in Figure 1 ; and the motor-driven moving devices 25a,b for the three first and second holding devices 22a,b, 23a,b, 24a,b, which motor-driven moving devices are in Figure 2This is also indicated by double arrows for simplicity. In addition to the workpiece drive 13 and the motion devices 25a,b for the three first and second holding devices 22a,b, 23a,b, 24a,b, additional motor-driven drives are particularly provided, which are not shown for the sake of overall clarity, and the horizontal movement of the guide rails 21a,b is implemented by these motor-driven drives, and for the control of these motor-driven drives, the numerical control device 40 of the machine assembly 1 is also used.

[0040] Different from the above description, the numerical control device 40 can form part of the unloading station 3, or two separate numerical control devices can be provided for the numerical control of the laser cutting machine 2 and the unloading station 3. The control program of the programmable numerical control device 40 is generally generated by means of a programming system running on an independent computer. The orientation (nesting) of the workpiece parts 16a,b within the workpiece 15, the processing parameters for the cutting operation, and the positioning of other machine components (such as the holding devices 22a,b, 23a,b, 24a,b) during and after the processing operation are established by the programming system.

[0041] In Figure 2 the illustration, two workpiece parts 16a,b are shown, and the laser cutting head 6 separates these two workpiece parts from the workpiece 15 shown in Figure 1 by means of a respective (completed) separation cut in the cutting area S between the two support tables 8, 9 formed in the workpiece support 7, and additionally generates a residual grid as the remaining part of the workpiece. One or more of the first and second holding devices in the form of surface adsorbers 26a,b, 27a,b, 28a,b mounted on the extended piston rods of the first and second pneumatic piston-cylinder units 29a,b, 30a,b, 31a,b abut against the upper sides of the corresponding workpiece parts 16a,b with their lower sides in order to hold the corresponding workpiece parts.

[0042] After the first workpiece part 16a is cut out, the first motion device 25a for the motion of the first holding devices 22a, 23a, 24a is activated by the control device 40, so as to convey the first workpiece part 16a from the cutting area S of the laser cutting machine 2 along the first guide rail 21a in the conveying direction Y to the storage area L by means of one or more of the surface adsorbers 26a, 27a, 28a. Correspondingly, after the second workpiece part 16b is cut out, the second motion device 25b for the motion of the second holding devices 22b, 23b, 24b is activated by the control device 40, so as to convey the second workpiece part 16b from the cutting area S of the laser cutting machine 2 along the second guide rail 21b in the conveying direction Y to the storage area L by means of one or more of the second surface adsorbers 26b, 27b, 28b.

[0043] The number of the first and second surface adsorbers 26a,b, 27a,b, 28a,b for shifting depends on the sizes and shapes of the first and second workpiece parts 16a,b. In Figure 2 the case of the example shown, only one of the first / second surface adsorbers 26a,b is respectively required for conveying the first / second workpiece parts 16a,b.

[0044] To increase the speed at which the workpiece parts 16a,b are conveyed or removed from the cutting area S to the storage area L, within the cutting area S, the first workpiece part 16a cut in the first half 15a of the workpiece 15 with respect to the movement direction X of the reference laser cutting head 6 (see Figure 3a 、 Figure 3b ) is conveyed from the cutting area S to the storage area L by means of the (one or more) first holding devices 22a, 23a, 24a, while the second workpiece part 16b cut in the second half 15b of the workpiece 15 with respect to the movement direction X of the reference laser cutting head 6 is conveyed from the cutting area S to the storage area L by means of the (one or more) second holding devices 22b, 23b, 24b. The first half 15a and the second half 15b of the workpiece 15 are separated by a (hypothetical) center line 32 which extends in the conveying direction Y and is hereinafter referred to as the center line 32 of the workpiece 15.

[0045] The conveyance of the first workpiece part 16a and the second workpiece part 16b from the cutting area S to the storage area L occurs alternately with the cutting (cutting out) of the first workpiece part 16a and the second workpiece part 16b in the cutting area S. During the conveyance of the first workpiece part 16a by means of the at least one first holding device 22a, 23a, 24a, the second workpiece part 16b is cut out from the workpiece 15 here, and vice versa. In this way, the processing speed of the workpiece 15 is significantly increased: the positioning of the holding devices 22a,b, 23a,b, 24a,b can occur during the cutting time, and the productivity of the laser cutting machine 2 can be increased.

