A forming and bending apparatus and method

Abstract

The application provides a forming and bending device and method, which comprises a feeding platform (1), a supporting structure (2), a vertical sliding table (3) and a bending die (4). The feeding platform (1) can move horizontally along its length direction. The supporting structure (2) is fixedly arranged. The vertical sliding table (3) is installed on the supporting structure (2). The vertical sliding table (3) comprises a carrying table (31) which can move in the vertical direction. The bending die (4) is rotatably installed on the carrying table (31). The rotation axis of the bending die (4) is parallel to the width direction of the feeding platform (1). The technical scheme of the application can conveniently bend the plate to be processed into the die contour through continuous bending for multiple times, realizes efficient and automatic processing and guarantees the processing quality, and has a wide market prospect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of forming equipment technology, and more specifically, to a forming and bending equipment and method. Background Technology

[0002] A motorhome is a special type of vehicle that combines driving and living. The interior of a motorhome is equipped with living facilities and amenities, among which a shower room is an indispensable part. For example... Figure 1 As shown, a motorhome shower room is usually composed of an inner tank, an outer wall panel, and a frame and filling material located between the two. To ensure waterproof performance, the inner tank is usually made of thin fiberglass sheet molded in one piece.

[0003] In the prior art, the processing technology of the above-mentioned fiberglass inner liner is as follows: First, a layer of resin adhesive is evenly applied to the outer surface of the mold. After the resin adhesive dries, it forms the inner layer of the inner liner. Then, fiberglass cloth impregnated with resin adhesive is laid layer by layer on the dried resin adhesive surface. After the fiberglass cloth is dried, it forms the outer layer of the inner liner. Finally, the complete inner liner structure can be obtained by demolding.

[0004] The aforementioned processes rely on manual labor, which is labor-intensive, requires a high level of technical skill, and involves harsh working conditions, posing significant risks to workers' physical and mental health and easily causing environmental pollution. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a forming and bending equipment to solve these technical problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the present invention provides a forming and bending device that can at least partially solve the problems existing in the prior art. To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: A forming and bending device includes a feeding platform, a support structure, a vertical slide, and a bending die. The feeding platform is capable of moving horizontally along its own length. The support structure is fixedly installed. The vertical slide is mounted on the support structure and includes a platform capable of moving vertically. The bending die is rotatably mounted on the platform, and the rotation axis of the bending die is parallel to the width direction of the feeding platform.

[0006] Furthermore, the feeding platform includes a horizontal slide and a frame, with the horizontal slide slidably mounted on the frame via a slide rail.

[0007] Furthermore, the frame is provided with a first drive unit, the vertical slide is provided with a second drive unit, the horizontal slide is moved horizontally by the first drive unit, and the platform is moved vertically by the second drive unit.

[0008] Furthermore, the support structure is a gantry structure, and there are two vertical slides, which are respectively installed on both sides of the support structure. A third drive unit is provided on the loading platform of one of the vertical slides. One end of the bending mold is rotatably installed on the third drive unit, and the other end of the bending mold is rotatably installed on the loading platform of the other vertical slide.

[0009] Preferably, the horizontal slide is provided with a plurality of heating areas, which are distributed along the sliding direction of the horizontal slide, and the bending die is provided with a plurality of adsorption holes.

[0010] Preferably, the bending die is prismatic in shape, with rounded corners on each side edge.

[0011] Preferably, the first drive unit includes a motor with a gear on its motor shaft, and a rack is provided at the lower part of the horizontal slide, wherein the gear and the rack mesh for transmission.

[0012] The present invention also provides a forming and bending method, comprising the following steps: S1, Place the workpiece on the feeding platform and fix one end of it to the outer surface of the bending die; S2, through a compound motion consisting of the horizontal movement of the feeding platform, the vertical movement of the bending die, and the rotation of the bending die around its own axis, forms and bends the workpiece.

[0013] Preferably, step S1 further includes: preheating the workpiece to be bent position through the feeding platform; step S2 further includes: applying negative pressure to the adsorption holes on the bending die during the movement of the feeding platform and the bending die.

[0014] Preferably, the process further includes step S3: after bending, demolding the workpiece through the opening.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: 1. By combining the horizontal movement of the feeding platform, the vertical movement and rotation of the prismatic bending die, the bending die is simulated to roll and bend the workpiece. This allows the sheet material to be processed to be easily bent into the die outline through multiple consecutive bending operations, achieving efficient and automated processing while ensuring processing quality. 2. The bending die of the corresponding specification can be flexibly changed according to the bending contour required by the workpiece, resulting in good production flexibility. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an existing RV shower room structure; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the forming and bending equipment of the present invention (with a workpiece placed on it). Figure 3 for Figure 2 A diagram from another perspective; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the vertical slide table of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the combined structure of the vertical slide, the third drive unit, and the bending die of the present invention. Figure 6 for Figure 2 A magnified view of a section at point I; Figure 7 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of a section at point II; Figure 8 A shower liner for a motorhome manufactured using the equipment and method of the present invention.

