Patent Publication Number: US-10773290-B2

Title: Supporting table for bending machine

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the National Stage of PCT/AT2016/050092 filed on Apr. 13, 2016, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of Austrian Application No. A 50290/2015 filed on Apr. 13, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. The international application under PCT article 21(2) was not published in English. 
     The invention relates to a bending machine for metal sheets with a support device for supporting the metal sheet to be bent. 
     From DE 10 2006 047 109 A1 a bending machine for metal sheets is known, which comprises a supporting table with support elements which are adjustable parallel to the bending edge. 
     The underlying objective of the present invention is to create a bending machine which can process already preformed or bent metal sheets as variably as possible, which can perform various different bends on a metal sheet. 
     Said objective of the invention is achieved by the bending machine as claimed in claim  1 . 
     According to the invention a bending machine is designed for metal sheets, in particular a pivot bending machine. The bending machine comprises: 
     a machine frame; 
     a clamping base, which is arranged on the machine frame, wherein on the clamping base a support surface is formed on which the metal sheet to be bent can be placed for processing; 
     a blank-holder, which is arranged to be vertically displaceable on the machine frame and by means of which in cooperation with the clamping base the metal sheet placed on the clamping base can be fixed and which blank-holder comprises on the front side a blank-holder edge extending in longitudinal direction of the bending machine;
 
a bending tool, which is arranged on a front side of the clamping base and the blank-holder and by means of which a metal sheet clamped between the clamping base and blank-holder can be deformed;
 
a support device, which is designed to hold the metal sheet to be bent, wherein a support surface of the support device is arranged in a horizontal plane with the support surface of the clamping base. The support device comprises at least one first and one second support module with a first and a second support surface, wherein at least one of the support modules can be displaced horizontally in longitudinal direction of the bending machine and in this way a gap at right angles to the blank-holder edge can be adjusted between the two support modules, and the support modules comprise respectively at least one first and one second support element with a second gap lying between the support elements, which second gap is aligned to be parallel to the blank-holder edge, wherein at least one of the support elements can be displaced so that the second gap can be adjusted in size and/or position.
 
