EP2755798A2

EP2755798A2 - Machine tool for machining a workpiece, production line equipped with such a machine tool and method for operating such a production line

Info

Publication number: EP2755798A2
Application number: EP12773239.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Josef Preis
Original assignee: Buderus Schleiftechnik GmbH
Current assignee: Buderus Schleiftechnik GmbH
Priority date: 2011-09-12
Filing date: 2012-09-12
Publication date: 2014-07-23
Also published as: WO2013037808A3; US20150174718A1; WO2013037808A2; DE202011107126U1; DE102011053538A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a machine tool for machining a workpiece (W, W1-W5), wherein the machine tool (A1 - A5) comprises a machining cell (1) having a machining device (4) for machining each particular workpiece (W, W1-W5), and a transfer point (US1) for transferring a workpiece (W, W1-W5) to be machined to the machining device (4) or for outputting a finish-machined workpiece (W, W1-W5) from the machining device (4). In order to allow high flexibility in such a machine when it is used in a production line, the machine tool (A1 - A5) additionally has, as an integral constituent part according to the invention, a conveying device (12) which transports a workpiece (W, W1-W5) transferred thereto between at least two take-over positions (UP1, UP2), bypassing the machining device (4). Likewise, the invention relates to a production line equipped with a machine according to the invention, in which optimum flexibility is ensured and which can be maintained easily. Finally, the invention also relates to a method for operating a production line according to the invention.

Description

Machine tool for machining a workpiece, production line equipped with such a machine tool and method for operating such

production line

The invention relates to a machine tool for

Processing a workpiece, wherein the machine tool comprises a machining cell with a processing device for processing the respective workpiece and a

Transfer point for transferring a to be processed

Workpiece to the processing device or the

Output of a finished workpiece from the processing device comprises. Likewise, the concerns

Invention with at least one such

Machine tool equipped production line and a method for their operation.

For mass production of complex shaped

Components, the respective workpiece usually passes through a larger number of machine tools, in each of which a certain processing step is performed on the workpiece. In practice, the

Machine tools for this purpose to so-called

"Production Lines" are summarized, which are also referred to in the jargon as "production lines". The workpieces fed into the production line pass through the machine tools of the production line arranged in line one behind the other in a specific conveying direction. The feeding of the workpieces into the production line usually takes place via an automatic workpiece conveyor or from a

Workpiece stock.

Such workpiece conveyors are usually conveyor belts or chains, which transport the workpieces along the machine tools and via which the machine tools of a production line are linked to one another according to the respective production sequence. From the work conveyor to be the

machining workpieces at the respective station

taken off and put back on after completion of processing.

In contrast, a workpiece storage is usually a stationary container in which the

be kept ready workpieces or the finished workpieces can be stored.

Comparable Werkstückbeforratungs- and -einspeisesysteme are also known by stand-alone machine tools, in which the workpieces in certain presorting, for example in baskets at a certain

Transfer position of the machine tool arranged and taken from there piece by piece in the machine tool, in which then the respective processing is performed. The handover of each finished

Workpiece is done in a similar manner. A typical example of using a

Production line of the type in question is the production of transmission parts for motor vehicles. On such workpieces on the way from the blank to the finished gear part each have a variety of machining operations, such as milling, drilling, turning, grinding and Honbearbeitungen be completed. By assigning these machining operations to the production line in individual machine tools that have been processed in an optimized sequence and are specialized for the respective work step, it is possible to achieve

Optimized within minimized throughput times

Achieve work results in large numbers.

The high specialization of production lines of the

The above-explained type brings a low

Flexibility of such production systems. That's how they work in the production line

Customize completed machining operations with great effort to new workflow specifications. This applies in particular to systems in which the supply and transfer of the workpieces via a

Automation cell takes place. In addition, arise especially in systems where the

Workpiece transport between the machine tools via a shared, independently operated workpiece conveyor takes place, a high maintenance and spatial conditions that complicate a required for example by a defect replacement of individual machine tools. Against the background of the prior art explained above, the object of the invention was to provide a machine tool which, when used in a production line of the type described above, allows high flexibility, but at the same time can also be operated as a single machine. In addition, a production line should be created that easily ensures optimized flexibility and is easy to maintain. Similarly, a procedure should be given for operating a corresponding production line.

