JP2992844B2 - A processing machine for automatically bending a metal sheet band into a beam by longitudinally bending, punching, drawing and lateral bending according to an electronically programmable shape - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for bending a band of metal sheet longitudinally according to an electrically programmable shape and for automatically transforming into a stamped, drawn and laterally bent beam. Related to processing machines.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are substantially three known techniques for bending a strip of sheet metal several times and in various directions to obtain beams of various shapes. A continuous band formed by a so-called roll forming machine, in which the shape is formed by gradually adapting the band to the shape of a number of rollers in a line that rotates in synchronization with the band itself, and bending by a so-called press brake. A bend in which a single meter-long strip is bent once at a time by the action of a straight acute angle blade penetrating into the groove of a fixed opposite blade hindered by the sheet metal to be bent;
Molding by a normal press, in which a movable ram penetrates into a die half integral with the base and a bend in which the integral die half makes several bends simultaneously.

[0003] Each of the three prior techniques automatically converts from one shape to another completely different shape when it is necessary to produce a small series of bending beams of many different lengths of the same shape. A significant disadvantage when it is necessary to go from one part length to another, and when in addition to longitudinal bending it is also necessary to perform punching, drawing and lateral bending on the strip. have.

[0004] In fact, the first technique involves the design and manufacture of shaped rollers and the replacement and replacement of the rollers on the machine at the start of each new manufacturing run, with the same shapes and different shapes. It can only be used for the production of large pieces having a length. Furthermore, it is not possible to perform drawing operations and lateral bending on the pieces during the shaping process.

[0005] The second technique uses a single die and has no point in securing the sheet metal strip to the machine base during the bending operation. In addition,-the person or robot moving the strip to the die must make a displacement of one edge of the strip during the bending operation, which is dangerous and the robot operates only after being directed by a complex programming procedure . Both are not very effective in any case. -In order to make any piece, it is necessary to replace the die with another die having a different shape, which means a loss of time which reduces the productivity of the machine.

The third technique generally uses several dies simultaneously located on the same press and transfer device,
This transfer device grips the strip end at each forming station and advances the strip by one step. Although this technique has high productivity, it is fixed because the length of the pieces and strips produced is only for the die produced.

[0007]

The main problem of the invention is that at the same time it is very productive, very flexible and can be punched, drawn and bent in any case and shorter than the maximum preset value. The goal is to complete a machine that can be fully automated to produce beams of any length.

A second object of the present invention is to allow easy handling of the sheet metal strip to be processed with a tool that immobilizes one edge of the sheet metal during the bending operation. A third object of the present invention is to provide a machine which is arranged in a limited space and which has a complicated shape or several different shapes can be manufactured by the same machine. Numerous bends, ready for operation
Punching and drawing dies. A fourth object of the present invention is to complete a machine which can directly supply one or more bands of sheet metal wound on a coil.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, an object such as this is to provide a two-way joint for bending, drawing or punching a sheet metal band having a vertical axis and located between die halves. Two prisms each having a polygonal cross-sectional side surface supporting each die half cooperating with each other, and for rotating the prism relative to a vertical axis of the prism, the die halves facing each other. Means for positioning each operating position, means for reciprocating the prism toward and away from a vertical plane including the axis, and gripping clamps suitable for vertically supporting a band of sheet metal from above. The possibility of movement along a first horizontal axis passing between the prisms at right angles to the vertical plane of the movement of the prisms;
A manipulator having a possibility of movement along a second horizontal axis perpendicular to the horizontal axis and along a vertical axis of rotation of the sheet metal band only longitudinally. Rather, it is achieved by the machines used to punch, draw, and bend these bands.

[0010] It is also preferred that a means is provided for further restrictive rotation of one of the two prisms after reaching the operating position and during the bending operation of the sheet metal band. This has the purpose of enabling a bend having an angle of 90 degrees or more. More specifically, the present invention provides that a plurality of pairs of bending, drawing or stamping die halves are arranged on the plane of two prisms having a polygonal cross-section with vertical and parallel axes. , These dies half interact with each other by pulling one side closer to the other by rotation, and then the movement of the prisms with sufficient force to cause the necessary deformation of the sheet metal, A desired operation is performed.

The end of the prism has a die half mounted on the prism, the prism itself can rotate on the vertical axis of the prism by the action of a numerical control motor and a suitable motion transmission device, and the die half is Each face of the prism is supported to ensure that it stops at a position that is opposite and parallel to the face of the other prism on which the homologous die half is mounted.

The axes of the two prisms move parallel to each other and are adjusted one to the other by moving the two die halves mounted on the two opposite faces of the prism itself closer together. It has become. In certain cases, one of the two prisms may have a fixed axis relative to the base. A movable horizontal carriage supporting the end pivots of the prism is connected to a rigid rectangular frame for movement, its central vertical plane is parallel to the axis plane of the prism, and constitutes the fixed structure of the machine doing.

