Processing module for a processing unit of a press

Abstract

Machining module for a machining unit (1) of a press, which comprises a punch (35; 35a; 35b; 35c; 35d; 35e), a punch receptacle (36) and a punch guide insert (38) which acts upon a material (S) to be machined by the punch (35; 35a; 35b; 35c; 35d; 35e) during a machining operation, wherein the punch (35; 35a; 35b; 35c; 35d; 35e) is guided displaceably in an opening (38a, 38b) of the punch guide insert (38), characterized in that the machining module (30) comprises at least one force-loaded spring pressure plate (31), that the machining module (30) comprises at least one spring element (32; 32a-32d), by means of which the spring pressure plate (31; 31a-31d) can be subjected to force, that a stamp pressure plate (33) with a pressure piece (34) is arranged under the spring pressure plate (31), which presses the stamp (35) guided in the stamp holder (36),that a spacer frame (37) is arranged between the punch holder (36) and the pressure piece (34), that guide elements (39) are provided which extend between the spring pressure plate (31) or the spring pressure plates (31a-31d) and the punch guide insert (38) and rigidly connect these components of the processing module (30), that the punch holder (36) and the spacer frame (37) each have a number of recesses (36a-36c or 37a-37c) corresponding to the number of guide elements (39), in which recesses the guide elements (39) are displaceably guided, so that an application of pressure to the punch guide insert (38) results in a displacement of the spring pressure plate (31), so that the punch (35; 35a; 35b; 35c; 35d; 35e) protrudes from the punch guide insert (38).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a processing module for a processing unit of a press, which has a punch, a punch holder and a punch guide insert which acts on a material to be processed by the punch during a processing operation, wherein the punch is slidably guided in an opening of the punch guide insert, as well as a processing unit using this processing module and a press particularly suitable for use with the processing module.

[0002] Such a processing module designed as a punching module and a punching press using it are known. To produce punched parts from a strip, band, or plate-shaped punching material fed to the punching module, the material is inserted between the upper and lower modules. A cooperating cutting insert is arranged below the cutting punch of the upper module in the lower module. If the upper module is lowered onto the lower module during the punching process in a downward stroke of the punching press, the punch guide plate, which is spring-loaded in the upper module, applies pressure to the punching material and secures it during the punching process. If the upper module is lowered further, the punch guide plate is moved back against the action of the springs acting on it.At the same time, the cutting punch protrudes from the punch guide plate and cuts through the punching material to produce the punched part until it has completely penetrated the punching material at the bottom dead center of this downward stroke of the punching press. During the subsequent upward stroke of the punching press, the punch guide plate is moved back towards the lower part of the module by the action of the springs acting on it, so that the cutting punch retracts into the punch guide plate. The punch guide plate thus scrapes the punched part. To guide the upper part of the module relative to the lower part of the module, the known punching module is provided with a guide column which is arranged parallel to the cutting punch in the punching unit using this punching module. A particular disadvantage is that this guide column takes up installation space, so that the known punching module is relatively bulky.

[0003] The above-described design of the known punching module also requires that the punch holder and the punch guide plate be relatively thick—typically about 2 cm each. The punch guided in the punch holder and extending through the punch guide plate therefore has a relatively long punch length. It is known that the precision of a machining operation, particularly a punching operation, decreases with the length of the punch performing this machining step, so the shortest possible punch length is desirable. A large thickness of the punch holder and the punch guide plate also requires a relatively large stroke of the punching press using the known punching module, which disadvantageously leads to a reduced cycle rate.

[0004] SU 902 928 A1 discloses a machining module that features an ejector connected via bolts to a platen, which is acted upon by a rubber buffer. When the platen is moved downward, the ejectors rest on the lower part and are moved upwards against the action of a spring buffer.

