Pressing device and pressing method

Abstract

To provide a press device and a press method that use existent facilities as a press device to improve energy efficiency.SOLUTION: A press device 10 comprises: a slide 17 which can be fitted with a second metal mold 18 and can operate reciprocally to move toward and away from a first metal mold 16 together with the second metal mold 18; a drive part 20 which drives the slide 17 under torque control; a driven part 30 which transmits power of the drive part 20 to the slide; a clutch 23 which transmits and cuts off the power of the drive part 20 to the driven part 30; a brake 24 which is controlled independently of the clutch 23 to brake an operation of the driven part 30; and a control part 40 which controls an operation of each of the clutch 23 and brake 24, wherein the control part 40 performs part of a molding operation for a workpiece W on the slide 17 while the clutch 23 cuts off the transmission of the power of the drive part 20 to the driven part 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a press apparatus and a press method. [Background technology]

[0002] A known press device performs press processing by converting rotational motion into translational motion using a drive unit that extracts the rotational torque of a rotating flywheel by connecting a clutch to the flywheel and drives the flywheel through torque control, and a driven unit that consists of a crankshaft such as an eccentric shaft or eccentric gear, a connecting rod, a slide, etc., to cause the slide to move back and forth. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a press device that aims to improve productivity and energy efficiency by regenerating kinetic energy equivalent to the deceleration when the rotation of the drive unit is decelerated, and using the regenerated energy to rotate the drive unit when the rotation of the drive unit is accelerated. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-297411 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, such a press machine has problems such as the need to newly provide a device for storing regenerative energy and a pump, motor, etc. for using the regenerative energy to rotate the drive unit.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and has an object to provide a press apparatus and a press method that can improve energy efficiency by using existing equipment in the press apparatus. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one aspect of the press apparatus and press method of the present invention, A support body to which a first mold can be attached; a slide to which a second mold can be attached and which can reciprocate together with the second mold so as to approach and move away from the first mold; a drive unit that drives the slide by torque control; a driven part that transmits the power of the driving part to the slide; a clutch that transmits and disconnects the power of the driving unit to the driven unit; a brake that is controlled independently of the clutch and brakes the operation of the driven part; a control unit that controls the operations of the clutch and the brake; Equipped with The control unit After the forming of the workpiece is started, before the slide reaches the bottom dead center, the clutch is caused to cut off the transmission of the power of the driving part to the driven part. . [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve energy efficiency by using existing equipment in a press machine. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a press device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another configuration example of the press device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a clutch and a brake of the press machine shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another configuration example of the press device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the time changes of the slide position and the rotational speed of the flywheel in a conventional press apparatus and the press apparatus according to the present embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the change over time in the load applied to the workpiece. [Figure 7]FIG. 1A is a diagram showing that in the conventional case, all of the forming energy is supplied from a flywheel, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing that in this embodiment, the kinetic energy of the driven part is used as part of the forming energy. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a press apparatus and a press method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following, a case will be described in which the press machine is equipped with a flywheel and the rotational torque is extracted from the flywheel to reciprocate the slide through torque control, but the press machine does not necessarily have to be equipped with a flywheel. Also, in the following description, "up and down" and "left and right" are used in accordance with the up and down directions and left and right directions in Figure 1 (to be described later), but the present invention is not limited to a press machine arranged in this manner.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a press device according to this embodiment. The press device 10 includes a bed 11, an upright 12, a crown 13, a support 15, a first die 16, a slide 17, a second die 18, a drive unit 20, a driven unit 30, a control unit 40, and the like.

[0011] The bed 11, the upright 12, and the crown 13 form the frame of the press device 10. Tie rods 14a are inserted into the bed 11, uprights 12, and crown 13, and are fastened together by being tightened with tie rod nuts 14b.

[0012] The bed 11 is designed so that a first mold 16 can be attached to its upper surface via a support 15 . That is, in this embodiment, the bed 11 corresponds to a support to which the first mold 16 can be attached. Although Fig. 1 shows a case in which two first molds 16 are attached to the upper part of the support 15, the number of first molds 16 may be one or more.

