METHOD AND DEVICE FOR BENDING PROFILES WITH A VARIABLE CROSS-SECTION

Abstract

A method for bending profiles, wherein the profiles have a profile web and bent or angled profile legs at lateral ends of the profile web, wherein the profile is bent or formed parallel to and in the plane of the profile web and the height of the profile web between the profile legs varies over the length of the profile. The profile is formed with a roll arrangement that has at least one supporting roll, one bending roll, and one forming roll positioned one after the other in the movement direction, wherein the supporting roll, the bending roll, and the forming roll rest against the profile or profile legs in lateral edge regions, and through the adjustment of the distance between the bending roll and the forming roll perpendicular to the movement direction of the profile, it is possible to adjust the bending radius of a profile.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method and a device for bending profiles with a variable cross-section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Freeform bending of open and closed profiles with a constant cross-section is known. Roll profiling, however, can also be used to produce profiles, which have a cross-section that varies over the longitudinal axis.

DE 10 2014 116 889 B4 has disclosed a device and method for producing profiles with a variable height and/or width. In this case, the intent is to use a roll profiling on forming strips to produce U-shaped or hat-shaped profiles with a variable height, but also other profiles, for example L-shaped profiles or Z-shaped profiles, in which at least one leg does not extend in one and the same plane everywhere, but instead has curves of some kind. To achieve this, the device is provided with a lower forming strip that predetermines the desired profile for supporting one of the legs in a form-fitting way over the entire area and at least one roll-profiling roll for roll profiling the semifinished product that is supported by the forming strip to the desired profile, wherein the device should also have an upper forming strip, which is equipped to clamp a part of the semifinished product forming the leg of the desired profile firmly between itself and the lower forming strip, wherein the surfaces of the two forming strips facing each other are complementary to each other and have the same shape as the first leg of the desired profile and at least one roll-profiling roll is mounted in rotary fashion on a vertically movable base. This device can be used to produce profiles with a cross-section that is variable over the longitudinal axis, wherein the cross-sectional geometry is bent. The components that are produced in this way are thus always flat relative the longitudinal axis.

EP 2 603 869 B1 has disclosed a method for generating optimized continuous curvature 2D and 3D rolling profiles and a corresponding device.

The method provides for creating an optimized 2D or 3D roll profiling progression by specifying a desired 2D or 3D roll profiling progression of a rolled profile, which changes along a rolling material advancing direction, and for controlling a flexible roll profiling device. With the flexible roll-profiling device, the profiling rolls can be adjusted in a computer-controlled way during a roll-profiling process, wherein the method for creating the optimized 2D or 3D roll-profiling progression also includes inputting the desired 2D or 3D roll-profiling progression by means of CAD tools, wherein the desired 2D or 3D roll-profiling progression is composed of multiple straight and/or curved sections and corresponding transitions. In addition, a calculation of the optimized 2D or 3D roll-profiling progression is made based on the input desired 2D or 3D roll-profiling progression by means of rounding algorithms at the transitions between the straight and/or curved sections in order to determine the respective transition curves at the transitions. The rounding algorithms round the 2D or 3D roll-profiling progression with essentially continuous curvatures in the transition curves so that the optimized 2D or 3D roll-profiling progression is consequently produced, the intent being to essentially avoid curvature discontinuities therein. Then a region of the optimized 2D or 3D roll-profiling progression is confirmed or modified and the optimized 2D or 3D roll-profiling progression is saved. On the whole, this is intended to reduce the required acceleration forces on the actuators. In this case, the seating elements among others are actively moved by actuators.

“A method for manufacturing bent profiles with open cross-section by die-push bending” by S. Groth and B. Engel, ITA Tube Journal, pages 44-49, April 2018, has disclosed a torsion compensation wherein a die-push bending is used for the bending method and the profile cross-section is constant over the length. In this case, a torsion compensation is provided between the guide die and bending die.

“New method for rolling-based 3D bending of profiles” [Neue Verfahren zum Rollen-basierten 3D-Biegen von Profilen] by M. Hermes, Aachen, Shaker-Verlag, 2012, has disclosed a so-called TSS bending. This method can be used for 3D bending freely selectable profile cross-sections, wherein the profile cross-sections can indeed be freely selected, but are always constant over the profile line and there is also a torsion compensation between the feed unit and bending unit, wherein in this case, it is disadvantageous that the bending and torsional stress overlap in the same region and interact with each other.

