Machining center

Abstract

The invention relates to a machining center (10) for machining workpieces (20), comprising a machining unit (15) arranged in a machining region (11) of the machining center (10), and comprising a machining tool (16) for machining workpieces (20) relative to a machining axis (BA1), the machining center (10) comprising: a transport vehicle (30) having a receiving device (40) for receiving at least two workpieces (20), wherein the transport vehicle (30) is mounted so as to be movable in a translational motion degree of freedom at least between a first position in the machining center (10), in particular in the machining region (11), and a second position outside the machining center (10), and wherein the transport vehicle (30) and / or the receiving device (40) is mounted so as to be movable in a translational motion degree of freedom.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a machining center for machining workpieces, wherein the machining center includes a machining unit disposed in a machining area, and the machining unit includes a workpiece machining tool for machining workpieces. Background Art

[0002] Corresponding machining centers for machining workpieces are known from the prior art and can, for example, be designed as turning and / or milling centers, so that it is possible to perform, for example, turning and / or milling of workpieces.

[0003] For an efficient production process of the machined workpieces, it is important to transport the workpieces to be machined to the machining area of the corresponding machining center as quickly as possible, or to transport the machined workpieces from the machining area of the corresponding machining center as quickly as possible.

[0004] In the prior art, solutions have been proposed to transport the workpieces to be machined to the machining area of the corresponding machining center, or to transport the machined workpieces from the machining area of the corresponding machining center, by means of a transport unit.

[0005] However, the solutions known from the prior art need to be improved or further developed in terms of, for example, efficiency, practicality, and reliability. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Based on this, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved machining center for machining workpieces.

[0007] This object is achieved by a machining center for machining workpieces according to independent claim 1. The dependent claims relate to possible embodiments of the machining center.

[0008] The first aspect of the present invention relates to a machining center for machining workpieces. Thus, the machining center is used for machining workpieces. The machining of the workpiece by metal cutting can be understood as particularly referring to the drilling and / or turning and / or milling of the workpiece. Thus, the machining center can be constructed as or include a drilling center, a turning center, or a milling center, or a combined drilling and / or turning and / or milling center.

[0009] The workpiece or the workpiece that can be machined by the machining center is generally a metal workpiece. For example, the metal workpiece can be, for example, a workpiece made of a ferrous metal material. The workpiece that can be machined by the machining center can have a rotationally symmetric shape or a basic shape. Thus, the workpiece can be, for example, at least partially, optionally completely, disc-shaped, annular disc-shaped, cylindrical, or hollow cylindrical.

[0010] The machining center includes a machining area in which the machining of the workpiece is carried out. The machining chamber, which can also be referred to as the machining area, generally also contains the machine tool or the frame of the machining center.

[0011] The machining area can be delimited or defined by the housing structure of the machining center. The housing structure can be formed by or include one or more housing structure elements. The housing structure elements can form the walls delimiting the machining area. At least one housing structure element can be movably mounted relative to at least one other housing structure element in at least one degree of freedom of movement (i.e., for example, in a degree of freedom of movement of sliding and / or rotation) so as to move to at least one open position and / or move to at least one closed position, wherein in the open position there is a possibility of accessing the machining area, and in the closed position there is no possibility of accessing the machining area.

[0012] At least one machining unit is provided in the machining area, and the machining unit includes a machining tool for machining a workpiece. The machining tool can be, for example, a drilling tool and / or a turning tool and / or a milling tool. Thus, at least one machining unit can be designed as or include a drilling unit, a turning unit or a milling unit or a combined drilling and / or turning and / or milling unit. According to a specific embodiment, the machining unit and / or the machining tool can be movably mounted, for example, relative to a horizontal and / or vertical spatial axis in at least one translational and / or rotational degree of freedom of movement, for example, so as to be able to machine the workpiece to be machined in different cross-sections and / or different directions. Thus, the machining center can perform complete machining of the workpiece to be machined.

[0013] The machining tool is particularly configured to machine the workpiece to be machined in or relative to at least one machining axis. For a workpiece having a rotational axis or a central axis and to be machined, generally, when machining is performed by the machining unit, it is usually coaxially arranged relative to at least one machining axis or parallel to at least one machining axis. At least one machining axis can be a horizontally aligned axis. In particular, the at least one machining axis can be an axis oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine tool or the machine frame. For a workpiece having a rotational axis or a central axis and to be machined, generally, when machining is performed by the machining unit, it is usually coaxially arranged parallel to the machining axis relative to at least one machining axis.

[0014] As shown below, a lengthened machine tool or machine frame can be selected such that it not only extends into the machining area but also extends outside the machining area. In particular, the machine tool or the machine frame can selectively extend into the area outside the housing structure of the machining center so that the machine tool or the machine frame has parts located inside and outside the housing structure of the machining center.

[0015] The machining center further includes at least one transport vehicle. The transport vehicle is designed to have or include a receiving device for receiving at least two workpieces. Thus, the transport vehicle may include, for example, a base (main body) structure in the form of a chassis or a Fahrgestell, on which a receiving device for receiving at least two workpieces is provided or formed.

[0016] Thus, the receiving device is basically configured to receive at least two workpieces, which may be unprocessed workpieces and / or workpieces that have been at least partially processed. However, this does not mean that during the operation of the machining center, the receiving device must always receive at least two workpieces; the receiving device is only configured in principle for this purpose.

[0017] The reception of the respective workpiece by the receiving device can be understood as the direct or indirect fixation of the respective workpiece. Thus, the corresponding movable part of the receiving device configured to receive at least one workpiece can act directly or indirectly on the respective workpiece in order to directly or indirectly fix the respective workpiece. Thus, the receiving device can be configured to directly receive at least one workpiece; thus, the corresponding workpiece can be received without a receiving device that inserts a device system for supporting the workpiece (such as a clamping or tensioning system). The corresponding movable part of the receiving device can engage with the workpiece here to receive the workpiece. As an alternative or additional way, the receiving device can be configured to indirectly receive at least one workpiece, so that the corresponding workpiece is received by the insertion of the receiving device and a device system for supporting the workpiece (such as a clamping or tensioning system). The corresponding movable part of the receiving device can engage with the device system here to receive the device system. The corresponding device system can be designed to include, for example, a chuck, especially a power chuck or a zero-point clamping system.

[0018] The reception of the corresponding workpiece by the receiving device usually includes the workpiece to be machined received or fixed by the receiving device, so that the workpiece to be machined can be transferred from the receiving device to the clamping system of the machining center or taken over by the latter in the machining area. Similarly, the reception of the corresponding workpiece to be machined or already machined by the receiving device usually means that the already machined workpiece can be received or fixed by the receiving device so that it can be transferred from the clamping system of the machining center to the receiving device or taken over by the latter in the machining area.

[0019] In principle, it is also conceivable that a workpiece picked up by a picking device can be processed as expected by a processing unit in the machining area; in this case, the workpiece does not have to be transferred to or taken over by the clamping system of the machining center.

[0020] Therefore, the receiving device 40 is configured to receive or fix the corresponding workpiece 20 in a specific direction and / or position. In particular, the receiving device may be configured to receive or fix the corresponding workpiece in a direction and / or position corresponding to the direction and / or position in which the workpiece can be transferred to the clamping system of the machining center, or corresponding to the direction and / or position in which the workpiece can be machined by or completed machining by the machining unit. Therefore, the receiving device may be specifically configured to receive or fix the corresponding workpiece, for example, in a direction and / or position where the rotational axis or central axis of the workpiece is coaxially arranged or parallel to the machining axis with respect to the machining axis. Receiving the workpiece in such a direction and / or position enables the workpiece to be transferred to the clamping system of the machining center or machined by the machining unit.

