CN107206613B

CN107206613B - Plate dividing device for dividing plate-shaped workpieces and method for operating the same

Info

Publication number: CN107206613B
Application number: CN201580066067.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: S·凯姆; R·佐瓦拉
Original assignee: Homag Plattenaufteiltechnik GmbH
Current assignee: Homag Plattenaufteiltechnik GmbH
Priority date: 2014-12-05
Filing date: 2015-11-11
Publication date: 2020-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 2035-11-11
Also published as: EP3227069A1; EP3227069B1; CN107206613A; WO2016087172A1; DE102014225074A1; EP4257313A2; EP3227069C0; EP4257313A3

Abstract

A sheet material dividing apparatus (10) for dividing a plate-like workpiece (48, 49) has: a conveying table (12); a transport device (18) for transporting the initial workpiece on the transport table (12) in a first transport direction (19); -dividing means (13) for dividing said initial workpiece into divided workpieces; and a buffer device (31) for buffering the divided workpiece before further dividing operation, the buffer device (31) being configured and improved in such a manner that, in consideration of full-automatic use with a mechanism simple in construction: the buffered workpieces can be moved in a second conveying direction (38) at least toward the transport table, wherein the second conveying direction (38) is oriented transversely to the first conveying direction (19). A method for operating a panel dividing device (10) is also described.

Description

Plate dividing device for dividing plate-shaped workpieces and method for operating the same

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a sheet metal cutting device for cutting plate-shaped workpieces and to a method for operating the sheet metal cutting device.

Background

Such a sheet-material separating device is not only known on the market, but is also disclosed in DE 102008034050 a1, DE 102009038120 a1 and EP 2422944 a 1. These panel dividing apparatuses are used for dividing large-format plate-like workpieces, which are used, for example, in the furniture industry. When operating such a sheet separation device, the separated workpieces must be handled according to a processing step, for example a stacking step or a reworking step. For this purpose, either at least one operator is required to operate the divided workpiece or a machine-assisted operation of the workpiece is required. In the former solution mentioned, the personnel expenditure, the resulting load and the possible danger of injury for the operator are high, while in machine-assisted operation, high construction and structural expenditure result. This entails a corresponding acquisition cost and high maintenance overhead.

DE 3840325 a1 discloses a panel dividing device, in which a section of the panel to be divided lies flat on a lateral support table during the sawing process. The detached section can then be transported back to the transport table after the sawing process. DE 3911639 a1 describes a sheet-material separating device with vertically movable buffers.

Disclosure of Invention

The object on which the invention is based is therefore to make available a fully automatic use of the sheet material separating device with a constructively simple mechanism.

This object is achieved by a sheet metal cutting device and by a method having a sheet metal cutting device.

The plate dividing apparatus according to the present invention has the following advantages: the plate-dividing device can be operated fully automatically, whereby, above all, a very high level of economy can be achieved. The sheet metal cutting device is inexpensive and is constructed with a constructively simple mechanism. In this way, the workpiece can be transported by means of the transport device to the separating device and can be cut there into separated workpieces. The divided workpiece may be buffered in a buffer device before another division process.

According to the invention, the damping device is constructed such that: in the damping device, the damped workpieces can be moved in a second transport direction, the second transport direction being oriented transversely to the first transport direction. In this connection, the damping device is not used solely for storing, but rather is an active device which can be used to move the damped workpieces in a targeted manner. In this way, the buffer device can move the workpiece in the second conveying direction toward or away from the transport table.

This makes it possible to use a simple and compact construction of the operating unit, for example a robot, whose working area only has to cover a section of the damping device. In this respect, the size and storage capacity of the buffer device is virtually independent of the operating unit used. In this way, a large damping device can be realized, despite the compact operating unit and the limited working area thereof. Furthermore, the transversely aligned transport direction enables laterally arranging the damping device, thereby enabling a small longitudinal length of the sheet material dividing apparatus.

The expression "transverse with respect to the first transport direction" is to be understood in the broadest sense. Thus, the second transport direction may be obliquely oriented, i.e. oriented at an angle deviating from the orthogonal, or orthogonally oriented to the first transport direction.

