Tool Or Tool Driver Travel Patents (Class 72/31.11)
  • Patent number: 10471488
    Abstract: A machine for bending sheet metal provides at least one sheet metal resting tool, at least one sheet metal pressing tool, and at least one sheet metal bending tool, parallel to one another; for moving the tools along a first and a second axis perpendicular to one another at least two electric motors are provided for moving the sheet metal pressing tool along the second axis, at least two electric motors for moving the sheet metal bending tool along the first axis and at least two electric motors for moving the sheet metal bending tool along the second axis; a command and control unit connected to the electric motors commands and controls the driving of the electric motors to maintain the parallelism between the tools in the operating step. In this manner, using hydraulic drives is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: COSMA S.R.L.
    Inventors: Bruno Moretti, Fabrizio Beretta
  • Patent number: 9757783
    Abstract: A method of bending a sheet of metal using a press brake includes pivoting die holders during the bending operation so bends can be made in opposite directions without having to turn over or flip over the sheet of metal. In the method a first die holder is driven downward toward a second die to thereby create a bend in the metal sheet when the first and second dies come together. The first die holder and the first die are then retracted away from a second die holder and the second die. The die holders are moved, preferably rotated, to a second position in which the first die holder is located over the second die holder. Then the second die holder is driven downward toward the first die to thereby create a second bend in the metal sheet when the first and second dies come together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: ACCURPRESS AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Allen Guernsey, Stephen Hilton
  • Patent number: 9664493
    Abstract: The invention relates to a production plant (1), in particular for folding workpieces (2) to be produced from sheet metal, comprising a bending press (3), in particular a press brake, having a press beam (13, 16), at least one bending tool (4), such as a bending punch (5) and bending die (6), which is connected to the press beam (13, 16), and at least one angle-measuring device (46) for determining an angular position of at least one limb (35, 36) of the workpiece (2) formed by a bending operation relative to a reference plane (41, 42). The angle-measuring device (46) comprises at least one inclination sensor (39) having a reference surface (40) and the inclination sensor (39) is mounted by the angle-measuring device (46) so that it can be placed with the reference surface (40) lying in contact with a surface portion of at least one of the limbs (35, 36) of the workpiece (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: TRUMPF Maschinen Austria GmbH & Co. KG.
    Inventors: Gerhard Angerer, Harald Boeck, Klemens Freudenthaler, Josef Gaggl, Matthias Hoerl, Bernhard Schneider, Hagen Strasser, Helmut Theis, Manfred Waldherr, Thomas Weiss
  • Patent number: 8931317
    Abstract: In a bending machine, there is provided at one back gauge abutting part (5) a plurality of contact confirmation sensors for confirming the contact thereof with a workpiece; and there is included control means driving a ram (1) on the conditions of ON of all the sensors automatically or manually specified among these contact confirmation sensors and ON of a foot pedal (6) when the workpiece is abutted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Amada Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidekatsu Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8621903
    Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous or instrumented indentation device for a material. The indentation device includes an indenter, a bearing means for the material to be indented, a means for moving the indenter and/or the bearing means for contacting the indenter with the material to be indented, and for pressing the indenter into the material, and a means for measuring the force and movement of the indenter when the indenter is pressed into the material. The bearing means includes a convex surface for receiving the material to be indented and is oriented towards the indenter so that the material is capable of bearing on the convex surface. The indenter may comprise a one-piece structure. The means for measuring the movement of the indenter when the indenter is pressed into the material includes at least three movement sensors angularly arranged at an equal distance about the indenter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Universite de Rennes 1
    Inventor: Gérard Mauvoisin
  • Patent number: 8534105
    Abstract: A bending machine having: a punch and a die for bending a sheet-shaped work; pressurizing means which pressurizes the work in a space between the punch and the die by vertically moving a ram; inputting means (23) which inputs die information on the punch and the die, material information on the work and bending information; a database (25) which stores data on a pressure per unit length required for bending the work; calculating means (29) which calculates a pressure necessary for the pressurizing means based on various information inputted from the inputting means (23) and on the data on the pressure stored in the database (25); and controlling means (31) which controls the pressurizing means based on a result of calculation by the calculating means (29).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Amada Company, Limited
    Inventor: Takahiro Shibata
  • Patent number: 8234897
