WO2015154117A1

WO2015154117A1 - Device and method for bending a profiled element

Info

Publication number: WO2015154117A1
Application number: PCT/AT2015/050092
Authority: WO
Inventors: Franz Steiner
Original assignee: Stonawski, Rudolf; Clever Contour Gesmbh
Priority date: 2014-04-09
Filing date: 2015-04-08
Publication date: 2015-10-15
Also published as: AT514954B1; EP3129169A1; AT514954A4

Abstract

Device (1) and method for bending a profiled element (2), said device (1) comprising at least one adjustable bending element (11) for bending the profiled element (12) by adjusting the bending element (11). A supporting element (4) that includes a through-hole (5) for passing the profiled element (2) therethrough is provided, and at least one holder (13) for the bending element (11) is adjustably arranged on the supporting element (4). The bending element (11) is provided in the form of a bending mandrel (12) which allows a portion of the profiled element (2) that protrudes through the through-hole (5) of the supporting element (4) to be bent.

Description

Device and method for bending a profile element

The invention relates to a device for bending a profile element with at least one adjustable bending element in order to bend the profile element by adjusting the bending element.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for bending a profile element, in particular for a support or protection device adapted to a body part, wherein the profile element is locally heated and bent.

In many fields of application there is a need for individually adaptable, elongate profile elements which can be used as strand or spacer elements in skeletal or lattice-like structures.

In WO 2011/044595 AI a support device has been proposed for adaptation to a body part with which conventional plaster casts to be replaced. In the known technique image data is taken by the relevant body part, which are evaluated to determine a 3D model with the help of computer means. Based on this 3D model, a set of control signals for different driver stages is then generated via a numerical control. This driver stages then controlled by respective driving signals to various Formge ^¬ advertising medium. Starting from a suitable rod or strand material made of thermoplastic material, elongate support elements are produced with the aid of the various shaping devices. The rod material is supplied after heating with Hil ^¬ fe a heater a forming device with forming rollers. In addition, a Druckeinstelleinheit for the upper forming roller is provided to move them with the respective pressure and also with the respective adjustment relative to the two lower forming rollers and thus corresponding bends, bends, indentations or the like. to be provided in the bar material.

However, protective devices such as elbow protectors, protective helmets, protective clothing for workers and athletes can also be made from the individually adapted support elements become. For example, an execution of a

Protective pants described in which anatomically shaped individually support parts are inserted in a tissue fabric in the body regions to be protected. Are Selbstver ^¬ understandable even more uses for this technology, such as anatomically shaped vehicle seats given.

In addition, DE 10 2004 002 539 A1 has disclosed a method and a device for bending an elongate profile body, in particular a pipe, from plastic which is ^deformable under elevated temperature. The elongate profile body is supplied to a drive unit in a feed direction in the axial direction of a heating device for heating the regions of the profile body to be bent. The heated bending areas are bent by means of a bending device. The bent portions of the profile body are finally cooled by cooling devices and the profile body is cut to the appropriate length. The machining operations can be controlled by means of a control device. Bending rollers are provided for the bending, wherein the last bending roller in the direction of passage can be changed in position. Similarly, from EP 2 674 279 AI a profile bending ^¬ technology known in which bending roller sets are used, which are moved relative to each other during roll bending.

In practice, however, numerous disadvantages of such bending rolls have been shown. The control of the bending rollers is relatively complicated. In addition, limita ^¬ fluctuations arise in the cross-sectional geometry of the profile body. Furthermore, it is disadvantageous that the bending rollers can not or only with great ^¬ ßem effort can be exchanged to produce other profile body. In addition, the space requirement of the bending rollers is disadvantageous.

In contrast, the object of the present invention is to alleviate or eliminate the disadvantages of the prior art. The invention is therefore in particular the goal of creating a structurally simple, compact bending device and bending method of the type mentioned, with wel ^¬ cher profile elements of different cross-sectional geometries can be easily made.

This object is achieved by a device as set forth in claim 1 and by a method as set forth in claim 20.

According to the invention, a bearing element with a Durchtrittsöff ^¬ voltage is provided for the passage of the profile element, being arranged on the bearing element at least one holder for the bending element ver ^¬ adjustable, and is seen ^¬ as bending element, a bending mandrel, with which a projecting through the through opening of the bearing element section the profile element is bendable.

