Drilling and / or die cutting unit

Abstract

A drilling and / or die-cutting unit, in particular for flat workpieces made of deformable materials, such as textiles, comprising a robotic arm on the wrist of which an electromechanical member adapted to operably support a drilling or die-cutting drill bit is mounted. The electromechanical component comprises a motor set of annular shape extending around a motor axis of rotation and is provided with coupling means for coupling to a drilling or die-cutting drill bit, said coupling means being adapted to support a drilling or die-cutting drill bit coaxial with said motor axis of rotation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a unit for drilling and / or die cutting, in particular for flat workpieces in deformable materials, such as textiles. Background Art

[0002] The drilling unit mentioned herein can be used, for example, in a cutting machine for textiles or other flat, deformable materials, adapted to perform blade cutting in shapes or along lines by importing cutting paths (called "nesting" in industry jargon) via software. In fact, in addition to cutting, these machines may also need to make holes in the material, even holes of different sizes.

[0003] Thus, in some known embodiments, an automatic cutting machine of the type described above includes a cutting platform that supports a cutting mat and that extends between an area for loading flat workpieces onto the cutting mat and an area for unloading the flat workpieces from the cutting mat. The cutting mat also serves as a conveyor belt and can therefore translate on the cutting platform to transport the flat workpieces from the loading area to the unloading area.

[0004] The machine is equipped with a cutting unit having a blade or cutter and movable over a cutting mat to perform flat workpiece cutting of closed shapes or other figures (such as simple cutting performed along a line) according to a predetermined cutting path. For example, the cutting unit is mounted on a beam that can slide along the direction of travel of the cutting mat. The cutting unit can also slide along the beam and thus be orthogonal to the direction of travel of the cutting mat. In this way, the cutting blade can reach any position in the plane defined by the cutting mat.

[0005] In the automotive, aerospace, clothing and composites sectors, very long nests (e.g. 10-12 m) are often placed with many holes, e.g. the diameter of the holes can vary between 1 and 30 mm. These holes need to be fixed to the support structure of the finished product, e.g. by means of clips, cutting materials.

[0006] For example, in cars, soft lining parts of the hood or luggage compartment are attached to metal structures by means of buttons and clips engaging with these holes; some deformable parts of headrests also need to have holes as circular markings to match the headrest with decorative parts, padding, etc.

[0007] Currently, in order to drill these holes during the working cycle of an automatic cutting machine, it is necessary to mount one or more devices, such as drills and / or dies, on the cutting head beam, the diameter of which corresponds to the size of the hole.

[0008] It is therefore quite clear that such a drilling device, being associated with a cutting head and therefore subject to size and positioning constraints, may not be designed so as to optimize its performance and facilitate tool switching operations for making holes of different sizes. Summary of the invention

[0009] The object of the present invention is to propose a drilling unit, in particular but not exclusively for cutting machines for flat workpieces, which can provide high performance and reduce the time of tool switching operations.

[0010] This object is achieved by a drilling unit according to claim 1. The dependent claims describe preferred or advantageous embodiments of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The features and advantages of the drilling unit according to the invention will become clear from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, which description is provided purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a drilling and / or die-cutting unit according to the invention;

[0013] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of an electromechanical component of a drilling and / or die-cutting unit in FIG. 1 , on which a die-cutting tool is mounted;

[0014] Figure 2a is from Figure 2 A plan view of the electromechanical components viewed from above;

[0015] Figure 2b is an axial cross-sectional view of an electromechanical component and its die-cutting tool;

[0016] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a separate die cutting tool in one embodiment;

[0017] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a cutting machine comprising a drilling and / or die-cutting unit according to the invention in one embodiment;

[0018] Figure 4a yes Figure 4 an elevation view of the machine in FIG. 1 ; and

[0019] Figure 4b is from Figure 4 A plan view of the machine from the top, with the two different working areas indicated by dotted lines. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] In said figures, 20 denotes as a whole a drilling and / or die-cutting unit for drilling holes in a flat workpiece made of a deformable material.

[0021] The drilling and / or die-cutting unit 20 is particularly, but not exclusively, suitable for use on a cutting machine 1 for automatically cutting flat workpieces of deformable material, such as textiles.

