EP2532456B1 - Bending machine and bending tool - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a bending machine according to the preamble of claim 1 (see eg JP-A-06007851 ). Another bending machine is z. B. from the document DE 10 2009 035 206 A1 known. In this bending machine, the tool holder is immovably provided on the bending machine and formed there in the form of a base body with a plurality of circular openings as tool holders. A central drive wheel used in this document as a bending drive means which can be coupled via suitable gears with the individual bending tools. The bending tools are designed to act from different directions on a centrally arranged workpiece to be machined, which is held by a workpiece holding device at a central processing position.
In this known bending machine, the replacement of the individual bending tools is relatively complex. Furthermore, access to the central processing position must be possible for each of the bending tools, which limits the number of bending tools that can be accommodated on the tool holder.
In view of this prior art, the object of the present invention is to further develop the known bending machine so as to allow a more flexible use and to increase the number of bending operations that can be performed by the bending machine in a specific assembly with bending tools. This object is achieved by a bending machine with the features of claim 1. Thus, according to the invention, all the bending tools received on the tool holder can be moved together in a selection movement, so that each individual one of the bending tools can be successively selected and brought into a specific selection position, which can be defined, for example, with respect to the bending drive device. According to the invention, the bending machine further comprises a tool transport device which is designed to transport a bending tool which is received in a tool holder, which is in the selection position, out of the tool holder into a bending position, in which the bending tool with the bending drive device coupled or coupled to transmit the bending force.

The selected bending tool is thus taken out of the tool holder by the tool transport device, which may be in the form of a loading carriage, for example, pushed out and transported to a bending position in which the selected bending tool can be held, for example, on a carrier claw of a bending drive device, so that selected bending tool is securely and stably fixed during the bending process.

Furthermore, this embodiment has the advantage that can be made by the transport movement of the bending tool from the tool holder in the selection position out in the bending position at the same time a coupling of the bending tool with the bending drive means.

This transport movement is preferably along a tool transport direction, which may be perpendicular to the bending force direction.
In order to fix the distances of the individual assemblies of the bending machine to each other safely and with high accuracy and thus to increase the manufacturing accuracy of the bending machine, it is provided that it further comprises a base body on which the tool holder and the bending drive means, directly or indirectly, are provided. Likewise, further assemblies, in particular the tool transport device, may be provided on the base body.
The selection movement of the tool holder, which spends a selected bending tool in the excellent selection position, can be driven in a simple manner, when the tool holder comprises a turntable on which the tool holders are provided, and which is rotatably mounted about a turntable axis, preferably on the main body or is rotatably mounted on a component connected to the main body about the turntable axis. Preferably, the turntable axis is parallel to the bending force direction.

In this way, a large number of tool holders distributed around the circumference of the turntable can be provided on this, and a transport movement, with which a selected bending tool is moved from the selection position to the bending position, for example, can be done radially to the turntable axis, so the tool transport direction radially Turntable axis run, which also allows a compact design of the bending machine. Such a turntable may be formed, for example, with sixteen tool holders.

The throughput of the bending machine can be increased by further comprising a workpiece holding device in the form of a retraction device, which is adapted to hold a workpiece to be machined in a processing position and along a direction of passage to the processing position and / or away from the processing position to transport. In this case, the bending processing of the workpiece by the selected bending tool of the bending machine takes place in the machining position.

In this case, with respect to the passage direction before and / or after the processing position further processing stations for preparatory processing or further processing of the workpieces may be provided, which allows the integration of the bending process performed with the bending machine in a complex workflow.

This embodiment is particularly suitable for the production of medium to larger workpiece series. However, for the production of individual workpieces, for example in order to test a new bending tool, it can alternatively or additionally be provided that the bending machine comprises a robot or robotic arm which brings the workpiece to be machined into the processing position and, if desired, fixes it during a bending operation.

A particularly practical example of one of the above-mentioned further processing stations represents a cutting device for cutting out the workpiece to be machined from a starting material, which may be arranged with respect to the passage direction before the processing position on the bending machine.

Such a cutting device can be designed, for example, in the form of a laser or also, for example for the production of a larger number of workpieces, as a stamping station.

If different processing stations are provided, between which a plurality of workpieces to be processed are transported by means of the intake device, for example on a conveyor belt, then it can be problematic if a different residence time results for the individual processing stations, since the intake device during processing of a workpiece at a processing station must be stopped, so that unnecessarily long processing breaks for the workpieces may result.

In order to enable a flexible processing of the workpieces by the bending machine during a standstill of the feeder, it can be provided that the tool holder and the bending drive means are provided on a common support frame which is mounted perpendicular to the bending force relative to the main body movable on this.