[0017] Figure label: 1. Feeding platform; 11. Horizontal slide table; 12. Frame; 13. First drive unit; 14. Gear; 15. Rack. 2. Supporting structure; 3. Vertical slide, 31. Stage, 32. Base, 33. Second drive unit, 34. Third drive unit; 4. Bending die; 5. Slide rail. Detailed Implementation

[0018] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0019] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this invention, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0020] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections or detachable connections; mechanical connections or electrical connections; direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and internal connections between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0021] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0022] like Figures 2 to 7 As shown, a forming and bending device includes a feeding platform 1, a support structure 2, a vertical slide 3, and a bending die 4. The feeding platform 1 is capable of moving horizontally along its own length direction. The support structure 2 is fixedly installed. The vertical slide 3 is installed on the support structure 2 and includes a platform 31 capable of moving vertically. The bending die 4 is rotatably installed on the platform 31, and its rotation axis is parallel to the width direction of the feeding platform 1.

[0023] The design concept of this scheme originates from the pure rolling motion of a prismatic mold on a workpiece. This pure rolling motion causes the workpiece to adhere to the mold, bending it and ultimately shaping it into a finished product conforming to the mold's outer contour. However, pure rolling of the mold is difficult to achieve with conventional mechanical equipment. Therefore, this invention employs the aforementioned structure, using program control to move the feeding platform 1 horizontally, the bending mold 4 vertically, and the bending mold 4 rotate around its own axis. This three-axis composite motion simulates pure rolling, achieving automated workpiece forming and bending while balancing processing efficiency and quality. According to kinematic analysis, this simulation can theoretically completely reproduce the motion trajectory of pure rolling, and the specific three-axis linkage control algorithm can be fully implemented using existing technology.

[0024] like Figures 2 to 7 As shown, the feeding platform 1 includes a horizontal slide 11 and a frame 12. A set of slide rails 5 are provided on each of the top two sides of the frame 12 along its length. The horizontal slide 11 is slidably mounted on the frame 12 via the slide rails 5. A first drive unit 13 is provided at the bottom of the frame 12. In this embodiment, the first drive unit 13 adopts a motor structure, with a gear 14 keyed to its motor shaft. A rack 15 is provided at a corresponding position at the bottom of the horizontal slide 11. The gear 14 and rack 15 mesh and transmit power, thereby driving the horizontal slide 11 to move horizontally through the first drive unit 13. The rack 15 is preferably located at the middle position at the bottom of the horizontal slide 11, so that the gear and rack mechanism receives more even force and runs more smoothly. The horizontal movement of the horizontal slide 11 can also be achieved by other mechanisms, such as ball screws.

[0025] like Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the support structure 2 is a gantry structure, fixed to the ground. Two vertical slides 3 are located on either side of the support structure 2. The vertical slides 3 can be commercially available linear slide structures. This structure, besides the platform 31, includes a base 32, a second drive unit 33, a lead screw, and guide columns. The base 32 is fixed to the support structure 2, the lead screw is rotatably connected to the base 32, and the second drive unit 33 is connected to the end of the lead screw. The second drive unit 33 also uses a motor structure. Two guide columns are fixed to both sides of the lead screw. The platform 31 has a threaded hole in the middle, and through holes on both sides of the threaded hole. The platform 31 is threaded to the lead screw through the threaded hole, and the two guide columns pass through the through holes to guide and limit the movement of the platform. Using this structure, the vertical sliding of the platform 31 can be achieved by driving the lead screw to rotate through the second drive unit 33.

[0026] like Figure 5 As shown, a third drive unit 34 is provided on the stage 31 of one vertical slide 3, and a bearing seat is provided on the stage 31 of the other vertical slide 3. In this embodiment, the third drive unit 34 also adopts a motor structure. One end of the bending die 4 is connected to the drive shaft of the third drive unit 34, and the other end is connected to the bearing seat, thereby driving the third drive unit 34 to realize the rotation of the bending die 4.

[0027] The bending die 4 has a prismatic structure. To bend and shape the product as shown... Figure 8 The finished product shown has five bends and can be produced using a pentagonal prism-structured bending die 4. To produce finished products with other numbers of bends, simply replace the bending die 4 with one of the corresponding structure. In summary, during actual production, the bending die 4 of the corresponding specification can be flexibly changed according to the required bending contour of the workpiece, resulting in good production flexibility. Furthermore, to reduce stress concentration at the bending points, the edges of each side of the bending die 4 can be rounded.

