DEVICE FOR THE MOVEMENT OF PIECES IN A MACHINE TOOL

Abstract

A device (1) for the movement of sheet-like pieces (P) in a machine tool (M), including a frame (10) moving towards or away from the machining surface (P1) of the machine, a gripping device (20) including a sheet-like element (21) with a gripping surface (21a) having openings (24) and mounted on the frame (10) rotatingly around at least one axis (x) substantially orthogonal to the direction of movement (D) of the frame (10) and element for the creation of a vacuum (25) communicating with the openings (24) and adapted to generate a vacuum pressure at the openings (24), which, when the gripping surface (21a) is substantially next to the machining surface (P1), makes it possible to detach the pieces (P) from the machining surface and keep them on the gripping surface.

Claims

1. A device (1) for the movement of sheet-like pieces (P) in a machine tool (M) equipped with a vertical or substantially vertical machining surface (P1) against which said pieces are held during processing, said device comprising: a frame (10) movable in at least one direction (D), for moving the device (1) towards or away from the machining surface (P1) of the machine (M); a gripping device (20), mounted on the movable frame (10), comprising a sheet-like element (21) defining a gripping surface (21a) on which there are a plurality of openings (24), said sheet-like element (21) being mounted on the frame (10) rotatingly around at least one axis (x) substantially orthogonal to the direction of movement (D) of the frame; means for the creation of a vacuum (25) communicating with said openings (24) on the gripping surface (21a); in which said sheet-like element (21) can be moved from a gripping position in which it is substantially parallel to and in contact with the machining surface (P1) of the machine (M), to an unloading position in which it is at a distance from said machining surface (P1), and in which said vacuum creation means (25) are adapted to generate a vacuum pressure at the openings (24), which, when the gripping surface (21a) is substantially next to the machining surface (P1), makes it possible to detach the pieces (P) from said machining surface and keep them on said gripping surface (21a).

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the frame (10) comprises movement means (11) sliding on rails (12) fixed to the ground.

3. The device (1) according to claim 1, comprising a lining layer (27) made from a permeable to air material, placed on the gripping surface (21a) of the sheet-like element (21), adapted to distribute the vacuum pressure generated by the vacuum means (25) in an area around said openings (24).

4. The device (1) according to claim 3, wherein said lining layer (27) is in the form of a closed belt wrapped around the sheet-like element (21), said device comprising, at the two opposing sides of the sheet-like element (21), rollers (28) that turn in contact with the inner surface of the tape (27) so as to make it slide on said sheet-like element (21).

5. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein each opening (24) is equipped with a valve (40) provided with a shutter (42) movable between a closed position, in which it contacts a perimeter edge (43) of said opening (24), and an open position, in which it is detached from said perimeter edge (43), thereby allowing the passage of air through the opening (24), said shutter (42) comprising at least one portion that, in the closed position, protrudes from the gripping surface (21a).

6. The device (1) according to claim 5, wherein said valve (40) comprises a bushing (41) comprising said perimeter edge (43), the shutter (42) being placed inside said bushing (41) and being subject to the action of elastic means (44) adapted to keep it in contact with said perimeter edge (43) of said opening (24).

7. The device (1) according to claim 5, wherein said shutter (42) has a spherical shape and said perimeter edge (43) has a circular profile.

8. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said sheet-like element (21) comprises a light-structure panel (30) with a first outer layer (31), defining said gripping surface (21a), a second outer layer (32) and an intermediate layer (33), said intermediate layer (33) comprising a plurality of cells (35) delimited by lamellar elements (34) extending between said first layer (31) and said second layer (32), and wherein at least one part of said cells (35) are in fluid communication with one another so as to create, in the intermediate layer (33), a chamber communicating with the openings (24).

9. The device (1) according to claim 8, wherein said panel (30), at least at one side, comprises a vacuum distribution channel (37) communicating with the cells (35) of the intermediate layer (33), said vacuum creation means (25) being in fluid communication with said distribution channel (37).

10. The device (1) according to claim 9, wherein said distribution channel (37) is delimited by the first outer layer (31), by the second outer layer (32) and by at least one side closing edge (38).

11. The device (1) according to claim 2, comprising a lining layer (27) made from a permeable to air material, placed on the gripping surface (21a) of the sheet-like element (21), adapted to distribute the vacuum pressure generated by the vacuum means (25) in an area around said openings (24).

12. The device (1) according to claim 6, wherein said shutter (42) has a spherical shape and said perimeter edge (43) has a circular profile.