     An advantage of the design according to the invention is that by means of the first gap running at right angles to the blank-holder edge or by means of the second gap running parallel to the blank-holder edge, which are formed on the support device and which can be adjusted variably, metal sheets can also be placed on the support device which have already been bent and thus are not flat in the region of the support device. In this way the bending machine can be more flexible, so that a greater number of different designed metal sheets can be produced overall. 
     Furthermore, it can be advantageous that at least one of the two support elements comprises connected segments guided on the support module. It is an advantage in this case that segmented support elements can be moved in position as necessary and that the latter can be removed partly from the area of the supporting plane and can thereby be arranged in a space-saving manner inside the support module. 
     Furthermore, it is possible that for each support module at least one actuator, preferably an electric motor drive, is provided by means of which at least one of the support elements arranged on a support module can be adjusted. It is an advantage in this case that at least one of the support elements can be adjusted and thus the size of the second gap can be adjusted variably. 
     In one development it is possible that for each support module two actuators are provided, preferably electric motor drives, by means of which the first and the second support element can be adjusted independently of one another. It is an advantage in this case that in this way not only the size of the second gap can be adjusted variably but also the position of the second gap can be varied. The individual support modules can thus be adjusted automatically to the requirements for processing different metal sheets. 
     An embodiment is also advantageous in which the support elements, in particular the individual segments, can be rolled onto a storage roll. In this way it is possible that the support elements, when the latter are displaced from the supporting area and thus the second gap is increased, can be moved in the support device in a space-saving manner. By rolling the individual segments onto a storage roll the latter can be arranged on the storage roll similar to a roller shutter, thereby reducing the amount of space required. 
     According to one development it is possible that the storage roll is coupled by means of a belt drive to a drive unit. It is an advantage in this case that by means of the belt drive the drive unit can be spaced apart from the storage roll and thus the drive unit can be arranged in an area of the support device, in which it does not negatively affect the functionality of the support device, so that by means of the drive unit the space required for supporting the metal sheet is not restricted. 
     Furthermore, it can be advantageous that the storage rolls are coupled rotatably by at least two of the support modules, wherein the rotary movement is transmitted by means of a drive shaft extending in longitudinal direction with a polygonal cross-section and wherein the drive shaft is driven by means of a rotary drive and wherein the storage rolls can be displaced in longitudinal direction of the drive shaft. It is an advantage here that a drive shaft with a polygonal cross-section can be arranged on the bending machine, which is driven by a drive unit. The individual support modules can hereby be arranged displaceably in longitudinal direction on the bending machine, the storage rolls having a polygonal inner cross-section which corresponds with the polygonal cross-section of the drive shaft. In this way a torque-transmitting connection can be formed between the storage rolls and the drive shaft, wherein longitudinal displacement is possible between the drive shaft and the storage rolls. 
     Furthermore, the support modules can be displaced by means of a manipulator in the longitudinal direction of the bending machine, wherein the manipulator comprises a coupling element for coupling as necessary to the support modules. It is an advantage here that in this way the first gap can be adjusted automatically in size and/or in position and thus the bending machine can be adjusted for processing various differently designed metal sheets. 
     Furthermore, it is possible for the manipulator to have a manipulator arm which is designed so that the manipulator can reach different support modules. It is an advantage hereby that a manipulator, used for manipulating metal sheet workpieces, can also be used for positioning the individual modules. 
     According to one particular embodiment it is possible for the manipulator to comprise a tensioning device with a carrier element. It is an advantage here that a manipulator of this kind can be designed as simply as possible and can extend over the whole width of the bending machine so that all of the support modules of the support device can be displaced by means of the manipulator. 
     In an alternative variant it is possible for each of the support modules to have its own actuator and be displaced by the latter in the longitudinal direction of the bending machine. It is an advantage here that the support modules can be displaced simultaneously and independently of one another and thus support devices can be prepared within a very short time period for supporting variously shaped metal sheets. In this way the set-up time can be shortened and thus the capacity of the bending machine can be increased. 
     According to one advantageous development is possible for each support module to have an emergency brake, by means of which the support module can be fixed in position. It is an advantage here that in this way the individual support modules can be fixed in position and in this way the unwanted displacement of the support modules can be prevented. 
     In particular, it can be an advantage that the individual segments of the support elements are coupled to one another by an elastic coupling element. In this way it is possible for the individual segments of the support elements to be joined to one another flexibly. 
     Lastly, it is possible that the individual segments of the support elements each comprise a roller guide by means of which they are guided in a support module. It is an advantage here that the individual segments of the support elements can thus be guided smoothly in a support module, wherein such a roller guide is only subjected to low levels of wear. 
    
    
     
       For a better understanding of the invention the latter is explained in more detail with reference to the following Figures. 
       In a much simplified, schematic view: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a bending machine with a support device; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the bending machine with the support device; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the support device, in particular according to the section line III-III of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the support device in the area of the storage roll, in particular according to the section line IV-IV of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the support device with a belt drive; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the support device with a direct drive; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the support device with a hub motor; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a further embodiment of the support device with a belt drive for the support modules; 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of a further embodiment of the support device with a gear rack for the support modules; 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of a further embodiment of the support device with a direct drive for the support modules; 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of a further embodiment of the support device with an elastic coupling of the segments. 
     
    
    
