A working machine for conducting machining by pressing of a sheet material

Abstract: A working machine for conducting machining by pressing of a sheet material. The machine comprises: a first (ET) and a second (TT), particularly upper and lower machining means in a machine body (28), at least the first one (ET) being arranged to move in relation to the machine body (28) towards the second one (TT), to accomplish machining, wherein the sheet material to be worked is placed between the machining means (ET, TT), wherein at least one of the machining means (ET, TT) is provided with third means (7, 9) for conducting the transfer and working movements of the machining means (ET, TT), wherein the first part (7) of the third means (7, 9) is fixed to the machining means (ET, TT), and the second part (9) of the third means (7, 9) is fixed to the machine body (28), to be movable in relation thereto by actuators (10, 11, 14 - 26, 39, 41) in the machine body (28), wherein the movement of the second part (9) in relation to the machine body (28) during machining is transmitted from the second part (9) to the first part (7) by a contact surface connection, wherein the first part (7) and/or the second part (9) is equipped with at least one guide surface part (36) which is formed as a bevelled surface in relation to the direction of movement of the machining means (ET, TT), wherein the guide surface part (36) is provided with at least a first portion (36a) for conducting the transfer movements of the machining means (ET, TT) and a second portion (36b) for conducting the working movements, and wherein the position of the contact surface connection between the first part (7) and the second part (9) in relation to the guide surface part (36) is arranged to define the position of the machining means (ET, TT). The movement of the second part (9) is arranged as a rotational movement. Optionally, the guide surface part (36) is arranged to be symmetrical and uniform in relation to the inversion point (37) of the guide surface part (36), wherein the inversion point (37) determines the final position of the machining movement of the tool (29).

Description: The invention relates to a working machine for conducting machining by pressing of a sheet material as set forth more closely in the introductory part of claim 1, which is based on US-A-1 999 057. Publications US-5,092,151 and US-5,199,293 disclose particularly sheet working centres intended for bending, whereby separate means are used for accomplishing the approaching movement of the tool on one hand, and the actual working movement on the other hand. The means for accomplishing the approaching movement of the tool are constructed in a way that the approaching movement is relatively quick, and on the other hand, the means for accomplishing the actual working movement are constructed in a way that their movement is relatively slow in relation to the movement of the first means. On the other hand, the second means are constructed so that the force effect to be accomplished with them is considerably greater for the working of the sheet than the force effect accomplished by the movement of the first means which accomplish only a linear movement. In said US publication, the second means comprise a first gliding means fixed to a buffer arranged to be movable in the vertical direction, and a second gliding means arranged to move by actuators in the horizontal direction, wherein the working movement of the second means is accomplished by a wedging effect between the first and second gliding means. Between the wedge surfaces in the first and second gliding means, there are roll surfaces, by means of which the movement of the horizontally moving, wedge-like second gliding means is transmitted to the second gliding means as a vertical movement and thus to the working movement of the tool in the buffer bar. The solution known from the publications US-5,092,151 and US-5,199,293 is disadvantageous in the respect that the approaching movement and the working movement are arranged to be effected by separate means and actuators using them. In consequence, firstly the construction using such a method is complex and expensive, because of the high investments on the required equipment; second, a complex control system is required for the successive approaching and working movements, which may easily cause operational risks. It is an aim of the present invention to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages of prior art and thus to improve the level of technology in the field. For achieving these aims, the invention proposes a working machine for conducting machining by pressing of a sheet material with the features of claim 1. The other, dependent claims disclose some advantageous embodiments of the working machine according to the invention. In the following, the invention will be described with reference to the appended drawings. In the drawings, Figs. 1a-c to 3a-c illustrate in a schematical and reduced manner, seen from the side, three advantageous implementation alternatives 1a to 3a of the invention, force/time diagrams 1b to 3b, and the respective guide surface parts 1c to 3c, Fig. 4 shows a detailed apparatus