A bending machine

Abstract

A bending machine for bending a component (21) having a plurality of metal pins to be bent; the bending machine comprises a first punch (5), a second punch (6), a third punch (7) and a fourth punch (8); the first punch (5) is configured to engage and hold the root of a first group of metal pins among the plurality of metal pins to be bent; the second punch (6) is configured to bend the first group of metal pins to a first angle; the third punch (7) is configured to bend a second group of metal pins and a third group of metal pins among the plurality of metal pins to be bent, respectively; the fourth punch (8) is configured to further bend the first group of metal pins from the first angle to a second angle greater than the first angle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a bending machine, and more particularly to a bending machine for a microphone switch. Background Technology

[0002] Microphone switches typically consist of a switch with multiple metal leads (usually copper leads) fixed to a copper plate by screws. In subsequent manufacturing processes, to meet the requirements of pre-soldering, the metal leads on the switch must be bent to specific angles. Currently, this bending process mainly relies on manual operation, where workers use needle-nose pliers to manually bend each metal lead of the microphone switch to the required angle.

[0003] However, the existing manual bending methods described above have the following technical problems and shortcomings in actual production.

[0004] In traditional manual bending processes, production capacity is typically low due to the physiological limitations of human operation (e.g., it is difficult to exceed 200 pieces / hour). To meet production demands, operators must perform high-intensity, repetitive, and delicate manual operations for extended periods, resulting in low production efficiency and high labor intensity.

[0005] Because it relies entirely on human touch and experience, bending each metal pin precisely to the specified angle is highly susceptible to human error, resulting in poor bending accuracy and low product consistency. Existing technologies make it difficult to control the precision of manual bending, leading to poor product dimensional stability and difficulty in guaranteeing batch consistency.

[0006] Due to insufficient precision in manual bending, the bent microphone switches cannot be directly fed into the automatic welding machine for the next automatic welding process, making them incompatible with automated production lines. This forces the continued use of manual welding, which not only increases labor costs in subsequent processes but also severely hinders the automation upgrade and implementation of the overall microphone switch manufacturing process.

[0007] Manual bending requires a high level of skill from operators. New employees typically need to undergo systematic training for up to two weeks (about 15 days) before they can work independently. This not only increases the company's training and management costs but also poses a risk to production stability due to staff turnover.

[0008] In summary, existing manual bending methods have significant drawbacks in terms of efficiency, precision, labor intensity, automation compatibility, and personnel training, and can no longer meet the demands of large-scale, automated production of microphone switches. Therefore, there is an urgent need for equipment and processes that can automatically, accurately, and efficiently complete the bending of microphone switch metal pins to overcome these technical bottlenecks. Summary of the Invention

[0009] In view of the technical problems of low production efficiency, poor bending accuracy, low product consistency, incompatibility with automated welding production lines, high operator training costs and high labor intensity caused by the manual bending method of microphone switch metal pins in the prior art, a bending machine is provided according to one aspect of the present disclosure for bending a component having multiple metal pins to be bent, in order to solve one or more of the above technical problems.

[0010] The bending machine includes a first punch, a second punch, a third punch, and a fourth punch.

[0011] The first punch is configured to engage with and retain the root of the first set of metal pins in the plurality of metal pins to be bent.

[0012] The second punch is configured to bend the first set of metal pins to a first angle.

[0013] The third punch is configured to be able to bend the second group of metal pins and the third group of metal pins among the plurality of metal pins to be bent.

[0014] The fourth punch is configured to further bend the first set of metal pins from the first angle to a second angle greater than the first angle.

[0015] According to the foregoing aspects of this disclosure, the fourth punch is further configured to bend the second set of metal pins and the third set of metal pins to their final bending angles, respectively.

[0016] According to the foregoing aspects of this disclosure, the bending machine includes: a housing; mounting slots disposed in the housing for mounting the component; and a position detection device including a switch position sensor and an indicator light, the switch position sensor being configured to detect whether the component is properly installed in the mounting slot.

[0017] If the switch position sensor detects that the component is not installed correctly, the indicator light will illuminate in the first color.

[0018] If the switch position sensor detects that the component is installed in place, the indicator light will illuminate in a second color, different from the first color.

[0019] According to this disclosure, it is possible to accurately detect whether the part to be bent is installed in the installation slot. The status is intuitively indicated by different colored indicator lights, which can avoid bending and scrapping caused by misalignment of the workpiece and ensure the product qualification rate.

