EP1064108A2

EP1064108A2 - Bending machine

Info

Publication number: EP1064108A2
Application number: EP00901523A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Wolfgang Kutschker; Erwin Pesold
Original assignee: Reinhardt Maschinenbau GmbH
Current assignee: RAS Reinhardt Maschinenbau GmbH
Priority date: 1999-01-19
Filing date: 2000-01-11
Publication date: 2001-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 2020-01-11
Also published as: WO2000043142A2; US6324882B1; WO2000043142A3; DE19901794A1; WO2000043142A8; ATE291973T1; CA2324366A1; EP1064108A3; PT1064108E; DE50009896D1; ES2238266T3; EP1064108B1; JP2002535146A

Abstract

In order to improve a bending machine for flat material, comprising a machine frame, a lower beam arranged on the machine frame and an upper beam arranged on the machine frame, with which the flat material can be fixed in position, a bending tool moving device, with which a bending tool can be moved, in such a manner that the movements of the bending tool can be realized technically with simple means and precise bending movements of the bending tool can be carried out it is suggested that the bending tool have a bending nose with a curved pressure surface for acting upon one side of the flat material and that the bending tool be movable by the bending tool moving device between a starting bending position and an end bending position on a path about the respective bending edge which is predetermined in a defined manner such that the curved pressure surface and the side of the flat material acted upon move relative to one another in the form of an essentially slide-free rolling on one another.

Description

Bending machine

The invention relates to a bending machine for flat material, comprising a machine frame, a lower beam arranged on the machine frame with a lower clamping tool and an upper beam arranged on the machine frame with an upper clamping tool, with which the flat material can be fixed in a clamping plane, a bending tool movement device, which is one of the Cheeks is assigned and with which a bending tool carrier with a bending tool for bending the flat material about a bending edge relative to the clamping plane in a plurality of bending positions is movable.

Such a machine is known from the prior art, for example DE 42 06 417. The problem with this is that, on the one hand, the pivoting of a bending beam carrying the bending tool is structurally complex, in particular if the bending is to be carried out as precisely as possible.

The invention is therefore based on the object of improving a bending machine of the generic type in such a way that the movements of the bending tool can be implemented technically with simple means and precise bending movements of the bending tool can be carried out.

This object is achieved according to the invention in a bending machine of the type described in the introduction in that the bending tool has a bending lug with a curved pressure surface for loading one side of the flat material and that the bending tool can be moved by the bending tool movement device between a start of bending position and a bending end position on a path around the respective bending edge, which is defined in such a way that the curved pressure surface and the loaded side of the flat material relative to one another in the form of an essentially non-slip rolling move towards each other.

The advantage of the solution according to the invention can be seen in the fact that the use of an arched pressure surface and the rolling of the arched pressure surface on the loaded side of the flat material on the one hand flat material-saving bending operations can be realized with technically simple movements of the bending tool.

The advantage of the solution according to the invention can be seen in particular in the fact that there is essentially no relative sliding of the bending tool to the flat material, the movement of the bending tool required for this being structurally simple to carry out.

In principle, it would be conceivable to move the bending tool on the path provided for the solution according to the invention, for example by means of numerical path controls. However, such a solution has the disadvantage that large forces have to be generated to move the bending tool and must be precisely controlled.

For this reason, it is preferably provided that the path of the bending tool is defined by a mechanical path guide, so that no precise path control of the Bending tool is necessary with the help of large forces, but only a drive of the bending tool such that it follows the path.

The web guide can be implemented in a wide variety of ways. For example, it would be conceivable to create a backdrop path for this purpose, followed by a path follower. Such a slide track is on the one hand complex to manufacture and on the other hand connected with considerable size.

For this reason, an advantageous exemplary embodiment provides that the path of the bending tool is predetermined by at least one pivoting movement. A pivoting movement has the great advantage that it can be implemented in a simple manner, even for large forces, and in particular is simple in a simple manner without great mechanical outlay and has fewer signs of wear than a guide by means of a sliding track.

The path according to the invention can be realized particularly favorably if the path of the bending tool is predetermined by superimposing at least two pivoting movements, reference being made to the above explanations with regard to the advantage of the pivoting movements compared to guide rails.

No details have so far been given regarding the design and alignment of the bending nose.

An advantageous exemplary embodiment provides that the bending nose with a bending nose tip faces at least one of the clamping tools in all bending positions, whereby with such an alignment of the bending lug, only simple movements of the same are required in order to bend the flat material in the manner according to the invention.

The manner in which the curved pressure surface and the side of the flat material acted upon by the tool are to move relative to one another has not been specified in connection with the previous explanation of the invention. For example, it would be conceivable to design the rolling in such a way that a contact line between the pressure surface and the loaded side of the flat material migrates away from the bending edge.

The movement of the bend nose according to the invention can be realized particularly favorably if, when passing through the bend positions from the start of bend position to the end of bend position, a contact line between the pressure surface and the loaded side of the flat material on the loaded side of the flat material moves in the direction of the bending edge. This solution has the great advantage that, based on the clamping tools, no pivoting of the bending lug is required, even by large pivoting angles, in order to fulfill the condition according to the invention of essentially sliding without rolling on the side of the flat material that is acted upon.

With regard to the formation of the printing area itself, no further details have so far been given. An advantageous exemplary embodiment provides that the pressure surface has an apex line closest to the respective clamping tool in the initial bending position and, starting from this apex line, from the clamping tool extends away. Such a design of the pressure surface of the bending lug also manifests itself in a simple possibility of being able to carry out the bending of flat material precisely with the simplest possible movements of the bending tool.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the pressure surface provides that it has a front partial pressure surface that faces away from the bending tool carrier and that extends away from the apex line. Such a type of printing surface is particularly suitable for making bends in the flat material by angles of up to 90 °. It is even more advantageous if the pressure surface has a rear partial pressure surface which faces the bending tool carrier and which runs away from the apex line opposite the front partial pressure surface. Such a design of the pressure surface has the advantage that, in particular, large bending angles, in particular bending angles of more than 90 °, can be realized with a simple movement of the bending tool.

It is preferably provided in the context of the solution according to the invention that in the initial bending position the contact line between the pressure surface and the loaded side of the flat material lies in the region of the front partial pressure surface and moves in the direction of the apex line during bending.

It is particularly advantageous if the bending lug can be moved into such a bending end position in which the contact line lies in the area of the rear partial printing surface, so that the largest possible printing surface can be used during the bending process and in particular bending of the flat material by more than a simple movement kinematics Is 90 ° movable. No details have so far been given with regard to the arrangement of the bending tool movement device. In principle, it would be conceivable to design the bending machine according to the invention in such a way that the bending tool movement device is arranged in the region of side stands of the machine frame.

However, in order to obtain a machine that is as narrow as possible, and in particular a machine whose extent is variable in the longitudinal direction, it is preferably provided that the bending tool movement device is arranged between lateral end faces of the cheeks. Such an arrangement of the bending tool movement device also has the advantage that it allows the bending tool to be supported more uniformly, so that problems with regard to the bending of the bending tool are also avoided, particularly in the case of long bending machines.

In addition, an advantageous embodiment of a bending machine according to the invention provides that the bending tool movement device is in all bending positions exclusively on the side of the clamping plane on which the bending starting position of the bending tool lies. Such an arrangement of the bending tool movement device ensures that the bending machine can be made very compact, and in particular a front space in front of the clamping tools, in which the sheet to be bent protrudes, is affected as little as possible by the bending tool movement device, in order to make it as large as possible Obtain a degree of freedom with regard to the possible bending operations and / or manipulation operations. It is even more advantageous if the bending tool movement device extends in all bending positions between a front delimitation plane that runs through the bending tool and is perpendicular to the clamping plane and the machine frame. Such a design of the bending tool movement device has the great advantage that no element of the bending tool movement device and also of the machine frame is present in front of the front delimitation plane, so that the flat material can survive unhindered in this area, taken over by other machines or manipulated in some other way. In addition, such a structure of a bending machine according to the invention also allows the possibility of arranging several machines in the form of a production line in succession, that is to say that there is the possibility that the flat material projecting beyond the front delimitation plane on a side opposite the machine frame can easily be obtained from another machine can be taken over.

