METHOD FOR PRODUCE REINFORCEMENT MATS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for producing reinforcement mats.

[0002] Various mesh welding systems are known from EP1704941A1 (basis for the preamble of claim 1), DE29518140U1, DE29615026U1, DE29714109U1, DE29714110U1, WO2017041122A1, and WO2018007836A1. The known mesh welding systems have the disadvantage that they cannot be used to produce customized reinforcement meshes with recesses.

[0003] The object of the present invention was to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a method for producing reinforcement mats by means of which individual reinforcement mats with freely selectable recesses or bar spacings can be produced.

[0004] This object is achieved by a method according to the claims. According to the invention, a method for producing reinforcement mesh using a mesh welding system is provided. The mesh welding system comprises a rod welding device, a rod conveyor for longitudinal bars, and a transverse bar laying device. After a first step of positioning longitudinal bars on the rod conveyor, the method comprises the following method steps: Moving the longitudinal bars by means of the bar conveyor device so that a desired welding point of at least one of the longitudinal bars with a cross bar is positioned in the working area of ​​the bar welding device; positioning at least one cross bar by means of an articulated-arm robot of the cross bar laying device; welding the cross bar to at least one of the longitudinal bars by means of the bar welding device. During welding, the at least one cross bar continues to be held by the articulated-arm robot, and the longitudinal bars are conveyed by the bar conveyor device primarily in the conveying direction and, in individual process steps, conveyed against the conveying direction.

[0005] The process has the advantage that, thanks to the specified process steps, reinforcement meshes can be manufactured in individual parts, with each reinforcement mesh having a different design. This is achieved through the use of an articulated-arm robot, which can feed the cross bars to the bar welding device. The bar welding device can be arranged immovably on the mesh welding system in the conveying direction. In other words, the cross bars are always welded to the longitudinal bars in the same position relative to the mesh welding system in the conveying direction, with the longitudinal bars being positioned on the bar welding device by means of the bar conveying device.

[0006] After welding the cross bar to the longitudinal bar, the cross bar is advantageously released from the articulated arm robot and a new cross bar is positioned by means of the articulated arm robot and the longitudinal bars are advanced mainly in the conveying direction by means of the bar conveying device so that a desired welding point of the longitudinal bar with the next cross bar is positioned in the working area of ​​the bar welding device.

[0007] In particular, it may be advantageous if the longitudinal bars are positioned on a first conveyor means of the bar conveyor device and transferred to a second, downstream conveyor means, wherein the second conveyor means serves to position the longitudinal bars in the bar welding device and is driven independently of the first conveyor means.

[0008] Furthermore, it can be provided that the articulated-arm robot of the crossbar placement device can pick up two crossbars simultaneously. In particular, two shorter crossbars can be picked up in order to create a recess for a door or window, for example.

[0009] Furthermore, it can be provided that the crossbar is positioned at an angle other than a right angle to the longitudinal bars by means of the articulated-arm robot of the crossbar placement device. Crossbars positioned in this way can be used, for example, to brace the reinforcement mesh.

[0010] The rod conveyor is used not only for conveying metal rods, but also for conveying products that include metal rods. These can be, for example, reinforcement mesh, lattice girders, three-dimensional reinforcement elements as described in AT516118B1, and the like.

[0011] For a better understanding of the method according to the invention, it is explained in more detail using the following figures in conjunction with the functioning of a mesh welding system.

[0012] They show in a highly simplified, schematic representation: Fig. 1 shows a mesh welding system in a perspective view; Fig. 2 shows a mesh welding system with two conveyors arranged one behind the other in a side view; Fig. 3 shows a top view of a possible layout of the mesh production system; Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a conveyor; Fig. 5 shows a side view of a conveyor with a support bar; Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a bar conveyor device with several conveyors; Fig. 7 shows a mesh welding system in a perspective view; Fig. 8 shows an embodiment of a pair of articulated arm robots.

[0013] By way of introduction, it should be noted that in the variously described embodiments, identical parts are provided with identical reference symbols or component designations. The disclosures contained throughout the description can be applied analogously to identical parts with identical reference symbols or component designations. Furthermore, the positional information chosen in the description, such as top, bottom, side, etc., refers to the directly described and illustrated figure, and these positional information must be applied analogously to the new position in the event of a change in position.

