JP6450640B2 - Coiling machine and coil spring manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a coiling machine for manufacturing a coil spring and a method for manufacturing the coil spring.

  As a coiling machine for manufacturing a coil spring, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a coiling machine having no cored bar is known. In this type of coiling machine, the material of the coil spring fed from the tip of the material guide is bent into an arc shape by the first pin and the second pin, and pitched by the pitch tool. In the outer peripheral portion of the first pin and the outer peripheral portion of the second pin, grooves into which the material enters are formed in the circumferential direction of each pin.

  The positions of the first pin and the second pin are controlled based on a computer program stored in the control unit, control data corresponding to the shape of the coil spring, and the like. That is, the first pin and the second pin are moved to positions corresponding to the coil diameter by driving an actuator or the like based on control data corresponding to the shape of the coil spring. In addition, as in the coiling machine disclosed in Patent Document 2, a technique for controlling the positions of the first pin and the second pin with reference to the machine center has been proposed.

JP-A-11-197775 JP 2013-226484 A

  Since the material before molding is straight, when starting molding of the coil spring, the tip of the material is moved while moving the first pin by manual operation while moving the tip of the material toward the first pin. After bending the material to some extent, the work of moving the tip of the material toward the second pin and bending the material in an arc shape while moving the second pin (tip shaping work) is performed. At this time, the position of the first pin and the position of the second pin may be shifted in the axial direction of each pin, or the second pin may be inclined with respect to the first pin.

  For this reason, the tip part of the material which goes to the second pin through the groove of the first pin may not easily enter the groove of the second pin. If the tip of the material does not enter the groove of the second pin, the feed of the material is temporarily stopped, and the operator uses a jig or the like so that the tip of the material enters the groove of the second pin. Work to correct the position of the. However, such work not only requires special considerations for safety, but also requires work, so there is room for improvement.

  Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a coiling machine and a method for manufacturing a coil spring that can safely and efficiently perform a material tip shaping operation that is initially performed when the coil spring is manufactured.

  One embodiment is a coiling machine that forms an arc portion by bending a material of a coil spring moved by a material feed roller between a first pin and a second pin, and the coiling machine uses a tip of the material to A control unit for automating the shaping operation (tip portion shaping operation) is provided. The control unit includes means for advancing the tip of the material toward the first pin, detection means for detecting the position of the tip of the material, and the tip reaching the first pin. Means for bending the tip with a first pin, means for moving the material feed roller to an unclamp position, and turning the material about an axis so that the tip of the material faces the groove of the second pin Means for moving the material feed roller to a clamping position, means for rotating the material feed roller to advance the material, and inserting the tip into the groove of the second pin, and the tip And a means for forming a tip-side arc portion by bending between the first pin and the second pin. The control unit may further include means for cutting a scrap portion ahead of the tip side arc portion with a cutting tool. Each of the first pin and the second pin may be a rotatable roller member or a non-rotating pin member.

  The coiling machine according to the present embodiment includes a material rotating device that rotates the material around an axis so that a tip portion of the material bent by the first pin faces a groove direction of the second pin. Yes. An example of the material rotating device includes a pinch roller unit including a pinch roller that sandwiches the material, a pinch roller rotating mechanism that rotates the pinch roller in the material feeding direction, and the material feeding roller has moved to an unclamping position. A rotation mechanism that rotates the pinch roller unit about the axis of the material in a state. Further, a mandrel that can move between the first position and the second position (for example, movable in the vertical direction) may be provided.

  According to the present invention, since the tip end portion of the material bent by the first pin can be guided toward the groove of the second pin, the problem that the tip end portion of the material interferes with a portion other than the second pin is prevented. can do. This eliminates the need for skilled workers to manually correct the orientation of the tip of the material using a jig, etc., and makes it safe and efficient to perform the tip shaping of the material at the start of coiling. Can be done well.

