Method and device for determining a bending angle on a bending machine

A device for determining bending angles on a bending machine comprising an upper tool and a lower tool for reshaping a workpiece arranged between the upper tool and the lower tool by bending along a bending line of the workpiece, wherein the device comprises an evaluation device and one or more measuring arrangements configured to be positioned in an operating position of the device on the bending machine, each measuring arrangement including at least one illumination device and at least one image acquisition device, wherein in the operating position each measuring arrangement is assigned to a different surface portion of the workpiece which lies laterally adjacent to the bending line and extends along the bending line, wherein the device is configured such that in the operating position:

• a light pattern is imaged on the workpiece by each illumination device onto a corresponding one of the surface portions,
• each light pattern comprises a plurality of zones arranged side by side along the bending line, the plurality of zones arranged immediately adjacent side by side, wherein each light pattern covers the corresponding surface portion;
• each light pattern is acquired by means of the at least one image acquisition device, whereby image information of each light pattern is obtained;
• and
• each zone is identified from the image information of each light pattern by means of the evaluation device and a bending angle caused by bending is determined for each zone, wherein the bending angles are determined for each zone along an entirety of the bending line of the workpiece without contact and without mechanical movement of the one or more measuring arrangements.

A bending machine comprising a device configured to determine a bending angle wherein:

• the bending machine comprises an upper tool and a lower tool for reshaping a workpiece arranged between the upper tool and the lower tool by bending along a bending line of the workpiece, wherein the device comprises an evaluation device and one or more measuring arrangements configured to be positioned in an operating position of the device on the bending machine, each measuring arrangement including at least one illumination device and at least one image acquisition device, wherein in the operating position each measuring arrangement is assigned to a different surface portion of the workpiece which lies laterally adjacent to the bending line and extends along the bending line, wherein the device is configured such that in the operating position:
• a light pattern is imaged on the workpiece by each illumination device onto a corresponding one of the surface portions,
• each light pattern comprises a plurality of zones arranged side by side along the bending line, the plurality of zones arranged immediately adjacent side by side, wherein each light pattern covers the corresponding surface portion;
• each light pattern is acquired by means of the at least one image acquisition device, whereby image information of each light pattern is obtained;
• and
• each zone is identified from the image information of each light pattern by means of the evaluation device and a bending angle caused by bending is determined for each zone, wherein the bending angles are determined for each zone along an entirety of the bending line of the workpiece without contact and without mechanical movement of the one or more measuring arrangements.