Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a device for repeatedly machining several workpieces arranged one next to the other, in particular, bar-shaped or tubular workpieces. With such a device, several workpieces to be machined can be, e.g., bent, punched, perforated, enlarged, provided with threads and screws, flattened, and also tested. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Such processes, as noted above, are typically performed in separate final processing machines and connected presses. For mass-produced parts, these are combined in large-scale transfer installations, wherein then only one work process is performed for each final processing station. For all of the other processes and inspections, a single, separate processing device is then used. Therefore, relatively large and complicated installations result. In contrast, for small-batch and medium-batch production, as a rule, final processing stations with a workpiece clamp and an axial revolver are used for the axial tools. Here, however, because the processes are performed one after the other, a relatively long cycle time results. Such processing devices are therefore not economical for larger batches. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The problem to be solved by the invention is to devise a device for repeated machining of the type named above, which can be used economically for both smaller batches and large batches. 
     This problem is solved by the present invention by providing a device for repeatedly machining workpieces, especially bar-shaped or tubular workpieces, which are located next to each other. The device comprises a bottom part for supporting workpieces, a top part that can be drivingly moved relative to the bottom part. The workpiece is mounted on the bottom part, and a tool support receives several tools. To universally use the device, the tool support is equipped with a support plate which can be drivingly displaced relative to the bottom part. The tool support also encompasses several tool receptacles for axial tools. The tool receptacles are arranged next to and underneath each other. A drive unit is drivingly connected to the tool support to actuate the axial tools. Preferred refinements and advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. 
     In the device according to the invention, several workpieces are arranged one next to the other and clamped between a bottom part and a top part, which move centrally and which is constructed, e.g., as a press slide. The device contains a tool support, which contains a support plate that can move relative to the bottom part and which has several tool receptacles arranged one next to the other and one above the other for axial tools. A drive for actuating the axial tools is connected to the tool support. In this way, arbitrary processes can be performed at the same time on several processing stations and/or one after the other through axial tools lying one above the other. Thus there is the possibility of combining parallel and successive production steps arbitrarily. In this way, a combination of the advantages of large-batch and small-batch production installations is possible. Through the simple displacement of the support plate constructed like a tool register, the workpieces can also be processed in several steps at the individual processing stations without complicated tool exchange. 
     In an especially preferred construction of the invention, the top part of the device is guided so that it can move vertically by means of two side cheeks connected rigidly to the top part on two side parts of a frame. The side cheeks extend essentially across the entire height of the side parts and are guided across their entire or nearly entire length. This enables an especially stable and exact guidance of the top part. 
     The support plate of the device can also be easily adapted to different requirements through expansion. It can be constructed, e.g., in one piece or from several segments that can also move separately. The device according to the invention also has an extremely compact and simple construction, which enables high production rates. The drive for actuating the axial tools is advantageously formed by a traverse, which can move horizontally on a frame and which is driven by a servomotor. In a preferred construction, the lifting drive for moving the top part contains a drive shaft, which is mounted so that it can rotate in the bottom part and which can be rotated by a motor, with eccentric pins, which each engage in an elongated hole of the side cheeks by means of a sliding piece. However, other suitable lifting drives could also be provided. In the bottom part and/or the top part, additional drives for the workpiece machining can also be housed. 
     Additional details and advantages of the invention will become evident from the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the drawing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic side view of the device according to the invention for repeatedly machining several workpieces arranged one next to the other, 
         FIG. 2  is a partially sectioned front view of the device shown in  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the device shown in  FIG. 1  showing a tool support, and 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged partial view of a side cheek guide. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The device for repeatedly machining several workpieces  1  arranged one next to the other is shown schematically in a side and front view in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The device is designed, in particular, for the complete machining of bar-shaped or tubular workpieces, e.g., for manufacturing belt and lock tightener pipes, brake and fuel lines, fuel filler pipes, injection lines, and the like. The device is comprised of a bottom part  2  and a top part  3 , which is constructed as a press slide and which is guided so that it can move between two side parts  4  and  5  of a frame  6  relative to the bottom part  2  and which is movable vertically by a lifting drive  7 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 2 , the top part  3 , constructed as a press slide, is arranged so that it can move vertically by means of two side cheeks  8  and  9  connected rigidly to top part  3  on the two side parts  4  and  5  of the frame  6 . In the shown embodiment, the two side parts  4  and  5  have a U-shaped cross section that can be seen in  FIG. 4  with two legs  10  and  11  projecting inwards. Between the two legs  10  and  11  of the side parts  4  and  5 , the side cheeks  8  and  9  are guided so that they can move by means of linear guides. The linear guides are made from guide rails  12  and associated guide shoes  13 , which are arranged on the side parts  4  and  5  or the side cheeks  8  and  9 . The side cheeks  8  and  9  extend across the entire height of the two side parts  4  and  5  and are guided nearly across the entire length. In this way, an especially stable and exact guidance of the top part  3  is achieved. 
     According to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the lifting drive  7  for moving the top part  3  includes a horizontal drive shaft  14 , which is mounted so that it can rotate in the bottom part  2  and which is driven by a motor and which contains eccentric pins  15  extending laterally at their two ends. These eccentric pins  15  each engage via a sliding piece  16  in an elongated hole  17  of the corresponding side cheeks  8  and  9 . Thus, by rotating the drive shaft  14 , the top part  3  is shifted by means of the side cheeks  8  and  9  relative to the bottom part  2 . 
     On the bottom part  2  and on the top part  3 , several bottom and top workpiece holders  18  and  19 , respectively, are arranged one next to the other—shown only schematically in FIGS.  1  and  2 —between which the workpieces  1  are held and/or processed. Between the bottom part  2  and the top part  3  there are several processing stations, which are arranged one next to the other and in which the workpieces  1  are processed in successive steps. The transport of the workpieces  1  from one processing station to the next is realized by a transfer rail  20 , which is shown in  FIG. 1  and which is provided with corresponding grippers  21 . 
