Conveyor device for removing waste elements from a production machine and production machine arrangement with such a conveyor device

Abstract

The invention relates to a conveying device (5) for conveying waste elements (8) away from a production machine (3) having a plurality of processing positions (7), wherein the conveying device (5) has a transport device (9), wherein the transport device (9) has at least one compartment group (11) with a plurality of transport compartments (13), wherein each transport compartment (13) of the plurality of transport compartments (13) can be assigned to a respective processing position (7) of the plurality of processing positions (7), and wherein the transport device (9) is designed to transport the compartment group (11) from a feed position (15) to a discharge position (17) spaced apart from the feed position (15).

Description

The invention relates to a conveying device for conveying waste elements of a production machine and to a production machine arrangement having a production machine and such a conveying device.In the case of production machines which have a plurality of processing positions, in particular when different processing steps are assigned to the processing positions, the question arises as to whether waste elements which accumulate at the processing positions can be discharged jointly and in particular into the same waste container. In some cases, it is even necessary to remove the waste elements separately, since there is a risk of their direct contact in the region of the processing positions. This is the case, for example, when hot waste such as slag is produced at one processing position, which can ignite oily or otherwise combustible waste of another processing position. In the case of common discharge, contact can hardly be avoided, since, for example, oily punching slugs can stick to a conveying element and remain hanging, as a result of which they reach the region where the slag arises; oil can also run down into the slag region as the conveyor rises counter to a conveying direction. In such cases, therefore, separate conveying devices must be provided regularly for discharging the waste elements, or the waste elements pass directly into separate waste containers in the region of the processing positions. This requires complex and expensive configurations and considerable additional costs for emptying the separate waste containers.The object of the invention is therefore to provide a conveying device for conveying waste elements of a production machine having a plurality of processing positions, and a production machine arrangement having such a production machine and such a conveying device, wherein the disadvantages mentioned are at least reduced, preferably do not occur.The object is achieved by providing the present technical teaching, in particular the teaching of the independent claims and the embodiments disclosed in the dependent claims and the description.The object is achieved in particular by providing a conveying device for conveying waste elements of a production machine having a plurality of processing positions, wherein the conveying device has a transport device, wherein the transport device has at least one compartment group having a plurality of transport compartments, wherein each transport compartment of the plurality of transport compartments can be assigned in each case to a processing position of the plurality of processing positions - in particular fixedly, that is to say in particular constantly or permanently in time, and wherein the transport device is configured to transport the compartment group from a loading position to a unloading position spaced apart from the loading position. Advantageously, the conveying device allows a separate removal of waste elements from the processing positions, so that the waste elements of different processing positions do not come into contact with one another directly in the region of the processing positions at any rate. Risks arising therefrom are thus reliably avoided. The different waste elements can, however, be conveyed by the transport device at the common discharge position into a same waste container, wherein they cool down, for example, along the distance covered by the transport device from the loading position to the discharge position, so that at the discharge position and thus at the location of the common waste container, no danger any more of contact of the different waste elements with one another comes about. Ejection into a common waste container has the further advantage that a separate emptying of a plurality of waste containers is avoided. However, even if a plurality of waste containers are present at the discharge position, into which the different waste elements are conveyed alternately, for example, it is only necessary to empty waste containers at one location, namely at the discharge position, so that a worker involved therewith does not have to visit a plurality of different locations in the region of the production machine in order to empty the waste containers. The conveying device proposed here can advantageously be used as the only conveying device in a production machine having a plurality of processing positions, so that a simple and cost-effective solution for conveying away the waste elements is provided.In particular, the conveying device is matched to the production machine in such a way that the at least one compartment group has one, in particular exactly one transport compartment for each processing position of the production machine. If the transport device has a plurality of compartment groups, in particular each compartment group has in each case one transport compartment for each processing position of the production machine, in particular precisely one transport compartment. Preferably, no transport compartments are provided on the transport device which are not assigned to a compartment group. The transport device thus has in particular exactly n·m transport compartments, wherein n is the number of compartment groups and m is the number of processing positions of the production