AU600811B2 - Material working machine - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

PatentIs Act 0 0iu III.

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COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

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~jI Ii Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Spccification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Related Art: .1S Name(s) of Applicant(s): Address(es) of Applicant(s): Actual Inventor(s): APPLICANT'S REF.: GAP of PI 1369/87 DIMITP.IOS TRAMBAS 125 Perry Street, Devonport, Tasmania 7310, Australia.

DIMITRIOS TRAMBAS Address for Service is: PHILLIPS, ORMONDE AND FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne, Australia, 3000 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "MATERIAL WORKING MACHINE" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): P19/3/84

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This invention relates generally to the working of sheet material and in particular to a machine for bending material strip. The machine is applicable for longitudinally bending metal strip drawn from a strip roll source, and it will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention in relation to that exemplary application. It is to be appreciated, however, that the machine is not limited to that application.

It is well known to bend metal strip by feeding that strip longitudinally along a working path through profiling rollers shaped and arranged so as to longitudinally bend the strip into a desired cross-sectional profile. This is one way in which structural beams and sections, such as those with square C and Z profiles, may be formed. One set of rollers may be provided to bend the strip into the desired profile in a single bending action, or alternatively several roller sets may be spaced along the working path so that as th. strip passes each set it is progressively bent toward the desired profile.

Although machines are currently available to achieve that bending, they are usually somewhat limited in the strip profile that can be formed. That is, some machines are not readily adjustable to vary the profile to a significant extent, or to accommodate differently sized metal strips.

Even in those machines where adjustment is available, their versatility is usually the result of a provision to dismantle the profiling rollers and replace them with rollers having a different profile. This generally requires significant machine downtime which can be expensive and not make small quantity metal strip runs economically viable.

To some extent the versatility of previous machines was improved with the advent of the machine disclosed in my Australian patent application 555667. However, even with that machine some time consuming adjustment may be necessary for certain strip profiles.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a strip bending machine which alleviates the foregoing disadvantages of prior machines.

With that in mind, the present invention provides a 39 machine operable to work a material strip, including: a 2

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machine fr which the ame structure having an elongate working path along material strip longitudinally moves during machine '1

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operation; at least one set of feeding rollers mounted on the frame structure adjacent the working path for engaging the strip therebetween along aI bend line of the strip and guiding the passing strip along the working path; and, one or more bending rollers mounted on the frame structure adjacent the working path and the feeding rollers, the bending roller(s) being arranged so that the strip passes between the feeding rollers and the bending roller(s), the bending roller(s) engaging and apply a bending force to the strip So that the T:TttI strip is progressively bent between the feeding rollers and tttf St the bending roller(s) along the strip bend line as the strip passes therebetween.

t: The machine of the present invention is hereinafter described in relation to its normal operative orientation and terms such as "horizontal" and "vertical" should be construed on the basis of this orientation. It should be appreciated, C however, that other orientations may be equally possible and T2Q in other orientations alterations to terms such as those above may be necessary for a complete and proper understanding of the present invention.

The or each set oL feeding rollers preferably includes a pair of rollers. Those rollers are arranged so as to define a nip through which the strip passes during machine operation.

Moreover, each roller has a peripheral feeding surface engaging a respective opposite surface of the strip in rolling contact, and the feeding surfaces of each roller pair are arranged face-to-face.

Each feeding roller may be disc shaped and have a relatively narrow width peripheral feeding surface which extends perpendicular to a central plane of the feeding roller. The feeding surface is preferably at least substantially flat across the width of the roller.

Typically, two or more sets of feeding rollers will be provided. Those roller sets may be arranged so that a common bend line of a strip passes by successive roller sets. In addition or alternatively, the roller set arrangement may be Ssuch that two or more separate bend lines of a strip pass by

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i ,4~Cw I~if- i -3differen roller sets.

