Abstract: In a forming system in particular for metallic workpieces (31, 32) with several forming stations (21-23) a transport device (1) is provided with one or more rails (13) on which carriages (141, 142) can be moved. In a conventional mode of operation of the rails, it is provided that two carriages (141, 142) on the same rail (13) are moved by a varying distance relative to each other during the transport of a respective workpiece (31, 32) from one forming station (21-23) to another forming station (21-23), namely in particular are driven towards each other or away from each other with their distance relative to each other being increased or decreased. New production sequences can thereby be provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a shaped sheet metal part including the following steps, continuous feeding of a sheet metal band unwound from a coil to a jet cutter, concurrent cutting, by means of the jet cutter, of a blank out of the sheet metal band as it moves at a constant speed, the time required to produce the blank defining a cycle, picking up the blank by means of a first transfer device operating in time with the cycle, transferring the blank by means of a first transfer device to a shaping system operating in time with the cycle, and shaping the blank into a shaped sheet metal part by means of the shaping system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cutting a sheet metal blank having a predetermined contour from a metal strip that is continuously conveyed in a transport direction (x). The method includes the following steps of providing at least one laser cutting apparatus having at least one laser cutting head that can be moved both in the transport direction and in a y-direction extending perpendicularly thereto, and a control device for controlling a movement of the laser cutting head in accordance with a control program generating the predetermined contour; continuously measuring a path (?Xstrip) of the metal strip in relation to the transport direction by means of a path measurement device provided upstream of the laser cutting apparatus; and dynamically calculating the movements of the at least one laser cutting head by means of the control program with use of the measured path values provided by the path measuring device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a contour cut in a sheet metal web (BB) transported in a direction of transport (T) by means of a conveying apparatus (3). To accelerate the production of the contour cut, it is proposed in accordance with the invention to divide the sheet metal web (BB) into a plurality of overlapping processing strips and to assign successively two laser cutting units (10, 11) to at least two processing strips in the direction of transport (T).

Abstract: In a device for unstacking plate-shaped parts (12), in particular sheet metal blanks, comprising at least one supply station (13) in which at least one stack (14) of plate-shaped parts (12) is located and at least one conveyor station (15) on which the plate-shaped parts (12) are transported further in an unstacked manner, an unstacking unit (17) being provided for transferring the plate-shaped parts (12) between the supply station (13) and the conveyor station (15), said unstacking unit engaging the stack of parts (14) and removing individual plate-shaped parts (12) while unstacking the stack of parts (14) and depositing them in the conveyor station (15), the unstacking unit (17) comprises two robots (18a, 18b) working independently of each other, which alternately engage a common stack of parts (14) of the supply station (13) and are controlled by a control unit (19) in such a way that a first or a second robot (18a, 18b) removes a plate-shaped part (12) from the stack of parts (14) while the first robot (1

Abstract: A device is proposed for the positional orientation of plate-shaped parts (12), comprising continuous conveying equipment (13) for conveying plate-shaped parts (12), an optical measuring device (15) assigned to the continuous conveying equipment (13) for determining the actual position of at least one specific plate-shaped part (12) and for comparing this actual position to a stored set position and for determining the deviation of the actual position from the set position, and a control unit (20) coupled to the optical measuring device (15) for controlling a positioning unit (19) such that at least one specific plate-shaped part (12) the deviation of which from the set position was determined can be picked up by the positioning unit (19) in a pick-up region and deposited in a defined delivery region in the correct position corresponding to the set position for transfer on the continuous conveying equipment (13).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a contour cut in a sheet metal web (BB) transported in a direction of transport (T) by means of a conveying apparatus (3). To accelerate the production of the contour cut, it is proposed in accordance with the invention to divide the sheet metal web (BB) into a plurality of overlapping processing strips and to assign successively two laser cutting units (10, 11) to at least two processing strips in the direction of transport (T).

