EP2251112B1 - Profiling machine and method for longitudinal forming of a metal band or starting profile into a profile or tube - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a profiling machine for longitudinally forming a metal strip or output profile into a profile or tube by means of a plurality of Rollumformwerkzeugen according to the preamble of claim 1, and a method for longitudinal deformation of a metal strip or output profile in a profile or tube by means of such a profiling machine.

At least part of the roll forming tools of such a profiling machine is combined to form a plurality of tool groups arranged one behind the other in the working direction, each of which is held in a frame and forms a forming station with it. At least a part of the rolling forming tools arranged in a forming station is seated on upper and lower working shafts mounted in the framework, which are provided with coupling elements leading out laterally out of the framework. In addition to the stands clutch stand are arranged, on the one hand have coupling counterparts to the coupling elements of the working shafts and on the other hand connections for a drive system of the profiling to transmit torque from the drive system to the working shafts. The coupling elements of the working shafts are usually made of coupling pins or sleeves, while the coupling stand is equipped with sleeves or pins which engage positively in the coupling pins or sleeves of the working shafts. In order to disengage the working shafts of the forming stations from the drive system or to be able to couple to this, the coupling stand by means of displacement device to the scaffolds or away from them, so that the coupling elements of the working shafts and the coupling counterparts on the clutch stand either engage or be taken out of their engagement. In the case of coupling pin and sleeves this axial displacement is necessary. Between the drive system of the profiling and the coupling stands, the torque transmission is usually carried out by means of variable length propeller shafts.

Profiling machines are able to produce virtually endless profiles or tubes of various cross-sectional shapes from a metal strip or an output profile. Depending on the profile shape, a multiplicity of roll forming tools are used for this purpose, which are grouped together in typically 20 to 30 forming stations arranged in line one behind the other. If a different profile shape is to be produced on one and the same profiling machine, a multiplicity of roll forming tools must accordingly be exchanged. In order to mount or dismantle the frameworks of the individual forming stations faster, a coupling stand is provided in a profiling machine of the type described above between the forming stations and the drive system, which can engage and disengage the drive shafts, so that the Rollumformwerkzeuge together with their drive shafts as Can be exchanged unit, without having to move the frame relative to the machine base or against a scaffold carrier plate. An exchange of Rollumformwerkzeuge without subsequent lengthy adjustments, especially in the working axes axis-parallel direction is possible by the previous uncoupling of the drive system. This saves time when converting a Profiliermaschine to another profile shape and thus reduces adverse production stoppages.

A profiling machine of the present type is in the EP 0 365 976 B1 described. In order to solve the problem posed there, to be able to quickly and fully automatically replace roll forming tool pairs in the forming stations so that the downtime of the profiling machine is kept to a minimum and yet successively profiles of very different cross sections can be produced, it has been suggested that laterally movable coupling stands be common move away from the frames of the forming stations to release the working waves. After replacing them the coupling stand moved up again almost to its coupled starting position to the scaffolds and determines the possibly changed installation height of the drive shafts. Then the coupling counterparts are moved vertically on the coupling uprights to adjust their height to the height of the respective working shaft. Thereafter, the clutch stands are further moved together to the stands to engage the coupling elements and the coupling counterparts, whereby the Ankuppelvorgang is terminated. Here, either a gear block of the drive system is moved with the coupling stands, or the changing distance between the coupling stands and the drive system is compensated by variable length drive shafts.

Based on this prior art, the present invention seeks to propose a profiling machine of the type mentioned above and a method using this profiling, with which the times of adverse production stoppages during conversion of a profiling on another profile shape can be further reduced.

This object is achieved by a profiling with the features of claim 1 and by a method having the features of claim 14. Preferred developments of the profiling are found in the claims 2 to 13; advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention are set forth in claims 15 to 18.

