DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FORMING

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for forming, in which at least one spindle is driven in a rotating manner by means of a rotary drive, a workpiece is received on the spindle by means of a clamping means and clamped on the spindle and at least one forming roller is fed axially and/or radially relative to the workpiece in order to carry out a spinning or flow-forming process. In accordance with the invention provision is made for the spindle and the clamping means to be combined to a changing unit which is adjustable transversely to the axis of rotation, wherein the changing unit is adjusted between a forming position and a set-up position.

Claims

1. A device for forming having at least one spindle which can be driven in a rotating manner by a rotary drive, a clamping means, which is arranged on the spindle, and designed to receive and clamp a workpiece on the spindle, and at least one forming roller which can be fed axially and/or radially relative to the workpiece in order to carry out a spinning or flow-forming process, wherein the spindle and the clamping means, are combined to a unit which is adjustable transversely to the axis of rotation, and the unit is adjustable between a forming position, in which the spinning or flow-forming process is carried out, and a set-up position for setting up, wherein a first changing unit with a first spindle and a first clamping means and at least one second changing unit with a second spindle and a second clamping means are provided and in that the first changing unit and the at least one second changing unit are alternately adjustable between the forming position and the set-up position.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the changing units have a rotary drive of their own.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the set-up position is located on the outside of a housing of the device.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one changing unit is supported in a pivotable or linearly displaceable manner.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first changing unit and the at least one second changing unit are arranged on a joint adjustment element.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation is arranged horizontally or vertically.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein in order to carry out the spinning or flow-forming process the at least one forming roller is axially stationary, wherein the workpiece is supported in an axially displaceable manner.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein at the set-up position a loading and unloading means is provided.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece can be reclamped from the first changing unit to the second changing unit.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one forming roller is supported on an adjustable roller support and in that on the roller support a roller changing means is arranged.

11. A method for forming, in particular with the device according to claim 1, in which at least one spindle is driven in a rotating manner by means of a rotary drive, a workpiece is received on the spindle by means of a clamping means, and clamped on the spindle, and at least one forming roller is fed axially and/or radially relative to the workpiece in order to carry out a spinning or flow-forming process, wherein the spindle and the clamping means are combined to a unit which is adjusted transversely to the axis of rotation between a forming position, in which the spinning or flow-forming process is carried out, and a set-up position for setting up, wherein a first changing unit with a first spindle and a first clamping means and at least one second changing unit with a second spindle and a second clamping means are provided, wherein the first changing unit and the at least one second changing unit are alternately adjusted between the forming position and the set-up position.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein for adjustment between the forming position and the set-up position the at least one changing unit is linearly displaced or pivoted.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein in order to carry out the spinning or flow-forming process the at least one forming roller is axially stationary, wherein the workpiece is displaced axially.

Description

[0033] The invention is explained further hereinafter by way of preferred embodiments illustrated schematically in the drawings, wherein show:

[0034] FIG. 1 a front view of a device for forming according to the invention in a first operating state;

[0035] FIG. 2 a front view of the device of FIG. 1 in a second operating state;

[0036] FIG. 3 a top view of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0037] FIG. 4 a front view of a device according to the invention with different changing units;

[0038] FIG. 5 a top view of a further device for forming according to the invention; and

[0039] FIG. 6 a top view of a modified device according to the invention.

[0040] A device 10 according to the invention for forming a workpiece 5 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. The device 10 has an approximately rectangular machine frame 12 with a machine bed 14 and a carrier-like upper part 18 which is connected to the machine bed 14 via a total of four vertical columns 16. On the two inner columns 16 vertically displaceable roller supports 27 are supported, on which a forming roller 28 is in each case supported in a rotatable manner in order to contact the external side of a workpiece 5.

[0041] According to FIG. 1 the workpiece 5 is transferred at a first set-up station 35 by a loading and unloading means 60 with a lifting means to a first changing unit 30. The first changing unit 30 has a first spindle 31 which can be driven in a rotating manner by a first rotary drive 32. At the lower end of the first spindle 31 a first clamping means 34 is arranged, in particular a clamping chuck with clamping jaws capable of being fed radially. By means of the first clamping means 34 the cup-shaped workpiece 5 is connected in a torque-proof manner to the first spindle 31 of the first changing unit 30. The first changing unit 30 is fixed on a carriage-like adjustment element 22 which is part of an adjustment means 20 on the upper part 18 of the device 10. The plate-shaped adjustment element 22 is horizontally displaceable along a linear guide 24 arranged along the upper part 18. Furthermore, on the machine frame 12 a hydraulic cylinder is arranged as a linear drive 26 which, together with the adjustment element 22, is designed to carry out a linear shifting movement.

[0042] Next to the first changing unit 30 a second changing unit 40 is arranged on the adjustment element 22. The second changing unit 40 is designed identically to the first changing unit 30 and has a second spindle 41, a second rotary drive 42 as well as a second clamping means 44 for clamping another workpiece 5.

[0043] Through actuation of the linear drive 26 the first changing unit 30 is displaced from the first set-up station 35, as illustrated in FIG. 1, to a central processing or forming station, as can be taken from the illustration of FIG. 2. During this displacement motion the second changing unit 40 is at the same time displaced from the central forming position into a lateral second set-up position in a second set-up station 45. The previously processed workpiece 5 can be removed by a loading and unloading means 60 not illustrated in FIG. 2. Subsequently, a workpiece 5 to be newly processed can be supplied to the second changing unit 40 and clamped with the second clamping means 44.

