EP2903790B1 - Method and tool unit for the adjustment of the tool unit - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method and a tool unit for setting a punching gap for a punching or cutting machine. The tool unit has a first tool and a second tool. When cutting or punching the two tools are moved relative to each other. A cutting edge on the first tool and a cutting edge on the second tool work together to cut or punch a workpiece, such as a foil. There may also be a plurality of first and / or second tools.

Such cutting or punching machines are known per se. For example, describes DE 30 12 486 C2 a punching machine, which is for punching flat objects made of web or sheet material. The relative movement between the first tool and the second tool is generated there by a wedge drive. A transverse movement of a wedge body transversely to the working direction of the punching tool leads, for example, to the movement of a lower tool in the working direction towards the upper tool or away from it. The punching stroke is therefore carried out by the lower tool via a transverse movement of a wedge.

DE 544 605 describes a device for adjusting the height of a lower blade in a cutting machine. In the working direction, the position of the cutting blade can be adjusted via one or more spindles and a wedge adjustment.

When first using the punching or cutting machine, the gap between the first and the second must be Tool to be adjusted. In addition, the two tools get during the operation of the punching or cutting machine at each stroke in contact with the material to be punched and worn down. This causes a punching or cutting gap between the first tool and the second tool to increase. Thus, the setting of the punching or cutting gap is necessary during initial startup and during operation. An exact gap width is of great importance especially for precision tools. If the gap is or becomes too large, the quality of the cut or punched edge on the workpiece decreases, eg a burr may form on the workpiece. Such burr formation is undesirable. For example, such a ridge when punching out foils for accumulators lead to short circuits between adjacent foils. Exceeding a maximum value of the gap width is therefore to be avoided.

Out DE 199 33 497 A1 a device and a method for cutting gap adjustment is known. The device has an adjustment mechanism with linear guide for a carriage. On the carriage, a counter blade body is arranged, which cooperates with cutting blades on a rotor. The linear guide for the carriage has a relative to the rotor axis inclined linear guide axis. By a drive, the gap between the cutting blades of the rotor and the counter blade bodies of the carriage is thereby changed during a displacement of the carriage. The counter blade body 12 may be configured U-shaped. In the space between the two legs, a pressure element may be arranged, for example a thermobolt, whose extension is adjustable. By this expansion, a displacement of the two legs of the U-shaped counter knife body can be done. This should vaults and ripples of the cutting gap can be compensated.

One out DE 30 12 486 C2 known punching device has a fixed head part and a relatively movable machine part, which can perform a lifting movement relative to the head part for performing the cutting or punching process. This lifting movement is generated in that a wedge-shaped element is present and that the movable machine part is also wedge-shaped and the two parts are in contact with each other at their wedge surfaces. By moving the wedge-shaped element, the movable machine part can perform the required lifting movement relative to the fixed head part.

Thus, it can be considered an object of the present invention to provide a method and a tool unit for a cutting or punching machine in which the punching or cutting gap can be set very easily.

This object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1 and a tool unit with the features of claim 7.

According to the invention, at least the second tool is elastically deformed by means for adjusting a deformation force, thereby setting the punching or cutting gap. In particular, enlargement of the deformation force compensates at least partially for an enlargement of the die gap which has occurred due to wear. The deformation force is aligned in particular transversely to the working direction and thus transversely to the direction of movement of the first or second tool. In addition, the first tool can be acted upon by associated means with a deformation force to adjust the punching or cutting gap. The embodiments below with regard to can be explained on the second tool can also be used for the first tool.

The deformation can be plastic or elastic. In particular, when setting the gap width in the context of initial commissioning, the tool in question can also be plastically deformed. Such elastic or plastic deformation can be generated very easily, for example by means of clamping means, which clamp the second tool to a holding device. The invention eliminates a complex processing of the second tool, in particular its cutting or punching edge to adjust the punching or cutting gap to the desired size. This allows a very accurate adjustment of the gap.

The deformation force is generated in that the second tool is pressed in a direction transverse to the working direction on the side facing away from the punching or cutting gap against a support surface and is. At least one tensile and / or pressure means is present in the tool unit, which prevents the second tool from moving transversely away from the support surface. By clamping the second tool with a clamping force in the working direction, the support surface and the co-operating tensile and / or pressure means causes a deformation of the second tool transversely to the working direction. In particular, the support surface is inclined at an inclination angle inclined to the working direction. This provides a simple and accurate way to vary the punching or cutting gap by elastic or plastic deformation of the second tool.

