Bending device

Abstract

A bending device (1) comprises: a conveyance mechanism (3) that conveys a workpiece (W) in a conveyance direction; a pair of first bending rollers (43A, 43B) which are disposed on both sides of the workpiece (W) in a conveyance width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction and which bend a pair of lateral edge parts (WE) of the workpiece (W) while rotating as the workpiece (W) is conveyed; and a pair of first guide rollers (44A, 45A) which are disposed on both sides of the workpiece (W) in a vertical direction intersecting each of the conveyance direction and the conveyance width direction and which support the workpiece (W) in the vertical direction while rotating as the workpiece (W) is conveyed. The first guide rollers (44A, 45A) are disposed so as to overlap a disposition range of the first bending rollers (43A, 43B) in the conveyance direction.

Description

Bending device

[0001] The present invention relates to a bending device for bending a pair of side edges of a workpiece.

[0002] Conventionally, a hook-and-loop fastener has been used to attach a skin material to a seat of an automobile or the like, and there is a bending device that performs bending on this hook-and-loop fastener. By embedding the side edge portion of the hook-and-loop fastener in the cushion material of the seat in a bent state, the hook-and-loop fastener and the cushion material are firmly fixed to each other.

[0003] The bending device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a conveying mechanism for conveying the hook-and-loop fastener along the longitudinal direction, and a pair of die parts that apply pressure in the vertical direction perpendicular to the conveying direction to the hook-and-loop fastener. In this bending device, while the hook-and-loop fastener passes between the pair of die parts, the side edge portion of the hook-and-loop fastener is gradually bent along the shape of each die part.

[0004] International Publication No. 2024 / 018617

[0005] In the bending device described in Patent Document 1, while the pair of die parts can surely bend the hook-and-loop fastener by pressing it, since the hook-and-loop fastener slides with respect to the pair of die parts, a large frictional resistance occurs in the hook-and-loop fastener. As a result, there is a possibility that an excessive load is applied to the conveying mechanism or the hook-and-loop fastener breaks. Such problems are common not only to hook-and-loop fasteners but also to workpieces that are generally bent.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a bending device that can surely bend a workpiece and suppress the frictional resistance generated in the workpiece.

[0007] [1] A bending device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a conveying mechanism for conveying a workpiece in a conveying direction; a pair of first bending rollers arranged on both sides of the workpiece in a conveying width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, which rotate as the workpiece is conveyed and bend a pair of side edges of the workpiece; and a pair of first guide rollers arranged on both sides of the workpiece in a vertical direction intersecting the conveying direction and the conveying width direction, which rotate as the workpiece is conveyed and support the workpiece in the vertical direction, wherein the first guide rollers are arranged to overlap the arrangement range of the first bending rollers in the conveying direction.

[0008] [2] In the above [1], it is preferable that the rotation axis of the first bending roller is arranged along the vertical direction.

[0009] [3] In the above [2], it is preferable that the first bending roller has an inclined circumferential surface, the inclined circumferential surface is arranged to be inclined with respect to the rotation axis, and presses the side edge of the workpiece in the conveying width direction.

[0010] [4] In the above [3], it is preferable that the first bending roller further has an annular support portion that faces the inclined circumferential surface via the side edge of the workpiece.

[0011] [5] The bending device according to any of [1] to [4] above further comprises an outer fitting roller and an inner fitting roller, which are arranged upstream of the first bending roller in the conveying direction and whose respective rotation axes are arranged along the conveying width direction, wherein the outer fitting roller has an annular recess that opens radially outward, and the inner fitting roller has an annular protrusion arranged within the annular recess, and preferably the outer fitting roller and the inner fitting roller rotate as the workpiece is conveyed, raising each of the side edges of the workpiece.

[0012] [6] In the above [5], it is preferable that the outer fitting roller has a pair of annular wall portions that face each other via the annular recess and press each of the side edges of the workpiece in the conveying width direction, and a stepped surface formed on the annular wall portion that supports the workpiece between itself and the annular protrusion in the vertical direction.

[0013] [7] The bending device according to any of [1] to [6] above is preferably further equipped with a heater that is positioned at least upstream of the first bending roller in the conveying direction and heats the workpiece.

[0014] [8] In the above [7], it is preferable that the heater has a pair of legs that locally heat the portion of the workpiece in which a fold is formed.

[0015] [9] A bending device according to any of [1] to [8] above further comprises a pair of second bending rollers arranged downstream of the first bending roller on both sides of the workpiece in the transport width direction, and a pair of second guide rollers arranged so as to overlap the arrangement range of the second bending rollers in the transport direction and on both sides of the workpiece in the vertical direction, wherein the second bending rollers preferably bend the side edge of the workpiece more deeply than the first bending rollers.

[0016]

[10] The bending device according to [9] above preferably further comprises a pair of guide walls positioned on both sides of the transport width direction with respect to the workpiece between the first bending roller and the second bending roller in the transport direction, for guiding the workpiece in the bent state in the transport direction.

[0017] A schematic side view showing a bending device according to one embodiment of the present invention. A diagram showing an example of a workpiece to be bent by the bending device of the above embodiment. A schematic diagram showing a heater in the bending device of the above embodiment, a cross-sectional view corresponding to the III-III cutting line in Figure 1. A schematic side view showing the bending mechanism in the bending device of the above embodiment. A schematic plan view showing the bending mechanism in the bending device of the above embodiment. A cross-sectional view corresponding to the VI-VI cutting line in Figure 4. A cross-sectional view corresponding to the VII-VII cutting line in Figure 4. A cross-sectional view corresponding to the VIII-VIII cutting line in Figure 4. A cross-sectional view corresponding to the IX-IX cutting line in Figure 4. A partially enlarged view showing an enlarged part of Figure 7. A flowchart illustrating the bending process of a workpiece by the bending mechanism of this embodiment. A diagram showing a modified workpiece and heater. A flowchart illustrating the bending process of a workpiece by the modified bending mechanism.

[0018] One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 11. As shown in Figure 1, the bending device 1 of this embodiment is a device that bends a workpiece W while transporting the workpiece W to be bent along one direction.

[0019] (Workpiece W) The workpiece W to be bent is not particularly limited, but it is preferably a long object having a workpiece body WB and a pair of side edge portions WE arranged on both sides in the width direction relative to the workpiece body WB.

