WO2009103168A1

WO2009103168A1 - Apparatus for bending metal sheets

Info

Publication number: WO2009103168A1
Application number: PCT/CH2008/000072
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marc Jorns; Andreas Steffen
Original assignee: Jorns Ag Lotzwil
Priority date: 2008-02-20
Filing date: 2008-02-20
Publication date: 2009-08-27

Abstract

An apparatus (1) for bending metal sheets comprises a device (10) for manual, semi-automatic or automatic bending of a metal sheet along a plurality of bending lines corresponding to a bending profile, a control device (20) having a storage (22) for controlling the bending according to data stored in the storage (22) representing the bending profile and a user input device (30) having a touch screen (31 ) for entering data to be stored in the storage (22). The control device (20) controls the input device (30) in such a way that in a first mode data relating to the bending profile may be numerically entered and edited by a user. In a second mode, first data relating to the bending profile may be entered by the user by selecting desired bending locations and/or sketching the desired bending profile by tapping onto the touch screen (31), whereupon the graphically entered first data is converted into second data representing bending parameters, in particular into orientation angles and lengths, and whereupon the second data is stored in the storage (22). After completion of entering the data in the first mode and/or in the second mode the device (10) for bending of a metal sheet is controlled to manually, semi-automatically or automatically bend the metal sheet according to the entered data.

Description

Apparatus for bending metal sheets

Technical Field

The invention relates to an apparatus for bending metal sheets, comprising a device for manual, semi-automatic or automatic bending of a metal sheet along a plurality of bending lines corresponding to a bending profile, a control device having a storage for controlling the bending according to data stored in the storage, the data representing the bending profile, and a user input device having a touch screen for entering data to be stored in the storage. The invention further relates to a method and a computer program for entering data representing a bending profile for bending metal sheets. Background Art

Machines for bending metal sheets are known. For example, the company Jorns AG,

Lotzwil, Switzerland offers fully automatic bending machines allowing positive-negative bending using two bending cheeks under the name TwinMatic as well as semi-automatic bending machines under the name TwinBend. These machines are built in the lengths 4,

6.4, 8, 10 and 12.2 meters. They can process sheet steel up to a thickness of 3 mm (400

N/mm²). The insertion depth is 1 150 mm. With the TwinBend machine the sheet is fed by hand whilst the TwinMatic performs this action with automatic clamping fingers. Further bending machines are offered by Jorns AG in product lines Norma-Line, Maxi-Line, Super- Line and Multi-Line.

Modern bending machines comprise a computer-programmed control device having a storage in which the desired bending profile is stored. If it is not directly received from CAD applications, the bending profile is usually entered numerically, e. g. by entering lengths and orientation angles of the different sections of the desired metal sheet profile. Entering the numerical data may be effected by means of a usual keyboard, a touchscreen or further input means. The bending profile corresponding to the entered data may be graphically displayed on a screen.

The demand for single or small batch custom-made sheet metal articles is high, especially in the area of construction (e. g. gutters). Therefore, bending machines have to be frequently reprogrammed. However, programming conventional bending machines is rather demanding. Especially in cases where these conventional machines are programmed by users that are not thoroughly trained there is a substantial risk of errors and therefore of producing defective goods which is costly and time-consuming.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of the invention to create an apparatus for bending metal sheets as well as a method and computer program for entering data representing a bending profile for bending metal sheets pertaining to the technical field initially mentioned, that allows for an easy and intuitive programming of new bending profiles.

The solution of the invention is specified by the features of claim 1. According to the invention the control device controls the input device in such a way that in a first mode data relating to the bending profile may be numerically entered and edited by a user. In a second mode, the control device controls the input device in such a way that first data relating to the bending profile may be entered by the user by tapping onto the touch screen of the input device, namely by selecting desired bending locations and/or sketching the desired bending profile. Subsequently, the graphically entered first data is converted into second data representing bending parameters, in particular into orientation angles and lengths of the section of the bending profile, whereupon the second data is stored in the storage. After completion of entering the data in the first mode and/or in the second mode the metal sheet is manually, semi-automatically or automatically bent by the bending device, according to the entered data. The last step will usually include conversion of the bending parameters to machine parameters in a well-known manner.

