Supply System

Abstract

The feeding system comprises a feeding device 300 for feeding the longitudinally extending wire- or tube-shaped workpiece 110 to the turning machine and a measuring unit. The feeding device comprises a receiving device 330 for receiving a workpiece stock 381 in the form of a coil and a straightening system 400 connected downstream of the receiving device with two adjustable roller straightening devices 400-1, 400-2 connected in series with differently oriented straightening planes for straightening the workpiece before it enters the transforming machine. The measuring unit 350 is used to measure the residual curvature in the straightened wire- or tube-shaped straightening material that has passed through the straightening system 400 of the feeding device 300 and to determine measurement data representative of the residual curvature of the straightened material. The feeding system further comprises a cutting device 370 for separating rod-shaped sections 110-A of predeterminable length from the straightening material that has passed through the straightening system 400. The measuring unit 350 has a measuring device 520 for receiving in a measuring position a rod-shaped section 110-A of the straightening material that has passed through the straightening system, each section being separated from the straightening material, and is configured for straightening plane-specific measurements, which allow the curvature components represented by the measurement data to be associated with the various straightening planes of the roller straightening device.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a supply system as claimed in the preamble of claim 1. [Background technology]

[0002] A feeding system of the type considered here has a feeding device, which is designed to feed a longitudinally extending wire- or tube-shaped workpiece to a transforming machine. The feeding device has a receiving device for receiving a coil-shaped workpiece stock. The feeding device further has a straightening system connected downstream of the receiving device, which has two adjustable roller straightening devices connected one after the other with differently oriented straightening planes for straightening the workpiece before it enters the transforming machine. The feeding system further has a measuring unit for measuring the residual curvature in the straightened wire- or tube-shaped straightening material that has passed through the straightening system of the feeding device and for determining measurement data that are representative of the residual curvature of the straightened material. With the aid of this measurement data, the roller straightening devices of the straightening system can be adjusted so that the straightening material has a desired straightening quality.

[0003] Immediately after its formation, wires, pipes or other semi-finished longitudinally elongated materials are often present in the form of wound material stock (coils) and usually have to be straightened before further processing. Straightening is a manufacturing method from a group of deformation methods, which is used to bring longitudinally elongated materials, also referred to herein as straightened pieces, into a shape that is as straight as possible, i.e. one with little residual curvature or which is nearly eliminated, before further processing. To this end, in the straightening process, the material is transferred from the material stock through a straightening system, which produces from the material a material that has been straightened by deformation in the straightening operation or a straightened piece.

[0004] A straightening system of the type considered in this application has at least one roller straightening tool. A roller straightening tool has a number of passive, and therefore not rotationally driven, straightening rollers with rotation axes parallel to one another, which are arranged alternately on opposite sides of the passage section in the passage direction and define the straightening geometry by the circumferential section that contacts the workpiece during the drive. With a roller straightening tool, it is possible to change the one-dimensional entrance curvature of the straightening material (the curvature before entering the roller straightening tool) in one plane, so that after the straightening process, a defined residual curvature is present in this plane. To a large extent, a final product without residual curvature and therefore a straight final product is desired. To a large extent, straightening systems are used with two successively connected roller straightening tools, which straighten the arrival curvature in two mutually perpendicular planes.

[0005] Straightening systems with roller straightening devices do not rotate and, in that respect, differ in principle from rotating straightening systems with so-called straightening blades, which provide straightening forces in many different planes.

[0006] If the roller straightening tool is adjustable, at least one of the straightening rollers can be delivered in a delivery direction oriented transversely to the passing direction, whereby the straightening geometry of the roller straightening tool can be changed in order to obtain a better straightening result. Depending on the type of roller straightening tool, the straightening rollers can be delivered manually, semi-automatically or automatically by means of associated actors (e.g. servo motors, neumatic cylinders, hydraulic cylinders, etc.) in response to control signals of a control unit.

[0007] An unsatisfactory straightening result may occur, for example, at the start of use of a new straightening material after a coil exchange or after switching over to another process. Even during an ongoing process, material inhomogeneities, changes in material property values ​​and / or wear of the straightening rollers may lead to a deterioration of the straightening result. The initial material is also subject to manufacturing tolerances. Changes can be recognized by regular control with sample runs. If the straightening material deteriorates unacceptably, the straightening system must be adjusted better by changes in the straightening geometry.

[0008] In practice, a machine operator needs a great deal of experience and competence to guarantee an almost consistent straightening result on his machine. Research already exists to achieve a production process with reproducibly good straightening quality, regardless of the machine operator's competence.

[0009] DE 19503850 A1 describes a non-rotating straightening device for a bending machine with an integrated measuring device. The straightening device has at least one non-rotating straightening device for wire or strip material, which operates in at least one plane. The straightening device has a number of successive straightening rollers for processing the material, which are adjustable by means of at least one operating drive in the straightening plane and transversely to the axis of passage of the material. A material bending measuring device is provided behind the straightening device in the material passage direction, in which at least one measuring section for a material section of a predetermined length is provided and along which at least one mechanical and / or electronic and / or optical detection device is arranged for determining the degree and direction of bending, a signal can be generated which is representative of the bending of the material section measured by the detection device, and the operating drive of the at least one straightening roller is an operating drive which performs a corrective operating movement in response to the signal. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] German Patent No. 19503850 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2020 / 224977 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] The object of the present invention is to provide a supply system of the type mentioned at the beginning, which enables accurate measurement of the residual curvature in the straightening material after straightening and supplies convincing measurement results which can be utilized in adjusting and driving the straightening system so that the straightening geometry of the roller straightening device can be quickly and systematically optimized to obtain good straightening results. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] This problem is solved according to the present invention by a supply system having the features of claim 1. All claim language is incorporated by reference into this specification.

[0013] An important component of the feeding system is a feeding device, which is designed to feed the transforming machine with a longitudinally extending wire- or pipe-shaped workpiece. The feeding device has a receiving device for receiving the coil-shaped workpiece stock and a straightening system connected downstream of the receiving device. The straightening system has two tandemly connected adjustable roller straightening devices with differently oriented straightening planes for straightening the workpiece before it enters the transforming machine. Preferably, the straightening planes are oriented perpendicular to each other, in particular one of the straightening planes is horizontal and the other one is vertical. The feeding device thus forms a more or less well straightened endless material (wire or pipe) from the coiled material.

