Fluid Pressure Actuated (i.e., Hydraulically Or Pneumatically Actuated) Patents (Class 72/389.6)
  • Patent number: 11110555
    Abstract: A pressing structure includes a support frame and a pressing element. The pressing element is mounted to a bottom surface of the base plate. The pressing element includes a pedestal and a cushion element. The pedestal has a base board. A bottom surface of the base board protrudes downward to form a pressing block. A bottom surface of the pressing block is recessed upward and gradually arched outward from top to bottom to form a first pressing face. The rocker component has a base portion. The first pressing face is in contact with the base portion. The cushion element is mounted on the pedestal, so that the rocker component is mounted on the electronic component by the pressing structure, the rocker component and the electronic component are without affording the excessive pressure force to cause a damage and a deformation of the electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsung Shih Lee, Chi Ming Tseng, Chia Fa Cheng
  • Patent number: 8950228
    Abstract: A bending press system is disclosed. The bending press system may include: at least one guide post; a slide plate mounted at a slider so as to be slidable upwardly or downwardly along the guide post; a bending die including a lower die having an upper surface and an upper die having a lower surface corresponding to the upper surface of the lower die and mounted on a lower surface of the slide plate, and adapted to bend an object supplied between the lower die and the upper die to have a predetermined curvature; and a pair of clamping means mounted respectively at both sides of the bending die corresponding to the bending die and adapted to clamp both end portions of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Sungwoo Hitech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mun Yong Lee, Sang Jin Ha
  • Publication number: 20140366600
    Abstract: A curvature retaining device (1) includes two support points (25a) that can abut against one surface of a plate-shaped workpiece W, one or more pressing points (40a) that can abut against a position of the other surface of the plate-shaped workpiece (W) between the support points (25a), and forward/backward drive means (support unit (23) and pressing unit (33)) for moving at least either the support points (25a) or the pressing points (40a) forward to and backward from the other. Preferably, the two support points (25a) abut against the one surface of the plate-shaped workpiece (W) at a first distance (Ls), the two pressing points (40a) abut against the other surface of the plate-shaped workpiece (W) at second distance (Lp) shorter than the first distance (Ls), and a middle point of the first distance (Ls) and a middle point of the second distance (Lp) match with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Kozaki, Noriaki Fukami
  • 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: 8511131
    Abstract: A cable bending tool comprises a drive housing including a powered drive element. A jaw assembly comprises first and second jaws hingedly connected to one another. The drive element is selectively operated to cause the first and second jaws to move between a neutral and an actuated position. A bending shoe is secured to a distal end of the first jaw. An arm with opposite rollers is secured to a distal end of the second jaw and extends transversely to a path of movement of the jaws. The rollers support a cable with the bending shoe on an opposite side of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Huskie Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph S. Latoria
  • Patent number: 7980111
    Abstract: It is difficult to bend materials for forming beyond 180° in terms of bend angle due to the entrant nature of prior press forming arrangements including a press tool with a press recess of a static nature. By providing a press recess which is formed from actuators allowed to dynamically shift about a deflection member it is possible as a press tool engages and forces a material to be formed into the press recess to envelope the press tool and therefore achieve greater than 180° bending angles. The actuators are formed in a stack with alternate left right presentation of shaped receiving apertures which include an actuator surface 34 engaged by the material to be formed in order to cause the necessary deflections during the pressing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey C. Bishop
  • 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: 7802456
    Abstract: A bending angle detecting device for a workpiece used in a bending machine that bends the workpiece in cooperation of upper and lower tools. The bending angle detecting device has a detector which includes a casing and which can detect a bending angle of the workpiece with the casing fixed in contact with a contact portion of the lower tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Amada Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hidekatsu Ikeda, Ken Hatano
  • Patent number: 7694544
    Abstract: A pressing device for forming steel sheet blanks into clips, which comprise curved planking elements and rectilinear stringer elements for connecting a fuselage cell skin to a stringer and to an annular rib in an aircraft fuselage, comprises at least one curved upper tool, at least one curved lower tool, at least one rectilinear upper tool, and at least one rectilinear lower tool. A steel sheet blank is receivable and formable between the at least one curved upper and lower tools and the at least one rectilinear upper and lower tools. The at least one curved upper and lower tool each comprises an upper and lower convexity surface designed to essentially correspond to each other in order to form the curved planking element in a single stroke surface model forming process by simultaneously bending and stamping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Krumpen, Frank Spehling
  • Patent number: 7634935
    Abstract: The rapid coupling and uncoupling device consists essentially of a plunger element (12) capable of being inserted into the clamp (4) or into the top beam/intermediary (1) of the same press brake, or into the tool connection (2), having a cursor (14) with a terminal part of a tapered form pressed by a spring to engage within a groove (16) present in the tool connection or in the clamp or in the top beam/intermediary, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Rolleri S.p.A.
