Abstract: The invention relates to a bending press (1) and/or a loading device (2) for loading a bending press (1) with bending tools (5, 6), comprising: at least one tool holder (3, 4; 13, 14) with a rail (7) having an inner profile (8) for receiving and displacing a bending tool (5, 6), at least one internal wall (9) of the rail (7) forming a guide structure (10) extending in the longitudinal direction of the rail (7); and at least one transfer device (15) drivable by a drive (21) for displacing a bending tool (5, 6) within the tool holder (3, 4; 13, 14) and/or between the tool holder (13, 14) of the loading device (2) and a tool holder (3, 4) of a bending press (1), wherein at least one portion of the transfer device (15) is guided by the guide structure (10) formed in the rail (7).

Abstract: The invention relates to a bending press (1) and/or a loading device (2) for loading a bending press (1) with bending tools (5, 6), comprising: at least one tool holder (3, 4; 13, 14) with a rail (7) having an inner profile (8) for receiving and displacing a bending tool (5, 6), at least one internal wall (9) of the rail (7) forming a guide structure (10) extending in the longitudinal direction of the rail (7); and at least one transfer device (15) drivable by a drive (21) for displacing a bending tool (5, 6) within the tool holder (3, 4; 13, 14) and/or between the tool holder (13, 14) of the loading device (2) and a tool holder (3, 4) of a bending press (1), wherein at least one portion of the transfer device (15) is guided by the guide structure (10) formed in the rail (7).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for bending a workpiece (1) of sheet metal, whereby a deformation region (6), in particular a strip-shaped region, on the workpiece (1) containing the bent edge to be produced (5) is heated before and/or during the bending process to a deforming temperature below the fusion temperature of the metal to increase deformability locally. In order to reduce undesirable deformation due to shrinkage stress, the workpiece (1) is heated before and/or during and/or after the bending operation in at least one heating zone (11) that is different from the deformation region (6) by means of the application of energy from outside the workpiece (1) starting from an initial temperature to a processing temperature below the fusion temperature of the metal.

Abstract: A method for guiding and distributing high-energy radiation, in particular laser radiation, in the tool base body of a bending die, in particular a V-shaped die, includes a bending recess in the tool base body and a beam exit opening arranged therein for locally heating a workpiece bearing against a contact surface of the bending die by introducing high-energy radiation from a radiation source arranged outside the tool base body into the tool base body through a beam entry opening and high-energy radiation is discharged to the bending recess through the beam exit opening. At least one concentrated high-energy radiation beam is introduced into the tool base body through at least one beam entry opening and is at least partially deflected by at least one beam affecting arrangement in the tool base body, expanded and guided through the radiation exit opening onto the workpiece.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control and regulating device for a drive arrangement of a displaceable press beam of a bending press in particular a press brake, comprising a protective housing having an access orifice for a foot of an operator, and comprising a pedal-type actuating element disposed in the protective housing At least one detection means connected so as to communicate with a control and monitoring system of the bending press is assigned to the actuating element and is provided in the form of a motion profile detection means.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for bending a workpiece (1) of sheet metal, whereby a deformation region (6), in particular a strip-shaped region, on the workpiece (1) containing the bent edge to be produced (5) is heated before and/or during the bending process to a deforming temperature below the fusion temperature of the metal to increase deformability locally. In order to reduce undesirable deformation due to shrinkage stress, the workpiece (1) is heated before and/or during and/or after the bending operation in at least one heating zone (11) that is different from the deformation region (6) by means of the application of energy from outside the workpiece (1) starting from an initial temperature to a processing temperature below the fusion temperature of the metal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for bending a flat workpiece (2), comprising the discharge of high-energy radiation (19) in the form of at least one planar fanned beam (24) from a bending recess (12) of a die arrangement (3) having a bending die (7) onto a workpiece (2) bearing against a contact surface (11) of the bending die (7) for the local heating thereof before and/or during a bending process. The one or more planar fanned beams (24; 24a. 24b, . . . ) are produced by a number of optionally activatable radiation sources (22a, 22b, . . . ) which are arranged within the die arrangement (3) along the bending recess (12) or are caused by the distribution of a concentrated radiation beam (40) that is introduced from a radiation source (39) outside the bending dies (7a, 7b, . . . ) via a number of beam affecting arrangements (23a, 23b, . . . ) within the bending dies (7a, 7b, . . .