At the center of the upper horizontal beam of the machine is a manipulator having a clamp as a gripping member. The clamp moves according to three numerical axes:
A horizontal linear axis of movement perpendicular to the plane of the claim, a horizontal axis perpendicular to the previous axis, and a vertical axis of rotation. Furthermore, the clamp has the possibility to assume two positions that are not vertically separated from each other.

Thus, the clamp can reach any point of the horizontal rectangle, the long side of which is perpendicular to the plane through which the axis of the die holding prism passes, and at any such point any angular orientation Can be taken,
Then, a slight vertical displacement is performed. The clamp is a chin
(jaw), which opens and closes by rotating on a horizontal axis, thus gripping a strip of sheet metal to be processed along a straight segment parallel and close to the short side of the strip itself And is suitable for holding the strip in a vertical plane.

The clamp often must have a narrow jaw to grip the very short straight edge of the bending strip, and occasionally must have a wide jaw to grip the wide edge, and It is designed to move the strip under all circumstances with maximum acceleration, and the clamp automatically exchanges with other clamps stored in the magazine forming part of this machine It is possible.

In its movement, the clamp pulls the strip coming out of a shearing device mounted on the front of the frame or from a bundle of strips placed in the container, and for each of the strip deformation operations The strip can be placed in a correctly defined position between the two die halves attached to the prism, and at the end of the process, the resulting beam can be moved to a vertical container located on either side of the frame.

The advantages obtained from the present invention over the known techniques invoked above are numerous: supply in strip bundles that have already been cut elsewhere, which is not possible with a rolling press, or Alternatively, feeding the metal band in coils, which is not possible with a bending press; the strip is vertical and held from above,
The maneuverability of the strip between the die halves with a single clamp is therefore due to the fact that the strip does not bend by gravity towards one of the two die halves. The ability of the manipulator to handle very long strips by gripping the strip at one end only and again placing the strip vertically. The necessity of a programmed movement of the manipulator to effect the displacement of the strip edge during the bending operation, due to the fact that the area of the strip gripped by the manipulator clamp can be held stationary. The possibility of assembling several dies in a confined area and the possibility of moving them quickly to the operating position, thus allowing for an instantaneous transition from one bending configuration to another; The mobility of two die halves on two orthogonal axes, thus different bend angles and radii for each bend, can program some things that are not possible with conventional presses where the die reciprocates in only one direction. is there. One possible embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings.

[0018]

1 and 2 show schematic views of the overall structure of the machine. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a support structure 1, which can be (steel cast, welded sheet metal, etc.)
Irrespective of the material and the particular subsections divided into subsections suitable for facilitating manufacture and / or transport, the base 2, the crossbeam 3 and the uprights 4, the right projection 5 and 6 and a closed frontal shape having a front part 7 and a rear part 8 supporting some of the working members of the machine.

The left prism 9 having a fixed vertical axis rotates on that axis. The right prism 10 having a movable vertical axis can be moved, in addition to rotating on its axis, such that its axis lies in a vertical plane holding the axis of the left prism 9. Both prisms 9 and 10 are made of sheet metal
(Bending, drawing, punching) It is suitable to support each die half for processing on the surfaces of the prisms 9 and 10. There is no mechanical guide to hold the axis of the right prism 10 vertically, and while still in the vertical plane described above, the inclination of that axis in that plane is determined by the fluidic device moving its own end. It is therefore possible to maintain and check the parallel and non-parallel working edges of the homologous die halves attached to the prisms 9 and 10, so that a constant angle to the strip of sheet metal 40 to be processed However, it is possible to bend at variable angles.

Inside the base 2 which can enter and exit through the wide openings 11 and 12, a control device 1 for the rotation of the prisms 9 and 10
There are 3 and 14. On the lateral protrusion 5 of the base 2 and on the lateral protrusion 6 of the cross beam 3, control devices 15 and 16 for moving the right prism 10 are mounted. A horizontal beam 17 having a protrusion 7 extending along the front of the structure 1 and a protrusion 8 extending from the back of the structure 1
Above, the manipulator 18 that moves and supports a strip of sheet metal 40 to be processed slides. An automatic clamp magazine 19 is provided at the rearmost end of the beam 17.

Referring to FIG. 3, the manipulator 18 is moved along precision guides 20 and 21 via a speed reducer 134, actuated by a motor that rotates a non-visible toothed pinion that engages the rack 23. Beam 17
Slide on top. For safety, at the end of the stroke of the manipulator 18 on the beam 17 there are suitable shock absorbers 24 and 25 (FIG. 2) that can absorb the kinetic energy of the manipulator that was not accidentally braked by the motor 22.

