US2569962A

US2569962A - Machine for bending plates

Info

Publication number: US2569962A
Application number: US84456A
Authority: US
Inventors: Tinley Ernest Lambert; Cartwright Frank
Original assignee: Bigwood Joshua & Son Ltd
Current assignee: Bigwood Joshua & Son Ltd; Joshua Bigwood & Son Ltd
Priority date: 1948-04-21
Filing date: 1949-03-30
Publication date: 1951-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 1968-10-02

Description

E. L. TlNl EY ET AL MACHINE FOR BENDING PLATES Oct. 2, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 50, 1949 Oct. 2, 1951 E. L. TlNLEY ET AL 2,569,962

MACHINE FOR BENDING PLATES Filed Mamh 30, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 wvsA/rms E $4 Oct. 2, 1951 E. L. TINLEY ET AL MACHINE FOR BENDING PLATES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 30, 1949 l/WEA/TOPS.

1951 E. TINLEY ET AL 2,569,962

MACHINE FOR BENDING PLATES Fi led Mafch so, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 1,2420% QM M 42 Patented Oct. 2, 1951 2,569,962 MACHINE FOR BENDING PLATES Ernest Lambert Tinley and Frank Cartwright, Wolverhampton, England, assignors to Joshua Bigwood & Son, Limited, Wolverhampton, England, a British company Application March 30, 1949, Serial No. 84,456 In Great Britain April 21, 1948 '9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to machines for bending plates, the machine being of the kind comprising three parallel rolls, two of these usually being disposed side by side in spaced relationship, and the third usually being disposed at a higher level midway between th two lower rolls, all the rolls usually being disposed horizontally, and the plate to be bent being passed above the lower two rolls and below theupper roll, the lower part of the periphery of which projects down into the space between the lower rolls. Machines of this kind are commonly used for bending fiat plates into tubular form, and when the operation is complete, in order to remove the work from th rolls itis necessary to move away the supporting bearing at one end of the upper rollso that the work can be removed with an endwise movement.

Owing to the weightof the upper roll and consequent pressure on the supporting hearing at its end, it is not convenient to move the said bearing or bearingsupport away from the roll without first relieving the bearing or bearing support of the pressure due to the weight of the roll, and for this reason it is known to provide the upper roll with an extension at the opposite end; such extension commonly terminating in a ball head which can be acted upon in a downward direction a power-operated slide for the purpose of relieving the bearing or bearing housing at the opposite end of the roll of pressure so as to allow the bearing or hearing housing to be moved away In machines having this provision it is usual to leave the actual bearing on the end of the roll and to mount the bearing housing in a lever pivoted on a horizontal axis at a position below the end of theroll, and means are provided whereby this lever can be swung either by hand operation or power operation so as to move the bearing housing away from the bearing, thus making it possible to remove the work in an endvvisie movement.

Further, in machinesof the kind referred to the upper roll is supported in two. bearings, and provision is made; for raising and lowering these bear'iii'gs, and after the blending of the work has been completed it is the practice first to raise these two bearings and then to operate the slide which presses the ball end of the roll extension downwardly to relieve the pressure on the bearing housing at the opposite end of the roll. The bearing housing is then swung away and the work can be removed.

Further, it is known to operate the slide by mechanical means, such as jacking screws operated by an electric motor, and in practice during the operation of the machine the slide is disposed in spaced relationship above the ball head so that when the motor -is switched on the slide is brought down by the tacking screws into contact with the l ball head. After that position has been reached it is necessary to run the motor for a further short period to produce the downward pressure on the ball head, but there is considerable danger that the motor may be allowed to run for too long a period, producing upward pressure at the opposite end of the roll and making it impossible to remove the bearing housing therefrom.

After the slide has been moved down into contact with the upper side of the ball head there is no further visible movement and it is a matter of trial and error for the operator to determine when to switch oif the motor.

The object of the present invention is to provide improved means to control the motor employed for producing the downward pressure on the ball head, and to eliminate trial and error in this matter so that the pressure on the hearing at the opposite end of the top roll is sufficiently relieved to enable the bearing housing at that end to be removed. The present invention also provides means whereby overrunning of the motor and consequent damage to the machine is avoided.

