Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a bending machine with a bending tool length adjusting
mechanism according to the preamble of claim 1, which carries out bending processing
of a plate material, for example, bending processing of a bending piece provided around
an inner window opening in a door panel.
Background of the Invention
[0002] As shown in Figure 16, in the prior art, a door panel 91 made of a sheet metal has
a inner window opening 92 for natural illumination or the like and a bending piece
93 provided around the periphery of the opening 92 to allow a glass plate to be fitted
into the opening. Bending processing of the bending piece 93 is carried out by wipe-bending
processing in which the periphery of the opening 92 in the door panel 91 is wipe-bent.
The vertical and horizontal size of the opening 92 varies depending on the type of
the door panel 91, and a dedicated bending machine is thus normally used which changes
a bending tool depending on the size and type of the opening 92. However, a large
number of tool types need to be provided when the appropriate one of the bending tools
is prepared for each vertical and horizontal size of the opening 92. This is uneconomical.
Saving the number of tools prevents bending processing from being carried out on many
types of openings 92 having different shapes.
[0003] To solve this problem, proposals have been made of bending machines which make it
possible to adjust the length of a wipe-bending tool in accordance with the size of
the inner window (for example, the Examined Japanese Patent Application Publication
(Tokko-Hei)
No. 5-38659 and the
Japanese Patent No. 3201308 &
JP-A-10291032) on which the preamble of claim 1 is based. These bending machines use a bending
tool group including a plurality of bending tools arranged in a line so as to adjust
the length of the bending tool by selecting the number of bending tools used.
[0004] The conventional bending machines with the bending tool length adjusting mechanisms
all adjust the length of the bending tools inside the bending machine main body. This
limits an adjustment form. For example, in the door panel 91 in Figure 16, a bending
piece 93 is separated into fragments corresponding to respective peripheral sides.
Bending processing of the bending piece 93 can be achieved by any of the conventional
bending machines with the bending tool length adjusting mechanisms.
[0005] However, as shown in Figure 15, the bending piece 93 may need to be continuous along
the four sides of the opening. In this case, the corner portion between the adjacent
sides of the opening 92 needs to be processed into a corner rounded portion 93a that
allows the bending piece 93 to be continuously curved. The inventor envisaged a method
for forming such a continuous bending piece 93 in which the corner portions of the
opening 92 are subjected to bending processing and thus formed into the corner rounded
portions 93a and in which the sides of the opening 92 are then subjected to bending
processing to form a bending piece 93 that is continuous along the four sides of the
opening as shown in Figure 15.
[0006] However, the conventional bending machines with the bending tool length adjusting
mechanisms increase or reduce the number of bending tools from an end of the bending
tool group. This makes the opposite ends of the bending tool group angular. That is,
the bending tools of the bending tool group need to have a continuous shape. Thus,
a portion of each bending tool which is adjacent to the next bending tool cannot be
formed into a round shape. This makes the opposite ends of the bending tool group
square. However, the bending piece 93 having the corner rounded potions 93a as shown
in Figure 15 cannot be subjected bending processing using a bending tool group with
square opposite ends as described above.
[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a bending machine with a bending
tool length adjusting mechanism which provides a certain degree of freedom for the
form of length adjustment of bending tools.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to enable the opposite ends of a bending
tool group to be rounded even with a variation in the length of the bending tool group,
allowing a bending piece to be processed so that an opening has a corner rounded portion
in each corner portion.
[0009] Yet another object of the present invention is to allow any number of the bending
tools to be smoothly placed on a traveling member that travels with the bending tool
group placed thereon.
Summary of the Invention
[0010] The present invention provides a bending machine with a bending tool length adjusting
mechanism according to claim 1.
[0011] In this configuration, the bending tool length adjusting mechanism allows the traveling
member with the bending tool group placed thereon to move into and out of the bending
machine main body, and the bending tool length adjusting mechanism thus selects, outside
the bending machine main body, a bending tool to be loaded onto the traveling member
from the bending tool group. In this case, the traveling member has the pair of abutting
members provided thereon, and against which the opposite ends of the bending tool
group are abutted for positioning and the abutting member moving mechanism provided
thereon to move the abutting members. This enables the bending tool group placed on
the traveling member and having one of various possible lengths to be fixed using
the abutting members. This provides a certain degree of freedom for the form of length
adjustment of the bending tools. For example, the number of bending tools located
in the middle of the bending tool group can be changed with the bending tools at the
opposite ends of the bending tool group remaining unchanged. Specifically, the number
of bending tools located in the middle of the bending tool group can be changed by
the following configuration.