[0020] For example, a tape-shaped hook-and-loop fastener 9, as shown in Figure 2, can be used as the workpiece W. Figure 2 shows a cross-section of the hook-and-loop fastener 9 when cut along the width and thickness directions, with the hook-and-loop fastener 9 before bending shown at the top of the figure and the hook-and-loop fastener 9 after bending shown at the bottom of the figure.

[0021] As shown in Figure 2, the hook-and-loop fastener 9 comprises a tape portion 91 and a plurality of engaging elements 92 protruding from the surface 911 of the tape portion 91. The tape portion 91 has a tape central portion 913, which is the central band of the tape portion 91 on which the plurality of engaging elements 92 are arranged, and a pair of fin portions 914 arranged on both sides in the width direction relative to the tape central portion 913. The hook-and-loop fastener 9 may also have an optional adhesive layer 93 (for example, nonwoven fabric or urethane) attached to the back surface 912 of the tape portion 91, or this adhesive layer 93 may be omitted.

[0022] When the bending device 1 bends the hook-and-loop fastener 9, the fin portion 914 is bent relative to the tape center portion 913. In this case, the fin portion 914 is bent toward the back surface 912 of the tape center portion 913 so as to compress the adhesive layer 93. The bending angle α of the fin portion 914 is not particularly limited, but it is preferably 90 degrees or more.

[0023] The hook-and-loop fastener 9 is bent by the bending device 1 and then attached to the seat cushion material. Specifically, during the foaming of the cushion material, the fin portion 914 of the hook-and-loop fastener 9 is embedded in the cushion material together with the adhesive layer 93, thereby firmly fixing the hook-and-loop fastener 9 and the cushion material to each other. After that, the hook-and-loop fastener 9 can be used to fix the outer material to the cushion material.

[0024] When the hook-and-loop fastener 9 is the workpiece W, the tape portion 913 and the engaging element 92 of the tape portion 91 correspond to the workpiece body WB, and the fin portion 914 of the tape portion 91 corresponds to the side edge portion WE of the workpiece W.

[0025] (Configuration of Bending Device 1) The configuration of the bending device 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1, 3 to 10. Figures 3 and 6 to 10 illustrate a simplified hook-and-loop fastener 9 as the workpiece W. Also, in Figures 6 to 9, the roller bearings and the like are omitted from the illustration for the sake of simplification.

[0026] As shown in Figure 1, the bending device 1 of this embodiment includes an introduction table 11 and an introduction guide 12 for supporting the workpiece W before bending, a heater 2 for heating the workpiece W before bending, a transport mechanism 3 for transporting the workpiece W, and a bending mechanism 4 for bending the workpiece W while it is being transported.

[0027] In the following description, we will use the mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z axis directions, defining the direction along the conveying direction of the workpiece W by the conveying mechanism 3 as the X direction, the conveying width direction as the Y direction, and the vertical direction as the Z direction. In this embodiment, one side of the Z direction (upward) will be defined as the +Z direction, and the other side of the Z direction (downward) as the -Z direction. Furthermore, the upstream side of the conveying direction will be defined as the -X direction, and the downstream side of the conveying direction as the +X direction.

[0028] The heater 2 is an arbitrary heating element installed on the -X side relative to the transport mechanism 3. As shown in Figure 3, the heater 2 comprises a base 21 and a pair of legs 22A and 22B that extend from the base 21 in the -Z direction and are spaced apart in the Y direction. The legs 22A and 22B have a base end 221 connected to the base 21 and a tip 222 that is smaller in the Y direction than the base end 221.

[0029] In the heater 2, the base portion 21 is positioned between the workpiece body portion WB of the workpiece W on the introduction stand 11 with a gap in the Z direction, and the legs 22A and 22B are positioned between the workpiece body portion WB with a gap in the Y direction. Furthermore, the tips 222 of the legs 22A and 22B locally contact a part of the side edge portion WE of the workpiece W (specifically, the part that forms the fold of the workpiece W). In other words, the heater 2 is configured to locally heat a part of each side edge portion WE of the workpiece W.

[0030] Furthermore, in the heater 2, the tip portions 222 of the leg portions 22A and 22B may have inclined surfaces 223 that are inclined with respect to the X direction and face the -X direction in order to receive the workpiece W (see Figure 1).

[0031] As shown in Figure 1, the conveying mechanism 3 comprises a first conveyor section 31 and a second conveyor section 32 located on the -Z side relative to the first conveyor section 31. The first conveyor section 31 comprises a pair of pulleys 311 and 312 having rotation axes along the Y direction, and a first belt 313 stretched between the pair of pulleys 311 and 312. Similarly, the second conveyor section 32 comprises a pair of pulleys 321 and 322 having rotation axes along the Y direction, and a second belt 323 stretched between the pair of pulleys 321 and 322.

[0032] The first belt 313 and the second belt 323 are annular belts having an arbitrary width in the Y direction. Furthermore, the first belt 313 and the second belt 323 in this embodiment are timing belts and have an outer circumferential surface that can contact the workpiece W and an inner circumferential surface on which a plurality of teeth are formed.

[0033] The region of the first belt 313 located on the -Z side of the pulleys 311 and 312 is referred to as the first belt conveying section 314, and the region of the second belt 323 located on the +Z side of the pulleys 321 and 322 is referred to as the second belt conveying section 324. The first belt conveying section 314 and the second belt conveying section 324 are arranged facing each other with a gap in the Z direction between them.

[0034] In the conveying mechanism 3 described above, when the pulleys 312 and 322 are rotationally driven by a motor (not shown), the first belt conveying section 314 and the second belt conveying section 324 can convey the workpiece W in the +X direction while clamping it between them in the Z direction. That is, the gap in the Z direction between the first belt conveying section 314 and the second belt conveying section 324 becomes the conveying path P for the workpiece W.

[0035] The second belt conveying section 324 has a wide range in the X direction both upstream and downstream of the first belt conveying section 314. The introduction guide 12 is positioned upstream of the first belt conveying section 314 and facing the second belt conveying section 324. This introduction guide 12 guides the supplied workpiece W between the first belt conveying section 314 and the second belt conveying section 324.