Abstract: The invention relates to a bending die (3), particularly a V-shaped die (13), comprising a tool base body (7) with a contact surface (10) for contacting the workpiece (2) to be bent by a bending punch (5), a groove-shaped bending recess (11) in the contact surface (10) and at least one beam exit opening (17) in the bending recess (11) and extending along thereof, which is configured to discharge high-energy radiation (18) onto a workpiece (2) bearing against the contact surface (10) in order to heat the deformation zone of the workpiece (2). An arrangement of diode laser bars (20) is fixed in the interior of the tool base body (7) for producing the radiation (18). Said diode laser bars (20) are arranged at least approximately uniformly along the longitudinal direction (27) of the bending recess (11) behind the beam exit opening (17) in the tool base body (7).

Abstract: The invention describes a switching device which can be variably positioned (45), in particular a foot switch (47), which is connected, preferably wirelessly, to a control device (46) optionally co-operating with a production unit (1), in particular a press brake (2), for transmitting signals and/or data. A positioning system (50) is provided as a means of changing the position when necessary, which comprises at least a detection unit (51) and a drive system (52) in the form of a bogie provided with a drive mechanism and at least one drive member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control and regulating device for a drive arrangement of a displaceable press beam of a bending press in particular a press brake, comprising a protective housing having an access orifice for a foot of an operator, and comprising a pedal-type actuating element disposed in the protective housing At least one detection means connected so as to communicate with a control and monitoring system of the bending press is assigned to the actuating element and is provided in the form of a motion profile detection means.

Abstract: Bending machine, in particular a folding press, including a machine frame, a press table supporting a lower die and connected to the machine frame, a press beam supporting an upper die and adjustable along a guide on the machine frame in the direction of the press table as well as at least one adjusting member for adjusting the press beam in the direction of the press table with two relatively adjustable adjusting elements, wherein a first adjusting element of the adjusting member is drive-connected by a first connecting element to the adjustable press beam. In this case a second adjusting element of the adjusting member is drive-connected by a second connecting element in or below a horizontal reference plane running through a press table bearing surface to the machine frame or the press table.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for guiding and distributing high-energy radiation (18), in particular laser radiation, in the tool base body (7) of a bending die (3), in particular a V-shaped die (13), comprising a bending recess (11) in the tool base body (7) and a beam exit opening (17) arranged therein for locally heating a workpiece (2) bearing against a contact surface (10) of the bending die (3) by introducing high-energy radiation (18) from a radiation source (20) arranged outside the tool base body (7) into the tool base body (7) through a beam entry opening (22) and high-energy radiation (18) is discharged to the bending recess (11) through the beam exit opening (17).

Abstract: The invention relates to a bending die (3), particularly a V-shaped die (13), comprising a tool base body (7) with a contact surface (10) for contacting the workpiece (2) to be bent by a bending punch (5), a groove-shaped bending recess (11) in the contact surface (10) and at least one beam exit opening (17) in the bending recess (11) and extending along thereof, which is configured to discharge high-energy radiation (18) onto a workpiece (2) bearing against the contact surface (10) in order to heat the deformation zone of the workpiece (2). An arrangement of diode laser bars (20) is fixed in the interior of the tool base body (7) for producing the radiation (18). Said diode laser bars (20) are arranged at least approximately uniformly along the longitudinal direction (27) of the bending recess (11) behind the beam exit opening (17) in the tool base body (7).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for bending a flat workpiece (2), comprising the discharge of high-energy radiation (19) in the form of at least one planar fanned beam (24) from a bending recess (12) of a die arrangement (3) having a bending die (7) onto a workpiece (2) bearing against a contact surface (11) of the bending die (7) for the local heating thereof before and/or during a bending process. The one or more planar fanned beams (24; 24a. 24b, . . . ) are produced by a number of optionally activatable radiation sources (22a, 22b, . . . ) which are arranged within the die arrangement (3) along the bending recess (12) or are caused by the distribution of a concentrated radiation beam (40) that is introduced from a radiation source (39) outside the bending dies (7a, 7b, . . . ) via a number of beam affecting arrangements (23a, 23b, . . . ) within the bending dies (7a, 7b, . . .

