ITVI950206A1 - MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF METAL BASKETS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a process of inerting the climatic variations of the animal gut strings, made from strips of fresh material, arranged side by side and then twisted together to form a single rope and subsequently rectified. The invention provides, in particular, before the twisting phase, the tapes are placed in a liquid solution of soluble glue, also containing a suitable mineral filler; this allows to obtain a considerable reduction of the humidity absorbed by the rope obtained by the process according to the invention (curve A), compared to that absorbed by a normal animal gut rope (curve B), as treated, as usual, with silicone based oils or waxes; an increase in abrasion resistance is also obtained in the ropes made according to the invention (Fig. 1)

Description

Description

The present invention relates to a machine for manufacturing metal baskets intended for completely automatic winding of flexible thread-like products, said baskets conforming to the general part of claim 1.

In industrial processes there is the need to have products wrapped in skeins on special supports called reels.

When the products to be wrapped are metal wires, the reel, which in this specific use takes the name of basket, must have a sturdy structure, but at the same time not excessively heavy, in order not to require particularly bulky supports and have a production cost. content.

In the current state of the art, different types of baskets have been made, in particular of the metal type, suitable for being mounted on welding machines, essentially consisting of a central hub, on which the wire is wound and two side bands to contain the coil formed. with the winding action.

A particular type of basket is that described in the patent application for utility model n.VI95U000011 of 02 February 1995, filed by the same applicant, built with a single type of metal wire, always of the same diameter, and to be composed of a plurality of elements shaped according to only three shapes, said elements being mutually welded to constitute the final product.

The invention, of which the aforementioned filing application, provides two parallel and concentric rings, constituting the outer edge of the two side bands, kept spaced apart by a plurality of "C" -shaped profiles, all of the same shape, said profiles forming the recess for containing and supporting the coil of the wrapped product, as well as at least four central elements, having the same shape, which constitute the central hub for coupling to the operating machine, consisting, for example, of a welding machine.

Characterizing element of the aforesaid basket is constituted by the fact that the "C" shaped sections and the central elements are provided, at their ends, with folded extensions, made with the same metal wire as the base element.

The bending direction of these extensions is simultaneously perpendicular to the portion of the base element of which they are the extension and parallel to the portion of the element on which the aforesaid extension joins by means of an electric welding operation.

The object of the present invention is to provide a machine which produces the innovative basket described above, as well as other similar products, in a completely automatic way; the operator has the sole task of replacing the exhausted wire reels, placed upstream of the machine, of adjusting or replacing the worn welding electrodes and of storing the finished product (basket), which is carried out at the end of the work cycle.

The machine referred to in the invention consists of four work stations, arranged in series, which work in mutual synchronism and are each controlled by an autonomous system.

The first station, or section for shaping the ring-shaped details, has the purpose of making the two parallel and concentric rings, which constitute the two upper edges of the basket.

The second station, or section for shaping the "C" -shaped details, has a dual purpose: to make the "C" -shaped profiles and to place them next to the two concentric rings previously made - The third station, or welding section, has the purpose of welding the "C" profiles to the two concentric rings mentioned above.

The fourth station, or shaping and welding section, has a triple purpose: to make the central elements, to weld two of the aforementioned elements in mutually opposite pairs and subsequently weld the ends of the latter to the corresponding '' C profile. ", thus providing for the unloading of the finished product, ie the basket with the different parts welded to each other.

Between the third and fourth stations there is the insertion of an intermediate manipulator which has the task of picking up the basket that comes out of the aforementioned third station, that is, the one constituted by the two concentric rings joined together by the plurality of "C" elements and deposit it on the aforementioned fourth station, waiting to receive the central elements, which constitute the hub of the basket itself.

This manipulator also acts as an unloading arm of the finished product, when it is not necessary to activate the fourth station, as baskets without the central hub are required.

The entire machine, which represents the novelty of the invention, essentially consists of two working groups, placed in reciprocal relation through the action of the intermediate manipulator.

The first group consists of a rotary table, in a substantially central position, around which, in a radial position, the first three stations are located, respectively the one for forming and welding the concentric rings, the one for forming the "C" elements and the mutual welding of the elements to the rings.

The second group consists entirely of the fourth station.

Upstream of the first, second and fourth stations are the motorized reels on which the wire to be shaped in three different shapes is wound.

Between each reel and the corresponding body of the operating station there is inserted the straightening and drawing unit for the unwinding yarn.

