PUNCHING / PERFORATION MACHINE

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a punching / perforating machine for producing a predeterminable punching / perforation pattern in a material unit / web fed in the transport direction, with a punching / perforating tool, with an upper tool part movable in a stroke direction with a plurality of punching punches / perforating needles arranged in a transverse direction in a predetermined grid, which are movable via a pressure bar which is operatively connected via a control device to a drive unit for generating a punching / perforation stroke, and a fixed lower tool part / die, wherein the material unit / web is fed between the upper tool part and the lower tool part. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] DE 33 39 503 A1 discloses a punching machine with several punches, each interacting with a die, a drive device for the punch movements, and a feed device for the cyclical advancement of the material to be punched through the punching machine. At least one of the punches, preferably all of the punches, is provided with its own switchable drive and / or a switchable coupling to the drive device. The punching machine further comprises a machine table with several receiving positions, each for a tool unit. The tool unit has at least one die and at least one punch that can be actuated by the drive device.The tool unit with the die and a punch interacting with the die has its own switchable drive or a switchable coupling device for transmitting the punch drive force.

[0003] DE 41 35 787 A1 describes a punching processing device for producing a punching pattern, comprising an upper die with a punch holder with a plurality of punches and with an underlying stripping plate with bores for receiving the ends of the punches projecting from the punch holder in such a way that they can be extended or retracted, and a lower die with bores into which the ends of the punches enter during the punching process. Feed devices move a material unit inserted between the lower die and the stripping plate intermittently synchronously with the punching process. The punches are held in the punch holder so that they can be moved up and down, with the upper sides of the heads of the punches being smooth or flush with the upper surface of the punch holder. Press heads are used with a head surface for pressing down the punch heads.Additionally, a stepped portion preventing depression is movable by press head drive devices such that either the head surface or the blunted portion is aligned with the respective punch head. The press head drive devices are controlled by a control circuit that generates binary-coded processing data corresponding to the punching pattern.

[0004] The German utility model DE 20 2005 010 990 U1 describes a device for punching workpieces with an upper tool and a lower tool, wherein the upper tool is movable relative to the lower tool, wherein a plurality of punching punches and adjusting elements associated with the same are arranged in the upper tool, which are adjustable between an actuating position in which the punching punches process the workpiece when the upper tool is moved relative to the lower tool, and a non-actuating position in which the punching punches do not process the workpiece when the upper tool is moved relative to the lower tool, and wherein the upper tool has a first, upper punch guide plate with bores for the punches to pass through and a second punch guide plate facing the lower tool with bores for the punches to pass through.Furthermore, a second punch guide plate of the upper tool facing the lower tool is part of a hold-down element, wherein the friction of the punches within the bores of the hold-down element is higher than within the bores of the upper punch guide plates of the upper tool.

[0005] German utility model DE 20 2017 103 498 U1 discloses a perforating machine with a machine table and a striking element movable relative thereto. It also includes a perforating tool mounted either on the machine table or on the striking element, with a die associated with the other part, for perforating a material web that is guided between the perforating tool and die in its longitudinal direction. Additionally, means are provided for simultaneously moving the perforating tool and die in the transverse direction to the material web.

[0006] German utility model DE 20 2014 104 997 U1 describes a punching machine with several punching dies, whose punch heads are mounted in a punch support plate. The mounting of the punch heads in the punch support plate is designed in such a way that an undercut is created during the return stroke of the punches, with a drive element indirectly moving the punch support plate. The punching machine has at least one locking element, which is assigned to at least one punch and is located between the drive element and the punch support plate.The locking element is movable into two operating positions, wherein in a first operating position the locking element fills the space between the drive element and the punch head of the at least one punch, and in a second operating position the locking element forms a free space above the punch head of the at least one punch. In addition, the at least one punch is held by a braking element, at least in the second operating position of the locking element. Furthermore, in known punching / perforating machines, the distance between the punches / perforating needles is relatively large due to the selected geometry, so that punching / perforation patterns with a small pitch cannot be produced.