In particular, the damping device may have at least one further transport device for moving the damped workpiece in the second transport direction. In this way, the buffered workpieces can be moved very specifically and largely independently of the other transport devices, more precisely in the second transport direction. Preferably, the damping device can have two transport devices for moving the damped workpieces. This makes it possible to use a structurally smaller transport device, wherein only the transport device on which the workpieces are located has to be driven in order to transport the buffered workpieces. If a plurality of workpieces are buffered in the buffer device, simultaneous and different operations can be performed on the workpieces by separate transport devices.

Advantageously, the damping device may have: the first subsection is arranged on the side surface of the conveying table; a separate second section, which is arranged in the region of the conveying table, wherein the first section is provided with a first conveying device of the further conveying devices and the second section is provided with a second conveying device of the further conveying devices. Thus, by means of the first segment and the further first transport device, the workpiece can be buffered and moved in the second transport direction. The buffer space can thus be released in a section of the first section (for example in the region of the first section adjoining the transport table) as required, or the workpieces can be guided through the transport table in a targeted manner. By moving the buffered workpieces in the second conveying direction away from the transport table by the movement of the first conveying device, the capacity of the buffer, i.e., the number of workpiece placement positions, is increased, and the order of the workpieces in the direction toward the transport table can be changed. The buffered workpieces can be transferred in a controlled manner to the transfer table and, if necessary, positioned by means of the separate second section and its transport device. The first segment may also be referred to as an "active workpiece buffer" or an "active belt buffer". The second section may also be referred to as a "lateral transfer section".

Advantageously, the plate material separating device can have an operating device (for example a robot) for operating the possibly separated workpieces, the robot having, for example, a suction gripper device. The suction gripping device can be arranged on the projecting end of the robot arm and serves to receive or grip a workpiece. With the aid of the handling device or the robot, the singulated workpieces can be received after the singulation process and placed on the buffer device. In this case, the divided workpiece can be rotated if necessary. In this case, it is advantageous if the working area or the placement area of the handling device or the robot and the damping device (in particular the first section of the damping device) at least partially intersect. In particular, the region of the first portion of the buffer device adjacent to the transport table is in the working region of the handling device, while the region of the first portion remote from the transport table is not in the working region of the handling device.

Expediently, the upper side of the first segmented or further first transport device can be raised at least at times relative to the upper side of the conveying table. This facilitates the transfer from the first section to the delivery table. In this case, it is conceivable for the upper side of the further first conveying device or the upper side of the first portion to be raised by 5 mm to 35 mm, more preferably 10 to 30 mm, even more preferably 15 to 25 mm.

The second section or the further second transport device can be constructed in such a way that it is height-adjustable relative to the transport table, or the transport table can be height-adjustable relative to the second section. In other words, the second segment or the further second conveyor is adjustable between a first state in which the upper side of the second segment or the further second conveyor is arranged below the upper side of the conveyor table and a second state in which the upper side of the second segment or the further second conveyor is arranged above the upper side of the conveyor table (or preferably at the same height as the first segment). This also applies to the kinematically opposite case, in which the conveying table is height-adjusted relative to the second section. In this way, the second section or a further second conveyor is activated at the destination when the buffered workpieces are transferred from the first section to the second section. Thereby also facilitating the transfer. If no transfer is performed, the second segment or the further second transport device can stay in its deeper first position (or the transport table can stay in its raised position) so that the workpiece can be transported in the first transport direction without interference by the first transport device.

The further first transport device and/or the further second transport device may each have a rotatable transport element. As a result, gentle transport of the workpiece can be achieved, since no relative movement takes place between the workpiece and the transport element in the contact plane. The rotating conveying element may be a belt or a chain. Alternatively, roller tables can also be used as transport elements, wherein sliding blocks can drive the workpiece, or wherein the rollers themselves are driven. The rollers of the roller table may have a resilient surface, for example in the form of a rubber coating.

Advantageously, a movable stop can be provided on the transport table for aligning the workpieces which are first buffered and then transported from the buffer device onto the transport table. Thus, it is possible to realize a stop defined for the workpiece, but the fixed stop does not hinder the handling and transport of the workpiece. In this case, it is advantageous if the stop can be moved between a first position, in which the stop is located below the upper side of the table, and a second position, in which the stop is arranged at least partially above the upper side of the table. The movement of the stop can take place in different ways, for example the stop can be constructed pivotably, extendable or telescopically. It is not required here that a single continuous stop surface be formed by the stop. More precisely, it is sufficient for the function of the stop to be: the stop sections move relative to the surface of the table, for example in the form of pins.

