Apparatus for processing pipes and shapes, having a transfer system for transporting the pipes or shapes to be processed to the work position.

Abstract

This application relates to an apparatus for processing pipes and profiles, the apparatus comprising: a processing means; a holding means configured to hold the pipe or profile to be processed at the end opposite to the end facing the processing means, the holding means defining a feed axis or work axis of the apparatus; and one or more transfer systems 20 configured to transfer the pipe or profile from a mounting position on one side of the apparatus, where the pipe or profile is positioned with its longitudinal axis parallel to the feed axis but at a certain distance, to a work position, where the pipe or profile is positioned with its longitudinal axis coincident with the feed axis. Each transfer system 20 includes a first support means 28 configured to support the pipe or profile during transfer from a placement position to a working position, a second support means 32 configured to support the pipe or profile during processing while it is in the working position, a mounting structure 30 to which the first and second support means 28 and 32 are attached, and drive means 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, and 48 configured to move the mounting structure 30 with at least two degrees of freedom in a vertical plane perpendicular to the feed axis, enabling the pipe or profile to be moved from the placement position to the working position.

Description

[[TECHNICAL FIELD]]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for machining pipes and profiles, provided with a transfer system for transferring a pipe or profile to be machined to a working position that enables the pipe or profile to be machined by a working head of the apparatus, for example an apparatus for cutting or welding pipes and profiles (in particular, although not necessarily, using a laser beam). [[BACKGROUND ART]]

[0002] Transfer systems (or mounting systems) for pipe and profile machining apparatuses, such as pipe and profile laser cutting apparatuses, are known which have the function of transferring a pipe or profile to be machined each time to a working position, that is, a position suitable for the working head of the apparatus to perform an intended machining operation, in particular, without limitation, one or more cutting operations.

[0003] Transfer systems for pipe and profile laser machining apparatuses are known, for example, from EP2000249, EP3747591, EP0481462, EP1547723, CN107900539, CN111299824, and CN108726171.

[0004] Known transfer systems are generally used in combination with a suitable support system, such that the pipe or profile can be temporarily held at the working position after being conveyed to the working position by the transfer system and before being held by the holding means of a pipe holding carriage. This involves additional cost and increased complexity both from the point of view of construction and from the point of view of operation.

[0005] A pipe and profile machining apparatus having at least one transfer system as defined in the preamble of the appended independent claim 1 is known from U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2021 / 229227. [[PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS]] [[PATENT DOCUMENTS]]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] EP2000249 [Patent Document 2] EP3747591 [Patent Document 3] EP0481462, [Patent Document 4] EP1547723 [Patent Document 5] CN107900539 [Patent Document 6] CN111299824 [Patent Document 7] CN108726171 [Patent Document 8] U.S. Patent Application No. 2021 / 229227 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a pipe and profile processing apparatus that is not affected by the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art, and is equipped with at least one transfer system capable of accurately, safely, and reliably transporting the pipe or profile to be processed from a loading position on the side of the apparatus to a working position. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] This and other objectives are fully achieved by the present invention, with respect to the pipe and profile processing apparatus as defined in the attached independent claim 1.

[0009] Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are specified in the dependent claims, the subject matter of which shall form an integral part of the following description.

[0010] In summary, the present invention is based on the idea of ​​providing the apparatus with at least one transfer system, the transfer system being: - Support means configured to support the pipe or profile both during transport from the mounting position on the side of the device to the working position, and during processing while the pipe or profile is in the working position, - A mounting structure to which the support means is attached, - A drive means configured to move the mounting structure with at least two degrees of freedom in a vertical plane perpendicular to the device feed axis (or work axis) so as to enable movement of the pipe or profile from the mounting position to the working position. Equipped with, The support means includes a first support means configured to support and hold the pipe or profile during transport from the placement position to the work position, and a second support means separated from the first support means, configured to support the pipe or profile during processing while the pipe or profile is in the work position. The second support means comprises a support member having an annular cavity adapted to accommodate at least partially the pipe or profile in a state in which the pipe or profile is in contact with at least a portion of the upper outer shape of the annular cavity, The first support means comprises at least one movable support member, the at least one movable support member being movable between an operating position which is at least partially above the upper outer shape of the annular cavity and thus capable of supporting a pipe or profile, and a non-operating position which is at least partially below the upper outer shape of the annular cavity so as not to interfere with the pipe or profile when the pipe or profile is received in the annular cavity.

