JPH1047545A - Automatic manufacture of puzzle lock type compression ring - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a machine fully automatically manufacturing a compression ring from a flat belt-shaped plate material having a mechanical connection part. SOLUTION: A flat blank material is fed to a stamping station 40 from a feed station 10, a blank having a mechanical connection part having a male/ female contour part in an opposed end part is punched, then the blank is fed to a deformation station 50 displacing to several axial direction positions of a machine. In the deformation station 50, the flat blank in a first position, in a second position deforming the blank in a circular contour thereof, is given preliminary deformation in a contour permitting closing of the mechanical connection part. Then, a compression ring thus deformed and closed is applied with swage action in a third position, thereafter to be released from the machine.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a machine for automatically producing a compression ring having a mechanical connection, preferably a puzzle-lock type mechanical connection.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Shrinkable compression rings are known in the art and are mostly made by cutting rings from a tubular stock of various materials. These rings were compressed or contracted by various means, such as mechanical, magnetic, hydraulic, and the like.

The use of such compression rings has recently become increasingly important due to the availability of so-called puzzle lock clamps or compression rings made of strip material. That is, the applicant's earlier U.S. Pat.
Increasingly important are compression rings disclosed in US Pat. Nos. 5,001,816 and 5,185,908 whose free end mechanical connection resembles a puzzle lock. However, to satisfy markets such as the automotive industry, it is necessary to provide a machine that can automatically mass-produce these so-called puzzle-lock compression rings.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a machine for completely automatic production of compression rings from flat strip material having a mechanical connection. To be successful, such a machine must be able to ensure reliable high-speed mass production to provide such compression rings in large quantities at a reasonable price. Further, such machines must be easily re-installable to produce compression rings of various diameter sizes.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, the feed station continuously feeds a flat strip from the reel to a stamping station, where each blank requires two successive cuts, these cuts then being made. One end of the blank having a mechanical connection, preferably a puzzle lock shaped mechanical connection, is punched out to form a complementary puzzle lock shaped notch at the opposite end of the blank. There, the blanks are sent to a deformation station, where the flat blanks are, more precisely, moved to a bending machine across the feed direction. The bending machine has three successive positions transversely or axially of its core member, the flat blank is deformed around the core member, and the bending machine has a number of slides driven mechanically by cams. A moving member. In the first position, the flat blank has a free end of the blank that is precisely pre-deformed into the shape required to be able to close the mechanical connection of the free end portion of the blank in the second position. Preliminarily deformed to a shape close to the shape of the completed compression ring. The locking action of the mechanical connection now prevents the closed compression ring exhibiting its predetermined diameter dimension from being swaged in a third position and accidentally reopening during transport and / or subsequent use. And improve retention capacity. Upon completion of the various stages of operation, the completed compression ring is discharged. At the stamping station, it is preferable to make a cut similar to a puzzle lock when the stamping die cuts adjacent strip sections.

[0006] However, in a preferred embodiment,
The male and female ends facing each other resulting from the stamping operation are configured to be partially reconnected again after an initial complete separation to allow for the continuation of two or more successive blank feeds. Each successive blank then requires two longitudinally spaced cuts depending on the size of the compression ring. In addition, the continuous feed rate from the reel to the stamping station and the intermittent feed rate from the stamping station to the bending or deformation station should be of the same length within the working cycle given continuous and intermittent feed. The webs are preferably interconnected using a slack between the reel and the stamping station so that the webs are adjusted to feed properly. In addition, the machine has a conventional structure having, for example, pressure rollers which are offset and arranged in two rows so as to remove twists, kinks or bends from the strips due to reel operation before the strips reach the stamping station. It is preferable to have a strain relief device. A lubricator of conventional construction just in front of the stamping die ensures sufficient lubrication of both sides of the strip required by the station die before the strip reaches the stamping station.

