Preparation method for preparing the division of at least two workpieces, computer program product, computer-readable storage medium, and panel-sizing system

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a preparation method for preparing the division of at least two workpieces, a computer program product, a computer-readable storage medium, and a panel dividing system according to the preambles of the independent claims.

[0002] From the published patent applications EP 1 964 653 B1, EP 0 963 270 B1 and EP 2 540 429 A1 panel dividing systems are known which have workpiece transport devices with

[0003] They have engaging devices with which adjacent panel strips can be fed simultaneously, but in different ways, to a dividing device and then divided by the dividing device. The known panel processing systems are panel dividing saws with which large-format panel-shaped workpieces, for example for the furniture industry, can be divided lengthwise along a saw's working line using a saw. They comprise an infeed table, a machine table arranged downstream of this in the feed direction, and an unloading table arranged downstream of this in the feed direction.

[0004] In order to transport a workpiece lying on the feed table to the machine table and feed it to the dividing device located there, a workpiece transport device with a gantry-type program slide is provided. This slide has a plurality of first gripping devices in the form of collets that can grip a rear edge of the workpiece, as seen in the feed direction. By moving the program slide, the gripped workpiece can be positioned relative to the dividing device.

[0005] In the device known from published patent application EP 1 964 653 B1, an additional second gripping device in the form of a collet is provided on a lateral carriage arranged separately from the program slide, wherein the carriage is also movable parallel to the feed direction. In the devices known from published patent applications EP 0 963 270 B1 and EP 2 540 429 A1, an additional second gripping device in the form of a collet is provided, which is movable relative to the program slide parallel to the feed direction and is attached to the program slide. The control or regulation of the first gripping device and the second gripping device, and of their movement and positioning, is usually carried out via a computer-based computing or control device.Further relevant documents are DE 10 2019 100 806 A1, which relates to a panel sawing machine and discloses the preamble of claim 1, DE 10 2017 121 958 A1, which relates to a method for dividing a panel-shaped workpiece, US 3,826,164 A, which relates to a method and a device for dividing panel-shaped workpieces, and EP 2 326 448 B1, which relates to a control system and an associated cutting method.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to be able to use a panel dividing system with at least two gripping devices that can be fed to a dividing device in different ways as efficiently as possible.

[0007] This object is achieved by a preparation method, a computer program product, a computer-readable storage medium, and a panel dividing system having the features of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0008] The preparation method according to the invention makes it possible to carry out very efficient dividing processes for dividing first-order workpieces into second-order workpieces even on such panel dividing systems which have at least one second gripping device which can only be moved within a limited range of movement relative to the first gripping device.

[0009] For this purpose, thanks to the method according to the invention, those combinations of first-order workpieces and corresponding assignment to the first and second gripping device are identified (if any) which can be divided together.

[0010] Overall, this approach reduces the number of splitting operations required to split first-order workpieces into second-order workpieces, thereby reducing both tool wear and the overall splitting time. Thus, more second-order workpieces can be produced per unit of time.

[0011] Specifically, this is achieved by a preparation method for preparing the division of at least two first-order workpieces by a panel dividing system, in which the workpieces can be fed in a feed direction by first and second engaging devices of a working line of a dividing device which can be moved relative to one another and can be divided by this into second-order workpieces by common dividing processes along respective dividing lines.

[0012] In typical slicing processes for sheet-like workpieces, for example, for the production of furniture parts, the first-order workpieces are also referred to as "longitudinal strips" or "sheet strips," which are produced by "longitudinal cuts" using a saw from a large-format sheet-like starting workpiece. Second-order workpieces are typically produced by "cross-cuts" that are inserted into the longitudinal strips using a saw. The longitudinal cuts and cross-cuts are thus typically exactly orthogonal to each other, and the first-order and second-order workpieces are typically rectangular in plan view.

[0013] The first and second gripping devices typically each comprise one or more pneumatically actuated collets, which can, for example, grip a rear edge of a workpiece as seen in the feed direction. It should also be noted at this point that the term "workpiece" can be understood here as either a single workpiece or a stack of workpieces.

[0014] The preparation method according to the invention is carried out by an automatic computing device, for example, a computer with a microprocessor and a memory on which program code is stored. It comprises, as an initial step a), the provision of a dividing plan according to which the two first-order workpieces are to be divided into second-order workpieces. Such a dividing plan is usually created in advance by a dividing plan optimization program. The optimization criterion for this optimization is usually to obtain as many second-order workpieces as possible from an initial workpiece while generating as few waste pieces as possible.