DE 10 2008 50 366 B4 has disclosed a system for the cold-roll profiling of profiles with a variable cross-section, wherein multiple variants of a re-forming device are described, which can correct form deviations during roll profiling. The correction in this case takes place directly during the roll profiling. In this connection, this reference discloses clamping shoes/sliding shoes, which are actively moved, wherein holding elements for the clamping shoes are known, which are able to move in the vertical direction Z relative to the plane of the sheet metal strip and are controlled and moved in accordance with the profile contour.

U.S. Pat. No. 10,661,323 B2 has disclosed bending profiles with different heights by means of a roll-profiling device, wherein multiple forming roll units, in particular four forming roll units, are arranged in order to achieve a specified bending angle. These rolls are in a fixed relationship to each other; there are bending rolls and supporting rolls; the bending rolls introduce forces and the supporting rolls follow the shape of the profile for stabilization purposes. Such a device is designed to form a large number of profiles of the same kind.

The object of the present invention is to create a method for bending different profiles with a variable cross-section, which in an inexpensive and effective way forms profiles with a variable cross-section in a reliable and reproducible way.

Another object is to create a device for bending different profiles or different bending angles with a variable cross-section, which forms profiles with a variable cross-section without unwanted deformation and torsion and which also reduces set-up times.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Profiles that are formed and bent according to the invention are profiles with two lateral edge regions that are connected by a flat region that spaces the lateral edges apart from each other.

The dimension between the lateral end regions of the profile is thus referred to as the cross-section or height of the profile.

Such a profile is for example a Z-shaped profile, a T-shaped profile, or a double-T-shaped profile. Possible profiles include all those in which in the region of the lateral edges of the flat region there is a profiling in the form of a bend or the like out from the plane of the flat region. The flat region is also referred to below as the profile web.

The regions that form the side walls of the web between the lateral end regions are referred to as the profile sides or profile web sides.

For purposes of the following disclosure, perpendicular to the profile means in alignment with the profile web.

The parts that are bent or formed out from the plane of the web in lateral end regions in the vicinity of the lateral edges are referred to below as profile legs.

According to the invention, the established 3-roll push-bending method is developed further, wherein the individual tool positions can be adapted to current profile cross-sections during the process. According to the invention, influence is thus exerted on roll-profiled profiles. As rolled profiles of this kind are being bent over their height or cross-section, particularly of Z-shaped profiles, for example, it is problematic that a torsion during the bending basically can be expected; it has been discovered that with conventional tool concepts unwanted deformations of the cross-section take place.

In order to avoid this, according to the invention, tool elements are used that enclose the profile in the lateral edge regions, i.e. at the inner and outer radius and preferably on both sides. According to the invention, it is thus possible to reduce the deformation to a minimum. According to the invention, the supporting elements can be freely moved perpendicular to the profile.

The tool elements in this case are supported in a floating fashion relative to the profile height or web so that they can freely follow different profile heights, but in this case, guide and clamp the profile externally and laterally. In particular, tool elements are embodied as sliding shoes, for example.

Because the respective profile legs are laterally enclosed, the supporting elements are automatically moved perpendicular to the profile as the profile is being fed. The supporting elements on the forming roll can also rotate freely around the rotation axle of the forming roll. As a result of this, supporting elements are oriented tangential to the profile even during the bending process.

According to the invention, in order to bend cross-sections that are variable over the longitudinal axis, an existing freeform bending method is enhanced so that the tool positions are adapted to the profile cross-section during the bending process. According to the invention, other supporting elements are used in addition to the standard tool elements like bending rolls, forming rolls, and supporting rolls. These supporting elements prevent a deformation of the profile cross-section during the bending process. With a stationary bending roll, the positions of the other tools are adapted to the progression of the profile contour during the bending process. In this case, the overall device is very compact and it is possible to bend a wide variety of profiles without requiring a changeover to a different roll set. A bending of different profiles or different bending radii can be achieved merely by means of the advancing of a forming roll. The adjustment of the bending angle, however, can be achieved merely by means of the feed rate.

According to the invention, a torsion compensation can advantageously be provided.

According to the invention, it has been discovered that a torsion compensation only truly makes sense if it takes place after the entire forming procedure. A controlled torsion compensation is therefore provided after the forming, wherein according to the invention, the torsion compensation is embodied so that the profile is laterally guided like sliding shoes, but the part of the sliding shoe that guides the variable-height lateral edge is determined in relation to the height of the profile or web. Basically, however, to achieve the torsion compensation, it is enough if the side surfaces of the profile web are guided.

