EP4055336B1 - Production line for handling of panels - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a production line for processing metal sheets according to the preamble of claim 1.

JP 2000 344325 A and EP 0 751 359 A2 disclose various devices for drying metal sheets.

1. a) wobei in Transportrichtung der zu bearbeitenden Blechtafeln vor dem Durchlauftrockner als Maschineneinheit eine Beladestation angeordnet ist, wobei die Beladestation eine Transportvorrichtung zum Zuführen von jeweils einzeln in einer Transportebene dieser Transportvorrichtung flach liegenden Blechtafeln zum Durchlauftrockner aufweist, wobei die Beladestation mindestens einen jeweils um eine sich quer zur Transportrichtung der zu transportierenden Blechtafeln erstreckende Rotationsachse schwenkbaren Drahtrahmen aufweist, wobei jeder der Drahtrahmen derart ausgebildet ist, dass er die Transportebene der darin flach liegenden Blechtafeln in einer Schwenkbewegung von unten nach oben durchfährt und mit dieser Schwenkbewegung eine flach liegende durch den Durchlauftrockner zu transportierende Blechtafel aus der Transportebene vertikal aufrichtet, und
2. b) wobei in Transportrichtung der zu bearbeitenden Blechtafeln nach dem Durchlauftrockner als Maschineneinheit eine Entladestation angeordnet ist, wobei die Entladestation eine Transportvorrichtung zum Transportieren von jeweils einzeln in einer Transportebene dieser Transportvorrichtung flach liegenden Blechtafeln aufweist, wobei die Entladestation mindestens einen um eine sich quer zur Transportrichtung der zu transportierenden Blechtafeln erstreckende Rotationsachse schwenkbaren Drahtrahmen aufweist, wobei jeder der Drahtrahmen derart ausgebildet ist, dass er die Transportebene der mit der Transportvorrichtung zu transportierenden Blechtafeln in einer Schwenkbewegung von oben nach unten durchfährt und mit dieser Schwenkbewegung jeweils eine der vertikal aufgerichtet durch den Durchlauftrockner transportierten Blechtafeln in der Transportebene der Transportvorrichtung der Entladestation flach ablegt,

und wobei zumindest die als Beladestation oder als Durchlauftrockner oder als Entladestation ausgebildeten und in Transportrichtung der zu bearbeitenden Blechtafeln hintereinander angeordneten Maschineneinheiten zur gemeinsamen Ausführung einer Produktion funktional miteinander verkettet sind, wobei sich die funktionale Verkettung auf einen geordneten gleichmäßigen Prozessablauf bezieht.Through the subsequently published DE 10 2019 118 647 B3 a production line for processing metal sheets is known, comprising several different machine units, at least one of these machine units being designed as a continuous dryer, the continuous dryer being designed in such a way that metal sheets to be dried pass through this continuous dryer in a vertically erect manner,

1. a) a loading station is arranged in front of the continuous dryer as a machine unit in the transport direction of the metal sheets to be processed, the loading station having a transport device for feeding metal sheets lying flat individually in a transport plane of this transport device to the continuous dryer, the loading station having at least one in each case The axis of rotation extending transversely to the transport direction of the metal sheets to be transported has a pivotable wire frame, each of the wire frames being designed in such a way that it passes through the transport plane of the metal sheets lying flat therein in a pivoting movement from bottom to top and with this pivoting movement a flat lying one to be transported through the continuous dryer Metal sheet stands up vertically from the transport level, and
2. b) an unloading station being arranged as a machine unit in the transport direction of the metal sheets to be processed after the continuous dryer, the unloading station having a transport device for transporting metal sheets lying flat individually in a transport plane of this transport device, the unloading station having at least one transverse to the transport direction The pivoting wire frame extends along the axis of rotation of the metal sheets to be transported has, wherein each of the wire frames is designed in such a way that it passes through the transport plane of the metal sheets to be transported with the transport device in a pivoting movement from top to bottom and with this pivoting movement one of the metal sheets transported vertically upright through the continuous dryer in the transport plane of the transport device of the unloading station lays flat,

and wherein at least the machine units designed as a loading station or as a continuous dryer or as an unloading station and arranged one behind the other in the transport direction of the metal sheets to be processed are functionally linked to one another for the common execution of a production, the functional linking referring to an orderly, uniform process flow.

From DE 000P0040513DAZ a continuous dryer for drying metal sheets is known, the previously printed or painted metal sheets with their unprinted or unpainted edges standing up on the side of guide rollers being pushed forward individually along a transport path specified by these guide rollers by means of a driver chain and thus by one of a hot Gas-air mixture flows through the drying room.

Through the EP 1 749 773 A2 a transport system of a sheet metal printing machine or sheet metal painting machine is known, with at least one moving front edge stop for the contact of the front edge of a transported metal sheet, with a side alignment device for sheet metal side alignment, with a feed drum which has at least one feed mark for the contact of the front edge of the metal sheet, and with a Belt transport system having several belts for aligning the front edge of the metal sheet with the positioning mark, the belt transport system being assigned a holding means for pressing the metal sheet onto the belts, the belts of the belt transport system being designed as flat belts, the holding means z. B. is a vacuum device or a magnetic device.