    Inventor: Domenico Mazzocchi
  • 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: 20080257002
    Abstract: The present invention is a novel machine for repairing damaged wheel rims whereby pressure is applied to a damaged rim from a plurality of pressure applicators, and whereby all of the pressure applicators may be used without impairing the sightline of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventor: Brian Len
  • Publication number: 20080236234
    Abstract: The invention is a rotary draw bending machine and process for bending materials such as tubes or pipes into precise bends. A spindle holds a bending die, and a radial arm holds a counter-die. The spindle and arm are simultaneously rotated in opposite directions by a dual hydraulic drive controlled by an electro-hydraulic control system with foot pedal controls. The bend angle is preset by a protractor-like dial and limit switch mechanism. The radial arm has a slide track to align the counter-die with the bending die. The ratchet mechanism has teeth to allow incremental advancement of the counter-die when aligning it with its bending die to accurately set the gap between the dies. The machine is used with a wide variety of dies to bend a wide variety of workpiece diameters. The ratchet mechanism preferably includes a fine tuning device to provide an infinite range of alignment positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Christopher J. Rusch
  • 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: 7401491
    Abstract: A tool system for brake forming having a punch or a die and at least one insert. In one embodiment, two inserts are removably attached to a die. The die has a defined shape running along a longitudinal axis. Each insert has a protrusion with a particular cross-sectional shape running along the same longitudinal axis. The die has two cavities, each cavity having a cross-sectional shape matching the cross-sectional shape of the protrusion of one of the inserts. In another embodiment, the die has two protrusions and each insert has a cavity for receipt of one of the protrusions of the die. When one of the protrusions is inserted into one of the cavities, the insert is removably fixed to the die. At least one surface of each insert corresponds to and combines with the defined shape of the die, forming a bending surface against which a sheet of metal is formed. After press braking, the sheet of metal is substantially conformed to the defined shape of the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Inventor: David Leland
  • Patent number: 7047789
    Abstract: An improved pipe bending apparatus comprising a plurality of belts supporting the minor radius of the bend. The belts cannot support stresses sufficient to allow concentrated stress to cause the pipe walls to collapse. The belts are affixed to a framework that forces the belts into the sides of the pipe, thereby providing support to maintain ovality of the pipe cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Inventor: Ronald E. Theener
  • 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: 6959581
    Abstract: In a press brake relatively moving an upper table (5U) or a lower table (5L) upward and downward by a plurality of hydraulic cylinders (17L and 17R) so as to perform a bending work, the respective hydraulic cylinders (17L, 17R) are driven by individually controlling a pair of left and right two-way. fluid pumps and hydraulic devices (21L, 21R) provided in correspondence to the respective hydraulic cylinders (17L, 17R) The two-way fluid pumps and the respective hydraulic devices (21L, 21R) are mounted to a base plate (23) mounted to cylinder heads (18L, 18R) of the respective hydraulic cylinders (17L, 17R), and an oil tank (27) is provided in an upper side of the hydraulic devices (21L, 21R).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Amada Company, Limited
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Kanno
  • 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: 6941784
    Abstract: A bending method includes determining a provisional bending stroke value that resulted in a predetermined angle during test bending. The bending method also includes calculating a stroke value correction amount for correcting the provisional bending stroke value, based on the number of times a test piece was contacted to obtain the predetermined angle during test bending. The stroke value correction amount is added to the provisional stroke value to obtain a corrected stroke value, so as to obtain the predetermined angle during operational bending using the corrected stroke value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Amada Company, Limited
    Inventors: Junichi Koyama, Osamu Hayama, Hitoshi Omata, Kazunari Imai
  • Patent number: 6871521
    Abstract: A method of operating a bending press, in particular an edging press, and a bending press for carrying out this method. For each drive of a drive arrangement, the actual pressing force is detected for the displaceable press beam during a bending process for the workpiece and a relative position of the pressing tool or tools by reference to the longitudinal extension of the press beams is determined on the basis of a force ratio. Different displacement paths of the drives and the displaceable press beam at the respective force-application point of the drive are then determined in an evaluation and/or computer unit, which is provided with a data memory for production and machine data, and corresponding control signals for the drive system are generated in the control unit and actuator elements of the drives are displaced by the displacement paths determined for each drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Trumpf Maschinen Austria GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Gerhard Sperrer
  • Patent number: 6823707
    Abstract: A mobile flange press adapted to be mounted on a flange of a workpiece I-beam and moved thereon including at least one clamp that contacts an underside of the flange of the workpiece I-beam, at least one hydraulic cylinder adapted to apply vertical downward pressure on the flange with resulting upward pressure at the ends of the flange to straighten the flange, and a drive mechanism for moving the mobile flange press along the flange of the workpiece I-beam to another portion of the flange. In addition, a method of straightening flanges of a workpiece I-beam where the mobile flange press is moved along the workpiece I-beam while straightening the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: ABL Fabricators, Inc.
