Method and apparatus for cutting out objects from sheet-like material or for dividing sheet-like material

Abstract

A method for cutting out objects from web-shaped material or for dividing web-shaped material, in which, in a first step, several material webs (4) are stacked on top of each other, essentially congruently, to form a stack (6), then, in a second step, the stack (6) is transferred to a processing station (2) where the objects are cut out of the stack (6) according to a cutting pattern, and in a third step, the cut-out objects are removed, characterized in that, in the first step, the material webs (4) are stacked on a support device (5) in their initial position, then the stack (6) is transferred to a conveying device (17; 19) located below the support device (5) by the stack (6) being deposited onto the conveying device (17; 19) below, subsequently the stack (6) is moved by means of the conveying device (17;19, 20) is transported into the processing station (2), the items are cut out and conveyed out of the processing station (2) via the conveyor device (17, 20), the support device (5) being returned to its home position after the stack (6) has been placed on the conveyor device (17, 19) below, ready to receive a new stack (6) of the material webs (4).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for cutting out objects from sheet-shaped material.

[0002] The invention relates in particular to a method in which, at a first station, several webs of material or several sections of a web of material are stacked on top of each other in a substantially congruent manner. A laying device is typically used for this purpose. The individual sections of the web of material can be pulled from a supply roll or bale and cut to length, or they can be laid on top of each other, already pre-cut to length. From this first station, the assembled stack is then transferred to a subsequent processing station, where objects are cut from the stack according to a cutting pattern of a defined geometry, or the stack is divided into smaller sections. The stacked webs of material with the cut-out but not yet separated or separated objects are then transferred to a further station, where they are removed.Remnants of the material webs are then disposed of.

[0003] Typically, the stacked material web sections are up to 10 meters long, so the individual stations in series—i.e., the first station, the processing station, and the removal station—require a total length of 30 meters or more, in addition to the space required for the supply roll at the infeed of the first station. Depending on the width of the material web sections, which can be 2 meters or more, aids are needed to remove the cut or separated items from the center of the material web stack at the removal station. These items are located a meter or more from the edge of the material web stack and are therefore not directly accessible to a person.

[0004] Devices currently used to cut items from a stack of web-like material employ support tables or grids that transfer the respective stacks of material from one station to the next. At the unloading station, the empty support tables or grids are then returned to the first station to build a new stack of web-like material. Due to the support tables or grids used, the cut items can only be removed once the respective support table or grid has been completely transferred from the processing station to the unloading station. Additional space is also required to return the empty support tables to the first station, unless the support tables are returned above or below the processing station.

[0005] It is also known to use conveyor belts for transporting stacks of material.

[0006] Due to current working methods and the equipment used for cutting objects from web-like material, especially from a stack of material webs, there is a need to reduce the space required to set up and operate such a system. The processing time for handling a stack of material webs should also be reduced.

[0007] According to the invention, a method for cutting objects from a sheet-like material with the features of claim 1 and a device with the features of claim 7 are specified. Advantageous embodiments of both the method and the device are described in the dependent claims.

[0008] In many areas, it is necessary to cut objects from sheet material. To produce a large number of objects simultaneously with a single cutting operation, several sheets or sections of material are stacked on top of each other, allowing the stacked sections to be processed simultaneously in one operation. The number of objects produced by each cutting operation in the processing station corresponds to the number of sheets stacked.

[0009] Such processes are used particularly for working with thin sheets of metal, for example using a laser cutting device, or with fabric or other woven webs. These sheets or fabric / woven webs are, for example, pulled from a material coil or bale.

[0010] The inventive method provides that, in a first processing step, several material webs, essentially identical in shape, are stacked on top of each other to form a stack. If the material webs are pulled from a material coil or bale, they are preferably cut to the required length directly in the area of ​​the first station.

[0011] Typically, the material webs are stacked on top of each other on a support rack, where the stack remains in the processing station. Only after the cut-out items have been removed from the support rack, which has been conveyed out of the processing station, is the support rack returned to the first station to receive more material webs.

[0012] In contrast to this method, the method according to the invention provides that the material webs are stacked in the first station on a support device located above a conveyor device, which transports the stack of material webs to the processing station, which, however, is decoupled from the conveyor device. Only when a stack of material webs has been assembled on the support device is this stack of material webs transferred to the conveyor device, so that the stack of material webs is placed directly onto the conveyor device, which then transports the stack of material webs to the processing station.

