Loading and Unloading Units and Methods for Sheet Metal Processing

Abstract

A loading and unloading unit for sheet metal providing a first tool holder is provided. Therewith, sheet metal processing tools may be passed from a first tool magazine that is attached to a fixed unit of the loading and unloading unit to a second tool holder integrated in a sheet metal processing machine or to a tool fixture of the sheet metal processing machine, and, thus, the number of tools automatically exchangeable in the sheet metal processing machine can be increased to create a more efficient and space-saving manufacturing process.

1 . A loading and unloading unit for a sheet metal processing machine, the loading and unloading unit comprising:
 a fixed unit; and   a sheet metal picking unit comprising:
 at least one device configured to pick up sheet metal; 
 at least one driving device for moving the sheet metal picking unit in at least one horizontal axis; and 
 at least one first tool holder for holding a sheet metal processing tool. 
   
     
     
         2 . The loading and unloading unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the fixed unit comprises a first tool magazine with at least one second tool holder. 
     
     
         3 . The loading and unloading unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet metal picking unit comprises at least two first tool holders. 
     
     
         4 . The loading and unloading unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first tool holder can move in relation to the sheet metal picking unit. 
     
     
         5 . The loading and unloading unit according to  claim 4 , wherein the loading and unloading unit comprises a plurality of first tool holders that are fixedly positioned in relation to each other. 
     
     
         6 . The loading and unloading unit according to  claim 4 , wherein the loading and unloading unit comprises a plurality of first tool holders that can rotate relative to the sheet metal picking unit. 
     
     
         7 . The loading and unloading unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet metal processing tool is a punching tool. 
     
     
         8 . The loading and unloading unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet metal processing tool is a bending tool. 
     
     
         9 . A sheet metal processing machine comprising:
 a loading and unloading unit comprising:
 a fixed unit; and 
 a sheet metal picking unit comprising:
 at least one device configured to pick up sheet metal; 
 at least one driving device for moving the sheet metal picking unit in 
 
 at least one horizontal axis; and 
 at least one first tool holder for holding a sheet metal processing tool; and 
   a controller configured to control the at least one driving device to move the sheet metal picking unit.   
     
     
         10 . The sheet metal processing machine according to  claim 9 , wherein the processing machine is a punching machine that comprises an upper tool fixture and a lower tool fixture. 
     
     
         11 . The sheet metal processing machine according to  claim 9 , wherein the processing machine is a bending machine that comprises an upper tool fixture and a lower tool fixture. 
     
     
         12 . The sheet metal processing machine according to  claim 9 , wherein the controller is adapted to output signals to the at least one driving device such that at least one sheet metal processing tool is passed from a first tool magazine attached to the fixed unit to a second tool magazine of the sheet metal processing machine or to a tool fixture of the sheet metal processing machine. 
     
     
         13 . The sheet metal processing machine according to  claim 9 , wherein the controller is adapted to output signals to at the least one driving device such that the sheet metal processing tool can be taken from the second tool magazine of the sheet metal processing machine or from a tool fixture of the sheet metal processing machine. 
     
     
         14 . A sheet metal processing tool exchange method, the method comprising:
 using a loading and unloading unit of a sheet metal processing machine as a tool holder of the sheet metal processing machine to move a sheet metal processing tool from a first tool magazine that is attached to a fixed unit of the loading and unloading unit to a second tool magazine of the sheet metal processing machine.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising using the loading and unloading unit of the sheet metal processing machine as a tool holder of the sheet metal processing machine to move the sheet metal processing tool from the second tool magazine of the sheet metal processing machine to the first tool magazine attached to the fixed unit. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein moving the sheet metal processing tool occurs while a sheet metal plate is loaded into the sheet metal processing machine or while a manufactured sheet metal part is unloaded from the sheet metal processing machine. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the sheet metal processing tool is moved from the first tool magazine while a sheet metal plate is machined in the sheet metal processing machine. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the sheet metal processing tool is moved to the first tool magazine while a sheet metal plate is machined in the sheet metal processing machine. 
     
     
         19 . A sheet metal processing tool exchange method, the method comprising:
 using a loading and unloading unit of a sheet metal processing machine as a tool holder of the sheet metal processing machine to move a sheet metal processing tool from a first tool magazine that is attached to a fixed unit of the loading and unloading unit to a tool fixture of the sheet metal processing machine; and   removing the sheet metal processing tool from the tool fixture of the sheet metal processing machine.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising using a sheet metal picking unit of the loading and unloading unit to replace a sheet metal processing tool comprising a lower part and an upper part, the lower part of the sheet metal processing tool being disposed in a lower part of the tool fixture and the upper part of the sheet metal processing tool being disposed in a upper part of the tool fixture,
 wherein the upper part of the tool fixture moves relative to the lower part of the tool fixture to release the upper part of the sheet metal processing tool and place the upper part of the sheet metal processing tool on the lower part of the sheet metal processing tool so that it can be picked up by the sheet metal picking unit in a subsequent step.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising using a sheet metal picking unit of the loading and unloading unit to replace a sheet metal processing tool comprising a lower part and an upper part, the lower part of the sheet metal processing tool being disposed in a lower part of the tool fixture and the upper part of the sheet metal processing tool being configured to be received in an upper part of the tool fixture,
 wherein the upper part of the sheet metal processing tool is placed on the lower part of the sheet metal processing tool that is disposed in the lower part of the tool fixture using the sheet metal picking unit, the upper part of the sheet metal processing tool being retained by the upper tool holder in a subsequent step.