SE543695C2 - A folding machine for folding sheet shaped material - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a folding machine for folding sheet shaped material. The folding machine (100) comprises a first beam (102) arranged to support sheet shaped material (200) during a folding operation; a second beam (104) arranged to clamp the sheet shaped material (200) against the first beam (102) during the folding operation; and a folding beam (106) arranged to rotate around an axis of rotation (R) during the folding operation so as to fold the sheet shaped material (200) against the first beam (102) or the second beam (104). The folding machine (100) further comprises a first eccentric (130) coupled to the folding beam (106) and arranged to change a location of the axis of rotation (R) of the folding beam (106). Thereby, the axis of rotation (R) can be adapted to different thickness of sheet shaped material resulting in improved folding.

Description

A FOLDING MACHINE FOR FOLDING SHEET SHAPED MATERIAL Technical FieldThe invention relates to a folding machine for folding sheet shaped material.

BackgroundFolding machines are known in the art and can be of many different types.

One type of folding machines is arranged to fold or bend sheet metal in a folding operation.Sheet metal is fed into the folding machine so as to being supported on a stationary lowerbeam. Thereafter, an upper beam, also known as clamping beam, clamps the sheet metalagainst the lower beam. Finally, a folding beam folds the sheet metal against a folding tool ofthe upper beam in the folding operation so as to produce folded sheet metal.

To adapt to different thickness of sheet metal the folding beam can in some machines bevertically lowered in relation to the lower beam. Thereby, the folding radius can be increasedduring the folding operation.

SummaryAn objective of embodiments of the invention is to provide a solution which mitigates or solvesthe drawbacks and problems of conventional solutions.

The above and further objectives are solved by the subject matter of the independent claims.Further advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

According to an aspect of the invention, the above mentioned and other objectives areachieved with a folding machine for folding sheet shaped material, the folding machinecomprising: a first beam arranged to support sheet shaped material during a folding operation; a second beam arranged to clamp the sheet shaped material against the first beamduring the folding operation; a folding beam arranged to rotate around an axis of rotation during the folding operationso as to fold the sheet shaped material against the first beam or the second beam;characterised in that further comprising a first eccentric coupled to the folding beam and arranged to change a location of theaxis of rotation of the folding beam.

Sheet shaped material will hereafter also be denoted simply as sheet. Any material that hasthe shape of a sheet and can be folded in a folding machine can be sheet shaped material inthis discourse. Non-limiting examples of such material are metal, plastic and composite material.

An advantage of the present folding machine is that the axis of rotation can be adapted todifferent thickness of sheet. Thereby, better folding result is achieved compared toconventional solutions since the folding radius is adapted to the different thickness and can beheld constant during the folding operation. ln an implementation form of the folding machine, the first eccentric is arranged tochange the location of the axis of rotation in relation to the first beam. ln an implementation form of the folding machine, the first eccentric is arranged to change the location of the axis of rotation in relation to the first beam in a direction whichis perpendicular to a plane of the first beam, wherein the plane of the first beam is arranged tosupport the sheet shaped material during the folding operation. ln an implementation form of the folding machine, the first eccentric is arranged tochange the location of the axis of rotation so that the axis of rotation is aligned with afolding tool of the second beam.

Being aligned with can also mean that the axis of rotation is in level with the folding tool and/orlocated adjacent to the folding tool. ln an implementation form of the folding machine, the folding machine comprises a firstactuator arranged to rotate the first eccentric so as to change the location of the axis of rotation. ln an implementation form of the folding machine, the folding machine comprises a secondeccentric coupled to the folding beam, wherein the second eccentric is arranged to change a location of the folding beam in relation to the first beam so as to adapt to athickness of the sheet shaped material during the folding operation.

An advantage with this implementation form is that both the location of the axis of rotation andthe location of the folding beam can be adapted to different thickness thereby providingimproved folding. ln an implementation form of the folding machine, the second eccentric is arranged to change the location of the folding beam in relation to the first beam in a direction whichis perpendicular to a plane of the first beam, wherein the plane of the first beam is arranged tosupport the sheet shaped material during the folding operation. ln an implementation form of the folding machine, the second eccentric is arranged tochange the location of the folding beam so that a folding tool of the folding beam isaligned with a folding tool of the first beam.

