WO2023232538A1

WO2023232538A1 - Punch device

Info

Publication number: WO2023232538A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/063634
Authority: WO
Inventors: Henning REY; Christoph Marten; Bernd Naguschewski
Original assignee: Phoenix Contact Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2022-05-30
Filing date: 2023-05-22
Publication date: 2023-12-07
Also published as: DE102022113562A1

Abstract

A punch device for generating breakthroughs for cable screw connections in a sheet-like material (17), having: an upper stamp (3) with a punching face (31) for generating at least one breakthrough in the sheet-like material (17), wherein at least one contour (171A-171N, 173A-173N) of the breakthrough is formed in the sheet-like material (17); and a counter-holder (5), wherein the upper stamp (3) with the punching face (31) is arranged to be lowerable in the direction of the counter-holder (5), wherein the punching face (31) is designed extending obliquely in order to reduce a punching force when generating the breakthroughs with different diameters. The invention further proposes an arrangement having a punch device, and a method for generating breakthroughs for cable screw connections in a sheet-like material.

Description

Punching device

The invention relates to a punching device for producing openings for cable glands in a flat material according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to an arrangement having a punching device, as well as a method for producing openings for cable screw connections in a flat material.

Such a punching device comprises an upper punch with a punching surface for producing at least one opening in the flat material, with at least one contour of the opening being formed in the flat material, and a counterholder, the upper punch with the punching surface being arranged so that it can be lowered in the direction of the counterholder.

In the prior art, the known punching devices are often designed like a press, in which the upper punch with the punching surface can be lowered into the flat material, for example into a flat plastic material, via a mechanism, for example a toggle lever mechanism. For example, the document DE 10 2019 115 223 A1 describes a press in which a toggle lever mechanism is used to drive a press ram, or upper punch.

To create openings for cable glands in a flat material, such as in a plastic material of a (small) distribution box or (small) control cabinet, the prior art often uses a pin-shaped tool, such as a screwdriver, and a hammer Driving the pen-shaped aid used. For this purpose, the openings are often already formed in the flat material, for example pre-punched, perforated, or provided by a corresponding material taper in an area of the flat material. The openings can have different sizes and can be in a nominal size range of M16 to M32, for example for the assembly of cable glands. However, this type of creation of breakthroughs leads to high noise emissions and the outbreaks in the material are at least partially very uncontrolled.

The object of the present invention is to provide a punching device for producing openings for cable glands in a flat material, the openings being of consistent quality and without the high Noise emissions should be produced. Furthermore, openings with different diameters should be able to be introduced into flat materials with different dimensions without the punching device having to be converted.

This task is solved by an object with the features of claim 1.

Accordingly, the punching surface is designed to run obliquely in order to reduce a punching force when producing the openings with different diameters.

The term “punching device” can be understood as meaning a press, such as a toggle press, which can be actuated mechanically via a lever and in which the further the lever is moved, the movement of the upper punch becomes slower but more powerful. This means that breakthroughs can be made in the material with minimal effort. Alternatively, an electromechanical press or a pneumatic press can also be used, taking into account the Machinery Directive and, if necessary, the use of additional protective devices. Furthermore, the punching device can advantageously be mounted at an assembly workstation.

The upper punch can be cylindrical and coupled with a first end region to a mechanism, for example a toggle mechanism, of the press, for lowering the upper punch. The term “lowering” can be understood to mean lowering the upper punch into the flat material, in which case the punching surface, which is arranged at a second end region that is opposite the first end region, is at least partially introduced into the flat material. At least one contour of the opening is formed in the flat material used.

The counterholder can be designed as a material projection on the punching device and serve as a support surface for at least a section of the sheet-like material during the introduction of the breakthrough. Here, the geometry of the counter-holder can be designed according to the dimensions of the flat material, or the geometry of a terminal box, having the flat material in order to reach all positions in the terminal box.

According to the invention, the punching surface is designed to be oblique in order to reduce a punching force when producing the openings with different diameters. Advantageously, a type of “cutting-punching” can be carried out due to the sloping surface of the punching surface and small and large openings can be made in the flat material with the same upper punch. Due to the oblique course, only a small area of the punching surface needs to come into contact with the opening contour in order to create the opening.

In one example, the upper punch is at least partially cylindrical and the punching surface is designed as a cut surface of an obliquely cut cylinder section of the cylindrical upper punch.