[0022] The cutting machine 1 is capable of processing a single flat workpiece (a single-layer machine in the case of textiles) or a plurality of superimposed flat workpieces (a multi-layer stack in the case of textiles). In the latter case, the processing unit described below is capable of processing all superimposed flat workpieces (stacks) simultaneously, as if they were a single piece. In the remainder of this description, for ease of explanation, the term "flat workpiece" will therefore be used both for a single flat element and for a plurality of flat elements superimposed to form a stack.

[0023] In the following description, the drilling and / or die-cutting unit 20 is used on this cutting machine 1 , but this use should only be regarded as an example of a possible application of the drilling and / or die-cutting unit according to the invention.

[0024] The machine 1 comprises a cutting deck 10 supporting a cutting mat 12. The cutting deck 10 extends between a loading area 10a where a planar workpiece is loaded onto the cutting mat 12 and an unloading area 10b where the planar workpiece is unloaded from the cutting mat 12.

[0025] The cutting mat 12 is made of a pin mat or a felt material that specifically allows a cutting blade to pass through, for example. In addition, the cutting mat 12 can be provided with a workpiece clamping device that is suitable for clamping a flat workpiece on the surface of the cutting mat 12, such as a suction device.

[0026] In one embodiment, the cutting mat 12 can be translated on the cutting platform 10 to transport the flat workpiece from the loading area 10a to the unloading area 10b (see Figure 1 and Figure 1 b). For example, the cutting mat 12 may be moved as a conveyor belt (or a plurality of adjacent conveyor belts) and thus wound around two (or more) drive rollers located at least in the loading area 10a and the unloading area 10b.

[0027] The machine 1 is equipped with a cutting unit 14. The cutting unit 14 is equipped with a blade or knife. The blade or knife can be fixed (such as in the case of single-layer cutting) or suitable for vertical movement to perform flat workpiece cutting (such as in the case of multi-layer textiles).

[0028] The cutting unit 14 may be of the type commonly used in these automatic textile cutting machines, so its structure and operation are known to those skilled in the art and need no further description.An example of a cutting head is described in WO2014064568A2 in the name of the same applicant.

[0029] The cutting unit 14 can move over the first area A1 of the cutting mat 12 (see Figure 1 b) to perform a flat workpiece cutting according to a predetermined cutting path. Thus, the coordinates of the predetermined cutting path are referenced to the first area A1 of the cutting mat. For example, the coordinates of the cutting path are calculated relative to a reference point of the first area A1, for example coinciding with a vertex in the first area A1.

[0030] In one embodiment, the first area A1 corresponds to the entire area of ​​the cutting machine that is engaged by the cutting mat 12 .

[0031] In one embodiment, the cutting unit 14 is mounted on a beam 16 that extends above the cutting deck 10 perpendicular to the direction of travel (T) of the cutting mat 12 and is slidable along side guides 162 of the cutting deck 10 that extend parallel to the direction of travel of the cutting mat 12 .

[0032] The cutting unit 14 can also slide along the beam 16. Thus, the blade can reach any position in the plane defined by the first area A1.

[0033] The machine 1 is equipped with at least one drilling and / or die-cutting unit 20 suitable for drilling holes in flat workpieces.

[0034] In the context of this specification, the term "drilling" refers to making smaller diameter holes, which requires a cold drill or hot drill bit similar to a drilling drill bit; the term "die cutting" refers to making larger diameter holes, which requires rotating the die and then using an ejector to eject the material still inserted in the die after die cutting.

[0035] In a general embodiment, the drilling and / or die cutting unit 20 is movable over the second area A2 of the cutting mat 12. The drilling and / or die cutting unit 20 is adapted to drill holes in a flat workpiece according to a predetermined drilling and / or die cutting path.

[0036] In one embodiment, the second area A2 coincides with the first area A1 , and thus may correspond to the area where the cutting machine is engaged by the cutting mat 12 .

[0037] In a variant embodiment, the second area A2 is an area within the area A1.

[0038] In a variant embodiment, the second area A2 is at least partially different from the first area A1.

[0039] exist Figure 1 In the embodiment shown in b, the first area A1 and the second area A2 are two different areas adjacent to each other.

[0040] Thus, the coordinates of the predetermined drilling and / or die cutting path may be referenced to the second area A2 of the cutting mat 12 .