[0020] According to the foregoing aspects of this disclosure, the bending machine includes: a forward-moving cylinder configured to engage and retain the first punch with the root of the first set of metal pins, and the forward-moving cylinder further configured to disengage the first punch from the root of the bent metal pins after bending.

[0021] According to this disclosure, the first punch automatically extends into and engages with the root of the first set of metal pins, and automatically disengages after bending, without the need for manual intervention, thereby improving the automation level and operational safety of the equipment.

[0022] According to the foregoing aspects of this disclosure, the bending machine further includes a transverse mechanism comprising a first transverse cylinder, a base plate, and a linear guide rail.

[0023] The first transverse cylinder is configured to drive the first cylinder to move horizontally via the base plate and the linear guide rail, thereby moving the first cylinder and the second punch to a position aligned with the component. The first cylinder is configured to drive the second punch to move vertically.

[0024] According to this disclosure, the horizontal movement and positioning of the second punch can be precisely controlled to ensure accurate alignment with the pin to be bent, thus guaranteeing bending position accuracy. Simultaneously, it automatically moves away after bending, making way for subsequent processes with the third and fourth punches.

[0025] According to the foregoing aspects of this disclosure, the bending machine further includes: a second transverse cylinder configured to drive the third punch in a horizontal direction, such that the third punch can pre-bend the second set of metal pins and the third set of metal pins to their respective initial positions and then disengage the third punch from the second set of metal pins and the third set of metal pins.

[0026] According to this disclosure, the pre-bending of the second and third sets of metal pins and the reset of the third punch can be completed automatically. The pre-bending lays the foundation for the final bending, avoids excessive bending at one time which may cause pin breakage or angle deviation, and improves bending quality.

[0027] According to the above aspects of this disclosure, the first transverse cylinder is further configured to drive the second cylinder to move horizontally via the base plate and the linear guide rail, thereby moving the second cylinder and the fourth punch to a position aligned with the component, and the second cylinder is configured to drive the fourth punch to move vertically.

[0028] According to this disclosure, the fourth punch can automatically switch positions and share the same transverse movement mechanism with the second punch, simplifying the overall structure of the equipment. At the same time, it ensures that the fourth punch is precisely aligned with the component, guaranteeing the consistency of the final bending angle.

[0029] According to the various aspects of this disclosure described above, the front end of the first punch is provided with a support opening corresponding to the first set of metal pins.

[0030] The support opening can engage with and hold the root of the first set of metal pins, thereby providing support to the root during bending.

[0031] According to this disclosure, it can accurately fit the root of the first set of metal pins, provide stable bending support, prevent the root of the pins from deforming or breaking during the bending process, and ensure the dimensional accuracy and structural strength of the bending root.

[0032] According to the above aspects of this disclosure, a bending forming surface at 45° to the stamping direction is provided on the lower end face of the second punch, corresponding to the first group of metal pins, so that the second punch can bend the first group of metal pins at the first angle.

[0033] The standardized forming surface according to this disclosure ensures that the first set of metal pins, initially oriented vertically, can be precisely bent 45° to the first angle each time, providing a consistent pre-bending basis for the final 90° bend.

[0034] According to the above aspects of this disclosure, the front end of the third punch is provided with a first forming surface and a second forming surface corresponding to the second group of metal pins and the third group of metal pins, respectively. The first forming surface and the second forming surface are respectively configured to pre-bend the second group of metal pins and the third group of metal pins to their respective initial positions.

[0035] According to this disclosure, the positions and pre-bending shapes of the second and third groups of metal pins are respectively used to complete the precise pre-bending of the two groups of pins in one go, improving the efficiency and consistency of pre-bending and avoiding angle deviations during the final bending process.

[0036] According to the above aspects of this disclosure, the lower end face of the fourth punch is provided with a bending forming surface that matches the final bending shape of the first group of metal pins. When the fourth punch is pressed down, the bending forming surface further bends the first group of metal pins to the second angle.

[0037] The lower end face of the fourth punch is also provided with a first forming surface and a second forming surface that match the final bending shape of the second group of metal pins and the third group of metal pins. When the fourth punch is pressed down, the first forming surface and the second forming surface further bend the second group of metal pins and the third group of metal pins to their final bending angles.

