Material flow system, production system comprising a material flow system, and operating method
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023745401
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-06-30
- Filing Date
- 2023-06-28
- Publication Date
- 2025-05-07
Smart Images
Figure 1.1
Abstract
Description
[0001] Material flow system, production system with material flow system and operating procedures
[0002] Description :
[0003] The invention relates to a material flow system comprising at least one workpiece conveying system, at least one workpiece handling device and a flow storage system, a production system comprising such a material flow system and a method for operating such a production system.
[0004] DE 202019 102 742 U1 discloses a storage and handling device for tools and / or workpieces for use on a machine tool. The individual workpieces to be machined are removed from the storage. The machined workpieces are placed in the storage. The present invention is based on the problem of increasing the flexibility of a material flow system.
[0005] This problem is solved with the features of the main claim. The flow storage system has a plurality of workpiece storage locations, each for a single workpiece. Each workpiece storage location is located, at least temporarily, within the workspace of the workpiece handling device. Furthermore, the workpiece conveyor system penetrates the workspace of the workpiece handling device and has two opposing conveying directions.
[0006] A production system with this type of material flow system has at least two workstations. All workstations are connected to the material flow system.
[0007] During operation of the production system, a workpiece to be machined is removed from a workpiece storage location in the flow storage system using the workpiece handling device and transferred to the workpiece conveyor system. The workpiece conveyor system transports the workpiece to one of the workstations for processing. Each workpiece leaving one of the workstations is alternatively transported either to another workstation or transferred to the flow storage system using the material flow system. In the flow storage system, the workpiece handling device places the workpiece in a workpiece storage location.
[0008] The material flow system enables several different flow paths for a workpiece. The individual workpiece is removed from the flow storage system using the workpiece handling device and transferred to the workpiece conveyor system. The workpiece can be conveyed in different directions from, for example, the central flow storage system. The workpiece-specific operations can be carried out largely independently of the location of the workstations in the material flow system.
[0009] In a production system with at least two workstations, the individual workpiece can be transported from one workstation to another either directly or via the flow storage system. The material flow system allows any workpiece-specific sequence of workstations for performing operations on the workpiece. Additional workpieces, such as those created during a sawing process, can also be loaded into the material flow system. A bypass via the flow storage system is also conceivable in the material flow system. The flow storage system can also be used as a buffer storage system.
[0010] Further details of the invention emerge from the subclaims and the following description of schematically illustrated embodiments.
[0011] Figure 1: Top view of a material flow system; Figure 2: Longitudinal view of the material flow system; Figure 3: Cross-section of the material flow system; Figure 4: Variant of a production system;
[0012] Figure 5: Another variant of a production system. Figures 1 to 3 show a material flow system (20) in views and sections. Material flow systems (20) of this type are used in production systems designed for automated, multi-stage workpiece processing. Such a production system has several workstations that are linked together by means of the material flow system (20). For example, each of the workstations has a machine tool. This can be a cutting machine tool, e.g. a sawing machine, a drilling machine, a milling machine, etc. The machine tool can also be a joining machine, a forming machine, etc. A joining machine can be, for example, an edge banding machine, an assembly machine, etc.
[0013] The workpieces (1; 2; 3; 4) processed in the production system are, for example, wood or composite panels. These raw parts have a length of 2500 millimeters and a width of 1500 millimeters, for example. Their thickness is up to 25 millimeters, for example.
[0014] The material flow system (20) has at least one workpiece conveyor system (21), at least one workpiece handling device (31; 41), and a flow storage system (51). The material flow system (20) shown in Figures 1-3 has two workpiece handling devices (31, 41).
[0015] The workpiece conveying system (21) shown is track-based. In the illustrated embodiment, it has two workpiece conveying devices (26, 27). These are arranged, for example, parallel to one another and next to one another. The workpiece conveying devices (26, 27) can also be arranged one above the other. In this case, they can be overlapping or offset from one another. The two workpiece conveying devices (26, 27) have opposite conveying directions (15, 16). Thus, in the plan view of Figure 1, a first workpiece conveying device (26) conveys from right to left and a second workpiece conveying device (27) from left to right. It is also conceivable to use a single workpiece conveying device (26; 27) that can convey both in a first conveying direction (15) and in a second conveying direction (16) oriented opposite thereto.
