WO2024002405A1

WO2024002405A1 - Material flow system, production system comprising a material flow system, and operating method

Info

Publication number: WO2024002405A1
Application number: PCT/DE2023/000067
Authority: WO
Inventors: Günther Zimmer; Martin Zimmer
Original assignee: Zimmer Guenther; Martin Zimmer
Priority date: 2022-06-30
Filing date: 2023-06-28
Publication date: 2024-01-04
Also published as: DE102022002374A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a material flow system which comprises at least one workpiece-conveying system, at least one workpiece-handling device, and a flow storage; the invention also relates to a production system comprising a material flow system of this kind, and to a method for operating a production system of this kind. The flow storage has multiple workpiece-storage spaces each for a workpiece. Each workpiece-storage space is at least temporarily located in the working range of the workpiece-handling device. In addition, the workpiece-conveying system enters the working range of the workpiece-handling device and comprises two conveyor devices running in opposite directions. The present invention increases the flexibility of a material-flow system.

Description

Material flow system, production system with material flow system and operating procedures

Description :

The invention relates to a material flow system that has at least one workpiece conveyor system, at least one workpiece handling device and a flow storage, a production system with such a material flow system and a method for operating such a production system.

From DE 202019 102 742 Ul a bearing and a hand-held direction for tools and/or workpieces for use on a machine tool are known. The individual workpieces to be processed are removed from the warehouse. The processed workpieces are stored in the warehouse. The present invention is based on the problem of increasing the flexibility of a material flow system.

This problem is solved with the features of the main claim. The flow warehouse has a large number of workpiece storage locations for one workpiece each. Each workpiece storage location is located at least temporarily in the workspace of the workpiece handling device. In addition, the workpiece conveyor system penetrates into the working space of the workpiece handling device and has two conveying directions in opposite directions.

A production system with such a material flow system has at least two work stations. All work stations are connected to the material flow system.

During operation of the production system, a workpiece to be processed is removed from a workpiece storage location of the flow storage using the workpiece handling device and transferred to the workpiece conveyor system. The workpiece conveyor system conveys the workpiece to one of the work stations for processing. Each workpiece leaving one of the work stations is either conveyed to another work station or taken to the flow storage facility using the material flow system. In the flow storage, the workpiece handling device places the workpiece in a workpiece storage location.

The material flow system allows several different flow paths for a workpiece. The individual workpiece is To make it available, it is removed from the flow storage facility using the workpiece handling device and handed over to the workpiece conveyor system. The workpiece can be conveyed in different directions from the central flow warehouse, for example. The workpiece-specific operations can be carried out largely independent of the location of the work stations in the material flow system.

In a production system with at least two work stations, the individual workpiece can be conveyed from one work station to another work station either directly or via the flow storage system. The material flow system allows any workpiece-specific sequence of work stations to carry out the work steps on the workpiece. Additional workpieces, for example those created during a sawing process, can also be loaded into the material flow system. In the material flow system, for example, a bypass via the flow storage is also conceivable. The flow storage can also be used as a buffer storage.

Further details of the invention emerge from the subclaims and the following description of schematically illustrated embodiments.

Figure 1: Top view of a material flow system; Figure 2: Longitudinal view of the material flow system; Figure 3: Cross section of the material flow system; Figure 4: Variant of a production system;

Figure 5: Another variant of a production system. Figures 1 to 3 show a material flow system (20) in views and sections. Such material flow systems (20) are used in production systems that are designed for automated multi-stage workpiece processing. Such a production system has several work stations that are linked together by means of the material flow system (20). For example, each of the work stations has a machine tool. This can be, for example, a cutting machine tool, such as a sawing machine, a drilling machine, a milling machine, etc. The machine tool can also be a joining machine, a forming machine, etc. A joining machine can be, for example, an edge banding machine, a joining machine, etc.

The workpieces (1; 2; 3; 4) processed in the production system are, for example, wooden or composite material panels. As raw parts, for example, these have a length of 2500 millimeters and a width of 1500 millimeters. Their thickness is, for example, up to 25 millimeters.

The material flow system (20) has at least one workpiece conveyor system (21), at least one workpiece handling device (31; 41) and a flow storage (51). The material flow system (20) shown in FIGS. 1 - 3 has two workpiece handling devices (31, 41).

