WO1987005544A1

WO1987005544A1 - Flexible integrated machine for automatically fabricating metal armatures particularly for reinforced concrete

Info

Publication number: WO1987005544A1
Application number: PCT/FR1986/000095
Authority: WO
Inventors: Guy Lafon; Robert Manuardi
Original assignee: Guy Lafon; Robert Manuardi
Priority date: 1986-03-20
Filing date: 1986-03-20
Publication date: 1987-09-24
Also published as: JPH01501773A

Abstract

Machine for assembling longitudinal bars (5) and transversal frames (6) in order to fabricate the metal armature of a reinforced concrete beam. The machine comprises an evacuation station (4) wherein driving grippers are carried by horizontal rods traversing the tunnel formed by a stacking of frames (6) in a magazine (31). Said grippers grip the extremity of the bars (5) which are guided by means of supports of a loading station (1) and which then follows the step motions (arrow 57) of the carriage of the discharge station (4). In an assembly station (3), the frames (6) are fixed one at a time on the bars (5). The magazine (31), the supports of the loading station (1) and the driving grippers are adjustable along a transversal plane for adaptation to different shapes and dimensions of armatures.

Description

FLEXIBLE INTEGRATED MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY MANUFACTURING METAL REINFORCEMENTS, PARTICULARLY FOR REINFORCED CONCRETE

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to machines for mounting and assembling metal reinforcements of various types. Such reinforcements are intended in particular for the reinforced concrete industry, for example for manufacturing beams. It is known that a reinforcement for the reinforcement of a reinforced concrete beam consists essentially of straight or threaded bars, arranged longitudinally and fixed from time to time on preformed transverse metal frames.

The mounting of such a frame therefore consists in presenting with respect to each other threads and transverse frames, the assembly of which can be carried out by welding or by ligature.

STATE OF THE ART

Currently, there are machines for manufacturing the reinforcement, but only for standard shape beams with a limited dimension. These machines of known type therefore make it possible to manufacture only a very precise type of armatures, which corresponds only to a small part of the market. The largest part of the market is made up of beams of very different dimensions, for the reinforcement of which no machine has been produced. The mounting of the frame of these beams is therefore carried out entirely by hand, which leads to a high cost price.

Furthermore, known machines do not allow the mounting of reinforcements made from struts whose end is curved in the shape of a butt. In fact, in these known machines, the struts are guided by guide means incompatible with the presence of the sticks.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to avoid these drawbacks, by realizing a production chain that is both automatic and flexible, capable of eliminating most manual operations, and of adapting without difficulty to the manufacture of reinforcements of various types. The object of the present invention is also to allow the fitting of reinforcements comprising curved ends with the shape of a butt.

A flexible and automatic integrated chain according to the invention comprises: means for maintaining a stack of waiting frames in a frame feeding station,

- Means for holding and passing the strands through the stack of waiting frames, means for presenting, one by one, the waiting frames in an integral position in an assembly station, means for ensuring longitudinal positioning precise of the strands relative to the frame in the fastening position, so that the strands and the frame can be fastened in the fastening position, - an evacuation station to receive the assembled reinforcing parts,

the means for holding the struts and driving them in translation are adjustable in position along a transverse plane, that is to say vertically and horizontally, so that the streaks can be positioned transversely in selected individual positions corresponding to the shape of the frames,

- The means for holding the stack of frames are adjustable in position along a transverse plane.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the feeding station comprises individualized supports, distributed along the length of the feeding station, and whose positions are individually adjustable according to a transverse plane. The frame feeding station comprises chains with pins with longitudinal travel carried by supports whose position is adjustable along a transverse plane, the chains being driven in rotation by drive means. According to one embodiment, the evacuation station comprises means for pulling the streaks through the waiting frames, the means for pulling being capable of passing through the stacking of frames to get the start of the tie rods in the loading station; the means for pulling are also adjustable in position along a transverse plane to ensure individual adjustment of the spacing of the tie rods. According to an advantageous embodiment, the storage station for the stacked transverse frames comprises two stores, namely:

- a storage warehouse, the frames of which are presented transversely on the trajectory of the bars are directly ready to be used;

- a pre-storage store, in which the user presents a second series of frames, which may be different from the frames of the storage store, the operations of loading and adjusting the second series of frames in the pre-storage store storage being thus carried out in masked time, during the operation of the machine.