[0014] Fig. 1 shows a mesh welding system 1 for producing reinforcement meshes 2. The reinforcement meshes 2 have longitudinal bars 3 and transverse bars 4. The longitudinal bars 3 and the transverse bars 4 can be made of reinforcing steel.

[0015] In particular, the longitudinal bars 3 and the transverse bars 4 can generally be referred to as metal bars 5. The general term metal bars 5 also includes other bars that are not made of reinforcing steel.

[0016] The longitudinal bars 3 and the transverse bars 4 are welded to form a reinforcement mat 2 using the mat welding system 1.

[0017] The mesh welding system 1 comprises a bar conveyor 6, onto which the longitudinal bars 3 are placed and fed to a bar welding device 7. Furthermore, the mesh welding system 1 comprises a cross bar laying device 8, which serves to feed the cross bars 4 to the bar welding device 7. In particular, the cross bars 4 can be fed to the bar welding device 7 independently of the bar conveyor 6 by means of the cross bar laying device 8.

[0018] The rod conveyor device 6 comprises a conveyor 9, which has a first deflection station 10 and a second deflection station 11. A traction means 12 is guided around the two deflection stations 10, 11 and is arranged circumferentially at the deflection stations 10, 11. In a general embodiment, the traction means 12 can be designed, for example, as a conveyor belt. A specific embodiment of the conveyor 9 is described below in Fig. 4 . will be described in more detail. The first deflection station 10 and / or the second deflection station 11 can be driven by a drive motor.

[0019] Due to the described design of the conveyor 9, it has a conveying direction 13. The longitudinal bars 3 are placed on the conveyor 9 such that their longitudinal extension is aligned parallel to the conveying direction 13.

[0020] The rod welding device 7 has a gantry 14 on which at least two opposing welding heads 15 are arranged, forming a welding head pair. The welding heads 15 are displaceable in a transverse direction 16 oriented at 90° to the conveying direction 13. Of course, it is also conceivable to have several opposing welding heads 15, forming several welding head pairs.

[0021] An exact description of the rod welding device 7 and its variants is given in the Austrian patent application with the file number A 50075 / 2018.

[0022] The crossbar laying device 8 comprises an articulated-arm robot 17 that serves to manipulate the crossbars 4. The articulated-arm robot 17 has a gripper head 18, which is arranged at one end of the robot structure and serves to grip the crossbars 4. In particular, it can be provided that the gripper head 18 has a plurality of grippers 19, which are arranged at a distance G 20 from one another.

[0023] Furthermore, a profile rail 21 can be provided, which is coupled to the articulated-arm robot 17 and on which the individual grippers 19 are arranged. In particular, it can be provided that the grippers 19 are arranged on the profile rail 21 by means of spacers 22. The profile rail 21 can be formed, for example, from an aluminum profile, which has a low mass.

[0024] By using multiple grippers 19, bending of the cross bars 4 due to their own mass can be largely prevented. In particular, it can be provided that the cross bars 4 can be picked up individually by the articulated-arm robot 17 and positioned in the area of ​​the bar welding device 7.

[0025] Furthermore, a crossbar conveyor device 23 can be provided, which is arranged in the operating area of ​​the articulated-arm robot 17 and serves to feed the crossbars 4. In the present embodiment, the crossbar conveyor device 23 has a conveying direction 24 that is aligned parallel to the conveying direction 13 of the conveyor 9.

[0026] In other embodiments not shown, it can of course also be provided that the cross bar conveyor device 23 is positioned or aligned differently than described here.

[0027] Based on the Fig. 1A possible procedure for operating the mesh welding system 1 is described.

[0028] In a first process step, the longitudinal bars 3 are placed on the conveyor 9. This can be done, for example, with a schematically illustrated lifting device 25.

[0029] In a further process step, the longitudinal bars 3 placed on a support surface 26 of the conveyor 9 are transported to the bar welding device 7 by means of the conveyor 9. In parallel, a cross bar 4 is removed from the cross bar conveyor 23 by means of the cross bar laying device 8 and is also positioned in the area of ​​the bar welding device 7 by means of the gripping head 18.