With respect to the machine tool, this object is achieved in that such

Machine tool according to claim 1 is formed.

The solution according to the invention of the above-mentioned object in relation to the production line is that at least one device according to the invention is present in such a production line.

The inventive method for operating a

The production line according to the invention comprises the steps specified in claim 15.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims and are explained below as the general inventive concept in detail.

A machine tool according to the invention for processing a workpiece accordingly comprises in

Accordance with the above-mentioned prior art, a processing cell, this Processing cell a processing device for

Edit the respective workpiece and a

Transfer point for transferring a to be processed

Workpiece to the processing device or the

Having issued a finished workpiece from the processing device. According to the invention, the machine tool now additionally comprises an integral one

Part of a conveyor that a hers

transferred workpiece, bypassing the

Machining device between at least two

Transfer positions transported.

The in a machine tool according to the invention

provided conveyor forms a bypass over which the workpieces to the work area of

Machining device of the respective machine tool can be slipped around. If a machine tool according to the invention is used as part of a production line, in which several according to the invention

designed machine tools are coupled together, a single machine tool can thus be circumvented by the fact that the workpiece by the respective

Conveyor of the relevant machine tool is passed to the next machine tool of the production line.

Decisive for this is that the conveyor integral part of the invention

Machine tool is. D. h., The conveyor is both structurally and functionally coupled directly to the machine tool. The conveyor of a machine tool according to the invention provides as such no separate, operable independently of the machine tool assembly, but complements in a machine tool according to the invention as essential

Functional component whose operation principle.

So can one in the processing cell of a

The machine tool according to the invention finished workpiece due to the inventively provided

Conveyor be transported by the respective machine tool itself to the next processing station. Similarly, the conveyor of a

The machine tool according to the invention can be used to move a workpiece previously in another machine

has been processed by this machine

transport it in order to further process it in the machine tool according to the invention.

For this purpose, the workpiece does not have to be removed from the production line, nor does the workpiece flow have to

be changed within the production line.

Instead, in cases where specific

Workpieces one processing should take place and not at others, but then the workpieces are to be brought together again, the over the

Conveyor take place transport of the workpieces in the same cycle done as a machining within the machine tool. It is also possible to provide several intended for the same processing invention

Coupling machine tools with each other, in which workpieces are machined parallel to each other. If in this case a machine tool is occupied, Thus, each workpiece to be machined can be promoted to the next machine tool.

Unlike production lines, in which the workpieces are brought from workstation to workstation via a separate, self-sufficient work conveyor in a fixed and then invariable conveying direction, the invention allows the machine tool itself to be assigned

Conveying device, the direction in which the workpieces from the conveyor through the relevant

Machine tool to be promoted, each individually and independently of a fixed specification to choose. Thus, in a machine tool according to the invention the

Conveyor be used in the same way to promote workpieces out of the machine tool or workpieces into the machine tool into it. In this way, with the help of machine tools according to the invention in a production line without much effort

A wide variety of manufacturing processes can be realized, which in conventional, but only one

In each case, major changes in the order of the

Processing machines and correspondingly large conversion work would be required.

As a result, with an inventive

Machine tool and in an inventive

equipped production line thus not only the

Total processing time significantly reduced, but also the flexibility and, consequently, the diversity their potential uses are also increased significantly.

A further important advantage of a provided in accordance with the invention with a conveyor, as

Unit self-contained machine tool is that such a machine can be easily integrated as such in a production line. However, it can also be operated as a stand-alone machine. An inventively designed

Machine tool is therefore highly flexible use.

This flexibility proves to be particularly advantageous when in an inventive

Production line a machine tool according to the invention must be replaced for maintenance purposes. Thus, such a machine tool can easily be replaced by another similar machine. Because the

According to the invention, machines with their conveying devices each form compact, coherent units, this requires only the machine to be serviced from the

Laid out production line and replaced by a similar machine. The latter may, for example, have previously run in a separate operation elsewhere. Elaborate conversion measures needed for such

Exchange not, since the inventively provided

Conveyor in a stand-alone operation

operated machine tool is integrated even if it is not used in this mode. The in a machine tool according to the invention

provided conveying device is designed so that it conveys the workpieces over a predetermined conveying distance from one to the other transfer position.