[0038] According to this disclosure, the bending of the first group of metal pins from 45° to the final 90° can be completed simultaneously with a single downward press, as well as the final bending of the second and third groups of pins, greatly improving bending efficiency.

[0039] According to the foregoing aspects of this disclosure, the bending machine further comprises a controller that causes the bending machine to perform bending operations sequentially according to the following steps:

[0040] (1) The forward cylinder drives the first punch into the plurality of metal pins to be bent in the component. The first punch engages with the root of the first group of metal pins in the plurality of metal pins to be bent and holds the root as a bending support.

[0041] (2) The first transverse cylinder drives the second punch to move laterally, so that the second punch is aligned with the component. The first cylinder drives the second punch to move toward the first group of metal pins, so that the second punch bends the first group of metal pins to the first angle.

[0042] (3) The second transverse cylinder drives the third punch to move toward the second group of metal pins and the third group of metal pins, thereby causing the third punch to bend the second group of metal pins and the third group of metal pins;

[0043] (4) The first transverse cylinder drives the fourth punch to move laterally, so that the fourth punch is aligned with the component. The second cylinder drives the fourth punch to move toward the first group of metal pins. The movement of the fourth punch bends the first group of metal pins to its second angle.

[0044] (5) The forward-moving cylinder drives the first punch to separate from the root of the first set of metal pins that have been bent into place.

[0045] According to the foregoing aspects of this disclosure, the movement of the fourth punch further bends the second set of metal pins and the third set of metal pins to their final bending angles.

[0046] According to the contents of this disclosure, the process is strictly executed according to the logic of "support positioning → first group pre-bending → second and third group pre-bending → station switching → final bending" to avoid interference between punches during the bending process, ensure the stability and reliability of the bending process, and achieve fully automated operation without human intervention.

[0047] According to the foregoing aspects of this disclosure, the bending machine includes a first start button and a second start button, and the bending machine can only be started when the first start button and the second start button are pressed simultaneously.

[0048] According to this disclosure, the dual start button prevents operators from accidentally touching the equipment with one hand, thus improving operational safety.

[0049] According to the various aspects of this disclosure described above, the bending machine includes safety light curtains disposed on both sides of the operating area within the housing, for detecting foreign objects within the operating area and stopping the operation of the bending machine upon detection of a foreign object.

[0050] According to this disclosure, foreign objects in the operating area can be detected in real time. If a foreign object is detected, the equipment will stop operating immediately to prevent operators from accidentally entering the work area and causing injury, thereby further improving the safety protection level of the equipment.

[0051] According to the various aspects of this disclosure described above, the bending machine includes an alarm light disposed on the top of the housing for emitting an audible and visual alarm when the bending machine malfunctions or malfunctions.

[0052] According to this disclosure, when equipment malfunctions or becomes abnormal, it can issue audible and visual alarms, promptly reminding operators to handle the situation, preventing the equipment from operating with defects, which could lead to mass product scrapping and equipment damage, and ensuring production continuity.

[0053] According to the foregoing aspects of this disclosure, the component having a plurality of bent metal pins is a microphone switch.

[0054] Overall, compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0055] This invention completely solves the problem of low production capacity of manual bending by replacing manual bending with an automated mechanical structure. It can continuously and stably complete large-volume bending operations, while avoiding long-term, high-intensity, repetitive, and delicate operations by operators, thus significantly improving production efficiency and greatly reducing labor intensity.

[0056] This invention uses a standardized mechanical punch and precise cylinder drive control to replace the bending method that relies on manual feel and experience, effectively eliminating human error. The bending accuracy is much higher than that of manual bending, ensuring the stability of product dimensions and batch consistency.

[0057] The bent metal pins of the microphone switch meet the feeding requirements of the automatic welding machine and can be directly imported into the subsequent automatic welding process without manual welding. This significantly reduces the labor costs of subsequent processes and promotes the automation upgrade of the entire microphone switch manufacturing process.

[0058] This bending machine has a simple and standardized operating procedure. Operators do not need to have professional bending skills, and new employees can start working independently without undergoing long and systematic training. This significantly reduces training and management costs, greatly reduces the company's training investment, and effectively reduces the production stability risks caused by staff turnover.

[0059] This invention is equipped with multiple safety protection devices, including dual start buttons, safety light curtains, and an emergency stop button, which can effectively prevent safety accidents during operation. It also features a workpiece position detection device and a fault alarm light, which can promptly detect abnormal workpiece installation and equipment malfunctions, ensuring production safety and product quality.

