EP1919640B1 - Machine-type device for raising machine punches of the type using adiabatic energy change - Google Patents

Abstract

The die lifter for an adiabatic energy conversion machine with a working table (20), die support, die and lifting cylinders, has the working table and die guide block (24) designed to provide for the positioning and movement of in-line lifting pushers (23, 30) operated by power cylinders (21) located beneath the working table, with each upper pusher (30) sliding in the guide block and lifting the die in certain operating stages.

Description

The invention relates to the technical sector of machines, machine tools using the transformation of adiabatic energy.

Machines have been developed by the applicant with, in particular, a method and device for energy damping which has been the subject of the patent FR 2,859,935 .

Various research studies have been carried out by the applicant, in particular on the adiabatic energy damping control, which have resulted in solutions for which parallel patent applications are in progress.

In order to optimize the operation of this type of machine, the applicant has also been interested in the problem of changing tools.

For this purpose, and for the good understanding of the invention, it has been illustrated, figure 1 , the operating diagram of the machine in the adiabatic cutting frame. The principle is that the punch enters the sheet metal plate with a high speed. During the impact of the punch on the sheet metal plate, the part receives very localized mechanical energy. This energy does not have time to broadcast and creates an instant warm-up. The ejection of the cut portion is caused by the viscosity of the material coupled to the force exerted by the punch. The implementation of this method is carried out with a machine which successively comprises a table of work (1), a bed base (2), located in the horizontal upper plane, and bearing on damping means (3) of the energy transmitted by the pressing means (4) of the ram type. The damping means (3) are guided and maintained by vertical receiver blocks (5). The bed base has a guide cavity of a vertical pusher (6) acting in thrust on a punch (7) itself guided by a support body (8) of the punch ensuring its guidance. The end of the punch is arranged with one or more tools (7a-7b) for perforating the cutting sheet (9), which advances step by step (perpendicular to the plane of the drawing). Means (10), arranged between the support body (8) of the punch and the work table of the machine, control the positioning and advance of the sheet, but so through openings allow the evacuation of parts cut. This punch is raised vertically by sets of cylinders (11) which provide the different positions of the punch according to the punching steps. Thus, in this implementation, the lifting cylinders of the punch are on the work table of the machine and encumber his environment.

• la surface perdue par la présence des vérins et de leur moyen support sur la table de travail de la machine limite la taille des outils que l'on ne peut monter de par l'encombrement existant.
• les vérins gênent l'accès pour le montage et le démontage des outils et donc diminuent le temps productif de la machine.
• le câblage hydraulique et les capteurs de position des vérins se trouvent dans l'aire de travail de la machine.

This has, in practice, a number of disadvantages, namely:

• the area lost by the presence of the cylinders and their support means on the work table of the machine limits the size of the tools that can not be mounted by the existing size.
• the cylinders hinder access for the assembly and disassembly of the tools and thus reduce the productive time of the machine.
• the hydraulic wiring and the position sensors of the cylinders are located in the working area of the machine.

All these drawbacks have led the applicant to think about a new design of the punch lifting device that allows to overcome these constraints, to release the area surrounding the tools and the work table of the machine and which, overall, allows an improvement in the productivity of the machine.

According to the invention, the machine of the type using the transformation of adiabatic energy with a punch lifting device, the machine being of the type including a worktable, a punch support body, a punch and lift cylinders of the punch , is remarkable in that the worktable and the guide block of the punch are arranged to constitute means allowing the positioning and the displacement of pairs of winding pushers arranged two by two in alignment and solicited by jacks arranged under the table working of the machine, the upper pusher sliding in the guide body being adapted to cooperate with the punch to lift according to certain operating phases.

These and other characteristics will be apparent from the rest of the description.

• la figure 1 est une vue à caractère schématique du principe de fonctionnement d'une machine selon l'art antérieur à partir duquel l'invention a été développée.
• la figure 2 est une vue partielle, le poinçon ayant été relevé, la tôle à découper avancée, puis le poinçon abaissé sur cette tôle.
• la figure 3 est une vue partielle à grande échelle de la partie cerclée selon la figure 2.
• la figure 4 est une vue partielle et à grande échelle du dispositif autorisant le relevage du poinçon selon l'invention. Sur cette figure, le poinçon n'est pas encore abaissé pour assurer l'opération de découpe ou poinçonnage à laquelle il est destiné.
• la figure 5 est une vue à grande échelle de la partie cerclée figure 4.

For fixing the object of the invention illustrated in a nonlimiting manner to the figures of the drawings where:

• the figure 1 is a schematic view of the operating principle of a machine according to the prior art from which the invention was developed.
• the figure 2 is a partial view, the punch having been raised, the cutting sheet advanced, then the punch lowered on this sheet.
• the figure 3 is a partial large-scale view of the rimmed portion according to the figure 2 .
• the figure 4 is a partial view on a large scale of the device allowing the lifting of the punch according to the invention. In this figure, the punch is not yet lowered to ensure the cutting or punching operation for which it is intended.
• the figure 5 is a large-scale view of the circled portion figure 4 .