A method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises feeding a flat strip of material from a reel to a stamping station from which a mechanical connection, preferably in the form of a puzzle lock, is stamped, and to a previously separated facing machine. Part of the mechanical connection is partially reconnected, and the thus partially reconnected flat blank is sent to a bending or deformation station, where the preceding blank is re-connected from the next succeeding blank at the bending station. The blank is completely separated, the blank thus separated is moved across the feed station to a bending station or a deformation station, and the compression ring with the mechanical connection is moved in several stages laterally one behind the other. In the state where it is deformed and completed in the state where it is arranged.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the various figures to indicate like parts, and in particular in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), reference numeral 10 generally designates a feed station for continuous feeding of the strip. As shown, the feed station 10 has a reel 11 with a web of strip material wound around it. The reel 11 includes a driving roller 13
Is rotated by the drive mechanism 12 having The strain relief unit 14 has an upper pressure roller 15 and a lower pressure roller 15 ', which are preferably arranged offset from each other, these pressure rollers being the belt-like shape produced during the winding of the web on the reel 11. The plate is designed to remove twist, kink or bend. Subsequent to the strain removing unit 14, a feed unit 16 for continuously feeding the strip-shaped plate 111 has an upper feed roller 17 and a lower feed roller 17 'having a conventional structure. A control unit 18 of conventional construction controls the operation of the various parts of the machine. The speed of the roller member 13 depends on the speed of the driven member 1 on the belt-shaped plate 111.
Controlled by a lever arm 19 having a 9 ', this lever arm 19 is connected via a line 18a to a potentiometer to control the speed of the roller member 13.
A slack control unit, indicated generally by the reference numeral 20, is shown schematically in the drawing.
Are the maximum and minimum slacks 111 "and 11 of the strip required by the use of continuous feed at feed station 10.
1 'is controlled. This is in contrast to the intermittent feed of the strip required for the stamping operation at the stamping station 40 to allow stamping of the puzzle lock while the strip is stopped. The slack control unit 20 may be of any conventional construction, for example, two upright members 22 interconnected at the top and fixed at the bottom 23
a and 22b. A limit switch 24 is coupled to the upper portion of the upright member 22b, the switching mechanism being actuated by a downwardly extending probe member 25 which, when the slack 111 'reaches its predetermined minimum slack, becomes slack. When engaged, the switch of the switch mechanism 24 is operated to send the information to the control unit 18 via the lead wire 24a, thereby accelerating the continuous feeding. Also, a predetermined maximum slack is insulated by a limit switch, for example, with respect to ground and in a predetermined position,
Preferably, it is sensed by a metal plate member 26 which is adjustably mounted on the upright members 22a and 22b. that time,
Leads 27a and 27b are mounted on uprights 22a and 22b. Because the strip 111 is typically electrically grounded by conventional means, if the slack 111 "exceeds the intended maximum slack, the slack will ground the previously insulated plate member 26 with respect to ground, thereby The earth of the plate member 26 is connected to the connector 28 and the lead wire 28.
Through a, the control unit decelerates continuous feed. In this way, the information sent to the control unit 18 via the lines 24a and 28a can be fed to the feed stations 10,11,12,13, by slowly changing its feed speed and keeping the sag between predetermined limits. Used to control speeds of 15 and 16. Of course 25, 2
Any other known arrangement can be used to perform the restriction functions of 4, 24a and 26, 28, 28a. The intermittent feed unit, indicated generally by reference numeral 30,
The intermittent feed of the strip 111 is provided to a stamping unit, generally indicated by reference numeral 40, via a refueling device, indicated generally by reference numeral 35. The refueling device 35
The upper and lower surfaces of the strip are lubricated from reservoir 36 via line 37 and branch lines 38 and 39 required by the stamping die. The refueling device 35 is positioned as close as possible to the stamping unit 40. The stamping unit 40 has a ram member 41 and a fixed base member 42 for fixing and supporting an upright columnar guide member 43. A ram member 41 is provided around the columnar guide member 43.
The support member 44 is reciprocally supported by a short support member 44 integral with the support member 1. The stamping die (not shown) is more precisely contained in a two-part housing 45 containing a stamping die in order to obtain a mechanical connection, preferably a mechanical connection in the form of a puzzle lock. . The stamping die consists of four parts, namely two lower masters and two upper punches which are acted on in a conventional manner by the ram member 41. The lower matrix member, which is rearward in the flow direction of the strip-shaped plate, is not directly supported by the fixed base member 42 but is spring-supported by a strong spring. And the preceding upper stamping die member is also spring supported. The reason for this spring support, to be precise, is that a partial reconnection of successive strips is required to further pass the stamped strip material from the stamping station to the deformation station, generally indicated at 50. It will be described later in connection with the stamping operation.

The bending or deformation station 50 has, to be precise, three axial positions in a direction transverse to the feed direction of the strip from the stamping station 40 to the deformation station 50. The blank, which preferably has a mechanical connection of male and female puzzle lock contours at the leading and trailing end portions, respectively, comprises vertically reciprocating lower sliding members 52 and 53 and a slightly downwardly inclined lateral direction. Are deformed around the core member 51 by the side sliding members 60 and 61 adapted to reciprocate and by the upper sliding member 70 capable of reciprocating vertically. Each sliding member 52, 53, 60, 61 and 70 has an axially rigidly interconnected connection with as many, as required, fixed sliding members, depending on the number of axial positions of the deforming machine and its deforming surface. It is composed of arranged sections. The lower sliding member 52 is guided in the guide member 54 and the lower sliding member 53
Are guided in a guide member 55, the guide members being provided on both sides of each sliding member 52 and 53, but only one is shown in some figures for convenience. Sliding member 52
And 53 are reciprocated by connecting rods 56 and 57 (FIG. 1 (b)) connected to a cam follower that follows an appropriate cam surface of the cam member, and all the cam followers are mechanically synchronized with the machine. Driven. Similarly, the sliding members 60 and 61 are acted on by rotating members 64 and 65, and the lower end of the rotating member is connected to the sliding members 60 by connecting rods 64a and 65a.
And 61 are provided at its upper end with cam followers which follow the cam surfaces of cams 66 and 67 which are mechanically driven. Each action member 64 and 65 is connected to a pivot point 64b.
And 65b. Upper sliding member 70
Is reciprocated by the action member 72, and the action member 72 is operatively connected to a mechanically driven cam (not shown) by a cam follower.