[0011] With such a configuration, at least one transfer system of the apparatus according to the present invention can pick up a pipe or profile to be processed at a placement position, and move the pipe or profile from that position to a working position in which the pipe or profile can be held at one end by the holding means of the pipe holding carriage of the apparatus and supported at the opposite end by one or more support devices near the working head of the apparatus, and can also support the pipe or profile in its intermediate section during processing.

[0012] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which is given by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for processing pipes and profiles (for laser cutting in this example) provided with a plurality of transfer systems according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, also showing a pipe to be processed placed at a mounting position. [Figure 3] 3 is a perspective view of one of the transfer systems of the apparatus of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 4 is a side view of the transfer system of FIG. 2. [Figure 5] 5a is a side view sequentially showing a series of configurations assumed by the transfer system of FIG. 3 during movement of a pipe having a circular cross section from a mounting position to a working position. [Figure 6] 5b is a side view sequentially showing a series of configurations assumed by the transfer system of FIG. 3 during movement of a pipe having a circular cross section from a mounting position to a working position. [Figure 7] 5c is a side view sequentially showing a series of configurations assumed by the transfer system of FIG. 3 during movement of a pipe having a circular cross section from a mounting position to a working position. [Figure 8] 5d is a side view sequentially showing a series of configurations assumed by the transfer system of FIG. 3 during movement of a pipe having a circular cross section from a mounting position to a working position. [Figure 9] 5e is a side view sequentially showing a series of configurations assumed by the transfer system of FIG. 3 during movement of a pipe having a circular cross section from a mounting position to a working position. [Figure 10] 5f is a side view sequentially showing a series of configurations assumed by the transfer system of FIG. 3 during movement of a pipe having a circular cross section from a mounting position to a working position. MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0014] In the following description and claims, the term “longitudinal direction” is used to identify a direction that coincides with or is parallel to the longitudinal axis of a pipe or profile being processed on the apparatus, and the term “transverse direction” is used to identify a direction in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. In addition, terms such as “upward” and “downward” or “horizontal” and “vertical” used in reference to the transfer system refer to the state in which the transfer system is installed on the apparatus.

[0015] Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, a pipe and profile processing apparatus to which the transfer system according to the present invention can be applied is shown as 10 in total. In the examples proposed herein, the apparatus is for cutting pipes and profiles, in particular for laser cutting, but the present invention is equally applicable to other types of pipe and profile processing apparatus.

[0016] The apparatus 10 includes a work head 12 adapted to perform processing operations on a pipe or profile (shown in Figure 2 and denoted as T) using a known method, for example, a focused laser beam. In this example, such processing operations are cutting operations, but may also include other types of operations such as welding operations. Figures 2 and 5-10 show a pipe T with a circular cross-section, but the apparatus 10 can still process pipes with any other cross-section shape, such as square or rectangular, and profiles of any shape, such as C profiles, T profiles, IPE profiles, HEA profiles, etc. For convenience, only the term pipe will be used in the following description, but please understand that the following descriptions are equally applicable to cases where the apparatus is used to process profiles.

[0017] The work head 12 is mounted by a drive system (not shown in the drawings, but of a known type in any case) configured to move the head with one or more degrees of freedom so that the device can perform the intended machining operation on the pipe T.

[0018] A support device 14 is provided near the work head 12, directly upstream in this example, and is adapted to support the cross-section of the pipe T near the work area, allowing the pipe T to rotate about its longitudinal axis. The support device 14 may also be positioned directly downstream of the work head 12. In known ways, the support device 14 may be stationary, i.e., fixed to the base structure of the device 10, or it may be movable along the longitudinal axis of the pipe T when the pipe T is in the work position.

[0019] The apparatus 10 further includes a tube holding carriage 16 provided with a holding means 18 configured to hold the tube T at the end opposite to the end on which the work head 12 operates (the trailing end). Such a holding means defines the feed axis (or work axis) x of the apparatus, and during machining, the longitudinal axis of the tube T is aligned with this feed axis x.

[0020] During machining, the pipe T is moved forward along the feed axis x by the pipe holding carriage 16 and rotated about this axis as needed. A support device 14 located near the work head 12 supports and guides the pipe being machined, keeping the pipe's longitudinal axis aligned with the feed axis x.

