UNIT FOR GROOVE AND SEPARATE CUTTING WITH CHIP CONDUCTION FUNCTION

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an aggregate which can be used, for example, in the field of grooving and separating cut machining of a workpiece which preferably consists at least in sections of wood, wood materials, metal materials or plastic. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] When machining grooves and separating cuts on workpieces made of wood or wood-like materials using a processing tool, particularly a circular saw blade, machining is often performed in synchronized motion to prevent tearing on the workpiece surface. Due to the direction of rotation of the circular saw blade, particles, particularly chips and dust, separated from the workpiece are thrown at high speed along and / or out of the machined groove. This creates the problem of significant dust and chip pollution in the area surrounding the machine. Such dust and chip pollution can lead to a significant reduction in machine performance and impair the operator's safety.

[0003] Systems for slot and cut machining often feature an extraction hood designed to extract particles generated during machining. Such an extraction hood is known, for example, from EP 0 489 397 A1. However, due to the high speed at which chips are propelled along the slot, they can hardly or not at all be deflected from the slot into the extraction system and extracted by vacuum. With narrow slots, there is also the problem of chips becoming stuck in the slot, leading to inadequate extraction.

[0004] To enable more effective particle and / or chip removal, state-of-the-art machining systems alternatively mill a groove in a first step using down-cutting with a shallow cutting depth and thus a low chip removal rate to prevent surface tear-outs. The second step then takes place in the opposite direction at the same depth of cut to achieve chip removal upwards into the extraction hood. However, this leads to the problem of increased machining time and potentially increased tool wear.

[0005] In the field of hand-held circular saws and table saws, a riving knife similar to the (chip) guide element disclosed here is used. Such a riving knife is known, for example, from EP 0 012 404 A1. However, the riving knife known from the prior art merely prevents the saw blade from jamming during a cut and does not have a function for improved dust and / or chip removal, thus continuing the problem of dust and chip pollution.

[0006] Furthermore, tools with special tooth geometries are known in the state of the art, which are designed to direct chip flow. The problem here is that this technique is only possible with wide grooving tools, and even then, only to a limited extent.

[0007] Aggregates for machining, in particular for grooving and separating cuts on a workpiece, are also known from US 2014 / 260848 A1, US 3 882 598 A and AT A 205 693 A. Further prior art is disclosed in DE 10 2016 209 107 A. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Against the background of the known prior art, the object of the invention is to provide an aggregate for machining, in particular for grooving and separating cuts of a workpiece, which preferably consists at least in sections of wood, wood materials, metal materials or plastic, with which the dust and chip load in the environment of the aggregate is minimized.

[0009] These objects are achieved by the unit according to claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention emerge from the subclaims.

[0010] The unit according to the invention for machining, in particular for grooving and separating cuts, a workpiece which preferably consists at least in sections of wood, wood materials, metal materials or plastic, has the features according to claim 1.

[0011] One advantage of the unit according to the invention is that the unit is designed such that a jet of dust and / or chips that are separated from the workpiece during machining and fly along the groove at high speed is deflected so that the jet is directed out of the groove and away from the workpiece. The jet is deflected such that the chips are directed towards an optionally arranged extraction hood. Furthermore, the groove and separating cut machining can be carried out in a single pass without exposure to dust or chips, thereby minimizing machining time and tool wear. A further advantage of the unit according to the invention is that the unit is designed such that dust that accumulates at the bottom of the groove is effectively removed from the groove.

[0012] The main body of the unit can be an element to which the machining tool is attached. The main body can also have an interface through which the main body can be integrated into a machine environment, such as a CNC machining center. Such a machine environment, in turn, can comprise a plurality of diverse units for machining workpieces.

[0013] The machining tool can be any machining tool suitable for machining, in particular for grooving and separating cuts, a workpiece that preferably consists at least partially of wood, wood-based materials, metal materials, or plastic. Such a machining tool can be, for example, a circular saw blade or a milling cutter mounted rotatably on the main body, or an ultrasonic machining tool or a laser mounted in another way on the main body. Furthermore, other machining tools suitable for the machining operations described above, including those known from the prior art, are conceivable.

[0014] The machining tool is mounted or attached to the main body in such a way that at least a portion of the machining tool can engage with the workpiece.

[0015] The machining tool has a first portion configured to penetrate into the workpiece during machining of the workpiece. The first portion may be a portion of the machining tool that engages the workpiece during machining of the workpiece and / or that plunges into the workpiece.

[0016] For example, when grooving a flat, plate-like workpiece, the first section is the section of the machining tool that is hidden by the workpiece when viewed horizontally at the level of the workpiece plane. In the case of a circular saw blade as the machining tool, the first section of the machining tool is not to be understood as a section that is located in a stationary area of ​​the circular saw blade and rotates with the circular saw blade and would therefore be periodically in engagement with the workpiece. Rather, the first section of the machining tool is to be understood as the section that is in engagement with the workpiece and / or penetrates or plunges into the workpiece at any time or in a snapshot during the machining of the workpiece. In the case of grooving using a circular saw blade, the first section therefore has the shape of a circular segment.

[0017] In the case of machining using laser radiation, the first section of the machining tool can be equivalently understood as the part of the laser beam that penetrates into the workpiece during machining.

[0018] The conduit device is arranged next to the machining tool and configured such that the medium can flow along, preferably through, the conduit device. The conduit device is arranged in the region of the machining tool in such a way that it is operatively connected to the machining tool. "Operative connection" can be understood to mean that the conduit device is configured, in particular, such that it can exert an effect on the particles separated from the workpiece during machining of the workpiece with the machining tool.

