CN117794660A - Workpiece cold deformation forming device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a profiled body having a profiling structure by cold deformation of a workpiece (1) comprising a longitudinal axis (Z) and an outer surface (11 a), for example cylindrical, extending along the longitudinal axis (Z) in a machining region (11), wherein the profiling structure (P) is to be introduced into the outer surface. The workpiece (1) thus executes a rotary movement (R1) about the longitudinal axis (Z) and is processed by the tool (2) in a plurality of successive shaping cuts, wherein the tool (2) is in contact with the processing region (11). The tool (2) is held by a tool holder (5) so as to be rotatable about a tool axis (Q). And the tool holder (5) -is rotatably mounted in the swivel (8) about a rotation axis (W) and is driven into rotation (R5) about its rotation axis (W), and-is driven into a swivel movement (R8) by the swivel (8). Thus, the rotary movement (R1) of the workpiece (1) is synchronized with the rotary movement (R8) of the tool holder (5), and the rotation (R5) of the tool holder (5) is synchronized with the rotary movement (R8) of the tool holder (5). And the tool axis (Q) is different from the rotation axis (W). The invention also relates to a corresponding device.

Description

Workpiece cold deformation forming device and method

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of profiling solid or hollow parts that are rotationally symmetrical, in particular by cold deformation, for example. The present invention relates to a device and a method according to the preamble of the patent claims.

Background

Various methods for profiling solid or hollow parts in a cold-forming manner are known in the art.

For example, it is known to profile a hollow part in a single step by profiling a non-profiled sheet metal part by means of a device which comprises a number of tools distributed around and which cut into the sheet metal part when it is inserted into the device where a profiling gap is to be created therein. A corresponding method for producing a can-shaped sheet metal part with internal and/or external teeth (with teeth extending towards the middle axis of the can) is known, for example, from DE102014002971 A1.

The disadvantage of such methods is that they are very inflexible, since for example a change in the shape of the profiling gap would result in the need for replacement of all tools, and a new correspondingly adapted device would be required for the reconstruction of the working of sheet metal parts having other diameters.

In other cold deformation methods, the workpiece is periodically machined in a hammer mode by means of a tool driven to perform an orbiting motion to produce a contoured structure, as is known, for example, from WO2005/075125 A1. This approach is very flexible in its application, as reconfiguration for other products or changing product specifications can be done at a very low cost. In addition, the method allows for the production of very long profile structures, even if this requires a large amount of material forming, such as for tooth forming with large moduli in solid materials. On the other hand, the method known from WO2005/075125A1 does not easily allow the profiling structure to reach a continuity in the immediate vicinity of the radially outwardly projecting shoulder due to the orbiting movement of the tool, and the profiling cannot continue in the vicinity of the radially outwardly projecting shoulder due to the tool path movement.

A method is known, for example from WO 2007/009267A1, which allows a profiling in a workpiece to abut against an outwardly projecting shoulder of the workpiece. In this method it is described to provide a cylindrical thin-walled hollow part which sits on an outer profiling spindle, with a profiling extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hollow part in a cold-pressed manner, by at least the profiling tool acting on the hollow part in a sudden hammer-like manner from the radially outer side towards the longitudinal axis of the hollow part. The profiling tool thus acts in each case on the surface of the hollow part in an oscillating manner in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, whereby a linear back and forth movement is operated radially. Given a constant radial feed depth, the profiling tool is moved axially relative to the hollow part until the desired profiling length is reached, wherein the machining of the hollow part may begin with an outwardly protruding shoulder of the hollow part.

Considering that when the surface quality requirements are particularly high, it may be necessary to carry out post-processing of the hollow part after the method according to WO2007/009267A1, since each cut-in of the hollow part is processed only by the profiling tool in the short axial section, which may cause a slight scale roughness.

Furthermore, a method is known from WO 2020/099536, which allows a profiling to be produced in particular in close proximity to the radially outwardly projecting shoulder. The method also allows for the creation of a contoured structure even in the case of tooth shapes having a large modulus, for example, especially when a large amount of material shaping is required, preferably in a solid material. And furthermore, at least when higher precision requirements are placed on profiling, with this method higher surface quality can be obtained, which generally does not require any post-processing, although the length of the profiling structures produced in this way is rather limited, at least in solid materials.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing profiled bodies with a profiled structure and a corresponding device, which do not have the disadvantages described above.

For example, the method or apparatus should be able to be simply and economically reconfigured for use in producing other products, or for use in achieving modified product specifications.

Another possible object of the invention is to allow the creation of contoured structures with particularly high surface quality.

Another possible object of the invention is to make a profiling structure of great length, in particular a profiling structure, which requires great shaping of the material, such as for example teeth with a great modulus, in particular teeth of solid material.

Another possible object of the invention is to allow the creation of particularly accurate profiling structures, especially in the case of solid materials and large profiling structure lengths.

Another possible object of the invention is to allow creation of contoured structures with particularly high productivity.

Another possible object of the invention is to allow the profiling structure to be in close proximity to the workpiece protrusion, for example in close proximity to the outwardly protruding shoulder of the workpiece to be profiled.

Another possible object of the invention is to allow the profiling structure between and up to two profiling delimiting structures.

At least one of these objects may be accomplished by the following apparatus and/or method.

In this method, the tool holder and the tool held by the tool holder are driven into a compound motion comprising at least two components, in particular a revolving motion, for example along a planetary-like revolving path, and a rotation about its own axis. In this case, the two movements are synchronized with one another. The orbiting motion may be a periodic motion. Corresponding driving means may be provided for generating the rotation.

By means of the revolving movement, the tool holder and thus the tool can be guided periodically to the workpiece to be machined and act on the workpiece in a profiling manner, and then be moved away from the workpiece again in order to approach the workpiece again, etc. For example, the tool may be formed with the workpiece once per revolution (or twice or three revolutions).

By providing rotation of the tool axis about the rotational axis of the tool holder and orbiting movement of the tool holder, as described in more detail below, the tool can repeatedly machine a workpiece in a cold deformation manner in a novel manner. The tool may include a working area in which the workpiece is repeatedly machined within the machining area of the workpiece. In this way, the direction of rotation of the tool holder about the axis of rotation can be in particular opposite to the direction of rotation of the rotary motion.

Although similar to the method of WO2005/075125A1 mentioned, there is an important difference between the two methods due to the difference between the tool axis and the rotation axis of the tool holder (the same in WO2005/075125 A1), as will be clear from the following.

The cutting-in of the tool with the workpiece can thus take place periodically (due to the revolving movement) in a short duration, and in this short duration the tool (more precisely: working area of the tool) is in contact with the workpiece, which tool can be rotated not only about the tool axis, but also about the rotation axis of the tool holder, as the case may be, so that (in said short duration) the tool is also increased in a movement opposite to the revolving movement in addition to the revolving movement provided by the tool holder. Thus, the length of the contact area of the working area of the tool with the workpiece during the forming cut may be shorter than in the method according to the mentioned WO2005/075125 A1. Furthermore, this differs significantly from non-hammering, as known for example from the mentioned WO2020/099536, but rather is a roll-working.

The process of machining a workpiece for creating a contoured structure includes a plurality of individual machining steps that are offset from one another in the axial direction of the axial extension of the contoured structure and overlap one another only to a small extent. Thus, a higher surface quality, and in particular a higher profiling accuracy, can be obtained. Thus, the need for post-processing, which is required by particularly high requirements for surface quality, as in the method according to WO2007/009267A1, can be avoided.