Preferably, one or more separate bending roller(s) are associated with the or each set of feeding rollers. Each bending roller is preferably located adjacent and at one side of a respective feeding roller set nip. In this way the bending roller forcibly engages the strip passing between the feeding and bending rollers immediately adjacent the bend line and causes it to bend along the bend line.

The or each bending roller preferably has a peripheral bending surface that engages a surface of the strip in rolling contact and in face-to-face relation. That bending surface is S angled relative to an approaching strip portion so that, upon 47 ~engagement, with the bending surface that strip portion is forced to bend to an angle consistent with the bending surface.

The or at least one of the bending rollers is preferably mounted for rotation on an axis extending perpendicular to the axes of rotation of the associated feeding roller set.

Moreover, the or at least one of the bending rollers is preferably positioned so that a central plane of the bending roller, extending transverse of a rotational axis thereof, passes through or close by the respective nip.

The peripheral bending surface of the or at least one bending roller may be acutely angled relative to the central plane of the bending roller. In that regard, opposite sides of the or at least one bending roller may be angled so as to taper toward one another in a radially outward direction of the roller. Each angled bending roller side provides a separate bending surface in this arrangement. The opposite sides of the bending roller may taper equally toward one another and meet at a peripherally extending apical line contained in the central plane.

Typically, a plurality of bending rollers are provided.

Those rollers are arranged for successive engagement with a strip portion to increasingly bend that strip portion. The peripheral bending surfaces of the successive bending rollers may be progressively less acutely angled. To ensure increased bending of the strip portion. At least one further bending roller may be provided with a peripheral bending surface 39 perpendicular to or obtusely angled relative to the central 4 plane of that bending roller. This further bending roller(s) may be located adjacent-. the working path downstream of the bending rollers having acutely angled bending surfaces. The further bending roller(s) then continue the bending of the strip portion.

Drive means may be connected to one or more of the feeding rollers and/or one or more of the bending rollers to rotate the roller(s). This may assist longtudinal movement Sof the strip along the working path.

The machine frame structure may include at least one support frame on which is mounted a respective feeding roller I set and associated bending roller The support frame(s) may be movable relative to the working path so as to vary the location of the feeding roller set and bending roller(s) relative to a material strip, and thus vary the location of the strip bending. The feeding rollers of the or each roller set may also be relatively movable in order to vary a nip spacing therebetween. Moreover, the associated bending roller(s) may be mounted for movement relative to the respective feeding roller set(s).

The following description refers to a preferred embodiment of the machine of the present invention. To facilitate an understanding of the invention, reference is made in the description to the accompanying drawings where the machine is illustrated in that preferred embodiment. It is to be understood that the machine is not limited to the preferred embodiment as hereinafter described and as illustrated in the drawings.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of a machine incorporating the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic top plan view of the machine of Fig. 1; and Figs. 3 to 6 are part sectional views through sections III-III, IV-IV, V-V, and VI-VI respectively of Fig. 1.

Referring initially to Figs. 1 and 2 there is generally illustrated machine for working, and in particular longitudinally bending, material strip S. Strip S is drawn 39 from roll source R and progressively fed through machine 1 for KW -5 bending.

Machine 1 includes frame structure 2 defining generally horizontal working path 3 having spaced apart inlet and outlet stations 4, 5. Frame structure 2 is of a solid and rigid construction that can bear on a support foundation such as a floor.

Sets of feeding rollers 6 are mounted on structure 2 in spaced apart relation adjacent working path 3. Some sets of feeding rollers 6 are shown in more detail in Figs. 3 to 6, and each includes a pair of rollers 7, 8 arranged so as to I define nip 9 therebetween through which strip S passes during machine operation. Each roller 7, 8, has peripheral feeding surface 10 that engages a respective surface of strip S in rolling contact, and rollers 7, 8 are arranged so that their feeding surfaces 10 are face-to-face, i.e. feeding surfaces are not offset one from another. In addition, roller surfaces of each roller pair has at least one peripheral end edge 11 aligned in a common plane. With this arrangement, in use of machine i, strip S will move along working path 3 so that a bend line L lies in the common plane of end edges 11 and with a longitudinal portion P of strip S to be bent projecting laterally outwardly from between those end edges 11. Thus, bending of strip S occurs between coplanar end edges 11 of roller pair 7, 8 and results in the outwardly projecting strip j portion P being bent about one of those edges 11.

