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 clamp member and a counter pressure member are hingedly connected together about a rotary axis, and a fitting portion of a fitting protrusion that is positioned in a fitting recess is located at a foreside in an advancing direction of the pipe relative to a position where a bending operation of the pipe is initiated, and a mating portion at which a first groove part of the clamp member and a second groove part of a counter pressure member mate is located at a backside in the advancing direction of the pipe relative to the position where the bending operation of the pipe is initiated. The counter pressure member comprises a first member supported rotatably about the rotary axis, a second member detachably connected to the first member, and a third member detachably connected to the second member, which are connected together by a common connecting member (e.g., bolt).

A tool transfer device for displacing one or multiple tools, in particular bending tools, in a guide rail, includes: at least one longitudinal push and pull transfer device for displacing the tool(s), a channel for a supply line being formed in or on the push and pull transfer device, a receptacle including at least one, preferably spirally extending, guide for retracting the push and pull transfer device, and at least one supply line, a first section of the supply line extending in the push and pull transfer device channel. The guide includes a longitudinal opening extending along the guide extension, and a second supply line section extends outside the push and pull transfer device and the receptacle guide, and the supply line, between the first and second sections, exits the channel at an exit point arranged in the guide of the receptacle near the push and pull transfer device.

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 pipe bend die unit comprises a clamp member having a first groove part of half-circular cross section on an outer peripheral surface thereof with a fitting recess extending in a peripheral direction by a first predetermined length on a planar surface perpendicular to a rotary axis, and a counter pressure member having a second groove part of half-circular cross section formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof, and a fitting protrusion extending in a peripheral direction by a second predetermined length from a tip end portion of the second groove part. The fitting protrusion is positioned in the fitting recess so that the first and second groove parts are combined to form a pipe-receiving groove of half-circular cross section. The counter pressure member and the clamp member are hingedly connected to one another so as to be rotatable relative to each other about the rotary axis.

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.

A radial press is provided with a base structure, a pressing tool accommodated therein and a drive unit. The pressing tool comprises a number of base jaws which are arranged about a press axis and can be moved by the drive unit towards or away from the press axis in a synchronous manner and radially in relation to said press axis, and substantially wedge-shaped press-jaw heads can be exchangeably attached to the base jaws. A plurality of press-jaw head sets is stored in an associated magazine, the press-jaw head sets being for different press diameters. The press-jaw heads have two markings on at least one axial end side directly adjacent to both wedge surfaces. In addition, the two respective opposing markings of two neighboring press-jaw heads are aligned with one another. Markings that are different from one another are provided for different press-jaw head sets.

A tool changer includes a slider provided behind (or in front of) a table of a press brake, and configured to slide in a right-left direction along a tool installation part of the table, a finger provided in the slider, and configured to be inserted into an engagement hole extending through a tool and to move in a front-rear direction, and an engagement member configured to be protruded and retracted relative to an outer peripheral surface of the finger on a tip side, and to be engaged with a peripheral edge portion of the engagement hole of the tool (or an inner stepped portion formed at an intermediate position of the engagement hole).