FR2570625A1 - Flexible integrated manufacturing-line machine for automatically manufacturing metal reinforcing members, especially for reinforced concrete - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a machine for assembling longitudinal bars 5 and transverse frames 6 with a view to manufacturing the metal reinforcing member of a reinforced-concrete beam. The grippers of the motor-drive station 4 are carried by horizontal rods traversing the tunnel, which the stack of frames 6 forms, from the store 31. These grippers seize the end of the bars 5 which then follow the stepped movements (arrow 57) of the carriage of the station 4. The frames 6 are fixed to the bars 5 one by one at the station 3. Application: automatic and flexible manufacturing line for different structural reinforcing members.

Description

 The present invention relates to a machine of a new type, capable of constituting an automatic and flexible integrated chain, allowing the mounting and assembly of metallic reinforcements of various types.

Such reinforcements are intended in particular for the reinforced concrete industry, for example for manufacturing beams.

We know that a reinforcement for the reinforcement of a reinforced concrete beam consists essentially of rectilinear bars arranged longitudinally and
fixed from time to time on preformed transverse metal frames.

The mounting of such a frame therefore consists in presenting, with respect to each other, longitudinal bars and transverse frames, the assembly of which can be carried out by welding or by ligature
Currently, there are machines for manufacturing the reinforcement, for standard shaped beams, with a limited range of dimensions. These machines of known type therefore make it possible to manufacture only a very precise type of armatures, which corresponds only to a small part of the market.
The largest part of the market is constituted by beams of very different shapes and sizes, for the reinforcement of which no machine has been produced. The assembly of the reinforcement of these beams is therefore carried out entirely by hand , which leads to a high cost price
The object of the present invention is to avoid these drawbacks, by producing a production chain that is both automatic and flexible, capable of eliminating most of the manual operations, and of adapting without difficulty to the manufacture of reinforcements. various types.

 An integrated flexible and automatic chain according to the invention comprises several stations for receiving and positioning, on the one hand rectilinear metal bars, on the other hand, transverse metal edges, and it is characterized in that it takes means which pass through the stack of transverse frames in stock, to pull or push the longitudinal bars in order to ensure their precise longitudinal positioning with respect to one of the frames in stock, to which they are assembled, after which these same means move them longitudinally, to position them facing a new frame in stock, and so on.

According to another characteristic of 1 invention, the station for the storage of stacked transverse frames, comprises two stores, namely
- a storage store, including the frames, presented
transversely on the trajectory of the bars, are
directly ready for use
- a pre-storage store, in which the user
presents a second series of frames, which can be
different from the warehouse store executives, the ope
loading and adjustment rations of the second series
of frames in the pre-storage store being so
performed in masked time, during operation
of the machine
According to another characteristic of 1 invention, the chain has four main positions, namely
- a station for feeding longitudinal bars
- a double store station, for AC supply
dres transverses;
- a station for automatic assembly by welding or
by ligation;
- a station to receive the assembled beams, and compor
both especially the aforementioned means, which pull the bar
res through the. storage store executives.

According to another characteristic of the invention, all four stations are adjusted and work automatically from a computer, located for example in a design office composing the work of the day. The corresponding work plan is recorded on any suitable medium, magnetic tapes, floppy disks or the like. This medium is thus introduced into the cabinet of the chain, and the information which it contains is supplied to each of the machines, in order to order the work settings
According to another characteristic ae 1 'in vention, each of the stations for handling or lai n hold bars or frames, haws clamps each of which can be controlled autor! Lotically and remotely
- on opening or closing
- in position, by moving its support in the
three dimensions.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the means used to control the clamps are essentially constituted by jacks and / or electric stepping motors.

 The appended drawing, given by way of non-limiting example, will allow a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention.

 Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a section of a reinforcement of reinforcement, provided for a reinforced concrete beam, with T cross section.

 Figure 2 is an end view of this frame.

Figure 3 is an overview of various types of longitudinal bars used according to the invention
Figure 4 is an end view, showing various types of cross sections, for reinforcements capable of being produced on the same machine according to 1 invention.

