CA1225819A - Methods and apparatus for constructing cutting tools - Google Patents
Methods and apparatus for constructing cutting toolsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1225819A CA1225819A CA000422809A CA422809A CA1225819A CA 1225819 A CA1225819 A CA 1225819A CA 000422809 A CA000422809 A CA 000422809A CA 422809 A CA422809 A CA 422809A CA 1225819 A CA1225819 A CA 1225819A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- bending
- strip
- knife
- support plate
- profile
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D37/00—Tools as parts of machines covered by this subclass
- B21D37/20—Making tools by operations not covered by a single other subclass
- B21D37/205—Making cutting tools
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D11/00—Bending not restricted to forms of material mentioned in only one of groups B21D5/00, B21D7/00, B21D9/00; Bending not provided for in groups B21D5/00 - B21D9/00; Twisting
- B21D11/10—Bending specially adapted to produce specific articles, e.g. leaf springs
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D7/00—Bending rods, profiles, or tubes
- B21D7/12—Bending rods, profiles, or tubes with programme control
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23P—METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS
- B23P15/00—Making specific metal objects by operations not covered by a single other subclass or a group in this subclass
- B23P15/28—Making specific metal objects by operations not covered by a single other subclass or a group in this subclass cutting tools
- B23P15/40—Making specific metal objects by operations not covered by a single other subclass or a group in this subclass cutting tools shearing tools
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Title: Methods of and apparatus for constructing cutting tools Method and apparatus for constructing a press knife for cutting out sheet material such as leather, wherein machine instructions are generated containing data relating to a desired configuration of the press knife for cutting out a particular profile, the machine instructions are supplied to a bending device (36, 38, 40) and to a strip material feed device (62), the feed device supplies the strip material to the bending device so the bends are introduced into the strip material in accordance with the machine instructions, the formed strip material then being cut off from the stock and assembled and fixed to form the desired knife configuration, preferably being fixed around a support plate which is produced by a forming device (30) fed with machine instructions derived from the same source (12) as those controlling the bending and feeding devices.
Title: Methods of and apparatus for constructing cutting tools Method and apparatus for constructing a press knife for cutting out sheet material such as leather, wherein machine instructions are generated containing data relating to a desired configuration of the press knife for cutting out a particular profile, the machine instructions are supplied to a bending device (36, 38, 40) and to a strip material feed device (62), the feed device supplies the strip material to the bending device so the bends are introduced into the strip material in accordance with the machine instructions, the formed strip material then being cut off from the stock and assembled and fixed to form the desired knife configuration, preferably being fixed around a support plate which is produced by a forming device (30) fed with machine instructions derived from the same source (12) as those controlling the bending and feeding devices.
Description
Tltle:
Methods and Apparatus for Constructlng Cutting 'rools Descript~on Field of Invention This invention concerns methods of and apparatus for constructing cutting tools for cutting out areas of sheet material such as leather as a preliminary stage to a manufacturing process.
The invention is of particular application to the construction of press'knives for cutting out leather blanks from which boots and shoes can subsequently be constructed.
Background to the invention Shoe manufacturers currently manufacture press knives for leather cutting by a manual method using card templates.
Variation of style, width and s1ze means that only one knife of each type is usually required and fashion changes demand a regular flow of knives with new profiles.
One present metho~3 of manufacturing press knives employs a 'V' block into which a metal blade is bent locally under the actLon of a foot operated pin or other de~lecting device. The operator uses the card template as a visual guide and by creating a number o~ local bends at discrete points along the hlade produces a pro~ile wh1ch approxlmates adequately to the desired smooth shape 3n of the card template. Where particularly acute hends are r , . 1.
required, a combination of hea-t and broaching 'coge-ther with additional tools enables -the operator to pro~luce the substantial deformation withou-t cracking the material.
The blade has to be bent through a greater angle than is actually required in order to allow for sprinyback in the material of the blade. This is achieved through experience and skill of the operator and the continuous visual inspection which he provides.
The profile tolerance achievable with this method is typically plus or minus 0.4 millimetres and a knife for a piece such as an ln quarter will require approximately 60 discrete bends.
It is an objec-t of the present invention to provide an automated process and apparatus for manufacturing press knives for cutting leather.
Summary of the invention According to a broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of constructing a press knife including a knife blade secured to a support plate, for cutting out sheet materials such as leather. The method comprises generating data relating to the outline or profile of a sheet material blank which is to be cut out.
The data relating to the profile is converted into a plurality of channels of machine instructions. One of these channels of information is supplied -to a support plate manufacturing means for manufacturing the support plate. Conjointly, a second of the channels ; is supplied with information relating to a bending machine for forming strip material into the knife blade profile.
. ~:
According to a further broad aspect of the present inven-tion there ls provided a machine for bendiny strip and comprising means for incrementa~ly advancing a strip of material to bending station means. The bending station means includes an opposed pair of guide means each including guide means, and a pair of symmetric bending anvil means having opposed guide surfaces for longitudi-nally guiding the strip and oblique end surfaces making a sharp arcuate angle with a respective one of the guide surfaces. The guide means further includes means for bending the strip about a selected one of the lines defined by the juncture of one of the oblique end surfaces and its associated guide surface.
The method may include the step of fitting the formed strip internally with at least one strengthening member.
The latter may be a support plate forming a mounting for prickers~ the support plate being shaped with an outline corresponding to the desired configuration of the press knife.
c~mponent parts of the knife may be marked so as to indicate the style and size identifications.
The bending station conveniently consists of a head capable of bending the strip material accura-tely in either direction and a feed mechanism which can provide precise increments of longitudinal movement between successive bends. The strip material is held against longitudinal movement during bending and the two move-ments are conveniently controlled by a computer, e.g.
a microcomputer.
