Machine device with a leveling device for aligning a product assembly of a workpiece part and a residual grid of a separating workpiece machining operation before separating the workpiece part.

Abstract

A mechanical device (1) for separating a workpiece part (2), which is a product of a separating machining operation on a plate-like workpiece, in particular a sheet metal workpiece, from a residual grid (3), which is a further product of the separating machining operation, under the influence of gravity, comprises a holding device (7), a separating unit (13), and a product tray (15). The holding device (7) is designed to fix the product grid (5) in the direction of gravity before the workpiece part (2) is separated and to fix the residual grid (3) in the direction of gravity after the workpiece part (2) has been separated.By means of a leveling device (18) the product assembly (5) is aligned with a main plane (10) of the product assembly (5) parallel to a horizontal storage surface (14) of the product storage tray (15) arranged at a vertical distance below the product assembly (5) before the workpiece part (2) is released from the product assembly (5) fixed by means of the holding device (7).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a mechanical device for separating a workpiece part, present as a machining product of a separating machining of a plate-like workpiece, in particular a sheet metal workpiece, from a residual grid present as a further machining product of the separating workpiece machining, under the influence of gravity from a product composite of the residual grid and the workpiece part. • wherein the machine device comprises a holding device, a separation unit and a product tray, • wherein the holding device is designed to fix the product assembly effectively in the direction of gravity before separating the workpiece part and to fix the remaining grid effectively in the direction of gravity after separating the workpiece part, • wherein the separating unit is designed to release the workpiece part from the product assembly fixed by means of the holding device, • wherein the product tray is arranged at a vertical distance below the product assembly fixed by means of the holding device and • wherein the product tray for storing the workpiece part detached from the product assembly under the influence of gravity has a horizontal storage surface which extends along the product assembly fixed by means of the holding device.

[0002] In sheet metal cutting processes using a cutting device, such as a laser cutting device, the resulting products are sheet metal parts and a residual grid that at least partially surrounds them. To simplify the removal of the processed products from the cutting device, the sheet metal parts are not completely separated from the residual grid during the cutting process. Instead, microjoints or nanojoints are left between the residual grid and the sheet metal parts, allowing the residual grid and the sheet metal parts to be handled as a single unit when unloading the cutting device. Furthermore, it is conceivable that sheet metal parts produced during cutting processes may be held in the residual grid after the cutting process due to thermal stresses or tilting. The separation of the sheet metal parts from the residual grid takes place in a subsequent process step.

[0003] The prior art is disclosed in JP 2000094057 A. The prior art relates to a machine arrangement and a method for stamping sheet metal. At a stamping station of the machine arrangement, sheet metal parts and a residual grid are produced from a sheet of metal. After completion of the stamping process, the sheet metal parts are connected to the residual grid via microjoints. The assembly of the residual grid and the attached sheet metal parts is moved to a separation station. At this station, several pairs of rollers follow one another in the direction of movement of the residual grid and the sheet metal parts, and are alternately offset upwards and downwards perpendicular to the direction of movement of the residual grid and the sheet metal parts. A gap is formed between the rollers of each pair of rollers. Coming from the stamping station, the residual grid with the sheet metal parts passes through the gap at several pairs of rollers that follow one another in the direction of movement.Due to the offset of the roller pairs, the residual grid containing the sheet metal parts is bent multiple times as it passes through the roller pairs. Simultaneously, the residual grid and sheet metal parts are set into vibration perpendicular to the direction of movement. As a result, the microjoints remaining between the residual grid and the sheet metal parts during the stamping process break, and the sheet metal parts detached from the residual grid fall onto a horizontal discharge table located below the roller pairs of the separating station.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical device for separating workpiece parts from a residual grid of a separating workpiece processing operation, in which workpiece parts separated from the residual grid are arranged under the influence of gravity and gently placed on a product tray of the mechanical device.

[0005] This problem is solved according to the invention by the mechanical device according to claim 1.

