DE102008052097A1 - Machine arrangement for laser cutting of support of sheet metal, has cleaning unit movably connected with support unit during loading movement and/or unloading movement and movable for cleaning workpiece support - Google Patents

Abstract

The arrangement (10) has a support unit (14) movable relative to a workpiece support (7) with a workpiece i.e. sheet metal, with a loading movement, and/or with an operating product with an unloading movement. A cleaning unit (15) is movably connected with the support unit during the loading movement and/or the unloading movement, and is movable for cleaning the workpiece support due to the loading movement and/or unloading movement of the support unit. The cleaning unit is transferable into a functional state and out-of functional states. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a method for cleaning a workpiece support (2) a control program for operating a machine arrangement.

Description

The The invention relates to a machine arrangement for operating a Workpiece support for workpieces, in particular for sheets, with a carrying device, to which for loading and / or for unloading the workpiece support to be machined workpieces and / or machining products of a workpiece machining can be fixed and which relative to the workpiece support jointly with a workpiece to be machined with a loading movement and / or collectively with a processing product is movable with a discharge movement. The invention relates to Furthermore, a mechanical arrangement for thermal cutting of Workpieces, in particular of sheets, with a thermal Cutting device, with a workpiece support and with a mechanical arrangement of the type mentioned for use the workpiece support. Moreover, the invention relates to a carried out by means of the mechanical arrangement of the type mentioned Method for cleaning a workpiece support for Workpieces, in particular for sheets and a Control program for operating the machine arrangement for Operating a workpiece support.

Generic mechanical arrangements for operating a workpiece support for sheets as well as provided with such a machine arrangement mechanical arrangements of the above type for the thermal cutting of sheets are offered by the company TRUMPF ^® , 71254 Ditzingen, Germany. The known mechanical arrangements for operating a workpiece support have a carrying device with a support frame, on which suction elements and / or rake-type devices are attached as support elements. The suckers serve primarily to determine sheets to be machined, so-called "raw sheets" when loading the workpiece support on the support frame. The rake-type support elements are used primarily for unloading the workpiece support and thereby fix machining products, for example finished parts in the form of processed sheets or machining residues in the form of skeletons, on the carrying device moved with a discharge movement relative to the workpiece support.

For high-quality machining results to be achieved, the sheets to be machined must assume a defined position on the workpiece support. In particular, it must be ensured that sheets to be processed are just laid down on the workpiece support. However, cutting residues, such as those incurred in the thermal cutting of sheets, for example in the form of residual particles of the machined workpiece, can adhere to the workpiece support and thereby lead to undesirable unevenness of sheets arranged on the workpiece support. For this reason, the workpiece supports are usually cleaned from time to time. A cleaning device for workpiece supports from juxtaposed support strips is off DE 20 2004 015 922 U1 known.

The The object of the invention is to be as efficient as possible Way a functional condition of the workpiece support to ensure.

Solved according to the invention This object is achieved by the mechanical arrangements according to the claims 1 and 13 and by the method according to claim 11 and the control program according to claim 12th

in the Cases of the invention are movements that of a cleaning device executed relative to the workpiece support to be cleaned coupled with loading movements and / or unloading movements a carrying device, by means of which to be machined workpieces stored on the workpiece support or machining products be removed from the workpiece support. The invention Concept allows the functions "cleaning the workpiece support" on the one hand and "loading or unloading the workpiece support" on the other hand temporally to parallelize. Besides, the different ones can Functions using one and the same constructive equipment, realized, for example, with the help of one and the same drive become.

Special Embodiments of the objects according to the independent Claims emerge from the dependent Claims 2 to 10 and 14.

The easiest way to move Coupling of cleaning device and carrying device consists in the constructive connection of both facilities. Accordingly is in the case of Erfindungsbauart according to claim 2, the cleaning device attached to the support device.

In order to avoid complex measures for mutual coordination of the support device and its operation on the one hand and the function "cleaning the workpiece support" is provided in a preferred embodiment of the invention that the cleaning device in a functional state and in an inoperative state can be transferred (claim 3). By transferring the cleaning device into the functional state, the cleaning function of the overall arrangement is activated. The cleaning device is in the non-functional state, the support device he can According arrangements according to the invention as the support means of a conventional loading and / or unloading operated.

