GB2463862A

GB2463862A - Single unit for unloading, handling and unloading material from operating machines.

Info

Publication number: GB2463862A
Application number: GB0816950A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Giorgio Ostini
Original assignee: Tradewise Engineering Ltd; Euromac SpA
Current assignee: Tradewise Engineering Ltd; Euromac SpA
Priority date: 2008-09-17
Filing date: 2008-09-17
Publication date: 2010-03-31
Also published as: CN102159338A; GB0816950D0; WO2010032194A1; EP2349603A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a unit (1) for loading on and unloading from operating machines or machine tools (2) pieces (3) to be worked and worked pieces (3). The unit consists of a first accumulation means or storage unit (9) for holding pieces (3) to be worked, handling means (12, 13m, 14, 15, 16) for moving said pieces (3), and a second accumulation means (10) for storing worked pieces (3). The accumulation means and the handling means are all arranged on a common supporting frame (4). The unit is designed to fit inside a single standard container for transport. The accumulation means may be flat horizontal surfaces one above the other. The handling means may be a prehensile apparatus that moves between a pick position and a release position.

Description

"LOADING AND UNLOADING UNIT".

BACKGROUND of the INVENTION

The invention relates to a loading and unloading unit, particularly suitable for loading and unloading pieces to be worked, such as, e.g., metal sheets, profile sections and the like from punching machines.

PREVIOUS STATE OF THE ART

The automatic machines that work metal sheets, profile sections and other products, performing punching operations, are supplied and unloaded by means of automatic product loading and unloading machines which arrange the products cyclically on the punching table and take them off this after the machining operation.

These loading and unloading machines comprise a number of operating units that interact with one another, but which are separate from one another, even though they are all arranged close to the punching machine, so as to be normally adjacent the one to the other.

These operating units normally comprise a first unit for accumulating the metal sheets to be worked, a handling unit for conveying the metal sheets from the accumulation unit to the punching table of a punching machine, and a second accumulation unit for accumulating punched metal sheets.

The first accumulation unit is arranged close to the punching table which must be cyclically supplied with pieces to be worked, and, for this reason, is arranged preferably on one side of this so as to eliminate any undesired inter-space.

To continuously supply the punching machine, and to then transfer the worked pieces onto the second accumulation unit of the latter, the handling unit moves according to the three Cartesian axes along an own frame which is normally arranged astride the two accumulation units and the punching table of the punching machine.

In point of fact, this handling unit picks up the pieces from the magazine of the first accumulation unit, deposits them on the punching table and, after performing the punching operations, picks up the worked pieces and deposits them on a storage and transport pallet which is located in an area of the second accumulation unit set aside for this purpose.

These distinct loading and unloading units have the drawback whereby, though being functionally cooperating with a single punching machine, they are made separately the one from the other.

Consequently, to perform punching cycles that comprise automatically loading and unloading pieces to be worked on a punching machine, lots of room is required to be able to position the piece loading and unloading units and the piece handling units in a functional and appropriately operating way with respect to the punching machine with which they must unavoidably cooperate.

A further drawback is that the known loading and unloading units, when they are sold to customers in countries far away from the places of manufacture, e.g., to be coupled with already-operating punching machines, must be sent each inside their own container to reach the recipient, e.g., by sea and, to save shipping time, an attempt is made to ship them assembled.

This results in transport costs increasing considerably due to the volumes occupied by these loading and unloading units and these costs multiply for each loading and unloading unit dispatched, with consequent increase in the final costs of a whole punching system.

Alternatively, to be able to use a single container and, therefore, cut the transport costs generated by the volumes occupied by the loading and unloading units, these are at least partially disassembled and the disassembled parts are packed so they all fit into just one container.

Nevertheless, this alternative implies further drawbacks which are the long time required for disassembly and subsequent re-assembly, the need. to use skilled labour to perform these jobs, well enough acquainted with these loading and unloading units, and the packaging operations of the removed component parts. All these work time, separate packaging operations and skilled labour further increase the total costs of the punching systems.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION.

One object of the invention is to improve the state of the art.