[0021] The apparatus 10 further includes a plurality of transfer systems (or more generally, at least one transfer system) 20 configured to transfer the pipe T to be processed each time, from an initial placement position on the side of the apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as the placement position) where the pipe T is positioned with its longitudinal axis parallel to the feed axis x but spaced apart (as shown in Figure 2), to a final working position (hereinafter simply referred to as the working position) where the pipe T is positioned with its longitudinal axis aligned with the feed axis x.

[0022] In particular as shown in Figure 5, at the mounting position, the pipe T is supported by a plurality of mounting devices 22 (only one of which is visible in Figure 5), the function of which these mounting devices 22 is to receive the pipe T supplied to the apparatus 10 each time by a plurality of conveyor belts 24 arranged parallel to each other, and to hold the pipe T stationary at the mounting position while waiting for the pipe T to be picked up by the transfer system 20 and transported to the work position. Each mounting device 22 is positioned next to its respective conveyor belt 24. In the embodiments proposed herein, each mounting device 22 is formed in a substantially L-shaped structure having a pair of flat surfaces 22a and 22b arranged perpendicularly to each other, and the pipe T is placed at the mounting position on these flat surfaces. Each mounting device 22 is mounted so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis x1, which extends parallel to the feed axis x of the device and preferably coincides with the rotation axis of an associated conveyor belt 24 pulley located at the end of the conveyor belt facing the feed axis x. Each mounting device 22 is associated with an actuator 26, which in this example is a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, but may be any other type of actuator (including, for example, an electric motor) for controlling the rotation of the mounting device 22 about a rotation axis x1 between a first position (not shown) in which the flat surface 22a of the mounting device 22 is substantially aligned with the upper belt branch of the conveyor belt 24 to receive the pipe T being transported by the conveyor belt 24, and a second position (shown in Figure 5) in which the flat surface 22a of the mounting device 22 is inclined downward relative to the first position, and in addition, the pipe T is in contact with the flat surface 22b so as to be held in place by the flat surface 22b, thereby remaining in the mounting position.

[0023] However, the mounting device 22 may have a configuration different from that exemplified herein.

[0024] Referring in particular to Figures 3 and 4, each transfer system 20 generally includes support means configured to support the pipe T both during transfer from the placement position to the working position and during processing, i.e., when the pipe T is in the working position.

[0025] Such a support means comprises a first support means and a second support means, which are separated from each other, the first support means configured to support and hold the pipe T during transport from the placement position to the working position, and the second support means configured to support the pipe T during processing.

[0026] The first support means comprises, for example, a pair of swing arms 28, each having a support surface 28a, particularly a flat support surface. The arms 28 are attached to a mounting structure 30 of the transfer system 20, and as a result, the arms 28 can rotate at a given angle around their respective rotation axes x2 and x3 (which can be seen more clearly in Figure 6), which are parallel to each other and also parallel to the feed axis x of the device.

[0027] To control the rotation of the arm 28 about its respective axes x2 and x3 between an operating position where the support surfaces 28a of the arm 28 form an angle α of less than 180° to each other, preferably 60° to 120°, for example, a right angle (as illustrated in the embodiments described herein) (shown in Figures 3, 6, and 7), and a non-operating position where the support surfaces 28a of the arm 28 are substantially coplanar, i.e., form an angle of 180° to each other (shown in Figures 4, and 8 to 10), the arm 28 is associated with suitable actuation means (not shown in the drawings, but of known types). The actuation means associated with the arm 28 may include, for example, a pair of electric motors (one for each arm) or a pair of actuators (one for each arm), such as pneumatic cylinders or hydraulic cylinders.

[0028] Instead of a swinging arm, different members may be used as a first support means for supporting and holding the pipe T during transport from the mounting position to the working position, such as a gripping device, or more generally, a gripping member that can be switched between an operating position for holding the pipe and a non-operating position that allows the pipe to detach from such a member.

