US 12,121,953 B2
Method for operating a bending press
Thomas Denkmeier, Traun (AT); David Haim, Thening (AT); and Peter Simmel, Niederwaldkirchen (AT)
Assigned to TRUMPF Maschinen Austria Gmbh & Co. KG, Pasching (AT)
Appl. No. 17/255,058
Filed by TRUMPF Maschinen Austria GmbH & Co. KG., Pasching (AT)
PCT Filed Jul. 30, 2019, PCT No. PCT/AT2019/060247
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 22, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/023988, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 6, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 50667/2018 (AT), filed on Jul. 31, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0268565 A1, Sep. 2, 2021
Int. Cl. B21D 5/02 (2006.01); B21D 55/00 (2006.01); F16P 3/14 (2006.01)
CPC B21D 5/02 (2013.01) [B21D 55/00 (2013.01); F16P 3/144 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for operating a bending press wherein the bending press comprises:
a first platform with a first tool mount and a second platform with a second tool mount, wherein one of the first platform and the second platform is movable relative to another of the first platform and the second platform for performing a working movement,
a safety device for creating a light barrier extending between the first tool mount and the second tool mount transversely to the working movement of the one of the first platform and the second platform, which light barrier, in a cross-section, forms a light field, wherein the safety device has a first mount, which carries a light emitter for creating the light barrier, and a second mount, which carries a light receiver for receiving the light of the light barrier, and wherein the first mount is arranged on a first side of the first platform and is adjustable relative to the first platform by a first adjustment drive, such that a position of the light barrier relative to the first tool mount can be changed in a direction of the working movement of the one of the first platform and the second platform, and
a controller that is connected to the first adjustment drive,
wherein the method comprises the steps of:
(a) controlling the first adjustment drive, via the controller, to bring the first mount into a working position;
wherein in the working position, a tool tip of a bending tool held by the first tool mount lies within the light field formed by the light barrier;
wherein the controller brings the first mount into the working position depending on a shadow of the tool tip being detected by the light receiver;
wherein a position of the tool tip within the light field or the position of the light barrier is determined based on the shadow of the tool tip being detected by the light receiver;
wherein the first mount is adjusted depending on a determined position of the tool tip within the light field or a determined position of the light barrier, until the tool tip comes to lie in a target position or a target region within the light field;
(b) when the tool tip is outside a predefined first region comprising a target position or a target region within the light field and inside a predefined second region within the light field, wherein the predefined first region is inside the predefined second region, adjusting a position of the first mount depending on a determined position of the tool tip within the light field or a determined position of the light barrier;
(c) adjusting the position of the first mount until the tool tip comes to lie in the predefined first region; and
(d) subsequently performing a bending operation or a series of bending operations with the tool tip lying in the target position or the target region within the light field.