As illustrated, in the preferred embodiment each feeding roller 7, 8 is disc shaped and mounted for rotation about central transverse axis X. Each roller 7, 8 has a relatively narrow width peripheral feeding surface 10. Moreover, each surface 10 is at least substantially transversely flat and extends parallel to axis X.

Feeding rollers 7, 8 are mounted for rotation on axes X that extend parallel to the nip plane in which lies the longitudinal strip portion passing through roller nip 9 and not being bent at rollers 7, 8. Thus, where the strip portion not being bent extends in a horizontal plane then roller axes X also extend in a horizontal plane. It may be that only the strip portion passing through nip 9 extends in that plane, the 39 remainder of strip S extending in one or more other planes 6 r i

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that may be particularly so where, for example, strip S has been previously bent.

All (not illustrated) or at least some (as illustrated) of roller sets 6 may be aligned along working path 3 so that a common bend line L passes through successive sets 6 during machine operation. That may be particularly appropriate where strip S is to be progressively bent along a bend line L at each aligned roller set 6.

In addition (as illustrated), or alternatively (not illustrated), different roller sets 6 may be arranged so as to engage strip S along two or more separate bend lines L. That engagement of strip S may be simultaneous and/or successive.

Thus (as illustrated), two or more roller sets 6 are laterally spaced apart so as to simultaneously engage strip S at laterally spaced apart bend lines L whereby strip S may be simultaneously bent along at least two bend lines L. To or more roller sets 6 may also (as illustrated) or alternatively be longitudinally and laterally spaced apart so as to successively engage strip S at different bend lines L, strip S initially being bent along at least one bend line L engaged by upstream roller set(s) 6 and subsequently being bent along at least one other bend line L engaged by downstream roller set(s) 6.

Feeding rollers 7, 8 may be mounted for idle rotation and thus only rotate as a result of engagement with strip S S being otherwise driven along working path 3. Alternatively (as illustrated), at least one roller 8 of roller sets 6 may be rotatably driven to at least assist that movement of strip S. That driving is achieved through any suitable drive means 12 connected to rollers 8 in question, such as by a pneumatic or hydraulic motor 13 connected directly (not illustrated), or indirectly (as illustrated) through transmission mechanism 14, such as gears, pulleys and belts, and/or sprockets and chains, to rotatable shafts 15 on which rollers 8 are fixedly mounted.

Separate bending roller 16 is associated with each feeding roller set 6. In particular, each bending roller 16 is located adjacent respective feeding roller set nip 9 so as to forcibly engage strip S passing therebetween immediately 39 adjacent bend line L and cause portion P to be bent along bend 7 :i line L one of the roller end edges 11. Bending rollers 16 is located immediately adjacent the side of feeding rollers 7, 8 from which strip portion P to be bent laterally projects.

Each bending roller 16 has peripheral bending surface 17 engaging a surface of strip S in rolling contact and in face-to-face relation. Bending surface 17, when facing associated feeding roller set 6, is angled relative to approaching strip portion P to be bent. In this way, upon strip engagement strip portion P is forced to bend into the angle consistent with bending surface 17. Bending surfaces 17 will preferably be angled relative to the nip plane of associated feeding roller set 6.

(FI In the preferred embodiment, bending rollers 16 are each mounted for rotation on respective axis Y that generally extends perpendicular to rotation axes X of associated feeding rollers 7, 8. Moreover, bending rollers 16 are each positioned so that their central plane C transverse of axis Y passes through or is very close to nip 9 of associated feeding roller set 6. Thus, bending roller 16 tends to "straddle" or "bridge" nip 9.