[0013] The slide 17 is adapted to have a second mold 18 attached to its lower portion. The slide 17 is supported so as to be able to reciprocate along a slide guide 19 provided on the upright 12, moving together with the second mold 18 toward and away from the first mold 16. That is, the slide 17 is supported so as to be movable in the vertical direction.

[0014] Although FIG. 1 shows a case where two second molds 18 are attached to the bottom of the slide 17, the number of second molds 18 may be one or more. When the slide 17 is lowered, the first die 16 and the second die 18 come close to each other, and the workpiece W is molded between them.

[0015] The press machine 10 also includes a drive unit 20 that drives the slide 17 by torque control, and a driven unit 30 that transmits the power of the drive unit 20 to the slide 17. The drive unit 20 includes a motor 21, a flywheel 22, a clutch 23, a brake 24, and the like.

[0016] A motor 21 of the drive unit 20 is fixed to one end of a frame such as the crown 13. The motor 21 is connected to a flywheel 22 via a belt 21a, and rotates the flywheel 22 by its power. The flywheel 22 is rotatably supported by the frame and stores rotational energy.

[0017] The clutch 23 and the brake 24 are disposed near the flywheel 22 . The clutch 23 transmits and cuts off the power of the drive unit 20 to the driven unit 30. The brake 24 is controlled independently of the clutch 23 and brakes the operation of the driven unit 30. In this embodiment, a so-called wet clutch and wet brake are used as the clutch 23 and the brake 24, and are activated and deactivated by hydraulic oil. The configurations of the clutch 23 and the brake 24 will be described later.

[0018] In this embodiment, an input shaft 25 is disposed inside the flywheel 22, and a clutch 23 and a brake 24 are disposed between the flywheel 22 and the input shaft 25. The input shaft 25 of the driving unit 20 is connected to a transmission shaft 31 of the driven unit 30, which will be described later. The clutch 23 and the brake 24 are configured to transmit and cut off the power of the driving unit 20 to the driven unit 30 via the input shaft 25, and to brake the rotation of the input shaft 25 to brake the operation of the driven unit 30.

[0019] On the other hand, the driven part 30 includes a transmission shaft 31, a planetary reducer 32, an eccentric shaft 33, a connecting rod 34, and the like. The transmission shaft 31 is fixed to the input shaft 25 so that its rotation center axis Ax is coaxial with the rotation center axis of the input shaft 25 of the drive unit 20 .

[0020] The transmission shaft 31 rotates around a central rotation axis Ax, and transmits the rotational motion of the flywheel 22 to a planetary reducer 32 provided on the other end side of the frame. The planetary reducer 32 reduces the rotational drive of the flywheel 22 of the drive unit 20, i.e., the rotational motion of the transmission shaft 31, and transmits it to the driven unit 30, i.e., the eccentric shaft 33, causing the eccentric shaft 33 to rotate.

[0021] In this embodiment, a sensor 35 equipped with an encoder or the like for measuring the rotational speed of the transmission shaft 31 is attached to the planetary reducer 32, and the sensor 35 transmits the measured rotational speed of the transmission shaft 31 to the control unit 40, which will be described later. It is also possible to configure the system to measure the rotational speed of the eccentric shaft 33, which will be described later, instead of measuring the rotational speed of the transmission shaft 31. In this embodiment, the control unit 40 is configured to convert the measured rotational speeds of the transmission shaft 31, eccentric shaft 33, etc. into the moving speed of the slide 17 as necessary, but it is also possible to configure the system to measure the moving speed of the slide 17 with a sensor.

[0022] The eccentric shaft 33 is supported via bearings on the frames of the crown 13, the upright 12, etc. so as to be rotatable about a central rotation axis Ax that is coaxial with the transmission shaft 31. The eccentric shaft 33 has a hollow portion that penetrates along the central axis of rotation Ax, and the transmission shaft 31 is disposed in this hollow portion so as to be rotatable relative to the eccentric shaft 33 .