    Abstract: A press-forming device has a punch (2), a die (7) which relatively moves with respect to the punch (2), a strain amount measuring means (8) which is provided inside a member to be controlled and measures a strain amount of the aforesaid member to be controlled which occurs in accordance with press-forming, when at least one of the punch (2) and the die (7) is made the aforesaid member to be controlled, and a strain amount control means (9) which is provided in the aforesaid member to be controlled and controls the strain amount of the aforesaid member to be controlled which occurs in accordance with press-forming. The strain amount control means (9) controls a drive amount of the aforesaid member to be controlled so that the strain amount measured by the strain amount measuring means (8) is in a predetermined range during forming. Thereby, reduction in a surface strain, improvement in shape fixability or the like of a press formed product can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignees: Nippon Steel Corporation, Arcelor France
    Inventors: Takuya Kuwayama, Noriyuki Suzuki, Patrick Duroux
  • Publication number: 20110174036
    Abstract: The invention particularly relates to a so-called continuous or instrumented indentation device for a material, which includes: an indenter; a bearing means for the material to be indented; a means for moving the indenter and/or the bearing means for contacting said indenter with said material and for pressing the indenter into the material; a means for measuring the force and the movement of the indenter when the same is pressed into the material. The bearing means includes a convex surface for receiving said material and oriented towards the indenter so that said material is capable of bearing on said surface; said indenter is one-piece structure. The means for measuring the movement of the indenter when the same is pressed into the material includes at least three movement sensors angularly arranged at an equal distance about said indenter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: UNIVERSITE DE RENNES 1
    Inventor: Gérard Mauvoisin
  • Patent number: 7963137
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus, in particular to a bending apparatus, including at least one movable apparatus part; an operating device for the operation of the apparatus, with at least one first signal for the actuation of the apparatus and one second signal for the stopping of the apparatus being able to be triggered via the operating device; a protection device for the monitoring of a protected zone of the apparatus; and a device for the selective adaptation of the protected zone before the actuation of the apparatus, with the device for the adaptation of the protected zone being able to be acted on by means of a third signal of the operating device. Alternatively, the device for the selective adaptation of the protected zone can include a voice input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventors: Ingolf Braune, Heiko Kahle
  • Publication number: 20110088441
    Abstract: Labor required for knowing what extent of bending of a plate corresponds to what degree of angle of the bent portion is reduced. A bending angle detection apparatus (50) has a sensor ring L (64), a holder (62), bearings (70), the motor body of a servomotor (60), and a rotation angle sensor (102). The sensor ring L (64) produces a signal corresponding to whether the apparatus is contacted with a blade member plate or not. The holder (62) and the bearings (70) rotatably connect the sensor ring L (64) to a bending machine. The motor body of the servomotor (60) drives the sensor ring L (64) so that it is rotated. The rotation angle sensor (102) detects the rotation angle of the sensor ring L (64). In addition, the holder (62) and the bearings (70) connect the sensor ring L (64) to the bending machine so that the rotation axis of the blade member plate in the case where the bending machine bends the blade member plate coincides with that of the sensor ring L (64).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventor: Suehiro Mizukawa
  • Patent number: 7818985
    Abstract: A bending apparatus is provided with a ram start-up device so as to be movable in a lateral direction. A controller moves the ram start-up device to a point in front of positioning points of abutments corresponding to points of selected edges of a workpiece. The bending apparatus includes a foreign object detector that detects the entry of a foreign object into a region of movement of the ram start-up device. A controller prevents the ram start-up device from moving when the entry of the foreign object is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Amada Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekatsu Ikeda, Takanori Okubo, Kazuhiro Kanno, Hisashi Uto
  • Patent number: 7784318
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a turned blank at a workstation in a progressive forging machine comprising simultaneously monitoring both the force on a tool in the workstation and the crank angle of the machine, determining a reference crank angle when the tool is subjected to a force at the workstation about to deliver a blow and a blank in the workstation is properly angularly aligned, operating the machine to forge blanks in a normal manner when a force on the tool at the workstation occurs substantially at the reference crank angle, and interrupting said normal manner when the force on the tool at the workstation occurs before said reference crankshaft angle to enable the blank being formed at the workstation to be separated from remaining blanks being forged in the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: National Machinery LLC
    Inventors: Donald E. Krintzline, Laurence W. Kelbley, Thomas E. Hay
  • Patent number: 7661281
