System for removing and moving a fabric material part, corresponding system for cutting and transporting cut fabric material parts, and method for removing and moving a fabric material part

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a system according to claim 1, a method for removing and moving at least one part of the fabric material according to claim 13, and a system for cutting and transporting cut parts of the fabric material according to claim 14.

[0002] Fabric components, such as woven fabrics, fiber-reinforced fabrics, and OPW fabrics, are transported on conveyor systems. Such a conveyor system is capable of conveying wide fabric webs (20 mm) on a horizontal surface. The wide fabric webs are cut on the conveyor system. This cutting is usually done using laser technology. A continuous and / or a discontinuous cutting process can be used. The fabric components are typically arranged in the fabric webs in a staggered arrangement, a process known as nesting, to achieve the highest possible yield of finished fabric components from a single fabric web.

[0003] Often, several pieces of fabric are cut side by side from a single web, so that after the cutting process is complete, several pieces of fabric arrive at the end of the conveyor system and usually have to be removed at the same time or almost at the same time.

[0004] US 4,284,282 A discloses a device for removing materials. The device has a conveyor belt E on which at least two parallel lanes of parts are transported and a removal device that picks up the parts in the conveying direction of the conveyor belt. The removal device brings the parts to a deposit position.

[0005] CN 108 772 885 A shows three different devices that form a production line for dusting and trimming wall panels. The first device is a loading device with a vacuum clamping device. The second device is a first conveyor roller device with a trimming device comprising a cutting blade and a dust removal roller. The third device shows a second conveyor roller device from which the cut wall panels are removed from the production line by means of a vacuum clamping device.

[0006] US 5 013 211 discloses a system for processing veneer panels with a lower mechanism for carrying a first veneer panel to a first position and a second mechanism for carrying a second veneer panel to a second position located above the first position, in order to deposit the first and second veneer panels arriving from different directions in the same place.

[0007] EP 3 409 397 A1) shows four different devices that form a production line for processing sheet material. The first device is a machine for processing the sheet material, the second device is a table for unloading, the third device is a table for temporarily placing the sheet material, and the fourth device is a sorting table. The sheet material is transported from device to device by a carrier.

[0008] FR 2 702 781 A1 shows a cutting machine for cutting a workpiece with a feed conveyor for feeding the workpiece, a position correlation unit for performing the position correlation of the workpiece fed on the feed conveyor, a position correlation correction unit for controlling and calculating the deviation of the workpiece, a cutting device for cutting the workpiece conveyed on the feed conveyor, a receiving unit for receiving the parts cut by the cutting device by means of a suction system, an unloading conveyor for conveying the parts received by the picking unit, and a synchronization device for synchronizing the individual components.

[0009] Currently, in such systems, the cut fabric material pieces, and in particular OPW fabric pieces used for airbags, are removed manually from the conveyor of the cutting system. However, in specific applications, it is also possible to implement robot-assisted removal of the cut fabric material pieces.

[0010] One disadvantage of manual removal is the labor-intensive and monotonous handling of the fabric material parts.

[0011] Using robots to remove fabric material pieces is both very complex and expensive, as several robots must simultaneously remove the cut fabric pieces. Furthermore, robots require a large working area because they perform rotary movements, thus limiting the number of robots that can be positioned around the conveyor system.

[0012] Therefore, the task is to specify a removal device for gripping / removing and moving one or more tissue material parts, as well as to provide a method for the automated removal of tissue material parts.

[0013] The fabric material parts to be cut on such systems often have large dimensions, so that a so-called "sail effect" can occur during handling due to the large dimensions, since the fabric material part is not air-permeable and a "sail effect" occurs when moving it, which makes it difficult to repeatedly place it at intended storage positions.

[0014] In addition to the effective removal of the cut fabric material parts, another requirement is the damage-free handling of the fabric and the safe removal of the cut fabric material part from the conveyor device, since the fabric material parts consist of flexible fabrics and therefore automatic gripping or removal is difficult.

[0015] Another requirement is the adaptability of the take-off device to changing cutting patterns and dimensions of the fabric material parts to be produced, since different batch sizes of fabric material parts are cut in such systems and the take-off device must be flexible enough to be used for different types of fabric as well as for different sizes of fabric material parts.

