Workbench, particularly for the preparation of steel structural sheets of large size and thickness, and method of anchoring one or more steel structural sheets, particularly of large size and thickness

Abstract

A workbench (1), particularly for the preparation of steel structural sheets of large size and thickness, comprising: - a load-bearing framework (2), which defines a plurality of rails (3) which are oriented in space in a mutually parallel and coplanar manner so as to define a supporting surface for one or more workpieces (4a, 4b); - a plurality of anchoring sliders (5), which are slideably associated with the rails (3), support multipolar electromagnets (6) on their faces and can be electrically activated for the double anchoring of each anchoring slider (5), respectively, both to the respective rail (3) with which it is associated and to the workpieces (4a, 4b); the anchoring sliders (5) are selectively arrangeable, both in terms of number and in terms of position, along each rail (3) as a function of the geometry and of the quantity of the workpieces (4a, 4b) and of the type of operations to be performed on them.

Description

[0001] WORKBENCH, PARTICULARLY FOR THE PREPARATION OF STEEL STRUCTURAL SHEETS OF LARGE SIZE AND THICKNESS, AND METHOD OF ANCHORING ONE OR MORE STEEL STRUCTURAL SHEETS, PARTICULARLY OF LARGE SIZE AND THICKNESS

[0002] The present invention relates to a workbench, particularly for the preparation of steel structural sheets of large size and thickness, as well as the method of anchoring one or more steel structural sheets, particularly of large size and thickness, to such a workbench.

[0003] In the sector of heavy metal structural work, the use of large machines is known, which are adapted for the preparation of sheets, typically of steel, of large size and thickness, by means of stock-removal machining.

[0004] Notwithstanding the great weight of such plates (hereinafter referred to as “workpieces”), the cutting force applied by the tools can be such as to displace the workpiece, or in any case make it vibrate, with consequent loss of precision of the machining.

[0005] Therefore, while keeping the workpiece stationary, the need arises to firmly anchor the workpiece to the foundation of the machine, which closes the loop of the forces between tool and workpiece.

[0006] This anchoring is typically achieved with workbenches which are provided with means for anchoring the workpiece.

[0007] In order to have the work area unencumbered by any equipment for anchoring the workpiece, advances in technology have culminated in the replacement of classical clamp / jaw systems or electromechanical positioning systems, either manual or more or less automatic, with electromagnetic elements that can slide on rails.

[0008] In more detail, workbenches of the magnetic type are therefore known which are constituted by a substantially lattice-like supporting structure, on the nodes of which electromagnetic anchoring elements can be fixed which, in turn, anchor the workpiece following their electrical activation.

[0009] Such conventional workbenches have some drawbacks, among which the fact that the interface between the anchoring elements and the supporting structure of the workbench is provided by fixing means of the electromechanical type which are manually positioned on a surface, which positioning of the anchoring elements implies a considerable loss of time by the operator.

[0010] Moreover, another drawback of conventional workbenches consists in that the continual displacement and the repeated operations to fix and reposition the anchoring elements on and from the supporting structure implies wear of the parts in contact, with the consequent need to replace components in order to maintain a high degree of precision of anchoring.

[0011] In addition, a further drawback of conventional workbenches consists in that the positioning of the anchoring elements occurs discretely at regular intervals which implies a non-optimal anchoring for workpieces of particularly irregular shape. In fact, such anchoring elements are positioned freely on the surface without the use of guidance or reference systems.

[0012] Finally, another drawback of conventional workbenches consists in that they necessitate continuous and constant machine stoppages for each change of workpiece, in order to clean the supporting structure of the chips generated during the various machining operations performed which, otherwise, would impede the correct and precise repositioning of the anchoring elements.

[0013] The aim of the present invention consists in providing a workbench, particularly for the preparation of steel structural sheets of large size and thickness, which is capable of overcoming the above-mentioned drawbacks.

[0014] Within this aim, an object of the present invention consists in providing a method of anchoring one or more steel structural sheets, particularly of large size and thickness, to the workbench, which is capable of overcoming the above-mentioned drawbacks.

[0015] Last but not least, another object of the present invention consists in providing a method of machining one or more steel structural sheets, particularly of large size and thickness, which is capable of overcoming the above-mentioned drawbacks.

