Tool transfer apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022055087-A1
Application number	US-201917298739-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 6, 2019
Priority date	Dec 13, 2018
Publication date	Feb 24, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A tool transfer device for displacing one or multiple tools, in particular bending tools, in a guide rail, includes: at least one longitudinal push and pull transfer device for displacing the tool(s), a channel for a supply line being formed in or on the push and pull transfer device, a receptacle including at least one, preferably spirally extending, guide for retracting the push and pull transfer device, and at least one supply line, a first section of the supply line extending in the push and pull transfer device channel. The guide includes a longitudinal opening extending along the guide extension, and a second supply line section extends outside the push and pull transfer device and the receptacle guide, and the supply line, between the first and second sections, exits the channel at an exit point arranged in the guide of the receptacle near the push and pull transfer device.

First claim

1 . A tool transfer device ( 1 ) for displacing one or multiple tools ( 2 ), in particular bending tools, in a guide rail ( 3 ), comprising:
at least one longitudinal push and pull transfer device ( 4 , 4 ′) for displacing the tool(s) ( 2 ), wherein a channel ( 5 , 5 ′) for a supply line ( 6 , 6 ′) is formed in or on the push and pull transfer device ( 4 , 4 ′), a receptacle ( 7 ), which comprises at least one, preferably spirally extending, guide ( 8 , 18 ) for retracting the push and pull transfer device ( 4 , 4 ′), at least one supply line ( 6 , 6 ′), wherein a first section ( 16 ) of the supply line ( 6 , 6 ′) extends in the channel ( 5 , 5 ′) of the push and pull transfer device ( 4 , 4 ′), wherein the guide ( 8 , 18 ) comprises a longitudinal opening ( 9 , 19 ) extending along the guide extension, and a second section ( 17 ) of the supply line ( 6 , 6 ′) extends outside the push and pull transfer device ( 4 , 4 ′) and outside the guide ( 8 , 18 ) of the receptacle ( 7 ), and the supply line ( 6 , 6 ′), between the first section ( 16 ) and the second section ( 17 ), exits the channel ( 5 , 5 ′) at an exit point ( 10 ), which is arranged in a region of the push and pull trans-fer device ( 4 , 4 ′) which region is located in the guide ( 8 , 18 ) of the receptacle ( 7 ).

2 . The tool transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the supply line ( 6 ), between the first section ( 16 ) and the second section ( 17 ), preferably in the region of the exit point ( 10 ), exits the guide ( 8 ) of the receptacle ( 7 ) through the longitudinal opening ( 9 ).

3 . The tool transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the exit point ( 10 ) is arranged in the end region—which is located in the guide ( 8 ) of the receptacle ( 7 )—of the push and pull transfer device ( 4 ).

4 . The tool transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the second section ( 17 ) is arranged so as to be suspended, wherein preferably the second section ( 17 ) crosses at least one, preferably at least two, guiding section(s) of the guide ( 8 ) and/or wherein preferably the second section ( 17 ) extends in a plane which is essentially parallel to the plane in which the guide ( 8 ) extends.

5 . The tool transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the second section ( 17 ) of the supply line ( 6 , 6 ′)—in at least one position of the push and pull transfer device ( 4 , 4 ′)—rests at least partially, preferably along at least half of its length, on a support surface.

6 . The tool transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the guide ( 8 ) opens via the longitudinal opening ( 9 ) in a direction that is transverse, preferably substantially perpendicular, to the plane in which the guide ( 8 ) runs.

7 . The tool transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the plane, in which the guide ( 8 ) extends, is essentially vertical.

8 . The tool transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the guide ( 8 ) comprises at least one section with a curved course, wherein the guide ( 8 ) preferably comprises a further section with a straight, preferably horizontal, course, wherein preferably the length of the further section having a straight course amounts to at least ⅓, preferably at least ½, of the total length of the guide ( 8 ).

9 . The tool transfer device according to one of the claim 1 , wherein the guide ( 8 ) comprises a section with spiral-like course.