[0041] It should be noted that if the cutting mat 12 is a movable mat for conveying a flat workpiece, the first area A1 and the second area A2 of the cutting mat 12 do not necessarily refer to a physical portion on the cutting mat 12, but rather to a portion where the surface of the cutting platform 10 engages with the side of the cutting mat facing outward (i.e., upward). On the other hand, if the cutting machine 1 is operated using a fixed cutting mat 12 and the flat workpiece is advanced along the cutting mat 12 by other processing devices, these first areas A1 and the second areas A2 may also be considered as part of the cutting mat 12.

[0042] In one embodiment, the drilling and / or die cutting unit 20 is movable over the second area A2 independently of the movement of the cutting unit 14 over the first area A1 .

[0043] However, the drilling and / or die-cutting unit 20 is a unit separate from the cutting unit 14 , that is to say it is placed on a supporting structure different from the supporting structure supporting the cutting unit 14 .

[0044] The cutting unit 14 and the drilling and / or die-cutting unit 20 are controlled by an electronic control unit 30 .

[0045] The electronic control unit 30 is programmed to actuate the cutting unit 14 drilling and / or die-cutting unit 20 simultaneously during at least one phase of cutting a flat workpiece.

[0046] In case the first area A1 and the second area A2 are at least partially different, the electronic control unit 30 is programmed to actuate the drilling and / or die cutting unit 20 when the flat workpiece at least partially enters the second area A2 of the cutting mat 12 .

[0047] In case the first area A1 and the second area A2 coincide with each other, the electronic control unit 30 is programmed to manage the operation of the cutting unit 14 and the drilling and / or die cutting unit 20 so that the two units can operate simultaneously without interfering with each other.

[0048] Thus, the two processes can be carried out simultaneously (at least during one phase of the machine's working cycle), i.e. in parallel, instead of alternately as in existing machines. The simultaneous operation of the cutting unit and the drilling and / or die-cutting unit within the working cycle of the material reduces downtime and reduces the material crossing time of the material to be cut and drilled (or to be subjected to other processing), with obvious advantages in terms of working cycle productivity.

[0049] Furthermore, a cutting unit that is not loaded with components required for drilling or other machining, for example, is lighter and therefore more efficient.

[0050] In some embodiments, the machine 1 is provided with a position sensor adapted to provide the electronic control unit 30 with information about the position of the flat workpiece relative to the first area A1 and the second area A2 of the cutting mat 12. In this way, the electronic control unit 30 actuates the drilling and / or die-cutting unit 20, for example, when the portion of the flat workpiece subjected to drilling and / or die-cutting enters the second area A2.

[0051] In one embodiment, the machine 1 includes a mat actuator (not shown) that is controllable by the electronic control unit 30 for automatic translation of the cutting mat 12 on the cutting deck 10 .

[0052] In one embodiment, the electronic control unit 30 is programmed to drive the mat actuator such that translation of the cutting mat 12 occurs intermittently, ie, stepwise.

[0053] In a variant embodiment, the electronic control unit 30 is programmed to drive the mat actuator so that the translation of the cutting mat 12 occurs continuously. In this case, the cutting unit 14 and the drilling and / or die-cutting unit 20 are controllable so that the cutting and drilling and / or die-cutting are performed while the cutting mat 12 is moving.

[0054] In one embodiment, the cutting path is described in a CAD file, which also includes a drilling and / or die-cutting path. The electronic control unit 30 receives the CAD file and uses the coordinates of the cutting path and the drilling and / or die-cutting path to provide command instructions for actuating the cutting unit 14 and the drilling and / or die-cutting unit 20.

[0055] In one embodiment, the second area A2 of the cutting mat is defined downstream or upstream of the first area A1 of the cutting mat in the direction of travel (T) of the planar workpiece.

[0056] More specifically, where the portion of the cutting platform engaged by the cutting mat 12 has a rectangular area, Figure 1In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 b, the first area and the second area are two substantially continuous and adjacent rectangular parts. In other words, the first area and the second area are two subareas of the rectangular area of ​​the cutting mat 12.

[0057] The drilling and die cutting unit 20 released from the cutting unit 14 can be designed to produce holes in a flat workpiece very accurately and quickly, even holes of different diameters.