[0014] In order to be able to guarantee an adequate straightening quality, a measuring unit is associated with the supplying device, which is designed to measure the residual curvature in the straightened material that has passed through the straightening system of the supplying device. Measurement data is determined by the measurement, which represent the residual curvature of the straightened material and thus allow a quantitative description of the curvature state. The measuring unit is adapted to the structural and functional characteristics of the supplying device in order to allow a measurement that is as free as possible from disturbances.

[0015] The measuring unit is a separate unit from the feeding device, which unit can be temporarily or time-limited for measuring purposes and can be operatively connected to the feeding device for carrying out an adjustment operation. The feeding device can then be moved to its working position in the transforming machine to which the straightened material is to be fed. The measuring unit can also be used to adjust the straightening system of other machines equipped with a straightening system.

[0016] The supply system of the claimed invention, according to the expression of the invention, has the following particularities:

[0017] The supply system has a cutting device for separating rod-shaped sections of a predeterminable length from the straightening material that has passed through the straightening system. The measurement is carried out on rod-shaped sections (rods) of a predeterminable length (rod length), which sections are separated by means of the cutting device from the straightening material that has passed through the straightening system. In the measuring operation, each individual rod is measured. To enable such measurements, the measuring unit has a measuring device for receiving the respective rod-shaped section in the measuring position and for determining measurement data that represent the residual curvature of the straightened material. The measuring unit is designed for a straightening-plane-specific measurement, which allows an at least approximately unambiguous assignment of the measurement data or of the curvature components represented by the measurement data to the various straightening planes of the roller straightening tool.

[0018] The invention is based in particular on the following considerations: A roller straightening tool performs straightening only in one and only straightening plane. If two successively passing roller straightening tools are provided in a straightening system, with different, in particular perpendicularly oriented roller straightening tools, the curvature in the two straightening planes can be determined independently of one another to a first approximation. It has been recognized that in the adjustment process or within the framework of closed-loop control, for the purposeful adjustment or delivery of the straightening rollers, it is important to carry out operations that allow the measurement results determined on the straightened material to be uniquely assigned to the respective straightening plane. Measurements that allow this are referred to in this application as "straightening plane-specific or straightening plane-selective measurements".

[0019] It is known to measure the straightening or residual curvature of a straightened section of a straightening material that is still in contact with an adjacent section of the straightening material. In some cases, the measurement can be performed as the straightening material passes, and thus during the forward movement of the straightening material. In some cases, the straightening material can be stopped for a short time for the measurement (see DE 19503850 C1). It is considered a disadvantage that tensions and forces acting from other sections of the straightening material can affect the shape of the section being measured, so that the true state of curvature is not measured.

[0020] According to the claimed invention, the measurement is carried out on a rod-like section or rod of a predeterminable length, which is separated by means of a cutting device from the straightening material after passing through the straightening system. The straightening material of the rod to be measured can relax without external forces, since the subsequent remainder has been separated, so that the shape of the rod represents the true curved situation at least approximately without distortion. As the inventors have realized, much better interpretable measurement results can be obtained if a relatively short rod-like section is separated from the straightened material and this rod is subsequently measured or subjected to a straightness test.

[0021] This makes it possible, by means of a measurement method which is comparatively simple to implement and evaluate, to obtain an exact quantitative description of the curvature components, which can be unambiguously assigned to the various straightening planes during the evaluation.

[0022] The preferred bar length is usually much less than 1 meter and may be, for example, between 300mm and 700mm, depending on the stiffness of the straightened material.

[0023] Some advantages of this arrangement can be considered as follows: Many conventional straightening measurement systems allow a rough description of the obtained state of the straightening element, for example designed to distinguish a sufficiently well straightened element having a desired straightening quality from one having an insufficient straightening quality. In contrast, the measuring unit or measuring method of the claimed invention not only allows a rough value for the residual curvature to be determined, but also the information about the state of curvature of the rod-like section resulting from the measurement can be divided into curvature components and can be unambiguously assigned to the individual straightening planes of the straightening system. This kind of straightening plane-specific or straightening plane-selective measurement allows quantitative detection of which components of the determined residual curvature are caused by which of the at least two straightening planes.

[0024] This information on the state of the straightening material, classified according to the straightening plane, can then be used to carry out a targeted adjustment of the roller straightening tool, for example within the framework of the adjustment of the straightening system, in order to bring about a suitable adjustment of the straightening roller with few experiments. For example, if the straightening system has a first roller straightening tool with a vertically oriented first straightening plane and a second roller straightening tool connected thereto with a horizontal straightening plane, the horizontal and vertical components of the residual curvature can be quantified separately from each other using the measurement data. Accordingly, in the adjustment process, for example, if the determined residual curvature is mainly or exclusively caused by one of the straightening planes, the adjustment of the straightening roller can be focused on the straightening tool with the straightening plane that corresponds to the excessive residual curvature.

[0025] The measuring unit can work with rods separated by a cutting device, which belongs to a machine connected upstream in the process, for example a straightening and separating machine, the end product of which is a straightened rod. The straightening and separating machine usually has a feed device, a longitudinal measuring device and a cutting device which is controlled by means of signals from the longitudinal measuring device. In these cases, a separate cutting unit for the measuring unit is not necessary.

[0026] According to one development, the measuring unit has a cutting device for separating rod-shaped sections of a predeterminable length from the straightened material passing through the straightening system. The measuring device is connected downstream of the cutting device in the material flow direction. Due to the integration of the cutting device, the measuring unit is a self-contained unit capable of separating rod-shaped sections of the appropriate length from the straightened endless material and performing a straightness measurement or a residual curvature measurement on said sections.

[0027] The cutting device can be mounted together with the measuring device on or in a common frame of the measuring unit to form a functional unit which ensures a fixed positional relationship and can serve, for example, as an adjustment station. An embodiment of a self-contained measuring unit of this kind is described in detail below.

[0028] In order to realize a straightening plane-specific or straightening plane-selective measurement, the measuring unit is preferably configured in such a way that the straightening element is measured in the rotational position in which it has passed through the straightening system. The term "rotational position" refers to the rotational position or orientation with respect to the inherent rotation of the straightening element around the longitudinal axis. A straightening plane-specific measurement can be determined by mechanically measuring the rotation of the straightening element, which may possibly occur between separation and measurement, and then correcting the measurement data determined by the measuring device with respect to the direction of rotation. However, it is considered much simpler and more accurate to estimate this kind of self-rotation by method-technical and structural measures.

