EP3219406A1 - Bending machine and position correction method for the slide of such a forming machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a forming machine, in particular a bending machine, comprising a machine frame with a mounting wall (6), at least one carriage assembly (2) arranged on the mounting wall (6) and optionally adjustable in different alignment positions in an alignment plane for moving a forming tool mounted thereon (FIG. 10), in particular bending punch, in a plane of movement to a predetermined Werkstückbeaufschlagungsstelle (50) in a forming center (9), wherein the arrangement is such that for guiding the forming tool (10) during the Umformbetriebs the machine no separate from the carriage unit (2) Guide channel in the plane of movement of the forming tool (10) is present, so that the Arbeitsbewegungsweg of the forming tool (10) in the plane of movement directionally by the positioning and orientation of the carriage assembly (2) or optionally provided thereon for holding the forming tool (10) Tool holder (4) is fixed, and a positioning control device (40) for detecting deviations of the actual actual Arbeitsbewegungsweges of the forming tool (10) from the predetermined desired Arbeitsbewegungsweg in the forming center (9). Methods for correcting the position of the forming tool are also described.

Description

The present invention relates to a forming machine, in particular a bending machine, comprising a machine frame with a mounting wall and at least one arranged on the mounting wall and optionally adjustable in different alignment positions in an alignment sled assembly for moving a front projecting thereon fixed forming tool, in particular punch, in a plane of movement to a Workpiece loading point in a forming center.

A forming machine of the aforementioned type is eg in the EP 2 641 669 A1 disclosed. This known forming machine has a plurality of slide assemblies with forming tools, the slide assemblies are arranged on a circle on the mounting plate and are aligned with their forming tools on a surrounding of the circle forming center, there to act in a predetermined manner to a workpiece reshaping. The forming tools are bending punches which are moved axially back and forth in a plane of movement by means of their slide assemblies according to a predetermined movement profile in order to carry out a respective working stroke with return stroke. In the example of the EP 2 641 669 A1 the slide assemblies have numerically controlled, electric motor driven spindle drives as drive means for the forward and backward movements of the punch. In the forming center, the known forming machine, as is usual in such machines, a tool guide plate in which guide channels are provided separately from the carriage assemblies, in which the respective punch received and stably guided to the axial forward and backward movement. Such tool guide plates are intended with their guide channels ensure that the forming tools are stably guided in their desired orientation during their strokes, so that they can touch a respective workpiece in the forming center at the desired predetermined Werkstückbeaufschlagungsstelle and then possibly deform in the desired manner. The tool guide plate, which is also referred to as a tool plate, usually consists of a hard steel and is designed to be customized for each individual product to be processed by the forming machine. The tool plate normally equipped with a plurality of differently oriented guide channels for guiding various bending dies can also be designed with stationary tool elements, such as bending cores, die elements, etc. It usually has a complex shape and requires a relatively large amount of space in the area of the forming center, resulting in space utilization restrictions in the area of the forming center and restrictions on geometrical freedom in the design of tool elements, whether fixed tool elements or tools movably guided on the tool guide plate, leads. This has in practice often meant that a relatively large number of workpiece elements of different shapes and sizes was to be provided for the predetermined forming of a workpiece, which has led to high tooling costs.

Usually, the workpieces to be formed are sheet metal sections or wire sections of a strip material which is unwound from a coil. After the forming process, the formed workpieces are then ejected and collected or fed to another processing station.

To facilitate a Einrüstvorgangs or conversion process, the slide assemblies of the EP 2 641 669 known forming machine can be moved on its arrangement circle on the mounting plate by means of a controllable drive device in different basic positions and fixed there. To such a fixation on the mounting plate has Each carriage assembly on a mounting base, wherein the carriage assemblies are rotatable relative to this mounting base about a plane perpendicular to the plane of movement of the punch rotating axis to set in the respective particular base position an adjustment angle, so that the carriage assembly with its axially movable, to be connected to the punch tappet is positioned and aligned in alignment with the guide channel of the punch in the tool guide plate, that the punch from the carriage assembly for reciprocating movement along the guide channel can be driven. This rotational movement of the carriage unit can be made by means of a controllable drive.

Although the forming machine according to the EP 2 641 669 A1 Compared with older solutions has already brought a significant reduction in set-up times when installing or retooling the forming machine for forming a workpiece, so the present invention seeks further improvements, especially in terms of shortening the installation and retooling and further in terms of Reduction of tool costs.

To solve this problem, a forming machine according to the invention with the features of claim 1 and also a method for their operation is proposed.

• einen Maschinenrahmen mit einer Montagewand,
• wenigstens ein an der Montagewand angeordnetes und wahlweise in verschiedenen Ausrichtpositionen in einer Ausrichtungsebene einstellbares Schlittenaggregat zur Bewegung eines daran vorderseitig abstehend befestigten Umformwerkzeugs, insbesondere Biegestempels, in einer Bewegungsebene zu einer vorbestimmten Werkstückbeaufschlagungsstelle in einem Umformzentrum, wobei die Anordnung so getroffen ist, dass zur Führung des Umformwerkzeugs während des Umformbetriebs der Maschine kein vom Schlittenaggregat gesonderter Führungskanal in der Bewegungsebene des Umformwerkzeugs zu dessen Führung an einander gegenüberliegenden Seiten vorhanden ist, so dass der Arbeitsbewegungsweg des Umformwerkzeugs in dessen Bewegungsebene richtungsmäßig durch die Positionierung und Ausrichtung des Schlittenaggregates festgelegt ist, und
• eine Positionierkontrolleinrichtung zur Erfassung von Abweichungen des tatsächlichen Ist-Arbeitsbewegungsweges des Umformwerkzeuges von dem vorbestimmten Soll-Arbeitsbewegungsweg im Umformzentrum.

