Abstract:
A punching system ( 100 ) for punching preliminary workpieces into products and scraps is provided. The punching system includes a feeding device ( 10 ), a punching machine ( 20 ), a selecting device ( 40 ), and an electric control subsystem ( 50 ). The feeding device is configured for feeding the preliminary workpieces. The punching machine is configured for receiving the preliminary workpieces fed from the feeding device and punching the preliminary workpieces into the products and the scraps. The selecting device is configured for separately selecting and transporting the products to a corresponding working station and the scraps to a corresponding scrap station. The electric control subsystem electrically connects with the feeding device, the punching machine, and the selecting device, and is configured for controlling the respective operation of the feeding device, the punching machine, and the selecting device.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to punching systems, particularly to a punching system using a punching machine. 
         [0003]    2. Description of related art 
         [0004]    Punching machines typically have a continuous mold assembled therewith. Thus, the machining performance of the punching machine is largely enhanced by the operation of the continuous mold. However, use of the continuous mold produces scraps as well as the desired product during manufacturing. The products mixed with the scraps are transported by a belt to a next workstation where the products are manually separated from the scraps. The need for manual labor to separate out the scrap is time consuming and expensive. Additionally, there is a risk that the scrap materials may damage the products while they are mixed together. 
         [0005]    Therefore, a need exists in the art to address the above deficiencies and inadequacies. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Many aspects of the present punching system using a punching machine can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. These drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present punching system using the punching machine. Moreover, in the drawings like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements of an embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a punching system according to an exemplary embodiment, the punching system including a feeding device, a punching machine, a selecting device, and an electric control subsystem. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a planar view of the punching system shown in  FIG. 1 , not showing the feeding device and the electric control subsystem shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the punching system shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a circled portion IV of the punching system shown in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the punching system shown in  FIG. 3 , illustrating a working status thereof as a pressing board is pressed in contact with a lower board. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the punching system shown in  FIG. 3 , illustrating another working status thereof with the pressing board stopped and the upper mold moved further towards the lower board. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of the punching system shown in  FIG. 3 , illustrating another working status thereof with the pressing board having been driven away from the lower mold. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged partial view of a circled portion VIII of the punching system shown in  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    The present punching system using a punching machine is described here in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in  FIGS. 1 through 8 . 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the punching system  100  includes a typical feeding device  10 , a punching machine  20 , a selecting device  40 , and an electric control subsystem  50 . With regard to the working of the punching system  100 , the feeding device  10 , the punching machine  20 , and the selecting device  40  are connected together in that order. The electric control subsystem  50  electrically connects with the feeding device  10 , the punching machine  20 , and the selecting device  40 , and controls their operations. 
         [0017]    The feeding device  10  feeds preliminary workpieces (e.g., metal boards or metal belts) into the punching machine  20 . In this exemplary embodiment, a metal belt  60  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) is provided as a preliminary workpiece to be punched by the punching machine  20 . The metal belt  60  includes a product  62 , two scrap belts  64 , and two connecting portions  66 . Each connecting portion  66  connects one of the two scrap belts  64  with the product  62 . 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the punching machine  20  includes an upper fixing board  22 , a continuous mold  24 , and a lower fixing board  26 . The continuous mold  24  includes an upper mold  242 , a pressing board  244 , and a lower mold  246 . The upper mold  242  is securely fixed to the upper fixing board  22 . The pressing board  244  is positioned beneath the upper mold  242  and firmly attached to the upper mold  242  using a plurality of guiding columns  247 . The lower mold  246  is securely fixed to the lower fixing board  26  and located below and to the right of the pressing board  244 . 
         [0019]    The upper mold  242  has two first punching portions (not shown) and two second punching portions  2422 , all of which face the pressing board  244 . Each first punching portion corresponds with one of the two connecting portions  66  and are configured for cutting the connecting portion  66  so the product  62  is disconnected from the two scrap belts  64 . Each second punching portions  2422  is located to correspond with a labeled position A of each scrap belt  64  and configured for cutting the scrap belts  64  into a first scrap belt section  642  and a second scrap belt section  644 . The first scrap belt section  642  is the remainder of the scrap belt  64  after the cut. The second scrap belt section  642  is the cut section after the cut. 
         [0020]    The pressing board  244  has substantially the same size and shape as that of the upper mold  242 . The pressing board  244  has a protruding stage  2442  protruding towards the lower mold  246 . The protruding stage  2442  is located to correspond with the product  62  of the metal belt  60  and configured for holding the product  62 . 
         [0021]    Referring further to  FIG. 8 , the lower mold  246  defines a recess  2462  exposed to the pressing board  244 . The recess  2462  is enclosed by two opposite recess sidewalls  2464  and a recess bottom wall  2466 . Each recess sidewall  2464  has a guiding recess  2467  defined therein. The guiding recess  2467  has a cross section (not labeled) substantially same shape and size as the scrap belts  64 . The scrap belts  64  are accommodated and guided by the guiding recess  2467 . 