The front view which shows typically the coiling machine which concerns on one Example. The side view of the material rotating apparatus of the coiling machine. The block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the coiling machine. The flowchart which shows an example of the function of the control part of the coiling machine. The front view of the state before material is supplied to the coiling machine. The front view which shows the state which the front-end | tip part of the material protruded from the material guide in the coiling machine. The front view which shows the state which the front-end | tip part of material contact | connected the 1st pin in the same coiling machine. (A) and (B) are side views showing two examples of the positional relationship between the first pin and the second pin of the coiling machine. Sectional drawing which shows an example of the direction where the front-end | tip part of material rotates. The front view which shows the state which the front-end | tip part of material moved to the 2nd pin vicinity in the coiling machine. The front view which shows the state which the front-end | tip part of material moved to the pitch tool vicinity in the coiling machine. The front view which shows the state by which the scrap part of material was cut | disconnected in the coiling machine. The perspective view which shows an example of a coil spring.

Hereinafter, a method for manufacturing a coiling machine and a coil spring according to one embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13.
FIG. 13 shows an example of the coil spring 1. The coil spring 1 is formed by spirally molding a material 2 made of spring steel at a predetermined pitch P (not necessarily constant). The form of the coil spring 1 is various. For example, the coil diameter and pitch may be changed according to the winding position. That is, various types of coil springs such as a cylindrical coil spring, a barrel coil spring, a drum coil spring, a taper coil spring, an unequal pitch coil spring, and a coil spring having a minus pitch portion may be used.

  FIG. 1 schematically shows a part of the coiling machine 10. The coiling machine 10 includes a plurality of material feed rollers (feed rollers) 11a and 11b that move the material 2 of the coil spring in the direction indicated by the arrow F (the direction along the axis X1 of the material 2). The material feeding rollers 11a and 11b can be moved to a clamping position (position where the material 2 is sandwiched) shown in FIG. 1 and an unclamping position (position where the material 2 is released) shown in FIG.

  In addition, the coiling machine 10 includes a material guide 12 into which the material 2 is inserted, a first pin 13 with which the material 2 fed from the tip 12a of the material guide 12 first contacts, and a material 2 bent by the first pin 13. And a second pin 14 in contact therewith. Grooves 13 a and 14 a that are continuous in the circumferential direction are formed in the outer peripheral portion of the first pin 13 and the outer peripheral portion of the second pin 14, respectively. The first pin 13 and the second pin 14 of the present embodiment are each a roller member that is rotatable about an axis. However, in other embodiments, the first pin and the second pin are each a pin member that does not rotate. It may be.

  The coiling machine 10 includes a pitch tool 15, a cutting tool 16, a mandrel 17 having a receiving blade 17a, and the like. The pitch tool 15 is arranged on the front side in the moving direction of the material 2 with respect to the second pin 14, and contacts the material 2 bent by the second pin 14 to pitch the coil spring. The cutting tool 16 has a blade portion 16a. When the cutting tool 16 moves toward the mandrel 17 in the direction indicated by the arrow Z1 (shown in FIG. 1), the material 2 is between the blade portion 16a and the receiving blade 17a. Is cut (sheared). The mandrel 17 can be moved by the actuator to a first position (a raised position indicated by a solid line in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6) and a second position (a lowered position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 7). .

  Further, the coiling machine 10 includes a sensor 18 functioning as a tip detecting means for detecting the position of the tip 2a (shown in FIG. 6) of the material 2 and upstream of the material feed rollers 11a and 11b with respect to the moving direction of the material 2. The material rotating device 20 is provided. The material rotating device 20 will be described below.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of the material rotating device 20. The material rotating device 20 includes a pinch roller unit 21 and a rotating mechanism 22 that rotates the pinch roller unit 21 around an axis X1 (shown in FIG. 1) of the material 2. The pinch roller unit 21 includes pinch rollers 21a and 21b that sandwich the material 2 from the radial direction, a frame 25 that supports the pinch rollers 21a and 21b, and an actuator 26 that rotates the pinch rollers 21a and 21b in the feed direction of the material 2. And a pressing mechanism 27 that urges the pinch rollers 21a and 21b toward each other. The pinch rollers 21a and 21b can move over a clamping position V1 indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 and an unclamping position V2 indicated by a solid line.

