BENDING DEVICE FOR BENDING A WORKPIECE AS WELL AS METHOD FOR OPERATING SUCH A BENDING DEVICE

Abstract

A folding device for bending a workpiece made of flat material. The folding device includes a machine frame having a flat mounting surface, at which a clamping cheek is arranged, which can be moved relative to the mounting surface. The clamping cheek clamps a workpiece which is positioned on the mounting surface at a specified or specifiable mounting position, to the machine frame. A bending means, of at least one bending tool can be moved relative to the mounting surface so that the clamped workpiece can be bent around a certain bending angle, is furthermore arranged at the folding device. A machine controller is coupled to a cutting tool drive of a cutting tool for cutting the workpiece and which for performing a cutting process for severing a workpiece which is smaller than a distance between the start position and the end position with respect to the bending axis.

Claims

1. A folding device for bending a workpiece made of flat material, comprising a machine frame (3) having a flat mounting surface (4), at which a clamping cheek (5) is arranged, which can be moved relative to the mounting surface (4) and which releasably clamps a workpiece (2), which is positioned on the mounting surface (4) at a mounting position (6), to the machine frame (3), wherein at least one bending means (7) of at least one bending tool (8), which can be moved relative to the mounting surface (4) in order to bend the clamped workpiece (2) around a specified or specifiable bending angle, is arranged at the folding device (1), wherein a cutting means (10) of at least one cutting tool (11) is arranged at the folding device (1), which cutting tool can be moved back and forth between a start position (13) and an end position (14) relative to the mounting surface (4) in the direction of a longitudinal machine axis (9) by means of a cutting tool drive (20) as part of a working movement (12), in order to completely sever the clamped workpiece (2) along a cutting axis (15), wherein the mounting position (6) transversely to the longitudinal machine axis (9) is specified by means of a workpiece stop (16), which is arranged at the machine frame (3), for positioning a workpiece (2), which is to be bent over and/or to be severed, wherein the start position (13) is arranged at the machine frame (3) on one end, and the end position (14) is arranged at the machine frame (3) on the other end, and wherein a machine controller (22) is provided, which is coupled to the cutting tool drive (20) and which, to perform a cutting process for severing a workpiece (2), which is smaller than a distance (35) between the start position (13) and the end position (14) with respect to the longitudinal machine axis (9), automatically controls the cutting tool drive (20) to move the cutting tool (11) from the start position (13) only to a workpiece end (36) of the workpiece (2), which is spaced apart from the start position (13), and from there back to the start position again (13).

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the machine controller (22) has a sensor system (23), which determines a workpiece end (36) of the workpiece (2), which is spaced apart from the start position (13).

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the sensor system (23) detects a cutting run state (37) and an empty run state (19) of the cutting tool (11), wherein an empty run state (19), which temporally immediately follows a cutting run state (37), indicates a workpiece end (36) of the workpiece (2), which is spaced apart from the start position (13).

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the sensor system (23) detects the power requirement of the cutting tool drive (20), wherein a relatively high power requirement indicates a cutting run state (37), and a relatively low power requirement indicates an empty run state (19).

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the sensor system (23) detects cutting run states (37) and empty run states (19) based on cutting measurement variables, which appear at the cutting tool (11).

6. The device according claim 5, wherein to detect the cutting measurement variables of the cutting tool (11), the sensor system (23) has a signal emitter (24) and/or a signal sensor (26), wherein the signal emitter (24) is formed by at least one laser emitter (25), by at least one light emitter, in particular a light curtain, or by at least one ultrasound emitter, and/or the signal sensor (26) is formed by at least one laser sensor (27), by at least one light sensor, or by at least one ultrasound sensor, or by at least one Hall sensor.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the sensor system (23) has a workpiece detector, which is arranged at the cutting tool (11) upstream of and/or downstream from the cutting tool (11) in and/or transversely to the direction of the cutting axis (15) and which detects a workpiece (2), wherein the detection of a workpiece (2) indicates a cutting run state (37), and wherein the non-detection indicates an empty run state (19).