    Abstract: Methods and an apparatus for bending orthodontic wires are provided. An apparatus for bending an orthodontic wire can determine an optimal shape of a portion of an archwire to include a pair of nominal bends, apply an actual bend to the archwire at a location coinciding with the location of one of the pair of nominal bends, measure the actual bend applied, compare the actual bend to the nominal bend to determine an amount of deviation from that desired, determine corrective movements to substantially eliminate the deviation, iteratively reexecute such steps until the deviation is within a predefined tolerance, and recalculate a value of the other of the pair of nominal bends to compensate for any remaining deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ruedger Rubbert, Thomas Weise
  • Patent number: 7610785
    Abstract: Regarding predetermined positioning criteria (M1, M2), ((G1, G2), (N1, or N2), (K1, K2)), there is provided image processing means (40B) for obtaining by image processing, measured values (CD1, CD2) ((GD1, GD2), (ND1, or ND2), (KD1, KD2)) and reference values (CR1, CR2) ((GR1, GR2), (NR1, or NR2), (KR1, KR2)), and for moving a work (W) in a manner that the measured values (CD1, CD2) ((GD1, GD2), (ND1, or ND2), (KD1, KD2)) and the reference values (CR1, CR2) ((GR1, GR2), (NR1, or NR2), (KR1, KR2)) coincide with each other, thereby positioning the work (W) at a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Amada Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichio Akami, Koichi Ishibashi, Teruyuki Kubota, Tetsuaki Kato, Jun Sato, Tatsuya Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7607329
    Abstract: With a method according to the invention for free bending, a workpiece to be machined, such as a sheet metal plate, is brought into contact with a bending edge of a lower die. A bending punching tool is moved opposite to the lower die, such that the sheet metal plate is bent by the punching tool in terms of generating a predetermined target bending angle across the bending edge. In this case, the achieved bending angle is measured at least after a first bending process and the bending force to be applied and the measuring curve resulting therefrom are determined during the bending process as a function of the traverse path of the bending punching tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Burkhard Heller, Michael Kaever, Nader Ridane
  • Patent number: 7578156
    Abstract: A potentially dangerous machine is secured to protect against injuries and has first and second tool parts that define an opening gap between them. At least the first tool part is movable relative to the second tool part in a movement direction during an operating cycle for deforming a workpiece between them by reducing a size of the opening gap in the movement direction. The protected zone precedes the first tool part and extends over at least a portion of the opening gap in the direction of relative movement. The protected zone is monitored with an optoelectronic sensor, and a danger signal is generated in response to a breach of the protected zone. When the size of the opening gap in the movement direction becomes smaller than the protected zone, the size of the protected zone is correspondingly reduced until during subsequent closing movements of the first tool part substantially the entire opening gap is within the protected zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventors: Ingolf Braune, Roland Bergbach, Joerg Grabinger
  • Patent number: 7503200
    Abstract: Method of correcting a bending operation performed by a press brake, the bottom beam of which contains deformation compensation cylinders, in which a calibration nomogram is pre-recorded using very short calibration pieces, this nomogram establishing a correspondence between the forces measured at the side frames and the pressures applicable to the compensation cylinders in order to keep the bottom beam substantially straight. During a subsequent bending operation, pressure values resulting from this nomogram are applied to the compensation cylinders according to the forces measured at the side frames. A bottom dead center is recalculated by taking account of the deformation of the top beam, the deformation of the side frames, the actual length and thickness of the piece, and the spring effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Bystronic Laser AG
    Inventors: Gerrit Gerritsen, Piero Papi
  • Publication number: 20090056401
    Abstract: The invention concerns a machine for automatically shaping components via different types of bending provided in a common plane or different planes. The machine includes a first device for performing a sequential shaping with standard tools by individual bending, and a second device using a tool plate. Both devices are managed by a single digital control. The method for controlling such a machine is characterized in that digital control provides the possibility for producing a blank of a component by individual bending on the first device followed by transfer of the component on the second device for finishing the component. Digital control provides the possibility of shaping one part of the component on the first device and shaping the remaining parts on the second device. The digital control also provides the possibility of using each machine alone and the possibility of using both machines for producing the same component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: NUMALLIANCE
    Inventor: Joel Etienne
  • Publication number: 20090013748
    Abstract: The invention deals with a sheet-metal bending machine containing a lower machine part and an upper machine part mounted on it in a movable way where on either of the upper and lower machine part there is a pair of working tools designed as a bending arm and a holding arm where the principle is that the upper machine part (3), or at least the pair of the working tools connected to it, is, in relation to the lower machine part (2), or at least in relation to the pair of the working tools connected to it in the feeding direction (L) of the processed metal sheet (14), mounted in a mutually horizontally sliding bond.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventor: Reinhard FRANZE