The second tool has at least one support part which projects with a rear surface on the associated support surface the holding device for the second tool is supported. Preferably, the rear surface extends at the same inclination angle inclined to the working direction and thus parallel to the support surface. The support surface and the back surface are preferably designed to be stepless and edgeless. They form, so to speak, a force transmission means which can transmit a force in the direction transverse to the working direction on the second tool in the direction of the punching or cutting gap. By means of the at least one tension and / or pressure means, which counteracts the tool movement away from the support surface, the deformation of the second tool is created.

The tension and / or pressure means may be formed by anchors or screws or similar means. Alternatively or additionally, as a pressure means also a stop surface may be present, against which the second tool rests on its side facing the punching or cutting gap. The stop surface may in particular adjacent to the punching or cutting gap, for example, arranged in extension of the punching gap next to it.

In one embodiment, the deformation force can also be generated by a force-generating unit which has, for example, electrical, mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic means and can preferably be electrically controlled. For example, the force-generating unit may have a motor-spindle unit.

In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of second tools may be present, which together form a die tool. In this case, the cutting edges of two adjacent second tools adjacent to each other and in particular form an almost closed Matrizenschneidkante. The second tools can be at close range be arranged in particular of a few micrometers next to each other or touch without exercising a sufficiently large force for deformation force each other. The first tool can engage in the space between the second tools enclosed by the die cutting edge.

The deformation force is changed in the method according to the invention in that the height of a second tool is at least partially reduced, namely at least one support part of the second tool. Thereby, the dimension of the second tool at the position with the smallest dimension between the support surface and the cutting edge can be increased transversely to the working direction. The deformation force thereby increases, whereby the width of the punching or cutting gap changed and in particular reduced.

The second tool is preferably made of steel, ceramic, carbide or other depending on the material to be punched material. At least one tool part having the cutting edge of the second tool is made of one of said materials and / or has a hardness that is greater than the hardness of the support part of the second tool. The tool part can also be designed as a separate insert, which is firmly connected to the support part. For example, the area provided for changing the height of the second tool on the underside of the second tool may have a lower hardness than the cutting edge having tool part, so that a reduction in height, for example by grinding, can be done in a less hard area of the second tool.

• Figur 1 eine schematische, blockschaltbildähnliche Darstellung einer Stanzmaschine,
• Figur 2 eine schematische Darstellung eines zu stanzenden Werkstücks in Draufsicht,
• Figur 3 ein Matrizenwerkzeug mit mehreren zweiten Werkzeugen in schematischer Ansicht in Arbeitsrichtung,
• Figuren 4 und 5 jeweils eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines zweiten Werkzeugs,
• Figuren 6 und 7 schematische Darstellungen eines zweiten Werkzeugs mit unterschiedlichen Verformungskräften zur Einstellung des Stanzspaltes,
• Figuren 8 eine teilgeschnittene schematische Seitenansicht eines alternativen Ausführungsbeispiels eines zweiten Werkzeugs und
• Figur 9 das zweite Werkzeug nach Figuren 3 bis 7 mit einer Krafterzeugungseinheit zur Erzeugung der Verformungskraft.

Advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention and of the device according to the invention result from the dependent claims and the description. The description is limited to essential features of the invention. Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the method and the apparatus will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

• FIG. 1 a schematic block diagram similar representation of a punching machine,
• FIG. 2 a schematic representation of a workpiece to be punched in plan view,
• FIG. 3 a die tool with several second tools in a schematic view in the working direction,
• FIGS. 4 and 5 each a perspective view of an embodiment of a second tool,
• FIGS. 6 and 7 schematic representations of a second tool with different deformation forces for adjusting the punching gap,
• FIGS. 8 a partially sectioned schematic side view of an alternative embodiment of a second tool and
• FIG. 9 the second tool after FIGS. 3 to 7 with a force generating unit for generating the deformation force.

FIG. 1 shows a punching machine 10 in a highly schematic representation. The punching machine 10 has a tool unit 11 according to the invention with a first tool 12 and a second tool 13. It is also set up to carry out the method according to the invention. Instead of the punching machine 10, the invention can also be used in cutting machines or other cutting machines.