Being aligned with can also mean that the folding tool of the folding beam is in level with thefolding tool of the first beam and/or located adjacent to the folding tool of the first beam. ln an implementation form of the folding machine, the folding machine comprises a secondactuator arranged to rotate the second eccentric so as to change the location of the folding beam. ln an implementation form of the folding machine, second eccentric is rotatably arranged insidethe first eccentric, or vice versa.

An advantage with this implementation form is that a very compact solution is provided. Also,no mechanism is need for adjusting the location of the folding beam arranged on the foldingbeam or adjacent to the folding beam. ln an implementation form of the folding machine, the first eccentric and/or the secondeccentric is coupled to the folding beam by means of a supporting shaft extending in parallelto the axis of rotation. ln an implementation form of the folding machine, a centre axis of the supporting shaft isarranged with an offset in relation to the axis of rotation. ln an implementation form of the folding machine, the supporting shaft extends through thefirst eccentric and/or the second eccentric and being journalled and supported herein. ln an implementation form of the folding machine, the supporting shaft is attached to the foldingbeam by means of a supporting arm extending perpendicularly from the supporting shaft andparallel to an extension of a main body of the folding beam. ln an implementation form of the folding machine, the supporting shaft is attached to the folding beam via coupling means.

Further applications and advantages of the embodiments of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

Brief Description of the DrawingsThe appended drawings are intended to clarify and explain different embodiments of theinvention, in which:- Fig. 1 shows a side view of a part of a folding machine according to an embodiment ofthe invention;- Fig. 2 shows an exploding view in perspective of a part of a folding machine accordingto an embodiment of the invention;- Fig. 3 illustrates the axis of rotation R for a folding beam according to an embodimentof the invention;- Fig. 4 illustrates a detail of a folding machine according to an embodiment of theinvenfion;- Fig. 5 illustrates a folding operation according to an embodiment of the invention whena folding machine only comprises a second eccentric;- Fig. 6 illustrates a folding operation according to an embodiment of the invention whena folding machine comprises a first eccentric; and- Fig. 7 illustrates a folding operation according to an embodiment of the invention whena folding machine comprises a first eccentric and a second eccentric.

Detailed Description Fig. 1 shows a side view of a part of a folding machine 100 according to an embodiment of theinvention. The folding machine 100 comprises a first beam 102 arranged to support a sheet200 during a folding operation. ln this particular example, the first beam 102 act as a lowerbeam and hence comprises a plane P which supports the sheet 200 during the foldingoperation. The folding machine 100 further comprises a second beam 104 arranged to clampthe sheet 200 against the first beam 102 during the folding operation. ln this respect the secondbeam 104 is arranged to be moved against and away from the first beam 102 which isillustrated with arrow A1. Hence, in this example the second beam 104 act as an upper beamand is arranged to be vertically lowered and raised relative to the first beam 102. The secondbeam 104 is arranged to be raised when the sheet to be folded is feed into the folding machine100 and thereafter lowered so as to clamp the sheet 200 against the first beam 102 for thefolding operation. Hence, the second beam 104 can also be denoted as a clamping beam and is considered to be in a clamping mode when clamping the sheet 200 against the first beam102.

The folding machine 100 further comprises a folding beam 106, in this particular examplearranged adjacent to the first beam 102 and in which its folding tool 122 is in level or alignedwith the plane P of the first beam 102. The folding beam 106 is arranged to rotate around anaxis of rotation R (see Fig. 3 and 4) during the folding operation so as to fold the sheet 200against the second beam 104, or more particularly against the folding tool 124 of the secondbeam 104. The rotation of the folding beam 106 is illustrated with arrow A2 in Fig. 1. However,the folding beam 106 can also be arranged to rotate around the axis of rotation R during thefolding operation so as to fold the sheet 200 against the folding tool 122 of the first beam 102instead of the second beam 104. ln such a case the folding beam 106 can be moved to theother side of the sheet 200 and thereby located adjacent to the second beam 104 before thefolding operation. This type of folding machines that are arranged to fold from two oppositesides are sometimes called up and down folding machine or double folding machine.