[0029] Since a rod of appropriate length is separated from the rest of the straightening tool for the measurement, it must be avoided that the rod rotates about its longitudinal axis between the acts of separation and measurement, thereby allowing an unambiguous assignment of the measurement result to the appropriate roller straightening tool. This can be problematic especially when processing round material, which is placed, for example, so that it rolls along an inclined surface between separation and measurement. When processing materials with an irregular cross section, for example a rectangular cross section, simple measures are sufficient to prevent self-rotation, for example by placing the flat side of the straightening tool on a straight or flat support.

[0030] According to a further development, the measuring unit is characterized by a relative rotation prevention device, which is configured in such a way that the rotational position of the separated rod section provided for measurement about its longitudinal axis does not change between straightening and measurement and can be measured in its rotational position in which the straightening material has passed through the straightening system. The relative rotation prevention device and / or the relative rotation prevention measure thus ensure that the rotational position of the material about its longitudinal axis does not change between straightening and measurement. Preferably, an active or activatable relative rotation prevention device is provided, which can be switched in response to a control signal from the control unit between a neutral configuration in which it does not act on the straightening material and an intervention configuration in which it comes into contact with the straightening material.

[0031] According to a further development, the measuring unit has a control unit which is configured in such a way that in the drive mode, the cutting device and the measuring device are driven in a coordinated manner so that the front end section of the straightened material, which has been transferred by the controlled feed to the measuring position in the measuring device, is fixed against self-rotation by a rotation prevention device of the measuring system, for example by clamping, and only afterwards is the cutting device driven so that the rod-shaped section to be measured, which has been fixed against rotation, is separated from the rest of the straightening material. Clamping or other fixing measures against rotation of the straightening material before separation ensures that the separated straightening material is stopped.

[0032] The synchronization between cutting and measurement is particularly simple to realize in a measuring unit with an integrated cutting device, but control-technical synchronization is also possible in the case of an external cutting device, which is therefore not an integral part of the measuring unit but belongs to another unit.

[0033] In many variants, the straightening material is first transferred into the area of ​​the measuring device and accommodated there in a rotationally fixed manner and only afterwards is it separated from the rest of the straightening material. In an embodiment of the measuring device, the prevention of relative rotation can be ensured by a laterally displaceable member of the clamping device.

[0034] It is also possible to provide a rod transport device which is configured to grip the section of the straightening material to be separated before the cutting operation is performed, to transport it to the measuring device after it has been separated from the remainder of the straightening material, and there to insert or place the rod-shaped section in an unchangeable rotational position and release it after it has been received in the measuring device so as not to rotate.

[0035] Thereby, during the production process, the straightened bars are fed into a measuring device, regularly or irregularly or with respect to a predetermined diagram or cause, and measured there, whereby the straightening quality is determined and, if necessary, an in-process measurement / closed-loop control can also be carried out by carrying out a corrective change in the adjustment of the straightening system. If possible, the bars removed from the material flow for inspection purposes can be fed into a subsequent production step, but this is not mandatory. Thus, from time to time, the straightened bars can be separated from the material flow for measurement purposes and, if necessary, returned to the material flow again after the measurement is completed.

[0036] According to the development, the straightening material is fixed for measurement purposes at a first fixing point and at a second fixing point at a distance from the first fixing point in such a way that for each of the fixing points the vertical and lateral positions of the straightening material (e.g. horizontally transverse to the longitudinal direction of the rod) are defined and no forces are applied to the straightening material section located between these fixing points, except for gravity. The position of the straightening material is then measured in a measurement plane located between the first and second fixing points. This can be located, for example, in the middle between the fixing points. The residual curvature of the wire section located between the fixing points is determined using the position data for the first fixing point, the second fixing point and the position of the straightening material in the measurement plane.

[0037] Structurally, first and second clamping devices can be provided in the measuring device, which provide rests for the straightening tools at the corresponding fastening points and have laterally movable clamping members which contact and define the lateral position of the straightening tools running through them, whereby at the same time a fixation against self-rotation can be achieved.

[0038] According to a development, the measuring device has a first clamping device on the side facing or to be faced towards the cutting device (entrance side) and a second clamping device at a longitudinal distance therefrom, in the area between these clamping devices the components of the measuring system are arranged, which measuring system is designed to define a measuring plane oriented transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the longitudinal direction of the measuring device and to determine the position of the rod-shaped section placed in the measuring plane. The measuring plane is preferably located in the middle between the clamping devices, where typically the maximum displacements are expected for the amount of the clamped rod-shaped section, which increases the measurement accuracy.

[0039] According to a development, each clamping device has a laying roller mounted with a horizontal axis of rotation and two lateral positioning members displaceable by a drive, for example lateral positioning rollers, so that the introduced bar-shaped sections can be fixed at fixing points respectively defined vertically and horizontally, the section lying above the jacket surface of the laying roller being able to define the vertical position and the laterally positioned lateral positioning members being able to define the position in the horizontal direction.

[0040] In this type of embodiment of the measuring device, the prevention of relative rotation is ensured by a laterally slidable lateral positioning member of the clamping device, in particular a roller, which thus functions as a relative rotation prevention device. When the rod-shaped section is softly clamped laterally by a lateral positioning member with a vertical axis of rotation, essentially only the degree of freedom of rotation of the rod about its longitudinal axis is switched off, and the horizontal clamping between the essentially point-like contact points between the resting roller and the outside of the rod-shaped section does not essentially prevent any possible sagging or vertical displacement of the rod. Thus, the true state of curvature of a rod-shaped section supported at two points at a distance from each other and otherwise subjected essentially only to gravity can be measured.

[0041] Instead of roller-shaped lateral positioning elements, other, possibly immovably supported lateral positioning elements can also be provided, for example blocks with convexly curved contact surfaces. The contact surfaces on the workpiece should preferably be designed in such a way that only substantially point-like or small-area contact points occur, so that the straightened bar is clamped between the substantially point-like contact points only in the horizontal direction, so that any vertical sagging that may occur is not essentially prevented.

[0042] The anti-rotation can therefore be an element with a suitable geometrical arrangement, which allows a point or line contact between the clamping device and the rod-like section, for example the rollers mentioned, but also non-rotatable elements which have points or roundness, at least in the contact area, and thus for example cylindrical or spherical contact surfaces.