[0036] As shown in Figure 4, the bending mechanism 4 is positioned near the first belt conveying section 314 and the second belt conveying section 324, and performs bending on the workpiece W while it is being conveyed by the conveying mechanism 3.

[0037] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the bending mechanism 4 includes an outer fitting roller 41 and an inner fitting roller 42, upstream bending rollers 43A, 43B, midstream bending rollers 43C, 43D, downstream bending rollers 43E, 43F, multiple pairs of guide rollers 44A, 45A, 44B, 45B, 44C, 45C, multiple pairs of sub-guide rollers 46A, 47A, 46B, 47B, and multiple pairs of guide wall portions 48A, 48B, 48C, 48D. The bending mechanism 4 also includes a first support portion 51 and a second support portion 52 that rotatably support each roller of the bending mechanism 4.

[0038] In this embodiment, the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B correspond to the first bending rollers of the present invention, and the guide rollers 44A and 45A correspond to the first guide rollers of the present invention. Furthermore, the midstream bending rollers 43C and 43D correspond to the second bending rollers of the present invention, and the guide rollers 44B and 45B correspond to the second guide rollers of the present invention.

[0039] The outer fitting roller 41 and the inner fitting roller 42 are a pair of rollers positioned on the upstream side of the bending mechanism 4, and are located on the -X side of the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B.

[0040] As shown in Figure 6, the rotation axis C1 of the outer fitting roller 41 and the rotation axis C2 of the inner fitting roller 42 are arranged along the Y direction and are positioned at the same location relative to each other in the X direction. Furthermore, the outer fitting roller 41 is positioned on the +Z side with respect to the first belt conveying section 314, and the inner fitting roller 42 is positioned on the -Z side with respect to the second belt conveying section 324. As a result, the outer fitting roller 41 and the inner fitting roller 42 are positioned to grip the workpiece W in the Z direction during conveyance via the first belt conveying section 314 and the second belt conveying section 324.

[0041] Specifically, the outer fitting roller 41 consists of a shaft portion 411 and a roller portion 412, and the roller portion 412 is rotatably supported by the first support portion 51 via the shaft portion 411 (see Figure 4). As shown in Figure 6, the roller portion 412 has an annular recess 413 that opens radially outward. In other words, the roller portion 412 has a base portion 415 that engages with the first belt conveying portion 314, and a pair of annular wall portions 416 that protrude from the base portion 415 and sandwich the annular recess 413 between them. Each of the pair of annular wall portions 416 has a side surface 416L that faces inward in the Y direction relative to the annular recess 413, and a stepped surface 416S that faces radially outward within the annular recess 413. The stepped surface 416S is positioned closer to the rotation axis C1 than the side surface 416L.

[0042] The inner fitting roller 42 has a shaft portion 421 and a roller portion 422, and the roller portion 422 is rotatably supported by the second support portion 52 via the shaft portion 421 (see Figure 4). As shown in Figure 6, the roller portion 422 has an annular projection 423 that can be fitted into the annular recess 413 of the outer fitting roller 41. The annular projection 423 has a base portion 424 that engages with the second belt conveying portion 324 and a pair of annular base portions 425 that protrude radially outward from the base portion 424. The pair of annular base portions 425 can face each of the stepped surfaces 416S of the pair of annular wall portions 416 of the outer fitting roller 41 in the Z direction.

[0043] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B, the midstream bending rollers 43C and 43D, and the downstream bending rollers 43E and 43F are arranged at equal intervals in the X direction from the upstream side. Since the midstream bending rollers 43C and 43D and the downstream bending rollers 43E and 43F are configured in substantially the same way as the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B, the configuration of the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B will be mainly described below as a representative example.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 7, the rotation axes C3 of the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B are arranged along the Z direction and are arranged at the same position in the X direction. Also, among the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B, one upstream bending roller 43A is arranged on one side (+Y side) in the Y direction with respect to the conveyance path P of the workpiece W, and the other upstream bending roller 43B is arranged on the other side (−Y side) in the Y direction with respect to the conveyance path P of the workpiece W. Thereby, the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B are arranged so as to abut against the inner sides in the Y direction of the respective side edge portions WE of the workpiece W being conveyed.

[0045] The upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B have the same shape as each other. Specifically, the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B have a shaft portion 431 centered on the rotation axis C3 and a roller portion 432 provided on the shaft portion 431, and the roller portion 432 is rotatably supported by the second support portion 52 via the shaft portion 431 (see FIG. 4).

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, the roller portion 432 has an inclined peripheral surface 433 arranged to be inclined with respect to the rotation axis C3, a guide peripheral surface 434 that is continuous with the inclined peripheral surface 433 and is arranged along the rotation axis C3, and an annular support portion 435 that protrudes radially outward from the guide peripheral surface 434.

[0047] The inclined peripheral surface 433 is arranged such that the diameter of the roller portion 432 decreases as it goes in the +Z direction. The inclination angle θ of the inclined peripheral surface 433 with respect to the rotation axis C3 is greater than 0° and less than 90°. Also, the inclined peripheral surface 433 extends from the vicinity of the conveyance path P to the −Z side rather than the second belt conveyance portion 324. The dimension D1 in the Z direction of the inclined peripheral surface 433 is not particularly limited, but it is preferably larger than the dimension in the width direction of the side edge portion WE of the workpiece W.

[0048] The guide peripheral surface 434 is arranged along the rotation axis C3 between the inclined peripheral surface 433 and the annular support portion 435. Also, the guide peripheral surface 434 faces the conveyance path P in the Y direction. The dimension D2 in the Z direction of the guide peripheral surface 434 is not particularly limited, but it is preferably about the same as the thickness of the side edge portion WE of the workpiece W.

[0049] The annular support portion 435 protrudes radially outward from the guide circumferential surface 434. This annular support portion 435 has a top surface 435T facing radially outward and a side surface 435L facing in the -Z direction. The top surface 435T faces in the Y direction with respect to the transport path P of the workpiece W. The side surface 435L faces the inclined circumferential surface 433 via the side edge WE of the workpiece W. The Z-direction dimension D3 of the annular support portion 435 is not particularly limited, but it is preferably about the same as the thickness of the workpiece body portion WB. For example, the roller portion 432 of this embodiment has the relationship D2 < D3 < D1.