    Inventors: Russel Andras, Kenneth Caillouet
  • Patent number: 6820455
    Abstract: The invention metal working machine includes a stationary frame and a moving frame. Both the stationary frame and the moving frame carry opposite corresponding tool dies that perform metal working operations when the moving frame translates relative to the stationary frame. The moving frame is arranged so that one end can move while the other end remains stationary. Hydraulic cylinders on each end of the metal working machine are connected by pivot joints between the stationary frame and moving frame. When both of the hydraulic cylinders are activated in the same direction, the entire moving frame moves up or down relative to the stationary frame. If only one of the hydraulic cylinders is activated, only one side of the moving frame translates while the other side of the moving frame moves only slightly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Inventor: Wesley Allen Bainter
  • 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: 6807839
    Abstract: A method cold folds a hollow tube of magnesium material. The method includes providing an inner rib at opposite sides of a hollow square tube made of magnesium material, accommodating the square tube by having opposed ends of the square tube received in an upper portion guide member of a female mold, in an inner portion of the square tube received in a lower portion protection member of a male mold, and lowering the male mold to fold the square tube by the combination of a curved surface portion of the male mold and a curved surface of the female mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Inventor: Tutomu Takamatu
  • 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
  • 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: 6651471
    Abstract: Fork of the self-centering oscillating type, particularly for the bending angle measuring, in a pressbrake including at least a fork provided along a matrix or a matrix fractioned element, able to detect the real inclination of the two specular planes of a pressed-bent sheet-plate, each having two detection points, one of which is static and known, and the other one is dynamic. The fork including a forked end and a relative shank which interacts with a position transducer, communicating with a data processing logic unit which controls the pressbrake. The fork being hinged in correspondence with the shank top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Inventor: Luciano Gasparini
  • Patent number: 6644080
    Abstract: To improve the speed with which a worksheet is positioned in a press brake, and to further eliminate the need for conventional moving back gauge systems, the present invention replaces the conventional back gauge mechanical system with sensors that non-contactedly determine the positioning of the worksheet, with reference to the bending tools. The thus sensed worksheet position is compared with the desired worksheet location preprogrammed into the CNC controller. Any deviation between the sensed, or the actual worksheet position, with the desired worksheet position for each bend of the worksheet is compensated by further moving the worksheet, until there no longer is any discrepancy between the actual and the preprogrammed desired locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Finn-Power International, Inc.
    Inventor: Mikko Lindstrom
  • Patent number: 6637252
    Abstract: The invention describes a production machine (1), in particular an edging press (2), preferably for shaping sheet metal parts (3) for making housing parts, sections (4), etc, with a machine frame (5) having C-shaped supporting side plates (6, 7) and at least one wall part (13) spacing the supporting side walls (6, 7) at a distance (11) apart from one another and permanently joined thereto. Mounted on the machine frame (5) so as to be non-displaceable is a press beam (15) on which a bending tool (36) can be mounted. Lying opposite it is another press beam (16), on which a bending tool (37) can also be mounted, displaceable in a guide arrangement (30) of the machine frame (5) by means of a drive arrangement (27). An actuator drive (25, 26) drivingly connected to the displaceable press beam (16) is preferably provided respectively on opposing side faces (22, 23) of each of the supporting side walls (6, 7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Trumpf Maschinen Austria GmbH & Co. KG.
    Inventor: Josef Gaggl
  • 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: 20030000279
    Abstract: A vertical position of a ram (5U) is directly detected by a ram position detecting means (11), and a first speed arithmetic operating portion (65) determines a first ram moving speed on the basis of a change of the detected position. At the same time, a second speed arithmetic operating portion (67) determines a second ram moving speed on the basis of a rotational number of a servo motor (39) which is determined by a servo motor rotational number detecting means (40). A comparing portion (69) compares the first ram speed with the second ram speed, and in the case that a difference is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, a judging portion (71) judges that an abnormality exists so as to immediately stop the servo motor (39) and stop a working.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Masutaka Satou, Kazuhiro Kanno
  • Patent number: 6474124
    Abstract: A cold steel cambering apparatus and method of use, the apparatus comprising, a cambering assembly having a forward-most end and a rearward-most end and therebetween a plurality of adjustable beam guides, each having means to restrain lateral movement of at least one cold steel beam placed on the cambering assembly, with a plurality of guides also having second means to restrain upward movement of at least one cold steel beam placed on the cambering assembly; and at least one hydraulic lift cylinder positioned directly under at least one cold steel beam placed on the cambering assembly with means to impart a concave or upward camber to at least one cold steel beam placed on the cambering assembly over the forward hydraulic cylinder and restrained by the means to restrain lateral and upward movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Banks Corporation
    Inventor: William B Leftwich
  • Patent number: 6389860
    Abstract: A press brake machine has a movable ram, a fixed bed, a drive for moving the ram toward and away from the bed, and a control system which controls movement of the ram. The control system includes an emitter which emits a beam of light and a detector assembly which detects an interruption of the light beam. The detector assembly includes two sensors and a beam splitter at which the light is directed. The sensors are connected in series such that if either or both of the sensors detect that the light beam is interrupted, a signal is sent to the drive to open the ram. The press is provided with a reset switch which is closed when the ram is moved to an open position. The reset switch is connected and operable such that the press brake cannot be reset if the light beam is interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Lion Machinery, Inc.
    Inventor: Leo Stalzer