The workpiece conveyor system (21) shown is rail-bound. In the exemplary embodiment shown, it has two workpiece conveying devices (26, 27). These are, for example, arranged parallel to one another and next to one another. The workpiece conveying devices (26, 27) can also be arranged one above the other. They can overlap or be offset from one another. The two workpiece conveying devices (26, 27) have opposing conveying directions (15, 16). Thus, in the top view of FIG. 1, a first workpiece conveyor device (26) conveys from right to left and a second workpiece conveyor device (27) from left to right. It is also conceivable to use a single workpiece conveyor device (26; 27), which can convey both in a first conveying direction (15) and in a second conveying direction (16) oriented in the opposite direction.

The individual workpiece conveyor device (26; 27), for example, has a roller conveyor (22) with, for example, several sections and with a large number of rollers (23). The individual rollers (23) of this roller conveyor (22) can be driven individually or in groups. The workpiece conveyor system (21) can convey continuously or discontinuously, at least in sections. For example, the rollers (23) can be stopped near or on a workpiece handling device (31; 41) for handling a workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4), while other rollers (23) continue to handle workpieces (2; 3; 4; 1).

It is also conceivable to design the roller conveyor (22) with non-driven rollers (23). The individual workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is then conveyed, for example, by means of workpiece carts, which grip the individual workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) at its outer area. These workpiece carts can be controlled individually or in groups, so that each workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) can be moved and positioned individually.

In the working space (35; 45) of the individual workpiece handling device (31; 41), the workpiece conveying system (21) shown has a removal and feeding area (24; 25). As soon as a workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is in the removal and feeding area (24; 25), the workpiece conveying system (21) is, for example, at least in the removal and feeding area (24; 25). stopped. The individual workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) can now be transferred to the flow storage (51) using the workpiece handling device (31; 41). The individual workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) can also be conveyed past the individual workpiece handling device (31; 41) by means of the workpiece conveyor system (21). In this exemplary embodiment, the material flow system (20) with both workpiece conveying devices (26, 27) penetrates the working spaces (35, 45) of both workpiece handling devices (31, 41).

It is also conceivable to arrange a discharge device at the removal and feeding area (24; 25). This has, for example, a hydraulically or pneumatically operated plunger. Using this ram, the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) to be processed can be moved towards the workpiece handling device (31; 41) when the workpiece conveyor system (21) is at a standstill. If necessary, the ram has an additional gripping device in order to pull a workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) provided by the workpiece handling device (31; 41) back onto the roller conveyor (22).

The workpiece handling devices (31; 41) shown are, for example, constructed identically to one another. These workpiece handling devices (31, 41) are, for example, industrial robots (31, 41) in the design of articulated arm robots. They can be designed to be fixed or movable. In the exemplary embodiment, the individual workpiece handling device (31; 41) is designed as a 6-axis robot with RRR kinematics. For example, it has three rotational and three translational axes. Its working space (35; 45) has the shape of a barrel body with a recessed inner cylinder. The working space (35; 45) of the individual workpiece handling device (31; 41) is the sum of all points in three dimensions Space that can be reached by a workpiece gripping device (33) of the workpiece handling device (31; 41). The workpiece gripping device (33) is arranged on a robot hand (32).

In the exemplary embodiment, the workpiece gripping device (33) is designed as a suction gripper. This workpiece gripping device (33) is used to grip the top of the individual plate-shaped workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4). The workpiece handling device (31; 41) is designed such that it handles a workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) both from the first workpiece conveyor device (26; 27) and from the second workpiece conveyor device (27; 26). can accommodate.

The robot hand (32) carries, for example, a reading device (34), such as a camera. Using this reading device (34), for example, a workpiece identifier (5) arranged on the workpiece (1 - 4) can be read. The workpiece identification (5) can, for example, be attached to a sticker, it can be attached as a visual identification on the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) or it can be engraved into the workpiece (1; 2, 3; 4). It can identify the individual workpiece (1; 2; 3, 4) as a code, alphanumeric, etc. The reading device (34) is connected to a master computer of the production system (10) via data lines. This makes it possible, for example, to check whether the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) picked up by the workpiece handling device (31; 41) is the workpiece (1; 2; 4) intended for handling by the production planning and control system. 3; 4).

