WO2011058469A1

WO2011058469A1 - Rapid traverse tapping device

Info

Publication number: WO2011058469A1
Application number: PCT/IB2010/054806
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matthieu Pecastaing
Original assignee: Pronic
Priority date: 2009-11-13
Filing date: 2010-10-22
Publication date: 2011-05-19
Also published as: FR2952561B1; FR2952561A1

Abstract

Tapping device (1) comprising a workpiece support (4) for the workpiece that is to be tapped, running substantially in a horizontal plane in transverse (I-I) and longitudinal (II- II) directions, and comprising a moving head support (5) substantially parallel to the workpiece support (4) for the workpiece that is to be tapped, movable at least in terms of translation in a vertical direction (III-III) with respect to the workpiece support (4) for the workpiece that is to be tapped between a proximal tapping position and a distal clear position. Deformable articulated parallelogram means (7) allow the moving head support (5) to be moved rapidly between its proximal tapping position and its distal clear position.

Description

FAST APPROACH TAPPING DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tapping device for producing at least one tapping in an article to be tapped.

Tapping devices generally known include:

at least one tapping head with a boss comprising a tap holder with means for receiving and holding a tap,

an article support to be tapped, extending substantially in a horizontal plane in transverse and longitudinal directions.

The advance and the recoil of the tap are caused by the rotation of the tap holder in a substantially vertical direction in the boss who is fixed.

The tap holder and the boss are connected via a helical threaded connection. As a result, the rotational drive of the tap holder in a first direction causes a translational movement of the tap holder and its tap away from the boss to perform tapping by screwing the tap in the article, while the rotation drive of the tap holder in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, causes a translational movement of the tap holder and its tap to the boss to remove the tap from the tapped hole by unscrewing the tap out of the threaded hole.

When the tapping of the article is only one of several successive stages of formatting on a production line, it is necessary to remove between each step all the tools ensuring the formatting of the article, in order to place these tools at a spacing distance large enough to avoid any risk of collision of the article with the working tools during its movement. It is then desirable to discard the tools quickly so as to lose a minimum of time to move the article from step to step.

In the case where the shaping steps have a tapping step, the rate of withdrawal of the tap is related to the rotational drive speed of the tap, which is low and can not be increased.

To solve this problem, there is known a tapping device provided with a rapid approach device comprising a mobile head support substantially parallel to the article support tapping, carrying said at least one tapping head, and movable at least in translation in a vertical direction relative to the article support between a proximal tapping position and a distal release position. The mobile head support is supported by four columns with hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders which are connected to the article support. The disadvantage of such a tapping device is that it requires the installation of relatively bulky components in a place where space is counted. In addition, the four columns limit the accessibility to the tapping device on all sides of the tapping device, which makes any maintenance or adjustment work by a technician difficult. In addition, the columns require an independent power supply and delicate programming of their control to move the movable head support towards and away from the article support. Finally, the use of four columns with hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders and their control means makes the rapid approach device very complex and expensive.

EP 1 819 471 discloses a tapping device rotated by a servo motor, mounted on a movable plate relative to a base structure. Elastic means disposed between the movable plate and the base structure serve to attenuate the load shocks transmitted to the servomotor. This document does not describe a quick approach device and quick release tap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art, and is more particularly to design a tapping device for a quick approach and quick release of tap, simple and easy to install, easy to adjust to order, and little cumbersome.

According to another aspect, the present invention aims to design a tapping device fast approach and quick release of tap which is inexpensive, both in its manufacture and during its use.

To achieve these and other objects, the invention provides a tapping device comprising:

an article support to be tapped, extending substantially in a horizontal plane in transverse and longitudinal directions,

a movable head support, substantially parallel to the article support to be tapped, carrying said at least one tapping head, movable at least in translation in a vertical direction relative to the article support to be tapped between a proximal tapping position; and a distal release position;

according to the invention, the movable head support is articulated on the article support to be tapped by deformable articulated parallelogram means whose Deformation allows movement of the movable head support between its proximal tapping and distal clearance positions.

The deformable articulated parallelogram means can be deformably controlled by acting on them from only one side of the tapping device. This leaves the other three sides of the tapping device free access to allow the intervention of a technician in the context of maintenance or adjustments. In addition, the deformable articulated parallelogram means make it possible to reliably guarantee that the movable head support remains permanently parallel to the article support to be tapped, which guarantees a perfect orientation of the tapping head with respect to the article. to tapping.

