EP1700647B1 - Bending apparatus for tubular and rod-like workpieces and wiper die - Google Patents

Abstract

A tube bending assembly has a sliding bend-head (2) with a mandrel (7) and is free to rotate on an axis (53) parallel to that of the mandrel axis of rotation (M). The mandrel sliding grips (54) are applied to the mandrel bending groove by adjustment of the axle (53). The groove (56) is tangential to the mandrel bending groove (8).

Description

The invention relates to a bending device for rod and tubular workpieces, as indicated in the preamble of claim 1, and to a Faltenglätteranordnung according to the preamble of claim 16. Such a device and such a Faltenglätteranordnung are from the US 4,380,920-A - known.

Wrinkle smoothers are needed in the automated bending of pipes with small wall thicknesses and at the same time small bending radii, wherein they are upstream of the mandrel, seen in the feed direction of the tube. If the tube on the one hand clamped between the tensioning device and the mandrel and also taken up between the two sliding jaws of the Faltenglätters, so there is no possibility during the bending process for the tube to dodge uncontrollably on the inside radius. This makes it possible to bend even thin-walled tubes with a small bending radius. Therefore, wrinkles are used in pipe bending to improve the bending result. However, the use of Faltenglättern in such bending machines in which the bending head is stationary, problematic. Because in order to produce both left and right bends with such machines, the tube must be able to be applied on opposite sides of the central axis of the bending mandrel. Requires now the bending process, however, a wrinkle straightener in both bending directions, so there is in these known machines, the problem that the wrinkle smoother, since it is firmly attached to the machine body, manually changed over when changing the bending direction and must be realigned. This means that always an operator must be present at the bending machine, which is why it was attempted to limit the use of a Faltenglätters in only one bending direction. However, such limitations are almost always a major drawback for users of bending machines.

A machine with such a folder smoother is out of the DE 696 24 723 T2 known, there for operation, the sliding jaws of the Faltenglätters via attached on its outer circumference locking elements, which are mounted spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, connected to each other and clamped against each other.

When in the US 5,222,552 described arrangement is a Faltenglätter with only one, only on the side of the mandrel unilaterally applied to the workpiece sliding jaws provided, which is also firmly attached to the machine frame, but laterally folded from the workpiece or can be folded onto this.

Also, the wrinkle smoother from the DE 201 18 444 U1 is firmly attached to the machine frame.

In the market, a tube bending apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1 is recently known, which is set up both for a right bending, as well as for left bending of the workpiece to a bending mandrel and thereby uses a Faltenglätter that can be used in both bending directions. The wrinkle smoother has two sliding jaws, one of which is movable towards the other. A sliding jaw, which sits on the side of the bending tool - seen relative to the workpiece - is mounted on a holder which, although concentric with the bending mandrel rotatable, but not movably attached to this at the bending head.

A particular problem with all of the wrinkles discussed is that, if the wrinkle smoother or its forming groove is not precisely aligned, risk of erupting edges may occur, with precise alignment of the wrinkle smoother also being particularly important in terms of its overall effectiveness. The work to be carried out for this purpose, which must always be made especially when converting a Faltenglätters again, must be carried out very accurately and are time consuming.

The invention now seeks to provide an improved bending device with a Faltenglätter of the aforementioned type which, while largely avoiding the disadvantages known from the prior art, a very accurate adjustment of the mold groove of the sliding jaw of the Faltenglätters on the side of the mandrel both in terms of Workpiece, as well as with respect to its entry into the forming groove of the mandrel particularly simple and quick and allows an automatic adjustment of the alignment to the workpiece during operation and even when changing the bending device, and also one for use in such a two Biegerungen convertible bender proposed to suggest fold smoothing arrangement.

According to the invention for this purpose, a bending device for rod and tubular workpieces according to claim 1, and a Faltenglätteranordnung proposed in accordance with claim 16.

The bending device according to the invention makes it possible to use the designed at her Faltenglätter construction both for left-hand bending, as well as for right-bending, without the need for a conversion must take place. When changing the bending direction and the individual elements that form the Faltenglätter, together with the other elements of the device that must be changed in the change of bending direction, be changed together and automatically, which can be done programmatically even without the presence of an operator, so that just this great disadvantage in known bending machines, in which when changing the bending direction an operator due to the conversion of the Faltenglätters had to be present, completely eliminated.

Characterized in that the sliding jaw of the Faltenglätters, which is located on the side of the bending mandrel (relative to the transport direction of the workpiece), freely rotatably seated on its support axis, so that the Faltenglättereinheit a kind of "floating storage" causes the Faltenglätter the exact alignment position both relatively when applying against the workpiece, as well as when starting and applying to the mandrel independently and automatically, wherein At the same time, the correct alignment is always readjusted or maintained relative to the workpiece and the bending moment, even during operation, so that wear always occurs. Preferably, the respective sliding jaws of the Faltenglätters sitting on its support axis not only freely rotatable, but also freely in the axial direction movable (at least over a certain displacement distance), so that when applying against the bending groove of the bending mandrel as well as laterally against the workpiece an alignment movement perform not only in the direction of rotation about its support axis, but also axially along the support axis and thus an automatic, optimal application can be made to the bending groove of the bending mandrel. This can preferably also be improved by the fact that the diameter of the support axis is slightly smaller than the Aufsteckbohrung of the sliding block, so that the sliding block can also take an at least small tilting position relative to the support axis.

