Assembly and/or processing machine, production line formed thereby and production plant

Abstract

Machines, such as assembly and/or processing machines are disclosed. The machine may include a working chamber for assembling and/or processing of a component and a transport device configured to transport the component into the working chamber. A moveable housing may be configured to temporarily shield the working chamber during the assembly and/or processing of the component in the working chamber. The housing may include a viewing window which, when the housing is closed, allows observation of the assembly and/or processing of the component in the working chamber. An operating and display unit may be arranged on a movable part of the housing and is movable together therewith.

Claims

1. An assembly and/or processing machine comprising: a working chamber for the assembly and/or processing of at least one component, at least one transport device for transporting the at least one component into the working chamber, a protective housing which is at least partially movable and which temporarily shields the working chamber during the assembly and/or processing of the at least one component in the working chamber, wherein the protective housing includes at least one viewing window which, when the protective housing is closed, allows observation of the assembly and/or processing of the at least one component in the working chamber, and at least one operating and display unit, wherein the at least one operating and display unit is arranged on a movable part of the protective housing and is movable together therewith.

2. The assembly and/or processing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one operating and display unit is functional both when the protective housing is closed and when the protective housing is open.

3. The assembly and/or processing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable part of the protective housing is pivotable and/or displaceable.

4. The assembly and/or processing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing machine is designed to perform deformation, cutting, joining, coating, or material alteration on the at least one component.

5. The assembly and/or processing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing machine includes at least one of the following units: a grinding machine, a honing machine, a milling machine, a turning machine, a lapping machine, a drilling machine, a punching unit, a press unit, a heat treatment unit, a cleaning unit, a drying unit, a demagnetization unit, an automatic measurement and regulation unit, an automatic feed unit, or an automatic packing unit.

6. The assembly and/or processing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one transport device includes at least one conveyor belt which is configured to transport the at least one component in a horizontal plane into the working chamber and out of the working chamber in a transport direction.

7. The assembly and/or processing machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the movable part of the protective housing is displaceable together with the operating and display unit parallel to a longitudinal axis of the conveyor belt.

8. The assembly and/or processing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating and display unit is arranged at a height of the working chamber.

9. A production line comprising at least two linked-together assembly and/or processing machines as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating and display units of the linked-together assembly and/or processing machines are arranged in a vertical plane, a first transport device of a first assembly and/or processing machine includes a first conveyor belt, a second transport device of a second assembly and/or processing machine includes a second conveyor belt, and the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt join one another and are configured to transport the at least one component in a horizontal plane.

10. A production installation comprising at least two production lines as claimed in claim 9 and at least one operating aisle, wherein in each case one production line is arranged on each side of each operating aisle, and wherein first operating and display units, arranged in a vertical first plane, of a first production line and further operating and display units, arranged in a vertical further plane, of a second production line are arranged so as to point toward one another.

11. The production installation as claimed in claim 10, wherein each operating aisle has a width in a range from 0.75 to 1.5 m.

12. A machine comprising: a working chamber for assembling and/or processing of a component; a transport device configured to transport the component into the working chamber; a moveable housing which is configured to temporarily shield the working chamber during the assembly and/or processing of the component in the working chamber, wherein the housing includes a viewing window which, when the housing is closed, allows observation of the assembly and/or processing of the component in the working chamber; and an operating and display unit arranged on a movable part of the housing and is movable together therewith.

13. The machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein the operating and display unit is functional both when the housing is closed and when the housing is open.

14. The machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein the movable part of the housing is pivotable and/or displaceable.

15. The machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein the machine is designed to perform deformation, cutting, joining, coating, or material alteration on the component.

16. The machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein the machine includes at least one of the following units: a grinding machine, a honing machine, a milling machine, a turning machine, a lapping machine, a drilling machine, a punching unit, a press unit, a heat treatment unit, a cleaning unit, a drying unit, a demagnetization unit, an automatic measurement and regulation unit, an automatic feed unit, or an automatic packing unit.

17. The machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein the transport device includes at least one conveyor belt which is configured to transport the component in a horizontal plane into the working chamber and out of the working chamber in a transport direction.

18. The machine as claimed in claim 17, wherein the movable part of the housing is displaceable together with the operating and display unit parallel to a longitudinal axis of the conveyor belt.

19. The machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein the operating and display unit is arranged at a height of the working chamber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIGS. 1 to 5 are intended to illustrate, by way of examples, assembly and/or processing machines according to the disclosure and production lines and production installations formed from such machines. In the figures:

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a first assembly and/or processing machine according to the disclosure with a closed protective housing;

[0025] FIG. 2 shows the first assembly and/or processing machine according to the disclosure as per FIG. 1 with an open protective housing;

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a second assembly and/or processing machine according to the disclosure with a closed protective housing;

[0027] FIG. 4 shows a production line comprising three assembly and/or processing machines as per FIG. 3; and

[0028] FIG. 5 shows a production installation comprising two production lines as per FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a first assembly and/or processing machine 1 according to the disclosure with a closed protective housing 4a, 4b in a three-dimensional view. The assembly and/or processing machine 1 comprises a working chamber 2 (see FIG. 2) for the assembly and/or processing of components which are transported into the working chamber 2 by a transport device 3 in the form of a conveyor belt. Here, it is possible for the components to be transported through the assembly and/or processing machine 1 from right to left or from left to right. The assembly and/or processing machine 1 furthermore comprises a two-part movable protective housing 4a, 4b for temporarily shielding the working chamber 2 during the assembly and/or processing of the components in the working chamber 2. Here, both parts of the protective housing 4a, 4b are designed to be movable, wherein the two parts are displaceable parallel to the conveyor belt and possibly also pivotable to a small extent.