Optimally, the conveyor is thereby able to change the conveying direction. such

Trans port facilities are also known in technical jargon as "shuttle facilities". They make it possible to transport the workpieces to be transported in a direct way and without the need for complicated conversion operations from one to the other transfer position

Promote conveyor by the machine tool. The conveyor can be designed for this purpose in a known manner as electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically driven linear conveyor. Alternatively, the

Conveyor be designed as an endless conveyor belt or endless conveyor chain, the conveying direction can be changed quickly by using appropriate drives.

An optimally simple embodiment of a method provided for a machine tool according to the invention

Conveyor arises when the

Conveyor their assigned workpieces linear, i. Straight, from one side to the other

Processing cell arranged transfer position transported to a arranged on the opposite side of the processing cell transfer position. However, all other designs of transport routes are conceivable. For example, it can be over corner

Machine tools be useful, the workpieces of a machine tool by means of their conveyor - -

To lead over a conveyor line to the next machine tool, in a correspondingly curved curve

runs.

The inventively provided conveyor can be coupled as an attachment to the machine housing. A particularly compact, space-saving variant of the invention results when the conveyor line of the

Conveyor is guided within the cuboid envelopes of the machining cell, that is mounted so that they are the basic dimensions of the machine tool according to the invention over a conventional

Machining cell not extended. For this purpose, the

Conveyor of the conveyor by the

Machine bed or machine frame of the

Processing cell run. As a machine bed is the lower, the ground associated portion of

To understand processing cell of a machine tool according to the invention, which is usually formed of solid material, such as iron or granite, and on which the

Body parts, such as the guides and the drives for the processing device and the

Chip tray and the required for the power supply and control components of the machining cell are mounted. By "machine frame", however, the components are meant, which are meant to support the processing device and its guides and drives on the machine bed. "Machine housing" is the housing, which usually the machine frame and all functional parts and possibly also the machine bed of

Machining cell surrounds. The cuboid "envelope" The processing cell is the smallest imaginary cuboid that completely accommodates the processing cell.

The integration into a production line in which the

The flow of a linear conveying direction follows or in which the machine tools coupled to one another are arranged standing in series, can be simplified in that the transfer point and a takeover position of the conveyor together on one side of the

Machining cell are provided. At this

Design the transfer point and the relevant transfer position are arranged so that by a suitable gripper device to be processed or finished machined workpieces in a simple way between the transfer point of the processing cell and the transfer position of

Conveyor can be moved back and forth. This possibility is particularly advantageous if the machine tool according to the invention in one

Integrated production line, in which the allocation of the workpieces via a so-called automation cell depending on a given production program.

Also in relation to the invention, a particularly important embodiment of the invention is that a machine tool according to the invention comprises an automation cell, which is provided to receive workpieces in response to control signals of a control device, a) in a workpiece supply of the machine tool, b) at the transfer point of the processing cell of

Machine tool c) at one of the takeover positions of the conveyor of the machine tool or

d) at one of the takeover positions of their

Conveyor distinctive others

Takeover position of the machine tool

and the processing facility of the processing cell or conveyor of the

Allot machine tool.

The in the above-mentioned embodiment

provided automation cell takes over the

automatic allocation of the workpieces reaching it, depending on whether the respective workpiece is coupled with it, then passed through

Machine tool to be subjected to a treatment or not. The automation cell is for this purpose able to reach her workpieces according to the intended production process to her

assigned processing cell, its assigned

Workpiece stock, their associated conveyors of each machine tool or another

Distribute conveyor, which is additionally assigned to the automation cell. The first of these conveyors are the

Conveyor of the machine tool according to the invention, to which the respective automation cell belongs. The second associated conveying device may be the conveying device of a second machine tool designed in accordance with the invention, in which the

Workpieces of upstream or downstream processing be subjected to or conveyed through the workpieces only through each, without being processed.

With the automation cell of an inventive

Machine tool can thus

- Workpieces that are kept in a workpiece supply, are fed into the manufacturing process by the automation cell, the relevant workpieces of the machining cell or the conveyor of the respective machine tool or the conveyor of the second invention, with the respective

Automation cell also be coupled machine tool allocated

- Workpieces from the conveyor of the second machine tool according to the invention to the

get assigned to the respective automation cell transfer point, the processing cell or the conveyor line of the machine tool, to which the automation cell belongs, are assigned, or

- Workpieces that are finished, from the

Production process be taken by the

Automation cell stores the workpieces in their associated workpiece supply.

