Sheet Metal Processing Systems and Related Devices and Methods

• US 20120100974A1
• Filed: 10/18/2011
• Published: 04/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRUMPF Sachsen GmbH (TRUMPF SE + Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: TRUMPF Sachsen GmbH (TRUMPF SE + Co. KG)
• Inventors: Busch, Marcus
• Granted Patent: US 9,199,296 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 483/1
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 37/14 Particular arrangements for handling and holding in place complete dies
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 43/003 Positioning devices B21D28/04 and B21D28/265 take precedence; stops B21D43/26; centering moving strips B21D43/023
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 15/24 of linear position
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/10 Process
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/13 with control means energized in response to activator stimulated by condition sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/16 with means to transfer work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/1729 Reciprocating tool machine tool [e.g., broaching machine, shaping machine, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/1731 including matrix

Abstract

In some aspects, a sheet metal processing system includes a machine tool with a processing station at which metal sheets can be processed by a processing tool, a tool carrier for receiving a processing tool, a transfer device by which the processing tool can be moved to or from the tool carrier, and a tool change apparatus which, due to a controlled positioning movement, can be arranged in a tool change position. The processing tool is exchangeable between the tool carrier and the transfer device by the tool change apparatus. The positioning movement is controllable on the basis of a position of the transfer device and/or a position of the tool carrier.

Claims

1. A sheet metal processing system comprising:

a machine tool with a processing station at which metal sheets can be processed by a processing tool;

a tool carrier for receiving a processing tool;

a transfer device by which the processing tool can be moved to or from the tool carrier; and

a tool change apparatus which, due to a controlled positioning movement, can be arranged in a tool change position, the processing tool being exchangeable between the tool carrier and the transfer device by the tool change apparatus,

wherein

a detection device having a detection element associated with the tool change apparatus, wherein a position of the transfer device and/or a position of the tool carrier is detectable by the detection device before a tool change, and

the positioning movement is controllable based on the detected position and the tool change apparatus can thereby be arranged in the tool change position.

2. The sheet metal processing system according to claim 1, wherein a machine-side tool carrier is provided as the tool carrier.

3. The sheet metal processing system according to claim 1, wherein the sheet metal processing system comprises a store for processing tools and the tool carrier comprises a store-side tool carrier.

4. The sheet metal processing system according to claim 1, wherein the tool change apparatus is kinematically connected to the transfer device or to the tool carrier in order to perform the controlled positioning movement.

5. The sheet metal processing system according to claim 4, wherein the kinematic connection of the tool change apparatus and the transfer device or the kinematic connection of the tool change apparatus and the tool carrier is releasable when the tool change apparatus is arranged in the tool change position.

6. The sheet metal processing system according to claim 1, wherein the detection element of the detection device comprises a stop that is arranged in a defined manner relative to the tool change apparatus and is configured to be placed against a counter-stop arranged in a defined manner relative to the transfer device and/or against a counter-stop arranged in a defined manner relative to the tool carrier, and when the stop is placed against the counter-stop, the tool change apparatus is arranged in a defined manner relative to the tool change position.

7. The sheet metal processing system according to claim 6, wherein the tool change apparatus is arranged in the tool change position.

8. The sheet metal processing system according to claim 1, wherein the detection device comprises a switching arrangement for switching a positioning drive of the tool change apparatus, the switching arrangement comprising two switching elements as detection elements, one switching element being associated with the tool change apparatus and arranged in a defined manner relative thereto, the other switching element being associated with the transfer device or the tool carrier and arranged in a defined manner relative thereto, and the positioning drive of the tool change apparatus being stoppable by the switching arrangement when the tool change apparatus is arranged in a defined manner relative to the tool change position.

9. The sheet metal processing system according to claim 8, wherein the tool change apparatus is arranged in the tool change position.

10. The sheet metal processing system according to claim 1, wherein the detection device is a first detection device and the sheet metal processing system further comprises a second detection device, the first and second detection devices being associated with different axial directions,

wherein before a tool change, the position of the transfer device and/or the position of the tool carrier is detectable in the different axial directions by the first and second detection devices;

and

the positioning movement is controllable based on the detected position in the different axial directions and the tool change apparatus can thereby be arranged in the tool change position.

11. The sheet metal processing system according to claim 10, further comprising a third detection device that is associated with an axial direction that is different than the axial directions associated with the first and second detection devices,

wherein before a tool change, the position of the transfer device and/or the position of the tool carrier is detectable by the third detection devices;

and

the positioning movement is controllable based on the detected position in the different axial directions and the tool change apparatus can thereby be arranged in the tool change position.

12. A method comprising:

detecting a position of a transfer device and/or a position of a tool carrier of a sheet metal processing system;

moving a tool change apparatus based on the detected position of the transfer device and/or the tool carrier and arranging the tool change apparatus in the tool change position; and

exchanging a processing tool between a tool carrier and the transfer device using the tool change apparatus.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein moving the tool change apparatus comprises moving the transfer device and/or the tool carrier and connecting the tool change apparatus kinematically to the transfer device or to the tool carrier.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein moving the tool change apparatus comprises connecting the tool change apparatus kinematically to the transfer device or to the tool carrier, and the kinematic connection of the tool change apparatus and the transfer device or the kinematic connection of the tool change apparatus and the tool carrier is released after the tool change apparatus is arranged in the tool change position.