[0030] When both the longitudinal bars 3 and the cross bar 4 positioned by means of the gripping head 18 have reached their intended welding position in the area of ​​the bar welding device 7, the cross bar 4 can be welded to the longitudinal bars 3 by means of the welding heads 15, in particular by means of two welding heads of a welding head pair.

[0031] In this case, several welding head pairs with opposing welding heads 15 can be provided, by means of which several welding processes can be carried out in parallel.

[0032] After the cross bar 4 has been welded to one of the longitudinal bars 3, the welding heads 15 can be moved in pairs in the transverse direction 16 in order to be able to weld the cross bar 4 to another longitudinal bar 3.

[0033] When the cross bar 4 is welded to the longitudinal bars 3 at a predefined number of welding points and thus has sufficient positional stability, the grippers 19 can be opened and the gripper head 18 can be moved to the cross bar conveyor device 23 in order to be able to pick up a new cross bar 4.

[0034] In parallel, analogous to the process steps already described, the welding heads 15 can be moved in the transverse direction 16 in order to be able to weld further longitudinal bars 3 to the already partially welded transverse bar 4.

[0035] Once the crossbar 4 has been welded to the longitudinal bars 3 at all designated points, the longitudinal bars 3 can be advanced by means of the conveyor 9 until another desired welding position is reached. At the same time, the additional crossbar 4 that has already been picked up can be positioned in the area of ​​the welding device 7 by means of the crossbar placement device 8 so that it can also be welded.

[0036] The design of the mesh welding system 1 allows reinforcement meshes 2 to be produced flexibly, whereby a flexible distance between the individual longitudinal bars 3 or transverse bars 4 can be adjusted.

[0037] Furthermore, it can be provided that individual longitudinal bars 3 or transverse bars 4 do not extend over the entire length or width of the reinforcement mat 2, but that recesses are created in the reinforcement mat 2 by segmented or shorter longitudinal bars 3 or transverse bars 4. Due to the described design of the conveyor 9, it is not necessary for the rod welding device 7 to be moved in the conveying direction 13 of the conveyor 9. This measure allows the design of the mat welding system 1 to be kept as simple as possible.

[0038] As from Fig. 1 As can also be seen, it can be provided that a base 27 of the articulated arm robot 17 is arranged laterally next to the conveyor means 9, viewed in the transverse direction 16.

[0039] Fig. 2 shows a further and possibly independent embodiment of the mesh welding system 1 in a schematic side view.

[0040] As from Fig. 2As can be seen, the rod conveyor device 6 for conveying the longitudinal rods 3 to the rod welding device 7 can be provided with several conveyor means 9 arranged one behind the other, which can be driven independently of one another. This measure allows the reinforcement mat 2 currently located in the rod welding device to be welded, whereby the method steps described above can be carried out. The advance of the longitudinal rods 3 currently to be welded can be accomplished with the conveyor means 9 that is arranged closest to the rod welding device 7.

[0041] In parallel, additional longitudinal bars 3 for another reinforcement mat 2 can be provided by means of the additional conveying means 9 or the additional conveying means 9. The additional longitudinal bars 3 can be moved in the conveying direction 13 independently of the first longitudinal bars 3.

[0042] Furthermore, it can be provided that at least some of the conveying means 9 are displaceable in the conveying direction 13. This allows the distance between the individual conveying means 9 to be varied.

[0043] Furthermore, a removal device 28 can be provided, which serves to remove the already welded reinforcement mat 2. The removal device 28 can be arranged on the side of the rod welding device 7 opposite the rod conveyor device 6. In particular, the removal device 28 can be provided with a removal conveyor 29, which can be designed identically to the conveyor 9.

[0044] Fig. 3shows a schematic plan view of a mesh production system 30 in which the mesh welding system 1 is integrated. The same reference symbols or component designations are used for identical parts as in the previous figures. To avoid unnecessary repetition, reference is made to the detailed description in the previous figures.