The mechanical connection of the compression ring may be of a well-known type, for example, US Pat. No. 5,001,816 and US Pat.
It has the puzzle lock shape described in 185,908, but
An improved puzzle lock configuration, more fully disclosed in the applicant's co-pending provisional application filed April 17, 96, entitled "Improvement of Puzzle Lock Type Compression Ring," is preferred. The male part, generally indicated generally by the reference numeral 400 (FIGS. 6B, 6C and 6D) of such a mechanical puzzle lock-type connecting blank is an enlarged head It has a tongue 401 (FIG. 8) terminating at 402 and has lateral projections 403 and 404. The female portion of such a mechanical puzzle lock type connection, indicated generally by the reference numeral 420 (FIGS. 6 (B), 6 (C) and 6 (D)), is a male It has a complementary shape to the portion 400. Substantially right angles are preferred to provide abutment surfaces 431, 432, 433, 434, 435 and 436 extending across the various corners, while side abutment surfaces 437 in the region of enlarged head 402 and 438
Transitions into rounded abutment end surfaces 439 via rounded abutment surfaces 440 and 441. This greatly improves the retention capacity of the mechanical connection, as more fully described in the co-pending application referenced above. further,
Areas 410, 411 and 412, shown in dashed lines, are subjected to a swaging action to displace the material in the area of the junction of the laterally extending interengaging abutment surfaces 432, 434 and 439, such as a hose, axle boot or The retention of the mechanical connection of the compression ring during transport and / or during its use for tightening on nipples, axle stubs or the like is improved.

The remaining details of the machine will be described in relation to the operation of the machine. One cycle of such an operation involves intermittent feeding of the strip material to and from the stamping station 40, wherein the punching of the mechanical connection having the preferred puzzle lock shape stops intermittent feeding. The sliding members 50, 51, 52, 53, cut and partially recoupled and adjacent male and female portions of a mechanical puzzle lock type connection are performed during Includes 60, 62 and 70 periodic movements. However, it must be further noted that the production of a compression ring on a bending or deformation machine requires a large number of working cycles with only steps, ie the axial position of the core member 50. That is. Although the sliding members are indicated by the reference numbers 52, 53, 60, 61 and 70 in the schematic representation of FIG. 1 (b), each such sliding member is provided with a number of axially arranged rigid interconnects. These sections correspond to the number of positions along the axial direction of the core member 51 having a corresponding number of various deformed surfaces. In order to facilitate understanding of the operation of the machine, parts of the core member and the sliding member corresponding to the first, second and third positions are shown in FIGS.
The corresponding reference numeral 10 in 3, 14 and 15
Represented by the 0, 200 and 300 series.

Operation The operation of the machine according to the invention is as follows. The strip material 111 is continuously fed from the feed station 10 by feeding the strip from the reel 11, which is acted on by the drive mechanism 12 and the roller member 13 at a continuous speed controlled by the control unit 18. At that time, the continuous speed is then controlled by the driven member 19 '.
1 and is determined by the position of the lever arm 19 connected to the potentiometer. Control unit 1
The electronic circuit 8 is of a conventional type well known to those skilled in the art and does not form part of the present invention, and will not be described in detail here. The strip material 111 continuously fed from the reel 11 is sent to the strain relief unit 14, where the strip material sent to the continuous feed unit 16 is completely flat except for twisting, kinking or bending. To secure. The maximum slack 111 "is detected by the plate member 26 and the minimum slack 111 'is detected by the plate member 2.
The sag control unit 20, as sensed by 5, sends an upward feed back to the control unit 18 via leads 24a and 28a when the minimum or maximum slack of the strip material exceeds a predetermined limit. This control of slack is necessary to correlate the speed of the continuous feed unit 16 with the speed of the intermittent feed unit 30 because the length of strip material fed per cycle is the same. is there. This ensures that the speed of the feed rollers 31 and 32 controlled by the control unit 18 via the lead 33 is greater than the speed of the continuously running feed rollers 17 and 17 ', thereby compensating for a stop during the stamping operation. Means you have to. The lubricating device, which must be positioned as close as possible to the stamping unit 40, is indicated generally by the reference numeral 35, in which the lubricating oil is fed intermittently via line 37 and branch lines 38 and 39 to the top of the strip material. To the bottom and a reservoir 36 for feeding the required amount by the stamping die.