The folding machine 100 according to the invention further comprises a first eccentric 130which is mechanically coupled to the folding beam 106 and is arranged to change a locationof the axis of rotation R of the folding beam 106. Thereby, the axis of rotation R can be adaptedto different thickness of the sheet 200 by changing the folding radius. lt is known that differentthickness of sheet requires different folding radius for optimal folding results. ln embodiments, the first eccentric 130 is arranged to change the location of the axis of rotationR in relation to the first beam 102, and more particularly to change the location of the axis ofrotation R in relation to the first beam 102 in a direction which is perpendicular to the plane Pof the first beam 102. ln the example shown in Fig. 1 this direction is the vertical direction if theplane P is horizontal. ln embodiments, the first eccentric 130 is arranged to change the locationof the axis of rotation R so that the axis of rotation R is aligned or in level with the tip of thesecond beam 104 when the second beam 104 is in the clamping mode. This also means thatthe axis of rotation R is aligned with the folding tool 124 of the second beam 104 since thefolding tool 124 is arranged at the tip. lt is further noted that the folding machine 100 in Fig. 1 also comprises a second eccentric 140,but it should be realized that the present folding machine 100 does not need to comprise asecond eccentric 130 which will be apparent from the following disclosure. However, inembodiments the folding machine 100 comprises both first 130 and second 140 eccentric.

Fig. 2 shows an exploding view in perspective of a folding machine 100 according to anembodiment of the invention comprising two eccentrics, i.e. a first 130 and a second 140eccentric. The view herein shown is a partial view of the folding machine 100, i.e. a part of thefolding beam 106 together with a first side frame 114 of the folding machine 100 and anarrangement comprising a first eccentric 130 and a second eccentric 140 coupled to a first endof the folding beam 106 by mechanical means.

The first 130 and second 140 eccentric are arranged to be rotated by its associated actuators,i.e. first 132 and second 142 actuator, respectively. The actuator arms can e.g. be bolted to itsrespective eccentrics. lt is realized by the skilied person that many different types of actuatorscan be used for rotating the actuators herein. The actuators can be controlled by control logicwhich is arranged to control the rotation of the eccentrics, e.g. rotational direction, rotationalspeed, synchronization of the rotation, etc. Further, also other solutions for rotating theeccentrics can be implemented, such as mechanical arrangements operated by hand,arrangements using spring force, etc. ln embodiments, the second eccentric 140 is mechanically coupled to the folding beam 106and arranged to change a location of the folding beam 106 in relation to the first beam 102 soas to adapt to a thickness of the sheet 200 during the folding operation. This can be performedby changing the location of the folding beam 106 in relation to the first beam 102 in a directionwhich is perpendicular to the plane P of the first beam 102. As previously mentioned andillustrated in Fig. 1 said plane P of the first beam 102 is arranged to support the sheet 200during the folding operation. More specifically, the changing of the location of the folding beam106 can mean that a folding tool 112 of the folding beam 106 as shown in Fig. 2 is aligned withthe plane P of the first beam 102.

Furthermore, the second eccentric 140 is in Fig. 2 rotatably arranged inside the first eccentric130 resulting in a compact solution minimizing space needed for accommodation of saideccentrics. Also, no mechanism is need for adjusting the location of the folding beam arrangedon the folding beam or adjacent to the folding beam. The revers case is also possible whichimplies that the first eccentric 130 instead is arranged inside the second eccentric 140. Thisembodiment is not shown in the Figs.

