MACHINING APPARATUS HAVING A LIGHT SIGNAL DISPLAY DEVICE, AND METHOD

Abstract

Machining apparatus (2), in particular wide-belt sander for machining preferably board-type workpieces (W) preferably made at least in part of wood, engineered wood and/or plastic, comprising at least one light signal display device (10) which displays information on the machining apparatus (2) in such a way that the information displayed by the light signal display device (10) is visible to an operator.

Claims

1. A machining apparatus comprising: a control device; and at least one light signal display device which displays information on the machining apparatus such that the information displayed by the light signal display device is visible to an operator, wherein the control device is configured to control the light signal display device such that a wear condition of at least one tool of the machining apparatus or an advantageous insertion position of a workpiece to be machined is displayed as information to the operator.

2. The machining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light signal display device is provided at an insertion area of the machining apparatus, at which the workpiece to be machined can be inserted or is movable toward the tool by a conveyor, or the light signal display device displays the information on the insertion area.

3. The machining apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the light signal display device is configured in the form of a display bar extending partially or completely along the insertion area, or wherein the information is displayed such that it extends partially or completely along the insertion area.

4. The machining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light signal display device can display to the operator by different colors the wear condition of the tool or the advantageous insertion position of the workpiece to be machined, by the colors green, yellow and red, and wherein green is used for a good condition or a desired position, yellow for an average condition or a less desired position and red for a poor condition or an undesired position.

5. The machining apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a workpiece detection device, by means of which length measurements of the workpiece and an insertion position of the workpiece in the insertion area of the machining apparatus can be detected.

6. The machining apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control device is configured to determine by an engaging time of the tool the wear condition of the tool, and to display it to the operator by controlling the light signal display device.

7. The machining apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control device determines over the engaging time of the tool the wear condition of the tool by means of the detected length measurements of the machined workpieces and the respective insertion position thereof in the machining apparatus as well as by respective machining parameters.

8. The machining apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control device is configured to determine, by means of a determined wear condition of the tool and by the detected length measurements of the workpiece to be machined, the advantageous insertion position of the workpiece to be machined and to display it to the operator by the light signal display device.

9. The machining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to stochastically or chaotically determine the advantageous insertion position.

10. The machining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein furthermore an inspection apparatus is provided adapted to determine a surface condition, such as grain direction, of the workpiece to be machined and to display to the operator, according to the determined surface condition, an advantageous insertion position and/or advantageous insertion orientation by the light signal display device.

11. The machining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light display device is configured as a projection unit.

12. The machining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light display device is configured as an LED bar, or an OLED bar.

13. The machining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tool is an abrasive belt, an abrasive roller, a polishing roller, or a disk brush.

14. A method for operating a machining apparatus according to claim 1, the method comprising: determining the wear condition of a tool of the machining apparatus; displaying the determined wear condition of the tool by a light signal display device and; displaying an advantageous insertion position of the workpiece to be machined in the machining apparatus by the light signal display device.

15. The method according to claim 14, the method further comprising: detecting length measurements of the workpiece to be machined; detecting the insertion position of the workpiece to be machined in an insertion area of the machining apparatus; checking whether a wear condition of the tool was already determined; determining wear of the tool based on the detected length measurements of the detected insertion position and given machining parameters; determining a current wear condition by accumulating a current wear condition and the determined wear; and storing the determined current wear condition.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein over an engaging time of the tool the current wear condition of the tool is determined based on an accumulation of determined wear of the tool.

17. The method according to claim 15, the method further comprising: detecting the length measurements of the workpiece to be machined before insertion of the workpiece to be machined into the insertion area; checking the current wear condition of the tool; determining the advantageous insertion position based on the current wear condition of the tool and the detected length measurements of the workpiece to be machined; and displaying the advantageous insertion position by means of the light signal display device.

18. A method comprising: using least one light signal display device mounted to the machining apparatus according to claim 1; or displaying thereon information to display to an operator a wear condition of at least one tool of the machining apparatus or an advantageous insertion position of a workpiece to be machined.

19. The machining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the machining apparatus is a wide-belt sander.

20. The machining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the machining apparatus is for machining panel-shaped workpieces.

21. The machining apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the panel-shaped workpieces consist at least in part of wood, wood material or synthetic.

22. The machining apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the light signal display device is disposed in the vertical direction above the insertion area or displays the information at this position.

23. The machining apparatus according to claim 4, wherein color gradients can be used for the display.

24. The machining apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the length measurements of the workpiece and the insertion position of the workpiece in the insertion area of the machining apparatus can be determined even before insertion into the insertion area.