Bending surface 17 of at least one (some as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4) bending roller 16 is acutely angled relative to central plane C as shown by angle X. To that end, those bending rollers 16 taper in a radially outward direction at least in the region adjacent the outer periphery. That taper may extend from one side of rollers 16 partially or entirely across to the other roller side (not illustrated).

Alternatively (as illustrated), those rollers 16 may taper from both sides into a peripheral apical line 18 lying in central plane C or parallel thereto. Thus, in affect two bending surfaces i7a, 17b are provided on each tapered bending roller 16, and this may enhance versatility of machine 1 as will become more apparent hereinafter.

Where rollers 16 are arranged for progressive bending of strip S then those tapered bending rollers 16 may have progressively differing taper angles X. For example, where strip S is to be bent at 900 then successive rollers 16 may be provided with taper angles X increasing from something 39 considerably less than 900 (such as 300) to something 8 approaching 900 (such as 800).

Bending surface 17 of at least one other bending roller 16 (some as illustrated in Fig. 5) may be perpendicularly or obtusely angled relative to central plane as shown by angle B. In the case of perpendicularly angled bending surface 17, bending roller(s) 16 may have a cylindrical shaped surface.

Bending roller(s) 16 having obtusely angled bending surface(s) 17 may taper in a radially inward direction in a manner opposite roller(s) 16 having acutely angled bending surfaces 17 as described above. Bending roller(s) 16 of this type may be particularly suitable for location downstream of rollers 16 having acutely angled bearing surfaces 17 in order to continue S progressively bending of strip S. Thus, for example, roller(s) 16 with a bending surface taper angle B of just over 900 may be provided to complete a 900 bend when allowing for strip "springback".

All bending rollers 16 .nay be mounted for rotation on axes Y extending perpendicular to axes X of associated feeding rollers 7, 8 and have angled bending surfaces 17 as described above. Alternatively, at least one (same as illustrated in Fig. 3) bending roller 16, is mounted for rotation on axis Z that is not perpendicular to rotation axis X of associated 4 feeding rollers 7, 8. Rather, axes Z extends parallel to the angle to which it is desired to bend approaching strip S as it t passes that roller 16. In addition, bending surface 17 of I t t that roller 16 is also parallel to rotation axis Z so that it is a cylindrical shaped bending surface 17.

Bending rollers 16 may be mounted for idle roation and thus only rotate as a result of engagement with moving strip S. Alternatively, at least one roller 16 may be rotatably driven at least during initial engagement with the approaching strip S. Such rotation can encourage strip S to correctly bend as it engages rollers 16. In that regard, where bending rollers 16 are tapered to produce two bending surfaces 17a, 17b then approaching strip S can be forced into engagement with one or other of those surfaces 17a, 17b depending on the direction of roller rotation. This in turn determines the direction of bending and thus final shape of strip S. The 39 most upstream tapered bending rollers 16 may be particularly KW 9 -41 so driven. Driving of bending rollers 16 may be achieved through any suitable drive means (not illustrated), which may include one or more air driven motors connected directly or indirectly to bending rollers 16.

Machine 1 is constru fted so that only one or only some or all of feeding roller sets 6 and associated bending rollers 16 need be utilised in bending a strip S. Thus, it is possible to adjust roller sets 6 and bending rollers 16 so as to engage and disengage strip S as desired which, in turn, will permit variation in the final strip profile. That versatility is achieved at least in part by movably mounting one or some or all of feeding roller sets 6 and bending rollers 16 directly or indirectly on machine frame structure 2.

To that end, machine frame structure 2 includes base frame 19 with separate support frames 20 mounted thereon, and on which feeding roller sets 6 and bending rollers 16 are mounted. One (as illustrated) feeding roller set 6 and associated bending roller 16 is carried by each support frame One or more support frames 20 are mounted for movement at least in a direction transverse of working path 3 so as to shift feeding roller sets 6 and bending rollers 16 carried therewith, and thereby permit bending along different bend H lines L. When working path 3 is horizontal then transverse movement of support frames 20 may be horizontal and/or vertical, for example. Movable support frames 20 are conveniently mounted for sliding linear movement relative to base frame 19.