Another object of the invention is to make a loading and unloading unit that allows performing automatic loading and unloading operations of pieces to be worked, such as, e.g., metal sheets, profile sections and the like, on, or from, operating machines such as, e.g., punching machines, which has compact dimensions and such as to be able to be fitted, if required for a shipment, in a single container of standard dimensions, without having to dismantle it and, afterwards, fit it back together in order to put it back into working order.

Another object of the invention is to make a loading and unloading unit that allows cutting transport costs, above all when a single vehicle or just one container has to be used.

According to one aspect of the invention, a loading and unloading unit is provided for loading on and unloading from operating machines pieces to be worked and worked pieces, comprising: first accumulation means for accumulating pieces to be worked; handling means of said pieces; second accumulation means for accumulating worked pieces, characterized in that said first accumulation means for accumulating pieces to be worked, handling means of said pieces and second accumulation means for accumulating worked pieces are all arranged on a common supporting frame.

The loading and unloading unit thus permits performing loading and unloading operations of products on, or from, automatic operating machines, such as, e.g., a punching machine, with just one unit.

Furthermore, the loading and unloading unit has very compact dimensions expressly calculated to be easily transported by a single transport vehicle or also contained in a single container of standardised dimensions, without having to be dismantled, even partially, thereby considerably cutting transport costs and the total costs of packaging and skilled labour.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more evident from the

description of an embodiment of a loading and

unloading unit, illustrated indicatively by way of non limiting example, in the attached drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a side view of a loading and unloading unit according to the invention, facing and cooperating with a punching machine, in a pick up phase of a metal sheet to be punched; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the loading and unloading unit of Figure 1 in the same pick up phase; Figure 3 is a side view of the loading and unloading unit of Figure 1, in a transport phase of a metal sheet to be punched to the punching machine; Figure 4 is a side view of the loading and unloading unit of Figure 3, in a deposit phase of a metal sheet to be punched on a worktop of the punching machine; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the loading and unloading unit of Figure 4 without the punching machine, in the same operating phase; Figure 6 is a side view of the loading and unloading unit of Figure 3, in a preparation deposit phase of an already punched metal sheet on a second accumulation table of the loading and unloading unit; Figure 7 is a side view of the loading and unloading unit of Figure 6, in a deposit and release phase of an already punched metal sheet on a second accumulation table of the loading and unloading unit; Figure 8 is a perspective of the loading and unloading unit of Figure 1, in a starting phase; Figure 9 is a view from above of the loading and unloading unit according to the invention and of the punching machine facing this.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION.

With reference to the Figures, by 1 is indicated a loading and unloading unit of pieces to be worked on an operating machine, in this specific case a punching machine 2 for punching pieces of metal plate 3 in the form of sheets, and hereinafter briefly indicated as metal sheets 3 or simply sheets 3.

The loading and unloading unit 1 comprises a common frame 4 which is composed of a base 5 and of four uprights 6 extending out from the latter, which give the common frame 4 the shape of a parallelepiped or cube, according to need.

At the top, or close to the top of the four uprights 6, two horizontal beams 7 are fixed which extend horizontally overhanging, until they reach a position over a punching table 8 with which the punching machine 2 is conventionally equipped.

Below the two horizontal beams 7, the common frame 4 supports a first accumulation surface 9, on which are accumulated the metal sheets 3 to be punched, and a second accumulation surface 10, on which are accumulated the metal sheets 3 already punched.

The first surface 9 and the second surface 10 are positioned one on top of the other, meaning with the first surface 9 which is positioned fixed above the second surface 10, which, on the other hand, moves along the uprights 6, in a vertical direction, and preferably in successive steps, between a height substantially coplanar with the punching table 8 up to a preset height and lower than this.

On the horizontal beams 7, a prehensile apparatus 11 is fitted that moves along these and which comprises a carriage 12 which supports, in a lower area turned towards the surface 9, a horizontal frame 13.

This frame 13, on a face 13A facing the first surface 9, has a plurality of suction-cups 14 which are connected to a known vacuum device, not shown in the drawings because the structure of which is irrelevant for the present patent.