And thanks to the swiveling movement of the tool holder about its own axis and to the mentioned synchronization, it is possible to achieve an orientation of the tool with the workpiece in the desired or predetermined azimuthal orientation, for example always at the same azimuthal orientation. Due to the mentioned swiveling movement, a change in the orientation of the azimuth angle of the tool holder occurs during each cut-in; the azimuthal orientation changes in the same manner for the duration of the cut-in, for example, each time the tool cut-in changes.

For example, the rotation of the tool holder may be synchronized with the orbiting motion of the tool holder such that the tool holder is operated through the same azimuthal orientation during each forming cut.

In this context, azimuth and azimuthal refer to the axis of rotation of the tool holder unless otherwise indicated.

This synchronization allows for a useful application of a tool which can be rotatably mounted about a tool axis different from the mentioned rotation axis. In particular, tools having rotationally symmetrical working areas may be used. As is known from the mentioned WO2005/075125A1, the tool can thus be, for example, a press roll.

Due to the inherent rotation of the tool holder about its rotation axis, the tool axis rotates about its rotation axis, the tool can be moved away from the workpiece again relatively quickly after cutting in, so that contact with a workpiece projection, such as a workpiece shoulder, can be avoided, and thus the shaping of the workpiece projection by the tool can be avoided.

For example, to achieve a desired axial extension of the profile structure, axial feed of the workpiece may be provided.

The rotational movement may occur, for example, during the entire revolution or continuously. Thereby, a good synchronization of the rotational movement of the tool holder with the rotational movement of the tool holder can be achieved.

For example, the synchronization of the two movements can be achieved mechanically. Thus, a mechanical synchronization means may be provided for this synchronization. However, the movements mentioned can also be synchronized differently, for example electronically, with another, and thus by means of an electronic synchronization device.

In some embodiments, the mentioned synchronization device (hereinafter also referred to as second synchronization device) comprises a planetary gear transmission. For example, it may comprise a ring gear and a planetary gear running in the ring gear, wherein the planetary gear may represent a part of the tool holder, or at least be firmly connected to the tool holder, or swivel itself with a swivel movement of the tool holder about the rotation axis, and also participate in the mentioned swivel movement. The axis of the planet gear may be coaxial with the axis of rotation.

On the other hand, the planetary gear can also drive the tool holder for a swiveling movement about its rotational axis. The drive means mentioned above and used for generating a swiveling movement of the tool holder about the rotational axis of the tool holder may thus comprise a planetary gear.

Thus, the method is applicable to a variety of applications. A planetary gear can be provided which simultaneously generates and synchronizes a swiveling motion of the tool holder about its rotational axis.

Such as the planetary orbital motion described above, may be applied to the tool fixture by an orbital body. The tool holder can be mounted in the swivel body, in particular rotatably about its axis of rotation. The swivel body may for example perform a rotation about a swivel body axis, and the rotational axis of the tool holder is spaced apart from the swivel body axis such that the rotational axis performs a swivel movement in a substantially circumferential path.

If the planetary gear set described above is provided, the orbiting motion may produce an orbiting motion of the tool holder applied by the planetary gear set. For this purpose, the rotor axis may be oriented coaxially with the axis of the ring gear. The drive means for generating a swiveling movement of the tool holder about its rotational axis may thus comprise a swivel and a planetary gear. Similarly, a drive shaft for driving the rotator around its rotator axis of rotation may also belong to the above-mentioned drive means.

In addition to the swivel body, a drive shaft for driving the swivel body in rotation about its swivel body axis may also belong to a drive device for producing a movement about the swivel body.

In addition, radial feed of the tool holder (perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the workpiece or the workpiece holder holding the workpiece) may also be provided to allow for deeper cutting of the tool into the workpiece during machining. The tool holder may be radially advanced until the desired depth of the contoured structure is achieved.

For example, the radial feed may be achieved by moving the swivel or in particular the rotational axis of the swivel towards the longitudinal axis, thus in this case undergoing a radial feed.

For example, the revolving body may be mounted into the profiling head, in particular in the profiling head rotatably about its revolving body axis, and the profiling head may be driven to move towards the longitudinal axis. The rotor can thus be moved towards the longitudinal axis by the drive means for radial feeding as it rotates about its rotor axis. And correspondingly movable about the body axis in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

The combined movement of the tool holder (and tool) thus also includes a further component, in particular the movement of the movement radially toward the longitudinal axis (radial feed movement). The axis of rotation of the tool holder can thus perform a movement which is superimposed by a circular movement and a linear movement of the centre of a circle, in particular wherein the linear movement takes place in a plane defined by the circular movement.

Furthermore, a swiveling movement of the workpiece or the workpiece holder about the longitudinal axis can be provided, for example, by means of a corresponding drive, for example, by means of a torque motor, in order to make the workpiece workable by means of the tool at different positions distributed over the circumference of the workpiece. Thus, various profiling gaps of the profiling structure to be produced can be produced by means of the tool. As described below, multiple tools may be provided such that a single tool (or tools) does not necessarily contribute to forming all of the profiling gaps of the profiling structure. However, it is also contemplated that the tool cuts into the workpiece at any location along the circumference of the workpiece where the profiling gap of the profiling structure is to be created, and thus helps to form all of the profiling gaps of the profiling structure.

The swiveling movement can have different rotational speeds, in particular rotational speeds that vary at least partially periodically. The swiveling motion may be, for example, intermittent rotation.

It is conceivable that the rotational speed of the rotation of the workpiece or the workpiece fixture has successive stages of a higher rotational speed and a lower rotational speed. The working of the workpiece by the tool may occur in particular during the lower rotational speed phase. In the lower rotational speed phase the workpiece rotates more slowly during the cutting-in of the tool or the workpiece rotates more slowly or is at standstill, the high precision with which the final profiling is to be achieved is better.

It is conceivable that the tool processes the workpiece, for example, in a stage of registering movements, wherein the workpiece is in a standstill. It is conceivable that the tool processes the workpiece, for example, in a rotational standstill phase of intermittent rotation of the workpiece (rotational speed at rotational standstill is zero).

On the other hand, it is also conceivable that the mentioned swivel movements have a constant rotational speed. This may lead to an increase in productivity.

It may be provided that the rotary movement of the workpiece fixture may be synchronized with the rotary movement of the tool fixture. This ensures that the machining of the workpiece always takes place at the same position along the circumference of the workpiece.

For example, the corresponding synchronization device (hereinafter also referred to as a first synchronization device) may be an electronic synchronization device.

In the above-listed embodiments with a planetary gear and a swivel body, the first synchronization device can, for example, synchronize a drive device for the workpiece or the workpiece holder with a drive shaft for driving the swivel body about its swivel body axis.

The method can be in particular a method for producing a profiled body provided with a profiling by cold-deforming a workpiece, wherein the workpiece can have a longitudinal axis and an outer surface in a working region, wherein the profiling is to be produced in the outer surface. The outer surface may extend along a longitudinal axis. In particular, the outer surface, for example conical or cylindrical, may be concentric with the longitudinal axis. However, other outer surface shapes are also possible, such as polygonal, e.g. with prismatic machining areas.

The workpiece performs a swiveling motion about a longitudinal axis. Furthermore, the workpiece (in particular the mentioned outer surface) is machined by the tool in a plurality of successive forming cuts, wherein the tool or more precisely the working area of the tool is in contact with the machining area. The corresponding tool motions have been described above.

The tool is held by a tool holder, and the tool holder is rotatably mounted in a swivel body about a rotation axis of the tool holder and is driven for swivel movement about its rotation axis. And the tool fixing device is driven by the revolving body to revolve; in particular, the tool holder is driven by the revolving body into movement along the revolving path.

