Press brake worksheet positioning system
AssigneeFinn-Power International, Inc.
InventorMikko Lindstrom
Life of this patent
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Abstract
To improve the speed with which a worksheet is positioned in a press brake, and to further eliminate the need for conventional moving back gauge systems, the present invention replaces the conventional back gauge mechanical system with sensors that non-contactedly determine the positioning of the worksheet, with reference to the bending tools. The thus sensed worksheet position is compared with the desired worksheet location preprogrammed into the CNC controller. Any deviation between the sensed, or the actual worksheet position, with the desired worksheet position for each bend of the worksheet is compensated by further moving the worksheet, until there no longer is any discrepancy between the actual and the preprogrammed desired locations.
Claims20
Apparatus for bending a worksheet, comprising:
- one tool;
- an other tool working cooperatively with said one tool for bending a worksheet placed between said one and other tools;
- control means for controlling the relative movement of said one and other tools to bend said worksheet placed therebetween;
- and
- sensor means positioned proximate to said one and other tools for non-contactedly detecting the position of said worksheet relative to a predetermined position to which said worksheet should be moved as said worksheet is placed between said one and other tools;
- wherein said sensor means outputs a signal to said control means to provide thereto a feedback of the placement of said worksheet.
A sheet bending machine, comprising:
- one tool and an other tool movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position for bending a worksheet placed therebetween;
- grip means for holding and moving said worksheet into and out of the space separating said one and other tools when said one and other tools are in said open position;
- control means for controlling the respective movements of said one and other tools and said grip means;
- and
- sensor means for detecting without making contact with said worksheet the position of at least one edge of said worksheet to determine whether said worksheet is being positioned correctly for bending by said one and other tools.
In a sheet bending machine having one tool and an other tool working cooperatively with each other to bend a worksheet placed therebetween, and control means for moving said one and other tools relative to each other to bend said worksheet, a method of controlling the positioning of said worksheet for bending comprising the steps of:
- a) holding and moving said worksheet into position between said one and other tools for bending when said one and other tools are separated from each other;
- b) non-contactedly detecting the position of said worksheet relative to a predetermined position to which said worksheet should be moved as said worksheet is placed between said one and other tools;
- and
- c) outputting a signal to said control means to provide thereto a feedback of the position of said worksheet so that said control means can accurately control the positioning of said worksheet for bending by said one and other tools.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.