Pressing tool and method for controlling the operation of a pressing tool with a separating device designed to break up detached waste elements

Abstract

A pressing tool (1), comprising a tool upper part (2) and a tool lower part (3), which can be moved relative to one another to press a component (4) between the tool upper part (2) and the tool lower part (3), wherein the pressing tool (1) has a separating apparatus (5) designed to break up a waste element (7) that has been detached from a component (4) in a pressing operation, in particular a detached drawn edge, wherein the pressing tool (1) has a detaching device (8), which is arranged on the tool upper part (2) and is designed to detach from the component (4) an edge portion, which extends along at least two sides of the component (4), as a waste element (7), wherein at least one separating device (6), arranged on the tool lower part (3), of the separating apparatus (5) is designed to break up the detached waste element (7).

Description

[0001] Pressing tool and method for controlling the operation of a pressing tool with a separating device designed to divide separated waste elements

[0002] The invention relates to a pressing tool comprising an upper tool part and a lower tool part, which are movable relative to one another between the upper tool part and the lower tool part for pressing a component, wherein the pressing tool has a separating device which is designed to divide a waste element separated from a component in a pressing process, in particular a separated drawn edge.

[0003] Press tools of the type mentioned above, which are designed for pressing or forming components, are generally known from the prior art. Typically, a separating device is provided within or on the press tool in order to separate, i.e., divide or chop up, waste separated from the component during an operation of the press tool, for example drawn edges. For this purpose, it is known that a first separating knife is provided on an upper tool part and a second separating knife assigned to the first separating knife is provided on a lower tool part. In other words, the first separating knife is moved together with the upper tool part towards the second separating knife, so that the waste element is divided between the two separating knives.

[0004] However, it is known that contaminants generated or resulting during the cutting process, such as chips, flakes, and the like, can be carried along, i.e. lifted, by the first cutting blade during an upward movement of the upper tool section and thus fall onto the next component to be machined or onto the section of the lower tool section that receives the component. Known solutions for this problem involve the waste element sliding along a transport path to the cutting plane where the waste element is cut. Depending on the geometry of the waste element and the arrangement of the transport path, the transport path or movement of the waste element is complex to design and control.Even with a separation point at a distance from the component, it cannot be completely ruled out that contaminants such as chips or flakes can still be lifted with the upper part of the tool and impair the pressing process. The object of the invention is to provide an improved pressing tool, in which, in particular, potential impairment of the component is reduced.

[0005] The object is achieved by a pressing tool according to claim 1. The dependent claims relate to possible embodiments.

[0006] As described, the invention relates to a pressing tool comprising an upper tool part and a lower tool part. In order to press a component with the pressing tool, the upper tool part and lower tool part are movable relative to one another; in particular, the upper tool part can be moved down onto the lower tool part in order to press the component between the upper tool part and the lower tool part. The pressing tool has a separating device which is designed or intended to divide a waste element, in particular a separated drawn edge, which has been separated from a component during a pressing process. In other words, the waste element, for example a drawn edge that has been separated from the component, is divided by means of the separating device so that the individual elements or segments can be removed from the pressing tool in a defined manner.

[0007] The invention is based on the finding that the pressing tool has a separating device arranged on the upper part of the tool, which is designed to separate an edge section running along at least two sides of the component from the component as a waste element, wherein a separating device of the separating device arranged on the lower part of the tool is designed to divide the separated waste element. The invention therefore proposes first separating the waste element, for example the drawn edge, from the remaining component with the separating device and then separating the thus separated waste element into the individual elements or segments by means of the separating device of the separating device, for example in a stroke following the current stroke.This ensures that only the separating device, which is used exclusively for separating the waste element from the component, is arranged on the upper part of the tool. When separating the waste element from the component, frame trimming, steep cuts, and the like, which are particularly susceptible to the formation of contaminants such as chips, flakes, and the like, can be dispensed with. Instead, the waste element, for example, the drawn edge, can be separated from the component in one continuous step.

[0008] Since the actual cutting process, in which the waste element is divided into its individual elements or segments, takes place in the lower part of the tool, any contaminants generated there cannot reach the upper part of the tool and are therefore not lifted along with the upper part. Since the waste element extends along at least two sides, it is held in the pressing tool along at least two sides, for example, circumferentially closed around the component, thus eliminating the need for complex hold-down devices for carrying out the cutting process.

