Device for rolling annular objects

Abstract

To provide a device for rolling an annular object constituted so as to stably and uniformly roll the inner periphery of the annular object while protecting the texture, pattern or appearance of the outer periphery of the annular object.SOLUTION: An apparatus for rolling an annular object has a rolling drum, a rolling equipment, and a base. The rolling drum has two circular frames filled with an embedding medium for closely surrounding the outer periphery of the ring-shaped object with a removable fixture, and the embedding medium is removed to form a cavity for revealing the inner periphery of the ring-shaped object. The inner circumference of the annular object is rolled on the rolling platform of the base via a cylindrical roller of a rolling device inserted through the cavity of the embedding material to increase the density of the annular object. During the rolling process, the outer circumference of the ring-shaped object is fixed and protected by an embedding agent to protect the texture and pattern formed on the ring-shaped object.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to rolling technology, and more particularly to an apparatus for rolling an annular object configured to stably and uniformly roll the inner circumference of the annular object while preserving the texture, pattern, or appearance of the outer circumference of the annular object. [Background technology]

[0002] To make various annular objects with an attractive appearance, such as bracelets or rings, the annular objects are formed by casting and then polished. However, various annular objects, such as cast annular objects, can have low density and poor internal structure, resulting in low hardness and low strength. Annular objects are easily damaged or deformed while being compressed by an external force. Forged annular objects are dense but lackluster in appearance or break easily at the welds.

[0003] In press molding technology, a pressure mold made from rubber, acrylic resin, or polyurethane (PU) is easily formed as a female or male mold with a complex pattern, configured to densify the annular object. However, patterns formed by one press molding using a mold may not exhibit as good and attractive detail as patterns formed by casting. Pressure molds made from rubber or polyurethane crack easily. The metallic annular object is also formed with burrs. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] China Utility Model Publication No. 202498130(U) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Therefore, a technique is needed for manufacturing annular objects that takes into consideration both appearance and structural strength. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A primary object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for rolling annular objects. The embedding material of the rolling drum may tightly cover the outer periphery of the annular object, with the inner periphery of the annular object exposed through a cavity in the embedding material. During the process of rolling the inner periphery of the annular object and increasing the density of the annular object with a cylindrical roller inserted through the cavity, the outer periphery of the annular object is protected by the embedding material. The annular object is fixed in place with the texture and pattern on the outer periphery of the annular object protected by the embedding material. Because the rolling drum is cylindrical and the cavity is located in the center of the rolling drum, the inner periphery of the annular object can be stably and uniformly rolled by the cylindrical roller.

[0007] The apparatus is configured to roll the inner circumference of an annular object and includes a rolling drum, rolling equipment, and a base. The rolling drum includes two circular frames connected to each other, a removable base fixture, a removable lower central fixture, and a removable upper central fixture connected to the removable lower central fixture. The removable base fixture is configured to support the two circular frames and has a central hole. The removable lower central fixture is held within the hole in the removable base fixture and is aligned with the central axes of the two circular frames. A cylindrical pin is formed on the top of the removable lower central fixture and has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the top of the removable lower central fixture. The cylindrical pin is configured to be surrounded by the annular object. The removable upper central fixture has a hole to receive the cylindrical pin of the removable lower central fixture. The two circular frames are filled with an embedding agent. After removing the removable base fixture, the removable lower central fixture, and the removable upper central fixture, a cavity is formed in the center of the embedding material. The outer periphery of the annular object is embedded in the embedding material, and the inner periphery of the annular object emerges from the cavity. The rolling equipment includes a cylindrical roller configured to roll the inner periphery of the annular object within a rolling drum. The base includes a rolling platform. The rolling drum rolls along the rolling platform during the rolling process.