[0021] The transport vehicle is movably mounted together with the receiving device at least between a first position at least within the machining center (especially within the machining area) and a second position outside the machining center in the translational degree of freedom of movement. Therefore, the transport vehicle can be translated along the movement axis to at least a first position within the machining center (especially within the machining area) and to at least a second position outside the machining center. The movement axis of the transport vehicle can be, for example, coaxially arranged or aligned or parallel to the machining axis with respect to the machining axis.

[0022] At least one first position may correspond to the transfer position or machining position of at least one workpiece received by the receiving device. Therefore, at least one workpiece received by the receiving device can be arranged or aligned at at least one first position within the machining area so that it is in a transfer position where it can be transferred to the clamping system of the machining center (therefore, the machining of the workpiece by the machining unit or machining tool is performed in the clamped state by the clamping system). Optionally, at least one workpiece received by the receiving device can be arranged or aligned at at least one first position within the machining area so that it is in a machining position where it can be machined by the machining unit or the machining tool.

[0023] If the machining center includes a housing structure, at least one first position is generally located within the housing structure of the machining center, while at least one second position is generally located outside the housing structure of the machining center. If the machining center includes a housing structure having a housing structure element that can be movably supported between an open position and a closed position, then as described above, it may be necessary to move the movably supported housing structure element to the open position in order to move the transport vehicle from the first position to the second position and vice versa.

[0024] Since the transport vehicle can be moved to at least one corresponding second position outside the machining center, it is possible to pick up or load at least one workpiece to be machined onto the pick-up device particularly efficiently outside the machining center (i.e., in particular outside the machining area), and to remove or unload at least one machined workpiece from the pick-up device particularly efficiently outside the machining center (i.e., in particular outside the machining area). The corresponding pick-up or loading and the corresponding removal or unloading operations can be carried out by a loading and unloading device (such as a loading and unloading robot), which can be assigned or has been assigned to the machining center.

[0025] The fact that the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device is movably mounted in terms of the rotational degree of freedom of movement contributes to the particularly efficient removal or unloading of workpieces. Thus, the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device is mounted so as to be individually or together movably in terms of the rotational degree of freedom of movement. By carrying out a corresponding rotational movement or rotational movements of the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device in terms of the rotational degree of freedom of movement, the process of receiving or removing workpieces by means of the receiving device can be carried out more efficiently, especially because: after moving the transport vehicle to the first position (i.e., in particular into the corresponding transfer or machining position), the workpiece received on one side of the receiving device can be brought by a corresponding rotation of the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device into the direction and / or position in which it can be machined, and / or because after moving the transport vehicle to the second position, the machined workpiece received on the other side of the receiving device can be brought by a corresponding rotation of the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device into the direction and / or position in which it can be removed from the receiving device, for example, by means of a loading and unloading device such as a loading and unloading robot.

[0026] In principle, by appropriately rotating the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device in terms of the rotational degree of freedom of movement, each receiving area of the receiving device can be brought into the direction opposite to the workpiece fixing device (such as a clamping system) of the machining center. Based on this, by moving the transport vehicle to the first position, the workpiece received or fixed in the receiving area of the receiving device can be moved to the corresponding transfer or machining position.

[0027] The transport vehicle and / or the receiving device rotates about a rotation axis or rotation axes in at least one rotational degree of freedom of movement. The rotation axis can be an axis that forms an angle, in particular a right angle, with the machining axis, and thus forms an angle or a right angle with the movement axis of the transport vehicle.

[0028] Regarding the rotational degrees of freedom of the receiving device, it generally allows for the rotational movement of the receiving device relative to the transport vehicle, i.e., in particular relative to the aforementioned base (main body) structure of the transport vehicle (such as a base (main body) structure in the form of a chassis or frame). Thus, the receiving device can move relative to the base (main body) structure and is in principle independently movable relative to the base (main body) structure in at least one rotational degree of freedom. For this purpose, the transport vehicle, i.e., in particular the base (main body) structure, can include one or more rotary bearings through which the receiving device is rotatably mounted relative to the base (main body) structure.

[0029] Overall, an improved machining center for machining workpieces is provided.

[0030] In each case, the receiving device can have at least two receiving areas for at least one workpiece, wherein at least one receiving area is generally arranged and / or aligned such that the workpiece can be received or fixed so that when the transport vehicle moves to at least one first position, the workpiece can be moved to a corresponding transfer or machining position. Each receiving area can have or define at least one plane or surface on which at least one workpiece can be received and stably fixed.

[0031] At least two receiving areas of the receiving device are typically provided or formed on different sides of the receiving device; in particular, at least two receiving areas can be provided or formed on opposite sides of the receiving device. If the receiving device has more than two receiving areas, these receiving areas can also be arranged or formed on different sides of the receiving device. For a conceivable embodiment with three receiving areas, the planes or surfaces defined by the respective receiving areas can each be arranged at an angle of 120° relative to each other. For a conceivable embodiment with four receiving areas, the planes or surfaces defined by the respective receiving areas can each be arranged at an angle of 90° relative to each other. Thus, in principle, it can be said that the planes or surfaces n (n is an integer) defined by the respective receiving areas can each be arranged at an angle of α = 360° / n relative to each other.

[0032] It has been mentioned that by means of a corresponding rotation of the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device in at least one degree of rotational freedom, each receiving area can in principle be brought into a direction opposite to the workpiece fixture of the machining center (i.e., in particular a stationary workpiece fixture (such as a clamping system)). Thus, the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device can be movably mounted in a degree of rotational freedom to a first position, in which a first workpiece received and receivable in a first receiving area of the receiving device is arranged or aligned opposite to the workpiece fixture of the machining center. As an alternative or additional way, the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device can be movably mounted in a degree of rotational freedom to a second position, in which a second workpiece received and receivable in a second receiving area of the receiving device is arranged or aligned opposite to the workpiece fixture of the machining center.

[0033] The first position of the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device can be a position rotated 180° relative to a vertical axis of rotation or a certain axis of rotation relative to the second position, and vice versa; this applies in particular to the construction of a receiving device having two receiving areas arranged or formed opposite to each other.

[0034] The receiving device can have a receiving frame, in particular a cage-like or basket-like receiving frame, or have a receiving rack (Aufnahmegestell), in particular a cage-like or basket-like receiving rack. The receiving frame or the receiving rack can consist of one or more frames or frame elements, which are interconnected in one or more spatial directions or spatial planes to form the receiving frame or the receiving rack. The corresponding receiving areas for the workpieces are provided or formed on the receiving frame or the receiving rack.

[0035] As mentioned above, the receiving device can in principle be constructed to fix the workpiece indirectly or directly. Thus, a first fixing device and at least one second fixing device can be provided or constructed on the receiving frame or the receiving rack, the first fixing device being for fixing the first workpiece or for fixing a device system (in particular a clamping or tensioning system) supporting the first workpiece, while at least one second fixing device is for fixing the second workpiece or for fixing a device system (in particular a clamping or tensioning system) supporting the second workpiece.