[0050] The upstream bending rollers 43A, 43B, the midstream bending rollers 43C, 43D, and the downstream bending rollers 43E, 43F have substantially the same configuration as described above, but as shown in Figures 7 to 9, the inclination angle θ of the inclined circumferential surface 433 with respect to the rotation axis C3 is different from each other. That is, the inclination angle θ of the inclined circumferential surface 433 of the upstream bending rollers 43A, 43B, the midstream bending rollers 43C, 43D, and the downstream bending rollers 43E, 43F increases as they are positioned further downstream. For example, the inclination angle θ of the inclined circumferential surface 433 of the upstream bending rollers 43A, 43B is 55°, the inclination angle θ of the inclined circumferential surface 433 of the midstream bending rollers 43C, 43D is 65°, and the inclination angle θ of the inclined circumferential surface 433 of the downstream bending rollers 43E, 43F is 75°.

[0051] Multiple pairs (three pairs in this embodiment) of guide rollers 44A, 45A, 44B, 45B, 44C, and 45C are arranged in order from the upstream side in the X direction, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. Specifically, a pair of guide rollers 44A and 45A are arranged to overlap the arrangement range of the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B in the X direction (see Figure 7), a pair of guide rollers 44B and 45B are arranged to overlap the arrangement range of the midstream bending rollers 43C and 43D in the X direction (see Figure 8), and a pair of guide rollers 44C and 45C are arranged to overlap the respective arrangement ranges of the downstream bending rollers 43E and 43F (see Figure 9). Furthermore, in this embodiment, the rotation axes C4 and C5 of each pair of guide rollers 44A, 45A, 44B, 45B, 44C, and 45C are arranged along the Y direction and are positioned at the same X-direction position as the rotation axis C3 of the corresponding upstream bending rollers 43A, 43B, midstream bending rollers 43C, 43D, or downstream bending rollers 43E, 43F.

[0052] In this embodiment, guide rollers 44A to 44C have similar configurations, and guide rollers 45A to 45C have similar configurations. Hereinafter, as an example, guide rollers 44A and 45A will be described with reference to Figure 7.

[0053] As shown in Figure 7, of the pair of guide rollers 44A and 45A, one guide roller 44A (hereinafter referred to as the upper guide roller 44A) is positioned on the +Z side of the first belt conveying section 314, and the other guide roller 45A (hereinafter referred to as the lower guide roller 45A) is positioned on the -Z side of the second belt conveying section 324. As a result, the upper guide roller 44A and the lower guide roller 45A are positioned to grip the workpiece W in the Z direction during conveyance via the first belt conveying section 314 and the second belt conveying section 324.

[0054] The upper guide roller 44A and the lower guide roller 45A have substantially the same configuration as each other, except for their radial dimensions. Specifically, the upper guide roller 44A has a shaft portion 441 centered on the rotation axis C4 and a roller portion 442 provided on the shaft portion 441, and the roller portion 442 is rotatably supported by the first support portion 51 via the shaft portion 441 (see Figure 4). The roller portion 442 is formed in a gear shape that meshes with the teeth on the inner circumferential surface of the first belt 313.

[0055] The lower guide roller 45A has a shaft portion 451 centered on the rotation axis C5 and a roller portion 452 provided on the shaft portion 451. The roller portion 452 is rotatably supported by the second support portion 52 via the shaft portion 451 (see Figure 4). The roller portion 452 is formed in a gear shape that meshes with the teeth on the inner circumferential surface of the second belt 323.

[0056] Here, the diameter of the roller portion 452 of the lower guide roller 45A is larger than the diameter of the roller portion 442 of the upper guide roller 44A. That is, the distance in the Z direction between the rotation axis C5 of the lower guide roller 45A and the second belt conveying section 324 is larger than the distance in the Z direction between the rotation axis C4 of the upper guide roller 44A and the first belt conveying section 314. Note that the diameter of the roller portion 452 of the lower guide roller 45A and the diameter of the roller portion 442 of the upper guide roller 44A may be equal.

[0057] Multiple pairs (two pairs in this embodiment) of sub-guide rollers 46A, 47A, 46B, and 47B are arranged in order from the upstream side in the X direction, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. Specifically, a pair of sub-guide rollers 46A and 47A are positioned between the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B and the midstream bending rollers 43C and 43D in the X direction, while a pair of sub-guide rollers 46B and 47B are positioned between the midstream bending rollers 43C and 43D and the downstream bending rollers 43E and 43F. Furthermore, the rotation axes C6 and C7 of each pair of sub-guide rollers 46A, 47A, 46B, and 47B are arranged along the Y direction.

[0058] Each pair of sub-guide rollers 46A, 47A, 46B, and 47B is constructed in substantially the same manner as the guide rollers 44A and 45A described above, except for the radial dimensions. It is preferable that the diameters of the sub-guide rollers 46A and 46B are equal to the diameters of the guide rollers 44A to 44C. On the other hand, it is preferable that the diameters of the sub-guide rollers 47A and 47B are smaller than the diameters of the sub-guide rollers 46A and 46B.

[0059] The multiple pairs (two pairs in this embodiment) of guide wall sections 48A, 48B, 48C, and 48D are arranged in order from the upstream side in the X direction, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. Specifically, one pair of guide wall sections 48A and 48B are positioned between the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B and the midstream bending rollers 43C and 43D in the X direction, and the other pair of guide wall sections 48C and 48D are positioned between the midstream bending rollers 43C and 43D and the downstream bending rollers 43E and 43F. Furthermore, of each pair of guide wall sections 48A, 48B, 48C, and 48D, one guide wall section 48A and 48C is positioned on the +Y side of the workpiece W transport path P, and the other guide wall section 48B and 48D is positioned on the -Y side of the workpiece W transport path P.

[0060] The guide wall sections 48A to 48D have similar configurations. That is, the guide wall sections 48A to 48D have guide surfaces 481 that face the transport path P of the workpiece W and extend along the X direction (see Figure 5). Each guide surface 481 guides the workpiece W along the X direction. In addition, the Y-direction dimension L of the gap between the pair of guide wall sections 48A and 48B (i.e., the gap between the guide surfaces 481) is smaller than the width dimension of the workpiece W before bending.

