WO2012159733A1

WO2012159733A1 - Annealing device and method for annealing plates of metal

Info

Publication number: WO2012159733A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/002165
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alfred LÖSCH
Original assignee: Thyssenkrupp System Engineering Gmbh
Priority date: 2011-05-26
Filing date: 2012-05-22
Publication date: 2012-11-29
Also published as: EP2714945A1; EP2714945B1; DE102011103269A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an annealing device for annealing plates of metal, said device comprising a heating device for heating the plates of metal and a balancing device for maintaining the plates of metal at a substantially constant temperature. The balancing device comprises a stack and transport mechanism for stacking the plates of metal heated in the heating device one on top of the other in the balancing device and for transporting the heated plates of metal through the balancing device in a vertical direction which is perpendicular to its main extension planes.

Description

DESCRIPTION

title

Annealing apparatus and method of annealing metal plates

PRIOR ART The present invention is based on an annealing device according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such annealing devices are well known and are commonly used to heat pre-treat metallic workpieces to obtain defined workpiece characteristics. In particular, in the production of formed components from high-strength aluminum workpieces, for example for use in the automotive sector, the strength of the aluminum workpieces can be temporarily reduced and thus the malleability of the aluminum workpieces can be improved by a previous annealing process. The workpiece is usually heated to a certain temperature, then solution-annealed by holding the workpiece to a certain holding temperature and finally cooled. Solution annealing serves to produce the desired chemical and physical processes in the workpiece caused by the holding temperature. In subsequent steps, the workpieces are punched, pressed, cut or the like depending on the application in any way.

Such a heat treatment of aluminum workpieces is known for example from the document DE 199 26 229 C1. The workpieces which are subjected to a heat treatment in the annealing apparatus are usually designed as comparatively large-area metal plates, particularly in the area of the automobile sector. For solution annealing, these metal plates must be maintained at the hold temperature for a predetermined hold time, which hold time depends, among other things, on the alloy composition of the metal plates. When using large-area metal plates made of high-strength aluminum, the metal plates must be kept at the holding temperature for a comparatively long holding time, whereby at a large number or a large throughput of treated to be treated

CONFIRMATION COPY An enormous amount of space is required for the solution annealing of metal plates. This results in undesirably long conveying paths between the individual processing points.

Disclosure of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide an annealing device and a method for annealing metal plates, in which a more efficient holding of the metal plates at a certain temperature with simultaneously significantly reduced space requirements, higher throughput and lower susceptibility to interference is made possible.

This object is achieved with an annealing device for annealing metal plates, which has a heating device for heating the metal plates and a compensating device for holding the metal plates at a substantially constant temperature, wherein the compensating device comprises a stacking and transporting mechanism for stacking the by means of the heating device heated metal plates in the compensating device and for transporting the warmed metal plates along a vertical direction perpendicular to their main extension planes vertical direction through the compensating device.

The device according to the invention has the advantage over the prior art that the metal plates in the compensating device can be stacked one above the other by the stacking and transport mechanism, so that the space requirement for the compensating device in the surface is significantly reduced. At the same time, the vertical transport of the metal plates through the compensating device ensures a correspondingly long residence time of the metal plates in the compensating device, so that the metal plates are kept at a substantially constant temperature for a predetermined holding time and thus the desired chemical and physical properties caused by the corresponding holding temperature. see events in the metal plates.