Of the For simplicity, the cleaning device for transfer in a functional state or in an inoperative state relative to the support device in a functional position or in a Non-functional position movable (claim 4).

For the temporal sequence of the coupled functions exist different possibilities.

According to claim 5, the cleaning device of the carrying device rushes in the direction the loading movement carried out by the carrying device ahead. Accordingly, the workpiece support becomes immediate cleaned before depositing a workpiece to be machined. In this way is guaranteed in particular, that the workpiece support at the time of loading is in a functional state.

alternative or in addition, it is provided in the case of the invention that the cleaning device of the support device in the direction of the carrying device running unloading movement lags (claim 6). This measure has the advantage that the workpiece support already a short time after completion of the workpiece machining is cleaned. At such an early stage can be processing-related impurities still relatively easily remove from the workpiece support.

When Loading movement and / or as Entladebewegung the inventive Carrying come both uniaxial and biaxial movements in question, where biaxial movements in particular as arcuate Pivoting movements can be performed. simultaneously the workpiece support to be cleaned must be separated from the one on the Carrying device entrained cleaning device completely be recorded. In the case of biaxial loading and / or unloading movements of the Ensure carrying equipment with structurally simple means is provided in a further preferred embodiment of the invention, that attached to the support device cleaning extends in the direction of both axes of movement of the support device (Claim 7).

For the cleaning device according to the invention arrangements come different designs in question.

evidenced Claim 8 is inventively as Stripping device trained cleaning device preferred. Such stripping devices are characterized in that the for cleaning the workpiece support to be executed Movement of the cleaning device relative to the workpiece support directly by the loading and / or unloading movement of the support device can be generated. Additional drive for movement the cleaning device or a cleaning member of the cleaning device relative to the workpiece support are dispensable.

elastic Abstreiforgane, as evidenced by claim 9 in the case of are used in a further invention type, are at corresponding Design advantageously capable of contaminants on the To remove workpiece support and at the same time Adapt the shape of the workpiece support.

By a special functional safety in connection with a constructive Particularly simple design are characterized in claim 10 described brush-like Abstreiforgane. Preferably are the brush-like wiper members according to the invention Cleaning devices made of spring steel sheet, whose "bristles" through Incisions are made in the or the spring steel sheets. In As a result of their mounting on the side of the workpiece support Side are such Abstreiforgane sufficiently elastic. The production Of incised spring steel sheets requires only a small effort. In particular, the operator of a inventive arrangement readily in the Able to manufacture the required wiper organs themselves.

claim 14 relates to a particularly practice-relevant design of the invention Arrangement for the thermal cutting of plate-like workpieces. As a thermal cutting device is a laser cutting device intended. Additionally or alternatively, of a workpiece support Made use of a plurality of juxtaposed and a support level defining support strips.

below the invention is based on exemplary schematic representations explained in more detail. Show it:

1 a mechanical arrangement for laser cutting of metal sheets with a laser cutting device, a workpiece support and a first-order machine arrangement for operating the workpiece support,

2 a cleaning device of the machine arrangement according to 1 and

3 a mechanical arrangement second Type for operating the workpiece support according to 1 ,

evidenced 1 includes a mechanical arrangement 1 for thermal cutting, here: for laser cutting, of sheet metal a thermal cutting device in the form of a laser cutting head 2 , This is on a machine bridge 3 motor-driven in the direction of an x-axis. The laser beam serving as a machining tool runs in the interior of a laser cutting head 2 attaching laser protective bellows 4 , Together with the laser cutting head 2 can the machine bridge 3 moved in the direction of a y-axis driven by a motor. For this purpose, the machine bridge 3 on a machine bed 5 stored. On the machine bed 5 provided longitudinal guides 6 for the machine bridge 3 are in 1 indicated.

Inside the machine bed 5 is a workpiece support 7 conventional design arranged. In the usual way, the workpiece support comprises 7 a plurality of side by side arranged and a support plane defining support strips 8th , which are cut from sheet metal.