application of the method alternative of Fig. 1, seen from the side of the apparatus, Fig. 5 shows the apparatus of Fig. 4 seen from the end, Fig. 6 shows different steps a to d of the method implemented with the embodiment according to Figs. 1, 4 and 5 in cutting work, and Fig. 7 shows different steps a to c of the method implemented with the embodiment according to Figs. 1, 4 and 5 in moulding work. With reference to Figs. 1 to 3, a machine body 28 is provided with a buffer bar 1 to move in the vertical direction in a cylindrical clamp 40 in the machine body. A pneumatic chamber 5, possibly equipped with a spring, is effective between the front surface 1a of a flange in connection with the buffer bar 1 and the machine body 28, for accomplishing the return movements of the buffer bar. The top part of the buffer bar 1 is equipped with means 7, 9 for accomplishing the movements of the buffer bar 1 and the tool in a power transmission connection with the same in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the level of the die (Fig. 4). The first part 7 of the means is fixed to the top part of the buffer 1 and the second part 9 of the means is fixed to the machine body 28 to be movable in relation to the same by using actuators in the machine body 28. According to the method using the machine of the invention, the movement of the second part 9 of the means 7, 9 in relation to the machine body 28 is transmitted from the second part 9 through a contact surface connection to the movement of the buffer bar 1 in connection with the first part 7 and the tool 29 attached to the same - both as the approaching and the working movement. Either the first part 7 or the second part 9 or both are equipped with a contact surface part 36 which is formed as a substantially bevelled surface in relation to the longitudinal direction of the buffer bar 1. It is common to all the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 3 that the guide surface part 36 is provided with at least a first portion 36a for accomplishing the transfer movements of the buffer bar and the tool fixed therewith, and a second portion 36b for accomplishing the working movements of the buffer bar 1 and the tool 29 in a power transmission connection therewith on a sheet 32. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the first part 7 is arranged as a shaper plate comprising the guide surface part 36 and placed in the machine body 28 parallel to the linear movement (arrow LL) of the roll-like second means so that the first 36a, second 36b and also third portion 36c of the guide surface part, where the buffer bar 1 is in the tool exchange position, are successive in the direction of the linear movement LL. The second part 9 is formed as at least one rolling means, preferably a roll whose peripheral surface 9a is in a contact surface connection with the guide surface part 36 of the first part 7. The linear movement LL of the second part 9 during application of the method is advantageously directed perpendicular to the longitudinal and movement direction of the buffer bar 1. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the guide surface part of the first part 7 is formed symmetrical and equiform in relation to the end point between the halves of the guide surface part 36, i.e. in this case the inversion point 37. The inversion point 37 is placed on the central line PKK in the longitudinal direction of the buffer bar 1, wherein said inversion point determines the terminal point of the working movement of the tool when applying the method. In the embodiments of Figs. 2 and 3, in difference to the embodiment of Fig. 1, the movement of the second part 9 is arranged as a rotational movement around an axis A. In the embodiment of Fig. 2a-c, the longitudinal direction of the central line of the rotational movement of the second part 9 is placed in an inclined or preferably perpendicular position in relation to the longitudinal direction of the central line PKK of the buffer bar 1. Thus, the guide surface part 36 in connection with the shaper plate forming the first part 7 in connection with the buffer bar 1 is shaped as a curved, particularly circular surface. Further, in the direction of the circumference of the rotational movement of the second part 9, there may be two or more rolling means, preferably rolls, arranged in succession to accomplish a contact surface connection with the guide surface part 36 of the first part 7. The rolls are mounted on bearings in a body frame rotating around the axis A so that their rotation axis is parallel to the axis A. The curved guide surface part 36 (Fig. 2c) is formed as a longitudinal curved surface whose longitudinal direction is aligned with the plane of the rotational movement of the second part 9 so that the first portion 36a of the curved shape extends at the beginning of the curved form and the second portion 36b extends from the bottom of the curved form to the terminal point 37 of the curved form where the rolling means 9 is disengaged from the guide surface part 36. The third portion 36c of the guide surface part 36 extends as a separate curved form in extension to the portions 36a and 36b, wherein the second part 9 is placed in