  • Patent number: 7412863
    Abstract: Regarding predetermined positioning criteria (M1, M2), ((G1, G2), (N1, or N2), (K1, K2)), there is provided image processing means (40B) for obtaining by image processing, measured values (CD1, CD2) ((GD1, GD2), (ND1, or ND2), (KD1, KD2)) and reference values (CR1, CR2) ((GR1, GR2), (NR1, or NR2), (KR1, KR2)), and for moving a work (W) in a manner that the measured values (CD1, CD2) ((GD1, GD2), (ND1, or ND2), (KD1, KD2)) and the reference values (CR1, CR2) ((GR1, GR2), (NR1, or NR2), (KR1, KR2)) coincide with each other, thereby positioning the work (W) at a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Amada Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichio Akami, Koichi Ishibashi, Teruyuki Kubota, Tetsuaki Kato, Jun Sato, Tetsuya Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7412861
    Abstract: A device for monitoring an area of coverage on a work tool may comprise a lighting unit, a camera, and an evaluation unit. The lighting unit may be adapted to emit light rays for illuminating the area of coverage. The camera may be adapted to detect two-dimensional images of the area of coverage, and the camera may comprise receiving elements arranged linearly. The evaluation unit may be coupled to the camera to evaluate the output signals of the receiving elements to determine a distance value for each receiving element based on the light rays emitted by the lighting device and reflected back from the area of coverage. The evaluation unit may have at least one switching output coupled to the work tool to activate the work tool such that the work tool is operational only if no object is located in the area of coverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Leuze Lumiflex GmbH & Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lutz Lohmann
  • Patent number: 7249478
    Abstract: A method for processing sheet metal includes processing and forming a sample and a blank on a work while leaving a microjoint part in a blanking process. The method also includes detecting at least one of a plate thickness of the work in an optional position and a spring-back amount of the sample during bending. Information of at least one of the plate thickness and the spring-back amount is transmitted to a controller of a bending machine in a bending process after the blanking process. Bending is performed by calculating a ram control value in bending using data of at least one of the transmitted plate thickness and the spring-back amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Amada Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tokuro Takehara, Tetsuya Anzai
  • Patent number: 7240528
    Abstract: An apparatus for bending orthodontic wires has means for guiding and holding a wire. In order to prevent forces resulting from compressive or stretching strain during the bending process, one of these means does not apply any longitudinal forces onto the wire by design. In another implementation, the apparatus for bending orthodontic wires has a gimbal-mounted gripper for bending the wire. Furthermore, a method is disclosed for applying two bends at the same longitudinal wire location in two different directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Lingualcare, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Weise, Ruedger Rubbert
  • Patent number: 7086327
    Abstract: A press forming method is disclosed, wherein press forming can be effected at high speed while maintaining the horizontal state of a slide plate in press-forming work by a press machine. A press machine is used in which the slide plate is pressed by a plurality of servo-motor drive sources. In trial forming, the slide plate is sufficiently slowly moved to measure the delay of each drive source. According to the magnitude of the delay of each drive source or according to the difference between the trial forming speed and the production forming speed, the respective speeds of the drive sources are corrected, and trial forming is repeated on the basis of the corrected speed to derive conditions that enable press forming at high forming speed suitable for mass production while maintaining the horizontal state of the slide plate to the extent of ensuring sufficient product accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Hoden Seimitsu Kako Kenkyusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Futamura, Keizo Unno
  • Patent number: 7055355
    Abstract: Method and device for bending a portion of an element in a bending machine (12) comprising a bending assembly (14), a supporting plane (18) and an electronic processing unit (32), wherein the bending process is filmed and displayed on a screen (36). The portion (24) is bent with a first movement of the bending assembly (14) to make a first bend of a nominal value. By means of reference indicator elements an angle of deviation is determined and the portion is again bent with a new movement of the bending assembly (14), taking into account the angle of deviation. All movements of the bending assembly (14) are acquired by a position transducer (15) and recorded by the electronic processing unit (32) in order to have a global parameter for obtaining an angle which corresponds to the nominal value, and in order to use the global parameter in subsequent analogous or similar bends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Inventor: Antonio Codatto
  • Patent number: 7040129