In a profiling machine designed according to the invention, the coupling stands are accordingly designed as manipulators and are used in particular in the context of the method according to the invention for the axial and / or vertical adjustment of the roll forming tools. Alternatively or additionally, the trained as manipulators clutch stand and side rollers axially and / or vertically adjust. Further alternatively or additionally, the coupling stand can also make a lateral adjustment of the complete scaffolding or parts of the scaffolding.

Accordingly, the coupling stand of a profiling machine according to the invention are preferably with first adjustment drives for axially parallel displacement or unilateral vertical adjustment (skew) of the upper and / or lower working waves provided. Alternatively or additionally, the clutch stands comprise second adjusting drives for the axial adjustment of the roll forming tools seated on the upper and / or lower working shafts. As an alternative or in addition, the coupling stands are provided with third adjusting drives for adjusting side rollers mounted in or on or next to the stands of the forming stations. Next alternatively or additionally, the clutch stand fourth Verstellantriebe for laterally adjusting the frameworks, ie at least one component of this lateral adjustment is oriented transversely or perpendicular to the direction of movement of the metal strip or initial profile to be formed. These fourth adjusting drives are preferably at the same time also the displacement devices for moving the clutch stand to the stands and away from them.

The inventive design of the coupling stand as manipulators changes their property as a passive element in the prior art in an active element of the profiling, with the aid of a retooling or retraction of a profiling can be simplified and accelerated. Even while the profiling machine is in operation, the coupling stand according to the invention can assume manipulator functions, for example for readjustment work without interrupting production.

What is new, for example, that a forming station using the invention can now be uncoupled from the drive system with imported metal strip or output profile. This is achieved in a preferred procedure in the context of the present invention, characterized in that the clutch stand a disconnected from the drive system forming station initially adjusted the upper working shaft vertically upwards and / or adjusted the lower working shaft vertically down to release tension and the coupling elements or Coupling counterparts to get as torque-free. Thereafter, then the clutch stand can be moved away from the frame to perform the Abkuppelvorgang.

This is particularly advantageous, for example, in connection with a forming station, are stored in the conical rolling molds, the principle have no defined transport diameter for the performed metal strip. When inserting the metal strip in the profiling such a forming station should be coupled to the drive system, otherwise the metal strip can hardly be passed through the roll forming tools. Thereafter, however, it is advantageous to decouple this forming station again from the drive system, because otherwise because of the undefined transport diameter of conical Rollumformwerkzeugen otherwise constraints, twists, waves, etc. may occur in the metal strip and an unnecessarily high total drive torque results.

In particular, in this context, the further new procedure is particularly advantageous, which enables the present invention: The formation of the coupling stand as manipulators not only individual forming stations can be disconnected from the drive system, but also einzeine working waves, while the rest of the forming station remains coupled. For this purpose, the corresponding coupling stand in fully uncoupled state move the coupling counterpart of the disengaged individual working shaft from the axial alignment with this working shaft, for example, in an upper or lower extreme position. Thereafter, the clutch stand can be moved back to the frame to perform the Ankuppelvorgang. The individually uncoupled working shaft naturally does not enter into engagement with the coupling counterpart moved up or down and thus remains without drive.

The Antriebslosstellen a single working shaft or a complete Umformstation with metal tape inserted can be particularly advantageous when retracting a profiling or optimization attempts during production. Because, as mentioned, all drive shafts of all forming stations must be coupled to the drive system when entering the metal strip in the profiling as possible to ensure the necessary transport of the metal strip.

Insofar as it is provided that the coupling stands can be moved individually toward or away from their respective stands, the new, comfortable possibility of successively transforming the forming stations results in accordance with the set-up progress a to be set up or to be converted profiling to couple to the drive system. As a result, the trial phase can be started prematurely and the set-up time can be reduced accordingly.

As a further possibility, newly opened by the present invention, the coupling stand of a coupling station to be coupled to the drive system oscillating up and down at least one of the coupling counterparts, while it is moved to the frame to perform the Ankuppelvorgang. In this way, the coupling can be done without a complex height adjustment of the coupling counterparts to the coupling elements of the drive shafts. The small oscillating up and down movement of the coupling counterparts in the coupling stand ensures when coupling that they also engage with the respective coupling elements of the drive shafts, if the height adjustment previously only roughly took place. Even when uncoupling such a slight oscillating movement of the coupling counterparts may be advantageous because this can be easier to solve the coupling elements and the coupling counterparts from each other.

