Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a feeding device for handling platelike preforms. The feeding device comprises a feeding table on top of which the preform may be accommodated. Further, the feeding device may comprise one or more pushing elements by means of which the preform may be moved on the feeding table.

[0002] The invention further relates to an arrangement and method for handling platelike preforms.

[0003] The field of the invention is described in more detail in the preambles of the independent claims of the application.

[0004] By cutting, bending, and other sheet metal machining methods, various kinds of parts may be formed out of sheet material, such as enclosures and profiles. For machining sheet material, a press brake may be used, for example, to which a platelike preform is fed by means of a feeding device. Feeding devices are put forth in the following publications, for example: EP-1724078-A2, CN-201 161271 -Y and US-2010296905-A1 . The prior art feeding machines have been found to contain drawbacks.

Brief description of the invention

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved feeding device, arrangement, and method for handling platelike preforms.

[0006] The feeding device according to the invention is characterized in that the feeding device comprises an elongated feeding beam which is supported to guides that are transverse in relation to the feeding beam, and which feeding beam is arranged movable in relation to the feeding table; in that said at least one pushing element is arranged on the feeding beam; and in that the feeding beam comprises a plurality of lifting elements for moving the platelike preforms vertically, whereby the feeding beam is provided with means to move the platelike preforms horizontally and vertically.

[0007] The arrangement according to the invention is characterized in that the feeding device comprises an elongated feeding beam which is supported to guides that are transverse in relation to the feeding beam, and is arranged movable in relation to the feeding table and sheet metal working ma- chinery; in that said at least one pushing element is arranged on the feeding beam; and in that the feeding beam comprises a plurality of lifting elements for moving the platelike preforms vertically, whereby the feeding beam is provided with means to move the platelike preforms horizontally and vertically.

[0008] The method according to the invention is characterized by moving the pushing element by means of the elongated feeding beam; and lifting the platelike preform on the feeding table by means of the lifting elements on the feeding beam.

[0009] The idea of the solution put forth is that a feeding device comprises a feeding beam which may be moved in relation to a feeding table. The feeding beam has lifting elements for moving platelike preforms vertically. Further, the feeding beam is provided with one or more pushing elements for moving a preform on top of the feeding table horizontally.

[0010] The benefit of the presented solution is that a feeding beam incorporated in the feeding device may be utilized in diverse ways for lifting and lowering, moving and feeding platelike preforms in sheet metal working machinery. When one device is used instead of several separate devices, the feeding machine may be more easily controlled compared to several separate devices. Furthermore, the structure may be simple, easier to manufacture, and of a lower price.

[0011] The idea of one embodiment is that there are lifting devices on the portions of both ends of the feeding beam to move the feeding beam vertically. In such a case, the lifting elements on the feeding beam may be adapted to be vertically immobile in relation to the feeding beam. Alternatively, both the feeding beam and lifting elements may be so adapted that they may be moved in the vertical direction.

[0012] The idea of one embodiment is that one end of the feeding beam may be lifted and lowered.

[0013] The idea of one embodiment is that there are horizontal pivoted axles between the feeding beam and the supports at its ends, which allow the feeding beam to be tilted in the vertical direction.

[0014] The idea of one embodiment is that the feeding beam comprises at least one hydraulic cylinder to move the feeding beam vertically.

[0015] The idea of one embodiment is that the lifting elements on the feeding beam are vertically movable in relation to the feeding beam. This allows the feeding beam not to be moved at all in the vertical direction, but the required lifting movement may be established by moving the lifting elements, only. On the other hand, it is possible to arrange the vertical movement for both the feeding beam and the lifting elements.

[0016] The idea of one embodiment is that the lifting elements on the feeding beam may each be separately moved in relation to the feeding beam. In such a case, each lifting element has its own actuator to create a vertical movement. The actuator may be a pressure-medium cylinder, such as a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder.

[0017] The idea of one embodiment is that the feeding beam is supported on the portion of both of its ends to a feed carriage. The feed carriages may be moved, supported by the guides, by means of moving devices. A moving device may be an electric motor or a pressure-medium motor, for example. Further, the feed carriages may be independently moved, whereby the feeding beam may be driven to an angular position in relation to the feeding table. This way, the feeding beam is suitable for feeding such platelike preforms that have a sloped rear edge.

[0018] The idea of one embodiment is that there are pivoted axles between the feeding beam and feed carriages, which allow the horizontal turning of the feeding beam in response to moving the feed carriages in a differing manner.

