BENDING PRESS AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A BENDING PRESS

Abstract

The invention relates to a bending press (10) for bending a workpiece (19), 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 first safety device (20) for creating a light barrier (27) extending between the tool mounts (11, 12) transversely to the working movement of the movable platform (1), wherein the first safety device (20) has a first mount (21) and a second mount (22), wherein one of the mounts (21) carries a light emitter (25) and the other mount (22) carries a light receiver (26), 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), a controller (9) that is connected to the first adjustment drive (23), characterized in that the first tool mount (11) is designed in the form of a guide rail, which has at its first end a first front side opening (13) for changing a bending tool (8), and that the access for changing a bending tool (8) via the first front side opening (13) is obstructed in a first relative position of the first mount (21) to the first platform (1) and is unblocked in a second relative position of the first mount (21) to the first platform 1.

Claims

1. A bending press (10) for bending a workpiece (19), in a 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 first 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), wherein the first safety device (20) has a first mount (21) and a second mount (22), wherein one of the mounts (21) carries a light emitter (25) and the other mount (22) carries a light receiver (26), 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), a controller (9) that is connected to the first adjustment drive (23), wherein the first tool mount (11) is designed in the form of a guide rail, which has at its first end a first front side opening (13) for changing a bending tool (8), and wherein the access for changing a bending tool (8) via the first front side opening (13) is obstructed in a first relative position of the first mount (21) to the first platform (1) and is unblocked in a second relative position of the first mount (21) to the first platform (1).

2. The bending press according to claim 1, wherein the second mount (22) is arranged on a second side of the first platform (1) opposite the first side and can be adjusted relative to the first platform (1) by a second adjustment drive (24), wherein the controller (9) is connected to the second adjustment drive (24), and wherein the guide rail has at its second end a second front side opening (14) for changing a bending tool (8), and wherein the access for changing a bending tool (8) via the second front side opening (14) is obstructed in a first relative position of the second mount (22) to the first platform (1) and is unblocked in a second relative position of the second mount (22) to the first platform (1).

3. The bending press according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in the first relative position of the first mount (21) to the first platform (1), the first front side opening (13) of the guide rail is covered at least partly, preferably completely, by the first mount (21), and/or wherein in the first relative position of the second mount (22) to the first platform (1), the second front side opening (14) of the guide rail is covered at least partially, preferably completely, by the second mount (22).

4. The bending press 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).

5. The bending press according to claim 2, wherein the first adjustment drive (23) is actuatable independently of the second adjustment drive (24).

6. The bending press according to claim 1, wherein the light emitter (25) and/or the light receiver (26) is/are arranged in the lower region of the respective mount (21, 22) and is/are arranged above the front side opening(s) (13, 14) of the guide rail when the respective mount (21, 22) is in the second relative position.

7. The bending press according to claim 1, wherein the first tool mount (11) has a clamping device (7) for fixating one or multiple bending tool(s) (8) inserted in the guide rail, wherein the clamping device (7) can be actuated between a clamping state and a releasing state, and wherein the clamping device (7) is actuatable by the controller (9) and/or the state of the clamping device (7) is readable by the controller (9).

8. The bending press according to claim 1, wherein the bending press (10) comprises a second safety device (3), which can be brought into a state performing a safety function and into a non-securing state, and wherein the safety device comprises a sensor (4) for detecting the current state of the safety device (3), which sensor is connected to the controller (9), and wherein the controller (9) is configured to bring the first mount (21) and/or the second mount (22)—in dependence on the state of the second safety device (3) detected by the sensor (4), preferably if in a non-securing state—into the second relative position.

9. The bending press according to claim 1, wherein the bending press (10) comprises a covering (5), in particular a door or a window, as a second safety device, which covering (5) can be moved between a closed position, in which the sideward access to the interior of the bending press (10) is obstructed or impeded, and an open position.

10. The bending press according to claim 1, wherein, in an operating mode, which can preferably be deactivated, the controller (9) is configured to automatically move—by controlling the first and/or second adjustment drive (23, 24)—the first mount (21) and/or the second mount (22) into the second relative position when the covering (5) is brought into an open position or is in an open position and/or when the clamping device (7) is brought into a releasing state or is in a releasing state.

11. The bending press according to claim 1, wherein, in a first operating mode, the controller (9) is configured—for performing a working movement—to move the first platform (1) in the direction of the second platform (2) at a first speed, and to move the first mount (21) and/or second mount (22) into the second relative position immediately before the start of the bending operation on the workpiece (19) or when the distance between a bending tool (8) held by the first tool mount (11) and the workpiece (19) to be processed falls below a predefined value, which is preferably not more than 20 mm, preferably not more than 10 mm.

