A manufacturing system including an automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) structure with a three-dimensional array of storage locations distributed throughout a two-dimensional footprint of the ASRS structure at multiple storage levels; workpieces stored within the storage locations of the ASRS structure; robotic storage retrieval vehicles (RSRVs) navigable within the ASRS structure in three dimensions to access the storage locations, and multiple manufacturing cells positioned outside the ASRS structure, is provided. The manufacturing system includes a track structure attached to the ASRS structure and defining one or more travel paths traversable by the RSRVs from the ASRS structure. The same fleet of RSRVs that is navigable within the ASRS structure is operable to deliver the workpieces to the manufacturing cells. One or more of the manufacturing cells are positioned along the track structure, thereby receiving convenient access to the workpieces along with associated tool pieces and workpiece supports for manufacturing goods.

In a method for operating a machine tool system with a machine tool for machining a workpiece using a tool, a control device is connected to the machine tool for generating a relative movement between the workpiece and the tool using a program executable by the control device. The control device includes an operating unit having a display device, allowing an operator to interact with the control device. The operator can manually alter with the operating unit a technology parameter. However, the operator generally does not know how a manual alteration of a technology parameter will affect productivity. Therefore, a measure for a change to production-related characteristics variable resulting from the manual alteration is determined and displayed to the operator on the display device directly or in relation to an associated relative measure.

The invention relates to a method for handling a workpiece and to a system. Such a method or system is used, for example, in the wood-processing industry, in particular the furniture and components industry. In particular, processing stations or processing machines can be linked or combined with one another.

In a method for operating a machine tool system with a machine tool for machining a workpiece using a tool, a control device is connected to the machine tool for generating a relative movement between the workpiece and the tool using a program executable by the control device. The control device includes an operating unit having a display device, allowing an operator to interact with the control device. The operator can manually alter with the operating unit a technology parameter. However, the operator generally does not know how a manual alteration of a technology parameter will affect productivity. Therefore, a measure for a change to production-related characteristics variable resulting from the manual alteration is determined and displayed to the operator on the display device directly or in relation to an associated relative measure.

A calibration system for a food processing machine has a conveyor for conveying a workpiece, scanning system for scanning the workpiece and creating a digital image of the workpiece, and a cutting device downstream from the scanning system for cutting the workpiece. A calibration object is conveyed through the food processing machine by the conveyor and scanned. A controller, with a memory, is in communication with the cutting device and the conveyor such that the controller can track position of the cutting device as the cutting device is moved into alignment with the calibration object and store calibration values on the memory corresponding to the movement of the cutting device into alignment with the calibration object. The controller is configured to calibrate movement of the cutting device relative to the workpiece based on the digital image of the workpiece and the calibration values to thereafter accurately cut the workpiece.

A dispatch system and a dispatch method for manufacturing mold are provided. The dispatch system includes a control unit, a mold material storage unit, a processing cutter storage unit, an object pick-and-place and transfer unit, a mold processing unit and a mold product storage unit. The mold material storage unit includes many unprocessed mold materials. The processing cutter storage unit includes many processing cutters. The object pick-and-place and transfer unit is electrically connected to the control unit and disposed between the mold material storage unit and the processing cutter storage unit. One of the unprocessed mold materials and one of the processing cutters are transferred to the mold processing unit by the object pick-and-place and transfer unit, the unprocessed mold material is processed to form a mold product by the mold processing unit, and the mold product is transferred to the mold product storage unit.

A dispatch system and a dispatch method for manufacturing mold are provided. The dispatch system includes a control unit, a mold material storage unit, a processing cutter storage unit, an object pick-and-place and transfer unit, a mold processing unit and a mold product storage unit. The mold material storage unit includes many unprocessed mold materials. The processing cutter storage unit includes many processing cutters. The object pick-and-place and transfer unit is electrically connected to the control unit and disposed between the mold material storage unit and the processing cutter storage unit. One of the unprocessed mold materials and one of the processing cutters are transferred to the mold processing unit by the object pick-and-place and transfer unit, the unprocessed mold material is processed to form a mold product by the mold processing unit, and the mold product is transferred to the mold product storage unit.

A calibration system for a food processing machine has a conveyor for conveying a workpiece, scanning system for scanning the workpiece and creating a digital image of the workpiece, and a cutting device downstream from the scanning system for cutting the workpiece. A calibration object is conveyed through the food processing machine by the conveyor and scanned. A controller, with a memory, is in communication with the cutting device and the conveyor such that the controller can track position of the cutting device as the cutting device is moved into alignment with the calibration object and store calibration values on the memory corresponding to the movement of the cutting device into alignment with the calibration object. The controller is configured to calibrate movement of the cutting device relative to the workpiece based on the digital image of the workpiece and the calibration values to thereafter accurately cut the workpiece.

A manufacturing system including an automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) structure with a three-dimensional array of storage locations distributed throughout a two-dimensional footprint of the ASRS structure at multiple storage levels; workpieces stored within the storage locations of the ASRS structure; robotic storage/retrieval vehicles (RSRVs) navigable within the ASRS structure in three dimensions to access the storage locations, and multiple manufacturing cells positioned outside the ASRS structure, is provided. The manufacturing system includes a track structure attached to the ASRS structure and defining one or more travel paths traversable by the RSRVs from the ASRS structure. The same fleet of RSRVs that is navigable within the ASRS structure is operable to deliver the workpieces to the manufacturing cells. One or more of the manufacturing cells are positioned along the track structure, thereby receiving convenient access to the workpieces along with associated tool pieces and workpiece supports for manufacturing goods.