The orientation angle may relate to a general coordinate system, i. e. indicate the orientation of the given section of the bending profile or it may relate to another section of the bending profile, particularly to the preceding or subsequent section, thereby corresponding to a bending angle. Similarly, the orientation angle may be chosen from a range of 0 to 360° or from a range of

-180° to 180°.

Correspondingly, a method for entering data representing a bending profile for bending metal sheets comprises the steps of selecting desired bending locations and/or sketching the desired bending profile by tapping onto a touch screen, thereby generating first data; and converting the graphically entered first data into second data representing bending parameters, in particular into orientation angles and lengths.

An inventive computer program product for collecting data representing a bending profile for bending metal sheets comprises computer-executable instructions for controlling an input device in such a way that in a first mode data relating to the bending profile may be numerically entered and edited by a user and further comprising computer-executable instructions for controlling the input device in such a way that in a second mode first data relating to the bending profile may be entered by the user by selecting desired bending locations and/or sketching the desired bending profile by tapping onto a touch screen, whereupon the graphically entered first data is converted into second data representing bending parameters, in particular into orientation angles and lengths, and whereupon the second data is stored in the storage.

The inventive apparatus allows for a substantial simplification of the input process, allowing for a faster, more intuitive and less error-prone programming of the bending machine, even for less trained users.

The first mode of controlling the input device substantially corresponds to the well-known numerical input mode of conventional bending machines, allowing for precisely entering or editing data relating to the bending profile. The numerical data may be provided by means of the touch screen of the input device or by any other kind of input means such as a keyboard.

The second mode is a ..sketching mode" which is very intuitive for the user. The touch screen is used as a graphical input means. In ..sketching mode" the user is not required to care about exact information, but he is enabled to enter approximate information which will subsequently be refined in the first (numerical) input mode. Preferably, the first mode (numerical input) and the second mode (sketching) are selectable and arbitrarily switchable by the user. Therefore, in cases where the user is provided with complete numerical data he may directly enter the data in the first mode without requiring the second mode at all. In other cases he will sketch the bending profile in the second mode and subsequently change to the first mode for precisely numerically adjusting and correcting the bending parameters. Furthermore, if required, the user is free to change back and forth between the sketching and the numerical input mode until input of the bending profile is completed.

The apparatus may be controlled in such a way that input of the data representing the bending profile is (always) started in the second mode and that after finishing entering of the data in the second mode (i. e. providing an approximate bending profile) the input device is switched over to the first mode, in which the user may numerically adjust the bending parameters converted from the graphically entered first data, i. e. these (approximate) bending parameters will be presented in the numerical input mode (e. g. in a corresponding input mask) as preset values. For the user, providing an approximate bending profile in the second (sketching) mode is preferable in that he has not to think e. g. about positive or negative angles or positive and negative sense of rotation. The bending parameters obtained from the graphical input relating to the approximate bending profile will be approximately correct and the user will know that the subsequent adjustments are usually rather small. Therefore, the inventive mode of entering the bending parameters allows for the user to easily identify how to enter the values. In the context of conventional, purely numerical input often it was not clear whether an angle had to be provided as a positive angle or a negative angle or what angle had to be entered for the first bending location. These questions do not arise in the context of the sketching mode. When switching over to the numerical input mode, the questions will already be answered.

Therefore, the sketching provides substantial assistance, above all to less experienced users. For an experienced, well-trained user direct numerical input may be faster, however in the context of the invention such a user may directly choose the numerical input mode, i. e. the user will not be constrained by the further possibilities enabled by the invention. Basically there are two preferred alternatives for realization of the sketching mode: a) selecting desired bending locations, i. e. the locations where a bend (or a bead) is required are entered by selecting the corresponding points on the touch screen (point-like input), subsequently, the selected locations are connected by lines and an orientation angle and a length are assigned to each of these lines in order to generate the second data; b) sketching the desired bending profile, i. e. the sections of the bending profile are entered by directly drawing the corresponding lines on the touch screen (line-like input), subsequently an orientation angle and a length are assigned to each of those lines in order to generate the second data. In alternative a) the selected bending locations are preferably connected by the lines in the order of their selection.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, preferably both alternatives are available. Switching between the graphical input alternatives may be manual (i. e. effected by the user) or automatical (based on a detection of point- or line-like input on the touch screen). Alternatively, in other embodiments of the invention, only one of the alternatives a) and b) is available.