[0005] AU 540 172 B2 discloses a method and device for producing a stamped part from a material. The device comprises a spring that is positioned on a platform to push this platform downward into contact with a lid. Bolts are connected to the platform, which extend through the lid and into the shoe of the device. When the upper part of the device is moved downward, a shredder engages and is moved back against the action of the spring.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to further develop a processing module, in particular a punching module for a processing unit, in particular a punching unit, of the type mentioned above in such a way that a more compact design is achieved. Furthermore, a processing unit particularly suitable for use with this processing module is to be created.

[0007] This object is achieved according to the invention in that the processing module has at least one force-loaded spring pressure plate, that the processing module has at least one spring element by which the spring pressure plate can be subjected to force, that a punch pressure plate with a pressure piece is arranged below the spring pressure plate, which pressure acts on the punch guided in the punch holder, that a spacer frame is arranged between the punch holder and the pressure piece, that guide elements are provided which extend between the spring pressure plate or the spring pressure plates and the punch guide insert and rigidly connect these components of the processing module, that the punch holder and the spacer frame each have a number of recesses corresponding to the number of guide elements, in which the guide elements are slidably guided,so that a load on the punch guide insert results in a displacement of the spring pressure plate, so that the punch arranged in the punch holder and guided in the punch guide insert protrudes from the punch guide insert.

[0008] The measures according to the invention advantageously provide a processing module, in particular a punching module, for a processing unit, in particular a punching unit of a punching press, which is characterized by its compact design. By providing that the punch guide insert is guided and supported by guide elements provided in the processing module, a space-saving design of the processing module according to the invention is advantageously achieved.

[0009] A further advantage of the measures according to the invention is that the punch holder and the punch guide insert can be designed with a smaller thickness. The punch held in the punch holder and extending through the punch guide insert can therefore be designed to be shorter, which allows for greater precision in the production of workpieces from the material impacted by the punch. The stroke required for a press using the processing module according to the invention to perform a punching, cutting, shearing, embossing, or bending operation is also reduced, which advantageously allows for shorter cycle times and thus a higher workpiece output.

[0010] According to an advantageous development of the invention, the guide elements connecting the punch guide insert and the spring pressure plate or spring pressure plates surround the punch in a cage-like manner. The punch of the machining module according to the invention is thus advantageously arranged in the interior of the machining module defined by the guide elements, thereby achieving a compact design of the machining module according to the invention in a simple manner.

[0011] A further advantageous development of the invention provides that the force applied to at least one spring pressure plate is applied by a spring. Such a measure has the advantage that the relative movement required to move the punch guide plate for stripping the part produced with the machining unit according to the invention can be generated in a simple manner.

[0012] Further advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

[0013] Further details and advantages of the invention can be found in the exemplary embodiments described below with reference to the figures. They show: Fig. 1 an exploded view of a first embodiment of a processing module for a processing unit of a press, Fig. 2 the first embodiment of a processing unit together with the processing module of the Fig. 1 at the top dead center of a machining operation, Fig. 3 the processing unit of the Fig. 2 at the beginning of the cutting operation of the punching process, Fig. 4 the editing module of the Fig. 2 at the bottom dead center of a machining operation, Fig. 5 to 7 a second embodiment of a processing unit, Fig. 8 to 10 a third embodiment of a processing unit, Fig. 11 a fourth embodiment of a processing unit, and Fig. 12 a fifth embodiment of a processing unit.

[0014] In the Fig. 2 to 4, a processing unit 1, generally designated 1, for a press (not shown in detail) is shown, which Fig. 1 is used. The processing module 30 shown in an exploded view is used. The processing unit 1 is divided in a known manner and therefore not further described in detail into an upper frame part 2, which supports an upper module part 4 of the processing module 30a, and a lower frame part 3, on which a lower module part 5 is arranged. The upper frame part 2 is arranged on an upper mounting plate A of a press (not shown in detail), and a lower mounting plate A1 supports the lower frame part 3 of the processing unit 1. Not shown in the figures are further components of the press using this processing unit 1, drive devices, etc. of the press, by means of which a relative movement can be carried out between the upper frame part 2 and the lower frame part 3 and thus between the upper module part 4 and the lower module part 5, as well as feed devices by means of which a material S can be introduced between the lower module part 5 and the upper module part 4.The structure and operation of such a press are known to the person skilled in the art, so that this does not need to be described in more detail.

