Processing apparatus for metal corrugated plate

Abstract

The present invention provides a processing apparatus for a metal corrugated plate, comprising a first die, a blank holder, and a second die. The first die comprises a shaping recess located on an integral member. The blank holder is removably attached to the first die, and is configured to restrict movement of a metal plate relative to a base member in a first direction perpendicular to the metal plate, while allowing the metal plate to move relative to the base member within a plane in which the metal plate is located. The first die and the second die are respectively arranged on two sides of the metal plate. The second die comprises a shaping protrusion having a contour shape that matches the shaping recess. The second die is movable relative to the first die along the first direction between a processing position, in which the metal plate is pressed into the shaping recess to form corrugations, and a reset position, in which the shaping protrusion is moved out of the shaping recess. In the solution of the present invention, most movable components and corresponding drive mechanisms in the processing apparatus are eliminated, so that the failure rate of the processing apparatus can be reduced while ensuring a thinning rate, thereby facilitating reduction of costs and maintenance difficulty.

Description

Processing equipment for metal corrugated sheets

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application CN202510228268.9, filed on February 28, 2025, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates to the field of metal sheet processing, and more particularly to a processing apparatus for corrugated metal sheets used in liquefied gas storage tanks. Background Technology

[0003] Liquefied natural gas (LNG), with its green, environmentally friendly, and efficient advantages, has long been the preferred energy source to replace oil, becoming one of the fastest-growing energy sectors globally. With my country's rapid economic development and increasingly stringent environmental governance requirements, the application and development of LNG are receiving growing attention, especially given the frequent occurrence of smog, which has highlighted the importance of LNG and triggered a rapid increase in societal demand for clean energy. LNG is one of the key areas for future clean energy development in China.

[0004] LNG typically relies on transportation equipment, such as ships and other marine equipment, for transport. The main components of an LNG receiving terminal include terminal unloading, LNG storage, processing, and export. Among these, the LNG storage tanks, which bear the responsibility of storage, have the longest construction period, the most advanced technology, and the most challenges during the project construction process, and are consistently managed as the critical path of the entire project. Furthermore, the structural design and technological innovation of LNG storage tanks are a key focus for domestic and international industry professionals. Technical issues

[0005] In LNG storage tanks, the corrugated sheets used to form the sealing layer need to maintain good sealing performance and stability under various operating conditions. Therefore, the configuration and quality of the corrugated sheets are particularly important, and the requirements for the manufacturing process are also high. In existing processes for manufacturing corrugated sheets, the corrugations are made by simple bending and stamping dies. The corrugated sheets produced in this way have issues with material uniformity, smoothness, and strength at the corrugations, especially at the intersection of transverse and longitudinal corrugations.

[0006] Furthermore, current processing equipment has numerous components, requiring synchronized operation of each part during processing. This makes operation complex and prone to malfunctions. Failure to coordinate or synchronize between any two components can easily lead to processing defects and waste of raw materials, thus requiring further improvement in the yield rate. As for the processing equipment itself, the large number of components also results in complex operation and low efficiency in production assembly and subsequent maintenance.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need to provide a processing apparatus to at least partially solve the above-mentioned problems. Technical solutions

[0008] To at least partially achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a processing apparatus for corrugated metal sheets, the processing apparatus comprising:

[0009] A first mold, the first mold including a base component, the base component being constructed as an integral component and provided with a shaping recess;

[0010] A pressure plate, removably attached to the first mold to clamp a metal sheet to be processed at least partially covering the shaping recess between the first mold and the pressure plate, wherein the pressure plate restricts movement of the metal sheet relative to the base member along a first direction perpendicular to the metal sheet and allows movement of the metal sheet relative to the base member in a plane perpendicular to the first direction; and

[0011] A second mold is provided on both sides of the metal plate, the first mold and the second mold being respectively disposed on both sides of the metal plate. The second mold includes a shaping protrusion having a contour shape that matches the shaping recess. The second mold is movable relative to the base component along the first direction between a processing position and a reset position. In the processing position, the shaping protrusion is capable of pressing at least a portion of the metal plate into the shaping recess to form a corrugation. In the reset position, the shaping protrusion is moved out of the shaping recess.

[0012] In some embodiments, at least one of the surface of the metal plate, the surface of the base member in contact with the metal plate, and the surface of the pressure plate in contact with the metal plate has a friction-reducing arrangement.

[0013] In some embodiments, the friction-reducing arrangement includes a film attached to the surface, the film having a coefficient of friction less than that of at least one of the metal plate, the base component, and the pressure plate.

