ARRANGEMENT FOR FEEDING A SEMI-PRODUCT TO A THERMOFORMING MACHINE, ARRANGEMENT FOR THERMOFORMING, AND METHOD

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an arrangement for feeding a semifinished product as a starting material for thermoforming to a thermoforming machine. Furthermore, the invention relates to a thermoforming arrangement with such an arrangement for feeding the semifinished product, as well as to a method for feeding a semifinished product as a starting material for thermoforming to a thermoforming machine. TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

[0002] Thermoforming machines make it possible to produce molded parts from a particularly flat starting material, which may be provided, for example, in the form of plastic films or sheets, using heat. This can be achieved, for example, by first heating the starting material, such as a thermoplastic, using a heating device and thus warming it up, and then forming it into the desired shape using a mold. The starting material is therefore always a semi-finished product, which is further processed using the thermoforming machine.

[0003] In a fully automatic machine, the semi-finished product is fed to the thermoforming machine in the conventional manner, either from a roll or from cut sheets.

[0004] For example, a conventional arrangement involves an automatic loading device that can accommodate a stack of panels, i.e., a stack of suitable sheet-shaped material pieces, on a height-adjustable table. This stack of panels is placed into the automatic loading device. During operation, the table can be raised intermittently, with a loading carriage on its underside removing the top panel from this stack and transporting it into the thermoforming machine. The loading carriage then moves out of the thermoforming machine to retrieve the next panel from the stack.When the loading carriage re-enters the thermoforming machine, it can then deposit the next sheet of raw material from its underside into the thermoforming machine for the subsequent forming process. At the same time, the molded part from the just-completed forming step falls onto the loading carriage and is transported out of the machine as the loading carriage exits. Starting from a stack of sheets, this procedure allows molded parts to be produced both positively (i.e., from the loading level upwards) and negatively (i.e., from the loading level downwards).

[0005] In the case of roll goods, the material thickness is usually limited, but roll goods are generally cheaper than sheet goods.

[0006] In a typical roll-fed machine, a web of material, such as a plastic, is drawn from a roll into a thermoforming machine using a needle chain. After forming, the roll material is transported further, resulting in several molded parts being produced one after the other on the roll. These molded parts are separated only at the end of the transport process. This approach allows the use of more cost-effective roll material.

[0007] However, it has been found that this approach either cannot produce so-called negatively formed parts automatically, or requires considerable additional mechanical effort. Even in the latter case, conventional methods fail to fully utilize the drawing depth of the thermoforming machine when using roll material.

[0008] In addition, machines have already been proposed in which rolled material is cut during transport before or within the needle chain and then handled as individual sheets within this needle chain. However, this approach does not overcome the limitations of the conventional roller principle, as described above. Furthermore, when using a needle chain, piercing the transported material can result in material particles or splinters being created, which can often be disruptive and at the very least make the production of high-quality molded parts, especially with high surface quality, more difficult or more complex.

[0009] In addition, pre-stacked sheets of a plastic material can attract dirt particles or dust due to electrostatic charging, which in turn can be undesirable in the production of particularly high-quality molded parts.

[0010] Document WO 2004 / 091881 A2 discloses an arrangement for feeding a semi-finished product as starting material for thermoforming to a thermoforming machine, wherein the arrangement comprises a depositing device on which blanks of the starting material can be provided, and a feeding device comprising a table device and a movable feeding unit; wherein the feeding unit has a first section and a second section, and the first and second sections are each configured to receive one of the blanks at the section, and wherein at least one of the blanks can be deposited on the table device;wherein the first section is positionable for receiving one of the blanks from the table device and the second section is positionable for receiving another of the blanks from the tray, and then the first section is positionable for depositing the one blank received by the table device in the tray, and the second section is positionable for depositing the other blank received by the tray in a work area of ​​the thermoforming machine. Method claim 15: Document WO 2004 / 091881 A2 discloses a method for feeding a semifinished product as starting material for thermoforming to a thermoforming machine, comprising: providing a blank of the starting material on a depositing device; receiving the blank provided on the table device therefrom by a first section of a movable loading unit of a loading device; moving the loading unit in a first direction;Placing the blank picked up from the table device at the first section in the opening; picking up the blank placed in the opening from the opening by a second section of the loading unit; moving the loading unit again in the first direction; placing the blank picked up from the opening at the second section in a working area of ​​the thermoforming machine, moving the loading unit in a second direction. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Against this background, the invention is based on the object of further improving the feeding of a semi-finished product as starting material to a thermoforming machine and, in doing so, overcoming at least some of the disadvantages of conventional procedures.

[0012] According to the invention, this object is achieved by an arrangement having the features of claim 1 and / or by an arrangement having the features of claim 14 and / or by a method having the features of claim 15.