machine.In particular, the conveying device is configured to assign each transport compartment of the plurality of transport compartments of the at least one compartment group to a processing position of the plurality of processing positions in each case in a fixed manner, that is to say in particular in a constant or permanent manner over time.In one embodiment, the conveying device has a control device which is configured to assign each transport compartment of the plurality of transport compartments of the at least one compartment group to a processing position of the plurality of processing positions in a fixed manner, that is to say in particular permanently or constantly over time. In particular, the control device is operatively connected to the transport device and is configured to actuate the transport device such that each transport compartment of the plurality of transport compartments of the at least one compartment group is respectively permanently assigned, that is to say in particular permanently or permanently assigned, to a processing position of the plurality of processing positions. However, the control device can also be part of the production machine and be correspondingly operatively connected to the conveying device; or the functionality of the control device is implemented in interacting partial control devices of the production machine on the one hand and of the conveying device on the other hand and is realized jointly by these.In particular, the transport compartments are separated from one another. In this way, contact between the waste elements arranged in different transport compartments is advantageously particularly effectively avoided.The transport device has in particular a predetermined conveying direction along which the at least one compartment group is conveyed from the loading position to the ejection position.In one embodiment, the transport compartments of the at least one compartment group are arranged one behind the other along the conveying direction, in particular immediately adjacent to one another.In one embodiment, the transport device is additionally configured to transport the compartment group from the ejection position back to the application position, so that the compartment group circulates cyclically, in particular endlessly, between the application position and the ejection position.In one embodiment, different machining steps are assigned to the machining positions. In particular, the machining positions are configured to carry out machining steps that differ from one another, and / or different machining tools are arranged at the machining positions. In one embodiment, a first machining position of the at least two machining positions is configured for laser machining, in particular for laser cutting, wherein a second machining position of the at least two machining positions is configured for punching machining. The first machining position has in particular a cutting laser, wherein the second machining position has in particular a punching tool. This combination of different types of processing steps achieves the advantages already mentioned above in a particular way, since otherwise hot slag from laser processing can ignite oily punching slugs from punching processing, or alternatively a complex, expensive and / or cumbersome disposal of the various waste elements is required.In one embodiment, the transport compartments each have a length in the conveying direction that is matched to the associated processing position. Alternatively or additionally, the conveying device, in particular the control device, is configured to displace the at least one compartment group in a synchronized and / or clocked manner, in particular in such a way that the same transport compartment of the at least one compartment group is always arranged at the same assigned processing position. In this way, a fixed assignment of the transport compartments to the processing positions is advantageously ensured and a mixing of residues or residues of different types of waste elements in the transport compartments is avoided. Thus, for example, no oil remaining in a transport compartment provided for the discharge of punch slugs can be ignited by hot slag from the laser machining.In one embodiment, at least one transport compartment of the compartment group is additionally divided perpendicularly to the conveying direction into at least two subcompartments. In one embodiment, each transport compartment of the compartment group is additionally divided perpendicularly to the conveying direction into at least two subcompartments. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one compartment group has at least two separate subcompartments for at least one processing position of the at least two processing positions. In one configuration, the at least one compartment group has at least two separate subcompartments for each processing position of the at least two processing positions. Alternatively or additionally, at least one transport compartment of the compartment group perpendicular to the conveying direction is wider than a feed area of the associated processing position. In one embodiment, each transport compartment of the compartment group perpendicular to the conveying direction is wider than the respective feed region of the associated processing position. In the embodiments and configurations illustrated here, it is advantageously possible, in addition to the waste elements produced directly during the processing, also to discharge so-called residual grids, i.e. for example remaining sheet metal material of a sheet metal from which material parts are cut or punched, with the conveying device proposed here, in particular into the same waste container arranged at the discharge position into which the remaining waste elements are also conveyed. In this way, the conveying device proposed here is designed to be particularly efficient and cost-saving.According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that the transport compartments of the at least one compartment group are separated from one another by