Constructively, the machine is presented as two metal carpentry structures, corresponding to the two working groups, where:

a) the shaping section of the ring-shaped parts consists of:

- an electrically operated motorized reel for unwinding the yarn;

- a wire straightening unit with interposed rollers complete with drive for pulling the wire step by step;

- a roller calender for training

of the ring;

- a hydraulic unit for cutting the wire;

- a spot welding unit for butt welding the two ends of each shaped ring;

b) the section for shaping the "C" -shaped parts is made up of:

- an electrically operated motorized reel for unwinding the yarn;

- a wire straightening unit with interposed rollers complete with drive for pulling the wire step by step;

- a "C" -shaped wire cutting and shaping station, hydraulically operated;

- a hydraulic unit composed of pump, electric motor, solenoid valves, nitrogen accumulator, pressure gauges, cooling circuit and operator fluid containment tank;

- warehouse of the "C" shaped elements.

c) assembly section of the shaped elements for the formation of the basket consisting of:

- three pneumatic gripper manipulators, mounted on sliding supports and intended respectively the first for the movement of the "C" -shaped elements, the second for the movement of the external rings and the third for the translation of the basket composed of the aforementioned elements to the next station welding of the internal elements;

- an electro-motorized mechanical unit equipped with a rotary table with four work stations;

- four rotating jigs for a perfect assembly of the components that make up the basket;

- an eight-division motorized and mechanically operated unit for loading the eight "C" -shaped elements;

- a pincer welding station comprising two self-centering pincers for welding the ends of the "C" elements to the two concentric rings;

d) section for forming and welding the central elements in pairs and for welding the ends of the aforementioned pairs to the corresponding "C" elements consisting of:

- an electronically operated motorized reel for unwinding the yarn;

- a thread cutting station;

- a hydraulic station for blanking and shaping of the internal element;

- an assembly and welding station in mutually symmetrical pairs of two internal elements, consisting of templates for calibrating the diameter and two spot welders with electrode arms;

- a manipulator for transporting the welded pairs inside the basket;

- a station with two rotating tables for positioning the pairs in the basket and complete with templates for assembly;

a welding station with two pincer spot welders to weld the ends of the central pairs to the "C" elements;

The machine is also equipped with elements for the protection of the system, flow switch, pressure switch, fuses, iron protection barriers as well as a series of electro-pneumatic drives complete with solenoid valves and FRL units and a pulpit cabinet, complete with electrical controls. electronic and self-diagnosis.

These and other characteristics of the machine according to the invention will be further highlighted with the description of a possible embodiment thereof, given only by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, with the help of

drawings attached where:

- fig. 1 (Table I) represents a perspective view of one of the possible embodiments of the basket, once completed;

- fig. 2 (Table II) represents a plan view of the entire machine;

- fig. 3 (Table III) represents a plan view of the first station, that of forming and welding the rings;

- fig. 4 (Tav, IV) represents a plan view of the second station, that of shaping the "C" elements;

- fig. 5 (Table V) represents a plan view of the third station, that of welding the "C" elements to the rings;

- fig. 6 (Table VI) represents a plan view of the intermediate manipulator;

- fig. 7 (Tab.VII) represents a plan view of the fourth station, that of shaping and welding of the central elements of the basket;

- fig. 8 (Plate VIII) represents an elevation view of the first station, sectioned along the line VIII-VIII of fig. 3;

fig. 9 (Table XI) represents an elevation view of the second station, sectioned along the line IX-IX of fig.4; - fig. 10 (Table X) represents an elevation view of the third station, sectioned along the line X-X of fig. 5; - fig.11 (Table XI) represents an elevation view of the intermediate manipulator, sectioned along the line XI-XI of fig.6; - fig. 12 (Plate XII) represents an elevation view of the fourth station, sectioned along the line XII-XII of fig. 7:

- fig. 13 (Plate XIII) represents a perspective view of the basket having the hub consisting of eight central elements.

As shown in fig. equally shaped, said profiles forming the recess 4 for containing and supporting the coil of the wrapped product, and finally, by four central elements 5, divided into two pairs rotated by 90 ° and mutually symmetrical, said elements having the same shape and constituting the central hub 6, for coupling to the operating machine.

The shaped sections 3 and the central elements 5 are equipped, at their ends, with folded extensions, respectively 7 and 8 made with the same metal wire as the base element.

Said folded extensions 7 and 8, are simultaneously perpendicular to the portion of the base element of which they constitute the extension, respectively the portion 9 of the section 3 and the portion 10 of the central element 5, as well as parallel to the portion of the element on which the the aforesaid extensions weld, respectively, the portion 11 of the outer ring 2 and the portion 12 of the shaped profile 3.