But even in the event that only a free rotatability is given to the support axis, without axially along the same is a free displacement or even a certain tilting position can be taken relative to her, even in this case still finds a very good setting the plant both laterally against the workpiece, as well as against the bending groove of the bending mandrel (in the inlet region of the workpiece in this) instead.

Characterized in that in the bending device according to the invention, the support axis of the sliding jaw of the Faltenglätters on the side of the bending mandrel linearly to the bending dome and away from it and in a plane perpendicular to the bending axis (namely parallel to the transport direction of the workpiece) is movable, the end portion of the forming groove this sliding jaw, which faces the bending mandrel, are moved exactly as close to the bending mandrel, until the mold groove of the sliding jaw tangentially enters into its end region relative to the bending groove of the bending mandrel and thereby can be applied to the bending groove of the bending mandrel. Accordingly, this end portion of said sliding jaw is formed with its mold groove so that it can be accurately inserted when creating the bending groove of the mandrel and thereby adapted to the shape, whereby during operation of the device, a high accuracy in aligning the workpiece to be bent in its Enema is ensured in the bending groove of the bending mandrel. In addition, the wear on the tip of this sliding jaw of the Faltenglätters is kept very low. If, in an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the respective sliding jaws of the Faltenglätters in the direction of the bending mandrel continuously under a certain bias sets that can be applied mechanically (for example by a biasing spring) or hydraulically or in another suitable manner, also be ensured that even with a certain grinding of the intermeshing parts of the sliding jaw and the mandrel during operation of the bending device in each case immediately and automatically a corresponding adjustment to always accurate fit conditioning of these parts into each other.

Due to the movability of the two sliding jaws of the Faltenglätters towards each other or away from each other in the bending device according to the invention also a precise lateral contact this sliding jaws on both sides of the workpiece to be treated and thereby, if desired, a desired pressure on both sides always automatically, again on mechanical , hydraulic or even pneumatic way, be ensured without it being necessary, as in some known bending machines to attract the opposite sliding jaws of the Faltenglätters about by attached to the outer circumference locking element against each other and fix, or - as in other known cases - the to have to lock individual sliding jaws in their engaged position on the machine.

Due to the structure of the bending devices according to the invention is there in cooperation of the "floating" storage of the sliding jaw of the Faltenglätters on the side of the bending mandrel with its mobility to the bending moment out a quick and automatically upright preserved, as well as optimal adaptation of this sliding jaw with its shape groove at investment reaches the workpiece and in the lead-in area of the bending mandrel (with the protruding end portion of this sliding block), whereby the Faltenglätter results in an excellent overall efficiency.

In an advantageous embodiment of the bending device according to the invention is used as the other sliding jaws out and away from this movable sliding jaw, which is on the same side of the workpiece as the clamping device, because on this page the space required for the required mobility is easily realized.

A further preferred embodiment of the bending device according to the invention also consists in that a control is provided with which to be made to change the bending direction traversing and / or rotational movements of the various structural elements on the bending head only after it has been lowered so far that All of these elements are below the workpiece clamped in the bending device, whereby then there is a free and unobstructed by the workpiece movability of these elements below the workpiece.

The wrinkle smoother has sliding elements in most cases such that on each side of the workpiece the sliding element comprises a sliding jaw. In certain cases, however, it may also be preferred if the fold smoother has more than one, preferably two, directly successively arranged sliding jaws on at least one side of the workpiece. Thus, the fold smoother on the side of the workpiece on which the bending mandrel lies, two in the feed direction of the workpiece arranged one behind the other, on a common, to the Have support axis freely rotatable carrier mounted sliding jaws, which have mirror-symmetrical shapes to each other on the common carrier with respect to a plane which is routed through the support axis and perpendicular to the feed direction of the workpiece. In this embodiment, when changing the bending direction only a rotation of the respective carrier in a position which is mirror-symmetrical to its initial position (with respect to an axis which passes through the axis of rotation of the bending mandrel and parallel to the transport direction of the workpiece) required, whereby then thus designed sliding blocks immediately assumes the correct starting position for bending in the other bending direction.

Favor the carrier is also provided with a device with which the distance between the two mounted on the support slide shoes can be changed or adjusted.

In the bending device according to the invention, the support axis is preferably arranged displaceably on a support ring, which in turn concentrically on the shaft of the bending mandrel, rotatable relative thereto, sitting over which the corresponding rotational movements can then be carried out at a change of the bending direction. Particularly preferably, the support ring is provided with a radially projecting portion on which the support shaft is slidably supported and which forms at its projecting end portion a radially outwardly open fork bracket which receives a sliding block, which in turn sits rotatably on a support means which vertically is movable to the transport direction of the workpiece. This results in a very space-saving and overall kinematically relatively simple overall arrangement, both the linear relative movement of the support axis towards the bending mandrel (or away from this) and at the same time still carrying out a rotational movement of the support shaft supporting projecting portion by a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the workpiece slidable mounting means (on the rotatably mounted on this, recorded in the fork mount of the projecting portion sliding block) allowed.