[0013] After the material web stack has been completely placed on the conveyor device in the first station, the support device is returned to its home position above the conveyor device, so that it is ready in this home position to assemble a new material web stack from individual material web sections.

[0014] Because the conveyor is decoupled from the support unit, a single conveyor can be used to transport the material web or the stack of material webs from the first station, through the processing station, to the unloading area. Within the processing station, the cutting device can be moved relative to the stack of material webs. This also means that the conveyor with the stack of material webs can be stopped, moved continuously, or intermittently within the processing station according to the required relative cutting speeds, without having to consider the stacking process or its progress within the first station.

[0015] Although the conveyor is also assigned to the first station where the individual material web sections are stacked into a stack, this stacking process is independent of any movement of the conveyor required due to the processing of a material web stack in the processing station, since the conveyor is located below the support device in the first station and is decoupled from it.

[0016] The conveyor system allows the section of the material web stack containing the cut-out items to be transported out of the processing station, enabling the immediate removal of the cut-out items, which are still within the material web stack. In this area on the outward side of the processing station, the cut-out items are easily accessible, even when dealing with very wide material webs running perpendicular to the conveyor system.

[0017] Since the inventive method does not use support grids or other supports on which the material webs are stacked and with which the respective stack of material webs is then transferred from the first station to the second station, the processing station, and which, after processing the stack of material webs, must be completely moved out of the processing station for the removal and singulation of the cut-out objects, the length of the entire device can be reduced by approximately the length of such a support grid or a corresponding conveyor belt, consequently by about one third.Since the formation of a material web stack in the first station is decoupled from the conveyor device that transports the stack to the processing zone of the processing station, processing times can be reduced because a material web stack formed in the first station is immediately placed from the support device onto the conveyor device and transferred to the processing station by the conveyor device when a processing operation in the processing station has progressed sufficiently.

[0018] In one embodiment of the method, the material webs are stacked on a conveyor belt whose length corresponds approximately to the length of the material web sections to be stacked. This conveyor belt is located above the conveyor belt that serves the processing and output stations and is therefore decoupled from this conveyor belt. To transfer the stack of material webs onto the conveying device, the conveyor belt is stopped after the stack has been created, and the conveyor belt or support belt is pulled away from below the stack of material webs, so that the end of the stack of material webs extends beyond the conveyor belt and rests on the conveyor belt located at the level below, and is then transported to the processing station.When the stack of material webs has left the conveyor belt, the belt is stopped in its movement in order to build a new stack of material webs on it, decoupled from the conveyor belt.

[0019] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the stack is transferred to the conveying device located below the support device by retracting the support device from beneath the stack. The support device can be designed such that it is retracted from beneath the stack without generating any significant relative movement between the support device and the lower web of material resting on the support device. The support device is then returned to its initial position to build up a new stack of material webs, decoupled from the conveying device. Once the stack of material webs has been deposited from the support device onto the conveying device below, a new stack of material webs can be created on the support device without the stack of material webs resting on the conveying device below having to be moved from the first station to the second station.

[0020] As already mentioned above, the method according to the invention is also characterized in that, at least during the time when objects are cut out from the previously formed stack in the processing station, a new stack can be partially formed on the support device, although the conveying device that transfers the previous stack of material webs into the processing station can continue to be moved in order to move the stack of material webs in the processing station relative to a cutting device, for example a laser beam, and to move the processed part of the stack of material webs out of the processing station for the removal of the cut-out or separated parts.

[0021] A key aspect of the invention is that a support belt is used as a support device on which to build a stack of material webs. Such a support belt can be composed of several narrow, parallel belts, which are preferably deflected around common rollers.

[0022] It is also planned that at least two conveying systems will be used, with one conveying system assigned to the area below the support unit and the other to the area of ​​the processing station. These at least two conveying systems should be positioned relative to each other so that they form a common support and transport level for the material web stack.

[0023] If three conveying devices are used, the third conveying device is assigned to the output zone, which can nevertheless be kept very short, while the other two conveying devices are assigned to the area of ​​the loading device and the area of ​​the processing device.

[0024] A conveyor belt is most suitable as the conveying device, with a cutting grid provided in the cutting area. Alternatively, the conveyor belt could be constructed from several narrow, parallel belts, or a wire mesh could be used for the conveyor belt or such narrow belts.

