EP4100203A1

EP4100203A1 - Machine arrangement and machine method for the production of sheet metal

Info

Publication number: EP4100203A1
Application number: EP21705094.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Simon OCKENFUSS
Original assignee: Trumpf Werkzeugmaschinen SE and Co KG
Current assignee: Trumpf Werkzeugmaschinen SE and Co KG
Priority date: 2020-02-07
Filing date: 2021-02-03
Publication date: 2022-12-14
Also published as: WO2021156284A1; US20220371132A1; DE102020103183A1; CN115461189A

Abstract

A machine arrangement (I) for the production of sheet metal has a universal workpiece carrier (12), for supporting a sheet metal workpiece (21) and/or for supporting a product of sheet metal production, and spatially separate functional units, of which at least two are designed as production units (1) and at least a further one is designed as a secondary functional unit (6, 9). The universal workpiece carrier (12) can be arranged as such both on the two production units (1) in a production position and on the secondary functional unit (6, 9) in a functional position. Functional units of the machine arrangement (I) can be linked to one another by means of a transport unit (13) by the universal workpiece carrier (12) being transferable between functional units by means of the transport unit (13).

Description

Machine arrangement and machine process for the sheet metal production sauna

The invention relates to a machine arrangement for sheet metal production,

• with a workpiece carrier that is designed to store a sheet metal workpiece and / or to store a sheet metal manufacturing product,

• with three spatially separated functional units,

- Two production units and, in addition to the production units, a secondary function unit are provided as functional units of the machine arrangement,

- The two production units are provided for sheet metal production and each have a production device for sheet metal production with egg nem work area in which a workpiece carrier can be arranged in a production position and in which a sheet metal workpiece supported by a workpiece carrier arranged in the production position for the production device Sheet metal production is accessible and

- The secondary functional unit is not provided for sheet metal production and has a functional area in which the workpiece carrier can be arranged in a functional position, and • with a transport unit, which can be driven with the workpiece carrier between functional units of the machine arrangement and by means of which functional units can be linked to one another, in that the workpiece carrier can be transferred between functional units by means of the transport unit.

The invention also relates to a machine method for sheet metal production, within the framework of which a transport unit with a workpiece carrier formed for storage of a sheet metal workpiece and / or for storage of a sheet metal product is moved between spatially separated func on units of a machine arrangement for sheet metal production and the workpiece carrier is transferred between functional units with their mutual connection,

• Two production units and, in addition to the production units, a secondary functional unit are provided as functional units of the machine arrangement for sheet metal production,

• The two manufacturing units are provided for sheet metal production and each have a manufacturing device for sheet metal manufacturing with a work area in which a workpiece carrier can be arranged in a manufacturing position and in which a sheet metal workpiece for the manufacturing device supported by a workpiece carrier arranged in the manufacturing position is accessible for sheet metal production and

The secondary functional unit is not intended for sheet metal production and has a functional area in which the workpiece carrier can be arranged in a functional position.

A generic machine arrangement and a generic machine method are disclosed in EP 1 930 119 A1.

The prior art relates to a machine arrangement designed for cutting sheet metal by means of a laser, which comprises two laser cutting machines as production units and a warehouse common to both laser cutting machines as a secondary functional unit. Each of the laser cutting machines has a work area provided with a housing, to which a pallet is fed for sheet metal processing as a workpiece carrier, which has previously been loaded with a sheet metal to be processed. The one loaded with the sheet to be processed The pallet is arranged in a defined processing position in the working area of the laser cutting machine and the sheet metal is separately processed in the working area of the laser cutting machine on the pallet arranged in the processing position. After completion of the processing, the pallet of the laser cutting machine with the sheet metal processing product stored on it is removed from the work area of the laser cutting machine in question and moved into a reversal position on the warehouse of the machine arrangement. In the transfer position, the pallet of the laser cutting machine is discharged from the sheet metal processing product by means of a handling device provided for this purpose, and the sheet metal processing product is transferred to a pallet on the storage side. Depending on the application, the pallet on the storage side with the sheet metal processing product placed on it is stored in the warehouse, moved to an output of the warehouse or transferred to a turn-over position located on the other laser cutting machine by means of a transfer unit that is movable on the warehouse, where a Another handling device transfers the product of the sheet metal processing from the pallet on the storage side to the pallet of the other laser cutting machine in order to carry out subsequent processing.

The object of the present invention is to simplify sheet metal production in terms of device and method.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the machine arrangement according to claim 1 and by the machine method according to claim 18.

According to the invention, a distinction is made between a production unit and a secondary functional unit. A production unit is provided for sheet metal production, for example for cutting, punching, bending, drilling, thread forming, welding, reshaping, etc. of sheet metal. A secondary functional unit is not intended for sheet metal production, i.e. it can be, for example, a sorting station, a cleaning system, a loading or unloading station, a quality control station, a warehouse or the like.

In the case of the invention, a universal workpiece carrier is provided as the workpiece carrier, which can be used on all functional units of the ma-automatic arrangement according to the invention. At an inventive ma A fast arrangement, the use of a single universal workpiece carrier is possible, but also, in particular, the simultaneous use of several universal workpiece carriers.

The transport unit of the machine arrangement according to the invention links different functional units in that the transport unit transfers the universal workpiece carrier to different functional units. On the production units of the machine arrangement according to the invention, the universal workpiece carrier can be arranged indirectly or directly in the production position by the transport unit; on the secondary functional unit of the machine arrangement according to the invention, the universal workpiece carrier can be transferred directly or indirectly to the functional position by means of the transport unit.

A transport unit within the meaning of the invention means a device which is designed to transport the workpiece carrier and the sheet metal workpieces and / or products of sheet metal production stored by the workpiece carrier. This can be done in different ways, e.g. on a trolley, on belts, on ropes, on the ground, through the air, on predetermined paths or freely in space. The transport device can in particular be motorized.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the universal workpiece carrier is arranged in the manufacturing position and / or in the functional position at least on some of the functional units of the machine arrangement according to the invention directly by the transport unit. This is mandatory in cases in which the universal workpiece carrier is permanently mounted on the transport unit and optionally when the universal workpiece carrier is detachably connected to the transport unit.

A linking of the functional units by the transport unit and the universal workpiece carrier moved by means of the transport unit is possible on the machine arrangement according to the invention with any mutual assignment of the functional units. All or only some of the functional units of a machine arrangement can be linked to one another. Due to the universal character of the workpiece carrier, the handling of sheet metal workpieces and / or of products of sheet metal production is numerically small in the machine arrangement according to the invention and in the context of the machine method according to the invention. One and the same transport unit loads several functional units of the machine arrangement according to the invention with one and the same workpiece carrier. The device-related effort required in the machine arrangement according to the invention for realizing the material flow is correspondingly low. The ma machine method according to the invention is characterized in particular by short cycle times due to the relatively small number of handling operations.

In the case of the invention, a sheet metal pallet, for example, can be provided as a universal workpiece carrier. This can in particular have a pallet frame. In particular, support elements for sheet metal workpieces and / or for products of sheet metal production can be arranged within the pallet frame, preferably support elements in the form of support strips arranged at a mutual distance within the pallet frame. Such a universal workpiece carrier is used in particular in cases in which processing by means of a laser is carried out on a stationary sheet metal on at least one of the production units of the machine arrangement according to the invention.