[0061] As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the first support section 51 and the second support section 52 rotatably support each roller of the folding mechanism 4 described above. Specifically, the first support section 51 has a pair of support blocks 511 and 512 that pivotally support each roller located on the +Z side of the first belt conveying section 314 (see Figure 5). The second support section 52 has a pair of support blocks that pivotally support each roller located on the -Z side of the second belt conveying section 324. Note that in Figures 1 and 4, the support blocks of the second support section 52 that are located on the near side of the paper from each roller are not shown.

[0062] Furthermore, a plurality of spacers 53 are arranged between the first support portion 51 and the second support portion 52 in the Z direction. The spacers 53 define the distance in the Z direction between the first support portion 51 and the second support portion 52. That is, by changing the thickness of the spacers 53, the distance in the Z direction between the first support portion 51 and the second support portion 52 can be changed. This makes it possible to change the distance in the Z direction between each roller in the bending mechanism 4, and as a result, the dimensions in the Z direction of the conveying path P for the workpiece W can be changed.

[0063] (Bending Process) The bending process using the bending device 1 of this embodiment will now be described. First, as shown in Figure 1, the workpiece W is supplied to the bending device 1 along its longitudinal direction and moves in the +X direction while placed on the introduction table 11.

[0064] Next, the heater 2 locally heats a portion of each side edge WE of the workpiece W (see Figure 3). This softens a portion of each side edge WE of the workpiece W, making it easier to bend. The workpiece W heated by the heater 2 is introduced into the transport path P of the transport mechanism 3 by the introduction guide 12. Note that other transport means (not shown) may be used to transport the workpiece W from the heater 2 to the transport mechanism 3. Alternatively, if the workpiece W has a certain length, the means for supplying the workpiece W to the bending device 1 may transport the workpiece W to the transport mechanism 3.

[0065] Next, the conveying mechanism 3 conveys the workpiece W in the +X direction. At this time, the workpiece W is conveyed along with the rotation of the first belt 313 and the second belt 323, and each guide roller of the bending mechanism 4 (guide rollers 44A, 45A, 44B, 45B, 44C, 45C and sub-guide rollers 46A, 47A, 46B, 47B) is rotationally driven by the first belt 313 or the second belt 323. In the conveying mechanism 3, the main body portion WB of the workpiece W is sandwiched between the first belt 313 and the second belt 323, and each side edge portion WE of the workpiece W is positioned to protrude outward in the Y direction from the first belt 313 and the second belt 323.

[0066] Next, the bending mechanism 4 supports the workpiece W while it is being transported and gradually bends each side edge WE of the workpiece W. Here, the outer fitting roller 41, the inner fitting roller 42, and each bending roller (upstream bending rollers 43A, 43B, midstream bending rollers 43C, 43D, downstream bending rollers 43E, 43F) of the bending mechanism 4 come into contact with the workpiece W while it is being transported, and bend the workpiece W while rotating around their respective rotation axes. The bending process of the workpiece W in the bending mechanism 4 will be described in detail below with reference to Figure 11.

[0067] First, as shown in the first image of Figure 11, the outer fitting roller 41 and the inner fitting roller 42 rotate and bend each side edge WE of the workpiece W as it is being transported. Specifically, as the workpiece W passes between the outer fitting roller 41 and the inner fitting roller 42, the side surfaces 416L of each annular wall portion 416 of the outer fitting roller 41 press each side edge WE of the workpiece W inward in the Y direction, bending each side edge WE. This makes it possible to raise each side edge WE of the workpiece W relative to the workpiece body WB, that is, to bend the side edges WE of the workpiece W significantly toward the back side (back side 912 in Figure 2) of the workpiece W relative to the workpiece body WB. For example, the bending angle α of each side edge WE relative to the original position (see Figure 2) becomes approximately 90 degrees.

[0068] Furthermore, when the outer fitting roller 41 bends each side edge WE of the workpiece W, the stepped surfaces 416S of each annular wall portion 416 of the outer fitting roller 41 and the annular base portions 425 of the inner fitting roller 42 support the workpiece body WB between them. This ensures that the side edges WE of the workpiece W are bent reliably while preventing the workpiece body WB from bending. Note that bending of the workpiece body WB refers to a deflection in the width direction of the workpiece W such that the center of the workpiece body WB in the width direction lifts up in the Z direction due to the inward pressing in the Y direction by the outer fitting roller 41.

[0069] Next, as shown in the second part of Figure 11, the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B rotate and bend each side edge WE of the workpiece W as it is being transported. Specifically, as the workpiece W passes between the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B, the inclined circumferential surfaces 433 of the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B press each side edge WE of the workpiece W inward in the Y direction, further bending each side edge WE. At this time, the guide circumferential surfaces 434 of the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B guide the bent portion of the workpiece W along the X direction. In addition, at the annular support portions 435 of the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B, the top surface 435T guides the workpiece body WB along the X direction, and the side surface 435L supports the side edge WE of the workpiece W in the Z direction between it and the inclined circumferential surfaces 433 (see Figure 10).

[0070] Here, as the workpiece W passes between the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B, the guide rollers 44A and 45A rotate and support the workpiece W in the Z direction. Specifically, the guide roller 44A applies pressure to the workpiece body WB in the -Z direction via the first belt conveying section 314, and the guide roller 45A applies pressure to the workpiece body WB in the +Z direction via the second belt conveying section 324. As a result, the guide rollers 44A and 45A stabilize the posture of the workpiece W while it is being bent by the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B.

[0071] As a result, the workpiece body WB can be prevented from being displaced in the Z direction (for example, from the workpiece body WB undulating in the Z direction), while each side edge WE of the workpiece W can be reliably bent relative to the workpiece body WB. For example, the bending angle α of the side edge WE (see Figure 2) will be greater than 90 degrees.

[0072] Next, as shown in the third and fourth images of Figure 11, the midstream bending rollers 43C, 43D and the downstream bending rollers 43E, 43F sequentially further bend each side edge WE of the workpiece W. The bending process by the midstream bending rollers 43C, 43D and the downstream bending rollers 43E, 43F is substantially the same as the bending process by the upstream bending rollers 43A, 43B, but the inclination angle θ of each inclined circumferential surface 433 becomes larger, causing each side edge WE of the workpiece W to be bent more deeply. As a result, the bending angle α (see Figure 2) of the side edge WE gradually increases. At this time, the guide rollers 44B, 45B, 44C, 45C support the workpiece W in the Z direction as it passes between the midstream bending rollers 43C, 43D (or the downstream bending rollers 43E, 43F), as described above.