The carriage 12 also supports a pair of vertical guiding uprights 15 which can move up and down with respect to this; furthermore, the carriage 12 also slides along the crosspieces 7, driven by pairs of timing belts 16 linked with actuating means.

The sliding of the carriage 12 moves the prehensile apparatus 11 between a position for picking up the metal sheets 3 from the first surface 9 as far as a position of deposit of the picked-up metal sheets 3 on the punching table 8.

Altogether, the frame 13 has a triple movement option, namely a movement in a direction parallel to the horizontal beams 7, a movement in a direction perpendicular to the latter, along the vertical guiding uprights 15, and a perpendicular direction to the horizontal beams 7.

The first accumulation surface 9 comprises a flat base 19 which, as has been said, is fixed and secured to the uprights 6.

This base 19 defines a flat face 18 which is turned upwards and on which rests, sliding, a supporting table 20 that can slide on the face 18 in a direction parallel to the latter and which can be manually moved towards the punching machine 2 or in the opposite direction to this, i.e. in the direction of the area of this deemed to be the rear area.

On the supporting table 20 can be loaded, e.g. by means of a lifting vehicle equipped with a couple of lifting forks, a pallet 21 on which the metal sheets 3 to be punched are stacked beforehand, one on top of the other.

The base 19 also has reference means 22 which are fitted at least on the side 24 turned towards the punching machine 2 deemed to be the front side and on a side concurring with this front side which are also designed to de-magnetise the metal sheets 3 and are arranged to support the latter stacked one on top of the other, in such a way as to allow a substantially correct alignment, determined by the position of the metal sheets 3 supported on the reference means 22 and thus defining an initial position of the operating cycle of the prehensile part 11.

The reference means 22 comprise a plurality of parallel barriers 23 which lift up vertically from the front side 24 and from the side concurring with this, so as to form a dihedral right angle.

Also on the second accumulation surface 10 is resting a pallet 21', in this case initially empty, on which the metal sheets 3 will be consecutively stacked after they have been punched.

On the front side 24 of the base 19 a guillotine 25 is also fitted which also moves vertically and which will interfere with the punched metal sheets 3 during their transfer from the punching table 8 to the pallet 21', as will be better explained later on.

The punching table 8 of the punching machine 2 slides between a punching position, in which it is kept substantially underneath a punching head 26 of the punching machine 2, and an accompanying position of each punched metal sheet 3 right over the pallet 21', and in which this table 8 is moved overhanging with respect to the body of the punching machine 2, to extend out towards the unit 1, until it inserts itself between the first accumulation surface 9 and the second accumulation surface 10.

The punching table 8 comprises a part 8A which is fixed on the punching machine 2 and a moving part 8B that moves with respect to this, supported by the uprights 6 of the unit 1 and actuated by actuating means interposed between the latter and the punching machine.

The fixed part 8A is positioned so it extends under the punching head 26 (see Figure 9) while the moving part 8B can be flanked, sliding, with a side of the fixed part 8A when the moving part 8B extends from the loading and unloading unit 1.

This moving part 8B is intended, as has already been said, to move between a punching position in which it is kept parallel and contiguous with the fixed part 8A, to make up the punching table 8, and a retracted position between the first accumulation surface 9 and the second accumulation surface 10.

The skilled person can also foresee that, if required, the punching table 8 be made in a single block and that this be fully movable between the punching position and a position thrust forward towards the unit 1.

The sliding of the punching table 8, or of the part 8B of this, is obtained by means of guides 29, namely boxed guides 29, which are supported horizontally and parallel on the frame 4, inside which are received in a sliding way corresponding slides 28 mounted integral with the sides of the part 8B of the

punching table 8.

The second accumulation surface 10 is, as has already been said, moving up and down along the uprights 6 of the common frame 4 and, for this reason, is supported bilaterally on two carriages 30 which comprise wheels 31 engageable in respective guides 32 mounted between homologous pairs of uprights 6, so that they are facing one another.

