Separation device for tubular or rod-like workpieces

Abstract

The invention relates to a separation device (10) for controlled separation of tubular or rod-like workpieces (40), the separation device (10) comprising: a pivot unit (20) with a bearing frame (22) and a lifter (24), the bearing frame (22) being designed to receive a number of tubular or rod-like workpieces (40), and the lifter (24) being designed to lift the workpieces (40) held in the bearing frame (22); and a conveying unit (30) with a conveying chute (32), which forms an inclined conveying plane (33) for the tubular or rod-like workpieces (40); the pivot unit (20) and the conveying unit (30) being arrangeable relative to one another in such a way that a first pivot axis (26), about which the bearing frame (22) of the pivot unit (20) is pivotable, runs along an upper end (322) of the conveying chute (32) of the conveying unit (30). A loading system comprising the separation device (10) and a method for using the separation device (10) are also provided.

Description

[0001] Separation device for tubular or rod-shaped workpieces

[0002] Field of the invention

[0003] The present invention relates to the field of pipe processing machines. In particular, the invention relates to a separating device for the controlled separation of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces.

[0004] State of the art

[0005] From DE 10 2020 100 459 A1 a device for separating tubular or rod-shaped workpieces is known, in which the workpieces can be transported from a pivotably mounted storage rack or from a pivotably mounted storage cassette by means of a lifter over a loading edge onto a loading area.

[0006] The present invention is based on the object of improving the state of the art. In particular, the separation process for the fully automated transfer of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces from a storage facility to a processing machine is to be optimized.

[0007] The invention

[0008] To achieve the object underlying the invention, a separating device for the controlled separation of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces is provided. The separating device comprises a pivoting unit with a storage rack and a lifter, wherein the storage rack is designed to accommodate a plurality of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces and wherein the lifter is designed to lift the workpieces stored in the storage rack. Tubular or rod-shaped workpieces here refer to workpieces that have a much greater length compared to their cross-section. Tubular or rod-shaped workpieces can, in particular, have a profile that is constant over their length and can be made of a substantially inflexible material, e.g., metal. The profile can be open or closed and can also have round or angular contours.The swivel unit and the storage rack can each have an elongated shape so that the equally elongated tubular or rod-shaped workpieces can be stored or transported therein. The storage rack can be permanently integrated into the swivel unit or can be inserted into the swivel unit as a storage cassette or can be removed from the swivel unit. A base area of ​​the storage rack or the storage cassette can have recesses through which the lifter can lift the workpieces in the storage rack. The lifter can comprise several struts distributed over the length of the storage rack, each of which can be moved through a recess in the base area of ​​the storage rack. The lifter or the struts of the lifter can form a support surface for the workpieces stored in the storage rack, which is parallel to a base surface of the storage rack, or which is inclined at a predetermined angle (e.g.by about 10°) relative to the base surface of the storage rack.

[0009] The separating device further comprises a conveyor unit with a conveyor chute that forms an inclined conveying plane for the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces. The inclination of the conveying plane is understood to be relative to the horizontal. The conveyor chute can comprise several conveyor rails arranged side by side along a long side of the conveyor device and, together with their respective surfaces, form the conveying plane.

[0010] The pivoting unit and the conveyor unit can be arranged relative to one another such that a first pivot axis, about which the bearing frame of the pivoting unit can pivot, runs along an upper end of the conveyor chute of the conveyor unit. Advantageously, the conveyor unit can be arranged at a predetermined position on a base, while the pivoting unit is arranged such that it can be moved relative to the conveyor unit on the base. Furthermore, the inclination of the conveyor plane can have a predetermined, fixed angle to the horizontal, which can be, for example, between 20° and 50°, in particular approximately 35°. Due to the predetermined angle and the fixed arrangement of the conveyor belt, the upper end of the conveyor chute can also preferably have a fixed position. The upper end of the conveyor chute extends along the length of the conveyor unit.The upper end of the conveyor chute means an area at the upper end of the conveyor chute which can extend up to, for example, 50 cm, preferably a maximum of 20 cm, more preferably a maximum of 10 cm, from the outermost upper end of the conveyor chute downwards in the direction of the inclined conveyor plane.

