Plant for sorting cut sheets

Abstract

Plant (1), and relative method, for sorting cut sheets comprising: one or more stacks (5) of storage bays (6) configured to removably accommodate a respective pallet (9), an elevator (20) vertically movable along each of the one or more stacks of storage bays, and comprising, on board the elevator (20), a first handling system (22) to handle a pallet (9) between said staging bay (21) on board of the elevator (20) and each storage bay (6); a sorting system (30) comprising one or more gripping devices (31) configured to pick up and release a sheet piece; and a second handling system (35) to move the sorting system (30) between a first position over the staging bay (21), to allow the one or more gripping devices (31) to pick up from, and release in, the staging bay (21) one or more sheet pieces, and a second position over a work area (4, 6) displaced from the first position, to allow the one or more gripping devices (31) to pick up from, and release in, the work area (4, 6) the sheet pieces.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Title: PLANT FOR SORTING CUT SHEETS

[0003] Technical field of the invention

[0004] The present invention has as object a plant, and a related method, for sorting cut sheets, for example in service to a laser cutting machine.

[0005] State of the art

[0006] Systems for handling sheets are known, used for example for the service to a laser cutting machine 2D.

[0007] For example, EP2164678B1 describes a loading / unloading system for a cutting center, in particular a system of the Cartesian manipulators type.

[0008] Summary of the invention

[0009] By "sheet" is meant a foil, typically substantially rigid or slightly flexible, of any material, e.g., metal (typically) or plastic or glass, of any shape (typically rectangular) and dimensions in plan view, and of any thickness (typically within a few cm or mm).

[0010] By "sorting" cut sheets is meant the operation of picking up pieces already cut in a sheet (originally virgin) and arranging them in an organized manner according to one or more determined criteria (e.g., based on the shape, dimensions, thickness, quality of the sheet pieces and / or based on work orders or orders), that is, in other terms, performing a classification of the pieces. By "to-be-sorted piece" and "sorted piece" is meant the cut piece respectively before and after being subjected to the sorting operation.

[0011] The Applicant has realized that the known methods and systems for sorting cut sheets have some disadvantages or can be improved in certain aspects.

[0012] The Applicant has addressed the problem of performing the sorting of cut sheets with high performance in terms of flexibility in sorting logic, and / or priorities, of sorting, and / or storage capacity of cut sheets (to be sorted) and / or sorted pieces, and / or operating autonomy without human supervision, and / or sorting execution speed, and / or with limited overall dimensions (particularly the footprint in plan view) and / or with limited costs (of initial investment and / or operational costs).

[0013] According to the Applicant, one or more of the above-mentioned problems are solved by a plant and a method in accordance with the attached claims and / or having one or more of the following characteristics.

[0014] According to an aspect the invention relates on a plant for sorting cut sheets comprising: - one or more stacks of storage bays, wherein each storage bay is configured to removably accommodate a respective pallet, - an elevator vertically movable along each of said one or more stacks of storage bays, and comprising, on board the elevator:

[0015] - a staging bay configured to support a respective pallet,

[0016] - a first handling system structured to handle said respective pallet between said staging bay and each of said storage bays along a first horizontal direction;

[0017] - a sorting system comprising one or more gripping devices, each gripping device being configured to pick up and release a sheet piece; and

[0018] - a second handling system structured to move said sorting system along said first direction between a first position over said staging bay, to allow said one or more gripping devices to pick up from, and release in, said staging bay one or more sheet pieces, and a second position over a work area displaced from said first position, to allow said one or more gripping devices to pick up from, and release in, said work area said one or more sheet pieces.

[0019] According to an aspect the invention relates on a sheet cutting plant, the plant comprising the plant for sorting cut sheets according to the present invention, in one or more embodiments, and at least one sheet cutting machine and (e.g., 2D laser cutting) having a sheet change area operatively connected to said work area.

[0020] According to an aspect the invention relates on a method of sorting cut sheets executed by means of the plant for sorting cut sheets according to the present invention. Preferably the method comprises picking up from, or releasing in, said staging bay, through said one or more gripping devices when the sorting system is in said first position, one or more sheet pieces, and picking up from, or releasing in, said work area, when the sorting system is in said second position, said one or more sheet pieces.

[0021] The Applicant has realized that the aforementioned elevator movable along each stack of storage bays and equipped with both the first handling system to handle the pallets and the second handling system to handle the sorting system, enables sorting operations with high storage capacity for arranged parts and / or cut sheets to be stored, thanks to the storage bays, and / or and / or with an extended autonomy of the system in the absence of supervision and / or operator intervention, and / or with high flexibility in sorting logic and / or prioritization, all with a limited footprint of the storage warehouse, thanks to the vertical stacking of the storage bays into one or more stacks. The different configurations and operating modes that can be implemented by the present invention will be described below, for further.

[0022] The present invention may exhibit one or more of the following preferred or optional features.

[0023] Preferably one or more stacks of storage bays comprise one or more first stacks of storage bays, more preferably said first stacks (when more than one) being arranged, in a plan view, aligned along a second horizontal direction orthogonal to the first direction.

