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 projector emits laser light, and an optical receiver includes a photodetector. When an upper table is lowered, a safety controller controls lowering of the upper table to stop, when it is determined that the optical receiver is in a light obstructing state in a period in which a condition is satisfied that a first distance between a tip of a punch and an upper end of a material is equal to or greater than a second distance between the tip of the punch and the photodetector, and controls the lowering to continue without stopping the lowering of the upper table even when it is determined that the optical receiver is in the light obstructing state in a period in which a condition is satisfied that the first distance is less than the second distance.

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).

The invention relates to a bending tool (1) comprising a tool body (2) having an upper (3) and an opposite lower end region (4), wherein an attachment extension (5) is configured in the upper end region (3), and a working tip (6) is configured in the lower end region (4). A tool identification marker (11) is disposed in the tool body (2), and a communication interface (9) is disposed in the attachment extension (5) on at least one side surface (8) and not projecting beyond it, which interface is connected with the tool identification marker (11) by way of a connection line (10). An electronics unit (12) is disposed in the tool body (2). A voltage supply contact (14) that is electrically insulated relative to the tool body (2) is is disposed on the attachment extension (5), which contact is connected with a voltage supply module (15) of the electronics unit (12). Furthermore, a change-over switch (16) is disposed in the connection line (10), wherein in a first switching position, the tool identification marker (11) is connected with the communication interface (9), and in a second switching position of the change-over switch (16), the electronics unit (12) is connected with the communication interface (9).

To a fulcrum roll unit portion in a workpiece, a corresponding initial curvature radius is applied, and to a bending roll unit portion in a workpiece, a corresponding design curvature radius is applied. To an intermediate unit portion in a workpiece, an intermediate curvature radius set so as to continuously change from the initial curvature radius to the design curvature radius is applied. At least one of the fulcrum roll and the bending roll is moved on the basis of an integrated value obtained by integrating the amount of change in bending position in each of the intermediate unit portion and the bending roll unit portion.

A projector emits laser light, and an optical receiver includes a photodetector. When an upper table is lowered, a safety controller controls lowering of the upper table to stop, when it is determined that the optical receiver is in a light obstructing state in a period in which a condition is satisfied that a first distance between a tip of a punch and an upper end of a material is equal to or greater than a second distance between the tip of the punch and the photodetector, and controls the lowering to continue without stopping the lowering of the upper table even when it is determined that the optical receiver is in the light obstructing state in a period in which a condition is satisfied that the first distance is less than the second distance.

Method for providing sheet metal pieces, which are arranged at least in part side-by-side on a planar deposition surface, for drawing into a sheet metal bending machine by means of a side drawing-in device which is arranged on the sheet metal bending machine, wherein the side drawing-in device includes a pick-up device that is movable into the sheet metal bending machine and is intended for picking up a sheet metal piece to be drawn into the sheet metal bending machine at a pick-up position above the deposition surface that can be approached by the pick-up device.

Methods and apparatus to control roll-forming processes are disclosed. A disclosed example roll-forming apparatus includes an inlet portion to receive material, an outlet portion from which the material exits the roll-forming apparatus, a plurality of rollers extending between the inlet and outlet portions, a sensor to measure at least one dimension of the material as the material moves through the roll-forming apparatus, the material measured by the sensor between the inlet and outlet portions, and material adjuster circuitry to adjust roll-forming of the material by moving at least one of the plurality of rollers based on the at least one dimension.

A detection unit for detecting a press position and a load at the press position; an input/storage unit for inputting and storing a value serving as a reference for determining a bend point in a relation between the press position and the load at the press position; a slope calculation unit for calculating a slope of the load based on the press position and the load at the press position, which have been detected; and a bend-point determination unit for determining a point, at which the calculated slope of the load exceeds the value serving as the reference for determining the bend point, as the bend point are provided.

A detection unit for detecting a data row of a press position and a load at the press position; an input/storage unit for storing at least a load value serving as references for determining stop or judge; a calculation unit of the value of the slope of the load for calculating the value of the slope of the load based on the press position and the load at the press position detected; a calculation unit of the value of the slope of the slope of the load for calculating the value of the slope of the slope of the load based on the calculated value of the slope of the load; and a determination unit for comparing the calculated value of the slope of the slope of the load with the values serving as the references to determine stop or judge are provided.