Method and apparatus for individualizing workpieces

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for removing a plate-like first workpiece (12) from a top surface (14) of a stack (16) of plate-like other workpieces (18a, 18b) in a successive direction of the plate-like other workpieces (18a, 18b), in which a gripper (22) moves the first workpiece (12) away from a second workpiece (20), the second workpiece (20) being an adjacent workpiece to the first workpiece (12) of the stack (16) of the other workpieces (18a, 18b). A separating layer (34) is run into a gap (46) between the raised corner (23) of the first workpiece (12) and the second workpiece (20) and is moved at least partially over the second workpiece (20). The first workpiece (12) is moved away from the stack (16) of the other workpieces (18a, 18b).

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] Background of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for removing a plate-shaped first workpiece from the upper surface of a stack of another plate-shaped workpiece in the continuous direction of these other workpieces. The present invention particularly relates to an apparatus for individuating workpieces for carrying out such a method.

[0002] Based on German Patent Invention No. 112012006565, a method for individuating metal sheets is known. In this method, a metal sheet is lifted from a stack of a plurality of metal sheet pieces, and then a separating element is introduced between the lifted metal sheet and the metal sheet adjacent to the lower side of the lifted metal sheet. Then, the lifted metal sheet is removed from the metal sheet stack.

[0003] The disadvantage is that adjacent metal sheets remain partially attached to the lifted metal sheet and are moved partially together with this metal sheet when the lifted metal sheet is removed. Separating the lifted metal sheet from the adjacent metal sheet requires a relatively long time and may cause movement or deformation of the adjacent metal sheet in some cases. Means for improving separation require additional auxiliary means such as compressed air.

[0004] Problems to be Solved by the Invention Therefore, the problem of the present invention is to provide a method for individuating plate-shaped workpieces that mechanically and simply separates plate-shaped workpieces from each other quickly. Another problem of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for carrying out this method.

[0005] Description of the Invention This problem is solved by the method according to claim 1 according to the present invention. The features of the apparatus according to the present invention are described in claim 7. Preferred configurations are described in the dependent claims.

[0006] The method according to the present invention comprises the following steps, namely a) A step of lifting the first workpiece with a gripper, b) The step of inserting a separation layer between the lifted corner of the first workpiece and a second workpiece adjacent to the first workpiece in a stack of other workpieces, c) A step of holding down a stack of other workpieces with a separation layer, d) The step of removing the first workpiece from a stack of other workpieces, e) A step of measuring the thickness of the first workpiece (12) It has.

[0007] The step of holding down the stack of other workpieces causes the separation layer to hold the other workpiece, particularly the second workpiece, in its position, so that the second workpiece can be removed from the first workpiece relatively quickly without changing its position. The step of holding down the stack of other workpieces mechanically ensures that the additional workpiece is not separated and removed from the stack together with the first workpiece. The separation layer may be moved away by a gripper. Preferably, there are no additional auxiliary means or contours (e.g., nozzles for compressed air) that would make gripping the first workpiece difficult or cause a time delay during gripping and would individualize the first workpiece. Separation of corners is particularly advantageous because it allows two adjacent edges of the workpiece to be removed at least partially simultaneously. This results in a reduction in the time and cost of the method.

[0008] The separation layer may have at least one nozzle, and more particularly, multiple nozzles. The nozzles may be provided on one end face of the separation layer. During the implementation of the method, gas, particularly compressed air, may be discharged from the nozzles at least temporarily. Alternatively, suction may be performed by the nozzles.

[0009] In step b), the separator is run over at least a portion of the second workpiece that is covered by the separator. Retaining is understood to mean, in particular, the separator blocking the movement of this covered portion of the second workpiece toward the first workpiece and / or applying a force to this portion of the second workpiece directed toward away from the first workpiece. The force is directed toward another workpiece beneath the second workpiece.

[0010] According to a favorable configuration of the method, after a separation layer is inserted between the lifted corner and an adjacent second workpiece, the gripper is removed from the first workpiece. This allows a conveying device for removing the first workpiece to grip the first workpiece in all sections of its surface.

