TW201532715A - Bar feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the present invention, the bar feeder for feeding longitudinal bars to and/or from a processing machine comprises a moveable pusher (3), which is connectable to a bar (1), and a drive unit (5) for moving the pusher (3) subject to a predetermined required movement of the pusher. The pusher (3) is coupled with the drive unit (5) by a float mount (6), which comprises at least one attenuator (7) for dampening a relative movement between the pusher (39 and the drive unit (5).

Description

Bar feed device

The present invention relates to a bar feeding device for feeding a long/longitudinal bar to a processing machine such as a lathe, the bar feeding device moving synchronously with the processor.

When a conventional processing machine is used to further process a longitudinal bar such as a metal bar, the bar is fastened to the headstock, and the tool for processing the bar is fixed. The headstock can be moved towards the axial direction of the bar to position the bar for further processing of the bar, which can also be rotated to achieve the desired number of revolutions per minute. Therefore, each bar moves back and forth according to its rotation from the axial direction, by only a few millimeters along the axial direction of the bar.

The bar is conveyed by the bar material feed to the processor. To this end, the bar feed device needs to know where the bar is currently located to perform its task. Therefore, the push rod of the bar feeding device is provided with a rotating finger grip in which the bar is inserted and firmly held in the finger grip. As a result, the pusher must replicate the same motion as the bar to prevent loss of control of the bar when moving forward and to prevent damage to the bar when moving backwards. In order to effectively replicate the axial movement, the push rod is driven by mechanically being attached to the headstock to provide mechanical Synchronization, or by measuring the device to measure the movement of the headstock, and indicating the drive of the pusher (the drive is typically a servo drive) to move the same distance and direction to provide an electronic synchronization.

EP 0 559 586 discloses a bar feed device for a lathe comprising a bar guide and a pusher mounted thereon such that the bar guide can slide within the pusher. A first end of the flexible cable is secured to the push rod and a second end is secured in the alternate cable conduit. The cable is guided in a u-shape around the pulley and the surface of the pulley is pressed or released by the roller pulley, which is driven by the motor and the hysteresis coupler according to the respective positions of the push rod or bar. GB 1471045 discloses a bar feed device that uses a servo drive to control the chain connector between the push rod and the bar. The push rod can be detachably coupled to the bar grip by a preload spring.

Mechanical synchronization can hardly be counteracted by the movement of the headstock and the copying of the movement to the pusher position, nor the ramping of acceleration or deceleration, or the fine tuning torque applied to the bar to maintain a slight pulling force. In addition, more time is required for the engagement and separation of the catch during the production cycle. The servo drive can completely control the accuracy, speed and fluency of the positioning of the bar. However, the disadvantage is that it must rely on external measuring equipment to understand the distance and direction to be moved, thus increasing the error behind it for accurate positioning. The offset between the current motor position of the stator and the position that will be reached will always change with the new information. This causes a delay in the reaction time of the motor when the material is compressed or pulled away, thus increasing the risk of failure, especially for small bars.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bar feed apparatus and bar processing system that provides an improvement in relative movement control between the bar and the processing machine that allows for rapid production cycles in which the bar is Maintains a slight tension during processing, increases the accuracy of the bar position, and simplifies the bar operation during processing, which is easy to install and easy to control.

These and other objects are achieved by a bar feed device and a bar processing system, as in the independent claims 1 and 11. Advantageous features and preferred embodiments of the bar feed device and bar processing system according to the present invention are disclosed in the accompanying claims.

A bar feed device for transporting long/longitudinal bars to and/or from a processing machine according to the invention, comprising a movable pusher that transports the bar to and/or from the processing machine, And a drive unit for moving the push rod, which is controlled by the desired movement of the push rod. The pusher can be attached to the bar from or not to the bar so that the bar can follow the movement of the pusher. Preferably, the pusher is elongate and includes a first end rotatably coupled to the bar. Thus the bar can be attached to the push rod to align with the longitudinal axis of the push rod. The predetermined movement of the pusher can be used to transport the bar to the processing machine or to remove the bar from the processing machine. Moreover, the predetermined motion can also be defined from movement to adjust the position of the push rod relative to the processing machine when the bar is delivered to the machine and particularly when the bar is machine processed. The push rod is coupled to a drive unit that substantially drives the push rod axially toward and away from the processing machine along the push rod. The push rod is equipped with a drive unit by a float. It includes at least one attenuator for attenuating or delaying relative movement between the push rod and the drive unit. Such relative movement is such that the push rod and drive unit are, for example, a predetermined movement of the push rod, or some unexpected deviation produced when the rod is subjected to a particular movement process.