[0073] Furthermore, while the workpiece W is being transported from the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B toward the midstream bending rollers 43C and 43D, the workpiece W remains bent and is guided along the X direction by the guide walls 48A and 48B. Similarly, while the workpiece W is being transported from the midstream bending rollers 43C and 43D toward the downstream bending rollers 43E and 43F, the workpiece W remains bent and is guided along the X direction by the guide walls 48C and 48D. This prevents the side edges WE of the workpiece W from unbending.

[0074] Subsequently, the bent workpiece W is sent out from the conveying mechanism 3 and transported to the next process. This completes the bending process of the hook-and-loop fastener 9.

[0075] In the bending process described above, since the workpiece W is heated before bending, even if the workpiece W is placed in a warm environment after bending, deformation that returns the bent state to its original state (i.e., springback) can be prevented. In addition, although the workpiece W undergoes plastic deformation when subjected to the bending process by the bending mechanism 4 described above, springback or other bending reversal may occur in the workpiece W. For example, the inclination angle θ of the inclined circumferential surfaces of the upstream bending rollers 43A, 43B, the midstream bending rollers 43C, 43D, and the downstream bending rollers 43E, 43F may be set in advance, taking into account the possibility of bending reversal in the workpiece W.

[0076] (Effects of this embodiment) As described above, the bending device 1 of this embodiment includes a transport mechanism 3 that transports the workpiece W in the transport direction (+X direction), a pair of first bending rollers 43A, 43B arranged on both sides of the workpiece W in the transport width direction (Y direction) perpendicular to the transport direction, which bend a pair of side edges WE of the workpiece W while rotating as the workpiece W is transported, and a pair of guide rollers 44A, 45A arranged on both sides of the workpiece W in the vertical direction (Z direction) intersecting the transport direction and the transport width direction, respectively, which support the workpiece W in the vertical direction while rotating as the workpiece W is transported, and the guide rollers 44A, 45A are arranged so as to overlap the arrangement range of the upstream bending rollers 43A, 43B in the transport direction. With this configuration, the guide rollers 44A, 45A stabilize the posture of the workpiece W while it is being bent by the upstream bending rollers 43A, 43B, so that the upstream bending rollers 43A, 43B can reliably bend the side edges WE of the workpiece W. Furthermore, since the upstream bending rollers 43A, 43B and guide rollers 44A, 45A rotate together with the transport of the workpiece W, frictional resistance generated when the workpiece W is bent can be suppressed. As a result, the load applied to the transport mechanism 3 can be reduced, and the breakage of the workpiece W can be suppressed.

[0077] In this embodiment, the rotation axes C3 of the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B are arranged along the vertical direction. With this configuration, sliding of the workpiece W in the Z direction relative to the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B does not occur, so the sliding resistance of the workpiece W can be effectively suppressed.

[0078] In this embodiment, the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B have inclined circumferential surfaces 433, which are arranged to be inclined with respect to the rotation axis C3 and press against the side edges WE of the workpiece W in the conveying width direction. With this configuration, the inclined circumferential surfaces 433 of the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B press against each side edge WE of the workpiece W, thereby allowing each side edge WE to be bent appropriately. Furthermore, the bending angle of the workpiece W can be set by setting the inclination angle θ of the inclined circumferential surface 433.

[0079] In this embodiment, the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B further have annular support portions 435 that face the inclined circumferential surface 433 via the side edge WE of the workpiece W. In this configuration, each annular support portion 435 of the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B can support the side edge WE of the workpiece W in the Z direction between itself and the inclined circumferential surface 433. This makes it possible to further stabilize the posture of the workpiece W during bending.

[0080] The bending device 1 of this embodiment further comprises an outer fitting roller 41 and an inner fitting roller 42, which are positioned upstream of the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B in the conveying direction, and whose respective rotation axes C1 and C2 are arranged along the conveying width direction. The outer fitting roller 41 has an annular recess 413 that opens radially outward, and the inner fitting roller 42 has an annular protrusion 423 positioned within the annular recess 413. The outer fitting roller 41 and the inner fitting roller 42 rotate as the workpiece W is conveyed, raising each side edge WE of the workpiece W. With this configuration, each side edge WE of the workpiece W can be suitably raised, and the workpiece W can be made suitable for bending by the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B.

[0081] In this embodiment, the outer fitting roller 41 has a pair of annular wall portions 416 that face each other via an annular recess 413 and press each side edge WE of the workpiece W in the transport width direction, and a stepped surface 416S formed on each annular wall portion 416 and supporting the workpiece W between itself and an annular protrusion 423 in the vertical direction. In this configuration, the pair of annular wall portions 416 bend each side edge WE of the workpiece W, while the stepped surface 416S supports the area near the fold of the side edge WE. This suppresses deflection of the workpiece body portion WB and ensures that the bending angle of the side edge WE is reliably maintained. The above effect can be obtained particularly favorably when the thickness of the workpiece body portion WB is greater than the thickness of the side edge WE.

[0082] The bending device 1 of this embodiment further includes a heater 2 positioned at least upstream of the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B in the conveying direction. With this configuration, the workpiece W can be easily bent by softening it with heat before bending.

[0083] In this embodiment, the heater 2 has a pair of legs 22A and 22B that locally heat the portion of the workpiece W where the fold is formed. With this configuration, a bending base point is formed in the locally heated portion, so that excessive deflection of the workpiece body WB during the bending process of the workpiece W can be suppressed. Furthermore, if an adhesive layer 93 is bonded to the back surface of the workpiece W via a hot melt adhesive, the localized heating can suppress the peeling of the adhesive layer 93.