According to the present invention in a machine of the kind specified an electric control device is provided which operates on the mechanism producing downward pressure on the ball head of the shaft extension of the top roll, the control device comprising a motor switch for stopping the motor driving the said mechanism when the required degree of pressure on the end of the shaft extension has been obtained, such switch being opened by a member which is moved along a path, the opening of the switch taking place 'at the end of the movement of said memher, and said member being automatically set in action by means operated at a given point in the movement of the slide or member which engages the ball head of the shaft extension. Preferably the arrangement is such that the length of the path of movement through which the member which opens the switch moves can be varied.

We may for instance provide a threaded control shaft which is set in action by an electrically operated clutch controlled by a clutch switch which is closed at a selected point in the movement of the slide or member which engages the ball head, the said control shaft having mounted thereon a carriage which incorporates a nut with which the shaft engages. this carriage being prevented from rotating, and consequently moving along the shaft, and being provided with means for operating the motor switch.

The clutch switch may be mounted on the slide or member which engages the end of the shaft, the said switch having an operating member which is displaced when it comes into contact with the shaft so "as to close the switch. Alternatively, the switch may be mounted on a bracket 3 and its operating member may be actuated by a projection on the slide or member which engages the ball head.

In a further alternative the motor switch may be mounted on the carriage which is moved by the control shaft, and the motor switch may be operated by arranging for its operating member to come into contact with an abutment mounted on the frame of the machine.

In a construction in which the motor switch is opened by the carriage on the control screw, the carriagemay be provided with a cam-like portion for engaging the operating 'member of the motor switch.

Further, the carriage may be provided with an indicating arm adapted to cooperate with a mark onan adjustable indicator block so that the initial position of the carriage can be accurately set. Themachine may comprise a driving motor driving jacking means for operating a slide moving transversely to the shaft extension of the top roll and adapted to engage and produce downward pressure upon the ball head of the shaft extension, a threaded control shaft disposed parallel to the shaft of the motor, an electricallyoperated clutch for driving the threaded control shaft, the driving member of the clutch being driven by gearing from the motor shaft, a carriage on the threaded control shaft incorporating a nut which engages the shaft, means to prevent the rotation of the carriage on the shaft, a motor switch, means on the carriage for opening the switch when the carriage reaches the predetermined position, an adjustable indicator block adjustable parallel to the control shaft, an indicator arm on the carriage, and means on the slide for closing a switch in the circuit controlling the electrically-operated clutch, whereby the length of travel of the said carriage from its starting point to the position at which it opens the motor switch can be varied.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation.

Figure 2 is a plan view.

Figure 3 isa part-section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

v Figure 4 is a section on line 4-.4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation showing the control means.

Figure 6 is a section on line 65 of Figure 5.

Figures 1 and 2 are drawn to a smaller section than the remainder of the figures.

In the construction illustrated the machine comprises aframe formed by two pairs of channel-section girders N3, the girders of each pair being arrangedback to back, and these pairs of girders being connected by transverse members ll, I2, which at their upper parts are provided with bearings l3 for the lower rolls l4, l5.

The members H and I2 are provided with vertical parallel guide faces I6 formed at the sides ofarvertical recess, and slidably mounted in the recess in the member I2 is the lower part of a bearing housing Ii for the upper roll. The member l I is similarly constructed and receives the lower part It! of a support IQ for the bearing 20 at the opposite end of the top roll 2|. The bearing 20 incorporates a two-part sleeve 22 enclosed in the bearing housing 23. The part H3 is pivotally connected at 24 to a pin 25 which has a threaded portion 26 on which is a worm wheel 21 adapted to be driven by a worm 45 on a shaft 44. The worm Wheel 21 is mounted on a. 1. 1 1

2B and it is supported in hearings in a three-part box 29,

thrust bearings

30 and 3| being provided between the ends of the box and the worm wheel hub. The arrangement is such that when the worm wheel 21 is driven the pin 25 is raised or lowered for raising or lowering the top roll 2|. The bearing housin I! supporting the top roll 2| at the opposite end is similarly mounted for up and down movement.