[0016] The individual workpiece conveying device (26; 27), for example, has a roller conveyor (22) with, for example, several sections and a plurality of rollers (23). The individual rollers (23) of this roller conveyor (22) can be driven individually or in groups. The workpiece conveying system (21) can convey continuously or discontinuously, at least in sections. For example, the rollers (23) near or on a workpiece handling device (31; 41) can be stopped for handling a workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4), while other rollers (23) continue to convey workpieces (2; 3; 4; 1).
[0017] It is also conceivable to configure the roller conveyor (22) with non-driven rollers (23). The individual workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is then conveyed, for example, by means of workpiece carriages that grip the individual workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) at its outer edge. These workpiece carriages can be controlled individually or in groups, so that each workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) can be moved and positioned individually.
[0018] In the workspace (35; 45) of the individual workpiece handling device (31; 41), the illustrated workpiece conveying system (21) has a removal and loading area (24; 25). As soon as a workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is located in the removal and loading area (24; 25), the workpiece conveying system (21) is stopped, for example, at least in the removal and loading area (24; 25). The individual workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) can now be transferred to the flow storage area (51) by means of the workpiece handling device (31; 41). The individual workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) can also be conveyed past the individual workpiece handling device (31; 41) by means of the workpiece conveying system (21). In this embodiment, the material flow system (20) with both workpiece conveying devices (26, 27) penetrates the working spaces (35, 45) of both workpiece handling devices (31, 41).
[0019] It is also conceivable to arrange an ejection device at the removal and loading area (24; 25). This ejection device has, for example, a hydraulically or pneumatically operated ram. By means of this ram, the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) to be machined can be moved toward the workpiece handling device (31; 41) when the workpiece conveyor system (21) is at a standstill. Optionally, the ram has an additional gripping device for pulling a workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) provided by the workpiece handling device (31; 41) back onto the roller conveyor (22).
[0020] The workpiece handling devices (31; 41) shown are, for example, identical in design to one another. These workpiece handling devices (31, 41) are, for example, industrial robots (31, 41) in the form of articulated-arm robots. They can be stationary or movable. In the exemplary embodiment, the individual workpiece handling device (31; 41) is designed as a 6-axis robot with RRR kinematics. It has, for example, three rotary and three translatory axes. Its workspace (35; 45) has the shape of a barrel body with a recessed inner cylinder. The workspace (35; 45) of the individual workpiece handling device (31; 41) is the sum of all points in three-dimensional space that can be reached by a workpiece gripping device (33) of the workpiece handling device (31; 41). The workpiece gripping device (33) is arranged on a robot hand (32).
[0021] In the exemplary embodiment, the workpiece gripping device (33) is designed as a suction gripper. By means of this workpiece gripping device (33), the individual plate-shaped workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is gripped on its upper side. The workpiece handling device (31; 41) is designed such that it can pick up a workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) from both the first workpiece conveying device (26; 27) and the second workpiece conveying device (27; 26).
[0022] The robot hand (32) carries, for example, a reading device (34), e.g., a camera. By means of this reading device (34), a workpiece identifier (5) arranged on the workpiece (1-4) can be read, for example. The workpiece identifier (5) can be applied, for example, to a sticker, it can be applied as an optical marking to the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4), or it can be engraved into the workpiece (1; 2, 3; 4). It can identify the individual workpiece (1; 2; 3, 4) as a code, alphanumerically, etc. The reading device (34) is connected to a master computer of the production system (10) via data lines. This makes it possible, for example, to check whether the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) picked up by the workpiece handling device (31; 41) is the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) intended for handling by the production planning and control system.
[0023] The flow storage (51) has a plurality of workpiece storage locations (52). In this flow storage (51), workpieces (1; 2; 3; 4) are temporarily stored before and / or after processing at the workstations. The temporarily stored workpieces (1; 2; 3; 4) are removed from the flow storage (51) in order to be further processed at the same or at a different workstation. In each workpiece storage location (52), exactly one workpiece (1; 2; 3;
[0024] 4). During workpiece handling, the individual workpiece storage location (52) is assigned to the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) by means of the production planning and control system.