,., ~- :
` ~
Means for ~eeding the strip material may comprise a pair of rollers whose rotation is servocontrolled. Such an arrangement is relatively compact but assumes that no slippage or creep can occur between the strip material and the roller sur~aces. Any such slippaye or creep would cause a reduction in profile accuracy.
An alternative is to use a linear actuator again under positional servocontrol. Such an arrangement conveniently comprises a clamp on a feeding head and a second clamp adjacent to a bending head: the feed head clamp remains actuated during feeding whilst the bending head clamp will release during feeding. Conveniently the feed clamp releases at the end of the actuator stroke and the actuator can then return to its "start'l position and re-clamp. In such an arrangement a long strip length could be progressively fed through using a relatively short actuator stroke. Such an arrangement is a preferred method of feeding the strip material.
Conveniently the strip material is threaded through slotted guides to eliminate buckling.
The bending station conveniently comprises a snout through which the strip material is fed and a rotatable bending ' head located below the level of the outlet of the snout (hereinafter referred to as the tip of the snout). A
retractable bending pin protrudes upwardly from the bending head, offset from the centre of rotation thereof.
Positioning the pin on one side or the other of the strip material protruding through the snout tip, and rotating the bending head will result in a deflection of the strip ~2~
material about the snout tip, giving a localised bend.
Conveniently the snout is located above a horizontal table onto which the strip material is fed. Conveniently the upper end of the bending head is flush with the surface of the table and the pin protrudes above the bending head and therefore above the level of the table but is retractable into the bending head so as to allow the pin to be positioned on one side or the other o~ the strip material as required by retracting the pin into the bending head and rotating the latter so that the pin is moved from one side of the strip to the other.
Conveniently servohydraulic actuators are used for de-reeling the strip material from which the cutting blade is to be formed and for advancing the strîp material through the snout. Typically a feed mechanism comprises a linear actuator such as a hydraulic cylinder having typically a 500 millimetre stroke.
Conveniently the actuator for the bending head comprises a semi-rotary vane type actuator. Such actuators can provide up to 280 of rotation i.e. plus or minus 140 from centre and this is adequate for all but the most acute bends.
Preferably positional transducers are provided associated with both the feed and bend actuating mechanisms to Eeed back information to the control system.
The positional transducers may be either digital (for example optical) or analogue (i.e. potentio metric or inductive) devices. Conveniently all such sensitive and read~ly damaged components are mounted beneath the ~L~2~
operating area or table ~o~ protection.
Where broaching is require-3 to prevent cracking of the strip material, a broaching head may be incorporated in the feed line upstream from the bending head.
After a blade has been formed, it must be severed from the remainder of the stock of strip material and to this end a high speed edge cutter may be provided for parting of the finished knife from the feed material adjacent to the bending head. Conveniently the edge cutter descends from above the bending head.
After severance, the completed knife blade can either be removed manually, or conveyor means such as a transfer bar may be provided for moving the completed knife blade across the table to an exit chute or collection point.
It will be appreciated that it will not normally be possible to produce a complete closed knife form as a single piece due to the feed guide which protrudes above 20 I the level of the table. According to a preferred feature of the invention, each completed knife blade is formed from at least two separate pieces which are subsequently assembled and welded or brazed or otherwise bonded together to form the complete closed knife blade.
According to another preferred feature of the present invention apparatus is provided for constructing a support plate for fitting within the knife profile when formed, the latter being secured to the support plate by welding or brazing or other bonding technique.
Preferably a support plate of tlle type described is constructed by a cutting or milling technique from . ~ "
~2~
information derived from the profile inEormation used to form the strip into the knife pro~ile.
A support plate of the type described conveniently includes one or more large apertures to assist removal of the cut sheet material from the knife when in use and such apertures may also serve as location datums for manufacture.
Where pins or so-called prickers are required the holes into which the pins or prickers are to be secured may be machined in at the same time as the apertures are cut.
The cutting of a ~upport plate of the type described may be performed by a flame cutting technique or a plasma cutting technique, NC nibbling, laser cutting or profile milling.
According to another preferred feature of the invention the method of constructing a press knife includes the 20 I step of fitting the formed knife blade profile around a support plate itself constructed from information used to form the knife blade and welding or otherwise bonding the support plate to the knife blade material.
Conveniently the blade profile (or separate parts which will make up the blade profile after being welded or otherwise secured together) are located in a jig around the support plate before the blade profile and the support plate are bonded as by weldiny.
Marking of the finished cutter is required for the following:~
1) blade component identification,
Methods and Apparatus for Constructlng Cutting 'rools Descript~on Field of Invention This invention concerns methods of and apparatus for constructing cutting tools for cutting out areas of sheet material such as leather as a preliminary stage to a manufacturing process.
The invention is of particular application to the construction of press'knives for cutting out leather blanks from which boots and shoes can subsequently be constructed.
Background to the invention Shoe manufacturers currently manufacture press knives for leather cutting by a manual method using card templates.
Variation of style, width and s1ze means that only one knife of each type is usually required and fashion changes demand a regular flow of knives with new profiles.
One present metho~3 of manufacturing press knives employs a 'V' block into which a metal blade is bent locally under the actLon of a foot operated pin or other de~lecting device. The operator uses the card template as a visual guide and by creating a number o~ local bends at discrete points along the hlade produces a pro~ile wh1ch approxlmates adequately to the desired smooth shape 3n of the card template. Where particularly acute hends are r , . 1.
required, a combination of hea-t and broaching 'coge-ther with additional tools enables -the operator to pro~luce the substantial deformation withou-t cracking the material.
