Bending system for forming corrugations and method for using the system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bending installation (9) for forming transverse corrugations in a metal sheet, the bending installation (9) comprising a drive (11) for advancing a metal sheet (1) and a bending device (12), the bending device (12) comprising a frame (13) movable between a rear position and a front position parallel to the direction of advancement by means of a first actuator, a punch (16) movable vertically on the frame (13) between a stop position and a bending position by means of a second actuator (17), and a control unit (29) configured to control the first actuator (14) and the second actuator (17) and configured to move the frame (13) of the bending device (12) from the rear position to the front position and simultaneously move the punch (16) from the stop position to the bending position.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a bending apparatus for forming corrugations in metal sheets.

[0002] The corrugated metal sheets obtained using the bending equipment as described above are intended to construct sealing membranes for tanks, and the present invention also relates to the field of sealed insulating membrane tanks for the storage and / or transport of fluids, such as liquefied gases. [Background technology]

[0003] Korean Patent Publication No. 2015-0100009 discloses an apparatus for forming a corrugated sheet to form a sealing membrane for liquefied natural gas. The forming apparatus includes a device with a concave-convex forming roller, which is capable of continuously forming longitudinal corrugations, i.e., corrugations parallel to the sheet's direction of travel. The sheet is then cut and passed through a press suitable for press-forming the sheet. The press is suitable for forming transverse corrugations, i.e., corrugations extending perpendicular to the longitudinal corrugations, with each stroke of the press. Such a system makes it possible to produce very long corrugated sheets.

[0004] However, the above-mentioned systems are not entirely satisfactory. In particular, the transverse corrugations are not formed continuously, which reduces the effectiveness of the corrugated sheet forming method. Furthermore, the transverse corrugations are formed by a pressing process, not by a bending process. A pressing operation, unlike a bending operation, has the effect of changing the thickness of the metal sheet at the location of the corrugations, thereby degrading the mechanical properties of the corrugated sheet. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One idea behind the present invention is to propose a simple and effective bending apparatus for forming transverse corrugations in metal sheets. Another idea behind the present invention is to propose a bending apparatus that can produce corrugations more productively. Another idea behind the present invention is to propose a bending apparatus that can obtain corrugations without significantly changing the thickness of the sheet.

[0006] In one embodiment, the present invention provides a bending apparatus for forming transverse corrugations in a metal sheet, the bending apparatus comprising: a drive device for driving the metal sheet horizontally from rear to front in the direction of travel; a bending device; It is equipped with The bending device is a frame mounted to be movable parallel to said direction of travel between a rearward position and a forward position, said frame having a first actuator mounted relative to said frame configured to move said frame between said rearward position and said forward position; a punch having a long side in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel, movable in a vertical direction on the frame between a rest position and a bending position in which the metal sheet is deformed to form one of the corrugations in the transverse direction, the punch being provided with a second actuator configured to move the punch between the rest position and the bending position; a control unit configured to control the first actuator and the second actuator to move the frame of the bending apparatus from the rear position towards the front position and simultaneously move the punch from the rest position towards the bending position; It is equipped with:

[0007] With this configuration, the bending equipment described above allows for continuous bending of metal sheets to form corrugations without significantly changing the thickness of the metal sheets.

[0008] The bending equipment embodiments described above may include one or more of the following features:

[0009] In one embodiment, the metal sheet is for forming a membrane for a tank for storing liquefied gas.

[0010] In one embodiment, the control unit is configured to control the drive device to advance the metal sheet from rear to front at a speed V1, and the control unit is configured to control the second actuator to: dr / dt=V1 where r represents the reduction in dimension f of the metal sheet in the direction of travel due to the bending operation, and t represents time.

[0011] In one embodiment, the control unit is configured to control the drive device to move the metal sheet from rear to front at a velocity V1, and the control unit is configured to control the second actuator to:

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[0012] In one embodiment, the control unit the first actuator moves the frame of the bending apparatus from the rear position toward the front position at a speed V2; It is structured as follows: The speed V2 is equal to the speed V1 when the punch moves from the stop position toward the intermediate position where it contacts the metal sheet, and is lower than the speed V1 when the punch moves from the intermediate position toward the bending position.

