Processing planar workpieces

Abstract

Methods, devices and systems for machining plate-like workpieces, in particular metal sheets, are provided. In one aspect, a plate workpiece processing device has an upper tool and a lower tool. The upper tool and the lower tool can be moved toward each other to machine a workpiece arranged between. The upper tool has a clamping shaft and a base body, which include a common position axis. The upper tool also includes a machining tool arranged on the base body, opposite the clamping shaft. The lower tool has a base body which includes a supporting surface for the workpiece and an opening located within the supporting surface. A tool body accommodating the machining tool has a longitudinal axis which is inclined with respect to the positioning axis of the upper tool.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A planar workpiece processing device, comprising:
 an upper tool comprising:
 a clamping shaft; 
 an upper main body, wherein the clamping shaft and the upper main body have a joint positioning axis; and 
 a processing tool arranged opposite to the clamping shaft on the upper main body; and 
   a lower tool comprising:
 a lower main body; and 
 a rest surface and an opening disposed within the rest surface, 
   wherein the upper tool and the lower tool are moveable towards one another to process a workpiece arranged therebetween, and   wherein the processing tool acting on the workpiece comprises a tool body receiving the processing tool and having a longitudinal axis inclined relative to the positioning axis of the upper tool.   
     
     
         2 . The planar workpiece processing device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing tool is inclined relative to the positioning axis in an angular range from 0° to 90°. 
     
     
         3 . The planar workpiece processing device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing tool is formed as a cutting tool and at least one cutting edge is provided at a free end of the tool body. 
     
     
         4 . The planar workpiece processing device of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one cutting edge has a punch surface oriented at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the tool body, and
 wherein a counter cutting edge positioned in the opening is provided on the lower tool.   
     
     
         5 . The planar workpiece processing device of  claim 4 , wherein the counter cutting edge is arranged in the rest surface of the lower main body of the lower tool or elevated in a direction of the upper tool relative to the rest surface. 
     
     
         6 . The planar workpiece processing device of  claim 4 , wherein a cutting surface is provided adjacently to the counter cutting edge and is oriented at an incline or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tool body. 
     
     
         7 . The planar workpiece processing device of  claim 6 , wherein a counter die is provided at a distance from the cutting surface. 
     
     
         8 . The planar workpiece processing device of  claim 4 , wherein a support surface adjacent to the counter cutting edge is inclined relative to the rest surface on the lower main body of the lower tool and protrudes relative thereto in a direction of the upper tool. 
     
     
         9 . The planar workpiece processing device of  claim 8 , wherein the support face is adapted in respect of its angle to a bent portion on the workpiece to be processed, 
     
     
         10 . The planar workpiece processing device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing tool is formed as at least one of a signing tool,
 an engraving tool,   an embossing tool with an embossing element,   a bending tool, and   a shaping tool.   
     
     
         11 . The planar workpiece processing device of  claim 1 , wherein the tool body is formed as one of
 a bending tool having at least one bending edge and   a shaping tool having a punch surface and a shaping element arranged thereon.   
     
     
         12 . A planar workpiece processing machine, comprising:
 an upper tool comprising:
 a clamping shaft; 
 an upper main body, wherein the clamping shaft and the upper main body have a joint positioning axis; and 
 a processing tool arranged opposite to the clamping shaft on the upper main body, 
 wherein the upper tool is moveable with an upper stroke movement along an upper stroke axis by an upper stroke drive device in a first direction of a workpiece to be processed by the upper tool and in a second, opposite direction, and is positionable along the joint positioning axis running perpendicular to the upper stroke axis and displaceable with an upper traversing movement by an upper drive assembly along the joint positioning axis; 
   a lower tool comprising:
 a lower main body; and 
 a rest surface and an opening disposed within the rest surface, 
 wherein the lower tool is oriented relative to the upper tool, and the lower tool is movable with a lower stroke movement along a lower stroke axis by a lower stroke drive device in a direction of the upper tool and positionable along a lower positioning axis and moveable with a lower traversing movement by a lower drive assembly along the lower positioning axis; and 
   a controller configured to control the upper and lower drive assemblies to move the upper tool and the lower tool, respectively,   wherein the upper traversing movement of the upper tool along the joint positioning axis and the lower traversing movement of the lower tool along the lower positioning axis are controllable independently of one another,   wherein the upper tool and the lower tool are moveable towards one another to process the workpiece arranged therebetween,   wherein the processing tool acting on the workpiece comprises a tool body receiving the processing tool and having a longitudinal axis inclined relative to the joint positioning axis of the upper tool, and   wherein at least one of the upper tool and the lower tool is controllable with a corresponding stroke movement lying outside a corresponding stroke axis.   
     