[0036] The first receiving device may have one or more first fixing elements, and the one or more first fixing elements may be transferred to at least one fixed position and to at least one non-fixed position. In the fixed position, a fixing force of a device system for fixing the first workpiece or supporting the first workpiece is formed. In the non-fixed position, no fixing force of the device system for fixing the first workpiece or supporting the first workpiece is formed. Accordingly, the corresponding first fixing element may be movably provided or formed on a receiving frame or a receiving rack. The first receiving device may be associated with a first receiving area of the receiving device. As an alternative or in addition, the second receiving device may have one or more second fixing elements, and the one or more second fixing elements may be transferred to at least one fixed position and to at least one non-fixed position. In the fixed position, a fixing force of a device system for fixing the second workpiece or supporting the second workpiece is formed. In the non-fixed position, no fixing force of the device system for fixing the second workpiece or supporting the second workpiece is formed. Accordingly, the corresponding second fixing element may be movably provided or formed on a receiving frame or a receiving rack. The second receiving device may be associated with a second receiving area of the receiving device. If the receiving device includes more than two receiving areas, more than two correspondingly configured receiving devices may be provided.

[0037] One or more first fixing elements may be designed as, for example, clamping jaws or tensioning jaws (Klemm-oder Spannbacken), in particular as clamping jaws or tensioning jaws that act coaxially and / or radially with respect to the machining axis or the central axis of the corresponding workpiece in the respective fixed position. In this way, stable mounting of the corresponding workpiece can be achieved.

[0038] As an alternative or in addition, one or more second fixing elements may be designed as, for example, clamping jaws or tensioning jaws, in particular as clamping jaws or tensioning jaws that act coaxially and / or radially with respect to the machining axis or the central axis of the corresponding workpiece in the respective fixed position. In this way, stable mounting of the corresponding workpiece can be achieved.

[0039] Accordingly, the first fixing element and / or the second fixing element may be the above-mentioned movable parts of the receiving device.

[0040] For example, one or more first fixing elements and / or one or more second fixing elements may be arranged or formed in a circumferentially uniform or non-uniform distribution with respect to the machining axis or the central axis of the corresponding workpiece.

[0041] In order to enable the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device to perform corresponding translational and / or rotational movements, the machining center may include a supply device for providing energy to generate at least one driving force, and the supply device causes the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device to perform translational movement and / or rotational movement. In this case, the driving force for causing the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device to perform corresponding translational and / or rotational movements may be generated by a driving medium of a drive unit such as an electric drive unit provided to the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device via the supply device. The driving medium may be an energy carrier in the form of, for example, electrical energy, hydraulic energy or pneumatic energy. Therefore, the drive unit of the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device may be configured as, for example, an electric drive unit, an electromechanical drive unit, a hydraulic drive unit or a pneumatic drive unit, or include such a drive unit.

[0042] The energy carrier provided by the supply device may be provided by or through the output of the supply device in input communication with the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device. Therefore, the supply device may have an output, for example in the form of an output connection of the corresponding energy carrier, through which the energy carrier can be discharged from the machining center. Therefore, the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device may have an input, for example in the form of an input connection of the corresponding energy carrier, through which the carrier can supply the energy carrier to the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device. The corresponding output and the corresponding input may be interconnected by a line connection or an energy supply line (such as a cable, a hose, a pipe, etc.). The corresponding line connection or energy supply line may be accommodated in a carrier provided for this purpose, such as a drag cable, an energy guiding chain, a cable route, etc. A data cable (such as a data cable for transmitting control information) may also be accommodated in the corresponding carrier.

[0043] Therefore, the energy for setting the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device to perform corresponding translational and / or rotational movements can be provided by the supply device of the machining center; thus, the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device do not have to have their own energy supply, and thus the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device are independent of the machining center, because in any case the energy supply required or provided for the operation of the machining center can also be used for the energy supply of the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device. In particular, the energy supply required for the operation of the machining center in any case can be used to generate the corresponding driving force, by which the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device can be set to perform corresponding translational and / or rotational movements. For example, the corresponding driving force can be particularly generated, for example, by an electric drive unit of the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device, and the electric drive unit is driven or will be driven by the energy carrier provided by the supply device.

[0044] Similarly, the energy required to move the fixing element to the corresponding fixed position and non-fixed position, and thus the energy supply to the corresponding fixing device, can also be achieved by the energy supply required or already available for the operation of the machining center.

[0045] The tangible movable storage of a transport vehicle can be realized by various storage devices or elements. Thus, the transport vehicle can be designed as or include a carriage or trolley guided on a transport track (in particular a rail) by means of at least one bearing element (in particular a sliding, ball or roller bearing element). In principle, linear drives or units (such as, for example, sliding drives or units, spindle drives or units, rack and pinion drives or units, etc.) are suitable for movably supporting the transport vehicle in the translational degree of freedom of movement.

[0046] Thus, the transport track can define a translational degree of freedom of movement, and the transport vehicle is movably mounted in at least one first position and at least one second position in the translational degree of freedom of movement as described above. On the side of the transport vehicle and on the side of the transport track (the transport track can be constituted by the machine tool or the frame of a machining center as described above), cooperating guiding elements can be provided, for example, in a form-fitting manner, so that the movement of the transport vehicle in the translational degree of freedom of movement can be stably guided. Here, in particular, in at least some regions, the transport track can be integrated into the machine tool or the frame of the machining center, and the bed or the frame can extend in a region outside the housing structure of the machining center as described above.

[0047] It has been mentioned that the workpiece can be picked up on the picking device and / or removed from the picking device by the picking device. Thus, the machining center can include at least one loading and unloading device, in particular at least one loading and unloading device realized by an industrial robot, or include such a loading and unloading device: which is configured to load at least one workpiece onto the transport vehicle, in particular to move the transport vehicle to a loading position outside the machining center, and / or unload at least one workpiece from the transport vehicle, in particular to move the transport vehicle to an unloading position outside the machining center.

[0048] At least one loading and unloading device can be configured in particular for transferring workpieces, in particular unprocessed workpieces or at least partially processed workpieces, from the machining center to a processing station (such as a setting station or a conversion station) and / or transferring them to another machining center.

[0049] The machining center can include a control device implemented in hardware and / or software, which is configured to control the operation of the machining center. In particular, the control device is configured to control the corresponding movements of the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device, and the corresponding movements of the fixing device elements in a coordinated manner, so as to particularly realize the following operations in an automated or automatic manner: for example, properly loading at least one workpiece to be processed in the receiving device; properly transferring the workpiece to be processed from the receiving device to the clamping system; properly machining at least one workpiece by the machining unit; properly transferring the machined workpiece to the receiving device; and properly unloading at least one machined workpiece from the receiving device.

[0050] Accordingly, a second aspect of the present invention relates to a machining arrangement for machining workpieces. The machining arrangement includes at least one first machining center according to the first aspect of the present invention, at least one processing station (such as a setting station or a conversion station) and / or at least one additional machining center and at least one loading and unloading device. At least one loading and unloading device is configured to transfer workpieces, in particular unprocessed workpieces or at least partially processed workpieces, from at least one first machining center to at least one processing station and / or to at least one additional machining center, and vice versa.

[0051] All statements related to the machining center according to the first aspect of the present invention apply analogously to the machining arrangement according to the second aspect of the present invention.

[0052] The machining arrangement can be configured in various ways relative to the arrangement of the units associated therewith (i.e., at least one first machining center, at least one processing station, and / or transferred to at least one additional machining center). For example, at least one first machining center and at least one processing station and / or at least one additional machining center can be arranged in series, or connected at an angle to each other, in particular parallel to each other. If the machining arrangement includes a plurality of machining centers, at least one loading and unloading device can be arranged between them, for example, capable of transferring workpieces from one machining center to another.

