METHOD FOR OPERATING A BENDING PRESS

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a bending press (10), wherein the bending press (10) comprises a first platform (1) with a first tool mount (11) and a second platform (2) with a second tool mount (12), wherein one of the platforms (1) is movable relative to the other platform (2) for performing a working movement, a safety device (20) for creating a light barrier (27), in particular laser light barrier, extending between the tool mounts (11, 12) transversely to the working movement of the movable platform (1), which light barrier (27), in a cross-section, forms a light field (7), wherein the safety device (20) has a first mount (21), which carries a light emitter (25) for creating the light barrier (27), and a second mount (22), which carries a light receiver (26) for receiving the light of the light barrier (27), and wherein the first mount (21) is arranged on a first side of the first platform (1) and is adjustable relative to the first platform (1) by a first adjustment drive (23), such that the position of the light barrier (27) relative to the first tool mount (11) can be changed in the direction of the working movement of the movable platform (1), a controller (9) that is connected to the first adjustment drive (23), characterized in that
before a bending operation or a series of bending operations, the controller (9) brings the first mount (21) into a working position by controlling the first adjustment drive (23), in which working position the tool tip (4) of a bending tool (8) held by the first tool mount (11) lies within the light field (7) formed by the light barrier (27).

Claims

1. A method for operating a bending press (10), in particular a press brake, wherein the bending press (10) comprises a first platform (1) with a first tool mount (11) and a second platform (2) with a second tool mount (12), wherein one of the platforms (1) is movable relative to the other platform (2) for performing a working movement, a safety device (20) for creating a light barrier (27), in particular laser light barrier, extending between the tool mounts (11, 12) transversely to the working movement of the movable platform (1), which light barrier (27), in a cross-section, forms a light field (7), wherein the safety device (20) has a first mount (21), which carries a light emitter (25) for creating the light barrier (27), and a second mount (22), which carries a light receiver (26) for receiving the light of the light barrier (27), and wherein the first mount (21) is arranged on a first side of the first platform (1) and is adjustable relative to the first platform (1) by a first adjustment drive (23), such that the position of the light barrier (27) relative to the first tool mount (11) can be changed in the direction of the working movement of the movable platform (1), a controller (9) that is connected to the first adjustment drive (23), wherein before a bending operation or a series of bending operations, the controller (9) brings the first mount (21) into a working position by controlling the first adjustment drive (23), in which working position the tool tip (4) of a bending tool (8) held by the first tool mount (11) lies within the light field (7) formed by the light barrier (27), preferably in a predefined first region (5) of the light field (7).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the controller (9) brings the first mount (21) into the working position depending on the shadow of the tool tip (4) detected by the light receiver (26).

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the working position of the first mount (21), the distance between the tool tip (4) and the light field's (7) edge (3) opposite the tool tip (4) is at least a third, preferably at least half, of the expansion of the light field (7) in the direction, in which the working movement of the movable platform (1) takes place.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the position of the tool tip (4) within the light field (7) or the position of the light barrier (27) is determined based on the shadow of the tool tip (4) detected by the light receiver (26).

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first mount is (21) adjusted depending on the determined position of the tool tip (4) within the light field (7) or the determined position of the light barrier (27), until the tool tip (4) comes to lie in a target position or a target region within the light field (7), preferably in a predefined first region (5).

6. The method according claim 1, wherein the first mount is (21) adjusted depending on the determined position of the tool tip (4) within the light field (7) or the determined position of the light barrier (27) if the tool tip (4) is outside the predefined first region (5) and inside a predefined second region (6) within the light field (7), wherein the predefined first region (5) is inside the predefined second region (6), and wherein the adjustment of the first mount (21) takes place until the tool tip (4) comes to lie in the predefined first region (5).

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein an information and/or a warning is output at a user interface (13) of the bending press (10) and/or the adjusting operation is interrupted if no shadow of the tool tip (4) is detected or if the tool tip (4) is outside a predefined second region (6) within the light field (7), wherein the predefined first region (5) is inside the predefined second region (6).