[0028] In addition, each surface of the bending die 4 can be provided with adsorption holes. During the movement of the horizontal slide table 11 and the bending die 4, negative pressure is applied to the adsorption holes on the die surface that contacts the workpiece, so that the workpiece fits more firmly with the die surface on that side, and the workpiece can be prevented from falling off during the bending process.

[0029] In this embodiment, the workpiece is made of ABS sheet. Compared with fiberglass sheet, ABS sheet is easier to process, has a smoother surface, is lighter, and is more environmentally friendly, making it suitable as the inner liner of a RV shower room. Of course, other thermoplastic sheets can also be used. To ensure the bending effect, the part to be bent needs to be preheated and softened before forming and bending the ABS sheet. Therefore, the horizontal slide 11 is provided with several heating areas along its length. The positions of the heating areas can be calculated in advance based on the initial positions of the workpiece and the horizontal slide 11, as well as the structure of the bending die 4.

[0030] The present invention also provides a forming and bending method, comprising the following steps: S1, Place the workpiece on the horizontal slide table 11 and fix one end of it to the outer surface of the bending die 4; S2, the workpiece is formed and bent by the combined motion of the horizontal movement of the horizontal slide 11, the vertical movement of the bending die 4, and the rotation of the bending die 4 around its own axis. S3, after bending, demold the workpiece through the opening.

[0031] When bending ABS or other thermoplastic sheets, the area to be bent needs to be preheated and softened to ensure the bending effect. Therefore, step S1 further includes preheating the bending position of the workpiece using the horizontal slide 11. Furthermore, to ensure a more secure fit between the workpiece and the outer surface of the mold and to prevent the workpiece from falling off during bending, step S2 further includes applying negative pressure to the suction holes on the bending mold 4 during the movement of the horizontal slide 11 and the bending mold 4.

[0032] like Figure 8 As shown, the bent workpiece has an opening, which serves two purposes: to provide space for the shower door and to facilitate demolding. During demolding in step S3, the bending mold 4 is raised to a suitable height. Utilizing the workpiece's own elasticity, the bent workpiece can be manually removed from the opening to complete the demolding process. If necessary, hot air can be blown into the critical deformation areas during demolding to increase their elasticity and prevent structural damage caused by demolding.

[0033] The above embodiments merely illustrate the basic principles and characteristics of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various changes and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the present invention as claimed. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A forming and bending device, characterized in that, The device includes a feeding platform (1), a support structure (2), a vertical slide (3), and a bending die (4). The feeding platform (1) can move horizontally along its own length direction. The support structure (2) is fixedly set. The vertical slide (3) is installed on the support structure (2). The vertical slide (3) includes a platform (31) that can move in the vertical direction. The bending die (4) is rotatably installed on the platform (31), and the rotation axis of the bending die (4) is parallel to the width direction of the feeding platform (1).

2. The forming and bending equipment as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The feeding platform (1) includes a horizontal slide (11) and a frame (12), wherein the horizontal slide (11) is slidably mounted on the frame (12) via a slide rail (5).

3. The forming and bending equipment as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The frame (12) is provided with a first drive unit (13), the vertical slide (3) is provided with a second drive unit (33), the horizontal slide (11) moves horizontally through the first drive unit (13), and the platform (31) moves vertically through the second drive unit (33).

4. The forming and bending equipment as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The support structure (2) is a gantry structure. There are two vertical slides (3). The two vertical slides (3) are respectively installed on both sides of the support structure (2). A third drive unit (34) is provided on the platform (31) of one of the vertical slides (3). One end of the bending mold (4) is rotatably installed on the third drive unit (34), and the other end of the bending mold (4) is rotatably installed on the platform (31) of the other vertical slide (3).

5. The forming and bending equipment as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The horizontal slide (11) is provided with several heating areas, which are distributed along the sliding direction of the horizontal slide (11), and the bending mold (4) is provided with several adsorption holes.

6. The forming and bending equipment as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The bending die (4) is prismatic in shape, with rounded corners on each side edge.

7. The forming and bending equipment as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The first drive unit (13) includes a motor, on which a gear (14) is provided, and a rack (15) is provided at the lower part of the horizontal slide (11), and the gear (14) and the rack (15) mesh and transmit power.

8. A forming and bending method, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1, place the workpiece on the feeding platform (1) and fix one end of it to the outer surface of the bending die (4); S2, through the combined motion of the horizontal movement of the feeding platform (1), the vertical movement of the bending die (4), and the rotation of the bending die (4) around its own axis, the workpiece is formed and bent.

9. The forming and bending method as described in claim 8, characterized in that, Step S1 further includes: preheating the workpiece to be bent position through the feeding platform (1); Step S2 further includes applying negative pressure to the adsorption holes on the bending die (4) during the movement of the feeding platform (1) and the bending die (4).

10. The forming and bending method as described in claim 9, characterized in that, It also includes step S3: after bending, demolding the workpiece through the opening.

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