Flanging press

A flanging press for folding over a flange of a component, wherein the flanging press is arranged in a stationary manner and comprises at least:

• (a) a base structure featuring a flanging bed onto which the component can be pressed in a pressing direction in order to fold over the flange;
• (b) a flanging die unit featuring a flanging die for folding over the flange;
• (c) and a pressing drive for generating a pressing force which acts on the component for the purpose of folding over;
• (d) wherein the flanging die and the flanging bed can be moved relative to each other in the pressing direction by means of the pressing drive in order to exert the pressing force;
• (e) the pressing drive comprises a bellows which can be charged with pressure fluid and acts on the flanging die unit or flanging bed in the pressing direction when charged with pressure, thus generating at least some of the pressing force, and
• (f) the pressure bellows comprises a bellows area which extends transverse to the pressing direction and which can be charged with the pressure fluid,
• wherein the flanging press comprises a component sucker, by which the component can be held in position in the flanging bed by a suction force, and the component sucker comprises a suction chamber which is laterally defined by a side wall structure, on the end-facing side of which the flanging bed is arranged or formed, and on an end-facing side by the component.

A method for folding over a flange of a component by a flanging press arranged in a stationary manner and comprising:

• a base structure featuring a flanging bed onto which the component can be pressed in a pressing direction in order to fold over the flange;
• a flanging die unit featuring a flanging die for folding over the flange;
• and a pressing drive for generating a pressing force which acts on the component for the purpose of folding over,
• wherein the pressing drive comprises a bellows which can be charged with pressure fluid and acts on the flanging die unit or flanging bed in the pressing direction when charged with pressure, thus generating at least some of the pressing force, and the pressure bellows comprises a bellows area which extends transverse to the pressing direction and which can be charged with the pressure fluid,
• wherein the flanging die and the flanging bed can be moved relative to each other in the pressing direction by the pressing drive in order to exert the pressing force;
• wherein the flanging die unit comprises a passage through which the component can be inserted into the flanging bed from a rear side of the flanging die unit which faces away from the flanging bed, and the flanging die is arranged on an inner circumference of the flanging die unit which surrounds the passage partially or completely over 360°;
• wherein multiple flanging dies are arranged next to each other along the inner circumference;
• wherein the flanging die unit comprises a framework bearing structure which surrounds the passage at least partially, in the manner of a frame;
• and
• a suppressor for holding down the component during flanging, the suppressor comprising a fastening device for fastening to the actuator, and a holding device for holding the component, such that the component can be moved to the flanging press and placed into the flanging bed by the suppressor,
• the method comprising the steps of:
• (a) moving the component through the passage towards the flanging bed by an actuator which can be spatially moved,
• (b) placing the component into the flanging bed by the actuator or a tensing device,
• (c) the suppressor i) holding the component while the component is moved through the passage and inserted into the flanging bed and ii) holding the component down in the flanging bed during flanging;
• and folding the flange over by a pressing strake which the flanging die unit performs together with the flanging die relative to the flanging bed or by a pressing strake which the flanging bed performs relative to the flanging die unit and the flanging die.