Mechanical equipment for processing product joints

Abstract

The utility model relates to a mechanical device for treating a removable product assembly (2) having at least one workpiece part and a remaining grid, comprising: at least one vibration generator (35) for removing the at least one workpiece part from the remaining grid on a separation station (10) of the mechanical device (1), a retaining device (27) for fixing the product joint (2), the retaining device having at least one retaining means (28) for gripping the product joint (2) on the edge side, the mechanical device being designed to release the at least one workpiece part from the remaining grid on the product joint (2) fixed by means of the retaining device (27).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a method for handling a detachable product combination having at least one workpiece component and a remaining grid. The method comprises detaching the at least one workpiece component from the remaining grid by means of at least one vibration generator on a separation station. The present application also relates to a mechanical device for handling a detachable product combination having at least one workpiece component and a remaining grid, the mechanical device comprising at least one vibration generator for detaching the at least one workpiece component from the remaining grid on a separation station. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the processing of a sheet-like workpiece, in particular a sheet metal, by means of a dividing device, for example by means of a laser dividing device, workpiece components are produced as processed products and a remaining grid at least partially surrounds the workpiece components. In order to simplify the removal of the processed products from the dividing device, it is possible for the workpiece components not to be completely divided from the remaining grid during the processing of the divided workpiece. Rather, a micro- or nanolink remains between the remaining grid and the workpiece component, which enables the remaining grid and the workpiece component to be handled as a whole upon unloading of the dividing device. Furthermore, it is possible for workpiece components produced during the processing of the divided workpiece to remain in the remaining grid after the dividing process due to occurring thermal stresses or because of tilting. It is also possible for larger workpiece components that cannot be tipped over to be secured in the remaining grid. The workpiece components and the remaining grid form a detachable product combination. The detachment of the workpiece components from the remaining grid takes place in a method step that follows the processing of the divided workpiece.

[0003] A method for blanking at least one workpiece from a sheet metal is described in DE 10 2021 123 520 A1, the method comprising the following steps: a laser beam is irradiated onto the sheet metal along a contour of the workpiece, wherein the sheet metal is cut open in a main region of the contour, wherein at least one connection is left in at least one connecting region of the contour between the workpiece and an adjoining portion of the sheet metal, the at least one workpiece and the adjoining portion connected thereto are taken out of a holding portion, and the at least one workpiece is divided from the adjoining portion.

[0004] In the method described in DE 10 2021 123 520 A1, a group of workpieces can be formed, which are connected to one another by a connection in at least one common contour line of the workpieces. Upon taking out, a taking-out device can act on one workpiece of this group of workpieces. In order to separate the workpieces, the taking-out device can jolt or shake the respective remaining grid portion, i.e. a sudden back-and-forth movement. Due to the dynamic load occurring here, the connection breaks and the workpiece falls from the remaining grid portion and can be collected, for example, in a catch container.

[0005] JP 2000094057 A describes a mechanical assembly and a method for the punching-type workpiece processing. At a punching station of the mechanical assembly, a residual grid and a workpiece component are produced from a sheet-shaped material, which is unrolled from a roll, wherein the workpiece component is connected to the residual grid by a micro joint after the end of the punching-type workpiece processing. The combination consisting of the residual grid and the workpiece component joined thereto is moved to a separating station, at which a plurality of roller pairs are arranged one after the other in the direction of movement of the residual grid and the workpiece component and are alternately displaced upward and downward relative to each other perpendicular to the direction of movement of the residual grid and the workpiece component. A gap is formed between the rollers of each roller pair. Starting from the punching station, the residual grid and the workpiece component pass through the gaps at the plurality of roller pairs arranged one after the other in the direction of movement, wherein the residual grid and the workpiece component are bent a plurality of times. At the same time, the residual grid and the workpiece component are in a vibration perpendicular to the direction of movement. As a result, the micro joint remaining between the residual grid and the workpiece component during the punching-type sheet material processing is broken and the workpiece component released from the residual grid falls onto a product storage.