[0012] For example, the bending tool group on the traveling member may have end-only bending
tools positioned at opposite ends of the bending tool group. An end of an arrangement
of the bending tool group at a tip surface of the end-only bending tool may constitute
a curved surface portion exhibiting a curved line in a cross section in the bending
tool arranging direction. The abutting member moving mechanism may be able to move
the end-only bending tool located farther from the bending machine main body, to a
position where the end-only bending tool lies away from an end of a maximum arranging
length of the bending tools on the bending tool storage mount. Where the end-only
bending tools are thus provided, the corners of the ends of the arrangement of the
bending tool group can be rounded so as to have the curved surface portions. This
enables the bending piece to be processed so that the opening has the corner rounded
portion in each of the corner portions. Even with the end-only bending tools provided
as described above, where the abutting member moving mechanism is able to move the
end-only bending tool located farther from the bending machine main body, to the position
where the end-only bending tool lies away from the end of the maximum arranging length
of the bending tools on the bending tool storage mount, the number of the bending
tools in the middle of the bending tool group can be selected.
[0013] In the present invention, the placing pusher mechanism may comprise a plurality of
push rods arranged in juxtaposition along bending tool arranging positions on the
bending tool storage mount, and at a position opposite to the traveling route, an
endless pivoting member located opposite the traveling route so that a pivoting route
for the endless pivoting member extends along an arrangement of the push rods, a pivoting
member moving forward and backward mechanism that moves the endless pivoting member
forward and backward with respect to the push rods, and a plurality of selective pushing
members which are provided in a part of the endless pivoting member in a length direction
thereof and in juxtaposition in the length direction, the selective pushing members
pushing the push rods as a result of movement of the endless pivoting member carried
out by the pivoting member moving forward and backward mechanism. With this configuration,
the endless pivoting member pivots to allow the adjustment of the length of the selective
pushing member along the bending tool arranging position on the bending tool storage
mount. This allows those of the bending tools on the bending tool storage mount the
number of which corresponds to the adjusted length, to be placed on the traveling
member. Thus, the length of the bending tool group on the traveling member can be
smoothly adjusted.
[0014] The present invention provides the bending machine with the bending tool length adjusting
mechanism, the bending machine having the bending tool group comprising the plurality
of bending tools arranged in a line and the press driving mechanism that elevates
and lowers the plate material relative to the bending tool group, the bending tool
group carrying out bending processing on the plate material, the bending machine comprising
the bending tool length adjusting mechanism that adjusts the length of the bending
tool group in the bending tool arranging direction. The bending tool length adjusting
mechanism comprises the traveling member on which the bending tool group is placed
and which moves into and out of the bending machine main body in the bending tool
arranging direction, the bending machine main body comprising the press driving mechanism,
the pair of abutting members which is provided on the traveling member and against
which opposite ends of the bending tool group on the traveling member are abutted,
the abutting member moving mechanism that moves one or both of the abutting members
in the bending tool arranging direction with respect to the traveling member, the
bending tool storage mount which is provided outside the bending machine main body
along the traveling route for the traveling member and on which the surplus bending
tools not included in the bending tool group are placed in juxtaposition along the
traveling route, the unloading pusher mechanism that pushes out the bending tools
on the traveling member onto the bending tool storage mount, and the placing pusher
mechanism that places any number of the bending tools on the bending tool storage
mount onto the traveling member. This provides a certain degree of freedom for the
form of length adjustment of the bending tools.
[0015] Where the bending tool group on the traveling member has the end-only bending tools
positioned at opposite ends of the bending tool group, and the end of the arrangement
of the bending tool group at the tip surface of the end-only bending tool constitutes
the curved surface portion exhibiting the curved line in a cross section in the bending
tool arranging direction, and the abutting member moving mechanism is able to move
the end-only bending tool located farther from the bending machine main body, to the
position where the end-only bending tool lies away from the end of the maximum arranging
length of the bending tools on the bending tool storage mount, the ends of the bending
tool group can be rounded even with a variation in the length of the bending too group.
This enables the bending piece to be processed so that the opening has the corner
rounded portion in each of the corner portions.
