Operating station to bend a component made of a metal sheet in an article manufacturing machine

Abstract

An operating station (1) is described for an article manufacturing machine configured to perform the bending of a component (C) made of a metal sheet with a transport conveyor (2) for the component (C) to be bent, which develops along a bending path (P); wherein the transport conveyor (2) is connected to a plurality of support devices (4), each provided with a respective pocket (10) configured to accommodate a component (C) to be bent; and at least one bending unit (7) arranged along the bending path (P) comprising an upper bending assembly (11A) and a lower bending assembly (11B), which cooperate to at least partially bend an appendage (L) of the component (C); wherein each pocket (10) is configured to be arranged, in use, in the area of the bending unit (7) between the upper bending assembly (11A) and the lower bending assembly (11B) and wherein the upper bending assembly (11A) and the lower bending assembly (11B) comprise a number of members (12, 13, 14, 16) movable along a same direction (T) between a rest position and an operating position, in which said members (12, 13, 14, 16) are in contact with the component (C) and cooperate to at least partially bend the appendage (L).

Description

[0001] “OPERATING STATION TO BEND A COMPONENT MADE OF A METAL SHEET IN AN ARTICLE MANUFACTURING MACHINE”

[0002] Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0003] This Patent Application claims priority from Italian Patent Application No. 102024000000417 filed on January 11, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0004] Technical Field

[0005] This invention relates to an operating station for an article manufacturing machine configured to perform the bending of a component made of a metal sheet.

[0006] Prior Art

[0007] As is well known, a manufacturing machine for the production and / or assembly of articles, e.g. in the context of electronic cigarettes, generally comprises a feed system that extends along a processing path and comprises multiple processing stations that are arranged in succession along the feed system and are implemented to feed components of the article or to perform processing on the semi-finished articles.

[0008] Feed systems with a linear transport conveyor, which in turn comprises a number of trolleys (or trays) independent of each other and designed to receive and hold the article components, are becoming increasingly popular. In particular, the linear transport conveyor supports the trolleys and moves them cyclically through the operating stations where processing is carried out on the semi-finished articles or components are fed to the semi-finished articles.

[0009] In some cases, along these feed systems, there is a processing station configured to perform the bending of components made of metallic material, in particular components that are fed by a tape and reel conveyor and comprise a metal sheet of reduced thickness and bent in a serpentine fashion.

[0010] A processing station for bending components made of a known metal is described, for example, in US2007240384.

[0011] In this regard, there is more and more need for technical solutions to improve the operation of such bending stations, particularly when the components to be bent are small. Description of the Invention

[0012] The purpose of this invention is to provide an operating station for an article manufacturing machine arranged to perform the bending of a component made of a metal sheet that is free from the drawbacks of the state of the art and is easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

[0013] According to this invention, an operating station for an article manufacturing machine configured to perform the bending of a component made of a metal sheet is provided according to what is established by the attached claims.

[0014] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015] This invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting embodiment thereof, wherein:

[0016] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an operating station for bending components in an article manufacturing machine made in accordance with this invention and with parts removed for clarity;

[0017] Figure 2 is a side view of the operating station in Figure 1 ;

[0018] Figures 3 to 5 illustrate a portion of the station 1 operating during successive stages of a component bending process.

[0019] Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

[0020] A manufacturing machine for the production of articles comprises a feed system that extends along a processing path and multiple operating (or processing) stations that are arranged in succession along the feed system and are implemented to feed various components of the semi-finished article or to perform processing on the semi-finished articles. Advantageously, the articles are used in the electronic cigarette sector.

[0021] The manufacturing machine also includes, among other things, a station 1 for bending a component C to be inserted into the article illustrated in Figure 1.

[0022] Advantageously, the component C is made of metal.

[0023] The component C comprises a main body with a substantially rectangular or oval shape in plan view, the measurements of which are between 20 mm and 50 mm per side; preferably, these measurements are between 25 mm and 35 mm per side. The component C comprises a metal sheet between 0.1 mm and 3 mm thick, preferably between 0.2 mm and 1 mm. The metal sheet is between 0.5 mm and 3 mm wide; preferably between 0.8 mm and 1.5 mm.