Through the JP H04-211 943 A a conveyor device for sheets with several synchronized conveyor belts arranged side by side is known.

• eine Platte, versehen mit Bohrlöchern, welche eine erste und eine zweite Reihe von Bohrlöchern bilden;
• Blasmittel, welche mit der ersten Reihe von Bohrlöchern der Platte unter Bestimmung mindestens eines Blasbereichs verbunden sind;
• mindestens zwei Förderbänder, welche derart angeordnet sind, dass sie auf der genannten Platte in der Vorwärtsbewegungsrichtung der Bogen gleiten, wobei die genannten Förderbänder im Wesentlichen parallel zueinander sind und wobei der Spalt zwischen den Förderbändern einen Blasbereich umfasst;
• Absaugmittel, welche mit der zweiten Reihe von Bohrlöchern der Platte verbunden sind, welche unterhalb der Förderbänder unter Bestimmung von Absaugbereichen angeordnet sind, wobei die Förderbänder mit Löchern entlang der gesamten Länge derselben versehen sind, welche intermittierend und während der Vorwärtsbewegung des Förderbandes die verschiedenen Bohrlöcher der zweiten Reihe von Bohrlöchern freilegen, wobei die Förderplatte Trennungsbarrieren zwischen den Blasbereichen und den Absaugbereichen umfasst, welche zu jeder Seite von jedem Förderband benachbart angeordnet sind, auf dessen oberen Kanten sich der Bogen während der Verschiebung desselben auf die Platte stützt.

Through the EP 2 505 532 A2 a device for conveying sheets is known, comprising:

• a plate provided with drilled holes forming first and second rows of drilled holes;
• blowing means connected to the first row of drill holes of the plate to define at least one blowing area;
• at least two conveyor belts arranged to slide on said platen in the direction of advance of the sheets, said conveyor belts being substantially parallel to each other and wherein the gap between the conveyor belts includes a blowing region;
• Suction means connected to the second series of drill holes of the plate, which are arranged below the conveyor belts to define suction areas, the conveyor belts being provided with holes along the entire length thereof which intermittently and during the forward movement of the conveyor belt the various drill holes of the second series of boreholes, the conveyor plate comprising separation barriers between the blowing areas and the suction areas, which are arranged adjacent to each side of each conveyor belt, on the upper edges of which the sheet is supported on the plate during the displacement thereof.

Through the DE 10 2017 215 374 A1 a conveyor device for flat material is known, with a table top, at least one conveyor belt resting on the table top and driven in its longitudinal direction, at least one blowing nozzle being arranged in the table top under the conveyor belt, the at least one blowing nozzle being designed as a Bernoulli nozzle.

Through the EP 1 588 967 A2 a device is known on a conveyor table, preferably on a suction belt table, for transporting sheet-shaped material in a sheet stream lying underneath from a sheet feeder to a sheet-processing machine, in particular a sheet-fed rotary printing machine, with one or more conveyor belts, for example suction belts which can be acted upon by suction air, the Suction belts can be driven and are guided endlessly around the conveyor table, with a blowing device which blows air under the sheet stream outside the guide area of the conveyor belts in the area of guide areas of the conveyor table arranged laterally and parallel to the conveyor belts, at least in the guide areas on the outside of the conveyor belts A plurality of individual ventilation openings distributed essentially over the entire surface of the guide areas is provided and a blown air supply is provided in such a way that it is at least partially coupled to ventilation openings, such that the guide areas can be supplied with blown air essentially in partial areas or over the entire surface, preferably in the guide areas and/or in a central guide area which is arranged between the conveyor belts, ventilation openings are provided and wherein the ventilation openings z. B. are designed as nozzles, in particular as blow-suction nozzles.

In industrial sheet metal printing, metal sheets are usually printed with at least one printed image in a production line by applying at least one printing fluid using at least one sheet metal printing machine and, if necessary, also in at least one sheet metal painting machine, e.g. B. to protect the respective surface of the relevant metal sheets or at least the printed image and / or z. B. to create a white background and / or a glossy effect, each painted over the entire surface or part of the surface with at least one further printing fluid. The printing fluid to be applied to at least one surface, ie to the top and/or bottom of the metal sheets in question, is therefore in each case as a printing ink and/or designed as a varnish, with the application of the printing fluid usually being subjected to a subsequent drying process. The metal sheets processed or to be processed in this way have a format e.g. B. between 500 mm x 650 mm and 1,000 mm x 1,250 mm and each have a sheet thickness of e.g. B. between 0.1 mm and 1.5 mm, preferably between 0.14 mm and 0.5 mm. Depending on their format and material - whether made of tin-plated sheet steel or tin-free sheet steel or made of aluminum - each of these metal sheets can therefore have a mass, for example. B. from a few hundred grams to a few kilograms, e.g. B. from at least 300 grams to five kilograms or more. Particularly in the production of sheet metal packaging, ie in sheet metal packaging printing, sheet metal sheets of this type are used industrially in mass production at a production rate of several thousand sheet metal sheets per hour, e.g. B. printed and/or painted at least 6,000 metal sheets per hour or even 9,000 metal sheets per hour.

