APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING ELONGATED METAL ELEMENTS

Technical field

[01] The present invention relates to an apparatus for machining elongate metal elements, such as for example iron rods for reinforced concrete, obtained by cutting from bars or rolls.

Background of the invention

[02] The use of elongate metal elements is known, in particular steel bars commonly called "iron", bent at one or the opposite ends, in this latter case called "rebars", or rods bent into a substantially closed section bar, called "stirrups" or "long stirrups" depending on the size, for making reinforcing bars for reinforced concrete or three-dimensional elements having the function of spacers, called "standees".

[03] To make such products, apparatuses are generally used which subject straight or prestraightened iron to an appropriate series of bends.

[04] More specifically, shaping devices are currently known which comprise a main drawing device, able to feed the iron along a longitudinal direction according to a feeding direction, a bending head, arranged along said longitudinal direction, and an auxiliary drawing device, arranged downstream of the bending head and intended to feed the iron in a direction opposite to the feed direction, to subject a tail end of the iron to shaping operations.

[05] A need exists for producing three-dimensional pieces, in particular three-dimensional “standees”. In order to produce three-dimensional pieces, special machines are usually used, in which, immediately downstream of the bending head operating on a first plane, a second bending head is operating on a plane transverse to the first plane, able to bend in a third dimension.

[06] An example of such known apparatuses is disclosed in patent EP2714296 in the name of the same Applicant, in which a first bending head operating on a first plane and a further bending head, operating on a plane transversal to the first plane and arranged downstream of the first bending head, for manufacturing three-dimensional pieces, are disclosed.

[07] The known solutions, however, do not fully meet the versatility needs of the specific sector, as they do not allow the production, with the same apparatus, of shaped pieces of different types, which are processed both on the head and on the tail and, if necessary, also three-dimensional.

Disclosure

[08] The object of the present invention is to solve the problems mentioned in the known art, by devising an apparatus for machining elongate metal elements, which permits to manufacture in a versatile way pieces of different type, in particular shaped and three- dimensional pieces.

[09] A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus with a simple and functional structure, which is reliable in operation and has a great flexibility of use.

[10] The aforementioned objects are achieved by the apparatus of claim 1 , according to the invention.

[11] The apparatus for machining elongate metal elements according to the invention comprises at least one drawing device for feeding at least one element in a longitudinal direction according to a feeding direction, a first operating station along the longitudinal direction, at which a bending head adapted to receive the same element is arranged on a work plane containing the longitudinal direction.

[12] The bending head comprises a bending mandrel member and an eccentric pivot operable in rotation on the work plane about the central axis of the mandrel member.

[13] The apparatus also comprises a second operating station aligned with the longitudinal direction and arranged downstream of the bending head according to said feeding direction, as well as a multifunction assembly equipped with a structure carrying at least a first functional device and a second functional device.

[14] According to a feature of the invention the multifunctional assembly comprises actuation means configured to make the movable structure of an alignment motion, so as to bring at the second operating station alternatively the first functional device or the second functional device, for machining the element.

[15] More precisely, the actuation means is configured to move said structure and, together with it, the first functional device and the second functional device according to the alignment motion, so as to position one of them in the second operating position and to move the other away from it, by virtue of the motion itself.

[16] In practice, following the alignment motion of the structure, each functional device is movable between a rest position, spaced from the second station, and a work position aligned at the second station, in which the same functional device is aligned to the longitudinal direction.

[17] The provision of the movable multifunction assembly at the second operating station has the advantage of making the apparatus for machining metal elements versatile and at the same time very compact. In fact, different machining operations can be carried out at the same operating station, the second one, preferably arranged immediately downstream of the bending head.

[18] In practice, in the same longitudinal section of the apparatus, different equipment can be placed, useful for manufacturing, in particular, flat, shaped, curved, and/or three- dimensional pieces. [19] According to a particular aspect of the invention the multifunction assembly comprises at least one alignment guide, for guiding the structure in the alignment motion along a path at least locally transverse to the longitudinal direction. This provision optimizes the compactness of the apparatus, as well as the tooling times of the same, to alternate the different provided functional devices.

[20] Such a path may be at least partially straight, curved, or a combination of a straight and curved path.