The invention thus particularly relates to a method for bending profiles, wherein the profiles have a profile web and protruding, in particular bent or angled, profile legs at lateral ends of the profile web, wherein the profile is bent or formed parallel to and in the plane of the profile web and the height of the profile web varies over the length of the profile, wherein the profile is formed with at least one supporting roll, one bending roll, and one forming roll positioned one after the other in the movement direction, wherein the supporting roll, the bending roll, and the forming roll rest against the profile at least in lateral edge regions, wherein the profile is laterally guided at least in lateral end regions, wherein through the adjustment of the distance between the bending roll and the forming roll perpendicular to the movement direction of the profile, it is possible to adjust the bending radius of a profile.

In an advantageous embodiment, the bending roll and/or the forming roll are respectively supported so that they can be moved together with their respective guide device.

In an advantageous embodiment, lateral end regions of the profile are laterally guided by guide device that at least includes slide elements.

Advantageously, the slide elements are movably positioned on the respective roll arrangement in such a way that they are supported in floating fashion and are able to freely follow laterally the height progression of the profile that is moving through the roll arrangement. This ensures on the one hand a reliable lateral guidance and thus prevents an unwanted deviation to the side, and on the other hand, such a component of a guide device can follow the profile without having to be moved in an active way.

In another advantageous embodiment, the slide elements laterally guide the profile web and at least one slide element guides a profile leg. In this case, it is advantageous that the profile is guided on all sides in the region of the lateral edges and it is possible for deformations, even of the profile legs, to be counteracted even better.

In another advantageous embodiment, with a stationary bending roll, the positions of the other tools are adapted to the progression of the profile contour during the bending process or with a stationary supporting roll, the positions of the other tools are adapted to the progression of the profile contour during the bending process so that it is possible to bend a wide variety of profiles without requiring a changeover to a different roll set, wherein a bending of different profiles or different bending radii is achieved merely by the advancing of the forming roll.

In another advantageous embodiment, the adjustment of different bending angles is carried out merely by means of the feed rate.

In another advantageous embodiment, a profile leg protruding from the profile web is guided externally by a roll and internally by a slide element so that the at least one slide element and the corresponding roll are part of the guide device. This ensures that the profile is able to roll along the guide device in an advantageous way; in addition, the profile is thus also guided externally.

In another advantageous embodiment of the method, after the roll arrangement in the transport direction of the profile, a torsion compensation device is provided in which the profile is at least laterally guided and twisted so that a torsion that is implemented by means of the bending in the roll arrangement is compensated for by means of an opposing torsion and the profile is straightened to the specified dimension.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a device for bending profiles, particularly profiles that have a profile web and protruding, in particular bent or angled, profile legs at lateral ends of the profile web, wherein the deformation or bending direction is parallel to and in the plane of the profile web and the height of the profile web varies over the length of the profile, a roll arrangement has at least one supporting roll, one bending roll, and one forming roll positioned one after the other in the movement direction of the profile, wherein the supporting roll, the bending roll, and the forming roll rest against the profile in lateral end regions or edge regions, and wherein the device is embodied so that guide devices are provided, which laterally and/or externally guide the profile in lateral end regions of the profile, wherein the bending roll and/or the forming roll are respectively supported so that they can be moved together with their respective guide device perpendicular to the movement direction of the profile.

In an advantageous modification, the guide device includes at least one slide element that rests laterally against the profile web.

The guide device also advantageously includes slide elements that rest against both sides of the profile web.

To guide lateral end regions of the profile, the guide device advantageously also has at least one slide device with at least one slide element and one roll diametrically opposite from the supporting roll, forming roll, or bending roll, wherein the roll engages the profile leg laterally from the outside while the at least one slide element rests against both sides of the profile web and/or rests laterally against the profile leg from the inside, wherein the guide device also has slide rails in which the slide elements and/or rolls are supported in floating fashion so that they can be moved radially toward and radially away from the respective supporting roll and/or forming roll and/or bending roll.

In another embodiment, the forming roll and/or supporting roll and/or bending roll is embodied so that it rests laterally against the outside of the profile leg and is also shaped so that it rests against one side of the profile web while the slide rail of the guide device also includes a slide element, which rests against the diametrically opposite side of the profile web and/or profile leg so that the profile is guided on both sides in the region of the forming roll and/or supporting roll and/or bending roll.