[0015] In the preparation method according to the invention, in a step c) in the dividing plan, the second-order workpieces are sorted within the respective first-order workpiece, specifically according to their length in the feed direction, such that the length increases with increasing distance from the working line of the dividing device. Short workpieces are therefore arranged closer to the working line of the dividing device, while long workpieces are arranged farther from the working line of the dividing device. Or, in other words: after sorting, the lengths of the second-order workpieces to be produced within a first-order workpiece increase with increasing distance from the working line of the dividing device.

[0016] Now, in step d), a plurality of combinations of two first-order workpieces are created, with the combinations differing at least in the assignment of the workpieces to the first and second gripping devices. This can also be referred to as performing permutations, which ultimately yield all possible combinations of first-order workpieces of the provided distribution plan and the first and second gripping devices. In the simplest case, the distribution plan contains only two first-order workpieces. In this case, the majority of combinations consists of only two combinations. The maximum number of combinations is calculated using the following formula: A = k ∑ i = 1 i = n − 1 n − i where A = maximum number of combinations k = number of gripping devices n = number of first-order workpieces

[0017] Furthermore, the preparation method according to the invention includes, in a step e), identifying those combinations from the plurality of combinations as jointly divisible (if such a combination can be identified at all) in which no dividing line on the workpiece assigned to the second gripping device is, viewed parallel to the feed direction, further away from a dividing line on the other workpiece assigned to the first gripping device than the maximum distance by which the second gripping device can be moved relative to the first gripping device. It is understood that this only applies to those dividing lines along which joint dividing operations are to be performed, i.e., those that have the same "number" in the sequence of dividing operations.It is further understood that the value of the "maximum distance" may include a tolerance range to take into account manufacturing and operating tolerances.

[0018] This criterion excludes combinations in which the workpiece assigned to the second gripping device cannot be moved sufficiently far relative to the workpiece assigned to the first gripping device due to the limited relative range of movement of the second gripping device relative to the first gripping device in order to produce the predetermined second-order workpieces by common dividing processes.

[0019] In a further development of the preparation process, it is planned that any cut-offs and waste parts present in the dividing plan are eliminated in step b) between steps a) and c). This simplifies and accelerates the mathematical sorting of the second-order workpieces in step c). It is understood that the cut-offs and waste parts are only eliminated for the sorting process of the preparation process in step c). They are reintroduced for the actual execution of the dividing process.

[0020] In a further development of the preparation method, after step e, in a step f, the combination from a plurality of identified jointly divisible combinations, if any, is determined in which the second-order workpieces can be produced with the fewest number of dividing operations. This further increases the efficiency of panel dividing.

[0021] In a further development of the preparation method, if no jointly divisible combination can be identified in step e, in a subsequent step g the computing device inserts at least one first additional dividing line into at least one first-order workpiece in the dividing plan, through which a waste piece is produced, and then a return to step c occurs. This is based on the consideration that in many dividing plans there are unused areas within a first-order workpiece. The provision of such an additional and initially non-existent dividing line therefore does not change the intended number and type of second-order workpieces that are to be obtained from the first-order workpiece. Nevertheless, such an additional dividing line can make joint division possible in the first place.This is particularly clear, for example, when two first-order workpieces are to be divided together, but according to the original division plan, fewer division lines are provided for one first-order workpiece than for the other first-order workpiece.

[0022] In a further development of the preparation method, step g is only carried out if the number of additional dividing lines already inserted in the first-order workpiece is smaller than a maximum value. This is based on the knowledge that with regard to efficiency in dividing, there is an optimum by providing a common dividing process on the one hand and by providing as few dividing processes as possible on the other. If many additional dividing lines were to become necessary due to many additional dividing lines, the efficiency advantage of the common division would be canceled out. Typically, the maximum value is 3, for example. Typically, therefore, a maximum of two additional dividing lines will be inserted.

[0023] In a further development of the preparation process, if the number of additional splitting lines reaches or exceeds the maximum value, the first-order workpieces are not split together. The optimization process is thus aborted, and the existing first-order workpieces are split individually. This avoids unnecessarily lengthy optimization processes that, in turn, reduce efficiency.

[0024] The invention also includes a computer program product adapted to carry out the preparation method of at least one of the preceding claims, as well as a computer-readable storage medium comprising a computer program product of the type just mentioned.

