Abstract: A forming operation on a workpiece clamps the workpiece between a first clamping jaw with a first shaping edge, and an adjustable second clamping jaw with a second shaping edge so that a portion projects between the shaping edges and afterwards a bending edge of an adjustable bending bar is guided at a distance past the shaping edges, whereby the portion of the workpiece is angled away in relation to the part of the workpiece that is clamped between the clamping jaws. The bending edge is guided on angling along a straight path of movement of the bending edge, and after the bending edge has passed the shaping edges, the shaping edges are adjusted along an adjustment path which approaches the path of movement of the bending edge.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a bending press (10), wherein the bending press (10) comprises a first platform (1) with a first tool mount (11) and a second platform (2) with a second tool mount (12), wherein one of the platforms (1) is movable relative to the other platform (2) for performing a working movement, a safety device (20) for creating a light barrier (27), in particular laser light barrier, extending between the tool mounts (11, 12) transversely to the working movement of the movable platform (1), which light barrier (27), in a cross-section, forms a light field (7), wherein the safety device (20) has a first mount (21), which carries a light emitter (25) for creating the light barrier (27), and a second mount (22), which carries a light receiver (26) for receiving the light of the light barrier (27), and wherein the first mount (21) is arranged on a first side of the first platform (1) and is adjustable relative to the first platform (1) by a first adjustment drive (23), such

Abstract: A production installation for producing workpieces from sheet metal by forming in a bending operation includes a bending machine and a clamping tool having at least one lower clamping jaw and an upper clamping jaw set including first upper clamping jaws and a second upper clamping jaw. The second upper clamping jaw has a clamping jaw part at each of the two second upper clamping jaw end sections, the clamping jaw parts being movable from a working to a pull-out position. At least one first upper clamping jaw is arranged on both sides of the second upper clamping jaw. The first upper clamping jaws have a first horn at each of the first end regions of the first upper clamping jaws facing away from the second upper clamping jaw. A method adapts a total length of a bending edge of a clamping jaw set of this production installation.

Abstract: The invention relates to method for estimating a shortening length of a sheet metal workpiece which is bent about n bending axes and by n bending angles alpha, comprising the following method steps, wherein the bent sheet metal workpiece comprises n+1 limbs extending along a straight extension line and n curved regions which are produced by bending the sheet metal workpiece and extend between two adjacent limbs.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gripper system (16) for a press brake (2), having a gripping device (11) for manipulating a bending tool (6). The gripping device (11) comprises a first gripping arm (21) and a second gripping arm (22) that is displaceable in the clamping direction (26) relative to the first gripping arm (21), said gripping arms (21) being configured to engage in a gripping groove (17, 18) of a bending tool (6) and to clamp the bending tool (6). The gripping device (11) is arranged on a carriage system (46), said carriage system (46) comprising a horizontal linear guide (47) by means of which the gripping device (11) is displaceable towards the gripping groove (17, 18) or away from the gripping groove (17, 18) in the longitudinal direction (35) of the gripping arms (21, 22).

Abstract: The invention relates to a tool magazine (26) for a bending machine (3), in particular for a press brake, wherein the tool magazine (26) has several storage rails (28), which are arranged in a magazine housing (27) and serve to hold bending tools (4), wherein the storage rails (28) are designed in such a way that several bending tools (4) can fit lined up one behind the other in the longitudinal extension (30) of the storage rails. The storage rails (28) can be pulled out from a front side (29) of the magazine housing (27) in the direction of the longitudinal extension (30) of the storage rails.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bending press (10) for bending a workpiece (19), comprising a first platform (1) with a first tool mount (11) and a second platform (2) with a second tool mount (12), wherein one of the platforms (1) is movable relative to the other platform (2) for performing a working movement, a first safety device (20) for creating a light barrier (27) extending between the tool mounts (11, 12) transversely to the working movement of the movable platform (1), wherein the first safety device (20) has a first mount (21) and a second mount (22), wherein one of the mounts (21) carries a light emitter (25) and the other mount (22) carries a light receiver (26), and wherein the first mount (21) is arranged on a first side of the first platform (1) and is adjustable relative to the first platform (1) by a first adjustment drive (23), a controller (9) that is connected to the first adjustment drive (23), characterized in that the first tool mount (11) is designed in the form of a guide rail, which ha

Abstract: The invention relates to a tool storage system (32) as well as to a production facility (1) for free-form bending of workpieces (2) made from a metal sheet, by means of a bending press (3), comprising a tool storage unit (30), a tool manipulation unit (31), and a provisioning unit (55) having provisioning rails (56, 57). The tool storage unit (30) has an upper and lower storage rail (34, 35), which are disposed spaced apart from one another at a vertical distance, as well as locally fixed in place relative to one another. The tool manipulation unit (31) has tool manipulation devices (36, 37), wherein each of the same comprises a working rail (38, 42), an auxiliary rail (39, 43), a drawing-in device (40, 44), as well as a pushing-out device (41, 45). Each of the tool manipulation devices (36, 37) can be displaced laterally next to the storage rails (34, 35), along a longitudinal guide arrangement (46, 47).

