GB2578720A

GB2578720A - Apparatus and method for forming springs

Info

Publication number: GB2578720A
Application number: GB1817923.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Spinks Simon; Clare David
Original assignee: HS Products Ltd
Current assignee: HS Products Ltd
Priority date: 2017-11-09
Filing date: 2018-11-02
Publication date: 2020-05-27
Anticipated expiration: 2038-11-02
Also published as: GB201718529D0; GB201817923D0; CA3082059A1; CN111936250A; WO2019092404A1; GB2578720B; US20210187588A1; AU2018363284A1; EP3706932A1

Abstract

A spring forming apparatus 200 comprises a spring-medium feeder and a device for forming an irregularity, such as a partial cut, indent, nick, deformity or weakness in the fed medium 220. When the irregularity reaches a deflector of the spring former the medium fractures at the irregularity such that the spring formed ahead if the irregularity is separated from the medium. The irregularity may be formed by passing the medium through a pair of opposed rollers 240 one of which has an anvil 248 for forming the irregularity. Alternatively, an energy source such as and electric arc or laser may form the irregularity. The apparatus may be computer controlled. The irregularities may be pre-formed on another device prior to introduction of the medium to the spring former. The process may be continuous without the need for the medium to be momentarily halted for detachment of the formed spring. Also claimed is a method of forming a spring with the apparatus.

Description

Apparatus and Methed, fox -F:btfniiV; Tina pxhaaerX, iraantioni; relaitas to amh for fP:PN.P4 ap.rliniqa. and:jia S method of forting sprd.nqe It las raraixina4 Irtutilatly., although not.

an aPpaifalfaa and: a rLle.LulCd for forrciaqcoil2ptln-48 of wire.

The of h..6.11,1Ally wiTe apri.tsa cerrently in7cf. .aos Ntye i2: ftoTP. a suppl.y, which. is typical 1y if necessary the wire.44 ut.-17ightod no x.kn myklitl..k; et t he wire la then fd.r4,.m...el late. a)4Adtgad fai-l.aa:dl'fa C if;f.fat dafIcantin...a to instigate 4.. band.. aa a fata-t direction a-md. theft a. 20: attOnd dellattit4: tool, arranged a.abataXitlaJty to Itstigate: a.. hand:in the.. wire eat. ot:. prea.e., into a held A. T.i.itc.btr..g.. .coatxollia. Ice

wbel71:: a px...e.....ettr4..ried ler,q1H:...b a. /cut:Ht.:et.

SeyerS the sorinc from the rep: of the wire.

Figure. i aalOwa schematically an. example of a nreviotsly Coesiterut. string foZrdaa. apptr.atus, generally at icfc/. 30 reel 110; dispenses metal The stenip 150 The forheng atadaa c..0.1.7...P.1.=4..E;ka 4 fdtst deflector 160, Wb.E.iji. :a-PO/a:0: the s.traight. @tZ0 to deflect in A: f*t.:.',91t: v;e4ttic.,... ccuaohent appu-o.xfraately:90 degrees to the *of. the ire The w* causes to be de:fleeted. Jot has vector com...ptthe.tit. apptox.uto.t clv 90 degree:a fe both the first: and of the vItei F coiled springS.

There are severe.' other, slY foMmthg ePtLaga om wire -bending the wire, lasually by puehir of deft c-g tool.

te kind ono toel (0mittxd from the drawtng for re cirg between adjacent coils the the spring 1-aehes a pre-determined Length a coiner 1 atiatihg: ZO: the..

Fe CleaTt4 t g Of the wire inn L he tempt:dr:at:fly hate& or a: ably aed, whilst the t ihtr)du after:he 2.5 cut is mede the feed must resume the example shown, the cutter 18Q comprises. a tool 190 that is mounted fox ell ptical /rotat..orial engagement with the e SO the wttion of the wife need not be halted ccrtetdir:or a clean out.

t" have ire Ma supplied. ie0M a ass of al. hrticit.:.ted kilograms. . The redi the feed -oilers must therefore be ser go -rohtrkfliee so as to maintain the correct tension in the feed. The rotate 35 chat -drive ire feed rollera must be sutt iently pewerfel to manipulate the wine euloPlY in the face. of considerable inertia as: =he. :Wire exPeriebces:cycles of accelerationo; As. higher ptodeCtich: spee0s are ceMen4ed -some current manufacturers of upholstered uhitS require sprirlgs to be produced at a rate of 3.00 eet minute -: the pnetaelte becOnLeS exat-tehbated ahn rectires. ever more sophisticated, and. hence sm.dehsive, drive apearatirs-Ahdther ez-amPte of the prior art is disclosed 2.,n '.,.035/007496. In this document, a weakening: iS ih=xs:-O,110ed into a length Of sorIna wire at two dAametically 3ppose4 portions of the wire.0utface prior: to a cut-trig device sevetiag the, formed spr-ing from thc hest of the ieJrreHbwever, this approach doee not address: the preedem of momentarily halt..1n.g* the feed. iri presit to deploy the: Cutting tool vci.t.1.1.. all the ettehdapt. etishaderantnge (;M!a.1)t."1-lett TE1titjOdIM,4:1I8 of the orshent LpvclntL:i..00 41p:.c.J). at least part iy the:: ato.1wm.1:1.:ct-0.**40:t$7., ?be present invention is defined in. the attached independent claims, to which reference should now he made-Further, preferred features may be found in the sub-claims appened thereto-if*:,0h.o.roirrg to one aspect i.f11.0 present: imention, there is provided a method. of: Maneledturing a spring ften a sprits medium, the method cemprishng effect's:0: an irregularity in a portion of the spring medium. and thereafter deflecting the SPsjag medium to. cause it to fcalflm. a. son no, cingreY the defieCti.11.9: is arranged to ceUhe a di_Sebntihehtv in the spring lneouo at the ioc.at.i.c)rI of. tt.p, tbo Medium' fro0... a SUPPlAy, C.0, 4,-op±atus.

