Abstract: Methods and devices for supporting a workpiece on support slats of a workpiece support during machining of the workpiece by thermal separation by a separation beam directed onto the workpiece are provided. In one aspect, a support slat includes support projections on a workpiece side extending in a longitudinal direction of the support slat. The support projections follow one after another in the longitudinal direction at a mutual distance to form projection gaps. On an underside of at least one support projection remote from the workpiece side, the support slat defines a recess covered by the support projection toward the workpiece side. The recess extends in a transverse direction of the support slat. The support projection covering the recess is separably connected to the rest of the support slat and is separable from the support slat with opening the recess toward the workpiece side.

Abstract: A machine arrangement for processing panel-like workpieces includes a processing station for processing a workpiece to produce a processing product, a workpiece support for supporting the workpiece during the workpiece processing and the processing product after the workpiece processing, the workpiece support including an unloading-side support part and a further support part that are arranged laterally side-by-side and substantially flush with one another in a horizontal direction at their upper sides at a common level, a movement device to which the workpiece and the processing product can be attached in a detachable manner and by which the workpiece attached to the movement device and the processing product attached to the movement device can be moved over the workpiece support, and a handling device for unloading the processing product from the workpiece support.

Abstract: A profile carrier includes a base profile of metal and a reinforcement member of fiber-reinforced plastic material that reinforces the base profile. The reinforcement member and the base profile are connected to each other by at least one wall-side positive-locking element that is provided on a profile wall of the base profile and that extends in a transverse direction of the profile wall. The at least one wall-side positive-locking element and the reinforcement member engage one inside of the other in the transverse direction of the profile wall with a positive-locking connection between the reinforcement member and the base profile formed substantially parallel to the profile wall.

Abstract: Devices and methods for handling workpieces, in particular workpieces in the form of processing products of a metal sheet processing operation, are described. The devices include one or more retention members that are movably supported by a retention member bearing and a transverse guide device. If the transverse guide device is moved relative to the retention member along a lifting axis out of a non-operative lifting position into an operative lifting position or out of an operative lifting position into a non-operative lifting position on a fixed retention member bearing, the retention member is thereby moved from a non-operative position into an operative position or out of an operative position into a non-operative position. In the operative position, the retention member can engage behind an edge of a workpiece, but cannot do so in the non-operative position.

Abstract: In some aspects, a sheet metal processing system includes a machine tool with a processing station at which metal sheets can be processed by a processing tool, a tool carrier for receiving a processing tool, a transfer device by which the processing tool can be moved to or from the tool carrier, and a tool change apparatus which, due to a controlled positioning movement, can be arranged in a tool change position. The processing tool is exchangeable between the tool carrier and the transfer device by the tool change apparatus. The positioning movement is controllable on the basis of a position of the transfer device and/or a position of the tool carrier.

Abstract: Separating and/or sorting processed workpieces cut from a metal sheet, and the remnant surrounding the workpiece, is performed by holding the workpieces and remnant in a co-planar state after processing, moving the held workpieces and remnant away from a processing area, and then, with the workpiece and remnant still held, moving the workpiece and remnant relative to one another with a separating movement perpendicular to the workpiece plane, to such an extent that the workpiece is displaced outside the remnant.

Abstract: A device for handling workpieces at a workpiece support defining a workpiece support plane includes a bearing structure extending with a main plane of the bearing structure parallel to the workpiece support plane. The bearing structure has bearing structure segments arranged next to one another parallel to the main plane, and the bearing structure segments define a planar extent of the bearing structure in the main plane. The device includes a guide device for the bearing structure segments, and the bearing structure segments are guided on the guide device such that the bearing structure segments can be positioned parallel to the main plane of the bearing structure. The device also includes retaining elements provided with the bearing structure segments, and the retaining elements are configured to be positioned on a workpiece and to be handled to fix the workpiece.

Abstract: A movement unit for a machine tool comprises a supporting structure movable in a first direction for supporting a functional unit of the machine tool, with two longitudinal guides extending in the first direction which are offset relative to one another in a transverse second direction. A guide unit is mounted on each longitudinal guide to be relatively movable in the first direction and not the second direction. A bearing structure connects the supporting structure to one of the guide units to be not relatively movable in the first direction and movable in the second direction. The bearing structure comprises a bearing receptacle having a receptacle wall extending in the second direction, and a bearing projection which engages the bearing receptacle. The bearing projection and the receptacle wall are supported against one another to prevent their relative motion in the first direction and are movable in the second direction.

Abstract: A movement unit for a machine tool comprises a supporting structure movable in a first direction for supporting a functional unit of the machine tool, with two longitudinal guides extending in the first direction which are offset relative to one another in a transverse second direction. A guide unit is mounted on each longitudinal guide to be relatively movable in the first direction and not the second direction. A bearing structure connects the supporting structure to one of the guide units to be not relatively movable in the first direction and movable in the second direction. The bearing structure comprises a bearing receptacle having a receptacle wall extending in the second direction, and a bearing projection which engages the bearing receptacle. The bearing projection and the receptacle wall are supported against one another to prevent their relative motion in the first direction and are movable in the second direction.

Abstract: A profile carrier includes a base profile of metal and a reinforcement member of fiber-reinforced plastic material that reinforces the base profile. The reinforcement member and the base profile are connected to each other by at least one wall-side positive-locking element that is provided on a profile wall of the base profile and that extends in a transverse direction of the profile wall. The at least one wall-side positive-locking element and the reinforcement member engage one inside of the other in the transverse direction of the profile wall with a positive-locking connection between the reinforcement member and the base profile formed substantially parallel to the profile wall.

