Systems for processing plate-like workpieces

A system for processing plate-like workpieces, especially metal sheets, comprises a first processing device in the form of a cutting device and also a second processing device, on which a processing line is defined. By means of a workpiece bed of a longitudinal guide a workpiece is movable relative to the cutting device in a first axial direction extending in a longitudinal direction of the processing line into a processing position. The cutting device, together with a workpiece bed of a transverse guide in an inoperative state, is movable relative to a workpiece in a second axial direction extending in a direction transverse to the processing line and thus transferable into a processing position.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to systems for processing plate-like workpieces, such as metal sheets.

BACKGROUND

A system for processing plate-like workpieces, especially metal sheets, can in some cases include (a) a first processing device for workpiece processing, in the form of a cutting device, (b) a second processing device for workpiece processing wherein a processing line is defined on the second processing device, (c) a longitudinal guide, which has a workpiece bed which, together with a workpiece, is movable relative to the cutting device in a first axial direction extending in the longitudinal direction of the processing line, and also (d) a transverse guide which has a workpiece bed which, in an operating state is movable together with a workpiece relative to the second processing device, and in an inoperative state is movable relative to a workpiece, in each case in a second axial direction extending in a direction transverse to the processing line.

Such a system is disclosed in EP 1 287 917 A1, in which the cutting device may be a punching device consisting of two punching units. and the second processing device is a bending device which defines a bending line (the processing line). The two punching units of the punching device are movable in opposite directions along the bending line defined on the bending device. Also running along the bending line associated with the bending device are belt conveyors, by means of which workpieces to be processed are fed in and processed workpieces are conveyed away. A workpiece manipulator travels in a direction transverse to the bending line.

In use, a metal sheet to be processed is first conveyed by the respective belt conveyor along the bending line of the bending device into a starting position, from which a thruster moves the metal sheet in a direction transverse to the bending line towards the punching device. The punching units and the metal sheet are then adjusted relative to one another with the punching units being moved along the bending line. The metal sheet is then taken up by the workpiece manipulator and transferred in a direction transverse to the bending line relative to the punching units into at least one processing position for cutting processing (punching). Following the punching operation(s), the workpiece manipulator, with the metal sheet, moves towards the bending device, which then bends a portion of the workpiece.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the disclosure features a system for processing plate-like workpieces comprising, (a) a first processing device for workpiece processing comprising a cutting device, (b) a second processing device for workpiece processing, the second processing device defining a processing line, (c) a longitudinal guide comprising a workpiece bed which, together with a workpiece, is movable relative to the cutting device in a first axial direction extending in the longitudinal direction of the processing line, and (d) a transverse guide comprising a workpiece bed which in an operating state is movable together with the workpiece relative to the second processing device and in an inoperative state is movable relative to the workpiece, in each case in a second axial direction extending in a direction transverse to the processing line. The cutting device, together with the workpiece bed of the transverse guide, in the inoperative state, is movable relative to the workpiece in the second axial direction to a processing position, and the workpiece is movable, together with the workpiece bed of the longitudinal guide, relative to the cutting device in the first axial direction.

Because the cutting device is coupled to the workpiece bed of the transverse guide, (a) workpiece movements to be executed in the second axial direction relative to the second processing device, and (b) relative movements of the cutting device and workpieces to be executed in the second axial direction for cutting, can be effected by means of a single drive. Furthermore, only a single, second drive is required for the execution of the necessary relative movements of the workpieces and cutting device in the first axial direction, i.e., along the processing line. Despite their simple constructional form resulting from the minimizing of the number of drive spindles required, the systems disclosed herein are extremely flexibly adaptable to changing operating needs and/or user requirements. For example, the cutting device, transverse guide and first drive may be selectively removable from the system as a first module, and the longitudinal guide and second drive may be selectively removable from the system as a second module.