As far as the displacement devices for moving the coupling stand are designed according to a proposed embodiment of the invention as individually controllable pneumatic actuators, there are further significant advantages over the prior art:

A pneumatic drive has resilient properties and is thus inherently provided with a kind of integrated overload protection, both during the coupling movement and during the uncoupling movement. So far so when coupling a drive shaft whose coupling element is offset relative to the coupling counterpart on the coupling stand in the direction of rotation, so the positive engagement producing parts of these coupling elements are not aligned and therefore can not engage each other, the pneumatic drive and thus the clutch stand stops. It is then not to be feared that the coupling stand will be damaged by its drive and pulls it, if an engagement of the coupling elements and the coupling counterparts is not possible; Rather, the pneumatic drive then generates only a spring force on the clutch stand, which elastically against him biases the frame of the forming station so that it moves on as soon as the coupling elements and coupling counterparts come to rest and engage in alignment by actuating the drive system.

This eliminates the hitherto necessary in the prior art, consuming equipment of the coupling elements and / or the coupling counterparts with springs and a spring-loaded axial mobility as overload protection. Moreover, in the prior art, there was only an overload protection for the Ankuppelvorgang, while the uncoupling was previously without overload protection. However, here too, an overload may occur, namely when the coupling element of a drive shaft and its coupling counterpart are braced against each other so that they can be solved only with such high forces that damage or skew the coupling stand. In particular, when forming stations are to be disconnected from the drive system, in which a band or profile is, the coupling elements and the coupling counterparts are often clamped in the direction of rotation against each other. In this case, the pneumatic drive brings only a resilient bias on the clutch stand, so that it moves away from the scaffold only when the coupling elements and the coupling counterparts can be solved each other, for example, by briefly reversing the drive system or by a manually applied vibration ,

The present invention further provides new possibilities in that the trained as manipulators clutch stand can be used to adjust the frameworks at least part of the forming stations laterally, for example on laterally displaceable quick release plates or along guides in quick release plates or the machine frame. As far as the displacement of the clutch stand actuators are used, any lateral position of the scaffolding can be approached reproducible. A profiling machine equipped in this way is accordingly suitable without additional set-up effort for the production of special profiles and profiles which are variable in the width direction. In particular, in this context, it can be provided that a first subset of the laterally adjustable stands of the profiling machine according to the invention for forming only one arranged in the direction of movement of the metal strip or output profile left area and a second subset of laterally adjustable stands for forming only one in the direction of movement of the metal strip on the right Area serves. This first subset and / or this second subset are then laterally adjusted by the associated coupling stands, preferably in each case in common, whereby the width of the forming area can then be changed or varied during production.

The trained as manipulators clutch stand can optionally also be used to move only parts of the scaffolding, especially a scaffold half, laterally to be able to easily and reproducibly change the frameworks in itself.

As a further preferred development of the present invention it can be provided that the coupling stands are provided with measuring devices for detecting the positions of the upper and / or lower working shafts, the Rollumformwerkzeuge, the side rollers and / or the scaffolding. Such measuring devices facilitate fully automatic adjustment of the adjustable parameters of the roll forming tools of a profiling machine, which naturally reduces set-up times and even makes it superfluous when converting to a previously produced profile shape. Furthermore, this results in the possibility of recording and recording each adjustment of individual parameters in order to enable an analysis of the set-up process or to teach a learning control system in the teach-in procedure how individual parameters of a profiling machine have to be adjusted in order to carry out desired optimization processes.