[0019] For example, the conduit device can be arranged in a lateral region with respect to the machining tool. The conduit device is preferably arranged next to the machining tool. In the case of a circular saw blade as the machining tool, the conduit device can, for example, be arranged substantially in the plane of the circular saw blade. The conduit device can therefore be arranged in front of or behind the machining tool. In particular, the conduit device can be arranged behind the machining tool as seen in the feed direction. The conduit device can be any device designed to guide the medium in a flowable manner. In particular, the conduit device can have one or more tube-like elements, but also elements that have a non-circular or round cross-section, for example a square or rectangular cross-section.

[0020] The medium can flow along the conduit device, whereby the conduit device does not have to completely enclose the medium. The medium can preferably flow through the conduit device, whereby the conduit device completely encloses the medium, so that the medium can only leave the conduit device at designated points. The medium can in particular be particles, air, a fluid, and / or a mixture thereof.

[0021] The conduit device has at least one opening at its lower end portion. The lower end portion of the conduit device can be an end portion of the conduit device that is located in the area, near, or adjacent to the machining tool, in particular adjacent to the first portion of the machining tool. In particular, the conduit device can have more than one end portion, in particular two end portions, wherein the end portion that is closest to or closer to the first portion of the machining tool is the lower end portion of the conduit device.

[0022] The lower end section of the conduit device has at least one opening, i.e., one or more openings. The opening can have any cross-sectional shape, in particular a round or angular cross-sectional shape. Furthermore, the opening can have any size. For example, the opening can have a circular cross-sectional shape of any diameter. In the case of more than one opening, the openings can, in particular, have different shapes and / or cross-sectional shapes.

[0023] Optionally, one or more openings in the lower end section of the conduit device may face the first section of the processing tool.

[0024] The conduit device is configured such that the medium can flow out of the opening substantially in the direction of the first section of the machining tool, and / or the conduit device comprises the suction device. The wording "and / or" stands for either "and" or "or" and thus includes three alternatives. The wording "and" means that the conduit device is configured such that the medium can flow out of the opening substantially in the direction of the first section of the machining tool and that the conduit device comprises the suction device. The wording "or" means that the conduit device is configured either such that the medium can flow out of the opening substantially in the direction of the first section of the machining tool or that the conduit device comprises the suction device.

[0025] The conduit device is designed such that the medium can flow along, preferably through, the conduit device and can flow out of the opening substantially in the direction of the first section of the machining tool. The medium can comprise a plurality of particles, for example, particles, air, or fluid particles, which together form the medium. Such a particle located in the medium, which moves with the medium, flows, in particular, initially along, preferably through, the conduit device before leaving the conduit device through the at least one opening at the lower end section of the conduit device.

[0026] According to the invention, the conduit device is configured such that the medium, after leaving the conduit device, moves substantially in the direction of the first section of the machining tool. In particular, the conduit device is configured such that the medium, after leaving the conduit device, does not move away from the first section of the machining tool. The conduit device can have a specific shape that is configured to guide the medium in a certain direction and / or to predetermine a certain direction for the medium, so that the medium, after leaving the conduit device, moves through the opening substantially in the direction of the first section of the machining tool.

[0027] The term "essentially" here means that the medium, or individual particles thereof, have a velocity that can be described by a velocity vector, wherein the velocity vector has at least one component pointing toward the first section of the machining tool. The component of the velocity vector pointing toward the first section of the machining tool can preferably be the largest component of the velocity vector.

[0028] In the case of groove machining and a circular saw blade as the machining tool, the first section of the machining tool that engages the workpiece can, as described above, have the shape of a circular segment. In this case, the velocity vector of the medium or individual particles of the medium after leaving the conduit device and / or even before leaving the conduit device can have a component that points in the direction of this circular segment, or the first section of the circular saw blade. The velocity vector can also have a component that points in the direction of the groove base. The medium can then be deflected and / or reflected at the groove base and move further in the direction of the first section of the machining tool.

[0029] Because the medium moves from the opening essentially toward the first section of the machining tool, individual particles of the medium can collide with and / or impact particles that are separated from the workpiece during machining and are propelled along the groove at high speed. This collision of the medium with the particles deflects the particles. This process is comparable to an elastic collision between two particles / bodies.

[0030] The impact deflects the particles separated from the workpiece upwards, away from the workpiece, where they can be captured and extracted by an optional extraction hood. This results in significantly less or even no dust and chip pollution in the area surrounding the machine.

[0031] The line device can have a suction device, wherein the suction device can be any device that has and / or can generate a negative pressure compared to the ambient air pressure of the unit. The suction device can be a negative pressure chamber, wherein the negative pressure chamber can be generated by other means. The negative pressure of the suction device can be strong enough to suck in and / or remove particles that are separated from the workpiece by the processing tool during machining. The particles can be discharged through the line device, in particular against a flow direction of the medium.

[0032] Because the line device has the suction device, very small particles separated from the workpiece, such as dust, which can settle on the bottom of the groove, can be captured and sucked away by the suction device.

[0033] In some preferred embodiments, the conduit device comprises at least one channel, wherein the channel has the opening at the lower end portion of the conduit device.

[0034] The channel can have a tubular shape, preferably with a round cross-section. However, the channel can also have other shapes with different cross-sectional shapes, such as a square cross-sectional shape.

[0035] At the lower end portion of the conduit device, the channel has at least one opening. For example, the channel can extend along the entire conduit device. Particularly in the case of a tubular channel, an opening in the tubular channel or the tube can represent the opening of the conduit device. Instead of or in addition to this opening, the channel can have one or more openings in a lateral portion of the channel, which preferably faces the machining tool.

