Interchangeable processing unit

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an interchangeable machining unit according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a machining unit is known from document US 6 579 215 B2. State of the art

[0002] Machining units that can be inserted into the drive spindle, preferably the main spindle, particularly preferably the milling spindle, of a machining center are known, for example, from DE 100 39 413 A1 and DE 102 29 775 C1. For a desired machining operation to be performed, a corresponding machining unit can be inserted manually or automatically from a storage device into the spindle unit of the machining center.

[0003] Machining centers for processing panel-shaped workpieces, particularly those made of wood or wood-based materials, often have a processing unit, such as a gluing unit for gluing edge material to a narrow surface of the workpiece. This allows machining, for example of a narrow surface or edge of the workpiece, to be combined with gluing the edge material, eliminating the need to re-clamp the workpiece in a separate edge banding machine. Various techniques are used for the gluing units. For example, glue is applied to a narrow surface of the workpiece using rollers, and then edge material is placed on the narrow surface of the workpiece and then pressed against the narrow surface of the workpiece, for example using pressure rollers. Subsequent curing of the glue ensures that the edge material sits firmly in place.Other gluing units use a laser to irradiate and soften a coating already applied to the edge material in use, creating a bond between the edge material and the narrow surface of the workpiece by subsequently pressing the edge material against the workpiece. Machining centers with a gluing unit are known, for example, from DE 10 2005 018 885 B3 and EP 0 728 561 A1.

[0004] What these processing units have in common is that, for the coating process, energy must be introduced into the edge material or the adhesive layer to soften or activate the coating material or an adhesive layer on the coating material. The liquid adhesives or glues used to bond edge material are also generally applied in a heated state and harden after application. Therefore, the processing units feature an electrical interface or cable connection to supply the energy required to heat the coating material to the processing unit as electrical energy. A purely mechanical connection of a processing unit is therefore not sufficient to operate a processing unit on a machining center.A simple switch to different processing units with connected sensors or similar devices is also not possible. An additional electrical interface or cable connection must be provided. This makes the flexible use of these processing units at different machining centers difficult due to the interface requirements. The flexible use of processing units is therefore only inadequately provided with state-of-the-art processing units.

[0005] It is known from EP 2 397 287 A1 to provide a machining unit for a machining center for machining workpieces, which is simplified by an energy supply of the machining unit with regard to its interface requirements by providing a generator on the machining unit.

[0006] However, it has been shown that such a processing unit has limitations in terms of usability.

[0007] Further examples of previously known interchangeable processing units are disclosed in WO 02 / 14033 A1, WO 2004 / 106063 A1, EP 2 397 287 A1, DE 20 2009 016 509 U1, US 2004 / 169016 A1, US 2003 / 103826 A1, EP 2 302 771 A1, US 4 741 650 A , JP H05 177 485 A , JP 4 884724 B2, US 4 805 404 A , DE 25 23 215 A1 and US 6 579 215 B2, which forms the basis for the two-part version of independent claim 1 of the present application. Description of the invention

[0008] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an interchangeable machining unit, in particular a machining unit for a machining center for machining workpieces which preferably consist at least in sections of wood, wood materials, plastic or the like, which can be used particularly flexibly on a wide variety of machining centers and which can be used generally and on different machining centers via a central connection option.

[0009] According to the invention, this object is achieved by an interchangeable machining unit having the features of patent claim 1 and / or a machining center having the features of patent claim 13. Advantageous embodiments and improvements of the invention are found in the subclaims.

[0010] The invention was based in particular on the finding that the limitation in usability is due to the fact that, although the machining unit has a generator driving the drive, this drive is controlled on the unit side via the main spindle, which, due to its principle, does not allow for adequate control or regulation of the drive. Taking advantage of this finding, an interchangeable machining unit according to the invention thus provides a control device on the machining unit.

[0011] In other words, the invention is based in particular on the idea of ​​providing an interchangeable processing unit that is as easy to couple as possible and is self-controlling or self-regulating, which has an adaptable energy supply in the interchangeable processing unit.

