EP1221348B1 - Workpiece-supporting device for a bending machine - Google Patents

Workpiece-supporting device for a bending machine Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1221348B1
EP1221348B1 EP01403370A EP01403370A EP1221348B1 EP 1221348 B1 EP1221348 B1 EP 1221348B1 EP 01403370 A EP01403370 A EP 01403370A EP 01403370 A EP01403370 A EP 01403370A EP 1221348 B1 EP1221348 B1 EP 1221348B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
toothed wheel
follower
support
sheet metal
pivot
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP01403370A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1221348A1 (en
Inventor
Morikatsu Matsuda
Gérard R. Quesnel
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Amada Europe SA
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Amada Europe SA
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Publication of EP1221348A1 publication Critical patent/EP1221348A1/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21D5/00—Bending sheet metal along straight lines, e.g. to form simple curves
    • B21D5/02—Bending sheet metal along straight lines, e.g. to form simple curves on press brakes without making use of clamping means
    • B21D5/0281—Workpiece supporting devices

Definitions

  • the object of the present invention is to provide means for mitigating or eliminating the disadvantages mentioned above.
  • the first toothed wheel is kept stationary in rotation and is connected to the second gear by a toothed belt meshing without teeth with the teeth of the first and second gears, that the second gear wheel rotates inside the toothed belt under the action of the pivoting arm moving the rotation shaft and the second toothed wheel along a circular arc, that the pivoting movement of the second toothed wheel integral with the accompanying table causes the latter to pivot about the rotation shaft and the upward and downward movements of the accompanying table are synchronized with the pivoting movement of the latter, so that the extension of the upper bearing face of said table always passes through the front edge of the die of the press brake.
  • the reaction force of said table may relax the toothed belt and lead to an imprecise positioning of the table and the sheet metal resting there.
  • the pivot shaft is supported in two bearings each mounted in a lateral support arm secured to the part. one of the other vertical edge of the sliding support and directed towards the accompanying table, that the pivot shaft carries on either side of the pivoting arm a first free-rotating gear with respect to the pivot shaft, that on either side of the front end of the pivoting arm, located on the side of the accompanying table, the rotation shaft is integral with a second toothed wheel in alignment with the first gear wheel corresponding, that each second gear is fixed on a radial connecting arm provided at the rear end of the accompanying table, a roller chain or the like passes around the first and second gear wheels aligned and that each first gear wheel is associated with tension and repulsion means, those associated with the first gear wheel cooperating with the first chain act on the upper strand thereof in a first di rection corresponding to the clockwise direction, so that the rollers of the first chain are applied against the rear flank of the teeth of the corresponding first wheel and whose
  • the sheet metal attendant comprising a companion table 1 of a bending sheet 2 is associated with a known press brake 3 of the type comprising a gooseneck frame, not shown, a fixed lower table 4 carrying a horizontal matrix of triangular cross-section 5, and a vertically movable upper table 6 carrying a folding punch 7 pushing a portion of the sheet 2 into the die 5.
  • a known press brake 3 of the type comprising a gooseneck frame, not shown, a fixed lower table 4 carrying a horizontal matrix of triangular cross-section 5, and a vertically movable upper table 6 carrying a folding punch 7 pushing a portion of the sheet 2 into the die 5.
  • the sheet metal follower comprises a base plate 8 whose extension is essentially vertical and which is mounted on the front face of the fixed lower table 4, for example by means of a pair of horizontal rails 9 provided on the front side of the fixed lower table 4 and along which said base plate 8 is guided and movable horizontally.
  • the sheet attendant further comprises a support 10 sliding vertically and guided on one, and preferably two, vertical rails 11 provided on the base plate 8 penetrating the corresponding grooves 12 in the grooves of two lateral vertical guides 13 integral with the rear face of the sliding support 10, and a vertical drive mechanism 14 for the sliding support 10.
  • This drive mechanism 14 is of the worm type and nut and has a first servomotor 15 whose housing is secured to the base plate 8 and drives, for example through two pinions 16, 17, the vertical worm 18 of the drive mechanism 14, this vertical screw being held in unillustrated bearings integral with the base plate 8 and meshes in the threads of a nut 19 secured to the rear face of the sliding support 10.
  • the first servomotor 15 rotates in one direction or in the the vertical screw 18 rotates correspondingly and the nut 19 and the sliding support 10 rise or fall in the direction of rotation of said worm 18.
  • the sheet metal follower further comprises a pivoting mechanism 20 which is mounted on the sliding support 10 and is capable of tilting or pivoting the accompanying table 1 itself in synchronism with the vertical movement of the sliding support 10 so that the extension 21 of the upper support surface of the accompanying table 1 substantially passes through the upper front edge 5a of the die 5 during a folding operation of the sheet 2.
  • a pivoting mechanism 20 which is mounted on the sliding support 10 and is capable of tilting or pivoting the accompanying table 1 itself in synchronism with the vertical movement of the sliding support 10 so that the extension 21 of the upper support surface of the accompanying table 1 substantially passes through the upper front edge 5a of the die 5 during a folding operation of the sheet 2.
  • the pivot mechanism 20 comprises at least one, preferably two, support arms 22 secured to the front face of the upper part of the sliding support 10.
  • each of them is integral with one or the other vertical edge of the sliding support 10 and is directed forwards from the front face thereof and perpendicular to said front face.
  • a pivot shaft 23 is housed in a bearing 24 of each lateral support arm 22 and carries at one of its free ends a toothed wheel 25 keyed on said shaft 23 and meshing with a toothed wheel 26 integral in rotation with the spindle.
  • output of a second servo motor 27 whose housing is mounted on the sliding support 10.
  • a pivoting arm 28 is keyed by its rear end on the pivot shaft 23 and carries, by its other end or front end, a rotation shaft 29 mounted in free rotation in a rolling bearing 30 provided in said front end of said rotation shaft 29.
  • the first toothed wheel 31 is immobilized in rotation and preferably locked on the neighboring support arm 22. It may, as required, comprise one or two support arms 22, one or two first gear wheels 31, one or two second gear wheels 33 and the corresponding bearings 24, 30 and 32.
  • the front end of the pivot arm 28 has a rotation shaft 29 freely rotating in a bearing of the ball bearing type 30 mounted in a suitable housing of the front end of said pivot arm 28.
  • the rotation shaft 29 is provided with at least one second gear 33 keyed on said shaft 29 in a position where it is aligned with a corresponding first gear 31.
  • the rotation shaft 29 is provided with a second toothed wheel on each side of the pivot arm.
  • a connecting arm 34 extending preferably in a diametral plane of the second gear 33 is fixed by bolts 35 on the latter and is integral with the accompanying table 1.
  • the first gear 31 is connected to the second gear 33 by a toothed belt 36 whose teeth engage without play in the space between two successive teeth of the first and second gear wheels 31 and 33 aligned with one another (see Figure 1).
  • a toothed belt 36 whose teeth engage without play in the space between two successive teeth of the first and second gear wheels 31 and 33 aligned with one another (see Figure 1).
  • the operating mode is as follows: during a folding operation, the first servo motor 15 drives the sliding support 10 upwards to a level where the support face of the table 1 is at the height of the edge 5a of the die 5, said table being substantially horizontal. As soon as the second servo motor 27 is started, the pivoting arm 28 will pivot about the axis of the shaft 23 which it is secured to and move upwardly the rotation shaft 29 and the second gearwheel 33 along a circular arc centered on the shaft 23. As the first gear 31 does not rotate, the strands of the toothed belt 36 can not move in the longitudinal direction.
  • the weight of the sheets to be supported by the accompanying table 1 is greater than a value of the order of 80 kg, it is preferable to use at least one and, preferably, two roller or bushing chains or any other suitable type 40 in combination with tensioning and damping means 41 which apply or repel each roller, bushing or the like transverse 42 of the chain 40 against the flank 31a of a corresponding tooth 31b of the first gear 31, so that the upper strand 43 of the chain 40, 40a is always stretched and its transverse rollers 42 applied against the flanks 31a of corresponding teeth 31b when said rollers 42 are housed in the spaces delimited by the flanks of two adjacent teeth 31b.
  • tensioning and damping means 41 which apply or repel each roller, bushing or the like transverse 42 of the chain 40 against the flank 31a of a corresponding tooth 31b of the first gear 31, so that the upper strand 43 of the chain 40, 40a is always stretched and its transverse rollers 42 applied against the flanks 31a of corresponding teeth 31b when said rollers 42 are housed in the
  • the tension and repulsion means 41 associated with a first chain 40a are arranged in such a way that the upper strand 43 of said first chain 40a be stretched in the direction of the arrow 44 towards the sliding support 10 and that the tension and repulsion means 41 associated with the second chain 40b which is parallel to the first (40a) are arranged such that the lower strand 45 of the second chain 40b is stretched in the direction of the arrow 45 in the direction of the sliding support 10.
  • the rollers 42 of the lower strand 45 of the second chain 40b are applied against the other side 31c of each of the teeth 31b the gear wheel 31 engaged with the second chain 40b.
  • the tensioning and repulsive means 41 comprise, for each immobilized first gear 31, at least one oblong recess 47 extending in the circumferential direction and having in section a shape, for example rectangular, annular, etc., preferably several recesses.
  • the first toothed wheel 31 is biased, either clockwise or counterclockwise (see FIG. ).
  • each of the recesses 47a to 47d receives a compression spring 50 which, taken in the direction of the arrow 51, is supported, on the one hand, on the front end of the corresponding recess (47a to 47d). ) and, on the other hand, on the front side face of a corresponding rod 48 thus urging the rear end of the recess against the rear side face of the stick in question.
  • the sheet metal follower generally has a relatively small width relative to the width of the press brake 3. As a result, two or even more additional sheet metal guides are required when a metal plate has to be folded. a large width to prevent bending or side bending under the effect of the weight of the unsupported sheet metal parts.
  • the present invention provides a simple solution to remove additional companions and replace them with an extension support removably mounted on the upper end of the accompanying table 1.
  • the table 1 has a transverse recess 55 provided with an intermediate fixing plate 56 and, if necessary, a fixed jaw 57 and two lateral jaws 58 sliding on the bottom 59 of the recess 55 if necessary under the action of control cylinders 60.
  • the rear face of the recess 55 is delimited by a stop block 61 which can serve as a fixed jaw when the two movable jaws 58 are biased toward the rear of said table 1.
  • the extension support 62 has the general shape of an H and consists of a transverse bar 63 parallel to the front face 64 of the press brake 3 and two lateral bars 65 perpendicular to said end face 64.
  • the transverse length of the extension support 62 is, as can be seen in Figure 7, sufficient to support the lateral ends of the sheet 2 and in any case slightly less than the useful width of the press brake 3.
  • the transverse bar 63 of the extension support 62 has, at its center, a cylindrical hole 66 for the passage of a fixing bolt 67, the threaded part of which passes through a not shown elongated bore of the intermediate plate 56 and is screwed into a nut not shown locking against the underside of said plate 56.
  • the oblong hole has a main extension perpendicular to the front face 64 of the press brake 3. This allows to adjust the position of the transverse bars 63 having different widths.
  • the transverse bar 63 of the extension support 62 may, if necessary, be clamped between the fixed jaw 57 and the movable jaws 58.
  • the upper face of the extension support 62 that is to say the upper faces of the transverse bar 63 and the lateral bars 64, as well as that of the fixed jaw 57 and that of the stop block 61, are provided with ball bearings 69 for supporting the bending sheet 2.