[0023] The connecting rod 34 is attached to the eccentric portion of the eccentric shaft 33 in a direction perpendicular to the rotation center axis Ax, and the slide 17 is attached to the lower end thereof. The connecting rod 34 converts the rotational motion of the eccentric shaft 33 into linear motion and transmits it to the slide 17, thereby causing the slide 17 to move back and forth toward and away from the first mold 16.

[0024] In this embodiment, as described above, the drive unit 20 drives the slide 17 by torque control via the driven unit 30 using the rotational energy of the flywheel 22 as power, causing the slide 17 to move back and forth.

[0025] Although FIG. 1 shows a case where the press machine 10 has a transmission shaft 31, it is also possible to configure the press machine 10 so that the power of the drive unit 20 is transmitted directly to the planetary reducer 32 or the eccentric shaft 33 without going through the transmission shaft 31. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, the planetary reducer 32 is arranged between the drive unit 20 and the eccentric shaft 33.

[0026] Next, the configurations of the clutch 23 and the brake 24 in the drive unit 20 will be described. The following description will be given based on FIG. 3, which is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the clutch 23 and brake 24 when the press apparatus 10 is configured as shown in FIG. 2. However, the clutch 23 and brake 24 shown in FIG. 1 can also be configured in the same manner as the clutch 23 and brake 24 described below.

[0027] The clutch 23 includes an outer hub 23A connected to the flywheel 22 and rotating in conjunction with it, an inner hub 23B fixed to the input shaft 25 and rotating in conjunction with it, a disc group 23C in which multiple clutch discs interlocked with the outer hub 23A and multiple clutch discs interlocked with the inner hub 23B are alternately stacked, and a piston 23D. A hydraulic path is formed in the inner hub 23B to supply hydraulic oil via the input shaft 25 to the piston 23D side and the disc group 23C side.

[0028] Piston 23D is normally pressurized by a spring in a direction away from disc group 23C. When hydraulic oil is supplied to the piston 23D side through inner hub 23B, the piston 23D moves against the spring pressure in a direction compressing disc group 23C. When the disc group 23C is compressed by the piston 23D, the clutch discs come into frictional contact with each other, and the outer hub 23A and the inner hub 23B are connected, creating a connected state that allows power transmission from the flywheel 22 to the input shaft 25.

[0029] Furthermore, when the oil on the pressure-receiving side of the piston 23D is released, the piston 23D is pushed back by the spring, and the clutch discs are brought into a mutually separated state. Then, the connection between the outer hub 23A and the inner hub 23B is released, and power transmission from the flywheel 22 to the input shaft 25 is cut off.

[0030] The brake 24 includes an outer hub 24A fixed to the unit cover 26, an inner hub 24B fixed to the input shaft 25 and rotating in conjunction with the outer hub 24A, a disc group 24C in which multiple brake discs interlocked with the outer hub 24A and multiple brake discs interlocked with the inner hub 24B are alternately stacked, and a piston 24D. The inner hub 24B has a hydraulic path formed therein for supplying hydraulic oil to the piston 24D side via the input shaft 25.

[0031] The operation of the piston 24D of the brake 24 is controlled independently of the piston 23D of the clutch 23. Normally, piston 24D is pressurized by a spring (not shown) in a direction that presses it against disc group 24C, so that disc group 24C is compressed by piston 24D, the clutch discs are in frictional contact with each other, outer hub 24A and inner hub 24B are in a connected state, and input shaft 25 is in a braking state.

[0032] When hydraulic oil is supplied to the piston 24D through the inner hub 24B, the piston 24D moves against the spring pressure in a direction away from the disc group 24C, thereby pushing back the piston 24D and causing the clutch discs to be separated from each other. Then, the outer hub 24A and the inner hub 24B are uncoupled, and the input shaft 25 is released from the braked state.

[0033] Here, the planetary reducer 32 shown in FIG. 3 will also be described. The planetary reducer 32 includes a sun gear 32A provided on the end of the input shaft 25 on the eccentric shaft 33 side, a planetary gear 32B meshing with the sun gear 32A, an internal gear 32C meshing with the planetary gear 32B, and an output member 32D that supports the planetary gear 32B and rotates together with the revolution of the planetary gear 32B. The input shaft 25 and the eccentric shaft 33 are arranged coaxially.