[0006] The leveling device provided in the invention ensures that the product assembly, and thus also the workpiece part to be removed from the product assembly, is aligned horizontally and consequently parallel to the storage surface of the product tray when the workpiece part is removed from the product assembly. Particularly when the workpiece part is dropped from a low height, it maintains an alignment parallel to the storage surface, at least substantially, until it is placed on the product tray. Upon impact with the storage surface of the product tray, the workpiece part is only slightly inclined relative to the surface. A tidy and gentle placement of the workpiece part on the storage surface of the product tray is therefore ensured.Orderly storage and a defined positioning of the workpiece on the product tray are particularly advantageous when the tray is unloaded automatically, for example, by a robot. Gentle handling of the workpiece when placing it on the tray is especially recommended for workpieces that are susceptible to damage due to their material or geometry.

[0007] Specific embodiments of the machine arrangement according to the invention as defined in claim 1 are set out in dependent claims 2 to 12.

[0008] According to claim 2, the leveling device according to the invention comprises a testing device and an adjustment device. Using the testing device, before separating the workpiece part from the remaining grid, it is checked whether the product assembly fixed by the holding device is horizontally aligned with the workpiece part to be removed from the product assembly, and thus parallel to the storage surface of the product tray. If this is not the case, the alignment of the product assembly fixed by the holding device is corrected using the adjustment device according to the invention.

[0009] The testing device according to the invention can include a measuring unit by means of which the vertical distance of the product assembly from the horizontal reference plane is determined at at least three points of the product assembly. If a non-horizontal alignment of the product assembly is detected, a controlled adjusting device of the adjustment device can correct the misalignment of the product assembly.

[0010] In the case of the machine device according to claim 3, the orientation of the holding device provided for fixing the product assembly relative to the horizontal reference plane reflects the orientation of the product assembly relative to the horizontal reference plane. Accordingly, the test device of the leveling device according to the invention is designed to determine the orientation of the holding device relative to the horizontal reference plane. If the test device detects an actual orientation of the holding device that deviates from the target horizontal orientation, the adjustment device of the leveling device according to the invention changes the orientation of the holding device accordingly.

[0011] Claim 4 relates to a design of the machine device according to claim 3, in which a support structure is provided for the holding device used to fix the product assembly. The holding device is mounted vertically on this support structure by means of at least one spacer arranged vertically between the support structure and the holding device. The spacer forms part of the adjustment device of the leveling device according to the invention. The vertical dimension of the spacer can be changed by means of an adjusting device of the adjusting device. The adjusting device is used in cases where a non-horizontal alignment of the holding device, and thus also a non-horizontal alignment of the product assembly fixed by means of the holding device, is detected by means of the testing device according to the invention.In such cases, the vertical dimension of the spacer arranged between the support structure and the holding device is adjusted by means of the adjusting device so that the holding device and the product assembly fixed to it are horizontally aligned. By appropriately adjusting the vertical dimension of the spacer(s) arranged between the support structure and the holding device, the vertical distance of the product assembly fixed to the holding device from the product tray, and thus the drop height of the workpiece part separated from the remaining grid, can also be adjusted.

[0012] According to claim 5, the adjustment device of the leveling device according to the invention, in a further development of the invention, comprises several spacers arranged vertically between the support structure and the holding device, which are offset from one another parallel to the main plane of the product assembly fixed by means of the holding device, and whose vertical dimension can be adjusted. If the orientation of the holding device, determined by means of the testing device of the leveling device according to the invention, deviates from the orientation of the horizontal reference plane, it is possible to adjust the vertical dimensions of the spacers between the support structure and the holding device by means of the adjusting device such that the holding device extends parallel to the horizontal reference plane.

[0013] In the case of the invention design according to claim 6, the supporting structure is used as a reference system for testing and, if necessary, for adjusting a horizontal alignment of the product assembly fixed by means of the holding device.

