METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING MESH, IN PARTICULAR METAL

MESH FOR PREFABRICATED PANELS Technical field

[01] The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing mesh, in particular metal mesh for prefabricated panels.

Prior art

[02] Devices that construct mesh, in particular metal mesh, which can be used, for example, for the reinforcement of reinforced concrete structures, for fences or for other uses are known.

[03] The metal mesh are constituted by the union, generally by electro-welding, of a plurality of longitudinal elements, metal wires or rods, arranged parallel and in a suitably spaced way, to transversal elements, metal wires or rods, usually arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal elements at a suitable distance from each other.

[04] Known apparatuses usually produce commercial mesh which, however, do not correspond to the requirements of the prefabrication sector, which often requires made-to- measure mesh with a particular shape.

[05] Commercial or standard mesh is in fact produced in series and have a standard format. In the reinforcement of prefabricated panels in which doors or windows are provided, or having irregular shape, the commercial mesh, made in a standard way, must be suitably cut, to be shaped in accordance with the project. This involves a considerable expenditure of labor and material.

[06] Furthermore, it must be considered that, to reinforce prefabricated panels, two specular mesh are required, since the transverse wire must usually face outwards. It follows from this that one panel in two must be overturned to be perfectly mirrored. This handling involves problems due, for example, to the dimensions of the panels, which are usually considerable, and to the fact that, once cut or shaped, the panels are less rigid and therefore more difficult to handle.

[07] Two types of apparatuses are currently known for making metal mesh for prefabrication.

[08] According to a first type, called "single-phase", the apparatus for manufacturing mesh for prefabrication includes a power supply assembly that feeds the transverse wires at the welding station, positioning them with respect to the longitudinal wires already prepared on a power supply plane. Therefore, the geometry of the wire mesh is formed as each transverse wire, one at a time for example, is welded to the longitudinal wires.

[09] Except for the adoption of very complex solutions, this type, however, has the drawback of not allowing the creation of mirror mesh, since, normally, the power supply assembly inserts the transverse wires on the same side with respect to the longitudinal wires. [10] Furthermore, the apparatuses of this typology are structurally complex and therefore expensive.

[11] According to a further type of apparatus, called "two-phase", the apparatus for making metal meshes for prefabrication includes a pre-composition tray or template, in which, in a first phase of work, the longitudinal wires and the transverse wires are arranged in the correct position, to then be welded together, in a second phase, at a welding station.

[12] In particular, in the welding phase, said tray, bearing both the transverse and the longitudinal threads, is moved towards the welding station.

[13] This second type generally involves simpler apparatuses, but is less automated and therefore less productive.

[14] DE 29518140 U shows an example of this type of system.

[15] The first type, therefore, normally has higher performance, but is more complex and expensive; the second is usually simpler to implement, but is less automated and less productive.

[16] Therefore, known apparatuses does not fully satisfy the production requirements. In particular, such apparatuses do not allow easy and effective manufacturing of metal mesh of any type, for example of particular shape or by fixing the transversal wires above or below the fed longitudinal wires.

Disclosure

[17] The object of the present invention is that of solving the aforementioned problems, devising a method and an apparatus for manufacturing metal mesh in particular for prefabricated panels, which maximizes productivity, operating in an effective and versatile way.

[18] In particular, the aim of the present invention is to devise a method and an apparatus that accomplishes optimally, in relation to the production requirements, the manufacturing of mesh, in particular metal mesh, through a first step of preparing the longitudinal and transverse wires, and a second step of handling and joining the longitudinal and transversal wires previously prepared.

[19] Within this aim, a further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of simple constructive and functional conception, having safe and reliable use, as well as relatively cheap cost.

[20] In practice, the purpose of the present invention is to propose an evolutionary solution of the so-called "two-phase" apparatuses, which achieves levels of automation and productivity comparable to those of the so-called "one-phase" apparatuses, while maintaining a high constructive simplicity.

[21] Furthermore, a further object of the invention is to devise a method and an apparatus for manufacturing metal mesh, in particular for prefabricated panels, so as to allow manufacturing of irregularly shaped electrowelded mesh panels, in particular mesh suitable for the prefabrication sector, which can be made in specular pairs with respect to the warping of the wires.

[22] The aforementioned purposes are achieved, according to the present invention, by the method for manufacturing metal mesh in particular for prefabricated panels according to claim 1 and by the apparatus according to claim 10.

[23] The method for manufacturing mesh, in particular metal mesh for prefabricated panels, made by joining a plurality of wires, arranged as parallel and suitably spaced longitudinal wires and parallel and suitably spaced transverse wires, provides for feeding the wires in orderly succession intended to become longitudinal and transversal threads on a feed plane, operating in a controlled way means of transport of a feed assembly; operating a gripping head of a handling assembly to transfer the wires from the feed assembly to a tray arranged in a preassembly station, releasing them resting on the tray as longitudinal wires and transversal wires in a preassembled configuration; moving the tray in a transport stroke on a transport plane, by control means, towards a joining station; operating a joining assembly, in a suitable phase relationship to the movement of the tray, to join the longitudinal wires to the transverse wires in the preassembled configuration, thus arranging a completed mesh at a completion station.

