Patent Publication Number: US-2021187581-A1

Title: Apparatus for notching, and punching system

Description:
The present invention relates to an apparatus for notching and to a punching system. 
     Notching presses are employed for producing rotor and stator sheets for electric motors and generators, for example. In small-batch series or due to large sheet diameters, production in a compound die is not profitable owing to the costs. Therefore, the sheets are produced in several punching processes with a single notching punch, the so-called single notching. 
     Notching presses are configured as C frame punch presses. The punch presses have an electrical speed-regulated main drive driving a flywheel and transmitting the force to the mechanical drive components and eventually the plunger via a coupling/brake combination. The backwardly protruding section of the C frame of these machines is used for accommodating the main drive and the further drive elements for force transmission. 
     DE 195 37 475 A1 discloses a notching press having a C frame. 
     It is the object of the present invention to provide improved apparatus for notching and an improved punching system. 
     This object is achieved by apparatus for notching and a punching system in accordance with the main claims. 
     The apparatus for notching comprises an archway-shaped, according to one embodiment O-shaped frame. Such a frame has a series of advantages, for example with respect to the usable tools, the workpieces to be machined or the possibilities of automation. 
     A corresponding apparatus for notching comprises: 
     a frame with a first stand, a second stand and a headpiece, wherein the stands are arranged to be offset from each other along an x axis; and 
     a plunger, which is coupled to the headpiece and is movable along a punching axis extending along a y axis. 
     The apparatus for notching is also referred to as a notching press, punching press or machine. The apparatus may serve as a replacement for known notching presses. For example, the apparatus may be employed for producing stator and rotor sheets for electric machines. The frame may be anchored safely to the ground during assembly of the apparatus. To this end, the stands may be connected to the ground or alternatively to an optional table frame in the assembled state of the apparatus. The stands may be formed to be pillar-shaped. The stands may be formed to be straight or curved. The headpiece may represent a connection between the first stand and the second stand. For example, the headpiece may connect free ends of the stands facing away from the ground. The headpiece may be formed to be straight or curved. The stands and the headpiece may represent portions of the frame in the operational state of the apparatus. The stands and the headpiece may be formed as a separate parts connected to form the frame. As an alternative, the frame may comprise one or more parts which may be associated both with a stand and with the headpiece. Thus, the frame may also be formed to be integral, for example as a so-called mono block. The stands and the headpiece form archway surrounding a workspace. The plunger may be moved back and forth linearly along the punching axis. An end of the plunger facing away from the headpiece may comprise or accommodate a tool for punching a notch into a workpiece. 
     The apparatus may comprise an indexing head for accommodating a workpiece to be machined. The indexing head may be configured to rotate the workpiece about an indexing head axis oriented along the y axis, wherein the indexing head axis and the punching axis are arranged to be offset from each other along a z axis. 
     The indexing head may be connected to the frame or to the ground in the assembled state of the apparatus. The indexing head may be a device as is already employed in known notching presses. The indexing head may comprise means for holding the workpiece and for rotating the workpiece around the indexing head axis. A plane passing through the indexing head axis and the punching axis may be oriented in a transverse or at least slant manner with respect to a longitudinal axis of extension of the headpiece. The x, y and z axes may be oriented at least transversely, in particular orthogonally, with respect to each other. Thereby, the workspace extending in parallel to and x-y plane may be spanned by the frame. The indexing head axis may be arranged abeam with respect to the x-y plane and outside the workspace. Advantageously, the workpiece, for example sheet metal to be machined, may be moved transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of extension of the headpiece when being supplied to the apparatus or when being removed from the apparatus. 
     Thus, the indexing head may be configured to the workpiece along the z axis. The movement axis may extend transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of extension of the headpiece. This allows for moving the workpiece the workspace surrounded by the frame along a longitudinal movement axis extending between the stands. Additionally or alternatively, the indexing head may be configured to move the workpiece along the x axis. This allows for moving the workpiece at first along the z axis and then along the x axis for further machining or simultaneously along the z axis and the x axis, for example. 
