EP0790088A2 - Processing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The machine has two parallel working plates (5e,63e) with a drive system (11e) between them. Each working plate has a number of apertures (19De,19Ie,65De,65Ie) in the outer main side surface (105e,74e) facing away from the other working plate. Machining units (9Ue,9Me) can be fitted in these apertures and connected to the drive system (11e). There is at least one intermediate gear train (79c) against the first main side surface (73c) of the working plate (63c), engaged with a gear crown (77c) of the central gear (71c).

Description

The invention relates to a processing machine. In particular, it relates to an automatic punching and / or bending machine for processing wire or / and strip material. Alternative or additional processing options of the processing machine can be welding or / and assembling (assembling) of possibly pre-bent and / or pre-punched workpieces made of such wire or strip material.

From DE-OS 15 27 922 a processing machine with a worktop is known, on one side of which a single, central hollow gear is rotatably mounted. The worktop contains a plurality of through openings distributed in a circle around the circumference of the hollow gear, through which processing units can be coupled in terms of drive to the hollow gear from the other side of the worktop. For this purpose, the processing units have a drive shaft which passes through the respective passage opening and which carries a pinion which meshes with the ring gear. The rotation of the drive shaft is converted into a cyclical back and forth movement of a tool carriage movably guided on the processing unit, which carries a suitable processing tool.

The embodiment according to DE-OS 15 27 922 is particularly suitable for machining operations in which the machining units work approximately radially towards a centrally located machining point. The workpieces are machined at this processing point during one cycle of the machine cycle by one or more processing units. Since the workpieces can be machined from all sides because of the circular distribution of the machining units, they can be machined with one Machine particularly well symmetrical parts, e.g. B. sleeves made of tape material, bend. Smaller assembly work is also possible.

In addition, a processing machine is known from DE 32 05 493 C2, in which a worm shaft is provided for driving processing units which can be attached to a processing side of a worktop and is arranged on a rear side of the worktop running parallel to the latter. Distributed over the length of the worm shaft, a plurality of passage openings are provided along at least one straight line in the worktop, through which the processing units are in drive connection with the worm shaft. This drive connection is in turn made via drive shafts which pass through the passage openings and carry a worm wheel meshing with the worm shaft.

With the embodiment according to DE 32 05 493 C2, on the one hand, the machining of relatively long workpieces is possible. These can be processed simultaneously by several processing units at different points along their length during a machine cycle. On the other hand, in a machine of this type, several successive machining locations can be set up, through which short workpieces pass in succession. Partial machining takes place at each machining location, whereby a full cycle of the machine cycle is available for each partial machining. The total machining time available for a workpiece can thus be significantly increased. This can be used to carry out complex machining operations. For example, a workpiece can first be punched and bent and then assembled and welded to other parts. In addition, complicated deformations can be divided into several partial deformations taking place at different machining locations, which enables a smoother, smoother movement of the machining tools and thus more favorable force and acceleration conditions.

Finally, a processing machine is known from DE-OS 27 41 576, in which a chain of successive, intermeshing spur gears, of essentially the same size, is provided for driving processing units on the rear side of a worktop. The spur gears are driven from one end of the chain. One cannot speak of a single central wheel arranged centrally in the worktop. Passage openings for drive shafts of the processing units are provided in an approximately linearized form along a part of the circumferential lines of the individual spur gears. The disadvantage of this embodiment is the accumulation of the play between spur gears which follow one another in pairs over the chain. This requires complex measures to reduce play, which can be accomplished, for example, by magnetic braking of the last spur gear in the chain opposite the driven spur gear.

According to a first aspect, the invention is based on the object of designing a processing machine with a central wheel drive similar to DE-OS 15 27 922 in such a way that it also allows a non-circular, in particular linearized arrangement of through openings.

In solving this problem, the invention is based on a processing machine comprising at least one worktop with two main side faces, a central wheel which is arranged adjacent to a first of the main side faces with an axis of rotation substantially orthogonal to the worktop and has at least one gear rim concentric with the axis of rotation, drive torque supply means for Drive of the central wheel and at least one attachment point on the second of the main side surfaces for a processing unit driven directly by the central wheel, which drive connection through at least one direct drive opening assigned to its attachment point in the worktop The ring gear of the central wheel is standing or can be brought, this drive connection comprising at least one drive shaft assembly passing through the direct drive opening in a straight line and essentially orthogonal to the worktop with a pinion concentric with it, which meshes directly with the ring gear of the central wheel.

According to the invention it is provided that at least one intermediate gear train is arranged adjacent to the first main side surface of the worktop, which meshes with a ring gear of the central wheel, that the second main side surface of the worktop also has at least one attachment point for a processing unit indirectly driven by the central wheel and that Attachment point for the indirectly driven machining unit is assigned at least one indirect drive opening in the worktop, through which the indirectly driven machining unit has at least one associated drive shaft assembly, which penetrates the indirect drive opening in a straight line and essentially orthogonal to the worktop, with a pinion concentric with it Intermeshing engagement with an intermediate gear of the intermediate gear train is or can be brought, the speeds of the drive shaft assemblies of the directly driven processing unit and the indirectly driven processing unit agree in amount.

Processing unit in the sense of the invention is in the broadest sense any unit capable of processing materials. This does not only include bending or punching units. Rather, processing units can also be clamping units for the workpieces to be machined, workpiece transport units, material feed devices or assembly assemblies.

In the solution according to the invention, the combination of the central wheel with the at least one intermediate gear train enables great freedom of choice in the location of the openings in the worktop. This also extends the possible uses of the machine. So you can continue to work with a circular distribution of the direct drive openings similar to DE-OS 15 27 922. In addition, the indirect drive openings offer the possibility of attaching processing units regardless of the position of the central wheel on the worktop, so that, for. B. a linearized arrangement of direct drive openings and indirect drive openings similar to the embodiments according to DE-OS 27 41 576 and DE 32 05 493 C2 can be obtained.

The provision of the intermediate gear train can result in a different direction of rotation of pinions which mesh with the central gear or with an intermediate gear train. If cam disks are used to control the tools of the machining units, which rotate together with the drive shaft assemblies of the machining units, this different sense of rotation can be achieved e.g. B. be taken into account by a symmetrical curve shape. It would also be possible to provide cam disks that can be attached to the processing units, depending on the direction of rotation. In any case, it is important that the speed of the pinion is always the same in terms of amount or can be set to the same amount, so that the directly and indirectly driven processing units can work in synchronism.

Although each intermediate gear train can comprise a plurality of intermediate gear wheels, preferably only a single intermediate gear wheel is provided for each intermediate gear train, which meshing engagement is on the one hand with a ring gear of the central wheel and on the other hand with at least one pinion of an indirectly driven processing unit. A common intermediate gear of the intermediate gear train can expediently be assigned several, preferably two, indirect drive openings in the worktop.

As already mentioned, a linearized arrangement of direct drive openings and indirect drive openings is possible in the solution according to the invention. This can be done in such a way that at least two indirect drive openings of the worktop and at least one, preferably at least two, direct drive openings of the worktop are arranged along a straight line parallel to the worktop. At least one indirect drive opening can be arranged on both sides of at least one direct drive opening along a straight line parallel to the worktop, so that a larger number of openings with correspondingly diverse positioning options for the processing units can be arranged along a straight line. The positioning options for the processing units can also be expanded with a view to the widest possible range of use of the machine in that at least one direct drive opening and at least one direct drive opening and at least one on each of two straight lines parallel to one another, which have a spacing approximately corresponding to a ring gear diameter of the central wheel Indirect drive opening are arranged. It is expedient to arrange at least one direct drive opening and at least two indirect drive openings or vice versa along at least one straight line, which runs essentially parallel to a material feed direction of the processing machine. Furthermore, with approximately vertical alignment of the main side surfaces of the worktop, at least one direct drive opening and at least two indirect drive openings can be arranged along at least one approximately horizontal straight line, or vice versa.

