The invention relates to a loading method for a machine tool (12), especially for a bending machine, having a tool-transfer device (1), a tool holder (17) of the machine tool (12), and a tool rack (13), wherein the tool holder (17) and the tool rack (13) are connected via a guide rail (4), and the tool-transfer device (1) has a magnetic retaining device (5). The tool-transfer device (1) is moved to a machining tool (18), which is arranged in a pick-up position (20) in a tool holder (17) or in a tool rack (13). The machining tool (18) is picked up and retained by means of a magnetic retaining device (5) of the tool-transfer device (1) and moved along the guide track (4) to a deposition position (21). There the machining tool (18) is deposited by deactivation of the magnetic retaining force (22). The magnetic retaining device (5) has an electromagnet (6) having an electronic activating device (7) wherein, upon deactivation of the magnetic retaining force (22), a demagnetization is performed by the activating device (7).

Changing of a horizontal roll in a horizontal roll stand involving readjustment of an amount of pressing is to be done readily and promptly. In order to achieve this, a horizontal roll stand 10 with a pair of built-in upper and lower horizontal rolls 11 is configured to retreat toward one side across a forming line. A fixed stand 40 stands upright on a counter-retreating side of the forming line. An overhang part 42 of the fixed stand 40 jutting out over the forming line is provided with a pressure device 43 that applies a pressing force to the horizontal rolls 11. The horizontal roll stand 10 includes a horizontal roll housing 12 with an opened top, receives the pressing force from the pressure device 43 via the opened top, and retreats to the outside of the forming line while the pressure device 43 is left on the forming line. The overhang part 42 of the fixed stand 40 is engaged with the horizontal roll housing 12 of the horizontal roll stand 10 to support the horizontal roll housing 12 in the forming line.

The invention concerns a sheet metal press system and a method used in connection therewith. The sheet metal press system comprises at least one sheet metal press having an opening through which a tool, which comprises an upper die, a lower die and a tool changer interface, can pass during a tool change performed by means of a tool changer device. The tool changer device comprises at least one automated guided vehicle, running on a shop floor and capable of lifting and lowering a tool by interaction with the tool changer interface of said tool, wherein a guide path for said at least one automated guided vehicle runs from outside and into said at least one sheet metal press through said opening. The method comprises alternating use of a first and a second automated guided vehicle during a tool changing operation.

Device and method for positioning of a bending tool (1) by means of an electromagnet (2) that can be displaced along a magnetic guide, which bending tool (1) is held on a tool holder (4) by a retaining carriage (3) that can be displaced in a direction of movement along a retaining-carriage guide and which bending tool (1) comprises a magnet holder (5) of a magnetizable material, wherein an adjustable magnetic force acts between the electromagnet and the magnet holder (5).

The invention relates to a bending press (11) for bending metal sheets, comprising a top beam (21) and a lower beam (26), and two drawers (31, 31A). Said drawers (31, 31A) are arranged at both sides of the lower beam (26) and are designed to accommodate bending tools and/or parts.

A tool storage device is disposed on a side of a press brake. In the tool storage device, a lower tool holder is lifted up from lower tool holder support members, is moved forward or backward, and both end sides in a left-and-right direction of the lower tool holder are lowered after being passed through recessed portions formed on the lower tool holder support members (step (a)). The lowered lower tool holder is conveyed forward, and is positioned to a same height as a height of a lower tool mounting portion in a lower table (step (b)). The lower tool held in the lower tool holder is transferred to the lower tool mounting portion by a tool replacement device, and is mounted on the lower table (step (c)). The lower tool mounted on the lower table is returned into the tool storage device (step (d)).

The press device includes a press device body and moving bolsters. The press device body has a slide and a slide servomotor. The slide has upper dies attached thereto. The slide servomotor moves the slide up and down. The moving bolsters are able to move between a pressing position, which is a position on the inside of the press device body, and a die replacement position, which is a position on the outside of the press device body, and have lower dies disposed thereon. The moving bolsters have an electrical storage component, a travel motor, and wheels. The electrical storage component stores regenerative electrical power generated by the slide servomotor in the pressing position. Electrical power is supplied from the electrical storage component to the travel motor. The wheels are driven by the travel motor.

A forming system forming a metal pipe by expanding a metal pipe material, includes: a main body part having a forming die for forming the metal pipe; an electrode causing a current to flow through the metal pipe material disposed in the forming die such that the metal pipe material is heated; a power supply unit disposed at a position separated from the main body part and supplying power to the electrode; and a power supply line connecting the power supply unit and the electrode, in which the power supply line includes a lower-side passing portion passing through a lower side of a placing surface on which the main body part is placed, a first connection portion drawn to an upper side of the placing surface and connecting the lower-side passing portion and the electrode, and a second connection portion connecting the lower-side passing portion and the power supply unit.

A roller leveler and related method for leveling stock which includes an upper roller frame with an upper leveling unit, and a lower roller frame which has a machine bed with a lower leveling unit. The upper roller frame can be moved upward and downward relative to the lower roller frame by hydraulic drives. The upper leveling unit includes a plurality of upper leveling rollers and the lower leveling unit has a plurality of lower leveling rollers. The upper leveling rollers are supported with upper bearing plates and the lower leveling rollers are supported with lower bearing plates. At least several of the upper and lower leveling rollers are connected at one end to drive shafts of a drive device. A frame is moveable into and out of the roller leveler.

A press and a process for operating it, has an upper tool and a lower tool for shaping a workpiece and a work unit including a press drive and/or a drawing device, is controllable by a controller, to perform the shaping process. The controller outputs, to the work unit, press process values, which define the sequence of events of the shaping process. Workpiece parameters characterize, for example, the material and/or the shape and/or at least one dimension and/or quality of the workpiece, which still has to be shaped or has already been shaped. The controller is assigned a composition matrix which contains, for each defined workpiece parameter and for each defined press process value, an individually changeable function, to describe the relationship between every one of the defined workpiece parameters and the defined press process values. This composition matrix allows a quick and rapid adjustment and adaptation of the press.