WO2020174506A1

WO2020174506A1 - Curvature correction assembly for elongated metallic elements

Info

Publication number: WO2020174506A1
Application number: PCT/IT2020/050038
Authority: WO
Inventors: Simone Rupoli
Original assignee: Schnell S.P.A.
Priority date: 2019-02-25
Filing date: 2020-02-25
Publication date: 2020-09-03
Also published as: IT201900002713A1; EP3930939B1; EP3930939A1

Abstract

The curvature correction assembly for elongated metal elements, in particular metal profiles and rods and similar products, comprises a first correction wheel (11, 110) and a second correction wheel (12, 120) opposite each other with respect to a feeding line (A) of a metal element (2), revolving respectively around a first rotation axis (R1) and a second rotation axis (R2) lying on the same plane orthogonal to the supply line (A).

Description

CURVATURE CORRECTION ASSEMBLY FOR ELONGATED METALLIC ELEMENTS

Technical field

[01] The present invention relates to an assembly for correcting the curvature of elongated metal elements, in particular metal profiles and rods, and similar products.

Background of the invention

[02] Apparatuses for processing elongated metal elements, in particular metal sections and similar products, which include straightening units are known.

[03] In particular, these units are used to straighten rods wrapped in rolls which, once unrolled and straightened, may still have a slight residual curvature, more or less accentuated, unsuitable for subsequent processing or for direct use on site. These slight straightening imperfections are corrected in the final part of the straightening unit by means of special corrector members configured to make the necessary corrections.

[04] The aforementioned apparatuses may comprise, for example, straightening units made by means of a plurality of pairs of counter-rotating wheels, staggered along a feeding direction, through which the rod is fed, so that it is subjected to cyclical yielding actions by bending, aimed at eliminating at least most of the curvature.

[05] US patent 1 ,239,175 illustrates, for example, an apparatus for straightening metal wires, comprising a first set of counter-rotating wheels and a second set of counter-rotating wheels, arranged on mutually orthogonal planes.

[06] In particular, in the presence of straightening means operating on a single plane, for example on the vertical one, it is problematic to deal with the presence of internal stresses in the material arranged on the plane orthogonal to the plane of the wheels, which may considerably compromise flatness and straightness bended pieces, made from the straightened material.

[07] For example, the patent EP 1259336 illustrates a straightening apparatus comprising a set of wheels opposite to a feeding line of material, wherein a wheel is axially movable, to correct any internal stress.

[08] Patent application JP H07148537 illustrates a bending apparatus which provides for grouping the wheels in pairs on each side of the feeding line.

[09] The patent application WO 2012/016998, for example, discloses an apparatus and a method for straightening elongated metal elements by means of wheels arranged staggered along a power line.

[10] Application EP 0446648 illustrates a rod straightening apparatus that combines two straightening assemblies.

[11] Patent CN 107716788 discloses a guiding device for an apparatus for straightening rods. [12] The known solutions do not however enable the needs of the specific sector to be the fully satisfied, in particular with regard to an effective correction of the straightening in the presence of stress inside the material.

[13] Furthermore, it has been noted that the correcting devices of the known type, in addition to having a limited correction capacity on the plane orthogonal to the lying plane of the straightening wheels, can influence in an uncontrolled and undesired way the straightening on the same plane as the wheels.

Disclosure

[14] The present invention aims at solving the mentioned problems by devising an assembly for correcting the curvature of metal elements having elongated shape, which enables these elements to be effectively straightened.

[15] The present invention furthermore aims at providing an assembly for correcting the curvature of elongated metal elements, of simple construction and functional conception, provided with safe and reliable use, as well as with a relatively economic cost.

[16] The aforementioned aims are achieved, according to the present invention, by the curvature correction assembly according to claim 1.

[17] According to a characteristic of the invention it is therefore possible to carry out the straightening by arranging along a feeding line for an elongated metal element a straightening correction assembly comprising a first wheel and a second wheel, opposite each other to the aforementioned feeding line of the metal element, having respectively a first rotation axis and a second rotation axis lying on the same plane orthogonal to the aforesaid feeding line. The aforementioned first and second wheels may be moved, for example jointly or synchronously in the direction of their own axis of rotation, thanks to a respective drive assembly, so as to correct the straightening of the metal element on a corresponding plane, for example, on a plane containing the feeding line, orthogonal to the plane of lying of the wheels of straightening members arranged upstream of the correction assembly.

[18] Preferably the aforementioned first wheel and/or the second wheel form a conjugated perimeter profile.

