Apparatus and method for working olongos metal products

Abstract

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR WORKING OBLONG METAL PRODUCTS. Apparatus (10) for working oblong metal products (P), comprising a drawing unit (11) for moving at least one of said metal products (P) in a feed direction (Z), and a working unit (12) disposed downstream of said drawing unit (11), comprising a working plane (13) to which are associated at least one bending device (14) and at least one cutting device (15). The present invention also relates to a corresponding method for working said metal products (P).

Description

1 / 16 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR WORKING OBLONG METAL PRODUCTS FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for working oblong metal products for the production of finished products, such as stirrups and / or molded parts, straightened bars, accessories for civil construction or others, as well as similar or comparable products. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[002] Apparatus is known for the production of finished products such as stirrups and / or molded parts, straightened bars, or in general structural accessories, more or less complex, for example for civil construction, from oblong metal products. To obtain the finished products, the initial product can be a coil or one or more bundles of previously cut bars.

[003] Known apparatus generally comprise at least one drawing unit and a working unit, arranged downstream of the drawing unit.

[004] Typically, the work unit is arranged in a fixed position and comprises, for example, a bending device, while the drawing unit feeds the desired length of the metal product to be worked towards the work unit, on each occasion and in a controlled manner.

[005] The drawing unit, also arranged in a fixed position, may comprise one or more pairs of opposing rolls, of which at least one roll is motorized to feed the metal product to the work unit. If necessary Petition 870220121941, dated 12 / 26 / 2022, page 3 / 31 2 / 16 For greater control in the drawing of the metal product, the drawing unit may be of the Caterpillar type and may comprise one or more pairs of rails arranged facing each other to define a drawing channel for the metal products.

[006] Between the drawing unit and the working unit there is normally a cutting unit, used to define the finished product.

[007] One of the disadvantages of known devices is that it is difficult to achieve uniform feeding of oblong products, especially if more than one metal product is fed at the same time, and even more so if the cross-sections of the products are not identical or if they are deformed.

[008] Another disadvantage, particularly in the case of rail drawing, is that to ensure the correct feeding of the metal product it is necessary to limit the effective length of the product to be processed. In fact, it is essential to always have a length of the product held in place that is sufficient to ensure that it can be pulled. For this reason, scrap metal can be quite long and the economic losses related to not being used can be very large.

[009] There is therefore a need to improve an apparatus and method for working oblong metal products that can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

[010] In particular, a purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for working oblong products that is capable of limiting the length of scrap from each product as much as possible. Petition 870220121941, dated 12 / 26 / 2022, page 4 / 31 3 / 16

[011] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a simple apparatus for working oblong products that allows for increased productivity and reduced unit costs of finished products manufactured.

[012] Another objective is to improve a method for working oblong metal products capable of optimizing their use by reducing the length of the scrap.

[013] The Applicant conceived, tested and incorporated the present invention to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[014] The present invention is presented and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims describe other features of the present invention or variants of the main inventive idea.

[015] In accordance with the aforementioned objectives, an apparatus for working oblong metal products that surpasses the limits of the state of the art and eliminates the defects present in them, comprises: - a drawing unit to move at least one of the metal products in the feeding direction, - a work unit located downstream of the stretching unit, comprising a work plane with which at least one bending device and at least one cutting device are associated.

[016] According to one aspect of the present invention, the drawing unit is movable in the feed direction to / away from the working unit.

[017] According to one aspect of the present invention, the work unit is movable in one direction of operation. Petition 870220121941, dated 12 / 26 / 2022, p. 5 / 31 4 / 16 transversely in relation to the feed direction, so as to arrange, on each occasion, the bending device or the cutting device aligned with at least one metal product being worked on.

[018] According to one aspect of the present invention, the drawing unit is provided with rails and is associated with gripping means directed towards the working unit. The gripping means comprise at least one gripper, which has an elongated profile in the feed direction, and is capable of holding at least one metal product at least during the working of a final portion thereof.

