ROUND BENDING MACHINE WITH 2-DIMENSIONALLY ADJUSTABLE LOWER ROLLER

Information

  • Patent Application
  • 20250178053
  • Publication Number
    20250178053
  • Date Filed
    November 27, 2024
    8 months ago
  • Date Published
    June 05, 2025
    a month ago
Abstract
A round bending machine for round bending sheet metal comprises an upper roller and at least one lower roller. The lower roller is held in such a way that the position of the lower roller can be adjusted in two degrees of freedom.
Description

The invention relates to a round bending machine for round bending sheet metal, wherein the round bending machine has at least one roller.


Round bending machines are known from the prior art, which can have three or four rollers, wherein round bending machines with 3 rollers typically have an upper roller and two side rollers. Round bending machines with 4 rollers also comprise a lower roller. Round bending machines of this type are known for round rolling sheet metal.


The position of the rollers relative to one another is variable, so that the spacing of one roller relative to the other can be adjusted and adapted to different bending radii or different thicknesses of the sheet metal.


With a conventional round bending machine, for example, a lower roller can be mounted on a horizontal guide, wherein the horizontal guide absorbs the weight and working force. Thus, the position of the lower roller is fixed in one dimension, in this case the vertical, by the rail and can be moved in the direction of the guide. The lower roller can be moved and held on the rail by means of a horizontally operating hydraulic cylinder, so that the position of this lower roller can be adjusted for a bending process via the hydraulic cylinder.


EP 3 581 291 A1 describes a bending machine for bending sheet metal, wherein a side roller is held in a swing arm, and wherein the swing arm, can be fixed at one end by means of a bolt and is held at its other end by a linearly adjustable adjustment unit such as, for example, a hydraulic cylinder. By changing the length of the adjustment unit, the position of the side roller and thus the geometry of the rollers relative to one another can be changed, so that different bending radii can be produced.


With these machines, she position of a roller can typically be changed along a fixed, predefined path. Typically, a holder for the roller is connected to a linearly adjustable working cylinder, for example a hydraulic cylinder, so that the position of the roller is changed by adjusting the cylinder.


Thus, the position of a lower roller of such a conventional round bending machine can only be adjusted along the guide.


This problem is at least partially solved by a round bending machine with which at least one lower roller is held at one axial end in a lower roller block, wherein the lower roller block has a bearing block for holding the lower roller along with a first and a second linear adjustment unit, and the bearing block is adjustable by a first and a second linear adjustment unit arranged in each case perpendicularly to the axis of the lower roller. The first and second linear adjustment units can in each case be adjusted separately, so that the bearing block that holds the lower roller can be adjusted in two degrees of freedom. Thus, the lower roller can be adjusted in two degrees of freedom, in this case horizontally and vertically.


In one embodiment, the lower roller block of the round bending machine can have a slide element for supporting the lower roller block in the axial direction of the lower roller. The slide element is used for reducing the friction of the lower roller block in a sliding bearing, with which the lower roller block is supported in the axial direction. Axial forces acting on the lower roller are absorbed accordingly.


The bearing block of the lower roller block comprises a first and a second hinge eye, which in each case has an opening end. The first hinge eye end is connected to the first linear adjustment unit and the second hinge eye end is connected to the second linear adjustment unit. The openings of the hinge eyes are coaxial. The aligned hinge eyes are used for holding the lower roller, in particular for receiving an axle stub of the lower roller. In this way, the lower roller is held at one axial end by the bearing block and can be adjusted in its position in two degrees of freedom by means of the linear adjustment units.


The bearing block elements can be designed so that the first bearing block element has two hinge eye openings and the hinge eye end of the second bearing block element has exactly one opening, wherein the openings of the bearing block elements are aligned.


In one embodiment, the bearing block can have an intermediate ring, which is placed in the openings of the hinge eyes. Thus, the outer casing of the intermediate ring forms a sliding bearing with the corresponding inner surface of the openings of a hinge eye end.