Preferably, it can be provided that:

the movable head support is displaceable in translation in the vertical direction according to a single reversible translation movement,

said deformable hinged parallelogram means comprise at least one pair of rods extending respectively between a proximal end and a distal end and being each articulated pivotally on the article support respectively in a first and a second direction parallel to the direction longitudinal,

said deformable parallelogram means comprise a cross member, extending in the transverse direction and connecting the distal ends of the connecting rods,

- The cross member is slidably connected with the movable head support in the transverse direction.

The deformation of the deformable articulated parallelogram means thus causes a pure translational movement of the movable head support relative to the article support, which ensures a reliable and safe centering of the tapping head relative to the article to be tapped.

Advantageously, it can be provided that:

the tap holder is rotated in the boss by the vertical translation movement of a movable upper sole press movable between a high position and a low position,

- Deformable hinged parallelogram means are deformed by the vertical translation movement of the movable upper flange to move the movable head support from its distal release position to its proximal tapping position.

For the deformation of the deformable hinged parallelogram means, it is thus possible to use the displacement movement of the upper flange. mobile of the press. There is therefore no need to bring a distinct energy to deform the deformable articulated parallelogram means, which makes it possible to provide a simple and practical quick approach function to an existing tapping device.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the movable head support is recalled from its proximal tapping position to its distal release position by elastic return means.

In this embodiment, the movable upper sole of the press has only one effect to deform the deformable articulated parallelogram means, the latter being deformed in the opposite way by the elastic return means.

In a second embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the deformable articulated parallelogram means are further deformed by the vertical translation movement of the movable upper sole to move the movable head support from its proximal tapping position to its distal release position.

In such an embodiment, the movable upper sole of the press has a double effect for the deformation of the deformable articulated parallelogram means. This avoids having to overcome the force of the elastic return means during movement of the movable head support from its distal release position to its proximal tapping position, as is the case in the first embodiment according to the invention. 'invention.

Advantageously, it can be provided that:

said deformable articulated parallelogram means comprise two pairs of rods offset relative to one another in the longitudinal direction,

said deformable parallelogram means comprise two crosspieces, extending in the transverse direction and connecting the distal ends of the connecting rods in pairs.

There are thus dual deformable articulated parallelogram means, which allows better rigidity and better parallelism, particularly in the case of a tapping device comprising a movable head support of large dimensions.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of particular embodiments, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: - Figures 1 to 5 are side views of a first embodiment of a tapping device according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the tapping device of FIGS. 1 to 5;

- Figures 7 to 1 1 are side views of a second embodiment of a tapping device according to the invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the tapping device of FIGS. 7 to 11;

- Figures 13 to 15 are detail views of some parts of the second embodiment of tapping device according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Two embodiments of tapping device according to the invention are shown in Figures 1 to 12.

In these Figures 1 to 12 is shown a tapping device 1 comprising:

a plurality of tapping heads 2 with a boss comprising a tap holder (not visible) with means for receiving and holding taps 3,

an article support 4 capable of carrying a tapping article 6 extending substantially in a horizontal plane in transverse directions I-I and longitudinal directions II-II,

- A movable head support 5, substantially parallel to the article support 4, carrying the tapping heads 2, movable at least in translation in a vertical direction III-III relative to the article support 4 between a proximal tapping position (Figures 3 to 5 and 9 to 1 1) and a distal release position (Figures 1, 2, 7 and 8),

The article to be tapped 6 is here in the form of a moving strip in the longitudinal direction II-II between several shaping steps.

In each of the embodiments according to the invention, the movable head support 5 is articulated on the article support 4 by deformable articulated parallelogram means 7, the deformation of which enables the movable head support 5 to move between its proximal positions of tapping (Figures 3 to 5, and 9 to 1 1) and distal clearance (Figures 1, 2, 7 and 8).

More particularly, the movable head support 5 is displaceable in translation in the vertical direction III-III in a single reversible translation movement illustrated by the double arrow 8. The articulated deformable parallelogram means 7 comprise at least one pair of connecting rods 9a and 9b extending respectively between a proximal end 90a and 90b and a distal end 91a and 91b. Each of the connecting rods 9a and 9b is pivotally articulated on the article support 4 respectively in a first direction IV-IV and a second direction VV parallel to the longitudinal direction II-II.

The deformable parallelogram means 7 comprise a cross member

10, extending in the transverse direction I-I and connecting the distal ends 91a and 91b of the connecting rods 9a and 9b. The crosspiece 10 is in slide connection with the movable head support 5 in the transverse direction I-I to be moved in a reversible translation movement illustrated by the double arrow 11.