[0006] In EP4257285A1 a transport system for separating a skeleton and a product is described. The transport system has a gripping device and a lifting device. The gripping device includes a plurality of long side grippers for gripping long sides of an outer frame of the skeleton and a plurality of short side grippers for gripping short sides of the outer frame of the skeleton. The lifting device relatively raises or lowers the gripping device that grips the outer frame and the product and thereby separates the outer frame from the product. The transport system can include a tray and a support that raises or lowers relative to the tray. The tray can have a tray frame with a plurality of support plates and the support can have a plurality of lifting plates that raise or lower between the plurality of support plates. A workpiece supported by the lifting plates can be gripped by the gripping device at the outer frame. Utility model content

[0007] It is the task of the present application to provide a method and a mechanical device for handling a releasable product combination, which enable a process-safe and simple handling of the product combination, in particular when a workpiece component is released from a residual grid of the product combination.

[0008] According to the present application, this task is solved by a method of the type mentioned at the outset, which further comprises: fixing the product combination on a holding device, which grips the product combination on the edge side by means of at least one holding mechanism, wherein the release of the at least one workpiece component from the residual grid takes place on the product combination fixed by means of the holding device.

[0009] The holding device serves to actively hold the product assembly in the direction of gravity before or during the release of the at least one workpiece part from the remaining grid. The holding device also serves to actively hold the remaining grid in the direction of gravity after the release of the at least one workpiece part from the remaining grid.

[0010] In the method described here, the product assembly is held using a holding device, which has at least one holding mechanism that grips the product assembly at its edge and the product assembly can be actively held in the direction of gravity at its edge by means of the holding mechanism. Typically, the product assembly of the remaining grid and the workpiece part or just the remaining grid is actively held at the edge in the vertical direction by means of the holding device.

[0011] The holding mechanism can be, for example, a gripper that grips the product assembly or the remaining grid at the edge. The gripper can press or clamp the product assembly towards the base plate of the holding device for holding. By means of the holding or clamping by means of the holding device, the automated release of the workpiece part from the remaining workpiece can be carried out safely by means of the vibration generator. The workpiece part is released from the remaining workpiece under control and falls under the action of gravity onto a product storage arranged below the product assembly.

[0012] In a variant, the product assembly is received by means of the holding device on a product tray on the separation station. In this case, the holding device holds the product assembly lying on the product tray in the separation station. The product tray is configured for edge-side gripping by means of the holding mechanism of the holding device. To this end, the product tray has a bearing element that is configured to jointly support the at least one workpiece part and the remaining grid in the direction of gravity. The bearing element can be, for example, a bearing strip or the like.

[0013] In this case, the product assembly is lifted from the product tray by means of the holding device in order to achieve the release of the workpiece part from the remaining grid by means of the vibration generator. The workpiece part released from the remaining grid by means of the vibration falls downwards under the action of gravity onto a product bearing arranged on the separation station, while the remaining grid remains on the holding device.

[0014] It is possible that the product tray is transported out of the separation station before the release of the workpiece part from the remaining grid and / or that the product tray serves as a product bearing for the workpiece part released from the remaining grid, the product assembly being received by the product tray.

[0015] Generally, the workpiece parts released from the remaining grid can be placed on any suitable product carrier, which product carrier is arranged on the separating station or which product carrier is positioned on the separating station for this purpose. For example, the product carrier can form a platform or be configured as a conveyor belt, which is moved back and forth between the separating station and the take-off station by means of a transport device to take off the workpiece parts or which is arranged stably on the separating station and extends from the separating station to the take-off station. In the latter case, the workpiece parts can fall under the influence of gravity in the separating station onto the conveyor belt, which transports the workpiece parts onto the take-off station.

[0016] In a variant of the method, the product assembly is transported from the handover station onto the separating station by means of a transport device. The transport device for transporting the product assembly from the handover station onto the separating station can be configured in different ways. The product assembly can be transported, for example, from a dividing station, for example a laser dividing station, to the handover station. A transport of the product assembly from a loading station of a loading system to the handover station is also possible. In this case, a suitably configured transport device, for example in the form of a driverless transport system, transports the product assembly from the loading station of the loading system to the handover station. A partially automated transport to the handover station is also possible.

[0017] In an extension of this variant, the product assembly is transported from the handover station onto the separating station by means of a transport device in such a way that it is supported on a product tray. Preferably, in this case the product assembly is placed on the product tray on the handover station. In this case, the product tray can have guide means, for example in the form of guide rollers, which interact with stationary guide rails of the transport device in order to transport the product tray together with the product assembly supported thereon from the handover station onto the separating station.

