U.S. patent application number 09/962456 was filed with the patent office on 2002-03-28 for orienting station having a rod-type transmission.
This patent application is currently assigned to Schuler Pressen GmbH & Co.. Invention is credited to Eltze, Jurgen, Hofele, Hans, Klemm, Peter.
Application Number | 20020035861 09/962456 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7906227 |
Filed Date | 2002-03-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020035861 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Klemm, Peter ; et
al. |
March 28, 2002 |
Orienting station having a rod-type transmission
Abstract
An orienting station provided particularly for press systems has
a receiving device which is carried by a rod-type transmission.
This rod-type transmission is supported on drive units of a driving
device. The drive units are disposed in a stationary manner. The
rods of the rod-type transmission are rigid and their lengths
cannot be changed.
Inventors: |
Klemm, Peter; (Buowaldstr,
DE) ; Hofele, Hans; (Liststr, DE) ; Eltze,
Jurgen; (Georg Boehringer-Weg, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CROWELL & MORING, L.L.P.
P.O. Box 14300
Washington
DC
20044-4300
US
|
Assignee: |
Schuler Pressen GmbH &
Co.
|
Family ID: |
7906227 |
Appl. No.: |
09/962456 |
Filed: |
September 26, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09962456 |
Sep 26, 2001 |
|
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09561901 |
May 1, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
72/405.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B21D 43/057
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
72/405.01 |
International
Class: |
B21J 011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 29, 1999 |
DE |
199 19 433.5 |
Claims
1. An orienting station for sheet metal parts to be transported
through a succession of machining stations comprising a receiving
device for the temporary receiving of the sheet metal parts, a
driving device comprising several stationarily disposed drive units
which each have an output, and a rod-type transmission arranged to
connect the receiving device with the driving device and having
several rods with fixed lengths and arranged between outputs of the
drive units and the receiving device.
2. The orienting station according to claim 1, wherein the rod-type
transmission and the driving device completely define the position
of the receiving device.
3. The orienting station according to claim 1, wherein the rods
correspond in number of degrees of freedom of the movement of the
receiving, and the drive units correspond in number to the number
of the rods with one drive unit being assigned to each rod.
4. The orienting station according to claim 1, wherein adjacent
rods, in pairs, enclose with one another an acute angle, with the
angles opening away from the receiving device.
5. The orienting station according to claim 1, wherein joints
connect the rods with the receiving device, which rods are arranged
approximately at the corners of a triangle, with at least two of
the rods being applied to a corner of the triangle.
6. The orienting station according to claim 1, wherein joints
connect the rods with the drive units, which rods are arranged at
one of the corners of a hexagon and at the corners of and on the
longer edge of a trapezoid.
7. The orienting station according to claim 1, wherein the drive
units are linear drives controllable by a control device, so as to
move the output thereof into defined positions.
8. The orienting station according to claim 7, wherein the linear
drives include a parallel guiding direction which is substantially
vertically oriented.
9. The orienting station according to claim 7, wherein the linear
drives are configured as direct drives.
10. The orienting station according to claim 1, wherein the drive
units are arranged in pairs on sides of a support so as to point
away from one another.
11. The orienting stations according to claim 10, wherein the
driving device comprises six drive units which are fastened on
three supports which are arranged in a triangle configuration.
12. The orienting station according to claim 10, wherein the
machining stations comprise press stations of a press system, and
the supports are fastened on bedplates.
13. The orienting station according to claim 1, wherein the driving
device and the rod-type transmission are arranged above the
receiving device.
14. The orienting station according to claim 1, wherein the driving
device and the rod-type transmission are arranged below the
receiving device.
15. The orienting station according to claim 1, wherein the
receiving device has adjustable supporting surface devices.
16. A press system having several press stations which each
comprise a bedplate, press stands, a head piece, a slide and a
sliding table, the system further comprising: a transfer device
configured to transport parts through the press system, and at
least one orienting station between two press stations and between
the press stands the at least orienting station having: a receiving
device for the temporary receiving of the sheet metal parts, a
driving device comprising several stationarily disposed drive units
which each have an output, and a rod-type transmission arranged to
connect the receiving device with the driving device and having
several rods with fixed lengths and arranged between outputs of the
drive units and the receiving device.
