WO2024064987A1

WO2024064987A1 - Bending machine comprising a machining tool for sheet metal workpieces

Info

Publication number: WO2024064987A1
Application number: PCT/AT2023/060339
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefano Speziali
Original assignee: Trumpf Maschinen Austria Gmbh & Co. Kg.
Priority date: 2022-09-27
Filing date: 2023-09-27
Publication date: 2024-04-04
Also published as: AT526567A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a bending machine (1) for manufacturing workpieces from sheet metal, said bending machine comprising: a stationary machine frame (3); a lower clamping bar (4) and an upper clamping bar (5); and a clamping tool (2) having at least one lower clamping jaw (6) and at least one upper clamping jaw (7), the at least one lower clamping jaw (6) having a clamping surface (8) for a workpiece to be manufactured and being held on the lower clamping bar (4), and the at least one upper clamping jaw (7) being held on the upper clamping bar (5), the at least one upper clamping jaw (7) having a clamping extension (9) with a pressure surface (10). Furthermore, a machining tool (13) for machining a workpiece to be manufactured is fixed to at least one upper clamping jaw (7), the machining tool (13) having an effective machining section (15) in relation to a workpiece to be manufactured, the effective machining section (15) being located between the pressure surface (10) and the boundary surface (11) in the vertical direction.

Description

BENDING MACHINE WITH PROCESSING TOOLS FOR SHEET METAL PIECES

The invention relates to a bending machine for producing workpieces from sheet metal by forming in a bending process, in particular by swivel bending or vibration bending. The bending machine includes a processing tool for additional processing of a workpiece to be produced, in addition to forming in a bending process.

Various bending machines are known from JP2000263140A, EP0642854A1 and JP2019141965A. These bending machines comprise a processing tool for additional processing of a workpiece to be produced, for example by making a notch in a workpiece to be produced or by separating a workpiece to be produced. The bending machines from the documents have the disadvantage that the processing tools known from them are designed as structurally complex additional units.

The object of the present invention was to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a device and a method by means of which a user is able to carry out a simple additional processing by a simple method with a structurally simple and, in particular, effective processing tool.

This object is achieved by a device and a method according to the claims.

The bending machine according to the invention for producing workpieces from sheet metal by forming in a bending process, in particular by swivel bending or swing bending, comprises

- a fixed machine frame, a lower clamping beam and an upper clamping beam, at least one of the clamping beams being displaceable into a clamping position relative to the machine frame in order to clamp a workpiece to be produced in the clamping position,

- a clamping tool comprising at least one lower clamping jaw and at least one upper clamping jaw,

- wherein the at least one lower clamping jaw has a clamping surface for a workpiece to be produced and is held on the lower clamping bar and the at least one upper clamping jaw is held on the upper clamping bar, — wherein the at least one upper clamping jaw has a clamping extension with a pressing surface that protrudes or projects in the direction of the at least one lower clamping jaw, wherein the at least one upper clamping jaw has a recess, in particular a vertical recess, relative to its pressing surface up to a boundary surface, so that a workpiece to be produced can be clamped between the clamping surface and the pressing surface, and

- a bending unit, in particular a swivel bending unit, which bending unit is adjustable relative to the clamping tool to carry out the bending process.

Furthermore, a machining tool for preferably mechanically or thermally machining a workpiece to be produced is fixed, in particular arranged in a fixed or rigid manner, on at least one upper clamping jaw, wherein the machining tool has an effective machining section relative to a workpiece to be produced, wherein the effective machining section is positioned in the vertical direction between the pressing surface and the boundary surface, in particular is fixed or rigidly arranged.

A clamping beam is understood to be a beam-shaped machine component of the bending machine, whereby the clamping beams are mounted or held on the machine frame of the bending machine and are designed to accommodate at least one clamping jaw or preferably several clamping jaws. It can also be provided that, for example, only one lower clamping jaw is mounted or held on the lower clamping beam, which lower clamping jaw simultaneously forms a support surface or clamping surface for a workpiece to be produced.

The clamping jaws are machine components of the bending machine that are assigned to the clamping tool. The clamping bars can be positioned on the clamping bars or, if necessary, several upper clamping jaws can be positioned on the upper clamping bar, for example by threading the upper clamping jaws in the direction of the longitudinal extension on the upper clamping bar in a receiving groove provided for this purpose. In any case, for example, an upper clamping jaw can be positioned on the upper clamping bar and, if necessary, fixed in such a way that a movement, in particular in the vertical direction of the upper clamping bar, is carried out synchronously by the upper clamping jaw. In this way, a workpiece to be produced can be clamped between the clamping jaws or between at least one upper clamping jaw and at least one lower clamping jaw. It can be provided that a workpiece to be manufactured is initially placed on the clamping surface of the lower clamping jaw and is then clamped in place by means of the upper clamping jaw when clamping a workpiece to be manufactured. A workpiece to be manufactured can be clamped in place between the clamping surface and a clamping extension with a pressing surface of the upper clamping jaw.