[0018] The transport of the product assembly from the dividing station to the handover station can also be carried out by means of a product tray, on which the product assembly is supported. It is possible that different product trays are used for the transport of the product assembly from the dividing station to the handover station and for the transport of the product assembly from the handover station to the separating station. In this case, for example, it is possible that the product assembly is received on the handover station by means of a handling device, which has a carrier, for example a rack or the like, which grips the product assembly and lifts it from a first product tray, which is used for the transport of the product assembly between the dividing station and the handover station. In this case, the first product tray can be replaced by a second product tray after the lifting of the product assembly, which is used for the transport of the product assembly from the handover station to the separating station. In this case, the product assembly is placed on the second product tray on the handover station by the handling device. The handling device can have a lifting device in order to lift and lower the carrier, which grips the product assembly.

[0019] In an expansion, the product tray has a rectangular tray frame with two frame leg pairs, wherein a first frame leg pair of the frame leg pairs has first guide means by means of which the product tray is guided during the transport from the handover station to the separation station, and / or a second frame leg pair of the frame leg pairs has second guide means by means of which the product tray is transported from the separation station to the removal station. As guide means, for example, guide means with guide rollers are considered, which, during the movement of the product tray, jointly act with an associated guide rail. The product tray is guided in the longitudinal direction of the frame leg pair provided with the guide means, respectively, during the transport from the handover station to the separation station or from the separation station to the removal station.

[0020] The transport of the product tray from the handover station to the separation station can take place by means of the guide means of the frame leg pair of the long side or by means of the guide means of the frame leg pair of the transverse side of the tray frame. The guiding of the tray frame from the separation station to the removal station can take place by means of the guide means of the respective further frame leg pair. In this way, the product tray can be transported by means of two guide means along the long side or along its transverse side.

[0021] In a further expansion, the product tray has an element unit provided with receiving elements, which element unit comprises one of the frame leg pairs, and a face unit provided with receiving faces, which face unit comprises the other frame leg pair, wherein in a first functional state of the product tray, in which the receiving elements of the element unit protrude upwards relative to the receiving faces of the face unit, a product assembly is received by means of the holding device, wherein in a second functional state of the product tray, in which the receiving elements of the element unit do not protrude upwards relative to the receiving faces of the face unit, a workpiece part released from the remaining grid is placed on the product tray.

[0022] In this variant, the receiving of the product assembly is effected by the product tray in the first functional state, in which the holding device grasps the product assembly by means of the holding mechanism. Before the workpiece part is separated, the product tray is transferred into the second functional state, in which the receiving elements do not protrude upwards beyond the receiving faces of the face unit. In the second functional state, the product tray has a preferably flat receiving face on its upper side, which can largely enable a gentle and orderly placement of the workpiece part released from the remaining grid.

[0023] For the changeover from the first functional state to the second functional state, the element unit of the product tray and the face unit of the product tray can be selectively adjusted to a first relative position or a second relative position relative to one another in the vertical direction. For the adjustment of the product tray in the two relative positions, a lifting device can be provided on the separation station.

[0024] In the product tray described here, the guide means on one frame leg pair can be used in a first relative position of the element unit and the face unit and thus in a first functional state of the product tray in order to transport the product assembly from the handover station to the separation station. The guide means on the other frame leg pair can be used in a second relative position of the element unit and the face unit and thus in a second functional state of the product tray in order to transport the workpiece parts lying flat on the receiving surface of the product tray after being released from the remaining grid. On the take-off station, the workpiece parts can be sorted from the typically flat receiving surface of the product tray either automatically or manually.

[0025] In an expansion, the product tray with the product assembly placed thereon is gripped by means of the receiving part of the transport device on the handover station and transported to the separation station. In this variant, the product tray is gripped completely automatically or, if necessary, partially automatically, for example by means of a crane, a forklift or the like, and transported from the handover station to the separation station and deposited there. After the holding device has gripped and fixed the product assembly on the edge side on the separation station, the product tray can be transported back to the handover station without the product assembly supported thereon by means of the transport device in order to subsequently place a further product assembly on the product tray. In this expansion, the product tray cannot generally be switched between the two functional states, i.e. it is a conventional product tray which has only one functional state in which the receiving elements protrude upwards beyond the receiving surface in order to support the product assembly. But in this case, the use of a product tray which can in principle be converted between the two functional states is also possible.

[0026] In an alternative variant, the product assembly is gripped by means of the receiving part of the transport device on the handover station and transported to the separation station in a manner lying flat on the receiving part. In this variant, the transport of the product assembly takes place by means of a transport device which grips the product assembly by means of a suitable receiving part, for example by means of a rack or the like. In this case, the product assembly can be gripped on the handover station by means of the receiving part, lifted from the product tray and transported to the separation station.

