Abstract:
Equipment for the laser-cutting of metal sheets is to hold the metal sheets in a vertical plane by means of a laser-focusing head (10) which is movable in a vertical plane relative to the metal sheet (12). The equipment includes an abutment member (18) carried by the focusing head (10) and intended to bear against that face (20) of the sheet (12) facing the focusing head (10).
Abstract:
A table for defining the position of a piece to be bent by means of an automatic system including a bending machine and a manipulator which can grip a piece to be bent comprises means (134) for defining a position for the location of the piece relative to the table (96) and means (146) for fitting a gripper (98) on to the piece in a predetermined position.
Abstract:
A manipulator for gripping and moving an initially flat piece of sheet metal to be subjected to bending operations by means of a bending machine, comprising a suspension head (76) which can allow the piece (180) to perform small movements in space with every degree of freedom except for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the undeformed piece. The suspension head (76) has rapid engagement and release means for gripping and releasing a gripper (98) adapted to grip a piece of sheet metal (180). The suspension head (76) comprises at least one pair of engagement fingers (260) which are movable axially in a conical seat (258) housing a shank (106) of the gripper (98), the engagement fingers (260) being carried by a movable piston (252) operated by pressurised fluid, and cooperating with a fixed shaft (262) which moves the engagement fingers (260) apart resiliently.
Abstract:
A machine for driving inserts into pieces of sheet metal includes a punch (50) and a die (46) movable relative to one another along an axis (A) along which the inserts are to be driven. The punch (50) and die (46) define a driving zone (52) therebetween, in which a hole (144) in the piece (22) in which an insert is to be driven is positioned. The axis (A) along which the inserts are to be driven is substantially horizontal and the pieces are held in a substantially vertical plane by an automatic handling device (26).