EP2251111A1 - Profiling machine and method for longitudinal forming of a metal band or starting profile into a profile or tube - Google Patents

Abstract

The machine (1) has a subset of forming stations (3, 3'') equipped with roll-forming tools (9) in such a manner that the tools work on an area of a metal band or an outlet profile, where the area is arranged in a left-side in a working direction (14). Another subset of forming stations (3', 3''') is equipped with roll-forming tools that work on an area arranged in the working direction. The former subset of stations is adjustable transverse to the working direction by servomotors (15) independent of the latter subset of stations. An independent claim is also included for a method for longitudinal forming of a metal band or outlet profile into a profile or tube.

Description

The invention relates to a profiling machine and a method for longitudinal deformation of a metal strip or output profile in a profile or tube by means of a plurality of Rollumformwerkzeugen, which are summarized to several, in the working direction successively arranged tool groups, which are each held in a frame and with this in each case form a forming station, according to the preambles of claims 1 and 9.

In a profiling machine and a method of this type, the metal strip or output profile passes through the forming stations successively and is subjected to a forming step in each forming station until it has finally received its (provisional) final shape and can be further processed for example in a downstream welding station or separator.

Profiling machines are able to produce virtually endless profiles or tubes of various cross-sectional shapes from a metal strip or an output profile. Depending on the profile shape, a multiplicity of roll forming tools are used for this purpose, which are grouped together in typically 20 to 30 forming stations arranged in line one behind the other. If a different profile shape or profile width is to be produced on one and the same profiling machine, a multiplicity of roll forming tools must accordingly be exchanged and readjusted.

To reduce the time when converting a Profiliermaschine to another profile shape and thus reduce adverse production stoppages, for example, in the EP 0 365 976 B1 has been proposed Rollumformwerkzeug pairs, which are stored in the forming stations on superimposed working shafts, thereby being able to quickly replace that the drive shafts are provided with laterally out of the frame of the forming station coupling elements, while next to the frame each have a clutch stand is provided, the is coupled on the one hand to the working shafts and on the other hand to drive shafts of a drive system of the profiling machine. The prior art clutch racks can be moved laterally away from the frame to decouple the working shafts from the drive system and thus release them for replacement. The Rollumformwerkzeuge can therefore be replaced together with their drive shafts as a unit. Necessary adjustments after converting the Umformstationen to another profile shape are thereby reduced.

However, after this known approach still adjustments remain necessary when the profiling is retracted after retooling to another profile shape. This is particularly disproportionate if only the profile width but not the basic profile shape is to be changed.

The present invention is therefore an object of the invention to reduce a profiling machine and a method of the type mentioned in terms of Justieraufwandes that arises when converting to a narrower or a wider profile with in principle constant profile shape.

This object is achieved by a profiling with the features of claim 1, and by a method having the features of claim 9. Advantageous embodiments of the profiling according to the invention will become apparent from the claims 2 to 8; Preferred developments of the method according to the invention are laid down in claims 10 to 14. According to the present invention, therefore, a first subset of forming stations is equipped with Rollumformwerkzeugen that they act only on a left in the direction of work area of the metal strip or output profile forming, while a second subset of forming stations is equipped with Rollumformwerkzeugen that this only on one acting in the direction of the right-hand area of the metal strip or output profile act reshaping. The two subsets can add up to the totality of the forming stations, but they do not have to. The fact that the first subset acts only on an area of the metal strip or starting profile located on the left in the working direction may mean that the area of action of this first subset of forming stations can cover almost the entire width of the metal strip or initial profile, leaving only the right-running edge free. The same applies to the second subset, which acts on the right-most area of the metal strip or initial profile. The two forming areas of both subsets may partially overlap but need not.