Description

La présente invention concerne un accompagnateur de tôle susceptible d'être associé à une presse plieuse d'une tôle du type comprenant un bâti en col de cygne, une table inférieure fixe portant une matrice horizontale de section triangulaire et une table supérieure mobile verticalement et portant un poinçon de pliage, l'accompagnateur de tôle comprenant :

  • une plaque de base verticale guidée horizontalement le long de la table inférieure de la presse plieuse,
  • un support coulissant sur au moins un rail vertical de la plaque de base,
  • un mécanisme d'entraînement vertical par vis sans fin et écrou dont la vis verticale coopère avec un premier servo-moteur et engrène avec les taraudages de l'écrou fixé du support coulissant,
  • une table accompagnatrice articulée de façon à pouvoir basculer autour d'un arbre horizontal, et
  • un mécanisme de pivotement monté sur le support coulissant et susceptible de faire basculer la table accompagnatrice en synchronisme avec le mouvement vertical du support coulissant de façon telle que le prolongement du plan supérieur de ladite table accompagnatrice passe par l'arête supérieure frontale de la matrice, ce mécanisme présentant
    • un arbre entraîné en pivotement au moyen d'un deuxième servo-moteur et d'un engrenage montés sur le support coulissant,
    • un bras de pivotement dont une extrémité est clavetée sur l'arbre de pivotement et dont l'autre extrémité porte en rotation libre un arbre de rotation,
    • au moins une première roue dentée montée sur l'arbre de pivotement de façon à pouvoir rester immobile lors du pivotement dudit arbre,
    • au moins une deuxième roue dentée solidaire de l'arbre de rotation et coopérant avec ladite première roue dentée, et
    • au moins un bras de liaison fixé à la deuxième roue dentée et à la table accompagnatrice.
The present invention relates to a sheet attendant adapted to be associated with a sheet metal press brake of the type comprising a gooseneck frame, a fixed lower table carrying a horizontal matrix of triangular section and a vertically movable upper table carrying a bending punch, the sheet metal attendant comprising:
  • a vertical base plate guided horizontally along the lower table of the press brake,
  • a support sliding on at least one vertical rail of the base plate,
  • a vertical drive mechanism by worm and nut whose vertical screw cooperates with a first servomotor and meshes with the threads of the fixed nut of the sliding support,
  • an accompanying table hinged so as to tilt around a horizontal shaft, and
  • a pivoting mechanism mounted on the sliding support and able to tilt the accompanying table in synchronism with the vertical movement of the sliding support so that the extension of the upper plane of said accompanying table passes through the front upper edge of the matrix, this mechanism presenting
    • a shaft driven in pivoting by means of a second servomotor and a gear mounted on the sliding support,
    • a pivoting arm whose one end is keyed on the pivot shaft and the other end of which bears a rotation shaft in free rotation,
    • at least one first gear wheel mounted on the pivot shaft so as to remain stationary when pivoting said shaft,
    • at least one second gear wheel integral with the rotation shaft and cooperating with said first gear, and
    • at least one connecting arm attached to the second gear wheel and the accompanying table.

Ce type d'accompagnateur de tôle fait l'objet de la demande de brevet japonais non publiée n° 11-199185 du 13 juillet 1999 (voir aussi WO-A-01/03864 et EP-A-1203625) et présente un certain nombre d'inconvénients notamment dus à l'utilisation importante de roues dentées ou engrenages. En effet, malgré un soin particulier apporté au fraisage des dents, il existe toujours un jeu inévitable entre les dents de deux roues dentées engrenant l'une dans l'autre, ledit jeu augmentant au fur et à mesure de la durée d'utilisation de l'accompagnateur de tôle.This type of sheet metal follower is the subject of the unpublished Japanese Patent Application No. 11-199185 of July 13, 1999 (see also WO-A-01/03864 and EP-A-1203625) and presents a number disadvantages in particular due to the heavy use of gears or gears. Indeed, despite particular care in the milling of the teeth, there is always an inevitable game between the teeth of two toothed wheels meshing with one another, said game increasing as and when the duration of use of the accompanying sheet metal.

L'objet de la présente invention est de proposer des moyens permettant d'atténuer ou de supprimer les inconvénients mentionnés ci-dessus.The object of the present invention is to provide means for mitigating or eliminating the disadvantages mentioned above.