[24] According to an aspect of the invention, the feed assembly bears support members defining said plane for feeding the wires, spaced along a transverse direction by a distance equal to a modular unit, to receive the wires spaced apart in said transverse direction and parallel along a longitudinal direction, and comprises transport means bearing said support members for producing the feeding of the wires along the transverse direction.

[25] Preferably each support member shapes a containment seat for one wire.

[26] According to a further aspect of the invention, the receiving tray defines a plane for receiving the wires, bearing a plurality of supports for transverse wires and supports for longitudinal wires. In particular, the supports for longitudinal wires are configured to receive the wires as a plurality of longitudinal wires in a parallel way along the longitudinal direction and are spaced along the transverse direction by distances equal to said modular unit or a multiple thereof. Furthermore, the supports for transverse wires are configured to receive the wires as a plurality of transverse wires in a parallel manner along the transverse direction and spaced along the longitudinal direction by distances equal to said same modular unit or a multiple thereof.

[27] Therefore, the wires may be positioned on the tray as longitudinal and transverse wires according to said preassembled configuration.

[28] According to a further aspect of the invention, said handling assembly comprises at least one gripping head equipped with a plurality of gripping members spaced according to the same modular unit, for collecting the wires from the feed plane and release them as longitudinal and transverse wires in the preassembled configuration resting on said tray. Said gripping head is preferably configured to collect the wires from the feed plane by a closing motion of the gripping members and to release them to the plane receiving the tray by means of a motion of opening the same gripping members.

[29] Thanks to the modularity of the spacing of the respective support or gripping members, and to the fact that it is common to the feed assembly, the handling assembly and the receiving tray, the wires may be transferred from the feed assembly to the tray while maintaining the same reciprocal spacing during each handling step.

[30] In particular, thanks to the provision of the same modular spacing unit, the wires may preferably be handled in groups, thus optimizing the times required for handling the wires. In other words, with a single movement groups of wires may be handled at the same time, by means of the handling assembly.

[31] More precisely, the wires may be advantageously collected, transferred and released preferably in groups in each respective handling cycle. Each group of wires can be advantageously handled by keeping the respective distances between the wires unchanged, from the feed plane to the tray, in order to make then the mesh.

[32] In practice, the wires cut to size, by a straightening and cutting assembly, for example arranged upstream of the feed assembly, may already be arranged on the feed plane at the same distance that they must present in the mesh to be made, equal to the modular unit or a multiple thereof.

[33] More precisely, this modular unit is preferably a modular distance chosen on the basis of the distances of the wires in the mesh most frequently requested on the market. At these distances longitudinal or transverse wires are intended to be joined in order to form the mesh to be produced.

[34] The modular unit is preferably between 25 and 50 mm, preferably equal to 25 or 50 mm, or 1 or 2 inch.

[35] Therefore, thanks to the provision of this modular unit, the longitudinal and transverse wires can be positioned on the feed plane, spaced parallel by distances equal to the modular unit or in multiples thereof, in order to make all the mesh configurations most frequently required by the market.

[36] More precisely, the wires can be easily arranged spaced apart on the support members of the feed assembly at this modular distance and/or in multiples thereof, depending on the mesh to be made.

[37] The support members can act as reliable and safe containment seats for the wires, during the transport carried out by the means of transport. [38] The handling unit is then capable of collecting the wires in groups at said distances, and may thus collect a rather large number of wires in a single handling cycle. The handling assembly may advantageously position them in any orientation in the tray.

[39] Furthermore, by moving the tray in the longitudinal direction, in a suitable phase relationship, before the wires are deposited on it, it is possible, advantageously, to position the wires in groups in any position of the tray and with any orientation, avoiding to deposit them one by one, with obvious time saving.

[40] In the preassembly tray it is therefore possible to arrange the wires in the preassembled configuration maintaining the same distances that the wires of each handled assembly had on the feed plane, equal to the modular unit or a multiple thereof.

[41] Moreover, thanks to the actuation of the joining assembly on the wires in preassembled configuration, carried by the tray, the same respective distances between the wires, equal to the modular unit or a multiple thereof it, may be found in the mesh made afterwards by the joining assembly.

[42] Thanks to the invention, the two-phase processes of manufacturing mesh are automated and productive, comparably to the processes of the known art, which take place in a single phase.

[43] In particular, it should be emphasized that, thanks to the invention, it is possible to obtain irregular-shaped mesh with a high level of automation and productivity, in particular for prefabricated panels.

[44] Furthermore, thanks to the provision of a single receiving plane for the longitudinal and transverse wires, it is therefore possible to create without distinction mesh with transversal wires superimposed on the longitudinal wires and vice versa. In practice, it is possible to easily create specular mesh, as required in certain production sectors.

[45] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the method can provide for releasing the wires in respective seats shaped in ordered succession by the supports for transverse wires and by the supports for longitudinal wires of the tray. The seats, in particular, define the same receiving plane, both for the supports for transversal wires and for the supports for longitudinal wires, so as to be able to arrange the wires indifferently as transversal wires or longitudinal wires on the receiving plane and overlap the first ones, respectively, with the wires such as longitudinal wires or transverse wires.

