WORKPIECE STORAGE DEVICE AND WORKPIECE HANDLING SYSTEM HAVING A WORKPIECE STORAGE DEVICE

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a workpiece handling systems and workpiece storage devices for elongate workpieces of shaft-like form which are at least substantially rotationally symmetrical relative to their longitudinal axis and which have along their longitudinal axis at least one projection extending in the peripheral direction, which projection protrudes radially outwards relative to a workpiece region arranged immediately axially adjacent thereto. The workpiece storage device includes a base plate and a plurality of workpiece holders. The workpiece holders are fastened to the base plate and protrude upwards therefrom, and which define workpiece receiving surfaces. In each case, at least two workpiece holders are associated with a workpiece to be received, wherein the workpiece holders associated with a workpiece to be received are so configured, spaced apart from one another and oriented relative to one another that the longitudinal axis of a workpiece placed thereon from above slopes relative to the horizontal in such a manner that the workpiece moves under the force of gravity, following the slope, until its projection comes into contact with one of the workpiece holders.

Claims

1. A workpiece storage device for elongate workpieces of shaft-like form, wherein the workpieces are at least rotationally symmetrical relative to longitudinal axes of the workpieces and which have along each longitudinal axis of each workpiece at least one projection extending in a peripheral direction, wherein the at least one projection protrudes radially outwards relative to a workpiece region arranged immediately axially adjacent thereto, the workpiece storage device comprising: a base plate; and a plurality of workpiece holders which are fastened to the base plate and protrude upwards from the base plate and which define workpiece receiving surfaces, wherein, in each case, at least two workpiece holders of the plurality of workpiece holders are associated with each workpiece of the workpieces to be received, and wherein the respective at least two workpiece holders are spaced apart from one another and oriented relative to one another such that the longitudinal axis of the respective workpiece placed thereon from above slopes relative to a horizontal in such a manner that the respective workpiece moves under a force of gravity, following a slope, until a projection of the respective workpiece comes into contact with one workpiece holder of the at least two workpiece holders.

2. The workpiece storage device of claim 1, wherein the slope lies in a range from 5 to 45

3. The workpiece storage device of claim 1, wherein the slope lies in a range from 10 to 30.

4. The workpiece storage device of claim 1, wherein at least one region of the plurality of workpiece holders, protruding from the base plate of the plurality of workpiece holders comprises a sheet metal.

5. The workpiece storage device of claim 4, wherein the sheet metal has a thickness in a range from 4 to 12 mm.

6. The workpiece storage device of claim 1, wherein each workpiece holder of the plurality of workpiece holders comprises an opening on an upper side of the respective workplace holder, wherein the opening is open to on a top end of the respective workplace holder opposite from the base plate.

7. The workpiece storage device of claim 6, wherein each opening further comprises mutually opposite side walls which are oriented in a V-shape relative to one another.

8. The workpiece storage device of claim 7, wherein the side walls have a coating to provide the workpiece receiving surfaces, and wherein the coating has a lower sliding friction than a material of the side walls.

9. The workpiece storage device of claim 6, wherein each workpiece holder of the plurality of workpiece holders comprises a first portion extending perpendicularly upwards starting from the base plate and, for providing the slope, at least a second portion which adjoins the first portion and is at an angle relative thereto.

10. The workpiece storage device of claim 9, wherein the slope lies in a range from 5 to 45

11. The workpiece storage device of claim 9, wherein the slope lies in a range from 10 to 30.

12. The workpiece storage device of claim 1, wherein each workpiece holder of the plurality of workpiece holders comprises a first portion extending perpendicularly upwards starting from the base plate and, for providing the slope, at least a second portion which adjoins the first portion and is at an angle relative thereto.

13. The workpiece storage device of claim 12, wherein the slope lies in a range from 5 to 45

14. The workpiece storage device of claim 12, wherein the slope lies in a range from 10 to 30.

15. The workpiece storage device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of workpiece holders is fastened to the base plate in a regular matrix.

16. A workpiece handling system comprising: at least one workpiece storage device having: a base plate; and a plurality of workpiece holders which are fastened to the base plate and protrude upwards from the base plate and which define workpiece receiving surfaces, wherein, in each case, at least two workpiece holders of the plurality of workpiece holders are associated with a workpiece to be received, and wherein the respective at least two workpiece holders are spaced apart from one another and oriented relative to one another such that a longitudinal axis of a respective workpiece placed thereon from above slopes relative to a horizontal in such a manner that the respective workpiece moves under a force of gravity, following a slope, until a projection of the respective workpiece comes into contact with one workpiece holder of the at least two workpiece holders; and a robotic arm configured to handle workpieces received on the at least one workpiece storage device.

17. The workpiece handling system of claim 16, wherein the at least one workpiece storage device is fixed in a defined position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Further features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of a workpiece storage device according to an embodiment and of a workpiece handling system having such a workpiece storage device, with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0015] FIG. 1 depicts a side view of a workpiece storage device according to an embodiment in which workpieces have been received.

[0016] FIG. 2 depicts a sectional view along the line II-II in FIG. 1, wherein, for the sake of simplicity, only a single front workpiece holder without a workpiece received therein is shown.

[0017] FIG. 3 depicts a sectional view along the line III-III in FIG. 1, which shows a further single rear workpiece holder without a workpiece received therein.

[0018] FIG. 4 depicts a plan view of the workpiece storage device shown in FIG. 1 without workpieces received therein.