     The frame may comprise a table frame connecting the first stand and the second stand. The headpiece and the table frame may be arranged offset from each other along the y axis. Stability of the apparatus can be enhanced by means of the table frame. As already explained, the frame may be formed in one piece or as multiple pieces. 
     The apparatus may comprise a drive for driving the plunger. The drive may comprise an electric motor arranged on the headpiece for driving an eccentric coupled to the plunger. 
     For example, the plunger may be coupled to the eccentric via a connecting rod. Advantageously, reciprocating movement of the plunger can be realized using the electric motor. 
     The apparatus may comprise an electrical direct drive for driving the plunger. 
     Advantageously, such a direct drive may be arranged directly in the headpiece. The direct drive may be realized using few components and allows for very precise movement of the plunger. 
     The apparatus may comprise an upper tool part and a lower tool part. The upper tool part may be attached to a free end of the plunger. The lower tool part may be attached to a table plate coupled to the frame opposite to the upper tool part. The tool parts may be used corresponding to known notching presses to punch a notch in the workpiece. To this end, the upper tool part may be pressed in the direction of the workpiece against the workpiece through movement of the plunger. 
     The plunger may be movable to a top reversal point, for example a top dead center, at which the upper tool part and the lower tool part are spaced apart from each other without overlap. Thereby, a continuous and linear gap for completely feeding the workpiece through between the upper tool part and the lower tool part along with the z axis can be produced along the entire width of the workpiece along the x axis. Thus, the gap may not only extend across a subsection of the tool parts, but continuously across the next higher extension of the tool parts. Advantageously, the plunger may be moved to the top reversal point prior to the beginning of machining the workpiece and additionally or alternatively following completion of machining the workpiece. This allows for feeding the workpiece along the gap completely through the workspace surrounded by the frame. For example, the workpiece may be supplied from one side of the frame and may be removed from the other side of the frame. This is particularly advantageous in the context of an automated punching system. A tool part may hear be a tool in itself or a combination of a tool and a tool frame holding the tool. 
     A punching system comprises: 
     a providing unit for providing an unmachined workpiece; 
     an apparatus as mentioned, which is configured to punch at least one notch into the unmachined workpiece, in order to obtain at least one machined workpiece; 
     a repository for depositing the machined workpiece; and 
     a moving unit configured to move the unmachined workpiece from the providing unit to the apparatus and to move the machined workpiece from the apparatus to the repository. 
     The providing unit may be a known device capable of accommodating a stack of unmachined workpieces or an unmachined workpiece, for example. The repository may be a known device capable of accommodating a stack or a machined workpiece. The over may be configured to pick up the unmachined workpiece from the providing unit and deposit it on the indexing head of the apparatus. Furthermore, the moving unit may be configured to pick up the machined workpiece from the indexing head and deposit it on the repository. The moving unit may comprise one or more units, which may also be arranged separately from each other, for example on different sides of the frame of the apparatus. 
     For example, the moving unit of the punching system may comprise a rotational movement axis oriented along the y direction. The moving unit may correspondingly be configured to perform at first rotational movement about the rotational movement axis for moving the unmachined workpiece to the apparatus and a second rotational movement about the rotational movement axis for moving the machined workpiece to the repository. The first rotational movement and the second rotational movement may have the same rotational direction. In this way, the providing unit, the apparatus and the repository may be arranged strung along a circular path. 
     As an alternative, the moving unit may comprise a longitudinal movement axis oriented along the z direction. The moving unit may be configured to perform a first movement along the longitudinal movement axis for moving the unmachined workpiece to the apparatus and additionally or alternatively a second movement along the longitudinal movement axis for moving the machined workpiece to the repository. The first movement and the second movement may have the same direction. In this way, the providing unit, the apparatus and the repository may be arranged strung along a line, wherein the apparatus may be arranged between the providing unit and the repository. In this case, the workpiece may be moved completely through the workspace defined by the frame of the apparatus. 