[0036] The conduit device can have one or more channels, each of which has an opening. The cross-sectional shapes of the channels and / or openings can vary. For example, at least one channel can serve to conduct the medium in a flowable manner and to allow it to flow out through the opening of the channel, and at least one other channel can serve to have the suction device. In the case in which at least one channel has the suction device, the negative pressure of the suction device causes particles that have been separated from the workpiece to pass through the opening of the channel into the channel and to be guided away from the workpiece through the channel. In this way, the conduit device can both allow the medium to flow out essentially in the direction of the first section of the machining tool and also have the suction device. This can ensure a compact design of the conduit device.Preferably, the at least one channel that conducts the medium and the at least one channel that has the suction device are arranged such that they do not negatively influence each other. In particular, the medium can flow out of the at least one opening of the channel in such a way that it is not captured and sucked away by the suction device.

[0037] According to the invention, the lower end section of the conduit device has at least one nozzle.

[0038] In particular, the nozzle can be arranged at or in the opening of the conduit device and / or the channel or represent the opening of the conduit device and / or the channel. The nozzle can also have multiple channels. The nozzle can have any shape of nozzle known from the prior art. In particular, the nozzle can have a round cross-section and taper towards the lower end section of the conduit device. This allows the medium to flow out of the nozzle or the opening at a higher speed compared to when used without a nozzle. This allows individual particles of the medium to hit and / or bounce off the particles that are separated from the workpiece during processing at a higher speed. This enables the particles to be effectively deflected and / or redirected.

[0039] According to the invention, the unit further comprises a guide element which is arranged next to the machining tool and is configured such that particles, in particular dust and / or chips, which can be separated from the workpiece during machining of the workpiece with the machining tool, can be guided along a deflection direction after separation from the workpiece, wherein the deflection direction runs substantially obliquely to a reference direction, wherein the reference direction is defined as a direction from the first section of the machining tool to a second section of the machining tool which is opposite the first section of the machining tool, so that the particles, in particular dust and / or chips, are deflected out of the groove, away from the workpiece.

[0040] The guide element is arranged in the region of the machining tool in such a way that it is operatively connected to the machining tool. "Operative connection" can be understood to mean that the guide element is configured in particular such that it can exert an effect on the particles separated from the workpiece during machining of the workpiece with the machining tool. For example, the guide element can be arranged in a lateral region relative to the machining tool. The guide element is preferably arranged next to the machining tool.

[0041] The guide element can be arranged in front of or behind the machining tool.

[0042] In the case of a circular saw blade as a machining tool, the guide element can, for example, be arranged substantially in the plane of the circular saw blade. As described above, particles, in particular chips, are thrown along the groove at high speed during machining of the workpiece, in particular during groove machining. The guide element, which is preferably arranged next to the machining tool, for example the circular saw blade, is configured such that the particles, in particular the chips, can be guided by the guide element along a deflection direction, wherein the deflection direction runs substantially obliquely to a reference direction. The reference direction in this context is defined as a direction running from the first section of the machining tool to a second section of the machining tool, which is opposite the first section of the machining tool.

[0043] As described above, the first section of the machining tool is the section that penetrates the workpiece during machining. According to the above definition, the second section of the machining tool is located opposite the first section. Consequently, in the case of the circular saw blade as the machining tool, the second section is located opposite the first section substantially in a direction along the diameter of the circular saw blade.

[0044] The deflection direction essentially runs obliquely to the reference direction, i.e., the direction from the first section to the second section of the machining tool. The term "oblique" in this context means that the deflection direction forms a certain angle with the reference direction, which is preferably less than 90°. The term "direction" in "reference direction" is to be understood vectorially and means that the reference direction is not tied to a specific location and / or a specific part of the machining tool. This means that the reference direction is generally a direction that can point away from the surface of the workpiece, in particular, can be perpendicular to the surface of the workpiece.The term "essentially" in this context means that the particles, in particular the chips, do not have to be conductive strictly along one and the same deflection direction, but there may also be a certain scattering of the directions in which the particles are conductive.

[0045] According to the invention, the guide element is configured such that the particles, in particular the chips, can be guided by the guide element along the deflection direction. In particular, the particles, in particular the chips, when thrown at high speed along the groove, can collide with the guide element and / or hit and / or impact the guide element. In particular, the guide element can have oblique edges and / or surfaces, wherein the particles impact these surfaces and / or edges at an oblique angle, i.e. not perpendicular to the surface. As a result of this collision, the particles, in particular the chips, can be deflected and guided and / or directed out of the groove. As a result, the particles, in particular the chips, are directed upwards and can be captured and extracted by an optionally arranged extraction hood, which leads to less dust and chip pollution in the area surrounding the machine.

[0046] In some preferred embodiments, the guide element is configured such that, in a first position of the guide element, a lower end thereof is arranged at a position that lies along the reference direction within a range in which the first portion of the machining tool is located along the reference direction.

[0047] The lower end of the guide element can, for example, be an outer edge or an outer surface of the guide element. The first position of the guide element is determined by the position of the lower end of the guide element along the reference direction. In particular, the position of the lower end of the guide element in a direction perpendicular to the reference direction is not fixed.

[0048] As described above, the first section of the machining tool can be understood as the section which is hidden by the workpiece when viewed horizontally at the height of the workpiece plane.

[0049] In this view, with a circular saw blade as the machining tool and a flat, plate-like workpiece, the first section of the machining tool has the shape of a circular segment which has a certain extent in the direction parallel to the workpiece surface and perpendicular to the workpiece surface, i.e. essentially parallel to the reference direction. In an imaginary two-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system in which one axis runs parallel to the workpiece surface and the other axis perpendicular to it, the extent of the first section of the machining tool, i.e. the circular segment in the case of the circular saw blade, can be described by a certain range of values ​​with respect to the axis parallel to the workpiece surface and a certain range of values ​​with respect to the axis perpendicular to the workpiece surface, i.e. essentially parallel to the reference direction.

