The present disclosure relates to a press brake system. In particular, a sheet follower assembly for a press brake.
The process of forming sheet metal typically incorporates the use of a metal forming press brake that includes two forming assemblies which are pressed against one another by the press brake. The press brake typically includes an upper ram assembly which includes a heavy metal ram, a punch holder that clamps and holds a punch that is driven down into a stable forming die mounted on a lower bed assembly. The bed assembly includes a clamping system to hold the lower die in place while metal forming is performed. The metal forming process creates a bend on the sheet metal that forms to the contour of the die. Since the punch and the die are affixed during the bending process, in order to make an opposite or reverse angled bend in the sheet metal, the press brake must be paused and the sheet metal workpiece must be turned over in order to allow the press brake to form the opposite or reverse bend. Pausing the press brake and moving the sheet metal workpiece is inefficient. Thus, a system for performing reverse bending without the requirement of turning the sheet metal workpiece is disclosed herein.
A sheet follower is also typically provided to aid in the forming the bend onto the sheet metal workpiece. The typical sheet follower includes a plate that provides support to the sheet metal workpiece while the bending process is executed. Current sheet followers cannot rotate below zero degrees relative to a horizontal plane (i.e., a plane parallel to the floor). However, with the introduction of the new method of reverse bending as discussed above, a larger rotation range for the sheet follower is required in order to support the workpiece during a reverse bend process. Conventional prior sheet followers cannot follow a reverse bend without changing the position of the workpiece. Furthermore, the workpiece bending process typically requires the operator to control the workpiece from the waist level to shoulder level. However, when the motion is reversed (i.e. reverse bend), the operator has to control the metal from at a lower point (e,g, waist to knee level), which is difficult.
As described herein, an improved sheet follower is provided in order to address the concerns discussed above.
The features, aspects, and advantages of the disclosed press brake and tool system will become apparent from the following description, and the accompanying exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, which are briefly described below.
A press brake machine configured to bend a workpiece is disclosed herein. The press brake machine comprises an upper beam, a lower beam, wherein one of the upper beam and lower beam moves to reduce the distance between the upper beam and the lower beam in order to bend the workpiece. A sheet follower adjacent the lower beam, wherein the sheet follower is configured to remain in contact with the workpiece when the workpiece bends downwards.
In another embodiment, a press brake machine configured to bend a workpiece is disclosed herein. The press brake machine comprising an upper beam configured to hold an upper tool assembly configured to hold an upper tool comprising an upper punch or an upper die, a lower beam configured to hold a lower tool assembly configured to hold a lower tool comprising a lower punch or a lower die; and wherein one of the upper beam and lower beam moves to reduce the distance between the upper beam and the lower beam in order to bring the upper tool and the lower tool together in order to bend the workpiece a sheet follower adjacent the lower beam, wherein the sheet follower includes a plate configured to remain in contact with the workpiece when the workpiece bends at an angle below a horizontal plane, wherein the horizontal plane is parallel to a lower beam longitudinal axis.
In another embodiment, a sheet follower for a press brake machine configured for bending a workpiece is disclosed herein. The sheet follower comprises a plate assembly attached to the press brake assembly, a pivotable table having a plate configured to contact with the workpiece, a plurality of arms connecting the pivotable table to the plate assembly. The pivotable table is configured to follow the bend of the workpiece at an angle below a horizontal plane that is parallel to a floor of the press brake machine. A first block mounted on the plate assembly, a second block attached to at least one arm of the plurality of arms. The second block is configured to move closer or father apart relative to the first block in order to rotate the at least one arm. The movement of the second block moves the plurality of arms and allows the pivotable table to follow the bending of the workpiece.
The press brake machine described herein may be generally structured, for example, in the manner of the press brake machine disclosed in application Ser. No. 16/541,021, filed on Aug. 14, 2019 (incorporated by reference herein in its entirety). An exemplary press brake machine may include a ram located above a bed. The machine may include one or more hydraulic cylinders that force the ram (and a connected punch) downward toward the bed (and a connected die). Alternatively, the force of hydraulic pressure may be used to force the bed upward. The press brake machine processes a workpiece (e.g., sheet metal) by bending the workpiece to form a desired shape.
According to an embodiment disclosed herein, a press brake is configured to bend a workpiece includes an upper beam configured to hold an upper rotary tool. The upper rotary tool includes an upper punch and an upper die. The press brake includes a lower beam configured to hold a lower rotary tool, wherein the lower rotary tool includes a lower punch and a lower die. The upper rotary tool is configured to rotate between two positions wherein one or the other of the upper punch and the upper die is positioned to make contact with the workpiece. The lower rotary tool is configured to rotate between two positions wherein one or the other of the lower punch and the lower die is positioned to make contact with the workpiece. The upper rotary tool is configured to position the upper punch downwards when the lower rotary tool positions the lower die upwards so that the upper punch and the lower die are configured to bend the workpiece when one of the upper beam and lower beam is moved in a direction towards the workpiece. The rotary tool and press brake machine may be structured as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/458,011 filed Aug. 26, 2021, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
As shown in
Both rotary tools 131 and 141 may be configured to rotate in order to create different bends. For example, upper rotary tools 131 may rotate so that the upper die 133 is facing the workpiece 200 while the lower rotary tools 141 rotates so that the lower punch 143 is facing the workpiece 200.
The block and tackle assembly 500 is configured to provide rotational movement to the table by rotating the horizontal levers 302 via the third pivot P3 at the connection between the horizontal levers 302 and the back plate 304.
A first motor 308 is provided to actuate a belt (not shown) of the block and tackle assembly 500. The first motor 308 is configured to winch or un-winch the belt 310 of the block and tackle assembly. The belt 310 is configured to wind across the block and tackle assembly to allow the motor 308 to control the rotation of the table 301.
Locking shoulders 305 are configured to hold the horizontal levers 302 when the sheet is between 0° and 45° (inclusive) as shown in
A mounting plate 307 may be provided to mount the sheet follower 302 to a press brake structure such as the lower tool assembly 140.
The table 301 is configured to support the workpiece throughout the process shown in
Other rotating mechanisms for the sheet follower table may be employed instead of the block and tackle system described herein. For example, a gear mechanism may be employed. Although the sheet follower 300 described herein is attached to a rotary tool press brake capable of reverse bend press brake, the disclosed sheet follower may be utilized in a typical press brake that does not include a rotary tool and does not provide the capability of the reverse bend (without removing and repositioning the workpiece). The sheet follower may follow the workpiece downwards in scenarios where parts of the workpiece rotates downwards during a typical press brake bending.
In sum, an improved press brake system for efficient workpiece bending is disclosed herein.
As utilized herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially”, and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. It should be understood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure that these terms are intended to allow a description of certain features described and claimed without restricting the scope of these features to the precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within the scope of the disclosure as recited in the appended claims.
It should be noted that the term “exemplary” as used herein to describe various embodiments is intended to indicate that such embodiments are possible examples, representations, and/or illustrations of possible embodiments (and such term is not intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples).
The terms “coupled,” “connected,” and the like as used herein mean the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary (e.g., permanent) or moveable (e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another.
References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below,” etc.) are merely used to describe the orientation of various elements in the FIGURES. It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.
It is important to note that the press brake sheet follower as shown in the various exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may also be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/329,027, filed Apr. 8, 2022, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63329027 | Apr 2022 | US |