The two elements 5, mutually joined and forming one of the two pairs constituting the hub 6, have the end curved in a semicircle 13 equipped with the extension 14 parallel and in contact with the portion 10 of the opposite element 5.

The welding between the various elements 2,3, and 5, constituting the entire structure 1, takes place on one end, respectively 15,16 and 17, as long as the extension engaged, respectively 7,8,14.

In addition to the type of basket described above, the machine according to the invention also produces the one shown in Fig. 13, where the central hub consists of eight central elements 18, also divided into symmetrical pairs.

As can be seen in fig. 2, the whole machine can be divided into a first group 20, with which the basket without the central hubs 6 is made and a second group 21, where the elements 5 conform and weld them to the "C" shaped profiles 3, making the complete basket 1.

An intermediate manipulator 22 is placed between the two working groups 20 and 21.

Inside the group 20 there are the first three stations, arranged in series and precisely station 23, for shaping and welding the rings 2, the subsequent station 24, for shaping the "C" elements 3 and finally the welding station 25 of the aforementioned "C" elements to the rings 2.

The fourth work station 26 comprises the entire assembly 21 referred to above.

The first three work stations 23, 24 and 25 are doors radially around a revolving table 27 equipped with four jigs 29, which in turn rotate on their own axis for perfect alignment of the components which contribute to stopping the castle.

The four different workstations 23,24,25 and 26 are described in detail below.

In figs. 3 and 8, we see that the first

of work 23, which has the task of making the rings 2, consists of a motorized reel 28, from which the wire 30 unwinds, a subsequent wire straightening unit 31, a calender 32 for forming the ring, by a cutting unit 33 of the wire 30 and finally by a spot welding unit 34 for butt welding the ends of the preformed ring.

When the rings 2 are completed, they are individually gripped by the grippers 35, mounted on sliding supports 36 and moved by pneumatic cylinders 37, which deposit them, in pairs 2 'and 21', on the rotating jig 28, supported by the rotating table 27 which, subsequently, it rotates 90 °, positioning the pair of the aforementioned rings in axis with the subsequent work station.

With reference to fig. 4 and fig. 9, the second working station 24, which has the task of making the c-shaped elements: 3, consists of a motorized reel 38, from which the yarn 39 is unwound, from a subsequent wire straightening unit 40, from a blanking and shaping station 41, where the elements 3, C-shaped 3 are made.

These shaped elements 3, by means of the pneumatic manipulator 42, are placed in the recess 43 present on the rotating mask 28, positioning themselves in contact with the rings 2 'and 2' 'already present on the aforementioned mask.

The further 90 ° rotation of the rotary table 27 positions the basket portion in a manner corresponding to the "c" -shaped element in axis with the subsequent station.

With reference to Figure 5 and Figure 10, the third station 25, which has the task of welding the C-shaped elements 3 to the two outer rings 2, thus producing a first embodiment of the basket, consists of a welding unit 44, equipped with two self-centering pincers 45, for welding the ends 7 of the aforementioned elements 3 to the two rings 2, as indicated by the reference number 11 of fig.1.

A further 90 ° rotation of the rotary table 27 positions the body of the basket consisting of the elements 2 and 3, mutually welded, in proximity to the intermediate manipulator 22.

With reference to figure 6 and figure 11, the intermediate manipulator 22 has a rotating arm 46, equipped with pincers 47, which hook the simplified basket 48 and, after a roto-translation, deposit it on the subsequent work station 26.

With reference to fig. 7 and in figure 12, the fourth work station 26, which has the task of forming the central elements 5, of their mutual welding in pairs to form the hub 6, of the positioning of said pairs inside the body of the basket and finally welding of the aforesaid to the corresponding "C" elements 3; said station consists of a motorized reel 49, for unwinding the wire 50, of a wire straightening and cutting unit 51, of a subsequent blanking and shaping unit 52, from which the central element 5 comes out.

Subsequently, two central elements 5 are approached in a mutually symmetrical manner and set them up for mutual welding along the section 17 (see fig. 1) by means of two spot welders 53.

By means of the manipulator 54 the pair 55 of the two shaped elements is positioned inside the body of the basket 48 and by means of the two welding pincers 56 the ends 8 of the aforementioned elements are welded to the "C" shaped elements in the area 16, obtaining the complete basket, as shown in fig.

The work cycle described above, which constitutes the novelty of the invention, i.e. the hierarchical arrangement of the four stations and their specific function, does not change when the metal basket shown in fig. 13 is to be made, as well as other baskets. similar.