Selon une première solution de ce problème, qui s'applique plus particulièrement aux tôles dont le poids ne dépasse pas une valeur de 80 kg, il est proposé que la première roue dentée soit maintenue immobile en rotation et soit reliée à la deuxième roue dentée par une courroie crantée engrenant sans jeu avec les dents des première et deuxième roues dentées, que la deuxième roue dentée se déroule en pivotant à l'intérieur de la courroie crantée sous l'action du bras de pivotement déplaçant l'arbre de rotation et la deuxième roue dentée le long d'un arc de cercle, que le mouvement de pivotement de la deuxième roue dentée solidaire de la table accompagnatrice provoque le pivotement de cette dernière autour de l'arbre de rotation et que les mouvements ascendant et descendant de la table accompagnatrice soient synchronisés avec le mouvement de pivotement de celle-ci, de sorte que le prolongement de la face d'appui supérieure de ladite table passe toujours par l'arête frontale de la matrice de la presse de plieuse.According to a first solution of this problem, which applies more particularly to sheets whose weight does not exceed a value of 80 kg, it is proposed that the first toothed wheel is kept stationary in rotation and is connected to the second gear by a toothed belt meshing without teeth with the teeth of the first and second gears, that the second gear wheel rotates inside the toothed belt under the action of the pivoting arm moving the rotation shaft and the second toothed wheel along a circular arc, that the pivoting movement of the second toothed wheel integral with the accompanying table causes the latter to pivot about the rotation shaft and the upward and downward movements of the accompanying table are synchronized with the pivoting movement of the latter, so that the extension of the upper bearing face of said table always passes through the front edge of the die of the press brake.

Grâce à cette disposition, on supprime un grand nombre de roues dentées, source de jeu et de défaut de précision entre les dents de celles-ci, et on simplifie grandement la structure du mécanisme de pivotement.With this arrangement, it eliminates a large number of gears, a source of play and lack of precision between the teeth thereof, and greatly simplifies the structure of the pivoting mechanism.

Lorsque la table accompagnatrice doit supporter des tôles épaisses d'un poids important, de l'ordre de 100 kg et plus, la force de réaction de ladite table risque de détendre la courroie crantée et conduire à un positionnement imprécis de la table et de la tôle y reposant.When the accompanying table must support thick sheets of a significant weight, of the order of 100 kg and more, the reaction force of said table may relax the toothed belt and lead to an imprecise positioning of the table and the sheet metal resting there.

Pour supprimer cet inconvénient, on pourrait utiliser une transmission par roues dentées et chaînes à maillons par exemple du type bicyclette. Mais dans ce cas, il existe toujours un jeu entre une paire de dents et le boulon transversal reliant deux éclisses latérales d'un maillon de chaîne.To overcome this drawback, one could use a transmission gear wheels and chain links for example of the bicycle type. But in this case, there is always a game between a pair of teeth and the transverse bolt connecting two side splints of a chain link.

Pour supprimer cet inconvénient, il est proposé, conformément à l'invention, que l'arbre de pivotement soit supporté dans deux paliers montés chacun dans un bras de support latéral solidaire de la partie supérieure de l'un ou de l'autre bord vertical du support coulissant et dirigé vers la table accompagnatrice, que l'arbre de pivotement porte de part et d'autre du bras de pivotement une première roue dentée à rotation libre par rapport à l'arbre de pivotement, que de part et d'autre de l'extrémité frontale du bras de pivotement, située du côté de la table accompagnatrice, l'arbre de rotation soit solidaire d'une deuxième roue dentée en alignement avec la première roue dentée correspondante, que chaque deuxième roue dentée soit fixée sur un bras radial de liaison prévu à l'extrémité arrière de la table accompagnatrice, qu'une chaîne à rouleaux ou similaire passe autour des première et deuxième roues dentées alignées et que chaque première roue dentée soit associée à des moyens de tension et de répulsion dont ceux associés à la première roue dentée coopérant avec la première chaîne agissent sur le brin supérieur de celle-ci dans une première direction correspondant au sens des aiguilles d'une montre, de sorte que les rouleaux de la première chaîne soient appliqués contre le flanc arrière des dents de la première roue correspondante et dont les moyens associés à l'autre première roue dentée coopérant avec la deuxième chaîne agissent sur le brin inférieur de celle-ci dans une direction correspondant au sens contraire des aiguilles d'une montre, de sorte que les rouleaux de la deuxième chaîne soient appliqués contre l'autre flanc des dents de l'autre première roue correspondante.To overcome this drawback, it is proposed, according to the invention, that the pivot shaft is supported in two bearings each mounted in a lateral support arm secured to the part. one of the other vertical edge of the sliding support and directed towards the accompanying table, that the pivot shaft carries on either side of the pivoting arm a first free-rotating gear with respect to the pivot shaft, that on either side of the front end of the pivoting arm, located on the side of the accompanying table, the rotation shaft is integral with a second toothed wheel in alignment with the first gear wheel corresponding, that each second gear is fixed on a radial connecting arm provided at the rear end of the accompanying table, a roller chain or the like passes around the first and second gear wheels aligned and that each first gear wheel is associated with tension and repulsion means, those associated with the first gear wheel cooperating with the first chain act on the upper strand thereof in a first di rection corresponding to the clockwise direction, so that the rollers of the first chain are applied against the rear flank of the teeth of the corresponding first wheel and whose means associated with the other first gear cooperating with the second chain act on the lower strand thereof in a direction corresponding to the counterclockwise direction, so that the rollers of the second chain are applied against the other side of the teeth of the other corresponding first wheel.

On obtient ainsi un mouvement de suivi et un positionnement précis sans heurt de la table accompagnatrice tout en évitant des secousses par battements d'engrenages. En outre, le déplacement de la table accompagnatrice s'effectue sans bruits notables.This provides a smooth tracking and positioning of the companion table while avoiding jarring by gear beats. In addition, the moving of the accompanying table is done without significant noise.

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de l'invention ressortiront de la description suivante de deux modes de réalisation.Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description of two embodiments.

Cette description est faite en référence aux dessins annexés, sur lesquels:

  • la figure 1 est une vue latérale schématique en élévation d'un premier mode de réalisation de l'accompagnateur de tôle et notamment de son mécanisme de pivotement,
  • la figure 2 est une vue schématique en perspective d'un deuxième mode de réalisation du mécanisme de pivotement de l'accompagnateur de tôle,
  • la figure 3 est une vue schématique en plan du deuxième mode de réalisation,
  • la figure 4 montre une vue en plan d'un détail de la partie arrière du deuxième mode de réalisation selon la figure 3,
  • la figure 5 montre schématiquement, et de façon plus détaillée, les moyens de tension et de répulsion associés à l'une des premières roues dentées,
  • la figure 6 montre une vue détaillée en plan du deuxième mode de réalisation du mécanisme de pivotement,
  • la figure 7 est une vue schématique en plan d'une table accompagnatrice dans laquelle l'accompagnateur de tôle est muni d'un support d'extension amovible,
  • la figure 8 est une vue en perspective du support d'extension selon la figure 7, et
  • la figure 9 est une vue schématique latérale en élévation d'une coupe de la table accompagnatrice selon la ligne IX-IX de la figure 7.
This description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a first embodiment of the sheet metal follower and in particular of its pivoting mechanism,
  • FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a second embodiment of the pivoting mechanism of the sheet metal follower,
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the second embodiment,
  • FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a detail of the rear part of the second embodiment according to FIG. 3,
  • FIG. 5 shows schematically, and in more detail, the tension and repulsion means associated with one of the first gear wheels,
  • FIG. 6 shows a detailed plan view of the second embodiment of the pivoting mechanism,
  • FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic plan view of an accompanying table in which the sheet attendant is provided with a removable extension support,
  • FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the extension support according to FIG. 7, and
  • Figure 9 is a schematic side elevational view of a section of the accompanying table along the line IX-IX of Figure 7.

