Processing machine for workpieces
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a workpiece processing machine with a stationary main frame (10) hving at least one main processing plane (G, H,) worm shafts (15, 16, 17, 18) arranged on the one side of this main processing plane (G, H) with their axes substantially parallel with the main processing plane, mounted in the stationary main frame (10) and connected with one another for drive securing means (14) arranged on the other side of the main processing plane for the securing the processing units (25, 29) on the stationary main frame and--allocated to each worm shaft (15, 16, 17, 18)--at least one main power take-off position (15a, 16a, 17a, 18a) for the drive connection of a processing unit (25, 29) with the respective worm shaft (15, 16, 17, 18) through a worm wheel (22) meshing with the worm shaft with the worm wheel axis perpendicular to the main processing plane (G, H). 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Such a workpiece processing machine was the object of an earlier U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 463,556, to the same inventors, now abandoned. 
     The invention is based upon the problem of so developing a workpiece processing machine of the kind according to the classification that processing units can be fitted in the largest possible number of different positions and with different working directions in relation to the workpiece to be processed, without complicated drive transmissions. 
     For the solution of this problem at least three worm shafts connected for drive are arranged along mutually adjoining sides of a polygonal line. 
     Further developments of the invention are set forth in the following description. 
     The additional problems preceding these further development measures and the resultant advantages appear from the description of the Figures. 
    
    
     The accompanying FIGURES explain the invention by reference to examples of embodiment. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 represents a front view of a workpiece processing machine according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 represents a plan view of the machine according to FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrow II in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 represents a side view of the machine in the direction of the arrow III in FIG. 1, partially broken away; 
     FIG. 4 represents a section along the line IV--IV in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 represents the drive layout of the worm shafts and associated power take-off positions in the machine according to FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 represents a front view corresponding to that in FIG. 1 with a strip feed unit and with additional continuously adjustable processing units; 
     FIG. 7 represents a front view corresponding to that in FIG. 1 in a modified form of embodiment; 
     FIG. 8 represents a section along the line VIII--VIII in FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 represent diagrammatic detail representations of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 9a represents a diagrammatic detail illustration of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrow IXa of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 11 represents the mounting of a worm wheel shaft in two mutually parallel main processing panels in engagement with the pertinent worm shaft; 
     FIG. 12 represents a front view in the direction of view of FIG. 1 in a form of embodiment in which the main frame of the machine is enclosed by an outer support frame and this support frame serves as carrier of a cladding; 
     FIG. 13 represents a plan view of the arrangement according to FIG. 12 in the direction of the arrow XIII in FIG. 12; 
     FIGS. 14, 16, 17, and 18 represents a section along the line IV--IV in FIG. 1 in a machine equipped with other processing units; 
     FIG. 15 represents a detail of the arrangement according to FIG. 6 in the direction of the arrow XV in FIG. 6. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In FIG. 1 a main frame is designated quite generally by 10. This frame 10, as may be seen from FIG. 3, is formed essentially by two main processing panels 11 and 12 which are produced together with floor support spars 13 as a one-piece casting. The two main processing panels 11 and 12 define two main processing planes G and H (FIG. 3). In the main processing panels 11 and 12 there are provided dovetail grooves 14 for the securing of processing units or other machine accessories. In the main frame 10 four worm shafts 15, 16, 16 and 18 are arranged in the central plane M between the two main processing planes G and H, between the two main processing panels 11 and 12. The shaft arrangement is seen in detail from FIG. 5. The shafts 15, 16, 17 and 18 are mounted in bearings 19 which are produced integrally with the casting comprising the main processing panels 11 and 12. 
     The four worm shafts 15 to 18 are arranged along a rectangular polygon line. The shafts 15 and 16, 16 and 17 and 17 and 18 are connected with one another for drive by bevel gear stages 20. Several main power take-off positions 15a, 16a, 17a and 18a are allocated for each of the worm shafts 15, 16, 17, and 18, namely in each of the main processing panels 11 and 12. The main power take-off positions 15a to 18a serve for the drive of processing units which can be secured by mens of the dovetail grooves 14 of the main processing panels 11 and 12. 
     In FIG. 3 it is illustrated how two main power take-off positions 15a in the two main processing panels 11 and 12 are formed in detail. There one may see a worm wheel shaft 21 with a worm wheel 22. The worm wheel shaft 21 is rotatably mounted in bearings 23 in the two main processing panels 11 and 12. The worm wheel 22 is connected fast in rotation with the worm wheel shaft 21 and is in drive engagement with the worm shaft 15. The worm of the worm shaft 15 and the toothing of the worm wheel 22 are formed so that the worm wheel shaft 21 rotates with a rotation rate corresponding to about one-fifth of the rotation rate of the worm shaft 15. 
