WO2020148013A1

WO2020148013A1 - Method for draping sheet-like semifinished products

Info

Publication number: WO2020148013A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/083253
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sierk Fiebig; Sebastian Bienia; Raphael Schnurr; Jan Beuscher; Klaus DRÖDER; Anke Müller
Original assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2019-01-14
Filing date: 2019-12-02
Publication date: 2020-07-23
Also published as: DE102019200321A1; EP3911499A1

Abstract

Method for draping sheet-like semifinished products, using a gripper (18), which comprises a contacting portion (20), the dimensional stability of which is selectively adjustable between a dimensionally stable state and a flexibly formable state and which is able to produce a negative pressure as a gripping force. The method comprises the following steps - providing a draping mould (30, 32); - providing blanks (22, 24) of sheet-like semifinished products, which correspond to partial regions (34) of the draping mould (30, 32); - placing the blanks (22, 24) on the corresponding partial regions (34) by means of the gripper (18).

Description

description

Process for draping flat semi-finished products

The invention relates to methods for draping flat semi-finished products according to the preamble of claim 1, a molded part according to the preamble of claim 8, a

Manufacturing device according to the preamble of patent claim 9 and a vehicle according to the preamble of patent claim 10.

Draping flat semi-finished products plays an important role in the production of molded parts, for example in the automotive sector.

From DE 10 2012 003 094 A1, for example, a gripper is known, the one

Contacting section includes, the stiffness is selectively adjustable between a dimensionally stable state and a flexibly mouldable state and which is able to generate a suppressive force as a gripping force. The gripper can be used, for example, to press an object into a shape or to take a negative shape of the shape and to suck in a limp object so that it adheres to the negative shape.

DE 20 2014 103 132 U1 describes an application tool with which a flexible

Workpiece can be picked up and shaped on an external shaping tool.

Another forming tool is known from DE 10 2012 018 231 A1, with which flat fiber arrangements can be formed into three-dimensionally shaped fiber preforms.

However, the known technical solutions are limited in terms of their flexibility and reach their limits, for example, when processing a semi-finished product with high rigidity in complex shaping processes. Variant production is also only possible with great effort.

The invention is based on the object of creating a new method for draping flat semifinished products which is significantly more flexible than the known solutions. The object is solved by the subject matter of independent claims 1, 8, 9 and 10. Further preferred embodiments of the invention result from the other features mentioned in the subclaims.

A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for draping flat semi-finished products, in which a gripper is used, which comprises a contacting section, the

Dimensional rigidity is selectively adjustable between a dimensionally stable state and a flexibly mouldable state and which can generate a suppression as a gripping force. This can be a gripper, for example, as is known from DE 10 2012 003 094 A1.

According to the invention, the method comprises the following steps:

- providing a draping form;

- Providing blanks of flat semi-finished products that correspond to partial areas of the draping shape;

- Placing the blanks on the corresponding sub-areas via the gripper.

In other words, there is no reshaping of a semi-finished product here

Total surface of the draping shape, but an occupancy over partial surfaces. This means that even very complex surfaces can be draped. A strong pressing of the blanks on the partial areas can also be dispensed with. For example, the blanks can only be brought into contact with the partial areas and optionally only pressed on in edges, corners or joints. The complex surfaces can also be draped particularly easily and precisely, so that a high-quality molded part can be produced from the blanks.

The blanks can represent, for example, side or top surfaces of the draping shape and have protrusions in the area of edges, corners or joints, for example.

The flat semi-finished products can be, for example, semi-finished products

Trade fiber composite plastic. Before putting them down, they can also be warmed and

for example, be plasticized. After being deposited, consolidation into a molded part is preferably carried out, for example by cooling or curing, if, for example, crosslinking plastics are used. The finished molded part is preferably handled further with the gripper, for example placing the molded part at a removal position. In a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention, it is provided that blanks with high rigidity are used. The stiffness can be characterized, for example, by an elastic modulus in the range from 5000 N / mm ² to 70000 N / mm ² . Likewise, the stiffness can be characterized by a small size of the blanks, which can cover a range from 100 mm ² to 1200 mm ² , for example in the flat state.

Since, in the method according to the invention, as mentioned, there is no reshaping of a large-area semi-finished product, but blanks are deposited in partial areas, the processing of blanks with such a high rigidity is possible in the first place, in contrast to large-area semi-finished products with the same rigidity. The blanks with high rigidity only have to be pressed and deformed to the extent that they contact the partial areas.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method of the invention, it is provided that in the method a machine table comprising a portal robot, which in turn comprises the gripper, is used and that different cuts are provided on the machine table, which correspond to different draping shapes and that alternate or, in parallel, the blanks are placed on the corresponding draping forms using the gripper.

Several grippers can also be provided on a portal robot. The process is therefore very flexible with regard to the possible variety of variants and cycle times, for example in series production, and these can be kept low.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method of the invention it is provided that the machine table comprises at least two portal robots and that a first portal robot places blanks for a first draping shape at a transfer position on the machine table, these are picked up by a second portal robotic and placed on the first draping shape and that the first gantry robot is placed during a cut for a second draping mold, which is then picked up by the second gantry robot and placed on the second draping mold.