[0024] Preferably said one or more stacks of storage bays comprise one or more second stacks of storage bays arranged, in a plan view, opposite said one or more first stacks with respect to said elevator along said first direction. Preferably said second stacks (when more than one) being arranged, in a plan view, aligned along said second direction. In this way, the footprint of the system is reduced.

[0025] Preferably the plant comprises a tower structure (e.g., comprising vertical uprights and transverse reinforcing crossbars) realizing each stack of storage bays.

[0026] Preferably said elevator is movable along a second horizontal direction, orthogonal to said first direction, to be positioned at said stacks of storage bays.

[0027] The additional first and second storage bays increase storage capacity (for arranged pieces and / or cut sheets and / or scraps) and / or sorting flexibility.

[0028] Preferably the second handling system is structured to move said sorting system along said first direction also to a third position over an additional work area and displaced opposite to the second position with respect to the first position, to allow said one or more gripping devices to release in, and pick up from, said additional work area said one or more sheet pieces.

[0029] It is noted that the terms first, second, and third position refer to the horizontal position of the sorting system, regardless of its vertical position.

[0030] In one embodiment, one or more of said storage bays is configured to temporarily accommodate said sorting system when in the second or third position (for example, so that the sorting system is positioned above the respective pallet housed in the bay, in which case the pallet defines said work area or said additional work area). In other words, the sorting system, via the second handling system, can enter and exit each storage bay, which is appropriately sized to allow such movement.

[0031] Preferably said sorting system comprises a plurality of said gripping devices, even more preferably four (and more preferably only four) gripping devices.

[0032] Preferably said sorting system comprises a frame, movable between said first and second (and preferably third) position. Preferably said frame comprises two beams having a main extension along said first direction and two beams having a main extension along said second direction. Preferably each of said gripping devices is movable relative to said frame vertically and along said first and second directions, more preferably being able to span substantially an entire footprint in pan of said frame. Preferably at least two of said gripping devices are independently movable from one another. In this way, the gripping and releasing of cut pieces are facilitated, even for multiple pieces simultaneously (depending on their dimensions). Preferably each gripping device has a free end facing downward, configured to engage (e.g., removably) one or more gripping members (e.g., one or more suction cups or magnets). Preferably the sorting system is connected to a vacuum system to generate a pressure drop at the free end of each gripping device (in order to facilitate gripping via the suction cup). Preferably said free end of each gripping device is rotatable around a vertical axis (in order to orient one or more gripping members as desired, for example, during the gripping or releasing phase of the cut piece).

[0033] Preferably said plant for sorting comprising a loading system structured to pick up a cut sheet, and / or a sheet scrap, from a sheet change area.

[0034] In one embodiment said loading system is structured to transport to, and release in, a loading bay said cut sheet. In one embodiment said loading bay is vertically stacked (e.g., in a lower position) in one of said one or more stacks of storage bays.

[0035] Preferably said elevator is vertically movable to a level of said loading bay to allow said first handling system to handle a respective pallet (e.g. said loading pallet) between said loading bay and said staging bay, more preferably along said first direction.

[0036] In one embodiment said loading system comprises a first shuttle configured to support a respective pallet and to horizontally move it between said loading bay and a transfer area. In this way it is possible to separate the sorting area from the laser cutting machine.

[0037] Preferably said plant for sorting, e.g. said loading system, comprises a comb movable vertically and horizontally, wherein said comb in an operational position overlies a sheet change area. Preferably the comb comprises a pair of semi-combs facing each other and movable towards and away from each other. In this way, the semi-combs, by closing and opening, can pick up and release the cut sheet metal and / or the sheet metal scrap.

[0038] Preferably said comb is movable to a further operational position overlying said transfer area.

[0039] Preferably it is provided, by means of said loading system, picking up (e.g. by means of said comb) a cut sheet metal from the sheet metal change area.

[0040] Preferably it is provided, by means of said loading system, to load said cut sheet metal onto a pallet in said loading bay. Preferably it is provided, by means of said first handling system, to pick up said pallet loaded with said cut sheet metal from said loading bay and to place said pallet in said staging bay.

[0041] Preferably it is provided, by means of said loading system (e.g. by means of said comb), to release said cut sheet metal onto said first shuttle in said transfer area and to transport, by means of said first shuttle, said cut sheet metal into said loading bay.

[0042] One or more of the aforementioned features makes it possible to quickly clear the sheet metal change area from the cut sheet metal and to perform the sorting operations away from said sheet metal change area, thereby minimizing or eliminating cutting machine downtimes due to the sorting operation. For example, the method described in EP2164678B1 provides for keeping the cut sheet metal in the sheet metal change area for the entire time needed for sorting and for the removal of the scrap (i.e. the remaining part of the virgin sheet metal after all cut pieces have been removed). This can cause undesired stoppages of the cutting machine, particularly when the sorting operation takes more time than the cutting machine takes to cut the sheet metal, and / or limitations in the flexibility of the sorting itself (e.g. in terms of arrangement of the cut pieces according to arrangement logic and / or flexible timing), since the sorting must preferably remove the cut pieces from the sheet metal change area within the time constraints dictated by the subsequent laser cutting. By contrast, the aforementioned solution allows decoupling the sorting operation from the cutting operation.

