US20130152660A1 - Thermoforming station, thermoforming system, method for forming or stamping articles produced - Google Patents
Thermoforming station, thermoforming system, method for forming or stamping articles produced Download PDFInfo
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- US20130152660A1 US20130152660A1 US13/702,764 US201113702764A US2013152660A1 US 20130152660 A1 US20130152660 A1 US 20130152660A1 US 201113702764 A US201113702764 A US 201113702764A US 2013152660 A1 US2013152660 A1 US 2013152660A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- drive
- thermoforming station
- tool
- forming tool
- rotation
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- 238000003856 thermoforming Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 95
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 6
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 claims description 19
- 239000011888 foil Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000010008 shearing Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 abstract description 2
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 description 14
- 230000036316 preload Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000002441 reversible effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000001133 acceleration Effects 0.000 description 2
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- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 2
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- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 2
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- 238000013024 troubleshooting Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C51/00—Shaping by thermoforming, i.e. shaping sheets or sheet like preforms after heating, e.g. shaping sheets in matched moulds or by deep-drawing; Apparatus therefor
- B29C51/26—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
- B29C51/30—Moulds
- B29C51/38—Opening, closing or clamping means
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D24/00—Special deep-drawing arrangements in, or in connection with, presses
- B21D24/10—Devices controlling or operating blank holders independently, or in conjunction with dies
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D22/00—Shaping without cutting, by stamping, spinning, or deep-drawing
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D37/00—Tools as parts of machines covered by this subclass
- B21D37/16—Heating or cooling
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B30—PRESSES
- B30B—PRESSES IN GENERAL
- B30B1/00—Presses, using a press ram, characterised by the features of the drive therefor, pressure being transmitted directly, or through simple thrust or tension members only, to the press ram or platen
- B30B1/10—Presses, using a press ram, characterised by the features of the drive therefor, pressure being transmitted directly, or through simple thrust or tension members only, to the press ram or platen by toggle mechanism
- B30B1/14—Presses, using a press ram, characterised by the features of the drive therefor, pressure being transmitted directly, or through simple thrust or tension members only, to the press ram or platen by toggle mechanism operated by cams, eccentrics, or cranks
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
- B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
- B26D1/00—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor
- B26D1/01—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work
- B26D1/12—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis
- B26D1/25—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis with a non-circular cutting member
- B26D1/34—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis with a non-circular cutting member moving about an axis parallel to the line of cut
- B26D1/40—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis with a non-circular cutting member moving about an axis parallel to the line of cut and coacting with a rotary member
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
- B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
- B26D5/00—Arrangements for operating and controlling machines or devices for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting
- B26D5/08—Means for actuating the cutting member to effect the cut
- B26D5/18—Toggle-link means
Definitions
- the invention relates to a thermoforming station, a thermoforming system having such a station, a method for forming or stamping and an article produced with such.
- thermoforming processes on systems having thermoforming tools especially equipped for this purpose.
- the actual core step is carried out on the thermoforming station. There, a heated base material is deformed under the force effect of a press by means of a forming tool having an upper tool and a lower tool.
- a lower drive acts on the lower tool, lifting it upwards against the upper tool for the thermoforming process.
- an upper drives acts on the upper tool, lowering it against the lower tool for the forming process.
- thermoforming station with which one of the two tool parts is stationary and only the other part is moved.
- each drive is a drive unit, mostly a motor.
- each motor performs rotating work.
- a transmission mostly an eccentric shaft and a toggle, lever, the rotary movement on the output is translated into the linear movement on the tool.
- a driven tool part can be driven by one or a plurality of motors or one or a plurality of toggle levers and one or a plurality of eccentric shafts as well as one or a plurality of other actuating elements.
- the rotatorically running motors on a thermoforming station mostly two motors, namely one on the upper tool and one on the lower tool, however can introduce undesirable vibrations into the tools or the station frame. This applies especially when the motors are arranged co-rotatingly. This is the case when two motors or when more than two motors exert a torque about an imaginary axis through the station, wherein these torques are added. In particular, with each starting or braking torque impulses that are added are then exerted onto a tool part or onto the thermoforming station.
- This phenomenon can be observed in particular when either one or all or at any rate more co-rotating motors than run in the other direction are arranged on a tool part. This phenomenon can also occur when based on the entire thermoforming station, a plurality, in particular all, under certain condition even more co-rotating motors than counter-rotating motors are present.
- the problems can then occur when either on one of the two tools or on both tools in each case or via the entire thermoforming station an unbalance occurs on exerted torques and rotary impulses.
- EP 1 832 408 82 proposes a thermoforming station, with which the two motors rotate counter-rotatingly on the lower tool.
- the rotary impulses induced by both the motors therefore largely neutralize one another.
- the invention is based on the object of making possible an improved thermoforming system.
- thermoforming station having a forming tool with an upper tool and a lower tool and with a drive for the forming tool for moving into an opening position and into a closing position
- the driver comprises two drive units, which in operation each have a driving direction of rotation and for moving the forming tool each act on the forming tool via an actuating element
- the actuating elements in operation each have an actuating element direction of rotation
- two drive units for the forming tool are arranged with co-rotating driving direction of rotation and are simultaneously arranged at the same time via transmission for driving the actuating elements with counter-rotating actuating element direction of rotation.
- the invention has realised that the quite complex counter-rotating orientation of the directions of rotation of two motors proposed by EP 1 832 408 A2 is not necessary.
- the actual key to a quiet and accurate operation on a thermoforming system rather lies in that the actuating elements work co-rotatingly and their impulses are thus at least largely neutralized. Whether the motors as such have a counter-rotating or a co-rotating direction of rotation is of little relevance according to the findings of the inventor.
- the proposal is to employ the drive units with co-rotating direction of rotation.
- the drive units can then be produced in the previous way and employed in the conventional way.
- no new designs are required here and standard motors in vertical orientation can be employed for example.
- the differently configured transmission ensures that the actually decisive impulses substantially neutralize one another.
- the starting and braking moments of the two co-rotating drive units are added up with respect to the thermoforming station. If the moments exactly neutralize one another, the system can run largely free of interference impulses.
- the equally orientated drive unit pair provided with counter-rotating actuating elements according to the invention can be arranged moving the lower tool via two lower actuating elements.
- the two drive units move the upper tool via two upper actuating elements.
- each drive unit preferably acts exactly on one actuating element.
- two drive units can act on the lower tool on two different ends of a lower yoke.
- Both lower drive units each preferably act on exactly one eccentric shaft and preferably, via the eccentric shaft, each on exactly one or two toggle levers.
- the eccentric shaft and the toggle lever thus jointly form a transmission and are designated “actuating element” here, wherein each individual one of these two components as well as their entirety constitutes an “actuating element”.
- the drive units preferably have vertical axes of rotation.
- thermoforming station A drive unit having a vertical axis of rotation can be integrated in the thermoforming station in a very space-saving manner. Consequently, the entire thermoforming construction is very small, so that a compact thermoforming system is made possible.
- two driver units are arranged on the thermoforming station at the same height, in particular each two on two yokes, of which a yoke each is provided for the upper tool and for the lower tool.
- the upper tool and the lower tool are directly screwed to the yoke at the back, i.e. the upper tool below the upper yoke, correspondingly, the lower tool above the lower yoke.
- all drive units for the lower tool are arranged at one height and/or all drive units for the upper tool are arranged at one height.
- the drive units for the upper tool and the lower tool are arranged on top of each other.
- the actuating elements at least in part can consists of an eccentric shaft. In this case, but also with other rotatoric elements for driving the forming tool, it appears to be promising when actuating elements have horizontal axes of rotation.
- thermoforming station When two drive units with respect to a stroke axis of the forming tool are arranged diagonally to each other, it is particularly easy to prevent interfering impulses on the thermoforming station.
- the axes of rotation of two actuating elements for the lower tool and for the upper tool are parallel to each other, in particular all parallel to one another. This makes possible a particularly compact design.