Abstract: An apparatus for the stacking of stackable parts with a conveyor station with at least one conveyor on which the parts may be transported separately, and at least one stacking container in which the parts may be stacked wherein, a stacking device is provided, which takes parts from the conveyor of the conveyor station and stacks them in the stacking container. The stacking device has at least one pair of stacking robots operating independently of one another, wherein the stacking robots alternately or simultaneously take up parts from the conveyor and are so controlled by a control unit that a first and/or second stacking robot takes up at least one part from the conveyor, while simultaneously the second and/or first stacking robot transfers to or stacks in the stacking container used by both stacking robots a part already picked up.

Abstract: In a device for unstacking plate-shaped parts (12), in particular sheet metal blanks, comprising at least one supply station (13) in which at least one stack (14) of plate-shaped parts (12) is located and at least one conveyor station (15) on which the plate-shaped parts (12) are transported further in an unstacked manner, an unstacking unit (17) being provided for transferring the plate-shaped parts (12) between the supply station (13) and the conveyor station (15), said unstacking unit engaging the stack of parts (14) and removing individual plate-shaped parts (12) while unstacking the stack of parts (14) and depositing them in the conveyor station (15), the unstacking unit (17) comprises two robots (18a, 18b) working independently of each other, which alternately engage a common stack of parts (14) of the supply station (13) and are controlled by a control unit (19) in such a way that a first or a second robot (18a, 18b) removes a plate-shaped part (12) from the stack of parts (14) while the first robot (1

Abstract: In a multi-axis articulated arm robot for transferring workpieces, there is a robot base, on which a movement unit is able to be pivoted about a first axis, which is vertical in an operational state. The movement unit has a pivoting part adjacent to the base, an articulated arm constituted by a top arm and a bottom arm, such top arm being connected for pivoting at one end about a horizontal second axis with the pivoting part at the other end is connected with the adjacent end of the bottom arm for pivoting about a horizontal third axis, a rotary member arranged at the bottom arm's end opposite to the top arm, such rotary member being able to be rotated about a fourth axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the bottom arm, a pivoting member connected with the rotary member for pivoting about a fifth axis extending athwart the fourth axis, and a supporting part rotatingly connected with the pivoting member, such supporting part extending athwart the fifth axis.

Abstract: An hydraulic unit includes a hydraulic cylinder, and a piston retained in the hydraulic cylinder, wherein the piston can be moved from a first end position located at one end of the hydraulic cylinder to a second end position located at the opposite other end position of the hydraulic cylinder. The hydraulic cylinder is hydraulically connected with a delay unit which is equipped with an auxiliary cylinder containing an auxiliary piston, with which a movement of the piston can be delayed in a middle section located between the first and the second end position. The auxiliary cylinder has a first and a second opening for incoming and outgoing hydraulic oil. In order to precisely set an attenuation point, a throttle valve provided on the auxiliary cylinder or piston be connected in the flow path.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the transport of work pieces with at least one transport device (T1, T2) which can be installed on a frame (14) of a processing device (P) and which has a transport bar (15) which is kept moveable in X- and Y-direction. To increase the rigidity of the device, it is suggested that the transport bar (15) be kept moveable with at least two parallelogram servo drives (PL1, PL2).

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic unit with a piston (2) contained in a hydraulic cylinder (1), wherein the piston (2) can be moved from a first end position (E1) located at one end of the hydraulic cylinder (1) to a second end position (E2) located at the opposite other end position of the hydraulic cylinder (1), wherein the hydraulic cylinder (1) is hydraulically connected with a delay unit (8) which is equipped with an auxiliary cylinder (9) containing an auxiliary piston (10), with which a movement of the piston (2) can be delayed in a middle section located between the first (E1) and the second end position (E2), and wherein the auxiliary cylinder (9) has a first (16) and a second opening (17) for incoming and outgoing hydraulic oil. To be able to precisely set an attenuation point, the invention suggests that a shutoff valve (10a, 14, 20) provided on the auxiliary cylinder (9) or piston (10) be connected in the flow path.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the transport of work pieces with at least one transport device (T1, T2) which can be installed on a frame (14) of a processing device (P) and which has a transport bar (15) which is kept moveable in X- and Y-direction. To increase the rigidity of the device, it is suggested that the transport bar (15) be kept moveable with at least two parallelogram servo drives (PL1, PL2).