Due to the possibilities of movement of the laser cutting head 2 at the machine bridge 3 as well as the machine bridge 3 on the machine bed 5 can the laser cutting head 2 in the plane defined by the x-axis and the y-axis horizontal plane any point on the workpiece support 7 approach. The laser cutting head 2 , the machine bridge 3 , the machine bed 5 and the workpiece support 7 Together they form a processing arrangement 9 ,

In addition to the processing arrangement 9 is a mechanical arrangement for operating the workpiece support 7 (Operating arrangement 10 ) arranged. The operating arrangement 10 has a support column 11 , a cantilever arm 12 and a control unit 13 on. The boom arm 12 is at the support column 11 about a pivot axis extending in the direction of a z-axis pivotally mounted. The z-axis extends in the vertical direction and thus perpendicular to the plane defined by the x-axis and the y-axis horizontal plane.

At the of the support column 11 distal end of the boom 12 is at this the control unit 13 suspended. Relative to the cantilever arm 12 is the control unit 13 about a likewise extending in the direction of the z-axis pivot axis. Together with the boom 12 is the control unit 13 height adjustable in the direction of the z-axis. The support column side pivot bearing of the boom 12 at the support column 11 can be adjusted in the direction of the z-axis.

The operating unit 13 and with this the entire operating arrangement 10 serves for loading and unloading as well as for cleaning the workpiece support 7 , For this purpose, the operating unit comprises 13 the Be dienanordnung 10 a carrying device 14 and a cleaning device 15 ,

The carrying device 14 has a rectangular support frame 16 with suckers 17 and two in the figures not discernible Entladerechen conventional design. The suckers 17 are at the viewer of 1 opposite underside of the support frame 16 appropriate. The unloading rakes are below the suckers 17 on the support frame 16 in the direction of double arrows 18 movably guided.

The cleaning device 15 is at the front of the support frame 16 attached. It includes two cleaning units 19 identical design, which run at right angles to each other. One of the cleaning units 19 is in 2 shown in sections.

Accordingly, the cleaning unit comprises 19 as a scraper 20 executed cleaning or Abstreiforgan. The scraper 20 is formed in two layers and comprises two juxtaposed and each with several incisions 21 provided sheet metal strips 22 made of spring steel sheet. With one of their long sides are the metal strips 22 on a scraper holder 23 clamped. The wiper holder 23 is by means of pneumatic piston / cylinder units 24 in the direction of the z-axis relative to a base support 25 the cleaning unit 19 raised and lowered. About the basic carrier 25 is the cleaning unit 19 on the support frame 16 the carrying device 14 attached.

As well as all other essential functions of the mechanical arrangement 1 are also the means of pneumatic piston / cylinder units 24 executed positioning movements of the scraper 20 from one in 1 indicated CNC control 26 controlled according to a numerical control program.

1 shows the machine arrangement 1 immediately before loading the workpiece support 7 , The machine bridge 3 with the laser cutting head 2 is on the way to her starting position, which is at the in 1 left end of the machine bed 5 is provided. Take the machine bridge 3 with the laser cutting head 2 the starting position, so the workpiece support 7 from the machine bridge 3 no longer covered and is therefore for the control arrangement 10 fully accessible.

The operating arrangement 10 has from a stack, not shown, by means of the sucker 17 in the usual way, a plate-like workpiece, in this case to be processed sheet metal 27 , added. The sheet 27 is at the bottom of the support frame 16 from the suckers 17 kept and for safety reasons of the under the support frame 16 undertake unloaded unloading rakes. The scrapers 20 the two cleaning units 19 are by means of the pneumatic piston / cylinder units 24 opposite the support frame 16 lowered into a functional position.

Has the machine bridge 3 with the laser cutting head 2 reaches its starting position and thereby the workpiece support 7 released, so pivots the boom 12 the operating arrangement 10 motor driven and numerically controlled with a loading movement in an arrow direction 28 , Due to the pivoting movement of the boom 12 first reach the cleaning units 19 , which of the carrying device 14 the operating arrangement 10 leading in the direction of the loading movement, with the scrapers in the functional position 20 the workpiece support 7 , The height adjustment of the carrying device 14 or of the supporting frame 16 in the direction of the z-axis is chosen such that the scrapers 20 of the cleaning units 19 with continued loading movement the support strips 8th the workpiece support 7 brush-like applied and thereby to the support strips 8th adhering processing residues of the previous sheet metal processing of the support strips 8th strip. The scrapers 20 of the cleaning units 19 are sufficiently stiff to keep the contaminants on the support bars 8th to remove and at the same time sufficiently elastically deformable, to get out of the strip structure of the workpiece support 7 resulting unevenness of the workpiece support 7 to be able to adapt. As the cleaning device 15 with the cleaning units 19 in the direction of both axes of the support device 14 executed biaxial loading movement extends over the cleaning device 15 the workpiece support 7 Completely. The for cleaning the workpiece support 7 Required movement of the scrapers 20 relative to the support bars 8th the workpiece support 7 is directly by the loading movement of the support device 14 causes.

