DE102022101169A1 - Processing device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a machining device and a method for machining a workpiece. Such a workpiece is in particular plate-shaped. It is preferably a workpiece made of wood, wood-based material, plastic, a composite material or the like, at least in sections.

Description

technical field

The invention relates to a machining device and a method for machining a workpiece. Such a workpiece is in particular plate-shaped. It is preferably a workpiece made of wood, wood-based material, plastic, a composite material or the like, at least in sections.

State of the art

Processing devices are known for processing plate-shaped workpieces, with which workpieces are transported, stopped, processed with drilling gears and transported out of the processing device again. Due to the great variety of machining options when drilling holes in workpieces, setting up for a new component with new drills and their relative arrangement involves a great deal of effort.

So-called rigid drilling gears have to be configured and positioned manually, whereby single-cycle operation with high part output is usually achieved. Another approach is provided by so-called flexible drilling gears with individually adjustable spindles, which can be set up automatically, but very often require multi-cycle operation, resulting in a low output of parts.

Until now, rigid drilling gears have been equipped with the appropriate tools for each set-up process, but not all spindle positions are often required for a specific work cycle. The spindles that are not equipped also rotate when idling, causing energy losses and wear. Furthermore, different drilling depths pose a challenge because they are generated by different tool lengths, whereby the tools have to be positioned accordingly.

The drilling gear is loaded manually outside of the machine according to specific work instructions and then manually coupled to the drive spindle in the machine. The risk of error is high and the set-up effort is considerable.

For the different workpiece variants with the most varied hole patterns, there is a large number of different drilling gears that have to be procured in addition to the actual machine. These are defined (manually) with great effort when planning a system based on the range of parts to be manufactured. The automatic changing of a complete, rigid drilling gear involves a great deal of technical effort.

Another aspect are the accompanying circumstances during production. In particular, a lot of chips are produced during production, which can collect between and in the unoccupied drill spindles and get stuck there. Cleaning is difficult and involves a corresponding amount of effort. If cleaning is not carried out regularly, there is a risk that the tool holders will corrode or that a misalignment will occur when new tools are inserted.

The flexible drilling gears already mentioned enable automatic set-up. However, significantly reduced cycle times have to be accepted in production. As a rule, single-cycle operation is not possible, as is the case with the rigid drilling gears described above. A check of the tool condition, in particular the tool wear, via the spindle torque cannot be meaningfully carried out with flexible drilling gears, since the influence of a single spindle is relatively too small due to the many other spindles that are rotating and currently not required. Due to the massive size of both flexible and rigid drilling gears, large masses have to be accelerated and decelerated to move them, which reduces dynamics and increases energy consumption.

Presentation of the invention

The invention is based on the object of reducing or eliminating the aforementioned disadvantages and/or providing a machining device and a method with which workpieces can be machined in a time-efficient and flexible manner.

Claim 1 provides a corresponding processing device. Further preferred embodiments are described in the dependent claims and below.

The machining device for machining a workpiece has: one or more workpiece supports, and at least one movable infeed unit that accommodates at least one individual spindle for driving a tool. The infeed unit is set up to move the individual spindles into one or more different working positions and to actuate the individual spindles to carry out machining.

The working position or working positions can be stationary or moving working positions during a processing operation. A stationary working position means a position where the workpiece is fixed or temporarily stopped. Thus, after the individual spindle has been fed into the working position, a working movement is carried out (in particular the spindle is opened to drill a hole or the like). A moving work position is present in particular when the workpiece is additionally moved during processing (for example in throughput). During a machining operation, the working movement (in particular, opening the spindle to drill a hole or the like) is superimposed with a movement with which the individual spindle is carried along with the moving workpiece.

With the processing device according to the invention, the flexibility for adapting to the most varied of components will be significantly increased. In addition, energy savings are achieved through minimal moving weight and the elimination of rotating spindles that are not required. Furthermore, a parts output of more than 40 parts can be realized. Due to the high speeds when positioning and feeding the individual spindles, one or more bores can be drilled in a very short time. This procedure is referred to as a "virtual drilling gear" because the result for the user corresponds to that of a conventional rigid drilling gear. For this purpose, the component is preferably fixed in the machining position.

The machining device can have a control device that is set up to monitor machining parameters of the individual spindles. By using a single spindle, an analysis of the actual machining process, e.g. also the detection of broken or blunt tools (such as a drill), can be carried out by monitoring the machining parameters, which are no longer overlaid by other machining processes running at the same time or those that are not used but are still running spindles.