The blade has to be bent through a greater angle than is actually required in order to allow for sprinyback in the material of the blade. This is achieved through experience and skill of the operator and the continuous visual inspection which he provides.
The profile tolerance achievable with this method is typically plus or minus 0.4 millimetres and a knife for a piece such as an ln quarter will require approximately 60 discrete bends.
It is an objec-t of the present invention to provide an automated process and apparatus for manufacturing press knives for cutting leather.
Summary of the invention According to a broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of constructing a press knife including a knife blade secured to a support plate, for cutting out sheet materials such as leather. The method comprises generating data relating to the outline or profile of a sheet material blank which is to be cut out.
The data relating to the profile is converted into a plurality of channels of machine instructions. One of these channels of information is supplied -to a support plate manufacturing means for manufacturing the support plate. Conjointly, a second of the channels ; is supplied with information relating to a bending machine for forming strip material into the knife blade profile.
. ~:
According to a further broad aspect of the present inven-tion there ls provided a machine for bendiny strip and comprising means for incrementa~ly advancing a strip of material to bending station means. The bending station means includes an opposed pair of guide means each including guide means, and a pair of symmetric bending anvil means having opposed guide surfaces for longitudi-nally guiding the strip and oblique end surfaces making a sharp arcuate angle with a respective one of the guide surfaces. The guide means further includes means for bending the strip about a selected one of the lines defined by the juncture of one of the oblique end surfaces and its associated guide surface.
The method may include the step of fitting the formed strip internally with at least one strengthening member.
The latter may be a support plate forming a mounting for prickers~ the support plate being shaped with an outline corresponding to the desired configuration of the press knife.
c~mponent parts of the knife may be marked so as to indicate the style and size identifications.
The bending station conveniently consists of a head capable of bending the strip material accura-tely in either direction and a feed mechanism which can provide precise increments of longitudinal movement between successive bends. The strip material is held against longitudinal movement during bending and the two move-ments are conveniently controlled by a computer, e.g.
a microcomputer.
,., ~- :
` ~
Means for ~eeding the strip material may comprise a pair of rollers whose rotation is servocontrolled. Such an arrangement is relatively compact but assumes that no slippage or creep can occur between the strip material and the roller sur~aces. Any such slippaye or creep would cause a reduction in profile accuracy.
An alternative is to use a linear actuator again under positional servocontrol. Such an arrangement conveniently comprises a clamp on a feeding head and a second clamp adjacent to a bending head: the feed head clamp remains actuated during feeding whilst the bending head clamp will release during feeding. Conveniently the feed clamp releases at the end of the actuator stroke and the actuator can then return to its "start'l position and re-clamp. In such an arrangement a long strip length could be progressively fed through using a relatively short actuator stroke. Such an arrangement is a preferred method of feeding the strip material.
Conveniently the strip material is threaded through slotted guides to eliminate buckling.
The bending station conveniently comprises a snout through which the strip material is fed and a rotatable bending ' head located below the level of the outlet of the snout (hereinafter referred to as the tip of the snout). A
retractable bending pin protrudes upwardly from the bending head, offset from the centre of rotation thereof.
Positioning the pin on one side or the other of the strip material protruding through the snout tip, and rotating the bending head will result in a deflection of the strip ~2~
material about the snout tip, giving a localised bend.
Conveniently the snout is located above a horizontal table onto which the strip material is fed. Conveniently the upper end of the bending head is flush with the surface of the table and the pin protrudes above the bending head and therefore above the level of the table but is retractable into the bending head so as to allow the pin to be positioned on one side or the other o~ the strip material as required by retracting the pin into the bending head and rotating the latter so that the pin is moved from one side of the strip to the other.
Conveniently servohydraulic actuators are used for de-reeling the strip material from which the cutting blade is to be formed and for advancing the strîp material through the snout. Typically a feed mechanism comprises a linear actuator such as a hydraulic cylinder having typically a 500 millimetre stroke.
Conveniently the actuator for the bending head comprises a semi-rotary vane type actuator. Such actuators can provide up to 280 of rotation i.e. plus or minus 140 from centre and this is adequate for all but the most acute bends.
Preferably positional transducers are provided associated with both the feed and bend actuating mechanisms to Eeed back information to the control system.
The positional transducers may be either digital (for example optical) or analogue (i.e. potentio metric or inductive) devices. Conveniently all such sensitive and read~ly damaged components are mounted beneath the ~L~2~
operating area or table ~o~ protection.
Where broaching is require-3 to prevent cracking of the strip material, a broaching head may be incorporated in the feed line upstream from the bending head.
After a blade has been formed, it must be severed from the remainder of the stock of strip material and to this end a high speed edge cutter may be provided for parting of the finished knife from the feed material adjacent to the bending head. Conveniently the edge cutter descends from above the bending head.
After severance, the completed knife blade can either be removed manually, or conveyor means such as a transfer bar may be provided for moving the completed knife blade across the table to an exit chute or collection point.
It will be appreciated that it will not normally be possible to produce a complete closed knife form as a single piece due to the feed guide which protrudes above 20 I the level of the table. According to a preferred feature of the invention, each completed knife blade is formed from at least two separate pieces which are subsequently assembled and welded or brazed or otherwise bonded together to form the complete closed knife blade.
According to another preferred feature of the present invention apparatus is provided for constructing a support plate for fitting within the knife profile when formed, the latter being secured to the support plate by welding or brazing or other bonding technique.
Preferably a support plate of tlle type described is constructed by a cutting or milling technique from . ~ "
~2~
information derived from the profile inEormation used to form the strip into the knife pro~ile.
A support plate of the type described conveniently includes one or more large apertures to assist removal of the cut sheet material from the knife when in use and such apertures may also serve as location datums for manufacture.