[0015] The following description assumes that the processing module 30 is designed as a punching module 30a. Consequently, the processing unit 1 using this punching module 30a is designed as a punching unit 1a, and the press using this punching unit 1a is designed as a punching press. However, this does not limit the general validity of the following explanations. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that they can also design the processing module 30 as a cutting, shearing, bending, or embossing module, and consequently the processing unit 1 as a cutting, shearing, bending, or embossing unit, and the press as a cutting, shearing, bending, or embossing press. These variants of the processing unit 1 are then the subject of the second to fifth exemplary embodiments.

[0016] The Fig. 1, the processing module 30, shown in its exploded view and designed as a punching module 30a, has a spring pressure plate 31 acted upon by a spring 32, beneath which a punch pressure plate 33 with a pressure piece 34 is arranged. The pressure piece 34 acts upon a punch 35 designed as a cutting punch 35a, which is guided in a punch holder 36. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the cutting punch 35a is designed in two parts, thus consisting of two punch units 35' and 35". However, this two-part design of the cutting punch 35a is not mandatory and is therefore only shown as an example. A spacer frame 37 is arranged between the punch holder 36 and the pressure piece 34.

[0017] The punching module 30a further comprises a punch guide insert 38, which has through-openings 38a and 38b for the punch units 35' and 35". This punch guide insert 38 is rigidly connected to the spring pressure plate 31 by guide elements 39, which are designed here as pressure bolts 39a-39d. As best seen from the Fig. 1, the punch holder 36 and the spacer frame 37 each have a number of recesses for the pressure bolts 39a-39d corresponding to the number of pressure bolts 39a-39d - four in the embodiment shown here - of which in Fig. 1 shows three recesses 36a-36c in the punch holder 36 and three recesses 37a-37c in the spacer frame 37. The recesses 36a-36c and 37a-37c as well as through-openings 33a-33d in the pressure plate 33 serve to guide the pressure bolts 39a-39d. These are displaceably mounted in the aforementioned recesses 36a-36c and 37a-37c as well as in the through-openings 33a-33d, so that these guide elements 39 and thus the punch guide insert 38 firmly connected to them can be displaced relative to the cutting punch 35. Due to the rigid connection between the punch guide insert 38 and the spring pressure plate 31, a displacement of the punch guide insert 38 results in a displacement of the spring pressure plate 31 and vice versa.

[0018] In Fig. 1 also shows a cutting insert 40 which is arranged in the module lower part 5.

[0019] The functioning of the punching module 30a and the punching unit 1 using this punching module 30a are explained in detail in the Fig. 2 to 4. As can be seen from these figures, the punching module 30a is arranged in the module upper part 4. The frame upper part 2, which accommodates this module upper part 4, has a receiving opening 8 for the spring pressure plate 31 and the spring 32, wherein the spring 32 is supported by its upper end 32' on the frame upper part 2. The spring pressure plate 31 is slidably received in the lower part 8' of the receiving opening 8, as described below.

[0020] The Fig. Figure 2 shows the punching unit 1 at the beginning of a working stroke of the punching press using it. The module upper part 4 is at the top dead center of a working stroke used to produce a punched part. The module upper part 4 and the module lower part 5 are spaced apart from each other, with this distance essentially corresponding to the height of a working stroke of the punching press using the punching unit 1. The punching material S to be processed rests on the module lower part 5. The spring 32 accommodated in the recess 8 of the frame upper part 2 acts on the spring pressure plate 31, so that it is in its lower end position. The same applies to the punch guide insert 38, which is rigidly connected to the spring pressure plate 31 via the pressure bolts 39a-39d. The punch units 35a, 35b of the cutting punch 35, which penetrate the punch guide insert 38, are in their retracted position, i.e., their working surfaces 35''' are located inside the punch guide insert 38.The punch guide insert 38 projects beyond the lower surface 4' of the module upper part 4.

