A SHEET PROCESSING MACHINE AND A METHOD FOR PROCESSING FLAT WORKPIECES

Abstract

A sheet processing machine has a stationary frame and includes a transport table for transporting and supporting a sheet material. The transport table includes a roller conveyor including a plurality of rollers and a gap between two of the plurality of rollers. The machine further includes a processing tool for processing the sheet material at a first side of the sheet material, as well as a marking tool for marking the sheet material at a second side of the sheet material, opposite the first side. The machine additionally has an XY-guide assembly arranged in or at the gap and connecting the marking tool to the stationary frame and enabling a movement of the marking tool with respect to the stationary frame. The movement of the marking tool with respect to the stationary frame is independently controllable relative to a movement of the processing tool with respect to the stationary frame.

Claims

1. A sheet processing machine, comprising: a stationary frame, comprising a transport table for transporting and supporting a sheet material, the transport table comprising a roller conveyor comprising a plurality of rollers, and a gap between two of the plurality of rollers, wherein the transport table has a transportation plane in which plane, in operation, the sheet material is moved; a processing tool for processing the sheet material and arranged at a first side of the transportation plane such that, in operation, the processing tool processes at a first side of the sheet material; a marking tool for marking the sheet material and arranged at a second side of the transportation plane such that, in operation, the marking tool marks at a second side of the sheet material, opposite the first side; and an XY-guide assembly arranged in or at the gap at the second side of the transportation plane and connecting the marking tool to the stationary frame and enabling a movement of the marking tool with respect to the stationary frame, wherein the marking tool is movable with respect to the stationary frame along an X-direction parallel to a transport direction of the roller conveyor and in a Y-direction perpendicular to the X-direction and parallel to the transportation plane, and wherein the movement of the marking tool with respect to the stationary frame is independently controllable relative to a movement of the processing tool with respect to the stationary frame.

2. The sheet processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the transportation plane is a substantially horizontal plane.

3. The sheet processing machine according to claim 2, wherein the marking tool extends upwardly in the gap towards the sheet material.

4. The sheet processing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a gripper, the gripper, in operation, engaging the sheet material and arranged to move said sheet material over the roller conveyor back and forth along the X-direction.

5. The sheet processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the XY-guide assembly comprises two spaced apart guides spanning a width of the transport table, and a transverse guide substantially orthogonal to said two spaced apart guides and spanning a distance between said two guides, wherein the marking tool is moveably mounted on the transverse guide and is moveable in a longitudinal direction of the transverse guide, wherein the transverse guide is moveably mounted on the two spaced apart guides and is moveable in a longitudinal direction of the two spaced apart guides, and wherein the two spaced apart guides are fixedly connected to the stationary frame.

6. The sheet processing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a cross-guide portal spanning a width of the transport table, wherein the processing tool is moveably connected with the cross-guide portal so as to be moveable back and forth along the Y-direction.

7. The sheet processing machine according to claim 1 further comprising a control system configured to control the movement of the marking tool with respect to the stationary frame, and to operate the marking tool.

8. The sheet processing machine according to claim 7, wherein the control system is configured to control the movement of the processing tool with respect to the stationary frame, and to operate the processing tool.

9. The sheet processing machine according to claim 8, wherein the control system is configured to control the movement of the marking tool with respect to the stationary frame and/or to operate the marking tool independently of and simultaneously with the controlling of the movement of the processing tool with respect to the stationary frame and/or the operating of the processing tool.

10. The sheet processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the sheet material remains stationary during processing of the processing tool on the sheet material.

11. The sheet processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the processing tool is a drill, a milling tool, a plasma cutter or a saw band.

12. The sheet processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the marking tool is a milling tool, a drill, a laser, a powder marker, a scribing tool, or an inkjet marker.

13. A method for processing sheet material, comprising: providing the sheet processing machine according to claim 1; providing a sheet material to be processed; transporting the sheet material in an X-direction to a processing position; processing the sheet material at a first side of the sheet material with the processing tool, optionally while moving the sheet material back and/or forth along the X-direction; and marking the sheet material simultaneously with the processing at a second side of the sheet material opposite the first side thereof.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first side is an upwardly directed side and the second side is a downwardly directed side of the sheet material, and wherein the sheet material is preferably oriented substantially horizontally.

15. The sheet processing machine according to claim 2, further comprising a gripper, the gripper, in operation, engaging the sheet material and arranged to move said sheet material over the roller conveyor back and forth along the X-direction.

16. The sheet processing machine according to claim 3, further comprising a gripper, the gripper, in operation, engaging the sheet material and arranged to move said sheet material over the roller conveyor back and forth along the X-direction.

17. The sheet processing machine according to claim 2, wherein the XY-guide assembly comprises two spaced apart guides spanning a width of the transport table, and a transverse guide substantially orthogonal to said two spaced apart guides and spanning a distance between said two guides, wherein the marking tool is moveably mounted on the transverse guide and is moveable in a longitudinal direction of the transverse guide, wherein the transverse guide is moveably mounted on the two spaced apart guides and is moveable in a longitudinal direction of the two spaced apart guides, and wherein the two spaced apart guides are fixedly connected to the stationary frame.