[0007] The number of needles in the known punching / perforating machines is therefore very limited per unit area.

[0008] Furthermore, with regard to the existing punching / perforating machines, it should be noted that the cycle rate of the punching / perforating strokes to be performed is relatively low due to the mechanical design, which increases the processing time in the production process. This has a negative impact on the economic use of such punching / perforating machines.

[0009] From the generic German utility model DE 20 2019 000 468 U1 a punching / perforating machine is known which is equipped with the following features, namely a punching / perforating tool with a plurality of punching punches / perforating needles arranged in a longitudinal direction in a predetermined grid, which are movable via a pressure bar which is operatively connected via a control device to a drive unit for generating a punching / perforating stroke transverse to the longitudinal direction, a control block for controlling / activating / deactivating the punching punches / perforating needles by the control device during the punching / perforating process and is characterized in that the punching / perforating tool and / or the control block is / are each designed as a separate assembly, which is each arranged separately as a unit and can be detachably fastened within the punching / perforating machine.With this punching / perforating machine, the material unit / web is fed intermittently in the transport direction before each punching / perforating stroke, and the punching or perforation is performed. The punching / perforating pins, which are activated individually for each stroke, can be individually activated or deactivated. Due to the cyclical feeding of the material unit / web, the possible perforation patterns are predetermined by the design specifications of this machine. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Based on the cited prior art, the present invention is based on the object or technical problem of providing a punching / perforating machine of the type mentioned at the outset which ensures high variability with regard to a possible punching / perforation pattern, guarantees high cycle rates, ensures permanently reliable function and enables long service lives.

[0011] The punching / perforating machine according to the invention is defined by the features of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the claims directly or indirectly dependent on independent claim 1.

[0012] The punching / perforating machine according to the invention is accordingly characterized in that means are provided for generating a simultaneous relative movement of the material unit / web to the punching / perforating tool in a predeterminable size both in the transport direction and in the transverse direction, so that the material unit / web can be positioned in an individually predeterminable position relative to the perforating tool before each punching / perforating stroke.

[0013] Because the means for generating a simultaneous relative movement of the material unit / web can be brought into any predefined position before the perforating process, a wide variety of punching / perforation patterns can be made possible that are not possible with the punching / perforating machines known to date, while at the same time ensuring a high cycle rate and permanently reliable function.

[0014] In contrast to the machines known in the state of the art, it is not the punching / perforating tool that is moved, but only the material unit / web or its receiving unit, which requires significantly less force, thus enabling faster cycle times and counteracting increased wear.

[0015] A particularly preferred embodiment of the punching / perforating machine according to the invention is characterized in that the means comprise a first drive unit which causes a movement of the material unit / web in the transport direction and a second drive unit which causes the movement of the material unit / web in the transverse direction.

[0016] A particularly advantageous further development, which ensures economical production while guaranteeing permanently reliable functionality and service life, is characterized in that the first drive unit and the second drive unit are each designed as a servo motor.

[0017] A particularly simple and reliably advantageous design is characterized by the fact that the drive units are connected to the material unit / track via coupling links.

[0018] An advantageous embodiment is characterized in that a storage device is provided in which the data for the geometry of the punching / perforation pattern with regard to position and diameter are stored, the control device is in communication connection with the storage device, the control device is in operative connection with a control block of the punching punches / perforating needles for controlling / activating / deactivating the punching punches / perforating needles during the punching / perforating process, the control device is in communication connection with the means for generating a simultaneous relative movement of the material unit / web and the control device causes the corresponding activation of the means depending on the data stored in the storage device.

[0019] With regard to the variety of design of the optical appearance of the punching / perforation pattern, a particularly advantageous embodiment is characterized in that the punching / perforation tool has punching punches / perforating needles with different diameters.

