Separating device for tubular or rod-shaped workpieces

Abstract

A separating device (10) for controlled separation of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces (40) is provided, the separating device (10) comprising a swivel unit (20) having a storage rack (22) and a lifter (24), where the storage rack (22) is configured for storage of a plurality of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces (40) and the lifter (24) is configured for lifting the workpieces (40) stored in the storage rack (22), and a transport unit (30) having a conveying chute (32) forming an inclined conveying surface (33) for the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces (40), the swivel unit (20) and the transport unit (30) being mutually disposable such that a first pivot axis (26) about which the storage rack (22) of the swivel unit (20) can pivot extends along an upper end (322) of the conveying chute (32) of the transport unit (30). Additionally provided are a loading system including the separation apparatus (10) and a method of using the separation apparatus (10).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of tube processing machines, in particular to a separation device for the controlled separation of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses an apparatus for separating tubular or rod-shaped workpieces, in which the workpieces can be transported by a lifter from a rotatably mounted storage rack or from a rotatably mounted storage cassette over a load end and onto a load surface. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] German Patent Application Publication No. 102020100459A1 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The invention is based on the task of improving the state of the art, in particular by optimizing the separation for fully automatic transport of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces from a storage location to a processing machine. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] To solve the problem on which the invention is based, a separation device for controlled separation of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces is provided, which comprises a swivel unit with a storage rack and a lifter, where the storage rack is designed for storage of a plurality of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces and the lifter is designed for lifting the workpieces stored in the storage rack. By tubular or rod-shaped workpieces is meant in this context a workpiece having a length that is much greater than its cross-section. The tubular or rod-shaped workpieces can in particular have a constant profile over their length and are manufactured from an essentially inflexible material, for example metal. The profile can be open or closed and can furthermore have a rounded or angular contour. The swivel unit and the storage rack can each have an elongated shape, whereby likewise elongated tubular or rod-shaped workpieces can be stored or transported therein. The storage rack can be fixedly integrated in the swivel unit or can be inserted into the swivel unit as a storage cassette or can be removed from the swivel unit. The base area of ​​the storage rack or storage cassette may have a cavity through which a lifter can lift a workpiece in the storage rack. The lifter may include a plurality of posts arranged along the length of the storage rack, each of which may move through a cavity in the base area of ​​the storage rack. The lifter or the lifter posts may form a support surface for the workpieces stored in the storage rack, the support surface being parallel to the base surface of the storage rack or inclined at an angle (e.g., about 10°) relative to the base surface of the storage rack.

[0006] The separating device further comprises a conveying unit having a conveying chute forming an inclined conveying surface for the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces. The inclination of the conveying surface is understood to be with respect to the horizontal. The conveying chute can include a plurality of conveying rails arranged adjacent to one another along a longitudinal side of the conveying unit and forming the conveying surface as a whole by their respective surfaces.

[0007] The swivel unit and the transport unit can be arranged relative to each other such that a first pivot axis about which the storage rack of the swivel unit can be swiveled extends along the upper end of the transport chute of the transport unit. Advantageously, the transport unit can be arranged at a predetermined position on the base, while the swivel unit can be arranged to be movable relative to the transport unit on the base. Furthermore, the inclination of the transport surface can have a predetermined fixed angle with respect to the horizontal, which angle can be, for example, 20° to 50°, in particular around 35°. Due to the predetermined angle and the fixed arrangement of the transport belt, the upper end of the transport chute can also preferably have a fixed position. The upper end of the transport chute extends along the length of the transport unit. By upper end of the transport chute is meant a region at the upper end of the transport chute that can extend, for example, up to 50 cm, preferably up to 20 cm, more preferably up to 10 cm, downward in the direction of the inclined transport surface from the outermost upper end of the transport chute.

[0008] The storage rack, which is pivotally mounted about a first pivot axis, the lifter on the one hand, and the transport chute on the other hand, allow the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces to be separated particularly easily and automatically upon correct positioning of the swivel unit relative to the transport unit. Separation of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces is understood to mean the separation of individual or relatively few tubular or rod-shaped workpieces from a large quantity of such workpieces. The workpieces separated from the storage rack by transport to the transport unit can be temporarily stored, for example, at the lower end of the transport chute for further transport to a processing machine.