[0024] The metal sheet is pre-cut with variable shapes. For example, the metal sheet comprises a main body with a substantially rectangular shape in plan; alternatively, the metal sheet can be bent into a serpentine shape.

[0025] The component C to be bent has a number of flat appendages L projecting from the main body; the number of appendages is preferably between 1 and 4. The appendages L are made to be bent during the bending process within the station 1.

[0026] The bending station 1 comprises a conveyor 2 to transport the components 1. According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the transport conveyor 2 for the components C comprises a drum 3 rotating around an axis Y.

[0027] Alternatively, the transport conveyor 2 for components C comprises a linear conveyor, e.g. a belt or chain conveyor or a linear electric motor conveyor.

[0028] The drum 3 supports multiple support devices 4, each of which is configured to accommodate a respective component C. The support devices 4 are evenly distributed around the axis Y and arranged on the periphery of the drum 3.

[0029] The components C travel along a bending path P that extends along an arc of the drum 3 from an input station 5 of the components C to be bent to an output station 6 of the bent components C.

[0030] The bending station 1 comprises a feed device (not illustrated) for the components C to be bent within the support devices 4 arranged at the input station 5 and a collecting device (not illustrated) for the bent components C to take them from the support devices 4 and transfer them downstream of the bending station 1. The components C to be bent are preferably fed to the support devices 4 at the input station 5 from a tape and reel machine. The bending station 1 then comprises a number of bending units 7 arranged along the bending path P. Advantageously, the bending station 1 comprises a single bending unit 7 arranged along the bending path P. Alternatively, if the component C comprises a single appendage L, the bending station 1 may comprise multiple bending units 7 (e.g., two bending units 7) arranged along the bending path P for bending the appendage L so as to improve the productivity of the bending station 1. The bending units 7 are essentially identical and independent of each other. Alternatively, if the component C comprises more than one appendage L, the bending station 1 may comprise multiple bending units 7 arranged along the bending path P; wherein each bending unit 7 is configured to bend a respective appendage L. Preferably, the number of bending units 7 is equal to the number of appendages L.

[0031] Alternatively, if the component C comprises more than one appendage L, multiple bending stations 1 are provided, arranged along the bending path P; wherein each bending station 1 is configured to bend a respective appendage L. Preferably, the number of stations 1 is equal to the number of appendages L.

[0032] Each support device 4 comprises a connecting arm 8, which is connected at a first (inner) end to the drum 3 and is provided with a support element 9 of a respective component C at a second (outer) end; the support element 9 defines a pocket 10 (or seat) for the component C to be bent. The support devices 4 are preferably fixed to the drum 3.

[0033] The pocket 10 has a profile designed to surround and contact the component C to be bent. It is important to emphasise that the component C to be bent and the walls of the pocket 10 remain in contact throughout the bending process; more specifically, the component C to be bent and the walls of the pocket 10 remain in contact along the entire bending path P, i.e. from the input station 5 of the components C to be bent to the output station 6 of the bent components C. In other words, the component C to be bent is never transferred externally to the pocket 10 during the bending process.

[0034] Advantageously, the pocket 10 is equipped with a number of magnets (e.g. three or four magnets) for retaining the components C.

[0035] In use, the pocket 10 is arranged at the bending unit 7.

[0036] The bending unit 7 comprises an upper bending assembly 11A and a lower bending assembly 11B. The two bending assemblies 11 A, 11B are configured to co-operate to bend the appendage L. Advantageously, the pocket 10 is configured to be arranged (or interposed) in use between the upper bending assembly 11A and a lower bending assembly 1 IB. The two bending assemblies 11A, 1 IB are configured to act as contrasting elements to bend the appendage L.

[0037] In particular, the bending assembly 11A comprises a (first) upper locking member 12, which is configured to lock the component C at the top, in particular its main body, during the bending process of the appendage L. It is also important to highlight that the pocket 10 itself acts as a lower locking member of the component C, in particular its main body, during the bending process of the appendage L. The (first) locking member 12 is movable along a direction T from a raised position in which it does not interact with the component C to a lowered position in which it is in contact with the component C, and vice versa from the lowered to the raised position.

[0038] Advantageously, the locking member 12 is equipped with a respective mechanical endstop element, preferably equipped with dampening means (e.g. a spring).