Preferably, the balancing device comprises a thermally insulated annealing container, in which the metal plates are stacked in the vertical direction by means of the stacking and transport mechanism and through which the metal plates are transported in the vertical direction by means of the stacking and transport mechanism. The metal plates preferably comprise an aluminum material. Advantageous embodiments and modifications of the invention are the dependent claims, as well as the description with reference to the drawings.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the compensation device is a passive compensation device and in particular without an active heater for holding the metal plates is formed at a substantially constant temperature. The equalizer is thus a passive device, i. the compensating device has no active heating means and hardly movable mechanical elements in the temperature-stressed area. The holding temperature is preferably introduced only by the warmed metal plates or optionally by preheated goods carriers in the annealing vessel.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the compensating device has an inlet opening for introducing the metal plates warmed up by the heating device into the compensating device and an outlet opening for outputting the metal plates from the compensating device transported by the balancing device by means of the stacking and transporting mechanism; wherein the outlet opening is arranged in particular along the vertical direction on a side of the compensating device opposite the inlet opening. This has the advantage that the metal plates are stacked one above the other by the successive introduction into the compensating device in the compensating device. In particular, it is thus possible that the metal plates pass through the compensating device in a continuous movement and thus a high throughput of metal plates is achieved in spite of reduced space requirement.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the stacking and transport mechanism is designed such that the metal plates are transported through the compensating device substantially antiparallel to the direction of the gravitational field of the earth. This has the advantage that the metal plates are transported essentially parallel to the heat flow in the compensating device. The by the

Warming device heated metal plates are in this case introduced into the arranged in the lower part of the compensating device inlet opening in the compensating device. The heat of these introduced into the compensating device metal plates rises in the balancing device upwards, so that by the movement of the metal plates upward as efficient as possible holding the metal plates at a substantially constant temperature, and the most homogeneous temperature distribution can be achieved in the balancing device. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the annealing device has a plurality of goods carriers, each goods carrier being respectively provided for receiving a metal plate and wherein preferably the goods carriers are at least temporarily so releasably coupled to the stacking and transport mechanism that the goods carrier stacked directly above each other by the stacking and transport mechanism along the vertical direction and transported by the balancing device. In an advantageous manner, the metal plates stacked one above the other in the compensating device do not rest directly on one another but are separated from one another by means of the goods carriers. The product carriers thus prevent the adjacent metal plates from sticking together. Preferably, the goods carrier act at least partially as a heat storage. The individual goods carriers are preferably stacked directly on top of each other. This has the advantage that a comparatively simple stacking and transport mechanism can be realized, since the goods carrier stack can be lifted as a whole and not every goods carrier has to be guided individually. The product carriers are optionally centered in a centering plane parallel to the main extension plane in the compensating device by means of centering rods. The centering rods are in particular vertically aligned and are formed konusformig at their lower ends for threading the goods carrier. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the alignment of the product carrier takes place through the walls of the annealing device and / or by means of interlocking centering on the goods carriers.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the stacking and transport mechanism has at least one lifting element for lifting a lowermost goods carrier located in the compensation device in the vertical direction, wherein the lever element preferably comprises a bolt protruding into the compensation device in a vertical direction. Advantageously, thus, a comparatively simple and reliable transport mechanism is realized in which only ever the lowermost goods carrier stack is raised. All stacked goods carriers are then inevitably also raised.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, provision is made for the stacking and transport mechanism to have locking elements for fixing a lower goods carrier located in the compensating device and lifted by means of the lifting element, the locking elements preferably projecting laterally into the compensating device parallel to the main extension plane. This has the advantage that the lifting element is returned to its original position for receiving a new product. carrier can be reduced without the tray stack lowers again. In this way, a quasi-continuous, ie in particular stepwise transport of the metal plates by the compensating device can be realized. The locking element are preferably resiliently biased in the direction of the respective goods carrier.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, provision is made for the goods carriers to have centering devices for the respective metal plates arranged on the goods carriers, which are preferably arranged on front sides of the goods carriers and which are particularly preferably in the form of inwardly folded tabs of the goods carrier , The centering provide advantageously for a precise placement of the metal plates on the goods carriers, so that a reliable and smooth transport of the metal plates is ensured by the balancing device. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, provision is made for the goods carriers to have support devices which preferably comprise bearing surfaces for the metal plate received in the direction of the respectively received metal plate, with the support surfaces particularly preferably in the form of beads introduced into the product carrier in the direction of the received metal plate are formed. The metal plates are thus preferably only in the area of support means on the goods carriers, so that the most homogeneous temperature distribution in the interior of the metal plates is not affected by the goods carrier and thus only a small or insignificant distortion of the metal plates. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the annealing device has a return device for returning the goods carriers from the outlet opening to the inlet opening outside the compensating device. The product carriers are preferably returned automatically to the entrance opening and are then ready to receive further coming from the warm-up metal plates.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the annealing device comprises a cooling device for cooling the metal plates warmed up by means of the heating device and held at a substantially constant temperature by means of the balancing device, the cooling device preferably having a first cooling die and a first cooling die in parallel to the vertical direction movable second cooling die comprises. The metal plates will be This in particular quenched and are then ready for further processing, for example in conventional pressing, punching and / or cutting tools. In this case, the first and second pressed parts preferably lie positively against an upper side and an underside of the metal plates, so that an as uniform as possible quenching of the entire metal plate is achieved and the distortion of the metal plate is thereby reduced. The first and second pressing part is preferably designed in each case as a steel plate.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the first and second cooling punches preferably have line elements for conducting a cooling liquid through the cooling device. Advantageously, an efficient cooling of the cooling dies is achieved by the cooling liquid which flows through the conduit element. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the cooling device comprises a spraying device for spraying a liquid onto the metal plate to be cooled, wherein the spraying device preferably has heatable nozzles, which are fed by means of a pump with liquid from a liquid container. For example, the metal plates can be oiled or guarded in this way by the Aufsprühvorrichtung.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the cooling device has a cutting device, which preferably comprises cutting blades which adjoin the cooling pistons, wherein the first and second cooling pistons are movable together relative to the cutting blades. The metal plates can thus be simultaneously trimmed in the cooling device to a size which is advantageous for the further treatment. Preferably, the metal plates are cooled, cut and oiled in only a single stroke of the cooling dies, so that advantageously a high throughput of metal plates is achieved.