[0016] Where the placing pusher mechanism comprises the plurality of push rods arranged
in juxtaposition along the bending tool arranging positions on the bending tool storage
mount and at a position opposite to the traveling route, the endless pivoting member
located opposite the traveling route so that the pivoting route for the endless pivoting
member extends along the arrangement of the push rods, the pivoting member moving
forward and backward mechanism that moves the endless pivoting member forward and
backward with respect to the push rods, and the plurality of selective pushing members
which are provided in the part of the endless pivoting member in the length direction
thereof and in juxtaposition in the length direction, the selective pushing members
pushing the push rods as a result of movement of the endless pivoting member carried
out by the pivoting member moving forward and backward mechanism, any number of the
bending tools can be smoothly placed on the traveling member traveling with the bending
tool group placed thereon.
[0017] Other preferred features, elements, processes, steps, characteristics and advantages
of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description
of preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0018]
Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a bending machine with a bending tool length
adjusting mechanism in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a schematic front view of the interior of the bending machine main body
as viewed from a front side.
Figure 3 is an enlarged exploded side view showing an upper tool, a lower tool, and
a bending tool in the bending machine main body.
Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating a bending operation performed by the bending machine
main body.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a bending tool group.
Figure 6 is an exploded side view of the bending tool length adjusting mechanism.
Figure 7 is a front view showing the relationship between a traveling member and the
bending tool group and an abutting member moving mechanism in the bending tool length
adjusting mechanism.
Figure 8 is a plan view showing that the traveling member in the bending tool length
adjusting mechanism has moved out of the bending machine main body.
Figure 9 is a plan view showing another operational state of the bending tool length
adjusting mechanism.
Figure 10 is a plan view showing yet another operational state of the bending tool
length adjusting mechanism.
Figure 11 is a plan view showing still another operational state of the bending tool
length adjusting mechanism.
Figure 12 is a plan view showing further another operational state of the bending
tool length adjusting mechanism.
Figure 13 is a plan view showing the operational states of an end-only bending tool
changing mechanism.
Figure 14 is a perspective view of a door panel as an example of a bending processing
target.
Figure 15 is a perspective view showing that bending processing has been completed
on the door panel.
Figure 16 is a perspective view of a door panel processed by a conventional device.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
[0019] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, a bending machine with a bending tool length adjusting
mechanism comprises a bending machine main body 1 and the bending tool length adjusting
mechanism 2. The bending machine main body 1 has a bending tool group 3A composed
of a plurality of bending tools 3 arranged in a line, and a press driving mechanism
6 (Figure 2) that elevates and lowers a plate material W with respect to the bending
tool group 3A. The bending machine main body 1 thus uses the bending tool group 3A
to carry out wipe-bending processing on the plate material W. The press driving mechanism
6 comprises a ram 7 installed on a press frame 8 via a guide 9 so as to be able to
elevate and lower freely and a driving mechanism (not shown in the drawings) that
elevates and lowers the ram 7.
[0020] As shown in an enlarged view in Figure 3, the bending machine main body 1 has, as
tools, not only the bending tools 3 but also an upper tool 4 and a lower tool 5 that
sandwich the plate material W between the upper tool 4 and the lower tool 5. The upper
tool 4 is mounted in an upper tool beam 10 mounted at a lower end of the ram 7. A
plurality of the upper tools 4 are arranged in a line to constitute an upper tool
group 4A, and selection of the number of upper tools 4 enables the length of the upper
tools 4 to be adjusted. The lower tool 5 is installed on a lower tool block 11, and
the bending tool group 3A is positioned along a rear surface of the lower tool 5.
The upper tool beam 10 has a backup member 12, and the lower tool block 11 has a step
portion 13 with which a lower end of the backup member 12 is engaged.
[0021] The lower tool block 11 has a built-in cushion pad 14 that corrects bending strain
in the direction of a fold line, with the lower tool 5 installed on the cushion pad
14. The cushion pad 14 is fitted in a fluid pressure chamber 15 provided in the lower
tool block 11. The cushion pad 14 can be elevated and lowered by an operating fluid
such as oil or air which is fed into and discharged from the fluid pressure chamber
15 through a channel 16.
[0022] For bending processing, the bending machine main body 1 elevates and lowers the ram
7 to allow the upper tools 4 to press the plate material W located on the lower tool
5 as shown in Figure 3, against the lower tool 5 as shown in Figure 4A. The plate
material W sandwiched between the upper tools 4 and the lower tool 5 is further lowered
against the cushion pad 14 by the ram 7 as shown in Figure 4B. Thus, the plate material
W is lowered with respect to the lower tool group 3A to fold an edge of the plate
material W which projects from the upper tools 4, between the bending tool group 3A
and the upper tools 4, thus forming a bending piece Wa. That is, wipe-bending is carried
out.