A plate-like workpiece support can also be used as a universal workpiece carrier for the machine arrangement according to the invention. This can in particular have support elements for the storage of sheet metal workpieces and / or products of sheet metal production, preferably support elements in the form of brushes and / or rollers and / or balls. A universal workpiece carrier of this type is particularly recommended for an inventive ma-automatic arrangement with at least one production unit on which a sheet metal workpiece is to be moved for processing purposes over the universal workpiece carrier in the production position. This can be the case, for example, on a production unit for forming or on a production unit for stamping and / or laser processing of sheet metal workpieces.

In a preferred embodiment of the machine arrangement according to the invention, all essential functions are numerically controlled. The workpiece carrier according to claim 19 is designed as a universal workpiece carrier of the machine arrangement according to the invention and / or for carrying out the method according to the invention.

The same applies to the transport unit according to claim 20.

Special embodiments of the machine arrangement according to the invention according to patent claim 1 and the machine method according to the invention according to patent claim 18 result from the dependent patent claims 2 to 17.

Claims 2 and 7 to 9 relate to preferred options for linking functional units of the machine arrangement according to the invention by means of the universal workpiece carriers provided in the case of the invention and the transport unit moving them.

According to claim 2, the universal workpiece carrier can be transferred between at least one of the production units on the one hand and the secondary functional unit on the other hand by means of the trans port unit of the machine arrangement according to the invention. One and the same secondary functional unit can accordingly be linked to a single or also to several production units.

The inventive machine arrangement according to claim 3 has a number of manufacturing units exceeding two manufacturing units. It is conceivable that the universal workpiece carrier cannot be arranged in the production position on the further production unit or - in the case of several further production units - on at least one of the further production units. Further production units on which the universal workpiece carrier cannot be arranged in the production position can also be linked, according to the invention, to other functional units of the relevant machine arrangement by means of the transport unit and the universal workpiece pallet. Sheet metal workpieces and / or sheet metal manufacturing products must be transferred between the universal workpiece pallet and the work area of the manufacturing device at the additional manufacturing unit that is not suitable for the universal workpiece pallet. The universal workpiece carrier can, however, also be able to be arranged on or on at least some of the further production units in the production position (patent claim 4).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each or part of the more than two production units can be linked to the secondary functional unit by the transport unit and the universal workpiece pallet.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the machine arrangement according to the invention has a plurality of secondary functional units (patent claim 5). In such a machine arrangement, at least two production units and at least two secondary functional units are accordingly provided as functional units, between which the universal workpiece carrier can be transferred by means of the transport unit. In principle, the functional units of this type of the invention can also be linked to one another completely or partially and with any mutual association by means of the trans port unit and the universal workpiece carrier.

According to the circumstances in the case of one or more further production units, the or at least one of the further secondary functional units may not be suitable for arranging the universal workpiece carrier in a functional position. Such a further secondary functional unit requires a transfer of sheet metal workpieces and / or sheet metal production products between the universal workpiece carrier and the functional area of the secondary functional unit.

In the case of the inventive design according to claim 6, the universal work piece carrier can also be arranged in the functional position on or at least one of the further secondary func- tional units.

In the case of the inventive design according to claim 7, several, preferably all production units of the machine arrangement according to the invention are linked by the transport unit and the universal workpiece carrier transferred by means of the transport unit. Such a mutual linking of production units can be implemented in machine arrangements with two production units and also in machine arrangements with more than two production units. According to claim 8, a mutual linking of several, preferably all of the secondary functional units is provided by means of the transport unit and the universel len workpiece carrier.

According to claim 9 it is provided in a further advantageous embodiment of the invention that the universal workpiece carrier can be transferred by means of the transport unit between at least one of the two or more production units on the one hand and at least one of the at least two secondary functional units on the other hand. In particular, the universal workpiece carrier can be transferable by means of the transport unit between each of the at least two production units on the one hand and each of the at least two secondary functional units on the other hand.

Due to appropriate design precautions, the universal workpiece carrier can be arranged directly in the production position or in the functional position by means of the transport unit on the relevant production unit and / or on the relevant secondary functional unit.

Deviating from this, in the case of the inventive design according to claim 10, the universal workpiece carrier is transferred from the transport unit to a secondary functional unit designed as a loading unit, which is assigned to a production unit of the machine arrangement and by means of which the universal workpiece carrier is moved from a position outside the working area of the Production unit can be transferred to the production position.

As a loading unit, for example, a conventional pallet changer comes into question, as is customary for loading the work area of laser processing machines with workpieces stored on pallets.

Particularly practice-relevant embodiments of the secondary functional unit (s) of the machine arrangement according to the invention are mentioned in claim 11.

On a loading unit of the machine arrangement according to the invention, the universal workpiece carrier is loaded manually or automatically, in particular with a sheet metal workpiece to be subjected to a manufacturing operation. After the loading process, each or some of the other functional units of the ma- fast arrangement by means of the transport unit with the universal work piece carrier and the sheet metal workpiece stored by this are charged. In particular, it is possible to use a single loading unit for several production units. An unloading unit of the machine arrangement according to the invention can be operated in a corresponding manner. In a storage unit of the machine arrangement according to the invention, the universal workpiece carrier can be stored in the loaded or in the unloaded state. For example, it is conceivable that the universal workpiece carrier loaded with products from a first production operation after the transfer to a production unit is temporarily stored in the warehouse before the loaded universal workpiece carrier is relocated to carry out a subsequent operation and transferred to another production unit of the machine arrangement. For the storage and retrieval of the universal workpiece carrier, a storage-side turnaround unit can be used with a turnaround position as a functional position of the universal workpiece carrier. On a cleaning unit of the machine arrangement according to the invention, the universal workpiece carrier is cleaned of production-related contamination in particular. For example, on Auflageleis th of workpiece pallets, such as those used to store sheet metal in laser processing, caking-related caking, such as slag formed during thermal sheet metal processing, can be removed at the cleaning station manually or using appropriate mechanical aids. On a maintenance and / or repair unit of the machine arrangement according to the invention, for example, on a universal workpiece pallet of the last-mentioned type, support strips can be exchanged for maintenance purposes or necessary repair work can be carried out. On a set-up unit of the machine arrangement according to the invention, the universal workpiece carrier is configured for a subsequent operation, in particular for a subsequent manufacturing operation. For example, to configure a universal workpiece pallet for the laser processing of sheet metal, a pallet frame can be equipped with support strips in a way that is coordinated with the subsequent processing. For example, the geometry and the mutual spacing of the support strips used can be selected based on the specific application. A storage unit serves to store one or more universal workpiece carriers as a reserve within the machine arrangement according to the invention. serve. A process preparation unit of the machine arrangement according to the invention can in particular be designed to prepare for a subsequent production operation. For example, it is conceivable to generate a workpiece format suitable for the subsequent manufacturing operation, to clean the sheet metal workpiece to be subjected to the manufacturing operation in preparation and / or to apply markings to a sheet metal workpiece in order to enable the workpiece to be tracked in the subsequent manufacturing process. A process post-processing unit of the machine arrangement according to the invention is used in particular to post-process manufacturing operations. For example, there is the possibility of cleaning sheet metal parts that are present on a process post-processing unit as products of cutting sheet metal processing by blowing or sweeping away loose impurities or deburring them using a corresponding mechanical device.