[0013] In one embodiment, the control unit controls the first actuator to move the frame of the bending apparatus from the rear position to the front position at a speed V2 of 0.95×(½)V1 to 1.05×(½)V1 when the punch moves from the intermediate position to the bending position. The speed V2 is preferably equal to (½)V1, and this speed range allows consideration of incidental phenomena, such as sliding phenomena, in particular.

[0014] In one embodiment, the control unit is configured to cause the first actuator to continue moving the frame toward the forward position when the second actuator moves the punch from the bending position toward the rest position.

[0015] In one embodiment, the bending device a lower subframe mounted on the frame of the bending apparatus and movable in the vertical direction, the lower subframe being arranged on the punch side and provided with a third actuator for the lower subframe suitable for moving the lower subframe between a rest position and a bending position; - two side dies, each having an upper support surface for receiving the metal sheet and an engraving half; It is equipped with The two side dies are mounted on the lower subframe so as to slide horizontally in a direction parallel to the direction of travel between a spaced apart position and a close together position in which the halves of the engraving portion come together to form a single engraving portion having a shape complementary to that of the punch engraving portion.

[0016] In some embodiments, each of the side dies has one or more grooves parallel to the direction of travel, each groove receiving a preformed longitudinal corrugation.

[0017] In one embodiment, the control unit is configured to cause the third actuator to move the lower subframe from the stop position to the bending position when the punch moves from the stop position toward an intermediate position in contact with the metal sheet.

[0018] In one embodiment, the bending apparatus includes a return member configured to return the side dies toward the separated position.

[0019] In one embodiment, the punch is fixed to a plunger that can be moved by the first actuator to move the punch between the stop position and the bending position, and the bending device includes two die cushions arranged on either side of the punch, each having a clamping surface facing one of the side dies, and each die cushion is mounted on a corresponding die cushion support member so as to be vertically movable, and the die cushion support member is mounted on the plunger so as to be horizontally movable between a separated position and a close position parallel to the traveling direction. This configuration can ensure that the corrugated metal sheet to be manufactured is flat.

[0020] In one embodiment, the bending installation further comprises a corrugation forming device upstream of the bending installation, the corrugations being configured to form at least one corrugation extending parallel to the direction of travel, such that the bending installation is able to produce sheets with corrugations perpendicular to one another.

[0021] In one embodiment, the bending installation further comprises a forming device downstream of the bending device configured to modify the corrugations previously bent by the bending device.

[0022] In one embodiment, the molding device a frame mounted to be movable parallel to said direction of travel between a rearward position and a forward position, said frame having a fourth actuator mounted relative to said frame capable of moving said frame between said rearward position and said forward position; a punch mounted on the frame of the forming device so as to be movable in a vertical direction between a rest position and a forming position in which the punch deforms the metal sheet to modify the shape of the transverse corrugations previously formed by the bending device, the punch being provided with a fifth actuator configured to move the punch between the rest position and the forming position; It is equipped with:

[0023] In one embodiment, the control unit is configured to control the fourth actuator and the fifth actuator.

[0024] In one embodiment, the control unit controls the drive device to advance the metal sheet from rear to front at a speed V1, and the control unit is configured to cause the fourth actuator to move the frame of the forming device from the rear position to the front position at a speed V3, the speed V3 being equal to the speed V1 when the punch of the bending device moves from the stop position toward an intermediate position where it contacts the metal sheet, and being zero when the punch of the bending device moves from the intermediate position toward the bending position.

[0025] In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for using the bending equipment described above, the method comprising: - positioning the metal sheet so that the drive device advances the metal sheet; - controlling, by a control unit, the first actuator and the second actuator to move the frame of the bending apparatus from the rear position towards the front position and simultaneously move the punch from the rest position towards the bending position; Includes.

[0026] Embodiments of the above-described method for using bending equipment include one or more of the following features.

[0027] In one embodiment, dr / dt=V1 controlling the second actuator to move the punch toward the bending position at a speed where r represents the reduction in dimension f of the metal sheet in the direction of travel during bending, t represents time.