12. The bending press according to claim 1, wherein, in a second operating mode, the controller (9) is configured to move the first mount (21) and/or the second mount (22) into the second relative position or to leave them in the second relative position, before and/or while the first platform (1)—for performing a working movement—is moved in the direction of the second platform (2) at a second speed.

13. The bending press according to claim 12, wherein the first speed is greater, preferably at least 1.5 times greater, particularly preferably at least 2 times greater, than the second speed.

14. The bending press according to claim 1, wherein the light barrier (27) is formed by at least one light beam widened to a light field, and/or comprises multiple light beams, preferably extending in a parallel manner.

15. The bending press according to claim 1, wherein the light receiver (26) is an image receiver, preferably a camera.

16. A method for operating a bending press (10) according to claim 1, wherein the controller (9) moves the first mount (21) and optionally the second mount (22) by controlling the adjustment drive(s) (23, 24) into the second relative position.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein, in an operating mode, which can preferably be deactivated, the controller (9) automatically moves—by controlling the first and/or second adjustment drive (23, 24)—the first mount (21) and/or the second mount (22) into the second relative position when the covering (5) is brought into an open position or is in an open position and/or when the clamping device (7) is brought into a releasing state or is in a releasing state.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein, in a first operating mode, the controller (9)—for performing a working movement—moves the first platform (1) in the direction of the second platform (2) at a first speed, and moves the first mount (21) and/or second mount (22) into the second relative position immediately before the start of the bending operation on the workpiece (19) or when the distance between a bending tool (8) held by the first tool mount (11) and the workpiece (19) to be processed falls below a predefined value, which is preferably not more than 20 mm, preferably not more than 10 mm.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein, in a second operating mode, the controller (9) moves the first mount (21) and/or the second mount (22) into the second relative position or leaves them in the second relative position, before and/or while the first platform (1)—for performing a working movement—is moved in the direction of the second platform (2) at a second speed.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the first speed is greater, preferably at least 1.5 times greater, particularly preferably at least 2 times greater, than the second speed.

Description

[0039] These show in a respectively very simplified schematic representation:

[0040] FIG. 1 a bending press according to the invention;

[0041] FIG. 2 the bending press of FIG. 1 with open, lateral coverings;

[0042] FIG. 3 the front side opening of the guide rail.

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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.

[0045] 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.

[0046] 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.

[0047] 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.

[0048] 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.

[0049] 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.

[0050] The bending press 10 comprises a first safety device 20 for creating a light barrier 27 extending between the tool mounts 11, 12 transversely to the working movement of the movable platform 1. The first safety device 20 has a first mount 21 and a second mount 22 (located opposite), wherein one of the mounts 21 carries a light emitter 25 and the other mount 22 carries a light receiver 26. Light emitter 25 and light receiver 26 are also connected to the controller 9 (not shown).

[0051] 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.

[0052] The controller 9 is connected to the first adjustment drive 23 and the second adjustment drive 24.

[0053] In this regard, the first 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 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.

[0054] At least the first tool mount 11, preferably also the second tool mount 12, is designed in the form of a guide rail, which has at its first end a first front side opening 13 for changing a bending tool 8 (also see FIG. 3).

[0055] The access for changing a bending tool 8 via the first front side opening 13 is obstructed in a first relative position of the first mount 21 to the first platform 1 (FIG. 1) and unblocked in a second relative position of the first mount 21 to the first platform 1 (FIGS. 2 and 3).

[0056] The guide rail can also have at its second end a second front side opening 14 for changing a bending tool 8. The second mount 22 can—like the first mount—obstruct (FIG. 1) or unblock (FIG. 2) the access to the front side opening 14.

[0057] In the first relative position, as can be seen in FIG. 1, the first front side opening 13 of the guide rail is at least partially, here even completely, covered by the first mount 21. Likewise, the second front side opening 14 is covered by the second mount 22.

[0058] The first adjustment drive 23 is preferably actuatable independently of the second adjustment drive 24, so that only the mount on the side, on which the tool change takes place, has to be moved into the second relative position (parking position).

[0059] The light emitter 25 and/or the light receiver 26 are arranged in the lower region of the respective mount 21, 22. In the second relative position (FIGS. 2 and 3) of the respective mount 21, 22, the light emitter and/or light receiver are therefore located above the front side opening 13, 14 of the guide rail (see FIG. 3, in particular).