[0016] These tasks are solved by the characteristics of independent claims.

[0017] The invention is based on the fundamental idea of ​​placing a device downstream or further along the conveying direction that can pick up at least one or more fabric material components and move them away in the conveying direction. By transporting the material in the conveying direction, the space required for the picking device is reduced. Furthermore, such an arrangement also allows for the handling of multi-lane feeding of fabric material components.

[0018] To solve the problem, a removal device for picking up and moving a piece of fabric is specified. The at least one piece of fabric rests on a conveying device. The removal device comprises at least one linear beam associated with the conveying device, which extends in the conveying direction. This beam has a length corresponding to the distance between the removal position and the placement position. Due to the downstream arrangement of the removal device behind the conveying device, the linear beam can also be longer than 2 m, in particular between 2 m and 5 m long, so that the placement position can also be located further away from the conveying device or the removal position.

[0019] A take-up module is attached to the linear carrier and is movable along the linear carrier in the conveying direction. The at least one linear carrier is attached to a support frame that rests on the floor and at least partially overlaps the conveying device. The take-up module has a take-up device configured to remove the fabric material portion, and the take-up module is configured to move the fabric material portion from a take-up position to a deposit position.

[0020] The removal device is preferably a gripping device.

[0021] The unloading device overlaps at least partially with the conveying device. In particular, the unloading modules can be lowered from above towards the conveying plane to remove the fabric material parts. The unloading device is positioned behind the conveying device in the conveying direction, so that the unloading device is located both spatially and process-wise behind the conveying device. This has the advantage that the fabric material parts to be removed continue to be transported in their direction of movement and no change of direction is required.

[0022] The unloading device is adjustable or movable with respect to its position relative to the conveyor. This means that the unloading position A on the conveyor can be adapted to the process or the dimensions of the fabric material parts.

[0023] Preferably, the removal of one or more pieces of fabric material can take place while the conveying system is stopped or running.

[0024] Preferably, the conveying speed of the conveying device is slower than the transport speed of the receiving device.

[0025] Preferably, the conveying device transports several pieces of fabric material parallel to each other on adjacent tracks.

[0026] The take-off module can be moved along the linear carrier in the same plane both in the conveying direction and in the opposite direction. This means that the forward and return paths, or the plane of movement of the take-off module, are identical.

[0027] Preferably, the removal device is adjustable in the vertical direction. This ensures that the fabric material part can be safely removed from the conveying device without the risk of damage to the fabric material part or accidents during removal due to the moving conveying device.

[0028] The design is that the removal device / gripping device will grasp the fabric material part and pick it up vertically from the conveying device and lift it.

[0029] In an advantageous embodiment, the removal device may comprise only one or more suction devices and no clamping device.

[0030] The removal device can include at least one suction device that draws the fabric material part into contact with its upper surface. This suction offers the advantage of minimizing damage to the fabric material while still enabling safe lifting.

[0031] In another advantageous embodiment, the removal device may comprise exclusively one or more clamping devices and no suction device.

[0032] The removal device is designed as a clamping device that clamps the fabric material from both its top and bottom sides. This clamping action ensures safe transport.

[0033] The suction device is also adjustable in a vertical direction, making it easier to clamp the fabric material.

[0034] Safe lifting and transport can be supported by a clamping element which presses the fabric material part against the suction device from an underside of the fabric material part, thus providing a secure fixation for transport.

[0035] To make the unloading device as flexible as possible for handling, for example, multiple pieces of fabric or pieces of different sizes, the linear carrier and / or the unloading module can be designed to be adjustable transversely to the conveying direction. This has the advantage that the linear carrier, the unloading module, or both can be offset transversely to the conveying direction. This allows for different conveying paths; that is, the path to the deposit position can follow a different Y-path than the path back to the unloading position. The laterally adjustable unloading module makes it easy to adapt to different sized pieces of fabric.

[0036] To ensure safe transport, the gripping device can be positioned vertically lower at the removal position of the fabric material part than during movement within a transport area of ​​the fabric material part.