[0025] The flow storage system (51) shown in Figures 1 - 3 is, for example, a shelf storage system (51). In this shelf storage system (51), all stored workpieces (1; 2; 3; 4) are accessible at any time. The flow storage system (51) has six shelf units (53 - 58) in the illustration in Figure 1. Two first and second shelf units (53, 54) arranged on the right are, for example, large-format raw parts (1), blanks (2), or remnants (3) are temporarily stored in these. The two third and fourth shelf units (55, 56) shown in the lower area of Figure 1 are, for example, intermediate parts storage systems (55, 56) for medium and small-format blanks (2) and remnants (3). A further shelf unit (57), e.g. a fifth shelf unit (57), is located between the two workpiece handling devices (31, 41).This fifth shelf unit (57) can be operated both with the first workpiece handling device (31) and by means of the second workpiece handling device (41). The fifth shelf unit (57) and the sixth shelf unit (58) located to the left of the second workpiece handling device (41) are constructed, for example, like the shelf units (55, 56) shown in the lower part of the illustration. Machined workpieces (4) can also be temporarily stored in all shelf units (53 - 58). All shelf units (53 - 58) have, for example, the same height. Individual shelf units (53 - 58) or all of the shelf units (53 - 58) can be designed to be movable. For example, the shelf units (55, 56) shown at the bottom of Figure 1 can be movable parallel to the conveying directions (15, 16).They can then be operated by both the first workpiece handling device (31) and the second workpiece handling device (41).
[0026] The flow storage system (51) is designed such that workpieces (1; 2; 3; 4) can be stored in at least one workpiece storage location (52) by both the first workpiece handling device (31) and the second workpiece handling device (41). Workpieces (1; 2; 3; 4) can also be removed from this workpiece storage location (52) by both the first workpiece handling device (31) and the second workpiece handling device (41).
[0027] For processing, the workpiece handling device (31; 41) removes a workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) from a workpiece storage location (52) of the flow storage system (51). The workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is identified, for example, by means of the reading device (34). The individual workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is then deposited in the workpiece conveyor system (21) on the workpiece conveyor device (26; 27) provided by the production planning and control system, depending on the transport direction. The workpiece conveyor system (21) conveys the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) to the workstation designated for the next workpiece-specific operation. After completion of the workpiece processing at this, for example, first work station, the workpiece is conveyed by means of the workpiece conveying system (21) either to another work station or to the removal and loading area (24; 25) of the workpiece conveying system (21).The workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is removed from the removal and loading area (24; 25) by means of the pre-planned workpiece handling device (31; 41) and placed in a workpiece storage location (52) of the flow storage system (51). To perform the next work step during workpiece processing, the aforementioned work steps are repeated for this subsequent work step.
[0028] After the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) has been conveyed from the first-mentioned workstation to a further workstation by means of the workpiece conveying system (21), the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is machined at this further workstation in a further operation. The workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) can then be conveyed again either to another workstation or to the flow storage area (51).
[0029] Figure 4 shows a production system (10) with at least two workstations (70, 80; 70, 90; 80, 90) and with a material flow system (20). All, e.g., three, workstations (70, 80, 90) are connected to the material flow system (20). Each of the workstations (70; 80; 90) has a machine tool (71; 81; 91). In the production system (10) shown, one of the machine tools (81) is a sawing machine, and another machine tool (71) is a drilling and milling machine. The machine tool (91) shown in the middle is an edge banding machine.
[0030] In this embodiment, the material flow system (20) has three workpiece conveying systems (21, 28, 29). Each of the workpiece conveying systems (21; 28; 29) runs between a workstation (70; 80; 90) and a workpiece handling device (31; 41). The individual workpiece conveying system (21; 28; 29) has two workpiece conveying devices (26, 27) that are located next to one another and arranged parallel to one another. The conveying directions (15, 16) of these two workpiece conveying devices (26, 27) of a workpiece conveying system (21; 28; 29) point in opposite directions. All workpiece conveying devices (26, 27) are designed, for example, as described in connection with the first embodiment.
[0031] All workpiece conveying systems (21, 28, 29) extend into the working space (35; 45) of the workpiece handling device (31; 41), so that all workpiece conveying devices (26, 27) penetrate into the working space (35; 45). The workpiece handling device (31; 41) shown is constructed, for example, in the same way as the workpiece handling devices (31; 41) described in connection with the previous embodiment.