Where pins or so-called prickers are required the holes into which the pins or prickers are to be secured may be machined in at the same time as the apertures are cut.
The cutting of a ~upport plate of the type described may be performed by a flame cutting technique or a plasma cutting technique, NC nibbling, laser cutting or profile milling.
According to another preferred feature of the invention the method of constructing a press knife includes the 20 I step of fitting the formed knife blade profile around a support plate itself constructed from information used to form the knife blade and welding or otherwise bonding the support plate to the knife blade material.
Conveniently the blade profile (or separate parts which will make up the blade profile after being welded or otherwise secured together) are located in a jig around the support plate before the blade profile and the support plate are bonded as by weldiny.
Marking of the finished cutter is required for the following:~
1) blade component identification,
2) supporl plate identiflcation, , .
3) assembled knife identification.
Normally, the invention will produce a knife blade in at least two pieces and it is there~ore desirable that the individual parts are marked to avoid confusion particularly when a set of knives are being produced consecutively.
Conveniently a pre-set number or a sequential number is applied to the hlade material by a punching machine.
In one arrangement all the parts of a knife may be marked with a two digit number which will automatically be incremented by one for each new set of knife parts. It will then be apparent to an operator assembling the knives from the parts, which parts are related. After lOO knives for example have been constructed, the counter will conveniently be re-set to zero and the sequence could be repeated.
.
Alternatively, a thermal printer may be connected to the bending machine controller and will produce a set of labels, typically self-adhesive labels, together with a knife description and if necessary a profile image which prior to assembly can be attached to the blade set and 25 ~ then bagged or boxed.
Whichever form o identification is used, a similar identification must be provided for marking the support ~ plate so that the appropriate support plate can be selected Eor making up each knife blade.
Knives constructed in accordance with contemporary ~, .
~s~
techniques carry three sets o~ marks:
a) a reference punch in the side of the blade giving size and pattern numbers, b) size marks in the blade edge to mark the cut leather, and c) a colour size mark on the ~nife face to assist the operator (known as a clicker) in selecting the right knife.
Each of these markings serves a partîcular function and the invention conveniently provides for a similar set of identification marks to be applied to knives constructed in accordance with the present invention.
Identification marks may, for example, be inserted in the blade edge between the straightenîng station and the bending head. This will inevitably increase the bending machine complexity however, and will also reduce the rate of bend formation. It will also require human intervention in the data preparation stage to select a "non-visible" portion of the profile where the marks can be placed prior to passing the data to the bender.
Colouring of the blade is most conveniently performed by means of manually painting the blade.
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-30Figure 1 is a data 10w path of a system for forming a press knife, as used by apparatus in accordance with the . . , invention, Figure 2 is a plan vlew from above of a bending station of apparatus in accordance with the invention, Figure 3 is a partial cross-section through a bending head at the bending station, and Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of knife blade forming machine forming part of the apparatus according to the invention.
Detailed description of the drawings In Figure 1, the data flow path of a system incorporating the invention is shown as comprising extraction of data from a computer system at 10 and the analysis and interpretation of the data at 12 to provide three channels of information.
The main channel includés a stage 14 for converting the analysed data to machine increment instructions.
Thereafter these instructions are supplied at 1~ to the control of a bending machine with or without broaching.
Where automated inspection of the bending process is provided for, this will occur at 18. After all of the bends have been formed, the bent knife blade parts are cut off at 20 and transferred to an assembly station at 22 where parts of the knife blade are welded together.
- 30 Thereafter the blade is marked at 24.
Information Erom the analysis and interpretation stage 12 is also passed by the left-hand channel through a data translation stage 26 to provide information for assembliny the parts which go to make up the completed knife blade and this in~ormation is supplied as a further input to the assembly stage 22. Lastly, the data from the stage 12 is provided via a data translation stage 28 to provide information from which the support plate can be manufactured. This information is supplied to a support plate manufacturing stage 30 which includes a cutter or like devîce for removing material from the pla~e in a correct shape and to a correct size. ~oles are formed in the support plate to receive the so-called pric~ers. The support plates from the manufacturing stage 30 are then supplied as a further input to the assembly stage 22.
Figure 2 shows somewhat diagrammatically how the strip material can be bent to form the different curves and bends of the ~nife blade profile. To this end a strip guide 32 serves to constrain a length of strip metal 20 , material 34 to move longitudinally along a generally straight path and through the outlet of a snout generally designated 36.
Below the snout 36 is located a bending head spindle 38 which is rotatable or angularly deflectable from a mean position so that an upstanding pin 40 can exert lateral force on the strip material protruding through the snout as at 42, so as to form a bend.
The bending pin 40 is retractable fully into the rotatable spindle 38 so that the latter can be rotated so as to position the bending pin 40 on the opposite side of the strip 42.
i8~ ~
Figure 3 shows in cross-section ho~l the hendin~ pin 40 protrudes from the spindle 38. The spindle 38 is a cylindrical member having an enlarged radial ~lange 44 at one end and an aperture through which the pin 40 can protrude.
A hydraulic semi-rotary actuator 46 rotates the spindle 38 to the desired angular position for engagement with one side or the other of the protruding strip material to bend the latter.
Figure 4 shows the layout of the incremental bending machine for producing press knife blades.
The bending station has a flat table 50 having a guard on four sides at 52, 54, 56 and 58. The table provides a support for a metal strip, part of which can be seen at 70 after it has been bent. Before being bent the strip material is relatively straight as at 60. The blade material passes through an actuator 62 for incrementally advancing the material, which is then supplied via the guide 32 to the outlet snout 36. The pin 40 is spaced from the snout 36 and engages the strip projecting beyond the snout 36.
