Hot-forming line for manufacturing hot-formed and press-hardened steel-sheet products, and method for operating said hot-forming line

Abstract

A hot-forming line and a method for operating the hot-forming line is disclosed having a temperature-control station and a hot-forming and press-hardening tool. A linear conveyor system for conveying the metal blank or the formed steel-sheet products, respectively, through the hot-forming line is provided.

Claims

1. A hot-forming line for manufacturing hot-formed and press-hardened steel-sheet products, the hot-forming line comprising: a temperature-control station for heating at least one metal blank; a hot-forming and press-hardening tool; a controller coupled to the temperature-control station and the hot-forming and press-hardening tool, and configured to actuate the temperature-control station and the hot-forming and press-hardening tool; and a linear conveyor system which is configured from at least two mutually opposite parallel rails provided along the hot-forming line, wherein the rails are displaceable in at least one translatory direction, and gripper elements disposed on the rails, wherein the gripper elements are displaceable in an axial direction of the rails, and the gripper elements are capable of being lifted and lowered in a manner orthogonal to the axial direction of the rails, wherein the controller is configured to actuate a vertical opening movement of the hot-forming and press-hardening tool, and actuate a vertical opening movement of the temperature-control station so as to be temporally delayed in relation to the vertical opening movement of the hot-forming and press-hardening tool, and the temperature-control station and the hot-forming and press-hardening tool are disposed so as to be directly next to one another at a spacing of less than 50 cm.

2. A hot-forming line according to claim 1, wherein the gripper elements include active grippers configured to perform a clamping movement to acquire a metal blank.

3. A hot-forming line according to claim 2, wherein the active grippers are configured as blank grippers and temperature control grippers.

4. A hot-forming line according to claim 1, wherein the gripper elements include passive grippers which, by way of the steel-sheet product bearing thereon by virtue of the influence of gravity, are configured to perform a lifting function to acquire a finished steel-sheet product.

5. A hot-forming line according to claim 4, wherein the passive grippers are configured as product grippers.

6. A hot-forming line according to claim 1, further comprising a synchronous drive, wherein the rails are displaceable in a manner orthogonal to the axial direction thereof, and outwardly and inwardly, respectively, in relation to the hot-forming line, the synchronous drive.

7. A hot-forming line according to claim 1, further comprising a synchronous drive, wherein all gripper elements are displaceable in the axial direction of the rails by the synchronous drive.

8. A hot-forming line according to claim 1, wherein a translator displacement path of the gripper elements, orthogonally to the axial direction of the rails, from a resting position to a gripping position is between 5 and 250 mm.

9. A hot-forming line according to claim 1, wherein the temperature-control station is fitted to the hot-forming and press-hardening tool.

10. A hot-forming line according to claim 1, wherein the gripper elements include active grippers configured to perform a clamping movement to simultaneously acquire two metal blanks that are simultaneously heatable, and to simultaneously acquire two steel-sheet products that are simultaneously hot-formable and press-hardenable, such that the hot-forming line is configured to have dual parallel action.

11. A hot-forming line according to claim 1, wherein all gripper elements are displaceable in the axial direction of the rails by a displacement of the rails.

12. A hot-forming line according to claim 1, wherein a translator displacement path of the gripper elements, orthogonally to the axial direction of the rails, from a resting position to a gripping position is between 10 to 50 mm.

13. A hot-forming line according to claim 1, wherein the temperature-control station and the hot-forming and press-hardening tool are disposed so as to be directly next to one another at a spacing equal to or less than 10 cm.