Figure 5 is a plan view showing the whole installation, and in particular the relative arrangement of the four main workstations
Figure 6 is a side view showing two clamps of the feeding station, ready to transfer from one to the other, one of the longitudinal bars
Figure 7 shows the same two clamps at the time of transfer.

 Figures 8 and 9 are corresponding plan views.

 Figure 10 is an overall view with partial axial section of a complete clamp.

 Figure It shows those on their 0th suppor beam.

 Figure 12 is an overall view of a station for the pusitioning of long irons, or "stranding".

 Figure 13 is a cross section at this station, illustrating a possible implantation of the clamps.

 Figure 14 shows a detail * in view of the teral.

Figure 15 is a front view of the frame storage station
Figure 16 is a plan view.

 rigures 17 and 18 illustrate two phases for the loading and operation of the pre-storage store for frames.

 Figure 19 is a plan view of the station for drawing the shooting irons.

 Figure 20 is a side view showing the relative positioning of the various clamps of the traction station.

Figure 21 is a transverse view
Figure 22 shows the detail of the pliers of the pulling station
Figures 23 24 and 25 show various technological details.

 Figure 26 shows a detail of the feeding station.

Figure 27 is a plan view of the carriage for the bar pulling station
Figure 28 shows the machine in operation
The machine according to the invention, as shown in its entirety in FIG. 5, comprises four main work stations, arranged in line, one after the other, namely
- a feeding station 1, for longitudinal bars
the 5
- a storage station 2, for transverse frames 6
- an assembly station 3
- a motorization station 4, which pushes or pulls the bars
res 5, in order to move them through the frames
6 of station 2
This machine is designed to receive longitudinal bars 5 of the type illustrated in FIG. 5, and to assemble them with transverse frames 6 (FIG. 4), with a view to producing metallic reinforcements 7 for reinforced concrete (FIGS. 1, 2, 4) .

The bars 5 are in themselves of known type. I1 can be simple rectilinear sections 8, bars 9 with angled ends, or bars 10 with hooked curved ends
The frames 6 can be of the most diverse forms, in particular
- square frames 11
- simple rectangular frames 12;
- frames 13 with lateral extension
- rectangular frames 14 with median reinforcement
- 15 T frames
- frames 16 in double square.

The assembly is carried out itself in the known manner, by welding or by binding. I1 makes it possible to obtain the reinforcements 7, illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. In particular, the frame 5, 15, illustrated, corresponds to the T-frames 15 of FIG. 4
The feed station 1 receives the longitudinal bars 5 on vertical clamps 17, 18.

Each of these clamps is arranged vertically, on a transverse support beam 19 for the clamp 17, and 24 for the support clamp 18
In particular, the clamps 17 are located on the side of the machine, and the loading operators successively place the bars 5 there. Then the bars 5 are transferred to the clamps 18 (Figures 7 and 8), which position them, by displacement in height and transversely, on the transverse beams 24, according to the cross section of the frames 15, as programmed in the machine .

Each clamp 17 includes an upper jaw 20, movable relative to a lower jaw 21, under the action of a sliding cylinder rod 22
Similarly, each clamp 18 has an upper jaw 23, which a cylinder rod 24 actuates relative to a lower jaw 25
The jaws 20, 21 have a U-shaped profile (FIG. 8), which allows the jaws of the grippers 18 to be engaged therein, for picking up the bars 5, by transverse displacement of the grippers 18 (arrow 26)
The return of the jaws 20, 23 to the clamping position is ensured by a return spring 27
Each beam 24 carrying the support clamps 18 is itself adjustable in height, by means of screw jacks causing the beams 73 to go up or down on which the pieces 74 which are integral with the supports 18 are supported. The beams 73 are formed by two flat bars allowing the free passage of pliers 65. These parts 65 carry, here, bearings 68, to facilitate the lateral displacement of the supports 19 during the displacement along the arrow 26
Note that the crosspieces 29 are fixed and integral with the general frame. They have no other purpose than to ensure the rigidity of the frame, while serving as a support for the screw jacks 28
The relative movements of these various organs can be ensured by digital control from a central computer. The latter can be located on site, in the workshop, or remotely in a design office.