[0014] In some embodiments, the metal plate has a pre-formed first corrugation extending along a first corrugation direction, and the processing device is used to process a second corrugation extending along a second corrugation direction, the second corrugation direction being perpendicular to the first corrugation direction. The first mold is provided with a clearance recess, and the first corrugation is accommodated in the clearance recess when the metal plate is clamped between the first mold and the pressure plate.

[0015] In some embodiments, the pressure plate is provided with a fixing protrusion. When the metal plate is clamped between the first mold and the pressure plate, the fixing protrusion extends into the first corrugation and clamps and fixes the first corrugation along the first direction with the avoidance recess.

[0016] In some embodiments, the first mold further includes an auxiliary shaping component disposed on the side of the first mold opposite to the second mold, and having an auxiliary shaping protrusion at one end facing the metal plate for processing a knot feature at the intersection of the first corrugation and the second corrugation. The auxiliary shaping component is movably disposed between a second processing position where the auxiliary shaping protrusion presses the metal plate and a second reset position where the auxiliary shaping protrusion is away from the metal plate.

[0017] In some embodiments, the auxiliary shaping components include two that are arranged on both sides of the shaping recess along the first corrugation direction.

[0018] In some embodiments, the two auxiliary shaping components are spaced a first distance apart along the first corrugation direction when they are in the second reset position and a second distance apart along the first corrugation direction when they are in the second processing position, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

[0019] In some embodiments, the first mold includes an auxiliary shaping frame and a first guiding mechanism, the auxiliary shaping component is mounted on the auxiliary shaping frame, and the first guiding mechanism is configured to guide the auxiliary shaping component to move along the first corrugation direction.

[0020] In some embodiments, the first guiding mechanism includes:

[0021] A combination of mutually cooperating guide pins and guide holes, wherein the guide pins extend in a manner parallel to the first corrugation direction, and / or

[0022] A combination of a cooperating guide slider and a guide groove, wherein the guide groove extends in a manner parallel to the direction of the first corrugation.

[0023] In some embodiments, the first guiding mechanism includes a guide pin mounted on the auxiliary shaping frame, the auxiliary shaping component having a guide hole and being movably mounted on the guide pin through the guide hole, and the auxiliary shaping component also having an oil drip hole extending through the guide hole.

[0024] In some embodiments, the auxiliary shaping member is provided with at least one of a cam surface and a traction device, and the distance between the two auxiliary shaping members along the first corrugation direction is automatically adjusted by the cam surface and / or the traction device as the auxiliary shaping member moves between the second reset position and the second processing position.

[0025] In some embodiments, the first mold is provided with a through cavity extending into the shaping recess, and at least a portion of the stroke of the auxiliary shaping component moving from the second reset position to the second processing position is located within the through cavity. The auxiliary shaping component is provided with a first cam surface, and a second cam surface is provided within the through cavity. During the process of the auxiliary shaping component moving from the second reset position to the second processing position, the first cam surface and the second cam surface cooperate to automatically adjust the distance between the two auxiliary shaping components along the first corrugation direction to the second distance.

[0026] In some embodiments, the traction device includes at least one of an elastic element, a hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic device, an electric motor, and a ball screw.

[0027] In some embodiments, the processing apparatus includes an additional guiding mechanism configured to guide the auxiliary shaping member to move relative to the base member along the first direction.

[0028] In some embodiments, the processing apparatus includes an additional guiding mechanism configured to guide the second mold to move relative to the first mold in the first direction.

[0029] In some embodiments, the additional guiding mechanism includes:

[0030] A combination of mutually cooperating guide pins and guide holes, wherein the guide pins extend in a manner parallel to the first direction, and / or

[0031] A combination of mutually cooperating guide sliders and guide grooves, wherein the guide grooves extend in a manner parallel to the first direction.

[0032] In some embodiments, the auxiliary shaping protrusion has a profile that tapers toward the metal plate in a cross section perpendicular to the second corrugation direction, and the end of the auxiliary shaping protrusion is constructed as an arc-shaped surface.

[0033] In some embodiments, the auxiliary shaping protrusion has a uniform cross-sectional shape along the second corrugation direction, or

[0034] The auxiliary shaping protrusion has a notch that spans the crest of the first wave at a position corresponding to the crest of the first wave.

[0035] In some embodiments, a latch and an elastic element are provided at the longitudinal center of the shaped protrusion, and the latch elastically protrudes outward along the first direction relative to the rest of the shaped protrusion under the action of the elastic element. Beneficial effects

[0036] According to the present invention, the structure of the processing device is simpler, especially by eliminating most of the moving parts and corresponding drive or linkage mechanisms. Therefore, while ensuring the metal sheet thinning rate remains within acceptable limits, the possibility of the moving parts of the processing device failing to move into position due to malfunction can be greatly reduced, thus improving the yield and reliability of the processing operation. This design also reduces production costs for the processing device itself and simplifies maintenance during use. Attached Figure Description

[0037] To better understand the above and other objects, features, advantages, and functions of the present invention, reference can be made to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings refer to the same parts. Those skilled in the art should understand that the drawings are intended to schematically illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention in any way; the parts in the drawings are not drawn to scale.