The clamping extension can be designed in such a way that it is designed as an extension on the upper clamping jaw in the direction of the lower clamping jaw or in the direction of the bending unit. The special design of the clamping extension results in a setback or an exemption from the rest of the clamping jaw starting from the clamping extension or starting from the pressing surface, so that the pressing surface is closer to a workpiece to be produced than the boundary surface and so that a workpiece to be produced is between the pressing surface and the clamping surface can be fixed by clamping, wherein in the clamping position the remaining area of the upper clamping jaw is exempt from contact with a workpiece to be produced by the recess. The clamping position is to be understood as meaning the positioning of the individual components of the clamping tool in which a workpiece to be produced can be fixed in a clamping manner between an upper clamping jaw and a lower clamping jaw or between the pressing surface and the clamping surface.

If a workpiece to be produced is clamped between the pressing surface and the clamping surface, a section of a workpiece to be produced which projects in the direction of the bending unit relative to the clamping extension can be reshaped or bent by means of the bending unit. For example, a sheet metal can be formed in such a way that it has a bending radius.

Since the at least one upper clamping jaw additionally includes the processing tool, in addition to forming a sheet, this sheet or the workpiece to be produced can also be processed with the processing tool. A workpiece to be produced can, for example, be positioned on the clamping surface, whereby it can be positioned in such a way that when the upper clamping jaw is brought towards the lower clamping jaw, the effective processing section of the processing tool comes into the one to be produced Workpiece is or is positioned to engage or act. As a result, a workpiece to be produced can be processed using the processing tool, for example by weakening the cross section of the workpiece to be produced in the area of effective processing from the cut. If a workpiece to be produced with a weakened cross-section is subsequently processed with the bending unit, a narrower bending radius can be achieved in the area of the weakened cross-section using the bending unit. At the same time, the force required by the bending unit when producing a bending radius in the area is reduced.

Thus, the device according to the invention is advantageous in that, on the one hand, the variety of shapes of a workpiece to be produced that can be produced using the bending machine is expanded and, on the other hand, the force required by the bending unit is reduced compared to a process without prior weakening of the cross-section in order to produce a predetermined bending radius. Synergistically, it is advantageous that the design of the bending machine according to the invention is as simple as possible. Namely, in the sense that the bending machine or a clamping bar does not have to carry out any movements when processing a workpiece to be produced using the processing tool that are not already enabled by the existing movement axes of the bending machine or the clamping bar. This creates the possibility of a workpiece to be produced being subjected to additional processing in a particularly simple manner, both with regard to the construction and design of the machine components of the bending machine and with regard to the control of the bending machine, and consequently also cost-effectively.

Furthermore, it can be expedient if at least one of the clamping bars can be moved into a processing position relative to the machine frame, both parallel to the clamping surface and in the direction of the other clamping bar, so that the effective processing section can be acted upon or pressed into a workpiece to be produced. The fact that one of the clamping jaws can be moved in particular parallel to the clamping surface has the advantageous effect that a deformation of a workpiece to be produced is made possible during previous processing of the same using the processing tool, without the workpiece to be produced having to be relocated on the clamping surface in order to initially process it and then bend. This reduces the processing time The workpiece to be produced is reduced and the time utilization of the bending machine is subsequently increased and the economic efficiency is improved.

Furthermore, it can be provided that in the processing position a projection of the pressing surface on the plane of the clamping surface is aligned with the clamping surface without overlapping, so that when the upper clamping bar is moved to the processing position, a workpiece to be produced can be processed using the processing tool. It is advantageous in this case that the processing tool or the effective processing section can be brought closer to a workpiece to be produced. For example, the upper clamping bar can initially be moved parallel to the clamping surface in such a way that a projection of the pressing surface on the plane of the clamping surface is aligned with the clamping surface without overlapping. A workpiece positioned on the clamping surface can then be processed using the processing tool during or after a vertical displacement of the upper clamping bar in the direction of the lower clamping bar. This means that, for example, the upper clamping bar can be moved vertically so close to the lower clamping bar that the clamping extension is partially displaced or the pressure surface is displaced below the clamping surface, whereby the clamping extension or the upper clamping jaw is not in contact with the lower clamping jaw. This makes it easy to process thin workpieces or thin sheets in particular.

In addition, it can be provided that in the processing position the pressing surface can be positioned vertically below the clamping surface, so that the first clamping surface can be positioned vertically between the pressing surface and the boundary surface. Accordingly, for example, the upper clamping bar can be moved vertically to the lower clamping bar so far that the clamping extension is displaced in sections or the pressing surface is displaced below the clamping surface. In this way, thin workpieces or thin sheets in particular can be processed in a simple manner.

Another advantageous embodiment is one in which the clamping extension can be displaced in the direction of the bending unit in the processing position. This is particularly advantageous because, on the one hand, thin sheets can be processed using the processing tool and, on the other hand, such a displacement can also be used for possible subsequent bending of a workpiece to be produced. This displacement or the machine axes provided for this can be used several times. which simplifies the design of the bending machine and improves the economics of manufacturing the same and keeps the control of the bending machine simple.