17. The press system according to claim 16, wherein the transfer
device is arranged to transport the parts on a two-dimensional
transfer curve with orientation of the sheet metal parts occurring
solely in the at least one orienting station.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This application claims priority of 19919433.5, filed on
Apr. 29, 1999, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by
reference herein.
[0002] The present invention relates to an orienting station,
particularly for suction presses.
[0003] For manufacturing and machining vehicle body parts,
particularly for motor vehicles, suction presses are used in
practice. These are press systems which are constructed of several
presses arranged in a row and optionally connected with one
another. The presses are linked with one another by way of a
transport system which carries out transport of the parts. In each
press, a tool is arranged which continuously opens and closes. The
transfer system has the task of guiding a sheet metal part situated
in the tool out of this tool when the tool opens and to place a new
workpiece in the tool before the tool closes again. In this case,
the sheet metal parts must be placed in the tool in the correct
positioning. The workpiece position (parts position) is normally
not constant in all tools. This means that the orientation of the
sheet metal parts during the passage through the press system may
have to be changed between the individual tools. This depends on
the concrete design of the sheet metal part. It may, for example,
be required to swivel the sheet metal part between the individual
tools about a horizontal tilting axis oriented transversely to the
transport direction. Furthermore, the sheet metal part may have to
be laterally displaced or otherwise reoriented.
[0004] For this purpose, a flexible multiple transfer system, which
has a modular construction, is used a described in DE 19654474 A1.
Transfer modules arranged between the individual presses or tools,
in each case, carry out the transfer of the sheet metal parts from
tool to tool. The transfer modules each have a suction bridge which
is spatially guided at its ends by a steering gear. In this case,
the suction bridge travels along a transfer curve. In addition, the
swivelling position as well as another orientation of the suction
bridge during the transfer step can be changed. The steering gear
connects the suction bridge with drive units.
[0005] With large tool distances, it is frequently desirable to
shorten the transfer step. For this purpose, intermediate
depositing devices are arranged between the individual presses and
tools. These can be used for the reorientation of the sheet metal
parts. As a result, the transfer system can, in turn, be
simplified. DE 1961867 A1 describes intermediate depositing devices
which are constructed as orienting stations having a carrier frame
with depositing devices for the sheet metal parts. The carrier
frame is supported by six legs which in pairs enclose an angle with
one another. The legs can each be telescoped and are provided with
a servo motor. As a result of the targeted length adjustment of the
legs, the position of the carrier frame can be changed and
adjusted. The rods must contain the drives for the rod length
adjustment as well as telescoping guides.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An object of the invention is to provide orienting stations
of a simple and robust construction.
[0007] This object has been achieved by an orienting station having
a receiving device for the temporary receiving of the sheet metal
parts, a driving device comprising several stationarily disposed
drive units which each have an output, and a rod-type transmission
arranged to connect the receiving device with the driving device
and having several rods with fixed lengths and arranged between
outputs of the drive units and the receiving device.
[0008] The orienting station according to the invention has a
rod-type transmission which is arranged between a driving device
and a receiving device. This transmits the movements of the driving
device to and positions the receiving. The rod-type transmission is
based on rods of a constant length whose low ends are moved in
space. The rods are rigid, that is, their length cannot be adjusted
and therefore have a high static and dynamic stiffness. In
addition, they can be configured to be slender.
[0009] The driving device is spatially separated from the rods. The
heat development of the driving device can therefore be kept away
from the rods. No rotating parts or any type of drives are
installed in the rods. They therefore have a simple
construction.
[0010] Sufficient space exists for the drive units pertaining to
the driving device. Standard drives, such as servo motors with
spindle-type lifting gears, and a linear guide can be used. In this
manner, the drive units are easily accessible. Maintenance and
exchange can be carried out without any major problems.
[0011] The rod-type transmission and the driving device completely
determine the spatial position of the receiving device. In this
case, embodiments of the orienting station are contemplated which
have two to six degrees of freedom. If individual degrees of
freedom of the receiving device are blocked by an appropriate
guidance, for example, by limiting the degrees of freedom in the
joints by way of which the rods are connected to the drive unit and
the receiving device, the only positioning of the remaining degrees
of freedom must be carried out by drive units.