Preferably, each of the stations for handling or holding the bars and frames comprises clamps, each of which can be controlled automatically and remotely:

- on opening or closing,

- in position, by moving its support in three dimensions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the following description of particular embodiments, given in relation to the attached figures, among which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a section of a reinforcement of T-cross section;

- Figure 2 is an end view of this frame; Figure 3 is an overview of various types of longitudinal bars achievable according to the invention;

- Figure 4 is an end view, showing various types of cross sections, for reinforcements capable of being produced on the same machine according to the invention;

- Figure 5 is a plan view showing the entire installation, and in particular the relative arrangement of the four main workstations; Figure 6 is a side view showing two clamps of the station supply, ready to transfer from one to the other one of the longitudinal bars;

- Figure 7 shows the same two clamps at the time of transfer;

- Figures 8 and 9 are corresponding plan views; - Figure 10 is an overall view with a partial axial section of a complete clamp;

- Figure 11 shows two clamps on their support beam;

- Figure 12 is an overview of the loading station of the longitudinal irons or ropes; - Figure 13 is a cross section of this loading station, illustrating a possible implantation of the clamps;

- Figure 14 shows a detail, in side view;

- Figure 15 is a front view of the frame storage station;

- Figure 16 is a plan view; - Figures 17 and 18 illustrate two phases for the loading and operation of the pre-storage store for frames;

- Figure 19 is a plan view of the station for drawing the shooting irons; FIG. 20 is a side view thereof showing the relative positioning of the various pliers of a drawing iron traction station;

- Figure 21 is a transverse view;

- Figure 22 shows the detail of the pliers of the drawing station;

- Figures 23, 24 and 25 show various technological details;

- Figure 26 shows a detail of the feeding station; - Figure 27 is a plan view of a carriage for the drawing station of the irons;

FIG. 28 shows the machine during operation, and

- Figure 29 shows a more advantageous embodiment of the second group of supports of the feeding station.

DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIG. 5, the machine according to the invention comprises four main work stations, arranged in line one after the other, namely:

- A feed station 1 for longitudinal bars 5 or continuous;

- a storage station 2 for transverse frames 6; - an assembly station 3;

- an evacuation station 4 to receive and evacuate the reinforcements after assembly.

This machine is designed to receive struts 5 of the type illustrated in FIG. 5, and to assemble them with transverse frames 6 (FIG. 4), with a view to producing metallic reinforcements 7 for reinforced concrete (FIGS. 1, 2, 4).

The struts 5 are in themselves of known type. They may be simple rectilinear sections 8, bars 9 with angled ends, or bars 10 with curved ends in hook or stick.

The frames 6 can be of various shapes, and in particular:

- square frames 11;

- simple rectangular frames 12;

- frames 13 with lateral extension; - rectangular frames 14 with median reinforcement;

- T-frames 15;

- frames 16 in double angle.

The assembly between the struts and the frames is carried out itself in a known manner, for example by welding or by tying. These assembly means are well known in the art of making reinforcements, and are therefore neither described nor shown here. The assembly makes it possible to obtain reinforcements 7, illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. In particular, the reinforcement 5, 15 illustrated corresponds to the T-shaped frames 15 in FIG. 4. In the embodiment shown, the feeding station

1 receives longitudinal struts 5 on vertical clamps 17, 18. Each of these clamps is arranged vertically, on a transverse support beam 19 for the clamp 17 and 24 for the clamp 18.

In this particular embodiment, the clamps 17 are located on the side of the machine and the loading operators successively place the strings 5. Then, the strands 5 are transferred to the clamps 18 (FIGS. 7 and 8), which position them, by displacement in height and transversely, on the transverse beams 24, as a function of the cross section of the frames 15, as programmed in the machine.

As shown in FIG. 6, each clamp 17 comprises an upper jaw 20, movable relative to a lower jaw 21, under the action of a sliding cylinder rod 22.

Likewise, each clamp 18 has an upper jaw 23, which an actuator rod 66 actuates relative to a lower jaw 25. The jaws 20 and 21 have a U-shaped profile (FIG. 8), which makes it possible to engage the jaws of the clamps 18 there, to remove the bars 5, by transverse displacement of the clamps 18 (arrow 26).