[0045] The mesh production system 30 comprises a holder for several raw material rolls 31 onto which the raw material of the metal bars 5, in particular the longitudinal bars 3 or cross bars 4, is wound. The metal bar 5 is drawn from the raw material roll 31 and straightened in a straightening system 32. In a cutting device 33, the individual longitudinal bars 3 or cross bars 4 are then cut to their intended length. The individual longitudinal bars 3 or cross bars 4 are received in a bar magazine 34, where they can be separated and prepared for further processing. The individual longitudinal bars 3 or cross bars 4 can then be transported by means of the lifting device 25 from the bar magazine 34 to the bar conveyor device 6 or the cross bar conveyor device 23. There, they can be welded to form a reinforcement mesh 2 using the mesh welding system 1, as already described.

[0046] Fig. 4shows an exemplary embodiment of a conveyor 9 in a perspective view. For clarity, the conveyor 9 has been depicted with a narrow width. However, it is understood that the conveyor 9 can have a greater width.

[0047] As from Fig. 4 As can be seen, it can be provided that the conveying means 9 comprises a first traction means 35 and a second traction means 36, which wrap around the first deflection station 10 and the second deflection station 11, respectively.

[0048] For reasons of clarity, the second deflection station 11 is not shown in the view shown in Fig. 13. The first deflection station 10 and / or the second deflection station 11 may have a drive.

[0049] The two deflection stations 10, 11 are spaced apart from each other by a distance A 37. Furthermore, several support strips 40 are formed, which extend in the transverse direction 16 of the conveyor 9.

[0050] For the sake of clarity, Fig. 4 Only two of the support strips 40 are shown, but it should be noted that typically a plurality of support strips 40 are arranged at a periodic spacing from one another. The support strips 40 are each coupled or connected to the first traction means 35 and the second traction means 36.

[0051] In the present embodiment, the first traction means 35 and the second traction means 36 are designed as a link chain 41. A first gear 38 and a second gear 39 are provided, which serve to deflect the first traction means 35 and the second traction means 36, respectively. The two gears 38, 39 are arranged on a shaft 42, by means of which the two gears 38, 39 are torque-coupled to one another. The two gears 38, 39 and thus also the two traction means 35, 36 are arranged at a distance B43 from one another. The length of the support bar 40 is thus at least the distance B43.

[0052] In a further embodiment not shown, it can also be provided that the first traction means 35 or the second traction means 36 are formed, for example, by a circulating toothed belt or a circulating cable.

[0053] As from Fig. 4As can also be seen, it can be provided that one or more fastening tabs 45 are formed on at least individual links 44 of the link chain 41, wherein the support strips 40 can be coupled to the fastening tabs 45 by means of fastening means 46. The fastening means 46 can be designed in the form of screws. Of course, it is also conceivable that the support strips 40 can be coupled to the fastening tabs 45 by some other connection. Furthermore, it is also conceivable that the support strips 40 can be connected to the individual links 44 of the link chain 41 by means of clamps. In yet another embodiment, it is also conceivable that the support strips 40 can be coupled to the fastening tabs 45 by means of a welded connection.

[0054] As from Fig. 4As can also be seen, the support strips 40 can be U-shaped, with a base 47 being formed, to which two legs 48 are connected. The base 47 can serve to fasten the support strips 40 to the traction means 35, 36. In particular, it can be provided that the base 47 faces the two traction means 35, 36. The legs 48 can have the support surface 26 for receiving the metal rods 5.

[0055] In particular, it can be provided that positioning notches 49 are formed on the legs 48 of the support strip 40, which serve to accommodate the metal rods 5. The positioning notches 49 can be spaced relative to one another at a grid spacing 50. The grid spacing 50 is preferably selected such that the support strip 40 can accommodate the largest possible number of different reinforcement mats 2 with different pitches.

[0056] Furthermore, at least one magnet 51 is provided on the support bar 40, which serves to fix the metal rods 5. The magnet 51 can be arranged, in particular, between the two legs 48 of the support bar 40. In particular, it can be provided that the magnet 51 is attached to the base 47.

[0057] In one embodiment, it can be provided that the magnet 51 is cast between the two legs 48 by means of a synthetic resin.

[0058] Furthermore, it can be provided that several magnets 51 are arranged on the support strip 40 at a distance from one another in the transverse direction 16. In particular, it can be provided that one magnet 51 is formed for each positioning notch 49.

[0059] In an alternative embodiment, it can also be provided that a magnet 51 is provided which extends over the entire area of ​​the positioning notches 49.