The tool is mounted in the tool holder so as to be rotatable about a tool axis, wherein the tool axis is different from the axis of rotation of the tool holder.

In particular, the tool axis may be spaced apart from the rotational axis of the tool holder. The two axes may for example be oriented parallel to each other. In general, axes oriented non-parallel are also included, "spaced apart" meaning that the axes are understood mathematically as being non-intersecting.

If the method described herein is compared to the method described in WO2005/075125A1, it will be found that the same large force for shaping is provided when the diameter of the winding body is substantially the same, so that strong shaping is also possible in solid material and with a large tooth form modulus. However, in the method described herein, the extension of the tool in the vicinity of the workpiece (parallel to the axis of the workpiece fixture or parallel to the direction of the profiling structure), for example along the extension of the tool (more precisely: the working area of the tool) in contact with the workpiece during cutting, is shorter than in the mentioned WO2005/075125 A1. Since the rotary motion is superimposed with the rotary motion of the tool holder when the tool is mounted non-coaxially in the tool holder, the tool motion in the vicinity of the workpiece can be described as a motion along a hypocycloid, for example an ellipse, which in turn can be described as a generally circular motion in the vicinity of the tangent, wherein the diameter of the circular motion can be significantly smaller than the diameter of the rotary motion. Thus, the profiling may be produced at a shoulder projecting outwards closer to the workpiece to be profiled, at the same revolution, than is the case according to the method described from WO2005/075125 A1.

However, in the method according to the mentioned WO2005/075125A1, it is also possible to similarly create a profiling in the vicinity of the outwardly protruding shoulder of the workpiece to be profiled. However, this only works if the revolution diameter is selected to be correspondingly small, for example, similar to the diameter of the circular motion just mentioned. However, this results in a significantly smaller force being provided for the shaping of the workpiece, so that, for example, large tooth moduli cannot be produced in solid materials.

On the other hand, when the method described herein is compared to the method from the mentioned WO2020/099536 (using a sector tool), it is found that almost any profiling length can be produced here, and that the quality is constantly good along the whole profiling structure. In the method according to WO2020/099536, this only corresponds at most to the case of a profiling length of the working area length of the sector tool. This is because the material properties, particularly the flow properties, of the workpiece material are not generally constant along the profile, so that it is difficult to maintain small profile tolerances during long profiles. For example, the material of a tubular workpiece is more easily deformed and flows at one end of the workpiece than at the center of the workpiece. Thus, the method according to WO2020/099536 using a sector tool tends to be limited to shorter profiling.

The tool may in particular be freely rotatable about the tool axis. Thus, the tool may be rotated about the tool axis by cutting into the workpiece.

The tool may include a working area rotationally symmetrical with respect to the tool axis. In this way, the result of the cut-in is independent of the rotational orientation of the tool relative to the tool axis during the cut-in.

The tool may be configured, for example, as a press roll.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that:

the rotary movement of the workpiece is synchronized with the rotary movement of the tool holder; and

the rotation of the tool holder is synchronized with the orbiting movement of the tool holder.

It is particularly conceivable that the rotary movement of the workpiece is synchronized with the rotary movement of the tool holder, so that a plurality of forming cuts occur at each of a plurality of different positions distributed around the workpiece. These positions may be the positions of the profiling gap where the profiling structure is to be created if an external profiling structure is to be created. If the internal profiling of the workpiece is to be produced by the method, these locations may be those between adjacent profiling gaps of the internal profiling to be created.

In particular, it is also conceivable that the swiveling movement of the tool holder is synchronized with the swiveling movement of the tool holder in such a way that the tool runs through the same azimuthal orientation during each forming cut.

If the rotation of the tool holder is synchronized with the orbiting movement of the tool holder such that the azimuthal orientation through which the tool is operated during each forming cut is the same in each forming cut, a profiling structure up to the profiling delimiting structure (e.g. a workpiece protrusion) may be produced, for example.

It is also conceivable that a relative movement of the workpiece relative to the revolving body takes place parallel to the longitudinal axis for feeding in the workpiece for forming the profiling. In particular, as described above, the swivel may include a swivel axis about which it rotates, and relative movement of the workpiece with respect to the swivel axis occurs parallel to the longitudinal axis.

For example, the workpiece may be driven into movement parallel to the longitudinal axis (axial feed).

By axial feed it is ensured that the tool cutting in the course of the method takes place at different axial positions (relative to the longitudinal axis). For example, a workpiece fixture holding a workpiece is drivable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis by means of a drive device.

The method may also be considered a method for profiling a workpiece and/or a method for producing profiling structures in a workpiece.

The workpiece may be a hollow part, in particular a rotationally symmetrical hollow part, for example cylindrical.

The workpiece may be a solid part, in particular a rotationally symmetrical solid part, for example cylindrical.

The workpiece may be a metal workpiece.

The machining region may be a region in which a profiling structure is to be produced, i.e. a region to be profiled. The machining region may be an axially delimited portion of a workpiece, for example an end piece of a tubular or rod-shaped workpiece.

The workpiece may include a second region connected to the processing region. The second region may comprise a profiled delimiting structure adjacent to the machining region, such as a workpiece protrusion having a radial extension, at least in a (azimuthal) angle region around the longitudinal axis, that is greater than a radial extension of an outer surface of the machining region that is suddenly adjacent to the workpiece. The profiling delimiting structure may be a profiling obstacle such as a shoulder of a workpiece.

The profiling delimiting structure may form an end or a demarcation of the profiling structure.

The outer surface in the processing region may be rotationally symmetrical, for example cylindrical or conical. However, the outer surface may also be designed differently, for example as a polygon.

The profiling structure may be an external profiling structure. This may be created in a hollow part or a solid part. For example, when hollow parts are concerned, it is also possible to produce both the outer profiling and the inner profiling simultaneously, for example to envisage the tool being seated on the outer profiling spindle in its working area. Furthermore, it is also possible to produce an internal tooth form in the hollow part without the external tooth form thereby being produced at the same time. For this purpose, it is also conceivable for the tool to be seated on the outer profiling spindle in its working region.

The profiling structure may comprise a plurality of profiling gaps (deep portions of the workpiece in the machining region) which are distributed over the circumference, in particular for example uniformly over the circumference. However, the profiling gaps may also be unevenly distributed over the circumference.

The revolving movement of the tool holder may be a continuous movement and in particular at a constant speed.

The rotation of the tool holder may be a continuous movement and in particular at a constant rotational speed.

In particular, the two speeds may have a constant ratio to each other over time.

The orbiting motion may be a circular motion.

The trajectory (movement path) describing the movement of the tool holder can be produced in particular by the superposition of a revolving movement and a (radial) movement perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

In some embodiments, the rotation about the swivel axis is performed about the swivel. Thereby, a revolving movement of the tool holder can be produced. The orbiting movement of the tool holder may occur in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the orbiting body.

The rotor axis and the rotation axis may be oriented parallel to each other.

The rotational direction of the rotational movement (about the rotational axis) of the tool holder can be opposite to the rotational direction of the rotational movement (about the swivel axis) (counter-rotation), for example.

The rotational movement of the tool holder may occur in a plane oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis and/or in a plane perpendicular to the tool axis (which is perpendicular to the plane of the longitudinal axis). This may be provided for producing profiling structures extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, such as straight teeth, in particular if the turning movement of the workpiece or the workpiece fixture is slowed down during the cutting-in or intermittent rotational movement is provided.