As also shown in Fig. 2, the first 130 and second 140 eccentric are coupled to the folding beam106 by means of a supporting shaft 108 which extends through the first 130 and second 140eccentric and hence is journalled inside and supported by the first 130 and second 140eccentric. For robustness the supporting shaft 108 can also extend through a bearing 150 arranged between the coupling means 116 and the eccentrics and possibly attached at thefirst side frame 114 as shown in Fig. 2. The supporting shaft 108 is arranged parallel to theaxis of rotation R but offset from the axis of rotation R with a distance. A supporting arm 110is attached to a first end of the supporting shaft 108 via coupling means 116 and extends fromthe supporting shaft 108 perpendicular to the extension of the supporting shaft 108. Thecoupling means 116 has in this non-limiting example a cylindric shape (other shapes are alsopossible) and the supporting shaft 108 is asymmetrically attached to the coupling means 116.i.e. offset from the center of the cylindrically shaped coupling means 116. The symmetricalcenter of the cylinder herein defines the axis of rotation R in this example. Moreover, thesecond end of the supporting shaft 108 extends through a bracket 126 for the second actuatorand is connected to a driving mechanism of a driving device (not shown), in this case a drivingsprocket 128. When the driving sprocket 128 is rotated the supporting shaft 108 will accordinglyalso rotate and so will the folding arm 106 in the folding operation. lt is realized that manydifferent solutions can be employed for driving the supporting shaft and indirectly the foldingbeam 106 in the folding operation. l\/loreover, Fig. 2 also discloses a housing 118 for the supporting arm 110. The housing 118 isdirectly attached to the main body 120 of the folding beam 106, e.g. by welding or bolting.There are two main cases regarding the housing 118 and the supporting arm 110 which nowwill be described. ln one case, the supporting arm 110 is slidably arranged inside the housing 118 but can belocked/secured into different positions within the housing 118. The locking can e.g. be donewith the use of bolts arranged in the housing 118 and is manually performed by an operator ofthe folding machine 100. This means that the location of the folding beam 106 can be adjustedby the supporting arm 110 taking different positions in the housing 118. Thereby, the foldingbeam 106 can be adapted to different thickness of the sheet. Hence, this arrangement cane.g. be combined with the first eccentric 130 without the use of the second eccentric 140.However, this arrangement has a certain drawback that it takes time to adjust the location ofthe folding beam 106. Also, a locking mechanism is needed for locking the supporting arm 110in different positions in the housing 118. ln another case, the supporting arm 110 is rigidly attached to the housing 118 or directlyattached to the main body which in the latter case means that no housing is needed at all (notshown). Combined with a second eccentric 140 the change of location of the folding beam 106can be performed fully automatically and in a very short time period.

The folding machine 100 can comprise a second side frame (not shown) opposite to the firstside frame 114 and a corresponding arrangement of eccentrics and actuators on an oppositesecond end of the folding beam 106 at which the folding beam 106 is supported (not shown).The arrangement of eccentrics and actuators coupled to the first and second ends,respectively, of the folding beam 106 can be synchronized so as to rotate in a synchronized manner.

Fig. 3 illustrates how the location of the axis of rotation R is changed due to rotation of the firsteccentric 130. The cross illustrates the axis of rotation R and the location can be verticallyraised or lowered depending on the thickness of sheet 200. Since the first beam 102 in thiscase is stationary, the axis of rotation R is raised when the thickness is increased and isaccordingly lowered when the thickness is decreased. By raising the axis of rotation R thefolding radius is increased and by lowering the axis of rotation R the folding radius isdecreased.

Fig. 4 shows a side view of a section of the folding machine 100. lt is noted that the axis ofrotation R (i.e. the large cross) is centered in the cylindrical shaped coupling means 116 (seeFig. 2). lt is further noted that the center axis of the supporting shaft 108 (i.e. the small cross)is arranged with an offset in relation to the axis of rotation R. Due to this offset and since thesupporting shaft is arranged inside the first 130 and second 140 eccentric both the location ofthe axis of rotation R and the location of the folding beam 106 can be adjusted so as to adaptto different thickness of the sheet when both eccentrics are rotated. ln a non-limiting example,the offset can e.g. be approximately 12mm for sheet thickness in the interval 0 - 5mm. Also,the main body 120 and the folding tool 112 of the folding beam 106 is illustrated and thesupporting shaft 108 is attached to the folding beam 106 by means of a supporting arm 110that extends perpendicularly from the supporting shaft 108 and parallel to an extension of themain body 120.