In this solution, it is particularly noteworthy that the bending tool itself is the element that protrudes the most from the machine frame on a side of the clamping tools opposite the machine frame and all other machine parts of the bending machine, in particular the machine frame itself and the bending tool movement device on which Machine side facing the front boundary plane.

The bending machine according to the invention is even more advantageous if the bending tool movement device is in all possible bending positions between a one running through the bending edge and perpendicular to the clamping plane Front level and the machine frame extends. Since the front plane is even closer to the machine frame than the front boundary plane, an even larger free space is created on the side of the front plane opposite the machine frame, which is suitable for a variety of bending operations and also for manipulating the bent flat material exploits.

With regard to the design of the bending tool carrier itself, no further details have been given in connection with the previous exemplary embodiments. It is particularly advantageous if the bending tool carrier also lies in all possible bending positions between a limiting plane that intersects the bending tool and runs perpendicular to the clamping plane, and the respective cheek, since this ensures that even the bending tool carrier does not protrude beyond this limiting plane and therefore the bending tool itself is the only element of the bending machine that extends the furthest away from the clamping tools on a side facing away from the machine frame.

It is even more advantageous if the bending tool carrier extends in all possible bending positions between a front plane that runs through the bending edge and is perpendicular to the clamping plane and the machine frame, and is therefore arranged even closer to the machine frame, so that only the bending tool extends over the front plane protrudes from the side opposite the machine frame. In order to be able to carry out bending operations in opposite directions with the bending machine according to the invention, it is advantageously provided that the bending machine has a bending tool assigned to the lower beam and a bending tool assigned to the upper beam.

The bending tools are preferably designed in the same way and each driven by a bending tool movement device provided for each bending tool.

In order to avoid that the bending tools interfere with one another, it is provided, for example, that the bending tool not used for an operation on the flat material can be brought into the rest position.

This makes it possible to obtain the largest possible bending free spaces for the bending tool used and the possibly partially bent flat material.

It is particularly advantageous if the bending tool that is not used for an operation on the flat material is always in the rest position, so that it can be assumed that the bending tool, if it is not used, does not always constitute an obstacle to bending with the other bending tool.

This solution includes all the applications in which when using one of the bending tools, the other bending tool is always in the rest position. However, this solution does not rule out the possibility of special operations, such as folding operations or other special operations Bending operations or manipulation operations both bending tools are used and attack the flat material simultaneously or immediately in quick succession.

In order to permit the largest possible type and the greatest possible extent of bending operations, especially in the case of flat material that has already been bent, it is preferably provided that there is a bending space free of machine elements between the clamping plane and the bending tool with a bending tool carrier when the respective bending tool is at rest extends over an angular range of at least 90 ° around the effective bending edge, which means that the flat material can extend unhindered by machine elements of the bending machine away from the clamping tools within this bending space. In addition, this bending space free of machine elements of the bending machine can also be used to carry out additional functions, for example handling, by means of additional devices.

In particular, it is advantageous if, in the rest position, the bending tool with the bending tool carrier does not reach the front plane, but an additional bending space remains between it and the front plane, which can then be used when bending with the other bending tool.

The bending space is preferably dimensioned such that it extends around the effective bending edge over an angular range of at least 110 °. It is even more advantageous if the bending space extends around the bending edge over an angular range of at least 120 °. Such a bending space can be realized particularly inexpensively when the bending tool carrier is in the rest position near a front surface of the respective cheek, that is to say it is as far as possible from the front plane and is arranged in the direction of the respective cheek.

An exemplary embodiment of a bending machine according to the invention, which has optimum bending possibilities, provides that the bending tool movement device of the bending tool which is in the rest position is outside the bending space defined by the angular range.

No details have so far been given with regard to the design of the bending tool movement device. In principle, the bending tool movement device can thus capture all conceivable forms of implementation that have previously been used in bending machines that meet the requirements according to the invention. A particularly advantageous embodiment of the bending tool movement device provides that it has a plurality of holding elements which engage in a region of the bending tool carrier facing the bending tool and are arranged at a fixed distance from one another in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bending edge and which support the bending tool carrier with respect to the machine frame. Such a design of the support of the bending tool carrier relative to the machine frame has the advantage that the stability of the bending tool carrier itself does not have to be designed such that, for example in the case of bending machines with side stands and bending tool movement devices arranged in them, such that the latter extends freely between the side stands withstands the bending forces and still eijie has little deflection. Rather, this solution of providing spaced-apart holding elements offers the possibility of supporting the bending tool carrier at a plurality of places in its longitudinal direction on the machine frame, so that the bending tool carrier only has to be designed so that it is stable over the distances between the individual holding elements has sufficient deformation stability.

However, the holding elements can not only be used so that the stability of the bending tool carrier itself can be reduced. Rather, the holding elements can advantageously also be used to serve as guides for a defined movement of a point of application thereof on the bending tool carrier and thus also to help determine the path on which the bending tool moves as it passes through the individual bending positions.

The holding elements are preferably designed such that they guide the point of application on a predetermined path which, superimposed with other movements, contributes to the path on which the bending tool is moving.

Such guidance of the bending tool carrier can be formed mechanically particularly simply if the holding elements engage the bending tool carrier in an articulated manner. In addition, it is advantageous if the holding elements are articulated in relation to the machine frame.

It is particularly expedient if the holding elements represent links which, on the one hand, articulate on the machine frame and, on the other hand, articulate on the bending tool carrier, so that a path movement of the point of application of the same on the bending tool carrier can be defined via the handlebars and, in addition, large forces can be transferred in a simple manner from the bending tool carrier to the machine frame in order to give the bending tool carrier sufficient dimensional stability during bending.

Such a point of attack can be selected particularly favorably if the holding elements engage on the cheek to which the respective bending tool is assigned.

In addition to such an arrangement of a plurality of holding elements, further measures are necessary in order to move the bending tool carrier in such a way that the bending tool ultimately precisely describes the path required according to the invention.

This can also be realized particularly favorably with regard to the stability of the bending tool carrier even if the bending tool carrier movement device has a multiplicity of bending tool carrier drive units arranged successively in the direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bending edge for moving the bending tool between the initial bending position and the final bending position.

Since in the bending machine according to the invention the bending tool can expediently also be positioned in a rest position, it would be conceivable, for example, to reach the rest position by moving the entire bending tool movement device between an initial bending position and the rest position. However, it is particularly favorable if that Bending tool is also movable between the rest position and the initial bending position by the bending tool carrier drive units.

To move the bending tool carrier, it is preferably provided that the bending tool carrier drive units engage the bending tool carrier at a point of application and move it between the start of bending position and the end of bending position on a defined path. By superimposing this defined path with additional path movements, for example the path movements defined by the holding elements, the movement of the bending tool required according to the invention on the defined path can be expediently achieved.

In principle, it would be conceivable, for example, to design the bending tool carrier drive device in such a way that it guides the point of application on the web in the form of a numerically controlled path movement. However, on the one hand this is complex in terms of control effort and on the other hand also with regard to the forces to be generated for the web movement.

For this reason, it is preferably provided that the web can be predetermined by a pivoting movement about a pivot axis fixed to the machine parts.

In the simplest case, the bending tool carrier drive units are designed such that they can be driven by a drive to carry out the path movements. A single drive will also suffice for a large number of bending tool carrier drive units. However, it is particularly advantageous if each of the bending tool carrier drive units can be driven by its own drive.

No details were given with regard to the design of the bending tool carrier drive units themselves. A particularly advantageous exemplary embodiment provides that each of the bending tool carrier drive units comprises a pivotably drivable drive arm which is pivotable at a first end about an axis fixed to the machine frame and is pivotably connected to the bending tool carrier at a second end via a knee joint. Such a design of the bending tool carrier drive units has the advantage that a definable movement of the bending tool carrier for determining the path of the bending tool can be realized in a simple manner.

A particularly advantageous kinematic arrangement provides that each of the bending tool carrier drive units has a toggle lever drive system for moving the bending tool carrier, since with such a toggle lever drive system complex movements can be generated in a simple manner by adjusting the lengths of the toggle levers.

