Automated press brake die transfer system

A press brake die handling system for storing multiple elongated male and female die pairs elongated press brake dies and for positioning same adjacent to a press brake including a press brake bed adapted to receive male and female pairs of said dies, each said die being longitudinally transferable between a stored position on said handling system and a use position in said press brake bed along a transfer path generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said press brake bed, said die handling system comprising:

• (a) die storage means including a plurality of die storage spaces each adapted for selectively receiving a respective die, said die storage spaces being positioned in generally juxtaposed relationship and extending in substantially parallel relationship with respect to said longitudinal axis to form a plurality of rows, said rows being arranged vertically with respect to each other, said storage means further including a plurality of roller means each associated with a respective die storage space and adapted for supporting a respective die in its stored position and transferring same between its stored and use positions;
• (b) carriage means mounting said storage means and including:
• (1) drive means for selectively moving said transfer system along a horizontal path of movement extending generally perpendicularly with respect to said press brake die longitudinal axis;
• and
• (2) storage elevating means for selectively raising and lowering said storage means along a vertical path of movement with respect to said press brake bed;
• and
• (c) control means connected to said drive means and said storage elevating means for selectively controlling said drive means and said storage elevating means to move said storage means in said horizontal and vertical paths, respectively for selectively positioning respective die storage spaces in any of said rows in said storage means in longitudinal alignment with a respective die receiving location in said press brake bed in a die transfer relationship.

An automated die transfer system for changing a male and female die pair mounted along a length of a press brake bed used in a press brake, the system comprising:

• upper and lower tierred storage means for storing a male and female die pair or for transferring a male and female die pair therefrom;
• carriage means for carrying said upper and lower tierred storage means, said carriage means including first drive means for moving said carriage means and said upper and lower tierred storage means in a horizontal direction along a floor perpendicular to one end of the length of a press brake bed, said carriage means also having a second drive means for raising and lowering said storage means vertically;
• a control panel including multiaxis motion control means in the form of a joystick connected to said first drive means and said second drive means to thereby control said first drive means, and thereby control the motion of said carriage means in a horizontal direction along a floor perpendicular to one end of the length of a press brake bed, and said second drive means, and to thereby also control the vertical raising and lowering of said storage means, whereby said storage means may be accurately located adjacent one end of the length of a press brake bed in order to receive and store a male die and a female die from a press brake bed or for transferring a male die and a female die from said storage means to a press brake bed.

A press brake die handling system for storing multiple elongated male and female press brake die pairs and for positioning same adjacent to a press brake including a press brake bed adapted to receive male and female pairs of said dies, each said die being longitudinally transferable between a stored position on said handling system and a use position in said press brake bed along a transfer path generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said press brake bed, said die handling system comprising:

• (a) die storage means including a plurality of die storage spaces each adapted for selectively receiving a respective die, said die storage spaces being positioned in generally juxtaposed relationship and extending in substantially parallel relationship with respect to said longitudinal axis to form a plurality of rows, said rows being arranged vertically with respect to each other, said storage means further including a plurality of roller means each associated with a respective die storage space and adapted for supporting a respective die in its stored position and transferring same between its stored and use positions;
• (b) carriage means mounting said storage means and including:
• (1) drive means for selectively moving said transfer system along a horizontal path of movement extending generally perpendicularly with respect to said press brake die longitudinal axis;
• and
• (2) storage elevating means for raising and lowering said storage means with respect to said press brake bed;
• (c) control means connected to said drive means and said storage elevating means for selectively positioning respective die storage spaces in any of said rows in said storage means in longitudinal alignment with a respective die receiving location in said press brake bed in a die transfer relationship;
• (d) said control means including a multiaxis motion control joystick for controlling both said drive means, and thereby controlling the motion of said carriage means along said horizontal path, and said storage elevating means, and thereby controlling the vertical raising and lowering of said storage means.