- actuating elements comprise toggle levers.
- the drive units introduce torques and rotary impulses, i.e. rotatoric movements.
- the forming tool itself however has to be at least largely guided linearly. A part of the transmission is therefore necessary in order to convert the rotatoric movement of the drive units into the linear movement of the forming tool.
- Toggle levers are highly suitable for this purpose.
- toggle levers during operation of the thermoforming system can be exposed to major pressure forces, the toggle levers have to be embodied quite solidly and thus heavily. All the more intensive is their harmful influence during the build-up of undesirable rotary impulses into the thermoforming system.
- the inventor has provided that the drive units for the upper tool and/or lower tool can be coupled via an electric shaft.
- Electric shaft is to mean a fine control of the drive units with respect to one another.
- a second aspect of the invention proposes that a drive unit, in particular a motor-transmission unit, can be arranged on a plurality of locations along the actuating element.
- the second aspect of the invention can be realised in particular then, when drive units are arranged in such a manner that they project perpendicularly to the axis of the eccentric shaft, in particular in vertical arrangement.
- a drive unit can be connected to each eccentric shaft.
- the eccentric shafts as such, even if it is four such eccentric shafts, can be each embodied identically in principle, likewise the toggle levers. This results in a high rationalisation during the production of the thermoforming station.
- the drive units can be connected to any locations along each eccentric shaft.
- the set object is solved by a thermoforming station, with which the upper tool and the lower tool comprise identical tables and/or yokes, which are merely arranged the other way around.
- identical parts can be used. Only the forming shell itself has to be formed differently when so demanded by the shaped part to be produced. All mechanically driving parts by contrast can be randomly interchanged. This not only increases the degree of the safety in the production of the machine components, but additionally facilitates the stopping of replacement parts.
- a fourth aspect of the invention solves the said object by means of a thermoforming station having a forming tool with an upper tool and a lower tool and having a drive for the forming tool for moving into an opening direction and into a closing direction, wherein the drive comprises two drive units which during the operation each have a direction of rotation and for moving the forming tool act on the forming tool via an actuating element each, wherein the actuating elements during the operation each comprise an actuating element direction of rotation, wherein the moved upper tool and/or lower tool are mounted in a wobbling manner, in particular with a vertical guide which permits an axial rotation.
- a linear-rotary unit is provided, which is arranged perpendicularly to the stroke direction and preferably perpendicularly to the feed direction of the material through the thermoforming station.
- the table can always move along the actual axis of symmetry and rotate on its centre line about the own axis.
- the angle of rotation required for this is dependent on the drive geometry, for example on the toggle lever geometry.
- thermoforming station having a forming tool with an upper tool and a lower tool and having a drive for the forming tool for moving into an opening position and into a closing position
- the drive comprises two drive units, which during operation each have a driving direction of rotation and for moving the forming tool act on the forming tool via an actuating element each, wherein the actuating elements during the operation each have an actuating element direction of rotation
- an upper yoke for the upper tool and a lower yoke for the lower tool are interconnected via upper yoke supports, wherein an upper yoke support comprises an overload device.
- the upper yoke rests on the upper yoke supports. Jointly with the lower yoke it forms the two static elements, which ultimately drive the upper tool and the lower tool and offer the counter-force necessary for the thermoforming operation.
- the upper yoke supports With opened forming tool, the upper yoke supports are pressure loaded. During the thermoforming process, i.e. with closed forming tool and with pressure exertion between the two parts of the forming tool, the pressure force in the upper yoke supports can be exceeded. When the drives drive the upper tool and the lower tool towards each other with a force that is large than the upper tool can offer in terms of own weight force, the upper yoke supports are neutral or even tension-loaded.
- the overload device is provided for this purpose. It is a desired weak point in the force system between upper yoke, upper yoke support and lower yoke. The overload device fails before the upper yoke support, the upper yoke or the lower yoke are damaged.
- the overload device is thus an intentional weak point, or a desired deformation location in the force system.
- the overload device can for example comprise a spring assembly, a shearing pin and/or a compression sleeve.
- a “spring assembly” means a plurality of springs, for example a same number of same springs on each upper yoke support.
- the particular advantage with springs is that these are reversible within an excessive force range that—if suitably configured—is quite large, so that not even the overload device is being damaged.
- a “shearing pin” is too sheared off in the case of excessive force action.
- there is a force threshold Below the force threshold, which acts on the shearing pin as transverse force, said shearing pin remains stable. Above the force threshold, the pin shears off and allows no-load operation.
- a “compression sleeve” fails linearly, i.e. upon pressure, as of a force threshold.
- a spring assembly and a compression sleeve can be arranged in particular in stroke direction.
- a shearing pin is preferably arranged to the stroke direction, but at any rate at an angle to the stroke direction.
- the overload device can comprise a switching-off means, a recording means and/or acknowledging means.
- a “switching-off means” is to mean a means which disconnects a part of the thermoforming system or the entire thermoforming system. Switching-off movements in particular comes to mind. The drives can remain on standby.
- the switching-off means can function electronically or mechanically.
- An electronic function is present for example if a sensor detects that the overload device has failed and was thus activated. The electronic system can then access the system control and stop all movements.
- a recording means is to be configured electronically in particular.
- the recording means can always record that the overloading device was activated. This is surprisingly of advantage in particular then, when it concerns a reversible activation of the overload device, i.e. for example an activation of spring assemblies.
- a sequential stopping is also conceivable.
- an advantageous configuration for example is that the movement on the forming tool is stopped immediately, but the stations in the machine running direction in front of the thermoforming station are only braked within a short time and then stopped in order to avoid an immediate stoppage and the pressure in the remaining system connected with this.
- a mechanical action of the switching-off means can for example be realised in that a safeguard is pulled through mechanical force action or that a necessary force transmission part upon failure of the overload device is pulled out of the force flow.
- An “acknowledging means” can consist in particular in that an operating person has to manually press a push button, insert and turn a key, identify himself/herself with a card or otherwise and subsequently have to actively put the control of the system into motion before the system continues operation. It can be provided, in particular that only operation persons of a higher stage of hierarchy can actuate the acknowledging means.
- the said object is solved by a thermoforming station having a forming tool with an upper tool and a lower tool as well as with a drive for the forming tool for moving into an opening direction and into a closing direction, wherein the drive comprises two drive units, which during operation each have a drive direction of rotation and for moving the forming tool each act on the forming tool via an actuating element each, wherein the actuating elements during the operation each comprise an actuation element direction of rotation, wherein an upper yoke for the upper tool and a lower yoke for the lower tool are connected via upper yoke supports wherein—as throughout the entire present application—the expression “via an actuating element each” does not exclude that two drive units jointly act on an actuating element, wherein a table guide is formed separately from the upper yoke supports.
- the upper yoke supports preferably assume no guiding function for the linear movement of the table stroke.
- the linear guidance is rather left to the “table guide”. Because of this, the upper yoke supports become free of transverse forces, except for those very minor transverse forces, which can be introduced into the upper yoke supports at the top and bottom.
- the table guide can preferably be a linear guide, in particular on both sides of the forming tool.
- disc-shaped or rod-shaped elements for the table guide can be provided on the upper yoke and on the lower yoke each.
- the table guides for the upper table and for the lower table can be preferably designed identically, namely either unitarily connected to the upper yoke or lower yoke or releasably fastened there. This, too, increases the maintenance friendliness and reduces the necessary stock for the upkeep.
- Motors can be employed in each case as drive units.
- electric motors with vertical axis in the installation state come to mind.
- One or a plurality of drive units can be designed as motor.
- all drive units are designed as motor.
- a highly advantageous constellation is obtained then, when a drive unit is passively designed and connected via a driving means to a motor arranged otherwise for driving the drive unit.
- a drive unit is passively designed and connected via a driving means to a motor arranged otherwise for driving the drive unit.