[0016] This aim and this and other objects which will become better evident hereinafter are achieved by a workbench, particularly for providing steel structural sheets of large size and thickness, characterized in that it comprises:

[0017] - a load-bearing framework, which defines a plurality of rails which are oriented in space in a mutually parallel and coplanar manner so as to define a supporting surface for one or more workpieces; a plurality of anchoring sliders, which are slideably associated with said rails and support multipolar electromagnets on their faces and can be electrically activated for the double anchoring of each of said anchoring sliders, respectively, both to the respective one of said rails with which it is associated and to said one or more workpieces; said anchoring sliders being selectively arrangeable, both in terms of number and in terms of position, along each one of said rails as a function of the geometry and of the quantity of said one or more workpieces, and of the type of operations to be performed on said one or more workpieces.

[0018] This aim and this and other objects which will become better evident hereinafter are furthermore achieved by a method of anchoring one or more steel structural sheets, particularly of large size and thickness, to a workbench according to the invention, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

[0019] - theoretical pre-positioning said anchoring sliders along said rails as a function of the nominal geometry and of the quantity of said one or more workpieces;

[0020] - detecting the exact geometry and the exact position of said one or more workpieces;

[0021] - correcting the positioning of said anchoring sliders on said rails as a function of the geometric discrepancies between said nominal geometry and said exact geometry and said exact position;

[0022] - positioning said one or more workpieces on said workbench with consequent compression of said anchoring sliders on said rails with consequent movement of said sliding wheels from their sliding position to their stationary position;

[0023] - activating said multipolar electromagnets with consequent anchoring of said one or more workpieces to said workbench.

[0024] Finally, this aim and this and other objects which will become better evident hereinafter are achieved by a method of machining one or more steel structural sheets, particularly of large size and thickness, anchored to a workbench according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises one or more machining steps by chip removal of said one or more workpieces and a step of continuous evacuation of said chips produced during said machining steps by means of the continuous movement of said chain conveyors.

[0025] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a workbench, of a anchoring method and of a machining method, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with the aid of the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0026] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a workbench according to the present invention with two straight- shaped workpieces placed on it;

[0027] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the workbench shown in Figure 1 with the two workpieces shown in transparency;

[0028] Figure 3 is an enlarged-scale detail of the workbench shown in Figure 2;

[0029] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the workbench shown in the previous figures with one workpiece, curved in shape, anchored on it;

[0030] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the workbench shown in Figure 4 with the workpiece shown in transparency; Figure 6 is an enlarged-scale detail of the workbench shown in Figure

[0031] 5;

[0032] Figure 7 is the same detail shown in Figure 6 at an even larger scale of enlargement;

[0033] Figure 8 is a block diagram showing the methods of anchoring and of machining according to the invention.

[0034] With reference to the figures, the workbench, particularly for the preparation of steel structural sheets of large size and thickness, generally designated by the reference number 1, according to the invention, comprises a load-bearing framework 2, which defines a plurality of rails 3 which are oriented in space in a mutually parallel and coplanar manner so as to define a supporting surface for at least one workpiece 4a or 4b.

[0035] As will be better described below, in the illustrated embodiment, the load-bearing framework 2 is a modular structure which can be dimensioned by adding or removing modules (i.e. the rails 3 and the components associated therewith), as a function of the size of the workpiece 4a or 4b.

[0036] In the present description, the term "workpiece" means steel structural sheets of large size and thickness and, in the illustrated embodiment, these are to be straight, as shown in Figure 1, and curvilinear, as shown in Figure 3.

[0037] However, as better described below, the possibility is not ruled out that such workpiece can take the form of any type of planar geometry.

[0038] Also according to the invention, the workbench 1 comprises a plurality of anchoring sliders 5 which are slideably associated with the rails 3, support multipolar electromagnets 6 on their faces, and can be electrically activated for the double anchoring of each anchoring slider 5, respectively, both to the respective rail 3 with which it is associated and to the workpieces 4a or 4b.

[0039] Advantageously, the anchoring sliders 5 are selectively arrangeable, both in terms of number and in terms of position, along each rail 3 as a function of the geometry and of the quantity of the workpieces 4a or 4b and of the type of operations to be performed on them.

[0040] In addition, the rails 3 are transversely close together in pairs in such a way as to increase the positioning flexibility of the anchoring sliders 5 along the rails 3 as a function of the geometry of the workpieces 4a or 4b and of the type of operations to be performed on them.

[0041] In fact, this double-rail 3 configuration makes it possible to anchor multiple workpieces 4a, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, for example regularly- shaped, by engaging the anchoring sliders 5 of each pair of rails 3, half on one workpiece 4a and the other half on the other workpiece 4a, thus ensuring an efficient anchoring.

