Device and method for controlling the primary drive of a fine blanking press

Abstract

In an apparatus and a method for controlling the primary drive of a hydraulically driven fine blanking press, the hydraulic circuit is simplified due to the elimination of hydraulic tubes, and the amount of hydraulic fluid is reduced, while increasing the number of strokes and achieving a simple design for the press.

Claims

1. A hydraulically driven fine blanking press, comprising a base; a main cylinder chamber formed in the base; a main piston disposed in the main cylinder chamber so as to carry out a stroke movement of the main piston along a vertical stroke axis between a lower dead point and an upper dead point, the piston including a radially outwardly extending protrusion having upper and lower faces; an upper and a lower hydraulic pressure chamber formed in the base, each of the upper and lower hydraulic pressure chambers being comprised of interior faces of the main cylinder chamber and exterior faces of the main piston including the protrusion and wherein the upper hydraulic pressure chamber includes the upper face of the protrusion and the lower hydraulic pressure chamber includes the lower face of the protrusion whereby the upper hydraulic pressure chamber acts on the upper face of the protrusion to push the main piston toward the lower dead point and the lower hydraulic pressure chamber acts on the lower face of the protrusion to push the main piston toward the upper dead point; a table supported by the main piston; respective fast stroke cylinders formed in the base and respective double-acting fast stroke pistons each received in a respective one of the fast stroke cylinders and each fast stroke piston comprising partitioning structure having an upper surface and a lower surface, the partitioning structure partitioning the fast stroke cylinder in which the fast stroke piston is received into an upper hydraulic pressure chamber which acts on the upper surface of the partitioning structure of the fast stroke piston to push the fast stroke piston downwards and a lower hydraulic pressure chamber which acts on the lower surface of the partitioning structure of the fast stroke piston to push the fast stroke piston upwards to a target position; respective piston rods each connecting to the table; an internal hydraulic system formed in the base; a hydraulic system external of the base and connected to the internal hydraulic system and including a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic fluid collection tank provided with a tank valve, a high pressure accumulator and a central control unit that sets the hydraulic fluid to a predetermined working pressure; the internal hydraulic system comprising a hydraulic fluid upper channel connecting with the upper hydraulic pressure chamber for the main piston, a hydraulic fluid lower channel connecting with the lower hydraulic pressure chamber for the main piston, and a hydraulic fluid bypass channel connecting between the hydraulic fluid upper channel and the hydraulic fluid lower channel; a pressure-controlled proportional valve connecting with the external hydraulic system and with the hydraulic fluid lower channel and the hydraulic fluid bypass channel; a vent channel connecting with the upper hydraulic pressure chamber of the main piston and, via the tank valve, with the hydraulic fluid collection tank; a hydraulic fluid supply channel connecting the hydraulic fluid lower channel, via a hydraulic fluid branch channel branching from the hydraulic fluid supply channel, to the external hydraulic system; and a hydraulic fluid branch channel branching from the hydraulic fluid supply channel and connected to the external hydraulic system, whereby the fine blanking press is controlled by the internal hydraulic system as follows: the fast stroke piston is pushed upwards toward its target position by hydraulic pressure in the lower hydraulic pressure chamber for the fast stroke piston while the pressure-controlled proportional valve is open and the main piston carries out a stroke movement from the lower dead point toward but not reaching the upper dead point during which the hydraulic fluid is displaced from the upper hydraulic pressure chamber for the main piston to the lower hydraulic pressure chamber for the main piston through the hydraulic fluid upper channel, the hydraulic fluid lower channel and the hydraulic fluid bypass channel; and when the fast stroke piston reaches its target position, the pressure-controlled proportional valve closes and the main piston is caused to effect a power stroke to the upper dead point by the hydraulic fluid being supplied through the hydraulic fluid supply channel and the hydraulic fluid bypass channel to the lower hydraulic pressure chamber for the main piston and being discharged from the upper hydraulic pressure chamber for the main piston to the hydraulic fluid collection tank via the tank valve.

2. The hydraulically driven fine blanking press according to claim 1, wherein the external hydraulic system further comprises a line through which the hydraulic fluid is supplied to the hydraulic fluid supply channel, a safety valve in said line, a pressure pick-up detecting pressure of the hydraulic fluid supplied to the hydraulic fluid supply channel, and a pressure control valve limiting pressure of the hydraulic fluid delivered by the hydraulic pump.

