GB2155837A - Punch press with workpiece datum sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

A punch press having a movable carriage 16 which mounts clamps 24, 24 for gripping a workpiece 18 to move the workpiece relative to the punch 28, the punch press being provided with a workpiece datum sensor 30 which is mounted to the carriage and serves to establish a datum position for the workpiece relative to the carriage. The workpiece is thus loaded so that its side edge abuts the sensor 30 and its rear edge is inserted fully into the clamps, but this loading can take place without waiting for the carriage to return to any predetermined position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Punch press with workpiece datum sensor This invention relates to a punch press having a workpiece datum sensor for use in establishing a workpiece at a datum position.

A known punch press comprises a carriage which mounts say two clamps for gripping a workpiece along an edge thereof, the carriage being movable along a horizontal beam (X-axis) which beam is movable horizontally along an axis (axis) perpendicularto itself: the movements of beam and carriage enable the workpiece to be moved to any desired position relative to a punch (and its aligned die) of the press and the movements preferably are under computer numerical control. It is necessary to load the blank workpiece into the correct position initially. For this purpose it is known to provide an upstanding datum pin, stationarily mounted relative to the press, so that the workpiece is loaded with one of its sides abutting this pin.However this requires the carriage to be returned to a predetermined position along its beam before the clamps can be applied, to ensure that the workpiece is held in a predetermined datum position relative to the carriage.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a punch press having a carriage which mounts at least one workpiece clamp and which is arranged for movement along a horizontal beam, which beam is arranged for movement horizontally along an axis perpendicular to itself, the punch press being further provided with a workpiece datum sensor which is mounted to the carriage and serves to establish a datum position for the workpiece relative to the carriage.

This arrangement allows the workpiece to be loaded at any practical position of the carriage along its X and Y axes, thus saving the time which would otherwise be necessary whilst the carriage is returned to a predetermined position.

An embodiment of this invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side-view of a punch press in accordance with this invention; and Figure2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the punch press of Figure 1.

In the example shown, a punch press comprises fixed upper and lower horizontal limbs 10, 12 mounted together by a vertical limb 14. A carriage 16 is provided for holding a workpiece 18 (e.g. a sheet of metal) and for moving the workpiece along X and Y axes relative to the press in orderto place the required portions of the workpiece in alignment with a punch 20 and its co-operating die 22. Carriage 16 is provided with say two clamps 24 spaced apart along the X-axis for gripping a rear edge of the workpiece.

Means are provided for moving the carriage along the X-axis relative to a horizontal beam 26 which is mounted transverse to the press. Means are also provided for moving the beam 26 along the Y-axis. A computer numerical control is provided for controlling (in each cycle) movement of the beam to the correct position along the Y-axis and for moving the carriage to the correct position along the X-axis for accurately positioning the workpiece relative to the punch and its die that, upon actuating the punch by a ram 28, the workpiece will be operated upon preceisely at its required location.

A workpiece datum sensor is provided on the carriage and in the example shown it comprises an upstanding pin 30. The workpiece is to be loaded with its side abutting the pin and its rear edge inserted fully into the workpiece clamps so as to abut datum stops therein. Under these conditions the workpiece will be in its correct position starting relative to the carriage and there is no need to return the carriage to a predetermined position along either the X or Y axis before the workpiece is loaded and the clamps are closed.

The pin 30 may be mounted on an eccentric to provide for accurate adjustment of its effective position. The pin may be arranged to be moved to different positions along the carriage to suit workpieces of different sizes.

1. A punch press having a carriage which mounts at least one workpiece clamp and which is arranged for movement along a horizontal beam extending transversely of the press, the punch press being further provided with a workpiece datum sensor which is mounted to the carriage and serves to establish a datum position for the workpiece relative to the carriage.

2. A punch press as claimed in claim 1, in which the workpiece datum sensor comprises an upstanding pin to be abutted by a side of the workpiece when loaded such that its rear edge is inserted fully into the clamp(s).

3. A punch press as claimed in 2, in which the pin is mounted to an eccentric to provide for accurate adjustment of its effective position.