     First of all, it should be noted that in the variously described exemplary embodiments the same parts have been given the same reference numerals and the same component names, whereby the disclosures contained throughout the entire description can be applied to the same parts with the same reference numerals and same component names. Also details relating to position used in the description, such as e.g. top, bottom, side etc. relate to the currently described and represented figure and in case of a change in position should be adjusted to the new position. 
       FIG. 1  shows in a schematic representation a side view of a bending machine  1 .  FIG. 2  shows in schematic view a plan view of the bending machine  1 . The structure of the bending machine  1  is described in the following with reference to an overview of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     As shown clearly in  FIGS. 1 and 2  the bending machine  1  is designed as a pivot bending machine  2  which is used for bending metal sheets  3 . The bending machine  1  comprises a machine frame  4 , on which a clamping base  5  and a blank-holder  6  are arranged. The clamping base  5  can be connected rigidly, i.e. not movably, to the machine frame  4  and is used for supporting the metal sheet  3 . In particular, on the clamping base  5  a support surface  7  is formed on which the metal sheet  3  can be supported. 
     The blank-holder  6  can be arranged displaceably on the machine frame  4  in vertical direction by a guide rail system  8   9 . On the underside the blank-holder  6  can have a blank-holder surface  10  which is provided for contacting the metal sheet  3 . 
     On the front side  11  of the blank-holder  6  a blank-holder edge  12  is formed which can be used as a bending edge with the workpiece. The blank-holder surface  10  is delimited on the front side  11  of the blank-holder  6  by the blank-holder edge  12 . 
     To perform a bending process the metal sheet  3  to be bent is clamped between the clamping base  5  and the blank-holder  6 . On the front side  11  of the blank-holder  6  a bending tool  13  is arranged by means of which the clamped metal sheet  3  can be bent. 
     On the rear side  14  of the blank-holder  6  or the clamping base  5  a support device  15  is formed which is used for supporting the metal sheet  3 . The support device  15  has a support surface  16  on which the metal sheet  3  to be bent is supported or can be mounted. The support surface  16  of the support device  15  is preferably aligned in a plane with the support surface  7  of the clamping base  5 , so that a metal sheet  3  placed on the clamping base  5  and the support device  15  lies horizontally on the latter. 
     The support device  15  comprises a first support module  17  and a second support module  18 , which form a first support surface  19  and a second support surface  20 . The support surface  16  of the support device  15  is thus formed in particular by the first support surface  19  and/or the second support surface  20 . In other words the first support surface  19  and the second support surface  20  are part of the support surface  16 . 
     At least one of the two support modules  17 ,  18  can be displaced horizontally in longitudinal direction  21  of the bending machine  1 . The longitudinal direction  21  of the bending machine  1  is aligned to be parallel to the blank-holder edge  12 . 
     By means of the first support module  17  or the second support module  18 , in particular its limited first support surface  19  or second support surface  20 , a first gap  22  is formed which is located between the first support module  17  and second support module  18 . The first gap  22  is at right angles to the blank-holder edge  12 . 
     In addition to the first support module  17  or the second support module  18  it is possible for a further support module  23  to be formed which is designed in the same way as the first or second support module  17 ,  18 . Furthermore, a plurality of additional support modules  23  can be arranged on the support device  15 . 
     Furthermore, it is possible that at least one of the support modules  17 ,  18 ,  23  has a first support element  24  and a second support element  25 , by means of which in particular the support surfaces  19 ,  20  are formed. Between the two support elements  24 ,  25  a second gap  26  is formed which is aligned to be parallel to the blank-holder edge  12 . The second gap  26  can be varied by displacing the first support element  24  and/or by displacing the second support element  25  in position and in size. 
     By means of the described configuration of the support modules  17 ,  18 ,  23  it is possible for the metal sheets  3 , which have a prebent tab  27 , to be placed flat on the support device  15 . This is achieved in particular in that the tab  27  can be mounted in the second gap  26 . 
     Furthermore, by means of the design of the support device  15  with displaceable support modules  17 ,  18 ,  23  it is possible that a tab  27  can also be mounted in the first gap  22  between the individual support modules  17 ,  18 ,  23 . 
     The tab  27  can be arranged by means of the highly variable configuration of the bending machine  1  either parallel to the bending edge of the metal sheet section to be bent, at right angles thereto or at a wider angle therefrom. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  it is possible that the two support elements  24 ,  25  are formed by individual segments  28 . The individual segments  28  can hereby be rolled similarly to a roller shutter onto a storage roll  29  and can thus be displaced in a space-saving manner. 
     Furthermore, it is possible that for each support module  17 ,  18 ,  23  an actuator  30  is provided by means of which at least one of the support elements  24 ,  25  arranged on a support module  17 ,  18 ,  23  can be adjusted. The actuator  30  can be designed as a rotary drive, such as an electric motor rotary drive, e.g. a servomotor. By means of the actuator  30  it is possible for the second gap  26  to be adjusted at least in size or position. In this way a gap width  31  of the second gap  26  can be controlled. 
