System for handling workpieces and method for operating such a system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9656813-B2
Application number	US-201514749136-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2015
Priority date	Jun 26, 2014
Publication date	May 23, 2017
Grant date	May 23, 2017

Abstract

The invention relates to a system ( 10 ) for handling workpieces, with a handling device ( 12 ) which comprises at least one vacuum gripper ( 16 ) for drawing a workpiece in by suction, with at least one vacuum generator ( 26 ) that can be operated by the supply of compressed air for supplying the vacuum gripper ( 16 ) with vacuum, with at least one controllable control valve ( 28 ) by which the supply of compressed air to the vacuum generator ( 26 ) can be controlled, wherein the control valve ( 28 ) is associated with a control device ( 30 ) for the proper control of the control valve ( 28 as required. The handling device comprises an evaluation unit ( 32 ) for evaluating operating data of the vacuum generator ( 26 ) and/or for evaluating operating data of the handling device ( 12 ) as well as for generating control signals as a function of the evaluated operating data, wherein the evaluation unit ( 32 ) is arranged on the handling device ( 12 ), and wherein the control device ( 30 ) controls the control valve ( 28 ) as a function of the control signals transmitted from the evaluation unit ( 32 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system ( 10 ) for handling workpieces, comprising:
a handling device ( 12 ) which comprises at least one vacuum gripper ( 16 ) for drawing a workpiece in by suction,
at least one vacuum generator ( 26 ) that can be operated by the supply of compressed air for supplying the at least one vacuum gripper ( 16 ) with vacuum,
at least one controllable control valve ( 28 ) configured to control the supply of compressed air to the at least one vacuum generator ( 26 ), wherein the control valve ( 28 ) acts between a compressed air supply ( 24 ) for the system ( 10 ) and the vacuum generator ( 26 ),
wherein the at least one control valve ( 28 ) is associated with a control device ( 30 ) for the proper control of the at least one control valve ( 28 ) as required,
wherein the handling device comprises an evaluation unit ( 32 ) configured for evaluating operating data of the at least one vacuum generator ( 26 ) and/or configured for evaluating operating data of the handling device ( 12 ) and configured for generating control signals as a function of the evaluated operating data,
wherein the control device ( 30 ) controls the at least one control valve ( 28 ) as a function of the control signals transmitted from the evaluation unit ( 32 ),
wherein the handling device ( 12 ) comprises a carrier ( 14 ) which is configured to be fastened on and detached from a holding section ( 20 ) of the system,
wherein the at least one vacuum gripper ( 16 ) and the evaluation unit ( 32 ) are arranged on the carrier ( 14 ), and
wherein the vacuum generator ( 26 ) is arranged on the holding section ( 20 ) of the system.

2. The system according to claim 1 , characterized in that a plurality of vacuum grippers ( 16 ) are fastened on the carrier ( 14 ).

3. The system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one control valve ( 28 ) and/or the control device ( 30 ) is/are arranged on the holding section ( 20 ) of the system on which holding section the handling device ( 12 ) can be fastened.

4. The system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the evaluation unit ( 32 ) comprises at least one measuring input ( 35 ) for receiving the operating data of the at least one vacuum generator ( 26 ) and/or of the handling device ( 12 ).

5. The system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one vacuum generator ( 26 ) and/or the handling device ( 12 ) and/or the at least one vacuum gripper ( 16 ) comprise(s) sensors ( 34 ) for detecting operating data.

6. The system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the control device ( 30 ) is combined with the at least one control valve ( 28 ) to a structural unit.

7. The system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the evaluating unit ( 32 ) comprises a storage device in which operating data of the at least one vacuum generator ( 26 ) and/or of the handling device ( 12 ) can be stored.

8. The system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one control valve ( 28 ) comprises a proportional valve.

9. The system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the carrier ( 14 ) is replaceably fastened by a rapid replacement coupling ( 22 ) on the holding section ( 20 ).

10. The system according to claim 9 , characterized in that the evaluation unit ( 32 ) is arranged on a coupling section of the rapid replacement coupling ( 22 ) which coupling section is provided on the carrier ( 14 ).

11. The system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the evaluation unit ( 32 ) and/or the at least one control valve ( 28 ) and/or the control device ( 30 ) comprise(s) associated signal interfaces for transmitting the control signals, wherein the signal interfaces are connected to each other by data-transfer means ( 36 ).

12. The system according to claim 11 , characterized in that the data-transfer means ( 36 ) is constructed in such a manner that the connection is established when the handling device is arranged on the system.

13. A method of operating the system ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the system ( 10 ) makes the compressed air supply system ( 24 ) available and comprises the handling device ( 12 ) that comprises the at least one vacuum gripper ( 16 ) for drawing in a workpiece by suction, and comprises the at least one vacuum generator ( 26 ) that can be operated by the supply of compressed air for supplying the at least one vacuum gripper ( 16 ) with a vacuum, wherein operating data of the at least one vacuum generator ( 26 ) and/or of the handling device ( 12 ) is evaluated in a decentralized manner in the evaluation unit ( 32 ) provided on the handling device ( 12 ), and wherein the at least one control valve ( 28 ) controls the supply of compressed air from the compressed air supply system ( 24 ) to the at least one vacuum generator ( 26 ) as a function of the control signals transmitted from the evaluation unit ( 32 ).

14. The method according to claim 13 , characterized in that theoretical values are deposited in the evaluation unit ( 32 ) for operating recognition magnitudes and that actual values for the operating recognition magnitudes are supplied as operating data to the evaluation unit, wherein the actual values are compared in the evaluation unit ( 32 ) with the theoretical values, and wherein the control signals are generated upon a deviation of actual values and theoretical values.

Assignees

• Schmalz J Gmbh

Inventors

• Dunkmann Walter
• Holecek Thomas

Classifications

• B25J15/0625 Primary

  provided with a valve · CPC title

• B65G47/917 Primary

  control arrangements · CPC title

• B25J15/0616

  with vacuum · CPC title

• B65G47/91

  incorporating pneumatic, e.g. suction, grippers · CPC title

• B25J15/0675

  of the ejector type · CPC title