US3314258A - Wipe and stretch forming machine with rise and fall of stretch head controlled by rise and fall of wipe shoe - Google Patents

Description

April 18, 1967 WIPE AND STRETCH FORMING MACHINE WITH RISE AND FALL OF STRETCH HEAD CONTROLLED BY RISE AND FALL OF WIPE SHOE Filed Dec. 7, 1964 s. M. DOLNEY 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 WIPE AND STRETCH FORMING MACHINE WITH RISE AND FALL OF STRETCH HEAD CONTROLLED BY RISE AND FALL OF WIPE SHOE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 7, 1964 v n R I M W N R @Q 5 m k MN \& v T 0 {MN m A Q N\ hw/ mu mm 7 vh W \M m 6 Mn mm M Rh m N 1 mm M N @N W \N\\ III.

A nl 18, 1967 s. M. DOLNEY 3,314,258

WIPE AND STRETCH FORMING MACHINE WITH RISE AND FALL OF STRETCH HEAD CONTROLLED BY RISE AND FALL OF WIPE SHOE Filed Dec. '7, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 f ATTORN EY- April 18, 1967 s. M. DOLNEY WIPE AND STRETCH FORMING MACHINE WITH RISE AND FALL OF STRETCH HEAD CONTROLLED BY RISE AND FALL OF WIPE SHOE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec.

Apnl 18, 1967 s. M. DGLNEY WIPE AND STRETCH FORMING MACHINE WITH RISE AND FALL OF STRETCH HEAD CONTROLLED BY RISE AND FALL OF WIPE SHOE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 7, 1964 I.NVENTOR I@%/ A AT TORNE Y.

United States Patent ()fiice 3,314,258 WIPE AND STRETCH FORMING MACHINE WITH RISE AND FALL F STRETCH HEAD CON- TROLLED BY RISE AND FALL OF WIPE SHOE Stanley M. Dolney, Parma, Ohio, assignor to The Cyril Bath Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Dec. 7, 1964, Ser. No. 416,306 Claims. (Cl. 72-21) This invention relates to an improvement in combined stretch forming and wipe forming machines of the type wherein a length of metal stock, while held under tension above its elastic limit, is wrapped onto the side face of the die while concurrently pressed against the side face by means of a wipe shoe.

Many operations of this character require a die having a forming face with a contour which rises and falls in a direction axially of the die progressively along the peripheral length of the face. Common types of dies of this character are those having irregular spiral and sinusoidal forming faces. With dies of this character, the wipe shoe, While pressing the metal against the die face, causes the metal to conform in cross section to the cross section of the face. Thereby the wipe shoe is caused by the die to move axially of the die during its relative movement peripherally of the die.

In accordance with the present invention, more desirable results can be obtained by making the stretch head a slave to the wipe shoe, insofar as movement axially of the die is concerned, to an extent that the head rises and falls in proportional relations to the rise and fall of the wipe shoe, respectively. This proportional relation may be direct, with the rise and fall of the head and shoe being equal. The stretch head can be maintained at substantially the level of the wipe shoe, or with a predetermined lead or lag relative to the axial movement of the wipe shoe.

The invention is shown for purposes of illustration as incorporated in a combined stretch and wipe forming machine of the type generally described in the Dolney and Hein United States Letters Patent No. 2,810,421, issued Oct. 22,1957, and employing a stretch head carriage of the type disclosed in the Cyril 1. Bath United States Letters Patent No. 3,052,119, issued Sept. 4, 1962, its use for other stretch forming machines being apparent from the illustrative example.

Various other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description wherein reference is made to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a stretch forming machine embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the machine illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the stretch head as viewed from line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the machine showing the wipe forming shoe as viewed from the line 5-5 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the connection of the transducers employed for control in the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the control for the stretch forming assembly;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the control for the traversing of the wipe forming assembly.

The stretch and wipe forming machine comprises a horizontal frame 1 on which is mounted an upright post ,i4,258 Patented Apr. 18, 1957 2 on which a turntable 3 is mounted for rotation about an upright axis. A side face die 4, which in the form illustrated has a spiral forming face 4a of non-planar cross section, is mounted on the turntable 3 for rotation therewith. The turntable is driven by suitable power means, such as electric motors 5 operating through suitable speed reducers 6 having driving gears 7 in mesh with a driving ring gear 8 fixedly secured to the underside of the table and coaxial therewith.

