Bending system and method for using the same

{
  "publication_number": "US12025299B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Bending system and method for using the same",
  "abstract": "In a bending system and a method for using the same, the bending system includes a bending robot provided between a press brake and a predetermined setting area that is arranged in front of the press brake to assist in bending a workpiece. The bending robot includes a robot hand for holding the workpiece on a pallet that is set in the predetermined setting area. An image pickup unit, which picks up an image of the workpiece on the pallet from an oblique upper direction, is provided above and anterior to the predetermined setting area. A first illumination unit, which illuminates an image pickup area of the image pickup unit, is erected on a left front side of the predetermined setting area. A second illumination stand, which illuminates the image pickup area of the image pickup unit, is erected on a right front side of the predetermined setting area.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A bending system, comprising: a bending robot provided between a press brake and a predetermined setting area arranged in front of the press brake, including a robot hand for holding a workpiece on a pallet set in the predetermined setting area, and configured to assist in bending the workpiece; an image pickup unit provided above and in front of the predetermined setting area and configured to pick up an image of the workpiece on the pallet from an oblique upper direction; a first illumination unit erected on a left side and in front of the predetermined setting area and configured to irradiate an image pickup area of the image pickup unit with an illumination beam; and a second illumination unit erected on a right side and in front of the predetermined setting area and configured to irradiate the image pickup area of the image pickup unit with an illumination beam, wherein a taking-in and out passage is formed between the first illumination unit and the second illumination unit, wherein the first illumination unit is arranged to be inclined with respect to a lateral direction so that a right end side thereof is located more forward than a left end side thereof, and the second illumination unit is arranged to be inclined with respect to the lateral direction so that a left end side thereof is located more forward than a right end side thereof, and a safety fence is provided around the bending system.",
    "2. The bending system according to claim 1, wherein the first illumination unit includes a plurality of first illuminations for irradiation of illumination beams in a right obliquely downward direction, and is configured such that an irradiation direction of each of the first illuminations is adjustable so that an entire area on the pallet is irradiated with the illumination beams from the plurality of first illuminations, and the second illumination unit includes a plurality of second illuminations for irradiation of illumination beams in a left obliquely downward direction, and is configured such that an irradiation direction of each of the second illuminations is adjustable so that the entire area on the pallet is irradiated with the illumination beams from the plurality of second illuminations.",
    "3. The bending system according to claim 2, wherein the first illumination unit includes a first support frame erected on a left side and in front of the predetermined setting area, and a plurality of first brackets provided rotatably around an axial center vertical to the first support frame, each of the first illuminations being provided rotatably around an axial center horizontal to each of the first brackets, and the second illumination unit includes a second support frame erected on a right side and in front of the predetermined setting area, and a plurality of second brackets provided rotatably around an axial center vertical to the second support frame, each of the second illuminations being provided rotatably around an axial center horizontal to each of the second brackets.",
    "4. The bending system according to claim 1, further comprising a first guard provided in a vicinity of the first illumination unit and configured to protect the first illumination unit, and a second guard provided in a vicinity of the second illumination unit and configured to protect the second illumination unit.",
    "5. A method for using the bending system according to claim 2, comprising, in a state in which an entire area of the pallet is covered with an adjustment sheet, adjusting an irradiation direction of each of the first illuminations such that a position on the adjustment sheet is irradiated with a visible beam from a laser pointer of an adjustment jig mounted to each of the first illuminations, the position on the adjustment sheet corresponding to an irradiation range of a respective one of the first illuminations, and adjusting an irradiation direction of each of the second illuminations such that a position on the adjustment sheet is irradiated with a visible beam from a laser pointer of an adjustment jig mounted to each of the second illuminations, the position on the adjustment sheet corresponding to an irradiation range of a respective one of the second illuminations.",
    "6. A method for using the bending system according to claim 2, comprising, when the image pickup unit picks up an image of the workpiece on the pallet from the oblique upper direction, executing an illumination operation of the first illumination unit so that the entire area on the pallet is irradiated with the illumination beams from the plurality of first illuminations, and executing an illumination operation of the second illumination unit so that the entire area on the pallet is irradiated with the illumination beams from the plurality of second illuminations.",
    "7. The method for using the bending system, according to claim 6, further comprising staggering execution timings of the illumination operation of the first illumination unit and the illumination operation of the second illumination unit."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to a bending system that automatically bends a plate-shaped workpiece and a method for using the same.\n\nIn recent years, bending systems have become widespread in the field of sheet metal processing. Hereinafter, the configuration and the like of the bending system will be briefly described (see Patent Literature 1).\n\nThe bending system includes a press brake that bends a workpiece. A bending robot that assists in bending the workpiece is provided between the press brake and a predetermined setting area that is arranged in front of the press brake. The bending robot includes a robot hand that holds the workpiece on a pallet set in the predetermined setting area. Further, above the predetermined setting area, a camera as an image pickup unit that picks up an image of the workpiece on the pallet from a vertically upper direction is provided. A first illumination unit that irradiates an image pickup area of the camera with an illumination beam is provided in the vicinity of the left side of the predetermined setting area. A second illumination unit that irradiates the image pickup area of the camera with an illumination beam is provided in the vicinity of the right side of the predetermined setting area.\n\nThe bending system includes a numerical control device that controls the press brake, a robot control device that controls the bending robot, and an image processing device that performs image processing to a picked-up image from the camera. The image processing device detects a location of the workpiece on the palette based on the picked-up image from the camera.",
  "cpc": [
    "F21V 21/30",
    "B21D 43/003",
    "B21D 43/20",
    "B21D 5/002",
    "B21D 5/0209",
    "B21D 5/0281",
    "B25J 11/005",
    "F21S 2/00",
    "F21V 21/34",
    "F21W 2131/403",
    "F21Y 2105/16",
    "F21Y 2115/10",
    "G05B 2219/40052"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B21D 43/00",
    "B21D 5/00",
    "B21D 5/02",
    "B25J 11/00",
    "F21S 2/00",
    "F21V 21/30",
    "F21V 21/34",
    "F21W 131/403",
    "F21Y 105/16",
    "F21Y 115/10"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Amada Co Ltd"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Norihisa KOIZUMI",
    "Yuto NISHIHATA",
    "Satoshi TAKATSU"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2021-05-14",
  "publication_date": "2024-07-02",
  "grant_date": "2024-07-02",
  "priority_date": "2020-05-22",
  "application_number": "US-202117926585-A",
  "family_id": "78708348",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
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  ]
}