As a result of the constructional separation of the drive spindle in the longitudinal direction of the processing line from the drive spindle in the direction transverse to the processing line, the system can be selectively with one or with two drive spindles and processing devices respectively. For example, an arrangement which is intended only for bending workpiece processing, and which has only a bending device and a transverse guide serving for handling the workpieces to be processed and also the bent parts, can be supplemented, with little expenditure, with the additional function of “cutting workpiece processing”. For this purpose, only a cutting device and, if necessary, a longitudinal guide, need be provided in addition to the components already present. Conversely, an arrangement provided with a cutting and a bending device and also with a longitudinal and a transverse guide can easily be arranged for exclusive bending workpiece processing. It is then only necessary to omit the “cutting device” and “longitudinal guide” components. Function-related redundancies on the “reconstructed” arrangement are avoided.

Some implementations include one or more of the following features. The cutting device may comprise a thermal cutting device, e.g., a laser cutter, or a mechanical cutting device such as guillotine shears. The second processing device may be in the form of a bending device on which a bending line is defined as the processing line.

A common support structure may be provided for the workpiece bed of the transverse guide and for the cutting device. The common support structure may be movable in the second axial direction, together with the workpiece bed of the transverse guide and the cutting device.

In some implementations, the workpiece may be rotatable, by means of the workpiece bed of the transverse guide, about an axis of rotation extending in the transverse direction of the principal plane of the workpiece. The rotational movement of the workpiece effected by means of the workpiece bed of the transverse guide can serve for positioning the workpiece relative to the second processing device and/or for moving the workpiece relative to the cutting device thereby producing a circular cut.

The systems disclosed herein may be automated. For example, a controller (e.g., a digital controller) may be provided by means of which the workpiece movement in the first axial direction and the movement of the cutting device in the second axial direction are controllable. The controller may be configured to allow the workpiece movement in the first axial direction and the movement of the cutting device in the second axial direction to be superposed on each other. With superposition of the movement of the workpiece in the first axial direction and the movement of the cutting device in the second axial direction, cutting lines having a course deviating from the axial directions can be produced on a workpiece to be processed by cutting. In particular, it is possible to cut contours.

The invention also features methods of processing workpieces, and methods of modifying workpiece processing systems, e.g., by selectively adding or removing functionality.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, a system1serves for processing metal sheets2. For this purpose, the system1has a cutting device3in the form of a laser cutter and, as a second processing device, a bending device4. This has a C-shaped machine frame5which forms a jaw6. Arranged in the jaw6of the machine frame5is a bending tool7. Referring toFIG. 2, the bending tool7comprises a holding-down clamp9movably guided in a vertical direction (double arrow8) on the upper limb of the machine frame5, a complementary support10associated with the holding-down clamp9and arranged on the lower limb of the machine frame5, and also a tangential bending cheek11.

The cutting device3is attached to a support structure in the form of a C-shaped support frame12. The cutting device3is mounted on the upper limb of the support frame12so as to be adjustable in a vertical direction8. Also attached to the support frame12is a workpiece holder13serving as a workpiece bed. This is formed in two parts and has a holder top part14, shown inFIG. 1, on the upper limb of the support frame12, and also a holder bottom part15, visible inFIG. 2, on the lower limb of the support frame12. The holder top part14has a piston rod16, movable in a vertical direction8and provided at its free end with a contact plate17. The holder bottom part15correspondingly comprises a piston rod18movable in a vertical direction8and having a contact plate19.

The support frame12and the workpiece holder13are parts of a transverse guide20, which in addition comprises a motor-driven toothed rack drive21shown highly diagrammatically in the drawings. By means of the toothed rack drive21, the support frame12and with it the workpiece holder13and also the cutting device3are movable in an axial direction indicated by means of a double arrow22. The axial direction22extends perpendicularly to a bending or processing line23defined on the bending tool7of the bending device4and indicated by dash-dotted lines inFIG. 1.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, a longitudinal guide25acts in the longitudinal direction of the processing line23, that is to say, in an axial direction24indicated by means of a double arrow24inFIG. 1. The longitudinal guide25comprises a transverse support26with two clamping claws27, providing a workpiece bed. By means of a toothed rack drive28, the transverse support26is movable in the axial direction24over a workpiece support29. The workpiece support29has two parts which are separated from each other by means of a gap30extending in the axial direction22at the level of the workpiece holder13. The axial directions22,24span a plane which extends parallel to the support plane of the workpiece support29.