In this case, the support shaft is advantageously seated on a support block, which in turn is displaceably arranged in a above the fork bracket, radially outwardly extending guide groove of the radially projecting portion of the support ring, said guide groove is closed at its radially outer end by a transverse bar, in a Adjusting screw rotatably seated, which is in engagement with the support block and by means of which it is positionally adjustable in the guide groove. This makes it possible, by means of the adjusting screw to make a very precise and accurate initial adjustment or adjustment of the position of the support shaft (and thus of the attached thereto sliding jaw) relative to the mandrel.

In the above-described embodiments of the bending device according to the invention, the support means preferably comprises a support on the bending head, movable relative to this and guided on linear rails support bridge, by means of which the lateral deflections for carrying out a rotational movement of the support ring can be performed.

Another preferred embodiment of the bending device according to the invention also consists in that the sliding jaw, which is located on the side of the clamping device, on the opposite side of its mold groove to this form with respect to a longitudinal longitudinal plane of this sliding jaw, which is parallel to the Werkstückzuführrichtung and the axis of rotation of the bending mandrel has mirror-symmetrically arranged further shaping groove. Preferably, this sliding blocks for changing the bending direction is movable on the other side of the bending mandrel that he is there with his other form of groove against the workpiece can be applied. Advantageously, it is connected on the side of the clamping device with a drive device, via which it is movable to change the bending direction both parallel to the feed direction of the workpiece, as well as in a direction perpendicular to this on the other side of the mandrel.

In another preferred embodiment of the bending device according to the invention, all sliding jaws are seated on a common support plate, on which the sliding jaw located on the same side of the workpiece as the clamping device is arranged both in the direction perpendicular to the forming groove of the other sliding jaw, as well as adjustable parallel thereto, wherein for changing the bending direction, this support plate with the sliding blocks carried by it is pivotable about an axis of rotation of the bending mandrel parallel axis of rotation, which lies in a plane which passes through the axis of rotation of the bending mandrel and parallel to the transport direction of the workpiece.

By the aforementioned embodiments, a likewise very compactly constructed bending device is provided, in which the change of the bending direction including the corresponding changes in position of the parts of the Faltenglätters can be performed easily and quickly.

The invention further relates to a Faltenglätteranordnung for use in the above-mentioned bending device according to the invention, said bending device is provided for rod and tubular workpieces with a bending dome having a Biegenut and is set up for both a right bending, as well as for left bending wherein the fold smoothing arrangement according to the invention comprises two sliding jaws for abutment against the workpiece and each of these sliding blocks comprises a forming groove for abutment against the workpiece, and wherein at least one of the sliding blocks is movable towards the other and both sliding blocks are attached to the bending device so that they Changing the bending direction to the bending dome of the bending device around in a plane parallel to the axis of rotation of the bending mandrel and the feed direction of the workpiece mirror image arrangement of their form grooves are transferred, according to the invention, the sliding blocks for the arrangement is provided on the side of the mandrel, freely rotatably seated on a parallel to the axis of rotation of the mandrel support axis, which is associated with an adjustment, by means of which it is positionally adjustable up to a contact of the sliding block on the bending mandrel and away from it, wherein this sliding jaw is formed with its forming groove so that it - as seen in the longitudinal direction of the mold - with each of its end portions, if he is facing with this bending mandrel, so against the bending dome can be applied, that the local end portion of its forming groove to the bending groove of the bending mandrel connected tangentially.

This fold smoothing arrangement according to the invention can be used in one of the bending devices according to the invention described above; However, you can independently independently configure them as a kit that can be supplied as a retrofit to a bending device for rod and tubular workpieces and installed there, which then this bending device to a bending device of the type according to the invention, as described above, convertible is.

Particularly advantageous embodiments of the Faltenglätteranordnung invention also emerge from the above made in connection with advantageous embodiments of the bending device according to the invention information regarding the Faltenglätteranordnungen used there, to which reference should be made here.

By means of the fold smoothing arrangement according to the invention, it is possible to equip known bending devices, which are adjustable for bending on both sides, also with regard to the use of a single fold smoothing arrangement, which is likewise adjustable for different bending directions.

• Fig. 1 eine perspektivische Schrägansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Biegevorrichtung in deren Einstellung zum Rechtsbiegen;
• Fig. 2 eine perspektivische Schrägansicht der Vorrichtung aus Fig. 1, jedoch nach deren Umstellung auf Linksbiegen;
• Fig.3 eine vergrößerte perspektivische Detail-Darstellung des Biegedorns und einer erfindungsgemäßen Faltenglätteranordnung;
• Fig.4 eine perspektivische Darstellung der Anordnung aus Fig. 3, jedoch aus einer anderen Blickrichtung;
• Fig. 5A bis 5E eine prinzipielle Darstellung der Ablaufphasen beim Verschwenken eines erfindungsgemäßen Faltenglätters bei Änderung der Biegerichtung (in Draufsicht), und
• Fig. 6 eine perspektivische Explosionsdarstellung der Anordnung von Biegedom und ihm vorgeschalteten Faltenglätter-Gleitbacken aus Fig. 4.