- exactly not all drive units are provided as independent motors; rather at least one drive unit is formed passively.
- Passive drive unit is to mean such a drive unit which has to be driven via a driving means in reverse in order to act on the actuating element with its drive.
- Possible driving means are in particular belts or chains.
- a motor is connected to one or a plurality of passive drive units via a belt drive or chain drive, wherein the passive drive units are directly arranged on the machine frame, specifically on the thermoforming station, so that the passive drive units on their output act on the actuating elements.
- a plurality of redirecting devices are preferably provided.
- a motor and drive units passively driven by said motor can be configured rotating in the same direction of rotation with respect to their motor or driving unit direction of rotation.
- all motors and all passive drive units of the same thermoforming station have a uniform direction of rotation.
- thermoforming station It is to be understood that the features mentioned above and their advantages can be individually or cumulatively found on a thermoforming station.
- thermoforming station has a direct effect on the entire thermoforming system with a plurality of stations for processing foils or sheets.
- thermoforming station as described above is used.
- thermoforming system itself extends to an article produced herewith. Said article can be permanently produced more precisely than with conventional systems.
- FIG. 1 in a schematic view, two vertically arranged motors having transmission, eccentric shaft and two toggle levers,
- FIG. 2 the arrangement from FIG. 1 in a top view
- FIG. 3 an alternative arrangement to FIG. 1 in view
- FIG. 4 the alternative arrangement from FIG. 3 in the top view
- FIG. 5 in a schematic top view a first motor arrangement
- FIG. 5 a the first motor arrangement from FIG. 5 in view
- FIG. 6 in schematic top view a second motor arrangement
- FIG. 6 a the second motor arrangement from FIG. 6 in view
- FIG. 7 in schematic top view a third motor arrangement
- FIG. 7 a the third motor arrangement from FIG. 7 in view, wherein the motor arrangements from FIGS. 5 , 6 and 7 can also be mirror-imaged in view, i.e. with motors standing vertically upwards,
- FIG. 8 in schematic view a thermoforming station with lift table mounted in a wobbling manner
- FIG. 9 the thermoforming station from FIG. 8 with deflected upper table and non-deflective lower table
- FIG. 10 in a schematic part view an upper yoke on an upper yoke support with an upper table arranged thereon moved into a closing position and having a spring assembly
- FIG. 11 in schematic top view a fourth motor arrangement
- FIG. 12 the fourth motor arrangement from FIG. 11 in view.
- a drive 1 for a lower table of a thermoforming station substantially consists of a first motor 2 , a second motor 3 , assigned transmission housings 4 each (marked exemplarily), a lower yoke 5 and of a first toggle lever 6 and a second toggle lever 7 .
- the two motors 2 , 3 are point-symmetrically arranged about a centre of the thermoforming station.
- the first motor 2 drives a first eccentric shaft 9 .
- the second motor 3 drives a second eccentric shaft 10 . Because of this, the altogether four toggle levers 6 , 7 (marked exemplarily) are moved up and down with respect to a stroke direction 11 , i.e. along the vertical.
- the press on the thermoforming station In the upper position, the press on the thermoforming station is closed. In the lower position, the press on the thermoforming station is opened.
- the two motors 2 , 3 run with a first driving direction of rotation 12 and with a second driving direction of rotation 13 respectively.
- Both driving direction of rotation 12 , 13 are orientated identically, i.e. in the top view of the stroke direction 11 in clockwise direction.
- the driven eccentric shafts 9 , 10 at the same time run with a first actuating element direction of rotation 14 and a second actuating element direction of rotation 15 respectively.
- these two actuating element direction of rotation 14 , 15 are orientated in opposite direction.
- the first actuating element direction of rotation 14 runs counter clockwise.
- the second actuating element direction of rotation 15 runs clockwise.
- the two motors 2 , 3 are arranged vertically. Conventional motors can be used. The direction of rotation is identical. This makes possible a very easy construction of the system.
- the alternative drive 16 in the FIGS. 3 and 4 differs from the initially described drive 1 only in that two motors 17 , 18 both run counter clockwise in top view, i.e. exactly the other way around than the two motors 2 , 3 on the first drive 1 .
- the eccentric shafts and toggle levers here also run exactly as with the first drive from the FIGS. 1 and 2 .
- the first motor arrangement 19 in the FIGS. 5 and 5 a just like the second motor arrangement 20 and the third motor arrangement 21 , exemplarily shows an upper yoke 22 for driving an upper table 23 .
- two motors 24 , 25 are arranged on an eccentric shaft between two toggle lever arrangements.
- the two motors 24 , 25 are located on a side next to the two toggle lever drives.
- the two motors 24 , 25 are located diagonally opposite each other, each on a side of the two toggle lever drives.
- the motor transmission unit can each be shifted as required along the eccentric axes. This makes possible a great design freedom regarding the drives.
- the drive of the motors is effected for example via an electric shaft, at which the motors are coupled via a common master.
- thermoforming station is constructed symmetrically between top and bottom. Arrangements in mirror image or turned by 180° in particular are obvious.
- the thermoforming station 26 in the FIGS. 8 and 9 initially comprises a lower yoke 28 on a support base 27 .
- a lower yoke 28 On said lower yoke 28 , four upper yoke supports 29 (marked exemplarily) are arranged, which vertically extend towards the top and at their upper end support an upper yoke 30 .
- the lower table 32 and the upper table 33 are mounted vertically displaceably longitudinally on a lower table guide 34 or on an upper table guide 35 .
- Both the lower table guide 34 as well as the upper table guide 35 each comprise guide elements, for example rails, which are fastened or mounted or guided on the lower yoke 22 and on the upper yoke 33 .
- the lower table guide 34 and the upper table guide 35 serve as linear guides for the two tables.
- the lower table 32 and the upper table 33 are mounted in a wobbling manner.
- a linear-rotary unit 36 (marked exemplarily) is provided on each table.
- the two tables are movable about a bearing shaft 37 (marked exemplarily) along a wobbling play degree of freedom 38 (marked exemplarily), so that the tables can assume an angle 40 relative to a vertical to the stroke direction 39 , i.e. the vertical.
- both the lower table 32 as well as the upper table 33 always move along their axes of symmetry and can rotate about the own axis on this centre line.
- errors and tolerances in the toggle lever drives 31 are offset.
- thermoforming station During the operation of the thermoforming station, high vertical forces are exerted by the press on the upper table 41 . These are transmitted onto the upper yoke 43 via a toggle lever 42 . Said upper yoke 43 is connected to an anchorage 45 via the upper yoke support 44 , which can for example be a lower yoke.
- a preloaded spring assembly 46 is provided on the connection point between the upper yoke support 44 and the upper yoke 43 .
- the preload of the spring assembly 46 overcomes the vertical force arriving on the upper yoke 43 from the toggle lever 42 . Since the upper yoke support 44 is mounted on the anchorage 44 in a fixed manner, the preload in the spring assembly 46 acts downwards onto the upper yoke 42 . The small vertical force 47 by contrast acts towards the top, but is overcome by the preload in the spring assembly 46 .
- the spring assembly 46 becomes a compressed spring assembly 46 exactly then, when an excessive force 49 vertically acts on the upper table 41 towards the top. For this force is likewise transmitted onto the upper yoke 43 via the toggle lever 42 . The force acting towards the top is thus greater than the preload force from the spring assembly 46 .
- the spring assembly 46 is then compressed, wherein with increasing spring travel 50 the spring force vertically acting downwards of the compressed spring assembly 48 increases linearly. As a result, the spring assembly 46 merely becomes a compressed spring assembly 48 , but it is not penetrated out of the elastic range.
- the upper support 44 preferably assumes no guiding function of the table mounting whatsoever, but leaves this to a table guide that is provided separately.
- force sensors can be provided which record the force curve.
- the drive In the case of overload, the drive is switched off.
