Driving Unit with Internal Drive Means for Press Brake Beams
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic and electric driven press brakes have limitations in maximum bending angle due to the width of the frame section with rollers, which restricts the ability to achieve larger bending angles in sheet metal processing.
Innovation Solution
The driving unit is designed with the driving means arranged inside the upper beam, eliminating the need for external rollers, thus reducing the overall width of the upper beam and allowing for increased maximum bending angles by using a sandwich construction with rollers and a serpentine belt system, and incorporating strips to prevent belt slippage during tilting or movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If rollers are arranged on the outside of the upper beam, then the driving function is achieved, but the width of the upper beam increases, reducing the maximum bending angle
Solution Approach 1:
The driving means including rollers and drive belt are arranged inside the hollow interior of the upper beam, nesting the drive mechanism within the beam structure itself. This eliminates the need for external rollers and reduces the beam width to only what is structurally necessary, thereby increasing the maximum bending angle capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive mechanism is transitioned from a two-dimensional external arrangement to a three-dimensional internal arrangement within the hollow beam. By utilizing the interior space of the beam, the driving function is achieved without increasing the external footprint or width of the beam.
2Ease of operation
If the upper beam width is reduced to increase bending angle, then maximum bending angle improves, but the structural strength and stiffness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The upper beam is constructed as a composite structure with a hollow interior for housing drive mechanisms and an optimized wall structure providing structural strength. The beam combines structural integrity requirements with functional requirements for accommodating driving means, achieving both reduced width and maintained strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam structure is segmented into functional zones: the hollow interior for drive mechanisms, the wall structure for structural strength, and the exterior surface for operational function. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized independently for its specific purpose.
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
This configuration increases the maximum bending angle and enhances the stiffness of the frame section without affecting the bending angle, providing improved stability and flexibility in sheet metal processing.
Implementation Method 1
a belt running along the rollers in a serpentine path, and a take up reel for taking up the belt in order to urge the first row of rollers towards the second row of rollers
Implementation Method 2
the strips are arranged between and in near contact with adjacent rollers of a row. By arranging the strips in near contact with the rollers, it is prevented that the belt runs off the rollers
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The invention relates to a driving unit for driving two substantially parallel beams (2,6) away or towards each other, comprising: - a first beam (6) of the substantially parallel beams and a second beam (2); - and driving means at least arranged between the first beam (6) and the second beam (2); wherein the driving means are substantially arranged inside the first beam (6).