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.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a measuring device for the bend angle of a metal sheet or plate in a press brake of the type having a reciprocable punch with a sharp bending edge, and a die having two bending edges on either side of a substantially V-shaped groove or channel, the measuring device comprising a rotatory measuring element, the cross-section of which has a circular peripheral part centered around the axis of rotation of the measuring element, and a linear peripheral part which is shorter than the diameter of the circular peripheral part.

Abstract: A pair of female die parts are mounted on a table of a lower frame of a folding press for forming a folding groove. One of the female die parts is slidably adjustable on the table with respect to the other female die part by an adjusting device including pairs of first and second tapered shims. The first and second shims of each pair are slidably arranged with respect to each other. The first shims are coupled with the adjustable female die part and the second shims of each pair are coupled with an actuating member connected to a driving device for adjusting the position of the second shims with respect to the first shims.

Abstract: A machine comprises on the one hand a mechanical working device, for working sheet material by pressing or stamping, and on the other hand a laser working device. The mechanical working device comprises a gantry hydraulic press comprising a frame, a table, an hydraulic press ram and a slide member. Several tools are stored in a storage device from which they are brought, on rails, up to the axis of the press by means of a jack. The laser working device comprises a resonator producing a laser beam which is conducted up to the axis of the press through a tube and by a reflecting mirror located on the axis of the slide member. When the laser cutting head is not in service it is retracted within one of the columns of the frame of the press, a jack producing the displacement of the cutting head. This equipment enables the carrying out, on a common axis of working, of either mechanical punching, cutting, folding, cumbering and pressing operations, or working by means of the laser.

Abstract: In a machine for cutting sheet material by means of a laser beam, the sheet material is placed on a support constituted by a container which moves on a table of the machine while rolling on support balls provided on the table. Thus, the work sheet is not directly in contact with the table, which enables the cutting operation to continue without it being necessary to remove the cut-out members from the sheet as the cutting takes place, as would be the case if the sheet were to rest directly on the table, in which case the cut-out members would risk catching on the edge of an opening provided in the table in line with the axis of the laser beam.

Abstract: A machine for cutting sheet material by means of a laser beam comprises a table with an opening through which the laser beam passes and, situated under the table below the opening therein which is itself coaxial with the axis of the laser beam, a vessel containing a conical cap to deflect the rays of the laser beam with the object of dispersing the energy of the beam. This vessel contains an inclined grid which receives the work members cut out from the sheet, which members collect on the grid and can be periodically removed therefrom through an opening provided in the front wall of the vessel. A conduit for the evacuation of the residual cutting gas opens vertically below the cap. The waste (scoria, calamine) as well as the coolant or lubrication liquid passes through the grid and accumulates at the bottom of the lower part of the vessel. This liquid is evacuated through a pipe.

Abstract: A protection device is provided for a machine which works sheet shaped material to stop the displacement of the machine when the protection device encounters an obstacle. The machine includes clamps which are displaced by the machine and which hold the material. The protection device includes two blades arranged parallel to each other and disposed on the machine in a loop shape surrounding each clamp. The two blades form a pair of normally open contacts of which at least the outer blade is flexible and resiliently deformable to allow the blades to be brought into contact with each other and close the contacts when the outer blade encounters the obstacle. A stop device is coupled to the normally open contacts to stop the displacement of the machine when the contacts are closed.

Abstract: The die of a punching tool has a body of relatively soft and elastically deformable material with a through hole in extension of a through hole of the die but of smaller section, corresponding to that of a punch which passes through the die with a clearance, so that as the punch is withdrawn waste pieces are retained in the body by elastic deformation.