In another advantageous embodiment, after the roll arrangement in the transport direction of the profile, a torsion compensation device is provided in which the profile is at least laterally guided and twisted so that a torsion that is implemented by means of the bending in the roll arrangement is compensated for by means of an opposing torsion and the profile is straightened to the specified dimension.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be explained by way of example based on the drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1: shows an example of a profile that is to be bent, depicting the entire length and the corresponding cross-sections;

FIG. 2: shows the desired bending radius for the profile according to FIG. 3;

FIG. 3: is a very schematic depiction of a bending tool according to the invention;

FIG. 4: shows a forming roll according to the invention with supporting elements;

FIG. 5: shows the bending roll according to the invention;

FIG. 6: shows a subsequent torsion compensation device in an isometric view from the front;

FIG. 7: shows the torsion compensation device according to FIG. 6 in a view from the front;

FIG. 8: shows the torsion compensation device according to FIG. 7 in a partially cutaway view from the front;

FIG. 9: shows the torsion compensation device according to FIG. 6 in a cutaway view from the side;

FIG. 10: shows the device according to the invention in different advancement situations of the forming roll for producing different bending radii of a profile;

FIG. 11: shows the device according to FIG. 10 with arrows indicating the advancing movement of the forming roll.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In a conventional 3-roll push-bending according to the prior art in which open and closed profiles can be machined with relatively large bending factors in a freeform bending method, a bending roll, a forming roll, and up to three supporting rolls are provided. In this case, the deformation is produced by the movement of the forming roll, which acts on a lateral end region of the profile with a force direction parallel to and in the direction and plane of the profile web.

FIG. 1 shows a semifinished product, which is to be processed using the method according to the invention, before the forming, which is typically a roll-profiled component or profile and in particular is a component that is depicted with a variable cross-section across the height.

The profile has a profile web 2a and two profile legs 2b that are bent or angled out from the plane of the profile web, wherein the profile legs 2b are bent in lateral end regions 2c of the profile web 2d or profile 2.

Bending profiles of this kind, however, is a challenge. The profiles that are produced according to the invention are particularly used in aerospace engineering and in automotive engineering. The method according to the invention makes it possible to reliably produce profiles of this kind. This has the advantage that such profiles can be produced in a single piece. On the one hand, this avoids the presence of joints, which always constitute weak points, and also further reduces both complexity and weight. The design of the device according to the invention makes it possible to bend a large number of different profiles without having to change the roll set; in particular, the movable configuration of the forming roll makes it possible to produce different profiles and/or different radii.

FIG. 2 shows the profile 2 according to FIG. 1 in the state in which it has been formed according to the invention, wherein the bending radius—in this case the outer radius—is constant, while the inner radius turns out to be different in accordance with the different component height. A typical semifinished product of this kind is variable rolled profiles made of aluminum. For example, the profiles have a Z-shaped cross-section that is variable over the longitudinal axis, with a profile web and protruding profile legs at lateral ends with different profile web widths (FIG. 3). In the regions A-B and E-F, the profile has a profile web width of 85 mm, for example. The region C-D has a profile web width of 60 mm, for example; the sections B-C and D-E according to FIG. 3 are continuous transition regions.

In the present example, it is clear that the upper profile leg 2b consists of a single 90° bend whereas a lower profile leg 2b consists of two successive 90° bends. The single-bent profile leg 2b in this case extends straight over the entire length of the profile whereas the double-bent profile leg 2b of the Z-shaped profile 2 has a variable curve over the longitudinal axis.

The semifinished products used have, for example, a material thickness of 1.4 mm and an initial length of 3.7 m. Since the Z-shaped profile used is not ideally mirror-symmetrical with regard to the bending axis, a deflection out from the bending plane during the bending process would have to be expected if the method according to the prior art were used. In addition, because of the cross-sectional geometry of the profile, the lateral force required for the bending is not introduced at the shear center, which inevitably results in a torsion of the cross-section.

For example, an EN AW-7075 aluminum alloy is used as the material, which is typically used for maximum stress parts in aircraft and machine construction. In aluminum profiles of this kind, an additional problem is the rebound behavior.

With a given bending radius (FIG. 2) of for example 1577 mm on the outside, a variable radius is produced on the inner curve in accordance with the profile cross-section.