A further subject of the present invention is a method for annealing metal plates with an annealing device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in a first method step metal plates are warmed up by means of the heating device and in a second method step the heated metal plates are held on a substantially constant surface by means of the equalizing device Be kept temperature, wherein the metal plates stacked by means of the stacking and transport device in the balancing device over each other and along the vertical direction through the Aus- same device to be transported. Advantageously, thus an efficient heat treatment of the metal plates is achieved with reduced space requirement and high throughput. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that in a first sub-step of the second process step, a metal plate is placed on a goods carrier, wherein in a second sub-step of the second process step, the goods carrier is introduced together with the metal plate through an input opening in the compensating device, wherein In a third sub-step of the second procedural step, the product carrier is transported together with the metal plate along the vertical direction through the compensating device, wherein a further product carrier is introduced together with a further metal carrier disposed on the other metal plate through the input opening in the balancing device and wherein a third sub-step of the second process step of the goods carrier is issued together with the metal plate through an exit opening, wherein the further goods carrier together with the we iteren metal plate along the vertical direction is transported by the balancing device. The metal plates are thus automatically stacked in the balancing device and simultaneously moved continuously through the compensating device. The goods carriers are preferably returned in a fourth process step from the exit opening by means of a return device outside the compensating device to the input opening.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that in the second method step by means of at least one lifting element only the lowermost located in the compensating device carrier is lifted directly and is fixed by means of locking elements in the raised position until a introduced through the input opening in the balancing device new product carrier is lifted from the at least one lifting element and raises the temporarily fixed in the raised position goods carrier and brings out of engagement with the locking elements. Advantageously, thus, a comparatively simple, cost-effective and störunanfälliger stacking and transport mechanism is realized because essentially always only the lowermost goods carrier is raised and thereby successively the entire goods carrier stack moves in the vertical direction through the compensating device. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that in a third method step, the metal plates are cooled by means of a cooling device and preferably sprayed and / or cut. Further details, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the drawings, as well as from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. The drawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments of the invention, which do not limit the essential idea of the invention.