As far as the coupling stands are also provided with means that can recognize a mounted on the associated frame or other elements of the Umformstationen coding, the measuring devices may be designed so that they do not determine the positions of Rollumformwerkzeuge directly, but indirectly, in particular by determining the positions of individual adjusting elements. For in the coding, a correction factor or a link can be stored on this, which contains the determined by means of a precision measurement relationship between the position of the adjusting elements and the actual position of Rollumformwerkzeuge.

Figur 1

eine schematische Darstellung eines Querschnitts einer Profiliermaschine mit einer Ansicht auf eine Umformstation, in angekuppeltem Zustand;

Figur 2

eine Darstellung wie Figur 1, jedoch in abgekuppelten Zustand;

Figur 3 und Figur 4

eine Darstellung wie Figur 1, jedoch mit einem teilweise angekuppelten und teilweise abgekuppelten Zustand;

Figur 5

eine schematische Darstellung eines Querschnitts eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels einer Profiliermaschine mit einer Ansicht auf eine Umformstation in angekuppeltem Zustand;

Figur 6

eine Draufsicht auf die Anordnung aus Figur 5.

Two exemplary embodiments of a profiling machine configured according to the invention and the corresponding methods according to the invention are described and explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1

a schematic representation of a cross section of a profiling machine with a view of a forming station, in the coupled state;

FIG. 2

a representation like FIG. 1 , but in uncoupled state;

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4

a representation like FIG. 1 but with a partially coupled and partially uncoupled state;

FIG. 5

a schematic representation of a cross section of a second embodiment of a profiling machine with a view of a forming station in the coupled state;

FIG. 6

a plan view of the arrangement FIG. 5 ,

In FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-section through an inventively configured profiling a forming station 1 with an upper working shaft 2 and a lower working shaft 3 for receiving (not shown here) Rollformwerkzeugen shown, the two working shafts 2, 3 are mounted in a frame 4. This framework 4 stands on a quick-release plate 5, which is fastened by means of fastening elements 6 releasably attached to a machine frame 7. By means of a height adjustment 8, the working shafts 2, 3 in the frame 4 can be moved vertically. Between the two working waves 2, 3, in a direction perpendicular to the image plane, the metal strip or profile to be formed is guided by the (not shown) Rollformwerkzeuge and thereby formed.

In addition to the forming station 1, a gear block 9 of a drive system is arranged on a gear carrier 10. Between the gear block 9 and the Umformstation1 a clutch stand 11 is interposed. For forming station 1 out of the coupling stand 11 carries two coupling counterparts 12 which are formed as a coupling pin. These can engage positively in coupling elements 13 of the drive shafts 2, 3, which are designed here as coupling sleeves. The coupling elements 13 of the working shafts 2, 3 lead laterally out of the frame 4 towards the gear block 9. On the opposite side of the Umformstation1 the coupling stand 11, the coupling counterparts 12 also continue as a coupling pin 14 to allow engagement in drive shafts 15, which transmit torque from the gear block 9. The propeller shafts 15 are telescopically variable in length, in order not to hinder movement of the coupling stand 11 to the Umformstation1 and away from it.

The above-mentioned movement of the coupling stand 11 takes place by means of a double-acting pneumatic cylinder 16, which acts on the coupling stand 11 and moves it along a slide rail 17 away from the forming station 1 or towards it. When the coupling stand 11 is moved away from the forming station 1, this leads to a decoupling of the coupling counterparts 12 from the coupling elements 13, as shown in FIG FIG. 2 is shown.

As FIG. 2 shows, however, not only the clutch stand 11 has been moved to the gear unit 9 out to disengage the drive shafts 2, 3 from the gear unit 9, but at the same time the two coupling counterparts 12 in the clutch stand 11 were moved vertically downwards or upwards. This was effected by means of two further pneumatic cylinders which form a vertical drive 18. This not only allows a height adjustment of the coupling counterparts 12 to adjust them to about changed height settings of the drive shafts 2, 3, but it is also possible by moving one of the two coupling counterparts 12 in such a Extreme position, as in FIG. 2 is shown to keep uncoupled this coupling counterpart of the associated working shaft 2, 3, although the other working shaft is engaged. Such a procedure is in the FIGS. 3 and 4 shown, in FIG. 3 the lower working shaft 3 and in FIG. 4 the upper working shaft 2 are switched without drive.

