Metal deforming – By use of non-deforming work-gripping clamp and relatively... – Clamp structure constitutes sole initial metal-deforming...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-19
2003-02-11
Crane, Daniel C. (Department: 3725)
Metal deforming
By use of non-deforming work-gripping clamp and relatively...
Clamp structure constitutes sole initial metal-deforming...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06516648
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a bending machine for flat material, comprising a machine frame, a lower beam arranged on the machine frame and having a lower clamping tool and an upper beam arranged on the machine frame and having an upper clamping tool, with which the flat material can be fixed in a clamping plane, a bending tool moving device which is associated with one of the beams and with which a bending tool carrier with a bending tool for bending the flat material about a bending edge relative to the clamping plane can be moved into a plurality of bending positions.
A machine of this type is known from the state of the art, for example, DE 42 06 417. With this machine, there is the problem, on the one hand, of the pivoting of a bending beam bearing the bending tool being constructionally complicated and, on the other hand, of considerable space being required for the handling and the bending of the flat material in a front area in front of the clamping tools.
The object underlying the invention is therefore to improve a bending machine of the generic type in such a manner that with a space-saving construction of the bending machine the movements of the bending tool can be realized technically with simple means.
This object is accomplished in accordance with the invention, in a bending machine of the type described at the outset, in that the machine frame is designed to be laterally open at at least one of its transverse sides for the insertion of flat material in longitudinal direction of the bending edge and between the upper beam and the lower beam, that the bending tool is movable transversely to the clamping plane for passing through the bending positions and that in all the possible bending positions the bending tool carrier remains exclusively on the side of the clamping plane, on which a starting bending position of the bending tool is located.
The advantage of the inventive solution is to be seen in the fact that, on the one hand, it is possible to supply the flat material through the laterally open machine frame in a simple manner and the kinematics of the bending tool carrier are also simplified as a result such that this is not a hindrance even during complex bending operations.
The inventive solution is particularly advantageous in that elongated flat material, in particular, can be supplied in a simple manner and is also easy to handle and thus the bending machine can also be easily integrated into a production line, with which, for example, flat material coming from the coil or from a rolling unit can be processed.
As a result of the inventive design of the bending tool moving device which moves the bending tool transversely, i.e., at right angles or in any optional manner at an angle to the clamping plane, it is possible for the bending machine to be of a very compact construction and, in particular, for a front space in front of the clamping tools, into which the sheet metal to be bent projects, to be affected to as small a degree as possible by the bending tool moving device in order to obtain as great a degree of freedom as possible with respect to the possible bending operations and/or handling operations.
For such a laterally open design of the machine frame, it is fundamentally sufficient when an opening is present which extends in the direction of the clamping plane and is limited transversely to the bending edge and which is larger than an extension of the flat material to be supplied in this direction. It is, however, particularly favorable when the machine frame is designed to be open in the area of the clamping tools for the insertion of flat material between the clamping tools, as well, so that also flat material which has a greater extension transversely to the bending edge than, for example, the distance between a guide means of upper beam and lower beam relative to one another and the bending edge can already be inserted laterally between the clamping tools.
Such a design of the machine frame would also be conceivable when the machine frame has side columns; in this case, it would merely be necessary for the side columns to be provided with corresponding openings.
It is, however, particularly favorable when the machine frame is designed to be free from any side columns. A particularly advantageous design of the machine frame provides for this to extend essentially only between lateral end surfaces of the upper beam and the lower beam.
One advantageous type of design for the machine frame provides for the machine frame to have at least two frame units which are arranged to extend one after the other in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bending edge and which hold the lower beam and the upper beam so as to be movable relative to one another. Such a solution is of advantage, in particular, with a view to the efficient production of bending machines with lengths of the upper beams and the lower beams varying in size since the number of frame units can vary from bending machine to bending machine with the length of lower beam and upper beam.
In this respect, spaces are preferably arranged between the frame units. These spaces can, for example, also be used to provide handling devices for the flat material during bending which engage in the spaces and can thus be designed in a simple manner such that they can advantageously grip the flat material and position it for bending.
With respect to the design of the frame units themselves, it is favorable when each frame unit has a guide means for a defined movement of the lower beam and the upper beam relative to one another so that the guidance of upper beam and lower beam relative to one another is brought about each time at each of the frame units. The lower beam and the upper beam can also be designed in a constructionally advantageous manner, in particular, as a result of the plurality of frame units since the frame units each represent a stabilization of lower beam and upper beam relative to one another and so the stability of the lower beam and the upper beam in longitudinal direction of the bending edge has to be far less great than in machines, with which lower beam and upper beam extend self-supportingly between lateral frame units of the machine frame.
The guide means for lower beam and upper beam relative to one another can be of any optional design. For example, a linear guide means for moving the lower beam and the upper beam relative to one another would be conceivable.
It is, however, particularly simple from a constructional point of view when the lower beam and the upper beam are pivotable relative to one another about a pivot axis.
In this respect, the pivot axis is preferably located such that it is arranged at a distance from the clamping tools on a side thereof located opposite the bending tool.
A particularly advantageous constructional solution results when each frame unit has a lower beam carrier and an upper beam carrier which are movable by the guide means relative to one another and bear the lower beam and the upper beam, respectively, so that the guide means can be arranged at a sufficiently large distance from lower beam and upper beam.
In order to form a continuous machine frame from the individual frame units, these are to be connected to one another although they already have a connection to one another via a continuous lower beam and a continuous upper beam. Therefore, it is preferably provided for the lower beam carriers of the frame units to be rigidly connected to one another, wherein a continuous rigid connection between the upper beam carriers of the frame units is preferably provided in addition to the lower beam.
With respect to the drive for moving lower beam and upper beam relative to one another it is necessary for at least one of the frame units to have a drive for a relative movement of the lower beam and the upper beam with respect to one another. This one drive would, in principle, be sufficient.
It is, however, particularly favorable when the machine frame is constructed from individual modules and, in particular, each of the frame uni
Kutschker Wolfgang
Pesold Erwin
Crane Daniel C.
Lipsitz Barry R.
McAllister Douglas M.
Reinhardt Maschinenbau GmbH
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