[0037] To enable the safe removal of the fabric material parts, it is advantageous to lift them for removal or transport.

[0038] The design stipulates that the removal module moves the fabric material component in the conveying direction after a gripping operation, and the gripping device releases the fabric material component at the deposit position. This enables repeatable depositing processes.

[0039] After a gripping operation, the linear carrier can be adjusted transversely to the conveying direction. This prevents the two pickup modules from touching during a subsequent pickup module or the transported fabric material from interfering with the returning pickup module.

[0040] Similarly, the pickup module can be offset by a predetermined distance transversely to the conveying direction during a movement from the drop-off position back to the pickup position, compared to a movement from the drop-off position to the drop-off position. The fabric material component can comprise various single-layer and / or multi-layer fabrics or materials; preferably, the fabric material component is a one-piece woven (OPW) component.

[0041] The fabric material is preferably gripped and / or lifted at its front. This is particularly helpful with large fabric pieces, as these can then be lifted or pulled away from the moving or stopped conveyor belt by moving the take-off module in the conveying direction.

[0042] The take-off module preferably includes a sensor, such as a tensile resistance sensor, to determine whether the fabric material section has been cut free from the fabric web. The sensor can also be an optical sensor to determine whether the fabric material section has been cut free from the fabric web. If the fabric material section is not completely free, the sensor will detect tensile resistance and / or a remaining connection between the remaining fabric and the fabric material section to be cut during take-off. If a tensile resistance value exceeds a predetermined value, or if a remaining connection between the remaining fabric and the fabric material section to be cut is detected optically, a control signal is sent to the conveying system and / or take-off device. This prevents damage to the system or the fabric material sections, as well as production errors.Other sensors, e.g. optical sensors, can also be used to detect an uncut part of the fabric material, whereby, depending on their output signal, the conveying operation and / or removal process is continued, i.e., the conveying device and / or removal device is controlled depending on this output signal.

[0043] Preferably, the suction device comprises several suction areas or segments that can be controlled separately. This allows sufficiently strong suction forces to be provided even over larger areas. Furthermore, only one or a few suction areas can be activated when working with small pieces of fabric.

[0044] The unloading device preferably comprises several linear carriers, each with an unloading module. This allows multiple fabric material pieces to be lifted from a single fabric web. This can preferably occur simultaneously, with one group of unloading modules grasping and transporting the fabric material pieces, while another group of unloading modules either waits for the next fabric material pieces or is on its way back from the storage position to the unloading position. Preferably, each unloading module is assigned to a conveyor track of fabric material pieces within the conveying device.

[0045] Preferably, at least two linear carriers can be provided, on which a common removal module is arranged and movable in the conveying direction.

[0046] The common removal module can remove one or more fabric material parts simultaneously and / or selectively remove one or more fabric material parts in different lanes.

[0047] In a further embodiment, the removal module can only have a suction device that runs across or covers the entire width of the fabric strip.

[0048] When the removal module or removal device is lowered in the direction of conveying, all incoming fabric material parts are suctioned up and can be lifted and transported to the deposit position.

[0049] Preferably, a device for removing the remaining fabric is arranged in the conveying direction between the processing station (cutting process) and the removal device. This ensures that only the cut-out fabric material parts arrive at removal position A and can be removed. This is particularly advantageous when only one common removal module is used, which does not allow selective removal of fabric material parts in different lanes, but rather captures or removes all fabric material parts conveyed to removal position A.

[0050] The device for removing the remaining fabric can be designed as a winding mechanism that moves under the fabric strip and guides the remaining fabric upwards and / or winds it up if necessary.

[0051] A gripping device or removal device may have the following alternative and / or additional devices: based on electrostatic adhesion, freezing gripper, adhesive gripper, possibly hook and loop gripper, fork-shaped gripper.

[0052] One or more linear beams are arranged on a support frame.

[0053] The support frame can be moved towards or away from the conveying direction, so that for materials that do not require automatic removal, the support frame and the linear carriers with the removal modules can be separated from the conveying direction.

[0054] Preferably, the removal module is attached to a roller carriage that is movable along the linear support.

