IP Library Granted Patent US 12703019
Granted Patent B2
US 12703019 · App. 18/290,203 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Bending machine, in particular a press brake, with a safety system

Inventors: Lars Woidasky (Gotha, DE); Ronny Wenig (Gotha, DE)
Assignee: BYSTRONIC LASER AG
B21D5/0209B21D55/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12703019
App. No.
18/290,203
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a bending machine, in particular a press brake, having an upper beam and a lower beam. The upper beam is movable in a working direction of the bending machine in order to form a workpiece by bending along a bending line, which extends in a width direction of the bending machine. The bending machine includes a safety system having a first functional element and a further functional element for monitoring a safety area between both functional elements and between the upper beam and the lower beam. The safety system is arranged to follow the movement of the upper beam in the working direction. The first functional element and the further functional element are mechanically connected to one another via a flexible tractive force transmission means and an adjustment device for changing the position of the functional elements. The adjustment device includes a coupling section.

Claims (18)

1 . A bending machine or a press brake, comprising:

an upper beam and a lower beam, wherein the upper beam is movable in a working direction of the bending machine or the press brake relative to the lower beam, in order to form a workpiece configured to be inserted between the upper beam and the lower beam via a front side of the bending machine or the press brake, by bending along a bending line, which extends in a width direction of the bending machine or the press brake,

a safety system comprising a first optical safety element and a further optical safety element configured to monitor a safety area between the first optical safety element and the further optical safety element and between the upper beam and the lower beam, and wherein the safety system is configured and arranged to follow the movement of the upper beam in the working direction,

wherein the first optical safety element and the further optical safety element are arranged mechanically connected to one another via a flexible tractive force transmission means and an adjustment device configured to change the position of the functional elements,

wherein the adjustment device further comprises a coupling section configured and arranged to be movably guided in the working direction, coupled to the flexible tractive force transmission means in order to convert a movement of the coupling section into a movement of the flexible tractive force transmission means, which causes a path identical change in position of the optical safety elements in the working direction relative to the upper beam,

wherein the adjustment device is a manual adjustment device configured such that movement of the coupling section is effected via a mechanical application of force by an operator, where the adjustment device comprises a tension-proof adjusting element comprising a handle which is connected in the interior of the bending machine or the press brake to the coupling section located there, and

wherein the tension-proof adjusting element is arranged to extend from the interior of the bonding machine through a body part of the bending machine to the exterior of the bonding machine connecting to the handle, the handle being accessible from the exterior of the bending machine or the press brake, and

wherein the flexible tractive force transmission means is configured and arranged to be guided on the rear side of the upper beam facing away from the front side of the bending machine or the press brake.

2 . The bending machine or the press brake according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling section and the flexible tractive force transmission means are arranged such that a change in position of the first optical safety element and the further optical safety element in the working direction relative to the upper beam is a linear displacement of the first optical safety element and the further optical safety element along the working direction.

3 . Tue bending machine or the press brake according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible tractive force transmission means further comprises one or more sections, wherein a first section is configured to connect the coupling section to the first optical safety element and another section from the first section is configured to connect to the coupling section to the further optical safety element.

4 . The bending machine or the press brake according to claim 1 wherein for guiding the flexible tractive force transmission means, one or more deflection means are configured and arranged on the rear side of the upper beam.

5 . The bending machine or the press brake according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustment device is arranged on the upper beam, wherein the coupling section is arranged on the rear side of the upper beam, or the adjustment device is arranged to be laterally offset in the width direction next to the upper beam, and wherein the adjustment device is covered by a cover.

6 . The bending machine or the press brake according claim 1 , wherein the coupling section is linearly movable in the working direction of the bending machine or the press brake, wherein the linear movement of the coupling section is configured to displace one end of the flexible tractive force transmission means connected to the first optical safety element offset by the same distance in the working direction as another end of the tractive force transmission means connected to the further optical safety element.

7 . The bending machine or the press brake according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling section is configured to be movable by increasing and decreasing the tractive force which the operator exerts on the tension-proof adjusting element via the handle.

8 . The bending machine or the press brake according to claim 7 , wherein a tension-proof adjusting element is connected on the rear side of the upper beam to the coupling section located there, wherein the tension-proof adjusting element extends from the rear side of the upper beam through the upper beam and then along the front side of the upper beam opposite the rear side to the handle, wherein the coupling section is movable by increasing and decreasing the tractive force which the operator exerts on the tension-proof adjusting element via the handle.

9 . The bending machine or the press brake according to claim 7 , wherein the adjustment device comprises a locking means by which the operator is configured and arranged to lock the coupling section in a plurality of different positions, wherein the locking means is configured and arranged to be released from a locked position by the operator and subsequently locked in a new position by the operator after movement of the coupling section.

10 . The bending machine or the press brake according to claim 9 , wherein the locking means comprises a positioning element operable via the front side of the upper beam, for locking in various defined locking positions of the coupling section, wherein the positioning element is biased into a locking position via a return element.

11 . The bending machine or the press brake according to claim 1 , further comprising a display means configured and arranged to visualize a position of the first optical safety element and the further optical safety element in the working direction.