[0020] A particularly advantageous design, which enables high cycle times and at the same time allows for individual design of the punching / perforation pattern, is characterized by the presence of a control block which has piston-cylinder units, the movements of which during the punching / perforation stroke can be individually controlled via the control device and are individually assigned to each punching punch / perforating needle, a locking slide, which is connected to a corresponding piston rod of the piston-cylinder unit, wherein the locking slide can be moved into an activation or deactivation position by the movement of the piston rod, the locking slide in the activation position acts directly or indirectly on the punching punch / perforating needle during the execution of the stroke, the locking slide in the deactivation position has no effect on the punching punch / perforating needle,so that in the activation position of the locking slide, it acts on the punching punch / perforating needle during the lifting movement and a perforation is carried out, and in the deactivation position of the locking slide, no punching / perforation of the material unit / web is effected.

[0021] According to a preferred development, it has proven particularly advantageous to design the punching / perforating machine in such a way that the piston-cylinder unit is designed as a double-acting piston-cylinder unit with a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber, wherein the first pressure chamber is permanently subjected to a first pressure via the control device, which causes the locking slide to be in or held in the deactivation position and, when punching or perforating is carried out, the control device, in the event of activation, applies a second pressure to the second pressure chamber which is greater than the first pressure, so that the locking slide extends into the activation position and, as a result, this movement is transferred to the associated punching punch / perforating needle during the lifting movement, so that punching or perforation of the material unit / web is carried out.

[0022] Due to the inherent mechanical design of known punching / perforating machines, only fixed, predefined grids are possible with regard to the punching / perforation pattern. The fact that the material unit / web can be positioned in different directions relative to the punching / perforating tool according to the invention opens up possibilities for implementing previously impossible perforation patterns in practice. This results in a virtually unlimited range of punching / perforation patterns as desired by design. Based on the previously developed components for controlling the pattern of the punching / perforating machine, the means for moving the material unit / web can be easily integrated.This applies not only to individual material units / webs to be perforated, but also to the perforation of rolls. According to the invention, the complete transport of the material to be perforated in the transport direction and in the transverse direction is implemented by the moving means in conjunction with the control device and storage device. Furthermore, it is possible to perform a punching operation in the same operation by using different punches or perforating needles with different diameters. The punches / perforating needles of different diameters are simply controlled or activated according to the control device's control signals in relation to the desired pattern.

[0023] Further embodiments and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the features further recited in the claims and from the exemplary embodiments given below. The features of the claims may be combined with one another in any way, provided they are not obviously mutually exclusive. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0024] The invention, as well as advantageous embodiments and further developments thereof, are described and explained in more detail below with reference to the examples shown in the drawings. The features shown in the description and the drawings can be used individually or in any combination according to the invention. They show: Fig. 1 highly schematic representation of a punching / perforating machine with means for moving the material unit / web in the transport and / or transverse direction in a view seen in the transverse direction, Fig. 2 highly schematic representation of a punching / perforating machine according to Fig. 1 in a view in the transport direction, Fig. 3 highly schematic representation of a punching / perforating machine according to Fig. 1 with additionally shown constructive details, Fig. 4a-dschematic representation of possible punching / perforation patterns using a punching / perforating machine according to the Figures 1 to 3 and Fig. 5 schematic representation of a perforation pattern using a punching / perforating machine according to the Figures 1 to 3 which has punches / perforating needles with different hole diameters. WAYS TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION

[0025] One as an example in the Figures 1 and 2The highly schematically illustrated punching / perforating machine 10 has a machine upper part 54 and a machine lower part 56. A pressure bar 36 is arranged on the upper side of the machine upper part 54, on which a drive unit 18 acts to generate a punching / perforating stroke H. Spaced below the pressure bar 36 is an upper tool part 12.1 of a punching / perforating tool 12, in which punching punches / perforating needles 16 are arranged.

[0026] Between the pressure beam 36 and the punching / perforating tool 12, there are locking slides 22 which are connected to a control block 14. The locking slides 22 are designed to be extendable and retractable and are each assigned to a punching punch or a perforating needle 16. In the extended state - as in Fig. 1shown - the associated punching punch / perforating needle 16 is activated so that when the punching / perforating stroke H is carried out, a supplied material unit / web M is perforated.

