FI104239B - Method and apparatus for dividing a plate-like piece - Google Patents

Description

104239

METHOD AND EQUIPMENT FOR DISTRIBUTION OF A DISTRIBUTION COPY

The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to an apparatus according to claim 10.

In the manufacture of sheet products having patterns such as protrusions and / or recesses, wherein smaller sheet products are formed from a larger sheet blank, for example by sawing, with respect to the patterns. A typical such product is a door skin pressed into 10 shapes. Typically, there are inaccuracies in the manufacture of such products, which prevents the blade from being positioned and sawed relative to the edge of the master plate. In known solutions, For example, at least one positioning groove is formed on the master plate, for example during the pressing step, from which the plate is guided by mechanical guides so that the plate can be sawn with respect to the patterns. These require complicated arrangements. The known systems are quite slow and there are also problems with their accuracy. The control elements require a lot of space to function reliably, so the master plates also need to have plenty of excess space for the control elements. This creates a large amount of wasted material.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel method and apparatus which, e.g. the disadvantages of the prior art are avoided.

The invention is characterized by what is stated in the claims.

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The method and apparatus of the invention have many significant advantages. The method enables very fast and accurate positioning. The system is extremely reliable. The system according to the invention allows for a smaller master disk because it does not use controllers arranged on top of the disk. This results in significant material savings.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 illustrates, in simplified form, a method according to the invention, 35 2 104239

Figure 2 shows a plate-like body before the dispensing step,

Figure 3.1 shows a top view of an apparatus applying the method of the invention, 5

Figure 3.2 shows the apparatus of Figure 3.1 in direction A,

Figure 3.3 shows the apparatus of Figure 3.1 in direction B, and Figure 4 shows a manufacturing line in which the invention is applied.

Figure 1 shows schematically an arrangement according to the invention. It has a plate-like body 1 containing patterns 2, such as protrusions or recesses, brought into position. One typical piece is a pressed door 15 skin, which is made of fibrous material such as MDF. The piece 1 is positioned in the positioning position in the correct position relative to Figs. 2, and the piece is moved from the positioning position to a splitting step, such as a sawing position 8, substantially maintaining its position. The position of the at least one alignment point 6 formed on the body 1 is detected by at least one optical identification means 7 and 20, if necessary, affecting the position of the plate-like body along the plate-like piece is divided into smaller pieces marked with dashed lines.

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The alignment point 6 formed on the body is, for example, a groove or an elevation. It is essential in the quality of the alignment point 6 that the detection can be carried out at a distance, preferably by an optical sensing means 7. In this case, the alignment point formed on the body may also be a line or an opening 30 in the plate.

Preferably there are at least two alignment points 6 formed on the body. The alignment points 6 are spaced apart. The position of the plate-like body relative to the figures can then be corrected. Preferably, the alignment points 6 are formed into the sheet blank 1 in connection with the formation of Figures 2. They may be pre-formed in pattern-forming means, for example a compression mold, whereby their position relative to the pattern will always remain correct.

3 104239 The alignment point 6 may also be a single solid line, groove, or protrusion, the position of which is detected by the identification means 7 from at least two points of view.

The body 1 is illuminated at least in the region of the matching point 6, whereby the matching point 5 differs from the surrounding material, for example in contrast or brightness, which is detected optically by means of a sensing means 7, such as an optical-electric camera. The recognition signal is transmitted from the sensor means 7 to the control device, which gives the necessary control commands to the positioning means of the body. The positioning means are, for example, grippers that engage the body, for example, its edge. 10 The control device may be, for example, a computer or programmable logic. The detecting means 7, the piece 1 to be processed or both can be moved in the detecting step. The direction of movement of the body is indicated by arrows in the figure. Note that the part can also be rotated, about a perpendicular axis to the plane of the part ·; 15

Figure 2 shows a plate-like piece, i.e. a master plate, before the dispensing step. The dotted lines are indicated by dotted lines 9, 9 '. The paragraph is intended to be processed in two steps. Initially, it is positioned along the first alignment points 6 'and sawed in the first sawing step along lines 9', whereby the edges of the long sides of the workpiece are flattened. Thereafter, the workpiece will continue to be treated as shown in Figure 1. It will be understood that the body of Figure 2 is shown only as an example of the practice of the invention.

The apparatus of the invention for positioning a plate-like body of patterns, such as protrusions or recesses, in a desired position with respect to the patterns, comprises a tray 11 on which the plate-like body is applied; The piece moving means are, for example, grippers which move the plate-like piece from the edge of the disc 30.