The bar feed device is advantageously used in a bar processing system equipped with a processing machine comprising a fastener for receiving a bar, such as a headstock, which is fastened for movement and/or rotation for processing in a processing machine The bar. The push rod of the bar feed device is aligned with the fastener and is coupled to the fastener by movement of the bar and is designed to cooperate with the movement of the fastener (2) by being processed by the machine to be processed Bar. The connection between the bar and the pusher is releasable, such as a clamp connection of a finger grip. When the pusher is attached to the bar, the pusher performs the same motion as the bar and vice versa. For example, when a pusher pushes a bar into a processing machine, or the pusher is pushed by a bar, it is itself driven by a processing machine, such as a fastener.

As described above, a processing machine, such as a lathe, is provided with a bar slidably and rotatably to allow the bar to be machined by a stationary tool of the processing machine. The push rod connected to the bar rotates according to the movement of the bar. This movement is first absorbed from at least one attenuator of the float. This movement can then be transferred to the drive unit. The delay time of the pusher movement can be utilized by the drive unit to reflect the movement of the bar and to drive the pusher, depending on the desired motion, such as correcting the position of the pusher, tightening or compressing the bar, when the bar It is when the fastener is fastened, or even the bar is transported or removed from the processing machine. This delay time delays the movement of the bar relative to the drive unit of the bar feed device. and This delay provides time for the drive unit to react to the movement of the bar. Therefore, the bar feeding device and the bar processing unit according to the present invention allow accurate control of the driving of the pusher of the device for correct processing of the bar. They allow fine-tuning of the push rod position relative to the processing machine and drive unit, but do not destroy the bar, the processing machine or the bar feed device, and the time-consuming separation of the bar from the jig.

The float of the bar feed device is preferably designed for the floating movement of the push rod relative to the drive unit of the push rod, which is axially oriented. Preferably, the push rod and the drive unit are fixedly mounted relative to each other in the direction of rotation and the axial direction of the push rod. This means that the float allows a floating movement direction between the push rod and the drive unit in the direction of the axial direction of the push rod. This ensures that the push rod can be precisely guided relative to the drive unit and the processing machine.

In one embodiment, the attenuator is designed as at least one mechanical spring, in particular a helical spring. Alternatively, for example, a hydraulic attenuator can also be used. However, mechanical springs provide a bar feed device that is structurally simple. Typically the total spring constant of the at least one mechanical spring depends on the force applied to the bar and the speed at which the bar is machined.

For example, the coil spring is disposed around an extension portion that extends either in the push rod or in the drive unit, in the direction of movement of the push rod. The coil spring is disposed at the first portion of the extended portion, and the second portion is automatically disposed at the opposite portion of the front or the push rod or the driving unit (for example, if the spring extends on the push rod at an extended portion thereof, the second portion will automatically The drive unit is selected, which does not include the extension. The spring will be compressed or stretched between the first and second portions as the pusher moves toward the drive unit relative to within the float.

In one embodiment, the float includes a stop abutting between the push rod and the drive unit at respective first and second end positions in respective axial directions. In the end position, the force of the drive unit or the processing machine at the push rod is not buffered or slowed down because of direct contact in the respective directions. This allows for rapid transfer of forces on the push rod and the bar, for example, when the bar is delivered to or removed from the processing machine. The floating range of the float can be defined by the choice of a particular spring constant to which a particular maximum force is applied or by the processing machine or drive unit. Alternatively, the range can be defined by a floating frame designed to be geometric. For example, the stop of the float as above may limit the range of float within the float. The stop can be designed as an abutment step, blocking the wall or other in the drive unit.

