DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING METAL PARENT PARTS AND FOR SORTING METAL WASTE PARTS

Abstract

A device and a method for processing parent parts and for sorting waste parts thereby separated. For this purpose, an optical detection unit is provided, which is configured to detect at least one geometric feature G of each waste part and to generate a control signal S corresponding to the at least one detected geometric feature G. The control signal S is transmitted to a sorting unit. The fed waste part is sorted depending on the received control signal S. It is thus possible to assign the separated waste parts to a specific parent part. This in turn enables an assignment and determination of the material of which the waste part consists, which specifically corresponds to the material of which the parent part consists. This enables the waste parts to be separated into different categories.

Claims

1. A device (10) for processing metal parent parts (11) and for sorting metal waste parts (12), comprising: at least one separation unit (22), which is configured to separate at least one portion (24) of the parent part (11) to be separated, wherein each separated portion (24) forms a waste part (12), an optical detection unit (38), which is configured to detect at least one geometric feature (G) of each waste part (12), and to generate a control signal (S) corresponding to the at least one detected geometric feature (G), and, a sorting unit (33), which is configured to remove and to deposit and/or to convey further onwards the at least one waste part (12) fed to the sorting unit (33), depending on the control signal (S).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that a marking unit (43) is provided and is configured to apply to the at least one portion (24) of the parent part (11) a marking (M1, M2, M3) which characterizes the material of the parent part (11) and which constitutes at least one optically detectable geometric feature (G).

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the marking (M1, M2, M3) to be applied in a material-dependent manner is predefined to the marking unit (43) depending on the material of the parent part (11).

4. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the marking unit (43) is configured to apply a marking (M1, M2, M3) that protrudes and/or is recessed relative to the bordering surface of the portion (24) to be separated.

5. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the marking unit (43) comprises at least one laser (46) for engraving the marking (M1, M2, M3) into the portion (24) of the parent part (11) to be separated.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (10) comprises at least one press (13) or at least one press station (14) having an upper tool (13) and a lower tool (14) for processing the parent part (11).

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that a press (13) or press station (14) of the at least one press (13) or press station (14) forms the separation unit (22) and comprises a separation tool part (23) for separating the at least one portion (24) to be separated, and/or in that a press (13) or press stage (14) of the at least one press (13) or press stage (14) comprises a shaping tool part for shaping the parent part (11).

8. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that a marking unit (43) is provided and is configured to apply a marking (M1, M2, M3) characterizing the material of the parent part (11) to the at least one portion (24) of the parent part (11), and in that the marking unit (43) comprises at least one marking plunger (44), which is arranged on the upper tool (15) and/or on the lower tool (16) of a press (13) or press station (14) of the at least one press (13) or press station (14).

9. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the marking unit (43) is configured to introduce the marking (M1, M2, M3) in such a way that it is optically detectable on two opposite sides of the waste part (12).

10. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sorting unit (33) comprises at least one feed channel (34) and at least two outlet channels (35), wherein the sorting unit (33) is configured to convey the at least one waste part (12) arriving at the feed channel (34) further on to one of the provided outlet channels (35) depending on the control signal (S).

11. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that a conveying unit (28) for carrying away the at least one waste part (12) is provided, and in that the optical detection unit (38) is arranged adjacently to the conveying unit (28) and is arranged before the sorting unit (33) as considered in the conveying direction of the conveyed waste parts (12), or is arranged at a feed channel (34) of the sorting unit (33).

12. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the optical detection unit (38) comprises at least one camera (39).

13. The device according to claim 12, characterized in that the at least one camera (39) is embodied as a monochrome camera.

14. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sorting unit (33) comprises at least one sorting robot (36).