3. The hydraulically driven fine blanking press according to claim 1, wherein the tank valve is a pressure-controlled valve.

4. The hydraulically driven fine blanking press according to claim 1, wherein the lower surface of the partitioning structure of each of the fast stroke pistons is larger than the upper surface of the partitioning structure of that fast stroke piston, the internal hydraulic system further comprises upper hydraulic fluid channels each communicating with the upper hydraulic pressure chamber for a respective one of the fast stroke pistons and respective lower hydraulic fluid channels each communicating with the lower hydraulic pressure chamber for a respective one of the fast stroke pistons, the external hydraulic system further comprises a branch comprising a line connected, through the lower hydraulic fluid channel, to the lower hydraulic pressure chamber for each of the fast stroke pistons, the branch further comprising a double check valve, a 4/3-way proportional valve, a safety valve and the high pressure accumulator; and the upper hydraulic fluid pressure chamber for each of the fast stroke pistons being connected, via the 4/3-way proportional valve, to the hydraulic fluid collection tank.

5. The hydraulically driven fine blanking press according to claim 1, wherein the fast stroke pistons and cylinders are two in number and a stroke axis of each of the fast stroke pistons is parallel to the stroke axis of the main piston, each of two opposed side walls of the table has a respective carrier attached thereto and the piston rod of each respective one of the pistons is attached to a respective one of the carriers.

6. The hydraulically driven fine blanking press according to claim 1, further comprising for each respective one of the fast stroke cylinders a respective cover which closes the respective fast stroke cylinder in a pressure-tight manner and through which the fast stroke piston for that cylinder extends.

7. The hydraulically driven fine blanking press according to claim 1, wherein the external hydraulic system further comprises another proportional valve, a pressure pickup detecting pressure of the hydraulic fluid delivered by the hydraulic pump and operatively connected to the other proportional valve, and a pressure control valve limiting pressure of the hydraulic fluid delivered by the hydraulic pump.

8. The hydraulically driven fine blanking press according to claim 1, further comprising a displacement measuring unit detecting displacement of the main piston along the vertical stroke axis of the main piston.

9. A method for controlling a hydraulically driven fine blanking press comprising a base; a main cylinder chamber formed in the base; a main piston disposed in the main cylinder chamber so as to carry out a stroke movement of the main piston along a vertical stroke axis between a lower dead point and an upper dead point, the piston including a radially outwardly extending protrusion having upper and lower faces; an upper and a lower hydraulic pressure chamber formed in the base, each of the upper and lower hydraulic pressure chambers being comprised of interior faces of the main cylinder chamber and exterior faces of the main piston including the protrusion and wherein the upper hydraulic pressure chamber includes the upper face of the protrusion and the lower hydraulic pressure chamber includes the lower face of the protrusion whereby the upper hydraulic pressure chamber acts on the upper face of the protrusion to push the main piston toward the lower dead point and the lower hydraulic pressure chamber acts on the lower face of the protrusion to push the main piston toward the upper dead point; a table supported by the main piston; respective fast stroke cylinders formed in the base and respective double-acting fast stroke pistons each received in a respective one of the fast stroke cylinders and each fast stroke piston comprising partitioning structure having an upper surface and a lower surface, the partitioning structure partitioning the fast stroke cylinder in which that fast stroke piston is received into an upper hydraulic pressure chamber which acts on the upper surface of the partitioning structure of the fast stroke piston to push the fast stroke piston downwards and a lower hydraulic pressure chamber which acts on the lower surface of the partitioning structure of the fast stroke piston to push the fast stroke piston upwards to a target position; respective piston rods each connecting to the table; an internal hydraulic system formed in the base; a hydraulic system external of the base and connected to the internal hydraulic system and including a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic fluid collection tank provided with a tank valve, a high pressure accumulator and a central control unit that sets the hydraulic fluid to a predetermined working pressure; the internal hydraulic system comprising a hydraulic fluid upper channel connecting with the upper hydraulic pressure chamber for the main piston, a hydraulic fluid lower channel connecting with the lower hydraulic pressure chamber for the main piston, and a hydraulic fluid bypass channel connecting between the hydraulic fluid upper channel and the hydraulic fluid lower channel; a pressure-controlled proportional valve connecting with the external hydraulic system and with the hydraulic fluid lower channel and the hydraulic fluid bypass channel; a vent channel connecting with the upper hydraulic pressure chamber of the main piston and, via the tank valve, with the hydraulic fluid collection tank; a hydraulic fluid supply channel connecting the hydraulic fluid lower channel, via a hydraulic fluid branch channel branching from the hydraulic fluid supply channel, to the external hydraulic system; and a hydraulic fluid branch channel branching from the hydraulic fluid supply channel and connected to the external hydraulic system, the method comprising: effecting a rapid approach stroke of the main piston with the fast stroke pistons from the lower dead point to a target point approaching but not reaching the upper dead point by: feeding the pressure chambers for the fast stroke pistons from the high pressure accumulator, the high pressure accumulator being permanently set to a working pressure; and isolating the upper and lower hydraulic fluid channels and the bypass channel from the external hydraulic system by closing the pressure controlled proportional valve so that the hydraulic fluid is displaced from the upper pressure chamber into the lower pressure chamber in a substantially depressurized state; and after the rapid approach stroke, effecting a power stroke of the main piston from the target point to the upper dead point to effect blanking.