[19] Preferably, the aforementioned perimeter profile is shaped by a groove for housing the metal element, preferably having V shape, to facilitate containment and, therefore, the corrective action on the metal element during feeding.

[20] Preferably the first wheel and/or the second wheel may also be movable by a relative tightening motion along a direction perpendicular to the feeding line, alternately between a release condition, in which the wheels are moved away from each other and do not interfere with the metal element, and a tightening condition, in which the aforementioned wheels are brought together so as to tighten the element itself to make the necessary correction.

[21] Furthermore, the first wheel and the second wheel may be further movable by a further correction motion, jointly or synchronously, to carry out the correction on a further correction plane. In particular, this further correction motion may be operated in a direction perpendicular to the feeding line in the plane containing the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis, so as to enable the correction of the straightening of the metal element also in this direction.

[22] The first wheel and the second wheel may have the same diameter or different diameter, so as to guarantee different winding arcs, depending on the correction configuration.

Description of drawings

[23] The details of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the curvature correction assembly of elongated metal elements, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

figure 1 shows a side view of an apparatus for processing elongated metal elements, comprising the assembly according to the invention;

figure 2 shows a front view of a detail of the correction assembly according to the invention;

figures 3 to 5 show a section view of a portion of the correction assembly in a second embodiment, in different operating steps,

figures 6 to 8 show a side view of the correction assembly according to the invention, in different operating steps, according to the embodiment illustrated in figures 3 to 5.

Best mode

[24] With particular reference to Figures 1 and 3, the reference numeral 1 indicates as a whole an apparatus for processing elongated metal elements 2, in particular profiles and metal rods, comprising a correction assembly 10.

[25] The apparatus 1 comprises a straightening assembly 3 arranged along a feeding line A for at least one metal element 2.

[26] The straightening assembly 3 preferably comprises, in a known way, a plurality of wheels opposite each other to the feeding line A and staggered along the same feeding line A.

[27] In the case illustrated by way of a non-limiting example, the straightening assembly 3 comprises three support wheels 30 arranged on the same side of the supply line A and two pressure wheels 31 arranged on the opposite side, in a staggered manner, so as to define between them a passage for the element 2 to be straightened. In particular, the support wheels 30 and the pressure wheels 31 are arranged so as to impress on the element 2 advancing along the feeding line A a series of more or less wide curves and counter-curves in relation to the position of the wheels, so as to straighten it.

[28] The straightening assembly 3 may usefully comprise motor members 32 configured to move the straightening members, for example the pressure wheels 31 , in a transverse direction B to the feeding line A, for example perpendicular to the feeding line A and, in particular, perpendicular to the rotation axis of the wheels. Moving along the transverse direction B enables the sinuous path along which the metal element 2 is fed along the feeding line A through the straightening group 3 to be adjusted.

[29] The correction assembly 10 is placed downstream of the straightening assembly 3. In the described case there is an auxiliary correction assembly 4. In this case the correction assembly 10 may be preferably arranged upstream of the auxiliary straightening assembly 4.

[30] The apparatus also comprises a drawing assembly arranged separately along the feeding line A or integrated in some of the straightening and/or correction members.

[31] The correction assembly 10 comprises at least a first correction wheel 11 and a second correction wheel 12, opposite to the feeding line A.

[32] The first correction wheel 1 1 and the second correction wheel 12 are respectively rotatable with respect to a first rotation axis R1 and a second rotation axis R2, lying on the same plane orthogonal to the aforesaid feeding line A.

[33] The first correction wheel 11 and the second correction wheel 12 are movable according to a correction motion along an axial correction direction C, along their rotation axis R1 , R2, so as to correct any internal stresses of the metal element 2 which are carried out on a plane orthogonal to the lying plane of said wheels.

[34] The first correction wheel 11 and the second correction wheel 12 are movable according to a relative tightening motion along a tightening direction D perpendicular to the feeding line A, alternately between a release condition, wherein the first correction wheel 11 and the second correction wheel 12 are moved away from each other and do not interfere with the metal element 2, and a tightening condition, wherein the first correction wheel 1 1 and the second correction wheel 12 are brought together so as to clamp the element 2 to make the necessary correction. For example, the first correction wheel 11 may be operated according to the aforementioned tightening motion and the second correction wheel 12 may be fixed relative to this motion, or both the aforementioned wheels may be movable according the aforementioned motion. In any case, thanks to the tightening motion, the element 2 is securely engaged between the first correction wheel 1 1 and the second correction wheel 12, also in the case of stresses made during the correction step, as described in more detail in the following.