[0043] According to a development, the spacing of the clamping devices, measured parallel to the longitudinal direction, is infinitely adjustable, so that the measuring device can be easily adapted to bar sections of various lengths. The bar sections provided for measurement are in most cases much shorter than one meter, and their length can be, depending on the stiffness of the material to be straightened, for example between 300 mm and 700 mm, and in some cases (in the case of relatively thin bar materials) even less.

[0044] One of the clamping devices can be rigidly mounted and the other only slidable, but preferably the clamping devices are mounted on a carriage which runs on a guide rail which is fixed to the upper side of the horizontally oriented base plate of the measuring system, so that the two clamping devices can slide infinitely in the same axis and can then be fixed in the desired position.

[0045] In order to be able to position the measuring plane well for the various bar lengths, according to a development, the components of the measuring device are fixed to a support which is mounted on a carriage which can run on guide rails which also guide the clamping device, thus forming an arrangement which is very stable and which can be easily adapted to the various dimensions of the bar sections to be measured.

[0046] In principle, for measuring and therefore detecting the straightening material after it has passed through the straightening system, any measuring device can be used which provides a quantitative description of the residual curvature in the straightening plane of the roller straightening device and allows an unambiguous correspondence of the measured residual curvature to the straightening plane.

[0047] It is not necessary that the measured quantity corresponds directly to the residual curvature, it is sufficient if the measured quantity shows a value which represents the residual curvature. The measurement can be performed tactilely (and therefore by contact) or without contact, for example by means of optical and / or electromagnetic devices. What is important is that the measurement technique allows for the description of the residual curvature or straightening quality in the straightening plane in which the respective straightening device acts, for the adjustment of the straightening device.

[0048] According to a further development, the measuring device has an optical measuring system which generates two perpendicular laser light curtains in the measuring plane by means of laser radiation and detects them by means of opposite photosensitive sensors, so that the position of the straightening strip in the measuring plane can be determined with high precision in two directions by projection. The non-contact measurement does not affect the shape of the bar to be measured.

[0049] The residual curvature present in the curvature plane (plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the straightening roller) adjusted by the respective roller straightening tool can be determined simply from the distance between the measured position of the wire section located in the measurement plane and a reference position present in the measurement plane, which would be present if the straightening material had the target residual curvature. This reference position is preferably not located on a straight line connecting the two fixing points, but takes into account the sag present due to gravity of the straightening material resting on the fixing points. To determine the position of this reference point, suitable material-specific straightening parameters can be used, possibly modified according to the situation in which the straightening material is deformed several times in the straightening process and subsequently possibly changed with respect to its elastic properties.

[0050] Within the framework of the claimed invention, various configurations of the supply device are possible.

[0051] According to a development, the workpiece stock is wound up on an exchangeable reel, and the receiving device is designed in such a way that the reel can be received by the receiving device and in the received state is supported rotatably about a horizontal axis of rotation. The advantage of a horizontal orientation of the reel axis is that components are used for further guiding the withdrawn material, which can be arranged much higher on the hall floor, so that the lateral space requirements are small. In a variant, the reel axis can also be oriented vertically.

[0052] A particularly convenient and simple reel change is achieved in many embodiments in that the storage device has two axially parallel support rollers with a horizontal axis of rotation, on which the reel can be placed in such a way that the circumference of the side pieces of the reel rests on the two support rollers, so that the position of the axis of rotation in space is fixed: when changing the reel, it is not necessary to dismantle or reassemble the bearing unit in the area of ​​the axis of rotation.

[0053] Preferably, the reel is actively drivable, i.e. a drive can be provided which can be driven, for example, via a control unit, and which engages one of the support rollers and drives it under the control of the control unit. The active reel drive allows for a material-friendly contribution to the material transport with small tension fluctuations.

[0054] According to a further development, the receiving device has an upper deflection roller for receiving the workpiece pulled from the material stock and a device arranged below the upper deflection roller for receiving the workpiece loop before it enters the straightening system.

[0055] According to a further development, the device for receiving the workpiece loop, which is arranged below the upper deflection roller, has a vertically oriented buffer store in the form of a storage box that is partially open toward the top and an auxiliary draw-in device between the upper deflection roller and the buffer store, which auxiliary draw-in device can be driven by an auxiliary drive and is designed to transfer the workpiece at a predeterminable transport speed into the downstream connected buffer store.

[0056] Preferably, a sensor system is provided for detecting the degree of filling of the buffer reservoir and generating a sensor signal representative of the degree of filling, and the control device is configured such that the transport speed of the auxiliary retraction device can be controlled according to the sensor signal of the sensor system, so that overfilling and underfilling of the buffer reservoir can be avoided.

[0057] It is also possible for the device for receiving the workpiece loop, which is arranged below the upper deflection roller, to have a lower deflection roller, which can be arranged and dimensioned in such a way that the material can then enter the straightening system directly horizontally.

[0058] The measurement unit and the delivery device are system components of the delivery system. They may also represent protectable inventions considered in and of themselves and therefore independently of each other system components.

[0059] Further advantages and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the claims and from the following description of embodiments of the invention, which are illustrated in the following figures. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0060] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows the components of a feeding apparatus for feeding wire material from a wire coil to a deformation machine (not shown), the feeding apparatus being located at a conditioning station with an integrated straightness measurement system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the straightening system of the supplying device shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of the measuring device of the conditioning station shown in FIG. [Figure 3A] FIG. 3A shows a detail of the measurement plane. [Figure 4A] FIG. 4A shows a method variant in which an anti-rotation device is used to prevent the separated and straightened round bar from self-rotating between separation and measurement of the remainder of the wire. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4B shows a method variant in which an anti-rotation device is used to prevent the separated and straightened round bar from self-rotating between separation and measurement of the remainder of the wire. [Figure 4C] FIG. 4C shows a method variant in which an anti-rotation device is used to prevent the separated and straightened round bar from self-rotating between separation and measurement of the remainder of the wire. [Figure 5A] FIG. 5A shows an alternative method variation in which the straightened bar is separated from the flat material and measured. [Figure 5B]FIG. 5B shows an alternative method variation in which the straightened bar is separated from the flat material and measured. [Figure 5C] FIG. 5C shows an alternative method variation in which the straightened bar is separated from the flat material and measured. [Figure 5D] FIG. 5D shows an alternative method variation in which a straightened bar of flat material is separated and measured. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0061] In the following, a feeding system and a method as well as a system for adjusting a straightening system are presented, which is designed to straighten the initial material in the form of a wire passing through it. The straightened material, e.g. wire, can be further processed in a transformation machine to form straight or curved shaped parts from it. The straightening system is integrated in a feeding device, which is provided in the ongoing production drive to feed the straightened wire as incoming material to a transformation machine, not shown in detail. To adjust the feeding device, a measuring unit associated with the feeding system is used, which is structurally and functionally adapted to the feeding device and serves as a temporary auxiliary device for adjustment.

