Sorting apparatus, separating system and associated methods

Abstract

The invention relates to a sorting apparatus (10) for assisting a sorting operation for workpieces (2) of a workpiece sheet (1), in which the workpieces (2) are connected to the workpiece sheet (1) by a predetermined breaking point, and also relates to a separating system (200) for separating workpieces (2) of a workpiece sheet (1) and to methods (300, 400) associated therewith.

Description

[0001] Title : Sorting device, separation system and associated processes

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to a sorting device for supporting an absorption process of workpieces from a workpiece panel, a separation system for separating workpieces from a workpiece panel, a method for absorbing workpieces from a workpiece panel and a method for separating workpieces from a workpiece panel.

[0004] When sorting workpieces on machine tools, especially laser-cut or punched workpieces, especially sheet metal parts, sorting devices are typically used, by means of which different workpieces are sorted into different, designated workpiece collection point units at a

[0005] Absorting device. Such an absorption device is disclosed, for example, in DE102016120131B4.

[0006] However, the current state-of-the-art manual sorting of cut or punched workpieces from the workpiece table, especially small parts in mini nests, is not ergonomic because, for example, the workpieces are sorted from a sorting table on the flatbed machine tool. Workpieces can also fall to the floor and be damaged. Furthermore, the workpieces can scratch the support bars of the machine pallet. This conventional method of sorting is therefore very time-consuming and labor-intensive.

[0007] The object of the invention is therefore to enable an improved, in particular ergonomic, simple and rapid sorting of workpieces from a workpiece table compared to the prior art.

[0008] The object is achieved by an absorption device according to claim 1. Accordingly, a sorting device is proposed for supporting an absorption process for workpieces from a workpiece board, in which the workpieces are connected to the workpiece board by a predetermined breaking point. The sorting device has a support area with support elements for placing the workpiece board thereon, with at least one absorption opening being formed between the support elements for the workpieces to fall through. Furthermore, the sorting device has a collection area which is arranged below the support area, in particular in the direction in which the workpieces are falling, and which has at least two collection compartments for collecting the workpieces which fall through the at least one absorption opening.In addition, the sorting device has a guide region which is arranged between the support region and the collection region and has at least one guide element for guiding the workpieces falling through the at least one absorption opening to the collection compartments. Finally, the sorting device has an adjusting device for adjusting the collection compartments relative to the at least one guide element and / or for adjusting the at least one guide element relative to the collection compartments in such a way that, by means of the at least one guide element, workpieces can be selectively guided to a collection compartment selected from the at least two collection compartments by means of the adjustment.

[0009] Accordingly, according to the invention, an absorption device is provided which supports the absorption process of workpieces from the workpiece board. This support consists, on the one hand, in that the processed workpiece boards can be placed on the support elements. Secondly and above all, the support consists in guiding various workpieces into a selected collection compartment of the collection compartments, wherein the respective collection compartment can be selected according to the geometry, in particular two-dimensional shape and / or size, of the workpieces to be absorbed.After the selection of the collecting compartment, the collecting compartments and / or the at least one guide element are adjusted relative to the other of these components by means of the adjusting device, so that the selected collecting compartment is brought into connection with the at least one guide element for guiding the workpieces, by means of which workpieces can be guided via the at least one guide element into the respectively selected collecting compartment of the plurality of collecting compartments.

[0010] Consequently, ergonomic working is made possible for a worker on the one hand by providing an absorption device for the absorption, at which work can be carried out in or on a support area. This support area is preferably located at an ergonomic working height in the range from 0.6 m to 1.30 m, very particularly 0.7 m to 1.20 m and further very particularly from 0.8 m to 1.10 m. The support area can in this case be at least partially height-adjustable. The height adjustability can be provided for example by a mechanical and / or electrical drive.

[0011] On the other hand, ergonomic working is made possible for a worker because the collection compartments do not have to be swapped out or moved back and forth for workpieces of different geometries. Instead, the collection compartments arranged in the collection area can remain in their position relative to one another until they are full and can be emptied. Since the collection compartments become heavier as they become increasingly filled with workpieces and lifting these would require a great deal of physical effort, this can reduce the physically strenuous work for workers. Also, the workpieces do not have to be laboriously sorted by hand into one of several collection compartments. This also reduces the risk of workpieces accidentally ending up in the wrong collection compartment.Instead, simply by adjusting the adjusting device, a respective collection compartment can be selected for some or all of the workpieces on a processed workpiece panel, so that each workpiece falling through the at least one absorption opening is always directed to this collection compartment by means of the at least one guide element. Between the absorption of different workpiece panels or during the absorption of a workpiece panel, the adjusting device can be easily operated to select a different collection compartment or to change the collection compartment into which the workpieces are to be absorbed by the at least one guide element.

[0012] In the present case, a workpiece panel is understood to mean, in particular, a workpiece plate which has its greatest extent in a horizontal plane and is designed with a thickness in the vertical plane orthogonal thereto. A workpiece panel can, in particular, be a workpiece sheet. Such a workpiece panel is also referred to herein as a machined workpiece panel if workpieces are incorporated therein which are connected to the workpiece panel by a predetermined breaking point. Such a predetermined breaking point can, in particular, be in the form of a web or several webs between the workpiece and the workpiece panel or a remaining skeleton of the workpiece panel or between two adjacent workpieces. The web can, in particular, be in the form of a microjoint, nanojoint and / or microweb. Microjoints extend over an entire workpiece thickness, whereas nanojoints only extend over part of the workpiece thickness.Microwelds are small welding points that are deliberately formed in a cutting gap between the workpiece and the workpiece plate or between two adjacent workpieces.