[0055] The problem is also solved by a method for gripping and moving a fabric material part resting on a conveying device, comprising the steps: moving at least one cut fabric material part on a conveying device to a removal position; gripping the at least one cut fabric material part by means of a gripping device; transporting the gripped fabric material part by means of a removal module in the conveying direction along a linear carrier extending in the conveying direction to a deposit position; releasing the gripped fabric material part at the deposit position.

[0056] Furthermore, a system for cutting and transporting cut fabric material is specified, comprising: a cutting device for cutting at least one fabric material part, a conveying device on which the fabric material is conveyed and cut, and a removal device as described above.

[0057] The following section explains embodiments of the invention in more detail with reference to the figures. The invention is defined in the claims.

[0058] They show: Figure 1 a perspective view of a system according to the invention; Figure 2 a linear carrier with a take-off module according to the present invention; Figure 3 a perspective view of an acceptance module according to the invention; Figure 4 a side view of an acceptance module according to the invention; and Figure 5 shows a flowchart of the process for automatically removing tissue material samples. Figure 6 shows another flowchart of an alternative process. Figure 7 a perspective view of a further embodiment of a system according to the invention;

[0059] In Figure 1Figure 1 shows a system according to the invention. The system comprises a conveyor 30 on which fabric material parts 25 are transported. To simplify the illustration of the invention, pre-cut fabric material parts 25 are shown on the conveyor 30, arranged offset from one another in several tracks and conveyed in the conveying direction x. A cutting device (not shown) is arranged upstream (in the conveying direction) or above this conveyor, which is designed to cut a wide strip of fabric and cuts the fabric material parts 25, preferably with maximum utilization of the fabric surface. A support frame 41 is arranged at the end of the conveyor 30, on which several linear supports 35 are arranged, extending in the longitudinal direction. A take-off module 40 is attached to each linear support 35, which is movable in the conveying direction x.

[0060] In its simplest form, a fabric material part 25 is cut in a single lane on the conveyor device 30, and only one linear carrier 35 with a take-off module 40 is present.

[0061] The invention provides that the removal of a cut fabric material part 25 takes place in three stages. First, the fabric material part 25 is gripped or suctioned, or lifted by the conveying device 30. Then, it is mechanically clamped by a gripping device 45. Finally, the clamped fabric material part 25 is transported and deposited to a storage position B by means of a linear movement of the removal module 40 along the linear carrier 35 in the conveying direction. After the fabric material part 25 has been deposited, the removal module 40 returns to the removal position A in the area of ​​the conveying device 30 to remove the next fabric material part 25.

[0062] The gripping device 45 can be designed in various ways. Depending on the surface of the conveying device 30, the gripping device 45 can, for example, comprise a suction device 46 and / or a clamping device 47. Such a gripping device 45 is particularly suitable for flat or smooth surfaces of the conveying device. For this purpose, the suction device 46 is lowered onto the fabric material part 25 in the area of ​​the discharge position A and suctions the fabric material part 25. Preferably, the suction or clamping or gripping takes place in the front area of ​​the cut fabric material part 25. The fabric material part 25 is then lifted upwards with this suction device 46 by a vertical movement in the z-direction, so that the clamping element 47 can move under or be moved under the lifted fabric material part 25.The clamping element 47 then moves towards the suction device 46 and thus clamps the cut fabric material section 25, which is suspended from the suction device 46, from below. This is necessary because the fabric material section 25 is made of a flexible material, and a suction device 46 can only reliably lift the fabric for a short time when applying suction, as wrinkling reduces the suction effect and may cause the lifted fabric material section 25 to fall off. By engaging underneath and clamping the fabric material section 25 between the suction device 46 and the clamping element 47, this falling off is prevented.If the material of the fabric part 25 is flat and smooth and / or the fabric part 25 has small dimensions and / or the suction power of the suction device is sufficient, the clamping element 47 can also be omitted, since the suction device 46 can then build up sufficient negative pressure to ensure safe transport of the fabric part 25 to the storage position.

[0063] After the suction device 46 and / or the clamping element 47 with the clamped fabric material part 25 has been moved vertically upwards, the removal module 40 can be moved along the linear carrier 35 in the conveying direction x to the deposit position B. For this purpose, the gripping device 45 or the removal module 40 can be located in a higher position in the transport area C than it was at the removal position A during the removal process.