[0021] Starting from this position, the upper frame part 2 together with the module upper part 4 connected to it is then moved downwards by the punching press, i.e. in the direction of the module lower part 5, so that - as in Fig. 3 - the punch guide insert 38 hits the punching material S. Up to this point, the above-described components of the punching unit 30a of the punching unit 1 are in their Fig. 2. Driven by the punching press, the frame upper part 2 and the module upper part 4 then carry out a further movement in the direction of the module lower part 5 and thus of the punching material S lying on it, so that at the end of the downward stroke the Fig. 4 shown bottom dead center is reached. In the Fig. 3, at the start of the cutting process, the punch guide insert 38 rests on the punching material S and can therefore no longer move downwards. The further lowering of the upper frame section 2 then causes the spring 32 accommodated in the recess 8 of the upper frame section 2 to be compressed; the resulting spring pressure is transferred via the pressure bolts 39a-39d to the punch guide insert 38. This then applies a corresponding compressive force to the punching material S and thus fixes it on the lower module section 5. The cutting punch 35, acted upon by the pressure plate 34, follows the downward movement of the upper frame section 2. Its working surface 35''' protrudes from the punch guide insert 38 and applies pressure to the surface of the punching material S, which is subjected to force by the punch guide insert 38.As the downward stroke continues, the spring pressure plate 31 moves upward relative to the downwardly moving upper frame section 2 and reaches its upper end position at the end of the downward stroke, i.e., at this bottom dead center. At the same time, the cutting punch 35 protrudes further from the punch guide insert 38 and successively cuts through the punching material S. At the bottom dead center of this downward stroke, the cutting punch 35 has completely cut through the punching material S and is in its lower end position. At the same time, the spring pressure plate 31 and the punch guide insert 38 have reached their upper end positions.

[0022] In a subsequent upward stroke, the frame upper part 2 and thus the module upper part 4, including the cutting punch 35, move upward. The spring 32 expands, causing the punch guide insert 38 to move downward relative to the cutting punch 35, so that its working surface 35' is moved back into the interior of the punch guide insert 38. During the upward stroke, the spring 32 presses the spring pressure plate 31 into its lower end position, thereby stripping the punching material S.

[0023] The production of another punched part takes place after the punching material S has been fed forward accordingly in a further working stroke, which takes place as described above.

[0024] The above description assumes that the spring pressure plate 31 is acted upon by a spring 32. From these explanations, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the use of a spring is not mandatory. Rather, it is possible to provide other means for applying force to the spring pressure plate 31 instead of the spring, as long as these means provide the function of the spring described above. In particular, it is possible to replace the spring 32 with a hydraulic or pneumatic piston.

[0025] Furthermore, it is assumed that the punching module 30a is accommodated in the module upper part 4, and the cutting insert 40a, which interacts with the punching punch 35 of the punching module 30a, is accommodated in the module lower part 5. This arrangement has the advantage that the stripping of the punched part produced from the punching material S during the punching process is easily possible. However, it is also entirely possible to reverse the aforementioned arrangement, i.e., that the punching module 30a is arranged in the module lower part 5, and the cutting insert 40a is arranged in the module upper part 4.

[0026] The above description also assumed that the upper module part 5, which accommodates the punching unit 30a, is moved. Although not preferred, it is certainly possible for the lower module part 4 to be moved up and down to perform the punching press's working stroke. A combination of these two measures is also possible.

[0027] In the Fig. 5 to 7 show a second embodiment of a processing unit 1, which in the case shown here is designed as a cutting unit 1b having, as processing module 30, a cutting module 30b corresponding to the punching module 30a of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the cutting module 30b is arranged in the module lower part 5. The structure of the cutting module 30b basically corresponds to that of the punching module 30a, so that corresponding components are provided with the same reference numerals and will not be explained in more detail. The cutting unit 1b has, as punch 35, a cutting punch 35b corresponding to the punching punch 35a of the first embodiment, which interacts with a cutting insert 40b arranged in the module upper part 4.In contrast to the first embodiment, in which the pressure pins 39a-39d engage a common spring pressure plate 31, which is acted upon by the spring 32, the second embodiment provides that each of the pressure pins 39a-39d serving as guide elements 39 is assigned its own spring 32a-32d, which each acts upon a spring pressure plate 31a-31d. The spring pressure plates 31a-31d and the springs 32a-32d are accommodated in recesses 8a-8d.