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second mount (22) is arranged on a second side of the platform (1) opposite the first side and is adjustable relative to the first platform (1) by means of a second adjustment drive (24), wherein the controller (9) is connected to the second adjustment drive (24).

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second mount (22) with the light receiver (26) is adjusted to the same extent as the first mount (21) with the light emitter (25).

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first adjustment drive (23) is actuatable independently of the second adjustment drive (24).

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises an adjustment operation, in which the light emitter (25) and the light receiver (26) are adjusted relative to one another by means of actuating the first adjustment drive (23) and/or the second adjustment drive (24).

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the adjustment operation is carried out depending on the shadow of the tool tip (4) detected by the light receiver (26), in particular depending on the position of the tool tip (4) within the light field (7).

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the light field (7), preferably in at least one of its edge regions, has a pattern (14) variable in the direction of the adjustment movement of the first mount (21), and wherein the adjustment operation is carried out depending on the relative position of the shadow of the tool tip (4) detected by the light receiver (26) relative to the pattern (14) detected by the light receiver (26).

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first tool mount (11) is an upper tool mount and the second tool mount (12) is a lower tool mount, and/or wherein the first platform (1) is movable relative to the second platform (2).

15. A bending press (10) for bending a workpiece (19), in particular a press brake, comprising a first platform (1) with a first tool mount (11) and a second platform (2) with a second tool mount (12), wherein one of the platforms (1) is movable relative to the other platform (2) for performing a working movement, a safety device (20) for creating a light barrier (27), in particular laser light barrier, extending between the tool mounts (11, 12) transversely to the working movement of the movable platform (1), which light barrier (27), in a cross-section, forms a light field (7), wherein the safety device (20) has a first mount (21), which carries a light emitter (25) for creating the light barrier (27), and a second mount (22), which carries a light receiver (26) for receiving the light of the light barrier (27), and wherein the first mount (21) is arranged on a first side of the first platform (1) and is adjustable relative to the first platform (1) by a first adjustment drive (23), such that the position of the light barrier (27) relative to the first tool mount (11) can be changed in the direction of the working movement of the movable platform (1), a controller (9) that is connected to the first adjustment drive (23), wherein the bending press (10) is designed for carrying out a method according to claim 1, wherein the controller (9) is configured to control the method according to one of the preceding claims, in particular by evaluating and/or processing the data recorded or evaluated by the light receiver (26) and/or by adjusting the first adjustment drive (23) and/or the second adjustment drive (24).

Description

[0042] These show in a respectively very simplified schematic representation:

[0043] FIG. 1 a bending press according to the invention

[0044] FIG. 2 a cutout from a cross-section of the bending press with light field with an optimally set light barrier

[0045] FIG. 3 the light field with bending tool with not yet optimally set light barrier

[0046] FIG. 4 the light field with bending tool with an incorrect or incorrectly declared bending tool

[0047] FIG. 5 a preferred embodiment with a light field, which has a pattern in its lateral edge regions.

[0048] First of all, it is to be noted that in the different embodiments described, equal parts are provided with equal reference numbers and/or equal component designations, where the disclosures contained in the entire description may be analogously transferred to equal parts with equal reference numbers and/or equal component designations. Moreover, the specifications of location, such as at the top, at the bottom, at the side, chosen in the description refer to the directly described and depicted figure and in case of a change of position, these specifications of location are to be analogously transferred to the new position.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0049] The exemplary embodiments show possible embodiment variants, and it should be noted in this respect that the invention is not restricted to these particular illustrated embodiment variants of it, but that rather also various combinations of the individual embodiment variants are possible and that this possibility of variation owing to the teaching for technical action provided by the present invention lies within the ability of the person skilled in the art in this technical field.

