Method for feeding sheet metal pieces to a sheet bending machine and combination of a device for feeding sheet metal pieces

Abstract

A method for providing sheet metal pieces, arranged at least partially side by side on a flat storage surface, for feeding into a sheet metal bending machine by means of a side-feed device arranged on the sheet metal bending machine, wherein the side-feed device has a receiving device movable into the sheet metal bending machine for receiving a sheet metal piece to be fed into the sheet metal bending machine at a receiving position above the storage surface that can be approached by the receiving device, wherein the method comprises the following steps: a) detecting the position of the sheet metal piece to be fed into the sheet metal bending machine on the storage surface, b) comparing the position detected in step a) with the receiving position that can be approached by the receiving device, and c) moving the storage surface with the sheet metal piece to be fed onto it relative to the sheet metal bending machine in such a way as tothat the sheet metal piece comes to lie at least partially below the receiving position accessible to the receiving device and can be picked up there by the receiving device, if the sheet metal piece to be pulled in is not yet below the receiving position.

Description

I. Area of ​​application

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for preparing sheet metal pieces for insertion into a sheet metal bending machine, as well as a combination of a device for preparing sheet metal pieces for insertion into a sheet metal bending machine with the sheet metal bending machine and with a side feed device for inserting the sheet metal pieces into the sheet metal bending machine. The sheet metal bending machine is preferably a long bending machine, which can be designed as a single-bender for bending in a single bending direction or as a double-bender for optionally bending in two opposite bending directions. II. Technical background

[0002] EP 3 778 048 A1 discloses a sheet metal bending machine designed as a double bender in the form of a long bending machine. It has a so-called side feed device that grips a sheet metal piece 5 to be fed into the sheet metal bending machine with the aid of suction cups 51 and draws it laterally into the sheet metal bending machine. The suction cups 51 cannot move in the horizontal depth direction of the sheet metal bending machine transversely to the bending edge formed by the lower beam 21 or upper beam 23.

[0003] In the known sheet metal bending machine, the sheet metal piece 5 to be drawn in is placed on a stationary tabletop 80 of a transfer table. To position the sheet metal piece 5 in the horizontal depth direction of the sheet metal bending machine at the correct position for the suction cups 51, it is pressed against stops 12 acting in the aforementioned depth direction.

[0004] Sheet metal pieces to be processed are usually cut in strip form from a sheet metal web previously wound onto a coil using conventional slitting and cutting devices. The slitting and cutting device places the cut sheet metal strips parallel to each other on the tabletop of a transfer table. This transfer table can then be moved up to the sheet metal bending machine and coupled to it in such a way that its tabletop is fixed relative to the bending machine.

[0005] In order to be able to pull all the sheet metal strips lying next to each other on the tabletop into the sheet metal bending machine in this case, the sheet metal strips are stacked on top of each other by hand. The stack of several sheet metal strips can then be pressed, for example, against stops 12 of the type mentioned in EP 3 778 048 A1 to ensure that the suction cups 51 can always access the topmost sheet metal strip of the stack at the same point on the tabletop 80.

[0006] The manual stacking of sheet metal pieces in the current state of the art requires human labor and is particularly time-consuming. III. Description of the invention a) Technical task

[0007] It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a method for preparing sheet metal pieces for drawing into a sheet metal bending machine and a combination of a device for preparing sheet metal pieces for drawing into a sheet metal bending machine with the sheet metal bending machine and with a lateral drawing-in device, by means of which the preparation of sheet metal pieces that have been cut to size by a longitudinal and transverse dividing device and laid down parallel to one another for drawing into a sheet metal bending machine can be carried out in the most time-saving manner possible. b) Solution to the task

[0008] This object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1 or by a combination with the features of claim 4. Further embodiments of the present invention emerge from the subclaims.