The invention will be explained in more detail by way of example with reference to the drawing in principle. Show it:

• Fig. 1 an oblique perspective view of a bending device according to the invention in its setting for bending to the right;
• Fig. 2 an oblique perspective view of the device Fig. 1 , but after their conversion to left-hand bending;
• Figure 3 an enlarged perspective detail view of the mandrel and a Faltenglätteranordnung invention;
• Figure 4 a perspective view of the arrangement Fig. 3 but from a different perspective;
• Fig. 5A to 5E a schematic representation of the flow phases when pivoting a Faltenglätters invention when changing the bending direction (in plan view), and
• Fig. 6 an exploded perspective view of the arrangement of bending dome and wrinkle-glide sliding jaws upstream therefrom Fig. 4 ,

Fig. 1 shows (obliquely from above in front) a perspective view of a bending device 1 just before performing a right bending operation, while in Fig. 2 a same perspective oblique view of the same bending device 1 is shown, but in the initial state before a left bending operation.

How out Fig. 1 As can be seen, the bending device 1 comprises essentially three important devices, namely a bending head 2 (with a tensioning device 3), a slide rail 4 (as a feeder) and a Faltenglätter 5. These three devices are used to make bends on pre-assembled pipes or tubes 6, where a good Unformergebnis without wrinkling or cracking on the pipe 6 should be achieved.

The bending head 2 can be moved in its entirety on a horizontal trajectory a and a vertical trajectory b , by means of a suitable (but not shown in the figures) drive.

In this case, the bending head 2 initially consists of a support body 2, on which a bending mandrel 7 rotatable about a central axis M is arranged at the top. Laterally on this is a tubular workpiece 6 (with a relatively small wall thickness) in a bending mandrel 7 attached, over three sides thereof extending mold groove 8, the groove shape of the shape of the facing outer contour of the tube 6 is substantially adapted. The tube 6 is fed in the direction c by a (not shown in the figures) transport device from which exits via a (not shown in the figures) collet by means of which it can be kept fixed in position in a certain position at any time. By means of the feeder or the collet, it is also possible to rotate the tube 6 about its longitudinal axis in the direction of rotation d , in both directions of rotation.

While the tube 6 is bent around the bending mandrel 7, the Faltenglätter 5 ensures that the tube 6 during bending forms no wrinkles (on the inside) or tears (on its outside).

The bending mandrel 7 is laterally associated with the clamping device 3 with a clamping block 9, which carries on its side facing the bending mandrel 7 an interchangeable clamping jaws 10, in which, facing the pipe to be bent 6, a forming groove 11 of a facing side of the outer contour of the pipe. 6 appropriate shape and size is formed.

On a base plate 12 of the slide rail 4, a linear guide rail pair is arranged on the side facing the bending head 2, namely on the left side and the right side of the bending mandrel 7 each have a linear guide rail 13 is mounted in Fig. 1 only the guide rail 13 on one side, in Fig. 2 However, the guide rails on both sides is / are recognizable.

On each linear guide rail 13 slidably mounted a carriage 14. The carriage 14 of the linear guide rail pair are connected to each other via a bridge plate 15 to which a flange 16 is attached with a slot 17. On the front sides of the flange 16 threaded pins 18 are screwed through which a limitation of the effective length of the elongated hole 17 can take place.

In the slots 17 a mounted on the bending head 2 cylinder 19 can be retracted from below, the rod 20 is provided at its insertion end with a bevel 21. This allows the entire Faltenglätter 5 are moved laterally on the linear guide rail pair 13 during extension of the cylinder 19 by the inclined surface 21 at the end of the piston rod 20 of one of the two cylinders 19 during startup starts laterally against the retracted end of the associated threaded pin 18 and this at increasing retraction pushes outward. So is in Fig. 1 the cylinder 19 shown there in front retracted completely, which is why its upper inclined surface 21 was pressed against the associated end of the threaded pin 18 and thereby the bridge plate 15 to the outside (ie in Fig. 1 : to the left).

At the position in Fig. 2 is shown, the other cylinder (in Fig. 2 not shown, because concealed) extended, while the cylinder 19 is retracted on the front side in the figure, so that so that the bridge plate 15 is offset in the illustration of the drawing to the right.

On the bridge plate 15 sits in the middle of a bar 22 which has an angled to the bending mandrel 7 at its top surface 23 in which a groove 24, perpendicular to the bridge plate 15 extends centrally.

On the upper side 23 of the strip 22 is seated a flange 25 which has centrally in the groove 24 for positioning protruding engaging strip 26. The flange 25 is fixed with two screws 27 on the bar 22 and has at its end facing the bending mandrel 7 an upwardly projecting shoulder 28, on the upper side of a sliding block 40 by means of a screw 41 and a sleeve 42 is rotatably mounted.

As in particular from the representation of Fig. 4 (which shows an oblique perspective detail view of the individual elements for their better illustration) as well as from the exploded view of Fig. 6 is removable, the sliding block 40 by a fork bracket 44 at the end of a radially projecting portion 45 of the support ring 43 includes.