[0013] An arrangement for feeding a semi-finished product as starting material for thermoforming to a thermoforming machine is proposed, wherein the arrangement has a depositing device on which blanks of the starting material can be provided. Furthermore, the arrangement has a loading device which has a table device and a movable loading unit. The loading unit has a first section and a second section, wherein the first and second sections are each configured to receive one of the blanks at the section. At least one of the blanks can be deposited on the table device. The first section can be positioned to receive one of the blanks from the depositing device and the second section can be positioned to receive another of the blanks from the table device.The first section for depositing one blank picked up by the depositing device on the table device and the second section for depositing the other blank picked up by the table device can then be positioned in a working area of ​​the thermoforming machine.

[0014] Furthermore, an arrangement for thermoforming with a thermoforming machine and with such an arrangement for feeding a semi-finished product is proposed in order to feed the semi-finished product to the thermoforming machine as starting material for the thermoforming.

[0015] Furthermore, a method for feeding a semi-finished product as starting material for thermoforming to a thermoforming machine is proposed, the method comprising: Providing a blank of the starting material on a storage device; picking up the blank provided on the storage device therefrom by a first section of a movable loading unit of a loading device; moving the loading unit in a first direction; depositing the blank picked up at the first section by the storage device on a table device of the loading device; moving the loading unit in a second direction; picking up the blank deposited on the table device from the table device by a second section of the loading unit; moving the loading unit again in the first direction; depositing the blank picked up at the second section by the table device in a work area of ​​the thermoforming machine.

[0016] One idea underlying the invention is to equip the loading unit with a first and a second section and thus with two stations for receiving blanks. By using the movable loading unit, which enables a blank to be placed in the working area of ​​the thermoforming machine, both positive and negative production can be carried out starting from the loading level without restriction and by utilizing the drawing depth of the thermoforming machine. In particular, by providing the successively processed blanks on the depositing device, production can be carried out using a uniform procedure and with uniform molded part handling, regardless of whether sheet or roll material is used as the starting semi-finished product. The invention also makes it possible to avoid the often undesirable formation of material particles or splinters, as can occur when using a needle chain.In addition, if necessary or desired, the provision of the individual blanks may in some cases be preceded by a special individual treatment of the blanks, such as cleaning.

[0017] The method according to the invention can be carried out in particular by means of the feeding arrangement according to the invention.

[0018] Advantageous embodiments and further developments emerge from the subclaims and from the description with reference to the drawings.

[0019] In one embodiment, the assembly comprises an unwinding device for unwinding roll material, arranged upstream of the depositing device. This allows advantageous production from roll material, thereby leveraging the cost advantages of roll material. At the same time, a uniform process and handling of the finished molded parts can be achieved, similar to thermoforming from sheet material. The drawing depth of the thermoforming machine can also be advantageously utilized in production from roll material.

[0020] According to a further embodiment, the arrangement comprises a separating device, in particular a cutting device, which is configured to separate a piece of the rolled material, which has been partially unrolled by the unrolling device and, in particular, deposited at least partially on the depositing device, to form the blanks of the starting material. Thus, the blanks can be cut directly before their processing, for example, in a manner synchronized with the work cycle of the thermoforming machine.

[0021] In particular, the separating device is arranged downstream of the unwinding device.

[0022] In one embodiment, the arrangement for providing the blanks of the starting material on the storage device is each configured as a blank from a sheet product. This enables the molded parts to be manufactured starting from sheet product, for example, if the material thickness is too great to provide the starting material as a roll. Advantageously, a further workstation, for example a cleaning device, can be located upstream of the provision of the blanks on the storage device. In this embodiment, the sheet product is thus supplied externally, i.e., from an external source, and the blanks are provided on the storage device, in particular individually and preferably in an at least partially automated manner.In addition, in cases where the thickness of the source material would allow it to be rolled up, the cut material can also be delivered as pre-cut panels.

[0023] In particular, the positioning of the first and second sections is achieved by moving the loading unit, wherein the first and second sections are, in particular, movable together during operation of the arrangement. In other words, the first and second sections are preferably provided on the loading unit in a spatially fixed arrangement relative to one another.

[0024] In a further development, it is provided that the feeding unit is arranged to be movable in such a way that, in a first position of the feeding unit, the first section of the feeding unit is positioned to receive one of the blanks from the depositing device and, at the same time, the second section of the feeding unit is positioned to receive the other of the blanks from the table device, and / or that the feeding unit is arranged to be movable in such a way that, in a second position of the feeding unit, the first section of the feeding unit is positioned to deposit one of the blanks on the table device and, at the same time, the second section of the feeding unit is positioned to deposit the other blank in the working area of ​​the thermoforming machine.In this way, an efficient, synchronized working method can be achieved, whereby, for example, in a first cycle the picking up takes place from the storage device and simultaneously from the table device, while in a subsequent cycle, after moving the loading unit, the placing on the table device or in the working area of ​​the thermoforming machine takes place simultaneously.

