METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING THE TRANSPORT DISPLACEMENT OF WORKPIECES IN TRANSFER PRESSES

• US 20080109105A1
• Filed: 11/20/2007
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mueller Weingarten AG
• Original Assignee: Mueller Weingarten AG
• Inventors: Benkler, Hermann, WEBER, Elmar
• Granted Patent: US 7,636,612 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/178
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 43/05 specially adapted for multi-stage presses B21D43/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4069 Simulating machining process on screen G05B19/4068 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40317 For collision avoidance and detection
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45142 Press-line

Abstract

A simulation method for optimising transport displacement of workpieces in transfer presses is provided. Conclusions relating to the freedom of motion, number of strokes and program data for tool-specific machine control are determined by manipulating a displacement curve on a digital image of the transfer press which is determined by the simulation method.

Claims

1. A simulation method for determining a movement sequence for a workpiece-specific workpiece transport as a function of one of tool movement and ram movement in a press having a plurality of machining stations and a plurality of transfer units arranged between the machining stations, the method comprising the steps of:

supplying a data set including press machine data, tool-specific data and process-specific data to a simulator program assigned to a press control of the press;

using the data in the simulation program to calculate a default displacement curve having coordinates corresponding to support points in a 3D CAD press model;

using the simulation program to perform a collision check between the at least one of the tool and the ram of the press and the workpiece for at least a first press transfer unit;

varying the support point coordinates on the displacement curve to correct an error on the displacement curve if a potential collision is detected;

performing the collision check, and support point coordinate variation step as needed, for subsequent press transfer units;

determining an overall collision-free movement pattern by accounting for a possible collision between the press transfer units; and

transmitting the overall collision-free movement pattern to the press control.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of varying the support coordinates on the displacement curve is performed automatically by the simulation program.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of varying the support point coordinate is performed manually by a press operator.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the press control comprises at least one of a control program and a regulation program for executing the movement sequence.

5. A method for executing the movement sequence determined according to the method of claim 1 comprising using the press control to execute a movement sequence for workpiece machining.