Comme on peut le voir plus particulièrement sur la figure 1, l'accompagnateur de tôle comprenant une table accompagnatrice 1 d'une tôle à plier 2 est associé à une presse plieuse connue 3 du type comprenant un bâti en col de cygne non représenté, une table inférieure fixe 4 portant une matrice horizontale de section transversale triangulaire 5, et une table supérieure 6 mobile verticalement et portant un poinçon de pliage 7 poussant une partie de la tôle 2 dans la matrice 5.As can be seen more particularly in FIG. 1, the sheet metal attendant comprising a companion table 1 of a bending sheet 2 is associated with a known press brake 3 of the type comprising a gooseneck frame, not shown, a fixed lower table 4 carrying a horizontal matrix of triangular cross-section 5, and a vertically movable upper table 6 carrying a folding punch 7 pushing a portion of the sheet 2 into the die 5.

L'accompagnateur de tôle comprend une plaque de base 8 dont l'extension est essentiellement verticale et qui est montée sur la face frontale de la table inférieure fixe 4, par exemple à l'aide d'une paire de rails horizontaux 9 prévus sur la face frontale de la table inférieure fixe 4 et le long desquels ladite plaque de base 8 est guidée et mobile horizontalement.The sheet metal follower comprises a base plate 8 whose extension is essentially vertical and which is mounted on the front face of the fixed lower table 4, for example by means of a pair of horizontal rails 9 provided on the front side of the fixed lower table 4 and along which said base plate 8 is guided and movable horizontally.

L'accompagnateur de tôle comprend, en outre, un support 10 coulissant verticalement et guidé sur un, et de préférence deux, rails verticaux 11 prévus sur la plaque de base 8 pénétrant dans les rainures correspondantes 12 dans les rainures de deux guides verticaux latéraux 13 solidaires de la face arrière du support coulissant 10, ainsi qu'un mécanisme d'entraînement vertical 14 pour le support coulissant 10. Ce mécanisme d'entraînement 14 est du type à vis sans fin et à écrou et présente un premier servo-moteur 15 dont le boîtier est solidaire de la plaque de base 8 et entraîne, par l'intermédiaire par exemple de deux pignons 16, 17, la vis sans fin verticale 18 du mécanisme d'entraînement 14, cette vis verticale étant maintenue dans des paliers non représentés solidaires de la plaque de base 8 et engrène dans les taraudages d'un écrou 19 solidaire de la face arrière du support coulissant 10. Ainsi, lorsque le premier servo-moteur 15 tourne dans un sens ou dans l'autre, la vis verticale 18 tourne de façon correspondante et l'écrou 19 ainsi que le support coulissant 10 montent ou descendent suivant le sens de rotation de ladite vis sans fin 18.The sheet attendant further comprises a support 10 sliding vertically and guided on one, and preferably two, vertical rails 11 provided on the base plate 8 penetrating the corresponding grooves 12 in the grooves of two lateral vertical guides 13 integral with the rear face of the sliding support 10, and a vertical drive mechanism 14 for the sliding support 10. This drive mechanism 14 is of the worm type and nut and has a first servomotor 15 whose housing is secured to the base plate 8 and drives, for example through two pinions 16, 17, the vertical worm 18 of the drive mechanism 14, this vertical screw being held in unillustrated bearings integral with the base plate 8 and meshes in the threads of a nut 19 secured to the rear face of the sliding support 10. Thus, when the first servomotor 15 rotates in one direction or in the the vertical screw 18 rotates correspondingly and the nut 19 and the sliding support 10 rise or fall in the direction of rotation of said worm 18.

L'accompagnateur de tôle comprend encore un mécanisme de pivotement 20 qui est monté sur le support coulissant 10 et est susceptible de faire basculer ou pivoter la table accompagnatrice 1 proprement dite en synchronisme avec le mouvement vertical du support coulissant 10 de façon telle que le prolongement 21 de la face supérieure d'appui de la table accompagnatrice 1 passe sensiblement par l'arête supérieure frontale 5a de la matrice 5 au cours d'une opération de pliage de la tôle 2.The sheet metal follower further comprises a pivoting mechanism 20 which is mounted on the sliding support 10 and is capable of tilting or pivoting the accompanying table 1 itself in synchronism with the vertical movement of the sliding support 10 so that the extension 21 of the upper support surface of the accompanying table 1 substantially passes through the upper front edge 5a of the die 5 during a folding operation of the sheet 2.

Pour l'intelligence de ce mécanisme de pivotement 20, il sera utile de se reporter à l'ensemble des figures 1 à 6 malgré l'existence de certaines différences entre les premier et deuxième modes de réalisation.For the intelligence of this pivoting mechanism 20, it will be useful to refer to all of Figures 1 to 6 despite the existence of certain differences between the first and second embodiments.

Le mécanisme de pivotement 20 comprend au moins un, de préférence deux, bras de support 22 solidaires de la face frontale de la partie supérieure du support coulissant 10. Lorsqu'il y a deux bras de support 22, chacun d'eux est solidaire de l'un ou l'autre bord vertical du support coulissant 10 et se dirige vers l'avant à partir de la face frontale de celui-ci et perpendiculairement par rapport à ladite face frontale. Un arbre de pivotement 23 est logé dans un palier 24 de chaque bras de support latéral 22 et porte à une de ses extrémités libres une roue dentée 25 clavetée sur ledit arbre 23 et engrenant avec une roue dentée 26 solidaire en rotation de l'arbre de sortie d'un deuxième servo-moteur 27 dont le boîtier est monté sur le support coulissant 10. Un bras de pivotement 28 est claveté par son extrémité arrière sur l'arbre de pivotement 23 et porte, par son autre extrémité ou extrémité avant, un arbre de rotation 29 monté en rotation libre dans un palier de roulement 30 prévu dans ladite extrémité avant dudit arbre de rotation 29.The pivot mechanism 20 comprises at least one, preferably two, support arms 22 secured to the front face of the upper part of the sliding support 10. When there are two support arms 22, each of them is integral with one or the other vertical edge of the sliding support 10 and is directed forwards from the front face thereof and perpendicular to said front face. A pivot shaft 23 is housed in a bearing 24 of each lateral support arm 22 and carries at one of its free ends a toothed wheel 25 keyed on said shaft 23 and meshing with a toothed wheel 26 integral in rotation with the spindle. output of a second servo motor 27 whose housing is mounted on the sliding support 10. A pivoting arm 28 is keyed by its rear end on the pivot shaft 23 and carries, by its other end or front end, a rotation shaft 29 mounted in free rotation in a rolling bearing 30 provided in said front end of said rotation shaft 29.

Entre un bras de support 22 et l'extrémité arrière du bras de pivotement 28 et à proximité dudit bras de support 22, est montée sur l'arbre de pivotement 23 une roue dentée 31 dite première roue dentée, par rapport à laquelle ledit arbre 23 peut tourner librement grâce à un palier par exemple du type roulement à billes 32 interposé entre l'arbre 23 et le moyeu de ladite première roue dentée 31. Comme on peut le voir sur les figures 2, 3 et 6, une autre première roue dentée 31 est prévue sur l'arbre de pivotement 23 entre l'autre bras de support et le bras de pivotement 28.Between a support arm 22 and the rear end of the pivot arm 28 and in the vicinity of said support arm 22, is mounted on the pivot shaft 23 a toothed gear 31, said first gear, with respect to which said shaft 23 can rotate freely thanks to a bearing for example of the ball bearing type 32 interposed between the shaft 23 and the hub of said first gear wheel 31. As can be seen in Figures 2, 3 and 6, another first gear wheel 31 is provided on the pivot shaft 23 between the other support arm and the pivot arm 28.

Selon un premier mode de réalisation (voir la figure 1), la première roue dentée 31 est immobilisée en rotation et de préférence bloquée sur le bras de support voisin 22. Il peut, selon les besoins, comporter un ou deux bras de support 22, une ou deux premières roues dentées 31, une ou deux deuxièmes roues dentées 33 ainsi que les paliers correspondants 24, 30 et 32.According to a first embodiment (see FIG. 1), the first toothed wheel 31 is immobilized in rotation and preferably locked on the neighboring support arm 22. It may, as required, comprise one or two support arms 22, one or two first gear wheels 31, one or two second gear wheels 33 and the corresponding bearings 24, 30 and 32.