[0043] Preferably said loading system is configured to pick up a sheet metal scrap from the loading bay or from the sheet change area.

[0044] Preferably it is provided, by means of said first handling system, releasing a pallet loaded with a scrap onto said first shuttle in said loading bay and to transport, by means of said first shuttle, said pallet loaded with said scrap into said transfer bay.

[0045] Preferably it is provided, by means of said comb, picking up said scrap from said pallet loaded with said scrap in said transfer bay.

[0046] Preferably said loading system is structured to release said sheet metal scrap in a scrap area.

[0047] Preferably it is provided, by means of said comb, releasing said scrap in a scrap area.

[0048] In this way, it is possible to effectively manage the scrap, which due to its structural characteristics is difficult to handle.

[0049] Preferably said plant for sorting comprises an exit bay, wherein said elevator is vertically movable at a level of said exit bay to allow said first handling system to handle a respective pallet between said exit bay and said staging bay along said first direction.

[0050] Preferably said plant for sorting comprises a second shuttle configured to support a respective pallet and to horizontally move it between said exit bay and an exit area.

[0051] Preferably it is provided to transport, by means of said second shuttle, a pallet loaded with cut pieces (e.g., a pallet on which one or more pallets of cut pieces rest) from said exit bay to said exit area. In this way, the retrieval of the arranged pieces is facilitated.

[0052] Preferably, it is provided picking up, by means of said one or more gripping devices when the sorting system is in said first position, one or more sheet pieces from said cut sheet in said staging bay.

[0053] In one embodiment, it is provided picking up, by means of said one or more gripping devices when the sorting system is in said second position, one or more sheet pieces from a cut sheet in said sheet change area. In other words, said work area coincides with said sheet change area.

[0054] Preferably, the method comprises bringing the elevator to the level of a storage bay (possibly after translating the elevator along the second direction), and releasing, through said one or more gripping devices when the sorting system is in said second or third position, said one or more sheet pieces onto a respective pallet (preferably onto one or more pallets placed on the respective pallet) in said storage bay. In other words, the work area (or the additional work area) temporarily coincides with said respective pallet housed in said storage bay.

[0055] In this way, by repeating the above sorting operations, it is possible to arrange the cut pieces (taken directly from the sheet change area or from the staging bay on the elevator) directly onto sorting pallets in the storage bays, to the advantage of extending the plant's autonomy in the absence of operator supervision (thanks to the availability of space) and / or the breadth of the classification of the cut pieces and / or the flexibility in sorting logic. For example, it is possible to group on one or more sorting pallets (e.g. on one or more of the pallets placed on one or more sorting pallets) the cut pieces corresponding to a specific job / order, so that the plant outputs the pieces already grouped to fully or partially satisfy an order (internal, i.e., for internal production use, or external, i.e., for external customers).

[0056] Preferably it is provided bringing said elevator to the level of a storage bay (possibly after translating the elevator along the second direction of movement), and, by means of said first handling system, move said load pallet with said cut sheet from said staging bay to said storage bay. Preferably it is provided picking up, by means of said one or more gripping devices when the sorting system is in said second or third position, one or more sheet pieces from one of said storage bays. Said one or more sheet pieces may belong to a respective cut sheet, or they may have been previously arranged in said storage bays.

[0057] Preferably, it is provided realising, through said one or more gripping devices when the sorting system is in said first position, said one or more sheet pieces onto a respective pallet (preferably onto one or more pallets placed on the respective sorting pallet) in said staging bay. In other words, the sorting takes place by taking the pieces directly from the cut sheet in said sheet change area or from the cut sheets, and / or from the cut pieces arranged and stored in the storage bays, and placing them on a pallet in the staging bay aboard the elevator. In this way, it is for example possible to group the cut pieces belonging to one or more orders onto the pallet aboard the elevator by taking them from a large warehouse of cut pieces (either already arranged or still part of a cut sheet) and present the pallet at the output.

[0058] Preferably it is provided bringing said elevator to a level of one of said storage bays and move, by means of said first handling system, said sorting pallet loaded with said one or more sheet pieces from said staging bay to said one of said storage bays.

[0059] Preferably each of said storage bays, and said staging bay, comprises a respective guide or roller system configured to support a respective pallet (and preferably one and only one pallet at a time), such as two parallel lines of idle rollers. In this way, each bay is simply implemented, where the pallet is supported by the guide system (e.g., when the pallet is equipped with wheels or sliding skids) or rollers (to facilitate the movement of the pallet even without wheels).

[0060] Preferably said sheet cutting machine comprises a sheet change system comprising two tables movable alternately between an internal cutting space within a body of said sheet cutting machine and said sheet change area. In this way, the cut sheet is transported to the sheet change area to be removed before releasing the next sheet to be processed.

[0061] Preferably, the sheet cutting plant comprises a sheet feeding system structured to release one sheet to be cut at a time in said sheet change area.