[0062] FIG. 1 shows the components of a wire processing installation, which is designed and adapted to process longitudinally extending workpieces 110 in the form of metal wire, which are provided as workpiece stock in the form of so-called coils, and thus wire bundles wound up according to the form of spools. From the workpiece material originally present in great length on the workpiece stock, a certain number of homogeneous or non-homogeneous shaped parts are formed by deformation in a computer numerically controlled manufacturing process. The shaped parts can be, for example, coil springs, in particular compression or tension springs, or bent parts of other geometric arrangements. The shaped parts can generally be bent in two or three dimensions, or can even exist in the form of straight bars (for example in the case of straightening machines or bar mass production machines). A Cartesian xyz machine coordinate system is used to better describe the orientations and positional relationships.

[0063] The wire processing installation, in the ready-to-operate state, has a deformation machine (not shown), which can be designed, for example, as a spring winding machine in the case of forming coil springs.

[0064] Further provided is an apparatus 300 for feeding the workpiece material in the form of a longitudinally extending wire to the deformation machine, which is also referred to in the present application simply as the feeding apparatus 300. The feeding apparatus in this embodiment is a deformation machine, which produces straightened wire from a wound wire stock with or without a strong curvature. Figure 1 shows some components of the feeding apparatus 300 together with an associated measurement unit 350 of the feeding system.

[0065] The task of the feeding device 300 is to feed the wire to the downstream connected transforming machine or its retracting device in a straight, straightened shape (with almost no residual curvature within the tolerance range) as accurately as possible at each moment and at the speed required at that moment. The feeding device 300 has a dedicated control unit 390, which communicates with the control unit of the transforming machine. The functionality of the two control units can be integrated in one control unit.

[0066] After completion of the adjustment at the adjustment station, the supply device is moved to its working position in the transformation machine to be supplied, for which purpose the components shown are mounted on a movable platform which can, for example, be linearly movable on guide rails, or be journalled for rotation about a vertical axis of rotation, or can be movable unguided (for example on rollers or wheels).

[0067] The feeding device comprises a feeding unit 310, which comprises a receiving device 330 for receiving a workpiece stock 381 in the form of a coil, and a straightening system 400 connected downstream for straightening the workpieces before they enter the transforming machine. The straightening system 400 is shown in detail in FIG.

[0068] FIG. 1 shows the feed unit 310 at the measuring unit 350 or at the adjusting station 350, which enables the machine operator to carry out all the operations in the straightening system 400 provided in the measuring unit or at the adjusting station 350, which are necessary to adjust the straightening system to the workpiece material used and to feed straightened workpiece material with high straightening quality, in particular material without residual curvature or with only residual curvature within the tolerances, when the feed unit is in its working position in the production drive and thus in the transforming machine.

[0069] The workpiece stock (coil) is held beforehand on an exchangeable reel 335, which is received by the receiving device 330 and supported in the received state so that it can rotate about a horizontal axis of rotation. The support does not take place in the area of ​​the axis of rotation of the reel, but two axially parallel support rollers 332, 333 with a horizontal axis of rotation in the floor area are mounted. These support rollers are part of the receiving device 330. The reel rests on the two support rollers, so that the circumference of the disk-shaped side members of the reel rests on the two support rollers and the position of the axis of rotation is fixed in space. For example, it is an active reel with a dedicated drive. The drive 334 is engaged with the front support roller 333 and can drive this support roller under the control of the control unit 390.

[0070] The drawn wire is guided through a deflection device 340, which has an upper deflection roller 340-1 and a lower deflection roller 340-2, which are rotatably supported on a vertical support 341 with their axes parallel to each other. The upper deflection roller is configured as a spring-loaded dancer roller that can run vertically. By checking the position of this roller, the drive motor for the support roller / drive roller is controlled in a closed loop. The lower deflection roller is wound over approximately a quarter of its circumference so that the outlet, and therefore the upper side of the lower deflection roller 340, is at the height of the passage opening on the inlet side of the straightening system 400.

[0071] The wires are thus guided substantially parallel from the lower deflection roller to the straightening system 400. Between the deflection device and the straightening system, a wire guiding device 375 is provided, the outlet of which is aligned with the inlet of the downstream straightening system 400. A wire end recognition device can be integrated into the wire guiding device.

[0072] An alternative construction according to the claimed invention is shown or suggested in FIG. 1 by dashed lines. In this construction, the lower deflection roller is omitted. This construction has a buffer store 600 in the form of a relatively flat, one-sided (here partially towards the top) storage box and a front-connected auxiliary draw-in device 610, which can be arranged, for example, behind the upper deflection roller 340-1. The auxiliary draw-in device can be driven by an auxiliary drive and is configured to transfer the workpieces, and thus, for example, wire, at a predetermined transport speed to the downstream-connected buffer store 600. This buffer store has an inlet and an outlet for the workpieces. The buffer store is designed in such a way that the workpieces in the buffer store can form a workpiece loop 111 of variable length between the inlet and the outlet. Speed ​​differences between the front and rear areas of the buffer store can thereby be compensated. A sensor system is preferably provided for detecting the degree of filling of the buffer store and for generating a sensor signal representative of the degree of filling. The sensor device can be configured such that the transport speed of the auxiliary retraction device is controllable or controlled according to the sensor signal of the sensor system. If necessary, the buffer reservoir can also be integrated horizontally, so that the workpiece loop is formed in a substantially horizontally oriented plane. For further details and variants, reference is made to WO 2020 / 224977, the disclosure content of which regarding the structure of the feeding device is incorporated herein by reference.

[0073] The straightening system 400 comprises directly connected successively and independently adjustable roller straightening devices 400-1, 400-2, each of which has several axially parallel straightening rollers. Here, seven straightening rollers are provided each, other numbers are also possible, for example from 5 to 9. The rotation axes of the straightening rollers of the successively connected straightening devices are oriented perpendicular to one another.