According to the invention, in order to bend profiles 2 with a cross-section that is variable over the longitudinal axis (i.e. a variable profile web height between the profile legs), the tool positions are adapted to the profile cross-section during the bending process. In addition to the intrinsically known tool elements such as the bending roll, forming roll, and supporting roll, however, other supporting elements in the form of guide devices are also used according to the invention.

The guide devices with the additional supporting elements prevent a deformation of the profile cross-section during the bending process.

FIG. 3 shows a device 1 according to the invention.

The device 1 according to the invention is used to machine a profile strip 2 with a variable cross-section, wherein the device has a roll arrangement with at least one supporting roll 3, one bending roll 4, and one forming roll 5.

In the example shown, two supporting rolls 3 are provided, which are positioned together in a supporting roll mount 6. The forming roll 5 is likewise positioned in a mount 7.

According to the invention, the at least one supporting roll 3, the bending roll 4, and the forming roll 5 act on the profile strip and absorb forces of the process.

According to the invention, the supporting rolls 3, the bending roll 4, and the forming roll 5 each have an additional guide device 8 for supporting and guiding the profile 2 during the forming.

The forming roll 5 and/or supporting roll 3 and/or bending roll 4 are for example embodied so that they rest laterally against the outside of the profile leg 2b and are also embodied so that they rest against one side of the profile web 2a.

In the case of the bending roll 4 (FIG. 5), it is clear that the bending roll 4 correspondingly has a surface contour that at least partially corresponds to the contour of the profile 2 at one lateral end so that from an outer radial circumference 11, for example, the bending roll 4 has a recess 12 oriented radially inward, which then transitions into a radius with a small circumference 13. As a result of this, as is apparent in FIG. 5, a guidance of the profile 2 that is partially lateral, but also situated (laterally) at the end can be achieved in the lateral end region 2c. This guidance, however, acts only externally.

In order to enable an internal guidance, the guide device 8 is provided, which includes two slide rails 26 extending parallel to each other. The slide rails 26 extend away from the rotation axle 25 on both sides of the bending roll 4. They are positioned on the rotation axle 25 in such a way that the roll 4 can rotate between them. With both the bending roll 4 and the forming roll 5, however, the guide device is positioned in the transport direction of the profile 2 against the rotation axle 25 by means of a stop so that it cannot rotate freely around the rotation axle 25 and is therefore fixed in its spatial orientation in order to avoid a tilting.

On one of the two slide rails 26 that extend parallel to each other, a slide element 31 is provided, which corresponds to the contour of the bending roll 4 and thus internally guides and supports the profile 2 with the profile web 2a and the profile leg 2b in the region of the bending roll 4 so that in the region of the forming roll 5 and/or supporting roll 3 and/or bending roll 4, the profile 2 is guided on both sides.

Spaced radially apart from the bending roll 4, a slide device 27 is positioned between the two slide rails 26. Each slide element 17 of the slide device 27 has a respective tongue 17b with which the slide element 17 is able to move freely in a respective groove 17a in each of the slide rails 26. The slide device 27 also has a slide element 29, which, in the same way as the slide element 31, acts on both the side surface of the profile web 2a and on an inner surface of the profile leg 2b. On the outside of the profile leg 2b a roll 30 is provided as an outer support or guide on the slide device 27 so that the profile 2 can roll along the bending roll 4 and also along the roll 30 that is able to move freely by means of the slide device 27. By means of the ability of the slide device 27 to move freely on the slide rails 26, the profile 2 is laterally guided by means of the supporting elements 31, 29 and the roll 30 without the exertion of deforming forces, wherein because of their ability to move freely, the roll 30 and the slide element 29 simply follow the curve of the profile.

A comparable design is provided for the forming roll 5 (FIG. 4). On the forming roll 5 or on an axle 25 that guides the forming roll 5, two slide rails 14 are also provided on which a slide device 16 with respective tongues 17b is able to move freely in cooperation with corresponding grooves 17a in the slide rails 14. On a jaw 28 of the slide device 16, a slide element 18 is provided, which engages both the profile web 2a and the profile leg 2b from the inside. Here, too, the profile is guided on the outside by a roll 20. In addition, a slide rail 14 is provided with another slide element 15, which in the above-described manner, interacts with the forming roll 5 in a corresponding way and is embodied in a way that corresponds to the supporting element 31 with the bending roll 4. Consequently, during the forming procedure, at the ends and at the longitudinal sides except for a middle region, the profile is guided on both sides by the slide rails and supporting elements on the one hand and by the supporting elements and rolls 5, 4 on the other so that a lateral deviation and deformation is prevented.