the upper position of the buffer part 1 in a contact surface connection with the third portion 36c during a tool exchange. When starting the transfer movement of the buffer bar 1 after a tool exchange, the second part 9 moves from the third portion 36c to the first portion 36a of the guide surface part 36 over a beak 36d placed between the third portion 36c and the first part 36a of the left guide surface part in the embodiment of Fig. 2a-c. Figure 2c shows further the division of the guide surface part 36 into the portions 36a and 36b by a broken line 43. Figure 3a-c shows an embodiment of the invention where, contrary to the embodiments above, the central line A of the rotational movement of the second part 9 is placed in alignment and to unite with the longitudinal central line PKK of the buffer bar 1. Thus, it is possible to place the rolling means, e.g. rolls, forming the first part 7 of the means 7, 9, in connection with the buffer bar 1, mounted on bearings on the circular frame body 7a fixed to the buffer bar 1, wherein the rolling means forming the first part 7 rotate, supported by the frame body 7a, in the horizontal plane around radial axes 7a. In a corresponding manner, the guide surface part 36 (Fig. 3c) is formed in connection with the second part 9, wherein it comprises in the shape of a circle two or more zones 38 which are each substantially equal in shape and in which the portions 36a-36c are placed so that each rolling means forming the first part 7 and rotating when supported by the frame body 7a are at the same stage of contact surface connection. Figure 3c shows, displayed in a plane, the guide surface 36, wherein a broken line 43 indicates the point of change between the portions 36a and 36b in the inclined portion of the guide surface 36. The portion 36c consists of an indentation in the guide surface 36. Figures 1b to 3b show further the time/force curves formed in connection with the corresponding embodiments, and the corresponding portions of the guide surface part 36 particularly in the cutting machining embodiment. With reference to Figs. 4 to 7, the apparatus assembly used in the invention and applied in the sheet machining centre operates in the following way. The sheet 32 to be worked that is fixed by normal clamping jaws to be transferred in the X,Y direction on a horizontal working face 13, is placed in the desired position on the working face 13 for machining operations by means of an X,Y transfer device 33 in connection with the clamping jaws. The working face 13 is equipped with a die 31 which is substantially on the same plane or slightly upwards protruding above a lower stop 34 and on top of which the area of the sheet to be worked, i.e. cut and/or moulded, is placed. Above the die 31, on the opposite side of the sheet 32, there is a tool 29 which is, in the same way as the die 31, fixed to a rotating tool revolver 30 (shown by broken lines). The tools 29 and corresponding dies in the tool revolver 30 can be exchanged by turning the tool revolver 30 to the end 35 of the buffer bar 1 and the lower stop 34. The buffer bar 1 is an elongated form piece with a circular cross-section, fixed to the cylindrical clamp 40 of the buffer bar 1 in connection with the machine body 28, to be movable in the direction of its longitudinal axis. A sliding bearing system 3, 6 is effective between the cylindrical clamp 40 of the buffer bar 1 and the outer surface of the buffer bar. In the expanded top part of the buffer bar 1, above the buffer bar 1 is fixed the first part 7 of the means 7, 9 which is, in the embodiment (see also Fig. 1) a vertically positioned elongated plate-like form piece whose upper edge is formed as the guide surface part 36. The first part 7 is thus placed in the top part of the buffer bar 1 so that the guide surface part 36 of its upper edge is parallel with the direction of the linear movement of the second part 9 of the means 7, 9. The outer surface 9a of the second part 9 is in a contact surface connection with the guide surface part 36 of the first part 7. The second part 9 is mounted on bearings in an auxiliary body 41 mounted in the machine body 28. The roll-like second part 9 comprises an axle part 9b (see Fig. 5) which is mounted on bearings in the plate-like elements 41a, 41b of the auxiliary body on both sides of the second part 9. The auxiliary body 41 is also equipped with rolling means 39 separate from the second part 9. In the presented embodiment, there are two rolling means 39 placed horizontally on opposite sides of the second part 9, seen from the side direction of Fig. 4, at such a height position in connection with the auxiliary body 41 that the outer peripheries of the rolling means 39 are in a contact surface connection with a stop beam 10 belonging to a guiding device in connection with the auxiliary body 41, the top thereof. The stop beam 10 is linear, wherein the auxiliary body 41 conducts a linear movement that is transmitted to a linear movement of the second part 9, the second part 9 rolling in a contact surface connection with the guide surface part 36 during the movements of the buffer bar 1. In Fig. 5, the reference numeral 8 indicates the rolling bearings of the second