GB2085774A - A machine for adjusting the geometrical properties of elongate sections - Google Patents

Abstract

The machine comprises, in combination, an entry feed unit or manipulator (11) driving a pair of rolls (12) for feeding elongate sections to a twist- straightening unit (13) comprising alternate pairs of horizontal and vertical rolls (15, 115, 17, 117) which are shaped peripherally with a shape complementary to that of the section to be worked. Downstream of the twist straightener is a longitudinal straightener (20) comprising a plurality of pairs of rolls (21, 121) with their axes longitudinally staggered. At the exit end of the straightener there is a gauging unit comprising a pair of driven rolls with peripheral shaping complementary to that of the section being worked. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A machine for adjusting the geometrical properties of elongate sections The present invention relates to a machine for adjusting the geometrical properties of elongate sections. Such a machine may be adapted to act on sections of any shape, including round bars, and the adjustment of the geometrical properties includes straightening, both of bend and twist in the section, and also adjustment of the relative cross sectional dimensions, this all being done with the sections cold.

The apparatus is particularly suitable for extruded sections but can also be used advantageously for rolled, shaped, drawn or other sections.

At present operations for the straightening of such sections and for adjustment of other geometry parameters is effected by using a plurality of different pieces of equipment such as straighteners, presses, fly presses and the like, which entails considerable consumption of energy, requires a large amount of space and takes a substantial amount of time.

The present invention seeks to provide an economic, coordinated and efficient way of executing these operations which above all gives a real correction of the geometric properties of the section not only in the transverse but also in the longitudinal sense.

According to the present invention, there is provided a machine for adjusting the geometrical properties of elongate sections, comprising in combination means for torsionally correcting the sections, means for feeding the sections to the said torsional correction means and, downstream of the said torsional correction means, means for effecting longitudinal straightening of the sections.

One embodiment of the invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a machine constituting an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view from above of the embodiment of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an end view of the embodiment of Figure 1, showing the entry end of the maching.

Referring now to the drawings the machine as a whole is generically indicated 10; at the entry end of the machine 10 is a manipulator 11 of a type known per se with rolls 12 which serve to receive the workpiece and drive itforward into the machine. The rolls 12, as well as acting to drive the workpiece serve to squeeze it, for which purpose the rolls may advantageously have a shaped surface with circular protrusions to improve frictional contact and thrust.

Downstream of the rolls 10 is a forming unit; in the example shown this consists of two pairs of horizontal rolls 15 and 115 and two pairs of vertical rolls alternate along the path of the workpiece. The forming unit could, of course, have any suitable number of pairs of rolls and any combination of vertical and horizontal rolls; there could also be provided groups of inclined and/or inclinable rolls if the shape of the workpiece warranted it.

The horizontal rolls 15, 115 are driving rolls, in the example shown in the drawing, by virtue of the presence of a motor 27 and a transmission unit 28.

Alternatively or additionally the vertical rolls may be driven rolls. This forming unit serves to take up the workpiece and remove any twist it may have, that is to say any torsional irregularities in the material are removed regardless of the origin. This unit can also perform a sizing or at least a presizing of the section.

Between the rolls 12 and the first pair of forming rolls 15, 115 is an entry guide slide 14 which may be shaped or adjustable in height as necessary. The horizontal rolls 15, 115 may be shaped to conform with the shape of the sections to be worked, and are advantageously kept pressed towards each other by hydraulic rams 16 which, in the example shown, act via respective levers 116 (only one of which is shown in Figure 1). The rams 16 could alternatively act on slides carrying the rolls 15. The rolls 15, 115 may have peripheral protrusions to improve their grip on the workpiece.

The vertical rolls 17, 117 are mounted so that their interaxial distance can be adjusted at will. They are preferably provided with resilient biasing means urging them towards one another. The biasing is reduced progressively in the direction of advance of the workpieces. The vertical rolls 17, 117 are positionable by means of motor 18, and may have surface protrusions or other such means for improving frictional contact with the workpiece. The vertical rolls 17, 117 may also have shapes or profiles to correspond with that of the workpiece to be worked.

Downstream from the forming means 13 is a guide roll 19 which guides the workpiece leaving the forming means 13 into the entrance of the straightening means 20, which may be of known type, and which are driven by motor means 27 driving through a speed-reducing transmission unit 128 (see Figure 2). The straightening means 20 are essentially constituted by a plurality of rolls 21, 121 the axes of which are staggered so that a vertical passing through the axis of one of the rolls 121 in the upper set is approximately equidistant between vertical planes passing through the axes of the two nearest rolls 21 of the lower set (apart from the end roll). The position of each roll 21,121 is fixed, but the rolls 121 are adjustable by means of motors 30 and transmission systems 31, which latter may be of the screw or auger type.