[0025] The device according to the invention for cutting objects from web-shaped material comprises a first station in which several webs of material are stacked on top of each other, essentially congruently, on a support belt or other support device. A laying device can be used for this purpose. Furthermore, a conveying device is provided to transfer the stack to a processing station adjoining the first station, as already explained above. On the side of the processing station opposite the first station, there is an output zone for dispensing the cut and / or separated objects or parts of the material web stack. The at least one conveying device extends from the first station at least to the end of the processing station.The first station comprises the support device, preferably a support belt, onto which, in a home position of the support device, the material web is placed or the material webs are stacked into a pile. It is essential that the support device is located above the conveying device, so that it is decoupled from the conveyor belt and its drive or conveying movement.

[0026] In one embodiment, the support device is formed by a conveyor belt that is guided circumferentially over at least two rollers or cylinders. By driving this conveyor belt, the stack of material web is transferred to the conveyor belt located at the level below.

[0027] Preferably, a support device or a support belt provided for this purpose is used, which is mounted and guided in such a way that it can be pulled off from below the stack of material webs, so that the stack of material webs is placed onto the conveyor belt. In this case, the stack of material webs does not change its position when viewed as projected onto the conveyor belt located below the support belt.

[0028] Preferably, a support belt is used as the support device, which can be conveniently pulled off from below the stack by being guided back at one end under itself to its other end into a stacking position. The part of the support belt forming the support, referred to as the upper run, is held stationary at its free end, while the retracted part of the support belt, referred to as the lower run, is pulled off at its free end by sliding parallel to the upper run towards the stationary end. For this purpose, the at least one roller is advantageously mounted at both ends such that it is slidable parallel to the plane of the belt. The upper side of the upper run forms the support surface for the material web(s) or the material web stack. To support the material web(s) or the material web stack,To place the stack of material web onto the conveyor, the portion of the support belt deflected over the roller is pulled away, causing the roller to shift beneath the material web. This gradually pulls away the upper part of the support belt, the top run, on which the stack of material web rests, thus transferring the upper run into the lower run. As a result, the material web or stack falls onto the conveyor below, which then transports the stack to the processing unit. A particular advantage of this process is that no friction occurs between the stack of material web and the conveyor belt that pulls away from beneath it.The roller, which can also be called a deflection roller, is then returned to its starting position, so that the support surface is once again ready for building up another stack of material web, or even just for placing a single section of material web.

[0029] Where the terms "material web," "material web section," or "material web stack" are used, these terms are interchangeable where possible. However, the inventive method and the inventive device are preferably used for processing a material web stack consisting of stacked material web sections, although individual material web sections can also be processed.

[0030] Where the term "conveyor system" is used, it can refer to a conveyor belt, a conveyor chain, or another type of link belt used to transport the stack of material from one station to the next. The direction of transport can also be temporarily reversed, at least by the conveyor system assigned to the processing station, in order to extend the working area of ​​the processing device, for example, a laser, within the processing station and to reduce processing time.

[0031] Further details and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1A a device according to a first embodiment of the invention, wherein the additional Fig. 1B and Fig. 1C, whose workflow is described, and Fig. 2A a device according to a second embodiment of the invention, wherein the additional Fig. 2B to 2D illustrate their workflow.

[0032] In the Fig. Figures 1A to 1C and 2A to 2D each represent a device for cutting objects from sheet-like material or for dividing sheet-like material.

[0033] It should be expressly pointed out that the following description of the various embodiments, as they appear in the Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows that not all components need to be described again for an embodiment or a figure of an embodiment if they have already been described or explained with reference to another embodiment or another figure. Accordingly, the description of the various components for an embodiment or a figure of such an embodiment can be transferred to the respective components of another embodiment or another figure of the corresponding embodiment without this being explicitly stated.

[0034] The device, as described in the Fig. The system, shown in Figures 1A to 1C, is divided into three stations: a first station 1, a second station 2, and a third station 3. The first station 1 serves to stack several webs of material 4 on a support device 5, one above the other and essentially congruently, to form a stack 6. These webs of material 4 are either fed in as such or they are pulled from a material bale or coil 7 via a schematically depicted laying device 25 and cut to length by a cutting device 8. The support device 5 is part of a conveyor belt 9 with an upper run 10 and a lower run 11, the upper side of the upper run 10 forming the support device 5. One end 12 of the conveyor belt 9, which is associated with the upper run 10, is held stationary. The other end 13 of the upper run 10 is deflected around a deflection device, for example, a deflection roller 14, leading to the lower run 11.The end 15 of the lower run 11 opposite the deflection pulley 14 is connected to a winding device 16.

