Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7392678?dq=5,960,411
Timestamp: 2014-03-07 04:40:39
Document Index: 463086183

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 35', 'art 43', 'art 39', 'art 41', 'art 43', 'art 39', 'art 41', 'art 43', 'art 47', 'art 47', 'art 59', 'arts 49', 'art 59', 'art 53', 'art 97', 'art 97', 'art 37', 'art 37']

Patent US7392678 - Bending machine - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA bending machine has an upper table and a lower table. An input part is provided for inputting product information. A bending order determiner is provided for determining a bending order of the workpiece. A mold determiner is provided for determining the mold necessary for bending the workpiece. A layout...http://www.google.com/patents/US7392678?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7392678 - Bending machineAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7392678 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/531,989PCT numberPCT/JP2003/013550Publication dateJul 1, 2008Filing dateOct 23, 2003Priority dateOct 23, 2002Fee statusPaidAlso published asEP1563921A1, EP1563921A4, EP1563921B1, US20060162408, WO2004037457A1Publication number10531989, 531989, PCT/2003/13550, PCT/JP/2003/013550, PCT/JP/2003/13550, PCT/JP/3/013550, PCT/JP/3/13550, PCT/JP2003/013550, PCT/JP2003/13550, PCT/JP2003013550, PCT/JP200313550, PCT/JP3/013550, PCT/JP3/13550, PCT/JP3013550, PCT/JP313550, US 7392678 B2, US 7392678B2, US-B2-7392678, US7392678 B2, US7392678B2InventorsYoshiaki Niwa, Hidekatsu Ikeda, Takahiro ShibataOriginal AssigneeAmada Company, LimiitedExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (14), Non-Patent Citations (5), Referenced by (4), Classifications (10), Legal Events (2) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetBending machineUS 7392678 B2Abstract A bending machine has an upper table and a lower table. An input part is provided for inputting product information. A bending order determiner is provided for determining a bending order of the workpiece. A mold determiner is provided for determining the mold necessary for bending the workpiece. A layout determiner is provided for determining layout of the mold. A positioning information calculator is provided for calculating a position of the workpiece with respect to the mold determined by the layout determiner as work position information. A navigation member is provided for navigating a position of the workpiece to the operator by movement in the horizontal direction on the basis of the work position information calculated by the positioning information calculator.
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a bending machine for performing bending of a workpiece in cooperation of an upper bending mold and a lower bending mold, in particular, a bending machine comprising a mechanism for positioning the molds and a mechanism for positioning the workpiece.
BACKGROUND ART A prior art of conventional bending machines is disclosed in the below-mentioned patent document 1 and this prior art will be described briefly as follows.
Examples of the conventional arts include Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-221630 (hereinafter referred to as �patent document 1�) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,969,973 (hereinafter referred to as �patent document 2�. Japanese Patent Application National Publication (Laid-Open) No. 9-509618 exists as a corresponding patent application. Priority Ser. No. 08/338,113, Nov. 9, 1994, United States, and Priority Ser. No. 08/386,369, Feb. 9, 1995, United States).
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a bending machine for bending a workpiece by cooperation of an upper bending mold and a lower bending mold which are movable relatively in the vertical direction, comprising: an upper table which has an upper mold attachment part for attaching the upper bending mold on the bottom side thereof and extends in the horizontal direction; a lower table which is formed so as to be opposed to the upper table in the vertical direction, has a lower mold attachment part for attaching the lower bending mold on the top side thereof and extends in the horizontal direction; an input part for inputting product information; a bending order determination part for determining a bending order of the work; a mold determination part for determining the mold necessary for bending the workpiece; a layout determination part for determining layout of the mold; a positioning information calculation part for calculating a position of the workpiece with respect to the mold determined by the layout determination part as work position information; and a navigating member for navigating position of the workpiece to the operator by movement in the horizontal direction on the basis of the work position information calculated by the positioning information calculation part.
Here, the �mold attachment reference position in the horizontal direction� refers a position that serves as a reference (including region) when the bending molds are attached to the mold attachment parts of the tables.
Here, the �work positioning reference position in the horizontal direction� refers a position that serves as a reference (including region) when the workpiece is positioned in the horizontal direction with respect to the lower bending mold according to the work positioning mode.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of a bending machine in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A first embodiment of a bending machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 5.
Here, �horizontal� refers right and left in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 and back and front as one faces the sheet in FIG. 2, �longitudinal� refers back and front as one faces the sheet in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 and right and left in FIG. 2, and �vertical� refers up and down in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4.