Comme déjà indiqué, l'extrémité avant du bras de pivotement 28 comporte un arbre de rotation 29 tournant librement dans un palier du type roulement à billes 30 monté dans un logement approprié de l'extrémité avant dudit bras de pivotement 28. A l'extérieur du bras de pivotement 28, l'arbre de rotation 29 est pourvu d'au moins une deuxième roue dentée 33 clavetée sur ledit arbre 29 dans une position où elle est alignée avec une première roue dentée correspondante 31. Selon un mode préféré de réalisation, l'arbre de rotation 29 est muni d'une deuxième roue dentée de chaque côté du bras de pivotement. Un bras de liaison 34 s'étendant de préférence suivant un plan diamétral de la deuxième roue dentée 33 est fixé par des boulons 35 sur cette dernière et est solidaire de la table accompagnatrice 1.As already indicated, the front end of the pivot arm 28 has a rotation shaft 29 freely rotating in a bearing of the ball bearing type 30 mounted in a suitable housing of the front end of said pivot arm 28. Outside of the pivoting arm 28, the rotation shaft 29 is provided with at least one second gear 33 keyed on said shaft 29 in a position where it is aligned with a corresponding first gear 31. According to a preferred embodiment, the rotation shaft 29 is provided with a second toothed wheel on each side of the pivot arm. A connecting arm 34 extending preferably in a diametral plane of the second gear 33 is fixed by bolts 35 on the latter and is integral with the accompanying table 1.

Selon un premier mode de réalisation, qui s'applique aux tôles ne dépassant pas un poids de l'ordre de 80 kg, la première roue dentée 31 est reliée à la deuxième roue dentée 33 par une courroie crantée 36 dont les dents s'engagent sans jeu dans l'espace entre deux dents successives des première et deuxième roues dentées 31 et 33 alignées l'une sur l'autre (voir figure 1). Lorsqu'il y a deux premières roues dentées 31 et deux deuxièmes roues dentées 33, on prévoit aussi deux courroies crantées 36, une première roue dentée 31 étant alignée avec la deuxième roue dentée correspondante.According to a first embodiment, which applies to sheets not exceeding a weight of the order of 80 kg, the first gear 31 is connected to the second gear 33 by a toothed belt 36 whose teeth engage without play in the space between two successive teeth of the first and second gear wheels 31 and 33 aligned with one another (see Figure 1). When there are two first gears 31 and two second gears 33, there are also two toothed belts 36, a first gear 31 being aligned with the corresponding second gear.

Le mode de fonctionnement est le suivant : lors d'une opération de pliage, le premier servo-moteur 15 entraîne le support coulissant 10 vers le haut jusqu'à un niveau où la face d'appui de la table 1 se trouve à la hauteur de l'arête 5a de la matrice 5, ladite table étant sensiblement horizontale. Dès la mise en marche du deuxième servo-moteur 27, le bras de pivotement 28 va pivoter autour de l'axe de l'arbre 23 dont il est solidaire et déplacer vers le haut l'arbre de rotation 29 et la deuxième roue dentée 33 le long d'un arc de cercle centré sur l'arbre 23. Comme la première roue dentée 31 ne tourne pas, les brins de la courroie crantée 36 ne peuvent se déplacer dans le sens longitudinal. En conséquence, et afin de permettre le pivotement vers le haut du bras 28 et de la deuxième roue dentée 33, celle-ci se déroule à l'intérieur de la courroie crantée 36 et tourne dans le sens contraire des aiguilles d'une montre (voir figure 1, flèche courbe 37). Il s'ensuit que, pendant la montée de la deuxième roue dentée 33, l'extrémité libre de la table 1 bascule légèrement vers le bas (voir figure 1, flèche courbe 38) pendant le mouvement globalement ascendant de la table suivant la flèche courbe 39. C'est grâce à cette disposition qu'on peut corriger l'inclinaison et la position de la face d'appui de la table 1 de sorte que le prolongement 21 de cette face d'appui passe toujours sensiblement par l'arête 5a de la matrice 5 lors d'une opération de pliage d'une tôle 2.The operating mode is as follows: during a folding operation, the first servo motor 15 drives the sliding support 10 upwards to a level where the support face of the table 1 is at the height of the edge 5a of the die 5, said table being substantially horizontal. As soon as the second servo motor 27 is started, the pivoting arm 28 will pivot about the axis of the shaft 23 which it is secured to and move upwardly the rotation shaft 29 and the second gearwheel 33 along a circular arc centered on the shaft 23. As the first gear 31 does not rotate, the strands of the toothed belt 36 can not move in the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, and in order to allow upward pivoting of the arm 28 and the second gear 33, the latter proceeds within the toothed belt 36 and rotates counterclockwise ( see Figure 1, Curved Arrow 37). It follows that, during the rise of the second gear 33, the free end of the table 1 tilts slightly downwards (see FIG. 1, curved arrow 38) during the overall upward movement of the table along the curved arrow. 39. It is thanks to this arrangement that the inclination and the position of the bearing face of the table 1 can be corrected so that the extension 21 of this bearing face always passes substantially through the ridge 5a. of the matrix 5 during a folding operation of a sheet 2.

Lorsque le poids des tôles à soutenir par la table accompagnatrice 1 est supérieur à une valeur de l'ordre de 80 kg, il est préférable d'utiliser au moins une et, de préférence, deux chaînes à rouleaux ou à douilles ou de tout autre type approprié 40 en combinaison avec des moyens de tension et d'amortissement 41 qui appliquent ou repoussent chaque rouleau, douille ou similaire transversal 42 de la chaîne 40 contre le flanc 31a d'une dent correspondante 31b de la première roue dentée 31, de sorte que le brin supérieur 43 de la chaîne 40, 40a soit toujours tendu et ses rouleaux transversaux 42 appliqués contre les flancs 31a des dents 31b correspondantes lorsque lesdits rouleaux 42 sont logés dans les espaces délimités par les flancs de deux dents voisines 31b.When the weight of the sheets to be supported by the accompanying table 1 is greater than a value of the order of 80 kg, it is preferable to use at least one and, preferably, two roller or bushing chains or any other suitable type 40 in combination with tensioning and damping means 41 which apply or repel each roller, bushing or the like transverse 42 of the chain 40 against the flank 31a of a corresponding tooth 31b of the first gear 31, so that the upper strand 43 of the chain 40, 40a is always stretched and its transverse rollers 42 applied against the flanks 31a of corresponding teeth 31b when said rollers 42 are housed in the spaces delimited by the flanks of two adjacent teeth 31b.

Etant donné que la table accompagnatrice 1 doit pouvoir pivoter non seulement vers le haut, mais aussi vers le bas, les moyens de tension et de répulsion 41 associés à une première chaîne 40a sont agencés de telle façon que le brin supérieur 43 de ladite première chaîne 40a soit tendu dans le sens de la flèche 44 en direction du support coulissant 10 et que les moyens de tension et de répulsion 41 associés à la deuxième chaîne 40b qui est parallèle à la première (40a) sont agencés de telle sorte que le brin inférieur 45 de la deuxième chaîne 40b soit tendu dans le sens de la flèche 45 en direction du support coulissant 10. Dans ce dernier cas, les rouleaux 42 du brin inférieur 45 de la deuxième chaîne 40b sont appliqués contre l'autre flanc 31c de chacune des dents 31b de la roue dentée 31 en prise avec la deuxième chaîne 40b.Since the accompanying table 1 must be able to pivot not only upwards but also downwards, the tension and repulsion means 41 associated with a first chain 40a are arranged in such a way that the upper strand 43 of said first chain 40a be stretched in the direction of the arrow 44 towards the sliding support 10 and that the tension and repulsion means 41 associated with the second chain 40b which is parallel to the first (40a) are arranged such that the lower strand 45 of the second chain 40b is stretched in the direction of the arrow 45 in the direction of the sliding support 10. In the latter case, the rollers 42 of the lower strand 45 of the second chain 40b are applied against the other side 31c of each of the teeth 31b the gear wheel 31 engaged with the second chain 40b.