[35] Preferably the correction assembly 10 comprises at least one deflection wheel 13 arranged upstream and/or downstream of the first correction wheel 1 1 and of the second correction wheel 12, for example on one side of the feeding line A, so as to facilitate the adhesion of the metal element 2 on a corresponding adjacent correction wheel of the correction assembly 10. The greater adhesion of the metal element 2 has the increasing effect on the effectiveness of the correction assembly 10 (see Figure 1 ).

[36] The first correction wheel 11 and the second correction wheel 12 preferably have a conjugated perimeter profile (see Figure 2).

[37] In particular, the first correction wheel 11 and the second correction wheel 12 preferably have a perimeter profile formed by a perimeter groove 14 conjugated to a conjugate projection 15. This configuration further facilitates the adhesion of the metal element 2 to the bottom of the perimeter groove 14 of the first correction wheel 1 1 and facilitates the correction of the internal stresses by increasing the capacity of the wheels 1 1 , 12 to hold the metal element 2.

[38] Preferably the perimeter groove 14 is V shaped, so as to shape respective effective containment and centering walls for the metal element 2, while the projection 15 is made in a conjugated way.

[39] The correction assembly 10 may comprise an actuator member 16, for example a linear actuator, for controlling the relative tightening motion, described above (see Figure 1 ), for example by acting on the second correction wheel 12.

[40] The apparatus may usefully comprise the auxiliary correction assembly 4, arranged downstream of the correction assembly 10.

[41] The auxiliary correction assembly 4 may in turn comprise a pair of auxiliary deflection wheels 40 and an auxiliary correction wheel 41 opposite to the feeding line A, arranged between the pair of auxiliary deflection wheels 40, so as to counter-calender the advancing metal element 2, thus eliminating any residual curvature. In particular, the auxiliary correction wheel 41 is operated by a motor member 42, according to a correction motion along the auxiliary correction direction B', transversal, in particular perpendicular, to the feeding line A and on the plane of the auxiliary correction wheels 40, 41 so as to correct any residual curvatures on the corresponding floor.

[42] The operation of the straightening correction assembly for elongated metal elements is easy to understand from the foregoing description.

[43] Said at least one metal element 2 is fed along the feeding line A through the straightening assembly 3 and subsequently through the correction assembly 10.

[44] When there are stresses internal to the metal element 2, for example because the produced part does not meet the straightness requirements, then the aforementioned correction motion is controlled, for example by means of a special drive assembly, in correction direction C, therefore the rotation axis of each of the correction wheels 11 , 12, so as to eliminate or reduce the aforementioned stresses.

[45] According to a further embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 to 8, the first correction wheel 1 10 and the second correction wheel 120 of the correction assembly 100 may be movable according to a further correction motion, either integrally or synchronously.

[46] The further aforementioned correction motion enables the aforementioned wheels to be moved along a further correction direction E, perpendicular to the feeding line A and lying on the plane of the first correction wheel 110 and of the second correction wheel 120. This additional correction motion enables the correction of internal stresses present in the metal element 2 which arise, in particular, also on the lying plane of the wheels 1 10, 120.

[47] By appropriately combining the correction motion along the correction direction C and the further correction motion along the further correction direction E it is possible to achieve the correction of any curvature of the element 2, lying in any plane.

[48] The aforesaid additional correction motion may be operated for example by means of a further linear actuator 160, for example associated with the linear actuator 16 suitable for controlling the aforementioned tightening motion along the tightening direction D.

[49] Figure 3 shows the first correction wheel 1 10 and the second correction wheel 120 in the release condition, mutually moved away, by the linear actuator 16.

[50] The first wheel 1 10 and the second wheel 120 are operated in the aforementioned tightening motion with the cooperation of an elastic contrasting member 17, for example made by a spring, up to the tightening condition (see Figure 4).

[51] More precisely, the first wheel 1 10 and the second wheel 120 are carried by a frame 18.

For example, the first wheel 1 10 may be secured to the frame 17 at a guide slot, so as to allow the relative tightening motion, operated by the actuator member 16.

[52] The further actuator member 160 is instead associated with the frame 17, so as to integrally move the first wheel 1 10 and the second wheel 120 according to the further correction motion in the further correction direction E.

[53] In a similar way as described above, the first correction wheel 110 and the second correction wheel 120 are movable according to the correction motion along the correction direction C, along the respective rotation axes R1 , R2, to correct any curvatures of the element 2 on the corresponding plane.