In practice it has been shown that such metal sheets, which are to be transported individually at a high speed through the production line, tend to cause disruptions during their transport, in particular due to friction effects in their respective transport plane and/or due to contamination on their respective transport route. Disturbing friction effects also occur, for example. B. in the event of excessive wear or aging of a belt transport system used to transport the metal sheets. Each of these undesirable influences can lead to, for example: B. several metal sheets transported one after the other through the production line unintentionally come into contact with one another and/or become jammed or caught. Metal sheets can also be rotated out of their linear transport path in their respective transport level and thereby, for example. B. cause a collision with other metal sheets and/or a component of one of the machine units of this production line. And even if no collision occurs, despite a constant production speed in the production line, at least there can be a free distance between successively transported metal sheets, ie the distance between the Changing the rear edge of a first metal sheet and the front edge of a next, subsequent second metal sheet, so that a so-called synchronization point shifts, which means that in particular the front edge position of a metal sheet shifts relative to devices arranged in different machine units of the production line. By shifting the synchronization point in this way, z. B. in connection with the sheet metal printing and / or sheet metal painting machine provided acceleration and / or deceleration processes get out of order, which in particular results in an interaction between system components linked together in the production process, each forming a machine unit, such as. B. the sheet metal printing machine or another printing device, the sheet metal painting machine or another painting device, a transport module, a loading station, a continuous dryer, a cooling zone and an unloading station is disturbed. Such events lead to an undesirable impairment of production and/or damage or even a loss of production due to a malfunction-related machine downtime.

The invention is based on the object of creating a production line for processing metal sheets, whereby in a mass production of metal sheets with a production speed of several thousand metal sheets per hour, their trouble-free individual transport through the production line even when loading and / or unloading one arranged in the production line Continuous dryer is ensured.

The object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1. The dependent claims relate to advantageous refinements and/or further developments of the solution found.

The advantages that can be achieved with the invention are, in particular, that in mass production of metal sheets with a production speed of several a thousand metal sheets per hour whose trouble-free individual transport through the production line, e.g. B. is ensured without a shift in the synchronization point and / or without unintentional collision and / or tilting or snagging of successively transported metal sheets. The vertical erection of the metal sheets during their passage through the continuous dryer has the advantage that the transport distance through the continuous dryer required for drying the metal sheets can be made significantly shorter at a certain intended production speed compared to flat transport of the metal sheets, so that the drying process is thereby is much more economical.

The solution found also has the advantage that the respective transport device of a relevant machine unit is variable in width and is suitable for the transport of metal sheets of different widths without any structural adjustment. The width of a metal sheet extends transversely to its respective transport direction.

In a preferred embodiment, the production line transports the metal sheets through this production line by means of their respective transport devices, at least in sections, preferably largely floating on an air cushion. The metal sheets to be transported only rest on at least one transport belt, with the transport belt in question or the several transport belts arranged in particular parallel to one another being arranged in particular only in a central region of the respective transport device which extends longitudinally to the transport direction of these metal sheets. Otherwise, these metal sheets have no direct contact, especially on their respective belt-free edge areas, due to the air cushion that supports them. B. to a plate of the relevant transport device which is stationary in its transport plane. Due to this configuration, a largely friction-free and/or slip-free transport of the metal sheets along their transport route through the production line is possible.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are described in more detail below, which shows even further advantages of the solution found.

Fig. 1

eine Produktionslinie zur Bearbeitung von Blechtafeln mit mehreren Maschineneinheiten;

Fig. 2

eine Blechtafel;

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht auf eine Transportvorrichtung;

Fig. 4

die Transportvorrichtung in einer perspektivischen Darstellung;

Fig. 5

eine vergrößerte Darstellung der Transportvorrichtung;

Fig. 6

eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Beladestation mit einem vorgeordneten Transportmodul;

Fig. 7

eine Draufsicht auf die Beladestation der Fig. 6;

Fig. 8

eine Draufsicht auf eine Entladestation.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a production line for processing metal sheets with several machine units;

Fig. 2

a sheet of metal;

Fig. 3

a top view of a transport device;

Fig. 4

the transport device in a perspective view;

Fig. 5

an enlarged view of the transport device;

Fig. 6

a perspective view of a loading station with an upstream transport module;

Fig. 7

a top view of the loading station Fig. 6 ;

Fig. 8

a top view of an unloading station.