In the drawings, there is shown a schematic sectional view of an annealing apparatus and method for annealing metal plates according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an equalizer of the annealing apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 12 is a schematic sectional view of stacked metal plates and goods carriers in the equalizer of the annealing apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 12 is a schematic sectional view and a schematic plan view of a product carrier of the annealing apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 12 is a schematic sectional view showing a cooling device of the glow device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 12 is a top view of an annealing apparatus and method of annealing metal plates according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

Embodiments of the invention In the various figures, the same parts are always provided with the same reference numerals and are therefore usually named or mentioned only once in each case. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an annealing apparatus 1 and a method of annealing metal plates 2 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The annealing device 1 has a warm-up device 3, in which in a first method step the metal plates 2 are warmed up. The metal plates 2 preferably comprise high-strength aluminum metal plates for motor vehicle production, in particular for the production of vehicle bodies. The metal plates

2 are sequentially transported by the warm-up device 3. The warm-up device

3 preferably comprises a coil into which the metal plates are pushed individually or stacked and removed again. As a result, a so-called longitudinal field heating is performed. Likewise, an oven with two induction coils 3 'is conceivable, wherein one of the induction coils 3' is arranged below the other and the other of the induction coils 3 'above the metal plate 2. The induction coils 3 'generate an electromagnetic alternating field, by means of which induction currents are induced in the metal plate 2 which is respectively arranged between the induction coils 3' and heat the metal plate 2. Alternatively, however, the use of other electrical or fuel-based heating methods for heating the metal plates 2 in the warm-up device 3 is conceivable. The metal plates 2 are preferably heated in the heating device 3 to a temperature of at least 350 ° Celsius.

The heated metal plates 2 are subsequently transported to a compensating device 4, for example by means of a first robot 30 (see FIG. 6). The compensating device 4 is provided for keeping the metal plates 2 at a substantially constant holding temperature for a specific holding time (also referred to as solution annealing) in a second method step in order to obtain the desired chemical and physical processes in the metal plates 2 caused by the holding temperature - testify. For this purpose, the metal plates 2 are stacked on top of one another in the compensating device 4 by means of a stacking and transport mechanism 5 of the compensating device 4 and are transported essentially stepwise through the compensating device 4. An exemplary embodiment of the stacking and transport mechanism 5 will be explained later with reference to FIG 3.

The compensating device 4 comprises a heat-insulated annealing vessel 4 'having an inlet opening 6 for introducing the metal plates 2 warmed up by means of the heating device 3 in the compensating device 4 and an output port 7 for outputting the metal plates 2 held by the compensating device 4 at a substantially constant temperature from the compensating device 4. The input opening 6 is arranged on an opposite side of the output opening 7 along a vertical direction 101, wherein the vertical direction 101 is aligned substantially anti-parallel to a gravitational field of the earth. In other words, the entrance port 6 is disposed in a lower portion of the annealing vessel 4 'while the exit port 7 is disposed in an upper portion of the annealing vessel 4', so that the metal plates 2 on the way from the entrance port 6 to the exit port 7 by means of Stacking and transport mechanism 5 in the vertical direction 101 and thus transported perpendicular to the main extension planes 100 of the individual metal plates 2. During this vertical transport, further metal plates 2 are led through the input port 6 into the annealing vessel 4 ', so that the metal plates 2 are stacked along the vertical direction 101. The compensating device 4 further has an inlet flap 31 for closing and opening the inlet opening 6 and an outlet flap 32 for closing and opening the outlet opening 7. In this case, the input flap 31 and the outlet flap 32 are preferably each controlled in such a way that they respectively open or close sequentially one after the other. In other words, at no time are both the inlet flap 31, and the outlet flap 32 open, so that the heat loss in the annealing vessel 4 'through the input and output ports 6, 7 is kept as low as possible.