4. A punch press as claimed in claim 2 or 3, arranged for the pin to be moved to different positions along the carriage to suit workpieces of different sizes.

5. A punch press as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a computer numerical control system for controlling movement of the carriage relative to a punch and associated die of the press.

6. A punch press substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Punch press with workpiece datum sensor This invention relates to a punch press having a workpiece datum sensor for use in establishing a workpiece at a datum position. A known punch press comprises a carriage which mounts say two clamps for gripping a workpiece along an edge thereof, the carriage being movable along a horizontal beam (X-axis) which beam is movable horizontally along an axis (axis) perpendicularto itself: the movements of beam and carriage enable the workpiece to be moved to any desired position relative to a punch (and its aligned die) of the press and the movements preferably are under computer numerical control. It is necessary to load the blank workpiece into the correct position initially. For this purpose it is known to provide an upstanding datum pin, stationarily mounted relative to the press, so that the workpiece is loaded with one of its sides abutting this pin.However this requires the carriage to be returned to a predetermined position along its beam before the clamps can be applied, to ensure that the workpiece is held in a predetermined datum position relative to the carriage. In accordance with this invention, there is provided a punch press having a carriage which mounts at least one workpiece clamp and which is arranged for movement along a horizontal beam, which beam is arranged for movement horizontally along an axis perpendicular to itself, the punch press being further provided with a workpiece datum sensor which is mounted to the carriage and serves to establish a datum position for the workpiece relative to the carriage. This arrangement allows the workpiece to be loaded at any practical position of the carriage along its X and Y axes, thus saving the time which would otherwise be necessary whilst the carriage is returned to a predetermined position. An embodiment of this invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side-view of a punch press in accordance with this invention; and Figure2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the punch press of Figure 1. In the example shown, a punch press comprises fixed upper and lower horizontal limbs 10, 12 mounted together by a vertical limb 14. A carriage 16 is provided for holding a workpiece 18 (e.g. a sheet of metal) and for moving the workpiece along X and Y axes relative to the press in orderto place the required portions of the workpiece in alignment with a punch 20 and its co-operating die 22. Carriage 16 is provided with say two clamps 24 spaced apart along the X-axis for gripping a rear edge of the workpiece. Means are provided for moving the carriage along the X-axis relative to a horizontal beam 26 which is mounted transverse to the press. Means are also provided for moving the beam 26 along the Y-axis. A computer numerical control is provided for controlling (in each cycle) movement of the beam to the correct position along the Y-axis and for moving the carriage to the correct position along the X-axis for accurately positioning the workpiece relative to the punch and its die that, upon actuating the punch by a ram 28, the workpiece will be operated upon preceisely at its required location. A workpiece datum sensor is provided on the carriage and in the example shown it comprises an upstanding pin 30. The workpiece is to be loaded with its side abutting the pin and its rear edge inserted fully into the workpiece clamps so as to abut datum stops therein. Under these conditions the workpiece will be in its correct position starting relative to the carriage and there is no need to return the carriage to a predetermined position along either the X or Y axis before the workpiece is loaded and the clamps are closed. The pin 30 may be mounted on an eccentric to provide for accurate adjustment of its effective position. The pin may be arranged to be moved to different positions along the carriage to suit workpieces of different sizes. CLAIMS

1. A punch press having a carriage which mounts at least one workpiece clamp and which is arranged for movement along a horizontal beam extending transversely of the press, the punch press being further provided with a workpiece datum sensor which is mounted to the carriage and serves to establish a datum position for the workpiece relative to the carriage.

2. A punch press as claimed in claim 1, in which the workpiece datum sensor comprises an upstanding pin to be abutted by a side of the workpiece when loaded such that its rear edge is inserted fully into the clamp(s).

3. A punch press as claimed in 2, in which the pin is mounted to an eccentric to provide for accurate adjustment of its effective position.

4. A punch press as claimed in claim 2 or 3, arranged for the pin to be moved to different positions along the carriage to suit workpieces of different sizes.

5. A punch press as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a computer numerical control system for controlling movement of the carriage relative to a punch and associated die of the press.

6. A punch press substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.