The bearing support I9 can be swung down about the axis of the pivot 24, leaving the bearing 20 in position on the top roll. This movement is effected after the work has been completed and the top roll 2| has been raised by raising the bearing supports l! and IS. The bearing support I9 is provided with aportion 32 having slots 33 at the sides which are engaged by trunnions 34 carried by levers 35 pivotally mounted at 36 to a shaft 21 support in lugs 38 on the transverse member H, and the arrangement is such that movement can be imparted to the levers 35 either by hand or bypowers If power operation is required the shaft is pro vided with a quadrant 39 which is adapted to be driven by a pinion 40 on a shaft 4| supported in bearings on the machine frame, the shaft 4| being adapted to be driven by a. motor 42 A further motor 43 is mounted on the machine frame and is adapted to drive through gearing a driving shaft 44 upon which are mounted worms 45 for driving the worm wheels 21 for raising and lowering the bearings of the upper roll 2| In order that the downward pressure on the surface 46 of the bearing support I9 may be relieved to allow the member I9 to be swung downwardly clear of the bearing 20, and in order that the top roll 2| may continue to be supported after the bearing support l9 has been swung down, the top roll 2| is provided with an extension 41 which terminates in a ball head 48. This ball head is adapted to be acted upon by a part-spherical surface 49 on a member 50 which is mounted to slide up and down. The member 50 is mounted upon a horizontal pin 5| carried by twosliding pillars 52 acted upon by screw and nut gear so that the pin 5| can be raised and lowered. The arrangement is such that duringrthe bending of the plate the surface 49 is spaced above the top of the ball head 48 so that the top roll and its extension 41 can be raised by raising the bearing supports VH and I9 after the bending has been completed, The member 5|! is then lowered to engage the upper side of the ball head 48 so as to'relieve the pressure on the surface 46 and to allow the bearing support If; to be swung downwardly, thus permitting the work to be removed with an endwise movement. The upper roll 2| continues to be supported in a horizontal position while the work is being removed, permitting the bearing support H] to be returned to its working position, after which the member 50 is raised, fresh work is inserted between the two lower rolls and the upper. roll, and the bearing supports l1 and I!) are lowered to bring the upper roll into'engagement with the work.

The members 52 are acted upon by screw and. nut gear operated by a motor 53, this motor driving a motor shaft 54 which operates the screw and nut gear.

Brackets 55 are provided on the machine frame, and these brackets carry 'a further bracket 55 on. which is mounted a motor switch :are further'brackets 60,51 and -62, and mounted in these brackets for rotation is ,a threaded con-- :trol .shaftfifi adapted to be coupled by an elec- 'trioallyeoperated clutch 4 to a driving member cfi-suppor=ted in the bracket :66 and connected by gearing 66 to thelmotor shaft .54.

The brackets BI and 62 are provided with upweirdly-projecting arms 51 and .:68 carrying a shaft '59 which is parallel to the control shaft 63. Mounted on the threaded control shaft 263 is a carriage ill. This carriageincorporates a nut which engages "the thread of the shaft, and

"the carriage has an arm H which engages .a spindle 12, carried by the brackets 51 and *62, which is parallel to but offset from the control shaft 63. Thus, the carriage cannot rotate so that when the control shaft 63 is driven the carriage '10 moves along the shaft. The arm 1! is provided with an indicator arm 13 which cooperates which a mark 14 on an adjustable in- :dicator block 215 slidably mounted on the shaft 69 and adapted to be locked thereto by a set screw 16.

The electrically-operated clutch 84 is controlled by a switch 1'! mounted on the member 50 and moving therewith, and this switch is provided with an operating member 18 having a roller 19.

In operation, after a piece of "work has been completed, the bearing supports l1 and I 9 are raised by the means described, and after they have been raised the motor 53 is set in action to cause downward movement ofthe member 5!! until the surface 49 engages the upper surface of the ball head 48. When this position is reached the roller 19 comes into contact with the upper side of the tapering part 80 of the top roll extension l'l, and the switch Tl is closed, causing the electrically-operated clutch 64 to be engaged. The threaded control shaft 63 is then rotated by the gearing 65;, causing the carria e 1!] to move towards the right, as shown in Figure 5, until it comes into engagement with the roller 59 and opens the motor switch 51, thus stopping the motor 53 and arresting any further downward movement of the member 50.