The metal plates 2, which have been solution-annealed by means of the compensating device 4, are then transported, for example by means of a second robot 33 (see FIG. 6), to a cooling device 12 of the annealing device 1. In the cooling device 12, the metal plates 2 are cooled in a third process step and in particular quenched. For this purpose, the cooling device 12 comprises a first cooling plunger 14 and a second cooling plunger 15 movable relative to the first cooling plunger 14 parallel to the vertical direction 101. The first and second cooling plugs 14, 15 each have duct elements 17 through which a cooling fluid for cooling the first and second cooling plugs 17 Cooling stamp 14, 15 is promoted. In each case, a metal plate 2 is moved between the first and second cooling dies 14, 15, and then the second cooling die 15 is moved by means of hydraulic cylinders 34 against the first cooling die 14. As a result, the first cooling plunger 14 comes into abutment flatly with an upper side of the metal plate 2, while the second cooling plunger 14 comes into abutment flatly with an underside of the metal plate 2, so that the metal plate 2 is uniformly cooled or quenched from both sides. Subsequently, the metal plates 2 are preferably promptly for further processing, for example in not darges- shared conventional pressing, punching and / or cutting tools, further transported. According to a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the cooling device 12 simultaneously comprises a forming device for the respective metal plates 2, wherein the first and second cooling dies 14, 15 then act simultaneously as a press die, which in addition to the cooling and optional oiling for pressing and forming the metal plates 2 is provided. It is conceivable that a desired high ultimate strength of the machined metal plates 2 is achieved by a bake-hardening effect in later painting steps, Figure 2 shows a schematic sectional view of a compensating device 4 of the glow device 1 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention 4 has in the present example a plurality of reusable goods carriers 8 for receiving the metal plates 2. Each of the metal plates 2 coming from the warming device 3 is first arranged on its own goods carrier 8 and together with the goods carrier 8 through the input opening 6 into the annealing vessel The goods carrier 8 is coupled within the annealing container 4 'to the stacking and transport mechanism 5 and transported against the gravitational field in the vertical direction 101. Subsequently, the product carrier 8 is attached together with the goods carrier 8 rdneten metal plate 2 through the output port 7 from the annealing vessel 4 'output. The metal plate 2 is now lifted off the goods carrier 8 and transported further in the direction of the cooling device 12. The product carrier 8 is returned in a fourth process step for its reuse by means of a return device 11, for example by means of a third robot 40 (see FIG. 6), to the input opening 6 along a path 35 outside the annealing container 4 ', so that a further metal plate 2 is returned by means of this Carrier 8 through the annealing vessel 4 'is transportable. In order to be able to stack the goods carriers 8 in the annealing container 4 'in a controlled manner, additional centering rods, which ensure a stacking of the individual product carriers 8 substantially congruent to the vertical direction 101, are optionally located directly on the product carrier stack.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view of a stacking and transport mechanism 5 of the balancing device 4 of the glow device 1 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In the annealing vessel 4 ', a plurality of stacked metal plates 2 and goods carriers 8 are arranged. The stacking and transport mechanism 5 includes, for example, lateral locking elements 51, which are displaceably mounted along the main plane 100 between a locking position and a release position. Furthermore, the stacking and transport mechanism 5 Lifting elements 50 which project in the form of vertical bolts from below into the annealing vessel 4 'and are parallel and anti-parallel to the vertical direction 101 slidably. First, the lifting elements 50 are moved from their retracted starting position in the vertical direction 101 by at least one product carrier height, so that the lowermost goods carrier 8 is lifted directly by the lifting elements 50 by at least the product carrier height. As a result, all other goods carriers 8 stacked on the lowermost goods carrier 8 are indirectly raised in the vertical direction 101 as well. The goods carrier 8 are laterally centered by vertically extending centering rods 53, which are provided at its lower end with a cone for threading the goods carrier 8. The lowermost raised goods carrier 8 is now engaged and held in its lateral end regions 36 by the lateral locking elements 51, so that the lever elements 50 can be moved back into their retracted initial position counter to the vertical direction 101 without the goods carrier stack sinking again , The lateral locking elements 51 are thereby moved from the release position, in which goods carrier 8 between the locking elements 51 in the vertical direction 101, in the locking position, in which the raised bottom shelf 8 of the locking elements 51 at least with respect to a movement against the vertical direction 101 is fixed. It is conceivable that the locking elements 51 are resiliently biased into the locking position and are automatically transferred by appropriate guide obliquely 52 when booting a goods carrier 8 by means of lifting elements 50 and only briefly in the release position and automatically return to the locking position. The locking elements 51 are preferably biased toward each other along one direction. If the lifting elements 50 are again in their initial position, a new preheated and equipped with a metal plate 2 goods carrier 8 can be inserted laterally through the inlet opening 6 in the annealing vessel 4 '. In a subsequent step, this new article carrier 8 is now lifted by means of the lifting elements 50 again and engaged by the locking elements 51, while the previous goods carrier 8 is thereby transported in the vertical direction 101 and thereby 51 arrives out of engagement with the Verriegelungselemen-. It is conceivable that in each cycle, the uppermost in the annealing vessel 4 'located goods carrier 8 (not shown) by a lateral ejector slide laterally out of the annealing vessel 4' through the output port 7. Preferably, the ejection slide is actuated in each case during the downward movement or temporally before the lifting movement of the lifting elements 50. The stack height in the annealing vessel 4 'preferably depends on the respective holding and / or cycle time. A detailed view of the product carriers 8 is shown in FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view, as well as a schematic plan view of a goods carrier 8 of the glow device 1 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The product carrier 8 is produced by way of example from a embossing plate. In the sectional view, it can be seen that the metal plate 2 rests loosely on support devices 10 of the goods carrier 2. These support means 10 are formed by introduced into the embossing plate beads. The edges of the embossing plate are partially bent in the form of tabs inwards and thus form centering devices 9, through which the metal plate 2 is centered on the goods carrier 2 and secured against displacement parallel to the main extension plane 100 by means of positive locking. In the oversight illustration 8, the metal plate 2 is shown transparent for reasons of clarity. The bead image, the sheet thickness and the flat material of the goods carrier 8 are adapted to the required requirements, such as inherent rigidity, contact surface, heat capacity, weight and the like. The goods carriers 8 are further preferably formed as flat as possible in order to achieve a low stack height, so that possible lent many metal plates 2 in the annealing vessel 4 'are stackable. The goods carriers 8 are preferably coated in order to prevent adhesion of the metal plates 2 to the respective goods carrier 8. To reduce the weight of the goods carrier 8, the goods carriers 8 are optionally provided with recesses 36. It is conceivable that the product carrier 8 is designed such that it can be heated inductively and / or has a comparatively high heat capacity. In this way, the product carrier 8 can be preheated and / or act as a heat storage.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic sectional view of a cooling device 12 of the glow device 1 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The cooling device 12 comprises the first and second cooling punches 14, 15 already described with reference to FIG. 1. The cooling device 12 illustrated in FIG. 5 additionally has an optional cutting device 21, by means of which the metal plate 2 is simultaneously cut in the third method step. The cutting device 21 comprises on the cooling dies 14, 15 adjacent non-movable cutting blades, which are stationary relative to the two moving cooling dies 14, 15. After the second cooling plunger 15 has been moved in the direction of the first cooling plunger 14, so that the metal plate 2 rests positively between the first and second cooling plugs 14, 15 and is quenched, both cooling plungers 14, 15 move together in antiparallel to the vertical direction 101 between the two non-moving cutting blade so that those portions of the metal plate 2 which protrude laterally beyond the first and second cooling dies 14, 15 are separated from the cutting blades. The cutting device 21 optionally has upper cutting blades 41, which together with the first cooling die 15 moves in the direction of the cutting blade and thus ensure a clean cut. Optionally, the cutting device 21 further comprises scrapers 37, which are spring-mounted and serve to strip the cut-off areas of the remaining metal plate 2. The second cooling plunger 15 is preferably resiliently mounted in the vertical direction 101 via compression springs 38 such that the second cooling plunger 15 is pressed by the first cooling plunger 14 in the vertical direction 101 under the cutting edge of the cutting blade during the cutting process.