Furthermore, in one embodiment, the round bending machine can have a bearing for receiving the axis of the lower roller, wherein the bearing in one embodiment is a spherical roller bearing. The bearing is placed in the openings of the hinge eyes, so that the bearing transmits the radial forces to be absorbed by the lower roller to the bearing block elements. If the bearing block has an intermediate ring, the bearing is preferably placed in the opening of the intermediate ring.


In one embodiment, the lower roller block has a slide element, which is preferably placed at least partially in an axial extension of the axis of the lower roller. The lower roller block is supported in the direction of the axis of the lower roller via the slide element and thus transmits axial forces from the lower roller.


In the following, an embodiment of the invention is described based on figures.





IN THE FIGURES


FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a round bending machine;



FIG. 2a, 2b are schematic views of a stand of a round bending machine;



FIG. 3a, 3b are schematic views of a lower roller block;



FIG. 4a, 4b, 4c are schematic views of a bearing block.






FIG. 1 shows an oblique view of a round bending machine 1 with an upper roller 2 and two lower rollers 3 and 4 for round bending sheet metal. For the bending process, the sheet metal to be bent is guided between the upper roller 2 and the lower rollers 3, 4, wherein the upper roller 2 and the lower rollers 3, 4 are positioned relative to one another in such a way that the rollers 2-4 exert a bending force on the sheet metal and bend it to a corresponding radius. At least one of the rollers is motorized or manually driven, so that the sheet metal is conveyed.


In one embodiment, the round bending machine is dimensioned so that metal sheets with a thickness of 4 to 30 millimeters and a width of several meters can be bent.


The round bending machine comprises a control unit 5 for activating the round bending machine, for example for activating the rotation of the at least one motor-driven roller and for controlling the position of the rollers relative to one another. Accordingly, the control unit controls linear adjustment units, which fix the position of the rollers.


In one embodiment, such a linear adjustment unit can be a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder known per se. In a further embodiment, not shown here in the figures, a linear adjustment unit can be a so-called electric cylinder, in which an electric motor drives a threaded spindle via a clutch and a gearbox, on which a guide nut is placed, which is moved when the threaded spindle is rotated, so that the guide nut in turn moves a push tube.


The round bending machine has stands 6a, 6b for holding the rollers 3-5. The holder of a lower roller 3, 4 is described in more detail below. Although the following description of the holder refers to a lower roller, the holder can also be used in an adapted form for another roller.



FIG. 2a shows a schematic oblique view of a stand 6a or 6b. FIG. 2b shows a schematic view of the inside of the stand.


In this embodiment, the stand has a vertical surface on the inside, which forms a friction or sliding bearing surface 10. As described below, this surface is used as a bearing for the slide element, which is placed on a lower roller block and which slides on the surface 10 if forces in the axial direction move the roller mounted in the lower roller block axially.


In one embodiment, the stand 6a, 6b can have a bearing 7 or a holder for a bearing that holds the upper roller 2. In one embodiment, the bearing 7 can be designed in such a way that it is folded away, for example, as indicated in FIG. 1, in order to remove bent sheet metal, for example sheet metal bent into a tube, from the round bending machine.


For holding a lower roller 3-4, the round bending machine comprises a lower roller block 8, which substantially comprises a first and a second linear adjustment unit 11a, 11b and a bearing block 9 held by these. The stands 6a, 6b shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b show two lower roller blocks 8 for holding a corresponding lower roller 3, 4. The linear adjustment units 11a, 11b of a lower roller block 8 are in each case fixed at an angle relative to one another and rotatable on the stand 6 of the round bending machine. By adjusting the linear adjustment units 11a or 11b, i.e., by changing the length of the adjustment units, the position of the bearing block 9 held by the adjustment units and thus the position of the held lower roller 3, 4 can be adjusted. The position of the bearing of a lower roller held by a lower roller block 8 can be adjusted in two degrees of freedom per bearing side in this way, so that the position of a lower roller 3, 4 can be adjusted in two degrees of freedom.