[0053] A third aspect of the present invention relates to a method of operating at least one machining center according to the first aspect of the present invention. The method at least includes the following steps: moving a transport vehicle that has received at least one workpiece to be machined to a position (a first position) within the machining area of the machining center, in particular to a corresponding transfer or machining position, and moving a transport vehicle that has received at least one workpiece machined in the machining area of the machining center to a position (a second position) outside the machining area.

[0054] The method may further include the following steps: causing the transport vehicle or the receiving device to move in a rotational degree of freedom, either outside or inside the processing space. In this way, for example, loading and unloading operations of the receiving device on at least one workpiece can be achieved. For this purpose, a corresponding loading and unloading device can be used, which is configured to directly or indirectly grasp the corresponding workpiece.

[0055] In a specific embodiment, the method may include the following steps:

[0056] - Moving a transport vehicle that has received at least one workpiece to be machined to a position within the machining area, in particular to a transfer or machining position, where the workpiece can be machined by the machining unit;

[0057] - Transfer at least one workpiece from a receiving device to a clamping system of a machining center;

[0058] - Machine at least one workpiece clamped by the clamping system within a machining area by a machining unit;

[0059] - Transfer at least one machined workpiece from the clamping system of the machining center to the receiving device;

[0060] - Move a transport vehicle that has received at least one machined workpiece to a position outside the machining center;

[0061] - Unload at least one machined workpiece from the transport vehicle.

[0062] The method may further include the following steps:

[0063] - Rotate the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device in a rotational degree of freedom;

[0064] - Load a second workpiece to be machined into a pick-up device;

[0065] - Move a transport vehicle that has received a second workpiece to be machined to a position within the machining area, particularly to a transfer or machining position, where the second workpiece can be machined by the machining unit;

[0066] - Transfer at least one second workpiece to be machined from the receiving device to the clamping system of the machining center;

[0067] - Machine at least one second workpiece clamped by the clamping system within the machining area by the machining unit;

[0068] - Transfer at least one machined second workpiece from the clamping system of the machining center to the receiving device;

[0069] - Move a transport vehicle that has received at least one machined second workpiece to a position outside the machining center;

[0070] - Unload at least one machined second workpiece from the transport vehicle.

[0071] In a further specific embodiment, the method may include the following steps:

[0072] - Move a transport vehicle that has received two workpieces to be machined mechanically to a position within the machining area, particularly to a transfer or machining position, where the first workpiece can be machined by the machining unit;

[0073] - Transfer the first workpiece to be machined from the receiving device to the clamping system of the machining center in the machining area;

[0074] - Processing a first workpiece clamped by a clamping system through a processing unit;

[0075] - Transferring the processed first workpiece from the clamping system of the machining center to a receiving device;

[0076] - Moving a transport vehicle that has picked up the processed first workpiece and a second (still unprocessed) workpiece to a position outside the machining center;

[0077] - Unloading the processed first workpiece from the transport vehicle;

[0078] - If necessary, loading a third workpiece to be processed into the receiving device in a free receiving area of the receiving device (for example, in an area that has previously received the first workpiece);

[0079] - Rotating the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device in the rotational degree of freedom such that the second workpiece is brought to a position where the second workpiece is disposed or aligned relative to the workpiece fixing device (such as a clamping system) of the machining center;

[0080] - Moving the transport vehicle to a position within the machining area, in particular to a transfer or processing position, where the second workpiece can be processed by the processing unit;

[0081] - Transferring the second workpiece to be processed from the receiving device to the clamping system of the machining center;

[0082] - Processing the second workpiece clamped by the clamping system through the processing unit;

[0083] - Transferring the processed second workpiece from the clamping system to the receiving device;

[0084] - Moving the transport vehicle that has received the processed second workpiece and an optional third workpiece to a position outside the machining center;

[0085] - Unloading the processed second workpiece from the transport vehicle.

[0086] The corresponding loading and unloading processes of the workpieces can be performed by the corresponding loading and unloading devices as described above. Description of the Drawings

[0087] The present invention will be further explained below with reference to exemplary embodiments of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0088] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a machining center for processing workpieces according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0089] Figures 2 to 4 respectively show schematic diagrams of a transport vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0090] Figure 5, Figure 6 show a schematic view of a machining arrangement according to an exemplary embodiment, and

[0091] Figure 7 show a schematic view of a machining center according to a further exemplary embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0092] Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a machining center 10 for machining a workpiece 20 according to an exemplary embodiment in a side view.

[0093] The machining center 10 is configured to machine a workpiece 20. The machining of the workpiece 20 by metal cutting can be understood, for example, as drilling and / or turning and / or milling of the workpiece 20. Thus, the machining center 10 can be configured as a drilling center, a turning center or a milling center, or a combined drilling and / or turning and / or milling center.

[0094] The workpiece 20 that can be machined by the machining center 10 is typically a metal workpiece 20, that is, for example, a workpiece 20 made of a ferrous metal material. The workpiece 20 that can be machined by the machining center 10 can have a rotationally symmetric shape or a basic shape. Thus, the workpiece can be, for example, at least partially, optionally completely, in the shape of a disk, an annular disk, a cylinder or a hollow cylinder.

[0095] The machining center 10 includes a machining area 11 in which the machining of the workpiece 20 is carried out. The machining area 11 (which can also be referred to as a machining chamber) contains a machine tool 12 or a frame and a clamping system 13 in the form of, for example, a chuck or a zero-point clamping system, which clamping system 13 is used to clamp the workpiece 20 to be machined.

[0096] It can be seen that the machining area 11 can be delimited or defined by the housing structure 14 of the machining center 10. The housing structure 14 consists of one or more housing structure elements 14.1 - 14.4. The housing structure elements 14.1 - 14.4 can form the walls delimiting the machining area 11. At least one of the housing structure elements 14.1 - 14.4 can be movably mounted relative to at least one other of the housing structure elements 14.1 - 14.4 in terms of degrees of freedom of movement (i.e., degrees of freedom of movement such as sliding and / or pivoting) so as to move to at least one open position and / or move to at least one closed position, wherein in the open position there is a possibility of accessing the machining area 11, and in the closed position there is no possibility of accessing the machining area 11.

[0097] In accordance with Figure 1In an exemplary embodiment, by way of example, at least the housing structure element 14.4 is movably mounted in a respective open position and a closed position. Thus, the housing structure element 14.4 can form a door that can be moved to the respective open position and closed position.

[0098] In the machining area 11, a machining unit 15 is provided, which machining unit 15 includes a machining tool 16 for machining a workpiece 20. The machining tool 16 can be, for example, a drilling tool and / or a turning tool and / or a milling tool. Thus, the machining unit 15 can be designed as a drilling unit, a turning unit or a milling unit or a combined drilling and / or turning and / or milling unit. According to a specific embodiment, the machining unit 15 and / or the machining tool 15 can be mounted, for example, to be movable in at least one translational and / or rotational degree of freedom with respect to a horizontal and / or vertical spatial axis, for example in order to be able to machine the workpiece 20 to be machined in different cross-sections and / or different directions. Thus, the machining center 10 can perform a complete machining of the workpiece 20 to be machined.

[0099] The machining tool 16 is in particular configured to machine the workpiece 20 to be machined in at least one machining axis BA1 or relative to at least one machining axis BA1. Figure 1 It can be seen that the machining axis BA1 can be a horizontally aligned axis, or the machining axis BA1 can be aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis LA1 of the machine tool 12 or the frame. For a workpiece 20 having a rotational axis or a central axis and to be machined, it is generally the case that when being machined by the machining unit 15, it is generally coaxially arranged or arranged parallel to the machining axis BA1 with respect to the machining axis BA1.