    Abstract: An actual plate thickness and actual material constants are measured during punching before bending. The measured information is reflected on the bending, so that the bending is performed efficiently and accurately. Punching is carried out for each blank developed based on a nominal plate thickness and nominal material constants in blanking before the bending of a work W. Then, an actual plate thickness distribution and an actual material constant distribution of the work W are calculated based on various data containing a ram stroke and a pressure detected in the punching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Amada Company, Limited
    Inventors: Junichi Koyama, Hitoshi Omata, Osamu Hayama, Kazunari Imai, Tokuro Takehara, Tetsuya Anzai
  • Patent number: 7036345
    Abstract: A vertical position of a ram is directly detected by a ram position detector. A first speed arithmetic operating portion determines a first ram moving speed on the basis of a change of the detected position. A second speed arithmetic operating portion determines a second ram moving speed on the basis of a rotational number of a servo motor which is determined by a servo motor rotational number detector. A comparing portion compares the first ram speed with the second ram speed, and when a difference is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, a judging portion judges that an abnormality exists so as to immediately stop the servo motor and stop an operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Amada Company, Limited
    Inventors: Masutaka Satou, Kazuhiro Kanno
  • Patent number: 7007530
    Abstract: In bending a workpiece, a position of the workpiece relatively pressed down by a punch is directly detected by a plurality of position detectors provided in a V-groove of a die, and a bending speed calculation section obtains a bending speed from a change in this position. If bending speeds at position of the respective position detectors differ, a uniform speed arithmetic operation section calculates a bending speed to make the bending speeds at the positions of all of the position detectors, and a driving shaft instruction section controls driving shafts to bend the workpiece at the uniform bending speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Amada Company, Limited
    Inventors: Junichi Koyama, Kazunari Imai, Hitoshi Omata, Osamu Hayama, Hidekatsu Ikeda
  • Patent number: 6959573
    Abstract: A bending apparatus reciprocates at least one of an upper table to which a punch is mounted and a lower table to which a corresponding plurality of adjacent divided dies are mounted. At least one bending angle detector is provided between the dies to detect a bending angle of the workpiece. A main body inserts the bending angle detector into a gap between the dies and withdraws the bending angle detector from the gap between the dies. A lift is biased upward by a first elastic body and is configured to be pressed downward by the workpiece at approximately a center of a groove portion of the dies. The lift includes a first engagement member. A rotor support is biased upward by two second elastic bodies having smaller biasing forces than the first elastic body. The rotor support includes second engagement members. Two rotors are provided on opposite sides of the groove portion at an upper portion of the rotor support. The two rotors include workpiece contacts that contact the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Amada Company, Limited
    Inventors: Masateru Matsumoto, Koichi Yanagawa, Ken Hatano, Yutaka Takizawa
  • Patent number: 6826939
    Abstract: A ram descends due to its own weight and pressure of a rod-side cylinder chamber of a hydraulic cylinder which vertically moves the ram is detected by an oil pressure detector. A determination section detects a position at which a punch attached to the ram contacts an upper surface of a workpiece, based upon a change in the detected pressure. When the upper surface of the workpiece is detected, a plate thickness calculation section calculates a plate thickness of the workpiece based on an upper surface position of a die, that is known in advance and stored in a memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Amada Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Kanno
  • Patent number: 6823708
    Abstract: A computer readable recording medium which stores control data to control the action of a sheet metal bending system which is provided with a press brake and a sheet metal support device, where the press brake is provided with a punch and die which bends the sheet metal along the bending line by approaching to and parting from each other, and a back gauge to determine the position of the sheet metal against the punch and die, the sheet metal support apparatus is provided with a support arm which supports the sheet metal and may be rotated freely centered on the rotation axis which is parallel to the bending axis, the control data is a control data to control the bending process which includes a plurality of bending processes to produce sheet metal parts (parts) with a plurality of bending lines by the press brake and sheet metal support device by controlling the approach and parting motion of the punch and die and at least the rotational motion of the support arm, and the control data is related to the sheet
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Amada Company Limited
    Inventor: Takanori Okubo
  • Patent number: 6807835
    Abstract: A system manufactures a product by bending a sheet material includes a three-dimensional stereoscopic diagram creator that creates a three-dimensional stereoscopic diagram, including a desired bending angle and a desired flange width, based on graphic information of a product. A displayer displays a bending angle value in the vicinity of a bending angle, and/or a dimension value in the vicinity of a flange, in the created three-dimensional stereoscopic diagram. A test piece displayer displays a test piece of a material proposed for use in the product and displays the bending angle value(s) in the vicinity of the bending angle(s), and/or the dimension value(s) in the vicinity of the flange(s), of the test piece. A measuring device measures the bending angle value(s) and the dimension value(s) for the test piece bent by the bending machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Amada Company, Limited
