Contactless Angle Measuring Device for Bending Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic angle measuring devices for bending machines require complex adaptations and designs to integrate and control, making them difficult to retrofit or use without significant modifications to the machine.
Innovation Solution
A contactless angle measuring device with a sensor element, microprocessor, memory unit, and digital display, equipped with a motion sensor and multi-axis accelerometer, which can be easily fastened to the upper tool of the bending machine, allowing for independent operation and synchronization with machine cycles without needing complex machine controller integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing electronic angle measuring devices are integrated into a bending machine with machine-dependent control, then measurement functionality is achieved, but device complexity and machine adaptation requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring device detects the lowering and raising movement of the upper tool itself through its own motion sensor, triggering angle measurements automatically without requiring external synchronization signals from the machine controller. This self-service capability eliminates complex integration requirements while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The device can be operated both as a machine encoder (fixed on the upper tool) and as a handheld encoder, making it universally applicable to different bending machine configurations without requiring machine-specific adaptations. The same device serves multiple functions across different operational modes.
2Ease of operation
If a motion sensor is added to enable independent operation, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motion sensor enables the measuring device to detect its own movement and automatically trigger measurements, making the device independent of external control systems. This self-service functionality simplifies operation while the integrated design keeps complexity manageable.
3Productivity
If the measuring device is fixed on the upper tool for automatic triggering, then productivity improves, but ease of repair decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The device can be used in two modes: fixed on the upper tool for automatic triggering during production (improving productivity), or removed and used handheld for maintenance and troubleshooting (improving ease of repair). This dual-mode capability resolves the contradiction between productivity and repairability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables straightforward retrofitting and operation of the angle measuring device on existing bending machines, reducing the need for design changes and power consumption, while improving measurement accuracy and handling through automatic triggering and data transmission via radio interface.
Implementation Method 1
Since the angle measuring device has a motion sensor, which is connected to the signal processing unit and detects the lowering and/or raising movement of the upper tool
Implementation Method 2
The detection of the direction of gravity on the basis of an analysis of the acceleration signals by the signal processing unit can additionally be used for inclination detection and display of the inclination angle
Implementation Method 3
If the motion sensor is designed as a multi-axis accelerometer, because in this case a simple alignment of the angle measuring device in relation to the vertex axis of the bending angle, which typically extends horizontally, is possible with the aid of the multi-axis accelerometer
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic angle measuring device for a bending machine for measuring the bending angle between the legs (4) of a sheet (5) using a sensor element (7) is described, which supplies angle-equivalent signals in a contactless manner to a signal processing unit (9), which has a microprocessor and a memory unit and is connected to a digital display (10). To provide simple measuring conditions, it is proposed that the sensor element (7), the signal processing unit (9), and the display (10) form an angle measuring device (6) which is fastenable on the upper tool (1) of the bending machine and is usable as a handheld encoder, and which has a motion sensor (11), which is connected to the signal processing unit (9) and detects the lowering and/or raising movement of the upper tool (1), for triggering the measuring procedure.