[0014] Claims 7 and 8 relate to preferred designs of the spacer(s) arranged between the support structure and the holding device, comprising at least one compressed air bellows with adjustable internal pressure and at least one spring element with adjustable spring stiffness.

[0015] According to claim 9, a preferred embodiment of the machine according to the invention provides that the separating unit of the machine has a vibration generator designed to generate vertical vibrations of the holding device that fixes the product assembly, causing the workpiece part to detach from the product assembly. A spring-damper device arranged between the holding device and the support structure, and designed to isolate the holding device from the support structure, simultaneously forms a spacer of the type mentioned above, the vertical dimension of which can be adjusted, if necessary, to achieve the desired horizontal alignment of the product assembly fixed by the holding device.

[0016] Claims 10 and 11 provide for spring-damper devices with such a dual function, namely the air bellows according to claim 7 and the spring elements according to claim 8.

[0017] Claim 12 relates to a design of the machine according to the invention, in which holding elements are provided for fixing the product assembly to the holding device and are adjustable on a base structure of the holding device parallel to the main plane of the product assembly fixed to the holding device relative to the base structure. By adjusting the holding elements accordingly, the holding device can be adapted, in particular, to changing formats of the product assembly to be fixed to the holding device. As a result of repositioning the holding elements and a related change in the position of the product assembly on the holding device, the main plane of the product assembly fixed to the holding device may be deflected from a horizontal orientation that was present when the holding elements were previously positioned.By appropriately changing the vertical dimension of the spacer(s) arranged between the holding device and the support structure by means of the adjusting device of the adjustment device according to the invention, the inclination of the main plane of the product assembly fixed by means of the repositioned holding elements can be corrected in this case.

[0018] Preferably, the spacer(s) of the adjustment device are provided between the support structure and the base structure of the holding device.

[0019] When using a separation unit with a vibration generator, the holding device is preferably excited at its base structure to perform vertical vibrations, which cause the workpiece part to detach from the product assembly.

[0020] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary schematic diagrams. These show: Fig. 1 a mechanical device for separating sheet metal parts from a residual grid of a separating sheet metal processing with a horizontally oriented first product assembly of the sheet metal parts and the residual grid, Fig. 2 the mechanical device according to Fig. 1 with a second product assembly of sheet metal parts inclined to the horizontal and a residual grid and Fig. 3 the order according to Fig. 2 with the horizontally oriented second product group.

[0021] The Fig. Figures 1 to 3 show a machine device 1 for separating workpiece parts in the form of sheet metal parts 2 from a residual grid 3. The sheet metal parts 2 and the residual grid 3 are processing products of a separating sheet metal processing using a laser cutting machine located away from the machine device 1 and not shown in the figures.

[0022] During the separating process using the laser cutting machine, nanojoints 4 were left between the sheet metal parts 2 and the residual grid 3, as well as between adjacent sheet metal parts 2. Due to the nanojoints 4, the sheet metal parts 2 and the residual grid 3 form a Fig. 1 a product group 5 and in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 a product assembly 6. Both the product assembly 5 and the product assembly 6 were removed as a unit from the laser cutting machine and transferred to the machine device 1.

[0023] For the product combination 5 and the product combination 6, the machine arrangement 1 has a holding device 7 with a rigid base plate 8 as a basic structure and with holding elements in the form of grippers 9.

[0024] The grippers 9 effectively fix the product assembly 5 and the product assembly 6 to the holding device 7 in the direction of gravity. The grippers 9 are attached to the base plate 8 and are positioned opposite each other at a distance from each other, parallel to a main plane 10 of the product assembly 5, 6 fixed to the holding device 7 (indicated by a dashed line). To accommodate the different formats of the product assembly 5, 6, the grippers 9 can be moved parallel to the main plane 10 of the product assembly 5, 6 fixed to the holding device 7, relative to each other and relative to the base plate 8 in the direction of a double arrow 11.