[0042] Furthermore, this double-rail 3 configuration also makes it possible to have two anchoring sliders 5 that are arranged side by side slightly out of alignment so as to make it possible to perfectly follow even significant curves in the workpiece 4b, as shown in Figures 4 to 6.

[0043] In the illustrated embodiment, each anchoring slider 5 comprises a main body 7 which has a substantially basket-like geometric shape so as to contain the extensions of the multipolar electromagnets 6, causing them to protrude transversely, with respect to its contoured shape, both in the direction of the rails 3 and in the direction of the workpieces 4a and 4b.

[0044] In more detail, each main body 7 is associated with the respective rail 3 by means of a shape mating with play adapted to prevent its separation and, at the same time, adapted to allow its free longitudinal sliding.

[0045] Advantageously, in the illustrated embodiment, each anchoring slider 5 is provided with sliding wheels (not shown in the cited figures for the sake of graphic simplicity) which are interposed between the main body 7 and the respective rail 3.

[0046] More specifically, these sliding wheels are associated with the main bodies 7 by means of elastically flexible supporting elements so that they are movable between a sliding position, in which the wheels protrude with respect to the main bodies 7 in the direction of the rails 3 under the elastic thrust of the supporting elements in the absence of workpieces 4a or 4b and / or in the absence of the electrical activation of the multipolar electromagnets 6, and a stationary position, in which the wheels are transversely contained within the contour of the main bodies 7 in contrast with the elastic thrust of the supporting elements under the thrust applied by the weight of the workpieces 4a or 4b and / or under the thrust applied by the electrical activation of the multipolar electromagnets 6.

[0047] In this way, in the sliding position, a frictionless sliding of the sliders 5 is obtained which therefore does not produce wear of the described components and, in the stationary position, the multipolar electromagnets 6 rest in direct contact on the respective rail 3.

[0048] Moreover, front strips 8 are associated with the main bodies 7 at the sliding wheels, substantially transversely to the sliding direction of the anchoring sliders 5 and transversely to the rails 3 so as to prevent the passage of any chips produced during the machining of the workpieces 4a or 4b below the anchoring sliders 5 between the rails 3 and the sliding wheels and, at the same time, so as to clear the rails 3 of the chips during the movement of the anchoring sliders 5 along the rails 3.

[0049] In the illustrated embodiment, means for the automated movement of the anchoring sliders 5 along the rails 3 are provided, which comprise, for each rail 3, a chain conveyor 9 which extends longitudinally along the rail 3 and is provided with retractable hooks 10 which can be selectively activated between a rest position, in which they are retracted so as not to intercept the anchoring sliders 5, and a pushing position, in which they protrude radially and externally from the chain conveyor 9 so as to intercept and thus engage the respective anchoring slider 5 for its movement along the respective rail 3.

[0050] Conveniently, each rail 3 has a central longitudinal groove in which the respective chain conveyor 9 is accommodated and along which the retractable hooks 10 slide.

[0051] More specifically, said retractable hooks 10 are associated with the chain conveyors 9 by means of elastically flexible supports which are pneumatically actuated so as to remain in one of either the rest position or the pushing position, under the elastic thrust of said elastically flexible supports and without the activation of the pneumatic actuation, and to transition to the other one of either the rest position or the pushing position, in contrast with the elastic thrust of the elastically flexible supports and as a result of the activation of the pneumatic actuation.

[0052] In the illustrated embodiment, the retractable hooks 10 are normally retracted.

[0053] Lastly, the chain conveyors 9 are contoured for the collection of the chips produced during the machining of the workpieces 4a and 4b as a result of their continuous movement during the machining thereof.

[0054] In a variation of the illustrated embodiment, the automated means for movement can be absent and, as will be better described later, the positioning of the sliders 5 can be done manually.

[0055] Completing the workbench 1, this comprises a plurality of chutes 11, placed below the rails 3, for collecting the chips produced during the machining of the workpieces 4a and 4b.

[0056] With reference to Figure 8, the method of anchoring one or more steel structural sheets, particularly of large size and thickness, to a workbench according to the invention, is identified by the box 100 and comprises the following steps of:

[0057] - theoretical pre-positioning 101 the anchoring sliders 5 along the rails 3 as a function of the nominal geometry and of the quantity of the workpieces 4a or 4b, as previously described;

[0058] - detecting 102 the exact geometry and the exact position of the workpieces 4a or 4b, i.e. detecting the geometry for the shape of the workpiece and of its position relative to the axes of the workbench 1 ; - correcting the positioning 103 of the anchoring sliders 5 on the rails 3 as a function of the geometric discrepancies between the nominal geometry and the exact geometry and the exact position;

[0059] - positioning 104 the workpieces 4a or 4b, via a gantry crane or automated roller-based systems, on the workbench 1 with consequent compression of the anchoring sliders 5 on the rails 3 with consequent movement of the sliding wheels from their sliding position to their stationary position;

[0060] - activating 105 the multipolar electromagnets 6 with consequent anchoring of the workpieces 4a or 4b to the workbench 1.

