Failsafe tool clamping system for press brake

A failsafe pressure/spring actuated clamping system for press brakes of the type including a stationary bed for receiving a first tool thereon and a vertically movable ram, above the bed, for receiving a second tool therebelow, the press brake adapted to bend or otherwise form material positioned between the tools;

• the clamping system including a bed clamp assembly and a ram clamp assembly, said assemblies being secured to the bed and ram, respectively;
• one of said clamping assemblies comprising a first clamp member having a recess therein;
• said first clamp member having a generally vertical back-stop wall portion adjacent said recess;
• a second clamp member supported in said recess adjacent said back-stop wall portion for substantially linear lateral movement therein relative to the first clamp member for clamping and releasing the associated tool;
• actuator means operatively associated with said clamp assembly for selectively securing and releasing the associated tool, the actuator means including compression spring means engaging said back-stop wall portion and said second clamp member, said compression spring means biasing the second clamp member to move away from the backstop wall portion and into clamping engagement with the tool, and pressure operated means for releasing the tool operatively associated with the second clamp member and moving the second clamp member away from clamping engagement with the tool when pressurized whereby failsafe tool securement is maintained upon the removal of pressure from the pressure operated means.

A failsafe pressure/spring actuated clamping system for press brakes of the type including a stationary bed for receiving a die thereon and a vertically movable ram, above the bed, for receiving a punch therebelow, the press brake adapted to bend or otherwise form material positioned between the punch and die;

• the clamping system including a bed clamp assembly and a ram clamp assembly, said assemblies being secured to the bed and ram, respectively;
• actuator means operatively associated with each clamp assembly for selectively securing and releasing the tool punch and die;
• the bed clamp assembly comprising elongate first stationary and second sliding clamp members, the first clamp member including a first clamping jaw extending upwardly therefrom;
• the second clamp member having a generally L-shaped cross-section defined by a body portion and a second clamping jaw extending upwardly therefrom, the body portion being disposed between the first and second clamping jaws, the tool die being secured between the first and second jaws;
• the first jaw having a lower portion including linear movement guide means for guiding the second clamp member in substantially linear movement in a direction transverse tgo the elongate axis, said guide means including a pair of generally planar horizontal guide surfaces, said surfaces being spaced vertically from one another and defining an elongate recess therebetween said recess receiving the body portion of the second clamp member during securement of the tool and the body portion engaging the guide surfaces, whereby the guide means precludes angular movement of the second clamping member about the elongate axis upon tool clamping thereby assuring proper alignment of the tool die in the bed clamp assembly, the actuator means comprising biasing means for urging the second clamp member into clamping engagement with the tool die, and release means configured for selective activation by an operator to release the tool die, said release means moving the second clamp member away from clamping engagement with the tool die when the release means is activated to release the tool die.

A failsafe pressure/spring actuated clamping system for press brakes of the type including a stationary bed for receiving a die tool thereon and a vertically movable ram, above the bed, for receiving a punch tool therebelow, the press brake adapted to bend or otherwise form material positioned between the punch and die tools;

• the clamping system including a bed clamp assembly and a ram clamp assembly, said assemblies being secured to the bed and ram, respectively;
• each clamp assembly comprising a first clamp member and a second clamp member supported thereon, said first clamp member having guide means comprising a pair of generally horizontal planar guide surfaces spaced vertically from each other and defining a generally horizontally extending guide recess therebetween;
• said second clamp member having an extension portion extending within said guide recess and slidingly engaging said guide surfaces in substantially linear movement relative to said first clamp member;
• a plurality of actuator means spaced along, and operatively interconnected with, each clamp assembly for selectively securing and releasing the punch and die tools, each actuator means comprising a piston and cylinder wherein movement of the piston in a first direction with respect to the cylinder secures tools positioned in the clamp assembly and movement of the piston in the opposed second direction releases a tool therein;
• the piston and cylinder including seal means thereby defining a pressure chamber between the piston and cylinder, pressurization of the pressure chamber urges the piston in the second tool release direction;
• spring means operatively disposed between the piston and cylinder, the spring means applying a biasing force urging the piston in the first direction whereby tools are secured in the clamp assemblies by the force of the spring means when no pressure is applied to the pressure chamber and released from the clamp assemblies when the pressure in the pressure chamber exceeds the force of the biasing spring means.