[0011] In another configuration of the method, after a separation layer is inserted between the lifted corner and an adjacent second workpiece, the stack of another workpiece is moved and / or rotated.

[0012] To accelerate the separation of the first workpiece from the second workpiece, the second workpiece can be guided along the separation layer. The movement and / or rotation of the stack can be performed using a bearing carriage.

[0013] The separation layer is formed as a strip according to a preferred variation of the present method. The strip preferably has a relatively large surface area, thus enabling rapid separation of the first workpiece from the second workpiece.

[0014] In particular, thickness measurement allows for verification of whether only the first workpiece was lifted from the stack of the other workpiece, or whether the other workpiece was mistakenly lifted and / or removed from the stack of the other workpiece. The thickness of the first workpiece can be measured before and / or after inserting the separator between the first and second workpieces.

[0015] In a preferred configuration of the method, a separation layer is inserted between a separation section of a first workpiece, including a raised corner, and an adjacent second workpiece, wherein the separation section includes the raised corner, the adjacent corner, and the edges between these corners. The separation is performed simultaneously across the entire width of each workpiece between two opposite edges, thereby enabling particularly rapid separation.

[0016] The apparatus according to the present invention removes a plate-shaped first workpiece from the top surface of a stack of another plate-shaped workpiece in the continuous direction of the other workpiece, comprising the following elements, namely i) A gripper for gripping a first workpiece, equipped with a drive mechanism for moving the gripper along the stroke axis of the apparatus, ii) A separation layer oriented perpendicular to the stroke axis, comprising positioning means for moving the separation layer along the stroke axis and perpendicular to the stroke axis, iii) A conveying device for removing a first workpiece from a stack of other workpieces, iv) After removing the first workpiece (12) from the stack (16) of other workpieces (18a, 18b), a thickness measuring instrument (32) is used to measure the thickness of the first workpiece (12) It has.

[0017] Advantageously, such a device can hold in place the stack of another workpiece during the separation of the first workpiece from the second workpiece. This mechanically accelerates the separation process in a simple and stable manner.

[0018] The continuity direction is understood to be, in particular, preferably, the continuity direction of the workpiece from below toward the first workpiece.

[0019] This apparatus is preferably configured to carry out the methods described herein.

[0020] In an advantageous embodiment of the device, the separation layer is formed as a strip. The strip has a relatively large area, whereby the separation process is carried out relatively quickly.

[0021] In another embodiment, the separation device is formed as a thin metal plate in the shape of a plate. Such a separation layer can be manufactured relatively easily.

[0022] By measuring the thickness of the lifted first workpiece, it is possible to check, in particular, whether only the first workpiece has been lifted or whether another workpiece has also been accidentally lifted.

[0023] The features described for the method can be used in the device and vice versa.

[0024] Another advantage of the present invention is apparent from the description and the drawings. Similarly, the features described above and the features described below can be used either alone by themselves or in any combination of a plurality of features. The illustrated and described embodiments are not to be understood as a limiting listing, but rather have an exemplary character for the description of the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025] [Figure 1] It is a schematic view showing a cross section of a device for individuating a plate-shaped first workpiece. [Figure 2] It is a schematic view showing a cross section of the device, in which a thickness measuring instrument is measuring the thickness of the first workpiece. [Figure 3] It is a schematic view showing a cross section of the device, in which the separation layer is being run below the corner of the first workpiece. [Figure 4] It is a schematic view showing a cross section of the device in a horizontal plane. [Figure 5] It is a schematic view showing a cross section of the device, in which the first workpiece has been removed.

[0026] Figure 1 schematically shows a cross-section of a device 10 that removes a plate-shaped first workpiece 12 from the upper surface 14 of a stack 16 of other plate-shaped workpieces 18a and 18b in the direction of continuity between these other workpieces 18a and 18b (for clarity, only the other workpieces 18a and 18b are given reference numbers). This cross-section is illustrated along a vertical plane passing through the device 10. In particular, the device 10 works to separate the first workpiece 12 from a second workpiece 20 in the stack 16 of other workpieces 18a and 18b. In this case, the second workpiece 20 is adjacent to the first workpiece 12. The first workpiece 12 is lifted at a corner 23 by a gripper 22, which has a first suction unit 24a for sucking up the first workpiece 12. This creates a gap 46 between the lifted corner portion 23 of the first workpiece 12 and the second workpiece 20.

