EP1561522B1

EP1561522B1 - Arrangement and method for bending profiles

Info

Publication number: EP1561522B1
Application number: EP20050075199
Authority: EP
Inventors: Johannes Theodorus Scholten
Original assignee: Bend Holding BV
Current assignee: Bend Holding BV
Priority date: 2004-02-05
Filing date: 2005-01-26
Publication date: 2007-11-21
Anticipated expiration: 2025-01-26
Also published as: EP1561522A1; DE602005003378D1; NL1025410C1; DE602005003378T2

Description

The invention relates to an arrangement for bending profiles, like rod-shaped or tube-shaped material in a first mode of operation, comprising a divisible central bending head mounted onto a frame and a divisible clamping arrangement connected to the divisible central bending head for accepting and two-sided clamping and subsequently guiding the material to be bent round the central bending head, as well as a conveying system mounted onto the frame for conveying the material to be bent along a main axis towards the head and a guiding body for supporting and guiding the material to be bent near the head in a sideward direction. The invention also relates to a method bending rod-shaped or tube-shaped articles according to the preamble of claim 10.
Arrangements of this type are well known in the art. In the arrangement, the material is pulled round the bending head until a previously determined bend is obtained, after which the operation may be repeated, possibly after a translation and a rotation round the main axis of the material. In this way complex products may be realised, like for example a handle of a pram. It is true however that all bends have the same radius of curvature, which radius is determined by the radius of the bending head. If part of the product must be bent with a different radius, the product must go through a final processing, in which for example a bending head with a different radius is used. It is also possible to roll parts of the product during the final processing, for example the sides of the handle, so that they obtain a fine curve with a large radius of curvature. The disadvantage is that the successive different process steps cost relatively much time, while the tolerances of the final product may become worse.
The arrangement according to the invention , which is defined in claim 1, substantially obviates this disadvantage and enables one to provide the material with bends and also to roll parts of the material so as to obtain curves having a previously determined radius of curvature in a single process step. It is thereto characterised in that a first additional roll is connected to the central bending head and that an auxiliary roll is connected to the frame, for rolling the material to be worked so as to obtain a previously determined radius of curvature in a second mode of operation. Thereby the material to be worked is guided alongside the bending head and the first additional roll, while the first additional roll is steered by rotating the bending head in such a way that the desired radius of curvature is obtained.
The method according to the invention is defined in claim 10.
A favourable embodiment of the inventive arrangement is characterised in that the first additional roll is connected to the divisible clamping arrangement, which implies that in a first mode of operation the arrangement will not be impeded by the first additional roll.
In the first operational mode, the divisible clamping arrangement with the first additional roll connected to it will be positioned on a first side of the material to be worked and in the second operational mode on a second, opposite side. For the clamping arrangement this will give no problems, as is it made divisible. A favourable embodiment according to which also the first additional roll may be shifted from the first side to the second side and back without any problem is characterised in that the first additional roll is made divisible.
A further favourable embodiment of the inventive arrangement is characterised in that the bending head, the clamping arrangement and first additional roll each consist of two halves, which may move apart at least substantially symmetrically with respect to the material to be worked, after which both halves of the clamping arrangement and of the first additional roll may pass the material to be worked without any problem, by rotating the bending head.
A further favourable embodiment is characterised in that the arrangement is provided with a second additional roll, for rolling the material to be worked in cooperation with the first additional roll.
A further favourable embodiment, in which the second additional roll will not impede the freedom of movement of the bending head, is characterised in that positioning means are provided, for moving away the second additional roll from the bending head in a first operational mode and for positioning the second additional roll close to the bending head in a second mode of operation.
A favourable alternative embodiment is characterised in that the auxiliary roll is connected to the frame near the guiding body, for rolling the material to be worked in cooperation with the guiding body and the first additional roll. Thereby, the guiding body is preferably constructed as a system of two guiding wheels, mounted side by side. A guiding body constructed in this way will accept the forces which develop during bending and rolling very well and may be used advantageously when the material to be worked is a tube which must be supported with the aid of an internal arbor.
A further favourable embodiment is characterised in that the guiding wheels are mounted onto a carriage, which means that during bending they may be located for example on a favourable position with respect to an arbor, while during rolling they may be positioned on a favourable position with respect to the first additional roll and the auxiliary roll.
The invention will now be explained with a reference to the following figures, in which:

Fig. 1: schematically represents a known bending arrangement in top view;
Fig. 2A: schematically represents a possible embodiment of the known bending head in front view;
Fig. 2B: schematically represents this embodiment in top view;
Fig. 3A: schematically represents a possible embodiment of a bending head according to the invention in front view;
Fig. 3B: schematically represents this embodiment in top view;
Fig. 4A: schematically represents an opened bending head according to the invention in front view;
Fig. 4B: schematically represents this bending head in top view, ready for rolling;
Fig. 5A: schematically represents a bending head in front view which may perform a rolling operation in an alternative way;
Fig. 5B: schematically represents this bending head in top view, ready for rolling.

Fig. 1 schematically represents a possible embodiment of a known bending arrangement in top view, in which material to be worked 1 is conveyed with the aid of a conveying system 2 to a bending head 3. Conveying system 2 usually comprises a first motor, with which material 1 can be moved towards bending head 3 and a second motor with which the material to be worked can be rotated round its main axis. Bending head 3 can be rotated by a motor, whereby the material, which is clamped in a clamp 4 which forms part of bending head 3, is bent round a bending block 5 of bending head 3. In this way, any pattern of bends may be made in material 1, in any desired direction. It is true however that all bends will have a radius of curvature, corresponding with the radius of bending block 5 of bending head 3.
Fig. 2A schematically represents a possible embodiment of the known bending head 3 in front view, consisting of a rigidly mounted head half 3a and a head half 3b which may be moved upwards. Between two clamp halves 4a,4b a profile 1 may be clamped, for example a pipe, after which bending head 3 is rotated over a previously determined angle, during which profile 1 is bent round bending block 5 of bending head 3.
Fig. 2B schematically represents this embodiment in top view, with bending head 3, clamp 4, bending block 5 and a guiding body 6 which partly encloses material 1 and which supports material 1 so that it will remain positioned against bending block 5 during the bending operation.
Fig. 3A schematically represents a possible embodiment of a bending head 3 according to the invention in front view, consisting of a head half 3a which may be moved downwards and a head half 3b which may be moved upwards. Between two clamp halves 4a,4b a profile 1 may be clamped, for example a pipe, after which bending head 3 is rotated over a previously determined angle, during which profile 1 is bent round bending block 5 of bending head 3. A rolling roll 7 is connected to clamp 4, consisting of two roll halves 7a,7b which may move respectively downwards and upwards together with head halve 3a and head halve 3b. Moreover an additional roll 8 is provided, which may or may not be rotated against material 1. For the bending process, rolling roll 7 and additional roll 8 play no role whatsoever. Fig. 3B schematically represents this embodiment in top view, with bending head 3, clamp 4, bending block 5, two guiding rolls 9a,9b which are mounted onto a carriage 10, which partly enclose material 1 and which prevent material 1 from being pushed aside during the bending process. Moreover rolling roll 7 is visible and additional roll 8 which is mounted onto an arm 11 with which it may be placed against material 1 with the aid of a drive 12, as well as an auxiliary roll 9c which does not play any roll whatsoever during the bending of material 1, like rolling roll 7 and additional roll 8.
Fig. 4A schematically represents an opened bending head according to the invention in front view, whereby head half 3a, clamp half 4a and rolling roll half 7a are moved downwards and head half 3b, clamp half 4b and rolling roll half 7b are moved upwards. It is possible now to rotate bending head 3, so that rolling roll 7 will arrive at the other side of material 1, making it possible now to roll with the arrangement. Fig. 4B schematically represents this bending head in top view, ready for rolling. During rolling, rolling roll 7 is pressed against material 1 by rotating bending head 3. Thereby the material will be rolled with a relatively large radius of curvature, determined by the position of rolling roll 7 with respect to guiding roll 9a and auxiliary roll 9c. Carriage 10, which may be translated parallel to the main axis and which is usually placed such that guiding roll 9a is located before the centre line of bending head 3, is preferably placed such that guiding roll 9a is located behind the centre line of bending head 3 during the rolling process.
Fig. 5A schematically represents a closed bending head and an auxiliary roll 8 in front view, with which material 1 may be rolled in an alternative rolling operation. By rotating bending head 3, rolling roll 7 is pushed against material 1. Thereby the material will be rolled with a relatively large radius of curvature, determined by the position of rolling roll 7 with respect to the additional roll 8 and auxiliary roll 9c. Fig. 5B schematically represents this bending head in top view, ready for rolling. For that purpose, arm 11 is rotated with the aid of positioning means 12, such that it is positioned substantially perpendicular to the material 1 to be rolled. While drive 2 conveys the material, the material is rolled with a relatively large radius, determined by the position of rolling roll 7 with respect to the additional roll 8 and auxiliary roll 9c.