In particular, it can be provided for the aforementioned reasons that the common holding frame is movable in the direction of passage relative to the base body. But also a mobility along the tool transport direction is possible. The mobility of the holding frame and thus also the bending drive device also makes it possible to bend a workpiece to be machined successively at different locations. The tool transport device can also be provided on the holding frame.

A further degree of freedom in the machining of a workpiece can be achieved by turning the bending drive device around a bending drive axis of rotation, e.g. is mounted rotatably on the main body parallel to the bending force direction, preferably rotatable through 360 °.

In this embodiment, it is particularly useful if the selected bending tool from the selection position by the tool transporting device is placed in a holding structure, for example, a carrier claw of the bending drive means and there, in the bending position, can be rotated together with the bending drive means to the bending drive rotation axis.

To produce, for example, tubular components, it can be provided that the bending machine further comprises a center punch drive device which is designed to drive a center punch of a bending tool located in the bending position to move perpendicular to the bending force direction, preferably to move in the tool transport direction.
The center punch drive device may be provided on the tool transport device.

In order to easily establish a coupling between the tool transporting device and a selected bending tool or between the center punch drive device and the center punch of a selected bending tool, it is further provided that the tool transporting device and / or the center punch drive device by a rotational movement of the tool holder relative to the tool transporting device or can be brought to the center punch drive means in engagement with a selected bending tool or are. For this purpose, it can be provided that the above-mentioned coupling is produced by the tool transport device or the center punch drive device is extended by a certain amount in the tool transport direction and then the turntable is rotated so that engagement structures of the tool transporting device and / or the center punch drive means be brought into engagement with corresponding engagement counter-structures of the bending tool or its center punch. Subsequently, the bending tool or its center punch by the tool transporting device or the center punch drive device in the tool transport direction be adjusted.

According to a further embodiment, the bending machine has a bending tool. The bending tool in this case comprises a support member having a tool holder coupling structure for receiving the bending tool both on one of the tool holders of the tool holder of the bending machine, and between holding jaws of the bending drive means, and at least one pair of bending dies, wherein the two bending punch of the bending punch pair arranged opposite each other and along a first Guiding relative to the support member are movably guided on this, each bending punch has at least one drive-coupling structure for force-transmitting coupling of the punch with a bending drive means of the bending machine. In the state installed in the bending machine, the first guide direction can run parallel to the bending force direction.
Such a bending tool is also from the aforementioned publication DE 10 2009 035 206 A1 known. There, a pair of bending dies is movably guided on a common base plate as a carrier component along a first guide direction in linearly formed guide openings. Such a bending tool is easy to replace and is particularly adapted for automated operation with the bending machine described above. For this purpose, the invention provides that in the known bending tool, the tool holder coupling structure of the support member and the drive coupling structures of the bending punch of the punch pair are each formed in the form of guide and / or guide projections, which are substantially parallel to each other.

This makes it possible to move a selected bending tool, which is provided in a tool holder of the bending machine described above, linearly guided by the tool holder coupling structure from the selection position to the bending position and at the same time to establish a coupling between the bending tool and the bending drive means by the drive Coupling structures, so the guide grooves and / or guide projections of the punch of the punch pair with corresponding coupling counter-structures, such as guide projections and / or grooves are brought into engagement, which may be provided for example on bending slides of the bending drive means or associated components.

The support member may be formed, for example, in the form of a C-shaped frame, with two end pieces and a center piece. In the end pieces, two opposing guide openings may be introduced, in which the bending punch of the bending punch pair are movably guided so that they can be moved towards and away from each other, while the center piece in conjunction with the two end pieces for a frictional coupling between the end pieces Bending machine provides.

In a bending process, the selected workpiece should be securely fixed. For this purpose, it can preferably be provided that the bending tool comprises two bending punch pairs, one bending punch pair serving to fix the workpiece, and the other bending punch pair performing the actual bending work.

A greater diversity of shapes of the components that can be produced with the bending tool can be made possible by the bending tool further comprising a central punch, which is movably guided along a second guide direction on the carrier component, wherein the second guide direction is preferably perpendicular to the first guide direction.