In order to be able to define the path of the bending tool favorably relative to the machine frame, provision is preferably made for a first lever of the toggle lever drive system to be pivotable about an axis fixed to the machine frame. In principle, the toggle lever drive system could be driven arbitrarily, in that the drive acts on one of the levers of the toggle lever drive system. It is particularly favorable if the pivotable drive arm forms the first lever of the toggle lever drive system.

With regard to the design of the second lever, it would be conceivable to provide a special second lever for this purpose, which in turn acts on the bending tool carrier. However, a mechanically favorable solution is one in which the bending tool carrier forms at least part of a second lever of the toggle lever drive system.

In order not to be exclusively limited to pivoting movements with regard to the definition of the movement of the bending tool carrier, a particularly favorable solution of the bending tool carrier drive unit according to the invention provides that the drive arm is of variable length with regard to its distance between the first end and the second end. In addition to the pivoting movements, an additional translatory movement can thus be generated.

This translation movement can be used to additionally provide the path provided for the bending tool from the start of bending position to the end of bending position with path corrections.

However, a solution in which the length variability of the drive arm is used to move the bending tool between the initial bending position and the rest position is particularly favorable. For this purpose, it is expedient that the drive arm can be adjusted in length by means of a drive. In principle, such a drive can be a separate drive with which the length of the drive arm can be adjusted at any time. This would be particularly advantageous if the length adjustment should also be used to make path corrections during the movement of the path of the bending tool between the start of bending position and the end of bending position.

It is structurally particularly simple, however, if the drive for pivoting the drive arm also serves as a drive for adjusting the length of the drive arm, so that the length adjustment - for example for moving the bending tool between the rest position and the initial bending position - and the movement of the bending tool on the desired path a drive can be realized.

In principle, the length of the drive arm could be adjusted, for example, by adjusting the spindle or any other adjustment mechanism. A particularly favorable solution provides, however, that the drive arm is variable in length due to a toggle lever mechanism.

One embodiment of such a toggle lever mechanism provides that the drive arm comprises a partial arm extending from the first end to a central joint and a partial arm extending from the central joint to the second end. With such a toggle lever mechanism, the length adjustment of the drive arm can be implemented particularly easily if the toggle lever mechanism can be fixed in different extended positions for fixing different lengths of the drive arm.

In the simplest case, such a determination of different stretched positions can take place by blocking the movement of the partial arms relative to one another or also by blocking the center joint in different positions.

In order to be able to determine these stretched positions in a controlled manner, it is preferably provided that the toggle lever mechanism can be blocked by a blocking device, which preferably acts either on the partial arms themselves or on the central joint.

With regard to the generation of the pivoting movements of the drive arm, no further details have so far been given. For example, it would be conceivable to arrange the drive arm on a shaft and to initiate the pivotal movement thereof. A particularly favorable solution provides, however, that a pivot drive acts on the first arm of the toggle lever mechanism in order to pivot the drive arm.

The swivel drive is preferably designed such that it engages on the center joint.

A mechanically particularly favorable solution, in which the bending tool carrier acts as the second lever of the toggle lever drive system, provides that the bending tool carrier is provided with arm extensions extending in the direction of the drive arm, each of which forms the second lever of the toggle lever drive system with the bending tool carrier. It is particularly advantageous if the arm extensions are rigidly connected to the bending tool carrier and thus each form a unit with the latter.

No details have so far been given with regard to the arrangement of the bending tool movement device. An advantageous exemplary embodiment provides that the bending tool movement device engages at least partially on the cheek to which the bending tool is assigned. Such an attack on the cheek, to which the bending tool is assigned, has the advantage that there is the possibility of supporting the guidance of the bending tool at least as close as possible to the clamping tools. If this is done using an already described holding element, it is preferably provided that each of the holding elements acts on the respective cheek.

A further advantageous support of the bending tool movement device is preferably provided in that the bending tool carrier drive unit is arranged on the cheek carrier of the respective cheek and is therefore also suitably positioned on the machine frame in a space-saving manner.

Since the movement of the knee joint relative to the first partial arm and also to the machine frame cannot be fixed by the use of a toggle lever mechanism, it is preferably provided that the knee joint can be moved along a defined path when the drive arm changes in length. This creates the possibility of guiding the knee joint definitively and thus precisely specifying the movement of the bending tool.

In the simplest case, it is provided that the path runs in a straight line.

The implementation of the guidance of the knee joint along a path can be achieved particularly simply in that a path follower is arranged on the knee joint, which path runs along a backdrop defining the path, wherein the backdrop is preferably arranged on the machine frame.

In order to be able to advantageously determine different positions of the bending tool by means of the track, it is provided that the link can be adjusted in different positions relative to the machine frame.

The guidance of the knee joint along the path can be used particularly advantageously to fix the movement between the rest position and the bending start position of the bending tool. For this reason, it is preferably provided that the path follower can be moved along the scenery when the bending tool is moved from the rest position into the initial bending position.

After the start of the bending position has been reached, further guidance of the knee joint by means of the link is no longer necessary in a particularly advantageous case, since the beginning of the bending position is preferably reached when the toggle lever mechanism is in its extended position which can be determined by the blocking device. For this reason it is preferably provided that the path follower lifts off the backdrop at the bending positions following the initial bending position.

In order, in particular, to be able to process elongated flat material with a bending machine according to the invention, it is preferably provided that the machine frame is designed to be laterally open on at least one of its transverse sides for introducing flat material in the longitudinal direction of the bending edge and between the upper beam and the lower beam. Such a design of the machine frame is particularly advantageous for flat material drawn off from a coil or for long flat material parts to be fed in laterally in a production line.

For such a laterally open configuration of the machine frame, it is generally sufficient if there is an opening which runs in the direction of the clamping plane and is delimited transversely to the bending edge and which is larger than an extension of the flat material to be fed in this direction. However, it is particularly favorable if the machine frame in the area of the clamping tools for inserting flat material is also designed to be open between the clamping tools, so that flat material that has a greater extent transversely to the bending edge than, for example, the distance between a guide of the upper beam and lower beam is relatively to each other and the bending edge can already be inserted laterally between the clamping tools.

Such a design of the machine frame would also be conceivable if the machine frame has side stands, in which case it would only be necessary for the side stands to be provided with corresponding openings. However, it is particularly favorable if the machine frame is designed without a side stand.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the machine frame provides that it extends essentially only between the lateral end faces of the upper beam and the lower beam.

An advantageous type of construction of the machine frame provides that the machine frame has at least two frame units arranged successively in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bending edge, which hold the lower beam and the upper beam movable relative to one another. Such a solution is particularly advantageous with regard to the rational production of bending machines with different lengths of the upper cheeks and the lower cheeks, since the number of frame units can vary from one machine to another with the length of the lower cheek and upper cheek.

Spaces are preferably arranged between the rack units. These gaps can also be used, for example, to provide handling devices for the flat material during bending, which engage in the gaps and can thus be designed in a simple manner so that they can grip the flat material advantageously and position it for bending.

With regard to the design of the rack units themselves, it is advantageous if each rack unit has a guide for a defined movement of the lower beam and the upper beam relative has each other, so that the upper cheek and lower cheek are guided relative to each other on each of the frame units. In particular, due to the large number of frame units, the lower beam and the upper beam can also be constructed in a constructively advantageous manner, since the frame units each represent a stabilization of the lower beam and upper beam relative to one another, so that the stability of the lower beam and the upper beam in the longitudinal direction of the bending edge must be far less great than on machines in which the lower beam and upper beam extend cantilevered between the side frame units of the machine frame.

The guidance of the lower cheek and upper cheek relative to each other can be designed as desired. For example, a linear guide for moving the lower beam and the upper beam relative to each other would be conceivable.

However, it is structurally particularly simple if the lower beam and the upper beam can be pivoted relative to one another about a pivot axis.

In this case, the pivot axis is preferably such that it is arranged at a distance from the clamping tools on a side thereof opposite the bending tool.

A particularly advantageous constructive solution is obtained if each frame unit has a lower beam carrier and an upper beam carrier, which can be moved relative to one another by the guide and each carry the lower beam or the upper beam, so that the guide is arranged at a sufficiently large distance from the lower beam and upper beam can be. In order to form a coherent machine frame from the individual frame units, they must be connected to one another, although they already have a connection to one another via a continuous lower beam and a continuous upper beam. It is therefore preferably provided that the lower beam supports of the frame units are rigidly connected to one another, a continuous rigid connection between the upper beam beams of the frame units preferably being provided in addition to the lower beam.