    
    
     
       Preferred embodiments of the present invention shall be explained in greater detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic illustration of an apparatus for notching according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  a sectional view of an apparatus for notching according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  a machined workpiece according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  an illustration of a frame of an apparatus for notching according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  a schematic illustration of a drive according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  a schematic illustration of a tool cartridge according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  a schematic illustration of a tool cartridge according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  a machined workpiece according to an embodiment; and 
         FIG. 9  a schematic illustration of a punching system according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     In the subsequent description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the same or similar reference numerals shall be used for the similarly functioning elements illustrated in the various figures, wherein repeated description of these elements shall be omitted. 
       FIG. 1  shows a schematic illustration of an apparatus  100  for notching according to an embodiment. The apparatus  100  is used to machine a workpiece  102 . The apparatus  100  comprises a frame including at least a first stand  104 , a headpiece  106  and a second stand  108 . Optionally, the frame includes a table frame  110 . In the assembled state of the apparatus  100 , for example, the frame is mounted to the ground  112  of a production hall. The frame may be formed in one piece or as several pieces. Thus, the stands  104 ,  108 , the headpiece  106  and the optional table frame  110  may, for example, represent separate components connected to form the frame or only representing portions of the frame, which may also be formed as a mono block, for example. 
     According to an embodiment, the stands  104 ,  108  have a main direction of extension along a y axis, and the headpiece  106  has a main direction of extension along an x axis of an orthogonal coordinate system. The headpiece  106  spans a gap between the stands  104 ,  108 , which are arranged offset from each other along the x axis according to this embodiment. The frame thus forms a gateway, or a window together with the table frame  110 , enclosing a workspace. A main plane of extension of the workspace, also referred to as workspace plane, extends in parallel to the x-y plane. Thus, the workspace is limited laterally by the stands  104 ,  108 , upwardly by the headpiece  106  and downwardly by the ground  112  or the table frame  110 . 
     The apparatus  100  includes a plunger  114  which can be moved back and forth, here the up and down, along a punching axis  116 . The plunger  114  is coupled to the headpiece  106 . The plunger  114  may be driven by a drive  118 . According to an embodiment, the drive  118  is arranged on the headpiece  106  and configured as a direct drive, for example. 
     The apparatus  100  optionally comprises an indexing head  120 . The indexing head  120  is connected to the frame or to the ground  112 , for example. For example, the indexing head  120  is supported by the stands  104 ,  106  or the table frame  110 . The indexing head  120  is configured to pick up the workpiece to be machined and hold it during a punching process. Furthermore, the indexing head  120  is configured to rotate the workpiece  102  about an indexing head axis  122 . To this end, the indexing head  120  exemplarily comprises suitable rotation means, for example in the form of an electric motor. The indexing head axis  122  is oriented along the y axis and offset from the punching axis  116 . According to this embodiment, the indexing head axis  122  and the punching axis  116  are offset along the z axis. According to an embodiment, a plane including the indexing head axis  122  and the punching axis  116  extends in parallel to a y-z plane. 
     According to an embodiment, the apparatus  100  comprises means  124  for moving the workpiece  102  or of the entire indexing head  120  transversally to the workspace plane, here for moving along the z axis. In this way, a center of the workpiece  102  may be moved to and/or away from the workspace. Here, a distance between the indexing head axis  122  and the punching axis  116  may be changed. According to an embodiment, the means  124  or other means is configured to additionally or alternatively move the workpiece  102  or the entire indexing head  120  along the x axis. 
     According to an embodiment, using the indexing head  120  or using other moving means, the workpiece  102  may be moved so that the entire workpiece  102  is moved completely through the workspace opened up by the frame. Here, the center of the workpiece  102  is also moved through the entire workspace. 
     According to an embodiment, an upper tool part is arranged on the free end of the plunger  114 , here the end facing the table frame  110 , and a lower tool part is arranged on a side of the workpiece  102  facing away from the plunger  114 . For example, the lower tool part is arranged on a table plate of the apparatus  100  coupled to the frame. By moving the plunger  114  along the punching axis  116  in the direction of the table frame  110 , a notch can be produced in the workpiece  102  using the upper tool part and the lower tool part. 