[0032] The flow storage system (51) is shown in this illustration with three shelving units (55, 57, 58). All shelving units (55, 57, 58) are located within the workspace (35; 45) of the workpiece handling device (31; 41). If necessary, the individual shelving units (55, 57, 58) can be designed to be movable.
[0033] The workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) to be machined is removed from a workpiece storage location (52) of the flow storage (51) by means of the workpiece handling device (31; 41) and transferred to one of the workpiece conveying systems (21; 28; 29). The workpiece identifier (5) of the individual workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is identified. For example, the first workpiece conveying system (21) conveys the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) to a first work station (80), e.g., by means of a first workpiece conveying device (26). The machine tool (81) of this first work station (80) is, for example, a sawing machine. The individual workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is separated by means of the sawing machine, so that, e.g., two or more workpieces (2; 3; 4) are produced as intermediate products. All intermediate products (2; 3; 4) are coded, for example, by means of a workpiece marking device (82) arranged on the sawing machine (81). The workpiece marking device (82) can, for example,This can be, for example, a stamping device, an engraving device, a printing device, etc. Before, during, or after the separating processing at this workstation (80), each workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is individually marked using the marking device (82). For example, additional workpiece numbers are specified for this purpose by the production planning and control system.
[0034] The workpieces (1; 2; 3; 4) are conveyed individually, for example, by means of the workpiece conveying system (21) of the material flow system (20) into the work area (35; 45) of the workpiece handling device (41; 41). The workpiece handling device (31; 41) identifies the individual workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4). Depending on the pre-planned machining sequence, this workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is transferred by means of the workpiece handling device (31; 41) either to another workpiece conveying system (28; 29; 21) or to the flow storage area (51).
[0035] The further workpiece conveying system (28; 29; 21) conveys the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) to a further workstation (70; 90; 80). At this workstation, for example, a drilling and milling machine (71) or an edge banding machine (91) is located. The latter machine tool (91) is used, for example, to join an edge veneer to a workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4). After completion of processing on this machine tool (71; 91), the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is again conveyed by the material flow system (20) either to a further workstation (70; 80; 90) or transferred to the flow storage area (51).
[0036] During a transfer to the flow storage (51), the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is removed from the workpiece conveyor system (21; 28; 29) by means of the workpiece handling device (31; 41) and placed in a workpiece storage location (52) of the flow storage (51).
[0037] Figure 5 shows another arrangement of a production system (10). This production system (10) also has a material flow system (20) and several, e.g., three, workstations (70, 80, 90). The workstations (70, 80, 90) are constructed, for example, in the same way as the workstations (70, 80, 90) described in connection with the illustration in Figure 4.
[0038] The material flow system (20) of this embodiment has a workpiece conveyor system (21; 28; 29) with two workpiece conveyors (26, 27), two workpiece handling devices (31, 41), and a flow storage system (51). The workpiece conveyor system (21; 28; 29) is, for example, oval in the plan view shown. The two workpiece conveyors (26, 27) are arranged next to one another, for example, and are at a constant distance from one another. Their conveying directions (15, 16) point in opposite directions. The structure of the individual workpiece conveyors (26; 27) corresponds to the structure described in connection with the previous embodiments.
[0039] The two workpiece handling devices (31, 41) and the flow storage (51) are located, for example, outside the space enclosed by the workpiece conveyor system (21; 28; 29). It is also conceivable to arrange the workpiece handling devices (31, 41) and / or the flow storage (51) within the space enclosed by the workpiece conveyor system (21; 28; 29). The workpiece handling devices (31, 41) and the shelf units (55, 57, 58) of the flow storage (51) are designed, for example, as described in connection with the previous embodiments.
[0040] After a workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) has been removed from a workpiece storage location (52) of the flow storage system (51), the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is transferred to the workpiece conveying system (21) by means of the workpiece handling device (31; 41). Depending, for example, on the capacity utilization and / or availability of the individual workpiece conveying device (26; 27), the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is placed on the inner workpiece conveying device (26; 27) or the outer workpiece conveying device (27; 26). The workpiece conveying system (21; 28; 29) conveys the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) to the workstation (70; 80; 90) by means of the workpiece conveying device (26; 27).