Les moyens de tension et de répulsion 41 comprennent, pour chaque première roue dentée immobilisée 31, au moins un évidement oblong 47 s'étendant dans le sens circonférentiel et présentant en section une forme par exemple rectangulaire, annulaire, etc., de préférence plusieurs évidements 47a, 47b, 47c, 47d ménagés dans le corps de chaque première roue dentée 31 et uniformément répartis autour du passage cylindrique pour l'arbre de pivotement 23, un bâtonnet d'appui 48 fixé dans un logement transversal 49 d'un bras de support 22 et s'étendant transversalement et parallèlement à l'arbre de pivotement 23 de façon à pénétrer par son extrémité libre dans l'un des évidements oblongs 47a à 47d de la première roue dentée 31 ainsi qu'un ressort de compression 50 disposé dans l'évidement oblong correspondant (par exemple 47a) et interposé entre une face d'extrémité de l'évidement (par exemple 47a) et le bâtonnet 48 de façon à prendre appui, d'une part, sur une face d'extrémité de cet évidement et, d'autre part, sur l'extrémité libre du bâtonnet 48 logée dans ledit évidement oblong, ledit bâtonnet s'appuyant par sa face latérale sur l'autre extrémité dudit évidement sous l'action du ressort de compression 50.The tensioning and repulsive means 41 comprise, for each immobilized first gear 31, at least one oblong recess 47 extending in the circumferential direction and having in section a shape, for example rectangular, annular, etc., preferably several recesses. 47a, 47b, 47c, 47d formed in the body of each first gear 31 and uniformly distributed around the cylindrical passage for the pivot shaft 23, a support rod 48 fixed in a transverse housing 49 of a support arm 22 and extending transversely and parallel to the pivot shaft 23 so as to enter through its free end into one of the oblong recesses 47a to 47d of the first gear 31 and a compression spring 50 disposed in the correspondingly oblong recess (for example 47a) and interposed between an end face of the recess (for example 47a) and the rod 48 so as to bear, on the one hand, on r an end face of this recess and, secondly, on the free end of the rod 48 housed in said oblong recess, said rod bearing by its side face on the other end of said recess under the action compression spring 50.

On notera que, suivant l'emplacement du ressort de compression 50 par rapport au bâtonnet d'appui 48, la première roue dentée 31 est sollicitée, soit dans le sens des aiguilles d'une montre, soit dans le sens contraire (voir figure 2).It will be noted that, depending on the location of the compression spring 50 with respect to the support rod 48, the first toothed wheel 31 is biased, either clockwise or counterclockwise (see FIG. ).

Sur la figure 5, on voit clairement la disposition mutuelle des bâtonnets 48 et des ressorts de compression 50 montés dans les évidements 47a à 47d de la première roue dentée 31 destinée à soumettre le brin supérieur 43 de la chaîne 40, 40a à une force de tension ou de traction dirigée suivant la flèche 44 vers le support coulissant 10 ou, autrement dit, dans le sens des aiguilles d'une montre (voir flèche 51).In FIG. 5, the mutual arrangement of the rods 48 and the compression springs 50 mounted in the recesses 47a to 47d of the first gear 31 intended to subject the upper strand 43 of the chain 40, 40a to a force tension or traction directed along the arrow 44 to the sliding support 10 or, in other words, in the direction of clockwise (see arrow 51).

Dans ce cas, chacun des évidements 47a à 47d reçoit un ressort de compression 50 qui, pris dans le sens de la flèche 51, s'appuie, d'une part, sur l'extrémité avant de l'évidement correspondant (47a à 47d) et, d'autre part, sur la face latérale avant d'un bâtonnet correspondant 48 sollicitant ainsi l'extrémité arrière de l'évidement contre la face latérale arrière du bâtonnet en question.In this case, each of the recesses 47a to 47d receives a compression spring 50 which, taken in the direction of the arrow 51, is supported, on the one hand, on the front end of the corresponding recess (47a to 47d). ) and, on the other hand, on the front side face of a corresponding rod 48 thus urging the rear end of the recess against the rear side face of the stick in question.

Lorsque la disposition mutuelle du ressort 50 et du bâtonnet 48 est inversée dans chaque évidement 47 ou 47a à 47d, le ressort 50 sollicite la première roue dentée 31 dans le sens contraire des aiguilles d'une montre (voir flèche 52, figure 2) de sorte que le bras inférieur 45 de la chaîne 40, 40b est sollicité dans le même sens (voir flèche 46) et en direction du support coulissant 10. Ainsi est évité tout mouvement saccadé de la table 1, aussi bien dans le sens ascendant que descendant de celle-ci. Il est également possible de ménager les évidements 47, 47a à 47d dans chaque bras de support 22, de fixer les bâtonnets 48 sur chacune des premières roues dentées 31 et de loger l'extrémité libre des bâtonnets 48 et les ressorts de compression 50 dans les évidements 47, 47a à 47d de chaque bras de support 22.When the mutual arrangement of the spring 50 and the rod 48 is reversed in each recess 47 or 47a to 47d, the spring 50 biases the first gear 31 counterclockwise (see arrow 52, FIG. so that the lower arm 45 of the chain 40, 40b is biased in the same direction (see arrow 46) and in the direction of the sliding support 10. This is avoided any jerky movement of the table 1, both in the ascending and descending direction of it. It is also possible to arrange the recesses 47, 47a to 47d in each support arm 22, to fix the rods 48 on each of the first toothed wheels 31 and to accommodate the free end of the rods 48 and the compression springs 50 in the recesses 47, 47a to 47d of each support arm 22.

L'accompagnateur de tôle présente d'une façon générale une largeur relativement faible par rapport à la largeur de la presse plieuse 3. De ce fait, il faut deux ou même plus accompagnateurs supplémentaires de tôle lorsque l'on doit plier une tôle d'une largeur importante afin d'éviter son fléchissement ou bombage latéral sous l'effet du poids des parties de tôle non soutenues.The sheet metal follower generally has a relatively small width relative to the width of the press brake 3. As a result, two or even more additional sheet metal guides are required when a metal plate has to be folded. a large width to prevent bending or side bending under the effect of the weight of the unsupported sheet metal parts.

La présente invention propose une solution simple permettant de supprimer les accompagnateurs supplémentaires et de les remplacer par un support d'extension monté de façon amovible sur l'extrémité supérieure de la table accompagnatrice 1.The present invention provides a simple solution to remove additional companions and replace them with an extension support removably mounted on the upper end of the accompanying table 1.

Comme on peut le voir plus particulièrement sur les figures 7 et 9, la table 1 comporte un évidement transversal 55 muni d'une plaque de fixation intermédiaire 56 et, le cas échéant, d'une mâchoire fixe 57 et de deux mâchoires latérales 58 coulissant sur le fond 59 de l'évidement 55 au besoin sous l'action de vérins de commande 60. La face arrière de l'évidement 55 est délimitée par un bloc de butée 61 qui peut servir de mâchoire fixe lorsque les deux mâchoires mobiles 58 sont sollicitées vers l'arrière de ladite table 1.As can be seen more particularly in Figures 7 and 9, the table 1 has a transverse recess 55 provided with an intermediate fixing plate 56 and, if necessary, a fixed jaw 57 and two lateral jaws 58 sliding on the bottom 59 of the recess 55 if necessary under the action of control cylinders 60. The rear face of the recess 55 is delimited by a stop block 61 which can serve as a fixed jaw when the two movable jaws 58 are biased toward the rear of said table 1.