The forming machine according to the invention, which may be a bending machine, a punching / bending machine or the like, comprises

• a machine frame with a mounting wall,
• at least one arranged on the mounting wall and optionally adjustable in different alignment positions in an alignment plane carriage assembly for moving a front projecting thereon fixed forming tool, in particular punch, in a plane of movement to a predetermined Werkstückbeaufschlagungsstelle in a forming center, wherein the arrangement is made such that the leadership the Umformwerkzeugs during Umformbetriebs the machine no separate from the carriage assembly guide channel in the plane of movement of the forming tool to guide it on opposite sides is present, so that the Arbeitsbewegungsweg the forming tool is set in the movement plane directionally by the positioning and orientation of the carriage unit, and
• a positioning control device for detecting deviations of the actual actual working movement path of the forming tool from the predetermined desired working movement path in the forming center.

The carriage unit is preferably one with an electromotive drive which is numerically controllable, that is to say a so-called NC carriage unit or NC forming unit.

An essential feature of the present invention is that the forming machine has no tool guide plate or tool plate with guide channels in the plane of movement of the forming tool, so that the forming tool is guided in its strokes toward the Werkstückbeaufschlagungsstelle and back exclusively by the carriage assembly and the Arbeitsbewegungsweg the forming tool in its plane of movement thus determined solely by the positioning and orientation of the carriage unit. The forming center comprises the space that can be reached by the forming tool at its working strokes. The Werkstückbeaufschlagungsstelle is the place in the forming center, where the forming tool comes in its working stroke with the workpiece to be machined in touch. In order for the forming tool to follow its predetermined working movement path as stably as possible after the machine has been set up in its working strokes, a sufficiently stiffened carriage assembly is to be provided which provides a stable, reproducible guidance of its tappet in the forming operation of the forming machine. Thus, the known from the prior art guide channels in the forming center and thus the thus designed Tool guide plates dispensable. This is an important starting point of the invention. The absence of the tool guide plate not only means the saving of a complicated to produce complicated, complicated shaped element but also opens up freedom in the use of space in the forming center. These freedoms allow simplifications in the geometry and arrangement of tool elements, and in particular, the reduction in the number of tool elements required for a particular forming process for forming a workpiece. In particular, allow the greater geometric freedom of the design of the Umformzentrums the use of tool standards, which are based at least in groups on the same shaped blanks and are customized only at their Werkstückbeaufschlagungsenden product specific with respect to their task in the forming process.

The recourse to such tool standards also allows a largely uniform design of the coupling means between the tool and tool holder of the plunger. This can be used in most cases to a significant reduction in tooling costs.

The greater geometric freedom in using the Umformzentrums also allow a more flexible choice of Arbeitsbewegungsweges the forming tool. This aspect is of great importance in the case of a forming machine according to the invention with several such slide assemblies with forming tools. This also makes the planning of a forming process to be carried out with the forming machine for producing a specific workpiece more flexible and easier to optimize.

As an attached component of the forming machine or at least as a separately stored and if necessary usable accessory, the positioning control device is provided as belonging to the forming machine. It is operable to deviations of the positioning or alignment of the carriage assembly from a desired positioning and alignment of the To measure or detect carriage assemblies by measuring in the region of the Umformzentrums so that it can be determined by means of the Positionierkontrolleinrichtung whether the forming tool deviates from its predetermined desired Arbeitsbewegungsweg in Umformzentrum and in particular on or in the immediate vicinity of the predetermined Werkstückbeaufschlagungsstelle. If such a deviation is found, then the measurement result can be used to adjust the forming tool with respect to its positioning and / or orientation, so that the deviation is at least reduced. The Positionierkontrolleinrichtung is also a useful tool when installing or retrofitting the forming machine and that to control the correct positioning and alignment of the carriage assembly.

Preferably, the carriage assembly has a mounting base by means of which it is fixable in a desired base position on the mounting plate, wherein the carriage unit is further rotatable in the respective base position relative to the mounting base about an axis perpendicular to the alignment axis of rotation about a respective adjustment angle of the forming tool to its orientation set relative to the Werkstückbeaufschlagungsstelle. Such a positioning and adjustment of a carriage assembly is of its kind, for example, from the aforementioned EP 2 641 669 A1 so that their disclosure content is to be incorporated by reference herein. For the interests of the present invention, it is advantageous if a controllable rotary drive is provided for aligning the carriage assembly about the axis of rotation, which is equipped with a high angular resolution for the purpose of changing the operating angle of the carriage assembly and thus of the forming tool. This makes it possible in many cases to sufficiently correct deviations of the positioning and alignment of the carriage assembly from a predetermined target positioning and alignment in the vicinity of the workpiece loading point in the forming center solely by changing the adjustment angle without changing the base position of the carriage assembly; even if the carriage unit should not be set exactly in its predetermined desired base position.