[0062] Brief description of the figures

[0063] Figure 1 schematically shows a plan view of the sheet cutting plant according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0064] Figure 2 schematically and partially shows the sorting system according to the present invention; Figure 2a schematically and partially shows a detail of Figure 2;

[0065] Figure 3 schematically and partially shows a perspective section of the elevator according to the present invention;

[0066] Figures 4-6 schematically show a lateral view, partially and schematically, of the sorting plant of the present invention, respectively in different operational phases;

[0067] Figures 7-9 schematically show a plan view of the sheet cutting plant according to further embodiments of the present invention.

[0068] Detailed description of some embodiment of the invention

[0069] The features and advantages of the present invention will be further clarified by the following detailed description of some embodiments, presented by way of example and not limitation of the present invention, with reference to the attached figures. In the figures, identical or similar elements, in structure and / or function, are indicated by the same reference number.

[0070] In the figures, the number 10 refers to a sheet cutting plant, comprising the plant for sorting 1 for sheet according to the present invention and a sheet cutting machine 2, for example, a 2D laser cutting machine for sheet, not shown in detail as it is of a known type.

[0071] In general, certain construction details of the present invention will be omitted as they are of a known type and / or within the scope of a skilled person in the field.

[0072] The plant 10 is associated with a first horizontal direction 11 and a second horizontal direction 12 orthogonal to the first direction, indicated by the respective arrows in the figures.

[0073] Preferably the sheet cutting machine 2 comprises a sheet change system comprising two tables movable alternately between an internal cutting space within the body 3 of the cutting machine and a sheet change area 4.

[0074] Preferably the sheet cutting plant 10 comprises a sheet feeding system 50 structured to release one sheet to be cut at a time in the sheet change area 4, as known per se. For example, with reference to Figures 1 and 7-9, the sheet feeding system 50 comprises one or more tower structures (in other words, stacks) 51 comprising respective storage bays for sheets to be cut and / or cut sheets, with the one or more tower structures 51 being served by an elevator 52 for moving pallets (in Figures 1 , 7, and 8, distinguished from the elevator 20 of the present invention, and in Figure 9 coinciding with the elevator of the present invention). The elevator 52, among other things, is responsible for positioning a pallet loaded with a stack of sheets to be cut at the base of one of these tower structures 51 , near the sheet change area 4. A feeding shuttle (not shown) picks up, for example, one sheet at a time from the stack of sheets to be cut using a vacuum cup array, and transports it to and deposits it in the sheet change area 4. The feeding shuttle may also be equipped on top with a dedicated bay to support a pallet, in order to receive the cut sheets and / or scraps.

[0075] The sorting plant 1 for cut sheets comprises one or more stacks 5 of storage bays 6, with the storage bays of each stack vertically stacked on top of each other. Each storage bay 6 is configured to removably house a respective pallet.

[0076] The sorting plant 1 comprises an elevator 20 that moves vertically along each stack of storage bays. Exemplarily, the elevator 20 comprises a frame 33, e.g., made of welded steel, that moves vertically.

[0077] Exemplarily, the sorting plant 1 comprises a structure, e.g., made of welded steel, closed in a quadrilateral shape, with vertical posts 15 that are provided with guides to allow the vertical movement of the elevator 20, particularly the frame 33 of the elevator, thanks to the action of a motorized chain system (not shown).

[0078] Preferably, the plant 1 comprises one or more first stacks 7 of storage bays 6 and one or more second stacks 8 of storage bays 6, with the first 7 and second 8 stacks being arranged, in a top view, from opposite sides of the elevator 20 along the first direction 11 . In one embodiment, the plant 1 , characterized by high compactness, comprises a single first stack 7 and a single second stack 8 of storage bays 6, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 8 (in this case, the elevator is horizontally fixed). The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 exemplarily shows three first stacks 7 and three second stacks 8; however, the present invention contemplates configurations (not shown) with any number (from one upwards) of first stacks 7 and any number (from zero upwards, possibly different from the number of first stacks) of second stacks 8. In other embodiments, the sorting plant 1 may be devoid of second stacks 8, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 7 (this configuration can, however, also be applied to the other embodiments).

[0079] Preferably, the first stacks 7 are arranged, in a top view as shown in FIGS. 1 , 7, and 9, aligned along the second direction 12, and the second stacks 8 are arranged, in a top view as shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, aligned along the second direction 12.

[0080] Preferably the machine comprises a tower structure (e.g., comprising vertical supports and transverse reinforcing crossbars) that forms each stack 5 of storage bays (FIGS. 4- 6).

[0081] Preferably, in the case of a plurality of first 7 and / or second stacks 8, the elevator 20 is mobile, for example, via motorized wheels partially visible in FIGS. 4-6, along the second direction 12 to position itself in front of each stack 5 of storage bays 6.

[0082] Preferably, the elevator 20 comprises, onboard the elevator (i.e. , mounted on the frame 33 of the elevator), a staging bay 21 configured to support a respective pallet 9.

[0083] Preferibilmente I’elevatore 20 comprende, a bordo dell’elevatore (ossia montato sull’intelaiatura 33 dell’elevatore), un primo sistema di movimentazione 22 strutturato per movimentare il pallet 9 rispetto all’intelaiatura 33 dell’elevatore lungo la prima direzione 11.