[0060] Thus, in order to provide a better understanding of the detailed description herein and to better recognize the contribution of this disclosure to the prior art, the contents of this disclosure have been summarized quite broadly. Embodiments of this disclosure will, of course, be described below and will form the subject matter of the appended claims.

[0061] Similarly, those skilled in the art will recognize that the concepts upon which this disclosure is based can be readily used as the basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out several purposes of this disclosure. Therefore, it is important that the appended claims be considered to include such equivalent structures, provided they do not exceed the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0062] The advantages of this disclosure will be more clearly demonstrated by the accompanying drawings, which will provide a better understanding of the present disclosure. The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only, representing selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure.

[0063] Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of a component (microphone switch) to be bent according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, showing a plurality of metal pins to be bent;

[0064] Figure 2 This is a structural schematic diagram of a component bent into place according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, showing a plurality of bent-in metal pins;

[0065] Figure 3 A perspective view of the overall structure of a bending machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0066] Figure 4 and Figure 5 This is a perspective view of the internal structure of a bending machine after the outer casing has been removed, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, showing the relative positional relationship between each punch and the part to be bent;

[0067] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a first punch according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, showing the specific structure of the supporting opening;

[0068] Figure 7 and Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a second punch according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, showing the specific structure of the 45° bending forming surface;

[0069] Figure 9 and Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a third punch according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0070] Figure 11 and Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a fourth punch according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0071] The specific implementation methods according to this disclosure are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0072] like Figures 1 to 12 As shown, this invention discloses a bending machine in which a component 21 to be bent can be installed. In this embodiment, as... Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the component 21 to be bent is preferably a microphone switch, which includes multiple metal pins 21-1, 21-2, 21-3, 21-4, 21-5, 21-6, 21-7, and 21-8 to be bent. These metal pins are usually copper pins and need to be bent to a specific angle to meet the requirements of subsequent pre-soldering.

[0073] In this embodiment, for example, but not limited to, the plurality of first group of metal pins to be bent includes metal pins 21-1, 21-2, 21-3, 21-4, 21-5, and 21-6; the plurality of second group of metal pins to be bent includes metal pin 21-7; and the plurality of third group of metal pins to be bent includes metal pin 21-8.

[0074] The bending machine includes a housing 1, which, for example but not limited to, adopts an aluminum profile frame structure to provide support and protection for the entire equipment. A switch base 2 is disposed on the worktable inside the housing 1. The switch base 2 is provided with mounting slots 2-1 for mounting the parts to be bent. The shape of the mounting slots 2-1 matches the shape of the parts 21 to be bent, enabling rapid positioning and installation of the parts.

[0075] The bending machine also includes a position detection device, such as... Figure 4As shown, the position detection device includes a switch position sensor 3 and an indicator light 4 disposed near the switch base 2. The switch position sensor 3 is used to detect whether the part to be bent is properly installed in the mounting slot 2-1. If the switch position sensor 3 detects that the part to be bent is not properly installed, the indicator light 4 illuminates in a first color (e.g., red) to prompt the operator to reinstall the workpiece; if the switch position sensor 3 detects that the part to be bent is properly installed, the indicator light 4 illuminates in a second color (e.g., green) different from the first color, indicating that the bending operation can begin.

[0076] Those skilled in the art will understand that an audible alarm device (not shown) can also be used instead of a signal light. When the switch position sensor 3 detects that the part to be bent is not installed in place, the audible alarm device will give a first warning sound to remind the operator to reinstall the workpiece. If the switch position sensor 3 detects that the part to be bent is installed in place, the audible alarm device can give a second sound, different from the first warning sound, to remind the operator that the bending operation can begin.

[0077] The bending mechanism of the bending machine includes a first punch 5, a second punch 6, a third punch 7, and a fourth punch 8.

[0078] The first punch 5 is configured to engage with the root of the plurality of first group metal pins to be bent and hold the root as a bending support. Specifically, the front end of the first punch 5 is provided with a support opening 5-1 corresponding to the plurality of first group metal pins to be bent. The support opening is capable of engaging with the root of the plurality of first group metal pins to be bent and holding the root of the first group metal pins (e.g., Figure 6 As shown, only metal pins 21-1, 21-2, 21-3, 21-4, 21-5, and 21-6 are in the support opening 5-1, thus maintaining the root during bending to provide bending support and prevent the root of the metal pin from deforming or breaking during bending.