As far as the processing units are bending units, these are usually driven by a single drive shaft assembly and accordingly a single pinion. However, it is also conceivable to drive individual processing units via more than one pinion. In a punch press, for example, an increased pressing force can be achieved by two drive shaft assemblies. To now too for such processing units to provide the possibility of attachment to different locations on the worktop, it is proposed that at least one pair of direct drive openings and at least one pair of indirect drive openings are provided in the worktop, the opening spacings of the two pairs being the same. The machine can be used in a very wide range if the processing units can be switched between different pairs of openings. In this case, it is required as a plug-in condition that a pair of pinions in a fixed angular relationship to one another can be brought into meshing engagement either with a ring gear of the central gear or with a common intermediate gear of the intermediate gear train.

The worktop can contain a plurality of direct drive openings, which are arranged in a circle distributed around the axis of rotation of the central wheel. For this case, it is proposed in a further embodiment of the invention that at least two indirect drive openings and at least one direct drive opening - or vice versa - are arranged along at least one straight line parallel to the worktop, the direct drive openings assigned to the at least one straight line being only one Form part of all direct drive openings contained in the worktop. In other words, this means that the worktop additionally contains direct drive openings which are not assigned to any of the straight lines. This opens up a wider range of uses for the worktop because it provides both openings in a linear arrangement and openings in a circular arrangement.

The known processing machines discussed at the outset either have only worktops with a circular distribution of their openings or exclusively worktops with a linear arrangement of their openings. Therefore, high investments are required if you want to fully cover the range of applications offered by both machine types. Accordingly, in another aspect, the task of Invention can also be considered to provide a processing machine with a wider range of applications than previous processing machines.

In view of this aspect, the invention is based on a processing machine comprising two mutually parallel worktops, each of which has an inner main side surface facing the other worktop and an outer main side surface facing away from the other worktop, a drive system between the two worktops and a plurality at the outer main side surfaces of the worktops provided attachment points for processing units, which can be coupled or coupled to the drive system through the openings assigned to the attachment points in the respective worktop.

According to the invention, it is proposed that at least some of the openings assigned to a first of the worktops be arranged approximately on a circle around a central axis that is essentially orthogonal to the worktops, and that at least some of the openings assigned to the second worktop are essentially along at least one to the second Worktop is arranged parallel straight lines.

This solution according to the invention combines the machining options resulting from a circular arrangement of the openings and a linear arrangement of the openings in one machine. In some applications, it will be possible to work on both worktops independently of one another, ie choose one or the other worktop depending on the machining task. The drive system can include a separate sub-drive system for each worktop. The sub-drive systems can be different from one another and may work asynchronously. For example, it is conceivable that a central wheel drive similar to DE-OS 15 27 922 is provided for the first worktop while the processing units be driven on the second worktop via a worm shaft drive similar to DE 32 05 493 C2. However, partial drive systems that are synchronous with one another or a drive system common to both worktops are preferably provided, which opens up the possibility of coordinated, coordinated activities on both worktops. In particular, both worktops can be included in the machining of the same workpiece. For example, a workpiece could first be punched and bent on the first worktop, then transported to the second worktop and welded and assembled with other workpieces there - if necessary after further bending operations. Another way of coordinated work on both worktops is to control machining operations on one worktop from the other worktop. An example here is a bending core for bending sleeves, which is advanced from one worktop to the other worktop, where the supplied material is bent around the bending core.

The openings of the first worktop arranged on the circle according to the further aspect, which are preferably arranged distributed over the entire circle and can have approximately the same angular distances, make a central wheel drive expedient for the first worktop. Accordingly, it is now also proposed as a further development for this aspect that the drive system comprises a first central wheel rotatable about the central axis, which is arranged adjacent to the inner main side surface of the first worktop, and that the machining units assigned to the openings of the first worktop arranged on the circle Drive shaft assemblies can be driven, which pass through the openings arranged on the circle in a straight line and essentially orthogonal to the first worktop and with one to the respective drive shaft assembly meshing concentric pinion directly in a ring gear of the first central gear.

In a further embodiment, the drive system can again comprise at least one intermediate gear train meshing with a ring gear of the first central wheel, which is adjacent to the inner main side surface of the first worktop, part of the processing units assigned to the first worktop being drivable by drive shaft assemblies, each of which has associated indirect drive openings in push through the first worktop in a straight line and essentially orthogonal to the first worktop and intermesh with a pinion in an intermediate gear train. As already explained, this enables the attachment of processing units to the first worktop at positions which are not restricted to the circumference of the first central wheel.

A preferred embodiment for the machine side associated with the second worktop, which is provided in accordance with the further aspect of the invention, also provides for the processing units attached to the second worktop to be driven by means of a central wheel. Accordingly, it is proposed that the drive system adjacent to the inner main side surface of the second worktop comprises a second central gear rotatable about the central axis and at least one intermediate gear train meshing with a ring gear of the second central gear, and that of the machining units associated with the second worktop, a group of directly driven machining units by drive shaft assemblies is drivable, which respectively assign direct drive openings in the second worktop in a straight line and essentially orthogonal to the second worktop and mesh with a pinion in a toothed ring of the second central wheel, and a group of indirectly driven machining units can be driven by drive shaft assemblies, which are respectively assigned Indirect drive openings Push through in the second worktop in a straight line and essentially orthogonal to the second worktop and mesh with an intermediate gear train in each case with a pinion.

The first and the second central wheel can be separate components which can be driven independently of one another at possibly different speeds. However, in order to allow the work on both worktops to be coordinated, it can be provided that the first and second central wheels are connected for common rotation about the central axis. Both central wheels can be formed on a common central wheel body, which can have a toothed ring common to both worktops or a separate toothed ring for each of the worktops. The sprockets of the central wheels can have the same or different number of teeth.

If the drive shaft assemblies of the processing units assigned to the two worktops rotate at the same speed, it is possible to reposition the machining units not only on one worktop, but also between the two worktops.

The two worktops can be penetrated by a central passage channel which penetrates the first, and possibly also the second central wheel. Such a passage channel allows the material supply substantially orthogonal to the worktops similar to DE-OS 15 27 922, but also the passage of workpieces from one worktop to another and the accommodation of processing units, for. B. a punch press, or parts of processing units in the area of the passage channel. Furthermore, it is possible to drive a tool, for example the aforementioned bending core, from one worktop and to advance it through the passage channel to the other worktop.

The two worktops preferably form a housing which accommodates the drive system. This housing can be divided into two sub-boxes in a division plane parallel to the main side surfaces, each of which has or forms a worktop. The worktops can be essentially identical except for the location of their openings, which reduces the manufacturing effort.

For the drive of the central wheel or the central wheels, a solution is preferred in which an intermediate gear train which is in meshing engagement with a central wheel is coupled to a drive torque introduction point.

To ensure the reversibility of individual processing units between direct drive openings and indirect drive openings, it is proposed that a processing unit be designed with a drive pinion which is suitable for being brought into a direct meshing drive connection with a ring gear of a central wheel either through a direct drive opening or to be brought into meshing engagement with an idler gear of an idler gear train in meshing drive connection with the central gear through an indirect drive opening.

According to a third aspect, the invention provides a modular system for a processing machine, if desired, of the type described above, which, depending on the area of use, allows the machine to be quickly and easily converted. It is assumed that the processing machine should include two parallel worktops with their outer main side surfaces facing away from one another, a drive system between the worktops and a plurality of attachment points for machining units provided on the outer main side surfaces of the worktops, which openings through the attachment points in the respective worktop through with the drive system are coupled or can be coupled in terms of drive. Here, the modular system comprises first worktops with openings, which are arranged essentially on a circle around a central axis orthogonal to the respective worktop, and finer second worktops with openings, which are arranged along at least one straight line parallel to the worktop. If desired, a pair of first worktops or a pair of second worktops or a first and a second worktop can then be combined with one another.

Finally, according to a fourth aspect, the invention provides a method for operating a processing machine that offers the user versatile processing options. It is assumed that the processing machine is designed according to the second aspect discussed above, that is to say has two mutually parallel worktops, one of which contains circularly distributed openings and the other of which contains linearly arranged openings. For such a processing machine, it is proposed that processing operations be carried out either only on one of the two worktops or simultaneously on both worktops. A preferred embodiment of this method is based on the possibility of driving processing units attached to each of the two worktops in synchronism with one another. A product to be processed can then first be fed to one of the two worktops, subjected to at least one machining operation on this worktop, then transported to the other worktop and then subjected to at least one further machining operation there. The combined inclusion of both worktops in the machining of a workpiece allows the implementation of highly complex machining processes, in particular by combining various machining techniques, such as bending, welding, assembling and the like. A machining process is understood to be any treatment of a workpiece that takes place using one or more such machining techniques.