 The transverse movement (arrow 26) of the clamps 18 can be controlled by horizontal screw jacks 30.

Station 2, for the storage of transverse frames 6, is illustrated in Figures 15 to 18
Station 2, for the storage of frames 6, includes two magazines 31 and 32, mounted symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal pivot 33 around which they form a rigid tilting barrel.

 Each store 31, 32 comprises supports 34, adjustable in position, and designed to receive a stack of frames 6, juxtaposed vertically, one against the other, so as to constitute a sort of tunnel.

This tunnel has the profile of the frames 6 of the chosen type, and the machine engages inside the tunnel, the bars 5 which progress therein during operation.

 In the example illustrated in FIG. 15, the operator loads frames 6 of the profile 15 (FIG. 4) into the magazine 32 which is offset on the side of the machine (FIG. 5), while the magazine 31, loaded with frames of the profile 12, works by forming the aforementioned tunnel, in which the bars 5 advance. The magazine 32, once loaded, constitutes a pre-storage which will be used by tilting the assembly 31, 32 around the pivot 33, as soon as the storage magazine 31 has been exhausted.

 Thus, the two barrel magazines 31, 32 operate alternately in storage and in pre-storage.

 Of course, the adjustment of the supports 34 is carried out from the central computer, and it may be different in the two stores 31 and 32, if they are prepared for different frames 7.

The assembly station operates in the known manner for assembling the bars 5 and the frames 6, by welding or by bonding, and is therefore not shown in detail.
Figures 19 to 25, and 27, illustrate the structure of the station 4 for the motorization of the bars 5
The formula "motorization" was used, it being understood that this station causes the bars 5 to advance longitudinally through the frames 6 of the storage magazine 31, the advance being obtainable both by pushing the bars 5 and by pulling them. In the nonlimiting example of the drawings, the station 4 includes means which pull the bars 5 as the frames 6 of the storage magazine 31 are assembled to them.

 Between the assembly station 3 and the motorization station 4, there is a reception bench 35 on which arrives, waiting, the assembled frame.

The irons pulling device of station 4 comprises as many clamps as there are irons 5 provided for in pos.
te 1 Each clamp 36 is carried by a horizontal bar 37 rigidly fixed in a horizontal sleeve 38. The sleeves 38 are carried by vertical columns o9, along which their position is adjustable in height by 4U screw jacks (arrow 41) The columns 39 are themselves carried by a crosspiece 42, along which their position is adjustable in the transverse direction (arrow 43).

together is carried by a frame 44 which rolls, by rollers 45, along longitudinal rails 46. The carriage 39, 42 44, thus constituted, is provided with known means, not re
presented, to cause its advancement and its blocking
the desired position, along the rails 46.

The rod 37 of each clamp 36 has a length slightly greater than the stacking of the maximum number of frames 6 that it is desired to stack in the stores 31 and 32 of station 2. This allows the clamps 36 to each grab the end of a bar 5 located at the feed station 1, crossing the entire tunnel formed by the frames 6 stacked in the magazine 31
Height adjustment of sleeves 38
along the columns 39 is effected by means of hydraulic cylinders
lique or pneumatic 47
Each clamp 36 has a fixed t-ransversal jaw 48 and a tilting transverse jaw 49 (FIG.
22). Each movable jaw 49 is integral with a bar 50 freely rotating inside the corre-sponaante rod 37 which is hollow over its entire length. At the opposite end each bar 50 is integral with a lever 51 which actuates a jack 52
So when you take in a cylinder 52
the lever 51 swings (arrow 53), which rotates the bar 50 and its jaw 49 in the same direction (arrow 54) to close the clamp 36 on the end of a bar 5
The operation is as follows
The operators 55 ensure the loading of the bars 5. The operator 56 ensures the loading of the pre-storage magazine 32 which it supplies with frames 6
Through the tunnel formed by the frames 6 of the storage magazine 31, the clamps 36 advance, driven by the carriage 44 of the station 4, which circulates on the rails 46. Each clamp 36 is then clamped on a bar 5 which it will then pull each time the carriage 44 moves back (FIG. 5, arrow 57). After each reversing phase, the carriage 44 stops, and the station 3 ensures the fixing of the first frame 6 of the stack, by welding it or by tying it to the bars 5. Once this operation is completed, the carriage 44 moves back a new step (arrow 57) and it presents the bars 5 in front of a new frame 6. The cycle continues until delivering, on the bench 35, the armature 7 completed. As soon as it has been removed, the machine is ready to manufacture another frame 7, possibly with frames 6 of another profile, pre-stored in store 32. It suffices to tilt it around the pivot 33, to bring it into the storage and operating position, while the magazine 31 comes into the pre-storage position.

