A method and a device for producing bipolar plates for fuel cells. A bipolar plate is formed by joining an anode plate to a cathode plate, wherein the anode plate and the cathode plate are formed by forming a substrate plate. In order to provide a cost-effective and automated method, it is proposed that a plate already provided with a reactive coating or catalyst coating, which is transported, automatically driven, via a transport device from the forming device to the joining device, is used as substrate plate.

An automated transforming tooling system apparatus and method for shuttling a workpiece to and from an industrial operation. The system includes a workstation for complementarily engaging and securing the workpiece, and at least one holder removably secures at least on end effector tool to the workstation. At least one transfer bar is movably positioned with respect to the workstation. At least one automated transforming tooling assembly is connected to the transfer bar and has a plurality of links adjustably connected by motorized joints to automatically position the automated transforming tooling assembly. An automated tool changer is connected to the automated transforming tooling assembly and releasably engages the end effector tool between a disengaged position, wherein the end effector tool is disengaged from the automated tool changer, and an engaged position, wherein the end effector tool is engaged by the automated tool changer.

A progressive cold forming machine and a robot for automatically changing a cutoff cassette, tooling cassettes, a transfer slide and transfer cam. A loading area adjacent the machine and robot has provisions for supporting a tooling cassette pallet and a transfer slide and camshaft pallet and a holding area for temporarily receiving some of the componentry being exchanged.

A method configures a workpiece-related workpiece holding device for press automation. At least one workpiece-specific holding element of the workpiece holding device is configurably secured to a support of the workpiece holding device in at least one degree of configuration freedom. The method has the steps of (a) imaging a real image of the at least one workpiece-specific holding element on a display device and (b) outputting configuration information relating to the at least one workpiece-specific holding element on the display device, the configuration information including at least one piece of reference information relating to a relative reference orientation and/or a relative reference position of at least one region of a workpiece-specific holding element relative to the support.

Tooling (100) for picking up two-dimensional workpieces comprises a main body (110) and a plurality of holding elements (131, 132) arranged on the main body (110), wherein the holding elements (131, 132) are movable relative to the main body (110) independently of one another. Each of the holding elements (131, 132) is fastened in an end region of an arm (121.1 . . . 10, 122.1 . . . 10). The arms (121, 122) are movable passively relative to the main body (110) along a linear movement path in a longitudinal extension of each particular arm (121, 122). The tooling (100) comprises, for each of the arms (121, 122) a fixing apparatus, by means of which a position of each particular arm (121, 122) along the movement path is fixable. On account of its passive character, the tooling (100) according to the invention is lightweight and can be produced cost-effectively. Compared with fixedly configured tooling, reduced costs arise on account of the configurability, because different types of tooling do not have to be kept available and provided. The storage area for replacement tooling is saved, and also an automatic tooling changing station or a manual tooling change become superfluous. As a result of the geometry according to the invention, the tooling (100) can be set easily, no complex movements and accordingly no complicated setting devices (for example multiaxial robots) are necessary.

A method and a device for producing bipolar plates for fuel cells. A bipolar plate is formed by joining an anode plate to a cathode plate, wherein the anode plate and the cathode plate are formed by forming a substrate plate. In order to provide a cost-effective and automated method, it is proposed that a plate already provided with a reactive coating or catalyst coating, which is transported, automatically driven, via a transport device from the forming device to the joining device, is used as substrate plate.

An automated transforming tooling system apparatus and method for shuttling a workpiece to and from an industrial operation. The system includes a workstation for complementarily engaging and securing the workpiece, and at least one holder removably secures at least on end effector tool to the workstation. At least one transfer bar is movably positioned with respect to the workstation. At least one automated transforming tooling assembly is connected to the transfer bar and has a plurality of links adjustably connected by motorized joints to automatically position the automated transforming tooling assembly. An automated tool changer is connected to the automated transforming tooling assembly and releasably engages the end effector tool between a disengaged position, wherein the end effector tool is disengaged from the automated tool changer, and an engaged position, wherein the end effector tool is engaged by the automated tool changer.

A method and a device for producing bipolar plates for fuel cells. A bipolar plate is formed by joining an anode plate to a cathode plate, wherein the anode plate and the cathode plate are formed by forming a substrate plate.

In order to provide a cost-effective and automated method, it is proposed that a plate already provided with a reactive coating or catalyst coating, which is transported, automatically driven, via a transport device from the forming device to the joining device, is used as substrate plate.

A transport device for the transport of workpieces in a workpiece transport direction in a press, which has a carrier rail, which is mounted, via a lifting carriage and a rocker rotatably mounted on the lifting carriage, on a vertically running upright of the press. In order to enable a flexible workpiece transport, it is provided that, on the carrier rail, workpiece grippers are mounted on at least two transport carriages, which each have their own drive mechanism in order to move the transport carriages with the workpiece grippers along the carrier rail independently of each other.

A bent tubing automation tooling apparatus having a body component made of a rigid piece of material to connect an automation tooling machine to a work-piece manipulating implement, allowing for precision tooling with decreased parts and decreased setup, service, and tuning time to prepare the automation tooling machine for production. The body component may be a single monolithic body that is selectively movable between an operational position and an access position to provide for safer servicing of the automation tooling machine and components by allowing a technician to service the equipment from a safety zone instead of entering a dangerous area of the machine. The bent tubing apparatus provides fine tuning and quick adjustments to positional characteristics of the apparatus to increase precision of the automation tooling process while decreasing service time of the automation tooling machine and components.