The signals for the incremental feed actuator 62 and the bending head spindle 38 are derived ~rom a computer, the control panel for which is denoted by reEerence numeral ~ 72.
30~
The completed blades are severed from the stock strip material by means of a cutting tool (not shown) mounted (together with a cutter tool actuator 74) on a bridge 76 which extends across the width of the platform or table ~2~5~
50.
Conveniently the bridge is moveable so as to allo~l for a selection of the position at which the cutting tool will operate.
Although the pin 40 is shown cylindrical in the drawings, it preferably has an enlarged head at its upper end, the head being barrelled so that it makes point contact with the strip substantially halfway up the height Gf the latter.
The described machine performs incremental bending, each bend being imparted by bending the strip about the outlet of the snout 36, this outlet being aligned with the pivot axis of the spindle 38.
The snout outlet defines the point about which each increment of bending takes place, but the snout does not limit the amplitude of bend and does not act as a former around which bendiny takes place. The shape of the 20 ~ complete bend is determined by the magnitudes of the longitudinal advances and the magnitudes of the angular deflections, not by the shape of any former or mandrel.
It is preferred for the data relating to the profile of a 25 ~ knife to be formed to be generated and processed in a ! "main" computer, and to provide a smaller dedicated computer, such as a microcomputer, for controlling the bending machine. The microcomputer then issues the bending instructions in length and angle coordinates, the lengths representing the incremental advances of the strip materlal and the angles the incremental bends applied by the pin 40. The t-~o computers may be directly linked, but ~, ~2Z58~
a magnetic storaye medium is pre~erred as this ena~les the desi~n and bending systems to be run independently.
~: :
;, ., ~ y, )~ ~ .
.
Normally, the invention will produce a knife blade in at least two pieces and it is there~ore desirable that the individual parts are marked to avoid confusion particularly when a set of knives are being produced consecutively.
Conveniently a pre-set number or a sequential number is applied to the hlade material by a punching machine.
In one arrangement all the parts of a knife may be marked with a two digit number which will automatically be incremented by one for each new set of knife parts. It will then be apparent to an operator assembling the knives from the parts, which parts are related. After lOO knives for example have been constructed, the counter will conveniently be re-set to zero and the sequence could be repeated.
.
Alternatively, a thermal printer may be connected to the bending machine controller and will produce a set of labels, typically self-adhesive labels, together with a knife description and if necessary a profile image which prior to assembly can be attached to the blade set and 25 ~ then bagged or boxed.
Whichever form o identification is used, a similar identification must be provided for marking the support ~ plate so that the appropriate support plate can be selected Eor making up each knife blade.
Knives constructed in accordance with contemporary ~, .
~s~
techniques carry three sets o~ marks:
a) a reference punch in the side of the blade giving size and pattern numbers, b) size marks in the blade edge to mark the cut leather, and c) a colour size mark on the ~nife face to assist the operator (known as a clicker) in selecting the right knife.
Each of these markings serves a partîcular function and the invention conveniently provides for a similar set of identification marks to be applied to knives constructed in accordance with the present invention.
Identification marks may, for example, be inserted in the blade edge between the straightenîng station and the bending head. This will inevitably increase the bending machine complexity however, and will also reduce the rate of bend formation. It will also require human intervention in the data preparation stage to select a "non-visible" portion of the profile where the marks can be placed prior to passing the data to the bender.
Colouring of the blade is most conveniently performed by means of manually painting the blade.
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-30Figure 1 is a data 10w path of a system for forming a press knife, as used by apparatus in accordance with the . . , invention, Figure 2 is a plan vlew from above of a bending station of apparatus in accordance with the invention, Figure 3 is a partial cross-section through a bending head at the bending station, and Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of knife blade forming machine forming part of the apparatus according to the invention.
Detailed description of the drawings In Figure 1, the data flow path of a system incorporating the invention is shown as comprising extraction of data from a computer system at 10 and the analysis and interpretation of the data at 12 to provide three channels of information.
The main channel includés a stage 14 for converting the analysed data to machine increment instructions.
Thereafter these instructions are supplied at 1~ to the control of a bending machine with or without broaching.
Where automated inspection of the bending process is provided for, this will occur at 18. After all of the bends have been formed, the bent knife blade parts are cut off at 20 and transferred to an assembly station at 22 where parts of the knife blade are welded together.
- 30 Thereafter the blade is marked at 24.
Information Erom the analysis and interpretation stage 12 is also passed by the left-hand channel through a data translation stage 26 to provide information for assembliny the parts which go to make up the completed knife blade and this in~ormation is supplied as a further input to the assembly stage 22. Lastly, the data from the stage 12 is provided via a data translation stage 28 to provide information from which the support plate can be manufactured. This information is supplied to a support plate manufacturing stage 30 which includes a cutter or like devîce for removing material from the pla~e in a correct shape and to a correct size. ~oles are formed in the support plate to receive the so-called pric~ers. The support plates from the manufacturing stage 30 are then supplied as a further input to the assembly stage 22.
Figure 2 shows somewhat diagrammatically how the strip material can be bent to form the different curves and bends of the ~nife blade profile. To this end a strip guide 32 serves to constrain a length of strip metal 20 , material 34 to move longitudinally along a generally straight path and through the outlet of a snout generally designated 36.
Below the snout 36 is located a bending head spindle 38 which is rotatable or angularly deflectable from a mean position so that an upstanding pin 40 can exert lateral force on the strip material protruding through the snout as at 42, so as to form a bend.