- the system can be taken back into operation only after inputting a release code.
- motors can be likewise replaced by other drive elements.
- Passive drive elements in particular come to mind, which are jointly or individually driven by one or a plurality of motors arranged otherwise and in turn output-drive two transmissions for directly two actuating elements.
- the fourth motor arrangement 51 in the FIGS. 11 and 12 differs from the preceding motor arrangements in particular in that two passive drive elements 52 , 53 and an active motor 54 are provided on the thermoforming station.
- the two passive driving elements 52 , 53 are each formed with vertical rotary axis as rotatable round bodies and each arranged on an eccentric shaft 55 (marked exemplarily) and connected to the latter via a transmission 56 (marked exemplarily).
- the motor has a round drive body 57 in the form of a disc with vertical rotary axis.
- the two passive drive elements 52 , 53 each have a round rotary body 58 , 59 .
- the two rotary bodies 58 , 59 likewise have a vertical rotary axis. They are connected to the drive body 57 via a drive belt 60 .
- the drive belt 60 runs between the motor 54 and the two passive drive elements 52 , 53 , additionally via two return rollers (marked exemplarily), which likewise have a vertical axis.
- the directions of rotation of motor 54 , passive driving elements 53 , 53 , drive body 57 and rotary bodies 58 , 59 are coupled to one another in a fixed manner.
- the motor 54 during the operation imposes a rotation on the drive body 57 , this rotation is transmitted onto the two passive drive elements 52 , 53 .
- a transmission of the rotation speed starting out from the motor 54 can be brought about if desired.
- the two rotary bodies 58 , 59 preferably have the same diameter.
- the rotating motor 54 in this way ensures that the two passive drive elements 52 , 53 exert equally directed acceleration and braking moments on the thermoforming station. These even add up if the driving and braking moments of the motor 54 , insofar as the latter is connected to the same machine frame of the thermoforming station.
- the motor 54 is arranged on the centre axis of the thermoforming station. It is to be understood, however, that the motor can be arranged entirely freely. It is even possible, in particular, to drive the passive drive elements of a plurality of stations with one motor, especially then, when couplings are provided, which are acceleration and braking moments during coupling and decoupling and problematic for the product quality, since the moments of the actuating elements neutralize one another.
Abstract
Description
- The invention relates to a thermoforming station, a thermoforming system having such a station, a method for forming or stamping and an article produced with such.
- It has proved itself to carry out thermoforming processes on systems having thermoforming tools especially equipped for this purpose. The actual core step is carried out on the thermoforming station. There, a heated base material is deformed under the force effect of a press by means of a forming tool having an upper tool and a lower tool.
- Drives act, on the forming tool, more precisely on the upper tool and the lower tool. A lower drive acts on the lower tool, lifting it upwards against the upper tool for the thermoforming process. At the same time, an upper drives acts on the upper tool, lowering it against the lower tool for the forming process.
- Also conceivable are thermoforming station with which one of the two tool parts is stationary and only the other part is moved.
- Part of each drive is a drive unit, mostly a motor. Usually, each motor performs rotating work. By way of a transmission, mostly an eccentric shaft and a toggle, lever, the rotary movement on the output is translated into the linear movement on the tool.
- Depending on the concrete configuration of the thermoforming station, a driven tool part can be driven by one or a plurality of motors or one or a plurality of toggle levers and one or a plurality of eccentric shafts as well as one or a plurality of other actuating elements.
- Within the scope of the application present here, these versions are to be assumed as being known to the person skilled in the art. For an easier readability of the application introduced here, no further linguistic differentiation is therefore to be made linguistically. Rather, an indefinite article is to be used in order to describe “one or a plurality” of objects provided the context does not provide that “exactly one” object is meant.
- The rotatorically running motors on a thermoforming station, mostly two motors, namely one on the upper tool and one on the lower tool, however can introduce undesirable vibrations into the tools or the station frame. This applies especially when the motors are arranged co-rotatingly. This is the case when two motors or when more than two motors exert a torque about an imaginary axis through the station, wherein these torques are added. In particular, with each starting or braking torque impulses that are added are then exerted onto a tool part or onto the thermoforming station.
- This phenomenon can be observed in particular when either one or all or at any rate more co-rotating motors than run in the other direction are arranged on a tool part. This phenomenon can also occur when based on the entire thermoforming station, a plurality, in particular all, under certain condition even more co-rotating motors than counter-rotating motors are present.
- In simple words, the problems can then occur when either on one of the two tools or on both tools in each case or via the entire thermoforming station an unbalance occurs on exerted torques and rotary impulses.
-
EP 1 832 408 82 proposes a thermoforming station, with which the two motors rotate counter-rotatingly on the lower tool. The rotary impulses induced by both the motors therefore largely neutralize one another. - The invention is based on the object of making possible an improved thermoforming system.
- According to a first aspect of the invention, this object is solved by a thermoforming station having a forming tool with an upper tool and a lower tool and with a drive for the forming tool for moving into an opening position and into a closing position, wherein the driver comprises two drive units, which in operation each have a driving direction of rotation and for moving the forming tool each act on the forming tool via an actuating element, wherein the actuating elements in operation each have an actuating element direction of rotation, and wherein two drive units for the forming tool are arranged with co-rotating driving direction of rotation and are simultaneously arranged at the same time via transmission for driving the actuating elements with counter-rotating actuating element direction of rotation.
- In terms of definition it is explained in this regard that the “actuating element direction of rotation” is the counterpart of the driving direction of rotation. Thus, rotatoric movements on the actuating element have to be observed for this.
- The invention has realised that the quite complex counter-rotating orientation of the directions of rotation of two motors proposed by
EP 1 832 408 A2 is not necessary. The actual key to a quiet and accurate operation on a thermoforming system rather lies in that the actuating elements work co-rotatingly and their impulses are thus at least largely neutralized. Whether the motors as such have a counter-rotating or a co-rotating direction of rotation is of little relevance according to the findings of the inventor. - Thus, the proposal is to employ the drive units with co-rotating direction of rotation. The drive units can then be produced in the previous way and employed in the conventional way. Thus, no new designs are required here and standard motors in vertical orientation can be employed for example.
- At the same time, the differently configured transmission ensures that the actually decisive impulses substantially neutralize one another.
- Preferably, the starting and braking moments of the two co-rotating drive units are added up with respect to the thermoforming station. If the moments exactly neutralize one another, the system can run largely free of interference impulses.
- At the outset it was already mentioned that the equally orientated drive unit pair provided with counter-rotating actuating elements according to the invention can be arranged moving the lower tool via two lower actuating elements.
- Alternatively and cumulatively it is possible that the two drive units move the upper tool via two upper actuating elements.
- In a particularly preferred embodiment, altogether exactly two drive units or more as well as exactly four or more actuating elements or more are present. In such a constellation, each drive unit preferably acts exactly on one actuating element. For example, two drive units can act on the lower tool on two different ends of a lower yoke. Both lower drive units each preferably act on exactly one eccentric shaft and preferably, via the eccentric shaft, each on exactly one or two toggle levers. The eccentric shaft and the toggle lever thus jointly form a transmission and are designated “actuating element” here, wherein each individual one of these two components as well as their entirety constitutes an “actuating element”.
- The drive units preferably have vertical axes of rotation.
- A drive unit having a vertical axis of rotation can be integrated in the thermoforming station in a very space-saving manner. Consequently, the entire thermoforming construction is very small, so that a compact thermoforming system is made possible.
- Apart from this, the vertical arrangement of the drive units, in particular then, when either all are connected at the top or all at the bottom, helps with the maintenance and the understanding of the system. This applies in particular then, when all drive units are driven co-rotatingly.
- In a simple and very compact embodiment, two driver units are arranged on the thermoforming station at the same height, in particular each two on two yokes, of which a yoke each is provided for the upper tool and for the lower tool. The upper tool and the lower tool are directly screwed to the yoke at the back, i.e. the upper tool below the upper yoke, correspondingly, the lower tool above the lower yoke.