[0050] The scope of protection is determined by the claims. However, the description and the drawings are to be adduced for construing the claims. Individual features or feature combinations from the different exemplary embodiments shown and described may represent independent inventive solutions. The object underlying the independent inventive solutions may be gathered from the description.

[0051] All indications regarding ranges of values in the present description are to be understood such that these also comprise random and all partial ranges from it, for example, the indication 1 to 10 is to be understood such that it comprises all partial ranges based on the lower limit 1 and the upper limit 10, i.e. all partial ranges start with a lower limit of 1 or larger and end with an upper limit of 10 or less, for example 1 through 1.7, or 3.2 through 8.1, or 5.5 through 10.

[0052] Finally, as a matter of form, it should be noted that for ease of understanding of the structure, elements are partially not depicted to scale and/or are enlarged and/or are reduced in size.

[0053] FIG. 1 shows a bending press 10 for bending a workpiece 19, here in the form of a press brake. A first (upper) platform 1 with a first tool mount 11 is movable relative to a second (lower) platform 2 with a second tool mount 12 for performing a working movement (see double arrow). The working movement is effected by the controller 9, which is connected to the press drive 18 and controls the same.

[0054] In the embodiment shown, the first tool mount 11 is an upper tool mount and the second tool mount 12 is a lower tool mount. The first platform 1 is movable relative to the second, stationary platform 2.

[0055] The bending press 10 comprises a safety device 20 for creating a light barrier 27, in particular laser light barrier, which in a cross-section forms a light field 7, extending between the tool mounts 11, 12 transversely to the working movement of the movable platform 1. The safety device 20 has a first mount 21, which carries a light emitter 25 for creating the light barrier 27, and a second mount 22, which carries the light receiver 26 for receiving the light of the light barrier 27. The first mount 21 is arranged on a first side of the first platform 1 and is adjustable relative to the first platform 1 by a first adjustment drive 23, such that the position of the light barrier 27 relative to the first tool mount 11 is changeable in the direction of the working movement of the movable platform 1 (see double arrow in FIG. 1).

[0056] The first mount 21 is arranged on a first side of the first platform 1 and adjustable relative to the first platform 1 by means of a first adjustment drive 23. The second mount 22 is arranged on a second side of the first platform 1 opposite the first side, and adjustable relative to the first platform 1 by means of a second adjustment drive 24.

[0057] The controller 9 is connected to the first adjustment drive 23 and the second adjustment drive 24. Light emitter 25 and light receiver 26 are also connected to the controller 9.

[0058] In this regard, the safety device 20 is configured such that the position of the light barrier 27, which is determined by the position of the light emitter 25 at one of the mounts, can be set relative to the first tool mount 11 and/or the tool 8 held therein. A (complete or partial) interruption of the light barrier 27 by an obstacle (e.g. a finger of an operator) occurring in the work path causes a shadow that is detected by means of the light receiver 26. The controller 9 connected to the light receiver 26 stops or slows the working movement of the bending press 10 (controlling of the press drive 18) depending on a detected shadow.

[0059] Preferably, the first tool mount 11 and/or the second tool mount 12 are designed in the form of a guide rail, which may have a front side opening at least at one of its ends for changing a bending tool 8.

[0060] The method according to the invention is now characterized in that, before a bending operation or a series of bending operations, the controller 9 brings the first mount 21 into a working position by controlling the first adjustment drive 23, in which working position the tool tip 4 of a bending tool 8 held by the first tool mount 11 lies within the light field 7 formed by the light barrier 27, preferably in a predefined first region 5 of the light field 7. The result of such a setting can be seen in FIG. 2.

[0061] Preferably, the setting is carried out such that the controller 9 brings the first mount 21 into the working position depending on the shadow of the tool tip 4 detected by the light receiver 26.

[0062] If, for instance, the point and/or its shadow is outside the target region, and thus outside the predefined first region, as it is the case in FIG. 3, the first mount with the light emitter is adjusted accordingly by actuation of the adjustment drive 23, until the light emitter occupies the position from FIG. 2.