A suitable clamp 9 is carried by the table, preferably on the die 4 for clamping one end of a length of stock S to be stretched and wiped about the side face 4a.

For tensioning the stock above its elastic limit, a carriage 10 is antifrictionally supported on the frame 1 by suitable rollers 11. The carriage 10 is connected by a connector 12 to a piston and cylinder assemblage 13. In the form illustrated, the assemblage comprises a cylinder 14 connected to the connector 12, and a suitable double rod piston 15 mounted in the cylinder with its rod extending beyond the opposite ends of the cylinder. The ends of the rod 16 are secured to the frame 1. Pressure fluid is supplied to the cylinder at opposite sides of the piston 15, selectively, through suitable bores in the piston rod 16. The pressure fluid is supplied by a suitable pump 17, driven by a motor 18, through a suitable solenoid operated reversing and stop valve 19.

A stretch forming arm 20 is carried on the carriage and is mounted for swiveling about the axis of a post 21. At its outer end the arm 20 carries a support 22 for a stretch forming gripping head.

In accordance with the present invention, an adapter 23 is mounted for vertical movement in a suitable dovetail guideway 24 on the outer face of the sup-port 22. Mounted on the adapter 23 is a stretch forming head 25 having the conventional power operated gripping jaws therein for gripping an end of the stock to be stretched.

The adapter 23 is raised and lowered by means of a reversible piston and cylinder assemblage 26 comprising a cylinder 27 with a piston 28 reciprocable therein. The piston has a rod 29 connected to the adapter 23. Other power means may be used, if desired, to raise and lower the adapter 23 and thereby the stretch head 25.

Mounted on a side extension 30 of the frame 1, for movement therealong generally parallel to the path of the carriage 10 so as to pass generally tangent to the table 3 is a wipe shoe carriage 31. The carriage 31 is connected to the reversible piston and cylinder assemblage 32 which comprises a cylinder 33 having a piston 34 therein. The piston has a double rod 35 which extends from the piston beyond the opposite ends of the cylinders 33. The outer ends of the rod 35 are connected fixedly to the frame 30. Reciprocation of the carriage 31 on the frame 30 in a path generally tangent to the table is effected by means of hydraulic pressure supplied to the assemblage 32 by a pump 36 driven by a motor 37. The output side of the pump is connected to a solenoid operated stop and reversing valve 38 having its reversible outlet 39 connected to the opposite ends of the piston rod 35, respectively. The rod 35 has internal ducts opening into the cylinder 33 adjacent the opposite sides of the piston 34, respectively. Thus the carriage 36 can be reciprocated along the side face of the die independently of the operation and position of the stretch forming head.

Mounted on the carriage 31 is a wipe shoe applying assemblage comprising a slide 40 slidable on the carriage 31 in a direction generally transversely of the path of reciprocation of the carriage toward and away from the die 4. Pivotally mounted on the slide 40 on an upright pivot 41 is a wipe shoe carrier 42.

A pair of piston and cylinder assemblages 43 including cylinders 44 and pistons 45 with rods 46 are provided. The cylinders are connected to the carriage 31 by pivots 47 for swinging about upright axes. The rods .6 are pivotally connected to a suitable cross arm 48 rigid with the wipe shoe carriage 42. These piston and cylinder assemblages can be operated concurrently or independently. \Vhen operated concurrently they urge the carrier 42 to ward the side face of the die. They are connected in parallel, so that the carrier can rock about its pivot 41 to permit the shoe thereon to adjust itself into tangential relation to the die face. If operated individually, they can cause rocking of the shoe carriage pivot 41. The outer end of the carrier 42 has a pedestal 50 on which is mounted a support 51 for a wipe shoe. The pedestal t and support 51 are connected by vertical dovetail guides 52 so that the support can move vertically. Mounted on the support 51 is a wipe shoe 54, which, as shown, has a contoured face of cross section complementary to the cross section of the forming face 4:2. It is apparent that when the shoe is urged against the stock with yielding pressure while the die is rotating, the shoe will be interlocked with the forming face 4:: and thereby caused to rise and fall as dictated by the forming face of the die.