Le support d'extension 62 présente la forme générale d'un H et se compose d'une barre transversale 63 parallèle à la face frontale 64 de la presse plieuse 3 et deux barres latérales 65 perpendiculaires à ladite face frontale 64. La longueur transversale du support d'extension 62 est, comme on peut le voir sur la figure 7, suffisante pour soutenir les extrémités latérales de la tôle 2 et en tout cas légèrement inférieure à la largeur utile de la presse plieuse 3.The extension support 62 has the general shape of an H and consists of a transverse bar 63 parallel to the front face 64 of the press brake 3 and two lateral bars 65 perpendicular to said end face 64. The transverse length of the extension support 62 is, as can be seen in Figure 7, sufficient to support the lateral ends of the sheet 2 and in any case slightly less than the useful width of the press brake 3.

La barre transversale 63 du support d'extension 62 présente, à son centre, un trou cylindrique 66 pour le passage d'un boulon de fixation 67 dont la partie filetée traverse un alésage oblong non représenté de la plaque intermédiaire 56 et se visse dans un écrou non représenté se bloquant contre la face inférieure de ladite plaque 56. Le trou oblong possède une extension principale perpendiculaire à la face frontale 64 de la presse plieuse 3. Ceci permet d'adapter la position des barres transversales 63 ayant des largeurs différentes. En plus de sa fixation sur la plaque intermédiaire 56 à l'aide du boulon 67, la barre transversale 63 du support d'extension 62 peut, le cas échéant, être enserrée entre la mâchoire fixe 57 et les mâchoires mobiles 58.The transverse bar 63 of the extension support 62 has, at its center, a cylindrical hole 66 for the passage of a fixing bolt 67, the threaded part of which passes through a not shown elongated bore of the intermediate plate 56 and is screwed into a nut not shown locking against the underside of said plate 56. The oblong hole has a main extension perpendicular to the front face 64 of the press brake 3. This allows to adjust the position of the transverse bars 63 having different widths. In addition to its attachment to the intermediate plate 56 by means of the bolt 67, the transverse bar 63 of the extension support 62 may, if necessary, be clamped between the fixed jaw 57 and the movable jaws 58.

Pour faciliter l'avancement de la tôle 2, la face supérieure du support d'extension 62, c'est-à-dire les faces supérieures de la barre transversale 63 et des barres latérales 64, ainsi que celle de la mâchoire fixe 57 et celle du bloc de butée 61, sont munies de roulements à billes 69 servant à supporter la tôle à plier 2.To facilitate the advancement of the sheet 2, the upper face of the extension support 62, that is to say the upper faces of the transverse bar 63 and the lateral bars 64, as well as that of the fixed jaw 57 and that of the stop block 61, are provided with ball bearings 69 for supporting the bending sheet 2.

L'objet de la présente invention peut subir un certain nombre de modifications à la portée de l'homme du métier sans que l'on ne sorte pour cela du cadre de protection défini par les revendications annexées. Il est notamment à remarquer que les dessins n'ont qu'un caractère schématique et ne montrent pas les dimensions exactes de différents éléments constitutifs de l'accompagnateur de tôle.The object of the present invention may undergo a number of modifications within the scope of those skilled in the art without going beyond the scope of protection defined by the appended claims. It is particularly noteworthy that the drawings are only schematic and do not show the exact dimensions of different components of the sheet attendant.

Claims (12)

  1. A sheet metal follower associated with a press (3) for bending a metal sheet, the follower being of the type comprising a gap frame, a stationary bottom table (4) carrying a horizontal matrix of triangular section (5) and a vertically moving top table (6) carrying a bending punch (7), the sheet metal follower comprising:
    - a vertical base plate (8) guided horizontally along the bottom table of the bending press;
    - a sliding support (10) mounted to slide on at least one vertical rail (11) of the base plate;
    - a vertical drive mechanism (14) comprising a wormscrew and a nut, the vertical nut (18) co-operating with a first servo-motor (15) and meshing with tapping of the nut fixed to the sliding support;
    - a follower table (1) hinged so as to be capable of tilting about a horizontal shaft; and
    - a pivot mechanism (20) mounted on the sliding support (10) and capable of causing the follower table to tilt synchronously with the vertical movement of the sliding support so that the plane in which the top face of said follower table lies contains the front top edge (5a) of the matrix (5), said mechanism presenting:
    - a pivot shaft (23) pivoted by means of a second servo-motor (27) and gearing (25, 26) mounted on the sliding support;
    - a pivot arm (28) having one end keyed to the pivot shaft (23) and having its other end carrying a rotary shaft (29) mounted to rotate freely;
    - at least one first toothed wheel (31) mounted on the pivot shaft (23) in such a manner as to be capable of remaining stationary while said shaft pivots;
    - at least one second toothed wheel (33) secured to the rotary shaft (29) and co-operating with said first toothed wheel; and
    - at least one connection arm (34) secured to the second toothed wheel (33) and to the follower table (1);

    the first toothed wheel (31) prevented from rotating being connected to the second toothed wheel (33) by a cog belt (36) snugly engaging the teeth of the first and second toothed wheels (31, 33), the second toothed wheel (33) turning by pivoting inside the cog belt (36) under the action of the pivot arm (28) moving the rotary shaft (29) and the second toothed wheel (33) along a circular arc, the pivoting movement of the second toothed wheel (33) secured to the follower table (1) causing said table to pivot about the rotary shaft (29), and the upward and downward movements of the follower table (1) being synchronized with the pivoting movements thereof such that the plane (21) in which the top support surface of said table (1) lies always contains the front edge (5a) of the matrix (5) of the bending press.
  2. A sheet metal follower according to claim 1, characterised in that the pivot shaft (23) is supported in two bearings (24) each mounted in a lateral support arm (22) secured to the top portion of one or other of the vertical edges of the sliding support (10) and directed towards the follower table (1), that the pivot shaft (23) carries on either side of the pivot arm (28) a first toothed wheel (31) mounted to rotate freely relative to the pivot shaft (23), that on either side of the front end of the pivot arm (28) situated adjacent to the follower table (1), the rotary shaft (29) is secured to a second toothed wheel (33) coplanar with the corresponding first toothed wheel (31), that each second toothed wheel (33) is fixed on a radial connection arm (34) provided at the rear end of the follower table (1), and that a cog belt (36) interconnects one of the first toothed wheels (31) and the second toothed wheel (33) that is coplanar with said one of the first toothed wheels (31).
  3. A sheet metal follower associated with a press (3) for bending a metal sheet, the follower being of the type comprising a gap frame, a stationary bottom table (4) carrying a horizontal matrix of triangular section (5) and a vertically moving top table (6) carrying a bending punch (7), the sheet metal follower comprising:
    - a vertical base plate (8) guided horizontally along the bottom table of the bending press;
    - a sliding support (10) mounted to slide on at least one vertical rail (11) of the base plate;
    - a vertical drive mechanism (14) comprising a wormscrew and a nut, the vertical nut (18) co-operating with a first servo-motor (15) and meshing with tapping of the nut fixed to the sliding support;
    - a follower table (1) hinged so as to be capable of tilting about a horizontal shaft; and
    - a pivot mechanism (20) mounted on the sliding support (10) and capable of causing the follower table to tilt synchronously with the vertical movement of the sliding support so that the plane in which the top face of said follower table lies contains the front top edge (5a) of the matrix (5), said mechanism presenting:
    - a pivot shaft (23) pivoted by means of a second servo-motor (27) and gearing (25, 26) mounted on the sliding support;
    - a pivot arm (28) having one end keyed to the pivot shaft (23) and having its other end carrying a rotary shaft (29) mounted to rotate freely;
    - at least one first toothed wheel (31) mounted on the pivot shaft (23) in such a manner as to be capable of remaining stationary while said shaft pivots;
    - at least one second toothed wheel (33) secured to the rotary shaft (29) and co-operating with said first toothed wheel; and
    - at least one connection arm (34) secured to the second toothed wheel (33) and to the follower table (1);