Fig. 1 shows, in a highly simplified schematic representation, an example of a production line 01 for processing metal sheets, in which several are usually structurally different from one another and each in their own frame 19; 21 ( Fig. 6 ) trained machine units are each arranged one behind the other in a row and work together to carry out production processing metal sheets 08. Adjacent, ie immediately successive, machine units have a common joint. In the production line 01 for processing metal sheets in the transport direction T of the metal sheets to be processed 08 ( Fig. 2 ) consecutively e.g. B. a sheet metal printing machine 03 or a printing device 03, a sheet metal painting machine 06 or a painting device 06, at least one transport module 04, a loading station 02, a continuous dryer 17 with a downstream cooling zone 18 and an unloading station 07 are provided. At least two of these machine units are each designed as an independent machine unit, which means that these machine units are each designed in their own frame. In a production line 01 with a sheet metal printing machine 03 and a sheet metal painting machine 06, these can also be combined in a single machine unit. However, it can also be provided that the production line 01 only has a sheet metal painting machine 06 or a painting device 06 - without a sheet metal printing machine 03 or printing device 03. The machine unit designed as a continuous dryer 17 is z. B. designed as a hot air dryer. At least the transport module 04 and/or the loading station 02 and/or the unloading station 07 each have at least one transport device 09 ( Fig. 3 ) for the transport of the metal sheets 08. A transport route through this production line 01 is e.g. B. linear. At least the machine units designed as a loading station 02 or as a continuous dryer 17 or as an unloading station 07 and arranged one behind the other in the transport direction T of the metal sheets 08 are linked to one another by at least one common traction device 29 which runs through these machine units and is intended for the transport of the metal sheets 08 ( Fig. 1 ), e.g. B. by at least one rotating chain. The direction of rotation of the traction means 29 is in the Fig. 1 indicated by directional arrows. In a preferred embodiment, the traction means 29 is formed by two mirror-inverted chains, these chains extending over several, e.g. B. two shafts 31 each having gears are driven synchronously by a motor 32. Two These shafts 31 are arranged at least at the two deflection points of the chains, that is to say at the ends of the transport route spanned by these chains through the production line 01. Rails 33 are preferably arranged in the continuous dryer 17, with each of these chains being mounted via laterally mounted rollers 36 one of these rails 33 is supported.

Fig. 2 shows an example of a rectangular, generally flexible metal sheet 08, a large number of which are to be transported one after the other along the transport path leading through the production line 01. Each of these metal sheets 08 has a length L in the transport direction T intended for it and a width B transversely to this transport direction T, with a format of the respective metal sheet 08 being defined by specifying its length L times its width B.

Fig. 3 shows, in a top view, an example of one of the transport devices 09 arranged in at least two different machine units of the production line 01. Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of one of these transport devices 09, such as this. B. is arranged in the transport module 04.

Fig. 5 shows the transport device 09 again in a plan view in an enlarged view. In a preferred embodiment, the transport device 09 has at least one, preferably two, transport belts 11 only in its central region M, which extends longitudinally to the transport direction T of the metal sheets 08, the transport belt or belts 11 each being z. B. are designed as a flat belt, in particular made of a flexible material, in the form of an endless loop. The z. B. between 1 mm and 5 mm, preferably about 2 mm thick flat belts have a width B11 z. B. between 30 mm and 250 mm, preferably about 40 mm or 80 mm. The z. B. table-shaped transport device 09 preferably has a flat plate 12 arranged in a stationary manner in the transport plane of the metal sheets 08 ( Fig. 4 ), whose width B12 extends transversely to the transport direction T of the metal sheets 08 is at least as large as the width B of the maximum format of the metal sheets 08 to be transported with the transport device 09. The generally strip-shaped central region M of the transport device 09 extends with its narrow side z. B. over a maximum of 60%, preferably over a maximum of 30% of the width B12 of the plate 12 of this transport device 09, in particular over 10% to 20% of the width B12 of the plate 12 of the transport device 09, particularly preferably about 15% of the width B12 of the plate 12 the transport device 09, and extends with its long side longitudinally in the transport direction T of the metal sheets 08 to be transported. The plate 12 of this transport device 09 has a length L12, which is preferably at least as long as the length L of the maximum format of the transport device 09 to be transported metal sheets 08. However, there can alternatively be several in the production line 01, e.g. B. two transport modules 04 each with a plate 12 can be arranged directly one behind the other, with the individual lengths of the respective plates 12 adding up to the length L of the maximum format of the metal sheets 08 to be transported with the transport device 09.

The respective transport belt 11 of the transport device 09 is preferably arranged on deflection rollers with its respective load strand along the transport plane in such a way that each resting on the respective load strand of the transport belt 11 and on the relevant transport belt 11 z. B. also held metal sheet 08 can be transported relative to the relevant stationary plate 12 along a linear transport route, this transport route z. B. extends at least over the length L12 of the transport device 09. The holding force required to hold a metal sheet 08 resting on the relevant transport belt 11 is carried out, for example. B. by suction, with the required suction z. B. is generated by a suction box arranged below the plate 12 of the transport device 09 in conjunction with a suction pump connected to it. The suction pump is preferably switched on and/or switched off as required or at least can be switched on and/or switched off. Alternatively or additionally, you can hold one on the relevant one Magnetic holding means may also be provided on the metal sheet 08 resting on the transport belt 11, which are preferably also switchable. The transport device 09 in question can also have several, e.g. B. have two transport belts 11 each arranged parallel to one another.

In the production line 01, at least two of these transport devices 09 are preferably arranged separately from one another, ie as independent structural units in different machine units, with one of these transport devices 09 being arranged in particular in the loading station 02 or in a transport module 04 or in the unloading station 07. In the production line 01, a transport module 04 is arranged immediately upstream of the loading station 02 and/or a further transport module 04 is arranged immediately downstream of the unloading station 07. The transport belts 11 of the relevant transport devices 09 are each driven by an electric drive 16 in such a way that transport belts 11 arranged in different transport devices 09 are preferably synchronized with one another in their respective rotation speed, so that metal sheets 08 transported by these transport belts 11 each have permissible minor tolerances Apart from the same linear speed, these metal sheets 08 are transported on these transport belts 11, for example. B. are held by suction and / or magnetically. The transport of the metal sheets 08 resting on the transport belt 11 takes place in their transport plane, ie in particular with respect to the plate 12 of the transport device 09, each largely floating on an air cushion and is therefore almost friction-free, but at least extremely low-friction and practically slip-free, because the respective Metal sheets 08 are only in contact with the comparatively narrow transport belts 11. The respective electric drive 16 of the relevant transport devices 09 is z. B. each designed as an electric motor and preferably connected at least in terms of data technology to a machine control 34 of the production line 01 that is superordinate to the individual machine units, so e.g. B. with a control center of this production line 01.

