Machine tool equipped with a safety system

Abstract

Machine tool (1) for machining workpieces made of wood, glass, fiberglass plastic, metal, plastic and / or the like, comprising the following: at least one worktable (2) for clamping the workpieces, at least one movable structure (3) that can perform a translational movement along the worktable (2), and a safety system comprising at least one spacer (4) arranged on the at least one movable structure (3), wherein the machine tool (1) is characterized in that which at least one spacer (4) can transition from a rest position in which the machine tool (1) does not perform any machining and in which it is in a retracted position inside the movable structure (3), to a working position in which the machine tool (1) performs machining and in which it is in an extended position relative to the movable structure (3) in order to keep an operator at a safe distance from the machine tool (1), and by including at least one sensor designed to detect contact or a distance less than a predefinable threshold between the operator and the at least one spacer (4) and / or the moving structure (3) in order to stop the machine tool (1) running in machining operation when contact or a distance below the threshold is detected.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a machine tool equipped with a safety system.

[0002] More precisely, the invention relates to a machine of the aforementioned type, developed and manufactured in particular for processing workpieces made of wood, fiberglass-reinforced plastic, metal, plastic or the like, which is equipped with a safety system to protect an operator responsible for the machine tool.

[0003] The invention is subsequently described with reference to a machine tool for machining workpieces made of wood, but it is obvious that this description is not to be regarded as limited to this specific application.

[0004] As is well known, a machine tool is generally a machining center with numerical control, equipped with a worktable for clamping the workpieces to be machined, a crossbeam connected to the table and movable relative to it, and at least one working head for machining the workpieces, which is connected to the crossbeam and movable relative to it.

[0005] For safety reasons, the crossbeam may be equipped with an external guard that is firmly connected to the crossbeam and can completely or at least partially surround the crossbeam and the associated working head in order to serve as a protective barrier against any tools, tool parts, workpieces, workpiece parts and the like that may be ejected.

[0006] This external protective device has an opening on the worktable to allow the translational movement of the crossbeam and the protective device along the worktable.

[0007] During normal work processes, an operator responsible for the machine tool could fall into this opening if they lean too far over the worktable.

[0008] Therefore, for safety reasons and also taking into account the currently applicable standards, it is necessary to equip the machine tool with safety systems that prevent the presence of an operator near the opening of the protective device in order to avoid a possible fall into it.

[0009] Currently, machine tools for machining wooden workpieces have a touch sensor, which is usually arranged along the entire circumference of the outer protective device of the crossbeam, at the opening, as well as a bumper or a barrier which contains the non-contact sensor and serves to keep an operator at a safe distance from the machine tool.

[0010] The presence of the external protective device of the crossbeam and the bumpers, whose total volume depends on the dimensions of the opening, significantly increases the floor space required for the machine tool, leading to space problems when setting up the machine tool within a commercial factory for machining workpieces made of wood.

[0011] For the general technical background of the invention, reference should be made to EP 2 628 993 A1, DE 10 2009 038 503 A1, DE 10 2012 109 489 A1 and DE 10 2006 052 017 B4.

[0012] In light of the above, the objective of the present invention is to equip a machine tool with a safety system that complies with the safety standards applicable to machine tools and eliminates the disadvantages of known machines.

[0013] These and other results are achieved according to the invention with a machine tool equipped with a safety system that does not increase the machine's footprint.

[0014] The specific object of the present invention is therefore a machine tool for machining workpieces made of wood, glass, fiberglass-reinforced plastic, metal, plastic and / or the like, comprising: at least one worktable for clamping the workpieces, at least one movable structure capable of performing a translational movement along the worktable, and a safety system comprising at least one spacer arranged on the at least one movable structure, wherein the machine tool is characterized in that the at least one spacer can transition from a rest position, in which the machine tool does not perform any machining and in which it is in a retracted position inside the movable structure, to a working position, in which the machine tool performs machining and in which it is in an extended position relative to the movable structure.to keep an operator at a safe distance from the machine tool, and by including at least one sensor designed to detect contact, or a distance less than a predefinable threshold, between the operator and the at least one spacer and / or the moving structure, in order to stop the machine tool running in machining operation when contact or a distance below the threshold is detected.