[46] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the method may provide that the step of operating the joining assembly is preceded by the step of operating, through a double centering device, the centering of the longitudinal wires if, in the preassembled configuration, they are superimposed on the transversal wires arranged on the plane receiving tray, or the centering of the transverse wires if, in the preassembled configuration, these are superimposed on the longitudinal wires arranged on the plane receiving tray.

[47] In particular, the double centering device may comprise centering members bearing an operating matching portion, for example in the shape of an inverted V, to improve the centering of the superimposed wires in the preassembled configuration.

[48] According to a particular, advantageous aspect of the invention, the method allows the handling of the wires at the preassembly station, arranging them in respective preassembled configurations on one or more trays upstream of the joining station, while the joining assembly is operative, therefore it creates a mesh at the joining station. In this way, productivity is significantly increased.

[49] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the method can provide, in the step of operating the gripping head of the handling assembly, for moving the gripping head in a collecting motion to collect the wires from the feed plane, in a transfer motion to transfer the wires from the feed plane to the tray in the preassembly station, in an orientation motion to orient the collected and transferred wires, so as to deliver them oriented along the transverse direction to the transverse wire supports of the tray as transversal wires of the mesh to be made, and in a release motion to release the wires arranged as longitudinal wires in the tray and transverse wires in the preassembled configuration.

[50] Advantageously, said gripping head is preferably movable according to three movement axes, in order to optimally handle the wires coming from the feed plane.

[51] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the gripping head, in the release motion, to release the wires intended to become longitudinal and/or transverse wires on the supports for longitudinal and/or transverse wires of the tray, is coordinated with a movement of the tray in the longitudinal direction, by the actuation of the control means, to position the longitudinal and/or transverse wires in the preassembled configuration.

[52] The method can also provide that after the step of operating the joining assembly, the tray carrying the finished mesh is moved in a return stroke from the completion station to the preassembly station along a different return plane, in particular underlying with respect to the transport plane.

[53] The method, after said return stroke, may also comprise the step of handling the finished mesh by means of the handling assembly to collect, transfer and release the finished mesh to an unloading station placed at the side of the preassembly station. In this way, in particular, it is possible to connect the process of producing the mesh to that of making prefabricated panels, simply by integrating said unloading station to the carousel, that is, to the annular path, of the prefabrication process.

[54] The apparatus according to the invention comprises a feed assembly for a plurality of wires, the feed assembly bearing support members defining a feed plane for the same wires. The support members are spaced along a transverse direction by a distance equal to a modular unit, to receive the wires spaced in the transverse direction and parallel along a longitudinal direction. The feed assembly also includes means of transport bearing the support members for producing the feeding of the wires along the transverse direction.

[55] The apparatus also includes a tray arranged at a pre-assembly station and defining a receiving plane for the wires, bearing a plurality of supports for longitudinal wires and supports for transverse wires.

[56] The supports for longitudinal wires are configured to receive the wires as a plurality of longitudinal wires in a parallel manner along the longitudinal direction and spaced along the transverse direction by distances equal to the modular unit or a multiple thereof.

[57] The transverse wire holders are configured to receive the wires as a plurality of transverse wires parallel along the transverse direction and spaced along the longitudinal direction by distances equal to the modular unit or a multiple thereof.

[58] Thanks to the aforementioned supports, the wires can be positioned on the tray as longitudinal and transverse wires according to a preassembled configuration.

[59] The apparatus also comprises a handing assembly comprising at least one gripping head equipped with a plurality of gripping members spaced according to the modular unit, for collecting the wires from the feed plane and releasing them as longitudinal and transverse wires in the preassembled configuration resting on the tray.

[60] Preferably, the handling assembly may therefore collect groups of two or more wires at the same time.

[61] Advantageously, the handling assembly may rotate the wires to deposit them suitably oriented on the tray.

[62] Preferably, the gripping head can bear at least one gripping arm, preferably a plurality of gripping arms, spaced along the longitudinal direction, for removing the wires intended to become longitudinal and transverse wires from the feed assembly.

[63] Said gripping arm may bear a plurality of fingers, cooperating to form a plurality of said gripping members configured to collect wires intended to become longitudinal and transverse wires.

[64] In particular, the fingers can be borne, preferably equidistantly, by a first sector and a second sector, movable relative to each other, in a suitable phase relationship, respectively in said closing and opening motion, for collecting or releasing the wires intended to become longitudinal and transversal wires.

[65] The apparatus also comprises control means for moving the tray in a transport stroke on a transport plane from the preassembly station to a joining station, and a joining assembly operating at the joining station, for joining the longitudinal wires to the transversal wires prepared in the preassembled configuration on the tray, arranging the finished mesh at a completion station.

[66] According to a particular aspect, each support for transversal wires and each support for longitudinal wires of the tray forms an ordered succession of respective seats, which define the same receiving plane both in the supports for transversal wires and in the supports for longitudinal wires, so as to be capable of arranging indifferently the wires such as transverse wires or longitudinal wires on the receiving plane and superimposing on the former, respectively, the wires such as longitudinal wires or transverse wires.