[0025] The invention further includes a panel dividing system with a dividing device for dividing at least first-order workpieces into second-order workpieces, a first gripping device movable by a motor parallel to a feed direction for feeding a first-order workpiece to the dividing device, and a second gripping device movable by a motor parallel to the feed direction and relative to the first gripping device for feeding the same or another first-order workpiece to the same dividing device, characterized in that it has a computing device adapted to carry out the preparation method of the type described above. It is understood that the second gripping device can of course also be moved into any intermediate position between the first end position and the second end position.

[0026] In a further development of the panel dividing system, the second gripping device is arranged in a first end position, viewed in the feed direction, in the same position as the first gripping device, and in a second end position, viewed in the feed direction, is arranged closer to the dividing device than the first gripping device. Such a panel dividing system can be manufactured particularly easily, and such a second gripping device can even be retrofitted to some existing panel dividing systems. Nevertheless, even such a "simple" panel dividing system can be operated very efficiently using the preparation method according to the invention described above.

[0027] Embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Functionally equivalent elements and areas bear the same reference numerals even in different figures. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a panel dividing system with a first gripping device and a second gripping device; Figure 2 shows a perspective view from the top left of the first gripping device and the second gripping device, with the second gripping device in a first end position; Figure 3 shows a view similar to Figure 2 , wherein the second gripping device is in a second end position and the gripping devices engage two adjacent workpieces of the first order; Figure 4 is a plan view of an example of a cutting plan for cutting a plate-shaped starting workpiece; Figure 5 is a plan view of the plate cutting system of Figure 1 and the two upper workpieces of the first order of the distribution plan of Figure 4 in an inadmissible operating position of the second attack device; Figure 6 a representation of the distribution plan of Figure 4 after elimination of cut-offs and waste parts during the execution of a preparatory process for preparing a division by the panel sizing machine of the Figure 1-3 ; Figure 7 a representation of the adjusted distribution plan of Figure 6 after a sorting of second-order workpieces according to their length during the execution of the preparation process; Figure 8 a graphic representation of all possible combinations of first-order workpieces and their allocation to the first gripping device and the second gripping device; Figure 9 a representation of the distribution plan of Figure 7with a combination of two first-order workpieces identified as jointly divisible by the preparation process; Figure 10 shows a representation of the combination of first-order workpieces identified as jointly divisible by the preparation process. Figure 10 in the distribution system of Figure 1 ; Figure 11 a representation of the amended distribution plan of Figure 7 after inserting additional split lines during the execution of the preparation process; and Figure 12 shows a flowchart of the preparation process.

[0028] Figure 1shows a panel dividing system 10, more precisely and purely by way of example, a panel dividing saw. It comprises, in the present case, an infeed table 12, which is formed, in the present case, by way of example, from a plurality of roller conveyors (not shown), a machine table 14 adjoining the infeed table 12, and a removal table 16 adjoining the machine table 14. The latter is designed, in the present case, as an air cushion table and, in the present case, consists of four segments, of which, for reasons of simplicity, only one is provided with a reference symbol.

[0029] The machining of a workpiece takes place in the area of ​​the machine table 14, in which a saw slot 18 is provided for this purpose, which runs along a working line 20 or saw line, shown in dotted lines and forming a machining area. Below the saw slot 18, a saw carriage 22 is provided, which can be moved longitudinally to the working line 20 and forms a dividing device and, in this case, carries, as an example, two saw blades (not shown) of a main saw and a scoring saw, and their drives. Above the working line 20, a pressure beam 24 is provided, shown in dashed lines, which can be lowered onto a workpiece during machining. In principle, however, completely different types of tools, such as milling devices or similar, which can be used to divide workpieces, are also conceivable.

[0030] The panel processing system 10 further includes a workpiece transport device 26. This comprises, in the present case, a first portal-like carrier 28, which is motor-movable parallel to a feed direction (arrow 30) and which extends transversely to the feed direction 30 substantially above the feed table 12. The first carrier 28 is also referred to as a "program slider." A first gripping device 32 is attached to the first carrier 28, in the present case, in the form of a plurality of pneumatically actuated first collets, of which Figure 1 For reasons of clarity, only one is designated by a reference numeral. The first collets 32 are rigidly attached to the first carrier 28 in a direction parallel to the feed direction 30.