part 9 by which said elements are mounted on bearings with the auxiliary body 41. Further, the auxiliary body unit 41 comprises a stop body 15 belonging to a guiding device and fixed above the stop beam 10 in the machine body 28, the stop beam 10 being fixed to the stop body 15 e.g. by a bolted joint. As mentioned above, the auxiliary body 41 is fixed to the machine body 28 to be movable in relation to the same. In Figs. 4 and 5, the machine body 28 is shown by broken lines for better illustration. To one vertical end of the auxiliary body 41 is fixed a horizontal transfer bar 19 of the linear guide arrangement, to which are fixed transfer carriages 16, 17 of the linear guide arrangement, which, in turn, are connected to a linear guide 18. The transfer body 27 mounted to the machine body 28 is provided with a screw 21 with bearings 20 and 23 at the ends of the screw. A nut arrangement 22 is placed on the outer periphery of the screw, the nut being in turn fixed to the transfer bar 19 in a stationary manner. To the free end of the screw 21 (on the left in Fig. 4) is fixed via an overload switch 24 a servo motor 25, which is also fixed to the transfer body 27 mounted on the machine body 28. In connection with the servo motor 25, there is a pulse sensor 26, wherein both the pulse sensor 26 and the servo motor 25 are coupled to the control system 42 of the sheet machining centre. Further, Figure 6a-d illustrates more closely details of the embodiment of Figs. 1, 4 and 5 in the cutting machining application. Figure 6a shows a tool exchange centre where the second part 9 of the means 7, 9 is placed at the third portion 36c of the guide surface part 36, wherein the tool revolver 30 exchanges the tool 29, whereafter the buffer bar 1 is fixed by means 35 to the tool 29. In Fig. 6b, the linear movement of the second part 9 has advanced to a stage where the transfer or approaching movement of the tool 29 by the contact surface connection is completed in the area of the first portion 36a of the guide surface part. Figure 6c shows a punching movement, wherein a waste piece 44 detached in the punching movement is pushed by the final stage of the punching movement inside the die 31. Thus, the second part 9 of the means 7, 9 has, at the final stage of the working movement, already passed the inversion point 37. Figure 6d, in turn, shows the initial position of a new approaching and working movement, i.e. a so-called sheet transfer position, wherein after completion of the previous working stage, the sheet 32 is moved by an X,Y transfer device 33 to a new working position. The second part 9 is thus placed at the end of the first part 36a of the guide surface part 36, which is in connection with the third portion 36c of the guide surface part. The position of the second part 9 on the first portion 36a can naturally be selected according to the thickness of the sheet 32. Figure 7a-c shows a moulding application with the apparatus of Fig. 6, wherein the second part 9 moves back and forth on the portions 36a and 36b of the guide surface part 36 and thus does not exceed the inversion point 37 (cf. Fig. 1b). Figure 7a shows the initial stage of moulding machining, where the sheet 32 is moulded against the die 31, and Fig. 7c shows a sheet transfer position corresponding substantially to the situation of Fig. 7a. Consequently, the machine of the invention can be applied in all methods intended for machining of a sheet, such as edging, bending, punching, and moulding, where working is conducted by pressing. Thus, at the general level that is obvious to a man skilled in the art, it can be mentioned that a working machine comprises a first ET and a second TT (cf. Fig. 4), particularly upper and lower machining means in the machine body 28, at least the first one ET being arranged to move in relation to the machine body 28 towards the second one TT, to accomplish machining of a sheet material based on the utilisation of a pressing force, wherein the sheet material to be worked is placed between the machining means ET and TT. Thus, at least one of the machining means ET and TT is provided with means 7, 9 for conducting the transfer and working movements of said tool ET, TT. The first part 7 of the means is fixed to the machining means ET and/or TT, and the second part 9 of the means is fixed to the machine body 28, to be movable in relation thereto by actuators 10, 11, 14-26, 39, 41 in the machine body (the reference numerals 11 and 14 refer to the rolling bearings of the rolls 39). The movement of the second part 9 of the means 7, 9 in relation to the machine body 28 during machining based on pressing of the sheet material is transmitted from the second part 9 to the first part 7 by a contact surface connection. The first part 7 and/or the second part 9 of the means 7, 9 is equipped with at least one guide surface part 36 which is formed as a bevelled surface in relation to the direction of movement of the machining means ET, TT. The position of the contact surface connection between the first part 7 and the second part 9 of the means in relation to the guide surface part 36 will define the position of the machining means ET and/or TT in relation to the machine body 28.