[0064] In the area of ​​the deposit position B, the clamping element 47 is removed from the underside of the suction device 46 with the clamped fabric, for example by a pivoting or sliding movement, so that the fabric material part 25 can fall off. Furthermore, or if no clamping element 47 is present, any remaining suction effect, which may optionally still be present, can also be deactivated, so that the fabric material part 25 can be deposited with high accuracy and repeatably at a deposit position B. For depositing, the gripping device 45 may be lowered to enable more precise placement.

[0065] In the simplest embodiment, the removal module 40 now travels back along the linear carrier 35 to the removal position A in order to pick up the next fabric material part 25.

[0066] In a further embodiment, it is possible that the linear carrier 35 is moved transversely to the conveying direction, i.e. in the Y direction, for the movement from the storage position B back to the removal position A.

[0067] This is particularly necessary when at least two linear carriers 35 are arranged side by side, operating alternately. To prevent interference between a tissue material part 25 being transported and a retracting removal module 40, the linear carrier 35 of the retracting removal module 40 is offset by a preset distance value in the Y-direction by means of actuators on a crossbeam of the support frame 41.

[0068] After this linear carrier 35 has been repositioned, it remains in this repositioned position for the next transport operation, either when the next tissue material part 25 to be transported arrives in this track. Alternatively, the linear carrier 35 may return to its original Y-position at the pickup position A, and analogously, the other pickup module 40, which is already at the deposit position B, along with its associated linear carrier 35, may be repositioned to a different Y-position perpendicular to the conveying direction.

[0069] In an alternative embodiment, the conveying device 30 can have a grooved structure that allows a fork- or tine-like gripping device 45 to engage underneath it. With such an embodiment of the conveying device 30, a suction device 46 is not required. Instead, it is sufficient to grip under the fabric material 25 with fork- or tine-like devices and clamp the fabric material portion 25 to be conveyed with a counterpart.

[0070] Analogous to the above design, with smooth and dense materials it is possible to forgo clamping and instead use a suction device 46. That is, the fork- or fork-like gripping device 45 lifts the fabric material(s) 25, and the one or more suction devices 46 grip the fabric material(s) 25 and hold it in place during transport to the storage position B.

[0071] Vertical lifting of the fabric material section 25 is not strictly necessary. However, it facilitates the removal and / or damage-free placement of the cut fabric material section 25, as the fabric material section 25 is then not pulled further over the moving conveyor. Lifting is advantageous if the size of the fabric material section 25 necessitates lifting to prevent it from dragging over the moving conveyor, the floor, or other components. Lifting is also advantageous because the removal process can be better monitored and / or to allow clamping from below using a clamping device.

[0072] In another alternative configuration, the take-off module 40 can be equipped with sensors, such as a tensile resistance sensor, an optical sensor, or a camera, which can determine whether the fabric material part 25 has been completely cut out of the fabric web. If the optical detection reveals a remaining connection between the residual fabric and the fabric material part, the take-off process can be interrupted and a signal sent to the system's control unit to stop the conveying device 30 and / or allow for recutting.

[0073] In a tensile resistance sensor, the removal module 40 is moved at a predetermined speed, higher than the conveying speed of the conveyor 30, after the fabric material part 25 has been removed, gripped, or clamped. This movement detects whether resistance is encountered during removal. If the fabric material part is not completely separated, for example, if the detected resistance during removal exceeds a predetermined value, the removal process is interrupted, and a signal is sent to the system's control unit. This signal may stop the conveyor 30 and / or enable recutting. Recutting can be performed manually by the system operator or automatically using an optically controlled laser cutting device.Similarly, the cutting parameters of the cutting machine can be changed via feedback to ensure complete cutting or shearing of the following parts.

[0074] The suction device 46 can have varying numbers of suction cups or suction elements to accommodate different widths of fabric material parts 25. As described above, the removal device must be able to transport fabric material parts 25 of different sizes. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the "gripping" width of the gripping device 45 to the fabric material part 25 being gripped.