Preferably, all functions and sequences on the system1are digitally controlled.

FIG. 1shows the conditions of the system1immediately before the start of processing of the metal sheet2. The metal sheet2has previously been placed on the workpiece support29and gripped at one longitudinal end by the clamping claws27. The lateral overhang of the workpiece support29with respect to the machine frame5of the bending device4in the axial direction24, and the end of travel position, visible inFIG. 1, of the transverse support26of the longitudinal guide25on the workpiece support29are selected to be such that the workpiece support29can be loaded with workpieces of the length of the metal sheet2past the machine frame5of the bending device4in the axial direction22, and the workpiece in question then comes to rest with its end which faces the transverse support26of the longitudinal guide25immediately in front of the clamping claws27. In order to grip the metal sheet2with the clamping claws27, the transverse support26of the longitudinal guide25consequently has to be moved over only a short distance towards the machine frame5of the bending device4.

In the operating state according toFIGS. 1 and 2, the cutting device3is raised with respect to the workpiece support29. The piston rods16,18of the workpiece holder13are retracted, and consequently the workpiece holder13is in an inoperative state.

Starting from the conditions according toFIG. 1, the support frame12of the transverse guide20, and with it the cutting device3and also the workpiece holder13still in the inoperative state, moves in the axial direction22towards the machine frame5of the bending device4, until the cutting device3assumes a position above the longitudinal edge of the metal sheet2facing towards the machine frame5of the bending device4. At the same time, the transverse support26of the longitudinal guide25, together with the metal sheet2, is moved in the axial direction24towards the free longitudinal end of the workpiece support29, until the metal sheet2is positioned in the required manner in the axial direction24with respect to the cutting device3. The free end of the metal sheet2projects beyond the side of the support frame12of the transverse guide20facing away from the transverse support26of the longitudinal guide25. By lowering the cutting device3in a vertical direction8, the focus position of the cutting device3in the form of a laser cutter is now adjusted with respect to the metal sheet2. After the focus position has been adjusted, the cutting device3is switched on and, by movement of the support frame12of the transverse guide20in the axial direction22, with the workpiece holder13still in the inoperative state and the metal sheet2stationary, is moved away from the machine frame5of the bending device4over a defined distance. By this means, on the metal sheet2a cut is produced which extends in a straight line in the axial direction22and ends within the metal sheet2.

With the support frame12stationary in the axial direction22, while the cutting device3is still switched on, and the workpiece holder13is still in the inoperative state, the transverse support26of the longitudinal guide25, together with the metal sheet2, is now moved in the axial direction24towards the free end of the workpiece support29. Along with this, a cut extending in a straight line in the axial direction24is made on the metal sheet2. This longitudinal cut ends at a right angle to the cut, first produced, extending in the axial direction22. The system1inFIG. 3is shown during the production of the cut extending in the axial direction24.

When the cut in the axial direction24has reached the desired length, the movement of the transverse support26and the metal sheet2stops. The support frame12, with the cutting device3switched on, now travels in the axial direction22towards the machine frame5of the bending device4. The travel movement of the support frame12and the cutting device3ends as soon as the cut produced during the travel movement of the cutting device3and extending in the axial direction22opens into the longitudinal edge of the metal sheet2lying towards the machine frame5of the bending device4.

On the metal sheet2, a sheet portion2/1is now cut out, which at first still lies within a residual sheet2/2.