[0060] From FIGS. 1 and 2 it is further evident that the first tool mount 11 has a clamping device 7 for fixating one or multiple bending tool(s) 8 inserted in the guide rail. The clamping device 7 is actuatable between a clamping state (clamping the bending tool) and a releasing state. In this regard, the clamping device 7 is actuatable by the controller 9 and/or the state of the clamping device 7 is readable by the controller 9. The connection between controller 9 and clamping device 7 is adumbrated by a dashed line.

[0061] The clamping device may have a plurality of clamping elements 6, e.g. in the form of pins, which are, for example, pressed into the interior of the guide rail and against the mounting section of bending tool by a hydraulic drive.

[0062] The bending press 10 may also have at least one second safety device 3, which can be brought into a state performing a safety function and into a non-securing state. In this regard, the second safety device 3 may comprise a sensor 4 for detecting the current state of the safety device 3, which sensor is connected to the controller 9. The controller 9 may preferably be configured to bring the first mount 21 and/or the second mount 22—in dependence of the state of the second safety device 3 detected by the sensor 4, preferably if in a non-securing state—into the second relative position.

[0063] The second safety device may—as shown in the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1—be designed e.g. in the form of a covering 5, in particular a door or a window, and be movable between a closed position, in which the lateral access to the interior of the of the bending press 10 is obstructed or impeded (FIG. 1), and an open position (FIG. 2).

[0064] In an operating mode, which can preferably be deactivated, the controller 9 can be configured, in particular programmed, to automatically move—by controlling the first and/or second adjustment drive 23, 24—the first mount 21 and/or the second mount 22 into the second relative position when the covering 5 is brought into an open position or is in an open position (FIG. 2) and/or when the clamping device 7 is brought into a releasing state or is in a releasing state. This makes changing a bending tool (via a front side opening) significantly easier e.g. for an operator, as moving the mount back and the unblocking of the access caused thereby can be carried out automatically.

[0065] In a further, first operating mode, the controller 9 may be configured and/or programmed to move the first platform 1 in the direction of the second platform 2 at a first speed for performing a working movement, and to move the first mount 21 and/or second mount 22 into the second relative position immediately before the start of the bending operation on the workpiece 19 or when the distance between a bending tool 8 held by the first tool mount 11 and the workpiece 19 to be processed falls below a predefined value, which is preferably not more than 20 mm, preferably not more than 10 mm. In the second relative position, the corresponding mount does not hinder the bending operation and a bending up of the workpiece can take place in a region that is on the side of the front side opening.

[0066] In a second operating mode (working mode), the controller can be configured, in particular programmed, to move the first mount 21 and/or the second mount 22 into the second relative position or to leave them in the second relative position, before and/or while the first platform 1—for performing a working movement—is moved in the direction of the second platform 2 at a second speed. This operating mode is used in cases, in which a collision of the mount with the workpiece would take place even before the actual bending.

[0067] The first speed is greater, preferably at least 1.5 times greater, particularly preferably at least 2 times greater, than the second speed. Due to the deactivated safety function (of the first safety device) in the second operating mode, the working movement is carried out more slowly here.

[0068] The light barrier 27, in particular laser light barrier, can be formed by at least one light beam widened to a light field, and/or comprise multiple light beams, preferably extending in a parallel manner. The light receiver 26 may be an image receiver, preferably a camera.

[0069] The invention also relates to a method for operating a bending press 10, in which method the controller 9 moves the first mount 21 and optionally the second mount 22 by controlling the adjustment drive(s) 23, 24 into the second relative position. The corresponding method steps have already been described at the beginning and arise from the preceding description of the figures. In order to avoid repetitions, reference is therefore made at this point to the corresponding text passages.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0070] 1 first platform [0071] 2 second platform [0072] 3 second safety device [0073] 4 sensor [0074] 5 covering [0075] 6 clamping elements [0076] 7 clamping device [0077] 8 bending tool [0078] 9 controller [0079] 10 bending press [0080] 11 first tool mount [0081] 12 second tool mount [0082] 13 first front side opening [0083] 14 second front side opening [0084] 18 press drive [0085] 19 workpiece [0086] 20 first safety device [0087] 21 first mount [0088] 22 second mount [0089] 23 first adjustment drive [0090] 24 second adjustment drive [0091] 25 light emitter [0092] 26 light receiver [0093] 27 light barrier