In one embodiment, the float of the bar feed device according to the invention comprises an elongate member that can be coupled, for example, to the drive unit. The elongated member includes at least one slot, which may be a through hole or a blind hole. Moreover, the float includes at least one pin, for example extending from the push rod, and the pin is slidably disposed in the slot. Therefore, the number of pins is as much as the slot. The at least one slot extends downwardly toward the direction of movement of the push rod relative to the drive unit. Therefore, the pin that penetrates the slot can move from one end to the other along the length of the slot. And one side of the slot is used to define a guide pin in the direction of movement of the push rod.

In another embodiment, the float of the bar feed device according to the present invention includes a longitudinal inner portion and a sleeve-like outer portion. The inner portion can be coupled to the drive unit and the outer portion can be coupled to the push rod or vice versa. The outer portion slidably receives the inner portion. Preferably, the inner portion extends Outside of at least one end of the outer portion. The at least one attenuator is disposed between the inner portion and the outer portion. The attenuator is, for example, an abutting wall disposed in the inner portion and an opposite abutting wall in the outer portion. The attenuator thus slows the movement of the walls relative to each other. Preferably, the attenuator is realized by at least one helical spring disposed between the abutting wall of the inner portion and the opposite abutting wall of the outer portion. The coil spring may be disposed within the outer portion or may be disposed at an extended end of the inner portion.

The drive unit of the bar feed device can be a servo drive or a mechanical drive, which is commonly used for bar feed devices or combinations thereof. A control unit can be provided for moving the drive unit in synchronism with each other to drive the push rod and the fastener of the processing machine. Advantageously, the delay time caused by the mitigating motion as described above is utilized by the control unit for synchronizing the mobile drive unit and the fasteners with each other. In addition, sensor units can be provided for measuring the position of the push rod and the fastener, respectively. At the same time, the sensor unit can provide a position signal to the control unit or directly to the drive unit or to the processing machine for controlling a production position in which the bar is processed by the machine.

In a preferred embodiment, in accordance with the bar processing system of the present invention, the drive unit is controlled such that when the bar is in the production position, the pusher is in the intermediate position of the float, in the first and second end positions between. In the intermediate position, the attenuator can be pre-compressed in the axial direction of the push rod. In the intermediate position, the push rod can be deflected the same distance within the float, in one and its opposite axial directions. Thereby the deviation of a correct production position can be easily and quickly adjusted by the push rod movement, which is guided from the drive unit.

1‧‧‧Bar

2‧‧‧fasteners

3‧‧‧Active longitudinal putter

4‧‧‧ finger grip

5‧‧‧ drive unit

6‧‧‧Floating frame

7‧‧‧Attenuator

8‧‧‧Slim components

9‧‧‧Protruding

10‧‧‧ first

11‧‧‧ Second

12‧‧‧Department

13‧‧‧Slots

14‧‧ ‧ sales

15‧‧‧Snail

16‧‧‧First stop

17‧‧‧Second stop

The example embodiments of the present invention are shown in the following drawings, which are merely illustrative and not restrictive. Features of the present invention will become apparent from the drawings, and should be considered as a part of the present disclosure, either in its own or in any combination. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of a bar processing system according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2a-b are schematic views showing an example of a bar feeding device according to the present invention in a first position and a second position, and 3a-c An example of a bar feed device according to the present invention is a longitudinal cut view of a first position (Fig. 3a), a second position (Fig. 3b) and a third position (Fig. 3c).

An important part of an example of a bar processing system in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. The bar 1 is fixed to a fastener 2 of a bar processing machine, such as a headstock. Other details of the bar processing machine can be designed to be generally known and therefore not shown in the figures. Basically the processing machine can be operated as a lathe, including rotationally driving a fastener for rotating the fastening bar. And the bar processing machine can include one or more tools for processing the bar to the final or intermediate product. For example, it may be provided with a grinding machine, a grinding tool or the like.