[67] Preferably, the joining assembly comprises a plurality of joining devices aligned along the transverse direction to join each transverse wire to respective longitudinal wires, and comprises respective double centering devices, each cooperating with a respective joining device, to center with respect to the joining device the superimposed wires in the preassembled configuration, both in the case in which each longitudinal wire is superimposed on each transversal wire, and in the opposite case.

[68] Preferably, the at least one gripping head is movable with a collecting motion, for collecting the wires from the feed plane, in a transfer motion to transfer the wires from the feed plane to the tray in the preassembly station, in an orientation motion to orient collected and transferred wires, so as to deliver them oriented along the transverse direction to the supports for transverse wires of the tray as transverse wires of the mesh to be made, and in a release motion to release the wires such as longitudinal and transverse wires in the preassembled configuration.

[69] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the apparatus comprises a further gripping head cooperating with the gripping head and movable in the collecting motion, the transfer motion, as well as the release motion, for collecting, transferring and releasing the longitudinal wires resting on the tray in the preassembled configuration.

[70] Preferably, the handling assembly is movable along the transverse direction on transverse guides arranged to the side of the feed assembly.

[71] According to a particular aspect of the invention, at least one gripping head is moved by polar displacement through a rotation arm.

[72] The tray is preferably moved by the control means in a return stroke from the completion station to the preassembly station on a different return plane, in particular underlying the transport plane.

[73] The apparatus may comprise an unloading station placed at the side of the preassembly station. In this case, the handling assembly is also operative at the unloading station to transfer the completed mesh there.

[74] The apparatus may include a further handling assembly, arranged at the completion station, to handle the completed mesh.

Description of drawinqs [75] The details of the invention will become more evident from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus suitable for implementing the method for manufacturing metal mesh in particular for prefabricated panels, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figures 1 and 2 respectively show a perspective view and a plan view of the apparatus according to the invention, wherein, for the sake of clarity of illustration, some operating assemblies have been omitted;

Figure 1a shows an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the apparatus, illustrated in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a preassembly tray used in the apparatus according to the invention;

Figures 3a and 3b respectively show a side view from an edge and an enlarged detail of the same tray illustrated in Figure 3;

Figures 4 and 5 respectively show a schematic plan and perspective view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 6 shows a side view of a handling assembly used in the apparatus according to the invention;

Figures 6a and 6b respectively show an enlarged view of a portion of the apparatus;

Figure 7 shows a side view of a portion of the apparatus at which the handling assembly illustrated in Figure 6 operates;

Figures 8 to 21 show a plan view of a portion of the apparatus in subsequent operating steps; in Figures 10 - 21 , for greater clarity, the handling assembly is not shown;

Figures 9a, 9b respectively show an enlarged side and perspective view of a detail of the handling assembly in the operating step illustrated in Figure 9;

Figure 9c shows a side view of a portion of the apparatus according to the invention, in the operating step illustrated in the same Figure 9;

Figure 15a shows a schematic plan view of a portion of the apparatus, including the handling assembly, during the operating step illustrated in Figure 15;

Figures 15b, 15c, 15d respectively show a side view, a partial perspective view, an enlarged detail view of the portion of the apparatus, shown in Figure 15a;

Figure 22 shows a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus in a subsequent operating step;

Figure 23 shows a partial perspective view of a joining assembly used in the apparatus according to the invention, in an operating mode;

Figures 23a, 23b, 23c show respectively an enlarged perspective, front and side view of a detail of the joining assembly in the operating mode shown in Figure 23;

Figure 24 shows a partial perspective view of a joining assembly used in the apparatus according to the invention, in a further operating mode;

Figures 24a, 24b, 24c show respectively an enlarged perspective, front and side view of a detail of the joining assembly in the operating mode shown in Figure 24;

Figure 25 shows a perspective view of the apparatus according to the invention, in an operating step of completing a metal mesh;

Figures 26 and 27 respectively show an enlarged partial view of a portion of the apparatus according to the invention, in the respective operating steps of collecting and unloading the completed metal mesh;

Figures 26a and 26b respectively show a side view and an enlarged view of a detail of the handling assembly, in said step of collecting the completed metal mesh, illustrated in Figure 26.

Best mode

[76] With reference to Figures 1 - 27, the reference number 1 indicates the apparatus according to the invention, for making mesh 2, for example metal mesh, by joining longitudinal wires 3, for example arranged parallel and suitably spaced, with transverse wires 4, also for example arranged parallel and suitably spaced and, preferably, perpendicular to said longitudinal wires 3 (see Figures 1 and 27 in particular).

[77] The mesh 2 for example can be used to make a prefabricated panel. In this case, the apparatus according to the invention is able to arrange said longitudinal wires 3 and the transverse wires 4, so as to form, for example, suitable openings 5 in the mesh 2, suitable for housing doors and windows (see for example figure 21).

[78] The apparatus 1 for making mesh is preferably associated with a straightening and cutting assembly 6, configured to straighten and cut to size the wires intended to become the longitudinal wires 3 and the transversal wires 4, and a collection bench 7, configured to receive the straightened and cut to size wires, arranged downstream of the straightening and cutting assembly 6.

[79] The straightening and cutting assembly 6 can in turn be fed by rolls of thread-like material unwound on special reels 8.