On the other hand, different orientations can be provided, for example, when a bevel tooth form is to be produced or when the workpiece is still rotating during cutting-in, for example, the rotational speed of the workpiece or the workpiece fixture remains constant. For example, it is conceivable to wrap around a pivot angle with the longitudinal axis in a plane perpendicular to the tool axis, which is not zero. The pivot angle may be selected, for example, based on the bevel angle of the profile or the rotational speed of the workpiece or workpiece fixture during the cut-in.

The revolution around the swivel can be a continuous movement and in particular have a constant rotational speed. The revolving movement of the tool holder may be a continuous movement and in particular have a constant rotational speed. And the two rotational speeds may have a temporarily constant ratio to each other. As mentioned above, the synchronization of the two rotational speeds can be achieved, for example, by means of a planetary gear.

The planetary gear transmission may include a ring gear and a planetary gear that operates in the ring gear. The planetary gear may be part of a tool fixture. And it can perform a swivel motion with the tool holder. The position of the planet gear may be fixed relative to the position of the tool axis.

The ring gear may be fixed in the profiling head, wherein the revolving body is mounted (in particular rotatably mounted) in the profiling head.

The profiling head may be a load bearing housing for receiving or mounting components of the device. For example, the number of the cells to be processed,

the swivel body may be mounted, in particular rotatably mounted;

a drive device for the rotation of the revolving body can be installed; and

the ring gear (assuming present) can be fixed

In the forming head.

Furthermore, the profiling head may be actively connected to a drive connection for radial feeding, for example a linear drive.

Two profiling heads may also be provided, each having at least one tool, for example, a first tool in a first profiling head and a second tool in a second profiling head. The tools may be arranged opposite each other with respect to the longitudinal axis, for example arranged mirrored with respect to a plane containing the longitudinal axis. For example, the two tools can be configured as press rolls, for example.

The two profiling heads, in particular comprising the device part in which for example the winding body and the toothed ring are provided, can be of identical design or can be manufactured to identical specifications, wherein the movement of the device part runs mirrored with respect to a plane containing the longitudinal axis.

The respective rotary movements of the two tools mentioned can be identical to one another, i.e. in particular run mirror images of one another with respect to a plane containing the longitudinal axis. The respective turning movements of the two tools mentioned can thus occur in the same plane.

The orbiting motion of the first tool (first profiling head) may thus be synchronized with the orbiting motion of the second tool (second profiling head) so that the mentioned profiling cuts of the two tools occur simultaneously.

The mechanical load of the workpiece fixture can be kept low by this (mirror) symmetrical configuration, since the individual forces directed to the longitudinal axis substantially cancel each other out.

For other reasons and also at other locations, for example within the same profiling head, a plurality of tools may be provided. These tools may for example be of identical design. These tools can be, for example, press rolls, in particular press rolls of identical construction. If a plurality of tool holders are provided, they may also be of identical construction.

In one aspect, a single tool holder may hold two or more tools, for example, such that the azimuth angles of the tool axes relative to the axis of rotation of the tool holder are evenly distributed.

For example, the tools may alternately form cuts with the workpiece during successive revolutions.

A longer service life of the individual tools can thereby be achieved.

On the other hand, two or more tool fixtures may be provided, each holding (at least) one tool. The orbiting movements of the tool holders may, for example, describe the same orbiting path; and may be evenly distributed along the orbiting path. For example, the tool fixtures may be azimuthally evenly distributed about the axis of the rotating body.

For example, each rotational revolution of the swivel body of each tool holder may make a cut into the workpiece.

Thus (where the number of rotations given to the rotator is the same), there are multiple cuts at a time and thus faster work pieces in solid line. During one revolution of the revolving body, N shaped cuts may occur, where N represents the number of tool fixtures each having (at least) one tool.

When N represents the number of tool holders each having N tools and two press heads of identical (e.g., mirror image) configuration are provided, the work is performed with 2·n·n tools, for example.

The tool or at least its working area may for example be manufactured to the same specifications.

As previously mentioned, the tool may be a press roll.

In its working area, the tool has a negative shape corresponding to the shape of the profiling gap of the profiling structure to be produced in a section along a section plane extending through the working area and containing the tool axis. For the case of a plane perpendicular to the tool axis and a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, it is conceivable that during the cutting-in, in a section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis through the working area, the tool has a shape corresponding to the negative of the shape of the profiling gap of the profiling structure to be produced.

This may be provided in particular if the profiling structure comprises or is an external profiling structure. Alternatively, the inner profile structure may or may not be created simultaneously with the outer profile structure.

The working area may be rotationally symmetrical with respect to the tool axis.

The working area may thus be defined as a co-region in which the tool is in (direct) contact with the workpiece. However, it is conceivable that only one section of the working area is in (direct) contact with the workpiece at each cut-in. When a tool is freely rotatably mounted about the tool axis, it is generally random which section of the working area is in (direct) contact with the workpiece at each cut-in.

If the tool is held by a tool holder as described above, the tool axis may be rotated with the associated tool holder. And when a planetary gear is provided as a component of the tool holder, the relative position of the tool axis and the planetary gear may also be constant.

The tool may be a component of a tool insert of the tool fixture, which may be secured to at least another component of the tool fixture.

The apparatus may be an apparatus for manufacturing a profiled body having a profiled structure by cold deforming a workpiece. To this end, the apparatus may include:

-a workpiece fixture rotatable about its longitudinal axis for holding the workpiece;

a drive device for generating a swiveling movement of the workpiece fixture about the longitudinal axis, in particular wherein the swiveling movement is intermittent, i.e. has alternating periods of standstill and periods of swiveling movement;

-a winding body;

a tool holder for holding a tool, in particular wherein the tool holder is mounted in the revolving body so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis of the tool holder;

-a drive means for generating a swiveling movement of the tool holder about its rotation axis; and

A drive device for generating a movement of the swivel body, whereby the tool holder can be driven in a revolving movement, in particular along a revolving path.

Furthermore, the device comprises:

-first synchronizing means for synchronizing a rotational movement of the tool holder with a rotational movement of the tool holder; and

a second synchronization device for synchronizing the swiveling movement of the tool holder with the swiveling movement of the tool holder.

The tool holder may have a rotational support for receiving a tool bit, the support defining a tool axis different from the tool holder rotational axis such that the tool is rotatable about the tool axis. In particular, the tool is freely rotatable about the tool axis.

In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a tool mounted in a rotational support to be rotatable about a tool axis.

In particular, a tool can be envisaged

-having a working area rotationally symmetrical with respect to the tool axis; and/or

-configured as a press roll.

The drive means for generating the rotation of the tool holder about its axis of rotation may be at least partially identical to the second synchronizing means. For example, the planetary gear set already described may be a component of the drive device by converting the movement of the revolving body into a revolving movement of the tool holder, and on the other hand it may be a component of the first synchronization device (or corresponding to the first synchronization device) by coupling the revolving movement of the tool holder to the revolving movement of the tool holder.

The drive means for generating the movement around the swivel may for example comprise a drive spindle. This may also be a component of the drive device for producing a rotational movement of the tool holder about its rotational axis, which is applied, for example, by means of a planetary gear.

The revolving body can be mounted in particular rotatably in the profiling head. And this can be driven towards the longitudinal axis by means of a drive device for the radial feed movement. The drive means may be, for example, a drive means for movement of the profiling head, which movement runs perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

The apparatus may include a drive means for producing movement of the workpiece fixture parallel to the longitudinal axis. Whereby the cutting-in of the workpiece may take place, for example, at a position located further and further from one end of the workpiece. It may be permissible to form contoured structures extending parallel to the longitudinal axis.

The first synchronization device and the second synchronization device may be the same synchronization device, or may be completely or partially different from each other.