[0027] The machine base 56 has a tool base 12.2 of the punching / perforating tool 12 on the upper side, in which the punching punch / perforating needle 16 are guided, for example. A base plate 62 is provided at a distance from the lower side. The material unit / web M is fed between the tool base 12.2 of the punching / perforating tool 12 and the base plate 62. The transport direction of the material unit / web M is in Fig. 1 marked with the reference symbol T.

[0028] Furthermore, a storage device 40 is provided in which all data relating to the geometry of the pattern to be perforated or punched in the material unit / web M are stored, such as the position and diameter of the perforation / punching recesses. The storage device 40 is in communication with a control device 30, wherein the control device 30 controls the punching / perforating machine 10 depending on the data stored in the storage device 40. Thus, the control device activates the drive unit 18 to activate the punching / perforation stroke H. Furthermore, the control device 30 is in communication with a first drive unit 70 and a second drive unit 72.The first drive unit 70 acts on the material unit / web M such that, upon activation of the first drive unit 70, the material unit / web M performs a movement in the transport direction T of a predetermined magnitude. Furthermore, the second drive unit 72 also acts on the material unit / web M such that, upon activation of the second drive unit 72, the material unit / web M performs a displacement in the transverse direction Q (see . Fig. 2 ) in a predetermined size. The activation of the displacement of the material unit / web M before each punching / perforation stroke H is initiated by the control device 30, which determines the size of the displacement of the material unit / web M in the transport direction T and / or in the transverse direction Q for the respective punching / perforation stroke H based on information retrieved from the storage device 40.

[0029] The Fig. 3The schematically illustrated punching / perforating machine 10 represents a constructive embodiment - also partly in a highly schematic representation - of the punching / perforating machine 10 according to Fig. 1 and 2 Identical components have the same reference symbol and are not explained again.

[0030] The punching / perforating machine 10 comprises a punching / perforating tool 12 with an upper tool part 12.1, a lower tool part 12.2, and a control block 14. In the servo-hydraulic-driven punching / perforating machine 10, the control block 14 is connected to a pressure bar 36, i.e., it is inserted and centered in a control block guide groove 42 provided on the pressure bar. The pressure bar 36 is moved up and down in the stroke direction H by a drive unit 18. Located below the control block 14 is the corresponding upper tool part 12.1 of the punching / perforating tool 12, whose grid for the perforating needles 16 is identical to that of the control block. The upper tool part 12.1 of the punching / perforating tool 12 comprises a needle holder 34, which is inserted into a needle holder guide groove 44 in the control block. The lower tool part 12.2 of the punching / perforating tool 12 with the dies is centered by means of a centering pin (not shown in detail).This lower tool part 12.2 of the punching / perforating tool 12 is also placed in a tool guide groove 46. The needle holder 34, together with the needle guide, which is firmly connected to the punching / perforating tool 12, forms a unit, namely the punching / perforating tool 12.

[0031] A spacer plate 60 is located on the needle holder 34, which, on the one hand, facilitates the disassembly of the punching / perforating tool 12 and, on the other hand, enables the use of other standard tools with the same tool profile but a different pitch. The open spacer plate 60, which is provided with grid holes, is replaced by a closed version without grid holes.

[0032] The perforating needles 16 are arranged in a predetermined grid in the transverse direction Q, which is perpendicular to the plane of representation of Fig. 3The perforating needles 16 can be individually activated or deactivated for each punching / perforation stroke H. This individual control is implemented by providing a control device 30 that is in communication with a storage device 40 in which the geometric data of the punching / perforation pattern to be created on a material unit / web M fed to the punching / perforation tool 12 are stored.

[0033] The control device 30 is in communication with a valve device 26, wherein the valve device 26 has valve units, each of which is individually in communication with piston-cylinder units arranged on the control block 14. The piston-cylinder units are designed as double-acting piston-cylinder units, with a cylinder 24, a piston 21, and a piston rod 20. Each piston-cylinder unit has a first pressure chamber 28 and a second pressure chamber 32.