[80] The apparatus 1 comprises a feed assembly 10 for the wires cut to size, a tray 20 for preassembling the longitudinal 3 and transverse 4 wires, a handling assembly 30 for orderly transferring the wires cut to size, arranging them as longitudinal 3 and transverse wires 4 on the tray 20 in a preassembled configuration, as well as an assembly 40 for joining the longitudinal wires 3 to the transversal wires 4 preassembled on the tray 20 (see in particular Figure 1 and Figure 5).

[81] The straightening and cutting assembly 6 therefore comprises at least one straightening assembly, not shown in detail in the figures for simplicity, and a cutting assembly, also not shown in detail, and is configured to feed the wires cut to size, making them available along a longitudinal direction Y (see Figure 1) at the collection bench 7. Alternatively, it is possible to provide that the straightening and cutting assembly 6 is oriented in a different direction than that in which it is represented in Figure 1 for illustrative purposes.

[82] The collection bench 7 is preferably associated with a feeding device, for simplicity not shown in detail in the figures, configured to orderly release the wires intended to become the longitudinal wires 3 and the transversal wires 4 in the mesh 2 to be made, on the feed assembly 10.

[83] More precisely, the feed assembly 10 preferably comprises a plurality of support members 11 for the wires cut to size, carried in orderly succession by flexible transport means 12, for example chain means (see Figure 1a).

[84] The support members 11 define a feed plane A, on which the wires intended to become longitudinal 3 and transverse 4 wires of the mesh 2 are capable of being fed and fed parallel to each other by the feed assembly 10.

[85] Advantageously, the feed assembly 10 extends along the longitudinal direction Y and can comprise a plurality of said transport means 12, arranged aligned and parallel along a transverse direction X.

[86] In particular, the transport means 12, for example a chain or similar means, are spaced along the longitudinal direction Y, from one another, in a way that is suitable for longitudinally supporting, through said support members 11 , wires of any size, cut and fed from the collection bench 7.

[87] Said support members 11 of the same means of transport 12 are usefully spaced, however, along the transverse direction X, by the same modular distance.

[88] This modular distance, as described in detail below, is preferably a distance chosen so as to represent a modular unit M chosen on the basis of the distances between the wires of the most commercially required mesh, to which longitudinal or transverse wires are intended for be joined to form the mesh 2 to be produced.

[89] The modular unit M is preferably between 25 and 50 mm, preferably equal to 25 or 50 mm, or 1 or 2 inch.

[90] Therefore, thanks to the provision of this modular unit M, the wires intended to become longitudinal 3 and transverse 4 wires of the mesh 2 can be positioned on the feed plane A, spaced parallel by distances equal to the modular unit M or multiples thereof, to produce in this way all the configurations of the most frequent mesh 2. For example, in the case illustrated in the figures, the wires intended to become longitudinal 3 and transverse 4 wires are arranged at a distance equal to a multiple nM of said modular unit M (see Figure 4), which in any case represents the distance they will have in the mesh 2. Obviously it is possible to provide that the wires intended to become longitudinal 3 and transversal 4 wires of one mesh 2 are positioned on the feed plane A and, subsequently, on the tray 20, as described in detail below, at different distances from each other, however multiple of the modular unit M.

[91] The transport means 12 are also movable, preferably stepwise, by an advancement motion along the transverse direction X to orderly receive the wires intended to become longitudinal 3 and transverse 4 wires in the mesh 2, fed by the feeding device from the collection bench 7.

[92] More precisely, the orderly release of the wires intended to become longitudinal 3 and transverse 4 wires in the mesh 2, on the feed assembly 10, is made possible by the controlled feeding of the support members 11 of the feed assembly 10 in the feeding step accomplished by the device for feeding collection bench 7.

[93] The feed assembly 10 essentially receives the wires intended to become longitudinal 3 and transverse 4 wires, in a condition of distance between centers and desired alignment on a feed plane A. In particular, this center distance condition reflects the distance between the wires in mesh 2 to be made.

[94] In practice, the wires intended to be longitudinal 3 or transverse 4 wires are preferably produced in groups by the straightening and cutting assembly 6 and, subsequently, spaced apart on the support members 11 of the feeding assembly 10, at a respective distance, corresponding to that of the design of the mesh to be created. The apparatus 1 allows, as described in detail below, the collection and transfer of these groups of wires to the tray 20 in a single movement of the handling assembly 30, significantly improving the productivity of the plant in which the apparatus 1 is used.

[95] The preassembly tray 20 comprises a series of supports for transverse wires 21 and a series of supports for longitudinal wires 22, to receive, respectively, the transverse wires 4 along the transverse direction X and the longitudinal wires 3 along the longitudinal direction Y, preassembling them in an orderly way for subsequent joining.

[96] In particular, the supports for transverse wires 21 and the supports for longitudinal wires 22 have an ordered succession of seats 23, for example in the form of V-shaped recesses.

[97] Advantageously, the seats 23 of the supports for transverse wires 21 and of the supports for longitudinal wires 22 can define the same receiving plane R for both the longitudinal 3 and the transverse 4 wires (see Figure 3b).