    Inventors: Katsuji Sekita, Tadahiko Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 6796155
    Abstract: A plate thickness detector for a bending machine causes a punch to make a relative stroke and bend a workpiece mounted on an upper surface of a die cooperatively by the punch and the die. A displacement gauge is provided in the die, is always urged upward from a V-groove of the die, and measures a distance from the upper surface of the die to a lower surface of the workpiece. A ram position detector detects a relative stroke quantity of the punch to the die. The punch is caused to bend the workpiece from a position away from the die by a reference inter-blade distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Amada Company, Limited
    Inventors: Junichi Koyama, Kazunari Imai, Hitoshi Omata, Osamu Hayama, Hidekatsu Ikeda
  • Patent number: 6751993
    Abstract: A bending method is provided for bending two sides of a workpiece to form flanges. The bending method includes measuring a bent flange to obtain a flange dimension. The bending method also includes setting a back gauge value for processing another flange, based on a measured dimension of the workpiece. The other flange is bent using the set back gauge value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Amada Company, Limited
    Inventors: Katsuji Sekita, Tadahiko Nagasawa
  • Publication number: 20040103706
    Abstract: Method and device for bending a portion of an element in a bending machine (12) comprising a bending assembly (14), a supporting plane (18) and an electronic processing unit (32), wherein the bending process is filmed and displayed on a screen (36). The portion (24) is bent with a first movement of the bending assembly (14) to make a first bend of a nominal value. By means of reference indicator elements an angle of deviation is determined and the portion is again bent with a new movement of the bending assembly (14), taking into account the angle of deviation. All movements of the bending assembly (14) are acquired by a position transducer (15) and recorded by the electronic processing unit (32) in order to have a global parameter for obtaining an angle which corresponds to the nominal value, and in order to use the global parameter in subsequent analogous or similar bends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventor: Antonio Codatto
  • Patent number: 6722181
    Abstract: A method for bending a work of a plate shape by moving a die with the work being butted against a butting member, and an apparatus for executing the method are provided. The bending apparatus is provided with an input unit for inputting data on bending conditions including respective target values of a bending angle and a bending dimension, as well as respective measured values of a bending angle and a bending dimension of the work obtained in trial bending. A control device installed in the apparatus executes an initial computation for computing an operation amount of the die when the data on bending conditions are inputted. Further, the control device executes computation for a correction value for an operation amount of the die and computation for an estimated value of a bending dimension when the respective measured values of the bending angle and the bending dimension obtained in trial bending are inputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Toyokoki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiju Nagakura
  • Patent number: 6708541
    Abstract: An angle detecting head provided with an emitter and a pair of receivers is rocked, and a bent surface of a workpiece bent by a punch and a die of a bending machine is irradiated with a measurement light from the emitter, a reflected light is received by the pair of receivers, and a bending angle of the workpiece is obtained from a peak value of the light received by the respective receivers. The angle detecting head is movable parallel to the die, is movable in a direction close to and away from the workpiece, and is movable in a direction in which the die is raised/lowered. The angle detecting head is positioned in an optimum angle measurement position of the workpiece and the bending angle is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Inventors: Masateru Matsumoto, Kazuyuki Uchida, Kenichi Tsuchiura, Takayuki Aoki
  • Patent number: 6679091
    Abstract: A stretch bending device that can conduct accurate bending without using heavy material. A tension application mechanism 62 comprises first and second drive sources for movably supporting both ends of a guide member 12 with respect to a pair of arm members 28, 30 and moving the guide member 12 along the arm members 28, 30. Between the arm members 28, 30, a work piece 6 is arranged. There are tension sensor 98 for detecting tension applied to the work piece 6 and position sensors for detecting positions of the guide member 12. Torque of the first drive source is controlled based on the tension detected by the tension sensor 98, and the second drive force is controlled based on the positions detected by the position sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Opton
    Inventors: Takayuki Yamada, Teruaki Yogo
  • Patent number: 6675619
