MODULAR APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MACHINING FLAT SHEETS

Abstract

A modular apparatus (10) for machining flat sheets, in particular glass, plate glass, or mirror sheets or sheets made from stone materials or the like, comprising machining moduli consisting of a first store (16) suitable for receiving sheets to be machined (25) and a second store (18) suitable for receiving machined sheets (27), a first grinding machine (12), and a second grinding machine (14) suitable for performing grinding machinings along the peripheral edges of said sheets (25), one or more further moduli for machining said flat sheets, if any, of the corner cutting, drill, or washing machine types, possibly associated with said first and second grinding machines (12, 14), and interface means for transferring said flat sheets between said machining moduli.

Claims

1. A modular apparatus (10) for machining flat sheets in a continuous cycle, in particular glass, plate glass or mirror sheets or sheets made from stone materials or the like having different dimensions and shapes, characterized in that it comprises machining modules arranged according to a U-shaped path and consisting of a first store (16) suitable for receiving sheets to be machined (25) and a second store (18), parallel and opposed to said first store (16), suitable for receiving machined sheets (27), a first grinding machine (12) and a second grinding machine (14) arranged parallel and opposite to each other and suitable for performing grinding machinings along the peripheral edges of said vertically arranged sheets (25), one or more further sheet machining moduli, if any, such as corner cutting machines or drills or washing machines, possibly associated with said first and/or second grinding machines (12, 14) and at least one manipulator for transferring said flat sheets between said machining moduli, the first store (16) being placed in correspondence with an input/loading (or head) zone where said sheets to be machined (25) are input/loaded and the second store (18) arranged in correspondence with an output/unloading (or tail) zone of the second grinding machine (14) or of the further machining module, if any.

2. (canceled)

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the first store (16) is translationally movable along first rails (28) and the second store (18) is translationally movable along second rails (30).

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a first manipulator (20) and a second manipulator (22) and a third manipulator (62), if any, arranged parallel and opposite to each other, the first and second manipulators (20, 22) being arranged between the first grinding machine (12) and the second grinding machine (14), said manipulators being each provided with a suction clamp (21, 23) for grabbing and handling said sheets.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the first manipulator (20) is arranged in correspondence with the input/loading or head zone of the first grinding machine (12) and of the output/unloading or tail zone of the second grinding machine (14), the second manipulator (22) being arranged in correspondence with the output/unloading or tail zone of the first grinding machine (12) and of the input/loading or head zone of the second grinding machine (14) and in that the third manipulator (62), if any, is arranged in correspondence with the output/unloading zone of the further machining module, if any.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one manipulator consists of one antropomorphic robot.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises first protection elements or first barriers (24), second protection elements or second barriers (26), and third protection elements (61), if any, to enclose the operating areas of the machining moduli, respectively.

8. A method for machining flat glass sheets implemented according to the apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it performs machinings on flat sheets in a continuous cycle.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises the following sequence of steps: picking-up a sheet to be machined (25) from the first store (16) by means of the first manipulator (20) and positioning it onto the first grinding machine (12) in correspondence the input/loading or head zone; moving the sheet (25) to a machining assembly (12) of the first grinding machine for machining a first edge of said sheet; picking-up said sheet from the first grinding machine in correspondence with the unloading/output or tail zone thereof by means of the second manipulator (22) and positioning it onto the second grinding machine (14) in correspondence with the input/loading or head zone of said second grinding machine; moving the sheet and transferring it to a machining assembly (14) of the first grinding machine (14) in order for a further first edge of said sheet to be machined; picking-up said sheet from the second grinding machine (14) in correspondence with the unloading/output or tail zone thereof by means of the first manipulator (20); re-positioning said sheet onto the first grinding machine (12) in correspondence with the input/loading or head zone of said first grinding machine in order for a further edge to be machined; or unloading the finished sheet (27) onto the second store (18) by means of the first manipulator (20).

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises further flat sheet machining steps, if any, performed before unloading the finished sheet, said unloading onto said second store being performed by means of a further third manipulator, if any.

11. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises the steps of loading the flat sheets to be machined (25) onto the first store and of unloading the machined flat sheets (27) onto the second store (18), wherein said loading/unloading steps are performed, said first store (16) and second store (18) being moved along the rails (28) and (30) respectively.

Description

[0032] The constructional and functional characteristics of the apparatus and of the method for machining flat sheets according to the present invention can be better understood from the following detailed description, wherein reference is made to the attached drawings which illustrate a preferred, non-limitative embodiment, and wherein:

[0033] FIG. 1 schematically shows a top view of the apparatus for machining flat sheets of the present invention according to a first embodiment;

[0034] FIGS. 2 thru 4 schematically show, in an axonometric view, the sheets machining steps by using an apparatus according to the invention;

[0035] FIG. 5 schematically shows a top view of the apparatus for machining flat sheets of the present invention according to an alternative configuration;

[0036] FIG. 6 schematically shows a top view of the apparatus for machining flat sheets of the present invention according to a further, alternative embodiment.