Claims 12 and 13 relate to preferred types of transport unit of the machine arrangement according to the invention. A floor conveyor, in particular a forklift truck, for example, can be used as a freely movable transport unit. The driverless transport vehicle provided according to the invention can be provided with an active or a passive load pick-up.

On the machine arrangement according to the invention, the universal work piece carrier can be firmly connected to the transport unit. In the case of such inventive designs, the universal workpiece carrier is transferred directly to the production and functional position (s) by means of the transport unit of the machine arrangement, where the universal workpiece carrier remains connected to the transport unit during any operations.

According to claim 14, a releasable connection between the transport unit and the universal work piece carrier is provided in a preferred embodiment of the invention. Due to the releasable connection, the universal workpiece carrier can be separated from the transport unit before or after being transferred to the production position or to the functional position. In a subsequent operation on the universal workpiece carrier or on sheet metal workpieces or fer- processing products, the transport unit can then take a position away from the relevant functional unit, where the transport unit is protected against any harmful influences due to the operation carried out on the universal workpiece carrier or its loading. There is also the possibility of using the transport unit during the operation following the transfer of the universal workpiece carrier to the production position or to the functional position to carry out other transfers of workpiece carriers within the machine arrangement according to the invention.

A defined and exactly reproducible position of sheet metal workpieces to be processed and / or of sheet metal production products in the coordinate system of the process control is of decisive importance, especially for automated processes in sheet metal production. Against this background, provisions are made for a defined arrangement of the universal workpiece carrier on the transport unit in a further preferred embodiment of the invention on the transport unit and / or on the universal workpiece carrier (patent claim 15).

Regardless of whether the universal workpiece carrier is detachably or permanently connected to the transport unit, sheet metal workpieces stored by the universal workpiece carrier and / or manufactured products stored by the universal workpiece carrier must be attached to the manufacturing unit or units of the machine arrangement according to the invention and to the secondary function or functions Units of the machine arrangement according to the invention assume a defined and exactly reproducible position so that the operation in question can deliver the desired result. After the position of the sheet metal workpieces and also the position of the manufactured products is determined directly by the position that the universal workpiece carrier assumes in the manufacturing or in the functional position, claim 16 is evidently in the work area and / or in the functional area of manufacturing units or of Secondary functional units of the inventive maschi nellen arrangement corresponding positioning devices are provided. In addition or as an alternative, the universal workpiece carrier of the machine arrangement according to the invention can have positioning devices of the type mentioned. Preferred production units of the machine arrangement according to the invention are mentioned by way of example in patent claim 17. Manufacturing units of the type in accordance with the invention are used to carry out manufacturing operations on sheet metal, with the generic term “manufacturing” generally subsuming primary shaping, reshaping, separating, joining and coating. In the case of the invention, laser cutting units, laser welding units and laser marking or laser inscription units are particularly suitable as laser production units. Forming units of the machine arrangement according to the invention are designed in particular for bending sheet metal pieces. Separating units according to the invention can be designed, for example, as punching units or as laser separating units. The machine arrangement according to the invention can, for example, have a welding unit as the joining unit. In the case of the invention, for example painting and lettering units come into consideration as coating units.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary schematic representations. Show it:

Figure la a compilation of production units and secondary functional units for use as functional units of a machine arrangement for sheet metal production,

Figure lb the production units and secondary functional units according to Figure la in plan view,

Figure lc the detail Dl in Figure lb in an enlarged view,

Figure ld the detail D2 in Figure lb in an enlarged view,

Figure le a workpiece pallet as a universal workpiece carrier of a machine arrangement for sheet metal production,

Figures 2a to 2e a machine arrangement of the first type for sheet metal production,

Figures 3a to 3f a machine arrangement of the second type for sheet metal production, FIG. 3g shows the detail D3 in FIG. 3f in an enlarged representation,

FIG. 4 shows a mechanical arrangement of the third type for sheet metal production,

Figures 5a to 5e a machine arrangement of the fourth type for sheet metal production,

Figures 6a, 6b a machine arrangement of the fifth type for sheet metal production,

FIG. 7 shows a machine arrangement of the sixth type for sheet metal production,

FIG. 8 shows a machine arrangement of the seventh type for sheet metal production,

FIG. 9 shows a machine arrangement of the eighth type for sheet metal production and

Figures 10a to a machine arrangement of the ninth type for sheet metal production.

In FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, examples of functional units are shown which can be used as components of a machine arrangement for sheet metal production. The functional units shown are, on the one hand, potential production units and, on the other hand, potential secondary functional units of a machine arrangement for sheet metal production.

As examples of manufacturing units, FIGS. 1 a and 1 b show separating units for separating sheet metal processing in the form of a laser flatbed machine 1 and in the form of a punching / laser combination machine 2 and a coating unit 3 for sheet metal production. The punching station of the punching / laser combination machine 2 is a conventional press with a punching tool as a manufacturing device. By exchanging the punching tool for a forming tool, the punching / laser combination machine 2 can be converted into a production unit in the form of a forming / laser combination machine. The examples for secondary func on units shown in FIGS. La and lb are in detail a storage unit in the form of a material store 4, a storage-side storage and retrieval unit 5 that can be used as a storage-side handling unit, a loading unit 6, a storage unit in the form of a Pallet storage 7, a pallet service unit 8, which can be used as a set-up unit, as a maintenance and repair unit and also as a cleaning unit, to a loading unit provided for the laser flatbed machine 1 in the form of a pallet changer 9, an unloading unit 10 and a Deburring unit 11 that can be used as a process post-processing unit.

A press brake as a forming unit and a joining unit, for example, can be used as further production units for sheet metal production, not shown in FIGS.

Production units and secondary functional units of the type shown in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b can be combined in different numbers and in different combinations to form a machine arrangement for sheet metal production, depending on the production process or processes to be carried out.

All of the machine arrangements made up of functional units of the type shown in FIGS.

The workpiece pallet 12 forms a universal workpiece carrier and is as such on at least two, preferably on all production units of the machine arrangement in question in one production position and additionally on at least one, if several secondary functional units are used, preferably on all secondary functional units of the machine arrangement in one Functional position can be arranged. The structural design of the workpiece pallet 12 is particularly dependent on the type of manufacturing operations to be carried out on a machine arrangement. For example, for the laser processing of sheet metal workpieces that are stationary during processing, workpiece pallets 12 can be used with a pallet frame and with workpiece support strips that are preferably detachably mounted on the pallet frame to form a workpiece support. Such a design of the workpiece pallet 12 is shown as an example in Figure le.