As in itself from the already mentioned EP 2 641 669 A1 known, the carriage assembly should be slidably supported on the mounting plate and be fixable by means of the mounting base at different points of the mounting plate in a respective base position, by means of a controllable adjustment. It is advantageous if the different locations lie on a circular path that gives the forming center. The carriage unit is then normally aligned with the forming tool on the forming center. This also applies in the case of several slide assemblies to the mounting plate. However, this should not preclude other arrangements of the slide assemblies, for example linear arrangements in which the slide assemblies lie next to one another in a straight row.

As already indicated above, according to a preferred embodiment, the forming machine can be operated in a correction mode in which a deviation of the actual working movement path of the forming tool relative to the desired working movement path detected by the positioning control device can be reduced or compensated by changing the orientation of the carriage assembly. This can be done with sufficient accuracy often alone by rotating the carriage assembly about the axis of rotation perpendicular to the plane of movement of the forming tool. The detection of an error of the working movement path should always be made by measurement in the forming center near the point where the forming tool should come into contact with a relevant workpiece. This ensures that at least in the space area in which it depends on the most accurate compliance with the target Arbeitsbewegungsweges of the tool in the forming center, the deviations can be corrected with simple means.

The correction of the orientation of the carriage assembly can be controlled automatically by means of the provided controllable actuator means, in particular by means of the controllable rotary drive. An automatic ongoing monitoring of compliance with the desired working movement path of the forming tool in the forming center is possible in accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the invention. Suitable sensors, such as linear encoders, magnetic distance sensors or inductive distance sensors or the like, can be used to detect the deviation of actual positions of the forming tool from desired positions.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the positioning control device comprises an optical position detection device, preferably image detection device for optical, in particular image-wise detection of actual positions of the carriage assembly and / or the forming tool, further comprising evaluation means for evaluation for the purpose of detecting deviations from each other assigned actual position data and target position data are provided as a basis for a particular automatic positioning and alignment correction of the carriage unit. The optical position detection device may, for example, have one or more photocells or the like as sensors. In its embodiment as an image capture device, it may have, for example, one or more camera sensors or cameras. According to a variant, the image capture device could capture still images in the sense of photographs. According to a further variant, the image capture device could be designed and configured to record moving images in the sense of film sequences in order to record the working movement path of the forming tool during its movement, for example. The desired position data can be stored in a memory. Preferably, these desired position data are also generated on the basis of image data of a respective image capture device. For this purpose, for example, a reference image or a reference movie sequence in particular be absorbed by the forming center of the originally precisely equipped machine, the image data can then be provided after appropriate evaluation as desired position data. Alternatively, the desired position data may also be computer-generated data with which the optically detected actual position data are automatically compared.

The monitoring process of the actual situation can, for example, be carried out automatically at regular intervals after certain time intervals. On the other hand, it is also possible to run the monitoring process continuously, in particular during a forming process, ie during the normal operation of the forming machine.

If a deviation of the actual working movement path from the desired working movement path in the forming center that can no longer be tolerated is detected, then an automatic correction process can take place in which the forming machine, for example, temporarily changes to a correction mode in order to reduce or compensate for the deviation.

A further preferred embodiment of a forming machine according to the invention is set forth in claim 4, wherein embodiments of this further embodiment are recited in the claims dependent on claim 4, in particular in claims 13-15

• Erfassen einer Abweichung des Ist-Arbeitsbewegungsweges des Umformwerkzeugs von einem vorbestimmten Soll-Arbeitsbewegungsweg im Umformzentrum und
• Verdrehen des Schlittenaggregates um die Drehachse, so dass die Abweichung zumindest verringert wird.

The invention also provides a method for correcting the position of the carriage assembly of a forming machine according to claim 2. The method comprises the steps:

• Detecting a deviation of the actual working movement path of the forming tool from a predetermined target working movement path in the forming center and
• Turning the carriage assembly about the axis of rotation, so that the deviation is at least reduced.

A preferred embodiment of the method is based on the fact that small position deviations of the carriage assembly can be corrected by changing the adjustment angle by turning the carriage unit so far that they do not have any relevance after the correction at the tool loading point in the forming center. The adjustment of the adjustment angle by rotating the carriage assembly about the axis of rotation can be done precisely with sufficient resolution of the controllable rotary drive used in a simple manner.

• Erfassen einer Abweichung (A) des Ist-Arbeitsbewegungsweges des Umformwerkzeugs von einem vorbestimmten Soll-Arbeitsbewegungsweg im Umformzentrum (9) und
• Verschieben des Justierrahmens (4B) längst der Justierbahn, so dass die Abweichung (A) zumindest verringert wird.

The invention also provides a method according to claim 19 for position correction of the forming tool of a forming machine according to claim 4, comprising the steps:

• Detecting a deviation (A) of the actual working movement path of the forming tool from a predetermined desired working movement path in the forming center (9) and
• Moving the Justierrahmens (4B) long the Justierbahn, so that the deviation (A) is at least reduced.

The method of claim 18 and claim 19 can be combined, so that in order to reduce the deviation (A) both the carriage assembly is rotated about its axis of rotation, and the Justierrahmen is moved along the Justierbahn.