Ith method MaS MeArTh7lys. eiteccdhp_.am irretImdaraty in the sPrdsg mleAiam 1r-dClat-5 Pdsk 00±:Ormdtt Or in the spring medium tide mefhodpre?m'bIy. comprisos effecting the irrtculadd.rV in the Srafihd* M0dMgm 14.0.Pg* WAP Or MOfe lb 0..ttefOr,00.,...I. arrangement the iteruati"S forded h...;iltdh)g the.: ,.Mt.:4L0t..1.. of the more pr..efe:rahly without slowing tbv, tdt-.J_.oh of the.op rifle me.d.71.1Jrn According Lc:Another aspcot of the present invention 25 there is provided_ apparatus for manufacturing a spring frAQM srLrgAvedititi" the apparatus comprising a teed device for feeding. the spring medium and a spring forming rJed:Se, for fP-7.74Pici YPAYEdeflecting the 4,tin4 Medium, .wherein deflection by the optiriq* fotid:ag. :device 30 is arranged in use tP, .e.T.:.eat. a a0SoPlatimi_My*in the.

curing =flediUm irregulari-,1y, at the 1: nor,of a previously formed Preferably thEe: appar4t1.740 f.14.1::cth:r c;-",0Mphi00 an 35, IMr:egularity forming device. focc forirdrrn atiE in the sprinor Te a device Preferred arflngemer-t 15 itJT5flC15d to, or art itteImtd-ty in tb.c.,. btititt at 11....dA1St Out, Indent, de1.1:16r..MAty wee.knese' on the.. ..spr...ing T1.Te. 1Hreg.1..alaxIty tot...rcji4 may camp.:1;tse. one cIt Aara ta11.1.1.0.ra a..,,L',"11iwto formed-15.s.uhstonnie --17 ljh:beht matettifl to be. 1.51.12111:j.11E41.4 La 01a4.L1:.-11]th it to The spring mediTxt may comprise wife/ and more preferably dcmori.see metal wire* a preferred arrangement.., .ae a 1,11BISU1-1-t Of mho irrequiatitY,, thu spEir',g me'cltim. is:3_,Tranged to break. by the deflecting action of tn,.e. spring totm..__...rlo th.(--1t'OeY to Separate a formed sprinq from the rest of the 25 spring medium-.

The invention also.d.OMPrithe a bfo-,11raM 101:11. 1C1.-1.1.11dn.j.

den-ice perEorm a. method. of man0fett..0..rin a. ...Spring in aocor.dido... to, aay.

Ao'coroft.ni to another aspect of the oreseht 1.nseht.10s, there As Trov1dod. an apparatus comprising a proc..e.scir and a memory having therein computer readable instruct.1.-ohs, the ProcesOor being arranged used: to read thl-fhstruolotoho to oe.imse the p-erform..a.noe of a method h fGrther aspatt, the: inventioh provides: a corcputet program product on a non transitory computer readable sLcrage medium, compL ising compuLer readable insLruceihns: 14 that, when eeouted. hv a ocmPLItsor--,. case. oomPuteT 111-e-th0.(,5-of. manufacturing. a spttnq 8.000.1ring to any statement. hateirl.

The *.a.vsatipn f'ox vatl Appa.fatti:s*, :accercilr(c4 to any:.statement.

The.irienttnn may triciudci, .,;:-.:J y ccm tien. et.

:-.t7.01:-,,.: f.:?.?..At nra or. litTtat _:-..ri b'effeltre'd: SUbh a: ebthinatieb.-et. features-20 exclus.ie, or MutTuall:y ihddnalStent, t 0: exsePt q are nbtually eferred embodiment of the described, by wayof -4,dtpleE t invention witn the accombshying:Ta:, a**7 S-fateiNgss whiM*n FicItitc Cofl atus f:c;T forming sp.f.:i Fidre 2 snows schematcal:y an apparatus for:forming 30: spranpd in accordance with ar embodiment-or the present invention; :0fl of:sptdric medium. tritiat7iin:g" an P*.jar. of r.,(flie*-2.ty of'Eibm:re; 3.

for fofthihc; the -10M1c4 tc Ft eer,hn abheat..ibCAI1V: 10. tcrminq bpb-:SrAts-, ereimi at 200, ace:Or:311,1q. tO: an ernbedMebt thC: erit. invent onISIetal w.*.r.e. 22....n, fed tr "a "St,P:PlY* (mat: aneWaJ b feed: Tbidere 230, ircgat:nty-eTtect.iricf 4"ed:tHr:5 242 rn a:.thrna...t.