Transport belts 11 arranged in different transport devices 09 are preferably driven by their respective electric drive 16 in such a way that they z. B. rotate continuously, especially in synchronism. Alternatively, these transport belts 11 can also be driven in a clocked manner. It can also be provided that the transport belts 11 have a z. B. in the loading station 02 arranged transport device 09 is preferably clocked by the machine control 34 and / or a sheet metal sheet 08 resting on its transport belt 11 is driven to temporarily brake in its linear speed, whereas the transport belts 11 of a z. B. in the unloading station 07 arranged transport device 09 is preferably clocked by the machine control 34 and / or a sheet metal sheet 08 resting on its transport belt 11 is temporarily accelerated in its linear speed. The synchronous operation of the transport belts 11 arranged in different transport devices 09 and thus, above all, the synchronous operation of the metal sheets 08 held by these transport belts 11 is particularly advantageous when the machine units of this production line 01 are ramped up or shut down. For a trouble-free transport of the metal sheets 08 through the production line 01, the synchronous operation of the transport belts 11 arranged in different transport devices 09 and thus also the metal sheets 08, but in particular also at the transitions between the machine units of this production line 01 involved in the production process, must be ensured, for example. B. during the transition to the sheet metal painting machine 06 or painting device 06.

The plate 12 of the transport device 09 in question has a belt-free edge region R1 on both sides of its respective central region M; R2, these edge areas R1; R2 has a width which extends transversely to the transport direction T of the metal sheets 08 and is preferably the same width and with respect to one Longitudinal extension of the relevant transport device 09 are preferably arranged symmetrically. At least in the belt-free edge areas R1; R2, e.g. B. but also in the central region M of the relevant transport device 09, at least one nozzle field 13, each with several nozzles 14, is formed. The nozzles 14 arranged there are operated in such a way that, to form the air cushion, blown air is blown from them against the underside of a metal sheet 08 resting on the at least one transport belt 11 of the relevant transport device 09 and held on the relevant transport belt or belts 11. In an advantageous embodiment, at least some of the nozzles 14 of the nozzle fields 13 are z. B. each designed as Venturi nozzles. In the respective nozzle fields 13 z. B. a first subset of individual nozzles 14 and / or a second subset of individual nozzles 14 are each arranged such that the first subset of nozzles 14 directs the blown air obliquely outwards in the transport direction T of the metal sheets 08 at an acute angle, ie in each direction of the nearest edge of the relevant transport device 09 extending along the transport direction T of the metal sheets 08 and / or the second subset of nozzles 14 blow out the blown air vertically upwards.

Fig. 6 shows, by way of example, a perspective view of the loading station 02 arranged in the production line 01 together with a transport module 04 arranged immediately upstream in the transport direction T of the metal sheets 08. Both the loading station 02 and the transport module 04 each have their own frame 19; 21, these two machine units being joined together seamlessly, so that the frame 21 of the loading station 02 and the frame 19 of the transport module 04 form a common joint. The transport module 04 has a transport device 09 z. B. with a plate 12, with a metal sheet 08 to be transported in the transport direction T indicated by a directional arrow being shown on the plate 12 in both its largest format and its smallest format. For this purpose, the metal sheet 08 only lies on the deflection rollers which extend longitudinally in the transport direction T revolving transport belt 11 and is otherwise kept floating above the plate 12 by an air cushion generated by the nozzles 14. In contrast to the version of the transport module 04 according to Fig. 3 and 4 shows the in the Fig. 6 illustrated embodiment variant of the transport device 09 only has a single transport belt 11 arranged longitudinally in the middle of the plate 12.