[0009] According to the invention, a method is proposed for preparing preferably strip-shaped sheet metal pieces for drawing into a sheet metal bending machine by means of a side-pull device. The sheet metal pieces are arranged at least partially next to one another on a flat support surface. Partially arranged next to one another in this sense means that not only a single layer of sheet metal pieces can be arranged next to one another, but instead that several stacks each consisting of several sheet metal pieces can be arranged next to one another. For example, nine sheet metal pieces can be conceivable on the support surface, whereby these can be arranged in a total of three stacks of three sheet metal pieces each. In this case, only a portion of the total of nine sheet metal pieces lie next to one another on the support surface.

[0010] The side feed device is arranged on the sheet metal bending machine, preferably on the upper part of the sheet metal bending machine, which can be pivoted about a horizontal axis. The side feed device has a receiving device that can be moved into the sheet metal bending machine, for example in the form of one or more suction cups, which serves to receive a piece of sheet metal to be fed into the sheet metal bending machine at a receiving position that can preferably be moved horizontally by the receiving device and is preferably located vertically above the support surface.

[0011] The method according to the invention comprises the following steps: a) Sensory detection of the position of the sheet metal piece to be fed into the sheet metal bending machine on the support surface, preferably relative to a reference point, a reference line or a reference edge of the support surface, b) Electronic comparison of the position detected in step a) with the receiving position approachable by the receiving device, and c) Motorized movement of the support surface with the sheet metal piece to be fed located thereon relative to the sheet metal bending machine in such a way that the sheet metal piece comes to lie at least partially below the receiving position approachable by the receiving device and can be picked up there by the receiving device if the sheet metal piece to be fed is not yet located below the receiving position in a pick-up manner.

[0012] Preferably, the receiving device accesses the sheet metal piece to be pulled in vertically from above. Accordingly, the receiving position preferably indicates a position in a horizontal plane above the storage surface, from which the receiving device can be moved vertically downwards toward the sheet metal piece.

[0013] By knowing the position of the sheet metal piece to be fed on the support surface, an electronic machine control system can move or traverse the support surface relative to the sheet metal bending machine or relative to the side feed device in such a way that a portion of the sheet metal piece to be fed lies exactly below the receiving position of the receiving device. Manual stacking of sheet metal pieces previously lying side by side on the support surface is no longer necessary. Stops protruding upward from the support surface are also no longer required. The respective movement or traversing of the support surface is fully automated with the help of the electronic machine control system, thus saving time.

[0014] Advantageously, the position detection according to step a) can be carried out by optically detecting reference edges of the sheet metal piece to be drawn in. The information about the position of the reference edges relative to a reference point, a reference line, or a reference edge is provided to the electronic machine control device via wired or wireless data transmission. Preferably, one or more cameras are used for optically detecting the reference edges.

[0015] Each sheet metal piece to be processed can be individually marked with an order identifier, for example, in the form of a printed barcode or QR code. The order identifier is linked to individual information for specifying a bending job to be executed. This order identifier is preferably optically detected when the sheet metal piece is resting on the support surface, and a signal representing the order identifier is transmitted wired or wirelessly to the machine control unit of the sheet metal bending machine. The machine control unit can then cause the bending job to be executed after the sheet metal piece has been drawn into the sheet metal bending machine, in accordance with the individual information for specifying the bending job to be executed.

[0016] The order in which the sheet metal pieces are picked up from the storage area and fed into the sheet metal bending machine can be determined by programming the electronic machine control unit. For example, it is conceivable that the sheet metal piece that is closest to the pick-up position of the pick-up device is always picked up from the storage area. However, it is also conceivable that the order markings of several sheet metal pieces lying next to each other on the storage area contain information about the order in which the sheet metal pieces are picked up and fed into the storage area. The electronic machine control unit then selects the order specified by these order markings after reading the order markings.

[0017] According to the invention, a combination of a device for preparing sheet metal pieces for insertion into a sheet metal bending machine with the sheet metal bending machine itself and with the side feed device for laterally inserting a sheet metal piece into the sheet metal bending machine is also proposed. The side feed device is arranged on the sheet metal bending machine, preferably on its upper part.