[0029] In the embodiments illustrated herein, the second support means comprises a roller 32 mounted on a mounting structure 30 alongside the arm 28, the roller 32 having a longitudinal axis (denoted by y) oriented perpendicular to the feed axis x of the device and therefore perpendicular to the rotation axes x2 and x3 of the arm 28. Preferably, the longitudinal axis y of the roller 32 lies in a horizontal plane. The roller 32 may be mounted rotatably (in particular, freely rotatably) about its longitudinal axis y. Preferably, the roller 32 has a circumferential cavity 34, i.e., a cavity extending along the entire lateral surface of the roller 32 for at least partially accommodating the pipe T. Thus, the circumferential cavity 34 has a curved shape rather than a straight line in its axial cross-section (i.e., a cross-section passing through the longitudinal axis y). In the embodiments proposed herein, this shape has an arc shape, and therefore a shape with a constant radius of curvature, but it may have a shape with a changing radius of curvature. The circumferential cavity 34 allows the roller 32 not only to support the pipe T but also to restrain the pipe T laterally, thus preventing excessive lateral movement of the pipe during processing.

[0030] Alternatively, a second support means may be used, which is shaped to have an annular cavity whose outer shape changes depending on the angular position of the member itself around the longitudinal axis of the member. In other words, in the annular cavity, the molded support member has a cross-sectional shape that is not circular, but has a variable radius, in particular a radius that gradually increases in a given rotational direction. In this example, suitable driving means are associated with each molded support member to control the angular position of the member around the longitudinal axis of the member, and as a result, the radius of the outer shape of the annular cavity in contact with the pipe at the working position can be adjusted according to the size of the pipe.

[0031] Furthermore, instead of, or in combination with, rollers or shaped members, the second support means may include stationary support members of different shapes configured to provide sliding support to the pipe being processed.

[0032] Therefore, generally, the second support means includes at least one support member having a support surface on which the pipe is supported during processing.

[0033] As can be seen from Figures 4 and 6-10, when the arm 28 is in the operating position (Figures 6 and 7), the support surface 28a of the arm 28 is at least partially above the upper outer shape of the circumferential cavity 34 of the roller 32, and therefore the pipe T rests on the support surface 28a of the arm 28. On the other hand, when the arm 28 is in the non-operating position (Figures 4 and 8-10), the support surface 28a of the arm 28 is at least partially below the upper outer shape of the circumferential cavity 34 of the roller 32, and therefore the pipe (shown only in Figure 8) rests on the upper outer shape of the circumferential cavity 34 without the arm 28 interfering with the pipe.

[0034] Each transfer system 20 further includes a mounting structure 30 and a drive means configured to move the arm 28 and roller 32 attached thereto with at least two degrees of freedom in a vertical plane perpendicular to the feed axis x of the device, so as to enable the pipe T to be moved from the mounting position to the working position.

[0035] According to embodiments illustrated herein, the driving means first comprises a slide 36 attached to the base structure 38 of the transport system 20 by a linear guide 40 so as to be able to translate relative to the base structure 38 along a first vertically extending translational direction z (Figure 4), and one or more actuation devices interposed between the base structure 38 and the slide 36 to control the translational movement of the slide 36 relative to the base structure 38 along the first translational direction z in one or the other direction. In the proposed examples, a single actuation device is provided attached to the base structure 38 and controlling the translational movement of the slide 36 via a rack and pinion mechanism (not shown), in particular formed by an electric motor 42.

[0036] As in the proposed example, in cases where the first translational direction z is vertical, the upward or downward translational movement of the slide 36 and the associated second support means is advantageously used to "track" the outer shape of the pipe T during the machining of the pipe T, in the case of a pipe T having a non-circular cross-section, that is, to continuously ensure contact between the pipe and the second support means (in this example, contact between the pipe and the outer shape of the circumferential cavity 34 of the roller 32) as the pipe rotates about its longitudinal axis. In this regard, by using a roller with a circumferential cavity, particularly a cavity with an arc shape in its axial cross-section, as the support means for the pipe, the vertical acceleration that needs to be controlled for the slide 36 can be reduced, and therefore the management of such "tracking" motion can be simplified.