[0012] If six degrees of freedom are desirable, that is, the linear
movement of the receiving device in three mutually rectangular
directions in space and the rotation or swivelling about three
mutually rectangular axes, six rods and six drive units are
provided. Each rod is preferably connected directly with one drive
unit respectively. If one degree of freedom is to be eliminated,
for example, the movement in the vertical direction, one drive unit
can also be eliminated and the corresponding rod can be fastened to
a fixed linking point.
[0013] The joints which connect the rods with the receiving device
and the driving device are preferably ball joints which permit
swivelling in any direction.
[0014] In the preferred embodiment, adjacent rods are arranged at
an acute angle with respect to one another, the angles preferably
opening away from the receiving device. As a result, a space-saving
construction is obtained which, in addition, permits high
positioning speeds. In this case, the arrangement of the rods can
be such that no parallel pairs of rods are present. In addition,
the driving units can be spaced from one another. The surface taken
up by the drive units can be larger than the surface determined by
the linking points of the rods on the receiving device.
[0015] The orienting station preferably interacts with a transfer
system which links machining stations with one another with respect
to the flow of parts. The machining stations preferably a press
stations of a press system, the orienting station being arranged
between the individual presses. A clear arrangement and a good
utilization of the narrow space existing between the individual
presses is obtained if the driving units are linear drives which
preferably have a vertical or approximately vertical working
direction.
[0016] It is particularly expedient for the drive units to be
disposed in pairs on one support respectively and to be arranged on
sides of the support which face way from one another. Twin-type
drive units are therefore obtained for two rods respectively. In an
orienting station which can be positioned in all directions in
space and can swivel about all axes of rotation, three of such
twin-type units are provided. The drive units can be mounted on the
press tables. In this embodiment, the space between the bed plates
is well utilized if one bedplate carries two twin-type units and
the adjacent bedplate carries one twin-type unit.
[0017] While the linking points of the rods on the support device
define a triangle, the linking points of the rods on the drive
units are arranged to deviate therefrom, for example, according to
aspects which permit a good utilization of space.
[0018] The drive units and their linear guides are preferably
arranged at the corners or at the edges of a trapezoid. Four of the
drive units are arranged at the corner points of the trapezoid. Two
drive units are arranged on its longer edge. At the receiving
device, the rods are then preferably linked in the hexagon or in
the triangle.
[0019] Linear direct drives can be used as drive units. The drive
units can be combined with brake units which brake taken-up
positions. The receiving device can have exchangeable and/or
swivellable supporting surfaces.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present
invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description of the invention when considered in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings.
[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a press system having a
transfer system and orienting stations;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective cutout-type view of the
press system according to FIG. 1; and
[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an orienting station of the
press system according to FIGS. 1 and 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates a press system which is used for
machining sheet metal parts. The press system 1 has several press
stations 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 which are arranged behind one another in
the passage direction D and which each define a forming station for
the sheet metal part to be formed. Each press station comprises a
bedplate 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 which, by way of suitable suspension
and damping devices, rests on a foundation. Pairs of press stands
14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 are set up on the bedplates 8, 9, 10,
11, 12, 13, and each consist of a press stand which, in FIG. 1, is
situated in the front and is marked a, and a press stand which is
hidden by press stand a and is marked b. The arrangement of the
press stands is illustrated, for example, by press stands 15a, 15b,
particularly in FIG. 2. The pairs of press stands 14 to 20 carry
head pieces 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26. These carry one or several
eccentric drives for slides 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 which can be
moved up and down.
[0025] In each press station 2 to 7, a sliding table 34, 35, 36,
37, 38, 39 is arranged on the respective bedplate 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,
13. Sliding table 34 can be moved laterally out of the press system
1 between adjacent press stands 14a, 15a and 15a, 16a, etc. The
sliding table 34 supports a tool bottom part 42 pertaining to a
tool 41. The pertaining tool top part 43 hangs on the slide 27.
Correspondingly, tools 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 are arranged in the
additional press stations 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and each have a tool bottom
part and a tool top part.
[0026] In order to carry out the parts transport through the entire
press system 1, the press system 1 is provided with a transfer
system 50. This transfer system 50 comprises guide rails 51, 52
which extend in the passage direction D through the press system 1.
The guide rails 51, 52 are arranged parallel to one another in the
proximity of the press stands 14a, 14b to 20a, 20b, so that the
tools 41 to 48 have sufficient space between them. The guide rails
51, 52 can be lifted and lowered by lifting units.