[98] The seats 23 are preferably equidistant, along the longitudinal direction Y and along the transverse direction X, according to said modular unit M adopted on the feed assembly 10, in such a way as to be able to simultaneously move a plurality of wires 3,4, from the feed assembly 10 to the tray 20, maintaining the arrangement assumed on the feed plane A and without having to resort to adjustments of the relative positioning of the longitudinal 3 and transverse 4 wires transferred to the tray 20. [99] More precisely, the supports for transverse wires 21 and the supports for longitudinal wires 22 are equidistant by a distance equal to the modular unit M, so that the supports for longitudinal wires 22, thanks to the respective seats 23, are configured to receive the longitudinal wires 3 in a parallel way along the longitudinal direction Y and spaced along the transverse direction X by distances equal to the modular unit M or a multiple nM thereof. The supports for transversal wires 21 , thanks to the respective seats 23, are in turn configured to receive the transversal wires 4 in a parallel way along the transverse direction X and spaced along the longitudinal direction Y by distances equal to the modular unit M or to a multiple nM of it, in such a way that the longitudinal 3 and transverse 4 wires are positioned on the tray 20 according to a preassembled configuration.

[100] The tray 20 is operative at least between a preassembly station P, at which it receives the wires such as longitudinal wires 3 and transversal wires 4 in the preassembled configuration, a joining station J, at which the joining assembly 40 can join the longitudinal wires 3 and the transversal wires 4, arranged in said preassembled configuration, and a completion station C, downstream of the joining station J, at which the mesh 2 completed following the joining of the longitudinal wires 3 and transverse wires 4 is arranged by the joining assembly 40.

[101] The preassembly station P, the joining station J and the completion station C are preferably aligned along the longitudinal direction Y.

[102] More precisely, the tray 20 is for example bore by a transport member 24, for example a trolley or a slide.

[103] The transport member 24 is operated by control means of a known type according to a transport stroke preferably along the longitudinal direction Y on a transport plane T, to transport the tray 20 with the longitudinal wires 3 and the transverse wires 4 in a preassembled configuration at the joining station J (see Figures 1 and 2), to bring the same tray 20 with the mesh 2 in formation through the joining assembly 40 and to bring the tray 20 with the finished mesh 2 to the completion station C.

[104] The transport member 24 is for example movable along longitudinal guides 25 between the preassembly station P and the completion station C (see for example Figures 5 and 25) on the transport plane T.

[105] Preferably, the transport member 24 is also movable in a return stroke along the longitudinal direction Y, on a different return plane W, for example underlying, with respect to the transport plane T, to bring back the tray 20 carrying the finished mesh 2 at the preassembly station P, where the manipulator assembly 30 can transfer it to an unloading station U, preferably arranged to the side of the preassembly station P, on the opposite side with respect to the feed assembly 10 (see for example the Figure 25). [106] The tray 20 can be operated along the longitudinal direction Y by said control means to cooperate with the handling assembly 30, in the preassembly step, as described in detail below. More precisely, the positioning of the tray 20 along the longitudinal direction Y can be coordinated with the steps of releasing the handling assembly 30, so as to optimize the movement of the handling assembly 30.

[107] The handling assembly 30 comprises at least one gripping head 31a, preferably a gripping head 31a and a further gripping head 31b, carried by a support frame 32, movable along transverse guides 33, arranged, preferably as a bridge, on each side of the feed assembly 10.

[108] The transverse guides 33 are preferably extended along the transverse direction X from the feed assembly 10 to the unloading station U, in particular if provided alongside the preassembly station P, to allow the handling assembly 30 to be operative in the respective operating areas.

[109] More precisely, the gripping heads 31a, 31b are operated by control means of a known type in a transversal positioning motion, to transfer the handled wires, from the feed assembly 10 onto the tray 20.

[110] Each gripping head 31a, 31b is also movable in a collecting motion and in a release motion, along a collecting direction and a release direction Z, for example the same, transversal to the receiving plane R and/or to the plane of feeding A of the wires, defined by the feeding assembly 10, preferably along a direction orthogonal to them.

[111] Preferably the receiving plane R is horizontal and the collecting direction and the release direction are preferably vertical.

[112] Furthermore, at least the gripping head 31a is movable with an orientation motion, to orient the wires taken from the feed assembly 10 according to the longitudinal direction Y, so that they can be arranged as longitudinal wires 3, or according to the transversal direction X, for arranging themselves as transverse wires 4 in the preassembled configuration.

[113] Preferably, the gripping head 31a closest to the cutting assembly of the straightening and cutting assembly 6 is capable of said orientation motion, or the gripping head in any case arranged on the side in which the wires intended to become longitudinal 3 and transverse 4 wires are arranged aligned on the feed plane A.

[114] Said orientation motion is preferably a motion of rotation around an axis orthogonal to the receiving plane R, preferably around an axis parallel to the collection and release direction Z (see Figure 7).

[115] Each gripping head 31a, 31b is preferably movable independently of the other or the others, according to said motions, as provided.

[116] Furthermore, the gripping heads 31a, 31b can cooperate to transfer the wires intended to become longitudinal 3 and transverse 4 wires from the feed assembly 10 to the tray 20 and, preferably, to transfer the finished mesh 2 from the tray 20 to the unloading station U.