This bar 1 is held by a bar feeding device. The bar feeding device comprises a movable longitudinal push rod 3, one end of which comprises a finger grip 4 connected to one end of the bar 1. The pusher 3 and the bar 1 are aligned along a common axis. The finger grip 4 is enclosed in a conventional manner The rest of the push rod is wound so that the finger grip 4 rotates with the bar 1 and the push bar does not rotate with it. In addition to the finger grip, any other suitable connection can be used to couple the bar 1 around the push rod 3. Moreover, the bar feeding device comprises a drive unit for moving the push rod 3, which is controlled by a predetermined desired movement of the push rod. The drive unit 5 is a conventional servo drive coupled to the push rod 3 to urge the push rod in the axial direction of the push rod. According to the invention, the push rod 3 is coupled to the drive unit 5 by means of a float 6, which comprises at least one attenuator 7 for slowing the relative movement between the push rod 3 and the drive unit 5. As shown in Figure 1, the drive unit 5 comprises an elongate/longitudinal member 8, such as a rod or sleeve, which receives the projection 9 of the push rod 3 by a floating movement, for example in the groove of the elongate member. The elongate member is shown in the form of a coil spring of a coil spring arranged in a first portion 10 of the elongate member 8 and a second portion 11 of the push rod projection 9.

The bar 1 is moved in the axial direction by the fastener 2 as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, for example by processing the bar by means of a tool of a processing machine. This axial movement is transmitted to the push rod 3, which is moved in the axial direction of the elongate member 8, and the projection 9 floats within the elongate member 8.

Figures 2a and 2b show the function of the different positions of the bar feed device. In Figure 2a, for example, the bar is conveyed by a bar feed device to a processing machine and fasteners, respectively. The drive unit 5 pushes the elongated element 8 forward toward the processing machine. The projection begins to slide inside the float until it stops at the stop 12 of the elongate member 8. At this point, the projection 9 abuts the first end position of the elongate member 8 within the float. So the push The rod 3 is pushed directly forward towards the drive unit 5. The attenuator 7 is stretched and pulled apart on the push rod 3. The same can also occur when the pusher pulls the bar out of the fastener of the processing machine and the processing is completed. In this case, the second portion 11 abuts against the first portion 12 and substantially compresses the attenuator 7.

Figure 2b shows the pusher 3 and the drive unit 5 in a production position wherein the bar 1 is set to be ready for processing. In this position, the float substantially holds the projection 9 in the middle of the slot of the elongate member 8. The projection thus can be moved in two different axial directions when processing the bar 1. An axial machining movement of the bar causes a deviation in the projections 9 in the elongated element 8. However, this movement is slowed by the attenuator 7 relative to the drive unit 5, which results in a delay time for a moving force to be delivered to the drive unit 5. At this delay time, the drive unit can adjust the position of the elongate member 8 to return the projection 9 back into the middle of the slot of the elongate member 8.

The float 6 between the drive unit 5 and the push rod 3 allows the servomotor to have a short time to react to the movement of the bar. The float 6 temporarily compensates for the reaction time of the drive unit 5, by allowing the drive unit 5 to reach the new position even if the pusher 3 is moved according to the new position of the bar 1. Moreover, the float 6 allows the drive unit 5 to pull the bar forward or backward, measuring the torque of the attenuator 7, and adjusting the float or the elongate member 8 respectively when the bar 1 is fully pulled or pushed. This effectively protects the bar 1 from being excessively pulled, broken or overdriven. Moreover, by varying the size and component design of the float, it is easy to adjust the bar feed to accommodate different bars having different stiffness or different lengths.

Figures 3a to 3c show examples of partial construction of the bar feed device with respect to the function of the float 6. The same components are given the same reference numerals as described in FIG. 2. The elongated element 8 comprises two slots 13 . The push rod 3 is connected to the projection 9 by two screws, which extend from the projection 9 as a radial direction of the pin 14 toward the push rod 3. Moreover, another screw extends to the longitudinal direction of the elongated member 8, such as the bolt 15, including the first portion 10. The second portion 11 is connected to the projection 9 and extends in a radial direction. The second portion 11 includes a through hole slidably receiving the bolt 15. Thus, the bolt 15 extends from the elongated element 8 to the second portion 11. An attenuator in the form of a coil spring 7 is wound around the bolt 15 between the first portion 10 and the second portion 11. In order to mount the coil spring, the spring 7 is threaded onto the bolt 15, and the bolt 15 is inserted into the through hole and screwed into the elongated member 8.