On the upper side of this radially projecting portion 45, a radially aligned longitudinal recess 46 is introduced, which is aligned in the direction of the axis of rotation of the support ring 43 (and thus to that of the bending mandrel 7).

In this recess 46 slidably a support block 47 is seated on the top of a stepped bore 48 is mounted with a slot in which a bolt 49 is seated, which secures the support block 47 against lifting from the recess 46 and yet a relative displacement of the support block 47 allowed in the limits of the slot in the direction of the bending mandrel 7 out or away.

The recess 46 is closed at its radially projecting end by means of a transverse plate 50 which is fixed on both sides of the recess 46 each with a screw 51 on the support block 47 and centrally carries an adjustment screw 52, by means of which the support block 47 is moved in the recess 46 by appropriate screwing can be.

On the support block 47 projects on the bending mandrel 7 end portion facing a support axis 53 in the direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the mandrel 7 upwards. On the support shaft 53 sits a sliding block 54 with a bore 55 into which the support shaft 53 protrudes. In this case, the sliding block 54 is placed only on the support shaft 53 so that it sits freely rotatable on this and is also displaceable in the axial direction. However, the inner diameter of the bore 55 may also, if desired, be made slightly larger than the outer diameter of the support shaft 53, so that the sliding block 54 can perform a certain, albeit small, tilting movement relative to the support shaft 53.

The sliding block 54 is provided on its side facing the workpiece 6 with a shaping groove 56 in its longitudinal direction, which serves to rest against the facing outer contour of the workpiece and whose shape corresponds to the shape of this outer contour substantially complementary.

After adjusting the distance of the support block 47 from the mandrel 7, the former can be fixed in position from above by means of the screw bolt 49, if desired. Instead, however, the support block 47 may also be preloaded in the direction of the bending mandrel 7 by means of a biasing spring (not shown in the figure) between it and the transverse plate 50, which also permits continuous readjustment in the event of wear on the sliding block 54.

The overall shape of the sliding block 54 is, as from Fig. 4 can be taken well, so executed that it is formed in approximation to the mandrel 7 in adaptation to the bending groove 8, so that when the bending mandrel 7 facing the end of the form of groove 56 comes into abutment in the bending groove 8, the forming groove 56 a ensures tangential entry into the bending groove 8 of the mandrel 7, wherein the along the mold groove 56 of the sliding block 54 running Pipe 6 tangentially enters the bending groove 8. In Fig. 4 this meshing of the end portion of the sliding block 54 and the bending groove 8 of the bending mandrel 7 is shown very clearly, in which respect express reference is made to the drawings.

From the exploded view of Fig. 6 which is essentially the arrangement Fig. 4 (but in a slightly different orientation of the mandrel 7) shows, the attachment of the bending mandrel 7 is very good:

The mandrel 7 is pulled via a pull rod 57 and a nut 58 in a corresponding (not shown) recording, whereby a deflection of the mandrel 7 is reduced during tube bending. This also makes it possible to carry out a very rapid tool change and to reduce the standstill of the machine during conversion. The tool set, consisting of a bending mandrel holder 65, a support ring 43, a transverse plate 50, a support block 47, the sliding block 54 and the mandrel 7, can then be removed together by loosening the nut 58 and replaced by another set of tools. Thus, the adjustments can be performed outside the machine. To set up the Faltenglätters 5 once the following steps are required:

The sliding block 54 is applied to the corresponding side of the bending mandrel 7 by the support block 47 is displaced in accordance with the bending mandrel 7 in the recess 46. In order to achieve the tangential orientation and initiation of the forming groove 43 of the sliding block 54 relative to the bending groove 8 of the bending mandrel 7, by lateral displacement of the corresponding adjusting cylinder 19 by means of the corresponding threaded pin 18, a lateral displacement of the plate 15 in the direction of arrow ( Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 ) and this movement via the bar 22, the flange 25, the sliding block 40 and the fork bracket 44 converted into a corresponding rotational movement of the support ring 43.

After this adjustment for the first side of the sliding block 54, this is pivoted by 180 ° about a support axis 53 and applied on the opposite side against the mandrel 7. At the same time, the other of the two cylinders 19 is extended and brought into engagement with its associated slot 17 and threaded pin 18.

Since the sliding jaw 54 has a symmetrical design to its center plane XX (which extends through the central axis of its support axis 53 perpendicular to the longitudinal center line of its mold groove 56) (see, for example, the drawing of the sliding block 54 in the Fig. 4 and 6 ), it requires in this second fine adjustment only the setting of the exact rotational position of the support shaft 48, ie the exact positioning of the bridge plate 15 by the corresponding cylinder 19 and the associated adjustment screw 18 to also on this other side of the mandrel 7 a precise tangential alignment Formnut 56 of the Sliding jaw 54 to reach tangential inlet of the workpiece 6 there in the bending groove 8 of the mandrel 7.

After this unique initial setting, the wrinkle smoother 5 can then be fully automatically integrated into the operation of the bending device 1.