[0035] Below the support device 5, and thus below the conveyor belt 9, is a conveyor belt 17 that extends from the first station 1, the stacking station, via the second station 2, the processing station, to the third station 3, the output station. This conveyor belt 17 is guided endlessly around rollers 18 at both ends.

[0036] While in the embodiment as described in the Fig. Figures 1A to 1C show that only a single conveyor belt 17 is used, which passes through the three stations 1, 2 and 3. In the embodiment shown in the Fig. As shown in Figures 2A to 2D, the conveyor belt 17 is divided into two sub-conveyor belts 19 and 20; one sub-conveyor belt 19 is located in the area of ​​the first station 1, while the second sub-conveyor belt 20 immediately connects to the first sub-conveyor belt 19 and extends through the second station 2, the processing station, to the third station 3, the output station.

[0037] The figures clearly show that the support device 5, which in the illustrated embodiments is provided by the upper part, the upper run 10, of the conveyor belt 9, moves independently of the movement of the conveyor belt 17 or the sub-conveyor belts 19 and 20. Consequently, the stack 6 can be produced from the material webs 4 independently of the further operation of the device.

[0038] When a stack of material web 6 is to be fed to processing station 2 via conveyor belt 17 or via the partial conveyor belts 19, 20, the conveyor belt 9 is pulled off below the stack 6 assembled on the upper run 10. In this process, the lower run 11 of the conveyor belt 9 is wound onto the winding device 16 in the direction of arrow 21, causing the deflection roller 14 to move in the direction of arrow 22, guided in a guide device 23. The upper run 10 is thereby deflected around the deflection roller 14 and transferred into the lower run 11, causing the stack of material web 6 to be continuously laid down onto the upper run of conveyor belt 17 or 19, as shown in the Fig. 1B and Fig. 2B is shown, until it is completely resting on conveyor belt 17 or 19, as shown by the Fig. 1C and Fig. Show 2C.

[0039] The conveyor belt 9 is then unwound again from the winding device 16 in the opposite direction to arrow 21, causing the deflection roller 14 to return to its starting position in the guide device 23 in the opposite direction to arrow 22. Fig. 1A and Fig. 2A is shown, shifting so that the support device 5 is ready to receive a new stack 6, as shown in the sequence of figures. In the Fig. 1C, Fig. 2A and Fig. In 2D, the material coil 7 and the cutting device 8 have been omitted for a clearer representation.

[0040] The sliding movement of the deflection roller 14 in the guide device 23 can be coupled to the rotational movement of the winding device 16. Springs (not shown) can also be coupled to the deflection roller 14, which, for example, are tensioned in one direction of the deflection roller 14's sliding movement in the guide device 23 and which return the deflection roller 14 to its initial position as the conveyor belt 9 unwinds from the winding device 16. Fig. 1A, Fig. 2A and Fig. Retract 2D.

[0041] The figures show that in processing station 2, the stack of material 6 located on conveyor belt 17 or sub-conveyor belt 20 is processed by moving a processing device 24, for example a laser, back and forth, as indicated by a double arrow. Simultaneously, conveyor belt 17 or sub-conveyor belt 20 can also be moved in both directions. However, both conveyor belt 17 and sub-conveyor belt 20 are transported in a preferred direction, the transport direction, towards the third station, the output station 3.

[0042] As soon as a processed material web stack 6 moves from processing station 2 to output station 3, parts can be removed from the material web stack or individual parts can be extracted. This allows output station 3 to be kept very short (in the direction of the conveyor belt).

[0043] As soon as the processing unit 24 in the processing station 2 has processed a stack of material webs 6, the next stack of material webs 6 lying on the conveyor belt is transferred to the processing station 2 so that the processing of this next stack of material webs 6 can take place.