In a further embodiment of the above method, one can supply a strand of material to one of the worktops, divide the supplied strand of material on this worktop, preferably by punching, into individual pieces of material, transport the divided pieces of material to the other worktop and subject them to at least one further processing operation there. It is conceivable for the subdivided pieces of material on one worktop to be subjected to at least one further machining operation before being transported to the other worktop.

The possibility offered by the operating method according to the invention of assembling individual workpieces can be realized by combining a product fed to one of the worktops with at least one further product fed to one worktop before being transported to the other worktop and by combining the products thus combined - if desired after performing further processing operations on the products before or after their combination - then transported to the other worktop. Alternatively or additionally, a product processed on one of the worktops can also be combined with at least one further product fed to the other worktop after it has been transported to the other worktop.

The term "product" can be understood here in the sense of a workpiece that has already been pre-cut or otherwise pre-machined, possibly pre-assembled from several individual parts, but also in the sense of a still unprocessed strand of material, in particular an endless wire or strip material that is unwound from a reel . In the latter case, the assembly of individual workpieces on the processing machine can be carried out in such a way that one worktop is supplied with at least two strands of material separately, each of these strands of material divided into individual pieces of material, preferably by punching, in each case at least one piece of material both strands of material combined on one worktop and the material pieces combined in this way - if desired after carrying out further machining operations on the material pieces before or after their combination - transported to the other worktop. Similarly, you can feed both worktops at least one strand of material, divide each of these strands of material on the respective worktop into individual pieces of material, preferably by punching, transport the pieces of material of one of the strands of material - if desired after performing further processing operations - to the other worktop and there in each case Combine at least one piece of material from both strands of material.

Fig. 1

ein Schema einer Bearbeitungsmaschine mit kreisförmiger Verteilung von Öffnungen in einer Arbeitsplatte,

Fig. 2

eine Bearbeitungseinheit in Form einer Biegeeinheit,

Fig. 3

ein Schema einer Bearbeitungsmaschine mit linearer Verteilung von Öffnungen in einer Arbeitsplatte, wobei ein relativ langes Werkstück bearbeitet wird,

Fig. 4

ein Schema einer Bearbeitungsmaschine ähnlich Fig. 3, wobei gleichzeitig mehrere relativ kurze Werkstücke bearbeitet werden,

Fig. 5

eine Explosionsdarstellung eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäßen Bearbeitungsmaschine mit einer einzelnen Arbeitsplatte und einem zugehörigen Antriebssystem,

Fig. 6

ein Teilkreis-Schema zu dem Antriebssystem der Fig. 5,

Fig. 7

eine Explosionsdarstellung eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäßen Bearbeitungsmaschine wiederum mit einer einzelnen Arbeitsplatte und einem zugehörigen Antriebssystem,

Fig. 8

eine Explosionsdarstellung eines dritten Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäßen Bearbeitungsmaschine mit einer vorderen und einer hinteren Arbeitsplatte und einem zwischen den Arbeitsplatten aufgenommenen Antriebssystem,

Fig. 9

einen Schnitt längs der Linie IX-IX in Fig. 8, wobei der Übersichtlichkeit halber nur die in Fig. 8 hintere Arbeitsplatte gezeigt ist,

Fig. 10

einen Schnitt längs der Linie X-X in Fig. 8,

Fig. 11

einen Schnitt längs der Linie XI-XI in Fig. 8,

Fig. 12

schematisch eine Einsatzmöglichkeit einer Maschine gemäß Fig. 8,

Fig. 13a und 13b

schematisch eine weitere Einsatzmöglichkeit einer Maschine gemäß Fig. 8 und

Fig. 14a bis 17b

in skizzenhafter Darstellung weitere Einsatzmöglichkeiten einer Maschine gemäß Figur 8.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. They represent:

Fig. 1

1 shows a diagram of a processing machine with a circular distribution of openings in a worktop,

Fig. 2

a processing unit in the form of a bending unit,

Fig. 3

1 shows a diagram of a processing machine with a linear distribution of openings in a worktop, with a relatively long workpiece being processed,

Fig. 4

3 shows a schematic of a processing machine similar to FIG. 3, with several relatively short workpieces being processed simultaneously,

Fig. 5

2 shows an exploded view of a first exemplary embodiment of the processing machine according to the invention with a single worktop and an associated drive system,

Fig. 6

5 shows a pitch circle diagram for the drive system of FIG. 5,

Fig. 7

3 shows an exploded view of a second exemplary embodiment of the processing machine according to the invention, again with a single worktop and an associated drive system,

Fig. 8

3 shows an exploded view of a third exemplary embodiment of the processing machine according to the invention with a front and a rear worktop and a drive system accommodated between the worktops,

Fig. 9

8 shows a section along the line IX-IX in FIG. 8, only the worktop at the rear in FIG. 8 being shown for the sake of clarity,

Fig. 10

8 shows a section along the line XX in FIG. 8,

Fig. 11

7 shows a section along the line XI-XI in FIG. 8,

Fig. 12

schematically an application of a machine according to FIG. 8,

13a and 13b

schematically another application of a machine according to FIGS. 8 and

14a to 17b

in a sketchy representation further possible uses of a machine according to FIG. 8.

1-4, some basics are first explained, which should facilitate understanding of the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 ff.

The representation of the processing machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 for processing wire or strip material 3 builds up the construction principle according to DE-OS 15 27 922. It comprises a worktop 5, which on its front side in the view in FIG. 1 has a plurality of attachment points 7, indicated by dashed lines, for processing units 9. Machining units 9 are attached to three of the attachment points 7 in FIG. 1. Of course, processing units 9 can be occupied between one and all attachment points 7. The processing units 9 attached to the front of the worktop 5 in FIG. 1 are in drive connection with a drive system 11 arranged on the rear of the worktop 5. The drive system 11 comprises a central wheel 15 which can be rotated about a central axis 13 which is orthogonal to the worktop 5 and which has a ring gear 17 which is only partially shown on its outer circumference. To establish the drive connection between the drive system 11 and the processing units 9, the attachment points 7 are assigned openings 19 which penetrate the work surface 5 and are arranged in a circular distribution along the circumference of the central wheel 15. When the processing units 9 are attached to the worktop 5, they are inserted through the openings 19 from the front side of the worktop in FIG. 1 with drive shaft assemblies not shown in FIG. 1, and are thereby coupled in terms of drive to the drive system 11. The processing units 9 can be pivoted about the axis of their respective opening 19 and can be clamped in a selected pivot position on an undercut T-groove 21 machined into the front of the worktop 5. The T-groove 21 is annular and is provided concentrically with the circle over which the openings 19 are distributed. Possibly. For example, two or more annular T-grooves 21 can be provided concentrically on the worktop 5.

The work surface 5 is assigned a material feed device 23 which removes the wire or strip material 3 to be processed from a reel (not shown) and along a material feed direction parallel to the work surface 5 25 feeds a processing point 27 located centrally on the front of the worktop 5, at which it is processed by the processing units 9. The material feed device 23 is also driven by the drive system 11, for example by means of a connecting rod 28 indicated by dashed lines. It comprises two mutually opening and closing pairs of clamping pliers 29 and 31, of which the pair of pliers 29 for fixing the material strand 3 during processing by the Processing units 9 is used and the pair of pliers 31, which is also movable in the direction of the arrow 33 relative to the pair of pliers 29, pushes the material strand 3 a predetermined distance after the processing has been carried out by the processing units 9 in the material feed direction 25. This is done cyclically so that the standstill and the feed movement of the material feed device 23 follow one another alternately.

A punching press 35 is arranged in the material feed direction 25 after the material feed device 23, which punch can also be driven by the drive system 11 (e.g. by means of a connecting rod 37 indicated by dashed lines) and 3 individual material pieces 39 punched out of the material strand supplied by the material feed device 23, which material webs can be connected in one piece, but can also be transported further by means of a separate conveyor belt.