[0046] In Figure 3a 、 Figure 3bIn the case of the example shown, the first and second workpiece parts 16a, b cut out from the workpiece 15 are arranged in a regular arrangement in n rows Z1, Z2, ……, Zn extending parallel to the movement direction X of the laser cutting head 6 and in five columns extending along the conveying direction Y. The first workpiece parts 16a arranged in the first two columns are completely arranged in the first half 15a of the workpiece 15, and the second workpiece parts 16b arranged in the fourth and fifth columns are completely arranged in the second half 15b of the workpiece 15. The center line 32 of the workpiece 15 extends through the workpiece parts 16c, 16c' arranged in the middle third column, that is, these workpiece parts 16c, 16c' are partially arranged in the first half 15a and partially arranged in the second half 15b of the workpiece 15.

[0047] The cutting and conveying of the workpiece parts 16a, 16b, 16c, 16c' occur in the working sequence respectively represented for the first three rows Z1, Z2, Z3 in Figure 3a , Figure 3b . The following describes the processing sequence of the first and second workpiece parts 16a, b in the first row Z1 according to Figure 3a .

[0048] In Figure 3a , the conveying and cutting of the first workpiece part 16a and the second workpiece part 16b start respectively from the first edge 33a and the second edge 33b on the side of the workpiece 15 with respect to the movement direction X of the reference laser cutting head 6: In the first step, the first workpiece part 16a (number 1) arranged in the first column (adjacent to the first edge 33a of the workpiece 15) is cut and conveyed from the cutting area S to the storage area L by the first holding device 22a. During the conveying of the first workpiece part 16a, the second workpiece part 16b (number 2) arranged in the fifth column (adjacent to the second edge 33b of the workpiece 15) is cut by the laser cutting head 6. Subsequently, this second workpiece part 16b is conveyed from the cutting area S to the storage area L by the second holding device 22b. In parallel therewith, the first workpiece part 16a (number 3) arranged in the second column and closer to the center line 32 of the workpiece 15 than the first workpiece part 16a arranged in the first column is cut. The first workpiece part 16a arranged in the second column is then conveyed to the storage area L by the first holding device 22a, and in parallel therewith, the second workpiece part 16b (number 4) arranged in the fourth column is cut. The second workpiece part 16b arranged in the fourth column is then conveyed to the storage area L by the second holding device 22b, and the workpiece part 16c (number 5) arranged in the middle third column is cut as the last workpiece part in the first row Z1. The last workpiece part 16c in the first row Z1 is then conveyed to the storage area L by the first holding device 22a, and the processing operation of the first row Z1 is completed.

[0049] In Figure 3b the case of the example shown, the conveyance of the first workpiece part 16a starts from the first edge 33a of the workpiece 15 with respect to the movement direction X of the reference laser cutting head 6 and proceeds to the center line 32 of the workpiece 15. However, the conveyance of the second workpiece part 16b (different from that in Figure 3a ) starts from the center line 32 of the workpiece 15 and proceeds to the second lateral edge 33b of the workpiece 15 with respect to the movement direction X of the reference laser cutting head 6. The relevant machining sequence is shown in Figure 3b . As Figure 3b discloses, in Figure 3b , machining occurs in the same direction, i.e., in the same (positive) X direction, in the two halves 15a, 15b of the workpiece 15, while in Figure 3a , machining of the workpiece parts 16a, b occurs in opposite directions in the two halves 15a, 15b, as briefly indicated by the arrows in Figure 3a and Figure 3b respectively. It goes without saying that Figure 3b the machining operations can also occur in the (negative) X direction, i.e., the conveyance of the first workpiece part 16a can start from the center line 32 of the workpiece 15 and the conveyance of the second workpiece part 16b can start from the second lateral edge 33b of the workpiece 15.

[0050] As described above in connection with Figure 3a and Figure 3b , the workpiece part 16c arranged on the center line 32 of the workpiece 15 is cut as the last workpiece part of the first row Z1 and is conveyed from the cutting area S to the storage area L as the last workpiece part, specifically by means of one of the first holding devices 22a, 23a, 24a. Correspondingly, the workpiece part 16c' arranged on the center line 32 of the workpiece 15 in the second row Z2 is also cut as the last workpiece part of the second row Z2. However, the last workpiece part 16c' of the second row Z2 is conveyed from the cutting area S to the storage area L not by one of the first holding devices 22a, 23a, 24a but by one of the second holding devices 22b, 23b, 24b. Correspondingly, in the additional rows Z3, …, Zn, the intermediate workpiece parts 16c, 16c' are also cut as the last parts. As in the case of the first row Z1 and the second row Z2, the successive rows Z i 、Z i+1The conveying of the last workpiece part 16c, 16c' in the row is carried out alternately by the first holding device(s) 22a, 23a, 24a or by the second holding device(s) 22b, 23b, 24b. This advantageously allows the fastest possible processing and removal of the components. The corresponding other group of holding devices 22a, b, 23a, b, 24a, b is responsible for conveying away the first or second workpiece part 16a, b that is cut first in the respective subsequent row.