[0034] When the input shaft 25 rotates, the planetary gear 32B meshing with the sun gear 32A revolves, and the output member 32D rotates together with the revolution of the planetary gear 32B. The output member 32D can be linked to the eccentric shaft 33 by, for example, a spline structure, and rotation that is slower than the rotation of the input shaft 25 is transmitted to the eccentric shaft 33.

[0035] 1, a transmission mechanism other than the planetary reducer 32 may be used as long as it is capable of transmitting reduced rotation from the input shaft 25 to the eccentric shaft 33. 1 to 3, the clutch 23 and the brake 24 are of the wet type, but they may also be of the so-called dry type.

[0036] Furthermore, although Figures 1 to 3 illustrate the case where the clutch 23 and the brake 24 are provided on the same side of the frame of the press device 10, they may also be provided on opposite sides of the frame of the press device 10, as shown in Figure 4, for example. Although the press machine 10 in FIG. 4 does not have a reducer such as a planetary reducer provided between the clutch 23 and the eccentric shaft 33, a reducer may be provided.

[0037] Next, the control unit 40 of the press machine 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The control unit 40 may be configured as a general-purpose computer equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or as a dedicated device. The control unit 40 is configured to control the operations of the clutch 23 and the brake 24 of the drive unit 20 according to a program.

[0038] The following describes the operation control of the clutch 23 and the brake 24 by the control unit 40 of the press machine 10 according to this embodiment. The following also describes the press method according to this embodiment. In the following, as shown in FIG. 5 described later, one cycle will be described as the period in which slide 17 or slide S starts to descend from top dead center, passes bottom dead center, rises, and stops at top dead center. However, it is also possible to configure one cycle as in which slide 17 or slide S starts to descend from a predetermined position between top dead center and bottom dead center, passes bottom dead center, rises, passes top dead center, then descends and stops at the above-mentioned predetermined position, and the press apparatus 10 and press method according to this embodiment are not limited to the case in which the slide position Sx when slide 17 or slide S starts to descend is at top dead center.

[0039] First, a conventional pressing device and pressing method will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Note that τ1 and τ2 in Fig. 5 will be explained later. Conventionally, as shown by the solid line in Figure 5, when the clutch is engaged at time t0 while the slide S is at top dead center, the rotational energy of the flywheel is given to the driven part as kinetic energy, causing the rotational speed r of the flywheel to temporarily drop from rpm-i before engagement to rpm-1.

[0040] Next, after the rotational speed r of the flywheel drops to rpm-1 at time t1, the slide S descends, and until time t2 when the second mold contacts the workpiece W and molding of the workpiece W begins, energy is supplied from the motor to the flywheel, causing the rotational speed r of the flywheel to recover to rpm-2. After the forming of the workpiece W starts at time t2, the rotational energy of the flywheel is mainly converted into forming energy until the slide S reaches the bottom dead center at time t3. Therefore, the rotational speed r of the flywheel decreases to rpm-3.

[0041] Next, when the slide S reaches the bottom dead center, the clutch is disengaged and the supply of energy from the flywheel to the driven part is cut off, and the rotation speed r of the flywheel is gradually increased by the motor. After the slide S passes the bottom dead center, the slide S rises toward the top dead center mainly due to the kinetic energy of the driven part 30, and a brake command is input at time t4 just before the slide S reaches the top dead center so that the slide S stops at the top dead center.

[0042] While the slide S is stopped at the top dead center, energy is supplied from the motor to the flywheel, and the rotational speed r of the flywheel is restored to rpm-i. Note that the rotational speed r of the flywheel may also be restored to rpm-i before the slide S reaches the top dead center. Then, when a predetermined time T has elapsed from time t0 when the clutch was engaged, one cycle is completed and the next cycle starts. In conventional press machines and press methods, the clutch and brake are controlled as described above.

[0043] On the other hand, in the press apparatus 10 and press method of this embodiment, the control unit 40 is configured to perform part of the forming operation of the slide 17 on the workpiece W using the kinetic energy of the driven unit 30, with the clutch 23 cutting off the transmission of power from the drive unit 20 to the driven unit 30. The press device 10 and the press method according to this embodiment will be specifically described below with reference to FIG.