[0011] Thanks to the storage rack pivoting around the first pivot axis, the lifter on one side, and the conveyor chute on the other, tubular or rod-shaped workpieces can be separated particularly easily and automatically if the pivoting unit is arranged appropriately in relation to the conveyor unit. The separation of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces refers to the separation of individual or a relatively small number of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces from a larger quantity of such workpieces. Workpieces that have been separated from the storage rack by transferring them to the conveyor unit can, for example, be temporarily stored at a lower end of the conveyor chute for further transfer to a processing machine.

[0012] According to a preferred variant, the conveyor unit can have a bridging element that is pivotally mounted about a second pivot axis at the upper end of the conveyor chute and that is designed to bridge a gap between the upper end of the conveyor chute and the upper end of a lateral boundary of the storage frame of the pivoting unit. The storage frame therefore has at least one lateral boundary that faces the conveyor unit—at least in a separating position of the pivoting device. As already mentioned above, the storage frame can be designed as a storage cassette. The storage frame or storage cassette can, for example, have the shape of an elongated box with two short and two long lateral boundaries in the form of side walls or struts.

[0013] The bridging element can have a predetermined width. Width refers to the extent of the bridging element transverse to the length of the conveyor unit. The width of the conveyor element can be, for example, at least 5 cm. The bridging element can have a hook-shaped end with which it can engage behind the lateral boundary of the storage frame. The conveyor unit can also have several bridging elements arranged at intervals along the length of the conveyor unit. If the conveyor chute is formed from several conveyor rails, a bridging element can preferably be arranged at the upper end of each conveyor rail.

[0014] If the conveyor unit has at least one bridging element, the pivoting unit and the conveyor unit can be arranged relative to one another such that the first pivot axis of the pivoting unit and the second pivot axis of the bridging element of the conveyor unit coincide. In other words, in a separating position of the pivoting unit, the storage rack and the bridging element can be pivoted about a common pivot axis. In this way, a gap between the upper end of the lateral boundary of the storage rack on the conveyor unit side and the upper end of the conveyor chute can be bridged reliably and easily, regardless of the inclination of the storage rack, or at least from an inclination of the base surface of the storage rack of approximately 15° relative to the horizontal. The transfer of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces from the storage rack to the conveyor chute can be improved in this way.

[0015] The upper end of the lateral boundary of the storage rack can be pivoted around the first pivot axis within a predetermined radius, which radius essentially corresponds to the width of the bridging element. This ensures that the bridging element, in the separation position of the pivot unit, rests flush with the upper end of the lateral boundary of the storage rack and reliably bridges the gap between the conveyor chute and the storage rack without projecting far beyond the lateral boundary on the inside. The term "essentially" in this context is to be understood to mean that the bridging element can be placed on the upper end of the lateral boundary of the storage rack in a separation position of the pivot unit. The upper end of the conveyor chute can also be designed without a bridging element.In this case, it is particularly advantageous if the gap between the upper end of the conveyor chute and the lateral boundary of the storage frame is kept as small as possible (e.g., less than 5 cm, preferably less than 2 cm, even more preferably less than 1 cm) to ensure reliable separation of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces. For example, the upper end of the conveyor chute can be rounded, with the radius of the rounding extending around an axis that coincides with the first pivot axis when the pivot unit is in the separation position.

[0016] The conveyor unit can comprise one or more carriers that are arranged to be displaceable along the conveyor plane in a conveying direction, so that tubular or rod-shaped workpieces that are lifted by the lifter from the storage rack above the upper end of the lateral boundary and reach the conveyor plane of the conveyor chute can be conveyed along the conveyor plane in a controlled manner. By means of the preferably motorized carriers, the conveying speed of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces on the conveyor chute can be controlled independently of the inclination of the conveyor chute or the conveyor plane. By means of the at least one carrier, tubular or rod-shaped workpieces can also be transported in the opposite direction from the lower end of the conveyor chute up the conveyor chute and pushed into a storage rack. Each of the carriers can comprise a corresponding sensor system that, for example,via a change in weight, detects how many tubular or rod-shaped workpieces are resting on a driver.