- Preferably, all drive units for the lower tool are arranged at one height and/or all drive units for the upper tool are arranged at one height.
- Particularly preferably, the drive units for the upper tool and the lower tool are arranged on top of each other.
- It has already been mentioned that the actuating elements at least in part can consists of an eccentric shaft. In this case, but also with other rotatoric elements for driving the forming tool, it appears to be promising when actuating elements have horizontal axes of rotation.
- When two drive units with respect to a stroke axis of the forming tool are arranged diagonally to each other, it is particularly easy to prevent interfering impulses on the thermoforming station.
- Ideally, the axes of rotation of two actuating elements for the lower tool and for the upper tool are parallel to each other, in particular all parallel to one another. This makes possible a particularly compact design.
- Independently of the presence of eccentric shafts, however, by way of proposal in addition thereto, it is proposed that the actuating elements comprise toggle levers.
- The drive units introduce torques and rotary impulses, i.e. rotatoric movements. The forming tool itself however has to be at least largely guided linearly. A part of the transmission is therefore necessary in order to convert the rotatoric movement of the drive units into the linear movement of the forming tool. Toggle levers are highly suitable for this purpose.
- In view of the fact that toggle levers during operation of the thermoforming system can be exposed to major pressure forces, the toggle levers have to be embodied quite solidly and thus heavily. All the more intensive is their harmful influence during the build-up of undesirable rotary impulses into the thermoforming system.
- Thus it is particularly opportune, in realising the first aspect of the invention, to configure a rotational movement of the toggle levers on the lower tool, of the toggle levers on the upper tool or the toggle levers on the lower tool and upper tool in pairs or altogether in a counter-rotating manner so that the impulses of the toggle levers neutralize one another.
- The same applies to the eccentric shafts.
- The inventor has provided that the drive units for the upper tool and/or lower tool can be coupled via an electric shaft.
- “Electric shaft” is to mean a fine control of the drive units with respect to one another.
- A second aspect of the invention proposes that a drive unit, in particular a motor-transmission unit, can be arranged on a plurality of locations along the actuating element.
- With respect to definition it is explained in this regard that here in particular the assembly of eccentric shaft and toggle lever is to mean the “actuating element”. By contrast, the connection of motor to the actuating element is to mean the “motor-transmission unit”. The “transmission” is to be rather attributed to the motor than to the actuating unit.
- The second aspect of the invention can be realised in particular then, when drive units are arranged in such a manner that they project perpendicularly to the axis of the eccentric shaft, in particular in vertical arrangement. Thus, a drive unit can be connected to each eccentric shaft. The eccentric shafts as such, even if it is four such eccentric shafts, can be each embodied identically in principle, likewise the toggle levers. This results in a high rationalisation during the production of the thermoforming station.
- The drive units can be connected to any locations along each eccentric shaft.
- According to a third aspect of the invention, the set object is solved by a thermoforming station, with which the upper tool and the lower tool comprise identical tables and/or yokes, which are merely arranged the other way around.
- In realising this aspect, identical parts can be used. Only the forming shell itself has to be formed differently when so demanded by the shaped part to be produced. All mechanically driving parts by contrast can be randomly interchanged. This not only increases the degree of the safety in the production of the machine components, but additionally facilitates the stopping of replacement parts.
- A fourth aspect of the invention solves the said object by means of a thermoforming station having a forming tool with an upper tool and a lower tool and having a drive for the forming tool for moving into an opening direction and into a closing direction, wherein the drive comprises two drive units which during the operation each have a direction of rotation and for moving the forming tool act on the forming tool via an actuating element each, wherein the actuating elements during the operation each comprise an actuating element direction of rotation, wherein the moved upper tool and/or lower tool are mounted in a wobbling manner, in particular with a vertical guide which permits an axial rotation.
- The wobbling mounting of upper tool, upper yoke, upper table, lower tool, lower yoke and/or lower table has proved to be highly advantageous for the product to be produced during prototype tests of the inventor: thus, it cannot be excluded for example on the control side that during the movement lag errors occur. When the table, the yoke or the tool however is mounted such that upon an uneven moving no harmful transverse forces can occur, the thermoforming station runs with a clearly higher operational safety and production accuracy.
- Preferably, a linear-rotary unit is provided, which is arranged perpendicularly to the stroke direction and preferably perpendicularly to the feed direction of the material through the thermoforming station.
- When a linear-rotary unit is provided, the table can always move along the actual axis of symmetry and rotate on its centre line about the own axis. The angle of rotation required for this is dependent on the drive geometry, for example on the toggle lever geometry.
- At the same time errors and tolerances in the drive, i.e. in particular in the toggle levers, are offset.
- According to a fifth aspect of the invention, the said object is solved by a thermoforming station having a forming tool with an upper tool and a lower tool and having a drive for the forming tool for moving into an opening position and into a closing position, wherein the drive comprises two drive units, which during operation each have a driving direction of rotation and for moving the forming tool act on the forming tool via an actuating element each, wherein the actuating elements during the operation each have an actuating element direction of rotation, wherein an upper yoke for the upper tool and a lower yoke for the lower tool are interconnected via upper yoke supports, wherein an upper yoke support comprises an overload device.
- Usually, there are exactly four upper yoke supports between the upper yoke and the lower yoke. Often, these are simply vertically running round supports with solid or hollow cross section.
- The upper yoke rests on the upper yoke supports. Jointly with the lower yoke it forms the two static elements, which ultimately drive the upper tool and the lower tool and offer the counter-force necessary for the thermoforming operation.
- With opened forming tool, the upper yoke supports are pressure loaded. During the thermoforming process, i.e. with closed forming tool and with pressure exertion between the two parts of the forming tool, the pressure force in the upper yoke supports can be exceeded. When the drives drive the upper tool and the lower tool towards each other with a force that is large than the upper tool can offer in terms of own weight force, the upper yoke supports are neutral or even tension-loaded.
- Although the upper yoke supports have to be designed for major forces, greater forces can at times materialise during operation which then result in the system being damaged. The overload device is provided for this purpose. It is a desired weak point in the force system between upper yoke, upper yoke support and lower yoke. The overload device fails before the upper yoke support, the upper yoke or the lower yoke are damaged.
- The overload device is thus an intentional weak point, or a desired deformation location in the force system.
- The overload device can for example comprise a spring assembly, a shearing pin and/or a compression sleeve.
- A “spring assembly” means a plurality of springs, for example a same number of same springs on each upper yoke support. The particular advantage with springs is that these are reversible within an excessive force range that—if suitably configured—is quite large, so that not even the overload device is being damaged.
- A “shearing pin” is too sheared off in the case of excessive force action. To this end, there is a force threshold. Below the force threshold, which acts on the shearing pin as transverse force, said shearing pin remains stable. Above the force threshold, the pin shears off and allows no-load operation.
- A “compression sleeve” fails linearly, i.e. upon pressure, as of a force threshold.
- A spring assembly and a compression sleeve can be arranged in particular in stroke direction.
- A shearing pin is preferably arranged to the stroke direction, but at any rate at an angle to the stroke direction.
- The overload device can comprise a switching-off means, a recording means and/or acknowledging means.
- A “switching-off means” is to mean a means which disconnects a part of the thermoforming system or the entire thermoforming system. Switching-off movements in particular comes to mind. The drives can remain on standby.
- Thus it is quite conceivable that in the case of the failure of the overload device the switching-off means is activated, so that for example the stroke in the forming tool is not continuously carried out, the feed on the foil is not continuously carried out and/or all transport rollers are stopped.
- The switching-off means can function electronically or mechanically. An electronic function is present for example if a sensor detects that the overload device has failed and was thus activated. The electronic system can then access the system control and stop all movements.