[0050] In the first position of the guide element, the lower end of the guide element is located at a position along the reference direction within the range in which the first section of the machining tool is located along the reference direction. This means that in the first position of the guide element, the lower end of the guide element can be located at a position within the range of values ​​that describes the extension of the first section of the machining tool with respect to the axis perpendicular to the workpiece surface, i.e., parallel to the reference direction.

[0051] In the case of a circular saw blade as a machining tool for groove machining, the first section of the circular saw blade can be described as a circular segment that has a certain extent along the reference direction, i.e., essentially in a direction perpendicular to the workpiece surface, with the maximum extent corresponding to the groove depth. According to the invention, the lower end of the guide element is thus located within the groove in the first position of the guide element.

[0052] This ensures that the guide element is located at least partially within the groove during machining of the workpiece by the machining tool. This allows particles, especially chips, that are separated from the workpiece and propelled along the groove at high speed to strike or collide with a section of the guide element and are thereby deflected out of the groove, preferably away from the workpiece. This ensures that dust and chip pollution in the area surrounding the machine is minimized.

[0053] In some preferred embodiments, in the first position of the guide element, a distance along the reference direction between the lower end of the guide element and an end of the machining tool which forms part of the first section of the machining tool and is furthest away along the reference direction from a storage section of the machining tool at which the machining tool is mounted on the main body is less than 5 mm, preferably less than 3 mm, particularly preferably less than 1 mm.

[0054] According to the invention, the distance between the lower end of the guide element and the end of the machining tool is defined along the reference direction, ie in the case of a flat plate-like workpiece surface along a direction substantially perpendicular to the workpiece surface.

[0055] The end of the machining tool is a part of the first section thereof. This means that the end of the machining tool is in engagement with the workpiece or is immersed in the workpiece. Furthermore, the end of the machining tool is arranged furthest along the reference direction from a storage section of the machining tool, at which the machining tool is mounted on the main body. In the case of a circular saw blade as the machining tool, the storage section of the machining tool coincides with the center of the circular saw blade, and the reference direction runs essentially along the diameter of the circular saw blade and, in the case of a flat, plate-like workpiece surface, perpendicular to the workpiece surface. In this case, the end of the machining tool is the part of the circular saw blade that is currently machining the workpiece. In the case of groove machining, this is the part that engages with the groove bottom.

[0056] Thus, during groove machining, the distance between the lower end of the guide element and the groove base is less than 5 mm, preferably less than 3 mm, and particularly preferably less than 1 mm. This ensures that the guide element penetrates the groove until just before the groove base. In this way, particles, in particular chips, which are separated from the workpiece during machining and propelled along the groove at high speed, can be almost completely removed from the groove and / or guided out of the groove. Furthermore, effective extraction is achieved by means of the extraction device of the guide device.

[0057] In some preferred embodiments, the guide element is controllable and / or adjustable from the first position into at least one second position, wherein the lower end of the guide element in the at least one second position is arranged at a position which lies along the reference direction outside the area in which the first section of the machining tool is located along the reference direction.

[0058] The guide element can be controlled and / or regulated from the first position into at least one second position by suitable means and / or devices connected to the guide element. For example, the guide element can be brought into the at least one second position by pivoting. It is also conceivable for the guide element to be brought into the at least one second position by a combined movement of translation and rotation. The guide element can be controlled and / or regulated stepwise or continuously. In particular, the guide element can be controlled and / or regulated from the first position not only into a second position, but into several positions.

[0059] In the at least one second position, the lower end of the guide element is located at a position that lies along the reference direction outside the area in which the first section of the machining tool is located along the reference direction. In the case of groove machining, the second position of the guide element, as described above in connection with the description of the first position of the guide element, is a position at which the guide element is not located within the groove. Since the guide element, unlike the first section of the machining tool, is not located within the groove in the at least one second position, the unit can also be used for counter-rotating machining and / or non-through grooves.

[0060] In some preferred embodiments, the control and / or regulation of the guide element from the first position to the at least one second position is carried out manually and / or automatically, wherein the control and / or regulation of the guide element is preferably carried out pneumatically and / or electrically.

[0061] The control and / or regulation of the guide element can be carried out manually, for example by manually adjusting the position of the guide element depending on the type of machining of the workpiece. Preferably, the control and / or regulation of the guide element is carried out automatically. In this way, the unit according to the invention can be used, for example, in a machine environment, such as in a CNC machining center, and can, for example, machine a plurality of grooves, some of which can be continuous and others not, with the guide element automatically moving to the required position in each case. Furthermore, the guide element can have a sensor system that measures, for example, distances between the guide element and the workpiece in order to control and / or regulate automatic adjustment of the guide element.

[0062] The control and / or regulation of the guide element is preferably pneumatic and / or electrical. With pneumatic control and / or regulation, the unit can additionally have supply lines, in particular compressed air lines. The control and / or regulation of the guide element can be linear to the machining tool or rotatable around the bearing section of the machining tool. Depending on the application, a linear cylinder or a rotary cylinder can be used.

[0063] Furthermore, the guide element can be replaced in at least one second position.

[0064] In some preferred embodiments, the conduit device is arranged next to the guide element, with the at least one opening preferably being arranged next to the lower end of the guide element. Preferably, the conduit device is integrated into the guide element, with the at least one opening preferably being arranged in the lower end of the guide element and / or in a lateral surface section of the guide element, which preferably faces the machining tool and is preferably located near the lower end of the guide element.

[0065] The wording "and / or" means that the opening can be arranged either in the lower end of the guide element or in the lateral surface section of the guide element, or that the opening can extend over a section that connects the lower end and the lateral surface section of the guide element, or that at least one opening each can be arranged in the lower end of the guide element and in the lateral surface section of the guide element.