The input part 35 is electrically connected to the CPU 33 and inputs mechanical information, product information and the like. Here, the �mechanical information� refers information representing mechanical elements of the bending machine 1, including information such as dimensions of predetermined places of the upper table 11 and the lower table 17 and Young's modulus of the upper table 11 and the lower table 17. The �product information� refers information representing shape of the product, including material of the product, thickness of the product, tensile strength of the product, length of bent flange, predetermined bending angle, etc.
The layout information determination part 43 is electrically connected to the CPU 33 and determines mold layout information representing a layout mode of the bending molds 3 and 5 in the horizontal direction on the basis of the bending molds 3, 5 determined by the mold determination part 39, the bending order determined by the bending order determination part 41 (in other words, on the basis of the above-mentioned product information). Here, the �mold layout information� includes information such as offset amount of the center of the bending molds 3 and 5 with respect to the machine center of the bending machine 1.
The positioning information calculation part 43 is electrically connected to the CPU 33 and calculates work positioning information representing a positioning mode of the workpiece W with respect to the lower bending mold 5 on the basis of the bending molds 3, 5 determined by the mold determination part 39, the bending order determined by the bending order determination part 41 and the mold layout information determined by the layout information determination part 43 (in other words, on the basis of the above-mentioned product information and the above-mentioned mold layout information). Here, the �work positioning information� includes information such as offset amount of the center of the workpiece W with respect to the machine center of the bending machine 1.
That is, the light-emitting device control part 47 is configured controllably so that the plurality of the navigating light-emitting devices corresponding to mold attachment reference positions in the horizontal direction emit light on the basis of the mold layout information among the plurality of the navigating light-emitting devices (the plurality of the upper navigating light-emitting devices 27 and the plurality of the lower navigating light-emitting devices 29) emit light (refer to FIG. 3). Here, the �mold attachment reference position in the horizontal direction� refers a position that serves as a reference (including region) when the bending molds 3, 5 each are attached to the mold holders 13, 19 of the tables 11, 13, respectively according to the above-mentioned layout mode, and in the embodiment of the present invention, the same number of the mold attachment reference positions as the number of the bending molds 3, 5 are used.
The light-emitting device control part 47 is configured controllably so that the appropriate number of the lower navigating light-emitting devices 29 corresponding to the work positioning reference positions in the horizontal direction on the basis of the work positioning information emit light among the plurality of the lower navigating light-emitting devices 29 emit light as well as the appropriate number of the lower navigating light-emitting devices 29 corresponding to the mold interference reference positions in the horizontal direction on the basis of the work positioning information emit light in a special luminous state (refer to FIG. 4). Here, the �work positioning reference position in the horizontal direction� refers a position that serves as a reference (including region) when the workpiece W is positioned in the horizontal direction with respect to the lower bending mold 5 according to the above-mentioned work positioning mode, and in the embodiment of the present invention, when a plurality of bending parts (parts subjected to bending) Wa exists at a piece of the workpiece W, the same number of work positioning reference positions as the number of the bending parts Wa are used. The �mold interference reference position in the horizontal direction� refers a position that serves as a reference (including region) at which non-bending parts (parts not subjected to bending) Wb at the workpiece W interfere the bending molds 3, 5 when the workpiece W is positioned in the horizontal direction with respect to the lower bending mold 5 according to the above-mentioned work positioning mode, and in the embodiment of the present invention, when a plurality of non-bending parts Wb exists at a piece of the workpiece W, the same number of mold interference reference positions as the number of the non-bending parts Wb are used. The �emit light in a special luminous state� includes emitting light at varied flashing speed of the lower navigating light-emitting devices 29 and emitting light with varied luminescent colors of the lower navigating light-emitting devices 29.
Here, �horizontal� refers right and left in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, �longitudinal� refers back and front as one faces the sheet in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, and �vertical� refers up and down in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7.
That is, the traveling servo motor control part 59 can control the traveling servo motors 51, 55 so as to locate the navigating guide parts 49 g, 53 g at positions corresponding to the mold attachment reference positions in the horizontal direction on the basis of the mold layout information. Here, the �mold attachment reference position in the horizontal direction� refers to a position (including region) that serves as a reference when the bending molds 3, 5 are attached to the mold holders 13, 19 of the tables 11, 13 according to the layout mode, and in the embodiment of the present invention, the same number of the mold attachment reference positions as the number of the bending molds 3, 5 are used.
Further, the traveling servo motor control part 59 can control the traveling servo motor 55 so as to locate the navigating guide part 53 g at a position corresponding to the work positioning reference position in the horizontal direction on the basis of the work positioning information. Here, the �work positioning reference position in the horizontal direction� refers to a position (including region) that serves as a reference when the workpiece W is positioned with respect to lower bending mold 5 in the horizontal direction according to the above-mentioned work positioning mode, and in the embodiment of the present invention, even when a plurality of bending parts (parts subjected to bending) Wa exist at a piece of work W, one work positioning reference position is used.