[0012] An interchangeable machining unit according to the invention for a machining center for machining workpieces, which preferably consist at least partially of wood, wood-based materials, plastic, or the like, comprises a generator for generating energy, selected from the group of electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and thermal energy, as well as radiation and vibration energy, from, in particular, mechanical rotational energy of a drive spindle, in particular a milling spindle, of the machining center, and a drive that can be supplied with energy by the generator. The generator has a torque interface, in particular a detachable one, for transmitting torque from the outside to the machining unit. The torque interface can be designed, for example, as an HSK receptacle on the interchangeable machining unit, in particular on the generator of the interchangeable machining unit.The generator is configured to be driven by torque and the drive is driven using the energy of the generator.

[0013] Furthermore, an additional drive is connected to the generator. This additional drive can be driven by the generator. This allows multiple drives to be arranged on one interchangeable machining unit.

[0014] It is preferred that the additional drive can be driven with a different torque than the drive from the generator.

[0015] The term "generator" in this application generally refers to an energy converter. This converts mechanical energy, such as the rotational movement of the main spindle, into another form of energy. Examples already mentioned in this context include electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, thermal, as well as radiant and vibrational energy.

[0016] Furthermore, the drive mentioned is an energy-consuming drive. In particular, machining of a workpiece can take place through the consumption of energy; however, the other processing types already mentioned are also conceivable. This means that, for example, a cylinder, a heating element, an actuator (as described in more detail below), a milling cutter, in particular a milling head, and / or a probe can also be driven by the generator. It is also conceivable for an electric motor to be driven by the generator as a drive, whereby the electric motor in turn can be designed to drive high-performance milling heads. Such electric motors, which drive high-performance milling heads, for example, can achieve speeds of up to 60,000 rpm.

[0017] Irrespective of this, the main spindles of the machining center described above, into which the machining unit can be exchanged, require, for example, a speed of over 18,000 rpm, preferably over 20,000 rpm, particularly preferably over 24,000 rpm and even more preferably over 30,000 rpm in the operating state.

[0018] In this context, the term "energy" is to be interpreted in the sense of "information", which may, purely by way of example, be mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, thermal energy as well as radiation and vibration energy.

[0019] According to the invention, the generator is configured to be driven by torque. The energy or information used to heat the coating material is thus supplied, for example, as mechanical energy to the processing unit. In this case, torque is transmitted to the processing unit, which drives a generator. However, as the definition of "information" makes clear, the term "energy" is not limited to the energy forms mentioned. What is crucial is that the generator is addressed. According to the invention, in one embodiment, the processing unit has no cable connection to the machine.

[0020] The generator, in turn, generates electrical energy, which is used to power a drive, for example, for heating coating material and / or driving a milling head and / or operating electrical monitoring sensors. The drive thus converts the electrical energy generated by the generator, for example, into thermal energy for heating the coating material and / or into rotational energy for the milling head, and / or adjusts the current and / or voltage generated by the generator for an electric motor, for example, using electrical conversion.

[0021] In other words, the drive is intended for heating, in particular of coating material, and / or for cooling, forming, shaping, cutting and / or non-cutting machining.

[0022] The transmission of electrical energy to the machining unit is eliminated, as the machining unit generates the electrical energy itself using the generator from the mechanical energy transferred to the machining unit. This makes connecting the interchangeable machining unit to a machining center particularly simple, as only a mechanical connection is required, eliminating the need for electrical connections in the form of cables and connectors, as well as a control system connection for the machining unit. This makes it particularly easy to integrate the machining unit into existing machining centers and independently control the machining and process monitoring processes to be performed.

[0023] The torque interface for transmitting external torque to the machining unit is preferably designed to be detachable, allowing for flexible attachment of the machining unit to a machining center. Common interface systems, such as detachable shaft-hub connections, couplings, and corresponding gear elements, are used as detachable torque interfaces. HSK adapters can also be used.

[0024] According to the invention, no additional preparation of the machine in the form of an electrical interface is required to exchange the machining unit. It is therefore possible to retrofit any standard machining center with relatively little effort to exchange the machining unit according to the invention. Due to the minimal interface effort required to exchange a machining unit according to the invention, the costs of expanding an existing machining center with a machining unit are low.

[0025] Here, the torque interface is configured, for example, to receive the torque from a drive spindle (machining spindle), preferably a main or milling spindle of a connected machining center. This allows the generator to be driven by the torque of the machining center's drive spindle. Additional energy input into the machining unit is then unnecessary. Preferably, a torque split is provided, which transfers part of the torque of the machining center's drive spindle to the torque interface to drive the generator, leaving the remaining torque for the machining task.