[0008] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for rolling annular objects according to the invention; [Figure 2] 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a rolling drum with cylindrical rollers of the apparatus of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a side view of the rolling drum of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 3 is a perspective view of an annular object fixed within the rolling drum of FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the rolling drum of FIG. 2. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rolling equipment of the apparatus of FIG. 1. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the rolling mill of FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the base of the device of FIG. 1. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cradle of the device of FIG. 1. [Figure 10] 2 is an operational side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing steps for assembling the rolling equipment. [Figure 11] 2 is an operational side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing steps for assembling the rolling equipment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] 1 and 2, the apparatus 100 for rolling an annular object according to the present invention is configured to perform a rolling process on the inner circumference RI of the annular object R as shown in FIG. 4 in order to improve the internal material structure of the annular object R, thereby increasing the density of the annular object R and increasing the structural strength and hardness of the annular object R. The annular object R may be a ring or bracelet that has an intricate pattern or texture formed thereon prior to the rolling process. The apparatus 100 comprises a rolling drum 200, a rolling mill 300, and a base 400. The rolling mill 300 comprises a cradle 500.

[0011] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, the rolling drum 200 comprises two circular frames 210, 220, a removable base fixture 230, a removable lower central fixture 240, and a removable upper central fixture 250. Circular frame 210 is the upper frame and circular frame 220 is the lower frame. The two circular frames 210, 220 are connected to each other. The circular frame 210 has at least one first through-hole 212 and at least one boss 214 . The circular frame 220 has at least one second through hole 222 corresponding in position to the at least one first through hole 212 and at least one blind hole 224 corresponding in position to the at least one boss 214 . Each boss 214 of the circular frame 210 is inserted into a corresponding blind hole 224 in the circular frame 220 . Each first through-hole 212 is aligned with a corresponding second through-hole 222 . A bolt 260 is inserted through the aligned first through-hole 212 and second through-hole 222 and tightened with a nut 262 to secure the two circular frames 210, 220 together. The number of the first through-holes 212, the bosses 214, the second through-holes 222, or the blind holes 224 may be three, respectively, to provide a stable connection between the two circular frames 210, 220.

[0012] The removable base mount 230 is configured to support the circular frames 210,220. Referring to FIG. 5, the removable base mount 230 has at least three spaced apart positioning rods 232 formed thereon to hold the circular frames 210, 220 in place, and has a hole 234 formed in its center.

[0013] The removable lower central fixture 240 is held in a hole 234 in the removable base fixture 230 and is aligned with the central axes of the two circular frames 210, 220 connected together. A cylindrical pin 242 is formed at the top of the removable lower central fitting 240 and has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the top of the removable lower central fitting 240 so as to form a shoulder 241 at the top of the removable lower central fitting 240 around the cylindrical pin 242. The cylindrical pin 242 is configured to be surrounded by an annular object R for rolling. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the annular object R has an outer periphery RO and an inner periphery RI inside the outer periphery RO. The sides of the annular object R are supported by shoulders 241 at the top of the removable lower central fixture 240 . The outer perimeter RO is located on the top outside of the removable lower central fixture 240 . The top of the removable lower central mount 240 is slightly lower than the circular frame 220 .

[0014] 4 and 5, after the annular object R is sleeved onto the cylindrical pin 242 on the removable lower central fixture 240, the removable upper central fixture 250 is connected to the removable lower central fixture 240. The removable upper central fixture 250 has a hole 252 for receiving the cylindrical pin 242 . A removable upper central fixture 250 abuts the other side of the annular object R. The removable upper central fixture 250 has a ferrule 254 formed thereon so that a tool, such as a screwdriver, can be inserted into the ferrule 254 to remove the removable upper central fixture 250 from the embedding medium 270 made from a high-temperature investment powder, such as phosphate investment or ethyl silicate investment.

[0015] Referring to Figures 2 to 5, the embedding material 270 may be filled into the two circular frames 210, 220 several times to fix the removable base fixture 230, the removable lower central fixture 240, the removable upper central fixture 250, and the annular object R. After the embedding medium 270 has solidified, the removable base fixture 230 , the removable lower central fixture 240 , and the removable upper central fixture 250 are removed to form a cavity 272 in the embedding medium 270 . The outer periphery RO of the annular object R is embedded in the embedding material 270 and the inner periphery RI of the annular object R emerges from the cavity 272 of the embedding material 270 .