With the inventive bending device elongated or elongated profile elements can be provided ^¬ a particularly simple manner forth, wherein the mandrel variety of geometries can be generated with the bending element in the form of bending. For this purpose, a profile element forming rod or strand ^¬ material is provided, which is selected according to the particular application from the materials mentioned in AT 507 888 Bl. Therefore, plastics, preferably thermoplastics, but also metals, metal alloys or memory materials, ie materials with shape memory, can be provided as rod or strand material. The Profilele ^¬ element can have various cross-sectional geometries, such as a round or rectangular cross section, said cross section of the profile element is preferably constant in the longitudinal direction of Pro ^¬ filelements. Preferably, the semifinished product for the profile element is obtained by extrusion. The profile element is guided through the passage opening of the Lagerele ^¬ element, which is preferably formed according to the cross section of the profile element. In a preferred embodiment, the bearing element is stationary, ie stationary during the bending process, arranged. In a further preferred embodiment, the bearing element is adjustable, in particular ver ^¬ rotatable by a coincident with the feed ^¬ direction of the profile element pivot axis ver ^¬ arranged. In a further preferred embodiment, the passage opening is provided on an inner bearing part of the bearing element, the inner bearing part preferably being adjustably mounted in an outer bearing part of the bearing element. is orders. This embodiment has the particular advantage that the inner bearing part can be designed as an insert, wel ^¬ Ches can be replaced depending on the application. It is particularly preferred that the inner bearing part is adjustable to change the passage opening. This embodiment has the advantage that the passage opening can be increased or decreased as needed to take into account, for example, thermal or torsion caused by expansion of the profile element due to heating. In order to enable the setting of the passage opening, the inner bearing part with an actuator, such as a pneumatic drive, ver ^¬ bound segments have.

For the deformation of the profile element, the holder for the bending mandrel is adjusted relative to the bearing element, so that the bending mandrel provided on the holder is pressed against the section of the profile element projecting from the passage opening. The holder is preferably connected to an actuator, which is controlled by means of a control unit. With Hil ^¬ Fe of the bending mandrel a defined Biege ^{¬ point} is generated on the profile element, which allows an individual adaptation of the profile ^¬ element to the desired application, for example in the above-mentioned support or protective device for a body part. By adjusting the holder relative to the bearing element, the bending points on the profile element can be provided with high accuracy. Advantageously, a stable bending device with a small size is achieved by the inventive storage of the holder on the bearing element, which is also structurally simple and less susceptible to interference. Due to the configuration of the bending element as ver ^¬ pushable bending mandrel can be dispensed with the forming rollers required in the prior art. According to the invention, a bending mandrel is used for bending the profile element, which is distinguished by a more compact design in comparison to the conventional bending rollers or forming rollers in the prior art. Due to the compact design, the dung OF INVENTION ^¬ proper bending device can be better integrated into an automatic Ferti ^¬ supply line. Furthermore, it is advantageous that the control of the mandrel can be done easier and with higher Reliability ^¬ sity. In addition, the bending device be converted easier and faster to produce profile elements with different cross-sectional geometries.

Preferably, the bending mandrel at the free end on a accordingly ^¬ the profile element shaped contact surface. Depending on ^¬ application of the bending mandrel can therefore for example have a concave indentation at the free end, which fits into a round profile element. In order to bend the profile elements with different cross ^¬ cut precisely, it is favorable if the bending mandrel at the free end has a removable bending part with the bearing surface for the profile element. As a result, the bending part which is suitable for the respective profile element can be provided on the bending device in the manner of an attachment.

In order to enable the adjustment of the mandrel on the bearing element with konstruk ^¬ tively simple means in a reliable manner, it is advantageous if the bearing element has a curved, in particular substantially spherically curved, guide portion on which the holder for the mandrel is pivotally mounted. By pivoting the holder along the curved guide portion of the bearing element, the bending ^¬ mandrel can be moved relative to the passage opening of the bearing element in order to bend the penetrating portion of the profile element in the desired shape. As a result, a particularly simple pivot mechanism is achieved, which also works reliably ^¬ durably. Preferably, a spherical guide section is provided. In another application, however, an ellipsoidal guide section can also be used.

In order to place the free end of the mandrel in the area of Durchtrittsöff ^¬ voltage of the storage element, it is advantageous if the Bie ^¬ gedorn is arc-shaped, in particular circular arc-shaped, curved. Accordingly, the bending mandrel is bent starting from the holder inwardly, so that the free end of the mandrel is positioned through ^¬ opening of the bearing member before.

In order to arrange the bending mandrel along a predetermined guide path slidably on the bearing element, it is advantageous if the curved guide portion of the bearing element has an elongated Having recess for guiding the curved bending mandrel. The elongate recess preferably extends from an outer region of the curved guide section in the direction of the passage opening, which is preferably located in the region of a central axis of the bearing element.