- A recording means is to be configured electronically in particular. The recording means can always record that the overloading device was activated. This is surprisingly of advantage in particular then, when it concerns a reversible activation of the overload device, i.e. for example an activation of spring assemblies.
- If the plant were to regularly or at least occasionally go into an overload range, the mechanical stability of the system as a consequence of the spring assembly would be retained unimpairedly.
- A sequential stopping is also conceivable. Thus an advantageous configuration for example is that the movement on the forming tool is stopped immediately, but the stations in the machine running direction in front of the thermoforming station are only braked within a short time and then stopped in order to avoid an immediate stoppage and the pressure in the remaining system connected with this.
- A mechanical action of the switching-off means can for example be realised in that a safeguard is pulled through mechanical force action or that a necessary force transmission part upon failure of the overload device is pulled out of the force flow.
- However, if it materialises during the quality check that the products that were produced in the thermoforming process do not correspond to the requirements, it can be retraced by means of a record that the work was performed with an overload situation.
- By means of a record of the forces altogether or for example of the forces in the case of overload situations, it can be additionally easily detected while troubleshooting products of inadequate quality if for example a quality fluctuation in the foil to be processed or in the sheet metal to be processed is responsible for the excess force.
- An “acknowledging means” can consist in particular in that an operating person has to manually press a push button, insert and turn a key, identify himself/herself with a card or otherwise and subsequently have to actively put the control of the system into motion before the system continues operation. It can be provided, in particular that only operation persons of a higher stage of hierarchy can actuate the acknowledging means.
- In the case of a disconnection it would thus be ensured that a qualified technician can inspect the state of the system at rest. Only if he does not detect any errors, which can also include an immediate display or inspection of a record, is the system released again for further movement.
- According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the said object is solved by a thermoforming station having a forming tool with an upper tool and a lower tool as well as with a drive for the forming tool for moving into an opening direction and into a closing direction, wherein the drive comprises two drive units, which during operation each have a drive direction of rotation and for moving the forming tool each act on the forming tool via an actuating element each, wherein the actuating elements during the operation each comprise an actuation element direction of rotation, wherein an upper yoke for the upper tool and a lower yoke for the lower tool are connected via upper yoke supports wherein—as throughout the entire present application—the expression “via an actuating element each” does not exclude that two drive units jointly act on an actuating element, wherein a table guide is formed separately from the upper yoke supports.
- According to this aspect of the invention, the upper yoke supports preferably assume no guiding function for the linear movement of the table stroke. The linear guidance is rather left to the “table guide”. Because of this, the upper yoke supports become free of transverse forces, except for those very minor transverse forces, which can be introduced into the upper yoke supports at the top and bottom.
- Tests of the inventor have shown that with such a separation between support forces in upper yoke supports and guide forces in the table guide according to the object, outstanding product qualities can be achieved.
- The table guide can preferably be a linear guide, in particular on both sides of the forming tool.
- In a preferred embodiment, disc-shaped or rod-shaped elements for the table guide can be provided on the upper yoke and on the lower yoke each. The table guides for the upper table and for the lower table can be preferably designed identically, namely either unitarily connected to the upper yoke or lower yoke or releasably fastened there. This, too, increases the maintenance friendliness and reduces the necessary stock for the upkeep.
- Motors can be employed in each case as drive units. In particular, electric motors with vertical axis in the installation state come to mind.
- One or a plurality of drive units can be designed as motor. For example, all drive units are designed as motor.
- A highly advantageous constellation is obtained then, when a drive unit is passively designed and connected via a driving means to a motor arranged otherwise for driving the drive unit. With such a design, exactly not all drive units are provided as independent motors; rather at least one drive unit is formed passively. “Passive drive unit” is to mean such a drive unit which has to be driven via a driving means in reverse in order to act on the actuating element with its drive.
- Possible driving means are in particular belts or chains.
- In a very simple configuration, a motor is connected to one or a plurality of passive drive units via a belt drive or chain drive, wherein the passive drive units are directly arranged on the machine frame, specifically on the thermoforming station, so that the passive drive units on their output act on the actuating elements.
- Within the belt drive or chain drive, a plurality of redirecting devices are preferably provided.
- A motor and drive units passively driven by said motor can be configured rotating in the same direction of rotation with respect to their motor or driving unit direction of rotation. In particular it comes to mind that all motors and all passive drive units of the same thermoforming station have a uniform direction of rotation.
- It is to be understood that the features mentioned above and their advantages can be individually or cumulatively found on a thermoforming station.
- It is to be understood in addition that the advantages of the improved thermoforming station have a direct effect on the entire thermoforming system with a plurality of stations for processing foils or sheets.
- With respect to the method it is proposed that for producing intermediate products or finished articles of foils or sheets on a thermoforming system, a thermoforming station as described above is used.
- Finally it is to be understood that the advantageous characteristics of the thermoforming system itself extend to an article produced herewith. Said article can be permanently produced more precisely than with conventional systems.
- In the following, the invention is explained in more detail by means of some exemplary embodiments making reference to the drawing. There it shows
-
FIG. 1 in a schematic view, two vertically arranged motors having transmission, eccentric shaft and two toggle levers, -
FIG. 2 the arrangement fromFIG. 1 in a top view, -
FIG. 3 an alternative arrangement toFIG. 1 in view, -
FIG. 4 the alternative arrangement fromFIG. 3 in the top view, -
FIG. 5 in a schematic top view a first motor arrangement, -
FIG. 5 a the first motor arrangement fromFIG. 5 in view, -
FIG. 6 in schematic top view a second motor arrangement, -
FIG. 6 a the second motor arrangement fromFIG. 6 in view, -
FIG. 7 in schematic top view a third motor arrangement, -
FIG. 7 a the third motor arrangement fromFIG. 7 in view, wherein the motor arrangements fromFIGS. 5 , 6 and 7 can also be mirror-imaged in view, i.e. with motors standing vertically upwards, -
FIG. 8 in schematic view a thermoforming station with lift table mounted in a wobbling manner, -
FIG. 9 the thermoforming station fromFIG. 8 with deflected upper table and non-deflective lower table, -
FIG. 10 in a schematic part view an upper yoke on an upper yoke support with an upper table arranged thereon moved into a closing position and having a spring assembly, -
FIG. 11 in schematic top view a fourth motor arrangement and -
FIG. 12 the fourth motor arrangement fromFIG. 11 in view. - A
drive 1 for a lower table of a thermoforming station substantially consists of afirst motor 2, asecond motor 3, assigned transmission housings 4 each (marked exemplarily), alower yoke 5 and of a first toggle lever 6 and asecond toggle lever 7. - With respect to a machine direction 8 (see:
FIG. 2 ), the twomotors - During the operation, the
first motor 2 drives a first eccentric shaft 9. At the same time, thesecond motor 3 drives a secondeccentric shaft 10. Because of this, the altogether four toggle levers 6, 7 (marked exemplarily) are moved up and down with respect to a stroke direction 11, i.e. along the vertical. - In the upper position, the press on the thermoforming station is closed. In the lower position, the press on the thermoforming station is opened.
- The two
motors rotation 12 and with a second driving direction of rotation 13 respectively. - Both driving direction of
rotation 12, 13 are orientated identically, i.e. in the top view of the stroke direction 11 in clockwise direction. - The driven
eccentric shafts 9, 10 at the same time run with a first actuating element direction ofrotation 14 and a second actuating element direction of rotation 15 respectively. In the horizontal according toFIG. 1 , these two actuating element direction ofrotation 14, 15 are orientated in opposite direction. The first actuating element direction ofrotation 14 runs counter clockwise. By contrast, the second actuating element direction of rotation 15 runs clockwise. - Similar is the case with the two
toggle levers 6, 7. - During the operation, the torques and rotary impulses of the two
motors overall drive 1 and thus to the entire thermoforming system. However, these influences are negligible. - By contrast, the torques and rotary impulses of the actuating elements, i.e. of the two
eccentric shafts 9, 10 and the altogether fourtoggle levers 6, 7 neutralize one another. Since these elements rotate with major mass and high speed, these are the decisive influences on the system. - The two
motors - The
alternative drive 16 in theFIGS. 3 and 4 differs from the initially describeddrive 1 only in that twomotors motors first drive 1. Via suitably reconfigured transmissions, however the eccentric shafts and toggle levers here also run exactly as with the first drive from theFIGS. 1 and 2 . - The
first motor arrangement 19 in theFIGS. 5 and 5 a, just like thesecond motor arrangement 20 and thethird motor arrangement 21, exemplarily shows anupper yoke 22 for driving an upper table 23. - It is to be understood that the same representation can likewise analogously show the drive of a lower table on a lower yoke.