2 shows a processing unit 9 designed as a bending unit, for example. A drive shaft assembly 43 is rotatably mounted on a base plate 41 of the processing unit 9. In the view of FIG. 2, the drive shaft assembly 43 protrudes rearward from the base plate 41 and carries a pinion 45 at its rear, free end. At its front end, the drive shaft assembly 43 has a cam plate 47 which can be pivoted on the base plate 41 mounted lever 49 acts on a tool slide 51 to prevent the tool slide 51 from acting return spring shown in the direction of arrow 53 to the processing point 27 of the worktop 5 of FIG. The cam plate 47 causes a cyclical movement of the tool slide 51, one cycle corresponding to a 360 ° rotation of the cam plate 47. By suitably designing the cam plate 47, the sequence of movements of a bending tool 55 carried by the tool slide 51 can be influenced in a targeted manner, so that the tool slide 51 essentially stands still during the pulling-in movement of the wire or strip material 3 through the material feeding device 23 and during the idle times of the wire or Band material 3 executes its working movement. Usually about 90 ° to 100 ° of the rotation of the cam plate 47 is used for the material feed, so that approximately 260 ° to 270 ° of the rotation of the cam plate 47 can be used for material processing. When the processing unit 9 is attached to the worktop 5, the drive shaft assembly 43 penetrates with its end carrying the pinion 45 into the worktop 5 through an associated opening 19 and engages with its pinion 45 in meshing engagement with the ring gear 17 of the central wheel 15 Fastening holes 57 in the base plate 41 inserted fastening screws 59 allow the processing unit 9 to be clamped to the worktop 5 by tightening the fastening screws 59 with counterparts 61 which are held displaceably in the T-grooves 21.

Due to the circular distribution of its openings 19, the processing machine 1 of FIG. 1 is particularly suitable for the production of symmetrical parts, for example tubular sleeves, in that processing units 9 act from different sides with an approximately radial direction of action on a workpiece to be machined. The only machining point 27 in the example at which the workpieces are machined is located approximately in the middle of the circle over which the openings 19 are distributed. During one cycle of the machine cycle, ie during one revolution of the cams 47 of the processing units 9, only one workpiece is processed on the worktop 5, namely the workpiece located at the processing point 27. A time is available for processing it which corresponds to a full revolution of the cam disks 47 of the processing units 9 minus the time required for the material feed. If it is assumed that a time corresponding to approximately 100 ° rotation of the cam disks 47 is required for the material intake, there remains a time for machining the workpiece at the machining point 27 which corresponds to approximately a 260 ° rotation of the cam disks 47. During this time, all machining operations may have to be carried out one after the other, namely when the workpiece is ejected in the next cycle and a subsequent workpiece is advanced to the machining point 27.

The exemplary embodiments shown in the further figures are described below. The reference numbers used for this are provided with a lowercase letter as an index. As far as it is the same or equivalent components as in FIGS. 1 and 2, the same reference numerals are used. For their description, reference is made to the preceding description of FIGS. 1 and 2.

The processing machine 1a shown in FIG. 3 comprises a worktop 63a which, like the worktop 5 of FIG. 1, contains a plurality of openings 65a. In contrast to the openings 19 in FIG. 1, the openings 65a are arranged along two straight lines parallel to the material feed direction 25a and to one another. Again, any number of openings 65a can be occupied by processing units 9a. A drive system 11a for driving the processing units 9a comprises two worm shafts 67a parallel to the straight line, along which the openings 65a are distributed, which are schematically and only partially indicated in FIG. 3 and are each assigned to a row of openings 65a. The drive shaft assemblies of the processing units 9a accordingly carry pinions in the form of worm wheels, which come into meshing engagement with the associated worm shaft 67a when the drive shaft assemblies are pushed through the openings 65a. 3, the two worm shafts 67a are arranged behind the worktop 63a, while on the front of the worktop 63a there are linear T-grooves 21a corresponding to the annular T-grooves 21 in FIG. 1 for clamping the machining units 9a. Although only one T-groove 21 is assigned to each row of openings 65a in FIG. 3, a plurality of mutually parallel T-grooves 21a can of course also be provided. So far, the processing machine 1a of FIG. 3 partially corresponds to the solution according to DE 32 05 493 C2.

The linear distribution of the openings 65a enables the use of the machine 1a shown in FIG. 3 to process a comparatively long piece of material 39a punched out of the material strand 3a simultaneously with a plurality of processing units 9a on different longitudinal sections of the piece of material 39a. The feed length of the material feed device 23a is set to the length of the material pieces 39a to be processed, so that each material piece 39a is processed and then ejected only during one cycle of the machine cycle, as in the machine of FIG. 1. In this sense, it can also be said for the machine 1a of FIG. 3 that only a single processing point 27a is set up for the workpieces to be machined.

The embodiment of FIG. 4 differs from that shown in FIG. 3 in that several processing points 27b1-27b3 are now set up in the transport direction 25b of the material 3b, each of which has a piece of material 39b to be processed. One or more processing units 9b can be assigned to each processing point 27b1-27b3. The advance of the material strand 3b caused by the material feed device 23b is long of a piece of material 39b, so that each piece of material 39b passes through each of the processing points 27b1-27b3 one after the other and undergoes partial machining there before it is ejected. The total machining time available for machining a piece of material 39b is multiplied by the number of machining points (here three) compared to the embodiments in FIGS. 1 and 3. This allows complex machining processes to be carried out, which can possibly be composed of different types of machining, for example bending, welding and assembly activities. In addition, the possibility is indicated in FIG. 4 of distributing deformations of a piece of material 39b over a plurality of processing points, so that only a partial deformation has to be carried out at each processing point, for which a correspondingly large angle of rotation range of the cams of the processing units 9b is available. In this way, very high machining accuracy can be achieved, on the one hand, and soft and uniform movements of the tools of the machining units 9b, on the other hand. Since several pieces of material 39b are processed simultaneously, albeit in different ways, within the entire length of the machine, high throughput is obtained despite the extended throughput time of each individual piece of material 39b.

In the description of the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 ff., Essentially only differences or additions to the exemplary embodiments in FIGS. 1-4 are dealt with. For the rest, reference is made to the description of FIGS. 1-4.

The solution shown in Fig. 5 brings a reduction in manufacturing costs compared to the solutions of Figs. 3 and 4, without having to forego their advantages. It is characterized by an inexpensive drive system 11c. This comprises a central wheel 71c which is rotatable about a central axis 13c and a rear main side surface in the view of FIG. 5 73c is arranged adjacent to a worktop 63c. The countertop 63c has a front main side surface 74c opposite the rear main side surface 73c. To support the central gear 71c, the rear main side surface 73c has an annular flange 75c, which is only partially visible in FIG. 5, on which the central gear 71c, which is designed as a ring gear, is to be supported. The central gear 71c is designed with a toothed ring 77c, which has spur gearing in the exemplary embodiment shown. The drive system 11c further comprises four intermediate gears 79c which mesh with the ring gear 77c on the circumference of the central wheel 71c.

According to the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4, the worktop 63c contains two mutually parallel rows of openings for attaching processing units. In particular, the worktop 63c contains the following openings: two middle openings 65 _D c in the upper and lower rows and on both sides of these middle openings 65 _D c two openings 65 _I c in both rows of openings. In each row, the two middle openings 65 _D c and the four outer openings 65 _I c are arranged along a straight line. The central openings 65 _D c of both rows of openings are assigned to the central wheel 71 c. This means that when a processing unit 9 _U c indicated by dashed lines is attached to one of the central openings 65 _D c, the associated pinion 45 c of the processing unit 9 _U c comes into meshing engagement with the ring gear 77 c of the central wheel 71 c (similar to the embodiment in FIG. 1). Therefore, the openings 65 _D c are referred to as direct drive openings and a processing unit 9 _U c attached to a direct drive opening 65 _D c is referred to as a directly driven processing unit.

In contrast, the outer openings 65 _I c are assigned in pairs to the four intermediate gears 79c. This means that when a processing unit 9 _M c, likewise indicated only by dashed lines, is attached to an opening 65 _I c, the pinion of which engages in meshing engagement with an intermediate gear 79 c. Because of this, based on the central wheel 71c, indirect drive of such a processing unit 9 _M c, the openings 65 _I c are referred to as indirect drive openings and the processing unit 9 _M c as an indirectly driven processing unit. Of course, the processing units 9 _U c and 9 _M c can be moved between the openings 65 _D c and 65 _I c, so that they represent directly or indirectly driven processing units depending on their mounting position.