The shape of the carriages 30 is that of a quadrangular plate and the wheels 31 are located in the vertices of this plate: this way, the engagement of the wheels 31 with the guides 32 creates pairs of opposing forces which oppose overturninq in the event of the second accumulation surface 10 being prompted to overturn due to an eccentric load or an accidental movement of the already-punched metal sheets 3 with respect to an aligned stack.

The carriages 30 are moved in a synchronised way by means of vertical nut screws 33 with corresponding upper extremities fixed to the respective lower areas of the carriages 30 and opposite lower extremities resting on the base 5 of the common frame 4.

At these lower extremities, the nut screws 33 bear, keyed, respective substantially horizontal gear wheels 34 joined together by means of a chain 35 closed like a ring on these and which transmits to them the synchronised rotation movement to synchronously move the two carriages 30 and, therefore, the second accumulation surface 10.

The operation of the loading and unloading unit 1 is as follows: it is positioned in front of a punching machine 2, precisely in front of the punching table 8 with which it is equipped, so the horizontal beams 7 extend above the part 8B of this.

A pallet 21 loaded with a stack of metal sheets 3 to be punched is rested on the supporting table 20 by means, e.g., of a lifting vehicle of the fork type.

The supporting table 20 is allowed to slide on the base 19, so the stack of metal sheets 3 is pushed against the barriers 23, aligning against these each metal sheet 3, which is at the same time de-magnetised, and determining a well defined position of these in space with respect to the loading and unloading unit 1, so that a start-of-cycle operating position is also defined, meaning so the prehensile apparatus 11, guided by an electronic control unit, can be positioned along the horizontal beams 7, moving above the stack of metal sheets 3 to be punched, to pick them up one by one in succession by means of the suction cups 14 (or using an equivalent pick-up apparatus known to the expert person of the

technical field)

When the prehensile apparatus 11 has gripped the first top metal sheet 3 of the stack, it lifts up and moves towards the punching machine 2 sliding along the horizontal beams 7 by means of the carriage 12 driven by the drive 16, which moves above the

punching table 8.

The vertical guide uprights 15 drop down towards the latter until they almost skim it, then they move sideways, moving the metal sheet 3 underneath the punching head 26 in a defined, start-of-punching-cycle position; here it is gripped by gripping and positioning mechanisms with which the punching machine is equipped.

The operation of the suction cups 14 is then interrupted and the metal sheet 3 is released on the punching table 8 and conveyed by the gripping and positioning mechanisms under the punching head 26 to perform the pre-established punching operation.

At the same time, the prehensile apparatus 11 completes a return run and again positions above the stack of metal sheets 3 to be punched, ready to cyclically perform new pickups.

When the punching operations of the previous metal sheet 3 have been completed, the gripping and positioning unit moves the punched metal sheet 3 towards an extremity of the punching table 8 turned towards the loading and unloading unit 1.

The punching table 8 (or a moving part 8B of this) is then made to slide in the direction of the loading and unloading unit 1 by means of an actuator unit that causes the sliding of the horizontal guides 29 on the slides 28: the sliding continues until the punching table 8, or the moving part 8B of this, reaches a position away from the punching machine 2 and superimposes itself on the second accumulation surface 10, more precisely, on the empty pallet 21', previously loaded on this.

The guillotine 25 is then made to drop and comes into contact with the punched metal sheet 3 lying on the moving part 8B of the punching table 8 and the latter is recalled towards the punchThg machine 2.

The punched metal sheet 3 is withheld by the guillotine 25 and, because the support of the moving part 8B of the punching table 8 is gradually no longer available, it deposits on the pallet 21' When the punched metal sheet has deposited on the pallet 21', the carriages 30 supporting the second accumulation surface 10 drop by one step, meaning by a height substantially corresponding to the thickness of the punched metal sheet 3.

The synchronised movement of the carriages 30 is performed by means of the simultaneous rotation of the two nut screws 33, driven by the gear wheels 34, one of which is driving, made to turn synchronously by the drive chain 35 closed like a ring on these.