For example, an ellipse can be created as the cutting curve of the cutting surface or the punching surface and thus a lower section can have a minimum height and an upper section, which is opposite the lower section on the cutting curve, can have a maximum height.

When lowering, the upper punch can be moved stationary, i.e. not rotating around its own axis, towards a point in the sheet-like material and can first be introduced into the sheet-like material in the area of the punching surface with the upper section, which has a maximum height. The diameter of the opening can advantageously be determined via the insertion depth of the punching surface of the upper punch.

In one example, the punching surface has an inclination angle in a range of 30° to 45°.

For example, the entire punching surface can be inclined in the range of 30° to 45°. The angle of inclination can be understood as the angle of inclination of the cutting plane. Advantageously, openings with very clean edges can be created with appropriately inclined punching surfaces.

In one example, the punching surface is designed to produce at least a first breakthrough and a second breakthrough, the first breakthrough having a smaller diameter than the second breakthrough. Advantageously, further openings can also be created with the punching surface, which have diameters that lie between the diameters of the first and second openings.

In one example, the first breakthrough has a diameter for an M16 cable gland and the second breakthrough has a diameter for an M32 cable gland.

Openings for cable glands with nominal sizes M20 and M25 can also be advantageously made.

In one example, the upper punch can be arranged on the punching device via a coupling means, in particular a bayonet lock, a plug-in receptacle or a magnetic receptacle.

Advantageously, the arrangement using coupling means allows the upper punch to be changed quickly and with only very short changeover times. For example, the upper punch can be changed if there is excessive wear, or if an upper punch is desired to create openings with smaller or larger diameter ranges. Further advantageously, when using a plug-in receptacle, the upper punch can be held securely against rotation and can be changed very quickly when using a magnetic receptacle.

In one example, the edge of the punching surface is designed as a blade, at least in some areas.

For example, the edge of the punching surface can be designed to taper towards the counterholder.

Alternatively, only a portion of the edge, for example a portion of the edge that has a maximum height and is first introduced into the sheet-like material, can be designed as a blade.

Advantageously, the openings can be made very precisely in the sheet-like material using a blade on the edge of the punching surface. In one example, the counterholder has a width that is less than or equal to an opening with a smallest diameter to be created.

The counterholder can be designed as a material projection on the punching device and serve as a support surface for at least a section of the sheet-like material during the creation of the breakthrough. For example, the counterholder can also be designed in the shape of a table. In the aforementioned example, the counter-holder has a width that is less than or equal to an opening with a smallest diameter to be produced. In this context, the term “smallest diameter” can be understood to mean the smallest diameter that can be introduced with the punching surface of the upper punch used.

This can also advantageously be used to introduce openings which are located on the walls of the component, for example a (small) distribution box or control cabinet, containing the flat material.

In one example, the punching device has a toggle mechanism, wherein the upper punch is coupled to the toggle mechanism to be lowered upon actuation of the toggle mechanism.

In this example, the punching device can be designed as a toggle press, in which the press can be actuated mechanically via a lever and in which the further the lever is moved, the movement of the upper punch becomes slower but more powerful.

Advantageously, openings can be made in the sheet-like material with minimal effort.

In one example, the punching device has an optical positioning aid, in particular a laser, which can be arranged on the punching device for positioning the sheet-like material in the effective area of the upper punch.

For example, the laser can be a positioning laser, such as a point laser, line laser, cross laser or circular laser, with which the area of the sheet-like material where the breakthrough is created can be reliably marked. The optical marking aid advantageously enables precise positioning of the flat material in the effective area of the upper punch. In one example, the sheet-like material comprises a plastic material, in particular a surface of a distribution box or control cabinet.

Advantageously, openings of consistent quality can be made in the plastic material using the punching device.

In one example, the at least one contour of the opening is pre-punched or perforated in the sheet-like material. Alternatively, depending on the manufacturing process, the intended openings can also be formed elsewhere in the sheet-like material.

Advantageously, by pre-punching or perforating the contour of the opening to be created, the material within the contour can be removed accurately and quickly with the punching device, for example broken out.

The invention further relates to an arrangement for producing openings for cable glands in a sheet-like material, comprising: a punching device, as described herein; and a sheet-like material, wherein at least one contour of the opening is formed in the sheet-like material.

The punching device corresponds to the punching device described herein and can have the features previously mentioned in the examples.

The sheet-like material can also be the sheet-like material previously described herein.

