EP2741872B1

EP2741872B1 - Metal wire supplying machine

Info

Publication number: EP2741872B1
Application number: EP13750268.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Angelo Candiracci
Original assignee: Candiracci Angelo
Current assignee: Candiracci Angelo
Priority date: 2012-06-14
Filing date: 2013-06-14
Publication date: 2015-12-30
Anticipated expiration: 2033-06-14
Also published as: EP2741872A1; WO2013186346A1; ITPS20120011A1

Description

The present invention starts from EP 0 631 830 A1 and relates to a metal wire supplying machine according to the preamble of claim 1.
There are known sandwich building panels made of steel wire netting and expanded plastic material, formed by a panel-like core made of expanded plastic material, for example polystyrene, enclosed between two electrowelded steel wire grids or nettings, also mutually joined - by electrowelding - by sections of steel wire to constitute crosspieces perforating said core.
The monolithic product thus made may be positioned modularly onsite and plastered, held by the metal nettings, to constitute prefabricated panels with optimal resistance, antiseismic, heat insulation, sound-proof and fire-proof characteristics.
Furthermore, a twinned pair of panels thus made may be used, with excellent results, as a formwork so to say "disposable", i.e. as a container for the concrete mixture poured between the two panels, which remain incorporated therewith, enclosed to collaborate in the constitution of the wall and may be plastered on the outer faces, as illustrated above for the single panel.
Such panels are fabricated at industrial level by "sewing" machines, which provide for inserting metal wires through the layer of expanded plastic material, cutting the inserted sections and welding them to the grids or nettings on the two sides, so as to constitute the joint crosspieces to constrain the structure, as described and illustrated in EP 0308837 A1 , EP 0631830 A1 , IT 1.364.284 and EP 1733820 A1 on behalf of the present Applicant and to which reference shall be made for better understanding of the technological context.
A common characteristic for all these machines according to the prior art lies in the presence of supply machines which draw the wire from reels and supply it to the devices for the relative introduction and cutting to constitute the crosspiece to be welded to the external grids.

Objects of the invention

In such context, the main object of the present invention is that of providing a device capable - in the machine for "sewing" sandwich building panels made of metal nettings or grids and expanded plastic material - of performing the operations of supplying metal wires required for the constitution of the sewing crosspieces in the most homogeneously accurate fashion possible with reference to the plurality of wires simultaneously drawn, handled, introduced and cut to be managed by the machine as a whole.
Another object of the present invention is to achieve the previous object through a device capable of performing, in a homogeneous and accurate fashion, bi-directional micro-drawing operations, i.e. advancing or receding the metal wires by relatively extremely small dimensions.
Another object of the present invention is that of attaining the previous objects through a device that can also be applied to machines according to the prior art without disrupting the relative operating cycle, so as to be able to however advantageously exploit the existing production lines increasing productivity and versatility thereof
A further object of the present invention is to attain these objects through a device and a method that are simple and functional, safe in use and relatively inexpensive considering the results practically obtained therewith.

Summary of the embodiment

These and other objects are attained by means of a metal wire supply machine according to the present invention, especially with reference to devices for inserting, defining and welding wire-like metal elements into plastic materials enclosed between twinned metal nettings according to the present invention, particularly for introducing, defining and welding crosspieces in the automatic "sewing" machines for producing prefabricated sandwich panels made of metal nettings and expanded plastic material, which provide for inserting metal wires through the layer of expanded plastic material, cutting the inserted sections and welding them to the nettings on the two sides, having the features of claim 1.

Description of the attached drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the of the wire metal supply machine according to the present invention will be more apparent from the detailed description that follows of a preferred and non-exclusive embodiment thereof, represented solely by way of non-limiting example in the attached drawings wherein:

Figure 1 shows a front view of a metal wire supply machine according to the present invention as connected to a battery of devices for inserting, sectioning and fixing wire-like metal elements into plastic materials enclosed between twinned metal nettings being supported adjacent transversely positioned above the operating line of an automatic "sewing" machine (not illustrated), for producing prefabricated sandwich panels made of metal nettings and expanded plastic material (not illustrated);
Figures 2, 3 and 4 show an equivalent number of front views of the metal wire supply machine according to the present invention alternatively highlighting some of the relative constituting elements;
Figure 5 shows a perspective bottom view of the metal wire supply machine according to the present invention partly disassembled;
Figures 6 and 7 show a detail in perspective and plan view.