[0009] According to a preferred variant, the transport unit can have a bridging element, which is pivotally mounted about a second pivot axis at the upper end of the transport chute and is configured to bridge the gap between the upper end of the transport chute and the upper end of the lateral border of the storage rack of the swivel unit. The storage rack thus has at least one lateral border facing the transport unit, at least in the separation position of the swivel unit. As already mentioned above, the storage rack can be configured as a storage cassette. The storage rack or storage cassette can have the shape of an elongated box, for example, with two short and two long lateral borders in the form of side walls or side struts.

[0010] The bridging element may have a width. By width is meant the size of the bridging element transversely to the length of the transport unit. The width of the transport element may for example be at least 5 cm. The bridging element may have a hook-shaped end, which may reach behind the lateral border of the storage rack. The transport unit may also have a number of bridging elements mounted at intervals along the length of the transport unit. If the transport chute is formed from a number of transport rails, a bridging element may preferably be mounted at the upper end of each transport rail.

[0011] If the transport unit has at least one bridging element, the swivel unit and the transport unit can be arranged relative to each other such that the first pivot axis of the swivel unit and the second pivot axis of the bridging element of the transport unit coincide with each other. In other words, in the separation position of the swivel unit, the storage rack and the bridging element can be swiveled about a common pivot axis. In this way, the gap between the upper end of the lateral boundary of the storage rack facing the transport unit and the upper end of the transport chute can be bridged reliably and easily, independent of the inclination of the storage rack, or at least from an inclination of the bottom surface of the storage rack relative to the horizontal of about 15°. In this way, the transport of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces from the storage rack to the transport chute can be improved.

[0012] The upper end of the lateral border of the storage rack can be pivoted around the first pivot axis at a radius that essentially corresponds to the width of the bridging element, thereby ensuring that the bridging element, in the separation position of the pivoting unit, is flush with the upper end of the lateral border of the storage rack and reliably bridges the gap between the transport chute and the storage rack without protruding too far beyond the lateral border on the inside of the storage rack. In this context, the expression "essentially" should be understood as meaning that the bridging element can be located at the upper end of the lateral border of the storage rack when the pivoting unit is in the separation position.

[0013] The upper end of the conveying chute can also be formed without a bridging element. In this case, it is particularly advantageous to keep the gap between the upper end of the conveying chute and the lateral border of the storage rack as small as possible (for example less than 5 cm, preferably less than 2 cm, more preferably less than 1 cm) in order to ensure reliable separation of the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces. For example, the upper end of the conveying chute can be formed rounded, with the radius of the rounding extending around an axis that coincides with the first pivot axis when the swivel unit is in the separation position.

[0014] The transport unit has one or more followers arranged displaceable in the transport direction along the transport surface, by means of which the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces, which have been lifted by the lifter from the storage rack beyond the upper end of the lateral boundary and have reached the transport surface of the transport chute, can be transported in a controlled manner along the transport surface. The transport speed of the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces on the transport chute can be controlled by the followers, which are preferably motor-driven, independently of the inclination of the transport chute or of the transport surface. By means of at least one follower, the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces can also be transported in the reverse direction upwards on the transport chute from the lower end of the transport chute and pushed into the storage rack. Each follower can include a suitable sensor system, which detects the number of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces in contact with the follower, for example by a change in weight.

[0015] The conveying chute may include a plurality of conveying rails which together form a conveying surface. A follower may be movably arranged on each conveying rail, the follower preferably being capable of moving synchronously with one another.

[0016] The swivel unit of the separation device can have a base module and a swivel module that can be swiveled. The storage rack can then be arranged on the swivel module. The base module then provides a bearing for the swivel movement of the swivel module. Preferably, the swivel module can have an at least partially arcuate outer contour that extends radially around the first swivel axis. Furthermore, the swivel unit can have a drive with a drive wheel that is arranged on the base module and can be engaged or is in engagement with the arcuate outer contour of the swivel module for swivel of the swivel module. The swivel unit has a drive with a drive wheel that is arranged on the base module and can be engaged or is in engagement with the arcuate outer contour of the swivel module for swivel of the swivel module. In particular, the swivel drive can be formed as a rack-and-pinion drive, whereby a corresponding arcuate rack is attached to the arcuate outer contour of the swivel module, whereby the drive wheel is formed as a gear or a toothed pinion.

[0017] The base module may further comprise an arc-shaped groove, which in particular extends concentrically with respect to the arc-shaped outer contour in the radial direction around the first pivot axis. In this case, rollers may be arranged on the base frame, which engage in the arc-shaped 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 is advantageous for a particularly slim design of the pivot unit. At the same time, large loads can be transferred in the rack-and-pinion drive.