[0028] The Fig. Figure 5 shows the cutting module 1b at the beginning of the cutting process. The cutting module 35 is still located inside the punch guide insert 38, and the spring pressure plates 31a-31d are in their upper end position. If the frame base 3, together with the module base 5 it supports, is now moved towards the material S, the punch guide insert 38 presses against the material S. During a further upward movement, the punch guide insert 38 and thus the spring pressure plates 31a-31d rigidly connected to it via the pressure bolts 39a to 39d retreat. The cutting punch 35b emerges from the punch guide insert 38 and begins to cut through the material S. In the subsequent downward stroke, the spring pressure plates 31a-31d and thus the punch guide insert 38 are moved upward again by the action of the expanding springs 32a-32d.

[0029] In the Fig. 8 to 10 show a third exemplary embodiment of a processing unit 1, which is designed here as a bending unit 1c and has a bending module 30c as the processing module 30. The structure of the bending unit 1c basically corresponds to that of the punching unit 1a: The bending module 30c has, as punch 35, a bending punch 35c corresponding to the punching punch 35a, which is received in a punch receptacle 35 and passes through a punch guide insert 38, wherein the punch guide insert 38 - as in the first exemplary embodiment - is rigidly connected to the spring pressure plate 31, which is acted upon by the spring 32, by the pressure bolts 39a-39d acting as guide elements 39.

[0030] In Fig. 8, the spring pressure plate 31 is in its lowest position and the bending punch 35c is still located inside the punch guide insert 38. If the frame upper part 2 and thus the module upper part 4 connected to it are moved downwards by a corresponding movement of the drive plate A, the punch guide insert 38 is placed on the material S to be stamped and thus presses it against a bending insert 40c corresponding to the punching insert 40a, which is arranged in the module lower part 5. A further downward movement of the module upper part causes the bending punch 35c to act on the material S, whereby at the same time the spring pressure plate 31 is moved from its Fig. 8 shown lower position and - as can be seen Fig. 9 - is moved upwards. In the subsequent upward stroke of the press using the bending unit 1c and the bending module 30c, the module upper part 5 moves away from the material S to be bent, whereby the action of the spring 32 moves the spring pressure plate 31 and thus the punch guide insert 38, which is rigidly connected to it via the pressure pins 39a-39d acting as guide elements 39, downwards. The bending punch 35c retreats into the interior of the punch guide insert 38, and the active contact between the punch guide insert 38 and the material S is eliminated.

[0031] In the Fig. Figure 11 shows a fourth embodiment of a processing unit 1, which here is designed as a shearing unit 1d and has a shearing module 30d as the processing module 30. The basic structure of the fourth embodiment corresponds to that of the second embodiment, so that corresponding components are provided with the same reference numerals and will not be described in more detail. The shearing module 30d arranged in the module base 5 has a shearing punch 35d, which interacts with a shearing insert 40d. By applying pressure to the material S by the shearing punch 35d, a sheared part is cut out.

[0032] The further structure and the functioning of the fourth embodiment again correspond to that of the second embodiment, so that reference can be made to it.

[0033] In the Fig.Figure 12 shows a fifth embodiment of a processing unit 1, which is designed as an embossing unit 1e and has an embossing module 30e with an embossing die 35e, which interacts with an embossing insert 40e. The embossing die 35e has an embossed structure 35e' on its working surface. The further structure and operation of the fifth embodiment again correspond to that of the first embodiment, so that corresponding components are provided with the same reference numerals and will not be described in further detail.