[0037] According to embodiments illustrated herein, the drive means further comprises an arm (or beam) 44 mounted on the slide 36 by a linear guide 46 so as to be able to translate relative to the slide 36 along a second translation direction y1 (Figure 4) which is in a plane perpendicular to the feed axis x of the apparatus and is oriented horizontally or inclined at an angle of, for example, 0° to 30° with respect to the horizontal, as in the examples illustrated herein, and an electric motor 48 mounted on the slide 36 and arranged (as can be seen in Figure 3) to control the translational motion of the arm 44 relative to the slide 36 along the second translation direction y1 in one or the other direction by a motion conversion mechanism (not shown), such as a rack and pinion system. Of course, instead of an electric motor combined with a motion conversion mechanism such as a rack and pinion mechanism, a different drive system may be used to control the movement of the arm 44 relative to the slide 36 along the second translation direction y1.

[0038] The arm 44 is equipped with a mounting structure 30 at one end (upper end) to which the arm 28 and the roller 32 are attached. In this way, the assembly formed by the mounting structure 30, the arm 28, and the roller 32 can be moved (simultaneously or sequentially) along both the first translational direction z and the second translational direction y1.

[0039] Now, the operation of the transport system 20 will be explained with reference to Figures 5 to 10.

[0040] Figure 5 shows the state in which the pipe T to be processed is supported by the flat surfaces 22a and 22b of the mounting device 22 (only one of them is shown in Figure 5) at the mounting position. At that position, the pipe T is oriented so that its longitudinal axis is parallel to the feed axis x of the device.

[0041] With the pipe T in the mounting position, the transfer system 20 is controlled to bring the support surface 28a of the swing arm 28 (in the operating position) of each transfer system 20 into contact with the pipe T. At this point, the mounting device 22 is moved to separate from the pipe T (by downward rotation around its respective axis of rotation x1 in this example), and thus the pipe T remains supported only by the arms 28 of the various transfer systems 20.

[0042] From this position, the pipe T is moved to the working position, where the pipe T is positioned with its longitudinal axis aligned with the feed axis x of the device (Figures 6 and 7). This displacement is achieved by a suitable combination of translational movement of the arms 44 of the various transfer systems 20 along their respective second translational direction y1 and translational movement of the slides 36 of the various transfer systems 20 along their respective first translational direction z. The translational movements along the translational directions y1 and z may be controlled sequentially or at least partially simultaneously. For example, in the first step, the slide 36 needs to be moved upward to allow the pipe T to be removed from the mounting device 20, and in the second step, the arm 44 needs to be moved toward the feed axis x along the translational direction y1, and the slide 36 needs to be moved downward.

[0043] During these steps, the pair of arms 28 of each transport system 20 are held in the working position to support the pipe T and prevent it from falling. Once the pipe T is transported to the working position, the pipe T is held by the holding means 18 of the pipe holding carriage 16.

[0044] At this point, the pair of arms 28 of the transfer system 20 are moved from the operating position to the non-operating position (Figure 8), and then the rollers 32 of the transfer system 20 are moved upward by the upward translation of the slide 36 so that their respective circumferential cavities 34 are in contact with the pipe T (Figure 9). At this point, the pipe T is resting on the rollers 32 of the transfer system 20, and these rollers can therefore act as support devices during processing.

[0045] As the pipe T moves forward toward the work head 12, and thus the rollers 32 of the transfer system 20 gradually lose contact with the pipe T (from the transfer system 20 furthest from the work head 12 to the transfer system 20 closest to the work head 12), the transfer system 20 is returned to its initial position in Figure 5. For this purpose, first the slide 36 is moved downward so that the circumferential cavity 34 of the roller 32 moves away from the feed axis x of the device, and then the arm 44 is moved toward the mounting device 22 along a second translational direction y1 (Figure 10).

[0046] As is clear from the above description, the transfer system according to the present invention can accurately, safely, and reliably transfer the pipe (or profile) to be processed from the placement position to the working position, and can also perform the function of supporting the pipe (or profile) before, during, or after processing. This eliminates the need to use a special support system in addition to the transfer system to support the pipe after it has been transferred by the transfer system to a position where the longitudinal axis of the pipe is aligned with the feed axis of the device, as in the prior art.

[0047] Furthermore, the transfer system of the present invention comprises a first support means and a second support means that are separated from each other, with the first support means configured to support and hold the pipe during transfer from the pipe placement position to the work position, and the second support means configured to support the pipe during processing. Thus, the pipe can be optimally supported both during the transfer stage from the placement position to the work position and during the processing stage.

