DE102019107077A1 - Conveyor system for moving at least one plate-shaped workpiece - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a conveyor system (10) for handling at least one plate-shaped workpiece (12) that is conveyed along a conveyor track (20), comprising at least two manipulators (24, 26) arranged on the conveyor track (20) and at least a tooling (34, 36) for receiving the workpiece (12), characterized in that the manipulators (24, 26) are arranged opposite one another on the conveyor track (20), and that the conveyor system (10) has a support element set with a or a plurality of support elements (28) which extend along a common axis of extent (38) across the conveyor track (20) between the manipulators (24, 26), the tooling (34, 36) on or in at least one of the support elements ( 28) and is rotatable about the axis of extension (38) between a receiving position in which the workpiece (12) can be received on the tooling (34, 36), and a turned position in which the tooling (34, 36) gemei nsam is turned with the workpiece (12) with respect to the receiving position.

Description

The present invention relates to a conveyor system for transferring at least one plate-shaped workpiece, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such conveyor systems are used to transport plate-shaped workpieces, such as sheet metal or pressed parts, within a manufacturing process from one forming station to the next station or to a storage station. The forming station can be, for example, a punch, a press or the like, from which the workpieces have to be transported away for further processing. In principle, linear conveyors or manipulators can be used for this, which remove the workpiece from the forming station and e.g. place on a continuous conveyor, such as a conveyor belt. Several workpieces can be handled at the same time. To simplify the description, the case of handling a single plate-shaped workpiece is mainly described below. Incidentally, the term “plate-shaped” should not only encompass flat workpieces in the narrower sense, but also reshaped workpieces, such as, for example, deformed metal sheets that are produced in a press, for example.

It is often necessary to continue conveying the workpiece in a rotated or turned position in order to facilitate subsequent handling. A particular problem here is turning a plate-shaped workpiece from one side to the other. So far, this has been carried out in the form of a so-called "handshake", in which a first manipulator picks up the workpiece on its upper side with its tooling, lifts the workpiece and in rotates a position in which the opposite free side (i.e. the underside) of the workpiece can be gripped by the tooling of a second manipulator. During the transfer, the first manipulator releases its tooling from the top of the workpiece, and the second manipulator continues to rotate the workpiece into a position in which it can be placed.

Such a handshake takes time and therefore slows down the output of the entire system. There is therefore a need for a way of turning the workpieces in the process described above, which can be carried out in a time-saving manner and does not require a handshake.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to create a conveyor system for transferring at least one plate-shaped workpiece that enables a workpiece (or possibly several workpieces) to be turned without the output of the system being significantly impaired.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a conveyor system having the features of claim 1 and by a method according to claim 16.

In the conveyor system according to the invention, a set of support elements extends between the two manipulators, which are arranged on both sides of the conveyor track. This support element set comprises a single or also a plurality of support elements, which extend along a common axis of extension transversely to the conveyor track between the manipulators. At least one tooling is attached to or in at least one of these support elements, which can be rotated about the axis of extension between a receiving position in which the workpiece can be received on the tooling, and a turned position in which the tooling turns together with the workpiece relative to the receiving position is.

In the pick-up position, the workpiece can thus be picked up by the tooling in such a way that its upper side is exposed and the tooling holds the workpiece on its lower side, for example by means of pneumatic suction devices. The tooling can then be rotated together with the workpiece into the turned position from the pick-up position, i.e. the top is turned down towards the conveyor track. During this process, the support element set is held and guided by the manipulators at the axial ends of the axis of extension.