Optionally, the cooling device 12 further comprises a spraying device 18 for spraying liquid onto the metal plate 2. The Aufsprühvorrichtung 18 preferably has a plurality of heatable nozzles 19, which are at least partially integrated into the first cooling die 14. The nozzles 19 are fed via a supply line 39 with liquid from a liquid container 20, preferably an oil and / or wax container, from which the liquid is conveyed by means of a feed pump, not shown, to the nozzles 19. The Aufsprühvorrichtung 18 is preferably used for oiling and / or growth of the metal plate 2 during the third process step, in particular after the cutting process. The cooling, cutting and oiling of the metal plate 2 preferably takes place in a single lifting operation of the cooling device 12. FIG. 6 shows a schematic plan view of an annealing device 1 and a method for annealing metal plates 2 according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The described various workstations are shown again clearly in FIG. First, the metal plates 2 are warmed up in the warm-up device 3. Subsequently arranged by the first robot 30 on a goods carrier 8 and transferred together with the goods carrier 8 in the balancing device 4. In the compensating device 4, the goods carrier 8 is guided together with the metal plate 2 in the vertical direction through a passive annealing vessel 4 'and then output from the compensating device 4 again. A second robot 33 lifts the metal plate 2 from the goods carrier 8 and transfers the metal plate 2 into the cooling device 12, in which the metal plate 2 is cooled and optionally cut and / or oiled. Subsequently, the metal plate 2 is promptly transported to a further processing station 42, for example, a conventional pressing, punching and / or cutting tool station. In the meantime, the goods carrier 8 is returned between the warm-up device 3 and the compensation device 4 by a return device 11 designed in the form of a third robot 40. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 annealing device