[0017] The conveyor chute can comprise several conveyor rails that together form the conveyor plane. A carrier can be displaceably arranged on each conveyor rail, with the carriers preferably being movable synchronously with one another.

[0018] The pivoting unit of the separating device can have a base module and a pivotable pivoting module. The bearing frame can be arranged on the pivoting module. The base module provides support for the pivoting movement of the pivoting module. The pivoting module can preferably have an at least partially arcuate outer contour that extends in a radius around the first pivot axis. Furthermore, the pivoting unit can have a drive with a drive wheel that is arranged on the base module and that can be brought into engagement with the arcuate outer contour of the pivoting module for pivoting the pivoting module, or that is engaged therewith. In particular, the pivot drive can be designed as a rack and pinion drive, wherein a correspondingly arcuate rack is attached to the arcuate outer contour of the pivoting module and wherein the drive wheel is designed as a gear or pinion.

[0019] The base module can further have an arcuate groove that extends around the first pivot axis in a radius, particularly concentric with the arcuate outer contour. In this case, rollers can be arranged on the base frame, which engage in the arcuate groove of the support frame and serve as bearings for the pivot module. In this case, the weight of the pivot module is transferred to the base module via the rollers. The drive concept described here facilitates a particularly slim design of the pivot unit. At the same time, the rack and pinion drive allows for the movement of heavy loads.

[0020] The swivel unit can be movable. For this purpose, corresponding wheels can be arranged on the base module of the swivel unit. In particular, the swivel unit can be movable on the wheels in a direction transverse to the conveyor unit. For example, the swivel unit can be equipped with a storage cassette filled with tubular or rod-shaped workpieces in a loading position remote from the conveyor unit, wherein the swivel module is swiveled into a loading position (e.g. horizontal orientation of the storage cassette). To separate the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces, the swivel unit can be moved towards the conveyor unit into the separation position, in which the first swivel axis runs in the upper end of the conveyor chute. In the separation position, the swivel module can be rotated by e.g. 35° from a, in particular horizontal, orientation (e.g.assembly orientation) into a separation orientation and one or more of the workpieces stored in the storage cassette can be lifted or pushed over the lateral boundary of the storage cassette onto the conveyor chute by means of the lifter or lifters.

[0021] The singulation device can further comprise a control unit configured to automatically control a pivoting movement of the pivoting unit, a lifting movement of the lifter, and a displacement movement of the at least one driver such that a desired number of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces located in the storage rack are singulated from the storage rack via the conveyor unit. Additionally or alternatively, the control device can also be configured to convey tubular or rod-shaped workpieces from a lower end of the conveyor chute into the storage rack by means of the at least one driver via the upper end of the conveyor chute.

[0022] The separating device can also be equipped with sensors that detect, for example, the fill level of workpieces in the storage rack or the presence of individual workpieces on the conveyor unit and transmit this information to the control unit.

[0023] To achieve the object underlying the invention, a loading system for loading a processing machine with tubular or rod-shaped workpieces is further provided. The loading system comprises a processing machine for processing tubular or rod-shaped workpieces. The processing machine can be, for example, a laser processing machine. The processing machine comprises a loading area, a processing area, and an unloading area. The processing area can preferably comprise a laser processing unit, which is designed in particular for cutting and / or welding tubular or rod-shaped workpieces. The loading system further comprises a separating device according to one of the variants described above.Furthermore, the loading system comprises a loading device which is arranged between the conveyor unit of the separating device and the loading area of ​​the processing machine, and which has at least one gripper which is designed to remove individual tubular or rod-shaped workpieces from the conveyor unit and to transfer them into the loading area of ​​the processing machine.