         [0022]    The recess bottom wall  2466  has a supporting protrusion  2468  formed thereon, which corresponds with the product  62  and is configured for supporting the product  62 . 
         [0023]    Referring back to  FIG. 3 , the selecting device  40  is configured for sorting/separating the product  62  and the second scrap belt sections  644  for the corresponding workstation and scrap station. The product  62  and the second scrap belt sections  644  are cut from the metal belt  60 . The selecting device  40  includes a first transporting portion  42 , a second transporting portion  44 , an air impelling portion  46 , and a photoelectric sensor  48 . 
         [0024]    The first transporting portion  42  has one end connected with the punching machine  20  and the other end connected with a next working station (not shown). The first transporting portion  42  collects the product  62  cut from the metal belt  60  and transports the product  62  to the next workstation. The second transporting portion  44  is near the first transporting portion  42  collects the second scrap belt section  644  cut from the metal belt  60  and transports the second scrap belt section  644  to a scrap station (not shown). 
         [0025]    The air impelling portion  46 , linked to the electric control subsystem  50 , impels air from an air supply  461  through an air pipe  462  to blow the second scrap belt section  644  towards the second transporting portion  44 . The air pipe  462  has one end securely attached at one side of the first transporting portion  42  and located opposite to the second transporting portion  44 . 
         [0026]    The photoelectric sensor  48  is also linked to the electric control subsystem  50 , and is positioned to one side of the punching machine  20  for sensing and measuring the moving distance of the pressing board  244 . If the pressing board  244  is pressed into contact with the lower mold  246 , the photoelectric sensor  48  transmits a starting signal to the electric control subsystem  50 . The electric control subsystem  50  signals the air impelling portion  46  to blow air towards the second transporting portion  44 . The air impelling action of the impelling portion  46  is stopped by the electric control subsystem  50  when the pressing board  244  is driven away from the lower mold  246 , causing a stop signal to be sent from the photoelectric sensor  48  to the electric control subsystem  50 . 
         [0027]    When using the punching system  100 , the feeding device  10  feeds the metal belt  60  into the punching machine  20 . Referring further to  FIG. 5 , the second scrap belt section  644  of the metal belt  60  hangs down from punching machine  20 , above the first transporting portion  42 . Accordingly, the product  62  is supported by the supporting protrusion  2468 . The product  62  is partially hung above the first transporting portion  42 . Thus, as each connecting portion  66  is cut by one of the first punching portions, the product  62  falls onto the first transporting portion  42 . 
         [0028]    As punching machine  20  works, the upper mold  242  and the pressing board  244  move towards the lower mold  246  along a direction indicated by an arrow shown in  FIG. 5 . The upper mold  242  and the pressing board  244  move until the pressing board  244  is pressed into contact with the lower mold  246 . Then, the protruding stage  2442  and the supporting protrusion  2468  hold the product  62  between them. Simultaneously, the photoelectric sensor  48  senses the moving distance of the pressing board  244  and transmits a starting signal to the electric control subsystem  50 . Then, the electric control subsystem  50  controls the air impelling portion  46  of the selecting device  40  to impel air towards the second transporting portion  44  of the selecting device  40 . 
         [0029]    Referring further to  FIG. 6 , the pressing board  244  is stopped and held. The upper mold  242  moves further along a direction indicated by an arrow shown in  FIG. 6 . The movement of the upper mold  242  drives the two first punching portions. Each of the first two punching portions cut one of the two connecting portions  66 , and simultaneously drives the second punching portions  2422  to cut the scrap belt  64  into the first scrap belt section  642  and the second scrap belt section  644 . Thus, the product  62  is disconnected from the two scrap belts  64 . 
         [0030]    At this point, because the second scrap belt section  644  is hanging above the first transporting portion  42 , the second scrap belt section  644  directly falls down onto the first transporting portion  42  and is then blown onto the second transporting portion  44  of the selecting device  40 . The second transporting portion  44  transports the second scrap belt section  644  to the scrap station. The protruding stage  2442  of the pressing board  244  and the supporting protrusion  2468  of the lower mold  246  hold the cut product  62  between them. 
         [0031]    Referring further to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the pressing board  244  and the upper mold  242  moves away from the lower mold  246  along a direction indicated by an arrow line shown in  FIG. 7 . The photoelectric sensor  48  senses the movement and sends a stop signal to the electric control subsystem  50 . The electric control subsystem  50  receives the stop signal and stops the air impelling action of the impelling portion  46 . The cut product  62  being held by the protruding stage  2442  and the supporting protrusion  2468  is released, and falls onto the first transporting portion  42 . Then, the product  62  is transported to the next workstation. 
         [0032]    It is to be understood, however, that even through numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.