This form of division of labor enables the rapid production of different variants of molded parts. In a further preferred embodiment of the method of the invention it is provided that an embodiment of the draping shape is used and the gripper cuts the blanks on the

Incarnation discards.

The embodiments can, for example, be 3D printed and correspond to the molded part to be produced.

In an alternative to a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention, it is provided that an embodiment of the draping shape is used and the gripper contacts the embodiment in a flexibly moldable state and then changes to the dimensionally stable state and thus molds a negative image of the embodiment and that the blanks are then made by contacting the blanks are placed on the negative image with the gripper.

This offers the advantage that it is not necessary to transport the blanks to a supply location for an embodiment of the draping mold which is not formed by the gripper, and the blanks can be deposited on the embodiment directly at the transfer position, for example. It is also particularly efficient to change the draping shape, since the embodiment of the draping shape for molding can only be started once with the gripper.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method of the invention, it is provided that the machine table comprises a shape-flexible section, the blanks are provided on the shape-flexible section and are contacted with the negative image embodied by the gripper.

The form-flexible section can comprise, for example, an elastomer cushion or also an area fed by active media, for example liquid or gaseous active media. This will place the blanks on the gripper, which itself

Forms negative image of the embodiment of the draping form, much easier. The flexible section can also be segmented to make it easier to place different blanks. For this purpose, the gripper can be pivoted on.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a molded part, produced or producible in a method according to the preceding description.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a manufacturing device designed for

Implementation of a method according to the invention as described above. The technical teaching disclosed in relation to the method of the invention can thus be transferred to the production device of the invention and vice versa.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle comprising a molded part according to the invention as described above.

Summarized again in other words, the invention relates to a method in which molded parts can be produced. It is provided that blanks of flat semifinished products are deposited on partial areas of an embodiment of the molded part.

Unless otherwise stated in the individual case, the various embodiments of the invention mentioned in this application can advantageously be combined with one another.

The invention is described below in exemplary embodiments on the basis of the associated

Drawings explained. Show it:

1 shows a sequence of a method according to the invention using a

Manufacturing device according to the invention in one embodiment;

Figure 2 blanks of semi-finished products, as they can be used in a method according to the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a negative image of a draping shape formed by a gripper in relation to different variants of draping shapes; and

Figure 4 shows an inventive vehicle.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a sequence of a method according to the invention using a manufacturing device 10 according to the invention.

The manufacturing device 10 comprises a machine table 12 with two portal robots 14, 16. The portal robots 14, 16 can be moved in the longitudinal direction L, transverse direction Q of the machine table 12 and in the vertical direction V to the machine table 12. In terms of construction, the portal robots 14, 16 are of identical design, so that, for simplification, the further details are described using a second portal robot 16 as an example.

The second portal robot 16 is equipped with a gripper 18. The gripper 18 comprises a contacting section 20 which is designed as a granule cushion. The stiffness of the granule cushion can be selectively adjusted between a dimensionally stable state and a flexibly mouldable state according to the prior art. According to the prior art, a suppression as a gripping force can also be generated via the granulate cushion.

In the area of a first portal robot 14, blanks 22, 24 are provided on the machine table 12. The blanks 22, 24 are cut flat

Semi-finished products made of fiber-reinforced plastic with high rigidity.

Embodiments 26, 28 of draping molds 30, 32 are provided on the machine table 12 in the area of the second portal robot 16.

The blanks 22 correspond to a first draping mold 30 and the blanks 24 correspond to a second draping mold 32, more precisely each with partial regions 34 of the draping molds 30, 32 (more details in FIG. 2).

In the method, the blanks 22 are then deposited on the corresponding subregions 34 of the first draping mold 30. The blanks 24 are placed on the

corresponding subregions 34 of the second draping mold 32. It is deposited using the gripper 18 of the second portal robot 16.

This process is described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2, using the second draping shape 32 and the corresponding blanks 24 as an example. The second draping shape 32 includes, by way of example only, a side face 36, a top face 38 and a groove 40 in the top face 38, the partial areas 34 of the FIG form second draping mold 32.

The blanks 24 comprise blanks corresponding to the partial areas 34. Thus, the blank 36 'corresponds to the side surface 36 and the blank 38' to the area 40 'corresponds to the top surface 38 and the groove 40. It is shown by way of example on the blank 36 "that the blanks 24 can also be divided. The blank 36 "also corresponds to the side surface 36. As shown in the left part of FIG. 2, the blanks 24 are placed on the corresponding subregions 34 of the second draping mold 32. The blanks 24 preferably have protrusions 42, in particular in the region of corners 44 and the like.

Referring back to Figure 1, the overall flow of the method in this embodiment will now be described.

The first gantry robot 14 thus places blanks 22 for the first draping mold 30 at a transfer position 46 on the machine table 12. There, the blanks 22 are successively picked up by the second gantry robot 16 and placed on the first draping mold 30. During this time, the first portal robot 14 already places blanks 24 for the second draping form 32 at a transfer position 46 '.