The working space of the movable delivery unit is flexible. This means that larger or smaller workpieces can also be processed.

The purchase and storage of many mechanical product-specific drilling gears is no longer necessary. Instead, individual tools can be kept on hand at the machining device.

During processing, each processing operation (in particular drilling operation) can be defined individually. This means that holes of different depths can be drilled with a single spindle.

A design and arrangement of a workpiece support mentioned is not limited to a specific shape or position. It can also be a workpiece support or several workpiece supports.

Furthermore, one or more guide elements can be provided in order to move the workpiece. The guide elements can also assume the task of the workpiece support(s), or the workpiece support(s) are provided separately.

It is preferred that the at least one movable infeed unit is set up to move the individual spindle in a pivoting movement. This means that the single spindle can be guided in several directions on one level with one drive. This allows drilling distances outside the usual grid (e.g. 32mm) used in furniture construction to be processed in one cycle. Both straight and sloping rows of holes and round hole patterns can be drilled. The flexibility of the processing device, ie the "virtual drilling gear", can consequently be significantly increased compared to previously known drilling gears.

According to a further embodiment, it is provided that a multiplicity of infeed units are provided, which are set up to carry out processing of a workpiece in respectively adjoining areas. In this way, the individual spindles can be combined to form several flexible drilling gears, which can cover a large processing area with their respective working area.

A working area of an individual spindle of an infeed unit can be honeycomb-shaped. The honeycomb areas can adjoin one another. The range of movement of a delivery unit can be larger than a working area.

In this way, the processing device can be assembled with a large number of similar mechatronic modules. This facilitates the maintenance of the processing device.

Furthermore, it can be provided that a control device of the processing device is set up to coordinate the movement of a plurality of infeed units. The throughput of the processing device can thus be further increased. Furthermore, in the case of overlapping work areas If neighboring delivery units are sufficient, a collision can be avoided.

In the machining device, the moveable infeed unit can be arranged in the vertical direction above or below a workpiece plane. It is also possible to arrange one or more feed units in the vertical direction above and one or more further feed units in the vertical direction below a workpiece plane. The workpiece plane is the plane in which the workpiece is held during machining.

According to a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the movable delivery unit is designed as a robot, in particular as a SCARA robot. SCARA stands for "Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm".

A SCARA robot has a plurality of arms that can be pivoted relative to one another (each about a vertical axis). The working area of the SCARA robot is particularly kidney-shaped due to the geometry of the arms. A SCARA robot is characterized by the fact that it can carry out a fast and particularly repeatable positioning movement.

The front robot arm of the SCARA robot can be equipped with the (rapidly rotating) single spindle, the feed movement of which is carried out with an additional vertical axis either directly in the front robot arm or by a vertical movement of the entire SCARA robot.

According to one embodiment, the possibility of moving a fourth axis of the SCARA robot can be used to carry out a drilling operation. Furthermore, the fourth axis can be used for a changing function for changing the tool (in particular a drilling tool).

It is preferred that the one or more workpiece supports serve/is/are set up to support the workpiece. A design and arrangement of a workpiece support is not limited to a specific shape or position. In particular, a workpiece can be supported centrally, in the area of a surface of the workpiece, in the edge area and/or laterally. Furthermore, a workpiece can be supported at certain points, in areas or over a large area. Due to the workpiece support(s), the workpiece can be held and transferred in a sliding manner, for example.

In one embodiment, the one or more workpiece supports includes a pivot body to which are attached one or more support arms for receiving the workpiece. If the delivery unit is designed as a SCARA robot, it is particularly advantageous to attach the pivoting body to the housing of the SCARA robot so that the “dead space” above the robot foot can be used. The pivoting of the support arm or arms serves to avoid collision with the drilling templates.

It is preferred that the processing device has at least one hold-down device, which is set up to hold a workpiece during processing. The hold-down device is preferably arranged in such a way that a workpiece contacted by it is pressed against one or more support arms for receiving the workpiece.

The machining device can have a tool store that accommodates a number of tools (in particular drilling tools), with the tools being able to be moved to a transfer area and transferred to the individual spindle. This means that a significant increase in performance can be achieved through an automatic set-up option for the series and individual processing of workpieces, such as body parts for the furniture industry. Even with smaller lot sizes, the set-up time is significantly reduced.