According to a preferred embodiment, two bending mandrels are provided on the holder, wherein the two bending mandrels are preferably arranged opposite one another on the holder. Be ^¬ preferred are provided on the bracket exactly two bending mandrels. It is advantageous if the bending mandrels are formed ident, with the free ends of the bending mandrels are arranged opposite to each other. Preferably, the holder with the bending mandrel on the curved, in particular spherical, guide portion is pivotable in opposite directions in order to bend the protruding from the passage opening portion of the profile element with the one bending mandrel in one direction or with the other bending mandrel in the other direction.

Of course, however, more than two bending mandrels can be provided on the same holder. In addition, the holder may have differently configured bending mandrels.

In order to adapt the shape of the profile element in a variety of ways, it is advantageous if two brackets are provided with two bending mandrels, wherein the bending mandrels are pivotable on the holding ^¬ ments in different, preferably mutually perpendicular planes. Preferably, exactly two brackets with at least two, in particular exactly two, bending mandrels are provided. However, more than two brackets can be adjustably arranged on the bearing element. Preferably, the pivot planes of the brackets are arranged perpendicular to each other. However, the brackets can also be arranged in a different angular position from each other by an angular arrangement. Thus, the profile element can be bent in total in at least four different directions, which advantageously also complicated geometries Herge ^¬ can be made, which are useful in a variety of applications, such as support or protection devices for body parts, individual concrete formwork or components. Preferably, the bending mandrels of a holder in a horizontal Level and the bending mandrels of the other holder in a verti ^¬ len plane pivotally.

For stable mounting of the holder on the bearing element, it is advantageous if the holder has a retaining ring on which the bending mandrel, preferably the two bending mandrels, is or are provided.

In order to arrange the brackets to save space on the bearing element, it is advantageous when an inner retaining ring provided on the outer side of the bearing element a externa ^¬ ßerer retaining ring and / or on the inside of the bearing member. Accordingly, the particular spherically curved inner side of the bearing element can be used as Führungsab ^{¬ section} for the inner retaining ring and the particular spherically curved outside of the bearing element as a guide portion for the outer retaining ring.

According to a preferred disclosed embodiment, at least one bending mandrel at the free end on a guide tab on which an underside of the projecting through the passage opening portion of the profile element can be supported. Accordingly, a support surface is provided on the guide ^¬ lug, on which the Profilele ^¬ ment is guided during bending. Advantageously, can be so reli ^¬ permeable prevents a slack for bending heated region of the profile element. Thus, the Formstabili ^¬ ity of the profile element produced can be improved. Preferably, the guide tab is provided on a displaceable in a horizontal plane or in a plane extending obliquely to the horizontal bending mandrel. In addition, the guide plate may also have an upper guide surface, on which an upper side of the projecting through the passage opening portion of the profile element is feasible.

According to a further preferred embodiment, at least a bending mandrel at the free end of a bending plate, which is movable to the through-opening ^¬ toward and away of the passage opening. Thereby, the bending of the profile element is teach ^¬ te bending lug of the passage opening can be approximated. This embodiment is particularly advantageous when a profile ^¬ element is made with a rectangular cross-section, which is guided in a horizontal arrangement through the correspondingly shaped passage opening.

In order to promote the profile element during the bending process by the Durchtrittsöff ^¬ voltage of the storage element, it is advantageous if a feeding device for advancing the profile element whose longitudinal axis is provided in the direction having preferably a Füh ^¬ carrying track for the profile element. The feed ^device preferably has a feed drive. In a be ^¬ preferred embodiment of the feed drive is coupled with a driving ^¬ element, with which the profile element can be advanced within the guide rail. The guide rail preferably has a groove-shaped recess for receiving the Pro ^¬ filelements. The groove-shaped recess is preferably formed ent ^¬ speaking the cross section of the profile element, wherein the profile element or the groove-shaped recess of the guide rail, for example, may have a rectangular or circular cross-section.

In order to bring the profile element in a deformable state, it is advantageous if a heating device is provided for local heating of the profile element. Thereafter, the profile element can be bent or twisted at the heated points with the mandrel. For example, an infrared radiation source, a hot air supply, a heating mat, a heat convection device, a contact heater, a halogen emitter or a quartz emitter can be provided as the heating device.

To rotate sections of the profile element against each other, it is advantageous if a twisting device is provided for rotating the profile element about its longitudinal axis. Therefore, with the rotation means Ver ^¬ a torsion of the profile element can be achieved with respect to its longitudinal axis, which may be in addition to the bending of the profile element to the bending mandrel required in some applications.