At the end of the machine is a rolling case with rolls serving for gauging the profile of the workpiece leaving the machine. This case has two shaped drums 23, 123 the peripheral surfaces of which conform to the required shape of the workpiece being worked. The drums 23, 123 are driven to rotate by a motor 227 and transmission unit 228, whilst the relative positions of the drums 23, 123 is determined by a motor 29, and this relative position is displayed on a scale 24 located at the top of the roll case 22.

The drums 23, 123 of the rolling case 22 serve as gauging cylinders. Two stay rods 25 are also provided for the upper cylinder 23. Beneath the lower cylinder 123 are located rolls or wheels 26 which are used in conjunction with appropriate rails for substituting the drums 23, 123 when worn or when changing from one workpiece shape to another. A hoist 32 is also provided; this hoist is used for dismantling the rolls 15, 115 and the rolls 21, 121 and is available for lifting or moving other parts of the machine.

The machine described above operates as follows: A length of, say, extruded section, for example of the type used in window frames is to be worked; such a section may be twisted by 3600 or more and may have one or more longitudinal bends in one or more planes. It may also have parts which are deformed from the required cross sectional shape, for example due to knocks received on flanges or the like.

In order to render it usable, it must be first straightened torsionally and then longitudinally, and the errors of form in the cross sections must be corrected. The workpiece is first fed to the manipulator 11 which pushes it forward until it enters into contact first with the guide 14 and then with the first pair of horizontal rolls 15, 115. In orderthat it can progress further the leading end of the sections must be properly angularly orientated so as to pass between the first pair of rolls, which latter are shaped to receive it in the correct orientation.

The vertical and horizontal rolls of the forming group 13 remove the twist from the workpiece as ti passes and, if necessary, can also give a partial or total sizing to the profile as far as the geometrical properties of the section are concerned due to the above mentioned shaping of the rolls in accordance with the cross-sectional shape of the workpiece. In fact the torsional straightening function is executed, according to the geometry of the profile, either by the horizontal rolls 15, 115 or by the vertical rolls 17, 117 or by a coordinated action of both sets of rolls.

At the exit of group 13 the work piece is substantially torsionally straightened, but may still have longitudinal bows or bends in it.

The workpiece then advances to the straightener 20 where, due to the cooperation of the two sets of staggered rolls 21 and 121, it is also straightened longitudinally.

At the exit of the straightening unit 20 the workpiece passes through the rolling case 22 which serves for gauging, cold, the geometric properties of the section.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has been described above in relation to the drawings. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, however, that other embodiments are possible. For example it is possible to vary ratios and dimensions and it is possible to add or remove certain compo nent parts. In this latter respect it is possible to increase or decrease the number of rolls in the manipulator unit 11, or in the forming unit 13, or in the straightening unit; it is also possible to envisage the use or non-use of a rolling case, and it is also possible to mount the rolls in two or even more rolling cases. The rolls 12, instead of being fixedly mounted, may be displaceable either linearly in a guide or arcuately on a pivoted arm like rolls 15. It is also possible to mountthevertical rolls 17,117, which in the illustrated embodiment are fixed, in a slidable or swingable manner; it is also possible to mountthe rolls 15,115 in such a way that they are adjustable through a progressively adjustable range of rigidly fixed positions.

Claims (13)

CLAIMS 2

1. A machine for adjusting the geometrical properties of elongate sections, comprising in combination means for torsionally correcting the sections, means for feeding the sections to the said torsional correction means and, downstream of the said torsional correction means, means for effecting longitudinal straightening of the sections.

2. A machine as claimed in Claim 1, in which the said means for feeding sections to the torsional correction means comprise at least one pair of rolls.

3. A machine as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which there are provided gauging means at the exit of the said longitudinal straightening means.

4. A machine as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, in which the said means for torsionally correcting the sections comprise a plurality of pairs of rolls between which the sections pass successively.

5. A machine as claimed in Claim 4, in which the rolls of at least one of the said pairs of rolls have substantially horizontal axes.

6. A machine as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, in which the rolls of at least one of the said pairs of rolls have substantially vertical axes.

7. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, in which at least some of the rolls have a peripheral shape complementary to that of the workpieces to be worked.

8. A machine as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 7, in which at least some of the rolls are mounted with their axes movable in a direction normal thereto and are biased towards a rest position thereof, from which position they are displaced by contact with a workpiece being corrected.

9. A machine as claimed in Claim 8, in which the biasing is reduced progressively in the direction of the workpiece advance.

10. A machine as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9, in which at least some of the rolls are mounted with their axes displaceable arcuately.

11. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the said longitudinal straightening means comprise a plurality of rolls arranged in pairs between which the work-pieces pass successively, the axes of the rolls of each pair being offset in the direction of travel of the workpieces through the machine.

12. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the gauging means comprise at least one pair of driven rolls between which the work pieces pass.

13. A machine for adjusting the geometrical properties of elongate sections, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accom panying drawings.