[0013] The predetermined breaking point, in particular the web, ensures on the one hand that the workpiece table with all workpieces can be safely removed from the flatbed machine tool and on the other hand that the workpieces can be easily removed from the workpiece table.

[0014] Such workpieces can be machined in particular by means of a flatbed machine tool, which can be a laser cutting or punching flatbed machine tool, in particular a 2D laser flatbed machine. The flatbed machine tool can also be a combination machine that implements both separation processes. Further processing steps such as deburring, bending, folding, welding, drilling, thread cutting, etc. can also be carried out on the flatbed machine tool. The flatbed machine tool separates the workpieces, the shape of which is specified to the flatbed machine tool, from the rest of the workpiece sheet by means of laser cutting or punching. The workpieces are therefore cut or punched out of the workpiece sheet, in particular by means of a laser.However, the predetermined breaking point remains which connects each workpiece to the rest of the workpiece sheet, which may be in the form of a scrap skeleton or a group of parts without a scrap skeleton and may represent recyclable scrap. Several predetermined breaking points can also remain between each workpiece and the workpiece sheet. The workpiece sheet processed in this way can now be sorted, as the workpieces are still attached to the scrap skeleton by means of the predetermined breaking point. An appropriate tool, for example a so-called

[0015] A vibrating hammer or a drill can be used. The vibrating hammer uses vibration to deliver periodically repeated blows to the workpiece plate, thereby releasing the workpieces from the plate. A drill can be used to break open the predetermined breaking point by drilling at the predetermined breaking point or at a drilling point provided next to the workpiece, particularly a so-called microjoint.

[0016] In general, the workpiece panels and thus the workpieces can consist of, for example, sheet metal, glass, semiconductor substrate structures, printed circuit board structures, and / or plastic parts. The aforementioned laser cutting or punching flatbed machine tools can be used in particular to produce workpieces from a solid material that has a bending strength that does not lead to significant deformation during sorting.

[0017] Once the workpieces have been released from the workpiece table resting in or on the support area, they fall through the at least one absorption opening, particularly due to gravity. For this purpose, the at least one absorption opening is or are the absorption openings are dimensioned larger than the average, most or largest workpiece geometries, particularly along the horizontal or planar extension of the workpieces. After they have fallen through, they are sorted in the absorption device. Sorting means that the workpieces are put together accordingly for further processing or delivery. Putting together can, for example, be done by collecting workpieces of the same or similar geometry in the respective collection compartments. However, it can also be provided that identical geometries are collected in different collection compartments.The advantage of this is that the collection compartments can be smaller and thus easier to handle. The workpieces collected in this way can be forwarded for further processing or delivery, for example.

[0018] The guide area with its at least one guide element is designed in particular for passive guidance, very particularly due to the force of gravity acting on the workpieces. In other words, the guide area and the at least one guide element are preferably not active elements, such as conveyor belts or the like, but rather the guide area advantageously only predetermines the spatial direction and thus the location for the workpiece. The workpieces can advantageously slide or slide on the at least one guide element. For this purpose, the at least one guide element can have a non-slip and / or sliding surface for guiding the workpieces. The surface of the at least one guide element is advantageously metallic, but can alternatively also be made of a different material.

[0019] The sorting device can be fully manually operated, partially automated, and / or fully automated. Different operating steps for an operator on the sorting device, as well as different degrees of automation, are explained in more detail below, along with additional advantageous features.

[0020] The sorting device is preferably designed with rollers for moving the sorting device. The sorting device can in particular have at least three rollers, preferably four rollers. The sorting device can therefore be moved flexibly in the production hall. By means of the rollers, the sorting device can, for example, be easily moved in front of the flatbed machine tool in order to enable the workpiece panels to be picked up there for subsequent sorting. At the same time, the sorting device with the workpieces sorted into the collecting compartments can be easily moved to the further processing or delivery point for the workpieces in order to be fed there for further processing or delivery. This eliminates the otherwise time-consuming and complicated process of reloading the collecting compartments onto a means of transport for transporting the workpieces to the further processing or delivery point.

[0021] It is preferred that a brake, in particular a parking brake, is arranged on at least one of the rollers. A brake can preferably be arranged on at least two rollers, in particular located on the same side of the sorting device. This allows the sorting device to be locked in position for safe operation.

[0022] It is further preferred that the at least one guide element is designed as a funnel, a tube, a chute and / or a flap. Accordingly, the at least one guide element can be designed as a funnel, a tube, a chute, a flap or any desired combination of the above. This enables geometrically favorable guidance of the workpieces to the selected collection compartment. The funnel can, for example, have a multi-sided, in particular four-sided, or a round cross-section. The funnel, the tube or the chute have a corresponding opening or an end from which the workpieces leave the funnel, the tube, the flap or the chute. This opening or this end is preferably aligned with one of the collection compartments during adjustment by the adjusting device.

[0023] It can also be advantageous if the at least one guide element is designed to be flexible. This flexibility makes it easier to adjust the at least one guide element, so that this can be done particularly easily. The adjusting device or a further device can preferably secure the position once set by flexibly adjusting the guide element. The at least one flexible guide element can be, for example, a hose, a net and / or a guide element flexibly constructed with segments, which provide the flexibility of the at least one guide element. The hose can be, for example, a rubber hose, the net can be a metal net and the segments can be made of, for example, plastic or metal.It can also be advantageous if the guide area has a funnel element which is arranged above the at least one guide element, in particular in the direction of fall of the workpieces. By means of this funnel element, all of the workpieces which fall through the at least one absorption opening can advantageously be bundled before they are then guided by the at least one guide element into the correct collection compartment or into the collection compartment selected by adjustment. The funnel element can, for example, have a multi-sided, in particular four-sided, or a round cross-section. The funnel element is preferably arranged stationary relative to the support area.