[0063] It is preferred if, in the working position of the first mount 21, the distance between the tool tip 4 and the edge 3 of the light field 7 opposite the tool tip 4 is at least a third, preferably at least half, of the expansion of the light field 7 in the direction, in which the working movement of the movable platform 1 takes place (see FIG. 2).

[0064] Now, the position of the tool tip 4 within the light field 7 or the position of the light barrier 27 can be determined based on the shadow of the tool tip 4 detected by the light receiver 26.

[0065] Depending on the determined position of the tool tip 4 within the light field 7 or the determined position of the light barrier 27, the first mount 21 is now adjusted until the tool tip 4 comes to lie in a target position or a target region within the light field 7, preferably in the predefined first region 5.

[0066] In connection with the relative position between tool tip 4 and light field 7 shown in FIG. 3, the first mount 21 can now be adjusted depending on the determined position of the tool tip 4 within the light field 7 or the determined position of the light barrier 27, if the tool tip 4 is outside the predefined first region 5 but still inside a predefined second region 6 within the light field 7. The predefined first region 5 is inside the predefined second region 6. The adjustment of the first mount (21) is carried out until the tool tip 4 comes to lie in the predefined first region 5 (see FIG. 2).

[0067] If, however, no shadow of the tool tip 4 is detected or if the tool tip 4 is outside a predefined second region 6 (see FIG. 4), a piece of information and/or a warning may be issued at a user interface 13 and/or the adjusting operation may be interrupted.

[0068] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the second mount with the light receiver is designed analogously to the first mount, and the second mount 22 with the light receiver 26 is adjusted in each case to the same extent as the first mount 21 with the light emitter 25. As mentioned before, the light receiver could, however, also be designed differently, in particular stationary, e.g. if its capturing region and/or its light-sensitive surface covers a larger region (meaning it covers all possible positions of the light receiver in the direction of the working movement).

[0069] Still, the first adjustment drive 23 may be adjustable independently of the second adjustment drive 24, whereby a fine adjustment is made possible. In the case of such a fine adjustment, the light emitter 25 and the light receiver 26 can be adjusted relative to one another by means of actuating the first adjustment drive 23 and/or the second adjustment drive 24.

[0070] The adjustment operation can be carried out depending on the shadow of the tool tip 4 detected by the light receiver 26, in particular depending on the position of the tool tip 4 within the light field 7. Thus, the tool tip is used here as (a) reference point.

[0071] However, it is particularly preferred if the light field 7, preferably in at least one of its edge regions, has a pattern 14 variable in the direction of the adjustment movement of the first mount 21 (see FIG. 5). The adjustment operation can be carried out depending on the relative position of the shadow of the tool tip 4 detected by the light receiver 26 relative to the pattern 14 detected by the light receiver 26. Due to these two references (tool tip and pattern) it can be easily determined whether the light emitter or the light receiver has to be readjusted and also in which direction it has to be readjusted.

[0072] In each case, the bending press 10 is designed for carrying out a method according to the invention, and the controller 9 is configured to control the method according to the invention, in particular by evaluating and/or processing the data recorded or evaluated by the light receiver 26 and/or by adjusting the first adjustment drive 23 and/or the second adjustment drive 24.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0073] 1 first platform [0074] 2 second platform [0075] 3 edge of the light field 7 [0076] 4 tool tip [0077] 5 predetermined first region [0078] 6 predetermined second region [0079] 7 light field [0080] 8 bending tool [0081] 9 controller [0082] 10 bending press [0083] 11 first tool mount [0084] 12 second tool mount [0085] 13 user interface [0086] 14 pattern [0087] 18 press drive [0088] 19 workpiece [0089] 20 safety device [0090] 21 first mount [0091] 22 second mount [0092] 23 first adjustment drive [0093] 24 second adjustment drive [0094] 25 light emitter [0095] 26 light receiver [0096] 27 light barrier