In order to make the object of the invention more concrete, it is now described in a nonlimiting manner illustrated in the figures of the drawings.

The originality of the invention relating to the machine punching lift device lies in the removal of the jacks on the work table of the machine to allow free access to the tool for the operator during tool changes . This is enabled by the use of the worktable and the punch guide block as means allowing the positioning and the limited vertical displacement of pairs of winding pushers arranged two by two in alignment and solicited by jacks arranged under the table working machine.

• La zone (20a1) définit un logement pour le passage de la tige (21a) d'un vérin (21) dont l'extrémité reçoit une base d'appui et de poussée (21b). Le corps (22) du vérin fixé verticalement de toute manière appropriée par rapport à la face inférieure en regard de ladite table. Les raccordements hydrauliques (21c - 21d) sont prévus à cet effet.
• La zone (20a2), consécutive à la précédente et dans son prolongement vertical, est établie sur une grande longueur et autorise le passage et guidage d'un premier élément poussoir (23) de remontage. Ce poussoir est établi sous forme d'une tige cylindrique ou autre section. L'extrémité inférieure (23a) dudit élément poussoir est en face et en regard de la base d'appui (21b) du vérin (21). L'extrémité supérieure (23b) de l'élément poussoir est agencée en léger retrait de la face supérieure de la table avec un épaulement périphérique (23c) de section plus grande.
• La zone (20a3) supérieure, en prolongement et en alignement des précédentes, est de section plus large que la section de la zone (20a2) sous jacente pour autoriser ainsi le déplacement contrôlé de la partie supérieure de l'élément poussoir (23). Le raccordement entre les zones (20a2) et (20a3) de section différente constitue justement un plan d'appui et de retenue (20d) formant butée de l'élément poussoir (23) de remontage. Ainsi, en se référant à la figure 2 et de non sollicitation active du vérin (21), l'élément poussoir de remontage (23) repose en appui sur la butée (21d). Dans cette situation, l'extrémité supérieure de l'élément poussoir de remontage se trouve sensiblement en retrait du plan horizontal supérieur de la table de travail de la machine, donc sans débordement.

The work table (20) has, from its underside, vertical cavities (20a) and over its entire height defining three specific areas (20a1 - 20a2 - 20a3), namely:

• The zone (20a1) defines a housing for the passage of the rod (21a) of a jack (21) whose end receives a base of support and thrust (21b). The body (22) of the jack fixed vertically in any suitable manner relative to the underside facing said table. The hydraulic connections (21c - 21d) are provided for this purpose.
• The zone (20a2), consecutive to the preceding and in its vertical extension, is established over a great length and allows the passage and guiding of a first pusher element (23) reassembly. This pusher is established in the form of a cylindrical rod or other section. The lower end (23a) of said pusher element is facing and facing the base (21b) of the cylinder (21). The upper end (23b) of the pusher element is arranged in slight withdrawal from the upper face of the table with a peripheral shoulder (23c) of larger section.
• The upper zone (20a3), in extension and in alignment with the previous ones, has a section wider than the section of the zone (20a2) underlying to allow the controlled displacement of the upper part of the pusher element (23). The connection between the zones (20a2) and (20a3) of different section is precisely a support plane and retaining (20d) forming a stop of the pusher element (23) for reassembly. So, referring to the figure 2 and of non-active solicitation of the jack (21), the winding pushing element (23) rests against the stop (21d). In this situation, the upper end of the winding pusher element is substantially set back from the upper horizontal plane of the work table of the machine, so without overflow.

The number of cylinders (21) and thus the number of reassembly pushing elements (23) is previously defined by the manufacturer. These push elements (23) and their receiving cavity surround the evacuation cavity (20e) cut parts of the worked plate formed in the table of the machine.

In the upper part beyond the table of the machine is the guide body (24) of the punch (25) that is to say the movable part of the head of the machine. The punch has a head (25a) protruding in the upper part of the guide body and wider in section than its middle portion (25b) guided in a bore (24a) of the guide body, the lower portion (25c) of the punch being arranged for receiving punching tools. This guide body (24) conventionally surrounds the receiving die (26) of the cutting plate and the web guide (27) of said plate. The punch head may be supported on means (28) whose function is described in another applicant's patent application. Alternatively, lifting the jack by the pusher (30) is effected by means of the threshing wedge on which the cylinder head is supported. This wedge is pushed by the upper end of the pushers. In this case, the punch head is shorter and its mass reduced. This variant is not illustrated. Thus, the punch cooperates directly or indirectly with the pusher (30) according to the embodiments, the function being the same.