The bending pin 40 is retractable fully into the rotatable spindle 38 so that the latter can be rotated so as to position the bending pin 40 on the opposite side of the strip 42.
i8~ ~
Figure 3 shows in cross-section ho~l the hendin~ pin 40 protrudes from the spindle 38. The spindle 38 is a cylindrical member having an enlarged radial ~lange 44 at one end and an aperture through which the pin 40 can protrude.
A hydraulic semi-rotary actuator 46 rotates the spindle 38 to the desired angular position for engagement with one side or the other of the protruding strip material to bend the latter.
Figure 4 shows the layout of the incremental bending machine for producing press knife blades.
The bending station has a flat table 50 having a guard on four sides at 52, 54, 56 and 58. The table provides a support for a metal strip, part of which can be seen at 70 after it has been bent. Before being bent the strip material is relatively straight as at 60. The blade material passes through an actuator 62 for incrementally advancing the material, which is then supplied via the guide 32 to the outlet snout 36. The pin 40 is spaced from the snout 36 and engages the strip projecting beyond the snout 36.
The signals for the incremental feed actuator 62 and the bending head spindle 38 are derived ~rom a computer, the control panel for which is denoted by reEerence numeral ~ 72.
30~
The completed blades are severed from the stock strip material by means of a cutting tool (not shown) mounted (together with a cutter tool actuator 74) on a bridge 76 which extends across the width of the platform or table ~2~5~
50.
Conveniently the bridge is moveable so as to allo~l for a selection of the position at which the cutting tool will operate.
Although the pin 40 is shown cylindrical in the drawings, it preferably has an enlarged head at its upper end, the head being barrelled so that it makes point contact with the strip substantially halfway up the height Gf the latter.
The described machine performs incremental bending, each bend being imparted by bending the strip about the outlet of the snout 36, this outlet being aligned with the pivot axis of the spindle 38.
The snout outlet defines the point about which each increment of bending takes place, but the snout does not limit the amplitude of bend and does not act as a former around which bendiny takes place. The shape of the 20 ~ complete bend is determined by the magnitudes of the longitudinal advances and the magnitudes of the angular deflections, not by the shape of any former or mandrel.
It is preferred for the data relating to the profile of a 25 ~ knife to be formed to be generated and processed in a ! "main" computer, and to provide a smaller dedicated computer, such as a microcomputer, for controlling the bending machine. The microcomputer then issues the bending instructions in length and angle coordinates, the lengths representing the incremental advances of the strip materlal and the angles the incremental bends applied by the pin 40. The t-~o computers may be directly linked, but ~, ~2Z58~
a magnetic storaye medium is pre~erred as this ena~les the desi~n and bending systems to be run independently.
~: :
;, ., ~ y, )~ ~ .
.
Claims (3)
1. A method of constructing a press knife including a knife blade secured to a support plate, for cutting out sheet materials such as leather comprising the steps of:
(1) generating data relating to the outline or profile of a sheet material blank which is to be cut out, (2) converting the data relating to the profile into a plurality of channels of machine instructions, (3) supplying one of said channels of information to a support plate manufacturing means for manufacturing the support plate, (4) conjointly supplying a second of said channels of information to a bending machine for forming strip material into the knife blade profile.
(1) generating data relating to the outline or profile of a sheet material blank which is to be cut out, (2) converting the data relating to the profile into a plurality of channels of machine instructions, (3) supplying one of said channels of information to a support plate manufacturing means for manufacturing the support plate, (4) conjointly supplying a second of said channels of information to a bending machine for forming strip material into the knife blade profile.
2. A method of constructing a press knife according to claim 1 further comprising the step of conjointly supplying a third of said channels of information to an assembly means for assembling the support plate and the knife blade.
3. A machine for bending strip comprising:
means for incrementally advancing a strip of material to bending station means, said bending station means including an opposed pair of guide means each including guide means, a pair of symmetric bending anvil means having opposed guide surfaces for longitudinally guiding the strip and oblique end surfaces making a sharp arcuate angle with a respective one of said guide surfaces, means for bending the strip about a selected one of the lines defined by the juncture of one of said oblique end surfaces and its associated guide surface.
means for incrementally advancing a strip of material to bending station means, said bending station means including an opposed pair of guide means each including guide means, a pair of symmetric bending anvil means having opposed guide surfaces for longitudinally guiding the strip and oblique end surfaces making a sharp arcuate angle with a respective one of said guide surfaces, means for bending the strip about a selected one of the lines defined by the juncture of one of said oblique end surfaces and its associated guide surface.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08206355A GB2119299A (en) | 1982-03-04 | 1982-03-04 | Making cutting tools |