2 metal plate

3 warm-up device

3 'induction coil

4 equalizing device

4 'annealing tank

5 stacking and transport mechanism

6 entrance opening

7 outlet opening

8 goods carriers

9 centering device

10 support device

1 1 return device

12 cooling device

14 First cooling stamp

15 Second cooling stamp.

18 spraying device

19 nozzle

20 liquid containers

21 cutting device

30 First robot

31 entrance flap

32 outlet flap

33 Second robot

34 hydraulic cylinders

35 way

36 Lateral end area

37 scrapers

38 compression spring

39 supply line

40 Third robot

41 Upper cutting blade

42 postprocessing station

50 lifting elements

51 locking elements Guide bevels Centering rods

Main extension plane Vertical direction

Claims

An annealing apparatus (1) for annealing metal plates (2) comprising a heating device (3) for heating the metal plates (2) and a compensating device (4) for holding the metal plates (2) at a substantially constant temperature, characterized in that the compensating device (4) has a stacking and transporting mechanism (5) for stacking the metal plates (2) warmed up by the heating device (3) in the compensating device (4) and for transporting the heated metal plates (2) along one of the main extension planes (100) the metal plates (2) has a substantially vertical vertical direction (101) through the compensating device (4).

An annealing apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the equalizer (4) is a passive equalizer (4), and in particular is formed without an active heater for holding the metal plates (2) at a substantially constant temperature.

3. annealing device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the compensating device (4) has an inlet opening (6) for introducing the means of the warming device (3) warmed metal plates (2) in the balancing device (4) and an output port (7) for Outputting the metal plates (2) transported by the stacking and transport mechanism (5) out of the compensating device (4), the outlet opening (7) being along the vertical direction (101) on one of the inlet openings (6) opposite side of the compensating device (4) is arranged.

4. An annealing device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stacking and transporting mechanism (5) is formed such that the metal plates (2) are transported substantially in anti-parallel to the direction of the gravitational field of the earth by the balancing device (4).

5. An annealing device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the annealing device (1) comprises a plurality of goods carriers (8), wherein each product carrier (8) respectively for receiving a metal plate (2) is provided and wherein preferably the goods carrier (8 ) at least temporarily so releasably coupled to the stacking and transport mechanism (5) that the goods carrier (8) by means of the stacking and transport mechanism (5) along the vertical direction (101) are stacked directly above one another and transported by the compensating device (4).

An annealing apparatus (1) according to claim 5, wherein the stacking and transporting mechanism (5) comprises at least one lifting member (50) for lifting a lowermost goods carrier (8) located in the equalizer (4) in the vertical direction (101), the lever member (50) preferably in the vertical direction (101) in the compensating device (4) protruding bolt encompassed.