14. A method of operating a hot-forming line, the hot-forming line comprising: a temperature-control station; a hot-forming and press-hardening tool; a controller coupled to the temperature-control station and the hot-forming and press-hardening tool, and configured to actuate the temperature-control station and the hot-forming and press-hardening tool; and a linear conveyor system which is configured from at least two mutually opposite parallel rails provided along the hot-forming line, and gripper elements disposed on the rails, wherein the rails are displaceable toward and away from each other, the gripper elements are displaceable in an axial direction of the rails, the gripper elements are configured to be lifted and lowered in a manner orthogonal to the axial direction of the rails, and the gripper elements comprise two mutually opposite blank grippers, two mutually opposite temperature-control grippers, and two mutually opposite product grippers, the method comprising: acquiring at a blank metal by the two mutually opposite blank grippers; acquiring a heated metal blank in the temperature-control station by the two mutually opposite temperature-control grippers; acquiring at a formed and hardened steel sheet product in the hot-forming and press-hardening tool by the two mutually opposite product grippers; actuating, by the controller, a vertical opening movement of the hot-forming and press-hardening tool; actuating, by the controller, a vertical opening movement of the temperature-control station so as to be temporally delayed in relation to the vertical opening movement of the hot-forming and press-hardening tool; and by an axial movement of the gripper elements along the axial direction of the rails, simultaneously conveying the metal blank, by the two mutually opposite blank grippers, into the temperature-control station to deposit the metal blank therein, conveying the heated metal blank, by the two mutually opposite temperature-control grippers, from the temperature control station into the hot-forming and press-hardening tool to deposit the heated metal blank therein, and conveying the at formed and hardened steel sheet product, by the two mutually opposite product grippers, from the hot-forming and press-hardening tool to a depository stack, wherein the temperature-control station and the hot-forming and press-hardening tool are disposed so as to be directly next to one another at a spacing of less than 50 cm.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising: moving the rails inwardly toward each other orthogonally to the axial direction of the rails to bring the two mutually opposite blank grippers into engagement with the blank metal in said acquiring the blank metal, bring the two mutually opposite temperature-control grippers into engagement with the heated metal blank in said acquiring the heated metal blank, and bring the two mutually opposite product grippers into engagement with the formed and hardened steel sheet product in said acquiring the formed and hardened steel sheet product; and moving the rails outwardly away from each other orthogonally to the axial direction of the rails to disengage the two mutually opposite blank grippers from the blank metal to deposit the blank metal in the temperature-control station, disengage the two mutually opposite temperature-control grippers from the heated metal blank to deposit the heated metal blank in the hot-forming and press-hardening tool, and disengage the two mutually opposite product grippers from the formed and hardened steel sheet product to deposit the formed and hardened steel sheet product at the depository stack.

16. A method of operating a hot-forming line, the hot-forming line comprising: a temperature-control station; a hot-forming and press-hardening tool; and a controller coupled to the temperature-control station and the hot-forming and press-hardening tool, and configured to actuate the temperature-control station and the hot-forming and press-hardening tool; a linear conveyor system which is configured from two mutually opposite parallel rails provided along the hot-forming line, and gripper elements disposed on the rails, wherein the rails are displaceable toward and away from each other, the gripper elements are displaceable in an axial direction of the rails, the gripper elements are configured to be lifted and lowered in a manner orthogonal to the axial direction of the rails, and the gripper elements comprise two pairs of mutually opposite blank grippers, two pairs of mutually opposite temperature-control grippers, and two pairs of mutually opposite product grippers, the method comprising: acquiring two blank metals by the two pairs of mutually opposite blank grippers; acquiring two heated metal blanks in the temperature-control station by the two pairs of mutually opposite temperature-control grippers; acquiring two formed and hardened steel sheet products in the hot-forming and press-hardening tool by the two pairs of mutually opposite product grippers; actuating, by the controller, a vertical opening movement of the hot-forming and press-hardening tool; actuating, by the controller, a vertical opening movement of the temperature-control station so as to be temporally delayed in relation to the vertical opening movement of the hot-forming and press-hardening tool; and by an axial movement of the gripper elements along the axial direction of the rails, simultaneously conveying the two metal blanks, by the two pairs of mutually opposite blank grippers, into the temperature-control station to deposit the two metal blanks therein, conveying the two heated metal blanks, by the two pairs of mutually opposite temperature-control grippers, from the temperature control station into the hot-forming and press-hardening tool to deposit the two heated metal blanks therein, and conveying the two formed and hardened steel sheet products, by the two pairs of mutually opposite product grippers, from the hot-forming and press-hardening tool to a depository stack, wherein the temperature-control station and the hot-forming and press-hardening tool are disposed so as to be directly next to one another at a spacing of less than 50 cm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For an understanding of embodiments of the disclosure, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIGS. 1 to 3 show the course of the method of a hot-forming line according to the invention;