[117] Each gripping head 31a, 31b bears at least one gripping arm 34, preferably a plurality of gripping arms 34, spaced along the longitudinal direction Y, for collecting the wires intended to become longitudinal 3 and transverse 4 wires from the feed assembly 10.

[118] More precisely, each gripping arm 34 extends along the transverse direction X in said step of collection from the feed assembly A.

[119] In order to collect groups of wires simultaneously, the gripping arm 34 can have a plurality of fingers 35, cooperating to form a plurality of gripping members configured to collect wires intended to become longitudinal 3 and transverse 4 wires.

[120] In particular, the fingers 35 can be borne, preferably equidistantly, by a first sector 36 and by a second sector 37, movable relative to each other, in a suitable phase relationship, to collect or release the wires intended to become longitudinal 3 and transverse 4 wires.

[121] The first sector 36 and the second sector 37 are preferably movable by a structure 38 integral with the gripping head 31a, 31b.

[122] The first sector 36 and the second sector 37 of each gripping arm 34 are also placed side by side in parallel to each other along the transverse direction X, in the collecting phase, moving alternately between a gripping configuration and a release configuration.

[123] More precisely, the first sector 36 and the second sector 37 are preferably articulated independently of the structure 38, to allow the arrangement according to said gripping and releasing configuration.

[124] Each gripping arm 34 in fact comprises control means of a known type, for operating the sectors 36, 37 according to a closing motion, preferably of translation and preferably along the transverse direction X in said collecting step, to achieve the gripping configuration, at which each finger 35 of a sector is approached to the closest finger 35 of the other sector, so as to engage and hold a respective wire intended to become longitudinal wire 3 or transverse wire 4 which, following said motion of collection and release of the gripping head 31a, 31b, is inserted between them.

[125] The same control means are also configured to actuate the sectors 36, 37 according to an opening motion, preferably of translation, to achieve the release configuration, at which each finger 35 of a sector is moved away from the finger 35 closest to the another sector, so as to release a respective wire intended to become longitudinal wire 3 or transversal wire 4 which, following said closing motion, is held between them.

[126] In practice, the collection and release of a plurality of wires intended to become longitudinal 3 and transverse 4 wires are made possible by the coordinated cooperation, following said closing and opening motion, of respective pairs of fingers 35, of which one finger 35 is borne by the first sector 36 and the second finger 35 is borne by the second sector 37, both of these sectors being placed side by side and carried by the same arm 34.

[127] Advantageously, the fingers 35 are arranged along each sector 36, 37, preferably according to the same modular unit M of the feed assembly 10 and of the tray 20, so as to maintain during the transfer steps the position of the wires intended to become longitudinal 3 and transverse 4 wires, pre-spaced on the feed assembly 10 (see Figure 6b). In particular, the modular arrangement of the fingers 35 allows the longitudinal 3 and transverse 4 wires to be transferred without displacement exactly in the configuration in which they are arranged on the feed plane A, therefore at equal or multiple distances of the modular unit M (see Figure 6).

[128] The joining assembly 40 is arranged at said joining station J.

[129] The joining assembly 40 comprises a plurality of joining devices, aligned along the transverse direction X, to join each transverse wire 4 to the respective longitudinal wires 3, superimposed thereto or vice versa.

[130] The joining assembly 40 is preferably a welder assembly comprising a series of welding heads 41 , for example in the number of three, six, nine or twelve welding heads 41 , arranged aligned transversely to the tray 20 arranged in the joining station J. The receiving plane R at the joining station J is preferably horizontal.

[131] The welding heads 41 are usefully arranged on one side of the plane, preferably on the top the receiving plane R.

[132] Each welding head 41 preferably comprises a pair of welding electrodes 42 and is capable of welding a longitudinal wire 3 to a transverse wire 4, both if the first is superimposed on the second, and vice versa.

[133] In a known way, each welding electrode 42 is movable relative to the receiving plane R, alternatively between a rest configuration, at which the welding electrodes 42 are separated from the receiving plane R, and an active welding configuration, at the which the welding electrodes 42 are brought close to the receiving plane R so as to clamp the wires to be joined against the tray 20. The series of welding electrodes 42 is connected to a respective power supply assembly, so as to join, in an appropriate phase relationship to said welding configuration, the superimposed wires.

[134] Each joining device and, in particular, each welding head 41 cooperates with a double centering device 43, capable of centering the wires to be joined in any configuration. In practice, the double centering device 43 can center the overlapping of wires with respect to the joining device, both in the case in which, in each respective intersection, the longitudinal wire 3 is arranged below the transverse wire 4 (see in particular the Figures 23a, 23b, 23c), and in the opposite case, in which the longitudinal wire 3 is arranged above the transverse wire 4 (see Figures 24a, 24b, 24c). [135] The double centering device 43 comprises, in particular, for each welding head 41 , at least one longitudinal centering device 43a and at least one transversal centering device 43b.

[136] In the illustrated case, in particular, the double centering device 43 comprises a pair of longitudinal centering devices 43a and a pair of transversal centering devices 43b, respectively on each side of the welder electrode 42 arranged above, in the longitudinal direction Y and in the transverse direction X.