[0066] The conduit device can be arranged either on the sides or in front of or behind the guide element, as long as the conduit device, together with the guide element, can engage a groove in a workpiece. The same can apply, in particular, to the at least one channel and / or the at least one nozzle of the conduit device.

[0067] Preferably, the conduit device is integrated into the guide element, wherein the guide element can have a certain thickness and / or width so that the medium can flow through the conduit device within the guide element. In particular, the guide element itself can represent a channel of the conduit device. The at least one opening of the conduit device is preferably arranged in the lower end of the guide element and / or in a lateral surface section of the guide element, which preferably faces the processing tool and is preferably located near the lower end of the guide element. For example, the at least one opening can be realized as at least one borehole.In addition, the at least one nozzle of the conducting device can also be arranged in the lower end of the guide element and / or in a lateral surface section of the guide element, which preferably faces the processing tool and is preferably located near the lower end of the guide element.

[0068] In the event that the at least one opening of the conduit device is arranged in a lateral surface section of the guide element, which preferably faces the machining tool, the at least one opening can optionally be located at a position of the lateral surface section of the guide element which, when the guide element is in the first position, ie immersed in the groove, lies within the groove (ie over the entire height of the groove) and / or outside thereof (so that the medium can flow into the groove, for example, from above the groove).

[0069] Furthermore, it is conceivable that two conduit devices can be provided, wherein one conduit device can be arranged next to the guide element, wherein the at least one opening can preferably be arranged next to the lower end of the guide element and wherein the other conduit device can be integrated in the guide element, wherein the at least one opening can preferably be arranged in the lower end of the guide element and / or in a lateral surface section of the guide element, which preferably faces the machining tool and is preferably located near the lower end of the guide element.

[0070] Through the combination of guide element and ducting device, particles, in particular chips, which are thrown along the groove at high speed after separation from the workpiece, are guided out of the groove not only by the interaction with the guide element, but also by the interaction with the medium of the ducting device in a direction in which they can be captured and extracted by an optional extraction hood.

[0071] The fact that the at least one opening and / or the at least one nozzle of the conducting device are preferably arranged in the lower end of the guide element and / or in a lateral surface section of the guide element, which preferably faces the machining tool and is preferably located near the lower end of the guide element, not only enables the medium to exit substantially in the direction of the first section of the machining tool, i.e. against the chip jet, and thus effectively deflects the chips upwards and / or out of the groove. The flow of the medium also prevents chips from settling on the groove base or becoming jammed laterally between the groove edge and the guide element.

[0072] In some preferred embodiments, the guide element is designed as a splitting wedge.

[0073] In particular, the guide element can have the structural properties and / or functions of a riving knife known from the prior art. Thus, the guide element not only serves to remove particles, especially chips, from the groove, but is also suitable for preventing the machining tool from jamming in the workpiece.

[0074] In some preferred embodiments, the unit further comprises a covering device which is arranged in the region of the guide element, preferably wherein the covering device partially encloses the processing tool, wherein the covering device is configured such that the particles can be guided along the deflection direction after separation from the workpiece.

[0075] The covering device can, for example, be a sheet metal shaped such that it can partially enclose the machining tool. It is also conceivable for the covering device to additionally partially enclose a section of the guide element. In particular, the covering device is arranged in the region of the guide element in such a way that the covering device is operatively connected to the guide element and / or to the machining tool. In this case, operative connection can be understood to mean that the covering device is configured in particular such that it can exert an effect on the particles separated from the workpiece during machining of the workpiece with the machining tool. The covering device can be movable relative to the machining tool with the guide element or separately from it.

[0076] According to the invention, the covering device is configured such that the particles, in particular chips, can be guided along the deflection direction by the covering device. In particular, the particles, in particular chips, can collide with the guide element that engages the groove when they are hurled at high speed along the groove. However, it is conceivable that a few particles are already ejected from the groove before colliding with the guide element or fly past the guide element. Furthermore, it is conceivable that a few particles are not deflected along the deflection direction as intended after colliding with the guide element. This can happen, for example, through interaction between the chips.Because the covering device is arranged in the area of ​​the guide element and partially encloses the processing tool, the particles that have not been deflected along the deflection direction as intended can hit or strike the covering device.

[0077] In particular, the covering device can have oblique edges and / or surfaces similar to the shapes of the guide element, with the particles striking these surfaces and / or edges at an oblique angle, i.e., not perpendicular to the surface. This collision can direct the particles, especially the chips, upwards and be captured and extracted by an optionally arranged extraction hood, resulting in an even more effective reduction of dust and chip pollution in the machine's surroundings.

[0078] In some preferred embodiments, a medium flow of the medium comprises in particular a particle flow, air flow, fluid flow and / or a flow of a mixture thereof.

[0079] The medium flow can be selected, for example, depending on the type of machining tool and / or the workpiece being machined. For example, if a workpiece is being machined in such a way that large particles, especially chips, are generated, a medium flow consisting of larger and / or heavier particles can be selected to properly direct the chips in the deflection direction. In this way, low dust and chip loads in the machine's environment can be ensured, regardless of the type of machining tool and / or the workpiece being machined.

[0080] In some preferred embodiments, the machining tool comprises a circular saw blade.

[0081] In the case of the circular saw blade, the guiding device, the guide element, and the covering device are arranged according to the invention on the side of the circular saw blade in the direction of which, starting from the first section of the circular saw blade, the particles, in particular chips, are projected at high speed after being separated from the workpiece. Optionally, the unit can, as already described several times, have a suction hood known from the prior art.

[0082] In some preferred embodiments, the unit further comprises at least one, preferably at least two supports to a C-axis or to a spindle housing and / or a hollow shaft cone, wherein the medium is supplied via the at least one, preferably via the at least two supports to a C-axis or to a spindle housing and / or via the hollow shaft cone.