(3) FIGS. 4a and 4b show a hot-forming and press-hardening tool having a temperature-control station that is laterally flange-fitted to the former;

(4) FIG. 5 shows a hot-forming and press-hardening tool having temperature-control stations that are laterally flanged to the former;

(5) FIG. 6 shows a hot-forming and press-hardening tool as per FIG. 5, in an alternative variant of design embodiment;

(6) FIGS. 7a and 7b show a lifting function of a linear conveyor system having fixed gripper elements;

(7) FIGS. 8a and 8b shows a lifting function of a linear conveyor system having gripper elements which are movable relative to one another;

(8) FIGS. 9a to 9c show active grippers according to the invention;

(9) FIG. 10 shows a hot-forming line having a divisible rail;

(10) FIG. 11 shows a hot-forming line having a temperature-control station and a hot-forming and press-hardening tool, mutually spaced apart by less than 50 cm.

(11) In the figures, the same reference signs are used for identical or equivalent components, even if and when a repeat description is dispensed with for reasons of simplification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(12) FIG. 1 shows a hot-forming line 1 according to the invention, having a temperature-control station 2, and a hot-forming and press-hardening tool 3, and linear conveyor system 4 disposed thereon. The linear conveyor system 4 has two rails 5, disposed so as to be mutually parallel, wherein gripper elements are disposed on the rails 5. Two blanks grippers 6 are disposed from left to right in relation to the image plane. Two temperature-control grippers 7 are disposed in the center in relation to the image plane, and two product grippers 8 are disposed on the right side in relation to the image plane. The hot-forming line 1 thus has a dual parallel action. Said hot-forming line 1 may also be configured so as to have a single action, a tripe parallel action, a quadruple parallel action, or a multiple parallel action. An overall displacement path 6 is furthermore illustrated.

(13) According to the variant presently illustrated, the gripper elements are locationally fixed to the rails 5 in relation to the axial direction 9 of the rails 5, wherein the rails 5 are movable in the axial direction 9 thereof. Alternatively, it would also be conceivable for the gripper elements to be displaceable in the axial direction 9 in relation to the rails 5.

(14) It is furthermore illustrated that the rails 5 have carried out a relative movement 10 in an inward orthogonal manner in relation to the axial direction 9 of the former. The respective gripper elements have thus been brought to engage with the metal blanks 11, the metal blanks 12 to be heated, and the steel-sheet products 13, respectively.

(15) The linear conveyor system 4 then carries out a transportation movement 14 in the axial direction 9 of the rails 5. The terminal position is illustrated in FIG. 2. The formed steel-sheet products 13 are deposited onto a schematically illustrated depository stack 15. The heated metal blanks 13 are deposited onto the hot-forming and press-hardening tool 3. The freshly received metal blanks 11 are deposited onto the temperature-control station 2, and fresh metal blanks 11 are in turn offered up. Subsequently, an outward movement 16 is carried out by the rails 5 such that the entire rails 5 having the respective gripper elements are moved outward in relation to the axial direction 9 of the rails 5, so as to no longer be engaged with the metal blanks 11, 12, and the steel-sheet products 13.

(16) Thereupon, a return movement 17 is carried out in the axial direction 9 of the rails 5, this return movement 17 in particular being carried out by both rails 5 in a synchronous manner, as is shown in FIG. 3. Thereafter, the procedure recommences, as is illustrated in FIG. 1. The returned rails 5 are converged such that the gripper elements are brought to engage with the heated metal blanks 12 and the steel-sheet products 13.

(17) FIGS. 4a and 4b each show the hot-forming line 1 according to the invention in a side view. The rails 5 can be seen. Metal blanks 11 that have been received by a metal-blank stack 18 are infed to the temperature-control station 2. The temperature-control station 2 herein is optionally flange-fitted to the press frame 19. According to FIG. 4b, the hot-forming and press-hardening tool 3 and the temperature-control station 2 have carried out a closing movement in a synchronous manner, heating the metal blanks 11 that are placed into the temperature-control station 2, and forming the heated metal blanks 12 to the steel-sheet products 13 which are stored on a depository stack 15. The temperature-control station 2 herein has an actuator 20 such that the temperature-control station 2 may be actuated independently of the hot-forming and press-hardening tool 3. The actuator 20 may be disposed on top of or below the temperature-control station 2.

