ULTRASONIC MACHINING DEVICE, METHOD FOR CONFIGURING AN ULTRASONIC MACHINING DEVICE, AND SYSTEM HAVING AN ULTRASONIC MACHINING DEVICE OF THIS TYPE

Abstract

An ultrasonic machining device (1) for machining a workpiece. At least one component, selected from the group including a generator (11), a converter (12), a booster (13), a sonotrode (14), a HV cable (15), a machine frame (16) and a receiving device for the workpiece (17), is/are assigned an identifier (18). The identifier (18) characterizes at least one individual parameter of the component. The device (1) is assigned an input interface (19) which reads in the identifier (18) or generated data from the identifier. The device (1) is assigned a data processing arrangement (20). By way of the data processing arrangement (20), based on the read-in identifier (18) or the data generated from the identifier (18), at least one parameter of the device (1) is determined in such a way that the device (1) is operated in a target operating state, e.g., a resonant vibrating state.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. An ultrasonic machining apparatus for machining a workpiece, wherein at least one of components of the ultrasonic machining apparatus is/are selected from the group comprising a generator, a converter, a booster, a sonotrode, a HV cable, a machine frame and a holding apparatus, for the workpiece, has an associated identifier that characterizes at least one individual parameter of the component, the apparatus has an associated input interface by which the identifier or data produced on a basis of the identifier can be read in, and the apparatus has an associated computing arrangement by which the read-in identifier or data produced from the identifier can be taken as a basis for determining at least one parameter of the apparatus such that the apparatus is operated in a specified operating state.

17. The ultrasonic machining apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the individual parameter of the component is a parameter measured after said component is manufactured.

18. The ultrasonic machining apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the individual parameter the component characterizes a deviation in the component in comparison with a specified state of this component.

19. The ultrasonic machining apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the identifier biuniquely determines the component.

20. The ultrasonic machining apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the input interface is embodied as a reading-in apparatus, and the reading-in apparatus is connectable to the computing arrangement.

21. The ultrasonic machining apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the reading-in apparatus is embodied as a component of the ultrasonic machining apparatus.

22. The ultrasonic machining apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the computing arrangement and/or the reading-in apparatus are embodied in one component.

23. The ultrasonic machining apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the computing arrangement and/or the reading-in apparatus are embodied in the generator.

24. The ultrasonic machining apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the computing arrangement has a communication interface designed such that the communication interface allows remote maintenance of the ultrasonic machining apparatus.

25. The ultrasonic machining apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the communication interface is designed such that the communication interface allows remote maintenance the generator.

26. The ultrasonic machining apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the identifier is attached to the component.

27. The ultrasonic machining apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the identifier is associated with packaging of the component.

28. The ultrasonic machining apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the parameter is a parameter influencing the process parameters.

29. The ultrasonic machining apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the parameter is the resonant frequency and the frequency bandwidth usable during operation and/or amplitude of the apparatus.

30. The ultrasonic machining apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the apparatus is operated in a resonant vibration state

31. A method for configuring an ultrasonic machining apparatus, wherein the method comprises the following steps: reading in an identifier that characterizes an individual parameter of the component by a reading-in apparatus, determining a parameter of the apparatus on a basis of the read-in identifier or on a basis of the data produced from the identifier, wherein the parameter allows the apparatus to be operated in a specified operating state, and adjusting the apparatus in accordance with the at least one parameter.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the parameter is a parameter influencing the process parameters.

33. The method according to claim 31, wherein the parameter is the resonant frequency and the frequency bandwidth usable during operation and/or amplitude of the apparatus.

34. The method according to claim 31, wherein the apparatus is operated in a resonant vibration state.

35. The method according to claim 31, wherein a frequency range and/or an amplitude of the generator is/are adapted.

36. The method according to claim 31, wherein the method also comprises the steps of: conveying the identifier or the data produced on a basis of the identifier to a computing arrangement, and conveying the parameter determined on a basis of the identifier from the computing arrangement to the apparatus.

37. A method for manufacturing a component for an ultrasonic machining apparatus, comprising the steps of: producing the component, measuring the component and producing a parameter characterizing the component, producing a unique identifier associated with the parameter set, and associating the identifier with the component.

38. A system having at least one: ultrasonic machining apparatus according to claim 16, database, and/or communication interface between the ultrasonic machining apparatus and the database for conveying information between the ultrasonic machining apparatus and the database.

