Device for loading bending tools into a press and process for loading/unloading tools

Abstract

A device for loading bending tools onto a press includes a first lower guide and a second lower guide oriented according to a first direction; a first upper guide and a second upper guide oriented according to the first direction; and devices for selectively translating the upper and lower guides in directions that are orthogonal to the first direction, wherein the lower and upper guides are configured so that one or more tools or dies can be slidably assembled thereon.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device ( 1 ) for loading bending tools ( 110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ) into a press (P), comprising:
 a first lower guide ( 100 ) oriented according to a first direction (X);   a second lower guide ( 200 ) arranged to be parallel to said first lower guide ( 100 );   a first lower device for translating said second lower guide ( 200 ) in a second direction (Z), which is orthogonal to said first direction (X);   a second lower device for translating said first lower guide ( 100 ) and said second lower guide ( 200 ) in a third direction (Y), which is orthogonal to said first direction (X) and to said second direction (Z);   a first upper guide ( 300 ) oriented according to said first direction (X);   a second upper guide ( 400 ) arranged is to be parallel to said first upper guide ( 300 );   a first upper device for translating said second lower guide ( 200 ) in said second direction (Z), which is orthogonal to said first direction (X);   a second upper device for translating said first upper guide ( 300 ) and said second upper guide ( 400 ) in said third direction (Y), which is orthogonal to said first direction (X),   wherein said lower guides ( 100 ,  200 ) and said upper guides ( 300 ,  400 ) are configured so that one or more tools or dies ( 110 ,  210 ,  210 ′,  310 ,  410 ) can be slidably assembled thereon.   
     
     
         2 . The device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said first lower device is configured to selectively translate said at least one-second lower guide ( 200 ) in said second direction (Z) between a lower position with respect to said first lower guide ( 100 ) and a position, in which said lower guide is coplanar and side by side with respect to said first lower guide ( 100 ). 
     
     
         3 . The device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said first upper device is configured to selectively translate said second upper guide ( 400 ) in said second direction (Z) between a higher position with respect to said first upper guide ( 300 ) and a position in which said second upper guide is coplanar and side by side with respect to said first upper guide ( 300 ). 
     
     
         4 . The device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said second lower device is configured to translate said first and said second lower guide ( 100 ,  200 ) integrally with each other, and wherein said second upper device is configured to translate said first and said second upper guide ( 300 ,  400 ) integrally with each other. 
     
     
         5 . The device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said second lower device is configured to selectively arrange said first lower guide ( 100 ) or said second lower guide ( 200 ) in an aligned and coplanar position with respect to a lower transfer guide ( 500 ), the lower transfer guide being intended to be positioned to be aligned and coplanar with a lower guide (P 1 ) of a press (P). 
     
     
         6 . The device ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein said second upper device is configured to selectively arrange said first upper guide ( 300 ) or said second upper guide ( 400 ) in an aligned and coplanar position with respect to an upper transfer guide ( 600 ), the upper transfer guide being intended to be positioned to be aligned and coplanar with an upper guide (P 2 ) of a press (P). 
     
     
         7 . The device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said first lower device and said second lower device move said lower guides ( 100 ,  200 ) independently of said first and said second upper device and vice versa. 
     
     
         8 . The device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and said second lower device move said lower guides ( 100 ,  200 ) so that they are synchronized with said first and second upper device and vice versa. 
     
     
         9 . The device ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 , comprises wherein said lower transfer guide ( 500 ) is configured for a sliding movement of said bending tools ( 110 ,  210 ,  210 ′). 
     
     
         10 . A procedure for loading/unloading tools ( 110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ) into/from a loading device ( 1 ), onto a press (P) equipped with a lower guide (P 1 ) and with an upper guide (P 2 ), the procedure comprising:
 providing the loading device according to  claim 6 ;   preloading a plurality of tools ( 210 ,  210 ′,  410 ) by manually or automatically positioning said plurality of tools on said second lower guide ( 200 ) and/or on said second upper guide ( 400 );   positioning said first lower guide ( 100 ) to be coplanar and aligned with said lower transfer guide ( 500 ) and/or positioning said first upper guide ( 300 ) to be coplanar and aligned with said upper transfer guide ( 600 );   transferring said tools ( 110 ,  310 ) from said press (P) to said first lower guide ( 100 ) and/or to said first upper guide ( 300 ) by sliding said tools along said lower transfer guide ( 500 ) and/or upper transfer guide ( 600 );   moving, with a synchronized movement, said first and said second lower guide ( 100 ,  200 ) and/or said upper guide ( 300 ,  400 ) so that said second lower guide ( 200 ) and/or said upper guide ( 400 ) is positioned to be aligned and coplanar with the lower transfer guide ( 500 ) or respectively said upper transfer guide ( 600 ); and   transferring said tools ( 210 ,  210 ′,  410 ) from said second lower guide ( 200 ) and/or said upper guide ( 400 ) to said lower guide (P 1 ) and/or respectively said upper guide (P 2 ) of said press (P) by sliding said tools along said lower transfer guide ( 500 ) and/or respectively said upper transfer guide ( 600 ).   
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein said upper transfer guide ( 600 ) is configured for a sliding movement of said bending tools ( 310 ,  410 ).