Fig. 7 shows a top view of the0 in the Fig. 6 loading station 02 shown. The loading station 02 has a transport device 09 for feeding metal sheets 08 lying flat individually in a transport plane of this transport device 09 to the continuous dryer 17, the loading station 02 having at least one wire frame 22, the respective wire frame 22 usually. can be pivoted in a circle about an axis of rotation 23 which extends transversely to the transport direction T of the metal sheets 08 to be transported. Each of the wire frames 22 is designed in such a way that it passes through the transport plane of the metal sheets 08 lying flat therein in a pivoting movement from bottom to top and with this pivoting movement vertically erects a flat metal sheet 08 to be transported through the continuous dryer 17 from the transport plane. In the preferred embodiment of the loading station 02, two z. B. clocked and braking driven transport belts 11 arranged, which z. B. hold a metal sheet 08 lying flat on this transport belt 11 by suction and / or a magnetic holding force and a sheet metal sheet 08 lying flat e.g. B. up to a stop 24 extending transversely to the transport direction T of the metal sheets 08 to be transported, this stop 24 z. B. is formed by rubber buffers arranged on the rotation axis 23. The transport device 09 of the loading station 02 preferably also has - as before in connection with the Fig. 5 described - two belt-free edge areas R1; R2, in each of which a nozzle field 13 is formed. In the respective nozzle fields 13, several nozzles 14 are arranged to form an air cushion carrying a metal sheet 08 lying flat on the transport belt 11, of which z. B. a first portion of blown air in each case Transport direction T of the metal sheets 08 ejects obliquely outwards at an acute angle and / or z. B. a second portion of blown air is blown out vertically upwards towards the underside of a metal sheet 08 resting on the transport belt 11. On the respective wire frame 22 there are z. B. arranged laterally in the direction of the nearest edge of the relevant transport device 09 extending along the transport direction T of the metal sheets 08. Arms 26 are arranged, each of which extends into one of the edge regions R1; Grab the recess 27 made in R2. In order to avoid hooking of the metal sheets 08 to be transported by the transport device 09, these recesses 27 preferably have a bevel 28 which runs at an acute angle against the transport direction T of the metal sheets 08 in the direction of the nearest edge of the transport device 09 in question, which extends along the transport direction T of the metal sheets 08 e.g. B. in the form of at least one correspondingly extending edge.

Fig. 8 shows an example of a plan view of an unloading station 07 arranged in the production line 01. The transport device 09 of the unloading station 07 is constructed similarly to the transport device 09 of the loading station 02, so that the same reference numbers are used below for the same components. The unloading station 07 also has at least one wire frame 22, the respective wire frame 22 generally being pivotable in a circle around an axis of rotation 23 extending transversely to the transport direction T of the metal sheets 08 to be transported, each of the wire frames 22 being designed in such a way that it is Transport plane of the metal sheets 08 to be transported with the transport device 09 passes through in a pivoting movement from top to bottom and with this pivoting movement one of the metal sheets 08 transported vertically upright through the continuous dryer 17 is placed flat in the transport plane of the transport device 09 of the unloading station 07. In the preferred embodiment of the unloading station 07, two z. B. arranged in synchronization or clocked and accelerating transport belts 11, which z. B. by a suction and/or a magnetic holding force holds a metal sheet 08 lying flat on this transport belt 11. The transport device 09 of the unloading station 07 preferably also has - as before in connection with the Fig. 5 described - two belt-free edge areas R1; R2, in each of which a nozzle field 13 is formed. In the respective nozzle fields 13, several nozzles 14 are arranged to form an air cushion carrying a metal sheet 08 lying flat on the transport belt 11, of which z. B. ejects a first portion of blown air in the transport direction T of the metal sheets 08 at an acute angle, directed obliquely outwards and / or z. B. a second portion of blown air is blown out vertically upwards towards the underside of a metal sheet 08 lying flat on the transport belt 11. On the wire frame 22 there are z. B. arranged laterally in the direction of the nearest edge of the relevant transport device 09 extending along the transport direction T of the metal sheets 08. Arms 26 are arranged, each of which extends into one of the edge regions R1; Grab the recess 27 made in R2. In order to avoid hooking of the metal sheets 08 to be transported by the transport device 09, these recesses 27 preferably have a bevel 28 which runs at an acute angle in the transport direction T of the metal sheets 08 in the direction of the nearest edge of the transport device 09 in question, which extends along the transport direction T of the metal sheets 08, for example . B. in the form of at least one correspondingly extending edge.

According to the invention, there is a production line 01 for processing metal sheets 08, this production line 01 having several different machine units, at least one of these machine units being designed as a continuous dryer 17, the continuous dryer 17 being designed in such a way that metal sheets 08 to be dried move this continuous dryer 17 vertically erected and usually spaced apart from one another, with the continuous dryer 17 being preceded by a loading station 02 which is lying flat in a transport plane of a transport device 09 and which is vertically erected by metal sheets 08 and one through the continuous dryer 17 vertically Metal sheets 08 transported upright are arranged downstream of a flat-laying unloading station 07 in a transport level of a transport device 09. The distance between metal sheets 08 transported vertically upright through the continuous dryer 17 is only a few centimeters, e.g. B. between 1 cm and 5 cm, especially less than 3 cm. At least one printing fluid was previously applied to at least one surface of the metal sheets 08 to be dried in the continuous dryer 17, ie on one or both sides, in at least one machine unit designed as a metal sheet printing machine 03 or as a sheet metal painting machine 06. The printed and/or painted metal sheets 08 are fed to the continuous dryer 17 one after the other, these metal sheets 08 being erected vertically from their position in the loading station 02, which is otherwise lying flat in their transport plane in this production line 01, before being fed to the continuous dryer 17. The vertical erection here is e.g. B. an erection of the individual metal sheets 08 previously lying flat in the transport plane of the respective transport device 09 with a tolerance of less than ±30°, preferably less than ±15° in each case to the vertical, these verticals preferably being on the transport plane of the respective transport device 09 is related. After being transported vertically upright through the continuous dryer 17, the metal sheets 08 are placed flat one after the other in the unloading station 07 in the transport plane of a transport device 09. In the production line 01 there is in particular a cooling zone 18 z. B. designed in the form of a cooling device in order to cool the metal sheets 08, which are strongly heated during their passage through the continuous dryer 17, to a significantly lower temperature.