[0079] The first punch 5 is driven by the forward-moving cylinder 13, which enables the first punch 5 to engage with and hold the roots of the first group of metal pins to be bent, and enables the first punch 5 to subsequently disengage from the roots of the first group of metal pins that have been bent into place.

[0080] The second punch 6 is configured to bend the first set of metal pins toward the first punch at a first angle. Specifically, as shown... Figure 7 and Figure 8As shown, a bending forming surface 6-1 at a 45° angle is provided on the lower end face of the second punch 6, corresponding to the first group of metal pins. When the second punch 6 presses down, it bends the first group of metal pins by 45° to the first angle. The second punch 6 is mounted on the end of the piston rod (not shown) of the first cylinder 14, which is driven by the first cylinder 14 to achieve vertical up-and-down movement. The bending forming surface 6-1 ensures that the first group of metal pins, initially oriented vertically upwards, can be accurately bent by 45° to the first angle each time, providing a consistent pre-bending base for the final 90° bend.

[0081] The bending machine also includes a lateral movement mechanism, which includes a first lateral movement cylinder 9, a base plate 10, and a linear guide rail 11. The first lateral movement cylinder 9 drives the first cylinder 14 and its second punch 6 to move through the base plate 10 and the linear guide rail 11, thereby moving the first cylinder 14 and its second punch 6 to a position above or away from the part to be bent.

[0082] The third punch 7 is configured to pre-bend the plurality of second and third sets of metal pins to be bent toward the first punch to their respective initial positions. Specifically, the front end of the third punch 7 is provided with a first forming surface 7-1 and a second forming surface 7-2 corresponding to the second set of metal pins 21-7 and the third set of metal pins 21-8, respectively, so that the second set of metal pins and the third set of metal pins are pre-bent to their respective initial positions during the horizontal lateral movement of the third punch 7.

[0083] The third punch 7 is driven by the second transverse cylinder 15, so that the third punch 7 can pre-bend the plurality of second and third sets of metal pins to be bent toward the first punch respectively, and the third punch 7 can disengage from the pre-bent metal pins.

[0084] The fourth punch 8 is configured to further bend the first group of metal pins from the first angle to a second angle greater than the first angle, where the second angle is the final bending angle of the first group of metal pins. Simultaneously, the fourth punch is also configured to further bend the second group of metal pins and the third group of metal pins to their final bending angles, respectively. Specifically, the lower end face of the fourth punch 8 is provided with a bending forming surface 8-1 that matches the final bending shape of the first group of metal pins. When the fourth punch 8 presses down, it bends the first group of metal pins again by 45° to its final bending angle (i.e., the second position).

[0085] The lower end face of the fourth punch is also provided with a first forming surface 8-2 and a second forming surface 8-3 that match the final bending shapes of the second group of metal pins and the third group of metal pins, respectively. When the fourth punch 8 is pressed down, it further bends the second group of metal pins and the third group of metal pins to their final bending angles. Figure 2 As shown, the final bending angle of the second group of metal pins 21-7 points to the bending portion of the first group of metal pins 21-6 adjacent to it; the final bending angle of the third group of metal pins 21-8 points to the root of the second group of metal pins 21-7 adjacent to it.

[0086] The first transverse cylinder 9 drives the second cylinder 16 and its fourth punch 8 to move through the base plate 10 and the linear guide rail 11, thereby moving the second cylinder 16 and its fourth punch 8 to a position aligned with the part to be bent, that is, directly above the part to be bent.

[0087] The bending machine also includes a control device, which comprises a controller (not shown), a touch screen 12, and a set of operation buttons. The controller is configured to control the individual cylinders to operate according to a preset sequence. The set of operation buttons includes a first start button 17, a second start button 18, an emergency stop button 19, and a reset button 20. The first start button 17 and the second start button 18 are two-hand start buttons, requiring simultaneous pressing to start the bending machine, effectively preventing accidental operation by the operator with one hand and improving operational safety.

[0088] The emergency stop button 19 is configured to stop the operation of the bending machine immediately when pressed, so as to stop the equipment immediately in an emergency and prevent the accident from escalating.

[0089] The reset button 20 is configured to reset the bending machine when pressed, quickly restore the equipment to its initial state, and improve fault handling efficiency.