The downward pressure applied to the upper side of the ball head 48 thus depends upon the length of travel of the carriage 1!] between its initial position and the position reached when it opens the motor switch, and this travel can be set to known requirements by adjusting the indicator block 55 along the shaft 69. I

By this means the exact degree of pressure required on the ball head to relieve pressure on the surface as can be obtained after every bending operation, assuming that after each operation the carriage ill is re-set so that its indicating arm is in alignment with the mark 14.

The lower rolls are driven by a driving gear wheel 85 on a motor-driven shaft, this gear wheel engaging further gear wheels 82, one on each of the lower rolls. 1

What we claim now is:

1. In a three-roll sheet metal bending machine of the kind in which a shaft extension at one end of the top roll is acted upon by a p0wer-operated pressing member to relieve pressure on a bearing and its support at the other end of the top roll, the provision of a driving motor for said pressing member, an electric control device for said driving motor comprising a guideway, a car- 1 riage member movable upon said guideway, and means operable to EdIiVB the carriage along the .guideway, said means being coupled -to said driving motor and operating in timed relation thereto, means operable by said carriage memher for stoppingthe driving motor of the pressing member, starting means operable for setting in action the :drivingcmeans for said carriagememher, and means for operating said starting means automatically at a given point in the downward movement of the pressing member.

'2. In a three-roll sheet metal bending machine of the kind in which a shaft extension at one end of the top roll i acted upon by a power-operated pressing member to relieve pressure on a bearing and its support at the other end of the top roll, the provision of a driving motor for said pressing member, an electric control device for said driving motor of said pressing member comprising a guideway, a carriage member movable upon said guideway, means operable to drive the carriage along the guideway, said means being coupled to said driving motor and operating in timed relationship thereto, a motor switch operable by said carriage member at the end of its movement along the guideway to stop the driving motor of the pressing member when the required degree of pressure is applied to the shaft extension, adjustable means for marking a starting position of said carriage member on its guideway, starting means operable for setting in action the driving means for said carriage member, and means for operating said starting means automatically at a given point in the downward movement of the pressing member.

3. In a three-roll sheet metal bending machine of the kind in which a shaft extension at one end of the top roll is acted upon by a power-operated pressing member to relieve pressure on a bearing and its support at the other end of the top roll, the provision of a driving motor for said pressing member, an electric control device for said driving motor comprising a guideway, a carriage member movable upon said guideway, an internally threaded nut on said carriage, a threaded shaft engaging said nut and disposed parallel with the guideway, means for rotating said shaft, said means being coupled to said driving motor and operating in timed relationship thereto, a motor switch operable by said carriage member at the end of its movement along the guideway to stop the driving motor of the pressing member when the required degree of pressure is applied to the shaft extension, starting means operable for setting in action the rotation of said shaft, and means for operating said starting means automatically at a given point in the downward movement of the pressing memher.

4. In a three-roll sheet metal bending machine of the kind in which a shaft extension at one end of the top roll is acted upon by a poweroperated pressing member to relieve pressure on a bearing and its support at the other end of the top roll, the provision of a driving motor for said pressing member, an electrical control device for said driving motor comprising a guideway, a carriage member movable upon said guideway, an internally threaded nut on said carriage, a threaded shaft engaging said nut and disposed parallel with the guideway, means for rotating said shaft, said means being coupled to said driving motor and operating in timed relationship thereto, a motor switch operable by said carriage member at the end of its movement along the guideway to stop the driving motor of the pressing member when the required degree of pressure is applied to the shaft extension, adjustable means for marking a starting position of said carriage member on its guideway, starting means Operable for setting in action the rotation of said threaded shaft, said starting means beingautomatically operable at a given point in the downward movement of said pressing member.

