METHODS AND PRODUCTION STATIONS FOR IDENTIFYING WORKPIECES WITH A MOBILE UNIT

Abstract

A method for identifying workpieces that are distributed in a sorted manner to multiple workpiece collection units and brought to the workpiece collection units using an automation device. Included is identifying elements for emitting and receiving electromagnetic signals to and from transceiver units situated on the workpiece collection units to determine the position of the identifying elements from transit times of the electromagnetic signals between the transceiver units and the identifying elements. The identifying elements each bear information regarding the workpieces on the workpiece collection units. The identifying elements, which are provided by a delivery device and each bear information regarding the workpieces on the workpiece collection units, are brought from the location of a delivery device to a transfer zone in the working area of the automation device. The automation device brings each provided identifying element from the transfer zone to the associated workpiece collection unit.

Claims

1. A method for identifying workpieces that are distributed to multiple workpiece collection units in a sorted manner, the method comprising: moving the workpieces to the workpiece collection units using an automation device, moving identifying elements from a provision device to an associated workpiece or an associated workpiece collection unit by a conveying unit, wherein the identifying elements bear information regarding the workpieces, wherein the identifying elements are on one or both of the workpieces and the workpiece collection units, and wherein the identifying elements are in the form of mobile units for emitting and receiving electromagnetic signals to and from transceiver units, and determining the position of the identifying elements from propagation times of the electromagnetic signals between the transceiver units and the identifying elements.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying elements each bear an individual allocation identifier, and wherein information regarding the workpieces on the workpiece collection units are allocated in a database to the allocation identifiers.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the provision device is configured to read the allocation identifier stored on each of the identifying elements.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the provision device is configured to remove the identifying elements from a store, the identifying elements have known, permanently stored allocation identifiers stored in a known order in a stack, and wherein an allocation identifier for an identifying element is determined by removal information that describes the position of the identifying element relative to the known order and the removal information is a number index of the identifying elements taken from the stack.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the provision device writes the identifying element in a machine-readable manner and/or in a manner that is readable by humans.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the provision device describes the identifying element in a reversible manner.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising moving the identifying elements to a transfer zone in the working region of the automation device, and wherein the automation device moves a particular provided identifying element from the transfer zone to the associated workpiece or the associated workpiece collection unit.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the automation device piles a stack of workpieces on at least one of the workpiece collection units and applies an identifying element on top of or beside the stack of workpieces, wherein at least one of the workpiece collection units comprises a pallet or a partial region of a pallet on which the stack is piled.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the automation device piles workpieces at least on one of the workpiece collection units and applies an identifying element on top of or beside the pile of workpieces, wherein at least one of the workpiece collection units comprises a container in which the pile is formed.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the automation device comprises gripping devices that grip the workpieces and the identifying elements.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the automation device comprises a workpiece carriage into which the workpieces and identifying elements are placed and is configured to move at least over some of the workpiece collection units, and, by opening an ejector, drop the workpieces and the identifying elements out to a workpiece collection unit.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying elements are configured to emit and receive ultra-wideband signals.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the position of the identifying elements comprises using a propagation time of the electromagnetic signals between the transceiver units and the identifying elements.

14. A production station for workpieces, comprising: a production machine for producing a plurality of workpieces, an automation device for bringing the workpieces produced by the production machine to provision locations for workpiece collection units, a control device configured to actuate the automation device to distribute the produced workpieces to the provision locations in a sorted manner, a plurality of identifying elements configured to emit and receive electromagnetic signals to and from transceiver units and determine the position of the identifying elements from propagation times of the electromagnetic signals between the transceiver units and the identifying elements, a provision device for providing the identifying elements, wherein the identifying elements bear information regarding the workpieces sorted to the provision locations, and a conveying unit for bringing the identifying elements from the provision device to the provision locations, wherein the control device is further configured to actuate the conveying unit such that the identifying elements are sorted to the relevant provision location of the workpieces for which they bear information.

15. The production station of claim 14, wherein the provision device comprises a writing device for writing the identifying elements directly with the information for the workpieces sorted to each of the provision locations and/or with an allocation identifier for this information.

16. The production station of claim 14, wherein the provision device comprises one or both of: a reading device for reading allocation identifiers that are stored in the identifying elements, and a determining device for determining the position of an identifying element relative to a known order, wherein the identifying elements are stored in a stack and the determining device comprises a counting device for identifying elements taken from the stack.

