IP Library Granted Patent US 12691484
Granted Patent B2
US 12691484 · App. 18/853,567 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Press brake and table driving method for press brake

Inventors: Shintaro Goto (Kanagawa, JP); Kenji Abe (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: AMADA CO., LTD.
B21D5/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12691484
App. No.
18/853,567
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A clutch includes: a first clutch tooth that rotates integrally with a first rotation element included in a speed reducer; a second clutch tooth that rotates integrally with a second rotation element included in the speed reducer; and a fixed clutch tooth that moves between the first clutch tooth and the second clutch tooth. The fixed clutch tooth includes: a first mode in which the speed reducer operates at a second reduction ratio by meshing only with the first clutch tooth to fix the first rotation element, a second mode in which the speed reducer operates at a first reduction ratio by meshing only with the second clutch tooth to fix the second rotation element, and a both-engaging mode of meshing with each of the first clutch tooth and the second clutch tooth when changing a mode between the first mode and the second mode.

Claims (65)

1 . A press brake comprising:

a movable table that is disposed opposite to a fixed table in an up-down direction;

a conversion mechanism that moves the movable table in the up-down direction by converting a rotation motion into a linear motion;

an electric motor provided with an electric motor shaft;

a speed reducer that includes a mechanical paradox planetary gear mechanism, and outputs a rotation of the electric motor shaft to the conversion mechanism by reducing the rotation of the electric motor shaft at either a first reduction ratio or a second reduction ratio larger than the first reduction ratio; and

a clutch that switches a reduction ratio in the speed reducer between the first reduction ratio and the second reduction ratio,

wherein the clutch includes:

a first clutch tooth that is connected to a first rotation element included in the speed reducer and rotates integrally with the first rotation element;

a second clutch tooth that is connected to a second rotation element included in the speed reducer and rotates integrally with the second rotation element; and

a rotationally fixed clutch tooth that is provided between the first clutch tooth and the second clutch tooth disposed to be opposite to each other such that a tooth structure of the first clutch tooth and a tooth structure of the second clutch tooth face each other, and axially moves between the first clutch tooth and the second clutch tooth, and

the fixed clutch tooth configured to operate in a plurality of modes: as a switchable operation mode,

a first mode in which the speed reducer operates at the second reduction ratio by meshing only with the first clutch tooth to fix the first rotation element;

a second mode in which the speed reducer operates at the first reduction ratio by meshing only with the second clutch tooth to fix the second rotation element; and

a both-engaging mode of meshing with each of the first clutch tooth and the second clutch tooth when changing a mode between the first mode and the second mode.

2 . The press brake according to claim 1 , wherein

the speed reducer includes:

a sun gear that rotates integrally with the electric motor shaft;

a plurality of planetary gear units having a first planetary gear that is engaged with the sun gear and rotates according to a rotation of the sun gear, and a second planetary gear that is provided coaxially with the first planetary gear and rotates integrally with the first planetary gear;

a planetary carrier as the second rotation element that rotatably supports the plurality of planetary gear units and rotates around the electric motor shaft;

a first internal gear as the first rotation element that is engaged with the first planetary gear;

a second internal gear that has the number of teeth different from those of the first internal gear and is engaged with the second planetary gear; and

an output unit that is connected to the conversion mechanism and rotates integrally with the second internal gear.

3 . The press brake according to claim 2 , wherein

the fixed clutch tooth is an annular member having a plurality of first engaging teeth, each of which projects toward the first clutch tooth side, and a plurality of second engaging teeth, each of which projects toward the second clutch tooth side, provided along a circumferential direction,

the first clutch tooth is an annular member having a plurality of third engaging teeth, each of which projects toward the second clutch tooth side, provided along the circumferential direction, and

the second clutch tooth is an annular member having a plurality of fourth engaging teeth, each of which projects toward the first clutch tooth side, provided along the circumferential direction.