Advantageously, the second segment can have a following element coupled to the further second transport device, with which the divided workpiece can be moved for aligning the stop. The following element can be coupled to a conveying element of a further second conveying device. This has the following advantages: with this device (i.e. the further second transport device), on the one hand the workpiece can be transported and, on the other hand, the workpiece can be positioned. For transporting the workpiece, the further second transport device is located above the upper side of the transport table and for positioning the workpiece is located below the upper side of the transport table, wherein the workpiece can be moved on the transport table by means of the following element.

Advantageously, the follower element can have a contact section which is movable such that the contact section is arranged in the first state below the upper side of the conveyor table and in the second state at least partially above the upper side of the conveyor table. The workpiece can thus be handled in a targeted manner. It is conceivable here for the follower element to have an actuator (actuator) which is moved when the contact section is actuated such that it is arranged at least partially above the upper side of the transport table. In the case of an actuator, it is conceivable for the actuator to be designed as a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder.

The object stated at the outset is also achieved by a method for operating a panel separation device, comprising the following steps:

-providing an initial workpiece to a delivery station,

-transporting the initial workpiece on the transport table to the dividing device in a first transport direction by means of the transport device,

-dividing the initial workpiece into at least one divided workpiece by means of a dividing device, and

-buffering the divided pieces in a buffer device before another dividing process,

wherein the buffer moves the divided workpiece in a second transport direction and the second transport direction is oriented transversely to the first transport direction. The workpiece can be moved not only in the direction toward the transport table, but also away from the transport table.

The divided workpiece can expediently be operated by an operating device, for example a robot with a suction gripper. The suction gripping device may be arranged on a protruding end of a robot arm of the robot. The singulated workpieces may be received after the singulation process by means of a handling device or a robot and placed on a buffer device. Here, the divided workpiece may be rotated. In this case, it is advantageous if the working area or the placement area of the handling device or the robot and the damping device (in particular the first section of the damping device) at least partially intersect. In particular, the region of the first portion of the buffer device adjacent to the transport table is in the working region of the handling device, while the region of the first portion remote from the transport table is not in the working region.

Advantageously, the divided workpieces can be transferred from a first section of the buffer device, which is arranged laterally to the transport table and buffers the divided workpieces, to a separate second section of the buffer device, which is arranged in the region of the transport table. The workpieces can thus be actually buffered in the first section of the buffer device outside the transport table. The first segment may also be referred to as an "active workpiece buffer" or an "active belt buffer". The workpiece can be transported and optionally positioned on the transport table by means of a second section, which is arranged in the region of the transport table. The second section may also be referred to as a "lateral transfer section".

The second section can expediently be raised relative to the conveying table at least to the level of the first section before or during the transfer of the divided workpieces and thus be matched in its height to the first section. In this way, the second section can be lifted very purposefully when the workpiece is transferred from the first section onto the second section. If no transfer is to be performed, the second section may stay in a lowered position in which the upper side of the second section is arranged below the upper side of the conveying table. This makes it possible to convey the workpiece in the first conveying direction of the conveying table without interference.

According to a preferred embodiment, the divided workpiece can be moved onto the first section by means of a further first transport device and onto the second section by means of a further second transport device, wherein the further second transport device is preferably activated as soon as a part of the divided workpiece reaches the second section. The workpiece is thereby gently and energetically advantageously transferred to the second segment. Furthermore, a continuous operation of the further second transport device can be avoided, so that the further second transport device can also assume positioning tasks, for example. In this respect it should furthermore be mentioned that the volume of the buffer, i.e. the number of places for the workpieces, is increased by moving the first transport device, which moves the buffered workpieces away from the transport table in the second transport direction.

Further, the divided workpiece may be placed on the conveying table by sinking of the second section. Therefore, the work can be gently placed on the conveying table.

Advantageously, the workpiece, which is divided and placed on the conveyor table, is aligned relative to the conveyor table and/or the dividing device by means of the following element, which is arranged at least partially above the upper side of the conveyor table, being moved to a movable stop of the conveyor table and being pressed against this stop. The stop may be movably arranged on the transport table. The movement of the stop can be performed in different ways, for example the stop can be pivoted, extended or telescoped. The follower element can be coupled to the further second transport device, in particular to the rotating transport element of the further second transport device. The second section can thus be used to transport the workpiece and position it relative to the transport table. The device overhead is thereby significantly reduced.