[0027] The guide rails 51, 52 guide carriages 53 which, in pairs,
guide a suction bridge 55 between one another. One suction bridge
respectively is provided for inserting sheet metal parts in a tool
41 to 48, and one suction bridge is provided for the removal of a
sheet metal part from the respective tool 41 to 48. As required,
for inserting still unformed sheet metal parts (blanks) into the
first press station 2, instead of the suction bridge, an insertion
feeder may be provided.
[0028] Suitable driving devices move the carriages 53 on the guide
rails 51, 52 in a targeted manner. Thereby, as a result of the
superposition of the lifting and lowering movement of the guide
rails 51, 52 and of the movement of the suction bridges 55 in the
passage direction D, a transfer curve K is obtained. In FIG. 1,
this transfer curve K is schematically outlined only between the
press stations 6 and 7. The transfer step, measured in the passage
direction D, is only half as short as the center distance between
adjacent tools.
[0029] Between the tools 41, 44; 44, 45; 45, 46; 46, 47 and 47, 48,
orienting stations 57 are arranged which are used as intermediate
depositing devices and are better illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The
orienting stations 57 each have essentially the same constructions.
The orienting station 57 arranged between the press stations 2 and
3, in the following, will be described in a manner which is
representative of all orienting stations.
[0030] Orienting station 57 has the purpose of providing the
workpiece with a new orientation on its moving path from tool to
tool. The object of the transfer system 50 can then be limited to
transferring the workpiece, that is, to carrying out a purely
three-dimensional movement. The suction bridge 55, for example, can
be constructed to be non-rotatable. The orienting station 57
arranged below the transfer system 50 has a receiving device 61 on
its top side which comprises two transverse rails 62, 62 held in
parallel to one another. A support 64 holds these rails to be
swivellable away from one another and toward one another. On their
top side, the transverse rails 62, 63 can be provided with
receiving devices 66 for an adaptation to the sheet metal part
contour. This is illustrated particularly in FIG. 3. A sheet metal
part 65 disposed on the receiving device 57, for example, a
passenger car side panel, is schematically illustrated in FIGS. 2
and 3.
[0031] The transverse rails 62, 63 can be swivelled toward and away
from one another about swivelling axes oriented parallel to the
transverse axes 62, 63 and in parallel to one another. In addition,
as required, the transverse rails 62, 63 can be detachably held on
the support 64. The receiving elements 66 can preferably be
detached from the transverse rails 62, 63.
[0032] The positioning of the sheet metal part 65 takes place by a
controlled positioning of the support 64. For this purpose, a
rod-type transmission 67 is used which establishes the connection
to a driving device 68. The rod-type transmission comprises a total
of six rods 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 which have a rigid construction.
In addition, they may each have the same length. As required,
however, they may also have individually different lengths. At
their respective upper end, the rods 71 to 76 are each bordered by
a cardan joint or ball at the support 64.
[0033] The rods 71 to 76 are each disposed in pairs in the direct
vicinity on the support so that the bearing points together
approximately define a triangle, preferably an equilateral
triangle. Adjacent rods 71, 72; 72, 73; 73, 74; 74, 75; 75, 76 and
76, 71, together, enclose a more or less acute angle. Rods 71, 76
are exceptions and, as required, may be arranged parallel to one
another, at least when the support is not tilted horizontally or
about a longitudinal axis which is parallel to the passage
direction D.
[0034] The driving device 68 comprises a total of six drive units
81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86 which can each be controlled separately. The
drive units 81 to 86 are linear drive units, each having a servo
motor. The servo motors are computer controlled. By way of a
spindle-type lifting gear and a linear guide 87, 88, 89, 90, 91,
92, the rotating movement of the respective servo motor is
converted into a linear movement of a carriage 93, 94, 95, 96, 97,
98. Each carriage 93 to 98 is connected with a rod 71 to 76 in an
articulated manner by way of a cardan joint or a ball joint. As a
result, one drive unit 81 to 86 is assigned to each rod 71 to
76.
[0035] The drive units 81 to 86 are each carried in pairs by a
support 101, 102, 103. These supports are formed, for example, by a
vertically arranged box-section support. This support arrangement
permits a largely unhindered arrangement of the rods 71 to 76 of
the rod-type transmission 67, and simultaneously the construction
of relatively long guiding paths and thus vertical lifts of the
carriages 93, 94, 95, 96, 97 and 98. This applies particularly if
the box-section supports 101, 102, 103 are arranged parallel to one
another in the top view in the triangle and the drive units 81 to
86 are each arranged in pairs on flanks of the support elements
101, 102, 103 which point away from one another. In this case, the
support elements 102, 103 are fastened, for example, on the
bedplate 8. The support element 101 is disposed on the bedplate
9.