The flow storage (51) has a large number of workpiece storage locations (52). In this flow storage (51), workpieces (1; 2; 3; 4) are stored before and/or after processing the workstations are temporarily stored. The temporarily stored workpieces (1; 2; 3; 4) are removed from the flow storage (51) in order to further process them at the same or another work station. Exactly one workpiece (1; 2; 3;) is stored in each workpiece storage location (52).

4) filed. During workpiece handling, the individual workpiece storage location (52) is assigned to the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) using the production planning and control system.

The flow storage (51) shown in Figures 1 - 3 is, for example, a shelf storage (51). In this shelf storage (51), all stored workpieces (1; 2; 3; 4) are accessible at any time. The flow storage (51) has six shelf units (53 - 58) in the illustration in Figure 1. Two first and second shelf units (53, 54) arranged on the right are, for example, large parts storage (53, 54). Large-format raw parts (1), blanks (2) or leftover pieces (3), for example, are temporarily stored in these. The two third and fourth shelf units (55, 56) shown in the lower area of Figure 1 are, for example, intermediate parts storage (55, 56) for blanks (2) and leftover pieces (3) of medium and small format. A further shelf unit (57), for example a fifth shelf unit (57), stands between the two workpiece handling devices (31, 41). This fifth shelf unit (57) can be operated both with the first workpiece handling device (31) and by means of the second workpiece handling device (41). The fifth shelf unit (57) and the sixth shelf unit (58) standing to the left of the second workpiece handling device (41) are, for example, constructed in the same way as the shelf units (55, 56) in the lower area of the illustration. Processed workpieces (4) can also be temporarily stored in all shelf units (53 - 58). For example, all shelf units (53 - 58) have the same height. Individual shelf units (53 - 58) or all of the shelf units (53 - 58) can be designed to be movable. For example, the shelf units (55, 56) shown below in FIG. 1 can be moved parallel to the conveying directions (15, 16). They can then be operated by both the first workpiece handling device (31) and the second workpiece handling device (41).

The flow storage (51) is designed such that workpieces (1; 2; 3; 4) are stored in at least one workpiece storage location (52) both by the first workpiece handling device (31) and by the second workpiece handling device ( 41) can be stored. Workpieces (1; 2; 3; 4) can also be removed from this workpiece storage location (52) both by the first workpiece handling device (31) and by the second workpiece handling device (41).

For processing, the workpiece handling device (31; 41) removes a workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) from a workpiece storage location (52) of the flow storage (51). Here, the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is identified, for example, using the reading device (34). The individual workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is then placed in the workpiece conveyor system (21), depending on the transport direction, on the workpiece conveyor device (26; 27) provided by the production planning and control system. The workpiece conveyor system (21) conveys the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) to the work station that is intended for the next workpiece-specific operation. After completion of the workpiece processing at this, for example, first workstation, the workpiece is conveyed by means of the workpiece conveyor system (21) either to a further workstation or to the removal and loading area (24; 25) of the workpiece conveyor system (21). The workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is removed from the removal and feeding area (24; 25) using the pre-planned workpiece handling device (31; 41) and stored in a workpiece storage location (52). the flow storage (51). In order to carry out a next operation when machining the workpiece, the work steps mentioned are repeated for this further operation.

After the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) has been conveyed from the first-mentioned work station by means of the workpiece conveyor system (21) to a further work station, the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is transported to a further work station at this further work station - edited. The workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) can then alternatively be conveyed again either to another work station or to the flow storage (51).

Figure 4 shows a production system (10) with at least two work stations (70, 80; 70, 90; 80, 90) and with a material flow system (20). All, for example three work stations (70, 80, 90) are connected to the material flow system (20). Each of the work stations (70; 80; 90) has a machine tool (71; 81; 91). In the production system (10) shown, one of the machine tools (81) is a sawing machine, and another machine tool (71) is a drilling and milling machine. The machine tool (91) shown in the middle is an edge banding machine.

In this exemplary embodiment, the material flow system (20) has three workpiece conveying systems (21, 28, 29). Each of the workpiece conveyor systems (21; 28; 29) runs between a work station (70; 80; 90) and a workpiece handling device (31; 41). The individual workpiece conveyor system (21; 28; 29) Each has two workpiece conveying devices (26, 27), which lie next to each other and which are arranged parallel to one another. The conveying directions (15, 16) of these two workpiece conveying devices (26, 27) of a workpiece conveying system (21; 28; 29) point in opposite directions. All workpiece conveying devices (26, 27) are designed, for example, as described in connection with the first exemplary embodiment.