The two tools 12, 13 are movable in a working direction A relative to each other. In the exemplary embodiment, the first tool 12 is movably guided in the working direction A on a machine frame 14 and movable via a non-illustrated dargstellten drive. Alternatively, the second tool 13 or both tools 12, 13 may be arranged to be movable. The first tool 12 forms, for example, an upper tool of the punching machine 10. The second tool 13 is immovably arranged in the embodiment relative to the machine frame 14 and executed according to the example as a lower tool. By a stroke of the first tool 12 relative to the second tool 13, a mold 15 is punched out of a workpiece 16. The workpiece 16 is formed, for example, by a plate or foil and can be supplied in the form of a band of the punching machine 10. In particular, the punching machine 10 can be used for punching out foils, for example lithium foils for accumulators in the desired shape 15 from the workpiece 16.

In the exemplary embodiment described here, the tool unit 11 has a plurality of second tools 13, which together form a die tool 20. The number and arrangement of the second tools 13 depends on the mold 15 which is to be punched out of the workpiece 16. Each second tool 13 has a cutting edge 21, wherein connect the cutting edges 21 of adjacent second tools 13 to one another and form a closed die cutting edge. To perform a simple cut in the workpiece 16, a single second tool 13 may be sufficient. Accordingly, a plurality of first tools 12 may be present.

Between the cutting edge 21 of each second tool 13 and a cutting edge 22 of the first tool 12, a punching gap 23 is formed in each case. In order to avoid loss of quality and, for example, burr formation on the workpiece 16 or the stamped-out mold 15, the punching gap 23 must not exceed a predetermined maximum width. The punching gap 23 must be set exactly during initial startup of the punching machine. In the course of operation of the punching machine 10 also wear on at least a first tool 12 and / or the at least one second tool 13 occur, whereby the punching gap 23 can increase. According to the invention a means for adjusting the punching gap 23 is provided, by means of which at least one of the second tools 13 plastically or elastically deformed and thereby a change, in particular a reduction in the width of the respective punching gap 23 can be achieved. In the described embodiment, all second tools 13 are deformable, but this need not necessarily be the case. In some applications, it may be sufficient to apply only a part of the second tools with a respective associated deformation force.

The second tools 13 are releasably attached to a holding device 27. For this purpose, every second tool 13 has at least one support part 28 and, according to the example, two or three support parts 28. The support members 28 are in the embodiment according to the figures 3 to 7 on the punching gap 23 and the cutting edge 21 opposite side and project transversely to the working direction A of the cutting edge 21 away. Each support member 28 has a rear surface 29, with which it bears against an associated support surface 30 of the holding device 27. The rear surface 29 and the associated support surface 30 are parallel to one another and are each designed to be stepless and edgeless. Both the support surface 30, as well as the rear surface 29 extends at an inclination angle α inclined relative to the working direction A.

The second tool 13 lies with its side facing away from the first tool 12 bottom 31 on a support surface 32 of the holding device 27. The underside 31 and the support surface 32 are preferably designed to be level and edged flat. By means of clamping means 33, for example by screw, every second tool 13 in the working direction A is firmly clamped to the holding device 27. According to the example, the second tool 13 is clamped with its underside 31 against the support surface 32. The clamping means 33 are preferably designed so that they do not absorb any force transversely to the working direction A.

At least one tensile and / or pressure means 36, which serves to counteract a movement of the second tool 13 away from the support surface 30 and thereby generate a deformation force F together with the support surface 30, is associated with the second tool 13 to be deformed. In FIG. 3 are shown schematically as screws 37 running tensile and / or pressure means 36 illustrated. These pass through the holding device 27 and are displaceable in their direction of extension relative to the holding device 27. On the holding device 27, the screws 37 are supported with a head 37 a from where they with their attached to the opposite end of the associated second tool 13 us in the embodiment via a thread 37b are screwed.

One of the second tools 13 according to FIG. 3 has two cutting edges 21 which form a corner 34. Each cutting edge 21 is assigned a support surface 30 of the holding device 27 on the opposite side of the second tool 13. This second tool 13 can be adjusted in two directions with a deformation force F for adjusting the width B of the respective punching gap 23.

Due to the inclination angle α of the support surface 30 can be generated by the clamping of the second tool 13 with the clamping means 33, a deformation force F on the second tool 13. The back surface 29 reaches when clamping in contact with the support surface 30 before the bottom 31 of the second tool on the support surface 32 has reached its end position. Because of the screws 37, however, the second tool can not move away from the inclined support surface 30 during clamping, whereby a deformation force F is generated transversely to the working direction A. The deformation force F is sufficiently large in order to deform the second tool 13 transversely to the working direction A in the direction of the gap width of the associated punching gap 23. Due to this deformation, the position of the cutting edge 21 of the respective second tool 13 with respect to the cutting edge 22 of the associated first tool 12 can be changed and thus the width of the punching gap 23 can be adjusted. It is therefore possible, if necessary, to adjust the gap width of the die gap 23 during assembly, initial startup or during ongoing operation. For example, the gap width B can be reduced if it had increased due to wear.