[0018] The swivel unit is movable. For this purpose, corresponding wheels can be arranged on the base module of the swivel unit. In particular, the swivel unit can be moved on the wheels in a transverse direction relative to the transport unit. For example, the swivel unit can be loaded with a storage cassette filled with tubular or rod-shaped workpieces in a loading position away from the transport unit, whereby the swivel module is swiveled to the loading position (e.g. horizontal orientation of the storage cassette). For separation of the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces, the swivel unit is moved to the transport unit towards the separation position, in which the first pivot axis extends in the upper end of the transport chute. In the separation position, the swivel module can be swiveled, for example by 35°, from one, in particular horizontal orientation (e.g. loading orientation) to a separation orientation, and one or more of the workpieces accommodated in the storage cassette can be lifted or pushed by one or more lifters beyond the lateral boundaries of the storage cassette onto the transport chute.

[0019] The separating device may further comprise a control unit, which is configured to automatically control the pivoting movement of the pivoting unit, the lifting movement of the lifter, and the moving movement of the at least one follower, such that a desired number of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces arranged on the storage rack are separated from the storage rack via the transport unit. Additionally or alternatively, the control device may be configured to transport the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces by the at least one follower from the lower end of the transport chute via the upper end of the transport chute to the storage rack.

[0020] The separating device may further comprise a sensor, which detects, for example, the loading amount of workpieces in the storage rack or the presence of individual workpieces on the transport unit and transmits this to the control unit.

[0021] In order to solve the problem on which the invention is based, a loading system for loading tubular or rod-shaped workpieces into a processing machine 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 load area, a processing area and an unload area. The processing area can preferably comprise a laser processing unit, which is especially designed for cutting and / or welding tubular or rod-shaped workpieces. The loading system further comprises a separating device according to one of the above-mentioned variants. The loading system further comprises a loading device arranged between a transport unit of the separating device and a load area of ​​the processing machine, the loading device having at least one gripper configured for removing individual tubular or rod-shaped workpieces from the transport unit and transporting them to the load area of ​​the processing machine.

[0022] The loading system may further comprise a shelf configured for receiving storage racks or storage cassettes. In this case, the swivel unit of the separating device is configured to move back and forth between the shelf and the transport unit of the separating device in order to load the storage racks with tubular or rod-shaped workpieces on the shelf and to separate the workpieces in cooperation with the transport unit. The shelf may preferably comprise a loading and unloading system by means of which the storage cassettes (storage racks), in particular empty storage cassettes (storage racks), can be automatically removed from the rotating unit of the separating device and loaded with full storage cassettes. For the exchange of the storage cassettes, the swivel unit can be moved to a loading position of the shelf.

[0023] In order to achieve the object of the present invention, a method for loading tubular or rod-shaped workpieces into a processing machine using a separating device as described above is also provided, in which the transport unit of the separating device has at least one driver. The method comprises in a first step loading tubular or rod-shaped workpieces into a storage rack. For this purpose, the swivel unit can, for example, move up to a shelf and load the filled storage cassettes by means of a loading and unloading system as described above. Alternatively, the storage rack can also be loaded while the swivel unit is directly next to the transport unit in the separation position, in which case the storage rack can be swiveled into a loading orientation, in particular a horizontal loading orientation, for loading the storage rack.

[0024] When the storage rack is installed and the swivel unit is in the unloading position, the method comprises in a second step pivoting the swivel unit from the installation orientation to the unloading orientation, for which the swivel unit or a swivel module of the swivel unit can be pivoted by a predeterminable tilt angle, for example between 20° and 50°, for example by about 35°.

[0025] In a third step, the method includes lifting the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces in the storage rack by using a lifter until at least one of the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces abuts against at least one following body. In other words, the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces stored in the storage rack are lifted by the lifter and moved along a lateral boundary of the storage rack, which is 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, passes over the transport unit, and is held by at least one following body.

[0026] In a fourth step, the method comprises lowering at least one follower along the conveying surface of the conveying unit. For controlled separation of the workpieces, the at least one follower can be lowered on the conveying chute, for example, until a predetermined number of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces are on the conveying chute. The lifter can then be lowered again until the remaining workpieces are at least below the upper end of the lateral boundary. The follower can then be moved further down along the conveying chute to a lower end position, in which the separated workpieces can be removed for further transport to the processing machine.