A production line that has at least two in

According to the invention has a processing cell, a conveyor and a Äutomationszelle comprehensive machine tools, therefore, allows in an optimally flexible manner the operation according to the following

Process steps: - Taking over a workpiece in the workpiece supply of one of the machine tools, at the transfer point of the processing cell of the relevant machine tool, at the automation cell of the relevant

Assigned to the machine tool transfer positions of the conveyor of the machine tool in question or at the relevant machine tool associated takeover position of the conveyor of those

Machine tool is available, which is arranged next to the automation cell of the relevant machine tool, and

- Assign each of the automation cell

taken over workpiece to the processing device of the processing cell of the relevant machine tool, to the conveyor of the relevant

Machine tool, to the workpiece supply the

relevant machine tool or to the

Conveyor of that machine tool, which is adjacent to the automation cell of

is arranged machine tool.

In order to ensure optimum modularity, the automation cell which is provided to the processing cell of the respective machine tool according to the invention may form a structurally independent structural unit and be detachably connected to the processing cell. This makes it possible to solve the automation cell for maintenance or repair of the processing cell, without the need for extensive conversion work is required. Of course, this possibility does not preclude alternatively integrate the function of the automation cell in the machine tool.

In the event that the transfer point of the processing cell and its associated transfer point of the conveyor are arranged together on one side of the processing cell, results in a particularly compact and of

Motion sequence of the automation cell optimized

Embodiment of a machine tool according to the invention in that the automation cell to the with the

Transfer point of the processing cell and the

Transfer position of the conveyor provided side of the processing cell is coupled.

To the allocation of the workpieces in each case

can make predetermined way, the

Automation cell one in the manner of a robot arm

comprise trained gripping device for detecting and allocating the respectively provided workpiece, which is freely adjustable by motor driven in response to control signals of a control device in at least two degrees of freedom.

As a workpiece supply of an inventive

Machine tools can be conventional container systems, such as basket or pallet stack serve, in which the workpieces to be processed, for example, pre-sorted ready or are stored in an orderly order. The containers can be manually or automatically brought into the respective transfer position. Likewise, as a workpiece supply, a conventional, from the Inventive machine tool independent

Workpiece conveyors serve in a larger

Production plant which coupled there with each other

individual machine tools or production lines supplied with workpieces in a continuous process.

In principle, can be in an inventive

Machine tool perform all machining of workpieces, which are usually carried out in machining centers or individual machining machines.

Typically, the processing device of a machine tool according to the invention for a machining of the in their work area in each case

provided positioned workpiece.

A space-saving and at the same time easy way of transferring workpieces to the processing cell of a machine tool according to the invention is that the transfer point of the processing cell on a transfer element pivotable about an axis

Transfer device is formed. The for the

Transfer process required times and movements can thereby be minimized that at the

Transfer element two at a certain angular distance about its pivot axis spaced from each other arranged transfer points are formed, one of which is assigned to each one of the processing device to be machined and another one of the processing device finished machined workpiece. With a transfer device designed in this way, the transfer point at which the workpiece to be machined in the respective processing cell can be taken over in a simple manner or the workpiece finished there is transferred, on one of the respectively associated side wall of the

Processing cell upstream position can be provided, which is optimally accessible for an automatic distribution device, in particular the gripper of a formed in accordance with the invention automation cell.

The invention is based on

Embodiments explained in more detail. Each show schematically:

1 shows a machine tool in a longitudinal section from above.

Fig. 2, the processing cell of the machine tool according to

Fig. 1 in a side view corresponding to the drawn in Figure 1 arrow P;

Fig. 3 shows the machine tool of FIG. 1 in a

frontal view according to the drawn in Figure 1 arrow Q;

4 shows a production line in a FIG. 3

corresponding frontal view;

Fig. 5 is a diagram with the processing sequences

different processed in the production line of FIG. 4 workpieces.

The machine tool AI shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 comprises a processing cell 1 and a Automation cell 2, which is coupled to the one longitudinal side 3 of the processing cell 1.