After passing the cleaning units 19 or the wiper 20 are the support bars 8th the workpiece support 7 freed from previously adhering contaminants and thus able to the sheet to be machined 27 now in a position above the workpiece support 7 pivoted to store functional.

Before the transfer of the sheet to be processed 27 to the workpiece support 7 First, the scrapers 20 of the cleaning units 19 by means of the pneumatic piston / cylinder units 24 raised to a non-functional position. This gives the scraper 20 on a longitudinal side of the support frame 16 provided cleaning unit 19 the way for an extension movement of this side of the support frame 16 movably guided discharger rake free. This Entladerechen can therefore together with the mens on the opposite longitudinal side of Tragrah 16 guided discharge rake from a position below the support frame 16 move outwards. Subsequently, the suckers 17 depressurized and up to this point on the suckers 17 fixed sheet metal 27 can become gravitational on the workpiece support 7 move.

After placing the sheet 27 on the workpiece support 7 pivots the boom 12 with the carrying device 14 and the cleaning device in an inoperative state 15 in the direction of the arrow 28 from the working area of the laser cutting head 2 , It now follows the cutting processing of the sheet 27 by means of the laser cutting head 2 ,

After completion of the sheet metal processing moves the machine bridge 3 with the laser cutting head 2 back to their starting position. The carrying device 14 is again over the workpiece support 7 pivoted and the processing products, in detail finished parts and a skeleton, are in a conventional manner by means of the sucker 17 and by means of unloading rakes from the workpiece support 7 removed and from the vicinity of the processing arrangement 9 moved to an unloading position.

After unloading the workpiece support 7 is by means of the support device 14 taken another sheet and with prior cleaning of the support strips 8th on the workpiece support 7 stored.

Notwithstanding the procedures described above, there is also the possibility of the unloading movement of the operating arrangement 10 with a cleaning of the support strips 8th on the workpiece support 7 to combine. In this case, after receiving the machining products from the workpiece support 7 the cleaning device 15 activated. For this purpose, even before the start of the unloading movement of the support device 14 the scrapers 20 of the cleaning units 19 lowered into its functional position. Only then is the carrying device 14 with the cleaning device attached thereto 15 with a discharge movement opposite to the direction of the arrow 28 pivoted. During the unloading movement, the scrapers sweep over 20 the support strips 8th and thereby remove the adhering to these due to the previous sheet metal work impurities.

In the 3 illustrated machine Anord tion for operating the workpiece support 7 (Operating arrangement 10a ) differs from the operating arrangement described above 10 through the direction of the loading and unloading movement. While according to the 1 and 2 arcuate movements are performed, the support moves 14 according to 3 straight along the y-axis. The loading movement is in 3 to the right, the unloading movement in 3 directed to the left. Under these circumstances, to clean the support strips 8th the workpiece support 7 a single cleaning unit 19 sufficient. This extends perpendicular to the direction of the loading and the unloading movement and thus in the direction of the x-axis. Alternatively, a loading movement and a discharge movement of the carrying device 14 according to 3 possible along the x-axis. In this case is a cleaning unit 19 on a longitudinal side of the carrying device running in the y-direction 14 appropriate.