The fold smoother 5 comprises, in addition to the sliding block 54, a further sliding jaw 60 (cf. Fig. 1 and 2 ), which in the representation of the Fig. 1 and 2 the sliding block 54 is opposite relative to the tube 6 and is designed in plan view as a rectangular block element, which is provided at its two longitudinal sides (one of which faces the tube 6) each having a longitudinal shaping groove 59, the shape also (at least substantially ) is complementary to the outer contour of the tube or workpiece 6 facing it. In operation of the bending device also this sliding jaw 60 is applied against the tube 6, so that there the tube 6 is covered by the sliding blocks 54 and 60 on both sides and in its passage through them, the occurrence of wrinkles (on the side of the sliding block 54) and cracks (on the side of the sliding jaw 60) is avoided.

The sliding block 60 is adjustable relative to the sliding block 54 (perpendicular to the feed direction of the tube 6) and is moved away from the tube 6 in the loading position (not shown in the figures) for the tube 6 as well as the clamping device 3.

As Fig. 1 shows, the slide rail 4 is mounted on the bending head 2 and includes two spindle drives 70 and 71, via which the sliding jaw 60 can be positioned in a plane. In this case, the slide 4 is always positioned with respect to the axis of the tube 6 on the side of the clamping block 9. The sliding jaw 60 rests on the tube 6 during operation of the device with its shaping groove 59. Depending on the application, the slide 4 has to perform different functions during the bending process: So it runs z. B. with the pipe 6, it pulls back or pushes it, for example, to avoid cracking in the pipe material. In the illustrated embodiment of the Fig. 1 the slide 4 is also used for positioning a support member on which the clamping block 9 is seated with the clamping jaw 10, and for pivoting the other sliding block 54 (about its support axis 53) when changing the bending direction.

As material for the two sliding blocks 54 and 60, a material with good sliding properties, which is wear-resistant and has a high load capacity used. Particularly suitable for this purpose, a material made of aluminum bronze has proven, which is commercially available under the name "Ampco" .

In Fig. 1 the starting position of the bending device 1 is shown for a right turn. In this case, the fold smoother 5 rests on the sliding jaw 54 with its front portion on the rear side of the bending mandrel 7A. In this case, the rear (in Fig. 1 from the bending head 2 hidden) cylinder 19 extended. To switch to a left turn drives after a release of the tube 6 by the clamping device 3 and the sliding jaws 60 and lowering the bending head 2 vertically down the slide 4 with the sliding jaw 60 in the direction c behind the fulcrum (support shaft 53) back, then moved laterally in the direction of a and pivots with the sliding block 60 the sliding block 54 (see Fig. 5A to 5E ).

After the slide rail 4 has passed the fulcrum laterally with the sliding jaw 60, it is moved forward again in the direction c , thereby applying the sliding jaws 54 on the other side to the bending dome 7. At the same time the (in Fig. 1 concealed) cylinder 19 and the (in Fig. 1 visible) other cylinder 19 extends. As a result, the wrinkle smoother with the mold groove 56 of the sliding block 54 is optimally aligned tangentially to the bending mandrel 7, the latter also being moved together with the clamping device 3 into its position suitable for left-hand bending. Subsequently, the bending head 2 is raised from below and the tube 6 is inserted with the clamping device 3 open and jaws 60 open in the mold groove 56 of the sliding block 54 and the bending groove 8. Thereafter, the sliding jaw 60 as well as the clamping jaws 10 is applied laterally against the tube 6 and thus is the in Fig. 2 shown starting position of the bending device 1 for left bending of the tube 6 achieved.

Fig. 2 shows the starting position of the bending device (with the Faltenglätter 5) before the start of left bending.

In the FIGS. 5A to 5E are finally, in quite a schematic representation, different phases of operation during pivoting of the sliding blocks 54 and 60 of the Faltenglätters 5 shown from a starting position for bending right into a converted initial position for left-hand bending.

In the representations of the FIGS. 5A to 5E are, only in principle, representations of individual relative positions of the sliding blocks 54 and 60 when switching and pivoting from a starting position to the right bending ( Fig. 5A ) in a starting position for left-hand bending ( Fig. 5E ), with only a few important elements being illustrated in their relative positioning to each other for a clearer illustration.

Fig. 5A shows (in plan view) the bending mandrel 7 (with the bending groove 8, shown in phantom), the sliding jaw 60 and the pivotable about the support shaft 53 sliding jaws 54 which is guided in the radially projecting portion 45 of the support ring 43, the latter in the further described above by the (in the Fig. 5A to 5E not visible) sliding block 40 about a lateral movement of the bar 22 can be slightly twisted.

In the starting position for right bending according to Fig. 5A runs the (dashed lines) forming groove 56 of the sliding block 54 tangentially into the (also shown in dashed lines) bending groove 8 of the bending mandrel 7 and is there directly.