15. A method for processing metal parent parts (11) and for sorting metal waste parts (12), comprising the following steps: feeding a parent part (11), separating at least one portion (24) to be separated from the parent part (11), wherein each separated portion (24) forms a waste part (12), carrying away the at least one waste part (12), optically detecting at least one geometric feature (G) of each waste part (12) and generating a control signal (S) corresponding to the detected geometric feature (G), transmitting the control signal (S) to a sorting unit (33), and forwarding or removing and depositing the at least one waste part (12), depending on the control signal (S).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Advantageous embodiments of the device and method will become clear from the claims, the description, and the drawings. Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention will be explained in detail hereinafter on the basis of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration, similar to a block diagram, of an exemplary embodiment of a device 10 having a number of presses or press stations,

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a device,

[0033] FIGS. 3 to 5 each show a schematic illustration of a parent part, portions to be separated on the parent part, and the produced part and the separated waste parts in a highly simplified schematic basic diagram,

[0034] FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration, similar to a block diagram, of an exemplary embodiment of a press arrangement comprising a plurality of presses or press stations, and

[0035] FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration, similar to a block diagram, of an exemplary embodiment of a sorting unit for the press arrangement from FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

[0036] FIGS. 1 and 2 each show an exemplary embodiment of a device 10 in a block diagram. The device 10 is configured to process metal parent parts 11 and to sort metal waste parts 12 produced during the processing. Examples of parent parts 11 and waste parts 12 are illustrated schematically in FIGS. 3 to 5. The various parent parts 11 are preferably in each case a parent part or a board. The dimensions of the parent part 11 in the two spatial directions of a plane in which the parent part 11 fundamentally extends are greater, preferably greater at least by a factor of 10, than the thickness of the parent part at right angles to this plane. The parent part 11 by way of example can be polygonal and in particular rectangular. It can also have other shapes when the parent part 11 has already been adapted in other preparative process steps to the part to be produced in the device 10.

[0037] In the preferred exemplary embodiments described here, at least one press 13 or press station 14 belongs to the device 10 and in each case has an upper tool 15 and a lower tool 16. A number of presses 13 can form a press line 17, or a number of press stations 14 can form a transfer press facility 18. One or more press lines 17 or transfer press facilities 18 can belong to the device 10. In the simplest case, the device 10 has a single press 13.

[0038] The device 10 has a separation unit 22. In the exemplary embodiment described here, the separation unit 22 can be formed on a press 13 or press station 14, for example by a punching tool part 23 attached to the upper tool 15 and/or to the lower tool 16 or formed there. The separation unit 22 can be formed consequently by a press 13 or press station 14 or can be integrated there. It is also possible to provide a separation unit 22 that is separate from a press 13 or press station 14 and that can be formed by way of example by a water jet cutting unit, a laser cutting unit, or the like. Portions 24 on the parent part 11 that are to be separated are separated with the aid of the separation unit during the processing of the parent part 11 by the device 10. Each portion 24 separated from the parent part 11 forms a waste part 12. The portions 24 on the parent part 11 that are to be separated are illustrated schematically in a dashed manner in FIGS. 3 to 5.

[0039] By way of example, the device additionally includes a conveying unit 28. The conveying unit 28 is configured to carry away the waste parts 12 from the separation unit 22, in accordance with the example a press 13 or press station 14. The conveying unit 28 can include shafts or chutes 29, conveying belts 30, conveying chains, shaking or vibrating conveying units, or any other conveying means suitable for conveying the waste parts 12 or any combination of the aforementioned units and means.

[0040] By means of the conveying unit 28, the waste parts 12 in one exemplary embodiment are fed to a sorting unit 33 (FIGS. 1 and 2). It is alternatively also possible to transport away the waste parts 12 by the conveying unit 28 and to first collect these unsorted in a collection container 31 (FIG. 6). The sorting unit 33 and the separation unit 22 can be connected by means of a common conveying unit 28, as in the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, however this is not absolutely necessary. The sorting unit 33 and the separating unit 22 can also be embodied separately, without direct connection by a conveying unit (FIGS. 6 and 7).

