Press Brake Tool Changer With Finger Engagement Hole Clamping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tool changers for press brakes require complex and time-consuming production processes, including elongated holes that are difficult to manufacture, making them unsuitable for automatic tool changing and increasing production time.
Innovation Solution
A tool changer with a slider and finger mechanism that supports tools through engagement holes and anti-rotation members, allowing for easy insertion and secure clamping without the need for elongated holes, enabling automatic tool changing while maintaining tool stability and preventing rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If elongated holes extending in the vertical direction are used to enable automatic tool changing, then the tool can be automatically changed, but the production time increases significantly and the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the elongated hole structure from the tool design and replaces it with a simple through-hole structure. The finger mechanism with engagement members is separated into a distinct component (the tool changer) rather than being integrated into the tool itself, thereby simplifying tool manufacturing while maintaining automatic tool changing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a finger mechanism with engagement members as an intermediary component between the tool and the tool installation part. This mediator enables automatic tool changing through simple through-holes rather than requiring complex elongated holes directly in the tool, thus resolving the contradiction between automation and manufacturing complexity.
2Extent of automation
If elongated holes extending in the vertical direction are used to enable automatic tool changing, then the tool can be automatically changed, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the elongated hole structure from the tool design and replaces it with a simple through-hole structure. The finger mechanism with engagement members is separated into a distinct component (the tool changer) rather than being integrated into the tool itself, thereby simplifying tool manufacturing while maintaining automatic tool changing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a finger mechanism with engagement members as an intermediary component between the tool and the tool installation part. This mediator enables automatic tool changing through simple through-holes rather than requiring complex elongated holes directly in the tool, thus resolving the contradiction between automation and manufacturing complexity.
3Extent of automation
If the tool height is increased to accommodate operation members and elongated holes for automatic tool changing, then automatic tool changing is enabled, but the tool cannot be modified from usual tools by postprocessing
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the automatic tool changing mechanism from the tool itself and places it in a separate tool changer device. This allows usual tools of standard height to be used without modification, while the tool changer provides the automatic changing capability through its finger mechanism with engagement members.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a universal tool changer system that can handle usual tools of standard dimensions. The finger mechanism with engagement members provides a standardized interface that works with conventional tools, enabling automatic tool changing without requiring tool-specific modifications or specialized tool designs.
Data Source
AI summary
A tool changer includes a slider provided behind (or in front of) a table of a press brake, and configured to slide in a right-left direction along a tool installation part of the table, a finger provided in the slider, and configured to be inserted into an engagement hole extending through a tool and to move in a front-rear direction, and an engagement member 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).