With regard to the drive for moving the lower beam and upper beam relative to one another, it is necessary that at least one of the frame units has a drive for a relative movement of the lower beam and the upper beam with respect to one another. In principle, this one drive would suffice.

However, it is particularly favorable if the machine frame is constructed from individual modules and in particular each of the frame units has a drive for the relative movement of the lower beam and the upper beam.

With regard to the assignment of the bending tool carrier drive units to the machine frame, no further details have so far been given, so an advantageous embodiment provides that each of the frame units is assigned a bending tool carrier drive unit for the respective bending tool.

In order to obtain sufficient space for flat material to be inserted between the upper beam and the lower beam, it is preferably provided that the frame units engage the upper beam and the lower beam on a side facing away from the clamping tools. A machine frame made from at least two frame units of this type can be produced particularly advantageously with a machine frame without side stands, in that the frame units are arranged between the lateral end faces of the upper beam and the lower beam, and the machine frame is therefore also necessarily open in the area of at least one transverse side, in order from to push this flat material between the upper cheek and the lower cheek.

Further features and advantages of the invention are the subject of the following description and the drawing of some exemplary embodiments:

The drawing shows:

1 is a perspective view of a bending machine according to the invention;

2 shows an illustration of a frame unit, partially sectioned in a plane running perpendicular to the bending edge with the flat material stretched;

FIG. 3 shows an illustration similar to FIG. 2 with clamping tools moved apart;

Fig. 4 is a front view in the direction of arrow X in Fig. 2; 5 shows an enlarged partial illustration of the lower beam, upper beam, bending tool, bending tool carrier and bending tool movement device with the bending tool at rest;

FIG. 6 shows an illustration similar to FIG. 5 with the bending tool standing in an initial bending position; FIG.

7 shows a representation similar to FIG. 5 with a bending tool located in a bending position following the initial bending position;

8 shows a representation similar to FIG. 5 with the bending tool in the bending end position;

9 shows an enlarged, fragmentary illustration of individual bending positions at a first distance from the bending edge;

10 shows a representation of the bending tool movement device similar to FIG. 6 of the initial bending position at the first distance from the effective bending edge according to FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 shows a representation similar to FIG. 10 at a second distance from the effective bending edge; and

FIG. 12 shows individual bending positions at the second distance from the effective bending edge according to FIG. 11. An embodiment of a bending machine according to the invention, shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, comprises a machine frame, designated as a whole by 10, which has a plurality of frame units 12a to 12c, which are arranged in succession in a longitudinal direction 14 such that between the individual frame units 12a and 12b and 12b and 12c, gaps 16a, 16b each remain.

The frame units 12 are firmly connected to one another, for example by longitudinal beams 18a, b, which rest on a base area 16 for the bending machine and extend in the longitudinal direction 14, on which the individual frame units sit and which also extend beyond the interspaces 16.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 3, each of the frame units 12 comprises a lower beam carrier 20 which rests on the longitudinal beam 18 and rises above it with a lower beam carrier body 22, on which one extends in the longitudinal direction 14 over all of the frame units 12 extending lower beam 24 is held, which in turn carries a lower clamping tool 26.

The lower beam support body 22 is constructed in such a way that it has a front wall 28 between the lower beam 24 and the front longitudinal beam 18a, which is designed to spring back in the direction of a rear wall 30 opposite this, and thus a freely accessible front space between the lower beam 24 and the front longitudinal beam 18a 32 creates. The front wall 28 preferably has a lower region 34 which is inclined at an angle of less than 90 ° with respect to a base part 36 of the lower beam support body 22 and thus, starting from the front longitudinal member 18a, rises in the direction of the rear wall 30 and then merges into an upper region 38, in which the front wall 28 in turn runs away from the rear wall 30 in the direction of the lower beam 24, up to one of the lower beam 24 receiving cutout 40 of the lower beam support body 22. The lower beam support body 22 is preferably also provided with an upper part 42 which carries a support 44 for flat material 46 to be bent.

Furthermore, the lower beam 20 is also provided with two spaced-apart side walls 48 and 50 which protrude beyond the rear wall 30 and preferably also the upper part 42 and in a projecting area 52 carry a pivot bearing 54 with which an upper beam 60 can be pivoted relative to the lower beam 20 is stored.

The upper beam carrier 60 comprises an upper beam carrier body 62, which in turn carries an upper beam 64 with an upper clamping tool 66, the upper beam 64 with the upper clamping tool 66 lying on a side of a workpiece receiving space 70 opposite the lower beam 24 with the lower clamping tool 26, in which the flat material 46 can be positioned in order to clamp it between the upper clamping tool 66 and the lower clamping tool 26 for bending.

The upper cheek support body 62 is preferably designed such that it has a lower part 72 which extends on a side of the workpiece receiving space 70 opposite the upper part 42 of the lower cheek support body 22, and a front wall 74 which extends at an acute angle Raised to the lower part 72 and extends up to a rear wall 76, which connects the lower part 72 to the front wall 74.

Furthermore, the upper cheek support body 62 also comprises mutually opposite side walls 78, 80, which extend beyond the upper cheek support body 62, extend between the side walls 48, 50 in their area beyond the lower cheek support body 22 and engage the pivot bearing 54 in order to thereby cover the entire upper cheek support body 62 about a pivot axis 82 of the pivot bearing 54 relative to the lower beam support body 22.

The side walls 78 and 80 preferably extend with lower regions 84 in the direction of the rear longitudinal member 18b and hold a bearing 86 to which a drive 90 engages, which in turn is supported in the lower beam carrier body 22 by means of a bearing 92 and, for example, by means of a drive rod 88 the bearing 86 acts.

The drive 90 serves to pivot the upper beam carrier body 62 relative to the lower beam carrier body 22 about the pivot axis 82 and thus to move the upper beam 64 with the upper clamping tool 66 away from the lower beam 24 with the lower clamping tool 26 in order to clamp the flat material 46 loosen and then clamp this or further flat material again between the clamping tools 26, 66.

The drive 90 is preferably designed as an actuating cylinder which can be actuated either hydraulically or pneumatically. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, both the lower beam 24 and the upper beam 64 extend in the longitudinal direction 14 over the entire length of the bending machine in this direction, and preferably in each case beyond the outer frame units 12a and 12c, so that all frame units 12a, 12b and 12c lie within lateral end faces 94 of the lower beam 24 and 96 of the upper beam 64, and the workpiece receiving space 70 insofar as it extends from a region close to the pivot bearing 54 in the direction of the clamping tools 26 and 66, from transverse to the longitudinal direction 14 extending transverse sides 98, 100 of the machine frame 10 is freely accessible, so that from the transverse sides 98, 100 the flat material 46 can be fed into the workpiece holding space 70 and also directly between the clamping tools 26, 66, for example with a section 102 protruding from the front and to be bent is.

To bend the section 102 of the flat material 46 to be bent, the same is clamped between the clamping tools 26, 66, each of the clamping tools 26, 66 defining a bending edge 104 or 106 extending parallel to the longitudinal direction 14, around which, when this is effective, the section 102 of the flat material 46 to be bent can be bent.

A bending of the section 102 to be bent takes place, as shown in FIG. 2, for example by means of a lower bending tool 110, which is held on a lower bending tool carrier 112, the lower one Bending tool 110 extends in the longitudinal direction 14 and the lower bending tool carrier 112 preferably extends in the longitudinal direction 14 over the entire length of the lower beam 24.

For bending, the lower bending tool 110, starting from a rest position shown in FIG. 5, in which the bending tool 110 is in a rest position retracted relative to the bending edge 104 of the lower clamping tool 26, is initially in a direction towards a clamping plane 114 for the flat material 26 6, in which the bending tool 110 rests on an underside 116 of the flat material 46 and then further movable in the bending positions shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, whereby a bending around the effective bending edge 106 of the upper clamping tool up to the bending end position shown by way of example in FIG. 8 takes place.