In cases in which manufacturing operations are to be carried out on a sheet metal workpiece stored on a workpiece pallet 12, in which the sheet metal workpiece has to be moved over the workpiece pallet 12 relative to a production device, a workpiece pallet 12 may be preferred, which enables scratch-free movement of sheet metal workpieces . A workpiece support 12 is conceivable for such use cases, which is provided on a pallet frame with a plate-like workpiece support, which in turn has support elements in the form of support brushes and / or support balls and / or support rollers for storing sheet metal workpieces.

The transfer of the workpiece pallet 12 to the at least two production units and to the at least one secondary functional unit of a machine arrangement for sheet metal production compiled from the functional units of FIGS. 1 a and 1 b is carried out by the transport unit of the relevant machine arrangement. The at least two production units and the at least one secondary functional unit of the machine arrangement can be linked to one another with any mutual association by the transport unit and the workpiece pallet 12 transferred by means of the transport unit.

Freely movable but also rail-bound devices come into consideration as transport units, for example manned forklifts, driverless transport vehicles ("FTP", "Automated guided vehicles" / "AGV") and / or rail-bound industrial trucks. For the sake of clarity, transport units are not shown in FIGS.

If the workpiece pallet 12 assumes the production position on a production unit, then a sheet metal workpiece supported by the workpiece pallet 12 is in one Work area of the production unit for a production device provided there for sheet metal production accessible. About the laser flat bed machine 1 be found inside a housing in a known manner, the work area egg nes laser cutting head, which can be moved with a biaxial movement in a horizontal len plane and also in the vertical direction.

In the working area of the laser cutting head of the laser flatbed machine 1, the workpiece pallet 12 loaded with a sheet metal workpiece to be processed can be transferred directly from the transport unit to the relevant machine arrangement after the transfer to the laser flatbed machine 1. After completion of the workpiece processing, the workpiece pallet 12 loaded with the product of sheet metal production is then taken over directly by the transport unit on the housing of the laser flat bed machine 1 in this case.

Alternatively, there is the possibility of moving the workpiece pallet 12 with the interposition of a pallet changer 9 between the work area of the laser flatbed machine 1 and the transport unit.

A workpiece pallet 12 loaded with a sheet metal workpiece to be processed and transferred to the pallet changer 9 by means of the transport unit is transferred from the transport unit to the pallet changer 9 for this purpose. Starting from an envelope position provided as a functional position, specifically as a loading position, on the pallet changer 9, the loaded workpiece pallet 12 is then moved by the pallet changer 9 into the work area of the laser flatbed machine 1 and arranged there in the production position. The after completion of the processing with a product of sheet metal production loaded workpiece pallet 12 is promoted from the Arbeitsbe rich of the laser flatbed machine 1 back to the envelope position on the pallet changer 9 and passed from there to the transport unit.

To transfer the workpiece pallet 12 loaded with a sheet metal workpiece to be processed and / or to take over a workpiece pallet 12 loaded with a product from Blechferti supply, the transport unit can be moved towards the pallet changer 9 or, alternatively and with the appropriate construction, the pallet changer 9 can move into it . In the former case, the loaded workpiece pallet 12 is moved by means of conventional conveying means, for example by means of a conventional chain drive, starting from the transport unit in the transfer position on the pallet changer 9 or starting from the transfer position on the pallet changer 9 to the transport unit.

If the transport unit can enter the pallet changer 9, there is the possibility, by means of the transfer of the workpiece pallet 12 to the pallet changer 9, to transfer the workpiece pallet 12 loaded with a sheet metal workpiece to the pallet changer 9 directly into the transfer position. Correspondingly, a workpiece pallet 12 loaded with a sheet metal product can be transferred directly to the transport unit moved into the pallet changer 9 by moving from the production position on the laser flatbed machine 1 into the Umschlagpo position on the pallet changer 9.

To load the punch / laser combination machine 2 with a sheet metal workpiece to be processed, the transport unit with the workpiece pallet 12 and the sheet metal workpiece stored by it is moved to a position in the immediate vicinity of the machine table of the punch / laser combination machine 2. The sheet metal workpiece is then transferred from the workpiece pallet 12 to the machine table by means of a machine loading and unloading device which is conventional and not shown in the figures. After completion of the manufacturing operation on the punch / laser combination machine 2, the sheet metal manufacturing product is moved from the machine table of the punch / laser combination machine 2 onto the workpiece pallet 12 remaining on the transport unit by means of the loading and unloading device.

Also at the coating unit 3, the transfer of the workpiece pallet 12 loaded with a sheet metal workpiece to be worked into the work area and the transfer of the workpiece pallet 12 loaded with a sheet metal product from the work area by the transport unit either via a pallet changer 9 or directly and consequently without the interposition of a pallet changer 9. In a functional position in a functional area, the workpiece pallet 12 can also be connected to the material store 4, to the storage-side storage and retrieval unit 5, to the loading unit 6, to the pallet storage 7, to the pallet service unit 8, to the unloading unit 10 and to the Entgratein unit 11 are arranged.

The transfer and takeover of the workpiece pallet 12 at the material store 4 can take place directly between the transport unit and a pallet storage location of the material store 4. After storage, the workpiece pallet 12 assumes a storage position at the relevant storage location of the material store 4 as a functional position.

Alternatively, there is the possibility that the transfer of the workpiece pallet 12 between the transport unit and the material store 4 takes place via the storage-side rack control device 5, on which the workpiece pallet 12, as a functional position, assumes a turnover position. When the workpiece pallet 12 is transferred to the storage and retrieval unit 5 by the transport unit, the workpiece pallet 12, which is arranged on the storage and retrieval unit 5 in the transfer position and previously removed from the material store 4 by means of the storage and retrieval unit 5, is transferred using a transfer device provided in the usual way on the storage and retrieval unit 5 pushed by the storage and retrieval unit 5 onto the transport unit. A workpiece pallet 12 to be stored in the material store 4 via the storage and retrieval unit 5 is first moved by the transport unit into the transhipment position on the storage-side storage and retrieval unit 5. Then the rack control device 5 moves the workpiece pallet 12 starting from the transhipment position to a free storage location on the material store 4. For this purpose, the rack control device 5 can move horizontally and / or vertically along the material store 4. From the storage and retrieval unit 5 arranged at the free storage space of the material storage 4, the workpiece pallet 12 is pushed into the free storage space on the material storage 4 and thereby transferred into the storage position.

The loading unit 6 is provided for loading the workpiece pallet 12 with a sheet metal workpiece to be subjected to a manufacturing operation. The loading unit 6 comprises in a known manner a frame structure 15 on which a with a vertically movable load handling device provided Handlingvorrich device 16 can move horizontally.

To load the workpiece pallet 12 with a sheet metal workpiece to be processed, the transport unit moves with the empty workpiece pallet 12 to a loading position on the loading unit 6 that is provided as a functional position. The handling device 16 is then moved with a sheet metal workpiece on the frame structure 15 in front of the handling device 16 to a position from which the sheet metal workpiece is placed on the workpiece pallet 12 arranged in the loading position by lowering the load suspension device of the handling device 16 . A sheet metal workpiece to be transferred to the workpiece pallet 12 can be taken over by the handling device 16, for example from a stack of raw sheet metal arranged away from the loading position of the workpiece pallet 12. As indicated in FIG. 1 a, the handling device 16 of the loading unit 6 can also receive a sheet metal workpiece to be processed on the storage-side storage and retrieval unit 5. A storage pallet with raw metal sheets previously removed from the material store 4 can be arranged on the storage and retrieval unit 5 in a position accessible to the handling device 16. In addition, there is the possibility that the handling device 16 of the loading unit 6 accesses a stack of raw sheet metal, not shown, with which a storage trolley has previously been loaded by means of a rack control device of the material store 4.