[0025] A vibration generator 12, in this example an unbalance exciter, is mounted on the upper side of the base plate 8 of the holding device 7. Together with the holding device 7, it forms a separation unit 13 of the machine arrangement 1. The vibration generator 12 causes the holding device 7, with the product assembly 5, 6, to vibrate vertically. Due to the vibration of the product assembly 5, 6, the nanojoints 4 remaining between the individual parts of the product assembly 5, 6 break, and the sheet metal parts 2 are released from the product assembly 5, 6, which is fixed by the holding device 7. The sheet metal parts 2 released from the product assembly 5, 6 fall under the influence of gravity onto a horizontal storage surface 14 of a product tray located below the holding device 7. Fig. 1 to 3 a pallet trolley 15 of conventional design is provided.

[0026] The machine device 1 has a support structure 16 for storing the holding device 7.

[0027] Spacers are arranged vertically between the support structure 16 and the holding device 7. In the illustrated example, these spacers are designed as pneumatic bellows 17, and the holding device 7 is effectively supported vertically on the support structure 16 by means of these spacers. The pneumatic bellows 17 are offset from one another parallel to the main plane 10 of the product assembly 5, 6 fixed by the holding device 7.

[0028] The pneumatic bellows 17 are spring-elastic in the vertical direction and, during the vertical vibration of the holding device 7 generated by the vibration generator 12 to release the sheet metal parts 2 from the product assembly 5, 6, function as spring-damper devices for vibration isolation of the support structure 16 from the holding device 7. The pneumatic bellows 17 largely prevent the transmission of the vertical vibrations of the holding device 7 to the support structure 16. The vibration isolation of the support structure 16 is of great importance because the support structure 16, as a component of a higher-level automation unit of the laser cutting machine, is connected to other components of the automation unit.

[0029] Furthermore, the compressed air bellows 17 are components of a leveling device 18 of the machine device 1, in particular of an adjustment device 19 of the leveling device 18.

[0030] In addition to the pneumatic bellows 17, the adjusting device 19 of the leveling device 18 includes an actuating device 20 connected to the pneumatic bellows 17. The actuating device 20 for the pneumatic bellows 17 has a compressor 22 equipped with a pressure regulator 21. By pressurizing the pneumatic bellows 17 with a corresponding air pressure, the vertical dimensions of the pneumatic bellows 17 can be adjusted independently of one another.

[0031] The positioning device 20 of the adjustment device 19 is controlled by an evaluation unit 23 of a test device 24. Together with the adjustment device 19, the test device 24 forms the leveling device 18 of the machine device 1.

[0032] In addition to the evaluation unit 23, the test device 24 includes distance measuring devices, in the example shown distance measuring sensors 25, which are connected to the evaluation unit 23.

[0033] Before the vibration generator 12 is switched on, the distance sensors 25 measure the vertical distance of the holding device 7 from a horizontally aligned support plane 26 of the support structure 16 at at least two, preferably three, spaced-apart points. The measured values ​​obtained by the distance sensors 25 are evaluated in the evaluation unit 23 of the test device 24. If the evaluation of the measured values ​​shows that the holding device 7 is not parallel to the support plane 26 of the support structure 16 and therefore not horizontally aligned, the evaluation unit 23 of the test device 24, by controlling the adjusting device 20 of the adjustment device 19, causes the vertical dimensions of the compressed air bellows 17 to be adjusted by appropriately pressurizing them, such that the existing deviation of the alignment of the holding device 7 from the horizontal alignment is eliminated.The holding device 7 also aligns the product assembly 5, 6 fixed to the holding device 7 horizontally.

[0034] Due to the horizontal orientation of the product assembly 5, 6, the sheet metal parts 2 to be detached from the product assembly 5, 6 are also horizontal and thus aligned in the same way as the storage surface 14 of the pallet trolley 15.

[0035] Instead of the pneumatic bellows 17, spring elements can be provided as spacers between the holding device 7 and the support structure 16, the vertical dimension of which can be varied by adjusting the spring stiffness.