This special grouping of Rollumformwerkzeugen in each case only partially effective Umformstationen allows the solution according to the invention of the given problem in which the first subset of Umformstationen regardless of the second subset of Umformstationen is transversely to the working direction adjusted for converting the Profiliermaschine to a wider or narrower profile. The fact that this adjustment takes place transversely to the direction of work merely means that one component of the adjusting movement is effective transversely to the working direction. The adjustment must therefore not be perpendicular to the direction of work, but may also be provided obliquely.

The fact that the forming stations of the first and second subsets are adjusted transversely to the working direction in this sense, with the individual stands remain unchanged in itself, the width of the profiles produced can be changed without having to change any other parameters of Umformstationen mandatory.

An elaborate readjustment of roll forming tools is completely eliminated, which significantly reduces production downtime when converting to another profile width.

According to the invention, it is also possible that the adjustment of the first and second subsets of forming stations transversely to the working direction not only during a production break when converting to another profile width must be made, but can also be done during ongoing production, so that a profile with varying longitudinally cross-section can be made, without having to provide a complex, adjustable storage of the individual Rollumformwerkzeuge in the scaffolding.

The first subset and the second subset of Umformstationen can be arranged intermeshing, ie by alternately a Umformstation to the first and a next Umformstation belongs to the second subset, or by, for example, two sequentially arranged Umformstationen to the first subset and each one or two Umformstationen to However, any combination and distribution of the forming stations to the first and the second and optionally to a third subset of forming stations is possible; the third subset just mentioned could comprise forming stations, which are conventionally equipped with roll forming tools and do not only act on a portion of the profile or metal strip.

The adjustment of the first or the second subset, or both subsets of Umformstationen preferably takes place by means of servo motors, the adjustment of the Umformstationen an adjustable subset should be done together, but not necessarily depending on the application.

It is particularly preferred in the context of the present invention, when the adjustment of the first and / or the second subset of forming stations transversely to the working direction by means of coupling stands, each of which is associated with a forming station. Such a coupling stand transmits, as known per se, by means of coupling elements a torque from a drive system of the profiling on arranged in the frame and Rollumformwerkzeuge carrying working shafts and is movable by means of displacement devices to the framework and away from it to uncouple the working shafts of the drive system or to couple to this.

This development of the present invention has the advantage that the already existing drives for the clutch stand, which are laterally displaced for a demand-based uncoupling and coupling of the working shafts, can now be used without additional effort for the inventive transverse movement of the forming stations of the first and second subset , In addition, you save yourself expensive drive systems on the scaffolding itself.

In this case, it is advantageous if the coupling stands are movable by means of servomotors, while the stands of the first and / or second subset of forming stations are mounted in substantially transversely to the direction of work guides, in particular linear guides. In order to allow the coupling stand can move the frameworks of the forming stations in both directions transverse to the direction of work, the coupling stand and its associated scaffolds, for example, by means of quick couplings or jack couplings connected to each other and, if necessary, be separated from each other again.

Preferably, the individual forming stations of the profiling machine are each assigned guide rollers which guide those areas of the metal strip or initial profile which are not reshaped in the respective forming station. To allow in this case that the molded profile width can be easily changed, these guide rollers are not adjusted together with the associated forming station, otherwise the width of the profile would not change. Rather, the guide rollers of the first subset of forming stations are oriented at the position of the second subset of forming stations. If the latter remains stationary during adjustment of the profile width, the guide rollers of the first subset of forming stations can also remain stationary. If, however, the second subset of forming stations laterally shifted, the guide rollers of the first subset of forming stations must be synchronized with the second subset of Umformstationen be moved to stay in alignment with their Rollumformwerkzeugzeugen. This synchronous movement can be achieved via a mechanical coupling with stands of the second subset of forming stations; Preferably, however, electromotive adjusting drives are used for the guide rollers, which are electronically or electrically coupled to the adjustment of the forming stations of the other subset.

