# US 10,442,038 B2 · Methods for the production of workpieces > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,442,038 B2 - Document ID: US10442038B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/706,947 - Filed: 2017-09-18 - Published: 2018-03-29 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-26 - Assignees: TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG - Applicants: TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG - Inventors: Markus Wilhelm; Marc Klinkhammer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10442038B2 ## CPC - B23K 37/0408: {for planar work} - B21D 28/02: Punching blanks or articles with or without obtaining scrap (cutting nails or pins from strips or sheet material B21G3/26); Notching - B21D 28/10: Incompletely punching in such a manner that the parts are still coherent with the work - B21D 28/265: {with relative movement of sheet and tools enabling the punching of holes in predetermined locations of the sheet, e.g. holes punching with template} - B21D 39/03: of sheet metal otherwise than by folding - B21D 43/02: Advancing work in relation to the stroke of the die or tool - B23K 37/047: moving work to adjust its position between soldering, welding or cutting steps (B23K37/053 takes precedence) - B23P 11/00: Connecting or disconnecting metal parts or objects by metal-working techniques not otherwise provided for (connecting sheet metal or metal tubes, rods or profiles B21D39/00; riveting B21J; soldering, unsoldering, welding B23K; hand tools for connecting wire or strip B25B25/00; connecting metal parts by adhesives F16B11/00) - B23Q 1/66: Worktables interchangeably movable into operating positions - B23Q 7/047: {the gripper supporting the workpiece during machining} - B32B 15/01: all layers being exclusively metallic {(making layered metal workpieces by pressure cladding B23K20/22; making coatings with a metallic material characterised by its composition C23C30/00)} - B21D 35/007: {Layered blanks (B21D22/203 takes precedence; joining superposed plates B21D39/031, B21D39/034, B21D39/035)} - B23K 2101/18: Sheet panels - B23Q 3/15566: {the tool being inserted in a tool holder directly from a storage device, i.e. without using transfer devices} - F16B 17/00: Connecting constructional elements or machine parts by a part of or on one member entering a hole in the other {and involving plastic deformation}(riveting F16B19/04) - Y10T 483/1731: including matrix - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) - B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) - B23Q: DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING (tools of the kind used in lathes or boring machines B23B27/00); MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A method for the production of workpieces includes positioning and holding a first plate-shaped material with a gripping device in a working region of a processing station so that the first plate-shaped material is moveable relative to a workpiece support, positioning and holding a second plate-shaped material with an additional gripping device in the working region of the processing station so that the second plate-shaped material is moveable relative to the workpiece support, producing a first workpiece part from the first plate-shaped material, positioning the first workpiece part with respect to the second plate-shaped material, connecting the first workpiece part to the second plate-shaped material or to a second workpiece part produced from the second plate-shaped material, wherein the second workpiece part is at least partially processed, and finishing the at least the second workpiece part that is connected to the first workpiece part in the processing station. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for the production of workpieces made of several plate-shaped materials, the method comprising: positioning and holding a first plate-shaped material with a gripping device in a working region of a processing station of a workpiece processing machine so that the first plate-shaped material is moveable relative to a workpiece support in the working region; positioning and holding at least one second plate-shaped material with an additional gripping device in the working region of the processing station so that the at least one second plate-shaped material is moveable relative to the workpiece support in the working region; producing at least one first workpiece part from the first plate-shaped material, positioning the at least one first workpiece part with respect to the at least one second plate-shaped material in the working region; connecting the at least one first workpiece part to the second plate-shaped material or to at least one second workpiece part produced from the second plate-shaped material, wherein the at least one second workpiece part is at least partially processed; finishing the at least one second workpiece part that is connected to the at least one first workpiece part in the processing station; and cutting at least one of the first and second workpiece parts free from the second plate-shaped material or a residual grid resulting therefrom in a final processing step in the working region of the processing station for removing the at least one first and second workpiece part connected to each other from the second plate-shaped material; wherein the at least one second workpiece part is partially finished and is still connected to the second plate-shaped material before the positioning of the at least one first workpiece part or is finished except for at least one connecting bridge to the residual grid of the second plate-shaped material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising lifting the at least one first workpiece part out of a plane of the workpiece support with a tool or a handling device and positioning the at least one first workpiece part to overlap at least a part of the second plate-shaped material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the positioning of the at least one first workpiece part with respect to the at least one second plate-shaped material is carried out with a punching handling tool or with at least one suction gripping device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a holding bracket or a holding frame is formed on the at least one first workpiece part for transportation to the second plate-shaped material, and is detached after connecting the first workpiece part and the second workpiece part. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising introducing at least one positioning aid into the at least one first and/or the at least one second workpiece part before the first workpiece part is positioned with respect to the at least one second processed workpiece part. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one positioning aid is formed as a hole and a centering stud or as an embossment and a complementary depression. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one first processed workpiece part and the at least one second workpiece part are connected to one another by joining, clinching without additional material, adhesive bonding, soldering, welding, or mechanical locking. ### Claim 8 A method for the production of workpieces made of several plate-shaped materials, the method comprising: positioning and holding a first plate-shaped material with a gripping device in a working region of a processing station of a workpiece processing machine so that the first plate-shaped material is moveable relative to a workpiece support in the working region; positioning and holding at least one second plate-shaped material with an additional gripping device in the working region of the processing station so that the at least one second plate-shaped material is moveable relative to the workpiece support in the working region; producing at least one first workpiece part from the first plate-shaped material, positioning the at least one first workpiece part with respect to the at least one second plate-shaped material in the working region; connecting the at least one first workpiece part to the second plate-shaped material or to at least one second workpiece part produced from the second plate-shaped material, wherein the at least one second workpiece part is at least partially processed; and finishing the at least one second workpiece part that is connected to the at least one first workpiece part in the processing station, wherein several first workpiece parts are produced in the first plate-shaped material, and an equal number of second workpiece parts are produced in the second plate-shaped material and the first and second workpiece parts are then held by connecting bridges in a residual grid of the first and second plate-shaped materials and the first plate-shaped material is positioned completely above the second plate-shaped material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the first plate-shaped material is positioned by folding the first plate-shaped material over the second plate-shaped material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the first plate-shaped material is positioned by lifting and moving the first plate-shaped material out of a workpiece support plane to a position above the second plate-shaped material and then lowering the first plate-shaped material onto the second plate-shaped material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first and at least one further second plate-shaped material are processed with one or more of a punching tool, a bending tool, and a laser. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein reinforced workpieces are produced from the first workpiece part as a connecting component and the at least one second workpiece part is produced from a plate-shaped material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the connecting component is a threaded insert or a threaded sleeve. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a reinforced workpiece is produced as an assembly from several different materials, material thicknesses, or both. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a reinforced workpiece is formed by a multi-layer construction made from several plate-shaped materials.