[0048] In this specification, the present invention has been described with reference to possible embodiments thereof. It should be understood that other embodiments sharing the same core of the present invention as defined by the appended claims are also conceivable.

Claims

1. Apparatus for processing pipes and shaped materials (T), - A work means (12) arranged to perform processing operations such as cutting or welding on a pipe or shaped material (T), - Holding means (16, 18) configured to hold the pipe or shaped material (T) to be processed at the end opposite to the end facing the working means (12), and defining the feed axis (x) or working axis of the device, - One or more transfer systems (20) configured to transfer the pipe or profile (T) from a mounting position on one side of the apparatus, where the pipe or profile (T) is positioned parallel to the feed axis (x) but at a certain distance, to a working position, where the pipe or profile (T) is positioned with its longitudinal axis aligned with the feed axis (x). Equipped with, Each transport system (20) - Support means (28, 32) configured to support the pipe or profile (T) both during transport from the previously described placement position to the work position and during processing while the pipe or profile (T) is in the work position, - A mounting structure (30) to which the support means (28, 32) is attached, - Drive means (36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48) configured to move the mounting structure (30) with at least two degrees of freedom in a vertical plane perpendicular to the feed axis (x) so that the pipe or profile (T) can be moved from the previously described installation position to the working position, In a device equipped with, The support means (28, 32) includes a first support means and a second support means that are separated from each other. The first support means (28) is configured to support and hold the pipe or profile (T) during its transfer from the previously described placement position to the working position. The second support means (32) is configured to support the pipe or profile (T) during processing while the pipe or profile (T) is in the working position, The second support means (32) comprises at least one support member having the support surface (34) adapted to accommodate at least partially the pipe or profile (T) in a state in which the pipe or profile (T) is in contact with at least a portion of the upper outer shape of the support surface (34), The apparatus is characterized in that the first support means (28) comprises at least one movable support member, the at least one movable support member being movable between an operating position which is at least partially above the upper outer shape of the support surface (34) and thus capable of supporting the pipe or profile (T), and a non-operating position which is at least partially below the upper outer shape of the support surface (34) so ​​as not to interfere with the pipe or profile (T) when the pipe or profile (T) is placed on the support surface (34).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one support member is a roller support member mounted on the mounting structure (30) such that the longitudinal axis (y) of the at least one support member is oriented perpendicular to the feed axis (x).

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the support surface (34) of the roller support member is an annular cavity having a curved outer shape, particularly an arc shape, in its axial cross-section.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the support surface (34) of the roller support member has a circular outer shape in cross-section.

5. The apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the roller support member is mounted so as to be rotatable about the longitudinal axis (y) of the roller support member.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the support surface (34) of the roller support member has an outer shape with a variable radius in cross-section, in particular an outer shape in which the radius gradually increases in a given rotational direction centered on the longitudinal axis (y) of the roller support member.

7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first support means (28) comprises a pair of swing arms as a movable support member, which are rotatable about each of two rotation axes (x2, x3) that are parallel to each other and also parallel to the feed axis (x) of the apparatus, each having a support surface (28a), particularly a flat support surface, and further comprises at least one actuator device associated with the pair of arms for controlling the opening of the pair of arms by rotation about each of the two rotation axes (x2, x3) between the operating position in which the support surfaces (28a) of the arms form an angle of less than 180° to each other, preferably 60° to 120°, more preferably a right angle, and the non-operating position in which the support surfaces (28a) of the arms are substantially coplanar or the support surfaces (28a) are at least partially below the upper outer shape of the support surface (34) of the at least one support member.

8. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first support means (28) includes a holding member such as a gripping device capable of gripping and holding the pipe or profile (T).

9. The first driving means (36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48) includes a base structure (38), a slide (36) attached to the base structure (38) so as to be able to translate relative to the base structure (38) along a first translational direction (z), particularly in the vertical direction, and the slide so as to be able to translate relative to the slide (36) along a second translational direction (y1) in the horizontal direction or inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, particularly inclined at an angle of 0° to 30°. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising: an arm (44) attached to (36) and having the mounting structure (30) mounted at one end; and first and second actuating means (48, 42) arranged to control the translational movement of the slide (36) relative to the base structure (38) along a first translational direction (z) and the translational movement of the arm (44) relative to the slide (36) along a second translational direction (y1).

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