Abstract: The invention relates to a gripping device (1) and a method for the monitored movement of objects (2), preferably sheet metals, comprising a system control (3) configured for processing object data (31) and controlling a gripping module (4), wherein the gripping module (4) has at least two gripping jaws (5) formed to cooperate with one another, which form an intermediate receiving space (6) for receiving at least parts of an object (2) to be monitored and transported, and the gripping jaws (5) are formed such that, by applying a pre-definable clamping force (7), at least a friction-type connection between the gripping jaws (5) and at least parts of the object (2) is made possible, whereby the object (2) is movable, and at least one sensor element (8) for collecting object data (31) of the object (2) to be moved and monitored, wherein the at least one sensor element (8) is arranged on at least one gripping jaw (5) with its sensor region (9) facing the receiving space (6), and is formed such that it detects, by

Abstract: A lower tool for a bending machine, in particular die bending machine, includes a longitudinally extended base body, which has, on its bottom side, a tool shank for being received in a guide slot of a tool holder and optionally tool shoulders in the transverse direction, and at least one friction reduction device on the bottom side of the base body for reducing a frictional force between the bottom side and the tool holder in the event of a displacement of the lower tool in the longitudinal direction, wherein the at least one friction reduction device is configured such that a weight force of the lower tool acting on the tool holder, while applying a prestressing force in the direction of the weight force, causes a resulting normal force of the lower tool onto the tool holder that is lower relative to the weight force.

Abstract: A tool-changing unit for a production plant for forming sheet metal using a bending operation. The tool-changing unit includes a tool-holding device having a carrier body and a number “n” of tool-holding modules arranged directly next to one another and held on the carrier body. Each one of the tool-holding modules includes a first coupler and a first actuating device cooperating therewith as a component of a coupling device, wherein the first coupler can be brought into coupling engagement and out of coupling engagement with an individual clamping jaw of a clamping jaw set. Moreover, a production plant has the tool-changing unit and the clamping jaw a method changes tools.

Abstract: A bending angle measuring device has an illumination device with at least one light source and an optical detector with a light-detecting surface. On the bending angle measuring device is arranged at least one axisymmetric body with a reflecting surface. A central axis of the axisymmetric body is arranged such that it is aligned parallel to the bending edge. A first light beam transmitted by the illumination device is reflected from the sheet metal part and as a second light beam is directed onto the axisymmetric body. The second light beam is reflected on the axisymmetric body, and as a third light beam is directed onto the optical detector, in particular onto its light-detecting surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bending tool (1) comprising a tool body (2) having an upper (3) and an opposite lower end region (4), wherein an attachment extension (5) is configured in the upper end region (3), and a working tip (6) is configured in the lower end region (4). A tool identification marker (11) is disposed in the tool body (2), and a communication interface (9) is disposed in the attachment extension (5) on at least one side surface (8) and not projecting beyond it, which interface is connected with the tool identification marker (11) by way of a connection line (10). An electronics unit (12) is disposed in the tool body (2). A voltage supply contact (14) that is electrically insulated relative to the tool body (2) is is disposed on the attachment extension (5), which contact is connected with a voltage supply module (15) of the electronics unit (12).

Abstract: The invention relates to a tool storage system (32) as well as to a production facility (1) for free-form bending of workpieces (2) made from a metal sheet, by means of a bending press (3), comprising a tool storage unit (30), a tool manipulation unit (31), and a provisioning unit (55) having provisioning rails (56, 57). The tool storage unit (30) has an upper and lower storage rail (34, 35), which are disposed spaced apart from one another at a vertical distance, as well as locally fixed in place relative to one another. The tool manipulation unit (31) has tool manipulation devices (36, 37), wherein each of the same comprises a working rail (38, 42), an auxiliary rail (39, 43), a drawing-in device (40, 44), as well as a pushing-out device (41, 45). Each of the tool manipulation devices (36, 37) can be displaced laterally next to the storage rails (34, 35), along a longitudinal guide arrangement (46, 47).