[0025] In one embodiment, the loading unit is designed as a movable loading carriage. Movement of the loading unit can thus be achieved in a simple and expedient manner.

[0026] In one embodiment, the movable loading unit is movable above the table device and the storage device. Preferably, the movable loading unit is movable along a substantially horizontal direction. This advantageously makes it possible to pick up the blanks from below at the first and second sections of the loading unit, with the blanks being deposited or made available on the table device and the storage device, in particular substantially horizontally, for example, on a substantially horizontal surface.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the first and second sections of the loading unit are arranged one behind the other along a direction of movement of the loading unit. This facilitates the positioning of the sections by moving the loading unit.

[0028] In particular, it is provided that the first section can be positioned above the storage device and, in addition, the first and second sections can each be positioned above the table device.

[0029] In one embodiment, the blanks can be received at the first and second sections of the feeding unit, each at an underside of the feeding unit, wherein the feeding unit is equipped with receiving means, in particular in the region of the underside thereof.

[0030] In one embodiment, the receiving means can be designed, for example, as suction devices.

[0031] In one embodiment, the loading device is designed and arranged such that the second section of the movable loading unit can be moved into the working area of ​​the thermoforming machine. This can contribute to the reliable placement of the blank in the correct position within the working area. Furthermore, it contributes to the efficient removal of a finished molded part.

[0032] In one embodiment, the feeding device is designed such that a molded part produced by thermoforming from a blank previously placed in the working area of ​​the thermoforming machine and then demolded can be placed on an upper side of the feeding unit, in particular in that position of the feeding unit in which the feeding unit is positioned for depositing the other blank in the working area of ​​the thermoforming machine. The demolded molded parts can thus be transported out of the working area one after the other without this complicating the transport and depositing of the subsequent blank. For example, the finished molded part can be lifted by a clamping frame of the thermoforming machine so that the feeding unit can be moved between the demolded molded part and an insertion or clamping level for the next blank.It is therefore possible to form parts both positively and negatively, i.e. upwards or downwards, with respect to this plane, without the drawing depth being restricted by the transport process.

[0033] In one embodiment, the storage device can be designed as a table.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the storage device is designed with a transport device, for example, a belt-like transport device. This can improve the handling of the semi-finished product, especially when provided as a roll. This design can contribute to correct positioning and delivery of the blank, for example, without unwanted creases or the like.

[0035] In particular, the transport device of the storage device provides a movable storage surface, preferably movable substantially in the horizontal direction, which preferably extends substantially horizontally.

[0036] In one embodiment, the table device of the loading apparatus is designed with a movable table. The table can be moved, in particular, transversely to a direction of movement of the loading unit. In particular, the table is movable substantially along a vertical direction. This makes it possible to adjust the height of a surface of the table on which the blank can be placed. Furthermore, with this embodiment, the arrangement can be operated according to a further operating mode in which a stack of already prepared, stacked blanks of a starting material for thermoforming is arranged on the table. These blanks can be removed individually from the stack one after the other by means of the loading unit, in particular by means of the second section thereof, and transported into the working area of ​​the thermoforming machine. In this exemplary operating mode, the first section is therefore not used.The stack can be placed either directly on the table or on a pallet, which in turn is arranged on the table. This design thus allows the system to be operated in at least two different modes: either with external provision of a blank, for example, starting from a roll during the production process, or externally as individual blanks, or alternatively with provision of a stack of already finished blanks, such as sheet material. The system can thus be operated very flexibly.

[0037] For example, in some designs, the table could be movable intermittently. This could be useful for an operating mode in which thermoforming is performed starting from a stack of blanks.

[0038] In other configurations, however, the table assembly may comprise a fixed table. This can simplify the design of the loading device, for example, in applications where the use of stacks of blanks of a source material is not planned.

[0039] In particular, the storage device is arranged upstream of the loading device. For example, the storage device can be arranged outside the loading device.

[0040] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the feeding device is arranged upstream of the thermoforming machine and / or spatially next to the thermoforming machine.

[0041] Using the thermoforming machine, the starting material can be thermoformed in the work area to produce molded parts. The starting material fed to the thermoforming machine as the semi-finished product is, for example, a film or sheet material, in particular a plastic film material or a plastic sheet material.

[0042] The thermoforming machine is designed in particular as a closed-chamber thermoforming machine, which has a machine housing that is closed and sealed during operation. However, the invention can also be applied in connection with other types of thermoforming machines.

[0043] In one embodiment of the thermoforming arrangement, the feeding device is arranged between the thermoforming machine and the storage device.

[0044] In particular, in the method for feeding a semi-finished product to the thermoforming machine, the second direction in which the feeding unit is moved runs parallel and opposite to the first direction.