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, the rolling mill 300 comprises a cylindrical roller 310, two bearings 320, two lining joints 330, and two loading tubes 340. The two lining joints 330 are mounted in the two bearings 320 respectively. Each lining joint 330 has a polygonal socket 332 in its center. The two bearings 320 are mounted in two mounting tubes 340 respectively. Each loading tube 340 has at least one protrusion 342 on its outer periphery for connecting the rolling equipment 300 to the cradle 500 . The cylindrical roller 310 has two polygonal ends 312 formed on its two opposite ends, respectively, and fitted into polygonal sockets 332 of two lining joints 330, respectively. The cylindrical roller 310 is configured to be inserted through the cavity 272 of the embedding material 270 of the rolling drum 200 and the annular object R fixed in the embedding material 270, and to roll the inner circumference RI of the annular object R. During the rolling process, the cylindrical roller 310 rotates by means of the polygonal end 312 driving the lining joint 330 . Each lining joint 330 is mounted in a bearing 320 so that the inner race of the bearing 320 may rotate with the lining joint 330 . The polygonal end 312 of the cylindrical roller 310 and the polygonal socket 332 are polygonal to reduce slippage during rolling.

[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 8, the base 400 comprises a rolling platform 410 and two rails 420 . The rolling platform 410 has an extension direction ED and is configured to allow the rolling drum 200 to roll back and forth on the rolling platform 410 along the extension direction ED. Two rails 420 are arranged on either side of the rolling platform 410 and below the rolling platform 410, respectively. The platform 500 of the rolling apparatus 300 is movable back and forth on two rails 420 along the extension direction ED. Two elongated blocks 412 are arranged on either side of the rolling platform 410 and extend along the extension direction ED to limit the rolling drum 200 to roll between them. Baffles 414, 416 are arranged in front of and behind the rolling platform 410, respectively, to obstruct the rolling drum 200. The two ends of each elongated block 412 are coupled to baffles 414, 416, respectively.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 8, the base 400 comprises two supports 430 that stably support the rolling platform 410 for the rolling process. Each support 430 has two openings 432 , 434 arranged in succession below the rolling platform 410 . The support 430 of the base 400 may be any structure for stably supporting the rolling drum 200 for stable rolling on the rolling platform 410, including but not limited to that shown in FIG.

[0019] 1 and 9, the platform 500 is mounted on the base 400 for assembling the rolling mill 300 and is movable along two rails 420. The platform 500 includes a carriage 510 , a number of flexible members 520 , and a rolling base 530 . The carriage 510 is mounted on two rails 420 of the base 400 and includes four columns 512 , two beams 514 , two connecting blocks 516 , and four wheels 518 . Each connection block 516 is connected to two of the columns 512 on the corresponding side of the rolling platform 410 . The two beams 514 extend through the two connecting portions 516 and through openings 434 in the two supports 430 of the base 400 . Four wheels 518 are located at the bottom of the four posts 512 respectively, allowing the carriage 510 to move along the rails 420 . The carriage 510 may be of any suitable construction.

[0020] The flexible members 520 may be springs, each connected by a sleeve on a post 512 of the carriage 510 and arranged on either side of the rolling platform 410 . In the rolling process, the flexible member 520 provides a compression stroke for rolling. The rolling base 530 is arranged above the flexible member 520 and traverses above the rolling platform 410 . For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the rolling base 530 includes two side plates 532 on either side of the rolling platform 410 and two connecting plates 534 connected to the two side plates 532 . The platform 500 further includes a fixed rod 540 that extends through two side plates 532 of the rolling base 530 and through openings 432 in the two supports 430 of the base 400, and is arranged below the rolling platform 410 to stabilize the structure of the rolling base 530.

[0021] The rolling base 530 is mounted through two side plates 532 on either side of each other, and further comprises two fixed tubes 536 arranged on either side of the rolling platform 410, respectively. The fixed tube 536 is perpendicular to the extension direction ED of the rolling platform 410 . Each fixed tube 536 includes at least one slot 536a for receiving at least one protrusion 342 of a mounting tube 340 of the rolling mill 300 to secure the mounting tube 340 within the fixed tube 536, as shown in FIG. Each fixed tube 536 has threads 536 b formed on its end that are tightened with a nut 538 to secure the mounting tube 340 inside the fixed tube 536 .