     The worm wheel shafts 21 are provided at their ends lying in the main processing planes G and H with coupling devices 24 which are intended to engage with corresponding counter-coupling devices of attachable processing units, so that these processing units can be driven by the worm wheel shafts 21. Details of these coupling devices will be discussed further in connection with FIG. 11. 
     In FIGS. 1 and 3 there are seen, represented diagrammatically, several bending units 25 which are driven there from the worm shaft 17 through pertinent main power take-off positions 17a. The bending units 25, as indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 1, are formed for example each by a cam 25a, a bending ram 25b and a bending ram guide 25c, the cam 25a being driven from the worm shaft 17 through the pertinent power take-off position 17a. 
     As may be seen from FIG. 1, main power take-off positions 16a, 17a and 18a are allocated on both sides of the respective worm shaft to the worm shafts 16, 17 and 18, the main power take-off positions on the one side being staggered in relation to the main power take-off positions on the other side. In this way a great multiplicity of selection results for the position of the bending units according to the bending task to be performed in each case. 
     As may be seen from FIG. 1, the two ends of the worm shaft 15 and possibly also the two ends of the worm shaft 17 are connected each with a hydraulic drive motor 26. The hydraulic motors 26 are connected to a common pressure supply pump 27 (see FIG. 12) and in fact the hydraulic drive motors 26 can be fed from the hydraulic pressure supply pump 27 without quantity divider. Due to the presence of a plurality of hydraulic drive motors the worm shafts are relieved of load and the torsions of the worm shafts are largely excluded. At this point it should also be mentioned that the torques acting on the worm shafts 15 to 18 are in any case relatively small in comparison with the torques taken from the processing units, since the worm shafts 15 to 18 rotate at a substantially greater rate than the worm wheels 22 and their worm wheel shafts 21. 
     The engagement between the worm wheels 22 and the worm shafts 15 to 18 is free from flank play, since in each case several teeth of the worm wheels 22 are in engagement with worm turns of the worm shafts 15 to 18; this is a substantial advantage over the torque transmission by pairs of spur gears, where in unfavourable situations of engagement in each case only one tooth of each wheel is in engagement with one tooth of the other wheel. 
     Thus with the formation in accordance with the invention an exact play-free synchronization of all power take-off positions, that is worm wheel shafts 21, with the worm shafts 15 to 18 and the drive motors 26 is achieved. 
     The machine as described hitherto is intended and adapted for workpieces to be processed in both main working planes G and H. The workpieces can be obtained for example from strip metal material which is fed to the main processing plane H (FIG. 2). In FIG. 2 a strip material feed 28 is represented in solid lines and a strip material feed 28&#39; in dot-and-dash lines. This is intended to signify that fundamentally a strip supply is possible parallel to the main processing planes G and H but also perpendicular to the main processing planes G and H. The selection of the strip feed direction is here dependent upon the workpiece to be produced in each case. It is here to be noted that specific bending operations parallel to the rolling direction of the strip and other bending operations perpendicular to the rolling direction of the strip are to be carried out. 
     In order to obtain individual cut-out shapes from the strip material which is fed according to FIG. 2, on the machine main frame 10 a punch press 29 is arranged which, as may be seen from FIG. 3, is formed as an L-shaped unit with a leg 29a directed transversely of the main planes G and H and a leg 29b hanging downwards from the leg 29a. The leg 29a is guided on the upper edges of the main processing panels 11 and 12 by linear guides 30. The linear guides 30 are here made so that the leg 29a cannot tilt away from the main processing panels 11 and 12. Two worm wheel shafts 31 with worm wheels 32 are rotatably mounted in the leg 29a (in FIG. 3 only one of these worm wheels is illustrated). The worm wheels 32 mesh with the worm shaft 15 which is upwardly exposed between the upper edges of the main processing panels 11 and 12. The worm wheel shafts 31 are coupled with two eccentric drive shafts 33 which are mounted at both ends in the leg 29 b. On the exposed side of the leg 29b on each of the eccentric drive shafts 33 there are arranged further additional hydraulic motors which relieve the eccentric drive shafts 33 of torque. It is also possible to couple the two eccentric drive shafts 33 lying one behind the other in FIG. 3, through a connecting gear wheel with one another and to permit an additional hydraulic motor 34 to act upon this connecting gear wheel. 