[0030] The protective housing 4a, 4b comprises a viewing window 5 which, when the protective housing 4a, 4b is closed, makes it possible to observe the assembly and/or processing of the components in the working chamber 2. Furthermore, an operating and display unit 6 is provided which is arranged on one of the movable parts of the protective housing 4a, 4b and is movable together therewith.

[0031] FIG. 2 now shows the first assembly and/or processing machine according to the disclosure as per FIG. 1 with an open protective housing 4a, 4b in a three-dimensional view. Identical elements are denoted by the same reference designations as in FIG. 1. As a result of the parts of the protective housing 4a, 4b having been displaced to the side, there is in this case a clear view into the working chamber 2 and of the transport device 3 which extends transversely through the working chamber 2. Here, the two movable parts of the protective housing 4a, 4b are moved away from one another during the opening process and are moved toward one another during the closing process. The operating and display unit 6 is fully functional both when the protective housing 4a, 4b is closed and when the latter is open, furthermore even during the opening and closing of the protective housing 4a, 4b.

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a second assembly and/or processing machine 1 according to the disclosure with a closed protective housing 4a, 4b. The parts of the protective housing 4a, 4b are displaceable parallel to the longitudinal axis of the conveyor belt of the transport device 3 in order to open or close the working chamber 2 (cf. FIG. 2). Identical elements are denoted by the same reference designations as in FIGS. 1 and 2. The operating and display unit 6 is illustrated here in detail, wherein a display unit 6a and an operating unit 6b in the form of a keyboard element can be seen. Alternatively, it is also possible for a touchscreen unit to be provided which combines within it the display unit and operating unit.

[0033] FIG. 4 shows a production line 50 comprising three linked-together assembly and/or processing machines 1a, 1b, 1c as per FIG. 3 in a three-dimensional view. The operating and display units 61, 62, 63 of the linked-together assembly and/or processing machines 1a, 1b, 1c are in this case arranged in a vertical plane. A first transport device 3a of a first assembly and/or processing machine 1a comprises a first conveyor belt. A second transport device 3b of a second assembly and/or processing machine 1b comprises a second conveyor belt. A third transport device 3c of a third assembly and/or processing machine 1c comprises a third conveyor belt. The first, the second and the third conveyor belt join one another and are designed for transporting the component for processing in a horizontal plane through the production line.

[0034] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a production installation 100 comprising two production lines 50, 51 in a plan view. Identical elements are denoted by the same reference designations as in FIG. 4. The two production lines 50, 51 are arranged on the left and on the right along an operating aisle 101. The operating and display units 61, 62, 63 etc. of the first production line 50 are arranged in a vertical first plane E1 (cf. FIG. 4). The operating and display units 61, 62, 63 etc. of the second production line 51 are arranged in a vertical further plane E2 (cf. again FIG. 4). Here, the operating and display units 61, 62, 63 etc. of the two production lines 50, 51 are arranged so as to point toward one another. A person situated in the operating aisle 101 can simultaneously monitor both production lines 50, 51 and, if necessary, intervene in the control thereof by the operating and display units 61, 62, 63 etc. Also illustrated here by way of example are components 20, 30 for processing, in the form of rolling bearing rings, which are transported in the arrow direction through the respective production line 50, 51. Here, it is for example the case that the assembly and/or processing machine 1a, 11a is a vertical grinding machine, the assembly and/or processing machine 1b, 11b is a demagnetization unit, the assembly and/or processing machine 1c, 11c is a washing unit and the assembly and/or processing machine 1d, 11d is a vertical honing machine, to which the components 20, 30 are fed for processing in succession.

[0035] Here, it is possible for any desired number of assembly and/or processing machines to be linked together and for different and/or identical assembly and/or processing machines to be provided in a single production line. Also, it is not necessary for both production lines which can be operated from the operating aisle to be of identical form as viewed in the transport direction of the components, or for identical or similar components to be processed by the two production lines. If multiple operating aisles are provided, these are preferably oriented parallel, wherein, for example, two production installations as per FIG. 5 are arranged adjacent to one another. Here, those sides of the assembly and/or processing machines which are averted from the operating aisle 101 would in each case preferably adjoin those sides of assembly and/or processing machines assigned to said further operating aisle which are averted from the further parallel operating aisle.

LIST OF REFERENCE DESIGNATIONS

[0036] 1, 1, 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, [0037] 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d Assembly and/or processing machine [0038] 2 Working chamber [0039] 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d Transport device [0040] 4a, 4b Protective housing [0041] 5 Viewing window [0042] 6, 61, 62, 63 Operating and display unit [0043] 6a Display unit [0044] 6b Operating unit [0045] 20, 30 Component [0046] 50, 51 Production line [0047] 100 Production installation [0048] 101 Operating aisle