The slots 13 are moved relative to each other in accordance with the direction in which the push rods and the drive unit move. The slot 13 and the pin 14 together form a float. Each slot includes a first stop 16 at one end of the slot and a second stop 17 at the other opposite end of the slot. The stops 16, 17 stop the pin from floating in the first and second end positions in the slot 13. The distance between the first stopper 16 and the second stopper 17 is smaller than the distance between the first portion 10 and the second portion 11. Therefore, the stoppers 16, 17 limit the floating range of the float 6.

In Figure 3a, the bar feed device is in a propelled position. The drive unit 5 pushes the pusher 3 to advance in a longitudinal direction to the processing machine, for example into the fastener of the machine. The pin 14 abuts the first stop 16 to transfer the push motion of the push rod. The coil spring 7 is in a stretched state.

In Figure 3b, the bar feed device is in a pulled back position. The drive unit 5 pulls the pusher 3 back, for example pulling the bar away from the processing machine. The pin 14 abuts the second stop 17 to convey the pull-out movement of the push rod 3. The coil spring 7 is in a compressed state.

In Figure 3c, the bar feed device is in a production position. The latch 14 is disposed in the middle of the slot 13, and the coil spring 13 is preferably in a relaxed state. In the production position, the pusher can maintain the axial movement of the bar as well as following the bar. This movement is transmitted to the portion 11, which acts on the coil spring 7, causing the motion to be attenuated.

The delay time of the transfer movement is used by the drive unit to adjust the float by axially moving the elongate member 8 so that the pin 14 returns to the intermediate position of the slot 13. If the condition is required to process the bar, the bar can be tensioned by the force of the coil spring 7. To this end, the elongate member 8 is disposed relative to the second portion 11 such that the coil spring exerts a force on the first portion 10 with a transmission force above the push rod 3.

1‧‧‧Bar

2‧‧‧fasteners

3‧‧‧Active longitudinal putter

4‧‧‧ finger grip

5‧‧‧ drive unit

6‧‧‧Floating frame

7‧‧‧Attenuator

8‧‧‧Slim components

9‧‧‧Protruding

10‧‧‧ first

11‧‧‧ Second

Claims (11)

A bar feed device for feeding an elongated/longitudinal bar from and/or to a processing machine, the bar feed device comprising a movable push rod (3) connected to the bar (1) And a drive unit (5) for propelling the push rod (3), the drive unit being controlled by a predetermined desired movement of the push rod, characterized in that the push rod (3) is transmitted through a float (6) The drive unit (5) is provided comprising at least one attenuator (7) for attenuating the relative movement between the push rod (3) and the drive unit (5). A bar feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the floating frame (6) is a floating movement designed for the push rod (3) with respect to the driving unit (5) in an axial direction of the push rod. A bar feeding device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the floating frame (6) is designed such that the push rod and the driving unit (5) are fixedly mounted in a rotating direction with respect to each other, and the push rod (3) The radial direction. A bar feed device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the attenuator (7) is designed as at least one mechanical spring, in particular a helical spring. The bar feeding device of claim 4, wherein the at least one coil spring is disposed to surround an extension portion (15), and the first spiral is a push rod extending from the push rod (3) or the driving unit (5) When moving in the direction, the second spiral will automatically extend around the other, wherein the helical spring will be disposed between the first portion (10) and the second portion (11) of the extended portion. A bar feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the floating frame includes a stopper abutting between the push rod and the driving unit, and the respective axes at the first and second end positions Direction. A bar feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the float (6) comprises an elongate/longitudinal member (8) having at least one slot (13), and at least one pin (14) It is slidably disposed in the slot, wherein the at least one slot extends downwardly toward the direction of movement of the push rod (3) relative to the drive unit (5). A bar feed device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the drive unit (5) comprises a servo drive. A bar processing system comprising a bar feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and a processing machine, wherein the processing machine comprises a fixing member (2) for receiving a bar (1), Moving and/or rotating to machine the bar (1), and wherein the push rod (3) of the bar feeding device is aligned with the fixing member (2) and designed to cooperate with the movement of the fixing member (2) Bar (1) to be processed by the processing machine. A bar processing system according to claim 9, wherein a control unit is provided for synchronously moving the drive unit and the fixing member relative to each other. A bar processing system according to claim 10, wherein the drive unit is controlled such that when in the production position for processing the bar, the pusher (3) is at an intermediate position (6) of the float, which lies in Between the first and second end positions.