[0045] In one embodiment of the method, while the blank placed on the table device is being picked up by the second section of the loading unit, in particular simultaneously, another blank provided on the depositing device is picked up by the first section of the loading unit. Preferably, while the blank placed on the second section is being deposited in the working area of ​​the thermoforming machine, in particular simultaneously, the other blank placed on the first section is placed on the table device. Again, an efficient, synchronized operation can be achieved.

[0046] In one embodiment, in order to provide the blank of the starting material on the depositing device, a piece of a starting material provided as a roll is unrolled, in particular deposited at least in sections on the depositing device, and separated from the remaining roll to form the blank.

[0047] In an alternative embodiment, the blank of the starting material is provided on the storage device as a blank of a sheet product.

[0048] The advantages of providing the raw material as rolls or sheets have already been explained above.

[0049] The above embodiments and further developments can be combined with one another as desired, where appropriate. Further possible embodiments, further developments, and implementations of the invention also include combinations of features of the invention not explicitly mentioned above or described below with regard to the exemplary embodiments.

[0050] In particular, the person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the invention.

[0051] The embodiments and further developments described above can be applied analogously to the arrangement for feeding a semi-finished product to a thermoforming machine, to the arrangement for thermoforming, and to the method for feeding a semi-finished product. TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the schematic figures. Herein: Fig. 1 shows an arrangement according to an embodiment, in a schematic side view, in a first cycle at the beginning of the production of molded parts; Fig. 2 shows the arrangement of the Fig. 1 in a second bar following the first bar; Fig. 3 the arrangement of the Fig. 1 in a third bar following the second bar; Fig. 4 the arrangement of the Fig. 1 in a fourth bar following the third bar; Fig. 5 the arrangement of the Fig. 1 in a fifth bar following the fourth bar; Fig. 6 the arrangement of the Fig. 1 in a sixth bar following the fifth bar; Fig. 7 an arrangement according to Fig. 1 when operating in an alternative operating mode; and Fig. 8 shows an arrangement according to a further embodiment.

[0053] The accompanying drawings are intended to provide a further understanding of embodiments of the invention. They illustrate embodiments and, in conjunction with the description, serve to explain principles and concepts of the invention. Other embodiments and many of the noted advantages will be apparent upon review of the drawings. Elements of the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale relative to one another.

[0054] In the figures of the drawings, identical, functionally identical and acting elements, features and components are provided with the same reference symbols, unless otherwise stated. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0055] Fig. 1 shows an arrangement 1 for thermoforming, with a thermoforming machine 3 and an arrangement 4 assigned to the thermoforming machine 3 for feeding a semi-finished product as starting material 6 for thermoforming to the thermoforming machine 3. In Fig. 1 A roll of material is used as the semi-finished product, which is supplied as starting material 6.

[0056] The arrangement 4 comprises a storage device 10 and a loading device 15. Furthermore, the arrangement 4 comprises Fig. 1 an unwinding device 19 for unwinding the rolled goods from a roll 21, and a separating device 28 for separating pieces of the rolled goods.

[0057] The thermoforming machine 3, the feeding device 15, and the depositing device 10 are in Fig. 1 arranged side by side in this order along a horizontal direction H and placed on a substantially horizontal floor B, wherein a support frame or the like for the storage device 10 is arranged in Fig. 1 is not shown for the sake of clarity. The feeding device 15 is thus in Fig. 1 arranged next to the thermoforming machine 3 adjacent to it, wherein the storage device 10 is provided outside the feeding device 15 and in front of it and adjacent to it.

[0058] The separating device 28 and the unwinding device 19 are provided upstream of the depositing device 10 in the horizontal direction H. The separating device 28 is thus arranged downstream of the unwinding device 19 along the conveying path of the starting material 6, between the unwinding device 19 and the depositing device 10. For the sake of clarity, housings or support frames for the separating device 28 and the unwinding device 19 are also not shown.

[0059] The semi-finished product is delivered on roll 21 as a roll product and starting material 6 for thermoforming in the thermoforming machine 3. The starting material 6 is, in particular, a plastic film, for example, formed from a thermoplastic. Roll product is often more cost-effective than sheet product.

[0060] The loading device 15 has a table device 31, which is formed with a movable table 36 which can be moved essentially along a vertical direction V. The movability of the table 36 is in Fig. 1 indicated schematically by an arrow 37.

[0061] Furthermore, the loading device 15 has a movable loading unit 45, which is designed as a movable loading carriage and is movable above the table device 36 and the storage device 10 essentially along the horizontal direction H. The loading unit 45 has a first section 46 and a second section 47, which are arranged one behind the other and in a fixed spatial relationship to one another on the loading unit 45 along the horizontal direction H and thus along a direction of movement of the loading unit 45.

[0062] In the area of ​​a bottom side 48 of the feeding unit 45, the latter is equipped within the sections 46 and 47 with receiving means 49, which are designed to receive blanks 64, 64a-c of the starting material 6. For example, the receiving means 49 can each be designed as suction devices. Only a few of the receiving means 49 are provided for each of the sections 46, 47. Fig. 1 schematically indicated, in Fig. 2-8 For better clarity, the recording means 49 are not shown.

