Positioning guide

Abstract

A teaching for the positionally precise arrangement of a plurality of individual tool modules (8) of different widths of a total tool (80) formed with such modules on a support plate, for example the press table of a machining press, with at least one mounting unit (9) movable along the teaching, preferably on two rails (7, 7'), according to positioning software set up for the different machining operations, for positioning blocks (23) to be attached along the teaching, to which the individual tool modules (8) can be connected in a positionally correct manner, in particular plugged or screwed on, characterized in that they are held at least at the two ends of the teaching and optionally at least once between them by two mounting arms (51) projecting from each other on both sides of the teaching of the basic holding bodies (5) mounted on the support table of the total tool (80),with their distal profile thickening heads (41, 41') projecting laterally towards each other, - wherein the profile thickening heads (41, 41') are each formed with upward and downward pointing profile projections (42, 42'; 43, 43'), - that along the two guide profile rails (4, 4') a plurality of the lower parts (3) of positioning blocks (23) with, preferably centrally located, screw holes (35) with internal screw threads (34) are longitudinally displaceable, the lower parts (3) of which are engaged on both sides by the profile thickening heads (41, 41') of the guide profile rails (4, 4'), are longitudinally displaceable, wherein the lower parts (3) have two profile grooves (33) on their upper side which are frictionally interlocking with the downwardly pointing profile projections (43, 43') of the guide profile rails (4, 4'). 33') exhibit,- that above each of the positioning stone lower parts (3) a positioning stone upper part (2) associated with it can be arranged, which with its downward-pointing profile grooves (22,22') with the upwardly pointing profile projections (42, 42') of the guide profile rails (4, 4') is precisely frictionally interlocking, and - that by tightening fixing screws (6) inserted in upwardly open recesses (25) of the positioning block upper parts (2) and which are screw-cooperating with the internal threads (34) of the positioning block lower parts (3), forming the positioning blocks (23), the upper and lower parts (2, 3) of which can be precisely connected, fixed and clamped to the two guide profile rails (4, 4') according to the positioning software.