In the preferred embodiment, at least two machine units of this production line 01 are each in their own frame 19; 21 designed and at least functionally linked together for the joint execution of a production, these at least two machine units each having at least one Transport device 09 for transporting at least one sheet metal sheet 08 lying flat in the respective transport plane, each of these separately arranged transport devices 09 for transporting the relevant sheet metal sheet 08 each having at least one transport belt 11. The transport belts 11 of the relevant transport devices 09 are each preferably driven by an electric drive 16, in particular in such a way that transport belts 11 arranged in different transport devices 09 are synchronized with one another in their respective rotational speed, so that metal sheets 08 transported by these transport belts 11 are each transported at least almost be transported at the same amount, ie apart from minor permissible tolerances, at the same linear speed. In the transport plane of the metal sheets 08 lying flat on the transport belt 11, an air cushion is preferably formed below these metal sheets 08 and these metal sheets 08 are arranged to float in their transport plane by the air cushion.

In the production line 01, the machine units of the loading station 02, the continuous dryer 17, the cooling zone 18 and the unloading station 07, which are arranged one behind the other in the transport direction of the processed or to be processed metal sheets 08, are always linked to one another, and not only through a functional, ie control-related linking of the relevant ones Transport devices 09, but also physically, ie mechanically by at least one traction device 29 z. provided for the transport of the metal sheets 08. B. in the form of at least one chain running through preferably all of these machine units. The at least one traction means 29 passing through the relevant machine units engages both the pivotable wire frame 22 of the loading station 02 and the pivotable wire frame 22 of the unloading station 07, so that the relevant wire frame 22 is coupled to the traction means 29, the traction means 29 e.g. B. has at least one coupling element 37 ( Fig. 1 ), to which the respective wire frames 22 are attached during coupling. The at least one of the relevant machine units Continuous traction means 29 is thus designed to act both on the relevant pivotable wire frame 22 of the loading station 02 and on the relevant pivotable wire frame 22 of the unloading station 07 and to produce a coupling of the relevant wire frame 22 with the relevant traction means 29. A rotational speed of the traction means 29 passing through the relevant machine units and the respective linear speed of the transport belts 11 transporting the metal sheets 08 in the respective transport devices 09 of the production line 01 are in particular coordinated with one another by the machine control 34, in particular synchronized with one another.

Reference symbol list

01

production line

02

loading station

03

sheet metal printing machine; Printing facility

04

Transport module

05

-

06

sheet metal painting machine; Painting facility

07

Unloading station

08

Sheet metal

09

Transport device

10

-

11

Transport belt

12

plate

13

Nozzle field

14

jet

15

-

16

drive

17

Continuous dryer

18

Cooling zone

19

frame

20

-

21

frame

22

Wire frame

23

Axis of rotation

24

attack

25

-

26

poor

27

recess

28

bevel

29

traction means

30

-

31

Wave

32

engine

33

rail

34

Machine control

35

-

36

Roller

37

Coupling element

b

Width

B11

Width

B12

Width

L

length

L12

length

M

midrange

R1; R2

Edge area

T

Transport direction

Claims (15)

1. Production line (01) for processing metal sheets (08), comprising a plurality of different machine units, wherein at least one of these machine units is designed as a continuous dryer (17), wherein the continuous dryer (17) is designed in such a way that metal sheets (08) that are to be dried pass through this continuous dryer (17) in a vertically upright fashion,

   a) wherein a loading station (02) is arranged as a machine unit upstream of the continuous dryer (17) in the transport direction (T) of the metal sheets (08) that have been processed or that are to be processed, wherein the loading station (02) has a transport device (09) for feeding respective individual metal sheets (08), which are laid flat in a transport plane of this transport device (09), to the continuous dryer (17), wherein the loading station (02) comprises at least one wire frame (22), wherein said wire frame (22) is pivotable in each case about an axis of rotation (23) which extends transversely to the transport direction (T) of the metal sheets (08) that are to be transported, wherein each of the wire frames (22) is designed in such a way that it travels in a pivoting movement from the bottom upward through the transport plane of the metal sheets (08) laid flat therein and by this pivoting movement sets vertically upright, out of the transport plane, a laid-flat metal sheet (08) that is to be transported through the continuous dryer (17), and