[0027] The gripper 22 is driven by a drive unit 26 located in the support column 28 of the apparatus 10, in the direction of the stroke axis HA of the apparatus 10, parallel to the continuity direction of the other plate-shaped workpieces 18a, 18b in the stack 16. The stroke axis HA of the apparatus 10 extends particularly vertically. The drive unit 26 also moves the first support arm 30 to which the gripper 22 is mounted. This causes the drive unit 26 to also cause motion of the gripper 22 perpendicular to the stroke axis HA of the apparatus 10. The first support arm 30 also movably supports a thickness measuring instrument 32 for measuring the thickness of the first workpiece 12 after it has been removed from the stack 16 of the other workpieces 18a, 18b.

[0028] To separate the first workpiece 12 from the second workpiece 20, the apparatus 10 has a separation layer 34. This separation layer 34 is preferably oriented perpendicular to the stroke axis HA. The separation layer 34 is moved by positioning means 36 via a second support arm 38 along the stroke axis HA and perpendicular to this stroke axis HA. In Figure 1, the separation layer 34 is in the moved position.

[0029] After separating the first workpiece 12 from the second workpiece 20, the first workpiece 12 is removed from the stack 16 of other workpieces 18a, 18b by a transport device 40 having a second suction unit 24b and a third suction unit 24c to grip the first workpiece 12. The transport device 40 is supported by a third support arm 42 so as to be movable in the direction of the stroke axis HA of the device 10.

[0030] Figure 2 shows a cross-section of the apparatus 10, in which the thickness measuring instrument 32 is moved in the direction of the stroke axis HA of the apparatus 10 on the fourth support arm 44 and brought close to the first workpiece 12. The thickness measuring instrument 32 surrounds the first workpiece 12 in the direction of the stroke axis HA of the apparatus 10 and measures the thickness of the workpiece 12 in this direction, thereby checking whether only the first workpiece 12 has been lifted as specified.

[0031] Figure 3 shows a cross-section of the apparatus 10. The separation layer 34, provided on the second support arm 38, is inserted into the gap 46 between the lifted first workpiece 12 and the second workpiece 20. The separation layer 34 is moved from the position shown in Figure 2 into the gap 46 between the first workpiece 12 and the second workpiece 20 by a positioning unit. At the illustrated position where it has been moved, the separation layer 34 blocks the second workpiece 20 and, consequently, blocks the stack 16 of other workpieces 18a and 18b in the direction of the stroke axis HA. This allows the stack 16 of other workpieces 18a and 18b to be fixed in place in order to separate the second workpiece 20 from the first workpiece 12 more quickly.

[0032] Figure 4 shows a cross-section of the apparatus 10 in a horizontal plane passing through the support column 28 and the second support arm 38 at the position shown in Figure 3. The separation layer in the second support arm 38 is indicated by a dashed line and is located beneath the raised corner portion 23 of the first workpiece 12. In one possible configuration of the method, the separation layer 34 is configured to run beneath a separation section 52 of the first workpiece 12, the separation section 52 includes the corner portion 23, adjacent corner portions 48, and the edge 50 between the corner portion 23 and the adjacent corner portions 48.

[0033] Figure 5 shows a cross-section of the apparatus 10. The conveying device 40 is moved by the third support arm 42 to approach the first workpiece 12 along the stroke axis HA of the apparatus 10, thereby removing the first workpiece 12 from the stack 16 of other workpieces 18a and 18b. To this end, the second suction unit 24b and the third suction unit 24c suck up the first workpiece 12. The separation layer 34 is located in the gap 46 between the first workpiece 12 and the second workpiece 20, thereby facilitating or accelerating the separation of the first workpiece 12 and the second workpiece 20. The gripper 22 is movable independently of the separation layer 34 and is positioned in a location accessible by the first support arm 30, thereby enabling improved access to the first workpiece 12 by the conveying device 40.