[0024] The loading system can additionally comprise a shelf designed to accommodate storage racks or storage cassettes, wherein the pivoting unit of the singling device is designed to move back and forth between the shelf and the conveyor unit of the singling device in order to be equipped with a storage rack loaded with tubular or rod-shaped workpieces on the shelf and to separate the workpieces in interaction with the conveyor unit. The shelf can preferably comprise a loading and unloading system by means of which a, in particular empty, storage cassette (storage rack) can be automatically removed from the pivoting unit of the singling device and loaded with a filled storage cassette. To replace the storage cassette, the pivoting unit can move into a loading position on the shelf.

[0025] To achieve the object underlying the invention, a method is further provided for loading a processing machine with tubular or rod-shaped workpieces using a singling device as described above, wherein the conveyor unit of the singling device has at least one driver. The method comprises, in a first step, loading the storage rack with tubular or rod-shaped workpieces. For this purpose, the pivoting unit can, for example, move up to a shelf and, as described above, be loaded with a filled storage cassette by means of a loading and unloading system. Alternatively, the storage rack can also be loaded while the pivoting unit is in the singling position directly next to the conveyor unit, wherein in this case, for loading the storage rack, the storage rack can be pivoted into a loading orientation, in particular a horizontal one.Once the storage rack is loaded and the swivel unit is in the separation position, the method comprises, in a second step, swiveling the swivel unit from the loading orientation to a separation orientation. For this purpose, the swivel unit or the swivel module of the swivel unit can be swiveled by a predefined angle of inclination, e.g., between 20° and 50°, e.g., by approximately 35°.

[0026] In a third step, the method comprises lifting, by means of the lifting device, the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces in the storage rack until at least one of the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces rests against the at least one driver. In other words, the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces stored in the storage rack are lifted by the lifting device and moved along the lateral boundary of the storage rack, which is also inclined due to the inclination of the storage rack, until at least one of the workpieces passes over the upper end of the lateral boundary onto the conveyor unit and is held by the at least one driver.

[0027] In a fourth step, the method comprises moving the at least one carrier down along the conveying plane of the conveyor unit. For controlled separation of the workpieces, the at least one carrier can, for example, be moved down the conveyor chute until a predetermined number of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces are located on the conveyor chute. The lifter can then be lowered again until the remaining workpieces are again at least below the upper end of the lateral limit. The carriers can then be moved further down the conveyor chute to a lower end position, in which the separated workpieces can be removed for further transfer to a processing machine.

[0028] It goes without saying that the separating device can also be used to unload tubular or rod-shaped workpieces from the loading area of ​​a pipe processing machine. In this case, the method steps described above can be carried out in reverse order, whereby the orientation of the swivel unit is irrelevant in this case. It is basically sufficient if the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces located on the conveyor chute are pushed over the upper end of the conveyor chute into the storage rack by means of the driver or drivers. It can be advantageous if the lifter is in a lowered position so that the workpieces can be transferred to the storage rack and are not blocked by workpieces raised in the storage rack.After returning tubular or rod-shaped workpieces to the storage rack, the swivel unit can, for example, be moved from the separation position to an unloading position on a rack, where the storage rack, which in this case can be designed as a storage cassette, can be removed and transferred to the rack. During unloading, the swivel unit can preferably be swiveled to a horizontal position.

[0029] Examples of implementation

[0030] The following description of preferred embodiments, in conjunction with the drawings, serves to explain the invention in more detail.

[0031] They show:

[0032] Fig. la A separating device according to the invention for separating tubular or rod-shaped workpieces in a side view;

[0033] Fig. lb A section of the separating device according to Figure la at the interface between the swivel unit and the conveyor unit;

[0034] Fig. 2 The separating device according to Figure 1a in an isometric view; and

[0035] Fig. 3 A loading system according to the invention for loading a processing machine with tubular or rod-shaped workpieces. For the sake of simplicity, elements with the same function or construction are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures.

[0036] Figures 1a and 2 each show a separating device 10 in a side view (Fig. 1a) and an isometric view (Fig. 2). The devices 10 shown are identically constructed, with additional tubes 40 being accommodated in the separating device 10 in the illustration according to Figure 1a.