17. The production station of claim 14, wherein the conveying unit comprises: a conveying device for bringing the identifying elements from the provision device to a transfer zone in the working region of the automation device, wherein the automation device is configured to move the provided identifying elements from the transfer zone to the provision locations, and wherein the control device is configured to actuate the automation device such that the identifying elements are sorted to the relevant provision location of the workpieces for which they bear information.

18. The production station of claim 17, wherein the conveying device comprises a chute via which the provided identifying elements can slide from the provision device into the transfer zone in the working region of the automation device.

19. The production station of claim 14, wherein the production machine is a flat-bed processing machine, a laser-cutting machine, or a punching machine, or a combined cutting and punching machine, or a bending machine.

20. The production station of claim 14, wherein the automation device comprises a suction gripper, and the identifying elements comprise a planar portion for applying the suction gripper.

21. The production station of claim 14, wherein at least some of the workpiece collection units are a pallet, and/or a partial region of a pallet, and/or a container.

22. The production station of claim 21, further comprising at least one workpiece collection apparatus comprising a plurality of workpiece collection units that are transported together over the workpiece collection apparatus.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0083] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first production station as described herein, on which a first variant of a method is executed, using a laser-cutting machine, the produced workpieces being stacked.

[0084] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a first production station as described herein, on which a second variant of a method is executed, using a punching machine, the produced workpieces being ejected into containers.

[0085] FIG. 3 is a schematic, partially transparent view of a printed identifying element as described herein.

[0086] FIG. 4 is a schematic, partially transparent view of an identifying element including an e-ink display.

[0087] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a provision device as described herein that includes a reading device or a counting device.

[0088] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a production facility showing the location of an identifying element in the production facility.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0089] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of a production station 1. The production station 1 includes a production machine 2, in this case a laser-cutting machine including a laser-machining head 3. During laser machining, the laser-machining head 3 emits a laser beam 4 which, in this case, is directed vertically downwards onto a piece of raw material 5 that is to be cut on a table 6. Here, the laser-machining head 3 can be moved in a horizontal plane above the table 6 using a gantry system 7 to move over desired cutting contours of workpieces 20 to be manufactured. Alternatively, an upper part of the table 6 could also be configured to move in a horizontal plane together with the piece of raw material 5.

[0090] Pieces of raw material 5a that are yet to be cut are stored in a stack 8 of raw material beside the table 6. Leftover pieces of raw material 5b that remain after all of the desired workpieces have been cut out are likewise stored in a stack 9 of leftover material beside the table 6. By a loading device 10, uncut pieces of raw material 5a can be brought to the table 6 from the stack 8 of raw material, and leftover pieces of raw material 5b can be brought to the stack 9 of leftover material from the table 6. In this case, the loading device 10 is configured to include a suction gripper 11 that can be moved in a horizontal plane and also vertically by a second gantry system 12.

[0091] By an automation device 13, the cut workpieces 20 can also be transported from the table 6 to provision locations 16a-16d that are beside the table 6. For this purpose, the automation device 13 has a suction gripper 14 which can be moved in a horizontal plane and also in a vertical direction by a third gantry system 15.

[0092] The automation device 13 can be understood to be part of the production machine 2. The same applies to the loading device 10.

[0093] Workpiece collection units 17a-17d are arranged at the provision locations 16a-16d. Here, the workpiece collection unit 17a is the left-hand partial region of a pallet 18, where a first type of workpiece 20a is stacked. The workpiece collection unit 17b is the right-hand partial region of the pallet 18, where a second type of workpiece 20b is stacked. The pallet 18 is therefore a workpiece collection unit 19 on which two workpiece collection units 17a, 17b are formed. The workpiece collection unit 17c can be a pallet 21 on which (only) a third type of workpiece 20c is stacked. The workpiece collection unit 17d is likewise formed by a pallet 22 on which workpieces 20 have not yet been arranged. Only four provision locations 16a-16d have been shown here for the purpose of simplification; in practice, usually at least five provision locations are provided.

[0094] The production station 1 also has a provision device 23, on which, in the embodiment shown, identifying elements 24 stored thereon are written with direct information (for example an order number, a part type, a production time) regarding each of the workpieces 20a, 20b, 20c on the workpiece collection units 17a, 17b, 17c; for this purpose, the provision device 23 includes a writing device 25. Here, the writing device 25 applies an imprint to the identifying elements 24 and also programs RFID chips of the identifying elements 24 (not shown in greater detail, see FIG. 3 in this regard). The provision device 23 thus writes an identifying element 24 both physically and electronically.