     According to a first embodiment variant it is possible for two actuators  30  to be provided for each support module  17 ,  18 ,  23 , by means of which the first  24  and the second support element  25  can be adjusted independently of one another. In this way the position or the gap width  31  of the second gaps  26  can be varied freely. 
     In a further embodiment variant it is possible for the first support element  24  and the second support element  25  to be coupled to one another by a connecting element  32  and thus be adjustable by a common actuator  30 . In this case the gap width  31  can be adjusted in advance and during the automatic operation of the support device  15  by means of one actuator  30  only the position of the second gap  26  can be varied and the gap width  31  remains constant. 
     According to another alternative variant the support elements  24 ,  25  cannot be adjusted by an actuator  30  but the latter can be adjusted manually. 
     The actuator  30  can be torque-coupled to the storage roll  29  by various different connecting means. Different connecting means are explained in more detail in the following in the individual  FIGS. 3 to 7 . 
     To displace the individual support modules  17 ,  28 ,  23  in longitudinal direction  21  a manipulator  33  can be provided which can be controlled by the machine control. The manipulator  33  can have a manipulator arm  34  on which a coupling element  35  can be formed which is used for coupling the manipulator arm  34  to the individual support modules  17 ,  18 ,  23 . The manipulator  33  can be used to adjust the gap width  36  of the first gap  22 . 
     Furthermore, the manipulator arm  34  can be designed for manipulating metal sheets  3 . In a further alternative variant the support elements  24 ,  25  can be adjusted by the manipulator arm  34  and thus the second gap  26  and the second gap width  31  can be adjusted. 
       FIG. 3  shows a further and possibly independent embodiment of the bending machine  1 , wherein the same reference numerals and component names have been used for the same parts as in the preceding  FIGS. 1 and 2 . To avoid unnecessary repetition reference is made to the detailed description in the preceding  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       FIG. 3  shows in schematic representation an example of a cross-section of a support module  17 ,  18 ,  23  according to the section line III-III according to  FIG. 1 . 
     In the embodiment in  FIG. 3  it is possible that the individual support elements  25  or similarly the support elements  24  can be guided in a guide rail  37  and can thereby be displaceable. For example, it is possible for the individual segments  28  to each have a guide roller system  38  by means of which the latter are guided or mounted in the guide rail  37 . The guide roller system  38  can be formed for example by a roller with an inner bearing which is connected to the segment  28  by means of an axial pin  39 . Preferably, two guide rails  37  are positioned relative to one another such that the latter also provide lateral support to the support element  25  guided thereby. 
     Alternatively to the embodiment variant with a guide roller system  38  a sliding guide can be formed, wherein a sliding element can engage in the guide rail  37 . The sliding element can be designed for example as a sliding block which is mounted in the guide rail  37 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a further and possibly independent embodiment of the bending machine  1 , wherein the same reference numerals and component names have been used for the same parts as in the preceding  FIGS. 1 to 3 . To avoid unnecessary repetition reference is made to the detailed description of the preceding  FIGS. 1 to 3 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view according to section line IV-IV of  FIG. 2 , wherein the cross-section runs through the center of the storage rolls  29 . The view according to  FIG. 4  shows the drive situation of the storage rolls  29 . 
     In the embodiment according to  FIG. 4  a drive shaft  40  is formed which runs through the center of the storage rolls  29  and the storage rolls  29  are torque-coupled to the drive shaft  40 . The torque-coupled embodiment can be achieved in that the drive shaft  40  has a polygonal external contour and the storage rolls  29  have a polygonal inner contour corresponding with said external contour for example. By means of said polygonal carrier profile the storage rolls  29  can be displaced individually in longitudinal direction  21  relative to the drive shaft  40 . The drive shaft  40  can be coupled to a rotary drive  41 , which can be arranged at the side of the support modules  17 ,  18  and can be used for the joint drive of the individual storage rolls  29  of the support modules  17 ,  18 . 
       FIGS. 5, 6 and 7  show additional and possibly independent embodiments of the bending machine  1 , wherein the same reference numerals and component names are used for the same parts as in the preceding  FIGS. 1 to 4 . To avoid unnecessary repetition reference is made to the detailed description of the preceding  FIGS. 1 to 4 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a further embodiment of the possible drive of a storage roll  29 , wherein this Figure shows that a belt drive  42  can be formed which is driven by a drive unit  43 . It is hereby possible that for each storage roll  29  a drive unit  43  is provided which drives the latter. In an alternative variant it is also possible for a drive unit  43  to be formed for driving a plurality of storage rolls  29 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a further embodiment of a way of coupling a storage roll  29  to a drive unit  43 , wherein in this embodiment the drive unit  43  is connected directly by a shaft connection to the storage roll  29 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a further possible embodiment of the arrangement of the drive unit  43  for the storage roll  29 . The storage roll  29  is designed as a hollow body and the drive unit  43  is arranged like a wheel hub motor inside said hollow body. By means of an inner toothing in the storage roll  29  or by means of a gearwheel connected accordingly to the drive unit  43  the torque is thus transmitted from the drive unit  43  to the storage roll  29 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a further and possibly independent embodiment of the bending machine  1 , wherein the same reference numerals and component names are used for the same parts as in the preceding  FIGS. 1 to 7 . To avoid unnecessary repetition reference is made to the detailed description of the preceding  FIGS. 1 to 7 . 