[0074] In roller straightening devices, the straightening rollers are eccentrically adjusted with respect to the neutral axis of the material to be straightened, so that they generate variable curvatures which deform the material to be straightened into the plastic region and thus straighten it. In contrast to roller straightening machines, the straightening rollers are here passive or not driven in rotation, so that there is no drive for rotating the straightening rollers. The wire is pulled through the roller straightening device. For this purpose, a pull-in device 385 is provided, which is arranged behind the straightening system 400 in the material flow direction and is used in particular to pull the wire material through the two roller straightening devices 400-1, 400-2 of the straightening system 400 towards the downstream connected components.

[0075] The components of the straightening system 400 are supported by a frame part in which the control unit 390 of the supply unit 300 can also be accommodated. This frame part also supports a retraction device 385. The retraction device 385 is formed, for example, as a drum retraction device, and in other embodiments can also be formed as a belt retraction device or a pliers-type retraction device. Optionally, a clamping device, optionally manually operable, can be provided downstream of the retraction device 385 in the material flow direction, by means of which the axial position of the passing wire can be fixed if necessary.

[0076] Further details will be explained by the example of a first roller straightening device 400-1 which is effective in a vertical plane (xz plane).

[0077] The first roller straightening tool 400-1 has seven passive straightening rollers R1, ..R7 with parallel horizontal rotation axes, which are arranged alternately in the passing direction 115 on opposite sides of the passing section (parallel to the x-axis). The straightening rollers define the effective straightening geometry of the roller straightening tool by their circumferential sections which are in contact with the straightening material 110 during the operation of the straightening system. The first roller straightening tool 400-1 changes the curvature substantially only in the vertical plane of the straightening plane (xz direction). The second roller straightening tool 400-1, which is responsible for straightening in the horizontal plane, is constructed similarly, where the straightening roller rotation axes run vertically.

[0078] For example, all seven straightening rollers are formed as automatically deliverable straightening rollers and can be delivered automatically, independently of one another, in both directions in a delivery direction oriented perpendicular to the pass direction (parallel to the z-axis) by servo motor drives 405-1, ..., 405-7 in response to control signals from the control unit 390.

[0079] There are also variants in which all the straightening rollers can be manually displaced. For this purpose, for example, an adjustment screw and a position indicator can be provided. There are also examples in which some of the straightening rollers (e.g. 2, 3 or 4) can be moved automatically and other parts (e.g. 3, 4 or 5) can be moved manually.

[0080] Due to the large number of degrees of freedom in the adjustment, a highly experienced machine operator is required to correctly adjust the roller straightening device, and in each case the adjustment operations or adjustments require a great deal of time.

[0081] The adjustment is facilitated by the inclusion in the supply system of a measuring unit 350, which is adapted to the structural and functional situation of the supply device 300 and allows a tailored adjustment procedure in a short time. The measuring unit 350 serves as an adjustment station.

[0082] The measuring unit or adjustment station 350 includes a cutting device 370 by means of which, during the adjustment operation in the straightening system, a straightened rod-shaped wire section 110-A can be cut off as a sample from the supplied wire and provided for straightness testing. In one example, an automated cutting device 370 is provided, but alternatively a manually operable cutting device can be provided. Furthermore, the adjustment station 350 includes a measuring device 500.

[0083] The wire sections or wire rods 110-A separated by the cutting device are inspected for straightness or residual curvature by a downstream measuring device 500. By means of an anti-rotation device it is ensured that the rotational position of the material rod provided for measurement about its longitudinal axis remains unchanged, so that the wire is measured in the rotated position running through the straightening system.

[0084] The measuring device 500 and the associated cutting device 370 are components of a measuring unit 350, which, possibly together with other components, form a self-contained unit, which can be used as a conditioning station 350. The same reference number 350 is therefore used for the conditioning station and the measuring unit.

[0085] FIG. 3 shows the components of the measuring device 500 in greater detail. The measuring device 500 has a first clamping device 510-1 on the side facing the cutting device 370 and a second clamping device 510-2 at a distance behind it. The clamping devices are mounted on a carriage which runs on two guide rails 501 which are fixed to the upper side of a horizontally oriented base plate 502. The axial distance between the clamping devices, measured parallel to the passing direction, can thus be adjusted steplessly. Each clamping device has a mounting roller 512-1, 512-2 mounted with a horizontal axis of rotation and two pneumatically displaceable lateral positioning rollers 514-1, 514-2. The introduced wire rods can thus be fixed at precisely defined fixing points both vertically and horizontally in each case. The rollers contact the wire without the introduction of any other force or torque, so that the wire rod rests in a defined fixed position at the front and back and is subjected only to gravity in the area between them. The rod cannot rotate about its axis when it is softly clamped between the horizontally slidable rollers 514-1, 514-2.

[0086] In the area between the clamping devices 510-1, 510-2, the components of the measuring system 520 are mounted. They are supported by a cross-shaped support 522, which is mounted on a carriage that can run on a guide rail 501, which also guides the clamping devices. The measuring system 520 is an optical measuring system, which can determine the exact height of the wire placed on it in a measuring plane 524 oriented perpendicular to the x-direction. Above the straight coupling line between the fixing points, a second laser unit 525-2 is mounted, which generates a laser light curtain located in the measuring plane 524, which enters on the opposite side into the detection field of a photosensitive sensor 527-2, so that the position of the wire in the lateral (horizontal) direction can be accurately detected in the projection. The position in the vertical direction is detected by means of the first laser unit 525-1 and the opposite sensor 527-1. This measurement is preferably performed in the center between the two fixing members with two lasers in the horizontal or vertical direction.

[0087] The enlarged detail of Fig. 3A reveals a typical measurement situation. The plus sign represents the intersection of the connecting line between the fixing point and the measurement plane 524. The hatched circle represents the position of the wire section 110-A at the center of the clamping device. From the horizontal spacing values ​​ΔH and vertical ΔV the residual curvature of the wire rod in each straightening plane can be calculated. The results are therefore straightening plane specific and evaluated accordingly to provide indications for the improvement of the straightening geometry, possibly determined separately for each of the two roller straightening tools.

[0088] When evaluating, it is taken into account that the wire rod has a certain amount of sagging due to gravity alone, the extent of which depends on the material properties and the distance between the fastening points. This amount is subtracted from the calculation when evaluating. As a result of the measurement, a qualitative value of the residual curvature is obtained, which can have a contribution in the horizontal and vertical directions. Based on this measurement, the straightening geometry of the roller straightening tool must then be adjusted so that the residual curvature disappears in the next piece of wire.