The stamping unit 40 has a reciprocating ram member 41 which reciprocates on its upright columnar guide member 43 by means of its short member 44, as is customary for such a stamping unit. Further, the stamping unit 40 has a fixed base member 42 supported by the upright guide member 43. The two-part housing 45 fixedly supported on the base member 42 has, more precisely, a stamping die (not shown) for achieving a cut for a mechanical connection, preferably in the form of a puzzle lock. Each cut in the stamping action of such a mechanical connection imparts a female puzzle lock shape to the rear piece of strip material and a male puzzle lock shape to the leading piece of strip material. Since the blank cut at the stamping station can be moved from the stamping station 40 to the bending or deformation station 50 by the intermittently operable feed unit 30, it is cut by the stamping action during a stop in a given working cycle. It is necessary to reconnect the two subsequent strips of strip material again. For this reason, the stamping die consists of two lower mold members (not shown) and two upper stamping die members (not shown) each cooperating with the lower mold members. When viewed in the feed direction, the lower rear matrix member is spring-loaded by one or more strong springs, but the preceding pair of preceding upper punching die members is also spring-loaded. The rear pair of upper die members is directly operatively connected to the ram member, while the lower pair of die members is directly supported by the base member 42. In this way, the partially reconnected portions of the cut puzzle lock shape obtained by cutting while stopped in one stop cycle are partially reconnected again as shown schematically in FIG. . Fig. 17 shows the partial press work of the puzzle lock.
This pressing operation is effected by a strong spring action supporting the lower pair of lower rear mold members. Further, FIG. 17 shows, in step 4, the re-separation of the leading blank from the rear blank partially reconnected in step 2 at the deformation station. To that end, a spring-loaded plunger or pin member initially lowers the following trailing blank at the deformation station during the intermittent feed stop,
Complete re-separation is then achieved by the plunger or pin member acting on the puzzle blank female shape of the next succeeding blank, when the subsequent blank is separated and held by the spring-loaded plunger or pin member, and This separated leading blank, now represented by reference numeral 111a, is moved across the feed direction by finger-like members 80a, 80b, 81c as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6A. FIG. 1A, FIG.
(B), FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are side views of the core member 51 as viewed in the axial direction, and FIG. 6 (A), FIG. 6 (B), and FIG. C), FIG. 6 (D) and FIG. 7 are schematic plan views, the positions of the various parts always corresponding to FIG. 2, FIG. 6 (A) and FIG. 4B and FIG. 6C, and FIG. 5 and FIG. 6D. The blanks are referenced 111a at the first, second and third positions of the machine,
The released blank is represented by reference numeral 111d, while represented by 111b and 111c. The feed path at the point of complete re-separation in the deforming machine has a slight slope that raises the next following blank to the level of the previous blank during the next feed cycle without being interrupted by hitting the abutment Have a road. Step 1 of FIG.
2, 3 and 4 are schematic side views of FIG.
Is a schematic plan view.

The lateral displacement of the blank, shown at step 5 in FIG. 17, is accomplished by three reciprocable fingers 80a, 80 which displace the separated blank to a first position on the core member 51.
b and 80c. In the first position, the compression ring is finally adjusted so that the end of the blank for finally forming the compression ring exactly matches the circular contour required to allow closure of the mechanical connection of the puzzle lock type. Preform the blank to be formed. As seen in particular in FIGS. 2 and 10, the first section 151 of the core member 51
Is somewhat ovoid with an apple-shaped contour. After complete separation of the previously partially reconnected blank by the finger members 80a, 80b and 80c and after lateral displacement of the separated blank 111a, the lower sliding members 52 and 53 are moved upward at substantially the same time. Classification 1
52 and 153 are those strip-shaped plate engaging deformation surfaces 158 and 15
9 to change the blank from zero to 1, 2, 3, 4 in FIG.
Through the passage up to position 5 in FIG.
Then, the sliding members 60 and 61 having the sections 160 and 161 are engaged with the strip portion extending substantially linearly upward with the strip engagement deformation surfaces 168 and 169, and the strip is moved to the position 1 ', Deformation via 2 ', 3', 4 'and 5' reaches position 6 ', where section 1 of upper sliding member 70
When 70 moves downward, it engages the strip with its strip-engaging deforming surface 173 to deform the end, including the puzzle-lock shaped mechanical connection, to position 6 ". All sliding members Is retracted, the blank thus deformed as a result of the elasticity of the material and in the recesses 191a and 191b of the core section 151 and the L-shaped finger members 190a and 190 spring-loaded by springs 192a and 192b.
b (FIG. 10) snaps back to position 6 "" as a result of the aid of fingers 190a and 190.
The shorter legs 194a and 194b of b determine the maximum outward protrusion of these fingers. If so desired, the maximum protrusion of these finger members 190a and 190b may be adjusted as described below in connection with FIG. FIG. 2 shows the position of the sliding member in the retracted position during the start of the cycle. Once the blank has been cycled and deformed in its first position, where the end 6 "'occupies the springback position shown in FIG. 18, the blank thus pre-deformed is removed from its first position on the core member 51. The reciprocating finger-like members 81a, 81b, 81c and 81d are displaced to a second axial position on the core member 51. At that position, the blank 111b is deformed to its circular contour to provide a puzzle-lock mechanical FIG. 11 shows the sliding member 52 in the extended position,
Divisions 252, 253, 2 of 53, 60, 61 and 70
The positions of 60, 261 and 270 are shown. The inward movement of the sliding member 60 to its extended position is slid in order to obtain the necessary overlap to allow the closure of the contour in the form of a mechanical puzzle lock by the section 270 of the upper sliding member 70. This slightly precedes the movement of the member 61. In order for the female puzzle lock end to be above the male puzzle lock end, the finger-like member 290 first projects from its recess 291 so that the section 261 of the sliding member 62 has its inward extension. When the finger 290 is reached
Is pushed inward against the force of the spring 292. Upper sliding member 270 with its deforming insert 274 closes the puzzle lock during its downward motion to complete the deformation and closure of the compression ring. When the sliding members 52, 53, 60, 61 and 70 are retracted again during the completion of the operation of the second cycle, the thus deformed and closed compression ring is moved from its second position to the third position of the compression ring 111. It is moved into position by the fingers 82a, 82b, 82c and 82d. This displacement of the deformed and closed compression ring from position 2 to position 3 at the same time, prior to being subjected to the upsetting action at position 3 as previously described at position 3
Is released from the compression ring 111d.

