Patents Assigned to WAFIOS Aktiengesellschaft
  • Patent number: 11697146
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bending device (2) for bending a rod-like or tubular workpiece (4), comprising a bending machine (6), which has a bending head (8), which is designed for bending the workpiece (4) in a forming process, and a control means (24), which controls the operation of the bending machine (6), a robot (10), which comprises a multi-joint arm (11) which can be adjusted by motors, having a gripper end (12), which is designed for gripping and holding the workpiece (4), and a control unit (22), which is designed to control the operation of the robot (10), wherein the control means (24) is designed to control the bending machine (6) and the robot (10) during the bending process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: WAFIOS Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Uwe-Peter Weigmann, Thomas Walker
  • Patent number: 11484928
    Abstract: A bending machine for elongated workpieces, comprising a bending tool with a bending head having a bending disc with a bending groove and two slide rails, each having a molding groove and which can be placed laterally against opposing sides of the workpiece. Each slide rail is secured to a support part and laterally supports the workpiece from where the workpiece is fed into the bending groove to a point in front of the bending groove when the slide rail is resting against the workpiece. Each support part is adjustable between a starting position, in which the slide rail does not rest against the workpiece, and a final position, in which the slide rail contacts the workpiece. Upon contacting the workpiece, the other slide rail assumes its starting position. The support parts are attached to a two-arm lever, and a slide piece rests against the workpiece in each lever position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: WAFIOS Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Juergen Wolf
  • Patent number: 11179760
    Abstract: A method produces a bent part from an elongate workpiece, in particular from a wire or a tube from round, flat, or profiled material, by a bending machine, the workpiece is fed to a bending unit of the bending machine, wherein the bending unit has a bending head which by a Z-drive is displaceable in a manner parallel with a bending head axis and has a bending tool which by a bending drive is rotatable about a bending axis. A fed portion of the workpiece by operating movements of the bending head is formed to a two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally bent part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: WAFIOS Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jörg Möck, Frank Weiblen, Harry Schweikardt, Ralf Schneider
  • Publication number: 20210162484
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bending device (2) for bending a rod-like or tubular workpiece (4), comprising a bending machine (6), which has a bending head (8), which is designed for bending the workpiece (4) in a forming process, and a control means (24), which controls the operation of the bending machine (6), a robot (10), which comprises a multi-joint arm (11) which can be adjusted by motors, having a gripper end (12), which is designed for gripping and holding the workpiece (4), and a control unit (22), which is designed to control the operation of the robot (10), wherein the control means (24) is designed to control the bending machine (6) and the robot (10) during the bending process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: WAFIOS Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Uwe-Peter Weigmann, Thomas WALKER
  • Patent number: 9586249
    Abstract: An apparatus for feeding wire to wire-processing machines, in which the wire is drawn off from a pay-off reel holding a wire coil and rotatable about a spindle and fed to a wire feeder upstream of the wire-processing machine, wherein at least one wire-deflecting device, via which the wire drawn off from the pay-off reel is guided and released towards the wire feeder, is connected downstream of the pay-off reel in the wire draw-off direction, and wherein a wire-storage device is provided upstream of the wire feeder, this apparatus presents a guide path, forming a closed circuit, on which the wire runs and the diameter of which can be altered between a smaller value corresponding to an inner radial position of the guide path and a larger value corresponding to an outer radial position of the guide path, wherein the guide path is spring-pretensioned towards the outer radial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Wafios Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jürgen Wolf, Uwe-Peter Weigmann, Ralph Steinmaier, Stefan Jetter
  • Patent number: 9468963
    Abstract: In a bending head for bending rod-shaped and tubular workpieces, with a retainer that can be rotated about a rotational axis and that carries a bending mandrel at one axial end, and with at least two further tools, which each comprise a retaining body with, at its axial end facing the bending mandrel, a bending pin and which can each be rotated—in each case independently of the other tools—the retaining bodies of the tools are arranged concentrically to the retainer of the bending mandrel and pivotable about its rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: WAFIOS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Stefan Fries, Jörg Möck, Frank Weiblen, Carina Baier
  • Patent number: 9067255
    Abstract: A bending device for rod-shaped workpieces having a bending head with a mandrel rotatable about a rotation axis, a cutting device for cutting the respective workpiece in a cutting plane, and a feed and straightening device for feeding the workpieces to the bending head, the cutting device capable of being moved along a travel path in the feed direction of the workpieces, with the bending head capable of being shifted between an operating position in which it is moved towards the workpiece and an inactive end position remote therefrom, the bending head, in order to assume its operating position, can be moved into the travel path of the cutting device, whereas, when assuming its inactive end position, it is positioned outside the travel path of the cutting device, and, when the bending head is situated in its inactive end position, the cutting device can be moved downstream on its travel path at least partly over the area of the operating position of the bending head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Wafios Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Fries, Joerg Moeck, Frank Weiblen, Harry Schweikardt
