Transport Device and System for Processing Workpieces

Abstract

The present invention refers to a transport device with at least one transport system for jointly transporting at least one tool and at least one workpiece, wherein the transport system has a ceiling wall, a floor wall spaced apart from the ceiling wall, at least one side wall and at least one intermediate space between the ceiling wall and the floor wall, and wherein the intermediate space has at least one opening. In order to enable simultaneous and safe transport of one or more workpieces together with the tools required for machining and thus in particular to reduce downtimes of machining machines as well as costs, the ceiling wall or a cover plate connected therewith as well as the at least one intermediate space each have at least one holder, wherein the at least two holders are set up to receive the at least one workpiece and/or the at least one tool.

Claims

1. A transport device comprising: at least one transport system for jointly transporting at least one tool and at least one workpiece, wherein the at least one transport system includes: a ceiling wall; a floor wall spaced apart from the ceiling wall; at least one side wall; and at least one intermediate space between the ceiling wall and the floor wall, wherein the at least one intermediate space has at least one opening, wherein both the ceiling wall or a cover plate connected therewith as well as the at least one intermediate space each have at least one holder, wherein a first holder of the at least one holder is set up to receive the at least one workpiece, and wherein a second holder of the at least one holder is set up to receive the at least one tool.

2. The transport device according to claim 1, wherein the cover plate is positively connected with the ceiling wall of one of the transport systems of the transport device.

3. The transport device according claim 1, wherein the at least one transport system and the cover plate have at least two laterally arranged handle tabs.

4. The transport device according to claim 3, wherein the handle tabs of the at least one transport system engage into the handle tabs of the cover plate.

5. The transport device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one holder of the ceiling wall is set up to receive the at least one workpiece.

6. The transport device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one opening is arranged on a side wall of the transport system, and wherein the opening is at least identical to a cross sectional surface of the at least one intermediate space.

7. The transport device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one holder of the at least one intermediate space has at least one transport box.

8. The transport device according to claim 7, wherein the at least one transport box can be moved from a retracted position into an extended position.

9. The transport device according to claim 8, wherein the at least one transport box is guided over at least one guiderail, and wherein the transport box is secured in at least one of the retracted or extended positions by latching means.

10. The transport device according to claim 8, wherein the at least one transport box is secured in the retracted position by at least one magnet.

11. The transport device according to claim 8, wherein the transport device has a sensor device that determines whether the transport box is in the retracted position or the extended position.

12. The transport device according to claim 7, wherein the transport box has at least one cassette for receiving the at least one tool.

13. The transport device of claim 12, wherein the tool and/or the holder of the at least one workpiece and/or the holder of the at least one tool and/or the transport box and/or the cassette and/or the cover plate have at least one marking, in particular a color marking.

14. The transport device according to claim 1, wherein the transport device has at least two transport systems connected with each other, wherein the floor wall of a first transport system is connected with the ceiling wall of a second transport system and/or handle tabs of the first transport system are connected with handle tabs of the second transport system, and wherein the at least two transport systems preferably have a positive connection.

15. The transport device of claim 1, wherein the transport device has an individual label.

16. The transport device of claim 1, characterized in that the at least one holder of the ceiling wall or the cover plate has a depression.

17. A system for processing workpieces, comprising: at least one transport device according to claim 1; and at least one processing machine, wherein the at least one transport device is set up to transport at least one of the workpieces and at least one of the tools to the at least one processing machine, wherein the at least one processing machine is set up to process the at least one workpiece with at least one of the tools in at least one processing step, wherein the transport device includes all of the tools required for the at least one processing step of the at least one processing machine.

18. The system for processing workpieces according to claim 17, wherein the at least one transport device is set up to be transported by a transport trolley to the at least one processing machine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a transport device according to the invention with a transport system;

[0043] FIG. 2 is a top view of the transport device according to FIG. 1;

[0044] FIG. 3 is a front view of the transport device according to FIG. 1;

[0045] FIG. 4 is a side view of the transport device according to FIG. 1;

[0046] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the transport device according to the first embodiment with extended transport box;

[0047] FIG. 6 is a top view of the transport device according to FIG. 5;

[0048] FIG. 7 is a side view of the transport device according to FIG. 5;

[0049] FIG. 8 is a front view of a second embodiment of a transport device according to the invention;

[0050] FIG. 9 is a side view of the transport device according to FIG. 8; and

[0051] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the transport device according to FIGS. 8 and 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] FIGS. 1 to 7 show a first embodiment according to the invention of a transport device 1, wherein a workpiece 6 is arranged directly on a ceiling wall 3 of the transport system 2. A second inventive embodiment of a transport device 1, and hence the combination of at least one transport system 2 and a cover plate 18, are shown on FIGS. 8 to 10.