[0031] The workpiece transport device 26 further comprises, in the present case, a second gripping device 34, which in the present case, for example, comprises two pneumatically actuated second collets that are attached to a second carrier 36 that is arranged on the first carrier 28, i.e., on its upper side. As will be explained further below, the second carrier 36 is attached to the first carrier 28 so that it can be moved by a motor parallel to the feed direction 30. The top view of the Figure 1 also that both the first gripping device 32 and the second gripping device 34 are arranged in front of the first carrier 28, i.e. towards the working line 20, as seen in the feed direction 30.

[0032] The workpiece transport device 26 serves, among other things, to move an initial workpiece 38 lying on the feed table 12 in a direction parallel to the feed direction 30 and thereby feed it to the working line 20 of the dividing device 22 or to position it relative to the working line 20. For this purpose, the first gripping device 32 and the second gripping device 34 can grip a rear edge of the initial workpiece 38, as seen in the feed direction 30, by clamping it.

[0033] Furthermore, the panel processing system 10 may also include a handling device (not shown), which may, for example, comprise a combination of a robot with a suction traverse. Such a handling device allows workpieces to be automatically placed on or removed from the feed table 12, and workpieces to be automatically placed on or removed from the removal table 16.

[0034] The panel processing system 10 also includes a support device 40 in the form of a linearly extending, strip-like angle ruler, arranged laterally of the three support tables 12, 14, and 16. The support device 38 extends exactly orthogonally to the work line 20 and serves to align the workpiece 38 relative to the work line 20.

[0035] Furthermore, the panel processing system 10 includes a control device 42, in particular a programmable control device, with which the workpiece transport device 26 and other components of the panel dividing system 10 can be controlled. Such a control device 42 preferably comprises a microprocessor and a memory on which program code for controlling / regulating various process steps during operation of the panel processing system 10 is stored. Furthermore, the control device 42 can include an input device, for example in the form of a keyboard, and / or an output device, for example in the form of a monitor.

[0036] The combination of microprocessor and memory forms a computing device 44. This computing device 44 can be used to execute a preparation process by which it can be checked whether certain types of workpieces, namely first-order workpieces, can be divided together by the dividing device 22. This will be discussed in more detail below. It is understood that the computing device 44 for executing this preparation process can also be a separate computing device from the panel dividing system 10, for example, a mobile computing device, in particular a tablet PC or similar.Furthermore, the computing device 44 for carrying out this preparation method can also be a computing device arranged spatially remote from the panel cutting system 10, for example a computing device used for production planning or production control, a computing device in a data center, a computing device in a cloud, etc. In this respect, it is by no means necessary for the computing device 44 to be arranged directly on the panel cutting system 10.

[0037] In the Figure 1 and 2An operating situation is shown in which the second gripping device 34 is motor-driven into a first end position, in which it is arranged in the same position or "at the same height" as the first gripping device 32, as viewed in the feed direction 30. By means of an adjustment device (not shown), a position of the second gripping device 34 relative to the first gripping device 32 was determined during commissioning of the workpiece transport device 26 such that, when the second gripping device 34 is in the first end position, it is precisely aligned with the first gripping device 32. Thus, the first gripping device 32 and the second gripping device 34 can jointly grip the rear edge of the workpiece 38, as shown in Figure 1 is shown.

[0038] As from Figure 3As can be seen, the second engagement device 34 can also be moved by motor relative to the first engagement device 32 into a second end position, in which it is arranged a distance 56 in front of the first engagement device 32 as seen in the feed direction 30. In this second end position, the second engagement device 34 is therefore closer to the working line 20 than the first engagement device 32. It is understood that the second engagement device 34 can be moved not only either into the first end position or into the second end position, but also, as required, into any intermediate position between the first end position and the second end position. All of this can also be controlled by the control device 42.

[0039] For this purpose, the workpiece transport device 26 has an electric drive 46 with an electric motor 48, which is rigidly attached to the first carrier 28 and acts on a threaded spindle 50, which is attached to the second carrier 36 in the region of the second engagement device 34. The second carrier 36 is mounted on the first carrier 28 via a linear guide (not visible here).

[0040] As from Figure 3As can be seen, the possibility of positioning the second gripping device 34 relative to the first gripping device 32 in front of the latter in the feed direction 30 allows the first gripping device 32 to grip a first plate strip 52 and the second gripping device 34 to grip a second plate strip 54 and to position them differently relative to the working line 20 of the dividing device 22, so that workpieces with different longitudinal extensions can be cut from the plate strips 52 and 54 with a single dividing process along the working line 20 by means of the dividing device 22.

