BENDING MACHINE HAVING A BENDING INFORMATION DISPLAY DEVICE

Abstract

A bending machine with a bending information display apparatus has a machine frame, a longitudinally extended, fixed machine table, and a longitudinally extended press beam. The longitudinal expanse and the press beam movement direction define a working plane. An insertion plane essentially normal to the working plane is defined by an upper machine table flat side or a lower tool disposed thereon. The working plane establishes a front working and manipulation space and a closed rear machine space. A projector disposed above the insertion plane in the rear machine space has a light beam path directed away from the insertion plane. A reflector disposed in the working and manipulation space has a first reflective surface pivotable by an angle to the horizontal so that a light beam incident from the projector beam path leaves the first reflective surface as a departing light beam toward the insertion plane.

Claims

1. A bending machine (1) with a bending information display apparatus (2), wherein the bending machine (1) has a machine frame (3) and a longitudinally extended machine table (5), fixed in place, and a longitudinally extended press beam (6), which press beam (6) is guided in the machine frame (3) and held by a drive means (24), so as to be movable relative to the latter, and wherein the longitudinal expanse (7) and the movement direction (8) of the press beam (6) define a working plane (9), and furthermore, an insertion plane (12) is defined essentially normal to the working plane (9) and by an upper flat side (10) of the machine table (5) or of a lower tool (11) disposed on it, and wherein the machine frame (3) furthermore has two side parts (4), which are spaced apart from one another by a machine width in the direction of the longitudinal expanse (7) of the machine table (5) and of the press beam (6), and wherein the working plane (9) establishes a front working and manipulation space (14) and a rear machine space (13), distinguished from the former and, in particular, closed off, wherein a projector (16) is disposed in the rear machine space (13) and above the insertion plane (12), which projector has a light beam path (17) directed away from the insertion plane (12), in particular a light beam path (17) directed upward, and that wherein a reflector (18) having a first reflective surface (19) is disposed in the working and manipulation space (14), which first reflective surface (19) is disposed so as to be pivoted by an angle relative to the horizontal, so that a light beam impacting it from the light beam path (17) of the projector (16) departs from the first reflective surface (19) as a departing light beam of a light beam path (20) of the reflector (18) in the direction of the insertion plane.

2. The bending machine according to claim 1, wherein the projector (16) and/or the reflector (18) is/are disposed on the machine frame (3) in a pivoting apparatus, so that the light beam path (17) can be oriented over a section along the longitudinal expanse (7).

3. The bending machine according to claim 1, wherein the projector (16) and/or the reflector (18) is/are disposed on a or in the region of the side parts (4).

4. The bending machine according to claim 1, wherein the machine table (5) and/or a metal sheet to be formed, which is disposed in the insertion plane (12), and/or a floor surface in the front working and manipulation space (14) and/or a surface of a bending tool disposed in the press beam (6) form a first display surface.

5. The bending machine according to claim 1, wherein the projector (16) and/or the reflector (18) is/are disposed, in movable manner, in a guide (28) that is disposed oriented parallel to the longitudinal expanse (7).

6. The bending machine according to claim 5, wherein the projector (16) and/or the reflector (18) is/are connected with the guide (28) so as to move, by way of a drive means (29).

7. The bending machine according to claim 1, wherein the reflector (18) has a second reflective surface (21), wherein the first and the second reflective surface (21) are disposed within the light beam path (17) of the projector (16), and the surface normal line vectors of the two surfaces enclose an angle relative to one another.

8. The bending machine according to claim 7, wherein the press beam (6) forms a second display surface.

9. The bending machine according to claim 1, wherein the reflector (18) is disposed in a holding apparatus (22), which holding apparatus (22) can be moved between a protection position and a work position.

10. The bending machine according to claim 9, wherein the holding apparatus (22) is disposed behind the working plane (9), in particular in the region of the rear machine space (13), in the protection position.

11. The bending machine according to claim 9, wherein the holding apparatus (22) is disposed above the projector (16) in the protection position.

12. The bending machine according to claim 1, wherein the projector (16) is formed by a laser having a deflection unit.

13. The bending machine according to claim 1, wherein the projector (16) is connected with a machine controller (35) and/or a process guide system, and wherein a data-technology connection exists with a work preparation system or CAD system.

14. The bending machine according to claim 1, wherein the bending information is formed by at least one of the group of workpiece contour, bending line, control panel, status data of the press beam (6), orientation information, reference angle, piece counter, and regions on the sheet metal to be formed that have an increased risk of injury during the bending process.

15. The bending machine according to claim 1, wherein the bending information comprises animated orientation information.

16. The bending machine according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or the second display surface is/are configured at discrete positions along the longitudinal expanse (7).