Fig. 5 illustrates a conventional solution when the folding beam 106 can be adapted to differentthickness of the sheet 200 but when the location of the axis of rotation R cannot be changed. ln step I in Fig. 5, the folding machine 100 is set to a first thickness of the sheet 200. Thefolding beam 106 is in step I more or less aligned with a folding tool 122 of the first beam 102and the location of the axis of rotation R (i.e. the cross) is also located more or less at the tipof the second beam 104, i.e. aligned with a folding tool 124 of the second beam 104. ln step ll in Fig. 5, the folding beam 106 is lowered to adapt to a second thickness which islarger than the first thickness. This is performed by lowering the folding beam 106, illustratedwith arrow a1, by rotating the second eccentric 140 clockwise, illustrated with arrow A1. Thelowering of the folding beam 106 is needed so as to increase the folding radius. ln step lll in Fig. 5, the second beam 104 is raised so as to accommodate the thicker sheetwhich is illustrated with the upwards directed arrow A2. Raising and lowering of the secondbeam 104 can be performed by means of a raising and lowering device not shown in the Figs. ln step IV in Fig. 5, the supporting shaft 108 together with the coupling means 116 rotates thefolding beam 106 anticiockwise (arrow A3) so as to fold sheet (not shown). However, since theaxis of rotation R is no longer aligned with or adjacent to the folding tool 124 of the secondbeam 104, the folding result will not be optimal since e.g. the folding radius will not be heldconstant during the folding operation.

Fig. 6 instead illustrates a folding operation when a folding machine comprises a first eccentric130 arranged to change the location of the axis of rotation R according to an embodiment of the invention. ln step I in Fig. 6, the folding machine 100 is set to a first thickness of the sheet 200. Hence,the folding beam 106 is in step I aligned with a folding tool 122 of the first beam 102 and thelocation of the axis of rotation R (i.e. the cross) is aligned with a folding tool 124 of the secondbeam 104. ln step ll in Fig. 6, the axis of rotation R is raised (arrow a1) by rotating the first eccentric 130(arrow A1) clockwise so as to adapt to a second thickness larger than the first thickness. ln step lll in Fig. 6, the second beam 104 is raised (arrow A2) to accommodate the thickersheet before clamping. Also, the folding beam 106 is lowered (arrow A3) to adapt to the secondthickness. However, since this embodiment does not comprise a second eccentric 140 othermeans is used for lowering and raising the folding beam 106 as previously explained. ln step IV in Fig. 6, the supporting shaft 108 together with coupling means 116 rotates (arrowA4) the folding beam 106 anti-clockwise around the axis of rotation R so as to fold the sheet200. Since the axis of rotation R is aligned with or adjacent to the folding tool 124 of the secondbeam 104, the folding result will be optimal since e.g. the folding radius can be held more orless constant during the folding operation.

Fig. 7 illustrates a folding operation when a folding machine comprises both a first eccentric130 and a second eccentric 140 according to an embodiment of the invention. ln step I in Fig. 7, the folding machine 100 is set to a first thickness of sheet 200. Hence, thefolding beam 106 is in step I aligned with a folding tool 122 of the first beam 102 and thelocation of the axis of rotation R (i.e. the cross) is aligned with a folding tool 124 of the secondbeam 104. ln step ll in Fig. 7, the axis of rotation R is raised (arrow a1) by rotating the first eccentric 130(arrow A1) clockwise so as to adapt to a second thickness larger than the first thickness. ln step lll in Fig. 7, the location of the folding beam 106 is lowered (arrow a2) to adapt to thesecond thickness by rotating the second eccentric 140 clockwise (arrow A2). lt is to be notedthat the rotation of the first 130 and second 140 eccentric can be performed sequentially asillustrated in Fig. 7 but can also be performed at the same time in a synchronised manner, e.g.depending on how the first and second actuators are controlled by control logic. ln step IV in Fig. 7, the second beam 104 is raised (arrow A3) to accommodate the thickersheet before clamping. ln step V in Fig. 7, the supporting shaft 108 together with coupling means 116 rotates (arrowA4) the folding beam 106 anticlockwise around the axis of rotation R so as to fold the sheet.At the same time the second eccentric 140 (arrow A5) and the supporting shaft 108 rotateanticlockwise in a controlled manner so that the folding radius is more or less held constantduring the folding operation. One solution is to lock the supporting shaft 108 with the secondeccentric 140 during the rotation which means that the supporting shaft 108 and the secondeccentric 140 will rotate synchronously with each other in the first eccentric 130. Since the axisof rotation R is aligned with the folding tool 124 of the second beam 104 and the folding tool112 of the folding beam 106 is aligned with the folding tool 122 of the first beam 102, the foldingresult will be optimal.