An annealing device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the stacking and transport mechanism (5) has locking elements (51) for fixing a lowermost goods carrier (8) located in the compensating device (4) and raised by means of the lifting element (5), the locking elements ( 51) preferably laterally parallel to the main extension plane (100) in the compensating device (4) protrude.

Annealing device (1) according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the goods carriers (8) centering means (9) for centering the respectively on the goods carriers (8) arranged metal plates (2), which are preferably arranged on end sides of the product carrier (8) and which are particularly preferably in the form of inwardly bent tabs of the product carrier (8) are formed.

Annealing device (1) according to one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the goods carriers (8) support means (10), which preferably in the direction of the respectively received metal plate (2) projecting support surfaces for the received metal plate (2), wherein particularly preferably Support surfaces in the form of in the direction of the received metal plate (2) in the goods carrier (8) introduced beads are formed.

Annealing device (1) according to one of claims 5 to 6, wherein the annealing device (1) has a return device (11) for the return transport of the goods carrier (8) from the outlet opening (7) to the inlet opening (6) outside the compensating device (4).

1. An annealing device according to claim 1, wherein the annealing device has a cooling device for cooling the metal plates ( 2), wherein the cooling device (12) preferably comprises a first cooling punch (14) and a second cooling punch (15) movable relative to the first cooling punch (14) parallel to the vertical direction (101).

12. An annealing device (1) according to claim 12, wherein the first and the second cooling plunger (14, 15) preferably line elements (17) for conducting a cooling liquid through the cooling device (12).

13. An annealing device (1) according to any one of claims 11 or 12, wherein cooling device (12) is designed as a forming device, wherein the first and second cooling dies (14, 15) are preferably designed as a press die

14. annealing device (1) according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the cooling device (12) has a Aufsprühvorrichtung (18) for spraying a liquid on the metal plates (2), wherein the Aufsprühvorrichtung (18) preferably heated nozzles (19) , which are fed by means of a pump with liquid from a liquid container (20).

15. annealing device (1) according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the cooling device (12) comprises a cutting device (21), which preferably to the cooling punch (14, 15) adjacent cutting blade (22), wherein the first and second cooling punch (14, 15) are movable together with respect to the cutting blades (22).

16. A method for annealing metal plates (2) with an annealing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in a first process step metal plates (2) by means of the heating device (3) are warmed and wherein in a second process step, the warmed metal plates (2 ) are held at a substantially constant temperature by means of the compensating device (4), characterized in that the metal plates (2) are stacked on top of one another in the compensating device (4) by means of the stacking and transporting device (5) and along the vertical direction (101) be transported through the compensating device (4). The method of claim 16, wherein in a first sub-step of the second method step, a metal plate (2) on a product carrier (8) is arranged, wherein in a second sub-step of the second process step of the goods carrier (8) together with the metal plate (2) through an input port (6) is introduced into the compensating device (4), wherein in a third sub-step of the second method step, the goods carrier (2) together with the metal plate (2) along the vertical direction (101) by the compensating device (4) is transported, wherein a another product carrier (8) together with a further metal support (8) arranged on the other metal plate (2) through the input opening (6) is introduced into the compensating device (4) and wherein in a third step of the second process step of the goods carrier (8) together with the metal plate (2) through an output opening (7) is output, wherein the further goods carrier (2) is transported together with the other metal plate (2) along the vertical direction (101) by the balancing device (4).

Method according to one of claims 16 or 17, wherein in the second method step by means of at least one lifting element (50) only the lowest located in the compensating device (5) goods carrier (8) is raised directly and fixed by means of locking elements (51) in the raised position is raised until a through the input opening (6) in the balancing device (5) new goods carrier (8) of the at least one lifting element (50) and the temporarily fixed in the raised position goods carrier (8) and disengaged from the Locking elements (51) brings.

Method according to one of claims 16 to 18, wherein in a third method step, the metal plates (2) are cooled by means of a cooling device (12) and preferably sprayed, cut and / or reshaped.

Method according to one of claims 16 to 19, wherein in a fourth method step, the goods carriers (2) from the outlet opening (7) by means of a return device (11) outside the compensating device (4) to the input opening (6) are returned.