The rotation of the profile element can be achieved in a particularly simple manner, when the twisting device, in particular by means of a pivot ring, is connected to the guide rail for the Pro ^¬ filelement. In a preferred embodiment the pivot ring around the elongated guide rail around ^¬ ordered, with a rotationally fixed connection between the pivot ring and the guide rail is provided. The pivot ^ring is, in particular by means of a belt drive, connected to a pivot ^¬ drive. Of course, other means for transmitting the torque from the pivot drive to the pivot ring, such as a chain drive, may be provided.

To a rotation of the profile element by a predetermined torsion angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the profile element to it ^¬ possible, it is advantageous if the twisting device has a fixing element for fixing the profile element in the guide ^¬ rail, so that the profile element by pivoting the guide rail between the Fixing and the passage ^¬ opening is deformable. The fixing element preferably has a corresponding element of the profile in cross-section Fixieröff ^¬ voltage, so that the profile element is held during the rotation in the proper position be ^¬ humor within the recess of the guide rail.

In order to fix sections of the profile element in the bent or twisted about its longitudinal axis state, it is advantageous if a curing and / or cooling device is provided for curing or cooling of the profile element. Accordingly, on the one hand a cooling device can be provided, with which, for example, cooling air is discharged to the profile element. On the other hand, a curing device can be provided to ^¬ beizuführen example by means of ultraviolet light curing of the profile element forth.

According to a preferred embodiment, the curing or cooling device has a curing or cooling element at the free end of the bending mandrel and / or a curing or cooling element in the region of the twisting device. Accordingly, a Aushärt- or cooling element at the free end of the mandrel can be provided to the Pro ^¬ filelement for For ^¬ cure at the generated with the bending mandrel bend and cool. This embodiment is particularly advantageous because the cooling or curing element is integrated directly into the bending mandrel. As a result, shorter cooling or Aushärtzei ^¬ th can be achieved. In addition, precisely a local cooling can or hardening be brought about, with which the cross section of the profile element is kept substantially constant. In addition, a curing or cooling element of the Verdre ^¬ heinrichtung be assigned to fix a rotation of the profile element about its longitudinal axis by curing or cooling.

The scope of the bending device can be extended by a unit for forming a recess in the profile element, in particular for forming a groove-shaped From ^¬ recess for the release of bending of the profile element and / or for forming a retaining opening for connection to another profile element, is provided, wherein the unit is vorzugswei ^¬ se designed as a milling device. The milling device can have a movable milling head with which various recesses can be produced in the profile element. In a first preferred embodiment, a groove-shaped recess is created with the milling device, which facilitates the bending of the Pro ^¬ filelements at the groove-shaped recess. In a further preferred embodiment, a holding opening is provided in the profile element with the milling device, which is designed for connection to other profile elements. As a result, the assembly of a skeleton or grid-like support structure can already be prepared in the bending device according to the invention, which forms the desired three-dimensional free-form surface. Instead of the milling device can also be provided a punching or cutting device.

To avoid weak points in the profile element, it is advantageous if a unit for permanently connecting the sections of the profile element adjoining the groove-shaped recess is provided after bending of the profile element, wherein the unit is preferably designed as a welding unit.

The stability of the profile at the bending Stel ^¬ len can be improved. Instead of the welding unit also ei ^¬ ne adhesive unit may be provided for bonding adjacent to the groove-shaped recess portions of the profile element.

In the method according to the invention, the profile element is guided through a passage opening of a bearing element, whereupon a bearing mandrel mounted on the bending mandrel is adjusted to bend the projecting through the passage opening portion of the profile element. The advantages and technical effects of this method will become apparent from the above explanations of the bending device.

In this method, it is advantageous if a profile element made of plastic, a metal, a metal alloy or a material with a memory effect is bent.

In order to facilitate the formation of the bending point, a groove-shaped recess is preferably produced in the profile element, in particular ^¬ special milled, with which the bending of the profile element is released on the groove-shaped recess.

In this embodiment, it is advantageous if the groove-shaped recess adjacent portions of the profile element after bending of the profile element on the groove-shaped recess permanently connected to each other, in particular welded, are.

For the production of individually adapted elements in various ^¬ th application areas, it is advantageous if several support and / or spacer elements forming profile elements are produced, which are assembled into a skeleton or lattice-like structure.

In a preferred application of the method, the profile elements are produced as constituents of a shape-adapted to a body part supporting or protective device. In this case, image data is taken by the body part or the image data is taken from a drawing program. The image data are evaluated to determine a 3D model of the body part using computer means, being derived from the 3D model control data for the device described above for bending the Profilele ^¬ ment to individually tailored to the intended use profile elements. For this purpose, the method of AT 507 888 Bl can be used, which can be combined with particular advantages with the bending device according to the invention. Of course, the skeleton or lattice-like structure of profile elements can also be used in other fields of application.