[0038] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a processing apparatus according to some preferred embodiments of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the first mold of the processing device in Figure 1;

[0040] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the pressure plate of the processing device in Figure 1;

[0041] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the second mold of the processing device in Figure 1;

[0042] Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views of the auxiliary processing components of the processing device in Figure 1 from different angles.

[0043] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the limiting frame of the first mold in Figure 2;

[0044] Figure 8 shows an alternative configuration of the auxiliary processing component of the processing apparatus according to the present invention;

[0045] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of processing a metal corrugated sheet using the processing apparatus according to the present invention;

[0046] Figures 10A-10C are schematic diagrams illustrating the change in distance between two auxiliary processing components as the stroke progresses during the processing of corrugated metal sheets; and

[0047] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of a metal corrugated plate processed using the processing apparatus of the present invention.

[0048] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0049] 1. Processing equipment;

[0050] 10. First mold;

[0051] 11. Base components;

[0052] 111. Shape the concave part;

[0053] 112. Avoid the concave part;

[0054] 114. Through cavity;

[0055] 115. First guide hole;

[0056] 116. Fixing hole;

[0057] 12. Limiting frame;

[0058] 121. Second guide half-groove;

[0059] 122. The second wedge;

[0060] 123. Second cam surface;

[0061] 20. Pressure plate;

[0062] 21. Fixed convex part;

[0063] 22. Through hole;

[0064] 30. Second mold;

[0065] 31. Shaping protrusions;

[0066] 32. Guide column;

[0067] 33. Second mold body;

[0068] 40. Auxiliary shaping components;

[0069] 41. Assist in shaping protrusions;

[0070] 42. Auxiliary shaping frame;

[0071] 421. First guide half-groove;

[0072] 43. First guiding mechanism;

[0073] 44. Second guide hole;

[0074] 45. First wedge;

[0075] 451. First cam surface;

[0076] 46. ​​Oil drip hole;

[0077] 47. Guide pin;

[0078] 50. Replacement for auxiliary shaping components;

[0079] 51. Replacement for auxiliary shaping protrusions;

[0080] 52. Notch;

[0081] 200. Corrugated sheet;

[0082] 201. Metal plate body;

[0083] 202. First ripple;

[0084] 203. Second ripple;

[0085] 204. Intersection;

[0086] D1, First Direction;

[0087] D2, First ripple direction;

[0088] D3, Second ripple direction;

[0089] L1, first distance;

[0090] L2, the second distance. Embodiments of the present invention

[0091] Now, with reference to the accompanying drawings, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. The embodiments described herein are merely preferred embodiments of the invention; those skilled in the art can conceive of other ways to implement the invention based on these preferred embodiments, and such other ways also fall within the scope of the invention.

[0092] This invention provides a processing apparatus for a metal corrugated sheet, more specifically, for processing a metal sheet to form corrugations. This corrugated sheet is suitable for manufacturing storage containers, particularly liquefied gas storage tanks for marine engineering equipment (e.g., ships) or land-based engineering equipment, wherein the liquefied gas includes, for example, liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquid nitrogen, liquid oxygen, liquid hydrogen, and liquid helium. An example of a corrugated sheet is shown in Figure 11. The corrugated sheet 200 is processed from a flat metal sheet and includes a metal sheet body 201, a first corrugation 202, and a second corrugation 203. The first corrugation 202 protrudes more than the metal sheet body 201 than the second corrugation 203, and the extension directions of both the first corrugation 202 and the second corrugation 203 within the plane of the metal sheet body 201 are approximately perpendicular. Therefore, the first corrugation 202 can also be referred to as a large corrugation, and the second corrugation 203 can also be referred to as a small corrugation. Preferably, the junction 204 of the first corrugation 202 and the second corrugation 203 is further processed to form a knot feature to enhance the structural strength of the junction 204.

[0093] In some embodiments, the second corrugation 203 (i.e., the small corrugation) of the corrugated plate 200 is formed by a processing apparatus according to the invention. The first corrugation 202 (i.e., the large corrugation) can be pre-formed through a preceding process. In some embodiments, both the first corrugation 202 and the second corrugation 203 can be formed by a processing apparatus according to the invention, for example, by forming the first corrugation 202 and the second corrugation 203 respectively through two independent processes using a processing apparatus according to the invention.