The manipulator 18 has a carriage 26 slidable along the beam 17 and supporting an overhanging beam 27, along which the motor 31 moves on precision guides 29 and 30. The other carriage 28 is moved by the motor, and the motor operates the toothed belt 34 and the screw 35 via the pulleys 32 and 33.

A clamp 36, which is rotated on a vertical axis 37 by a motor 38, is hinged on the carriage 28, and the motor 38 is connected to a casing 39 shown in FIG.
The movement is transmitted to the carriage 28 by a worm screw and a helical pinion indicated by. The clamp 36 has two jaws 41 and 42, which are opened by springs and closed by fluid cylinders not visible in the figure. Clamp 36 is also vertically moved by a fluid cylinder (not shown) between two fixed positions that are in close proximity to each other. Because the clamp 36 is tightened on a support shaft that rotates on an axis 37, the clamp 36 can be automatically removed and replaced with a different size clamp contained in the magazine 19 (FIG. 2).

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, one of the clamps 36 provided on the machine has a gripper 139 inside,
Including a jaw 41 with a clamping lip or lip 137 and a cylindrical / conical pin 135 with a tip 136;
This tip 136 protrudes by a fraction of a millimeter from the clamp lip 137 of the jaw 41, the pin is held in place by a very rigid spring 138, and the clamp is held against the strip of metal sheet 40. When fully closed, the tip 136 of the pin 135 and the gripper 139 of the jaw 41 are embedded in the sheet metal 40, and the spring 138 is compressed more than when the clamp is opened. Due to the slight movement of the jaws 41, 42 away from each other, the clamping lip 137 can no longer be
0, while the tip 136 of the pin 135 is still embedded in the sheet metal 40 by the action of the spring 138. Under these circumstances, the strip of sheet metal 40 can rotate on the axis of pin 135 and slide against the flat surface of jaw 42. This is achieved by creating an angle between the vertical strip and the die half.
It allows the implementation of a bend on a strip of sheet metal 40. This will be described later in detail. Beam 17
The slight displacement of the carriage 26 along the axis always provides a few degrees of inclination, while the clamp 36 is arranged parallel to the beam 17 by its clamp lip 137, and the lower end of the sheet metal 40 is Movement is impeded. Once the strip has been tilted, the clamp 36 is closed again and the strip 40 returns under the control of the manipulator.

Referring to FIG. 6, the actual expansion of the jaws 41 and 42 of the clamp 36 is somewhat widened in the direction of the clamp lip to fit the jaws 41 and 42 to the wide or narrow flat edges of the strip being processed. Part 157
The switching of the clamp 36 of the manipulator 18 (FIG. 3), which is indispensable for the devices 158 and FIG. 4 with some extensions 157 and 158 or a special jaw, FIG.
Spare clamps 36 ', 36 ", etc., having jaws as illustrated by FIGS. 5 and 6, are placed on the appropriate sheets 159, ie six sheets, of the flat spider 160 of the magazine 19.

Each spare clamp is inserted into spider 160 by sliding the lateral edge of sheet 159 into grooves 161 and 162 on the sides of each clamp. The release of each clamp 36 from the seat 159 is prevented by the spring-operated dog 163. The spider 160, which is flat and located in a horizontal plane, can rotate on a vertical axis 200 passing through its center, and the seat of the clamp can be stopped exactly at the opposite position from that of FIG. To manipulator 18 to spider 16
0 and vice versa.

The attachment of the clamp 36 to the end portion 164 of the manipulator 18 is obtained by a dovetail connection, the gap of which is eliminated by a wedge 165 which is pressed by a spring 166 and is prevented from slipping. The closing device of the clamp 36, the fluid cylinder 167 acting on the hinged jaw 41 and its accessories, are incorporated in the end portion 164 of the manipulator 18.

A small pneumatic or fluid cylinder 168 integral with the support structure of the spider 160 (FIG. 2)
5 and are aligned with the wedge 16 against the spring 166.
5 is pushed up to release clamp 36 from end portion 164 of manipulator 18. Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2 and with particular reference to FIG. 8, the left prism 9 is configured to be rotatable at its lower end relative to the base 2 and at its upper end relative to the beam 3. At its lower end, a shaft 43 extends downwardly and terminates in a gear 44 which engages a pinion 45 operated by a motor 46. Two toothed polygonal plates 47 and 48 having teeth 65 (FIG. 9)
Are integrated at the lower end and the upper end of the left prism 9 respectively.