[0075] Therefore, the suction device 46 has several and / or differently sized segments in which a suction effect can be generated separately by creating a vacuum, in order to suction different sizes of a tissue material part 25 or also at several points.

[0076] Since the clamping element 47 is usually only used after the fabric material part 25 has been lifted, the size of the clamping element 47 is largely independent of the width of the fabric material part 25 to be transported.

[0077] In the example shown from Figure 1 Six parallel linear carriers 35 are provided, each with a removal module 40 attached, which can each move towards storage position B. On the conveyor 30, as shown in Figure 1As shown, three cut fabric material parts 25 are provided in parallel. In the illustrated example, three removal modules 40 grasp one fabric material part 25 each essentially simultaneously and can then transport it towards the storage position B. Since the next three fabric material parts 25 arrive at an offset Y-position relative to the three previous fabric material parts 25, the next three fabric material parts 25 are grasped and transported by the other three linear carriers and the removal modules mounted on them.

[0078] Alternatively, the three linear carriers 35 already in use, with their respective removal modules 40, could be moved to the removal position A of the next fabric material parts 25. Therefore, preferably all linear carriers 35 are movable relative to each other in the Y-direction within the support frame 41.

[0079] The removal module 40 includes, in addition to the suction device 46 and the clamping element 47, a valve control 48 to activate the various suction segments of the suction device 46. Furthermore, the valve control 48, via a pneumatic cylinder 49, controls the movement of the gripping device 45 in the Z-direction. Likewise, a pneumatic cylinder (not shown) activates the clamping element 47 to move under the suction device 46 and clamp the fabric material part 25.

[0080] The linear carrier 35 has a motor 36 that provides a drive for the removal module 40. Preferably, the removal module 40 is attached to a roller carriage 37, which is preferably moved along the linear carrier 35 by the motor 36 via a toothed belt. The positioning of the removal module 40 is controlled by position sensors.

[0081] The suction device 46 is movable in a vertical direction (Z-direction) in order to draw the material from the surface of the conveying device and lift it in the Z-direction, whereby at a predetermined lifting position the clamping element 47 can clamp the fabric material part 25, which is drawn in by means of negative pressure, from below between the suction device 46 and the clamping element 47 in order to enable a secure grip and to prevent the fabric material part 25 from falling out of the gripping device 45.

[0082] In Figure 5The following is a sequence of a basic process according to the present invention. In step 100, the fabric material part 25 is cut and moved on the conveyor until it reaches the unloading position A S110. Then the gripping device 45 grasps the front of the fabric material part 25 and lifts it S140. Then, in step S170, the unloading module 40 is moved to the depositing position B, where the fabric material part 25 is released and deposited. Afterward, in step S180, the unloading module 40 moves back to the unloading position A to pick up another fabric material part 25.

[0083] Fig. 6Figure 1 shows the sequence of the inventive method with further details. Here too, in step 100, the fabric material part 25 is cut and moved on the conveyor until it reaches the removal position A S110. Removal is possible both when the conveyor belt is running and when it is stopped S120. When the conveyor belt is stopped, the removal module 40 can pick up the fabric material part 25 without moving in the X-direction. When the conveyor belt is running, the removal module 40 moves in the X-direction to pick up the fabric material part 25 while it is moving S130. After the removal module 40 has assumed the correct position for removal, it grips the front of the fabric material part 25 S140 and lifts it, if necessary. Lifting is optional and depends, among other things, on the size and material of the fabric material part 25. If a suction device 46 is used, the clamping element 47 is moved under the fabric material part 25 after lifting to clamp it securely.Then, in step S150, it is checked whether the tensile resistance or another value determined by a sensor for cutting is greater than a predetermined value. If this value determined by the sensor is greater than a predetermined value, this is communicated to the system's control unit (S165), which then stops the system if necessary (S167).

[0084] Once the fabric material part is completely cut out (S160), the take-up module 40 is moved to the deposit position B in step S170, where the fabric material part 25 is released and deposited. The take-up module 40 then returns to the take-up position A in step S180 to pick up another fabric material part 25.