[0019] The idea of one embodiment is that the front edge of the feeding beam is equipped with guides in the longitudinal direction of the feeding beam. Two or more pushing elements are supported to the guides so that the pushing elements may be moved, supported by the guides, in the longitudinal direction of the feeding beam. This way, the pushing elements may be positioned to the appropriate places in accordance with the length of the preform being handled. Alternatively, instead of the front edge, the guides may be placed to the upper surface of the feeding beam, for example.

[0020] The idea of one embodiment is that there is at least one pushing element at the front edge of the feeding beam, which may be stepless- ly moved in the longitudinal direction of the feeding beam by means of a moving device. One or more pushing elements may be arranged to be supported by the guides at the front edge of the feeding beam.

[0021] The idea of one embodiment is that the one or more pushing elements on the feeding beam are vertically movable in relation to the feeding beam. [0022] The idea of one embodiment is that the pushing element is a straight, platelike piece that has a planar vertical pushing surface.

[0023] The idea of one embodiment is that the operation of the feeding device is linked to the operation of the sheet metal working machine. In such a case, the control units of the feeding device and the sheet metal working machine may be communicating with each other, whereby control information and control commands may be passed between them. The control unit of the feeding device may be adapted to control the operation of the feeding device in response to control information received from the control unit of the sheet metal working machine, whereby the operation of the feeding device may be controlled according to the working cycle of the sheet metal working machine. The control unit of the feeding device may be adapted to control the working cycle of the feeding device automatically.

[0024] The idea of one embodiment is that the sheet metal working machine is a press brake. A press brake may be used to press bends on a metal sheet with the aid of suitable tools.

[0025] The idea of one embodiment is that the sheet metal working machinery is a cutting machine.

[0026] The idea of one embodiment is that the solutions put forth in this patent application are used for handling metallic platelike preforms. The metal sheet may be steel, stainless steel, aluminium, or other metal material.

[0027] The idea of one embodiment is that the lifting elements are a suction cup, whereby the platelike preform may be lifted by gripping its top plane surface. To activate its lifting force, underpressure may be led to the suction cup.

[0028] The idea of one embodiment is that the lifting elements are a magnet, whereby the platelike preform may be lifted by gripping its top plane surface. The magnet may be activated by leading electric current to it.

[0029] The idea of one embodiment is that the upper surface of the feeding table has a plurality of rolling elements supported by which the platelike preform may be moved. The rolling elements may be balls, for example.

[0030] The idea of one embodiment is that the feeding table is one uniform elongated table which is transverse in relation to the guides.

[0031] The idea of one embodiment is that the feeding table comprises two or more table parts which are arranged side-by-side and between which there are gaps. [0032] The idea of one embodiment is that the feeding beam is movable on a plane which is vertically higher than the top level of the feeding table. There may be a vertical arm part between the feed carriages supported on the guides and the feeding beam, by means of which the vertical position of the feeding beam may be defined in relation to the height of the feeding table. It is furthermore possible to arrange the guides at the desired height position by means of support elements between the floor and the guides.

[0033] The idea of one embodiment is that the feeding beam is a box-type structure formed of sheet and has an essentially rectangular cross section.

[0034] The idea of one embodiment is that the coupling between the feeding beam and the pivoted axle comprises elements for movement, which allow the feeding beam to move in the longitudinal direction of the feeding beam between the feeding beam and the pivoted axle when the feeding beam is turned to an angular position in relation to the guides. When the feeding beam is perpendicular to the guides, the distance between the feed carriages is at its shortest. The distance, however, becomes longer, if the carriages are moved in a differing manner and the feeding beam is turned to an angular position. By means of the elements for movement, this change in the distance between the coupling points can be compensated for.

[0035] The idea of one embodiment is that there is a pivoted axle between the feeding beam and the feed carriage, which has a tubular structure. The pivoted axle may comprise two or more tube parts different in size, which are arranged partly within each other in such a manner that they form a telescopic structure. In such a case, the length of the pivoted axle may change if the vertical position of the feeding beam is changed.

[0036] The idea of one embodiment is that the feeding beam is vertically movable by means of hydraulic cylinders on the portion of its ends. The pivoted axles may be tubular whereby the hydraulic cylinders may be arranged inside the tubular pivoted axles.