Static description of the preferred embodiment

With reference to such figures, and in particular Figure 1, a beam 1 is transversely arranged above a conveyor line of an automatic panel-forming machine (not illustrated). On the line of said machine a series of panels constituted by a sandwich arrangement of two metal grids enclosing a layer of expanded plastic material (not illustrated), consecutively follow each other to be connected or "sewn" by means of a plurality of metal wire crosspieces, which, preferably in parallel pairs, perforate the layer of plastic material and are electro welded at the apices to the weft wires of the netting or grid. Reference is made to the above mentioned prior art documents of the applicant.
The beam 1 is vertically displaceable through translator means of any type suitable for the purpose, both to vary the arrangement thereof upon the variation of the thickness of the panels to be sewn which transit there beneath as well as for the functionality of the battery of devices outlined hereinafter.
As shown in fig. 1, the beam 1 supports a battery of devices 2 for inserting, sectioning and fixing metal wire crosspieces 3 into plastic layers enclosed between twinned metal grids, for example of the type described, illustrated and claimed in WO 2013/171191 A1 claiming an Italian priority of May 14, 2012.
The not yet sectioned metal wires 3 pass through respective wire straighteners 4 and reach the preheating-cutting-welding devices 2 from above, only one of which is illustrated in figure 1, being accompanied with a second one such that each preheating-cutting-welding device 2 is preferably present in pairs.
The metal wires 3 reach the wire straighteners 4 from above, coming from respective upper supply devices 5 according to the present invention which provide them according to the advancement portions contingently required for the preheating-cutting-welding devices 2, according to a programmable computer logic, to which the latter and the entire machine are connected.
The supply devices 5 are respectively constituted by two pairs of twinned branches 6 (A, B) and 7 (A, B), arranged adjacent to the passage line of two pairs of metal wires 3 and mounted on a median support plate 8.
The branches 6 (A, B) are fixed to the support plate 8, whereas the branches 7 (A, B) are pivotably mounted on the support plate 8 through a fulcrum 9 located in the central portion of the branches 7 (A,B) such constituting levers of the first type, increasing the power actuated by pneumatic pistons 10 (A, B) which are located at the upper end.
As illustrated in figures 3, 6 and 7, the branches 6 (A, B) and 7 (A, B) carry at their lower end, corresponding to the resistance for the pivoting branches 7 (A, B) and opposed to the pneumatic pistors 10 (A, B), a respective gear 11 (A, B) and 12 (A, B) of which the gears 11 (A, B) are carried by the fixed branches 6 (A, B) are driven.
The gears 11 A, 12 A, and 11 B, 12 B are mutually meshing in pairs and each one of them is integrally coaxial to respective symmetric drawing wheels 13 (A, B) and 14 (A, B) circumferentially carrying grooves 15 (see figures 6 and 7).
The drawing wheels 13 (A, B) and 14 (A, B) are adapted to engage within respective opposite grooves 15 said metal wires 3, drawing them from storage reels, not illustrated, and moving them according to a rectilinear trajectory, for the purposes to be described hereinafter.

Dynamic description of the preferred embodiment

Thus, having completed the static description of a preferred embodiment of the metal wire supplying machine according to the invention, particularly connected to devices 2 for inserting, sectioning and fixing metal wire crosspieces 3 into plastic material enclosed between twinned metal grids, according to the present invention, the following is a dynamic description thereof:

The context of operation is that of an automatic panel-forming machine (not illustrated) on the production line having a series of panels constituted by a sandwich arrangement made of two metal grids enclosing a layer of expanded plastic material (not illustrated) consecutively following each other, to be "sewn" by means of a plurality of metal wire crosspieces, which, preferably in parallel pairs, perforate the layer of plastic material and they are electrowelded - at the apices - to the weft wires of the grids.