[0061] In the illustrated embodiment, the steps 101 of pre-positioning and correcting the positioning 103 of the anchoring sliders 5 on the rails 3 are performed in an automated manner by means of the combined actuation of the chain conveyors 9 and the retractable hooks 10 and the detecting step 102 is executed by means of an optical scan.

[0062] In the simplified embodiment, not shown, the steps of pre-positioning 101 and positioning 103 the anchoring sliders 5 on the rails 3 are performed manually by an operator following either or both of the visual indication of a laser projector, indicating the correct position of the anchoring sliders 5 directly on the rails 3, and the direct communication to the operator of the coordinates of the anchoring sliders 5 with respect to the rails 3, understood as indicating the rail 3 and the longitudinal positioning of each anchoring slider 5 on the rail 3. In this case the rails 3 can be equipped with a graduated scale.

[0063] Conveniently, the step 104 of positioning the workpieces 4 can comprise the positioning of multiple workpieces 4a arranged on the workbench 1 in such a way as not to interfere with each other.

[0064] Still with reference to Figure 8, once the anchoring is done, the method proceeds with the machining of one or more steel structural sheets, particularly of large size and thickness, anchored to a workbench according to the invention, which is identified by the box 106.

[0065] In more detail, the machining method 106 comprises one or more machining steps 107 by stock removal of the workpieces 4a or 4b and a continuous evacuation step 108 of the chips produced during the machining steps by means of the continuous movement of the chain conveyors 9.

[0066] In practice it has been found that the workbench, the anchoring method and the machining method, according to the present invention, achieve the set aim and objects.

[0067] The workbench, the anchoring method and the machining method, thus conceived, are susceptible of numerous modifications and variations all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

[0068] Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

[0069] In practice the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use, and the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

[0070] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102023000012030 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0071] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A workbench (1), particularly for the preparation of steel structural sheets of large size and thickness, characterized in that it comprises:- a load-bearing framework (2), which defines a plurality of rails (3) which are oriented in space in a mutually parallel and coplanar manner so as to define a supporting surface for one or more workpieces (4a, 4b);- a plurality of anchoring sliders (5), which are slideably associated with said rails (3) and support multipolar electromagnets (6) on their faces and can be electrically activated for the double anchoring of each of said anchoring sliders (5), respectively, both to the respective one of said rails (3) with which it is associated and to said one or more workpieces (4a, 4b); said anchoring sliders (5) being selectively arrangeable, both in terms of number and in terms of position, along each one of said rails (3) as a function of the geometry and of the quantity of said one or more workpieces (4a, 4b) and of the type of operations to be performed on said one or more workpieces (4a, 4b).

2. The workbench (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said rails (3) are transversely close together in pairs in such a way as to increase the positioning flexibility of said anchoring sliders (5) along said rails (3) as a function of the geometry and of the quantity of said one or more workpieces (4a, 4b) and of the type of operations to be performed on said one or more workpieces (4a, 4b).

3. The workbench (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each one of said anchoring sliders (5) comprises a main body (7) which has a substantially basket-like geometric shape so as to contain the extensions of said multipolar electromagnets (6), causing them to transversely protrude, with respect to the contour of said main body (7), both in the direction of said rails (3) and in the direction of said one or more workpieces (4a, 4b); said main body (7) being associated with the respective one of said rails (3) by means of a shape mating with play adapted to prevent its separation fromsaid rail (3) and, at the same time, adapted to allow its free longitudinal sliding along the respective one of said rails (3).

4. The workbench (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that each one of said anchoring sliders (5) is provided with sliding wheels interposed between said main body (7) and the respective one of said rails (3); said sliding wheels being associated with said main body (7) by means of elastically flexible supporting elements so that they are movable between a sliding position, in which said sliding wheels protrude with respect to said main body (7) in the direction of said rail (3) under the elastic thrust of said supporting elements in the absence of said one or more workpieces (4a, 4b) and / or in the absence of the electrical activation of said multipolar electromagnets (6), and a stationary position, in which said sliding wheels are transversely contained within the contour of said main body (7) in contrast with the elastic thrust of said supporting elements under the thrust applied by the weight of said one or more workpieces (4a, 4b) and / or under the thrust applied by the electrical activation of said multipolar electromagnets (6).