[21] The alignment motion is preferably a translational motion according to a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction. Said alignment guide is therefore preferably linear.

[22] Advantageously, said alignment motion is a motion on a plane substantially parallel to the work plane. For example, following such motion, the first device and the second device may be raised and lowered.

[23] Said alignment motion is preferably a reciprocating motion.

[24] Preferably the first functional device comprises an additional drawing device, configured to feed the element at least in a direction opposite to the feeding direction and shape a corresponding tail end of the element by means of the bending head.

[25] The second functional device may advantageously comprise an additional bending head, for example comprising in turn an additional mandrel member and an additional eccentric pivot operable in rotation on an additional work plane, inclined with respect to the work plane, around the additional mandrel member, to correspondingly bend the element.

[26] Alternatively or in addition, the first functional device or the second functional device or a further functional device carried by the structure may comprise a curving or bending device, i.e. for making wide-ranging bends, precisely called "curvatures".

[27] Preferably the structure is made by at least one movable slide along at least said alignment guide, which develops transversely to the longitudinal direction.

[28] Alternatively the structure can be made by at least one turntable rotating about an axis of rotation transverse to the work plane.

[29] As a particular aspect, said actuation means may act on catenary means, i.e. flexible transmission means of the chain type, associated with the structure, to move it in said alignment motion.

[30] Preferably, at least one of the first functional device and the second functional device is movable by an activation motion along an activation direction transverse to the work plane, by a respective control member between an inactive, retracted condition and an active, advanced condition on or beyond the work plane.

[31] In particular, the additional drawing device can preferably assume different positions in the transverse direction, in particular orthogonal to the work plane. For example, it can assume, in particular, a retractable rest position under the work plane, a work position emerging from said surface and a work position protruding from the work plane, in particular to allow the workpieces in the back to be worked without their interfering with the overall dimensions of the members, for example the cutting device, or of the protective casings that are located upstream of the bending head.

[32] According to the invention a method for machining elongate metal elements is also provided, comprising the steps of a. providing an apparatus for machining elongate metal elements, comprising at least one drawing device for feeding at least one element in a longitudinal direction according to a direction of feeding, a first operating station along the longitudinal direction, at which there is a bending head adapted to receive the element on a work plane containing the longitudinal direction, the bending head comprising a bending mandrel and an eccentric pivot operable in rotation on the work plane around the central axis of the mandrel member, a second operating station aligned with the longitudinal direction and arranged downstream of the bending head according to the feeding direction, and a multifunctional assembly equipped with a structure carrying at least a first functional device and a second functional device, and equipped with actuation means configured for making the structure movable in an alignment motion to alternately bring one of the first functional device and the second functional device to the second station, for machining the element; b. operating the structure in the alignment motion, to position the first functional device or the second functional device at the second operating station in alignment with the longitudinal direction; c. feeding the element along the longitudinal direction; d. operating in appropriate phase relation the first functional device or the second functional device aligned along the feeding direction to machine the element.

[33] In other words, in step a., the operating means provided is configured to move said structure and the first functional device and the second functional device, with it, according to the alignment motion.

[34] Preferably, the step of operating the first functional device or the second functional device is preceded by the step of moving the functional device according to an activation motion, from an inactive, retracted condition, to an active, advanced condition, on the work plane or beyond it.

[35] Preferably the aligned functional device remains at the second operating station in alignment with the longitudinal direction for the entire machining of the element. In other words, the arrangement of the apparatus permits to accomplish the manufacturing of the piece, without requiring interruptions for further equipping of the apparatus.

Preferably the step d. operating the first functional device or the second functional device comprises operating the bending head in a suitable phase relationship in cooperation with the first functional device or the second functional device.

Description of drawings

[36] The details of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus for machining elongate metal elements, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 - 6 are respectively a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus according to the invention in successive operating steps;

Figures 7 - 10 are a side view of a portion of the apparatus, in different operating steps of respective functional assemblies.

Description of embodiments of the invention

[37] With particular reference to these figures, the apparatus for machining elongate metal elements 2, in particular iron rods for reinforced concrete (see in particular Figures 1 - 6), has been indicated as a whole with the reference number 1.

