DEVICE AND METHOD FOR WORKING A WEB OF MATERIAL WITH WORKPIECES SECURED THEREIN, MULTISTAGE PROGRESSION TOOL, SINGLE MODULE, ASSEMBLY OF MULTIPLE SINGLE MODULES OF SAID TYPE, INDIVIDUAL TOOL, AND FACILITY FOR WORKING A WEB OF MATERIAL

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for working, in particular for working without machining, for example for separating and/or forming, a web of material, having a plurality of individual tools for different manners of working the web of material with designated workpieces temporarily held therein, and having a machine direction along which the web of material with the designated workpieces and the plurality of individual tools can be moved incrementally relative to one another in such a way that the web of material can be worked multiple times within one work cycle by means of the plurality of individual tools, wherein the individual tools are designed as individual modules which can be fixed to one another to form an individual module cluster, but can be detached as well.

Claims

1. Apparatus (1) for working, in particular for working without machining, for example for separating and/or forming, a web of material (2), having a plurality of individual tools (30) for different manners of working the web of material (2) with designated workpieces temporarily held therein, and having a machine direction (7) along which the web of material (2) with the designated workpieces and the plurality of individual tools (30) can be moved incrementally relative to one another in such a way that the web of material (2) can be worked multiple times with-in one work cycle by means of the plurality of individual tools (30), wherein each of the plurality of the individual tools (30) are designed as individual modules (15) which can be fixed to one another to form an individual module cluster (28), but can be detached as well.

2. Apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of individual tools (30) are designed as individual modules (15), driven autonomously by a motor, of an individual module cluster (28) and/or the individual tools (30) are designed as individual modules (15) having a distance measurement device (38) for controlling and/or regulating each of the individual tools (30).

3. (canceled)

4. Apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the apparatus (1) is configured to move workpieces to be produced by means of the web of material (2) in the machine direction (7) along a production line (6).

5. Apparatus (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that a plurality of individual modules (15) are arranged together to form a column and row arrangement (18, 20), wherein the column arrangement (18) extends as one column or multiple columns in the machine direction (7) and the row arrangement (20) extends as two or more rows transverse to the machine direction (7), whereby in particular each of the plurality of the individual modules (15) are arranged detachably fixed to one another to form at least one column unit (17) and/or at least one row unit (19), wherein in particular one row unit (19) forms a working station (21), and a plurality of working stations (21) are arranged one behind the other in the machine direction (7).

6. (canceled)

7. Apparatus (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that an individual module cluster (28) made up of individual modules (15) is self-supporting.

8. Apparatus (1) according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the apparatus (1) has an arrangement matrix (25) in which the individual modules (15) can be arranged to form an individual module cluster (28), and whereby in particular individual modules can be inserted into and/or removed from the arrangement matrix (25), in particular the individual module cluster (28), from at least two different sides (43, 44), in particular two opposite sides (43, 44).

9. (canceled)

10. Apparatus (1) according to claim 8, characterised in that the arrangement matrix (25) has slots (45) for receiving each of the plurality of individual modules (15), whereby in particular slots (45) are delimited directly by one or more surrounding individual modules (15).

11. (canceled)

12. Apparatus (1) according to claim 8 or 10, characterised in that the arrangement matrix (25) has a self-supporting base body (29) which is formed by means of the individual modules (15).

13. Apparatus (1) according to any of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that an individual module cluster (28) comprises both individual modules (15) having individual tools (30) and empty modules.

14. Apparatus (1) according to any of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the individual modules (15) each have an autonomously operating functional and/or drive unit (35) and whereby in particular each of the autonomously operating functional and/or drive units (35) has a direct drive (36), the direct drive (36) in particular comprising a servo-hydrostatic motor (37), whereby in particular each of the autonomously operating functional and/or drive units (35) can be arranged on the individual module (15) in any position, and whereby in particular each of the autonomously operating functional and/or drive units (35) can be controlled and regulated according to a distance measurement device (38) of the individual module (15), whereby in particular each of the autonomously operating functional and/or drive units (35) can be controlled and regulated according to a hardness of a material region of the web of material (2), and whereby in particular each of the autonomously operating functional and/or drive units (35) can be controlled and regulated according to the forces and/or moments acting on the apparatus (1).