[0063] In the thermoforming machine 3 of the Fig. 1 For example, this is a closed-chamber thermoforming machine. Fig. 1 shows a working area 55 of the thermoforming machine 3, as well as a loading or clamping plane E for the starting material 6, which is thermoformed. The loading plane E is in Fig. 1 shown schematically in a double-dash-dotted line. Below the insertion level E, the thermoforming machine 3 contains a machine housing which is closed and sealed during operation of the thermoforming machine 3. A forming tool and a clamping frame which is movable, in particular, above the insertion level E and which also serves, in particular, to clamp the starting material 6 approximately in the plane E, are shown in Fig. 1 For the sake of clarity, this is also not shown in detail. A heater for heating the material to be thermoformed is also not shown.

[0064] The functioning of arrangement 1 of the Fig. 1 is explained below.

[0065] In order to feed the semi-finished product to the thermoforming machine 3 as starting material 6 for thermoforming, a piece of the rolled material is first unrolled from the roll 21 by means of the unwinding device 19. During the unwinding, the starting material 6, thus at least a part of the unrolled piece thereof, is deposited section by section on the depositing device 10. The process is shown in Fig. 2 , 4 and 6 illustrated graphically for later work steps.

[0066] The depositing device 10 has a belt-like transport device 11, which is designed, for example, as a drivable endless belt, and which provides a horizontal depositing surface movable in the horizontal direction H in the region of an upper side of the transport device 10. The unrolled piece of the starting material 6 can be reliably deposited in this way in order to subsequently be transferred to the feeding unit 45 as a blank.

[0067] Once the desired amount of starting material 6 has been unrolled and placed on the depositing device 10, the deposited piece is separated by means of the separating device 28, which is Fig. 1 designed as a cutting device, cut off from the rest of the roll material, whereby a blank 64a is provided on the depositing device 10, which will subsequently be subjected to thermoforming in the thermoforming machine 3 in order to produce a molded part 66.

[0068] In the rhythm of Fig. 1 , corresponding to an operating step in which the first blank 64a is fed to the thermoforming machine 3, the blank 64a is picked up by means of the receiving means 49 at the first section 46. The first section 46 forms a kind of "extension" of the loading carriage 45, protrudes in the Fig. 1 shown basic position or first position of the feeding unit 45 on the side of the feeding device 15 facing away from the thermoforming machine 3 and extends horizontally over the storage device 10. Fig. 1 shows that in this step the cut film blank 64a of the roll product is transferred to the underside 48 in the area of ​​the first section 46 and thus the "extension" of the feeding unit 45.

[0069] After the blank 64a has been picked up at the first section 46 positioned above the depositing device 10, the loading unit 45 is moved in a direction R1 parallel to the horizontal direction H such that the loading unit 45 is moved from the first position in which the first section 46 is positioned to pick up the blank 64a from the depositing device 10, to a second position in which the first section 46 is positioned above the table 36 of the table device 31 in order to deposit the blank 64a on a substantially horizontal surface of the table 36. Fig. 2 shows the loading unit 45 after the movement in direction R1. In the Fig. 2 In the second cycle shown, the blank 64a of the film material is placed in the feeding device 15 on its table device 31.

[0070] The table 36 can be designed to receive, in another operating mode, which will be explained in more detail later, a stack of blanks, in particular blanks of a sheet product, whereby this stack can be arranged directly or by means of a pallet provided for this purpose on the table 36. In the Fig. 1-6 However, in the operating mode shown, such a stack is missing, instead the blank 64a picked up in the first cycle at the first section 46 is Fig. 2 placed individually on the table 36, where the stack of plates could be loaded in the other operating mode.

[0071] Meanwhile, see Fig. 2 , 3 , a further blank 64b is provided on the depositing device 10 by unwinding and cutting by means of the unwinding device 19 and the separating device 28. After completion of the second cycle of the Fig. 2 the loading unit 45 moves in a second direction R2 opposite to the first direction R1 and substantially parallel to the horizontal direction H with the first section 46 again over the storage device 10.

[0072] In the third bar of the Fig. 3 the movable loading unit 45 is again in the first position, in which the first section 46 is positioned above the storage device 10. At the same time, in the first position of the loading unit 45, the second section 47 is positioned above the table device 31. In the third cycle of the Fig. 3 Thus, the further blank 64b, which was preferably automatically provided on the depositing device 10 during the previous cycle, can be taken over by the depositing device 10 through the first section 46. At the same time, the blank 64a deposited on the table 36 of the table device 31 in the second cycle is picked up again by the table device 31 through the second section 47. This occurs analogously to the picking up at the first section 46 with the aid of the picking means 49, which are also provided in the area of ​​the second section 47 and can be designed, for example, as suction cups, but in Fig. 3 are not illustrated in detail.