Also the cleaning unit 19 or the wiper 20 according to 3 rushes the carrying device 14 during the loading movement ahead and during the unloading movement. The scraper 20 the in 3 shown cleaning unit 19 is also numerically controlled lowered into a functional position or raised to an inoperative position. To be machined plate or products of a previous sheet metal processing are in 3 for the sake of clarity not shown. The rake has the carrying device 14 according to 3 not up. Corresponding components are in the 1 and 2 on the one hand and in 3 on the other hand assigned the same reference numerals.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

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Cited patent literature

• - DE 202004015922 U1 [0003]

Claims (14)

Mechanical arrangement for operating a workpiece support ( 7 ) for workpieces, in particular for sheet metal ( 27 ), with a carrying device ( 14 ), at which for loading and / or unloading the workpiece support ( 7 ) to be machined workpieces and / or machining products of a workpiece machining can be fixed and which relative to the workpiece support ( 7 ) is jointly movable with a workpiece to be machined with a loading movement and / or jointly with a processing product with an unloading movement, characterized by a cleaning device ( 15 ) with a loading movement and / or with a discharge movement of the carrying device ( 14 ) is connected in terms of movement and due to a loading movement and / or due to a discharge movement of the support device ( 14 ) while cleaning the workpiece support ( 7 ) is movable relative to this. Mechanical arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning device ( 15 ) on the carrying device ( 14 ) is attached. Mechanical arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning device ( 15 ) can be converted into a functional state and into an inoperative state. Mechanical arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning device ( 15 ) is in a functional state and in an inoperative state feasible by relative to the support device ( 14 ) is movable in a functional position and in an inoperative position. Mechanical arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning device ( 15 ) of the carrying device ( 14 ) in the direction of the loading movement of the carrying device ( 14 ) leads. Mechanical arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning device ( 15 ) of the carrying device ( 14 ) in the direction of the unloading movement of the carrying device ( 14 ) lags behind. Mechanical arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrying device ( 14 ) is movable with a biaxial loading movement and / or with a biaxial unloading movement and that the cleaning device ( 15 ) on the carrying device ( 14 ) is mounted and in the direction of both axes of movement of the support device ( 14 ). Mechanical arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning device ( 15 ) is designed as a stripping device. Mechanical arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stripping device has a stripping member, which under the action of a with the cleaning of the workpiece support ( 7 ) is elastically deformable. Mechanical arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stripping device comprises a brush-like trained Abstreiforgan, preferably with incisions ( 21 ) provided spring steel sheet is made, which in the cleaning of the workpiece support ( 7 ) at its from the workpiece support ( 7 ) away side is held. Method for cleaning a workpiece support ( 7 ) for workpieces, in particular for sheet metal ( 27 ), wherein a cleaning device ( 15 ) while cleaning the workpiece support ( 7 ) is moved relative thereto, characterized in that the cleaning device ( 15 ) while cleaning the workpiece support ( 7 ) is moved relative to this by the cleaning device ( 15 ) with a loading movement and / or with a discharge movement of a carrying device ( 14 ) is connected in terms of movement and due to a loading movement and / or due to a discharge movement of the carrying device ( 14 ) relative to the workpiece support ( 7 ) is moved, wherein at the carrying device ( 14 ) are defined during loading movements to be machined workpieces and unloading movements machining products a workpiece machining. Control program for operating the mechanical arrangement ( 10 . 10a ) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that control commands for the carrying device ( 14 ) and for the cleaning device ( 15 ) are provided, on the basis of which the method is carried out according to claim 11, when the control program on a numerical control ( 26 ) of the mechanical arrangement ( 10 . 10a ) according to one of claims 1 to 10 expires. Mechanical arrangement for the thermal cutting of workpieces, in particular sheets ( 27 ), with a thermal cutter ( 2 ), with a workpiece support ( 7 ) and with a machine arrangement ( 10 . 10a ) for operating the workpiece support ( 7 ), Where the workpiece support ( 7 ) supports a workpiece during thermal cutting, and wherein the mechanical arrangement ( 10 . 10a ) for operating the workpiece support ( 7 ) one with a Loading movement and / or with a discharge movement relative to the workpiece support ( 7 ) movable carrying device ( 14 ), by means of which during loading movements to be machined workpieces on the workpiece support ( 7 ) and / or during unloading movements machining products of a workpiece machining of the workpiece support ( 7 ) are removable, characterized in that the characterizing features of at least one of claims 1 to 10 are provided. Mechanical arrangement according to claim 13, characterized in that as a thermal cutting device ( 2 ) a laser cutting device is provided and / or that the workpiece support ( 7 ) a plurality of side by side arranged and a support level defining support strips ( 8th ) having.