FIG. 3a shows such a lower roller block 8 in a schematic oblique view, FIG. 3b shows a view of such a lower roller block 8 in the direction of a lower roller 3, 4 to be held.


A lower roller block 8 comprises a bearing block 9, which comprises a first hinge eye end 9a and a second hinge eye end 9b.


In one embodiment, the first hinge eye end 9a is designed as a fork head, so that the hinge eye end has two openings. The second hinge eye end 9b is designed as a simple hinge eye end, i.e., with an opening. The spacing between the two fork-head ends and the thickness of the simple hinge eye end are designed so that the opening of the simple hinge eye end can be placed between the two ends of the fork-head hinge eye end, as shown in FIG. 3a. The openings of the first and second hinge eye ends are aligned.


In an alternative embodiment, both hinge eye ends can have only one opening.


The first hinge eye end 9a is connected to the first linear adjustment unit 11a, and the second hinge eye end 9b is connected to the second linear adjustment unit 11b, so that the bearing block can be adjusted and held both in the direction of adjustment 12a of the first linear adjustment unit 11a and in the direction 12b of the second linear adjustment unit 11b.


A lower roller block 8 can optionally have a corresponding measuring device 19 for ascertaining the position of an associated linear adjustment unit. The measuring device is connected to the control unit 5 for information transmission, so that the control unit receives information about the setting of an adjustment unit.



FIGS. 4a-4c show a bearing block 9, wherein FIG. 4a shows an oblique view of the bearing block, FIG. 4b a top view of the open side of a bearing block and FIG. 4c a sectional view along line A-A in FIG. 4b.


In the embodiment shown here, the bearing block 9 receives an axle stub (not shown) of a lower roller 3, 4 to be mounted. The axle stub does not protrude from the bearing block 9 on the side facing away from the lower roller 3, 4. On this side facing away from the lower roller 3, 4, the bearing block 9 has a slide plate or a slide element 14, which together with the friction or sliding bearing surface 10 of the stand 6a, 6b form a sliding bearing. A lower roller block 8 is supported on the stand via this slide plate or the slide element 14 if forces act on the lower roller block 8 in the axial direction of the lower axle to be mounted, shown here by the arrow 13.


In a further embodiment, which is not shown in the figures, the round bending machine 1 comprises a further linear adjustment unit for absorbing axial forces in place of the slide element 14 at one end of a roller 2-4. This further linear adjustment unit is arranged with one end on the lower roller block 8 and preferably on the bearing block 9. The other end of the linear adjustment unit can be fixed to the floor on which the round bending machine 1 stands, so that the other linear adjustment unit is at a variable angle to the floor and can absorb forces in the axial direction of the mounted roller. The first and second linear adjustment units 11a, 11b together with the other linear adjustment unit form a support for absorbing forces in the horizontal directions and in the vertical direction. In an alternative embodiment, the further linear adjustment unit is supported on the round bending machine itself, in particular on a side wall or a stand 6a, 6b of the round bending machine.


A roller of the round bending machine, which is supported at both ends by the first and second and by a further linear adjustment unit, can thus be adjusted both vertically and in both horizontal directions.


The bearing block 9 can optionally have a bearing cover 15 on the side facing the lower roller 3, 4, which covers a bearing in the bearing block.



FIG. 4b shows a frontal view of a bearing block 9 in the axial direction from the direction of a lower roller 3, 4. Optionally, the bearing block can have lubrication nipples 16 for which the bearing cover has access holes.



FIG. 4c shows a sectional view of a bearing block 9 along the line A-A shown in FIG. 4b. The sectional view shows the first and second hinge eye ends 9a-9b, the slide plate 14 and the bearing cover 15 on the side facing the lower roller. In the embodiment shown here, the bearing block 9 can have an intermediate ring 17. In this embodiment, the intermediate ring 17 is screwed to the fork-shaped first hinge eye end 9a, see fastening screws 17a. The outer casing of the intermediate ring 17 forms the friction surface for the second hinge eye end 9b.


