TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a tool change mechanism for providing automatic arrangement according to the bending length formed by joining press tools to be placed onto the bending center in CNC bending machines used in bending metal sheets.

PRIOR ART

CNC bending machines, which have a wide usage area in metal industry, are embodiments having a bending tool for providing bending to metal sheets, and press tools connected to the bending tool. Press tools provide fixation of the sheet metal during providing bending to the sheet by means of bending blades.

The press tools comprise central press tools, right-left reference beginning press tools, thin press tools, lateral press tools and final limit press tools. All press tools except the central press tools are taken in different numbers according to the bending dimension to be realized and said press tools are sequenced to the press bearing bodies within a specific arrangement. This sequencing is arranged and controlled by operators. This operation step increases work power and the related labor costs. Moreover, the sequencing process leads to time loss and may lead to extension of the production durations and may lead to a decrease in quality.

As a result, because of all of the abovementioned problems, an improvement is required in the related technical field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an automatic tool change mechanism for providing sequencing of press tools in CNC bending machines, for eliminating the above mentioned disadvantages and for bringing new advantages to the related technical field.

The main object of the present invention is to provide an automatic tool change mechanism developed for controlling and managing the movements of press tools. Another object of the present invention is to provide a tool change mechanism which realizes sequencing of press tools automatically according to the bending dimension.

In order to realize all of the abovementioned objects and the objects which are to be deducted from the detailed description below, the present invention is an automatic tool change mechanism for providing sequencing of the press tools, provided in CNC bending machines, to the tool bearing body according to the bending length. Accordingly, said tool change mechanism is characterized by comprising a guide body where the press tools are placed, a tool catching group which provides unlocking and catching of locks of press tools provided in said guide body in order to provide transportation of the press tools to the related position on the bearing body, and a tool positioning robot provided in a linearly movable manner on the guide body and where a separation group is provided which separates the tools in a manner forming a catching gap where said tool catching group is placed.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in order to provide fixing of said bearing body at the position where the press tools are to be placed, a lock system is provided on said guide body and a tool locking part is connected to said lock system.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, in order to provide movement of said tool positioning robot in front of the bearing body, a robot positioning system is provided which is connected to the guide body.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said tool positioning robot comprises tool transportation group connected to the robot positioning system.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said tool catching group comprises a fork spanner which opens the latch mechanism of the press tool, and clamps which catch the released press tools through the pins thereof.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a piston head is provided where said fork spanner is connected, and a spanner drive piston is provided which provides movement to said piston head.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a tool catching body is provided where said clamps are connected, and a clamp drive element is provided which provides movement to said tool catching body. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said tool separation group comprises a separator part and a pin and a body where said separator part and said pin are provided.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a body drive element is provided which provides movement of said body, and a linear bearing is provided whereon said body moves.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said lock system comprises a tool locking pin placed to the tool locking part and a pin drive element which activates said tool locking pin.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a lock movable body is provided which provides bringing the locking pin to the correct position, a lock bearing piston is provided which provides movement of said lock movable body, and a distance adjustment part is provided whereon the lock movable body is rested.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said lock movable body comprises a spring which provides return against overloading.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said robot positioning system comprises a robot drive piston, a first pulley where said robot drive piston provides movement, and a second pulley, and a belt provided between said first pulley and said second pulley.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said tool transportation group comprises a tool transportation body, a transportation drive element which provides movement of said tool transportation body, and a drive gear transferring movement from said transportation drive element to the tool transportation body, and a linear gear.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said piston and drive elements operate by means of pneumatic system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 is the general view of the subject matter automatic tool change mechanism. Figure 2 is the general view of the tool positioning robot.

Figure 3 is the detailed view of the tool positioning robot.

Figure 4 is the general view of the tool transportation group.

Figure 5 is the general view of the tool catching group.

Figure 6 is the general view of the tool separation group.

Figure 7 is the general view of the robot positioning system.

Figure 8 is the general view of the lock system.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 Tool Change Mechanism

1 1 Guide Body

20 Tool Positioning Robot

21 Tool Transportation Group

21 1 Transportation Drive Element

212 Drive Gear

213 Linear Gear

214 Tool Transportation Body

22 Tool Catching Group

221 Fork Spanner

222 Piston Head

223 Spanner Drive Piston

224 Tool Catching Body

225 Clamp

226 Clamp Drive Element

23 Tool Separation Group

231 Body

232 Linear Bearing

233 Separator Part

234 Pin

235 Body Drive Element 24 Robot Positioning System

241 Robot Drive Piston

242 Revolution Reduction Part

243 First Pulley

244 Second Pulley

245 Belt

30 Lock System

31 Tool Locking Pin

32 Pin Drive Element

33 Lock Movable Body

34 Distance Adjustment Part

35 Spring

36 Lock Bearing Piston

40 Tool Locking Part

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the subject matter tool change mechanism (10) is explained with references to examples without forming any restrictive effect only in order to make the subject more understandable.