[0024] A particularly simple variant of the sorting device is one where the adjustment mechanism is manually operated. For this purpose, the adjustment mechanism can have one or more handles. The handle(s) allow for easy manual operation by the worker.

[0025] However, it is additionally or alternatively possible for the adjustment device to be an automatically operated adjustment device. This means that the adjustment is carried out automatically by the adjustment device, for example by a corresponding drive, for example an electric drive. For the automatic operation of the adjustment device, a corresponding actuating unit can be provided, for example, in a simple embodiment, one or more actuating buttons, a foot switch, a remote control, a control panel, or the like. This simplifies the adjustment for the workers who have to make it and further improves ergonomics.

[0026] It is further advantageous if the adjusting device has a rotary mechanism and / or linear mechanism for rotating and / or linearly displacing the at least one guide element or the collecting compartments relative to one another. This means that either the at least one guide element is rotated and / or linearly displaced relative to the collecting compartments, or the collecting compartments are rotated and / or linearly displaced relative to the at least one guide element. A rotary mechanism and / or linear mechanism creates a geometrically simple adjustability of the at least one guide element, which is easy to manufacture.

[0027] It is preferred if the rotating mechanism has a rotating wheel connected to the at least one guide element and having at least one handle for rotating the at least one guide element relative to the collecting compartments. The advantageous rotating mechanism is thus coupled in a simple manner by means of an easily operable manual actuation unit. The handle can run completely or in sections along the entire rotating wheel. For example, the rotating wheel can have a metallic and round base body on which the handle(s) are made of a different material with increased grip, such as a plastic.

[0028] It is also advantageous if the adjustment device has locking positions into which the adjustment device engages during adjustment when the at least one guide element is in a predefined relative position with respect to at least one of the collecting compartments. This ensures that a position that has been set up by adjustment is secured so that the position is not lost during sorting, which could result in the workpieces being incorrectly sorted. In addition, haptic and / or acoustic feedback can be given during adjustment that one of several, in particular predefined, positions has been reached.

[0029] Advantageously, the guiding region also comprises at least one sound absorption element. A plurality of sound absorption elements can also be provided. This sound absorption element or these sound absorption elements can be located, for example, on the at least one guiding element and / or on the aforementioned funnel element. In particular, they can be located on the rear sides of the at least one guiding element and / or the funnel element, so that the guiding of the workpieces is not impaired by the sound absorption element(s). For example, the at least one sound absorption element can be a sound absorption or soundproofing mat, for example made of bitumen. This can, for example, be easily glued to the rear of the at least one guiding element and / or the funnel element.

[0030] The collection area preferably has at least four collection compartments. This allows workpieces to be divided into four different categories based on their geometry and sorted into the respective collection compartments. The adjustment device can have four positions in which the at least one guide element is arranged to guide one of the four collection compartments in order to supply each of the four collection compartments with workpieces.

[0031] It is also preferred if the collection compartments are designed as collection boxes. Collection boxes are boxes designed separately from one another and from the sorting device, for example a frame or housing of the sorting device. They can therefore be removed from the sorting device particularly easily when they are full of workpieces. They can also be easily replaced. The collection boxes preferably have at least two handles to enable them to be easily transported, in particular to be lifted out of the collection area.

[0032] The support elements can preferably be designed as support webs that are spaced apart from one another and arranged parallel to one another. They can run or be arranged between two sides, in particular long and / or parallel sides, of the sorting device. The sorting device can have a plurality of absorption openings that are formed between two support elements or support webs in each case. This advantageous design of the support area as a support grid allows a stable support for the workpiece plate due to the plurality of support webs and simple sorting of the workpieces from the workpiece plate by means of the plurality of absorption openings. The support elements preferably have brushes on one support side for placing the workpiece plate on and / or are designed to be elastic.The elastic design of the support elements on the support side can be achieved, for example, by an elastic element, in particular a coating or knobs, on the support elements. These can be made of rubber, for example. However, it is also possible to manufacture the support elements themselves from an elastic material, for example plastic. Alternatively, the support elements can be made of metal. The design with brushes is particularly advantageous because the workpiece plate can glide particularly well on it, making it easier to handle the workpiece plate. The brushes also significantly reduce the noise level when sorting with the vibrating hammer. Brushes of this type and / or the elastic design of the support side of the support elements prevent the workpieces from becoming scratched in the support area. Consequently, high production quality can be ensured, even during sorting.

[0033] It is also preferred if support elements are heat-resistant up to at least 80 ° C. This also applies to any brushes and / or elastic designs of the support elements. For example, the brushes can be made of polyamide (which is heat-resistant up to approx. 100 ° C) or aramid (which is heat-resistant up to at least 370 ° C). Accordingly, the still-hot workpiece panel can be brought from the flatbed machine tool onto the support area without prior cooling or only with a very short cooling time. This enables rapid sorting after processing in the flatbed machine tool without damaging the sorting device.

[0034] It is also possible for the support elements to be detachably attached to the sorting device, in particular to its frame. This allows for easily replacing damaged support elements and thus cost-effectively repairing the sorting device.

[0035] It is also advantageous if at least two of the support elements form an inclined support surface. Inclined refers here to a horizontal plane, for example the floor plane or the collection area or the remaining support elements. To provide the inclined position, at least one of the support elements can be higher than other support elements. The height is measured in the direction of fall or vertically to the horizontal plane. In particular, height adjustment of the at least one support element can be provided in order to position the support element higher than the other support elements, so that one support element does not have to be higher than the other support elements from the outset. This enables the workpiece table to be inclined in the support area, which can make it easier to sort the workpieces from the workpiece table.

