Press Brake Feedback Crowning for Partial Bending Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing press brake technologies face challenges in achieving accurate multistage bending due to variations in Young's modulus and thickness of workpiece materials, leading to inaccuracies in bending angles and dimensional errors.

Innovation Solution

A press brake system equipped with a die, punch, crowning mechanism, bending amount measuring device, and control device that adjusts the crowning amount and tilt to correct for differences between middle and end bending amounts, accounting for springback changes caused by material variations and thickness errors, thereby improving forming accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a fixed stroke value is used for bending, then the forming process is simple and fast, but the bending accuracy deteriorates due to material variations and thickness errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforming speedVSAvoidbending accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback control by measuring the actual bending amount with sensors and comparing it to the target bending amount. The control device then adjusts the stroke value based on the measured bending amount to achieve the target bending angle, resolving the contradiction between fast forming and accurate bending by dynamically correcting for material variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a fixed, static stroke value to a dynamic stroke value that is adjusted in real-time based on measured bending amounts. The stroke value is corrected using the difference between measured and target bending amounts, allowing the system to adapt to material variations while maintaining high forming speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If the bending angle is monitored during forming with feedback, then the angle accuracy is improved, but the measurement error significantly influences the stroke in multistage bending

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveangle measurement accuracyVSAvoidstroke accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary measurement of the bending amount after forming and uses this measurement to correct the stroke value for subsequent forming operations. By measuring first and then correcting based on the measurement, the system avoids the problem of measurement errors directly influencing the stroke during the forming process itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the stroke value is determined in advance without actual forming, then the process is efficient, but the bending accuracy deteriorates due to variations in Young's modulus and thickness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess efficiencyVSAvoiddimensional accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the system to self-correct by using its own measurement capability to detect bending amount deviations and automatically adjust the stroke value accordingly. The control device uses the measured bending amount to calculate the correction needed, making the system self-regulating without external intervention, thus maintaining both efficiency and accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

The system enhances bending accuracy and dimensional precision of multistage bending processes by dynamically correcting for material and thickness variations, ensuring high accuracy in forming complex shapes like circular tubes.

Implementation Method 1

a punch that is arranged so as to be opposed to the die and moves in an upper-lower direction relative to the die to press a front surface of the workpiece

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a relation between the stroke value and a realized angle depends on Young's modulus of the material of a workpiece... variations of Young's modulus from the nominal value of the material... springback amount itself changes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpringback: Elastic Recovery

Data Source

PatentEP3991867B1Press brake
Publication Date: 2024.09.11 KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KK
  • EP3991867B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3991867B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3991867B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a press brake that improves bending accuracy of a partial bending method. The press brake includes: a conveying mechanism that intermittently conveys a workpiece; a die; a punch; a crowning mechanism; a bending amount measuring device; and a control device. The control device presses an end portion of the workpiece in a conveying direction by the punch and conveys the workpiece by the conveying mechanism until the pressed portion enters into a measurement range of the bending amount measuring device. The control device drives the crowning mechanism so as to correct a crowning amount in accordance with a difference between a middle bending amount and an end bending amount measured by the bending amount measuring device.