Finally, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but also relates to and incorporates all embodiments within the scope of the appendedindependent claims.

Claims (15)

1. A folding machine (100) for folding sheet shaped material, the folding machine (100)comprising: a first beam (102) arranged to support sheet shaped material (200) during a foldingoperation; a second beam (104) arranged to clamp the sheet shaped material (200) against the firstbeam (102) during the folding operation; a folding beam (106) arranged to rotate around an axis of rotation (R) during the foldingoperation so as to fold the sheet shaped material (200) against the first beam (102) or thesecond beam (104); characterised in that further comprising a first eccentric (130) coupled to the folding beam (106) and arranged to change alocation of the axis of rotation (R) of the folding beam (106).

2. The folding machine (100) according to c|aim 1, wherein the first eccentric (130) is arrangedtochange the location of the axis of rotation (R) in relation to the first beam (102).

3. The folding machine (100) according to c|aim 2, wherein the first eccentric (130) is arrangedto change the location of the axis of rotation (R) in relation to the first beam (102) in adirection which is perpendicular to a plane (P) of the first beam (102), wherein the plane (P) ofthe first beam (102) is arranged to support the sheet shaped material (200) during the foldingoperation.

4. The folding machine (100) according to c|aim 3, wherein the first eccentric (130) is arrangedto change the location of the axis of rotation (R) so that the axis of rotation (R) is alignedwith a folding tool (124) of the second beam (104).

5. The folding machine (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a firstactuator (132) arranged to rotate the first eccentric (130) so as to change the location of theaxis of rotation (R).

6. The folding machine (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising asecond eccentric (140) coupled to the folding beam (106), wherein the second eccentric (140) is arranged to 11 change a location of the folding beam (106) in relation to the first beam (102) so as toadapt to a thickness of the sheet shaped material (200) during the folding operation.

7. The folding machine (100) according to claim 6, wherein the second eccentric (140) isarranged to change the location of the folding beam (106) in relation to the first beam (102) in adirection which is perpendicular to a plane (P) of the first beam (102), wherein the plane (P) ofthe first beam (102) is arranged to support the sheet shaped material (200) during the foldingoperation.

8. The folding machine (100) according to claim 7, wherein the second eccentric (140) isarranged to change the location of the folding beam (106) so that a folding tool (112) of the foldingbeam (106) is aligned with a folding tool (122) of the first beam (102).

9. The folding machine (100) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, comprising a secondactuator (142) arranged to rotate the second eccentric (140) so as to change the location ofthe folding beam (106).

10. The folding machine (100) according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the secondeccentric (140) is rotatably arranged inside the first eccentric (130), or vice versa.

11. The folding machine (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the firsteccentric (130) and/or the second eccentric (140) is coupled to the folding beam (106) bymeans of a supporting shaft (108) extending in parallel to the axis of rotation (R).

12. The folding machine (100) according to claim 11, wherein a centre axis of the supportingshaft (108) is arranged with an offset in relation to the axis of rotation (R).

13. The folding machine (100) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the supporting shaft (108)extends through the first eccentric (130) and/or the second eccentric (140) and being journalledand supported herein.

14. The folding machine (100) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the supporting shaft (108)is attached to the folding beam (106) by means of a supporting arm (110) extendingperpendicularly from the supporting shaft (108) and parallel to an extension of a main body(120) of the folding beam (106). 12

15. The folding machine (100) according to claim 14, wherein the supporting shaft (108) isattached to the folding beam (106) via coupling means (116). 13