[38] The apparatus according to the invention permits to machine, in particular to bend or curve, a plurality of elements 2 at each processing cycle, but it can also be used to machine one element 2 at a time. For simplicity, hereafter a single element 2 is mentioned, to also include the case of several elements 2 processed simultaneously.

[39] The apparatus according to the invention allows a multiplicity of different processes to be carried out. More precisely, the apparatus 1 permits to manufacture for example shaped pieces, i.e. bent at both, front and rear ends, and stirrups, both flat and three-dimensional.

[40] The apparatus 1 comprises a bending head 3 and a multifunctional assembly 4, arranged in succession along a longitudinal feeding direction L according to a feeding direction A (see in particular Figure 1).

[41] For example, a drawing device 5 is provided upstream of the bending head 3, whose position, upstream of the bending head 3, is schematically indicated in Figure 1.

[42] The drawing device 5 is preferably protected by a protection coating or casing 50, for example made of suitably shaped metal sheet or other material suitable for the required protection. In practice, the protection coating 50 performs a work shield function.

[43] The drawing device 5 mainly performs the function of feeding the element 2 in the longitudinal direction L mainly according to the feeding direction A. For example, the drawing device 5 can be made in the form of at least one pair of wheels, at least one of which motorized, said wheels being opposed with respect to the longitudinal direction L. In particular, the axes of said wheels lie preferably on a same plane orthogonal to the longitudinal direction L.

[44] The apparatus 1 may further comprise a cutting device 6, preferably arranged along the longitudinal direction L between the drawing device 5 and the bending head 3, for cutting the element 2 to the desired extent.

[45] The bending head 3 is operative at a first operating station 7 along the longitudinal direction L in the feeding direction A, in particular in succession to the drawing device 5 and, preferably, to the cutting device 6.

[46] The bending head 3 comprises, for example, a bending mandrel 31 and an eccentric pivot

32 operable in rotation on a work plane a substantially around a central axis of the mandrel 31 itself, to bend the element 2.

[47] The mandrel 31 can for example be made of a double pivot, i.e. of a pair of pivots arranged on each side of said central axis (see Figure 2), or of a single central pin arranged on the side of the longitudinal direction L.

[48] Between the two pivots of the mandrel 31 , in the case of a double pivot, or between the mandrel 31 and the eccentric pivot 32, in the case of a single pivot, an insertion channel

33 is defined for the element 2 to be bent, aligned, for the bending phase, to the feeding direction L.

[49] In practice, the eccentric pin 32 is configured to bend the element 2 that is inserted inside the channel 33, rotating on the work plane a around the central axis of the mandrel 31 .

[50] The drawing device 5 and the bending head 3 can also, in a known fashion, advantageously cooperate for manufacturing curved portions, i.e. with a wide radius of curvature, of the element 2, in particular with a radius of curvature wider than the radius formed by the pivot or pivots of the mandrel used. In particular, it is possible to bend with a wide radius of curvature a portion of the element 2 by suitably arranging the bending members of the bending head 3 and actuating the advancement of the element 2 therebetween, in the feeding direction A along the longitudinal direction L, so that said bending members act as a counterpart in the bending action.

[51] The multifunctional assembly 4 is arranged so as to occupy at least partially, in an operating condition, a second operating station 8 along the longitudinal direction L, downstream of the bending head 3, according to the feeding direction A.

[52] Advantageously, the second operating station 8 is arranged immediately downstream of the bending head 3, to allow machining on the element 2 close thereto.

[53] More precisely, the arrangement of the second operating station 8 immediately downstream of the bending head 3 allows the element 2 to be engaged by means of respective operating members, at a portion close to a corresponding portion of the same element engaged by the bending head 3, so as to ensure that the element 2 is correctly handled along the longitudinal direction or along a direction parallel to this, without the weight of the element causing unwanted deflection.

[54] The multifunctional assembly 4 comprises a structure 40 carrying at least a first functional device 41 and a second functional device 42, each being adapted to interact with the element 2. The multifunctional assembly 4 may alternatively comprise a different, even greater number of functional devices.