For example, an application in which a skeleton-like or lattice-like internal structure for a concrete formwork element is produced from the profile elements is particularly advantageous. Dar ^¬ beyond the skeletal or grid-like structure may be used for profile elements for individually to matching components. In these applications, it is advantageous if a cover element is applied to the skeleton or grid-like structure of the profile elements.

The invention will be explained below with reference to preferred embodiments, to which it should not be limited. In detail shows:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention for bending of profile elements, in which a bearing element is provided with a passage opening for the profile element, which is bent with two pairs of bending mandrels on pivotable brackets.

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section through the bending device according to FIG. 1 in the region of a pair of bending mandrels; FIG.

3 is a perspective view of the bending device according to Figures 1 and 2, wherein a feed device for advancing the profile element in a guide rail and a Verdrehein ^¬ direction for rotating the profile element about its longitudinal axis.

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 3 of the bending device according to FIG 1 to 3, wherein the guide rail with the inserted therein profile element has been pivoted by means of a pivot ring of the ^¬ Ver rotator..;

Fig. 5 shows schematic parts of a bending device similar to FIG. 1 to 4, wherein a fixing element of the turning device is ersicht ^¬ Lich to the profile element between the fixing and to turn the passage opening of the bearing element;

6 shows a schematic view of the bending device according to FIGS. 1 to 4 in a first pivoting position of an outer retaining ring in order to bend the profile element with the one bending mandrel on one side, wherein the bending mandrel has an adjustable bending tab at the free end;

7 shows a schematic view of the bending device according to FIGS. 1 to 4 in a second pivoting position of the outer retaining ring in order to bend the profile element with the other bending mandrel to the other side;

8 shows a schematic view of a bending device similar to FIGS. 1 to 4 in a first pivoting position of an inner retaining ring in order to bend the profile element with the one bending mandrel onto the one side;

9 shows a schematic view of the bending device according to FIG. 8 in a second pivoting position of the inner retaining ring in order to bend the profile element with the other bending mandrel to the other side;

10a schematically shows a part of the bending device, wherein a milling device for milling a recess in the profile element is visible;

10b schematically shows a view according to FIG. 10a, wherein a milling head of the milling device has been displaced for milling the recess;

Fig. IIa schematically shows a cross section of the bending element in Be ^¬ rich a groove-shaped recess, which was produced with the milling device of FIG. 10; and

Fig. IIb schematically shows a cross section according to Fig. IIa, wherein the profile element was bent in the region of the groove-shaped recess, before the adjoining the recess portions of the profile element are welded together by means of a welding device. In Fig. 1 to 5, a device 1 for bending an elongate profile element 2 is shown, which is generated from a strand ^¬ or rod material, in particular of a thermoplastic material. The strand or rod material may, for example by means of an extruder, are supplied as endless material ^¬ leads. The profile element 2 can be used as part of a skeletal or grid-like structure, for example, for a support or protection device adapted to a body part or for a concrete formwork element.

The device 1, as shown in FIG. 1, a stationary frame 3, which is composed of various frame members 3 ', which are not essential for the present invention. The frame 3 carries a bearing element 4, which has an inner bearing ^¬ part 4 'and an outer bearing part 4''. The outer La ^¬ gerteil 4 '' is stationary in the embodiment shown, ie stationary during bending, arranged. The inner bearing part 4 'can be adjustable, in particular pivotable, be stored in the outer bearing part 4''. The bearing element 4 has on the inner bearing part 4 'a passage opening 5 for the passage of the Pro ^¬ filelementes 2, wherein the passage opening 5 may be adjustable in size. For this purpose, the inner bearing part 4 'with a drive mutually adjustable elements (not shown). Advantageously, can be taken into account as from thermal expansions ^¬ of the profile element. 2

As is further apparent from Fig. 1, the profiled element 2 is longitudinally displaced by means of a feed device 6, i. in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the profile element 2, advanced. The feed device 6 has a guide rail 7 for inserting the profile element 2, which is connected to a feed drive 8 for advancing the profile element 2. The feed drive 8 is connected via (not shown) force transmission means with a driving element 9 ', with which the profile element 2 is displaceable within the guide rail 7 in its longitudinal direction.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, a twisting device 9 (explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3, 4) for twisting or twisting is also provided. Drill of the profile element 2 provided about the longitudinal axis. The twisting device 9 has a pivot ring 10 which is rotatably ver ^¬ connected with the guide rail 7 for the profile element 2.

