Longitudinal-wire guide for advancing a number of parallel steel wires

Abstract

Longitudinal-wire guide (4) for advancing a number of parallel steel wires in a predetermined X direction, having a multiplicity of fittings, consisting of a lower longitudinal-wire-guiding lever (LW-guiding lever) (7), an upper longitudinal-wire-guiding lever (LW-guiding lever) (8), and a compression spring (5) acting between the two, and having a lateral longitudinal-wire guide (LW guide) (10), wherein the fittings are arranged so as to be steplessly displaceable in relation to one another in a Y direction, which is perpendicular to the X direction, and wherein the multiplicity of fittings are arranged on a carriage which can be driven in the X direction.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a longitudinal wire guide for advancing a set of parallel steel wires in a predetermined X-direction. The invention particularly relates to a longitudinal wire guide comprising a plurality of sets, with a lateral longitudinal wire guide, wherein the sets are arranged to be continuously displaceable relative to each other in a Y-direction perpendicular to the X-direction, and wherein the plurality of sets are arranged on a carriage which can be driven in the X-direction.

[0002] The state of the art in the production of industrial mesh and reinforcing mats (e.g., fence mesh, concrete mesh) in automated welding machines using pre-cut wires consists of an infeed feed system, an infeed wire guide, and an outfeed feed system. Currently, longitudinal wires are fed into the machine at the infeed side, with fixed guide elements determining the spacing between the longitudinal wires of a mat layer. Solutions of this type are disadvantageous because they are difficult or impossible to adjust.

[0003] US 2018 / 056364, which forms the basis for the preamble of claim 1, discloses a longitudinal wire guide in which the longitudinal wire is clamped directly by means of a pneumatic cylinder. Furthermore, DE 23 63 369 and AT 373 798 disclose longitudinal wire guides in which the wires are gripped by clamping elements that function like simple drive pliers. DE 12 32 918 shows an eccentric clamping device for clamping the wires.

[0004] The object of the invention is to transport a group of longitudinal wires quickly and precisely in a cycle towards a welding machine using an alternative longitudinal wire guide, while enabling sufficiently precise and rapid adjustment of the distance between the longitudinal wires.

[0005] The longitudinal wire guide according to the invention achieves this by having a plurality of sets consisting of a lower longitudinal wire guide lever, an upper longitudinal wire guide lever and a compression spring acting between the two.

[0006] In one embodiment, the multitude of sets are arranged together on a frame, on which they can be raised and lowered together in a Z-direction, which is essentially perpendicular to the Y-direction and the X-direction, by means of a height adjustment.

[0007] In addition, the drive of the carriage and the closing of the lower longitudinal wire guide levers as well as the upper longitudinal wire guide levers can be synchronized by a control system in order to transport a set of parallel steel wires in repeated steps in the X direction.

[0008] It is also conceivable that the vehicle is driven electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically.

[0009] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment illustrated in the drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a side view of a set for longitudinal wire feed, Fig. 2 a schematic side view of a longitudinal wire feeder and Fig. 3 A front view of a series of sets for longitudinal wire feeding.

[0010] As in Fig. 1 and 2As shown, a longitudinal wire feeder consists of a stationary base frame 1 with a height-adjustable (Z-direction) frame 2, in which a feed carriage or carriage 3, movable in the X-direction, is mounted with the lateral longitudinal wire guides 10 including levers (see below). This carriage conveys the longitudinal wires 6 in the X-direction into a welding machine (not shown). The longitudinal wires (LD) 6 are typically taken from a stock consisting of a number up to three digits and threaded into the longitudinal wire guides 10 and other elements. In the welding machine downstream of the longitudinal wire feeder, transverse wires (QD) are fed in incrementally, welded to the longitudinal wires 6, and thus form the desired wire mesh mats. The predetermined, often variable, transverse wire spacing is produced by the feeding of the longitudinal wires 6.

[0011] A set of longitudinal wire guides 4 consists of a lateral longitudinal wire guide 10, at least one lower longitudinal wire guide lever 7, and one upper longitudinal wire guide lever 8. The levers form indexed clamps that push the longitudinal wire in the X direction. The lower longitudinal wire guide lever 7 can be formed integrally with the lateral longitudinal wire guide 10. The lateral longitudinal wire guide 10 is at least a passage, a slot, or the like for a longitudinal wire, which prevents its deflection in the Y direction.

[0012] The longitudinal wire strip is pressed and held in the individual lower and upper longitudinal wire guide levers 7, 8 by means of one (or more) compression springs 5 ​​(optionally also hydraulic, pneumatic, or electric cylinders), the spring force of which acts in the direction of arrow F and closes the levers. The opening of all longitudinal wire guides 4, i.e., the deactivation of the clamping force, is carried out simultaneously by two pressure bars 11, which extend in the Y direction and actuate all lower and upper longitudinal wire guide levers 7, 8. These pressure bars 11 are preferably actuated by one or more hydraulic cylinders (pneumatic or electric cylinders).