[0036] After the vibration generator 12 is switched on, the sheet metal parts 2, which have been separated from the product assembly 5, 6, essentially maintain their orientation parallel to the storage surface 14 until they are placed on the pallet truck 15. Upon contact with the storage surface 14, the sheet metal parts 2 are only slightly inclined relative to it. This ensures that the sheet metal parts 2 are placed in an orderly and gentle manner on the storage surface 14 of the pallet truck 15.

[0037] In Fig. Figure 1 shows the machine arrangement 1 with a horizontal target orientation of the holding device 7 and the product assembly 5 fixed to it.

[0038] Fig. Figure 2 shows the conditions immediately after an adjustment of the grippers 9 of the holding device 7, caused by the dimensions of the product assembly 6. Due to the off-center arrangement of the product assembly 6, the pneumatic bellows 17 of the adjusting device 19 are subjected to uneven loads by the holding device 7 and the product assembly 6 fixed to it. As a result, the holding device 7 and the product assembly 6 become tilted.

[0039] In Fig. 3 was the one in Fig. 2. The existing tilt of the holding device 7 and the product assembly 6 is corrected by the leveling device 18 in the manner described above. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP 2000094057

[0003]

Claims

[1] Mechanical device for separating a workpiece part (2) present as a machining product of a separating machining of a plate-like workpiece, in particular a sheet metal part, from a residual grid (3) present as a further machining product of the separating workpiece machining under the influence of gravity from a product composite (5, 6) of the residual grid (3) and the workpiece part (2), • wherein the machine device comprises a holding device (7), a separation unit (13) and a product tray (15), • wherein the holding device (7) is designed to fix the product assembly (5, 6) in the direction of gravity before separating the workpiece part (2) and to fix the remaining grid (3) in the direction of gravity after separating the workpiece part (2), • wherein the separating unit (13) is designed to release the workpiece part (2) from the product assembly (5, 6) fixed by means of the holding device (7), • wherein the product tray (15) is arranged at a vertical distance below the product assembly (5, 6) fixed by means of the holding device (7) and • wherein the product tray (15) for storing the workpiece part (2) detached from the product assembly (5, 6) under the influence of gravity has a horizontal storage surface (14) which extends along the product assembly (5, 6) fixed by means of the holding device (7), characterized by, that a leveling device (18) is provided, by means of which, prior to releasing the workpiece part (2) from the product assembly (5, 6) fixed by means of the holding device (7), the product assembly (5, 6) fixed by means of the holding device (7) can be aligned with a main plane (10) of the product assembly (5, 6) parallel to the horizontal storage surface (14) of the product storage (15). [2] Machine device according to claim 1, characterized by , • that the leveling device (18) has a test device (24) and an adjustment device (19), • that the orientation of the main plane (10) of the product assembly (5, 6) fixed by means of the holding device (7) can be determined relative to a horizontal reference plane by means of the test device (24) and • that in the event of a deviation of the determined orientation of the main plane (10) of the product assembly (5, 6) fixed by means of the holding device (7) from the orientation of the horizontal reference plane, the orientation of the product assembly (5, 6) fixed by means of the holding device (7) can be adjusted by means of the adjusting device (19) such that the product assembly (5, 6) fixed by means of the holding device (7) extends with the main plane (10) parallel to the horizontal reference plane. [3] Machine device according to claim 2, characterized by , • that the orientation of the main plane (10) of the product assembly (5, 6) fixed by means of the holding device (7) relative to the horizontal reference plane is determined by the orientation of the holding device (7) relative to the horizontal reference plane, • that the orientation of the holding device (7) relative to the horizontal reference plane can be determined by means of the test device (24) and • that in the event of a deviation of the specified orientation of the holding device (7) from the orientation of the horizontal reference plane, the orientation of the holding device (7) can be adjusted by means of the adjusting device (19) such that the holding device (7) extends parallel to the horizontal reference plane. [4] Machine device according to claim 3, characterized by , • that a support structure (16) is provided for the holding device (7), • that the adjusting device (19) has at least one spacer (17) provided in a vertical direction between the support structure (16) and the holding device (7) and an adjusting device (20) for the spacer (17), wherein the holding device (7) is effectively