J. Schmalz Gmbh

Trumpf Werkzeugmaschinen Gmbh + Co. Kg

Walter Dunkmann

Thomas Eisele

Thomas Holecek

Aline Defranceski

Hermann Reinisch

Frank Schmauder

Magnus Deiss

Peter Epperlein

Harald Kuolt

Heinz-Juergen Prokop

Marcus Eberle

Florian Fritz

Jens Ottnad

Walter Schaaf

Gernot Schmierer

Rainer Hoehn

Tobias Stahl

Stefan Stroebel

Benjamin Werni

Marcus Busch

Alexander Hemmen

Dirk Plaueln

Stefan Kaupp

Rainer Höhn

Fabian Gaeckle

David Straub

Heinz-Jürgen Prokop

Franz Kowal

Stefan Bauer

Stefan STRÖBEL

Fabian GÄCKLE

A loading and unloading device for a machine, a machine for machining panel-like workpieces, and a workpiece support for such a machine and a method for loading and unloading such a machine, having a loading and unloading module, wherein the loading and unloading module has a vertically upwardly oriented raising device for lifting a cut-free workpiece part and a vertically downwardly oriented gripping device () for holding an unmachined, panel-like workpiece.

Machine workpiece handling

The invention relates to a method for monitoring a functional state of a pressure-driven actuator which comprises an actuator compartment defined at least in portions by a flexibly deformable wall, the actuator being actuated by applying pressure to the actuator compartment by means of an operating pressure supply, a work process being carried out to actuate the actuator, which process is accompanied by the actuator transitioning from a starting configuration to an end configuration. The pressure the pressure applied to the actuator compartment is measured depending on time by means of a sensor apparatus during the transition from the starting configuration to the end configuration. The invention also relates to a pressure-driven actuator.

Method for monitoring functional states a pressure driven actuator and pressure-actuatable actuator

A method for operating a vacuum handling apparatus, in particular for a human-machine-collaboration system, a vacuum gripper can be connected to a primary vacuum system to generate a vacuum, the method includes the following steps applying the vacuum gripper to a workpiece and building up a vacuum in the vacuum gripper by means of the primary vacuum system; holding the workpiece during its handling by means of the vacuum prevailing in the vacuum gripper, and monitoring at least one state variable during the handling; and generating an auxiliary vacuum in the vacuum gripper by a self-sufficient, secondary auxiliary vacuum system if the monitored state variable deviates from a target state.

Vacuum handling apparatus

Devices for separating two workpiece parts, e.g., metal sheets, from one another are described and include a workpiece mounting, a lifting device arranged on one side of the workpiece mounting, and a counter-holder arranged on the opposite side of the workpiece mounting. The counter-holder can be transferred into a fixing state and into a releasing state. One of the workpiece parts to be separated from one another is provided as a removal part, the other as a remaining part. For separating the two workpiece parts, the removal part, which is acted upon by the lifting device and supported by the counter-holder, can be moved by means of the lifting device perpendicular to the mounting in relation to the remaining part by a removal movement. At least in the releasing state, the counter-holder forms a rigid abutment in the lifting direction for the removal part. The rigid abutment has the effect that the removal part is aligned parallel to the mounting. Machine-based systems include a processing unit for producing two workpiece parts from a sheet-like workpiece and a separating device as described herein. Methods for separating two workpiece parts of a sheet-like workpiece are carried out by means of the devices described herein and can be part of a machine-based process.

Device and method for mutual separation of two workpiece components of a plate-like workpiece

A method for operating a pneumatically driven system for handling workpieces, comprising a plurality of pneumatic units that can be pneumatically operated or are used for pneumatic control, which have connections to pressure hoses and/or which are in fluid communication with each other by the use of pressure hoses, and comprising at least one control unit for driving at least one of the pneumatic units by the use of electrical signals and/or for receiving and evaluating electrical signals from at least one of the pneumatic units. The electrical signals are here transmitted between the control unit and at least one pneumatic unit via the pressure hoses, wherein an electric voltage is applied between at least two different pressure hoses that connect the control unit and the respective pneumatic unit.