    Abstract: The subject invention provides a sheet bending brake assembly for securing a work piece. The sheet bending brake assembly includes a clamping member having a lower leg extending therefrom and a pivoting arm pivotally supported by and extending from the clamping member. The pivoting arm defines a clamping area with the lower leg. A base supports the clamping members and provides support to the assembly while moving the pivoting arm between the open position and the clamped position. A guide mechanism reacts between the clamping member and the pivoting arm for moving the pivoting arm between the open position and the clamped position. The guide mechanism has a guide slot with a detent positioned within the guide slot between the first and the second ends for positioning the pivoting arm in an intermediate position to allow for precisely aligning the work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Tapco International Corporation
    Inventor: Michael C. Clark
  • Patent number: 6662621
    Abstract: A pressing tool apparatus with a clamping pincer and a sensory mechanism that permits a measurement of a displacement which the piston covers with the closure procedure of the clamping pincer. With the first closure of the clamping pincer, without a pressing, there results a nominal displacement value which is realized by a displacement sensor and a ring magnet. Electronics in the housing store a measured nominal value and compares it to subsequent closure procedures with a pressing, accounting for programmable tolerance values. Pressings within a permitted range or outside the range are suitably displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Von Arx AG
    Inventor: René Amherd
  • Patent number: 6662610
    Abstract: A three-dimensional stereoscopic diagram creator creates a three-dimensional stereoscopic diagram including a desired bending angle based on graphic information of a product. A major dimension displayer displays a major dimension, tolerance and the like with respect to the three-dimensional stereoscopic diagram. On the other hand, a test piece displayer displays a test piece of the same material proposed for use as the material used for producing the product. The test piece displayer carries out trial bending on the test piece. A bending angle after a bending load is removed is measured by a bending angle measuring device. A spring back amount setter calculates a spring back amount from a difference in bending angle between before and after the load is removed. A stroke calculator calculates a stroke value relative to the desired bending angle considering the obtained spring back amount. Actual bending is performed on a product piece using the calculated stroke value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Amada Company, Limited
    Inventors: Katsuji Sekita, Tadahiko Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 6651472
    Abstract: A numerical control device for a bending machine includes a keyboard, a memory and a processor. The memory stores one or more groups of data, each containing bending conditions, a bend angle and at least one penetration depth. The memory further stores program instructions for searching whether data input with the keyboard is stored in the memory, in a same group of data, and that sends a signal to the bending machine so that the bending machine peforms bending according to the penetration depth included in the group of data. The processor that executes said program instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Amada Europe
    Inventor: Brahim Chebbi
  • Patent number: 6644082
    Abstract: A support medium is capable of being read by a numerical control system of a bending machine. The support medium stores program instructions for searching, in a memory region storing at least one group of data, each containing bending conditions, a bend angle and at least one penetration depth, whether input data including a desired bend angle and bending conditions are stored in the memory region, in a same group of data. The support medium sends a signal to the bending machine so that the bending machine executes a bending according to the penetration depth included in the same group of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Amada Europe
    Inventor: Brahim Chebbi
  • Patent number: 6644081
    Abstract: A system and method for adjusting the orientation of trim tabs on a helicopter rotor blade includes a gage, a bender and a calibrator plate. The gage is secured to the calibrator plate which holds the gage in an orientation that simulates a rotor blade with trim tabs at zero degrees so that the gage can be zeroed. The gage is then removed and positioned on a rotor blade. Because the gage is supported on the blade by rollers, it is free to roll along the length of the blade and may thereby be positioned and repositioned quickly. Once in position, the bender is applied to the trim tabs adjacent to the gage and tightened using thumb screws. The handle of the bender allows the trim tabs to be adjusted while verifying that the amount of adjustment indicated by the gage dial indicator matches the preselected angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Inventor: Joseph Keith Berry
  • Patent number: 6581427
    Abstract: A method of adjusting the stroke of a press brake having a movable beam (1) supporting a punch (2), a fixed beam (3) supporting a die (4), means of displacing (5, 5′) the movable beam with respect to the fixed beam, said displacement means resting on side frames (6, 6′) immovably attached to the fixed beam, linear encoders (9, 9′) for measuring the displacement of the movable beam with respect to the side frames, at least one sensor (8, 8′) measuring a physical parameter (p) varying with the force exerted by said punch on a metal sheet placed on said die, and an electronic device for controlling (7) the bending movement controlling the speed of said displacement movement between top dead center and bottom dead center (BDC), provided with a calculation means for correcting the value of said bottom dead center depending on the measurement of said displacement and said physical parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Beyeler Raskin S.A.