[0037] With reference to the mentioned figures, the modular apparatus for machining flat sheets according to the present invention, identified by the reference numeral 10 as a whole in the figures and described with reference to a first embodiment or configuration, wherein a sheet undergoes a grinding machining of the peripheral edge, comprises a first grinding machine 12 and a second grinding machine 14 arranged opposite and parallel to each other, a first store 16 suitable for receiving the sheets to be machined and a second store 18 suitable for receiving the machined sheets, a first handler 20 and a second handler 22, first protection elements 24 and second protection elements 26.

[0038] The first store 16 and the second store 18 are each defined by conventional racks, on which there are arranged, stacked one above the other, raw sheets (made from glass, plate glass, mirror or stone materials) to be machined 25 and finished sheets 27 whose edges have already been ground, respectively.

[0039] Such first and second stores 16 and 18 are moved automatically for that which concerns the functions of loading new sheets in the first store 16 and unloading sheets from the second store 18; as a matter of fact, as schematically shown in the figures, the first store 16 is translationally movable along first rails 28 and the second store 18 is translationally movable along second rails 30.

[0040] The first grinding machine 12 and the second grinding machine 14 are not described with reference to their constructional and operational details because they are already known; however, a number of constructional elements will be specified because they are worth to mention in the following description.

[0041] The two grinding machines comprise each a machining assembly (12 and 14 respectively) in which there are present the sheet machining means (of the tape or grindstone type), a rectilinear handling assembly (12 and 14 respectively), the machining assembly being arranged substantially midway in the longitudinal development of said handling assembly, to define a sheet input zone and a sheet output zone with respect to the machining assembly and, finally, a lateral support frame (12 and 14 respectively) which develops longitudinally all over the length of the rectilinear handling assembly and is suitable for operating as support for the sheet being in movement.

[0042] As described above, said grinding machines are arranged parallel and opposite to each other and, in particular, the first store 16 is arranged to serve the first grinding machine in correspondence with an input/loading (or head) zone for the glass sheets 25 on said first grinding machine 12 and the second store 18 is arranged to serve the second grinding machine 14 in correspondence with an unload (or tail) zone of the second grinding machine 14.

[0043] The first handler 20, which preferably consists of a robot of an antropomorphic type, is arranged between the first grinding machine 12 and the second grinding machine 14 and, in particular, in correspondence with the head zone of the first grinding machine and of the tail zone of the second grinding machine.

[0044] The second handler 22, also consisting of a robot of an antropomorphic type, is arranged between the first grinding machine 12 and the second grinding machine 14, opposite and parallel to the first handler 20 and, in particular, it is arranged in correspondence with the tail zone of the first grinding machine and of the head zone of the second grinding machine.

[0045] Said first and second handlers 20 and 22 are arranged opposite and parallel to each other.

[0046] The first handler 20 and the second handler 22 are equipped, on the wrist 20 and on the wrist 22 respectively, with a suction clamp 21 and a suction clamp 23, possibly adjustable in order to fit different dimensions of sheets to be handled.

[0047] The first protection elements 24 are arranged in correspondence with the head and tail zones of the first grinding machine 12 and of the second grinding machine 14 respectively, to enclose the operating area of the first handler 20, the first store 16, and the second store 18.

[0048] Likewise, the second protection elements 26 are arranged in correspondence with the tail and head zones of the first grinding machine 12 and of the second grinding machine 14 respectively, to enclose the operating area of the second handler 22.

[0049] The apparatus according to the invention which, as already said, is of the modular type, possibly comprises other machines suitable for varying the above described configuration or for modifying it in accordance with specific machining requirements.

[0050] More specifically, schematically shown in FIG. 5, the apparatus according to the invention can be reconfigured (the apparatus is identified by the reference numeral 10 in FIG. 5) by arranging a washing machine 60 downstream of the second grinding machine 14, suitable for performing a washing operation before unloading and storing the flat sheets.

[0051] In this event, the second store 18 is not positioned in correspondence with the tail portion of the second grinding machine 14, but rather downstream of the washing machine 60 (i.e. at the output).

[0052] In such type of operational configuration, the apparatus according to the invention comprises a third handler 62 the function of which is to pick-up the flat sheets and to unload them onto the second store 18 and further protection elements 61 consisting of barriers or the like.

[0053] The apparatus according to the invention can also be reconfigured by adding further and different moduli such as, for instance, a corner cutting machine 55 or a drill, which might be arranged downstream of the first grinding machine 12 or upstream or downstream of the second grinding machine 14 or, alternatively, in correspondence with the head portion of the first grinding machine, as a function of the specific machining and production requirements.