[0034] Viewing all the drawings together, the present invention relates to a method for removing a plate-shaped first workpiece 12 from the upper surface 14 of a stack 16 of other plate-shaped workpieces 18a, 18b in a continuous direction with respect to the other workpieces 18a, 18b. A gripper 22 moves the first workpiece 12 away from a second workpiece 20. The second workpiece 20 is a workpiece adjacent to the first workpiece 12 in the stack 16 of the other workpieces 18a, 18b. A separation layer 34 is driven into the gap 46 between the lifted corner portion 23 of the first workpiece 12 and the second workpiece 20 and is moved at least partially on the second workpiece 20. The first workpiece 12 is moved away from the stack 16 of the other workpieces 18a, 18b.

Claims

1. A method for removing a plate-shaped first plate material (12) located at the uppermost surface from the upper surface (14) of a stack (16) of other plate-shaped plate materials (18a, 18b) located below the first plate material (12), along the direction of the upper surface of the other plate materials (18a, 18b), a) A step of lifting the first plate material (12) with a gripper (22), b) The step of inserting a separation layer (34) between the raised corner portion (23) of the first plate material (12) and the second plate material (20) adjacent to the first plate material (12) in the stack (16) of the other plate materials (18a, 18b), c) The step of pressing down the stack (16) of the other plate materials (18a, 18b) with the separation layer (34), d) The step of removing the first plate material (12) from the stack (16) of the other plate materials (18a, 18b), e) The step of measuring the thickness of the removed plate material and checking whether only the first plate material (12) has been removed from the stack (16) of other plate materials (18a, 18b), A method comprising the step of inserting the separation layer (34) between the raised corner portion (23) and the adjacent second plate material (20), and then moving and / or rotating the stack (16) of the other plate materials (18a, 18b).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein gas is discharged from at least one nozzle of the separation layer (34) at least temporarily.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the gas is compressed air.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising the step of inserting the separation layer (34) between the raised corner portion (23) and the adjacent second plate material (20), and then removing the gripper (22) from the first plate material (12).

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the separation layer (34) is formed as a strip material.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the separation layer (34) is inserted between a separation section (52) of the first plate material (12) that is separated from the second plate material (20), including the raised corner section (23), and an adjacent second plate material (20), and the separation section (52) includes the raised corner section (23), an adjacent corner section (48) through which the separation layer (34) passes, and an edge (50) between these corner sections (23, 48).

7. An apparatus (10) for removing a plate-shaped first plate material (12) located at the uppermost surface from the upper surface (14) of a stack (16) of other plate-shaped plate materials (18a, 18b) located below the first plate material (12), along the direction of the upper surface of the other plate materials (18a, 18b), wherein the apparatus is configured to carry out the method described in Claim 1, and the apparatus is i) A gripper (22) for gripping the first plate material (12), comprising a drive device (26) for moving the gripper (22) along the stroke axis (HA) of the device (10), ii) A separation layer (34) oriented perpendicular to the stroke axis (HA), comprising positioning means (36) for moving the separation layer (34) along the stroke axis (HA) and perpendicular to the stroke axis (HA), iii) A conveying device (40) for removing the first plate material (12) from the stack (16) of the other plate materials (18a, 18b), iv) After removing the first plate material (12) from the stack (16) of the other plate materials (18a, 18b), a thickness measuring instrument (32) for measuring the thickness of the removed plate material, v) A support carriage for moving and / or rotating the stack (16) of the other plates (18a, 18b) after inserting the separation layer (34) between the raised corner portion (23) and the adjacent second plate (20), A device having.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the separation layer (34) is formed as a strip material.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the separation layer (34) is formed as a thin metal plate in the shape of a plate.

10. The apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the separation layer has at least one nozzle.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the separation layer (34) has a plurality of nozzles.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein at least one nozzle is provided on the end face of the separation layer (34).

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