[0100] From Figure 1 it can also be seen that the machine tool 12 or the frame is designed to be elongated in the longitudinal direction defined by the longitudinal axis LA1, such that the machine tool 12 or the frame not only extends into the interior of the machining area 11, but also extends into the exterior of the machining area 11. It can be seen that the machine tool 12 or the frame extends into the area outside the housing structure 14. Thus, the machine tool 12 or the frame has parts located inside and outside the housing structure 14.

[0101] The machining center 10 further includes a transport vehicle 30. By Figures 2 to 4 way of example, the transport vehicle 30 shown in various views (i.e., side view ( Figure 2 ), perspective view ( Figure 3 ), and front view ( Figure 4 )) is designed to have or include a receiving device 40 for receiving at least two workpieces 20. Thus, the transport vehicle 30 can include, for example, a base (main body) structure 31 in the form of a chassis or a frame, on which the receiving device 40 for receiving at least two workpieces 20 is provided or formed.

[0102] Thus, the receiving device 40 is basically configured to receive at least two workpieces 20 - these can be unprocessed workpieces 20 and / or workpieces 20 that have been processed at least in sections. However, this does not mean that during the operation of the machining center 10, the receiving device 40 must always receive at least two workpieces 20; the receiving device 40 is only configured in principle to be available for this purpose.

[0103] By the receiving of the respective workpiece 20 by the receiving device 40, it is understood as a direct receiving or an indirect fixing of the respective workpiece 20. Thus, the respective active part of the receiving device 40 configured to receive at least one workpiece can act directly or indirectly on the respective workpiece 20 in order to directly or indirectly fix the respective workpiece 20. Thus, the receiving device 40 can be configured to directly receive at least one workpiece 20; thus, without the need to insert a device system 50 (such as a clamping or tensioning system) for supporting the workpiece 20, the respective workpiece 20 is received by the receiving device 40. The respective active part of the receiving device 40 can engage with the workpiece 20 here to receive it. As an alternative or additionally, the receiving device 40 can be configured to indirectly receive at least one workpiece 20, so that the respective workpiece 20 is received by the insertion of the receiving device 40 and a device system 50 (such as a clamping or tensioning system) for supporting the workpiece 20. The respective active part of the receiving device 40 can engage with the device system 50 here to receive it. The respective device system 50 can be configured as or include, for example, a chuck, in particular a power chuck or a zero-point clamping system.

[0104] The receiving of the respective workpiece 20 by the receiving device 40 generally includes: the workpiece 20 to be machined received or fixed by the receiving device 40 such that the workpiece 20 to be machined can be transferred from the receiving device 40 to the clamping system 13 or taken over by the clamping system 13 within the machining area 11. Similarly, the receiving of the respective workpiece 20 to be machined or already machined by the receiving device 40 generally means that the workpiece 20 to be machined can be received or fixed by the receiving device 40 so that it can be transferred from the clamping system 13 to the receiving device 40 or taken over by the receiving device 40 within the machining area 11.

[0105] In principle, it is also conceivable that the workpiece 20 picked up by the receiving device 40 can be machined as desired by the machining unit 15 within the machining area 11; in this case, the workpiece 20 does not have to be transferred to the clamping system 13 or taken over by the clamping system 13.

[0106] Accordingly, the receiving device 40 is configured to receive or hold the respective workpiece 20 in a specific orientation and / or position corresponding to the orientation and / or position in which the respective workpiece 20 can be transferred to the clamping system 13, or corresponding to the orientation and / or position in which the respective workpiece 20 can be machined by or completed machining by the machining unit 15. Accordingly, the receiving device 40 can be specifically configured to receive the respective workpiece 20, for example, in an orientation and / or position in which the rotational axis or central axis of the workpiece 20 is coaxially arranged or parallel to the machining axis BA1 with respect to the machining axis BA1. Receiving or holding the respective workpiece 20 in such an orientation and / or position enables the workpiece 20 to be transferred to the clamping system 13 or machined by the machining unit 15 on the workpiece 20.

[0107] As Figure 1 shown by the double arrow P1 therein, the transport vehicle 30 together with the receiving device 40 is also movably mounted within the machining center 10 (i.e., within the machining area 11) in at least a first position and at least a second position outside the machining center 10 in the translational degree of freedom of movement. Accordingly, the transport vehicle 30 can be translated along the movement axis BA2 to at least a first position within the machining center 10 (i.e., within the machining area 11), and to at least a second position outside the machining center 10. As Figure 1 can be seen, the movement axis BA2 of the transport vehicle 30 can be coaxially arranged or aligned or parallel to the machining axis BA1 with respect to the machining axis BA1.

[0108] As Figure 1 can also be seen, at least one first position is located within the housing structure 14, while at least one second position is located outside the housing structure 14. If the machining center 10 includes a housing structure 14 having a housing structure element 14.4 that is movably mounted between an open position and a closed position, then as previously described, it may be necessary to move the movably mounted housing structure element 14.4 to the open position in order to move the transport vehicle 30 from the first position to the second position, and vice versa.

[0109] In Figure 1 this, for illustrative purposes, the transport vehicle 30 is shown in the first position and the second position; this does not mean that the machining center 10 must have two transport vehicles 30.

[0110] Figure 1It is shown that at least one first position can correspond to the transfer position or the machining position of the workpiece 20 received or fixed by the receiving device 40. Thus, the workpiece 20 received by the receiving device 40 can be arranged or aligned at at least one first position within the machining area 11 such that the workpiece 20 can be transferred to the transfer position of the clamping system 13 (thus, in the clamped state of the clamping system 13, the workpiece 20 is machined by the machining unit 15 or the machining tool 16). As an alternative, the workpiece 40 received or fixed by the receiving device 40 can be arranged or aligned at at least one first position within the machining area 11 so that it is in a machining position where it can be machined by the machining unit 15 or the machining tool 16.

[0111] Since the transport vehicle 30 can be moved to at least one corresponding second position outside the machining center 10, it is possible to pick up or load the workpiece 20 to be machined particularly efficiently outside the machining center 10 (i.e., particularly outside the machining area 11), and to remove or unload the machined workpiece 20 from the receiving device 40 particularly efficiently. The corresponding picking up or loading and the corresponding removing or unloading operations can be performed by a loading and unloading device 60 (such as a loading and unloading robot), which can be assigned or has been assigned to the machining center 10.

[0112] The fact that the transport vehicle 30 and / or the receiving device 40 are mounted in such a way that they are movable in a rotational degree of freedom about a rotational axis A2, which is at an angle or at a right angle to the movement axis BA2 of the transport vehicle 30, contributes to the particularly efficient removal or unloading of the workpiece 20. Thus, the transport vehicle 30 and / or the receiving device 40 are mounted so as to be movable individually or together in a rotational degree of freedom. By performing a corresponding rotation or rotational movement of the transport vehicle 30 and / or the receiving device 40 in the rotational degree of freedom, the receiving or removal process of the workpiece 20 can be performed more efficiently, especially because after moving the transport vehicle 30 to the first position (i.e., particularly into the corresponding conversion or machining position), the workpiece 20 received on one side of the receiving device 40 and to be machined can be brought to the direction and / or position where it can be machined by a corresponding rotation of the transport vehicle 30 and / or the receiving device 40, and / or because after moving the transport vehicle 30 to the second position, the machined workpiece 20 received on the other side of the receiving device 40 can be brought to the direction and / or position where it can be removed from the receiving device 40, for example, by the loading and unloading device 60, by a corresponding rotation of the transport vehicle 30 and / or the receiving device 40.

