Pressure pin of a press and press having pressure pin

Abstract

A pressure pin of a press, in particular a forming press, for transferring a force to a tool component of the press includes a pin body, a sensor element arranged in the pin body for measuring a force which can be transferred via the pressure pin, and an actuator unit arranged in the pin body which has a functional body made of an adaptive material. The adaptive material is designed such that the rheological properties thereof and/or the length thereof and/or the volume thereof can be selectively modified as a function of an electrical and/or magnetic field.

Claims

1. A pressure pin of a press for transmitting a force to a tool component of the press, comprising: a pin body; a sensor element disposed in the pin body, wherein a force which is transmitted via the pressure pin is measurable by the sensor element; and an actuator unit disposed in the pin body, wherein the actuator unit has a functional body made of an adaptive material; wherein rheological properties and/or a length and/or a volume of the adaptive material is selectively modifiable as a function of an electrical and/or a magnetic field; wherein the adaptive material is an elastomer.

2. The pressure pin according to claim 1, wherein the adaptive material is a magnetorheological elastomer.

3. The pressure pin according to claim 1, wherein the adaptive material is a dielectric elastomer.

4. The pressure pin according to claim 1, wherein the pressure pin is disposed between a pressure pad and a panel holder of the press.

5. The pressure pin according to claim 1, wherein the pressure pin is a lower air pin.

6. The pressure pin according to claim 1, wherein the pressure pin is a press sleeve.

7. The pressure pin according to claim 1, wherein the sensor element and the actuator unit are connected together via a control circuit.

8. The pressure pin according to claim 1, wherein an electric and/or a magnetic field is formable by the actuator unit.

9. The pressure pin according to claim 1, wherein the actuator unit has a piston which is movable by the functional body.

10. A press, comprising: at least one pressure pin according to claim 1; and a control circuit, wherein the sensor element and the actuator unit of the pressure pin are connected together via the control circuit.

11. The press according to claim 10, wherein the press has a plurality of pressure pins.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a press according to one exemplary embodiment;

(2) FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a pressure pin according to a first exemplary embodiment;

(3) FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a pressure pin according to a second exemplary embodiment; and

(4) FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a control circuit of a press with at least one pressure pin described herein, according to a further exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(5) In the exemplary embodiments and the Figures, the same components or those with the same function carry the same reference signs. The elements depicted and their size ratios to each other should not in principle be regarded as true to scale. Rather, individual elements may be shown excessively thick or large for greater clarity and/or better understanding.

(6) FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic view of a press 100 described herein, according to a first exemplary embodiment. The press 100 is configured as a forming press for forming a plate 14, and has a ram 1, a table plate 2, a top box 4 and bottom box 5 arranged in between, a pressure pad 3 and a plurality of hydraulic cylinders 6. Furthermore, the press 100 has a plurality of press sleeves 7 which are configured to transmit the force from the hydraulic cylinders 6 to the pressure pins 8 which are configured as lower air pins. Preferably, at least one of the pressure pins 7, 8 is configured as a pressure pin described herein, which is shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 and 3. Further elements of the press 100 are the female die 11, the male die 12, the panel holder 13, the spacer plate on the underside 9, and the spacer plate on the top side 10. The working direction of the ram during a forming process is indicated with reference sign 15.

(7) FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic view of a pressure pin according to a first exemplary embodiment. The pressure pin may be, for example, a lower air pin 8 or a press sleeve 7 of a press 100. The pressure pin has a pin body 16 and a sensor element 19 arranged in the pin body 16 for measuring a force which can be transmitted via the pressure pin. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the sensor element 19 has a plurality of strain gauges which are connected into a Wheatstone measuring bridge 25.

(8) Furthermore, the pressure pin has an actuator unit 17 which is arranged in the pin body 16 and has a functional body 18 made of an adaptive material, a coil 27 for producing a magnetic field, and a piston 26. Preferably, the adaptive material is configured such that its rheological properties and/or length and/or volume can be modified selectively as a function of the magnetic field which can be produced by the coil 27.

(9) The adaptive material may be, for example, a magnetorheological fluid or a magnetorheological elastomer. The magnetic field produced by the coil 27 may cause the adaptive material to expand, whereby the piston 26 can be moved relative to the rest of the pin body.

(10) FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic view of a pressure pin 7, 8 according to a further exemplary embodiment. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 2, the actuator unit 17 comprises two capacitor plates 28, between which the functional body 18 is arranged and which are designed to produce an electrical field. By means of the electrical field produced by the capacitor plates 28, the adaptive material of the functional body 18 may be modified such that the piston 26 moves relative to the rest of the pin body.

(11) FIG. 4 shows a diagrammatic depiction of a control circuit 24, via which the sensor element 19 and the actuator unit 17 of the pressure pin 7, 8 can be connected.

(12) By comparing a reference variable 20 with the values of the sensor element 19, a value deviation 21 may be determined. Depending on the value deviation 21, corresponding signals may be given to the regulator 22 of the control circuit 24 which then in turn emits signals to the actuator unit 17, so that a targeted adjustment of the actuator unit may take place. In particular, the means 27, 28 for producing the electrical and/or magnetic field may be varied such that the functional body 18 or the adaptive material of the functional body 18 is selectively modified, whereby the piston 26 can be adjusted relative to the pin body 16.

(13) The transmitted force 23 may in turn be measured by the sensor element 19 and compared with the reference variable 20. Thus an on-line measurement is advantageously possible, so that the pressure distribution between the panel holder and the panel can also be adjusted or controlled and regulated during the forming process.

(14) The features described in the exemplary embodiment shown may be combined with each other in further exemplary embodiments. Alternatively or additionally, the exemplary embodiments shown in the Figures may comprise further features according to the embodiments of the general description.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

(15) 1 Ram 2 Table plate 3 Pressure pad 4 Top box 5 Bottom box 6 Hydraulic cylinder 7 Press sleeve 8 Lower air pin 9 Spacer plate, lower side 10 Spacer plate, upper side 11 Female die 12 Male die 13 Panel holder 14 Plate 15 Working direction of ram during forming process 16 Pin body 17 Actuator unit 18 Functional body 19 Sensor element 20 Reference variable 21 Value deviation 22 Regulator 23 Force 24 Control circuit 25 Wheatstone measuring bridge 26 Piston 27 Coil 28 Capacitor plates 100 Press

(16) The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.