[0053] FIG. 1 shows a transport device 1 with a transport system 2. The transport system 2 has a ceiling wall 3, a floor wall 4 and two opposing side walls 5. The side walls 5 of the transport system 2 are shown in two parts on FIG. 1. One part of one side wall 5 is here connected with the ceiling wall 3, and another part of the side all 5 is connected with the floor wall 4.

[0054] In addition, the ceiling wall 3 of the transport system 2 has a workpiece 6, here a printed circuit board. Furthermore, the ceiling wall 3 and the floor wall 4 are arranged spaced apart, so that the transport system 2 has an intermediate space 7 between the ceiling wall 3 and the floor wall 4 with an opening 8. A transport box 9 is arranged in the intermediate space 7. The transport box 9 has several cassettes 10 with tools 11. In addition, the transport box 9 has two markings 12.

[0055] The top view of the transport device 1 shown on FIG. 2 also shows that the workpiece 6 is centrally arranged on the ceiling wall 3. The transport device 1 can here also have fastening means (not shown). As described before, the fastening means can be configured in the form of rubber lips. Moreover, the transport device 1, and more precisely the ceiling wall 3, has a perforation 13 in the form of slits or inlets.

[0056] FIG. 3 shows the front view of the transport device 1 according to the invention. In the illustration on FIG. 3, a stack with several workpieces, here several printed circuit boards, rest on the transport device 1. As opposed to the illustration on FIG. 3, it is basically also possible to position one or several workpieces in a depression, so as to secure them against slippage. However, the perforation 13 in the ceiling wall 3 of a transport system 2 of a transport device 1 preferably serves to receive a cover plate 18, wherein the cover plate 18 in turn preferably receives the workpieces 6, or to receive another transport system 2. For example, slanted cassettes can be arranged on the cover plate 18 (not shown here) in order to receive the workpieces 6 or the tools 11.

[0057] The transport box 9 on FIG. 3 is additionally connected with the side walls 5 via guiderails 14. Moreover, the transport box 9 can be supported on rollers 15. Furthermore, the transport box 9 has a respective handle 16.

[0058] The side view on FIG. 4 shows the two-part side wall 5, as well as the workpiece 6 partially recessed into the depression (not shown). Moreover, the transport device 1 has the opening 8 on the front side.

[0059] FIG. 5 shows a transport device 1 with a transport system and with extended transport box 9. The transport box 9 here has two handles 16, which are arranged on the side in the area of the guiderails 14. Depending on the embodiment, at least one handle 16 can also be arranged on an undepicted side wall, which is situated transverse to the guiderails 14, and be set up to pull the transport box 9 out of the intermediate space 7. The second embodiment according to FIGS. 8 to 10 shows such an arrangement of a handle. Moreover, the transport box 9 reveals a total of 36 cassettes 10. Each cassette 10 here has several tools 11. The cassettes 10 are arranged in 6 groups of 6 cassettes 10 each, wherein each group has a respective marking 12. In addition, a sensor device (not shown here) is arranged on the floor wall 4.

[0060] FIG. 6 shows a top view of the transport device 1 shown in perspective on FIG. 5. In addition to the features already depicted on the remaining figures, it can be derived from FIG. 6 that each cassette 10 has a respective 50 tools 11. Of course, the cassettes 10 are not necessarily to be completely equipped, and can vary in terms of their geometry and/or receiving capacity. In particular the use of cassettes with higher receiving capacities, for example a receiving capacity of up to 200 tools, can be preferred.

[0061] As further evident from the side view on FIG. 7, the tools 11 protrude over the edge of the transport box 9 or the edge of the guiderails 14. In addition, the side of the transport device 1 has a label 17.

[0062] A second embodiment of a transport device 1 according to the invention is shown on FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 from the side, the front, and in perspective. The transport device 1 here has three transport systems 2 and a cover plate 18. The transport device 1 is arranged on a frame 20 with screw-in feet 22. The screw-in feet 22 can serve to offset uneven floors. The number of transport systems 2 that are connected with each other to form the transport device 1 can be varied as desired.

[0063] The uppermost transport system 2 has a ceiling wall 3 that is set up to be connected with the cover plate 18, and comprises an intermediate space 7 with two transport boxes 9. The ceiling wall 3 here has a perforation 13 in the form of inlets or slits, which can interact with corresponding counter-pieces arranged on the floor of the cover plate 18.

