Unloading processed sheet metal workpieces from a support

摘要

Workpieces are unloaded from a workpiece support of a sheet metal workpiece processing apparatus by positioning a blank sheet metal workpiece over a processed workpiece supported on a workpiece support, with the blank workpiece releasably held by a workpiece loader, activating a workpiece fixing device to engage an edge of the processed workpiece, and performing a relative sweeping movement between the workpiece fixing device and the workpiece support whereby the engaged processed workpiece is prevented from remaining on the workpiece support and is thereby unloaded. The workpiece fixing device is moved relative to the processed workpiece while the blank sheet metal workpiece is positioned over the processed workpiece.

主权项

1. A sheet metal workpiece processing apparatus comprising:
a workpiece support on which a sheet metal workpiece is supported during a processing operation and that is movable in a horizontal movement direction; a processed metal sheet pallet configured to be arranged below the workpiece support and to be passed over by the workpiece support moving in the horizontal movement direction; a metal sheet loader with a workpiece holder provided with holding elements that are configured to releasably hold a blank metal sheet, the workpiece holder being movable in a driven manner relative to the workpiece support with a loading movement while the holding elements are holding the blank metal sheet, such that the loading movement supplies the held workpiece to the workpiece support; and an unloading device comprising a workpiece sweeper with a workpiece fixing device connected to the workpiece holder of the loader; wherein the workpiece fixing device of the unloading device is movable with a positioning movement into a sweeping position, the positioning movement being performed by a movement of the workpiece holder of the loader; wherein the workpiece fixing device of the unloading device has a fixing member in the form of a stop which, in the sweeping position of the workpiece fixing device of the unloading device, is movable in a vertical direction between a non-operational position and an operational position, wherein the workpiece support is movable in the horizontal movement direction relative to the workpiece fixing device of the unloading device, with the processed metal sheet pallet arranged below the workpiece support, while the workpiece fixing device of the unloading device is in the sweeping position; and wherein the stop of the workpiece fixing device of the unloading device is, in the operational position, positioned to abut an edge of the processed metal sheet supported on the workpiece support, such that subsequent movement of the workpiece support in the horizontal movement direction relative to the stop, in the operational position, of the workpiece fixing device of the unloading device sweeps the abutted processed metal sheet from the workpiece support with a sweeping movement, the processed metal sheet thus reaching the processed metal sheet pallet arranged below the workpiece support.