Bending Press Tool Positioning via Optical Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bending press technologies require precise and labor-intensive manual positioning of tools, leading to potential machine damage, increased operational costs, and safety hazards due to imprecise tool placement and handling.
Innovation Solution
A contactless sensor device detects the position and type of upper and lower tools within the bending press, allowing the control system to automatically adjust the stop movements relative to the tools, eliminating the need for exact tool positioning within the tool holder.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual positioning of tools is used, then flexibility in tool selection is maintained, but positioning precision and time consumption deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual positioning system with an optical sensor system. Sensors detect tool positions automatically, and the control device calculates corrected positions, eliminating the need for manual measurement and positioning while improving precision and reducing time consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-positioning of tools through automatic detection. The sensors and control device work autonomously to detect tool positions, calculate corrections, and guide positioning without requiring operator intervention, thus saving time and improving consistency.
2Manufacturing precision
If exact tool positioning is required, then bending quality is improved, but device complexity and calibration effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical calibration systems with optical sensors and computational algorithms. The sensors detect tool positions, and the control device automatically calculates corrections, eliminating the need for manual calibration procedures while maintaining high bending quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through sensor detection of actual tool positions. The control device uses this feedback to calculate position corrections and adjust the bending plan accordingly, ensuring high bending quality without requiring pre-calibration.
3Measurement precision
If touch sensors are used for tool detection, then tool position detection is possible, but sensor damage risk and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces contact-based touch sensors with non-contact optical sensors. The optical sensors detect tool positions through light reflection without physical contact, eliminating wear and damage risks while maintaining detection precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces light as an intermediary for detection. Optical sensors use light reflection from tools to determine positions without direct contact, serving as a non-destructive mediator between the detection system and the tools.
4Loss of information
If barcode readers are used for tool identification, then tool information can be read, but detection reliability and applicability to all tools deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal detection system using optical sensors that can identify all tools through their geometric features, regardless of whether they have barcodes. This multi-functional approach covers both coded and non-coded tools, improving reliability and applicability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts tool identification information from geometric features rather than requiring barcodes. By taking out the dependency on barcodes and using intrinsic geometric properties for identification, the system achieves universal applicability across all tool types.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a bending press (1) for bending workpieces, comprising an upper tool (2) and a lower tool (3), a tool holder (4), in which the upper tool (2) is inserted, and a tool holder (5), in which the lower tool (3) is inserted, wherein the upper tool (2) and the lower tool (3) can be fixed in various positions within the respective tool holder (4, 5), a control device (13) for controlling the bending press (1), a sensor device (8), which is connected to the control device (13), and a stop (6) for positioning the workpiece within the bending press (1), wherein the stop (6) can be moved in relation to the tools (2, 3) by means of a drive (9) controlled by the control device (13). The sensor device (8) is designed to detect the position of the upper tool (2) and of the lower tool (3) within the bending press (1) without contact, and the control device (13) is designed to adapt the movement process by means of which the stop (6) is positioned in relation to the tools (2, 3), in dependence on the position of the upper tool (2) and of the lower tool (3) detected by means of the sensor device (8).