In the aligned state, the segmented workpiece on the transport table can first be fixed by the at least one clamping element, and subsequently the follower element and the stop can be moved away from the segmented workpiece. In other words, the follower element presses the workpiece against the stop, so that the workpiece is in a clamped state. In the clamped state, the clamping element fixes the workpiece such that the clamped position is maintained. The clamping elements are connected, for example, by means of programming sliders and the divided workpiece can be fed to a further division process.

Measures in combination with the parameters of the panel dividing device are used for the further construction of the method.

Drawings

The plate dividing apparatus is explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a sheet material dividing apparatus for dividing a plate-shaped workpiece according to the invention, which has a conveying table;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic partial view taken along section A-A in FIG. 1 with a plurality of buffered workpieces;

FIG. 3 shows a view corresponding to FIG. 2, showing the buffered workpiece beginning to be transferred to the delivery station;

fig. 4 shows a view corresponding to fig. 2, in which the plate-shaped workpiece has been completely transferred to the transport table;

fig. 5 shows a view corresponding to fig. 2, together showing a work piece placed on the transport table and the stop moving upwards;

FIG. 6 corresponds to the view of FIG. 2 and shows the start of the positioning process of the workpiece, an

Fig. 7 shows the workpiece being tensioned in a view corresponding to fig. 2.

Detailed Description

Throughout the figures, a sheet material dividing apparatus is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. This panel splitter includes: a conveying table 12 formed of a plurality of roller tables; a separating device, which is designed here as a saw, with a separating line 14 ("saw line"); a material taking table 16. The take-off table 16 may be formed from a plurality of roller tables or as a segmented air cushion table. Alternatively, the reclaiming station 16 may have other transport elements, such as driven or undriven belts or rollers. The dividing line 14 is not directly visible in fig. 1 and is therefore only indicated by a dashed line.

Also belonging to the sheet-material separating device 10 is a first transport device 18, which first transport device 18 here comprises a programming slide 20 held so as to be movable on lateral rails (not provided with reference numerals), on which a plurality of clamping tongues 22 are fixed. For reasons of clarity, only the clamping tongues 22 are provided with reference numerals. The first conveying device 18 can move the workpiece on the transport table 12 in the direction of the dividing line 14 in a first conveying direction 19 indicated by a double arrow.

The sheet material dividing apparatus 10 further comprises a handling device 23, here a robot 24. The robot includes a base 26 and a robot arm 28 hingedly secured to the base 26 and rotatable relative to the base 26 about a vertical axis 27. The robot arm 28 further comprises two sections pivotable relative to each other about a horizontal axis (without reference numeral) and a plate-like suction gripping device 30 fixed on the projecting end of the robot arm and arranged in a substantially horizontal plane. The suction gripping device 30 is also mounted so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis (not numbered) relative to the robot arm 28. The robot 24 shown in the present embodiment is a multi-axis robot that is relatively simple in construction. Of course, in principle, other robots with several movements and pivot axes are also conceivable. However, it is also possible to realize a fully automated operation of the plate division device 10 with the robot 24 shown here.

The suction gripper device 30 is designed as a plate-shaped frame and has a plurality of individually activated suction cups 29 on its underside. In this way, workpieces of different sizes can be easily gripped, for example workpieces which are smaller than the total length of the suction gripper 30.

Further, the plate material dividing apparatus 10 has a buffer device 31 having a buffer table 32. The buffer table 32 is arranged laterally to the transport table 12, viewed in the first conveying direction 19, and can also be referred to as a first section 33 of the buffer device 31. The buffered workpieces can be moved in the second conveying direction 38 by means of the buffer device 31. The second transport direction 38 is oriented transversely with respect to the first transport direction 19, here orthogonally to the first transport direction. In embodiments that are not shown, other angles between the two

transport directions

19, 38 are also conceivable.

The buffer device 31 extends into the transport table 12 and has a second section 35. The second section 35 is provided in the conveying table 12.

In plan view and in the plane of conveyor table 12, the plane of reclaiming table 16 and the plane of buffer device 31, robot 24 has a circular working area or placement area, the center of which forms axis 27. This working area intersects the buffer device 31, in particular the first portion 33 of the buffer device 31, and there again intersects the area 37 adjacent to the transport table 12. Thus, the divided workpiece may be received after the dividing process, e.g. rotated and placed on the buffer means 31, in particular on the first section 33 of the buffer means 31.