[0018] The device can preferably be detachably coupled to the sheet metal bending machine and has a flat support surface on which the sheet metal pieces to be processed can be held at least partially adjacent to one another. The device can, for example, be a supply table supporting the support surface, which can be moved from a conventional longitudinal and transverse dividing device to the sheet metal bending machine and can preferably be detachably coupled to the latter in such a way that a defined relative position of a reference point, a reference line, or a reference edge of the support surface relative to the receiving position is maintained.

[0019] The side feed device has a receiving device that can be moved into the sheet metal bending machine for receiving a piece of sheet metal to be fed into the sheet metal bending machine at a receiving position that can be moved to by the receiving device above the storage surface.

[0020] According to the invention, a motorized drive device is provided by means of which the support surface can be moved relative to the sheet metal bending machine, relative to the side feed device, or relative to the receiving device when the device is coupled to the sheet metal bending machine. The motorized drive device can move the support surface relative to the device, which is fixed in a defined manner relative to the sheet metal bending machine. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the coupling of the device to the sheet metal bending machine is designed such that the entire device, including the support surface, can be moved relative to the sheet metal bending machine by means of the motorized drive device when coupled to the sheet metal bending machine.

[0021] A sensor device is used to detect the position of the sheet metal piece to be fed into the sheet metal bending machine on the support surface, preferably relative to a reference point, a reference line or a reference edge of the support surface.

[0022] Furthermore, a comparator device is provided, which serves to compare the position detected by the sensor device with the pickup position that can be reached by the pickup device. As mentioned above, the accessible pickup position is preferably located in a horizontal plane above the storage surface.

[0023] According to the invention, an electronic machine control device is also provided, which is designed to cause the motor drive device to move the support surface with the sheet metal piece to be drawn in relative to the sheet metal bending machine when the device is coupled to the sheet metal bending machine. This movement occurs in such a way that the sheet metal piece comes to lie at least partially vertically below the receiving position accessible to the receiving device, in order to be picked up there by the receiving device.

[0024] The machine control device does not initiate the aforementioned movement of the support surface if the comparator device has previously determined that the sheet metal piece to be drawn in is already located below the predetermined receiving position of the receiving device. In this case, the sheet metal piece can be picked up directly for the purpose of drawing it into the sheet metal bending machine without prior movement of the support surface relative to the receiving position.

[0025] The comparator device does not necessarily have to be a separate device from the machine control device. Within the scope of the present invention, the comparator device can be configured as a hardware and / or software component of the electronic machine control device.

[0026] The sensor device of the combination according to the invention can be an optical sensor device for optically detecting reference edges of the sheet metal piece to be drawn in. Their positions are preferably detected relative to a reference point, a reference line, or a reference edge of the support surface. The reference point, the reference line, or the reference edge define a reference position of the support surface, stored in the machine control device, relative to the receiving position in a specific reference position of the support surface relative to the receiving position, also stored in the machine control device. The sensor device is preferably formed by one or more cameras.

[0027] The sensor device can detect a job identifier attached to the sheet metal piece to be drawn in, for example in the form of a printed barcode or QR code. This identifier is linked to individual information for specifying a bending job to be executed. Upon receiving a signal representing the individual job identifier, the electronic machine control device is designed to cause the sheet metal bending machine to execute the bending job after the sheet metal piece has been drawn in, in accordance with the individual information for specifying the bending job to be executed. The individual information for specifying the bending job to be executed can include, for example, the number and position of the bends to be performed on the sheet metal piece and the associated bending angles. c) Example of implementation