The return of the jaws 20, 23 to the clamping position is ensured by a return spring 27 (Figure 10). Each beam 24 (Figure 13), carrying tubes in which the clamps 18 slide, is adjustable in width by means of screw jacks bringing the beams 24 apart or apart; the clamps 18 are adjustable in height, by means of screw jacks 28 causing the beams 73 to go up or down, on which the parts 74 (FIG. 10) are attached to the supports 18. The beams 73 are constituted by two flat bars ( FIG. 11) allowing the free passage of the parts 65. These parts 65 carry, in this embodiment, bearings 68 to facilitate the lateral movement of the supports 19 during movements along the arrow 26. It will be noted that the cross members 29 are fixed and in solidarity with the general structure. They ensure the rigidity of the frame, while serving to support the screw jacks 28.

The relative movements of these various organs can be ensured by digital control, from a central computer. The latter can be located on site, in the workshop, or remotely, in a design office. The corresponding work plan is recorded on any suitable medium, magnetic tape, diskette or other. This support is thus introduced into the chain's control cabinet, and the information it contains is delivered to each of the machines to control its settings and work.

The transverse movement (arrow 26) of the clamps 18 can be controlled by horizontal screw jacks 30.

Station 2, for the storage of transverse frames 6, is illustrated in Figures 15 to 18. This station includes two magazines 31 and 32, mounted symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal pivot 33 around which they form a rigid rocking barrel.

Each magazine 31, 32 has supports 34, adjustable in position in a direction in a transverse plane, and designed to receive a stack of frames 6, arranged vertically and close to each other, so as to constitute a sort of tunnel. This tunnel has the profile of the frames 6 of the chosen type, and the machine engages inside the tunnel the bars or runners 5 which progress therein during operation.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 15, the operator loads frames 6 of the profile 15 (FIG. 4) into the magazine 32 which is offset on the side of the machine (FIG. 5), while the magazine 31, loaded beforehand with profile frames 12, work by forming the aforementioned tunnel in which the struts 5 advance. The magazine 32, once loaded, constitutes a pre-storage which will be used by tilting the assembly 31-32 around the pivot 33, as soon as the storage magazine 31 has been exhausted. Thus, the two barrel stores 31-32 operate alternately in storage and in pre-storage.

Of course, the supports 34 are adjusted from the central electronic control device, and it can be different in the two stores 31 and 32, if they are prepared for different frames 7.

Figures 19 to 25, and 27 illustrate the structure of the evacuation station 4. In this embodiment, the evacuation station further comprises means for ensuring the longitudinal drive of the streaks 5 through the frames 6 of the storage magazine 31. In this embodiment, the streaks are pulled by means which pull them as and when the frames 6 of the storage magazine 31 are assembled to them.

In other embodiments, the longitudinal displacement of the struts can be obtained not by pulling the strands, but by pushing them.

A reception bench 35 receives the reinforcements after assembly, pending their removal.

The thread puller device shown in the figures has as many clamps as there are wire cutters 5 provided in the frame. Each clamp 36 is carried by a horizontal bar 37 rigidly fixed on a horizontal sleeve 38. The sleeves 38 are carried by vertical columns 39, along which their position is adjustable in height by screw jacks 40 (arrow 41). The columns 39 are themselves carried by a cross member 42, along which their position is adjustable in the transverse direction (arrow 43). The assembly is carried by a frame 44 which rolls, by rollers 45, along longitudinal rails 46. The carriage 39, 42, 44 thus formed is provided with known means, not shown, to cause its advancement and its blocking in desired positions along the rails 46.

The rod 37 of each clamp 36 has a length slightly greater than the stacking of the maximum number of frames 6 which it is desired to stack in the magazines 31 and 32 of the station 2. This allows the clamps 36 to go each to grab the end of a bar 5 located at the feed station 1, passing through the entire tunnel formed by the frames 6 stacked in the magazine 31. The height adjustment of the sleeves 38 along the columns 39 is effected by means of hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders 47.

Each clamp 36 has a fixed transverse jaw 48 and a tilting transverse jaw 49 (FIG. 22): Each movable jaw 49 is integral with a bar 50 freely rotating inside the corresponding rod 37 which is hollow over its entire length. At the opposite end, each bar 50 is integral with a lever 51 which is actuated by a jack 52. Thus, when one actuates a jack 52, the lever 51 switches (arrow 53), which causes the bar 50 to rotate and its jaw 49 in the same direction (arrow 54) to close the clamp 36 on the end of a thread 5.