The closed ring 111c is swaged by small teeth on the insert member 374 of the section 370 of the upper sliding member 70 and by small teeth 378 on the insert member 377 inserted into the core section 351. Be affected. These teeth have a swaging action with a dotted line 4
Positioned to occur in the region of the laterally extending abutment edges 411, 412 and 439 of the mechanical puzzle lock type coupling blank (FIG. 8) in the regions indicated by 11, 412 and 410. This swaging action significantly improves the retention capacity of the compression ring, as described in the applicant's co-pending application.

FIG. 16 shows by reference numeral 500 the holding of the blank in its predetermined position on the core member 51 so that the swaging action always takes place in the proper position of the mechanical puzzle lock connection. Figure 2 shows the device as a whole.
The device 500 is arranged in the space between the lower sliding members 52 and 53 and their guiding parts, and FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view cut in the axial direction. Finally, two pressing members 501 and 502 extending upwards towards the bottom of the blank forming the compression ring are spring-loaded by springs 503 and 504, which springs
07 and in the plunger members 505 and 5
It surrounds 06. The guide members 508 and 509 guide the pressure members 501 and 502 and the related parts to move upward and downward. The abutment member 510 engages the lower ends of the plunger members 505 and 506, and the pressure members 501 and 502 on the bottom of the blank form a compression ring beyond the force normally exerted by the springs 503 and 504. Further increase the pressure exerted. The abutment member 510 can be connected to any device that causes the abutment member 510 to move upward and downward.
Are linked by In a preferred embodiment, the connecting member 511 is connected to a piston rod of a pneumatic piston unit (not shown),
While the connecting member 511 is being deformed in a given cycle, FIG.
Movement upwards to the position shown in FIG. 6 serves to hold the blank, which forms the compression ring in its place, very firmly during such deformation operations. Clamp ring is connected to finger members 81a-81d and 82a.
During the portion of each cycle displaced by -82b, the abutment member 510 is moved downward to reduce the pressure exerted by the pressure members 501 and 502 and thereby permit axial displacement of the compression ring without circumferential movement. . However, the springs 503 and 504 are dimensioned to hold the compression ring in place on the core member 51 while still allowing the axial movement of the compression ring required for each operation.

Inner diameter 79.6 mm and strip thickness 1.4 mm
In one exemplary non-limiting example of a machine of the present invention used to make a compression ring having the following, the deformed surface of the sliding member that engages the compression ring blank is as follows.
The core section 151 has a length of 92 mm and a height of 70 mm.
Surface 1 of sections 152 and 153 of lower sliding members 52 and 53
58 and 159 have a radius of curvature of 36.4 mm. Surfaces 168 and 169 of sections 160 and 161 of sliding members 60 and 61
Has a radius of curvature of 36.4 mm. The radius of curvature of the curved surfaces of surface 173 is each 36.4 mm, while the corresponding surface on core section 151 has a radius of curvature of 35 mm.

The diameter of the core section 251 of the core member 51 is 7
9.4 mm and the divisions 260 and 2 of the sliding members 60 and 61
The curvatures 268 and 269 of 61 have a radius of curvature of 41.1 mm, and the insert member 274 in section 270 of the upper sliding member 70 has a surface 2 having a radius of curvature of 41.1 mm.
73. The section 351 of the core member 51 (FIG. 14) again has a diameter of 79.4 mm, but the sliding members 52 and 53
Surfaces 358 and 359 of sections 352 and 353 are again 41.1
mm. Division 3 of sliding members 60 and 61
The surfaces 368 and 369 of 60 and 361 also have a radius of curvature of 41.1 mm, but the small teeth 376 on the insert member 374 in section 370 of the sliding member 70, shown more fully in FIG. mm and at an angle of 60 ° as shown in FIG.
These teeth 376 are circumferentially spaced by a total of 10.6 °. The small teeth 378 on the insert member 377 have a similar contour as the teeth 376, ie, have a height of 0.35 mm and form a 60 ° angle circumferentially spaced 10.6 °.