[0095] The provision device 23 is coupled to the automation device 13 by a conveying device 26. Identifying elements 24 are ejected from the provision device 23 and slide down a chute 28 of the conveying device 26 into a transfer zone 27, which is within the working space 29 of the automation device 13, e.g., the space that can be reached by the suction gripper 13. In the present case, the identifying element 24c has already slid into the transfer zone 27. By the automation device 13, the identifying element 24c can then be brought to its associated stack 30c of workpieces 20c and applied to the stack 30c. Identifying elements 24a, 24b have already been applied in this way to the stacks 30a and 30b of workpieces 20a, 20b.

[0096] Once the stacks 30a, 30b, 30c of workpieces 20a, 20b, 20c have been completely formed and the identifying elements 24a, 24b, 24c have also been applied thereto, the workpiece collection units 17a, 17b, 17c or the pallets 18, 21 are replaced with empty workpiece collection units or empty pallets (not shown in greater detail); for this purpose, the pallets 18, 21 can be handled in a conventional manner, for example using a forklift truck. The two stacks 30a and 30b can be handled at the same time by the pallet 18.

[0097] The loading device 10, the production machine 2, the automation device 13 and the provision device 23 are coordinated by a control device 31 (if the conveying device 26 also requires actuation in other embodiments, the conveying device 26 can also be coordinated by the control device 31). The control device 31 determines how the workpieces 20, 20a, 20b, 20c are sorted to the provision locations 16a-16d and also ensures that the identifying elements 24a, 24b, 24c are correctly allocated. Here, the control device 31 also provides the workpiece-related information which is written on and/or allocated to an identifying element 24, 24a, 24b, 24c by the provision device 23.

[0098] It should be noted that, by the provision device 23 or the writing device 25, an allocation identifier can also be written on a relevant identifying element 24 instead of or in addition to the direct information regarding the workpieces.

[0099] Referring to FIG. 5, the provision device 23 can also be configured to ascertain a relevant unambiguous allocation identifier 83 that is already permanently (physically and/or electronically) applied to the stored identifying elements 24, for example by reading out or counting the allocation identifier. The provision device 23 then includes an ascertaining device 80, typically in the form of a reading device 81, that reads out the allocation identifiers 83 of provided identifying elements 24 when they are withdrawn on a conveyor belt 87. The ascertaining device 80 can also be in the form of a counting device 82 (in this case configured to include a push button 88) which counts which identifying element 24 is currently being withdrawn from the stored stack 85 of identifying elements 24, the sequence of allocation identifiers 83 in the stack 85 being known. The provision device 23 may also be a combination of an ascertaining device 80 and a writing device 25.

[0100] The ascertained allocation identifier 83 is allocated to the information regarding the workpieces on the assigned workpiece collection unit in a database 86, such that the information is easy to find or retrieve by the allocation identifier 83. Subsequently, the identifying element 24 then typically directly retrieves the actual information regarding the workpieces from the database 86 by the allocation identifier 83. Likewise, the actual information can be subsequently retrieved by machines or humans by the allocation identifier 83 as required. The database 86 can be part of the controller 31 (as shown) or can be an external database. The same applies to the case of an allocation identifier 83 applied to an identifying element 24 by a writing device 25 of a provision device 23.

[0101] The production station 1 shown in FIG. 1 can be configured such that an existing production plant that includes a production machine 2, a loading device 10, an automation device 13, and a control device 31 is retrofitted with a provision device 23 and a conveying device 26 having a transfer zone 27 in the working space of the automation device 13, and the control device 31 is re-programmed such that it also takes over the sorting of the identifying elements 24.

[0102] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a conveying unit 36. The conveying unit 36 is generally configured to convey the identifying elements 24 from the provision device 23 to the workpieces 20, 20a, 20b, 20c and/or to a workpiece collection unit 17a-17e. The conveying unit 36 can include at least the automation device 13 and the conveying device 26.

[0103] FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of a production station 1. The functionality is similar to the embodiment in FIG. 1, and the essential differences are primarily explained in the following.

[0104] In the production station 1, the production machine 2 can be a punching machine including a punching head 40, by which workpieces 20 can be punched out of a piece of raw material 5 to be punched. To position the piece of raw material 5 for punching out different workpieces 20, the piece of raw material 5 is held in place by a clamping device 41 which can be moved in a horizontal plane by a gantry system 42; in addition, the piece of raw material 5 can be supported on a table in a sliding manner. The punching tool 43 and punching die 44 of the punching machine can be replaced for different types of workpieces 20 to be punched.

