Metal deforming – With means to handle work or product – By gripper and/or endless chain
Patent
1996-04-26
1999-01-12
Hail, III, Joseph J.
Metal deforming
With means to handle work or product
By gripper and/or endless chain
72424, 723894, 72446, 72472, 724811, 483 14, B21D 4310
Patent
active
058573771
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to the production of bent sheet-metal articles and concerns an automatic bending system and some characteristic components of the system.
BACKGROUND ART
The invention has been developed to solve the problem of the bending of sheet-metal articles of complex shapes which are frequently used in machines such as photocopiers, facsimile machines and various electronic devices. These products are subject to rapid development and manufacturer therefore often changes models from one year to another. Each new model is the product of a redesign, even as regards the various sheet-metal articles which it contains.
These bent sheet-metal articles are therefore produced on a relatively small scale and thus do not justify complex and expensive tools and dies.
A system for producing bent sheet-metal articles known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,422 departs radically from previously existing bending systems which use bending presses with fixed frameworks and linear, V-sectioned punches and dies which are movable vertically towards and away from each other.
The system described in the U.S. Patent mentioned above provides for a piece which is to be bent to be supported by a manipulator so that a region of the piece which is to be bent lies in a vertical suspension plane. The bends are effected by means of an oscillating bending machine having two tools which can be disposed in any configuration relative to the piece to be bent. The piece is supported by the manipulator in a manner such that it can perform movements of limited extent with five degrees of freedom, excluding rotation about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the undeformed piece of sheet metal. The bending machine also has a device for the rapid replacement of the tools, using two rotary turrets carried at the ends of a C-shaped tool-holder structure.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The object of the present invention is further to develop the bending system, the essential elements of which are described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,422, and to improve some of the components of the system which have a critical role in the practical application of this innovative bending system.
The object of the invention is achieved by means of a system and by means of devices having, essentially, the characteristics defined in the claims.
The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the appended drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a schematic, perspective view showing a system according to the invention as a whole,
FIGS. 2 to 11 show a table for defining the position of a piece to be bent and, more precisely,
FIGS. 2 to 4 show in section, in elevation, and in plan, a gripper for fitting on to a piece of sheet metal,
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the table indicated by the arrow V in FIG. 1,
FIG. 6 is a schematic section taken on the line VI--VI of FIG. 5,
FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section of the part indicated by the arrow VII in FIG. 5,
FIG. 8 is a section of the part indicated by the arrow VIII in FIG. 7, on an enlarged scale,
FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 are schematic views showing the part indicated by the arrow IX in FIG. 5, on an enlarged scale,
FIGS. 12 to 19 show the suspension head, indicated by the arrow XII in FIG. 1, of a manipulator for sheet-metal pieces and, more precisely,
FIGS. 12 is a schematic view showing the operating principal of the suspension head,
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the suspension head,
FIGS. 14 and 15 are schematic, longitudinal sections of the head of FIG. 13 taken in two perpendicular section planes,
FIG. 16 is a section similar to that of FIG. 15 with the addition of clamping devices,
FIGS. 17 and 18 are sections, on enlarged scale, of the part indicated by the arrow XVII in FIG. 16, showing the device for the engagement of a gripper,
FIG. 19 is a section showing the clamping device indicated by the arrow XIX in FIG. 18, on an enlarged scale,
FIGS. 20 to 27 show the bending machine indicated by th
REFERENCES:
patent: 4658625 (1987-04-01), Koyama et al.
patent: 4809422 (1989-03-01), Kitamura
patent: 4898015 (1990-02-01), Houston
patent: 4936126 (1990-06-01), Sato
patent: 4991422 (1991-02-01), Sartorio
patent: 5147174 (1992-09-01), Gossler et al.
patent: 5168745 (1992-12-01), Miyagawa et al.
patent: 5183999 (1993-02-01), Hakenewerth et al.
patent: 5307659 (1994-05-01), Sartorio
patent: 5410904 (1995-05-01), Hirato et al.
International Search Report dated Feb. 3, 1995.
Amada Company Limited
Crea S.r.l.
Hail III Joseph J.
Tolan Ed
LandOfFree
System for producing bent sheet-metal articles and components of does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with System for producing bent sheet-metal articles and components of, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System for producing bent sheet-metal articles and components of will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1505396