Compact and preassembled automatic processing system

Abstract

An automatic processing system includes a base or platform, on which a loading station is mounted, adapted to house one or more trolleys having workpieces to be processed, a magazine adapted to pick up at least one work piece at a time from the loading station and to transport it to a centering device adapted to receive the workpiece and to place it in pick-up position by a robot, and a unloading station where the processed pieces are positioned.

Claims

1. An automatic processing system (1), comprising: a loading station (10), adapted to house one or more trolleys (11, 12) having workpieces (P) to be processed; a feeder (20), adapted to pick up a workpiece (P) at a time from said loading station (10) and to transport said workpiece (P) to a centering device (30); said centering device (30), adapted to receive said workpiece (P) and to place it-said workpiece in a pick-up position by a robot (60); said robot (60), having at least one mechanical arm (61), being adapted to move said workpiece (P) during processing in a machine tool; an unloading station (80), where processed workpieces (P) are positioned; and a base or platform (100), on which said loading station (10), said feeder (20), said centering device (30), said robot (60), and said unloading station (80) are mounted.

2. The automatic processing system (1) according to claim 1, wherein said base or platform (100) comprises adjustable feet (101).

3. The automatic processing system (1) according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one first magazine (40) for tools for at least one machine tool; and at least one second magazine (50) for gripping tools for said robot (60); wherein said first and said second magazines (40, 50) are mounted on said base or platform (100).

4. The automatic processing system (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a machine tool, said machine tool comprising a press (70), adapted to perform one or more machining operations on said workpiece, and a base or support structure (71) on which said press (70) is mounted, and wherein said base or platform (100) comprises fastening means of said support structure (71).

5. The automatic processing system (1) according to claim 4, wherein said support structure (71) is integral with said platform (100).

6. The automatic processing system (1) according to claim 1, wherein said loading station (10) comprises a plurality of holding zones (13, 14) disposed side by side, at least one trolley (11, 12) being positioned in each of the plurality of holding zones with the workpieces (P) to be processed, and wherein said holding zones (13, 14) are separated from each other by at least one partition (93).

7. The automatic processing system (1) according to claim 6, wherein said feeder (20) is of movement type on Cartesian axes, said feeder comprising a cart (21) which moves in two horizontal directions (X, Y) orthogonal to each other, further comprising a gripping device (22) adapted to move vertically with respect to said cart (21) above said loading station (10).

8. The automatic processing system (1) according to claim 7, further comprising protective walls (90) mounted along a perimeter of said base or platform (100), the protective walls defining a space in which all working members installed on said base or platform are contained (100), wherein said protective walls (90) comprise at least one opening (92) for introducing/removing said one or more trolleys (11, 12) into/from the respective holding zones (13, 14) of said loading station, and wherein said protective walls (90) comprise a movable wall (94) adapted to be selectively positioned to close a part of said opening (92), in correspondence with a position of one of the one or more the trolleys (11, 12) which has been removed for loading operations.

9. The automatic processing system (1) according to claim 8, wherein said movable wall (94) is arranged to selectively separate at least one of said holding zones (13, 14) from a rest of a space defined by said protective walls (90).

10. The automatic processing system (1) according to claim 8, wherein said movable wall (94) comprises a vertical portion (941) and a horizontal roof (942), which is superimposed on at least one of said holding zones (13, 14).

11. The automatic processing system (1) according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of holding zones (13, 14) are parallel to one another in a direction parallel to a translation direction (X, Y) of the cart (21) of said feeder (X), and wherein said movable wall (94) is translatable in the translation direction (X), a translation along the translation direction being caused and controlled by said feeder (20).

12. The automatic processing system (1) according to claim 1, wherein said unloading station (80) comprises a conveyor belt (81) mounted on said base or platform (100) and adapted to transport processed workpieces (P), the conveyor belt being moved by said robot (60) in said unloading station, to an area external to the base or platform (100), where the processed workpieces can be picked up and sent for further processing.

Description

[0037] The characteristics of the new system will be better clarified by the following description with reference to the drawings, attached by way of a non-limiting example.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of one possible embodiment of the new system (1), while

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional view thereof.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the new system (1).

[0041] FIGS. 4a and 4b show in detail two three-dimensional views of the loading station (10), with two trolleys (11, 12), one of which is removed from the relative holding zone (13), and with a movable wall (94) positioned so as to prevent access to the holding zone.

[0042] The new compact and preassembled automatic processing system (1) comprises a base or platform (100) in turn equipped with adjustable feet (101), in turn comprising plates (102) suitable to constrain it to the ground by fixing means (103).

[0043] The platform (100) also comprises suitably distributed anchorage points (104) for lifting members.

[0044] A loading station (10) is installed on the platform (100), designed to house one or more trolleys (11, 12) with the workpieces (P) to be processed.

[0045] In the example in the figures, there are two trolleys (11, 12) and each one is positioned in a holding area (13, 14) of the loading station (10).

[0046] A feeder (20) is also installed on the platform (100), suited to pick up at least one workpiece (P) at a time from the loading zone (10).

