Sorting system for a machine tool, machine tool and method for sorting cut parts

Abstract

The invention relates to a sorting system (100) for a machine tool for separating parts, in particular a laser cutting machine (200), having a gripper (110) that can be moved over a workpiece region (30) and is configured to receive cut parts (10) from the workpiece region (30), and an intermediate store (120) that can be moved over the workpiece region (30) and is configured to receive cut parts (10) from the gripper (110) and to unload the cut parts (10) into a store (40).

Claims

1. A sorting system for a laser cutting machine, the sorting system having a controller for controlling the sorting system and having a gripper that can be moved over a workpiece region and is configured to receive cut parts from the workpiece region, and an intermediate store that can be moved over the workpiece region and is configured to receive cut parts from the gripper and to unload the cut parts into a store, wherein the gripper and the intermediate store are arranged on a carrier element that can be moved on rails in a first direction, characterized that the gripper and the intermediate store are arranged to be movable on the carrier element independently of one another in a second direction, wherein the first and the second direction lie in one plane of the workpiece region, the plane of the workpiece region being a plane in which the workpiece region lies or parallel thereto, and that the gripper and the intermediate store are each arranged on a telescopic arm that can be moved in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the workpiece region.

2. The sorting system for the laser cutting machine tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the gripper and the intermediate store are arranged on the telescopic arm by means of a releasable coupling.

3. The sorting system for the laser cutting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate store has a sliding device that is configured to push cut parts out of the intermediate store.

4. The sorting system for the laser cutting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate store has a contact surface for the cut parts formed from a plurality of tines.

5. A laser cutting machine, configured for separating cut parts from a workpiece having a sorting system according to claim 1.

6. The laser cutting machine according to claim 5, characterized in that a changing station for a changing table is provided and in that the gripper and the intermediate store of the sorting system are arranged on the changing station so as to be movable over the changing table, the changing table corresponding to the workpiece region.

7. A method for sorting cut parts from a workpiece region of a laser cutting machine, by means of a sorting system according to claim 1, the method having the steps of Moving the gripper to receive a cut part; Depositing the cut part in the intermediate store; Moving the intermediate store to the store and unloading the intermediate store.

8. The method for sorting cut parts according to claim 7, characterized in that the moving and the depositing steps are repeated until the intermediate store is filled or all cut parts have been received.

9. The method for sorting cut parts according to claim 7, characterized that the intermediate store follows the movement of the gripper.

Description

(1) The invention will be explained below in exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a sorting system for a machine tool;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a gripper and an intermediate store according to a first exemplary embodiment of the sorting system;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a gripper and an intermediate store according to a second exemplary embodiment of the sorting system;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an intermediate store and a store;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of an intermediate store having a sliding device for unloading; and

(7) FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a machine tool having a sorting system.

(8) FIG. 1 shows a sorting system 100 for a machine tool for separating parts, in particular a laser cutting machine. The sorting system 100 is used for sorting cut parts 10 that have been cut out of a workpiece 20, for example, and are arranged in a workpiece region 30, for example on a grate or changing table.

(9) The sorting system 100 comprises a gripper 110 that can be moved over the workpiece region 30 and is configured to receive a cut part 10 from the workpiece region 30, and an intermediate store 120 that can be moved over the workpiece region 30 and is configured to receive cut parts 10 from the gripper 110 and to unload the cut parts 10 into a store 40.

(10) The gripper 110 and the intermediate store 120 are arranged on a portal arm or carrier element 130 that can be moved in a Y direction. For this purpose, the carrier element 130 can, for example, be arranged to be movable on rails 140.

(11) The gripper 110 and the intermediate store 120 are arranged on the carrier element 130 such that they can be moved in an X direction independently of one another. The X direction and the Y direction span a plane in which the workpiece region 30 lies or lies parallel thereto.

(12) The gripper 110 and the intermediate store 120 are each arranged on a telescopic arm 150 that can be moved in a Z direction perpendicular to the plane of the workpiece region 30.

(13) Thus, the gripper 110 and the intermediate store 120 can each be moved in three axes in order to sort the cut parts 10. The gripper 110 travels to a cut part 10, receives a cut part 10, for example with one or more suction caps or suction feet, travels to the intermediate store 120 and deposits the cut part 10 in the intermediate store 120. The gripper 110 may also comprise a plurality of gripping elements, such as suction caps, gripping elements, etc., so that more than one cut part 10 can be received at the same time.

(14) The intermediate store 120 may, as shown, have several stacks or areas for different cut parts 10. The gripper 110 can also be designed to be rotatable about the Z direction in order to better sort the cut parts 10 on the intermediate store 120, for example to deposit the cut parts 10 with an identical orientation in the intermediate store 120.

(15) When the intermediate store 120 is filled or all of the cut parts 10 have been received, the intermediate store 120 moves to the store 40, where the received cut parts 10 are unloaded from the intermediate store 120 into the store 40.

(16) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a gripper 110 and an intermediate store 120, which are each arranged on a telescopic arm 150. The gripper 110 and the intermediate store 120 are each arranged on the telescopic arm 150 by means of a releasable coupling 160. Depending on the cut parts 10 to be sorted, different grippers 110 and/or intermediate stores 120 can be used.