     The workpiece holders  18  and  19  can be easily exchanged by not-shown holding rails and locking pins. The lower workpiece holder  18  can be constructed, e.g., as a hollow shape and the upper workpiece holder  19  can be constructed as a counterpart to the hollow shape. They are used for deforming and/or fixing the workpiece  1  during the processing, but can also include additional processing devices or tools, through which the workpieces  1  are processed either by means of the downwards movement of the top part  3  or by additional drives in the bottom part  2  and/or the top part  3 . Thus, additional drives  22  and  23 , which are shown with dashed lines in  FIG. 1  and through which punching, stamping, perforating, or other processing devices can be activated in the tool holders  18  and  19 , can be housed in the top part  2  and in the bottom part  3 . On the back side of the frame  6 , a tool support  24  shown in  FIG. 1  is mounted for receiving axial tools  25  for the final processing of workpieces  1  and also an associated drive  26 . The tool support  24  contains a support plate  29 , which is adjustable in height by means of a toothed rack  27  and a drive pinion  28  and which contains several tool receptacles  30  arranged one next to the other and one below the other for the axial tools  25 . 
     In  FIG. 3  it can be seen that the support plate  29  is guided so that it can move vertically between two lateral guide bars  31 . It contains several openings  32 , which are arranged one next to the other and one above the other and in which the tool receptacles  30  are arranged for the axial tools  25 . The lateral spacing of the openings  32  in each row corresponds to the spacing of the workpieces  1  in the processing stations arranged one next to the other, so that several workpieces  1  can be processed on the back side. For each workpiece  1 , there are also several tool receptacles  30  arranged one under the other for different axial tools  25 . The support plate  29  can have a one-piece or multiple-piece construction. 
     The drive  26  shown in  FIG. 1  for the axial tools  25  arranged in the support plate  29  contains a traverse  34 , which is guided so that it can move horizontally on a frame  33  and which can be moved horizontally by a servomotor  35  by means of a drive belt  36  and two parallel drive spindles  37 . In the traverse  34  there are horizontal receptacle openings lying one next to the other for activation elements  38  for activating the axial tools  25 . The receptacle openings for the activation elements  38  are arranged in such a way that these align with the tool receptacles  30 . The horizontal spacing of the receptacle openings is adapted to the lateral spacing of the openings  32  for the tool receptacles  30 . By shifting the traverse  34 , the tools arranged in the support plate  29  can be activated. 
     The additional drives  22  and  23  likewise shown in  FIG. 1  include a rocking lever  40 , which can pivot about a rotational axis  39  and which is in contact with one end with a tappet  41  and with the other end with a cam plate  42 . The cam plate  42  provided with one or more cams is driven by a motor  43  by means of a belt  44 . By rotating the cam plate  42 , the tappet  41  can be moved in the axial direction and, e.g., a punching, stamping, or bending tool integrated in the tool holder can be activated. 
     In the following, the function of the device described above will be explained. 
     The feeding of the workpieces  1  to be machined can be realized from a not-shown parts bin, from the bar, or from a coil after having been separated. By means of the transfer rail  20 , which is provided with the gripper  21  and through which extend lateral passages  45  and  46  shown in  FIG. 2  in the side parts  4  or  5  and side cheeks  8  or  9 , the workpieces  1  are transported in sync from one processing station to the next. After placement of the workpieces  1  on the lower workpiece holders  18 , the top part  3  constructed as a press slide is moved downward with the upper workpiece holders  19  attached to this top part through rotation of the drive shaft  14 . Here, just through the closing motion of the upper workpiece holders  19 , processing can take place, wherein the workpieces  1  are fixed by means of a hold-down clamp guiding the upper workpiece holders. The machining, however, can also be performed only after the closing of the upper workpiece holders  19  by tools integrated in the workpiece holders. Theses tools are activated by the additional drives  22  and  23  arranged in the bottom part  2  and/or in the top part  3  by means of the tappet  41  activating the tools. The movement of the tappet  41  is generated by means of the cam plate  42  and the rocking lever  40  driven by the motor  43 . The cam plate  42  can include, on its periphery, several cams, which allow additional individual movement for different processes. 
     The final processing of the workpieces  1  is realized by the axial tools  25  arranged in the support plate  29 . These tools can involve tools for stamping, enlarging, flattening, etc., but also tools for the production of threads, for the mounting of nuts, for testing, or the like. The movement for activating the axial tools  25  is generated by shifting the traverse  34 . The axial tools themselves are supported in the tool receptacles  30  of the support plate  29 . 
     If, with the aid of the traverse  34  an axial lift is realized, the traverse  34  can be moved back and the support plate  29  can be shifted up or down into a next tool position. Thus, also without complicated tool exchange, successive work processes can be performed at one processing station and/or simultaneously at different processing stations. For shorter workpieces, a turning station can also be provided, through which the workpieces are turned for processing at both ends. For longer workpieces, two devices can be set opposite each other in such a way that processing is possible at both ends. When processing has ended, the workpieces  1  are first fixed with the aid of the gripper  21  attached to the transfer rail  20  before the top part  3  is moved upward. After opening the top part  3 , the workpieces  1  are removed from the lower workpiece holder  18  by the gripper  21  arranged on the transfer rail  20  and transported to the next processing station. For simpler processing, processing stations can also be skipped. Then a new processing cycle can begin. 
     By the device described above, complete processing from the coil up to the complete workpiece can be performed, wherein, in addition to the final processing, other processing steps, such as, e.g., punching, stamping, bending, testing, and the like, are also possible. The device is extremely flexible and can be used universally.

Technology Category: 4