A bending tool movement device, designated as a whole by 120, is provided for moving the lower bending tool 110. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, the bending tool movement device comprises a plurality of holding links 122 which are arranged at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction 14 and which are pivotably mounted in the region of a first end 124 by means of a pivot bearing 126 on the lower beam and in the region of a second end 128 by means of a pivot bearing 130 in a region 132 of the lower bending tool carrier 112 which is close to the bending tool 110.

Preferably, the first end 124 of each of the holding links 122 lies in a recess 134 in the lower beam 24 such that the holding link 122 overlaps at least its second end 128 the recess 134 protrudes and engages in a recess 136 in the area 132 of the bending tool carrier 112, the second end 128 pivot bearing 130 preferably also being arranged in the recess 136.

The ends 122 and 128 of the holding link 122 thus lie in the recesses 134 and 136 of the lower beam 24 and the bending tool carrier 112, respectively, and the holding link 122 extends with a central area 138 between the ends 124 and 128 over an intermediate space 140 between the lower beam 24 and the lower bending tool carrier 112.

The pivot bearings 126 and 130 guide a point of engagement of the respective holding link 122 on the bending tool carrier 112 defined by a pivot axis 142 of the pivot bearing 130 on a path 144 around a pivot axis 146 of the pivot bearing 126, the path 144 representing a circular path with respect to a center fixed on the machine frame.

The holding arms 122 are preferably arranged at constant distances from one another over the entire length of the bending tool carrier 112 and are mounted such that they can move relative to the lower beam 24, the plurality of holding arms 122 improving the bending tool carrier 112 in the area 132 due to the multiple support relative to the lower beam 24 Deflection stiffness against bending of the bending tool carrier 112 with partial enlargement of the space 140, so that thereby the entire bending tool carrier 112 while maintaining a constant space 140 between this and the lower beam 24 is held in a defined manner relative to the lower beam 24 and thus the lower beam 24 is also stabilized due to its own bending rigidity against bending of the bending tool carrier 112.

The distance between successive holding links 122 in the longitudinal direction 14 is preferably less than 50 cm.

In order to move the bending tool carrier 112, the bending tool movement device 120 also comprises a plurality of bending tool carrier drive units 150, preferably one bending tool carrier drive unit 150 being assigned to one of the frame units 12.

6 to 8, each bending tool carrier drive unit 150 comprises a toggle lever drive system 152, which in turn is formed by a drive arm 154 forming a first lever and an arm 158 forming a second lever connected to it via a knee joint 156.

The drive arm 154 is in turn mounted in a first bearing area 160 via a pivot bearing 162 about an axis 164 pivotable relative to the lower beam support body 22, the pivot bearing 162 engaging the lower beam support body 22 so that the pivot axis 164 is fixed relative to the lower beam support body 22 and thus relative to the machine frame is arranged. Furthermore, the drive arm 154 is pivotally connected in a second bearing region 166 via the knee joint 156 to the arm 158, which extends from the knee joint 156 to the pivot axis 142 of the pivot bearing 130. The arm 158 is partially formed by a section 168 of the lower bending tool carrier 112 extending from the pivot axis 142 in the direction of the knee joint 156 and an arm extension 170 adjoining this section 168.

By means of the drive arm 154, the point of attack on the arm 158 defined by the knee joint 156 can be moved on a circular path 172 about the axis 164, and thereby a movement of the lower bending tool 110 can be defined, which also can be determined by the path 144 of the point of attack 142 of the holding link 122 on the bending tool carrier 112 and the lever length between the knee joint 156 and the point of application 142 and the distance of the bending tool 110 from the point of application 142 is fixed.

Furthermore, the drive arm 154 is designed to be variable in length by varying a distance between the pivot bearing 162 and the knee joint 156, specifically by a toggle lever mechanism 182, which is formed by a first partial arm 186 extending from the first bearing region 160 to a central joint 184 of the drive arm 154, and a second partial arm 188 extending from the center joint 184 to the knee joint 156 of the toggle lever drive system 152.

To drive the drive arm 154, a pivot drive 190 acts on the central joint 184 thereof, which is designed, for example, as an actuating cylinder 192 and via a Actuating rod 194 acts on the center joint 184, the actuating rod preferably also articulatedly engaging the center joint 184.

In addition, the knee joint 156 is provided with a track follower 196 in the form of a roller, which can be applied in all knee joint positions of the knee lever mechanism 182 until a stretching position is reached on a slide track designated as a whole as 198, the slide track 198 being formed by a running rail against which the track follower 196 designed as a roller can be put on and moved along a surface 200, preferably in the form of a plane, in the longitudinal direction 202 of the sliding track 198. The slide track 198 is in turn pivoted on an end 204 facing the front wall 28 of the lower beam support body 22 via a joint 204 on the lower beam support body 22 and on the other hand adjustable via an adjusting drive 206 in the direction of the track follower 196 or away from it, so that depending on the setting of the slide track 198 the path follower 196 comes into contact with the link path 198 in different positions of the toggle lever drive system 152 if a defined length adjustment of the drive arm 154 is assumed.

Furthermore, for the length adjustment of the drive arm 154, a blocking device designated as a whole with 208 is provided, which is able to block the toggle lever mechanism 182 provided for the length adjustment of the drive arm 154 in different extended positions.

The blocking device 208 preferably comprises a blocking lever 210 which is pivotably mounted on the first partial arm 186 about the pivot axis 164 relative to the latter is. The blocking arm 210 further comprises a blocking finger 212 which extends in the direction of the first partial arm 186 and beyond this and beyond the central joint 184 and which can be placed on the second partial arm 188.

Furthermore, the blocking arm 210 comprises a drive arm 214 which extends on a side opposite the blocking finger 212 beyond the pivot axis 164 and which in turn is connected to an actuator 216, the actuator 216 acting on a support arm 218 which is integrally connected to the first partial arm 186 , however, extends in the opposite direction to the first partial arm beyond the pivot bearing 162 and runs parallel to the drive arm 214 of the blocking arm 210. The actuator 216 serves to pivot the blocking finger 212 relative to the first partial arm 186 into different positions, so that the blocking finger 212 comes into contact with the second partial arm 188 in different extended positions of the second partial arm 188 and one via this extended position Extending stretch position of the second partial arm 188 blocked relative to the first partial arm 186.

In a first extended position, for example shown in Figures 6 to 8, a connecting line 220 between the pivot bearing 162 and the central joint 184 extends at an angle of less than 180 ° to a connecting line 222 between the central joint 184 and the knee joint 156, so that the Drive arm 154 has a length defined by the distance between the pivot bearing 162 and the knee joint 156, which is less than the maximum length adjustable by the toggle mechanism 182, which is given when the connecting line 220 between the pivot bearing 162 and the center joint 184 is aligned with the connecting line 222 between the center joint 184 and the knee joint 156.

This second stretched position is shown in FIG. 2, for example.

The blocking device 208 of the toggle lever mechanism 182 is further arranged so that the position of the blocking device 208 does not prevent the toggle lever mechanism from buckling into a kink position when the center joint 184 is moved in the direction of the swivel drive 190, so that when the center joint 184 is moved in the direction of the swivel drive 190 The minimum length of the drive arm 154 shown in FIG. 5 can be reached.

5, at which the connecting lines 220 and 222 enclose an angle of preferably less than 90 ° with one another, the lower bending tool 110 is in its maximum retracted or rest position, in which the bending tool 110 is preferably in there is a recess 224 provided for this purpose, which is provided for receiving the bending tool 110 in the rest position in the lower beam 24. In the rest position, the holding links 122 are at the same time in a position which is strongly inclined with respect to the lower beam 24 and also the bending tool carrier 112, so that the lower bending tool carrier 112, with its region extending over the lower beam 24, is as close as possible to the same. Furthermore, in the rest position, the knee joint 156 is supported on the slide track 198 via the track follower 196, whereby by the support of the track follower 196 on the slide track 198 the knee joint mechanism 182 is buckled by pivoting the first partial arm 186, in particular by pulling on the center joint 184 because the toggle lever mechanism 182 is not stabilized against such a buckling.