The vertical drive 18 of the in the FIGS. 1 to 4 The illustrated embodiment is otherwise adapted to produce small oscillating up and down movements of the coupling counterparts 12, so that both the coupling and uncoupling of the coupling counterparts 12 from the coupling elements 13 of the drive shafts 2, 3 as described above is facilitated. The coarse adjustment of the height of the two coupling counterparts 12 to the vertical position of the coupling elements 13 of the two drive shafts 2 and 3 is otherwise characterized in that prior to coupling the forming station 1 both coupling counterparts 12 by means of the vertical drive 18 in the in FIG. 2 shown extreme positions are driven. A first movement of the coupling stand 11 to the forming station 1 towards this moves into an intermediate position not shown in the figures. In this intermediate position, the coupling counterparts 12 from the vertical drive 18 are moved towards each other until each arm 19 above or below the respective coupling counterpart 12 on the coupling element 13 of the respective working shaft 2 or 3 abuts - which in FIG. 1 easy to recognize. Thus, the coupling counterparts 12 and the coupling elements 13 are vertically aligned approximately in alignment, so that the engagement movement of the coupling stand 11 to the forming station 1 can be continued. Supported by the oscillating movement of the vertical drive 18, then move the coupling counterparts 12 in the coupling elements 13 of the working shafts 2 and 3, and there is a coupled state, as in FIG. 1 is shown.

FIG. 5 shows a representation corresponding to the preceding figures of another embodiment of an inventively designed profiling machine; It is therefore again a schematic cross-section with a forming station 1, which has an upper working shaft 2 and a lower working shaft 3 for receiving roll forming tools (again not shown here) for forming a profile 26 indicated here by way of example contains. The two working shafts 2, 3 are also stored here in a framework 4, wherein the upper working shaft 2 can be adjusted up and down. This is done by means of a height adjustment 8, which is connected via worm gear or the like with bearing sleeves 27 of the upper working shaft 2. Again, stands the framework 4 on a quick release plate 5, which is releasably attached to a machine frame 7.

What that in FIG. 5 illustrated embodiment of the embodiment of the preceding figures substantially, is the coupling stand 11, which is no longer moved here by means of a pneumatic drive to the frame 4 and away from it, but by means of a servo motor 29, the clutch stand 11 via a spindle 20 Sliders 21 can slide along a slide 17 in any desired position. As overload protection, the coupling counterparts 12 of the coupling stand 11 of this embodiment are spring-loaded in a conventional manner 22 so that they can yield when the coupling stand 11 is moved up to the frame 4 and an offset between the coupling counterparts 12 and the coupling elements 13 of the working shafts 2, 3 in the direction of rotation, so that they can not intervene directly.

The in FIG. 5 illustrated coupling stand 11 carries an adjusting drive 23 which comes into engagement with the height adjustment 8 during coupling and by means of which the upper working shafts 2 can be adjusted exactly in their height position. This height adjustment is thus effected by the trained as a manipulator clutch stand 11.

To realize another manipulator property of the clutch stand 11 of this embodiment on the one hand and the frame 4 on the other hand corresponding elements of a conical joint 24, which allows the coupling stand 11 in the coupled state, the frame 4 along a flat guide 25 in the quick release plate 5 side, transverse to the direction of movement of the profile 26 to move, by means of the servo motor 29. Since the coupling stand 11 and the framework. 4 move together, the forming station 1 remains while in the coupled state.