  The rotation mechanism 22 is configured to rotate the pinch roller unit 21 in a direction that forms angles θ1 and θ2 with respect to the neutral position N (shown in FIG. 2) by an actuator 30 that uses, for example, a ball screw and a servomotor. It is configured. However, you may comprise so that the pinch roller unit 21 may be rotated by actuators other than a ball screw and a servomotor.

  As described above, the material rotating device 20 of the present embodiment includes the rotation mechanism 22 that rotates the pinch roller unit 21 sandwiching the material 2 around the axis X1 of the material 2, and the material 2 is relatively short ( Suitable for short materials. In contrast, when a material is supplied to a coiling machine from a material supply unit (liner) on which a hoop material obtained by rounding a long material ranging from several tens of meters to several hundred meters or more is placed, a material rotating device As another example, the material supply unit on which the hoop material is placed may be configured to rotate around the axis of the material.

  The first pin 13 is arranged on the front side in the movement direction of the material 2 (downstream in the movement direction) with respect to the tip 12 a of the material guide 12. The second pin 14 is disposed on the front side in the movement direction of the material 2 with respect to the first pin 13. The material 2 fed out from the front end 12a of the material guide 12 toward the first pin 13 is bent between the first pin 13 with the front end 12a of the material guide 12 serving as a substantial bending start point.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the coiling machine 10. The coiling machine 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 40 that functions as a controller. The CPU 40 is connected to a ROM (Reed Only Memory) 42, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 43, a communication interface unit 44, a display / operation driver 45, a material feed driver 46, a first pin moving driver via a bus line 41. 47, a second pin moving driver 48, a pitch tool driver 49, a cutting tool driver 50, a pinch roller rotating driver 51, a mandrel moving driver 52, a rotating mechanism driver 53, a sensor 18, and the like. .

  The ROM 42 stores a program for controlling the CPU 40 and various fixed data. The RAM 43 has a memory area for storing various data necessary for forming the coil spring. The communication interface unit 44 controls data communication performed with an external device via a communication line (network). The display / operation driver 45 controls a display operation unit 55 including a display unit (display panel). By operating the display operation unit 55, information necessary for forming the coil spring can be stored in a memory such as the RAM 43.

  The material feed driver 46 controls a motor 60 for rotating the material feed rollers 11a and 11b. The first pin moving driver 47 controls the first pin driving mechanism 61 including an actuator for driving the first pin 13. The second pin moving driver 48 controls the second pin driving mechanism 62 including an actuator for driving the second pin 14. The pitch tool driver 49 controls the pitch tool driving mechanism 63 including an actuator for driving the pitch tool 15. The cutting tool driver 50 controls a cutting tool drive mechanism 64 including an actuator for driving the cutting tool 16. The pinch roller rotating driver 51 controls the actuator 26 of the pinch roller unit 21 (shown in FIG. 2). The mandrel moving driver 52 controls a mandrel moving actuator 65 for moving the mandrel 17 (for example, moving in the vertical direction). The rotation mechanism driver 53 controls the actuator 30 of the material rotation device 20.

  The electrical configuration including the CPU 40 of the coiling machine 10 includes a control circuit that controls the rotation operation of the material feed rollers 11a and 11b, and the positions of the first pin 13 and the second pin 14 according to the first pin driving mechanism 61 and the second pin. A control circuit for controlling via the drive mechanism 62, a control circuit for controlling the position of the pitch tool 15 via the pitch tool drive mechanism 63, and a control circuit for controlling the operation of the cutting tool 16 via the cutting tool drive mechanism 64 These function as a control unit 70 for controlling the operation of the coiling machine 10 and the like. The controller 70 controls the first pin driving mechanism 61 and the second pin so that the positions of the first pin 13 and the second pin 14 change according to the input coil spring shape data (for example, the coil diameter). The pin driving mechanism 62 is controlled.