17. The bending machine according to claim 16, wherein a light beam deflection apparatus is disposed in the light beam path (17) of the projector (16).

18. The bending machine according to claim 13, wherein a position-locating apparatus and/or a command issuance apparatus (30) is/are connected with the machine controller (35).

19. The bending machine according to claim 18, wherein the connection is configured to be wireless, in particular by way of radio and/or by way of sound, in particular ultrasound.

20. The bending machine according to claim 18, wherein the position-locating apparatus and/or a command issuance apparatus (30) is formed by an article of clothing, in particular a shoe.

Description

[0037] The figures show, each in a greatly simplified, schematic representation:

[0038] FIG. 1 a simplified perspective representation of an embodiment of the bending machine with a bending information display apparatus;

[0039] FIG. 2 a side view of an embodiment variant of the bending machine with a bending information display apparatus;

[0040] FIG. 3 a side view of a further embodiment variant of the bending machine with a bending information display apparatus;

[0041] FIG. 4 a front view of a further embodiment variant of the bending machine with a bending information display apparatus;

[0042] FIG. 5 a further embodiment variant of the bending machine with a bending information display apparatus.

[0043] FIG. 1 schematically shows a present bending machine 1 with a bending information display device 2. The bending machine 1 has a machine frame 3 having two side parts 4 and a machine table 5. Furthermore, a press beam 6 is held in the machine frame 3 and guided so as to move relative to the machine frame 3, wherein the relative movement is carried out by a drive means, not shown. The longitudinal expanse 7 and the movement direction 8 of the press beam 6 define a working plane 9. An insertion plane 12 is defined normal to this, by an upper flat side 10 of the machine table 5 or by a lower tool 11 disposed on the machine table 5. A rear machine space 13 and a front working and manipulation space 14 are established by the working plane 9. All operating actions of the bending machine 1 and all manipulation actions of the sheet-metal part 15 to be formed take place in the front working and manipulation space 14.

[0044] A projector 16 is disposed in the rear machine space 13 and above the insertion plane 12, which projector has a light beam path 17 that is directed away from the insertion plane 12. In particular, this projector light beam path 17 can be directed upward, horizontally or at a slant downward, wherein, however, a light beam of the projector light beam path 17 cannot reach the insertion plane 12 by a direct path in the region of the machine table 5. For this reason, a reflector 18 with a first reflective surface 19 is furthermore disposed in the working and manipulation space 14. In this regard, the first reflective surface 19 is disposed pivoted relative to the horizontal about an angle, so that a light beam coming in from the light beam path 17 of the projector 16 departs from the first reflective surface 19 as an outgoing light beam of a beam path 20 of the reflector 18.

[0045] A distinctive contour of the workpiece is projected onto the sheet-metal part 15, for example, so as to thereby be able to indicate the correctly oriented insertion position to the operator. However, aside from a projection onto the sheet-metal part 15, it is also possible to project onto the flat side 10 of the machine table 5.

[0046] FIG. 2 shows a side view, in a cross-sectional representation, of the bending machine 1, in particular to make the placement of the projector 16 and of the reflector 18 of the bending information display apparatus 2 clear. In this regard, the viewing direction is selected to be parallel to the working plane 9 and the insertion plane 12; the intersection point of the two planes represents the bending line 36, in other words the line at which an upper tool 27 disposed on the press beam 6 contacts an inserted sheet-metal part and presses on a lower tool 11 disposed in the machine table 5.

[0047] In this regard, the projector 16 is disposed in such a manner that the light beam path 17 emitted by the projector 16 is not oriented in the direction of the insertion plane 12. In particular, a reflector 18 having a first reflective surface 19 is disposed in the light beam path 17 of the projector 16, which reflector or which reflective surface 19 deflects a light beam coming in from the light beam path 17 of the projector 16 into an outgoing light beam of the light beam path 20 of the reflector 18. The outgoing light beam path 20 of the reflector 18 is guided in the direction of the insertion plane 12 or of the machine table 5, and impacts a projection surface there, which is oriented horizontally, to the greatest possible extent. The projection surface can now be formed by the sheet-metal part 15 disposed in the insertion plane 12 or by a flat side 10 of the machine table 5, which side is oriented horizontally, to the greatest possible extent. However, it is also possible that the projection takes place on the floor 25 in front of the bending machine 1, wherein combinations of the individual projection possibilities are also possible.