[0073] While in Fig. 3 Thus, in the first position, the first section 46 is positioned to receive the blank 64b from the storage device 10, while at the same time the second section 47 is positioned to receive the other blank 64a from the table device 31. In Fig. 3 the blank 64b is picked up by the storage device 10 at the first section 46 and the other blank 64a previously placed on the table device 31 is picked up at the second section 47.

[0074] The loading unit 45 then moves again in the direction R1 to the second position in which the second section 47 is displaced into the working area 55, see Fig. 4 . In the fourth bar of the Fig. 4 At the same time, the blank 64b previously picked up by the depositing device 10 at the first section 46 is deposited on the table device 31, in particular on the table 36, and the blank 64a previously picked up by the table device 31, in particular the table 36, at the second section 47 is deposited in the working area 55 of the thermoforming machine 3 in the plane E. During the depositing of the blanks 64b, 64a picked up at the sections 46, 47, a further blank 64c is provided on the depositing device 10, as in Fig. 4 illustrated. This occurs analogously to the above-described provision of the blanks 64a, 64b on the storage device 10.

[0075] The loading device 15 is designed such that a molded part 66 can be placed on an upper side 50 of the loading unit 45, at least in a part thereof which is associated with the second section 47. This is shown in Fig. 5, 6 which show two further cycles of the operation of arrangement 1, which are based on Fig. 4 The processes in Fig. 5 correspond to the Fig. 3 described the processes in Fig. 6 the to Fig. 4 described, except that in the operating state of the Fig. 5 In the working area 55 of the thermoforming machine 3, there is now already a molded part 66, which was produced by thermoforming from the blank 64a deposited in the fourth cycle in the working area 55. The demolded molded part 66 is gripped by the clamping frame (not shown in detail in the figures) and lifted in the vertical direction V. The loading unit 45 then moves in the direction R1, see Fig. 5 , horizontally again with the second section 47 into the working area 55. The loading unit 45 carries on its underside 48 again in the first section 46 and the second section 47 a blank 64c and 64b respectively. In the state of Fig. 6 the clamping frame has dropped or placed the molded part 66 onto the upper side 50 of the loading unit 45, while substantially at the same time the blank 64b previously picked up by the table device 31 at the second section 47 is placed in the work area 55 for the next molding process.

[0076] During the further production of successive molded parts 66, the cycles or process steps that are described in Fig. 5 und 6 are shown, are repeated alternately, whereby by means of the feeding unit 45 successively blanks 64 of the starting material 6 are transported into the working area 55 and finished molded parts 66 are transported out of it. The finished molded parts 66 can, for example, in the Fig. 5 shown position of the loading unit 45 from the loading device 15. A plurality of molded parts 66 are manufactured in this way.

[0077] It can be seen that the feeding unit 45 thus has two "stations" which are formed by the first and second sections 46, 47 and each serve to receive one of the blanks 64a, 64b, 64c, ...

[0078] As already described above, the table 36 can be moved in the travel direction 37 essentially parallel to the vertical direction V and thus transversely to the horizontal movement directions R1, R2 of the loading unit 45. In particular, the table 36 can be moved in a timed manner.

[0079] Fig. 7 illustrates that in a different, compared to that of the Fig. 1-6 In the modified operating mode of the arrangements 1, 4, a stack 78 of a plurality of material blanks of a starting material, such as a stack of plates, is arranged on the table 36. In this operating mode, the blanks provided as a stack of plates 78 are processed by thermoforming to form the molded parts 66.

[0080] The unwinding device 19 is used in the exemplary operating mode of Fig. 7 not used. The separating device 28 is also not activated in this operating mode. At the first section 46, in the operating mode of the Fig. 7 no blanks 64 are picked up. Instead, individual blanks 65 are successively picked up from the upper end of the stack 78 at the second section 47, after which the second section 47 is displaced into the work area 55 by moving the loading unit 45 in the direction R1 in order to deposit the blank 65, which was previously picked up from the stack 78 at the second section 47, in the work area 55, and at the same time to receive the finished molded part 66 of the previous work cycle on the upper side 50 of the loading unit 45.

[0081] The table 36 can be used in the operating mode of Fig. 7 be moved upwards in cycles. Although the stack 78 in Fig. 7 as being shown placed directly on the table 36, it is conceivable to arrange the stack 78 on a suitable pallet (not shown in the figures) and then place the pallet on the table 36 before starting operation of the arrangement 1. The additional height of the pallet is then taken into account, for example, when moving the table 36.

[0082] In addition, it is understood that in the operating mode of the Fig. 1-6 A blank 64 can either be placed directly on the table 36 essentially horizontally to then be picked up again by the table 36 in the next step, or an intermediate element can be arranged on the table 36 if necessary, which intermediate element is then preferably fixed to the table 36 and on which the blank 64 is placed horizontally. Such an intermediate element can then be considered part of the table device 31.