If the device is now to be converted to left-bending, as is Fig. 5B shows the bending mandrel 7 initially adjusted to its new position for left bending, at the same time the sliding jaw 60 via the slide rail 4 by operating the drive 70 in the direction of the arrow k parallel to the feed direction of the (in the Fig. 5A to 5E not shown) workpiece or tube 6 is moved until its in the representation of Fig. 5B Lower left leading edge slightly above the position of the support shaft 53 (seen in the direction k ) is moved. Then, in the further process in the direction of k , additionally the sliding jaw 60 is moved by the drive 71 perpendicular to its previous movement in the direction l , whereby by the abutment of its already mentioned lower front edge against its side facing the sliding block 54, a rotation of the latter is initiated in the direction w . Such an initial twisting position shows Fig. 5B ,

In Fig. 5C is reached a situation in which the sliding jaw 60 facing side of the sliding block 54 is oriented perpendicular to the transport direction of the workpiece 6, in which case the entire front facing the sliding block 60 abuts her. The sliding jaw 60 is no longer moved in the direction of k , but only in the direction of l along the front of the sliding block 54 until its in Fig. 5C right lower edge, seen in the direction l , is moved beyond the position of the support shaft 53 also. After that, the sliding jaw 60 continues to move in the direction l at the same time as movement and additionally in the direction m and tilts with its in Fig. 5D lower right leading edge, which continues to bear against the facing her front of the sliding block 54, the latter in the direction of rotation w , where Fig. 5D such an intermediate position shows.

Finally, the in Fig. 5E shown end position (as the starting position for a left turn) reached after the sliding jaw 60 was moved only in the direction m in a position, the mirror image of the position Fig. 5A (With respect to a mirror plane passing through the center axis of the bending mandrel 7 and parallel to the transport direction of the workpiece 6) is located. In the end position shown, the other sliding jaw 58 is also in a mirror-symmetrical position to its location Fig. 5A (Based on the same mirror plane) and in turn is in turn with his the bending mandrel 7 facing end portion of the bending groove 8 of the mandrel 7, wherein the mold groove 56 of the sliding block 54 there again tangentially connected to the bending groove 8.

The execution of all movements in these conversions are controlled by a (not shown in the figures) program control, the movements of the sliding jaw 60 by the drives 70 and 71 are effected, while the rotational movement of the sliding block 54 by cooperation with the moving slide 60 (as a result the free rotatability of the sliding block 54 about the support axis 53) takes place via this.

Claims (16)