[0028] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show: Fig. 1: a perspective view of an embodiment of a combination according to the invention of a device for preparing sheet metal pieces for insertion into a sheet metal bending machine with the sheet metal bending machine and with a side insertion device, wherein the support surface is in a first position for receiving a first sheet metal piece and the receiving device is arranged in a position vertically spaced from the sheet metal piece to be received; Fig. 2: a perspective view similar to that according to Fig. 1 , whereby the receiving device is in its position engaging the sheet metal piece to be picked up; Fig. 3: a side view of the Fig. 1 combination shown in Fig. 1 from the front; Fig. 4: a side view of the Fig. 2combination shown in Fig. 2 from the front; Fig. 5: a perspective side view of the embodiment of the combination according to the invention, wherein the storage surface is in a second position for receiving a second sheet metal piece and the receiving device is arranged in its position vertically spaced from the second sheet metal piece; Fig. 6: a perspective view similar Fig. 5 , but the receiving device is in its position engaging the second sheet metal piece; Fig. 7: a side view of the Fig. 5 combination shown in Fig. 5 from the front; Fig. 8: a side view of the Fig. 6 combination shown in Fig. 6from the front; Fig. 9: a perspective view of the embodiment of the combination according to the invention, wherein the storage surface is in a third position for receiving a third sheet metal piece and the receiving device is arranged in its position vertically spaced from the third sheet metal piece; Fig. 10: a perspective view similar Fig. 9 , but the receiving device is in its position engaging the third sheet metal piece; Fig. 11: a side view of the Fig. 9 combination shown in Fig. 9 from the front; and Fig. 12: a side view of the Fig. 10 combination shown in Fig. 10 from the front.

[0029] In the drawings, like reference symbols indicate like parts or elements.

[0030] How best to Fig. 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 9 and 10As can be seen, the combination according to the invention comprises a sheet metal bending machine 1, a side feed device 3 arranged thereon, and a device 9 for preparing sheet metal pieces 4, 5, and 6 for feeding into the sheet metal bending machine 1 with the aid of the side feed device 3. The sheet metal bending machine 1 is a long bending machine well known from the prior art, in the type of sheet metal bending machine known, for example, from EP 3 778 048 A1. The side feed device 3 is also known to the person skilled in the art in terms of its basic nature, for example, from EP 3 778 048 A1.

[0031] As can be seen, the sheet metal bending machine 1 used in the exemplary embodiment shown is a double bender known in the prior art, which has an upper clamping jaw, a lower clamping jaw, an upper bending jaw, and a lower bending jaw. Within the sheet metal bending machine 1, a work table is located in an equally known manner, on which sheet metal pieces to be bent can be placed. Within the scope of the present invention, all bending machines can be used which require a piece of sheet metal to be bent to be arranged on a work table. In particular, it is conceivable to use a sheet metal bending machine in the form of a single bender instead of the sheet metal bending machine 1 shown in the figures in the form of a double bender.

[0032] The side feed device 3 comprises, in addition to a receiving device 7, a linear motion unit 11, by means of which the receiving device 7 can be motor-driven into and out of the sheet metal bending machine 1. The linear motion unit 11 can, for example, be formed by an endlessly circulating, motor-driven belt that supports the receiving device 7.

[0033] In the illustrated embodiment, the receiving device 7 is formed in a known manner by a suction gripper carriage with several suction cups 12. With the help of the suction cups 12, sheet metal pieces can be lifted due to the negative pressure generated in them and released again upon a signal from a machine control system. The side feed device 3 is attached to an upwardly pivoting upper part of the sheet metal bending machine 1. In the drawings, this upper part is shown in its upwardly pivoted position. The side feed device 3 follows the pivoting movements of the upper part in a known manner.

[0034] How best to Fig. 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 9 and 10As can be seen, the suction gripper carriage 7 can be moved by means of the linear motion unit 11 according to the double arrow BKR parallel to the bending edge direction BKR of the sheet metal bending machine 1. The course of the straight bending edge is determined by the lower clamping jaw or the upper clamping jaw of the sheet metal bending machine 1.