39. The system according to claim 35, wherein the database allows an identifier associated with at least one of the components of the ultrasonic machining apparatus and a data record that characterizes the component to be linked.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0059] The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments in figures, in which:

[0060] FIG. 1 shows a depiction of a first exemplary embodiment of the ultrasonic machining apparatus.

[0061] FIG. 2 shows depictions of a first exemplary embodiment of the identifier.

[0062] FIG. 3 shows a depiction of a second exemplary embodiment of the identifier.

[0063] FIG. 4 shows a depiction of a third exemplary embodiment of the identifier.

[0064] FIG. 5 shows a schematic depiction of the exemplary embodiment of the ultrasonic machining apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

[0065] FIG. 6 shows a schematic depiction of a second exemplary embodiment of an ultrasonic machining apparatus according to the invention.

[0066] FIG. 7 shows a schematic depiction of a third exemplary embodiment of an ultrasonic machining apparatus according to the invention.

[0067] FIG. 8 shows a schematic depiction of a fourth exemplary embodiment of an ultrasonic machining apparatus according to the invention.

[0068] FIG. 9 shows a schematic depiction of a fifth exemplary embodiment of an ultrasonic machining apparatus according to the invention.

[0069] FIG. 10 shows a schematic depiction of a sixth exemplary embodiment of an ultrasonic machining apparatus according to the invention.

[0070] FIG. 11 shows a schematic depiction of a seventh exemplary embodiment of an ultrasonic machining apparatus according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0071] 1 shows a simplified view of a first exemplary embodiment of an ultrasonic machining apparatus 1 in the form of an ultrasonic welding apparatus. The ultrasonic welding apparatus 1 consists of multiple components. It comprises a generator 11, a converter 12, an HV cable 15, a booster 13, a sonotrode 14, a machine frame 16 and a holding apparatus 17 for the workpiece. The generator 11 is connected to the converter 12 via the HV cable 15. The generator 11 generates an electrical AC signal that is transmitted to the converter 12 via the HV cable 15 and thus powers the converter 12. The converter 12 converts the electrical AC signal into a mechanical vibration. This mechanical vibration is transmitted from the converter 12 to the booster 13. The booster 13 is designed such that it alters the amplitude of the vibration. The booster 13 transmits the mechanical vibration to the sonotrode 14, the sonotrode 14 subsequently transmitting this vibration to the workpiece. In this way, the workpiece is ultrasonically welded. The converter 12, booster 13 and the sonotrode 14 are held on the apparatus 1 by the machine frame 16.

[0072] In order to operate the ultrasonic welding apparatus 1 in the specified operating state, that is to say at resonance frequency, the components need to be precisely matched to one another. Since the components deviate from the specified dimensions owing to production tolerances, for example, replacement of a component needs to be followed by an adjustment of the ultrasonic welding apparatus 1. The adjustment takes into consideration the individual parameters (actual parameters) of the components and adjusts the ultrasonic welding apparatus 1 to these individual parameters. Thus, for example the frequency bandwidth and/or the amplitude of the electrical AC signal of the generator 11 can be adapted. The frequency of the AC signal is adapted by the adjustment of the generator such that the ultrasonic welding apparatus 1 is operated at resonance at a specific amplitude. In the exemplary embodiment according to the invention, the sonotrode 14 has an identifier 18. The identifier 18 is linked to an individual parameter of the sonotrode 14. The adjustment of the ultrasonic welding apparatus 1 can thus be simplified by virtue of the identifier 18 being read in. For the purpose of adjustment, the identifier 18 is input by an input interface (see FIG. 5), as a result of which a statement about the individual form of the sonotrode 14 can be made on the basis of the identifier 18. This information is used to perform the adjustment. Thus, for example the identifier 18 associated with the sonotrode 14 can be taken as a basis for determining the actual dimensions of the sonotrode 14. These dimensions have been measured and linked to the identifier 18 after manufacture of the sonotrode 14. Thus, the dimensions can be ascertained on the basis of the identifier 18 and used for calculating the frequency bandwidth and/or amplitude. During the adjustment, the generator frequency is subsequently adapted for this calculated frequency bandwidth and/or amplitude.

[0073] FIG. 2 schematically shows a first exemplary embodiment of an identifier 18 according to the invention. It is an RFID chip. RFID chips are well known from the prior art.

[0074] FIG. 3 schematically shows a second exemplary embodiment of an identifier according to the invention. It is a smart code.

[0075] FIG. 4 schematically shows a third exemplary embodiment of an identifier 18 according to the invention. It is a bar code.