| GB8206355 | 1982-03-04 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1225819A true CA1225819A (en) | 1987-08-25 |
Family
ID=10528778
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000422809A Expired CA1225819A (en) | 1982-03-04 | 1983-03-03 | Methods and apparatus for constructing cutting tools |
Country Status (10)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (2) | US4562754A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0088576B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS58160024A (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE19965T1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU1191183A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1225819A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3363672D1 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES8405666A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2119299A (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA831230B (en) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB8303954D0 (en) * | 1983-02-12 | 1983-03-16 | Pa Management Consult | Bending metal strip |
| GB8407712D0 (en) * | 1984-03-24 | 1984-05-02 | Ae Plc | Piston rings for ic engines |
| JPH0661583B2 (en) * | 1987-06-10 | 1994-08-17 | 末弘 水河 | Bending method of band blade |
| IT1235176B (en) * | 1989-01-18 | 1992-06-23 | Piegatrici Macch Elettr | UPRIGHT MOBILE SHEAR, FOLDING GROUP AND TAIL BENDING PROCEDURE. |
| IT1234184B (en) * | 1989-03-06 | 1992-05-05 | Piegatrici Macch Elettr | SHEAR GROUP. |
| US5119533A (en) * | 1989-06-08 | 1992-06-09 | Chuo Electric Mfg. Co., Ltd. | Method for bending hollow material using a mandrel and for adjusting the shape of the mandrel |
| US5239850A (en) * | 1989-06-08 | 1993-08-31 | Chuo Electric Mfg. Co., Ltd. | Method for bending elongated materials in a continuous manner |
| US6675682B2 (en) * | 1991-12-11 | 2004-01-13 | Byung-Jun Song | Cutting apparatus and automatic cutting system of blade's raw material of blanking die |
| JPH07214491A (en) * | 1991-12-11 | 1995-08-15 | Byung-Jun Song | Cutter device for trimming die |
| US5375445A (en) * | 1992-03-12 | 1994-12-27 | Mannasset Specialty Company | Apparatus for producing a shaft clutch mechanism |
| US5970769A (en) * | 1992-03-19 | 1999-10-26 | Laser Products, Inc. | Apparatus for bending sheet stock |
| US5461893A (en) * | 1993-05-28 | 1995-10-31 | Cnc Corporation | Method and apparatus for bending steel rule |
| US5595093A (en) * | 1994-05-12 | 1997-01-21 | Western Printing Machinery Company | Method of forming a rotary cutting die |
| IT1273918B (en) * | 1994-10-31 | 1997-07-11 | For El Base Di Vianello Fortun | AUTOMATIC PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR CALENDERING ALUMINUM PROFILES FOR THE FORMATION OF SPACER FRAMES FOR INSULATING GLASS PANELS |
| US5537895A (en) * | 1994-11-10 | 1996-07-23 | Ameri-Die, Inc. | Automatic steel cutting rule bender |
| JP3478891B2 (en) * | 1995-01-11 | 2003-12-15 | 末弘 水河 | Manufacturing method of band blade |
| KR0182069B1 (en) * | 1995-06-22 | 1999-04-01 | 송병준 | Bent-up system of cutting blade |
| JPH09254095A (en) * | 1996-03-22 | 1997-09-30 | Tsukatani Hamono Seisakusho:Kk | Automatic work device for band blade provided with marking device |
| US5881591A (en) * | 1996-08-13 | 1999-03-16 | Ondracek; Carl | Automatic channel letter bending machine |
| EP0890405B1 (en) * | 1997-07-08 | 2003-04-09 | Alfred Visilit | Method for manufacturing a circular cutting tool and machine for carrying out the method |
| US6029333A (en) * | 1997-12-04 | 2000-02-29 | Ferco Tech Corporation | Method of making an inspection fixture for determining the accuracy of bent tubular parts |
| US6367302B1 (en) | 2000-11-13 | 2002-04-09 | Hong Soon Park | Method for bending and cutting metal strip material |
| US6324953B1 (en) | 1998-06-11 | 2001-12-04 | Hong Soon Park | Device for forming cutting blade for prints |
| EP1264648A1 (en) * | 1998-06-11 | 2002-12-11 | Hong S. Park | Method of bending and cutting a metal strip |
| US6094960A (en) * | 1999-04-20 | 2000-08-01 | Kane; Kevin Alan | Metal strip bending device |
| CN1515378B (en) * | 1999-08-27 | 2010-05-05 | 朴洪顺 | Equipment for forming bridge opening on cutting blade |
| WO2001021336A1 (en) * | 1999-09-22 | 2001-03-29 | Carl Ondracek | Automatic retainer bending machine for channel letters |
| US6604395B2 (en) * | 2001-07-23 | 2003-08-12 | St Assembly Test Services Ltd. | Semi-automated probe bender |
| ITMI20020936A1 (en) * | 2002-05-03 | 2003-11-03 | Pro Form S R L | IMPROVED BENDING CONTROL METHOD FOR A DIE PRODUCTION PLANT AND RELEVANT BENDING CONTROL DEVICE |
| ITUD20020210A1 (en) * | 2002-10-11 | 2004-04-12 | Antonio Codatto | PROCEDURE AND DEVICE FOR BENDING ELEMENTS, |
| US20050005664A1 (en) * | 2003-07-09 | 2005-01-13 | Wesley Scott | System and method for bending strip material to create cutting dies |
| EP1670614A4 (en) * | 2003-10-10 | 2011-08-17 | 1500999 Ontario Inc | System and method for making braces for dies |
| DE102004031421A1 (en) * | 2004-06-29 | 2006-02-16 | Böhler-Uddeholm Precision Strip GmbH & Co. KG | Cutting lines having cutting tools or punching knife |