[0090] Operators can set the control parameters of the controller through the touch screen 12. The control parameters can be flexibly set to adapt to the bending requirements of workpieces of different specifications, thereby improving the versatility of the equipment.

[0091] The bending machine also includes a safety light curtain 23, which is installed on both sides of the operating area in the housing 1. It is used to detect foreign objects in the operating area and stop the operation of the bending machine when a foreign object is detected. By detecting foreign objects in the operating area in real time, the machine stops operating immediately when a foreign object is detected, preventing the operator's limbs from accidentally entering the work area and causing injury, and further improving the safety protection level of the equipment.

[0092] The bending machine also includes an alarm light 24, which is located on the top of the machine housing 1. It is used to issue an audible and visual alarm when the bending machine malfunctions or becomes abnormal. By issuing an audible and visual alarm when the equipment malfunctions or becomes abnormal, the operator is promptly reminded to handle the situation, thus avoiding the equipment from operating with defects, which could lead to batch scrapping of products and equipment damage, and ensuring production continuity.

[0093] The controller stores a bending process control program. Under the control of the bending process control program, the bending machine performs bending operations sequentially according to the following steps:

[0094] 1. Workpiece Installation and Inspection: The operator places the part 21 to be bent into the mounting slot 2-1 of the switch base 2. The switch position sensor 3 detects whether the workpiece is installed correctly. If it is not installed correctly, the indicator light 4 lights up red; if it is installed correctly, the indicator light 4 lights up green.

[0095] 2. Support Positioning: The operator presses the first start button 17 and the second start button 18 at the same time. The forward cylinder 13 drives the first punch 5 to move toward the first group of metal pins 21-1, 21-2, 21-3, 21-4, 21-5, and 21-6, so that the support opening 5-1 at the front end of the first punch 5 engages with the root of the first group of metal pins 21-1, 21-2, 21-3, 21-4, 21-5, and 21-6, keeping the root of the first group of metal pins as a bending support.

[0096] 3. Pre-bending of the first group of metal pins: The first transverse cylinder 9 drives the base plate 10 to move along the linear guide rail 11, so that the second punch 6 reaches directly above the part 21 to be bent (which has been installed in the mounting hole 2-1). The first cylinder 14 drives the second punch 6 to move downward toward the first group of metal pins. The 45° bending forming surface 6-1 of the lower end face of the second punch 6 contacts the first group of metal pins, bending them from the vertical state to the first angle by 45°. Then the first cylinder 14 drives the second punch 6 to return to the starting position.

[0097] 4. Pre-bending of the second and third sets of metal pins: The second transverse cylinder 15 drives the third punch 7 to move horizontally toward the second set of metal pins 21-7 and the third set of metal pins 21-8. The first forming surface 7-1 and the second forming surface 7-2 at the front end of the third punch 7 contact the second set of metal pins 21-7 and the third set of metal pins 21-8 respectively, pre-bending them to the corresponding initial positions. Then the second transverse cylinder 15 drives the third punch 7 to reset.

[0098] 5. Workstation switching: The first transverse cylinder 9 drives the base plate 10 to move along the linear guide rail 11, so that the second punch 6 moves away from the part 21 to be bent, and at the same time moves the fourth punch 8 to the top of the part 21 to be bent.

[0099] 6. Final Bending: The second cylinder 16 drives the fourth punch 8 downward toward the first group of metal pins. The three forming surfaces on the lower end face of the fourth punch 8 act on all the metal pins simultaneously. The first group of metal pins is further bent from 45° to a second angle of 90° (i.e., the final bending angle of the first group of metal pins). At the same time, the second group of metal pins 21-7 and the third group of metal pins 21-8 are further bent from their initial pre-bending positions to their respective final bending angles. Then, the second cylinder 16 drives the fourth punch 8 to return to its original position.

[0100] 7. Support disengagement and workpiece removal: The forward-moving cylinder 13 drives the first punch 5 to move backward away from the first group of metal pins, so that the support opening 5-1 is separated from the root of the first group of metal pins in the bent position; the first transverse-moving cylinder 9 drives the base plate 10 to reset, so that the second punch 6 returns to the top of the mounting cavity 2-1; the operator removes the bent part, completing one work cycle.