[0076] In a further exemplary embodiment (not shown), the identifier 18 is embodied as a USB stick, which is enclosed in the packaging, for example.

[0077] FIG. 5 shows a schematic depiction of the exemplary embodiment of the ultrasonic welding apparatus 1 from FIG. 1. The apparatus 1 comprises the components generator 11, converter 12, booster 13, sonotrode 14, HV cable 15, machine frame 16 and holding apparatus 17 for the workpiece. In this exemplary embodiment, the sonotrode 14 is the only component to have an associated identifier 18. The apparatus 1 also comprises an input interface 19 and a computing arrangement 20. The input interface 19 allows input of the identifier 18, the computing arrangement 20 being used for processing the identifier 18 and for adjusting the apparatus 1. The input interface 19 is embodied as a USB interface in this exemplary embodiment. The identifier 18, which is embodied as a USB stick in this exemplary embodiment, can thus be introduced into the input interface 19 by a person operating the apparatus 1. The read-in identifier 18 is subsequently processed by the computing arrangement 20. The computing arrangement 20 takes the identifier 18 as a basis for ascertaining an individual parameter of the sonotrode 14. This parameter corresponds to the exact actual dimensions of the sonotrode 14 in this exemplary embodiment. The computing arrangement 20 uses these actual dimensions to calculate a frequency bandwidth and/or amplitude for the ultrasonic welding apparatus 1 and adapts the frequency bandwidth and/or amplitude of the generator 11 accordingly.

[0078] FIG. 6 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the ultrasonic welding apparatus 1. In this exemplary embodiment, all of the components, that is to say the generator 11, the converter 12, the booster 13, the sonotrode 14, the HV cable 15, the machine frame 16 and the holding apparatus 17 for the workpiece, have one identifier 18 each with various information. The input interface is embodied as a reading-in apparatus 21 in this exemplary embodiment. The reading-in apparatus 21 is an RFID reader. The identifiers 18 are attached directly to the components as RFID chips. The identifiers 18 of the components can thus be read in by the reading-in apparatus 21. The reading-in apparatus 21 forwards the identifiers 18 to the computing arrangement 20. The computing arrangement 20 takes the identifiers 18 as a basis for determining the individual parameters of the components 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, so that the computing arrangement 20 can subsequently calculate a frequency bandwidth and/or amplitude adapted for the individual components. The computing arrangement 20 conveys the calculated frequency bandwidth and/or amplitude to the generator 11, which adapts its output signal accordingly.

[0079] FIG. 7 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the ultrasonic welding apparatus 1 according to the invention. In this exemplary embodiment, the computing arrangement 20 and the reading apparatus 21 are integrated in the generator 11 of the apparatus 1. Each component 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 has an associated biunique identifier 18.

[0080] FIG. 8 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an ultrasonic welding apparatus 1 according to the invention. In this exemplary embodiment, the computing arrangement 20 is arranged outside the apparatus 1, that is to say remotely from the apparatus. The reading-in apparatus 21 is arranged in the ultrasonic welding apparatus 1 in this exemplary embodiment.

[0081] FIG. 9 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the ultrasonic welding apparatus 1, wherein the computing arrangement 20 and the reading-in apparatus 21 are arranged outside the ultrasonic welding apparatus 1 in this example.

[0082] FIG. 10 shows an exemplary embodiment of a system 22 according to the invention. The system 22 also comprises a database 23, connected to the apparatus 1 via a communication interface 24, besides the ultrasonic welding apparatus 1. The apparatus 1 comprises a reading-in apparatus 21 that is used to read in the identifiers 18 of the components. The read-in identifiers 18 are processed by the computing arrangement 20, which is likewise accommodated in the apparatus 1. The computing arrangement 20 uses the communication interface 24 to request the parameters/parameter sets that correspond to the identifiers from a database 23. By way of example, the database 23 comprises a lookup table in which a parameter set corresponding to the component is stored on the basis of the biunique identifier. The computing arrangement 20 of the apparatus takes the parameters requested from the database 23 as a basis for calculating a frequency bandwidth and/or amplitude suited to the components of the apparatus 1, and subsequently adjusts the generator accordingly.

[0083] FIG. 11 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a system 22 according to the invention. In this exemplary embodiment, the computing arrangement 20 is arranged not in the ultrasonic welding apparatus 1, but rather likewise remotely. The computing arrangement 20 can thus be used centrally for multiple ultrasonic machining apparatuses 1 (only one ultrasonic machining apparatus shown).