[0041] After completion of the processing at the individual work station (70; 80; 90), the respective workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is conveyed by means of the material flow system (20) either to another work station (80; 90; 70) or taken into the flow storage (51).
[0042] Combinations of the individual embodiments are also conceivable. Reference symbols:
[0043] 1 workpiece, blank
[0044] 2 machined workpiece, first workpiece part,
[0045] Cutting, intermediate product
[0046] 3 machined workpiece, second workpiece part,
[0047] Remaining piece, intermediate product
[0048] 4 End product
[0049] 5 Workpiece identification
[0050] 10 Production system
[0051] 15 Conveying direction
[0052] 16 Conveying direction
[0053] 20 Material flow system
[0054] 21 Workpiece conveyor system
[0055] 22 roller conveyor
[0056] 23 rolls
[0057] 24 Removal and loading area
[0058] 25 Removal and loading area
[0059] 26 Workpiece conveyor device
[0060] 27 Workpiece conveyor device
[0061] 28 Workpiece conveyor system
[0062] 29 Workpiece conveyor system
[0063] 31 Workpiece handling device, industrial robot
[0064] 32 Robot hand
[0065] 33 Workpiece gripping device
[0066] 34 Reading device
[0067] 35 work space
[0068] 41 Workpiece handling device, industrial robot
[0069] 44 Reading device 45 Working space
[0070] 51 Flow storage, rack storage
[0071] 52 workpiece storage locations
[0072] 53 shelving units, first shelving unit, large-parts warehouse
[0073] 54 shelving units, second shelving unit, large parts warehouse
[0074] 55 shelving units, third shelving units, intermediate parts storage
[0075] 56 shelving units, fourth shelving unit, intermediate parts storage
[0076] 57 shelving units, fifth shelving unit
[0077] 58 shelving units, sixth shelving unit
[0078] 70 workstations
[0079] 71 Machine tool, cutting machine tool, drilling and milling machine
[0080] 80 workstation, first workstation
[0081] 81 Machine tool, cutting machine tool, sawing machine
[0082] 82 Workpiece marking device
[0083] 90 workstations
[0084] 91 Machine tool, joining machine, edge banding machine
Claims
Patent claims:
1. Material flow system (20) comprising at least one workpiece conveying system (21; 28; 29), at least one workpiece handling device (31; 41) and a flow storage system (51), - wherein the flow storage (51) has a plurality of workpiece storage locations (52) for one workpiece each (1; 2; 3; 4), - wherein each workpiece storage location (52) is located at least temporarily in the working space (35; 45) of the workpiece handling device (31; 41) and - wherein the workpiece conveying system (21; 28; 29) penetrates into the working space (35; 45) of the workpiece handling device (31; 41) and has two opposing conveying directions (15; 16).
2. Material flow system (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the workpiece conveying system (21; 28; 29) is track-bound.
3. Material flow system (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the workpiece handling device (31; 41) is assigned a removal and loading area (24; 25) of the workpiece conveying system (21; 28; 29).
4. Material flow system (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the individual workpiece handling device (31; 41) is an industrial robot (31; 41) with a workpiece gripping device (33).
5. Material flow system (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the flow storage (51) is designed as a shelf storage (51).
6. Material flow system (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the workpiece handling device (31; 41) has a reading device (34; 44).
7. Production system (10) with a material flow system (20) according to claim 1 and with at least two work stations (70, 80; 70, 90; 80, 90), characterized in that all work stations (70; 80; 90) are connected to the material flow system (20).
8. Production system (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that at least one of the workstations (70; 80; 90) has a separating machine tool (81).
9. Method for operating a production system (10) according to claim 7, - wherein a workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) to be machined is removed from a workpiece handling device (31; 41) by means of the workpiece handling device Workpiece storage location (52) of the flow storage (51) is removed and transferred to the workpiece conveyor system (21; 28; 29), - wherein the workpiece conveyor system (21; 28; 29) conveys the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) to one of the work stations (70; 80; 90) for processing, - wherein the material flow system (20) alternatively conveys each workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) leaving one of the work stations (70; 80; 90) either to another work station (80; 90; 70) or takes it into the flow storage (51) and - wherein the workpiece handling device (31; 41) deposits the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) in the flow storage (51) in a workpiece storage location (52).