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. Apparatus (1) according to any of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the individual module (15) has a frame part (55) which can be detachably fixed to a further frame part (55) of at least one further individual module (15), wherein an individual module cluster (28) can be produced by means of frame parts (55) of the individual modules (15) connected to one another, whereby in particular the frame part (55) has a coupling device (50) by means of which each of the plurality of the individual modules (15) can be operatively connected to one another, and whereby in particular the coupling device (50) has coupling elements which are preferably arranged on all four sides of the frame part (55), the coupling elements acting in particular in a positive and/or non-positive manner.

23. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

25. Apparatus (1) according to claim 22, characterised in that the frame part (55) has opposite end plate parts, wherein the two end plate parts (56, 57) are arranged at a distance from one another by column parts (58), whereby in particular a first end plate part (56, 57) of the two end plate parts (56, 57) has a receiving device (62) for an autonomously operating functional and/or drive unit (35), and a second end plate part (56, 57) of the two end plate parts (56, 57) has a contact surface (64) for a frame part (65).

26. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

28. Apparatus (1) according to any of claims 1 to 25, characterised in that the apparatus (1) is configured to carry out working processes on the web of material (2), in particular on work-pieces of the web of material (2), in a state of a self-optimising system.

29. Progressive tool (22) for working, in particular for working without machining, for example for separating and/or forming, a web of material (2), having working stations (21) arranged one behind the other in the machine direction (7), by means of which working positions (32) of the web of material (2) can be worked successively, wherein the progressive tool (22) comprises an apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims.

30. Individual module (15) for carrying at least one individual tool (30) for working, in particular for working without machining, for example for separating and/or forming, a web of material (2) with designated workpieces temporarily held therein, the individual module (15) having a working path (60) along which the web of material (2) can be transported incrementally in the machine direction (7), and/or a coupling device (50) with coupling elements for a fixed but detachable coupling to at least one further individual module (15), and/or an autonomously operating functional and/or drive unit (35) for directly driving the at least one individual tool (30) with respect to the working path (60), and/or a distance measurement device (38) for controlling and/or regulating the autonomously operating functional and/or drive unit (35) and/or the at least one individual tool (30).

31. (canceled)

32. (canceled)

33. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

35. (canceled)

36. (canceled)

37. Method for working, in particular for working without machining, for example for separating and/or forming, a web of material (2) with designated workpieces temporarily held therein, wherein the web of material (2) moves forward incrementally in the machine direction (7) and is worked intermittently multiple times by individual tools (30) during a work cycle, wherein there is more than one working stroke (70), with respect to the individual tools (30), for working the web of material (2) during the work cycle.

38. Method according to claim 37 for working, in particular for working without machining, for example for separating and/or forming, a web of material (2) with designated workpieces temporarily held therein, wherein the web of material (2) moves forward incrementally in the machine direction (7) and is worked intermittently multiple times by individual tools (30) during a work cycle, wherein the individual tools (30) are activated and/or driven in a decentralised manner during this work cycle.

39. (canceled)

40. (canceled)

41. (canceled)

42. Method according to claim 37 or 38, characterised in that fewer work steps are carried out on the web of material (2) by means of the individual tools (30) during the work cycle per working stroke (70) relative to the web of material (2) than there are individual tools (30) present overall.

43. (canceled)

44. (canceled)

45. Method according to any of claims 37 to 42, characterised in that, during the work cycle, the sequence in which individual tools (30) are actuated for working the web of material (2) is selected as a function of the intensity of the designated working forces of each of the individual tools (30).

46. Method according to any of claims 37 to 45, characterised in that, during the work cycle, the sequence in which the individual tools (30) are actuated for working the web of material (2) is selected as a function of the location at which the designated working forces of each of the individual tools (30) are applied.