In the pallet supply store 7, workpiece pallets 12 are held, for example, in the event that a workpiece pallet 12 previously used in the machine arrangement is temporarily unavailable due to maintenance and / or repair work on the workpiece pallet 12 and / or in the event that in addition to a already in the machine arrangement circulating workpiece pallet 12, one or more additional workpiece pallets 12 are needed.

At the pallet supply warehouse 7, the workpiece pallet 12 assumes a storage position as a functional position. To transfer the workpiece pallet 12 between tween the transport unit and the pallet store 7, a Regalbe serving device 17 is used, to which a workpiece pallet 12 to be stored on the pallet store 7 is transferred from the transport unit and from which a workpiece pallet 12 previously removed from the pallet supply store 7 is taken over by the transport unit.

The pallet service unit 8 is used to configure the workpiece pallet 12 for an operation to be carried out, in particular for an upcoming manufacturing operation, and also to maintain the functionality of the workpiece pallet 12.

To configure the workpiece pallet 12 for an upcoming operation, the pallet service unit 8 is used as a setup unit, on which the workpiece pallet 12 assumes a setup position as a functional position. In the set-up position, a pallet frame of the workpiece pallet 12 is provided with a workpiece support in a manner coordinated with the subsequent operation. For example, when using the workpiece pallet 12 in the separating processing of sheet metal workpieces on the laser flatbed machine 1, the pallet frame of the workpiece pallet 12 on the pallet service unit 8, which functions as a set-up unit, is equipped with workpiece support strips which, in terms of their geometry and their arrangement on the Pallet frames are matched to the cutting process to be carried out. In this sense, the support strips on the workpiece pallet 12 according to Figure le a non-uniform mutual from stood on.

To maintain the functionality of the workpiece pallet 12, the pallet service unit 8 is used as a maintenance and repair unit and / or as a cleaning unit.

On the pallet service unit 8 used as a maintenance and repair unit, the workpiece pallet 12 assumes a maintenance and / or repair position as a functional position. In the maintenance and / or repair position, for example, defective support strips for sheet metal work pieces are replaced by new support strips on the workpiece pallet 12, or damaged support strips are restored to a functional state, for example by appropriate reshaping.

As a cleaning unit, the pallet service unit 8 can be equipped with devices for cleaning the workpiece support formed on the workpiece pallet 12. be seen. In the case of a workpiece pallet 12 with support strips, a manual or machine-operated support strip cleaner of conventional design comes into consideration as a cleaning device. A plate-like workpiece support of the workpiece pallet 12 can be swept away manually or by machine for cleaning purposes or cleaned by applying compressed air.

The discharge unit 10 is an automation component of conventional design. In the usual way, the unloading unit 10 comprises a column 18 which can be rotated about a vertical axis and on which a swivel arm 19 which can be swiveled about a horizontal axis is mounted. At the end remote from the column 18, the pivot arm 19 is provided with a rake-like receiving device 20 in the example shown in FIG.

With an appropriate design, all products of a previous production operation are removed by means of the unloading unit 10 from a workpiece pallet 12, which has previously been transferred from the transport unit of the relevant machine arrangement to an unloading position provided as a functional position. Deviating from this, an embodiment of the discharge unit 10 with an integrated sorting function is also conceivable. In this case, the unloading unit 10 is used, for example, to unload the good parts created in the previous manufacturing operation from the workpiece pallet 12 moved into the unloading position, while production waste, in the case of cutting sheet metal processing, for example, a scrap skeleton, initially on the workpiece pallet 12 remains and is otherwise disposed of after the good parts have been unloaded.

On the deburring unit 11, burrs formed during the manufacturing operation are removed manually or by machine on products from a previous manufacturing operation, for example on a sheet metal blank.

Examples of machine arrangements for sheet metal production that have been configured using functional units from FIGS. 1 a and 1 b and examples for linking functional units of the type shown in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b are shown in FIGS. 2a to 10d. A machine arrangement I shown in FIGS. 2a to 2e for sheet metal production comprises two production units and three secondary functional units as functional units. The production units of the machine arrangement I are two laser flatbed machines 1. A loading unit 6 and two pallet changers 9 are provided as secondary functional units. tools / FTF 13 realized, on which a workpiece pallet 12 used as a universal workpiece carrier can be detachably attached. The workpiece pallet 12 has, in coordination with the separating laser processing carried out on the machine arrangement I, in the usual manner on a pallet frame with support strips which run parallel to one another on the pallet frame to form a workpiece support with mutual spacing.

Figure 2a shows the machine arrangement I after the loading of the workpiece pallet 12 arranged on the AGV 13 by the loading unit 6 Workpiece pallet 12 deposited. Previously, the raw sheet 21 had been picked up by the handling device 16 in the usual manner from a raw sheet stack (not shown).

Starting from the loading unit 6, the AGV 13 transfers the loaded workpiece pallet 12 to the pallet changer 9 of the laser flatbed machine 1 at the top in the illustrations (FIG. 2b). By means of a mechanical device of the usual type, not shown in detail, the loaded workpiece pallet 12 is now moved from the AGV 13 to the pallet changer 9 and there into the Umschlagpo position (FIG conventional machine device from the envelope position on the upper pallet changer 9 is moved into the production position in the work area of the upper laser flat bed machine 1. In the working area of the laser flatbed machine 1, the separating processing of the raw sheet metal 21 is then carried out on the workpiece pallet 12 arranged in the production position. The AGV 13 can meanwhile remain in the waiting position according to FIG. 2c. If the machine arrangement I has a pallet storage facility 7, the AGV 13 can alternatively move to the pallet storage facility 7, pick up a further workpiece pallet 12 there and transfer the further workpiece pallet 12 from the pallet storage facility 7 to the loading unit 6 and arrange it there directly in the loading position. In the manner described above, the AGV 13 can then transfer the further loaded workpiece pallet 12 from the loading position on the loading unit 6 to the lower pallet changer 9 in FIGS the working area of the lower laser flatbed machine 1 can be retracted.

In the example shown, the AGV 13 remains in the waiting position at the upper pallet changer 9 during the separating processing of the raw sheet 21 moved into the envelope position on the upper pallet changer 9 and pushed from there onto the AGV 13 in the waiting position. With the workpiece pallet 12 and the sheet metal production product 22 stored by it, the AGV 13 moves to the lower pallet changer 9 (FIG. 2d). Corresponding to the processes on the upper laser flatbed machine 1, the loaded workpiece pallet 12 is first moved by the AGV 13 to the transfer position on the lower pallet changer 9 and then to carry out a separating subsequent processing of the product 22 of sheet metal production from the transfer position on the lower one Pallet changer 9 is moved into the production position in the work area of the lower laser flatbed machine 1.