[0036] It is also advantageous if the sorting device has at least one fixing device for fixing the workpiece panel to the support area. The fixing device can be, for example, a clamping device, e.g., in the form of a clamping claw or a gripper, which can clamp the workpiece panel on one of its sides.

[0037] The combination of two support elements of different heights and the use of at least one fixing device is particularly advantageous. The workpiece table can swing freely while resting on two support elements of different heights. The at least one fixing device prevents the workpiece table from slipping. The combination of inclined position and in particular one-sided fixing, particularly on the higher support element, leads to a significant increase in the removal speed when the workpieces are released from the workpiece table, in particular by the action of a vibrating hammer. The reason for this is the natural vibration of the workpiece table, which is promoted by its inclined position and in particular one-sided clamping. This enables particularly rapid release of the workpieces from the workpiece table and thus faster sorting.

[0038] It is also preferred if the sorting device has a fill level monitoring device for determining the fill levels of the collection compartments. The fill level monitoring device can, for example, be at least one scale, at least one camera, at least one sensor and / or at least one light grid, which can each be assigned to a collection compartment or to all collection compartments together in order to determine their fill levels. The fill level monitoring device can also be set up to give feedback about the fill levels of the collection compartments to the workers who operate the sorting device. This feedback can, for example, be visual, for example via a screen on the sorting device which continuously displays the fill levels, and / or acoustic, for example via a loudspeaker on the sorting device.This further improves sorting speed because workers no longer have to constantly check the fill level with their own eyes. It also ensures that the collection compartments don't become too heavy, making work easier. Finally, it prevents a collection compartment from overflowing and the workpieces from ending up in the wrong compartment.

[0039] It is also advantageous if the sorting device has a camera device for monitoring the sorting process. Such a camera device can be arranged above the support area. It can be designed to record which workpieces become free and fall downwards to the collection compartments. The camera device can in turn be coupled to a display unit, in particular the sorting device, such as a screen, on which a worker is shown which workpieces have fallen. In addition, the camera data recorded in this way can be used to feed back the data for a further production order following sorting.

[0040] It is also advantageous if the sorting device has a

[0041] Support area automatically movable tool for

[0042] Breaking open the predetermined breaking points between the workpieces and the workpiece table. The tool can be arranged on a support system above the support area. It can be moved in all spatial directions, in particular by means of a suitable drive, such as an electric drive. This can enable automatic release of the workpieces from the workpiece tables.

[0043] It can be advantageous if the sorting device comprises a tool station with the tool, in particular in the form of a vibrating hammer, and with a robot arm or a C-shaped frame with three axes of movement, wherein the tool is arranged on the robot arm or the C-shaped frame. In addition, the tool station can comprise a camera system. In other words, the workpieces can be separated from the workpiece table or finally isolated by the tool station. The advantage of such a tool station above or above the support area is an ergonomic improvement during manual operation of the corresponding tool in the tool station, in particular a vibrating hammer, for example designed as a pneumatic hammer, or partial or full automation of the breaking process.The C-shaped frame or the robot acts as a support system above the support area, so that a worker no longer has to hold and operate the heavy tool. The camera system now makes it possible to record the predetermined breaking points, the position of the workpieces, the identification of broken and not yet broken breaking points, etc., so that the robot arm or the movement axes can use the vibrating hammer precisely where workpieces have not yet been separated. The robot arm or the movement axes can be controlled via a numerical control of the tool station. The C-shaped frame can extend from one or more of the desired areas or...from a base frame of the sorting device above the support area, whereby the vibration hammer can be moved along all three spatial axes of the space by means of the movement axes in order to be able to detect every position of the support area with the tool and thus to be able to separate the workpiece parts.

[0044] For an alternative, more cost-effective variant, it is possible for the tool to be operated manually by a worker, but held by a support system. It would also be desirable for the tool to be easier to operate. It has proven advantageous if the sorting device has a tool station with a tool for breaking open the predetermined breaking points between the workpieces and the workpiece table, whereby the tool station comprises a toggle press with the tool arranged thereon. The tool station can comprise automatically or manually movable axes of movement for the toggle press and / or the tool arranged thereon. In this way, the manual removal of the workpieces from the workpiece table is significantly more ergonomic and easier than holding and operating a vibrating hammer in the hand of a worker.

[0045] It is also advantageous if the collection area has a pallet area for or with a pallet for storing the at least two collection compartments on it. Storage on a pallet enables machine-assisted removal of collection compartments, for example using a pallet truck. This is advantageous because the collection compartments can become very heavy and manual removal of collection compartments by a worker is then no longer advisable. Furthermore, removal is otherwise unergonomic due to the arrangement of the collection area at the bottom of the sorting device. The pallet area is an additional area provided in the sorting device which corresponds at least to the height of the pallet and also to the other dimensions of the pallet, in particular a Euro pallet. The Euro pallet has dimensions of 800 mm x 1200 mm x 144 mm, so the pallet area can have at least these.The sorting device is preferably open on at least one side to ensure easy access with a pallet truck.

[0046] It is also advantageous if a predefined minimum distance is provided between the at least one guide element and the at least two collecting compartments, which corresponds to a lifting height for lifting the pallet in the sorting device, wherein the minimum distance is in particular at least 30 mm, very particularly at least 40 mm and further preferably at least 50 mm. This enables easy removal of the pallet with the collecting compartments on it by means of a lifting truck. The minimum distance can be achieved in particular by a correspondingly short design of the at least one guide element.