Description

The present invention relates to a new teaching for the positionally exact arrangement of a plurality of individual tool modules of different widths of a total tool formed with such modules on a support plate, for example the press table of a machining press, with at least one fastening unit, in particular screw unit, movable along the teaching, preferably on two rails, according to positioning software set up for the different machining operations, for positioning blocks to be attached along the teaching, to which the individual tool modules can be connected in a positionally correct manner, in particular plugged in or screwed on. In the processing of sheet metal strips or strips, progressive and compound dies are used, in which the work steps and thus processing stations required for the production of the product are arranged one after the other and the workpiece hanging on the advance strip or strip is transported from one station to the next. The tools are set up and operated primarily in presses. The distances from one machining station to the next have so far been constant and are referred to as the feed rate. Corrections to this value are only possible with considerable effort through tool retooling. Traditionally, the individual machining stages were permanently integrated into a base frame. For products with similar or identical machining sequences, but different lengths, for example, the individual machining stages are now built separately as independent units and fixed in their required positions using spacers. According to current technology, these spacers are ruler-like rods, rails, or profiles with permanently integrated rows of holes, grooves, or the like for one or more workpieces to be manufactured. The individual machining tools or tool modules can be fixed in these spacers according to their required sequence of steps. Regarding the state of the art in this field, the following should be stated: DE 10 2011 086 552 A1 relates to a device for fastening tools in a press with a clamping table that can be attached to a press base, which is designed and further developed with regard to flexible loading and easy handling with short setup times in such a way that the clamping table serves to hold at least one tool module and that stops for aligning the tool module and / or fixing means for fastening the tool module are assigned to the clamping table. DE 20 2014 210 063 A1 describes a press die with rows of blocks arranged parallel in a frame, each row being formed by die blocks. The rows of blocks comprise a first and a second row, which are adjacent to each other. A connecting section between two adjacent blocks belonging to the first row faces a side surface of a die block belonging to the second row. This device is particularly intended for the manufacture of separators for fuel cells with plates having grooves on their surface at predetermined intervals, which, when assembled, form gas passages through which hydrogen gas and oxygen gas can flow separately from each other. US 2008 / 0202190 A1 describes a reusable tooling system for the production of sheet metal material, wherein the parts have different sizes and shapes, wherein a press is provided where the tooling modules can be positioned at predetermined locations. The CH 393878 B is a multi-purpose tool with individual inserts designed to be attached to a stamping, pressing, or similar machine tool for performing various operations, such as stamping or pressing. It features multiple rail-like, parallel gauges with guides that accommodate the tool or die carriers. The individual inserts can be moved longitudinally and laterally and clamped in place by means of links located in the guides and clamping elements arranged in slots within the insert. This allows for individually adjustable positioning and locking of the tools. The objects described therein, which are intended to be used in a gauge-like manner, cannot guarantee precise positioning of the individual tool modules of a complete tool formed by them and are extremely cumbersome to handle. AT 510 721 A4 discloses a tool positioning device for at least two tool positions selectable along the length of a tool beam of a press brake, for at least one tool set consisting of a tool clamping adapter and at least one bending tool. The tool beam has, for each tool position, a pair of claw-shaped positioning elements spaced apart along the length of the tool beam by an adjustment range of the tool set. The tool clamping adapter is adjustably mounted in a receiving groove extending along the length of the tool beam and has a pair of positioning means that can be engaged with the positioning elements in the respective tool position. The present invention relates to a novel teaching for the precise positioning of a plurality of individual tool modules, in particular of different widths, of a complete tool formed with such modules on a support plate, as described above, which is characterized in that it is formed with two guide profile rails held at least at its two ends and optionally at least once between them by support arms of guide base bodies mounted on the support table or the like of the complete tool on both sides, the guide profile rails having their distal profile thickening heads projecting laterally towards each other, wherein the profile thickening heads are each formed with upward and downward pointing profile projections, and that along the two guide profile rails a plurality of the lower parts of positioning blocks, which are engaged on both sides by the profile thickening heads of the same, are arranged withpreferably centrally located screw holes with internal screw threads, are longitudinally displaceable,- wherein these lower parts have two profile grooves on their upper side that fit precisely with the downward-pointing profile projections of the guide profile rails,- that furthermore, a corresponding positioning stone upper part can be arranged above each of the positioning stone lower parts, which, with its downward-pointing profile grooves, fits precisely with the upward-pointing profile projections of the guide profile rails, and- that by tightening fixing screws inserted into upwardly open recesses of the positioning stone upper parts, which each screw cooperate with the internal threads of the positioning stone lower parts, the positioning stone upper and lower parts can be connected and fixed to the two guide profile rails in a positionally precise frictional manner according to the positioning software, forming the positioning stones. The invention is based on programmable jigs, each comprising at least one profile rail mounted on a base body with elements – the positioning blocks – that can be moved and fixed along the rail. These jigs are positioned and fixed in a device for holding tool modules. According to a stored machining program, the positioning blocks in the jigs can be moved to their respective designated positions using a drive-equipped positioning and screwing unit and then secured there against displacement or similar movement by screwing, clamping, or the like. The invention offers, for the first time, a freely programmable positioning of positioning stones that is precisely adapted to the needs of a machining process. The technical design of the two main components of the new teaching, namely the upper and lower parts of the positioning stones, is based on the fact that, on the one hand, an inexpensive profile guide rail in the form of a standard part available on the market in various sizes, e.g., the INA linear guide system, can be used, whereby, based on our own analyses and practical investigations, it was found that the mutual clamping surfaces of these profile rails also have an exact centering effect. If necessary, they can be additionally blasted, i.e. roughened, to achieve higher coefficients of friction. To achieve the same functions, other profile shapes were also tested in the aforementioned investigations, but these cannot compete with the teachings according to the invention with regard to the accuracy of the positioning of the positioning stones with their small proportion of available, friction-fit surface areas and their angles to each other. A key application advantage of the new pre-programmable, longitudinally variable positioning system can be, in various applications, a precisely defined offset of front and rear positioning blocks mounted on a "front" and a "rear" positioning jig. This allows for a programmable inclination of all modules with respect to the direction of movement of the respective workpiece strip, which will be explained in more detail in the explanation of Fig. 6a and Fig. 6b of the drawing. Particularly advantageous with regard to rapid, programmable, precise assembly of the positioning stones is if the downward-pointing grooves of the positioning stone upper parts and the upward-pointing profile projections of the guide profile rails, as well as the downward-pointing profile projections of the guide profile rails and the upward-pointing profile grooves of the positioning stone lower parts, each have an essentially triangular cross-section. Regarding the edge angles of the profile projections and profile grooves of the positioning stones and guide profile rails, it has proven