There is shown in Figure 26, a possible embodiment for the adjustment and supply of the supports 34 of the stores 31 and 32
The support 34 comprises longitudinal rails such as 58, positioned as a function of the transverse profile of the frames 6 of the chosen type. The frames 6 are thus guided by their outer periphery, in the rails 58 along which they slide. This makes it possible to leave the inside of the frames 6 free for the passage of the rods 37 of the station 4
In a preferred embodiment, the longitudinal rails 58 are six in number, namely
- four rails 58 at the four corners of the frames 6
- two intermediate rails 158 for the intermediate positions
diaries corresponding to frames 6 with T profile all these rails 58, 158, being adjustable in position, independently of each other
Each time the operator 56 presents a frame 6 in the pre-storage magazine 32, he places it in abutment against pins 59. The latter are distributed on endless chains outside of which they pass. These chains are driven by wheels 60 wedged on rotating shafts 61 that chains 62 and sprockets 63 synchronize with one another. An electric motor, not shown, drives this set of shafts 61 and wheels 60. The pins 60 of the chains advance by one notch, and advance the stacked frames 6 by one step, each time the operator 56 presses on a pedal.

FIG. 27 illustrates, in plan, a possible arrangement for the clamps 17 and 18, located face to face at station 1, for transferring the bars 5
Figure 23 is a sectional view illustrating a possible embodiment, for the bases 64 of the clamps 17 and 18 of the supply station 1
The hollow vertical body 65 of each clamp 17 or 18 is integral with the fixed jaw 21 or 25 which surmounts it. On the other hand, the movable jaw 20 or 23 is secured to a vertical rod 66 sliding in the body 65. This sliding is controlled by a double-acting lower cylinder 67, carried by the hollow body 65. The latter comprises lateral rollers 68 , likely to roll on the cross-member 73, for the transverse adjustments (arrow 69) of the position of the clamps 17 or 18
Thus, station 1 has two distinct groups of supports, namely
- A first group formed by the clamps 18, supporting
bars 5 being assembled
- a second group formed by the clamps 17, or the opera
tutors have 5 bars waiting for the next
manufacturing cycle these two groups of supports being movable transversely with respect to each other (arrow 26) for transferring in one go to the clamps 18 of the second group, all of the bars 5 previously deposited in the clamps 17 of the first group
Figures 23 and 24 are plan views illustrating the support clamps 17, 18 of the supply station 1. In this case, the bar support 25 can oscillate around the hollow vertical body 65 of the clamp, that is to say around the vertical geometric axis 70. This arrangement is particularly suitable when working with bars 5, of which profile 9 or 10 (FIG. 3), defines, at the ends, a curved stock 71. Thus, when the bar 5 is pulled in the direction of the arrow 57 (FIG. 5) during the manufacturing cycle, each clamp 17 or 18 is automatically eclipsed by pivoting (FIG. 23, arrow 72), when passing a lacrosse 71
The return of the clamp 18 and its support 25 in the starting posotion is effected under the effect of the spring 75 (FIG. 10), which tends to bring it back against a fixed stop

Claims (14)