In any case, as already described in other words, it is advantageous if the clamping bars are brought closer to one another when machining a workpiece to be produced in such a way that the machining tool is at a smaller distance from the clamping surface in the direction of the clamping surface than in the clamping position. This also ensures that the effective processing section in the clamping position is free of interference with a workpiece to be produced, so that the safety of the bending machine is improved. This ensures that the machining tool has a safe distance from the workpiece to be produced in the clamping position. The safety of the bending machine is thus increased, since a collision of the processing tool with the workpiece to be produced can be avoided in any case.

Furthermore, it can be expedient if the processing tool has a processing area, the processing area having the same longitudinal dimension as the at least one upper clamping jaw in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the upper clamping bar. This means that the full longitudinal dimension of the upper clamping jaw is used. Thus, workpieces of one size or one length dimension in the longitudinal extension can be clamped using the clamping tool on the one hand, but can also be processed using the processing tool. This ensures a high degree of utilization of the bending machine.

In addition, it can be provided that the clamping tool comprises a plurality of upper clamping jaws, with only individual ones of the plurality of upper clamping jaws comprising a processing tool. This ensures that different areas of a workpiece to be produced can be processed with the processing tool, while at the same time the entire workpiece to be produced can continue to be held in place by means of the clamping tool. This significantly increases the range of applications for the bending machine. It is also conceivable that all of the upper clamping jaws can include a processing tool.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the machining tool is a notching tool rigidly fixed to at least one upper clamping jaw, wherein the effective machining section is defined by an embossing cutting edge or a cutting edge of the notching tool, and wherein a workpiece to be produced can be machined by means of the notching tool when at least one of the clamping bars is moved in the direction of the other of the clamping bars. For example, a weakening line can be introduced or embossed into the workpiece to be produced in a simple manner by moving the upper clamping bar into the processing position and by the resulting penetration or action of the embossing cutting edge into the workpiece to be produced.

Furthermore, it can be expedient if the machining tool is a cutting tool rigidly fixed to at least one upper clamping jaw, the effective machining section being defined by a cutting edge of the cutting tool, and a workpiece to be produced using the cutting tool when shifting at least one the clamping bar can be edited or separated in the direction of the other clamping bar. The advantage here is that, for example, a workpiece to be produced can be separated using the same machine axes or machine control of the bending machine as are also provided for bending sheet metal. This means that no additional drive axles are necessary and the bending machine does not require any extended machine control, although machining or cutting a workpiece is possible. For example, a sheet metal can first be separated using the cutting tool, in order to then clamp the workpiece to be produced that has been separated from the sheet metal using the clamping tool and reshape it using the bending unit.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the processing tool is a laser processing tool, the laser processing tool comprising a laser cutter or an engraving laser and a carriage, the laser cutter or the engraving laser being moved by means of the carriage in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the upper clamping bar along the first upper clamping jaw can be moved or positioned. The laser processing tool can act on the effective processing section in a workpiece to be produced, with a wide variety of processing options being conceivable. For example, local hardening, laser cutting or laser engraving can be carried out as possible processing of a workpiece to be produced. This in turn expands the variety of processing options, while at the same time the original machine design of a bending machine and its controllable axes can remain unchanged in relation to the clamping bar that can be moved relative to the machine frame. This is particularly economically advantageous, since no additional and possibly complex controls or Constructions are necessary and at the same time the variety of processing options is increased.

In addition, it can be provided that the at least one upper clamping jaw comprises a fastening device, the processing tool being held on the at least one upper clamping jaw by means of the fastening device, the processing tool comprising a stop surface, the stop surface being aligned parallel to the clamping surface and in a Mounting position of the processing tool on the at least one upper clamping jaw rests on a counter-stop surface of the at least one upper clamping jaw. The advantage here is that the processing tool can be replaced by providing the fastening device. For example, if wear occurs on the processing device, it can be easily changed. Machining tools with different effective machining sections can also be attached in this way or, if necessary, the type of machining tool can be changed, such as from a cutting tool to a notching tool. In addition, the predetermined stop surface and its contact with the counter-stop surface in the assembly position ensure that the force transmission between the at least one upper clamping jaw and the processing tool is ensured in the vertical direction, i.e. in the processing direction.

It is also conceivable that the processing tool can be positioned adjacent to at least one upper clamping jaw on a shoulder contact or a contact with an L-shaped cross-section, comprising the stop surface and a further surface in the assembly position.