[0047] The object mentioned at the outset is further achieved by a separation system according to claim 17. The separation system comprises a machine tool, in particular a flatbed machine tool, for cutting, in particular laser cutting, or punching the workpieces from the workpiece sheet and an absorption device according to the invention.

[0048] In this case, features described herein with regard to the sorting device also apply with regard to the singulation system and vice versa.

[0049] As previously described, the flatbed machine tool can, in particular, be a laser cutting and / or punching flatbed machine tool, whereby further production steps can also be performed by the flatbed machine tool. The separation system can further comprise at least one tool for breaking open the predetermined breaking points between the workpieces and the workpiece sheet.

[0050] The object mentioned at the outset is also achieved by a removal system according to claim 18. The removal system is designed for removing and sorting workpieces from a workpiece panel, wherein the removal system has a conveyor belt device and an absorting device according to one of the preceding claims arranged or arrangeable thereon.

[0051] The removal system according to the invention makes it possible for the cut workpiece panels which were previously manually placed on the sorting device to now be placed on the sorting device in a simple, in particular automated, manner, thereby simplifying and accelerating the removal and sorting. Provision can be made for the sorting device to be mechanically coupled to the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt can be equipped with an automatic drive. The removal system can also have a vibrating station which acts across the entire or part of the width of the conveyor belt device in order to vibrate workpieces out of the workpiece panel. Furthermore, the absorption device and the conveyor belt device can be height-adjustable synchronously with one another.

[0052] In this case, features described herein with regard to the removal system also apply with regard to the singling system and the sorting device and vice versa.

[0053] The object mentioned above is also achieved by a system according to claim 19, which comprises the separation system according to the invention and the removal system according to the invention. The system comprises the sorting device, the conveyor belt device, and the machine tool in order to enable the partially or fully automated separation, removal, and sorting of the workpieces.

[0054] In this case, features described herein with regard to the system also apply to the singling system, the removal system and the sorting device and vice versa.

[0055] The object mentioned at the outset is also achieved by a method according to claim 20. This is a method for sorting workpieces of a workpiece board, in which the workpieces are connected to the workpiece board by a predetermined breaking point, using the sorting device according to the invention, the method comprising the following steps:

[0056] - Placing the workpiece panel on the support area of ​​the sorting device,

[0057] - Adjusting the adjustment device to select one of the collecting compartments of the sorting device into which the workpieces of the workpiece table are to be fed, and

[0058] - Detaching the workpieces from the workpiece table by means of a tool so that the workpieces are guided by the guide area into the collection compartment selected by means of adjustment in the collection area of ​​the sorting device.

[0059] In this case, features described herein with regard to the sorting device, the singling system, the removal system and the plant also apply with regard to the method and vice versa.

[0060] The object mentioned at the outset is further achieved by a method according to claim 21. This is a method for separating workpieces from a workpiece panel, the method comprising the step of cutting or punching the workpieces from the workpiece panel by means of a machine tool, in particular a flatbed machine tool, and the method according to the invention for sorting the workpieces from the workpiece panel.

[0061] In this case, features described herein with respect to the sorting device, the singulation system, the removal system, the system, and the sorting method apply equally to the singulation method, and vice versa. Further details and advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the following description, based on which exemplary embodiments of the invention are described and explained in more detail.

[0062] It shows :

[0063] Figure 1 is a side view of a

[0064] Absorting device according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0065] Figure 2 is a plan view of the sorting device from Figure 1;

[0066] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the

[0067] Absorting device from Fig. 3;

[0068] Figure 4 is a schematic representation of part of an alternative sorting device;

[0069] Figure 5 is a schematic representation of part of another alternative sorting device;

[0070] Figure 6 is a schematic representation of part of yet another alternative sorting device;

[0071] Figure 7 is a schematic representation of part of a further alternative sorting device; and

[0072] Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view through a possible

[0073] Embodiment of a support element of the absorption device of Fig. 1;

[0074] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view through a further possible embodiment of a support element of the sorting device of Figure 1; Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view through a further possible embodiment of a support element of the sorting device of Figure 1;

[0075] Figure 11 is a side view of a possible

[0076] Embodiment of the support area of ​​the absorption device of Fig. 1;

[0077] Figure 12 is a plan view of the support area of ​​Fig.

[0078] 11 ;

[0079] Figure 13 is a perspective view of a

[0080] Separation system according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0081] Figure 14 is a perspective view of a

[0082] Separation system according to another embodiment of the invention;

[0083] Figure 15 is a schematic representation of the singulation and sorting processes according to the invention; and

[0084] Figure 16 shows another inventive

[0085] Example of an absorption device in a purely schematic representation.

[0086] In the following description and in the figures, the same reference symbols are used for identical or corresponding features.

[0087] Figure 1 shows a sorting device 10 for supporting a sorting process. The sorting device 10 comprises a frame 11 and is open on the side shown, allowing a view into the interior of the sorting device 10. This allows, above all, easy access to collecting compartments 31 in a collecting area 30 of the

[0088] Sorting device 10.

[0089] Alternatively, a covering may be provided, which may, however, be at least partially transparent and / or removable. For example, a covering may consist of doors or a wire mesh.

[0090] The sorting device 10 is equipped with rollers 13 by means of corresponding connecting elements 12, wherein at least one of the rollers 13 is equipped with a brake 14. The sorting device 10 is thus designed as a sorting trolley that can be easily moved in a production hall. As shown in Figure 2 in the top view of the sorting device 10 from Figure 1, a handle 17, in particular a bow-shaped handle 17, can also be provided on the frame 11 to enable the sorting device 10 to be pushed easily.

