Tool holder assembly, and seating/securing components and activation systems therefor

Abstract

A tool holder assembly and insert body and activation system used with the assembly. The insert body of the tool holder assembly can be configured to shift as needed to engage tooling when the assembly is activated. In some cases, the insert body can be configured to shift further to better engage the tooling. The activation system can be electrical.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tool holder assembly comprising:
 a stationary portion having a vertical side wall that partially defines a tool channel;   one or more movable portions situated opposite the vertical side wall of the stationary portion; and   an electrical activation system to which the one or more movable portions are operatively linked, the electrical activation system comprising one or more modules, at least one of the modules linked to one of the movable portions via an output shaft, whereby in event of malfunction the at least one module is removable from the tool holder assembly via removal of the output shaft from the one movable portion.   
     
     
         2 . The tool assembly of  claim 1  wherein each of the one or more modules comprises a motor and a gearbox, the output shaft of the at least one module extending from the gearbox. 
     
     
         3 . The tool assembly of  claim 1  wherein the one or more movable portions comprises a plurality of the movable portions and wherein the one or more modules comprises a plurality of the modules, the plurality of modules aligned in side-by-side manner on one side of the assembly, each of the plurality of modules correspondingly linked to separate of the plurality of movable portions. 
     
     
         4 . The tool assembly of  claim 1  wherein the output shaft is movable upon activation of the at least one module and when moved results in corresponding movement of the one movable portion. 
     
     
         5 . The tool holder assembly of  claim 1  wherein the one movable portion is threadably linked to the output shaft, the output shaft is movable by rotation upon activation of the at least one module, such rotation resulting in the one movable portion rotating relative to the output shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The tool holder assembly of  claim 1  wherein the output shaft has a multi-point star shape. 
     
     
         7 . The tool holder assembly of  claim 6  wherein the output shaft has outer threading comprising multi-start thread, the multi-start thread converting rotation to movement of the one movable portion in a linear direction. 
     
     
         8 . The tool holder assembly of  claim 7  wherein the one movable portion has multiple fingers, the fingers protruding from the one movable portion such that the fingers engage with tooling when loaded in the channel during the movement of the one moveable portion. 
     
     
         9 . The tool holder assembly of  claim 8  wherein the multiple fingers are two fingers, the two fingers being offset, such that the fingers are adapted to contact and engage at one or more of different points and along differing axes on the tooling when loaded in the tool channel. 
     
     
         10 . A tool holder assembly comprising:
 a stationary portion having a vertical side wall that partially defines a tool channel;   a movable portion situated opposite the vertical side wall of the stationary portion;   an activation system to which the movable portion is operatively linked, such that in response to activation of the system the movable portion is configured to move relative to the tool channel in a manner that results in locked engagement with tooling when loaded in the channel; and   at least two lighting arrangements, a first of the lighting arrangements positioned to illuminate machining areas adjacent to the tool channel, a second of the lighting arrangements extending along a longitudinal extent of the stationary portion to signal statuses relative to one or more of current use of the movable portion and scheduled machining operations for the movable portion.   
     
     
         11 . The tool holder assembly of  claim 10  wherein the first lighting arrangement is at least partially shielded so as to direct light from the first lighting arrangement toward a working surface. 
     
     
         12 . The tool holder assembly of  claim 11  wherein the light from the first lighting arrangement projects a desired bend line on the working surface. 
     
     
         13 . The tool holder assembly of  claim 11  wherein the light from the first lighting arrangement projects information on the working surface corresponding to machining job order. 
     
     
         14 . The tool holder assembly of  claim 10  wherein the first lighting arrangement comprises a plurality of lighting configurations each positioned in different locations on the tool holder assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The tool holder assembly of  claim 10  wherein the first and second lighting arrangements each comprises a lighting configuration involving a plurality of light sources, the plurality of light sources for each lighting arrangement configured for use in unison. 
     
     
         16 . The tool holder assembly of  claim 10  wherein the activation system is an electrical activation system. 
     
     
         17 . The tool holder assembly of  claim 16  further comprising a module for monitoring electrical parameters of the activation system, the module electrically connected to the second lighting arrangement to modify parameters of light projected from the second lighting arrangement based on the electrical parameters. 
     
     
         18 . The tool holder assembly of  claim 17  wherein the parameters of the light projected are one or more of color, intensity, and duration. 
     
     
         19 . A press brake machine comprising:
 an upper beam and a lower beam; and   a holder assembly mounted on an end of one of the upper beam or the lower beam;   wherein the end of the one upper or lower beam is formed to interface and mate with a mounting surface of the holder assembly.   
     
     
         20 . The press brake machine of  claim 19  wherein the end of the one upper beam or lower beam is formed with a mounting bar sized to align with mounting channel defined in the holder assembly. 
     
     
         21 . The press brake machine of  claim 19  wherein the holder assembly comprises:
 a stationary portion having a vertical side wall that partially defines a tool channel; 
 a movable portion situated opposite the vertical side wall of the stationary portion; and 
 an activation system to which the movable portion is operatively linked and upon activation of the system the movable portion is moved relative to the tool channel and results in locked engagement with tooling when loaded in the channel. 
 
     
     
         22 . The press brake machine of  claim 21  wherein the holder assembly further comprises at least two lighting arrangements, a first of the lighting arrangements positioned to illuminate machining areas adjacent to the tool channel, a second of the lighting arrangements extending along a longitudinal extent of the stationary portion to signal statuses relative to one or more of current use of the movable portion and scheduled machining operations for the movable portion.