Due to the arrangement between the two manipulators, the tooling can thus be turned by simply rotating it about the axis of extension running transversely to the conveyor track. The workpiece can be picked up and turned over in essentially the same conveying position with respect to the conveying direction. For this it is only necessary to place the workpiece in a suitable manner on the tooling in the receiving position. Extensive spatial movements of the manipulators involved, such as those that have to take place in a handshake, are not necessary, and the masses to be moved are small. Overall, this results in a small amount of time required to carry out the turning process. The output of the entire system is not or hardly noticeably impaired as a result.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the support element set comprises a support element which extends between the two manipulators and whose ends are held by the two manipulators. It can therefore in the present case be a single support element that can accommodate one or more toolings. The turning process is carried out by turning the support element with the tooling or tools attached therein itself, or by turning the toolings around the support element, which can be held in a rotationally fixed manner by the manipulators. For this purpose, rotary drives are to be provided in a suitable manner in the manipulators or in the support element itself.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the support element set comprises a first and a second support element, one axial end of the first support element and an axially opposite end of the second support element being held by one of the two manipulators. This means that in this case each of the two manipulators holds a support element and these can be aligned with the common geometric extension axis by the manipulators. The first and the second support element therefore do not necessarily have to be mechanically connected to one another along the axis of extension. In this axial arrangement, however, the first and the second support element can be moved together as a single support element set by the manipulators. In particular, it is also conceivable to have the first and the second support element rotate synchronously about the common axis of extension, together with the tooling or tools attached to it. In this case, too, it is alternatively possible to have the tooling or tools themselves rotate around the respective support elements.

The conveyor system according to the invention further preferably comprises at least two variable-distance toolings, at least one of which can be moved along the axis of extension in relation to the other tooling in order to adjust the axial distance between these toolings. This can be useful for adapting to the size of a workpiece to be picked up by both toolings at the same time, or also for adapting the two toolings to a distance of two workpieces that are picked up by the toolings in such a way that each tooling should carry a workpiece.

Furthermore, the variable-distance toolings are preferably attached to or in a common support element and at least one of these toolings can be moved along this support element.

Furthermore, one of the variable-distance toolings is preferably attached in one of the first and second support elements, and at least one of the first and second support elements can be moved along the common axis of extension with respect to the other support element. In this case, the axial distance between two support elements is changed in order to vary the distance between the toolings attached to them or in them. This can be implemented, for example, in that the two manipulators bring the support elements closer to one another or move them away from one another along the axis of extension, that is, transversely to the conveying direction.

Further preferably, the tooling or tools is or are rotatably attached to or in the respective support element. This means that in this case the respective tooling can be rotated with respect to the support element, while the support element itself is held non-rotatably.

Furthermore, a support element is preferably held together with the tooling (s) that are attached to or in it, rotatably by the manipulator (s). In this case, the support element itself can be rotated by the manipulator or manipulators together with the toolings attached to it or therein.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, two laterally opposite toolings with respect to the axis of extension are attached to or in at least one support element, which are rotatable together about the axis of extension, such that the toolings can exchange their positions by such a rotation. So while one of these toolings is in the receiving position, the other tooling can be in the turned position, which is rotated by 180 ° about the axis of extension with respect to the receiving position. This offers the advantage that while the turning process is being carried out, a further tooling can already be brought into its receiving position for a further workpiece. It is therefore not absolutely necessary for a tooling to have to be turned back into the receiving position after the turning process has been carried out so that the conveyor system is ready to receive another workpiece.

According to a further preferred embodiment, at least one tooling is attached to or in at least one support element, the sides of which with respect to the extension axis each form a receiving position and can swap their positions by rotating about the extension axis. In this case, the above-mentioned advantage that a new pick-up position is automatically made available through the turning process is realized by a single tooling with opposite sides which each form pick-up positions for workpieces.

The conveyor system according to the invention preferably comprises a continuous conveyor device which forms the conveyor track. This can for example be a conveyor track that runs between the two manipulators and over which the support element set with the toolings is held. In the pick-up position, the tooling can be held over the continuous conveyor device, while the workpiece is deposited on the surface of the continuous conveyor device after it has been turned.