The pre-deformation of the compression ring at position 1 to facilitate closure of the mechanical connection requires various handling with small radius compression rings. Because, in that case, the taper effect due to the small radius of curvature of the male and female parts of the puzzle lock connection is of greater importance, making it difficult to close the connection with the smaller opening along the inner peripheral surface of the strip. Because it occupies the gender. In that case, the end section containing the mechanical connection of the puzzle lock shape is preformed at position 1 so as to lie flat, the flat puzzle lock shape is closed at position 2 and the closed compression ring is then moved to the desired circular contour It is desirable to transform it into This can be done, for example, at other stages, such that complete production requires four cycles of operation with four positions. However, in this case, good results were obtained by softening the material in that range of male and female puzzle lock shapes at the end of the compression ring blank by applying a heat treatment at about 400 ° C. By softening the material in this way, the closure of the mechanical connection in the form of a puzzle lock is facilitated by the softened material,
However, since the softened material is again work-hardened by the actual closure of the mechanical connection, only a three-step operation in the three positions mentioned above is sufficient.

The machine of the present invention is very effective. Because the various sliding member sections are simply interchanged,
This is because compression rings of various diameters can be manufactured with the same equipment. In addition, the speed at which the machine can be operated is high, allowing for the rapid production of 55 compression rings per minute. All sliding members are mechanically acted on by mechanically driven cams, and the sliding members can be mounted by roller bearings to ensure frictionless sliding motion in reciprocating motion during the operating cycle. . Sliding members 52, 53,
The various sections of the core member 60, 61 and the core member 50 include, for example, the recesses and circular openings of the partial circles in the core section 150 of FIG. As shown by, a surface is provided that allows the fingers 81a-81d and 82a-82d to extend axially. If upsetting is not required or desired, the machine described above could use only two axial positions instead of three. The sliding member can be operated by other means than the mechanical cam operation. However, in order to best achieve the various movements of the sliding members and their harmonized functions, for example, cam members driven from a single electric motor via sprocket and chain drive and their synchronous action should be designed appropriately. Good.

Although the present invention has been shown and described in only one embodiment, the invention is not limited thereto, and many changes and modifications well known to those skilled in the art can be made, and It is not intended to be limited to the details shown and described herein, but to cover all changes and modifications as encompassed by the claims.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A method and a machine are provided for the completely automatic production of compression rings from flat strip material with mechanical connections.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 (a) and 1 (b) are schematic diagrams of an embodiment of the machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of various parts of a bending or deformation station with all side members in a retracted position.

FIG. 3 is a front view similar to FIG. 2, with the lower sliding members in their extended position.

FIG. 4 is a front view similar to FIG. 3, with the lateral sliding members in their extended position.

FIG. 5 shows the upper sliding member in a position extended downward.
It is a front view similar to.

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. FIG. 3D is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of a mechanical connection having a contour similar to a puzzle lock.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a schematic axial front view showing the contour of the section between the core member and the sliding member and the deformed surface of the sliding member at position 1 of the deformation station.

FIG. 11 is a schematic axial front view of the core member, the sliding member, and the deformed surface of the sliding member at position 2 of the bending or deformation machine.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view showing the finger-like member in the section of the core-like member at the position 2;

FIG. 13 is a schematic partial view showing the surfaces of the core member and the insert member of the upper vertical sliding member at position 2 of the core member and the upper sliding member.

FIG. 14 is a schematic axial front view of the division between the core member and the sliding member and the deformed surface of the sliding member at position 3 of the machine.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of a cored section and an insert member for an upper vertical sliding member, wherein the deforming projections perform a swaging action.

FIG. 16 is a schematic view of an apparatus for holding a band-shaped plate at the same position with respect to a core member during deformation.

FIG. 17 is a schematic view of a station operation of a partial reconnection of the strip material and the cut part.

FIG. 18 is a schematic explanatory view of various deformation stages of the deformation machine of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a partially enlarged view showing the shape of the upsetting teeth of the insert for the division of the upper sliding member at the position 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 11 Strip plate material supply station 12, 13 Continuous feeding means 18, 18a, 24a, 28a Control means 30 Intermittent feeding means 40 Stamping station 45 Stamping die punching means 50 Deformation station 51 Core member 52, 53, 60, 61, 70 Sliding member 56, 57, 66, 67, 72 Means for operating sliding member 58, 59, 68, 69, 73 Strip plate engaging end surface means 80a, 80b, 80c First feeding means 81a, 81b, 81c, 81d Second feeding means 111d Compression ring 190a, 190b Finger-shaped projection means 400, 420 Mechanical coupling means 410, 411, 412 Predetermined area

Claims (35)