[0026] Preferably, the drive is designed as an actuator. This means that the actuator can operate in the interchangeable machining unit and, for example, enable machining, orientation, and / or scanning of a workpiece. This ensures that various modular functions can be implemented with such an interchangeable machining unit – without the need to adapt interfaces on the machining center itself and / or the interchangeable machining unit.

[0027] According to a further aspect, the drive is configured to adjust a movement, in particular of a processing means, of the processing unit in at least one plane and / or at least one axis and / or along at least one axis.

[0028] Thus, the drive can achieve a fully automatic, independent and safe adjustment of processing parameters, processing tools, various angles of connected devices, for example a probe element and the like.

[0029] The term "processing tool" can therefore be understood, for example, as a probe element or tool that can be manipulated by the drive and, for example, realigned. Thus, with the same interchangeable processing unit, different tasks can be performed, for example, with different orientation angles or in different planes, without the need for external intervention.

[0030] In this case, for example, a probe element, a tool, a machining angle, the alignment of certain sensors, the drive of the tool, a vacuum generation and / or a blowing device for generating compressed air can be used, adjusted and / or adapted as different embodiments for at least one drive on the interchangeable machining unit.

[0031] According to a further aspect, the interchangeable processing unit further comprises a control device which is designed to control and / or regulate the drive.

[0032] This makes it possible for the machining unit to be operated independently and without information supplied by the machining center, and for control, regulation and, above all, optimization processes to be carried out independently and directly on the interchangeable machining unit.

[0033] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the interchangeable processing unit has a heatable container for the coating material.

[0034] The container can be used to supply and store heated coating material. The drive for heating the coating material is particularly preferably integrated into the container. This results in a technically particularly simple design with few system interfaces.

[0035] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the drive for heating the coating material is configured to heat the coating material on workpieces already coated with coating material.

[0036] This makes it possible to use coating materials or workpieces that have a glue or adhesive layer that can be activated by heat.

[0037] The drive preferably has an energy source, for example, for heating coating material, applying lettering, and / or surface treatment. Therefore, different methods can be used to transfer the energy to a workpiece. For example, energy can be transferred to the coating material using a laser, a radiation source, an ultrasound source, a microwave source, or a plasma source. The "radiation source" here preferably refers to an infrared radiation source or an ultraviolet radiation source, with the wavelengths of the emitted rays from such a radiation source typically being in the range of 780 nm to 1 mm or 380 nm to 100 nm, respectively. The use of a hot air source or a gas source is also possible.The key feature of these energy transfer techniques using the drive to heat the coating material is that the energy can be transferred over a distance from the energy source to the coating material.

[0038] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the interchangeable processing unit has a data transmission interface, preferably a wireless data transmission interface, for transmitting status data of the interchangeable processing unit to a machine control system.

[0039] When using the interchangeable processing unit, it is advantageous to record certain status data of the interchangeable processing unit, for example, in a machine control system. For example, the temperature of the coating material or the quantity of coating material temporarily stored in the interchangeable processing unit is relevant for process control.

[0040] Preferably, the data transmission interface is also powered by the generator, and the data is transmitted wirelessly to a control system, such as the control system of the machining center. This eliminates the need for a plug connection for data transmission on the interchangeable machining unit.

[0041] This allows the interface of the interchangeable machining unit to be limited to the mechanical interface, keeping the design of the interchangeable machining unit simple with regard to its interface requirements. Particularly preferred is a standard data transmission interface, such as radio Ethernet, Bluetooth, NFC, or wireless LAN (Wireless Local Area Network), for data transmission on the interchangeable machining unit. Thus, the data transmission interface is designed to transmit and receive data wirelessly.

[0042] According to a further aspect, the data transmission interface is further designed to transmit data to a decentralized machine control for cloud-based control of the processing unit.

[0043] Such a design makes it possible to control, monitor, and update, for example, multiple processing units in a single machining center or even multiple machining centers with multiple processing units. This makes it possible to reduce the control effort required for the respective processing units and thus improve the efficiency and usability of such a device. Furthermore, the decentralized, cloud-based control of the processing unit allows a specialist at the manufacturer, for example, to access relevant data in order to record and, if necessary, adjust operating parameters and optimization potential.