[0041] The above in connection with Figure 1The aforementioned starting workpiece 38 can be referred to as a zero-order workpiece. The longitudinal strips 52 and 54 produced from it by dividing processes, so-called longitudinal cuts, can be referred to as first-order workpieces. The workpieces with different longitudinal extensions produced from the first-order workpieces 52 and 54 by dividing processes, so-called cross-cuts, can be referred to as second-order workpieces.

[0042] In Figure 4 is a dividing plan 58 for dividing the plate-shaped starting workpiece 38 from Figure 1shown. According to this division plan 58, the initial workpiece 38 is to be first divided into three panel strips, i.e., first-order workpieces, essentially by two longitudinal cuts (the lateral trimming cuts are not included). The panel strips are designated A, B, and C in this case. According to the division plan 58, the first-order workpieces AC are then to be divided into second-order workpieces A1, A2, ..., B1, B2, ..., and C1, C2, ..., by cross-sections.

[0043] In Figure 5The (theoretical) operating situation is shown in which the two first-order workpieces A and B are divided by joint dividing processes, for which workpiece A is gripped by the second gripping device 36 and workpiece B by the first gripping device 32. It can be seen that, for example, for joint dividing along the dividing lines 60a and 60b, the second gripping device 34 would have to be located behind the first gripping device 32 as seen in the feed direction 30, which, however, is not possible with the panel dividing system 10 due to its design. In this respect, the operating situation shown is merely "theoretical."

[0044] Therefore, after the provision of the division plan 58, the computing device 44 carries out a preparatory process which serves to find out whether, by skillfully re-sorting the second-order workpieces within a first-order workpiece AC and by re-sorting the first-order workpieces AC among themselves and, if necessary, by carrying out additional measures, a combination of two first-order workpieces AC can be found which can be divided by common division processes and a corresponding control of the first gripping device 32 and the second gripping device 34.

[0045] As from Figure 6 As can be seen, the computer device 44 first eliminates all cuts and waste parts in the distribution plan 58, so that these do not have to be taken into account in the further process. Such cuts are shown in the distribution plan of Figure 4designated by the reference numeral 62, and the mentioned waste parts are in Figure 4 designated by the reference numeral 64.

[0046] Now, in the dividing plan 58 freed of the cuts 62 and waste parts 64, the second-order workpieces within the respective first-order workpieces AC are sorted by the computing device 44 according to their length in the feed direction 30 in such a way that the length increases with increasing distance from the working line 20 of the dividing device 22. In concrete terms, this means in the present exemplary dividing plan 58 that in the first-order workpiece A, the second-order workpiece A1 is separated from the workpiece in Figure 7 left end to the Figure 7 right end, and analogously, in the workpiece C of the first order, the workpiece C1 of the second order moves from the one in Figure 7 left end to the Figure 7 right end, creating a 58' distribution plan.

[0047] Afterwards, as shown in Figure 8 As can be seen, a plurality of combinations (black boxes) of two workpieces A|B as well as A|C and B|C of the first order are created, whereby the combinations differ in the assignment of the workpieces AC of the first order to the respective gripping devices 32 and 34. By way of example, in Figure 8 The combinations K1 and K3 were singled out, both of which combine the workpieces A and B in the first order. In the combination K1, the workpiece A is assigned to the first gripping device 32, whereas the workpiece B is assigned to the second gripping device 34. In the combination K3, however, the workpiece A is assigned to the second gripping device 34, whereas the workpiece B is assigned to the first gripping device 32.

[0048] The computing device 44 now checks, for each of the combinations Ki (in the present exemplary case, i = 1-6), the positions of the dividing lines in one first-order workpiece relative to the positions of the dividing lines in the other first-order workpiece. It is assumed that the ends of the workpieces AC facing the gripping devices 32 and 34 are aligned with each other. This allows the identification of combinations that satisfy the following condition: No dividing line on that first-order workpiece assigned to the second gripping device 34 is, viewed parallel to the feed direction 30, further away from a dividing line on the other first-order workpiece assigned to the first gripping device 32 than the maximum distance 56 ( Figure 3 ) by which the second engagement device 34 can be moved away from the first engagement device 32 relative to the latter.