[0105] By the loading device 10, unpunched pieces of raw material 5a can be brought to the clamping device 41 from the stack 8 of raw material, and leftover pieces of raw material 5b can be brought to the stack 9 of leftover material from the clamping device 41.

[0106] In the example shown, punched-out workpieces 20 are brought to five workpiece collection apparatuses 17a-17e at provision locations 16a-16e by the automation device 13, the workpiece collection units 17a-17e being containers 45a-45e. The workpieces 20a-20e form piles (fills) 46a-46e in the containers 45a-45e. The containers 45d and 45e are arranged on a roller carriage 47. The roller carriage 47 thus constitutes a workpiece collection apparatus 19 including two workpiece collection units 17d, 17e.

[0107] Here, the automation device 13 includes a workpiece funnel 48 that forms a floor-side ejector 49 that has a flap 49a. A punched-out workpiece 20 initially remains on the closed flap 49a. When a workpiece carriage 50 is positioned below the ejector 49, the ejector 49 can be opened and the workpiece 20 (optionally multiple workpieces) drops into the workpiece carriage 50. The workpiece carriage 50 is in turn provided with a floor-side ejector 51 that is has a flap 51a. The workpiece carriage 50 can be moved above the provision locations 16a-16e or the workpiece collection units 17a-17e on a guide 52 that can be positioned over a selected provision location 16a-16e. The ejector 51 can then be opened and the workpiece 20 (or workpieces) drops out of the workpiece carriage 50 into the containers 45a-45e therebelow at the selected provision location 16a-16e. The roller carriage 50 in the non-dotted view is positioned for receiving workpieces 20 from the workpiece funnel 48 and also for letting workpieces 20 drop into the central container 45c.

[0108] In the rightmost movement position (shown by dotted lines) of the workpiece carriage 50, an identifying element 24, which has been written with direct information regarding the workpieces 20a-20e on a workpiece collection unit 17a-17e and/or with an individual (unique) allocation identifier for this information in the provision device 23 including a writing device 25, can slide down a chute 28 of the conveying device 26 into the workpiece carriage 50. When it is arranged in the rightmost position of the guide 52, the interior of the workpiece carriage 50 forms a transfer zone 27 for the identifying elements 24 in the working region 29 of the automation device 13. By the workpiece carriage 50, an identifying element 24e can then be moved above a desired container 45a-45e and can drop into the container by opening the ejector 51. To have the identifying element 24e drop into the associated workpiece collection unit 17e, the workpiece carriage 50 does not need to be moved. Identifying elements 24c, 24d have already been sorted into the containers 45c and 45d. The chute 28 can alternatively be configured such that an identifying element 24 that is sliding down drops into the workpiece funnel 48.

[0109] The control device 31 in turn coordinates the loading device 10, the production machine 2, the automation device 13, and the provision device 23 to bring about the production and sorting of the workpieces 20, 20a-20e and the writing or allocation and sorting of the identifying elements 24, 24c-24e. Here, the automation device 13 are actuated both in relation to the movement position of the workpiece carriage 50 and also in relation to the opening (and closing) of the ejectors 49, 51.

[0110] FIG. 3 shows, by way of example, an identifying element 24 provided by the provision device 23. The identifying element 24 is a plastics card 67, which in this case has a length of approximately 90 mm, a width of 50 mm, and a thickness of 4 mm. The thickness of the card 67 is usually 1/10 or less of both the length and the width of the card 67. In many cases, the thickness of the card 67 can be 1.5 mm or less. Usually, however, the card 67 is at least 0.6 mm or at least 1.0 mm thick.

[0111] The identifying element 24 has been printed, by the provision device 23, on the upper face with direct information 60 regarding the workpieces on a workpiece collection unit to which the identifying element 24 is allocated. The identifying element 24 is placed on the workpieces on the associated workpiece collection unit by the automation device for the workpieces.

[0112] The printed information 60 includes a type number of the workpieces 61, a production date of the workpieces 62, a name of a customer 63 that has placed the order as well as an order number 64. The printed information 60 is easy for a human to read with the naked eye.

