Workpiece support of a processing machine for flat workpieces and processing machine for flat workpieces comprising such a workpiece support and method for processing a flat workpiece using such a processing machine

A processing machine for flat workpieces comprising:

• a workpiece support frame;
• a workpiece support for the processing machine for flat workpieces, the workpiece support comprising support elements, each of the support elements form a plurality of support points for the workpieces and span a workpiece support plane for the flat workpiece;
• a transfer device comprising transfer rollers configured to engage a pair of transfer rails of a base of the processing machine, and the transfer device configured to transfer at least one of the support elements from a first position into at least one further position is provided, wherein:
• at least one support element of the support elements is configured to be transferred under load of at least one of the flat workpieces by a movement parallel to the workpiece support plane from the first position into the at least one further position;
• the at least one support element has an axis of rotation around which the at least one support element is rotatable;
• and
• the axis of rotation is aligned parallel to the workpiece support plane;
• and an entire workpiece support is displaceable along the plane, and
• at least one tool for processing at least one of the flat workpieces, the tool being displaceable relative to the workpiece support.

A method for processing a flat workpiece using a processing machine comprising the steps of:

• providing a workpiece support frame;
• providing a workpiece support for the processing machine for flat workpieces, the workpiece support comprising support elements, each of the support elements form a plurality of support points for the workpieces and span a workpiece support plane for the flat workpiece;
• providing a transfer device comprising transfer rollers configured to engage a pair of transfer rails of a base of the processing machine and the transfer device configured to transfer at least one of the support elements from a first position into at least one further position is provided,
• providing at least one support element of a the support elements is configured to be transferred under load of a workpiece by a movement parallel to the workpiece support plane from the first position into the at least one further position;
• i. wherein the support elements comprise cylindrical components with axes of rotation aligned parallel to the workpiece support plane;
• ii. wherein the at least one support element has an axis of rotation around which the at least one support element is rotatable;
• and
• iii. wherein the axis of rotation is aligned parallel to the workpiece support plane;
• and an entire workpiece support is displaceable along the plane, and
• providing at least one tool for processing the flat workpiece, the tool being displaceable relative to the workpiece support;
• positioning the flat workpiece to be processed on the workpiece support;
• positioning of the tool for processing at least one of the flat workpieces;
• and at least one of transferring and moving at least one of the support elements of the workpiece support along a plane that runs parallel to the workpiece support plane, starting from the work area, if at least one support element is determined in a work area of the tool, positioned for processing, of a processing head of the processing machine, the entire workpiece support being displaced along the plane;
• and execution of a processing process.