Apparatus for working a workpiece
OwnerJohan Masseeinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for working a workpiece comprises a drive unit for rotating a forming tool about an axis of rotation, a forming roller for working said workpiece, means for moving the forming roller in an x-direction and a y-direction with respect to said drive means, and a control unit comprising a memory for one or more control programs. In this embodiment the axis of rotation of the drive unit coincides with the x-direction. The axis of rotation extends at least substantially in vertical direction. The drive unit and the forming tool can be moved in the x-direction by the moving means.
Claims14
An apparatus for working a workpiece, the apparatus comprising a drive unit for rotating a forming tool about an axis of rotation, moving means for the drive unit and the forming tool, a forming roller for working said workpiece, means for moving the forming roller in an x-direction and a y-direction with respect to said drive unit, and a control unit comprising a memory for one or more control programs, wherein the axis of rotation of the drive unit coincides with the x-direction, and said axis of rotation extends at least substantially in a vertical direction, wherein the drive unit and the forming tool can be moved in said x-direction by said moving means, wherein the drive unit is guided in a housing which is open on an upper side, and whose open upper side is contiguous to an at least substantially horizontal supporting surface, wherein a supply conveyor for a workpiece, which transports at least substantially in a horizontal plane, connects to a first portion of the horizontal supporting surface and wherein a discharge conveyor for a worked workpiece, which transports at least substantially in a horizontal plane, connects to another portion of the horizontal support surface.
A method for working a workpiece means of an apparatus which comprises a drive unit for rotating a forming tool about an axis of rotation, a forming roller for working said workpiece, means for moving the forming roller in a x-direction and a y-direction with respect to said drive means, and a control unit comprising a memory for one or more control programs, wherein the apparatus is used which comprises the drive unit whose axis of rotation coincides with the x-direction, and which axis of rotation extends at least substantially in a vertical direction, whereby the forming tool can be moved in the vertical direction by moving said drive unit wherein a workpiece is supplied to the apparatus in an at least approximately horizontal plane, until the workpiece is positioned above the forming tool, after which said forming tool is moved upwards in order to pick up the workpiece, wherein a discharge element is moved into the apparatus, under the workpiece that has been transformed on the forming tool, after the working step has been completed, whereby the forming tool is moved downwards for delivering the worked workpiece to the discharge element, after which the discharge element carries away the workpiece from the apparatus in an at least substantially horizontal plane.
An apparatus for working a workpiece, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing having an opening that opens to a substantially horizontal supporting surface;
- a forming roller for working the workpiece;
- a first actuator joined to the forming roller for displacing the forming roller to engage the workpiece;
- a forming tool;
- a drive unit joined to the forming tool for rotating the forming tool about an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation extending through the opening in a vertical direction, the drive unit joined to the housing for guided vertical displacement;
- a second actuator joined to the drive unit to vertically displace the drive unit;
- a supply conveyor connected to the horizontal support surface to transport workpieces to the forming tool;
- and
- a discharge conveyor connected to the horizontal support surface to transport workpieces from the forming tool.
A method for working a workpiece comprising:
- transporting a workpiece in a substantially horizontal plane to a position disposed above a forming tool of a drive unit having an axis of rotation extending in a vertical direction;
- raising the drive unit and the forming tool upwardly in order to pick up the workpiece;
- engaging the workpiece with a forming roller to work the workpiece;
- positioning a discharge element below the workpiece after the workpiece has been worked;
- and
- moving the discharge element and workpiece in a substantially horizontal plane away from the drive unit and forming tool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.