[0051] like Figure 4 As disclosed, the first workpiece portion 16a is on the side of the corresponding cutting contour 35 facing the center line 32 of the workpiece 15 (at Figure 4 Correspondingly, the second workpiece part 16b is cut out at the first cutting position 34a (right side in the figure). Correspondingly, the second workpiece part 16b is cut out at the side of the corresponding cutting contour 35 which is also located facing the center line 32 of the workpiece 15 (at Figure 4 The second cutting-out position 34b (left side in the figure) is cut out. Thus, the first workpiece part 16a and the second workpiece part 16b are cut out on the sides of their respective cutting contours 35 that are opposite to each other. This is particularly advantageous in the case where the first holding device 26a, 27a, 28a and the second holding device 26b, 27b, 28b have already been placed down on the respective workpiece part 16a, 16b before the cutting-out in order to stabilize their position relative to the (remaining) workpiece 15. The cutting-out position 34a, 34b should be positioned here on the side facing the center line 32 of the (plate-like) workpiece 15 in order to prevent the laser cutting head 6 from colliding with the respective holding device 26a, b, 27a, b, 28a, b during the cutting-out.

[0052] Furthermore, with reference to the movement direction X of the laser cutting head 6, the respective cutting positions 34a, 34b should be arranged on the side facing away from the entry path or movement path of the holding devices 26a,b, 27a,b, 28a,b or the holding devices 22a,b, 23a,b, 24a,b assigned to these holding devices. Figure 4 As indicated schematically by two arrows in FIG. 1 , the transport of the first and second workpiece parts 16a, b not only takes place in the transport direction Y, i.e. perpendicularly with respect to the movement direction X of the laser cutting head 6, but the transport movement also has a component in the X direction, which in each case points away from the center line 32 of the workpiece 15, i.e. in the negative X direction for transporting the first workpiece part 16a and in the positive X direction for transporting the second workpiece part 16b. For the movement of the first and second holding devices 22a,b, 23a,b, 24a,b in the X direction, the first guide rail 21a and the second guide rail 21b are displaced in the X direction on the cantilever 20 by a suitable motor drive.

[0053] Likewise Figure 4It is disclosed that the first workpiece part 16a is stored on the first side 36a of the storage surface 36 of the storage area L with respect to the center line 32 of the reference workpiece 15. Correspondingly, the second workpiece part 16b is stored on the second side 36b of the storage surface 36 of the storage area L with respect to the center line 32 of the reference workpiece 15. In this way, collisions between the first holding devices 22a, 23a, 24a and the second holding devices 22b, 23b, 24b can be avoided during the transfer of the first and second workpiece parts 16a, b from the cutting area S to the storage area L.

[0054] As Figure 3a , Figure 3b and Figure 4 It is also disclosed that the first workpiece part 16a and the second workpiece part 16b have different geometries. Thus, the space in the storage area L is optimally utilized because in this way the number of stacks of parts (of the same type) to be formed is reduced. As Figure 3a , Figure 3b and Figure 4 It is also disclosed that the workpiece part 16c arranged on the center line 32 of the workpiece 15 in the first row Z1 has the same geometry as the first workpiece part 16a. This is advantageous so that the workpiece part 16c can be transferred to the storage area L by the first holding devices 22a, 23a, 24a and stored there on the same stack as the first workpiece part 16a. Correspondingly, the workpiece part 16c' arranged on the center line 32 of the workpiece 15 in the second row Z2 has a geometry corresponding to that of the second workpiece part 16b. Thus, the workpiece part 16c' can be transferred to the storage area L by means of the second holding devices 22b, 23b, 24b and stored there on the same stack as the second workpiece part 16b. The above-described also applies analogously to the workpiece parts 16c, 16c' arranged in the middle of the further rows Z3,..., Zn.