[0037] Separating device 10 has a pivoting unit 20 with a storage rack 22 and a lifter 24. The storage rack 22 is designed to accommodate a plurality of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces 40, and the lifter 24 is designed to lift the workpieces 40 stored in the storage rack 22. The storage rack 22 can be designed as a removable, essentially box-shaped storage cassette 22, which has recesses in its base through which corresponding, movably mounted lifters 24 can be moved (see Fig. 2). The separating device 10 further has a conveyor unit 30 with a conveyor chute 32, which forms an inclined conveyor plane 33 for the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces 40. In the variant shown, the conveyor chute 32 is composed of a plurality of conveyor rails arranged side by side along the length of the conveyor unit.A driver 38 is attached to each of the conveyor rails and can be moved along the conveying plane 33. The pivoting unit 20 also has a slat-like structure, in which identical modules are arranged next to one another along the length of the pivoting unit 20. This design allows for easy length adjustment of the separating device 10. For example, the pivoting unit 20 and the conveyor unit 30 can each have a length of approximately 6.5 m, or, according to a larger version, a length of approximately 8 m or approximately 12 m. The number and spacing of the identical elements arranged next to one another can also influence, among other things, the weight of the separating device and its load-bearing capacity. The separating device 10 can be designed for separating workpieces 40, in particular metallic, tubular or rod-shaped workpieces, with a total weight of at least one ton.This means that, for example, pipes with a total weight of 3 to 4 tons can be stored in the storage rack 22.

[0038] The pivoting unit 20 comprises a base module 202 and a pivoting module 204, wherein the pivoting module 204 has an arcuate groove mounted on two support wheels each fastened to the base module 202. Wheels 29 are also arranged on the base module 202, on which the pivoting unit 20 can be moved relative to the conveyor unit 30. The pivoting movement of the pivoting module 204 is realized by means of a rack and pinion drive, wherein a drive with a pinion 28 is arranged on the base module 202, which engages an arcuate rack of the pivoting module 204, which extends in a radius around a first pivot axis 26 of the pivoting unit.

[0039] In Figures 1a and 2, the pivoting unit 20 and the conveyor unit 30 are arranged relative to one another such that the first pivot axis 26, about which the pivoting module 204 with the storage rack 22 can be pivoted, runs along an upper end 322 of the conveyor chute 32 of the conveyor unit 30. In Figures 1a and 2, the pivoting unit 20 is in a transfer orientation. This means that the pivoting module 204 with the storage rack 22 is pivoted by an angle relative to the horizontal, so that the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces 40 stored in the storage rack 22 are tilted over the upper edge of the lateral boundary 222 onto the conveyor chute 32. The angle of the pivoting movement and the translational movement of the lifter 24 allow the number of workpieces 40 to be separated to be precisely adjusted. In addition, the separation can be monitored and / or controlled by the driver(s) 38.

[0040] The conveyor unit 30 can have a bridging element 34 at the upper end 322 of the conveyor chute 32, as shown schematically in the detailed illustration in Figure 1b. Preferably, a bridging element 34 can be arranged on each conveyor rail, which bridges a gap G between the upper end 322 of the conveyor chute 32 and the upper end of the lateral boundary 222 of the storage frame 22 when the pivoting unit 20 is in the singling position. For this purpose, the bridging element 34 or each bridging element 34 has a corresponding width W. The bridging element 34 can also be hook-shaped at its outer end so that it can engage over the upper end of the lateral boundary 222.The bridging element 34 is mounted on the upper end 322 of the conveyor chute 32 in such a way that a second pivot axis 36, about which the bridging element 34 is pivotable, coincides with the first pivot axis 26 of the pivot unit 20 when the pivot unit 20 is in the singling position.