[0058] In one embodiment, the drilling and / or die cutting unit 20 includes a robotic arm 24 .

[0059] In case of applying the cutting machine 1 , the robot arm 24 may be positioned downstream or upstream of the cutting unit 14 along the travel direction (T) of the flat workpiece on the cutting platform.

[0060] Mounted on the wrist 24 ′ of the robotic arm 24 is an electromechanical assembly 26 adapted to operably support the drilling or die cutting drill bit 22 .

[0061] For example, the robot arm 24 is supported by an arm beam 28 that is secured to the cutting deck 10 and extends perpendicular to the direction of travel (T) of the planar workpiece between opposite sides of the cutting deck.

[0062] In an alternative embodiment, the robot arm 24 may also be attached to a structure above the cutting machine 1 .

[0063] In one embodiment, the robotic arm 24 is adapted to perform movement only in a plane parallel to the planar workpiece to be drilled (e.g., a horizontal plane), and the electromechanical member 26 is adapted to move the drilling or die cutting drill head 22 in a direction perpendicular to the planar workpiece to be drilled (e.g., in a vertical direction).

[0064] In one embodiment, the electromechanical member 26 comprises a motor group 30 (also called a “torque” motor) of annular shape, that is to say extending coaxially around a motor rotation axis. The motor group 30 is provided with means for coupling with the drilling or die cutting drill head 22 .

[0065] In one embodiment, such coupling means is adapted to support a drilling or die cutting drill bit 22 coaxially with the motor rotation axis. In other words, the motor pack 30 may be mounted on the wrist 24' of the robot arm 24 so that the motor rotation axis is oriented vertically, coaxially with the direction in which the drilling or die cutting drill bit 22 is inserted into a flat workpiece.

[0066] In one embodiment, the motor pack 30 is attached to the lower end of a screw rod 32 supported by the wrist 24' of the robot arm 24. A rod-driven motor (not shown) housed in the wrist 24' can be actuated to rotate and translate the screw rod. In other words, the rotation of the screw rod 32 corresponds to its translation in the vertical direction, and therefore corresponds to the movement of the motor pack 30 and the drilling or die-cutting drill head 22 connected to the motor pack in the vertical direction.

[0067] Figure 2b and Figure 3 An example of a tool set 40 is shown that includes a drilling or die cutting drill bit 22. A die cutting drill bit differs from a drilling drill bit in that the die cutting drill bit consists of a hollow tubular body terminating in a sharp edge.

[0068] The drilling and die cutting drill head 22 terminates at the top in a ring gear 222 adapted to be rotationally coupled with a corresponding ring gear of the rotor of the motor pack 30 .

[0069] Each drilling or die cutting bit 22 is rotatably supported by a tool holding plate 42 .

[0070] The tool holding plate 42 is provided with an axial projection 44, which is for example conical in shape, facing the motor group 30 and accommodating a ball bearing 46 (or an equivalent rotatably supported device) for rotating the drilling or die-cutting drill head 22. The upper part of the bearing ring gear 222 of the drilling or die-cutting drill head protrudes above this axial projection 44.

[0071] In one embodiment, the axial protrusion 44 is adapted to geometrically couple with a lower portion of the body of the motor pack 30. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the axial protrusion 44 or a portion thereof forms a motor pack 30 attachment element.

[0072] For example, in one embodiment, the means of coupling with the tool group include one or more blocking pins or balls or other radial blocking means supported by the motor group 30 and adapted to engage in corresponding recesses formed in the collar 44' extending from the top of the axial protrusion 44. Once the motor group 30 is in contact with the axial protrusion 44 of the tool holding plate 42, the rotation of the screw 32 and therefore of the body of the motor group 30 causes an axial block between the motor group 30 and the axial protrusion 44. For example, the screw 32 rotates 45°. In fact, due to this rotation, the above-mentioned radial blocking means engage with corresponding recesses of the collar 44'.

[0073] In a variant embodiment, the body of the motor pack 30 comprises or supports a pneumatically operable tool pack coupling means (for example in the form of a clamp) suitable for providing a coupling between the motor pack 30 and the tool pack 40 .