[0037] The idea of one embodiment is that the feeding beam may be driven to a loading station, which is located at a first edge of the horizontal movement path of the feeding beam. The feeding table is correspondingly located at the other edge of the movement path. The loading station and the feeding table are therefore at opposite edges. A pile of sheets with many platelike preforms one upon the other may be placed in the loading station. The pile of sheets or a single platelike preform may be placed in the loading station against the floor surface or on top of a suitable transport platform. The feeding beam may be driven on top of the loading station, after which the lifting elements therein may be led to make contact with the upper surface of the sheet preform below. After this, a gripping force of the lifting element is activated and the lifting of the sheet preform is carried out.

Brief description of the figures

[0038] Some embodiments are explained in more detail in the accompanying drawings, in which

[0039] Figure 1 is a schematic diagonal top view of a feeding device in a situation where a feeding beam has been driven to a loading station on top of a pile of sheets,

[0040] Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the feeding device according to Figure 1 in a situation where the feeding beam has lifted one platelike preform onto a feeding table,

[0041] Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the feeding device according to the preceding figures in a situation where a feeding beam is pushing a platelike preform on a feeding table, and where the feeding beam is placed in an angular position in relation to the feeding table,

[0042] Figure 4 is a schematic view of an end of a feeding beam and the associated means for lifting an end of the feeding beam and supporting it to a feed carriage,

[0043] Figure 5 is a schematic top view of a feeding beam and turning it to an angular position,

[0044] Figure 6 is a schematic front view of a feeding beam and alternative lifting elements on it, and

[0045] Figure 7 is a schematic side view of a press brake, which is a sheet metal working machine that the feeding device may be arranged to serve.

[0046] In the figures, some embodiments are showed in a simplified form for reasons of clarity. Parts of the same kind are denoted by the same reference numbers in the figures.

Detailed description of some embodiments

[0047] Figure 1 shows a feeding device 1 , which comprises a feeding table 2, which may be one uniform entity or consist of a plurality of table units 3 which together make the feeding table 2. There may be gaps between adjacent table units 3. The upper surface of the feeding table 2 may be provided with rolling elements 4, which facilitate the moving of the preform being handled. The feeding table 2 may be arranged in the direction of the sheet metal working machine and in its proximity so that the piece being handled may be moved, supported by the feeding table 2, for machining by the sheet metal working machine. The position of the sheet metal working machine is roughly indicated by line 5 in the figure. Further, the feeding device 1 comprises guides 6a, 6b which are transverse in relation to the feeding table 2 and supported by which there is arranged an elongated feeding beam 7. The feeding beam 7 may be a box-type structure which is arranged transverse between the guides 6a, 6b. On the guides 6a, 6b, there may be arranged feed carriages 8 by means of which the feeding beam 7 may be moved in the horizontal direction H. On the first end of the guides 6a, 6b, there is a loading station 9 and, on the other end, the feeding table 2 whereby the feeding beam 7 may be moved between them according to the operating cycle of the feeding device 1 . A pile of sheets 10 consisting of several platelike preforms may be brought to the loading station 9; on top of the pile, the feeding beam 7 may be moved as shown in Figure 1 . The feeding beam 7 has a plurality of lifting elements 1 1 which are placed against the upper surface of the topmost platelike preform 12 in the pile of preforms 10, after which the lifting elements 1 1 are activated to establish a gripping force. After the platelike preform 12 has been lifted in the vertical direction V, the feeding beam 7 may move the platelike preform 12 horizontally H towards the feeding table 2.

[0048] The operation of the feeding device 1 may be controlled by means of at least one first control unit CD1 . The first control unit CD1 of the feeding device 1 may be in contact with at least one second control unit CD2 of the sheet metal working machine 5. In such a case, the first control unit CD1 of the feeding device 1 may control the operation of the feeding device 1 on the basis of control information received from the second control unit CD2 of the sheet metal working machine 5. The control of the operation of the feeding device 1 may consequently be linked to the operation of the sheet metal working machine 5. The feeding device 1 may be automatically controlled according to the operating cycle of the sheet metal working machine 5.

[0049] Figure 1 further shows that the feeding beam 7 is equipped with one or more pushing elements 13. A pushing element 13 may be a plate- like piece with its plane in the vertical direction. There may be two or three pushing elements 13, or, if need be, even more. By means of the pushing element 13, the platelike preform 12 arranged on the feeding table 2 may be pushed towards the sheet metal working machine 5, as will be demonstrated by Figure 3 below. The pushing elements 13 are moved in the feeding direction by moving the feeding beam 7. At the front edge 7a of the feeding beam 7, that is, at the edge on the feeding table 2 side, there may be guides 14 in the longitudinal direction of the feeding beam 7, to which the pushing elements 13 are supported. In such a case, the location of the pushing elements 13 may be changed in the longitudinal direction L of the feeding beam 7. The pushing elements 13 may be moved steplessly. The feeding beam 7 may comprise one or more actuators by which the location of the pushing elements 13 may be changed.