According to the invention, the guide body is arranged with a plurality of holes (29) traversing vertically, and this being positioned in axial alignment of each of the cavities formed in the work table and allowing the passage of the pushing elements reassembly. These holes (29) in number identical to that of the underlying cavities allow the positioning of a second winding pusher element (30). Each pusher element (30) is longer than the height of the the guide body of the punch so as to overflow in the upper plane, in a head configuration (30a) shouldered greater section than the portion integrated in the guide body. Thus, said head (30a) rests against the horizontal upper surface of the guide body. The lower end (30b) of said pusher member does not protrude from the horizontal lower plane of the punch guide means. The arrangement of these pusher elements (30) is such that they are facing lower on the head (25a) of the punch.

So, in the configuration of the figure 4 in a non-solicitation situation, the pushing elements (23 and 30) do not touch each other and have no common action. Thus, pairs of pushers (23-30) for winding arranged in vertical alignment are defined. The figure 5 perfectly illustrates this relative position. Their number is defined by the manufacturer according to the desired applications. Around the punch and its guide body, there are known means of the machine, namely a horizontal base (31) supported and guided on means (32) absorbers of the adiabatic energy transmitted by the striking force of the ram (not shown).

Referring to Figures 2 and 3 drawings, after punching the plate to be cut, the activation of the jacks (21) will cause the elevation of their rod and thus the contacting of the bearing stops (21b) associated with them with the pushing elements ( 23) lower winding. These will be lifted and, in turn, will come into contact with the upper pusher members (30) and lift them until the punch is lifted by contact with the punch head. The displacement remains however limited by the contact of the punch with the base of the bed base.

This implementation makes it possible to easily modify the position of the punching tools, after their starting by transverse removal of the tool block.

The solution provided by the invention is simple to implement, inexpensive and fully meets the intended purpose.

Claims (10)

1. Machine of the type that uses the conversion of adiabatic energy with a punch lifting device, the machine being of the type comprising a work table, a punch support body, a punch and punch lifting cylinders, characterized in that the work table (20) and the punch guide block (24) are arranged to constitute means allowing the positioning and movement of pairs of lifting pushers (23-30) placed two by two in alignment and loaded by cylinders (21) placed under the work table (20) of the machine, the upper pusher (30) sliding in the guide body being suitable for cooperating with the punch to lift it in certain operating phases.
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the work table (20), from its underside, has vertical cavities (20a) along its entire height defining three specific zones (20a1 - 20a2 - 20a3):

   - a zone (20a1) defining a recess for the passage of the rod (21a) of a cylinder (21) of which the end accommodates a bearing and thrust base (21 b);

   - a zone (20a2) next to the previous one and in its vertical prolongation, being provided over a long length and allowing the passage and guidance of a first lifting pusher element (23);

   - an upper zone (20a3) in the prolongation and alignment of the previous ones, having a wider cross section than the section of the underlying zone (20a2), thereby to allow the controlled movement of the upper portion of the pusher element (23);
   and in that the connection between the zones (20a2) and (20a3) having a different cross section precisely constitutes a bearing and retaining plane (20d) forming a stop of the lifting pusher element (23).
3. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the cylinder (21) is fixed vertically in any appropriate manner with regard to the opposite underside of the said table.
4. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the pusher element (23) is provided in the form of a cylindrical or other section rod,
   and in that the lower end (23a) is facing opposite the bearing base (21 b) of the cylinder (21),
   and in that its upper end (23b) is arranged slightly set back with a larger section peripheral shoulder (23c).
5. Device according to Claim 4, characterized in that, in a situation without active loading from the cylinder (21), the lifting pusher element (23) rests bearing on the stop (20d).
   and in that the upper end of the lifting pusher element is located substantially set back from the upper horizontal plane of the work table of the machine, hence without overhang.
6. Device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the number of cylinders (21) and thus the number of lifting pusher elements (23) is previously defined,
   and in that the pusher elements (23) and their accommodating cavity surround the discharge cavity (20e) formed in the machine table for the cutout portions of the worked plate.
7. Device according to any one of Claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the punch guide body (24) is arranged with a plurality of vertical through holes (29), being positioned in the axial alignment of each of the cavities (20a) formed in the work table and allowing the passage of the lifting pusher elements (23)
   and in that the holes (29) in identical number to the underlying cavities (20a) allow the positioning of the second lifting pusher element (30).
8. Device according to Claim 7, characterized in that each pusher element (30) has a greater length than the height of the punch guide body so as to project in the upper plane, in a shouldered head configuration (30a) having a larger cross section than the part incorporated in the guide body,
   and in that the said head (30a) bears on the horizontal upper face of the guide body, in the low position,
   and in that the lower end (30b) of the said pusher element (30) does not project from the lower horizontal plane of the punch guide means,
   and in that the layout of these pusher elements (30) is such that they face the punch head (25a) from below.
9. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the upper pusher (30) is suitable for being positioned under the punch head to lift the cylinder.
10. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the upper pusher (30) is suitable for being positioned under the striking pad on which the cylinder head bears to lift the said cylinder.

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