Two separate, but substantially identical, FIG. 8
In FIG. 9, which simultaneously shows the IX-IX cross section, two toothed polygonal plates 47 and 48 are seen when the lower part is viewed from above and the upper part is viewed from below. Between the toothed plate 47 and the base 2 and between the toothed plate 48 and the beam 3
Are two levers 49 and 50 identical to each other. Each of these two levers is held in a horizontal plane by being held by a sliding surface belonging to an adjacent casing, and can slide relative to a small parallelepiped block 51 (FIG. 9), and furthermore each has a base. Rotate on pivot 52 integral with 2 and beam 3. The sliding movement of the levers 49 and 50 on the small block 51 is actuated by small fluid cylinders 53 and 54, which are hinged on supports 55 and 56 integral with the base 2 and the beam 3, respectively. It has a closed casing and a stem hinged to each end of levers 49 and 50. Opposite ends 57 and 58 of levers 49 and 50 move between a pair of fluid buffers 59 and 62 and between a pair of fluid buffers 60 and 61, respectively. Integral with the structure 1 and their stems, on the other hand, are movable and the ends 5 of the levers 49, 50
It is suitable for absorbing the kinetic energy transmitted to those buffers by 7, 58. Small cylinder 5
When 3, 54 is extended, the levers 49, 50 have respective teeth 63, 64 outside the space traversed by the teeth 65 of the toothed plates 47, 48, and thus in this state the left prism 9 is driven by a motor 46 and can rotate freely on its axis. However, when the small cylinders 53 and 54 are retracted as shown in FIG.
4 stops the rotation of the toothed plates 47, 48 and the left prism 9 integral therewith by interfering with the teeth 65,
Discharge kinetic energy to 9, 60 or 61, 62.
A pair of fluid cylinders 66, 67 and 68, 69 cause the levers 49, 50, respectively, to oppose their opposite shock absorbers to provide the next rotational braking of the prism 9.

A pair of gears 4 integral with the base 2
Casing 70 (FIG. 8) surrounding shafts 4 and 45 and shaft 43
There are several sealing gaskets, not shown, which, in combination with several conduits made in the casing 70 and the shaft 43, constitute a rotary coupling through which the feed into the prism 9 is carried out. Here, some dice require fluid actuation.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the right prism 10 is opposite to the left prism 9 in that the base 2 and the beam 3
Rather than being rotatably connected directly to the carriage 71, its lower end is connected to the carriage 71 and its upper end to the carriage 72. The carriage 71 includes the driving device 1
5 (FIG. 1), the prism 9 is guided by the precise guides 73, 74, 75 toward the prism 9 and can move only on the base 2 in the horizontal direction. On the other hand, the carriage 72
Since it is attached to the beam 3 only by the precision guide 76, it moves in a manner parallel and equal to the movement of the carriage 71 by the action of the drive 16 (FIG. 1), and perpendicular to the plane of the axes of the prisms 9 and 10. Can rotate on horizontal axis. Lower pivot and carriage 71 of right prism 10
Rolling bearings 77 and 78 are spherical with a common center and thus allow reciprocation of the axis of prism 10 with respect to carriage 71, while the bearing between the upper pivot of the right prism and carriage 72. 79 does not allow reciprocation between the prism and the carriage. Therefore, the carriage 72 moves the right prism 10 only when the prism reciprocates only in the vertical plane on which the prism reciprocates.
, And the carriage 71 is always kept parallel to the base 2.

Like the left prism 9, the right prism 10 is also rotated on the axis of the prism 10 by a motor 80, and the shaft of the motor 80 holds a toothed pinion 81. Are engaged with a wheel 82 integral with a pivot 83 which is an extension of the prism 10. A casing 84 surrounding the pair of gears 81 and 82 and supporting the motor 80 is bound to the base 2 only to the extent that it is spherically connected to the lower surface of the carriage 71 and does not allow rotation. Is always pivot 83
And are kept coaxial. There are several sealing gaskets between the casing 84 and the shaft 83, which cooperate with several conduits made in the casing 84 and the shaft 83 to form a rotary coupling, Pressure oil is sent through a rotating coupling into a prism, where several dies require fluid actuation.

Tooth 10 with different radial extensions
Two toothed polygonal plates 85 having 3,104
And 86 are integrally attached to the lower and upper ends of the right prism 10, respectively. In FIG. 11, which simultaneously shows two different but substantially identical cross-sections of FIG. 10, when looking at the lower part from above and the upper part from below, both toothed polygonal plates 85 and 86 are visible. Can be Below the toothed plate 85 and above the toothed plate 86 are two levers 87 and 88. Each of these two levers, held in a horizontal plane, can slide relative to a small parallelepiped block 89 (FIG. 11) and rotate on a pivot 90 together with carriage 71 and carriage 72, respectively. I do. Lever 87 and 8 on small block 89
The sliding movement of 8 is operated by small fluid cylinders 91 and 92. These fluid cylinders 91 and 92
Each with the carriage 71 and the carriage 72,
It has a casing hinged to supports 93 and 94 and has a stem hinged to the ends of levers 87 and 88, respectively. Opposite ends 95, 96 of levers 87, 88 are each provided with a pair of fluid dampers 9
7, 99 and a pair of fluid dampers 98, 100, the casings of which can be adjusted with respect to the structure 1 and whose stem (shaft) is , 88 are suitable for absorbing the kinetic energy transmitted to their shock absorbers by the ends 95, 96.