A press brake die handling system for storing multiple elongated male and female press brake die pairs and for positioning same adjacent to a press brake including a press brake bed adapted to receive male and female pairs of said dies, each said die being longitudinally transferable between a stored position on said handling system and a use position in said press brake bed along a transfer path generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said press brake bed, said die handling system comprising:

• (a) die storage means including a plurality of die storage spaces each adapted for selectively receiving a respective die, said die storage spaces being positioned in generally juxtaposed relationship and extending in substantially parallel relationship with respect to said longitudinal axis to form a plurality of rows, said rows being arranged vertically with respect to each other, said storage means further including a plurality of roller means each associated with a respective die storage space and adapted for supporting a respective die in its stored position and transferring same between its stored and use positions;
• (b) carriage means mounting said storage means and including:
• (1) drive means for selectively moving said transfer system along a horizontal path of movement extending generally perpendicularly with respect to said press brake die longitudinal axis;
• and
• (2) storage elevating means for raising and lowering said storage means with respect to said press brake bed;
• and
• (c) control means connected to said drive means and said storage elevating means for selectively positioning respective die storage spaces in any of said rows in said storage means in longitudinal alignment with a respective die receiving location in said press brake bed in a die transfer relationship, said control including a control panel being mounted on a hinged support arm attached at one end of said press brake for pivoting said control panel from in front of said press brake to the rear of the press brake.

A press brake die handling system for storing multiple elongated male and female press brake die pairs and for positioning same adjacent to a press brake including a press brake bed adapted to receive male and female pairs of said dies, each said die being longitudinally transferable between a stored position on said handling system and a use position in said press brake bed along a transfer path generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said press brake bed, said die handling system comprising:

• (a) die storage means including a plurality of die storage spaces each adapted for selectively receiving a respective die, said die storage spaces being positioned in generally juxtaposed relationship and extending in substantially parallel relationship with respect to said longitudinal axis to form a plurality of rows, said rows being arranged vertically with respect to each other, said storage means further including a plurality of roller means each associated with a respective die storage space and adapted for supporting a respective die in its stored position and transferring same between its stored and use positions;
• (b) carriage means mounting said storage means and including:
• (1) drive means for selectively moving said transfer system along a horizontal path of movement extending generally perpendicularly with respect to said press brake die longitudinal axis;
• and
• (2) storage elevating means for raising and lowering said storage means with respect to said press brake bed;
• and
• (c) control means connected to said drive means and said storage elevating means for selectively positioning respective die storage spaces in any of said rows in said storage means in longitudinal alignment with a respective die receiving location in said press brake bed in a die transfer relationship, said control means including multiaxis motion control means for controlling both said drive means, and thereby controlling the motion of said carriage means along said horizontal path, and said storage elevating means, and thereby controlling the vertical raising and lowering of said storage means.

A method of changing a male and female press brake die set from the press brake bed of a press brake using an automated die transfer system, the system having a rail mounted carriage means with a die storage rack assembly thereon, said die storage rack assembly including an upper tier for male dies and a lower tier for female dies, and a control panel electrically operating a first drive means for causing movement of said carriage means in a horizontal direction along a floor perpendicular to one end of the length of said press brake bed, and a second drive means for providing vertical raising and lowering of said die storage rack assembly, said first and second drive means being mounted on said carriage means, including the steps of:

• (a) using said control panel to activate said first drive means and move said carriage means in a manner such that said die storage rack assembly is positioned in alignment with one end of said press brake bed;
• (b) using said control panel to activate said second drive means to move said aligned die storage rack assembly vertically, until it is adjacent to said one end of said press brake bed;
• (c) transferring, one at a time, a male die and a female die from said press brake bed onto said die storage rack assembly and then placing, one at a time, a male and a female die from said die rack storage assembly onto said press brake bed by first transferring the male die from said press brake bed onto an empty upper tier die rack on said assembly, using said second drive means to raise said die storage rack assembly vertically, transferring the female die from said press brake bed onto an empty lower tier die rack on said assembly, then using said first drive means to move said carriage horizontally until a die rack having a desired male and female die pair is adjacent said press brake bed, placing the female die from that lower tier storage rack onto said press brake bed, and then using said second drive means to lower said die storage rack assembly vertically for transferring the male die on said upper tier storage rack onto said press brake bed.