[0083] Such an arrangement 1 with the vertically movable table 36 advantageously enables operation in several operating modes – by feeding the starting material 6 as a semi-finished product from the roll 21 and successively cutting the blanks 64, or alternatively by feeding blanks by picking them up from a previously provided stack 78 of sheet or film blanks. The arrangement 1 is therefore very flexible in its use.

[0084] In variants of arrangement 1, as described above with respect to the Fig. 1-6 As described, it is conceivable that the table 36 of the table device 31 is designed to be stationary, without the possibility of vertical movement. The structure of the loading device 15 can be simplified in this way.

[0085] With arrangement 1, both the blank 64a, 64b, 64c, ... and the formed part 66 can be treated in an analogous and thus uniform manner during feeding or removal from the thermoforming machine 3 in the various operating modes, regardless of whether sheet or roll material is used as the starting material. Furthermore, any impairment of the achievable drawing depth, both in the positive and negative directions, calculated from plane E, due to the transport processes with arrangement 4, as described above, can be avoided.

[0086] Advantageously, in arrangement 1 the Fig. 1-7 Roll stock can be used if the desired starting material 6 is available in roll form. If, for example, the starting material 6 is too thick to be supplied on a roll, it can alternatively be processed from the stack of sheets 78. Thus, arrangement 1 allows the price advantage of roll stock to be utilized while maintaining flexibility.

[0087] In addition, with reference to Fig. 1-7 The described method of feeding the blanks and transporting the molded part eliminates any material particles or splinters caused by the transport mechanism. This contributes to the production of high-quality molded parts with minimal waste.

[0088] An arrangement 1' according to a further embodiment shows Fig. 8 .

[0089] The design and operation of the arrangement 1' are, with the exception of the differences described below, the same as Fig. 1-7 In this case, an operating mode is possible in which blanks 64a, 64b, 64c, ... are automatically and successively provided on the storage device 10. Furthermore, an operating mode is also possible in which, analogously Fig. 7 processing of starting material starting from a stack 78 is possible.

[0090] In contrast to the Fig. 1-7 However, the arrangement 4' of the arrangement 1' has neither the unwinding device 19 nor the separating device 28. Instead, according to Fig. 8 A further work station 85 may be located upstream of the depositing device 10, although the work station 85 is not absolutely necessary. Individual sheet or film blanks 64 of a sheet product, in particular formed with a thermoplastic material, are successively provided from an external source, and in the example shown, pass through Fig. 8 the work station 85, which may be a cleaning device, for example, and then reach the depositing device 10. The depositing device 10 is again equipped with a belt-like transport device 11. The further processing of the blanks 64 is carried out analogously to the Fig. 1-6 described operation. If the arrangement 1' is in the operating mode of Fig. 7 operated, it can be provided that the work station 85, if present, is switched off or put into a standby state and no blanks 64 are conveyed from the external source to the storage device 10.

[0091] It should also be mentioned that a workstation 85 is also provided in an exemplary variant of the embodiment of the Fig. 1-7 could be additionally provided between the separating device 28 and the storage device 10, if necessary.

[0092] Although the installation devices 10 are preferably described above as being designed with a transport device 11, it is understood that in variants of the above embodiments the storage device 10 can each be designed as a table with a storage surface that is not intended for movement during operation. List of reference symbols

[0093] 1, 1'Arrangement for thermoforming 3Thermoforming machine 4, 4'Arrangement for feeding a semi-finished product 6Source material 10Deposit device 11Transport device 15Feeding device 19Unwinding device 21Roll 28Separating device 31Table device 36Table 37Travel direction (table) 45Feeding unit 46First section 47Second section 48Bottom (feeding unit) 49Receiving device 50Top (feeding unit) 55Working area (thermoforming machine) 64Blank 64a-cBlank 65Blank 66Formed part 78Stack 85Working station BBottom EInsertion level Hhorizontal direction Vvertical direction R1First movement direction (feeding unit) R2Second movement direction (feeding unit)

Claims

1. Arrangement (4; 4') for feeding a semi-finished product as a starting material (6) for thermoforming to a thermoforming machine (3), wherein the arrangement (4; 4') has a deposition device (10), on which blanks (64a-c; 64) of the starting material (6) can each be provided, and a loading device (15), having a table device (31) and a movable loading unit (45); wherein the loading unit (45) has a first portion (46) and a second portion (47), and the first and second portion (46, 47) are each set up for receiving one of the blanks (64a-c; 64) on the portion (46, 47), and wherein at least one of the blanks (64a-c; 64) can be deposited on the table device (31); wherein the first portion (46) is positionable for receiving one of the blanks (64a-c; 64) from the deposition device (10) and the second portion (47) is positionable for receiving another of the blanks (64a-c; 64) from the table device (31), and subsequently the first portion (46) is positionable for depositing one blank (64a-c; 64) received from the deposition device (10) on the table device (31) and the second portion (47) is positionable for depositing the other blank (64a-c; 64) received from the table device (31) in a work region (55) of the thermoforming machine (3) .