[0113] In principle, by appropriately rotating the transport vehicle 30 and / or the receiving device 40 in the rotational degree of freedom, each receiving area of the receiving device 40 can be brought into a direction opposite to that of the workpiece fixing device (such as the clamping system 13) of the machining center 10. Based on this, by moving the transport vehicle 30 to the first position, the workpiece 20 received or fixed in the receiving area of the receiving device 40 can be moved to the corresponding transfer or machining position.

[0114] In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figure, the structure of the transport vehicle 30 is shown by way of example, in which only the receiving device 40 is movably mounted in the rotational degree of freedom. Regarding the rotational degree of freedom of the receiving device 40, it allows the rotational movement of the receiving device 40 relative to the transport vehicle 30, that is, in particular, the rotational movement relative to the base (main body) structure 31 of the transport vehicle 30. Therefore, the receiving device 40 can move relative to the base (main body) structure 31 and, in principle, independently move relative to the base (main body) structure 31 in at least one rotational degree of freedom. For this purpose, the transport vehicle 30, that is, in particular, the base (main body) structure 31, may include one or more rotary bearings (not shown), through which the receiving device 40 is rotatably mounted relative to the base (main body) structure 31.

[0115] For example, as Figures 2 - 4 shown, the receiving device 40 may have at least two receiving areas 41 for one workpiece 20 in each case, where at least one receiving area 41 is generally arranged and / or aligned such that when the transport vehicle 30 is moved to at least one first position, the workpiece 20 can be received or fixed and thus moved to the corresponding transfer or machining position. Each receiving area 41 may have or define at least one plane or surface on which at least one workpiece can be received and stably clamped.

[0116] The receiving areas 41 of the receiving device 40 are provided or formed on different sides of the receiving device 40; in the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing, the receiving areas 41 are provided or formed on opposite sides of the receiving device 40.

[0117] It has already been mentioned that by means of a corresponding rotation of the transport vehicle 30 and / or the receiving device 40 in the rotational degree of freedom, each receiving area 41 can in principle be brought into a direction opposite to the workpiece fixing device (e.g., the clamping system 13) of the machining center 10. Thus, the transport vehicle 30 and / or the receiving device 40 can be movably mounted in the rotational degree of freedom to a first position in which a first workpiece 20 received and receivable in a first receiving area 41 of the receiving device 40 is arranged or aligned opposite to the workpiece receiving device of the machining center 10. Optionally or additionally, the transport vehicle 30 and / or the receiving device 40 can be movably mounted in the rotational degree of freedom to a second position in which a second workpiece 20 received and receivable in a second receiving area 41 of the receiving device 40 is arranged or aligned opposite to the workpiece receiving device of the machining center 10.

[0118] The first position of the transport vehicle 30 and / or the receiving device 40 can be a position rotated 180° relative to the second position about the rotation axis A2, and vice versa.

[0119] As can be seen from Figures 2 to 4 it, the receiving device 40 has a receiving frame 42, in particular a cage-shaped or basket-shaped receiving frame, or has a receiving rack, in particular a cage-shaped or basket-shaped receiving rack. The receiving frame 42 or the receiving rack can consist of one or more frames or frame elements that are interconnected in one or more spatial directions or spatial planes to form the receiving frame 42 or the receiving rack. The corresponding receiving areas 41 for the workpiece 20 are provided or formed on the receiving frame 42 or the receiving rack.

[0120] A first fixing device 43 and at least one second fixing device 44 are provided or constructed on the receiving frame 42 or the receiving rack, the first fixing device 43 being for fixing the first workpiece 20 or for fixing a device system (in particular a clamping or tensioning system) for supporting the first workpiece 20, while the at least one second fixing device 44 is for fixing the second workpiece 20 or for fixing a device system (in particular a clamping or tensioning system) for supporting the second workpiece 20. The fixing devices 43, 44 are assigned to the respective receiving areas 41 of the receiving device 40 and are accordingly arranged or formed on different sides, in particular opposite sides, of the receiving frame 42 or the receiving rack.

[0121] As can be seen from Figures 2 to 4It can also be seen that the first fixing device 43 and the second fixing device 44 each have a plurality of fixing elements 43.1 - 43.4, 44.1 - 44.4, and each of them can be transferred to at least one fixing position and at least one non - fixing position. In the fixing position, a device system for fixing the workpiece 20 or a fixing force of the workpiece 20 is formed, and in the non - fixing position, a device system for fixing the workpiece 20 or a fixing force of the workpiece 20 is not formed. Therefore, the corresponding fixing elements 43.1 - 43.4, 44.1 - 44.4 are movably arranged or formed on the receiving frame 42. Therefore, the fixing elements 43.1 - 43.4, 44.1 - 44.4 can be the movable parts of the above - mentioned receiving device 40.

[0122] Each of the fixing elements 43.1 - 43.4, 44.1 - 44.4 can be designed as a clamping jaw or a tensioning jaw, especially a clamping jaw or a tensioning jaw that acts coaxially and / or radially with respect to the machining axis or the central axis of the corresponding workpiece 20 in the corresponding fixing position.

[0123] From Figures 2 to 4 It can also be seen that the fixing elements 43.1 - 43.4, 44.1 - 44.4 can be arranged or formed circumferentially and uniformly with respect to the machining axis or the central axis of the corresponding workpiece 20.

[0124] In order to enable the transport vehicle 30 and / or the receiving device 40 to perform corresponding translational and / or rotational movements, the machining center 10 can include a supply device 100 for providing energy to generate a driving force, and the supply device 100 enables the transport vehicle 30 and / or the receiving device 40 to perform translational movements and / or rotational movements. In this case, the driving force for enabling the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device to perform corresponding translational and / or rotational movements can be generated by a driving unit (such as a motor driving unit of the transport vehicle 30 and / or the receiving device 40) that supplies a driving medium to the supply device 100. The driving medium can be, for example, an energy carrier in the form of electrical energy, hydraulic energy or pneumatic energy. Therefore, the driving unit of the transport vehicle 30 and / or the receiving device 40 can comprise or include, for example, an electric driving unit, an electromechanical driving unit, a hydraulic driving unit or a pneumatic driving unit.

[0125] From Figure 7As can be seen in the exemplary embodiment shown, a partial cross-sectional axial view of the machining center 100 is shown, and the supply device 100 can be arranged in a part of the machining center 10 that is separated from the machine tool 12 or the machine frame, and can be connected to the machine tool 12 or the machine frame through a carrier 110 for the energy supply pipeline (for example, in the form of a so-called cable drag or an energy guiding chain for the supply line), and further connected to the transport vehicle 30 or the receiving device 40. In the exemplary embodiment, the supply device 100 is arranged, by way of example, in the base-like or base-shaped operating area 17 of the machining center 10, and the base-like or base-shaped operating area 17 is accessible to the user for walking.

[0126] Therefore, the energy carrier provided by the supply device 100 can be provided at the output of the supply device 100 and transmitted from the output of the supply device to the input of the transport vehicle 30 and / or the receiving device 40 through the energy supply pipeline received in the corresponding carrier 110. Therefore, the supply device 100 can have an output, for example, in the form of an output connection of the corresponding energy carrier, through which the energy carrier can be transmitted to the transport vehicle 30 and / or the receiving device 40 through the corresponding energy supply pipeline. Therefore, the transport vehicle 30 and / or the receiving device 40 can have an input, for example, in the form of an input connection of the corresponding energy carrier, through which the energy carrier can be supplied to the transport vehicle 30 and / or the receiving device 40. Therefore, as described above, the corresponding output and the corresponding input can be connected to each other via one or more line connections or energy supply pipelines (such as cables, hoses, pipes, etc.) located in the corresponding carrier 110.