- In the
first motor arrangement 19, twomotors - With the
second motor arrangement 20, the twomotors - With the third motor arrangement, finally, the two
motors - The motor transmission unit can each be shifted as required along the eccentric axes. This makes possible a great design freedom regarding the drives.
- The drive of the motors is effected for example via an electric shaft, at which the motors are coupled via a common master.
- The thermoforming station is constructed symmetrically between top and bottom. Arrangements in mirror image or turned by 180° in particular are obvious.
- The
thermoforming station 26 in theFIGS. 8 and 9 initially comprises alower yoke 28 on asupport base 27. On saidlower yoke 28, four upper yoke supports 29 (marked exemplarily) are arranged, which vertically extend towards the top and at their upper end support anupper yoke 30. - On the
lower yoke 28, altogether four toggle lever drives (marked exemplarily) are located. If these are put into rotation, for example through a motor, transmission and eccentric shaft arrangement as shown in theFIGS. 1 to 7 a, a lower table 32 is raised and lowered. - The same applies analogously to an upper table 33.
- The lower table 32 and the upper table 33 are mounted vertically displaceably longitudinally on a
lower table guide 34 or on anupper table guide 35. Both thelower table guide 34 as well as theupper table guide 35 each comprise guide elements, for example rails, which are fastened or mounted or guided on thelower yoke 22 and on theupper yoke 33. - The
lower table guide 34 and theupper table guide 35 serve as linear guides for the two tables. - At the same time, the lower table 32 and the upper table 33 are mounted in a wobbling manner. On each table, a linear-rotary unit 36 (marked exemplarily) is provided. The two tables are movable about a bearing shaft 37 (marked exemplarily) along a wobbling play degree of freedom 38 (marked exemplarily), so that the tables can assume an angle 40 relative to a vertical to the
stroke direction 39, i.e. the vertical. - On the control side, lag errors cannot be excluded. Through the mounting of the two tables, no destructive transverse forces can occur even in the case of a non-uniform moving of the toggle lever drives 31.
- As a result, both the lower table 32 as well as the upper table 33 always move along their axes of symmetry and can rotate about the own axis on this centre line. At the same time, errors and tolerances in the toggle lever drives 31 are offset.
- During the operation of the thermoforming station, high vertical forces are exerted by the press on the upper table 41. These are transmitted onto the
upper yoke 43 via atoggle lever 42. Saidupper yoke 43 is connected to ananchorage 45 via theupper yoke support 44, which can for example be a lower yoke. - On the connection point between the
upper yoke support 44 and theupper yoke 43, apreloaded spring assembly 46 is provided. - For as long as a small
vertical force 47 acts on the upper table 41, the preload of thespring assembly 46 overcomes the vertical force arriving on theupper yoke 43 from thetoggle lever 42. Since theupper yoke support 44 is mounted on theanchorage 44 in a fixed manner, the preload in thespring assembly 46 acts downwards onto theupper yoke 42. The smallvertical force 47 by contrast acts towards the top, but is overcome by the preload in thespring assembly 46. - If the preload force in the
spring assembly 46 is adjusted so that it has a critical or permissible load, thespring assembly 46 becomes acompressed spring assembly 46 exactly then, when anexcessive force 49 vertically acts on the upper table 41 towards the top. For this force is likewise transmitted onto theupper yoke 43 via thetoggle lever 42. The force acting towards the top is thus greater than the preload force from thespring assembly 46. Thespring assembly 46 is then compressed, wherein with increasing spring travel 50 the spring force vertically acting downwards of thecompressed spring assembly 48 increases linearly. As a result, thespring assembly 46 merely becomes acompressed spring assembly 48, but it is not penetrated out of the elastic range. - The
upper support 44 preferably assumes no guiding function of the table mounting whatsoever, but leaves this to a table guide that is provided separately. - In this manner it is ensured that actually only vertical forces arrive at the upper yoke, which exactly correspond to the press forces.
- In the case that an undesirable force peak should occur, this is absorbed in the offsetting elements, i.e. concretely in the
spring assembly 46. - In the
upper yoke support 44 and/or on thetoggle lever 42 and/or on the connection oftoggle lever 42 and/orupper yoke support 44 to theupper yoke 43 and/or in thespring assembly 46, force sensors can be provided which record the force curve. - In the case of overload, the drive is switched off. The system can be taken back into operation only after inputting a release code.
- It is to be understood that in the above embodiments the motors can be likewise replaced by other drive elements. Passive drive elements in particular come to mind, which are jointly or individually driven by one or a plurality of motors arranged otherwise and in turn output-drive two transmissions for directly two actuating elements.
- The fourth motor arrangement 51 in the
FIGS. 11 and 12 differs from the preceding motor arrangements in particular in that twopassive drive elements active motor 54 are provided on the thermoforming station. - The two
passive driving elements - The motor has a
round drive body 57 in the form of a disc with vertical rotary axis. The twopassive drive elements rotary body rotary bodies drive body 57 via adrive belt 60. Thedrive belt 60 runs between themotor 54 and the twopassive drive elements - Via the singly circulating
drive belt 60, the directions of rotation ofmotor 54,passive driving elements drive body 57 androtary bodies motor 54 during the operation imposes a rotation on thedrive body 57, this rotation is transmitted onto the twopassive drive elements bodies 57 and the tworotary bodies motor 54 can be brought about if desired. The tworotary bodies - The
rotating motor 54 in this way ensures that the twopassive drive elements motor 54, insofar as the latter is connected to the same machine frame of the thermoforming station. - Via the two
transmissions 56, the co-rotating drive directions of rotation of thepassive drive elements eccentric shafts 55. The moments of theeccentric shafts 55 therefore neutralize one another. - In the shown example, the
motor 54 is arranged on the centre axis of the thermoforming station. It is to be understood, however, that the motor can be arranged entirely freely. It is even possible, in particular, to drive the passive drive elements of a plurality of stations with one motor, especially then, when couplings are provided, which are acceleration and braking moments during coupling and decoupling and problematic for the product quality, since the moments of the actuating elements neutralize one another. -
- 1 Drive
- 2 First motor
- 3 Second motor
- 4 Transmission housing
- 5 Lower yoke
- 6 First toggle lever
- 7 Second toggle lever
- 8 Machine direction
- 9 First eccentric shaft
- 10 Second eccentric shaft
- 11 Stroke direction
- 12 First driving direction of rotation
- 13 Second driving direction of rotation
- 14 First actuating element direction of rotation
- 15 Second actuating element direction of rotation
- 16 Alternative drive
- 17 Motor
- 18 Motor
- 19 First motor arrangement
- 20 Second motor arrangement
- 21 Third motor arrangement
- 22 Upper yoke
