Punch press with dual tool changing assemblies and method of punching

• US 5,224,915 A
• Filed: 09/09/1992
• Issued: 07/06/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRUMPF, Inc. (TRUMPF SE + Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: TRUMPF, Inc. (TRUMPF SE + Co. KG)
• Inventors: Kilian, Friedrich
• Primary Examiner(s): BRIGGS, WILLIAM R
• Application Number:
  US07/942,737
• Time in Patent Office: 300 Days
• Field of Search: 483/28, 483/29, 483/1, 483/4, 483/14, 83/559, 83/563, 83/549, 72/442
• US Class Current: 483/1
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 28/12 Punching using rotatable carriers
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 37/145 Die storage magazines
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/15566 the tool being inserted in a tool holder directly from a storage device, i.e. without using transfer devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/10 Process
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/1731 including matrix
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8748 Tool displaceable to inactive position [e.g., for work loading]

Abstract

A punch press has a frame with a rotatable ram having a tool mounting portion at its lower end and a rotatable die holder in the base of the frame, and it has a tool mounting portion. The tool mounting portions of the ram and die holder are aligned and have tool receiving passages at a point about their periphery. A work support table is provided about the work station and its upper surface provides a workpiece support. The press has a workpiece guidance system which includes an elongated rail and a multiplicity of tool holders supported on the rail for movement therewith. The press also includes a tool storage and transfer assembly at the outer end of the frame with a tool storage magazine rotatable about a horizontal axis and having tool holders spaced about the major portion of its periphery. Its periphery is truncated so that in one rotated position it does not extend above the work support surface, but, in the other rotated position, its tool holders are horizontally aligned with the tool receiving passages. The punch press includes a computer control which effects rotation of the lower portion of the ram and of the die holder to orient the tool receiving passages in the desired direction, effects rotation of the magazine and operation of its element to insert or retrieve tooling in the tool mounting portions and effects movement of the rail to effect transfer of tooling to and from its tool holders.

Claims

1. In a punch press, the combination comprising:

(a) a frame having a base and a head spaced thereabove with a neck extending therebetween at one end thereof;

(b) a ram reciprocatably mounted in said head for reciprocal movement relative to said base along a vertical axis defining a work station, at least the lower portion of said ram being rotatable about said axis;

(c) die holding means rotatably mounted in said base at said work station;

(d) tool mounting means in said lower portion of said ram and in said die holding means for releasably mounting a cooperating punch and die, said mounting means having tool receiving passages at one point about the periphery thereof;

(e) work support table means about said work station with its upper surface providing a workpiece support;

(f) a workpiece guidance system including an elongated rail extending transversely of said base adjacent said neck, said system being supported on said frame for clamping an associated workpiece and effecting its movement on said work table relative to said work station along horizontal, perpendicularly oriented X and Y axes;

(g) a multiplicity of tool holders supported on said rail for movement therewith, said tool holders projecting forwardly therefrom and having tool seating portions at the forward end thereof;

(h) punch and die sets in at least some of said tool holders;

(i) means for moving said rail with said tool holders to cause said tool holders to abut the tool mounting means in said ram and die holding means and transfer a punch and die between said holders and said tool mounting means;

(j) a tool storage and transfer assembly at the opposite end of said frame including;

(i) a magazine having its principal dimensions extending in a vertical plane parallel to the axis of reciprocation of said ram and rotatable about a horizontal axis perpendicular thereto, said magazine having a major portion with a periphery circumscribing an arc of a first radial distance from said horizontal axis and a minor portion having a periphery of a second radial distance from said horizontal axis reduced from that of said first radial distance, the peripheries of said major and minor portions being generally continuous and defining a closed geometric figure, said magazine having a multiplicity of tool holders at spaced points about said periphery of said major portion and each adapted to seal releasably a punch and die to seat in the tool mounting means;