After finishing the processing on the lower laser flatbed machine 1, the workpiece pallet 12 loaded with an end product 23 from sheet metal production is moved from the work area of the lower laser flatbed machine 1 to the turn-over position on the lower pallet changer 9 (Figure 2e) and from there to the Transferred AGVs 13 arranged in the waiting position on the lower pallet changer 9. Finally, the workpiece pallet 12 loaded with the end product 23 from sheet metal production is transferred by means of the AGV 13 to an unloading station, not shown in FIGS. 2a to 2e, where the end product 23 the sheet metal production is removed from the workpiece pallet 12 and transferred to a transport means provided for this purpose from the vicinity of the machine arrangement I for removal.

The now unloaded workpiece pallet 12 is transferred back to the loading unit 6 by the AGV 13 and transferred there directly into a loading position. In the loading position, the workpiece pallet 12 is loaded with a further raw sheet metal 21 by the loading unit 6. The further raw sheet 21 then runs through the manufacturing process described above.

The linking of the functional units of a machine arrangement II shown in FIGS. 3a to 3g for sheet metal production and the processes resulting from this link basically correspond to the relationships in the machine arrangement I according to FIGS. 2a to 2e.

Deviating from the machine arrangement I according to FIGS. 2a to 2e, the machine arrangement II according to FIGS. 3a to 3g has two pallet changers 9, to which the workpiece pallet 12 loaded with a raw sheet 21 is transferred directly to the transfer position by the AGV 13 can. For this purpose, the frame structure of the pallet changer 9 according to Figures 3a to 3g is open on the side facing away from the laser flatbed machines 1 and the AGV 13 moves with the loaded workpiece pallet 12 in the manner shown in Figure 3c for the upper pallet changer 9 the respective pallet changer 9.

For the rest, with regard to the sequences illustrated in FIGS. 3a to 3d, reference can be made to the above description of FIGS. 2a to 2d.

FIG. 3d shows the AGV 13 with the workpiece pallet 12 and the product 22 of sheet metal production stored therefrom immediately before the workpiece pallet 12 reaches the transfer position on the lower pallet changer 9. Deviating from the processes on the machine arrangement I according to FIGS. 2a to 2e, the AGV 13 moves into the lower pallet changer 9 when the workpiece pallet 12 is transferred to the lower pallet changer 9. The workpiece pallet 12 is located on the AGV 13 that has moved into the lower pallet changer 9, directly in the transfer position. In Fig. 3e the machine arrangement II is shown after the transfer of the loaded with the product 22 of sheet metal production workpiece pallet 12 from the Umschlagpo position on the lower pallet changer 9 in the production position in the work area of the lower laser flatbed machine 1. The AGV 13 unloaded from the workpiece pallet 12 and the product 22 of sheet metal production is in a waiting position outside the lower pallet changer 9 Product 22 of sheet metal production processed by the laser cutting head of the lower laser flat bed machine 1 separating.

Figure 3f shows the relationships according to Figure 3e in plan view. In Figure 3f can be seen in Figure 3g enlarged and serving as a positioning device indexing device 24 of conventional design. By means of the indexing device 24, the workpiece pallet 12 is arranged in the working area of the lower laser flatbed machine 1 in a defined manner in the production position and fixed there. Corresponding indexing devices 24 can be provided on the upper La ser flat bed machine 1 for the defined arrangement of the workpiece pallet 12 in the production position and also on the loading unit 6 for the defined arrangement of the workpiece pallet 12 in the loading position.

A machine arrangement III shown in FIG. 4 for sheet metal production differs from the machine arrangements I and II according to FIGS. 2a to 3g in that a rail-bound industrial truck 14 is provided as the transport unit instead of an AGV 13.

The industrial truck 14 can move along guide rails 25 for transferring the workpiece pallet 12.

FIG. 4 shows the machine arrangement III with the floor conveyor 14 arranged in a waiting position in front of the upper pallet changer 9. Holding means 26 and positioning devices 27 can be seen on the unloaded industrial truck 14. The holding means 26 serve to releasably fix the workpiece pallet 12 on the industrial truck 14. The workpiece pallet 12 is on the industrial truck 14 by means of the positioning devices 27 defined positioned. Corresponding holding means 26 and positioning devices 27 are also provided on the AGV 13 according to FIGS. 2a to 3g, but are not shown in the figures for the sake of simplicity.

The holding means 26 can be designed, for example, as a stop, an elevation, a depression, a wall, a bracket, a pin or similar constructions that are suitable for releasably fixing the workpiece pallet 12 on the AGV 13 or the industrial truck 14 and preventing it from slipping to secure.

The positioning device 27 can be designed, for example, as a recess, an elevation, a wall, a stop or any other device that is able to adjust the workpiece on the AGV 13 or the industrial truck 14 in a predetermined position.

A machine arrangement IV shown in FIGS. 5a to 5e for sheet metal production differs from machine arrangement III according to FIG. 4 only in that a pallet changer 9 of the type provided in machine arrangement III is dispensed with. Instead, the workpiece pallet 12 loaded with a raw sheet metal 21 or with a product 22 from sheet metal production is transferred directly to the upper and lower laser flatbed machine 1 by means of the industrial truck 14. FIGS. 5b and 5d show the industrial truck 14 with the workpiece pallet 12 and the raw sheet metal 21 stored therefrom (FIG. 5b) or with the workpiece pallet 12 and the sheet metal product 22 stored by it immediately before the loaded workpiece pallet 12 is transferred to the work area the respective gene laser flatbed machine 1. In Figure 5c, the truck 14 unloaded from the workpiece pallet 12 and the raw sheet 21 is in the waiting position at the upper laser flatbed machine 1. Correspondingly, the one from the workpiece pallet 12 and the product 22 takes the Sheet metal production unloaded Flurför derwagen 13 in Figure 5e a waiting position on the lower laser Flachbettma machine 1 a.

A machine arrangement V for sheet metal production, as shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b, has, in addition to the functional units of the machine arrangements I to IV, an unloading unit 10 as a secondary functional unit and also a further transport unit designed as an AGV 13. The discharge unit 10 according to Figures 6a, 6b is of conventional design and opposite the unloading unit 10 shown in FIGS.

In FIGS. 6a, 6b, one of the AGVs 13 with a workpiece pallet 12 is arranged on the unloading unit 10, which in turn stores an end product 23 from the previous sheet metal production. This was preceded by a machining process as described above for FIGS. 2a to 3g.

According to Figure 6a, the lower FTF 13 in the figures has transferred the workpiece pallet 12 and the end product 23 of the sheet metal production stored by it at the unloading unit 10 into a position from which the workpiece pallet 12 with the end product 23 of the sheet metal production with the aid of a conventional one machine device is moved by the AGV 13 into the unloading position on the unloading unit 10. In the unloading position, the workpiece pallet 12 loaded with the end product 23 from sheet metal production is shown in FIG. 6b. The end product 23 of sheet metal production is unloaded from the workpiece pallet 12 arranged in the unloading position by means of the unloading unit 10.