The first synchronization device may be configured to ensure that the rate of revolution of the orbiting motion of the first tool fixture to the rotational speed of the orbiting motion of the workpiece remains a fixed (non-time-varying) ratio.

The second synchronization means may be configured to ensure that the rate of revolution of the rotational movement of the first tool holder means to the rotational speed of the rotational movement of the tool holder means remains a fixed (non-time-varying) ratio.

The apparatus may be configured such that cold profiling of the workpiece occurs through a plurality of successively performed forming cuts. This may be the cutting of the same tool or the cutting of multiple tools.

And the first synchronizing means may be configured to synchronize the rotational movement of the workpiece fixture with the rotational movement of the tool fixture such that multiple forming cuts occur at various locations distributed about the periphery of the workpiece.

The apparatus may be configured such that the tool is in contact with the machining region during each forming cut. In particular, the device is designed such that the working area of the tool (more precisely, the section of the working area) is in contact with the working area in each forming cut. The individual tools (more precisely, their working areas or sections of the working areas) can thereby be peened against the outer surface (in the working area). During each cut, the tool may act on the working area in a cold-forming manner.

While the second synchronizing means may be configured to synchronize the turning movement of the tool holder with the turning movement of the tool holder such that the tool axis passes through the same (small) azimuthal location (relative to the rotation axis) area in each forming cut.

If a plurality of tools and one or more tool holders are provided, each holding at least one of these tools, a second synchronizing means may be conceived, which is configured to synchronize the swiveling movement of at least one tool holder with the swiveling movement of the respective tool holder, so that the tool axis passes through the same (small) azimuthal location (relative to the rotation axis) area in each forming cut of the tool.

For example, if the profiling structure to be produced comprises r profiling gaps and the device comprises N tool holders whose revolution motion describes the same revolution path, the first synchronization device may be configured, for example, such that one-nth of the period duration of the revolution motion is equal to an integer multiple of one-nth of the period duration of the revolution motion of the workpiece. Thus, these cuts occur precisely at the locations along the circumference of the workpiece where the profiling gap is to be created. In particular, the first synchronization device can be configured, for example, such that one-nth of the cycle duration of the rotary motion is equal to one-r of the cycle duration of the rotary motion of the workpiece. Thus, these cuts occur each time at adjacent profiling gap locations.

The invention includes an apparatus having features corresponding to the features of the method and vice versa.

Further embodiments and advantages are obtained from the dependent patent claims and the figures.

Drawings

The subject matter of the invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples and figures. Which schematically shows:

FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus for performing a method of cold deformation profiling of a workpiece;

FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate successive stages of the method;

FIG. 3 shows a cross section of the tool fixture and tool through its axis of rotation and tool axis;

fig. 4 shows a detail of the planetary gear train with planetary wheels according to fig. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a partial view of a device with two profiling heads with a nominal radial feed and axial feed;

FIG. 6A illustrates an orbiting path of a tool fixture;

fig. 6B symbolically shows a radial feed motion;

FIG. 6C illustrates the trajectory of the tool fixture superimposed with the orbiting motion and radial feed;

FIG. 7 shows a detail of an apparatus having two profiling heads, wherein each profiling head comprises three tool fixtures each having two tools;

FIG. 8 shows a profile body with an outwardly projecting shoulder;

FIG. 9 shows a detail of the workpiece on the outer contoured mandrel in a section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

FIG. 10 shows a workpiece having a conical machining region in a cross section including the longitudinal axis;

FIG. 11 shows a workpiece having a polygonal outer surface in a section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

FIG. 12 shows a workpiece or profiled body having two axially spaced radially outwardly directed profiling delimiting structures (between which profiling structures have been created);

FIG. 13 shows a workpiece or profiled body having two axially spaced radially inward and radially outward directed profiling delimiting structures (between which profiling structures have been created);

FIG. 14 shows a workpiece or profiled body without a profiling delimiting structure;

FIG. 15 shows a workpiece having a non-rotationally symmetrical contoured delimitation structure in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

FIG. 16 shows a workpiece or profiled body having azimuthally non-uniformly distributed profiling gaps in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

fig. 17 is a schematic illustration given a pivoting tool axis.

Components not important to the understanding of the present invention are not shown to a certain extent. The described embodiments are examples for the inventive subject matter or are intended to illustrate the inventive subject matter without limitation.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows an apparatus 100 for carrying out cold forming of a workpiece 1. The workpiece 1 is held in a workpiece holding device 10 which is symbolically shown in fig. 1 and has a longitudinal axis Z, which is also the longitudinal axis of the workpiece 1.

In the example shown, the workpiece 1 has a machining region 11 which is rotationally symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis Z and has an outer surface 11a, and which is, for example, cylindrical, and into which a profiling is incorporated, with which a second region 12 adjoins, in which the workpiece 1 has a larger diameter than the machining region 11. Thus, a profiling delimiting structure designed as a workpiece shoulder 13 is formed between the regions 11 and 12.

Furthermore, a rotating body 8, symbolically indicated in fig. 1, is provided, which performs the movement R8 'by rotating around a rotating body axis, which is not shown in fig. 1, in the example shown, and thus performs the rotation R8'. A tool fixture 5 performing a revolving movement R8 along a revolving path U due to a movement R8' of the revolving body 8 is installed in the revolving body 8.

The tool holder 5 comprises a rotation axis W about which the rotation R5 is performed. The rotation R5 may be produced directly, for example, by a drive (rotary drive), or may also be obtained from the movement R8' of the revolving body 8, for example, by means of a planetary gear, as will be described in detail below.

The tool fixture 5 holds at least one tool 21 comprising a working area 21 in which it is in cold press working contact with the workpiece 1 and in this way performs a movement when cutting into the workpiece 1, which will be described in more detail below. The tool 2 is in particular freely rotatably mounted in the tool holder 5 so as to be rotatable about a tool axis Q. The tool axis Q is not identical to the rotation axis W of the tool holder 5. The tool axis may be oriented parallel to this and spaced apart, for example.

The tool 2 may comprise a rotationally symmetrical working area (relative to the tool axis Q).

The tool 2 may be configured, for example, as a press roll.

Profiling gaps are produced in the workpiece 1 by means of the tool 2, wherein the tool 2 performs multiple cuts into each profiling gap.

In order to enable the tool 2 to cut into the workpiece 1 at different positions distributed around the workpiece 1, the workpiece 1 can be driven by means of the tool holder 10 into a swiveling motion R1 about the longitudinal axis Z, in particular wherein the swiveling motion R1 can be intermittently swiveling, so that the tool cutting-in can take place in a swiveling dwell phase of the workpiece 1.

Furthermore, a drive for axially advancing the workpiece 1 parallel to the longitudinal axis Z can also be provided. Thereby, a contoured progressive formation along the longitudinal axis Z can be achieved.

In fig. 1, the active connections for driving are indicated by dashed lines, and the active connections (which may be mechanically and/or electronically implemented) for synchronization are indicated by thick dashed lines.

This provides a drive A1, for example a torque motor or other rotary drive, for generating the rotary movement R1 of the workpiece fixture 10, and a drive A8 for generating the movement R8' about the swivel 8. The drive device A8 may have a drive shaft, for example.

As mentioned above, a further drive means A5 is provided for generating a rotation R5 of the tool holder 5 about its rotation axis W.

The rotation axis W is oriented parallel to the axis of the revolving body. The rotational movement R8 of the tool holder takes place in a plane perpendicular to this axis. In the example shown, the longitudinal axis is oriented parallel to the plane.

The tool axis Q may be oriented parallel to the rotation axis W.