(ii) means mounting said magazine for rotation about said horizontal axis which is spaced a distance below the plane of said work support surface, said distance being of a dimension to locate said tool holders in horizontal alignment with said tool mounting means when said magazine is rotated to locate them in the uppermost position, said magazine minor portion reduced radial distance being of a dimension relative to said horizontal axis so that its periphery does not extend above the plane of said work support surface when rotated into the uppermost position;

(iii) means for transferring tooling between the uppermost tool holder of said magazine and the tool mounting means of said punch press; and

(iv) means for rotating said magazine to orient a selected tool mounting receptacle in said uppermost position for tooling transfer by said transferring means and for thereafter rotating said magazine to orient said reduced peripheral portion in said uppermost position so that said plane of said workpiece support surface is not spaced above said magazine to permit free motion of a workpiece thereover on said workpiece support surface; and

(k) control means

(i) for effecting rotation of said lower portion of said ram and of said die holding means;

(ii) for effecting rotation of said magazine and operation of said transferring means; and

(iii) for effecting movement of said rail to effect transfer of tooling to and from its tool holders,

whereby said lower portion of said ram and said die holder may be rotated to orient the tool receiving passages for receiving, or discharging tools to the tool holder on said rail, and the tool holders in said magazine.

2. The punching machine according to claim 1 wherein aid tool holders are removably supported on said rail so that tool holders may be readily replaced on said rail.

3. The punch press according to claim 1 wherein said machine includes a control means which controls movement of said guidance system is adapted to move said rail to bring said tool holder into alignment with said work station and then to move said tool holder forwardly to said work station and insert said tools into said tool mounting means.

4. The punch press according to claim 1 wherein said control means orients the tool receiving passages of said ram and said die holding means into a position facing said tool storage and transfer assembly, effects rotation of said magazine of said tool storage and transfer assembly to align an empty tool holder therewith transfers the tooling in said tool mounting means therefrom and into said empty tool holder, effects rotation of said ram lower portion and die support to orient the tool receiving passages facing said rail, and moves said rail to bring a selected tool holder thereon into alignment with said tool mounting means and transfers said tools therein into said tool mounting means.

5. The punch press according to claim 1 wherein said control means effects rotation of said ram lower portion and die support to orient the tool receiving passages facing said rail, moves said rail to bring an empty tool holder thereon into alignment with said tool mounting means and to transfer said tools in said tool mounting means into said tool holder, orients the tool receiving passages of said ram and die holding means into a position facing said tool storage and transfer assembly, effects rotation of said magazine of said tool storage and transfer assembly to align a selected tool holder therewith, and transfer the tooling from said tool mounting means therefrom into said empty tool holder, and effects rotation of said ram lower portion and die support to orient the tool receiving passages facing said rail, moves said rail to bring an empty tool holder thereon into alignment with said tool mounting means and to transfer said tools in said tool mounting means into said tool holder.

6. The punch press according to claim 1 wherein said work table is movable relative to said work station and said control means is effective to control movement thereof.

7. The punch press according to claim 1 wherein said control means is operative to move said work support table with an associated workpiece thereon to support the workpiece as it is moved to a position spaced beyond said work station during tool changing movement of said rail.

8. The punch press according to claim 7 wherein said control means is operative to move said work support table with a workpiece supported thereon to support the workpiece as it is moved by the guidance system to a position inwardly of the work station during tool changing movement of said tool storage and transfer assembly.

9. The punch press according to claim 1 wherein said tool holders have a pair of spaced tool carrying seats for a cooperating punch and die set, said tool carrying seats being horizontally aligned with said punch mounting means of said ram and said die holding means when moved into the tool changing position.

10. The punch press according to claim 1 wherein said magazine, mounting means and transfer means are disposed upon a common base which is removably engageable with said punch press frame.

11. The punch press according with claim 1 wherein said magazine is of truncated generally circular peripheral configuration with a portion of its periphery removed to provide a chordal surface at a radial distance not greater than the radial spacing to the plane of the work support table.