[0044] According to a further aspect, the interchangeable processing unit further comprises at least one sensor device for securing and / or checking at least one operating state of the interchangeable processing unit.

[0045] In this case, the sensor can be understood, for example, as a sensor for detecting and monitoring the vacuum of a vacuum pump mounted as a drive, for monitoring the compressed air flow of a connected compressed air pump, for checking whether an end position, for example of a workpiece, has been reached, for checking the coupling status of a tool attached to the drive or changed, for performing a distance measurement, for example, relative to a reference object, for example in the form of a tool or workpiece, and / or a sensor for verifying the proper execution or adjustment of the scanning on a workpiece. A temperature check and monitoring, for example, of a heated coating material, can also be achieved with such a sensor device.

[0046] According to the invention, a machining center with an interchangeable machining unit according to one of the preceding aspects is further disclosed. Short description of the drawings

[0047] The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures of the drawings.

[0048] From the figures show: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an interchangeable machining unit according to the invention mounted on a machining center according to a first embodiment; and Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the structure of an interchangeable machining unit according to the invention according to a second embodiment.

[0049] In the figures, the same reference symbols denote identical or functionally identical components, unless otherwise stated. Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

[0050] Fig. 1shows a perspective view of an interchangeable machining unit 1 (machining unit) according to the invention, mounted on a machining center 2, according to a first embodiment. The machining unit 1 is shown below in the image and is mounted on the machining center 2, shown in detail above. The machining unit 1 according to this exemplary embodiment has the task of applying edges 4 coated with coating material 6 to the workpiece 5. The machining unit 1 is driven by a drive spindle 3 of the machining center 2. The machining unit 1 further has a drive 12, in this case for heating the coating material 6.The drive 12 for heating the coating material 6 is connected to a generator 10, wherein the generator 10 can be driven via a torque interface 14 by means of the work spindle 3 of the machining center 2.

[0051] During operation, the coating material 6 is heated by a drive 12 for heating the coating material 6, thereby activating its adhesive effect. The edge 4 with the coating material 6 is then pressed against the workpiece 5. After cooling, the bond between edge 4, coating material 6, and workpiece 5 hardens. In this embodiment, the machining center 2 is a 5-axis machining center. According to the invention, the machining unit 1 can be operated on machining centers 2 with different kinematics.

[0052] Fig. 2shows a schematic representation of the structure of an exchangeable processing unit 1 according to the invention according to a second embodiment. As in Fig. 1 , the machining center 2 is shown at the top of the picture and an interchangeable machining unit 1 is shown below. A drive spindle 3 is provided on the machining center 2, which can be connected to a torque interface 14 of the machining unit 1 or, as in Figure 2shown. The torque interface 14 of the processing unit 1 is connected to a generator 10 for generating electrical energy for the processing unit 1. An electrical line 8, shown as a dotted line, connects the generator 10 to a drive 12, for example for heating coating material 6, in order to supply electrical energy to the drive 12 for heating coating material 6. By means of an energy source 9 on the drive 12 for heating coating material 6, the coating material 6, which in this embodiment is arranged in a container 7 on the drive 12 for heating coating material 6, can be heated. By means of a data transmission interface (not shown), status data, e.g. the temperature of the coating material 6, is transmitted to the processing center 2.

[0053] Furthermore, the processing unit 1 has a control device 11. The control device 11 is designed to control or regulate the drive 12. Part or all of the energy provided by the generator 10 can be used, which enables particularly precise heating in the exemplary embodiment shown here.

[0054] According to a further exemplary embodiment (not shown), the drive 12 can be provided as a milling device. In this case, the control device 11 described above can, for example, be used to achieve a milling speed tailored to the workpiece to be machined. A gear ratio to achieve the desired speed using an interposed electric motor is also possible.

[0055] The control device 11 is provided, for example, as a feedback loop controller that uses a sensor to compare target states with actual states of a control variable. This means that the control device can, for example, use sensors to monitor various process parameters of such a machining device and react accordingly to changes, optimizing or adapting processes independently and automatically. In such an exemplary embodiment, compressed air sensors can be provided for removing, for example, removed chips, or for coupling tools or for detecting the tool reaching an end position.

