Workpiece collecting point units and methods for supporting the processing of workpieces

A workpiece collecting point unit for a machine tool, comprising:

• a placing area for workpieces generated by the machine tool within a framework of a processing plan;
• a display unit adapted to display workpiece information to an operator about a workpiece to be further processed that was placed on the placing area;
• and
• a signal device adapted to output an identification signal indicating to an operator a location of a selected workpiece collecting unit for placing the workpiece to be further processed.

A flatbed machine tool comprising:

• a processing unit;
• a control unit in which a processing plan is stored for controlling the processing unit to generate workpieces arranged next to one another in accordance with a processing image data set;
• a sorting table for supporting the arranged workpieces for sorting after generation;
• and
• a workpiece collecting point unit for a machine tool, comprising:
• a placing area for workpieces generated by the machine tool within a framework of a processing plan;
• a display unit adapted to display workpiece information to an operator about a workpiece to be further processed that was placed on the placing area;
• and
• a signal device adapted to output an identification signal indicating to an operator a location of a selected workpiece collecting unit for placing the workpiece to be further processed.

A communication system of a flatbed machine tool installation for forming an intelligent factory, comprising:

• at least one flatbed machine tool having a control unit for controlling workpiece production in accordance with predetermined processing plans;
• a manufacturing execution system linked to the control unit that manages workpiece information relating to the processing plans;
• and
• a plurality of combined signal/display units each comprising a display unit and a signal output device, the display unit being adapted to display to an operator the workpiece information of one or more workpieces associated with the combined signal/display unit, and the signal output device being adapted to output an identification signal indicating to an operator a location of the combined signal/display unit;
• and
• workpiece collecting point units for a machine tool, each collecting point unit comprising:
• a placing area for workpieces generated by the machine tool within a framework of a processing plan;
• a display unit adapted to display workpiece information to an operator about a workpiece to be further processed that was placed on the placing area;
• and
• a signal device adapted to output an identification signal indicating to an operator a location of a selected workpiece collecting unit for placing the workpiece to be further processed.

A method for retrofitting a flatbed machine tool installation to form an intelligent factory with a manufacturing execution system, the method comprising:

• providing a plurality of combined signal/display units each comprising a display unit and a signal output device, the display unit being adapted to display workpiece information to an operator about one or more workpieces associated with the combined signal/display unit, the signal output device being adapted to output an identification signal indicating to an operator a location of the combined signal/display unit, and workpiece collecting point units for a machine tool, each workpiece collecting point unit comprising:
• a placing area for workpieces generated by the machine tool within a framework of a processing plan,
• a display unit adapted to display workpiece information to an operator about a workpiece to be further processed that was placed on the placing area, and
• a signal device adapted to output an identification signal indicating to an operator a location of a selected workpiece collecting unit for placing the workpiece to be further processed;
• and
• linking the provided plurality of combined signal/display units and workpiece collecting point units into the manufacturing execution system.