Referring to FIG. 1 1 also, the device comprises adjustable bending ^¬ elements 11 to bend the profile element 2 by adjustment of the bending elements 11 in the desired shape. In ge ^¬ showed embodiment, the flexures 11 are formed by longitudinal bending mandrels 12, which are guided against projecting through the Durchtrittsöff ^¬ voltage 5 of the bearing element 4 portions of Profilelemen ^¬ tes 2 in order to produce at least a defined bending point on the profile element. 2 For this purpose, the bending mandrels 12 are provided in pairs on holders 13, which are mounted pivotably on the bearing element 4. The Biegedor ^¬ ne 12 are oppositely disposed on the associated holding ^¬ tion 13 and ident identifies.

Furthermore, on the outside of the bearing element 4, an outer retaining ring 14 is provided which carries the one pair of bending mandrels 12. In addition, an inner retaining ring 15 (see Fig. 2, 5) is provided on the inside of the bearing element 4, which carries the other pair of bending mandrels 12. For the pivotable arrangement of the retaining rings 14, 15, the bearing element 4 on the side facing away from the advancing device 6 front a spherically curved guide portion 16, which on the outside a spherical bearing surface for the outer retaining ring 14 and on the inside a spherical bearing surface for in ^¬ neren retaining ring 15 forms. In addition, the spherical guide portion 16 of the bearing element 4 to the bending mandrels 12 in cross-section corresponding elongated recesses 17, in wel ^¬ chen the bending mandrels 12 are displaced during pivoting of the brackets 13. For this purpose, the bending mandrels 12 entspre ^¬ accordingly curved arc-like guide the spherical portion 16 of the bearing element. 4

1 (see also FIGS. 6 to 9), the bending mandrels 12 displaceable in the horizontal plane each have a guide lug 18 at the free ends. The guide tabs 18 of the horizontal bending mandrels 12 serve to to support the profile element 2 during bending. In the embodiment shown, the profile element 2 rests with the underside on egg ^¬ ner horizontal bearing surface of the guide plate 18, currency ^¬ rend the profile element 2 is bent with the end face of the bending mandrel 12. Moreover, the bending mandrels 12, which are movable in the vertical plane, have bending tabs 18 ', which in the embodiment according to FIGS. 6 and 7 are adjustable in the horizontal direction in order to arrange the contact surfaces of the bending mandrels closer to the passage opening 5 of the bearing element 4. This embodiment is favorable when, as in the drawing, a profile element 2 are bent with a rectangular cross-section, which has a shorter extension in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction.

As can be seen from Fig. 2, the device 1 also has a heating device 20 in the form of a heating coil, with which the thermoplastic plastic material of the profile element 2 is locally heated to thereafter allow a deformation of the Profilele ^¬ ment 2. In addition, a torsion chamber 21 of the twisting device 9 can be seen in Fig. 2, in which the rotation or torsion of the profile element 2 is made. The heating device 20 and the torsion chamber 21 are provided in a housing 22 which is rotatably arranged on the bearing element 4 by means of a rotary bearing 23.

As can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, the swivel ring 10 of the twisting device 9 is connected via a belt drive to a swivel drive 10 '. In addition, the driving element 9 'of the feed device 6 can be seen.

As seen from Fig. 5, the turning device 9 to a fixing member 25 for fixing of the profile element 2 in the Füh ^¬ approximately rail 7. Characterized the profile element 2 at Ver ^¬ pivot the guide rail 7 by means of the pivot ring 10 Zvi ^¬ rule the fixing member 25 and the stationary passage opening 5 of the bearing element 4 is rotated. In addition, (schematically) the driving element 9 'of the feed device 6 can be seen.