25. The machining apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the respective parameters comprise at least one of machining time, machining forces, grinding time or contact pressure.

26. The machining apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the projection unit comprises a projector.

27. The machining apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a resolution of the light display device is less than 5 cm.

28. The machining apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the resolution of the light display device is less than 2 cm.

29. The method according to claim 14, wherein the advantageous insertion position based on the determined wear condition of the tool is stochastically or chaotically determined.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective illustration of an embodiment of the machining apparatus according to the present invention,

[0039] FIGS. 2a-2c show different examples of display possibilities by means of the light signal display device according to one embodiment of the present invention, and

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a flow chart presenting the individual steps of one embodiment of the method for operating a machining apparatus according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0041] In the following, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. Further variants and modifications of individual features cited in this context can each be combined with one another to form new embodiments.

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of the machining apparatus according to the present invention.

[0043] As can be seen in FIG. 1, a machining apparatus 2 comprises, according to one embodiment of the present invention, at least one light signal display device 10 provided at machining apparatus 2 in such a way that it is easily perceptible by an operator of machining apparatus 2. To be easily perceptible to the operator, light signal display device 10, as is shown, is preferably disposed in the vertical direction above an insertion area 4 of machining apparatus 2. Thus, during the insertion procedure of a workpiece W to be machined into insertion area 4, light signal display device 10 is directly visible to the operator and thus is easily perceptible. However, there is also the possibility to provide the light signal display device not directly at insertion area 4, but to project the information, thus, for example, the degree of wear of tool WZ or the advantageous insertion position, to machining apparatus 2, in particular close to insertion area 4.

[0044] It can further be taken from FIG. 1 that light signal display device 10 is preferably configured in the form of a display bar 11 extending completely along insertion area 4 in the embodiment shown, i.e., as is shown, from a right side region of insertion area 4 up to a left side region of insertion area 4. Due to the fact that light signal display device 10 extends completely along insertion area 4, it is ensured that light signal display device 10 covers the entire length of tool WZ.

[0045] In FIG. 1, a wide-belt sander 2 is shown as a specific example of a machining apparatus 2. Accordingly, light signal display device 10 covers the entire length of the abrasive belt of wide-belt sander 2 in the embodiment shown. Accordingly, it is possible to display to an operator by light signal display device 10 a wear condition of the abrasive belt over the entire length of the abrasive belt. It is equally possible to display by light signal display device 10 to the operator of wide-belt sander 2 an advantageous insertion position EP.sub.v of a workpiece to be machined W with regard to insertion area 4.

[0046] As is indicated in FIG. 1 and is further illustrated in FIGS. 2a to 2c, the determined wear condition of tool WZ and/or the advantageous insertion position EP.sub.v are displayed to the operator by means of different colors in the proposed light signal display device 10. To configure light signal display device 10 in a self-explanatory way, preferably the known colors green (G), yellow (Y) and red (R) are used (FIG. 2a).

[0047] It can be derived from FIG. 2b that there is also the possibility to form the light signal display device 10 by means of two or more display bars 11 preferably disposed on top of each other. Accordingly, it is possible to indicate to the operator the advantageous insertion position EP.sub.v by top display bar OL and, at the same time, to indicate to the operator the wear condition of tool WZ by lower display bar UL. The individual display bars 11 are in turn preferably formed of a plurality of LED rows, the individual rows extending along insertion area 4.

[0048] As can moreover be taken from FIG. 2c, it is also possible by light signal display device 10 to display to the operator urgent or important information such as, for example, malfunction and the like of machining apparatus 2, by which the operability of machining apparatus 2 is enhanced. It is also possible thereby, inter alia, to indicate recommendations, status information and the like to the operator.

[0049] Reverting to FIG. 1, it can also be taken therefrom that machining apparatus 2 has a control device 2 and a workpiece detection device 30. By means of workpiece detection device 30, which in the embodiment shown is arranged on the outside of machining apparatus 2 such that it can monitor the entire insertion area 4, it is possible to detect insertion position EP of a workpiece W inserted by the operator into insertion area 4. Furthermore, it is preferred that workpiece detection device 30 is configured such that it cannot just monitor insertion area 4, but is also capable of monitoring an area in front of insertion area 4. This allows early detection of a workpiece W to be machined so that the advantageous insertion position EP.sub.v can be indicated to the operator even before insertion of workpiece W into insertion area 4.