Another advantageous embodiment is one in which it can be provided that the fastening device can be fastened or held and released mechanically or automatically by means of electromagnets, pneumatically or electrically movable bolts and/or clamps, so that the processing tool can be positioned mechanically or automatically by means of a manipulator on the at least one upper clamping jaw or removed from the at least one upper clamping jaw. For example, a hydraulically controlled bolt with an electromagnet at its distal end is conceivable, wherein the processing tool has a recess that is complementary in shape to the bolt. The bolt can be displaceable in the horizontal direction. The processing tool can thus be positioned in the assembly position by means of a manipulator, after which the bolt can be moved into the A recess of complementary shape is introduced and the electromagnet at the distal end of the bolt is activated so that the machining tool is fixed in the horizontal direction by means of the electromagnet. At the same time, the machining tool is fixed in the vertical direction by the bolt that is moved into the recess of complementary shape. The advantage here is that an automated or mechanical change of the machining tool significantly reduces the set-up time when using different machining tools. In this way, the machining process of workpieces to be manufactured using the bending machine can be designed to be economically effective.

In particular, it can be advantageous that only the upper clamping bar can be moved relative to the machine frame. This ensures that the clamping surface is fixed relative to the machine frame, which makes handling the workpieces to be produced safe, since a workpiece to be produced does not have to be moved in the vertical direction during processing.

Furthermore, it can be useful if the bending machine is a folding machine. There are swing bending machines in which the machine control and the construction of the bending machine are designed to move the upper clamping beam in the horizontal direction. Thus, when using a machining tool, existing movement axes can be used to relocate the upper clamping bar.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for making a notch or an engraving in a sheet metal workpiece or for separating sheet metal workpieces by means of a bending machine, the method comprising the following method steps:

- Providing a bending machine comprising a fixed machine frame, a lower clamping bar and an upper clamping bar, wherein at least one of the clamping bars is displaceable relative to the machine frame into a clamping position in order to clamp a workpiece to be produced in the clamping position,

- Providing a clamping tool comprising at least one lower clamping jaw and at least one upper clamping jaw,

— wherein the at least one lower clamping jaw has a clamping surface for the workpiece to be produced and is held on the lower clamping bar and the at least one upper clamping jaw is held on the upper clamping bar,

— wherein the at least one upper clamping jaw has a direction towards the at least one lower clamping jaw protruding or projecting, clamping extension with a pressing surface, wherein the at least one upper clamping jaw has a, in particular vertical, recess relative to its pressing surface up to a boundary surface, so that a workpiece to be produced can be clamped between the clamping surface and the pressing surface, and

- wherein a machining tool for preferably mechanical or thermal machining of a workpiece to be produced is fixed, in particular fixed or rigidly arranged, on at least one upper clamping jaw, wherein the machining tool has an effective machining section opposite a workpiece to be produced, wherein the effective machining section is positioned in the vertical direction between the pressing surface and the boundary surface,

- Displacement of at least one of the clamping bars relative to the machine frame and parallel to the clamping surface so that a projection of the pressure surface onto the plane of the clamping surface is aligned with the clamping surface without overlap,

- Feeding of at least one of the clamping beams relative to the machine frame and towards the other of the clamping beams, so that the effective machining cut engages in a workpiece to be produced and the workpiece to be produced is machined by means of the machining tool during the feed or after the feed.

Since the at least one upper clamping jaw additionally comprises the processing tool, in addition to forming a sheet metal, this sheet metal or the workpiece to be produced can also be processed with the processing tool. A workpiece to be produced can be positioned on the clamping surface, for example, and it can be positioned in such a way that when the upper clamping jaw is brought closer to the lower clamping jaw, the effective processing section of the processing tool is positioned to engage or act on the workpiece to be produced. As a result, a workpiece to be produced can be processed using the processing tool, for example by weakening the cross-section of the workpiece to be produced in the area of the effective processing section. If a workpiece to be produced with a weakened cross-section is subsequently processed using the bending unit, a tighter bending radius can be achieved in the area of the weakened cross-section using the bending unit than would be possible without a weakened cross-section would be possible. At the same time, the force required by the bending unit to produce the bending radius in that area is reduced.

Thus, the method according to the invention is advantageous in that, on the one hand, the variety of shapes of a workpiece to be produced using the bending machine is expanded and, on the other hand, the amount of force required by the bending unit to produce a predetermined bending radius is reduced compared to a process without prior weakening of the cross-section. In synergy with this, it is advantageous that the design of the bending machine according to the invention is as simple as possible. Namely, in the sense that the bending machine or a clamping bar does not have to carry out any movements when processing a workpiece to be produced using the processing tool that are not already enabled by the existing movement axes of the bending machine. This creates the possibility of a workpiece to be produced being subjected to additional processing using the method according to the invention in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner, both in terms of the construction and design of the machine components and the control of the bending machine.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the machining tool is a notching tool rigidly fixed to the at least one upper clamping jaw, the effective machining section being defined by an embossing cutting edge or a cutting edge of the notching tool, and wherein a workpiece to be produced is produced by means of the notching tool when feeding at least one the clamping bar is processed in the direction of the other clamping bar.

An embossing cutting edge is a tool section of the notching tool whose cross-section is V-shaped in the direction of the longitudinal extension of a clamping bar.