  A personal computer 80 can be connected to the control unit 70 of the present embodiment via the communication interface unit 44. The personal computer 80 includes a display unit 81 having a display panel, an input operation unit 82 having a keyboard, a pointing device 83 such as a mouse, and the like. The personal computer 80 includes a storage medium 84 that can be attached and detached as necessary.

  Below, the operation | work (tip | end part shaping operation | work) which shape | molds the front-end | tip part 2a of the material 2 performed at the time of starting shaping | molding of a coil spring is demonstrated with reference to FIGS. This operation (tip portion shaping operation) is automated by the CPU 40 based on a computer program stored in the control unit 70 and shape data for control.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of functions of a computer program stored in the control unit 70. This computer program is activated when the tip of the coil spring is shaped. However, depending on the situation, an operator may perform part of the tip portion shaping operation manually.

  FIG. 5 shows the coiling machine 10 before the material 2 is supplied. The material feed rollers 11a and 11b stand by at positions (unclamp positions) separated from each other in the vertical direction so as not to hinder the movement of the material 2.

  In step S <b> 1 shown in FIG. 4, the material 2 moves toward the material guide 12 by the pinch rollers 21 a and 21 b, so that the distal end portion 2 a moves forward toward the first pin 13. At this time, the pinch rollers 21a and 21b are moved to the clamp position. The material feed rollers 11a and 11b are moved to the unclamping position. When the material 2 is advanced toward the material guide 12 by the pinch rollers 21a and 21b, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the leading end 2a of the material 2 protrudes from the leading end 12a of the material guide 12.

  In step S2, it is determined whether or not the tip 2a has reached a predetermined position. If the tip 2a has not reached the predetermined position, the process returns to step S1 and the material 2 further advances. For example, when the tip 2a of the material 2 is detected by the detection means (sensor 18), the process proceeds to step S3, and the movement of the material 2 is stopped. At this time, the tip 2a of the material 2 may stop at a position where the tip 2a of the material guide 12 protrudes from the tip 12a by a predetermined distance L1.

  In step S4, the material feed rollers 11a and 11b move to the clamping position, whereby the material 2 is sandwiched between the material feed rollers 11a and 11b, and the pinch rollers 21a and 21b move to the unclamping position. Therefore, the material 2 is moved by the material feed rollers 11a and 11b.

  In step S5, as shown in FIG. 7, the material 2 sandwiched between the material feed rollers 11a and 11b moves toward the first pin 13, and the leading end 2a of the material 2 reaches the first pin 13. When the first pin 13 is driven, the tip portion 2 a is bent by the first pin 13. For example, the tip 2 a of the material 2 is bent by the first pin 13 in a direction approaching the mandrel 17. At this time, the mandrel 17 is moved from the first position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 7 in the direction indicated by the arrow Z2, so that the lower surface of the mandrel 17 is cut to the second position closest to the tip 12a of the material guide 12. Change. And after the front-end | tip part 2a of the material 2 is bent by the 1st pin 13, the mandrel 17 moves (rises) to the 1st position shown with a dashed-two dotted line again.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, when the positions of the first pin 13 and the second pin 14 are shifted by a distance G in the direction along the axis lines X2 and X3 of the pin, the material 2 remains in this state. When the distal end portion 2 a is advanced toward the second pin 14, the distal end portion 2 a of the material 2 may be detached from the groove 14 a of the second pin 14. In particular, as the distance L <b> 2 between the first pin 13 and the second pin 14 increases, the tip end portion 2 a is more likely to be detached from the groove 14 a of the second pin 14.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, the second pin 14 may be inclined at an angle θ3 in front of the first pin 13. In this case as well, when the tip 2a of the material 2 is advanced, the tip 2a of the material 2 may come off from the groove 14a of the second pin 14. For this reason, conventionally, it has been necessary for an operator to correct the direction of the tip 2a of the material 2 with a jig or the like.