[0035] In the Fig. 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 9 and 10 The suction gripper carriage 7 is shown in its position at the left front end of the linear motion unit 11. This position corresponds to its receiving position that can be approached from the Fig. 1 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 9 and 11 the suction cups 12 are in their upper retracted position, in which they push a piece of sheet metal held by them into the Fig. 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 9 and 10to the right and back into the sheet metal bending machine 1. As shown in the Fig. 2 , 4 , 6 , 8 , 10 and 12 As can be seen, the suction gripper carriage 7 in the illustrated embodiment has a scissor mechanism 13, by means of which the suction cups 12 can be moved vertically downwards by motor into their receiving position, in which they can engage the surface of a sheet metal piece. By actuating the scissor mechanism 13 again, the suction cups 12 can then be moved vertically upwards back into their retracted position, thereby lifting the sheet metal piece.

[0036] In the illustrated embodiment, the device 9 for providing sheet metal pieces 4, 5, and 6 to be fed into the sheet metal bending machine 1 is formed by a movable supply carriage 9. The supply carriage 9 has wheels 14 and can be moved manually. A supply plate 16 is mounted on a base frame 15 of the supply carriage 9, the surface of which has a flat support surface 2, on which, in the illustrated embodiment, three strip-shaped sheet metal pieces 4, 5, and 6 rest.

[0037] The supply plate 16, together with its support surface 2, is movable relative to the base frame 15 and thus relative to the sheet metal bending machine 1, as well as relative to the side feed device 3 and relative to the receiving position of the suction gripper carriage 7, parallel to the depth direction TR of the sheet metal bending machine 1, according to the double arrow TR. The depth direction TR lies in or parallel to a horizontal plane containing the bending edge of the sheet metal bending machine 1 and is perpendicular to the bending edge in or parallel to this plane.

[0038] The manner in which the mobility of the supply plate 16 relative to the base frame 15 in the depth direction TR is achieved is irrelevant within the scope of the present invention. Suitable designs in this context are known to those skilled in the art. For example, the supply plate 16 could be guided in a linear guide arranged on the base frame 15. A gearwheel mounted on the base frame 15, which gearwheel is driven by an electric motor, could engage with a rack attached to the underside of the supply plate 16. In this way, a motorized movement of the supply plate 16 in the depth direction TR would be possible.

[0039] The supply carriage 9 can be moved up to a longitudinal and transverse cutting device (not shown in the drawings but sufficiently well known in the prior art). In the longitudinal and transverse cutting device, a sheet metal web wound on a coil is unwound and cut into strip-shaped sheet metal strips 4, 5 and 6. For the purposes of describing the exemplary embodiment, it is assumed that the sheet metal web is wide enough to be cut into a total of three strip-shaped sheet metal pieces 4, 5 and 6, which, coming directly from the longitudinal and transverse cutting device, are placed parallel to one another on the storage surface 2 of the supply plate 16. During continued cutting operation of the longitudinal and transverse cutting device, three stacks of strip-shaped sheet metal pieces arranged parallel to one another are created on the storage surface.

[0040] Alternatively, it is conceivable for the longitudinal and transverse dividing device to cut sheet metal pieces of different widths from the sheet metal web and place them on the storage surface 2, so that there are not multiple stacks of sheet metal pieces of the same width. For example, two adjacent sheet metal pieces, each 500 mm wide, could lie on four adjacent sheet metal pieces, each 250 mm wide. The latter, in turn, could hold a single sheet metal piece with a width of, for example, 750 mm. Even sheet metal pieces in storage arrangements of this type, in which sheet metal pieces lying in different layers overlap relative to one another, can be prepared automatically within the scope of the present invention for feeding into the sheet metal bending machine 1.

[0041] Once the desired number of sheet metal pieces has been cut from the sheet metal web and placed on the storage surface 2, the supply carriage 9 can be moved to the sheet metal bending machine 1 equipped with the side feed device 3 without changing the storage arrangement of the sheet metal pieces on the storage surface 2 caused by the longitudinal and transverse dividing device. The supply carriage 9 can be mechanically coupled to the sheet metal bending machine 1 such that it assumes a predetermined, defined position relative to the receiving position of the suction gripper carriage 7 shown in the drawings. The information about the relative position between the receiving position of the suction gripper carriage 7 and a reference point, a reference line, or a reference edge on the supply carriage 9 can be stored in the electronic machine control device of the sheet metal bending machine 1.