18. The sheet processing machine according to claim 3, wherein the XY-guide assembly comprises two spaced apart guides spanning a width of the transport table, and a transverse guide substantially orthogonal to said two spaced apart guides and spanning a distance between said two guides, wherein the marking tool is moveably mounted on the transverse guide and is moveable in a longitudinal direction of the transverse guide, wherein the transverse guide is moveably mounted on the two spaced apart guides and is moveable in a longitudinal direction of the two spaced apart guides, and wherein the two spaced apart guides are fixedly connected to the stationary frame.

19. The sheet processing machine according to claim 4, wherein the XY-guide assembly comprises two spaced apart guides spanning a width of the transport table, and a transverse guide substantially orthogonal to said two spaced apart guides and spanning a distance between said two guides, wherein the marking tool is moveably mounted on the transverse guide and is moveable in a longitudinal direction of the transverse guide, wherein the transverse guide is moveably mounted on the two spaced apart guides and is moveable in a longitudinal direction of the two spaced apart guides, and wherein the two spaced apart guides are fixedly connected to the stationary frame.

20. The sheet processing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a cross-guide portal spanning a width of the transport table, wherein the processing tool is moveably connected with the cross-guide portal so as to be moveable back and forth along the Y-direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a front/side/top perspective view of an example of a sheet processing machine according to the invention, provided with a sheet material.

[0012] FIG. 2 shows rear/side/bottom perspective view of the example of FIG. 1, without the sheet material.

[0013] FIG. 3 shows a rear/side/top perspective view of the example of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0014] FIG. 4 shows the XY-guide assembly of the example shown in FIG. 3, without the rest of the sheet processing machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0015] In this application similar or corresponding features are denoted by similar or corresponding reference signs. The description of the various embodiments is not limited to the examples shown in the figures and the reference numbers used in the detailed description and the claims are not intended to limit the description of the embodiments, but are included to elucidate the embodiments by referring to the example shown in the figures.

[0016] In the most general terms, the invention relates to a sheet processing machine 10, provided with a stationary frame 12, a processing tool 26 for processing on a sheet material S, a marking tool 28 for marking the sheet material S, and a XY-guide assembly 30. The stationary frame 12 comprises a transport table 14 for transporting and supporting a sheet material S. The transport table 14 comprises a roller conveyor 16 comprising a plurality of rollers 18, 20, and a gap 22 between two of the plurality of rollers 18, 20. The transport table 14 has a transportation plane 24 in which plane 24, in operation, the sheet material S is moved. The processing tool 26 is arranged at a first side of the transportation plane 24 such that, in operation, the processing tool 26 processes at a first side of the sheet material S. The marking tool 28 is arranged at a second side of the transportation plane 24 such that, in operation, the marking tool 28 marks at a second side of the sheet material S, opposite the first side. The XY-guide assembly 30 is arranged in or at the gap 22 at the second side of the transportation plane 24 and connects the marking tool 28 to the stationary frame 12 and enables a movement of the marking tool 28 with respect to the stationary frame 12. The marking tool 28 is movable with respect to the stationary frame 12 along an X-direction parallel to a transport direction 32 of the roller conveyor 16 and along a Y-direction perpendicular to the X-direction and parallel to the transportation plane 24. The movement of the marking tool 28 with respect to the stationary frame 12 is independently controllable relative to a movement of the processing tool 26 with respect to the stationary frame 12.

[0017] The effect and advantages of the sheet processing machine have been described in the summary section and these effects and advantages are incorporated here by reference.

[0018] In an embodiment the transportation plane 24 is a substantially horizontal plane. The marking tool 28 may extend upwardly in the gap 22 towards the sheet material S.

[0019] The advantage of movement in a horizontal plane is that gravity does not induce any movement on the sheet material S and need therefore not be accounted for. Since the XY-guide assembly 30 is then arranged in or under the gap 22, and since, in operation, the marking tool 28 is arranged below the sheet material S in the horizontal transportation plane 24, the best orientation of the marking tool 28 is upwards, i.e. perpendicular to the transportation plane 24. Of course, the marking tool 28 is also movable along a Z-direction perpendicular to the X-direction and to the Y-direction so that the marking tool 28 can be moved against the bottom side of the sheet material S and be spaced apart from the bottom side of the sheet material S.

[0020] In an embodiment the sheet processing machine is further comprises with a gripper, which, in operation, engages the sheet material S and is configured to move said sheet material S over the roller conveyor 16 back and forth along the X-direction.

[0021] The gripper may also engage the sheet material S when the sheet material S is placed on an infeed conveyer, and subsequently move the sheet material to and through the sheet processing machine 10. Whilst the sheet material S is placed on and supported by the roller conveyor 16, the gripper can, in operation, move the engaged sheet material S with respect to the processing tool 28 so that the processing tool 28 can preform the desired process on the sheet material S. Depending on the process to be performed this movement can be in back and forth along the X-direction 32.