[0028] In one embodiment,

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[0029] In one embodiment, the control unit controls the first actuator to move the frame of the bending device from the rear position to the front position at a speed V2 of 0.95×(1 / 2)V1 to 1.05×(1 / 2)V1 when the punch of the bending device moves from an intermediate position where it contacts the metal sheet toward the bending position, and the speed V2 is preferably equal to (1 / 2)V1.

[0030] In one embodiment, when the punch is moved from the bending position towards the rest position, the first actuator and the second actuator are controlled to continue moving the frame towards the forward position.

[0031] In one embodiment, the bending installation further comprises a forming device downstream of the bending device configured to correct a corrugation previously bent by the bending device; The molding device a frame mounted for movement between a rearward position and a forward position parallel to the direction of travel, the frame having a fourth actuator mounted relative to the frame configured to move the frame between the rearward position and the forward position; a punch mounted on the frame of the forming device so as to be movable vertically between a rest position and a forming position for deforming the metal sheet to modify the shape of the transverse corrugations previously formed by the bending device, the punch being provided with a fifth actuator configured to move the punch between the rest position and the forming position; It is equipped with controlling the fourth actuator to move the frame of the forming apparatus from the forward position toward the rearward position at a velocity V3; The speed V3 is equal to the speed V1 when the punch of the bending device moves from the stop position toward the intermediate position where it contacts the metal sheet, and is zero when the punch of the bending device moves from the intermediate position where it contacts the metal sheet toward the bending position.

[0032] The present invention will be better understood and other objects, details, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of several specific embodiments of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the specific embodiments described below are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the present invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0033] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a corrugated metal sheet for constructing a sealing membrane for a liquefied natural gas storage tank. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of a bending facility according to an embodiment in an initial state; [Figure 3] 3 is a schematic view of the bending installation of FIG. 2 in a second state. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the bending equipment of FIG. 2 in a third state. [Figure 5] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the bending equipment of FIG. 2 in a fourth state. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the bending equipment of FIG. 2 in a fifth state. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the bending equipment of FIG. 2 in a sixth state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a corrugated metal sheet 1 intended to form a sealing membrane for a storage tank for a fluid such as liquefied natural gas.

[0035] The metal sheet 1 has a first row of parallel corrugations 2 extending in direction y and a second row of parallel corrugations 3 extending in direction x. The directions x and y of the corrugation rows are perpendicular. These corrugations 2 and 3 protrude from the inner surface of the metal sheet 1, which is placed in contact with the fluid contained in the tank. The edges of the metal sheet 1 are parallel to the corrugations 2 and 3.

[0036] The metal sheet 1 has a plurality of flat surfaces 4 between the corrugations 2, 3. The metal sheet 1 has node regions 5 at each location where two corrugations 2, 3 intersect. The node regions 5 have a central portion 6 with peaks that protrude toward the interior of the tank. Furthermore, the central portion 6 is adjacent to a pair of recessed corrugations 7 formed at the ridges of the corrugations 3 and a pair of depressions 8 through which the corrugations 2 pass.

[0037] The corrugations 2, 3 of the metal sheet 1 make the sealing membrane flexible so as to be able to deform due to the thermal and mechanical loads caused by the fluid stored in the tank.

[0038] The metal sheet 1 is particularly made of stainless steel, aluminum, or aluminium with a coefficient of expansion typically of 1.2 x 10 -6 ~2×10 -6 K -1 Invar®, an alloy of iron and nickel with a coefficient of expansion of typically 7×10 -6 K -1 The alloy may be made from an iron alloy with a high manganese content, in the order of 1000 .mu.m or 1000 .mu.m. However, other metals or alloys may also be used.

[0039] For example, the thickness of the metal sheet 1 is about 1.2 mm. Other thicknesses can be selected, bearing in mind that an increase in the thickness of the metal sheet 1 leads to an increase in its cost and generally increases the stiffness of the corrugations 2, 3.

[0040] The bending equipment 9 for forming parallel corrugations in the metal sheet 1 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0041] The installation comprises a reel 10 on which a strip of metal sheet 1 is wound.