Preferably, the step of detecting a deviation of the actual working movement path of the forming tool from a predetermined desired working movement path comprises optically detecting, in particular imagewise detecting actual positions of the carriage assembly and / or the forming tool by means of an optical position detection device, preferably image capture device - and comparing the thereby determined data with reference data of assigned desired positions of the carriage assembly and / or the forming tool.

The detection of actual positions of the forming tool does not require that the forming tool is actually installed during the measuring process. For example, it is also possible to arrange an element of a measuring device, for example an element provided with markings, instead of the forming tool in its position relative to the carriage unit.

Possibilities of the procedure of detecting geometric deviations from desired positions, as they can also be used in the present method, have already been mentioned above in connection with the forming machine.

Preferably, the setting or adjustment of the adjustment angle of the carriage assembly is carried out by turning automatically in response to the determined deviation of the actual working movement path of the forming tool from the predetermined desired Arbeitsbewegungsweg means of a controllable rotary drive.

The step of detecting a deviation of the actual working movement path of the forming tool from a predetermined desired working movement path can be carried out continuously automatically according to a variant of the method, preferably also during the forming operation of the forming machine.

Due to the possibility of simple monitoring and correction of deviations of the forming tool from its predetermined desired working path, a largely trouble-free and permanent operation of the forming machine waiving tool guide plates or tool plates, as they are known from the prior art, guaranteed. This opens up opportunities for optimized utilization of the space in the forming center, ie the area in which the workpiece is formed. This can be simpler tools than before are used, in particular tools based on standardized basic forms. Also, the number of particular non-moving tool elements in the forming center in many forming processes to keep significantly lower than was possible in the prior art for the same forming tasks.

Figur 1

zeigt in einer Frontansicht eine gattungsgemäße Umformmaschine nach dem Stand der Technik, wie sie in der EP 2 641 669 A1 näher erläutert ist.

Figur 2a

zeigt in Frontansicht einen das Umformzentrum umfassenden Bereich einer Umformmaschine nach der Erfindung mit Umformwerkzeugen.

Figur 2b

zeigt den Maschinenbereich aus Figur 2a in entsprechender Perspektive, jedoch ohne Umformwerkzeuge.

Figur 3

zeigt in einer Frontansicht ein Detail einer Umformmaschine nach der Erfindung, nämlich ein Umformzentrum mit darauf ausgerichteten Schlittenaggregaten und mit einer Positionierkontrolleinrichtung zur Erfassung von Abweichungen des tatsächlichen IstArbeitsbewegungsweges eines Umformwerkzeugs von dem vorbestimmten Soll-Arbeitsbewegungsweg des Umformwerkzeugs an einer vorbestimmten Stelle im Umformzentrum.

Figur 4

zeigt zur Erläuterung einer Korrekturoperation ein Detail einer Umformmaschine nach der Erfindung in Frontansicht.

Figuren 5a und 5b

zeigen in einer perspektivischen Ausschnittsdarstellung ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiels der Erfindung mit einem Werkzeughalter, welcher einen Basisrahmen und einen relativ dazu verschiebbaren Justierrahmen aufweist, wobei in Figur 5a der Justierrahmen in Flucht zur Längserstreckung des zugeordneten Schlittenaggregates in einer Grundstellung dargestellt ist, wohingegen er in Figur 5b seitlich aus dieser Grundstellung heraus verschoben dargestellt ist.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures.

FIG. 1

shows a front view of a generic forming machine according to the prior art, as shown in the EP 2 641 669 A1 is explained in more detail.

FIG. 2a

shows a front view of the forming center comprehensive range of a forming machine according to the invention with forming tools.

FIG. 2b

shows the machine area FIG. 2a in the same perspective, but without forming tools.

FIG. 3

shows a front view of a detail of a forming machine according to the invention, namely a forming center with aligned slide assemblies and with a positioning control device for detecting deviations of the actual IstArbeitsbewegungsweges a forming tool from the predetermined target Arbeitsbewegungsweg the forming tool at a predetermined location in the forming center.

FIG. 4

shows a detail of a forming machine according to the invention in front view to explain a correction operation.

FIGS. 5a and 5b

show in a perspective cutaway view of another embodiment of the invention with a tool holder, which has a base frame and a relative thereto slidable Justierrahmen, wherein in FIG. 5a the Justierrahmen in alignment with the longitudinal extension of the associated Slide unit is shown in a basic position, whereas he in FIG. 5b is shown displaced laterally out of this basic position.

At the in FIG. 1 shown, off EP 2 641 669 A1 known forming machine is a stamping and bending machine 1, which has a machine frame 3 with a frame 5 and a mounting wall 6, on which forming units 2 are mounted in an array on a circle 7 has. The forming units 2 are slide units with axially movable back and forth ram 8, which have at their oriented to a forming center 9 front ends tool holder 4, where forming tools 10 are fixed. The slide assemblies 2 have electronically controllable electric motors 11 as drive means for the linear feed and return stroke of the plunger 8 and the thereto by means of the tool holder 4 attached forming tools 10. Between the electric motor 11 and the plunger 8, the respective carriage unit 2 still has a gear, for example in the form of a spindle drive on.