[0064] The central transport system 2 lying thereunder likewise comprises an intermediate space 7 with several receptacles (holders) in the form of support elements 21 arranged opposite each other. Two support elements 21 arranged opposite each other here each receive a workpiece 6, for example a printed conductor board blank. A total of 18 workpieces 6 are here received on FIG. 8.

[0065] The lowermost transport system 2 comprises three transport boxes 9, wherein the lowermost transport system 2, and hence the transport device 1, is arranged on a frame 20. Each of the transport boxes 9 shown on FIG. 8 has a handle 16. In addition, each transport system 2 as well as the cover plate 18 have intermeshing handle tabs 19. FIG. 9 provides a better view of the handle tabs 19.

[0066] The handle tabs 19 of a lower transport system 2 here each engage into the handle tabs 19 of a transport system 2 arranged thereover. When the cover plate 18 on FIG. 9 is placed on the uppermost transport system 2, the handle tabs 19 of the transport system 2 lying thereunder also engage into the handle tabs 19 of the cover plate 18. The two transport boxes 9 of the uppermost transport system 2 are additionally shown in an extended position in FIG. 9. The guiderails 14 become visible in this position, and can be used to move the transport box 9 within the intermediate space 7 of the transport system 2.

[0067] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the transport device 1 on FIGS. 8 and 9. In particular the workpieces 6 arranged in the intermediate space 7 of the central transport system 2 here become clearly visible. Additionally shown are the cassettes 10 depicted among other things on FIG. 6 for receiving tools 11 in the uppermost transport box 9 of the uppermost transport system 2. Also shown are perforations 13 of the ceiling wall 3 of the uppermost transport system 2 in the form of inlets or slits. In the depicted embodiment, each perforation 13 blocks a movement in at least three directions of movement, for example when the perforation 13 interacts with a corresponding counter-piece of a cover plate 18. The transport systems 2 and the cover plate 18 can be secured among each other against lateral slippage in particular by the perforations 13.

[0068] In a manufacturing and production process, a transport device 1 with at least one transport system 2 as depicted on FIGS. 1 to 7, or a transport device 1 with several transport systems 2 as depicted on FIGS. 8 to 10, can transport a workpiece 6 together with the tools 11 required for at least one processing step of an undepicted processing machine. The transport device 1 can be transported by an undepicted transport trolley. The tools 11 are arranged in 36 cassettes 10. Each of the depicted cassettes 10 (see in particular FIG. 6) can receive up to 50 tools 11. Furthermore, cassettes not depicted here can be used to receive up to 200 tools. The cassettes 10 are fixed on a transport box 9 that can be extracted from an intermediate space 7. In particular, the transport box 9 can be removed from the intermediate space 7 by applying a force. If the transport box 9 is retracted, it can be fixed in place via undepicted magnets. A sensor device acquires the position of the transport box 9. The handles 16 allow the transport box 9 to be removed from the transport system 2. In particular, the removal makes it possible to more easily clean or reequip the transport box 9.

[0069] Due to the easy dismantlability into the individual transport systems 2 and the cover plate 18, the modular transport device 1 can be quickly and easily remodulated, so that the number and/or type of transport systems 2 and the cover plate 18 can be adjusted based on the required conditions, for example to the workpiece 6 to be processed.

[0070] In an at least partially mechanized production and manufacturing process, the transport device 1 can be transported to a workplace with a processing machine. A worker can remove the workpiece 6 from the transport system 2 and feed it to the processing machine. The worker can glean the model type of the workpiece 6 from the label 17. The worker can subsequently pull the transport box 9 with the cassettes 10 out of the intermediate space 7. The worker then feeds the cassette 10 having the up to 200 tools to the processing machine. For example, a worker can determine the cassettes 10 for the corresponding processing machine based on the label 17. The cassettes 10 can symbolize the processing steps from left to right, wherein the cassette 10 on the left side symbolizes the first processing step, and the cassette 10 on the right side symbolizes the sixth processing step. As a consequence, if the worker wants to perform the third processing step, the worker removes a tool 11 from the third cassette 10 from the left out of the cassette group provided for the processing machine. After running through all processing steps on the processing machine, the worker closes the transport system 2 or the transport device 1 by pushing the transport box 9 back into the intermediate space 7. The transport box 9 can be fixed in the intermediate space 7 via magnets, so that the transport box 9 does not inadvertently extend. Furthermore, the sensor device acquires the position of the transport box 9. In a case where the transport device 1 is transported by a transport trolley, the transport trolley can detect from a corresponding signal of the sensor device that the worker has concluded processing the workpiece on the processing machine. The transport trolley then transports the workpiece 6 together with the tools 11 to the next processing machine.

[0071] While this disclosure has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.