[Claims] 1. A method for automatically manufacturing a compression ring in a number of successive positions from a flat blank strip of material having interlockable mechanical coupling means in a free end region, the method comprising the steps of: A deforming station provided with a core member (51) having a number of axially spaced outer surfaces corresponding to the number of successive positions of the machine and serving as an inner abutment surface for the blank; To the position corresponding to the first one of several successive positions of the machine (FIG. 2), and the flat blank in the first position is moved to one of the sliding members in the second position. A number of reciprocating motions between a retracted position and an extended position in a predetermined sequence during each working cycle to preform into a ring-like shape which facilitates closure of the mechanical coupling means. Sliding members (52, 53, 60,
61, 70), displacing each sliding member from the retracted position to an extended position, and then retracting the sliding members to their retracted position, thereby providing a number of actuations corresponding to the number of said consecutive positions. Deforming the blank around a core into a closed compression ring in a cycle and axially displacing the pre-deformed blank from a first position to a second position. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising displacing the compression ring in the axial direction from the second position to the third position.
0) in a predetermined position (410, 411, 412) in a third position, thereby causing the compression ring (111d) already in said third position to move from the second position to the third position. 2. The method of claim 1 including discharging by displacement. 3. The swaging of a region of the joint formed by the closed connection means is effected in a third position by a small material displacement in the region of the laterally extending abutment surface of the connection means. The method of claim 2. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of applying a holding pressure to the blank in an area facing the coupling means to hold the blank in place relative to the core during all operating cycles. To 3 (FIG. 13). 5. The method of claim 4, wherein a lower holding pressure is applied during the operation of the axial feed of the blank and a higher pressure is applied during the deformation by the sliding member. 6. During a given cycle, at least one lower slide member (52) is first displaced toward said core member, and then said at least one lower slide member is substantially in its extended position. After arriving, one of the two side sliding members (60) is displaced toward the core member,
Then, before the one side sliding member reaches its extended position, the other of the side sliding members (61) is displaced toward the core member, and the two side sliding members are moved. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one upper sliding member (70) is displaced towards the core after the members have reached their extended position. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein said one side slide member (60) has only a short lead over its other side slide member (61) during its movement toward its extended position. . 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein all of the sliding members are retracted substantially simultaneously, and all of the feeding of the blank is performed after the sliding members have been fully retracted. 7
The method according to any one of the above. 9. A stamping station (40).
Mechanical strips (400,420) were punched out of the flat strip material, and the flat strip material was intermittently fed to the stamping station (30) so that the interlocking means could be punched out while intermittent feed was stopped. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 8. 10. A continuous blank is transferred from said stamping station (40) to said deformation station (50) by partially reconnecting mechanical connecting means of continuous strips cut by a stamping action. 10. The method of claim 9, comprising intermittently displacing. 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of disconnecting the partially reconnected coupling means when the blank arrives at the deformation station prior to being sent to the first location. Further, the flat strip material is continuously fed from the strip material supply section (11) to the intermittent feeding device (12, 12).
13) and interrelate the feed rate of the continuous feed to the feed rate of the intermittent feed so that the length of the strip material is substantially the same by the intermittent and continuous feed cycles 11. The method of claim 10, comprising steps. 13. A method for manufacturing a compression ring, comprising feeding a flat strip of material to a stamping station (40) and punching out a complementary portion (400, 420) of a mechanical connection between continuous strips of strip. Moving a continuous piece of strip material from the stamping station (40) to a deformation station (50) having several positions, and moving the blank approximately first transversely to its original position of the deformation station; Into a position, preform the blank in a first position to a shape close to the shape of the last compression ring shape, wherein the free end portion of the blank, including the complementary part of the mechanical connection, is A preformed blank to close the mechanical connection, sending the preformed blank from the first position to the second position, each part of the mechanical connection at the free end portion being machined. Deforming the compression ring thus preformed in a second position so as to overlap exactly to allow full engagement of the mechanical connection, and moving the closed compression ring from the second position to a third position. To the position, subjecting the mechanical connection in a third position to a swaging action to cause a material displacement in a given area of the mechanical connection, thereby increasing the holding capacity of the compression ring, and thus being completed A method for manufacturing a compression ring, comprising the step of discharging a compression ring. 14. A positively transferring the blank from its arrival position of the deformation station to a first position of the deformation station, and transferring a preformed blank from the first position to the second position by a positive operation. And transferring the deformed blank from the second position to the third position by a positive action, and transferring the completed compression ring to the third position by moving the compression ring from the second position to the third position. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein said method emits from. 15. An intermittent feeding of a strip material to a stamping station, a continuous feeding of the strip material from a feeding section of the strip material to an intermittent feeding device, and the determination is made by one feed and one stop of the intermittent feeding device. The intermittent and continuous feed speeds are interrelated so that the same length of strip material is fed during a given working cycle,
14. The method of claim 13. 16. The stamped end of the continuous strip, which is initially separated by a punching operation, is partially reconnected for further transport to the deformation station, and the preceding piece of strip material is removed from the former at the deformation station. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the partial reconnection is disconnected when the arrival location is reached. 17. The method of claim 13, wherein each actuation step in the first, second and third positions of the deformation station is performed simultaneously. 18. A complementary mechanical connection means (40) at the free end.