[0013] For precise longitudinal wire height in the Z-direction and additional functions, a height adjustment 12, preferably electrically operated, is provided. The longitudinal wire height is determined by the contact point of a longitudinal wire 6 on the respective lower longitudinal wire guide lever 7, which is connected to the height adjustment 12 via a longitudinal wire guide holder 9.

[0014] The sets of longitudinal wire guides 4 can be moved along a common shaft 13 in the Y-direction to change the spacing between the longitudinal wires 6 and to feed them to the welding machine. Alternatively, dovetail guides, T-slots, or equivalent can be used instead of a shaft 13. This can be done for all or only individual longitudinal wires 6 during downtime periods that occur during continuous production and while the set of longitudinal wires 6 is being advanced at a constant rate in the X-direction.

[0015] If the diameter of the longitudinal wires 6 and / or the transverse wires used changes (typical diameters are between 2 and 8 mm), all longitudinal wire guides 4 are raised or lowered in the Z-direction by the required difference. According to the invention, this can also be done during ongoing production, e.g., if the longitudinal wire diameter of two wire mesh mats being produced directly one after the other changes.

[0016] The tactile longitudinal wire guide 4 therefore advantageously combines the functions of the general longitudinal wire feed, the longitudinal wire guide with regard to the internal distances and the longitudinal wire positioning with regard to the height level on the inlet side of automated welding machines.

[0017] The longitudinal wire diameters are variable because a welding machine with a longitudinal wire guide 4 according to the invention can adjust itself automatically due to its design. While changing the longitudinal wire pitch is not automated, it is nevertheless quite simple according to the form shown here.

[0018] The longitudinal bar panel can be continuously adjusted in the Y-direction. Once adjusted, the longitudinal bar panel can be guided with variable spacing in the Y-direction, as the longitudinal wire guide 4 is equipped with separately acting clamping force application and stepless clamping force deactivation across the entire width of the mat. The clamping force application by means of the upper and lower longitudinal wire guide levers 7, 8 is gentle on the material and surface.

[0019] If required, the longitudinal bar array can also be retracted in the X-direction. This is programmed into the control system but requires no modifications to the device. Furthermore, the longitudinal bar array can be aligned with the welding electrodes in the X-direction; it can even be moved to the welding point without losing its clamping position. This ensures a more reliable feed.

[0020] In the Z-direction, the longitudinal wire array can also be raised to compensate for changes in the diameter of the transverse wires. Compensation in the Z-direction can also be achieved in detail based on a number of other factors related to machine variability and the quality of the welded mats. For example, this can be achieved if the weld penetration depth on the longitudinal wire array is to be pre-determined and compensated for by program control, if any electrode wear needs to be compensated for, if transverse wires are to be welded below the mat plane, or if the grid flatness in the longitudinal direction needs to be influenced. This is not possible with current technology.

[0021] For the purpose of weld-free welding, the longitudinal wire guide 4 can advance further longitudinal wires 6 along the end face of the longitudinal bar array in the X-direction. Finally, guide units can also release the grid of transverse wire holding magnets (not shown). Reference symbol list

[0022] 1 Base frame 2 Frame 3 Carriage 4 Longitudinal wire guide 5 Compression spring 6 Longitudinal wire 7 Lower longitudinal wire guide lever 8 Upper longitudinal wire guide lever 9 Longitudinal wire guide holder 10 Side longitudinal wire guide 11 Pressure strips 12 Height adjustment 13 Shaft XX direction YY direction ZZ direction

Claims

1. A longitudinal wire guide (4) for feeding a set of parallel steel wires in a predetermined X direction, having a plurality of fittings, having a lateral longitudinal wire guide (10), wherein the fittings are arranged so as to be continuously displaceable relative to one another in a Y direction perpendicular to the X direction, and wherein the plurality of fittings is arranged on a carriage (3) which can be driven in the X direction, characterised in that the plurality of fittings consist of a lower longitudinal wire guide lever (7), an upper longitudinal wire guide lever (8) and a compression spring (5) acting between the two.

2. The longitudinal wire guide (4) of claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of fittings are arranged together on a frame (2), on which they can be raised and lowered together by means of a height adjustment (12) in a Z direction essentially perpendicular to the Y and X directions.

3. The longitudinal wire guide (4) of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the driving of the carriage (3) and closing of the lower longitudinal wire guide levers (7) as well as upper longitudinal wire guide levers (8) can be clocked by a control unit so as to transport a set of parallel steel wires in repeated steps in the X direction.

4. The longitudinal wire guide (4) of any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the driving of the carriage (3) is performed electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically.

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