[0042] If the first sheet metal piece 4 is to be drawn into the sheet metal bending machine 1 for bending, the machine control device causes the supply plate 16 to be moved in the depth direction TR into its Fig. 1 to 4 shown first position. In this first position there is a Fig. 1 and 2 right end area of ​​the first sheet metal piece 4 vertically below the suction gripper carriage 7. The suction gripper carriage 7 is then moved by actuating the scissor mechanism 13 from its Fig. 1 and 3 shown retracted position into its position in the Fig. 2 and 4 shown receiving position is moved vertically downwards until its suction cups 12 rest on the aforementioned end area of ​​the first sheet metal piece 4.

[0043] Subsequently, the suction gripper carriage 7 is moved back upwards into its retraction position by actuating the scissor mechanism 13 again. The aforementioned end region of the first sheet metal piece 4 adheres to its suction cups 12 and the first sheet metal piece 4 can finally be moved into the Fig. 1 and 3 to the right and rearward into the sheet metal bending machine 1. The suction gripper carriage 7 pulls the sheet metal piece 4 behind it and places it on the work table inside the sheet metal bending machine 1 by deactivating the suction cups 12.

[0044] When the second sheet metal piece 5 lying on the support surface 2 is to be drawn into the sheet metal bending machine 1, the machine control device causes the supply plate 16 to be moved in the depth direction TR into its Fig. 5 to 8shown second position. In this second position of the supply plate 16, the suction gripper carriage 7 is located vertically above a Fig. 5 and 6 right, rear end region of the second sheet metal piece 5. The second sheet metal piece 5 can then be picked up and drawn into the sheet metal bending machine 1 in the same manner as already described above in connection with the first sheet metal piece 4. To avoid repetition, for the sheet metal piece 5, reference is made to the above description concerning the sheet metal piece 4.

[0045] When the third sheet metal piece 6 lying on the support surface 2 is to be drawn into the sheet metal bending machine 1, the machine control device causes the supply plate 16 to be moved in the depth direction TR into its Fig. 9 to 12shown third position. In this third position of the supply plate 16, the suction gripper carriage 7 is located vertically above a Fig. 9 and 10 right, rear end region of the third sheet metal piece 6. The third sheet metal piece 6 is picked up and drawn into the sheet metal bending machine 1 in the same manner as described above in connection with the first sheet metal piece 4. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the above description concerning the first sheet metal piece 4 for the third sheet metal piece 6.

[0046] According to the invention, the particular advantage is achieved that the three strip-shaped sheet metal pieces 4, 5, and 6 are provided on the support surface 2 for insertion into the sheet metal bending machine 1 in exactly the same arrangement in which the longitudinal and transverse dividing device placed the sheet metal pieces 4, 5, and 6 on the support surface 2. It is not necessary, as in the prior art, to stack the three sheet metal pieces 4, 5, and 6 on top of each other by hand.

[0047] The automation according to the present invention thus enables a human resource- and time-saving provision of sheet metal pieces for drawing into the sheet metal bending machine 1. In the event that a stack of multiple sheet metal pieces has been arranged at the locations where, in the illustrated embodiment, a single sheet metal piece 4, 5 and 6 lies on the storage surface 2, the sheet metal pieces are drawn in in the same way as described above. When dismantling a stack of sheet metal pieces lying at the same location on the storage surface 2, the suction gripper carriage 7 simply moves further vertically downwards by a distance corresponding to the sheet thickness of a sheet metal piece as the stack is increasingly dismantled in order to pick up the next sheet metal piece in the stack.In this case, a parallel height reduction can be carried out on the stacks standing next to each other at least if there is a risk that the suction cups 12 will no longer be able to access the uppermost piece of sheet metal of a lower stack due to space constraints if the height differences between the stacks are too great.