Claims

Arrangement for bending profiles, like rod-shaped or tube-shaped material (1) in a first mode of operation, comprising a divisible central bending head (3) mounted onto a frame and a divisible clamping arrangement (4a, 4b) connected to the divisible central bending head (3) for accepting and two-sided clamping and subsequently guiding the material (1) to be bent towards the central bending head (3), as well as a conveying system (2) mounted onto the frame for conveying the material (1) to be bent along a main axis towards the head (3) and a guiding body (6) for supporting and guiding the material (1) to be bent near the head (3) in a sideward direction, characterised in that a first additional roll (7a, 7b) is connected to the central bending head (3) and that an auxiliary roll (9c) is connected to the frame, for rolling the material (1) to be worked so as to obtain a previously determined radius of curvature in a second mode of operation.
Arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the first additional (7a, 7b) roll is connected to the divisible clamping arrangement (4a, 4b).
Arrangement according to claim 2, characterised in that the first additional roll (7a, 7b) is made divisible.
Arrangement according to claim 3, characterised in that the bending head (3), the clamping arrangement (4a, 4b) and first additional roll (7a, 7b) each consist of two halves, which may move apart at least substantially symmetrically with respect to the material (1) to be worked.
Arrangement according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the arrangement is provided with a second additional roll (8), for rolling the material (1) to be worked in cooperation with the first additional roll (7a, 7b) and the auxiliary roll (9c).
Arrangement according to claim 5, characterised in that positioning means are provided, for moving away the second additional roll (8) from the bending head (3) in a first operational mode and for positioning the second additional roll (8) close to the bending head (3) in a second mode of operation.
Arrangement according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the auxiliary roll (9c) is connected to the frame near the guiding body (6), for rolling the material (1) to be worked in cooperation with the guiding body (6) and the first additional roll (7a, 7b).
Arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the guiding body (6) is constructed as a system of two guiding wheels (9a, 9b), mounted side by side.
Arrangement according to claim 8, characterised in that the guiding wheels are mounted onto a carriage (10).
Method for bending rod-shaped or tube-shaped material (1) in a first operational mode, whereby the material (1) to be worked is guided round a divisible central bending head (3) with the aid of a divisible clamping arrangement (4a,4b) connected to the divisible central bending head (3) and whereby at the same time the material (1) to be worked is conveyed along a main axis into the direction of the divisible central bending head (3), characterised in that the method provides for a second operational mode, whereby a first additional roll (7a,7b), connected to the divisible central bending head (3) and an auxiliary roll (9c) roll the material to be worked so as to obtain a previously determined radius of curvature.