Figur 1

eine schematische Draufsicht auf eine erfindungsgemäß ausgestaltete Profiliermaschine;

Figur 2

eine Draufsicht auf einen Teil der Profiliermaschine aus Figur 1

An exemplary embodiment of a profiling machine designed according to the invention is described and explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1

a schematic plan view of an inventively configured profiling machine;

FIG. 2

a plan view of a part of the profiling from FIG. 1

FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of an inventively designed profiling machine 1 here with a total of twelve Umformstationen 3, 3 ', 3 "..., below each forming station 3, the molded there profiled shape 2 is illustrated schematically in cross section.

Each of the forming stations 3 of in FIG. 1 Profiling machine 1 shown schematically consists essentially of a framework 4 with two scaffolding uprights 5a and 5b, which are held in sliding guides 6 on a machine frame 7. In the two frame stands 5a and 5b, which extend substantially vertically, horizontally extending working shafts 8 are supported, of which, however, only the respective upper working shaft 8 is visible here. On the working shafts 8 sit Rollumformwerkzeuge 9, between which the only here shown symbolically in its profile shape 2 metal strip is guided and reshaped. The working direction 14 extends in FIG. 1 accordingly in the picture plane from left to right.

The working shafts 8 of the forming stations 3 are provided with coupling pins 10 which protrude laterally beyond the framework 4 and allow the forming stations 3 respectively associated with the coupling stand 11 with a corresponding Coupling counterpart 12 can engage in the coupling pin 10 in order to transmit a torque of a here only symbolically indicated drive system 13 to the working shafts 8 of the forming stations 3. The coupling stand 11 can be moved transversely to the working direction, ie here within the drawing plane up and down to bring the coupling counterparts 12 with the coupling pin 10 into engagement or remove from this engagement, so that by means of a movement of the coupling stand 11 a coupling or Uncoupling the forming stations 3 - individually or jointly - from the drive system 13 of the profiling machine 1 is possible.

About a quick coupling not shown here, the coupling stand 11 can also be connected to the scaffolds 4 to adjust them along the sliding guides 6 transversely to the working direction 14, either in the engaged state, ie with a torque transmission between the drive system 13 and the working shafts 8 of the forming station 3, or in the uncoupled state. In order to ensure a reproducible displacement of the frameworks 4 along the sliding guides 6, the coupling stands are hereby adjusted by adjusting motors 15 and spindle drives 16.

The inventive design of in FIG. 1 illustrated embodiment of a profiling machine 1 is now clear that the first forming station 3 has only Rollumformwerkzeuge 9, which act on a right in the direction of 14 right region of the metal strip reshaping (see the corresponding profile shape 2), while the left edge of the metal strip only by means a guide roller 17 is guided. Forming the left edge of the metal strip does not take place in the first forming station 3 accordingly. For the second forming station 3 'is constructed exactly the opposite; Here are only Rollumformwerkzeuge 9 in the frame 4, which act on a seen in the direction of work 14 left portion of the metal strip forming, while the right edge of the metal strip again guided only by a guide roller 17, but not subjected to a forming process. In this way, the in FIG. 1 always shown alternately designed so that they on the one hand on the left in the direction of work 14 area of the metal strip and on the other act on the seen in the direction of 14 rightmost area of the metal strip and leave the respective opposite edge of the metal strip unaffected. This results in a regularly meshing arrangement of the forming stations 3, 3 ', 3 "....

In the FIG. 1 Accordingly, forming stations 3 can all be classified into two subsets of forming stations, namely the first subset consists of the first, third, fifth ... Umformstation 3, 3 ", 3""..., while the second subset of the second , fourth, sixth ... Umformstation 3 ', 3 "', 3""'... is composed. In the FIG. 1 profiling machine 1 shown here is set so that a relatively wide profile shape 2 is produced. Accordingly, the forming stations 3, 3 ", 3""... the first subset seen in the direction of work 14 moved to the left, while the Umformstationen 3 ', 3"' ... the second subset on the other hand are moved to the right, which also can be easily seen at the respective position of the clutch stand 11. A method of the second subset of conversion stations 3 ', 3 "'... To the left and / or a method of the first subset of conversion stations 3, 3"... To the right, viewed in the working direction 14, would now lead to the profile 2 produced on this profiling machine 1 becomes narrower without changing its basic profile shape, and without it being necessary to readjust the individual roll forming tools 9 or frameworks 4.