at least one separating element. Advantageously, this ensures particularly reliably that the various waste elements do not come into contact with one another at least in the region of the conveying device.In one embodiment, the at least one separating element is selected from a group consisting of a separating web and a - in particular circumferential - wall. A separating web can in particular separate different regions of a conveying element, for example a conveyor belt, or different conveying elements of the transport device from one another in the conveying direction. By means of a circumferential wall, it is possible to provide in particular compartments delimited on all sides on or on the conveying element, or to allow different delimited conveying elements to be developed as transport compartments in particular in the form of boxes or compartments.It is possible that a transport compartment of the plurality of transport compartments assigned to a specific processing position has a reinforced floor in the region of the conveying element, in particular on or on the conveying element, or that the conveying element itself is designed reinforced in the region of such a transport compartment. For example, a transport compartment assigned to a laser processing position can have a floor reinforced in such a way as to advantageously prevent the floor of the transport compartment and / or the conveying element itself in the region of this transport compartment from being damaged by hot waste elements, in particular slag.According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that the transport device is designed as a belt conveyor or as a chain conveyor. These embodiments prove to be particularly advantageous with regard to an efficient and cost-effective removal of the waste elements. If the transport device is designed as a belt conveyor, it has in particular a conveyor belt as the conveying element. If the transport device is designed as a chain conveyor, it preferably has separate conveying elements connected to one another by at least one chain, or the at least one chain is itself the conveying element. In particular, the conveyor belt or the at least one chain carries the at least one compartment group.According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that the transport device has a plurality of compartment groups. Advantageously, in this way, a particularly efficient discharge of waste elements can be provided, in spite of the preferably clocked advance, in particular depending on the number of compartment groups, even quasi-continuous.According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that the conveying device has a positioning device which is configured to arrange the at least one compartment group - in the correct position - relative to the production machine in such a way that each transport compartment is oriented with respect to the processing position assigned to it in such a way that waste elements can pass from the respective processing position - in particular exclusively - into the transport compartment of the at least one compartment group assigned to the respective processing position. In particular, the positioning device is configured to arrange the at least one compartment group in the correct position at the application position. By means of the positioning device, it can be advantageously ensured that the assignment of the transport compartments to the respective processing positions is maintained over time during operation of the conveying device. In particular, the positioning device advantageously allows compensation or correction of an offset which may occur during the displacement of the compartment group from the delivery position to the ejection position and back.According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that the positioning device has at least one reference mark. This represents an equally simple and reliable configuration of the positioning device. The reference mark is preferably selected from a group consisting of an optical mark, for example a barcode or QR code, a mechanical stop, a mark configured for near field communication (NFC), in particular an electrical resonant circuit, a mark configured in another suitable manner, and a combination of at least two of the mentioned marks.In one embodiment, the at least one reference mark is assigned exactly to one compartment group. This represents a particularly simple and cost-effective embodiment of the conveying device. A compartment group to which a reference mark is assigned is referred to below as a reference compartment group. Advantageously, in the embodiment proposed here, the correct position of the exactly one reference compartment group in the application position is ensured, so that any possible deviation or offset is corrected. If the conveying device has further compartment groups which are arranged cyclically at the feed position and to which no reference mark is assigned, the offset can accumulate only over one cycle and is thus kept low overall since it is compensated or corrected in each cycle as soon as the reference compartment group is arranged at the feed position.In another embodiment, the conveying device has a plurality of compartment groups, and a reference mark is assigned to a subset of compartment groups of the plurality of compartment groups. Advantageously, an offset correction thus takes place multiple times per cycle, in particular always when one of the reference compartment groups is arranged at the application position. Although an offset can occur in the region of those compartment groups to which no reference mark is assigned, this offset is small and can accumulate at most over part of a cycle.Further alternatively, each compartment group is assigned a reference mark. Thus, in this case, each compartment group is advantageously designed as a reference compartment group, so that no offset occurs any longer.In one embodiment, the positioning device has a detection device for detecting the at least one reference mark. Advantageously, the reference mark can thus be detected reliably. In