[0009] In the pressing tool, it can be specifically provided that the separation device is designed to separate a closed edge section surrounding the component as a waste element. For example, a ring or a closed contour running around the component can be separated as a closed waste element. Advantageously, no frame trimming or the like is required to separate the waste element as a closed edge section, thus preventing the separation device from generating contamination.The closed edge section surrounding the component is fed as a closed waste element to the separating device which, as described, is arranged on the lower part of the tool and thus the cutting of the waste element takes place entirely in the lower part of the tool, so that the transport of contaminants resulting from this to the upper part of the tool and thus to the component or the surface receiving the component is excluded.

[0010] In this case, it can be provided, in particular, that a holding section is formed on the lower tool part, which is intended to hold the waste element on an inner section of the waste element. The holding section can thus be designed, in particular, so that the waste element separated from the component, in particular as a closed edge section running around the component, is held on the holding section and is thus positioned for the division process. The holding section can, for example, be a circumferential outer surface of the lower tool part or of a section of the lower tool part, which section receives the component on its upper side during the pressing process. This means that after the waste element has been separated from the component by means of the separating device, the waste element can fall down and is held and positioned on its inner side or its inner section by the holding section.The waste element can, for example, be designed like a ring that runs around the holding section of the lower tool part and is held by it in such a way that the cutting process can be carried out in a defined manner. This advantageously eliminates the need for complex hold-down devices, which would normally have to be applied to individual, pre-separated waste elements.

[0011] The described pressing tool can be further developed in such a way that the separating device is designed to separate the waste element in a separating plane, wherein the separating device is designed to divide the waste element in a division plane spaced from the separating plane, in particular in the vertical direction. As described, the separation of the waste element from the component takes place in the separation plane, in which the separating device separates the waste element. The separation plane lies approximately in the tool plane in which the component is accommodated for the pressing process, in which the component lies between the upper tool part and the lower tool part.

[0012] The waste element is divided into individual elements or segments in the division plane, in which the separation device is designed or arranged. Since the separation device is assigned to and arranged on the upper tool part, and the separation device is assigned to and arranged on the lower tool part, two different planes are formed: the separation plane and the division plane, which are spaced apart from each other at a defined distance in the vertical direction, i.e., particularly in the direction of movement between the lower tool part and the upper tool part. This distance between the separation plane and the division plane further reduces contamination of the upper tool part with impurities from the division process.

[0013] A collecting level can be provided between the separation level and the division level, in which the waste element can be temporarily collected after being separated by the separation device. This can ensure, for example, that after the waste element has been separated, the waste element initially falls into the collecting level and can only fall from the collecting level into the division level when the separation device assumes a suitable state, in particular an open state. This ensures safe operation of the separation device and, in particular, prevents the separated waste element from falling unhindered and impairing the movement of the separation device.

[0014] The described division plane can be spaced from the separation plane by a defined minimum distance, in particular at least 100 to 300 mm. In principle, the minimum distance can be chosen arbitrarily or adapted to the specific pressing process in question. After dimensioning the waste element or depending on the stroke and geometry of the component, the minimum distance can be specifically set. The minimum distance ensures in particular that contaminants arising in the division plane cannot reach the separation plane or the upper part of the tool and thus cannot be carried along by the upper part of the tool and land on the component or the section of the tool that receives the component.

[0015] The pressing tool can be further developed such that the separating device is designed to separate the waste element with a minimum immersion depth. The minimum immersion depth can also be referred to as a defined immersion depth and ensures that only a flat section of the waste element is severed, thus eliminating the need for steep cuts, frame trimming, and the like when separating the waste element from the component. As already described, the separating device, for example an upper blade arranged on the upper part of the tool, circumferentially separates the waste element from the component, but does not divide it into individual pieces, thus achieving the previously described advantages.

[0016] According to a further embodiment of the pressing tool, the separating device can be designed to separate the waste element at a finished edge of the component. This ensures, in particular, that the component is already trimmed to its desired dimensions by the separating device, and the waste element can be separated from the component as a coherent part, for example as a ring or generally as a closed contour. The pressing tool can further be developed such that the separating device has at least one separating blade integrated into a tool table, wherein the separating device is designed to divide the waste element between a slide element and the separating blade. The lower tool part can have a tool table on which, for example, the previously described holding section can also be arranged.At least one cutting blade is integrated into the tool table, which interacts with a slide element. At least one cutting blade can also be arranged on the slide element, or the slide element can be used solely to press the waste element into the at least one cutting blade. Specifically, multiple cutting blades can be arranged on the slide element and / or the tool table. Specifically, a so-called "cutting die" can be configured, which is intended for cutting the waste element.