The first (point or line) data entered in the second (sketching) mode may be automatically adjusted according to a predetermined grid. For example, the angles may be automatically adjusted (i. e. numerically rounded) to the next full 10 degrees, or a number of possible angles (i. e. 15°, 30°, 45° etc.) may be preset and every input is set to the next preset angle. In principle, the same may apply to the lenghts, i. e. graphically entered lengths may be automatically adjusted (rounded) to the next full cm, or a number of possible lengths (i. e. 5 cm, 10 cm, 20 cm, 50 cm etc.) is preset. Alternatively, the area of the touch screen provided for graphical input of the bending profile is overlaid with a (regular) grid and all entered bending locations or endpoints of bending profile sections are automatically moved to the next grid point.

Automatic adjusting according to the grid may be effected on the level of the first data, i. e. directly after graphical input of the data. Alternatively, adjusting is effected when converting the first data to the second data.

Other advantageous embodiments and combinations of features come out from the detailed description below and the totality of the claims.

Brief description of the drawings

The drawings used to explain the embodiments show:

Fig. 1 a schematic representation of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2A-E a schematic representation of the graphical user interface of an embodiment of the invention in point input mode and numerical input mode; and

Fig. 3A-E a schematic representation of the graphical user interface in line input mode and numerical input mode.

In the figures, the same components are given the same reference symbols.

Preferred embodiments

The Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. The apparatus 1 comprises a bending machine 10 for bending metal sheets which as such is known in the art and which is e. g. offered by the company Jorns AG, Lotzwil, Switzerland as well as by a number of further companies. The apparatus further comprises a control device 20 having a central processing unit 21 , a storage 22 for storing and retrieving data, connected to the central processing unit 21 , a machine interface 23 for connecting the control device 20 to the bending machine 10 as well as an input interface 24 for connecting the control device 20 to an input device 30.

The input device 30 comprises a touch screen 31 for displaying and entering data as well as a keyboard 32 for entering data. On the touch screen 31 a graphical user interface (GUI) is displayed, controlled by a computer program running on the central processing unit 21 of the control device 20. The Figures 2A-E show a schematic representation of the graphical user interface of an embodiment of the invention in point input mode and numerical input mode. The graphical user interface (GUI) is displayed on the touch screen 31 as displayed in Figure 1. If no initial data relating to a bending profile (e. g. from a CAD application) is available, the user may be presented an input area 40 for graphically entering an approximate bending profile that is generally blank. In point input mode, the user may select bending locations by tapping on the touch screen surface within the region designated as input area 40. The Figure 2 A shows the situation after selection of a first location 41 by the user. The selected location 41 is indicated by an open circle displayed on the touch screen at the given location. It will constitute the starting point of the bending profile.

The next point is selected by the user by tapping onto another location 42 of the input area

40, the location 42 corresponding to a first bending point of the bending profile. After selection of the second point, the corresponding location 42 is automatically connected with the previous location 41 by a line 51, the line 51 signifying a corresponding first section of the approximate bending profile. The resulting situation is displayed in Figure

2B. Entering of the approximate bending profile is continued by selecting further locations in the same manner as previously described. Figure 2C shows the situation after selecting a third location 43; again, this location 43 is automatically connected by a line 52 to the previous location 42.

Figure 2D shows the situation after completion of the input of the approximate bending profile. Further bending locations 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 have been added by the user; in each case, two subsequently entered locations have been connected by lines 53, 54, 55, 56, 57. Finally, the user has entered a location 49 corresponding to an end point of the profile, thereby determining the bending angle at the last bending location 48. Again, this location 49 has been automatically connected to the previous location 48 by a line 58.

Further to the selection of a starting point, the bending points and of an end point, the graphical input mode as described above offers the possibility of deleting and moving previously entered locations. For this purpose, the GUI offers "delete" and "move" pushbutton areas. After tapping one of these push-buttons tapping on a previously entered location on the input area 40 will either delete this location (and correspondingly redraw the lines previously attached to the now deleted location) or allow the user to move the bending point to a desired location. By tapping on another, "new location" push-button the GUI is switched back to the usual input mode.