     The tool parts may be tool parts as already employed in notching presses. Together with the lower tool part, the upper tool part may form a tool cartridge. 
     According to an embodiment, in a so-called upstroke, the plunger  114  may be moved so far to a top reversal point that continuous gap through which the workpiece, which is the unmachined workpiece and/or the machined workpiece, and particularly also a center of the workpiece can be moved forms between the upper tool part and the lower tool part. Thus, the gap may extend along a plane extending transversely to the y axis. To this end, the upper tool part at the lower tool part are arranged to be spaced from each other without overlap. Without overlap can be understood to mean that the tool parts may be moved relative to each other along the z axis and along the x axis without the tool parts coming into contact with each other. When the plunger  114  is at the top reversal point, an end of the upper tool part facing away from the headpiece  106  is arranged more closely to the headpiece  106  than an end of the lower tool part facing the headpiece  106 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a sectional view of an apparatus  100  for notching according to an embodiment. It may be a section through the apparatus described on the basis of  FIG. 1  along a sectional plane extending in parallel to the x-z plane. 
     What is shown of the apparatus  100  is a section through the first stand  104  and the second stand  108  as well as a top view onto the table frame  110 . Moreover, an upper tool frame of an upper tool part  230  of the apparatus  100  is shown. The upper tool part  230  is movable along the punching axis  116  described on the basis of  FIG. 1 . The upper tool part  230  exemplarily comprises two through-holes serving as tool guides  232 . 
     The workpiece  102 , also referred to as sheet  102  in the following, is shown at two positions. The unmachined workpiece  102 , which is supplied to the apparatus  100  by means of a first movement  234  and is placed on the indexing head of the apparatus  100  described on the basis of  FIG. 1 , for example, is shown at the position illustrated the top in  FIG. 2 . The first movement  234  corresponds to a loading of the apparatus  100 . Correspondingly, the workpiece  102  is shown at a second position illustrated at the bottom  FIG. 2 . At the second position, the workpiece  102  may be machined. Following machining, the machined workpiece is moved away from the apparatus  100  by means of a second movement  236 . The second movement  236  corresponds to an unloading of the apparatus  100 . 
     The first movement  234  and the second movement  236  are in alignment with each other. The movements  234 ,  236  extend along a longitudinal movement axis extending along the z axis. Thus, the workpiece  102  is guided completely through the workspace opened up by the frame of the apparatus  100 . In particular, a center  238  of the workpiece  102  is guided through between the first stand  104  and the second stand  108 . As can be seen from  FIG. 2 , the longitudinal movement axis is oriented orthogonally with respect to a main direction of extension of the table frame  110  and thus of the headpiece. 
     A hatched area of the workpiece  102  shown at the second position represents a region in which there is space for a sucker or grabber when removing the workpiece  102 . Since the workpiece  102  is removed parallel to the z axis, the region also extends into a section between the upper tool part  230  and the stands  104 ,  106 . 
     The workpiece  102  is exemplarily shown as a round sheet  102 . Alternatively, a differently shaped, for example rectangular blank  240  may be machined correspondingly. 
     According to an embodiment, the apparatus  100  is realized as a machine which may either be a manual loading machine or a machine. In manual loading machines, the workpieces  102 , here for example sheets  102 , are manually loaded and removed again. According to an embodiment, when rotor and stator are separated during punching, it is very challenging to remove the stator sheet again from the machine without damage, because the back of the sheets  102  may be very thin after the completed notching, as shown in  FIG. 3 , for example, and the sheets  102  may thus lack stability and hence cannot be removed manually without deformation. In case of an automated solution, it is important to position the removing grabbers so as to be uniformly distributed across the back of the sheet. 