[0083] By supplying the medium via the support(s) and / or the hollow shaft cone, a compact design of the unit is enabled, as a medium supply line is held in a fixed position. The medium supply line can also comprise one or more hoses arranged between the line device of the unit and the support(s) and / or the hollow shaft cone. For example, a hose can be laid through a central bore through the hollow shaft cone. The hose(s) can be integrated into the main body of the unit or run externally.

[0084] The at least one, preferably at least two supports to a C-axis or to a spindle housing can be at least one, preferably at least two C-axis bolts.

[0085] Furthermore, the invention relates to an exchangeable, preferably automatically exchangeable unit, in particular a saw unit, which has the unit according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the unit can be exchanged into a 2-axis machining head (5-axis head) via the at least one, preferably via the at least two supports and / or via the hollow shaft cone and the guide element can be automatically adjusted to a contour of the workpiece according to a position of a C-axis and / or at least one additional axis which is parallel or identical to a rotational axis of the machining tool, and a position of an A-axis of the 2-axis machining head (5-axis head).

[0086] The interchangeable unit can be particularly suitable for being inserted into a machine environment, in particular into a CNC machining center, via a tool changer via the at least one, preferably at least two, C-axis bolts and / or via the hollow shaft taper. The C-axis bolt(s) can engage with the C-axis of the 2-axis machining head (5-axis head) in order to be rotatable about the C-axis. Because the guide element can be automatically adjusted to a workpiece contour according to a position of the C-axis and a position of the A-axis of the 2-axis machining head (5-axis head), the interchangeable unit has a high degree of flexibility, with the automatic adjustability of the guide element reducing machining time. Furthermore, it is conceivable for the unit itself to have a C-axis, for example, referred to as a "C2 axis," or a coupling. This can further increase the flexibility of the unit.Alternatively, an element can have such a C2 axis or coupling, whereby the unit can be connected to this element via the interface of the main body and thus integrated into a machine environment. The element can be, for example, a spindle nose of a spindle.

[0087] Furthermore, the replaceable unit of the described embodiments can be exchangeable via a hollow shaft cone interface.

[0088] Furthermore, the units of the described embodiments can have sensors. The sensors can be used to monitor and / or regulate and / or control the position of the guide element and / or one or more properties of the medium, such as pressure, flow rate, composition, and the like.

[0089] In the preceding description of the invention, some aspects of the invention were explained using the example of grooving using a circular saw blade as the processing tool. However, the present invention is by no means limited to grooving using a circular saw blade as the processing tool, but encompasses any aspects that fall within the scope of the appended claims. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0090] Further preferred features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the figures. Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a preferred unit for machining a workpiece from the side. Fig. 2a shows a front view of a guide element of the unit from Fig. 1 . Fig. 2b shows a cross-sectional view of the guide element from Fig. 2a along line AA. Fig. 2cshows a perspective view of the guide element of the unit from Fig. 1 , wherein a conducting device which is integrated in the guide element is characterized. Fig. 2d shows a perspective view of the guide element of the unit from Fig. 1 from underneath. Fig. 3 shows a configuration of the unit from Fig. 1 , wherein the guide element is in a second position. Fig. 4 shows a configuration of the unit from Fig. 1 , whereby the unit additionally has a covering device. Fig. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a preferred unit for machining a workpiece, wherein the unit is attached to a 2-axis machining head (5-axis head). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0091] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying figures in order to describe the invention using illustrative examples. Further modifications of certain individual features described in this context can be combined with other features of the described embodiments to form further embodiments of the invention.

[0092] Fig. 1shows a schematic representation of a preferred unit for machining a workpiece from the side. The unit has a main body 1, which has a substantially cuboid shape. The cuboid-shaped main body 1 has a lower end section and an upper end section, wherein the lower end section is located closer to a workpiece 10 than the upper end section. At the upper end section of the main body 1, the main body 1 has an interface and several C-axis bolts 9, via which the unit can be inserted into a machine environment, for example, into a CNC machining center. A machining tool 2, in the case of Fig. 1 a circular saw blade 2, is rotatably mounted on the lower end portion of the main body 1.

[0093] In Fig. 1A situation is shown in which the unit is used for grooving a workpiece in synchronous motion. The circular saw blade 2 rotates clockwise and the workpiece 10 is moved to the left or the unit to the right (for example, in a CNC machining center). The circular saw blade 2 has a first section 3, which, as shown in Fig. 1 shown, penetrates into the workpiece 10 during machining of the workpiece 10. In Fig. 1 the circle segment of the circular saw blade 2 delimited by the dotted line corresponds to the first section 3 of the circular saw blade 2. As in Fig. 1 As can be seen, the greatest extent of the first section 3 of the circular saw blade 2 along a direction b corresponds exactly to the groove depth.

[0094] The unit further comprises a guide element 6 arranged adjacent to the circular saw blade 2. The guide element 6 has an upper end portion having an upper end and a lower end portion having a lower end 7. Furthermore, the unit comprises a holding device, one end of which is connected to the upper end portion of the guide element 6 and the other end of which is connected to the lower end portion of the main body 1. This holds the guide element 6 in its position.

[0095] In Fig. 1 the guide element 6 is in a first position in which the guide element 6 also penetrates into the groove next to the first section 3 of the circular saw blade 2. Referring to Fig. 1the reference direction is parallel to the direction b from the first section 3 of the circular saw blade 2 to a second section of the circular saw blade 2, which is opposite the first section 3 of the circular saw blade 2. The lower end 7 of the guide element 6 is located in the first position of the guide element 6 along the reference direction (along the direction b) at a position that lies within a range that corresponds to the extension of the first section 3 of the circular saw blade 2 along the reference direction (along the direction b). In this case, a distance d between the lower end 7 of the guide element and the groove base is, according to the invention, less than 5 mm, preferably less than 3 mm, particularly preferably less than 1 mm. The guide element 6 is Fig. 2a-2d be described in detail.