In the processing cell 1 is formed in a conventional manner, vertically aligned

Machining device 4 arranged, for example, for grinding, milling, drilling, turning or otherwise for machining a

Workpiece W is set up and can be moved in a manner also known per se within a working area 5 at least in the horizontal direction Z and vertical direction X via not shown here in detail.

The only schematically indicated guides and

Drives of the processing cell 1 are by means of a

Machine frame 6 supported on a machine bed 7, which stands on the floor of the hall in which the

Machine tool AI is set up. The machine bed 7 consists in a known manner of granite. The

Machine frame 6 and all to operate the

Machining device 4 required aggregates of

Processing cell 1 are in a cuboid or

Block-shaped machine housing 8 housed, which is supported on the also cuboid machine bed 7. The outer contour of the machine housing 8 and the

Machine bed 7 falls in this way with the

cuboid envelope of the processing cell 1 together.

In the automation cell 2 associated longitudinal wall 3 of the processing cell 1 is in a front of the FS Machining cell 1 and the machine bed 7 adjacent corner of a window 9 formed. Through this window 9 which are designed as pivot arms

Transfer elements 10a, 10b of a transfer device 11, which are arranged in the working area 5 of the processing cell 1. At their free end sections have the

Transfer elements 10a, 10b each have a receptacle for the workpieces W to be processed by the processing device 4 or the workpieces W finished by the processing device 4. Here are the

Transfer elements 10a, 10b pivotable about a common vertically oriented pivot axis S by means of a pivot drive from a first transfer point US1, in which they each with their shots through the window 9 in the direction of the automation cell 2, in a second transfer point US2, in which they work 5 like that

are arranged, that the processing device 4 reaches their respective recording and from there to

take over machining workpiece W or there can settle a finished workpiece W. In this case, the transfer elements 10a, 10b arranged and pivoted that, for example, in the receptacle of a

Transfer element 10a a workpiece to be machined new W is transported to the processing device 4 and in the recording of the second transfer element 10b of the processing device 4 of her each finished workpiece W can be set.

In addition, the processing cell 1 as an integral part comprises a kind of a shuttle conveyor

trained conveyor 12, in the rear of the machine tool AI within the machine housing. 8 is guided by the machine frame 6. Alternatively, the conveyor 12 may for example also be guided by the machine bed 7.

The conveyor 12 comprises a guided in the manner of a tunnel through the machine housing 8 and in a molded-in longitudinal side 3 second window 13 opening conveyor section 14, via the on a

Linear guide 15, an electrically driven carriage 16 between a first transfer position UPI, which is located in front of the window 14, bypassing the

Work area 5 of the processing device 1 can be moved back and forth linearly to a second transfer position UP2, which is arranged in front of a window corresponding to the window 14 in the longitudinal wall 3 opposite longitudinal wall 16 of the machine housing 8 molded window.

The automation cell 2 comprises a conventional four-axis robotic type

Gripper device 17, which is controlled by a controller T and can record or transfer workpieces W to at least four different transfer points.

The first of these transfer points is the transfer point US1, at which the transfer elements 10,11 of

Transfer device 12 to accept workpieces W or finished workpieces W

ready.

The second transfer point is the transfer position UPI, at which the conveyor 12 with its carriage 16 a to be transported from the machine tool AI workpiece W take over or can pass in the machine tool AI to be machined workpiece W.

The third takeover point is a workpiece supply 18 which is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3

Machine tool 1 at the front FS is. Of the

Workpiece supply 18 is formed in a manner known per se by stacked baskets in which the workpieces W to be processed are presorted so that the gripper device 17 can grasp them easily or finished workpieces W can settle there just as easily. Are all the baskets of the workpiece supply 1 emptied or filled in the intended manner, is a

appropriately prepared workpiece supply instead of the previously processed workpiece supply 18 pushed. This can be done manually or automatically. A minimal time requirement for the replacement of the workpiece stocks can be achieved by providing a further workpiece supply at one of the waiting positions 19, 20 provided on the side of the workpiece supply 18, which can be pushed by simple displacement in place of the previously removed workpiece supply 18.