[0042] The bending equipment 9 also includes a drive device 11 that advances the metal sheet 1 in the direction indicated by the arrow f in Figures 2, 3, and 4. As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the drive device 11 includes one or more pairs of rollers. Each pair of rollers includes a lower roller and an upper roller, which are arranged one above the other on each side of the metal sheet 1. The rollers and reel 10 rotate around horizontal, mutually parallel rotation axes. One or more of the rollers are driven to rotate by a motor to advance the metal sheet 1. Thus, the drive device 11 is configured to advance the metal sheet 1 at a constant speed V1.

[0043] In another embodiment, the guiding device comprises the reel 10 and a motor configured to rotate and drive the reel 10 to unwind the metal sheet.

[0044] In an embodiment not shown, the bending facility 9 also comprises a corrugation forming device configured to form one or more longitudinal corrugations, i.e. corrugations extending parallel to the direction of travel f, in the metal sheet 1. To do this, the corrugation forming device comprises a corrugation forming roller, such as the corrugation forming roller described in Korean Patent Publication No. 2015-0100009.

[0045] In another embodiment, the metal sheet 1 fed to the bending installation 9 has preformed corrugations extending parallel to the direction of travel f.

[0046] The bending installation 9 further comprises a bending device 12 which forms a row of corrugations transverse to the direction of travel f. The bending device 12 comprises a frame 13 which is mounted movably parallel to the direction of travel between a rear position shown in Figure 2 and a forward position shown in Figure 5. To achieve this, the frame 13 is guided, for example, on rails which extend parallel to the direction of travel f. The bending installation 9 further comprises at least one actuator 14, such as a cylinder or a motor, which can move the frame 13 between the rear position and the forward position.

[0047] The bending device 12 also includes a plunger 15 carrying punches 16 that deform the metal sheet 1 to form transverse corrugations. The punches 16 are elongated in a transverse direction perpendicular to the direction of travel f. Each punch 16 has a head at its lower end with a substantially triangular or V-shaped cross section. The plungers 15 are mounted on a frame 13 of the bending device 12 so as to be vertically movable between an uppermost rest position shown in FIG. 2 and a lowermost bending position shown in FIG. 5, where the punches 16 deform the metal sheet 1 to form the transverse corrugations. The bending device 12 includes at least one actuator 17, such as a cylinder, that moves the plungers 15 between the uppermost rest position and the lowermost bending position.

[0048] Furthermore, the bending device 12 includes a lower subframe 18 that is mounted on the frame 13 of the bending device 12 so as to be movable in the vertical direction between a lowermost stop position shown in Fig. 2 and an uppermost bending position shown in Fig. 5. The bending device 12 includes at least one actuator 19, such as a cylinder, that can move the lower subframe 18 between the lowermost stop position and the uppermost bending position.

[0049] The bending device 12 also includes two side dies 20, 21, one at the rear and one at the front, mounted so as to slide horizontally on the lower subframe 18 in a direction parallel to the traveling direction f, for example, by guide rails or the like. The side dies 20, 21 have an upper support surface for the metal sheet 1. Each of the two side dies 20, 21 further has a concave half-engraving portion formed on its end surface facing the other side die 20, 21. When the two side dies 20, 21 are positioned close to each other, the half-engraving portions join together to form a single engraving portion corresponding to the shape of the corrugation to be formed. In one embodiment, when longitudinal corrugations are formed upstream of the bending device 12, each side die 20, 21 has one or more grooves, each corresponding to the shape of one of the longitudinal corrugations, and each groove receives a longitudinal corrugation previously formed in the metal sheet 1. The side dies 20, 21 are mounted on the lower subframe 18 for movement between a spaced apart position shown in FIG. 2 and an adjacent position shown in FIG.

[0050] In one embodiment, as will be described later, the metal sheet 1 is pressed against the side dies 20, 21 by, for example, a die cushion, and when the metal sheet 1 is bent, a traction force is transmitted to the side dies 20, 21, and this traction force moves the side dies 20, 21 from the separated position to the adjacent position. Furthermore, the bending device 12 includes a restoring member (not shown), such as, for example, a mechanical spring or a gas spring, configured to return the side dies 20, 21 from the adjacent position toward the separated position.