When a processing unit is plugged between a direct drive opening 65 _D c and an indirect drive opening 65 _I c, the direction of rotation of its pinion 45 c is reversed. This can e.g. B. by a symmetrical shape of the cam of the processing unit or the possibility to be able to turn the cam of the processing unit. The number of teeth of the pinions 45c, the intermediate gears 79c and the central gear 71c are selected so that the speed of the pinions 45c is always the same in amount.

The torque is supplied to the drive system 11c via a drive torque input shaft 83c which runs parallel to the worktop 63c and is designed with a worm 81c. The torque is introduced into one of the intermediate gear wheels 79c and thus into the central gear 71c and the other intermediate gear wheels 79c via a worm gear 85c meshing with the worm 81c and a spur gear 87c connected coaxially with the worm gear 85c. The intermediate gears 79c are mounted in the associated bearing bores 89c in the worktop 63c with bearing bolts (not shown in more detail in FIG. 5). In a corresponding manner, the worktop 63c contains a bearing bore 91 for mounting the worm wheel 85c and the spur gear 87c.

The worktop 63c further contains a rectangular, elongated opening 93c within its ring flange 75c. This break allows, for example, similar In the manner shown in DE-OS 15 27 922, the wire or strip material 63c to be processed is fed from behind, ie from the side of the rear main side surface 73c, through the opening 93c in order to process it on the front main side surface 74c.

So far it has been assumed that the processing units 9 _U c and 9 _M c are designed with a single drive shaft assembly 43 c and accordingly occupy only one opening 65 _I c or 65 _D c. However, it is equally possible to mount machining units with two or more drive shaft assemblies on the worktop 63c and to drive them to the drive system 11c through a corresponding number of openings. Thus, in FIG. 5, a processing unit 9 _'M c shown in the form of a punch press, wearing which two drive shaft assemblies 43'c, the pinion 45 ° C. by two indirect drive openings 65 _I c through a common intermediate gear 79c in meshing engagable are . The punch press 9 ' _M c corresponds functionally to the punch press 35 of FIG. 1; it provides the basis of their drivingly coupling is with an intermediate gear 79c an indirectly driven processing unit. Their two drive shaft assemblies 43'c can 'interact _M c, in particular via a respective cam 47' together on a punching tool 95c within the punch press 9, for example, via an unillustrated punch press transmission c. The punch press 9 ' _M c can be fastened to the front main side surface 74c of the worktop 63c in a manner similar to the processing units 9 _U c and 9 _M c by means of T-grooves 21c. In the example shown in FIG. 5, four parallel, straight T-grooves 21c are machined into the worktop 63c, two of which are assigned to each row of openings.

This means that the punch press 9 ' _M c as well as the processing units 9 _U c and 9 _M c, which are each only designed with a drive shaft assembly, at different locations on the worktop 63 c can be installed, the direct drive openings 65 _D c and indirect drive openings 65 _I c contained in the worktop 63 c are each arranged in pairs with the same opening spacings A (in FIG. 5 only in the pair of direct drive openings 65 _D c in the lower one Row of openings shown). This enables the plugging press 9 ′ _M c to be plugged between different pairs of indirect drive openings 65 _I c or direct drive openings 65 _D c. In the event that the punch press 9 ' _M c is attached to a direct drive opening pair 65 _D c, it comes with its pinions 45'c in meshing engagement with the ring gear 77c of the central wheel 71c; it would then be regarded as a directly driven processing unit. To ensure that the punch press 9 ' _M c can be changed between different pairs of openings, it must be ensured that the teeth or the tooth gaps of the intermediate gear wheels 79c and the ring gear 77c of the central wheel 71c are always aligned such that when the punch press 9' _M c is repositioned two pairs of openings, the pinion 45 ° C. of the punch press 9 _'M c verklemmungs- and adjustment free 79c can engage with the ring gear 77c and an intermediate gear again. As a prerequisite for the reversibility of the punch press 9 ' _M c, a design condition for the pinions 45'c of the punch press 9' _M c, the intermediate gear wheels 79c and the central wheel 71c was found, which will be explained with reference to FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 shows a diagram of the partial circles of the central gear 71c, two intermediate gears 79c and of pinion pairs 45'c, which mesh with the intermediate gears 79c and the central gear 71c. The pitch circle of the central wheel 71c is designated 97c. The partial circles of the intermediate gears 79c are designated 99c and the partial circles of the pinions 45'c 101c. The distance A of each pair with an intermediate gear 79c or a pinion 45'c meshing with the central gear 71c is also shown. This distance A corresponds to the opening distance A shown in FIG. 5 of the pairs of direct drive openings 65 _D c and indirect drive openings 65 _I c. As a plug-in condition for the punch press 9 ' _M c the condition has now been found that both the distance S ₁ shown in dashed lines in FIG. 6 on the middle pair of pinions 45'c and the line S ₁ shown in dashed lines on the right pair of pinions 45'c in FIG. 6 Section S ₂ must be an integer multiple of the tooth pitch. Four points P ₁ - P ₄ are initially defined for the path S ₁ : The points P ₁ and P ₂ represent the points of contact of a tangential line 103c applied to the partial circles 101c of the pinions 45'c with the partial circles 101c of the middle pair of pinions 45 '. c represents; the points P ₃ and P ₄ represent the points of contact of the partial circles 101c of the middle pair of pinions 45'c with the partial circle 97c of the central wheel 71c. The distance S ₁ thus results from the sum of the partial circle sections between the points P ₁ and P ₄ , the points P ₄ and P ₃ and the points P ₃ and P ₂ . Similarly, four points Q ₁ - Q ₄ can be defined for the section S ₂ , the points Q ₃ and Q ₄ corresponding to the points of contact of the partial circles 101c of the pair of pinions 45'c on the right in FIG. 6 with the partial circle 99c of the 6 in Fig. 6 right intermediate gear 79c. In an analogous manner, the distance S ₂ thus results from the sum of the pitch circle sections between the points Q ₁ and Q ₄ , the points Q ₄ and Q ₃ and the points Q ₃ and Q ₂ . If the sections S ₁ and S _{2 are} an integral multiple of the tooth pitch as required, the punch press 9 ' _M c can be repositioned between the different pairs of openings at any time without having to adjust its pinion 45'c in order to avoid jamming.

Fig. 7 1 illustrates a further embodiment of a processing machine 1d according to the invention. This processing machine 1d is the embodiment of FIG. Similar in that they d also a countertop 5d with circumferentially arranged apertures distributed 19 _D and a drive system 11d comprises a central gear 15d. The openings 19 _D d represent direct drive openings in the sense of the explanations relating to FIG. 5, since they are attached to a front main side surface when cultivating processing units 9 _U d indicated by dashed lines 105d of the worktop 5d bring about the direct engagement of the pinions of these processing units 9 _U d with a ring gear 17d of the central wheel 15d. In this respect, the processing units 9 _U d represent directly driven processing units.

The drive system 11d which is arranged adjacent to a rear main side surface 107d of the worktop 5d further comprises two diametrically opposed intermediate gear wheels 79d, of which the one arranged lower left in view of FIG. 7 merely serves to introduce the drive torque supplied by a torque input shaft 83d into the central wheel 15d. In contrast to the above lying in Fig. 7, right intermediate gear are 79d two indirect drive openings d allocated in the work surface 5d 19 _I through which similar to FIG. 5 a punch press 9 _'M d with this intermediate gear 79d is in driving connection can be brought.

FIG. 8 shows a processing machine 1e with two mutually parallel worktops 5e and 63e that receive a drive system 11e between them. The worktops 5e and 63e are parts of cuboid hollow boxes 109e and 111e, the peripheral walls 113e and 115e of which can be brought into contact with one another, as a result of which the hollow boxes 109e and 111e can be rigidly connected to form a closed housing which accommodates the drive system 11e. With regard to the localization of their direct drive openings 19 _D e, 65 _D e and its indirect drive openings 19 _I e, 65 _I e correspond to the worktops 5e and 63e the worktop 5d of Fig. 7 and 63c of Fig. 5. The working plate Central wheel 15e assigned to 5e and central wheel 71e assigned to worktop 63e are integrally formed on a common central wheel body 117e so that they rotate at the same speed. The number of teeth of the sprockets 17e of the central wheel 15e and 77e of the central wheel 71e are the same, so that machining operations taking place on both worktops 5e, 63e are time-coordinated can be. It is understood that the number of teeth of the sprockets 17e, 77e can also be different.