In order to undo a torsion that is implemented by means of the deformation, according to the invention, a torsion compensation device 40 is provided (FIGS. 6 to 11) after the roll arrangement in the transport direction of the profile.

In the torsion compensation device 40, the profile 2 is at least laterally guided and twisted, i.e. in the region of the profile web 2a, so that a torsion that is implemented by means of the bending in the roll arrangement is compensated for by means of an opposing torsion and the profile is straightened to the specified dimension.

According to the invention, it has been discovered that a torsion compensation can be achieved in a particularly simple way and with a reduced mechanical complexity if it takes place after the overall forming. A controlled torsion compensation is therefore provided after the forming.

The torsion compensation device 40 according to the invention has an annular base plate 41, which can be positioned by means of two axial mounts 42 oriented in the same direction on the device 1 or on a corresponding unit for roll-bending.

The base plate 41 is embodied as annular and thus has an annular body that encloses an annular opening, wherein the annular opening permits a profile 2 to pass through. On the base plate 41, which is embodied so it can rotate around its axis, a torsion compensation mouth is provided, wherein the torsion compensation mouth itself has a base plate 43 from which side members 45, protrude at the ends on both sides of the passage 44.

Between the side members 45 an upper guide tool 46 and a lower guide tool 47 are provided, wherein the upper guide tool 46 and the lower guide tool 47 define an opening slot 48 between themselves, through which the Z-shaped profile can pass.

In the through opening 48, the upper guide tool 46 and the lower guide tool 47 each have a slide element 49, 50, wherein the slide element 49 is positioned on the upper guide tool 46 and the slide element 50 is positioned on the lower guide tool 47.

Preferably, the slide element 49 is rigidly positioned and can guide the profile 2 in the region of the profile web 2a and in the region of a profile leg 2b, wherein the slide element 49 is embodied to guide the profile leg 2 that does not change with regard to the height of the profile and is therefore embodied as rigid with regard to the profile height.

In order to be able to follow the variable profile height in the region of the opposing profile leg 2b, the slide element 50 is supported in a resilient way relative to the profile height in such a way that it can follow the height of the profile by continuously resting against the profile leg 2b. To accomplish this, the body of the slide element 50 is provided with a bore 51 for accommodating a spring 52. FIG. 8 shows the deflection of the slide element 50 in accordance with the height of the profile 2. The slide elements 49, 50 in this case guide the profile 2, preferably completely, over the entire height of the profile web 2a so that a reliable guidance is ensured in such a way that when the torsion compensation device 40 is rotated by means of the base plate 41, the profile is correspondingly twisted through non-positive and optionally positive engagement.

FIG. 10 shows the device according to the invention and the fact that a different bending radius can be achieved merely by adjusting the forming roll 5. In the prior art, the entire roll set has to be completely repositioned or even replaced in order to achieve this. With the invention, however, there are two possible variants since because of machine-related circumstances, either the bending roll or the supporting roll can be embodied as stationary. With a stationary bending roll 4, the positions of the other tools are adapted to the progression of the profile contour during the bending process. With the stationary supporting roll 3, the position of the respective other tools are adapted to the progression of the profile contour during the bending process so that it is possible to bend a wide variety of profiles without requiring a changeover to a different roll set, wherein a bending of different profiles or different bending radii is achieved merely by the advancing of the forming roll 5.

The arrangement according to the invention achieves a comparatively small forming zone, which on the one hand is in expensive and on the other, also enables very small bending radii. A 360° circular profile, i.e. a bending angle of 360°, is theoretically achievable, but the device would be in the way of this unless a lateral deformation also takes place such that the bending to the side prevents the bent profile from colliding with the roll set.

What is shown is the adjustment of the forming roll 5 as the distance x between the roll axis of the bending roll 4 and, in this case, a base plate of the mount of the forming roll 5. It is clear that with a reduction of the distance x, the radius of the profile is also reduced; a reduction of the distance means that the bending roll 4 in cooperation with the forming roll 5 exerts a forming pressure on the profile.

The adjustment of forming roll 5 in this case can be made mechanically by hand (e.g. adjusting screws), by means of servomotors that act on the forming roll or its mount for example by means of a mechanically stable spindle drive, or hydraulically, wherein the adjustment is influenced in a conventional path-controlled way in accordance with the desired radius.