Fig. 1

eine Vorderansicht eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels der vorliegenden Erfindung in Form einer Biegemaschine,

Fig. 2

eine Rückansicht des Gegenstands von Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht des Gegenstands von Fig. 1,

Fig. 4

eine Querschnittansicht des Gegenstands von Fig. 3 in einer Schnittebene, die in Fig. 3 mit IV-IV bezeichnet ist,

Fig. 5

eine Ausschnittvergrößerung des Gegenstands von Fig. 4,

Fig. 6

eine Seitenansicht eines Teils des Gegenstands von Fig. 1,

Fig. 7

eine vergrößerte Vorderansicht eines Ausschnitts des Gegenstands von Fig. 1 mit gedrehtem Biegewerkzeug,

Fig. 8

eine weitere Ausschnittvergrößerung des Gegenstands von Fig. 7,

Fig. 9

in den Teilabbildungen 9a und 9b ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel eines Biegewerkzeugs in einer Seitenansicht und in einer Schrägansicht,

Fig. 10

ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel eines Biegewerkzeugs in Teilabbildungen 10a und 10b, welche den Teilabbildungen 9a und 9b entsprechen,

Fig. 11

ein drittes Ausführungsbeispiel eines Biegewerkzeugs in Teilabbildungen 11a und 11b und

Fig. 12

ein viertes Ausführungsbeispiel eines Biegewerkzeugs in Teilabbildungen 12a und 12b,

Fig. 13

ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Biegemaschine mit integrierter Schneideeinrichtung in einer Vorderansicht,

Fig. 14

den Gegenstand von Fig. 13 in einer Rückansicht,

Fig. 15

den Gegenstand von Fig. 13 in einer Draufsicht und

Fig. 16

eine Ausschnittvergrößerung der in Fig. 15 dargestellten Schneideeinrichtung,

Fig. 17-20

Details von Eingriffsstrukturen und Gegeneingriffsstrukturen einer Werkzeugtransporteinrichtung bzw. eines Mittelstempelantriebs, wie sie bei den gezeigten Ausführungsbeispielen realisiert sind.

Furthermore, the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a few selected embodiments, which are illustrated in the accompanying figures. Showing:

Fig. 1

a front view of a first embodiment of the present invention in the form of a bending machine,

Fig. 2

a rear view of the object of Fig. 1 .

Fig. 3

a plan view of the subject of Fig. 1 .

Fig. 4

a cross-sectional view of the subject of Fig. 3 in a sectional plane, the in Fig. 3 designated IV-IV,

Fig. 5

a detail enlargement of the object of Fig. 4 .

Fig. 6

a side view of a portion of the article of Fig. 1 .

Fig. 7

an enlarged front view of a section of the article of Fig. 1 with turned bending tool,

Fig. 8

a further enlargement of the subject of Fig. 7 .

Fig. 9

in the partial illustrations 9a and 9b, a first embodiment of a bending tool in a side view and in an oblique view,

Fig. 10

A second embodiment of a bending tool in partial images 10a and 10b, which correspond to the partial images 9a and 9b,

Fig. 11

a third embodiment of a bending tool in partial images 11a and 11b and

Fig. 12

A fourth embodiment of a bending tool in partial images 12a and 12b,

Fig. 13

A second embodiment of a bending machine according to the invention with integrated cutting device in a front view,

Fig. 14

the object of Fig. 13 in a rear view,

Fig. 15

the object of Fig. 13 in a plan view and

Fig. 16

a detail enlargement of in Fig. 15 illustrated cutting device,

Fig. 17-20

Details of engagement structures and counter-engagement structures of a tool transport device or a center punch drive, as they are realized in the illustrated embodiments.

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention in the form of a bending machine 10 in a perspective front view.

The bending machine 10 comprises a plurality of assemblies, in particular a bending station 12, a cutting device 14 and a retraction device 16 and a robot arm 18, these assemblies are all provided on a common base body 20 which is provided at regular intervals with mounting holes 20o, which is a modular Structure of the bending machine 10 allows.

The retraction device 16 comprises a retractable drive 19 which drives the material to be bent as a strip material with a tying strip 17 to move along a passage direction x.

The wire or ribbon-shaped starting material is transported from a suitable material source to the cutting device 14 arranged in the passage direction x behind the drawing-in device 16, in which a laser 15 cuts out the individual workpieces 13 to be processed in the form of blanks except for a common connecting strip. The continuous Anbindestreifen 17 serves the common onward transport the board workpieces 13.

The bending station 12 comprises a tool holder 22 formed as a turntable 21, distributed over the circumference of which a plurality of tool holders 23 are provided, at least in some of the tool holders 23 bending tools 24 being received, which are subsequently, in particular in connection with FIGS FIGS. 9-12 , will be described in more detail.

The bending tools 24 are each preset so that they allow a certain bending work, and they are interchangeable received by simple radial insertion into the respective tool holders 23 on the tool holder 22. In the individual tool holders 23, the bending tools 24 can each be e.g. be fixed by a locking connection against unintentional movements.