[0051] In another embodiment, the bending apparatus 12 is provided with a dedicated actuator that can move or assists in moving the side dies 20, 21 between the spaced and close positions of the side dies 20, 21, and this dedicated actuator is not shown in Figures 2 to 5.

[0052] In one embodiment (not shown), the bending apparatus 12 further includes die cushions extending on both sides of the punch 16, each having a clamping surface facing one of the side dies 20 and 21. The die cushions are mounted on die cushion supports so as to be vertically movable. The bending apparatus 12 also includes elastic members that tend to move the die cushions relative to their respective die cushion supports to their lowest contact positions. The die cushion supports are mounted so as to slide horizontally on the plunger 15 in a direction parallel to the moving direction f between the separated position and the adjacent position. Because the die cushions are vertically movable relative to the plunger 15, the die cushions press the metal sheet 1 against the side dies 20 and 21 at intermediate vertical positions of the plunger 15, preventing the plunger 15 from dropping between the intermediate position and the bending position.

[0053] In one embodiment, with the metal sheet 1 sandwiched between the die cushion and the side dies 20, 21, the plunger 15 moves to the lowest bending position, bending the metal sheet 1. The metal sheet 1 then transmits a traction force parallel to the direction of travel to the die cushion, moving the cushion support, thereby moving the die cushion support, and as a result, the die cushion and the side dies 20, 21 move from the separated position toward the adjacent position. In this embodiment, the bending device 12 includes a return member, such as a mechanical spring or a gas spring, configured to return the die cushion from the adjacent position toward the separated position. In another embodiment, the bending device 12 may also include a dedicated actuator that can move or assist the die cushion between the separated position and the adjacent position of the die cushion; this dedicated actuator is not shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 .

[0054] In one embodiment not shown, if the metal sheet 1 to be transversely corrugated has longitudinal corrugations, the bending device 12 comprises cutters configured to provide concave corrugations in each longitudinal corrugation on either side of the transverse corrugations to be provided. Such cutters and mechanisms for actuating them are exemplified in WO 2017 / 077214.

[0055] Furthermore, the bending installation 9 optionally includes a forming device 22 that gives the final shape to the transverse corrugations previously formed by the bending device. The forming device 22 includes a frame 23 that is mounted, for example by guide rails, so as to be movable parallel to the direction of travel between a rear position shown in Figure 2 and a forward position shown in Figure 5. The installation includes at least one actuator 24, such as a cylinder or a motor, that can move the frame 23 between the rear and forward positions.

[0056] The forming device 22 also includes a punch 25 having a shape corresponding to the final shape of the transverse corrugations. Thus, the punch 25 of the forming device 22 has a semi-elliptical shape, while the punch 16 of the bending device 12 has a generally triangular shape. The punch 25 is mounted for vertical movement between an uppermost rest position shown in FIG. 2 and a lowermost forming position shown in FIG. 5, where the punch 25 deforms the metal sheet 1 to the final shape of the transverse corrugations previously formed by the bending device 12. The forming device 22 includes at least one actuator 26, such as a cylinder, capable of moving the punch 25 between the uppermost rest position and the lowermost forming position.

[0057] The forming device 22 also includes a die 27, which is disposed opposite the punch 25 and has an engraved portion having a shape complementary to that of the punch 25. The die 27 is mounted on the frame 23 of the forming device 22 so as to be movable between a lowermost position shown in Fig. 2 and an uppermost forming position shown in Fig. 5. The forming device 22 includes at least one actuator 28, such as a cylinder, which can move the punch 25 between the lowermost position and the uppermost forming position.

[0058] The bending installation 9 comprises a control unit 29 capable of controlling the various actuators 14, 17, 19, 24, 26, 28 and synchronizing the movements of the various parts of the bending installation 9. To this end, position sensors are provided for the drive 11 and for each of the aforementioned actuators 14, 17, 19, 24, 26, 28, which supply the control unit 29 with signals representative of the speed of advance V1 of the metal sheet 1, as well as signals representative of the positions of the frame 13, plunger 15, sub-frame 18 and, optionally, the die cushion and side dies 20, 21 of the bending device 12, and of the frame 23 of the forming device 22, the punch of the forming device 22 and the die 27 of the forming device 22.