According to a special embodiment, it is possible to introduce a weakening line into a workpiece to be manufactured by means of the notching tool.

For example, by moving the upper clamping bar in the direction of the workpiece to be produced, a weakening line can be introduced or impressed into the workpiece to be produced in a simple manner by the resulting penetration or action of the embossing cutting edge into a workpiece to be produced. Through this Advantageously, the result is that the bending machine can be used to produce narrower bending radii on a workpiece to be produced in a subsequent processing step than would be possible without a corresponding weakening line. The force required by the bending unit is also correspondingly reduced due to the weakened cross section compared to bending without a weakening line.

According to an advantageous further development, it can be provided that only the upper clamping bar is displaced relative to the machine frame. This ensures that the clamping surface is fixed relative to the machine frame, which ensures that the workpieces to be produced can be handled safely, since the workpieces are not moved in the vertical direction during processing.

For a better understanding of the invention, it is explained in more detail with reference to the following figures.

They show in a highly simplified, schematic representation:

Fig. 1 shows a bending machine;

Fig. 2 a clamping tool in a clamping position;

Fig. 3 a clamping tool in a machining position.

To begin with, it should be noted that in the different embodiments described, identical parts are provided with identical reference symbols or identical component designations, whereby the disclosures contained in the entire description can be transferred analogously to identical parts with identical reference symbols or identical component designations. The position information chosen in the description, such as top, bottom, side, etc., also refers to the figure directly described and shown, and these position information must be transferred analogously to the new position if the position changes.

1 to 3 show, if necessary, independent embodiments of a bending machine 1 and parts or machine components of a bending machine 1, with the same reference numbers or component names being used for the same parts. The bending machine 1 is intended for the production of workpieces made of sheet metal by forming in a bending process, in particular by swivel bending or vibration bending. The bending machine 1 can also be referred to as a folding machine, whereby the further described embodiments of a clamping tool 2 can also be used in a bending machine 1.

The bending machine 1 comprises a machine frame 3 and a lower clamping bar 4, an upper clamping bar 5 and a clamping tool 2. At least one of the clamping bars 4, 5 is displaceable relative to the machine frame 3. The upper clamping bar 4 can preferably be displaceable relative to the machine frame 3, wherein the lower clamping bar 5 can be fixed or rigidly fixed relative to the machine frame 3. Accordingly, it can be provided that the upper clamping bar 4 is displaceable with respect to the lower clamping bar 5. The upper clamping bar 4 can thus be displaced relative to the lower clamping bar 5 into a clamping position by moving the upper clamping bar 4 at least vertically towards the lower clamping bar 5. A clamping position is to be understood as meaning that a workpiece to be produced can be clamped by moving at least one of the clamping bars 4, 5 into the clamping position with respect to the other of the clamping bars 4, 5 by means of the clamping tool 2.

The clamping tool 2 comprises at least one lower clamping jaw 6 and at least one upper clamping jaw 7, wherein the at least one lower clamping jaw 6 is held on the lower clamping bar 4 and the at least one upper clamping jaw 7 is held on the upper clamping bar 5. The lower clamping jaw 6 comprises a clamping surface 8 for a workpiece to be produced or for receiving or depositing a workpiece to be produced. The at least one upper clamping jaw 7 comprises a clamping extension 9 which protrudes or projects in the direction of the at least one lower clamping jaw 6 and has a pressing surface 10, wherein a workpiece to be produced can be clamped or held between the clamping surface 8 and the pressing surface 10 when at least one of the clamping bars 4, 5 is moved into the clamping position.

Furthermore, the clamping extension 9 or the at least one upper clamping jaw 7 is designed such that the at least one upper clamping jaw 7 has a, in particular vertical, recess 18 up to a boundary surface 11. As a result, the clamping extension 9 or the pressing surface 10 protrudes in the vertical direction relative to the boundary surface 11. designed so that a workpiece to be produced can be clamped between the clamping surface 8 and the pressing surface 10.

Furthermore, the bending machine 1 also includes a bending unit 12, in particular a pivoting or oscillating bending unit, the bending unit 12 being adjustable relative to the clamping tool 2 to carry out the bending process.

The clamping extension 9 can further have a bending edge 19, with the clamping tool 2 being arranged in relation to the bending unit 12 in such a way that the bending edge 19 points towards the bending unit 12. The bending unit 12 is set up to bend a workpiece to be produced, which is held in a clamping manner by means of the clamping tool 2. The workpiece to be produced can be bent or bent around the bending edge 19 or on the bending edge 19 by means of the bending unit 12.

A processing tool 13 for processing a workpiece to be produced is fixed to the at least one upper clamping jaw 7. The processing tool 13 can be rigidly arranged on the at least one upper clamping jaw 7 and can preferably be provided for mechanical or thermal processing of a workpiece to be produced. However, it is also conceivable that the processing tool 13 is arranged on or relative to the at least one upper clamping jaw 7 in a vertically adjustable manner. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the processing tool 13 is positioned or fixed on the at least one upper clamping jaw 7 by means of a fastening device 14, wherein the fastening device 14 can comprise, for example, a mechanical, hydraulic, servomotor or pneumatic adjustment device for fixing the processing tool 13.