8. The device according to claim 2, wherein, the sensor system (23) detects cutting run states (37) and empty run states (19) by means of a light curtain, which is arranged at the mounting surface (4), wherein along the longitudinal machine axis (9), the light curtain has light emitters, which are arranged with mutual distance to one another, and, along the longitudinal machine axis (9), has light sensors which are arranged with mutual distance to one another and which measure cutting measurement variables appearing at the cutting tool (11).

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the sensor system (23) has a light curtain, which is arranged at the mounting surface (4) and which, along the longitudinal machine axis (9), has light emitters, which are arranged with mutual distance to one another, and, along the longitudinal machine axis (9), has light sensors, which are arranged with mutual distance to one another, wherein the light emitters and light sensors cooperate in order to detect a workpiece length (38), which is measured parallel with respect to the longitudinal machine axis (9) between the start position (13) and the end position (14), of a workpiece (2), which is positioned on the mounting surface (4), wherein the machine controller (22) controls the cutting tool drive (20) such that the cutting tool (11) is automatically moved from the start position (13) only to a workpiece end (36) of the workpiece (2), which is spaced apart from the workpiece stop (16), and which is determined based on the measured workpiece length (38), and from there back to the start position (13) again.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cutting means (10) has a guide rail (21), which is arranged at the folding device (1) and a tool carriage (28), wherein the tool carriage (28) is arranged at the guide rail (21) so as to be capable of being guided along the longitudinal machine axis (9), and can be capable of being moved in the direction of the longitudinal machine axis (9) by means of the cutting tool drive (20), wherein the tool carriage (28) furthermore supports the cutting tool (11) at a tool receptacle (29).

11. The device according to claim 2, wherein the cutting tool (11) has a cutting edge receptacle (30) for receiving at least one cutting edge element (31) of the cutting tool (11) for completely severing the workpiece (2).

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the sensor system (23) detects a cutting edge engagement region (32) of the cutting edge element (31) with the workpiece (2), which is arranged at the cutting tool (11) upstream of or downstream from the cutting edge element (31) in the direction of the cutting axis (15).

13. The device according to claim 2, wherein the sensor system (23) is arranged at the cutting tool (11) and/or at the machine frame (3).

14. The device according to claim 2, wherein the machine controller (22) and/or the sensor system (23) are formed to communicate with one another wirelessly or by wire.

15. The device according to claim 2, wherein in the case of electrically conductive workpieces (2), the machine controller (22) and/or the sensor system (23) are formed to detect a conductive measuring current by means of measuring, in order to determine the electrical conductivity of the respective workpiece (2), in order to detect a workpiece end (36) of the workpiece (2).

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein instead of one workpiece (2), several workpieces (2), which are separated from one another and which are releasably clamped to the mounting surface (4) with mutual distance from one another, are arranged at the mounting surface (4), wherein a workpiece-free gap is in each case defined between two adjacent workpieces (2), wherein the folding device (1) is set up to sever and/or to bend over the several workpieces (2) jointly, wherein the number of the workpieces (2) or the number of the gaps can be stored in the machine controller (22), in order to have the cutting tool (11) pass over a specified or specifiable number of gaps and/or workpieces (2) as part of a cutting process, before the cutting tool (11) returns into the start position (13).

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein the folding device (1) is a double folding device, which has two bending tools (8), in order to bend a workpiece (2) relative to the mounting surface (4) in two different directions around a longitudinal machine axis (9)

18. A method for operating a folding device according to claim 1, wherein the termination of a severing process of a workpiece (2) is detected, the cutting tool (11), which is moved as part of the working movement (12), is then stopped between the start position (13) and the end position (14), and the cutting tool (11) is then further moved back into the start position (13).