[0041] The sorting unit 33, in accordance with the example, has at least one feed channel 34 and two or more outlet channels 35. The waste parts 12 are fed to the feed channel 34 by the conveying unit 28. For this purpose, the feed channel 34 is connected accordingly to the conveying unit 28. The sorting unit 33 can forward a waste part 12 fed at the feed channel 34 to one of the provided outlet channels 35 and can thus divide the incoming flow of waste parts 12 into outlet sub-flows, wherein the number of outlet sub-flows corresponds to the number of the outlet channels 35.

[0042] An optical detection unit 38 is assigned to the conveying unit 28 upstream of the feed channel 34 as considered in the conveying direction of the waste part 12 towards the sorting unit 33, or at the feed channel 34. The optical detection unit 38 can comprise at least one camera 39. The optical detection unit 38 additionally or alternatively can also comprise at least one scanner, for example a laser scanner. In the preferred exemplary embodiment the at least one camera 39 is embodied as a monochrome camera, for example a CMOS camera. The optical detection unit 38 detects at least one geometric feature G of each waste part 12 and generates a corresponding control signal S. The control signal S is transmitted to the sorting unit 33, wirelessly and/or in a wired manner, for example.

[0043] In the exemplary embodiment described here, the control signal S, which characterizes the at least one geometric feature, is evaluated. Depending on the at least one geometric feature, it is possible to determine the parent material part 11 from which the waste part 12 comprising the geometric feature originates. This in turn enables the assignment to the material of which the parent part 11, and consequently also the waste part 12 separated during the processing of said parent part, consists. By means of the optical detection and evaluation of the at least one geometric feature G, a division of the waste parts 12 fed to the sorting unit 33 into different material flows at the outlet channels 35 is thus possible, such that the waste parts 12 consisting of the same material are fed to each outlet channel 35. The waste parts 12 are consequently sorted or separated into specific categories.

[0044] The sorting unit 33 by way of example can also comprise at least one sorting robot 36, to which the control signal S is transmitted and which removes a waste part from the unsorted waste parts 12 and sorts this depending on the control signal S, i.e. for example deposits it in a specific container or in a specific storage unit 50 or feeds it to a specific conveying channel so as to be transported on further (FIG. 7). A waste part 12 can be grasped from the collection container 31 containing unsorted waste parts 12 or can be grasped from a conveyed flow of unsorted waste parts 12. Here, each sorting robot 36 can be assigned a separate optical detection unit 38.

[0045] The sorting robot 36 or gripper arm 37 thereof can orientate the waste part 12 in the field of view of the optical detection unit 38 such that the at least one geometric feature G can be reliably identified.

[0046] The optical detection unit 38 can also be arranged movably. The at least one waste part 12 can thus be considered from different directions. By way of example, the optical detection unit 38 can be attached to the at least one sorting robot 36, for example to the gripper arm 37 of the sorting robot. The gripper arm 37 and a grasped waste part 12 are thus always within the detection range of the optical detection unit 38. The waste part 12 can also be oriented via the gripper arm 37, for example rotated and/or tilted, in order to improve the detection of the geometric feature G.

[0047] A geometric feature G can be formed for example by the outer contour K of a waste part 12. If the waste parts 12, which consist of different materials, have outer contours K sufficiently different from one another, these can be used and evaluated as characterising feature. Additionally or alternatively to the outer contour K, one or more arbitrary other geometric features G of the waste part 12 can also be used, for example cross-sectional shapes and/or diameters of protrusions and/or indentations and/or through-passages provided there and/or the size and/or the form of an impression, etc. Any optically detectable geometric dimension and and/or shape can serve as a geometric feature G. In order to be able to distinguish the waste parts 12 from one another, a number of geometric features G of a waste part 12 can also be evaluated in combination.