During the unloading process on the unloading unit 10, the second AGV 13 is located on the loading unit 6 in a position in which the workpiece pallet 12 stored by the AGV 13 assumes a loading position. In Figures 6a, 6b, the loading process of the workpiece pallet 12 on the loading unit 6 is completed. While at the unloading unit 10 the workpiece pallet 12 arranged there in the unloading position is unloaded from the end product 23 of the sheet metal production, the further AGV 13 can transfer the workpiece pallet 12 stored by this with the raw sheet 21 to the upper laser flatbed machine 1 and to the Upper laser flat bed machine 1 transferred product 22 of sheet metal production to the lower laser flat bed machine 1 for processing purposes.

The unloading process at the unloading unit 10 can in this way be synchronized with manufacturing operations on the laser flatbed machines 1.

A machine arrangement VI shown in FIG. 7 for sheet metal production differs from the machine arrangement V according to FIGS. 6a, 6b in the design of the unloading unit 10. Notwithstanding the circumstances In the case of the machine arrangement V, the unloading unit 10 according to FIG. 7 is designed in such a way that the AGV 13 can transfer the workpiece pallet 12 with the end product 23 from sheet metal production on the unloading unit 10 directly into the unloading position. With the workpiece pallet 12 arranged on the AGV 13 in the unloading position, the machine arrangement VI is shown in FIG.

A machine arrangement VII shown in FIG. 8 for sheet metal production and a machine arrangement VIII shown in FIG. 9 for sheet metal production differ from the machine arrangements VI according to FIG. 7 by additional functional units. The machine arrangement VII according to FIG. 8 has a further laser flat bed machine 1 as an additional production unit and a further pallet changer 9 assigned to the further laser flat bed machine 1 as an additional secondary functional unit. The machine arrangement VIII according to FIG. 9 has been expanded to include a punch / laser combination machine 2 compared to the machine arrangements VII according to FIG.

Otherwise, the processes on the machine arrangement VII according to FIG. 8 and on the machine arrangement VIII according to FIG. 9 correspond to the processes on the machine arrangement VI according to FIG. 7.

A machine arrangement IX shown in Figures 10a to 10d for sheet metal production differs from the machine arrangement I according to Figures 2a to 2e only in that a manned forklift 28 is provided instead of an AGV 13 and that the workpiece pallet 12 is Lift truck 28 on the pallet changer 9 Laser-Flachbettma machines 1 can be transferred directly into the envelope position before the production process and taken directly into the envelope position after the production process.

In FIG. 10 a, the loading unit 6 has loaded the workpiece pallet 12 with a raw sheet metal 21. The forklift 28 takes over the workpiece pallet 12 in its loading position. FIG. 10b shows the machine arrangement IX during the transfer, carried out by means of the forklift 28, of the workpiece pallet 12 loaded with the raw sheet 21 into the transfer position on the upper pallet changer 9. In the transfer position on the upper pallet changer 9, the workpiece pallet 12 and the raw sheet 21 are in Figure 10c shown. Based on the relationships according to FIG. 10c, the loaded workpiece pallet 12 is moved from the reversal position on the upper pallet changer 9 into the production position in the work area of the upper laser flatbed machine 1, where the cutting processing of the raw sheet 21 takes place.

During the separating processing of the raw sheet metal 21, the forklift truck 28 remains in a waiting position at the upper pallet changer 9. After finishing the processing, the workpiece pallet 12 now loaded with the product 22 of sheet metal production is moved from the work area of the upper laser flatbed machine 1 to the transfer position moved to the upper pallet changer 9 and immediately picked up by the forklift 28 in the envelope position. With the workpiece pallet 12 and the product 22 of sheet metal production stored by it, the forklift 28 moves from the upper pallet changer 9 (FIG. 10d) to the lower pallet changer 9, where the loaded workpiece pallet 12 is placed directly in the transfer position by the forklift 28. This is followed by the transfer of the workpiece pallet 12 loaded with the product 22 of sheet metal production from the transfer position into the production position in the work area of the lower laser flatbed machine 1.

Claims

1. Machine arrangement for sheet metal production,

• with a workpiece carrier, which is designed for the storage of a sheet metal workpiece (21) and / or for the storage of a product (22, 23) of sheet metal production,

• with three spatially separated functional units,

- Two production units (1, 2, 3) and, in addition to the production units, a secondary functional unit (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) are provided as functional units of the machine arrangement,

- The two production units (1, 2, 3) are provided for sheet metal production and each have a production device for sheet metal production with a work area in which a workpiece carrier can be arranged in a production position and in which one is arranged in the production position Workpiece carrier ger stored sheet metal workpiece (21) for the production device for sheet metal production is accessible and

- The secondary functional unit (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) is not intended for sheet metal production and has a functional area in which the workpiece carrier can be arranged in a functional position, and

• With a transport unit (13, 14, 28), which can be driven with the workpiece carrier between functional units of the machine arrangement (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX) and by means of which functional units together can be linked in that the workpiece carrier can be transferred between functional units by means of the transport unit (13, 14, 28), characterized in that a universal workpiece carrier (12) is provided as the workpiece carrier, which is attached to the two production units (1, 2, 3) in the Manufacturing position and also on the secondary functional unit (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) can be arranged in the functional position and that by means of the transport unit (13, 14, 28) functional units of the machine arrangement (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX) can be linked to one another by the universal workpiece carrier (12) by means of the trans port unit (13, 14, 28) is transferable between functional units.

2. Machine arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that by means of the transport unit (13, 14, 28) functional units of the machine arrangement (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX) can be linked to one another, by the universal workpiece carrier (12) by means of the transport unit (13, 14, 28) between at least one of the production units (1, 2, 3) on the one hand and the secondary functional unit (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) on the other hand is transferable.

3. Machine arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one further production unit (1, 2, 3) is provided as a functional unit of the machine arrangement (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX) is.

4. Machine arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the universal workpiece carrier (12) can also be arranged on the further production unit or units (1, 2, 3) in the production position.

5. Machine arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one further secondary functional unit (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) as a functional unit of the machine arrangement (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX) is provided.

6. Machine arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that the universal workpiece carrier (12) can also be arranged in the functional position on the further secondary functional unit or units (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11).

7. Machine arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that by means of the transport unit (13, 14, 28) functional units of the machine arrangement (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX) together are linked by the universal workpiece carrier (12) by means of the transport unit (13, 14, 28) can be transferred between production units (1, 2, 3), preferably between all production units (1, 2, 3).

8. Machine arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that by means of the transport unit (13, 14, 28) functional units of the machine arrangement (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX) can be linked to one another, by the universal workpiece carrier (12) by means of the transport unit (13, 14, 28) between secondary functional units (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11), preferably between all secondary functional units (4, 5, 6, 7,

8, 9, 10, 11) is transferable.

9. Machine arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that by means of the transport unit (13, 14, 28) functional units of the machine arrangement (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX) can be linked to one another, by the universal workpiece carrier (12) by means of the transport unit (13, 14, 28) between at least one of the production units (1, 2, 3) on the one hand and at least one of the secondary functional units (4, 5, 6, 7, 8,

9, 10, 11) on the other hand is transferable.