[0027] The product assembly can be placed on the product tray by means of the transport device on the separation station, the product tray having two functional states or only one functional state. But it is also possible that the product assembly is received on the separation station by the holding device in a manner lying flat on the receiving part of the transport device in such a way that at least one holding mechanism of the holding device grips the product assembly on the edge side. In this case, it is advantageous if the receiving part of the handling device is configured in the form of a rack or the like, since this simplifies the fixing on the holding device.

[0028] In a further alternative variant, the product assembly is gripped on the edge side on the handover station by the at least one holding mechanism of the holding device and transported to the separation station by means of the holding device. In this case, the holding device forms a transport device. In this case, a product tray or a conveyor belt can be arranged as a product deposit on the separation station, onto which the workpiece parts drop after being released from the remaining grid. The workpiece parts can be transported from the separation station to a take-off station in order to sort the workpiece parts from the product deposit.

[0029] In all of the above-described variants, the remaining grid fixed on the holding device can be deposited by releasing the fixing and, under the action of gravity, for example, dropped into a recess, a remaining grid car or the like. For this purpose, the holding device together with the remaining grid fixed thereon can also be transported to a deposit station in order to deposit or deposit the remaining grid.

[0030] Another aspect of the application relates to a machine of the type mentioned at the outset, said machine further comprising a holding device for fixing a product assembly, said holding device having at least one holding mechanism for gripping the product assembly on the edge side, wherein the machine is configured to release the at least one workpiece part from the remaining grid on the product assembly fixed by means of the holding device.

[0031] The at least one vibration generator can form a separate unit from the holding device. By means of the at least one vibration generator, the holding device and the product assembly can be subjected to vibrations or oscillations. As a result of the oscillations of the product assembly, the workpiece parts are released from the remaining grid, typically in such a way that the micro- or nanobonds remaining between the workpiece parts and the remaining grid are broken. After the workpiece parts are released, the remaining grid remains on the holding device, while the workpiece parts drop under the action of gravity onto a product deposit, which is located below the holding device on the separation station.

[0032] In an embodiment, the machine has a transport device for moving the product assembly from the handover station of the machine to the separation station. The transport device can be configured in different ways.

[0033] In an extension of this embodiment, the machine has a product tray on which the product assembly is deposited, wherein the transport device is configured to transport the product tray with the product assembly supported thereon from the handover station to the separation station. In this embodiment, the transport device typically has a drive for moving the product tray along a guide rail of the transport device from the handover station to the separation station.

[0034] In an expansion of this embodiment, the product tray has a rectangular tray frame with two frame leg pairs, wherein a first frame leg pair of the frame leg pairs has a first guide device for guiding the product tray when being transported from the handover station onto the separation station, and / or wherein a second frame leg pair of the frame leg pairs has a second guide device for guiding the product tray when being transported from the separation station onto the removal station.

[0035] As already described above in connection with the method, the guide device can have or consist of guide rollers which jointly act with an associated guide rail of the transport device for moving the product tray. The product tray is guided in the longitudinal direction of the frame leg pair provided with the guide device respectively when being transported from the handover station to the separation station and / or from the separation station to the removal station.

[0036] In an expansion of this embodiment, the product tray has an element unit provided with holding elements, which element unit comprises one frame leg pair of the frame leg pairs, and a face unit provided with a holding face, which face unit comprises the other frame leg pair, wherein the element unit and the face unit can be transferred from a first functional state in which the holding elements of the element unit project upwardly relative to the holding face of the face unit into a second functional state in which the holding elements of the element unit do not project upwardly relative to the holding face of the face unit. In the second functional state, the product tray preferably has a flat holding face. The transfer between the first functional state and the second functional state can be effected by a movement of the element unit and the face unit in the vertical direction between a first relative position and a second relative position. For the movement between the first relative position and the second relative position, the mechanical equipment can have, for example, a lifting device which is arranged on the separation station.

[0037] In an alternative embodiment, the transport device is configured for picking up the product tray together with the product assembly supported thereon on the handover station by means of the holding portion and transporting it to the separation station in a manner lying flat on the holding portion. In this case, the transport device typically has a lifting device which is configured for lifting the holding portion when the product tray is picked up on the handover station by means of the holding portion. The lifting device is also used for storing the product tray together with the product assembly supported thereon on the separation station.