Furthermore, after having entered the approximate bending profile, the user may switch to the numerical input mode. The corresponding GUI is schematically displayed in Figure 2E. It allows for selecting a bending location, in the current case location 42 by tapping onto the corresponding indication (circle). After selection, the line 51 preceding this bending location 42 as well as the bending angle 61 between line 51 and the next line 52 are highlighted and the values are displayed in a dialog box 70. Dialog box 70 shows a mask having two highlighted fields 71 , 72, denoted by "angle" and "length", respectively, and showing the values of these parameters ("51°", "53 mm") in highlighted fields 71, 72. After tapping onto one of the highlighted fields 71 , 72 the corresponding value may be edited by means of the keyboard 32 (see Figure 1), e. g. the approximate values mentioned above, obtained from the graphical input, may be amended to desired values such as 50° and 55 mm, respectively.

The Figures 3A-E show a schematic representation of the graphical user interface in line input mode and numerical input mode. Again, the graphical user interface (GUI) is displayed on the touch screen 31 as displayed in Figure 1. If no initial data relating to a bending profile (e. g. from a CAD application) is available, the user may be presented an input area 40 for graphically entering an approximate bending profile that is generally blank. In line-input mode, the user may sketch a desired bending profile by drawing the sections of the profile directly on the touch screen 31. The Figure 3A shows the situation after sketching of the profile 80.

Once sketching of the profile 80 in line-input mode is completed, the user acknowledges completion by tapping on a corresponding push-button of the GUI (not displayed). Subsequently, locations 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88 corresponding to bending points as well as locations 81, 89 corresponding to endpoints are identified and provided with indications having the form of open circles, as displayed in Figure 3B. In a next step, the sketched lines between the locations 81 ...89 are replaced by straight lines representing the sections of the bending profile, yielding the profile 80' as displayed in Figure 3C.

Again, the graphical input mode as described above offers the possibility of deleting and moving previously entered locations. For this purpose, the GUI offers "delete" and "move" push-button areas. After tapping one of these push-buttons tapping on a previously entered location on the input area 40 will either delete this location (and correspondingly redraw the lines previously attached to the now deleted location) or allow the user to move the bending point to a desired location. By tapping on another, "new section" push-button the GUI is switched back to the usual input mode. After having entered the approximate bending profile, the GUI is switched over to numerical input mode. The corresponding GUI is schematically displayed in Figure 3D. It allows for selecting a bending location, in the current case location 82 by tapping onto the corresponding indication (circle). After selection, the line 91 preceding this bending location 82 as well as the bending angle 101 between line 91 and the next line 92 are highlighted and the values are displayed in a dialog box 75. In the example, of Figure 3D, dialog box 75 shows a mask having three highlighted fields 76, 77, 78 denoted by "angle", "length" and "rad" (bending radius), respectively. After tapping onto one of the highlighted fields 76, 77, 78 the corresponding value may be edited by means of the keyboard 32 (see Figure 1), e. g. the approximate values mentioned above, obtained from the graphical input, may be amended to desired values. In the example of Figure 3D, the values have already been amended by the user to the values ("45°", "55 mm", "10 mm") indicated in the highlighted fields 76, 77, 78.

Following acknowledgement of the amended values by the user, the amended bending profile 80" is displayed on the touch screen, see Figure 3E. The user may further amend the profile by adjusting angle, length or radius values in the numerical mode or he may switch back to graphical (point or line) input mode.

As mentioned above, parameter values obtained from inputs in the graphical input mode may be automatically adjusted (rounded) in accordance with a predetermined parameter grid. The bending radius may be preselected, which is preferred if the radius is identical for all bends, or it may be selected in the numerical input mode as described above in connection with Figure 3D, which is preferred if different radii are needed at different bends. If line input mode is used, the inventive method may provide for automatic detection of approximate bending radius angles. Furthermore, if a bending angle is larger than a given limiting angle (e. g. 150°) a beading may be automatically generated instead of a bend.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. The user interface or the steps for entering bending profiles may be substantially different.