[0044] It is evident that the processing time can be significantly reduced with the device according to the invention, since a stack of material webs 6 can be formed in the first station while a previously formed stack of material webs 6 is still located below the conveyor belt 9 and thus below the support device 5 provided by the conveyor belt 9, as is the case with the Fig. 1C and Fig. 2C, Fig.2D. In this state, a new stack of material webs 6 is assembled on the support device 5 in its home position. Furthermore, the output station 3 can be kept short, since the processed parts of the stack of material webs 6 can be removed one by one from the conveyor belt 17, 19 while another part of the stack of material webs 6 is still being processed. In known devices that place a stack of material webs 6 onto a transport grid or transport table and transfer it to the processing station, and then move it to the output station 3 after the stack of material webs 6 has been completely processed, the third station, the output station 3, must be long enough to correspond to the length of such a transport grid or transport table.The processing time is also significantly reduced with the method according to the invention, since a new stack of material webs 6 can be assembled on the support device 5, even though the previously created stack of material webs 6 is still on the conveyor belt 17 or 19 and has not yet been transferred to the processing station 2.

[0045] It is expressly pointed out that instead of a stack of material web 6 placed on the conveyor belt 9, a single section of material web can also be placed on the conveyor belt and then transported onto the conveyor belt below and subsequently into the processing station. Preferably, however, stacks of material web 6 are assembled on the support device 5 or the conveyor belt 9, and then this stack of material web 6 is guided through the processing station.

Claims

[1] Method for cutting out objects from sheet-like material or for dividing sheet-like material, in which in a first step several sheets of material (4) are stacked on top of each other, substantially congruent, to form a stack (6), then in a second step the stack (6) is transferred to a processing station (2) where the objects are cut out of the stack (6) according to a cutting pattern, and in a third step the cut-out objects are removed, characterized by, that in the first step the material webs (4) are stacked on a support device (5) in its home position, then the stack (6) is transferred to a conveying device (17; 19) located below the support device (5) by the stack (6) being placed onto the conveying device (17; 19) below, subsequently the stack (6) is transported by means of the conveying device (17; 19, 20) into the processing station (2), the items are cut out and conveyed out of the processing station (2) via the conveying device (17, 20), the support device (5) being returned to its home position after the stack (6) has been placed onto the conveying device (17, 19) below, ready to receive a new stack (6) of the material webs (4). [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by, that the stack (6) is transferred to the conveying device (17, 19) located below the support device (5) by removing the support device (5) from under the stack (6). [3] Method according to claim 2, characterized by , that the support device (5) is removed below the stack (6) without generating any significant relative movement between the support device (5) and the lower web of material (4) resting on the support device (5). [4] Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that a new stack (6) is formed on the support device (5) immediately after the previously formed stack (6) has been removed by the conveying device (17, 19). [5] Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that a support belt (9) is used as a support device (5). [6] Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by, that at least two conveying devices (19, 20) are used, wherein one conveying device (19) is assigned to the area of ​​the support device (5) while the other conveying device (20) is assigned to the area of ​​the processing station (2). [7] Device for cutting objects from web-shaped material (4) or for dividing web-shaped material (4), comprising a first station (1) having a support (5) and a laying device (25) for stacking several material webs (4) on the support (5) one above the other and substantially congruently to form a stack (6), comprising a processing station (2) and a processing device (24) associated with the processing station (2) for cutting objects from the stack (6), comprising an output station (3) located on the side of the processing station (2) opposite the first station (1) for dispensing the cut-out objects, and comprising at least one conveying device (17; 19, 20) for transporting the stack (6) through the stations (1, 2, 3), characterized by, that the at least one conveying device (17; 19, 20) is located below the support (5) and the at least one conveying device (17; 19, 20) extends from the first station (1) at least to the end of the processing station (2) assigned to the output station (3), wherein the support is formed by a support device (5) on which the material webs (4) are stacked in a home position, and wherein the support device (5) has means that place the stack (6) onto the conveying device (17; 19). [8] Device according to claim 7, characterized by , that the support device (5) is formed by a support band (9) and [9] Device according to claim 8, characterized by, that the support belt (9) is guided back under itself around a deflecting roller or guide roller (14), wherein the part of the support belt (9) forming the support (5), referred to as the upper run (10), is held stationary at its free end (10) while the guided part of the support belt (9), referred to as the lower run (11), is pulled away at its free end by the deflecting roller or guide roller (14), guided parallel to the upper run (10), moving towards the stationary end (10). [10] Device according to claim 9, characterized by , that the deflection roller or deflection roller (14) can be returned to its home position by means of devices.

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