Description

[0066] Further characteristics and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the indicative, and therefore non-limiting, description of an example of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the invention, as shown in the accompanying figures wherein:

[0067] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention;

[0068] FIG. 2 is a perspective rear view of the device of FIG. 1;

[0069] FIG. 3 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1,

[0070] FIG. 4a is a top view of the sheet-like element of the device according to the invention;

[0071] FIG. 4b is a side section view of the sheet-like element of FIG. 4a;

[0072] FIGS. from 5 to 7 are side views of the device of FIG. 1 during the collecting stages of pieces from a machine tool.

[0073] With reference to the accompanying figures, number 1 indicates as a whole the device for moving pieces in a machine tool M, which, in the attached FIGS. 5-7, is schematically depicted as a machining centre provided with a machining surface P1 substantially vertical on which pieces P to be collected and removed are retained.

[0074] The device 1 comprises a frame 10 provided with rolling or sliding means 11, preferably wheels, for moving along a direction D towards or away from the machine tool M.

[0075] Said wheels 11 are sliding on rails 12 fixed to the ground. The travel of the wheels 11 on the rails 12 is variable in function of the requirements and, typically, is between 1.5 m and 5 m.

[0076] A motor 13, or optionally more than one, transfers the motion to one or more of the wheels 11, the latter, generally, are at least four.

[0077] The frame 10 can have different shapes and can be built according to different manufacturing techniques. In the shown embodiment, the frame 10 comprises profiles 14 mutually joined by means of welding or bolts. Alternatively, the frame 10 can be built using plates joined to form box-like elements or other technically equivalent solutions.

[0078] A gripping device indicated as a whole with reference numeral 20 is connected rotatingly to frame 10. Said gripping device comprises a sheet-like element 21 which can be rotated around an axis X which is substantially horizontal and, preferably, substantially perpendicular to the movement direction D of frame 10.

[0079] The rotation of the sheet-like element 21 is driven by a gear motor 15, or by similar actuators.

[0080] According to the embodiment in the drawings, the sheet-like element 21 is integrally connected to a support framing 23, which, in turn, is hinged to the frame 10.

[0081] The sheet-like element 21 is provided with a front face 21, named gripping face, and a rear face 22. Preferably, the rotation of the sheet-like element 21 is from an unloading position, in which the gripping surface 21a is substantially horizontal and facing upwards (FIG. 7) to a gripping position in which the gripping surface 21a is substantially parallel to the machining surface P1 of the machine M (FIG. 5). Typically, the rotation angle completed by the sheet-like element 21 is between 90 and 120 and more preferably between 100 and 110, starting from the unloading position in which the sheet-like element is substantially horizontal. The rotation of the sheet-like element can be managed manually by an operator or automatically by a control unit, not depicted in the drawing.

[0082] Preferably, the angular positions of the sheet-like element 21 in their respective unloading and gripping position are pre-set in the device. In this way, also when the rotation is given manually, the gear motor 15 is automatically stopped when the gripping surface 21a is exactly parallel to the machining surface P1 of the machine M, in the gripping position, or when it is horizontal, in the unloading position.

[0083] Drawings 4a and 4b show more in detail the sheet-like element according to a preferred embodiment.

[0084] Referring to said drawings, the sheet-like element 21 consists of a light structure panel 30 comprising a first outer layer 31, a second outer layer 32 and an intermediate layer 33, made preferably of a honeycomb structure or similar structures. Said intermediate layer 33 comprises then thin lamellar elements 34 which extend between the inner surfaces of the two outer layers 31, 32 and which are shaped so to create a plurality of cells 35.

[0085] The panel 30 has typically a quadrilateral plan shape, preferably a rectangle or a square, like most machining surfaces of vertical machining centres or similar machine tools.

[0086] The outer surface of the upper layer 31 defines said gripping surface 21; on said surface a plurality of openings 24 are formed which are in communication with a vacuum pump 25. As explained above, the vacuum pressure created by the vacuum pump 25 is transferred up to said openings 24 generating a suction attracting force onto the gripping surface 21a at the openings 24.

[0087] According to a preferred embodiment, each opening 25 is provided with a valve 40. In the shown example said valve 40 comprises a bushing 41 in which a mobile shutter 42 is housed, typically shaped as a sphere. The bushing 41 is housed in a seat formed in the intermediate layer 33 and, preferably is completely included in the thickness of the panel 30.

[0088] In the closed valve position, the shutter 42 contacts a perimeter edge 43 of the bushing 41, which defines the opening 25 and partially protrudes from the gripping surface 21a. In said position the shutter 42 prevents the passage of air through opening 25. In the open valve position, on the other hand, the shutter 42 is detached from said perimeter edge 43, allowing the passage of air through the opening 24. A spring 44 is mounted on the shutter 42 to keep it pressed against the perimeter edge 43 of the bushing 41, thus in the closed position, with a certain pre-load.