[0059] The control unit 29 includes a memory and a microprocessor and is capable of storing and processing data in a manner described in more detail below. The control unit 29 is specifically configured to cause the various components of the bending machine 9 to follow the kinematic characteristics described below.

[0060] In the initial state shown in Figure 2: the frame 13 of the bending device 12 and the frame of the forming device 22 are in the rear position; the plunger 15 of the bending device 12 is in its uppermost rest position; the lower subframe 18 of the bending device 12 is in its lowest rest position; the optional die cushion and side dies 20, 21 are in spaced apart positions, the punches of the forming device 22 are in their uppermost rest position; The die of the forming device 22 is in its lowest rest position.

[0061] In a first step between the initial state shown in Fig. 2 and the first intermediate state shown in Fig. 3, the frame 13 of the bending device 12 is moved at a speed V2, and the frame of the forming device 22 is moved at a speed V3 toward their respective forward positions. The speeds V2 and V3 are equal to the traveling speed V1 of the metal sheet 1. Downstream of the bending equipment 9, the metal sheet 1 is moved at a speed V4, which is also equal to V1 in the initial state.

[0062] Furthermore, the punch 25 and die 27 of the forming device 22 move toward their respective lowermost and uppermost forming positions, while the plunger 15 and lower sub-frame 18 of the bending device 12 move toward their respective lowermost and uppermost bending positions. The lower sub-frame 18 of the bending device 12 reaches its uppermost bending position before or simultaneously with the punch 16 reaching the intermediate position where it contacts the metal sheet 1 and begins to bend the corrugation shown in FIG. 3. The die 27 of the forming device 22 also reaches its uppermost forming position before or simultaneously with the punch 16 reaching the intermediate position where it contacts the metal sheet 1, and the actuator 24 is also controlled to position the die 27 of the forming position 22 facing the corrugation previously formed by the bending device 9.

[0063] 3, i.e., when the punch 16 reaches the intermediate position and starts to bend the corrugation, until the punch 16 reaches the lowest bending position shown in FIG. 5, the actuator 17 that moves the punch 16 of the bending device 12 moves at a speed such that the reduction in the dimensions of the metal sheet 1 caused by the bending operation slows down the advance of the metal sheet 1. As a result, the speed of the metal sheet 1 downstream of the bending device 12 becomes zero.

[0064] In other words, the speed at which the dimension f of the metal sheet 1 decreases in the advancing direction is substantially equal to the advancing speed V1 of the metal sheet 1. Therefore, the speed at which the actuator moves the plunger 15 is determined as a function of the geometric characteristics of the cross section of the punch 16 so as to satisfy the following formula: dr / dt=V1 where r represents the reduction in dimension of the metal sheet 1 in the direction of advance f during the bending operation and t represents time.

[0065] Specifically, the velocity V7 of the vertical movement of the actuator 17 is expressed as follows: Speed ​​V7

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[0066] 3, the control unit 29 reduces the moving speed V2 of the frame 13 of the bending device 12 until the punch 16 reaches the lowest bending position. The new speed V2 of the frame 13 of the bending device 12 is 0.95×(½)V1 to 1.05×(½)V2, which substantially corresponds to the following formula: V2=(1 / 2)V1

[0067] Assuming that the bending apparatus 12 does not have dedicated actuators for moving the side dies 20, 21, the metal sheet 1 transmits a traction force to the side dies 20, 21 during bending, which moves the side dies 20, 21 from the separated position to the adjacent position. The velocity of the relative movement of the side dies 20, 21 with respect to the frame 13 of the bending apparatus 12 is equal to V2. Therefore, the absolute velocity V5 of the rear side die 20 is substantially equal to V1, while the absolute velocity V6 of the front side die 21 is zero.

[0068] In another embodiment in which the bending apparatus 12 has dedicated actuators for moving the side dies 20, 21, the actuator of the side die 20 is controlled to move the side die 20 relative to the frame 13 forward at a speed substantially equal to V2, while the actuator of the side die 21 is controlled to move the side die 21 relative to the frame 13 at a speed substantially equal to V2.