[0084] Each pallet 9, typically made of metal, is equipped with a pair of hooks on each side, as is generally known. Pallets 9 intended to support one or more sheets (to be cut or cut sheets) are preferably equipped with parallel slats to allow interfacing with the sheet handling combs, in a manner known per se. Pallets 9 intended to support the racks for the cut pieces, such as Euro pallets, may also be without such slats, as shown for the pallet 9 in FIG. 3.

[0085] Preferably each storage bay 6, as well as the staging bay 21 , comprises a respective roller system to support a respective pallet 9 at a time, for example, two parallel lines of idle rollers, as shown in FIG. 3 for the staging bay 21 , which support the respective pallet and facilitate the insertion and extraction of the pallet.

[0086] Preferably the elevator 20 comprises, onboard the elevator (i.e., mounted on the frame 33 of the elevator), a first handling system 22 structured to move the pallet 9 relative to the frame 33 of the elevator along the first direction 11 .

[0087] Exemplarily the first handling system 22 comprises a chain conveyor 23 comprising a pair of motorized chains equipped with attachment pins that engage a respective hook of the pallet 9, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 3.

[0088] Exemplarily the first handling system 22 comprises a translator 24 structured to move the entire structure of the chain conveyor 23 along the first direction 11 relative to the frame 33 of the elevator, using combined bearings that slide along C-shaped guides and a motor-reducer group, pinion, and rack, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 3. In this way, the translator 24 positions the chain conveyor 23 in the pallet 9 hooking position by shifting relative to the frame 33 of the elevator by a few tens of centimeters in both translation directions.

[0089] Preferably the elevator 20 comprises, onboard the elevator (i.e., mounted on the frame 33 of the elevator), a sorting system 30 comprising a plurality of gripping devices 31 , in this case four, configured to pick up and release a sheet piece. Exdemplarily as shown in figure 2, the sorting system 30 comprises a frame, e.g., rectangular, made of extruded profiles, mobile along the first direction 11 , and a pair of beams 32 (extending along the second direction 12) that move relative to the frame along the first direction 11 independently of each other, thanks to two carriages equipped with ball recirculation bearings mounted at the ends of each beam 32 and motorized by a respective motor engaged with a toothed belt, to make the carriages slide along suitable recirculating ball guides located on the inner sides of the beams 34 of the frame extending along the first direction 11 .

[0090] On each mobile beam 32, two motorized carriages are mounted, each driven by two independent motors that are in turn engaged with toothed belts to move the carriages along ball bearing guides embedded in the mobile beams 32.

[0091] Each of the four carriages is equipped with a respective motorized gripping device 31 , driven by a pinion and rack to move the gripping device vertically relative to the beam 32. In this way, each gripping device 31 is movable vertically and along the first direction 1 1 and the second direction 12, allowing it to span the entire footprint of the sorting system frame.

[0092] Preferably each gripping device 31 has a free end, oriented downward, configured to engage (e.g., removably and quickly) one or more gripping elements 38 (in the example shown, a pair of suction cups). Preferably, the free end can rotate 360° around a vertical axis thanks to a dedicated motor.

[0093] Preferably, the sorting system 30 is connected (e.g., via tubes, not shown) to a vacuum system to generate suction at the location of the suction cups.

[0094] Preferably, the elevator 20 comprises, mounted on the elevator frame 33, a second movement system 35 designed to move the sorting system 30 along the first direction 11 . Exemplarily the second movement system 35 comprises a rack and two combined sliding bearings applied to each beam 34 of the sorting system frame 30.

[0095] Exemplarily, the second movement system 35 comprises, mounted on the elevator frame 33, C-shaped guides 36 (engaged by the sliding bearings of the beams 34), gear motors, pinion groups, and timing belts (partially visible in figure 3) to move the beams 34, and therefore the sorting system frame 30.

[0096] Exemplarily, one or more of the storage bays 6 comprises a respective pair of C-shaped guides 37 (shown in figure 2 and omitted in the remaining figures), aligned respectively with the C-shaped guides 36 mounted on the elevator frame 33. These storage bays 6, in the example of figures 4-6, seven in number (three in the first stack 7 and four in the second stack 8), are dimensioned in height to temporarily house the sorting system 30.

[0097] When the sorting system is positioned in the first position, e.g., at the center of the elevator frame 33, the two pinions on both sides engage with the racks, and the four pairs of combined bearings are housed in the C-shaped guide 36 fixed to the elevator frame 33. When, on the other hand, the sorting system, in the second or third position, is located within (either entirely or partially) a storage bay 6, only two of the four pinions are engaged with the racks, while two of the four pairs of combined bearings are engaged with the C- shaped guides 37 inside the storage bay 6.

[0098] In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the second movement system comprises, instead of a rack and pinion system, a telescopic system configured to translate the sorting system frame telescopically, which can be maintained always overhanging with respect to the elevator frame 33, or support guides can be provided in the storage bays at the end of the stroke.

[0099] Preferably the sorting system 1 comprises a loading system 60 structured to pick up a cut sheet of metal and / or a sheet scrap from the sheet change area 4.

[0100] Preferably the loading system 60 comprises a comb 61 , which comprises a pair of semicombs that face each other, which are closable and separable, and vertically movable, as is known per se.