[0091] In Fig. 1, a support area 20 is located at the top of the sorting device 10. This support area 20 serves to support a workpiece panel 1 (see Figs. 11 to 14). Workpieces 2 have been machined into the workpiece panel 1 by means of a flatbed machine tool (see Figs. 13, 14), which are connected to the rest of the workpiece panel 1 only via a predetermined breaking point, in particular in the form of a micro-web.

[0092] Inside the sorting device 10, the workpieces 2 can be sorted into suitable collecting compartments 31 according to their geometry. For this purpose, the workpieces 2 are removed from the workpiece table in the support area 20 by a tool 81 (see Fig. 16), such as a vibration hammer.

[0093] 1 by breaking the predetermined breaking point. The workpieces

[0094] 2 thereby fall through corresponding absorption openings 22 between support elements 21 (see Fig. 2), which form the support surface of the workpiece plate 1 on the receiving area 20.

[0095] Within the sorting device 10, below the support area 20, i.e., in the direction of fall of the workpieces 2 or the direction of gravity, a guide area 40 is arranged, and below this, the collection area 30 is arranged on a corresponding base of the sorting device 10, wherein the collection area 30 has the collection compartments 31. The collection compartments 31 are designed as collection boxes, and a total of four collection boxes are provided, as can be seen in Figure 3.

[0096] From Fig. 3 it can be seen that the sorting device 10 is open on all its sides 15, 16, wherein, as previously explained, panels can also be provided on one, several or all sides 15, 16.

[0097] Between the collecting area 30 and the support area 20 there is a guide area 40 which in Fig. 1 and 2 comprises a funnel element 42 and a guide element 41. The funnel element 42 has a rectangular cross-section here, for example, and the guide element 41 can also be designed as a funnel or alternatively as a tube or

[0098] A chute may be formed. After being released from the workpiece plate 1, the workpieces 2 fall through the funnel element 42, which guides them to the guide element 41, and the guide element 41 guides the workpieces 2 to one of the collecting compartments 31. As shown, one or more sound absorption elements 43 may be arranged on the funnel element 42 in order to minimize noise when guiding the workpieces 2.

[0099] To select a collection compartment 31 to which the workpieces 2 are to be guided by means of the guide element 31, an adjusting device 50 is provided between the hopper element 42 and the guide element 41. The adjusting device 50 allows the guide element 41, which is fastened to the hopper element 42, to be adjusted relative to the collection compartments 31 in the adjustment direction 3 shown. The adjustment direction 3 is a direction of rotation because the adjustment is carried out by a rotation during which the guide element 41 is aligned with its end or its opening towards one of the four collection compartments 31. For this purpose, the adjusting device 50 comprises a rotary wheel 51 which allows the guide element 41 to be rotated relative to the hopper element 42 and aligned with one of the four collection compartments 31.Thus, based on the respective geometry of the workpieces 2 of the workpiece plate 1, it is possible to select by adjusting the guide element 41 into which of the four collecting compartments 31 the workpieces 2 are to be sorted.

[0100] In addition to the support area 20, which is formed by the support elements 21, which here run, for example, between long sides 16 of the sorting device 10, an optional additional support area 65 is provided, which in turn is provided with additional support elements 66, 67, between which additional absorption openings 68 are formed. The additional support area 65 is part of an optional additional area 60 in addition to the previously explained areas comprising the support area 20, the collection area 30 and the guide area 40. The additional area 60 in turn comprises a further funnel element 61 with an optional further pipe element 62 for guiding workpieces through the additional absorption openings 68 to two additional collection compartments 63.The optional additional area 60 can also be used for sorting, wherein, for example, workpieces 2 can be sorted by drilling out microjoints in a workpiece plate 1 using a drilling tool, while the workpieces 2 in the support area 20 can be sorted out using a vibrating hammer. The removal of workpieces 2 by drilling out or using a vibrating hammer can take place in parallel or one after the other, depending on which workpiece plates 1 are present. The optional additional area 60 thus expands the functionality of the sorting device 10. However, it can be provided to omit the optional additional area 60 in the sorting device 10, so that only the left part of the sorting device 10 shown in Fig. 1 with the support area 20, the collecting area 30 and the guide area 40 is provided in the sorting device 10.

[0101] Figure 4 shows an alternative guide area 40 which has a flexible guide element 41, for example a hose. The flexible guide element 41 was adjusted in Fig. 4 in the adjustment direction 3 shown by means of an adjustment device 50 (not shown), for example a fixing device such as a movable ring, for fixing the flexible guide element 41 in the position shown in Fig. 4. As a result, the flexible guide element 41 is assigned to the left of the two collecting compartments 31 visible in Fig. 4 and enables workpieces 2 to be guided from the support area 20 to the left collecting compartment 31 in Fig. 4.

[0102] Figure 5 also shows an alternative guide area 40, which has two part flaps as guide elements 41, which are also movable in their length. The part flaps can be rotated via corresponding pivot joints in order to open or close the areas below them. In addition, the part flaps can be extended in order to enable optimal feeding of the workpieces 2 up to just before the collecting compartments 31. The adjusting device 50, not shown here, can in this respect comprise the pivot joints and the mechanism for extending the part flaps. Here, too, the workpieces 2 are guided, for example, into the left-hand collecting compartment 31.

[0103] Figure 6 shows another alternative adjustment device 50, this time not in the guide area 40, but in the collection area 30. The guide area 40 with its guide element 41 and, if applicable, its funnel element 42 is stationary. The adjustment device 50 is designed as a carriage on rollers, alternatively also possible on rails, for example, on which the collection compartments 31 are positioned and which is movable in one of the linear adjustment directions 3.