     The leg 29b forms a press frame with a press frame upper part 29ba and a press frame under part 29bb. In the press frame upper part 29ba a vertical guide 35 is formed for a press ram 36. The press ram 36 is movable upwards and downwards by the eccentric drive shafts 33 through a total of four connecting rods 37. 
     A press table 38 is formed on the press frame under part 29bb. A lower tool clamping plate 39 is secured on the press table 38. This tool clamping plate 39 is adjustable in height by a wedge plate 40. The wedge plate 40 lies on the press table 38 and in turn carries the lower tool clamping plate 39. The wedge plate 40 is displaceable by a spindle drive 41 for the purpose of height adjustment of the tool clamping plate 39. The spindle drive 41 is connected with a hydraulic spindle drive motor 42. The tool clamping plate 39 is pressed by springs 43 against the wedge plate 40, the latter at the same time being pressed against the press table 38. After the height adjustment of the lower tool clamping plate 39 has taken place this plate is clamped fast in the position reached, by clamping means (not shown). 
     An upper tool clamping plate 44 is fitted on the press ram 36 for height adjustment in analogous manner by a wedge plate. 
     The lower press frame part 29bb is supported on a support rail 45 which is secured on the floor support spars 13 of the main frame 10. The press frame under part 29bb is supported, as may be seen from FIG. 9a, on the support rail 45 by two roller bearing pedestals 46 of adjustable height, when the punch press 29 is to be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the linear guide 30. When a specific end position of the punch press 29 is reached, the roller bearing pedestals 46 are displaced upwards in FIG. 9a so that support shoes 47 come into engagement with the support rail 45 and thus the punch press 29 is non-displaceably supported on the support rail 45. Naturally still further securing means can be provided to secure the punch press 29 in the longitudinal direction of the linear guide 30 in operation. 
     The worm wheels 32 serving in operation for the rotation of the eccentric guide shafts 33 and thus for the upward and downward movement of the press ram 36 can also be used for the displacement of the punch press 29 in the direction of the arrow 48 in FIG. 1, that is to say perpendicularly of the plane of the drawing in FIG. 3. For this purpose it is necessary only to block the worm wheels 32 or the eccentric drive shafts 33 coupled with them. Then by rotation of the worm shaft 15 the punch press 29 can be displaced. Alternatively for the displacement of the punch press 29 in the direction of the arrow 48 in FIG. 1 it is also possible to make the worm shaft 15 fast and to drive the worm wheels 32 from the hydraulic motor 34, so that the worm shaft 15 acts as a rack. 
     The press frame upper part 29ba is connected with the press frame under part 29bb by initially stressed tie rods 49. These tie rods 49 pass through distance sleeves 50 which are arranged between the press frame upper part 29ba and the press frame under part 29bb. The tie rods 49 are subject to an initial stress which corresponds to the greatest press forces to be expected. The punch press 29 can be designed for example for up to 100 tons. The forces occurring in the punch press 29 are taken up by the tie rods 49 and not transmitted to the main machine frame 10. 
     The distance sleeves 50 and the tie rods 49 are exchangeable for the adaptation of the press to workpieces of different heights; the fine adjustment is effected by the wedge plates 40. 
     The leg 29a and the leg 29b can be produced as a one-piece casting; they can however also be divided approximately in the main processing plane H and screwed to one another. 
     The press frame upper part 29ba, as may be seen from FIG. 9, can be assembled from three parts B, C and D placed together in sandwich manner and connected with one another, the vertical guide being formed in the parts B and D. By insertion or omission of the part C according to FIGS. 9 and 10 respectively then the width of the vertical guide 35 can be varied perpendicularly of the main processing planes G and H, so that press rams 36 of different widths can be used. The press frame under part 29bb can also be assembled in a corresponding manner. 
     The worm wheel shafts 31 in the punch press 29 provide additional power take-off positions 51 at their left ends in FIG. 3 for one or more processing units (not shown) which are continuously adjustable with the punch press 29. 