5. The workbench (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises front strips (8) associated with said main bodies (7) at said sliding wheels, substantially transversely to the sliding direction of said anchoring sliders (5) and transversely to said rails (3) so as to prevent the passage of any chips produced during the machining of said one or more workpieces (4a, 4b) below said anchoring sliders (5) between said rails (3) and said sliding wheels and so as to clear said rails (3) of said chips during the movement of said anchoring sliders (5) along said rails (3).

6. The workbench (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for the automated movement of said anchoring sliders (5) along said rails (3) which comprise, for each one of said rails (3), a chain conveyor (9) which extends longitudinally along said rail (3) and is provided with retractable hooks (10)which can be selectively activated between a rest position, in which said retractable hooks (10) are retracted so as not to intercept said anchoring sliders (5), and a pushing position, in which said retractable hooks (10) protrude radially and externally from said chain conveyor (9) so as to intercept and thus engage the respective one of said anchoring sliders (5) for its movement along the respective one of said rails (3).

7. The workbench (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that each one of said rails (3) has a central longitudinal groove in which the respective one of said chain conveyors (9) is accommodated and in which said retractable hooks (10) slide.

8. The workbench (1) according to claims 6 and 7, characterized in that said retractable hooks (10) are associated with said chain conveyors (9) by means of elastically flexible supports which are pneumatically actuated so as to remain in one of either said rest position or said pushing position, under the elastic thrust of said elastically flexible supports and in the absence of the activation of said pneumatic actuation, and to transition to the other one of either said rest position or said pushing position, in contrast with the elastic thrust of said elastically flexible supports and as a result of the activation of said pneumatic actuation.

9. The workbench (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said chain conveyors (9) are shaped so as to collect the chips produced during the machining of said one or more workpieces (4a, 4b) as a result of their continuous movement during the machining of said one or more workpieces (4a, 4b).

10. The workbench (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of chutes (11) placed below said rails (3), for collecting the chips produced during the machining of said one or more workpieces (4a, 4b).

11. A method of anchoring (100) one or more steel structural sheets, particularly of large size and thickness, to a workbench according to one ormore of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:- theoretical pre-positioning (101) said anchoring sliders (5) along said rails (3) as a function of the nominal geometry and of the quantity of said one or more workpieces (4a, 4b);- detecting (102) the exact geometry and the exact position of said one or more workpieces (4a, 4b);- correcting the positioning (103) of said anchoring sliders (5) on said rails (3) as a function of the geometric discrepancies between said nominal geometry and said exact geometry and said exact position;- positioning (104) said one or more workpieces (4a, 4b) on said workbench (1) with consequent compression of said anchoring sliders (5) on said rails (3) with consequent movement of said sliding wheels from their sliding position to their stationary position;- activating (105) said multipolar electromagnets (6) with consequent anchoring of said one or more workpieces (4a, 4b) to said workbench (1).

12. The anchoring method (100) according to claim 11, characterized in that said step of pre-positioning (101) and positioning (103) said anchoring sliders (5) on said rails (3) are performed manually by an operator following either or both of the visual indication of a laser projector, indicating the correct position of said anchoring sliders (5) directly on said rails (3), and the direct communication to said operator of the coordinates of said anchoring sliders (5) with respect to said rails (3), understood as indicating the rail (3) and the longitudinal positioning of each one of said anchoring sliders (5) on the respective one of said rails (3); each one of said rails (3) being equipped with a graduated scale.

13. The anchoring method (100) according to claim 12, characterized in that said steps of pre-positioning (101) and correcting the positioning (102) of said anchoring sliders (5) on said rails (3) are performed in an automated manner by means of the combined actuation of said chainconveyors (9) and said retractable hooks (10).

14. The anchoring method (100) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that said detecting step (102) is performed by means of an optical scan.

15. The anchoring method (100) according to one or more of claims11 to 14, characterized in that said step (104) of positioning said one or more workpieces (4a, 4b) comprises the positioning of multiple workpieces (4a, 4b) positioned on said workbench (1) in such a way as not to interfere with each other.

16. A method of machining (106) one or more steel structural sheets, particularly of large size and thickness, anchored to a workbench according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises one or more steps of machining (107) by stock removal of said one or more workpieces (4a, 4b) and a step (108) of continuous evacuation of said chips produced during said machining steps (107) by means of the continuous movement of said chain conveyors (9).

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