[0048] FIG. 3 shows a further possible embodiment of the bending information display apparatus 2 on a bending machine 1. In this embodiment, the reflector 18 has not only the first reflective surface 19 but also a second reflective surface 21, wherein the surface normal lines to the two reflective surfaces 19, 21 enclose an angle relative to one another. Preferably, the plane defined by the surface normal lines will be oriented normal to the working plane 9 and normal to the insertion plane 12. From the projector 16, the light beam path 17 is issued in the direction of the reflector 18 and thereby in the direction of the first 19 and second 21 reflective surface. In particular, it is provided that only a common light beam path 17 is issued by the projector 16 in the direction of the reflector 18. The reflector 18 is preferably disposed in a holding apparatus 22, wherein the latter is only shown schematically in FIGS. 2 and 3. This holding apparatus 22 can be configured as a pivoting apparatus, for example, and makes it possible to pivot the reflector 18 about an axle 23 that is parallel to the working plane 9 and to the insertion plane 12. According to a further embodiment, the reflector 18 can be held in a pivoting apparatus that allows pivoting of the reflector 18 or of the axle 23 about an axis normal to the working plane.

[0049] In an embodiment according to FIG. 2, a pivoting apparatus allows displacement of the projected image, for example between the machine table 5, the sheet-metal part 15 and/or the floor. In the case of corresponding pivoting, however, it is also possible to project the image onto the press beam 6.

[0050] Since the risk of damage due to manipulation actions on the sheet-metal part 15 or due to the metal sheet bending upward always exists for an apparatus disposed in the front working and manipulation space 14, it can be provided, according to a further embodiment, that the holding apparatus 22 is configured in such a manner that the reflector 18 can be moved between a work position and a protection position. In the work position, the reflector 18 is disposed in the working and manipulation space 14, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3; for manipulation actions with the sheet-metal part, particularly when inserting the sheet-metal part 15 into the bending machine 1 or removing it, the reflector 18 can be moved into the protection position. In the protection position, the reflector is disposed in the region of the rear machine space 13 and thereby protected against damage caused by moving parts in the front region of the bending machine. According to a further embodiment, it can furthermore be provided that the reflector is disposed above the projector 16 in the protection position, and therefore can also protect the latter against damage.

[0051] FIG. 4 shows a front view of the present bending machine 1. The bending machine 1 has two side parts 4, which are spaced apart from one another by the longitudinally extended 7 machine table 5. A press beam 6 is disposed so as to be guided in the side parts 4, which beam can be moved relative to the side parts 4, driven by a drive means 24. The movement direction 8 and the longitudinal expanse 7 define a working plane 9; normal to this, the longitudinal expanse 7 and a flat side 10 of the machine table 5 or a lower tool 11 disposed in the machine table 5 define an insertion plane 12.

[0052] A projector 16 is disposed in the rear machine space and above the insertion plane 12; furthermore, a reflector 18 is disposed in the working and manipulation space and also above the insertion plane 12, wherein the reflector 18 is preferably disposed in a holding apparatus 22. The holding apparatus 22 can also be configured as a pivoting apparatus, as described in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0053] According to an embodiment as described in FIG. 2, a light beam path is guided onto a first reflective surface of the reflector 18 by the projector 16, and deflected by the former in the direction of a surface that is oriented horizontally or approximately horizontally. In particular, onto a flat side of the inserted sheet-metal part 15 and/or an upper flat side 10 of the machine table 5 and/or onto the floor 25 in front of the bending machine 1.

[0054] In addition, the reflector 18 can be configured so that it can pivot about an axle 23, so that a reflector 18 having a first reflective surface can be projected onto a display surface 26 on the press beam, a display surface 37 on the upper tool 27, as well as a representation on the sheet-metal part 15, onto the flat side 10 of the machine table 5, alternatively or one after the other, in terms of time. Furthermore, however, it is also possible that the display surface 38 is formed on the floor 25 in front of the bending machine 1. However, it is also possible that projection takes place onto multiple display surfaces at the same time, in particular onto display surfaces oriented horizontally and vertically, at the same time, wherein the great distortions of the projected image that occur in this regard, during generation of the image, can be corrected by a control unit, not shown, so as to nevertheless be able to project an image that is not distorted, to the greatest possible extent.

[0055] In the case of an embodiment of the reflector 18 divided in two, in particular having a first and second reflective surface, it is ensured that a projection both onto horizontal surfaces 15, 10, 25 and onto vertical display surfaces 26, 37 is possible at the same time. The two-part embodiment particularly prevents the great image distortions that occur otherwise.

[0056] According to a further embodiment, it can be provided that the projector 16 and/or the reflector is/are disposed in a guide 28, so as to be longitudinally displaceable, which guide is disposed and oriented parallel to the longitudinal expanse 7, so as to be moved in the direction of the longitudinal expanse 7 by a drive means 29 of the guide 28, for example. In this way, it is possible to display the representation of the bending information, in particular the position of the next insertion or processing step to the user.