[0048] It is essential to the invention that the storage surface 2 is movable in the depth direction TR relative to the receiving position of the suction gripper carriage 7, which here forms the receiving device. In the illustrated embodiment, this is achieved by the provision plate 16 being movable in the depth direction TR relative to the base frame 15 of the provision carriage 9. The base frame 15 of the provision carriage 9, which is coupled to the sheet metal bending machine 1, cannot be moved in the depth direction TR relative to the sheet metal bending machine 1 in the illustrated embodiment.

[0049] As an alternative to the exemplary embodiment, it is conceivable to attach the supply plate 16 to the base frame 15 in a manner immovable relative to the base frame. The coupling of the supply carriage 9 to the sheet metal bending machine 1 could then be effected in such a way that the machine control device causes the entire supply carriage 9 to move in the depth direction TR when, as described above, a specific piece of sheet metal is to be placed vertically below the suction gripper carriage 7.

[0050] In the embodiment shown, two cameras 17 and 18 are provided, which are in wired or wireless data connection with the electronic machine control device of the sheet metal bending machine 1 and function as optical sensor devices for optically detecting the position of the sheet metal pieces 4, 5 and 6 to be drawn in on the storage surface 2 relative to a reference point, a reference line or a reference edge of the supply carriage 9.

[0051] In the exemplary embodiment, two cameras 17, 18 are provided in order to be able to fully optically capture the storage area 2. In the case of only one camera, the linear motion unit 11 and the suction gripper carriage 7 could hinder a complete optical capture of the storage area 2. As shown in the Fig. 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 9 and 10 As can be seen, the cameras 17 and 18 are mounted as high as possible on an arch-like camera holder 19 in order to have a good overview of the storage area 2.

[0052] The cameras 17, 18 can optically detect the position of reference edges of the sheet metal pieces 4, 5 or 6 lying on the support surface 2 and make this information available via data transmission to the electronic machine control device of the sheet metal bending machine 1. For example, the two long edges of the sheet metal piece 4 can be used as reference edges 8 and 10 (see Fig. 1) can be optically recorded.

[0053] In addition to capturing, for example, the reference edges 8, 10, the cameras 17, 18 can optically read job markings applied to the sheet metal pieces 4, 5, and 6 and make them available to the machine control device. The job markings can, for example, be individual barcodes or QR codes printed on the surfaces of the sheet metal pieces 4, 5, and 6, which are linked to individual job data of a bending job. Such job data can, in particular, include the position of bending edges, the length of bending legs, and the size of bending angles on the bent sheet metal parts to be produced. This advantageously eliminates the need for a machine operator to enter such data into a machine input device. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0054] 1 Sheet metal bending machine 2 Storage area of ​​the supply plate 16 3 Side feed device 4 First sheet piece 5 First sheet piece 6 First sheet piece 7 Pick-up device of the side feed device 3, suction gripper carriage 8 Reference edge 9 Device for supplying sheet pieces 4, 5 and 6, supply carriage 10 Reference edge 11 Linear motion unit of the side feed device 3 12 Suction cup 13 Scissor mechanism of the suction gripper carriage 7 14 Wheels of the supply carriage 9 15 Underframe of the supply carriage 9 16 Supply plate of the supply carriage 9 17 Sensor device, camera 18 Sensor device, camera 19 Camera holder BKRBending edge direction of the sheet metal bending machine 1 TRDepth direction of the sheet metal bending machine 1