[0044] In this embodiment, as shown by the solid line in Figure 5, when the clutch 23 is engaged at time t0 with the slide 17 at, for example, top dead center, the rotational energy of the flywheel 22 is imparted to the driven part 30 as kinetic energy, and the rotational speed r of the flywheel 22 temporarily drops from rpm-i before engagement to rpm-1. After the rotational speed r of the flywheel 22 drops to rpm-1 at time t1, the slide 17 descends, and until time t2 when the second mold 18 contacts the workpiece W and begins molding the workpiece W, energy is supplied from the motor 21 to the flywheel 22, causing the rotational speed r of the flywheel 22 to recover to rpm-2.

[0045] In this embodiment, the subsequent control is different from the conventional method. In this embodiment, after the forming of the workpiece W has started, the control unit 40 causes the clutch 23 to cut off the transmission of the power of the drive unit 20 to the driven unit 30 before the slide 17 reaches the bottom dead center. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, after the forming of the workpiece W starts at time t2, the control unit 40 causes the clutch 23 to cut off the transmission of the power of the drive unit 20 to the driven unit 30, i.e., in this embodiment, the transmission of the power of the flywheel 22 to the driven unit 30, at time t5 before the slide S reaches the bottom dead center.

[0046] Then, from time t2 to time t5, the rotational energy of the flywheel is mainly converted into forming energy, and the rotational speed r of the flywheel decreases to rpm-5. Then, when the clutch 23 is disengaged at time t5, the supply of energy from the flywheel 22 to the driven part 30 is cut off, and the rotational speed r of the flywheel 22 is gradually increased by the motor 21, as shown by the two-dot chain line in Figure 5, and recovered to rpm-i.

[0047] However, at time t5, the follower part 30 has kinetic energy, so the kinetic energy of the follower part 30 is converted into forming energy, the slide 17 continues to descend, and forming of the workpiece W continues. Then, the slide 17 reaches and passes the bottom dead center, but unlike the conventional case, in this embodiment, part of the kinetic energy possessed by the follower part 30 is used as forming energy and is reduced before the slide 17 passes the bottom dead center, so the time t3 at which the slide 17 passes the bottom dead center is slightly delayed compared to the conventional case.

[0048] Then, after the slide 17 passes the bottom dead center, it rises. However, as described above, before the slide 17 passes the bottom dead center, part of the kinetic energy of the driven part 30 is used for forming energy and is reduced, so the rising speed of the slide 17 becomes slower than in the conventional case, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 5. In such a case, if the brake 24 is actuated at time t4 as in the conventional case, the slide 17 will stop before it reaches the top dead center.

[0049] Therefore, the control unit 40 starts the operation of the brake 24 at time t6, which is later than the conventional time t4. Then, the slide 17 rises toward the top dead center due to the remaining kinetic energy of the follower part 30, and stops when it reaches the top dead center.

[0050] When a predetermined time T has elapsed from time t0 when the clutch 23 is connected, one cycle is completed and the next cycle starts, and this can be configured in the same way as in the conventional case. In the press machine 10 and the press method according to this embodiment, the clutch 23 and the brake 24 are controlled by the control unit 40 as described above.

[0051] In addition, Figure 5 describes a case in which the control unit 40 is configured to cause the clutch 23 to cut off the transmission of power from the drive unit 20 to the driven unit 30 after the formation of the workpiece W has begun and before the slide 17 reaches the bottom dead center, so that part of the forming operation of the slide 17 on the workpiece W is performed using the kinetic energy of the driven unit 30 with the clutch 23 cutting off the transmission of power from the drive unit 20 to the driven unit 30.

[0052] However, it is also possible to configure the system so that, for example, as soon as the forming of the workpiece W begins at time 2, the control unit 40 disconnects the clutch 23, causes the slide 17 to perform a forming operation on the workpiece W using the kinetic energy of the driven unit 30, and then reconnects the clutch 23 to transmit the power of the drive unit 20 to the driven unit 30 to continue forming the workpiece W. It is also possible to connect the clutch 23 to transmit the power of the drive unit 20 to the driven unit 30 to form the workpiece W from time t2, while disengaging the clutch 23 for one or more periods until the slide 17 reaches the bottom dead center.