In each of the embodiments according to the invention, the tappers are rotated in the patterns by the bi-directional vertical translation movement (represented by the arrow 12) of a movable upper squeegee press 13 (shown in dotted lines). movable between a high position (Figures 1 and 7) and a low position (Figures 5 and 1 1).

In each of the embodiments according to the invention, the deformable hinged parallelogram means 7 are deformed by the vertical translation movement of the movable upper sole 13 to move the movable head support 5 from its distal release position (FIGS. , 7 and 8) to its proximal tapping position (Figures 3 to 5 and 9 to 1 1).

In the first embodiment according to the invention, illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, the movable head support 5 is returned from its proximal tapping position to its distal release position by resilient return means 14. In the In this case, the elastic return means 14 comprise a plurality of helical springs interposed between the movable head support 5 and the article support 4 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

In this first embodiment according to the invention, the deformable articulated parallelogram means 7 are deformed by the vertical translation movement of the movable upper sole 13 only to move the movable head support 5 from its distal release position to its Proximal position of tapping. The movable upper sole 13 thus has a simple effect.

Alternatively, as provided in the second embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 12, the deformable articulated parallelogram means 7 may also be deformed by the vertical translation movement of the movable upper sole 13 to displace the movable head support 5 from its proximal tapping position to its distal release position. The movable upper sole 13 thus has a double effect. In each of the embodiments according to the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 12, the link 9b is pivotally movable about the second direction VV via a cam 15 integral with the movable upper sole 13. The cam 15 of the first embodiment comprises a transverse profile shaped to move the rod 9b in a first direction illustrated by the arrow 16 while the cam 15 of the second embodiment comprises a transverse and longitudinal profile (Figures 13 and 14) shaped to come moving said connecting rod 9b in a first direction and in a second direction, as illustrated by the double arrow 17.

To limit the friction and wear between the cam 15 and the connecting rod 9b of the first embodiment, the connecting rod 9b comprises an operating end 18 provided with a roller 19 rotatably mounted in a third direction VI-VI parallel to the direction longitudinal II-II.

In the case of the second embodiment according to the invention, the connecting rod 9b is secured to an operating part 20 (more particularly visible in FIG. 15) having a first 21 and a second 22 oblique guide surfaces between them and secant , offset relative to each other in the longitudinal direction II-II.

On its side, the cam 15 comprises a first 210 and a second 220 rectilinear contact surfaces extending in the vertical direction III-III, offset relative to each other in the longitudinal direction II-II and connected between they by an intermediate zone 23 of connection developing in the longitudinal direction II-II (Figures 13 and 14).

Once the operating part 20 and the cam 15 are arranged in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 12, the first guide surface 21 can come into contact with the cam 15 only according to the first contact surface 210, while the second guide surface 22 can come into contact with the cam 15 only according to the second contact surface 220.

FIGS. 6 and 12 show more particularly that, in each of the embodiments according to the invention, the deformable articulated parallelogram means 7 comprise two pairs of connecting rods 9a-9b and 9c-9d that are offset relative to one another. other in the longitudinal direction II-II. The connecting rods 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d are hinged on the article support 4 to pivot according to their proximal end 90a, 90b, 90c and 90d (which are not all visible in the figures). The deformable articulated parallelogram means 7 also comprise two crosspieces 10 and 100 extending in the transverse direction II and connecting the distal ends 91a and 91b on the one hand, and 91c and 91d on the other hand. In the two embodiments according to the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 12, each pair of connecting rods 9a-9b and 9c-9d comprises a connecting rod 9b or 9d provided with an operating end 18. The movable upper sole plate 13 is secured to two cams 15 of transverse and / or longitudinal profile shaped to move simultaneously said operating ends 18 in a first direction (in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6) and in a second direction (in the case of embodiment shown in Figures 7 to 12) in a plane defined by the transverse directions II and vertical III-III.

In an alternative, not shown in the figures, it is possible to provide for a single connecting rod 9a, 9b, 9c or 9d to be provided with an operating end 18, able to be displaced by a single cam 15, and that the two pairs of 9a-9b and 9c-9d links are connected to each other to be simultaneously set in motion.

The operation of tapping devices 1 according to the invention is explained in more detail below.

In Figure 1, the movable upper sole 13 is located in the upper position and the movable head support 5 is in the distal position of disengagement. The threaded article 6, in the form of a strip for example, has just been moved along the longitudinal direction II-II and positioned opposite the taps 3.