[0094] The preferred embodiments of the processing apparatus are described below with reference to Figures 1 to 10C.

[0095] First, it should be noted that the directional and positional terms mentioned in this invention are merely exemplary descriptions and not limiting descriptions. Descriptions of the position of components should be understood as relative positions rather than absolute positions, and descriptions of the extension direction of components should be understood as relative directions rather than absolute directions. Specifically, directional and positional terms related to the processing device can be understood with reference to the characteristics of the corrugated plate 200, which is the object of processing. For example, the direction perpendicular to the plane containing the corrugated plate 200 (approximately parallel to the metal plate body 201) can be defined as the first direction D1, the extension direction of the first corrugation 202 as the first corrugation direction D2, and the extension direction of the second corrugation 203 as the second corrugation direction D3. The first direction D1, the first corrugation direction D2, and the second corrugation direction D3 are substantially orthogonal to each other.

[0096] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the processing apparatus 1 includes a first mold 10, a pressure plate 20, and a second mold 30. The first mold 10 is provided with a shaping recess 111, which is generally constructed as a continuous groove and has a cross-sectional profile that is approximately the same as the corrugations to be formed, for receiving the plastically deformed portion of the metal sheet during processing to form corrugations. The pressure plate 20 is removably attached to the first mold 10 for clamping the metal sheet to be processed between the pressure plate 20 and the first mold 10, so that the metal sheet remains fixed relative to the processing apparatus 1 during processing.

[0097] The second mold 30 is disposed on the side of the metal plate opposite to the first mold 10. That is, the first mold 10 and the second mold 30 are located on opposite sides of the metal plate. Depending on their relative positions during processing, the first mold 10 may also be referred to as the lower mold, and the second mold 30 may also be referred to as the upper mold. The second mold 30 includes a shaping protrusion 31, which is constructed as a continuous protrusion on the second mold body 33 and has a cross-sectional profile that is approximately the same as the corrugations to be formed. Therefore, the shape of the shaping protrusion 31 matches the shape of the shaping recess 111. The second mold 30 can move relative to the first mold 10 along a first direction D1 between a reset position and a processing position under the action of a drive mechanism (not shown) or the like. The processing position is shown in FIG1. ​​In this position, the shaping protrusion 31 of the second mold 30 can enter the shaping recess 111 to form a convex-concave fit. In this manner, with the metal plate fixed to the first mold 10 by the pressure plate 20, the portion of the metal plate corresponding to the shaping recess 111 is pressed into the shaping recess 111 by the shaping protrusion 31, resulting in plastic deformation and forming predetermined corrugations on the metal plate. The reset position is shown in Figure 9. In this position, the second mold 30 is away from the first mold 10, and the shaping protrusion 31 is removed from the shaping recess 111, thereby allowing operations such as removing the processed corrugated plate and placing a new metal plate to be processed to be performed.

[0098] Preferably, to facilitate positioning between the first mold 10 and the second mold 30 and guide their relative movement along the first direction D1, the processing device is provided with an additional guiding mechanism. Specifically, the first mold 10 is provided with a first guide hole 115, and the second mold 30 is provided with a guide post 32. During the movement of the second mold 30 toward the processing position, the guide post 32 inserts into the first guide hole 115 to achieve guiding positioning. Of course, the guide post can also be provided on the first mold 10, and the first guide hole can be provided on the second mold 30, or both can have corresponding guide posts and first guide holes. In other alternative embodiments, the additional guiding mechanism may also include other feasible guiding forms such as a combination of guide sliders and guide grooves.

[0099] Traditional processing devices typically have multiple movable parts with cavities, which move in tandem with the processing operation, moving closer to or further away. When moving closer, the cavities of these movable parts join together to form a molding recess. According to the present invention, the molding recess 111 is provided on a one-piece component. For example, the first mold 10 includes a base component 11 constructed as a one-piece component, and the molding recess 111 is constructed as a groove on the base component 11. Compared with conventional processing devices, the solution of the present invention is obviously simpler. In particular, by eliminating most of the movable parts and the corresponding drive or linkage mechanisms, the possibility of the movable parts of the processing device failing to move into position due to malfunction can be greatly reduced, thus improving the yield and reliability of the processing operation. This configuration also reduces production costs for the processing device itself and simplifies maintenance during use.