Abstract: A device for transporting away work pieces (5) processed in a press (1) from an output station (4) that is disposed downstream from the press (1) in a work piece flow direction onto a conveyor device (6) that conveys the work pieces (5) away, incorporates a removal device (2) that removes the work pieces (5) from the press (1) and moves them into the output station (4), which has a transfer device (7) disposed downstream from it for the alternating transfer of the work pieces (5) from the output station (4) into one of two discharge stations (10, 11) that are disposed to both sides of the output station (4). Each discharge station (10, 11) has an assigned relocation device (8, 9) to relocate the work pieces (5) from the given discharge station (10, 11) onto the conveyor device (6). The conveyor device (6) is formed by two conveyors (12, 13) that are assigned to one of the two relocation devices (8, 9) in each case.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for conveying work pieces, especially suspended plate-shaped work pieces such as metal sheets or plates. The device includes at least one driven belt (1) that revolves around a retaining device (3) and that conveys work pieces (W) adhering thereto. A controllable device (6) for generating a negative pressure is provided on the belt (1) for the purpose of retaining the work pieces on the belt (1). An opening plane (22) defined by suction ports (7) of the control device is recessed in relation to a plane of conveyance (F) defined by the exterior of the belt (1) towards the retaining device (3) by a distance (A) so that a gap (Z) is formed between a work piece (W) adhering to the belt (1) and the opening plane (22) and the work piece (W) is retained on the belt (1) by the negative pressure produced in the gap (Z).

Abstract: A singling device and a singling method for singling sheet metal panels comprises two tendering positions arranged one after the other in the longitudinal direction to offer a respective sheet metal panel stack, said two tendering positions being provided with a lifting means able to be reciprocated in the longitudinal direction and for feeding the sheet metal panels in the longitudinal direction to a working site.

Abstract: A device for transporting away work pieces (5) processed in a press (1) from an output station (4) that is disposed downstream from the press (1) in a work piece flow direction onto a conveyor device (6) that conveys the work pieces (5) away, incorporates a removal device (2) that removes the work pieces (5) from the press (1) and moves them into the output station (4), which has a transfer device (7) disposed downstream from it for the alternating transfer of the work pieces (5) from the output station (4) into one of two discharge stations (10, 11) that are disposed to both sides of the output station (4). Each discharge station (10, 11) has an assigned relocation device (8, 9) to relocate the work pieces (5) from the given discharge station (10, 11) onto the conveyor device (6). The conveyor device (6) is formed by two conveyors (12, 13) that are assigned to one of the two relocation devices (8, 9) in each case.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling sheet metal items comprises a declustering station for such items arriving in a stack followed by at least one conveying station and/or processing station and/or working station, which convey away, process and work the sheet metal items. At one station at least there are individual members to be adapted to the outline of the items, as for instance positioning abutments. There is an outline detecting means with an associated data processing computer for finding the outline of the sheet metal items. Power-operated setting means are associated with the individual members, said power-operated setting means being connected with a setting computer. This data processing computer processes the outline data to produce setting values and the setting computer converts the setting values into control signals for the setting means so that the individual members are adapted to the respective sheet metal item outline.

Abstract: A holder device for workpieces in the form of even or flat metal sheets of a magnetically attractable material, which are to be welded together along a connecting path at edges thereof. The holder device forms a support face for the sheets to rest on. The support face is divided up into a plurality of face parts, which are respectively formed by a separate pole plate of magnetizable material. Each pole plate is provided with an independently magnetically activatable and de-activatable magnet apparatus, which is located underneath the respective pole plate on a support plate arrangement.