[137] Advantageously, the longitudinal centering devices 43a and the transversal centering devices 43b have a matching portion 44, configured, for example shaped, to match a wire arranged at the joining station J, which is superimposed on another wire. In practice, the position of the matching portion 44 of each centering device 43a, 43b is adjusted so as to be arranged at the same centering plane G.

[138] In the welding configuration, the centering plane G is distant, in particular raised, with respect to the receiving plane R by a distance equal to the sum of the transversal dimensions of the superimposed wires 3,4 to be joined (see Figures 23b, 23c and 24b, 24c).

[139] For example, the centering devices 43a, 43b can be made by means of respective plates carried on each side of the welding head 41. The matching or centering portion 44 can then be shaped, for example in the shape of an inverted V, at a free end of the plate.

[140] The centering performed by the double centering device 43 is, in particular, configured to recover any undesirable displacements of the wires which are superimposed, in the preassembly on the tray 20, in which the precise centering, instead, for the wires resting on the seats 23 of the supporting bodies is guaranteed.

[141] The operation of the apparatus for manufacturing mesh, in particular metal mesh for prefabricated panels according to the invention is understandable from the description above.

[142] In an initial phase, the wires are fed from rolls unwound from the reels 8 and cut to size through the straightening and cutting assembly 6.

[143] Once cut to size, in particular, the wires are released in orderly succession on the feed plane A, by means of the cooperation of the device for feeding the collection bench 7 and of the transport means of the feed assembly 10 which lead to controlled feeding, along the transverse direction X, the support members of the same feed assembly 10.

[144] The wires are thus arranged on the feed plane A in a parallel manner along the longitudinal direction Y and spaced along the transverse direction X by respective distances equal to the modular unit M or a multiple nM thereof, depending on said cooperation between said feeding device and the feeding motion of the support members of the feed assembly 10. [145] The gripping heads 31a, 31b are then operated to transfer the wires from the feed plane A to the receiving plane R of the tray 20.

[146] In particular, in order to arrange the transverse wires 4 on the tray 20, the head 31a equipped with said orientation motion is actuated, so as to orient the wires from the arrangement along the longitudinal direction Y maintained on the feed plane A to the arrangement along the transverse direction X resting on tray 20.

[147] Thanks to the spaced gripping devices of the gripping heads 31a, 31b of the modular unit M, the handling assembly 30 leaves the distance between the wires unchanged. In particular, they maintain the same distance on the tray 20, equal to the modular unit M or a multiple thereof, at which, once cut to size, they were released on the feed plane A and at which they will be placed in the mesh 2 to be made.

[148] On the tray 20, therefore, the wires are arranged, as longitudinal wires 3 and as transverse wires 4, according to the requirements.

[149] Moreover, thanks to the provision of the seats 23 of the supports for transversal wires 21 and of the supports for longitudinal wires 22, defining in cooperation the same receiving plane R, it is possible to indifferently make the preassembled configuration with the longitudinal wires 3 superimposed on the transverse wires 4 or the other way around.

[150] The tray 2 carrying the longitudinal wires 3 and the transverse wires 4 in the preassembled configuration is operated in the transport stroke on the transport plane T to the joining station J.

[151] At the joining station J, the joining devices are operated, in a suitable phase relationship to the feeding of the tray 20, to join the longitudinal wires 3 to the transverse wires 4 in the preassembled configuration.

[152] In particular, the respective double centering device 43 operates at each joining device, to ensure centering only of the superimposed wires. The remaining wires are in fact correctly centered on the receiving plane R defined by the seats 23 of the tray 20.

[153] At the end of the joining step, the finished mesh 2 is available downstream of the joining assembly 40, at the completion station C.

[154] Preferably, the completed mesh 2, carried by the tray 20 is transported in the return stroke on the return plane W, different, in particular below, with respect to the transport plane T.

[155] The mesh 2 can then reach the preassembly station P, to be handled by the handling assembly 30. In particular, the finished mesh 2 can be transferred from the handling assembly 30 to the unloading station U arranged next to the preassembly station P.

[156] According to a different embodiment, not shown in the figures, it is possible to provide a further handling assembly, arranged at the completion station C, which unloads the finished mesh 2 towards a storage station.

[157] This solution is, for example, an alternative to that described above, in which the tray 20 is moved in a return stroke from the completion station C to the preassembly station P and the handling assembly 30 unloads the finished mesh 2 at the unloading station U located at the side of the preassembly station P.

[158] According to a further embodiment, not shown in the figures, each or at least one gripping head of the handling assembly can be moved in said transfer motion according to a polar movement, in particular a rotary motion or a combination of a rotary motion and a translational motion, by means of a rotating or articulated arm.

[159] The method for manufacturing mesh, as well as the apparatus capable of implementing it, according to the invention, therefore allows for creating mesh, even with a particular shape, quickly and effectively.

[160] In particular, the apparatus according to the invention allows the creation of specular mesh in any succession, for the reinforcement of prefabricated panels.

[161] This result is achieved, in a very compact way, in particular by the provision of a tray 20 on which the wires can be placed in any way according to requirements, therefore with the transverse wires 4, in particular, above or below the longitudinal wires 3.

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

[163] 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.