[0034] The described processing module 30 for a processing unit 1, which is designed, for example, as a punching module 30a for the punching unit 1a of the punching press, as a cutting module 30b for a cutting unit 1b, as a bending module 30c for a bending unit 1c, as a shearing module 30d for a shearing unit 1d, or as a stamping module 30e for a stamping unit 1e, is characterized by a compact design. Only components located within the processing module 30 and thus within the upper module part 4 or the lower module part 5 are used to guide and apply pressure to the punch guide insert 38, which holds the material S during the processing process. This achieves the above-mentioned compact design of the processing module 30, which results in a smaller design of the module upper part 4 or the module lower part 5 of the processing unit 1 and consequently a space-saving design of the press using this processing module 30.The guide elements 39 surrounding the punch 35 in a cage-like manner, here the pressure pins 39a-39d, allow a particularly compact design of the machining module 30a. This module can therefore be easily integrated into a module unit 4 or 5.

Claims

[1] Machining module for a machining unit (1) of a press, which comprises a punch (35; 35a; 35b; 35c; 35d; 35e), a punch holder (36) and a punch guide insert (38) which acts upon a material (S) to be machined by the punch (35; 35a; 35b; 35c; 35d; 35e) during a machining operation, wherein the punch (35; 35a; 35b; 35c; 35d; 35e) is guided displaceably in an opening (38a, 38b) of the punch guide insert (38), characterized bythat the processing module (30) has at least one force-loaded spring pressure plate (31), that the processing module (30) has at least one spring element (32; 32a-32d) by means of which the spring pressure plate (31; 31a-31d) can be subjected to force, that a punch pressure plate (33) with a pressure piece (34) is arranged below the spring pressure plate (31), which pressure piece acts on the punch (35) guided in the punch holder (36), that a spacer frame (37) is arranged between the punch holder (36) and the pressure piece (34), that guide elements (39) are provided which extend between the spring pressure plate (31) or the spring pressure plates (31a-31d) and the punch guide insert (38) and rigidly connect these components of the processing module (30), that the punch holder (36) and the spacer frame (37) each have one of the Number of guide elements (39) corresponding number of recesses (36a-36c or37a-37c) in which the guide elements (39) are displaceably guided, so that an action on the punch guide insert (38) results in a displacement of the spring pressure plate (31), so that the punch (35; 35a; 35b; 35c; 35d; 35e) arranged in the punch holder (36) and guided in the punch guide insert (38) protrudes from the punch guide insert (38). [2] Processing module according to claim 1, characterized by that the punch (35; 35a; 35b; 35c; 35d; 35e) is arranged in the space of the processing module (30) delimited by the guide elements (39). [3] Processing module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one guide element (39) extending between the spring pressure plate (31) and the punch guide plate (38) is designed as a pressure bolt (39a-39c). [4] Processing module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat all guide elements (39; 39a-39d) are connected to a spring pressure plate (31). [5] Processing module according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that each guide element (39; 39a-39d) is assigned its own spring pressure plate (31a-31d). [6] Processing module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the processing module (30) is a punching module, a cutting module, a shearing module, an embossing module or a bending module. [7] Machining unit for a press, which has an upper frame part (2) and a lower frame part (3), wherein a module upper part (4) is detachably connected to the upper frame part (2) and / or a module lower part (5) is detachably connected to the lower frame part (3), characterized by that the processing unit (1; 1a; 1b; 1c; 1d; 1e) has a processing module (30) according to one of claims 1 to 6. [8] Processing unit according to claim 7, characterized bythat the processing module (30) is arranged in the upper module part (4) of the processing unit (1), and that the lower module part (5) has an insert (40; 40a; 40c) which is arranged opposite the punch (35; 35a; 35c; 35e) of the processing module (30). [9] Processing unit according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized by that in the upper frame part (2) or in the lower frame part (3) at least one receptacle (8; 8a-8d) is provided, in which a spring pressure plate (31; 31a-31d) of the punching module (30) is slidably received. [10] Processing unit according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized by that the spring element (32; 32a-32d) acting on the spring pressure plate (31; 31a-31d) is accommodated in the receptacle (8; 8a-8d).

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