The tool holder 22 in the form of a turntable 21 is rotatably mounted about a turntable axis 21a. By a turntable drive 26, the tool holder 22 can be rotated so that each individual tool holder 23 and with it a provided in this tool holder 23 bending tool 24 in an excellent selection position A (see. Fig. 3 ) can be brought close to the bending drive device 30.

As will be explained in more detail in connection with the following figures, a bending tool 24 from the selection position A then into a bending position B (see. Figure 3 ) are moved between the retaining claws 31 of a bending drive device 30 and fixed there, wherein at the same time a force-transmitting coupling between the bending drive device 30 and the selected bending tool 24 is produced.

Subsequently, a bending force in a bending force direction z can be transmitted from the bending drive device 30 to a workpiece 13 fixed in a processing position, and thus a bending work of the workpiece 13 be performed.

In this way, a plurality of bending operations on a workpiece 13 can be performed in an automated manner with the various bending tools 24 received on the tool holder 22 in succession, the position at which the bending of the workpiece 13 takes place, for example by adjusting the collection device 16 and so that the workpiece 13 is variable in the x direction.

Furthermore, the selected and received between the retaining claws 31 of the bending drive means 30 in the bending position B bending tool 24 is rotatable about a Biegeantriebsdrehachse 30a by up to 360 °, which also increases the achievable with the bending tools 24 variety of bending operations.

Fig. 2 shows a rear view of the subject of Fig. 1 , In this view, it can be seen more clearly that both the tool holder 22 and the bending drive device 30 are provided on a common holding frame 34. Both the turntable 21 and the bending drive device 30 are rotatably mounted on the holding frame 34 about the turntable axis 21a and the bending drive rotational axis 30a parallel thereto. In this view, a drive 25 can be seen, which serves for driving a further explained in the following figures tool transporting device.

From the FIGS. 1 and 2 It can also be seen that the common holding frame 34 is provided on a guide rail 37 linearly movable in a tool transport direction y perpendicular to the passage direction x and also perpendicular to the bending force direction z on the base body 20. Alternatively or additionally, in a modification of the bending station 12 shown here, a corresponding movability of the holding frame relative to the main body in the passage direction can be provided.

The robot arm 18, which is likewise provided on the main body 20, is designed as a multi-joint robot arm and can be used in addition or alternatively to the intake device 18 for the transport of workpieces and their fixation.

Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the article of Fig.1 , In this view, the individual tool holders 23, in this case sixteen pieces, as well as the bending tools 24 received therein can be seen particularly well. Furthermore, in this view, also provided on the support frame 34 tool transport device 40 can be seen in the form of a tool transport slide.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the article of Fig. 3 in a sectional plane, the in Fig. 3 With. IV-IV is designated. This representation allows an unobstructed view of the tool transporting device 40, which is adapted to a bending tool 24, which in the selection position A (see. Fig. 3 ) is to engage and to push this from the corresponding tool holder 23 between the retaining claws 31 of the bending drive means 30 in a bending position B and the bending tool 24 in a reverse movement again from the bending position B in the tool holder 23 back.

In Fig. 4 a bending tool 24 is shown, which is already located between the retaining claws 31 of the bending drive means 30, wherein coupling ends of the bending slides 41 of the bending drive means 30, which with the bending punch 28 of the bending drive means 30 during the transport movement, ie the displacement of the bending tool 24 of the tool holder 23 in the bending position are brought into engagement, are not shown in this figure for reasons of clarity (see, for example Fig. 8 )

In this cross-sectional view it is clear that the turntable 21 on a ball bearing 44 about the turntable axis 21a rotatably on the holding frame 34th is stored.

Also, a drive 34a for moving the holding frame 34 and thus both the turntable 21 and the bending drive means 30 and the tool transporting device 40 in the tool transport direction y perpendicular to the bending force direction z and perpendicular to the passage direction x can be seen well. It can also be provided that the holding frame 34 is provided movable in the passage direction x on the base body 20.

On the tool transport carriage, so the tool transporting device 40, a center punch drive means 46 is further provided which is adapted to engage with a center punch 28m of the selected bending tool 24 and then drive this to a movement parallel to the tool transport direction y. In this way, the center punch 28m can be moved as a bending core between the bending punch 28 of a pair of bending punch 28p and pulled out again between them.

Fig. 5 shows the item of Fig. 4 in a cut-out enlargement. In this detail enlargement, the engagement structures 40e and 46e of the tool transport device 40 and the center punch drive 46 are particularly clearly visible, which serve to couple the tool transport device 40 with the selected bending tool 24 or for coupling the center punch drive device 46 to the center punch 28m of the selected bending tool 24.