[0049] In the present case, for the exemplary cutting plan 58', this is the case with the combination K3, in which the workpiece B is assigned to the first gripping device 32 and the workpiece A to the second gripping device 34. It can be seen from Figure 9 that in this combination, the dividing lines 66 on workpiece B, which is assigned to the second dividing device 34, are always parallel to or, in this case, viewed in the feed direction 30, a distance 68a, 68b or 68c further away from the working line 20 of the dividing device than the dividing lines 70 on workpiece A, which is assigned to the first dividing device 32. The distance 68a-c is always smaller than or at most equal to the maximum distance 56 of the second engagement device from the first engagement device 32 in the second end position of the second engagement device 34. The combination K3 is thus identified by the computing device 44 as "divisible together".

[0050] In Figure 10 This combination K3 is shown in the panel dividing system 10, with the two gripping devices 32 and 34 being located in a specific position relative to one another in the feed direction 30. In this position, the two second-order workpieces B1 and B2 in the first-order workpiece B and the two second-order workpieces A2 and A3 in the first-order workpiece A can be separated from one another by a common dividing process using the dividing device 22 along the working line 20.

[0051] As from Figure 11As can be seen, if none of the combinations Ki could be identified as being jointly divisible, the computing device 44 could then generate a dividing plan 58" into which, in the present case, for example, an additional dividing line 72 is inserted in the first-order workpiece B or two additional dividing lines 74a and 74b are inserted in the first-order workpiece C, through which waste pieces 76 would be produced. This is mainly possible if the number of dividing lines of the individual first-order workpieces AC is different. In the present case, this is the case, for example, with the (original) first-order workpieces B and C of the dividing plan 58', because the first-order workpiece C there has four dividing lines between the second-order workpieces C1-C5 to be produced, whereas the first-order workpiece B there has only three dividing lines between the workpieces B1-B4 to be produced.

[0052] Now, with reference to Figure 12 a method for carrying out the preparation method described above is explained, which can be carried out, for example, by the computing device 44 before the starting workpiece 38 is divided by the panel dividing system 10.

[0053] First, the "original" distribution plan 58 is provided in a function block 78, according to which the first-order workpieces AC are to be divided into second-order workpieces A1 to C5 (above Figure 4 ). In a function block 80, existing cuts 62 and waste parts 64 in the distribution plan 58 are then eliminated, according to the above Figure 6 . The first-order workpieces AC, which have been freed from the cuts 62 and waste parts 64, are then reassembled in a functional block 82.

[0054] In a functional block 84, the second-order workpieces A1-C5 are sorted within the respective first-order workpiece AC according to their length in the feed direction 30 in such a way that the length of the individual second-order workpieces A1-C5 increases with increasing distance from the working line 20 of the dividing device, as described above in connection with Figure 7 Long workpieces are therefore more likely to be adjacent to the gripping devices 32 and 34, while short workpieces are more likely to be adjacent to the work line 20. In this way, the adapted distribution plan 58' is generated.

[0055] In a function block 86, combinations Ki of two first-order workpieces AC are formed, which, with three first-order workpieces AC, already results in a number of possible combinations of three. In addition, further combinations are formed which differ in the assignment of the first-order workpieces AC to the first gripping device 32 and the second gripping device 34, as described above in connection with Figure 8 was explained. For example, with two engaging devices 32 and 34 movable relative to one another in the feed direction 30, a total of six combinations Ki result.

[0056] In a function block 88, all combinations created in function block 86 are checked for the relative positions of the dividing lines. The aim is to identify combinations in which no dividing line on the first-order workpiece assigned to the second gripping device 34 is, as seen parallel to the feed direction 30, further away from a dividing line on the other first-order workpiece assigned to the first gripping device 32 than the maximum distance by which the second gripping device 34 can be moved relative to the first gripping device 32. Since in the present case, the 2ndSince the gripping device 36, as seen in the feed direction 30, can basically only be arranged in front of the first gripping device 32 or at the same height as the latter, the dividing lines on the workpiece assigned to the second gripping device 34 must be located, as seen in the feed direction, behind those dividing lines on the workpiece assigned to the first gripping device 32 which are to be divided together.

[0057] In function block 90, if at least one combination has been found that meets the above criterion, the program switches to a function block 92, in which, if several "valid" combinations were found in step 88, the one is selected that requires the fewest number of splitting operations to split the two workpieces AC of the first order. In a function block 94, the selected combination is fed into the control device 42 of the panel dividing system 10, so that the splitting can be carried out accordingly in a function block 96.