[0100] Traditional processing devices employ complex drive or linkage mechanisms and splicing methods to form the shaping recesses in order to ensure that the metal sheet has a roughly uniform thickness, preventing excessive thinning in any area due to pressure during corrugation forming. In contrast, the present invention achieves this objective with a different setup. According to the present invention, the pressure plate 20 is removably attached to the first mold 10. In some embodiments, the base component 11 of the first mold 10 is provided with a fixing hole 116, and the pressure plate 20 is provided with a through hole 22. After the pressure plate 20 is installed in place, fasteners such as bolts and pins can be used to attach the pressure plate 20 to the base component 11 by passing through the through hole 22 and connecting it to the fixing hole 116. In other words, the pressure plate 20 is essentially a stationary component during processing after the metal sheet is installed in place. Therefore, the complex drive or linkage mechanisms for the pressure plate in traditional processing devices can be omitted, further simplifying the structure and facilitating the realization of the aforementioned technical effects.

[0101] The pressure plate 20 limits the movement of the metal plate along the first direction D1, preventing it from moving relative to the first mold 10, but allowing the metal plate to move relative to the first mold 10 in a plane perpendicular to the first direction D1. In this way, during processing, as the metal plate is pressed into the shaping recess 111 by the shaping protrusion 31, the portions of the metal plate located on both sides of the shaping recess 111 are pulled closer together, thereby preventing excessive thinning caused by excessive stretching of the portion of the metal plate pressed into the shaping recess 111. This clamping and fixing effect of the pressure plate 20 on the metal plate can be achieved by adjusting the tightening force of the fasteners. In some embodiments, friction-reducing treatment can also be applied to the contacting surfaces such as the metal plate surface, the pressure plate 20 surface, and the first mold 10 surface. For example, a coating operation can be performed on at least one surface, and the coefficient of friction of the coating is less than that of at least one surface. Alternatively, lubricating grease or the like can be applied to these surfaces.

[0102] In some embodiments, the processing apparatus according to the invention is specifically designed for processing a metal sheet pre-formed with a first corrugation 202 to form a second corrugation 203. Preferably, the base component 11 of the first mold 10 is further provided with a clearance recess 112, which is generally constructed as a continuous groove perpendicular to the shaping recess 111 and has a cross-sectional profile approximately the same as the first corrugation 202. When the metal sheet is clamped and fixed between the pressure plate 20 and the first mold 10, the first corrugation 202 is accommodated in the clearance recess 112 to facilitate maintaining the integrity of the pre-processed first corrugation 202 during processing and preventing damage or deformation. Preferably, the pressure plate 20 is provided with a fixing protrusion 21, which is constructed as a continuous protrusion and has a cross-sectional profile approximately the same as the first corrugation 202. Therefore, the shape of the fixing protrusion 21 matches that of the clearance recess 112. When the metal plate is clamped and fixed between the pressure plate 20 and the first mold 10, the fixing protrusion 21 extends into the inner side of the first corrugation 202 and cooperates with the avoidance recess 112 to clamp and fix the first corrugation 202 along the first direction D1.

[0103] Referring to Figures 5 to 7, the processing apparatus 1 according to the present invention further includes an auxiliary shaping member 40, which has an auxiliary shaping protrusion 41 for processing a knot feature at the intersection 204 of the first corrugation 202 and the second corrugation 203. The auxiliary shaping member 40 is disposed on the side of the first mold 10 opposite to the second mold 30. For example, the auxiliary shaping member 40 may be located below the first mold 10. The base component 11 of the first mold 10 is provided with a through cavity 114 extending to the shaping recess 111. It is understood that since both the first corrugation 202 and the second corrugation 203 protrude from the metal plate body 201, and the protrusion height of the first corrugation 202 is greater than the protrusion height of the second corrugation 203, the through cavity 114 also extends to the avoidance recess 112.

[0104] The auxiliary shaping member 40 is movable relative to the first mold 10 along a first direction D1 between a second reset position and a second processing position under the action of a drive mechanism (not shown). The second processing position is shown in FIG1. ​​In this position, the auxiliary shaping protrusion 41 of the auxiliary shaping member 40 can enter the through cavity 114 and compress the first corrugation 202 at the junction 204 to form a predetermined knot feature. Preferably, the operation of the auxiliary shaping protrusion 41 compressing the first corrugation 202 can be performed synchronously with the operation of the shaping protrusion 31 compressing the metal plate to form the second corrugation 203. The second reset position is shown in FIG9. In this position, the auxiliary shaping member 40 is away from the first mold 10, thereby allowing operations such as removing the processed corrugated plate and placing a new metal plate to be processed to be performed. Preferably, a limiting frame 12 is provided on the lower side of the base member 11 for pre-installing the auxiliary shaping member 40 before the processing operation. The internal space of the limiting frame 12 forms part of the through cavity 114. The limiting frame 12 can be a component integrally formed with the base component 11, or it can be made separately and fixedly connected to the base component 11.

