BARSANTI, Fosco (Parco Produttivo Apuania lotto n.34, Massa, I-54100, IT)
| CLAIMS 1. Machine tool (10) for cutting stone materials, comprising four columns (11) on each of which a sliding member (12) is mounted displaceable in the vertical direction (Z-Z) from a top position for starting cutting to a bottom position for ending cutting, and vice versa, the sliding members adjacent in the longitudinal direction (X-X) having, respectively arranged between them, at least one longitudinal rotational shaft (14a) of a drive roller (14) and at least two rotational shafts (15a), parallel to each other, of transmission pulleys (15) , said roller (14) and pulleys (15) having the cutting wires (1) wound endlessly around them. characterized in that it comprises an apparatus for opening one end of the rotational shafts (14a, 15a) of the roller (14) and the pulleys (15) , said apparatus comprising: - a pair of frames (110) , each of which is fixed to a pair of sliding members (12) adjacent in the transverse direction (Y-Y) ; - each frame (110) comprising a first arm (112) and a second arm (113) which are parallel to the vertical direction (Z-Z) and respectively support the opposite ends of the rotational shaft (14a) of the drive roller (14) and the rotational shafts (15a) of the pulleys (15) ,- - said second arm (113) being longer in the vertical direction (Z-Z) than the corresponding second arm (112) by a suitable amount (P) and projecting beyond the height of the pulleys (15) by a different amount (Ql) ; - each first and second arm (112,113) of one of the two frames (110) having a pair of conical elements (121) oriented in the vertical direction (Z-Z) , arranged with their vertices opposite each other and projecting in the longitudinal direction (X-X) towards the outside of the machine ; - a pair of flanges (123,122) extending in the longitudinal direction (X-X) towards the inside of the machine and fixed to the respective sliding member (12) supporting the frame (110); each flange (123,122)· having a part (125) with, formed therein, a conical seat (125a) with a vertical axis (Z-Z) which complements the respective conical element (121) which is fixed to the vertical arm (112,113) and with which it may engage/disengage in the vertical direction following controlled movements of the sliding members ( 12 ) ; disengagement of the conical elements (121) from the respective seats (125) causing opening of one side of the rotational shafts for extraction/insertion of the endlessly wound wires (1) . 2. Machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an actuator (140) which is fixed to said first frame (110) and arranged on top of each conical element (121) against which it exerts a thrusting action in the vertical direction (Z-Z) so as to ensure that mutual engagement with the corresponding complementary seat (125a) is maintained . 3 . Machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises devices (1000) for programming, controlling and implementing the various relative movements of the parts. 4. Machine according to Claim 2, characterized in that said actuator (140) comprises a cylinder (141) , the rod (142) of which has a free end shaped in the manner of an inclined surface (142a) . 5 . Machine according to Claim 2, characterized in that said inclined surface (142a) of the rod (142) is designed to co-operate with a corresponding inclined surface (143a) of a tooth (143) fixed to the sliding member (12) . |
■ DESCRIPTION
The present invention relates to a machine for cutting stone materials, comprising an apparatus for quick change-over of the cutting tools.
It is known in the technical sector of machines for processing stone materials to use so-called multi- wire machine tools for cutting blocks into sheets; said machines are generally formed by a column-type support structure having, mounted thereon, two or more pulleys/drums, one of which has a driving function and is provided with a plurality of grooves formed in its annular surface and the others of which are idle, in turn being provided with multiple grooves, said pulleys/drums having, endlessly mounted thereon, the cutting tools consisting of a flexible diamond wire, i.e. wires with a steel core on which sintered diamond beads (metal segments) are mounted.
It is also known that said diamond wires are normally prepared as a closed loop and directly installed on the machine, being wound onto said driving drum/pulley and onto one or more of ' the idle transmission pulleys.
With the growing need for performing simultaneous cuts, machines with a number of wires (70-80) such as to require the design of a support structure with four columns have been developed, this design, although fulfilling its function, nevertheless giving rise to the problem of replacement of the worn diamond wires .
In the four-column structure, in fact, the driving and idle cylinders are supported at both ends by plates sliding on the columns so as to allow the downward cutting stroke and the subsequent return movement, this meaning that there is no longer a free space for insertion/extraction of the closed- loop wires in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of rotation of the drums.
This has resulted in attempts to provide a solution based on the use of mechanisms which are complicated, bulky and heavy and are difficult to manoeuvre.
The technical problem which is posed, therefore, is to provide an apparatus for moving the driving and idle pulleys for cutting wires in machine tools for processing stone materials, which is able to allow quick change-over of the cutting wires and subsequent rapid restoration of the working conditions during any necessary maintenance, arising also from wear of the frictional lining of the pulley.
In connection with this problem it is also required that the apparatus should be easy and inexpensive to produce and assemble and be able to be installed easily also on already existing devices without the need for special adaptation.
These results are achieved according to the present invention by a machine for cutting stone materials, comprising an apparatus for quick change-over of the cutting tools according to the characteristic features of Claim 1.