     The cut-out shapes punched out of the material strips 28 and 28&#39; (FIG. 2) by the press 29 can firstly be processed in the region of the main working plane H. For this purpose they are displaced out of the region of the punch press 29 to the respective processing position, by means of intermediate feed devices (not shown) which bring a plate approximately to the location designated by X in FIG. 2. At this location X, various operations can be performed such as: welding operations by means of a welding unit 53d, shown in FIG. 16; milling operations by means of a milling unit 53a, shown in FIG. 17; drilling operations by means of a drilling unit 53b, shown in FIG. 18; or thread cutting operations by means of a thread cutter 53c, shown in FIG. 14. The thread cutter 53 and the welding plunger 52 are fitted on a processing unit 54 which is secured on the main processing panel 12 and driven by a main power take-off position 16a through an angle drive 55 (FIG. 2). The processing unit 54 can also be fitted, as may be seen from FIG. 4, with a bending unit 56 working obliquely of the main plane H. 
     It is also possible to feed further strip material in the main working plane H and divide it by further punch presses so that on the side of the main processing plane H different cut-out shapes obtained form different strip materials can be connected with one another. 
     The workpiece worked on the side of the main processing plane H is then transported into the other main processing plane G in order to be further processed there. 
     For the transport of the workpieces from the main processing plane H to the main processing plane G the main processing panels 11 and 12 are provided with workpiece passage openings 11a and 12a (FIGS. 1 and 4) which are aligned with one another. The edges of these workpiece passage openings 11a and 12a are connected with one another by panels lying in secondary processing planes I, K, L and M standing perpendicularly of the main processing planes G and H. These panels can be cast integrally with the main frame 10. Thus a passage shaft is defined through which the workpieces can pass from the main processing plane H to the main processing plane G. Additional securing means 57 for processing units, for example for bending abutments, can be fitted as may be seen from FIG. 4 on the edges of the workpiece passage openings 11a and 12a. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 5, secondary power take-off positions 15b, 16b, 17b and 18b are allocated to the secondary processing planes, I, K, L and M. The secondary power take-off position 16b according to FIG. 5--and the like is valid for the other secondary power take-off positions--comprises a worm wheel shaft 58 with a worm wheel 59 in engagement with the worm shaft 16. The worm wheel shaft 58 penetrates the secondary processing plane K and a further secondary processing plane N on the outside of the main frame (FIG. 1). The worm wheel shaft 58 can protrude beyond the secondary processing planes K and N as represented in FIG. 1. It can however also terminate in the secondary processing planes K and N and be provided there with coupling devices similar to the coupling device 24 according to FIG. 3. The secondary processing planes K and N are formed by panels which connect the main processing panels 11 and 12 with one another. These panels can be screwed fast on the main processing panels. By way of example in FIG. 3 there is seen a secondary processing panel 60 which corresponds to the secondary processing plane O in FIG. 1. 
     According to FIG. 1 on the worm wheel shaft 58 within the workpiece passage 11a, 12a a transport wheel 61 is fitted which constitutes a further intermediate feed device which provides for the feed of the workpiece from the main processing plane H to the main processing plane G. A further correspondingly formed and driven transport wheel is designated according to FIG. 1 by 62, allocated to the secondary processing plane L and driven by the secondary power take-off position 17b. 
     As soon as the workpiece has reached the main processing plane G under the action of the transport wheels 61 and 62, it is further worked there by the bending units 25. 
     The left end of the worm wheel shaft 58 in FIG. 1 is suitable for the drive of a processing unit for fitting on the secondary processing plane N or an accessory device to be fitted there. Securing means for processing units and the like can also be fitted on the secondary processing planes N and O, for example in the form of undercut grooves. 
     The worm wheel shaft 58 of the secondary power take-off position 16b can be mounted in the secondary processing panels forming the secondary processing planes K and N, as indicated by the bearings 63 in FIG. 5. 
     As may be seen from FIG. 6, a strip feed unit 64 can also be fitted in the main processing plane G and is driven through a connecting rod drive 65 from a main power take-off position 17a. In departure from FIG. 1, FIG. 6 shows on the main processing plane G a plurality of bending units 25&#39; on the upper side of the workpiece passage 11a, 12a. On the underside of this workpiece passage there is fitted a processing unit 66 displaceable in the longitudinal direction. On the secondary processing plane O a vertical guide 67 is provided for a processing unit 68. This processing unit, for example a strip intake unit, can be continuously displaceable and nevertheless driven by a fixed secondary power take-off position 18b (FIG. 5). The direction of displacement is designated by 69 in FIG. 6. FIG. 15 shows what is called a gear drive system; in this case 70 is a toothed wheel connected with the secondary power take-off position 18b and 71 a toothed wheel arranged on the processing unit 68. The two toothed wheels 70 and 71 are connected with one another by an intermediate toothed wheel 72. The intermediate toothed wheel 72 is carried by the middle joint of two arms 73 and 74, the other ends of which are pivotable about the axes of the toothed wheels 70 and 71 respectively. 