    Inventor: Gerrit Gerritsen
  • Patent number: 6571589
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bending machine that enables an angle measuring instrument to be compactly built into a mold for accurate processing. The present invention also provides an operation method besed on learning control which achieves accurate bending with this bending machine taking spring back into consideration. A bending machine carries out bending using lineraly extending an upper die 4 and a lower die 2, the upper die 4 having a built-in angle measuring instrument 9. The angle measuring instrument 9 is composed of a corner contacting member 12 with links and an inductive linear position detector 13 for measuring displacement of the corner contacting member 12. In operation for learning, the position of and a load on the upper die 4 and a bend angle are measured during a bending process and a bend angle after spring back is subsequently measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignees: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha, Amiteq Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunitsu Ito, Atsutoshi Goto
  • Publication number: 20030074942
    Abstract: A sheet metal bending machine is provided with a bending unit moved by hydraulic cylinders with sliding pistons. The cylinders are controlled by a closed loop control system comprising temperature measuring means for measuring the cylinder temperature, position detecting means for detecting the piston position and a control unit for varying the rate of hydraulic fluid fed to the cylinders according to the measured cylinder temperature and the detected piston position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Wolfgang Kunze
  • Publication number: 20030070463
    Abstract: A bending machine comprises a bending unit moved by hydraulic actuators controlled by a variable displacement hydraulic pump provided with an electronic closed-loop flow rate, pressure and power control system including an electrically controlled proportional valve. The valve includes a valve spool for the control of the swivel angle of the pump and a proportional solenoid for moving the valve spool to a position corresponding to a desired swivel angle of the pump. The control system includes an inductive position transducer, a pump swivel angle transducer, a pump pressure transducer and a programmed electronic control unit which receives position, swivel angle and pressure signals from said transducers and predefined pressure, power and flow rate commands and supplies a control signal to said proportional solenoid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventor: Wolfgang Kunze
  • Patent number: 6539763
    Abstract: The numeral control device for a bending machine comprises means for inputting, as input data, a desired bend angle and bending conditions or criteria, means for storing groups of data, each containing bending conditions, a bend angle and a penetration depth, and means for searching whether the input data is stored in the memory means, in the same group of data. Moreover, means are provided for transmitting a signal representative of a penetration depth included in the group of data stored in the memory means, or for transmitting a signal for controlling the bending machine according to this penetration depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Amada Europe
    Inventor: Brahim Chebbi
  • Patent number: 6510719
    Abstract: A pressing tool (13) includes a fluid pump (4), a cylinder element (5) arranged connecting with this and a piston which can be slid forward in the cylinder element (5) by pressure fluid of the fluid pump (4) and reset by a return spring (20a). A piston rod (6) is passed out to the cylinder element (5) as an activation part. The pressing tool (13) is moreover outfitted with a position measuring device (12, 12a; 112, 212, 212a) which measures without contact which makes the piston position continuously detectable over a positioning range free of disturbance and with a presence sensor (52). The presence sensor (52) verifies the presence of a jointing clamp (51) and issues an indicator signal in the event that a jointing clamp (51) is missing or improperly fastened and shuts the pressing tool (13) off following a delay period to the extent that no orderly inserted jointing clamp (51) is yet available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Novartec @ AG
    Inventor: Hans-Jörg Goop