Claims: A working machine for conducting machining by pressing of a sheet material, comprising: a first machining means (ET) and a second machining means (TT) in a machine body (28), at least the first machining means (ET) being arranged to move in relation to the machine body (28) towards the second machining means (TT), to accomplish machining of a sheet material, wherein the sheet material to be worked is placed between the machining means (ET, TT), wherein at least one of the machining means (ET, TT) is provided with third means (7, 9) for conducting the transfer and working movements of the machining means (ET, TT), wherein the first part (7) of the third means (7, 9) is fixed to the machining means (ET, TT), and the second part (9) of the third means (7, 9) is fixed to the machine body (28), to be movable in relation to the machine body (28) by actuators (10, 11, 14 - 26, 39, 41) in the machine body (28), wherein the movement of the second part (9) in relation to the machine body (28) during machining based on pressing of the sheet material is transmitted from the second part (9) to the first part (7) by a contact surface connection, wherein the first part (7) and/or the second part (9) is equipped with at least one guide surface part (36) which is formed as a bevelled surface in relation to the direction of movement of the machining means (ET, TT), wherein the guide surface part (36) is provided with at least a first portion (36a) for conducting the transfer movements of the machining means (ET, TT) and a second portion (36b) for conducting the working movements based on pressing of the sheet material to be worked with the machining means (ET, TT), and wherein the position of the contact surface connection between the first part (7) and the second part (9) in relation to the guide surface part (36) is arranged to define the position of the machining means (ET, TT), characterised in that the movement of the second part (9) is arranged as a rotational movement around a central line (A), wherein the central line (A) is placed in a bevelled or perpendicular position in relation to the longitudinal central line (PKK) of the machining means (ET, TT), or, the central line (A) is united in alignment with the longitudinal central line (PKK) of the machining means (ET, TT). A working machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the guide surface part (36) is arranged to be symmetrical and uniform in relation to the inversion point (37) of the guide surface part (36), wherein the inversion point (37) determines the final position of the machining movement of the tool (29). A working machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the guide surface part (36) is formed to comprise a third portion (36c) in which the machining means (ET, TT), such as the buffer bar (1), is in the exchange position of the tool (29). A working machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the first part (7) or the second part (9) is formed as at least one rolling means, preferably a roll, whose peripheral surface (9a) is arranged in a contact surface connection with the guide surface part (36) of the second part (9) or the first part (7). A working machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the guide surface part (36) of the first part (7) is arranged as a surface consisting of one or several straight and/or curved portions (36a, 36b, 36c), bevelled against the longitudinal direction of the machining means (ET, TT), such as the buffer bar (1). A working machine according to claim 2, characterised in that the inversion point (37) is placed on the central line parallel to the longitudinal direction of the machining means (ET, TT), such as the buffer bar (1). A working machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the guide surface part (36) comprises in the shape of a circle two or more zones (38) which are equal in shape and in which the portions (36a, 36b, 36c) are placed so that each rolling means accomplishing a contact surface connection with the guide surface part (36) is at the same stage. A working machine according to claim 1, 2 or 7, characterised in that the first part (7) or the second part (9) is equipped in the longitudinal direction of the circular form with two or more consecutive zones (38) which each contain a guide surface part (36) and which each provides the same series of movements of the machining means (ET, TT), such as the buffer bar (1), during the rotational movement of the second part (9) advantageously in the same direction. A working machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the second part (9) comprises one or more rolling means in the direction of the circumference of the rotational movement of the second part (9), wherein, in the case of two or more rolling means, the rolling means are arranged in succession to accomplish a contact surface connection with the guide surface part (36) of the first part (7). A working machine according to claim 1, 2 or 9, characterised in that the guide surface part (36) of the first part (7) is formed to have a curved surface and that in the direction of the perimeter of the rotational movement of the second part (9) there are two or more rolling means arranged in succession, accomplishing a contact surface connection with the guide surface part (36) of the first part (7).

Inventors: LIINAMAA KARI, VIRTANEN MIKA, LIINAMAA, KARI, VIRTANEN, MIKA
Applicants: LILLBACKA JETAIR OY
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B30B1
IPC codes: B21D28, B30B1, B21D43