If, starting from the rest position shown in FIG. 5, the toggle lever mechanism 182 is moved by the pivot drive 190 by pivoting the first partial arm 186 about the pivot axis 164 in the direction of its extended position, then the path follower 196 moves along the slide path 198 with the toggle lever mechanism 182 stretched in Direction of the lower beam 24, the path follower 196 being held in contact with the slide path 198 in that an energy store 230, preferably a spring-elastic element, acts on the arm 158 and preferably acts on the arm extension 170 in such a way that the path follower 196 is held in contact with the slide track 198 as long as the toggle lever mechanism 182 has not yet reached its extended position. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the bending tool 110 moves out of the recess 224 in the direction of the clamping plane 114 and, as shown in FIG. 6, comes to the flat material lying in the clamping plane 114 and fixed by the clamping tools 26, 66 46 to the system, wherein the initial bending position is reached when the bending tool 110 touches the underside 116 of the flat material 46.

The slide track 198 is preferably set by the actuator 206 so that the track follower 196 still rests on the slide track 198 in the initial bending position, and also but in the initial bending position, the extended position of the toggle lever mechanism 182 predetermined by the blocking device 208 is reached, so that the drive arm 154 has the maximum length provided for the bending operation and thus the path of the bending tool.

By blocking the toggle lever mechanism 182 in the extended position specified by the blocking device 208, further movement of the first partial arm 186 in the pivoting direction 226 leads to a pivoting of the drive arm 154 in the pivoting direction 226 as a whole, as a result of which the path follower 196 also reaches after the start of bending position of the bending tool 110 lifts off the slide track 198 and moves according to the track 172 of the knee joint 156 against the action of the energy accumulator 230. As a result, the bending tool 110 moves into the subsequent bending positions and acts against the underside 116 of the flat material 46 in such a way that this in a first bending direction 232 out of the clamping plane 114, that is to say in the direction of the upper beam 64.

As shown in FIG. 8, the bending of the flat material 46 can take place until the flat material 46, as shown in FIG. 8, rests on an inclined front surface 234 of the upper clamping tool 66, which is at an acute angle to the clamping plane 114.

When the bending tool 110 is transferred from the rest position to the initial bending position by transferring the toggle lever mechanism 182 from the bent position to the extended position, the holding links 122 are simultaneously moved from their pivoted-back position in which the pivot axis 142 has the greatest distance from the lower clamping tool 26, moved into its forward-pivoted position along the path 144, the pivot axis 142 being close to the lower clamping tool 26 in the forward-pivoted position. After the initial bending position has been reached, there is only an essentially slight further movement of the holding links 122 in the direction of the lower clamping tool 26 until the toggle lever drive system 152 has reached its maximum extension position and then a slight movement back again after leaving the maximum extension position of the toggle lever drive system 152 6, after the knee joint 156 has moved on the track 172, the bending tool carrier 112 is pivoted about the pivot axis 142, so that this is at a distance from the pivot axis 142 on one of the knee joint 156 on the opposite side of the same arranged bending tool 110 also in a corresponding movement on a circular path around the pivot axis 142, which is however not fixed to the machine frame, in order to reach the further bending positions.

Performing a bending operation is again explained in detail in FIG. 9. As shown in FIG. 9, the bending tool 110 has a neck 240 which adjoins the bending tool carrier 112. The neck 240 in turn carries a bending nose 242, which is used to actually carry out the bending operation. The bending lug 242 extends from the neck 240 in the direction of the clamping tools 26, 66 such that a bending nose tip 244 always faces at least one of the clamping tools 26, 66 and the bending lug 242 starts from the bending nose tip extends from the respective clamping tool 26 and / or 66. Furthermore, the bending lug 242 carries a pressure surface, designated as a whole by 246, with which the underside 116 of the flat material 46 can be acted upon. The pressure surface 246 in this case comprises an upper partial pressure surface 248 which is arranged facing away from the bending tool carrier 112 and with which the bending lug 242 first contacts the underside 116 of the flat material 46 in the initial bending position. The front partial pressure surface 248 is curved up to a crest line 250 lying at the bending nose tip 244. Starting from the crest line 250, a rear partial pressure surface 252 of the pressure surface 246 then extends away from the bending nose tip 244 on a side of the bending nose 242 facing the bending tool carrier 112.

The contact of the bending lug 242 on the underside 116 of the flat material 46 in this case is an essentially linear contact, which is predetermined by a contact line 254 which extends in parallel to the longitudinal direction 14 and thus also in the longitudinal direction of the bending tool 110. In the start of bending position, as shown in FIG. 9, the contact line 254 bears on the front partial pressure surface 248, namely at a maximum distance from the apex line 250. If, starting from the beginning of the bending position, the flat material 46 is now bent out of the clamping plane 114, it migrates the contact line 254 on the front partial pressure surface 248 in the direction of the apex line 250 and then coincides with the apex line 250 when the flat material 46 has been bent out of the clamping plane 114, for example by an angle of the order of 90 °. When the flat material 46 is bent further over this angle, the contact line 254 runs over the apex line 250 and then migrates to the rear partial pressure surface 252, on which it rests in all the bending positions in which the flat material 46 has been bent over the clamping plane 114 by an angle of more than 90 °.

To ensure that when the contact line 254 moves from the start of bending position, in which the contact line 254 is labeled 254 (o), to the end of the bending position, in which the contact line is labeled 254 (n), the bending nose 252 is rolled on the underside 116 of the flat material takes place, it must be taken into account when moving the bending lug 242 that the contact line 254 with respect to an end edge 256 of the flat material 46 moves in the direction of the bending edge, in this case the bending edge 106, if the bending lug 242 moves on the underside without a relative sliding movement 116 of the flat material 46 should only pass on. This movement of the contact line 254 relative to the end edge 256 is to be taken into account in the movement path 260 which the bending lug 242 passes through when the individual bending positions are passed through, so that the path 260 deviates from a circular path in adaptation to the cross-sectional shape of the bending lug 242.

The path 260, with which the bending lug 242 moves from the initial bending position to the final bending position, is determined by suitably determining the dimensions of the toggle lever drive system 152, in particular the lengths of the drive arm 154 and the arm 158, and the dimensioning of the holding link 122 and the distance the bending lug 242 from the pivot axis 142. The blocking device 208, as already described, allows different extended positions of the toggle lever mechanism 182 to be set, as is again clearly illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11.

In the first stretching position shown in FIG. 10, the toggle lever mechanism 182 is not in its maximum stretching position, but has a length that is less than the maximum possible length, while for example in the second stretching position shown in FIG. 11, the length of the toggle mechanism 182 is maximum.

Corresponding to the respective extended position of the toggle lever mechanism 182, adjustment of the slide path 198 is also required, along which the path follower 196 moves until the extended position is reached, since the bending tool 110 is to be in the initial bending position when the extended position specified by the blocking device 208 is reached . For this reason, in the second extension position of the toggle lever mechanism 182, the slide track 198 with the actuator 206 is set so that it is closer to the upper region 38 of the front wall 28 of the lower beam body 22 than in the first extension position.

This makes it possible to place the bending tool 110 with the bending lug 242 at a greater distance from the bending edge 106 on the underside 116 of the flat material 46 in the initial bending position, as shown in FIG. 12.

If the flat material 46 is thus bent in the second extended position of the toggle lever mechanism 182, the bending lug 242 acts with its pressure surface 246 in one Larger distance from the effective bending edge 106. on the flat material 46, which is particularly advantageous for larger material thicknesses.

However, the bending machine according to the invention not only comprises the lower bending tool 110 and the lower bending tool carrier 112 with an associated bending tool movement device 120, but also additionally an upper bending tool 310, which is held on an upper bending tool carrier 312, the upper bending tool 310 being provided by a bending tool movement device 320 is movable, which is preferably configured in the same way as the bending tool movement device 120.

In particular, the bending tool movement device 120 also comprises holding links 322, which function in the same way as the holding links 122, and in this case act on the upper beam 64. In addition, the bending tool carrier drive units 350 are also designed in the same way as the bending tool carrier drive units 150, but in this case are arranged on the upper beam carrier body 62.

The upper bending tool 310 is able to carry out the same bending operations as were described in connection with the lower bending tool 110.

If, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, a bending operation is carried out with the lower bending tool 110, the upper bending tool 310 is in the rest position, in which it engages in a depression 424 in the upper cheek 64 corresponding to the depression 224. The fact that in In the rest position, the upper bending tool 310, the upper bending tool carrier 312 and also the upper bending tool movement device 320 are close to the upper cheek 64 and lie close to the front wall 74 of the upper cheek support body 62, there is a bending space 280 between the upper bending tool movement device 320, the effective bending edge 106 upper bending tool carrier 312 as well as the upper bending tool 310 and the clamping plane 114, which extends from the clamping plane 114 over an angular range α of approximately 135 °. For this purpose, the front surface 234 of the clamping tool 66 must also be designed so that it is inclined with respect to the clamping plane 114 such that it is also inclined by the angle α with respect to the clamping plane 114.

With the lower bending tool 110, bending of the flat material 46 by an angle of up to 135 ° with respect to the clamping plane 114 is thus possible.

In addition, the lower bending tool carrier 112 does not move in the form of a pivoting movement around the effective bending edge 106 - as is the case in the prior art -, but remains in all possible bending positions of the lower bending tool 110 in one between a perpendicular to the clamping plane 114 and through it lower bending tool 110 running front limiting plane 282 and the lower beam 20 lying action space and also the bending tool drive device 120 remains in this action space without reaching beyond, so that for example the flat material 46 can be easily handled or a combination of several machines is possible in a simple manner. The action space is preferably even smaller and lies between a front plane 286 running through the respectively effective bending edge 104, 106 and perpendicular to the clamping plane 114 and the lower beam carrier 20.

In addition, however, the lower bending tool 110 can also be brought into the rest position with the bending tool carrier 112, which is shown for example in FIG. 5. In this rest position of the lower bending tool 110, too, there is a bending clearance 284 between the clamping plane 114 and the lower bending tool movement device 120, the lower bending tool carrier 112 and the lower bending tool 110, which also extends over an angular range α of approximately 135 ° with respect to the clamping plane 114 , so that bending of the flat material 46 with respect to the clamping plane 114 about the bending edge 104 of the lower clamping tool 26 by an angle of up to 135 ° is also possible with the upper bending tool 310.

Overall, with the bending machine according to the invention, the flat material 46 is possible out of the clamping plane 114 in two opposite directions, namely in the direction 290 upwards or in the direction 292 downwards out of the clamping plane 114, the lower bending tool 110 and the upper bending tool 310 can be used for bending in the direction 292, while in each case the other bending tool 310 or 110 is at rest to create the respective bending free space 280, 284 and the respectively active bending tool carrier 112, 312 remains together with the associated bending tool movement device in the action space between the Front level 286 and the respective cheek supports 20, 60. In particular, the bending machine according to the invention allows multiple bending of flat material, for example first in direction 290 and then in direction 292, and then possibly again in direction 290, the respective bending free spaces 280 and 284 between the front plane 282 and the other bending tool carrier 312 or 112 are advantageous because, in spite of existing bends in the same direction, an additional bend can be carried out without hindrance.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Bending machine for flat material, comprising a machine frame, a lower beam arranged on the machine frame with a lower clamping tool and an upper beam arranged on the machine frame with an upper clamping tool, with which the flat material can be fixed in a clamping plane, a bending tool movement device which is assigned to one of the cheeks and with which a bending tool carrier with a bending tool for bending the flat material about a bending edge relative to the clamping plane can be moved into a plurality of bending positions, characterized in that the bending tool (110, 310) has a bending lug (242) with a curved pressure surface (246 ) for loading one side (116) of the flat material (46) and that the bending tool (110, 310) is moved by the bending tool movement device (120, 320) between a bending start position and a bending end position on a path (260) around the respective bending edge ( 104, 106) b is movable, which is predefined in such a way that the curved pressure surface (246) and the loaded side (116) of the flat material (46) move relative to one another in the form of an essentially non-slip rolling.

2. Bending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the path (260) of the bending tool (110, 310) by a mechanical path guide (122, 150, 322, 350) is predetermined.

3. Bending machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the path (260) of the bending tool (110, 310) is predetermined by at least one pivoting movement.

4. Bending machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the path (260) of the bending tool (110, 310) is predetermined by superimposing at least two pivoting movements.

5. Bending machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bending nose (242) with a bending nose tip (244) faces in all bending positions at least one of the clamping tools (26, 66).

6. Bending machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a line of contact (254) between the pressure surface (246) and the loaded side (116) of the flat material (46) on the loaded side when passing through the bending positions from the bending start position to the bending end position (116) of the flat material (46) in the direction of the bending edge (106) move.

7. Bending machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure surface (246) has an apex line (250) closest to the respective clamping tool (104, 106) in the initial bending position and starting from this apex line (250) from the clamping tool (104 , 106) extends away.

8. Bending machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the pressure surface (246) of the bending lug (242) has a front part pressure surface (248) facing away from the bending tool carrier (112, 312), which extends away from the apex line (250).

9. Bending machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the pressure surface (246) has a bending tool carrier (112, 312) facing rear partial pressure surface (252) which runs opposite the front partial pressure surface (248) away from the apex line (250).

10. Bending machine according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that in the initial bending position, the contact line (254) is in the region of the front partial pressure surface (248) and moves in the direction of the apex line (250) during bending.

11. Bending machine according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the bending lug (242) can be moved into such a bending end position in which the contact line (254) lies in the region of the rear partial pressure surface (252).

12. Bending machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bending tool movement device (120, 320) is arranged between lateral end faces (94, 96) of the cheeks (24, 64).

13. Bending machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bending tool movement device (120, 320) is in all bending positions exclusively on the side of the clamping plane (114) on which the initial bending position of the bending tool (110, 310) lies.

14. Bending machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bending tool movement device (120, 320) extends in all possible bending positions between a through the bending tool (110, 310) extending and perpendicular to the clamping plane (114) standing front boundary plane (282 ) and the machine frame (10) extends.

15. Bending machine according to claim 14, characterized in that the bending tool movement device (120, 320) in all possible bending positions between a through the bending edge (104, 106) and perpendicular to the clamping plane (114) standing front plane (286) and the machine frame (10) extends.

16. Bending machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bending tool carrier (112, 312) in all possible bending positions between a cutting tool (110, 310) intersecting and perpendicular to the clamping plane (114) extending front boundary plane (282) and the respective cheek (24, 64) lies.

17. Bending machine according to claim 16, characterized in that the bending tool carrier (112, 312) in all possible bending positions between a through the bending edge (104, 106) and perpendicular to the clamping plane (114) standing front plane (286) and the machine frame (10) extends.

18. Bending machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bending machine has a bending tool (110) assigned to the lower beam (24) and a bending tool (310) assigned to the upper beam (64).

19. Bending machine according to claim 18, characterized in that the bending tool (110, 310) not used for an operation on the flat material can be brought into a rest position.

20. Bending machine according to claim 19, characterized in that the bending tool (110, 310) which is not used is always in the rest position.

21. Bending machine according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that when the bending tool (110, 310) is in the rest position between the clamping plane (114) and the bending tool (110, 310) with a bending tool carrier (112, 312) a bending space free of machine elements (280, 284), which extends over an angular range of at least 90 ° around the effective bending edge.

22. Bending machine according to claim 21, characterized in that the bending space (280, 284) extends around the effective bending edge (104, 106) over an angular range of at least 110 °.

23. Bending machine according to claim 22, characterized in that the bending free space (280, 284) extends around the effective bending edge (104, 106) over an angular range of at least 120 °.

24. Bending machine according to one of claims 19 to 23, characterized in that the bending tool carrier (112, 312) is in the rest position near a front surface of the respective cheek (24, 64).

25. Bending machine according to the preamble of claim 1 or according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bending tool movement device (120, 320) engages and in a region of the bending tool carrier (112, 312) facing the bending tool (110, 310) in one direction (14) parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bending edge (104, 106) at fixed intervals arranged holding elements (122) which supported the bending tool carrier (112, 312) relative to the machine frame (10).

26. Bending machine according to claim 25, characterized in that the holding elements (122) are designed as guides for a defined movement of an application point (142) of the same on the bending tool carrier (112, 312).

27. Bending machine according to claim 25 or 26, characterized in that the holding elements (122) guide the point of attack (142) on a predetermined path (144).