[0096] A conduit device 4 is integrated into the guide element 6, which extends from the upper end of the guide element 6 to the lower end 7 of the guide element 6. The conduit device 4 has an inlet opening at an upper end portion thereof and an opening 5 at a lower end portion thereof, which is arranged in the lower end 7 of the guide element 6. A medium is fed into the conduit device 4 through the inlet opening of the conduit device 4. The medium is supplied through corresponding lines, for example via a C-axis bolt 9 of the unit. In the case of Fig. 1 The medium is supplied via the left C-axis bolt 9. Within the conduit device 4, the medium flows from the inlet opening in the upper end section of the conduit device 4 to the opening 5 in the lower end section of the conduit device 4, where it exits the conduit device 4.

[0097] As in Fig. 1As can be seen, the conduit device 4 runs essentially parallel to a tangential direction of a tangent to the circular saw blade in the region of the guide element 6. By means of this configuration of the conduit device 4, the flow of the medium is guided and / or influenced in such a way that the medium flows out of the opening 5, i.e. after leaving the opening 5, essentially in the direction of the first section 3 of the circular saw blade 2. In other words, the movement of individual particles of the medium moving with the medium can be expressed by a velocity vector having a component pointing in the direction of the first section 3 of the circular saw blade 2. Thus, the medium flows in the groove base against a chip jet consisting of chips that are separated from the workpiece 10 during machining of the workpiece 10 and at high speed along the groove, i.e. in Fig. 1The medium strikes individual chips or collides with them, thus directing them upwards out of the groove, where they can be captured and extracted by an optional extraction hood. This results in a significantly lower dust and chip load in the area surrounding the machine.

[0098] Fig. 2a shows a front view of the guide element 6 of the unit from Fig. 1 . The lower end 7 of the guide element 6 is located in Fig. 2a below. The upper end section of the guide element 6 has retaining elements on both sides thereof, which can be connected to one end of the holding device of the unit.

[0099] Fig. 2b shows a cross-sectional view of the guide element 6 from Fig. 2aalong the line AA. The lower end 7 of the guide element 6 has a flat surface which, in the first position of the guide element 6, is substantially parallel to the surface of the workpiece 10 forming the groove base.

[0100] The side facing the circular saw blade 2 (right side in Fig. 2b ) has a curved shape or a curved surface. From the lower end 7 to the upper end of the guide element 6, the slope of the curved surface increases with respect to the plane in which the lower end 7 of the guide element 6 lies. Due to this configuration, chips that are separated from the workpiece 10 during machining and are projected at high speed along the groove (essentially along the direction a in Fig. 1) are projected onto the curved surface at a relatively flat angle (measured to the curved surface). As a result, the chips are not redirected into the groove upon impact with the curved surface of the guide element 6, but are guided and / or deflected out of the groove along the curved surface of the guide element 6 in the deflection direction. The chips can then be captured and extracted by an optionally arranged extraction hood, which leads to less dust and chip pollution in the area surrounding the machine.

[0101] As in Fig. 2bAs can be further seen, the conduit device 4 is integrated inside the guide element 6. The opening 5 of the conduit device 4 is located in the lower end 7 of the guide element 6. The inlet opening through which the medium flows into the conduit device 4 is located in the upper end section of the conduit device 4 and the upper end section of the guide element 6. The shape of the conduit device 4 essentially follows the shape of the guide element 6.

[0102] Compared to the upper end section of the conduit device 4, the lower end section of the conduit device 4 has a smaller gradient relative to the plane in which the lower end 7 of the guide element 6 lies. As a result, the medium flowing through the conduit device 4 is guided even more effectively toward the first section 3 of the circular saw blade 2 and thus against the chips projected along the groove.

[0103] Fig. 2c and 2dshow perspective views of the guide element 6 of the unit from Fig. 1 , wherein the line device 4, which is integrated in the guide element 6, in Fig. 2c Although the line device 4 is shown in the figures with only one channel, the line device 4 can have several channels, one of which can be designed, for example, as a suction device to extract dust generated during the processing of the workpiece 10.

[0104] Fig. 3 shows a configuration of the unit from Fig. 1 , wherein the guide element 6 is in a second position. The Fig. 3 The situation shown shows a groove machining operation in the counter-rotating direction. The circular saw blade 2 rotates clockwise and the workpiece 10 is moved to the right or the unit to the left (for example, in a CNC machining center). For this type of machining, the Fig. 1The configuration of the unit shown is unsuitable because the guide element 6 would hit the workpiece 10. As shown in Fig. 3 As can be seen, the control and / or regulation of the guide element 6 takes place between the first and the second position of the guide element 6 so that it can rotate about the bearing section of the circular saw blade 2. More precisely, the holding device of the guide element 6 pivots clockwise about the bearing section of the circular saw blade 2, whereby the guide element 6 is also moved. In the second position of the guide element 6, the lower end 7 of the guide element 6 is not located within the groove of the workpiece 10. In this way, the unit can also be used to produce non-continuous grooves.

[0105] Fig. 4 shows a configuration of the unit from Fig. 1, wherein the unit additionally comprises a cover device 8. The cover device 8 is designed such that it partially encloses both the circular saw blade 2 and the guide element 6. Furthermore, a lower end of the cover device is located just above the workpiece 10 in order to catch as many chips as possible that fly past the guide element 6, for example. As shown in Fig. 4 As shown, a rear surface 11 of the covering device 8, onto which the chips impinge, has substantially the same slope with respect to the plane in which the lower end 7 of the guide element 6 lies, as the upper end portion of the guide element 6.