The conveyor system according to the invention further preferably comprises a transfer device for transferring the workpiece from an initial position, which is upstream of the receiving position with respect to the conveying direction, into the receiving position. This transfer device can be, for example, a linear conveyor which conveys a plate-shaped workpiece in an essentially horizontal position into the receiving position on the tooling.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, this transfer device is designed to transfer the workpiece from the starting position into the receiving position while maintaining its spatial orientation. No rotating or tilting movements of the workpiece take place during the transfer. In particular, the workpiece can be brought into the receiving position in an essentially horizontal position and can be transferred from this into the turned position, the turning being essentially stationary with respect to the conveying direction. Alternatively, embodiments are conceivable in which rotating or tilting movements of the workpiece are permitted during the transfer, e.g. about an axis transverse to the conveying direction or along the conveying direction.

The starting position is also preferably arranged in the forming station. This forming station can be, for example, a press, a punch or the like, which forms the plate-shaped workpiece. In this case, a linear conveyor can be used as the transfer device to transfer the shaped workpiece from the forming station, for example from the press, into the receiving position on the tooling. This can be particularly advantageous in cases in which the space accessible in the forming station has a low height and a linear conveyor specially provided for this purpose is used to remove the formed workpiece from the forming station.

1. a) Bewegung zumindest eines Toolings in seine Aufnahmeposition zur Aufnahme eines Werkstücks,
2. b) Transfer eines Werkstücks auf das Tooling derart, dass das Werkstück auf dem Tooling aufliegend gehalten wird,
3. c) Wenden des Toolings gemeinsam mit dem Werkstück, und
4. d) Ablegen des Werkstücks durch das Tooling,

wobei das Tooling während der Schritte a) bis d) zwischen zwei einander gegenüberliegend an der Förderbahn angeordneten Manipulatoren gehalten wird, die koordiniert gesteuert werden.The present invention also relates to a method for handling at least one plate-shaped workpiece by a conveyor system of the type according to the invention, characterized by the following steps:

1. a) Movement of at least one tooling into its receiving position for receiving a workpiece,
2. b) Transfer of a workpiece to the tooling in such a way that the workpiece is kept resting on the tooling,
3. c) turning the tooling together with the workpiece, and
4. d) Depositing the workpiece by the tooling,

wherein the tooling is held during steps a) to d) between two manipulators arranged opposite one another on the conveyor track, which manipulators are controlled in a coordinated manner.

By means of this coordinated control, in particular the tooling or tools can be held during the turning process in such a way that the axis of rotation maintains its spatial orientation, that is to say does not perform any tilting or swiveling movements. It is conceivable, for example, that the axis of rotation is held in place during step c) or that it almost exclusively performs upward and downward movements in a vertical plane, with hardly any or only insignificant movements being carried out in or against the conveying direction of the workpiece.

According to a preferred embodiment, two toolings are used for joint handling of a workpiece.

Furthermore, two toolings are preferably used for the simultaneous handling of two workpieces. Each of the two toolings can carry a workpiece. In this case, it is conceivable that the two toolings perform the turning process synchronously. However, it is also possible that the two toolings rotate individually around their axis of rotation and the turning processes are not synchronized with one another.

Furthermore, the two toolings are preferably attached to or in a common support element, the ends of which are held by the two manipulators.

According to a further embodiment of this method, the two toolings are attached to or in two different support elements, of which each support element is held by one of the two manipulators.

Further preferably, in step a) the distance between the two toolings is set transversely to the conveyor track.

More preferably, the tooling or tools are essentially activated in steps b) to d) held in a constant position with respect to a conveying direction of the workpiece.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, in step d) the work piece (s) is or are deposited on a continuous conveyor device.

Further preferably, in step b) the work piece or work pieces are transferred from a forming station by a transfer device.

Further preferably, the transfer of the work piece (s) from the forming station to the tooling takes place in step d) while maintaining the spatial orientation of the same or the same. For example, in this case a workpiece that lies horizontally in the forming station is also placed horizontally again in the receiving position on the tooling.

Furthermore, another tooling is preferably brought into its receiving position by turning a tooling in step c), or a tooling is brought into an additional receiving position of the same tooling according to step a) by turning in step c). In this case, turning in step c) leads to an automatic taking of the additional recording position of the same tooling. This is possible if two pick-up positions are provided on opposite sides of the same tooling, so that these pick-up positions can be taken alternately when turning.