[0015] Similarly, according to the invention, the sensor can be arranged on at least one spacer.

[0016] According to the invention, the at least one movable structure can also include a crossbeam and a protective device firmly connected to this crossbeam, which has an upper surface, a lower surface, an outer surface and an opening on the worktable.

[0017] Advantageously, according to the invention, at least one spacer can include several spacers that are arranged in a "Z" shape relative to each other.

[0018] Furthermore, according to the invention, at least two spacers of the multiple spacers can be arranged along the profile of the opening of the protective device and at least one spacer of the multiple spacers can be arranged on the lower surface of the protective device.

[0019] Similarly, according to the invention, the at least one spacer arranged on the lower surface of the protective device can be able to move from the rest position to the working position.

[0020] According to the invention, at least one spacer can also be arranged on the outer surface of the protective device.

[0021] Advantageously, according to the invention, at least one spacer can be a plate of the outer surface of the protective device.

[0022] Furthermore, according to the invention, the activation of the at least one spacer can be carried out by an actuator selected from at least one of the following types: hydraulic, optical, pneumatic or electric.

[0023] Similarly, according to the invention, the safety system can include a control logic that is preferably integrated into the operating logic of the machine tool and is operatively connected to the at least one sensor and the at least one actuator, so that it activates the actuator to bring the spacer into the rest position when the machine tool is not performing any machining, and so that it activates the actuator to bring the spacer into the working position when the machine tool is performing machining, and vice versa.

[0024] The present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention without limiting its general scope. The drawings show: Fig. 1 in perspective view the machine tool equipped with a safety system according to the invention in rest position; Fig. 2 a top view of the machine of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 in perspective view the machine tool equipped with the safety system according to the invention in operation; Fig. 4 a top view of the machine of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 a detail of the safety system according to the invention in its rest position; and Fig. 6 a detail of the safety system according to the invention in operation.

[0025] In the various figures, similar parts are marked with the same reference numbers.

[0026] With regard to the Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows a machine tool 1 comprising a worktable 2, in particular a console table for clamping the workpieces to be machined, such as wooden strips, and a carriage 3, which is connected to the worktable 2 and is movable relative to it along a direction X.

[0027] The carriage 3 includes a crossbeam 31 and an outer protective device 32, which is firmly connected to the crossbeam 31.

[0028] The outer protective device 32 almost completely surrounds the crossbeam 31 to form a protective barrier against any tools, tool parts, workpieces, workpiece parts and the like that may be ejected, and moves together with the crossbeam 31 of the carriage 3 along the direction X.

[0029] The protective device 32 has an upper surface 321, a lower surface 322, an outer surface 323 and an opening 324 on the worktable 2 to allow the translational movement of the carriage 3 along the worktable 2.

[0030] The machine tool 1 is equipped with a safety system which includes a spacer 4 integrated into the structure of the protective device 32 and a touch sensor, or several touch sensors, arranged along the spacer 4.

[0031] The sensor of the type touch sensor, or bumper, is designed to detect the presence of an operator near the carriage 3 and to stop the operation of the machine tool 1 in order to avoid further hazards to the user.

[0032] The sensor can also be arranged directly on the protective device 32.

[0033] The sensor can also be of the type of non-contact sensor and detect the presence of the operator even from a distance.

[0034] According to a first embodiment, the spacer 4 includes several spacers that extend along the entire circumference of the opening 324, as shown in the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 shown, and are arranged on the lower surface 322 of the protective device 32 and are arranged in a “Z” shape relative to each other.

[0035] The spacer 4 can assume a rest position in which it is fully integrated into the protective device 32 and thus does not increase the space requirement of the machine tool 1, as well as a working position in which it protrudes from the lower surface 322 of the protective device 32, as will be described in more detail below.

[0036] In a second embodiment (not shown), the spacer 4 can be integrated on the entire lateral structure 323 of the protective device 32 or on a part thereof, in the form of an extendable plate.