[0106] The covering device 8 can be attached to the same holding device as the guide element 6 or to a separate holding device. The latter allows the covering device to be used even during counter-rotating machining and the machining of non-continuous grooves, with the guide element 6 in the second position (see. Fig. 3 ), is used. Due to the collision of the chips with the rear surface 11 of the cover device, the chips can be directed along the deflection direction and captured and extracted by an optionally arranged extraction hood, which leads to an even more effective reduction of the dust and chip load in the area surrounding the machine.

[0107] Fig. 5shows a schematic perspective view of a preferred unit for machining a workpiece, wherein the unit is attached to a 2-axis machining head (5-axis head). The main body 1 in this embodiment has a different shape than in the Fig. 1 , 3 and 4 In addition, the circular saw blade 2 and the guide element 6 are, compared to the embodiment shown in the Fig. 1 , 3 and 4 illustrated embodiment, arranged in a different position relative to the main body 1. However, the position of the guide element 6 relative to the circular saw blade 2 is the same as in the Fig. 1 , 3 and 4 illustrated embodiment.

Claims

1. Unit for machining, in particular for machining grooves and separating cuts of a workpiece that preferably consists at least in portions of wood, wood-based materials or plastics material, comprising a main body (1), a machining tool (2) which is rotatably mounted on the main body (1), wherein the machining tool (2) comprises a first portion (3) which is configured such that it can penetrate the workpiece (10) during machining of the workpiece (10) in order to produce and / or machine a groove, a conduit means (4) which is arranged next to the machining tool (2) and which is configured such that a medium can flow along, preferably through the conduit means (4), wherein the conduit means (4) comprises at least one opening (5) at a lower end portion thereof, wherein the conduit means (4) is configured such that the medium can flow out of the opening (5) substantially in the direction of the first portion (3) of the machining tool (2), wherein the lower end portion of the conduit means (4) comprises at least one nozzle, further comprising a guide element (6) which is arranged next to the machining tool (2) and is thus configured such that particles, in particular dust and / or chips, which can be separated from the workpiece (10) during machining of the workpiece (10) with the machining tool (2), can be guided in a deflection direction after being separated from the workpiece (10), wherein the deflection direction extends substantially obliquely with respect to a reference direction (b), wherein the reference direction (b) is defined as a direction from the first portion (3) of the machining tool (2) to a second portion of the machining tool (2) which is opposite the first portion (3) of the machining tool (2), such that the particles, in particular dust and / or chips, are deflected out of the groove, away from the workpiece.

2. Unit according to claim 1, wherein the conduit means (4) comprises at least one channel, wherein the channel comprises the opening (5) at the lower end portion of the conduit means (4).

3. Unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide element (6) is configured such that a lower end (7) thereof is arranged in a first position of the guide element (6) at a position that lies along the reference direction (b) in a region in which the first portion (3) of the machining tool (2) is located along the reference direction (b).

4. Unit according to claim 3, wherein, in the first position of the guide element (6), a distance (d) along the reference direction (b) between the lower end (7) of the guide element (6) and an end of the machining tool (2) that forms a part of the first portion (3) of the machining tool (2) and that is furthest away in the reference direction (b) from a bearing portion of the machining tool (2) at which the machining tool (2) is mounted on the main body (1) is less than 5 mm, preferably less than 3 mm, particularly preferably less than 1 mm.

5. Unit according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the guide element (6) can be controlled in an open-loop and / or closed-loop manner from the first position into at least one second position, wherein the lower end (7) of the guide element (6) is arranged in the at least one second position at a position that lies along the reference direction (b) outside the region in which the first portion (3) of the machining tool (2) is located along the reference direction (b).

6. Unit according to claim 5, wherein open-loop and / or closed-loop control of the guide element (6) from the first position into the at least one second position takes place manually and / or automatically, wherein the open-loop and / or closed-loop control of the guide element (6) preferably takes place pneumatically and / or electrically.

7. Unit according to any of claims 3 to 6, wherein the conduit means (4) is arranged next to the guide element (6), wherein the at least one opening (5) is preferably arranged next to the lower end (7) of the guide element (6), preferably wherein the conduit means (4) is integrated in the guide element (6), wherein the at least one opening (5) is preferably arranged in the lower end (7) of the guide element (6) and / or in a lateral surface portion of the guide element (6) which preferably faces the machining tool (2) and is preferably located near the lower end (7) of the guide element (6).

8. Unit according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the guide element (6) is designed as a splitting wedge.

9. Unit according to any of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a cover device (8) which is arranged in the region of the guide element (6), preferably wherein the cover device (8) partially encloses the machining tool (2), wherein the cover device (8) is configured such that the particles can be guided along the deflection direction after being separated from the workpiece (10).

10. Unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a medium flow of the medium in particular comprises a particle flow, air flow, fluid flow and / or a flow of a mixture thereof.

11. Unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the machining tool (2) comprises a circular saw blade.

12. Unit according to any of claims 1 to 11, further comprising at least one, preferably at least two supports (9) for a C-axis or for a spindle housing, and / or a hollow shaft taper, wherein a supply of the medium takes place via the at least one, preferably via the at least two supports (9) for a C-axis or for a spindle housing and / or via the hollow shaft taper.

13. Interchangeable, preferably automatically interchangeable unit, in particular sawing unit, comprising the unit according to claim 12, wherein the unit is interchangeable into a two-axis machining head (five-axis head) via the at least one, preferably via the at least two supports (9) and / or via the hollow shaft taper, and the guide element (6) can be automatically adjusted to a contour of the workpiece (10) according to a position of a C-axis and / or at least one additional axis that is parallel or identical to an axis of rotation of the machining tool (2) and according to a position of an A-axis of the two-axis machining head (five-axis head).