METHOD FOR MONITORING AND FOR CHANGING THE POSITION OF AT LEAST ONE RUNNING BAR OF A METAL PRESS, AND METAL PRESS

Abstract

A method for monitoring and changing the position of at least one component, more particularly a running bar, slidingly guided within a press frame between abutments of the press frame is disclosed. A central alignment of the component within the press frame is continuously measured and the alignment of the component within the press frame is corrected as a function of the acquired measurement result by preferably automatically adjustable guide elements of the sliding guides of the press. The central alignment of the slidingly guided component within the press frame is measured by the sensing of the location of at least one, preferably two, reference points of the slidingly guided component preferably in a plane extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal center axis of the press. A press having automatically adjustable guide elements and means for controlling the guide elements as a function of the measured position of the component.

Claims

1.-14. (canceled)

15. A method for monitoring and/or changing a position of a component that is slidingly guided between abutments within a press frame (2), the method comprising: continuously measuring a central alignment of the slidingly guided component within the press frame (2); and correcting the alignment of the slidingly guided component within the press frame (2) by automatically adjustable guide elements (10) of sliding guides of the press as a function of a measurement result acquired during continuously measuring, wherein the central alignment of the slidingly guided component within the press frame (2) is measured by location sensing of two reference points (7) of the slidingly guided component in a plane extending transversely to a longitudinal center axis (4) of the press, and wherein the location of the reference points (7) is sensed by a measuring arrangement (20) provided on the press frame (2).

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the component is a running bar (3) and/or a container holder.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the location of the reference points (7) is sensed by laser sensors.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the location of the reference points (7) relative to the longitudinal center axis (4) of the press is sensed.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein the guide elements (10) of the sliding guide (6) are adjusted automatically as a function of the acquired measurement result.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein a number of adjustment processes and/or an adjustment path covered and/or a position data associated with each adjustment process are captured in an open-loop or closed-loop control device.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein wear of the sliding guide (6) is determined from the number of adjustment processes and/or the adjustment path covered and is output to an operator of the press.

22. The method according to claim 15, wherein the measuring arrangement senses a position deviation of ≤2 mm.

23. The method according to claim 15, wherein the measuring arrangement senses a position deviation of ≤0.5 mm.

24. The method according to claim 15, wherein the measuring arrangement senses a position deviation of ≤0.1 mm.

25. The method according to claim 15, wherein the press reshapes metallic materials.

26. The method according to claim 15, wherein the press open-die forges, closed-die forges, isothermal forges, produces ring blanks, deep-draws, extrudes and/or presses pierced and drawn components.

27. A press, comprising: a press frame (2); cross bars configured to absorb press forces during operation of the press; a component (3), the component being slidingly guided on guide columns (5) within the press frame; sliding guides (6) provided on the guide columns (5) and/or in engagement with the guide columns (5); and automatically adjustable guide elements (10) of the sliding guides (5); at least two reference points (7), which are arranged at a distance from one another and can be sensed optically, provided on the slidingly guided component in a plane extending transversely to a longitudinal center axis (4) of the press; and a measuring arrangement (20) for sensing a location of the reference points (7) arranged on the press frame (2).

28. The press according to claim 27, wherein the component is a running bar (3) or a container holder.

29. The press according to claim 27, wherein the measuring arrangement (20) is coupled to the adjustable guide elements (10) via an open-loop or closed-loop control device in such a manner that a control signal for controlling the automatically adjustable guide elements (10) can be generated from measuring signals acquired by the measuring arrangement (20), such that correcting an alignment of the slidingly guided component within the press frame (2) can be effected automatically as a function of the acquired measurement signals.

30. The press according to claim 27, wherein at least one of the automatically adjustable guide elements (10) comprises a sliding block (19) adjustable transversely to a direction of movement of the slidingly guided component of the press, an adjusting wedge (15) and a guide wedge (18), the adjustment of which relative to one another causes a displacement of the sliding block (19) transversely to the direction of movement of the slidingly guided component, and wherein the adjusting wedge (15) is continuously adjustable by a spindle drive.