FIG. 5 merely schematically illustrates the formation of a coupling stand 11 as a manipulator for adjusting the height positions of the working shafts 2, 3 of the forming station 1 and for laterally adjusting the framework 4. Here, on the one hand many elements with the embodiment of the FIGS. 1 to 4 identical and in each case provided with identical reference numerals, in particular the adjusting device 18 for the height position of the coupling counterparts 12 in the coupling stand 11, the connection of the coupling stand 11 to the drive system 9 by means of propeller shafts 15, and on the other hand omitted many elements, in particular adjusting drives for the axial adjustment of Rollumformwerkzeuge (If provided) and for adjusting side rollers and in particular measuring devices for the exact detection of the positions of Rollumformwerkzeuge, which may be integrated in the coupling stand 11 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 6 is - again schematically - a plan view of the arrangement FIG. 5 shown to illustrate the lateral displacement of the complete scaffolds 4 by means of the coupling stand 11. The presentation comprises a total of four forming stations (a), (b), (c) and (d). Their scaffolds 4 are laterally displaceably mounted in flat guides 25, here perpendicular to the direction of movement of the profile 26, which in FIG. 6 only symbolized by dashed lines. The flat guides 25 are introduced into the quick-change plate 5, which is detachably mounted on the machine frame 7.

The frames 4 of the forming stations a, b, c and d are, as mentioned, shown only schematically, wherein in particular the seated on the working shafts 2, 3 Rollumformwerkzeuge the sake of clarity have been omitted. In the frame 4 of the forming station a Rollumformwerkzeuge are stored, which act only on the lying in the direction of movement right portion of the profile 26, while in the frames 4 of the forming stations b, c and d Rollumformwerkzeuge are stored, which essentially on the left-hand portion of the profile 26 act. Characterized in that, as shown, the forming station a in the direction of movement of the profile 26 to the left is shifted while the racks 4 of the forming stations b, c and d are shifted to the right, results in a total forming line for narrow profiles 26. By a method of forming stations b, c and d to the left or by an opposite method of forming station a on the one hand and b, c and d on the other hand, the forming area can be widened. This lateral process of the scaffolds 4 is effected by the respective coupling stand 11, which can be driven by means of individually controllable servo motors 29 reproducibly in each lateral position.

In this way, the forming stations a, b, c and d can not only be adjusted between two productions in order to adapt the width of the forming area to the profile 26 to be manufactured, but it is also advantageously possible to increase this width during production vary to produce a profile with varying width in the longitudinal direction.

For completeness, it should be noted at this point that both the slide rail 17 for the clutch stand 11 and the flat guide 25 for the frame 4 in the context of the present invention can be performed differently, for example as ball or roller guides.

Furthermore, in deviation from the present embodiment in the context of the present invention as claimed may be provided to move the frameworks by the respective associated coupling stand not only as a whole, unchanged in itself, laterally, but only parts thereof, so that the framework width means the manipulator designed as a clutch stand can be easily and reproducibly change. For example, the in FIG. 5 Stands of the frame 4 arranged on the left are displaced from the coupling stand 11, while the in FIG. 5 Stand of the frame 4 shown on the right remains unchanged.

Claims (18)

1. Profiling machine for the longitudinal forming of a metal strip or starting profile into a profile or pipe by means of a plurality of roll-forming tools,

   - wherein at least some of the roll-forming tools are combined to form a plurality of tool groups arranged one after the other in the working direction, each of which groups is mounted in a frame (4) and forms therewith a forming station (1),

   - wherein at least some of the roll-forming tools arranged in a forming station (1) are seated on upper (2) and lower (3) working shafts mounted in the frame (4), which shafts are provided with coupling elements (13) extending out of the frame (4) at the sides,

   - wherein there are arranged next to the frames (4) coupling stands (11) which on the one hand have coupling counterparts (12) to the coupling elements (13) of the working shafts (2, 3) and on the other hand have connections (14) for a drive system (9, 15) of the profiling machine in order to transfer a torque from the drive system (9, 15) to the working shafts (2, 3),