particular, the control device is operatively connected to the detection device or has the detection device. The detection device is preferably selected from a group consisting of an optical detection device, in particular a camera, a mechanical detection device, in particular a counterstop, a detection device configured for near field communication (NFC), which is in particular configured for exciting an oscillating circuit, a detection device configured in another suitable manner, and a combination of at least two of the mentioned detection devices. The detection device is in particular designed to be complementary to the reference mark or is matched to the reference mark in such a way that it is capable of detecting the reference mark. For example, the detection device is designed as an optical detection device, in particular as a camera, if the reference mark is designed as an optical reference mark, or the detection device is designed as a mechanical detection device, in particular as a counterstop, if the reference mark is designed as a mechanical stop, or the detection device is designed as a detection device configured for near-field communication, if the reference mark is configured accordingly for near-field communication.In one configuration, the detection device is arranged at the application position. In this case, the arrangement of the detection device at the application position is selected in particular and matched to the arrangement of the reference mark on the at least one reference compartment group in such a way that the reference compartment group is arranged correctly positioned in the application position on account of the interaction of the reference mark with the detection device.It is possible that the detection device is arranged on the production machine and / or is part of the production machine.The object is also achieved by providing a production machine arrangement which has a production machine having a plurality of processing positions and a conveying device according to the invention or a conveying device according to one or more of the embodiments described above. The conveying device is configured and arranged in such a way that each transport compartment of the plurality of transport compartments is respectively assigned to a processing position of the plurality of processing positions-in particular permanently, that is to say in particular constant or permanently over time. In connection with the production machine arrangement, in particular those advantages are obtained which have already been explained above in connection with the conveying device.In one embodiment, the production machine arrangement, in particular the conveying device and / or the production machine, has a control device-in particular the control device already mentioned above-which is configured to bring about a synchronized, in particular clocked, advance of the transport device-in particular in a manner matched to a change of operating states of the production machine, in particular to an operating cycle of the production machine. In general, the control device is configured in particular to synchronize the operation of the conveying device, in particular the feed of the transport device, with the operation of the production machine in such a way that the at least one compartment group is arranged at the feed position in the correct time and position. In this case, a timely and positionally correct arrangement of the at least one compartment group at the feed position means that the at least one compartment group is arranged at the correct time relative to the production machine in such a way that each transport compartment of the at least one compartment group is aligned with the processing position assigned to it in each case in such a way that waste elements pass from the respective processing position, in particular exclusively, into the transport compartment assigned to the respective processing position.In one embodiment, the conveying device has the control device. In another embodiment, the production machine has the control device. It is also possible that both the conveying device and the production machine each have a partial control device which are configured to cooperate, in particular to communicate with one another, in order to realize the previously described functionality of the control device jointly.In one embodiment, the control device is configured to ensure the timely and positionally correct arrangement of the at least one compartment group by measuring the distance on the transport device. This represents a particularly simple configuration in which, if appropriate, the use of reference marks can even be dispensed with. In particular, the extent of a cycle which is traversed by the at least one compartment group from the loading position to the ejection position and back can be treated as an NC axis via a suitable measurement system, wherein predetermined positions of the at least one compartment group are determined as defined NC positions and are controlled as required. In particular, each cycle can begin without limiting generality at an NC position designated as 0, in particular at the task position.Alternatively or additionally, the control device is configured to detect the at least one reference mark. In particular, the control device can have the detection device for this purpose or be operatively connected to the detection device.According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that the control device is configured to detect whether a transport compartment of the at least one compartment group is arranged for each processing position of the production machine in such a way that waste elements can pass from the respective processing position into the associated transport compartment, and to release at least one test processing position of the plurality of processing positions only for processing if a transport compartment is arranged for each processing position in such a way that waste elements can pass from the respective processing position into the associated transport compartment. Advantageously, it