[0058] In function block 90, if no combination is found that meets the above criterion, the program switches to a function block 98, in which a check is made to determine whether the computing device 44 has already inserted an additional dividing line into one of the first-order workpieces AC, or a check is made to determine whether the number of such additional dividing lines is less than a limit value, which can typically be 3. If the number is less than 3, for example, if not a single additional dividing line has been inserted yet, an additional dividing line is inserted into one of the first-order workpieces AC in a function block 100, which generates an additional waste piece. In a subsequent function block 102, a counter is incremented by 1. This is followed by a return to function block 86.

[0059] If it was determined in function block 98 that the number of additional dividing lines reaches or exceeds the limit value, a switch is made to a function block 104 in which the control device 42 of the panel dividing system 10 is instructed to divide the workpieces AC of the first order individually and not together.

Claims

1. Preparation method for preparing the division of at least two first-order workpieces (A, B, C) by a panel dividing system (10), in which the workpieces (A, B, C) can be fed to a dividing device (22) in a feed direction (30) by first and second gripping devices (32, 34) that are movable relative to one another on a working line (20) and can be divided by the latter into second-order workpieces (A1-C5) by common dividing processes along respective dividing lines (66, 70), the preparation method being carried out by an automatic computing device (44) and comprising at least the following step: a. providing a dividing plan (58) according to which the first-order workpieces (A, B, C) are to be divided into second-order workpieces (A1-C5), characterized in that it further comprises the following steps: c. in the dividing plan (58): sorting the second-order workpieces (A1-C5) within the relevant first-order workpiece (A, B, C) according to their length when viewed in the feed direction (30) such that the length increases with increasing distance from the working line (20) of the dividing device (22); d. creating a plurality of combinations (K1-K6) of two first-order workpieces (A, B, C), the combinations (Ki) differing at least in the assignment of the workpieces (A, B, C) to the first and second gripping device (32, 34); e. identifying such combinations (K3) as jointly divisible, if present, in which no dividing line (66) on that workpiece (B) which is assigned to the second gripping device (34) is, when viewed parallel to the feed direction (30), further away from a dividing line (70) on the other workpiece (A), which is assigned to the first gripping device (32), than the maximum distance (56) by which the second gripping device (34) can be moved relative to the first gripping device (32) away from the latter.

2. Preparation method according to claim 1, characterized in that between steps a and c, in a step b, any off-cuts (62) and waste parts (64) present in the dividing plan (58) are eliminated.

3. Preparation method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that after step e, in a step f, that combination (K3) is identified from a plurality of identified jointly divisible combinations, if present, in which the second-order workpieces (A1-C5) can be produced using the smallest number of dividing processes.

4. Preparation method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that then, if no jointly divisible combination can be identified in step e, in a subsequent step g, the computing device (44) inserts at least one first additional dividing line (72, 74a-b) into at least one first-order workpiece (A, B) in the dividing plan (58"), by means of which a waste piece (76) is produced, and then a return to step c takes place.

5. Preparation method according to claim 4, characterized in that step g is only carried out if a number of the additional dividing lines (72,74a-b) already inserted in the first-order workpiece (A, B) is smaller than a maximum value.

6. Preparation method according to claim 5, characterized in that then, if the number of additional dividing lines (72,74 a-b) reaches or exceeds the maximum value, it is provided that the first-order workpieces (A, B, C) are not jointly divided.

7. Computer program product, characterized in that it is adapted to carry out the preparation method of at least one of the preceding claims.

8. Computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that it comprises a computer program product according to claim 7.

9. Panel dividing system (10) comprising a dividing device (22) for dividing at least first-order workpieces (A-D) into second-order workpieces (A1-C5) along a working line (20), a first gripping device (32), which is movable by a motor parallel to a feed direction (30), for feeding a first-order workpiece (A, B, C) to the working line (20) of the dividing device (22), and a second gripping device (34), which is movable by a motor parallel to the feed direction (30) and relative to the first gripping device (32), for feeding the same or another first-order workpiece (A, B, C) to the same working line (20) of the dividing device (22), characterized in that it comprises a computing device (44) adapted to carry out the preparation method according to any of claims 1-6.

10. Panel dividing system (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that the second gripping device (34) is arranged in the same position as the first gripping device (32) when viewed in a first end position in the feed direction (30), and is arranged closer to the working line (20) of the dividing device (22) than the first gripping device (32) when viewed in a second end position in the feed direction (30).