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the arrangement (4) has an unrolling device (19), arranged upstream from the deposition device (10), for unrolling a rolled material.

3. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterised in that the arrangement (4) has a separating device (28), in particular a cutting device, set up for separating off a piece of the rolled material, which has been unrolled in regions by the unrolling device (19) and in particular deposited at least in regions on the deposition device (10), to form the blanks (64a-c) of the starting material (6).

4. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the arrangement (4') is set up for providing the blanks (64) of the starting material (6) on the deposition device (10), each as a blank of a plate material.

5. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the loading unit (45) is arranged movably in such a way that, in a first position of the loading unit (45), the first portion (46) of the loading unit (45) is positioned for receiving one (64b) of the blanks (64a-c; 64) from the deposition device (10) and simultaneously the second portion (47) of the loading unit (45) is positioned for receiving the other (64a) of the blanks (64a-c; 64) from the table device (31); and / or in that the loading unit (45) is arranged movably in such a way that, in a second position of the loading unit (45), the first portion (46) of the loading unit (45) is positioned for depositing one blank (64b) on the table device (31) and simultaneously the second portion (47) of the loading unit (45) is positioned for depositing the other blank (64a) in the working region (55) of the thermoforming machine (3).

6. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the loading unit (45) is configured as a movable loading carriage.

7. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the movable loading unit (45) is displaceable above the table device (31) and the deposition device (10), preferably along a substantially horizontal direction (H).

8. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first and second portion (46, 47) of the loading unit (45) are arranged in succession along a movement direction (R1, R2) of the loading unit (45).

9. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the blanks (64a-c; 64) can be received on the first and the second portion (46, 47) of the loading unit (45), in each case on a lower face (48) of the loading unit (45), and in that, for this purpose, the loading unit (45) is equipped with receiving means (49), in particular in the region of the underside (48) thereof.

10. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the loading device (15) is configured and arranged in such a way that the second portion (47) of the movable loading unit (45) is displaceable into the working region (55) of the thermoforming machine (3).

11. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the loading device (15) is configured in such a way that a moulded part (66), which is produced by thermoforming from a blank (64a-c; 64) previously deposited in the working region (55) of the thermoforming machine (3) and which is subsequently demoulded, can be deposited on an upper face (50) of the loading unit (45), in particular in the position of the loading unit (45) in which the loading unit (45) is positioned for depositing the other blank (64a-c; 64) in the working region (55) of the thermoforming machine (3).

12. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the deposition device (10) is configured with a transport device (11), for example a belt-like transport device (11).

13. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the table device (31) of the loading device (15) is configured with a table (36) which is movable, in particular displaceable substantially along a vertical direction (V).

14. Arrangement (1; 1') for thermoforming comprising a thermoforming machine (3) and comprising an arrangement (4; 4') according to any of the preceding claims so as to feed a semi-finished product as a starting material (6) for the thermoforming to the thermoforming machine (3).

15. Method for feeding a semi-finished product as a starting material (6) for thermoforming to a thermoforming machine (3), comprising: providing a blank (64a; 64) of the starting material (6) on a deposition device (10); receiving the blank (64a; 64) provided on the deposition device (10) from said device by way of a first portion (46) of a movable loading unit (45) of a loading device (15); moving the loading unit (45) in a first direction (R1); depositing the blank (64a; 64), received on the first portion (46) from the deposition device (10), on a table device (31) of the loading device (15); moving the loading unit (45) in a second direction (R2); receiving the blank (64a; 64), deposited on the table device (31), from the table device (31) by way of a second portion (47) of the loading unit (45); moving the loading unit (45) in the first direction (R1) again; depositing the blank (64a; 64), received on the second portion (47) from the table device (31), in a working region (55) of the thermoforming machine (3).

16. Method according to claim 15, characterised in that, while the blank (64; 64), deposited on the table device (31), is being received by the second portion (47) of the loading unit (45), a further blank (64b; 64) provided on the deposition device (10) is received by the first portion (46) of the loading unit (45), and preferably in that, while the blank (64a; 64), received on the second portion (47), is being deposited in the working region (55) of the thermoforming machine (3), the further blank (64b; 64), received on the first portion (46), is deposited on the table device (31).

17. Method according to either claim 15 or claim 16, characterised in that, for providing the blank (64a-c) of the starting material (6) on the deposition device (10), a piece of a starting material (6), provided as rolled material, is unrolled, in particular deposited on the deposition device (10) at least in portions, and separated off from the remaining rolled material to form the blank (64a-c) .

18. Method according to either claim 15 or claim 16, characterised in that the blank (64) of the starting material (6) is provided on the deposition device (10) as a blank of a plate material.