[0050] In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, workpiece detection device 30 is configured in the form of an optical detection device, in particular a camera. However, inductive sensors, ultrasonic sensors and optical sensors can also be used. As is shown, workpiece detection device 30 can moreover comprise not only one camera, but can also be provided with a plurality of cameras and/or a plurality of different sensors, if necessary.

[0051] The use of a camera offers the advantage that, if desired, a surface quality of workpiece W, such as, for example, grain direction, can be detected. In this case, the camera is also a component of inspection apparatus 40. Further information (data) such as, for example, workpiece type, workpiece number and the like can be determined in advance by the workpiece detection device.

[0052] FIG. 3 shows a flow chart presenting the individual steps of an embodiment of the method for operating a machining apparatus 2 according to the present invention.

[0053] In step 1 of the method for operating a machining apparatus 2, length measurements X, Y of workpiece W are detected by workpiece detection device 30 and entered into control device 20.

[0054] In method step 2, an insertion position EP of the workpiece to be machined is detected by sensors in machining apparatus 2, in particular in insertion area 4 and/or by workpiece detection device 30.

[0055] It is checked by method step 3 whether wear condition data is already available, i.e. whether a workpiece W was already inserted and machined in advance, and workpiece WZ has therefore already become partially worn. If yes, the method is continued with step 4. If no wear condition data is available, the method is continued with step 4a.

[0056] In method step 4, the present wear condition of workpiece WZ is displayed to the operator by light signal display device 10, which gives the operator the opportunity to optimally insert workpiece W into the machining apparatus 2 such that workpiece WZ will be uniformly used, and thus worn, over the entire engaging time. In method step 4, it is also possible to display to the operator an advantageous insertion position EP.sub.v of workpiece W.

[0057] In parallel method step 4a, it is displayed to operator 10 by light signal display device 10 that no wear condition data is available. This means that tool WZ usually is a new tool WZ, for which a wear condition has not yet been determined. In general, this is signaled by an entirely green flashing light signal display device, which means that no wear is found on tool WZ.

[0058] The two alternative method steps 4 and 4a are followed by step 5, in which a present wear condition is determined. The wear condition is an accumulation of individual wear of tool WZ, with each being determined during machining of a workpiece W. Wear is determined based on the detected length parameters X, Y and the detected insertion position EP as well as the given machining parameters. Based on length measurements X, Y and detected insertion position EP, it can be determined which specific area of tool WZ is stressed by the machining performed and is thus worn. Moreover, the respective load and wear of tool WZ can be determined based on the available machining parameters such as, for example, machining time, machining forces, grinding time, contact pressure, etc. In summary, it can be specifically determined which area of the tool WZ is worn to what extent.

[0059] It is thereby also possible to determine an overall wear in a machine with several aggregates (with different tools WZ). There is thus the possibility that certain grinding aggregates are disengaged during machining of a certain workpiece W, for example one of the grinding devices mentioned hereinafter: one or more calibrating rollers (steel roller or rubberized roller and/or a fine grinding aggregate (cross-belt and H-aggregate). Hence, a common total wear is determined across several different tools and a total wear condition and/or an advantageous insertion position EP.sub.V, which takes the total wear condition into account, is accordingly displayed to the operator by light signal display device 10.

[0060] It is also possible to display the degree of wear of individual grinding aggregates.

[0061] Furthermore, it is also possible in a machining apparatus 2 having several aggregates, such as for example in a wide-belt sander with four aggregates, to provide a separate light display device, in particular an LED bar, for each aggregate. The four aggregates can, for example, be two calibrating rollers and two abrasive belts (pre- and fine grinding). Thus, there is the possibility to display to the operator a degree of wear and an advantageous insertion position EP.sub.v determined for each individual aggregate.

[0062] For example, in the first place, the wear condition of all aggregates can be displayed separately to the operator at the same time. If the operation mode is switched on and/or a workpiece is inserted which, for example, is to be machined by three aggregates, it is possible to display to the operator a total wear and an advantageous insertion position EP.sub.V by taking the degrees of wear of all three aggregates into account. To this end, the degrees of wear of the three aggregates are offset against each other and a total value is formed.

[0063] However, there is also the possibility to display all three degrees of wear separately to the operator, and it is up to the operator where he eventually inserts the workpiece.

[0064] It is further possible to realize the same function by only one light display device. In this case, individual horizontal lines of the light display device, in particular the LED bar, would display the different degrees of wear.

[0065] Next, in step 6, the determined current wear condition of tool W of machining apparatus 2 is stored in a database such that recourse is possible to this wear condition during a subsequent machining of a new workpiece W. With step 6, the method for operating a machining apparatus 2 is completed and machining apparatus 2 returns to the starting position (step 1).