47. Method according to any of claims 37 to 46, characterised in that, during the work cycle, the sequence in which individual tools (30) are actuated for working the web of material (2) is selected as a function of the designated force load distribution on the web of material (2) and/or on the frame parts (65) supporting the web of material (2).

48. (canceled)

49. (canceled)

50. (canceled)

Description

[0240] In the drawings:

[0241] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an apparatus for working a web of material, comprising a plurality of individual modules, each with an individual tool integrated therein and each with an autonomously operating functional and/or drive unit integrated therein, in a first configuration;

[0242] FIG. 2 is a further schematic side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in an alternative configuration, with a reduced number of individual modules which are arranged partially opposite one another;

[0243] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the alternative configuration of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

[0244] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a further configuration of the apparatus with a plurality of individual modules assembled into columns and rows; and

[0245] FIG. 5 is a schematic detail view of the further configuration shown in FIG. 4.

[0246] The apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 for working, in particular for separating and/or forming, a web of material 2 is, in this embodiment, a component of a system 3 for working the web of material 2 without machining, wherein the system 2 has a winding device 4 for unwinding the web of material 2 from a coil 5, and a production line 6 along which the web of material 2 is incrementally moved forward in the machine direction 7 of the apparatus 1, and is equipped for this purpose with a transport drive 8 that is not explained in detail.

[0247] The transport drive 8 is configured to move the web of material 2 together with the workpieces held therein (not shown and numbered separately) forward incrementally in the machine direction 7.

[0248] For example, the transport drive 8 pulls the web of material 2 together with the workpieces held therein along the production line 6, as a result of which the web of material 2 is further unwound from the coil 5.

[0249] In other words, this means that the individual workpieces are connected to the web of material 2, such that the workpieces held by the web of material 2 are transported towards individual modules 15 of the apparatus 1 and/or away from the respective individual modules 15, and the workpieces in the individual modules 15 are also connected and positioned with the web of material.

[0250] This is true at least until the workpieces are finally separated from the web of material 2 and isolated. This can be done on the apparatus 1 itself, provided that the apparatus 1 is set up accordingly, or at a later point in time on another working machine (not shown here).

[0251] In any case, the web of material 2 has a plurality of designated workpieces and a corresponding designated residual web matrix (also not shown and numbered separately) as a result of the working process in the apparatus 1, the workpieces of the web of material 2 being temporarily fixed in the designated residual web matrix of the web of material 2.

[0252] In this respect, the individual workpieces in the apparatus 1 are transported incrementally in the machine direction 7 as a group of workpieces connected to the web of material 2.

[0253] In the machine direction 7 further downstream on the production line 6 behind the apparatus 1, an optional separating device 9 can also be arranged in order to subsequently cut the web of material 2 worked as a continuous web into material web segments (not numbered), or the worked web of material 2 can be returned as a continuous web rolled up for further working.

[0254] As already mentioned above, the separating device 9 can optionally be configured, in addition or as an alternative, to separate the workpieces produced in the web of material from the web of material 2 and/or from the residual web matrix of the web of material 2.

[0255] The apparatus 1 extends with its longitudinal extension 10 along the x-axis of a Cartesian coordinate system 11, this x-axis running in the machine direction 7, and with its width extension 12 along the y-axis of the Cartesian coordinate system 11, this y-axis running transverse to the machine direction 7. Furthermore, the apparatus 1 also has a vertical extension 13 which runs along the z-axis of the Cartesian coordinate system 11.

[0256] In this embodiment, the apparatus 1 is characterised by a total of six individual modules 15 (numbered only as an example) which are directly connected to one another in a fixed but detachable manner.

[0257] The individual modules 15 are fastened together to form a rigid arrangement 16 that can be easily dismantled.

[0258] The individual modules 15 here form a column unit 17 with a single column arrangement 18, with the column unit 17 and the column arrangement 18 extending in the machine direction 7.

[0259] Furthermore, the individual modules 15 here form a row unit 19 with six row arrangements 20 which extend transverse to the machine direction 7.

[0260] Each of the row arrangements 20 forms a working station 21 (numbered only as an example) of the apparatus 1, as a result of which the apparatus 1 comprises a total of six working stations 21 in this embodiment.