[0089] The inventor sees a potential problem when processing round material, where a round bar that still has a significant horizontal bulge after straightening can automatically roll into a stable rotated position when inserted into the measuring device, where the bulge hangs down, which can mask a vertical bulge that does not actually exist, leading to erroneous measurement results and consequently erroneous delivery and / or erroneous delivery in the wrong straightening tool.

[0090] In order to ensure that the measurement results can be accurately assigned to the various straightening planes or roller straightening tools (horizontal and vertical), special measures are taken, if necessary, to ensure that the wire rod provided for the measurement cannot rotate about its longitudinal axis between separation from the remaining straightening material and the measurement. For this purpose, the measuring unit 350 is designed for straightening plane-specific or straightening plane-selective measurements, as will be explained in more detail below again by way of example.

[0091] The method variant shown in Figures 4A to 4C is suitable for many materials with various cross-sectional shapes, in particular also for round materials. First, the front end section 112 of the straightened wire, which is continuous with the front front side 113, is transferred by controlled feeding (by the retraction device 385 connected to the upstream stage) to the measuring position in the measuring device 500 (Figure 4A), then it is contacted on diametrically opposite sides by the laterally slidable rollers 514-1 or 514-2 of the clamping devices 510-1, 510-2, thereby clamping horizontally and thus preventing rotation (Figure 4B), and only then is the bar to be measured separated from the remaining straightened material (Figure 4C). Then the measurement is started by means of the optical measuring system 520.

[0092] The horizontally movable rollers 514-1 or 514-2 of the clamping device act as anti-rotation devices and contact the wire material at two diametrically opposed contact points in the horizontal direction with a relatively small pressure which is determined so that the retaining friction is sufficient to prevent the rod from self-rotating about its longitudinal axis, but at the same time the wire rod can be unloaded so that no forces other than gravity act on it and therefore indicate the residual curvature to be measured.

[0093] 5A to 4D, a further method variant for checking the straightness of a rod using a measuring device is described. First, a wire with a flat rectangular cross section (see details) is fed to the cutting position by wire feed by the retraction device 385. This is characterized in particular in that the front end 113 of the rod has already reached the rest roller of the rear or second clamping device 510-2 and is resting there. During this threading operation, the lateral positioning roller is in its retracted position. Then, the cutting by the cutting device 370 takes place (FIG. 5B). In the next method step (FIG. 5C), the cut wire piece is fed further forward to the measuring position, where the wire rod is centered with respect to the central measuring plane and extends beyond the rest roller by an equal length on both sides. For this short wire feed, no special device is required. Rather, a horizontal feed can be effected in the form of a shove, since the following wire piece arrives by the retraction device 385 at the rear front end of the wire rod to be measured. In the next step (FIG. 5D), the lateral positioning roller is run by its pneumatic cylinder in the direction of the provided fixing position. The wire piece is then pressed against the rear stop to ensure a defined plane. The wire rod is thus fixed for measurement. It can be clearly seen that the connecting line between the front and rear fixing positions does not have to be coaxial with the feed axis of the subsequent wire.

[0094] A preferred measuring unit and method is described in the example of adjustment of a deformation machine in the form of a feeding device which, in normal use, is fed from a coil by an integrated straightening system to form straightened wire material from the arriving wire material with a varying arrival curvature, which is fed to a subsequent deformation machine as "endless material".

[0095] Measurement units of the type described herein can also be used in other ways.

[0096] The straightening system can have exactly two roller straightening devices, which preferably form a straightening plane perpendicular to each other. The straightening system can also have three, four or more roller straightening devices. For example, the straightening system can have four straightening devices, each displaced by 45°, which can be a preferred variant, for example for straightening round bars.

[0097] The deformation machine with an integrated straightening system can also be a straightening and cutting machine, which is designed to straighten wires or semi-finished materials that can be processed by straightening, having various cross-sectional sizes and cross-sectional shapes, and then cut the straightened material to the desired length. This machine additionally has a length measuring device and a cutting device, which can be operated automatically, preferably on the basis of a signal from the length measuring device. The measuring unit can measure the straightened and cut rods, for which the measuring unit does not require a dedicated cutting device. It can also be a rod mass production machine, which, in addition to the straightening system, the cutting device and the length measuring device, further has an insulation stripping device for removing sections of insulation from the metal initial material covered by the insulating layer.

[0098] The straightening system can also be integrated into a deformation machine, which can form a smaller or larger series of molded parts, partly with complex geometries, from the straightened material using appropriate deformation tools in an automated manufacturing process.

[0099] The deformation tools required for deformation are connected downstream of the straightening system. The deformation machines can be, for example, bending machines for forming bent parts from wire, band or pipe material, or spring forming machines or wire nail machines for the mass production of screws, nails, rivets etc. Measuring units can be available, for example, for measuring the wires emerging from the wire guides of the respective machines.

[0100] The invention can be used for various types of straightening elements, in particular for straightening metal wire or pipe materials. The cross-sectional shape of the straightening element can be various, for example a circular cross-section for round materials, a concave and / or polygonal cross-section for profile materials, a rectangular cross-section for square materials, in particular. Flat materials can also be straightened, for example flat bands of metal, which have a large aspect ratio between width and height. The cross-sectional size can also vary. Metal materials can be uncoated or have a coating, for example an insulating layer made of an electrically non-conductive plastic.

[0101] The linearity check or linearity measurement does not have to be performed as described in the examples. The linearity check can also be automated with at least one camera. For example, in the case of flat materials, the linearity can also be checked during the pass, for example by two cameras displaced by 90°. In the case of particularly round wires, a camera or a laser scanner that rotates around the wire can be used.

Claims

1. 1. A supply system comprising: The invention comprises a feeding device (300) for feeding a longitudinally extending wire-shaped or pipe-shaped workpiece (110) to a transforming machine, the feeding device having a receiving device (330) for receiving a workpiece stock (381) in the form of a coil, and a straightening system (400) connected downstream of the receiving device, the straightening system having two successively connected adjustable roller straightening devices (400-1, 400-2) with differently oriented straightening planes for straightening the workpiece before it enters the transforming machine, A supply system having a measuring unit (350) for measuring a residual curvature in a straightened wire-shaped or pipe-shaped straightening material that has passed through the straightening system (400) of the supply device (300) and for determining measurement data representative of the residual curvature of the straightened material, a cutting device (370) is provided for separating rod-shaped sections (110-A) of a predeterminable length of the straightening material that has passed through the straightening system (400); the measuring unit (350) has a measuring device (500) for receiving in a measuring position each rod-shaped section (110-A) of the straightening material that has passed through the straightening system and that has been separated from the straightening material; and A supply system, characterized in that the measuring unit is configured for straightening plane-specific measurements, which measurements allow for the correspondence of curvature components represented by the measurement data to various straightening planes of the roller straightening tool.