[0074] At the bottom, the drilling or die cutting drill bit 22 is slidably guided into a lower workpiece support plate 48. This lower plate 48 is resiliently connected to the tool holding plate 42, for example by means of a pair of resilient elements 50, such as coil springs wound on respective side guide posts 52. The lower plate 48 is adapted to rest on the flat workpiece to hold it in place when the drilling or die cutting drill bit 22 is lowered to drill through the flat workpiece.

[0075] In one embodiment, the tool retaining plate 42 forms an anchor extension 42 ′ that is adapted to couple to a support bracket 54 for the tool set 40 .

[0076] In one embodiment, a support bracket 54 for the tool set 40 is mounted on the arm beam 28 that supports the robot arm 24 .

[0077] Thus, the arm beam 28 also functions as a tool holding magazine to support a tool set 40 having drilling or die cutting bits 22 of varying diameters.

[0078] exist Figure 2b In one embodiment particularly shown in FIG. 2 , the robot arm 24 includes an ejector rod 60 that can be translated in the die-cutting drill head 22 to eject the cut material in the die-cutting drill head 22 .

[0079] In one embodiment, the ejector rod 60 is connected to a piston rod 62 of a pneumatic cylinder 64 mounted on top of the screw rod 32. In this embodiment, the screw rod 32 is hollow and slidingly receives the piston rod 62.

[0080] In other embodiments, the ejector motor drilling tool set does not work coaxially with the robot's screw, but can be fixed to the robot's screw with a side bracket to work in an "offset" manner.

[0081] The cutting machine 1 equipped with the drilling and / or die-cutting unit 20 according to the invention operates as follows.

[0082] If the cutting mat 12 is of the conveyor type, the flat workpiece is advanced from the loading area to the unloading area, for example, by actuating the cutting mat.

[0083] When the flat workpiece is only within the first area (A1) or the second area (A2) of the cutting mat, the cutting unit 24 or the drilling and / or die cutting unit 20, respectively, is actuated.

[0084] On the other hand, when the flat workpiece is at least partially within the first and second areas ( A1 , A2 ) of the cutting mat, the electronic control unit 30 actuates the cutting unit 14 and the drilling and / or die cutting unit 20 simultaneously.

[0085] In one embodiment, the cutting path is described in a CAD file that also includes drilling and / or die cutting paths.

[0086] In this case, the electronic control unit of the cutting machine acquires the CAD file and subsequently transmits the coordinates of the cutting path to the electric actuators of the cutting unit 14 and the coordinates of the drilling and / or die cutting path to the electric actuators of the drilling and / or die cutting unit 20 .

[0087] The drilling and / or die cutting unit 20 operates in the following manner.

[0088] The robot arm 24 is commanded to continue coupling the tool set 40 .

[0089] In particular, the screw rod 32 is positioned together with the motor group 30 above the tool group 40; the screw rod 32 is commanded to descend to a position defined by the coupling between the axial protrusion 44 of the tool holding plate and the body of the motor group 30. At this point, the means of coupling with the tool group 40 are actuated. For example, the screw rod 32 is rotated (e.g., at an angle of 45°) to provide a coupling between the motor group 30 and the tool group 40. In other embodiments, as described above, pneumatic coupling means (e.g., in the form of a clamp) are actuated to clamp and block the tool group 40.

[0090] Once the tool set 40 is coupled, the robot arm 24 is commanded to bring the tool set 40 to a position for drilling a hole in a flat workpiece.

[0091] The method of punching holes by die cutting is as follows.

[0092] The motor group 30 starts to rotate, which also causes the die-cutting drill 22 to rotate accordingly; the screw rod 32 descends so that the cutting edge of the die-cutting drill 22 penetrates the material of the flat workpiece, for example by causing it to exceed the thickness of the processed material by about one centimeter. After a predetermined time interval (for example, half a second), the screw rod 32 returns to the inactive raised position. During this step of raising the screw rod 32, the ejector cylinder 64 positioned above the screw rod 32 is actuated. The cylinder 64 actuates the associated piston 62 and subsequently the ejector rod 60 connected to the associated piston to discharge the cut material from the die.

[0093] The drilling of the hole is performed in the same manner with the drill bit, the only difference (apart from the higher RPM of the torque motor) being that the ejector rod 60 is held in an idle, raised position since there is no cutting material within the drill bit.

[0094] The machining cycle consists of drilling all holes in sequence, where the same die or drilling bit is required, or a tool change is performed.