[0101] The bending machine of this invention achieves automated and high-precision bending of the metal pins of a microphone switch by employing a four-punch, step-by-step bending technique. Compared with the existing manual bending method, this invention has the following significant technical advantages:

[0102] The bending machine of this invention has a significantly higher production capacity than manual bending, greatly improving production efficiency and significantly reducing labor intensity.

[0103] By employing standardized punch forming surfaces and precision cylinder drive, the bending accuracy is far superior to that of manual bending. This significant improvement in bending accuracy fundamentally guarantees product consistency.

[0104] The bent microphone switch has high dimensional accuracy and good consistency, and can be directly imported into an automatic welding machine for the next automatic welding process. It is compatible with automated production lines and realizes full automation of the manufacturing process.

[0105] Operators can start working with only simple training, without the need for up to two weeks of skills training, which greatly reduces the company's training and management costs and reduces the risk to production stability caused by staff turnover.

[0106] Equipped with multiple safety protection measures such as two-hand start buttons, safety light curtains, and emergency stop buttons, the personal safety of operators is effectively guaranteed.

[0107] Those skilled in the art should understand that the bending machine described in this invention is not only applicable to microphone switches, but also to bending processes of other electronic components with multiple sets of metal pins, such as relays and connectors; the number and grouping of pins can also be adjusted according to actual needs without departing from the protection scope of this invention.

[0108] The foregoing disclosure provides illustrations and descriptions, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. Modifications and variations can be made based on the above disclosure, or modifications and variations can be derived from the practice of the embodiments.

[0109] Even if a specific combination of features is recited in the claims and / or disclosed in the specification, such combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of various embodiments. In fact, many of these features can be combined in ways not specifically recited in the claims and / or not specifically disclosed in the specification. Although each dependent claim listed below may depend directly on only one claim, the disclosure of various embodiments includes each dependent claim in combination with every other claim in the claim set.

[0110] Unless explicitly stated otherwise, no element, action, or instruction used herein should be construed as critical or necessary. Furthermore, as used herein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or more items and are interchangeable with “one or more.” Additionally, as used herein, the article “the” is intended to include one or more items referenced in combination with the article “the” and is interchangeable with “one or more.” Furthermore, as used herein, the term “set” is intended to include one or more items (e.g., related items, unrelated items, a combination of related and unrelated items, etc.) and is interchangeable with “one or more.” In case of intent only… Figure 1 In cases involving items, the phrase "only one" or similar language is used. Additionally, as used herein, the term "having" and its variations are intended to be open-ended terms. Furthermore, the phrase "based on" is intended to mean "at least partially based on," unless otherwise explicitly stated. Additionally, as used herein, the term "or" is intended to be inclusive when used in series and may be used interchangeably with "and / or," unless otherwise explicitly stated (e.g., if used in conjunction with "or" or "only one of them").

Claims

1. A bending machine for bending a component (21) having a plurality of metal pins to be bent; The bending machine includes a first punch (5), a second punch (6), a third punch (7), and a fourth punch (8); The first punch (5) is configured to engage with and retain the root of the first group of metal pins in the plurality of metal pins to be bent; The second punch (6) is configured to bend the first set of metal pins to a first angle; The third punch (7) is configured to be able to bend the second group of metal pins and the third group of metal pins in the plurality of metal pins to be bent respectively; The fourth punch (8) is configured to bend the first set of metal pins further from the first angle to a second angle greater than the first angle.

2. The bending machine according to claim 1, wherein the fourth punch (8) is further configured to further bend the second group of metal pins and the third group of metal pins to their final bending angles.

3. The bending machine according to claim 1, wherein the bending machine comprises: Chassis (1); Mounting holes for mounting the components are provided in the chassis (1); A position detection device, comprising a switch position sensor (3) and a signal light (4), wherein the switch position sensor (3) is configured to detect whether the component is installed in the installation acupoint; If the switch position sensor (3) detects that the component is not installed in place, the indicator light (4) will light up in the first color; If the switch position sensor (3) detects that the component is installed in place, the indicator light (4) will light up in a second color that is different from the first color.

4. The bending machine according to claim 1, wherein the bending machine comprises: A forward-moving cylinder (13) is configured such that the first punch (5) engages with and holds the root of the first set of metal pins, and The forward cylinder (13) is also configured such that, after bending the metal pin, the first punch (5) can disengage from the root of the bent metal pin.