[0039] In addition, the bending assembly 11A comprises a (second) upper member 13 that is configured to clasp (clamp) a portion L* of the appendage L at the top during the process of bending the appendage L. The upper member 13 is also movable along the direction T from a raised position in which it does not interact with component C to a lowered position in which it is in contact with the component C, in particular to clasp the portion L*, and vice versa from the lowered to the raised position. In particular, the upper member 13 is provided with a substantially flat, thin lower surface 13 A configured to contact the appendage L. Advantageously, the lower surface 13 A has a width that substantially approximates the width of the sheet.

[0040] The bending assembly 11B comprises a (third) lower member 14 that is configured to clasp (clamp) the portion L* at the bottom during the bending process of the appendage L. The lower member 14 is also movable along the direction T from a lowered (rest) position in which it is arranged at a distance from the component C to a raised (operating) position in which it is in contact with the component C, in particular to clasp the portion L*, and vice versa from the lowered to the raised position. In particular, the lower member 14 is provided with a substantially flat, thin upper surface 14A configured to contact the appendage L. Advantageously, the upper surface 14A has a width that substantially approximates the width of the sheet.

[0041] The two lower and upper members 13, 14 cooperate to clasp (clamp) the portion L* during the bending process of the appendage L. Advantageously, the two lower and upper members 13, 14 operate like pincers and are actuated simultaneously. In other words, when the upper member 13 moves from the raised position to the lowered position to clasp the portion L*, the lower member 14 also moves from the lowered position to the raised position to clasp the portion L*. Advantageously, the lower and upper members 13, 14 are equipped with a respective mechanical end-stop elements, preferably provided with dampening means (e.g. a spring). Finally, the bending assembly 11B comprises a (fourth) bending member 16, which is configured to bend the free end of the appendage L (i.e. the portion that is not clamped between the two lower and upper members 13, 14) during the bending process of the appendage L. The bending member 16 is also movable along the direction T from a lowered (rest) position in which it is arranged at a distance from the appendage L to a raised (operating) position in which it is in contact with the appendage L, in particular to bend the free end of the appendage L, and vice versa, from the raised to the lowered position.

[0042] In particular, the bending member 16 is provided with a front profile 16A substantially complementary to the profile of the upper member 13. In other words, the front profile 16A and the upper member 13 cooperate to bend the free end of the appendage L.

[0043] The bending member 16 is preferably not equipped with a respective mechanical endstop element.

[0044] The movement of the upper bending assembly 11 A and the lower bending assembly 1 IB is controlled using operating means 17. Advantageously, the operating means 17 comprise a connecting rod-crank system to move the members 12, 13, 14 and 16 from the raised to the lowered position, and vice versa, from the lowered to the raised position. The operating means 17 in particular comprise a shaft 18 rotating about an axis Z, which is essentially transverse to the axis Y. The shaft 18 is connected at two opposite ends to two respective arms (or connecting rods), labelled 9A and 9B, which are configured to control the movements of the members 12 and 13 and the members 14 and 16, respectively.

[0045] Alternatively, the operating means 17 comprise a number of pneumatically or electrically actuated devices (of a known type and not described in detail) configured to move the members from the raised to the lowered position, and vice versa, from the lowered to the raised position.

[0046] The method for bending the component C using the bending station 1 described in the preceding discussion is described below. In particular, the following steps occur in succession: the component C is transferred into a respective pocket 10 at the input station 5; the pocket 10 travels along the bending path P from the input station 5 to the bending unit 7 ; as illustrated in Figure 3, at the bending unit 7, the support arm 4 (in particular its pocket 10) is arranged between the upper bending assembly 11A and the lower bending assembly 1 IB; more specifically, the component C to be bent is arranged inside the pocket 10, in contact only with the walls of the pocket 10 and facing the upper bending assembly 11 A; as illustrated in Figure 4, the shaft 18 performs a partial rotation about the axis Z (in particular counter-clockwise) so as to drive the locking member 12 along the direction T from the raised to the lowered position; in the lowered position, the locking member 12 is placed in contact with the component C, in particular its main body, in order to lock it at the top; at the same time, the partial rotation about the axis Z (particularly counterclockwise) of the shaft 18 drives both the upper and lower members 13, 14 along the direction T from the raised position to the lowered position and from the lowered position to the raised position respectively, so that the portion L* is clasped between the surfaces 13A and 14A; as illustrated in Figure 5, the bending member 16 moves along the direction T from the lowered position to the raised position; in the raised position, the bending member 16 is arranged in contact with the component C, in particular, its front profile cooperates with the upper member 13 to bend the free end of the appendage L; once the bending step of the appendage L is completed, both the upper bending assembly 11A and the lower bending assembly 11B return to the position illustrated in Figure 3 in which the bent component C is placed inside the pocket 10, in contact with the walls of the pocket 10 and facing the upper bending assembly 11 A; the pocket 10 travels along the bending path P from the bending unit 7 to the output station 6; and the bent component C is taken from the pocket 10 and transferred downstream to the bending station 1.