As an alternative to the solution of FIG. 8, it is also conceivable to combine a worktop 5 of FIG. 1 with a worktop 5d of FIG. 7 or a worktop 63c of FIG. 5. Moreover, 63e dashed more direct drive openings 65 _'D e are shown in Figure 8 in the worktop indicated, the 13e with the direct-drive openings 65 _D e on a circle around the axis of rotation of the central wheel 71e are arranged, but not assigned to any of the two orifice arrays are. These additional direct drive openings 65 _'D e complement the two opening rows of the work surface 63e, so that can be attached to this working plate 63e processing units not only in linear array, but also distributed circularly.

The bearing of the central wheel 15e on the ring flange 75e of the worktop 5e can be seen from FIG. The ring flange 75e has a step shoulder 119e, on which the central wheel 15e is rotatably supported by means of a bearing 121e. The central wheel 71e can be mounted on the worktop 63e in the same way. The storage of the drive shaft assemblies of the processing units 9 _U e, 9 _M e mounted on the worktops 5e, 63e can, in addition to their storage in the base plate of the respective processing unit, also be carried out by bearing parts which are in the respective direct drive opening 19 _D e, 65 _D e or indirect drive opening 19 _I e, 65 _I e or / and are arranged in a bearing opening 123e which is provided in a rear wall 125e of the worktop 5e or 63e. Finally, the worktops 5e and 63e, as shown in FIG. 9 using the example of the worktop 5e, have fastening bores 127e into which fastening screws 129e can be inserted, which permit the releasable, rigid connection of the two worktops 5e, 63e.

10 shows a possibility of mounting the intermediate gears 79e on the worktops 5e, 63e. Each intermediate gear 79e is rotatably supported by bearings 131e on a bearing pin 133e, which is inserted into the corresponding bearing bore 89e of the respective worktop 5e, 63e and is axially fixed and non-rotatable with the outer main side surface 74e or 105e of the respective worktop 63e or 5e respective worktop 63e, 5e is connected. A connecting sleeve 135e is inserted into holes 137e in the rear walls 125e of the worktops 5e, 63e, which receives the end of the bearing bolts 133e remote from the outer main side surface 74e.

In the sectional view of FIG. 11 it can be seen that the drive torque input shaft 83e, which runs parallel to the worktops 5e, 63e and leads out of the hollow boxes 109e, 111e, lies approximately in the connecting plane designated 139e of the two hollow boxes 109e, 111e and in that between the two hollow boxes 109e, 111e enclosed cavity is mounted in a receiving frame 141e which is approximately U-shaped in cross section and which is fastened to the hollow boxes 109e, 111e by means of screws 143e. The worm gear 85e, which meshes with the worm gear 81e of the drive torque input shaft 83e, is fastened together with the spur gear 87e on a common hub body 145e, which is rotatably supported by means of bearings 147e on a bearing pin 149e which is inserted into the bores 91e in the worktops 53, 63e and is non-rotatably connected to the worktops 5e, 63e. Fig. 12 shows an application of the machine 1e

8, in which one of the worktops 5e, 63e is used to control work on the other worktop in each case through the passage channel formed by the openings 93e in both worktops 5e, 63e. In the example shown, such control takes place from the worktop 5e. On the worktop 5e is one Directly (or also indirectly) driven processing unit 9 _U e (or 9 _M e) is attached, which cyclically moves a bending core 153e back and forth with the interposition of a deflection gear 151e in the direction orthogonal to the worktop 63e. The bending core 153e, around which the strip material 3e supplied to the worktop 63e is bent by means of a bending unit 9 _U e or 9 _M e attached to the worktop 63e, is movably guided in a guide 155e attached to the worktop 63e. The deflecting gear 151e comprises an L-shaped deflecting lever 157e, which is articulated on a holding element attached in the area of the openings 93e. The bending core 153e and the tool slide 51e of the processing unit 9 _U e mounted on the worktop 5e are connected in an articulated manner to the deflection lever 157e via articulated arms 161e and 163e. The movement of the tool slide 51e in the direction of the arrow 165e, which is controlled by the cam plate 47e of the processing unit 9 _U e attached to the worktop 5e, is thus converted into a cyclical feed and retraction movement of the bending core 153e in the arrow direction 167e.

In the application example of FIGS. 13a and 13b, a punch press 9 ' _U e is attached to the worktop 63e of the machine 1e to the middle pair of direct drive openings 65 _D e of the upper row of openings in FIG. 8. The punch press 9 ' _U e contains a passage 169e located in the area of the openings 93e of the worktops 5e, 63e. The wire or strip material 3e to be machined is introduced into the punching press 9 ' _U e in the longitudinal direction of the strip substantially orthogonally to the worktops 5e, 63e and is furthermore pre-punched in the longitudinal direction of the strip through the passage 169e and the openings 93e in the worktops 5e, 63e transported to the processing side of the worktop 5e, ie to the outer main side surface 105e thereof. There it can be machined by machining units, not shown, whose radial direction of action is shown by arrows 171e. In this way, for example, tubular sleeves can be made from strip material on the worktop 5e. It is also conceivable to assemble the belt sections transported through the central passage in the worktops 5e, 63e on the worktop 5e with parts which are fed to the processing machine 1e by feed devices on this side.

14a to 17a and 14b to 17b schematically show further application examples for the machine 1e of FIG. 8. In this case, FIGS. 14b to 17b each show a sectional view of the associated FIGS. 14a, 15a, 16a and 17a along a line , which is shown in FIG. 14a and is designated there by XIV-XIV, but is no longer shown in FIGS. 15a, 16a and 17a.

14a and 14b show an example in which only the worktop 63e of the machine 1e is in operation, the worktop 5e accordingly remains unused. On the worktop 63e, prefabricated parts that are fed from both sides of the worktop 63e in opposite directions (indicated by arrows 173e) parallel to the worktop 63e are combined or assembled with one another. This can be done for example by welding or other connection techniques. For this purpose, processing units (not shown in more detail) are attached to the worktop 63e in a linear arrangement, the direction of action of which is orthogonal to the feed direction of the parts to be machined is shown by arrows 175e.

In the example of FIGS. 15a and 15b, both worktops 5e, 63e are in operation and carry out machining operations on supplied workpieces in synchronism with one another. A punch press 9 ' _M e is inserted with its drive shaft assemblies into a pair of indirect drive openings 19 _I e of the worktop 5e. Another punch press 9 ' _M e is attached to the worktop 63e in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 8. Each of the punch presses 9 ' _M e becomes a wire or strip material strand in the direction of arrow 177e parallel to the respective worktop 5e, 63e fed. The pieces of material punched out by the punch press 9 ' _M e on the worktop 5e are then transported in the direction of arrow 179e through the central passage formed by the openings 93e in the worktops 5e, 63e to the worktop 63e. There they are assembled with the pieces of material provided by the punch press 9 ' _M e on the worktop 63e and, if desired, further processed.

In the example of FIGS. 16a and 16b, a punching press 9 ' _U e is arranged centrally on the worktop 63e, which extrusion of wire or strip material (not shown in detail) parallel to the worktop 63e (indicated by an arrow direction 181e) or also orthogonal to the worktop 63e ( indicated by an arrow direction 183e) is supplied. The pieces of material emerging from this punch press 9 ' _U e are passed through the central passage 93e of the two worktops 5e, 63e to the worktop 5e. There they are combined with workpieces which are either fed as prefabricated parts from an arrow direction 185e parallel to the worktop 5e, or with pieces of material which emerge from a further punch press 9 ' _M e attached to the worktop 5e in the direction of the arrow 187e, this punching press 9 _'M e is supplied to a further wire or strip material strand in the direction of arrow 187e. It is also conceivable that the workpieces passed through from the worktop 63e are combined both with parts which are fed in the direction of the arrow 185e and with parts which are fed in the direction of the arrow 187e.