[0060] If the conveying means 9 has a small width, two traction means 35, 36 may be sufficient.

[0061] In a further embodiment not shown, it can also be provided that a plurality of traction means 35, 36 are formed distributed across the width of the rod conveyor device 6. A bearing 52 can be formed on the shaft 42 between the individual gears 38, 39. Alternatively or additionally, a bearing 52 can also be formed on the shaft 42, external to the gears 38, 39.

[0062] Fig. 5 shows a side view of another embodiment of a conveyor 9. As can be seen from Fig. 5As can be seen, it can be provided that the first gear 38 of the first deflection station 10 and the first gear 38 of the second deflection station 11 or the second gear 39 of the first deflection station 10 and the second gear 39 of the second deflection station 11 are arranged at one level and thus form an axial plane 53.

[0063] Furthermore, a support strip 54 can be formed, which is arranged between the first gear 38 of the first deflection station 10 and the first gear 38 of the second deflection station 11 or between the second gear 39 of the first deflection station 10 and the second gear 39 of the second deflection station 11.

[0064] The support bar 54 can be positioned such that the first traction means 35 or the second traction means 36 rest on the support bar 54 in the area between the first gear wheels 38 or between the second gear wheels 39 and are thus lifted in this area by means of the support bar 54.

[0065] In particular, it can be provided that the traction means 35, 36 is arranged in the region of the support strip 54 at a first distance 55 from the axial plane 53. In the region of the gear 38, 39, the traction means 35, 36 can be arranged at a second distance 56 from the axial plane 53. In particular, it can be provided that the first distance 55 is greater than the second distance 56. In other words, the traction means 35, 36 can be lifted from the axial plane 53 relative to the gears 38, 39 by means of the support strips 54.

[0066] This measure prevents a leg 48 from being lifted off during the rotation of the support bars 40 at the transition to the gear wheels 38, 39 due to the deflection of the support bars 40, which would otherwise lift the metal rod 5. Thus, this measure prevents an undesired lifting of the metal rods 5 in the area of ​​the gear wheels 38, 39.

[0067] In particular, it can be provided that a bevel 57 is formed on the support strip 54, which serves for a smooth transition of the traction means 35, 36 between the gear wheel 38, 39 and the support strip 54.

[0068] The described structure of the conveying means 9 can be designed in addition to the rod conveying device 6 also in the withdrawal device 28 or the withdrawal conveying means 29 or in the cross-rod conveying device 23.

[0069] Furthermore, it is of course also conceivable that other conveying devices have the described conveying means 9.

[0070] Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a rod conveyor device 6 with several conveyor means 9 arranged one behind the other.

[0071] Fig. 7 shows another embodiment of the mesh welding system 1.

[0072] As from Fig. 7As can be seen, it can be provided that a second articulated-arm robot 58 is formed, which has a second gripper receptacle 59. The second gripper receptacle 59 can be arranged on the underside of the bar conveyor device 6. In such an embodiment, individual cross bars 4 can be served by the articulated-arm robot 17 on the upper side of the bar conveyor device 6, and further cross bars 4 can be served by the second articulated-arm robot 58 on the underside of the bar conveyor device 6.

[0073] In particular, it can be provided that the second articulated arm robot 58 has a second gripper receptacle 59 which serves to receive the cross bars 4.

[0074] Furthermore, a further cross-bar conveyor device 60 can be configured, which serves to convey the cross bars 4 to the second articulated-arm robot 58, in particular to the second gripper receptacle 59. The further cross-bar conveyor device 60 is also arranged below the bar conveyor device 6. The second articulated-arm robot 58 and the further cross-bar conveyor device 60 are positioned relative to one another such that the cross bars 4 can be removed from the further cross-bar conveyor device 60 by means of the second gripper receptacle 59 or the grippers arranged thereon and can be positioned in the region of the gantry 14 in order to be able to weld the cross bars 4 to the longitudinal bars 3.

[0075] In particular, the transverse bars 4 can be positioned on the underside of the longitudinal bars 3 by means of the second articulated arm robot 58.