10 . The tool transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the tool transfer device ( 1 ), preferably in the region of the exit opening ( 10 ), has a roll-up device ( 11 ) for rolling up the supply line ( 6 ), which moves together with the push and pull transfer device ( 4 ) and is preferably connected to the push and pull transfer device ( 4 ).

11 . The tool transfer device according to claim 10 , wherein the roll-up device ( 11 ) is provided in the form of a drum or in the form of a roller or in the form of a coil or in the form of a hub.

12 . The tool transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the supply line ( 6 ) comprises a rotary joint ( 12 ), preferably in the form of a slip ring joint, between the first section ( 16 ) and the second section ( 17 ).

13 . The tool transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the transfer device ( 1 ) comprises a drive ( 13 ) for driving the push and pull transfer device ( 4 ), wherein preferably the drive ( 13 ) is arranged outside the receptacle ( 7 ).

14 . The tool transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein
the supply line ( 6 ) comprises at least one cable and/or at least one pressure and/or vacuum line, and/or the tool-remote end of the supply line ( 6 ) is coupled to a supply device ( 14 ), such as a controller and/or an electrical supply device and/or a pressure and/or vacuum supply device.

15 . The tool transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the push and pull transfer device ( 4 ) comprises, in the region of its tool-side end, a coupling device ( 15 ) connected to the supply line ( 6 ) for coupling a tool ( 2 ) to the push and pull transfer device ( 4 ) and/or an effector, connected to the supply line ( 6 ), for acting on a tool ( 2 ), in particular an adjustment device for carrying out a tool adjustment.

16 . The tool transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the push and pull transfer device ( 4 ) is formed by a chain made of a plurality of inter-connected chain links, wherein preferably the channel ( 5 ) for the supply line ( 6 ) runs through the chain links.

17 . The tool-transfer device according to claim 16 , wherein the exit point ( 10 ) at which the supply line ( 6 ) exits the channel ( 5 ) is formed in that chain link which forms the tool-remote end of the push and pull transfer device ( 4 ).

18 . The tool transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the push and pull transfer device ( 4 ) in its cross section is completely accommodated within the guide ( 8 ) of the receptacle ( 7 ).

19 . The tool transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the receptacle ( 7 ) is formed by a plate-shaped body and the guide ( 8 ) runs, preferably entirely, within the plate-shaped body, wherein preferably the longitudinal opening ( 9 ) is aligned with the surface of the plate-shaped body.

20 . The tool transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the receptacle ( 7 ) comprises a first, preferably spirally extending, guide ( 8 ) and a second, preferably spirally extending, guide ( 18 ), wherein a first longitudinal push and pull transfer device ( 4 ), preferably for displacing upper tools, is assigned to the first guide ( 8 ) and a second longitudinal push and pull transfer device ( 4 ′), preferably for displacing lower tools, is assigned to the second guide ( 18 ).

21 . The tool transfer device according to claim 20 , wherein the entry into the first guide ( 8 ) is arranged above the entry into the second guide ( 18 ).

22 . The tool transfer device according to claim 20 , wherein the first guide ( 8 ) and the second guide ( 18 ) are formed in a common, preferably plate-shaped, receiving body, wherein the longitudinal opening ( 9 ) of the first guide ( 8 ) is located on a first side of the receiving body and the longitudinal opening ( 19 ) of the second guide ( 18 ) is located on a second side of the receiving body, the second side being opposite to the first side.

23 . The tool transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein
the windings of the first guide ( 8 ) extend between the windings of the second guide ( 18 ), and/or the

Assignees

• Trumpf Maschinen Austria Gmbh & Co Kg

Inventors

• Fischereder Bernhard
• Tonda Roch Andrea
• Vidotto Giovanni

Classifications

• B21D5/02

  on press brakes without making use of clamping means · CPC title

• B21D37/145 Primary

  Die storage magazines · CPC title

• B21D5/0254 Primary

  Tool exchanging · CPC title

• H02G11/006

  using extensible carrier for the cable, e.g. self-coiling spring (extensible conductors or cables H01B7/06) · CPC title

• F16G13/07

  the links being of identical shape, e.g. cranked · CPC title