To produce this coupling, the turntable 21 is first rotated about the turntable axis 21a so that a selected bending tool 24 in one of the tool holders 23 with respect to the direction of rotation shortly before the selection position A (see FIG. Fig. 3 ) is located. Then the tool transport device 40 and possibly the center punch drive device 46 are extended by a certain amount in the tool transport direction y and then the turntable 21 is further rotated in the rotational direction about the turntable axis 21a, so that the engagement structures 40e and 46e, respectively, are engaged with respective engagement counter-structures 58 and 60 provided on the selected bending tool 24 and on the center punch 28m, respectively are.

Fig. 6 shows parts of the bending machine 10 from Fig. 1 in a side view. In this case, the representation of the individual bending tools 24 and the tool transporting device 40 has been omitted, so that the tool holders 23 of the tool holder 22 can be seen particularly well in this illustration.

Fig. 7 shows the bending station 12 in an enlarged view from the front, in which representation the selected bending tool 24 together with the bending slide 41 (see. Fig. 8 ) and the retaining claws 31 of the bending drive device 30 by about a 45 ° angle about the bending drive rotation axis 30 a with respect to the in FIG. 1 shown position has been rotated, which demonstrates how the processing capabilities of the bending machine 10 can be increased by the rotatable mounting of the bending drive means 30.

By suitable configuration of the engagement and counter-engagement structures 40e, 46e, 58, 60, it can be achieved that, during this rotational movement of the selected bending tool 24 about the bending drive rotation axis 30a, the coupling between the tool transporting device 40 and the selected bending tool 24 or at least within a not too wide angular range between the center punch drive means 46 and the center punch 28m of the selected bending tool 24. In this regard, in particular on the Figures 17-20 and the following explanations refer to it.

Another enlargement is in Fig. 8 which shows the production of tubular bending parts 13b from the cutting device 14 cut workpieces 13 illustrated. In the cutting device 14 substantially rectangular plate-shaped workpieces 13, also referred to as sinkers, are cut out, which comprise recesses 13a at a narrow longitudinal end and tongues 13z complementary to the recesses 13a at the opposite longitudinal end.
The drawing-in device 16 transports the workpieces 13 on the connecting strip 17 one after the other into a processing position where they are bent by the punching dies 28 of two pairs of bending stamps 28p around a central punch 28m as a bending core, so that tubular bending parts 13b are produced in which the tongues 13z are inserted into the recesses 13a, which ensures a firm cohesion of the tubular bending parts 13b. The tubular bending bent parts 13b can then, still fixed to their Anbindestreifen 17, be transported to other processing stations. Alternatively, however, it may be provided to separate the bending parts 13b already in the bending station from the tying strip 17.
Fig. 8 Also allows a look at the coupling between the coupling ends 42 of the bending slide 41 of the bending drive means 30 and the bending punch 28 of the selected bending tool 24 and a coupling between the retaining claws 31 of the bending drive means 30 and the selected bending tool 24, each in the manner of a linear groove Spring guide is formed.

Various embodiments 24a-24d of bending tools 24 are in the following four figures, ie Fig. 9 - Fig. 12 shown. In this case, corresponding components are provided with reference numerals, each composed of the same number or number-letter combination and the ending a, b, c or d for the individual embodiments.

Fig. 9 shows a first embodiment of a bending tool 24a in the two partial images 9a and 9b in a side view or a perspective side view.

The bending tool 24a has a c-shaped frame as a carrier component 50a and two pairs of punch 28pa and a center punch 28ma. In particular Fig. 9b shows, the two pairs of punch 28pa each consist of two oppositely arranged bending punch 28a, which are guided in guide openings 52a of the support member 50a in a first guide direction F1 movable. Bending inserts 53a, which decisively determine the bending shape of a component to be produced with the bending tool 24a, are provided at the free longitudinal ends of the bending dies 28a. Drive coupling structures 64a in the form of linear guide grooves are provided at the other longitudinal ends of the bending dies 29a, which serve to couple the bending dies 28a to the bending slides 41 of the bending drive device 30 (cf. Fig. 8 ).

The two punch pairs 28pa are juxtaposed in a direction corresponding to the pass direction x when the bending tool 24a is located (undrawn) between the holding claws 31 of the bending drive means 30. Briefly, such a tool is also referred to below as a change tool with bending punches in the longitudinal direction.

The center punch 28ma is movably received in a center punch guide 54a in a second guide direction F2 on the support member 50a, which, when the bending tool 24a is in the selection position (and untwisted), corresponds to the tool transport direction y.