[0089] According to a preferred embodiment, in the lamellar elements 34 of the intermediate layer 33 holes 36, grooves or the like which put in fluid communication some or all cells 35 are formed.

[0090] Said cells 35 are, in turn, communicating with opening 24, for example through passages formed in the walls of the bushing.

[0091] In the shown embodiment, on one side of the panel 30 it is provided a distribution channel 37 communicating with a plurality of cells 35 of the intermediate layer 33. Said distribution channel 37 is defined by the external layers 31, 32 and at least one side closing edge 38. Actually, between the outer layers 31, 32 a blank zone is formed, i.e. a zone in which the intermediate layer 33 which act as distribution channel is not present. The side closing edge 38 is joined to the external layers 31, 32, by means of glues or sealants so to ensure water-tightness. Generally, the extension of the distribution channel 27 is equal to the length of the side of the panel 30 where it is located.

[0092] Preferably, all the sides of panel 30 are closed by side closed edges as the one described above, not shown in the drawing, in order to ensure water-tightness around the whole intermediate layer 33. The panel can be optionally provided with multiple distribution channels 37 placed at respective sides of the panel 30.

[0093] The distribution channel 37 is used for putting the vacuum pump 25 in communication with multiple cells 35 at the same time and, thus, for distributing uniformly the vacuum pressure generated by said vacuum pump 25 between the different openings 24.

[0094] Generally, the vacuum pump 25 is connected to the distribution channel 37 by means of one or more pipes, not shown in the drawings.

[0095] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a lining belt 27, wrapped around the sheet-like element 21. Said lining belt is made of a permeable to air material.

[0096] As explained above, the function of said material is to allow that the vacuum pressure generated at the openings 24 is diffused in a wider area and, therefore, in a substantially uniform manner on the whole gripping surface 21a.

[0097] The lining belt 27 is wrapped around two rollers 28 placed at two opposite sides of the sheet-like element 21, right and left in the example in the drawing, and connected to the support framing 23.

[0098] In the scope of this invention, the terms right and left refer to the sheet-like element 21 of the device 1 in the element is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the ground, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0099] Said rollers 28 can be free wheeling, allowing the belt to freely rotating around the sheet-like element 21, or can be motorized. In both cases the rotation of the rollers 28 and of the belt 27 allows to move the pieces collected from the machining surface P1 of the machine tool M towards a side of the panel, facilitating the collection and removal operations by an operator.

[0100] Drawings from 5 to 7 show the device during the collection stages of pieces P from the machining surface P1 of a machine tool M.

[0101] In FIG. 5 the sheet-like element 21 is rotated by an angle so to be substantially parallel to the machining surface P1 of machine M.

[0102] Frame 10 is thus moved until the belt 27 which covers the sheet-like element 21 is substantially contacting the machining surface P1 or the pieces retained on it, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0103] In this stage, following the pressure applied by the machining surface P1 or by the pieces P towards the sheet-like element 21, the protruding portions of the shutters 42 are pushed towards the interior of the bushing 41 moving the shutter away from the perimeter edge 43 and, therefore, by freeing at least partially the opening 24.

[0104] The vacuum pump 25, activated in this stage or even before, generates then, at the opening 24, a vacuum pressure which diffuses in a surrounding area through the belt 27. Said vacuum pressure, in turn, generates an attraction force of the various pieces P placed on the machining surface P1.

[0105] At this point the frame 10 is moved away from the machine M so that the pieces P are detached from the machining surface P1 and retained by the device against the belt 27. Preferably, at the same time, the gripping means of the machine which retain the pieces on the machining surface are deactivated or, in any case, set in a way that the attraction force of the device for the movement is able to detach all the pieces from the machining surface.

[0106] In the zones of the gripping surface 21 where pieces P are not present, the shutters 42 remain in the closed position so that through the respective openings 24 no air is aspirated which may reduce the vacuum pressure value and thus the attraction force on the present pieces.

[0107] Once the frame reached an unloading position, the sheet-like element 21 is preferably rotated in a horizontal position, or another position only slightly inclined, in which it allows an operator to unload the pieces P easily and to place them in their provided location, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0108] To perform a new collecting operation from said unloading position, the sheet-like element 21 is rotated again in a position parallel to the machining surface P1 (FIG. 5) and the stages described above are repeated.

[0109] The invention was described by way of non-limiting example, according to certain preferred embodiments. A person skilled in the art may find several other embodiments and variations, all falling within the scope of protection of the below claims.