The sheet-like material can comprise a plastic material, in particular a surface of a distribution box or control cabinet. The at least one contour of the opening in the sheet-like material can be pre-punched or perforated.

The invention further relates to a method for producing openings for cable glands in a sheet-like material, comprising the steps: providing a punching device as described herein; Arranging the sheet-like material between an upper punch and a counterholder of the punching device, at least one contour of the opening being formed in the sheet-like material;

Lowering a punching surface of the upper punch into the sheet-like material; and lifting the punching surface of the upper punch and removing the sheet-like material.

The sheet material may be the sheet material previously described herein. In particular, the sheet-like material can comprise a plastic material, in particular a surface of a distribution box or control cabinet. The at least one contour of the opening in the sheet-like material can be pre-punched or perforated. The sheet-like material can, for example, be arranged quickly and accurately between the upper punch and the counterholder using a laser marking.

The process steps can be carried out sequentially as described. Alternatively, the process steps can also be carried out in a different sequence or with intermediate steps.

The idea underlying the invention will be explained in more detail below using the embodiments shown in the figures. Show it:

Figure 1 is a view of a punching device according to an embodiment;

Figure 2 is a view of an upper punch with a punching surface according to one

embodiment;

Figure 3 shows a schematic top view of a region of a sheet-like material for use with the punching device; and

Figure 4 process steps of a method for generating

Openings for cable glands in a flat material according to one embodiment.

Figure 1 shows a punching device 1 for producing openings for cable glands in a flat material (not shown in Figure 1). The punching device 1 shown has an upper punch 3 with a punching surface 31 for producing at least one breakthrough in the sheet-like material. The punching surface 31 is designed to be oblique in order to reduce a punching force when producing the openings with different diameters in the sheet-like material. The upper punch 3 is shown in more detail in the following Figure 2 and is therefore also described in more detail in the following description of Figure 2.

Furthermore, it is shown that a counterholder 5 is arranged on the punching device 1 and the upper punch 3 with the punching surface 31 is arranged so that it can be lowered in the direction of the counterholder 5.

In the embodiment shown, the counterholder 5 is designed as a material projection on the punching device 1 and serves as a support surface for at least a section of the sheet-like material during the creation of the breakthrough. Furthermore, the counterholder 5 in the embodiment shown has a width that is less than or equal to a breakthrough with a smallest breakthrough that can be introduced with the punching surface 31 of the upper punch 3 used.

In addition, a toggle lever mechanism 7 on the punching device 1 is shown in FIG. The upper punch 3 shown is coupled to the toggle lever mechanism 7 so that the upper punch 3 can be lowered when the toggle lever mechanism 7 is actuated.

In the embodiment shown, the punching device 1 is designed as a toggle press, which can be actuated mechanically via the lever 9 shown and in which, the further the lever 9 is actuated, the movement of the upper punch 3 in the direction of the counterholder 5 becomes slower but more powerful.

In the embodiment shown, the toggle lever mechanism 7 with the upper punch 3 coupled to it is arranged on the punching device 1 in a height-adjustable manner via a slide rail 11. Furthermore, openings 13A-13N are shown in order to be able to arrange the punching device 1 at an assembly workstation using suitable connecting means, for example screw connections.

The punching device 1 shown in Figure 1 also has an optical positioning aid 15, which is designed as a positioning laser in order to mark the area of the flat material in which the breakthrough is created. Figure 2 shows a view of an upper punch 3 with a punching surface 31 according to an embodiment.

The upper stamp 3 shown is cylindrical and has a coupling means 39 at the first end region 33 in order to be coupled to the toggle lever mechanism shown in FIG. The coupling means 39 can interact with a corresponding coupling means on the punching device in order to be able to change the upper punch 3 quickly with only very short changeover times.

Furthermore, it is shown in Figure 2 that at a second end region 35 the punching surface 31 is designed as a cut surface of an obliquely cut cylinder section of the cylindrical upper punch 3.

As shown, the cutting curve of the cutting surface or the punching surface 31 creates an ellipse which has a lower section with a minimum height and an upper section which is opposite the lower section on the cutting curve and has a maximum height. Furthermore, the punching surface 31 shown has an angle of inclination in a range of 30 ° to 45 ^g .

With the punching surface 31 shown, openings with diameters for an M16 cable gland up to openings with diameters for an M32 cable gland can be made.

Furthermore, the edge of the punching surface 31 shown is designed as a blade 37.