10. The method for controlling the hydraulically driven fine blanking press according to claim 9, wherein the lower surface of the partitioning structure of each of the fast stroke pistons is larger than the upper surface of the partitioning structure of that fast stroke piston, the internal hydraulic system further comprises upper hydraulic fluid channels each communicating with the upper hydraulic pressure chamber for a respective one of the fast stroke pistons and lower hydraulic fluid channels each communicating with the lower hydraulic pressure chamber for a respective one of the fast stroke pistons, the external hydraulic system further comprises a branch comprising a line connected, through the lower hydraulic fluid channel, to the lower hydraulic pressure chamber for each of the fast stroke pistons, the branch further comprising a double check valve, a 4/3-way proportional valve, a safety valve and the high pressure accumulator; and the upper hydraulic fluid pressure chamber for each of the fast stroke pistons being connected, via the 4/3-way proportional valve, to the hydraulic fluid collection tank, the method further comprising: setting, with the central control unit, working pressure in the lower hydraulic pressure chamber for each of the fast stroke pistons via the double check valve, the 4/3-way proportional valve, the safety valve, and the high pressure accumulator; and setting, with the central control unit, working pressure in the upper hydraulic pressure chamber for each of the fast stroke pistons via the 4/3-way proportional valve.

11. The method for controlling the hydraulically driven fine blanking press according to claim 10, wherein the external hydraulic system further comprises a line through which the hydraulic fluid is supplied to the hydraulic fluid supply channel, a safety valve in said line, a pressure pick-up detecting pressure of the hydraulic fluid supplied to the hydraulic fluid supply channel, a pressure control valve limiting pressure of the hydraulic fluid delivered by the hydraulic pump, and another pressure-controlled proportional valve, the method further comprising, during the working stroke: setting, with the central control unit, working pressure in the lower hydraulic pressure chamber for the main piston via the safety valve, the pressure pick-up, the pressure control valve, the other pressure-controlled proportional valve and the hydraulic pump; and setting, with the central control unit, working pressure in the upper hydraulic pressure chamber for the main piston via the tank valve and the collection tank.

12. The method for controlling the hydraulically driven fine blanking press according to claim 10, wherein the hydraulically driven fine blanking press further comprises a displacement measuring unit detecting displacement of the main piston along the vertical stroke axis of the main pisco the method further comprising: setting, with the central control unit, via the displacement measuring unit, the upper dead point of the stroke of the main piston; and as the main piston approaches but before the main piston reaches the upper dead point, reducing volumetric rate of delivery of the hydraulic fluid by the hydraulic pump and, via the tank valve, generating a counter pressure in the upper hydraulic pressure chamber for the main piston.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a fine blanking press connected to the hydraulic system;

(2) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the base together with the table;

(3) FIG. 3 shows a section of the base together with the table along line III-Ill from FIG. 2;

(4) FIGS. 4a and 4b each show a perspective view of the base, with an illustration of the locations of the fluid channels and of the vent channel;

(5) FIG. 5 shows a section of the base together with the table along line V-V from FIG. 2;

(6) FIG. 6 shows a section of the base together with the table along line VI-VI from FIG. 2;

(7) FIGS. 7a and 7b show schematic representations of the displacement of the hydraulic fluid from one pressure chamber into the other pressure chamber of the main piston as a function of the stroke position of the fast stroke piston; and

(8) FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of the flow of the method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of a hydraulically driven fine blanking press 1, the main piston 2 of which essentially carries out a stroke movement between a lower dead point and an upper dead point OT in the direction of the stroke axis HU from the bottom to the top. The body 3 of the press 1 comprises a head piece 4, a base 5, box-shaped hollow pillars 6, and tie rods 7.