At the in FIG. 1 illustrated embodiment, the guide rollers 17 are not attached to the scaffolds 4 and are therefore not moved together with the scaffolds 4. On the contrary: via a mechanical or electronic coupling, not shown, which acts on a corresponding electromotive displacement drive for the guide rollers 17, the guide rollers of the first subset of forming stations are moved synchronously with the second subset of forming stations, while those guide rollers, the second subset belonging to forming stations, be moved synchronously with the first subset of forming stations. This ensures that the leadership of the band edges, which is taken over by the guide rollers 17, at any time in alignment with the Rollumformwerkzeugen 9.

To reduce the design effort, it may be provided to keep only one of the two subsets of forming stations laterally movable to change the width of the forming zone. In this case, namely, the guide rollers 17 of the other, movable subset of forming stations can also be kept stationary, whereby an adjustment for these guide rollers is unnecessary.

It should be noted again at this point that the regular meshing arrangement of the in FIG. 1 illustrated embodiment in which the forming stations 3 act alternately left and right on the metal strip, only a particular example of the grouping of the forming stations 3 in subsets. It is quite possible within the scope of the invention, other divisions, for example, in that the first three Umformstationen belonging to the first subset, the fourth Umformstation belonging to a third subset, which is configured conventionally, and the fifth and sixth Umformstation the second subset is assigned, after which repeats this order. In addition, if necessary, completely different divisions of the forming station are possible, these divisions also need not be repeated periodically.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the profiling machine FIG. 1 but only the first four forming stations 3, 3 ', 3 ", 3"' to allow a more detailed representation. Identical elements are provided with identical reference numerals. The forming stations 3 each consist essentially of a framework 4 with two scaffolding uprights 5 a and 5 b, which are guided in sliding guides 6 on a machine undercarriage 7. For reasons of clarity, the roll forming tools have been omitted altogether here, so that only the upper, horizontally extending working shaft 8 can be seen in the frameworks 4.

The coupling pin 10, in which the working shaft 8 continues beyond the left frame stand 5b, engages the coupling counterpart 12, which is mounted in the coupling stand 11 and in turn is connected via drive shafts 19 to the drive system 13 of the profiling machine. The coupling stand 11 is in turn guided in linear guides 18 and can be moved by means of the servomotor 15 and the spindle drive 16 to the machine undercarriage 7 and away from it.

Due to a quick coupling 20 between the frame stand 5b and the coupling stand 11, the transverse movement of the coupling stand 11 can optionally be transmitted to the frame 4 in order to adjust its position according to the invention transverse to einzuformenden profile. If the quick coupling 20 is released, however, the coupling stand 11 can optionally also, as is known, be moved for coupling and uncoupling the drive shaft 8 from the drive system 13.

Claims (14)

