Bending system and correcting method for tool misalignment

Abstract

A bending system includes a tool storage, first and second tool exchange units each having a tool retention member, and a control device. When misalignment of tools held by a tool holder of a press brake occurs or is estimated to occur, the control device is configured to (1) move the first tool exchange unit to one side in a lateral direction to a position corresponding to one end of a regular arrangement position at which the tool retention member of the first tool exchange unit contacts with the tools and (2) move the second tool exchange unit to another side in the lateral direction to a position corresponding to another end of the regular arrangement position at which the tool retention member of the second tool exchange unit contacts with the tools.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bending system comprising:
 a tool storage including a plurality of stockers for storing a respective plurality of tools and disposed adjacent a press brake, a respective holder area being formed on each of the plurality of stockers for holding the respective plurality of tools along a lateral direction, and the tool storage being configured to position a selected stocker from the plurality of stockers at an exchange position for exchanging the respective plurality of tools stored on the selected stocker;   a pair of first and second tool exchange units each provided on a back side or a front side of a table of the press brake so as to be movable in the lateral direction and each including a tool retention member engageable—with and disengageable—from an engagement hole of a selected tool of the respective plurality of tools stored on the selected stocker to hold the selected tool, the pair of first and second tool exchange units being each configured to exchange the selected tool with respect to a tool holder of the press brake and the selected stocker positioned at the exchange position;   first and second moving actuators configured to move each of the first and second tool exchange units in the lateral direction; and   a control device configured to control, in a case where misalignment of the respective plurality of tools held in the tool holder occurs or is estimated to occur, the first and second tool exchange units and the first and second moving actuators to (1) move the first tool exchange unit to one side in the lateral direction to a position corresponding to one end of a designated arrangement position of the respective plurality of tools in the tool holder in a state in which the tool retention member of the first tool exchange unit is brought into contact with a first face of a first selected tool of the respective plurality of tools in the tool holder, and (2) move the second tool exchange unit to another side in the lateral direction to a position corresponding to another end of the designated arrangement position in the tool holder in a state in which the tool retention member of the second tool exchange unit is brought into contact with a second face of a second selected tool of the respective plurality of tools in the tool holder,   wherein the first selected tool is located closer to the other side in the lateral direction than the second selected tool in the respective plurality of tools in the tool holder, and   wherein the first face of the first selected tool faces to the other side in the lateral direction, and the second face of the second selected tool faces to the one side of the lateral direction.   
     
     
         2 . A correcting method for tool misalignment, comprising:
 providing the bending system of claim  1 ;   in a case where misalignment of the respective plurality of tools held in the tool holder occurs or is estimated to occur, moving the first tool exchange unit to the one side in the lateral direction until the first tool exchange unit reaches the position corresponding to the one end of the designated arrangement position, and moving the second tool exchange unit to the other side in the lateral direction until the second tool exchange unit reaches the position corresponding to the other end of the designated arrangement position.