(10) As is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a table 8, which supports the bottom tool part (not shown in more detail), is disposed on the upper face OS of the base 5. Approximately centrally, two opposing fast stroke cylinders 9 oriented parallel to the stroke axis HU are introduced into the base 5, which each receive a double-acting fast stroke piston 10 and are closed by a cover 11. The fast stroke piston 10 includes a piston rod 12, which extends through the cover 11 and is connected to a carrier 13, which is attached to a side wall 14 of the table 8. The fast stroke piston 10 partitions a first and a second pressure chamber 15a and 15b (see also FIG. 3) in the fast stroke cylinder 9. The pressure chamber 15a and the pressure chamber 15b are connected via a channel 16a and 16b, respectively, which are introduced in the base 5, to the hydraulic tube 17 of the hydraulic system 18 so as to be acted upon by hydraulic fluid having a predefined pressure, such that it is possible to vertically displace the table 8 during the rapid approach in the direction of the head piece 4.

(11) FIGS. 4a, 4b and 5 show the spatial locations of the fluid channels 24a to 24h and of the vent channel 29 in the base 5 in a transparent representation and in a section along line V-V from FIG. 2.

(12) A main cylinder chamber 19 is formed in the base 5, the axis HA of which is located on the stroke axis HU of the fine blanking press and receives the double-acting main piston 20. The main piston 20 has a cylindrical shaft 21, which comprises disk-like working surfaces 22a and 22b protruding perpendicularly to the axis HA, which partition the main cylinder chamber 19 into a first (top) pressure chamber 23a and a second (bottom) pressure chamber 23b having a low stroke height, so that the base 5 is compact and has a low height.

(13) The main cylinder chamber 19, and thus the pressure chamber 23a, is closed in a pressure-tight manner by a cover 27, which is attached to the base 5.

(14) The first (top) fluid channels 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d and the second (bottom) fluid channels 24e, 24f, 24g and 24h, which are located in the base 5 on top of one another perpendicularly to the stroke axis HU corresponding to the heights of the pressure chambers 23a and 23b, lead into the pressure chambers 23a and 23b of the main piston 20. The fluid channels 24a to 24d are connected to the fluid channels 24e to 24h by a respective bypass channel 26.

(15) Furthermore, a pressure-controlled proportional valve 25a, 25b, 25c and 25d is inserted as a built-in valve into each of the second (bottom) fluid channels 24e to 24h, the valve closing the respective bypass channel 26 when the second pressure chamber 23b is acted upon by hydraulic fluid having a predefined pressure from the hydraulic system 18.

(16) During the rapid approach, the main piston 20 carries out a corresponding stroke movement between lower dead point UT and upper dead point OT and, when the proportional valve 25a to 25d is open, displaces the hydraulic fluid present in the first (top) pressure chamber 23a via the first (top) fluid channels 24a to 24d, the bypass channels 26, and the second (bottom) fluid channels 24e to 24h into the second (bottom) pressure chamber 23b. The first (top) pressure chamber 23a, the first (bottom) fluid channels 24a to 24d, the bypass channels 26, the bottom fluid channels 24e to 24h, and the second (bottom) pressure chamber 24b thus form a closed hydraulic system, which can be opened or closed, depending on the position of the proportional valves 25a to 25d, so that the first (top) pressure chamber 23a and the second (bottom) pressure chamber 23b are substantially depressurized, and the hydraulic fluid is displaced into the second (bottom) pressure chamber 23b of the main piston 20, and a fluid column can be created in the movement direction BR of the fast stroke piston 10 during the rapid approach.

(17) When the fast stroke piston reaches the target position thereof during the rapid approach, the proportional valves 25a to 25d switch into the closed position, and the power stroke begins, which is described in more detail hereafter based on FIG. 6.

(18) FIG. 6 shows the base 5 in a further section along line VI-VI from FIG. 2, which illustrates the locations of the fluid channel 24e and of the vent channel 29 (see also FIG. 4a).

(19) The vent channel 29 opens into the first pressure chamber 23a of the main piston 20, and the fluid channel 24e opens into the second pressure chamber 23b, which are disposed on top of one another perpendicular to the stroke axis HU corresponding to the heights of the pressure chambers 23a and 23b.