(18) FIG. 5 shows an alternative variant of design embodiment of the hot-forming line 1, having a hot-forming and press-hardening tool and a separate downstream temperature-control station 21, the temperature-control station 21 and the hot-forming and press-hardening tool 24 being connected to a common control unit 22. One control unit 22 herein actuates all individual stations in a synchronous-cycle manner, or even a simultaneous manner. Vibration dampers 23 may preferably be employed in the coupling in the case of all constructive units that are illustrated in the figures. The temperature-control station 21 serves for the localized softening or another localized setting of the microstructure of the press-hardened steel-sheet product.

(19) FIG. 6 shows a variant of design embodiment according to FIG. 5, the point of difference being that the temperature-control station 2 and the temperature-control station 21 are coupled to an upper tool 25 of the hot-forming and press-hardening tool 24, or to the press frame 19 thereof, respectively, such that the opening and closing movements of the upper tool 25 are carried out so as to be synchronized in terms of the cycle rate and to be simultaneous with those of the temperature-control station 2.

(20) FIGS. 7a and 7b show a lifting procedure of the rails 5 having the blank grippers 6. The rails 5 have carried out a converging movement 10 in a manner orthogonal to the axial direction 9 of said rails 5, such that the blank grippers 6 are located below the metal blank 11 in relation to the vertical direction V. Subsequently thereto, a lifting movement is carried out by the rails 5, as is illustrated in FIG. 7b. This means that the entire rails 5 are moved upward in the vertical direction V. The metal blank 11, as it were, bears on the blank grippers 6 and is likewise lifted.

(21) FIGS. 8a and 8b show a variant of design embodiment that is an alternative to the above. Herein, not the rails 5 but only the blank grippers 6 are lifted in relation to the vertical direction V. Said blank grippers 6 are thus mounted on the rails 5 so as to be movable relative to the vertical direction V, and may also be lifted or lowered, respectively.

(22) FIGS. 9a to 9c show a relative movement 10 that is analogous to that of FIGS. 8a and 8b, the point of difference being that the blank grippers 6 are presently illustrated as active grippers. The latter are shown in an open position according to FIG. 9a, such that the rails 5 have carried out a converging movement 10. According to FIG. 9b, the blank grippers 6 as active grippes are then closed, and according to FIG. 9c are again lifted in relation to the vertical direction V.

(23) FIG. 10 shows the hot-forming line 1 according to the invention in a resting state. The upper rail 5 in relation to the image plane, in the axial direction 9 of the former, is divided into two and outwardly displaced. On account thereof, free access 26 to the hot-forming and press-hardening tool 3 that is located therebehind is enabled such that a schematically indicated tool changeover 27 may take place. Subsequently thereto, the two rail parts are again converged, coupled to one another, and the hot-forming line 1 is operated.

(24) It is furthermore illustrated that two gripper pairs which in relation to the image plane are disposed in the center and which in particular are temperature-control grippers 7, are variable in terms of the mutual spacing A1 thereof. On account thereof, it is possible for two temperature-controlled blanks to be received at a spacing B1 from the temperature-control station 21, and to be deposited in the hot-forming and press-hardening tool 24 at a spacing B2 by enlarging the mutual spacing A1 of the temperature-control grippers 7 in the axial direction 9 of the rails 5. Wherein, the spacing B2 is longer than the spacing B1.

(25) FIG. 11 shows a hot-forming line 1. The temperature-control station 2 and the hot-forming and press-hardening tool 3 are disposed so as to be tightly close to one another at a spacing 28 of less than 50 cm. The temperature-control station 2 and the hot-forming and press-hardening tool 3 may be driven in a synchronous manner. The may be performed by way of a common controller or by means of a superordinate controller of two connected individual controllers. A common opening phase is important, such that the linear conveyor system 4 may perform respective transportation in a short time.