 1 - Integrated, flexible and automatic machine for manufacturing reinforcement reinforcements for reinforced concrete beams, comprising several stations, for receiving and positioning rectilinear metal bars (5) on the one hand, and on the other hand , transverse metal frames (6) g characterized in that it comprises means which pass through the stack of transverse frames (6) in stock g to go to pull or push the longitudinal bars (5), in view to ensure their precise longitudinal positioning with respect to one of the frames (6) in stock e to which they are assembled, after which, these mime means move them longitudinally t in order to position them facing a new frame- (6) in stock And so on.  2 - Integrated machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the station (2) for the storage of stacked transverse frames, comprises two stores namely t  - a storage magazine (31) g whose frames t present  tees transversely on the path of the bars (5)  are directly ready for Other used  - a pre-storage store (32), in which the utility  sator presents a second series of frames (6) e which  may be different from the frames (6) of the store  storage (31) t loading and re-loading operations  glage of the second series of frames in the store  pre-storage (32) being thus carried out in mas time  qué w during machine operation0  3 - Integrated machine according to any one of the preceding claims g characterized in that China has four main stations 2 to see it s  - a station (1) for feeding longitudi bars  nales (5) 1  - a double store station (2) s (31) 2 (32) for food  mentation in transverse frames (6);  - a station (3> (for automatic penny assembly  dage or by ligature ;; - a post (4), to receive the beams  mounted (7), and comprising in particular the preci means  tees, which pull the bars (5) through the frames (6)  from the storage store  4 - Integrated machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the set of four stations (1), (2), (3), (4), is adjusted, and works automatically from 'a computer, located 2 for example, in a design office making up the day's work s the corresponding work plan being recorded on any suitable medium w such as magnetic tapes and floppy disks  5 - Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feeding station comprises clamps (17), (18) whose vertical body (65) is adjustable in transverse position (arrow 69) along a horizontal crosspiece (73), which is adjustable in height by means of jacks (28).  6 - Machine according to claim 5ca, characterized in that the clamps (17) have jaws (20) (21) with a U-shaped profile to receive between their branches w the jaws (23), (25) of the clamps ( 18) during their relative transverse displacement (arrow 26) for the transfer of the bars (5).  7 - Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supports (34) of the magazines (31) and (32) are constituted by longitudinal rails (58) all external to the frames (6) which are stored and stacked between these rails, to define. a kind of tunnel whose entirely free interior space allows the passage of the horizontal bars (37) of the motorization station (4).  8 ~ Machine according to claim 7 s characterized in that each bar (37) is hollow and contains the control rod (50) of an iron end clamp (48), (49)  9 - Machine according to claim S * characterized in that each iron pliers comprises:  - A lateral jaw (48) integral with the hollow bar (37)  which slides in a horizontal sleeve (38); - And a tilting side jaw (49), which is integral with  the rod (50) which can rotate on itself in the bar  (37), under the action of a control cylinder (52), located  at its other end  10 - Machine according to any one of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the horizontal sleeves (38) are adjustable in position along the vertical columns (39) (arrow 41), which are adjustable in horizontal transverse position (arrow 43) on sleepers (42) carried by the frame (41) of a carriage (44), movable at the station (4), along longitudinal rails (46).  11 - Machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the supports (34) are matched with wheels (60) and chains with radial stopper pins (59), against which abuts the last frame 56) load in the magazine pre-storage (32), pinion means (63) being provided for synchronizing all the pin chains (59) and controlling them in step-by-step rotation.  12 - Machine according to any one of claims 5 and 6, characterized in that it comprises two distinct groups of supports, namely  - A first group, formed by the clamps (18) supporting  the bars (5) during assembly;  - a second group, formed by the clamps (17) or the ope  rators (55) have, pending, the bars (5) for  the next manufacturing cycle, these two groups of supports being movable transversely with respect to one another (arrow 26) for transferring in a single step to the pliers (18) of the second group, all of the bars (5) previously deposited in the clamps (17) of the first group.  13 - Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each clamp (18) is carried by a support (25) oscillating around its vertical geometric axis (70) and subjected to the action of a spring of reminder (75), so that each clamp (18) is eclipsable by oscillation.  14 -Machine according to claim 7 characterized in that the longitudinal rails (58) are six in number, namely  - four rails (58) at the four corners of the frames (6)  - two intermediate rails (158) for the inter positions  mediaries corresponding to frames (6) with a profile in 7, all these rails (58), (158), being adjustable in position independently of each other.