[0044] During this set-up process at the second changing unit 40 a processing of the workpiece 5 takes place simultaneously at the first changing unit 30 in the forming position according to FIG. 2. In the forming position the workpiece 5 is set into rotation about an axis of rotation 11 by means of the first rotary drive 32. To the rotating workpiece 5 two forming rollers 28 are fed from opposite sides that form an external side of the workpiece 5. The forming rollers 28 are displaceable radially and axially with respect to the workpiece 5.

[0045] At the same time, internal rollers 38 are fed to an internal side of the cylindrical workpiece 5. The internal rollers 38 are arranged on a counter-spindle 13 that is vertically displaceable via a carriage 15. The carriage 15 is supported in a displaceable manner along vertical guides on the two inner columns 16. The counter-spindle 13 can be rotationally driven in a passive manner or in an active one by itself by means of a rotary drive.

[0046] On completion of the forming operation on the workpiece 5 the first changing unit 30 can be reset by the adjustment means 20 from the central forming position to the lateral first set-up station 35. At the same time, a new workpiece 5 is again supplied at the second changing unit 40 so that a new forming process can take place without any substantial time interruption. The completely processed workpiece 5 is removed at the first set-up station 35 and replaced by a workpiece 5 which is to be newly processed. Afterwards, a further processing cycle can take place.

[0047] Another device 10 according to the invention is illustrated in FIG. 4, in which case this largely corresponds to the previously described device 10 according to FIGS. 1 to 3. As a modification of the previously described embodiment the device 10 has two different changing units 30, 40. On the second changing unit 40 a spinning tool 48 is arranged. On the spinning tool 48, which is mounted on a second spindle 41 of the second changing unit 40, the workpiece 5 is clamped. The spinning tool 48 forms at least a part of a clamping means. For axial pressure a pressure plate 17 that is pressed axially against the workpiece 5 is arranged on the vertically displaceable counter-spindle 13. Through a rotary drive the counter-spindle 13 can be driven in synchronism with the second rotary drive 42 on the second changing unit 40. On completion of processing the counter-spindle 13 is displaced in the downward direction while the formed workpiece 5 is held on the spinning tool 48. In this state the second changing unit 40 is displaced to the second set-up station 45 while the first changing unit 30 is at the same time displaced with a workpiece 5 to be newly processed from the first set-up station 35 into the central forming position. The workpieces 5 held by the different changing units 30, 40 can be of different nature and/or processed in a different way.

[0048] In FIG. 5 a further device 10 according to the invention is illustrated with a machine bed 14 arranged at an angle. In this machine arrangement a total of three central, vertical columns 16 are arranged. Along these central columns 16 a total of three forming rollers 28 are arranged that are each offset by 120 from each other. Thus, in the forming position a total of three forming rollers 28 can act on the external side of the workpiece 5.

[0049] In the illustration according to FIG. 5 the workpiece 5 is located on the second changing unit 40 in the forming position. On completion of the forming process the second changing unit 40 is displaced with the workpiece 5 to a second set-up station 45 on the right side. At the same time or with a time shift thereto a first changing unit 30 can be displaced with a new workpiece 5 from the first set-up station 35 into the forming position.

[0050] At the respective set-up station 35, 45 the ready-formed workpiece 5 can be removed by means of a loading and unloading means 60, which is designed as a multiaxial robot with a gripper, from the respective changing unit 30, 40. Subsequently, a blank can be taken from a non-depicted storage place and inserted into the respective changing unit 30, 40.

[0051] In FIG. 6 a modified device 10 is illustrated which largely corresponds to the device 10 of FIG. 5. Additionally arranged between two central columns 16 in the region of the roller support 27 is a roller changing means 66 with a multiaxial robot arm. By way of the roller changing means 66 a forming roller 28 can be changed if worn or in the case of a change of shape.

[0052] The tool change can take place in an automated way so that the tool is received in a specifically designed set-up position and handed over again after use. For instance, the tools can be removed directly or with auxiliary means e.g. from a tool-changing cart, a changing pallet or an automated magazine. The loading and unloading means 60 can be used e.g. as an auxiliary device for changing the tools.

[0053] For reasons of space or of accessibility provision can also be made for at least one alternative position for the tool change. This should be reachable in parallel to the first one through a further radial shift of the changing unit 30, 40. At least one alternative position can be provided per changing unit 30, 40.

[0054] FIG. 3, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show embodiments for the arrangement of the supports. Whilst in the construction of the device of FIG. 3 a radial and axial shift of the forming rollers 28 is still necessary after the changing unit 30, 40 has moved into the processing position, the flow-forming supports can also be offset by 90. Hence, the radial feed of the forming rollers 28 would be perpendicular to the shift of the changing unit 30, 40 so that no additional axial feed of the forming rollers 28 would be required or the radial feed can be minimized.

[0055] FIGS. 5 and 6 show such an optimized arrangement of the flow-forming supports but in this case specifically for a 3120 arrangement of the forming rollers 28. Here, the feed of the changing units 30, 40 takes place in an optimum manner which is not at 90 but only at 60, precisely between the two forming rollers 28. This eliminates the axial feed, yet a radial feed at a greater height is accepted.