• 1 bis 7 sind schematische Darstellungen einer Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Förderanlage zur Handhabung zumindest eines plattenförmigen Werkstücks.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing.

• 1 to 7th are schematic representations of an embodiment of a conveyor system according to the invention for handling at least one plate-shaped workpiece.

1 and also the following figures show a conveyor system 10 for handling a plate-shaped workpiece 12th . The conveyor system 10 comprises a continuous conveyor 14th with two parallel conveyor belts 16 and 18th , which are provided to the workpiece 12th to be transported in one conveying direction (arrow A). Together these form conveyor belts 16 , 18th a conveyor track 20th along which the workpiece 12th can be transported in a horizontal position.

Upstream of the continuous conveyor 14th includes the conveyor system 10 a forming station 22nd , namely in the present case a press for forming the workpiece 12th . With the workpiece 12th it is a sheet metal, which is in the conveying direction A in a manner not shown in the forming tool of the forming station 22nd is transported. There is the workpiece 12th pressed and through a transfer device 23 from the forming station 22nd in conveying direction A in the direction of the continuous conveyor 14th transferred.

This transfer as well as the following steps for handling the workpiece 12th should be considered in the following. In this sense, the in 1 shown position of the workpiece 12th within the forming station 22nd referred to as the starting position. This in 1 The Cartesian coordinate system shown denotes a horizontal direction X which corresponds to the conveying direction A, a horizontal direction Y which is perpendicular to it and which corresponds to a direction transverse to the conveying direction A, and a direction Z which is normal to the plane spanned by the directions X and Y.

The conveyor system 10 also includes two manipulators 24 , 26th that are opposite each other on the side of the conveyor 20th are arranged. The continuous conveyor 14th thus extends along the conveying direction A between the manipulators 24 , 26th through. With these manipulators 24 , 26th it is, for example, articulated arm robots that can be controlled in a coordinated manner. The conveyor system 10 further comprises a support element 28 , which in the present embodiment has the shape of a bar-shaped traverse that extends transversely to the conveying direction A over the conveyor track 20th extends away in the transverse direction Y. The ends 30th , 32 this support element 28 are used by the manipulators 24 , 26th held. Thus are the manipulators 24 , 26th able to the support element 28 while maintaining its angular orientation, that is, without tilting its axis of extension 38 to move up and down in or against direction Z as well as in conveying direction A.

On the support element 28 are two so-called toolings 34 , 36 attached, each with a tooling 34 , 36 over a transport track 16 , 18th is arranged. With these toolings 34 , 36 it concerns workpiece holders which are equipped to hold the workpiece 12th with the help of suction cups or the like and hold it tight for further handling. The toolings 34 , 36 are around the axis of extension 38 of the support element 28 rotatable. There are various ways of doing this. One possibility is that the toolings 34 , 36 together around the support element 28 are rotatable, the support element 28 itself rotatably between the manipulators 24 , 26th is held. For this purpose there are suitable drives in the support element 28 to be provided. The toolings 34 , 36 can in this case be rotated in synchronism with each other so that they maintain their relative rotational position during the rotation, or each of the Toolings 34 , 36 can be rotated individually and independently of the other.

According to a further embodiment variant, the toolings 34 , 36 together with the support element 28 turned. For this purpose, the support element 28 at its ends 30th , 32 rotatable by the manipulators 24 , 26th held. At least one of the manipulators 24 , 26th is for this purpose with a rotary drive for the support element 28 fitted. The two variants described above can, however, also be combined in such a way that both the support element 28 even together with the toolings 34 , 36 rotatable between the manipulators 24 , 26th is held, and additionally at least one of the toolings 34 , 36 in relation to the support element 28 is rotatable.