[0101] In one embodiment (as shown, for example, in figures 1 , 8, and 9), the loading system 60 is structured to transport and release the cut sheet into a loading bay 63 (configured to support a pallet). The loading bay 63 (e.g., in figures 4-6) is preferably vertically stacked (e.g., in the lower position) in any stack 5, such as a first stack 7, of storage bays.

[0102] Preferably the system 1 comprises a scrap area 62, such as a container for collecting scrap pieces and / or any metal pieces to be discarded.

[0103] Preferably the comb 61 is horizontally movable (along the first and / or second direction 11 , 12) between an operational position above the sheet change area 4 and an operational position above the scrap area 62.

[0104] In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the system 1 may comprise, in addition to or as an alternative to the scrap area, a scrap bay vertically stacked in any of the stacks 5, 51 of bays. The scrap bay is equipped with a movable counter-comb and is configured to house a pallet (also movable by the first handling system 22) that supports a container for collecting the scrap. In this case, the first handling system 22 can place the pallet with the scrap above the container, thanks to appropriate sliding rollers. When the pallet is withdrawn, the movable counter-comb, interfacing with the strips present on the pallet, causes the scrap to be discharged into the container.

[0105] In one embodiment (e.g., in figures 1 , 8, and 9), the system 1 comprises a transfer area 65.

[0106] In one embodiment, as shown in Figure 1 , the comb 61 is horizontally movable to an (additional) operational position above the transfer area 65.

[0107] In one embodiment the loading system 60 comprises a first shuttle 64 configured to support a pallet and move it horizontally, for example, by sliding on tracks visible in Figures 1 and 8, between the transfer area 65 and the loading bay 63, where the first handling system 22 can move the pallet 9.

[0108] In one embodiment, as shown in Figure 8, the transfer area 65 can be positioned in any of the storage bays 51 .

[0109] In one embodiment, as shown in Figure 9, the first shuttle 64 coincides with the shuttle used for feeding the sheets to be cut, and the transfer area 65 coincides with the sheet change area 4.

[0110] Preferably the sorting system 1 comprises an exit bay 66, with the first handling system 22 able to move a respective pallet 9 between the exit bay 66 and the staging bay 21 along the first direction 11 .

[0111] Preferably the sorting system comprises a second shuttle 67 to move a respective pallet horizontally between the exit bay 66 and an exit area 68, accessible for unloading, for example, via a forklift. It is noted that the second shuttle 67 can move in any direction, such as along the first direction 11 as in Figures 1 and 9 or along the second direction 12 as in Figure 8.

[0112] The second shuttle 67 can also serve the function of feeding the system with stacks of sheets to be cut, as shown in Figure 9, or, as shown in Figure 8, the sheet cutting system 10 can comprise a dedicated shuttle 69 for this function and / or for unloading the scrap.

[0113] The following describes some examples of the method of sorting cut sheets according to the present invention, exemplarily performed using the sorting system 1 , in the various embodiments described above.

[0114] To this end, reference will also be made to Figures 4-6, which show in side view a first 7 and a second stack 8, oppositely facing and counterposed relative to the elevator 20, as implemented in the embodiments of Figures 1 , 8, and 9. It is noted that the following description can, at least in part, also apply to the embodiment of Figure 7 in the case where only the first stacks 7 are present, arranged on one side of the elevator.

[0115] At the end of the cutting of a sheet by the cutting machine 2, the cut sheet 14 is transported to the sheet change area 4.

[0116] Here, in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 , 8, and 9, the comb 61 picks up the cut sheet.

[0117] In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 , the comb 61 transports the cut sheet to the transfer area 65, releasing it onto a pallet aboard the first shuttle 64 (Figure 1 ), which transports the cut sheet to the loading bay 63 (Figure 4).

[0118] In the embodiments shown in Figures 8 and 9, the comb 61 releases the cut sheet in the sheet change area 4 onto a pallet aboard the feeding shuttle, which transports the cut sheet to the closest tower structure 51. Here, a pallet handling system (in Figure 9 coincident with the first handling system 22) aboard an elevator 52 (in Figure 9 coincident with the elevator 20 of the present invention) picks up the pallet loaded with the sheet to be cut and places it aboard the elevator 52 (in Figure 9 in the stowing bay 21 ). In the case of Figure 8, the elevator 52 transports the pallet to the transfer area 65 in a tower structure or stack 51 , where the pallet is transferred to the first shuttle 64, which transports it to the loading bay 63.

[0119] At this point, the elevator 20 reaches the level of the loading bay 63, and the first handling system 22 picks up (Figure 4) the pallet loaded with the cut sheet from the loading bay 63 and places it in the staging bay 21 aboard the elevator 20.

[0120] Referring to the operational phase shown in Figure 4, the three storage bays 6 positioned at the top of the first stack 7 and all four storage bays 6 in the second stack 8 are configured to temporarily house the sorting system. All these bays, except for the top bay of the second stack 8, are occupied by a respective pallet 9 supporting one or more (for example, three, as shown in Figure 1 ) standard pallets 13, such as standard wooden or plastic europallets, all empty.