is ensured in this way that processing at the test processing position only takes place if the waste elements produced there can actually also pass into a correspondingly assigned transport compartment. In particular, in this way a type of safety circuit is realized, by means of which processing at the at least one test processing position is only enabled if the waste elements produced there can also be discharged. This is particularly advantageous at critical processing positions at which potentially hazardous waste elements such as hot slag are produced. Therefore, such machining positions, in particular machining positions configured for laser machining, are preferably treated as a test machining position. Thus, in one embodiment, the test machining position is a machining position configured for laser machining.The safety circuit can be realized in particular via the previously described displacement measurement and / or by means of the positioning device, in particular if each compartment group of the plurality of compartment groups is designed as a reference compartment group. The corresponding detection and release then takes place in particular depending on predetermined NC positions and / or by evaluating signals of the detection device.According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that exactly one common waste container is arranged at the ejection position. This advantageously allows particularly simple disposal of the waste produced in the region of the production machine. A risk which otherwise may arise when different waste elements are brought into contact is avoided in particular in that the waste elements in the respective transport compartments are present separately and can die down, in particular cool down, on their path from the loading position to the unloading position.According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that the production machine has two-in particular exactly two-machining positions, a first machining position configured for laser machining and a second machining position configured for punching machining. In this embodiment, the advantages already described above are realized in a particular manner.The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. The following are shown: FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a production machine arrangement having a production machine and a conveying device; FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a first exemplary embodiment of the conveying device; FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a functional relationship of the conveying device, and FIG. 4 shows schematic representations of further exemplary embodiments of the conveying device.FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a production machine arrangement 1 having a production machine 3 and a conveying device 5.The production machine 3 has a plurality of machining positions 7, here in particular two machining positions 7. a first machining position 7.1 is configured for laser machining, in particular for laser cutting of metal sheets, and a second machining position 7.2 is configured for punching machining, in particular of metal sheets. The first machining position 7.1 has in particular a cutting laser, not shown, wherein the second machining position 7.2 has in particular a punching tool, likewise not shown. In particular, a sheet metal can be laser-cut by the production machine 3 only in the region of the first machining position 7.1 and subsequently machined by punching in the region of the second machining position 7.2, or vice versa. Simultaneous laser and punching processing of the metal sheet in the two processing positions 7 is also possible. In particular, the production machine 3 is designed as a punching laser machine or a punching laser combination machine.At a), FIG. 1 shows a schematic, partially cut side view of the production machine 3 with the conveying device 5. At b) a schematic top view of the conveying device 5 is shown, viewed from above geodetically.The conveying device 5 is configured to convey waste elements 8 illustrated in FIG. 2 away from the processing positions 7 of the production machine 3, and comprises a transport device 9 which comprises at least one compartment group 11 with a plurality of transport compartments 13. Each transport compartment 13 is assigned to a processing position 7. The transport device 9 is configured to transport the compartment group 11 - along a conveying direction indicated by a first arrow P 1 - from a delivery position 15 to a discharge position 17 spaced apart from the delivery position 15. The conveying device 5 thus allows a separate removal of the waste elements 8 from the processing positions 7, so that the waste elements 8 of different processing positions 7 do not come into contact with one another directly in the region of the feed position 15. Any risks which may arise from this are thus reliably avoided.The waste elements 8 can comprise in particular slag from the laser processing process and punching slugs from the punching process.For better clarification, a first transport compartment 13.1 is marked here with the letter L and a second transport compartment 13.2 is marked with the letter S; the first transport compartment 13.1 is assigned to the first processing position 7.1, wherein the letter L stands for the laser processing, and the second transport compartment 13.2 is assigned to the second processing position 7.2, wherein the letter S stands for the punching processing.The compartment group 11 is in particular displaced cyclically between the delivery position 15 and the ejection position 17, wherein the assignment of the transport compartments 13 to the processing positions 7 assigned to them in each case is constantly maintained.Schematically, in FIG. 1, at b) it is indicated that the transport device 9 can have a plurality of compartment groups 11, wherein here in particular a further compartment group 11 is indicated. In general, the transport device 9 can have any number of compartment groups 11, in particular the compartment groups 11 can