Loading/unloading units for profiles

A loading/unloading unit for loading/unloading profiles having a longitudinal main axis of extension, wherein at least one predetermined section is defined on a profile transverse to a longitudinal main axis of the profile, the loading/unloading unit comprising:

• a platform extending longitudinally along a first axis and transversely along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, wherein the platform is configured to receive one or more profiles along the first axis, wherein the platform comprises a loading area configured to receive the one or more profiles to be machined, an unloading area, and a pick-up area which is spaced apart from the loading area and from the unloading area along the second axis;
• and
• handling means associated with the platform and configured to carry the one or more profiles between the loading area and the unloading area;
• wherein the handling means comprises:
• one or more orientation devices that can be pulled up from the platform along a third axis, perpendicular to the first axis and to the second axis, and that are configured to rotate the profile about the longitudinal main axis of the profile;
• a control unit, in signal communication with each of the one or more orientation devices, configured to control movement of the profile and an orientation of the at least one predetermined section of the profile relative to the first axis;
• and
• one or more retaining devices that can be pulled up from the platform and that are in signal communication with the control unit;
• wherein each of the one or more retaining devices is configured to detect a first section parameter representative of the orientation of the at least one predetermined section of the profile relative to the first axis and to send the orientation to the control unit, and
• wherein the control unit is further configured to:
• compare the first section parameter with a first reference section parameter representative of a desired orientation of the at least one predetermined section of the profile relative to the first axis;
• and
• generate a first orientation correction signal to rotate the profile using the one or more orientation devices if the first section parameter differs from the first reference section parameter.

A loading/unloading unit for loading/unloading profiles having a longitudinal main axis of extension, wherein at least one predetermined section is defined on a profile transverse to a longitudinal main axis of the profile, the loading/unloading unit comprising:

• a platform extending longitudinally along a first axis and transversely along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, wherein the platform is configured to receive one or more profiles along the first axis, wherein the platform comprises a loading area configured to receive the one or more profiles to be machined, an unloading area, and a pick-up area which is spaced apart from the loading area and from the unloading area along the second axis;
• and
• handling means associated with the platform and configured to carry the one or more profiles between the loading area and the unloading area;
• wherein the handling means comprises:
• one or more orientation devices that can be pulled up from the platform along a third axis, perpendicular to the first axis and to the second axis, and that are configured to rotate the profile about the longitudinal main axis of the profile;
• a plurality of first conveyor belts configured to receive the one or more profiles in the loading area and to carry the one or more profiles along the second axis from the loading area to the pick-up area;
• and
• a plurality of second conveyor belts configured to receive the one or more profiles in the pick-up area and to carry the one or more profiles along the second axis from the pick-up area to the unloading area;
• wherein the handling means is further configured to reversibly move between a first configuration, in which the first conveyor belts and the second conveyor belts are arranged side by side along the first axis, and a second configuration, in which the first conveyor belts are rigidly translated along the second axis relative to the second conveyor belts to an intermediate loading area downstream from the pick-up area along the second axis, and
• wherein the first conveyor belts are configured to carry the one or more profiles along the second axis from the intermediate loading area to the pick-up area.