Workpiece transfer method, workpiece transfer device, and workpiece transfer program

A workpiece transfer device that transfers a workpiece when bending of the workpiece is performed by a press brake including a die that supports the workpiece and a punch that is located above the die and presses the workpiece, the workpiece transfer device comprising:

• an upstream transferrer that is located on an upstream side with respect to the press brake in a transfer direction of the workpiece;
• a transfer driver that moves the upstream transferrer in the transfer direction;
• a support that is located on a downstream side with respect to the press brake in the transfer direction and that supports the workpiece from below in conformity with a shape of the workpiece after pressing of the workpiece by the punch;
• control circuitry configure to, before or after the bending, control the transfer driver to intermittently transfer the workpiece in the transfer direction by moving the upstream transferrer in the transfer direction while pushing the upstream transferrer against an upstream end of the workpiece;
• and
• a downstream transferrer that is located on the downstream side with respect to the press brake in the transfer direction of the workpiece, wherein
• each of the upstream and downstream transferrers includes:
• a contact structure that contacts an end face of the workpiece;
• a deforming structure that deforms to permit displacement of the contact structure when the contact structure is subjected to a pressure equal to or higher than a predefined level or a pressure acting in a direction that is not along the transfer direction of the workpiece;
• and
• a connector that holds the deforming structure and that is connected to the transfer driver.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions which, when executed by a computer in a workpiece transfer device that transfers a workpiece when bending of the workpiece is performed by a press brake including a die that supports the workpiece and a punch that is located above the die and presses the workpiece supported by the die, cause the computer to execute a process to, before or after the bending:

• move an upstream transferrer in a transfer direction of the workpiece while pushing the upstream transferrer against an end of the workpiece, the upstream transferrer being located on an upstream side with respect to the press brake in the transfer direction, the end of the workpiece being an upstream end in the transfer direction;
• and
• cause a support to support the workpiece from below in conformity with a shape of the workpiece after pressing of the workpiece by the punch, and intermittently transfer the workpiece in the transfer direction, the support being located on a downstream side with respect to the press brake in the transfer direction, wherein
• each of the upstream transferrer and a downstream transferrer located on the downstream side with respect to the press brake in the transfer direction includes:
• a contact structure that contacts an end face of the workpiece;
• a deforming structure that deforms to permit displacement of the contact structure when the contact structure is subjected to a pressure equal to or higher than a predefined level or a pressure acting in a direction that is not along the transfer direction of the workpiece;
• and
• a connector that holds the deforming structure and that is connected to a transfer driver that moves the upstream transferrer in the transfer direction.