In order to allow tool cutting to occur at the location where the profiling gap is to be produced, the workpiece turn R1 and the orbiting motion R8 are synchronized with each other by means of the first synchronization device S1, for example, the workpiece turn R1 and the motion R8' of the orbiting body 8 are synchronized with each other by means of the first synchronization device S1.

For example, the synchronization may consist in that the two movements (R1 and R8 or R8') have their revolution times constant ratio. For example, when only one tool 2 is provided and successive cutting of the tool 2 into the workpiece 1 is to take place in adjacent profiling gaps, T8/t1=z can be selected, the revolution time (period) of the revolution motion R8 of the tool holder 5 being T8 and the revolution time (period) of the workpiece being T1, where z is the number of profiling gaps to be produced.

This synchronization can be achieved by means of the electronic synchronization device S1. However, in principle other synchronization means, such as mechanical synchronization means, are also conceivable.

Furthermore, a second synchronizing device S5 is provided, by means of which the rotation R5 of the tool holder 5 and the swiveling movement R8 of the tool holder 5 can be synchronized with each other. This can be achieved, for example, by means of an electronic synchronization device, which can also be identical to the first synchronization device S1. In the example shown, this synchronization is achieved mechanically, in particular by means of the planetary gear set described above.

In this respect, the drive A5 can be at least partially identical to the second synchronization device S5, i.e. the rotation R5 is produced by means of a planetary gear, on the one hand, and the synchronization between the rotation R5 and the swiveling movement R8 is carried out, on the other hand.

By means of the synchronization achieved by the second synchronization means S5 it is ensured that the tool axis Q remains oriented at the same azimuth angle (relative to the rotation axis W of the tool holder 5) during each cut into the workpiece 1. This is advantageous, for example, when the workpiece 1 as shown in fig. 1 comprises an outwardly projecting workpiece shoulder 13 and a profiling should be established in the vicinity of this shoulder. This is illustrated in fig. 2A to 2D.

Figures 2A-2D illustrate successive stages of the method. Most of the reference numerals have been set forth above; Indicating the azimuthal position of the tool axis relative to the axis of rotation W, or more precisely the corresponding azimuthal angle (measured in a counter-clockwise direction). For example, as shown in fig. 2A-2D (and fig. 4, see below), the following axes may be selected as reference axes for azimuthal orientation:

an axis (indicated by a dashed line in fig. 2A-2D) oriented perpendicular to the rotation axis W, which axis extends through the middle of the working area 21 and through the rotation axis W;

an axis (indicated by stippling in fig. 2A-2D) oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation W, which axis extends through the middle of the working area 21 and through the axis of the revolving body.

Fig. 2A illustrates a situation shortly before the start of the cut-in, in which the tool 2 is immediately in contact with the workpiece 1. Azimuth angleIn the illustrated embodiment, is substantially 317 deg., and correspondingly-43 deg..

Fig. 2B illustrates the situation substantially in the middle of the cut. Azimuth angleOnly a few degrees in the illustrated example.

Fig. 2C illustrates the case when the cut-in is finished. The tool 2 is no longer in contact with the workpiece 1. Azimuth angleAnd in the illustrated embodiment is substantially 40.

Fig. 2D illustrates the situation even after the end of the cut-in. The tool 2 is then quickly moved beyond the workpiece shoulder 13. Azimuth angle In the illustrated example exactly 70 deg..

By means of the second synchronization device S5, it is possible, for example, to ensure that the tool 2 is in contact with the workpiece 1 and thus to hammer the workpiece in the region of a small azimuth angle for each winding.

Due to the superimposed revolving movement of the tool holder and revolving movement of the tool holder about the axis of rotation, it is ensured that the tool 2 (due to the tool axis and the axis of rotation being different) is in contact with the workpiece 1 only for a short time and along a short cross-section (e.g. measured parallel to the longitudinal axis Z).

The (forming) contact of the tool 2 with the workpiece shoulder 13 is thus avoided, but in addition to this, the formation of the profiling can take place up to the workpiece shoulder 13.

As is readily apparent from fig. 2A, the workpiece 1 may comprise another workpiece protrusion (indicated by a broken line in fig. 2A) at the end shown on the right side, instead of terminating there. In this case, a profiling can be produced between two workpiece projections by means of the method so that it extends to the vicinity of the respective workpiece projection.

Fig. 3 shows the tool holder 5 and the tool 2 in a sectional view of its axis of rotation W and the tool axis Q. It (optionally) comprises two planetary gears 45 whose axes are coaxial with the rotation axis W and two bearing areas 2L for rotatable mounting in the swivel 8 (see fig. 1). The tool holder 5 may be of one-piece design or, as shown, of multiple-piece design.

The tool holder 5 may for example comprise a tool insert 2e (shown hatched in fig. 3 to improve the recognition) in which the tool 2 is rotatably mounted about a tool axis Q. For example, as shown in fig. 3, a pressing roller as the tool 2 is rotatably mounted there about a tool axis Q. For this purpose, the tool insert 2e may comprise a rotary support (not shown separately in the figures). The tool insert 2e may be fixedly connected to at least another part of the tool fixture 5, for example a screw connection to that part.

The tool axis Q may be fixedly positioned in the tool fixture 5 relative to the planetary gear 45.

Fig. 4 shows a detail of the planetary gear 40 of the device in a sectional view perpendicular to the axis of rotation W, for example comprising a planetary gear 45 integrated into the tool holder 5 according to fig. 3, although only one is shown in fig. 4.

The planetary gear set 40 comprises a ring gear 41 having an axis 42, but may also comprise a second ring gear, not shown in fig. 4, in which the second planetary gear of the tool holder 5 runs.

The axis 46 of the planetary gear 45 is coaxial with the rotation axis W. And the axis V of the revolving body (corresponding to the axis of the revolving movement of the tool holder) is coaxial with the axis 42 of the ring gear 41.

By means of a suitable dimensioning of the planetary gear 40, it is possible, for example, to ensure that the tool axis Q has the same azimuthal orientation (with respect to the rotation axis) at a specific position along the revolution path U (see fig. 1) of the tool holder 5, for example at the position at which the cutting into the workpiece 1 is to be completed or at the starting position of the cutting into the workpiece 1, at each revolution.

Instead of a planetary gear with two ring gears and two planet gears, this planetary gear can also be realized, for example, with at most one ring gear and at most one planet gear.

In each case two tool cuts, in particular at positions of the workpiece 1 which lie opposite one another with respect to the longitudinal axis, and in particular also at the same position in the axial direction (with respect to the longitudinal axis Z), the mechanical requirements of the workpiece fixture 10 can be significantly reduced.

Fig. 5 illustrates a partial view of the device 100 with two profiling heads 3a and 3b, wherein radial and axial feed are additionally symbolically shown. The revolving body (each comprising at least one tool holder), if provided, may be mounted in the profiling heads 3a, 3 b.

The profiling heads 3a, 3b or the components mounted therein may be of substantially identical design but mirrored with respect to motion.

The workpiece 1 (dashed line) symbolically represented in fig. 5 can thus be machined in each case by means of two tools which lie opposite one another with respect to the longitudinal axis Z.

The movements of the two revolving bodies can thus be synchronized with each other or the same movement can be caused, for example, by the same rotary drive. And one or more ring gears may be fixed in each profiling head.

During processing, it may be advantageous if the workpiece is axially displaceable, thereby in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis Z, in order to allow for progressive deformation of the profiling along the longitudinal axis Z by means of a tool that successively cuts into the workpiece a plurality of times. This is of course also true in the case that only a single forming head is provided, or that the tool cutting takes place from one side only or simultaneously by means of no more than one tool, respectively.