[0104] The guide area 40 is designed here, for example, with a guide element 41 in the form of a funnel. At least one sound absorption element 43 in the form of a sound absorption mat is arranged on the funnel. By displacing the collecting compartments 31 using the adjusting device 50 below the opening of the guide element 41, it is possible to select which of the collecting compartments 31 the workpieces 2 are fed to.

[0105] Figure 7 shows yet another alternative adjustment device 50, which is again arranged on the collection area 30 and is designed as a carriage. Unlike in Figure 6, however, the carriage is rotatable in the illustrated adjustment direction 3 with the collection compartments 31 located thereon, rather than linearly displaceable. Thus, the guide element 41 can be aligned with one of the collection compartments 31 by rotating the adjustment device 50.

[0106] Figures 8 to 10 show different possible embodiments of the support elements 21 for preventing damage to the workpieces 2 when the workpiece plate 1 is placed thereon. In Fig. 8, an attachment element 23 in the form of a covering, for example made of a plastic or rubber, with bristles 24 is provided, onto which the workpiece plate 1 can be placed. This prevents scratching, dampens the noise level and allows better handling of the workpiece plate 1. In Fig. 9, the entire support element 21 is made of an elastic plastic. In Fig. 10, on the other hand, only one elastic attachment element 25, for example made of elastic plastic or rubber, is arranged on the support element 21. The support elements 23, 25 can be detachably fastened to the support elements 21 in order to replace them if necessary.

[0107] Figure 11 shows two support elements 21 of different heights, wherein one or both of these support elements 21 can be height-adjustable. In addition, as Fig. 12 further shows, a workpiece plate 1 with workpieces 2 therein is clamped to one of the two support elements 21 by means of a fixing device 70. This allows the workpiece plate 1 to oscillate freely when the workpieces 2 are released from the workpiece plate 1 and thus allows the workpieces 2 to be released quickly from the workpiece plate 1 when using a suitable vibrating hammer.

[0108] Figure 13 shows a separation system 200 comprising a flatbed machine tool 100 and the sorting device 10 from Fig. 3. The flatbed machine tool 100 here comprises, for example, a camera unit 110 and a table or a pallet 120, onto which the workpiece plate 1 is placed after coming from the flatbed machine tool 100. A worker can then simply lift the workpiece plate 1 from the table or pallet 120 onto the sorting device 10, which he can roll up to the table 120. A lifting device can be provided if required.

[0109] Figure 14 shows an alternative separation system 200 compared to Fig. 13. In this separation system 200, the table or pallet 120 is omitted and instead the workpiece plate 1 coming from the flatbed machine tool 100 is deposited directly onto the sorting device 10.

[0110] If the sorting with the sorting device 10 takes longer than the processing of another workpiece plate 1 in the flatbed machine tool 100, another sorting device 10 can be provided. This can be moved in front of the flatbed machine tool 100 instead of the sorting device 10, on which a workpiece plate 1 has already been placed, in order to pick up the next workpiece plate 1. Consequently, the lifting of the workpiece plate 1, which would otherwise be necessary, is advantageously eliminated.

[0111] Figure 15 schematically shows a separation method 400 for separating workpieces 2 from a workpiece plate 1, comprising an absorption method 300. The separation method 400 can be carried out with the separation system 200 of Figs. 13 and 14. The absorption method 300 can be carried out with the absorption device 10.

[0112] In a first step 410 of the separation process 400, the workpieces 2 are cut out of the workpiece plate 1 in the flatbed machine tool 100, for example by laser cutting or punching.

[0113] In a second step 310 of the singulation process 400, which is also a first step of the sorting process 300, the machined workpiece panel 1 with the cut-out workpieces 2 held together by the predetermined breaking point with the workpiece panel 1 is placed on the support area 20 of the sorting device 10.

[0114] In a third step 320 of the singling method 400, which is also a second step of the sorting method 300, the adjusting device 50 is adjusted to select one of the collecting compartments 31 of the sorting device 10. This selects which of the collecting compartments 31 the workpieces 2 are to be fed to by the subsequent release in the fourth step 330 of the singling method 400, which is also a third step of the sorting method 300. However, the third step 320 does not necessarily have to take place after the second step 310 or the first step 410, but can also take place beforehand if it is known which collecting compartment 31 is to be used to sort the workpieces 2 of the workpiece plate 1.

[0115] Finally, in the fourth step 330 of the separation process 400, the workpieces 2 are detached from the workpiece table 1, for which purpose a tool 81 (see Fig. 16) is used. This can be, for example, a vibrating hammer. The detached workpieces 2 are conveyed via the guide area 40 to the previously selected collecting compartment 31 in the collecting area 30 of the sorting device 10.

[0116] Figure 16 now shows a further, merely schematically illustrated embodiment of a sorting device 10. In this sorting device 10, in addition to the other embodiments, a pallet area 32 is provided in the collecting area 30, in which a pallet 33 is located. The collecting compartments 31 are arranged on the pallet 33. Because a minimum distance 34 corresponding to a lifting height of a lifting truck (not shown) is also provided between the collecting compartments 31 and the guide element 41, the pallet 33 can be lifted unhindered by means of the lifting truck within the sorting device 10 and removed laterally from an open side of the sorting device 10. Fig. 16 also shows a tool station 80 as part of the sorting device 10 above the support area 20 in which the workpiece panel 1 is located.By way of example, a C-shaped frame 83 is shown here which holds a tool 81, in particular a vibrating hammer, for breaking open the predetermined breaking points in the workpiece panel 1. Movement axes (not shown) for moving the tool 81 above the workpiece panel 1 are provided in the C-shaped frame 83. Alternatively, the use of a robot arm instead of the C-shaped frame 83 is also possible. The tool station 80 likewise comprises a camera system 82, by means of which the workpiece panel 1 with its predetermined breaking points can be detected in order to control the tool 81 in accordance with the current progress of the breaking process so that the remaining predetermined breaking points are broken open.