The operating cycle is repeated as already described, until all the stack of metal sheets 3 is punched and accumulated on the pallet 21' which, when it is fully loaded, is picked up by a fork transport vehicle and replaced by another empty pallet 21' It should. be noticed that the total dimensions of the loading and unloading unit 1 are kept within predetermined values and that these substantially correspond to the inside volume of a conventional container for transporting goods by sea.

This way, the loading and unloading unit 1 can be shipped fitted inside just one container, without having to be dismantled, even partially and without transport packaging and subsequent re-assembly being required when it reaches destination.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Loading and unloading unit (1) for loading on and unloading from operating machines (2) pieces (3) to be worked and worked pieces (3), comprising: first accumulation means (9) for accumulating pieces (3) to be worked; handling means (12, 13, 14, 15, 16) of said pieces (3) ; second accumulation means (10) for accumulating worked pieces (3), characterized in that said first accumulation means (9) for accumulating pieces (3) to be worked, handling means (12, 13, 14, 15, 16) of said pieces (3) and second accumulation means (10) for accumulating worked pieces (3) are all arranged on a common supporting frame (4)
2. Unit according to claim 1, wherein said unit (1) has perimeter dimensions so that it can be contained in assembly configuration in a single transport container having standard dimensions.
3. Unit according to claim 2, wherein said standard dimensions comprise a length up to mm. 4.000, a width up to mm. 2.300 and a height up to mm.

2.300.
4. Unit according to claim 1, wherein said first accumulation means comprise at least a first accumulation surface (9) supported substantially horizontal to said supporting frame (4) at a first height.
5. Unit according to claims 1 and 4, wherein said second accumulation means comprise a second accumulation surface (10) supported substantially horizontal to said supporting frame (4) at a second height different from said first height.
6. Unit according to claim 5, wherein said second height is lower than said first height.
7. Unit according to claims 4, 5, 6, wherein said first accumulation surface (9) superimposes itself on said second accumulation surface (10)
8. Unit according to claim 5, wherein said second accumulation surface (10) is supported vertically moving on said common supporting frame (4), driven by operating means (30, 33, 34, 35)
9. Unit according to claim 4, wherein said first accumulation surface comprises a flat base (19) which defines an upper face (18) on which a sliding supporting top (20) is mounted parallel to said upper face (18), between a receiving position of pieces (3) to be worked and an aligning position of said pieces (3) to be worked with reference means integral with said base (19)
10.Unit according to claim 1, wherein said handling means comprise: a prehensile apparatus (13, 14); movement means (12, 15, 16) of said prehensile apparatus (13, 14) along said common supporting frame (4) between a picking up position of said pieces (3) to be worked at said first accumulation surface (9) and a release position of said pieces (3) to be worked at said operating machine (2) and vice versa.
11.Unit according to claims 1, 10, wherein said common frame (4) comprises: a base (5); at least two pairs of parallel uprights (6) which extend upwards from said base (5); a pair of parallel upper horizontal beams (7) joining said at least two pairs of uprights (6), which extend overhanging towards said operating machines (2) and on which said handling means (12, 13, 14, 15, 16) are movable.
12.Unit according to claims 8 and 11, wherein said movement means comprise: a pair of carriages (30) between which said second accumulation surface (19) is supported and each of which slides guided along a respective pair of said at least two pairs of uprights (6); a synchronized pushing/traction unit (33, 34, 35) of said pair of carriages (30) along said at least two pairs of uprights (6)
13.Unit according to claim 12, wherein said pushing/traction unit comprise: at least a pair of nut screws (33) arranged so that each rotates around one of said carriages (30) and said base (5); two respective gear wheels (34) each keyed on a corresponding nut screw (33) of said at least one pair of nut screws; chain means (35) closed like a ring on said two respective gear wheels (34); a motor unit intended to motorize in rotation at least one of said two gear wheels (34).
14.Unit according to claim 12, wherein each carriage of said pair of carriages comprises: a quadrangular element (30) with at its vertices respective sliding rollers (31) free to rotate and engageable in corresponding guiding means (32) mounted on said pairs of upriqhts (6)
15. Unit as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.