FIG. 6 represents an embodiment for the adjustment and the feeding of the supports 34 of the magazines 31 and 32. The support 34 comprises longitudinal rails 58, positioned as a function of the transverse profile of the frames 6 of the chosen type. The frames 6 are thus guided by their outer periphery in the rails 58 along which they slide. This allows the interior of the frames 6 to be left free for the passage of the rods 37 of the station 4. According to an advantageous embodiment, there are 6 longitudinal rails 58, namely: - four rails 58 at the four corners of the frames 6, - two intermediate rails 158 for the intermediate positions corresponding to frames 6 with a T profile.

All these rails 58, 158 are adjustable in position, independently ment of each other, by displacement along a transverse plane relative to the longitudinal axis of the machine.

Each time the operator 56 presents a frame 6 in the pre-storage magazine 32, he places it in abutment against pins 59. These pins 59 are distributed on endless chains beyond which they protrude. These chains are driven by wheels 60 wedged on transverse rotating shafts 61 that chains 62 and sprockets 63 synchronize with one another. The chains can thus run longitudinally, and are carried by supports themselves adjustable in position along a transverse plane. An electric motor, not shown, drives this set of shafts 61 and wheels 60. The pins 59 of the chains advance by one notch, and advance the stacked frames 6 by one step, each time the operator 56 presses on a pedal.

Advantageously, the struts and the frames are secured in a fixed fastening position 90 offset downstream of the stacking of the frames 6. This is provided with retractable ejectors 91 and 92 (FIG. 5), urged by jacks 95 and 96 and adjustable in transverse position, capable of driving the first frame 600 of the stack longitudinally and bringing it into the securing position 90 bearing against retractable stops 93 and 94. The operation is as follows:

The operators 55 ensure the loading of the strands 5. The operator 56 ensures the loading of the pre-storage magazine 32 which it supplies with frames 6. Through the tunnel formed by the frames 6 of the storage magazine 31, the clamps 36 advance towards the loading station, driven by the carriage 44 of the station 4, which circulates on the rails 46. Each clamp 36 is then tightened on a bar 5 which it will then pull each time the carriage 44 moves back (FIG. 5, arrow 57). After each reversing phase, the carriage 44 stops in a determined position. During the recoil phase, the pins 59 advance one notch, and present a new frame 600 to the ejectors which bring it into the securing position 90. The station 3 ensures the securing of the first frame 600 of the stack, by welding or tying it to the strands 5. Once this operation is complete, the carriage 44 moves back a new step (arrow 57) and it presents the strands 5 in front of a new frame 600. The cycle continues until delivery, on the bench 35, the reinforcement 7 finished. As soon as it has been removed, the machine is ready to manufacture another frame 7, possibly with frames 6 of another profile, pre-stored in the magazine 32: the magazine 32 is tilted around the pivot 33, to bring it to the operating storage position, while the magazine 31 comes to the pre-storage position.

Figure 23 is a sectional view illustrating a possible embodiment for the bases 64 of the clamps 17 and 18 of the supply station 1. The hollow vertical body 65 of each clamp 17 or 18 is integral with the jaw 21 or 25 which overcomes it. By cons, the movable jaw 20 or 23 is integral with a vertical rod 66 sliding in the body 65. This sliding is controlled by a double-acting lower cylinder 67, carried by the hollow body 65. This hollow body has lateral rollers 68, capable of rolling on the cross-member 73, for the transverse adjustments (arrow 69) of the position of the clamps 17 or 18.

FIG. 27 illustrates, in plan, a possible arrangement for the clamps 17 and 18 located face to face at the loading station 1, for transferring the bars 5.

Thus, in the embodiment shown, the loading station 1 comprises two distinct groups of supports, namely: - a first group formed by the clamps 18, supporting the struts 5 during assembly, - a second group formed by the clamps 17, on which the operators have the threads 5 waiting for the next manufacturing cycle.

The two groups of supports are movable transversely with respect to one another (arrow 26) to transfer in one go to the clamps 18 of the second group all of the bars 5 previously deposited in the clamps 17 of the first group.

FIG. 29 represents a more advantageous embodiment of the second group of supports of the supply station. In this embodiment, the second support group comprises two pivoting frames 80 and 81, movable by rotation about longitudinal axes 82 and 83 respectively, between a loading position shown in the figure and in which the frames define a horizontal plane , and between a transfer position in which the frames are folded vertically al as shown by the arrows 84 and 85.