[0017] The separating device is particularly designed to divide the waste element into segments. The divided segments or individual elements can then be removed from the pressing tool through an outlet in the lower part of the tool. The outlet is designed, for example, as a shaft or channel into which the segments of the waste element fall after the division process and are guided by it, for example, by gravity. The outlet can be connected to at least one container or guide the segments into such a container where they can be collected.

[0018] In addition to the pressing tool, the invention relates to a method for controlling the operation of a pressing tool, comprising an upper tool part and a lower tool part, which are moved relative to one another between the upper tool part and the lower tool part for pressing a component, wherein a waste element separated from a component in a pressing process, in particular a separated drawn edge, is divided by means of a separating device, wherein the pressing tool has a separating device arranged on the upper tool part, by means of which an edge section running along at least two sides of the component is separated from the component as a waste element, wherein the separated waste element is divided by means of a separating device of the separating device arranged on the lower tool part. All advantages, details, embodiments and / or features described with reference to the pressing tool are fully transferable to the method.The method can be carried out in particular on the previously described pressing tool in all details and with all features.

[0019] The invention is explained using exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures. The figures are schematic representations and show:

[0020] Fig. 1-5 a schematic diagram of a pressing tool in different operating states during the execution of a pressing process.

[0021] Fig. 1 shows a purely schematic representation of a pressing tool 1 comprising an upper tool part 2 and a lower tool part 3. The upper tool part 2 and the lower tool part

[0022] 3 are movable relative to one another for pressing a component 4 which is inserted between the upper tool part 2 and the lower tool part 3. Purely as an example, the upper tool part 2 is movable in the vertical direction, i.e. vertically upwards in the figures. The pressing tool 1 has a separating device 5 which has a plurality of separating devices 6 which are basically designed to divide a waste element 7 (cf. Figs. 2-5). Furthermore, the pressing tool 1 has a separating device 8 which is designed to separate the waste element 7 from the component 4. The waste element 7 is in particular a drawn edge which is to be separated from the component 4. The separating process and the separating process are described below with reference to the figures in a schematic sequence of the pressing operation and the pressing process.

[0023] Fig. 1 schematically shows an open state of the pressing tool 1, in which the upper tool part 2 is spaced apart from the lower tool part 3 in the vertical direction. A section 9 is arranged on the lower tool part 3, which is designed to receive the component 4 on its upper side. Starting from the open state shown in Fig. 1, the pressing tool 1 can be closed by relative movement between the upper tool part 2 and the lower tool part 3. Fig. 2 shows the closed state or the closed state of the pressing tool 1. It can be seen that the waste element 7 was separated from the remaining component by the separating device 8.

[0024] 4 is severed. The separating device 8 has, for example, an upper blade which rotates around the component 4 and which plunges into the component 4 and thus separates the waste element 7 from the component 4 as a closed contour or as a closed waste element 7, in particular as a ring. Because the waste element 7 is severed in a closed circumferential manner around the component 4, no steep cuts or frame trimming or the like are necessary, so that the generation of usual contamination by the separating device 8 is prevented and thus the upper tool part 2 and also the upper side of the lower tool part 3 and the component 4 can be kept free of such contamination, in particular chips or flakes.

[0025] In the closed state shown in Fig. 2, it is furthermore apparent that the separating devices 6, which can be designed as sliding elements, are also in a closed state. The basic actuation of the separating devices 6, which can be arranged circumferentially around the component 4 or the section 9 on the lower tool part 3, can be selected arbitrarily and is shown merely as an example. It can also be seen from Fig. 2 that a separating plane in which the waste element 7 is separated from the remaining component 4 by the separating device 8, lies above a collecting plane that can be formed by the upper side of the separating devices 6. In other words, the waste element 7, after it has been separated from the component 4 by the separating device 8, can fall from the separating plane into the collecting plane and be temporarily received there.

[0026] Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of the state of the pressing tool 1 when it is opened again from the closed state in Fig. 2. In this state, the component 4 is in the pressed form and separated from the waste element 7, wherein upon opening of the separating devices 6, the separated waste element 7 can fall from the collecting plane into the dividing plane. In the dividing plane, the waste element 7, which, as described, can be designed as a closed contour, lies between the separating devices 6 and separating blades 10 integrated into the lower tool part 3, for example in the form of cutting dies. The design of the cutting dies and the separating blades 10 can be changed as desired, wherein separating blades can also be provided on the separating devices 6, in particular the slide elements.In principle, any number of separating devices 6 can be provided circumferentially, in particular depending on a desired length of the divided segments of the waste element 7. The distance between the separating plane and the separating plane can be defined by a minimum distance, for example, 100 to 300 mm. This further ensures that no contamination from impurities that arise in the separating plane, for example, from frame trimmings, steep cuts, and the like, can reach the upper tool part 2.