When the small cylinders 91 and 92 extend,
The levers 87 and 88 are provided for the teeth 10 of the tooth plates 85 and 86.
3, each tooth 10 being outside the space traversed by the teeth 104 of each tooth plate that is outside of the space traversed by 3 but more than the other teeth
1, 102. Under these conditions, the right prism 10 can make almost one rotation but no more. This is to prevent breakage of the electrical cable entering right prism 10 along hollow shaft 83 as a result of indeterminate rotation in the same direction. However, on the other hand, when the small cylinders 91, 92 retract, the teeth 101, 102 interfere with the teeth 103, stopping the rotation of the toothed plates 85, 86 and the right prism 10, and displacing their kinetic energy. , A pair of fluid buffers 97,
Release to 99 or 98,100. A pair of fluid cylinders 105, 106 and 107, 108 cause the respective levers 87 and 88 to oppose their respective dampers, which provide the next braking of the rotation of the prism 10.

The left prism 9 rotates in order to quickly move to, for example, one of nine positions in the figure. In this case, one of the die halves attached to the surface of the prism is held by the prism 9. It is in the correct position facing the corresponding die half. Once one of these positions has been reached, the motor 46 with the pinion 45 continues to push the teeth of the wheel 44, which further increases the toothed plates 47,4.
8 teeth 65 against the teeth 63, 64, thus pushing the ends 57, 58 of the levers 49, 50 into two shock absorbers 59, 61 or 60, 62, one lower and one upper.
And the shock absorbers push the corresponding end abutments of the casing to keep the prism 9 stationary during the entire bending operation.

The prism 10 is also rotated by the same mechanism to place the correct die in the working position, but this allows a slight angle rotation during the bending operation to make possible bendings of more than 90 degrees. The amount of operation rotation is a function of the thickness of the metal sheet, the quality of the metal sheet, the bending angle, and the shape of the die, which must be set very accurately. Furthermore, this rotation requires a great deal of force, since it has to overcome the resistance of the metal sheet to be bent. FIG. 12, which is a cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII in FIG. 11, illustrates a mechanism in which a small rotation operation of the right prism 10 is achieved with a large force and high precision. The same mechanism is attached to both the lower and upper ends of the right prism 10, but FIG. 12 illustrates only the features attached to the lower end. Two motors 10
9 and 110 rotate two thin shafts 111 and 112, each of which has two toothed pinions 113,114.
And 115, 116 are integrated. Each of the pinions engages externally toothed and internally threaded rings 117, 118, 119, 120 which are threaded into the cylindrical casings 97, 99 of the shock absorber. These shock absorbers have small keys 125, 12
6 prevents rotation. The end of the casing of each shock absorber opposite the side from which the stem (shaft) protrudes ends in pistons 121, 122, which pass through the chambers of the single acting fluid cylinders 123, 124. The stroke end of each of the pistons 121, 122 is associated with a corresponding ring 117, 119 or 118,
120 is determined by the position set by the motors 109,110. In this way, the small rotation operation of the prism 10 is performed by the fluid cylinders 123 and 124, but is set in the range by the rotation motors 109 and 110.

The device 15 mounted on the protrusion 5 of the base 2 (FIG. 1) and operating the movement of the lower carriage 71 of the right prism 10 and the device 16 on the protrusion 6 of the carriage 72 Referring also to FIG. 13, which also shows
The carriage is moved by two pairs of single-acting fluid cylinders 12.
Operated in the operating direction by 7, 128, and 129, 130, these fluid cylinders push only the carriage through spherical and planar surfaces that allow misalignment and tilt.