[0261] In this respect, the apparatus 1 can be used in the manner of a progressive tool 22 with six working stations 21 arranged one behind the other in the machine direction 7.

[0262] The apparatus 1 also has an arrangement matrix 25, by means of which the individual modules 15 can be arranged in a defined manner both in the machine direction 7 (see FIGS. 1 to 3) and also transverse to the machine direction 7 (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

[0263] The individual modules 15, which are detachably fastened to one another, also form an individual module cluster 28 which can be assembled in a highly variable manner using the individual modules 15 present here.

[0264] The individual module cluster 28 made of the individual modules 15 is self-supporting. In this respect, the arrangement matrix 25 also has a self-supporting base body 29 made of individual modules 15.

[0265] The individual modules 15 each carry an individual tool 30 (shown with a reference number solely by way of example) by means of which the web of material 2 can be worked at a corresponding number of working positions 32 of the web of material 2 in order to produce corresponding workpieces on the web of material 2.

[0266] In this respect, the individual tools 30 are designed as individual modules 15.

[0267] For example, such working processes comprise separating processes, such as in particular cutting processes, including laser cutting, on the web of material 2, and/or forming processes, such as in particular bending or the like on the web of material 2, in order to produce corresponding workpieces on the web of material 2.

[0268] In any case, the apparatus 1 can be individually assembled by means of the individual modules 15 that can be detachably fixed directly to one another, and in this respect individual working processes are also possible at the many working positions 32 of the web of material 2 in order to produce a plurality of workpieces on the web of material 2.

[0269] In addition, the individual modules 15 are each autonomously driven by a motor, each by means of an autonomously operating functional and/or drive unit 35, such that each individual tool 30 of an individual module 15 can interact with the web of material 2 individually and independently of other individual tools 30.

[0270] In this embodiment, each of the autonomously operating functional and/or drive units 35 comprises a direct drive 36 with a servo-hydrostatic motor 37.

[0271] In addition, each individual module 15 is provided with a distance measurement device 38, by means of which the autonomously operating functional and/or drive unit 35 of the individual module 15 on the one hand and the individual tool 30 of the individual module 15 on the other hand can be controlled and/or regulated in real time during a work cycle.

[0272] The distance measurement device 38 is seated directly on the autonomously operating functional and/or drive unit 35, such that the latter can move the individual tool 30 with respect to the web of material 2 with particular precision.

[0273] The apparatus 1 also has a suitable control and/or regulating device 40 for the corresponding control and/or regulationin particular as a function of the distance measurement devices 38of the autonomously operating functional and/or drive units 35 and the individual tools 30.

[0274] A quick exchange of individual modules 15 on the individual module cluster 28 is particularly easy, since the individual modules 15 can be inserted from two sides 43 and 44 into slots 45 defined by individual modules 15, namely from the upper side 43 and from the lower side 44 of the individual module cluster 28 along the z-axis.

[0275] In particular, the individual modules 15 can accordingly also be inserted and/or removed on both sides of the arrangement matrix 25.

[0276] Such an insertion and/or removal of individual modules 15 is particularly easy in this embodiment using coupling devices 50 (numbered only as an example) which comprise coupling elements (not shown here) in the form of detachable tongue and groove connections (not shown), which can be loved by means of stay bolts (not shown).

[0277] The respective individual modules 15 have a frame part 55 which can be detachably fixed to a further frame part 55 of at least one further individual module 15, such that the individual module cluster 28 is fixed together with the frame parts 55 connected to one another.

[0278] The frame part 55 has two end plate parts 56 and 57 which are arranged at a distance from each other by means of column parts 58 (numbered only as an example), in such a way that a working space 59 for receiving an individual tool 30 is present between them. A working path 60 (numbered only as an example), along which the working the web of material 7 takes place, runs through this receiving space 59 in the machine direction 7.

[0279] The first end plate part 56 has a receiving device 62 for arranging the autonomously operating functional and/or drive unit 35 on the individual module 15, while the second end plate part 57 has a contact surface 64 for a frame part 65 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) of the apparatus 1.