After all the blanks 22 have been deposited on the first draping mold 30 and have been consolidated into a molded part 48, the molded part 48 is attached to one by the second portal robot 16

Removal position 50 placed, which is indicated by the portal robot shown in dashed lines.

The second gantry robot 16 can then pick up the blanks 24 at the transfer position 46 ′ and place them on the second draping mold 32. In this way, alternately or if the second gantry robot 16 comprises several grippers 18, for example, also in parallel, blanks 22, 24 can be placed on the corresponding drapery forms 30, 32 via the gripper 18.

In the right part of FIG. 1, an alternative embodiment of the method is shown schematically.

It is provided here that an embodiment 52 of a draping mold 54 is also used, which is first described with reference to FIG. 3 (left part).

The gripper 18 contacts the embodiment 52 with its contacting section 20, which is in a flexibly mouldable state. Once the contact has been made, the contacting section 20 changes into a dimensionally stable state. This creates a negative image 56 of the embodiment 52 in the contacting section 20. The right part of FIG. 2 shows that this can easily be done with an embodiment 58 of another draping shape 60, the same gripper 18 being usable.

The further explanation is based on Figure 1. There is in the right part in a

The sectional view schematically shows that the gripper 18 contacts the blank 24 in the contacting section 20 with the molded negative image 56 and thus deposits the blank 24 on the negative mold 56.

In order to facilitate the process, the machine table 12 in this variant comprises a section 62 that is flexible in shape. The blank 24, as shown in the figure on which the sectional view is based, is provided on the section 62 that is flexible in shape. In this way, the blanks 24 can be provided one after the other on the flexible section 62 and placed on the negative mold 56. The flexible section 62 can also be segmented, so that a plurality of blanks 24 can be provided on segments at the same time.

FIG. 4 shows a vehicle 64 according to the invention, in the present case a motor vehicle 66. The motor vehicle 66 comprises one or more molded parts 48, produced in the method described above. An interior part 68 can be an example of this.

Reference list

Manufacturing device

Machine table

first portal robot

second portal robot

Gripper

Contacting section

Cutting

embodiment

Draping shape

Sub-areas

Side surface

‘Cutting

“Cutting

Top surface

‘Cutting

Groove

' Area

Got over

corner

Transfer position

'Transfer position

Molding

Removal position

embodiment

Draping shape

Negative image

embodiment

Draping shape 62 Flexible section

64 vehicle

66 motor vehicle

68 interior part

L longitudinal direction

Q transverse direction

V vertical direction

Claims

1. A method for draping flat semi-finished products, in which a gripper (18) is used, which comprises a contacting section (20), the stiffness of which is selectively adjustable between a dimensionally stable state and a flexibly mouldable state and which is able to produce a suppression as a gripping force, thereby

characterized in that the process comprises the following steps:

Providing a draping form (30, 32, 54, 60);

Providing blanks (22, 24, 36 ', 36', 38 ') of flat semi-finished products that

Subregions (34) of the draping shape (30, 32, 54, 60) correspond;

Placing the blanks (22, 24, 36 ', 36', 38 ') on the corresponding one

Subregions (34) via the gripper (18).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that blanks (22, 24, 36 ', 36', 38 ') are used with a high rigidity.

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a machine table (12) comprising a gantry robot (14, 16), which in turn comprises the gripper (18), is used in the method and that on the machine table (12) different blanks (22, 24, 36 ', 36 “, 38') are provided which correspond to different draping shapes (30, 32, 54, 60) and that the blanks (22, 24, 36 'are deposited alternately or in parallel , 36 “, 38 ') on the

corresponding draping forms (30, 32, 54, 60) via the gripper (18).

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the machine table (12) comprises at least two portal robots (14, 16) and that a first portal robot (14) cuts (22) for a first draping shape (30) at a transfer position (46) placed on the machine table (12), picked up by a second gantry robot (16) and placed on the first draping mold (30) and that the first gantry robot (14) places cuts (24) for a second draping mold (32) during its cutting, which are then picked up by the second gantry robot (16) and placed on the second draping mold (32).

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an embodiment (26, 28, 52, 58) of the draping mold (30, 32, 54, 60) is used and the gripper (18) the blanks (22, 24, 36 ', 36 “, 38') on the embodiment (26, 28, 52, 58).

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a

Embodiment (52, 58) of the draping form (54, 60) is used and the gripper (18) contacts the embodiment (52, 58) in a flexibly formable state and then changes to the dimensionally stable state and thus a negative image (56) of the embodiment ( 52,

58) and that the blanks (22, 24, 36 ', 36 “, 38') then contact the blanks (22, 24, 36 ', 36“, 38') with the gripper (18) on the negative image ( 56) are filed.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the machine table (12) comprises a flexible section (62), the blanks (22, 24, 36 ', 36 ", 38') are provided on the flexible section (62) and with the negative image (56) embodied by the gripper (18).

8. molded part (48), manufactured or producible in a method according to one of the

previous claims.

9. Manufacturing device (10), designed to carry out a method according to one of claims 1 to 7.

10 vehicle (64) comprising a molded part (48) according to claim 8.