The movement of the carriage in the opposite direction, requiring much less force, is operated by two fluid traction cylinders 131,132. The movement of the cylinder is operated by an electro-fluid servo valve.
In all the above figures, prisms 9 and 10 are shown without dice, while in FIG. 14 a horizontal cross section of a typical bending die and fluid metal sheet retainer associated with right prism 10 is shown. Have been. This die has two die halves 143
And 144, the first die being connected to the left prism 9
And the second die is attached to the surface 146 of the right prism 10. In FIG. 14, the two half dies 143 and 144 are represented at the starting position of the bending operation, ie the faces 145 and 146 of the left prism 9 and the right prism 10, respectively, are parallel to each other. , Both prisms have their respective motors 46
8 (FIG. 8) and 80 (FIG. 10).
(FIG. 9) and 98, 99 (FIG. 11) are held against the abutments, and these shock absorbers control the rotation of their prisms in the direction of the hands of the watch when viewed from above. The obstructing and right prism 10 clamps the working surface 147 of the metal sheet retainer 148 belonging to the die half 14 with the clamp 36 (FIG. 3).
Opposite blade 150 belonging to die half 143
To the strip of metal sheet 40 located on the side 149 of FIG. The die half 144 also has a blade 151
including. The metal sheet holder 148 and the blade 151 are mounted on a die holder 152, which is further held on the right prism 10 by quick-acting holding means 153. A series of fluid cylinders 154 incorporated into the right prism 10 apply a regulated force on the sliding action of the sheet metal retainer 148 of the die retainer 152 with known devices. The opposite blade 150 is a die holder 155
Which is further retained by quick-actuated retaining means 156 on the left prism 9.

The structural features and operation of the die constituted by the die halves 143 and 144 and cooperating with the cylinder 154 are the subject of Italian Patent Application No. 19330 A / 90 of February 9, 1990. is there. FIG.
With reference to, the sheet metal to be transformed into parts having different shapes and different lengths is available in continuous strip wound on a coil, the machine described so far comprises two coaxial and opposite Terminating in a rewind reel 190 having chucks 191 and 192, each of which expands and rotates to rotate coil 19 of band 196.
The first coil 193 supports and rotates a first strip 194 and a vertically arranged strip 40 of the clamp 3.
The second coil 194 is in a position where it can be easily replaced by a third coil, shown in line with the position gripped at its top by 6. The rewind reel 190 is rotatable on a vertical axis 195 passing through its center. The band 196 unwound from the coil 193 forms a lower loop, which falls below the lower surface of the base 2 (FIG. 1), and then rises its free end vertically just above the vertical line of the clamp 36, as in FIG. It is placed at a position where it is gripped by the manipulator 18.

In the vertical position, the band 196 is
Through an extension / feed unit 197 with rollers,
This unit clamps the band in addition to removing the band's curvature from being wound on the coil from the band.
Advance the front of the band along a suitable vertical guide by an amount sufficient to penetrate a few millimeters between the 6 jaws.

There are three shears above the extender / feeder 197: one shearer has horizontal blades not shown in FIG. 15 and cuts the strip transversely to cut the strip 40; The two shears are circular blades 1
98 and 199, moving away from each other wider or narrower depending on the width required of the strip 40 to trim the edges of the band 196 prior to a transverse cut. The two rewind reels 190, the extend / feed unit 197 and the shears 198, 199 are all within the known art, and thus will not be described in detail, but a possible solution to the problem of automatically producing the strip 40. Only one example will be schematically described. The stretching and shearing units are vertically movable and in each case must be positioned at a height corresponding to the length of the strip 40.

The operation of the machine shown in the figure will now be described. The coils of the sheet metal band 193 maintain the synchronous movement of the chuck 191, the reel 190, the size of the loop, and make the vertical portion of the band as wide as possible, and extend / feed unit 197 to prepare the strip 40 as long as possible. Rewinding by the effect of This strip 40 must be bent according to a predetermined shape drawn by an appropriate program installed in the electronic control of the machine made and installed according to known techniques.

To reduce the trim scrap, ie the band to the required width, the two narrow strips removed from the edges of the original band 196 are cut into strips by the circular blade described above and fall into the container. There must be.
Finish processing of previous strip, clamp 3 if any
After the automatic switching of 6, the manipulator 18 moves the clamp 36 to a position where it can grip the top of the straight trimmed band, and the clamp closes. A horizontal shear separates the strip 40 from the band 196,
The manipulator then moves along the beam 17 to place the strip in the correct position between the die halves 143 and 144 and these die halves are
Is moved sufficiently far from each other by the strips 40 sliding between their die halves. The manipulator 18 moves the strip 40 near the face 149 of the opposing blade 150, causing the sharp corners of the opposing blade 150 to coincide with the straight line where the strip is to undergo the first bend. The prism 10 is moved and firstly the surface 147 of the sheet metal retainer 148 is stripped 4
0, while the cylinder 154 engaged along the length of the strip 40 holds the strip 40 tight against the opposite blade 150,
The working edge of 51 is advanced beyond the corner of the opposite blade 150, thus causing the strip 40 to bend. If the bending angle is less than 90 degrees, this can be obtained by proper movement of the prism 10. On the other hand, if the angle is equal to or greater than 90 degrees,
A slight rotation must be made in the opposite direction of the hands of the clock, as viewed from above 0,
After the adjustment of the ring 118 at the portion 09, the upper and lower fluid cylinders 12 are moved until the ring 118 is moved with respect to the contact portion.
3 obtained by the push action. The opposite rotation by motor 80 and the opposite movement by cylinders 131 and 132 release the bent strip, which is retained by clamp 36 which did not move during the bending operation. When the next bend is to be performed in the same direction as the first bend, the same die is used, so after the movement of the clamp in a direction parallel to the face 149 of the opposite blade 150, and if the new bend angle is greater than 90 degrees And if different from the previous bending angle, if any
After adjusting the ring 118, the operation is repeated exactly in the same manner.