[0069] In the fourth state shown in FIG. 5, the punches of the forming device 22 have reached their lowest forming position.

[0070] As soon as the punch 16 of the bending device 12 reaches its lowest bending position as shown in FIG. 5, the frame 13 of the bending device 12 and the frame of the forming device 22 again move towards their respective forward positions at speeds V2 and V3 equal to the advancing speed V1 of the metal sheet 1.

[0071] As shown in Figure 6, before the frame 13 of the bending device 12 and the frame of the forming device 22 reach their respective forward positions, the punch 16 of the bending device 12 and the punch of the forming device 22 rise towards their respective uppermost rest positions. Finally, in a final period, the frame 13 of the bending device 12 and the frame of the forming device 22 move rearward and return to the rearward position shown in Figure 2. A new identical cycle can then be performed to form another adjacent transverse corrugation.

[0072] The installation further comprises a cutter device (not shown) by means of which the metal sheet can be cut downstream of the forming device 22 .

[0073] Although the present invention has been described with reference to several specific embodiments, it is clear that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, but includes technical equivalents of the described means and combinations thereof, if they belong to the present invention.

[0074] Use of the verb "to comprise" or "to have" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim.

[0075] In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim.

Claims

1. A bending installation (9) for forming transverse corrugations in a metal sheet (1), comprising: a driving device (11) for driving the metal sheet (1) horizontally from rear to front in the traveling direction; A bending device (12); It is equipped with The bending device (12) a frame (13) mounted movably between a rear position and a forward position parallel to the direction of travel, the frame (13) having a first actuator (14) mounted relative to the frame (13) configured to move the frame (13) between the rear position and the forward position; a punch (16) having a long side in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel, the punch (16) being movable in a vertical direction on the frame (13) between a stop position and a bending position for deforming the metal sheet (1) to form one of the corrugations in the transverse direction, the punch (16) being provided with a second actuator (17) configured to move the punch (16) between the stop position and the bending position; a control unit (29) configured to control the first actuator (14) and the second actuator (17) to move the frame (13) of the bending device (12) from the rear position toward the front position and simultaneously move the punch (16) from the rest position toward the bending position; A bending equipment (9) comprising:

2. The control unit (29) is configured to control the drive device (11) to move the metal sheet (1) from rear to front at a speed V1; The control unit (29) controls the second actuator (17) to: [Equation 1] The punch (16) is moved in the direction of the bending position at a speed V7 of where α represents the angle formed between one side of the cross section of the punch (16) and the horizontal axis; 2. The bending installation (9) according to claim 1.

3. The control unit (29) is configured to control the drive device (11) to move the metal sheet (1) from rear to front at a speed V1; The control unit (29) The first actuator (14) moves the frame (13) of the bending device (12) from the rear position toward the front position at a speed V2. It is structured as follows: The speed V2 is equal to the speed V1 when the punch (16) moves from the stop position toward the intermediate position where it contacts the metal sheet (1), and is lower than the speed V1 when the punch (16) moves from the intermediate position toward the bending position.

3. The bending installation (9) according to claim 1 or 2.

4. the control unit (29) controls the first actuator (14) to move the frame (13) of the bending device (12) from the rear position to the front position at a speed V2 of 0.95×(½)V1 to 1.05×(½)V1 when the punch (16) moves from the intermediate position to the bending position; 4. The bending installation (9) according to claim 3.

5. When the second actuator (17) moves the punch (16) from the bending position towards the rest position, the control unit (29) is configured to cause the first actuator (14) to continue moving the frame (13) towards the forward position.

5. The bending installation (9) according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The bending device (12) a lower subframe (18) mounted on the frame (13) of the bending device (12) so as to be vertically movable, the lower subframe (18) being disposed on the punch (16) side and having a third actuator (19) provided on the lower subframe (18) suitable for moving the lower subframe (18) between a stop position and a bending position; two side dies (20, 21) each having an upper support surface for receiving the metal sheet (1) and an engraving half; It is equipped with The two side dies (20, 21) are mounted on the lower sub-frame (18) so as to slide horizontally in a direction parallel to the direction of travel between a spaced position and a close position in which the half engraving portions come together to form a single engraving portion having a shape complementary to that of the engraving portion of the punch (16).