[0053] Next, the operation of the press device 10 and the press method according to this embodiment will be described. Although the following description will be made on the case where the clutch 23 and the brake 24 are controlled as shown in FIG. 5, the same description will be given on the case where the clutch 23 is connected and disconnected as in the above-described modified example.

[0054] When the workpiece W is molded as shown in Figure 5, the load F applied to the workpiece W begins to increase from time t2, when the slide S or slide 17 descends, the second mold 18 contacts the workpiece W, and molding of the workpiece W begins, as shown in Figure 6. The load F reaches a maximum at time t3 when the slides S, 17 reach the bottom dead center, and then drops sharply by time t7 when the slides S, 17 rise and the second mold 18 separates from the molded workpiece W.

[0055] In the conventional case, all of the forming energy E corresponding to the load F from time t2 to time t7, i.e., the forming energy E represented by the area of ​​the shaded portion in Figure 7(a), is supplied from the flywheel. That is, in the conventional case, all of the forming operations of the slide S on the workpiece W are performed by the power of the driving part, with the driving part and the driven part connected by the clutch.

[0056] In contrast, in the press apparatus 10 and press method according to this embodiment, the forming energy E1 represented by E1 in Figure 7(b), i.e., the forming energy E1 from time t2 when the slide 17 descends and the second mold 18 contacts the workpiece W to start forming the workpiece W, to time t5 when the clutch 23 cuts off the transmission of power from the flywheel 22 to the driven part 30, is supplied from the flywheel 22 while the drive part 20 and the driven part 30 are connected by the clutch 23.

[0057] However, the forming energy E2 from time t5 to time t7, when the clutch 23 cuts off the transmission of the power of the flywheel 22 to the driven part 30, is not supplied from the flywheel 22 but is generated using the kinetic energy of the driven part 30. In this way, in the press apparatus 10 and press method of this embodiment, part of the forming operation of the slide 17 on the workpiece W, i.e., the forming operation from time t5 to time t7, is performed using the kinetic energy of the driven part 30, with the clutch 23 cutting off the transmission of power from the drive part 20 to the driven part 30.

[0058] Therefore, in the press apparatus 10 and press method of this embodiment, rather than performing the entire forming operation of the slide 17 on the workpiece W using the power of the drive unit as in the conventional case, it is possible to perform part of the forming operation using the kinetic energy of the driven unit 30 without supplying power from the drive unit 20. Therefore, the energy efficiency of forming the workpiece W in the press device 10 can be improved.

[0059] As described above, according to the press apparatus 10 and press method of this embodiment, part of the forming operation of the slide 17 on the workpiece W can be performed using the kinetic energy of the driven part 30 without supplying power from the drive part 20, thereby making it possible to improve the energy efficiency of forming the workpiece W in the press apparatus 10.

[0060] In addition, since there is no need to store the power of the drive unit 20 or the kinetic energy of the driven unit 30 as regenerative energy, there is no need to newly install in the press device 10 a device for storing regenerative energy or a pump or motor for using the regenerative energy to rotate the drive unit. Therefore, according to the press apparatus 10 and the press method according to this embodiment, it is possible to improve the energy efficiency in forming the workpiece W using the existing equipment of the press apparatus 10.

[0061] Incidentally, in the press apparatus 10 and press method according to this embodiment, as described above, part of the forming operation of the slide 17 on the workpiece W, i.e., the forming operation from time t5 to time t7, is performed using the kinetic energy of the follower part 30. Therefore, if too much kinetic energy is used by the follower part 30 for the forming operation of the workpiece W, it may happen that the slide 17 is unable to rise to a stopping position such as the top dead center after passing the bottom dead center.