10. Machine arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a loading unit is provided for one of the production units (1, 2, 3) as a secondary functional unit (9), by means of which the universal workpiece carrier (12) from a position outside the work area the manufacturing device of the manufacturing unit (1, 2, 3) can be transferred into the manufacturing posi tion that a loading position is provided as the functional position of the universal workpiece carrier (12) on the loading unit, starting from which the universal workpiece carrier loaded with a sheet metal workpiece (21) ger (12) can be moved into the production position and into which the universal workpiece carrier (12) loaded with a product (22, 23) from sheet metal production can be moved starting from the production position and that functional units of the machi nelle arrangement (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX) are fbar by the universal workpiece carrier (12) by means of the transport unit (13, 14, 28) between the loading unit of the manufacturing unit (1, 2, 3) on the one hand and another manufacturing unit (1, 2, 3) and / or another secondary functional unit (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11), on the other hand, is transferable.

11. Machine arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the secondary functional unit (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,

11) is provided:

A loading unit with a loading position of the universal workpiece carrier (12) provided as a functional position, in which the universal workpiece carrier (12) can be loaded with a sheet metal workpiece (21) to be subjected to a manufacturing operation and / or

• an unloading unit with an unloading position of the universal workpiece carrier (12) provided as a functional position, in which the universal workpiece carrier (12) can be unloaded from a sheet metal workpiece (21) and / or from a product (22, 23) of sheet metal production and / or

• a storage unit with a storage position of the universal workpiece carrier (12) provided as a functional position, in which the universal workpiece carrier (12) is in particular shared with a sheet metal workpiece (21) stored by the universal workpiece carrier (12) and / or shared with one of the product (22, 23) of sheet metal production stored on the universal workpiece carrier (12) can be stored and / or

• a storage-side turnover unit with a turnover position of the universal workpiece carrier (12) provided as a functional position, from which the universal workpiece carrier (12) can be stored in a warehouse or in which the universal workpiece carrier (12) can be removed from a warehouse and / or

• A cleaning unit with a cleaning position of the universal workpiece carrier (12) provided as a functional position, in which the universal workpiece carrier (12) is accessible to a cleaning device and / or

• a maintenance and / or repair unit with a maintenance and / or repair position of the universal workpiece carrier (12) provided as a functional position, in which maintenance and / or repair work can be carried out on the universal workpiece carrier (12) and / or • a set-up unit with a set-up position of the universal workpiece carrier (12) provided as a functional position, in which the universal workpiece carrier (12) can be configured and / or for a subsequent operation, in particular for a subsequent operation on a production unit (1, 2, 3)

• a storage unit with a storage position provided as a functional position of the universal workpiece carrier (12), in which the unloaded workpiece carrier (12) for use in the machine arrangement (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX ) can be stored and / or

• A process preparation and / or process post-processing unit with a process preparation and / or process post-processing position of the universal workpiece carrier (12) provided as a functional position, in which a sheet metal workpiece (21) supported by the universal workpiece carrier (12) can be prepared for sheet metal production and / or in which can be reworked for sheet metal production on a sheet metal production product (22, 23) stored by the universal workpiece carrier (12).

12. Machine arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport unit (13, 14, 28) is movable on rails or that the transport unit (13, 14, 28) is freely movable.

13. Machine arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a driverless transport unit is provided as the transport unit (13, 14, 28) and / or that a driverless transport vehicle is seen as the transport unit (13, 14, 28).

14. Machine arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport unit (13, 14, 28) for the universal workpiece carrier (12) has a holding means (26) by means of which the universal workpiece carrier (12) is attached to the transport unit ( 13, 14, 28) can be releasably fixed and that the universal workpiece carrier (12) released from the transport unit (13, 14, 28) between the transport unit (13, 14, 28) on the one hand and the production position in the work area of at least one of the production units (1, 2, 3) and / or the functional position in the functional area of the secondary functional unit (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) or at least one the secondary functional units (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) on the other hand is transferable.

15. Machine arrangement according to claim 14, characterized in that a positioning device (27) is provided on the transport unit (13, 14, 28) and / or on the universal workpiece carrier (12), by means of which the universal workpiece carrier (12) is attached the transport unit (13, 14, 28) can be arranged in a defined manner.

16. Machine arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the production units (1, 2,

3) and / or a positioning device (24) is provided on the universal workpiece carrier (12), by means of which the universal workpiece carrier (12) can be arranged in a defined manner in the production position in the working area of the production unit (1, 2, 3) and / or that in the functional area of the secondary functional unit (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) or in the functional area at least one of the secondary functional units (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) on the one hand and / or on the universal workpiece carrier (12) on the other hand a positioning device (24) is provided, by means of which the universal workpiece carrier (12) in the functional area of the secondary functional unit (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) or the at least one secondary functional unit (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) can be arranged in a defined manner in the functional position.

17. Machine arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the production units (1, 2, 3) is designed as a laser production unit with a laser production device as a production device for sheet metal production and / or that at least one of the production units (1, 2, 3) is designed as a forming unit with a forming device as a manufacturing device for sheet metal production and / or that at least one of the manufacturing units (1, 2, 3) is designed as a separating unit, preferably as a punching unit with a separating device, preferably with a punching device as a manufacturing device for sheet metal production and / or that at least one of the manufacturing units (1, 2, 3 ) is designed as a joining unit with a joining device as a production device for sheet metal production and / or that at least one of the production units (1, 2, 3) is designed as a coating unit with a coating device, in particular with a labeling device or with a painting device as a finished product production device for sheet metal production.

18. Machine method for sheet metal production, as part of which a trans port unit (13, 14, 28) with a for storage of a sheet metal workpiece (21) and / or for storage of a product (22, 23) of sheet metal production ausgebil Deten workpiece carrier between spatially from each other separate functional units of a machine arrangement (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX) for sheet metal production is driven and the workpiece carrier is transferred between functional units with their mutual connection,

• where the functional units of the machine arrangement (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX) for sheet metal production are two production units (1, 2, 3) and in addition to the production units (1, 2, 3) a secondary function unit (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) are provided,

• the two production units (1, 2, 3) for sheet metal production are seen before and each have a production device for sheet metal production with a work area in which a workpiece carrier can be arranged in a production position and in which one is arranged in the production position Workpiece carrier stored sheet metal workpiece (21) for the production device (1, 2, 3) is accessible for sheet metal production and

The secondary functional unit (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) is not intended for sheet metal production and has a functional area in which the workpiece carrier can be arranged in a functional position, characterized in that as workpiece carrier a universal workpiece carrier (12) is provided, which is in the production position on the two production units (1, 2, 3) and also on the secondary functional unit (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) can be arranged in the functional position and that functional units of the machine arrangement (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX) for sheet metal production are linked to one another in that the universal workpiece carrier (12) is transferred between functional units by means of the transport unit (13, 14).

19. Workpiece carrier, designed as a universal workpiece carrier (12) of the machinellen arrangement (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX) according to one of claims 1 to 17 and / or for carrying out the method according to Claim 18.

20. Transport unit, designed as a transport unit (13, 14, 28) of the machine len arrangement (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX) according to one of claims 1 to 17 and / or for carrying out the Method according to claim 18.