[0027] It is understood that the separating device can also be used for unloading tubular or rod-shaped workpieces from the loading area of ​​the tube processing machine. In this case, the above-mentioned method steps can be carried out in the reverse order, the orientation of the swiveling unit being irrelevant. Basically, it is sufficient that the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces on the transport chute are pushed over the upper end of the transport chute into the storage rack by one or more drivers. In this case, the lifter in its lowered position is advantageous, since it allows the workpieces to be transported to the storage rack without being hindered by the lifted workpieces in the storage rack. After the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces have been returned to the storage rack, the swiveling unit can, for example, be moved from the separating position to an unloading position on the shelf, in which the storage rack, which in this case can be embodied as a storage cassette, can be removed and transferred to the shelf. During unloading, the swiveling unit can be preferably swiveled into a horizontal position.

[0028] The following description of preferred embodiments, taken together with the drawings, will serve to explain the present invention in more detail. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1a] 1 is a side view of a separating device according to the present invention for separating tubular or rod-shaped workpieces; [Figure 1b]FIG. 1b is a partial view of the separating device according to FIG. 1a at the junction between the turning unit and the transport unit; [Diagram 2] FIG. 1b is an isometric view of the separation device according to FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 shows a loading system according to the present invention for loading a tubular or rod-shaped workpiece into a processing machine. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] For simplicity, elements having the same function or configuration are designated by the same reference symbols in the figures.

[0031] 1a and 2 respectively show a separation device 10 in a side view (FIG. 1a) and in an isometric view (FIG. 2). Both devices 10 shown are identically constructed, with the separation device 10 additionally housing a number of tubes 40 in the view according to FIG. 1a.

[0032] The separating device 10 comprises a swivel unit 20 with a storage rack 22 and a lifter 24. The storage rack 22 is designed for storage of a plurality of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces 40, the lifter 24 being designed for lifting the workpieces 40 stored in the storage rack 22. The storage rack 22 can be designed as a removable, essentially box-shaped storage rack 22, which has a cavity at its bottom through which a corresponding, movably mounted, lifter 24 can be moved (see FIG. 2). The separating device 10 also comprises a transport unit 30 with a conveying chute 32, which forms an inclined conveying surface 33 for the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces 40. In the illustrated variant, the conveying chute 32 consists of a plurality of conveying rails arranged adjacent to one another along the length of the conveying unit. Each conveying rail is fitted with a follower 38 which is movable along the conveying surface 33. The swivel unit 20 also has a lamellar-like structure in which identical modules are arranged adjacent to one another along the length of the swivel unit 20. This structure allows the length of the separating device 10 to be easily adjusted. For example, the swivel unit 20 and the conveying unit 30 can each have a length of about 6.5 m or, according to larger implementations, a length of about 8 m or about 12 m. The weight of the separating device and its load-bearing capacity are also influenced by the number and spacing of identical elements arranged adjacent to one another. The separating device 10 can be designed in particular for separating metallic, tubular or rod-shaped workpieces 40 with a total weight of at least 1 ton. This means that, for example, pipes with a total weight of 3 to 4 tonnes can be accommodated in the storage rack 22.

[0033] The swivel unit 20 comprises a base module 202 and a swivel module 204, which has an arc-shaped groove that is mounted on two support wheels fixed to the base module 202. Wheels 29 are further arranged on the base module 202, on which the swivel unit 20 can be moved relative to the transport unit 30. The swivel movement of the swivel module 204 is realized by means of a rack-and-pinion drive, whereby a drive with a pinion 28 is arranged on the base module 202, which engages with an arc-shaped rack of the swivel module 204, which extends in a radial direction around a first pivot axis 26 of the swivel unit.

[0034] In Fig. 1a and Fig. 2, the swivel unit 20 and the transport unit 30 are arranged relative to one another in such a way that the first pivot axis 26, about which the swivel module 204 together with the storage rack 22 can be swiveled, runs along the upper end 322 of the transport chute 32 of the transport unit 30. In Fig. 1a and Fig. 2, the swivel unit 20 is in the transfer orientation. This means that the swivel module 204 with the storage rack 22 is swiveled through an angle relative to the horizontal, whereby the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces 40 accommodated in the storage rack 22 are tilted over the upper end of the lateral boundary 222 onto the transport chute 32. The number of workpieces 40 to be separated can be set precisely by the angle of the swivel movement and the translation movement of the lifter 24. Furthermore, the separation can be monitored and / or controlled by one or more followers 38.

