A press system capable of achieving improvement in production rate is provided. A controller has a slide driven upward and downward based on a prescribed press motion. A position of the slide where a workpiece can be transported without interfering with an upper die is defined as a feed-allowable height. A stand-by height is higher than the feed-allowable height and located at a highest position in the press motion. The controller also has the work transported while the slide is moving between the feed-allowable height and the stand-by height.

A method of aligning a flat or profiled metal sheet with preformed notches on the two sides of the metal sheet when the sheet enters into a bender or folding machine directly from a roll forming machine linked or joined to the folder. The metal sheet has to be effectively aligned on the folder before folding to avoid potential damages to the metal sheet of not being properly squared or angled on bending while reducing the times to produce the folded products. Moreover, this method according to the invention allows the metal sheet to feed directly into the folder from the rollformer without having to pass through an intermediary transfer table or aligning device/machine before entering the folder for folding or manual alignment in the folder.

In a roller-style feed mechanism, a feed roll is opened and closed for the purpose of pilot release using a direct-coupled servo motor as opposed to pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders. The electronically controlled servo motor drives a rotating shaft with eccentric cams that interact with cam followers causing the feed rollers separate for pilot release. The cam followers produce a force sufficient to overcome nip pressure when separating the feed rollers during pilot release. The electronically controlled servo motor is preferably operative to sense the point where the cams contact the cam followers after the upper feed roller is closed on the feed material, and automatically sense resistance to determine where the upper roll begins to lift so as to compensate for different material thicknesses.

In a roller-style feed mechanism, a feed roll is opened and closed for the purpose of pilot release using a direct-coupled servo motor as opposed to pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders. The electronically controlled servo motor drives a rotating shaft with eccentric cams that interact with cam followers causing the feed rollers separate for pilot release. The cam followers produce a force sufficient to overcome nip pressure when separating the feed rollers during pilot release. The electronically controlled servo motor is preferably operative to sense the point where the cams contact the cam followers after the upper feed roller is closed on the feed material, and automatically sense resistance to determine where the upper roll begins to lift so as to compensate for different material thicknesses.

A workpiece transfer method is for transferring a workpiece when bending of the workpiece is performed by a press brake including a die and a punch, the workpiece transfer method including, before or after the bending: moving an upstream transferer in a transfer direction of the workpiece while pushing the upstream transferer against an end of the workpiece, the upstream transferer being located on an upstream side with respect to the press brake in the transfer direction, the end of the workpiece being an upstream end in the transfer direction; and supporting the workpiece from below by a support in conformity with a shape of the workpiece after pressing of the workpiece by the punch, and intermittently transferring the workpiece in the transfer direction, the support being located on a downstream side with respect to the press brake in the transfer direction.

A workpiece transfer method is for transferring a workpiece when bending of the workpiece is performed by a press brake including a die and a punch, the workpiece transfer method including, before or after the bending: moving an upstream transferer in a transfer direction of the workpiece while pushing the upstream transferer against an end of the workpiece, the upstream transferer being located on an upstream side with respect to the press brake in the transfer direction, the end of the workpiece being an upstream end in the transfer direction; and supporting the workpiece from below by a support in conformity with a shape of the workpiece after pressing of the workpiece by the punch, and intermittently transferring the workpiece in the transfer direction, the support being located on a downstream side with respect to the press brake in the transfer direction.

A roll feeder is usable to intermittently feed a coiled material. The roll feeder includes a paired first roll and second roll, a meandering detector, a pressing component, and a controller. The paired first roll and second roll are disposed so as to clamp the coiled material. The paired first roll and second roll are configured to feed the coiled material in a conveyance direction. The meandering detector is configured to detect meandering of the coiled material from a specific conveyance position in a width direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the coiled material. The pressing component is configured to press the first roll against the coiled material being conveyed. The controller is configured to control the pressing component so as to correct the meandering based on detection by the meandering detector.

A roll feeder is usable to intermittently feed a coiled material. The roll feeder includes a paired first roll and second roll, a meandering detector, a pressing component, and a controller. The paired first roll and second roll are disposed so as to clamp the coiled material. The paired first roll and second roll are configured to feed the coiled material in a conveyance direction. The meandering detector is configured to detect meandering of the coiled material from a specific conveyance position in a width direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the coiled material. The pressing component is configured to press the first roll against the coiled material being conveyed. The controller is configured to control the pressing component so as to correct the meandering based on detection by the meandering detector.

A method for deriving the position of a pushing roll, applied even when there is a difference between the actual processed shape and a theoretical solution (a numerical analysis solution) due to changes in a state of a processing machine or the bending characteristic of the material to be processed. The rolls have a pyramid-like shape, and the operation amount of a pushing roll is changed while continuously feeding a material, thereby bending the material. Also, for each position of the fixed pushing roll, the radius of curvature of the material is measured and the bending characteristic is grasped in advance. From the design shape, the radius of curvature and the operation amount for bringing the pushing roll into contact are obtained. The operation amount of the pushing roll is then determined.

A method for deriving the position of a pushing roll, applied even when there is a difference between the actual processed shape and a theoretical solution (a numerical analysis solution) due to changes in a state of a processing machine or the bending characteristic of the material to be processed. The rolls have a pyramid-like shape, and the operation amount of a pushing roll is changed while continuously feeding a material, thereby bending the material. Also, for each position of the fixed pushing roll, the radius of curvature of the material is measured and the bending characteristic is grasped in advance. From the design shape, the radius of curvature and the operation amount for bringing the pushing roll into contact are obtained. The operation amount of the pushing roll is then determined.