All workpiece conveyor systems (21, 28, 29) protrude into the workspace (35; 45) of the workpiece handling device (31; 41), so that all workpiece conveyor devices (26, 27) penetrate into the workspace (35; 45). The workpiece handling device (31; 41) shown is constructed, for example, like the workpiece handling devices (31; 41) described in connection with the previous exemplary embodiment.

The flow storage (51) is shown in this illustration with three shelf units (55, 57, 58). All shelf units (55, 57, 58) are located within the working space (35; 45) of the workpiece handling device (31; 41). If necessary, the individual shelf units (55, 57, 58) can be designed to be movable.

The workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) to be processed is removed from a workpiece storage location (52) of the flow storage (51) by means of the workpiece handling device (31; 41) and sent to one of the workpiece conveyor systems (21; 28; 29) handed over. The workpiece identifier (5) of the individual workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is identified. For example, the first workpiece conveying system (21) conveys the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4), for example by means of a first workpiece conveying device (26), to a first work station (80). The machine tool (81) of this first work station (80) is, for example, a sawing machine. The Individual workpieces (1; 2; 3; 4) are separated using the sawing machine, so that, for example, two or more workpieces (2; 3; 4) are produced as intermediate products. All intermediate products (2; 3; 4) are coded, for example, by means of a workpiece marking device (82) arranged on the sawing machine (81). The workpiece marking device (82) can be, for example, a stamping device, an engraving device, a printing device, etc. Before, during or after the separating processing at this work station (80), for example, each workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is individually marked using the marking device (82). For example, additional workpiece numbers are specified by the production planning and control system.

The workpieces (1; 2; 3; 4) are, for example, conveyed individually into the workspace (35; 45) of the workpiece handling device (41; 41) by means of the workpiece conveyor system (21) of the material flow system (20). The workpiece handling device (31; 41) identifies the individual workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4). Depending on the pre-planned processing sequence, this workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is transferred either to a further workpiece conveyor system (28; 29; 21) or to the flow storage (51) using the workpiece handling device (31; 41). hand over .

The further workpiece conveyor system (28; 29; 21) conveys the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) to a further work station (70; 90; 80). There is, for example, a drilling and milling machine (71) or an edge banding machine (91). The last-mentioned machine tool (91) is used, for example, to join an edge veneer to a workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4). After completion of the processing on this machine tool (71; 91), the workpiece ( 1; 2; 3; 4) again using of the material flow system (20) either conveyed to a further work station (70; 80; 90) or taken over into the flow storage (51).

When transferred to the flow storage (51), the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is removed from the workpiece conveyor system (21; 28; 29) using the workpiece handling device (31; 41) and placed in stored in a workpiece storage location (52) of the flow storage (51).

A further arrangement of a production system (10) is shown in FIG. This production system (10) also has a material flow system (20) and several, for example three, work stations (70, 80, 90). The work stations (70, 80, 90) are constructed, for example, like the work stations (70, 80, 90) described in connection with the illustration in FIG.

The material flow system (20) of this exemplary embodiment has a workpiece conveying system (21; 28; 29) with two workpiece conveying devices (26, 27), two workpiece handling devices (31, 41) and a flow storage (51). The workpiece conveyor system (21; 28; 29) is, for example, oval in the top view shown. The two workpiece conveying devices (26, 27) are, for example, arranged next to one another and are at a constant distance from one another. Their conveying directions (15, 16) point in opposite directions. The structure of the individual workpiece conveyor device (26; 27) corresponds to the structure described in connection with the previous exemplary embodiments.

The two workpiece handling devices (31, 41) and the continuous bearing (51) are, for example, outside of the Workpiece conveyor system (21; 28; 29) surrounded space. It is also conceivable to arrange the workpiece handling devices (31, 41) and/or the flow storage (51) within the space enclosed by the workpiece conveyor system (21; 28; 29). The workpiece handling devices (31, 41) and the shelf units (55, 57, 58) of the flow storage (51) are designed, for example, as described in connection with the previous exemplary embodiments.