particularly advantageous if the, optionally rounded, inner edges of the profile grooves and the outer edges of the profile projections are preferably all identical to each other and have an outer and inner edge angle α of 80 to 100°, preferably 90°. Furthermore, a design of the new teaching is preferable in which, at least to the profile projections of the profile guide rails, profile grooves with a flat valley bottom connect to the outside. Last but not least, it should be mentioned that one variant of the new teaching is advantageous in which a space is provided above the heads of the fixing screws inserted into the positioning lower parts in the recesses of the positioning stone upper parts, for example for receiving plug-in modules of the individual tools. Depending on the requirements, one or – for example, to skew individual or all tool modules of a complete tool in relation to the direction of movement of a sheet metal strip – two or even more individual gauges may be necessary for the pre-programmable gauges. These gauges are inserted into corresponding fixtures in a base frame and secured in their positions. The machining tools are then sequentially inserted into the fixtures using the provided index pins and clamped precisely in the predetermined positions. The jig for positioning and fixing the individual positioning blocks in the base body can also be part of the base frame. The necessary positioning data for the positioning blocks of the jig(s) are generated on a PC from the key data of the workpiece to be produced, for example, in the form of a strip diagram. Corrections can be automatically transferred to the positioning blocks of the jig by measuring the manufactured workpiece and feeding the required correction values ​​back to the device's computer. The main advantages of the present invention are, in particular, the following: The new programmable teaching system allows for the realization of any number of position structures for any number of different workpieces to be manufactured. With the new programmable jigs, all manufacturing processes used to produce length-variable products can be operated much more economically than before. The need to manufacture numerous fixed tools for each length variant is eliminated, and the use of separate, movable single-stage tools eliminates the previously required large number of drilled fixed gauges. Correcting the positioning of individual machining tools, i.e., individual tool modules, is very easy. When preparing a second teaching unit or a second pair of teaching units with the target positions, the correction of often only individual positions is possible very quickly. By simply replacing the corrected gauge in the base frame, the downtime of the production line due to corrections can be kept to an absolute minimum. Manufacturing costs for users can be significantly reduced because corrections can be carried out very quickly, with extreme precision, and in a highly automated manner, eliminating the need for multiple correction loops, which were often necessary before. The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the drawings: Figures 1a and 1b show a prior art teaching in top and oblique views, respectively; Figure 2 shows a top view of a programmable teaching according to the invention; Figure 3 shows a sectional view of the new programmable teaching according to the invention; Figures 4a and 4b show the overall structure of the new teaching on a base body in top and oblique views; Figures 5a, 5b, and 5c show a complete tool mounted on a new teaching with two guide rails, comprising individual tool modules of different widths, in top, oblique, and side views; and Figures 6a and 6b illustrate how, in the production of simple sheet metal parts, the programmable positioning guides, arranged offset from each other with respect to the position of their positioning blocks, are positioned on two such guides simply by tilting the individual tool modules. Figures 1a and 1b show a "combined gauge" formed with three prior art individual gauges with fixed, spaced-apart bores for receiving individual tool modules, wherein for each required tool configuration a series of fixed-spaced bores 35 is provided specifically to meet the particular requirements of the overall tool. The individual gauges 1, 1', 1" are mounted at their two ends in holding bodies 5. The disadvantage of this type of armor for a complete tool can be illustrated using a fictional example: For example, it is required that the position of a segment positioned using the previously known gauge must be adjustable by 15 mm in either direction. This means that previously three fixed-bore gauges (1, 1', 1") were necessary, for example, for the inclined positioning of tool modules. According to the invention, however, only 3 setup operations are required in an external device. This specific example, with e.g. 900 living variants of a locking piece to be produced, shows that the large number of drilled gauges 35 required for this is practically no longer storable and manageable. In the teaching 1 shown in Fig. 2a and Fig. 2b, so-called positioning stones 23 are arbitrarily positionable and their distances from one another freely selectable along two linear stirring, i.e. guide profile rails 4, 4' held by the two-sided holding arms 51 of the end holding bodies 5, arranged parallel to each other at a relatively small distance, so-called positioning stones 23, into which the individual tool modules of a total tool formed with them can be, for example, plugged or screwed. The arrows of different lengths in Fig. 2a indicate their free and individual, in particular pre-programmable, displacement along the new positioning gauge 1. The sectional view shown in Fig. 3 - with otherwise unchanged meanings of reference numerals - clearly shows the structure of the new positioning gauge 1 according to the invention. Two profile guide rails 4, 4', having the same cross-section and arranged laterally opposite each other with their profile thickening heads 41, 41', are held by basic holding bodies 5 arranged at least at the two ends of the new positioning gauge 1 by clamping elements 51 on both sides of the same, spaced apart from each other. Each of the two profile guide rails 4, 4' has an upward and a downward pointing profile projection 42, 43 and 42', 43' with an approximately triangular cross-section, which can be precisely frictionally coupled with correspondingly shaped, opposing grooves 22, 22' of the upper parts 2 of each of the positioning stones 23 and with the similarly shaped grooves 33, 33' of the lower parts 3 of the positioning stones 23. The profile projections 42, 42' of the profile guide rails 4, 4' are each connected to the outside by channels 45, 45', which partially serve as a frictional connection with the upper parts 2 of the positioning stones 23. The positioning blocks 23 themselves each have a screw hole 35 with an internal thread 34 in their lower parts 3, with which the positioning screw 6 with screw head 60 can be screwed together via its thread 65, whereby the rotation of the positioning screw by means of a pre-programmed screw unit allows the upper and lower parts 2, 3 of the positioning block 23 to be moved towards each other under high clamping force against the guide profile rails 4, 4' and ultimately cooperate with the guide profile rails 4, 4' in a friction-fit clamping manner. The screw head 60 is located in the receiving space 25 for connection elements of individual tool modules (not shown here). Figures 4a and 4b show – with all other reference numeral meanings remaining the same – two new, programmable positioning gauges 1, 1' with linearly extending guide profile rails 4, 4' spaced apart from each other. The positioning blocks 23 "suspended" therein are fixed at freely selectable intervals from one another by means of a screw unit 9 running along two guide rails 7 and adjustable to a precise point by a linear positioning axis 95. This screw unit is computer-controlled according to a machining program tailored to the individual parts to be produced. The positioning gauges 1, 1' are positioned on a base plate 15, for example, a worktable 11. Figures 5a to 5c show - with otherwise unchanged reference numeral meanings - how a complete tool 80 formed with several individual tool modules 8, 8', 8" ..., 8n is mounted on a base plate 15 with recess 15' for letting machining scrap fall through. The individual tool modules 8, 8', 8'' ..., 8ns are of different widths and are positioned on both sides on positioning stones 23 arranged in two gauges 1, 1' as described above, according to a respective machining program, which may be spaced at different intervals, and screwed together if necessary. Figures 6a and 6b illustrate the further advantages of using this system in the production of an exemplary stamped part with variable length L. The possible “rotation” of the individual tool modules relative to the movement or feed direction VR of the strip-like sheet metal band being processed, and thus of all processing processes, by approximately 5° for the production of length-variable stamped parts S with a length of, for example, 86 mm shown here, through the improved “nesting” of the feed from 116 mm to 95 mm corresponds to a material saving of approximately 18%.