[0084] The bending device 1 of this embodiment further comprises: midstream bending rollers 43C, 43D configured substantially similarly to the upstream bending rollers 43A, 43B; and guide rollers 44B, 45B arranged to overlap the arrangement range of the midstream bending rollers 43C, 43D in the conveying direction and positioned on both sides in the vertical direction relative to the workpiece W. Furthermore, the bending device 1 of this embodiment further comprises: downstream bending rollers 43E, 43F configured substantially similarly to the upstream bending rollers 43A, 43B; and guide rollers 44C, 45C arranged to overlap the arrangement range of the downstream bending rollers 43E, 43F in the conveying direction and positioned on both sides in the vertical direction relative to the workpiece W. Here, the midstream bending rollers 43C, 43D bend each side edge WE of the workpiece W more deeply than the upstream bending rollers 43A, 43B, and the downstream bending rollers 43E, 43F bend each side edge WE of the workpiece W more deeply than the midstream bending rollers 43C, 43D. With this configuration, the workpiece W can be gradually bent, thus ensuring that the workpiece W is reliably bent at a large bending angle α.

[0085] The bending device 1 of this embodiment further includes a pair of guide walls 48A, 48B positioned on both sides in the transport width direction relative to the workpiece W between the upstream bending rollers 43A, 43B and the midstream bending rollers 43C, 43D in the transport direction, to guide the bent workpiece W in the transport direction. Furthermore, the bending device 1 of this embodiment further includes a pair of guide walls 48C, 48D positioned on both sides in the transport width direction relative to the workpiece W between the midstream bending rollers 43C, 43D and the downstream bending rollers 43E, 43F in the transport direction, to guide the bent workpiece W in the transport direction. With this configuration, the unbending of each side edge WE of the workpiece W is suppressed. In addition, the unintended bending of each side edge WE of the workpiece W by the downstream midstream bending rollers 43C, 43D (or downstream bending rollers 43E, 43F) can be suppressed.

[0086] (Modification) In the above embodiment, the hook-and-loop fastener 9 shown in Figure 2 is used as an example of the workpiece W, but the hook-and-loop fastener 9 may have other shapes. For example, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, the modified hook-and-loop fastener 9A may further have a projection 915 that protrudes to the front side from the fin portion 914.

[0087] Figures 12 and 13 show a modified bending device for bending the hook-and-loop fastener 9A. This modified bending device is basically configured in substantially the same way as the bending device 1 of the above embodiment, but has a configuration suitable for bending the hook-and-loop fastener 9A. Specifically, as shown in Figure 12, the tips 222 of the legs 22A and 22B of the heater 2 are inserted between the engaging element 92 and the projection 915 and are configured to contact a part of the fin portion 914. Also, as shown in the first of Figure 13, the annular projection 423 of the inner fitting roller 42 has a shape in which the pair of annular base portions 425 of the above embodiment are omitted, and a space is formed between it and the annular wall portions 416 of the outer fitting roller 41 in which the projection 915 can be accommodated. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 13, the inclined circumferential surfaces 433 of the upstream bending rollers 43A, 43B, the midstream bending rollers 43C, 43D, and the downstream bending rollers 43E, 43F press against the fin portion 914 via the projection 915, thereby bending the fin portion 914.

[0088] Here, the Z-direction dimension of the guide surfaces 434 of the upstream bending rollers 43A, 43B and the midstream bending rollers 43C, 43D is set to be larger towards the -Z side than in the above embodiment. As a result, the guide surfaces 434 of the upstream bending rollers 43A, 43B and the midstream bending rollers 43C, 43D can guide the projection 915 extending from the bent fin portion 914 towards the -Z side along the X direction. On the other hand, the Z-direction dimension of the guide surfaces 434 of the downstream bending rollers 43E, 43F is set to be shorter than the Z-direction dimension of the guide surfaces 434 of the upstream bending rollers 43A, 43B and the midstream bending rollers 43C, 43D. In other words, the inclined surfaces 433 of the downstream bending rollers 43E, 43F are positioned closer to the hook-and-loop fastener 9A in the Z direction than the inclined surfaces 433 of the upstream bending rollers 43A, 43B and the midstream bending rollers 43C, 43D. As a result, the inclined circumferential surfaces 433 of the downstream bending rollers 43E and 43F can strongly press and bend the fin portion 914, thereby suppressing the springback of the hook-and-loop fastener 9A.

[0089] (Other variations) In this embodiment, a hook-and-loop fastener 9 is used as an example of the workpiece W, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the workpiece W is not limited to a hook-and-loop fastener 9, but may be any object that can be bent.

[0090] In the above embodiment, the heater 2 may heat the entire workpiece W. Alternatively, the installation of the heater 2 may be omitted.

[0091] In the above embodiment, the conveying mechanism 3 is composed of a first conveyor section 31 and a second conveyor section 32, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in the conveying mechanism 3 of the above embodiment, either the first conveyor section 31 or the second conveyor section 32 may be omitted. Alternatively, if the workpiece W is sufficiently long, the conveying mechanism according to the modified example may be composed of a plurality of rollers on which the continuously supplied workpiece W is wrapped. In the case where the first conveyor section 31 and the second conveyor section 32 are omitted, each guide roller of the bending mechanism 4 (guide rollers 44A, 45A, 44B, 45B, 44C, 45C and sub-guide rollers 46A, 47A, 46B, 47B) may be rotationally driven by another drive source.

[0092] In the above embodiment, the outer fitting roller 41, the inner fitting roller 42, and each bending roller (upstream bending rollers 43A, 43B, midstream bending rollers 43C, 43D, downstream bending rollers 43E, 43F) of the bending mechanism 4 rotate by contact with the workpiece W during transport, but are not limited to this, and may be rotated by any drive source.

[0093] In the above embodiment, the bending mechanism 4 comprises three pairs of bending rollers (upstream bending rollers 43A, 43B, midstream bending rollers 43C, 43D, downstream bending rollers 43E, 43F) and three pairs of guide rollers 44A, 45A, 44B, 45B, 44C, 45C, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the bending mechanism 4 may comprise at least one pair of bending rollers and a pair of guide rollers corresponding to those bending rollers. Alternatively, the bending mechanism 4 may comprise four or more pairs of bending rollers and four or more pairs of guide rollers. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the number of other elements in the bending mechanism 4 may be adjusted to match the number of bending rollers. Alternatively, the installation of other elements may be omitted.