Fig. 2 schematically shows, in a partially cut-away view, the area of the sheet dividing apparatus 10 (i.e., the buffer device 31 and the conveying table 12) taken along the section a-a in fig. 1.

A further first conveying device 34 is associated with the first section 33, and a further second conveying device 36 is associated with the second section 35. The further first and

second transport devices

34, 36 each have a plurality of parallel-rotating transport elements 40, 42 in the form of belt conveyors 44, 46. In embodiments that are not shown, other conveying elements are also conceivable, for example in the form of chains or in the form of rollers with sliding blocks for moving the workpiece.

Starting with fig. 2, the transport and positioning of the buffered workpieces 48 in the buffer device 31 will be elucidated below. The workpiece 48 has been previously divided by the dividing saw 13, and then only sub-workpieces or "divided workpieces" are further involved. The sub-workpiece 48 is then placed by means of the robot 24 from the picking table 16 onto the first section 33, which is in the form of a buffer table 32 for buffering. In order to convey the workpiece 48 to another separating process, the workpiece 48 needs to be transferred from the first section 33 of the buffer device 31 to the second section 35 of the buffer device 31. The preconditions and the function of the structure provided for this purpose are parameterized as follows, in particular with reference to fig. 2 to 7.

As can be seen from fig. 2, the upper side 50 of the first portion 33 or of the further first transport device 34 is raised with respect to the upper side 52 of the conveying table 12 by 10 mm to 30 mm, for example 20 mm. Other boosting distances are also contemplated.

The second segment 35 or the second conveying device 36 is configured to be height-adjustable with respect to the conveyance table 12. In this way, the second segment 35 or the further second conveyor 36 may be arranged movable between a first position, in which the upper side of the second segment 35 or the upper side of the further second conveyor 36 is arranged below the upper side 52 of the table 12, and a second position, in which the upper side 54 of the second segment 35 is arranged above the upper side 52 of the table. In the lowered position of the second section 35, shown in fig. 2, the workpiece on the transport table 12 can be moved by the first transport device 18 in the first transport direction 19, for example, toward the separating device 13, without this movement being impeded by the buffer device 31 and the second section 35.

In an embodiment that is not shown, the transport table is designed in such a way that it is height-adjustable relative to the second section of the damping device, instead of the second section or the second transport device.

Fig. 3 shows an operating situation in which the second section 35 or the further second transport device 36 is in a second position in which the upper side 54 of the second section 35 is arranged above the upper side 52 of the conveyor table. In this position, workpiece 48 may be transferred from first section 33 to second section 35. For this purpose, first of all the further first transport device 34 is activated by the belt conveyor 46, so that the workpiece 48 is moved in the second transport direction 38 toward the transport table 12. As soon as the workpiece 48 reaches the further second conveyor 36 with the belt conveyor 44 with the front section, it can also be activated.

If one section of the workpiece 48 is on the first section 33 and the other section is on the second section 35, the two

further transport devices

34, 36 can be driven.

A vertically movable stopper 56 for aligning the workpiece 48 is provided on the conveyance table 12. Here and in the following, a single stop 56 is used, but this does not mean that this is necessarily a separately used element. The purpose of the stop 56 is to define a stop line that is orthogonal relative to the split line 14, as will be described in more detail further below. For this purpose, separate stops can be provided, which are arranged in a straight line orthogonal to the dividing line 14, or a straight "square" which is longitudinal and orthogonal to the dividing line 14.

Furthermore, the second segment 35 has a follower element 58, which is coupled to the further second transport device 36 or to the rotating transport element 40 (belt conveyor 44) and with which the workpiece 48 can be moved toward the stop 56. It is also possible here to use a single follower element, but this does not mean that only a single follower element 58 is necessarily provided. The purpose of the follower elements 58 is to move the workpiece on the transport table 12 transversely in translation relative to the first conveying direction 19. For this purpose, it is generally possible to use a plurality of follower elements 58, for example one follower element 58 on each parallel belt conveyor 44, in order to avoid a rotation of the workpiece 48 during the movement.