[0062] Therefore, in the press apparatus 10 and the press method according to this embodiment, it is possible to configure the control unit 40 to determine in advance the timing at which the clutch 23 will cut off the transmission of the power of the drive unit 20 to the driven unit 30. In this case, the timing for disengaging the clutch 23 can be configured to be preset, for example, the elapsed time τ1 from the time t0 when the cycle starts to the time t5 when the clutch 23 is disengaged, as shown in FIG. 5, or, for example, the slide position Sx of the slide 17 when the clutch 23 is disengaged, i.e., the slide position Sx at the above-mentioned time t5, can be configured to be preset.

[0063] Furthermore, the energy consumed in forming the workpiece W, that is, the kinetic energy of the driven part 30 required to form the workpiece W, may differ depending on the material of the workpiece W, the type of mold, and the like. Therefore, the control unit 40 can be configured to pre-determine the above timing for each material of the workpiece W, type of mold, etc., by conducting experiments in advance with various changes in the material of the workpiece W, type of mold, etc.

[0064] In this way, if the control unit 40 is configured to predetermine the timing at which the clutch 23 will cut off the transmission of the power of the drive unit 20 to the driven unit 30, the control unit 40 can easily and appropriately set the timing at which the clutch 23 will be cut off depending on, for example, the material of the workpiece W or the type of mold. Furthermore, the timing for disengaging the clutch 23 can be set to an appropriate timing, which makes it possible to improve energy efficiency.

[0065] On the other hand, instead of configuring the timing for disengaging the clutch 23 to be determined in advance as described above, the control unit 40 can also be configured to set the timing for causing the clutch 23 to disconnect the transmission of the power of the drive unit 20 to the driven unit 30 to the optimal timing by changing it for each cycle as the above cycle is repeated. In this case, too, the timing can be set in the form of the elapsed time τ1, the slide position Sx, or the like.

[0066] In this case, for example, in the first cycle of the repeated cycles, the control unit 40 sets the timing for disengaging the clutch 23 to be late so that the slide 17 rises to a stopping position such as the top dead center after forming the workpiece W. That is, the timing for disengaging the clutch 23 is set later in order to reduce the kinetic energy of the driven part 30 consumed in forming the workpiece W. Specifically, for example, the elapsed time τ1 from the start of the cycle until the clutch 23 is disengaged, i.e., the above-mentioned time t5, is set to be immediately before the time t3 at which the slide 17 passes the bottom dead center, or the slide position Sx at which the clutch 23 is disengaged is set to a position close to the bottom dead center.

[0067] At this time, the control unit 40 calculates the kinetic energy of the driven unit 30 for each cycle, for example, based on the rotational speed of the transmission shaft 31, the rotational speed of the eccentric shaft 33, or the ascending speed of the slide 17, which are measured by the sensor 35 shown in FIG. 1 at the time when the slide 17 passes the bottom dead center and starts to ascend. Then, for example, if the difference between the calculated kinetic energy and the energy required for the slide 17 to rise to the stop position is equal to or greater than a threshold, the timing for disengaging the clutch 23 is advanced by a certain amount or a certain percentage. That is, the timing is reset by shortening the elapsed time τ1 by a certain amount or a certain percentage, or by raising the slide position Sx by a certain distance or a certain percentage.

[0068] The control unit 40 can be configured to find the optimal timing by changing the timing at which the clutch 23 cuts off the transmission of the power of the drive unit 20 to the driven unit 30 for each cycle. With this configuration, the control unit 40 can set the timing for disengaging the clutch 23 to an appropriate timing, thereby improving energy efficiency.

[0069] However, if the press device 10 and press method according to this embodiment are configured so that part of the forming operation of the slide 17 on the workpiece W is performed using the kinetic energy possessed by the follower part 30, after the workpiece W has been formed, the kinetic energy possessed by the follower part 30 when the slide 17 rises may vary depending on the material of the workpiece W, the type of mold, etc. Furthermore, particularly if the timing at which the clutch 23 cuts off the transmission of power from the drive unit 20 to the driven unit 30 is configured to change for each cycle as described above, the kinetic energy possessed by the driven unit 30 when the slide 17 rises after the workpiece W is formed may change for each cycle.