5. The bending machine according to claim 1, wherein the bending machine further comprises: The transverse movement mechanism includes a first transverse movement cylinder (9), a base plate (10), and a linear guide rail (11). The first transverse cylinder (9) is configured to drive the first cylinder (14) to move horizontally via the base plate (10) and the linear guide rail (11), thereby moving the first cylinder (14) and the second punch (6) to a position aligned with the component. The first cylinder (14) is configured to drive the second punch (6) to move vertically.

6. The bending machine according to claim 1, wherein the bending machine further comprises: The second transverse cylinder (15) is configured to drive the third punch (7) in a horizontal direction, thereby enabling the third punch (7) to pre-bend the second set of metal pins and the third set of metal pins to their respective initial positions and then disengage the third punch (7) from the second set of metal pins and the third set of metal pins.

7. The bending machine according to claim 1, wherein, The first transverse cylinder (9) is also configured to drive the second cylinder (16) to move horizontally via the base plate (10) and the linear guide rail (11), thereby moving the second cylinder (16) and the fourth punch (8) to a position aligned with the component. The second cylinder (16) is configured to drive the fourth punch (8) to move vertically.

8. The bending machine according to claim 1, wherein the bending machine comprises: The bending machine can only be started when the first start button (17) and the second start button (18) are pressed simultaneously.

9. The bending machine according to claim 3, wherein the bending machine comprises: Safety light curtains (23) are installed on both sides of the operating area in the housing (1) to detect foreign objects in the operating area and stop the operation of the bending machine when foreign objects are detected.

10. The bending machine according to claim 1, wherein the front end of the first punch (5) is provided with a support opening (5-1) corresponding to the first set of metal pins. The support opening (5-1) can engage with and hold the root of the first set of metal pins, thereby providing support for the root during bending.

11. The bending machine according to claim 1, wherein, A bending forming surface (6-1) at 45° to the stamping direction is provided on the lower end face of the second punch (6), which corresponds to the first group of metal pins, so that the second punch (6) can bend the first group of metal pins at the first angle.

12. The bending machine according to claim 1, wherein, The front end of the third punch (7) is provided with a first forming surface (7-1) and a second forming surface (7-2) corresponding to the second group of metal pins and the third group of metal pins, respectively. The first forming surface (7-1) and the second forming surface (7-2) are respectively configured to pre-bend the second group of metal pins and the third group of metal pins to their respective initial positions.

13. The bending machine according to claim 1, wherein, The lower end face of the fourth punch (8) is provided with a bending forming surface (8-1) that matches the final bending shape of the first group of metal pins. When the fourth punch (8) is pressed down, the bending forming surface (8-1) further bends the first group of metal pins to the second angle. The lower end face of the fourth punch is also provided with a first forming surface (8-2) and a second forming surface (8-3) that match the final bending shape of the second group of metal pins and the third group of metal pins. When the fourth punch (8) is pressed down, the first forming surface (8-2) and the second forming surface (8-3) respectively bend the second group of metal pins and the third group of metal pins to their final bending angle.

14. The bending machine according to claim 1, wherein, The bending machine also has a controller, which causes the bending machine to perform bending operations sequentially according to the following steps: (1) The forward cylinder (13) drives the first punch (5) into the plurality of metal pins to be bent in the component. The first punch (5) engages with the root of the first group of metal pins in the plurality of metal pins to be bent and holds the root as a bending support. (2) The first transverse cylinder (9) drives the second punch (6) to move laterally, so that the second punch (6) is aligned with the component. The first cylinder (14) drives the second punch (6) to move toward the first group of metal pins, so that the second punch (6) bends the first group of metal pins to the first angle. (3) The second transverse cylinder (15) drives the third punch (7) to move toward the second group of metal pins and the third group of metal pins, thereby causing the third punch (7) to bend the second group of metal pins and the third group of metal pins; (4) The first transverse cylinder (9) drives the fourth punch (8) to move laterally, so that the fourth punch (8) is aligned with the component. The second cylinder (16) drives the fourth punch (8) to move toward the first group of metal pins. The movement of the fourth punch (8) bends the first group of metal pins to its second angle. (5) The forward cylinder (13) drives the first punch (5) to separate from the root of the first set of metal pins that are bent into place.

15. The bending machine according to claim 14, wherein, The movement of the fourth punch (8) further bends the second group of metal pins and the third group of metal pins to their final bending angles.

16. The bending machine according to claim 1, wherein, The component (21) with multiple bent metal pins is a microphone switch.

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