[55] The structure 40 is movable by an alignment motion to align at the second station 8 alternatively one of the functional devices 41 , 42 to the longitudinal direction L, thus allowing the machining of the element 2 by the aligned functional device.

[56] In practice, following the alignment motion of the structure 40 each functional device 41 , 42 is movable, being moved with the structure 40 itself, between a rest position, spaced away from the second station 8, and an aligned position at the second station 8, in which the same functional device 41 , 42 is aligned to the longitudinal direction L.

[57] The structure 40 can be made in a single piece or in several parts, however constrained respectively to the first functional device 41 and to the second functional device 42, in order to alternatively bring one or the other in the aligned position, i.e. in an operating condition at the second operating station 8.

[58] Preferably the structure 40 may comprise a cover 43, for example removable, at least partially, having the function of covering one or more functional devices carried by the structure 40 itself, when these are in a non-operational condition. The cover 43 performs the function of giving even partial continuity to the protective coating 50 of the apparatus 1.

[59] For example, the cover 43 can be moved by actuating means of known type, alternatively between a closed condition, in which the cover 43 is arranged to cover at least partially the functional devices, and an open condition, in which the cover 43 is at least partially removed, for example translated and/or rotated, away from one of the functional devices, enabling its operation on the work plane a or beyond it, if required.

[60] The structure 40, in particular, can be made up of a frame movably carried by the fixed frame 10 of the apparatus 1.

[61] More precisely, the structure 40 is operated in the alignment motion according to a transverse direction B to the feeding direction L (see Figure 7).

[62] Preferably the structure 40 is movable in the alignment motion along alignment guides 44 on command of an actuation means 45 of known type.

[63] The alignment motion may preferably be a translational motion, along substantially straight alignment guides 44. In such a case, the structure 40 can be made in the form of a slide, for example sliding on the alignment guides 44, possibly with straight development.

[64] Alternatively, said motion may be a rotational motion. In this case it is possible to make the structure 40 in the form of a turntable or drum and, therefore, following the alignment motion each functional device performs a substantially arched alignment path. For example, the structure 40 can be made by means of a drum with axis parallel to the work plane a or by means of a turntable rotating around an axis of rotation transverse to the same work plane. In particular, in the first case, the selected functional device emerges tangentially on the work plane a by virtue of the alignment motion.

[65] As a further possible alternative, the alignment motion may be a combination of said motions.

[66] Said alignment motion can be actuated by an actuating member 45, for example a motor member known in the art.

[67] At least one of the functional devices 41 , 42 carried by the structure 40 can be further movable by an activation motion, so as to be suitably positioned on the work plane a or on a plane superimposed thereon, to interact with the element 2. Preferably the activation motion is made in an activation direction C, which is transverse, preferably orthogonal, to the work plane a (see Figure 8).

[68] More specifically, the respective functional device 41 and/or 42 carried by the structure 40 can be moved relative to the structure 40 itself alternately at least between an inactive, retracted condition, preferably retracting under the work plane a, and an active condition, advanced along the activation direction C, so as to be preferably on the work plane a or protruding therefrom, to perform a machining on the fed element 2 (see Figures 7 - 10).

[69] In the illustrated embodiment for example both the first functional device 41 and the second functional device 42 are movable by said activation motion.

[70] In the same illustrated embodiment for example, the first functional device 41 may comprise an additional drawing device 5’, for example in the form of at least one pair of wheels 51’, at least one of which motorized, opposite to the longitudinal feeding direction L. In particular, the axes of said wheels 51’ preferably lie on a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal feeding direction L.

[71] In particular, additional drawing device 5’ can be configured to feed the element 2 at least in an opposite direction A opposite to the feeding direction A and shape a corresponding tail end of the element 2 by means of the bending head 3.

[72] To shape a tail end, the element 2 is preferably cut by the cutting device 6 and brought on a parallel plane and superimposed on the work plane, so as not to interfere with the upstream members of the bending head 3.

[73] The second functional device 42 may for example comprise an additional bending head 3’, for making bends on an inclined plane R> with respect to the work plane a (see Figure 6).

[74] Preferably the inclined plane R> is orthogonal to the work plane a.

[75] In particular, the additional bending head 3’ can advantageously have a fixed or adjustable inclination by an adjustment means with respect to the work plane a.