In 1 is only a support element 28 shown on which both toolings 34 , 36 are hung. However, the support element shown is standing 28 only exemplary for a set of support elements, which in the present embodiment is only a single support element 28 comprises, according to alternative embodiments, however, can also comprise a plurality of support elements which are on a common axis of extent 38 are arranged. In this case, each support element is located above one of the two conveyor belts 16 , 18th , wherein an axial end (in the Y direction) of a first support element is held by a manipulator, while the axially opposite end of the other support element is held by the other manipulator. Based on the arrangement in 1 , it is conceivable, for example, the support element 28 in its central position above the space between the two conveyor belts 16 and 18th to separate mechanically, so that two halves are created, each forming support elements, of which a first support element is above the conveyor belt 16 and a second support element above the conveyor belt 18th is arranged. The end 30th of the first support element, which in 1 to the left of the conveying direction (A), the manipulator 24 held while the opposite end 32 of the second support element, in 1 to the right of the conveying direction (A), from the manipulator opposite 26th is held. Both support elements of the resulting support element set can then be individually or synchronously by the respective manipulators 24 , 26th rotate.

The following describes a process of turning a plate-shaped workpiece 12th explained. Turning is done by the support element 28 with the attached toolings 34 , 36 with the help of the manipulators 24 , 26th carried out. Further toolings are also shown in the figures 40 , 42 to the side of the conveyor track 20th downstream of the manipulators 24 , 26th shown, the further handling of the workpiece 12th are provided after turning.

In 1 is the workpiece 12th in its starting position within the forming station 22nd . The support element 28 is made by the manipulators 24 , 26th to a position in front of the forming station 22nd above the continuous conveyor 14th brought. The one on the support element 28 attached toolings 24 , 26th are aligned upwards, i.e. in a position in which the workpiece 12th on the two toolings 34 , 36 can be stored and the toolings 34 , 36 the plate-shaped workpiece 12th can hold. This position of the toolings 34 , 36 is to be referred to below as the recording position

The transfer facility 23 is with its own tooling 25th equipped, which is inside the forming station 22nd the workpiece 12th can grip from above, for example by using suction cups of this tooling 25th on top of the workpiece 12th be applied and suck this. The transfer device can then 23 the tooling 25th together with the workpiece 12th in the conveying direction A on the toolings 34 , 36 transfer and the workpiece 12th place on this. There is thus a transfer from the tooling 25th on the toolings 34 and 36 of the support element 28 instead of. This process is in 2 shown. During the transfer made by the transfer device 23 is carried out, ie during or after the removal of the workpiece 12th or on the way to the toolings 34 and 36 of the support element 28 can the transfer device 23 the workpiece 12th rotate, if necessary, e.g. around the Y-axis or around the X-axis. However, it is also possible to adjust the spatial orientation of the workpiece 12th to maintain it during this transfer, ie to keep its angular position constant.

The two toolings below 34 , 36 are here through the workpiece 12th covered. They vacuum the workpiece 12th on its underside so that it is held in a defined position.

Then the tooling 25th the transfer device 23 back to the forming station 22nd Move against the conveying direction A, for example to pick up another workpiece 12 ' record ( 3 ). The first workpiece 12th is therefore exposed on the toolings 34 , 36 on.

A turning process then takes place, which takes place in 4th and 5 is shown. The toolings 34 , 36 are together with the workpiece recorded on it 12th around the axis of extension 38 turned. The direction of rotation is looking in the Y direction (i.e. from the manipulator 26th to the manipulator 24 ) clockwise. 5 shows a rotational position of the workpiece 12th that opposite 4th is more advanced. The toolings 34 , 36 reach in 6th together with the workpiece 12th a turned horizontal position in which the toolings 34 , 36 face down and the workpiece 12th on it over the conveyor track 20th hangs. The top of the workpiece 12th , in the 3 is facing up is now facing down.

The rotation of the toolings 34 , 36 around the axis of extension 38 is here essentially with a stationary axis of extension 38 carried out, so without translational movements of the extension axis 38 in the X, Y or Z direction. A lifting of the support element can be advantageous 28 together with the toolings 34 , 36 be in the Z-direction during rotation to allow more freedom of movement.