- 23 Upper table
- 24 Motor
- 25 Motor
- 26 Thermoforming station
- 27 Support base
- 28 Lower yoke
- 29 Upper yoke supports
- 30 Upper yoke
- 31 Toggle lever drive
- 32 Lower table
- 33 Upper table
- 34 Lower table guide
- 35 Upper table guide
- 36 Linear-rotary unit
- 37 Bearing shaft
- 38 Wobbling play degree of freedom
- 39 Stroke direction
- 40 Angle
- 41 Upper table
- 42 Toggle lever
- 43 Upper yoke
- 34 Upper yoke supports
- 45 Anchorage
- 46 Spring assembly
- 47 Small vertical force
- 48 Compressed spring assembly
- 49 Excessive force
- 50 Spring travel
- 51 Fourth motor arrangement
- 52 Passive drive element
- 53 Passive drive element
- 54 Motor
- 55 Eccentric shaft
- 56 Transmission
- 57 Drive body
- 58 Rotary body
- 59 Rotary body
- 60 Drive belt
- 61 Deflection rollers
Claims (27)
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE102010022858 | 2010-06-07 | ||
DE102010022858.3 | 2010-06-07 | ||
DE102010054976.2 | 2010-12-17 | ||
DE102010054976A DE102010054976A1 (en) | 2010-06-07 | 2010-12-17 | Thermoforming station, thermoforming machine, molding or stamping method, and manufactured articles |
PCT/DE2011/000369 WO2011153975A2 (en) | 2010-06-07 | 2011-04-07 | Thermoforming station, thermoforming system, method for forming or stamping and articles produced |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20130152660A1 true US20130152660A1 (en) | 2013-06-20 |
Family
ID=44628598
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/702,764 Abandoned US20130152660A1 (en) | 2010-06-07 | 2011-04-07 | Thermoforming station, thermoforming system, method for forming or stamping articles produced |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20130152660A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2576186A2 (en) |
DE (2) | DE102010054976A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2011153975A2 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN107650403A (en) * | 2016-07-25 | 2018-02-02 | 固特异轮胎和橡胶公司 | Center layer assembly for tire assembly drum |
US11123915B2 (en) * | 2018-04-25 | 2021-09-21 | Irwin Research And Development, Inc. | Thermoforming platen having discrete load paths and method |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP2666727B1 (en) * | 2012-05-24 | 2016-09-07 | MULTIVAC Sepp Haggenmüller SE & Co. KG | Lifting device for a packing machine |
EP2933035B1 (en) * | 2014-04-16 | 2019-01-30 | voestalpine Automotive Components Dettingen GmbH & Co. KG | Method and device for producing a bonded stack of metal sheets |
DE102017123805A1 (en) | 2017-10-12 | 2019-04-18 | Weber Maschinenbau Gmbh Breidenbach | Workstation with lifting mechanism for a packaging machine |
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US3919876A (en) * | 1974-11-11 | 1975-11-18 | Du Pont | Toggle press |
US4095523A (en) * | 1977-07-01 | 1978-06-20 | Verson Allsteel Press Company | Brake assembly for mechanical presses |
DE19602010A1 (en) * | 1996-01-20 | 1997-07-24 | Erfurt Umformtechnik Gmbh | Drive unit for wide bodied transfer press |
US6053027A (en) * | 1996-11-28 | 2000-04-25 | Yoshiki Industrial Co., Ltd. | Press apparatus and press system |
US6112571A (en) * | 1999-03-22 | 2000-09-05 | Ing Yu Precision Industries Co., Ltd. | Two-point double toggle mechanism |
US6200122B1 (en) * | 1999-08-03 | 2001-03-13 | Brown Machine, Llc. | Thermoforming apparatus with improved press |
US6477945B1 (en) * | 1999-09-07 | 2002-11-12 | Aida Engineering, Ltd. | Double-action mechanical press |
US20060101891A1 (en) * | 2004-01-08 | 2006-05-18 | Shin Hyun O | Mechanical press device |
US20070210487A1 (en) * | 2006-03-08 | 2007-09-13 | Gabler Thermoform Gmbh & Co.Kg | Thermoshaping machine |
DE102006040807A1 (en) * | 2006-08-31 | 2008-03-20 | Emil Pester Gmbh | Sealing station, for sealing cover sheet to support sheet in thermoforming machines, has at least one, preferably four, force sensors mounted in line of force between sealing tools |
US20090260460A1 (en) * | 2006-06-08 | 2009-10-22 | Uwe Darr | Drive system of a forming press |
US20110126649A1 (en) * | 2008-07-25 | 2011-06-02 | Uwe Darr | Drive system for a forming press |
Family Cites Families (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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DE102005035859B3 (en) * | 2005-07-30 | 2006-10-19 | Illig Maschinenbau Gmbh & Co. Kg | Deep drawing machine has upper clamping frame for heated plastic sheet with synchronized intermeshing cogs driven by single motor and mounted on ends of short levers whose opposite ends are connected to long levers pivoted on support plate |
DE102008011051A1 (en) * | 2008-02-26 | 2009-08-27 | Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag | Sheet e.g. paper sheet, punching and embossing machine, has cam gear comprising cam disks, cam rollers and shafts, where driven cam disks roll on cam rollers that are fastened to movable platen |
-
2010
- 2010-12-17 DE DE102010054976A patent/DE102010054976A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2011
- 2011-04-07 WO PCT/DE2011/000369 patent/WO2011153975A2/en active Application Filing
- 2011-04-07 US US13/702,764 patent/US20130152660A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2011-04-07 DE DE112011101935T patent/DE112011101935A5/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2011-04-07 EP EP11733552.1A patent/EP2576186A2/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US3919876A (en) * | 1974-11-11 | 1975-11-18 | Du Pont | Toggle press |
US4095523A (en) * | 1977-07-01 | 1978-06-20 | Verson Allsteel Press Company | Brake assembly for mechanical presses |
DE19602010A1 (en) * | 1996-01-20 | 1997-07-24 | Erfurt Umformtechnik Gmbh | Drive unit for wide bodied transfer press |
US6053027A (en) * | 1996-11-28 | 2000-04-25 | Yoshiki Industrial Co., Ltd. | Press apparatus and press system |
US6112571A (en) * | 1999-03-22 | 2000-09-05 | Ing Yu Precision Industries Co., Ltd. | Two-point double toggle mechanism |
US6200122B1 (en) * | 1999-08-03 | 2001-03-13 | Brown Machine, Llc. | Thermoforming apparatus with improved press |
US6477945B1 (en) * | 1999-09-07 | 2002-11-12 | Aida Engineering, Ltd. | Double-action mechanical press |
US20060101891A1 (en) * | 2004-01-08 | 2006-05-18 | Shin Hyun O | Mechanical press device |
US20070210487A1 (en) * | 2006-03-08 | 2007-09-13 | Gabler Thermoform Gmbh & Co.Kg | Thermoshaping machine |
US7510389B2 (en) * | 2006-03-08 | 2009-03-31 | Gabler Thermoform Gmbh & Co. Kg | Thermoshaping machine |
US20090260460A1 (en) * | 2006-06-08 | 2009-10-22 | Uwe Darr | Drive system of a forming press |
DE102006040807A1 (en) * | 2006-08-31 | 2008-03-20 | Emil Pester Gmbh | Sealing station, for sealing cover sheet to support sheet in thermoforming machines, has at least one, preferably four, force sensors mounted in line of force between sealing tools |
US20110126649A1 (en) * | 2008-07-25 | 2011-06-02 | Uwe Darr | Drive system for a forming press |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN107650403A (en) * | 2016-07-25 | 2018-02-02 | 固特异轮胎和橡胶公司 | Center layer assembly for tire assembly drum |
US10245796B2 (en) * | 2016-07-25 | 2019-04-02 | The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company | Center deck assembly for tire building drum |
US11123915B2 (en) * | 2018-04-25 | 2021-09-21 | Irwin Research And Development, Inc. | Thermoforming platen having discrete load paths and method |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2011153975A3 (en) | 2012-06-07 |
DE112011101935A5 (en) | 2013-05-23 |
EP2576186A2 (en) | 2013-04-10 |
DE102010054976A1 (en) | 2011-12-08 |
WO2011153975A2 (en) | 2011-12-15 |
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