Method for arranging semi-finished products

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11426899-B2
Application number	US-202016850646-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 16, 2020
Priority date	Nov 14, 2017
Publication date	Aug 30, 2022
Grant date	Aug 30, 2022

Abstract

A method of arranging, in particular thermoplastic, semi-finished products by using an electronically controlled or regulated placing device for the semi-finished products. The method includes detecting at least one part of an outline of a semi-finished product to be placed, wherein the detecting is carried out by a detection device, determining a target position for the semi-finished product and/or for the placing device for placing the semi-finished product by matching the at least one part of the outline with a placing edge occurring on an underlying surface, and placing the semi-finished product by the placing device using the target position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of arranging semi-finished products by using an electronically controlled or regulated placing device for the semi-finished products, the method comprising:
detecting at least one part of an outline of a semi-finished product to be placed, wherein the detecting is carried out by a detection device;
determining a target position for the semi-finished product or for the placing device for placing the semi-finished product by matching the at least one part of the outline with a placing edge occurring on an underlying surface; and
placing the semi-finished product by the placing device using the target position,
wherein the semi-finished product comprises reinforcement fibers,
wherein a running direction of the reinforcement fibers is detected by the detection device, and the semi-finished product is sorted out when the detection device detects that gaps between the reinforcement fibers are larger than a predetermined threshold.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the semi-finished product is a flat semi-finished product with an upper side, a bottom side and lateral edges.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the detecting of the at least one part of the outline of the semi-finished product is carried out from a detection viewing direction which is oriented substantially perpendicular to the upper side or to the bottom side.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the target position for the semi-finished product or for the placing device for placing the semi-finished product is determined in such a way that, when placing the semi-finished product gaps are prevented from being formed between the semi-finished product and an already previously placed semi-finished product or an overlapping is prevented between the semi-finished product and an already previously placed semi-finished product.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein prior to the detecting of the at least one part of the outline, the semi-finished product is picked up by the placing device.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the semi-finished product is held by the placing device when detecting the at least one part of the outline of the semi-finished product.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a comparison of the detected outline with a saved outline reference range or a comparison of a measurement of the semi-finished product determined from the detected outline with a saved reference measurement range is carried out, and wherein depending on a result of the comparison, either
a sorting out of the semi-finished product is carried out when the detected outline of the semi-finished product lies at least in sections beyond the outline reference range or the determined measurement of the semi-finished product lies beyond the reference measurement range, or
the semi-finished product is made available for use in a molding process when the detected outline of the semi-finished product lies within the outline reference range or the determined measurement of the semi-finished product lies within the reference measurement range.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one part of the outline is detected relative to at least one reference mark.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the placing device comprises a handling device.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a position or an orientation of the semi-finished product is determined from the detected outline.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the target position for the semi-finished product or for the placing device is determined from the determined position or the determined orientation of the semi-finished product.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the placing device comprises a placing surface for the semi-finished product, and wherein the placing surface forms the underlying surface for placing the semi-finished product.

13. A molding process for the production of a molding part in a molding installation, wherein the molding installation comprises a molding machine and a placing device, the process comprising:
carrying out the method according to claim 1 ;
inserting at least one semi-finished product, which has been made available for use, into a molding tool of the molding machine;
closing the molding tool, whereby the at least one semi-finished product is at least partially situated in a cavity of the molding tool;
introducing a liquid molding material into the cavity;
at least partially hardening the introduced liquid molding material together with the at least one semi-finished product to form the molding part;
opening the molding tool; and
removing the molding part from the molding tool.

14. A method of arranging semi-finished products by using an electronically controlled or regulated placing device for the semi-finished products, the method comprising:
detecting at least one part of an outline of a semi-finished product to be placed, wherein the detecting is carried out by a detection device;
determining a target position for the semi-finished product or for the placing device for placing the semi-finished product by matching the at least one part of the outline with a placing edge occurring on an underlying surface; and
placing the semi-finished product by the placing device using the target position,
wherein the detection device comprises an optical measuring system and an illumination device, and a spectral distribution of emitted electromagnetic radiation is adapted to an absorption spectrum of the semi-finished product in such a way that a contrast ratio of images captured by the optical measuring system is optimized.

15. A method of arranging semi-finished products by using an electronically controlled or regulated placing device for the semi-finished products, the method comprising:
detecting at least one part of an outline of a semi-finished product to be placed, wherein the detecting is carried out by a detection device;
determining a target position for the semi-finished product or for the placing device for placing the semi-finished product by matching the at least one part of the outline with a placing edge occurring on an underlying surface; and
placing the semi-finished product by the placing device using the target position, wherein during the detection of the at least one part of the outline, the semi-finished product is pressed against a transparent detection surface.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the detection surface is formed separate from a placing surface of the placing device and is arranged at a distance from the placing surface.

17. A device for arranging semi-finished products, comprising:
a placing device for the semi-finished products;
a detection device configured to detect at least one part of an outline of a semi-finished product to be placed; and
an electronic controlling or regulating unit configured to control or regulate the placing device, wherein the controlling or regulating unit is further configured to determine a target position for the semi-finished product or for the placing device by matching the at least one part of the outline with a placing edge occurring on an underlying surface, and to use the target position when controlling or regulating the placing device for placing the semi-finished product,
wherein the semi-finished product comprises reinforcement fibers,
wherein the detection device is configured to detect a running direction of the reinforcement fibers and gaps between the reinforcement fibers, and the controlling or regulati

Assignees

• Engel Austria Gmbh

Inventors

• Zwicklhuber Paul
• Neiberger Alexander

Classifications

• B29C2945/76943

  compare with thresholds · CPC title

• B29C65/7841

  Holding or clamping means for handling purposes (clamping means for the purpose of applying pressure on the parts to be joined, in the area to be joined B29C66/81; work holders in general B25B; devices for holding or positioning work for welding metal B23K37/04) · CPC title

• G05B2219/40058

  Align box, block with a surface · CPC title

• B29C2945/76294

  Inserts · CPC title

• B29C45/76

  Measuring, controlling or regulating {(measuring in general G01; controlling or regulating in general G05)} · CPC title