[0055] In order to further increase the processing speed, in the case of the workpiece parts 16a, 16b, 16c, 16c' (which workpiece parts should be held by the first or second holding devices 26a, b, 27a, b, 28a, b during or just before cutting out), the cutting contour 35 can be divided into a plurality of sections in the programming system or the control device 40. Figure 5 By way of example, the procedure for the first workpiece part 16a is shown, the cutting contour 35 of which is divided into two sections 35a, 35b. In Figure 5In the case of the example shown, the cutting of the first workpiece part 16a takes place along a first section 35a of the cutting contour 35, while at least one first holding device 22a, 23a, 24a for holding the workpiece part 16a during cut-out moves into the cutting area S in the conveying direction Y during this time. Along a second section 35b of the cutting contour 35, which starts at a position near the cut-out position 34, the first workpiece part 16a is held by the first holding devices 22a, 23a, 24a, more precisely by holding means 26a, 27a, 28a in the form of surface suction devices, until the first workpiece part 16a is completely separated from the (remaining) workpiece 15 at the cut-out position 34. It goes without saying that the same can be implemented analogously for the second workpiece part 16b. In this case, the second holding devices 22b, 23b, 24b or rather their second holding means 26b, 27b, 28b are used to hold the second workpiece part 16b before cut-out. A similar approach can also be followed for the workpiece parts 16c, 16c' on the centre line 32 of the workpiece 15.

[0056] In summary, in the manner described above, the overall processing time required for cutting and removing or conveying the workpiece parts 16a,b, 16c, 16c' from the cutting area S of the laser cutting facility 2 into the storage area L can be reduced, and thus the productivity of the machine assembly 1 can be increased significantly.

Claims

1. A method for transporting a workpiece part from a cutting area of a laser cutting machine to a storage area, the method comprising: moving at least one first holding device for holding the workpiece part along a first guide in a transport direction transverse to the movement direction of the laser cutting head of the laser cutting machine, and moving at least one second holding device for holding the workpiece part along a second guide in the transport direction transverse to the movement direction of the laser cutting head, wherein a first workpiece part cut in a first half of the workpiece with reference to the movement direction of the laser cutting head in the cutting area is transported from the cutting area to the storage area by the at least one first holding device, a second workpiece part cut in a second half of the workpiece with reference to the movement direction of the laser cutting head in the cutting area is transported from the cutting area to the storage area by the at least one second holding device, and the transport of the first workpiece part and the second workpiece part occurs alternately correspondingly.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein during the transport of the first workpiece part by the at least one first holding device, the second workpiece part is cut out from the workpiece, and during the transport of the second workpiece part, the first workpiece part is cut out from the workpiece.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the alternating transport of these first workpiece parts and these second workpiece parts starts respectively from the lateral edges of the workpiece with reference to the movement direction of the laser cutting head and proceeds to the midline of the workpiece, or the alternating transport of these first workpiece parts and these second workpiece parts starts respectively from the midline of the workpiece and goes outwards.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the transport of these first workpiece parts starts from a first lateral edge of the workpiece with reference to the movement direction of the laser cutting head and proceeds to the midline of the workpiece, and the transport of these second workpiece parts starts from the midline of the workpiece and proceeds to a second lateral edge of the workpiece with reference to the movement direction of the laser cutting head.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein these first workpiece parts and these second workpiece parts to be transported alternately are arranged in a plurality of rows extending parallel to the movement direction of the laser cutting head.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein a workpiece part cut at the midline of the workpiece in a corresponding row is transported from the cutting area to the storage area as the first or last workpiece part of the corresponding row.

7. The method according to either claim 5 or 6, wherein the last cut workpiece part of the first row is transported from the cutting area to the storage area by the at least one first holding device, and wherein the last cut workpiece part of the second row immediately following the first row is transported from the cutting area to the storage area by the at least one second holding device.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein These first workpiece parts are cut out at a first cutting-out position along their cutting contours, and these second workpiece parts are cut out at a second cutting-out position along their cutting contours. The first and second cutting-out positions are located on opposite sides of the respective cutting contours with reference to the movement direction of the laser cutting head.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein, each of the first and second cutting-out positions is located on a side of the respective cutting contour facing the midline of the workpiece.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, these first workpiece parts are stored on a first side of the storage surface of the storage area with reference to the midline of the workpiece, and wherein these second workpiece parts are stored on a second side of the storage surface of the storage area with reference to the midline of the workpiece.

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, all the first workpiece parts have the same geometry.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein, all the workpiece parts have the same geometry.

13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein, the first workpiece parts and the second workpiece parts have different geometries.

14. A method for transporting workpiece parts from the cutting area of a laser cutting machine to a storage area, the method comprising: moving at least one first holding device for holding the workpiece parts along a first guide in a transport direction transverse to the movement direction of the laser cutting head of the laser cutting machine, and moving at least one second holding device for holding the workpiece parts along a second guide in the transport direction transverse to the movement direction of the laser cutting head, cutting the workpiece parts along a first section of the cutting contour while the at least one first holding device or the at least one second holding device moves in the transport direction during this time, and cutting the workpiece parts along a second section of the cutting contour before the workpiece parts are cut out at the cutting-out position, while the workpiece parts are held by the at least one first holding device or by the at least one second holding device during this time.

Images