[0023] As shown in Figure 5, the plurality of bending tools 3 are arranged in a line to
constitute the bending tool group 3A. The bending tools 3 located at the opposite
ends of the bending tool group 3A are end-only bending tools 3
1, 3
2. To change the length of the bending tool group 3A, the number of the bending tools
3 in the middle of the bending tool group 3A is changed, with the end-only bending
tools 3
1, 3
2 arranged at the oppos i te ends of the group 3A. The bend i ng tool group 3A has
the same sectional shape all over the length thereof. Each of the bending tools 3
in the middle of the bending tool group 3A has a shape obtained by cutting the bending
tool group 3A at every given width at a plane perpendicular to a length direction.
However, for each of the end-only bending tools 3
1, 3
2, located at the opposite ends of the bending tool group 3A, the end of the arrangement
of the bending tool group 3A at a tip surface of the end-only bending tools 3
1, 3
2 constitutes a curved surface portion 3a exhibiting a curved line in a cross section
in a bending tool arranging direction. The curved surface portion 3a is, for example,
a spherically curved surface.
[0024] One of the end-only bending tools 3
1, 3
2 at the opposite ends of the bending tool group 3A (the end-only bending tool located
at that end of the bending tool group 3A which first moves out of the bending machine
main body 1) is wider than the middle bending tools 3 and has one of a plurality of
(in this case, two) replaceable end-only bending tools 3
21, 3
22 (Figure 8) having different tool widths B. The difference between the size of one
of the plurality of end-only bending tools 3
21, 3
22 and the tool width of the middle bending tools 3 or a multiple of the tool width
is different from that between the size of the other end-only bending tool and the
tool width or a multiple thereof. The use of the plural types of end-only bending
tools 3
21, 3
22 enables the bending tool group 3A to be changed more precisely than selection of
the number of the middle bending tools 3. Further, the end-only bending tool 3
2 (3
21, 3
22) at the one end of the bending tool group 3A has a engaged portion 3b that allows
the bending tool group 3A to move in the bending tool arranging direction. An engaging
portion 23b (Figure 7) that is engaged with the engaged portion 3b has a shape that
enables engagement with and disengagement from the end-only bending tool 3
2 in a thickness direction thereof (the direction orthogonal to the bending tool arranging
direction); the engaging portion 23b is shaped like, for example, a key or a groove.
[0025] In Figure 1, the bending tool length adjusting mechanism 2 is a mechanism that adjusts
the length of the bending tool group 3A in the bending tool arranging direction. The
bending tool length adjusting mechanism 2 comprises a traveling member 21 on which
the bending tool group 3A is placed and which moves into and out of the bending machine
main body 1 in the bending tool arranging direction, a pair of abutting members 22,
23 which is provided on the traveling member 21 and against which the opposite ends
of the bending tool group 3A on the traveling member 21 are abutted, and an abutting
member moving mechanism 24 that moves the abutting member 23 located farther from
the bending machine main body 1, in the bending tool arranging direction with respect
to the traveling member 21. Furthermore, the bending tool length adjusting mechanism
2 has a bending tool storage mount 25 which is provided outside the bending tool main
body 1 along a traveling route for the traveling member 21 and on which surplus bending
tools 3 not included in the bending tool group 3A are placed in juxtaposition along
the traveling route, an unloading pusher mechanism 26 that pushes out the bending
tools 3 on the traveling member 21 onto the bending tool storage mount 25, and a placing
pusher mechanism 27 that places any number of the bending tools 3 on the bending tool
storage mount 25 onto the traveling member 21.
[0026] The traveling member 21 is a laterally extending elongate member and is installed
on a fixed base 28 via a guide mechanism 31 composed of a guide rail 29 and a direct-acting
rolling bearing 30, so as to be able to move forward and backward, as shown in Figure
3. The guide rail 29 is provided so that the traveling member 21 can travel from a
position inside the bending machine main body 1 to a position outside and on a side
of the bending machine main body 1. The traveling member 21 has a rack 32 provided
on a rear surface thereof. As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 8, the traveling member
21 is moved forward and backward by a pinion 33 which is provided on a side of the
bending machine main body 1 so as to mesh with the rack 32 and a traveling member
moving forward and backward driving mechanism 36 composed of a servo motor 35 to drive
the pinion 33 via a gear 34. The traveling member 21 is moved forward and backward
by the servo motor 35 as descr i bed above and can thus be stopped at any pos i t
i on. While the bend i ng too group 3A placed on a top surface of the traveling member
21 is located at any lateral position in the bending machine main body 1, the bending
machine main body 1 is able to carry out bending processing on the plate material
W. The servo motor 35 is controlled by a traveling member position control device
59 (Figure 8) provided as a part of the function of a numerical control device that
controls the bending machine.
