GB1593456A - Apparatus for holding unclamped surplus ends when cutting cylindrical bodies and cutting machines including same - Google Patents

Description

(54) APPARATUS FOR HOLDING UNCLAMPED SURPLUS ENDS WHEN CUTTING CYLINDRICAL BODIES, AND CUTTING MACHINES INCLUDING SAME (71) We, MANNESMANN AKTIEN GESELLSCHAFT, a joint stock company organised under the laws of Germany, of Mannesmannufer 2, 4000 Dusseldorf 1, West Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to apparatus for holding unsupported surplus ends when cutting cylindrical bodies, more especially tubes. The invention also relates to a cutting machine including such apparatus.

With the parting or cutting of unsupported cylindrical bodies, the surplus end has a very unfavourable influence at the instant of separation or falling on the parting tool, e.g., the cutting tool or milling tool. The tool is frequently pinched between the tube and surplus end and as a result is damaged or destroyed. Furthermore, the edges of the falling surplus pieces can be damaged, this having the very disadvantageous effect when the said piece is not a scrap piece, but is intended, for example, with fixed lengths, for further processing.

It is an aim of the invention to provide a means for holding such unsupported surplus ends, with which means the damage often caused to the tool and workpiece is avoided. To this end, the invention provides apparatus for supporting surplus ends when cutting cylindrical bodies comprising a pivotally mounted frame with a bed and a side plate mounted thereon, the bed for supporting the underside of a said surplus end and the plate for engaging a side of said surplus end, the pivotal mounting of the frame being resilient such that in use, at least one of the bed and plate is continuously biased towards a said surplus end. Using the apparatus of the invention, the surplus end is held in the initial position and can be easily and safely carried away after the parting operation.

Not only is the damage to the cutting edge of the tool prevented by the means according to the invention, but also a frictionfree progress of the parting operation is guaranteed. Furthermore, the danger of accident arising because of binding surplus pieces is reduced.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic end elevation of apparatus according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a front view of the apparatus of Figure 1.

In Figure 1, a supporting plate 5 which is removably or adjustably fixed on a frame 10 supports and a side plate 6 which may also be removably or adjustably fixed on this frame, bears horizontally against the workpiece, in this case a tube 1. The frame 10 is pivotally mounted at 7 and is pressed by means of a cylinder 8 against the tube 1.

Alternatively, a spring support might be used for the frame 10. The tool 3 operates laterally.

As shown in Figure 2, the tube 1 is clamped in a machine chuck 2. The surplus end 4 is held by the supporting plate 5, the plate 5 projecting beyond the parting position below the tube 1, while the side plate 6 ends before the palting position.

The operation of the arrangement is as follows: The surplus end 4 is separated at the parting position by the tool 3 from the tube 1 which is clamped in the machine chuck 2. So that the surplus end does not tilt in the final phase of the cutting operation and as a result, more espeCially with relatively long surplus portions or fixed length, has a clamping effect on the tool 3, it is held by the horizontally disposed supporting plate 5. By means of the side or rejection plate 6, which in this embodiment is connected fast to the supporting plate 5.

the surplus end 4 is prevented from tilting laterally in the direction towards the tool side. Any possible ovalisation of the tube is compensated for by the fact that the support plate 5 is able to yield through the frame 10 mounted to be rotationally movable at 7, since the frame 10 is urged by means of the compressed air cylinder 8, or by a spring force, from below against the tube 1 and the surplus piece 4. So that the support plate 5 in the end face of the cutting operation does not force the surplus end 4 upwardly, it is extended under the clamping portion of the tube 1 such that the upward limit of its movement is determined by the clamping tube 1 as shown in Figure 2.

In order also to prevent the surplus end being moved axially towards the tool immediately after the cutting operation, a spacer roller 9 may also be provided, said roller having the same width as the cutting groove formed by the tool 3 and being forced during the cutting into this groove.

The supporting plate 5 may also be constructed as a roller bed. An advantage of this construction is that there is no sliding friction, but only a roller friction, on the external surface of the round body.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. Apparatus for supporting surplus ends when cutting cylindrical bodies comprising a pivotally mounted frame with a bed and a side plate mounted thereon, the bed for supporting the underside of a said surplus end and the plate for engaging a side of said surplus end, the pivotal mounting of the frame being resilient such that in use, at least one of the bed and plate is continuously biased towards a said surplus end.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the supporting bed and side plate are replaceably or adjustably mounted on the frame.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the frame is supported on a lifting cylinder.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the frame is supported on a spring.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim wherein the supporting bed extends beyond the side plate and is adapted to engage a clamped portion of a body to be cut.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim wherein the supporting bed comprises a plate.

7. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the supporting bed is a roller type.

8. Apparatus for supporting unclamped surplus ends when cutting cylindrical bodies substantially as described herein and as illustrated by the accompanying drawing.

9. A machine for cutting cylindrical bodies comprising means for clamping a said body with a surplus end thereof extending past.

the path of a cutting tool and apparatus according to any preceding Claim wherein the side plate is arranged on the cutting .tool side of the supporting bed.

10. A machine according to Claim 9 including a spacer roller for introduction into the slot formed by the cutting tool as a said body is cut.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. held by the horizontally disposed supporting plate 5. By means of the side or rejection plate 6, which in this embodiment is connected fast to the supporting plate 5. the surplus end 4 is prevented from tilting laterally in the direction towards the tool side. Any possible ovalisation of the tube is compensated for by the fact that the support plate 5 is able to yield through the frame 10 mounted to be rotationally movable at 7, since the frame 10 is urged by means of the compressed air cylinder 8, or by a spring force, from below against the tube 1 and the surplus piece 4. So that the support plate 5 in the end face of the cutting operation does not force the surplus end 4 upwardly, it is extended under the clamping portion of the tube 1 such that the upward limit of its movement is determined by the clamping tube 1 as shown in Figure 2. In order also to prevent the surplus end being moved axially towards the tool immediately after the cutting operation, a spacer roller 9 may also be provided, said roller having the same width as the cutting groove formed by the tool 3 and being forced during the cutting into this groove. The supporting plate 5 may also be constructed as a roller bed. An advantage of this construction is that there is no sliding friction, but only a roller friction, on the external surface of the round body. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. Apparatus for supporting surplus ends when cutting cylindrical bodies comprising a pivotally mounted frame with a bed and a side plate mounted thereon, the bed for supporting the underside of a said surplus end and the plate for engaging a side of said surplus end, the pivotal mounting of the frame being resilient such that in use, at least one of the bed and plate is continuously biased towards a said surplus end.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the supporting bed and side plate are replaceably or adjustably mounted on the frame.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the frame is supported on a lifting cylinder.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the frame is supported on a spring.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim wherein the supporting bed extends beyond the side plate and is adapted to engage a clamped portion of a body to be cut.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim wherein the supporting bed comprises a plate.

7. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the supporting bed is a roller type.

8. Apparatus for supporting unclamped surplus ends when cutting cylindrical bodies substantially as described herein and as illustrated by the accompanying drawing.

9. A machine for cutting cylindrical bodies comprising means for clamping a said body with a surplus end thereof extending past.

the path of a cutting tool and apparatus according to any preceding Claim wherein the side plate is arranged on the cutting .tool side of the supporting bed.

10. A machine according to Claim 9 including a spacer roller for introduction into the slot formed by the cutting tool as a said body is cut.