The bearing block 9 optionally comprises a bearing 18 for rotatably receiving the lower roller 3-4 to be mounted or the axle stub of the lower roller. Preferably, the bearing 18 is designed so that it can absorb forces in the direction of the axis of rotation, and the axis of rotation to be received, in this case the axle stub of the lower roller 3-4 to be mounted, can be tilted relative to the outer bearing, so that the lower roller can also be operated in an inclined position relative to the bearing. In one embodiment, the bearing 18 can be a spherical roller bearing.


LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS






    • 1 Round bending machine


    • 2 Upper roller


    • 3, 4 Lower roller


    • 5 Control unit of the round bending machine


    • 6
      a, 6b Stand of the round bending machine


    • 7 Bearing/holder for a bearing for holding the upper roller


    • 8 Lower roller block


    • 9 Bearing block


    • 9
      a, 9b First/second hinge eye end


    • 10 Friction or sliding bearing surface


    • 11
      a, 11b Linear adjustment unit, e.g., hydraulic cylinder or electric cylinder


    • 12
      a, 12b Direction arrow of first adjustment unit or second adjustment unit


    • 13 Direction of the lower roller to be mounted, arrow


    • 14 Slide element, slide plate


    • 15 Bearing cover


    • 16 Lubrication nipple


    • 17 Intermediate ring


    • 17
      a Fastening screws


    • 18 Spherical roller bearing


    • 19 Measuring device




Claims
  • 1.-12. (canceled)
  • 13. A round bending machine for round bending sheet metal, wherein the round bending machine has a roller, wherein: the roller is held at one axial end in a lower roller block, wherein the lower roller block has a bearing block for holding the roller and a first and second linear adjustment unit, andthe bearing block is adjustable by means of the first and second linear adjustment unit arranged in each case for holding the axis of the roller.
  • 14. The round bending machine according to claim 13, wherein the lower roller block has a slide element for supporting the lower roller block in the axial direction of the lower roller.
  • 15. The round bending machine according to claim 13, wherein the round bending machine comprises a further linear adjustment unit, which is arranged and configured with one side on the lower roller block, in particular on the bearing block, for absorbing a force in the axial direction of the roller.
  • 16. The round bending machine according to claim 13, wherein: the bearing block has a first and a second hinge eye end with at least one respective opening,the first hinge eye end is connected to the first linear adjustment unit and the second hinge eye end is connected to the second linear adjustment unit, andthe opening of the first hinge eye end is arranged coaxially with the opening of the second hinge eye end.
  • 17. The round bending machine according to claim 15, wherein: the first hinge eye end is designed as a fork head and the second hinge eye end has exactly one hinge eye opening, andthe hinge eye openings are arranged coaxially in the direction of the lower roller.
  • 18. The round bending machine according to claim 15, wherein: the bearing block comprises an intermediate ring, andthe intermediate ring is placed in the openings of the first hinge eye end and in the opening of the second hinge eye end.
  • 19. The round bending machine according to claim 17, wherein the intermediate ring holds a bearing for receiving the roller.
  • 20. The round bending machine according to claim 13, wherein the bearing block comprises a spherical roller bearing for holding the roller.
  • 21. The round bending machine, according to claim 14, wherein the slide element is placed at least partially in extension of the axis of the roller on the lower roller block.
  • 22. The round bending machine according to claim 13, wherein a linear adjustment unit is a hydraulic cylinder or an electric spindle drive.
  • 23. The round bending machine according to claim 13, wherein the adjustment axes of the first and the second linear adjustment unit form an angle of between 20° and 150° relative to one another.
  • 24. The round bending machine according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the first and second linear adjustment units is arranged perpendicularly to the roller.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
10 2023 133 746.7 Dec 2023 DE national