As can be seen from the drawing (cf., for example, Fig. 2), the device 1 also has a cooling device 27 for cooling the Profile element 2 on. In the illustrated embodiment, the cooling device 27, a cooling element 24 seen in the feed direction in front of the passage opening 5 of the bearing element 4, with wel ^¬ chem twisting of the profile element 2 can be fixed by cooling. The cooling element 24 has (schematically shown) to ^¬ lines for cooling air. The cooling device 27 also has further cooling elements 19 at the free ends of the bending mandrels 12. The cooling elements 19 are integrated as a (schematically shown) ^¬ cooling lines in the bending mandrels 12, to the profiled element 2 to be able to cool at the bending operation in the terminal. Instead of the cooling device 27, a curing device (not shown), for example with a UV light source, may be provided.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the function of the bending mandrels 12 displaceable in a vertical plane on the outer retaining ring 14. Accordingly, the outer retaining ring 14 is connected via a rod drive 28 'with a first actuator 28, since ^¬ with the outer retaining ring 14 between a first pivotal position (see Fig. 6) and a second pivotal position (see Fig .. 7) is pivotable. 6, the first actuator 28 is arranged in the first pivot position to the profile element 2 in the arrow direction 29 via the dashed line shown intermediate position 29 'by substantially 90 ° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the profile element 2 on the guide rail 7 in the Stel ^¬ ment shown to bend. 7, the first actuating drive 28 is arranged in the second pivoting position in order to move the profiled element 2 in the opposite direction (see arrow 30) over the dashed-line intermediate position 30 'by substantially 90 ° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the profiled element 2 ^¬ te position bend. Of course, 12 different bending angles can be produced at the bending points by means of the bending mandrels, wherein in FIGS. 6 and 7, the end positions of the actuator 28 are shown. When pivoting the outer retaining ring 14, the bending mandrels 12 are moved along the recesses 17 on the spherical guide portion 16 of the bearing element 4. From Fig. 6 and 7 it can be seen that the bending tabs 18 'are moved to the bending mandrels 12 in the embodiment shown to the passage opening 5 through. In FIGS. 8 and 9, the function of the bending mandrels 12 on the hold ^¬ ren retaining ring 15 is illustrated. The inner retaining ring 15 is connected to a second actuator 31 which is formed according to the first actuator 28 with a rod drive 31 'from ^¬ to the inner retaining ring 15 between a first end position (see Fig. 8) and a second end position (see Fig. 9) to pivot. Referring to FIG. 8, the second actuator 31 is disposed in the first end position, in order 'to bend the Profilele ^¬ element 2 in the direction of arrow 32 via the dashed lines shown between position 32 at substantially 90 ° relative to the longitudinal axis into the position shown. 9, the second actuating drive 31 is arranged in the second end position in order to move the profiled element 2 in the opposite direction (see arrow 33) via the intermediate position 33 'shown by dashed lines through substantially 90 ° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the profiled element 2 Turn position. When pivoting the outer retaining ring 14, the bending mandrels 12 are moved along the recesses 17 on the spherical guide portion 16 of the Lagerele ^¬ element 4.

A preferred field of application of the profiled elements 2 ago ^¬ provided with the device 1 are supporting devices, which are applied to a body part, for example a leg of a person. The profile elements 2 can form over the circumference of the body part distributed elongated, rod or strip-shaped Stützele ^¬ elements, which can be fixed by means of a fixing device relative to each other. Similarly, the profile elements 2 can be used for the production of a protective device, wherein by way of example a tibia protector for football players or a protective mask may be mentioned.

The profiled elements 2 for supporting or protecting means be adapted in the present process individually to the shape (contour) of the body part, so for example the lower leg and foot ^¬ SLI. This is done, starting from a detection of the shape or contours of the body part, derived from corresponding machine control data for the shaping, length determination and position fixing, largely automatic. Starting from image acquisition with the aid of a scanner, a 3D model is generated in a manner known per se with the aid of determined. On the basis of this 3D model, individual shaping means are then controlled via a control unit. This process is known from AT 507 888 Bl, the content of which is hereby incorporated into the present application. The shape ^¬ gebungsmittel particular include the above-mentioned device 1 for bending the profiled elements 2. Accordingly be by means of the control unit, the individual drives of the Einrich ^¬ device 1, in particular the feed drive 6, the Verdreheinrich ^¬ tung 9 and the actuators 28, 31 for the bending mandrels 12 on ^¬ controlled to form the profile element 2 with the desired geometry.

In Fig. 10, parts of the bending device 1 are shown schematically, which in this imple mentation form a milling device 34, with which various recesses 35 can be generated in the profile element 2. According to FIG. 10a, the milling device 34 is arranged in a waiting position. To form the recess 35, a milling head 36 is guided over the profile element 2 in the transverse direction 37. For this purpose, the milling head 36 is slidably mounted on a support rod 37 ', which is mounted on a (only schematically shown) support means 38. The milling device 34 can also be used to cut through the semifinished product in the transverse direction in order to form individual profile elements 2. Furthermore, the front or rear end of the profile element 2 can be adapted in geometry.

11 shows schematically the bending element 2 in the region of the recess 35, which was produced with the milling device 34 according to FIG. According to Fig. IIa, the recess 35 is groove-shaped, ie open towards one side, formed, with a semi ^¬ circular cross-section is provided. As indicated by dashed lines 35 ', of course, other groove shapes such as a wedge-shaped groove produced in the Pro ^¬ filelement 2 can. Thereby, the bending of the Pro ^¬ filelements 2 can be released in the area of the groove-shaped recess 35, in which FIG. IIa IIb shows the profile element 2 in the state before the formation of the bend and FIG. 2, the profile element in the state after bending. In addition, in Fig. IIb schematically a welding unit 39 can be seen, with which the can be welded together after bending of the profile element 2 to the groove-shaped recess 35 adjacent portions of the Pro ^¬ filelements 2.