Abstract: The invention relates to a bending machine (1) for metal sheets (3). The bending machine (1) comprises a machine frame (4) and a support device (15) which is designed to hold the metal sheet (3) to be bent, a support surface (16) of the support device (15) being arranged in a horizontal plane with the support surface (7) of a clamping base (5). The support device (15) has at least a first support module (17) and a second support module (18) having a first support surface (19) and a second support surface (20). At least one of the support modules (17, 18) is horizontally displaceable in the longitudinal direction (21) of the bending machine (1) and as a result a first gap (22) extending at right angles to the blank-holder edge (12) can be set between the two support modules (17, 18).

Abstract: A production installation for producing workpieces from sheet metal by reshaping includes a bending machine, a support table defining a support plane, and a manipulation device having a support arrangement and a holding arrangement. The holding arrangement has interacting upper and lower holding units. The support arrangement has a separate upper support unit and a separate lower support unit, wherein the upper holding unit is arranged on the upper support unit, and the lower holding unit is arranged on the lower support unit. In an open insertion position of the manipulation device for the sheet metal to be accommodated therein, and in a loading region in front of the bending machine, the upper support unit, together with the upper holding unit, is arranged entirely above the support plane, and the lower support unit, together with the lower holding unit, is arranged entirely below the support plane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for bending of a workpiece (2) along a straight bending line (27), by means of a first bending tool (5) and a second bending tool (6) of a press brake (3), wherein the region between the two bending tools (5, 6) is monitored for the presence of obstacles by means of a safety system (30), by a control apparatus (24), during the approach movement between the first bending tool (5) and the second bending tool (6). Subsequently, the position of the bending line (27) of the stress-relieved and pre-bent workpiece (2) is determined in relation to a center plane (40) of the first (5) and/or of the second bending tool (6), by means of the safety system (30). On the basis of a control signal, a correction of the position of the workpiece (2) is is carried out, until the position deviation (42) of the bending line (27) lies within a permissible maximal deviation from the center plane (40). Subsequently, the workpiece (2) is bent to its final angle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bending press (1) and/or feeding device (2) for feeding a bending press (1) with bending tools (5, 6), comprising: at least one tool holder (3, 4; 13, 14) with a rail (7) comprising an inner profile (8) for receiving and displacing a bending tool (5, 6); and at least one transfer device (15) which can be driven by a drive (21) for displacing a bending tool (5, 6) inside the tool holder (3, 4; 13, 14) and/or between the tool holder (13, 14) of the feeding device (2) and a tool holder (3, 4) of a bending press (1), and the transfer device (15) comprises a releasable coupling (18) for connecting a bending tool (5, 6), said transfer device (15) being guided in the rail (7) of the tool holder (3, 4; 13, 14) and the active area of the coupling (18) is arranged at least partially inside the rail (7).

Abstract: The invention relates to a production installation (1) for bending sheet metal comprising a bending press (3) with press beams (13, 16), a bending tool (4), a tool manipulation unit (30) for the bending tool (4), and a protective unit (29) with a protective element (32) and an adjusting device (33, 44). The protective element (32) of the protective unit (29) can be moved from a protective position which covers the bending tool (4) into a release position which releases the bending tool (4). The adjusting device (33) comprises at least two brackets (37) and at least two holding arms (38), the protective element (32) being mounted on the brackets (37) in an articulated manner by means of the holding arms (38). The adjusting device (44) can also comprise at least two linear guide arrangements (45) each having a plurality of guide rails (46, 47, 48), by means of which the protective element (32) can be displaced between the two positions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bending tool storage device (1) for storing bending tools (2), comprising at least one storage unit (3), which comprises an outer tool storage (4) which is ring-shaped or partial-ring-shaped and has a plurality of guide rails (14) for holding and guiding bending tools (2), characterized in that the storage unit (3) comprises at least one inner tool storage (5, 6) which is arranged inside the outer tool storage (4) and has a plurality of guide rails (15, 16) for holding and guiding bending tools (2), and in that the outer tool storage (4) and the inner tool storage (5, 6) are rotatable relative to one another, wherein, in different positions of relative rotation between outer tool storage (4) and inner tool storage (5), at least one guide rail (14) of the outer tool storage (4) is in each case in aligned orientation with another guide rail (15, 16) of the inner tool storage (5, 6).