Claims

A teaching for the positionally precise arrangement of a plurality of individual tool modules (8) of different widths of a total tool (80) formed with such modules on a support plate, for example the press table of a machining press, with at least one mounting unit (9) movable along the teaching, preferably on two rails (7, 7'), according to positioning software set up for the different machining operations, for positioning blocks (23) to be attached along the teaching, to which the individual tool modules (8) can be connected in a positionally correct manner, in particular plugged or screwed on, characterized in that they are held at least at the two ends of the teaching and optionally at least once between them by two mounting arms (51) projecting from each other on both sides of the teaching, of teaching base holding bodies (5) mounted on the support table of the total tool (80),with their distal profile thickening heads (41, 41') projecting laterally towards each other, - wherein the profile thickening heads (41, 41') are each formed with upward and downward pointing profile projections (42, 42'; 43, 43'), - that along the two guide profile rails (4, 4') a plurality of the lower parts (3) of positioning blocks (23) with, preferably centrally located, screw holes (35) with internal screw threads (34) are longitudinally displaceable, the lower parts (3) of which are engaged on both sides by the profile thickening heads (41, 41') of the guide profile rails (4, 4'), are longitudinally displaceable, wherein the lower parts (3) have two profile grooves (33) on their upper side which are frictionally interlocking with the downwardly pointing profile projections (43, 43') of the guide profile rails (4, 4'). 33') exhibit,- that above each of the positioning stone lower parts (3) a positioning stone upper part (2) associated with it can be arranged, which with its downward-pointing profile grooves (22,22') with the upwardly pointing profile projections (42, 42') of the guide profile rails (4, 4') is precisely frictionally interlocking, and - that by tightening fixing screws (6) inserted in upwardly open recesses (25) of the positioning block upper parts (2) and which are screw-cooperating with the internal threads (34) of the positioning block lower parts (3), forming the positioning blocks (23), the upper and lower parts (2, 3) of which can be precisely connected, fixed and clamped to the two guide profile rails (4, 4') according to the positioning software. Teaching according to claim 1, characterized in that the downward-pointing grooves (22, 22') of the positioning stone upper parts (2) and the upward-pointing profile projections (42, 42') of the guide profile rails (4, 4') as well as the downward-pointing profile projections (43, 43') of the guide profile rails (4, 4') and the upward-pointing profile grooves (33, 33') of the positioning stone lower parts (3) have a substantially triangular cross-section. Teaching according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the, optionally rounded, inner edges of the profile grooves (22, 22') of the positioning stone upper parts (2) and the outer edges of the profile projections (42, 42'; 43, 43') of the guide profile rails (4, 4') preferably all identical to each other, have an outer or inner edge angle (α) of 80 to 100°, preferably of 90°. Teaching according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that profile grooves (45, 45') with a flat valley bottom connect at least to the profile projections (42, 42') of the profile guide rails (4, 4') towards the outside. Teaching according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that above the heads (60) of the positioning screws (6) screwed into the positioning lower parts (3) a free space (F) is provided in the recesses of the positioning stone upper parts (2) for example for receiving plug-in modules of the individual tools (8).

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