4 . The press brake according to claim 3 , wherein

in the first mode, a rotation of the first internal gear is restricted in a state in which the plurality of first engaging teeth and the plurality of third engaging teeth mesh with each other, and the plurality of second engaging teeth and the plurality of fourth engaging teeth are released,

in the second mode, a rotation of the planetary carrier is restricted in a state in which the plurality of second engaging teeth and the plurality of fourth engaging teeth mesh with each other, and the plurality of first engaging teeth and the plurality of third engaging teeth are released, and

in the both-engaging mode, the plurality of first engaging teeth and the plurality of third engaging teeth mesh with each other and the plurality of second engaging teeth and the plurality of fourth engaging teeth mesh with each other, thereby restricting a rotation of the first internal gear and the planetary carrier.

5 . The press brake according to claim 1 , wherein

the clutch further includes:

a pressing member that presses the fixed clutch tooth toward the first clutch tooth side; and

a solenoid that moves the fixed clutch tooth that is pressed toward the first clutch tooth side by the pressing member toward the second clutch tooth side by attracting the fixed clutch tooth using an electromagnetic force.

6 . The press brake according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a detection device that detects a position of the fixed clutch tooth between the first clutch tooth and the second clutch tooth; and

a control device that controls the clutch and the electric motor based on a detection result of the detection device.

7 . The press brake according to claim 6 , wherein

the control device operates the electric motor such that the movable table ascends when changing a mode between the first mode and the second mode.

8 . The press brake according to claim 6 , wherein

the control device performs a first control to control the electric motor such that a clutch tooth positioned on a side where the fixed clutch tooth is switched rotates by a width corresponding to one tooth when changing a mode between the first mode and the second mode.

9 . The press brake according to claim 8 , wherein

the control device performs a second control to control the electric motor such that the clutch tooth rotates by a width corresponding to one tooth in a direction opposite to the first control, in a case where a mode is not changed between the first mode and the second mode even when performing the first control.

10 . The press brake according to claim 6 , wherein

the detection device includes:

a detection plate that is fixed to the fixed clutch tooth and extended to an outside of a housing for housing the clutch; and

a sensor that is disposed outside the housing and detects the detection plate.

11 . The press brake according to claim 5 , wherein

the clutch further includes a capacitor that supplies power to the solenoid when external power to the solenoid is interrupted.

12 . A table driving method for a press brake, the press brake comprising:

a fixed table;

a movable table that is disposed opposite to the fixed table in an up-down direction;

an electric motor provided with an electric motor shaft;

a speed reducer that includes a mechanical paradox planetary gear mechanism, and outputs a rotation of the electric motor shaft by reducing the rotation of the electric motor shaft at either a first reduction ratio or a second reduction ratio larger than the first reduction ratio; and

a clutch that switches a reduction ratio in the speed reducer between the first reduction ratio and the second reduction ratio; and

a conversion mechanism that moves the movable table in the up-down direction by converting a rotation motion transmitted from the speed reducer into a linear motion,

wherein the clutch includes:

a first clutch tooth that is connected to a first rotation element included in the speed reducer and rotates integrally with the first rotation element;

a second clutch tooth that is connected to a second rotation element included in the speed reducer and rotates integrally with the second rotation element; and

a rotationally fixed clutch tooth that is provided between the first clutch tooth and the second clutch tooth disposed to be opposite to each other such that a tooth structure of the first clutch tooth and a tooth structure of the second clutch tooth face each other, and axially moves between the first clutch tooth and the second clutch tooth, and

when driving the movable table in either an upward direction or a downward direction,

the table driving method for the press brake includes:

a first step of operating the speed reducer at the second reduction ratio by meshing the fixed clutch tooth only with the first clutch tooth to fix the first rotation element;

a second step of operating the speed reducer at the first reduction ratio by meshing the fixed clutch tooth only with the second clutch tooth to fix the second rotation element; and

a third step of meshing the fixed clutch tooth with each of the first clutch tooth and the second clutch tooth when changing a step between the first step and the second step.