The follower element 58 is fixed here to the rotatable carrying element 40 or the belt conveyor 44, so that it cannot perform a rotational movement completely. In an embodiment that is not shown, a follower element that can be coupled to the rotatable conveying element 40 in the form of the belt conveyor 44 is also conceivable.

As soon as the workpiece 48 has completely reached the second portion 35 and is no longer on the first portion 33, as shown in fig. 4, the further first conveying device 34 of the first portion 33 is deactivated. The other workpieces 49 on the damping device 31 first rest on the first section 33.

As soon as the workpiece 48 has completely reached the region of the transport table 12 in the further course, the further second transport device 36 of the second section 35 is also deactivated.

Next, as shown in fig. 5, the second segment 35 or the further second transport device 36 is lowered, for example by means of a pneumatic or electric actuator, so that the workpiece 48 lies on the upper side 52 of the transport table 12. For positioning the workpiece 48, the movable stop 56 is now moved upward again, for example by means of a pneumatic or electric actuator, into a position in which it is arranged at least partially above the upper side of the transport table 12. Furthermore, the second transport device 36 is moved such that the follower elements 58 are in the outermost left position as shown in fig. 6, and then the follower elements 58 are moved upwards into their extended position in which they project with their contact sections 60 over the upper side 52 of the conveying table 12.

Subsequently, the further second carriage 36 of the second section 35 is driven such that the following element 58 is moved to the side of the second section 35 or of the transport table 12 facing away from the stop 56, i.e. completely to the left in fig. 6, and the further second carriage no longer comes into contact with the workpiece 48 on the transport table 12 as a result of sinking. The following element 58 is then moved upwards, so that the contact section 60 is moved from a first position below the upper side 52 of the conveying table 12 into a second position in which the contact section 60 is at least partially arranged above the upper side 52 of the conveying table 12. For this purpose, the follower element 58 has an actuator in the form of a pneumatic cylinder (not shown). In embodiments that are not shown, actuators in the form of hydraulic cylinders or electric servomotors are also conceivable.

By the further second carriage 36 of the second segment 35 being driven again, the follower element 58 is moved together with the contact section 60 toward the stop 56, so that the contact section 60 first comes into contact with the left-hand edge of the workpiece 48, as shown in fig. 6 and 7, and subsequently the workpiece 48 is moved toward the stop 56 and is pressed against it, as shown in fig. 7.

The position of the workpiece 48 orthogonal to the sawing line 14 is defined by the stops 56 and the alignment process just described. The workpiece 48 is thus aligned relative to the sawing line 14. The clamping tongues 22 of the programming slide 20 now clamp the workpiece 48 at its edge facing away from the sawing line 14, wherein only one clamping tongue 22 is shown here for reasons of clarity. The workpiece 48 thus maintains its fixed and aligned position relative to the sawing line 14. At least the follower element 58 is now lowered together with the contact section 60 and possibly also with the stop 56. The workpiece can then be transported to another separation process by moving the programming slide 20 in the transport device 19 toward the separation line 14.

For this purpose, the stop 56 and the follower element 58 are moved as described above into a position below the upper side 52 of the transport table 12 and the workpiece 48 is thereby removed. Before the further work piece on the first section 34 in the buffer device 31 is transferred to the second section 35, the further second transport device 36 in the form of the belt conveyor 44 is moved such that the follower element 58 is on the side of the conveying table 12 facing away from the stop 56 (i.e. in the outermost left position shown in fig. 2), the contact section 60 of the follower element being (still) below the upper side 52 of the conveying table 12. In this way, a maximum transport path of the second belt conveyor 46 is provided when additional workpieces 49 are transferred onto the second section 35.

By means of the buffer device 31, the

workpieces

48, 49 can be intermediately stored ("buffered") so that during the storage, further workpieces can be laid flat on the transport table 12 and can be transported to the separating device 13. In order to change the processing sequence, the following steps can also be carried out: the belt conveyor 46 of the first section 34 can also move the work pieces thereon away from the transfer table 12 so that the robot 24 can place the divided work pieces between the transfer table 12 and the work pieces already in the buffer device 31.