[0027] As shown in Figure 7, the abutting member moving mechanism 24 is composed of a rod-less
cylinder 38 provided on the traveling member 21 along the length direction, and a
moving forward and backward member 39 moved in the length direction of the traveling
member 21 by the rod-less cylinder 38. A movable one of the pair of abutting members
22, 23 is fixed to the moving forward and backward member 39. The movable-side abutting
member 23 has the engaging portion 23b that releasably engages with the engaged portion
3b of the end-only bending tool 3
2.
[0028] As shown in Figure 6, the bending tool storage mount 25 has a bending tool placing
surface 25a formed at the same level as that of a bending tool placing surface 21a
of the traveling member 21 and in proximity to the bending tool placing surface 21a.
Accordingly, the bending tools 3 can be transferred between the bending tool placing
surfaces 21a, 25a by being slid on the bending tool placing surfaces 21a, 25a. The
bending tool storage mount 25 has a regulating plate 25b projecting from a top surface
thereof. The plurality of bending tools 3 are placed on the bending tool placing surface
25a in contact with the regulating plate 25b. The traveling member 21 has a rear surface
abutting portion 40 that regulates the rear surface position of the bending tools
3.
[0029] The unloading pusher mechanism 26 is composed of a plate-like pusher 26a that moves
forward and backward freely to push out the bending tools 3 on the traveling member
21 onto the bending tool storage mount 25, and a pusher moving forward and backward
driving source 26b such as a plurality of hydraulic cylinders which moves the pusher
26a forward and backward. The pusher 26a has a length covering the entire length of
the bending tool storage mount 25, and the pusher 26a is supported on the fixed base
28 by a guide member (not shown in the drawings) so as to move forward and backward
freely.
[0030] The placing pusher mechanism 27 has a plurality of push rods 41 prov i ded along
bending tool arranging positions on the bending tool storage mount 25 at a position
opposite to the traveling route for the traveling member 21, an endless pivoting member
42 located opposite side the traveling route so that a pivoting route for the endless
pivoting member 42 extends along the arrangement of the push rods 41, and a pivoting
member moving forward and backward mechanism 43 that moves the endless pivoting member
42 forward and backward with respect to the push rods 41.
[0031] The push rods 41 are fitted into respective guide holes 25bb formed in the regulating
plate 25b on the bending tool storage mount 25 so as to move forward and backward
freely, and a spring member 44 such as a coil spring is provided around the outer
periphery of each push rod 4] to urge the push rod 41 to move backward with respect
to the bending tool 3.
[0032] As shown in Figure 8, the endless pivoting member 42 is composed of a chain installed
around sprockets 46, 47 provided at the opposite ends of a moving forward and backward
mount 45. The endless pivoting member 42 has selective pushing members 48 mounted
to respective links (not shown in the drawings) of the chain constituting the endless
pivoting member 42 to selectively push the plurality of push rods 41. The selective
pushing members 48 are consecutively provided within a part of the range of the endless
pivoting member 42 in a length direction thereof. The moving forward and backward
mount 45 has a rear surface supporting member 49 which is provided over the entire
length of the arranging range of the push rods 41 and against which rear surfaces
of those of the selective pushing members 48 which are positioned closer to the arranging
side of the push rods 41.
[0033] The pivoting member moving forward and backward mechanism 43 is composed of the moving
forward and backward mount 45 with the endless pivoting member 42 installed thereon
and a moving forward and backward driving source 50 such as a plurality of hydraulic
cylinders which moves the moving forward and backward mount 45 forward and backward.
The moving forward and backward mount 45 is installed on the fixed base 28 via a guide
member (not shown in the drawings).
[0034] As shown in Figure 8 and Figure 11, an end of the bending tool storage mount 25 which
is closer to the bending machine main body 1 side has a regulating pushing mechanism
51 that pushes the arrangement of the bending tools 3 arranged on the top surface
of the bending tool storage mount 25, from one end of the arrangement. The regulating
pushing mechanism 51 is composed of a hydraulic cylinder or the like.
