Transport device for receiving one or more module units having machine tool accessory devices and for transporting the one or more received module units

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11938583-B2
Application number	US-201917271577-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 30, 2019
Priority date	Aug 30, 2018
Publication date	Mar 26, 2024
Grant date	Mar 26, 2024

Abstract

The present invention relates to a transport device (100) for receiving one or more module units having machine tool accessory devices and for transporting the one or more received module units to a machine tool (1000) set up on a base surface for use of the machine tool accessory devices of the one or more received module units on the machine tool (1000), wherein the transport device (100) is freely movable on the base surface for positioning the one or more received module units relative to the machine tool (1000), in particular within a region in front and/or next to the machine tool (1000) and/or in front and/or next to a working space of the machine tool (1000).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A transport device for receiving one or more module units having machine tool accessory devices and for transporting the one or more received module units to a machine tool set up on a base surface for using the machine tool accessory devices of the one or more received module units at the machine tool, comprising:
one or more receiving devices for receiving respective module units,
wherein the transport device is freely movable on the base surface for positioning the one or more received module units relative to the machine tool, in particular within a region in front of and/or next to the machine tool and/or in front of and/or next to a work space of the machine tool.

2. The transport device according to claim 1 , characterized in that
the transport device, by means of moving on the base surface, is configured to position the one or more module units within a region in front of and/or next to the work space of the machine tool along the spatial directions spanning the region.

3. The transport device according to claim 1 , characterized in that
at least one of the one or more receiving devices includes a centering device configured to align the respectively received module unit with respect to the receiving device.

4. The transport device according to claim 3 , characterized in that
the at least one of the one or more receiving devices that includes a centering device also includes a drive for linear displacement of the receiving device in the direction of the centering device.

5. The transport device according to claim 1 , characterized in that
at least one receiving device is provided on at least one side of the transport device, preferably at least one receiving device being provided on at least two sides of the transport device, particularly preferably at least one receiving device being provided on each side of the transport device.

6. The transport device according to claim 1 , characterized in that
the module unit is configured to be deposited and/or docked by the transport device on a receptacle of the machine tool configured to receive the module unit.

7. The transport device according to claim 1 , characterized in that
the one or more receiving devices have connection elements, in particular for establishing an electrical, hydraulic and/or pneumatic connection, in particular for the transmission of control signals and/or energy from the transport device to the respective module unit.

8. The transport device according to claim 7 , characterized in that
when the module unit is received, the connection elements automatically establish a connection with the respective module unit for the transmission of electrical, pneumatic and/or hydraulic control signals and/or energy.

9. The transport device according to claim 7 , characterized in that
the receiving devices each have a control device for monitoring the state of the receptacle of the respective module unit, wherein the control device is configured to monitor the control signals, the energy transmission, and/or a locking state of the module unit received on the respective receiving device.

10. The transport device according to claim 1 , characterized in that
the transport device comprises a driverless transport vehicle for freely moving the transport device on the base surface independently from any type of rail system or the like for guiding the transport vehicle.

11. The transport device according to claim 1 , characterized by
an internal energy store supplying the transport device with energy, in particular electrical energy.

12. The transport device according to claim 1 , characterized by
a sensor unit comprising one or more optical, infrared and/or radar sensors for monitoring the environment of the transport device.

13. The transport device according to claim 1 , characterized by
a plurality of wheels for moving or displacing the transport device, wherein one, a plurality or all of the wheels of the transport device are individually controllable and/or steerable, wherein preferably one, a plurality or all of the wheels of the transport device are configured as individually controllable Mecanum wheels; and/or
one or more drive chains for moving or displacing the transport device.

14. The transport device according to claim 1 , characterized in that
that the transport device is configured to receive one of the one or more module units at a storage station and to transport it from the storage station to the machine tool.

15. The transport device according to claim 14 , characterized in that
the transport device is configured to establish a connection between one or more connection elements of the transport device and one or more connection elements of the module unit when the respective module units are received, in particular for the transmission of control signals and/or energy from the transport device to the module unit.

16. The transport device according to claim 1 , characterized in that
the transport device is configured to communicate with an external control device, in particular with a central control device configured to be connected to a plurality of transport devices at the same time, in particular by means of a wireless communication link, and to control the plurality of transport devices, in particular by automatic remote control.

17. The transport device according to claim 1 , wherein
the transport device is freely movable on the base surface for positioning the one or more received module units relative to the machine tool, in particular within a region in front of and/or next to the machine tool and/or in front of and/or next to a work space of the machine tool, and
wherein the transport device is configured to communicate with a control device of the machine tool via a communication interface, in particular in such a way that the one or more received module units are controllable by the control device of the machine tool by means of a communication link via the communication interface.

18. The transport device according to claim 17 , characterized in that
the communication interface comprises a wireless communication interface and the transport device is configured to communicate with the control device of the machine tool by means of the wireless communication interface via wireless communication link.

19. A transport device for receiving one or more module units having machine tool accessory devices and for transporting the one or more received module units to a machine tool set up on a base surface for using the machine tool accessory devices of the one or more received module units at the machine tool,
wherein the transport device is freely movable on the base surface for positioning the one or more received module units relative to the machine tool, in particular within a region in front of and/or next to the machine tool and/or in front of and/or next to a work space of the machine tool, and
wherein the transport device includes a docking device and is configured to dock, by means of the docking device, at a docking station of the machine tool, a docking station of a setup station of a manufacturing system having the machine tool, and/or a docking station of an automation device of a manufacturing system having the machine tool.

20. The transport device according to claim 19 , characterized in that
the transport device is configured to position itself and/or the one or more received module units with respect to the machine tool by docking at the docking station of

Assignees

• Deckel Maho Pfronten Gmbh

Inventors

• Geissler Alfred
• Trenkle Michael
• Riedel Sebastian

Classifications

• B23Q7/1436 Primary

  using self-propelled work holders · CPC title

• B23Q3/18

  for positioning only · CPC title

• B23Q7/1442

  using carts carrying work holders · CPC title

• B23Q11/0067

  chip containers located under a machine or under a chip conveyor · CPC title

• B23Q11/1084

  specially adapted for being fitted to different kinds of machines · CPC title