be arranged one behind the other in a tight sequence in the conveying direction on the transport device 9.Preferably, the production machine arrangement 1, in particular the conveying device 5 and / or the production machine 3, has a control device 19 which is configured to bring about a synchronized, in particular clocked, advance of the transport device 9-in particular coordinated with a change of operating states of the production machine 3, in particular on its working cycle. The control device 19 is in particular configured to synchronize the operation of the conveying device 9 with the operation of the production machine 3 in such a way that the at least one compartment group 11 is arranged at the feed position 15 in a timely and positionally correct manner, so that the compartment group 11 is arranged at the correct time relative to the production machine 3 in such a way that each transport compartment 13 is aligned with the processing position 7 respectively assigned thereto in such a way that waste elements pass - in particular exclusively - from the respective processing position 7 into the transport compartment 13 assigned to the respective processing position 7.For this purpose, the control device 19 is preferably operatively connected both to the production machine 3 and to the conveying device 5, in particular to the transport device 9.FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a first exemplary embodiment of the conveying device 5.Identical and functionally identical elements are provided with identical reference symbols in all figures, so that reference is made to the preceding description in each case in this respect.In FIG. 2, a schematic side view of the conveying device 5 and in particular of the transport device 9 is shown at a), while a top view-again with the viewing direction from above-is shown at b).For the sake of better clarity, only one of the plurality of compartment groups 11 is provided with a corresponding reference sign, wherein only in this compartment group 11 is the first transport compartment 13.1 and the second transport compartment 13.2 provided with reference signs.In the transport compartments 13.1, 13.2 arranged in the feed area 15, a first distance A, in particular a center distance, between the first transport compartment 13.1 and the second transport compartment 13.2 is shown, which preferably corresponds to a distance, in particular center distance, between the first machining position 7.1 and the second machining position 7.2, which is also referred to as a punching laser offset. In addition, a second distance B, in particular likewise a center distance, between the second transport compartment 13.2 and a further first transport compartment 13.1 of a compartment group 11 directly adjacent in the conveying direction is shown. This second distance B may be equal to the first distance A, but this is not necessarily the case. The compartment groups 11 generally preferably have a length C, also shown schematically, in the conveying direction. This preferably corresponds to a length of the feed region 15 measured in the conveying direction.Furthermore, a period length D of the compartment groups 11 preferably arranged periodically on the transport device 9 is shown at b). This period length D preferably corresponds optionally to twice the first distance A, and / or the length C of the feed region 15 measured in the conveying direction. it is possible for the transport device 9 to be divided along the length of a cycle into partial sections of the length D, wherein in each partial section a compartment group 11 is arranged.At b), a plurality of, in particular three, complete compartment groups 11 are shown one behind the other in the conveying direction, of which-as already explained-only one is provided with reference symbols-the first transport compartment 13.1 assigned to the laser machining being denoted from the left in a first compartment group 11 by L 1 and the second transport compartment 13.2 assigned to the punching machining being denoted by S 1. Correspondingly, the transport compartments 13 of the compartment groups 11 adjoining to the right, each compartment being assigned analogously, are designated L 2, S 2, and L 3, S 3 respectively. It can be seen at a) that the transport compartments 13 are conveyed on an upper side of the transport device 9 from the loading position 15 to the ejection position 17, wherein they return on the lower side of the transport device 9. On the left, a first reversal point U 1 is shown, where the transport compartments 13 pass from the bottom side to the top side, there a second transport compartment 13.2 is denoted by S x ; on the right, a second reversal point U 2 is shown, where the transport compartments 13 pass from the top side to the bottom side, there a first transport compartment 13.1 is denoted by L A wherein here the index A stands for "ejection", since in the exemplary embodiment shown here the ejection of the waste elements takes place in the reversal movement.At the ejection position 17 exactly one common waste container 21 can be arranged. This enables a particularly simple disposal of the waste produced in the region of the production machine 3. A risk that otherwise may arise when different waste elements 8 are brought into contact is avoided in particular in that the waste elements 8 in the respective transport compartments 13 are separate and can die down, in particular cool down, on their path from the loading position 15 to the unloading position 17.However, a plurality of waste containers 21 can also be arranged at the ejection position 17, which can optionally be changed automatically in the right-and-right position for ejecting the different waste elements 8 from the different transport compartments 13 by means of a suitable changing device. Also then, only emptying of the waste containers 21 is required at only one location, namely the ejection position 17, so that a worker involved therewith does not have to visit a plurality of different locations in the region of the production machine 3 in order to empty the waste containers 