[0048] In order to improve and/or enable the identification, it is also possible that the device 10 has a marking unit 43. A press line 17 or transfer press 18 can be assigned at least one marking unit 43 in each case. It is also possible to assign a separate marking unit 43 to each separation unit 22. However, it is sufficient to process each parent part 11 during processing thereof by the device 10 by means of one marking unit 43.

[0049] The marking unit 43 is configured to apply an optically detectable marking M1, M2 or M3 to one, more, or all of the portions 24 that are to be separated and are provided on the parent part 11. Such a marking M1, M2, M3 can serve as an optically detectable geometric feature. The marking M1, M2, M3 can be elevated or recessed in relation to the bordering surface of the portion 24 to be separated and consequently can form a protrusion or an indentation. A marking M1, M2, M3 of this type is preferably applied to the relevant portion 24 of the parent part 11 to be separated by means of the marking unit 43 and is optically detectable from the opposite side of the portion 24.

[0050] In one exemplary embodiment the marking unit 43 can comprise at least one marking plunger 44, which is arranged on an upper tool 15 and/or on a lower tool 16 of a press 13 or press station 14. FIG. 1, in a highly schematic manner, shows a marking plunger 44 which is arranged on the upper tool 15 on one of the presses 13 or press stations 14. A tool recess 45 complementary to the marking plunger 44 is disposed on the lower tool 16. By way of example, the cross-section of the marking plunger 44 or of the tool recess 45 and consequently the generated marking M1, M2, M3 can constitute the detectable geometric feature G.

[0051] FIGS. 3 to 5 illustrate merely by way of example and schematically that, in the case of a parent part 11 an indentation and a protrusion having a triangular cross-sectional shape, in the case of a parent part 11 according to FIG. 4 an indentation and a protrusion having a diamond-shaped cross-section, and in the case of the parent part 11 according to FIG. 5 an indentation and a protrusion having a circular cross-sectional shape, can be produced by a marking plunger 44 in order to form the different features M1 or M2 or M3. The cross-sectional shape is arbitrary and principally must be detected merely by the optical detection unit 38 and preferably must be distinguishable from other cross-sectional shapes. The use of a marking plunger 44 has the advantage that an indentation is formed on one side of the portion 24 to be separated and a protrusion is formed on the other side. Here, a relevant marking M1, M2, M3, which is optically detectable from opposite sides on the waste part 12, is produced. Alternatively or additionally, it is also possible to provide the portion 24 to be separated with an impression on both sides.

[0052] With use of at least one marking plunger 43, the advantage is provided that when shaping or separating portions 24 of the parent part 11 to be separated, a relevant marking M1, M2, M3 can also be applied to the portion 24 to be separated. With a corresponding stroke of the press 13 or the press station 14, the marking M1, M2, M3 can be produced in a single operation, and the relevant portion 24 can be separated. It goes without saying that a relevant marking M1, M2, M3 can also be produced prior to the separation in a preceding operation of a preceding press 13 or press station 14.

[0053] It is additionally alternatively also possible that the marking unit 43 is introduced by a separate marking unit 43 into the at least one portion 24 to be separated. By way of example, an engraving unit can be provided for this purpose, by means of which the marking M1, M2, M3 is introduced as an engraving into the corresponding portion 24 to be separated. For engraving, the marking unit 43 can comprise a laser 46, for example (FIG. 1).

[0054] In the drawings, the exemplary embodiments of the device 10 are illustrated merely in a highly schematic manner. Depending on the number of portions 24 to be separated, an upper tool 15 and/or a lower tool 16 of a press 13 or press station 14 can also comprise a plurality of marking plungers 44. The marking plungers for different portions 24 can also be arranged on different presses 13 or press stations 14. It is merely necessary to introduce the marking M1, M2, M3 before the waste part 12 is carried away by the conveying unit 28. A separate marking unit 43 can be arranged on a press 13 or press station 14. It is also possible to provide the production of a marking M1, M2, M3 between successive presses 13 or press stations 14 as a parent part 11 is being transported on further.