1. A bending apparatus (1) for rod-shaped and tubular workpieces (6), said apparatus comprising a movable bending head (2) on which there are located a rotatable bending mandrel (7) comprising a bending groove (8) to be contacted by the workpiece (6) to be bent, as well as a clamping device (3), which is movable relative to the workpiece (6) and is rotatable concentrically to the latter, for clamping the workpiece (3) between the clamping device (3) and the bending mandrel (7), and said apparatus further comprising a feeding device (4) for the workpiece (6), the bending apparatus (1) being adapted to bend the workpiece (6) both to the right and to the left around the bending mandrel (7) and the workpiece (6) being able to contact one side of the bending mandrel (7) in one predetermined bending direction and to contact the other side of the bending mandrel (7) when changing the bending direction, the bending head (2) also carrying a wrinkle smoother (5) which is arranged immediately preceding the bending mandrel (7) - as viewed in the feeding direction of the workpiece (6) - in a predetermined bending direction and which comprises two sliding jaws (54, 60) between which the workpiece (6) is located and each of which is provided, on its side facing the workpiece (6), with a shaped groove (56, 59) that is substantially complementary to the external contour of the respective sliding jaw, said shaped groove (56, 59) being able to contact the external surface of the workpiece (6), and a sliding jaw (60) further being movable relative to the other sliding jaw (54) and perpendicular to the feeding direction of the workpiece (6), and both sliding jaws (54, 60) as well as the clamping device (3) being movable and/or rotatable, in order to change the bending direction, around the bending mandrel (7) to the other side of the bending mandrel (7) towards a corresponding arrangement of their shaped grooves (56, 59) which is a mirror image of a plane that extends through the rotary axis (M) of the bending mandrel (7) and is parallel to the feeding direction of the workpiece (6),
   characterized in that
   the sliding jaw (54) is arranged, freely rotatable, on the side of the bending mandrel (7) on a supporting axis (53), which is parallel to the rotary axis (M) of the bending mandrel (7) and is relatively movable towards the bending mandrel (7) and away from the latter, in parallel with the feeding direction of the workpiece (6), said sliding jaw (54) being provided such that, by moving the supporting axis (53) towards the bending mandrel (7), the end of the shaped groove (56) of the sliding jaw (54) facing the bending mandrel (7) can be made to contact the bending groove (8) of the bending mandrel (7) and, in doing so, the shaped groove (56) of said sliding jaw (54) tangentially adjoins the bending groove (8) of the bending mandrel (7).
2. The bending apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding jaw (60) which is movable towards and away from the other sliding jaw (54) is the one which is located on the same side of the workpiece (6) as the clamping device (3).
3. The bending apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a control is provided by which the displacements and/or rotary movements of the various elements on the bending head (2) which are to be carried out in order to change the bending direction are not carried out until the bending head (2) has been lowered so far that said elements are located below the workpiece (6) clamped in the bending apparatus (1).
4. The bending apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the wrinkle smoother (5) comprises more than one, preferably two, sliding jaws on at least one side of the workpiece (6).
5. The bending apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, on the side of the workpiece (6) on which the bending mandrel (7) is located, the wrinkle smoother (5) comprises two sliding jaws, which are sequentially arranged in the feeding direction of the workpiece (6), are mounted to a common carrier that is freely rotatable about the supporting axis, and have shapes on the common carrier which are mirror-symmetrical to each other with respect to a plane which extends through the supporting axis (53) and is perpendicular to the feeding direction of the workpiece (6).
6. The bending apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the carrier is provided with a device for adjusting the distance present between the two sliding jaws.
7. The bending apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the supporting axis (53) is displaceably arranged on a support ring (43) which is in turn arranged concentrically on the shaft of the bending mandrel (7) so as to be rotatable relative to said shaft.
8. The bending apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the support ring (43) is provided with a radially protruding portion (45) on which the supporting shaft (53) is displaceably held and which forms, at its protruding end portion, a radially outwardly open, forked holder (44) which receives a slide block (40) that is in turn rotatably arranged on a holding device (47) that is movable perpendicular to the feeding direction of the workpiece (6).
9. The bending apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the supporting shaft (53) is arranged on a carrying part (47) which is in turn displaceably arranged in a guiding groove (46) of the radially protruding portion (45) of the support ring (43), which guiding groove (46) is provided above the forked holder (44), extends radially outwardly, and is closed, at its radially outer end, by a cross strip (50) having an adjusting screw (52) rotatably arranged therein, said adjusting screw (52) engaging with the carrying part (47) and allowing to adjust the position of the carrying part (47) in the guiding groove (46).
10. The bending apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the holding device comprises a support bridge (15) which is held to the bending head (7), is displaceable relative to the latter and is guided on linear rails (13).
11. The bending apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the sliding jaw (60), which is located on the side of the clamping device (3), comprises a further shaped groove (59) on the side of the sliding jaw (60) opposite its shaped groove (59), said further shaped groove (59) being mirror-symmetrically arranged with respect to a longitudinal central plane of said sliding jaw (60), which plane is parallel to the workpiece feeding direction and to the rotary axis of the bending mandrel (7).
12. The bending apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that, in order to change the bending direction, said sliding jaw (60) can be moved to the other side of the bending mandrel (7) such that the sliding jaw (60) can be made to contact the workpiece (6) there by the further shaped groove (59) of said sliding jaw (60).
13. The bending apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the sliding jaw (60) on the side of the clamping device (3) is connected to a drive unit (70, 71) via which it is movable to the other side of the bending mandrel (7), both parallel to the feeding direction of the workpiece (6) and in a direction perpendicular to said direction, in order to change the bending direction.
14. The bending apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that all sliding jaws (54, 60) are arranged on a common carrier plate on which the sliding jaw located on the same side of the workpiece (6) as the clamping device (3) is movable both in a direction perpendicular to the shaped groove of the other sliding jaw and parallel thereto, said carrying plate, including the sliding jaws carried by it, being pivotable, in order to change the bending direction, about a rotary axis which is parallel to the rotary axis (M) of the bending mandrel (7) and is located in a plane extending through the rotary axis of the bending mandrel (7) and parallel to the feeding direction of the workpiece (6).
15. The bending apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the sliding jaw (54), arranged on the supporting axis (53), is biased in the direction in which it contacts the bending groove (8) of the bending mandrel (7).
16. Wrinkle smoothing assembly (5) for a bending apparatus (1) for rod-shaped and tubular workpieces (6), which comprises a bending mandrel (7) with a bending groove (8), said bending mandrel (7) being adapted for both bending to the right and bending to the left, for a bending apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the wrinkle smoothing assembly comprises two sliding jaws (54, 60) for contact on both sides of the workpiece (6), each sliding jaw (54; 60) being provided with a shaped groove (56; 59) for contact with the workpiece (6), a sliding jaw (60) being displaceable towards the other sliding jaw (54) and both sliding jaws (54; 60) being movable and/or rotatable, in order to change the bending direction, around the bending mandrel (7) of the bending apparatus (1) towards an arrangement of their shaped grooves (54; 59) which is a mirror image of a plane that extends through the rotary axis (M) of the bending mandrel (7) and is parallel to the feeding direction of the workpiece (6),
    characterized in that
    the sliding jaw (54) provided for arrangement on the side of the bending mandrel (7) is arranged, freely rotatable, on a supporting axis (53), which supporting axis is parallel to the rotary axis (M) of the bending mandrel (7) and to which an adjusting device (45, 46, 47, 50, 52) is assigned by which the position of the supporting axis (53) can be shifted until it contacts the bending mandrel (7) and by which it can be moved away from the bending mandrel (7), which sliding jaw (54) with its shaped groove (56) is provided such that - viewed in the longitudinal direction of the shaped groove (56) - it can be made to have each of its end regions contact the bending mandrel (7), when said end regions face the bending mandrel (7), such that this end region of its shaped groove (56) tangentially adjoins the bending groove (8) of the bending mandrel (7).

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