[0076] Fig. 8shows an embodiment of an articulated-arm robot pair 61, which comprises two articulated-arm robots 17, both of which are coupled to the profile rail 21. In particular, one of the articulated-arm robots 17 is coupled to the first side of the profile rail 21, and a second of the articulated-arm robots 17 is coupled to the second side of the profile rail 21. This measure can increase the load to be absorbed by the profile rail 21 and improve the positioning accuracy of the crossbars 4.

[0077] The Fig. 8The described embodiment of the articulated-arm robot pair 61 can, of course, not only be applied to the articulated-arm robot 17, but it is also conceivable for two second articulated-arm robots 58 to be combined to form an articulated-arm robot pair 61. Here, both second articulated-arm robots 58 are coupled to the second gripper receptacle 59. The profile rail 21 or the second gripper receptacle 59 can be coupled to the articulated-arm robot 17, 58 so that it can rotate about a longitudinal axis, so that the crossbars 4 can be held in a wide variety of positions.

[0078] The scope of protection is determined by the claims. However, the description and drawings are to be used to interpret the claims.

[0079] All information on value ranges in this description is to be understood as including any and all sub-ranges thereof, e.g. the information 1 to 10 is to be understood as including all sub-ranges starting from the lower limit of 1 and the upper limit of 10, ie all sub-ranges begin with a lower limit of 1 or greater and end with an upper limit of 10 or less, e.g. 1 to 1.7, or 3.2 to 8.1, or 5.5 to 10.

[0080] For the sake of clarity, it should finally be pointed out that, in order to better understand the structure, some elements have been shown out of scale and / or enlarged and / or reduced in size. List of reference symbols

[0081] 1 Mesh welding system 30 Mat production plant 2 Reinforcement mat 31 Raw material roll 3 Longitudinal bar 32 straightening system 4 crossbar 33 Cutting device 5 metal rod 34 Rod magazine 6 Rod conveyor device 35 first traction device 7 Rod welding device 36 second traction device 8 Cross bar laying device 37 Distance A 9 Funding 38 first gear 10 first deflection station 39 second gear 11 second deflection station 40 Support strip 12 traction device 41 link chain 13 Funding direction funding 42 Wave 14 portal 43 Distance B 15 welding head 44 member 16 Transverse direction 45 Mounting tab 17 Articulated arm robot 46 Fasteners 18 gripping head 47 base 19 gripper 48 leg 20 Distance G 49 Positioning notch 21 Profile rail 50 Grid spacing 22 spacers 51 magnet 23 Cross bar conveyor device 52 storage 24 Conveying direction cross bar conveyor device 53 Axial plane 54 Baseboard 25 Lifting equipment 55 first distance 26 Support surface 56 second distance 27 base 57 Bevel 28 trigger device 58 second articulated arm robot 29 Deduction subsidies 59 second gripper holder 60 additional cross bar conveyor device 61 Pair of articulated arm robots

Claims

1. Method for manufacturing reinforcement meshes (2) using a mesh welding machine (1) with a bar welding device (7), a bar conveyor (6) for longitudinal bars (3) and a crossbar laying device (8), comprising, after a first step of positioning longitudinal bars (3) on the bar conveyor (6), the following process steps - Moving the longitudinal bars (3) by means of the bar conveyor device (6) so that a desired welding point of at least one of the longitudinal bars (3) is positioned with a cross bar (4) in the working area of the bar welding device (7); - positioning at least one cross bar (4) by means of an articulated arm robot (17) of the cross bar laying device (8); - welding the cross bar (4) to at least one of the longitudinal bars (3) by means of the bar welding device (7), characterized in that: - during welding, the at least one cross bar (4) continues to be held by means of the articulated arm robot (17), - the longitudinal bars (3) are mainly conveyed in the conveying direction (13) and are conveyed in individual process steps against the conveying direction (13).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal bars (3) are positioned on a first conveyor (9) of the bar conveyor (6) and transferred to a second, downstream conveyor (9), wherein the second conveyor (9) serves to position the longitudinal bars (3) in the bar welding device (7) and is driven independently of the first conveyor (9).

3. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that two cross bars (4) are picked up simultaneously by means of the articulated arm robot (17) of the cross bar placement device (8).

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cross bar (4) is positioned by means of the articulated arm robot (17) of the cross bar laying device (8) at an angle deviating from a right angle to the longitudinal bars (3).