Furthermore, it is preferred that the processing device has a first guidance system and a second guidance system spaced apart from the first guidance system. The first guide system has a guide, in particular a peripheral guide, along which a plurality of guide elements can be moved. Alternatively or additionally, the second guide system has a guide, in particular a peripheral guide, along which a plurality of guide elements can be moved. The guidance system can interact in order to align a workpiece, to move it and/or to guide it during a movement.

According to a preferred embodiment, the delivery unit includes a suction device. A single suction hose can thus be used in the area of the tool for chip extraction, so that the chips can be safely removed.

The present invention is also applicable to a moving member machining apparatus. The position of the individual spindle follows the movement of the workpiece. The delivery unit has a tracking function for this purpose.

The invention also provides a method. As part of the process, a Bear processing device according to one of the aforementioned aspects are used.

The process significantly increases the flexibility for adapting to a wide variety of components. In addition, energy savings are achieved through minimal moving weight and the elimination of rotating spindles that are not required.

Although it is preferred that the machining process (in particular drilling) is carried out by moving the tool along an axis while there is no further relative movement between the tool and the workpiece, it can also be provided that further machining is carried out by providing a further relative movement To introduce, for example, an oval cross-section hole.

It is preferred that a large number of infeed units carry out processing of a workpiece in respectively adjoining or overlapping areas. A specific tool can thus be assigned to each infeed unit or its individual spindle. An overall processing result results from the use of the large number of delivery units and their interaction. In this case, it is preferred that the movement of a plurality of infeed units is coordinated in order to process a workpiece without collision and with a high throughput.

A workpiece processed within the framework of the method is, in particular, at least in sections made of wood, wood-based material, plastic, a composite material or the like.

character list

• 1 shows a side view of a processing device according to an embodiment of the invention.
• 2 shows a plan view of the in 1 processing device shown.

Description of Embodiments

The same reference symbols that are listed in different figures designate identical, corresponding, or functionally similar elements.

The processing device 1 is preferably a wood processing machine, with which workpieces W made of at least some sections of wood, derived timber product, plastic, a composite material or the like can be processed. The workpieces W are plate-shaped workpieces that are intended in particular for the manufacture of furniture or components. For example, the workpieces are designed as solid wood panels, MDF/HDF or chipboard, composite panels, lightweight panels, sandwich panels or the like. In the course of processing, holes are made in the workpieces from an upper side and/or an underside.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the processing device 1 is designed as a so-called throughfeed machine, in which the workpieces W are conveyed one after the other in a conveying direction F into a processing area and, after processing has been carried out, are removed from the processing area again. Machining can be performed on both a workpiece W stopped in the machining area and a workpiece W moving.

In order to feed a workpiece W into the machining area of the machining device 1, the machining device 1 has a first conveyor device 2a. A conveying out takes place by means of a second conveying device 2b. The first and / or second conveyor 2a, 2b are designed as a belt conveyor according to the embodiment. According to further modifications, the first and/or second conveyor device 2a, 2b can also be designed as a roller conveyor or belt conveyor.

Furthermore, the processing device 1 comprises a first guide system 40a and a second guide system 40b spaced apart from the first guide system 40a transversely to the conveying direction F.

The first guide system 40a has a peripheral guide 41a along which a plurality of guide elements 42a can be moved. The guide elements 42a can each be moved individually and positioned along the guide 41a. The guide elements 42a can serve as stop elements and/or as holding elements. The first guide system 40a can also be moved transversely to the conveying direction in order to change the distance from the second guide system 40b and thus adapt the processing device 1 to the processing of different workpieces.

The second guide system 40b is designed similarly to the first guide system 40a and includes a peripheral guide 41b along which a plurality of guide elements 42b can be moved. The guide elements 42b can each be moved individually and positioned along the guide 41b.

With the guide elements 42a, 42b of the first and second guide system 40a, 40b, workpieces W can be taken over from the first conveyor device 2a and, if necessary, aligned. Viewed in conveying direction F, one of the guide elements 42a, 42b of the first and second guide system 40a, 40b in each case bears against a front edge and one of the guide elements 42a, 42b of the first and second guide system 40a, 40b bears on a rear edge of a workpiece W. By moving the guide elements 42a, 42b, the respective workpiece W can be guided through the machining area of the machining device 1 in an aligned state.