The press is then actuated and the movable upper sole 13 begins to move from its upper position to its lower position in a movement illustrated by the arrow 12a until it reaches the position shown in FIG. 2. The cam 15 then comes to the contact of the rotary roller 19. The movable head support 5 has not yet begun its translational movement to its proximal tapping position. The taps 3 have already begun a descent movement in the vertical direction III-III, caused by the vertical translation movement of the movable upper sole 13.

The moving upper sole 13 then continues its translational movement according to the movement illustrated by the arrow 12a until it reaches the position of FIG. 3. The roller 19 rolls on the cam 15 in displacement and the distal end 91b of the 9b connecting rod is rotated according to the movement illustrated by the arrow 16. The cross member 10 is moved in a movement illustrated by the arrow 1 1a. The deformable hinged parallelogram means 7 are then deformed until they are "flattened". The taps 3 continue with their downward movement towards the threaded article 6 due to the movement of the movable upper sole 13. The taps 3 are then flush with the upper surface 6a of the article to be tapped 6: the fast approach of the taps 3 to the workpiece 6 is completed.

The movable upper sole 13 then continues its descent movement in the vertical direction III-III as illustrated in FIG. 4. The taps 3 perform tappings in the threaded article 6 by screwing into the threaded article 6 until that the movable upper sole 13 reaches the position shown in Figure 5 end tapping.

The movable upper sole 13 is then moved in a vertical movement illustrated by the arrow 12b, which has the effect of rotating the taps 3 in an opposite direction to remove the taps from the tapped holes by unscrewing the taps out of the threaded holes until it reaches the position shown in FIG. 3 in which the taps 3 are just outside the tapped holes. The rapid movement of the taps 3 away from the workpiece 6 can then take place.

To do this, the movable upper sole 13 continues its upward movement in the vertical direction III-III. Because of its longitudinal profile, the cam 15 releases the operating end 18 of the connecting rod 9b, which allows the elastic return means 14 to push the movable head support 5 away from the article support 4 until reaching the position of Figure 2, the cross member 10 is then moved according to the movement illustrated by the arrow 1 1 b. The quick release movement of the taps 3 is then completed and the upper sole 13 can continue its upward movement in the vertical direction III-III to the position shown in Figure 1.

The operation of the tapping device 1 according to the second embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 12 is similar to that of the tapping device 1 according to the first embodiment.

The difference in operation lies in the fact that the cam 15 causes both the moving movement of the movable head support 5 towards and away from the article support 4. This is made possible by the configuration and arrangement the cam 15 and the operating part 20 illustrated in FIGS. 13 to 15.

In the distal clearance position, the cam 15 and the operating part 20 are in mutual contact with the first guide surface 21 and the first contact surface 210, until the movable upper sole 13 moves vertically along the movement illustrated by the arrow 12a in the position illustrated in FIG. 8. Until then, the movable head support has remained stationary in the distal clearance position. Arrived in the position shown in Figure 8, when the movable upper sole 13 continues its descent movement in the vertical direction III-III, the intermediate zone of the cam connection 15 rotates the workpiece 20 in a rotational movement in a direction illustrated by the arrow 17a. During this rotational movement, the crosspiece 10 moves according to the movement illustrated by the arrow 11a and the deformable articulated parallelogram means 7 are deformed until they are "flattened". The movable head support 5 is then in the proximal tapping position (FIG. 9). The cam 15 and the operating part 20 are then in mutual contact along the second guide surface 22 and the second rectilinear contact surface 220, which has the effect of keeping the movable head support 5 in the proximal tapping position until the movable upper sole 13 reaches its lowest position shown in FIG. 11, in which the taps 3 have finished tapping the workpiece 6.

The movable upper sole 13 is then moved in an upward movement illustrated by the arrow 12b into the position illustrated in FIG. 9 in which the taps 3 are just outside the tapped holes made in the workpiece 6.

The subsequent displacement of the movable upper sole 13 in an upward movement in the vertical direction III-III drives the cam 15 vertically and causes, by the intermediate connecting zone 23, the reverse tilting of the workpiece 20 illustrated by the arrow 17b , which has the effect of moving the cross member 10 according to the movement illustrated by the arrow 11b and bring the movable head support 5 distal release position.

During this movement from the proximal tapping position to the distal release position, it is not necessary to use elastic return means 14 as in the first embodiment of the invention. It will however be possible to use helical balance springs 24 (visible in FIGS. 7 and 8). The coil springs 24 make it possible to perfect the parallelism between the article support 4 and the movable head support 5 by compensating for the mechanical clearances present in the device. The coil springs 24 need not exert a force as high as the first elastic return means 14.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been explicitly described, but it includes the various variants and generalizations thereof within the scope of the claims below.

