A punching system adapted to punch a sheet metal includes a platform, a punching portion, a base portion and a turret device. The punching portion is disposed on the platform, and a first upper die is detachably installed in the punching portion. The base portion is disposed between the punching portion and the platform, and a first lower die is detachably installed in the base portion. The punching portion is adapted to move back and forth along a first direction relative to the platform. The turret device is adapted to move along a second direction relative to the platform, and the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. A plurality of second upper dies and second lower dies are correspondingly installed on the turret device.

A die chanter for a die of a joining device, a die dome adapted to the die and a method for removing a die of a joining device and a method for inserting a die into a joining device. The die has a head having upper and bottom sides, and a shaft extending from the bottom side and receivable and lockable in a dome without rotation. The shaft comprises: at least one first web forming an undercut on two sides by which the shaft is lockable in the dome by a linear inserting movement, at least one second web, the length of which is adaptable to a diameter of the dome to ensure a lateral guiding of the shaft in the dome and which is arranged between the head and the first web, and an ejection surface by which the die can be moved out of the dome.

In a tool storing device handling a tool mounting stocker in which a punch and a die of a press brake are mounted in one stocker with rear surfaces facing each other, each of the stockers is supported on both sides by endless belts having one driving shaft, and the endless belts are circulated so that each of the supported stockers does not protrude to a worker side, whereby a position of a path line of the appropriate one of the stockers can be freely positioned at a position of the path line PL of a tool holder on the press brake side. This enables rapid and easy tool replacement by a bending robot by storing not only the tool made of the punch and the die but also the hand for the robot together.

A sheet material bending system includes a tool changing apparatus that changes tools between a press brake and a tool stocker. The tool stocker is arranged behind the press brake. To change tools from the front and rear of the tool stocker, the front and rear of the tool stocker are opened. The tool changing apparatus has a pivot that is movable in front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions and is rotatable around an axis extending in the up-down direction. A front end of the pivot is provided with tool holding units to hold tools.

The invention relates to a bending tool storage device (1) for storing bending tools (2), comprising at least one storage unit (3), which comprises an outer tool storage (4) which is ring-shaped or partial-ring-shaped and has a plurality of guide rails (14) for holding and guiding bending tools (2), characterized in that the storage unit (3) comprises at least one inner tool storage (5, 6) which is arranged inside the outer tool storage (4) and has a plurality of guide rails (15, 16) for holding and guiding bending tools (2), and in that the outer tool storage (4) and the inner tool storage (5, 6) are rotatable relative to one another, wherein, in different positions of relative rotation between outer tool storage (4) and inner tool storage (5), at least one guide rail (14) of the outer tool storage (4) is in each case in aligned orientation with another guide rail (15, 16) of the inner tool storage (5, 6).

A punching system adapted to punch a sheet metal includes a platform, a punching portion, a base portion and a turret device. The punching portion is disposed on the platform, and a first upper die is detachably installed in the punching portion. The base portion is disposed between the punching portion and the platform, and a first lower die is detachably installed in the base portion. The punching portion is adapted to move back and forth along a first direction relative to the platform. The turret device is adapted to move along a second direction relative to the platform, and the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. A plurality of second upper dies and second lower dies are correspondingly installed on the turret device.

A rotatable buffer turret apparatus on which plural pairs of punches and dies to be set on a turret of a turret punch press are set, includes an upper buffer turret on which punch attachment holes in which the punches can be set are arranged circularly, and a lower buffer turret on which die attachment holes that is associated with the punch attachment holes and in which the dies can be set are arranged circularly. The upper and lower buffer turrets are rotatably attached to a single rotary shaft. A diameter of the lower buffer turret is made larger than a diameter of the upper buffer turret. The die attachment holes are formed in a circular die attachment area having a diameter larger than the diameter of the upper buffer turret. According to the apparatus, a tool exchange manually operated by an operator can be done easily and efficiently.

In a tool storing device handling a tool mounting stocker in which a punch and a die of a press brake are mounted in one stocker with rear surfaces facing each other, each of the stockers is supported on both sides by endless belts having one driving shaft, and the endless belts are circulated so that each of the supported stockers does not protrude to a worker side, whereby a position of a path line of the appropriate one of the stockers can be freely positioned at a position of the path line PL of a tool holder on the press brake side. This enables rapid and easy tool replacement by a bending robot by storing not only the tool made of the punch and the die but also the hand for the robot together.

A first tool retention member of a first tool exchange unit retains a first tool to be exchanged in a state of being engaged in an engagement hole of the first tool. A second tool retention member of a second tool exchange unit retains a second tool not to be exchanged in a state of being engaged in an engagement hole of the second tool. Subsequently, the first tool exchange unit moves in a left-right direction in a state in which a movement of the second tool exchange unit in the left-right direction is stopped.

A method for the production of workpieces includes positioning and holding a first plate-shaped material with a gripping device in a working region of a processing station so that the first plate-shaped material is moveable relative to a workpiece support, positioning and holding a second plate-shaped material with an additional gripping device in the working region of the processing station so that the second plate-shaped material is moveable relative to the workpiece support, producing a first workpiece part from the first plate-shaped material, positioning the first workpiece part with respect to the second plate-shaped material, connecting the first workpiece part to the second plate-shaped material or to a second workpiece part produced from the second plate-shaped material, wherein the second workpiece part is at least partially processed, and finishing the at least the second workpiece part that is connected to the first workpiece part in the processing station.