The fourth takeover point is through the

Machine tool AI assigned, in the area of the

Longitudinal side 3 opposite longitudinal side 3 'of

Automation cell 2 and opposite to the

Transfer position UPI arranged other takeover position UP2 'formed at which the conveyor of a coupled to the automation cell 2 opposite to the processing cell 1 coupled machine tool A workpieces W or can pass. The production line 30 shown in FIG. 4 comprises five machine tools AI - A5. The machine tools AI - A5 are each constructed like the machine tool AI. However, each machining device 4 of the machine tools AI - A5 performs another machining operation on the workpiece W reaching it. The machine tools AI - A5 are close to each other. That is, the

Machine tool AI lies with hers of hers

Automation cell 2 facing away from the long side 3 'close to the automation cell 2 of the next adjacent to her machine tool A2, on the side facing away from her automation cell 2 longitudinal side 3' of the machine tool A2 is close to the automation cell 2 of the next adjacent to her machine tool A3, etc. On this way, workpieces W from the conveyors 12 of the

Machine tools AI - A5 between adjacent machine tools AI - A5 without interposition

additional means of transport are transported.

FIG. 5 shows various production sequences F1-F4 which can be completed in the production line 30 without requiring modifications to the production line

Production line 30 must be made.

For the manufacturing process Fl is by the

Machine tool AI each a workpiece Wl, which is typically a transmission gear, from the gripping device of the automation cell 2 from the

Workpiece supply 18 removed and at the transfer point US1 by means of the transfer device 11 to the

Processing device 4 pass. This then leads to a first machining on the workpiece Wl and then returns the machined workpiece Wl to the transfer device 11. This then moves the workpiece Wl again to the transfer point US1, from which the gripper device of the automation cell 2 takes over the workpiece and transfers to the carriage 16 of the conveyor 12, which waits at the transfer position UPI.

The conveyor 12 of the machine tool AI then moves the respective workpiece Wl to her

Transfer position UP2, which is already in the area of the automation cell 2 of the second machine tool A2 of the production line 30, which is close to the machine tool AI. From the point of view of the second machine tool A2, the takeover position UP2 of the first machine tool AI is that of the

Transfer positions UP1, UP2 of the second machine tool A2 different, other takeover position UP2 '.

In the machine tool A2 takes over the

Gripper device of the automation cell 2 to the

Transfer position UP2 / UP2 'arrived workpiece Wl and passes it to the transfer point US1 of

Transfer device 11. This pivots the workpiece Wl in the working area 5 of the processing device 4, which then performs a second machining operation on the workpiece Wl. After completion of this processing, the workpiece Wl is moved back to the transfer point US1 and from there by the gripper device to wait at the transfer position UPI carriage 16 of the conveyor 12 of the machine tool A2

transported. The conveyor 12 moves the

Workpiece Wl then to his already in the field of third Machine tool A3 located second takeover position ÜP2 / UP2 '.

In the following from the workpiece Wl

Machine tools A3 - A5, the workpiece is subsequently successively moved respectively in the manner described for the machine tool A2 until the machining in the machine tool A5 is completed and the workpiece Wl has been moved from the transfer device 11 of the last traversed machine tool A5 back to its transfer position UPI , From there takes over the

Gripper device of the machine tool A5 now finished workpiece Wl, but there is not to

Conveyor 12 of the machine tool A5 on, but puts it in the workpiece supply 18 from.

During the production sequence F2, a workpiece W2 passes through the machine tool AI in the manner described above for the workpiece W1 until it reaches the transfer position UP2 of the machine tool AI (transfer position UP2 'of the machine tool AI

Machine tool A2) passes. From there, it takes over the gripper device of the machine tool A2 and places it immediately on the carriage 16 of the conveyor device 12 of the machine tool A2 waiting at the transfer position UPI. The conveyor 12 transports the workpiece W2 directly to the machine tool A3, so that it is not processed in the machine tool A2. In the

Machine tool A3, the workpiece Wl in the

previously processed for the processing of the workpiece Wl in the machine tool A5 and stored in the workpiece supply 18 of the machine tool A3. A machining of the workpiece W2 in the Accordingly, machine tools A4 and A5 likewise do not take place. In the production process F2, the

Workpiece W2 thus processed only in the machine tools AI and A3, without causing a change in the installation of the machine tools AI - A5 or a change in the

Machining cycle is required.