The inventively effected position changes of the cutting edge 21 of the second tool 13 on the deformation thereof are small and are in the range of 1 to 2 micrometers. However, this displacement of the cutting edge 21 is sufficient to readjust the punching gap 23, which usually has a width of 1 to 3 or 4 microns, in order to obtain a qualitatively perfect and in particular quasi-burr-free punching edge on the mold 15.

Instead of a screw 37 or another traction means, the second tool 13 may be arranged on its side facing away from the support surface 30 a stop surface or other suitable pressure means, so that the second tool 13 between the stop surface and the pressure means and the support surface 30 via a deformation force is deformed.

In order to change the deformation force F of a second tool and / or the position of its cutting edge 21, this is processed in the embodiment at least in the region of the support members 28 on its underside 31. As a result, the height of the second tool 13 in the working direction A can be reduced from a first height H1 to a second height H2 ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ). For example, a layer on the underside 31 of the second tool 13 can be removed, which in FIG. 6 is shown schematically dotted. Since the distance of the support surface 30 relative to the first tool 12 measured measured transversely to the working direction A and smaller towards the support surface 32, so to speak, increases the effective dimension of the second tool 13 transverse to the working direction A in the direction of the width of the cutting gap 23. The deformation force F between the support surface 30 and the stop surface 32 increases, whereby the elastic deformation of the relevant second tool 13 and the adjacent, the stop surface 32 having second tool 13 changes. As a result, the position of the cutting edge 21 with respect to the cutting edge 22 of the first tool 12 can be changed and the width B of the punching gap 23 can be reduced by a difference value D ( FIG. 7 ).

The second tool 13 and preferably all second tools 13 are made of steel, ceramic, carbide or other suitable materials ( FIG. 4 ). It is also possible to produce or particularly to harden only a region having the cutting edge 21, which can be designated as a tool part 35, made of hard metal. The hardness of the tool part 35 may be greater than the hardness of the remaining part of the second tool 13, in particular of the support parts 28.

As in FIG. 5 schematically illustrated, the tool part 35 may also be designed as a separate insert, which is connected to the support members 28. The compound can be made soluble or insoluble.

In a preferred embodiment, the area with the underside 31 of the second tool 13 may have a lower hardness than the area that has the cutting edge 21. As a result, the lower side 31 of the second tool 13 can be better processed to reduce the height.

FIG. 8 shows a modified embodiment of a second tool. The support member 28 is not as described above on the cutting edge 21 opposite side, but provided on the bottom 31 of the second tool 13. The rear surface 29 present on the support part 28 is assigned to a support surface 30 as described above. In order to change the deformation force F, in this embodiment not the underside 31 but the base surface 38 of the support parts 28 adjoining the rear surface 29 is machined, as shown in FIG FIGS. 6 and 7 for the bottom 31 is described. The base 38 is associated with the support surface 32 on the holding device 27. Otherwise, the mode of operation and construction correspond to the previously described embodiments, so that reference is made to the above description.

In FIG. 9 a modified second tool 13 is shown. It has, for example, a substantially cuboid contour. The rear surface 29 and the abutting support surface 29 of the holding device 27 are not inclined with respect to the working direction A. This is connected to a force-generating unit 40, which may have, for example, an electric motor or hydraulic or pneumatic means for generating power. The tension and / or pressure means 36 may be, for example, a driven by an electric motor spindle, which is connected to the second tool 13. About the tension and / or pressure means 36, the force generating unit 40 to adjust the width B of the punching gap 23, the deformation force F set.

In modification to the in FIG. 9 illustrated embodiment, instead of the force generating unit 40, a manual adjusting means may be present. For example, the screws 37 can be used as tension and / or pressure means 36 and the deformation force F can be adjusted manually via the screws 37.

By means of the force generating unit, the width B of the punching gap of the associated second tool 13 can also be regulated. For example, the width B can be measured via a particularly optical measuring device and in one Control unit are compared with a setpoint. In case of deviations, the control unit activates the force-generating unit 40 to increase or decrease the deformation force F.