[0022] In an embodiment, the XY-guide assembly 30 comprises two spaced apart guides 36, 38 which span a width of the transport table 14, and a transverse guide 40 substantially orthogonal to said two spaced apart guides 36, 38 and spanning a distance between said two guides 36, 38. The marking tool 28 is moveably mounted on the transverse guide 40 and is moveable in a longitudinal direction of the transverse guide 40. The transverse guide 40 is moveably mounted on the two spaced apart guides 36, 38 and is moveable in a longitudinal direction of the two spaced apart guides 36, 38. The two spaced apart guides 36, 38 are fixedly connected to the stationary frame 12.

[0023] Such an XY-guide assembly 30 provides a stable support for the marking tool 28. The guides 36, 38, 40 should be dimensioned rigidly enough so as to achieve the desired precision, without being influenced by the weight of the marking tool 28 as well as the forces exerted on the marking tool 28 when the marking of the sheet material S is performed.

[0024] In an embodiment, the sheet processing machine 10 further comprises a cross-guide portal 42 spanning a width of the transport table 14, wherein the processing tool 26 is moveably connected with the cross-guide portal 42 so as to be moveable back and forth along the Y-direction.

[0025] Thus, the processing tool 26 may, in operation, be moved to process along the entire width of the sheet material S. By combining the transversal movement of the processing tool 26 along cross guide portal 42 along the Y-direction with the longitudinal movement of the sheet material S, for example by means of the gripper, along the X-direction, the processing head carrying the processing tool 26 can be moved to every desired position with respect to the sheet material S to perform its processing.

[0026] In an embodiment, the processing head carrying the processing tool 26 may also be movably connected to the cross-guide portal 42 so as to be moveable along the Z-direction, i.e. perpendicular to the X-direction and the Y-direction so that the processing tool 26 can be moved towards and away from the sheet material S. In an embodiment the sheet processing machine 10 is further provided with a control system configured to control the movement of the marking tool 28 with respect to the stationary frame 12, and to operate the marking tool 28. The control system may also be configured to control the movement of the processing tool 26 with respect to the stationary frame 12, and to operate the processing tool 26. The control system may be configured to control the movement of the marking tool 28 with respect to the stationary frame 12 and/or to operate the marking tool 28 independently of and simultaneously with the controlling of the movement of the processing tool 26 with respect to the stationary frame 12 and/or the operating of the processing tool 26.

[0027] The control system provides an automation of the sheet processing machine 10. It may be part of the machine or it may be implemented in a separate computer or IC. The control system may be dedicated hardware, implemented with dedicated software. Regardless of implementation, the control system may be preloaded with instructions to perform certain actions on the sheet material S.

[0028] In an embodiment the sheet material S remains stationary during processing of the processing tool 26 on the sheet material S.

[0029] An example of a process with which the sheet material S remains stationary is drilling or sawing. The movement of the marking tool 28 with respect to the stationary frame 12 is then the same as the movement with respect to the sheet material S. Of course, it would also be possible to operate the marking tool 28 when the sheet material S moves with respect to the stationary frame 12 during processing of the processing tool 26 on the sheet material S. During such a “marking on the fly”, the XY-guide assembly would need to compensate for the movement of the sheet material S with respect to the stationary frame 12.

[0030] In an embodiment the processing tool 26 may be a drill, a milling tool, a plasma cutter or a saw band. In an embodiment the marking tool 28 may be a milling tool, a drill, a laser, a powder marker, a scribing tool, or an inkjet marker. Other tools for processing or marking known in the art may also be used.

[0031] The invention also relates to a method for processing sheet material. The method comprises providing a sheet processing machine 10 according to the invention, providing a sheet material S to be processed, transporting the sheet material S in an X-direction to a processing position, processing the sheet material S at a first side of the sheet material with the processing tool 26, optionally while moving the sheet material back and/or forth along the X-direction, and marking the sheet material S simultaneously with the processing at a second side of the sheet material S opposite the first side thereof. Preferably, the first side is an upwardly directed and the second side is a downwardly directed side of the sheet material S. The sheet material S is preferably oriented substantially horizontally.

[0032] The effects and advantages of the method for processing sheet material have been described in the summary section and these effects and advantages are inserted here by reference.

[0033] The various embodiments which are described above may be implemented independently from one another and may be combined with one another in various ways. The reference numbers used in the detailed description and the claims do not limit the description of the embodiments nor do they limit the claims. The reference numbers are solely used to clarify by referring to the non-limiting example in the figures.

LEGEND

[0034] 10—sheet processing machine [0035] 12—stationary frame [0036] 14—transport table [0037] 16—roller conveyor [0038] 18—roller [0039] 20—roller [0040] 22—gap [0041] 24—transportation plane [0042] 26—processing tool [0043] 28—marking tool [0044] 30—XY-guide assembly [0045] 32—transport direction [0046] 36—guide [0047] 38—guide [0048] 40—traverse guide [0049] 42—cross-guide portal [0050] S—sheet material