FIGS. 17a and 17b finally show an operating example for the machine 1e of FIG. 8, in which two punch presses 9 ′ _M e are attached to the worktop 63e, which presses of wire and strip material are fed in opposite directions parallel to the worktop 63e are punched out (indicated by arrow directions 189e and 191e), individual pieces of material. This issued by the two punch presses 9 ' _M e Pieces of material are assembled on the worktop 63e and passed through in an assembled form through the central passage 93e of the worktops 5e, 63e to the worktop 5e. There is a further assembly step in that they are combined with pieces of material that emerge in the direction of arrow 193e from a further punch press 9 ′ _M e that is attached to the worktop 5e and processes a strand of wire or strip material that is fed parallel to the worktop 5e in the direction of arrow 193e.

The application examples explained above show that the invention allows even complex assembly work on one and the same machine. Assemblies consisting of several individual parts can even be manufactured.

It is to be added with reference to FIG. 2 that the drive shaft assemblies 43 of the processing units 9 cannot be designed only as stub shafts connected to the processing units, which can be inserted through the openings in the worktops with their pinions 45 and the drive system. Rather, it is also conceivable that a part of the drive shaft assemblies 43 comprising the pinion 45 is constantly mounted in the respective worktop and has at its end remote from the pinion a coupling arrangement which is designed to engage with a mating coupling arrangement on the processing units. In the simplest case, a plug-in coupling will be provided here. It is then possible to occupy each of the openings available for the attachment of a processing unit during the construction of the machine with such a part of the drive shaft assemblies having a pinion and a clutch arrangement (if desired continuously from the worktop 5e to the worktop 63e), so that this clutch arrangement when attaching a processing unit, it can only be brought into engagement with its mating coupling arrangement. As far as individual openings are not occupied, ie either empty are or have an unused coupling arrangement, these openings can be closed with a lid for protection against dirt and damage.

Within the framework of the inventive concept of "modular principle", it is also conceivable to combine a machine half according to FIG. 1 or FIG. 7 with a machine half according to FIG. 3 or 4 with a corresponding housing design.

If one or more intermediate toothed wheels are assigned to a worktop in the above-described embodiments, these intermediate toothed wheels do not protrude beyond the outer contour of the respective worktop. This results in a compact design. A feed unit and / or a material feed device can be coupled to an intermediate gear via a connecting rod gear or a cam drive, so that a clock-synchronous mode of operation is ensured with the processing units attached to the respective worktop.

For all of the embodiments described above, it is also true that the workpiece fed to a worktop for processing must not only be a wire or strip, but can itself be a previously processed part. The latter may even consist of several preassembled individual parts.

Claims (39)

