TOOL HEAD FOR A PRESSING MACHINE
A tool head for a pressing machine and a pressing machine for plastically deforming a tubular workpiece are described. In many applications, the tubular workpiece is a fitting. The tool head includes a base body, a fixed press jaw and a linearly movable press jaw. A spring element is arranged to preload the movable press jaw against a workpiece without plastically deforming the workpiece.
1 . A tool head for a pressing machine for plastically deforming a tubular workpiece, the tool head comprising:
a base body;
a fixed press jaw which is arranged on the base body;
a linearly movable press jaw;
a spring element adapted to preload said movable press jaw against a workpiece without plastically deforming said workpiece; and
a machine coupling for coupling the tool head to a pressing machine.
2 . The tool head according to claim 1 , wherein the base body is C-shaped.
3 . The tool head according to claim 1 , wherein the movable press jaw can be moved by the spring element from a first position into a second position.
4 . The tool head according to claim 3 wherein the press jaws are completely opened in the first position.
5 . The tool head according to claim 1 , wherein the tool head further comprises a locking device that is adapted to lock the movable press jaw.
6 . The tool head according to claim 5 wherein the locking device is adapted to lock the movable press jaw in the second position.
7 . The tool head according to claim 5 , wherein the locking device is adapted to release the movable press jaw so that the spring element preloads the press jaws against the workpiece.
8 . The tool head according to claim 1 , wherein the spring element is adapted to apply a pre-settable preload force to the workpiece by means of the movable press jaw.
9 . The tool head according to claim 8 wherein the spring element comprises a spiral spring.
10 . The tool head according to claim 8 , wherein the preload force is in the range from 5 N to 50 N.
11 . The tool head according to claim 1 , wherein the tool head further comprises a positioning aid in the form of a recess that is adapted to a workpiece to be pressed.
12 . The tool head according to claim 1 , wherein at least one press jaw is an exchangeable press jaw.
13 . The tool head according to claim 3 , wherein the press jaws are arranged in the first position at least 6 mm apart from each other.
14 . The tool head according to claim 1 , wherein the press jaws are adapted to apply to the workpiece a pressing force of at least 2 kN.
15 . The tool head according to claim 1 , wherein the machine coupling is arranged such that the tool head can be rotatably coupled to the pressing machine.
16 . A pressing machine for plastically deforming a tubular workpiece, the pressing machine comprising:
a handle;
a tool head receptacle;
a tool head receivable in the tool head receptacle, the tool head including:
a base body;
a fixed press jaw which is arranged on the base body;
a linearly movable press jaw;
a spring element adapted to preload said movable press jaw against a workpiece without plastically deforming said workpiece; and
a machine coupling for coupling the tool head to the pressing machine.
17 . The pressing machine according to claim 16 wherein the pressing machine is a pipe pressing machine.
18 . The pressing machine according to claim 16 , wherein the pressing machine is manually operable.
19 . The pressing machine according to claim 16 wherein the pressing machine further comprises a drive and the drive is selected from an electric drive and a hydraulic drive.
20 . A method for operating a tool head to plastically deform a tubular workpiece, the method comprising:
providing a pressing machine for plastically deforming a tubular workpiece,
providing a tool head including a base body, a fixed press jaw which is arranged on the base body, a linearly movable press jaw, a spring element adapted to preload said movable press jaw against a workpiece without plastically deforming said workpiece, and a machine coupling for coupling the tool head to the pressing machine;
gripping the workpiece by means of the fixed press jaw of the tool head;
preloading the movable press jaw against the workpiece by means of the spring element in order to finely align the tool head relative to the workpiece;
generating a force by the press jaws on the surface of the gripped workpiece to plastically deform the workpiece.