[0095] If a tool change is required, the robot arm 24 is commanded to position itself above the empty tool set 40 support bracket 54. The screw rod 32 is lowered until the coupling extension 42' of the tool holding plate 40 engages with the support bracket 54. At this point, the motor group 30 can be disengaged from the tool set 40, for example by rotating the screw rod 32 by 45° or by deactivating the pneumatic coupling means.

[0096] Then, the screw rod 32 is lifted and repositioned on top of the tool set 40 to be coupled. The coupling of the new tool set 40 is completed according to the above method.

[0097] It should be noted that the drilling and / or die cutting unit 20 may use a die or blade suitable for forming a shaped cutout, such as a V-shaped cutout, instead of a hole, instead of a drilling or die cutting drill bit 22. However, except for obvious adjustments that can be made as needed by those skilled in the art, the structure and operation of the drilling and / or die cutting unit remain essentially unchanged.

[0098] Without departing from the scope of the appended claims, a person skilled in the art may make numerous changes, adjustments, adaptations and substitutions of elements functionally equivalent to the embodiments of the drilling and / or die-cutting unit according to the invention to meet the attendant requirements. Each feature described as belonging to a possible embodiment can be obtained independently of the other embodiments described.

Claims

1. A drilling and / or die-cutting unit, in particular for flat workpieces made of deformable material, such as fabric, comprising a robot arm on the wrist of which are mounted electromechanical members adapted to operatively support a drilling or die-cutting drill bit, wherein: The electromechanical member comprises a motor group of annular shape extending around a motor rotation axis and provided with coupling means for coupling to the drilling or die-cutting drill head, the coupling means being adapted to support the drilling or die-cutting drill head coaxially with the motor rotation axis.

2. The drilling and / or die-cutting unit according to claim 1, wherein: The robot arm is adapted to move only in a plane parallel to the flat workpiece to be drilled, such as a horizontal plane, and wherein the electromechanical member is adapted to move the drilling or die cutting drill head in a direction perpendicular to the flat workpiece to be drilled, such as in a vertical direction.

3. The drilling and / or die-cutting unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The motor pack is fixed to the lower end of a screw rod supported by a wrist of the robot arm, wherein a rod actuation motor is housed in the wrist and is operable to cause rotational translation of the screw rod.

4. A drilling and / or die-cutting unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The drilling or die cutting drill bit terminates at the top in a ring gear adapted to be rotationally coupled with a corresponding ring gear of the rotor of the motor group.

5. A drilling and / or die-cutting unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The drilling or die-cutting drill bit is rotatably supported by a tool holding plate, and an axial protrusion extends from the tool holding plate, the axial protrusion accommodating a rotatable supporting device of the drilling or die-cutting drill bit and the axial protrusion is suitable for geometrically coupling with a lower part of the body of the motor group.

6. Drilling and / or die-cutting unit according to the preceding claim, wherein: The coupling device for coupling to the tool group comprises one or more blocking pins or balls or other radial blocking devices, which are supported by the motor group and are adapted to engage in corresponding recesses formed in an axial collar extending from the top of the axial protrusion, causing the screw rod to rotate, and thereby the body of the motor group to rotate, so as to cause an axial block between the motor group and the axial protrusion.

7. The drilling and / or die-cutting unit according to claim 5, wherein: The body of the motor pack comprises or supports coupling means for a pneumatically operable tool pack, for example in the form of a clamp, the coupling means being adapted to provide a coupling between the motor pack and the axial projection.

8. A drilling and / or die cutting unit according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein: The drilling or die cutting drill bit is slidably guided in a lower workpiece support plate which is resiliently connected to the tool holding plate.

9. A drilling and / or die cutting unit according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein: The robot arm is mounted on a support structure, and wherein the tool holding plate forms an anchor extension adapted to be coupled to a support bracket fixed to the support structure.

10. A drilling and / or die-cutting unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The robotic arm includes an ejector rod that is translatable within the die-cutting drill bit to eject cut material from the die-cutting drill bit.

11. The drilling and / or die-cutting unit according to claims 3 and 10, wherein: The screw is hollow and slidably receives the ejector rod, which is actuated by an actuator, such as a pneumatic actuator, mounted on top of the screw.

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