     
         13 . A method of processing planar workpieces, comprising:
 positioning a workpiece to be processed between an upper tool and a lower tool of a planar workpiece processing device;   moving the upper tool along a stroke axis with an upper stroke movement by a stroke drive device in at least one of a first direction of the workpiece to be processed and a second, opposite direction;   displacing the upper tool with an upper traversing movement by a first drive assembly along an upper positioning axis running perpendicular to the stroke axis;   displacing the lower tool oriented relative to the upper tool with a lower traversing movement by a second motor drive assembly along a lower positioning axis oriented perpendicular to the stroke axis; and   processing the workpiece by the planar workpiece processing device,   wherein the first and second drive assemblies are actuated by a controller to move the upper tool and the lower tool, respectively,   wherein the upper tool comprises a clamping shaft, an upper main body, and a processing tool arranged opposite to the clamping shaft on the upper main body, wherein the clamping shaft and the upper main body have the upper positioning axis as a joint positioning axis, and wherein the processing tool acting on the workpiece comprises a tool body receiving the processing tool and having a longitudinal axis inclined relative to the upper positioning axis of the upper tool,   wherein the lower tool comprises a lower main body and a rest surface for the workpiece and an opening disposed within the rest surface,   wherein the upper tool and the lower tool are moveable towards one another to process the workpiece arranged therebetween, and   wherein at least one of the upper tool and the lower tool is controllable with a corresponding stroke movement lying outside a corresponding stroke axis.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising:
 controlling the upper tool to move with a linear stroke movement inclined relative to the stroke axis or a curved or arcuate stroke movement relative to the stroke axis.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising:
 displacing the upper tool by a particular stroke movement along the stroke axis towards the lower tool and then along the upper positioning axis relative to the lower tool that is positioned stationary.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising orienting a cutting gap in the workpiece by at least one of
 adjusting at least one of the upper tool and the lower tool by a rotary movement about a corresponding positioning axis to orient the upper tool and the lower tool relative to one another,   displacing at least one of the upper tool and the lower tool along the corresponding positioning axis, and   controlling at least one of the upper tool and the lower tool with a superposition of the rotary movement about the corresponding positioning axis and a corresponding traversing movement along the corresponding positioning axis.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising adjusting a cutting gap width between a cutting edge of the upper tool and at least one of an inner counter cutting edge of the lower tool and an outer counter cutting edge of the lower tool by at least one of
 adjusting at least one of the upper tool and the lower tool by a rotary movement about a corresponding positioning axis to orient the upper tool and the lower tool relative to one another,   displacing at least one of the upper tool and the lower tool along the corresponding positioning axis, and   controlling at least one of the upper tool and the lower tool with a superposition of the rotary movement about the corresponding positioning axis and a corresponding traversing movement along the corresponding positioning axis.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the upper tool and the lower tool are formed as a punch and a die, respectively. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising:
 producing a bent portion on the workpiece by displacing the upper tool towards the lower tool by a particular stroke movement along the stroke axis; and   shaping the bent portion with a pivoting and bending movement by displacing the upper tool with a subsequent traversing movement along the upper positioning axis relative to the lower tool.