mounted on the support structure (16) in a vertical direction by means of the spacer (17) and wherein a vertical dimension of the spacer (17) is adjustable by means of the adjusting device (20) and • that in the event of a deviation of the specified orientation of the holding device (7) from the orientation of the horizontal reference plane, the vertical dimension of the spacer (17) between the support structure (16) and the holding device (7) can be adjusted by means of the adjusting device (20) such that the holding device (7) extends parallel to the horizontal reference plane. [5] Machine device according to claim 4, characterized by , • that the adjusting device (19) has several spacers (17) with adjustable vertical dimensions provided in a vertical direction between the support structure (16) and the holding device (7) and offset from one another parallel to the main plane (10) of the product assembly (5, 6) fixed by means of the holding device (7) and • that in the event of a deviation of the specified orientation of the holding device (7) from the orientation of the horizontal reference plane, the vertical dimensions of the spacers (17) between the support structure (16) and the holding device (7) are adjustable to each other by means of the adjusting device (20) in such a way that the holding device (7) extends parallel to the horizontal reference plane. [6] Machine device according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterized by , • that the support structure (16) for the holding device (7) is horizontally aligned with a bearing plane (26) of the support structure (16), in which the holding device (7) is effectively supported in a vertical direction on the support structure (16) by means of the spacer(s) (17), • that the alignment of the holding device (7) relative to the bearing plane (26) of the supporting structure (16) can be determined by means of the test device (24) of the leveling device (18) and • that in the event of a deviation of the specified orientation of the holding device (7) from the orientation of the bearing plane (26) of the support structure (16), the orientation of the holding device (7) can be adjusted by means of the adjusting device (19) such that the holding device (7) extends parallel to the bearing plane (26) of the support structure (16). [7] Machine device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized by , • that at least one spacer (17) is designed as a compressed air bellows and • that the internal pressure of the compressed air bellows can be adjusted by means of the adjusting device (20) in order to adjust the vertical dimension of the compressed air bellows. [8] Machine device according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized by , • that at least one spacer (17) is designed as a spring element and • that the spring stiffness of the spring element can be adjusted by means of the adjusting device (20) in order to adjust the vertical dimension of the spring element. [9] Machine device according to any one of claims 4 to 8, characterized by , • that the separating unit (13) has a vibration generator (12) designed to generate vertical vibrations of the holding device (7) fixing the product assembly (5, 6), which cause the workpiece part (2) to be released from the product assembly (5, 6), • that for vibration isolation of the holding device (7) at least one vertically elastic spring-damper device is provided between the holding device (7) and the support structure (16), by means of which the holding device (7) is mounted on the support structure (16) so as to be able to vibrate in the vertical direction and • that the spring-damper device forms a spacer (17) provided between the holding device (7) and the support structure (16) and that the vertical dimension of the spring-damper device is adjustable by means of the adjusting device (20) of the adjusting device (19). [10] Machine device according to claim 9 and claim 7, characterized by , that at least one compressed air bellows is provided as a spring-damper device between the holding device (7) and the supporting structure (16). [11] Machine device according to claim 9 or claim 10 and according to claim 8, characterized by , that at least one spring element is provided as a spring-damper device between the holding device (7) and the supporting structure (16). [12] Machine device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , • that the holding device (7) has holding elements (9) and a base structure (8) to which the holding elements (9) are attached and to which the holding elements (9) are positioned opposite each other at a mutual horizontal distance parallel to the main plane (10) of the product assembly (5, 6) fixed to the holding device (7), • that the product assembly (5, 6) can be effectively fixed to the holding device (7) in the direction of gravity at the holding elements (9) and • that at least one of the holding elements (9) can be positioned parallel to the main plane (10) of the product assembly (5, 6) fixed to the holding device (7) relative to the base structure (8).

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