21.The transport compartments 13 are separated from one another in particular by at least one separating element 23. The at least one separating element 23 is preferably a separating web or-as shown here-a circumferential wall 25, by means of which the transport compartments 13 are provided on the transport device 9 as compartments delimited on all sides.Preferably, a transport compartment 13 assigned to a specific processing position 7 has a reinforced floor; in particular, the first transport compartments 13.1, which are assigned to laser processing, can have a floor reinforced in this way.In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the transport device 9 is designed as a belt conveyor and has a conveyor belt 29 as a conveying element 27. Alternatively, the transport device 9 can be designed as a chain conveyor. In particular, the conveying element 27 carries the at least one compartment group 11.It is possible that the transport compartments 13 are each additionally divided perpendicularly to the conveying direction into at least two sub-compartments. Alternatively or additionally, the compartment groups 11 preferably have two separate subcompartments for each processing position 7. Alternatively or additionally, the transport compartments 13 are wider, perpendicular to the conveying direction, than a feed area in the respectively assigned processing position. It is thus possible to remove not only the waste elements 8 produced directly during the processing but also so-called residual grids with the conveying device 5, in particular in the same waste container 21 arranged at the discharge position 17, into which the remaining waste elements 8 are also conveyed.FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a functional relationship of the conveying device 5.The conveyor belt 29 has a belt length L F between the first reversal point U 1 and the second reversal point U 2, and a radius R in the region of the reversal points U 1, U 2, such that a total path length W of a cycle from the application position 15 to the ejection position 17 and back is given by: with the number of circles π.At a), it is shown that a compartment group 11 starts a cycle at the application position 15. At b), it is shown that after the same compartment group 11 has returned to the task position 15, i.e. after once passing through the cycle, an offset ΔV can occur in the arrangement of the compartment group 11 at the task position 15. This offset ΔV may accumulate upon passage through a plurality of cycles if appropriate action is not taken to avoid this. A corresponding offset can also already occur within one cycle when arranging a next compartment group 11.FIG. 4 shows schematic representations of further exemplary embodiments of the conveying device 5, in particular with a view to possible measures for avoiding the offset described above.For this purpose, the control device 19 can be configured to ensure the positionally correct arrangement of the at least one compartment group 11 by measuring the distance on the conveying device 5, in particular on the transport device 9, very particularly on the conveying element 27. In particular, the circumference, i.e. the path length W according to equation (1) of a cycle, can be treated as an NC axis via a suitable measurement system, wherein predetermined positions of the compartment group 11 are determined as defined NC positions and are controlled as required. In particular, each cycle can begin without limiting generality at an NC position designated as 0, in particular at the task position 15.In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the conveying device 5 has a positioning device 31 which is configured to arrange the at least one compartment group 11 - correctly positioned - relative to the production machine 3 in such a way that each transport compartment 13 is aligned with the processing position 7 assigned to it in such a way that waste elements 8 can pass from the respective processing position 7 - in particular exclusively - into the transport compartment 13 assigned to the respective processing position 7. In particular, the positioning device 31 is configured to arrange the at least one compartment group 11 in the correct position at the application position 15. In particular in this way, a compensation or a correction of the offset ΔV occurring during the displacement of the compartment group 11 from the delivery position 15 to the ejection position 17 and back can be avoided.The positioning device 31 has at least one reference mark 33, which is preferably selected from a group consisting of an optical mark, a mechanical stop, a mark configured for near field communication (NFC), in particular an electrical resonant circuit, a mark configured in another suitable manner, and a combination of at least two of the said marks.In the exemplary embodiment shown at a) in FIG. 3, the at least one reference mark 33 is assigned exactly to one reference compartment group of the compartment groups 11. The correct position of the exactly one reference compartment group in the application position 15 is thus ensured, such that the offset ΔV is corrected or does not occur.In the exemplary embodiment shown at b in FIG. 3, a reference mark 33 is assigned to a first subset of reference compartment groups of the compartment groups 11-here exactly two reference compartment groups.In the exemplary embodiment shown at c in FIG. 3, a reference mark 33 is assigned to a second subset of reference compartment groups of the compartment groups 11-here exactly six reference compartment groups. In particular, a first transport compartment 13.1 of a compartment group 11 to which no reference mark 33 is assigned is marked with a circle K here. It is possible here that no reference mark 33 is assigned only exactly to this one compartment group 11.Alternatively, each compartment group 11 can be assigned a reference mark 33. Thus, in this case, each compartment group 11 is advantageously designed as a reference compartment group, so that no offset occurs.The positioning device 31 preferably also has a detection device 35 