Figure 3 shows a schematic top view of a region of a sheet-like material 17 for use with the punching device shown in Figure 1.

The sheet-like material 17 shown is plate-like and has a plastic material. The sheet-like material 17 shown is part of a housing of a distribution box or control cabinet.

The contours 171A-171N, 173A-173N of the intended openings are pre-punched in the sheet-like material 17 and shown by means of the dashed lines. Examples include contours 171A-171N of intended Penetrations are shown with a nominal size of M16 and further contours 173A-173N of intended penetrations are shown with a nominal size of M32.

By lowering the upper punch shown in Figure 1, the punching surface can be introduced into the material of the dashed areas, i.e. the contours 171A-171N, 173A-173N of the intended openings, in order to thereby remove the material.

Figure 4 shows method steps of a method 1000 for producing openings for cable glands in a sheet-like material according to one embodiment.

Method 1000 includes the steps:

Providing 1001 a punching device;

Arranging 1003 the sheet-like material between an upper punch and a counter-holder of the punching device, with at least one contour of the opening being formed in the sheet-like material;

Lowering 1005 a punching surface of the upper punch into the sheet-like material; and lifting 1007 the punching surface of the upper punch and removing the sheet-like material.

Reference symbol list

1 punching device

3 upper stamps

5 counter-holders

7 toggle mechanism

9 levers

11 Slide rail

13A-13N openings

15 Optical positioning aid

17 Sheet-shaped material

31 punching surface

33 First end area

35 Second end area

37 blade

39 coupling agents

171A-171 N, 173A-173N contours of the openings

1000 procedures

1001 Deploy

1003 Arrange

1005 Lower

1007 lifting

Claims

Patent claims

1. Punching device for creating openings for cable glands in a flat material (17), comprising: an upper punch (3) with a punching surface (31) for producing at least one opening in the flat material (17), with at least one contour (171A- 171 N, 173A-173N) of the breakthrough is formed in the sheet-like material (17); and a counterholder (5), wherein the upper punch (3) with the punching surface (31) is arranged so that it can be lowered in the direction of the counterholder (5), characterized in that the punching surface (31) is designed to be oblique in order to reduce a punching force when generating the Openings with different diameters.

2. Punching device according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper punch (3) is at least partially cylindrical and the punching surface (31) is designed as a cut surface of an obliquely cut cylinder section of the cylindrical upper punch (3).

3. Punching device according to claim 2, characterized in that the punching surface (31) has an angle of inclination in a range of 30° to 45°.

4. Punching device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the punching surface (31) is designed to produce at least a first breakthrough and a second, the first breakthrough having a smaller diameter than the second breakthrough.

5. Punching device according to claim 4, characterized in that the first breakthrough has a diameter for an M16 cable gland and the second breakthrough has a diameter for an M32 cable gland.

6. Punching device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper punch (3) has a coupling means (39), in particular a bayonet lock, a plug-in receptacle or a magnetic receptacle, on which the punching device can be arranged. Punching device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the edge of the punching surface (31) is designed as a blade (37) at least in some areas. Punching device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the counterholder (5) has a width which is less than or equal to an opening with a smallest diameter to be produced. Punching device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a toggle lever mechanism (7), the upper punch (3) being coupled to the toggle lever mechanism (7) in order to be lowered when the toggle lever mechanism (7) is actuated. Punching device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by an optical positioning aid (15), in particular a laser, which can be arranged on the punching device for positioning the flat material (17) in the effective area of the upper punch (3). Punching device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flat material (17) comprises a plastic material, in particular a surface of a distribution box or control cabinet. Punching device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one contour (171A-171N, 173A-173N) of the opening in the sheet-like material (17) is pre-punched or perforated. An arrangement for producing openings for cable glands in a sheet-like material (17), comprising: a punching device (1) according to one of the preceding claims; and a sheet-like material (17), wherein at least one contour (171A-171N, 173A-173N) of the opening is formed in the sheet-like material (17). A method for creating openings for cable glands in a flat material (17), comprising the steps:

Providing (1001) a punching device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12; Arranging (1003) the sheet-like material (17) between one

Upper punch (3) and a counterholder (5) of the punching device (1), at least one contour (171A-171N, 173A-173N) of the opening being formed in the flat material (17);

Lowering (1005) a punching surface (31) of the upper punch (3) into the flat material (17); and

Lift (1007) the punching surface (31) of the upper punch (3) and remove the sheet-like material (17).