  In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the pinch rollers 21a and 21b are moved in a state in which the leading end 2a of the material 2 is bent by the first pin 13 and moved to the second position (indicated by a two-dot chain line). The material 2 sandwiched between the two is rotated around the axis X1. At this time, the tip 2 a of the material 2 is located between the first pin 13 and the second pin 14.

  In step S6, the material feed rollers 11a and 11b move to the unclamping position (indicated by a two-dot chain line Y in FIG. 7), and the pinch rollers 21a and 21b move to the clamping position. By driving the material rotating device 20 in this state, the pinch roller unit 21 is rotated so that the tip 2a of the material 2 faces the groove 14a of the second pin 14 (step S7).

  By rotating the material 2 around the axis X1, the tip 2a of the material 2 is inclined by an angle θ as shown in FIG. Thereby, when the front end portion 2 a of the material 2 moves from the first pin 13 toward the second pin 14, the front end portion 2 a can be put into the groove 14 a of the second pin 14.

  In step S8 in FIG. 4, the material feed rollers 11a and 11b move to the clamping position, and the pinch rollers 21a and 21b move to the unclamping position. Then, the material feed rollers 11a and 11b rotate and the material 2 advances (step S9), so that the tip 2a enters the groove 14a of the second pin 14 (step S10).

  As shown in FIG. 10, the material 2 is further moved by the material feed rollers 11 a and 11 b, so that the leading end 2 a of the material 2 is positioned between the second pin 14 and the mandrel 17. Then, the first pin 13 and the second pin 14 are driven while the material 2 is moved, and the distal end portion 2a is bent between the first pin 13 and the second pin 14 to move the distal end side as shown in FIG. An arc portion 2b ′ is formed (steps S11 and S12 in FIG. 4).

  When the tip-side arc portion 2b ′ having a predetermined shape is formed, the cutting portion 16 is moved toward the cutting blade 17a as shown in FIG. 12, thereby cutting off the tip-side scrap portion 2x (step S13 in FIG. 4). ). In this cutting operation (step S13), in some cases, the operator confirms the situation, and if there is no abnormality, by operating a switch such as a button by manual operation, the cutting tool 16 is operated to cut the scrap portion 2x. Sometimes. The tip end shaping operation of the coil spring 1 is completed by the series of steps described above.

  When the scrap portion 2x is cut off, the tip side arc portion 2b 'remains. This tip-side arc portion 2b 'becomes a part (end winding portion) of the coil spring. Thereafter, the material 2 is continuously moved by the material feed rollers 11a and 11b, thereby forming the coil spring 1 (coiling). That is, the material 2 that moves from the distal end 12a of the material guide 12 to the second pin 14 through the first pin 13 is formed into an arc shape by the first pin 13 and the second pin 14, thereby FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the arc portion 2b is continuously formed.

  After the radius of curvature of the circular arc portion 2b is minimized between the first pin 13 and the second pin 14, the radius of curvature gradually increases as it approaches the pitch tool 15 due to the influence of the springback. For this reason, the position of the second pin 14 and the like is controlled in consideration of the influence of the springback. When one coil spring is thus formed, the cutting tool 16 is operated to cut the rear end of the coil spring (the front end of the next coil spring to be formed). After that, the next one coil spring is continuously formed.

As described above, the manufacturing method of the coil spring of this embodiment includes the following steps.
(1) Move material 2 toward material guide 12,
(2) Detect the position of the tip 2a of the material 2 sent out from the material guide 12,
(3) Move the mandrel 17 to the second position,
(4) The tip 2a is bent by the first pin 13 in a direction approaching the mandrel 17,
(5) Move the mandrel 17 to the first position,
(6) Move the material feed rollers 11a and 11b to the unclamping position,
(7) The material 2 is rotated about the axis X1 so that the tip 2a of the material 2 is directed to the groove 14a of the second pin 14,
(8) Move the material feed rollers 11a and 11b to the clamp position,
(9) By moving the material 2 by the material feed rollers 11a and 11b, the tip 2a is put into the groove 14a of the second pin 14,
(10) Forming the distal end side arc portion 2b ′ by bending the material 2 between the first pin 13 and the second pin 14,
(11) Cut off the scrap part 2x from the tip side arc part 2b ′ with the cutting tool 16.