[019] This solution allows optimizing the length of the metal products to be worked in order to obtain a greater number of finished products. In addition, the length of scrap from the last finished product is minimized by virtue of the movement of the drawing unit in the feed direction, coordinated with the action of the gripping means and the cutting device.

[020] According to one aspect of the present invention, the cutting device comprises at least one pair of scissors and clamping means, hereinafter also referred to as clamps.

[021] In a first solution, the means with the pinching function are the scissors themselves.

[022] In another solution, the means with a clamp function are different from scissors.

[023] In yet another solution, the means with a clamp function consist of, in part, at least part of scissors and are partially different from scissors.

[024] According to one aspect of the present invention, the Petition 870220121941, dated 12 / 26 / 2022, page 6 / 31 The 5 / 16 cutting device is movable in a retractable manner between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the work plane, and is operative for gripping and / or cutting at least one metal product being worked on.

[025] According to one aspect of the present invention, the protruding position in which the clamping and scissor-functioning means are located is adjustable with respect to the work plane.

[026] According to some embodiments, a method is provided for working oblong metal products made with the apparatus as described above. The method provides at least: - a first stage, in which the drawing unit moves backward in the direction of the feed, away from the work unit, to pick up at least one metal product in abeyance, - a second stage, in which the stretching unit advances in the feeding direction, towards the work unit, so as to reach a position where at least one metal product is being worked on, and in which the work unit is moved in the operating direction, so that the bending device is aligned with at least one metal product; - a third stage, in which the stretching unit, remaining stationary in the work position, advances at least one metal product along the rails, towards the bending device, which performs the work intended to make at least one finished product. - a fourth stage, in which the work unit is moved in the direction of operation so that the cutting device is aligned with at least one metal product being worked on, in order to cut and partially move the hair. Petition 870220121941, dated 12 / 26 / 2022, page 7 / 31 6 / 16 minus one first finished product away from at least one metal product being worked on.

[027] According to one aspect of the present invention, when the length of at least one metal product being worked is not sufficient to be pulled by the rails, the method provides a repositioning step, in which the work unit is moved in the direction of operation so that the cutting device is aligned with at least one metal product being worked so as to hold it, the drawing unit moves backward in the direction of feed, away from the work unit, so that the rear end of at least one metal product is caught in correspondence with the gripping means, which are tightened to retain at least one metal product.

[028] According to another aspect of the present invention, after the repositioning step, a fifth step is provided, in which the work unit is moved in the operating direction so that the bending device is again aligned with at least one metal product being worked on, and in which the drawing unit advances in a controlled manner in the feed direction towards the bending device, which performs the work provided to make at least one final finished product from at least one metal product.

[029] According to another aspect of the present invention, the method provides a sixth step, in which any scrap from the work is evacuated by the drawing unit or the work unit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[030] These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages Petition 870220121941, dated 12 / 26 / 2022, page 8 / 31 7 / 16 of this invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figs. 1 to 8 are side views of an apparatus for working oblong metal products according to some embodiments described herein, and in different operational stages of the corresponding method; - Fig. 3a shows an enlarged detail in another side view of the cutting device, in the operating position shown in Fig. 3.

[031] To facilitate understanding, the same reference numbers have been used whenever possible to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and features of one embodiment may be conveniently combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further explanation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME MODALITIES

[032] We will now refer in detail to the various embodiments of the present invention, of which one or more non-limiting examples are shown in the accompanying drawings. The phraseology and terminology used herein are intended to provide non-limiting examples.

[033] Some embodiments described herein relate to an apparatus 10 for working oblong metal products P comprising at least one drawing unit 11, configured to feed at least one of the metal products P in a feeding direction Z, and a working unit 12 disposed downstream of the drawing unit 11, and comprising a working plane 13 and at least one Petition 870220121941, dated 12 / 26 / 2022, p. 9 / 31 8 / 16 folding device 14 associated with it.

