The invention relates to a gripper system (16) for a press brake (2), having a gripping device (11) for manipulating a bending tool (6). The gripping device (11) comprises a first gripping arm (21) and a second gripping arm (22) that is displaceable in the clamping direction (26) relative to the first gripping arm (21), said gripping arms (21) being configured to engage in a gripping groove (17, 18) of a bending tool (6) and to clamp the bending tool (6). The gripping device (11) is arranged on a carriage system (46), said carriage system (46) comprising a horizontal linear guide (47) by means of which the gripping device (11) is displaceable towards the gripping groove (17, 18) or away from the gripping groove (17, 18) in the longitudinal direction (35) of the gripping arms (21, 22).

The invention relates to a tool magazine (26) for a bending machine (3), in particular for a press brake, wherein the tool magazine (26) has several storage rails (28), which are arranged in a magazine housing (27) and serve to hold bending tools (4), wherein the storage rails (28) are designed in such a way that several bending tools (4) can fit lined up one behind the other in the longitudinal extension (30) of the storage rails. The storage rails (28) can be pulled out from a front side (29) of the magazine housing (27) in the direction of the longitudinal extension (30) of the storage rails.

A lower tool for a bending machine, in particular die bending machine, includes a longitudinally extended base body, which has, on its bottom side, a tool shank for being received in a guide slot of a tool holder and optionally tool shoulders in the transverse direction, and at least one friction reduction device on the bottom side of the base body for reducing a frictional force between the bottom side and the tool holder in the event of a displacement of the lower tool in the longitudinal direction, wherein the at least one friction reduction device is configured such that a weight force of the lower tool acting on the tool holder, while applying a prestressing force in the direction of the weight force, causes a resulting normal force of the lower tool onto the tool holder that is lower relative to the weight force.

The invention relates to a tool storage system (32) as well as to a production facility (1) for free-form bending of workpieces (2) made from a metal sheet, by means of a bending press (3), comprising a tool storage unit (30), a tool manipulation unit (31), and a provisioning unit (55) having provisioning rails (56, 57). The tool storage unit (30) has an upper and lower storage rail (34, 35), which are disposed spaced apart from one another at a vertical distance, as well as locally fixed in place relative to one another. The tool manipulation unit (31) has tool manipulation devices (36, 37), wherein each of the same comprises a working rail (38, 42), an auxiliary rail (39, 43), a drawing-in device (40, 44), as well as a pushing-out device (41, 45). Each of the tool manipulation devices (36, 37) can be displaced laterally next to the storage rails (34, 35), along a longitudinal guide arrangement (46, 47). Furthermore, the invention also comprises a method for manipulation of at least one bending tool (4) in such a tool storage system (32).

The invention relates to a bending press (10) for bending a workpiece (19), comprising a first platform (1) with a first tool mount (11) and a second platform (2) with a second tool mount (12), wherein one of the platforms (1) is movable relative to the other platform (2) for performing a working movement, a first safety device (20) for creating a light barrier (27) extending between the tool mounts (11, 12) transversely to the working movement of the movable platform (1), wherein the first safety device (20) has a first mount (21) and a second mount (22), wherein one of the mounts (21) carries a light emitter (25) and the other mount (22) carries a light receiver (26), and wherein the first mount (21) is arranged on a first side of the first platform (1) and is adjustable relative to the first platform (1) by a first adjustment drive (23), a controller (9) that is connected to the first adjustment drive (23), characterized in that the first tool mount (11) is designed in the form of a guide rail, which has at its first end a first front side opening (13) for changing a bending tool (8), and that the access for changing a bending tool (8) via the first front side opening (13) is obstructed in a first relative position of the first mount (21) to the first platform (1) and is unblocked in a second relative position of the first mount (21) to the first platform 1.

An industrial installation having an automated sheet metal bending cell and an automated magazine, having a spatial and functional organization for automating flows of materials entering and leaving the cell, aimed at increasing, in a reduced enclosure, autonomy of operation of the cell without human assistance, as well as flexibility and productivity of the cell, the installation including: a press brake; a bending robot; a rail, generally called a track, on which a carriage supporting the robot moves; a system for dropping off and retrieving parts during operation; a mechanical or optical system for controlling indexing of parts to be bent; a magazine or a set of racks for bending tools comprising punches and dies; at least one attachment device for grippers; a programming and monitoring system for the press brake; a control console; an automated magazine; and a supply area for parts to be bent.

A tool to be used for bending a sheet metal is selected and tool layout data is generated in advance that includes a tool ID of the selected tool, mounting position information, and information on a place where each tool is housed in a tool stocker. A display controller controls a display to display information on a place where a tool is housed. A tool collation unit collates a tool ID read by a reader of a tool retrieved by an operator from a tool stocker with a tool ID of a tool included in tool layout data. In a case where the read tool ID matches a tool ID of none of tools included in the tool layout data, the display controller controls the display to display a message indicating that the tool retrieved by the operator is an incorrect tool.

A tool-changing unit for a production plant for forming sheet metal using a bending operation. The tool-changing unit includes a tool-holding device having a carrier body and a number n of tool-holding modules arranged directly next to one another and held on the carrier body. Each one of the tool-holding modules includes a first coupler and a first actuating device cooperating therewith as a component of a coupling device, wherein the first coupler can be brought into coupling engagement and out of coupling engagement with an individual clamping jaw of a clamping jaw set. Moreover, a production plant has the tool-changing unit and the clamping jaw a method changes tools.

A press brake assembly including a gauge system and press brake machine for processing a workpiece. The gauge system having gauge with a clamp configured to handle the workpiece. The gauge is also capable of changing the tool of the press brake machine. A tool rack is disposed at the ends of a gauge rail for storage of the tools. The control system of the press brake machine may control the gauge, to allow an autonomous unmanned operation

A press brake assembly including a crane system and press brake machine for processing a workpiece. The crane system having a workpiece handling mechanism configured to pick and store the workpiece. The crane system allows the crane to move along a plane via longitudinal and lateral rails. The crane also includes multiple swivel points to allow mobility to handle workpieces efficiently. The control system of the press brake machine may control the crane, allowing a single control system to control the press brake assembly.