(20) A tank valve 30 for opening and closing the vent channel 29 is inserted into the vent channel 29 as a built-in valve, which is in the open position when, during the power stroke, the hydraulic fluid present in the pressure chamber 23a is displaced into the collection tank 44.

(21) The fluid channel 24e is connected to a supply channel 32, which is situated parallel to the stroke axis HU in the base 5, and to a branch channel 33, which branches off this supply channel and via which the hydraulic system 18, which is not shown in detail, is connected.

(22) FIGS. 7a and 7b schematically show the displacement of the hydraulic fluid from the first (top) pressure chamber 23a into the second (bottom) pressure chamber 23b during the stroke movement of the main piston 20 in the direction of TDC during the rapid approach, based on the example of fluid channels 24a and 24b.

(23) The main piston 20, together with the table 8, carries out a stroke in the direction of OT due to the fast stroke piston 10. As a result of the upward motion of the working surface 22a of the main piston 20, the hydraulic fluid present in the first (top) pressure chamber 23a is displaced from the first (top) pressure chamber 23a when the tank valve 30 is closed, and when the proportional valve 25a is open, the fluid reaches the bottom pressure chamber 23b via the first fluid channel 24a, the bypass channel 26, and the second fluid channel 24e. The displacement is indicated in FIG. 7b by an arrow. In FIG. 7b, the fast stroke piston 10 has reached the top target position thereof, the proportional valve 25a closes, the proportional valve 30 opens, and the power stroke begins.

(24) The flow of the method according to the invention will be described based on FIG. 8, which shows the hydraulic branch 41 for the rapid approach and the hydraulic branch 42 for the power stroke of the main piston 20.

(25) The hydraulic branch 41 includes a high pressure accumulator 34 for hydraulic fluid, a logic proportional valve 36, which is activated by the central control unit 35 and which is connected to the hydraulic system 18 via the hydraulic tube 17 and sets the pressure level in the high pressure accumulator 34, a pressure pick-up 38, a safety valve 39, a 4/3-way proportional valve 37, which activates or deactivates the supply of the hydraulic fluid to the pressure chambers 15a or 15b depending on the position of the fast stroke piston 10 in the fast stroke cylinder 9, a double check valve 43 associated with the bottom pressure chamber 15b, and the pressure chambers 15a and 15b of the fast stroke pistons 10.

(26) The pressure chambers 15a and 15b of the fast stroke piston 10 are supplied via the shared high pressure accumulator 34 with hydraulic fluid having an appropriate pressure, which is set by appropriate activation of the valve 36 by the central control unit 35 as an accumulator charge.

(27) As soon as the fast stroke piston has reached the top target position thereof during the rapid approach, the proportional valve 25a installed in the fluid channel 24e closes, the tank valve 30 opens, and the 4/3-way proportional valve 37 switches to a center position.

(28) The fluid channel 24e then assumes the function of a power stroke channel, in which hydraulic fluid having a predefined pressure is supplied to the second pressure chamber 23b.

(29) The hydraulic branch 42 for the power stroke comprises a hydraulic pump unit 40, with which at least one proportional valve 45 for setting the delivery volume, at least one pressure control valve 46 for limiting the pressure of the delivery flow, and at least one pressure pick-up 47 for pressure detection for limiting the power and forwarding the pressure value to the central control unit 35 for activation of the pressure control valve 46 are associated, a safety valve 48, which activates or deactivates the supply of hydraulic fluid conducted to the bottom pressure chamber 23b, a pressure pick-up 49 for ascertaining the pressure value, which is forwarded to the central control unit for activation of the pressure control valve 46, and the pressure chambers 23a and 23b of the main piston 20.

(30) Once the main piston 20 has reached the upper dead point OT thereof, the power stroke is ended. The safety valve 48 for the power stroke and the tank valve 30 close, at the same time the proportional valve 25a for the fluid channel 24e and the proportional valve 37 for supplying hydraulic fluid from the high pressure accumulator 34 open, and the rapid approach starts, in which the top pressure chamber 15a of the fast stroke piston 10 is acted upon by hydraulic fluid having a predefined pressure, so that the main piston 20, together with the table 8, is lowered, and reaches the bottom target position thereof. The 4/3-way proportional valve 37 switches, so that the bottom pressure chamber 15b can be acted upon by hydraulic fluid, and the fast stroke piston 10 is moved in the direction of the top target position thereof.

(31) As soon as the fast stroke piston has reached the top target position thereof, another power stroke starts.