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 gathering operation includes a restraint operation of moving forward a left lower tool retention member so as to restrain a reference lower tool with the left lower tool retention member, an inserting operation of moving forward a right lower tool retention member so as to insert the right lower tool retention member into an insertion hole of a target lower tool, and an execution operation of moving the left and right lower tool retention members along a left-right direction so as to come close with each other. If a failure of the inserting operation is determined, a control device performs a retry operation of moving forward the right lower tool retention member again so as to insert the right lower tool retention member into the insertion hole (141) of the target lower tool after moving backward the left lower tool retention member.

A bending machine for metal sheets includes a punching arrangement that supports upper bending tools, a die arrangement that supports lower bending tools, and a back gauge unit movable inside an operating area and arranged to position a workpiece. The back gauge unit has a hooking element to engage at least one lower bending tool to move it along the bending direction. The lower bending tools include a set of side lower bending tools that are positionable in a non-operative configuration outside the operating area and unreachable by the back gauge unit. The side lower bending tools are connectable to one another to form a group selectable in number. At least one of the side lower bending tools of the group is positioned in the non-operative configuration inside the operating area to be engaged by the hooking element and movable along the bending direction together with the group.

A press brake tool or similar machine component includes a tool body with a first end configured for operation on a workpiece and a second end configured for coupling the tool with a tool holder in a press brake or related machine tool apparatus. A latch mechanism is provided in the second end, with an actuator configured to rotate the latch mechanism into first and second positions, respectively, for selective engagement and disengagement of the tool with the tool holder.

A press brake tool comprises a tool body having a working end configured for operation on a workpiece and a coupling end configured for engagement with a tool holder. The working end is disposed along the tool body, generally opposite the coupling end. One or more magnetic elements can be configured to induce a magnetic coupling for selective engagement and disengagement of the coupling end of the tool body with the tool holder.

The invention relates to a production system (1) comprising a bending tool (11), a tool store (12), a bending machine (4) and a manipulation device (13) which performs a travelling movement from a tool store position located in the region of the tool store (12) to a machine operating position located in the region of the bending machine (4). A first coupling element (18) is arranged on the manipulation device (13) and a second coupling element (19) is arranged on the bending machine (4). In the machine operating position, the two coupling elements (18, 19) are coupled together, through which the manipulation device (13) is fixed in position relative to the bending machine (4) and thus a reference position is set.

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).

A device for loading bending tools onto a press includes a first lower guide and a second lower guide oriented according to a first direction; a first upper guide and a second upper guide oriented according to the first direction; and devices for selectively translating the upper and lower guides in directions that are orthogonal to the first direction, wherein the lower and upper guides are configured so that one or more tools or dies can be slidably assembled thereon.

An automatic tool changer includes first and second tool change units that is driven respectively by a pair of servo motors and move along an arrangement direction of a plurality of tools installed on a tool installation unit, a torque detection unit that detects a torque of each of the pair of servo motors, and a control device that controls operations of the first and second tool change units. The control device fixes the first tool change unit at a reference position, and moves the second tool change unit toward the first tool change unit. The control device determines, based on a torque change of each servo motor, that a plurality of upper tools are brought together at the first tool change unit as a result of a movement of the second tool change unit.

An upper tool stocker for detachably supporting a plurality of divided upper tools in a press brake includes a stocker main body extending in a left-right direction, and provided with a left-right directional installing groove, attachment portions provided in upper portions of the divided upper tools being detachably installed in the installing groove, wherein the stocker main body includes a front-back directional cutout communicated with the installing groove to remove the divided upper tools downward or in the front-back direction from the installing groove.