[0105] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the auxiliary shaping protrusion 41 has a contour shape that tapers towards the metal plate in a cross-section perpendicular to the second corrugation direction D3. Its end in contact with the metal plate is constructed as an arcuate surface, which can extend to the main body portion of the auxiliary shaping member 40 with a wider cross-section via inclined planes, arcuate surfaces, or a combination of both. Along the second corrugation direction D3, the auxiliary shaping protrusion 41 has a uniform cross-section. Therefore, the auxiliary shaping protrusion 41 presses against the first corrugation 202 as a whole, forming a notch at the pressed position. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 8, according to another embodiment, the alternative auxiliary shaping protrusion 51 of the alternative auxiliary shaping member 50 has a notch 52 at a position corresponding to the crest of the first corrugation 202. During pressing, the notch 52 avoids the crest of the first corrugation 202, and the two ends of the notch 52 press against the first corrugation 202 on both sides of the crest, forming two pits on both sides of the crest of the first corrugation 202.

[0106] Additionally, in some embodiments, the shaping protrusion 31 of the second mold 30 is provided with a latch (not shown) at its midpoint along the length direction, corresponding to the intersection 204 of the corrugated plate 200. This latch, under the elastic force of the elastic member, elastically protrudes outward along the first direction D1 relative to the other parts of the shaping protrusion 31. During processing, the latch can form a peak structure at the intersection, the protrusion height of which relative to the metal plate body 201 is greater than that of the second corrugation 203 and greater than that of the first corrugation 202. By providing the elastic member, the latch can always remain in contact with the metal plate to provide extrusion pressure, and this extrusion pressure is substantially equal to the elastic force. This prevents the latch from applying excessive force to the metal plate during the formation of the peak structure, thus avoiding breaking the metal plate.

[0107] Preferably, the processing device 1 includes two auxiliary shaping components 40, which are arranged on both sides of the shaping recess 111 along the first corrugation direction D2, so as to process the first corrugation 202 on both sides of the second corrugation 203 respectively. The two auxiliary shaping components 40 are mounted on the auxiliary shaping frame 42 to form an integral structure for synchronous movement.

[0108] To guide the movement of the auxiliary shaping member 40 between the second reset position and the second processing position, the processing device is also provided with an additional guiding mechanism. Specifically, as shown in Figures 4 to 7, a first guide semi-groove 421 is provided on the outer side of the auxiliary shaping frame, and a second guide semi-groove 121 is provided on the inner side of the limiting frame 12. Both the first guide semi-groove 421 and the second guide semi-groove 121 have an arc-shaped cross-sectional profile, and the two combine to form a guide groove when the auxiliary shaping member 40 is installed in the limiting frame 12. In addition, a guide pin 47 is inserted into the guide groove to guide the auxiliary shaping member 40 to move along the axial direction defined by the guide post. This axial direction is approximately parallel to the first direction D1. Of course, in alternative embodiments, the additional guiding mechanism may also include other feasible specific guiding methods, such as a combination of guide rails and guide grooves, either alone or simultaneously.

[0109] More preferably, the distance between the two auxiliary shaping components 40 is linked to the position of the auxiliary shaping components 40, that is, the distance between the two auxiliary shaping components 40 is adjustable. Specifically, when the auxiliary shaping components 40 are in the second reset position, the distance between the two auxiliary shaping components 40 is greater, and when the auxiliary shaping components 40 are in the second processing position, the distance between the two auxiliary shaping components 40 is closer. Preferably, the adjustment of the distance between the auxiliary shaping components 40 is achieved by a first guide mechanism 43. For example, the first guide mechanism 43 may include a guide shaft mounted on the auxiliary shaping frame 42. Accordingly, the auxiliary shaping component 40 is provided with a second guide hole 44. The guide shaft extends approximately parallel to the first corrugation direction D2 and passes through the second guide hole 44. Preferably, the auxiliary shaping component 40 is provided with an oil drip hole 46, which extends into the second guide hole 44. Lubricating material can be applied between the second guide hole 44 and the guide shaft through the oil drip hole 46. It is understandable that, in addition to the guide shaft, the first guide mechanism 43 may also include other feasible specific guide methods, such as the combination of guide rails and guide grooves, either alone or simultaneously. Furthermore, the differences between the components referred to in this article, such as guide shafts, guide columns, and guide pins, lie only in their relative dimensions; they have no significant difference in their guiding function. Ignoring dimensions, they can be understood as referring to the same type of component.