[76] The additional bending head 3’ may comprise, for example, an additional mandrel 31 ’ and an additional eccentric pivot 32’, operable substantially around the additional mandrel 31 ’ (see in particular Figures 1 , 6, 7 and 10).

[77] In particular, in Figure 7 the additional drawing device 5’ is shown in the active condition following the activation movement, therefore operating in a manner protruding from the work plane a, while in Figures 8 to 10 it is illustrated in the inactive condition, below the work plane a, for example so as not to interfere with the protective coating 50 of the apparatus 1 during the alignment movement.

[78] At the same time, in Figures 7 - 9 the additional bending head 3’ is shown in the inactive condition, below the work plane a, while in Figure 10 the same device is shown in the active condition, emerging from the work plane a, for bending the element 2 on the inclined plane R>.

[79] The activation motion, preferably translation motion, may be actuated by special control members, preferably of fluid-dynamic or electromechanical type, along respective activation guides.

[80] For example, in the embodiment shown in Figures 7 - 10, the additional drawing device 5’ is movable with the activation motion along the respective activation guides 46a by actuation of a control member 47a.

[81] For example, the additional bending head 3’ is in turn movable by the activation motion along respective activation guides 46b, upon actuation of a respective motor member 47b (see Figure 10).

[82] Alternatively or additionally, the structure 40 may carry further and/or different functional devices, such as for example a curving device, for making curvatures with a wide radius of curvature on the element 2, a marking device, a further inclined bending head for machining the element 2 on a further, correspondingly inclined work plane, or a different machining device.

[83] The operation of the apparatus according to the invention is understandable from the above description.

[84] In an initial preparation step, the first operating station 7 is set up for a specific work cycle. In practice, the bending members of the bending head 3 are for example positioned along the longitudinal feeding direction L at a mutual distance correlated to the transverse dimension, in particular to the diameter, of the element 2 to be bent, such that the insertion channel 33 is aligned with the longitudinal direction L.

[85] In the same preparation step of the apparatus 1 also the second station 8 is arranged according to the work cycle. In particular, the multifunctional assembly 4 is operated so as to align along the longitudinal direction L and make operative the functional device required for machining the element 2.

[86] For example, in the case shown in Figure 1 initially the additional drawing device 5’ is provided in alignment with the feeding direction L at the second station 8, while the current work cycle requires the replacement of this functional device with the additional bending head 3’, to work the element 2 in a third dimension, in particular on the inclined plane R>.

[87] The additional drawing device 5’ is then operated according to the activation motion to be arranged in the inactive condition, below the work plane a (see Figure 2).

[88] Subsequently, the structure 40 of the multifunctional assembly 4 is operated in the alignment fashion along the alignment direction B, to bring the second functional device 42, in particular the additional bending head 3’, into alignment with respect to the longitudinal direction L (see figure 3).

[89] Still in the same preparation step the cover 43 of the multifunctional assembly 4 is brought into the open condition (see Figure 4), to correspondingly place the operating members of the additional bending head 3’.

[90] Finally, the additional bending head 3’ is moved in the activation motion, in the active condition, in particular protruding from the work plane a (see Figure 5, which shows the positioning of the second functional device 42 at the beginning of the work cycle).

[91] At this point the chosen work cycle can begin. The element 2 is then fed along the longitudinal direction L in the feeding direction A by means of the drawing assembly 5 (see again Figure 5).

[92] The bending head 3 carries out one or more machining cycles on the head end of the element 2 (see Figure 5), suitably rotating the eccentric pivot 32 around the mandrel 31 .

[93] Finally, in appropriate phase relation to the advancement of the element 2, the additional bending head 3’ engages a portion of the fed element 2 and bends the element 2 on the inclined plane R> (see Figure 6).

[94] In general, the steps of advancement, bending with the bending head 3 and machining with the further functional device are followed in appropriate phase relationship in relation to the piece to be manufactured acting according to appropriate machining parameters.

[95] The apparatus 1 therefore enables the machining of the element 2 in a flexible and compact manner.

[96] In the practical embodiment of the invention, the materials used, as well as the shape and dimensions can vary according to the needs.

[97] 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.