Fine blanking system and method of operating

Abstract

A fine blanking system comprises one or more movable parts, further comprises at least one first drive of a first drive type and at least one second drive of a second drive type different from the first drive type for driving at least one of the movable parts, wherein the first drive and the second drive are arranged to drive the same movable part.

Claims

1. A fine blanking system comprising: a plurality of system components, wherein the plurality of system components comprise: a press ram, a press punch, and a lower die mounted to the press ram; a first drive comprising a first drive type and configured to directly drive the press ram, wherein the first drive type comprises an electrical drive; and a second drive comprising a second drive type and configured to directly drive the press ram, wherein the second drive comprises one of a pneumatic drive and a hydraulic drive, wherein the electrical drive, the pneumatic drive and the hydraulic drive are different drive types from each other, wherein the second drive type is a different drive type from the first drive type, wherein the first drive and the second drive are configured to independently or jointly lift or lower the press ram.

2. The fine blanking system according to claim 1, wherein the first drive is configured to drive the press ram at first rate and the second drive is configured to drive the press ram at a second rate that is different from the first rate.

3. The fine blanking system according to claim 2, wherein the first and second rates comprise at least one of respectively speeds, accelerations, and forces.

4. The fine blanking system according to claim 1, further comprising working table, wherein the first drive is a first press drive and the second drive is a second press drive configured to drive the press ram in a driving movement towards the working table along a movement axis.

5. The fine blanking system according to claim 4, wherein the first press drive is configured to drive the press ram along a first portion of the movement axis to approach the working table, and wherein the second press drive is configured to drive the press ram along a second portion of the movement axis to fine blank a work piece positioned between the press ram and the working table.

6. The fine blanking system according to claim 5, wherein the first press drive is configured to drive the press ram in an opposite direction along at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the movement axis to withdraw the press ram from the working table.

7. The fine blanking system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of a feeding device, a levelling device, a grinding device, a surface treatment device, a press device, a fine blanking press, a parts feeding device, a deburring device, a washing device, a tumbler device, an assembling device, a robotic device, a handling device, a packaging device, a labelling device, and a quality inspection device.

8. A method for operating a fine blanking system comprising a plurality of components, the method comprising: configuring the plurality of components to comprise: a press ram, a press punch, and a die mounted to the press ram; driving the press ram directly via a first drive, wherein the first drive comprises a first drive type; driving the press ram directly via a second drive, wherein the second drive comprises a second drive type that is a different drive type from the first drive type; structuring the first drive type to comprise an electrical drive; and structuring the second drive type to comprise one of a pneumatic drive and a hydraulic drive, wherein the pneumatic drive, the hydraulic drive, and the electrical drive are different drive types from each other, wherein the first drive and the second drive are configured to independently or jointly lift or lower the press ram.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the first drive is configured to drive the press ram at a first rate, and the second drive is configured to drive the press ram at a second rate.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first rate and the second rate comprise one of respectively speeds, accelerations, and forces.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising a working table, wherein the first drive is a first press drive and the second drive is a second press drive configured to drive the press ram in a driving movement towards the working table along a movement axis.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: driving the press ram via the first press drive along a first portion of the movement axis towards the working table; and driving the press ram via the second press drive along a second portion of the movement axis towards the working table to fine blank a work piece positioned between the press ram and the working table.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising driving the press ram via the first press drive in an opposite direction along at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the movement axis to withdraw the press ram from the working table.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) An embodiment of the invention is explained in the following by reference to a schematic drawing.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of an embodiment of a fine blanking press of a fine blanking system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(3) The fine blanking press according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 comprises a press frame 11, a press ram 10, constituting a first press unit, and a working table 12, constituting a second press unit, arranged opposite the press ram 10. Between the press ram 10 and the working table 12 a fine blanking tool 14 is arranged comprising a press punch 16, which may be positionally fixed together with the working table 12, and a die 18 which moves together with the press ram 10. A table cushion 20 is connected to the working table 12 via transfer pins 22. The table cushion 20 and thus the working table 12 are actuated by a hydraulic drive arranged in the upper part of the press frame 11. An electrical drive 24, in particular a servo motor, is provided as a first press drive and acts on the press ram via a transmission 26 for driving the press ram 10 along a movement axis M. In addition, a hydraulic drive 28 is provided in the lower part of the press frame 11 acting on the press ram 10 via a piston rod 30 for driving the press ram 10 along the movement axis M.

(4) During a fine blanking process step the press ram 10 is moved up and down along the movement axis M. In a first movement step the press ram 10 is driven along a first part of the movement axis M via the electrical drive 24 at a relatively high speed but with relatively low force. In this way the press ram 10 approaches a sheet metal 32 arranged in a process zone between the press ram 10 and the working table 12. In a second movement step the press ram 10 is driven along a second part of the movement axis M subsequent to the first part via the hydraulic drive 28 at a relatively low speed but with relatively high force. During this movement the punch 16 and die 18 blank parts out of the sheet metal 32.

(5) An impingement ring 34, like a V-ring, is further shown schematically for securely holding the process material 32 during the fine blanking process. The impingement ring 34 may in particular be provided on a press plate of the blanking tool driven by the cushion 20. While moving the press ram 10 also the table cushion 20 may be moved down along the movement axis M in order to provide counter forces on the sheet metal 32 via the impingement ring 34 to counter the press forces exerted by the electrical drive via the press ram 10 and to hold the sheet metal 32 in place. Also, the table cushion 20 may eject the processed sheet metal after the fine blanking step.

(6) After the parts have been blanked out the press ram 10 is withdrawn from the working table 12 along the whole movement axis M, i.e. along the first part and the second part, by the electrical drive 24 at again with relatively high speed and relatively low force.

(7) The press ram 10 is thus driven by two separate drives of different drive types, one electrical and one hydraulic. The electrical drive and the hydraulic drive are configured to drive the press ram 10 separately or independently from one another as explained above. However, these drives can also be arranged to jointly move the press ram 10. For example, the press ram 10 can be driven towards the working table along the second part of the movement axis, i.e. the punching operation, not only by the hydraulic drive but also by the electrical drive. Thus, the electrical drive can support the punching operation.

(8) The inventive fine blanking system combines the advantages of hydraulic drives and electrical drives for a fine blanking press. Via the electrical drive the press ram 10 can be moved quickly and efficiently when only low forces are needed, which is when approaching the working table/the sheet metal, while via the hydraulic drive the press ram can be moved with a high force in order to execute the punching operation. After the punching the press ram 10 can again be driven via the electrical drive and therefore be retracted quickly and efficiently.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

(9) 10 press ram 12 working table 14 fine blanking tool 16 press punch 18 die 20 table cushion 22 transfer pins 24 electrical drive 26 transmission 28 hydraulic drive 30 piston rod 32 sheet metal 34 V-ring M movement axis