On the other hand, if the next bending is to be performed in the opposite direction, the die, which is a mirror image as illustrated in FIG. 14, is automatically brought into the operating position and the die of the mirror image die The halves are mounted on two faces of prism 9 and prism 10 adjacent to the prism seen in FIG. The switching of the two half dies in the operating position is achieved by the respective shock absorber 6
Two prisms 9 and 10 at each motor 46 and 48 part, braked by 0, 62 and 97, 100, respectively.
Is performed by simultaneous rotation in the counterclockwise direction as viewed from above.

The seven faces of prism 9 not occupied by die half 143 and its mirror image 144 can be occupied by similar die halves, but those dies will have opposite blades 150 and The mirror image blade 1
51 has opposite blades with different shapes compatible with the shape of the strip 40 not available. The same face of prism 9 and the homologous face of prism 10 are
Of the die other than its longitudinal bending, i.e., different levels of lateral bending, punching, drawing, marking, etc., can be occupied by die halves designed for such operations.

If switching of the die halves in the operating position requires more than 1/9 of one rotation in the direction opposite to the last rotation, the levers 49,50 of prism 9 and levers 87,50 of prism 10 must be rotated. 88 are small cylinders 53, 54 and 9 respectively to allow the passage of teeth 65 and 104
It must be displaced radially by 1,92 and then returned to its initial position in order to wait for the arrival of the teeth to be retained.

The switching of the die halves in the operating position causes the levers 49, 50 and 87, 88 to displace radial displacements,
If rotation in the same direction as the last rotation is required, small cylinders 66, 68 or 67, 69 and 105, 107
Or 106, 108, as well as the extension of the shock absorber to dissipate the kinetic energy of the prism, the tangential repositioning of the aforementioned lever must take place.

To reduce the time of the bending operation, it is advantageous to have a clamp 36 with a maximum jaw width that corresponds to the width of the edge of the strip to be gripped, so that one strip of strip can be removed from another. The clamps must be changed during the pass and often during the bending operation of any one strip. For this switch, the spider 160 rotates so that one of the empty sheets 159 can reach the clamp on the manipulator, and the manipulator 18 slides the clamp 36 into the empty sheet, A small cylinder 168 pushes up the wedge 165 and clamps the manipulator 18
Release from the end portion 164 of the manipulator, the manipulator 18 separates from the spider 160, leaving the old previous clamp on the spider, and the small cylinder 168 returns, and the spider 160 rotates on its vertical axis to rotate the new clamp. Is moved to the switching position, and the manipulator 18 is moved.
Aligns itself with the new clamp, and then the small cylinder 168 pushes up the new wedge 165, preparing the entrance of the end portion 164 of the manipulator 18 into the new clamp, and the manipulator 18 moves into the clamp and the small The cylinder 168 returns and locks the new clamp itself on the manipulator, and finally the manipulator receives the new clamp with it and places the new clamp on the sheet 159 of the spider 160.
Sliding from.

The required sequence of bending operations, other possible processes with dies different from the standard provided on the machine, automatic switching of the dies, and clamping of the metal coils is not possible with known machines. Different production. Some embodiments of beams that can be manufactured with the above machines are illustratively shown in FIG.

[0050]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an overall front view of the machine from the feed side without dies.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the machine without dies.

FIG. 3 shows an axonometric view of a particular embodiment of a strip manipulator associated with the machine described above.

FIG. 4 illustrates a clamp suitable for performing a non-parallel bending operation as viewed in a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG.

FIG. 5 shows the clamp in a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line VV in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows the magazine and manipulator of the clamp during the clamp switching step.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 10 showing the manipulator;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a prism having a fixed shaft and provided with a device for controlling rotation, taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 shows a horizontal section through a prism having a fixed axis and equipped with a device for controlling the angular position, taken along one of the two lines IX-IX of FIG.

10 shows a longitudinal section of a prism having a movable axis, equipped with devices for controlling rotation and guiding movement, taken along line XX in FIG. 1;

11 shows a horizontal section through a prism having a movable axis and equipped with a device for controlling rotation, cut along one of the two XI-XI lines in FIG. 10;

12 shows a longitudinal section of a part of the device for controlling the rotation of a prism having a movable axis, cut along the line XII-XII in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 shows a horizontal section through a prism having movable lines and equipped with a device for controlling movement, taken along one of the two lines XIII-XIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 shows a horizontal cross section of a bending die with two cooperating die halves supported by movable and fixed prisms, respectively, of the machine.