[0019] FIG. 5 depicts a schematic front view of a workpiece handling system having the workpiece storage device shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] FIGS. 1 to 4 depict a workpiece storage device 1 according to an embodiment. The workpiece storage device 1 serves to receive workpieces 2 of shaft-like form which are at least substantially rotationally symmetrical relative to their longitudinal axis L. The workpieces 2 in the present case are bevel gear shafts in one-piece form having a shaft portion 3 and a bevel gear portion 4. The shaft portion 3 includes regions of different diameters. Furthermore, a projection 5 extending in the peripheral direction is formed on the shaft portion 3, which projection protrudes radially outwards relative to the regions of the shaft portion 3 that are arranged immediately axially adjacent thereto.

[0021] The workpiece storage device includes a base plate 6. The base plate 6 may be produced from metal. Fastened to the base plate 6 is a plurality of workpiece holders 7, 8 which protrude upwards from the base plate 6, wherein in each case a workpiece holder 7 and a workpiece holder 8 are associated with a workpiece 2 to be received. The workpiece holders 7, 8 in the present case are each produced from a metal sheet. The thickness S of the workpiece holders 7, 8 may be in the range from 4 to 12 mm, in order to impart to the workpiece holders 7, 8 sufficient stability and dimensional strength. The workpiece holders 7, 8 in the present case have been fastened to the base plate 6 by a material-based connection using a welding or soldering method. However, the workpiece holders 7, 8 may likewise also be screwed to the base plate 6. Alternatively, it is further possible to form in the base plate 6 guides extending parallel to one another, into which the workpiece holders 7, 8 may be pushed in the direction indicated by the arrow 9 and may be locked, e.g., at any desired positions. Such guides are an advantage in that the distances between the workpiece holders 7, 8 are variable and accordingly may be configured to workpieces 2 of different lengths. The workpiece holders 7, 8 may also be replaced, if required, by other workpiece holders of a different size and/or shape, in order to allow the workpiece storage device 1 to be configured to different workpieces.

[0022] The workpiece holders 7, 8 that receive a workpiece 2 are so configured, spaced apart from one another and oriented relative to one another that the longitudinal axis L of a workpiece 2 placed thereon from above slopes relative to the horizontal in such a manner that the workpiece 2 moves under the force of gravity, following the slope, until the projection 5 of the workpiece 2 comes into contact with the outer side of the workpiece holder 8. In one example, the slope is about 15. The slope may lie in a range from 5 to 45, e.g., in a range from 10 to 30. The workpiece holders 7, 8 may have the same construction. Both workpiece holders 7, 8 have a rectangular base and are provided on their upper side with an opening 10, which is open to the top and has mutually opposite side walls 11. The opposite side walls 11 are oriented in a V-shape relative to one another and define the receiving surfaces for the workpiece 2. The size of the openings 10 and the slope of the V-shape of the side walls 11 are matched to the workpiece diameter to be received. The side walls 11 may be provided with a coating which has a lower sliding friction than the material from which the side walls 11 or the workpiece holders 7, 8 are produced, in order thus to reduce the friction between the workpiece holders 7, 8 and the workpiece 2. However, this is not the case in the present case. The workpiece holders 7, 8 each include a first portion 12 extending perpendicularly upwards starting from the base plate 6 and, for producing the slope of the longitudinal axis L of a workpiece 2 placed thereon from above relative to the horizontal, a second portion 13 which adjoins the first portion 12 and is at an angle relative thereto. Furthermore, the workpiece holder 8 is designed to be slightly longer than the workpiece holder 7, so that the second portions 13 of the two workpiece holders 7, 8 extend substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis L of the workpiece 2.

[0023] If a workpiece 2 is placed from above onto workpiece holders 7, 8 arranged adjacent to one another, the workpiece 2 is oriented radially outwards by the V-shaped side walls 11 of the workpiece holders 7 and 8. Furthermore, the workpiece 2, after being placed onto the workpiece holders 7 and 8, moves under the force of gravity in the direction indicated by the arrow 14, until the projection 5 comes into contact with the workpiece holder 8. As soon as this is the case, the workpiece 2 is also positioned axially on the workpiece holders 7, 8. In this manner, each workpiece 2 acquires a defined positioning on the workpiece storage device 1.

[0024] As is apparent from the plan view according to FIG. 4, the workpiece holders 7, 8 are fastened to the base plate 6 in a regular matrix. It is correspondingly simple to incorporate the positioning of the individual workpieces 2 arranged on the workpiece storage device 1 into a computer program of a workpiece handling system.

[0025] An example of a workpiece handling system 15 is shown in FIG. 5. The workpiece handling system 15 includes a bench 16 on which the above-described workpiece storage device 1 may be fixed in a defined position. The positioning of the workpiece storage device 1 on the bench 16 may take place, for example, using corresponding stops or the like. Fixing of the workpiece storage device 1 may be effected by clamping. The workpiece handling system 15 includes a robotic arm which is configured to handle the workpieces 2 received on the workpiece storage device 1.

[0026] Although the disclosure has been illustrated and described in greater detail by the exemplary embodiments, the disclosure is not restricted by these exemplary embodiments. Other variations may be derived herefrom by the person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of protection of the disclosure. It is therefore intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that all equivalents and/or combinations of embodiments are intended to be included in this description.

[0027] It is to be understood that the elements and features recited in the appended claims may be combined in different ways to produce new claims that likewise fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, whereas the dependent claims appended below depend from only a single independent or dependent claim, it is to be understood that these dependent claims may, alternatively, be made to depend in the alternative from any preceding or following claim, whether independent or dependent, and that such new combinations are to be understood as forming a part of the present specification.