   - and wherein the coupling stands (11) are movable towards and away from the frames (4) by means of displacement devices (16, 19, 20) in order to decouple the working shafts (2, 3) from the drive system (9, 15) or to couple them thereto,

   characterised in that
   the coupling stands (11) are in the form of manipulators.
2. Profiling machine according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the coupling stands (11) are provided with first adjusting drives (23) for adjustment of the upper and/or lower working shafts (2, 3) in a direction running substantially transverse to the axes thereof.
3. Profiling machine according to either one of claims 1 and 2,
   characterised in that
   the coupling stands (11) are provided with second adjusting drives for axial adjustment of the roll-forming tools seated on the upper and/or lower working shafts (2, 3).
4. Profiling machine according to at least one of claims 1 to 3,
   characterised in that
   the coupling stands (11) are provided with third adjusting drives for adjustment of side rollers associated with the frames (4) of the forming stations (1).
5. Profiling machine according to at least one of claims 1 to 4,
   characterised in that
   the coupling stands (11) are provided with fourth adjusting drives (19, 20) for lateral adjustment of the frames (4) or of parts of the frames (4).
6. Profiling machine according to claim 5,
   characterised in that
   the displacement devices (16, 19, 20) for moving the coupling stands (11) towards and away from the frames (4) are simultaneously the fourth adjusting drives for lateral adjustment of the frames (4).
7. Profiling machine according to at least one of claims 1 to 6,
   characterised in that
   the coupling stands (11) are provided with vertical drive devices (18) for changing the height of the coupling counterparts (12).
8. Profiling machine according to claim 7,
   characterised in that
   the vertical drive devices (18) are suitable for effecting an oscillating upward and downward movement of the coupling counterparts (12).
9. Profiling machine according to at least one of claims 1 to 8,
   characterised in that
   the coupling stands (11) are provided with measuring devices for detecting the positions of the upper and/or lower working shafts (2, 3), of the roll-forming tools, of the side rollers and/or of the frames (4).
10. Profiling machine according to claim 9,
    characterised in that
    the frames (4) or other elements of the forming stations (1) are provided with codes detectable by the measuring devices.
11. Profiling machine according to at least one of claims 1 to 10,
    characterised in that
    the displacement devices (16, 19, 20) for moving the coupling stands (11) are individually drivable towards and away from the frames (4).
12. Profiling machine according to claim 11,
    characterised in that
    the displacement devices are pneumatic drives (16).
13. Profiling machine according to claim 11,
    characterised in that
    the displacement devices are servo motors (19).
14. Method for the longitudinal forming of a metal strip or starting profile into a profile or tube by means of a profiling machine in accordance with at least one of claims 1 to 13, wherein axial and/or vertical adjustment of the roll-forming tools and/or of side rollers and/or lateral adjustment of the frames (4) or of parts of the frames (4) is carried out by means of the coupling stands (11).
15. Method according to claim 14,
    characterised in that
    the coupling stand (11) of a forming station (1) to be decoupled from the drive system (9, 15) first moves the upper working shaft (2) thereof vertically upwards and/or moves the lower working shaft (3) thereof vertically downwards and is only then moved away from the frame (4) in order to carry out the decoupling operation.
16. Method according to either one of claims 14 and 15,
    characterised in that
    the coupling stand (11) of a forming station (1) to be coupled to the drive system (9, 15) causes at least one of the coupling counterparts (12) to perform an oscillating upward and downward movement while it is moved towards the frame (4) in order to carry out the coupling operation.
17. Method according to at least one of claims 14 to 16,
    characterised in that
    the coupling stand (11) of a forming station (1) in which an individual working shaft (2) is to be decoupled from the drive system (9, 15) moves the coupling counterpart (12) of the working shaft (2) to be decoupled out of axial alignment with that working shaft (2) while the entire forming station (1) is in the decoupled state and is then moved towards the frame (4) in order to carry out the coupling operation.
18. Method according to at least one of claims 14 to 17,
    characterised in that
    the coupling stands (11) can be moved individually towards their respective associated frames (4) in order to couple the forming stations (1) to the drive system (9, 15) in succession, in accordance with the progress of the setup of a profiling machine to be installed or modified.

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