Adjacent to the first guidance system 40a there is a tool store 50 which accommodates a plurality of tools B (here: drilling tools). The drilling tools B can be taken over by two of the guide elements 42a of the first guide system 40a and moved to a transfer area. A further function is thus assigned to the guide elements 42a. According to another embodiment, a separate changing system is provided for moving a tool to the transfer area.

In a region between the first guidance system 40a and the second guidance system 40b, the processing device 1 comprises a multiplicity of workpiece supports 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f. Each of the workpiece supports 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f has a swivel body 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, 11e, 11f on which one or more support arms 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, 12f are attached. The support arms 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, 12f can receive a workpiece on a lower side viewed in the vertical direction and can support it in a workpiece plane.

At this time, the guide members 42a, 42b ensure that the workpiece W is held in an aligned state.

A group of first workpiece supports 10a is arranged in such a way that an arm 12a of the workpiece supports 10a can accept a workpiece W from the first conveyor device 2a without a gap and supports it during movement through the machine. Second workpiece supports 10b, third workpiece supports 10c, fourth workpiece supports 10d and fifth workpiece supports 10e are arranged in a respective row between the first workpiece supports 10a and the sixth workpiece supports 10f move and support it.

The number of workpiece supports 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f and their relative arrangement is not limited to the number and arrangement mentioned. Rather, depending on the application, more or fewer workpiece supports can be provided.

In a region between the first conveyor device 2a and the second conveyor device 2b, a plurality of movable infeed units 20a-20f for forming a “virtual drilling gear” are provided in a lower section of the processing device 1 viewed in the vertical direction. Each of the movable infeed units 20a-20f accommodates an individual spindle 21a-21f for driving a drilling tool B.

The delivery units 20a-20f are grouped in several rows, viewed in the conveying direction F, so that the processing device 1 includes first delivery units 20a, second delivery units 20b, third delivery units 20c, fourth delivery units 20d, fourth delivery units 20e and fifth delivery units 20f.

The number of delivery units 20a-20f and their relative arrangement is not limited to the stated number and arrangement. Rather, depending on the application, more or fewer delivery units can be provided.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the delivery units 20a-20f are designed as SCARA robots which have a plurality of arms which can be pivoted relative to one another (each about a vertical axis). The working area of such a SCARA robot is typically kidney-shaped due to the geometry of the arms. A SCARA robot is characterized by the fact that it can carry out a fast and particularly repeatable movement. When using a SCARA robot, the foremost robot arm is equipped with the fast-rotating single spindle 21a-21f, the feed movement of which is carried out with an additional vertical axis either directly in the foremost robot arm or by a vertical movement of the entire SCARA robot.

The infeed units 20a-20f are arranged below the workpiece plane, viewed in the vertical direction, so that a bore can be made in an underside of the workpiece W with the respective individual spindle 21a-21f. In order to hold the workpiece during processing with the infeed units 20a-20f, the processing device 1 comprises a plurality of hold-down devices 15 which press the workpiece W against the support arms 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d on which the workpiece W rests. The hold-down devices 15 can be advanced if required.

The processing device 1 also includes further delivery units 30a-30b, which, like the aforementioned delivery units 20a-20f, are designed as SCARA robots. The foremost robot arm of the further infeed units 30a-30b is equipped with a rapidly rotating single spindle 31a-31b, the feed movement of which is carried out with an additional vertical axis either directly in the foremost robot arm or by a vertical movement of the entire SCARA robot.

The further infeed units 30a-30b are arranged above the workpiece plane, viewed in the vertical direction, so that a bore can be made in an upper side of the workpiece W with the respective individual spindle 31a-31b. The additional delivery units 30a-30b are provided above delivery units 20e-20f. The workpiece W is supported by the support arms 12c, 12d during processing with the additional infeed units 30a-30b.

According to a modification of the embodiment, the infeed units 20a-20f, 30a, 30b can also be designed as compound slides, which are driven by linear motors, for example.

The processing device 1 has a control device that is set up to coordinate the movement of the infeed units. Thus, the processing operations of the delivery units 20a-20f, 30a, 30b can, to a certain extent, interlock.

An exemplary method sequence of the processing device 1 is described below.