19. A folding device for bending a workpiece made of flat material, in particular according to claim 1, comprising a machine frame (3) having a flat mounting surface (4), at which a clamping cheek (5) is arranged, which can be moved relative to the mounting surface (4) and which releasably clamps a workpiece (2), which is positioned on the mounting surface (4) at a mounting position (6), to the machine frame (3), wherein a bending means (7) of at least one bending tool (8), which can be moved relative to the mounting surface (4) around a bending axis (9) in order to bend the clamped workpiece (2) around the bending axis (9), is arranged at the machine frame (3), wherein a cutting means (10) of at least one cutting tool (11) is arranged at the machine frame (3), which cutting tool can be moved back and forth between a start position (13) and an end position (14) relative to the mounting surface (4) in the direction of the bending axis (9) by means of a cutting tool drive (20) as part of a working movement (12), in order to completely sever the clamped workpiece (2) along a cutting axis (15), which is aligned parallel to the bending axis (9), wherein in the direction of the bending axis (9), the mounting position (6) is specified by means of a workpiece stop (16), which is arranged at the machine frame (3), for positioning a workpiece (2), which is to be bent over and/or to be severed, wherein the workpiece stop (16) and the start position (13) are adjacent to one another and are arranged in the direction of the bending axis (9) at the machine frame (3) on one end, and the end position (14) is arranged at the machine frame (3) on the other end, and wherein a machine controller (22) is provided, which is coupled to the cutting tool drive (20) and which, to perform a cutting process for severing a workpiece (2), which is smaller than a distance (35) between the start position (13) and the end position (14) with respect to the bending axis (9), automatically controls the cutting tool drive (20) to move the cutting tool (11) from the start position (13) only to a workpiece end (36) of the workpiece (2), which is spaced apart from the workpiece stop (16), and from there back to the start position (13) again.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0064] Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be described in more detail in the following description, whereby identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar or functionally identical components.

[0065] In each case schematically,

[0066] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred exemplary embodiment of a folding device, wherein a workpiece, which is positioned at the folding device, is cut by means of a cutting means,

[0067] FIG. 2 shows a view of the cutting means of the folding device from FIG. 1, viewed in the direction of an arrow II entered there,

[0068] FIG. 3 shows a view of the cutting means of the folding device from FIG. 1, viewed in the direction of an arrow III entered there, wherein a workpiece chip is removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0069] The drawings 1 to 3 show a preferred exemplary embodiment of a folding device, which is labeled as a whole with reference numeral 1, which is also known as long folding device within the corresponding professional circles. Folding devices serve the purpose of bending workpieces 2 made of flat material in order to produce arbitrary bending geometries.

[0070] The folding device 1 according to FIG. 1 is illustrated in a perspective view. The folding device 1 has a machine frame 3 comprising a flat mounting surface 4. The machine frame 3 is put down on a level ground, which is not illustrated, so that the mounting surface 4 faces upwards, which could be described as use position. A clamping cheek 5, which can be moved relative to the mounting surface 4, is arranged in any case at the machine frame 3, which clamping cheek in this case releasably clamps a workpiece 2, which is positioned on the mounting surface 4 at a mounting position 6, is pre-clamped and laterally overlaps with respect to the mounting surface 4, to the machine frame 3. A bending means 7 of at least one bending tool 8 is furthermore arranged at the machine frame 3. The bending tool 8 is designed, as an example, in a non-operated rest state. In a non-illustrated operated active state, which deviates from the non-operated rest state, the bending tool 8 is moved relative to the mounting surface 4, so that the clamped workpiece 2 can be bent around a longitudinal machine axis 9 or a bending axis 9, respectively, at a certain bending angle.

[0071] A type of long folding machines is also not illustrated, which, in addition to a first lower bending tool, also have a second upper bending tool. With the two bending tools, bending can be performed in both directions, without having to turn the workpiece.

[0072] A cutting means, which is identified with reference numeral 10 and which is arranged at the folding device 1, together with a cutting tool 11 for cutting the workpiece 2 to size as part of a working movement 12, can be moved back and forth between a start position 13 and an end position 14 relative to the mounting surface 4 in the direction of the longitudinal machine axis 9 or the bending axis 9, respectively. The cutting means 10 advantageously has a tool carriage 28, which, in this case, can be guided at a guide rail 21, which is attached to the machine frame 3. To drive the cutting means 10, a cutting tool drive 20 is provided as an example, which is arranged at the machine frame 3 and which is coupled to the cutting means 10 or to the tool carriage 28, respectively, see FIG. 1.