  • Patent number: 8893751
    Abstract: A device for producing a loop at the end of a coil spring has a gripping unit with gripper jaws for retaining the spring in a processing position. The gripping unit is movable to and from the processing position and at least one section of an end turn of the spring protrudes over the gripper jaws. A first slewing gear unit has an output shaft and a coupling section for detachable coupling of a tool for the forming of a loop on the spring through upward bending of the end turn section protruding over the gripper jaws. A counter block attached laterally to the travel direction of the gripping unit is movable over the section of the end turn of the spring protruding over the gripper jaws and has a bending edge as a bending form for producing a loop with the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Wafios Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Oliver Kuhnert, Andreas Schur
  • Publication number: 20140318334
    Abstract: A wire processing machine having a cutting system, including a knife holder which carries a knife cooperating during a cut with a stationary counter-blade tool and is connected for performing a reciprocating motion by connection to an eccentric pin or a cam disk of a crankshaft driven by an electric motor, the knife holder sliding in a guide during its reciprocating movement, the guide arranged in a stationary manner or pivoting freely about an axis parallel to the rotational axis of the crankshaft in the case of a rigid connection, the crankshaft being driven directly by an asynchronous motor to which a gyrating mass is connected whose kinetic energy is released as a cutting force upon impingement of the knife on the wire, with the asynchronous motor performing precisely one rotation per cutting cycle and being accelerated up to the start of the cut and braked after the cut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: WAFIOS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Stefan HOLDER, Manfred SCHUKER, Markus TROST
  • Publication number: 20140000335
    Abstract: In a bending head for bending rod-shaped and tubular workpieces, with a retainer that can be rotated about a rotational axis and that carries a bending mandrel at one axial end, and with at least two further tools, which each comprise a retaining body with, at its axial end facing the bending mandrel, a bending pin and which can each be rotated—in each case independently of the other tools—the retaining bodies of the tools are arranged concentrically to the retainer of the bending mandrel and pivotable about its rotational axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: WAFIOS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Stefan Fries, Jörg Möck, Frank Weiblen, Carina Baier
  • Patent number: 8561449
    Abstract: In a bending apparatus for rod-shaped workpieces, comprising a machine frame to which a bending head with bending tools is attached, which bending head is movable relative to the frame, further a feed device upstream of the bending head for feeding the workpieces to the same, and a cutting device which can be displaced in the direction of feed of the workpieces and can be applied between bending head and feed device to the respective workpiece for cutting the same, the feed device can also be displaced in the direction of feed of the workpiece in addition to the cutting device, which occurs independent of the displacement of the cutting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: WAFIOS Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gustav Veit, Frank Wieblen
  • Publication number: 20130270385
    Abstract: An apparatus for feeding wire to wire-processing machines, in which the wire is drawn off from a pay-off reel holding a wire coil and rotatable about a spindle and fed to a wire feeder upstream of the wire-processing machine, wherein at least one wire-deflecting device, via which the wire drawn off from the pay-off reel is guided and released towards the wire feeder, is connected downstream of the pay-off reel in the wire draw-off direction, and wherein a wire-storage device is provided upstream of the wire feeder, this apparatus presents a guide path, forming a closed circuit, on which the wire runs and the diameter of which can be altered between a smaller value corresponding to an inner radial position of the guide path and a larger value corresponding to an outer radial position of the guide path, wherein the guide path is spring-pretensioned towards the outer radial position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: WAFIOS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Jürgen Wolf, Uwe-Peter Weigmann, Ralph Steinmaier, Stefan Jetter
  • Patent number: 8522632
    Abstract: A linear guide comprising at least two stationarily supported guide bars, on which a guide block is mounted and which is longitudinally displaceable relative to the guide bars. The guide block is provided with a driving unit to generate a relative movement with respect to the guide bars, the driving unit comprising a pinion which meshes with the teeth of a toothed rack extending in parallel with the guide bars. The toothed rack is mounted only at its front and rear ends and is suspended in-between. A guiding element assigned to the pinion is mounted to the guide block so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the toothed rack on which it is supported in a form-locking manner. The guiding element engages over the toothed rack at the region opposite the mesh between the pinion and the teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: WAFIOS Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter Hammerer
  • Patent number: 8443644
    Abstract: A rotary-draw bending die with eccentric clamping for bending elongate workpieces such as pipes, wires, profile strands, etc. The die having a twistable bending mandrel, and an associated clamp die. The clamp die can be moved relative to the bending mandrel and brought from an opened position remote from the bending mandrel. A workpiece to be bent can be inserted between the bending mandrel and clamp die to a clamping position on the bending mandrel or vice-versa and is freely twistable about a swivel axis which is offset eccentrically in relation to the rotational axis of the bending mandrel. The swivel axis is disposed on a rotary plate which is rotatable relative to the bending mandrel. The clamp die is freely twistable about the swivel axis and can be moved between its clamping position and its opened position by twisting the rotary plate relative to the bending mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Wafios Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Juergen Wolf