[0056] Thus, a single mechanical interface realizes a fully automatic and individually connectable design of an interchangeable machining unit, which is driven by the generator and additionally carries the sensors, which can also be driven by the generator. In other words, in such a further exemplary embodiment (not shown), the interchangeable machining unit can perform machining of a workpiece, including fully automatic alignment and sensor monitoring, without the need to adjust certain connections during tool changes or during operation.

[0057] The interchangeable machining unit 1 according to the invention makes it possible to equip a machining center 2 with the machining unit without the need for an electrical power supply between the machining center 2 and the machining unit 1. The energy required, for example, to heat the coating material 6 can be generated by means of a generator 10 of the machining unit 1 from the mechanical energy transferred from the machining center 2 to the machining unit 1. This allows the machining unit 1 to be used particularly flexibly on the machining center 2. Furthermore, the machining unit 1 can also be used universally on machining centers 2 that do not have corresponding electrical interfaces for transferring power to the unit 1. List of reference symbols

[0058] 1Interchangeable machining unit 2Machining center 3Drive spindle 4Edge 5Workpiece 6Coating material 7Container 8Cable 9Energy source 10Generator 11Control device 12Drive 14Torque interface of the machining center

Claims

1. An exchangeable processing ensemble (1) for a processing centre (2) for processing workpieces (5) which preferably at least partially consist of wood, wood-based materials, plastic or the like, wherein the exchangeable processing ensemble (1) has: a generator (10) for generating energy, selected from the group of electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, thermal energy, as well as radiation and vibration energy, in particular from mechanical rotational energy of a drive spindle, in particular a milling spindle, of the processing centre and a drive (12), which can be supplied with energy by means of the generator (10), wherein the generator (10) has an in particular detachable torque interface (14) for transmitting a torque from the outside to the processing ensemble (1), the generator (10) is arranged to be driven by means of the torque, and the drive (12) is driven using the energy of the generator (10), characterized in that an additional drive is connected to the generator (10), wherein the additional drive can be driven by means of the generator (10).

2. The exchangeable processing ensemble (1) according to claim 1, wherein the drive (12) is an actuator.

3. The exchangeable processing ensemble (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the drive (12) is configured to adjust a movement, in particular of a processing means, of the processing ensemble (1) in at least one plane and / or about at least one axis and / or along at least one axis.

4. The exchangeable processing ensemble (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the processing ensemble (1) further has a control apparatus (11) which is configured to control and / or regulate the drive.

5. The exchangeable processing ensemble (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive (12) is provided for heating, in particular of coating material (6), and / or for cooling, reforming, forming, cutting and / or non-cutting processing.

6. The exchangeable processing ensemble (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the torque interface (14) is configured to absorb the torque of the drive spindle (3) of the processing centre (2).

7. The exchangeable processing ensemble (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the exchangeable processing ensemble (1) has a heatable container (7) for the coating material (6).

8. The exchangeable processing ensemble (1) according to claim 6, wherein an energy source (9) is provided on the exchangeable processing ensemble (1), which energy source is selected from the group consisting of: laser, hot air source, radiation source, in particular an infrared and / or ultraviolet radiation source, ultrasound source, magnetic field source, microwave source, plasma source and gassing source.

9. The exchangeable processing ensemble (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the exchangeable processing ensemble (1) has a data transmission interface, in particular a wireless data transmission interface, for controlling the control apparatus (11) of the exchangeable processing ensemble (1), wherein the data transmission interface is configured to send and receive data via NFC and / or Bluetooth.

10. The exchangeable processing ensemble (1) according to claim 9, wherein the data transmission interface is further configured to transmit data to a decentralized machine control system for cloud-based control of the processing ensemble (1).

11. The exchangeable processing ensemble (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the exchangeable processing ensemble (1) further has at least one sensor device for securing and / or checking at least one operating state of the exchangeable processing ensemble (1).

12. The exchangeable processing ensemble (1) according to claim 11, wherein the operating state is an executed adjustment of the scanning and / or a check of a generated vacuum, and / or a detection of a successful connection of a tool change and / or a check of a predefined distance and / or a check of an end position of a reference object and / or a check of a temperature.

13. A processing centre (2) for processing workpieces (5) which preferably consist, at least in sections, of wood, wood-based materials, plastic or the like, with an exchangeable processing ensemble (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.