The support member 50a is c-shaped, with a center 56a and two end pieces 57, wherein in the end pieces 57, the punch punch guide holes 52a are provided and in the middle piece 56a, the center punch guide 54a. The c-shaped configuration of the carrier component 50a allows a non-positive connection between the two parts of the bending drive device 30 and thus enables a particularly controlled To bend.
An engagement counter-structure 58a for coupling with the engagement structure 40e of the tool transport device 40 is also formed on the center piece 56a. An engagement counter-structure 60a for coupling with the engagement structure 46e of the center punch drive 46 is formed on the center punch 29ma. Finally, a toolholder is attached to the carrier component 50a. Coupling structure 62 a is provided, which serves for receiving the bending tool 24 a both on a tool holder 23 of the tool holder 22 and between the retaining claws 31 of the bending drive device 30. The drive coupling structures 64a of the bending punch 28a and the tool holder coupling structure 62a of the carrier component 50a are each formed in the form of mutually parallel guide grooves. This allows the selected bending tool 24 a simultaneously pushed by the tool holder 23 between the retaining claws 31 of the bending drive means 30 and there z. B. by means of latching elements or possibly hydraulic clamping cylinders is fixed while a force-transmitting coupling between the bending slide 41 of the bending drive device 30 and the punch punch 28a of the bending tool 24a is produced at the same time.
The Figures 10 . 11 and 12 show further embodiments 24b, 24c and 24d for bending tools. Bending tool 24b is a bending tool with bending punches 28b in the longitudinal direction, but without a central punch, bending tool 24c is a bending tool with bending punches 28c in the transverse direction and center punch 28mc. The bending tool 29d is an exchange tool with bending punches 28d in the transverse direction and again without center punch.
The FIGS. 13 to 16 show a second embodiment of a bending machine 110 according to the invention. In this case, such components or features that correspond to those of the first embodiment, provided with reference numerals by adding the number 100 from those of first embodiment.

The second embodiment will be explained in more detail only insofar as it differs from the first embodiment, to the above description otherwise expressly referenced.

Instead of a laser, a cutting device 114 in the form of a press or stamping device 170 is provided in the bending machine 110 for cutting out workpieces 113 from a starting material. Similar to the bending station 112, the cutting device 170 is here also equipped with individual cutting tools 172 which are replaceably received in tool holders 172 of a tool holder 176 designed as a turntable 174. In this case, each individual cutting tool 172 can be conveyed under the punch of a press 178 and coupled with force transfer therewith, so that workpieces 113 can be punched out of the starting material and then fed to the bending station 112 by means of a draw-in device 116.

Fig. 14 shows a plan view of the subject of Fig. 13 , while Fig. 15 in a front view shows an enlargement of the cutting device 114. In this illustration, it is also apparent that also the cutting device 114 is provided perpendicular to the passage direction x and perpendicular to the bending force z direction relative to the retraction means 116 slidably on the base body 120, which in turn increases the number of different ausstanzbarer workpieces 113.

In the Figures 17-20 are the in Fig. 5 shown in side view engagement structures 40e and 46e of the tool transporting device 40 and the center punch drive 46 shown in a respective enlarged perspective detail view.

In Fig. 17 For example, the engagement structure 40e of the tool conveyer and the engagement structure 46e of the center punch drive 46 are in a perspective view Viewing viewed from obliquely below, where they are out of engagement with the engagement counter-structures of the center punch and the bending tool can be seen.

Fig. 18 shows in one of the Fig. 17 Accordingly, the situation in which the engagement structure 40e is in engagement with the engagement counter-structure 58 of the selected bending tool 24 and the engagement structure 46e of the center punch drive 46 is engaged with the engagement counter-structure 60 of the center punch 28m.

Fig. 19 shows the situation of Fig. 18 in a perspective view with a view obliquely from above.

In Fig. 20 is in one of the Fig. 19 perspective corresponding to the situation that the center punch 28m is coupled to the center punch drive 46 accordingly, since the respective engagement structure 46e and the engagement counter-structure 60 are engaged with each other. It is, however, in Fig. 20 no bending tool is coupled to the tool transporting device 40, whereby details of the configuration of the engagement structures 40e can be better recognized.

The center punch drive 46 includes a linear drive unit 47 for advancing and retracting the center punch 28m. A hook-shaped in side view block at the front end of the linear drive unit 47 forms the engagement structure 46e for a projecting from the center punch 28m at its rear end pin 60 which forms the engagement counter-structure 60. Like from the Figures 18-20 As can be readily recognized, the hook-shaped block (engagement structure 46e) engages behind the pin 60 (engagement counter-structure), so that a positive connection of the center punch 28m is present on the center punch drive 46 with respect to the feed direction and also with respect to the withdrawal direction of the center punch 28m.