[54] In this embodiment, the correction assembly 100 may also comprise further deviation wheels 131 arranged upstream and respectively downstream of the correction wheels 1 10, 120, opposite to the deflection wheels 130 with respect to the feeding line A, to hold suitably the element 2 in the action of further correction.

[55] The possibility of a further correction motion eliminates the need for the auxiliary correction assembly 4, as shown in Figures 6 to 8.

[56] The technical characteristics illustrated for the previously described embodiment are attributable to the correction assembly 100 according to the further embodiment, insofar as compatible.

[57] The operation of the correction assembly 100 is completely similar to that described above for the first embodiment of the assembly according to the invention. For example, Figure 6 illustrates an operative step of insertion of the element 2 into the feeding line A, in Figure 7 a straightening step and in Figure 8 a correction step by the correction assembly 100.

[58] The correction assembly 10, 100 described by way of example may be modified according to the different needs.

[59] In the practical embodiment of the invention, the materials used, as well as the shape and the dimensions, may be modified depending on requirements.

[60] Should the technical features mentioned in any claim be followed by reference signs, such reference signs were included strictly with the aim of enhancing the understanding of the claims and hence they shall not be deemed restrictive in any manner whatsoever on the scope of each element identified for exemplifying purposes by such reference signs.

Claims

1. Curvature correction assembly for elongated metal elements, in particular metal profiles and rods and similar products, comprising a first correction wheel (11 , 1 10) and a second correction wheel (12, 120) opposed to a feeding line (A) of a said metal element (2), rotatable respectively around a first axis of rotation (R1 ) and a second axis of rotation (R2) lying on a same plane orthogonal to said feeding line (A), and a drive assembly configured for driving said first correction wheel (11 , 110) and said second correction wheel (12, 120) according to a correction motion in a correction direction (C) respectively along said first rotation axis (R1 ) and said second rotation axis (R2), and therefore correcting the curvature of said metal element (2) on a corresponding plane, orthogonal to the lying plane of said first correction wheel (11 , 1 10) and said second correction wheel (12, 120).

2. Correction assembly according to claim 1 , characterized in that said first correction wheel (1 1 , 1 10) and said second correction wheel (12, 120) are movable according to a relative tightening motion, alternately between a release condition, wherein said first correction wheel (1 1 , 1 10) and said second correction wheel (12, 120) are moved away so as to be apart from said element (2), and a tightening condition, mutually pulled together to tighten said element (2).

3. Correction assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said first correction wheel (1 1 , 1 10) and said second correction wheel (12, 120) shape a conjugated perimetral profile (14, 15) for the housing of said metal element (2).

4. Correction assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that said first correction wheel (1 1 , 110) has one said perimetral profile shaped by a perimetral groove (14) and that said second correction wheel (12, 120) has a said perimetral profile made by means of a projection (15) mating with said perimetric groove (14), so as to firmly retain said element (2) during said correction motion.

5. Correction assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said perimetral groove (14) is V-shaped.

6. Correction assembly according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that said first correction wheel (1 1 , 1 10) and said second correction wheel (12, 120) have the same diameter.

7. Correction assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said first correction wheel (11 , 110) and said second correction wheel (12, 120) have different diameters.

8. Correction assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first correction wheel (1 10) and said second correction wheel (120) are movable in a further correction motion along a direction of further correction (E), perpendicular to said feeding line (A) and lying on the plane of said first correction wheel (110) and said second correction wheel (120), for correcting internal tensions present in said metal element (2) which occur as well on the lying plane of said wheels (1 10, 120).

9. Correction assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one deflection wheel (13, 130, 131 ) arranged upstream and/or downstream of said first correction wheel (11 , 1 10) and of said second correction wheel (12, 120), on one side of said feeding line (A), so as to facilitate the adhesion of said metal element (2) on a corresponding adjacent correction wheel of said correction assembly (10, 100) following a correction motion of said first correction wheel (11 , 1 10) and said second correction wheel (12, 120).

10. Straightening apparatus for elongated metal elements, comprising a straightening assembly (3) and a correction assembly (10) of the straightening according to one or more of the preceding claims, arranged downstream of said straightening assembly (3).

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises an auxiliary correction assembly (4) comprising auxiliary correction wheels (40, 41 ), arranged downstream of said correction assembly (10) along said feeding direction (A), said auxiliary correction assembly (4) being configured for correcting any curvatures of a said metallic element (2) along an auxiliary correction direction (B') transversal to said supply line (A), on the plane of said auxiliary correction wheels (40, 41 ).