     In FIG. 11 there is shown in detail the mounting of a worm wheel shaft 21 and the engagement of the worm wheel 22 with the worm shaft 15. The worm wheel shaft 21 consists of two half shafts 21a and 21b which are carried in the bearings 23 of the main processing panels 11 and 12. The half shafts 21a and 21b are inserted in to the worm wheel 22 and centered by it. They are held together by a tie bolt 21c which is accessible from the side of the main processing plane G. For torque transmission between the worm wheel 22 and the half shafts 21a and 21b, radial keys 21d or splines are provided. The tooth tips 22e of the worm wheel 22 are of arcuate curvature with a radius corresponding to the worm root radius of the worm shaft 15. This ensures a great length of engagement between the worm shaft 15 and the worm wheel 22. 
     For the fitting of the worm wheel 22 this wheel is held in engagement with the worm shaft 15 whereupon the half shafts 21a and 21b are pushed through the bearings 23 and then secured in the axial direction. 
     As may further be seen from FIG. 11 the coupling device 24 of the shaft 21 is formed by a cruciform slot. Correspondingly cruciform ribs 24&#39; are provided as countercoupling device on the processing unit 25 to be attached, and engage in the cruciform slots 24. In this way the shaft carrying the cruciform slots 24&#39; of the processing unit 25 to be attached is centered on the shaft 21 and can be mounted in overhung manner in the processing unit. 
     According to FIG. 3 the main frame 10 is, up to the level of the upper worm shaft 15, a closed hollow frame and accommodates an oil bath 75 into which the worm shaft 15 still partially dips. In this way all the moving parts within the main frame 10 are lubricated. The individual power take-off positions, the main power take-off positions and the secondary power take-off positions, are sealed off by the worm wheel shafts penetrating the pertinent walls, possibly with the use of additional sealing means. 
     The oil bath is upwardly covered by a cover plate 76 (FIG. 3). This cover plate 76 permits passage of the worm shaft 15 and prevents the entry of dirt. 
     In the modified form of embodiment according to FIG. 7 the main frame 10 is formed above the workpiece passages 11a and 12a by a beam 77 composed of three sections 77a, 77b and 77c. The beam sections 77a, 77b, 77c are rotatably mounted on the main frame 10 and on one another, namely for rotation about the axis of the worm shaft 15. Worm wheels with worm wheel shafts are mounted in the beam sections 77a, 77b and 77c, the arrangement corresponding to that in FIG. 11. The worm wheels (not shown) are in engagement with the worm shaft 15. As may be seen from FIG. 8 the sections 77a, 77b, 77c can be pivoted individually about the axis of the worm shaft 15 and made fast in any desired intermediate position by securing means (not shown). On the sections 77a, 77b and 77c again securing means in the form of undercut grooves 14 are provided so that bending units 25 or other processing units may be secured. Thus it becomes possible to work with the bending units in any desired working directions. 
     As may be seen from FIGS. 12 and 13 the main frame 10 is enclosed by a support frame 78. The support frame 78 is of such stout formation that it can suppress vibrations of the main frame 10 in relation to its floor beams 13. The support frame 78 comprises at least four vertical support columns 79 which are connected with one another by transverse girders 80 and longitudinal beams 81, 82, 83, 84. The lower transverse girders 80 are welded to the main frame 10. On the longitudinal beam 81, 82 a first transverse beam 85 is arranged which is mobile along the longitudinal beams 81 and 82. A hoist 86 serving for the handling of processing units in the main processing plane H is mobile on the transverse beam 85 in the longitudinal direction of the transverse beam 85. A corresponding hoist is allocated to the main processing plane G. 
     As may be seen from FIG. 12, the pressure supply pump 27 which is driven by a motor 27a and to which an oil cooler 27b is allocated is arranged on the top on the support frame 78. 
     On the support frame 78 there are arranged cladding parts 87 formed as sliding or pivoting doors which serve for the purpose of labor security as contact protection and possibly also as noise protection. All parts of the machine, with the exception possibly of the strip supply rolls, are accommodated within this cladding. The cladding parts can be produced from transparent material so that observation of the operations on the machine is possible without opening the cladding. 
     As additional labor protection measure it can be provided that when the frame is opened the machine can run only in inching operation, or not all.