Bending Tool Group Allocation Across Press Brakes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing manufacturing systems face inefficiencies in utilizing bending tools, leading to increased downtimes and procurement costs due to suboptimal tool management and distribution across bending machines.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves forming at least two groups of bending tools by determining the current location of each tool in a data memory and redistributing tools between machines based on product information, ensuring that required tools are used across multiple machines, thereby maximizing tool utilization and minimizing downtime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bending tools are dedicated to specific bending machines, then tool reliability is improved, but tool utilization efficiency deteriorates and procurement costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a tool sharing system where bending tools are not dedicated to specific machines but can be shared across multiple bending machines. The central storage unit and tool allocation system enable tools to serve multiple functions and multiple machines, improving overall utilization while maintaining reliability through systematic management and real-time tracking of tool locations and conditions.
2Productivity
If bending tools are distributed across multiple machines, then productivity is improved, but tool management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a control system that continuously monitors tool locations, machine requirements, and tool conditions, providing real-time feedback for optimal tool allocation. This feedback mechanism enables dynamic adjustment of tool distribution based on current production needs, simplifying management despite the complexity of multi-machine tool sharing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual tool management with an automated control system that uses data processing and communication networks to manage tool distribution. This substitution of mechanical/manual management with automated systems reduces the complexity burden on operators while maintaining high tool utilization efficiency.
3Device complexity
If tool storage is centralized, then tool management is simplified, but tool access time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a system that proactively allocates and prepares tools before they are needed by anticipating machine requirements based on production schedules and current tool locations. This preliminary action ensures that tools are positioned and ready in advance, minimizing actual access time while maintaining centralized storage benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a central control system and automated tool changing devices as intermediaries between the centralized storage and the bending machines. These intermediaries facilitate rapid tool transfer and allocation, reducing access time despite the centralized storage architecture.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for providing at least two bending tool groups (14, 15) for manufacturing workpieces from sheet metal by means of bending operations on bending tools (2, 3). The current location of each individual bending tool (10) is stored in a bending-tool data store (12) and a first bending-tool group (14) is removed from a tool store (4) and conveyed to the first bending machine (2) on the basis of first bending-tool availability information, which is based on first product information. The current locations are updated in the bending tool data store (12). Then, on the basis of second bending-tool availability information, which is based on second product information, a determination is made whether the bending tools (10) required to form the second bending tool group (15) are in the tool store (4). If this is the case, the bending tools (10) are removed from the tool store (4) as the second bending tool group (15).