EXCHANGEABLE MACHINING UNIT

Abstract

An exchangeable machining unit (1) for a machining centre (2) for machining workpieces (5) that preferably consist at least in sections of wood, wood-based materials, plastic or the like is disclosed, wherein the exchangeable machining unit (1) comprises a generator (10) for generating energy, selected from the group consisting of electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, thermal energy, and radiation and vibration energy, in particular mechanical rotation energy of a drive spindle, in particular of a milling spindle, and has a drive (12) that can be supplied with energy by means of the generator (10). The generator (10) comprises an in particular releasable torque interface (14) for transmitting a torque from the outside to the machining unit (1). The generator (10) is configured to be driven by means of the torque, wherein the drive (12) is driven using the energy from the generator (10). A machining centre having such an exchangeable machining unit is also disclosed.

Claims

1. Exchangeable machining unit for a machining centre for machining workpieces that consist at least in sections of wood, wood-based materials, plastic or the like, the exchangeable machining unit comprising: a generator for generating energy selected from the group of electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, thermal energy, and radiation and vibration energy of the machining centre, and a drive that can be supplied with energy by means of the generator, the generator comprising a releasable, torque interface for transmitting a torque from the outside to the machining unit, and the generator being configured to be driven by means of the torque, characterised in that the drive is driven using the energy from the generator.

2. Exchangeable machining unit according to claim 1, wherein the drive is an actuator.

3. Exchangeable machining unit according to claim 1, wherein the drive is configured to adjust a movement of the machining unit in at least one plane and/or about at least one axis and/or along at least one axis.

4. Exchangeable machining unit according to claim 1, wherein the machining unit further comprises a control device, which is configured to control and/or to regulate the drive.

5. Exchangeable machining unit according to claim 1, wherein the drive is provided for heating, in particular coating material, and/or for cooling, shaping, primary shaping, cutting machining and/or non-cutting machining.

6. Exchangeable machining unit according to claim 1, wherein the torque interface is configured to absorb the torque of the drive spindle of the machining centre.

7. Exchangeable machining unit according to claim 1, wherein the exchangeable machining unit comprises a heatable container for the coating material.

8. Exchangeable machining unit according to claim 6, wherein an energy source is provided on the exchangeable machining unit, which is selected from the group consisting of: laser, hot-air source, radiation source, in particular an infrared and/or ultraviolet radiation source, ultrasound source, magnetic field source, microwave source, plasma source and gassing source.

9. Exchangeable machining unit according to claim 1, wherein the exchangeable machining unit comprises a data transmission interface for controlling the control device of the exchangeable machining unit, wherein the data transmission interface is configured to send and receive data by means of NFC and/or Bluetooth.

10. Exchangeable machining unit according to claim 9, wherein the data transmission interface is further configured to transmit data to a decentralised machine controller for a cloud-based control of the machining unit.

11. Exchangeable machining unit according to claim 1, wherein an additional drive is connected to the generator, wherein the additional drive can be driven by means of the generator with a different torque from the drive.

12. Exchangeable machining unit according to claim 1, wherein the exchangeable machining unit further comprises at least one sensor device for safeguarding and/or checking at least one operating state of the exchangeable machining unit.

13. Exchangeable machining unit according to claim 12, wherein the operating state is an adjustment made to the scanning and/or a check of a vacuum generated, and/or a detection of a successful connection of a substituted tool and/or a check of a predefined distance and/or a check of an end position of a reference object and/or a check of a temperature.

14. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] The invention will be explained in more detail in the following, on the basis of embodiment examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0046] In the drawings:

[0047] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exchangeable machining unit according to the invention which is mounted on a machining centre, as according to a first embodiment; and

[0048] FIG. 2 shows a schematic drawing of the design of an exchangeable machining unit according to the invention, as according to a second embodiment.

[0049] In the drawings, the same reference numbers denote identical or functionally equivalent components, unless otherwise stated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exchangeable machining unit 1 (machining unit) according to the invention which is mounted on a machining centre 2, as according to a first embodiment. The machining unit 1 is shown at the bottom of the drawing and is mounted on the machining centre 2 partially shown above. In this exemplary embodiment, the object of the machining unit 1 according to this embodiment example is to apply edges 4, which are coated with coating material 6, to the workpiece 5. The machining unit 1 is driven by a drive spindle 3 of the machining centre 2. The machining unit 1 further comprises a drive 12, in this case for heating the coating material 6. The drive 12 for heating the coating material 6 is connected to a generator 10, wherein the generator 10 can be driven via a torque interface 14 by means of the drive spindle 3 of the machining centre 2.