0,410) in a machine for the automatic production of compression rings from a flat blank with a deformation station (50), which corresponds to several successive positions in the axial direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction of the blank. Core means (50) having outer surface means of a plurality of sliding members (52, 53, 60,
61, 70), each sliding member having at its free end a number of strip-like engaging end face means (58, 59, 68, 69) corresponding to the number of positions on said core means. , 73), and working means (56, 57, 66, 67, 72) for operating the sliding members in a predetermined sequence during an operation cycle, and a flat blank, wherein the blank is preformed. First feed means (80a, 80b, 80c) for feeding in the axial direction to a first position corresponding to a first position on the core means, and a predetermined blank from the first position, the connection Second feed means (81a, 81b, 81a, 81b, 81) for axially feeding to a second position corresponding to a second position on said core means, wherein the blank is deformed to a substantially last shape after the means are closed. 81c, 81d). 19. The machine of claim 18, wherein successive positions of the outer surface means on the wick means have an axial length substantially corresponding to the width of the blank. 20. The sliding member is operable to deform the blank from below, from the side and from above,
20. The machine of claim 18 or claim 19. 21. The outer surface means of the core means in the first position has the shape necessary to pre-deform the free end of the blank so that the mechanical connection means can be closed in the second position. 21. A machine according to any one of claims 18 to 20, having a shape to conform. 22. The machine of claim 21, wherein the outer surface means of the cored means in the first position is slightly oval to avoid overlapping of the free ends of the blank. 23. Core means (50) in said first position
23. A machine according to any one of claims 18 to 22, wherein the outer surface means has finger-like projection means (190a, 190b) to assist in achieving a preformed oval shape. 24. The outer surface means of the core means in the second position is substantially circular and one sliding member from above
The initial overlap of the free end of the blank including the mechanical coupling means during the initial deformation in said second position until the mechanical coupling means is closed by further deformation in said second position by the downward movement of (270) 24. A machine according to any one of claims 18 to 23, comprising finger-like projection means (291) for inducing. 25. Two sliding members (52, 53) are provided which are operable in a substantially upward direction toward the core means, two other slides moving from substantially opposite sides thereof toward the core means. A moving member (60, 61) is provided and a downwardly operable sliding member (70) is operatively provided in a generally downward direction toward the wick means. Machine by any one. 26. Support means (503, 504, 510, 511) for engaging the blank from below to keep the blank in the same position on the core means as the blank is displaced and deformed through several positions. 28. The method according to claim 18, comprising:
Machine by any one of up to. 27. Further, a strip material supply station.
(10, 11) and a stamping station (40) for punching out complementary mechanical coupling means to form a blank
Continuous feed means (12, 13) for continuously feeding uninterrupted strip material to a point along the path from the supply station to the stamping station; and for feeding blanks from the point to the stamping station. Machine according to one of the claims 18 to 26, comprising intermittently operable feed means (30). 28. Control means (18, 18a, 24a, 28a) for associating the speed of said continuous feed means with the speed of said intermittently operable feed means, the reel of strip-shaped plate material (18). 11) is reliably driven at the supply station (12, 13) to feed the strip material from the reel, and the speed of the driven reel is controlled by the control means.
3. The system of claim 2 operable to be adjusted by (18).
7 machines. 29. The stamping station (40)
Again, because two adjacent blanks are first completely cut and disengaged from each other and then after the completion of the cut, the blanks can be sent from the stamping station to the deformation station by said intermittently operable feeding means. The master and stamping die punching means (4) at each end of two adjacent blanks to punch the complementary mechanical connecting means so that they are partially reconnected.
19. A stamping die means (45) comprising 5), wherein the partially reconnected blank is separated again by separating means before being moved laterally by said first feed means. Machine according to any one of to 28. 30. The initial complete disengagement and the subsequent partial reconnection are provided by a spring support means of a punching means for a leading part of the complementary puzzle lock type connection means and the complementary puzzle lock type connection means. 30. The machine of claim 29, wherein the machine is realized by spring support means of a matrix-like means for the rear part of the. 31. A third position on said core-like means in which a compression ring is swaged within a predetermined area of the joint formed in the mechanical connection means, so that the blank thus closed and deformed is provided. 19. A further feeding means (82a, 82b, 82c, 82d) for feeding to a third position corresponding to (a), and means for discharging the finished compression ring from the third position. A machine according to any one of to 30. 32. A first feed means comprising a rod-shaped member (802a, 802a,
80b, 80c), wherein the second feed means includes another rod-shaped member (81a, 81b, 81c, 81d) that is axially operable to engage with a predetermined blank at the first position. Wherein said other means comprises rod-shaped members (82a, 82b, 82c, 81d) for engaging with the deformed blank in a second position, while said discharging means is provided from a second position. A machine according to any one of claims 18 to 31, formed by movement of the blank to a third position. 33. The feed means is actuated when the slide member is substantially retracted at least near the completion of an operating cycle involving the back and forth movement of the slide member, during normal operation a blank is present in each of several positions. And each sliding member engages a respective blank with its engaging surface means.
A machine according to any one of 8 to 32. 34. End face means corresponding to a third position on one of said sliding members (274) and outer face means corresponding to a third position on said core means (377), 33. Small material displacement toothing means (376,378) for performing a swaging action in a third position in an area of the joint formed by the closed mechanical connection means.
Machine by any one of up to. 35. Each sliding member is comprised of a number of axially disposed sections with end means in each section and fixedly connected to each other so as to move in unison during each working cycle. 35. A machine according to any one of claims 18 to 34, wherein the shaping means comprises a plurality of axially arranged sections, each section having its own outer surface means, and fixedly connected to each other. .