In the position in 6th can the workpiece 12th on the conveyor track 20th deposited and through the two conveyor belts 16 , 18th be transported further as it is in 7th is shown. Further handling can then be carried out using the further toolings 40 , 42 take place (not shown).

After placing the workpiece 12th can use the toolings 34 , 36 return to their recording position as shown in 1 is shown. This can take place by further rotation in the same direction of rotation as when turning, or by rotation in the opposite direction.

As an alternative to the embodiment shown here, any of the toolings shown 34 , 36 another tooling, not shown here, can be assigned that relates to the axis of extension 38 is arranged opposite and in the same axial position. The tooling 34 , this in 1 is oriented upward into its receiving position, a corresponding tooling would then correspond to the same axial position, which is oriented downward and is rotated by 180 ° with respect to the receiving position. These two toolings can thus be rotated around the axis of extension 38 swap their positions. The same applies to tooling 36 . It is also conceivable to use any of the toolings 34 , 36 to form such that it has opposite sides, each of which forms a receiving position. If you turn the appropriate tooling 34 , 36 thus by 180 °, the sides swap their positions. Such arrangements are efficient in that when the turned position is reached, a free receiving position rotated by 180 ° is available on the top of the turned tooling. It is therefore not necessary to turn the turned tooling further or back 34 , 36 into the recording position.

The toolings shown 34 , 36 can along the support element 28 be axially movable so that they are variable in distance from one another, ie their distance from one another can be adjusted. For this purpose, appropriate linear drives for moving the toolings 34 , 36 within the support element 28 be provided. If the support element set comprises several support elements, for example by dividing the present support element 28 into two or more different support elements on a common axis of extent, as described above, the distance between the toolings 34 , 36 on the respective support elements by axially moving the support elements relative to one another along the axis of extension 38 to adjust. The set of supporting elements can then be axially spread or moved together in this way.

In a departure from the embodiment shown here, the set of supporting elements shown can have a single supporting element 28 and two toolings attached to it 34 , 36 on two different plate-shaped workpieces at the same time, which are received by the transfer device 23 the forming station 22nd can be removed. Each of these workpieces can then be customized from one of the toolings 34 , 36 recorded and rotated individually if necessary. This can also be combined with the axial spreading out or moving together of the support element set as described above, so that the axial distance between the workpieces can be adjusted. In particular, however, the synchronous rotation of two such workpieces on a single support element set is possible. Each of these workpieces is then turned and placed on one of the conveyor belts 16 , 18th filed.

Claims (26)