E. g., in a further preferred embodiment the user is initially requested to enter the length of the bending profile, i.e. of the metal sheet in processing direction. After that he will not be presented with a blank input area but with a schematic representation of the unbent (flat) metal sheet. The user may subsequently ,,grab" portions of the metal sheet by tapping onto respective locations of the touch screen and ,,drag" the corresponding area of the metal sheet. This will allow the user to form the metal sheet until the desired bending profile is obtained. The further proceeding will generally correspond to the line-input mode as described above in connection with Figures 3B-3E.

The bending parameters need not be constituted by orientation angles and lengths but may be represented by other quantities such as coordinates of bending points. Furthermore, they may be supplemented by further parameters such as bend radius etc.

Similarly, the technical realization of the hardware may be different from the described embodiment. It is generally known that control functions as well as input and output functions may be effected by single highly integrated systems such as general purpose computers but also by a number of dedicated devices. Accordingly, the control device may be integrated into the bending machine or provided as an external device or a plurality of external devices, respectively.

In summary, it is to be noted that the invention creates an apparatus for bending metal sheets as well as a method and computer program for entering data representing a bending profile for bending metal sheets pertaining to the technical field initially mentioned, that allows for an easy and intuitive programming of new bending profiles.

Claims

1. An apparatus ( 1 ) for bending metal sheets comprising a) a device (10) for manual, semi-automatic or automatic bending of a metal sheet along a plurality of bending lines corresponding to a bending profile; b) a control device (20) having a storage (22) for controlling the bending according to data stored in the storage (22) representing the bending profile; c) a user input device (30) having a touch screen (31) for entering data to be stored in the storage (22); whereas d) the control device (20) controls the input device (30) in such a way that in a first mode data relating to the bending profile may be numerically entered and edited by a user; whereas e) the control device (20) controls the input device (30) in such a way that in a second mode first data relating to the bending profile may be entered by the user by selecting desired bending locations and/or sketching the desired bending profile by tapping onto the touch screen (31 ), whereupon the graphically entered first data is converted into second data representing bending parameters, in particular into orientation angles and lengths, and whereupon the second data is stored in the storage (22); and whereas f) after completion of entering the data in the first mode and/or in the second mode the device (10) for bending of a metal sheet is controlled to manually, semi- automatically or automatically bend the metal sheet according to the entered data.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , characterized in that the first data is entered by selecting desired bending locations (42...48) by tapping onto corresponding places on the touch screen (31), whereupon the selected locations (42...48) are connected by lines (51 ...58) and an orientation angle (61) and a length are assigned to each of these lines (51 ...58) in order to generate the second data.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, characterized in that the desired bending locations (42...48) are connected by the lines (51 ...58) in the order of the selection of the locations (42...48).

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , characterized in that the first data is entered by drawing lines on the touch screen (31), the lines representing sections of the desired bending profile (80) whereupon an orientation angle (101) and a length are assigned to each of these lines in order to generate the second data.

5. The apparatus as recited in one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first mode and the second mode are selectable and arbitrarily switchable by the user.

6. The apparatus as recited in one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that input of the data representing the bending profile is started in the second mode and in that after finishing entering of the data in the second mode the input device (30) is switched over to the first mode, in which the user may numerically adjust the bending parameters converted from the graphically entered first data.

7. The apparatus as recited in one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first data entered in the second mode is automatically adjusted according to a predetermined grid.

8. The apparatus as recited in one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the second data is automatically adjusted according to a predetermined grid when converted from the first data.

9. A method for entering data representing a bending profile for bending metal sheets, comprising the steps of:

a) selecting desired bending locations (42...48) and/or sketching the desired bending profile (80) by tapping onto a touch screen (31), generating first data; and

b) converting the graphically entered first data into second data representing bending parameters, in particular into orientation angles and lengths.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, characterized by the subsequent step of numerically adjusting the bending parameters converted from the graphically entered first data.

1 1. A computer program product for collecting data representing a bending profile for bending metal sheets comprising computer-executable instructions for controlling an input device in such a way that in a first mode data relating to the bending profile may be numerically entered and edited by a user and further comprising computer- executable instructions for controlling the input device in such a way that in a second mode first data relating to the bending profile may be entered by the user by selecting desired bending locations and/or sketching the desired bending profile by tapping onto a touch screen, whereupon the graphically entered first data is converted into second data representing bending parameters, in particular into orientation angles and lengths, and whereupon the second data is stored in the storage.