Installation and method for the formation of at least one corner region in a metal plate

Abstract

Installations and methods for forming at least one corner region in metal plate are disclosed. According to one implementation, the corner region is formed in the intersection between a first section and a second section of the metal plate. The corner region is formed by a bending of the first section of the metal plate followed by a bending of the second section. During the bending of the second section at least the region of the first section closest to the corner region is held immobile. The region of the first section is released once the bending of the second section is complete.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for forming a corner region at an intersection between first and second bent side sections of a metal plate having a thickness, wherein prior to forming the corner region the metal plate incudes the first bent side section and an unbent front section, the apparatus comprising:
 a die including an upper surface, a first sidewall and a longitudinal front actuation contour, the upper surface configured to support the metal plate;   a bending tool having a length, an outer surface and a longitudinal central axis arranged parallel to the longitudinal front actuation contour of the die, the outer surface including a first contact surface located at a first location that is configured to force the unbent second section of the metal plate against the longitudinal front actuation contour of the die to cause a bending of the unbent front section to produce the second bent side section;   a holding device configured to hold the metal plate firmly in place against the upper surface of the die when the first contact surface of the bending tool acts on the metal plate to form the second bent side section;   a first holding element attached to the bending tool at the first location, the first holding element having a surface that is arranged non-parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the bending tool, the surface of the first holding element facing the first sidewall of the die, the first holding element being configured to hold the first bent side section of the metal plate firmly in place between the surface of the first holding element and the first sidewall of the die.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first holding element is slideable along a portion of the length of the bending tool. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the bending tool includes a second contact surface located at the first location, the apparatus further comprising a second holding element attached to the bending tool at the first location, the second holding element having a surface that is arranged non-parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the bending tool, the first and second holding elements being located at different longitudinal locations along the length of the bending tool. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein one or both of the first and second holding elements is slideable along a portion of the length of the bending tool to vary a separation distance between them. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the bending tool includes a second contact surface located at a second location different than the first location, the apparatus further comprising a second holding element attached to the bending tool at the second location, the second holding element having a surface that is arranged non-parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the bending tool. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the first and second holding elements are located at different longitudinal locations along the length of the bending tool. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein one or both of the first and second holding elements is slideable along a portion of the length of the bending tool. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the die has a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, the second holding element being configured to hold a third bent side section of the metal plate firmly in place between the surface of the second holding element and the second sidewall of the die. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the first and second holding elements are arranged 90 degrees apart with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bending tool. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the bending tool is rotatable about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the bending tool is rotatable about the longitudinal axis to cause the surface of one or the other of the first and second holding elements to face the first sidewall of the die. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface of the first holding element is arranged orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis of the bending tool. 
     
     
         13 . A method for forming a corner region in a metal plate, the metal plate having a planar major surface located in a first plane, a first bent side section having a surface located in a second plane orthogonal to the first plane, and a second side section located in the first plane, the method comprising:
 holding the first bent side section stationary while bending the second side section to form a second bent side section having a surface located in a third plane that is arranged orthogonal to each of the first and second planes; and   releasing the first bent side section upon the second bent side section being formed.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the bending of the second side section is performed by an apparatus that comprises a die including an upper surface, a first sidewall and a longitudinal front actuation contour, the upper surface; a bending tool having a length, an outer surface and a longitudinal central axis arranged parallel to the longitudinal front actuation contour of the die, the outer surface including a contact surface located at a first location; a holding device having a surface facing the upper surface of the die; a first holding element attached to the bending tool at the first location, the first holding element having a surface that is arranged non-parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the bending tool, the surface of the first holding element facing the first sidewall of the die; the method further comprising:
 holding the planar major surface of the metal plate stationary between the upper surface of the die and the holding device while also holding the first bent side section stationary between the surface of the first holding element and the first sidewall of the die; and   causing the contact surface of the bending tool to force the second side section of the metal plate against the longitudinal front actuation contour of the die to cause a bending of the second side section to produce the second bent side section.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the metal plate has a third bent side section having a surface having a surface located in a third plane orthogonal to the first plane, the method further comprising:
 holding the third bent side section stationary while bending the second side section to form the second bent side section; and   releasing the first bent side section upon the second bent side section being formed.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the first and third bent side sections are held stationary simultaneously. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the die of the apparatus has a second side surface and the bending tool has attached thereto a second holding element having a surface arranged facing the second side surface of the die; the method further comprising:
 holding the third bent side section stationary between the surface of the second holding element and the second sidewall of the die while holding the first bent side section stationary between the surface of the first holding element and the first sidewall of the die.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus Installation according to  claim 14 , wherein the distance between the first sidewall of the die and the surface of the holding element is substantially equal to the thickness of the metal plate. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising sliding the first holding element along a portion of the length of the bending tool to cause the surface of the first holding element to press against the first bent side section of the metal plate. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising rotating the bending tool while bending the second side section.