Each movable support frame 20 may be moved by drive means (not illustrated). That drive means may include one or more drive motors coupled directly or indirectly to movable support frames 20. The drive motors may be pneumatically or hydraulically driven and may be coupled to support frames either directly or indirectly through transmission gears, pulleys and belts, sprockets and chains, drive screws, or other mechanisms.

Machine versatility is also facilitated by mounted feeding rollers 7, 8 so that at least one roller 7 in each set 6 is adjustable to vary nip 9. This permits machine 1 to 39 accommodate strips S of different thicknesses. That movement 10 may be achieved by suitable mounting of rollers 7 on support frames 20 for sliding movement. One such mounting includes bearing block 21 in which is journalled shaft 22 and on which roller 7 is mounted. Block 21 in turn is slidably mounted in guide 23 of support frame Each bearing block 21 is movable by drive means 24 including drive screw 25 interconnecting bearing block 21 and support frame 20. Drive screws 25 may be manually rotatable (as illustrated) or may be rotated directly or indirectly by a drive motor (not illustrated).

At least some bending rollers 16 may be movable relative to associated feeding roller sets 6. That movement is linear in a direction parallel to and/or perpendicular to rotation axes Y. Again, that may be achieved by any suitable mounting of bending rollers 16 on support frames 20. Such mounting of some bending rollers 16 is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5, and includes bearing block 26 in which is journalled shaft 27 on which respective roller 16 is mounted, block 26 in turn being slidably mounted on support frame Each bearing block 26 is movable by drive means 28 including drive screw 29 interconnecting respective bearing block 26 and support frame 20. Screw 29 may be manually rotatable (as illustrated) or may be rotated directly or indirectly by a drive motor (not illustrated).

One or some bending rollers 16 may also be rotatably movable to adjust their position relative to associated feeding roller sets 6. Such movement may be particularly appropriate for bending rollers 16 having a cylindrical shaped surface and being mounted on rotation axes Z extending parallel to the angle to which it is desired to bend an approaching strip S. Such movement of bending rollers 16 may be about an axis extending parallel to the nip plane. Again, those bending rollers 16 may be mounted on their support frames 20 in any suitable manner to enable that movement.

In operating machine 1, feeding rollers 7, 8 and bending rollers 16 are initially adjusted to positions that achieve bending of a metal strip S into a desired profile. The profile may be a generally squared C or Z profile, although 39 the adjustability of rollers 7, 8, 16 makes other profiles 11 equally possible.

It should be particularly appreciated that this adjustment to the desired profile does not involve actual removal and replacement of any rollers 7, 8, 16, i.e. the same rollers 7, 8, 16 can be used to bend quite different strip profiles upon simple and quick repositioning. That repositioning may be especially simplified if achieved automatically through a central control system. In that regard, the system may incorporate computer control of the various drive motors.

Upon roller positioning, driving of any driven rollers 8, 16, is commenced and metal strip S is fed through inlet station 4 into working path 3. As strip S progresses along path 3 past feeding roller sets 6 and associated bending rollers 16 it is caused to be bent therebetween. As discussed above that bending may occur successively so that as strip S approaches outlet station 5 it is progressively bent into the selected profile.

A machine according to the present invention permits ready and rapid variation in the bending of material strip into a desired profile. That variation is achieved with a minimun of machine downtime. As such, machine production may be maximised even when only small production runs of desired strip profiles are involved.

Finally, it is to be understood that various modifications and/or alterations may be made to the machine without departing from the ambit of the present invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

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Claims (18)

1. A machine operable to work a material strip, including: a machine frame structure having an elongate working path along which the material strip longitudinally moves during machine operation; at least one set of feeding rollers mounted on the frame structure adjacent the working path for engaging the strip therebetween along abend line of the strip and guiding the passing strip along the working path; and, one or more bending rollers mounted on the frame structure adjacent the working path and the feeding rollers, the bending roller(s) being arranged so that the strip passes between the feeding rollers and the bending roller(s), the bending roller(s) engaging and apply a bending force to the strip so that the strip is progressively bent between the feeding rollers and the bending roller(s) along the strip bend line as the strip passes therebetween.