The linear drive unit 47 may be a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic Cylinder or eg NC linear drive unit with electric motor drive. The center punch drive 46 is located on a carrier plate 69 which is arranged on the tool transport device 40. The latter comprises the linear drive unit 41 for the advance and retraction of the selected bending tool. At the front end of the linear drive unit 41 is a coupling block 71 with an upper transverse groove 73. The opposite inner side walls 75, 77 of the transverse groove 73 each have an arcuate course with opposite curvatures, as shown in FIG Fig. 20 best seen. Similarly, side walls 79, 81 of a downwardly open transverse groove 83 are curved in the support plate 69, as best in Fig. 17 is recognizable.

The in the Figures 17-20 Opposite grooves 73 and 83 are part of the engagement structure 40e of the tool transporting device 40. The engagement counter-structure 58 of the respective bending tool 24 has projections 85, 87 which, according to FIG Fig. 18 and Fig. 19 are positively received in the grooves 73, 83 when the selected bending tool 24 is coupled to the tool transporting device 40. Due to the arcuate course of the groove side walls 79, 81 and 75, 77 of the engagement structure 40e of the tool transport device 40, it is possible that such coupling takes place by rotational movement of the turntable 21 about the turntable axis 21a, so that the selected and still on the turntable 21 located bending tool 24 with its engagement counter-structure 58 engages laterally tangentially into the engagement structure 40e of the correspondingly positioned tool transport device 40. Further, this particular configuration of the engagement structure 40e with opposing arcuate surfaces 75, 77 and 79, 81, respectively, allows for the already mentioned rotational movement of the selected bending tool 24 about the bending drive axis 30a without having to abandon the coupling between the tool transporting device 40 and the selected bending tool 24. However, it can also be provided that the selected bending tool can be rotated even further, with its fixation in the bending station z. B. can be maintained by hydraulic clamping or by latching means.

Similarly, the engagement structure 46e and the engagement counter-structure 60 of the center punch drive are also configured with respect to these rotational degrees of freedom.

Finally, the operation of the bending machines according to the invention is briefly explained using the example of the bending machines 10 and 110. First, a strip or wire material in the correct thickness and length is transported via the feed device to a cutting device, for example in the form of a laser 14 or a punching device 114. In this cutting device 114 then cuts about the laser 15 and the punch the desired workpiece 13, 113 (the board) for the component to be manufactured with a suitable Anbindestreifen on which the workpieces 13, 113 or boards with the introduction of tape guides in which are transported to the subsequent bending in the direction x x bending station 12, 112. The tool holder 22, 122 in the form of a switching plate with different, here sixteen tool holders 23, 123 is equipped with different bending tools 24, 124, wherein each bending tool 24, 124 is preset for a specific bending operation and can be used for the production of various components. Each individual bending tool can be selected and brought by rotation of the turntable 21, 121 in a selection position A, from where it is transported by the tool conveyor 40, 140 in a bending position B, in which the selected bending tool 24, 124 for transmitting a bending force the bending drive device 30, 130 is coupled. By moving a bending tool 24, 124 either by shifting the entire holding frame 34, 134 or by (slight) displacement of the bending tool 24 with the Werkzeugtransporteinrichtungn 40, 140 between the jaws 131 of the Biegeantriebseinrichtung 30 in the tool transport direction (y) can with one of the bending tools 24th , 124 bends are performed at different locations of the workpiece 13, 113. In similar In the same way, the holding frame 34, 134 or the feeder 16, 116 can be displaced in the direction of passage x in order to determine the exact location of the bending work on a given workpiece 13 as required. Another degree of freedom results from the possibility of turning the selected bending tool 24, 124 relative to the workpiece 13, 113 about the bending drive rotation axis 30a, 130a.

The bending slides 41, 141 can mutually bend upwards or downwards. With a central punch 28m, 128m different bending cores can be controlled.

The selection of a particular bending tool 24, 124, the displacement of the feeder in the x direction and the displacement of the bending tool 24, 124 and the holding frame 34, 134 in the y direction and the rotation of the bending drive means 30, 130 about the bending drive rotation axis 30a, 130a can be controlled automatically by a computer program. With suitable software, whose registers manage the various bending tools with their presettings, the production of new products with CAD can be realized very quickly.

The presets of the bending tools 24, 124 take place outside the machine at a parking space. So the plant can produce while a new part is set. Only the bending insert for different bending radii and strip thicknesses is reconciled.