[0035] As shown in Figure 8, an end-only bending tool changing mechanism 53 is prov i ded
oppos i te and along the bend i ng mach i ne ma i n body 1 across the bend i ng too
I storage mount 25. As shown in Figure 13, the end-only bending tool changing mechanism
53 has a movable storage mount 54 which is installed on a changing mechanism base
57 so as to be able to move forward and backward in a traveling member traveling direction
X and on which the two movable-side end-only bending tools 3
21, 3
22 can be placed. The end-only bend i ng too changing mechanism 53 also has an end tool
pusher mechanism 55 and a movable storage mount moving forward and backward mechanism
56. The movable storage mount 54 has a top surface positioned at the same level as
that of the bending tool placing surface 21a of the traveling member 21. The end tool
pusher mechanism 55 is a mechanism that pushes one of the end-only bending tools 3
1, 3
2 on the movable storage mount 54 onto the bending tool placing surface 21a of the
traveling member 21 at a predetermined position. The end tool pusher mechanism 55
is composed of a hydraulic cylinder, an air cylinder, or the like. The movable storage
mount moving forward and backward mechanism 56 is a mechanism that moves the movable
storage mount 54 in the traveling member traveling direction X. The movable storage
mount moving forward and backward mechanism 56 is composed of a hydraulic cylinder,
an air cylinder, or the like.
[0036] A description will be given of a bending tool length adjusting operation performed
by the above configuration. To change the length of the bending tool group 3A on the
traveling member 21 located inside the bending machine main body 1 as shown in Figure
1, first, the traveling member 21 is allowed to travel out of the bending machine
main body 1 to a position where the traveling member 21 lies next to the bending tool
storage mount 25 as shown in Figure 8. At this time, the traveling member 21 is stopped
at a position where a predetermined gap (d) (for example, several millimeters) is
created between the position of the leading one of the bending tools 3 in the middle
of the bending tool group 3A, that is, the bending tool 3 adjacent to the end-only
bending tool 3
2, and the position of one of the bending tools 3 arranged on the bending tool storage
mount 25 which is closest to the bending machine main body 1. This stop position is
controlled by the traveling member position control means 59. Always fixing the stop
position of the traveling member 21 allows the traveling member 21 to be stopped at
the position involving the predetermined gap (d). That is, even with a change in the
length of the bending tool group 3A, the gap (d) remains fixed because the only difference
is whether the bending tools 3 are placed on the traveling member 21 to constitute
the bending tool group 3A or arranged on the bending tool storage mount 25.
[0037] After the traveling member 21 is stopped, the rod-less cylinder 38 of the abutting
member moving mechanism 24 cooperates with the moving forward and backward member
39 in moving the movable-side abutting member 23 to a position where the end-only
bending tool 3
2 lies away from the bending tool storage mount 25 as shown in Figure 9. This stop
position of the moving forward and backward member 39 is a position where the end-only
bending tool 3
2 lines next to the movable storage mount 54 of the end-only bending tool changing
mechanism 53 and to the vicinity of the pusher 26a of the unloading pusher mechanism
26.
[0038] Subsequently, the pusher 26a of the unloading pusher mechanism 26 moves forward to
place all the bending tools 3 on the traveling member 21 except the end-only bending
tools 3
1, 3
2 onto the bending tool storage mount 25 (Figure 10). At this time, the gap (d) avoids
the possible interference between the bending tools 3 unloaded from the traveling
member 21 and the bending tools 3 on the bending : tool storage tool 25. An end of
the pusher 26a which is closer to the bending machine main body 1 is located at a
position such that the end does not interfere with the abutting member 22. Thus, after
the bending tools 3 on the traveling member 21 are transferred onto the bending tool
storage mount 25, the gap (d) remains. However, as shown in Figure 11, the regulating
pushing mechanism 51, composed of a cylinder device, pushes the arrangement of the
bending tools 3 on the bending tool storage mount 25 from one end of the arrangement
to eliminate the gap (d).
[0039] During the above series of operations, the placing pusher mechanism 27 pivots the
endless pivoting member 42 so that the length of the selective pushing members 48
along the traveling member traveling route corresponds to the arranging width of the
bending tools 3 required for the length of the next bending tool group 3A.