     Realizing the apparatus  100  as a notching press with an O frame results in a number of advantages. The possible depth or outreach of the tools including the tool guides  232  arranged on the outside and the possibility of including notches distant from the outer diameter are unlimited. Moreover, the tool may be installed from behind. When installing the tool along the z axis, a support table for the workpiece  102  is not in the way. In the case of the O frame, the deflection of the punch press is symmetrical and thus unproblematic due to the very small cutting clearance of the tools. Furthermore, not only round blanks can be punched. Thus, the workpieces do not have to be precut correspondingly, whereby an additional machining step may be omitted. Moreover, in the case of automation, the sheets  102  can be removed and supplied both from the front and from the back, because the sheet  102  can be moved laterally out of the tool due to the construction of the sheet grabbers. The possible loading and unloading in the same direction saves a lot of time. If the sheets  102  are removed laterally from the machine, grabbers may be installed in the top region. Thereby, the sheet  102  stays stable when transported and cannot deform plastically. 
     According to an embodiment, these advantages are obtained when the machine frame is realized as an O frame, optionally comprising a drive concept based on a direct drive. 
     According to an embodiment, the machine frame is constructed as an O frame. Here, the “O” is formed by the stands  104 ,  108 , the headpiece  106  and the table frame  110 . Optionally, a drive directly driving the plunger centrally arranged in the machine frame is employed. According to an embodiment, the depth of the frame is made as small as possible, in order to achieve good accessibility for manual feeding as well as short paths for automation. The width of the frame may be adapted continuously to the maximum sheet diameter. The correspondingly further outreach of a rectangular sheet  240  may also be adapted to without any problems. Owing to the O frame, the deflection of the machine still remains symmetrical, which has a positive effect on the service life and the quality of the cut. 
     The tool can be installed and dismantled in a very simple and well accessible manner on the backside of the machine. 
     A further advantage consists in the simple possibility of automation, because a punched sheet  102  can be removed to the front, and at the same time a new sheet  102  can be supplied from behind in one direction. The ancillary times of the automation are reduced considerably, and thereby the turnout is increased considerably. This is illustrated on the basis of the loading and unloading concept of a notching press with an O frame shown in  FIG. 2 , wherein processing rectangular blanks  240  is also possible with the concept of the O frame. 
       FIG. 3  shows a schematic diagram of a machine workpiece in form of a stator  302  or stator sheet according to an embodiment. What is shown is a portion of a back of the stator  302 . For example, the stator  302  may have been punched by the apparatus described on the basis of the preceding figures. 
       FIG. 4  shows an illustration of a frame of an apparatus for notching according to an embodiment. It may be an embodiment of the frame described on the basis of  FIG. 1 . The frame represents a machine frame realized as an O frame. 
     The frame includes the first stand  104 , the headpiece  106 , the second stand  108  and the table frame  110 . Two rails  450  for guiding the indexing head and a table plate  452  for the lower tool are arranged on a side of the table frame  110  facing the headpiece  106 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a schematic illustration of a drive  118  for an apparatus for notching according to an embodiment. It may be an embodiment of the drive shown on the basis of  FIG. 1 . 
     The drive  118  is realized as a direct drive and includes an electric motor  560  with a rotor  562  and a stator  564  and an eccentric shaft  566  having an eccentric  568  and drivable by the electric motor  560 . According to this embodiment, the eccentric shaft  566  is connected directly to the rotor  562 . The eccentric  568  is coupled to a connecting rod  570  via bearing  572  for the connecting rod  570 . The connecting rod  570  is coupled to the plunger shown in  FIG. 1 , for example, in the operational state of the apparatus. 
     Optionally, the drive  118  comprises a housing  574 , and the eccentric shaft  566  is attached to the housing  574  via a bearing  576  of the housing  574 . For example, the housing  574  encloses the electric motor  560 . 
     The drive  118  may be arranged on the headpiece of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  or integrated into the headpiece. 
     According to an embodiment, the drive  118  represents a main drive of the apparatus and is realized as a direct drive with the electric motor  560  in form of a torque motor. Here, dynamic balancing of masses may be provided. 