This axial movement is indicated in fig. 5 by the black solid large arrow symbols.

For this purpose, a drive means AZ for axial feed may be provided.

It may be advantageous during machining when the tool can be fed radially, and thus in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Z, because the profiling gap formed will become deeper and deeper as the number of cuts increases. This also applies if only a single forming head is provided, or tool cutting occurs from one side only or simultaneously by no more than one tool, respectively.

This radial feed movement is symbolically represented in fig. 5 by the open arrow symbol denoted L2. It may take place along an axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and parallel to the plane described by the rotational movement of the tool holder

For this purpose, a drive A2 for radial feed can be provided.

As schematically illustrated in fig. 6A-6C, the radial feed, the winding motion U, is superimposed with the (linear) radial feed motion to obtain the motion trajectory or path of the tool holder.

Fig. 6A thus symbolically shows the path of revolution U of the tool holder.

Fig. 6B symbolically shows a radial feed movement L2.

Fig. 6C symbolically shows the trajectory T of the tool holder superimposed by the revolving movement U and the radial feed L2. Thus, in practice, the distance between the generally circular track components is much less than that shown in FIG. 6C for clarity.

Fig. 7 illustrates a detail of the device 100 with two profiling heads, each comprising three tool fixtures 5a1, 5a2, 5a3 or 5b1, 5b2, 5b3, each having two tools 2a1, 2a1 'or 2a2, 2a2', respectively.

By means of (if necessary each profiling head) providing a plurality of tool fixtures 5a1, 5a2, several cuts can occur per revolution around the swivel, which allows for an increased machining speed, thus creating a profiling in a shorter time.

By providing a plurality of tools for each tool holder, the service life of the tool holder can be extended, thereby resulting in a longer uninterrupted profile. For example, the second synchronizing device S5 (see fig. 1) may be configured such that, when there are n tools per tool holder, after one revolution of the revolving body 8, the tool axes of the respective tools are oriented with an azimuth angle, which differs from the azimuth position at the beginning of the revolution by up to 360 °/n, at a certain position along the revolving path U (see fig. 1) of the tool holder 5, for example, at the position where the cutting into the workpiece 1 is to be completed. The difference may also be a multiple of 360/n, provided that the multiple is different from 360, and also different from a multiple of 360.

Furthermore, fig. 7 illustrates that a profiling structure between two profiling delimitation structures, for example between two workpiece shoulders 13, 13', can be produced by the method described herein, wherein the profiling structure can all be directed to the profiling delimitation structure.

Fig. 8 shows, in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Z, a profiled body 1P comprising a profiling structure P which can be produced by means of the method or the device. The profiling structure comprises a plurality of profiling gaps pl. Each profiling gap pl is produced by successively carrying out a plurality of cuts of one or more tools 2, each tool 2 having a working area 21, which working area 21 has a shape which, in the sectional view according to fig. 8, generally corresponds to the profiling gap pl to be produced.

The profile body 1p is a hollow piece which is seated on the outer profiling mandrel 6 and comprises an outwardly protruding shoulder 13. By using the profiling spindle 6, not only an outer profiling structure but also an inner profiling structure can be produced simultaneously by means of this method.

When a solid or hollow member is positioned on a non-contoured mandrel, then an outer contoured structure can be created without the need to synchronously create an inner contoured structure together.

Furthermore, the internal tooth structure may be formed in the hollow member without forming the external profile structure in the hollow member. Fig. 9 illustrates this.

Fig. 9 shows a detail of the workpiece 1 in a section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, which is mounted on the outer profiling spindle 6 and is being machined in the manner described by the tool 2. The material of the workpiece 1 is then shaped into the profiling gap 6p by this machining. The tool 2 has an extended working area.

Fig. 10 shows by way of example, in a section view containing the longitudinal axis Z, that the outer surface of the machining zone 11 of the workpiece 1 does not have to be cylindrical, but can also be conical, for example, as shown.

Fig. 11 shows by way of example in a section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Z that the outer surface 11a of the machining region 11 of the workpiece 1 is not necessarily rotationally symmetrical, but may, for example, be polygonal as shown. The outer surface 11a shown in fig. 11 includes six partial surfaces, but it is also conceivable that the outer surface 11a includes more partial surfaces. For example, the workpiece 1 may be prismatic in the relevant processing region.

Fig. 12 shows an example of a workpiece 1 or profile body 1p having two axially spaced apart profiling delimiting structures 13, 13' protruding radially outwards. The profiling structure P with profiling gaps pl produced by means of the method reaches up to these profiling gaps.

The profiling delimiter structure may also be directed radially inwards with respect to an adjacent section of the machining area. Fig. 13 shows an example of this, in which the profiling delimiting structure 13 at one end of the processing zone 11 is directed radially inwards, while the profiling delimiting structure 13' at the other end of the processing zone 11 is directed radially outwards.

Fig. 14 shows by way of example that the machining region 11 does not necessarily have to be delimited on one or both sides by profiling. In the illustrated profiled body, neither end of its working area 11 is adjacent to the profiling delimiting structure.

Fig. 15 shows by way of example that the profiling delimiting structure 13 of the workpiece 1 is not necessarily rotationally symmetrical. In the illustrated example, a plurality of radially outwardly projecting workpiece projections are provided, the projections being at different azimuthal positions.

Fig. 16 shows, in a sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L, a workpiece 1 or profiled body 1p comprising profiling structures, the profiling gaps 1p of which are distributed azimuthally in a non-uniform manner. While a circumferentially uniform distribution of profiling clearances is preferred in many applications, the presence of a random arrangement of profiling clearances p1 in azimuth is an advantageous application.

Of course, a single workpiece may include two or more distinct processing regions that may be axially spaced apart from one another and each provide a contoured structure in the manner described herein, for example.

In the example shown in fig. 1, 5 and 7, the plane perpendicular to the tool axis Q contains the longitudinal axis Z. However, this is only one option. This option is particularly useful when, as mentioned above, the spur teeth are to be formed and the workpiece is stationary or only slowly rotating during the cut-in.

However, it is also conceivable that a plane perpendicular to the tool axis could also enclose a pivot angle 6 (not equal to zero degrees) with the longitudinal axis, as schematically shown in fig. 17. This is useful for creating a profile structure of an inclined extension, e.g. an inclined tooth profile, or when the workpiece 1 is rotated during cutting of a tool, such as in the case of a rotational movement of the workpiece 1 or a workpiece fixture at a constant rotational speed. In particular, as shown in fig. 17, the (pivoted) tool axis Q' can pivot relative to the vertically oriented tool axis Q in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis Z; in other words, it pivots such that the non-pivoting tool axis Q is located in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis Z along with the pivoting tool axis Q'. The plane mentioned in fig. 17 is the plane of drawing. The plane perpendicular to the pivoting tool axis Q 'is shown in phantom in fig. 17 and encloses a pivot angle δ with the longitudinal axis just as the pivoting tool axis Q' encloses a pivot angle δ with the non-pivoting tool axis Q. The magnitude of the pivot angle 6 may be selected, for example, according to the angle of inclination of the profile structure or the rotational speed of the workpiece or workpiece fixture during cutting.

For example, the profiling head may pivot such that the tool axis Q, the rotation axis W (of the tool fixture) and the swivel axis V pivot simultaneously.

When the tool axis Q, the rotation axis W and the rotor axis V are parallel to one another, they can be pivoted, for example, by the same pivot angle δ. The planes perpendicular to the tool axis Q are also perpendicular to the rotation axis W and the revolution body axis V due to being parallel to each other.