[0040] In this state, as shown in Figure 12, the endless pivoting member 42 as well as the
moving forward and backward mount 45 are moved toward the traveling member 21 side
by the moving forward and backward driving source 50 to allow the selective pushing
members 48 to push those of the plurality of push rods 41 arranged in juxtaposition
the positions of which correspond to the positions of the selective pushing members
48. A required number of the bending tools 3 arranged on the bending tool storage
mount 25 are placed on the traveling member 21. Subsequently, the rod-less cylinder
38 of the abutting member moving mechanism 24 cooperates with the moving forward and
backward member 39 in moving the movable-side abutting member 23 toward the bending
machine main body 1 to press the movable-side end-only bending tool 3
2 against the arrangement of the bending tools 3 placed on the traveling member 21.
This allows the bending tools 3 to be sandwiched between the opposite abutting members
22, 23 and fixed on the traveling member 21. This state is shown in Figure 12. After
changing the length of the bending tool group 3A is thus completed, the traveling
member 21 is allowed to move into the bending machine main body 1 and used for bending
processing.
[0041] Figure 13 shows an operation of changing the two movable-side end-only bending tools
3
21, 3
22. Figure 13A shows that the traveling member 21 is moved out of the bending machine
main body 1 and that the end-only bending tool 3
2 is moved together with the movable-side abutting member 23 as described above with
reference to Figure 8 and Figure 9. Subsequently, as shown in Figure 10, the pusher
26a of the unloading pusher mechanism 26 moves forward to place the bending tools
3 onto the bending tool storage mount 25. Then, the end-only bending tool 3
21 on the traveling member 21 is placed onto the movable storage mount 54 by the pusher
26a (Figure 13B).
[0042] To change the two end-only bending tools 3
21, 3
22 after the pusher 26a has returned (Figure 13C), the movable storage mount 54 is moved
by the movable storage mount moving forward and backward mechanism 56 so that the
end-only bending tool 3
22, which is to be next placed onto the movable storage mount 54, moves to the position
corresponding to the end tool pusher mechanism 55 (Figure 13D). Subsequently, the
end-only bending tool 3
22 on the movable storage mount 54 is moved onto the traveling member 21 by the end
tool pusher mechanism 55 (Figure 13E).
[0043] The engaged portion 3b of each of the end-only bending tools 3
21, 3
22 and the engaging portion 23b of the movable-side abutting member 23 can be freely
engaged with and disengaged from each other in a direction orthogonal to the traveling
member traveling direction. Consequently, the pusher 26a and the end tool pusher mechanism
55 perform an operation of pushing the end-only bending tools 3
21, 3
22 for engagement or disengagement.
[0044] When the abutting member 23 is moved to end of the bending tool group 3A already
transferred onto the traveling member 21 as shown in Figure 12, the end-only bending
tool 3
22 changed as shown in Figure 13E is moved to change the movable-side end-only bending
tool 3
2 of the bending tool group is changed to one of a different tool width.
[0045] Where the end-only bending tools 3
21, 3
22 are not changed, the operation of moving the movable storage mount 54 as shown in
Figure 13D is omitted. This allows the end-only bending tool 3
21, (3
22) placed on the movable storage mount 54 to be used again for the bending tool group
3A.
[0046] The bending machine with the bending tool length adjusting mechanism configured as
described above thus provides a certain degree of freedom for the form of length adjustment
of the bending tools 3. In particular, the bending tool group 3A has the end-only
bending tools 3
1. 3
2, positioned at the opposite ends thereof. The end of the arrangement of the bending
tool group at the tip surface of each of the end-only bending tools 3
1, 3
2 constitutes the curved surface portion 3a exhibiting a curved line in a cross section
in the bending tool arranging direction. Consequently, the opposite ends of the bending
tool group 3A can be rounded even with a variation in the length of the bending tool
group 3A. This enables the bending piece 93 to be processed so that the opening 92
has the corner rounded portion 93a in each of the corner portions as shown in Figure
15. In this case, the abutting member moving mechanism 24 is able to move the end-only
bending tool 32 located farther from the bending machine main body 1, to the position
where the end-only bending tool lies away from the end of the maximum arranging length
of the bending tools 3 on the bending tool storage mount 25. This allows the middle
bending tools 3 to be smoothly changed without posing any problem such as interference,
while using the end-only bending tool 3
2.
[0047] While the present invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments
thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed invention
may be modified in numerous ways and may assume many embodiments other than those
specifically set out and described above within the scope of the appended claims.