Profiling machine for longitudinally forming a metal strip or starting profile into a profile or tube by means of a plurality of Rollumformwerkzeugen, wherein at least a part of Rollumformwerkzeuge (9) to several, in the working direction (14) arranged one behind another tool groups, each in a framework (4 ) are held and form with this in each case a forming station (3), and wherein the stands (4) are held adjustable transversely to the working direction (14) substantially,
characterized,
that a first subset of work stations (3, 3 ", 3"'...) is fitted with Rollumformwerkzeugen (9) that this region of the metal strip or output profile located to only one in the working direction (14) left to act transformative, while a second subset of forming stations (3 ', 3 "' ...) is equipped with Rollumformwerkzeugen (9) that they act only on a working direction (14) located portion of the metal strip or output profile forming, the first subset of forming stations independently is adjustable from the second subset of forming stations transversely to the direction of work, or vice versa. Profiling machine according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the first and / or the second subset of work stations by means of adjusting motors (15) transversely to the direction (14) are adjustable. Profiling machine according to one of claims 1 or 2,
characterized,
that the first subset and the second subset of forming stations (3) are each adjustable in a direction transverse to the working direction (14). Profiling machine according to at least one of claims 1 to 3,
characterized,
that the first subset and the second subset of forming stations (3) are arranged intermeshing. Profiling machine according to at least one of claims 1 to 4,
characterized,
in that, in addition to the stands (4), at least the forming stations (3) of the first and / or second sections, which are adjustable transversely to the working direction (14), each have a coupling stand (11) which, by means of coupling elements (10, 12), receives a torque from a drive system (10). 13) of the profiling machine (1) arranged in the frame (4) and Rollumformwerkzeuge (9) carrying working shafts (8) transmits, and by means of displacement devices (15, 16) to the frame (4) is movable towards and away from the Disconnect working shafts (8) from the drive system (13) or coupled to this, and that the first and / or second subset of forming stations (3) by means of the respective stands (4) associated with the coupling stand (11) are adjustable transversely to the working direction (14) , Profiling machine according to claim 5,
characterized,
in that the coupling stands (11) can be moved by means of adjusting motors (15), while the stands (4) of the first and / or second subset of forming stations (3) are mounted in guides (6) extending essentially transversely to the working direction (14). Profiling machine according to claim 6,
characterized,
in that the coupling stands (11) and the scaffolds (4) associated therewith can be connected to one another and detachable from one another by means of quick-action couplings or pawl couplings. Profiling machine according to at least one of claims 1 to 7,
characterized,
in that the first and / or the second subset of forming stations (3) are associated with guide rollers (17) which guide the side of the metal strip or initial profile not formed in the respective forming station and are either not adjustably or counterrotatable together with said forming station; to keep the guide rollers (17) in alignment with the Rollumformwerkzeugen (9) of the other subset of Umformstationen (3). A method for longitudinal deformation of a metal strip or output profile in a profile or tube by means of a plurality of Rollumformwerkzeugen (9), which are summarized in a plurality of, in the working direction (14) successively arranged tool groups, which are each held in a frame (4) and with each forming a forming station (3), wherein the metal strip or output profile, the forming stations (3) successively through and is subjected to a forming step in each forming station (3),
characterized,
that in a first subset of forming stations (3, 3 ", 3""...) only an area of the metal strip or starting profile located in the working direction (14) is deformed to the left, while in a second subset of forming stations (3 ', 3"). ')) only one in the working direction (14) right located region of the metal strip or output profile is formed, and that for changing the profile width (2) the first subset of forming stations independent of the second subset of Umformstationen substantially transversely to the working direction (14 ) or vice versa. Method according to claim 9,
characterized,
that the first subset of forming stations (3) and / or the second subset of forming stations (3) are adjusted during a production break during conversion to another profile shape (2) or profile width transversely to the working direction (14). Method according to one of claims 9 or 10,
characterized,
that the first subset of forming stations (3) and / or the second subset of forming stations (3) are adjusted transversely to the working direction (14) during production in order to produce a profile (2) with a longitudinally varying cross section. Method according to at least one of claims 9 to 11,
characterized,
in that the first subset and the second subset of forming stations (3) are each adjusted together transversely to the working direction (14). Method according to at least one of claims 9 to 12,
characterized,
that the first subset of forming stations and / or the second subset of forming stations by means of the respective frameworks (4) associated coupling stanchions (11) for coupling and uncoupling the Umformstationen (3) by a drive system (13) of the profiling machine (1) transversely to the working direction (14) are adjusted. Method according to at least one of claims 9 to 13,
characterized,
in that the first and / or the second subset of forming stations (3) are assigned guide rollers (17) which guide the side of the metal strip or initial profile not formed in the respective forming station and are either held stationary or moved in opposite directions to this forming station, around the guide rollers (17) to keep in alignment with the roll forming tools (9) of the other subset of forming stations.

Images