6. A bending installation (9) according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The control unit (29) is configured to cause the third actuator (19) to move the lower sub-frame (18) from the stop position to the bending position when the punch (16) moves from the stop position toward an intermediate position where the punch contacts the metal sheet.

7. The bending installation (9) according to claim 6.

8. The apparatus further includes a forming device (22) downstream of the bending device (12) configured to correct the corrugations previously bent by the bending device (12).

8. The bending installation (9) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The molding device (22) a frame (23) movably mounted between a rear position and a front position parallel to the direction of travel, the frame (23) having a fourth actuator (24) provided on the frame (23) for moving the frame (23) between the rear position and the front position; a punch (25) mounted on the frame (23) of the forming device (22) so as to be movable in a vertical direction between a rest position and a forming position for deforming the metal sheet (1) to modify the shape of the transverse corrugations previously formed by the bending device (12), the punch (25) being provided with a fifth actuator (26) configured to move the punch (25) between the rest position and the forming position; Equipped with 9. The bending installation (9) according to claim 8.

10. The control unit (29) is configured to control the fourth actuator (24) and the fifth actuator (26). Bending installation (9) according to claim 9.

11. The control unit (29) controls the driving device (11) to advance the metal sheet (1) from rear to front at a speed V1; the control unit (29) is configured to cause the fourth actuator (24) to move the frame (23) of the forming device (22) from the rear position toward the front position at a velocity V3; The speed V3 is equal to the speed V1 when the punch (16) of the bending device (12) moves from the stop position toward the intermediate position where it contacts the metal sheet (1), When the punch (16) of the bending device moves from the intermediate position toward the bending position, the speed of the metal sheet (1) downstream of the bending device (12) is zero, and the speed V3 is also zero. The bending installation (9) according to claim 10.

12. 12. A method for using a bending installation (9) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising: positioning the metal sheet (1) so that the drive device (11) moves the metal sheet (1) at a speed V1; controlling, by a control unit (29), the first actuator (14) and the second actuator (17) to move the frame (13) of the bending device (12) from the rear position toward the front position and simultaneously move the punch (16) from the stop position toward the bending position; A method comprising:

13. The second actuator (17) [Equation 2] controlling the second actuator to move the punch (16) toward the bending position at a speed V7 of where α represents the angle formed between one side of the cross section of the punch (16) and the horizontal axis; 13. The method of claim 12.

14. When the punch (16) of the bending device (12) moves from an intermediate position where the punch (16) contacts the metal sheet (1) toward the bending position, the first actuator (14) is controlled to move the frame (13) of the bending device (12) from the rear position toward the front position at a speed of 0.95×(½)V1 to 1.05×(½)V1.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13.

15. controlling the first actuator (14) and the second actuator (17) to continue the movement of the frame (13) toward the forward position when the punch (16) is moved from the bending position toward the stop position; 15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14.

16. the bending installation (9) further comprises a forming device (22) downstream of the bending device (12) configured to correct the corrugation previously bent by the bending device (12); The molding device (22) a frame (23) mounted movably between a rear position and a forward position parallel to the direction of travel, the frame (23) having a fourth actuator (24) mounted relative to the frame (23) configured to move the frame (23) between the rear position and the forward position; a punch (25) mounted on the frame (23) of the forming device (22) so as to be movable in a vertical direction between a rest position and a forming position for deforming the metal sheet (1) to modify the shape of the transverse corrugations previously formed by the bending device (12), the punch (25) being provided with a fifth actuator (26) configured to move the punch between the rest position and the bending position; It is equipped with controlling the fourth actuator (24) to move the frame (23) of the forming device (22) from the rear position toward the front position at a velocity V3; The speed V3 is equal to the speed V1 when the punch (16) of the bending device (12) moves from the stop position toward the intermediate position where it contacts the metal sheet (1), When the punch (16) of the bending device (12) moves from an intermediate position where it contacts the metal sheet (1) toward the bending position, the speed of the metal sheet (1) downstream of the bending device (12) is zero, and the speed V3 is also zero.

16. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15.

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