28. Bending machine according to one of claims 25 to 27, characterized in that the holding elements (122, 322) articulate on the bending tool carrier (112, 312).

29. Bending machine according to one of claims 25 to 28, characterized in that the holding elements (122, 322) are articulated relative to the machine frame (10).

30. Bending machine according to one of claims 25 to 29, characterized in that the holding elements (122, 322) on the cheek (24, 64) engage, which is associated with the respective bending tool (110, 310).

31. Bending machine according to the preamble of claim 1 or according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bending tool movement device (120, 320) comprises a plurality of bending tool carrier drive units (150) arranged in succession in the direction (14) parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bending edge (104, 106) , 350) for moving the bending tool (110, 310) between the bending start position and the bending end position.

32. Bending machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bending tool (110, 310) is additionally movable between the initial bending position and a rest position.

33. Bending machine according to claim 31 or 32, characterized in that the bending tool (110, 310) by the bending tool carrier drive units (150, 350) is also movable between the rest position and the initial bending position.

34. Bending machine according to one of claims 31 to 33, characterized in that the bending tool carrier drive units (150, 350) on the bending tool carrier (112, 312) engage in a point of application (156) and defines this between the initial bending position and the final bending position on one move the specified path (172).

35. Bending machine according to claim 34, characterized in that the web (172) can be predetermined by a pivoting movement about a pivot axis (164) fixed to the machine frame.

36. Bending machine according to one of claims 31 to 35, characterized in that the bending tool carrier drive units (150, 350) can be driven by a drive (190).

37. Bending machine according to claim 36, characterized in that each of the bending tool carrier drive units (150, 350) can be driven by its own drive (190).

38. Bending machine according to one of claims 31 to 37, characterized in that each of the bending tool carrier drive units (150, 350) comprises a pivotably drivable drive arm (154) which at a first end (160) about an axis (164) fixed to the frame. is pivotable and is pivotally connected to the bending tool carrier (112, 312) at a second end (166) via a knee joint (156).

39. Bending machine according to one of claims 31 to 38, characterized in that each of the bending tool carrier drive units (150, 350) has a toggle lever drive system (152) for moving the bending tool carrier (112, 312).

40. Bending machine according to claim 39, characterized in that a first lever (154) of the toggle lever drive system (152) is pivotable about an axis (164) fixed to the machine frame.

41. Bending machine according to claim 39 or 40, characterized in that the drive arm (154) forms the first lever of the toggle lever drive system (152).

42. Bending machine according to one of claims 39 to 41, characterized in that the bending tool carrier (112, 312) forms at least part of a second lever (158) of the toggle lever drive system (152).

43. Bending machine according to one of claims 39 to 42, characterized in that the drive arm (154) is variable in length with respect to its distance between a first end (160) and its second end (166).

44. Bending machine according to claim 43, characterized in that the drive arm (154) via a drive (190) is adjustable in length.

45. Bending machine according to claim 43 or 44, characterized in that the drive (190) for pivoting the drive arm (154) also serves as a drive (190) for adjusting the length of the drive arm (154).

46. Bending machine according to one of claims 39 to 45, characterized in that the drive arm (154) is variable in length due to a toggle lever mechanism (182).

47. Bending machine according to claim 46, characterized in that the drive arm (154) a partial arm (186) extending from the first end (160) to a central joint (184) and one from the central joint (184) to the second End (166) extending partial arm (188).

48. Bending machine according to claim 46 or 47, characterized in that the toggle lever mechanism (182) for fixing different lengths of the drive arm (154) can be fixed in different extended positions.

49. Bending machine according to claim 48, characterized in that the toggle lever mechanism (182) can be blocked by a blocking device (208) for fixing the different extended positions.

50. Bending machine according to one of claims 47 to 49, characterized in that for pivoting the drive arm (154) engages a pivot drive (190) on the first arm (186) of the toggle lever mechanism (182).

51. Bending machine according to claim 50, characterized in that the swivel drive (190) acts on the center joint (184).

52. Bending machine according to one of claims 39 to 51, characterized in that the bending tool carrier (112, 312) is provided with arm extensions (170) extending in the direction of the drive arm (154), each of which with the bending tool carrier (112, 312) forms the second lever (158) of the toggle lever drive system (152).

53. Bending machine according to claim 52, characterized in that the arm extensions (170) are rigidly connected to the bending tool carrier (112, 312).

54. Bending machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bending tool movement device (120, 320) engages at least partially on the cheek (24, 64) to which the bending tool (110, 310) is assigned.

55. Bending machine according to claim 54, characterized in that each of the holding elements (122, 322) acts on the respective cheek (24, 64).

56. Bending machine according to one of claims 31 to 55, characterized in that the bending tool carrier drive unit (150, 350) is arranged on the respective cheek carrier (20, 60).

57. Bending machine according to one of claims 39 to 56, characterized in that the knee joint (156) is movable along a defined path (198) when the length of the drive arm (154) changes.

58. Bending machine according to claim 57, characterized in that the web (198) runs in a straight line.

59. Bending machine according to claim 57 or 58, characterized in that a path follower (196) is arranged on the knee joint (156), which runs along a backdrop (198) defining the path.

60. Bending machine according to claim 59, characterized in that the link (198) is adjustable in different positions.

61. Bending machine according to one of claims 57 to 60, characterized in that the path follower (196) when moving the bending tool (110, 310) from the rest position to the initial bending position along the scenery (198) is movable.

62. Bending machine according to claim 61, characterized in that the path follower (196) lifts off the link (198) in the bending positions following the start of bending position.

63. Bending machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the machine frame (10) on at least one of its transverse rare (98, 100) for introducing flat material (46) in the longitudinal direction (14) the bending edge (104, 106) and between the upper cheek (64) and the lower cheek (24) is laterally open.

64. Bending machine according to claim 63, characterized in that the machine frame (10) in the region of the clamping tools (26, 66) for introducing flat material (46) is also designed to be open laterally between the clamping tools.

65. Bending machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the machine frame (10) is designed free of side stands.

66. Bending machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the machine frame (10) lies essentially only between lateral end faces (94, 96) of the lower beam (24) and the upper beam (64).

67. Bending machine according to the preamble of claim 1 or according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the machine frame has at least two frame units (12) arranged in succession in the direction (14) parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bending edge (104, 106), which the Keep the lower beam (24) and the upper beam (64) movable relative to each other.

68. Bending machine according to claim 67, characterized in that spaces (16) are arranged between the frame units (12).

69. Bending machine according to claim 67 or 68, characterized in that each frame unit (12) has a guide (54) for a defined movement of the lower beam (24) and the upper beam (64) relative to one another.

70. Bending machine according to claim 69, characterized in that the lower beam (24) and the upper beam (64) can be pivoted relative to one another about a pivot axis (82) of the guide (54).

71. Bending machine according to claim 70, characterized in that the pivot axis (82) is arranged at a distance from the clamping tools (26, 66) on a side of the bending tool (110, 310) opposite the same.

72. Bending machine according to one of claims 67 to 71, characterized in that each frame unit (12) has a lower beam carrier (20) and an upper beam carrier (60) which can be moved relative to one another in a defined manner by the guide (54).

73. Bending machine according to one of claims 67 to 72, characterized in that the lower beam supports (20) of the plurality of frame units (12) are rigidly connected to one another.

74. Bending machine according to one of claims 67 to 73, characterized in that at least one of the frame units (12) has a drive (90) for a relative movement of the lower beam (24) and the upper beam (64) to one another.

75. Bending machine according to claim 74, characterized in that each of the frame units (12) has its own drive (90) for the relative movement of the lower beam and the upper beam.

76. Bending machine according to one of claims 67 to 75, characterized in that each of the frame units (12) is assigned a bending tool carrier drive unit (150, 350) for the respective bending tool (110, 310).

77. Bending machine according to one of claims 67 to 76, characterized in that the frame units (12) on the upper cheek (64) and on the lower cheek (24) engage on a side facing away from the clamping tools (26, 66).

78. Bending machine according to one of claims 67 to 77, characterized in that the frame units are arranged between lateral end faces (94, 96) of the upper beam (64) and the lower beam (24).