As already set forth above, the methods described herein may also allow profiling structures that require a large force for this, wherein nevertheless the formation of profiling structures up to near profiling delimiting structures (such as a workpiece shoulder) is possible.

Claims (15)

1. Method for producing a profiled body (1P) with a profiling structure (P) by cold deformation of a workpiece (1), the workpiece (1) comprising a longitudinal axis (Z) and having an outer surface (11 a) in a machining region (11), the profiling structure (P) being to be added to the outer surface (11 a), wherein the workpiece (1) performs a swiveling movement (R1) about the longitudinal axis (Z) and is machined by a first tool (2) in a plurality of successively performed forming cuts, in each of which the first tool (2) is in contact with the machining region (11), wherein the first tool (2) is held by a first tool holder (5; 5a 1), and wherein the first tool holder (5; 5a 1.)

-rotatably mounted in the swivel (8) about a rotation axis (W) of the first tool fixture (5; 5a1,) and driven to rotate (R5) about the rotation axis (W), wherein the term azimuth as used below is defined by the rotation axis (W); and

-driven by the revolving body (8) to perform a revolving movement (R8); and

wherein the method comprises the steps of

-the rotary movement (R1) of the workpiece (1) is synchronized with the rotary movement (R8) of the first tool fixture (5; 5a 1); and

-rotation (R5) of the first tool fixture (5; 5a1, and) is synchronized with a revolving movement (R8) of the first tool fixture (5; 5a1, and)

Wherein the first tool (2) is mounted in a first tool holder (5; 5a 1), in particular is mounted freely rotatably in the first tool holder (5; 5a 1), so as to be rotatable about a first tool axis (Q) different from the rotation axis (W), in particular wherein the first tool axis (Q) is spaced apart from the rotation axis (W).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein

-the rotary movement (R1) of the workpiece (1) is synchronized with the rotary movement (R8) of the first tool holder (5; 5a 1) so that the forming cuts and the forming cuts take place a plurality of times, respectively, at different positions distributed around the workpiece (1)

-rotation (R5) of the first tool fixture (5; 5a1, the first and second tools are synchronized with the orbiting movement (R8) of the first tool fixture (5; 5a1, the first tool (2) is subjected to the same azimuthal orientation at each forming cut

3. Method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the revolving body (8) performs a revolution (R8') about a revolving body axis (V), and wherein the revolving body axis (V) and the rotation axis (W) are oriented parallel to each other.

4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first tool (2) comprises a working area (21) rotationally symmetrical with respect to the tool axis (Q), in particular wherein the first tool (2) is configured as a press roll.

5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rotation (R5) of the tool holder (5, 5a1, the.) is synchronized with the orbiting movement (R8) of the first tool holder (5; 5a1, the).

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the planetary gear (40) comprises a ring gear (41) and a planetary gear (45) running in the ring gear (41), wherein the planetary gear (45) is part of the first tool fixture (5; 5a1, etc.) and said rotation (R5) is performed together therewith.

7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the workpiece is simultaneously processed by a second tool (2 b) in a plurality of forming cuts performed one after the other, in which forming cuts the second tool (2 b) is in contact with the workpiece (1), in particular wherein each forming cut performed one after the other of the second tool (2 b) takes place on the workpiece (1) at a position opposite to the position of the workpiece (1) associated with the longitudinal axis (Z) at which forming cuts of the first tool (2 a) take place simultaneously; in particular, the first tool (2 a) and the second tool (2 b) are configured as press rolls.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the workpiece is further processed by an additional tool (2 a2,2a1 ') in a plurality of forming cuts performed before and after, in which the additional tool (2 a2,2a 1') is in contact with the workpiece (1) respectively, in particular wherein a tool fixture (5; 5a2, 2a1 ') holding the additional tool (2 a2,2a 1') performs the same orbiting movement (R8) as the tool fixture (5; 5a1, 4) described above, and wherein the tool fixture (5; 5a2, 4) is the same as or different from the tool fixture (5; 5a1, 4) described above; in particular, both the first tool (2 a) and the additional tool (2 a2,2a 1') are embodied as press rolls.

9. Method according to claim 8, wherein the additional tool (2 a1 ') is held by the same tool holder (5 a 1) as the first tool (2; 2a 1), in particular wherein the additional tool (2 a1;2a 1') is rotatably mounted in the tool holder (5 a 1) about an additional tool axis which is different from the rotation axis (W) and the first tool axis (Q), in particular wherein the additional tool axis is azimuthally spaced from the first tool axis (Q), and in particular wherein the first tool axis (Q) and the additional tool axis and the rotation axis (W) are oriented perpendicular to a common plane.

10. Method according to claim 8, wherein a second tool holder (5 a 2) different from the first tool holder (5 a 1) is provided, and the additional tool (2 a1;2a 1') is held rotatably by means of the second tool holder about an additional tool axis, the first tool holder and the second tool holder describing the same rotational path (U) in a rotational movement, in particular wherein the additional tool (2 a 2) is rotatably mounted in the second tool holder (5 a 2) about an additional tool axis which is different from the rotational axis of the second tool holder, and in particular wherein the first tool axis (Q) and the additional tool axis and the rotational axis (W) are oriented perpendicular to a common plane.

11. An apparatus (100) for producing a profiled body (1P) having a profiling structure (P) by cold deformation of a workpiece (1), wherein the apparatus (100) comprises:

-a workpiece fixing device (10) for holding a workpiece (1) which is pivotable about its longitudinal axis (Z);

-a drive device (A1) for generating a swiveling movement (R1) of the workpiece fixture (10) about a longitudinal axis (Z);

-a revolving body (8);

-a first tool holder (5; 5a 1) for holding a first tool (2; 2a 1), wherein the tool holder is rotatably mounted in the revolving body (8) about a rotation axis (W) of the tool holder (5; 5a 1);

-a drive means (A5) for generating a rotation (R5) of the first tool holder (5; 5a 1) about its rotation axis (W);

-a drive means (A8) for generating a movement about the swivel (8) by means of which the first tool holder (5; 5a 1) can be driven in an orbiting movement (R8);

-a first synchronization device (S1) for synchronizing a swiveling movement (R1) of the workpiece fixture (10) with a swiveling movement (R8) of the first tool fixture (5; 5a 1);

-a second synchronization device (S5) for synchronizing a rotation (R5) of the first tool holder (5; 5a 1) with a revolving movement (R8) of the first tool holder (5; 5a 1); and

Wherein the first tool holder (5; 5a 1) comprises a first rotational bearing for receiving a first tool (2; 2a 1), which defines a first tool axis (Q) which differs from the rotational axis (W) of the first tool holder (5; 5a 1) such that the first tool (2; 2a 1) can rotate, in particular freely rotate, about the first tool axis (Q).

12. The device (100) according to claim 11, comprising a first tool (2; 2a 1) rotatably mounted in the first rotary support about the first tool axis (Q), in particular wherein the first tool (2; 2a 1)

-comprising a working area (21) rotationally symmetrical with respect to the first tool axis (Q); and/or

-is configured as a press roll (2; 2a 1).

13. The device (100) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the device (100) comprises a drive device (AZ) for generating a movement of the workpiece holding device (10) parallel to the longitudinal axis (Z).

14. The device (100) according to any one of claims 11 to 13, comprising a planetary gear (40) which is part of the second synchronization device (S5) and/or of the drive device (A5) for producing the rotation (R5) of the first workpiece fixture (5; 5a 1) about the rotation axis (W).

15. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the revolving body (8) is mounted in the profiling head (3), and wherein the device (100) comprises driving means (A2) for moving the profiling head (3) towards the longitudinal axis (Z).