Abstract: Devices and methods for handling workpieces, in particular workpieces in the form of processing products of a metal sheet processing operation, are described. The devices include one or more retention members that are movably supported by a retention member bearing and a transverse guide device. If the transverse guide device is moved relative to the retention member along a lifting axis out of a non-operative lifting position into an operative lifting position or out of an operative lifting position into a non-operative lifting position on a fixed retention member bearing, the retention member is thereby moved from a non-operative position into an operative position or out of an operative position into a non-operative position. In the operative position, the retention member can engage behind an edge of a workpiece, but cannot do so in the non-operative position.

Abstract: Separating and/or sorting processed workpieces cut from a metal sheet, and the remnant surrounding the workpiece, is performed by holding the workpieces and remnant in a co-planar state after processing, moving the held workpieces and remnant away from a processing area, and then, with the workpiece and remnant still held, moving the workpiece and remnant relative to one another with a separating movement perpendicular to the workpiece plane, to such an extent that the workpiece is displaced outside the remnant.

Abstract: Devices for laser machining include a machining head for directing laser light towards a workpiece, the laser light being emitted from a laser light source and directed along an optical beam path and the machining head including one or more focusing optics that are arranged in the optical beam path, a collimator including one or more collimating optics that are arranged in the optical beam path in front of the focusing optics and the collimator having an axis that extends parallel to the main direction of the laser light at the collimating optics, one or more deflecting optics arranged in the optical beam path between the collimating optics and the focusing optics, the deflecting optics configured to deflect the laser light emerging from the collimating optics towards the focusing optics, wherein the machining head is adjustable relative to the collimator along a z-axis, and the axis of the collimator extends under an angle to the z-axis.

Abstract: A mechanical arrangement for processing sheet metal includes a sheet metal processing device, a transport device configured to position a sheet metal workpiece relative to the sheet metal processing device, the transport device including at least one workpiece carrier that is movable along a transport path that extends along a first transport line and a second transport line, and at least two X-guides and at least two Y-guides, the X-guides arranged parallel with the first transport line and the Y-guides arranged parallel with the second transport line. The at least two X-guides and the at least two Y-guides are configured to be coupled to each other by a transfer device to form a transport course, the workpiece carrier circulates along the X-guides and the Y-guides, and the transfer device is configured to move the workpiece carrier from one of the X-guides to one of the Y-guides.

Abstract: A mechanical apparatus maintains and/or cleans support strips of a workpiece support that forms a support plane for supporting workpieces. The mechanical apparatus includes a transport device for moving the workpiece support along a transport axis X and a service device that has a tool for processing the support strips. The service device is movable by means of a mechanical movement unit along a movement axis Y that is arranged at an angle relative to the transport axis X and/or along a movement axis Z that is arranged at an angle relative to the transport axis X and that is different from the movement axis Y, with the movement of the workpiece support along the transport axis X and the movement of the service device along the movement axis Y and/or along the movement axis Z being controllable in a coordinated manner by means of a control unit.

Abstract: In some aspects, a sheet metal processing system includes a machine tool with a processing station at which metal sheets can be processed by a processing tool, a tool carrier for receiving a processing tool, a transfer device by which the processing tool can be moved to or from the tool carrier, and a tool change apparatus which, due to a controlled positioning movement, can be arranged in a tool change position. The processing tool is exchangeable between the tool carrier and the transfer device by the tool change apparatus. The positioning movement is controllable on the basis of a position of the transfer device and/or a position of the tool carrier.

Abstract: A mechanical arrangement is provided for processing plate-like workpieces, especially metal sheets. The mechanical arrangement includes a processing device and a handling apparatus. A support structure of the handling apparatus has a base support structure and a secondary support structure which is supported on the base support structure so as to be movable relative thereto and which is provided with a holding device for processed products.

Abstract: A mechanical system is provided for processing workpieces, especially metal sheets. The system has a storage side with a workpiece store, a processing side with a plurality of mechanical processing units, and a mechanical feeding device which is provided between the storage side and the processing side. The feeding device comprises a plurality of feeding units, with different feeding units of the feeding devices being associated with different processing units. The feeding units are configured to pick up work pieces at the storage side and deliver them at the processing side to the respectively associated processing unit(s). In addition or as an alternative, the feeding units may pick up workpieces at the processing side from the respectively associated processing unit(s) and deliver the workpieces at the storage side.

Abstract: A support arrangement for a machine portal includes a lightweight support structure and a row of base segments supporting at least one guide rail of a linear drive on the support structure. Both the base segments and the guide rail exhibit different thermal expansion behavior from the support structure. The base segments are fixed at a distance from their edges by fixing screws to respective fastening members extending into the support structure. The base segments define at least one step on which they support the guide rail with a positive fit. The guide rail is fixed to the support structure by at least one expansion screw. The support arrangement maintains precise alignment of the guide rail while accommodating differing thermal expansions between the rail, base segments and support structure.

Abstract: Devices for laser machining include a machining head for directing laser light towards a workpiece, the laser light being emitted from a laser light source and directed along an optical beam path and the machining head including one or more focusing optics that are arranged in the optical beam path, a collimator including one or more collimating optics that are arranged in the optical beam path in front of the focusing optics and the collimator having an axis that extends parallel to the main direction of the laser light at the collimating optics, one or more deflecting optics arranged in the optical beam path between the collimating optics and the focusing optics, the deflecting optics configured to deflect the laser light emerging from the collimating optics towards the focusing optics, wherein the machining head is adjustable relative to the collimator along a z-axis, and the axis of the collimator extends under an angle to the z-axis.