In the forming center 9, the known generic forming machine 1 on a tool guide plate 13 which is equipped with guide channels 15 for the forming tools 10. The guide channels lie in an alignment plane of the slide assemblies 2, which runs parallel to the mounting wall 6. The forming tools, such as punch 10, are received in the guide channels 15 and stable in the execution of their strokes in the direction Umformzentrum 9 and led back so that they on their predetermined target Arbeitsbewegungsweg at their working strokes during a forming process in the processing of a workpiece to be formed in Forming center 9 remain. As already mentioned, such tool guide plates 13 are formed relatively complex and designed individually for the particular special upcoming forming process.

It can be seen that when installing the forming machine 1 for a specific forming task, the carriage assemblies 2 must be positioned exactly - and aligned so that they can move the forming tools 10 along the positive guides through the guide channels 15 largely without jamming back and forth.

To facilitate such an installation process, the slide assemblies 2 can be automatically moved on the array circuit 7 in different basic positions. For this purpose, they have mounting base 17 which engage behind the mounting wall 6 with engaging means by a circular groove defining the arrangement circle 7 and can be fixed in a respective base position on the mounting wall 6. To move the carriage assemblies 2 along the arrangement circle 7, a rear side of the mounting wall 6 arranged, controllable actuator (not shown) is provided.

Each carriage unit 2 is rotatable relative to its mounting base 17 about an axis of rotation 16 perpendicular to the plane of movement of the associated forming tool, so that a setting angle adjustment of the respective forming tool 10 is possible starting from a respective base positioning of the carriage unit 2 on the arrangement circle 7. (This is for some sledges 2 in FIG. 1 indicated by representation in two angular settings.) For this purpose, each carriage unit 2 has a pivot bearing, which is provided on the mounting base 17. To rotate the carriage assemblies 2 about their axes of rotation 16, the forming machine 1 a controllable rotary drive (not shown), by means of which each slide unit 2 is controlled independently of the other slide assemblies 2 about its axis of rotation 16 rotatable. By moving a carriage assembly 2 on the arrangement circle 7 in a predetermined base position and by rotating the carriage assembly 2 in its base position thus a desired positioning and alignment of the carriage assembly 2 can be carried out, which drives the associated forming tool 10 along the positive guide 15 in the tool guide plate 13 allows.

Apart from the arrangement and use of a tool guide plate 13, a forming machine according to the present invention, the above-mentioned features of the forming machine according to FIG. 1 exhibit. In contrast to the generic forming machine according to FIG. 1 is dispensed with a forming machine according to the invention to separate guide channels for forming tools in the region of the Umformzentrums, so that the Arbeitsbewegungsweg each forming tool is determined solely by the positioning and orientation of the carriage assembly or the forming tool.

FIG. 2a shows the forming center 9 and its surroundings of an otherwise according to the generic machine FIG. 1 configured forming machine according to the invention, wherein the forming machine is already scaffolded with relevant tools.

FIG. 2b shows the machine section FIG. 2a without tools. Elements in the FIGS. 2a and 2b and the other figures, the elements of FIG. 1 correspond are marked with correspondingly identical reference numbers. Recognizable are in FIG. 2a with their forming tools 10 aligned on a forming center 9 slide assemblies 2 in the forming tools 10 are bending punch, which are front mounted on the plungers 8 of the carriage assemblies 2 and by means of this plunger 8 are axially moved forward and zurückbewegbar to perform strokes and return strokes , They are not in guide, but are free forward from the ram 8 of the carriage assemblies 2 from. The Arbeitsbewegungsweg of the punch 10 of a respective slide assembly 2 is thus directionally determined by the positioning and orientation of the associated slide assembly 2.

In addition to the moving forming tools 10 (bending slide 10) 9 still fixed forming tools 31 are provided in the forming center. These fixed tools 31 are mounted on a rear standardized tool carrier 32, which has a predetermined groove and threaded button for fixing fixed tool elements 31. Such a tool carrier 32 is in FIG. 2b clearly visible. He is firmly connected to the mounting wall 6. The waiver of a tool guide plate with guide grooves for moving forming tools offers in an advantageous manner freedoms in the use of space in the area of the Umformzentrums 9 and in particular also freedoms, as far as the design of both the fixed and the moving forming tools 31, 10 is concerned. These advantages are used in forming machines according to the present invention. In order to avoid that the freely moving forming tools 10 due to Einstellfehlern, machine tolerances, aging and / or wear, etc. differ in their working strokes of the predetermined for them in a respective forming process Arbeitsbewegungsweg, it is provided according to the present invention that a position and Alignment monitoring takes place by means of a positioning control device. This can be done after certain time intervals or continuously.

