A method for a robot to automatically find a bending position, including the following steps: step 1, establishing a gripper tool coordinate system (TX, TY, TZ); step 2, determining a user coordinate system (X.sub.A, Y.sub.A, Z.sub.A; X.sub.B, Y.sub.B, Z.sub.B) of rear blocking fingers (11, 21); step 3, a robot gripper moving horizontally, and detecting the state of sensors (12, 22); step 4, the robot gripper executing a rotational movement, detecting the state of the sensors (12, 22), and thereby obtaining a standard bending position. The robot automatically finds the bending position, the teaching difficulty is reduced, and the bending quality is increased. In the elevator industry, elevator door plate bending sizes are the same, but forming sizes are different. In the present invention, only one product process needs to be taught in order to satisfy elevator door plate processing with different specifications, thereby reducing maintenance costs and increasing production efficiency.

The invention relates to a workpiece processing machine (1), and to a method for operation of a workpiece processing machine (1). The workpiece processing machine (1) comprises an automatically adjustable stop finger (17), and has, for monitoring adjustment movements of the stop finger (17), a monitoring device (36, 37, 38) that comprises an illuminating device (36) and at least one optical detection device (37). In operation of the workpiece processing machine (1), during an automatically controlled adjustment movement of the stop finger (17), a light beam (38) is radiated into an area ahead of the stop finger (17) in the adjustment direction. Upon detection of a first light image (43) projected onto an object surface (42) by the first light beam (38), a safety measure is triggered.

The invention relates to a support device (15) for a press brake, comprising a base frame (24) and a support plate (17) with a bearing surface (18) which can be positioned between a base position (26) and a maximum position (27). The support plate (17) is arranged on a lever linkage system (25) which is connected to a drive unit (32) and which is designed as a parallel kinematics system. The drive unit (32) comprises a crank (35), which is connected to a positioning drive (33) designed as a rotary drive (34), and a rocker (54), which is connected to the crank in an articulated manner. The rocker (54) is connected to the crank (35) by means of an eight rotary joint (55) and to the lever linkage system (25) by means of a ninth rotary joint (56).

The invention relates to a back gauge (15) for a back gauge positioning system of a bending machine. The back gauge (15) comprises a stop finger (18) on which at least one stop surface (17) is configured, a base unit (21) that is configured for coupling with the back gauge positioning system (14), wherein the stop finger (18) is coupled with the base unit (21) by means of a linear guide (29), and the stop finger (18) can be displaced relative to the base unit (21) between a pushed-forward working position (28) and a retracted position (30), characterized in that the stop finger (18) and the base unit (21) are coupled with a first spring element (34), by means of which the stop finger (18) is pre-loaded into its working position (28), and that a locking device (41) is configured, by means of which the stop finger (18) can optionally be locked in the working position (28) or is released into its retracted position (30) for displacement counter to the spring force of the first spring element (34).

A tool holder assembly and insert body and activation system used with the assembly. The insert body of the tool holder assembly can be configured to shift as needed to engage tooling when the assembly is activated. In some cases, the insert body can be configured to shift further to better engage the tooling. The activation system can be electrical.

The invention relates to a bending press (18) for carrying out a forming operation on a workpiece (1), comprising a first clamping beam (27), which has a first clamping jaw (2) with a first forming edge (5), and an adjustable second clamping beam (28), which has a second clamping jaw (3) with a second forming edge (6), and also at least one bending beam (7, 38), which is adjustable in relation to the machine frame (19) along a bending beam guide (33) and has at least one bending edge (8, 39), the path of movement (12) of which passes by the forming edges (5, 6) at a distance (10) and with which a portion (4) of the workpiece (1) can be angled away in relation to the part of the workpiece (1) that is clamped between the clamping jaws (2, 3). In this case, the bending beam guide (33) is designed as a linear guide (34) and produces a straight path of movement (12) of the bending edge (8, 39), and the forming edges (5, 6) of the two clamping jaws (2, 3) can be made to approach the path of movement (12) of the bending edge (8) by means of a transverse guide (40) and an adjusting drive (41).

A bending machine with a work area image capture apparatus has a machine frame, a longitudinally extended, fixed machine table, and a longitudinally extended press beam moved by a drive relative to the frame and guided therein. The longitudinal expanse and the press beam movement direction define a working plane establishing a front working and manipulation space and a rear machine space. An image capture apparatus above the machine table in the machine space has a capture region oriented toward the machine space and is connected with a display configured to represent the captured image of the capture region. The capture apparatus is connected with the display by an image processing processor having a coordinate transformation module configured the captured image perspective. The coordinate transformation module is connected with a wireless position determination system configured to determine the machine operator position in the working and manipulation space.

A bending machine has a work area image capture apparatus. A longitudinal expanse and the movement direction of the press beam define a working plane, which establishes a front working and manipulation space and a rear machine space, which is distinguished from the former and, in particular, closed off. An image capture apparatus is disposed in the working and manipulation space above the machine table, in a center section of the longitudinal expanse of the press beam, which apparatus is connected with a display, which is configured for representation of the captured image of the capture region. The image capture apparatus is disposed in a press beam casing, and has two image capture devices, wherein each image capture device captures a partial section in the direction of the machine table.

To produce an L-shaped pressed component without causing occurrence of wrinkles or cracks through first to third steps: the first step where a portion of a blank 8, having tensile strength of 1180 MPa or more, to be formed into a portion disposed outward of a curved portion is held in a state of being clamped by a blank holder 73 and a die 71, and a portion of the blank 8 to be formed into a top plate 11 is held in a state of being clamped by a pad 74 and a punch 72; the second step where a vertical wall 14, a concave ridge 17 and a flange 15 on the inner side of a curved portion 1a are formed by bend forming with a bending die 75, thus forming one, two or more material inflow promoting portion, which increases an inflow amount of the blank 8 flowing into a portion to be formed into the flange 15 on the inner side of the curved portion 1a, in the vicinity of a portion of the blank 8 to be formed into the flange 15 on the inner side of the curved portion 1a of the pressed component 1; and the third step where the die 71 is moved in a direction toward a side where the blank holder 73 is disposed so as to form a vertical wall 12, a concave ridge 16, and a flange 13 on the outer side of the curved portion 1a by draw forming.

In a bending system and a method for using the same, the bending system includes a bending robot provided between a press brake and a predetermined setting area that is arranged in front of the press brake to assist in bending a workpiece. The bending robot includes a robot hand for holding the workpiece on a pallet that is set in the predetermined setting area. An image pickup unit, which picks up an image of the workpiece on the pallet from an oblique upper direction, is provided above and anterior to the predetermined setting area. A first illumination unit, which illuminates an image pickup area of the image pickup unit, is erected on a left front side of the predetermined setting area. A second illumination stand, which illuminates the image pickup area of the image pickup unit, is erected on a right front side of the predetermined setting area.