Conveyor system (10) for handling at least one plate-shaped workpiece (12) that is conveyed along a conveyor track (20), comprising at least two manipulators (24, 26) arranged on the conveyor track (20) and at least one tooling (34 , 36) for receiving the workpiece (12), characterized in that the manipulators (24, 26) are arranged opposite one another on the conveyor track (20), and that the conveyor system (10) has a support element set with one or more support elements ( 28), which extend along a common axis (38) transversely to the conveyor track (20) between the manipulators (24, 26), the tooling (34, 36) being attached to or in at least one of the support elements (28) and about the axis of extension (38) between a receiving position in which the workpiece (12) can be received on the tooling (34, 36), and a turned position in which the tooling (34, 36) can be rotated together with the workpiece ( 12) against is turned over the pick-up position. Conveyor system according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the support element set comprises a support element (28) which extends between the two manipulators (24, 26) and the ends thereof (30, 32) are held by the two manipulators (24, 26). Conveyor system according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the support element set comprises a first and a second support element (28), one axial end (30) of the first support element (28) and an axially opposite end (32) of the second support element (28) each of one of the two manipulators (24, 26) are held. Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least two variable distance toolings (34, 36), of which at least one of these toolings (34, 36) along the axis of extension (38) with respect to the other tooling (34, 36) for setting the axial distance between these toolings (34, 36) can be moved. Conveyor system according to Claim 4 combined with Claim 2 , characterized in that the variable-distance toolings (34, 36) are attached to or in a common support element (28) and at least one of these toolings (34, 36) can be moved along this support element (28). Conveyor system according to Claim 4 combined with Claim 3 , characterized in that in each case one of the variable-distance toolings (34, 36) is attached to or in one of the first and second support elements (28) and at least one of the first and second support elements (28) along the axis of extension (38) with respect to the other support element (28) is movable. Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tooling or tools (34, 36) is or are rotatably attached to or in the respective support element (28). Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in each case a support element (28) together with the tooling (s) (34, 36) attached to or in it, is rotatably held by the manipulator (s) (24, 26) . Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two toolings (34, 36) which are laterally opposite with respect to the axis of extension (38) and are rotatable together about the axis of extension (38) are attached to or in at least one support element (28), such that the toolings (34, 36) can swap their positions by such a rotation. Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one tooling (34, 36) is attached to or in at least one support element (28), the sides of which with respect to the axis of extension (38) opposite each other form a receiving position and are rotated about the Extension axis (38) can swap positions. Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a continuous conveyor device (14) which forms the conveyor track (20). Conveyor system according to Claim 11 , characterized by a forming station (22) which is arranged upstream of the continuous conveyor device (14) with respect to the conveying direction (A). Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a transfer device (23) for transferring the workpiece (12) from an initial position to the receiving position, the initial position being upstream of the receiving position with respect to the conveying direction (A). Conveyor system according to Claim 13 , characterized in that the transfer device (23) is designed to transfer the workpiece (12) from the starting position into the receiving position while maintaining its spatial orientation. Conveyor system according to Claim 13 or 14th combined with Claim 12 , characterized in that the starting position is arranged in the forming station (22). Method for handling at least one plate-shaped workpiece (12) by a conveyor system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the following steps: a) Moving at least one tooling (34, 36) into its receiving position for receiving a workpiece (12), b) transferring a workpiece (12) onto the tooling in such a way that the workpiece (12) is held resting on the tooling (34, 36), c) turning the tooling (34, 36) together with the workpiece (12), and d) The workpiece (12) is deposited by the tooling (34, 36), the tooling (34, 36) being between two manipulators (24, 26) arranged opposite one another on the conveyor track (20) during steps a) to d) that are controlled in a coordinated manner. Procedure according to Claim 16 , characterized in that two toolings (34, 36) are used for joint handling of a workpiece (12). Procedure according to Claim 16 , characterized in that two toolings (34, 36) are used for the simultaneous handling of two workpieces (12). Procedure according to Claim 17 or 18th , characterized in that the two toolings (34, 36) are attached to or in a common support element (28), the ends (30, 32) of which are held by the two manipulators (24, 26). Procedure according to Claim 17 or 18th , characterized in that the two toolings (34, 36) are attached to or in two different support elements (28), of which each support element (28) is held by one of the two manipulators (24, 26). Procedure according to Claim 17 to 20th , characterized in that in step a) the distance between the two toolings (34, 36) is set transversely to the conveyor track (20). Method according to one of the Claims 16 to 21st , characterized in that in steps b) to d) the tooling or tools (34, 36) are held essentially at a constant position with respect to a conveying direction (A) of the workpiece (12). Method according to one of the Claims 16 to 22nd , characterized in that in step d) the work piece or pieces (12) are deposited on a continuous conveyor device (14). Method according to one of the Claims 16 to 23 , characterized in that in step b) the transfer of the work piece (s) (12) takes place by a transfer device (23) from a forming station (22). Procedure according to Claim 24 , characterized in that in step b) the work piece (s) (12) is / are transferred from the forming station (22) to the tooling (34, 36) while maintaining the spatial orientation of the same or the same. Method according to one of the Claims 16 to 25th , characterized in that in step c) another tooling (34, 36) is brought into its receiving position by turning a tooling (34, 36) or a tooling (34, 36) is brought into an additional position by turning in step c) Recording position of the same tooling (34, 36) according to step a) is brought.

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