     Due to the direct drive and a corresponding design of the drive  118 , at a very high stroke rate, the main drive may be operated in pendular operation. The plunger stroke may be adjusted freely, and thereby both the freedom of movement of the tool and the interaction between main drive and indexing head may be programmed and optimized depending on the process. 
     For example, if the speed of the indexing head is the limiting factor, the main drive may operate at higher dynamics in shorter time so as to give the indexing head more time. This optimization may also be applied vice versa. Due to the pendular motion and the lower plunger stroke, the impact velocity may be reduced significantly, which is very advantageous for the service life of the tools. 
     Advantageously, no additional axis is needed for the upstroke, which can be realized simply by suitable positioning, i.e. by stopping at the top dead center. 
     The drive  118  in form of a drive unit optionally is mounted in the separate housing  574  and may be dismounted very easily from the basic frame of the apparatus for purposes of maintenance or replacement. 
     Another advantage in connection with the O frame and a concept of automation in which the workpiece is moved through the apparatus consists in the fact that during the pendular motion correspondingly constructed guides of the tool may remain engaged and are separated from each other only during the upstroke, so that enough space for feeding the workpiece through the apparatus is obtained. 
       FIG. 6  shows a schematic illustration of a tool cartridge for an apparatus for notching according to an embodiment. The tool cartridge includes an upper tool part  230  and a lower tool part  630 . In the assembled state, for example, the upper tool part  230  is attached to the free end of the plunger shown in  FIG. 1 , and the lower tool part  630  is attached to the table plate shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     The upper tool part  230  includes at least one, here exemplarily two upper guiding elements  632 . The lower tool part  630  includes at least one, here exemplarily two lower guiding elements  634 . The upper guiding elements  632  and the lower guiding elements  634  each comprise guiding faces along which the mutually corresponding guiding elements  632 ,  634  may slide along each other when the upper tool part  230  is moved along the punching axis  116 . 
     During a punching process, the upper tool part  230  performs a punching stroke, for example in form of a pendular stroke if using a direct drive. The lengths of the guiding faces with respect to the direction of the punching axis  116  are chosen so that a guiding length  636  at least corresponds to the maximum punching stroke. In this way, the parts are guided safely by the guiding elements  632 ,  634  during the punching process. 
     According to an embodiment, the guiding elements  632 ,  634  are removably connected to the tool parts  230 ,  630  and may be removed following the installation of the tool cartridge in the apparatus for notching. This facilitates moving the workpiece through between the tool parts  230 ,  630 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a schematic illustration of the tool cartridge described on the basis of  FIG. 6  for apparatus for notching according to an embodiment. 
     The tool cartridge is shown in an upstroke, in which the upper tool part  230  has been moved further away from the lower tool part  630  along the punching axis  116  than in a punching process, in order to enable supplying or removing a workpiece  102 . 
     The upper guiding faces  732  of the upper guiding elements  632  and the lower guiding faces  734  of the lower guiding elements  634  are provided with reference numerals in  FIG. 7 . 
     During the upstroke, the upper tool part  230  may have a maximum stroke  734 . Thus, the tool cartridge may be maximally open. 
     According to an embodiment, the plunger is moved so far to a top reversal point, for example the top dead center, that the guiding elements  632 ,  634  no longer overlap and a continuous gap greater than a thickness of the workpiece  102  is formed between the tool parts  230 ,  630 . When the workpiece is guided through between the tool parts  230 ,  630 , the upper tool part  230  is completely above the workpiece  102  and the lower tool part  630  is completely below the same. 
     If a direct drive is employed for driving the plunger, due to pendular motion, movement during the punching can be only in the lower region of the guiding elements  632 ,  634  shaped as guides, which is where the suitably constructed guiding elements  632 ,  634  always remain immersed and ensure the necessary guidance for the small cutting clearances. Following completion of the punching process, according to an embodiment, the plunger is moved to the top dead center, which corresponds to the upstroke. Thereby, the guiding elements  632 ,  634  are moved apart so that the apparatus can be loaded from behind passing above and below the separated guiding elements  632 ,  634  when using an O frame. 