This basket differs from the previous one only for the different conformation of the shaped elements 29, which make up the hub 6 and therefore, for its realization, it is only necessary to modify the molding and assembly templates present in the fourth station, while the different work steps remain the same.

Claims (12)

CLAIMS 1. MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF METALLIC BASKETS, said baskets (1) being of the type that has a containment and support recess (4) for the mass of the wrapped product and, possibly, a central hub (6), which provides two rings (2), parallel and concentric, said rings forming the outer edge of the two side bands and being kept spaced apart by a plurality of "C" shaped sections (3), the basket being further composed of a plurality of central shaped elements (5), mutually welded in pairs, which form the aforementioned coupling hub (6), said machine being characterized by the fact that it has two working groups (20-21) placed in relation through the action of an intermediate manipulator (22), said first group (20) being constituted by a rotating table (27), equipped with a plurality of rotating jigs (28), to allow the exact alignment of the components that contribute to forming the basket, around the aforementioned table being also located the first three work stations (23-24-25), the first station (23 ) having the task of making the pairs of concentric rings (2) of the basket, the second station (24) having the task of making the "C" -shaped elements (3) and the third station (25) having the task of welding the aforementioned shaped elements (3) to the aforementioned rings (2), said second group (21) representing the fourth work station (26), having the task of shaping the central elements (5) and welding them inside the body of the basket (1), to form the aforementioned hub (6) . 2. MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF METALLIC BASKETS, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the first station (23) consists of a motorized reel (29), from which the wire 30) unwinds, from a subsequent straightening unit -film (31), by a calender (32), for the circular formation of the ring, by a blanking unit (33) and by a spot welder (34), which welds the ends of the preformed ring (2). 3. MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF METALLIC BASKETS, according to claim 2, characterized in that each ring (2) is individually hooked by the pliers (35), mounted on sliding supports (36) and moved by pneumatic members (37), called pliers by placing the aforementioned rings, in pairs (2'-2 ''), on the template (28) which, by means of the rotating table (27), positions the aforementioned pair in axis with the subsequent work station. 4. MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF METALLIC BASKETS, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the second station (24) consists of a motorized reel (38), from which the wire (39) unwinds, from a subsequent straightening unit wire (40) and a shaping and shearing station (41), which produces the "C" -shaped elements (3). 5. MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF METALLIC BASKETS, according to claim 4, characterized in that the "C" -shaped elements (3), by means of a manipulator (42), are allocated in the recess (43), present on the mask revolving (28), placing itself exactly in contact with the concentric rings (2'-2 ''), already present on the aforementioned mask which, by means of the revolving table (27), positions the portion of the basket corresponding to the aforementioned shaped elements aligned with the next work station. 6. MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF METALLIC BASKETS, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the third station (25) consists of a welding unit (44), equipped with two self-centering pliers (45), for welding the ends (7) of the '' C "shaped elements (3), to the two concentric rings (2'-2 ''), at the end of said welding of all the aforementioned shaped elements to the aforementioned rings, the rotary table (27) providing to position the simplified basket (48) in axis with the intermediate manipulator (22). 7. MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF METALLIC BASKETS, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate manipulator (22) is equipped with a rotating arm (46), equipped with pliers (47), which hook the simplified basket (48) and , after a roto-translation, they deposit the aforementioned in the subsequent work station. 8. MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF METALLIC BASKETS, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the fourth station (26) consists of a motorized reel (49) from which the wire (50) unwinds, of a wire straightening unit (51), of a subsequent wire blanking and shaping unit (52) to obtain the shaped element (5). 9. MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF METALLIC BASKETS, according to claim 8, characterized in that the shaped elements (5) are approached in pairs (55) and the components of each aforesaid pair are mutually welded along their common contact portion ( 17), by means of spot welders 10. MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF METALLIC BASKETS, according to claim 9, characterized in that it has a manipulator (54), which hooks the pair (55) and positions it inside the body of the simplified basket (48) and, subsequently , a group of pincers for welding (56) welds the ends (8) of the aforesaid pair to the C-shaped elements (3), completing the action of making the basket (1). 11. MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF METALLIC BASKETS, according to the previous claims, characterized by the fact that the four work stations (23,24,25 and 26) work in mutual synchronism, but each of them is controlled by an autonomous and independent system from the others. 12. MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF METALLIC BASKETS, characterized by the fact that it differs from the machine referred to in claim 1, due to the absence of the fourth work station (26), for the production of baskets (1) without the central hub (6 ).