2. A machine as claimed in claim i, wherein the or each set of feeding rollers includes a pair of rollers arranged so as to define a -Jp therebetween through which the strip passes 2u during machine operation, each roller having a peripheral feeding surface engaging a respective cpposite surface of the strip in rolling contact, and the feeding rollers of the or each pair being arranged with their feeding surfaces face-to-face and a corresponding feeding surface edge lying in a plane common with the bend line as the strip moves along the working path.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein each feeding roller is disc shaped and has a relatively narrow width peripheral feeding surface which extends perpendicular to a central plane of the feeding roller, and is at least substantially flat across the width of the roller.

4. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein two or more sets of feeding rollers are provided and, having regard to their number, those roller sets are arranged so that a common bend line of a strip passes by successive roller sets and/or two or more separate bend lines of a strip pass by different roller sets.

5. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein one 3 104 or more separate bending roller(s) are associated with the or ;.i C KW 13 each set of feeding rollers, each bending roller being located adjacent and at one side of a respective feeding roller set nip so as to forcably engage the strip passing therehetween immediately adjacent the bend line and cause it to be bent along the bend line.

6. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each bending roller has a peripheral bending surface that engages a surface of the strip in rolling contact and in face-to-face relation, the bending surface being angled o relative to an approaching strip portion so that upon engagement with the bending surface that strip portion is forced to bend to an angle consistent with the bending surface.

7. A machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the or at least one of the bending rollers is mounted for rotation on an axis extending perpendicular to axes of rotation of the associated feeding roller set.

8. A machine as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the or at least one of the bending rollers is positioned so that a central plane of the bending roller, extending transverse of a rotational axis thereof, projects through or close by a nip defined by the associated feeding roller set.

9. A machine as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the peripheral bending surface of the or at least one bending roller is acutely angled relative to a central plane of the bending roller extending transverse of a rotational axis thereof.

A machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein opposite sides of the or at least one bending roller are angled so as to taper toward one another in a radially outward direction of the roller, each angled bending roller side providing a separate bending surface.

11. A machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein the opposite sides of the bending roller taper equally toward one another and meet at a peripherally extending apical line contained in the central plane.

12. A machine as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein a plurality of bending rollers are provided, those rollers being arranged for successive engagement with a strip 39 portion to increasingly bend that strip portion, and the 14 peripheral bending surfaces of the successive bending rollers are progressively less acutely angled.

13. A machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least one further bending roller is provided with a peripheral bending surface perpendicular to or obtusely angled relative to the central plane of that bending roller, the further bending roller(s) being located adjacent the working path downstream of the bending rollers having acutely angled bending surfaces for continuing to increasingly bend the strip portion.

14. A machine as claimed in any preceding claims, and further including drive means connected to one or more of the feeding rollers and/or one or more of the bending rollers to rotate the roller(s) and thereby assist longitudinal movement of the strip along the working path.

A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the machine frame structure includes at least one support frame on which is mounted a respective feeding roller set and associated bending roller(s), the support frame being movable relative to the working path thereby to vary the location of the feeding roller set and bending roller(s) relative to a material strip.

16. A machine as claimed in claim 15, and further including drive means coupled directly or indirectly to the support frame(s) and operable to move the frame(s).

17. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the feeding rollers of the or each roller set are relatively movable in order to vary a nip spacing therebetween, and the associated bending roller(s) are mounted for movement relative to the respective feeding roller set(s).

18. A machine operable to work a material strip, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to what is shown in the accompanying drawings. DATED: 5 April 1988 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: DIMITRIOS TRAMBAS 3857E KW