[0041] Figure 3 shows a loading system 100 according to the invention for loading and / or unloading a processing machine with tubular or rod-shaped workpieces 40. The loading system 100 comprises a processing machine 50, in particular a laser processing machine 50, for processing tubular or rod-shaped workpieces 40. The processing machine 50 has a loading area 52, a processing area 54, and an unloading area 56. The loading system further comprises a separating device 10, as described above in connection with Figures 1a, 1b, and 2.Between the conveyor unit 30 of the separating device 10 and the loading area 52 of the processing machine 50, the loading system 100 also has a loading device 60 with at least one gripper, which is configured to remove individual tubular or rod-shaped workpieces 40 from the conveyor unit 30 and transfer them to the loading area 52 of the processing machine 50. On a side of the separating device 10 remote from the processing area, the loading system 100 further has a shelf 70 in which a plurality of storage cassettes or storage racks 22 are stored. The swivel unit 20 is mounted so as to be movable that it can move back and forth between the shelf 70 and the conveyor unit 30 in order to be loaded on the shelf 70 with a storage rack 22 equipped with tubular or rod-shaped workpieces 40 and to separate the workpieces 40 in interaction with the conveyor unit 30.It is understood that workpieces 40 can also be conveyed from the loading area 52 of the processing machine 50 by means of the loading device 60 and the separating device 10 in the reverse manner into storage racks 22 and transferred to the shelf 70.

[0042] A typical loading process is described below. By means of a loading and unloading system of the rack 70, a storage cassette 22 is loaded from the storage 70 into the pivoting unit 20, which has been moved to a loading position on the rack 70 and pivoted into the loading position. The storage cassette 22 is moved to the conveyor unit 30 by means of the pivoting unit 20 until it has reached the separation position. By subsequent rotation of the pivoting module 204 of the pivoting unit 20, the storage cassette 22 is tilted towards the conveyor chute 32. In combination with a translation by the lifter(s) 24 of the pivoting unit 20, at least one tubular or rod-shaped workpiece 40 is separated by being moved via the bridging element 34 onto the conveyor chute 32 of the conveyor unit 30 by the force of gravity.The at least one workpiece 40 is conveyed along the conveying plane 33 of the conveyor chute 32 by the carriers 38, which are part of the conveying unit. At the lower end of the conveyor chute 32, a downstream loading device 60 can pick up a tubular or rod-shaped workpiece 40 and convey it into a processing machine 50. For this purpose, the carriers 38 can move into a position in which they do not hinder the loading process of the loading device 60.

[0043] The opposite conveying direction is also conceivable. Tubular or rod-shaped workpieces 40 are placed onto the conveyor chute 32 of the conveyor unit 30 by an external device, e.g., the loading device 60. The conveyor unit then conveys the workpieces 40 toward the pivot unit 20 by means of the carriers 38 and pushes them over the bridging element 34 into the storage cassette 22, with the lifters 24 preferably in a lowered position. The pivot module 204 of the pivot unit 20 can then be pivoted into a horizontal unloading position and moved to the shelf 70, in which the storage cassette 22 is removed from the loading and unloading system of the pivot unit 20 and transferred to the shelf 70. List of Reference Symbols

[0044] 10 Separation device

[0045] 20 Swivel unit

[0046] 202 Basic module

[0047] 204 Swivel module

[0048] 22 storage rack

[0049] 222 Lateral boundary

[0050] 24 lifters

[0051] 26 First swivel axis

[0052] 28 drive wheel

[0053] 29 Wheels of the swivel unit

[0054] 30 conveyor unit

[0055] 32 conveyor chutes

[0056] 33 conveyor level

[0057] 322 Upper end of the conveyor chute

[0058] 33 conveyor level

[0059] 34 Bridging element

[0060] 36 Second swivel axis

[0061] 38 drivers

[0062] 40 Tube or rod-shaped workpiece

[0063] 50 processing machines

[0064] 52 Loading area of ​​the processing machine

[0065] 54 Machining area of ​​the processing machine

[0066] 56 Unloading area of ​​the processing machine

[0067] 60 loading device

[0068] 70 shelves

[0069] 100 loading system

[0070] G gap

[0071] W Width of the bridging element

Claims

Patent claims 1. Singulation device (10) for the controlled singulation of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces (40), the singulation device (10) comprising: A swivel unit (20) with a storage rack (22) and a lifting device (24), wherein the storage rack (22) is designed to receive several tubular or rod-shaped workpieces (40) and wherein the lifting device (24) is designed to lift the workpieces (40) stored in the storage rack (22); and A conveying unit (30) with a conveying chute (32) that forms an inclined conveying plane (33) for the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces (40); The swivel unit (20) and the conveying unit (30) can be arranged relative to each other such that a first pivot axis (26), about which the bearing frame (22) of the swivel unit (20) can be pivoted, runs along an upper end (322) of the conveying chute (32) of the conveying unit (30).