The features of the different embodiments of the second tool 13 can also be combined with each other. For example, can also in the embodiments FIGS. 8 and 9 a separate insert may be provided as a tool part 35. Supporting parts 28 may also be present both on the underside 31 and on the side of the second tool 13 opposite the cutting edge 21 (FIG. FIGS. 3 to 7 and 8th ).

In all embodiments, it is possible to set the deformation force F at different locations of a second tool 13 of different sizes. This is done, for example, to adapt the width B punching gap 23 to a non-straight course of the associated edge of a first tool 12. For this purpose, the second tool 13, for example, a plurality of tensile and / or pressure means 36 associated by means of which in each case a desired amount for a local deformation force F is adjustable.

The invention relates to a tool unit 11 and a method for changing the width B of a punching gap 23 between a first tool 12 and a second tool 13 of the tool unit 11. Preferably, a plurality of second tools 13 are provided, which together form a die tool 20 with a circumferential die cutting edge, in which the first tool 12 can engage with its cutting edge 22. Between the cutting edge 22 of the first tool 12 and the respective cutting edge 21 of a second tool 13, a punching gap 23 is formed in each case with a width B between the cutting edges 21, 22nd measured transversely to a working direction A. In working direction A, the first tool 12 and the second tool 13 are moved relative to each other. About clamping means 33 can act on a second tool 13 acting deformation force transverse to the direction A, whereby the position of the respective cutting edge 21 and thus the width B of the punching gap 23 change and set.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

punching machine

11

tool unit

12

first tool

13

second tool

14

machine frame

15

shape

16

workpiece

20

die tool

21

Cutting edge of the second tool

22

Cutting edge of the first tool

23

punching gap

27

holder

28

supporting part

29

rear surface

30

supporting

31

bottom

32

bearing surface

33

chuck

34

corner

35

tool part

36

Tensile and / or pressure medium

37

screw

37a

head

37b

thread

38

Floor space

40

Force generating unit

α

tilt angle

A

working direction

B

Width of the cutting gap

D

difference value

F

deforming force

H1

first altitude value

H2

second altitude value

Claims (11)

1. Method for adjusting a punching or cutting gap (23) on a tool unit (11) of a punching or cutting machine (10), wherein the tool unit (11) has a first tool (12) and at least one second tool (13) which are moved relative to each other in a working direction (A) for punching or cutting, wherein the punching or cutting gap (23) is present transversely to the working direction (A) between the first tool (12) and the second tool (13), wherein the second tool (13) has at least one supporting part (28) which rests with a back face (29) on a support face (30) of a holding device (27) for the second tool (13), wherein to adjust the punching or cutting gap (23), the height (H1, H2) of the support part (28) of the second tool (13) is reduced in the working direction (A),
   and wherein the punching or cutting gap (23) is adjusted by deformation of the second tool (13).
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that a deformation force (F) acts on the second tool (13) transversely to the working direction (A).
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the deformation force (F) is generated via a force generating unit (40) which has electric and/or hydraulic and/or pneumatic means for generating the deformation force (F).
4. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the support face (30) is oriented at a tilt angle (α) obliquely to the working direction (A).
5. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the second tool (13) rests with its side facing the punching or cutting gap (23) on a stop face.
6. Method according to claim 5, characterised in that the second tool (13) is deformed by clamping the second tool (13) between the stop face and the support face (30).
7. Tool unit (11) for a punching or cutting machine (10),
   with a first tool (12) and a second tool (13), wherein the first tool (12) and the second tool (13) can be moved relative to each other in a working direction (A) for punching or cutting,
   with a punching or cutting gap (23) transverse to the working direction (A) between the first tool (12) and the second tool (13),
   wherein the second tool (13) has a support part (28) and rests with the support part (28) in a direction transverse to the working direction (A) on the side facing away from the punching or cutting gap (23), wherein at least one tension and/or compression means (36, 37) is assigned to the second tool (13) and counters a movement of the second tool (13) away from the support face (30),
   wherein a deformation force (F) which deforms the second tool (13) for adjusting the punching gap (23) is generated by clamping the second tool (13) between the tension and/or compression means (36) and the support face (30).
8. Tool unit according to claim 7, characterised in that the support face (30) runs obliquely to the working direction (A).
9. Tool unit according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that a plurality of second tools (13) is present which together form a die tool (20).
10. Tool unit according to claim 9, characterised in that at least some of the second tools (13) are exposed to a deformation force (F).
11. Tool unit according to any of claims 7 to 10, characterised in that the cutting edge (21) of the second tool (13) is present on a tool part (35), the hardness of which is greater than the hardness of the support part (28).

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