       FIG. 8  shows in a schematic representation a cross-sectional view of the support device  15 , in particular according to section line IV-IV of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 8  shows the individual modules  17 ,  18 ,  23 , wherein this Figure shows that a metal sheet  3  to be bent which is placed on one or more of the modules, can have side tabs  27 , which can project into the first gap  22 . To adjust the gap width  36  of the first gap  22  a tensioning device  44  can be provided which is tensioned for example by a drive roller  45  and a deflecting roller  46  and on which a carrier element  47  is arranged which can be coupled to the individual support modules  17 ,  18 ,  23  in order to adjust the latter. The tensioning device  44  can be designed for example in the form of a belt drive. In particular a toothed belt can be used for the tensioning device  44 . 
       FIG. 9  shows a further and possibly independent embodiment of the bending machine  1 , wherein the same reference numerals and component names have been used for the same parts as in the preceding  FIGS. 1 to 8 . To avoid unnecessary repetition reference is made to the detailed description of the preceding  FIGS. 1 to 8 . 
       FIG. 9  shows a further embodiment of the structure of the support device  15 , wherein a view according to  FIG. 8  has been selected. As shown clearly in  FIG. 9  the manipulator  33  can be designed in the form of a carrier element  47  which is guided on the support device  15  and engages in a gear rack  48 , whereby the carrier element  47  can be displaced in longitudinal direction  21 . The carrier element  47  can be here optionally coupled to the individual support modules  17 ,  18 ,  23 . In this way, the gap width  36  of the first gap  22  can be adjusted, similar to the embodiment according to  FIG. 8 . 
     Both in the embodiment according to  FIG. 8  and in the embodiment according to  FIG. 9  one or more of the support modules  17 ,  18 ,  23  can have an emergency brake  49 , by means of which the latter can be fixed in position. 
       FIG. 10  shows a further and possibly independent embodiment of the bending machine  1 , wherein the same reference numerals and component names are used for the same parts as in the preceding  FIGS. 1 to 9 . To avoid unnecessary repetition reference is made to the detailed description of the preceding  FIGS. 1 to 9 . 
     In this embodiment for each support module  17 ,  18 ,  23  an actuator  50  is provided which is used for adjusting the support modules. In this way the support modules  17 ,  18 ,  23  can be adjusted at the same time and independently of one another in longitudinal direction  21 . 
       FIG. 11  shows a further and possibly independent embodiment of the bending machine  1 , wherein the same reference numerals and component names are used for the same parts as in the preceding  FIGS. 1 to 10 . To avoid unnecessary repetition reference is made to the detailed description of the preceding  FIGS. 1 to 10 . 
     In this embodiment the individual segments  28  of the first support element  24  and/or the second support element  25  are coupled to one another by means of an elastic coupling element  51 . The elastic coupling element  51  can be formed for example by a rubber element. 
     The control of the drive units for the individual driving moments for controlling the gap width  36  of the first gap  22  and/or the gap width  31  of the second gap  26  can be performed by a central computer unit which is also used for controlling the bending process of the bending machine  1 . 
     The embodiments show possible embodiment variants of the bending machine  1 , wherein it should be noted at this point that the invention is not restricted to the specifically shown embodiment variants thereof, but rather various different combinations of the individual embodiment variants are possible and this variability due to the teaching on technical procedure of the present invention is within the skillset of an expert in this technical field. 
     Furthermore, also individual features and combinations of features of the various different shown and described embodiments can in themselves represent independent solutions according to the invention. 
     The problem addressed by the independent solutions according to the invention can be taken from the description. 
     All of the details relating to value ranges in the present description are defined such that the latter include any and all part ranges, e.g. a range of 1 to 10 means that all part ranges, starting from the lower limit of 1 to the upper limit 10 are included, i.e. the whole part range beginning with a lower limit of 1 or above and ending at an upper limit of 10 or less, e.g. 1 to 1.7, or 3.2 to 8.1 or 5.5 to 10. 
     Mainly the individual embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1, 2, 3 ;  4 ;  5 ;  6 ,  7 ;  8 ,  9 ,  10  and  11  can form the subject matter of independent solutions according to the invention. The objectives and solutions according to the invention relating thereto can be taken from the detailed descriptions of these figures. 
     Finally, as a point of formality, it should be noted that for a better understanding of the structure of the bending machine  1  the latter and its components have not been represented to scale in part and/or have been enlarged and/or reduced in size. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 List of reference numerals 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 1 
                 bending machine 
               