2. Singulation device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the conveying unit (30) has a bridging element (34) which is pivotably mounted about a second pivot axis (36) at the upper end (322) of the conveying chute (32) and which is configured to bridge a gap (S) between the upper end (322) of the conveying chute (32) and the upper end of a lateral boundary (222) of the bearing frame (22) of the pivoting unit (20); wherein the bridging element (34) has a predetermined width (W); and wherein the pivoting unit (20) and the conveying unit (30) can be arranged relative to each other such that the first pivot axis (26) of the pivoting unit (20) and the second pivot axis (36) of the bridging element (34) of the conveying unit (30) coincide.

3. Singling device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the upper end of the lateral boundary (222) of the bearing frame (22) is pivotable in a predetermined radius about the first pivot axis (26), which radius essentially corresponds to the width (W) of the bridging element (34).

4. Singulation device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the conveying unit (30) comprises one or more carriers (38) which are arranged to be displaceable along the conveying plane (33) in a conveying direction, so that tubular or rod-shaped workpieces (40), which are lifted from the storage frame (22) by the lifter (24) beyond the upper end of the lateral boundary (222) and reach the conveying plane (33) of the conveying chute (32), can be conveyed in a controlled manner along the conveying plane (33).

5. Singulation device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the swivel unit (20) comprises a base module (202) and a swiveling comprising a swivel module (204); and / or wherein the bearing frame (22) is arranged on the swivel module (204); and / or wherein the swivel module (204) has an at least partially arcuate outer contour extending in a radius around the first pivot axis (26); and / or wherein the swivel unit (20) has a drive with a drive wheel (28) arranged on the base module (202) and engaging with the arcuate outer contour of the swivel module (204) for pivoting the swivel module (204).

6. Singulation device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the swivel unit (20) is movable.

7. Singling device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising: A control unit designed to automatically control a pivoting movement of the pivoting unit, a lifting movement of the lifter and a traversing movement of the at least one driver in such a way that a desired number of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces (40) located in the storage rack (22) are separated from the storage rack via the conveying unit (30).

8. Loading system (100) for loading a processing machine (50) with tubular or rod-shaped workpieces, the loading system (100) comprising: A processing machine (50) for processing tubular or rod-shaped workpieces (40) with a loading area (52), a processing area (54) and an unloading area (56); a singulation device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7; and a loading device (60) which is arranged between the conveying unit (30) of the singulation device (10) and the loading area (52) of the processing machine (50), and which has at least one gripper which is configured to remove individual tubular or rod-shaped workpieces (40) from the conveying unit (30) and transfer them to the loading area (52) of the processing machine (50).

9. Loading system (100) according to claim 8, further comprising: A rack (70) designed to accommodate storage racks (22), wherein the swivel unit (20) of the singulation device (10) is designed to move back and forth between the rack (70) and the conveying unit (30) of the singulation device (10) in order to be loaded at the rack (70) with a storage rack (22) equipped with tubular or rod-shaped workpieces (40), and to singulate the workpieces (40) in conjunction with the conveying unit (30).

10. Method for loading a processing machine (50) with tubular or rod-shaped workpieces (40) using a singulation device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the conveying unit (30) of the singulation device (10) has at least one has a driver (38) and the method comprises the following steps in this order: Loading the storage rack (22) with tubular or rod-shaped workpieces (40); Swiveling the swivel unit from a placement orientation to a singulation orientation; Lifting, by means of the lifting device (24) of the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces (40) in the storage rack, until at least one of the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces (40) rests against the at least one driver; and Lowering of at least one carrier (38) along the conveying level (33) of the conveying unit (30).

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