In any case, the processing tool 13 comprises an effective processing section 15 relative to a workpiece to be produced. The effective processing section 15 is formed or positioned in the vertical direction between the pressing surface 10 and the boundary surface 11. This creates the possibility that a workpiece to be produced can be clamped in the clamping position between the pressing surface 10 and the clamping surface 8 and can be processed by means of the processing tool 13, provided that a workpiece to be produced is positioned on the clamping surface 8 in such a way that it is positioned in the region of the recess 18 of the at least one upper clamping jaw 7 to the boundary surface 11 and not in the region of the pressing surface 10. It can be provided that at least one of the clamping bars 4, 5, in particular the upper clamping bar 4, can be displaced relative to the machine frame 3 parallel to the clamping surface 8 or in the horizontal direction. It can also be provided that at least one of the clamping bars 4, 5, in particular the upper clamping bar 4, can be displaced relative to the other of the clamping bars 4, 5, in particular to the lower clamping bar 5, in the vertical direction. Thus, one of the clamping jaws 6, 7, in particular the at least one upper clamping jaw 7, can be displaced relative to the other of the clamping jaws 6, 7, in particular relative to the lower clamping jaw 6, in such a way that the effective processing section 15 can be brought closer to a workpiece to be produced than in the clamping position. In particular, this can create the possibility that a projection of the pressing surface 10 onto the plane of the clamping surface 8 is positioned without overlapping with the clamping surface 8, whereby a processing position for a workpiece to be produced is defined. In the processing position, the pressing surface 10 of the clamping extension 9 can thus be positioned vertically below the clamping surface 8 of the at least one lower clamping jaw 6, so that when the upper clamping bar 5 is moved into the processing position, a workpiece to be produced can be processed using the processing tool 13. Since such a displacement of the upper clamping bar 5 relative to the machine frame 3 or relative to a lower clamping bar 4 rigidly attached to the machine frame 3, in particular when moving in the horizontal direction in the direction of the bending unit 12, is known from the prior art in a swivel bending machine, this existing movement sequence can be used in a simple manner for an additional processing option using the bending machine 1 or a swivel bending machine using the processing tool 13. The described displacement of at least one of the clamping bars 4, 5 and consequently the displacement of at least one of the clamping jaws 6, 7 is shown schematically in Fig. 3.

Irrespective of this, it can be provided that the machining tool 13 has a machining area in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the clamping bars 4, 5, the length of which is equal to the longitudinal dimension of the at least one upper clamping jaw 7 in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the clamping bars 4, 5.

Independently of this, it can also be provided that the bending machine 1 has several upper clamping jaws, wherein at least one of the several upper clamping jaws comprises a processing tool 13 according to the invention. If, for example, one of the several upper clamping jaws does not comprise a machining tool 13, it is thus possible to create the possibility that a workpiece to be produced can only be machined in sections by means of a machining tool 13 or several machining tools 13.

Regardless of this, the machining tool 13 can be designed as a notching tool for introducing a notch into a workpiece to be produced. The notching tool can be rigidly fixed to the at least one upper clamping jaw 7 and the effective processing section 15 can be formed by a cutting edge or by an embossing cutting edge or cutting edge extending in the longitudinal direction of the upper clamping bar 4. The effective processing section 15 can be pyramid-shaped or triangular in cross-section with a tip aligned with the lower clamping jaw 6. For example, if the upper clamping bar 4 is moved into the processing position, a workpiece to be produced can be processed in the vertical direction during the displacement, so that a notch or a line of weakness is introduced into the workpiece to be produced. As a result, a narrower bending radius can be produced on the workpiece to be produced in the area of the weakening line by means of swivel bending or bending of the workpiece to be produced than would be possible without a weakening line.

Irrespective of this, the processing tool 13 can be designed as a separating tool, which separating tool has a separating edge running in the longitudinal extension of the upper clamping bar 4. This makes it possible to create the possibility of a workpiece to be produced being separated by means of the separating tool during or at the time of displacement of at least one of the clamping bars 4, 5 into the processing position or in particular during displacement in the vertical direction.

Independently of this, it can also be provided that the processing tool 13 is formed by a laser processing tool. It can also be provided that the laser processing tool includes a carriage and a laser cutter or an engraving laser. Thus, the laser cutter can be moved along a workpiece to be produced by means of the carriage in the longitudinal extent of the upper clamping bar 4 in order to process the workpiece to be produced. It is conceivable that a workpiece to be produced can be separated using the laser processing tool or that an engraving can be introduced into the workpiece to be produced. The workpiece to be produced can also be made using can be thermally treated with the laser processing tool point by point or along the travel path of the slide.