The workpiece W3 is machined and moved in the machine tools AI and A2 in the manner described for the workpiece W1 until it reaches the transfer position UP2 '

Machine tool A3 (= takeover position ÜP2 of

Machine tool A2) passes. The gripping device of the machine tool A3 takes over the workpiece W3 and forwards it directly to the conveyor 12 of the machine tool A3, which conveys it to the next machine tool A4. There, the workpiece W4 of the respective

Gripper taken over and supplied in the manner described above, the processing device 4 of the machine tool We We A4. After that there

completed machining is completed, the workpiece W3 from the at the pickup position UP2 'of the machine tool A4 (= takeover position UP2 of

Machine tool A3) waiting carriage 16 of the

Conveyor 12 of the machine tool A3 taken and promoted back to the takeover position UPI the machine tool A3. In the machine tool A3, the gripper device then picks up the workpiece W3 from the conveyor 12 and transfers it to the processing device 4 in the manner explained above.

After the processing is completed there, the gripper device takes over the workpiece W3 at the

Transfer point US3 again and put it on the at the The conveying device 12 then moves the workpiece W3, which has been processed in the machine tool A3, to the transfer position UP2 (= transfer position UP2 ¹ of FIG

Machine tool A4). From there, the workpiece W3 in the manner already described directly to

Transfer position UPI of the conveyor 12 of the

Machine tool A4 moves. This then conveys the workpiece W3 directly to the machine tool A5, where it is moved and processed in the manner already described for the workpiece Wl until it is deposited in the workpiece supply 18 of the machine tool W5. During the production sequence F3, the workpiece W3 thus passes through the machine tools AI - A5 in the sequence AI - A2 - A4 - A3 - A4 - A5, without requiring a change in the arrangement of the

Machine tools AI - A5 is required.

In the production process F4, the to be processed

Workpiece W2 of the gripper device of

Machine tool A2 from the workpiece supply 18th

taken in the manner described above, the processing device 4 of the machine tool A2

passed, machined there and returned to the workpiece supply 18 after completion of the processing directly. The workpiece W4 is thus processed only in the machine tool A2. This can then be for

Increasing the utilization be appropriate if - as for example in the production process F2 - the

Machine tool A2 due to the given there

Process sequence is not used. If a machine tool AI - A5 is to be replaced for maintenance or repair, then the respective

Machine tool as a unit drawn from the production line 30 and replaced by a machine tool of the same design, without requiring special remodeling and

Disassembly work must be performed.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 respective processing cell of the machine tools A1-A5

2 respective automation cell of

Machine tools A1-A5

3.3 'long sides of the respective processing cell. 1

4 processing device of the respective

Processing cell 1

5 working area of the respective processing device 4

6 machine frame of the respective machine tool A1-A5

7 Machine bed of the respective machine tool A1-A5

8 machine housing of the respective machine tool A1-A5

9 windows

10a, 10b transfer elements of the transfer device 11

11 Transfer device

12 conveyor

13 windows

14 conveyor line of the conveyor 12th

15 linear guide of the conveyor 12th

16 carriages of the conveyor 12

17 gripper device

18 workpiece stock

19,20 waiting positions

A, A1-A5 machine tools

F1-F4 production processes

FS front side of the respective machine tool A1-A5

UP1, UP2 takeover positions of the conveyor 12

UP2 'takeover position of another conveyor 12

S pivot axis

T control

US1, US2 delivery points

W, W1-W5 workpieces

X, Z movement directions of the processing device. 4

Claims

PATENT APPLICATIONS

1. Machine tool for machining a workpiece

(W, W1-W5), wherein the machine tool (AI - A5) a machining cell (1) with a

Processing device (4) for processing the respective workpiece (W, W1-W5) and a

Transfer point (US1) to pass one to

machining workpiece (W, W1-W5) to the

Machining device (4) or for outputting a finished workpiece (W, W1-W5) from the processing device (4), d a d c h e c e n c e s, d a s s

Machine tool (AI - A5) as an integral part in addition to a conveyor (12), the one handed over her workpiece (W, W1-W5) under

Bypassing of the processing device (4) transported between at least two transfer positions (UP1, UP2).