[0085] In a further embodiment according to Figure 7The support frame 41, which can be combined wholly or partially with the configurations described above, has at least two linear beams 35, which are preferably arranged on the outer sides of the conveyor device 30. Additionally, one or more intermediate linear beams 35 may also be present.

[0086] In this embodiment, only one common removal module 60 is arranged on the at least two parallel linear carriers 35, which is movable between the removal position A and the placement position B. This removal module 60 has several devices 46 that are provided for simultaneously lifting one or more fabric material parts 25. In a preferred embodiment, the devices 46 are designed as suction devices 46, which can all be controlled simultaneously or selectively in order to create a vacuum at all suction devices 46 simultaneously or selectively and to suction up the one or more fabric material parts 25 at the same time. That is, in this embodiment, the one or more fabric material parts 25 are lifted simultaneously, in particular suctioned up, and, if necessary, clamped by one common clamping device or several individual clamping devices 47.Depending on the size and / or material of the fabric material parts 25, clamping may be unnecessary. This design is particularly advantageous when the conveying speed of the conveyor 30 is slower than the transport speed of the unloading device. Especially with large fabric material parts 25, there is sufficient time to move the picked-up fabric material part(s) 25 to the storage position B and back to the unloading position A until the next cut fabric material parts 25 are ready for unloading. A control system can actuate one or more devices 46 for simultaneously lifting the fabric material parts 25, each of which is assigned to the cutting lanes of the conveyor 30 where fabric material parts 25 arrive to be transported away.

[0087] In one variant not shown, the common removal module 60 can have a common suction device. This preferably extends over the entire width of the fabric web. Thus, all incoming fabric material particles can be suctioned in, lifted if necessary, and transported away.

[0088] In a preferred embodiment, lifting the fabric material parts is not necessary and the removal device, preferably the suction device, suctions the fabric material part(s) onto the conveying plane and transports them in the conveying direction to the deposit position B.

[0089] In another embodiment (not shown), a stationary lifting device is located above the conveying direction. This device vertically lifts the incoming fabric material part(s) away from the conveying device or level and holds them in place. The removal module(s) of the removal device can then grasp, clamp, and transport the lifted fabric material part(s) by means of a gripping or clamping device.

[0090] This has the advantage that the lifting device, which is preferably designed as a suction device, is not movable, thus reducing the effort required to apply the negative pressure. This means that the removal modules of the removal device only have a gripping or clamping device that mechanically grasps and removes tissue material fragments.

[0091] Furthermore, the single or multiple pickup modules can then handle the transport of the fabric material pieces, while the stationary lifting device can lift the next arriving fabric material pieces and hold them ready for transfer to the pickup module(s). This decouples the lifting process from the transport process, allowing it to occur independently of time. This is particularly advantageous for continuous cutting and / or conveying processes.

[0092] As in Figure 1 and 7 As shown, the fabric material parts 25 are cut and conveyed in several lanes. Thus, in Figure 7 The lifting devices 46 in lanes 2, 4 and 6 are controlled in each case to lift or suction the fabric material parts 25 in these lanes. A clamping device (not shown) then clamps, as in the embodiment according to Figure 1described, the lifted or suctioned tissue material parts 25 are inserted so that they can be safely transported to the storage position B.

[0093] The removal device and method according to the invention are preferably used in the production of OPW airbags, which are cut using laser cutting systems. These airbags are usually large, especially side airbags for passenger cars, which extend from the A-pillar to the C-pillar. Therefore, removal in the conveying direction, and especially removal at the front, is very important. Furthermore, extreme care is required in this area to avoid damaging the fabric of the airbags.

[0094] With the inventive method for removing fabric material parts 25 and the system comprising a conveying device and a removal device, it is possible to enable efficient automated removal of fabric material parts 25, which on the one hand requires little technical equipment, eliminates monotonous manual removal by persons and enables flexible adaptation to different fabrics as well as to different sizes of the fabric material parts 25.