[0034] Each piston rod 20 is connected at its free end to a locking slide 22, which can be moved from an activation position (extended state) and a deactivation position (retracted state) upon appropriate pressure application to the piston-cylinder unit in the sliding direction S transversely to the stroke direction H. Furthermore, a first pressure accumulator 28.1 and a second pressure accumulator 32.1 are provided, which communicate with the valve device 26. The first pressure chamber 28 provides a pressure P1, and the second pressure chamber 32 provides a pressure P2 that is greater than the pressure P1.

[0035] Each perforating needle 16 is assigned a locking slide 22 with an associated controllable piston-cylinder unit. The locking slide 22 is spaced from the upper head end of the perforating needle 16. Below the locking slide 22, an extension profile 48 is provided in the control block 14 in a corresponding guide, wherein the underside of the extension profile 48 rests on the head of the associated perforating needle 16 and the upper end face of the extension profile 48 is arranged at the same height as the underside of the locking slide 22. When the locking slide 22 is extended, it rests on the extension profile 48, so that when the lifting movement H of the control block 14 is carried out, the perforating needle 16 is moved downward, triggering a perforation on the material unit / web M.

[0036] When the locking slide 22 is retracted, there is no contact between the extension profile 48 and the locking slide 22, since the underside of the locking slide 22 is adjacent to the underside of the extension profile 48. If a punching / perforation stroke is performed with the locking slide 22 in the retracted position, the extension profile 48 is not subjected to movement by the locking slide 22, so that the associated perforating needle 16 does not perform a perforation.

[0037] The locking slide 22 has a contour 52 in its free end area that runs inclined relative to the punching / perforation stroke direction H. This contour ensures that if the extension profile 48 or the perforating needle 16 protrudes upward when the locking slide 22 is extended, the extension profile 48 is pushed downward and is not sheared off or damaged. This ensures permanently reliable functionality.

[0038] During operation of the punching / perforating machine, the first pressure chamber 28 and the second pressure chamber 32 are individually controlled via the valve device 26 and the control device 30, taking into account the stored punching / perforation pattern data, as follows. The first pressure chamber 28 is permanently pressurized with pressure P1 via the first pressure accumulator 28.1. This means that under the effect of pressure P1, the locking slide 22 is in the retracted position, so that when the punching / perforation stroke H is performed, the associated perforating needle 16 does not perform a perforation.

[0039] If a perforating needle 16 is to be activated during a punching / perforating stroke H, the control device 30 causes, via the valve device 26, the second pressure chamber 32 to be pressurized via the second pressure accumulator 32.1 with the pressure P2, which is greater than the permanently present pressure P1 in the first pressure chamber 28, so that the locking slide 22 extends and, when the punching / perforating stroke H is carried out, the associated perforating needle 16, in conjunction with the extension profile 48, carries out a punching / perforating stroke H and produces a perforation on the material unit / web M.

[0040] Thus, individually controlled piston-cylinder units are present on the control block 14 and are subjected to a permanent first pressure P1, which virtually forms an air spring in the return stroke, wherein for each perforating needle 16 to be controlled in the punching / perforating tool 12, a piston rod 20 is assigned to the corresponding piston-cylinder unit, which is activated, i.e. extended, by application of the pressure P2.

[0041] The separate design of control block 14 and punching / perforating tool 12, in conjunction with the piston-cylinder units arranged offset in stroke direction H and transverse direction Q within a housing 38, makes it possible to achieve a minimum spacing in terms of the grid dimension between the perforating needles 16 in tool 12, which corresponds, for example, to a standard perforation in automotive construction. This allows, for example, a maximum number of 1024 needles to be achieved on a perforation width of 1.9456 mm.

[0042] This high number of needles per unit area cannot be achieved with the known systems.