[0051] In operation, the coating material 6 is heated by means of a drive 12 for heating the coating material 6, thereby activating the adhesive effect thereof. Then, the edge 4 with the coating material 6 is pressed against the workpiece 5. After cooling, the bond of the edge 4 to the coating material 6 and the workpiece 5 cures. In this embodiment example, the machining centre 2 is a 5-axis machining centre. According to the invention, the machining unit 1 can be operated in machining centres 2 with different kinematics.

[0052] FIG. 2 shows a schematic drawing of the design of an exchangeable machining unit 1 according to the invention, as according to a second embodiment. As in FIG. 1, the machining centre 2 is shown at the top of the drawing and at the bottom an exchangeable machining unit 1 is shown. A drive spindle 3 is provided in the machining centre 2, which can be connected or, as shown in FIG. 2, which is connected to a torque interface 14 of the machining unit 1. The torque interface 14 of the machining unit 1 is connected to a generator 10 for generating electrical energy of the machining unit 1. An electrical line 8, which is shown as a dotted line, connects the generator 10 to a drive 12, for example for heating coating material 6, in order to supply electrical energy to the drive 12 for heating coating material 6. The coating material 6, which in this embodiment example is arranged in a container 7 on the drive 12 for heating coating material 6, can be heated by means of an energy source 9 on the drive 12 for heating coating material 6. Status data, such as the temperature of the coating material 6, are transmitted to the machining centre 2 by means of a data transmission interface (not shown).

[0053] Moreover, the machining unit 1 comprises a control device 11. The control device 11 is configured to control or to regulate the drive 12. Some or all of the energy supplied by the generator 10 can be used, as a result of which particularly accurate heating is facilitated in the exemplary embodiment shown here.

[0054] According to a further exemplary embodiment, which is not shown, the drive 12 may be provided as a milling device. The control device 11 described above can be used, for example, to realise a milling speed that is adapted to a workpiece to be machined. A gear transmission ratio to achieve desired speeds by means of an intermediate electric motor is also possible.

[0055] The control device 11 is provided for instance as a feedback-loop controller, which compares target states with actual states of a control variable by means of a sensor. This means that the control device can monitor various process parameters of such a machining device, for example by means of sensors, and can react to changes accordingly and independently and automatically optimise or adapt processes. In such an exemplary embodiment, compressed air sensors may be provided for removing cut chips, for example, or also for coupling tools or for reaching an end position of the tool.

[0056] Thus, a fully automatic and individually connectable design of an exchangeable machining unit is realised with a single mechanical interface, which unit is driven by means of the generator and also carries the sensors, which can also be driven by the generator. In other words, in such a further exemplary embodiment (not shown), the exchangeable machining unit can perform machining on a workpiece, including fully automatic alignment and monitoring by sensors, without certain connections having to be adapted when changing the tool or during operation.

[0057] The exchangeable machining unit 1 according to the invention makes it possible to equip a machining centre 2 with said machining unit without an electrical energy supply having to be realised between the machining centre 2 and the machining unit 1. The energy required for heating the coating material 6, for example, can be generated for this from the mechanical energy transmitted by the machining centre 2 to the machining unit 1 by means of a generator 10 of the machining unit 1. The machining unit 1 can therefore be used particularly flexibly in the machining centre 2. Furthermore, the machining unit 1 can be universally used also in machining centres 2 in which corresponding electrical interfaces for transmitting energy to the unit 1 are not provided.

[0058] Although the present invention has been described on the basis of preferred embodiment examples, it is not limited thereto; rather, it can be modified in a multitude of ways.

List of Reference Numbers

[0059] 1 Exchangeable machining unit [0060] 2 Machining centre [0061] 3 Drive spindle [0062] 4 Edge [0063] 5 Workpiece [0064] 6 Coating material [0065] 7 Container [0066] 8 Line [0067] 9 Energy source [0068] 10 Generator [0069] 11 Control device [0070] 12 Drive [0071] 14 Torque interface of the machining centre