[0035] The transport unit 30 may have a bridging element 34 at the upper end 322 of the transport chute 32, as shown diagrammatically in the detailed view of FIG. 1b. Preferably, a bridging element 34 may be arranged on each transport rail, which bridges the gap G between the upper end 322 of the transport chute 32 and the upper end of the lateral boundary 222 of the storage rack 22 when the pivoting unit 20 is in the separation position. For this purpose, the or each bridging element 34 has a corresponding width W. The bridging element 34 may also be hook-shaped at its outer end, whereby the bridging element 34 can engage beyond the upper end of the lateral boundary 222. The bridging element 34 is attached to the upper end 322 of the transport chute 32 in such a way that the pivotable second pivot axis 36 of the bridging element 34 coincides with the first pivot axis 26 of the pivoting unit 20 when the pivoting unit 20 is in the separation position.

[0036] 3 shows a loading system 100 according to the invention for loading and / or unloading tubular or rod-shaped workpieces 40 into a processing machine. 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 load area 52, a processing area 54 and an unload area 56. The loading system further comprises a separating device 10, as described above in relation to FIGS. 1a, 1b and 2. Between the transport unit 30 of the separating device 10 and the load area 52 of the processing machine 50, the loading system 100 further comprises a loading device 60 with at least one gripper, which is configured to remove the individual tubular or rod-shaped workpieces 40 from the transport unit 30 and transport them to the load area 52 of the processing machine 50. On the side of the separating device 10 remote from the processing, the loading system 100 further comprises a shelf 70 on which a plurality of storage cassettes or storage racks 22 are stored. The rotating unit 20 mounts the storage rack 22, which is equipped with the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces 40, on a shelf 70, and is movably attached so as to be able to reciprocate between the shelf 70 and the transport unit 30 in order to separate the workpieces 40 in cooperation with the transport unit 30. It is understood that the workpieces 40 can also be transported by the loading device 60 and the separating device 10 from the load area 52 of the processing machine 50 to the storage rack 22 in the reverse manner and transferred to the shelf 70.

[0037] A typical loading process is described below. The storage cassette 22 is loaded from the shelf 70 to the swivel unit 20 by the loading and unloading system of the shelf 70, for which the swivel unit 20 is moved to a loading position on the shelf 70 and swiveled to the loading position. The storage cassette 22 is moved by the swivel unit 20 towards the transport unit 30 until the separation position is reached. Subsequent rotation of the swivel module 204 of the swivel unit 20 tilts the storage cassette 22 towards the transport chute 32. In combination with the movement of the swivel unit 20 by the lifter 24, at least one tubular or rod-shaped workpiece 40 is separated by being conveyed by gravity via the bridging element 34 onto the transport chute 32 of the transport unit 30. At least one workpiece 40 is conveyed along the transport surface 33 of the transport chute 32 by a driver 38 which is part of the transport unit. At the lower end of the transport chute 32, a downstream loading device 60 can take out the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces 40 and transport them to the processing machine 50. For this purpose, the driver 38 can be moved to a position where it does not interfere with the loading process of the loading device 60.

[0038] Furthermore, the reverse conveying direction is also conceivable. The tubular or rod-shaped workpieces 40 are placed on the conveying chute 32 of the conveying unit 30 by an external device, for example the loading device 60. The conveying unit then conveys the workpieces 40 by means of the driver 38 in the direction of the swivel unit 20 and pushes them into the receiving cassette 22 via the bridge element 34. In this case, the lifter 24 is preferably in the lowered position. The swivel module 204 of the swivel unit 20 is then swiveled to a horizontal unloading position and can be moved to the shelf 70 in the unloading position, in which the receiving cassette 22 is removed from the loading and unloading system of the swivel unit 20 and transferred to the shelf 70. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 10 Separation device 20 Rotating Unit 202 Bass Module 204 Swivel Module 22 Storage Rack 222 Horizontal Boundary 24 Lifter 26 First Pivot Axis 28 Drive Wheel 29 Swivel unit wheels 30 Transport unit 32 Transport Chute 322 Upper end of conveying chute 33 Conveying surface 34 Bridging Elements 36 Second Pivot Axis 38 Group of People 40 Tubular or rod-shaped workpieces 50 Processing machine 52 Loading area for processing machines 54 Processing area of ​​processing machine 56 Unloading area for processing machines 60 Loading Device 70 Shelves 100 Loading System G Gap W Width of the bridging element