After a workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) has been removed from a workpiece storage location (52) of the flow storage (51), the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is handled using the workpiece handling device (31; 41 ) to the workpiece conveyor system (21). For example, depending on the capacity utilization and/or the availability of the individual workpiece conveyor device (26; 27), the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is placed on the inner workpiece conveyor device (26; 27) or the outer workpiece conveyor device ( 27; 26) filed. The workpiece conveyor system (21; 28; 29) conveys the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) to the work station (70; 80; 90) by means of the workpiece conveyor device (26; 27).

After completion of processing at the individual work station (70; 80; 90), the respective workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) is either transferred to another work station (80; 90; 70) using the material flow system (20). conveyed or taken into the flow storage (51).

Combinations of the individual exemplary embodiments are also conceivable. List of reference symbols:

1 workpiece, raw part

2 machined workpiece, first workpiece part,

Cutting, intermediate product

3 machined workpiece, second workpiece part,

Remnant, intermediate product

4 Final product

5 workpiece identification

10 production system

15 conveying direction

16 conveying direction

20 material flow system

21 workpiece conveyor system

22 roller conveyor

23 rolls

24 Removal and delivery area

25 removal and delivery area

26 workpiece conveyor device

27 workpiece conveyor device

28 workpiece conveyor system

29 workpiece conveyor system

31 Workpiece handling device, industrial robot

32 robot hand

33 workpiece gripping device

34 reading device

35 workspace

41 Workpiece handling device, industrial robot

44 reading device 45 workspace

51 flow storage, shelf storage

52 workpiece storage locations

53 shelving unit, first shelving unit, bulk storage

54 shelving unit, second shelving unit, bulk storage

55 shelf unit, third shelf unit, intermediate storage unit

56 shelf unit, fourth shelf unit, intermediate storage unit

57 shelf unit, fifth shelf unit

58 shelf unit, sixth shelf unit

70 workstation

71 machine tool, metal-cutting machine tool, drilling and milling machine

80 workstation, first workstation

81 machine tool, cutting machine tool, sawing machine

82 workpiece marking device

90 workstation

91 Machine tool, joining machine, edge banding machine

Claims

Patent claims:

1. Material flow system (20), which has at least one workpiece conveyor system (21; 28; 29), at least one workpiece handling device (31; 41) and a flow storage (51),

- whereby the flow storage (51) has a plurality of workpiece storage locations (52) for one workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) each,

- whereby each workpiece storage location (52) is located at least temporarily in the work space (35; 45) of the workpiece handling device (31; 41) and

- wherein the workpiece conveying system (21; 28; 29) penetrates into the work space (35; 45) of the workpiece handling device (31; 41) and has two conveying directions (15; 16) in opposite directions.

2. Material flow system (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the workpiece conveying system (21; 28; 29) is web-bound.

3. Material flow system (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the workpiece handling device (31; 41) is assigned a removal and feeding area (24; 25) of the workpiece conveyor system (21; 28; 29).

4. Material flow system (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the individual workpiece handling device (31; 41) is an industrial robot (31; 41) with a workpiece gripping device (33).

5. Material flow system (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the flow storage (51) is designed as a shelf storage (51).

6. Material flow system (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the workpiece handling device (31; 41) has a reading device (34; 44).

7. Production system (10) with a material flow system (20) according to claim 1 and with at least two work stations (70, 80; 70, 90; 80, 90), characterized in that all work stations (70; 80; 90) are connected to the material flow system (20) are connected.

8. Production system (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that at least one of the work stations (70; 80;

90) has a separating machine tool (81).

9. Method for operating a production system (10) according to claim 7,

- wherein a workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) to be processed is removed from a workpiece by means of the workpiece handling device (31; 41). The workpiece storage location (52) of the flow storage (51) is removed and transferred to the workpiece conveyor system (21; 28; 29),

- wherein the workpiece conveyor system (21; 28; 29) conveys the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) to one of the work stations (70; 80; 90) for processing,

- wherein the material flow system (20) alternatively conveys each workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) leaving one of the work stations (70; 80; 90) either to a further work station (80; 90; 70) or in the flow storage (51) takes over and

- wherein the workpiece handling device (31; 41) places the workpiece (1; 2; 3; 4) in the flow storage (51) in a workpiece storage location (52).