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At least one optical sensing means 7 is provided at the positioning station and at least one alignment point 6, 6 'is provided on the plate-like body, whereby the control means (not shown) controls the positioning means based on information from the sensing means. Preferably there are at least two alignment points 6, 6 '. The alignment point is, for example, a groove, opening, or protrusion formed on the plate. Typically, the point obtained in the forming step of FIG. 2, such as in a mold extrusion, for example a steam groove, can be used as the matching point.

In the example of the figure, there are two detector means 7. The detecting means are, for example, optical cameras known per se, which detect the difference caused by the point of application, for example in contrast or brightness, with respect to the surrounding material. Typically, the camera is a so-called matrix camera, which captures an image ("photograph") of the alignment point and processes it digitally, typically searching for differences in grayscale between pixels in the image area, for example.

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The detecting means 7 is preferably arranged in a movable body 10. Hereby the object to be processed 1 can be brought near the detection area, whereby the detectors of the detecting means detect the point and transmit a signal to the control device. The control device gives a control command to the disk moving device which moves the disk based on information received from the sensor-15 means 7.

Figures 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 show a typical positioning station employing a solution according to the invention. The apparatus comprises a base 11 on which the sheet-like object is brought on a means of transport, for example the roller conveyor 20 3.1 S arrow direction in Fig. In the positioning station, the detecting means 7 is a camera, which is brought into the recognition area by the alignment of a plate-like object. The sensing area is illuminated by a lighting device 20. In this case, the sensing means 7 is positioned to observe a plate-like body from below. The positioning station comprises means for moving and positioning the 13-plate-like body on the substrate on the basis of information from the sensing means. In the case of Figures 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3, the moving means are gripping members 13 arranged to move on the rails 21 and, in addition, they can be rotated by means thereof, about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the piece. The means 13 are used after positioning to move the plate-like body from the base 11 in the desired position for further processing away from the positioning position. The outlet direction is indicated by arrow U in Figure 3.1 and, in the case of the example, is substantially transverse to the feed direction.

35 In a typical case where the master plates are sawn in two perpendicular directions, a sawing line is provided with a first positioning station 15 and a first positioning station 16 and a second positioning station 17 and 5 104239 followed by a second sawing station 18. pattern with arrows. The positioning stations 15, 17 also serve as feed stations for the sawing stations 16, 18. The position of the positioning station is typically a conveyor, for example a roller conveyor, through which the plates are brought into position 5. The feed movement to the sawing station is achieved by a feed device which moves, for example, on a guide.

The solution according to the invention achieves very fast and precise positioning, whereby the speed of the sawing line can be increased compared to conventional positioning systems.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth above, but may be varied within the scope of the appended claims.

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Claims (14)

A method for dividing, preferably by sawing, a plate-like body (1) having patterns (2), such as protrusions or recesses, into smaller pieces 5 (4, 5, 6) with respect to Figures (2), placed in the correct position with respect to the figures and moved to a dispensing step such as a sawing station, substantially retaining its position, characterized in that at least one alignment point (6) formed on the body (1) is detected by at least one optical sensing means (7) ), the distribution device (8) or both, such that the distribution takes place at a predetermined position (9) with respect to the patterns. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the alignment point (6) formed in the Kap-15 bellows is a groove or bump. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the matching point (6) formed on the body is a line. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the alignment point (6) formed on the body is a hole. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that there are at least two matching points (6) formed on the body. 25 Method according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the matching points (6) are spaced apart. 6 104239 Method according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that:. 30 that the alignment point (6) is a solid line, groove, or protuberance, the position of which is detected by the identification means (7) from at least two viewing positions. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the matching point (6) is formed in the sheet blank in connection with forming the patterns (2) 35. 7 104239 Method according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the object is illuminated at least in the region of the alignment point (6), whereby the alignment point differs from the surrounding material, for example by contrast or brightness detected by an optical sensing means . 10. Apparatus for positioning a plate-like body (1) having patterns (2), such as protrusions or recesses, in a desired position with respect to the patterns, comprising a substrate on which the plate-like body is applied, means for moving the plate-like body for further processing in a substantially predetermined position, characterized in that at least one optical sensing means (7) is provided in the positioning station and that at least one alignment point (6) is provided on the plate-shaped body. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that there are at least two matching points (6). Apparatus according to Claim 10 or 11, characterized in that there are two sensor means (7). Apparatus according to one of Claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the detecting means (7) is arranged in a movable body (10). 25 Apparatus according to one of Claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the matching point (6) is a groove, such as a steam groove known per se. 104239 8