Claims

1. Method for providing sheet metal pieces (4, 5, 6) which are arranged at least partially next to one another on a flat tray area (2), for feeding them into a sheet metal bending machine (1) by means of a side feeding device (3) which is arranged on the sheet metal bending machine (1), wherein the side feeding device (3) has a receiving device (7) which can be moved into the sheet metal bending machine (1), for receiving a sheet metal piece (4, 5, 6) to be fed into the sheet metal bending machine (1) at a receiving position which can be reached by the receiving device (7) above the tray area (2), wherein the method comprises the following steps: a) detecting the position of the sheet metal piece (4, 5, 6) to be fed into the sheet metal bending machine (1) on the tray area (2), b) comparing the position detected in step a) with the receiving position that can be reached by the receiving device (7), and c) moving the tray area (2) with the sheet metal piece (4, 5, 6) that is to be fed in and is located thereon relative to the sheet metal bending machine (1), so that the sheet metal piece (4, 5, 6) comes to lie at least partially below the receiving position that can be reached by the receiving device (7) and can be picked up there by the receiving device (7) if the sheet metal piece (4, 5, 6) to be fed in is not yet located below the receiving position.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the detection of the position according to step a) is carried out by optical detection of reference edges (8, 10) of the sheet metal piece (4, 5, 6) to be fed in.

3. Method according to claim 1 or2, characterized in that a job identification is attached to the sheet metal piece (4, 5, 6) to be fed in, which is combined with information for specifying a bending job to be carried out, wherein the job identification is optically detected and a signal representing the job identification is transmitted to a machine control device of the sheet metal bending machine (1), such that the bending job can be carried out by the sheet metal bending machine (1) after the sheet metal piece (4, 5, 6) has been fed in in accordance with the information for specifying the bending job to be carried out.

4. Combination of a device (9) for providing sheet metal pieces (4, 5, 6) for feeding into a sheet metal bending machine (1) using the sheet metal bending machine (1) and with a side feed device (3) for laterally feeding a sheet metal piece (4, 5, 6) into the sheet metal bending machine (1), wherein the side feed device (3) is arranged on the sheet metal bending machine (1), wherein the device (9) can be coupled to the sheet metal bending machine (1) and has a flat tray area (2) on which the sheet metal pieces (4, 5, 6) can be kept in readiness lying at least partially next to one another, and wherein the side feed device (3) has a receiving device (7) that can be moved into the sheet metal bending machine (1) for receiving a sheet metal piece (4, 5, 6) to be fed into the sheet metal bending machine (1) at a receiving position that can be reached by the receiving device (7) above the tray area (2), characterized by • a motor drive device by means of which the tray area (2) can be moved relative to the sheet metal bending machine (1) when the device (9) is coupled to the sheet metal bending machine (1), • a sensor device (17, 18) for detecting the position of the sheet metal piece (4, 5, 6) to be fed into the sheet metal bending machine (1) on the tray area (2), • a comparator device for comparing the position detected by the sensor device (17, 18) with the receiving position that can be reached by the receiving device (7), and • a machine control device which is designed to cause the motor drive device to move the tray area (2) with the sheet metal piece (4, 5, 6) to be fed in located thereon relative to the sheet metal bending machine (1) when the device (9) is coupled to the sheet metal bending machine (1), so that the sheet metal piece (4, 5, 6) comes to lie at least partially below the receiving position that can be reached by the receiving device (7) and can be picked up there by the receiving device (7) if the comparator device has established that the sheet metal piece (4, 5, 6) to be fed in is not yet below the receiving position.

5. Combination according to claim 4, characterized in that the device is a movable supply carriage (9) comprising the motor drive device, a base frame (15) and a supply plate (16) which contains the tray area (2), wherein the supply plate (16) is movably mounted on the base frame (15) and can be driven by means of the motor drive device.

6. Combination according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the sensor device is an optical sensor device (17, 18) for optically detecting reference edges (8, 10) of the sheet metal piece (4, 5, 6) to be fed in.

7. Combination according to claim 6, characterized in that the optical sensor device is formed by at least one camera (17, 18).

8. Combination according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that by means of the sensor device (17, 18), a job identification attached to the sheet metal piece (4, 5, 6) to be fed in can be detected, which is combined with information for specifying a bending job to be carried out, and the machine control device is designed, after receiving a signal representing the job identification, to cause the sheet metal bending machine (1) to carry out the bending job after feeding in the sheet metal piece (4, 5, 6) in accordance with the information for specifying the bending job to be carried out.

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