[0094] The specific configurations of each bending roller (upstream bending rollers 43A, 43B, midstream bending rollers 43C, 43D, downstream bending rollers 43E, 43F) in the above embodiment may be changed. For example, the rotation axis C3 of each bending roller is not limited to being arranged along the Z direction, but may be arranged along other directions. In this case, the shape of each bending roller should be formed so that the side edge WE of the workpiece W can be bent.

[0095] In the above embodiment, the rotation axes C4 and C5 of the guide rollers 44A and 45A are positioned at the same location in the X direction as the rotation axes C3 of the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, it is sufficient that at least a portion of the guide rollers 44A and 45A are arranged to overlap with the arrangement range of the upstream bending rollers 43A and 43B in the X direction. Such modifications can also be similarly applied to the relationship between the guide rollers 44B and 45B and the midstream bending rollers 43C and 43D, and the relationship between the guide rollers 44C and 45C and the downstream bending rollers 43E and 43F.

[0096] In the above embodiment, the bending mechanism 4 does not necessarily have to include the outer fitting roller 41 and the inner fitting roller 42. In this case, other rollers may be arranged to bend the workpiece W first.

[0097] 1...Bending device, 11...Introduction platform, 12...Introduction guide, 2...Heater, 21...Base, 22A, 22B...Legs, 221...Base end, 222...Tip, 223...Inclined surface, 3...Conveying mechanism, 31...First conveyor section, 311, 312...Pulleys, 313...First belt, 314...First belt conveying section, 32...Second conveyor section, 321, 322...Pulleys, 323...Second belt, 324...Second belt conveying section, 4...Bending Bending mechanism, 41...outer fitting roller, 411...shaft part, 412...roller part, 413...annular recess, 415...base part, 416...annular wall part, 416L...side surface, 416S...stepped surface, 42...inner fitting roller, 421...shaft part, 422...roller part, 423...annular protrusion, 424...base part, 425...annular base part, 43A, 43B...upstream bending roller, 43C, 43D...midstream bending roller, 43E, 43F...down Flow bending roller, 431...shaft section, 432...roller section, 433...inclined circumferential surface, 434...guide circumferential surface, 435...annular support section, 435L...side surface, 435T...top surface, 44A-44C...guide roller, 441...shaft section, 442...roller section, 45A-45C...guide roller, 451...shaft section, 452...roller section, 46A, 46B, 47A, 47B...subguide roller, 48A-48D...guide wall section, 48 1...Guide surface, 51...First support part, 511, 512...Support block, 52...Second support part, 53...Spacer, 9, 9A...Hook and loop fastener, 91...Tape part, 911...Front surface, 912...Back surface, 913...Tape center part, 914...Fin part, 915...Protrusion, 92...Engaging element, 93...Adhesion layer, C1 to C7...Rotation axis, P...Conveyor path, W...Workpiece, WB...Workpiece body part, WE...Side edge part, α...Bending angle, θ...Inclination angle.

Claims

1. A bending device comprising: a conveying mechanism (3) for conveying a workpiece (W) in a conveying direction; a pair of first bending rollers (43A, 43B) arranged on both sides of the workpiece (W) in a conveying width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, which rotate as the workpiece (W) is conveyed and bend a pair of side edges (WE) of the workpiece (W); and a pair of first guide rollers (44A, 45A) arranged on both sides of the workpiece (W) in a vertical direction intersecting the conveying direction and the conveying width direction, which rotate as the workpiece (W) is conveyed and support the workpiece (W) in the vertical direction, wherein the first guide rollers (44A, 45A) are arranged to overlap the arrangement range of the first bending rollers (43A, 43B) in the conveying direction.

2. The bending device according to claim 1, wherein the rotation axis (C3) of the first bending rollers (43A, 43B) is arranged along the vertical direction.

3. The bending device according to claim 2, wherein the first bending rollers (43A, 43B) have inclined circumferential surfaces (433), the inclined circumferential surfaces (433) are arranged to be inclined with respect to the rotation axis (C3), and press the side edge (WE) of the workpiece (W) in the conveying width direction.

4. The bending device according to claim 3, wherein the first bending rollers (43A, 43B) further have an annular support portion (435) that faces the inclined circumferential surface (433) via the side edge portion (WE) of the workpiece (W).

5. The bending device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising an outer fitting roller (41) and an inner fitting roller (42) positioned upstream of the first bending rollers (43A, 43B) in the conveying direction, and each of the rotation axes (C1, C2) positioned along the conveying width direction, wherein the outer fitting roller (41) has an annular recess (413) that opens radially outward, and the inner fitting roller (42) has an annular protrusion (423) positioned within the annular recess (413), and the outer fitting roller (41) and the inner fitting roller (42) rotate as the workpiece (W) is conveyed, thereby raising each of the side edges (WE) of the workpiece (W).

6. The bending device according to claim 5, wherein the outer fitting roller (41) has a pair of annular wall portions (416) that face each other via the annular recess (413) and press each of the side edges (WE) of the workpiece (W) in the conveying width direction, and a stepped surface (416S) formed on the annular wall portion (416) and supporting the workpiece (W) between itself and the annular protrusion (423) in the vertical direction.

7. The bending apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a heater (2) which is positioned at least upstream of the first bending rollers (43A, 43B) in the conveying direction and heats the workpiece (W).

8. The bending device according to claim 7, wherein the heater (2) has a pair of legs (22A, 22B) that locally heat the portion of the workpiece (W) where a fold is formed.

9. The bending device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising: a pair of second bending rollers (43C, 43D) arranged downstream of the first bending rollers (43A, 43B) on both sides of the workpiece (W) in the transport width direction; and a pair of second guide rollers (44B, 45B) arranged so as to overlap the arrangement range of the second bending rollers (43C, 43D) in the transport direction and on both sides of the workpiece (W) in the vertical direction, wherein the second bending rollers (43C, 43D) bend the side edge (WE) of the workpiece (W) more deeply than the first bending rollers (43A, 43B).

10. The bending device according to claim 9, further comprising a pair of guide walls (48A, 48B) positioned on both sides of the conveying width direction relative to the workpiece (W) between the first bending rollers (43A, 43B) and the second bending rollers (43C, 43D) in the conveying direction, for guiding the bent workpiece (W) in the conveying direction.

Images