    the pivot shaft (23) being supported in two bearings (24) each mounted in a lateral support arm (22) secured to the top portion of one or other of the vertical edges of the vertically sliding support (10) and directed towards the follower table (1), the pivot shaft (23) carrying on either side of the pivot arm (28) a first toothed wheel (31) mounted to rotate freely relative to the pivot shaft (23), on either side of the front end of the pivot arm (28) situated adjacent to the follower table (1), the rotary shaft (29) being secured to a second toothed wheel (33) coplanar with the corresponding first toothed wheel (31), each second toothed wheel (33) being fixed on a radial connection arm (34) provided at the rear end of the follower table (1), roller chains or the like (40, 40a, 40b) passing around coplanar first and second toothed wheels (31, 33), and each first toothed wheel (31) being associated with tensioning and repulsion means (41), where those associated with the first toothed wheel (31) co-operating with the first chain (40, 40a) acting on the top strand (43) of said chain in a first direction corresponding to the clockwise direction such that the rollers (42) of the first chain bear against the rear flanks (31a) of the teeth (31b) of the corresponding first toothed wheel (31), and where those means associated with the other first toothed wheel (31) co-operating with the second chain (40, 40b) acting on the bottom strand (45) thereof in a direction corresponding to the counterclockwise direction so that the rollers (42) of the second chain (40, 40b) are pressed against the other flanks (31c) of the teeth (31b) of the first wheel (31).
  4. A sheet metal follower according to claim 3, characterised in that the tensioning and repulsion means (41) comprise at least one oblong slot (47) formed in the body of each first toothed wheel (31), at least one bearing peg (48) fixed in a transverse housing (49) of a support arm (22) and having its free end penetrating in said slot (47), and a compression spring (50) interposed in said slot (47) between an end face thereof and the peg (48).
  5. A sheet metal follower according to claim 3, characterised in that the tensioning and repulsion means (41) comprise at least one oblong slot (47) formed in each support arm (22), at least one bearing peg (48) fixed on each first toothed wheel (31) and having its free end penetrating in said slot (47), and at least one compression spring (50) interposed in said slot between an end face thereof and the peg (48).
  6. A sheet metal follower according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the tensioning and repulsion means comprise a plurality of slots (47a to 47d) formed in each of the first toothed wheels (31) or in each of the support arms (22), a corresponding plurality of bearing pegs (48) fixed in corresponding housings (49) of each of the support arms (22) or each of the first toothed wheels (31) and having their free ends penetrating into corresponding slots (47a to 47d), and a plurality of compression springs (50) each interposed in a corresponding slot (47a to 47d) between an end face thereof and a peg (48).
  7. A sheet metal follower according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the slots (47a to 47d) and the transverse housings (49) are uniformly distributed around the pivot shaft (23).
  8. A sheet metal follower according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the follower table (1) is associated with an extender support (62) removably mounted on its top end.
  9. A sheet metal follower according to claim 8, characterised in that the extender support (62) is generally H-shaped.
  10. A sheet metal follower according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the extender support comprises a crossbar (63) parallel to the front face (64) of the bending press (3) and two side bars (65) perpendicular to said front face (64), and that the follower table (1) has a transverse recess (55) provided with an intermediate fixing plate (56) on which the crossbar (63) of the extender support (62) is mounted by means of a fixing bolt (67) which passes through a hole (66) in the crossbar (63), and in the oblong slot of the intermediate plate (56) and is screwed into a nut that presses against the bottom face of said plate (56).
  11. A sheet metal follower according to claim 10, characterised in that the transverse recess (55) also includes a fixed jaw (57), two moving jaws (58) sliding on the bottom (59) of the recess (55) and a rear abutment block (61), and in addition to fixing on the intermediate plate (56), the crossbar (63) of the extender support (62) is clamped between the fixed jaw (57) and the moving jaws (58).
  12. A sheet metal follower according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterised in that the top face of the extender support (62) is provided with a ball bearing (69) serving to support the metal sheet to be bent.
EP01403370A 2001-01-08 2001-12-27 Workpiece-supporting device for a bending machine Expired - Lifetime EP1221348B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0100164A FR2819202B1 (en) 2001-01-08 2001-01-08 ACCOMPANIOR OF SHEET ASSOCIATED WITH A FOLDING PRESS OF A SHEET
FR0100164 2001-01-08

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1221348A1 EP1221348A1 (en) 2002-07-10
EP1221348B1 true EP1221348B1 (en) 2006-03-01

Family

ID=8858576

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01403370A Expired - Lifetime EP1221348B1 (en) 2001-01-08 2001-12-27 Workpiece-supporting device for a bending machine

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US20030097868A1 (en)
EP (1) EP1221348B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2002248521A (en)
DE (1) DE60117510T2 (en)
FR (1) FR2819202B1 (en)

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JP6148883B2 (en) * 2013-03-14 2017-06-14 株式会社アマダホールディングス Press brake
KR101473733B1 (en) 2013-11-08 2014-12-18 국방과학연구소 Apparatus for bending a top foil
EP3056290A1 (en) * 2015-02-12 2016-08-17 Bogdan Kondracki A device for automating the process of bending workpieces of a metal sheet for a bending press
CN106077334B (en) * 2016-06-16 2018-03-02 安徽省恒胜机电工程股份有限公司 A kind of door of elevator automatic bending device
CN107952838B (en) * 2017-11-17 2023-10-17 昆山万马五金有限公司 Displacement bending device is prevented in metalworking
CN108465717A (en) * 2018-05-15 2018-08-31 潘江匹 A kind of full-automatic metal plate bender
CN109158454A (en) * 2018-11-03 2019-01-08 南京金球数控机床股份有限公司 A kind of high intensity high stability bending machine
EP3738688B1 (en) * 2019-05-15 2022-07-06 Nivora IP B.V. Device for supporting a metal sheet during bending in a press brake
CN110077446B (en) * 2019-05-20 2024-03-29 中国科学技术大学 Mobilizable intelligent fire control indicating device
JP7332366B2 (en) * 2019-07-09 2023-08-23 コマツ産機株式会社 Tracking device for bending machines
JP7365921B2 (en) 2020-01-28 2023-10-20 コマツ産機株式会社 Follower for bending machines
JP7365920B2 (en) 2020-01-28 2023-10-20 コマツ産機株式会社 Follower for bending machines
CN111421023B (en) * 2020-03-16 2021-07-09 南京邮电大学 Two-degree-of-freedom metal plate bending follow-up supporting device and kinematics inverse solution method thereof
CN111421024B (en) * 2020-03-16 2021-08-10 南京邮电大学 Follow-up material supporting device based on composite drive and inverse kinematics solution method thereof
CN113263485A (en) * 2021-06-15 2021-08-17 南京巴兰登家具有限公司 Plank processing positioning and clamping device
CN117483495B (en) * 2023-12-29 2024-04-19 苏州兴齐钢结构工程有限公司 Steel bending device

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JPS59113932A (en) * 1982-12-20 1984-06-30 Mitsubishi Electric Corp Material supporting device of press brake
JPS59141323A (en) * 1983-01-31 1984-08-14 Mitsubishi Electric Corp Material supporting device for press brake
JPS59147716A (en) * 1983-02-15 1984-08-24 Mitsubishi Electric Corp Material supporting device of press brake
DE4126906A1 (en) * 1991-08-14 1993-02-18 Walter Kaercher BENDING PRESS WITH A SUPPORT DEVICE FOR THE WORKPIECE TO BE MACHINED
FR2683470B1 (en) * 1991-11-13 1994-07-08 Capelle Michel SHEET ACCOMPANIOR FOR PRESS BRAKE.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20030097868A1 (en) 2003-05-29
FR2819202A1 (en) 2002-07-12
FR2819202B1 (en) 2003-04-18
DE60117510D1 (en) 2006-04-27
EP1221348A1 (en) 2002-07-10
JP2002248521A (en) 2002-09-03
DE60117510T2 (en) 2006-11-09

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