[0127] Of course, as an alternative to or in addition to at least one input on the part of the transport vehicle 30 and / or the receiving device 40, a control interface can also be provided, through which control information or signals (such as for controlling the operation of the receiving devices 43, 44) can be transmitted to the transport vehicle 30 or the receiving device 40. The data cable for transmitting the corresponding control information can also be accommodated in the carrier 110.

[0128] Thus, the energy for setting the transport vehicle 30 and / or the receiving device 40 for corresponding translational and / or rotational movements can be provided by the supply device 100 of the machining center 10; thus, the transport vehicle 30 and / or the receiving device 40 do not have to have their own energy supply, and thus this energy supply is independent of the machining center 10, since in any case the energy supply required or provided for the operation of the machining center 10 can also be used for the energy supply of the transport vehicle 30 and / or the receiving device 40. In particular, the energy supply required for the operation of the machining center 10 in any case can be used to generate a corresponding driving force by which the transport vehicle 30 and / or the receiving device 40 can be set for corresponding translational and / or rotational movements. The corresponding driving force can be generated in particular by an electric drive unit of the transport vehicle 30 and / or the receiving device 40, which is driven or will be driven by the energy carrier provided by the supply device 100.

[0129] In a similar manner, the energy required to move the fixing elements 43.1 - 43.4, 44.1 - 44.4 to the corresponding fixed and non-fixed positions, and thus the energy supply to the corresponding receiving devices 43, 44, can in any case be achieved by the energy supply required or provided for the operation of the machining center 10.

[0130] In all exemplary embodiments, the specific movable mounting of the transport vehicle 30 can be achieved by storage means or elements. Thus, the transport vehicle 30 can be designed as or include a carriage or trolley guided on a transport track (in particular a rail) by means of at least one bearing element (in particular a sliding, ball or roller bearing element). In principle, linear drives or units (such as, for example, sliding drives or units, spindle drives or units, rack and pinion drives or units, etc.) are suitable for movably supporting the transport vehicle 30 in the translational degree of freedom of movement. Figure 2 、 Figure 3 The reference numeral 45 in

[0131] merely shows by way of example the pinion 45 or gear in a conceivable rack and pinion drive or rack and pinion unit. Figure 3 and Figure 4The guiding element 32) of the transport vehicle 30, shown schematically in the middle, is arranged, for example, in a form-fitting manner such that the transport vehicle 30 can move with stable guidance within the translational degrees of freedom.

[0132] It has already been mentioned that the workpiece 20 can be picked up on the receiving device 40 and / or removed from the receiving device 40 by means of the gripping device 60. Thus, the machining center 10 can include at least one loading and unloading device 60, in particular at least one loading and unloading device 60 implemented by an industrial robot, or include such a loading and unloading device that is configured to load at least one workpiece 20 onto the transport vehicle 30, in particular to move the transport vehicle 30 to a loading position outside the machining center 10, and / or unload at least one workpiece 20 from the transport vehicle 30, in particular to move the transport vehicle 30 to an unloading position outside the machining center 10.

[0133] At least one loading and unloading device 60 can be configured in particular for transferring the workpiece 20, in particular an unprocessed workpiece 20 or at least a partially processed workpiece 20, from the machining center 10 to a processing station (such as a setting station or a conversion station) and / or to another machining center (see Figure 5 , Figure 6 ).

[0134] The machining center 10 can include a control device (not shown) implemented in hardware and / or software, which is configured to control the operation of the machining center 10. In particular, the control device is configured to control the corresponding movements of the transport vehicle 30 and / or the receiving device 40, as well as the corresponding movements of the fixing device elements 43.1 - 43.4, 44.1 - 44.4, in a coordinated manner, so as to implement, in particular, in an automated or automatic manner, operations such as, for example, appropriately loading at least one workpiece 20 to be processed into the receiving device 40; appropriately transferring the workpiece 20 to be processed from the receiving device 40 to the clamping system 13; correctly machining at least one workpiece 20 by the machining unit 15; appropriately transferring the machined workpiece 20 to the receiving device 40; and appropriately unloading at least one machined workpiece 20 from the receiving device 40.

[0135] Figure 5 , Figure 6Two machining arrangements 70 for machining at least one workpiece 20 are shown in a plan view by way of example. It can be seen that each machining arrangement 70 includes at least one first machining center 10, at least one processing station 80 (such as a setting station or a conversion station) and / or at least one additional machining center 90 and at least one loading and unloading device 60. At least one loading and unloading device 60 is configured to transfer the workpiece 20, in particular an unprocessed workpiece 20 or at least a partially processed workpiece 20, from the machining center 10 to at least one additional machining center 90 and / or to at least one processing station 80, and vice versa.

[0136] The machining arrangement 70 can be configured in a variety of ways relative to the arrangement of the units associated therewith, namely at least one first machining center 10, at least one additional machining center 90 and / or at least one processing station 80. For example, as Figure 5 shown, the first machining center 10 and at least one additional machining center 90 can be arranged in series, or, as Figure 6 shown, the first machining center 10, at least one additional machining center 90 and the processing station 80 can be connected at an angle to each other, in particular arranged parallel to each other. In all cases, at least one processing device 60 can be arranged between the units of the corresponding processing device 70, for example so that the workpiece 20 can be transferred from the first machining center 10 to the additional machining center 90 and / or to the processing station 80.

[0137] The machining center 10 or the machining arrangement 70 shown in the figure can be used to implement a method of operating at least one machining center 10. The method at least includes the following steps: moving a transport vehicle 30 that has received at least one workpiece 20 to be machined to a position (a first position) within the machining area 11 of the machining center 10, in particular to a corresponding transfer or machining position, and moving a transport vehicle 30 that has received at least one workpiece 20 machined in the machining area 11 of the machining center 10 to a position (a second position) outside the machining area 11.

[0138] The method can also include the step of moving the transport vehicle 30 or the receiving device 40 in the degree of freedom of rotational motion outside or inside the machining area 11. In this way, for example, the loading and unloading operations of the receiving device 40 on at least one workpiece 20 can be realized.

[0139] In a specific embodiment, the method can include the following steps:

[0140] - Moving a transport vehicle 30 that has received at least one workpiece 20 to be machined to a position within the machining area 11, in particular to a transfer or machining position, where the workpiece 20 can be machined by the machining unit 15;

[0141] - Transfer at least one workpiece 20 from the receiving device 40 to the clamping system 13 of the machining center 10;

[0142] - Machine at least one workpiece 20 clamped by the clamping system 13 in the machining area 11 by the machining unit 15;

[0143] - Transfer at least one machined workpiece 20 from the clamping system 13 of the machining center to the receiving device 40;

[0144] - Move the transport vehicle 30 that has received at least one machined workpiece 20 to a position outside the machining center 10;

[0145] - Unload at least one machined workpiece 20 from the transport vehicle 30.