A workpiece W is moved with the first conveyor device 2a in the conveying direction F, moved into the region of the support arms 12a of the first workpiece supports 10a and supported by the support arms 12a. The first conveyor device 2a moves the workpiece W up to the guide elements 42a, 42b of the first and second guide system 40a, 40b, so that a front edge of the workpiece W strikes these guide elements 42a, 42b. Further guide elements 42a, 42b of the first and second guide systems 40a, 40b are then moved to a rear edge of the workpiece W. The guide elements 42a and 42b move and fix the workpiece in the transport direction.

Now, the presser 15 is moved downward in the vertical direction to press the workpiece W against the support arms 12a, 12b.

The infeed units 20a and/or 20b are now actuated, so that a bore can be made in an underside of the workpiece W with the respective individual spindle 21a. By further actuation of the infeed units 20a, the individual spindles 21a/21b are pivoted to a further working position and further drillings are made in the workpiece W by an infeed movement of the individual spindles 21a/21b.

After a specific hole pattern with holes with a specific diameter has been made in the workpiece W with the infeed units 20a and/or 20b, the hold-down device 15 is moved upwards in the vertical direction so that the workpiece W is transported and fixed by the guide elements 42a and 42b , the workpiece W being supported on the support arms 12a...12f vertically from below.

In this way, the workpiece is moved through the processing area and processed by infeed units 20a-20f, 30a, 30b. The workpiece is then transferred from the fourth workpiece support 10d, in particular one of its support arms 12d, to the second conveyor device 2b and transported away by the second conveyor device 2b.

It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that individual features that are each described in different embodiments can also be implemented in a single embodiment, provided they are not structurally incompatible. Likewise, various features that are described in a single embodiment may also be provided in multiple embodiments, individually or in any suitable sub-combination.

Claims (15)

Machining device (1) for machining a workpiece (W), comprising: one or more workpiece supports (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f), at least one moveable infeed unit (20a-20f; 30a, 30b) which accommodates at least one individual spindle (21a-21f; 31a, 31b) for driving a tool (B), wherein the infeed unit (20a-20f; 30a, 30b) is set up to move the individual spindle (21a-21f; 31a, 31b) into one or more working positions and the individual spindle (21a-21f; 31a, 31b) into one or more working positions press to perform an edit. Processing device (1) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one movable delivery unit (20a-20f; 30a, 30b) is set up, the individual to move the spindle (21a-21f; 31a, 31b) in a pivoting movement. Machining device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of infeed units (20a-20f; 30a, 30b) which are set up to carry out machining of the workpiece (W) in respectively adjoining or overlapping areas. Processing device (1) according to claim 3 , wherein a control device of the processing device (1) is set up to coordinate the movement of a plurality of infeed units (20a-20f; 30a, 30b). Machining device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the movable infeed unit (20a-20f; 30a, 30b) is arranged in the vertical direction above or below a workpiece plane. Processing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the movable infeed unit (20a-20f; 30a, 30b) is a SCARA robot. Processing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more workpiece supports (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f) serve to support the workpiece (W) in a conveying direction (F). Processing device (1) according to claim 7 , wherein the one or more workpiece supports (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f) has a pivoting body (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d) on which one or more support arms (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) for Picking up the workpiece (W) are attached. Machining device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one hold-down device (15) which is set up to hold a workpiece (W) during machining. Machining device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further arranged comprising a tool store (50) which accommodates a plurality of tools (B), the tools (B) being moved to a transfer area and transferred to the individual spindle (21a-21f; 31a, 31b). can become. Processing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a first guide system (40a) and a second guide system (40b) spaced apart from the first guide system (40a), the first guide system (40a) having a guide (41a), in particular a peripheral guide , along which a plurality of guide elements (42a) can be moved, and/or the second guide system (40b) has a guide (41b), in particular a peripheral guide, along which a number of guide elements (42b) can be moved. Processing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the infeed unit (20a-20f; 30a, 30b) has a suction device. A method of machining a workpiece, comprising the steps Moving at least one infeed unit (20a-20f; 30a, 30b), which accommodates at least one individual spindle (21a-21f; 31a, 31b) for driving a tool (B), Performing an operation with the tool (B). procedure according to Claim 13 , wherein a multiplicity of infeed units (20a-20f; 30a, 30b) carry out a machining of a workpiece (W) in respectively adjoining or overlapping areas. procedure according to Claim 13 or 14 , wherein the movement of several delivery units (20a-20f; 30a, 30b) is coordinated.

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