Regardless of what has already been mentioned, the processing tool 13 can have a stop surface 16 aligned in the vertical direction or parallel to the clamping surface 8. The at least one upper clamping jaw 7 of the bending machine 1 can also have a counter-stop surface 17. If the processing tool 13 is in a mounting position on the at least one upper clamping jaw 7, it can be provided that the stop surface 16 rests on the counter-stop surface 17. With the exemplary use of a notching tool as a machining tool 13, this ensures a direct introduction of force from the at least one upper clamping jaw 7 via the machining tool 13 into the workpiece to be produced. Furthermore, it can be provided that the processing tool 13 rests on the at least one upper clamping jaw 7 in a shoulder-shaped or L-shaped cross-sectional contact.

As already described, the processing tool 13 can be secured to the at least one upper clamping jaw 7 by means of a fastening device 14. Irrespective of the previously described embodiments of the bending machine 1, the fastening device 14 can be designed to be mechanically or automatically detachable from the at least one upper clamping jaw 7. For example, it is conceivable that the fastening device 14 comprises pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically movable bolts by means of which the processing tool 13 can be secured at least in the vertical direction and/or in the horizontal direction relative to the at least one upper clamping jaw 7. It can be advantageous if the processing tool 13, as previously described, can be placed on a shoulder-shaped support on the at least one upper clamping jaw 7. In order to also secure or hold the processing tool 13 in the horizontal direction relative to the at least one upper clamping jaw 7, electromagnets can be provided, for example. Alternatively, it can be provided that the machining tool 13 is introduced into a U-shaped cross-section receptacle on the at least one upper clamping jaw 7 and is fixed therein with the previously described bolts. The machining tool 13 can thus be fixed in the vertical direction as well as in the horizontal direction relative to the at least one upper clamping jaw 7, with the machining tool 13 still resting against the counter stop surface 17 in the assembly position. In any case, this makes it possible for the machining tool to also be machined or automated, for example with the aid of a manipulator on which at least one upper clamping jaw 7 can be positioned or from which at least one upper clamping jaw 7 can be removed

The embodiments show possible embodiment variants, whereby it should be noted at this point that the invention is not restricted to the specifically illustrated embodiment variants thereof, but rather various combinations of the individual embodiment variants with each other are also possible and this possibility of variation lies within the skill of the person skilled in the art in this technical field due to the teaching of technical action through objective invention.

The scope of protection is determined by the claims. However, the description and the drawings must be used to interpret the claims. Individual features or combinations of features from the different embodiments shown and described can represent independent inventive solutions in themselves. The task underlying the independent inventive solutions can be taken from the description.

For the sake of order, it should finally be pointed out that in order to better understand the structure, elements have sometimes been shown out of scale and/or enlarged and/or reduced in size.

List of reference symbols

Bending machine Clamping tool Machine frame Lower clamping bar Upper clamping bar Lower clamping jaw Upper clamping jaw Clamping surface Clamping extension Pressing surface

Boundary surface bending unit

Processing tool Fastening device Processing section Stop surface Counter stop surface Recess bending edge

Claims

P atent claims

1. Bending machine (1) for producing workpieces from sheet metal by forming in a bending process, in particular by swivel bending or oscillating bending, comprising

- a fixed machine frame (3), a lower clamping bar (4) and an upper clamping bar (5), at least one of the clamping bars (4, 5) being movable into a clamping position relative to the machine frame (3) in order to place a workpiece to be produced in to keep the clamping position clamped,

- a clamping tool (2) comprising at least one lower clamping jaw (6) and at least one upper clamping jaw (7),

- wherein the at least one lower clamping jaw (6) has a clamping surface (8) for a workpiece to be produced and is held on the lower clamping bar (4) and the at least one upper clamping jaw (7) is held on the upper clamping bar (5),

- wherein the at least one upper clamping jaw (7) has a clamping extension (9) with a pressing surface (10), the at least one upper clamping jaw (7) having a recess (18) relative to its pressing surface (10) up to a boundary surface (11), so that a workpiece to be produced can be clamped between the clamping surface (8) and the pressing surface (10), and

- a bending unit (12), which bending unit (12) is adjustable relative to the clamping tool (2) for carrying out the bending process, characterized in that

- that a machining tool (13) for machining a workpiece to be produced is fixed to at least one upper clamping jaw (7), wherein the machining tool (13) has an effective machining section (15) in relation to a workpiece to be produced, wherein the effective machining section (15) is positioned in the vertical direction between the pressing surface (10) and the boundary surface (11).

2. Bending machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the clamping bars (4, 5) is relative to the machine frame (3) both parallel to the clamping surface (8) and in the direction of the other of the clamping bars (4, 5). a machining position can be moved so that the effective machining section (15) can be acted upon in a workpiece to be produced.

3. Bending machine (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that in the processing position a projection of the pressing surface (10) onto the plane of the clamping surface (8) is positioned without overlapping with the clamping surface (8).