[0073] In a view, FIG. 2 shows, among other things, the cutting means 10, which is arranged at the machine frame 3, comprising cutting tool 11, whereby it can be seen in more detail here that the tool carriage 28 has a tool receptacle 29, to which the cutting tool 11 is linked. As an example, the cutting tool 11, in turn, has two cutting edge receptacles 30, which each serve to receive at least one cutting edge element 31. In each case or together, the workpiece 2 can be severed completely by means of the cutting edge elements 31 along the cutting axis 15, which, as an example, is aligned parallel to the longitudinal machine axis 9 or to the bending axis 9, respectively.

[0074] FIG. 3 shows the cutting means 10 from FIG. 1 in a further view, whereby a workpiece stop 16 can be seen, which is arranged at the machine frame 3 and which specifies the mounting position 6 in the direction of the longitudinal machine axis 9 or of the bending axis 9, respectively. The workpiece 2, which is to be severed, can be positioned at the workpiece stop 16 or can quasi be aligned along the longitudinal machine axis 9 or the bending axis 9, respectively, for example in order to bend it over and/or to sever it.

[0075] It can further be seen in FIG. 1 that the workpiece stop 16 and the start position 13 are selected such that they are adjacent to one another and are arranged at the machine frame 3 on one end in the direction of the longitudinal machine axis 9 or of the bending axis 9, respectively, while the end position 14 is arranged at the machine frame 3 on the other end.

[0076] The folding device 1 furthermore has a machine controller 22, see FIG. 1, which is coupled to the cutting tool drive 20. The machine controller 22 is provided to control the cutting tool drive 20 and thus to perform a cutting process for severing a workpiece 2, wherein it automatically controls the cutting tool drive 20 to move the cutting tool 11 from the start position 13 only to a workpiece end 36 of the workpiece 2, which is spaced apart from the workpiece stop 16, and from there back to the start position 13 again. With respect to the longitudinal machine axis 9 or the bending axis 9, respectively, the workpiece 2 is thereby smaller than a distance 35 between the start position 13 and the end position 14.

[0077] In the present case, a sensor system 23 for detecting cutting run states 37 and empty run states 19 of the cutting tool 11 is provided, whereby workpiece ends 36 of a workpiece 2 can be detected based on these working states; an empty run state 19, which temporally immediately follows a cutting run state 37, generally indicates a workpiece end 36 of the workpiece 2, which is spaced apart from the workpiece stop 16. As an example, the sensor system 23 is embodied in several parts in the present case, namely as an example comprising a first part of the sensor system 23, arranged at the cutting means 10 and/or the cutting tool 11, and a second part of the sensor system 23, arranged at the machine controller 22. The sensor system 23, which is arranged at the machine controller 22, advantageously detects a workpiece end 36 of the workpiece 2, which is spaced apart from the workpiece stop 16, in that the power requirement of the cutting tool drive 20 is monitored.

[0078] As an example, it can be seen in FIG. 3 that the sensor system 23, which is arranged at the cutting means 10 and/or at the cutting tool 11, for detecting the cutting run states 37 and the empty run states 19, has a signal emitter 24 and a signal sensor 26. The signal emitter 24 is advantageously formed by at least one laser emitter 25, and the signal sensor 26 is advantageously formed by at least one laser sensor 27. The laser sensor 27 and the signal sensor 26 can, in the form of a workpiece detector, detect a cutting edge engagement region 32 of the cutting edge element 31, which is arranged at the cutting tool 11 upstream of and/or downstream from the cutting tool 11 in the direction of the cutting axis 15, with of the workpiece 2, wherein the detection of a workpiece 2 indicates a cutting run state 37, and wherein the non-detection indicates an empty run state 19, see FIG. 2.

[0079] All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

[0080] The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

[0081] Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.