With reference to Figure 1 , the tool change mechanism (10) comprises two guide bodies (1 1 ) provided mutually and connected to the tool bearing body and a tool positioning robot (20) which provides sequencing of tools in said guide bodies (1 1 ) and a lock system (30) which locks the bearing body in its position as the tool bearing body arrives at the correct position and a tool locking part (40) connected to said lock system (30). The press tools are provided in the guide bodies (1 1 ) and they are carried by means of determined methods according to the desired bending dimension and they are positioned in the bearing body.

The tool positioning robot (20) comprises a tool transportation group (21 ), a tool catching group (22) provided in the vicinity of said tool transportation group (21 ) and a tool separation group (23). The movement of the tool positioning robot (20) complex on the tool bearing body is provided by means of a robot positioning system (24). Said robot positioning system (24) comprises a robot drive piston (241 ), a revolution reduction part (242) which regulates and reduces the revolution of the piston (241 ), a first pulley (243) which realizes rotation by means of the movement received from said revolution reduction part (242), a second pulley (244) which is rotated by means of the rotation of said first pulley (243), and a belt (245) which connects said first pulley (243) and said second pulley (244) in order to transfer the rotational movement and whereon the tool transportation group (21 ) is positioned.

The tool transportation group (21 ) comprises a transportation drive element (21 1 ), a drive gear (212) where said transportation drive element (21 1 ) transfers movement, a linear gear (213) which transforms rotational movement of the drive gear (212) to linear movement in a connected manner to said drive gear (212) and a tool transportation body (214) where said linear gear (213) provides linear movement.

The tool catching group (22) comprises a tool catching body (224), two clamps (225) provided mutually at the continuation of said tool catching body (224), and a fork spanner (221 ) extending between a clamp drive element (226) and the clamps (225) in order to provide movement to said clamps (225), a piston head (222) where said fork spanner (221 ) is connected and a spanner piston (223) which provides movement to said piston head (222) in a manner moving the fork spanner (221 ). The piston, existing in the press tool, is grabbed by means of the movement applied to the fork spanner (221 ) by the spanner piston (223). In a simultaneous manner with the movement of the fork spanner (221 ), the clamps (225) catch the pins, existing on the sides of the press tool, by means of the opening closing movement provided by the clamp drive element (226).

The tool separation group (23) comprises a body (231 ), a linear bearing (232) with forward- backward movement provided under said body (231 ), a separator part (233) adapted in said body (231 ), a pin (234) and a body drive element (235) which provides movement of the body (231 ) on the linear bearing (232). The separator part (233) and the pin (234) are moved simultaneously with the movement provided by the body drive element (235). The separator part (233) enters between the press tools, and the pin (234) is placed to the tool referencing hole and the required gap for the tool separation process is formed.

The lock system (30) is provided on said tool locking part (40). The lock system (30) comprises a tool locking pin (31 ), a pin drive element (32) which activates said tool locking pin (31 ), a lock movable body (33), a lock bearing piston (36) which moves said lock movable body (33), a distance adjustment part (34) where the lock movable body (33) is moved and rested, and a spring (35). The lock bearing piston (36) moves the lock movable body (33) linearly and brings it to the suitable locking position. By means of said spring (35), the return of the lock movable body (33) is provided against overloading. The lock movable body (33), brought to the suitable position, is rested to the distance adjustment part (34) and the pin drive element (32), provided on the lock movable body (33), triggers the tool locking pin (31 ) and provides engagement to the tool locking part (40). Thus, the bearing body is fixed at its position.

The bearing body is the part where the press tools are placed in a compliant manner to the length of the bending to be realized. The press tools are provided on the guide body (1 1 ) in the automatic tool change mechanism (10) and they are taken from the guide body (1 1 ) by means of tool positioning robots (20) and they are sequenced on the tool body. In order to realize this process, first of all, the bearing body shall arrive at the related position and it shall be locked by means of the lock system (30) in its position. This locking is provided by means of placement of the tool locking pin (31 ) to the tool locking part (40). In this direction, the tool positioning robots (20) provide taking and transportation of the press tools which are to be sequenced. The linear movement of the tool positioning robot (20) is realized by means of the robot positioning system (24). First of all, the tool positioning robot (20) is positioned in front of the tools to be taken, and the tool separation group (23) provides determination of the tools, which are to be taken, by means of the pin (234) and the separator part (233). Afterwards, the latch mechanism, placed in the tools to be taken by means of the tool catching group (22), is triggered and opened by means of the fork spanner (221 ) and the released press tools are handled by means of clamps (225). Afterwards, the tool positioning robot (20) is guided to the position where the press tools are to be left. In the position where the press tools are to be left, the region where the press tools are to be placed is opened by means of the tool separation group (23), and afterwards, the press tools are placed to the related region. All piston and drive elements provided in the tool change mechanism are pneumatic.

The protection scope of the present invention is set forth in the annexed claims and cannot be restricted to the illustrative disclosures given above, under the detailed description. It is because a person skilled in the relevant art can obviously produce similar embodiments under the light of the foregoing disclosures, without departing from the main principles of the present invention.