12. In a method for punching a workpiece, the steps comprising:

(a) providing a punch press with

(i) a frame having a base and a head spaced thereabove with a neck extending therebetween at one end thereof;

(ii) a ram reciprocatably mounted in said head for reciprocal movement relative to said base along a vertical axis defining a work station, at least the lower portion of said ram being rotatable about said axis;

(iii) die holding base at said work station;

(iv) tool mounting means in said lower portion of said ram and in said die holding means for releasably mounting a cooperating punch and die, said mounting means having tool receiving passages at one point about the periphery thereof;

(v) work support table means about said work station with its upper surface providing a workpiece support;

(vi) a workpiece guidance system including an elongated rail extending transversely of said base adjacent said neck, said system being supported on said frame for clamping an associated workpiece and effecting its movement on said work table relative to said work station along horizontal, perpendicularly oriented X and Y axes;

(vii) a multiplicity of tool holders supported on said rail for movement therewith, said tool holders projecting forwardly therefrom and having tool seating portions at the forward end thereof;

(viii) punch and die sets in at least some of said tool holders;

(ix) means for moving said rail with said tool holders to cause said tool holders to abut the tool mounting means in said ram and die holding means and transfer a punch and die between said holders and said tool mounting means;

(x) a tool storage and transfer assembly at the opposite end of said frame including;

(A) a magazine having its principal dimensions extending in a vertical plane parallel to the axis of reciprocation of said ram and rotatable about a horizontal axis perpendicular thereto, said magazine having a major portion with a periphery circumscribing an arc of a first radial distance from said horizontal axis and a minor portion having a periphery of a second radial distance from said horizontal axis reduced from that of said first radial distance, the peripheries of said major and minor portions being generally continuous and defining a closed geometric figure, said magazine having a multiplicity of tool holders at spaced points about said periphery of said major portion and each adapted to seal releasably a punch and die to seat in the tool mounting means with punch and die sets in at least some of said holders;

(B) means mounting said magazine for rotation about said horizontal axis which is spaced a distance below the plane of said work support surface, said distance being of a dimension to locate said tool holders in horizontal alignment with said tool mounting means when said magazine is rotated to locate them in the uppermost position, said magazine minor portion reduced radial distance being of a dimension relative to said horizontal axis so that its periphery does not extend above the plane of said work support surface when rotated into the uppermost position;

(C) means for transferring tooling between the uppermost tool holder of said magazine and the tool mounting means of said punch press; and

(D) means for rotating said magazine to orient a selected tool mounting receptacle in said uppermost position for tooling transfer by said transferring means and for thereafter rotating said magazine to orient said reduced peripheral portion in said uppermost position so that said plane of said workpiece support surface is not spaced above said magazine to permit free motion of a workpiece thereover on said workpiece support surface; and

(xi) control means

(A) for effecting rotation of said lower portion of said ram and of said die holding means;

(B) for effecting rotation of said magazine and operation of said transferring means; and

(C) for effecting movement of said rail to effect transfer of tooling to and from its tool holders;

(b) placing a workpiece on said work table support means and clamping it in said guidance system;

(c) rotating said lower portion of said ram and said die holding means to orient said tool receiving passages facing said tool storage and transfer assembly;

(d) activating said guidance system to move said workpiece inwardly of said work station;

(e) transferring into said tool mounting means a selected set for tools from a tool holder stored in said magazine;

(f) punching said workpiece with said set of tools;

(g) activating said guidance system to move said workpiece inwardly of said work station;

(h) returning the tooling in said tool mounting means into said tool holder of said magazine;

(i) rotating said lower portion of said ram and said die holding means to orient said rail;

(j) activating said guidance system to move said workpiece outwardly of said work station;

(k) activating said guidance system to move said rail and transfer into said tool mounting means a second selected set of tools from a tool holder on said rail; and

(l) punching said work piece with said second selected set of tools.

13. The punching method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said control means is operative to move said work support table means inwardly and outwardly of said work station concurrently with said workpiece.

