DETECTION OF FOREIGN PARTS AND SLAG ON A WORKTABLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for checking for foreign parts and/or deposits on support elements of a worktable, wherein the support elements are provided to support a flat workpiece for cutting with a laser or a water jet, wherein the support elements are arranged parallel to one another and have a first distance from one another, comprising: a sensor for detecting the foreign parts and/or the deposits in the space between two respective support elements.

Claims

1-17. (canceled)

18. A device for checking for foreign parts and/or deposits on support elements of a worktable, wherein the support elements are provided to support a flat workpiece for processing with a laser or a water jet, wherein the support elements are arranged parallel to one another and have a first distance from one another, comprising: an optical sensor for detecting the foreign parts and/or the deposits in a space between two respective support elements, wherein the optical sensor is in data exchange with the image processing unit; an image processing unit, which is designed to generate an output signal, wherein the output signal senses whether a deposit or a foreign part has been detected; wherein the optical sensor is displaceable arranged along the worktable and in particular perpendicular to the support elements in such a way that a cross-sectional area of the space between two support elements can be checked; and an element for illuminating deposits and/or foreign parts, wherein the element is configured to automatically indicate the location of the deposits and/or the foreign parts.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the optical sensor is configured as a transmitted light or incident light sensor.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein the optical sensor comprises a transmitter and a receiver, wherein the transmitter is arranged opposite the receiver in such a way that the sensor beam is aligned in parallel and/or obliquely with the respective support elements, the space between which is to be checked, or wherein the transmitter and the receiver are arranged next to one another for checking the space by means of a triangulation method.

21. The device according to claim 20, wherein the device is configured to differentiate between detected objects, including between a foreign part and a deposit.

22. A method of detecting foreign parts and/or deposits on support elements of a worktable with a device according to claim 18, the method comprising: checking the space between a first and a second support element for foreign parts and/or deposits and generating an output signal by the image processing unit.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising: displacing the optical sensor along the worktable; and checking the space between a third and a fourth support element for foreign parts and/or deposits; and illuminating the locations on the worktable, at which deposits and/or foreign parts have been detected by the optical sensor in the space.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein the optical sensor checks the space between a first distance to the first support element and a second distance to the second support element.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the first distance and/or the second distance are in a range between 10 and 15 mm or are at least 12 mm.

26. The method according to claim 18, further comprising: removing the deposits and/or the foreign parts by means of compressed air and/or by means of the laser or the water jet; or removing the deposits and/or the foreign parts by means of vibration, including a vibration of a system for lifting the flat workpiece from the worktable after the workpiece has been processed.

27. A computer program product having a software program comprising a set of commands which when loaded onto a computer, and connected to a device for checking for foreign parts and/or deposits on support elements of a worktable, wherein the support elements are provided to support a flat workpiece for processing with a laser or a water jet, wherein the support elements are arranged parallel to one another and have a first distance from one another, the device comprising: an optical sensor for detecting the foreign parts and/or the deposits in a space between two respective support elements, wherein the optical sensor is in data exchange with the image processing unit; an image processing unit, which is designed to generate an output signal, wherein the output signal senses whether a deposit or a foreign part has been detected; wherein the optical sensor is displaceable arranged along the worktable and in particular perpendicular to the support elements in such a way that a cross-sectional area of the space between two support elements can be checked; and an element for illuminating deposits and/or foreign parts, wherein the element is configured to automatically indicate the location of the deposits and/or the foreign parts, cause the device to execute a method comprising: checking the space between a first and a second support element for foreign parts and/or deposits and generating an output signal by the image processing unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0045] Further details and advantages of the invention will become clear with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. In the figures:

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a shuttle table/worktable 2 with a grid made of individual support elements 1 in a perspective view, on which sheet metal can be placed for processing with a laser or a water jet, wherein according to the invention a distance sensor 5, 6 is aligned such that it can discern deposits or foreign parts between and along the support elements 1,

[0047] FIG. 2 shows a further worktable 2 in a perspective view with a sensor 5 and a receiver 6, which are arranged in a transmitted light method,

[0048] FIG. 3 shows a worktable 2 with support elements 1 in a plan view, wherein a sensor 5, 6 is arranged in a transmitted light method,

[0049] FIG. 4 shows a further worktable 2 with support elements 1 in a plan view, wherein a transmitter 5a and a receiver 6 are arranged as a sensor in a triangulation method, and

[0050] FIG. 5 shows the worktable 2 in a plan view with prongs 8 of a lifting system 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0051] FIG. 1 shows a worktable in a perspective view with support elements 1, on which a flat workpiece, for example sheet metal, can be arranged in order to be cut by means of a laser. The cutting process can cause a deposit, so-called slag, to form, which can become lodged on the support elements. In addition, after processing the workpiece, in particular after cutting the sheet metal, the cut workpieces can get lodged in the grid. Slag can therefore form in the space between two adjacent support elements. In addition, cut-out parts can get stuck.