31. The press according to claim 27, wherein the press is designed for forming metallic materials.

32. The press according to claim 27, wherein the press is designed as an open-die forging, closed-die forging, isothermal forging, ring blanking, piercing or drawing, deep-drawing, or extrusion press.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a cross section through a metal press.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of an adjustable guide element on a press.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view through a press 1 from the viewing direction of a measuring arrangement 20 arranged on a press frame 2 of the press 1. The measuring arrangement 20 is arranged between an upper bar or between a cylinder bar and a running bar 3 of the press 1, as the case may be. The running bar 3 is slidingly guided on guide columns 5 of the press frame 2 with respect to a longitudinal center axis 4 of the press 1, which extends into the drawing plane. For this purpose, correspondingly designed sliding guides 6 are provided on the running bar 3, which, as will be described below, have automatically adjustable guide elements 10. The position of the running bar 3 is constantly monitored by means of the measuring arrangement 20 provided on the press frame 2. The measuring arrangement 20 comprises laser sensors that are aligned on a plane extending transversely to the longitudinal center axis 4 of the extrusion press 1 with reference points 7 arranged at a distance from the longitudinal center axis 4. The measuring arrangement 20 senses the position or reference points relative to the longitudinal center axis 4 of the extrusion press 1 in a coordinate system that is defined by the axes X and Y shown in FIG. 1. The reference points 7 are provided as optical markings on the running bar 3. The measuring arrangement 20 is coupled to the adjustable guide elements 10 via an open-loop or closed-loop control device. If, for example, a one-sided or asymmetrical wear of the sliding guides 6 should lead to a misalignment of the running bar 3, the measuring arrangement 20 senses a location change of the reference points 7 relative to the longitudinal center axis 4 of the press 1. The open-loop or closed-loop control device gives a corresponding control pulse to one or more guide elements 10, which cause a corresponding correction of the position of the running bar 3.

[0025] The guide element 10 comprises a housing 12, in which a spindle 13, which is rotatably mounted in a bushing 14, extends. The spindle 13 extends through first and second threaded bores 16,17 of an adjusting wedge 15, which is displaceable within the housing 12 by rotating the spindle 13. The thread of the threaded bores 16, 17 is a movement thread complementary to the thread of the spindle 14. The adjusting wedge 15 rests against a guide wedge 18, which is connected to a sliding block 19 or a sliding plate, as the case may be. The sliding block 19, which forms part of the sliding guide 6, is designed as a wear part and is adjustable parallel to the longitudinal center axis 4 or the main axis, as the case may be, of the press 1.

[0026] At its end projecting from the housing 12, the spindle 13 is provided with a contact 11 for the drive axle of a drive unit (not shown). For example, a drive unit can be a direct-acting electric motor or consist of a motor with a gearbox. To change the position of the sliding block 19, the spindle 13 is rotated with a corresponding drive unit. The rotary movement causes the adjusting wedge 15 to slide in or against the direction of the drawn arrow A, thereby causing the guide wedge to slide in or against the direction of arrow B and either increasing or decreasing the distance S between the guide columns 5 and the sliding block 19.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0027] 1 Extrusion press [0028] 2 Press frame [0029] 3 Running bar [0030] 4 Longitudinal center axis of the press [0031] 5 Guide columns [0032] 6 Sliding guide [0033] 7 Reference points [0034] 10 Guide element [0035] 11 Contact [0036] 12 Housing [0037] 13 Spindle [0038] 14 Bushing [0039] 15 Adjusting wedge [0040] 16 First threaded bore [0041] 17 Second threaded bore [0042] 18 Guide wedge [0043] 19 Sliding block [0044] 20 Measuring arrangement [0045] A Arrow [0046] B Arrow [0047] S Distance