[0038] In a further alternative embodiment, the transport device has a holding portion for picking up the product assembly and is configured for transporting the product assembly from the handover station to the separation station in a manner lying flat on the holding portion. As already described above in connection with the method, the holding portion can be configured, for example, in the type of a rack or the like.

[0039] In a further alternative embodiment, the transport device is formed by a holding device which is configured for grasping the product assembly on the edge side on the handover station by means of the at least one holding mechanism and transporting to the separating station. The product assembly can be placed on the handover station, for example, lying on a receiving element of a product tray, which enables the grasping of the product assembly by means of the at least one holding mechanism. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0040] Figure 1 schematic diagram of a mechanical device for handling detachable product assemblies, which are placed on a product tray on a handover station, the product tray having two functional states,

[0041] Figure 2 schematic view of the mechanical device according to Figure 1 in the course of transporting the product tray from the handover station to the separating station,

[0042] Figure 3 schematic view of a product tray according to Figure 1 and Figure 2 in the first functional state,

[0043] Figure 4 schematic view of a product tray according to Figure 3 in the second functional state,

[0044] Figure 5 schematic view of a product tray according to Figure 4 in the sectional plane V indicated in Figure 4 ,

[0045] Figure 6 schematic diagram of a separating station with a product tray, which is loaded with detachable product assemblies,

[0046] Figure 7 schematic view of a separating station according to Figure 6 in the direction of the arrow V, Figure 6 and

[0047] Figures 8 to 12 schematic diagram of a flow on a separating station according to Figure 6 and 7 starting from the case according to Figure 6 and 7 . DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] Figure 1 and Figure 2 schematic diagram of a mechanical device 1 for handling detachable product assemblies 2, which have workpiece parts 36 and remaining grid 37 (see Figure 11 and Figure 12 The releasable product assembly 2 is manufactured by means of a split processing of the raw sheet 4 on a laser cutting machine 5. The laser cutting machine 5 forms a splitting station of the mechanical plant 1. The releasable product assembly 2 has been formed in the split processing in such a way that a nano joint has been retained between the workpiece part 36 and the remaining grid 37.

[0049] In the working space of the laser cutting machine 5, the raw sheet 4 is supported on the product tray 3 during the split processing. After the end of the split processing, the product tray 3 loaded with the releasable product assembly 2 is guided out of the working space of the laser cutting machine 5 and is transported to the handover station 6 of the mechanical plant 1.

[0050] On the handover station 6, the product assembly 2 is received by a handling device 7 in such a way that a rack receiving portion 8 of the handling device 7 grips and lifts the product assembly 2 supported on the product tray 3. Then, a product tray 9 is transported onto the handover station 6, which has two functional states, as described in more detail below. The handling device 7 places the product assembly 2 on the product tray 9 having two functional states, and the rack receiving portion 8 is opened. Then, the rack receiving portion 8 is lifted from the product tray 9. The product tray 9 with the product assembly 2 placed thereon is transported from the handover station 6 to a separation station 10 of the mechanical plant 1 in a subsequent step, as indicated in Figure 2 .

[0051] Figures 3 to 5 The product tray 9 having two functional states is shown, which comprises an element unit 11 and a face unit 12. The element unit 11 of the product tray 9 has a base plate 13 Figure 5 as a basis, on which upwardly protruding receiving elements of the element unit 11 are configured as receiving strips 14. By means of the base plate 13, the element unit 11 is arranged below a receiving plate 15 of the face unit 12 of the product tray 9. The receiving plate 15 has a receiving face 16 on its upper side and is provided with through openings indicated by line strips for the receiving strips 14 of the element unit 11 on the receiving face 16.

[0052] The rectangular tray frame 17 of the product tray 9 comprises two frame leg pairs 18, 19, wherein the frame leg pair 18 is a component of the element unit 11 and the frame leg pair 19 is a component of the face unit 12.

[0053] Each of the frame legs 20 of the frame leg pair 18 of the element unit 11 is provided with a guide device in the form of a guide roller 21. The guide roller 21 guides the product tray 9 in the movement in the longitudinal direction of the frame leg 20 of the eye element unit 11. Correspondingly, a guide roller 23 is provided as a guide device on the frame leg 22 of the frame leg pair 19 of the face unit 12 (see Figure 6 ). By means of the guide roller 23, the product tray 9 is guided in the movement in the longitudinal direction of the frame leg 22 of the face unit 12.