[0043] As already described above, the extension profile 48 is arranged between the head of the individual perforating needles 16 and the locking slide 22. The extension profile 48 consists, for example, of a hardened round material with a stepped diameter, which rests loosely on the head of the perforating needle 16. The stepped outer diameter prevents movement of the vertically installed extension profile 48 in the control block 14 during installation or removal of the tool. At the same time, this step holds the extension profile 48 in a fixed, defined position above the needle head.

[0044] In order to compensate for the difference between the specified needle diameter or needle spacing and the necessarily wider locking slide 22 with the associated piston rod 20, these mechanical extension profiles 48 are inserted in different lengths in the control block 14 and assigned to the locking slides 22 accordingly.

[0045] The individual piston-cylinder units are provided as special cylinders on both sides of the control block 14 and are individually controlled by control valves 26. These special cylinders are arranged within the machine, for example, in housings 38, each containing four piston-cylinder units, to protect them from damage or access. These housings 38 contain the complete electronic and pneumatic control system (valve terminals, pressure regulators, pressure monitoring, etc.). These housings 38 are connected to the valve unit 26 with their individually assigned control valves by means of a specially designed coupling system. Alternatively, the control valves of the valve unit 26 can also be flexibly mounted on appropriate transport frames for use on various punching machines. This eliminates the need to rely on a single work area.

[0046] Due to the constant counterpressure P1 during the return stroke of the piston rod 20 of the piston-cylinder units, the switching time between punching operations can be significantly reduced. This results in a significantly higher cycle rate (e.g., 160 to 180 per minute) of the punching unit compared to conventional punching / perforating machines.

[0047] Furthermore, Fig. 3 A first drive unit 70 and a second drive unit 72 are shown in a very schematic manner. These two drive units 70, 72 are controlled and activated or deactivated by the control device 30 before each punching / perforation stroke H. The first drive unit 70, which is designed as a servo motor, for example, is connected to the Fig. 3 coupling elements not shown in detail to the material unit / web M. The second drive unit 72, which is designed as a servo motor, for example, is connected to the Fig. 3Coupling elements not shown in detail are also connected to the material unit / web M. Upon activation of the first drive unit 70 by the control device 30 as a function of the data stored in the memory device 40, the material unit / web M executes a displacement in the transport direction T with the currently specified size. Upon activation of the second drive unit 72 by the control device 30, the material unit / web M executes a movement in the transverse direction Q with the currently specified size.

[0048] Because the material unit / web M can be arranged individually for each punching / perforation stroke H relative to the punching / perforation tool 12 both in the transport direction T and in the transverse direction Q, almost any punching / perforation pattern can be produced.

[0049] In the Figures 4a, b, c and dPunching / perforation patterns 66.1, 66.2, 66.3, and 66.4 are shown as examples. In principle, the ability to move the material unit / web M allows for any desired hole placement.

[0050] As in Fig. 5 As shown, different hole diameters can also be created in a hole pattern 66.5 by means of perforating needles 16 of different diameters arranged in the punching / perforating tool 12 and by correspondingly shifting the material unit / web M. With the help of software, before the respective punching / perforating stroke H, the perforating needles with the corresponding diameter closest to the perforation position are determined and the material unit / web M is shifted by the corresponding amount.

[0051] Due to the mechanical design of the punching / perforating tool 12 described as an example, any feed rate in the transport direction T and in the transverse direction Q can be achieved by coupling the material unit / web M to the first and second drive units 70, 72. This makes it possible, among other things, to produce curved and circular contours 66.4 (see, for example, Fig. 4a ). Overall, there are almost unlimited possibilities for the representation of punching / perforation patterns according to any desired design. Examples are the perforation patterns 66.1, 66.2, 66.3 in the Figures 4b, c and d. Only the corresponding files containing the information about the geometry of the punching / perforation pattern, particularly regarding its position and size, need to be read into the storage device 40. Furthermore, the punching / perforation can also be performed on a roll of material, in which case the entire transport of the material web to be perforated in the transport direction T and in the transverse direction Q is designed accordingly to enable this displacement movement.