After the separating cut has been completed, the cutting device3is raised in a vertical direction8. At the same time, the support frame12, with the cutting device3and the workpiece holder13, still in the inoperative state, travels in the axial direction22to the side lying away from the machine frame5of the processing device4until the workpiece holder13comes to rest at the level of the edge of the sheet portion2/1extending in the axial direction24. The piston rods16,18of the workpiece holder13now extend and bring the contact plates17,18attached to their free ends to bear against the sheet portion2/1. In so doing, the piston rod18and the contact plate19move into the gap30of the workpiece support19. The sheet portion2/1is now clamped between the holder top part14and the holder bottom part15. The workpiece holder13is in its operating state.

Starting from these conditions, the support frame12, with the workpiece holder13in the operating state and the sheet portion2/1fixed thereto, is moved in the axial direction22towards the machine frame5of the bending device4. The sheet portion2/1is by this means pushed out of the cutaway portion of the residual sheet2/2accommodating the sheet portion2/1. The sheet portion2/1is shown in an intermediate position within the cutaway portion on the residual sheet2/2inFIG. 4.

Beyond the position shown inFIG. 4, the sheet portion2/1is pushed towards the machine frame5of the bending device4until it has completely left the cutaway portion on the residual sheet2/2. The transverse support26of the longitudinal guide25is now moved back in the axial direction24into its initial position. The residual sheet2/2moves past the sheet portion2/1fixed by means of the workpiece holder13and projecting far into the jaw6of the machine frame5of the bending device4.

As soon as the residual sheet2/2has passed the sheet portion2/1, the support frame12, with the sheet portion2/1, travels back from the machine frame5of the bending device4in the axial direction22. The travel movement of the support frame12ends as soon as the sheet portion2/1assumes its correct position with respect to the bending tool7, in detail with respect to the processing or bending line23. The operating state then existing is shown inFIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 6shows the conditions according toFIG. 5in side view in the direction of the arrow VI inFIG. 5. The still flat sheet portion2/1lies on the complementary support10of the bending tool7. The holding-down clamp9and also the tangential bending cheek11of the bending tool7are in their initial positions.

The holding-down clamp9is now lowered in a vertical direction8. By this means the sheet portion2/1is clamped between the holding-down clamp9and the complementary support10. The tangential bending cheek11then executes its working movement and in so doing folds the sheet portion2/1along the processing line23. The holding-down clamp9is then raised again into its initial position. The conditions resulting therefrom can be seen inFIG. 7.

By means of a rotary drive not shown in detail, the contact plates17,19of the workpiece holder13, together with the clamped sheet portion2/1, are now rotated through 180° about a vertical axis of rotation. The folded edge of the sheet portion2/1comes to rest outside the jaw6of the machine frame5of the bending device4(FIG. 8).

By means of renewed travel of the support frame12with the sheet portion2/1in the axial direction22towards the machine frame5of the bending device4, the longitudinal edge of the sheet portion2/1lying opposite the already folded longitudinal edge can now also be transferred to a processing position with respect to the bending tool7of the bending device4. In the manner described previously, the edge lying opposite the already folded edge of the sheet portion2/1can now also be folded. Finally, the sheet portion2/1, folded on both longitudinal edges, is removed from the bending device4by means of corresponding travel of the support frame12in the axial direction22. The processed sheet portion2/1can then be removed, for example manually, from the system1.

The residual sheet2/2, still supported on the workpiece support29, can either be processed further or removed from the workpiece support29. AsFIG. 9shows, in the plan view of the workpiece support29, the residual sheet2/2can also be moved laterally (direction22) past the machine frame5of the bending device4for removal from the workpiece support29.

A system41as shown inFIG. 10differs from the system1according toFIGS. 1 to 9only with regard to the travel drive for the workpiece holder13and the cutting device3. Differing from the conditions according toFIGS. 1 to 9, the system41comprises a transverse guide60with a stationary support frame52. The workpiece holder13and the cutting device3are movable together on the stationary support frame52in the axial direction22.