| DE112005003504B4 (en) * | 2005-03-14 | 2011-06-09 | Mizukawa, Suehiro, Settsu | Automatic bending machine for a steel stamping punch, as well as steel stamping dies |
| US7387009B2 (en) * | 2005-03-24 | 2008-06-17 | Kevin Kane | Automated bending machine |
| WO2007102176A1 (en) | 2006-03-08 | 2007-09-13 | Pro Form S.R.L. | Device and method for bending a metallic strip |
| US8333097B1 (en) * | 2008-06-10 | 2012-12-18 | Robert Frear | Hydraulic bender for a skid-steer loader |
| US8910547B2 (en) * | 2011-04-25 | 2014-12-16 | Xerox Corporation | Computerized, segmented steel rule type die making system and method |
| DE102012102057A1 (en) * | 2012-03-12 | 2013-09-12 | Elcede Gmbh | bending unit |
| US10898977B2 (en) * | 2017-02-27 | 2021-01-26 | Seoul Laser Dieboard System Co., Ltd. | Adding cutting stations to bending systems |
| CN107125847A (en) * | 2017-05-23 | 2017-09-05 | 谢英 | A kind of sole rubber autoamtic cutter |
| WO2020041880A1 (en) * | 2018-08-28 | 2020-03-05 | Ontario Die International Inc. | Systems, apparatus and methods for forming metal strips into dies |
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| US1121377A (en) * | 1911-10-31 | 1914-12-15 | Edwin O Krentler | Method of making dies for shoe parts. |
| GB465107A (en) * | 1934-10-31 | 1937-04-26 | United Shoe Machinery Corp | Improvements in or relating to cutting dies and methods of producing the same |
| GB524000A (en) * | 1939-01-19 | 1940-07-26 | Mark Rukin | Improvements in knives for clicking presses |
| GB544656A (en) * | 1939-10-23 | 1942-04-22 | United Shoe Machinery Corp | Improvements in or relating to cutting dies or methods of making the same |
| US2281587A (en) * | 1939-10-23 | 1942-05-05 | United Shoe Machinery Corp | Method of making cutting dies |
| GB559373A (en) * | 1942-08-12 | 1944-02-16 | United Shoe Machinery Corp | Improvements in or relating to cutting dies |
| US2495221A (en) * | 1945-08-04 | 1950-01-24 | Berlin Milton | Method of making cutting dies |
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| GB906668A (en) * | 1959-12-12 | 1962-09-26 | Baird Machine Co | Apparatus for progressively forming articles from wire |
| AT256668B (en) * | 1961-09-04 | 1967-09-11 | Chrobok Hoffmann K G Stanzmess | Punch knife |
| GB1011988A (en) * | 1963-03-14 | 1965-12-01 | Slumberland Group Ltd | Wire bending machine |
| US3393714A (en) * | 1965-05-19 | 1968-07-23 | Lear Siegler Inc | Wire-bending apparatus |
| DE1552891A1 (en) * | 1966-09-22 | 1969-09-11 | Hilgers Maschinen Und App Baua | Pipe bending machine with a numerical control |
| CH493313A (en) * | 1968-02-03 | 1970-07-15 | Roeder & Spengler Ohg | Cutting die |
| US3553989A (en) * | 1968-04-23 | 1971-01-12 | Pines Engineering Co Inc | Tube bender with incremental tube measurement |
| BE791166A (en) * | 1972-04-12 | 1973-03-01 | Evg Entwicklung Verwert Ges | WIRE OR METAL TAPE CRUSHER |
| AT316267B (en) * | 1972-04-12 | 1974-07-10 | Evg Entwicklung Verwert Ges | Bending machine for wire or ribbon material |
| GB1444902A (en) * | 1972-05-13 | 1976-08-04 | Intalok Ltd | Apparatus for bending wire |
| FR2270584A1 (en) * | 1974-05-07 | 1975-12-05 | Energetics Science | Appts for detecting measuring nitrogen oxides |
| JPS511543U (en) * | 1974-06-22 | 1976-01-08 | ||
| AT338071B (en) * | 1974-12-16 | 1977-07-25 | Evg Entwicklung Verwert Ges | BENDING MACHINE FOR ROD-SHAPED MATERIAL, IN PARTICULAR FOR CONCRETE REINFORCEMENT ROD |
| AT345065B (en) * | 1976-03-25 | 1978-08-25 | Evg Entwicklung Verwert Ges | AUTOMATIC CONTROL DEVICE FOR A BENDING MACHINE INTENDED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CONCRETE REINFORCEMENT STRUCTURES FROM BAR OR WIRE MATERIAL |
| US4161110A (en) * | 1977-04-28 | 1979-07-17 | EVG Entwicklungs- und Verwertungs-Gesellschaft mbH. | Automatic control device for a bending machine |
| IT1125327B (en) * | 1979-02-28 | 1986-05-14 | Piegatrici Macch Elettr | STAPLING MACHINE |
| AT367322B (en) * | 1980-01-16 | 1982-06-25 | Evg Entwicklung Verwert Ges | SYSTEM FOR THE PRODUCTION OF IRON OF DIFFERENT DESIGN AND SIZE, IN PARTICULAR OF REINFORCEMENT FELS |
-
1982
- 1982-03-04 GB GB08206355A patent/GB2119299A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1983
- 1983-02-23 ZA ZA831230A patent/ZA831230B/en unknown
- 1983-02-28 AU AU11911/83A patent/AU1191183A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1983-02-28 US US06/470,384 patent/US4562754A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1983-03-01 JP JP58034294A patent/JPS58160024A/en active Granted
- 1983-03-01 EP EP83301076A patent/EP0088576B1/en not_active Expired
- 1983-03-01 AT AT83301076T patent/ATE19965T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1983-03-01 DE DE8383301076T patent/DE3363672D1/en not_active Expired
- 1983-03-03 CA CA000422809A patent/CA1225819A/en not_active Expired
- 1983-03-03 ES ES520284A patent/ES8405666A1/en not_active Expired
-
1987
- 1987-05-19 US US07/054,066 patent/US4773284A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPH0581377B2 (en) | 1993-11-12 |
| ATE19965T1 (en) | 1986-06-15 |
| DE3363672D1 (en) | 1986-07-03 |
| US4773284A (en) | 1988-09-27 |
| AU1191183A (en) | 1983-09-08 |
| EP0088576A3 (en) | 1984-03-28 |
| GB2119299A (en) | 1983-11-16 |
| EP0088576A2 (en) | 1983-09-14 |
| ES520284A0 (en) | 1984-05-16 |
| US4562754A (en) | 1986-01-07 |
| ES8405666A1 (en) | 1984-05-16 |
| EP0088576B1 (en) | 1986-05-28 |
| JPS58160024A (en) | 1983-09-22 |
| ZA831230B (en) | 1983-11-30 |
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| MKEX | Expiry |