  • Patent number: 8382024
    Abstract: With a device for controlling the drive of a reel, with a wire supply in the form of a coil of said wire supply, from which the wire, through interposition of a tensioning device, which is spring-pretensioned in one deflection direction and effective up to a maximum deflection, for approximated stabilization of the wire tension of a feed installation of the wire infeed of a downstream positioned wire processing machine, the velocity curve of the feed rate of the wire infeed in accordance with a preset velocity-time profile is controlled by a control unit of the wire processing machine, and whereby the curve of the rotation speed of the reel in accordance with a preset rotation speed-time profile is controlled by the drive control of the reel, whereby the drive control of the reel sets the rotation speed-time profile of the reel, with regard to the velocity-time profile of the feed rate, forward by a preset time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Wafios Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Fries, Werner Steinhilber, Helmut Lengerer
  • Patent number: 8359896
    Abstract: A support jaw arrangement for sliding lateral support of rod-shaped and tubular workpieces prior to their entrance into a forming groove of a bending head of a bending machine. The support jaw arrangement includes two support jaws, one on each side of the workpiece. Each support jaw is fastened on a holder to a support bracket which, guided in a longitudinally displaceable manner on a guide block, is displaceable by a drive device from an initial position retracted against the direction of transport of the workpiece parallel to the same, to an end position extended in the direction of transport of the workpiece. One support jaw supports the workpiece in a laterally sliding manner in a region from its tangential entrance into the forming groove, up to a point at a predetermined distance in front of the same while the other support jaw assumes a retracted initial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: WAFIOS Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jürgen Wolf
  • Publication number: 20130008223
    Abstract: A bending device for rod-shaped workpieces having a bending head with a mandrel rotatable about a rotation axis, a cutting device for cutting the respective workpiece in a cutting plane, and a feed and straightening device for feeding the workpieces to the bending head, the cutting device capable of being moved along a travel path in the feed direction of the workpieces, with the bending head capable of being shifted between an operating position in which it is moved towards the workpiece and an inactive end position remote therefrom, the bending head, in order to assume its operating position, can be moved into the travel path of the cutting device, whereas, when assuming its inactive end position, it is positioned outside the travel path of the cutting device, and, when the bending head is situated in its inactive end position, the cutting device can be moved downstream on its travel path at least partly over the area of the operating position of the bending head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: WAFIOS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Stefan FRIES, Joerg MOECK, Frank WEIBLEN, Harry SCHWEIKARDT
  • Patent number: 8333094
    Abstract: In an arrangement for bending tubular workpieces, in which a workpiece is supplied to a bending head for bending and is supported from the inside during the bending process in the bending region by means of a mandrel introduced into the workpiece, with the mandrel comprising a mandrel element and a traveler, sitting movably in the workpiece and the traveler being longitudinally displaceable in the workpiece by means of a feed device (14), the traveler is produced from a magnetizable material and the feed device comprises a magnetic device which is applied to a position corresponding to the position of the traveler outside of the workpiece, with a positive magnetic engagement being formed between the magnetic device and the traveler, with the traveler being displaceable in the workpiece via the magnetic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Wafios Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jürgen Wolf
  • Patent number: 8281636
    Abstract: In a heading device for elongate workpieces having a hydraulic chucking unit and an shaping ram, which is movable axially from a retracted idle position against the workpiece, the chucking unit comprises a housing having a sliding body which is hydraulically displaceable in the axial direction of the workpiece from a starting position into a clamping position (and vice versa), in which at least two chucking segments which are situated uniformly around the workpiece are inserted, which, on their side facing toward the shaping ram, press against a locking plate which is inserted into the housing and can be fixed therein, are movable radially against the workpiece by a displacement of the sliding body in its clamping position, and each receive at least one clamping jaw, which can be pressed by the chucking segment holding it radially against the workpiece for its clamping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Wafios Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jörg Möck, Dirk Taigel
  • Patent number: 8166786
    Abstract: A wire-forming machine, comprising a machine frame, a wire feeder and a wire guide for transporting wire to a working area of the machine where the wire is processed by one or more tools. The tools are affixed on a tool plate on the machine frame and around a recess formed in the plate. A wire is fed through the recess to the working area of the machine. The tool plate is fitted on a second plate and is displaceable along a first direction (x) relative to the second plate, while the second plate is displaceable along a second direction (y) relative to the machine plate. Both directions (x, y) have an inclination of 45° each to the vertical normal axis of the wire-forming machine and are perpendicular to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: WAFIOS Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Norbert Speck