Claims

1. A system comprising: a conveyor (30); and a removal device for removing and moving at least one piece of fabric material (25) which rests on the conveyor (30) and is conveyed, wherein the removal device further comprises: at least one linear carrier (35) associated with the conveyor (30) and extending in the conveying direction; at least one removal module (40) which is fastened to the linear carrier (35) and which can be moved along the linear carrier (35) in each case in the same plane in the conveying direction and counter to the conveying direction, wherein the removal module (40) has a removal device (45) which is configured to remove at least one of the pieces of fabric material (25), wherein the removal module (40) is configured to move the piece of fabric material (25) from a removal position (A) to a depositing position (B), wherein the removal device (45) grips one or more pieces of fabric material (25) and receives and lifts them in the vertical direction from the conveyor (30), characterized in that the removal device is arranged behind the conveyor (30) in the conveying direction, the removal device can be adjusted or moved with respect to its position with respect to the conveyor (30), and the at least one linear carrier (35) is fastened to a support frame (41), wherein the support frame (41) stands on the ground and at least partially overlaps the conveyor (30).

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the removal device (45) contains a clamping device (47) which clamps the one or more pieces of fabric material (25) from an upper side and / or from a lower side of the piece of fabric material (25) and / or the removal device (45) has at least one suction device (46) which sucks the piece of fabric material (25) from an upper side of the piece of fabric material (25).

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein a clamping element (47) presses the piece of fabric material (25) from a lower side of the piece of fabric material (25) against the suction device (46).

4. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the linear carrier (35) and / or the removal module (40) is / are adjustable transversely to the conveying direction.

5. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the removal device (45) is located lower at a removal position (A) of the piece of fabric material (25) than during a movement within a transport region (C) of the piece of fabric material (25) and / or wherein the removal module (40) moves the piece of fabric material (25) in the conveying direction after a removal operation and the removal device (45) releases the piece of fabric material (25) at the depositing position (B).

6. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the linear carrier (35) is adjustable transversely to the conveying direction after a removal operation and / or the removal module (40) moves offset from the movement from the removal position (A) to the depositing position (B) by a predetermined distance transversely to the conveying direction during a movement from the depositing position (B) to the removal position (A).

7. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the piece of fabric material (25) is gripped and preferably raised at its front side.

8. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the removal module (40) has a sensor system in order to determine whether the piece of fabric material (25) is cut freely and, if the piece of fabric material (25) is not cut freely, a control signal can be output to the conveying device (30).

9. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a common suction device (46) or a plurality of suction devices (46) are present which are preferably selectively controllable.

10. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a plurality of linear carriers (35) each having a removal module (40) or at least two linear carriers on which a common removal module (40) is arranged which can remove a plurality of pieces of fabric material (25) simultaneously and / or selectively.

11. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a lifting device which is arranged in a stationary manner above the conveyor (30) in order to lift one or more pieces of fabric material (25) simultaneously and / or selectively, preferably at their front side.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein one or more removal modules (40, 60) of the removal device grasp one or more pieces of fabric material (25) which have been lifted at least partially from the conveying plane by the lifting device and transport them to the depositing position (B) in the conveying direction.

13. A method for removing and moving at least one piece of fabric material (25) which rests on a conveyor (30) and is conveyed, comprising the steps of: moving at least one cut piece of fabric material on a conveyor (30) up to a removal position (A); removing the at least one cut piece of fabric material (25) from the conveying plane by means of a removal device (45), wherein the removal device (45) grips the piece of fabric material (25) and receives and lifts it in the vertical direction from the conveyor (30), transporting the removed piece of fabric material (25) to a depositing position (B) by means of a removal module (40) having the removal device (45), wherein the removal module (40) is fastened to a linear carrier (35), and wherein the removal module (40) moves along the linear carrier (35) extending in the conveying direction in each case in the same plane in the conveying direction and counter to the conveying direction, releasing the gripped piece of fabric material (25) at the depositing position (B), characterized by a removal device comprising the linear carrier (35) and the removal module (40), wherein the removal device is arranged behind the conveyor (30) in the conveying direction, the removal device can be adjusted or moved with respect to its position with respect to the conveyor (30), and the linear carrier (35) is fastened to a support frame (41), wherein the support frame (41) stands on the ground and at least partially overlaps the conveyor (30).

14. A system for cutting and transporting away cut fabric material parts (25), comprising: a cutting device for cutting at least one piece of fabric material (25), a system according to any one of the preceding claims 1-12.