[034] According to one aspect of the present invention, the work unit 12 comprises a cutting device 15 associated with the work plane 13. The stretching unit 11 is movable in the feed direction Z towards / away from the work unit 12, which is movable in an operating direction T, transverse to the feed direction Z, so as to arrange, on each occasion, the bending device 12 or the cutting device 15 aligned with the metal product P being worked.

[035] According to one aspect of the present invention, the stretching unit 11 is associated with gripping means 16 that are operationally directed towards the working unit 12. The gripping means 16 are integrated into the stretching unit 11 and move with it, cooperating on each occasion with the bending device 14 or with the cutting device 15.

[036] The movement of the stretching unit 11 in the Z feed direction, coordinated with the action of the gripping means 16 which, as will be better described below, can get very close to the bending device 14, makes it possible to reduce the length of the working scrap to a minimum.

[037] According to some embodiments, the stretching unit 11 comprises a first drag member 17 and a second drag member 18, opposite each other with respect to the direction of feed Z, and at least one drive member 19 for its movement.

[038] The first drag member 17 and the second drag member 18 comprise the respective rails 17a, 18a, parallel to each other and defining, between them and in the direction of Petition 870220121941, dated 12 / 26 / 2022, page 10 / 31 9 / 16 Z feed, a 20 drag channel for at least one P metal product.

[039] According to possible embodiments not shown, the drag members 17, 18 may comprise respective series of molded rollers, facing each other to define the drag channel 20.

[040] With particular reference to the example described herein, the first drag member 17 and the second drag member 18 each comprise a first wheel 21 and a second wheel 22, spaced apart from each other, around which the rails 17a, 18a are wound in a closed circuit.

[041] Rails 17a, 18a define the respective first return segments, comprised between the first wheel 21 and the second wheel 22, parallel and opposite to the Z feed direction to define the drag channel 20 between them.

[042] The drag channel 20 has a horizontal plane for at least one metal product P, and is defined, in the upper and lower parts, by an opposing plurality of anchoring inserts 24, respectively, moved by rails 17a, 18a.

[043] The drag channel 20 may have a width consistent with a multiple of the metal product section P, for example, to drag more than one of them, and may be adjustable in height by means of positioning and adjustment means 25, which move the first drag member 17 towards / away from the second drag member 18, in a direction orthogonal to the feed direction Z.

[044] According to some embodiments, the gripping means 16 are arranged at the outlet of the drag channel 20, and are advantageously adjustable in a substantially different plane. Petition 870220121941, dated 12 / 26 / 2022, page 11 / 31 10 / 16 orthogonal to the horizontal plane through positioning and adjustment means 34.

[045] The gripping means 16 comprise a gripper 26 capable of holding at least one metal product P, at least during the working of its end segment. In particular, the gripping action of the gripper 26 is operated in relation to the end portion of the metal product P when the latter has completely, or almost completely, exited the drag channel 20.

[046] The gripping action of the gripper 26, combined with the forward movement of the stretching unit 11, eliminates the problem related to the minimum length of the metal product P to be gripped, required by the dragging units 17, 18, in order to operate the forward movement of the metal product P. This allows increasing the length of the metal product P that can be worked and therefore reducing scrap, as well as decreasing labor costs.

[047] The gripper 26 has an elongated profile in the Z feed direction so that, while the stretching unit 11 moves towards the working unit 12, it is possible to hold at least one metal product P to allow its end portions to also be bent. In particular, the gripper 26 acts in a plane substantially parallel to the working plane 13.

[048] According to some embodiments, the bending device 14 is provided with a fixed contrast element 29 and a bending element 30, movable relative to the contrast element 29 to determine the bending of at least one metallic product P around the contrast element 29.