In FIG. 3 is a possibility of positioning and alignment control of a respective carriage assembly 2 (here the carriage assembly 2a) shown outside of the forming operation of the forming machine. For this purpose, an associated as an accessory to the forming machine measuring device 40 is provided, which is temporarily rotatably mounted on a central mandrel in the forming center 9 about a perpendicular to the plane of movement of the forming tool of the respective carriage assembly 2a extending axis of rotation 42 to a in his distal region of the respective forming tool resembling Ausrichtfinger 45 angularly adjustable. This alignment finger 45 is along a linear guide 43 orthogonal to the axis of rotation 42 and parallel to the plane of movement of one of the respective carriage unit 2a linearly movable to moving forming tool. The alignment finger 45 thus has a rotational degree of freedom determined by the rotatability of the measuring arrangement 40 and an additional degree of translational freedom determined by the mobility along the linear guide 43. The adjustment of the alignment finger 45 and its angular orientation is measurable by means of a dial gauge 44, so that the orientation of a respective forming tool can be detected by aligning the alignment finger 45 axially with the carriage assembly 2a in such a way that it assumes the orientation that is on the plunger 8 has properly fixed forming tool 10 or would assume. The Ausrichtfinger 45 lies in a different plane than the possibly underlying forming tool 10 so that it does not collide with the carriage assembly 2a at the front end of the ram or a possibly arranged thereon forming tool. In this connection, it should be noted that the positioning and alignment control shown can function without a built-in forming tool of the relevant carriage assembly 2a, since the alignment finger 45 can be oriented so that it points in the direction that the forming tool would occupy. In this case, the angle and displacement data of the alignment finger 45 are detected by means of the dial gauge 44. By comparing with reference data indicative of the target positioning and orientation of the forming tool concerned, it can be determined whether the carriage assembly 2a is misaligned, and thus a deviation of the Arbeitsbewegungsweges of moving from the carriage assembly 2a forming tool from the desired Arbeitsbewegungsweg present in the region of the Umformzentrums 9. If such a deviation exists, a correction in the sense of reducing this deviation can be made by rotating the relevant carriage assembly 2a about its axis of rotation 16. This is preferably done automatically by means of the controllable rotary drive. The detection of the deviation of the actual Arbeitsbewegungsweges of the forming tool from the desired Arbeitsbewegungsweg should be close to the Werkzeugbeaufschlagungspunkt or in the forming center 9.

In FIG. 4 is a carriage assembly 2 with solid lines in an exact target positioning and alignment shown so that a designated fixed to the plunger 8 forming tool 10 has its assigned workpiece loading point 50 in the forming center 9 has reached with a corresponding forward stroke. The carriage assembly 2 is this arranged with its mounting base 10 in a desired base position on the arrangement circle 7 - and aligned by setting angle adjustment by rotation about the axis of rotation 16 so to the forming center 9 that the forming tool 10 (in the example, a punch) his Soll Arbeitsbewegungsweg along the dash-dotted line 52 can follow the work strokes. The axis 52 passes through the axis of rotation 70 and the Werkstückbeaufschlagungsstelle 50th

With dashed lines is in FIG. 4 the same carriage unit 2 indicated in incorrect positioning and alignment. In this case, it is displaced by an amount D relative to the desired base positioning on the arrangement circle 7 and, moreover, erroneously aligned with regard to the setting angle, so that its forming tool 10 would follow a working movement path marked by the line 54 during lifting movements. With A is in FIG. 4 the deviation of the actual Arbeitsbewegungsweges 54 of the incorrectly set carriage assembly 2 with respect to the along the axis 52 extending target Arbeitsbewegungsweg, this deviation A between the Werkstückbeaufschlagungsstelle 50 on the axis 52 and the point 55 on the axis 54 has been detected. The point 55 on the axis 54 marks the point that reaches the forming tool with a specific point at its front end, when the stroke of the incorrectly positioned and aligned carriage assembly 2 corresponds to the stroke of the correctly positioned and aligned carriage assembly 2, with the latter its forming tool 10 has positioned with the appropriate location at the front end to the Werkstückbeaufschlagungsstelle.

To correct the position and alignment error, so the deviation A, the carriage unit 2 can be adjusted by rotating about its by the amount D relative to the target position on the array circuit 7 shifted axis of rotation 16 ', so that the axis 54 with the axis 56 which coincides between the axis of rotation 16 'and the Werkstückbeaufschlagungspunkt 50 in FIG. 4 extends. Thus, the positioning deviation D of the carriage assembly on the arrangement circle 7 is not canceled, but this is not necessary in most cases, since the new Arbeitsbewegungsweg the forming tool 10 along the axis 56 in the vicinity of the Werkstückbeaufschlagungsstelle 50 only negligible from the target Arbeitsbewegungsweg along the axis 52 deviates, what in FIG. 4 is very easy to recognize. It is thus possible to carry out a sufficiently correct position and orientation correction of the working movement path of the forming tool 10 solely by changing the adjustment angle B. This is particularly advantageous control technology, since only the rotary drive of the carriage assembly 2 is to be controlled to such an error compensation. A setting angle change B can therefore be carried out quickly and reliably with the desired error correction result.

The detection of the deviation A or a corresponding deviation measure in FIG. 4 can with the referring to FIG. 3 described measures. However, an automatic detection and determination of the required adjustment angle change B by means of suitable measuring and evaluation means is preferred.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the detection of the position and orientation of the carriage assemblies 2 is carried out optically by image recording by means of at least one camera which detects at least the forming center 9 and its surroundings. By evaluating the image data and comparison with corresponding target data position and alignment error of the carriage units 2 can then be determined in order to finally be able to correct them in the manner already explained.