2. Machine tool according to claim 1, d a d u c h e c e n e c e s, d a s s

Conveyor (12) their assigned workpieces (W, W1-W5) linearly arranged on one side (3) of the processing cell (1)

Takeover position (UPI) at the on - opposite side (3 ') of the processing cell (1) arranged takeover position (UP2)

transported.

3. Machine tool according to one of the preceding

Claims, d a d u r c h

e n c ia n, the s

Conveying device (12) by a cuboid

Envelope of the processing cell (1) runs.

4. Machine tool according to one of the preceding

Claims, d a d u r c h

e n c ia n, the s

Conveying device (12) through the machine bed (7) of the processing cell (1).

5. Machine tool according to one of the preceding

Claims, d a d u r c h

e n c ia n, the s

Transfer point (US1) and a takeover position (UPI) of the conveyor (12) are provided together on one side of the processing cell (1).

6. Machine tool according to one of the preceding

Claims, d a d u r c h

They are not, they are one

Automation cell (2), which receives in response to control signals of a control device (T) workpieces (W, W1-W5), which in a workpiece supply (18) the machine tool (AI - A5), at the transfer point (US1) of the processing cell (1) of the machine tool (AI - A5), at one of the transfer positions (UP1, UP2) of the conveyor (12) of the machine tool (AI - A5) or at a different take - over position (UP2 ') of the machine tool (AI - A5) different from the take - over positions (UPI) of its conveying device (12), and the

Processing device (4) the processing cell (1) or the conveyor (12) of the machine tool (AI - A5) assigns.

7. Machine tool according to claims 5 and 6,

The automation cell (2) adjoins the side of the

Machining cell (1) is coupled to the

together the transfer point (US1) of the

Processing cell (1) and a takeover position of the conveyor (12) are provided.

8. The machine tool according to claim 6, wherein the automation cell (2) has a gripping device (17) for detecting and allocating the respective one

provided workpiece (W, W1-W5), the motor-driven function of

Control signals of a control device (T) in

at least two degrees of freedom is freely adjustable.

9. The machine tool according to claim 6, wherein the automation cell (2) forms a structurally independent structural unit which is detachable with the

Machining cell (1) is connected.

10. Machine tool according to one of the preceding

Claims, d a d u r c h

e n c ia n, the s

Machining device (4) of the machining cell (1) performs a machining of their respective assigned workpiece (W, W1-W5).

11. Machine tool according to one of the preceding

Claims, d a d u r c h

e n c ia n, the s

Transfer point (US1) of the processing cell (1) on a pivotable about an axis (S) transfer element (10a, 1b) of a transfer device (11) is formed.

12. Production line for the machining of workpieces (W, W1-W5) with at least one according to one of

Claims 6 to 11 trained machine tool (AI - A5).

13. Production line according to claim 12, d a d u r c h

in that it comprises more than one machine tool (AI - A5) designed according to one of the claims 6 - 11, wherein the Machine tools (AI- A5) of the production line (30) perform different processing of them each assigned workpieces (W, W1-W5).

Production line according to claim 13, d a d e c o v e c e s t e s, the s

Machine tools (AI-A5) are arranged in line closely adjacent to each other.

Method for operating a production line (30) designed according to one of Claims 12 to 14

comprising the following steps:

Take over a workpiece (W, W1-W5) that is in the

Workpiece supply of one of the machine tools (AI-A5), at the transfer point (USL) of the processing cell (1) of the relevant machine tool (AI - A5), at the automation cell (2) of the relevant

Machine tool (AI - A5) assigned

Transfer positions (UPI) of the conveyor (12) of the relevant machine tool (AI - A5) or at the respective machine tool (AI - A5) associated with other takeover position (UP2 ¹ ) of the conveyor (12) that machine tool (AI - A5) is ready, the next to the automation cell (2) of the respective one

Machine tool (AI - A5) is arranged

Allocating a respectively accepted workpiece (W, W1-W5) to the processing device (4) of

Processing cell (1) of the relevant Machine tool (AI - A5), to the conveyor (12) of the relevant machine tool (AI - A5), to the workpiece supply of the relevant machine tool (AI - A5) or to the conveyor (12)

that machine tool (AI - A5), the

next to the automation cell (2) of the relevant machine tool (AI - A5) is arranged.