[0050] Figure 2 shows a situation where the feeding beam 7 has moved on top of the feeding table 2. In such a case, the platelike preform 12 may be lowered on top of the upper surface of the feeding table 2, and the gripping force of the lifting elements 1 1 is removed. After this, the feeding beam 7 is moved backward in such a manner that the pushing elements 13 may be placed against the back edge of the platelike preform 12.

[0051] The pushing elements 13 may be placed against the back edge of the platelike preform 12 that has been lifted on the feeding table 2, that is, against the edge on the loading station 9 side, in the following alternative ways: the height of the feeding table 2 may be changed, the pushing elements 13 may be moved vertically downward, or the feeding beam 7 is moved vertically downward.

[0052] In Figure 3, the platelike preform 12 is pushed in the feeding direction by means of the pushing elements 13. The figure shows that the ends of the feeding beam 7 may be moved on the guides to unequal distances whereby the feeding beam 7 may be placed in an angular position in relation to the feeding table 2. In such a case, the pushing elements 13 of the feeding beam 7 may also be placed against the rear edge of a platelike preform 12 that has a sloped edge. There may be pivoted axles 15 between the feeding beam 7 and the feed carriages 8, which allow the feeding beam 7 to be turned in the horizontal direction H when the feed carriages 8 are moved on the guides 6a, 6b to different directions or for an unequal distance. [0053] Figure 4 shows a detail of the end of the feeding beam 7. The feeding beam 7 may be turned in relation to the vertical axis 16. The pivoted axle 15 may comprise a tubular structure whereby it may have a first tube part 17 having a larger diameter, and a second tube part 18 with a smaller diameter. The tube parts 17, 18 are arranged partly within each other in such a manner that they form a telescopic structure. In such a case, the length of the pivoted axle 15 changes when the vertical position of the feeding beam 7 is changed with a lifting device 19. The lifting device 19 may be, for example, a hydraulic cylinder which may be arranged inside the tubular pivoted axle 15. The first tube part 17 is supported to the feed carriage 8.

[0054] Figure 5 shows, in a simplified form, the feeding beam 7 and turning it to an angular position. The angular position is marked in the figure with a dotted line 7a. Because the distance between the pivoted axles 15 is greater in the angular position 7a than in the perpendicular position, there are elements for movement 20 between the feeding beam 7 and the pivoted axles 15, which allow movement A in the feeding beam 7 direction. The turning of the feeding beam 7 may be performed by moving the pivoted axles 15 in opposite directions H1 , H2 by means of the feed carriages, or by moving one end of the feeding beam, only.

[0055] Figure 6 shows a feeding beam 7 and alternative lifting elements 1 1 a, 1 1 b on it. The lifting element may be a suction cup 1 1 a, which may be moved in relation to the feeding beam 7 by means of an actuator 21 . Alternatively, the lifting element may be a magnet 1 1 b. There may be two or more lifting elements fixed to a common frame part 22 which may be moved by means of the actuator 21 . The feeding beam 7 may be immovable in the vertical direction V or, alternatively, it may be moved by means of the lifting devices 19. If need be, the ends of the feeding beam 7 may be moved in the vertical direction independently of each other, which is why there may be a horizontal pivoted axle 23 between the feeding beam 7 and the pivoted axle 15.

[0056] Figure 7 shows a sheet metal working machine 5, in this case a vertical press brake 24, which comprises a frame including at least ends 25 and 26 which may be supported against a floor. Between the ends 25, 26 are supported an upper beam 27 and a lower beam 28. The upper beam 27 may be moved in the vertical direction by means of powered members 29 and 30 toward the lower beam during edge pressing. Between the upper beam 27 and lower beam 28, there is a gap 31 , to which the platelike preform 14 may be arranged. The opposite longitudinal edges of the beams 27, 28 have support surfaces 32 to which edging tools may be secured. To such a press brake 24, for example, a preform to be pressed may be fed by means of the feeding device set forth in this application. The control unit CD2 of the sheet metal working machine may be connected to the control unit of the feeding device, whereby the feeding device may be controlled according to the working cycles of edging.

[0057] In some cases, features disclosed in this application may be used as such, regardless of other features. On the other hand, when necessary, features disclosed in this application may be combined in order to provide different combinations.

[0058] The drawings and the related description are only intended to illustrate the idea of the invention. Details of the invention may vary within the scope of the claims.