A likewise preferred embodiment of a forming machine 1 according to the invention is partially in the FIGS. 5a and 5b shown. This embodiment may have some or all features of the embodiments already discussed above and has as an additional feature a split tool holder 4 with a base frame 4 A, which is fixedly connected to the linearly displaceable plunger 8 of the carriage assembly 2 at its front end, and with an Justierrahmen 4B, which is guided on the base frame for carrying out adjusting movements relative to the carriage unit 2 along a rectilinear adjustment path in the example transverse to the longitudinal extension 52 of the carriage assembly 2 in the alignment plane or parallel thereto. In FIG. 5a If the Justierrahmen 4B is shown in a basic position on the base frame 4A, in which it is arranged substantially in alignment with the longitudinal extent 52 of the carriage assembly 2. In FIG. 5b the Justierrahmen 4B is shown displaced out of its basic position along the Justierbahn so that it is laterally offset relative to the carriage unit 2. On the Justierrahmen 4B a tool adapter 57 is provided, which for receiving and fixing a respective forming tool (in FIGS. 5a and 5b not shown) is used, so that the forming tool, for example along the Werkzeugausrichtachse 53 aligned fixed to the Justierrahmen 4B.

For guiding the Justierrahmens 4B on the base frame 4A of the tool holder 4, the base frame we A and the Justierrahmen 4B complementary guide profiles 58,59 on. The Justierrahmen 4B can be fixed in any desired adjustment position on its limited linear Justierbahn means of a clamping screw assembly 60.

In the example of the FIGS. 5a and 5b If the Justierbahn is rectilinear. In variants of the embodiment considered here, the complementary guide profiles of the base frame and the Justierrahmens of the tool holder may alternatively be shaped so that also obliquely to the longitudinal extent of the carriage assembly running or curved, for example. Arc-shaped Justierbahnen present long ago the Justierrahmen is displaceable relative to the base frame of the tool holder.

The amount of displacement of the Justierrahmens 4B may be limited or fixed for example by one or more lateral stops for the Justierrahmen 4B or a forming tool already provided on the mounting wall 6 or a tool support plate 32 provided for stationary tools. Such stops may be formed, for example, by one or more plug pins which are inserted in holes of a hole pattern on the mounting wall or on the tool carrier. For this purpose, plug pins with different diameters or / and plug pins with eccentric circumferential contours can be kept in order to be able to use distance variations of the stops. The stop pins may be removed after the conversion machine has been installed, i. optionally removed after appropriate adjustment of the or the forming tools. In other cases, such attacks may also remain as one-sided lateral guide means for the respective forming tool on the mounting wall or a plate optionally provided thereon during the subsequent forming processes.

The displaceability of the Justierrahmens 4B relative to the carriage unit 2 thus represents a further degree of freedom for correcting deviations A of the actual Arbeitsbewegungsweges a to the Justierrahmen 4B intended to be arranged forming tool 10 relative to its desired Arbeitsbewegungsweg.

If the associated carriage unit has been moved to a desired base position on the arrangement circle 7 on the mounting wall 6 and fixed there, it is possible for the carriage unit 2 to be about its axis of rotation 16 to turn in a desired alignment position towards the forming center 9. If desired and required, the adjusting frame 4B of the tool holder 4 can then be displaced relative to the carriage assembly 2 along the adjustment path. This can be entirely or partially manual or according to a (not shown) development of the embodiment according to FIGS. 5a and 5b be done automatically by means of relevant actuators and under control of a control device. In this way, a forming tool to be arranged on the adjusting frame 4B is thus to be set so that it can perform its forming task precisely in the forming process.

If a relevant positioning control device detects deviations of the actual working movement path of a forming tool 4B intended for the adjusting frame relative to its desired working movement path in the forming center 9, then in a correction mode of the forming machine 1 a correction adjustment of the forming tool can be made using the rotary degree of freedom of the slide unit 2 about its axis of rotation 16 and / or using the degree of freedom of displacement of the JustBEG 4B relative to the carriage unit 2 are performed.

According to a variant of the invention, the actual working movement path of the forming tool can always be monitored for deviations from the desired working movement path by means of the positioning control device, so that a current automatic correction in the described manner by rotating the carriage assembly and / or by displacing the adjustment frame is also possible can.

The possibility of adjusting a forming tool by moving a respective carriage assembly along a guide on the mounting wall in a base position, by rotating the carriage assembly about an axis of rotation for selecting a setting angle and by moving a respective Justierrahmens a tool holder along a Justierbahn relative to the carriage assembly in the above explained way can stand alone also have an inventive significance in the application in generic forming machines, ie also in forming machines with guide channels for forming tools in the forming center according to FIG. 1 , wherein corresponding split tool holder would be provided with sliding Justierrahmen. The Applicant reserves the right to direct a separate divisional application to this aspect and to take into account device or / and procedural aspects. Also in this regard is wholly or partially manual moving or turning the carriage assembly or the Justierrahmens in question. Wherein a preferred embodiment provides for automatic adjustment by means of controlled actuators.