250, The _,q.:Fc.7.. *:i.fprii. -.HE:it: dbrl.cbt:".2...*..S0 ajmd. e ebond deflector Who.h.1... wct an. ...:74.11.0."1.......ditlt. ily* tn.:6 sb-me: 'way as the rilector's at the "6,2:-7.7ici don,idbned S.P.TiaCCT fornirto sratlabt described a hove: rb1H.a.b.bn Fitii;:.11.0. 4- Howevor-, theTe: is o this enlbcdiniei. When the spring S is colTP4eMP::: A.t.

tile r t OT e et urir megtilarity time 2'?.iche 220. eitW W4ICI.be tile.20 \ear5t.is autonatacal.Ly e'..aSHCrtned: bbiewa.

:12reeUllermeycf.je:: a.r at rbll 240 combrises an upper railer 242 and *a. lower railer 244. Each roller as a channel 246 in which the wire 220 is conducted. post of the' time the rofleis 240 are stbti.boary: sad tee wire 2'20 threngh the 3h-sels When an iniregtai.fljtV" i.e to. be: introduced tt7,:EQE rollmTs.

an _ 241, located Mn.: the crones to press..against 01cc: Wire.

irreguqara, 80 befog intrOduced in the The tmminc and the notion of The rollers 2.40 is oomPrter controlled v that the position of the Sr e utarity can sccnrat Fl.qure 3 is: a. more detailed view of the 220.

incfudlrg the irregularity 281) FaaM04.... by tne:r:oLler.s 240, 4 VA **** -. * . 77' , to the *41.±se. 220.in the. :tight:. the e.ppat: bf 2,a.ciowtthg the.. tr.regul.arityformifl anvil 248.. When an irrecrda.y is to formed the raliera. 242 and 244 rotate. .AU tha anvil '.240 Pre:5:5$ I'S the ilte against the 15. ObAnfl:Q1 246. of the lower roller. This causes a feature 280, ac1 as it 'c'wrtn: 2s the. wire progresres towards the spring fer.:=0H-flg.statren 2:50. the teatUie evettUAL.Iy. e:aebtalte..2:-: the fitat deflatta When teia the wire ad t)teek.

cacaahly." /aa that -the ear lug S.Eo.rai'sd inadvanc *tbe: Feate.x.:e the Xaat of 2:2.0> *75:concentrates the stresses in ire wire hep if experiences bending forces No eUtter neeged.,.. tharet:ei.e no a'fiL;ctle less halt, of tha This.

to 'Dec manufactured: at a.. greater rate-. APE the bevy ar4.. extensive t ccci rollers currently used in the apparatus sown in ffiggre 1. are no longer needed. 3.5

OttOt aktUbe*Aente for tete;itg the ietegtaai-Aey eat.he tnaed, For examplo, in amothei( eMedOmbrit:-Oct* , mire can: cc preaoc4 two fleosed irreq trmi anvils, dr between Dile anvil on due rcalhr and a pa V-omPljmOlMfar sUPPEPrts on the: other rbiler, for exFimpla, Furtnen7erat wniiCnt examb lrreu.rity 220 above is a V-stape. it whl: be hdereadeled 'or depth of the (reOriaiit oat: be dif: The timind of the i centrallhe preciely uarity formtng bPerau/en can be by controlling the opotation rcliars2 4e,. AaUt the slriqls ro. let 242 in fhb--formed bo'inc. one or rollers. Other mechanical means b eraPIP.Ye to the weakness ft the indeed the means f the irrecularit.y need not be mechanical. An aria source, such as an electrical arc or a laser, could.also be hs-ed to intoduc-e the weakness in the wire predetermined location, for aknmple_ ForLhermore, whilst thefl examPle, described chore has the irregularity formed downstream of) the fee in another. embodiment (notshown) it may oc formed before up-stream of) th (Fa'ed roUers exinc,( th0 diStACa from the wore.

S In Oertain circilm.s.t:cances, tilg4 1Treq.17kt,s,caowhcl he the e..x..-ampJe,.. oh' bf: the apparatus TP' h.en oombi.nee with supply t that. of

which. 01.4e tb.o pLeartac.d1.z:Ati.i.*! ef.fc;tjnYe. i.In Ihid-1.e.,azit4 the *3oae.d: Of sprJn end:=77.-a7.,2.:1..3Ti.n.g*. in t11..e.. fo..re7pAng:.

draw att,?..ntd..on* 1&tL use to...at....f:irec of th...c.invention believed to he of p4rtc:i.c4I4x:.importance, it should he in 20: _ti:1-:apect.: of features referred he it'.(9.....(e1.-t)., and/or showil: in placed thereon.