Claims

Claims:

1. A device (1) for bending a profile element (2), with too ^¬ least one adjustable bending element (11), to bend the Profilele ^¬ element (12) by adjustment of the bending element (11), characterized in that a bearing element ( 4) with a passage opening (5) for the passage of the profile element (2) is provided, wherein on the bearing element (4) at least one holder (13) for the bending element (11) is adjustably arranged, and that as a bending element (11) is a bending mandrel (12) is vorgese ^¬ hen, with which a through the passage opening (5) of the bearing element (4) projecting portion of the profile element (2) is bendable.

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the bearing element (4) has a curved, in particular ^{wesentli ¬} Chen spherically curved guide portion (16) on which the holder (13) for the bending mandrel (12) pivotable is arranged.

3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bending mandrel (12) arcuate, in particular kreisbo ^¬ genförmig, is curved.

4. Device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the curved guide portion (16) of the bearing element (4) has an elongated recess (17) for guiding the curved bending mandrel (12).

5. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that on the holder (13) two bending mandrels (12) are provided, wherein the two bending mandrels (12) preferably ge ^¬ genüberliegend arranged on the holder (13) are.

6. Device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that two holders (13) are provided with two bending mandrels (12), wherein the bending mandrels (12) on the holders (13) in different, preferably mutually perpendicular planes pivotable are.

7. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the holder (13) has a retaining ring (14, 15) on which the bending mandrel (12), preferably the two bending mandrels (12) is provided or are.

8. Device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that on the outside of the bearing element (4) an outer retaining ring (14) and / or on the inside of the bearing element (4) an inner ^{¬ retaining} ring (15) is provided.

9. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that at least one bending mandrel (12) at the free end a guide tab (18) on which a bottom of the through the passage opening (5) projecting portion of the profile element ( 2) is supportable.

10. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one bending mandrel (12) at the free end of a bending tab (18 '), which to the passage opening (5) towards or from the passage opening (5). is moving away.

11. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a feed device (6) for advancing the profile element (2) is provided in the direction of its longitudinal axis, which preferably a guide rail (7) for the Pro ^¬ filelement ( 2).

12. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a heating device (20) for local heating of the profile element (2) is provided.

13. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a twisting device (9) for rotating the profile element (2) is provided about its longitudinal axis.

14. Device (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the twisting device (9), in particular by means of a pivot ring (10), with the guide rail (7) for the profile ^¬ element (2) is connected.

15. Device (1) according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the twisting device (9) has a fixing element (25) for fixing the profile element (2) in the guide rail (7), so that the profile element (2) by pivoting the guide rail (7) between the fixing element (25) and the passage opening (5) is deformable.

16. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that a curing and / or cooling device (27) is provided for curing or cooling of the profile element.

17. Device (1) according to claim 16, characterized in that the curing and / or cooling device (27) has a Aushärtbzw. Cooling element (19) at the free end of the bending mandrel (12)

and / or a curing or cooling element (24) in the region of the turning device (9).

18. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that a unit for forming a recess (35) in the profile element (2), in particular for forming a groove-shaped recess (35) for releasing the bend of the profile element ( 2) and / or for forming a holding opening for connection to another profile element (2) is provided, wherein the unit preferably as a milling device (34) is out ^¬ forms.

19. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that a unit for permanent connection of the groove-shaped recess (35) adjacent portions of the profile element (2) after bending of the profile element (2) is pre ^¬ see , wherein the unit is preferably formed as a welding unit (39).

20. The method for bending a profile element (2), wherein the profile element (2) by adjusting a bending element (11) ge ^¬ arc, is characterized in that the profile element (2) by a passage opening (5) of a bearing element (4) out whereupon a bending mandrel (12) held on the bearing element (4) is adjusted in order to bend the section of the profile element (2) projecting through the passage opening (5).

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that a profile element (2) made of plastic, a metal, a metal alloy or a material with a memory effect is bent.

22. The method according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that a groove-shaped recess (35) produced in the profile element (2), in particular milled, is, with which the bending of the profile element (2) on the groove-shaped recess (35) is released ,

23. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that the groove-shaped recess (35) adjacent portions of the profile element (2) after bending of the profile element (2) on the groove-shaped recess (35) permanently connected to each other, in particular welded, are.

24. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 23, characterized in that a plurality of support and / or spacer elements bil ^¬ forming profile elements (2) are produced, which are assembled into a skeleton or lattice-like structure.