Claims

1. A separation device (10) for the controlled separation of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces (40), comprising: A rotating unit (20) having a storage rack (22) and a lifter (24), wherein the storage rack (22) is configured for storing a plurality of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces (40), and the lifter (24) is configured for lifting the workpieces (40) stored in the storage rack (22); a conveying unit (30) having a conveying chute (32) forming an inclined conveying surface (33) for the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces (40); The separating device (10), wherein the rotating unit (20) and the conveying unit (30) can be arranged relative to each other such that a first pivot axis (26) about which the storage rack (22) of the rotating unit (20) can pivot extends along an upper end (322) of the conveying chute (32) of the conveying unit (30).

2. the transport unit (30) has a bridging element (34), which is pivotally attached around a second pivot axis (36) at the upper end (322) of the transport chute (32), and which is formed to bridge a gap (S) between the upper end (322) of the transport chute (32) and an upper end of a lateral boundary portion (222) of the storage rack (22) of the pivot unit (20); The spanning element (34) has a predetermined width (W); 2. The separating device (10) of claim 1, wherein the rotating unit (20) and the conveying unit (30) are arranged relative to each other such that the first pivot axis (26) of the rotating unit (20) and the second pivot axis (36) of the bridge element (34) of the conveying unit (30) coincide with each other.

3. 3. The separating device (10) of claim 2, wherein the upper end of the lateral boundary portion (222) of the storage rack (22) is pivotable about the first pivot axis (26) at a predetermined radius, the radius essentially corresponding to the width (W) of the bridge element (34).

4. The separating device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the conveying unit (30) has one or more followers (38) arranged displaceably in the conveying direction along the conveying surface (33), whereby tubular or rod-shaped workpieces (40) that have been lifted by the lifter (24) from the storage rack (22) beyond the upper end of the lateral boundary portion (222) and reached the conveying surface (33) of the conveying chute (32) can be conveyed along the conveying surface (33) in a controlled manner.

5. The pivoting unit (20) comprises a base module (202) and a pivoting module (204); and / or the storage rack (22) is disposed on the pivoting module (204); and / or the pivot module (204) has an at least partially arcuate outer contour extending radially about the first pivot axis (26); and / or The separating device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rotating unit (20) has a drive section having a drive wheel (28) arranged on the base module (202) and engaging with the arcuate outer contour of the rotating module (204) for rotating the rotating module (204).

6. The separating device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the turning unit (20) is movable.

7. Further comprising a control unit, The separation device (10) described in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control unit is configured to automatically control the rotating operation of the rotating unit, the lifting operation of the lifter, and the moving operation of at least one follower so that a desired number of tubular or rod-shaped workpieces (40) arranged on the storage rack (22) are separated from the storage rack via the transport unit (30).

8. A loading system (100) for loading a tubular or rod-shaped workpiece into a processing machine (50), comprising: a processing machine (50) for processing a tubular or rod-shaped workpiece (40) having a load area (52), a processing area (54), and an unload area (56); A separation device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, A loading system (100) comprising: a loading device (60) arranged between the conveying unit (30) of the separating device (10) and the load area (52) of the processing machine (50), the loading device (60) having at least one gripper configured to remove individual tubular or rod-shaped workpieces (40) from the conveying unit (30) and transport them to the load area (52) of the processing machine (50).

9. Further, a shelf (70) configured for receiving the storage rack (22) is provided, The loading system (100) of claim 8, wherein the rotating unit (20) of the separation device (10) is configured to mount the storage rack (22) equipped with tubular or rod-shaped workpieces (40) on the shelf (70), and to move back and forth between the shelf (70) and the transport unit (30) of the separation device (10) in order to separate the workpieces (40) in conjunction with the transport unit (30).

10. A method for loading tubular or rod-shaped workpieces (40) into a processing machine (50) using a separating device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the transport unit (30) of the separating device (10) has at least one follower (38), the method comprising: A step of mounting a tubular or rod-shaped workpiece (40) on the storage rack (22); rotating the rotation unit from an installation orientation to a separation orientation; Lifting the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces (40) in the storage rack using the lifter (24) until at least one of the tubular or rod-shaped workpieces (40) abuts against at least one follower; lowering at least one follower (38) along said conveying surface (33) of said conveying unit (30), in this order.

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