[0070] In such a case, unless the timing of actuating the brake 24, that is, the elapsed time τ2 from time t0 when the clutch 23 is connected and the cycle is started to time t6 when actuation of the brake 24 is started as shown in FIG. 5, or the slide position Sx when actuation of the brake 24 is started, is changed, there is a possibility that the slide 17 will overrun or underrun. That is, there is a possibility that the raised slide 17 will not be able to stop at a predetermined stopping position such as the top dead center.

[0071] In addition, by changing the braking force of the brake 24, the distance that the slide 17 moves after the brake 24 starts to operate can be changed. However, if the braking force of the brake 24 is not changed when the kinetic energy of the driven part 30 changes with each cycle as the slide 17 rises after the workpiece W is formed, there is a possibility that the slide 17 may overrun or underrun.

[0072] Therefore, in such a case, the control unit 40 can be configured to vary the timing at which the brake 24 starts braking the operation of the follower part 30, vary the braking force of the brake 24, or vary both, based on information regarding the kinetic energy possessed by the follower part 30 when the slide 17 passes through the bottom dead center or after it has passed the bottom dead center.

[0073] In this case, the information regarding the kinetic energy of the driven part 30 may be the kinetic energy of the slide 17 calculated from the rotation speed of the transmission shaft 31, the rotation speed of the eccentric shaft 33, the moving speed of the slide 17, or the rotational energy of the eccentric shaft 33, or the sum of these, or may be the rotation speed of the transmission shaft 31, the rotation speed of the eccentric shaft 33, the moving speed of the slide 17, etc. The information regarding the kinetic energy possessed by the follower part 30 can be used to vary the timing at which the brake 24 starts braking the operation of the follower part 30, or to vary the braking force of the brake 24, or to vary both, so that the slide 17, which has risen after the workpiece W has been formed, can be appropriately stopped at a predetermined stopping position such as the top dead center.

[0074] With this configuration, even if the kinetic energy possessed by the driven part 30 when the slide 17 rises after the workpiece W is formed varies depending on the material of the workpiece W, the type of mold, etc., or varies for each cycle, it is possible to vary the timing at which the brake 24 is activated, the braking force of the brake 24, or both, and to properly stop the slide 17 at a predetermined stopping position such as the top dead center without causing overrun or underrun.

[0075] It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 10 Press equipment 11 Bed (frame) 12 Upright (frame) 13 Crown (frame) 15 Support 16 First mold 17 slides 18 Second mold 20 Drive unit 22 Flywheel 23 Clutch 24 Brake 30 Driven part 32 Planetary reducer 40 Control Unit double work

Claims

1. a support body to which a first mold can be attached; a slide to which a second mold can be attached and which can reciprocate together with the second mold so as to approach and move away from the first mold; a drive unit that drives the slide by torque control; a driven part that transmits the power of the driving part to the slide; a clutch that transmits and disconnects the power of the driving unit to the driven unit; a brake that is controlled independently of the clutch and brakes the operation of the driven part; a control unit that controls the operations of the clutch and the brake; Equipped with the control unit causes the clutch to cut off transmission of power from the drive unit to the driven unit after forming of the workpiece is started and before the slide reaches the bottom dead center; Press equipment.

2. a timing at which the control unit causes the clutch to cut off transmission of the power of the driving unit to the driven unit is determined in advance; The press device according to claim 1.

3. The control unit variably sets a timing for causing the clutch to cut off transmission of the power of the driving unit to the driven unit. The press device according to claim 1.

4. The control unit varies the timing at which the brake starts braking the operation of the driven part, or the braking force of the brake, or both, based on information about the kinetic energy of the driven part when the slide passes through or after the slide passes through the bottom dead center. The press device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The clutch and the brake are wet type. The press device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. a planetary reducer that reduces the rotational speed of the drive unit and transmits the reduced speed to the driven unit; The press device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

7. The clutch and the brake are provided on the same side of the frame of the press apparatus. The press device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

8. The drive unit includes a flywheel, and the slide is driven by torque control using rotational energy of the flywheel as power. The press device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. 9. The press apparatus according to claim 1, wherein after forming of the workpiece is started, and before the slide reaches a bottom dead center, the clutch is caused to cut off transmission of power from the drive unit to the driven unit. Pressing method.

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