[0022] 2-4, when assembling the device 100, the removable lower central fixture 240 is placed into the hole 234 of the removable base fixture 230. The circular frame 220 rests on a removable base fixture 230 . The annular object R is sleeved onto the cylindrical pin 242 of the removable lower central fixture 240, and then the removable upper central fixture 250 is placed onto the cylindrical pin 242 and abuts against the side of the annular object R. Thereafter, a liquid embedding medium 270 is filled into the circular frame 220 to seal the outer periphery RO of the annular object R. After the embedding medium 270 has solidified, a separating agent is applied to the embedding medium 270 . The bosses 214 of the upper circular frame 210 are inserted into the blind holes 224 of the lower circular frame 220 to connect the circular frames 210 and 220 together. Thereafter, the interior of the circular frame 210 is filled with a liquid embedding medium 270 .

[0023] After solidifying the embedding medium 270 in the circular frames 210, 220, the removable base fixture 230, the removable lower central fixture 240, the removable upper central fixture 250, and the annular object R are fixed. A tool, such as a screwdriver, is then inserted into the ferrule 254 on the removable upper central fixture 250 . The removable upper central fixture 250 is removed from the embedding medium 270 by rotating the removable upper central fixture 250 . The removable base fixture 230 and the removable lower central fixture 240 are also removed from the embedding medium 270 to form a cavity 272 in the embedding medium 270 . The bolts 260 are inserted through the corresponding first through-holes 212 and second through-holes 222, respectively, and tightened with nuts 262. Accordingly, the annular object R is fixed in the center of the rolling drum 200 . The outer periphery RO of the annular object R is embedded in the embedding material 270 and the inner periphery RI emerges from the cavity 272 . As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rolling drum 200 fastened with the bolts 260 is placed in a furnace and heated.

[0024] 10 and 11, after the rolling drum 200 has been heated to the forging temperature, the rolling drum 200 is placed on the rolling platform 410 of the base 400 for rolling the annular object R. While the rolling drum 200 is being heated, a rolling apparatus 300 as shown in FIG. 6 may be prepared. The cylindrical rollers 310 of the rolling equipment 300 are movably inserted into the polygonal sockets 332 of each lining joint 330 and are separably connected to the polygonal sockets 332 . The bearing 320, the lining joint 330, and the loading tube 340 are connected to one another. That is, the lining joint 330 is already mounted in the bearing 320 , and the bearing 320 is already mounted in the mounting tube 340 .

[0025] As shown in Figures 7 and 10, the polygonal end 312 on the right side of the cylindrical roller 310 is inserted into the polygonal socket 332 of the lining joint 330 in the bearing 320 in the right side mounting tube 340, and the mounting tube 340 is inserted into the fixed tube 536 on the right side of the rolling base 530 of the frame 500. The cylindrical roller 310 is inserted through the cavity 272 of the embedding material 270 of the rolling drum 200 and the annular object R, as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 10 , the left-side mounting tube 340 with bearing 320 and lining joint 330 is inserted into the fixed tube 536 on the left side of the rolling base 530, and the left-side polygonal end 312 of the cylindrical roller 310 is inserted into the polygonal socket 332 of the lining joint 330 in the left-side bearing 320. Thereafter, the nut 538 is screwed onto the threads 536 b of the fixed tube 536 .

[0026] 1 and 2, while rolling the annular object R, the operator holds two fixed tubes 536 on both sides of the rolling base 530 of the stand 500 and presses the cylindrical roller 310 downward to pressurize the inner circumference RI of the annular object R inside the rotating drum 200. The operator then pushes the rolling base 530 of the platform 500 to move the platform 500 back and forth along the rails 420 of the base 400 . After pushing the rolling base 530 of the platform 500 back and forth several times, the rolling process is completed. The rolling process may be carried out hydraulically, by pressure equipment, or electrically without manual operation.