4. Bending machine (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that in the processing position the pressing surface (10) can be positioned vertically below the clamping surface (8), so that the first clamping surface (8) can be positioned vertically between the pressing surface (10) and the boundary surface (11).

5. Bending machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping extension (9) is displaced in the processing position in the direction of the bending unit (12).

6. Bending machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping bars (4, 5) are brought towards each other during machining of a workpiece to be produced in such a way that the machining tool (13) in the direction of the clamping surface (8) has a smaller distance from the clamping surface (8) than in the clamping position.

7. Bending machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing tool (13) has a processing area, the processing area in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the upper clamping bar (5) having the same longitudinal dimension as the at least one upper clamping jaw (7) having.

8. Bending machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping tool (2) comprises a plurality of upper clamping jaws (7), wherein only some of the total plurality of upper clamping jaws (7) comprise a processing tool (13).

9. Bending machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing tool (13) is a notching tool rigidly fixed on at least one upper clamping jaw (7), the effective processing section (15) of a cutting edge or a cutting edge of the notching tool is defined, and wherein a workpiece to be produced can be processed by means of the notching tool when at least one of the clamping bars (4, 5) is displaced towards the other of the clamping bars (4, 5).

10. Bending machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the processing tool (13) is a separating tool rigidly fixed to at least one upper clamping jaw (7), wherein the effective processing section (15) is defined by a separating edge of the separating tool, and wherein a workpiece to be produced can be processed by means of the separating tool upon displacement of at least one of the clamping bars (4, 5) in the direction of the other of the clamping bars (4, 5).

11. Bending machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the processing tool (13) is a laser processing tool (13), wherein the laser processing tool (13) comprises a laser cutter or an engraving laser and a carriage, wherein the laser cutter or the engraving laser can be displaced or positioned by means of the carriage in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the upper clamping bar (5) along the first upper clamping jaw (7).

12. Bending machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one upper clamping jaw (7) comprises a fastening device (14), wherein the processing tool (13) is held on the at least one upper clamping jaw (7) by means of the fastening device (14), wherein the processing tool (13) comprises a stop surface (16), wherein the stop surface (16) is aligned parallel to the clamping surface (8) and in a mounting position of the processing tool (13) on the at least one upper clamping jaw (7) rests against a counter stop surface (17) of the at least one upper clamping jaw (7).

13. Bending machine (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the fastening device (14) can be fastened and released mechanically or automatically by means of electromagnets, pneumatically or electrically movable bolts and/or clamps, so that the processing tool (13) can be fastened and released mechanically or automatically by means of a manipulator on the at least one upper clamping jaw (7) can be positioned or removed from the at least one upper clamping jaw (7).

14. Bending machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that only the upper clamping bar (5) is displaceable relative to the machine frame (3).

15. Bending machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bending machine (1) is a swivel bending machine.

16. Method for introducing a notch or an engraving into a workpiece made of sheet metal or for separating workpieces made of sheet metal using a bending machine (1), the method comprising the following method steps:

— Providing a bending machine (1) comprising a fixed machine frame (3), a lower clamping bar (4) and an upper clamping bar (5), wherein at least one of the clamping bars (4, 5) is displaceable relative to the machine frame (3) into a clamping position in order to clamp a workpiece to be produced in the clamping position,

- Providing a clamping tool (2) comprising at least one lower clamping jaw (6) and at least one upper clamping jaw (7),

— wherein the at least one lower clamping jaw (6) has a clamping surface (8) for the workpiece to be produced and is held on the lower clamping bar (4) and the at least one upper clamping jaw (7) is held on the upper clamping bar (5),

— wherein a machining tool (13) for machining a workpiece to be produced is fixed to at least one upper clamping jaw (7), wherein the machining tool (13) has an effective machining section (15) opposite a workpiece to be produced, wherein the effective machining section (15) is positioned in the vertical direction between the pressing surface (10) and the boundary surface (11), - displacing at least one of the clamping bars (4, 5) relative to the machine frame (3) and parallel to the clamping surface (8) so that a projection of the pressing surface (10) onto the plane of the clamping surface (8) is aligned with the clamping surface (8) without overlap,

- Advancement of at least one of the clamping bars (4, 5) relative to the machine frame (3) and towards the other of the clamping bars (4, 5), so that the effective processing section (15) acts on a workpiece to be produced and the workpiece to be produced by means of the Processing tool (13) is processed during delivery or after delivery.

17. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that the machining tool (13) is a notching tool rigidly fixed to the at least one upper clamping jaw (7), wherein the effective machining section (15) is defined by an embossing cutting edge or a cutting edge of the notching tool, and wherein a workpiece to be produced is machined by means of the notching tool when at least one of the clamping bars (4, 5) is fed in the direction of the other of the clamping bars (4, 5).

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that a weakening line is introduced into a workpiece to be produced by means of the notching tool.

19. Method according to one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that only the upper clamping bar (5) is displaced relative to the machine frame (3).