[0047] The feeder (20) is preferably the type moving on Cartesian axes, comprising a cart (21) which moves in two horizontal directions (X, Y) and orthogonal to each other, and a gripping device (22) suited to move vertically with respect to the cart (21). The cart (21) moves above the trolleys (11, 12) positioned in the loading station (10) and the gripping device selects and picks up the workpiece (P) to be processed, which is then transported outside of the loading station (10), to a centring device (30).

[0048] The at least one centring device (30) is also installed on the platform (100) and is suited to receive the workpiece (P) and place it in a pick-up position by a robot (60). The centring device (30) comprises, for example, a tilting plane (31) on which a reference point or zero point is identified. When a workpiece (P) is positioned on the plane (31), the latter moves to an inclined pick-up position so that the workpiece (P) is arranged in a precise position with respect to the zero point.

[0049] At least one tool magazine (40) for a machine tool (70) and at least one magazine (50) for gripping tools for at least one robot (60) suited to move the workpieces is also installed on the platform (100).

[0050] The at least one robot (60) is also installed on the platform (100) with at least one mechanical arm (61) suited to: pick up and mount the gripping tools; pick up and mount the tools for the machine tool; pick up the workpieces from the centring device; move the workpieces during processing to the machine tool; positioning the processed workpieces on at least one device or unloading station (80).

[0051] The system (1) also comprises at least one machine tool, and in particular at least one press (70), suited to perform one or more machining operations, such as for example bending and/or drilling and/or punching in general.

[0052] The press (70) has operative members which require tools which can be selected from the tool magazine (40).

[0053] The press (70) is in turn mounted on a base or support structure (71) comprising fastening means to fasten it to the platform (100) in an appropriate position and manner, such that the press (70) is therefore arranged side by side with the platform (100) and in a precise and defined position with respect to the robot (60).

[0054] The new system (1) also comprises at least one unloading station (80), in correspondence with which a conveyor belt (81) is installed, mounted on the platform (100) and suited to transport the processed workpieces (P) placed by the robot (60) in the unloading station, to an area external to the platform (100), where they can be picked up and sent for further processing.

[0055] The system may also have an additional unloading station (82) positioned on the platform (100) and thus inside the system (1). In this case, access to this further unloading station (82) requires stopping the work cycle.

[0056] The new system (1) also comprises protective walls (90) mounted substantially along the perimeter of the platform (100), which define a space in which all the working members installed on the platform (100) are contained.

[0057] The system (1) conveniently also comprises additional protective walls (91), mounted substantially around the press (70), and joined to the protective walls (90) mounted on the platform (100).

[0058] These protective walls (90) mounted on the platform (100) comprise at least one opening (92) for access to the loading station (10), to allow the introduction of the trolleys (11, 12) into the respective holding zones (13, 14).

[0059] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b, the trolley (11, 12) holding zones (13, 14) are separated from each other by at least one partition (93).

[0060] When the trolleys (11, 12) are correctly positioned in the relative holding zones (13, 14), the rear wall (15) of each trolley (11, 12) prevents access from the outside towards the inside of the loading station (10), thus preventing access by persons within the space delimited by the protective walls (90).

[0061] As noted, the system (1) preferably operates with at least two trolleys (11, 12) side by side, each one located in its own holding zone (13, 14) in the loading station (10), where the Cartesian axis feeder operates (20).

[0062] In this way, when one of the two trolleys (11, 12) is empty, the processing can continue by taking the workpieces to be processed from the second trolley, while the first trolley is removed, reloaded, and reintroduced.

[0063] The protective walls (90) comprise at least one movable wall (94) suited to be selectively positioned to close a part of the opening (92), in correspondence with the position of the trolley (11, 12) which has been removed for the loading operations.

[0064] In order not to impede the trolley (11, 12) introduction/removal operations in any way, the movable wall (94) is placed in a frontal position with respect to the trolleys (11, 12) positioned in the holding zones (13, 14), that is, positioned to separate the holding zone (13, 14) from the rest of the space defined by the safety walls (90).

[0065] The movable wall (94) may also comprise a vertical portion (941) and a horizontal roof (942) which is superimposed over the holding zone (13, 14).

[0066] Consequently, when a trolley (11, 12) is removed from the relative holding zone (13, 14), the movable wall (94) is placed in correspondence with the empty holding zone, so that any access is allowed only inside the empty holding zone, but not inside the area where the working members are moving. This roof (942) also provides protection from above.

[0067] In the embodiment in the figure, the holding zones (13, 14) are side by side (X) in a direction parallel to a translation direction of the cart (21) of the Cartesian feeder (20). Therefore, to selectively close one of the holding zones (13, 14), the movable wall (94) must substantially translate in this direction. This translation is usefully performed by the Cartesian feeder (20) which, before the removal of the empty trolley, translates the movable wall (94) in correspondence with the relative holding zone.

[0068] These specifications are sufficient for the expert person to make the invention, as a result, in the practical application there may be variations without prejudice to the substance of the innovative concept.

[0069] Therefore, with reference to the preceding description and the attached drawings the following claims are made.