15. The punching method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said control means is operative to move said work support table means inwardly and outwardly concurrently with said workpiece.

14. In a method for punching a workpiece, the steps comprising:

(a) providing a punch press with

(i) a frame having a base and a head spaced thereabove with a neck extending therebetween at one end thereof;

(ii) a ram reciprocatably mounted in said head for reciprocal movement relative to said base along a vertical axis defining a work station, at least the lower portion of said ram being rotatable about said axis;

(iii) die holding means rotatably mounted in said base at said work station;

(iv) tool mounting means in said lower portion of said ram and in said die holding means for releasably mounting a cooperating punch and die, said mounting means having tool receiving passages at one point about the periphery thereof;

(v) work support table means about said work station with its upper surface providing a workpiece support;

(vi) a workpiece guidance system including an elongated rail extending transversely of said base adjacent said neck, said system being supported on said frame for clamping an associated workpiece and effecting its movement on said work table relative to said work station along horizontal, perpendicularly oriented X and Y axes;

(vii) a multiplicity of tool holders supported on said rail for movement therewith, said tool holders projecting forwardly therefrom and having tool seating portions at the forward end thereof;

(viii) punch and die sets in at least some of said tool holders;

(ix) means for moving said rail with said tool holders to cause said tool holders to abut the tool mounting means in said ram and die holding means and transfer a punch and die between said holders and said tool mounting means;

(x) a tool storage and transfer assembly at the opposite end of said frame including;

(A) a magazine having its principal dimensions extending in a vertical plane parallel to the axis of reciprocation of said ram and rotatable about a horizontal axis perpendicular thereto, said magazine having a major portion with a periphery circumscribing an arc of a first radial distance from said horizontal axis and a minor portion having a periphery of a second radial distance from said horizontal axis reduced from that of said first radial distance, the peripheries of said major and minor portions being generally continuous and defining a closed geometric figure, said magazine having a multiplicity of tool holders at spaced points about said periphery of said major portion and each adapted to seal releasably a punch and die to seat in the tool mounting means with punch and die sets in at least some of said holders;

(B) means mounting said magazine for rotation about said horizontal axis which is spaced a distance below the plane of said work support surface, said distance being of a dimension to locate said tool holders in horizontal alignment with said tool mounting means when said magazine is rotated to locate them in the uppermost position, said magazine minor portion reduced radial distance being of a dimension relative to said horizontal axis so that its periphery does not extend above the plane of said work support surface when rotated into the uppermost position;

(C) means for transferring tooling between the uppermost tool holder of said magazine and the tool mounting means of said punch press; and

(D) means for rotating said magazine to orient a selected tool mounting receptacle in said uppermost position for tooling transfer by said transferring means and for thereafter rotating said magazine to orient said reduced peripheral) portion in said uppermost position so that said plane of said workpiece support surface is not spaced above said magazine to permit free motion of a workpiece thereover on said workpiece support surface; and

(xi) control means

(A) for effecting rotation of said lower portion of said ram and of said die holding means;

(B) for effecting rotation of said magazine and operation of said transferring means; and

(C) for effecting movement of said rail to effect transfer of tooling to and from its tool holders;

(b) placing a workpiece on said work table support means and clamping it in said guidance system;

(c) rotating said lower portion of said ram and said die holding means to orient said tool receiving passages facing said rail;

(d) activating said guidance system to move said workpiece outwardly of said work station;

(e) transferring into said tool mounting means a selected set of tools from a tool holder stored on said rail;

(f) punching said workpiece with said set of tools;

(g) activating said guidance system to move said workpiece outwardly of said work station;

(h) returning the tooling in said tool mounting means into said tool holder of said rail;

(i) rotating said lower portion of said ram and said die holding means to orient said tool receiving passages facing said tool storage and transfer assembly;

(j) activating said guidance system to move said workpiece inwardly of said work station;

(k) transferring into said tool mounting means a second selected set of tools stored in said magazine; and

(l) punching said work piece with said second selected set of tools.