5. In a three-roll sheet metal bending machine of the kind in which a shaft extension at one end of the top roll is acted upon by a power-operated pressing member to relieve pressure on a bearing and its support at the other end of the top roll,

the provision of a driving motor for said pressing member, an electric control device for said driving motor comprising a guideway, a carriage member movable upon said guideway, an internally threaded nut on said carriage, a threaded shaft engaging said nut and disposed parallel with the said guideway, means for rotating said shaft, said means being coupled to said driving motor and operating in timed relationship thereto, a cam-like portion on said carriage, a motor switch, an operating member on said switch actuatable by said cam-like portion of the carriage to open the switch at the end of the movement of the carriage and stop the driving motor of the pressing member when the required degree of pressure is applied to the shaft extension, adjustable means for marking a starting position of said carriage member on its guide- Way, starting means operable for setting in action the rotation of said threaded shaft and means for operating said starting mean automatically at a given point in the downward movement of the pressure member.

6. In a three-r011 sheet metal bending machine of the kind in which a shaft extension at one end of the top roll is acted upon by a power-operated pressing member to relieve pressure on a bearing and its support at the other end of the top roll, the provision of a driving motor for said pressing member, an electric control device for said driving motor comprising a guideway, a carriage member movable upon said guideway, and means operable to drive the carriage along the guideway, said means being coupled to said driving motor and operating in timed relationship thereto, means operable by said carriage member for stopping the driving motor of the pressing member, an indicator block adjacent said guideway adjustable parallel thereto, and a datum mark on said block, an indicator arm on said carriage alignable with said datum mark, whereby the starting position of said carriage can be accurately set and the distance between said datum mark and the means for stopping the driving motor can be varied, starting meansoperable for setting in action the driving means for said carriage member, and means for operating said starting means automatically at a given point in the downward movement of the pressing member. 7

7. In a three-roll sheet metal bending machine of the kind in which a shaft extension at one end of the top roll is acted upon by a power-operated pressing member to relieve pressure on a bearing and its support at the other end of the top roll, the provision of a driving motor for said pressing member, an electric control device for said driving motor comprising a guideway, a carriage member movable upon said guideway, an internally threaded nut on said carriage, a threaded shaft engaging said nut'and disposed parallel with said guideway, a motor switch operable by said carriage member to stop the driving motor of the pressing member, electrically operable clutch means for drivably connecting said threaded shaft with said driving motor, switch means closable to effect engagement of said clutch and means for closing said switch means at a given point in the downward movement of the pressing member.

8. In a three-roll sheet metal bending machine of the kind in which a shaft extension at one end of the top roll is acted upon by a power-operated pressing member to relieve pressure on a bearing and its support at the other end of the top roll, the provision of a driving motor for said pressing member, an electric control device for said driving motor comprising a guideway, a carriage member movable upon said guideway, an internally threaded nut on said carriage, a threaded shaft engaging said nut and disposed parallel with said guideway, a motor switch operable by said carriage member to stop the driving motor of the pressing member, electrically operable clutch means for drivably connecting said threaded shaft with said driving motor, switch means on'the pressing member closable to effect engagement of said clutch and an operating member for said switch means on said pressing member actuatable b contact with the shaft extension during the downward movement of the pressing member;

9; In a three-roll sheet metal bending machine of the kind in which a shaft extension at one end of the top roll is acted upon by a power-operated pressing member to relieve pressure on a bearing and its support at the other end of the top roll, the provision of a driving motor for said pressing member, an electric control device for said driving motor comprising a guideway, a carriage member movable upon said guideway, an internally threaded nut on'said carriage, a threaded shaft engaging said nut and disposed parallel with said guideway, a cam-like portion on said carriage, a motor switch, an operating member on said switch, actuatable by said cam-like portion of the carriage to open the switch and stop the motor driving the pressing member, electrically operable clutch means for drivably connecting said threaded shaft with said driving motor,

switch means on the pressing member closable to effect engagement of said clutch and an operating member for said switch means thereupon actuatable by contact with and displacement by the shaft extension during the downward movement of the pressing member, an indicator block adjacent said guideway adjustable parallel thereto and a datum mark on said block, an indicator arm on said carriage alignable with said datum mark whereby the starting position of said carriage can be accurately set, and the distance between said datum mark and the motor switch can be varied by adjustment of the block, to vary the amountof travel of said carriage and produce a required degree of pressure by the pressing member on the shaft extension. 7

ERNEST LAMBERT TINLEY. FRANK CARTWRIGHT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file of this patent: l

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 549,317 Germany Apr. 26, 1932 554,363 Germany July 8, 1932