[0054] The modular apparatus according to the invention can also be configured in a hybrid machining mode (schematically shown in FIG. 6), i.e. a configuration wherein, for instance in the case of an apparatus wherein grinding machinings only are present, one only handler 20 is present, the function of which is to perform transfer operations of the sheets being machined from a first automatic machinery 12 to a second automatic machinery 14, whereas the unloading operations are performed manually by an operator; in this configuration too, the integration of further moduli is possible such as, for instance, a washing machine 60 or a drill or another sheet machining device which, for instance, might be arranged downstream of the grinding machines.

[0055] The apparatus according the invention is also equipped with a control panel which makes up an operator interface interfacing to a control unit and makes it possible for the operator to display and set the manufacturing steps, to monitor the machining cycle, and to modify the machining parameters as a function of the data coming from the sensors.

[0056] The operation of the apparatus for machining flat sheets according to the present invention, as described in details with reference to its own component parts, is described below.

[0057] Considering the preferred configuration illustrated in the figures, a single sheet to be machined, identified by the reference numeral 25 in the figures, arranged on the first store 16 together with other sheets, is picked-up by the first handler 20 by way of the suction clamp 21 from a stack of sheets arranged on the first store and positioned, one edge being on the rectilinear handling assembly 12 and the surface of the sheet resting on the lateral support frame 12 of the first grinding machine 12 in correspondence with the input/loading or head zone, the rectilinear handling assembly feeds the sheet in the direction of the machining assembly 12 where the machining tools will grind the mentioned edge, and subsequently the sheet, still being fed, leaves the machining assembly and, still being driven by the rectilinear handling assembly, moves forward in the direction of the output/unloading or tail zone.

[0058] At this point, the second handler 22 picks-up the sheet from the first grinding machine and places it onto the second grinding machine 14, one edge to be machined being on the rectilinear handling assembly 14 and the surface of the sheet resting on the lateral support frame 14 of the second grinding machine 14. More specifically, the second handler 22 rotates the sheet (for instance by 90) in order to orient the sheet with the correct edge to be machined on the second grinding machine 14.

[0059] The sheet so arranged moves forward in the direction of the machining assembly 14 and leaves it in correspondence with the tail portion of said second grinding machine, where it is picked-up again from by first handler 20, which either re-positions the sheet onto the first grinding machine (if further edges have to be machined) or arranges it onto the second store 18 in order for it to be unloaded. The second store 18, when filled with a predetermined number of machined sheets 27, is moved towards an unloading zone (not represented in the figures) by running along the rails 30.

[0060] Likewise, the first store 16, whenever there are no more sheets to be machined present thereon, is moved by way of said first rails 28 in the direction of a loading zone (also not shown) where new sheets to be machined 25 will be loaded.

[0061] Considering, for example, the case of sheets of a rectangular shape, the first handler 20 loads the sheets to be machined 25 onto the first grinding machine 12, staggered each other, i.e. a first sheet being arranged along the long side and a second and subsequent sheet being arranged along the short side; this allows to have a total machining time in the second machine equal to that of the first grinding machine when sheets are transferred onto the second grinding machine 14, and, also, it allows to load the two grinding machines to their respective maximum rated loads.

[0062] In the case of a configuration wherein, in addition to the two grinding machines, there are also present other machines (such as, for instance, a corner cutting machine and/or a washing machine), the sheet that has been ground along part of or all the peripheral edge is transferred by the first handler to a further machine (corner cutting machine, drill, washing machine) in which further machinings are performed on the same sheet and, when said machinings are over, a third handler picks-up the sheet and arranges it onto the second store 18 which subsequently conveys the sheets stocked thereon to an unloading or storage station.

[0063] The advantages the apparatus according to the invention are apparent from the foregoing.

[0064] The apparatus for grinding flat sheets made from glass, plate glass, mirror, or sheets made from marble or granite or similar stone materials according to the present invention allows, thanks to its modularity which provides configuration and reconfiguration capabilities, to make the machining cycle of the flat sheets highly flexible and to completely automate it so as to obtain, at the output from the apparatus, a finished product ready for being stored or packed.

[0065] Further advantageous is the fact that the modular apparatus according to the invention makes it possible to accomplish a time cycle optimization and a radical reduction of the dead times bound to the movements of the sheets themselves.

[0066] Further advantageous is the fact that, in the case of a configuration wherein grinding machines only are present, the apparatus according to the invention makes it possible to machine flat sheets along all edges without any need for replacing the grinding machines by using, for instance, bilateral machines.

[0067] Further advantageous is the fact that the automated loading procedure makes it possible to load the grinding machine in a continuous and balanced manner, a condition that makes it possible for the grinding machines to operate optimally while providing high quality and homogeneous machining.

[0068] A further advantage consists in that the apparatus according to the invention does not require to set up special plants, but rather it can be implemented by adapting conventional machines used for machining flat sheets.

[0069] Whereas the invention has been described here above with a particular reference to one embodiment which has been described for explanatory, non-limitative purposes only, numerous modifications and variants will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the above description. Therefore, the present invention is to be construed to embrace any modifications and variants that fall within the scope of the following claims.