[0055] The sequence of an exemplary method which can be carried out in particular with the device 10 described above will be described hereinafter.

[0056] A parent part 11 is firstly fed to the device 10 and, in accordance with the example, to a press line 17 or transfer press 18. When processing or shaping the parent part 11 into the form ultimately desired, at least one portion 24 is separated from the parent part 11 in one or more processing steps, wherein each separated portion 24 forms a waste part 12. The waste part 12 is carried away by means of the conveying unit 28 from the relevant press 13 or press stage 14, or from the press line 17 or the transfer press 18. The conveying unit 28 conveys the at least one waste part 12 to a sorting unit 33 (FIGS. 1 and 2) or into a collection container 31, which in turn can be transported to a separate sorting unit 33 (FIGS. 6 and 7). Before, or when reaching the sorting unit 33, or in the sorting unit 33, at least one geometric feature G of the waste part 12 is detected by the optical detection unit 38, and a control signal S is generated depending on the detected at least one geometric feature G and is transmitted to the sorting device 33. The waste part 12 is sorted depending on the control signal S. By way of example, the waste part 12 fed at the feed channel 34 of the sorting unit 33 can be fed to one of the provided outlet channels 35, or the sorting robot 36 deposits the waste part in a relevant storage unit 50 assigned to the control signal. In this way, waste parts 12 can be distinguished from one another and separated, depending on which parent part 12 or which material of the parent part 12 they have been separated from. A sorting of the waste parts 12 into specific categories can thus be achieved.

[0057] After the sorting into different material flows at the outlet channels 35, the waste parts can be fed via further conveying means to an assigned storage unit 50. It is also possible to press the waste parts 12 before the storage unit 50 or in the storage unit 50 in order to increase the density and reduce the storage volume.

[0058] In order to simplify the optical detection of the waste parts 12 by means of the optical detection unit 38, an individualization unit 51 can be provided as part of the conveying unit 28 before the optical detection unit 38 as considered in the conveying direction. The individualization unit 51 serves to arrange the waste parts 12 in succession in the conveying direction so that they are detected in succession by the optical detection unit 38 and are fed to the channel 34 beforehand.

[0059] The invention relates to a device 10 and a method for processing parent parts 11 and for sorting waste parts 12 thereby separated. For this purpose, an optical detection unit 38 is provided, which is configured to detect at least one geometric feature G of each waste part 12 and to generate a control signal S corresponding to the at least one detected geometric feature G. The control signal S is transmitted to a sorting unit 33. The fed waste part 12 is sorted depending on the received control signal S. It is thus possible to assign the separated waste parts 12 to a specific parent part 11. This in turn enables an assignment and determination of the material of which the waste part 12 consists, which specifically corresponds to the material of which the parent part 11 consists. By way of example, it is thus possible in the case of large press facilities to distinguish between the different waste parts 12 transported in a common material flow through a conveying unit 28, in such a way that the origin of said waste parts from a parent part 11 and consequently the material thereof can be determined. This enables the waste parts 12 to be separated into different categories.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0060] 10 device [0061] 11 parent part [0062] 12 waste part [0063] 13 press [0064] 14 press station [0065] 15 upper tool [0066] 16 lower tool [0067] 17 press line [0068] 18 transfer press facility [0069] 22 separation unit [0070] 23 punching tool part [0071] 24 portion to be separated [0072] 28 conveying unit [0073] 29 shaft [0074] 30 conveying belt [0075] 31 collection container [0076] 33 sorting unit [0077] 34 feed channel [0078] 35 outlet channel [0079] 36 sorting robot [0080] 37 gripper arm [0081] 38 optical detection unit [0082] 39 camera [0083] 43 marking unit [0084] 44 marking plunger [0085] 45 tool recess [0086] 46 laser [0087] 50 storage unit [0088] 51 individualization unit [0089] G geometric feature [0090] S control signal [0091] M1 marking [0092] M2 marking [0093] M3 marking