[0146] The method may further include the following steps:

[0147] - Rotate the transport vehicle 30 and / or the receiving device 40 in the rotational degree of freedom;

[0148] - Load a second workpiece 20 to be machined into the receiving device 40;

[0149] - Move the transport vehicle 30 that has received the second workpiece 20 to be machined to a position within the machining area 11, particularly to a transfer or machining position, where the second workpiece 20 can be machined by the machining unit 15;

[0150] - Transfer at least one second workpiece 20 to be machined from the receiving device 40 to the clamping system 13 of the machining center 10;

[0151] - Machine at least one second workpiece 20 clamped by the clamping system 13 in the machining area 11 by the machining unit 15;

[0152] - Transfer at least one machined second workpiece 20 from the clamping system 13 of the machining center to the receiving device 40;

[0153] - Move the transport vehicle 30 that has received at least one machined second workpiece 20 to a position outside the machining center 10;

[0154] - Unload at least one machined second workpiece 20 from the transport vehicle 30.

[0155] In a further specific embodiment, the method may include the following steps:

[0156] - Move the transport vehicle 30 that has received two workpieces 20 to be machined to a position within the machining area 11, in particular to a transfer or machining position, in which the first workpiece 20 can be machined by the machining unit 15;

[0157] - Transfer the first workpiece 20 to be machined from the receiving device 40 to the clamping system 13 of the machining center 10 in the machining area 11;

[0158] - Machine the first workpiece 20 clamped by the clamping system 13 by the machining unit 15;

[0159] - Transfer the machined first workpiece 20 from the clamping system 13 of the machining center to the receiving device 40;

[0160] - Move the transport vehicle 30 that has received the machined first workpiece 20 and the second (still unmachined) workpiece 20 to a position outside the machining center 10;

[0161] - Unload the machined first workpiece 20 from the transport vehicle 30;

[0162] - If necessary, load the third workpiece 40 to be machined into the receiving device 40 in the free receiving area of the receiving device 40 (for example, in the area where the first workpiece 20 was previously received);

[0163] - Rotate the transport vehicle 30 and / or the receiving device 40 in the rotational degree of freedom such that the second workpiece 20 is brought to a position where the second workpiece 20 is oppositely arranged or aligned with the workpiece fixing device (such as the clamping system 13) of the machining center 10;

[0164] - Move the transport vehicle 30 to a position within the machining area 11, in particular to a transfer or machining position, in which the second workpiece 20 can be machined by the machining unit 15;

[0165] - Transfer the second workpiece 20 to be machined from the receiving device 40 to the clamping system 13 of the machining center 10;

[0166] - Machine the second workpiece 20 clamped by the clamping system 13 by the machining unit 15;

[0167] - Transfer the machined second workpiece 20 from the clamping system 13 to the receiving device 40;

[0168] - Move the transport vehicle 30 that has received the machined second workpiece 20 and the optional third workpiece 20 to a position outside the machining center 10;

[0169] - Unload the machined second workpiece 20 from the transport vehicle 30.

[0170] The corresponding loading and unloading processes of the workpiece 20 can be carried out as described above, in particular in an automated or automatic manner by means of a corresponding loading and unloading device 60.

[0171] Individual, multiple or all features associated with a particular exemplary embodiment can be combined with individual, multiple or all features of at least one other exemplary embodiment.

Claims

1. A machining center for machining workpieces, comprising a machining unit, which is arranged in the machining area of the machining center, the machining unit including a machining tool for machining the workpiece relative to a machining axis, wherein, The machining center includes: A transport vehicle having receiving means for receiving at least two workpieces, in particular unprocessed workpieces or at least partially processed workpieces, wherein The transport vehicle is movably mounted in a translational degree of freedom between a first position at least within the machining center, in particular within the machining area, and a second position outside the machining center, and wherein the transport vehicle and / or the receiving means are movably mounted in a rotational degree of freedom.

2. The machining center according to claim 1, wherein, The transport vehicle and / or the receiving means are movably mounted in a rotational degree of freedom between a first position and a second position. In the first position, a first workpiece received by the receiving means is arranged and aligned opposite to the workpiece fixing means of the machining center; in the second position, a second workpiece received by the receiving means is arranged and aligned opposite to the workpiece fixing means of the machining center.

3. The machining center according to claim 2, wherein the first position is a position rotated by 180°, in particular, relative to the second position.

4. The machining center according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving means has a receiving frame, in particular a cage-like or basket-like receiving frame, on which are provided or formed: A first fixing means for fixing a first workpiece or a device system for fixing a support for the first workpiece, in particular a clamping or tensioning system, and A second fixing means for fixing a second workpiece or a device system for fixing a support for the second workpiece, in particular a clamping or tensioning system.

5. The machining center according to claim 4, wherein the first fixing means has one or more first fixing elements that can be transferred to at least one fixed position and at least one non-fixed position. In the fixed position, a fixing force for the device system for fixing the first workpiece or supporting the first workpiece is formed; in the non-fixed position, no fixing force for the device system for fixing the first workpiece or supporting the first workpiece is formed, and / or wherein The second fixing means has one or more second fixing elements that can be transferred to at least one fixed position and at least one non-fixed position. In the fixed position, a fixing force for the device system for fixing the second workpiece or supporting the second workpiece is formed; in the non-fixed position, no fixing force for the device system for fixing the second workpiece or supporting the second workpiece is formed.

6. The machining center according to claim 5, wherein the one or more first fixing elements are designed as clamping jaws or tensioning jaws, in particular clamping jaws or tensioning jaws that act coaxially and / or radially with respect to the machining axis in the corresponding fixed position, and / or The one or more second fixing elements are designed as clamping jaws or tensioning jaws, in particular clamping jaws or tensioning jaws that act coaxially and / or radially with respect to the machining axis in the corresponding fixed position.

7. The machining center according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the one or more first fixing elements and / or the one or more second fixing elements are arranged or formed circumferentially distributed with respect to the machining axis.

8. The machining center according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a drive unit for generating a driving force for moving the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device, wherein, The driving force for moving the transport vehicle and / or the receiving device can be generated by a drive medium supplied by the supply device of the machining center to the drive unit.

9. The machining center according to claim 8, wherein the drive medium can be supplied or has been supplied through the output of the machining center that is in input communication with the transport vehicle.

10. The machining center according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the drive unit is configured as or includes an electric drive unit, an electromechanical drive unit, a hydraulic drive unit, or a pneumatic drive unit.

11. The machining center according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport vehicle is configured as or includes a carriage or trolley guided on a transport track, in particular a rail, by means of at least one bearing device or at least one bearing element, in particular a sliding bearing element, a ball bearing element, or a roller bearing element.

12. The machining center according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first degree of freedom of movement includes movement along the machining axis or along an axis parallel to the machining axis.

13. The machining center according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a loading and unloading device, in particular a loading and unloading device implemented by or including an industrial robot, for loading at least one workpiece onto a transport vehicle, in particular a transport vehicle moved to a loading position outside the machining center, and / or for unloading at least one workpiece from a transport vehicle, in particular a transport vehicle moved to an unloading position outside the machining center.

14. A machining assembly for machining workpieces, comprising: - a first machining center, which is the machining center according to any one of the preceding claims, - at least one additional machining center for machining workpieces, and / or - at least one processing station, in particular a setting station and / or a conversion station, and - at least one loading and unloading device.

15. A method for operating at least one machining center according to any one of claims 1 to 13, comprising the following steps: - moving a transport vehicle that has received at least one workpiece to be machined to a position within the machining area, in particular to a transfer or machining position, at which the workpiece can be machined by a machining unit; - moving a transport vehicle that has received at least one workpiece machined within the machining area of the machining center to a position outside the machining area.

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