Method for operating a pneumatically driven plant for handling workpieces and a system for handling workpieces

A method for the handling of flexible and/or mat-like workpieces () with a holding device () comprising the steps of: picking up the workpiece () from an initial configuration with activated gripping devices (); and displacing the gripping devices () relative to each other to deform the workpiece () into a desired freeform, further wherein the holding force before or during the displacement of the gripping devices () is reduced on each gripping device () so that the first sections () of the workpiece () during its deformation slide along the contact surface () and the second sections () of the workpiece () are fixed by the gripping devices () on the bearing surface ().

Method for handling flexible mat-like workpieces

A multistage ejector has a nozzle arrangement, which has at least three nozzles which are arranged in series in the direction of a longitudinal axis, wherein the nozzles are designed for passage of a throughflow of a fluid, wherein a fluid gap is provided between adjacent nozzles in each case, wherein at least two of the at least three nozzles are interconnected monolithically to form a nozzle string, and wherein the nozzle string is arranged at least partially in a sleeve and the nozzle string and the sleeve are detachably fastened to each other. The nozzle string and the sleeve are axially fastened to each other by fastening mechanism which acts in a positively locking manner.

Multistage ejector

The present invention is directed toward a method for operating a manipulator system having a vacuum manipulator device for manipulating a workpiece and a vacuum generator for generating a vacuum. The vacuum generator has a suction connection for suctioning in order to provide a vacuum supply for the vacuum manipulator device. Further, a diagnosis cycle is executed, including the steps of: provision of a vacuum for the vacuum manipulator device, and suctioning without a workpiece; and measurement of the equilibrium pressure obtained at the suction connection with a suction pressure sensor.

Method for operating a vacuum generator and a vacuum generator for carrying out said method

A vacuum gripping device comprising a plurality of suction bodies, each comprising a suction chamber for applying to a workpiece to be gripped, a suction valve is associated with each suction point, wherein each suction valve comprises a vacuum supply side for connection to a vacuum supply device and a suction side connected to the suction chamber of the assigned suction body, wherein the suction valve comprises a valve body, moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the valve body is arranged on a flexible control membrane which delimits a control chamber; in such a way that the valve body is moveable from the open position into the closed position using deformation of the control membrane, and wherein a membrane cloth extending across multiple or all suction points is arranged in the gripper housing.

Vacuum gripping device

The invention relates to a system () for handling workpieces, with a handling device () which comprises at least one vacuum gripper () for drawing a workpiece in by suction, with at least one vacuum generator () that can be operated by the supply of compressed air for supplying the vacuum gripper () with vacuum, with at least one controllable control valve () by which the supply of compressed air to the vacuum generator () can be controlled, wherein the control valve () is associated with a control device () for the proper control of the control valve (as required. The handling device comprises an evaluation unit () for evaluating operating data of the vacuum generator () and/or for evaluating operating data of the handling device () as well as for generating control signals as a function of the evaluated operating data, wherein the evaluation unit () is arranged on the handling device (), and wherein the control device () controls the control valve () as a function of the control signals transmitted from the evaluation unit ().

System for handling workpieces and method for operating such a system

A handling system having at least one vacuum generator and an associated vacuum handling device connected to and operable via the vacuum generator. The vacuum handling device is provided with an individually assigned recognition unit including a memory device in which operating data for the vacuum handling device is storable and can be read out. Each vacuum generator has a respective sub-control unit adapted to control the vacuum generator depending on data transmitted from the recognition unit. The memory device of the recognition unit can be read out directly from the sub-control unit.

Handling system and method of operating a handling system

A holding device () having a plurality of gripping devices () which are arranged displaceable relative to each other on a support structure () in such manner that by their displacement gripping devices () are adjustable to a free-form surface. The support structure () comprises a plurality of mutually associated movable support elements () on which are arranged gripping devices (), wherein a plurality of support elements () are arranged in a row and are connected to form a carrying chain () such that the carrying chain () is form-adjustable by the movement of the support elements () relative to each other.

Holding device for gripping workpieces with complex shapes or deformable surfaces

A method is proposed for operating a vacuum handling device controlled by a programmable controller () which can be connected to a machine controller (), with at least one vacuum generator () and with a number of gripper modules (), which are connected to the vacuum generator and are each equipped with a first pressure sensor () and with a control valve () for the vacuum in the gripper module, and which are connected to the programmable controller. The control valve in the gripper module is closed in a first switching state (vacuum on) of the programmable controller and is detected up to the control valve () by means of a second pressure sensor () in the vacuum generator.

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Baden-Baden, Germany

Walter Dunkmann