Integrated Tool and Hand Stocker for Fast Press Brake Changeover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tool storing devices for press brakes are complex, inefficient in space usage, and time-consuming for tool replacement, while conventional hand replacing devices for bending robots are inefficient and difficult for rapid tool replacement due to separate storage configurations.
Innovation Solution
A tool/hand storing device with modular stockers where punches and dies are stored together with rear surfaces facing each other, using endless belts with a single driving shaft to simplify configuration and reduce installation space, and a control device to facilitate rapid tool and hand replacement by the bending robot.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If punches and dies are stored separately in different stockers, then each tool can be individually managed, but the device configuration becomes complicated and installation space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate punch stockers and die stockers into a single integrated stocker unit. The stocker contains both punch storage sections and die storage sections, allowing punches and dies to be stored together in one location rather than requiring separate storage systems. This merging reduces overall device complexity while maintaining individual tool management capabilities.
2Ease of operation
If separate driving sources are used for punches and dies, then each tool can be independently controlled, but the device configuration becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a single driving source that serves multiple functions - it controls both the punch delivery mechanism and the die delivery mechanism. This universal driving source is capable of independently actuating different tool components, providing the same level of independent control that would require separate driving sources, but with reduced overall system complexity.
3Ease of operation
If separate moving paths are provided for punches and dies, then each tool can be independently transported, but installation space increases and useless space is created
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reorganizes the storage and delivery paths by utilizing vertical space and shared horizontal pathways. Instead of completely separate moving paths for punches and dies, the system uses a shared transport mechanism that operates in different dimensional spaces - punches and dies are delivered through overlapping but vertically separated paths, reducing the horizontal footprint and eliminating useless space while maintaining independent transport capability.
4Ease of manufacture
If tool storing device and hand replacing device are located at different positions, then each device can be independently designed, but the bending robot needs to move between them making tool replacement extremely inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the tool storing device and hand replacing device into a single integrated system located at one position. The stocker simultaneously stores both tools (punches and dies) and robot hands, and the delivery mechanism can supply any of these components to the robot without requiring the robot to move between separate storage locations. This combination maintains independent design flexibility while dramatically improving tool replacement efficiency.
5Device complexity
If only gripper hands are considered in hand replacing device, then the device can be simpler, but tool replacement by bending robot becomes difficult or impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The hand replacing device is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple types of components - both robot hands (grippers) and tools (punches and dies). The same stocker structure and delivery mechanism that replace hands can also replace tools, creating a multi-functional system that maintains relative simplicity while enabling complete tool replacement capability for the bending robot.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(A)~3(C)
AI summary
It is intended to simplify a configuration of the entire tool storing device and save an installation space by storing the punch and the die together, to reduce time for tool replacement, and to enable rapid and easy tool replacement by the bending robot by storing not only the tool made of the punch and the die but also the hand for the robot together. In a tool storing device 2 handling a tool mounting stocker in which a punch P and a die D of a press brake 1 are mounted in one stocker with rear surfaces facing each other, each of the stockers S1 to S8 is supported on both sides by endless belts 8, 9 having one driving shaft, and the endless belts 8, 9 are circulated so that each of the supported stockers S1 to S8 does not protrude to a worker S side, whereby a position of a path line PL of the appropriate one of the stockers S1 to S8 can be freely positioned at a position of the path line PL of a tool holder 30, 31 on the press brake 1 side.