In this operating context, a battery of said introduction-cutting devices 2, hanging transversely adjacent to each other above the conveyor line of the panels, insert - into the intermediate plastic layer thereof - through metal wire crosspieces 3 preferably twinned in parallel pairs, and cut them at the upper part thus defining the section required, while a battery of lower welders, arranged transversely beneath the conveyor line of the panels, and aligned with the battery of upper introduction-cutting devices, simultaneously welds - at the base - the through crosspieces to the weft wires of the lower grid.
In a subsequent station of the advancement line of the panels, a battery of upper welders, arranged transversely above the advancement line of the panels, suitably receded with respect to the battery of the upper introduction-cutting devices, welds - at the top part - the through crosspieces to the weft wires of the upper netting, thus completing - in two stages, i.e. two consecutive steps or two consecutive operation stations - the sewing of the panel, hence the operations of inserting, defining and fixing the through crosspieces.
According to an improvement described and illustrated in WO 2013/171191 A1 claiming priority of May 14, 2012 on behalf of the same Applicant, there is conceived a preheating-cutting-welding device and method for introducing, cutting and fixing metal wire crosspieces into plastic material enclosed between twinned metal nettings particularly for introducing, defining and welding the crosspieces into the automatic sewing machine for producing prefabricated panels in sandwiched metal grids with expanded plastic material, which insert metal crosspieces through the layer of expanded plastic material, cut the inserted sections and weld them to the wires on the two sides, so as to constitute the joint crosspieces to constrain the structure. Said device is characterised in that it comprises operation completion in a single advancement station of the product to be treated on the conveying line and not in two subsequent stations like in the case of the above mentioned prior art.
Regardless of the assembly of the inserting, cutting and welding devices 2, the supplying machine 5 according to the present invention is connected thereto for supplying metal wires 3, winding and unwinding them from respective reels (not illustrated).
The pneumatic pistons 10 (A, B) constantly maintain the pressure with increased power of the pivoting branches 7 (A, B), pivoted on the fulcrum 9, such to keep the drawing wheels 13 (A, B) and 14 (A, B) constantly mutually pressed against each other. As a result, the metal wires 3 within channels defined by the opposite circumferential grooves 15 are securely clamped.
In this context, under the control imparted by a computerised logic to activate and deactivate the relative driving of any known type suitable for the purpose, the gears 11 (A, B) of the fixed branches 6 (A, B) are, as operatively required, rotated and stopped, in turn causing them to rotate and stop the meshed gears 12 (A, B) of the pivoting branches 7 (A, B).
The engagement between the mutual meshing gears 11 (A, B) and 12 (A, B) has a certain clearance such to easily allow an approaching thrust and mutual abutment imparted thereto by the pneumatic pistons 10 (A, B) and through the pivoting branches 7 (A, B).
The pneumatic pistons (A, B), contrary to thrust exerting springs, have the advantage that their thrust can be varied by a control means such that its value is always maintained constant and as a result the drawing or pulling force to the wire does not vary. In this way the length of the wires simultaneously fed by the devices 2 combined with each other into the sandwiched panels does not vary.
The rotation transmitted to the gears 11 (A, B) of the fixed branches 6 (A, B) and induced thereby to the meshing gears 12 (A, B) of the pivoting branches 7 is simultaneously imparted to the integrally coaxial drawing wheels 13 (A, B) and 14 (A, B), which, as mentioned above, are tangentially mutually pressed, to hold - within the channels defined by the opposite circumferential grooves 15 - the metal wires 3, thus moving them linearly in an extremely accurate fashion connected to the other devices of the machine in its entirety and in particular the introducing-cutting-welding devices 2 of the sewing crosspieces of the nettings interposing the layer of plastic material, regardless of how they are conceived according to the known and innovative technique.

Alternative embodiment

It is obvious that further alternative embodiments may be alternatively implemented if still falling within the solution claimed below.

Advantages of the invention

As clear from the detailed description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment, the metal wire supplying device according to the present invention, offers advantages corresponding to the attainment of the preset objects alongside other advantages:

As a matter of fact, the solutions described herein incorporate a simple and functional concept solution for considerably improving the functionality of the automatic panel-forming machines, on which a series of panels constituted by a sandwich of two metal grids enclosing a layer of expanded plastic material consecutively follow each other, to be "sewn" by means of a plurality of metal wire crosspieces which perforate the layer of plastic material and they are electrowelded - at the apices -to the wefts of the nettings.