[0047] List of Reference Numbers

[0048] 1 station

[0049] 2 transport conveyor

[0050] 3 drum

[0051] 4 support devices

[0052] 5 input station

[0053] 6 output station

[0054] 7 bending unit

[0055] 8 connecting arm

[0056] 9 support element

[0057] 10 pocket

[0058] 11, 11A, 11B bending assembly

[0059] 12 locking member

[0060] 13 upper member for clasping

[0061] 13A surface

[0062] 14 lower member for clasping

[0063] 14A surface

[0064] 16 bending member

[0065] 16A profile

[0066] 17 operating means

[0067] 18 shaft

[0068] 19, 19A, 19B arm

[0069] C component

[0070] Y axis

[0071] P bending path

[0072] L appendage

[0073] L* portion

[0074] T direction

[0075] Z axis

Claims

C L A I M S1. An operating station (1) for an article manufacturing machine configured to perform the bending of a component (C) made of a metal sheet comprising:- a transport conveyor (2) for the component (C) to be bent, which develops along a bending path (P); wherein the transport conveyor (2) is connected to a plurality of support devices (4), each provided with a respective pocket (10) configured to accommodate a component (C) to be bent; and- at least one bending unit (7) arranged along the bending path (P); the station is characterised in that the bending unit (7) comprises an upper bending assembly (11A) and a lower bending assembly (1 IB), which cooperate to at least partially bend an appendage (L) of the component (C); wherein each pocket (10) is configured to be arranged, in use, in the area of the bending unit (7) between the upper bending assembly (11A) and the lower bending assembly (11B) and wherein the upper bending assembly (11A) and the lower bending assembly (11B) comprise a number of members (12, 13, 14, 16) movable along a same direction (T) between a rest position, in which they are at a distance from the component (C), and an operating position, in which said members (12, 13, 14, 16) are in contact with the component (C) and cooperate to at least partially bend the appendage (L), and vice versa.

2. The operating station according to claim 1, wherein the upper bending assembly (11 A) comprises a first upper locking member (12), which is configured to lock the component (C) at the top, in particular a main body thereof, during the at least partial bending of the appendage (L).

3. The operating station according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the upper bending assembly (11A) comprises a second upper member (13), which is configured to clamp a first portion (L*) of said appendage (L) at the top and wherein the lower bending assembly (11B) comprises a third lower member (14), which is configured to clamp said first portion (L*) at the bottom.

4. The operating station according to claim 3, wherein the lower bending assembly (11B) comprises a fourth bending member (16) having a front profile (16A) that is substantially complementary to the second member (13) so as to at least partially bend the appendage (L).

5. The operating station according to any one of the preceding claims and comprising operating means (17), in particular a connecting rod-crank system, to control the movement of said number of members (12, 13, 14, 16) along the direction (T) between the rest position and the operating position.

6. The operating station according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport conveyor (2) for the components (C) to be bent comprises a drum (3) capable of rotating around a second axis (Y).

7. The operating station according to any one of the claims from 1 to 5, wherein the transport conveyor (2) for the components (C) to be bent comprises a linear conveyor, in particular a belt or chain conveyor or a linear electric motor conveyor.

8. The operating station according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the components (C) move along the bending path (P) from an input station (5) for the components (C) to be bent to an output station (6) for the bent components.

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