1. Biegemaschine mit einem Biegewerkzeug-Längeneinstellmechanismus, wobei die Biegemaschine
aufweist eine Biegewerkzeuggruppe (3A) mit mehreren Biegewerkzeugen (3), die auf einer
Linie angeordnet sind, und mit einem Pressenantriebsmechanismus (6), der ein Plattenmaterial
(W) bezüglich der Biegewerkzeuggruppe (3A) hebt und absenkt, wobei die Biegewerkzeuggruppe
(3A) einen Biegevorgang an dem Plattenmaterial (W) durchführt, und der Biegewerkzeug-Längeneinstellmechanismus
(2) die Länge der Biegewerkzeuggruppe (3A) in einer Biegewerkzeug-Anordnungsrichtung
einstellt, und
wobei die Biegemaschine dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass der Biegewerkzeug-Längeneinstellmechanismus (2) einen Schieber (21) aufweist, auf
dem die Biegewerkzeuggruppe (3A) angeordnet ist, und der sich in dem und aus dem Biegemaschinen-Hauptkörper
(1) in der Biegewerkzeug-Anordnungsrichtung bewegt, und
dass der Biegemaschinen-Hauptkörper (1) den Pressenantriebsmechanismus (6) aufweist,
zwei Anschläge (22, 23), die auf dem Schieber (21) angeordnet sind und an denen die
entgegengesetzten Enden der Biegewerkzeuggruppe (3A) auf dem Schieber (21) anliegen,
einen Anschlagverstellmechanismus (24), der auf einem oder auf beiden Anschlägen (22,
23) in der Biegewerkzeug-Anordnungsrichtung bezüglich des Schiebers (21) läuft, eine
Biegewerkzeug-Lagerhalterung (25), die außerhalb des Biegemaschinen-Hauptkörpers (1)
längs der Laufbahn für den Schieber (21) angeordnet ist und auf der überschüssige
Biegewerkzeuge, die nicht in der Biegewerkzeuggruppe (3A) enthalten sind, nebeneinander
längs der Laufbahn angeordnet sind, einen Entladeschiebemechanismus (26), der die
Biegewerkzeuge auf dem Schieber (21) auf die Biegewerkzeug-Lagerhalterung (25) schiebt,
sowie einen Positionierschiebemechanismus (27), der eine beliebige Anzahl von Biegewerkzeugen
(3) auf dem Biegewerkzeug-Lagerhalter (25) auf dem Schieber (21) anordnet.
2. Biegemaschine mit einem Biegewerkzeug-Längeneinstellmechanismus (2) nach Anspruch
1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Biegewerkzeuggruppe (3A) auf dem Schieber (21) Nur-Ende-Biegewerkzeuge aufweist,
die an den entgegengesetzten Enden der Biegewerkzeuggruppe (3A) angeordnet sind, dass
ein Anordnungsende der Biegewerkzeuggruppe (3A) an einer Vorderfläche des Nur-Ende-Biegewerkzeuges
einen gebogenen Kurvenabschnitt bildet, der im Querschnitt in der Biegewerkzeug-Anordnungsrichtung
eine gebogene Linie hat, und dass der Anschlagverstellmechanismus (24) das Nur-Ende-Biegewerkzeug,
das vom Biegemaschinen-Hauptkörper (1) weiter entfernt ist, zu einer Position verschieben
kann, in der das Nur-Ende-Biegewerkzeug von dem Ende einer maximalen Anordnungslänge
der Biegewerkzeuge auf der Biegewerkzeug-Lagerhalterung (25) liegt.
3. Biegemaschine mit einem Biegewerkzeug-Längeneinstellmechanismus nach Anspruch 1 oder
2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Positionierschiebermechanismus (27) mehrere Schubstangen (41) hat, die nebeneinander
längs Biegewerkzeug-Anordnungspositionen auf der Biegewerkzeug-Lagerhalterung (25)
und an einer Stelle gegenüber der Laufbahn angeordnet sind, ein Endlosschwenkelement
(42), das sich gegenüber der Laufbahn befindet, so dass die Schwenkbahn für das Endlosschwenkelement
(42) längs der Anordnung der Schubstangen (41) verläuft, einen Schwenkelement-Reziprokverstellmechanismus
(43), der das Endlosschwenkelement (42) bezüglich der Schubstangen (41) vor- und zurückbewegt,
und mehrere selektive Schubelemente (48), die in einem Teil des Endlosschwenkelements
(42) in Längsrichtung davon und nebeneinander in Längsrichtung angeordnet sind, wobei
die selektiven Schubelemente (48) die Schubstangen (41) aufgrund der Bewegung des
Endlosschwenkelements (42) verschieben, die vom Schwenkelement-Reziprokverstellmechanismus
(43) durchgeführt wird.