Claims (20)

Forming machine, in particular bending machine comprising a machine frame with a mounting wall (6), at least one carriage assembly (2) arranged on the mounting wall (6) and optionally adjustable in different alignment positions in an alignment plane for moving a forming tool (10), in particular a punch, attached thereto on the front side in a plane of movement to a predetermined workpiece loading point (50) in one Forming center (9), wherein the arrangement is such that for guiding the forming tool (10) during the forming operation of the machine no separate from the carriage unit (2) guide channel in the plane of movement of the forming tool (10) is present, so that the Arbeitsbewegungsweg the forming tool (10) in the plane of movement directionally determined by the positioning and orientation of the carriage assembly (2) or an optionally thereto for holding the forming tool (10) provided tool holder (4), and - A positioning control device (40) for detecting deviations of the actual actual Arbeitsbewegungsweges of the forming tool from the predetermined desired Arbeitsbewegungsweg in the forming center (9). Forming machine according to claim 1, wherein the carriage unit by means of a mounting base (17) in a base position on the mounting wall (6) is fixable and in the base position relative to the mounting base (17) about a perpendicular to the alignment plane axis of rotation (16) is rotatable a respective adjustment angle of the forming tool (10) to adjust its orientation relative to the Werkstückbeaufschlagungsstelle (50). Forming machine according to claim 2, wherein a controllable rotary drive for rotating the carriage assembly (2) about the axis of rotation (16) for selectively changing the adjustment angle of the forming tool (10) is provided. Forming machine according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the forming tool is fixed to a tool holder (4) which is arranged on the carriage unit (2) and can be driven together with the forming tool by the carriage unit (2) for movement, wherein the tool holder (4 ) has a directly connected to the carriage unit base frame (4A) and an adjustment for the execution of adjusting movements relative to the carriage assembly (2) along an adjustment guided guided Justierrahmen (4B) on which the forming tool is arranged. Forming machine according to claim 4, wherein the Justierbahn rectilinear and transverse, preferably orthogonal to a longitudinal axis (52 ') of the carriage unit (2). Forming machine according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the Justierrahmen (4B) by means of a controllable tool holder adjusting device relative to the base frame (4A) is displaceable along the Justierbahn. Forming machine according to at least one of claims 2-6, wherein the carriage unit (2) by means of the mounting base (17) at different locations of the mounting wall (6) is fixable in a respective base position. Forming machine according to claim 7, wherein a controllable adjusting drive for guided displacement of the carriage assembly (2) to different locations of the mounting wall (6) is provided. Forming machine according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the various locations lie on a circular path (7) surrounding the forming center (9). Forming machine according to at least one of claims 1-9, wherein it is operable in a correction mode in which detected by the positioning control means (40) deviation (A) of the actual working movement path of the forming tool relative to the desired Arbeitsbewegungsweg by changing the orientation of the carriage unit (2) reducible or compensable. A forming machine according to claim 10, wherein in the correction mode, it is adapted to change the actual orientation of the carriage assembly (2) to reduce or compensate for the deviation (A) of the actual working travel path from the target working travel path of the forming tool (10) by rotating the Slide unit (2) to allow the axis of rotation (16). Forming machine according to claim 11 and claim 3, characterized in that it is adapted in the correction mode, the carriage assembly (2) about the rotation axis (16) automatically controlled by means of the controllable rotary drive to rotate the deviation (A) of the actual Arbeitsbewegungsweges of the forming tool from its desired Arbeitsbewegungsweg in the vicinity of the Werkstückbeaufschlagungsstelle in the forming center (9). Forming machine according to claim 4 or a related claim, wherein it is operable in a correction mode in which detected by the Positionierkontrolleinrichtung (40) deviation (A) of the Ist Arbeitsarbeitungsweges the forming tool (10) relative to the desired Arbeitsbewegungsweg by moving the Justierrahmens (4B) is reducible or compensatable relative to the base frame (4A) of the tool holder (4). Forming machine according to claim 10 and claim 13, wherein in the correction mode it is adapted to change the actual orientation of the carriage assembly (2) for reducing or compensating the deviation (A) of the actual working movement path from the desired working movement path of the forming tool (10). by rotation of the carriage assembly (2) about the axis of rotation (16) and / or by moving the Justierrahmens (4B) relative to the base frame (4A) of the tool holder (4) can be reduced or compensated. Forming machine according to claim 14, wherein the rotation of the carriage assembly (2) about the axis of rotation (16) and / or the displacement of the Justierrahmens (4B) relative to the base frame (4A) of the tool holder (4) automatically by means of one or more actuators under control of a Control device is feasible. Forming machine according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the positioning control device comprises an optical position detection device, preferably an image detection device for optical, in particular imagewise detection of actual positions of the carriage assembly (2) and / or the forming tool (10), further comprising evaluation means for evaluation for the purpose the detection of deviations from each other associated actual position data and target position data as a basis for a particular automatic alignment correction of the carriage assembly (2) or forming tool (10) are provided. Forming machine according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the carriage unit (2) has a controllable electromotive drive and is designed as an NC unit. Method for correcting the position of the forming tool of a forming machine according to claim 2, comprising the steps: Detecting a deviation (A) of the actual working movement path of the forming tool from a predetermined desired working movement path in the forming center (9) and - Turning the carriage assembly (2) about the axis of rotation (16), so that the deviation (A) is at least reduced. Method for correcting the position of the forming tool of a forming machine according to claim 4, comprising the steps: Detecting a deviation (A) of the actual working movement path of the forming tool from a predetermined desired working movement path in the forming center (9) and - Moving the Justierrahmens (4B) long the Justierbahn, so that the deviation (A) is at least reduced. The method of claim 18 and claim 19, wherein to reduce the deviation (A), both the carriage assembly (2) about its axis of rotation (16) is rotated and the Justierrahmen (4A) is moved along the Justierbahn.

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