[0280] The individual tools 30 described here, designed as individual modules 15, are connected to form an upper tool 67 of the apparatus 1.

[0281] In order to work the web of material 2 with a plurality of individual tools 30 during a work cycle, the web of material 2 is transported incrementally through the working spaces 59 of the individual modules 15 with feed cycles 68, with a feed cycle 68 approximately corresponding to at least one length of an individual module 15 in the machine direction 7.

[0282] Between two feed cycles 68, the individual tools 30 formed as individual modules 15 and the web of material 2 do not move relative to one another, and in this case a work cycle can be carried out in which autonomously operating functional and/or drive units 35 also independently perform working strokes 70 in the direction of the z-axis can execute, such that each of the individual tools 30 can interact with the web of material 2 at the corresponding working positions 32.

[0283] The individual working strokes 70 of the plurality of individual tools 30 during the work cycle divide the total drive power of the apparatus 1 into individual drive powers, such that the apparatus 1 can be operated with a lower input power.

[0284] In other words, the individual tools 30 are driven and/or operated in a decentralised manner.

[0285] According to the illustrations in FIGS. 2 and 3, the apparatus 1 is alternatively configured in particular such that one of five existing individual modules 15 is arranged on the production line 6 rotated by 180. This once again underscores the great design possibilities of the present invention. Otherwise, the alternative configuration corresponds to the illustration of FIG. 1, and in this respect reference is made to the relevant description in order to avoid repetition.

[0286] According to the illustrations according to FIGS. 4 and 5, the apparatus 1 has an individual module cluster 28 with alternative column and row units 17 and/or 19, with the column unit 17 comprising a total of five column arrangements 18 (numbered only as an example) and the row unit 19 comprising a total of ten row arrangements 20. In this respect, the further alternative configuration of the apparatus 1 comprises a two-dimensional arrangement matrix 25. The frame parts 65 are also shown below the individual module cluster 28. Otherwise, the further alternative configuration corresponds to the illustration according to FIG. 1, and in this respect reference is made to the relevant description in order to avoid repetitions here as well.

[0287] At this point it should be explicitly pointed out that the features of the solutions described above and/or in the claims and/or figures can also be combined if necessary in order to be able to cumulatively implement and/or achieve the features, effects and advantages explained.

[0288] It goes without saying that the apparatus 1 explained above is only a first embodiment of the invention. In this respect, the embodiment of the invention is not limited to the explained configurations of the apparatus 1.

[0289] All features disclosed in the application documents are claimed to be essential to the invention, provided they are novel over the prior art, either individually or in combination.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0290] 1 apparatus for working a web of material [0291] 2 web of material [0292] 3 system for working a web of material [0293] 4 winding device [0294] 5 coil [0295] 6 production line [0296] 7 machine direction [0297] 8 transport drive [0298] 9 separating device [0299] 10 longitudinal extension [0300] 11 Cartesian coordinate system [0301] 12 width extension [0302] 13 height extension [0303] 15 individual modules [0304] 16 arrangement [0305] 17 column unit [0306] 18 column arrangement [0307] 19 row unit [0308] 20 row arrangements [0309] 21 working stations [0310] 22 progressive tool [0311] 25 arrangement matrix [0312] 28 individual module clusters [0313] 29 self-supporting base body [0314] 30 individual tools [0315] 32 working positions [0316] 35 autonomously operating functional and/or drive unit [0317] 36 direct drive [0318] 37 servo-hydrostatic motor [0319] 38 distance measurement device [0320] 40 control and/or regulating device [0321] 43 upper side [0322] 44 lower side [0323] 45 slots [0324] 50 coupling devices [0325] 55 frame part [0326] 56 first end plate part [0327] 57 second end plate part [0328] 58 column parts [0329] 59 working space [0330] 60 working path [0331] 62 receiving device [0332] 64 contact surface [0333] 65 frame part [0334] 67 upper tool [0335] 68 feed cycle [0336] 70 working strokes