[0027] After the rolling process, the nut 538 on the fixed tube 536 of the rolling base 530 is removed. The loading tube 340 is then removed on one side of the rolling mill 300 with the bearings 320, lining joints 330 and cylindrical rollers 310, and also the loading tube 340 is removed on the other side of the rolling mill 300 with the bearings 320 and lining joints 330. Thereafter, the rolling drum 200 is removed, the nuts 262 are loosened and the bolts 260 are removed. The circular frames 210, 220 are separated from each other. The embedding material 270 is broken and the rolled annular object R is recovered. After the rolling step, the annular object R may be polished.

[0028] The embedding material 270 of the rolling drum 200 tightly seals the outer periphery RO of the annular object R without covering the inner diameter RI of the annular object R. During the rolling process, the inner circumference RI of the annular object R is rolled by a cylindrical roller 310 inserted through the cavity 272 of the embedding material 270 to increase the density of the annular object R. The embedding material 270 protects the outer periphery RO of the annular object R, reducing the risk of damaging the texture or pattern on the outer periphery RO of the annular object R. In addition, since the rolling drum 200 is circular and the cavity 272 is located in the center of the rolling drum 200, the inner circumference RI of the annular object R can be rolled stably and uniformly by the cylindrical roller 310.

Claims

1. 1. An apparatus for rolling an annular object, configured to roll an inner circumference of the annular object, comprising: A rolling drum, Two circular frames connected to each other, a removable base mount configured to support the two circular frames and having a central hole; a removable lower central fixture held within the hole in the removable base fixture and aligned with the central axes of the two circular frames; a cylindrical pin formed at the top of the removable lower central fitting, the cylindrical pin having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the top of the removable lower central fitting, the cylindrical pin being configured to be surrounded by the annular object; a removable upper center mount connected to the removable lower center mount and having holes for receiving the cylindrical pins of the removable lower center mount; In a rolling drum comprising: The two circular frames are filled with an embedding medium, and after removing the removable base fixture, the removable lower central fixture, and the removable upper central fixture, a cavity is formed in the center of the embedding medium, the outer periphery of the annular object is embedded in the embedding medium, and the inner periphery of the annular object emerges from the cavity. A rolling drum; A rolling machine comprising: a cylindrical roller configured to roll the inner periphery of the annular object within the rolling drum; a rolling mill comprising: A base, A rolling platform, characterized in that the rolling drum rolls along the rolling platform during the rolling process. a base comprising: An apparatus comprising:

2. a shoulder is formed on the top of the removable lower central fixture around the cylindrical pin that supports one of two sides of the annular object; The removable upper central fixture abuts the other of the two side surfaces of the annular object when connected to the removable lower central fixture.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that:

3. One of the two circular frames of the rolling drum has at least one blind hole; The other of the two circular frames includes at least one boss configured to be inserted into the at least one blind hole, the boss having a position corresponding to the at least one blind hole.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that:

4. One of the two circular frames of the rolling drum has at least one first through hole; the other of the two circular frames includes at least one second through hole aligned with the at least one first through hole; At least one bolt is inserted through the at least one first through hole and the at least one second through hole and tightened with at least one nut.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that:

5. the rolling equipment comprises two bearings, two lining joints, and two loading pipes; Each of the two lining joints is mounted in a corresponding one of the two bearings and has a polygonal socket at the center of the lining joint; each of the two bearings is mounted in a corresponding one of the two mounting tubes; each of the two mounting tubes having at least one protrusion on the outer periphery of the mounting tube; The cylindrical roller has two polygonal ends formed on two opposite ends of the cylindrical roller and inserted into the polygonal sockets of the two lining joints, respectively; The cylindrical roller is inserted through the cavity of the embedding material of the rolling drum and the annular object.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that:

6. the base includes two rails arranged on either side of and below the rolling platform, Two elongated blocks are arranged on the rolling platform to restrict the rolling drum to roll between the two elongated blocks.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that:

7. The rolling equipment is a frame, two side plates arranged on both sides of the rolling platform, respectively; two fixed tubes arranged on both sides of the rolling platform, respectively, each mounted through a corresponding one of the two side plates, perpendicular to the extending direction of the rolling platform, and having at least one slot for receiving the at least one protrusion of the corresponding one of the two mounted tubes; a mount having the base includes two rails arranged on either side of and below the rolling platform, The platform is movable along the two rails of the base.

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that

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