2. 2. The supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that the measuring unit (350) has a cutting device (370) for separating rod-shaped sections (110-A) of a predeterminable length from the straightening material passing through the straightening system, preferably the cutting device (370) being mounted on or in a common frame together with the measuring device (500).

3. 3. The supply system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the measuring unit (350) is configured so as to be capable of measuring the rotational position of the straightening material after it has passed through the straightening system (400).

4. 2. The supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that relative rotation prevention devices (514-1, 514-2) are provided, which are configured as follows: the rotational position of the rod-shaped section (110-A) provided for measurement about its longitudinal axis does not change between straightening and measurement, whereby the straightening material can be measured in the rotational position in which it has passed through the straightening system, preferably activatable relative rotation prevention devices are provided, which are switchable in response to control signals from a control unit between a neutral configuration in which they do not act on the straightening material and an engagement configuration in which they come into contact with the straightening material.

5. 2. The supply system according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit (390) which, in a drive mode, is configured to drive the cutting device (370) and the measuring device (500) in a coordinated manner, whereby the front end section (112) of the straightened material is transported by controlled feed to a measuring position in the measuring device (500), after which the straightening material is fixed against rotation by a relative rotation prevention device (514-1, 514-2) of the measuring unit (350), in particular clamped horizontally, and after which the cutting device (390) is driven, whereby the bar-shaped section to be measured is separated from the remainder of the straightening material.

6. 2. The feed system according to claim 1, characterized in that the measuring device (500) has a first clamping device (510-1) on the inlet side and a second clamping device (510-2) at a longitudinal distance therefrom, the components of a measuring system (520) being arranged in the area between the clamping devices (510-1, 510-2), the measuring system defining a measuring plane (524) oriented transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the longitudinal direction and designed to determine the position of the rod-shaped section (110-A) placed in said measuring plane (524), preferably each of the clamping devices having one placement roller (512-1, 512-2) mounted with a horizontal axis of rotation and two lateral positioning rollers (514-1, 514-2) displaceable by means of a drive, whereby the introduced rod-shaped section can be fixed at fixing points respectively defined in the vertical and horizontal directions.

7. 7. The supply system according to claim 6, characterized in that the spacing of the clamping devices (510-1, 510-2), measured parallel to the longitudinal direction, is steplessly adjustable, preferably the clamping devices are mounted on a carriage, the carriage runs on a guide rail (501) which is fixed to the upper side of a horizontally oriented base plate (502) of the measuring system, and / or components of the measuring device are fixed to a support (522), which is mounted on a carriage, the carriage can run on the guide rail (501) which also guides the clamping devices.

8. 7. The supply system according to claim 6, characterized in that the measuring system (520) of the measuring device is an optical measuring system for determining the position of the bar-shaped section in a measuring plane (524) located between the clamping devices, preferably the measuring system having a first laser unit (525-1) and a second laser unit (525-2) which generate laser light curtains extending in the measuring plane respectively in measuring directions oriented transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to each other, and opposite each laser unit a sensor unit is arranged having a photosensitive sensor for detecting a projection of the part of the bar-shaped section (110-A) passing through the measuring plane.

9. 2. The feeding system according to claim 1, characterized in that the workpiece stock is wound on an exchangeable reel (335) and the receiving device (330) is configured in such a way that the reel can be received by the receiving device (330) and, in the received state, is rotatably supported about a horizontal axis of rotation.

10. 10. A supply system according to claim 9, characterized in that the receiving device (330) has two axially parallel support rollers (332, 333) with horizontal rotation axes, on which the reel (335) can be placed as follows: the circumference of the side members of the reel is placed on the two support rollers so that the position of the rotation axis is fixed in space, and is provided with a drive (334) preferably drivable via a control unit, which engages one of the support rollers (333) and drives it under the control of the control unit (390).

11. 11. The feeding system according to claim 10, characterized in that the receiving device (330) comprises a direction changing device (340) with upper direction changing rollers (340-1) for receiving a workpiece pulled from the workpiece stock, and a device arranged below the upper direction changing rollers (340-1) for receiving a workpiece loop before it enters a straightening system (400).

12. 12. The feeding system according to claim 11, characterized in that the device for receiving the workpiece loop (111) arranged below the upper deflection roller (340-1) has a vertically oriented buffer store (600) in the form of a storage box partially open towards the top and an auxiliary draw-in device (610) preferably arranged between the upper deflection roller (340-1) and the buffer store (600), the auxiliary draw-in device being drivable by an auxiliary drive and configured as follows: i.e. to transfer the workpieces at a predefinable transport speed into the downstream connected buffer store (600), preferably a sensor system is provided for detecting the degree of filling of the buffer store and generating a sensor signal representative of said degree of filling, and a control device is configured in such a way that the transport speed of the auxiliary draw-in device is controllable in accordance with the sensor signal of the sensor system.

13. 12. The feeding system according to claim 11, characterized in that the device for receiving the workpiece loop, which is arranged below the upper diverting roller (340-1), has a lower diverting roller (340-2), which is rotatably supported axially on a vertical support (341), the upper diverting roller is preferably configured as a vertically runnable dancer roller with spring return, and a position reference of the lower diverting roller is used for a closed-loop control of a drive motor (334) for rotating the reel, and / or the lower diverting roller is wound around approximately three-quarters of its circumference and has an outlet on its upper side, which is located at the level of a passage opening on the inlet side of the straightening system, so that the workpiece material can enter the straightening system (400) horizontally directly from the lower diverting roller.

14. 2. The supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that the straightening system (400) has two roller straightening devices (400-1, 400-2) connected in series and adjustable independently of each other, the rotation axes of the straightening rollers of the straightening devices being oriented perpendicular to each other, preferably so that the first straightening device defines a vertical straightening plane and the subsequent second straightening device defines a horizontal straightening plane.

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