Claims

1. A sheet material dividing apparatus (10) for dividing a plate-like workpiece (48, 49) has: a conveying table (12); a transport device (18) for transporting the initial workpiece on the transport table (12) in a first transport direction (19); a dividing device (13) arranged downstream of the conveyor table (12) as seen in the first conveying direction (19) for dividing the initial workpiece into divided workpieces (48, 49) by means of a dividing line (14) arranged transversely to the first conveying direction (19); a buffer device (31) for buffering the divided workpieces (48, 49) before a further division process,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the buffer device (31) is configured to: in which the buffered workpieces (48, 49) can be moved in a second conveying direction (38) at least towards the transport table (12), wherein the second conveying direction (38) is oriented transversely to the first conveying direction (19) in a top view, wherein a movable stop (56) for aligning the buffered workpieces (48) is provided on the transport table (12);

the buffer device (31) comprises: a first segment (33) arranged laterally to the conveying table (12); a separate second section (35) which is arranged in the region of the conveying table (12), wherein the first section (33) is assigned a first further conveying device (34) and the second section (35) is assigned a second further conveying device (36);

the second segment (35) has a following element (58) coupled to the second further transport device (36), by means of which the divided workpiece can be moved to align the stop (56).

2. A sheet dividing apparatus (10) according to claim 1,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the second segment (35) has a following element (58) which is coupled to the transport elements (40, 44) of the second further transport device (36) and with which the divided workpiece can be moved to align the stop (56).

3. A sheet dividing apparatus (10) according to claim 1,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the buffer device (31) has at least one further transport device (34, 36) for moving the buffered workpieces (48) in a second transport direction (38).

4. A sheet dividing apparatus (10) according to claim 1,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the upper side (50) of the first section (33) or of the first further transport device (34) is raised at least at times relative to the upper side (52) of the transport table (12).

5. A sheet dividing apparatus (10) according to claim 1,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the second section (35) or the second further conveying device (36) is designed in a height-adjustable manner relative to the conveying table (12) or the conveying table is designed in a height-adjustable manner relative to the second section.

6. A sheet dividing apparatus (10) according to claim 1,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the first further transport device (34) and/or the second further transport device (36) each have a rotatable transport element (40, 42).

7. A sheet dividing apparatus (10) according to claim 1,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the following element (58) has a contact section (60) which is movable such that it is arranged in a first state below the upper side (52) of the conveyor table (12) and in a second state at least partially above the upper side (52) of the conveyor table (12).

8. A method of operating a sheet material dividing apparatus (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises the steps of: -providing an initial workpiece to a transport table (12); -transporting the initial workpiece on the transport table (12) in a first transport direction (19) to a dividing device (13) by means of a transport device (18), which is arranged downstream of the transport table (12) as seen in the first transport direction (19); -dividing the initial workpiece into at least one divided workpiece (48, 49) by means of the dividing device (13) along a dividing line (14) transverse with respect to the first transport direction (19); -buffering the divided pieces (48, 49) in a buffer device (31) before a further division process,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the buffer device (31) moves the divided workpieces (48, 49) in a second conveying direction (38) at least towards the transport table (12), and the second conveying direction (38) is oriented transversely to the first conveying direction (19) in a top view, the buffered workpieces (48) being aligned by means of movable stops (56) provided on the transport table (12);

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

the divided workpieces (48, 49) are transferred from a first section (33) of the buffer device (31), which is arranged laterally to the transport table (12) and buffers the divided workpieces (48, 49), onto a separate second section (35) of the buffer device (31), which is arranged in the region of the transport table (12).

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the second section (35) is raised relative to the conveyor table (12) at least to the level of the first section (33) before or during the transfer of the divided workpieces (48, 49), or the conveyor table is lowered relative to the second section before or during the transfer of the divided workpieces.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the divided workpiece (48, 49) is moved by means of a first further conveyor (34) onto the first section (33) and by means of a second further conveyor (36) onto the second section (35), wherein the second further conveyor (36) is activated as soon as a part of the divided workpiece (48, 49) reaches the second section (35).

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the divided workpieces (48, 49) are lowered by a second section (35) to be placed on the conveying table (12).

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the cut workpiece (48, 49) placed on the transport table (12) is aligned relative to the transport table and/or the cutting device (13) by means of a following element (58) which is arranged at least partially above the upper side (52) of the transport table (12) being moved to a movable stop (56) of the transport table (12) and pressed against said stop.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first and second light sources are selected from the group consisting of,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the divided workpieces (48, 49) are fixed by at least one clamping reed (22) in a state of being placed on the conveying table and aligned, and then the follower element (58) and the stopper (56) are moved away from the divided workpieces (48, 49).