Punching Press Ram Guided by Tilt-Tolerant Columns

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing stamping presses with drive mechanisms below the stamping level and connected via tension columns face limitations in production flexibility, punching frequency, and precision due to increased component load and wear under eccentric loads, leading to high maintenance intensity.

Innovation Solution

A stamping press design with a stationary platen and a press ram driven via tension columns, where the press ram is guided exclusively by tilt-tolerant guides that allow for inclination without causing damage or significant wear, ensuring minimal wear and maximum precision even under eccentric loads, and featuring a central crank drive and modular components for adjustable operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the press ram is driven by tension columns via a drive mechanism arranged below the stamping plane, then the press achieves maximum tilting stiffness in the direction of travel and perpendicular to it, but under eccentric loads the component load and wear increase disproportionately

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetilting stiffnessVSAvoidcomponent wear and maintenance intensity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guide supports are designed with tilt tolerance, allowing the tension columns to tilt dynamically in response to eccentric loads rather than maintaining rigid vertical alignment. This dynamic adaptation prevents excessive stresses and wear while maintaining press stability during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The guide supports are specifically designed to tolerate inclination angles up to 0.5 degrees, changing the operational parameters from rigid vertical guidance to flexible angular guidance. This parameter change allows the system to accommodate eccentric loads without compromising reliability or increasing wear.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If the tension columns are rigidly guided in vertical guides, then the press structure provides stable support, but the guides experience high stress and wear under eccentric loads

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguide support stabilityVSAvoidstress and wear on guides
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guide supports transition from rigid vertical constraints to dynamic tilt-tolerant constraints, allowing the tension columns to adjust their orientation under load. This reduces harmful stresses and wear while maintaining the necessary structural strength and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The eccentric loads that previously caused harmful wear and stress are now accommodated through the tilt tolerance of the guide supports. The harmful effect of eccentric loading is converted into a beneficial adaptive mechanism where the columns naturally tilt to accommodate the load distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Productivity

If the press operates at higher punching frequency or with strongly eccentric loads, then production flexibility and output increase, but component load and wear increase disproportionately

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepunching frequencyVSAvoidcomponent wear
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The tilt-tolerant guide supports enable the press to dynamically adapt to varying load conditions during high-frequency operation, preventing cumulative wear and damage that would otherwise limit productivity gains from increased punching frequency or eccentric load operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2158074B1Punching press
Publication Date: 2020.04.29 BRUDERER AG
  • EP2158074B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2158074B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2158074B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a punching press with a clamping plate (27) and with a press ram (1) which lies opposite the upper side of the clamping plate (27) and operates towards the clamping plate (27) and is moveable up and down via four tension columns (2) by means of a crank drive arranged below the belt movement plane (X) of the punching press. The press ram (1) is guided exclusively via the tension columns (2) which, in turn, are guided in inclination-tolerant guides (3) in the belt movement plane (X) in such a manner that the press ram (1) and the tension columns (2) can be positioned obliquely as a consequence of differing longitudinal expansion of the tension columns (2) under an eccentric load by the tension columns (2) being inclined about axes of inclination running in the region of the belt movement plane (X) of the punching press. By means of the configuration according to the invention, distortion of the punching press under an eccentric load, which would lead to uncontrollable operating conditions during the punching and a high degree of wear at the guides of the machine, is avoided, and it can be ensured that, in the event of a possible skewed position of the ram, no tool offset, which would result in a high degree of tool wear or even in tool fracture, occurs.