[0110] Furthermore, the limiting frame 12 and the auxiliary shaping member 40 are respectively provided with mutually cooperating cam surfaces. As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the side of the auxiliary shaping member 40 is provided with a first wedge 45, which has a first cam surface 451 formed by an inclined surface. The limiting frame 12 is provided with a second wedge 122 corresponding to the first wedge 45 at a corresponding position on its inner side, which has a second cam surface 123 formed by an inclined surface. It can be understood that the inclined surface here refers to the cam surface being inclined relative to the main movement direction (i.e., the first direction D1) of the auxiliary shaping member 40, and the inclination directions of the cam surfaces corresponding to the two auxiliary shaping members 40 are opposite. Referring to Figure 10A, in the second reset position, the two auxiliary shaping members 40 are separated by a first distance L1 (calculated from the outer side where the distance is greatest). As the auxiliary shaping member 40 moves toward the second processing position, the two auxiliary shaping members 40 always maintain the first distance L1 until the first cam surface 451 and the second cam surface 123 come into contact with each other (Figure 10B). Furthermore, as the first cam surface 451 and the second cam surface 123 begin to contact, the tilting of the cam surfaces forces the two auxiliary shaping members 40 to translate towards the center along the guide axis, and the distance between them begins to decrease. Until the second processing position, the distance between them becomes minimal, at a second distance L2. In this way, the distance between the auxiliary shaping members 40 is automatically adjusted through the engagement of the cam surfaces.

[0111] Preferably, the auxiliary shaping member 40 is further provided with a corresponding traction device for resetting the distance between the auxiliary shaping member 40 and the frame 42 to a larger first distance L1 after the auxiliary shaping member 40 returns to the second reset position. In some embodiments, the traction device can be an elastic element such as a spring. Specifically, a spring can be provided between each auxiliary shaping member 40 and the auxiliary shaping frame 42, which is stretched after the cam surface begins to engage, thereby applying a tensile force to the auxiliary shaping member 40. Alternatively, a spring can be provided between two auxiliary shaping members 40, which is compressed after the cam surface begins to engage, thereby applying a compressive rebound force to the auxiliary shaping member 40. Alternatively, different springs can be provided simultaneously to apply tensile force and compressive rebound force respectively. Another embodiment of the traction device can be other feasible drive mechanisms such as hydraulic cylinders, ball screws, pneumatic devices, and electric motors.

[0112] In the embodiments described above, the reduction of the distance between the auxiliary shaping components 40 is achieved by the cam surface, and the increase in distance is achieved by the traction device. However, it is understood that in alternative embodiments, the distance reduction can also be achieved by the traction device and the increase in distance can be achieved by the cam surface, or both the distance reduction and the increase in distance can be achieved by two sets of cam surfaces, or both the distance reduction and the increase in distance can be achieved by the traction device, or a combination of the cam surface and the traction device.

[0113] The above description of various embodiments of the present invention is provided for illustrative purposes to a person skilled in the art. It is not intended to limit the invention to a single disclosed embodiment. As taught above, those skilled in the art will understand various alternatives and variations of the invention. Therefore, although some alternative embodiments have been specifically described, those skilled in the art will understand or relatively easily develop other embodiments. The present invention is intended to include all alternatives, modifications, and variations of the invention described herein, as well as other embodiments falling within the spirit and scope of the invention described above.

Claims

1. A processing apparatus for corrugated metal sheets, characterized in that, The processing apparatus includes: The first mold (10) includes a base component (11), which is constructed as an integral component and is provided with a shaping recess (111). A pressure plate (20), removably attached to the first mold (10) to clamp a metal sheet to be processed at least partially covering the shaping recess (111) between the first mold (10) and the pressure plate (20), wherein the pressure plate (20) restricts movement of the metal sheet relative to the base member (11) along a first direction perpendicular to the metal sheet and allows movement of the metal sheet relative to the base member (11) in a plane perpendicular to the first direction; and The second mold (30) is disposed on both sides of the metal plate, the first mold (10) and the second mold (30) are respectively disposed on both sides of the metal plate, the second mold (30) includes a shaping protrusion (31) having a contour shape that matches the shaping recess (111), the second mold (30) is movable relative to the base member (11) along the first direction between a processing position and a reset position, in the processing position, the shaping protrusion (31) is able to press at least a portion of the metal plate into the shaping recess (111) to form a corrugation, in the reset position, the shaping protrusion (31) is moved out of the shaping recess (111).

2. The processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least one of the surfaces of the metal plate, the surface of the base member (11) in contact with the metal plate, and the surface of the pressure plate (20) in contact with the metal plate has a friction-reducing arrangement.

3. The processing apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, The friction-reducing arrangement includes a film attached to the surface, the film having a coefficient of friction less than that of at least one of the metal plate, the base component (11), and the pressure plate (20).