(17) The gripper 110 has a base body 112 that is connected to a part of the coupling 160. The other part of the coupling 160 is connected to the telescopic arm 150. A gripping element 114 having suction caps is arranged on the base body 112, so that a cut part 10 can be held and transported by means of negative pressure.

(18) The intermediate store 120 has a base body 122 that is connected to a part of the coupling 160. The other part of the coupling 160 is connected to the telescopic arm 150. The intermediate store 120 has a contact surface 124 for the cut parts 10 that is formed from a plurality of tines 126. The tines 126 run parallel and form a grate for the cut parts 10.

(19) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a gripper 110 and an intermediate store 120 that are arranged together on a telescopic arm 150. The gripper 110, the intermediate store 120 and/or the telescopic arm 150 can be configured as shown in FIG. 2. A coupling may also be provided.

(20) The gripper 110 and the intermediate store 120 are arranged on the telescopic arm 150 by means of an intermediate carrier 170. The gripper 110 can be moved vertically, i.e. in the Z direction, in order to receive the cut parts 10. Furthermore, the gripper 110 can be moved horizontally, i.e. in the X direction, in order to deposit the cut parts 10 in the intermediate store 120. The intermediate store 120 may have a continuous rear wall that serves as a stop or safeguard for the cut parts 10.

(21) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the intermediate store 120 during the unloading of cut parts 10 into a store 40. The store 40 in this example consists of a pallet 42 on which several elongated storage blocks 44 are arranged. The storage blocks 44 are complementary to the tines 126 of the intermediate store 120. Thus, the tines 126 can move between the storage blocks 44 and, by lowering the intermediate store 120, the cut parts 10 can be deposited on the storage blocks 44.

(22) FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of an intermediate store 120 having a sliding device 128 for unloading the cut parts 10. The sliding device 128 comprises, for example, a movable telescopic mechanism for pushing the cut parts 10 from the contact surface 124, i.e. from the intermediate store 120. In this way, the cut parts 10 can be unloaded into any store. The sliding device 128 can be moved, for example, via a motor drive (not shown in the figures).

(23) FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a machine tool in the form of a laser cutting machine 200 having a sorting system 100.

(24) The laser cutting machine 200 comprises a laser cutting head 202 configured for cutting parts from a metallic workpiece 20 that is plate-shaped in this case. The laser cutting machine 200 is equipped with the sorting system 100. The laser cutting machine 200 or the laser cutting head 202 is configured to cut workpieces 20, such as steel sheets or metal plates. For this purpose, a laser cutting power in the range of usually at least 1 kW, preferably greater than or equal to 3 kW is provided. The laser cutting head 202 is arranged in a laser processing area 204.

(25) A changing table 206 of the laser cutting machine 200 is provided for receiving at least one workpiece 20. The laser cutting machine 200 further has a changing station 208 for the changing table 206, which is arranged outside the laser processing area.

(26) The carrier element 130 of the sorting system 100 is arranged to be moveable on the changing station 208 by means of the changing table 206. The changing table 206 here corresponds to the workpiece region of the sorting system 100, or the workpiece region of the sorting system 100 is limited by the dimensions of the changing station 208.

(27) The movable carrier element 130 moves on rails 140 that are attached to the longitudinal supports of the changing station 208. This allows the sorting system 100 to be moved in the Y direction, i.e. in the direction of the workpiece movement or the laser processing area 204. As described above, both the gripper 110 and the intermediate store 120 can be moved over the workpiece region by means of the carrier element 130 in order to sort cut parts.

(28) The sorting system 100 may be controlled by a controller of the laser cutting machine 200 or connected to the controller. In this way, information such as the positions of the cut parts to be sorted or a cutting plan can be transmitted and/or the processing steps and times of the two machines can be coordinated.

(29) According to a method for sorting cut parts from a workpiece region of a machine tool, in particular a laser cutting machine, the following steps can be carried out.

(30) First, the gripper 110 is moved to a cut part 10 to receive the same. The travel distances of the gripper 110 can be planned in a way that is distance-optimised and therefore time-optimised. Data from the controller of the laser cutting machine 200 and/or sensor data, for example from a camera, can be used as the basis for this planning.

(31) The received cut part 10 is deposited in the intermediate store 120 that can be moved over the workpiece region. The intermediate store 120 may follow the movement of the gripper. Depending on the position of the intermediate store 120, the gripper 110 moves to the intermediate store 120 to deposit the cut part 10.

(32) The cut part(s) 10 may be fixed in the intermediate store 120. In this way, greater accelerations can be achieved when travelling over the workpiece region and to the store 40, as a result of which the sorting of the cut parts 10 from the workpiece region can be accelerated.

(33) The movement of the gripper 110 and the depositing of the cut part(s) 10 can be repeated until the intermediate store 120 is filled or until all cut parts 10 have been received.

(34) The intermediate store 120 is then moved to a store 40. There, the cut parts 10 are unloaded from the intermediate store 120 into the store 40. The sorting can then begin again. If other cut parts are now sorted, it may be necessary to change the gripper 110 and the intermediate store 120 by means of the coupling.

(35) The sorting system presented here allows for a quick sorting of cut parts, so that the efficiency during cutting processes can be increased.