[0052] The sensor 5, 6 is designed with the transmitter 5a and the receiver 6 as an optical distance measuring device. This makes it possible to discern whether there is slag and/or other foreign parts, for example elements that have been cut out of the sheet metal, in a space between two support elements. Such elements in a space can lead to a crash with a fork of a rake system or a component of a lifting system.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows another worktable 2 with support elements 1, wherein a transmitter 5a and a receiver 6 are arranged in a transmitted light method as a sensor 5, 6 for discerning slag between the support elements in such a way that the detection beam of the transmitter 5a is designed parallel to the support elements. The sensor 5, 6 can be displaced perpendicular to the support elements so that a plurality of, in particular all, spaces between the respective support elements 1 can be checked for slag or foreign parts.

[0054] In a particular embodiment, the sensor 5, 6 is designed in such a way that not only can it discern whether deposits or foreign parts are present in a space between the support elements 1, but it can also discern whether this is slag or a foreign part. The sensor can thus differentiate between deposits and foreign parts. This is important in order to be able to initiate various appropriate downstream measures. If slag but no foreign part is detected, the lifting system, for example, can still be used, since slag cannot offer any great mechanical resistance to a fork or prong. In this case, the fork or the prong would break away the slag and thus clear the space again. However, if the sensor 5, 6 discerns that a foreign part is jammed in a space, no attempt is made to lift the cut-out sheet metal with a lifting system. In this case, the risk of a crash is too high.

[0055] In a further particular embodiment, the sensor 5, 6 can be displaced perpendicular to the support elements 1 in such a way that a cross-sectional area of the space between two support elements 1 can be checked. In this case, therefore, not only a line between two support elements 1, but an area between two support elements 1 is checked for deposits and foreign parts.

[0056] FIG. 3 shows a worktable with support elements 1 in a plan view, wherein a sensor 5, 6 with a transmitter 5a and a receiver 6 are arranged in a transmitted light method. The sensor 5, 6 with the sensor 5 and the receiver 6 can be displaced perpendicular to the support elements 1, so that all spaces between the respective support elements 1 can be checked for deposits and foreign parts.

[0057] FIG. 4 shows a further worktable with support elements 1 in a plan view with a sensor 5, 6, wherein a transmitter 5a and a receiver 6 are arranged in a triangulation method. The sensor 5, 6 can detect deposits 4 and foreign parts 7. For this purpose, the sensor 5, 6 can be displaced between the spaces between the support elements 1 in a perpendicular direction 3 to the support elements 1.

[0058] FIG. 5 shows a lifting system 9, the forks or prongs 8 of which can be introduced into the spaces between the respective support elements 1 under a piece of sheet metal 10 to be transported away. In a second step, the forks or prongs 8 are raised. By lifting the forks or prongs 8, the sheet metal 10 lying on the worktable is picked up and it can be transported away from the worktable by the lifting system.

[0059] The sensor 5, 6 is, for example, an optical sensor, in particular a laser. Alternatively, an ultrasound sensor can be used.

[0060] In an alternative embodiment, the transmitter and the receiver are arranged opposite one another in such a way that the spaces between adjacent support elements can be checked using the incident light method. The transmitters and receivers are therefore arranged above and/or below the worktable in this case.

[0061] It should be noted that the term “comprise” is to be understood as including and does not exclude further elements or method steps, just as the term “a” and “an” does not exclude a plurality of elements and steps.

[0062] The reference signs used are only used to increase understanding and are in no way to be viewed as restrictive, the scope of protection of the invention being rendered by the claims.

LIST OF REFERENCES SIGNS

[0063] 1 Support elements, in particular grid bars [0064] 2 Worktable, in particular shuttle table, cutting table [0065] 3 Direction of displacement of sensor [0066] 4 Slag [0067] 5 Sensor [0068] 5a Transmitter [0069] 6 Receiver [0070] 7 Foreign part [0071] 8 Fork or prongs of a lifting system [0072] 9 Lifting system, in particular dual-fork system [0073] 10 Flat workpiece, in particular sheet metal