  In carrying out the present invention, the configuration and arrangement of each element constituting the coiling machine, including the material feed roller, the material guide, the first and second pins, the pitch tool, the cutting tool, and the material rotating device. It goes without saying that various modifications can be made as necessary. In addition, when a material is supplied to a coiling machine from a hoop material wound with a long material, the material is rotated so that the material supply unit (liner) on which the hoop material is placed is rotated around the material axis. An apparatus may be configured.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Coil spring, 2 ... Material, 2a ... Tip part, 2b ... Arc part, 2b '... Tip side arc part, 10 ... Coiling machine, 11a, 11b ... Material feed roller, 12 ... Material guide, 12a ... Material guide Tip, 13 ... first pin, 13a ... groove, 14 ... second pin, 14a ... groove, 15 ... pitch tool, 16 ... cutting tool, 17 ... mandrel, 18 ... sensor (tip detection means), 20 ... material rotating device 21 ... Pinch roller unit, 21a, 21b ... Pinch roller, 22 ... Rotation mechanism, 70 ... Control unit.

Claims (6)

A material feed roller for moving the material of the coil spring;
A material guide into which the material is inserted;
A first pin that contacts the material fed from the tip of the material guide;
A second pin that is disposed on the front side in the movement direction of the material with respect to the first pin, and that forms an arc portion with the first pin by bending the material with the first pin;
A pitch tool disposed on the front side in the movement direction of the material with respect to the second pin and in contact with the material;
A cutting tool disposed between the second pin and the pitch tool and cutting the material between a mandrel;
A material rotating device that rotates the material about an axis so that a tip portion of the material bent by the first pin faces a groove direction of the second pin;
A coiling machine characterized by comprising: The material rotating device includes:
A pinch roller unit comprising a pinch roller for sandwiching the material;
A pinch roller rotating mechanism for rotating the pinch roller in the feed direction of the material;
2. The coiling machine according to claim 1, further comprising: a rotating mechanism that rotates the pinch roller unit around the axis of the material in a state in which the material feeding roller is moved to the unclamping position. A coiling machine that forms an arc portion by bending a material of a coil spring moved by a material feed roller between a first pin and a second pin,
The coiling machine has a control unit that automates the tip shaping operation of the material,
The control unit
Means for advancing the tip of the material toward the first pin;
Detection means for detecting the position of the tip of the material;
Means for bending the tip portion toward the mandrel by the first pin in a state where the tip portion reaches the first pin;
Means for moving the material feed roller to an unclamping position;
Means for rotating the material about its axis so that the tip of the material faces the groove of the second pin;
Means for moving the material feed roller to a clamping position;
Means for rotating the material feed roller to advance the material to place the tip into the groove of the second pin;
Means for forming a tip side arc portion by bending the tip portion between the first pin and the second pin;
A coiling machine characterized by comprising:   The coiling machine according to claim 3, further comprising means for moving the mandrel between a first position and a second position.   The coiling machine according to claim 3, further comprising means for cutting a scrap portion ahead of the arc portion on the front end side with a cutting tool. In the manufacturing method of the coil spring in which the material of the coil spring moved by the material feed roller is bent in an arc shape between the first pin and the second pin to form an arc portion,
Moving the material towards the material guide;
Detecting the position of the tip of the material,
Bending the tip of the material in a direction approaching the mandrel by a first pin;
Move the material feed roller to the unclamp position,
Rotating the material around its axis so that the tip of the material faces the groove of the second pin,
Moving the material feed roller to a clamping position;
By moving the material by the material feed roller, the tip is placed in the groove of the second pin,
Forming a circular arc on the tip side by bending the material between the first pin and the second pin;
A method of manufacturing a coil spring, comprising cutting a scrap portion ahead of the tip side arc portion with a cutting tool.

Images