WO2018054431A1

WO2018054431A1 - Control of a tube bending machine

Info

Publication number: WO2018054431A1
Application number: PCT/DK2016/050307
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ivar CHRISTENSEN
Original assignee: Bend-It Aps
Priority date: 2016-09-23
Filing date: 2016-09-23
Publication date: 2018-03-29

Abstract

Control of a tube bending machine (I) for bending of tubes (6), where the tube bending machine (1) includes a bending head (4), which is rotatable in relation to the longitudinal axis (6a) of the tube (6), which is to be bent. The control is provided by a communication unit (5), where data is loaded via a display, which is divided into two parts (23, 24), here the first part includes a input part (23), while the second part includes a documentation part (24). On the input part (23) is shown a number of buttons (20, 20a,.., 20x) with which data for a tube (6), which is to be bent, is entered the location and the direction of the bends on the tube. On the documentation part (24) a graphical depiction of the tube, which is to be bent, is shown in this way a precise bending process is ensured, since all data, which are entered, can be seen on the documentation part (24), before the bending process itself is initiated.

Description

Control of a tube bending machine

The invention relates to a method by control of a tube bending machine for bending of pipes, which have a longitudinal axis, where the tube bending machine has a bending head, which by use of a motor is rotatable in an angle area around the tube's longitudinal axis, and where the motor is connected to a control unit, which receives control signals from a communication unit, which has a touch display,

Such a tube bending machine is known from WO 2013/068013 A2.

With this known tube bending machine, a tube can be bent several places along the tube, such that the bendings are places in different planes, also mentioned as bendings carried out in 3D. The bending head is connected with a motor, which is designed to turn the bending head. It is also mentioned in the publication that the control of the motor can occur by application of a communication unit with a movement screen (touch screen). It is not further mentioned how the communication unit controls the bending process.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a tube bending machine, which is controlled by a communication device, such that it is ensured that the whole pipe's bendings are precisely stated before the bending is initiated.

The object of the invention is achieved with a tube bending machine of the in the introduction to claim 1 stated, and including the following steps:

a) The touch display is divided into 2 parts, where the first part is an input part, while the second part is a documentation part.

b) In the input part, data is loaded for the tube, which is to be bent c) Concurrently with the embodiment in step b) is in the display's second part shown the tube's geographical design d) After step c), the tube's geographical design is enlarged on the touch display

e) The bending process itself is initiated .

It is appropriate, as stated in claim 2 that the loaded data includes the tube's diameter and its length, and, as stated in claim 3 that the loaded data consist of a number of parameter sets, where each parameter set states the locations of the bendings on the tube and the direction of the bendings.

For ensuring that the data for the pipe, which is to be bent, are correct, it is advantageous, as stated in claim 4, that the graphical depiction is shown in different directions of the bent tube by touch of the touch display. Finally, it is advantageous, as stated in claim 5, that the communication unit is a tablet, a smart phone, a PC or similar.

The invention will now be explained more fully with reference to the drawing, on which

Fig . 1 shows a tube bending machine

Fig . 2 shows a bending head for the tube bending machine on fig. 1

Fig . 3 shows a display on a communication unit according to the invention for control of the bending head on fig. 1 and fig. 2, while

The figures 3A - 3C show depictions on the communication unit's display.

In fig. 1 and fig. 2 is with 1 indicated a tube bending machine for bending of a tube in 3 dimensions. Its basic elements consist of a bending head 4 and a housing 3 to a bending head holder 7. The tube bending machine is carried by three legs 2, 2a, 2b.

With 5 is indicated a communication unit and 15 symbolically a control unit, confer later in connection with the figures 3 - 3b.

As it is seen on fig. 2, the bending head holder 7 is connected to the bending head 14 by use of toothed wheel 13, such that the bending head can be turned in relation to a tube's 6 longitudinal axis 6a of a motor 12.

9, 9a indicate rubber cylinders, which are made to move the tube forwards and backwards. A motor 11 moves the rubber cylinders with a desired speed. With 17 is indicated a pushing arm, which via a centre of rotation 18 is connected to a swinging arm 19. Finally is with 10 indicated a movable bending cylinder and 16 a larger stationary cylinder. It will subsequently be explained how the bending machine works. A tube 6 is fed into the tube bending machine, where the rubber cylinders 9, 9a lead the pipe forward by use of the motor 11. When the point is reached where the pipe 6 is to be bent, the pushing arm 17 and the swinging arm 19, the bending cylinder 16 are moved upwards around the centre or rotation 18 whereby the swinging arm 19 entails that the bending cylinder 16 is moved upwards.

If another bending, which lies in another plane than the first bending is desired, the bending head 3 is turned by use of the motor 12. Since there will now be referred to the figures 3 - 3B, it will be explained how the control of the tube bending machine is carried out. In the figures can be seen a display, which can be operated as a contact screen (touch screen) or with a typical computer mouse. The display is divided in 2 parts, namely an input part 23 and a documentation part 24.

As it is seen, the input part has buttons 20, 2a, on which there can be loaded data for a tube, which is to be bent in the tube bending machine in fig. 1. The shown arrow 21 is used for moving the buttons up or down, such that it is possible to load a number of data for a tube. For example, the button 21 shows that there will be carried out a bending, which lies in 200 millimetres distance from a previous bending.

The data, which are loaded, show by 26 that the bending is carried out in an angle to the right of 90° and with a tube diameter of 63 mm.

The button 26a shows a previous bending with tube diameter of 63 mm and with a 90° angle to the left.

Concurrently with loading of the buttons, the pipe 22 is shown graphically on the documentation part 24, where the tube itself and its data is loaded.

On the documentation part 19, there is a start button 27 and a library button 29. The library button is used for initiating bendings of tubes, if data are saved in a storage.

If there is now pushed on the documentation part, the depictions will as shown on fig. 3A to 3B become magnified. The three depictions show the bent tube seen from different angles.

These angles can be shown by simply turning a finger on the display.

In summary, the display is operated in the following way:

For the tube, which is to be bent, the tube's diameter and its length is loaded. Subsequently, data is loaded with the buttons 20, 20a..., 20x. When all data has been loaded, the start button 27 is pressed, whereafter the bending process is initiated.

Claims

P A T E N T C L A I M S

1. Method by control of a tube bending machine for bending of pipes, which have a longitudinal axis, where the tube bending machine has a bending head, which by use of a motor is rotatable in an angle area around the tube's longitudinal axis, and where the motor is connected to a control unit, which receives control signals from a communication unit, which has a touch display and including the following steps:

b) In the input part, data is loaded for the tube, which is to be bent

c) Concurrently with the embodiment in step b) is in the display's second part shown the tube's geographical design

d) After step c), the tube's geographical design is enlarged on the touch display

e) The bending process itself is initiated.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the loaded data includes the tube's diameter and its length.

3. Method according to claim 1 - 2, characterized in that the loaded data consist of a number of parameter sets, where each parameter set states the locations of the bendings on the tube and the direction of the bendings.

4. Method according to claim 1 - 3, characterized in that the graphical depiction in step c) is shown in different directions of the bent tube by touch of the touch display. Method according to claim 1 - 4, characterized in that communication unit is a tablet, a smart phone, a PC or similar.