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US 10,307,875 B2Granted
Pallet changer and method for processing a sheet-like material arranged on a moveable pallet
AssigneeTRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG
InventorFrank Schmauder
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to pallet changers and methods for processing sheet-like materials with at least two movably arranged pallets movably positioned in a main frame and having a support surface for receiving a sheet-like material. The pallets are moved in alternation with a drive from the main frame into a material processing machine and back to the main frame. The drive comprises a motor, which drives a drive element, which moves the pallets. A processing device is provided on the main frame to process sheet-like material positioned on the pallets in the main frame.
Claims26
A pallet changer system, the pallet changer system comprising;
- a main frame;
- at least two pallets moveably positioned in the main frame, wherein the at least two pallets each comprise a support surface for receiving a sheet-like material;
- a drive system coupled to the main frame and configured to move the at least two pallets in alternation with one another from the main frame into a material processing machine positioned adjacent to the main frame and back into the main frame, wherein the drive system comprises a motor configured to actuate a drive element for movement of the at least two pallets into the material processing machine and back to the main frame;
- and
- a processing device coupled to the main frame, wherein the processing device is configured to process sheet-like material positioned on the support surface of one or more of the at least two pallets that are positioned in the main frame
- wherein the processing device has a processing tool that is moveable at least in part within the support surface of the one or more of the at least two pallets and wherein the processing device rests on a guide extending along a linear axis defining an X-direction, wherein the processing device is moveable in the X-direction on the guide and along the linear axis for a drive-in and a drive-out movement of the one or more of the at least two pallets and on which the processing tool moveable in a Y-direction is provided, wherein the Y-direction is orthogonal to the X-direction in a plane parallel to the one or more of the at least two pallets.
3 more elements
A method for processing sheet-like materials comprising:
- positioning a sheet-like material on a support surface of each pallet of at least two pallets moveably coupled to a main frame of a pallet changer system;
- driving one pallet of the at least two pallets from the pallet changer system into a material processing machine positioned adjacent to the main frame for material processing of the sheet-like material positioned on the one pallet, wherein the one pallet is driven out from the material processing machine after the sheet-like material on the one pallet is processed and is fed back into the pallet changer system;
- processing the sheet-like material positioned on one or more pallets of the at least two pallets other than the one pallet via at least one processing device coupled to the main frame;
- and
- processing the sheet-like material positioned on the one pallet via the at least one processing device at least one of before and after material processing of the sheet-like material positioned on the one pallet by the material processing machine.
2 more elements
A pallet changer system, the pallet changer system comprising;
- a main frame;
- at least two pallets moveably positioned in the main frame, wherein the at least two pallets each comprise a support surface for receiving a sheet-like material;
- a drive system coupled to the main frame and configured to move the at least two pallets in alternation with one another from the main frame into a material processing machine positioned adjacent to the main frame and back into the main frame, wherein the drive system comprises a motor configured to actuate a drive element for movement of the at least two pallets into the material processing machine and back to the main frame;
- and
- a processing device coupled to the main frame, wherein the processing device is configured to process sheet-like material positioned on the support surface of one or more of the at least two pallets that are positioned in the main frame,
- wherein the drive system controls a movement of the pallet from the main frame into the material processing machine and back again and a movement of the processing device along the main frame, and wherein drive system controls the movement of pallet independently of the movement of the processing device.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.