Indeed, it allows moving metal wires intended to be cut and welded to constitute the sewing crosspieces in an extremely quick, homogeneous and accurate fashion, to the advantage of the reliability of the machine and production speed.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 ) beam for supporting preheating-cutting-welding devices
2 ) preheat ing-cutting-welding devices
3 ) metal wire crosspieces
4 ) wire straighteners
5 ) supply devices in their entirety
6A) first fixed branch
6B) second fixed branch
7A) first pivoting branch
7B) second pivoting branch
8 ) median support plate
9 ) pivoting branches fulcrum
10A) first pivoting branch pneumatic piston
10B) second pivoting branch pneumatic piston
11A) first fixed branch inducer gear
11B) second fixed branch inducer gear
12A) first pivoting branch induced gear
12B) second pivoting branch induced gear
13A) first fixed branch drawing wheel
13B) second fixed branch drawing wheel
14A) first pivoting branch drawing wheel
14B) second pivoting branch drawing wheel
15 ) drawing wheels grooves

Claims

Metal wire supply machine (5) especially connected to devices for inserting, defining and fixing metal wire crosspieces into plastic materials enclosed between twinned metal grids, particularly for introducing, defining and welding crosspieces in automatic "sewing" machines for producing prefabricated sandwich panels made of metal nettings and expanded plastic material, which provide for inserting metal wires through the layer of expanded plastic material, cutting the inserted sections and welding them to the grids on the two sides, so as to constitute the joint crosspieces to constrain the structure, comprising at least one pair of branches (6, 7) arranged adjacent to the trajectory of moving at least one metal wire (3), one of said branches being fixed (6) and the other constituting a pivoting lever (7) having a central fulcrum (9) and being actuated on its upper end by actuating means (10), wherein on the lower end, corresponding to the resistance for the lever (7), of both branches (6, 7) a drawing wheel (13, 14) is rotably mounted circumferentially carrying a groove adapted to engage, together with the groove of the opposite wheel (13, 14), the metal wire (3), drawing it from a storage reel and moving it according to a rectilinear trajectory, characterised in that said actuating means are pneumatic pistons (10) and that both drawing wheels (13, 14) are coaxially integral with mutually meshing gear wheels (11, 12) one of which is driven, the meshing gears (11, 12) are engaging with clearance such that the branch (7) may pivote on its fulcrum (9).
Supply machine according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises:
- a pair of twinned branches (6, 7) arranged adjacent to the passage line of a pair of metal wires (3), one said branches (6) being fixed and the other pivoting on a fulcrum (9) in the median part (9) of the branch (7) to constitute a lever of first type with increased power actuated by said pneumatic piston (10),

- a pair of mutually meshing gears (11, 12) carried at the lower end of the pair of branches (6, 7), at the resistance for the pivoting branch (7), of which the one (11) carried by the fixed branch (6) is driven;

- a pair of symmetric drawing wheels (13, 14) circumferentially carrying grooves (15) adapted to be combined engaging said metal wires (3), said wheels (13, 14) being coaxially integral to said pair of gears (11, 12).
Supply machine according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises:
- two pairs of twinned branches (6A, 6B, 7A, 7B), arranged adjacent to the passage line of two pairs of metal wires (3) and associated to a median support plate (8), of which one pair of branches (6A, 6B) is fixed to the support plate (8) while the other pair of branches (7A, 7B) is pivoted in the median part through a fulcrum (9) thereto to constitute levers of the first type, with increased power actuated by a pair of pneumatic pistons (10A, 10B);

- two pairs of mutually meshing gears (11A, 11B, 12A, 12B) carried by the two pairs of branches (6A, 6B, 7A, 7B) at their lower end and at the resistance for the pivoting branches (7A, 7B), of which the gears (11A, 11B) carried by the fixed branches (6A, 6B) are driven;

- two pairs of symmetric drawing wheels (13A, 13B 14A, 14B) circumferentially carrying grooves (15) adapted to engage said metal wires (3) coaxially integral to said two pairs of gears (11A, 11B, 12A, 12B).