for detecting the at least one reference mark 33, which is preferably selected from a group consisting of an optical detection device, in particular a camera, a mechanical detection device, in particular a counterstop, a detection device configured for near field communication (NFC), which is in particular configured for exciting an oscillating circuit, a detection device configured in another suitable manner, and a combination of at least two of the mentioned detection devices. The detection device 35 is in particular designed to be complementary to the reference mark 33 or matched to the reference mark 33 in such a way that it is capable of detecting the reference mark 33.Preferably, the detection device 35 is arranged at the loading position 15. The detection device can be arranged on the production machine 3 and / or be part of the production machine 3.In particular, the control device 19 is preferably configured to detect the at least one reference mark 33. In particular, the control device can have the detection device 35 for this purpose or be operatively connected to the detection device 35.The control device 19 is preferably also configured to detect whether an associated transport compartment 13 is arranged for each processing position 7 of the production machine 3 in such a way that waste elements 8 can pass from the respective processing position 7 into the associated transport compartment 13, and to release at least one test processing position of the plurality of processing positions 7 only for processing if an associated transport compartment 13 is arranged for each processing position 7 in such a way that waste elements 8 can pass from the respective processing position 7 into the associated transport compartment 7. In particular, the first machining position 7.1 configured for laser machining is preferably treated as a test machining position.This safety circuit can be implemented by way of the distance measurement described above and / or by means of the positioning device 31, in particular if each compartment group 11 of the plurality of compartment groups 11 is designed as a reference compartment group.

Claims

Conveying device (5) for conveying waste elements (8) of a production machine (3) having a plurality of processing positions (7), wherein the conveying device (5) has a transport device (9), wherein the transport device (9) has at least one compartment group (11) having a plurality of transport compartments (13), wherein each transport compartment (13) of the plurality of transport compartments (13) can be assigned in each case to a processing position (7) of the plurality of processing positions (7), and wherein transport device (9) is configured to transport the compartment group (11) from a loading position (15) to a unloading position (17) spaced apart from the loading position (15).Conveying device (5) according to claim 1, wherein the transport compartments (13) of the at least one compartment group (11) are separated from each other by at least one separating element (23), wherein the at least one separating element (23) is preferably selected from a group consisting of a separating web and an in particular circumferential wall (25).Conveying device (5) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport device (9) is designed as a belt conveyor or as a chain conveyor.Conveying device (5) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport device (9) has a plurality of compartment groups (11).Conveying device (5) according to one of the preceding claims, having a positioning device (31) which is configured to arrange the at least one compartment group (11) relative to the production machine (3) in such a way that each transport compartment (13) is aligned with the processing position (7) assigned to it in such a way that waste elements (8) can pass from the respective processing position (7) into the assigned transport compartment (13).Conveying device (5) according to claim 5, wherein the positioning device (31) has at least one reference mark (33) and optionally a detection device (35) for detecting the at least one reference mark (33), wherein - the at least one reference mark (33) is assigned to exactly one compartment group (11), or - a subset of compartment groups (11) of the at least one compartment group (11) is assigned a reference mark (33) of the at least one reference mark (33), respectively, or - each compartment group (11) is assigned a reference mark (33) of the at least one reference mark (33).Production machine arrangement (1) having a production machine (3) having a plurality of processing positions (7) and a conveying device (5) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the conveying device (5) is configured and arranged in such a way that each transport compartment (13) of the plurality of transport compartments (13) is assigned in each case to a processing position (7) of the plurality of processing positions (7).Production machine arrangement (1) according to claim 7, comprising a control device (19) which is configured to detect whether a transport compartment (13) is arranged for each processing position (7) in such a way that waste elements (8) can pass from the respective processing position (7) into the associated transport compartment (13), and to release at least one checking processing position of the plurality of processing positions (7) for processing only if a transport compartment (13) is arranged for each processing position (7) in such a way that waste elements (8) can pass from the respective processing position (7) into the associated transport compartment (13).Production machine arrangement (1) according to one of claims 7 or 8, wherein exactly one common waste container (21) is arranged at the discharge position (17).Production machine arrangement (1) according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the production machine (3) has two machining positions (7), a first machining position (7.1) configured for laser machining and a second machining position (7.2) configured for punching machining.

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