Here, �horizontal� refers right and left in FIG. 9 and back and front as one faces the sheet in FIG. 10, �longitudinal� refers back and front as one faces the sheet in FIG. 9 and right and left in FIG. 10, and �vertical� refers up and down in FIG. 9 and FIG. 19.
That is, the traveling servo motor control part 97 can control the traveling servo motor 79 so as to locate the navigating pin 63 at a position corresponding to the mold attachment reference position in the horizontal direction on the basis of the mold layout information (refer to FIG. 11). Here, the �mold attachment reference position in the horizontal direction� refers to a position (including region) that serves as a reference when the bending molds 3, 5 are attached to the mold holders 13, 19 of the tables 11, 13 according to the layout mode, and in the embodiment of the present invention, the same number of the mold attachment reference positions as the number of the bending molds 3, 5 are used.
Further, the traveling servo motor control part 97 can control the traveling servo motor 79 so as to locate the navigating pin 63 at a position corresponding to the work positioning reference position in the horizontal direction on the basis of the work positioning information (refer to FIG. 12). Here, the �work positioning reference position in the horizontal direction� refers to a position (including region) that serves as a reference when the workpiece W is positioned with respect to lower bending mold 5 in the horizontal direction according to the above-mentioned work positioning mode, and in the embodiment of the present invention, even when a plurality of bending parts (parts subjected to bending) Wa exist at a piece of work W, one work positioning reference position is used.
Further, as shown in FIG. 19B, an experienced operator, on the basis of his/her own judgment, instructs �Valid/Invalid� of work navigating function according to each bending order 1 to 4 displayed as 1 to 4 in a left-end column of a table shown below the window 157 to set a target position of positioning of the work navigating function. Subsequently, which of a left and right side faces of the work navigating striking member the end face or end side of the work strikes against, to what extent each pull side amount (avoidance transfer amount) is, whether or not the work navigating member is raised higher than a normal work navigating position by 5 mm, and the like are set arbitrarily and the setting values is stored in the storage part 37. Thus, in the case of a repeated product, suitable processing can apply to the product by calling the above-mentioned values in the processing from the storage part 37.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS5934133Sep 30, 1997Aug 10, 1999Amada Company, LimitedBending press systemUS5969973Feb 9, 1995Oct 19, 1999Amada America, Inc.Intelligent system for generating and executing a sheet metal bending planUS5983688 *Apr 2, 1997Nov 16, 1999Anzai; TetsuyaMethod and apparatus for displaying die layout in press brake and for checking interferenceUS6374658Jul 31, 2000Apr 23, 2002Amada EuropeBending press with slotted lower panelUS6480269Jun 5, 2001Nov 12, 2002Amada Electronics Company, Ltd.Angle detection method for bending machine, angle detection apparatus and angle sensorUS6807835 *Sep 22, 2003Oct 26, 2004Amada Company, LimitedBending method and bending systemUS20030000269Jan 17, 2001Jan 2, 2003Junichi KoyamaBending method and bending deviceUS20030010078Jan 16, 2001Jan 16, 2003Junichi KoyamaBending method and device thereforJP2000254728A Title not availableJP2001259743A Title not availableJPH09155452A Title not availableJPH09509618A Title not availableJPH11221630A Title not availableJPH11314117A Title not available* Cited by examinerNon-Patent CitationsReference1English Language Abstract of JP 11-221630.2English Language Abstract of JP 11-314117.3English Language Abstract of JP 2000-254728.4English Language Abstract of JP 2001-259743.5English Language Abstract of JP 9-155452.Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS7513135 *Jun 30, 2003Apr 7, 2009Trumpf Maschinen Austria Gmbh & Co. Kg.Manufacturing device, particularly a folding press, having electronic tool detectionUS7802456 *Dec 27, 2005Sep 28, 2010Amada Company, LimitedWork bending angle detecting device and work bending machineUS8534105 *Nov 16, 2005Sep 17, 2013Amada Company, LimitedBending method, and die and bending machine used for the bending methodUS20090293576 *Nov 16, 2005Dec 3, 2009Amada Company, LimitedBending method, and die and bending machine used for the bending method* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification72/31.01, 356/138, 72/31.12, 700/145, 72/31.1International ClassificationB21D43/26, B23D37/14, B21D5/02Cooperative ClassificationB21D5/02European ClassificationB21D5/02Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionDec 22, 2011FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Jul 19, 2005ASAssignmentOwner name: AMADA COMPANY, LIMITED, JAPANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:NIWA, YOSHIAKI;IKEDA, HIDEKATSU;SHIBATA, TAKAHIRO;REEL/FRAME:016785/0019;SIGNING DATES FROM 20050421 TO 20050422RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google