               
                 2 
                 pivot bending machine 
               
               
                 3 
                 metal sheet 
               
               
                 4 
                 machine frame 
               
               
                 5 
                 clamping base 
               
               
                 6 
                 blank-holder 
               
               
                 7 
                 support surface of clamping base 
               
               
                 8 
                 guide rail system 
               
               
                 9 
                 vertical direction 
               
               
                 10 
                 blank-holder surface 
               
               
                 11 
                 front side 
               
               
                 12 
                 blank-holder edge 
               
               
                 13 
                 bending tool 
               
               
                 14 
                 rear side 
               
               
                 15 
                 support device 
               
               
                 16 
                 support surface of the support device 
               
               
                 17 
                 first support module 
               
               
                 18 
                 second support module 
               
               
                 19 
                 support surface of first support module 
               
               
                 20 
                 support surface of second support module 
               
               
                 21 
                 longitudinal direction 
               
               
                 22 
                 first gap 
               
               
                 23 
                 additional support module 
               
               
                 24 
                 first support element 
               
               
                 25 
                 second support element 
               
               
                 26 
                 second gap 
               
               
                 27 
                 tab 
               
               
                 28 
                 segment 
               
               
                 29 
                 storage roll 
               
               
                 30 
                 actuator 
               
               
                 31 
                 gap width of second gap 
               
               
                 32 
                 connecting element 
               
               
                 33 
                 manipulator 
               
               
                 34 
                 manipulator arm 
               
               
                 35 
                 coupling element 
               
               
                 36 
                 gap width of first gap 
               
               
                 37 
                 guide rail 
               
               
                 38 
                 guide roller system 
               
               
                 39 
                 axle pin 
               
               
                 40 
                 drive shaft 
               
               
                 41 
                 rotary drive 
               
               
                 42 
                 belt drive 
               
               
                 43 
                 drive unit 
               
               
                 44 
                 tensioning device 
               
               
                 45 
                 drive roller 
               
               
                 46 
                 reversing roller 
               
               
                 47 
                 carrier element 
               
               
                 48 
                 gear rack 
               
               
                 49 
                 emergency brake 
               
               
                 50 
                 actuator 
               
               
                 51 
                 elastic coupling element