[0037] With regard to the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, as a result of activation by an actuator 41, which may be of pneumatic, electric, hydraulic, optical or the like, the spacer 4 moves from the rest position to the working position.

[0038] The sensor and actuator are controlled via control logic contained in the safety system.

[0039] The control logic of the safety system can also be integrated into the control logic of the machine tool.

[0040] The security system described above works as follows: When the machine tool 1 is in operation, the carriage 3 normally performs a translational movement along the worktable 2 at a predetermined speed, and the spacer 4 is in the working position.

[0041] In this way, if an operator approaches the worktable 2 during the operation of the machine tool 1 to perform operations such as loading or unloading workpieces, the spacer 4 will tend to keep the operator at a predetermined, suitable distance to prevent them from colliding with the carriage 3 and accidentally falling onto the worktable 2 or inserting a limb into the opening 324 of the guard 32. If the sensor detects the presence of an operator, particularly in the event of contact between the operator and the guard 32, the sensor would send a signal to the control logic, which would stop the machine tool 1.

[0042] If the machine tool 1 is not performing any machining, the control logic activates the actuator 41 in such a way that the spacer 4 moves from the working position to the rest position, thus removing the obstruction.

[0043] In a further embodiment, it is provided that when the machine tool 1 is activated, all spacers move from the rest position to the working position and vice versa.

[0044] The safety system described above makes it possible to comply with the applicable safety standards without requiring an increased space requirement for machine tool 1 when it is inactive.

[0045] The present invention has been described for illustrative purposes, but not in a limiting manner, according to its preferred embodiments; it is understood that variations and / or modifications may be made to it by those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the patent claims set out in the Annex.

Claims

[1] Machine tool (1) for machining workpieces made of wood, glass, fiberglass plastic, metal, plastic and / or the like, comprising: at least one worktable (2) for clamping the workpieces, at least one movable structure (3) that can perform a translational movement along the worktable (2), and a safety system comprising at least one spacer (4) arranged on the at least one movable structure (3), wherein the machine tool (1) characterized by is that which at least one spacer (4) can transition from a rest position in which the machine tool (1) does not perform any machining and in which it is in a retracted position inside the movable structure (3), to a working position in which the machine tool (1) performs machining and in which it is in an extended position relative to the movable structure (3) in order to keep an operator at a safe distance from the machine tool (1), and by including at least one sensor designed to detect contact or a distance less than a predefinable threshold between the operator and the at least one spacer (4) and / or the moving structure (3) in order to stop the machine tool (1) running in machining operation when contact or a distance below the threshold is detected. [2] Machine tool (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized by , that the sensor is arranged on the at least one spacer (4). [3] Machine tool (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the at least one movable structure (3) includes a crossbeam (31) and a protective device (32) which is firmly connected to the crossbeam (31) and which has an upper surface (321), a lower surface (322), an outer surface (323) and an opening (324) on the said worktable (2). [4] Machine tool (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that at least one spacer (4) includes several spacers arranged in a “Z” shape relative to each other. [5] Machine tool (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized by, that at least two spacers of the multiple spacers are arranged along the profile of the opening (324) of the protective device (32) and at least one spacer of the multiple spacers is arranged on the lower surface (322) of the protective device (32). [6] Machine tool (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized by , that at least one spacer arranged on the lower surface (322) of the protective device (32) is able to move from the rest position to the working position. [7] Machine tool (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that at least one spacer (4) is arranged on the outer surface (323) of the protective device (32). [8] Machine tool (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized by , that at least one spacer (4) is a plate of the outer surface (323) of the protective device (32). [9] Machine tool (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the activation of at least one spacer (4) is carried out by an actuator (41) selected from at least one of the following types: hydraulic, optical, pneumatic or electric. [10] Machine tool (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized by , that the safety system includes a control logic which is preferably integrated into the operating logic of the machine tool (1) and is operatively connected to the at least one sensor and the at least one actuator (41) so that it activates the actuator (41) to bring the spacer (4) into the rest position when the machine tool (1) is not performing any machining, and so that it activates the actuator (41) to bring the spacer (4) into the working position when the machine tool (1) is performing machining, and vice versa.

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