[049] The contrast element 29 has a cylindrical body. Petition 870220121941, dated 12 / 26 / 2022, page 12 / 31 11 / 16 developed around an axis of rotation orthogonal to the work plane 13, and in relation to which the bending element 30 can rotate to determine the desired bends in the metal products P. In particular, during bending operations, the seating plane of the metal product P is substantially tangent to the vertical cylindrical wall of the contrasting element 29.

[050] According to some embodiments, at least the contrast element 29 can be retracted from the work plane 13 between a working condition and a non-interference condition, so as to allow both right and left bends to be performed on the metal product P.

[051] According to some embodiments, the work plane 13 can be horizontal, subvertical or vertical. Preferably, the work plane 13 is inclined at an angle between about 30° and about 50°, normally about 45° to facilitate the gravity evacuation of the finished products (FP) that have just been manufactured.

[052] According to some embodiments, the cutting device 15 is arranged adjacent to the bending device 14, in particular in a position that does not interfere with the metal product P during bending operations.

[053] For this purpose, the cutting device 15 is retractable in relation to the work plane 13, so as to assume a retracted position, within the work plane 13, and not interfere with the metal product P being worked on, and a protruding position, outside the work plane 13, in which the cutting device 15 is operative at least to perform the cutting of the metal product P being worked on.

[054] According to some embodiments, the device of Petition 870220121941, dated 12 / 26 / 2022, page 13 / 31 12 / 16 cutting 15 comprises a support 31 that is retractably movable relative to the work plane 13, in which both scissors 33 and gripping means 32 are present, which, in the case shown in the drawings, consist of a gripper 132 distinct from the scissors 33. As mentioned, alternative solutions fall within the scope of the invention, wherein the gripping means 32 consist of the scissors 33 themselves which, based on the position of the cutting element and the contrast, can perform both cutting and gripping functions, or also wherein the gripping means 32 consist partly of components of the scissors 33 and partly of elements distinct from the scissors 33.

[055] When the bending device 14 is aligned with the metal product P to perform the bending work, the support 31 can be advantageously arranged in a retracted position, in which both the gripper 132 and the shears 33 are within the work plane 13.

[056] At the end of the bending work, the work unit 12 is moved to align the cutting device 15, in particular the gripper 132 and the shear 33, with the metal product P being worked on. In this case, the support 31 is raised into a protruding position so that the gripper 132 and the shear 33 can respectively hold and cut the metal product P being worked on, according to the requirements.

[057] According to some embodiments, the salient position in which the clamp 132 and the scissors 33 are located can be suitably adjusted so that their distance from the work plane 13 is consistent with the size and number of metal products P to be cut. In the example described in Fig. 3a, the number of metal products P being Petition 870220121941, dated 12 / 26 / 2022, p. 14 / 31 13 / 16 worked is two, four metal products are aligned in shear 33, but shear 33 cuts only two of them simultaneously at a time. Obviously, shear 33 can cut even more than two of them at a time, depending on the size of the cutting edges and the quantity of metal products P being worked.

[058] According to the possible modalities, the forceps 132 and the scissors 33 can assume their respective protruding or retracted positions independently of each other, depending on the need to use one, the other or both.

[059] According to some embodiments, the stretching unit 11 and the working unit 12 are movable, respectively, in the guides 27, 28, which are parallel to the feed direction Z and the operating direction T, respectively. In the example described here, the operating direction T is orthogonal to the feed direction Z.

[060] According to some embodiments, shown in figs. 1-8, a method is provided for working oblong metal products P comprising at least: - a first stage, in which the drawing unit 11 moves backward in the Z-direction of the feed, away from the working unit 12, to pick up at least one waiting metal product P, which is held between rails 17a, 18a (fig. 1), - a second stage, in which the stretching unit 11 advances in the feed direction Z towards the work unit 12, so as to reach a position where at least one metal product P is worked, and in which the work unit 12 is moved in the operating direction T so that the bending device 14 is aligned with at least one Petition 870220121941, dated 12 / 26 / 2022, page 15 / 31 14 / 16 metallic product P (fig. 2), - a third stage, in which the stretching unit 11, remaining stationary in the working position, advances at least one metal product P through the rails 17a, 18a towards the bending device 14, which performs the work required to make at least one finished product FP (fig. 2), - a fourth stage, in which the work unit 12 is moved in the operating direction T so that the cutting device 15 is aligned with at least one metal product P being worked on to cut at least one finished product PF from at least one metal product P (Fig. 3-3a).