[0117] As an alternative to this automated variant, it is also possible to provide a C-shaped frame 83 with movement axes with, for example, a toggle press for operating the tool 81, so that the tool 81 is held by the tool station 80, but can be operated manually.

[0118] Fig. 16 further shows a removal system 500 comprising the sorting device 10 and a conveyor belt device 501, which is coupled here to the sorting device 10. The cut workpiece panel 1 can be easily transported from the machine tool 100 (see Fig. 13) to the sorting device 10 via the conveyor belt device 501. In this respect, the conveyor belt device 501, the sorting device 10, and the machine tool 100 can also form a system (not shown separately).

Claims

Patent claims Sorting device (10) for supporting a sorting process of workpieces (2) from a workpiece panel (1) in which the workpieces (2) are connected to the workpiece panel (1) by a predetermined breaking point, wherein the sorting device (10) comprises: - a support area (20) with support elements (21) for placing the workpiece panel (1) on it, wherein at least one sorting opening (22) for the workpieces to fall through is provided between the support elements (21). (2) is trained - a collection area (30) which is arranged below the support area (20) and has at least two collection compartments (31) for collecting the workpieces (2) falling through the at least one sorting opening (22), - a guide area (40) which is arranged between the support area (20) and the collection area (30) and has at least one guide element (41) for guiding the workpieces (2) falling through the at least one sorting opening (22) to the collection compartments (31), and - an adjusting device (50) for adjusting the collection compartments (31) relative to the at least one guide element (41) and / or for adjusting the at least one guide element (41) relative to the collection compartments (31) such that workpieces (2) can be fed to a collection compartment (31) selected from the at least two collection compartments (31) by means of the at least one guide element (41) by means of the adjustment. Sorting device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one guide element (41) is configured as a funnel, a tube, a chute and / or a flap. Sorting device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide area (40) is a funnel element. (42) which is arranged above the at least one guide element (41). Sorting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjusting device (50) has a rotary mechanism and / or linear mechanism for rotating and / or linearly displacing the at least one guide element (41) or the collection compartments (31) relative to each other. Sorting device (10) according to claim 4, wherein the rotary mechanism has a rotary wheel (51) connected to the at least one guide element (41) with at least one handle for rotating the at least one guide element (41) relative to the collection compartments (31). Sorting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide area (40) has at least one sound absorption element (43). Sorting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support elements (21) are designed as spaced-apart and parallel support ribs located between two sides (15, 16) of the sorting device (10) run, wherein the sorting device (10) several sorting openings (22) has which are formed between each pair of support elements (21). Sorting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support elements (21) have brushes on one support side for placing the workpiece panel (1). (23) and / or are elastically designed. Sorting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support elements (21) are heat-resistant up to at least 80 °C. Sorting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least two of the support elements (21) form an inclined support surface. Sorting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sorting device (10) has at least one fixing device (70) for fixing the workpiece panel (1) on the support area (20). Sorting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sorting device (10) has a tool (81) that is automatically movable in the support area (20) for breaking the predetermined breaking points between the workpieces (2) and the workpiece panel (1). Sorting device (10) according to claim 12, wherein the sorting device (10) has a tool station (80) with the tool (81), in particular in the form of a vibratory hammers, as well as a robot arm or a C-shaped frame (83) with three axes of movement, wherein the tool (81) is arranged on the robot arm or the C-shaped frame (83). Sorting device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the sorting device (10) comprises a tool station (80) with a tool (81) for breaking the predetermined breaking points between the workpieces. (2) and the workpiece table (1), wherein the tool station (80) comprises a toggle press with the tool (81) arranged thereon. Sorting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the collection area (30) has a pallet area (32) for or with a pallet (33) for storing the at least two collection compartments (31) thereon. Sorting device (10) according to claim 15, wherein a predefined minimum distance (34) is provided between the at least one guide element (41) and the at least two collection compartments (31), which corresponds to a lifting height for lifting the pallet (33) in the sorting device (10), wherein the minimum distance (34) is in particular at least 30 mm. Singulation system (200) for singulating workpieces (2) a workpiece tray (1) , wherein the singulation system (200) is a machine tool (100) for cutting or punching the workpieces (2) from the A workpiece panel (1) and a sorting device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims. A removal system (500) for removing and sorting workpieces (2) from a workpiece panel (1), wherein the removal system (500) comprises a conveyor belt device (501) and a sorting device (10) arranged or arrangable thereon according to any one of claims 1 to 16. A system with a singulation system (200) according to claim 17 and a removal system (500) according to claim 18. A method (300) for sorting workpieces (2) from a workpiece panel (1), in which the workpieces (2) are connected to the workpiece panel (1) by a predetermined breaking point, using a sorting device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the method (300) comprises the following steps: - Placing the workpiece panel (1) on the support area (20) the sorting device (10) , - Adjusting the adjustment device (50) to select one of the collection compartments (31) of the sorting device (10) to which the workpieces (2) of the workpiece panel (1) are to be fed, and - Detaching the workpieces (2) from the workpiece plate (1) using a tool (81) so that the workpieces (2) are placed by means of the guide area (40) into the collection compartment (31) selected by means of the adjustment in the collection area (30) of the sorting device (10). Method (400) for singulating workpieces (2) from a workpiece sheet (1), wherein the method (400) includes the step of cutting or punching the workpieces (2) from the The workpiece plate (1) is produced by means of a machine tool (100) and the method (300) according to claim 20.

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