[0121] In a lower portion of the first stack 7, there are eight storage bays 6 where the sorting system cannot be housed due to the reduced height. All these bays 6, except for the second and third starting from the top, are occupied by a respective pallet 9, some of which are empty, some loaded with a cut sheet, and others loaded with scrap to be discarded. These eight storage bays form a buffer warehouse capable of temporarily storing the cut sheets and / or scraps, waiting to be processed and discarded according to optimal process logic and related priorities.

[0122] Also in Figure 4, the second shuttle 67, empty, is positioned at the exit bay 66.

[0123] When the pallet loaded with the sheet to be cut is in the staging bay, the sorting of the cut pieces can begin. To this end, when the sorting system 20 is in a first position above the staging bay 21 , the gripping devices 31 take one or more pieces of sheet metal, for example, each gripping device 31 takes a respective piece, or two or more gripping devices can take the same piece if it is large in size.

[0124] The elevator 20, preferably during the gripping of the cut pieces, is moved to a level of the destination storage bay 6 for the one or more pieces taken (possibly after translating the elevator along the second direction 12 to reach the stack 7, 8 to which this bay 6 belongs), and the sorting system is moved to the second or third position, above the storage bay 6 (respectively on one side or the other side of the elevator 20), where the gripping devices 31 release the one or more pieces of sheet metal onto the pallets resting on the respective pallet in the storage bay 6 (Figure 5).

[0125] The above sorting operations are repeated until all the cut pieces are possibly arranged according to appropriate classification logic (e.g., shape and / or size of the pieces, or work orders, internal or external).

[0126] To remove the remaining scrap in the stowing bay, the first movement system 22 releases (not shown) the pallet loaded with the scrap onto the first shuttle 64 in the loading bay 63. The first shuttle transports the pallet loaded with scrap to the transfer area 65.

[0127] Here, for the embodiments of figures 1 and 9, the comb picks up the scrap from the pallet and releases it in the scrap area 62. In the embodiment of figure 8, before this operation, the pallet loaded with scrap is transported by the elevator 52 and then by the feeding shuttle to the sheet change area 4.

[0128] As mentioned above, the scrap can be advantageously eliminated, either in addition to or as an alternative to the aforementioned procedure, in a scrap bay located within any storage stack 5, 51 , where the first movement system 22 places the pallet with the scrap over the bin, and after positioning the counter-comb in interference with the pallet, retrieves the pallet, causing the scrap to fall into the bin. The pallet with the bin is then moved by the first movement system 22 and the elevator 20, 52 to the exit area 68 or even to shuttle 69.

[0129] It is noted that, if a cut sheet arrives in the loading bay 63 while the staging bay 21 is still occupied by a pallet, whether empty or loaded with at least part of a cut sheet or scrap, the pallet is released in a storage bay 6 before the pallet with the cut sheet is picked up. Optionally, it is further provided to release the pallet with the cut sheet in another storage bay and reload shuttle 64 with an empty pallet for a new load.

[0130] To remove the sorted sheet pieces from the plant 1 , via vertical and possibly horizontal movement of the elevator 20, the pallet with the sorted pieces is picked up from the storage bay 6 and transported and released in the exit bay 66 (fig. 6). Here, the second shuttle 67 transports the pallet loaded with cut pieces from the exit bay to the exit area, where the pallets can be picked up, for example, with a forklift.

[0131] In an operational mode, the sorting is performed in the opposite direction, i.e. , from the storage bays 6 to the stowage bay 21 on board the elevator.

[0132] To this end, the pallets with the cut sheet that are fed into the loading bay 63 are picked up by the first movement system and placed into respective storage bays 6 by the elevator.

[0133] It is then planned to pick up, via the gripping devices 31 when the sorting system is in the second or third position, one or more sheet pieces from one of the storage bays where a respective cut sheet is placed and release the sheet pieces onto one or more pallets resting on a pallet 9 in the staging bay 21 .

[0134] It is also possible, after arranging the cut pieces in the storage bays 6 as described above, to pick up, via the gripping devices 31 when the sorting system is in the second or third position, one or more sheet pieces from one of the storage bays where one or more stacks of previously arranged pieces are placed, and release the sheet pieces onto one or more pallets resting on a pallet 9 in the staging bay 21 .

[0135] In one embodiment, the aforementioned procedures can be combined with each other, according to the processing logic and priorities.

[0136] Once the arrangement of the cut pieces on the pallet in the staging bay is completed, it can be transported, via the elevator 20 and the first movement system 22, to a storage bay 6 or directly to the exit bay 66.

[0137] In the embodiment shown in figure 7, it is possible to pick up, via the gripping devices 31 when the sorting system is in the second position, one or more pieces of sheet metal directly from the cut sheet 14 in the sheet change area 4, i.e., without moving the cut sheet 14. These picked pieces can be released onto one or more pallets resting on a pallet 9 in the staging bay 21 , and / or in the storage bays 6, as described above.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . Plant (1 ) for sorting cut sheets comprising:- one or more stacks (5) of storage bays (6), wherein each storage bay is configured to removably accommodate a respective pallet (9),- an elevator (20) vertically movable along each of said one or more stacks of storage bays, and comprising, on board the elevator:- a staging bay (21 ) configured to support a respective pallet (9),- a first handling system (22) structured to handle said respective pallet between said staging bay (21 ) and each of said storage bays along a first horizontal direction (11 );- a sorting system (30) comprising one or more gripping devices (31 ), each gripping device being configured to pick up and release a sheet piece; and- a second handling system (35) structured to move said sorting system (30) along said first direction (11 ) between a first position over said staging bay (21 ), to allow said one or more gripping devices (31 ) to pick up from, and release in, said staging bay (21 ) one or more sheet pieces, and a second position over a work area (4, 6) displaced from said first position, to allow said one or more gripping devices to pick up from, and release in, said work area (4, 6) said one or more sheet pieces.