Claims

1. A punching / perforating machine (10) for generating a predefinable punching / perforation pattern in a material unit / web (M) supplied in a transport direction (T), comprising - a punching / perforation tool (12) having -- a tool upper part (12.1), which is movable in a stroke direction (H) and which has a plurality of stamping punches / perforating needles (16) which are arranged in a predefined grid in a transverse direction (Q) and which are movable by means of a pressure beam (36) which is operatively connected via a control device (30) to a drive unit (18) for generating a punching / perforation stroke (H), and -- a stationary tool lower part (12.2) / female die, - wherein the material unit / web (M) is supplied between the tool upper part (12.1) and the tool lower part (12.2), - characterized in that - means (70, 72) for generating a simultaneous relative movement of the material unit / web (M) relative to the punching / perforation tool (12) to a predefinable extent both in the transport direction (T) and in the transverse direction (Q) are present, such that the material unit / web (M) is positionable, prior to each punching / perforation stroke (H), in an individual predefinable position relative to the punching / perforation tool (12).

2. The punching / perforating machine as claimed in claim 1, - characterized in that - the means (70, 72) comprise a first drive unit (70), which brings about a movement of the material unit / web (M) in the transport direction (T), and a second drive unit (72), which brings about the movement of the material unit / web (M) in the transverse direction.

3. The punching / perforating machine as claimed in claim 2, - characterized in that - the first drive unit (70) and the second drive unit (72) are each formed as a servomotor.

4. The punching / perforating machine as claimed in claim 2 or 3, - characterized in that - the drive units (70, 72) are connected via coupling members to the material unit / web (M).

5. The punching / perforating machine as claimed in one of the preceding claims, - characterized in that - a memory device (40) is present, in which the data for the geometry of the punching / perforation pattern with respect to position and diameter is stored, - the control device (30) is communicatively connected to the memory device (40), - the control device (30) is operatively connected to a control block (14) of the stamping punches / perforating needles (16) for actuation / activation / deactivation of the stamping punches / perforating needles (16) during the punching / perforating operation, - the control device (30) is communicatively connected to the means (70, 72) for generating a simultaneous relative movement of the material unit / web (M) and - the control device (30) initiates the corresponding activation of the means (70, 72) in dependence on the data stored in the memory device (40) .

6. The punching / perforating machine as claimed in one of the preceding claims, - characterized in that - the punching / perforation tool (12) comprises stamping punches / perforating needles (16) having different diameters.

7. The punching / perforating machine as claimed in one of the preceding claims, - characterized in that - a control block (14) is present, which comprises piston-cylinder units whose movements during the punching / perforation stroke are individually actuable via the control device (30) and are individually assigned to each stamping punch / each perforating needle (16), - a blocking slide (22), which is connected in each case to a corresponding piston rod (20) of the piston-cylinder unit, wherein the blocking slide (22) is displaceable into an activation or deactivation position by the movement of the piston rod (20), -- in the activation position, the blocking slide acts directly or indirectly on the stamping punch / the perforating needle (16) during the execution of the stroke (H), -- in the deactivation position, the blocking slide does not exert any action on the stamping punch / the perforating needle (16), -- such that, in the activation position of the blocking slide (22), the latter acts on the stamping punch / perforating needle (16) during the stroke movement (H) and a perforation is carried out and, in the deactivation position of the blocking slide, no punching / perforation of the material unit / web (M) is effected.

8. The punching / perforating machine as claimed in claim 7, - characterized in that - the piston-cylinder unit is formed as a double-acting piston-cylinder unit having a first pressure chamber (28) and a second pressure chamber (32), wherein a first pressure (P1) is applied permanently to the first pressure chamber (28) via the control device (30) and has the effect that the blocking slide (22) is located or retained in the deactivation position and, when carrying out punching or perforation, the control device (30) applies a second pressure (P2), which is higher than the first pressure (P1), to the second pressure chamber (32) when activated, such that the blocking slide (22) moves out into the activation position and, as a result, during the stroke movement (H), this movement is transmitted to the associated stamping punch / perforating needle, such that punching or perforation of the material unit / web (M) is carried out.