Press Brake Tool Changer With Horizontal Finger Engagement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tool changers for press brakes require elongated holes and operation members extending in a vertical direction, making them difficult and time-consuming to produce, and incompatible with standard tools.

Innovation Solution

A tool changer with a slider and finger mechanism that includes a large-diameter and small-diameter portion, an engagement member, and an anti-rotation member to support and secure tools without the need for elongated holes or vertical operation members, allowing for easy production and modification of standard tools.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If elongated holes extending in the vertical direction are formed in the tool, then the tool can be automatically changed, but the manufacturing complexity and time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic tool changing capabilityVSAvoidtool production ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of forming elongated holes in the tool body to receive operation members, the invention inverts the approach by providing operation members that extend in the horizontal direction and receive the tool. The finger members with horizontal engagement holes receive the tool shank, eliminating the need for vertical elongated holes in the tool itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the orientation of the engagement mechanism from vertical to horizontal. The finger members extend in the horizontal direction with engagement holes perpendicular to the tool's vertical axis, transforming the problem from creating difficult vertical elongated holes to creating simple horizontal round holes that are much easier to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Extent of automation

If operation members extending in the vertical direction are provided in the tool, then automatic tool changing is enabled, but the tool height increases making it incompatible with usual tools

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic tool changing capabilityVSAvoidtool height

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the configuration by having operation members (finger members) extend horizontally rather than vertically. The finger members with horizontal engagement holes receive the tool shank, allowing automatic tool changing without increasing tool height.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The finger members act as intermediary components between the tool changer mechanism and the tool. These finger members with horizontal engagement holes serve as the mediating structure that enables automatic tool changing while maintaining compatibility with standard tool dimensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Extent of automation

If elongated holes are formed in the tool, then tool changing automation is achieved, but the production time required increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic tool changingVSAvoidtool production time

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention reverses the approach by having the finger members with horizontal engagement holes receive the tool, rather than having vertical elongated holes in the tool. This inversion eliminates the time-consuming process of forming vertical elongated holes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the orientation parameter of the engagement holes from vertical to horizontal. This parameter change transforms the manufacturing process from forming difficult vertical elongated holes to creating simple horizontal round holes, significantly reducing production time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Extent of automation

If the tool structure includes vertical operation members and elongated holes, then automatic tool changing is possible, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic tool changing capabilityVSAvoidtool structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the structural arrangement by having horizontal finger members with engagement holes receive the tool shank, rather than having vertical operation members integrated into the tool. This simplifies the tool structure while maintaining automatic tool changing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP3825027B1Tool changer

Publication Date: 2023.05.31 AMADA CO LTD

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AI summary

A tool changer (10) includes a slider (46) provided behind (or in front of) a table (16) of a press brake, and configured to slide in a right-left direction along a tool installation part (12) of the table, a finger (30) provided in the slider, and configured to be inserted into an engagement hole (18h) extending through a tool (14) and to move in a front-rear direction, and an engagement member (32) configured to be protruded and retracted relative to an outer peripheral surface of the finger on a tip side, and to be engaged with a peripheral edge portion of the engagement hole of the tool (or an inner stepped portion formed at an intermediate position of the engagement hole).