[0027] Starting from the state shown in Fig. 3, after the pressed component 4 has been removed, a new component 4 can be inserted, as shown in Fig. 4. During a new stroke, the component 4 newly inserted into the pressing tool 1 is trimmed by the cutting device 8, as described above, with another waste element 7 falling from the cutting plane into the collecting plane. During the closing movement, the cutting devices 6 are closed at the same time, which moves the waste element 7 lying in the cutting plane into the cutting blades 10 and thus, as shown in Fig. 5, divides it into defined individual segments, shown in dashed lines. The individual segments can then be led out of the tool base 3 through the outlets provided in the tool base 3 and leave this, for example, be collected in a container not shown in detail.5 subsequent stroke, the waste element 7, which is currently in the collection level, is guided into the cutting level, so that the component 4 completed in the previous pressing process can be removed and a new component 4 can be inserted.

[0028] By designing or separating the waste element 7 as a continuous shape or closed contour, for example, as a ring, it rests against a holding section 11 of the pressing tool 1, in particular the lower tool part 3. As a result, the waste element 7 is correctly positioned in the separating device 5 and cannot slip during the cutting process, but is held in position by the holding section 11. The holding section 11 can form an outer circumference on the lower tool part 3 and contact an inner circumference of the waste element 7.

[0029] The advantages, details, and features shown in relation to the individual figures can be combined with one another as desired, are interchangeable, and are transferable to one another. The method described herein can be carried out with the pressing tool 1, for example, in the steps described with reference to the figures.

[0030] List of reference symbols

[0031] 1 pressing tool

[0032] 2 Upper tool part 3 Lower tool part

[0033] 4 component

[0034] 5 Separating device

[0035] 6 Separator

[0036] 7 Waste element 8 Separation device

[0037] Section 9

[0038] 10 cutting knives

[0039] 11 stopping section

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Pressing tool (1), comprising an upper tool part (2) and a lower tool part (3), which are movable relative to one another between the upper tool part (2) and the lower tool part (3) for pressing a component (4), wherein the pressing tool (1) has a separating device (5) which is designed to divide a waste element (7), in particular a separated drawn edge, which is separated from a component (4) in a pressing process, characterized in that the pressing tool (1) has a separating device (8) arranged on the upper tool part (2), which is designed to separate an edge section running along at least two sides of the component (4) as a waste element (7) from the component (4), wherein at least one separating device (6) of the separating device arranged on the lower tool part (3) (5) is designed to divide the separated waste element (7).

2. Press tool (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the separating device (8) is designed to separate an edge section which is closed and encircles the component (4) as a waste element (7).

3. Press tool (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a holding section (11) is formed on the tool lower part (3), which is intended to hold the waste element (7) on an inner section of the waste element (7).

4. Press tool (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the separating device (8) is designed to separate the waste element (7) in a separation plane, wherein the separating device (6) is designed to divide the waste element (7) in a division plane spaced from the separation plane.

5. Press tool (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the division plane is spaced from the separation plane by a defined minimum distance, in particular at least 100-300 mm.

6. Press tool (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the separating device (8) is designed to separate the waste element (7) with a minimum immersion depth.

7. Press tool (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the separating device (8) is designed to separate the waste element (7) at a finished edge of the component (4).

8. Press tool (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the separating device (6) has at least one separating knife (10) integrated into a tool table, wherein the separating device (6) is designed to divide the waste element (7) between a slide element and the separating knife (10).

9. Press tool (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the separating device (6) is designed to divide the waste element (7) into segments.

10. A method for controlling the operation of a pressing tool (1), comprising an upper tool part (2) and a lower tool part (3), which are moved relative to one another between the upper tool part (2) and the lower tool part (3) for pressing a component (4), wherein a waste element (7), in particular a separated drawn edge, which is separated from a component (4) in a pressing process is divided by means of a separating device (5), characterized in that the pressing tool (1) has a separating device (8) arranged on the upper tool part (2), by means of which an edge section running along at least two sides of the component (4) is separated from the component (4) as a waste element (7), wherein the separated waste element (7) is divided by means of a separating device (6) of the separating device (5) arranged on the lower tool part (3).

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