The frames 80 and 81 comprise, on their working face, longitudinal housings such as the housing 87, in number at least equal to the number of struts to be positioned, and into which the operator 55 introduces the streaks. For example, in the figure, the operator 55 rolls the strand 105 laterally on the upper face of the frame 80 to cause the strand to fall into the housing 88.

In the transfer position, the struts are extracted from the housings by the clamps 18, and positioned to form the frame. For this, the frames 80 and 81 have transverse passages to allow their nesting with the clamps 18.

FIGS. 23 and 24 are plan views illustrating the support clamps 17, 18 of the supply station 1. In the embodiment shown, the bar or jaw support 25 can oscillate around the hollow vertical body 65 of the clamp, that is to say around the vertical geometric axis 70. This arrangement is particularly suitable when working with threads 5 whose profile 9 or 10

(Figure 3) defines, at the ends, a curved stock 71. Thus, when the thread 5 is pulled in the direction of the arrow 57 (Figure 5) during the manufacturing cycle, each clamp 17 or 18 automatically eclipses by pivoting (Figure 23, arrow 72), the passage of a stick 71. The return of the clamp 18 and its support 25 in the starting position is effected by the spring 75 (Figure 10) which tends to bring it back against a fixed stop.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 - Integrated, automatic machine for manufacturing reinforcements for reinforced concrete beams, comprising several stations for receiving and positioning struts (5) and transverse metal frames (6), the machine comprising:

- means (31) for maintaining a stack of waiting frames in a high-level feeding station,

- means for holding (18) and passing (36) the streaks through the stack of waiting frames, - means (31, 91, 92) for presenting, one by one, the waiting frames in an integral position in an assembly station,

- Means (36) for ensuring precise longitudinal positioning of the strands (5) relative to the frames (600) in the fastening position (90), so that the strands and the frame can be fastened in the fastening position ,

- an evacuation station (4) to receive the assembled armature parts, characterized in that:

the means (36) for holding the lines and driving them in translation are adjustable in position along a transverse plane, so that the lines can be positioned transversely in selected individual positions corresponding to the shape of the frames,

- The means for holding the stack of frames are adjustable in position along a transverse plane. 2 - Integrated machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the feeding station (1) comprises individualized supports (18), distributed along the length of the feeding station, and whose positions are individually adjustable along a transverse plane .

3 - Integrated machine according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the supply station (31) in frames comprises chains with pins (59, 62) with longitudinal movement carried by supports whose position is adjustable along a transverse plane, and which are driven in translation by drive means.

4 - Integrated machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the supply station (31) in frames comprises ejectors

(91, 92) making it possible to transfer the first frame (600), at the end of the chain (62), to the joining station and to keep it in abutment in the secured position (90).

5 - Integrated machine according to any one of claims

1 to 4, characterized in that the evacuation station comprises means

(36) for pulling the lines (5) through the waiting frames, the means for pulling being capable of passing through the stacking of the frames to fetch the start of the lines in the loading station, the means for pulling being also adjustable in position along a transverse plane to ensure individual adjustment of the spacing of the struts. 6 - Machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the means for pulling the extruders comprise iron pliers, each iron pliers comprising:

- a lateral jaw (48) integral with a hollow bar (37) and which slides in a horizontal sleeve (38), - a tilting lateral jaw (49), which is integral with a rod (50) which can rotate on itself in the bar (37), under the action of a control cylinder (52) located at its other end.

7 - Machine according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises horizontal sleeves (38) adjustable in position along vertical columns (39), the vertical columns being laterally adjustable in horizontal position on sleepers (42) that door the frame (41) of a carriage (44), the carriage (44) being movable in the evacuation station (4) along longitudinal rails (46).

8 - Machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the individualized supports (18) of the loading station (1) are clamps (17), (18) whose vertical body (65) is adjustable horizontally in transverse position (arrow 69) along a horizontal cross member (73), which cross member is adjustable in height by means of jacks (28). 9 - Machine according to claim 8, characterized in that each clamp (18) is carried by a support (25) oscillating around its vertical geometric axis (70) and subjected to the action of a return spring (75) , so that each clamp (18) is eclipsable by oscillation. 10 - Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the loading station (1) comprises two distinct groups of supports, namely: - A first group, formed by clamps (18) supporting the struts (5) during assembly;

- A second group, formed by supports (80, 81) for threads waiting for the next manufacturing cycle, these two groups of supports being movable transversely relative to each other to transfer in one go to clamps (18) of the first group all the threads (5) previously deposited on the supports of the second group.