[061] In particular, in the third stage the cutting device 15 is in a retracted position, while in the fourth stage the cutting device 15 is in a protruding position in which the cutting device 15 functions at least to perform the cutting of at least one metal product P being worked with the shears 33, fig. 3a. Advantageously, during the execution of the cutting operation, the gripper 132 can hold the metal product P in order to ensure a more precise and deformation-free cut.

[062] According to one aspect of the present invention, when the length of at least one metal product P being worked is not sufficient for it to be pulled by the rails 17a, 18a, the method provides a repositioning step in which the work unit 12 is moved in the operating direction T, so that the cutting device 15 is aligned with at least one metal product P, so that the gripper 132 can hold it. The drawing unit 11 moves backward in the feed direction Z, moving away from Petition 870220121941, dated 12 / 26 / 2022, page 16 / 31 15 / 16 of the working unit 12, so that the final portion, or posterior end, of at least one metal product P is taken in correspondence with the gripping means 16, which are tightened to retain at least one metal product P, fig. 5.

[063] In particular, as shown in fig. 4, when the rear end of the metal product P is between rails 17a, 18a at a point midway between the center-to-center distance of the first wheels 21 and the second wheels 22, movement through rails 17a, 18a starts to become critical and therefore it is necessary to provide the repositioning step.

[064] According to one aspect of the present invention, after the repositioning step, a fifth step is provided in which the work unit 12 is moved in the operating direction T, so that the bending device 14 is aligned with at least one metal product P, and in which the stretching unit 11 advances in a controlled manner in the feed direction Z towards the bending device 14, which performs the work foreseen to make at least one final finished product (FP) of at least one metal product P, figs. 6-7.

[065] According to one aspect of the present invention, the method provides a sixth step in which at least one scrap of the work is evacuated from the drawing unit 11, or from the work unit 12, fig. 8. For example, the scrap of the work 12 may remain locked in the gripper 132 and be evacuated by gravity, or it may remain locked in the gripper 26 and be evacuated by the pressure of the subsequent metal product P.

[066] It is clear that modifications and / or additions of parts or Petition 870220121941, dated 12 / 26 / 2022, page 17 / 31 16 / 16 steps can be performed on apparatus 10 and on the method for working oblong metal products P as described so far, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims.

[067] In the following claims, the references in square brackets are for the sole purpose of facilitating reading: they should not be considered as restrictive factors regarding the scope of protection claimed in the specific claims. Petition 870220121941, dated 12 / 26 / 2022, page 18 / 31

Claims

1 / 5 CLAIMS 1. Apparatus (10) for working oblong metal products, comprising: - a stretching unit (11) for moving at least one of said metal products (P) in a feed direction (Z), - a work unit (12) disposed downstream of said stretching unit (11), comprising a work plane (13) to which are associated at least one bending device (14) and at least one cutting device (15), wherein said stretching unit (11) is movable in the feed direction (Z) towards / away from said work unit (12), and wherein said work unit (12) is movable in an operating direction (T) transversely disposed relative to said feed direction (Z), characterized in that at least one cutting device (15) is displaced from at least one bending device (14) in the operating direction (T),so that the movement of the work unit (12) in the operating direction (T) allows the alignment of at least one bending device (14) or, alternatively, of at least one cutting device (15) with the feed direction (Z), without the simultaneous alignment of both bending (14) and cutting (15) devices with the feed direction (Z).

2. Apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said drawing unit (11) comprises drag members (17, 18) provided with their respective rails (17a, 18a) and is associated with gripping means (16) directed towards said working unit (12) and comprising a gripper (26) having an elongated profile in the feed direction (Z) and capable of holding said at least one metallic product (P) at least during the working of a final portion thereof.

3. Apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said cutting device (15) comprises at least one pair of scissors (33) and means (32) with a pinching function.

4. Apparatus (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the pinching means (32) are the scissors (33) themselves.

5. Apparatus (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the means (32) with pinching function are a clamp (132) different from scissors (33).

6. Apparatus (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the clamping means (32) consist in part of at least part of the scissors (33) and are partially different from the scissors (33).

7. Apparatus (10), according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cutting device (15) is retractably movable between a retracted position and a protruding position relative to said work plane (13), being operative for gripping and / or cutting said at least one metal product (P) being worked.

8. Apparatus (10) according to claim 7, characterized by the salient position in which the said means (32) with clamping function are located and the said scissors (33) being adjustable in relation to the said work plane (13).

9. Apparatus (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said stretching unit (11) and said working unit (12) are movable, respectively, on guides (27, 28) which are parallel, respectively, to said feed direction (Z) and said operating direction (T), wherein said operating direction (T) is orthogonal to said feed direction (Z).

10. Method for working oblong metal products (P) carried out with an apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising at least: - a first stage, in which said stretching unit (11) moves backward in the feed direction (Z), away from said working unit (12), to pick up at least one waiting metal product (P), - a second stage, in which said stretching unit (11) advances in the feed direction (Z) towards said working unit (12) to reach a position where said at least one metal product (P) is worked, and in which said working unit (12) is moved in said operating direction (T) so that said bending device (14) is aligned with said at least one metal product (P), - a third stage, in which the stretching unit (11), remaining stationary in the working position,advances the aforementioned at least one metal product (P) by means of drag members (17, 18) towards the aforementioned Petition 870260014428, dated 13 / 02 / 2026, p. 15 / 20 4 / 5 bending device (14) which performs the supplied work to make at least one finished product, - a fourth step, in which the aforementioned work unit (12) is moved in the aforementioned operating direction (T) so that the aforementioned cutting device (15) is aligned with the aforementioned at least one metal product (P) being worked on to cut and partially move the aforementioned at least one first finished product away from the aforementioned at least one metal product (P)., 11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that in said third step said cutting device (15) is in a retracted position within the work plane (13) and is configured not to interfere with the at least one metal product (P) being worked, and in that in said fourth step said cutting device (15) is in a protruding position, outside said work plane (13) in which said cutting device (15) is operative at least to perform the cutting of said at least one metal product (P) being worked with the shears (33).

12. Method according to any one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that when the length of the at least one metal product (P) being worked is insufficient for said at least one metal product (P) to be pulled by the drag members (17, 18), said method provides a repositioning step in which said work unit (12) is moved in said operating direction (T) so that said cutting device (15) is aligned with said at least one metal product (P) being worked to hold the Petition 870260014428, dated 13 / 02 / 2026, page.16 / 20 5 / 5 referred to at least one metal product (P) with the means (32) having a clamping function, said drawing unit (11) moves backward in the direction of the feed (Z), away from said working unit (12), so that the rear end of at least one metal product (P) is taken in correspondence with the gripping means (16) which are tightened to retain said at least one metal product (P).

13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that after said repositioning step, a fifth step is provided in which said work unit (12) is moved in said operating direction (T) so that said bending device (14) is aligned with said at least one metal product (P), and in which said stretching unit (11) advances in a controlled manner in the feeding direction (Z) to said bending device (14) which performs the work foreseen to make at least one final finished product of said at least one metal product (P).

14. Method according to claim 13, characterized by providing a sixth step in which any waste from the work is evacuated by said stretching unit (11) or by said work unit (12). Petition 870260014428, dated 13 / 02 / 2026, p. 17 / 20

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