[0113] An RFID chip 65 is welded into the identifying element 24, e.g., into the plastics card 67. The RFID chip 65 can alternatively also be fastened to the identifying element 24 in another manner, for example bonded thereto. The RFID chip 65 has been written (programmed), by the provision device 23, with the same information 60 regarding the workpieces on the associated workpiece collection apparatus as has been printed. This direct information 60 is also available to be read out by a machine, e.g., contactlessly, using an RFID reader.

[0114] The information on the RFID chip 65 can be more comprehensive than the information 60 that has been printed, and for example can contain data regarding the production station used to manufacture the workpieces.

[0115] The upper face of the identifying element 24 provides a planar portion 66 on which a suction gripper can act to grip and transport the identifying element 24. The same applies to the underside.

[0116] Alternatively, the identifying element 24 can also be a card 67 that includes an electronically changeable display 70 for displaying the information 60 (see FIG. 4). Cards 67 that use what is known as e-paper (e-ink) as a display 70 are particularly economical in terms of power consumption. They are actuated by a control module 71 of the identifying element 24, which can change the display 70. The then static display 70 itself does not consume any electrical power. The control module 71 includes a receiver 72 that receives electromagnetic signals such as radio waves, light, or infrared. The information 60 can be conveyed (transmitted) to the control module 71 (e.g., wirelessly), by the electromagnetic signals. The module can display the information 60 on the e-ink display 70 such that it can be read by humans. The (direct) information 60 regarding the workpieces can be transmitted to the identifying element 24 in the provision device. Alternatively, the (direct) information 60 can be transmitted at a later stage, for example in a workshop, by a suitable transmitting module. The identifying elements 24 can be unambiguously allocated by an allocation identifier (for example stored on the RFID chip 65) to the associated workpiece collection units or the corresponding information 60 regarding the workpieces thereon. Such an identifying element 24 is characterized by a very high level of flexibility.

[0117] The methods and devices described are suitable for bend-resistant workpieces 20, 20a-e. A bend-resistant workpiece can be made of sheet metal, glass, or plastics material. Parts cut (or punched) out of a semiconductor substrate or a printed circuit board are often bend-resistant.

[0118] FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of a production facility. A production machine 2 is arranged in the production facility. The production machine 2 is controlled by a control device 31. The control device 31 in turn controls transceiver units 89. The transceiver units 89 are capable of exchanging electromagnetic signals (shown by double-headed arrows in FIG. 6) with an identifying element 24 in the form of a mobile unit. The identifying element 24 is arranged in, at, or on a workpiece collection unit 17a. The workpiece collection unit 17a in turn includes a workpiece 20. The workpiece 20 can then be indirectly accurately located by the identifying element 24. If the identifying element 24 is in the proximity of the production machine 2, the control device 31 can actuate or book the production machine 2 to process the workpiece 20. The identifying element 24 allocated to the workpiece collection unit 17a by the automation device 13 (not shown in FIG. 6) is thus capable of rendering production more transparent and effective overall.

[0119] A method for identifying workpieces 20, 20a-20e, wherein a production machine 2 produces a plurality of workpieces 20, 20a-20e and the produced workpieces 20, 20a-20e are distributed to multiple workpiece collection units 17a-17e in a sorted manner, includes that the produced workpieces 20, 20a-20e are brought to the workpiece collection units 17a-17e using an automation device 13, wherein identifying elements 24, 24a-24e in the form of mobile units for emitting and receiving electromagnetic signals to and from transceiver units 89 are arranged on the workpiece collection units 17a-17e to determine the position of the identifying elements 24, 24a-e from propagation times of the electromagnetic signals between the transceiver units 89 and the identifying elements 24, 24a-e. The identifying elements 24, 24a-e each directly and/or indirectly bear information 60 regarding the workpieces 20, 20a-20e on the workpiece collection units 17a-17e, and the identifying elements 24, 24a-24e provided by a provision device 23 which each directly and/or indirectly bear information 60 regarding the workpieces 20, 20a-20e on the workpiece collection units 17a-17e are brought from the location of the provision device 23 to the associated workpiece 20, 20a-20e and/or the associated workpiece collection unit 17a-17e by a conveying unit 36. The conveying takes place at a transfer zone 27 in the working region 29 of the automation device 13, wherein the automation device 13 brings a particular provided identifying element 24, 24a-24e from the transfer zone 27 to the associated workpiece collection unit 17a-17e. The invention makes it possible to identify workpieces 20, 20a-20e in a simple and cost-effective manner for it to be possible to locate them in real time.

Other Embodiments

[0120] A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.