[0054] The element unit 11 and the face unit 12 of the product tray 9 are adjustable in relation to one another in the vertical direction. Thereby, the product tray 9 can be converted into a first functional state and into a second functional state.

[0055] In the first functional state, which is shown in Figure 3 and which exists in the first relative position of the element unit 11 and the face unit 12, the product tray 9 serves to jointly support the product assembly 2 described above in the direction of gravity by means of the resting strips 15, which protrude upward relative to the resting surface 16 of the product tray 9.

[0056] In the second functional state, which can be seen from Figure 4 and in the second relative position of the element unit 11 and the face unit 12 associated therewith, the resting strips 15 of the element unit 11 do not protrude upward relative to the resting plate 15 of the face unit 12 on the product side. Thus, the product tray 9 forms a flat resting surface 16 on its upper side, which serves in the manner described below for the sole support of the workpiece parts 36, which are released from the remaining grid 37 in the separating station 10.

[0057] In the displacement movement from the handover station 6 to the separating station 10, which is described in connection with Figure 2 , the product tray 9 is in its first functional state. In the transport, the product tray 9 is guided by means of the guide rollers 23 of the element unit 11 on guide rails 24, which extend up to the separating station 10 Figure 6 . The guide rails 24 together with the guide rollers 23 and a drive, which is not shown in the figures, form a transport device 25 for transporting the product tray 9 from the handover station 6 to the separating station 10.

[0058] Figures 6 to 9 The separating station 10 and the product tray 9, on which the product assembly 2 is placed, are shown. Figures 6 to 9 The separating unit 26 above the product tray 9, which is loaded with the product assembly 2, is shown in

[0059] The separating unit 26 is provided with a holding device 27. The holding device 27 has a holding mechanism in the form of a gripper 28 which, after the product tray 9 loaded with product assemblies 2 has been moved into the separating station 10, is also in its initial position in which it is arranged outside the product assemblies 2 in the vertical projection thereof in the plane.

[0060] From the above, the gripper 28 of the holding device 27 is adjusted into a position in which it grips the product assemblies 2 on the edge side ( Figure 8 ).

[0061] In Figures 6 to 8 , the product tray 9 is supported in the direction of gravity on a horizontal support 29 of the lifting device 30 aligned with the guide rails 24 by means of the guide rollers 23 of the frame legs 22 of the element unit 11. The horizontal support 29 of the lifting device 30 can be raised and lowered on a Traggerüst 31 of the separating station 10 in a motor-driven manner.

[0062] In Figures 6 to 8 , the face unit 12 of the product tray 9 is supported in the direction of gravity on the base plate 13 of the element unit 11. Here, the frame legs 22 of the face unit 12 with the guide rollers 23 arranged thereon are spaced apart in the vertical direction from a resting element 32 which is fixedly fitted on the Traggerüst 31 of the separating station 10.

[0063] From the case according to Figure 8 , the product tray 9 loaded with product assemblies 2 and the separating unit 26 are jointly lowered by means of the lifting device 30.

[0064] During the lowering movement, the product tray 9 is placed with the guide rollers 23 arranged on the frame legs 22 of the face unit 12 on the resting element 32 on the Traggerüst 31.

[0065] In the continuing lowering movement of the product tray 9, the element unit 11 of the product tray 9 is moved downwards relative to the face unit 12 which is fixedly supported in the direction of gravity. As a result, a second relative position of the element unit 11 and the face unit 12 and a second functional state of the product tray 9 associated therewith are derived in which a resting face 16 configured as a flat surface on the upper side of the product tray 9 ( Figure 9 、 10 ).

[0066] The guide rollers 21 on the frame legs 22 of the element unit 11 are spaced apart above the horizontal support 29 of the lifting device 30. The element unit 11 is supported in the direction of gravity by means of the base plate 13 on a stop 33 arranged therefor on the face unit 12 ( Figure 5 ).

[0067] If necessary, the first relative position of the element unit 11 and the face unit 12 can be restored by lifting of the element unit 11 relative to the face unit 12 supported on the carrier 32.

[0068] During the lowering movement of the product tray 9, the product assembly 2 is pulled or clamped by means of the holding device 27 onto the underside of the vibrating plate 34 of the separating unit 26. On the upper side of the vibrating plate 34, a vibrator 35 as a vibration generator is arranged, which brings the vibrating plate 34 into vertical vibration after the product tray 9 has been transferred into the second functional state. Due to the vibration of the vibrating plate 34, the workpiece parts 36 are loosened from the remaining grid 37, which is also fixed on the separating unit 26 by means of the holding device 27. Under the action of gravity, the workpiece parts 36 separated from the remaining grid 37 are gently and orderly placed on the flat carrier surface 16 of the product tray 9. Figure 11 ).