Abstract: The invention describes a switching device which can be variably positioned (45), in particular a foot switch (47), which is connected, preferably wirelessly, to a control device (46) optionally co-operating with a production unit (1), in particular a press brake (2), for transmitting signals and/or data. A positioning system (50) is provided as a means of changing the position when necessary, which comprises at least a detection unit (51) and a conveyor system (52) in the form of a bogie provided with a drive mechanism and at least one conveyor element.

Abstract: Bending machine, in particular a folding press (1), comprising a machine frame (2), a press table (3) supporting a lower die (5) and connected to the machine frame (2), a press beam (7) supporting an upper die (8) and adjustable along a guide (11) on the machine frame (2) in the direction (12) of the press table (3) as well as at least one adjusting member (13) for adjusting the press beam (7) in the direction (12) of the press table (3) with two relatively adjustable adjusting elements (15, 17), wherein a first adjusting element (15) of the adjusting member (13) is drive-connected by means of a first connecting element (24) to the adjustable press beam (7). In this case a second adjusting element (17) of the adjusting member (13) is drive-connected by means of a second connecting element (25) in or below a horizontal reference plane (27) running through a press table bearing surface (4) to the machine frame (2) or the press table (3).

Abstract: A gripping device for a manipulation system, particularly a robot, for receiving workpieces and feeding them from a readied stack of the workpieces to a manufacturing plant such as a metal sheet folding machine, punching press, welding plant, etc. The device has a gripper head fitted with gripping means such as suction cups, magnets, tongs, etc., and a detection system for detecting characteristics of the workpiece gripped by the gripping means. A pulse emitter excites vibrations in the workpiece and the vibration spectrum of the workpiece is compared to reference vibration data to determine characteristics of the gripped workpiece, such as whether two or more workpieces are stuck together, or whether the workpiece is the correct workpiece.

Abstract: The invention describes a safety system (22) for a production unit (1) for bending a sheet metal part (3), in particular for a bending press (2), with a stationary bench beam (13) and a bending tool (4, 5) for a displaceable press beam (13), and with a light beam transmitter and receiver system (23) monitoring an operating region to prevent trapping of a foreign body. The bending tool (5) disposed in the press beam (13) is provided in the form of a slat pack (34) comprising at least one reference slat (35) and at least one tool slat (33) which can be displaced relative to it, which are provided with recesses (60) traversing them in the direction of a thickness (32). When oriented in alignment, these form a beam passage (65) for a light beam (9), in particular a laser light beam, extending parallel with an end face (8) of the press beam (13). An embodiment of the bending tool is possible in the form of a skeleton tool.

Abstract: A method of producing a workpiece by bending a panel in a bending press, in particular an edge bending press, with measures for compensating deformations of the edge bending press due to load. The measures involve detecting the displacement forces of drive means whilst the panel is being bent at a bending depth of the bending tools that is slightly shorter than a bending depth needed to produce a predefined bending angle. From the detected displacement forces, the bending deformation of the press beams corresponding to them are determined and the displacement force of the drive means is reduced, after which a compensating device is displaced in order to set a complementary camber in support surfaces for the bending tools or tool holders, and the panel is finally bent by displacing the press beam to the bending depth corresponding to the predefined bending angle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a production unit (1), in particular a bending press, and a method of operating the latter in order to shape workpieces of sheet metal between two press beams (15, 16) equipped with bending tools (36, 37) and displaceable relative to one another by means of a drive system (27), and having a control unit (47). The control unit (47) incorporates a detection system and has at least one detection means which is connected so as to communicate with the detection system in order to transmit data and/or signals.