     The tool cartridge as shown thus is provided with guides  632 ,  634 ,  732 ,  734  that ensure exact guidance with little tool travel, e.g. in a pendular motion, and can be separated from each other in an upstroke so that there is sufficient clearance to feed parts, such as the workpiece  102 , to the apparatus between the separated tool parts  230 ,  630  and between the guiding elements  632 ,  634 , as shown on the basis of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a machined workpiece  802  according to an embodiment, produced from an unmachined workpiece using the apparatus described on the basis of  FIG. 1 , for example. The workpiece  802  is a circular sheet into which through-holes have been punched. The through-holes here are arranged along an outer ring and optionally along inner ring. According to this embodiment, the through-holes along the inner ring only serve as air holes. According to an embodiment, the workpiece  802  is a sheet produced by means of intermittent punching. 
       FIG. 9  shows a schematic illustration of a punching system  900  according to an embodiment. The punching system  900  is used to machine an unmachined workpiece by an apparatus  100  for notching, for example an apparatus as is described on the basis of the preceding figures, so as to obtain a machined workpiece, consisting of a stator and a rotor according to this embodiment. 
     Apart from the apparatus  100 , the punching system  900  includes a providing unit  910 , optionally an aligner  912  for aligning the unmachined workpiece, a first repository  914 , optionally a second repository  916  and a moving unit  918 . The apparatus  100  is arranged between the providing unit  910  at the first repository  914 . The providing unit  910 , the apparatus  100 , the first repository  914  and the second repository  916  are arranged in a row. 
     The providing unit  910  is configured to provide unmachined workpieces. The moving unit  918  is configured to pick up an unmachined workpiece from the providing unit  910  and move it to the apparatus  100  by way of a first movement along a longitudinal movement axis  920 . Thus, the moving unit  918  is configured to load the apparatus  100  with the unmachined workpiece. Optionally, the aligner  912  is configured to align the unmachined workpiece upon receipt from the providing unit  910 . The apparatus  100  is configured to punch at least one notch into the unmachined workpiece to produce the machined workpiece. The moving unit  918  is configured to pick up the machined workpiece from the apparatus  100  following the punching process and move it to the first repository  940  by way of a second movement along a longitudinal movement axis  920 , and to deposit the machined workpiece, or part of the machined workpiece according to this embodiment, here the stator, on the first repository  940 . Thus, the moving unit  918  is configured to empty the apparatus  100 . The first movement and the second movement have the same direction along the longitudinal movement axis  920 . 
     According to the embodiment shown, the  918  is configured to the rotor further to the second repository  916  by way of a third movement and deposit it on the second repository  916 . The third movement has the same direction as the first movement and the second movement along the longitudinal movement axis  920 . Thus, the moving unit  918  is configured to the workpiece by way of unidirectional movements along the longitudinal movement axis  920 . 
     According to an embodiment, the workpiece is moved through the frame, i.e. between the stands, of the apparatus  100 . In this case, the longitudinal movement axis  920  is aligned in parallel to the z direction of the apparatus  100 . 
     The punching system  900  shown in  FIG. 9  represents an overall machine having the apparatus  100  in form of a notching press with an O frame and direct drive in combination with line automation. 
     According to an embodiment, the punching system  900  shown in  FIG. 9  is based on the apparatus  100  in form of a notching press with an O frame, a direct drive with pendular movement and upstroke as well as a tool cartridge with guides along the pendular stroke. 
     Thereby, moving the sheets through the apparatus  100  becomes possible. The sheets can be moved through on the shortest path in the same direction on one line. The direct drive with pendular motion and upstroke offers the advantage that a sheet can be moved through the apparatus  100 . The tool cartridge with guides along the pendular stroke also offers the advantage that a sheet can be moved through the apparatus  100 . 
     The reduced number of axes, because no transverse movement is necessary, and both the short paths of travel and the small size ratio are advantageous with respect to the arrangement of the apparatus  100  and the automation in one line.