FIG. 15 shows an overall plan view of the machine, including a pair of die halves.

FIG. 16 is a collection of several embodiments of beams that can be manufactured on the machine according to the previous figures, and more generally on the machine according to the invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Support structure 4 Upright member 5, 6 Projection part 9, 10 Prismatic column 13, 14, 15, 16 Controller 17 Horizontal beam 18 Manipulator 19 Clamp magazine 20, 21 Guide 26 Carriage 29, 30 Guide 32, 33
Pulley 43 Toothed belt 36 Clamp 40 Sheet metal 41, 42
Jaws 47, 48; 85, 86 Toothed polygonal plates 49, 50 Lever 53, 54
Cylinder 55 Support 59, 62; 60, 61; 98, 100 Fluid shock absorber 63, 64, 65 Teeth 71, 72
Carriage 80 Motor 81, 82
Gears 91, 92 Fluid cylinders 93, 94
Support 109,110 Motor 121,12
2 piston 123, 124 fluid cylinder 143, 14
4 Die half 148 Metal sheet retainer 151 Blade 152 Die retainer 154 Fluid cylinder 161,162 Groove 160 Spider 167,168 Fluid cylinder 190 Rewind reel

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] 1. A machine for bending, drawing, stamping or otherwise processing a sheet metal band into a beam having a vertical axis and positioned between die halves. Two prisms having polygonal cross-section sides supporting two mutually cooperating die halves for bending, drawing, punching or otherwise processing
Means (13, 1) for rotating said prism (9, 10) with respect to the vertical axis of said prism in order to position said (9, 10) and said die halves in respective opposing operating positions.
4) and means (1) for reciprocating the prisms (9, 10) toward and away from each other in a vertical plane including the axis.
5. A manipulator (18) comprising a gripper (36) suitable for vertically supporting a sheet metal band from above, wherein said prism (9, 1).
0) and a movement of the prism along a first horizontal axis perpendicular to the vertical plane of movement and a second movement perpendicular to the first horizontal axis and along a vertical rotation axis (37). A manipulator (18) having the possibility of movement along two horizontal axes. 2. After reaching the operating position and during the bending operation of the sheet metal band, one of the two prisms (1
Means (109-1) for producing still another limited rotation of
24. The processing machine according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. One of the prisms (9) is rotatable on a fixed vertical axis, and the other of the prisms (1)
0) is a first prism (9) in a vertical plane including the axis.
The processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the processing machine is rotatable on a vertical axis that is movable with respect to the vertical axis. 4. At each end of said prism (9, 10) is mounted a respective tooth plate (47, 48; 85, 86) and an associated respective plate for holding / releasing the rotation of the prism. 87, 88, and each lever is provided with the lever (49, 50; 8).
7, 88) of the toothed plates (47, 48; 85, 8)
6) The teeth (6) of the tooth plate for preventing rotation of
5,103) and the teeth (63,64;) of the lever (49,50; 87,88).
101, 102) are the tooth plates (47, 48; 8).
5, 86) to allow rotation of the teeth of the tooth plate
The processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the processing machine can be radially displaced between a release position outside a movement path of (65, 103). 5. The lever (49, 50; 87, 88).
Is also rotatable in its horizontal plane, so that said teeth (63, 64; 101, 102)
The processing machine according to claim 4, characterized in that it can be made tangentially movable between two final positions defined by (59-62; 97-100). 6. The prism during bending operation of a sheet metal band.
(9, 10) One-sided shock absorber (59-62; 97-10
6. The processing machine according to claim 5, further comprising means (109 to 124) for changing the position of (0). 7. A buffer for one of said prisms (9, 10).
(59-62; 97-100) said means (109-124) for changing the position of the fluid cylinder (121-123) for actuating the displacement of the shock absorber casing and an adjustable limit for limiting said displacement. Switch (117-1
20) The processing machine according to claim 6, comprising: 8. The clamp of a manipulator (18)
The processing machine according to claim 1, wherein (36) is attached thereto in a removable and replaceable manner. 9. A clamp magazine (19) accessible to the manipulator (18) for replacing a previously mounted clamp with a spare clamp (36 ', 36 ", etc.) contained in said magazine (19). The processing machine according to claim 1, comprising: 10. A rotatable spider having a housing seat (159), wherein a spare clamp is provided by rotation of the spider (160).
10. The processing machine according to claim 9, further comprising a flat rotatable spider for a spare clamp rotatable at a position accessible to (18).