   b) wherein an unloading station (07) is arranged as a machine unit downstream of the continuous dryer (17) in the transport direction (T) of the metal sheets (08) that have been processed or that are to be processed, wherein the unloading station (07) has a transport device (09) for transporting respective individual metal sheets (08), which are laid flat in a transport plane of this transport device (09), wherein the unloading station (07) comprises at least one wire frame (22), wherein said wire frame (22) is pivotable about an axis of rotation (23) which extends transversely to the transport direction (T) of the metal sheets (08) that are to be transported, wherein each of the wire frames (22) is designed in such a way that it travels in a pivoting movement from the top downward through the transport plane of the metal sheets (08) that are to be transported by the transport device (09) and by this pivoting movement lays flat, in the transport plane of the transport device (09) of the unloading station (07), in each case one of the metal sheets (08) that have been transported in a vertically upright fashion through the continuous dryer (17),
   wherein at least the machine units which are designed as the loading station (02) and as the continuous dryer (17) and as the unloading station (07) and which are arranged one behind the other in the transport direction (T) of the metal sheets (08) are mechanically linked together by at least one common traction means (29), which is provided for transporting the metal sheets (08) and passes through these machine units, wherein the at least one traction means (29) that passes through said machine units is designed to act both on said pivotable wire frame (22) of the loading station (02) and on said pivotable wire frame (22) of the unloading station (07) and to couple said wire frame (22) to said traction means (29), characterized in that the loading station (02) and/or the unloading station (07) in each case has a transport device (09) with two belt-free edge regions (R1; R2), wherein arms (26) are arranged at the side of said wire frame (22) of the loading station (02) and/or at the side of said wire frame (22) of the unloading station (07), said arms projecting in each case in the direction of a closest edge of said transport device (09) that extends longitudinally in relation to the transport direction (T) of the metal sheets (08), each of said arms engaging in a cutout (27) formed in one of the edge regions (R1; R2).
2. Production line (01) according to claim 1, characterized in that a cooling zone (18) is formed between the continuous dryer (17) and the unloading station (07) in the transport direction (T) of the metal sheets (08), wherein the traction means (29) that passes through said machine units passes through this cooling zone (18).
3. Production line (01) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a sheet printing machine (03) and/or a coating machine (06) is/are arranged as at least one further machine unit upstream of the loading station (02) in the transport direction (T) of the metal sheets (08).
4. Production line (01) according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, characterized in that the at least one traction means (29) provided for transporting the metal sheets (08) is designed in the form of a revolving chain that passes through said machine units.
5. Production line (01) according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, characterized in that the at least one traction means (29) provided for transporting the metal sheets (08) is formed by two chains which are a mirror image of each other, wherein these chains are driven synchronously by a motor (32) via a plurality of shafts (31) bearing toothed wheels.
6. Production line (01) according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5, characterized in that in each case at least one individual transport belt (11) is arranged in a central region (M) of the transport device (09) of the loading station (02) and/or in a central region (M) of the transport device (09) of the unloading station (07), or in that two transport belts (11) are arranged there in parallel with each other, wherein metal sheets (08) that are to be transported are in each case arranged in a laid-flat manner on the respective transport belts (11).
7. Production line (01) according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6, characterized in that the edge regions (R1; R2) have an equal width extending transversely to the transport direction (T) of the metal sheets (08) and/or are arranged symmetrically in relation to a longitudinal extension of the transport device (09).
8. Production line (01) according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7, characterized in that the cutouts (27) in the transport device (09) of the loading station (02) have a slant (28) in the form of at least one suitably extending edge, which slant runs at an acute angle, counter to the transport direction (T) of the metal sheets (08), in the direction of the closest edge of said transport device (09) that extends longitudinally in relation to the transport direction (T) of the metal sheets (08), and/or in that the cutouts (27) in the transport device (09) of the unloading station (07) have a slant (28) in the form of at least one suitably extending edge, which slant runs at an acute angle, in the transport direction (T) of the metal sheets (08), in the direction of the closest edge of said transport device (09) that extends longitudinally in relation to the transport direction (T) of the metal sheets (08) .
9. Production line (01) according to claim 6 or 7 or 8, characterized in that the at least one transport belt (11) of the transport device (09) arranged in the loading station (02) is driven such as to decelerate the linear speed of a metal sheet (08) resting thereon, and/or in that the at least one transport belt (11) of the transport device (09) arranged in the unloading station (07) is driven such as to accelerate the linear speed of a metal sheet (08) resting thereon.
10. Production line (01) according to claim 6 or 7 or 8 or 9, characterized in that each of the metal sheets (08) resting on the respective transport belt (11) is held by suction and/or magnetically, wherein the suction and/or the magnetic holding force is switched on or off as required.
11. Production line (01) according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10, characterized in that at least two machine units are each formed in a separate frame (19; 21), wherein machine units which directly follow each other have a common joining point.
12. Production line (01) according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11, characterized in that an air cushion is formed below each metal sheet (08) in the transport plane of the metal sheets (08) that are to be transported, and due to the air cushion these metal sheets (08) are arranged in a floating manner in their transport plane.
13. Production line (01) according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12, characterized in that a nozzle array (13) is formed in each of the belt-free edge regions (R1; R2), wherein in each case a plurality of nozzles (14) are arranged in the respective nozzle arrays (13).
14. Production line (01) according to claim 13, characterized in that nozzles (14) arranged in the respective nozzle arrays (13) are arranged in such a way that these nozzles (14) discharge blown air obliquely outward at an acute angle in the transport direction (T) of the metal sheets (08), and/or in that nozzles (14) arranged in the respective nozzle arrays (13) are in each case arranged in such a way that these nozzles (14) discharge blown air in each case vertically upward in the direction of the underside of a metal sheet (08) that is laid flat on the transport belt(s) (11).
15. Production line (01) according to claim 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12 or 13 or 14, characterized in that a revolving speed of the traction means (29) that passes through said machine units and the respective linear speed of the transport belts (11) transporting the metal sheets (08) in the respective transport devices (09) of this production line (01) are synchronized with each other.

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