[0069] The workpiece parts possibly present in the remaining grid 37 are not fixed by the holding device 27, which are not joined to the remaining grid 37 by micro- or nano-joints. When the product tray 9 is transferred from the first functional state into the second functional state, these workpiece parts remain on the carrier strip 14 and are lowered together with the carrier strip 14.

[0070] A guide rail 38 arranged outside the separating station 10 is aligned with the carrier 32 on the load-bearing frame 31 of the separating station 10. Figure 12 ). The product tray 9, which is now still loaded with workpiece parts 36, is moved from the separating station 10 by means of the guide rail 38 onto the take-off station 39. Here, the product tray 9 is guided on the guide rail 38 by means of guide rollers 23 arranged on the frame legs 22 of the face unit 12. On the take-off station 39, the workpiece parts 36 lying on the product tray 9 are sorted manually or automatically, for example by means of suction grippers.

[0071] The remaining grid 37 fixed on the separating unit 26 is removed separately from the separating station 10. For this purpose, the gripper 28 is loosened from the remaining grid 37, whereby the remaining grid 37 is dropped under the action of gravity onto a suitable carrier, for example onto a remaining tray or into a recess. The dropping of the remaining grid 37 can take place on the separating station 10 or at a further location. For example, the remaining grid 37 can be transported to a warehouse and stored there.

[0072] Instead of the above-described transport of the product tray 9 along the guide rail 24 from the handover station 6 to the separation station 10, the above-described handling device 7 can also be used as a transport device for the product tray 9 from the handover station 6 to the separation station 10. In this case, the product assembly 2 lying on the product tray 3 in the first function state only is gripped and lifted by the rack receiving portion 8 on the handover station 6 as described above. Then, the handling device 7 is moved from the handover station 6 to the separation station 10 and places the product assembly 2 on the product tray 9 arranged on the separation station 10. The handling device 7 is moved back to the handover station 6 after the product assembly 2 is lowered from the separation station 10.

[0073] The handling device 7 can be moved further from the handover station 6 to a receiving station 40 shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 in order to receive the raw board 4 and place it on the product tray 3 arranged on the handover station 6. In parallel thereto, the above-described method sequence is carried out on the separation station 10 in order to release the workpiece parts 36 from the remaining grid 37. Alternatively, the receiving of the raw board can be carried out on the receiving station 40 and the transport to the handover station 6 is carried out in a different manner than by means of the handling device 7, for example by means of a suction device or the like.

[0074] It is also possible when using the handling device 7 to transport the product assembly 2 from the handover station 6 to the separation station 10 that the product assembly 2 is gripped and fixed by the gripper 28 of the holding device 27 on the edge side in the manner of lying on the rack receiving portion 8. In this case, the product tray 9 can be dispensed with. In this case, any product receiving portion for storing the workpiece parts 36 can be arranged in the separation station 10, for example a conveyor belt or the like. The conveyor belt can extend for example from the separation station 10 to a take-off station 39 on which the workpiece parts 36 are sorted by the conveyor belt. In this case, the remaining grid 37 can be received by the rack receiving portion 8 and transported from or deposited on the separation station 10.

[0075] The transport of the product assembly 2 from the handover station 6 to the separation station 10 can also take place by means of the holding device 27, which in this case is moved between the handover station 6 and the separation station 10 by means of a suitable drive. In this case, the holding device 27 grips and secures the product assembly 2 on the edge side on the handover station 6 by means of the gripper 28. The product assembly 2 is transported in the secured state on the holding device 27 from the handover station 6 to the separation station 10. In the separation station 10, the workpiece parts 36 are loosened from the remaining grid 37 by means of the vibration generator 35 in the manner described above. It is possible that the product assembly 2 in this case is placed on the separation station 10 by means of the holding device 27 onto the product tray 9 described above, which is transferred from the first functional state into the second functional state. Alternatively, other types of product receptacles, such as conveyor belts or the like, can be arranged below the holding device 27 on the separation station 10. The deposit of the remaining grid 37 from the holding device 27 can take place in the manner described above.