The deflection or angled orientation of the arrangement of the forming roll 5 extends in accordance with the bending of the profile in the same way as the torsion compensation device 40 that follows it.

In FIG. 11, arrows indicate the different deflections of the forming roll 5.

Bending angles of 180° are shown in each of FIGS. 10 and 11, but this can also be adapted by adapting the feed rate. The bending angle can be increased by increasing the feed rate and a reduction of the feed rate produces a smaller bending angle. As mentioned above, a 360° bending angle is also achievable, but in this case, structural circumstances may exert a limiting effect.

Claims

1. A method for bending profiles, comprising: forming a profile having a profile web and bent or angled profile legs at lateral ends of the profile web by using a roll arrangement that has at least one supporting roll, one bending roll, and one forming roll positioned one after the other in a movement direction, wherein the supporting roll, the bending roll, and the forming roll rest against the profile and profile legs in lateral edge regions, wherein the profile is laterally guided in lateral end regions of the profile, and the profile is bent or formed parallel to and in a plane of the profile web, and a height of the profile web between the profile legs varies over a length of the profile,wherein through adjustment of a distance between the bending roll and the forming roll perpendicular to the movement direction of the profile, it is possible to adjust the bending radius of the profile.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the bending roll and/or the forming roll are respectively supported so that the bending roll and the forming roll can be moved together with their respective guide device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lateral end regions of the profile are laterally guided by slide elements.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the slide elements are supported in floating fashion on the respective roll arrangement and are able to freely follow a height progression of the profile that is moving through the roll arrangement.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the slide elements laterally guide the profile web and at least one slide element guides a profile leg.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein with a stationary bending roll the positions of the other tools are adapted to a progression of the profile contour during the bending process, or with a stationary supporting roll, the positions of the other tools are adapted to the progression of the profile contour during the bending process, so that it is possible to bend a wide variety of profiles without requiring a changeover to a different roll set, wherein a bending of different profiles or different bending radii is achieved by advancing the forming roll.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the adjustment of different bending angles is carried out by adjusting a feed rate.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein after the roll arrangement in the transport direction of the profile, a torsion compensation device is provided in which the profile is at least laterally guided and twisted so that a torsion that is implemented by the bending in the roll arrangement is compensated for by an opposing torsion and the profile is straightened to a specified dimension.

9. A device for bending profiles that have a profile web and bent or angled profile legs at lateral ends of the profile web, wherein a deformation or bending direction is parallel to and in a plane of the profile web and a height of the profile web varies over a length of the profile, wherein the device comprises: a roll arrangement having at least one supporting roll, one bending roll, and one forming roll positioned one after the other in a movement direction of the profile, wherein the supporting roll, the bending roll, and the forming roll rest against the profile in lateral end regions, andat least one guide device positioned in a region of at least one of the rolls in lateral end regions of the profile, wherein the at least one guide device laterally and/or externally guides the profile,wherein the bending roll and/or the forming roll are each movably supported in such a way that a distance of the rolls perpendicular to a feed direction of the profile is adjustable.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the at least one guide device includes at least one slide element that rests laterally against the profile web.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the slide elements rest against both sides of the profile web.

12. The device according to claim 9, wherein to guide lateral end regions of the profile, a guide device is provided in the region of the supporting roll, forming roll, or bending roll, and the guide device also has at least one slide device with at least one slide element and one roll, wherein the roll engages the profile leg laterally from the outside while the at least one slide element rests against both sides of the profile web and/or rests against the profile leg from the inside, wherein the guide device also has slide rails in which the slide elements and/or rolls are supported in floating fashion so that the slide elements and/or rolls can be moved radially toward and radially away from the respective supporting roll and/or forming roll and/or bending roll.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the forming roll and/or supporting roll and/or bending roll rests laterally against the outside of the profile leg and also rests against one side of the profile web while the slide rail of the guide device also includes a slide element, which rests against a diametrically opposite side of the profile web and/or profile leg so that the profile is guided on both sides in the region of the forming roll and/or supporting roll and/or bending roll.

14. The device according to claim 9, wherein after the roll arrangement in the transport direction of the profile, a torsion compensation device is provided in which the profile is at least laterally guided and twisted so that a torsion that is implemented by the bending in the roll arrangement is compensated for by an opposing torsion and the profile is straightened to a specified dimension.