Claims

1 - Tapping device (1) comprising:

- At least one tapping head (2) with a boss comprising a tap holder with means for receiving and holding a tap (3),

an article support (4) to be tapped, extending substantially in a horizontal plane in transverse (I-I) and longitudinal (II-II) directions,

a movable head support (5), substantially parallel to the article support (4) to be tapped, carrying said at least one tapping head (2) displaceable at least in translation in a vertical direction (III-III) by relative to the article support (4) to be tapped between a proximal tapping position and a distal release position,

characterized in that the movable head support (5) is articulated on the article support (4) to be tapped by deformable articulated parallelogram means (7), the deformation of which allows the moving head support (5) to move between its proximal tapping positions and distal clearance.

2 - tapping device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that:

the movable head support (5) is displaceable in translation in the vertical direction (III-III) according to a single reversible translation movement (8),

said deformable articulated parallelogram means (7) comprise at least one pair of connecting rods (9a-9b, 9c-9d) extending respectively between a proximal end (90a, 90b, 90c, 90d) and a distal end (91a, 91 b, 91c, 91 d) and being each articulated pivotally on the article support (4) respectively according to a first (IV-IV) and a second (VV) directions parallel to the longitudinal direction (II-II),

said deformable parallelogram means (7) comprise a cross member (10), extending in the transverse direction (II) and connecting the distal ends (91a, 91b, 91c, 91d) of the connecting rods (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d),

- The cross member (10) is slidably connected to the movable head support (5) in the transverse direction (I-I).

3 - tapping device (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that:

the tap holder is rotated in the boss by the vertical translation movement (12) of a movable upper sole press (13) movable between a high position and a low position,

the deformable articulated parallelogram means (7) are deformed by the vertical translational movement (12) of the movable upper sole (13) for moving the movable head support (5) from its distal release position to its proximal tapping position.

4 - tapping device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the movable head support (5) is biased from its proximal tapping position to its distal release position by elastic return means (14).

5 - tapping device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the deformable articulated parallelogram means (7) are further deformed by the vertical translation movement of the movable upper sole (13) to move the movable support of head (5) from its proximal tapping position to its distal release position.

6 - tapping device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that:

- At least one connecting rod (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) is pivotally movable around the first (IV-IV) or the second (V-V) direction via a cam

(15)

the cam (15) comprises a transverse and / or longitudinal profile shaped to move said connecting rod (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) in a first direction and, if appropriate, in a second direction in a plane defined by the directions transverse (II) and vertical (III-III).

7 - tapping device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that said connecting rod (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) comprises an operating end (18) comprising a roller (19) rotatably mounted in a third direction (VI - VI) and arranged to come rolling on the transverse and / or longitudinal profile to be moved in the first direction and, if necessary, in the second direction in the plane defined by the transverse directions (II) and vertical (III-III ).

8 - tapping device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that:

the connecting rod (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) comprises a workpiece (20) comprising a first (21) and a second (22) oblique and intersecting guide surface, offset with respect to the the other in the longitudinal direction (Π-Π),

the cam (15) comprises a first (210) and a second (220) rectilinear contact surfaces extending in the vertical direction (III-III), offset with respect to one another in the longitudinal direction ( II-II) and interconnected by an intermediate connecting zone (23) developing along the longitudinal direction (II-II), the operating part (20) and the cam (15) are arranged in such a way that the first guide surface (21) can only come into contact with the cam (15) according to the first contact surface (210) while that the second guide surface (22) can only come into contact with the cam (15) in the second contact surface (220).

9 - tapping device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that:

said deformable hinged parallelogram means (7) comprise two pairs of rods (9a-9b, 9c-9d) offset with respect to one another in the longitudinal direction (II-II),

said deformable parallelogram means (7) comprise two crosspieces (10, 100), extending in the transverse direction (II) and connecting the distal ends (91 a, 91 b, 91 c, 91 d) of the connecting rods two to two.

10 - tapping device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that:

each pair of connecting rods (9a-9b, 9c-9d) comprises a connecting rod (9b, 9d) provided with an operating end (18),

the movable upper soleplate (13) is integral with two cams (15) of transverse and / or longitudinal profile shaped so as to simultaneously move said maneuvering ends (18) in a first direction and, if appropriate, in a second direction in a plane defined by the transverse (II) and vertical (III-III) directions.

1 1 - Tapping device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that:

a single connecting rod (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) is provided with an operating end (18) able to be displaced by a single cam (5),

- The two pairs of rods (9a-9b, 9c-9d) are connected to each other to be simultaneously set in motion.