2. The plant (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said one or more stacks (5) of storage bays comprise one or more first stacks of storage bays, said first stacks being arranged, in a plan view, aligned along a second horizontal direction orthogonal to the first direction, wherein said one or more stacks of storage bays comprise one or more second stacks of storage bays arranged, in a plan view, opposite said one or more first stacks with respect to said elevator along said first direction, said second stacks being arranged, in a plan view, aligned along said second direction, wherein the plant comprises a tower structure realizing each stack of storage bays and wherein said elevator (20) is movable along a second horizontal direction (12), orthogonal to said first direction, to be positioned at said stacks (5) of storage bays (6).

3. The plant (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second handling system (35) is structured to move said sorting system (30) along said first direction (11 ) also to a third position over an additional work area (6) and displaced opposite to the second position with respect to the first position, to allow said one or more gripping devices (31 ) to release in, and pick up from, said additional work area said one or more sheet pieces, wherein one or more of said storage bays (6) is configured to temporarily accommodate said sorting system (30) when in the second or third position.

4. The plant (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said sorting system (30) comprises a plurality of said gripping devices (31 ), wherein said sorting system comprises a frame, movable between said first and second positions, wherein each of said gripping devices (31 ) is movable relative to said frame vertically and along said first and second directions, and wherein each gripping device (31 ) has a free end facing downward, configured to removably engage one or more gripping members (38), and wherein said free end of each gripping device is rotatable about a vertical axis.

5. The plant (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a loading system (60) structured to pick up a cut sheet (14), and / or a sheet scrap, from a sheet change area (4), wherein said loading system is structured to transport to, and release in, a loading bay (63) said cut sheet, wherein said loading bay (63) is vertically stacked in one of said one or more stacks (5, 51 ) of storage bays, wherein said elevator (20) is vertically movable to a level of said loading bay (63) to allow said first handling system (22) to handle a respective pallet (9) between said loading bay (63) and said staging bay (21 ) along said first direction (11 ), wherein the loading system (60) comprises a first shuttle (64) configured to support a respective pallet and to horizontally move it between said loading bay (63) and a transfer area (65) and wherein said loading system (60) comprises a comb (61 ) movable vertically and horizontally, wherein said comb in an operational position overlies a sheet change area (4) and wherein said comb is movable to a further operational position overlying said transfer area (65).

6. The plant (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising:- an exit bay (66), wherein said elevator (20) is vertically movable to a level of said exit bay (66) to allow said first handling system (22) to handle a respective pallet between said exit bay and said staging bay along said first direction, and- a second shuttle (67) configured to support a respective pallet (9) and to horizontally move it between said exit bay (66) and an exit area (68).

7. Sheet cutting plant (10) comprising the plant (1 ) for sorting cut sheets according to any one of the preceding claims, and at least one sheet cutting machine (2), having a sheet change area (4) operatively connected to said work area (4, 6), wherein said sheet cutting machine (2) comprises a sheet change system comprising two tables movable alternately between an internal cutting space within a body of said sheet cutting machine and said sheet change area (4) and wherein the sheet cutting plant (10) comprises a sheet feeding system (50) structured to release one sheet to be cut at a time in said sheet change area (4).

8. A method of sorting cut sheets (14) executed by means of the plant (1 ) for sorting cut sheets according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the method comprises picking up from, or releasing in, said staging bay (21 ), through said one or more gripping devices (31 ) when the sorting system (30) is in said first position, one or more sheet pieces, and picking up from, or releasing in, said work area (4, 6), when the sorting system (30) is in said second position, said one or more sheet pieces.

9. The sorting method according to claim 8, comprising:- picking up, through said one or more gripping devices (31 ) when the sorting system is in said second position, one or more sheet pieces from a cut sheet in a sheet change area (4) coinciding with said work area, and / or picking up, through said one or more gripping devices when the sorting system is in said second or third position, one or more sheet pieces in one of said storage bays (6) coinciding with said additional work area; and- releasing, through said one or more gripping devices when the sorting system is in said first position, said one or more sheet pieces onto a respective pallet in said staging bay (21 ).

10. The sorting method according to claim 9 or 10, comprising:- picking up, through said one or more gripping devices (31 ) when the sorting system is in said first position, one or more sheet pieces from a cut sheet (14) in said staging bay (21 ); and- bringing the elevator to a level of one storage bay (6), and releasing, through said one or more gripping devices when the sorting system is in said second or third position, said one or more sheet pieces onto a respective pallet (9) in said one storage bay (6) coinciding with said work area or said additional work area.

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