Further details may be obtained from the following description of a non-limiting example of embodiment of the subject of the present invention provided with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :
Figure 1 shows: a perspective view of a cutting machine with apparatus according to the present invention;
gure 2 shows a schematic top plan view of the machine according to Fig. 1 ,- gure 3 shows a partially sectioned schematic view of the machine according to Fig. 1 with the apparatus closed and the machine in operation;
gure 4 shows a view similar to the preceding view with the apparatus closed and the machine at the end of the cutting stroke; and
Figure 5 shows: a cross-section similar to the preceding view with the apparatus open and the machine in the condition for insertion/extract ion of the cutting wires;
Figs. 6a, 6b show: schematic illustrations of the means for locking the wire-holder rollers to the corresponding sliding member in the locked position; and
Figs. 7a, 7b show: schematic illustrations of the means for locking the wire-holder rollers to the corresponding sliding member in the released position.
As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and assuming solely for the sake of convenience of the description and without any limitation of meaning a set of three reference axes in a longitudinal direction X-X, transverse direction Y-Y and vertical direction Z- Z, respectively, a machine tool 10 for cutting stone materials comprises four columns 11 having, mounted thereon, a sliding member 12 displaceable in the vertical direction Z-Z from a top position for starting the cut into a bottom position for the end of the cut (downward stroke) and vice versa. The sliding members 12 are guided by respective rollers 12a co-operating with slides 11a on each column 11 and moved by a conventional worm screw 12b engaged with a sleeve 12c and actuated by an actuator 12d.
The two pairs of sliding members 12 adjacent in the transverse direction Y-Y are connected together by a respective frame 110 forming part of the apparatus 100 according to the present invention and designed to support the drum 14 and transmission pulleys 15 for the diamond wires 1 wound endlessly around the drum and the pulleys.
The respective rotational shaft 14a, 15a of the drive motor 14 and the transmission pulleys 15 extends in the longitudinal direction X-X.
The support apparatus 100 comprises essentially: - said pair of frames 110, each of which is fixed to a pair of sliding members 12 adjacent in the transverse direction Y-Y and formed by a bracing bar 111 which is substantially parallel to the transverse direction Y-Y and to the opposite ends of which a respective arm 112,113 parallel to the vertical direction Z-Z is connected; the respective ends of the longitudinal rotational shafts 14a, 15a of the drive roller 14 and the transmission pulleys 15 are connected to the said vertical arms 112,113; each vertical arm 113 supporting the pulleys 15 being longer than the vertical arm 112 supporting the drive roller and projecting at the bottom by a suitable amount Ql beyond the height of the pulleys 15, as will emerge more clearly below;
- a pair of conical or frustoconical elements 121 oriented in the vertical direction Z-Z, arranged with their vertices opposite each other, fixed to each vertical arm 112,113 from which they project in the longitudinal direction X-X towards the outside of the machine and located substantially at one of the two opposite ends of each rotational shaft 15a of the transmission pulleys 15 and 14a of the drive roller 14;
a pair of flanges 123,122 extending in the longitudinal direction X-X towards the inside of the machine and fixed to the respective sliding member 12 supporting the frame 110; each flange 123,122 has a part 125 provided with a conical seat 125a with a vertical axis Z-Z which complements the respective conical element 121 which is fixed to the vertical arm 112,113 and with which it may engage in the vertical direction;
- an actuator 140 fixed to said first frame 110 and arranged on top of each conical element 121 against which it exerts a thrust on the vertical direction Z-Z so as to ensure that the mutual engagement with the corresponding complementary seat 125a is maintained;
devices 1000 for programming, controlling and implementing the various relative movements of the parts .
According to a preferred embodiment said actuator 140 comprises a cylinder 141, the rod 142 of which has a free end shaped in the manner of an inclined surface 142a designed to co-operate with a corresponding inclined surface 143a of a tooth 143 fixed to the sliding member 12.
With the configuration described above the operating principle of the apparatus and the machine according to the present invention is as follows:
- under normal working conditions where cutting is performed (Fig. 4) the wires 1 are mounted endlessly around the drum 14 and the transmission rollers 15; the sliding members 12 are moved into the raised position for starting the cutting operation;
during cutting the sliding members 12 are lowered, in a synchronized manner, in the vertical direction Z-Z along the support columns 1 by means of the screw device 12b, sleeve 12c and actuator 12d, until they reach the bottom end of cut height FTi where the end of the vertical arm 113 is at a predetermined height H from the ground;
- if, at the end of cutting, it is required to perform change-over of the wires 1 (Fig. 4), a further extra travel movement H of the sliding members 12 downwards is performed to as to cause the bottom end of the arms 113 to rest on the ground so that, from this moment onwards, the load of the roller 14 and the pulleys 15 rests on said arms 113;
- the actuator 140 is activated, recalling the rod 142 which, disengaging the tooth 143, causes disengagement of the conical elements 125 fixed to the arms 113 of the pulleys 15 from the associated seats 125a fixed to the sliding members 12;
- a further downwards displacement of the sliding members 12 is performed such that the latter, moving downwards by a suitable amount Q2 , lower the flanges 123,122 with the conical seat 125a until an opening is formed between the conical seat 125a and the conical element 125;
- in this condition the corresponding machine part is open (in the manner of a two-column machine), allowing the worn wires 1 to be extracted and the new cutting wires to be inserted;
- by performing the reverse sequence of operations the normal working condition is restored and the cutting cycle resumed.
It is therefore clear how with the device according to the invention safe and rapid change-over of the wires may be performed in an automatic sequence, without the need for complicated operations for disassembly of the machine parts concerned, therefore reducing considerably the downtime required for machine retooling.
Although described in connection with certain constructional forms and certain preferred examples of embodiment of the invention, it is understood that the scope of protection of the present patent is defined solely by the following claims.
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