Processing machine, comprehensive - at least one worktop (63c) with two main side surfaces (73c, 74c), - A central wheel (71c) which is arranged with an axis of rotation (13c) substantially orthogonal to the worktop (63c) adjacent to a first (73c) of the main side surfaces (73c, 74c) and has at least one toothed ring (77c) concentric with the axis of rotation (13c) , - Drive torque supply means (81c, 83c, 85c, 87c, 79c) for driving the central wheel (71c) and - At least one attachment point (7c) on the second (74c) of the main side surfaces (73c, 74c) for a processing unit (9 _U c) driven directly by the central wheel (71c), which is connected through at least one direct drive opening (7c) assigned to its attachment point (7c) 65 _D c) in the worktop (63c) is in drive connection with a ring gear (77c) of the central wheel (71c) or can be brought, this drive connection at least one of the direct drive opening (65 _D c) being rectilinear and essentially orthogonal to the worktop (63c) penetrating drive shaft assembly (43c) with a concentric to this pinion (45c), which meshes directly with the ring gear (77c) of the central wheel (71c), characterized,
in that the first main side surface (73c) of the worktop (63c) is also arranged adjacent to at least one intermediate gear train (79c) which is in meshing engagement with a ring gear (77c) of the central gear (71c), that the second main side surface (74c) of the worktop is furthermore arranged at least one attachment point (7c) for a processing unit (9 _M c, 9 ' _M c) indirectly driven by the central wheel (71c) and that the attachment point (7c) for the indirectly driven processing unit (9 _M c, 9 ' _M c) is assigned at least one indirect drive opening (65 _I c) in the worktop (63c) through which the indirectly driven processing unit (9 _M c, 9 ' _M c) via at least one associated drive shaft assembly (43c) passing through the indirect drive opening (65 _I c) in a straight line and essentially orthogonal to the worktop (63c) with a pinion (45c) concentric with this in meshing engagement with an intermediate gear (79c) of the intermediate gear train (79c) stands or can be brought, the rotational speeds of the drive shaft assemblies (43c) of the directly driven processing unit (9 _U c) and the indirectly driven processing unit (9 _M c, 9 ' _M c) corresponding in amount. Processing machine according to claim 1,
characterized in that the intermediate gear train (79c) comprises a single intermediate gear (79c) which, on the one hand, has a ring gear (77c) of the central wheel (71c) and, on the other hand, has at least one pinion (45c) of an indirectly driven processing unit (9 _M c, 9 _M c) is in meshing engagement. Processing machine according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that a common idler gear (79c) of the idler gear train (79c) is assigned two indirect drive openings (65 _I c) in the worktop (63c). Processing machine according to one of claims 1-3,
characterized in that at least two indirect drive openings (65 _I c) of the worktop (63c) and at least one direct drive opening (65 _c c) of the worktop (63c) are arranged along a straight line parallel to the worktop (63c) or vice versa. Processing machine according to claim 4,
characterized in that at least two indirect drive openings (65 _I c) of the worktop (63c) and at least two direct drive openings (65 _D c) of the worktop (63c) are arranged along a straight line parallel to the worktop (63c). Processing machine according to claim 4 or 5,
characterized in that at least one indirect drive opening (65 _I c) is arranged on both sides of at least one direct drive opening (65 _D c) along a straight line parallel to the worktop (63c). Processing machine according to one of claims 4-6,
characterized in that at least one direct drive opening (65 _D c) and at least one indirect drive opening (65 _I c) are arranged on each of two straight lines which are parallel to one another and have a spacing approximately corresponding to one gear ring diameter of the central wheel (71c) . Processing machine according to one of claims 4-7,
characterized in that at least one direct drive opening (65 _D c) and at least two indirect drive openings (65 _I c) are arranged along at least one straight line which runs essentially parallel to a material feed direction of the processing machine (1c) or vice versa. Processing machine according to one of claims 1-8,
characterized in that with approximately vertical alignment of the main side surfaces (73c, 74c) of the worktop (63c) along at least one approximately horizontal straight line at least one direct drive opening (65 _D c) and at least two indirect drive openings (65 _I c) are arranged or vice versa. Processing machine according to one of claims 1-9,
characterized in that at least one pair of direct drive openings (65 _D c) and at least one pair of indirect drive openings (65 _I c) are provided in the worktop (63c), the opening spacings of the two pairs being identical. Processing machine according to claim 10,
characterized in that a pair of pinions (45'c) which are in a fixed angular relationship to one another can be brought into meshing engagement either with a ring gear (77c) of the central gear (71c) or with a common intermediate gear (79c) of the intermediate gear train (79c). Processing machine according to claim 11,
characterized in that the two to one another in a fixed angular relationship stationary pinion (45 ° C.) are assigned to a joint processing unit (9 _'M c), in particular a punch press. Processing machine according to one of claims 1-12,
characterized in that the worktop (63e) contains a plurality of direct drive openings (65 _D e, 65 ' _D e) which are arranged in a circle distributed around the axis of rotation (13e) of the central wheel (71e). Processing machine according to claim 13,
characterized in that at least two indirect drive openings (65 _I e) and at least one direct drive opening (65 _D e) - or vice versa - are arranged along at least one straight line parallel to the worktop (63e), or vice versa, with those assigned to the at least one straight line Direct drive openings (65 _D e) only form part of all direct drive openings (65 _D e, 65 ' _D e) contained in the worktop (63e). Processing machine, comprehensive - Two mutually parallel worktops (5e, 63e), each of which faces an inner main side surface (107e, 73e) facing the other worktop (5e, 63e) and one outer main side surface (105e, 74e) facing away from the other worktop (5e, 63e) ) having, - A drive system (11e) between the two worktops (5e, 63e) and - A plurality of attachment points (7e) for processing units 9 _U e, 9 _M e, 9 ' _M e) provided on the outer main side surfaces (105e, 74e) of the worktops (5e, 63e), which openings (7e) assigned by the attachment points (7e) 19 _D e, 19 _I e, 65 _D e, 65 _I e) in the respective worktop (5e, 63e) with the drive system (11e) can be coupled or coupled in terms of drive, if desired according to one of claims 1-14, characterized,
that at least a part (19 _D e) of the openings (19 _D e, 19 _I e) assigned to a first (5e) of the worktops (5e, 63e) is approximately in a circle around an essentially orthogonal to the worktops (5e, 63e) Central axis (13e) is arranged and that at least a part (65 _D e, 65 _I e) of the openings (65 _D e, 65 _I e) assigned to the second worktop (63e) is essentially along at least one to the second worktop (63e) parallel straight lines is arranged. Processing machine according to claim 15,
characterized in that the openings (19 _D e) of the first worktop (5e) arranged on the circle are arranged distributed over the entire circle, preferably at approximately equal angular distances. Processing machine according to claim 15 or 16,
characterized in that the drive system (11e) comprises a first central wheel (15e) which is rotatable about the central axis (13e) and which is arranged adjacent to the inner main side surface (107e) of the first worktop (5e), and that those arranged on the circle Openings (19 _D e) of the processing units assigned to the first worktop (5e) can be driven by drive shaft assemblies which penetrate the openings (19 _D e) arranged on the circle in a straight line and essentially orthogonally to the first worktop (5e) and concentric with one to the respective drive shaft assembly Intermesh pinion meshing directly in a ring gear (17e) of the first central wheel (15e). Processing machine according to one of claims 15 - 17,
characterized in that the drive system (11e) adjacent to the inner main side surface (73e) of the second worktop (63e) has a second central wheel (71e) rotatable about the central axis (13e) and at least one with a ring gear (77e) of the second central wheel (71e ) intermeshing intermediate gear train (79e) and that of the processing units (9 _U e, 9 _M e, 9 ' _M e) assigned to the second worktop (63e) a group of directly driven processing units (9 _U e) can be driven by drive shaft assemblies, each of which Push through the associated direct drive openings (65 _D e) in the second worktop (63e) in a straight line and essentially orthogonally to the second worktop (63e) and mesh with a pinion in a ring gear (77e) of the second central wheel (71e), and one Group of indirectly driven processing units (9 _M e, 9 ' _M e) can be driven by drive shaft assemblies, each of which has an associated indirect drive opening en (65 _I e) in the second worktop (63e) rectilinear and essentially orthogonal to the second worktop Push through (63e) and mesh with a pinion in an intermediate gear train (79e). Processing machine according to claim 17 or 18,
characterized in that the drive system (11e) adjacent to the inner major side surface (107e) of the first worktop (5e) comprises at least one intermediate gear train (79e) which meshes with a ring gear (17e) of the first central gear (15e) and that part of that of the first worktop (5e) assigned processing units can be driven by drive shaft assemblies, which respectively pass through associated indirect drive openings (19 _I e) in the first worktop (5e) in a straight line and essentially orthogonal to the first worktop (5e) and each with a pinion in an intermediate gear train (79e ) intervene. Processing machine according to claim 18 or 19,
characterized in that the first (15e) and the second (71e) central gears are connected for common rotation about the central axis (13e). Processing machine according to claim 20,
characterized in that the first (15e) and the second (71e) central wheel are formed on a common central wheel body (117e). Processing machine according to claim 21,
characterized in that the common central wheel body (117e) has a toothed ring common to the two worktops (53,63e). Processing machine according to claim 21,
characterized in that the common central wheel body (117e) each has a separate ring gear (17e, 77e) for each of the worktops (5e, 63e). Processing machine according to one of claims 15-23,
characterized in that the drive shaft assemblies of the processing units (9 _U e, 9 _M e, 9 ' _M e) assigned to the two worktops rotate at the same speed. Processing machine according to one of claims 15-24,
characterized in that the at least one straight line runs essentially parallel to a material feed direction of the second worktop (63e). Processing machine according to one of claims 17 - 25,
characterized in that the two worktops (5e, 63e) are penetrated by a central passage (93e) which passes through the first central wheel (15e). Processing machine according to one of claims 15 - 26,
characterized in that the two worktops (5e, 63e) form a housing (109e, 111e) which receives the drive system (11e). Processing machine according to claim 27,
characterized in that the housing (109e, 111e) is divided into two part boxes (109e, 111e) in a division plane parallel to the main side surfaces (105e, 107e, 73e, 74e), each of which forms a worktop (5e, 63e). Processing machine according to one of claims 1 to 28,
characterized in that an intermediate gear train (79e) which is in meshing engagement with a central wheel (71e) is coupled to a drive torque introduction point (83e). Processing machine according to one of claims 1 - 29,
characterized in that a processing unit (9 _U c, 9 _M c, 9 ' _M c) with a drive pinion (45c, 45'c) which is suitable for being brought either through a direct drive opening (65 _D c) into direct meshing drive connection with a ring gear (77c) of a central wheel (71c) or through an indirect drive opening (65 _I c) through to be brought into meshing engagement with an intermediate gear (79c) of an intermediate gear train (79c) in meshing drive connection with the central gear (71c). Modular system for a processing machine (1e) if desired according to one of claims 1-30, wherein the processing machine comprises: - two mutually parallel worktops (5e, 63e) with mutually facing outer main side surfaces (105e, 74e), - A plurality of on the outer main side surfaces (105e, 74e) of the worktops (5e, 63e) provided attachment points (7e) for processing units (9 _U e, 9 _M e, 9 ' _M e), which through the attachment points (7e) assigned openings (19 _D e, 19 _I e, 65 _D e, 65 _I e) in the respective worktop (53e, 63e) with the drive system (11e) are coupled or can be coupled in terms of drive, characterized,
that the modular system comprises first worktops (5e) with openings (19 _D e), which are essentially arranged in a circle around a central axis (13e) orthogonal to the respective worktop (5e), and furthermore second worktops (63e) with openings (65 _D e, 65 _I e) comprises that one to the work surface (63e) parallel lines are arranged along at least, and in that as desired a pair of first work surfaces (5e) or a pair of second work surfaces (63e) or a first (5e) and a second (63e) worktop can be combined. Method for operating a processing machine according to one of claims 15-30,
characterized in that machining operations are carried out either only on one of the two worktops (5e, 63e) or simultaneously on both worktops (5e, 63e). A method according to claim 32,
characterized in that machining units attached to each of the two worktops (5e, 63e) can be driven synchronously with one another and in that a product to be machined is first fed to one of the two worktops (5e, 63e), subjected to at least one machining operation on this worktop, then to the other Worktop transported and then subjected to at least one further processing operation there. A method according to claim 33,
characterized in that one of the worktops (5e, 63e) is fed a strand of material, on this worktop the fed strand of material is divided, preferably by punching, into individual pieces of material, the divided pieces of material are transported to the other worktop and are each subjected to at least one further processing operation there. 35. The method of claim 34,
characterized in that the subdivided pieces of material on one worktop are each subjected to at least one further machining operation before being transported to the other worktop. Method according to one of claims 33 - 35,
characterized in that a product fed to one of the worktops (5e, 63e) is transported with at least one further one before being transported to the other worktop. the product supplied to a worktop is combined and the products combined in this way are then transported to the other worktop, if desired after further processing operations have been carried out on the products before or after their combination. Method according to one of claims 33 - 36,
characterized in that a product processed on one of the worktops (5e, 63e) is combined with at least one further product fed to the other worktop after it has been transported to the other worktop. Method according to one of claims 33 - 37,
characterized in that one of the worktops (5e, 63e) is fed separately, at least two strands of material, each of these strands divided into individual pieces of material, preferably by punching, in each case at least one piece of material from both strands of material is combined with one another on the worktop and the pieces of material thus combined - if desired after carrying out further processing operations on the material pieces before or after their combination - transported to the other worktop. Method according to one of claims 33 - 38,
characterized in that at least one strand of material is fed to each of the two worktops (5e, 63e), each of these strands of material on the respective worktop (5e, 63e) is divided into individual pieces of material, preferably by punching, the pieces of material of one of the strands of material - if desired after carrying out further Machining operations - transported to the other worktop and combined there at least one piece of material from both strands of material.

Images