As mentioned, the stretch forming assemblage is controlled in its movement axially of the die, or its rise and fall, by the movement, or rise and fall, of the wipe shoe axially of the die.

For this purpose suitable sensing means, indicated at 55, are connected to the wipe shoe 54 for sensing the vertical position thereof. In the form illustrated, this means comprises a linear potentiometer 56, having its coils 57 connected fixedly to the pedestal and having a solenoid core or plunger 58 connected by a rod 59 to the shoe support 51. Thus the shoe 54 rises and falls, and a signal is developed by the potentiometer 56. As best illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 7, a corresponding sensing device, such as the potentiometer 60 is provided. The potentiometer 60 has a coil 61 connected in fixed relation to the support 22. The potentiometer 60 has a plunger 62 with a rod 63 connected to the adapter 23.

As best illustrated in FIG. 7, the potentiometers are preferably connected together in a null circuit. Thus, as illustrated, the potentiometer coils are connected in parallel with each other and the parallel circuit is connected to the terminals of an input power supply. The output signal terminals 67 and 68, respectively, are connected to the terminals of an amplifier and power supply 69. If desired, adjustable resistors 70 and 71 may be connected between the coils 57 and 61 and their connections to the amplifier 69. The potentiometer is operated, as mentioned, in accordance with the movements of the wipe shoe 54. Since it is in null circuit with the potentiometer 60, any change in the relative vertical positions of the stretch head and wipe shoe produces a signal. The output of the amplifying and power supply unit 69 is connected to, and controls, a reversible torque motor 72 which operates a stop and reversing servo valve 73. The valve 73 has a pair of reversible ports for supplying pressure fluid to the reversible piston and cylinder assemblage 26 through pipe lines 74 and 75, respectively. The torque motor is driven in reverse direction in response to the power output from power supply 69. When the wipe shoe changes the setting of the potentiometer 55, the null circuit becomes unbalanced and the torque motor is rendered operative to move the servo valve 73 so as to admit pressure fluid to the proper end of the piston and cylinder assemblage 26, for raising or lowering the stretching head 24 in accordance with the rise or fall of the wipe shoe. The raising and lowering of the head 24, however, operates the potentiometer 60, and continues operating until the null circuit is restored.

It may be desired in some cases to have a lead or a lag in the rise and fall of the head and shoe. For this purpose, the adjustable resistors 70' and 71 are provided to provide a different balance in the circuit, if desired.

Pressure fluid is supplied to the servo valve 73 by means of a pump 75 driven by a motor 76.

It is apparent that, during the operation of the machine, the die 4 is rotated by the table 3 and tension is applied to the stock S to tension the stock above the elastic limit as it is wrapped on the side face of the die. During this operation, the wipe shoe 54 is pressed against the stock, forcing it to conform in cross section to the cross section of the side face of the die. It is thus constrained to rise and fall in a direction axially of the die in accordance with the rise and fall of the forming face of the die axially of the die. As it rises and falls, this is immediately reflected by its potentiometer 55. Thereupon the null circuit becomes unbalanced and operative to operate the torque motor 72 and thereby the servo valve 73 to operate, in turn, the assemblage 26 for moving the stretch head in a direction to' restore the balance of the null circuit. The restoration is effected by moving the head in the direction in which the wipe shoe has been moved. With this arrangement the stretch head can be kept at the same elevation as the wipe shoe at all times, or at such different relative elevations as may be desired, and thus the wipe shoe and head may rise and fall in unison, or in predetermined relations to each other, as selected by the adjustable resistors 70 and 71.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In a metal stretch and wipe forming machine, a table adapted to support a side face die,

a power operated stretch head operable to grip one end of a length of stock and apply tension thereto,

means supporting the head and table for rotation relative to each other about a predetermined upright axis, for movement relatively toward and away from each other in planes normal to said axis, and for movement toward and away from the plane of the table, for Wrapping the stock about the die face,