[0057] FIG. 5 shows a further possible embodiment in the case where a position-locating apparatus and/or command issuance apparatus 30 is connected with the machine controller 35. Preferably, the position-locating apparatus and/or command issuance apparatus 30 is formed by a shoe. In this regard, the apparatus 30 is connected with at least a first 33 and a second 34 counter-location, by way of a first 31 and a second 32 communication connection. The first communication connection 31 is preferably a wireless connection; the second communication connection 32 is preferably an ultrasound connection. By determining the running time differences between the signals on the first 31 and second 32 communication connection, it is possible for the machine controller 35 to determine the position of the shoe and thereby the position of the operator in the working and manipulation space 14 in front of the bending machine 1. Manipulation work on the inserted sheet-metal part 15 make positioning of the operator to the right or left of the inserted sheet-metal part 15 necessary. By having knowledge of the position of the shoe as a position-locating apparatus and/or command issuance apparatus 30, the bending information display apparatus 2 can be controlled by the machine controller 35 in such a manner that the information to be represented is represented on the correct side of the sheet-metal part 15.

[0058] The particular advantage of the present bending machine with a bending information display apparatus now lies in that the bending information display apparatus can be structured in simple manner and with standard components, and is protected against damage during proper operation of the bending press. Furthermore, it is advantageous that the information can be represented to a machine operator in targeted and location-directed manner.

[0059] In conclusion, it should be stated that in the different embodiments described, the same parts are provided with the same reference symbols or the same component designations, wherein the disclosures contained in the description as a whole can be applied analogously to the same parts having the same reference symbols or the same component designations. Also, the position information selected in the description, such as at the top, at the bottom, on the side, etc., relate to the figure being directly described and shown, and this position information must be applied analogously to a new position in the case of a change in position.

[0060] Further embodiments of the bending machine with a bending information display apparatus, which might be independent in and of themselves, are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, wherein once again, the same reference symbols or component designations are used for the same parts as in the preceding figures. In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, reference is made to the detailed description in the preceding figures, i.e. this is pointed out.

[0061] The exemplary embodiments show possible embodiment variants of the bending machine with a bending information display apparatus, wherein it should be noted at this point that the invention is not restricted to the embodiment variants that are specifically represented, but rather, instead, various combinations of the individual embodiment variants with one another are possible, and this variation possibility lies within the ability of a person skilled in the art and working in this technical field, on the basis of the teaching concerning technical action.

[0062] Furthermore, individual characteristics or combinations of characteristics of the different exemplary embodiments shown and described can also represent independent inventive solutions or solutions according to the invention.

[0063] The task underlying the independent inventive solutions can be derived from the description.

[0064] All information regarding value ranges in the present description should be understood to mean that these include any and all partial ranges of them; for example, the information 1 to 10 should be understood to mean that all partial ranges, proceeding from the lower limit 1 and also including the upper limit 10 are also included; i.e. all partial ranges start with a lower limit of 1 or more and end at an upper limit of 10 or less, for example 1 to 1.7, or 3.2 to 8.1, or 5.5 to 10.

[0065] Above all, the individual embodiments shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 can form the object of independent solutions according to the invention. The tasks and solutions in this regard, according to the invention, can be derived from the detailed descriptions of these figures.

[0066] For the sake of good order, it should be pointed out, in conclusion, that for a better understanding of the structure of the bending machine with a bending information display apparatus, this machine and its components were shown not to scale, in part, and/or increased and/or reduced in size.

REFERENCE SYMBOL LISTING

[0067] 1 bending machine [0068] 2 bending information display apparatus [0069] 3 machine frame [0070] 4 side part [0071] 5 machine table [0072] 6 press beam [0073] 7 longitudinal expanse [0074] 8 movement direction [0075] 9 working plane [0076] 10 flat side [0077] 11 lower tool [0078] 12 insertion plane [0079] 13 machine space [0080] 14 working and manipulation space [0081] 15 sheet-metal part [0082] 16 projector [0083] 17 light beam path of the projector [0084] 18 reflector [0085] 19 first reflective surface [0086] 20 light beam path of the projector [0087] 21 second reflective surface [0088] 22 holding apparatus [0089] 23 axle [0090] 24 drive means [0091] 25 floor [0092] 26 display surface [0093] 27 upper tool [0094] 28 guide [0095] 29 drive means [0096] 30 position-locating apparatus and/or command issuance apparatus [0097] 31 first communication connection [0098] 32 second communication connection [0099] 33 first counter-location [0100] 34 second counter-location [0101] 35 machine controller [0102] 36 bending line [0103] 37 display surface [0104] 38 display surface