4. The processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The metal plate has a pre-formed first corrugation (202) extending along the first corrugation direction, and the processing device is used to process a second corrugation (203) extending along the second corrugation direction, the second corrugation direction being perpendicular to the first corrugation direction. The first mold (10) is provided with a relief recess (112). When the metal plate is held between the first mold (10) and the pressure plate (20), the first corrugation (202) is accommodated in the relief recess (112).

5. The processing apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that, The pressure plate (20) is provided with a fixing protrusion (21). When the metal plate is clamped between the first mold (10) and the pressure plate (20), the fixing protrusion (21) extends into the first corrugation (202) and clamps and fixes the first corrugation (202) along the first direction with the avoidance recess (112).

6. The processing apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first mold (10) further includes an auxiliary shaping component (40), which is disposed on the side of the first mold (10) away from the second mold (30) and has an auxiliary shaping protrusion (41) at one end facing the metal plate for processing a knot feature at the intersection (204) of the first corrugation (202) and the second corrugation (203). The auxiliary shaping component (40) is movably disposed between a second processing position where the auxiliary shaping protrusion (41) presses the metal plate and a second reset position where the auxiliary shaping protrusion (41) is away from the metal plate.

7. The processing apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that, The auxiliary shaping component (40) includes two components arranged on both sides of the shaping recess (111) along the first corrugation direction.

8. The processing apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that, The two auxiliary shaping components (40) are spaced a first distance apart along the first corrugation direction when they are in the second reset position and a second distance apart along the first corrugation direction when they are in the second processing position, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

9. The processing apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that, The first mold (10) includes an auxiliary shaping frame (42) and a first guiding mechanism. The auxiliary shaping component (40) is mounted on the auxiliary shaping frame (42), and the first guiding mechanism is configured to guide the auxiliary shaping component (40) to move along the first corrugation direction.

10. The processing apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that, The first guiding mechanism includes: A combination of mutually cooperating guide pins and guide holes, wherein the guide pins extend in a manner parallel to the first corrugation direction, and / or A combination of a cooperating guide slider and a guide groove, wherein the guide groove extends in a manner parallel to the direction of the first corrugation.

11. The processing apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that, The first guiding mechanism includes a guide pin mounted on the auxiliary shaping frame (42), the auxiliary shaping component (40) is provided with a guide hole and is movably mounted on the guide pin through the guide hole, and the auxiliary shaping component (40) is also provided with an oil drip hole (46) extending through the guide hole.

12. The processing apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that, The auxiliary shaping member (40) is provided with at least one of a cam surface and a traction device, and the distance between the two auxiliary shaping members (40) along the first corrugation direction is automatically adjusted by the cam surface and / or the traction device as the auxiliary shaping member (40) moves between the second reset position and the second processing position.

13. The processing apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that, The first mold (10) is provided with a through cavity (114) extending into the shaping recess (111). At least a portion of the stroke of the auxiliary shaping component (40) moving from the second reset position to the second processing position is located in the through cavity (114). The auxiliary shaping component (40) is provided with a first cam surface (451), and a second cam surface (123) is provided in the through cavity (114). During the process of the auxiliary shaping component (40) moving from the second reset position to the second processing position, the first cam surface (451) and the second cam surface (123) cooperate to automatically adjust the distance between the two auxiliary shaping components (40) along the first corrugation direction to the second distance.

14. The processing apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that, The traction device includes at least one of the following: an elastic element, a hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic device, an electric motor, and a ball screw.

15. The processing apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that, The processing apparatus includes an additional guiding mechanism configured to guide the auxiliary shaping member (40) to move relative to the base member (11) in the first direction.

16. The processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The processing apparatus includes an additional guiding mechanism configured to guide the second mold (30) to move relative to the first mold (10) in the first direction.

17. The processing apparatus according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that, The additional guiding mechanism includes: A combination of mutually cooperating guide pins and guide holes, wherein the guide pins extend in a manner parallel to the first direction, and / or A combination of mutually cooperating guide sliders and guide grooves, wherein the guide grooves extend in a manner parallel to the first direction.

18. The processing apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that, The auxiliary shaping protrusion (41) has a profile that tapers toward the metal plate in a cross section perpendicular to the second corrugation direction, and the end of the auxiliary shaping protrusion (41) is constructed as an arc surface.

19. The processing apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that, The auxiliary shaping protrusion (41) has a uniform cross-sectional shape along the second corrugation direction, or The auxiliary shaping protrusion (41) is provided with a notch that spans the crest of the first wave (202) at a position corresponding to the crest of the first wave (202).

20. The processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The shaping protrusion (31) is provided with a latch and an elastic element in the longitudinal middle part. Under the action of the elastic element, the latch elastically protrudes outward along the first direction relative to the rest of the shaping protrusion (31).

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