power means for moving the stretch head toward and away from the plane of the table,

a power operated wipe shoe operable to press the metal yieldably against the side face of the die while the metal is being wrapped on the side face,

means supporting the shoe and table for rotation relative to each other about said axis, for movement relatively toward and away from each other in said planes, and for movement toward and away from the plane of the table,

means for effecting the relative rotation of the head and table relative to the rotation of the shoe and table,

control means for said power means and responsive to movements of the wipe shoe toward and away from the plane of the table for controlling the operation of said power means so as to cause movements of the head toward and away from the plane of the table in a predetermined relation to movements of the wipe shoe toward and away from the plane of the table, respectively.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the con trol means is operative to maintain the movements of the head toward and away from the plane of the table equal in distance to, and concurrent with, and in the same direction as, movements of the shoe toward and away from the plane of the table.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the control means comprises a signal producing device including sensing means driven in relation to movement of the shoe as the shoe moves in paths toward and away from the plane of the table, and operative, when the sensing means are so driven, to produce signals corresponding to the position of the shoe along said paths, and motor means responsive to said signals to control the operation of said power means.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the control means includes a signal producing device driven in fixed relation to the movement of the head toward and away from said plane of the table, pOWer input means are provided which are operable to control the direction and 5 6 distance of operation of said power means, and means nected to said assemblage for controlling the operaare provided which are responsive to differentials in said tion of the assemblage and connected to said output signals of said respective devices for controlling the oppower circuit for operation in response to said differeration of the power input means. entials in signals.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said 5 power means comprising a reversible piston and cylinder References Cited y the Examiner fzl z 1 fi t t f t UNITED STATES PATENTS sai con ro means comprising a rs po en iome er driven by the wipe shoe, a second potentiometer 2713376 7/1955- Bath 72 298 driven by the stretch head a signal circuit includ- 2734548 2/1956 Fredencks 72-151 10 2,743,756 5/1956 Fre-dericks 72-451 ing an electrical amplifier, responsive to the differentials in signals produced by the potentiometers and CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner. having an output power circuit, a solenoid operated reversible control valve adapted R NALD D. GREFE, Assistant Examiner.

for connection to a source of fluid pressure and con- 15

Claims (1)

1. IN A METAL STRETCH AND WIPE FORMING MACHINE, A TABLE ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A SIDE FACE DIE, A POWER OPERATED STRETCH HEAD OPERABLE TO GRIP ONE END OF A LENGTH OF STOCK AND APPLY TENSION THERETO, MEANS SUPPORTING THE HEAD AND TABLE FOR ROTATION RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER ABOUT A PREDETERMINED UPRIGHT AXIS, FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVELY TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER IN PLANES NORMAL TO SAID AXIS, AND FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE PLANE OF THE TABLE. FOR WRAPPING THE STOCK ABOUT THE DIE FACE. POWER MEANS FOR MOVING THE STRETCH HEAD TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE PLANE OF THE TABLE, A POWER OPERATED WIPE SHOE OPERABLE TO PRESS THE METAL YIELDABLY AGAINST THE SIDE FACE OF THE DIE WHILE THE METAL IS BEING WRAPPED ON THE SIDE FACE, MEANS SUPPORTING THE SHOE AND TABLE FOR ROTATION RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER ABOUT SAID AXIS, FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVELY TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER IN SAID PLANES, AND FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE PLANE OF THE TABLE. MEANS FOR EFFECTING THE RELATIVE ROTATION OF THE HEAD AND TABLE RELATIVE TO THE ROTATION OF THE SHOE AND TABLE, CONTROL MEANS FOR SAID POWER MEANS AND RESPONSIVE TO MOVEMENTS OF THE WIPE SHOE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE PLANE OF THE TABLE FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF SAID POWER MEANS SO AS TO CAUSE MOVEMENTS OF THE HEAD TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE PLANE OF THE TABLE IN A PREDETERMINED RELATION TO MOVEMENTS OF THE WIPE SHOE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE PLANE OF THE TABLE, RESPECTIVELY.

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