Method and device for sheet metal bending or sheet metal cutting with reduced formation of flakes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024198406-A1
Application number	US-202318538141-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 13, 2023
Priority date	Dec 15, 2022
Publication date	Jun 20, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for processing a sheet metal part using a sheet metal working tool of a sheet metal working device, wherein the sheet metal working tool is a cutting blade or a press-brake jaw, wherein a sheet metal part to be processed is fixed on a cutting attachment or on a press-brake attachment by a blank holder, and the sheet metal working tool for processing the sheet metal part, proceeding from an initial position (A), carries out a lowering movement in the direction of the fixed sheet metal part. The sheet metal working tool in the process is lowered in such a way that a sheet metal contact region of the sheet metal working tool impacts the sheet metal part, and the sheet metal part is cut to size or bent by means of the sheet metal working tool.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for processing a sheet metal part using a sheet metal working tool of a sheet metal working device, wherein the sheet metal working tool is a cutting blade or a press-brake jaw, wherein a sheet metal part to be processed is fixed on an attachment having a blank holder of the sheet metal working device, the attachment being a cutting attachment if the sheet metal working tool is a cutting blade, and the attachment being a press-brake attachment if the sheet metal working tool is a press-brake jaw, comprising:
lowering the sheet metal working tool for processing the sheet metal part, proceeding from an initial position (A), in the direction of the fixed sheet metal part; the sheet metal working tool, wherein a sheet metal contact region of the sheet metal working tool impacts the sheet metal part; cutting to size by means of the sheet metal working tool the sheet metal part if the sheet metal working tool is a cutting blade, or bending the sheet metal part by means of the sheet metal working tool if the sheet metal working tool is a press-brake jaw; wetting the sheet metal contact region with a fluid; impacting the sheet metal part in the sheet metal contact region wetted with the fluid; and forming a separation layer by the fluid between the sheet metal working tool and the sheet metal part.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein after cutting to size, or after bending the sheet metal part, the sheet metal working tool is moved to the initial position (A), wherein the sheet metal contact region is wetted with the fluid while being moved to the initial position (A).

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid is provided by a fluid allocation reservoir disposed on the blank holder, and the sheet metal contact region is wetted with the fluid from the fluid allocation reservoir.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid allocation reservoir is supplied with fluid from a fluid storage unit.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid allocation reservoir is supplied with fluid in a controlled manner, and wherein a utilization of the sheet metal working tool is taken into account when controlling the fluid supply.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a pump supplies the fluid allocation reservoir with fluid synchronized with a movement of the working tool.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid allocation reservoir is an elastic absorbent textile element which is impregnated with the fluid and is disposed on the blank holder so as to be preloaded in relation to the sheet metal working tool situated at the same height level, and wherein the sheet metal contact region is wetted with the fluid in that the sheet metal contact region contacts the textile element during the movement.

8 . A sheet metal working device for processing a sheet metal part, comprising:
a sheet metal working tool, wherein the sheet metal working tool is a cutting blade or a press-brake jaw; an attachment, wherein the attachment is a cutting attachment if the sheet metal working tool is a cutting blade, and the attachment is a press-brake attachment if the sheet metal working tool is a press-brake jaw; and a blank holder, wherein the blank holder is configured to fix a sheet metal part disposed on the attachment for the processing of the sheet metal part, wherein the sheet metal working tool includes a sheet metal contact region which for processing a sheet metal part impacts the sheet metal part to be processed, and wherein the sheet metal working tool for processing the sheet metal part is configured to be moved laterally along the blank holder and the attachment, wherein a fluid allocation reservoir is disposed on the blank holder and provides a fluid and is configured to wet the sheet metal contact region with the fluid.

9 . The sheet metal working device of claim 8 , wherein the fluid allocation reservoir is an elastic absorbent textile element and is impregnated with the fluid and is disposed on the blank holder so as to be preloaded in relation to the sheet metal working tool situated at the same height level.

10 . The sheet metal working device of claim 8 , wherein the blank holder includes a groove, wherein the fluid allocation reservoir is disposed in the groove, and the groove is configured to be complementary to the sheet metal contact region.

11 . The sheet metal working device of claim 8 , wherein the fluid is a non-water-miscible, low-viscosity oil including synthetic solids and phosphoric EP additives.

12 . The sheet metal working device of claim 8 , further comprising a fluid storage unit and a pump, wherein the pump is configured to pump fluid from the fluid storage unit into the fluid allocation reservoir.

13 . The sheet metal working device of claim 8 , further comprising a control unit, wherein the control unit is designed to control the pump as a function of the activation of the sheet metal working tool.

14 . The sheet metal working device of claim 8 , wherein the sheet metal working device is configured to carry out a method according to claim 1 .

15 . A method for retrofitting an existing sheet metal working device comprising:
adding to the existing sheet metal working device a sheet metal working device including a flake formation reduction unit, a sheet metal working tool, an attachment, and a blank holder, wherein the sheet metal working tool includes a sheet metal contact region, for processing the sheet metal part, which impacts the sheet metal part to be processed, wherein the sheet metal working tool for processing the sheet metal is configured to be moved laterally along the blank holder and the attachment, wherein the sheet metal working tool is a cutting blade or a press-brake jaw, and the attachment is a cutting attachment if the sheet metal working tool is a cutting blade, and the attachment is a press-brake attachment if the sheet metal working tool is a press-brake jaw, and wherein the blank holder is configured to fix a sheet metal part, which is disposed on the attachment, for the processing of the sheet metal part, wherein the flake formation reduction unit includes a fluid allocation reservoir and a fluid, wherein the fluid allocation reservoir is disposed on the blank holder, and the fluid allocation reservoir is enriched with the fluid, wherein the disposal of the fluid allocation reservoir is performed in such a manner that the sheet metal contact region of the sheet metal working tool is wetted with the fluid at least when carrying out a downwards movement towards a sheet metal part to be processed.

Assignees

• thyssenkrupp Automotive Body Solutions GmbH
• Thyssenkrupp Ag

Inventors

• Schunk Thorsten
• Huck Gabriel

Classifications

• B23Q11/122

  Lubricant supply devices (F16N7/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B23D15/08

  with a blade moved in one plane, e.g. perpendicular to the surface of the sheet · CPC title

• B21D37/18 Primary

  Lubricating {, e.g. lubricating tool and workpiece simultaneously (lubricating workpieces for deep-drawing B21D22/201)} · CPC title

• B21D5/04 Primary

  on brakes making use of clamping means on one side of the work · CPC title

• B23D15/04

  having only one moving blade · CPC title