[0076] A further possibility for transporting the product assembly 2 from the handover station 6 to the separation station 10 consists in that the product tray 3 with only the first functional state shown in Figure 1 is transported from the handover station 6 to the separation station 10 together with the product assembly 2 placed thereon. For this purpose, the product tray 3 can be lifted on the handover station 6 by means of a transport device, such as a crane, a forklift or the like, transported to the separation station 10 and placed there. In this case, the product assembly 2 is also secured on the holding device 27 by means of the gripper 28 and the method sequence described above is carried out to loosen the workpiece parts 36 from the remaining grid 37. In this case, after the product assembly 2 is secured on the holding device 27 and the product assembly 2 is lifted from the product tray 3, the product tray 3 is moved away from the separation station 10 and can be moved back onto the handover station 6, for example, by means of a transport device in the form of a crane, a forklift or the like. Then, the product tray 9 described above with the two functional states or a further product receptacle, such as a conveyor belt or the like, is arranged on the separation station 10.

[0077] After the workpiece parts 36 are loosened from the remaining grid 37, the vibration generator 35 is activated and the workpiece parts 36 fall onto the product tray 9 or the further product receptacle. The workpiece parts 36 are transported to the take-off station 39 by means of the product tray 9 or in a further manner for sorting. Then, the remaining grid 37 secured on the holding device 27 is deposited by the release of the clamping of the gripper 28 and can be stored, for example, in a recess or in a remaining grid car.

[0078] It is also possible that the product assembly 2 is not transported from the splitting station or the laser cutting machine 5 to the handover station 6 of the mechanical device 1. In this case, the product assembly 2 can be taken out of a warehouse or the like and transported to the handover station 6 automatically or partially automatically.

Claims

1. A mechanical device (1) for processing a releasable product combination (2) having at least one workpiece part (36) and a residual grid (37), comprising: at least one vibration generator (35) for releasing the at least one workpiece part (36) from the residual grid (37) at a separating station (10), It is characterized by: A holding device (27) for fixing the product unit (2) is provided, the holding device having at least one holding mechanism (28) for gripping the product unit (2) at the edge side, wherein the mechanical device (1) is designed to release the at least one workpiece part (36) from the residual grid (37) on the product unit (2) fixed by means of the holding device (27).

2. The mechanical device according to claim 1, further comprising: A transport device (7, 25) is provided for transporting the product combination (2) from the transfer station (6) of the mechanical device (1) to the separation station (10).

3. The mechanical device according to claim 2, further comprising: A product tray (3, 9) is used to hold the product combination (2), wherein the transport device (25) is configured to transport the product tray (3, 9) together with the product combination (2) supported thereon from the transfer station (6) to the separation station (10).

4. The mechanical device according to claim 3, wherein: The product tray (9) has a rectangular tray frame (17), which has two pairs of frame legs (18, 19), wherein a first pair of frame legs (18) of the pair of frame legs has a first guide device (21) for guiding the product tray (9) when transported from the transfer station (6) to the separation station (10), and / or wherein a second pair of frame legs (19) of the pair of frame legs has a second guide device (23) for guiding the product tray (9) when transported from the separation station (10) to the removal station (39).

5. The mechanical device according to claim 4, wherein: The product tray (9) comprises an element unit (11) provided with a supporting element (14) and a surface unit (12) provided with a supporting surface (16), the element unit comprising one frame leg pair (18) of the frame leg pair, and the surface unit comprising the other frame leg pair (19), wherein the element unit (11) and the surface unit (12) are capable of being transformed from a first functional state to a second functional state, in which the supporting element (14) of the element unit (11) protrudes upward relative to the supporting surface (16) of the surface unit (12), and in which the supporting element (14) of the element unit (11) does not protrude upward relative to the supporting surface (16) of the surface unit (12).

6. The mechanical device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein: The transport device is configured to grab the product tray (3, 9) together with the product assembly (2) supported thereon at the transfer station (6) via a receiving portion and transport the product tray to the separation station (10) in a manner of lying on the receiving portion.

7. The mechanical device according to claim 2, wherein: The transport device (7) has a receiving portion (8) for grabbing the product combination (2) and is configured to transport the product combination (2) from the transfer station (6) to the separation station (10) in a manner of lying on the receiving portion (8).

8. The mechanical device according to claim 2, wherein: The transport device is formed by the holding device (27), which is designed to grip the product combination (2) at the edge side at the transfer station (6) by means of the at least one holding mechanism (28) and transport it to the separating station (10).

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