Device for control of a robot manipulator for a metal sheet bending installation

A device for control of a metal sheet bending installation, including a bending press and a robot manipulator for feeding a workpiece, comprising a metal sheet, into the bending press and removing the metal sheet from the bending press, the robot manipulator adapted to be located at a stand-by position away from the bending press while a bending operation is performed on a metal piece, the stand-by position being defined as the position of the robot manipulator while a bending operation is performed on a workpiece, the control device comprising:

• first means for inputting a first instruction for carrying out a bending operation on the workpiece by said bending press;
• second means for inputting a second instruction for moving said robot manipulator from the stand-by position to a position close to said bending press;
• said second means further comprising means for inputting, after said second instruction, a third instruction for moving said robot manipulator from the position close to the bending press, to a position where the robot manipulator can grip the workpiece clamped between a punch and die of the bending press, after a bending operation is completed;
• and
• an electronic unit, said electronic unit comprising means adapted to insert, between said second and said third instructions, a synchronization and control signal having a predetermined delay time, the electronic unit being adapted to associate with said first instruction signal, a further instruction between said first instruction and said synchronizing and control signal, said further instruction to be processed at the same time as said first instruction is processed, said further instruction moving said robot manipulator toward the workpiece clamped between the punch and die while a bending operation by the punch and die of the bending press is performed.

A method of controlling a robot manipulator of a metal sheet bending installation that includes a metal sheet bending press and an auxiliary support unit, the robot manipulator and the auxiliary support unit each including pincers, the method comprising the steps of:

• preparing and storing first command signals for moving the robot manipulator and the auxiliary support unit by predetermined amounts in a master bending specimen bending installation;
• causing the pincers of the robot manipulator and the pincers of the auxiliary support unit to each grip respective specimen blocks, provided in said master specimen bending installation;
• moving the pincers of the robot manipulator and the pincers of the auxiliary support unit until said specimen blocks gripped by the pincers in said master specimen bending installation come into contact with each other;
• calculating and storing a first positional relationship between robot manipulator and the auxiliary support unit in said master specimen bending installation based upon the distances moved by the pincers of the robot manipulator and the pincers of the auxiliary support unit;
• causing the pincers of the robot manipulator and the pincers of the auxiliary support unit to each grip respective specimen blocks in a slave specimen bending installation;
• moving the pincers of the robot manipulator and the pincers of the auxiliary support unit until the specimen blocks gripped by the pincers in said slave specimen bending installation come into contact with each other;
• calculating a second positional relationship between the robot manipulator and the auxiliary support unit in said slave specimen bending installation based on the distances moved by the pincers of the robot manipulator and the pincers of the auxiliary support unit;
• comparing the first and second positional relationships;
• and
• preparing second command signals for moving the robot manipulator and the auxiliary support unit in a slave specimen bending installation, the second command signal preparing step further including the step of modifying the first command signals in accordance with differences between the first and second positional relationships.

A sheet metal bending installation comprising:

• a metal sheet bending press;
• a robot manipulator, said robot manipulator comprising pincers adapted to grip a specimen block;
• an auxiliary support unit, said auxiliary unit comprising pincers adapted to grip a specimen block;
• said robot manipulator and said auxiliary support unit being arrangeable in at least first and second positional relationships;
• input means for inputting first command signals for moving said robot manipulator and said auxiliary support unit by predetermined amounts in the first positional relationship;
• means for storing said first command signals;
• calculation means for calculating data of positional relationships between said robot manipulator and said auxiliary support unit in associated with the distances moved by said pincers gripping said specimen blocks until said specimen blocks come into contact with each other;
• means for storing the calculated data associated with said first and second positional relationships;
• wherein said calculation means comprises means for modifying said first command signals in accordance with differences between said calculated data of said first and second positional relationships to prepare second command signals for moving said robot manipulator and said auxiliary support unit in said second positional relationship.