[0036] If the carriages 93 to 98 are adjusted at the same level,
the joints for carrying the rod ends of the rods 71 to 76 define a
trapezoid. As a result, the drive units 82, 83, 84, 85 are
virtually disposed on a common line. Their guiding directions are
parallel to one another. Likewise, the two drive units 81, 86 are
situated on a common second line parallel to the first line. The
relatively narrow space between the bedplates 8, 9 is therefore
well utilized. The drive units 81 to 86 are stationary and can be
standard drives. The drives arranged outside the rods 71 to 76 are
easily accessible. Likewise, the linear guide 87 to 92 provided in
each case on the support elements 101, 102, 103 can be constructed
to be stationary and therefore robust.
[0037] In operation of the above-described press system 1, The
slides 27 to 32 of the press system 1 are moved synchronously up
and down by a main press drive. Each time the tools 41 to 48 open
up, the transfer system 50 moves the suction bridges 53 into the
tools in order to introduce sheet metal parts and/or remove them.
In this case, the transfer system 50 also services every
intermediate depositing device or orienting station 57 in that
first, by way of a suction bridge, a sheet metal part 65 is removed
and, immediately thereafter, a next sheet metal part 65 is again
placed on the receiving device 61. The control device controls the
servo motors of the drive units 81 to 86 such that the receiving
device 61 for receiving the sheet metal part 65 is first situated
in the spatial position in which the sheet metal part is delivered
by the transfer system 50.
[0038] During the sheet metal part transfer, the receiving device
61 is essentially inoperative. As an alternative, the driving
device 68 can be controlled such that, during the sheet metal part
transfer, i.e., during the placing of the sheet metal part 65 onto
the receiving elements 66, the receiving device, for a short time,
carries out a movement which corresponds to the movement of the
suction bridge 55. As required, correction movements can also be
carried out. When the sheet metal part 65 is lying on the receiving
device 61, the suction bridge 55 releases the sheet metal part 65,
separates from it and moves into a parking position which is spaced
away from the orienting station 57. The orienting station 57
optionally facilitates the return movement of the suction bridges
by a vertical downward movement of the sheet metal part 65.
[0039] The orienting station 57 has now taken over the sheet metal
part 65 and positions it during the working stroke of the press in
a fetch position, in which the sheet metal part 65 can have a
changed orientation and/or positioning, that is, a changed spatial
position. In this case, in the embodiment of the orienting station
57 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, all linear movements, that is,
longitudinally (in the passage direction D), transversely thereto,
as well as vertically (lifting and lowering) can be carried out. In
addition, the sheet metal part 65 can be swivelled about the
longitudinal axis (parts passage direction D) about a horizontal
transverse axis as well as about a vertical axis. This takes place
by the targeted controlling of the drive units 81 to 86 by the
control device.
[0040] If the sheet metal part 65 is to be transported farther, it
fetches the next following suction bridge 55. The suction bridge
55, by way of its suction devices, is first placed on the sheet
metal part 65 which is held still by the orienting station 57 in
the corresponding orientation and position. Alternatively, the
orienting station 57 can be controlled to carry out a movement
along a limited path section corresponding to the movement of the
suction bridge.
[0041] In alternative embodiments, if fewer positioning
possibilities are desired, individual drive units can be
eliminated. Only two, three, four a five drive units may, for
example, be sufficient, depending on how many degrees of freedom
are required by the positioning movement of the receiving device
61. As required, instead of the ball or cardan joints, other joints
can also be used.
[0042] An orienting station 57, which is provided particularly for
press systems 1, has a receiving device 61 which is carried by a
rod-type transmission 67. This rod-type transmission 67 is
supported on drive units 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86 of a driving device
68. The drive units 81 to 86 are disposed in a stationary manner.
The rods 71 to 76 of the rod-type transmission 67 are rigid and
their length cannot be changed.
[0043] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to
illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since
modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit
and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the
art, the invention should be construed to include everything within
the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
* * * * *