Method for hot or warm forming a workpiece and production plant for hot or warm forming a workpiece

Abstract

A method for hot or warm forming a workpiece may comprise providing the workpiece to be formed, at least partially pretreating the workpiece, at least partially heating the workpiece to a target temperature, and at least partially forming and/or hardening the workpiece. Furthermore, the workpiece may be at least partially cleaned in a cleaning step between the pretreating and the heating of the workpiece. In some examples, at least partially cleaning the workpiece may involve brushing the workpiece, using a cleaning bath, or heating the workpiece with a first burner to a cleaning temperature. Further, one or more burners used to heat or clean the workpiece may be operated with a fuel gas and/or an oxygen-containing gas.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method for hot or warm forming a workpiece, the method comprising:
 providing the workpiece;   at least partially pretreating the workpiece;   at least partially cleaning the workpiece that has been at least partially pretreated;   at least partially heating the workpiece that has been at least partially cleaned to a target temperature in a heating station; and   at least partially forming and/or hardening the workpiece.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein at least partially cleaning the workpiece comprises at least partially treating the workpiece chemically, mechanically, and/or thermally. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein at least partially cleaning the workpiece comprises cleaning at least a portion of the workpiece in a cleaning bath. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein at least partially cleaning the workpiece comprises brushing the workpiece. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising transporting the workpiece as the workpiece is at least partially cleaned. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising transporting the workpiece from a cleaning station to the heating station after the workpiece is at least partially cleaned and before the workpiece is at least partially heated. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16  wherein at least partially cleaning the workpiece comprises heating the workpiece with a first burner to a cleaning temperature. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising heating the workpiece with a second burner to the target temperature. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein at least one of the first burner or the second burner is operated with a fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising coating the workpiece with at least one of a protective material or a corrosion protection oil. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16  wherein at least partially forming and/or hardening the workpiece comprises positioning the workpiece in at least one of a forming die or a hardening die. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the workpiece is a flat metal sheet. 
     
     
         28 . A production plant for hot or warm forming a workpiece by at least partially pretreating the workpiece, at least partially cleaning the workpiece that has been at least partially pretreated, at least partially heating the workpiece that has been at least partially cleaned to a target temperature, and at least partially forming and/or hardening the workpiece, wherein the production plant comprises:
 a cleaning station for at least partially cleaning the workpiece; and   a heating station for at least partially heating the workpiece to the target temperature.   
     
     
         29 . The production plant of  claim 28  further comprising a conveying mechanism. 
     
     
         30 . The production plant of  claim 28  wherein the cleaning station is structurally separate from the heating station.