Claims (10)

1. Bending machine (10; 110) comprising:

   - a tool holder (22; 122) comprising a plurality of tool-receiving portions (23; 123), each tool-receiving portion (23; 123) being designed to exchangeably receive a bending tool (24; 124) in each case,

   - a bending drive device (30; 130) that can be coupled to at least one bending tool (24; 124) so as to transmit a bending force, the tool holder (22; 122) being movable relative to the bending drive device (30; 130) such that each tool-receiving portion (23; 123) can be selectively brought into a selection position (A),

   - a main body (20; 120) on which the tool holder (22; 122) and the bending drive device (30; 130) are provided,

   - a tool transport device (40; 140) that is designed to transport a bending tool (24; 124), which is received in a tool-receiving portion (23; 123) that is in the selection position (A), from the tool-receiving portion (23; 123) into a bending position (B), in which the bending tool (24; 124) is coupled or can be coupled to the bending drive device (30; 130) so as to transmit the bending force,

   characterised in that the tool holder (22; 122) comprises a rotary table (21; 121) on which the tool-receiving portions (23; 123) are provided, and which is mounted so as to be able to rotate about a rotary table axis (21a; 121a), preferably mounted on the main body (20; 120) or on a component connected to the main body (20; 120) so as to be able to rotate about the rotary table axis (21a; 121a), the rotary table axis (21a; 121a) preferably extending in parallel with a bending force direction (z), and it being possible to bring the tool transport device (40; 140) into engagement with a bending tool (24; 124) in a tool-receiving portion in the selection position by means of a rotational movement of the tool holder (22; 122) relative to the tool transport device (40; 140).
2. Bending machine (10; 110) according to the preceding claim,
   characterised in that it further comprises a workpiece-holding device in the form of a feed device (16; 116) that is designed to hold a workpiece (13; 113) to be machined in a machining position and to transport said workpiece in a direction of travel (x) towards the machining position and/or away from the machining position.
3. Bending machine (10; 110) according to claim 2,
   characterised in that it further comprises a cutting device (14; 114) which is arranged ahead of the machining position with respect to the direction of travel (x) and is intended for cutting the workpiece (13; 113) to be machined out of a starting material.
4. Bending machine (10; 110) according to claim 2,
   characterised in that the tool holder (22; 122) and the bending drive device (30; 130) are provided on a common holding frame (34; 134) that is mounted on the main body (20; 120) so as to be able to move perpendicularly to the bending force direction (z) relative to said main body.
5. Bending machine (10; 110) according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that the bending drive device (30; 130) is mounted on the main body (20; 120) so as to be able to rotate, preferably by 360°, about a bending drive axis of rotation (30a; 130a) that is parallel to the bending force direction (z).
6. Bending machine (10; 110) according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that it further comprises a central-punch drive device (46; 146) that is designed to drive a central punch (28m) of a bending tool (24; 124) in the bending position (B) such that said punch moves perpendicularly to the bending force direction (z).
7. Bending machine (10; 110) according to claim 6,
   characterised in that the central-punch drive device (46; 146) is provided on the tool transport device (40; 140).
8. Bending machine (10; 110) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a bending tool (24; 124; 24a-24d), said bending tool (24; 124; 24a-24d) comprising:

   - a carrier component (50a-50d) comprising a tool-holder coupling structure (62a-62d) for receiving the bending tool (24; 124; 24a-24d) both on one of the tool-receiving portions (23; 123) of the tool holder (22; 122) of the bending machine (10; 110) and between holding claws (31) of the bending drive device (30),

   - at least one bending-punch pair (28pa-28pd), wherein the two bending punches (28a-28d) of the bending-punch pair (28pa-28pd) are arranged opposite one another and are guided on the carrier component (50a-50d) so as to be movable in a first guide direction (F1) relative to said carrier component,

   wherein each bending punch (28a-28d) comprises at least one drive coupling structure (64a-64d) for coupling the bending punch (28a-28d) to the bending drive device (30; 130) of the bending machine (10; 110) in a force-transmitting manner, wherein the tool-holder coupling structure (62a-62d) and the drive coupling structures (64a-64d) of the bending punches (28a-28d) of the bending-punch pair (28pa-28pd) are designed in the form of guide grooves and/or guide projections that extend substantially in parallel with one another.
9. Bending machine (10; 110) according to claim 9,
   characterised in that the bending tool (24; 124; 24a-24d) comprises two bending-punch pairs (28pa-28pd).
10. Bending machine (10; 110) according to either claim 8 or claim 9,
    characterised in that the bending tool (24; 124; 24a-24d) further comprises a central punch (28ma-28md) that is guided on the carrier component (50a-50d) so as to be movable in a second guide direction (F2) that is preferably perpendicular to the first guide direction (F1).

Images