FR2660222A1 - Machine for manufacturing helically wound springs - Google Patents

Abstract

Machine intended for manufacturing helically wound springs, of the type of those including a cutter for cutting the wire and a separator for varying the winding pitch, characterised in that the cutter (6) and the separator (7) are arranged on either side of the axis (YY) of the wire and are carried by a slide (8), the rectilinear reciprocating movement of which is actuated by a single actuator (10).

Description

 The present invention relates to improvements in machines for manufacturing helically wound springs.

 The principle of manufacture of such springs consists in forcing a straight wire, which is pushed, either to be wound on a finger, or to be wound on itself constrained to this by judiciously arranged stops.

 The wire naturally tends to wind in a plane containing the axis of the wire. Therefore it is necessary to deflect the end of the wire laterally to make a helically wound spring. The greater the deviation, the greater the winding pitch.

 To obtain the aforementioned deviation, a member called "separator" is used. It is, in fact, a finger which is applied against the wire and deflects it laterally.

 Naturally the separator must be movable to allow, in particular, to modify the winding pitch either from one spring to another or during the winding of the same spring. A separator actuator is therefore necessary.

 Furthermore, when the winding is finished, cut the wire.

This result is obtained using a movable knife cooperating with a fixed anvil disposed inside the turns and another drive member is therefore necessary to make the cut. It follows from the above explanations that the current state of the art two actuators are necessary to control two operations which never take place at the same time.

 The present invention, which overcomes this drawback, is remarkable in that the separator and the knife are arranged on either side of the axis of the wire and are carried by a slide whose rectilinear and reciprocating movement is controlled by a single actuator.

 In this way, by judicious movement of the slide, it is possible to activate either the separator or the knife.

 This possibility offers, in particular, a double advantage. Firstly, it reduces the cost of the machine by eliminating a member which can be very expensive when it is numerically controlled requiring the use of servo-motors. Secondly, it eliminates all risks of seeing these two bodies come into action at the same time, with all the disadvantages that this can present following a bad adjustment for example.

 As the invention requires the separator to move no longer in a direction parallel to the axis of the spring but in a direction perpendicular to said axis, it was necessary to modify the shape of the separator.

 According to the invention, the active part of the separator consists of a surface arranged obliquely to the direction of movement of the slide.

The present invention will be better understood from the description which follows, made with reference to the accompanying drawing by way of indicative example only, in which
FIG. 1 is a view, partial and in elevation, of a machine according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line Il-Il of FIG. 1.

 Referring to the drawing, it can be seen that the frame of the machine is constituted, in the usual way, by a plate 1, vertical, comprising rollers 2 for driving the wire F and stop fingers 3 allowing it to be wound up. latest.

 The frame 1 has an orifice 4 for passing the usual cutting anvil 5.

 According to the present invention, the knife 6 and the separator 7 are carried by a slide 8, which can be moved alternately along the axis XX.

 The knife 6 and the separator 7 are arranged on either side of the YY axis of the wire F. In this way, the movement of the slide can activate, depending on the direction of movement, either the knife or the separator .

 According to one embodiment, the guide of the slide 8 is ensured by shouldered flanges 9, fixed against the frame 1.

 The actuation of the slide can be ensured by all usual means (cam, cylinder, etc.). Preferably, and as shown in the drawing, the reciprocating movement of the slide is ensured by a servo-motor 10, made integral with the frame of the machine. The servo motor 10 drives a screw 11 engaged in a nut 12 of the slide 8. The axis of the screw 11 extends parallel to the axis XX.

 The active part 7a of the separator consists of a surface arranged obliquely to the axis XX along which the slide 8 moves, said surface being directed towards the turns already formed, as can be seen in FIG. 1. In this way, when the slide 8 is moved upwards, the surface 7a deflects outward the coil S, which has the effect of increasing the winding pitch and vice versa.

 Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown but extends, on the contrary, to all variants of shapes and dimensions.

Claims (2)

 1-Machine intended to manufacture the coiled springs, of the kind of those comprising a knife for cutting the wire and a separator for varying the winding pitch, characterized in that the knife (6) and the separator (7) are arranged on either side of the axis (YY) of the wire and are carried by a slide (8) whose displacement, straight and reciprocating, is controlled by a single actuator (10).  2-machine for manufacturing the helically wound springs, according to claim 1, characterized in that the active part of the separator (7) consists of a surface (7a), extending obliquely to the direction (XX) movement of the slide (8).