Machining center for machining beams, particularly wood beams and the like

Abstract

 A machining center (10) for machining beams, particularly for machining wood beams and the like, of the type comprising a loading roller conveyor (11) for a beam (100) to be machined, a portal (12) which supports the means (13) for machining the beam (100), and an unloading roller conveyor (14) for the machined beam.
The means (13) for machining the beam (100) comprise a cutting assembly (15) which is supported by means (16) for its preset movement on two axes (X, Y), the cutting assembly (15) comprising two rotating tools (17, 18) which are not aligned and are moved by the same motor means (19); the two tools (17, 18) are supported by corresponding brackets (20, 21) at such a mutual distance as to allow one tool (17) to machine a face (102) of a beam (100) along its entire length (L1) without the other tool (18) touching that beam (100).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a machining center for machining beams, particularly for machining wood beams and the like.

[0002] Nowadays machining centers are known for machining wood beams which have a portal body installed on a footing.

[0003] On the beam of the portal support there are sliding guides for a trolley that carries an arm, at the free end of which a working head is mounted.

[0004] The latter comprises an axially rotatable fork support, in which a tool-holder assembly is pivoted so that it can be oriented and is generally provided with one or more spindles for milling cutters.

[0005] The arm is associated so that it can slide on rails provided on the trolley, so that, by means of the coordinated movement of the trolley on the beam and of the arm on the trolley, the working head can be arranged in preset working positions in the working region which corresponds to the portal compartment.

[0006] Advancement sliders are provided for supporting a beam to be machined by holding it in position in the portal compartment and, through this, imparting advancing movements to it which are functional to the type of machining chosen.

[0007] However, this type of machine does not enable the tool-holder assembly to be oriented so as to be able to machine the lower face of the beam.

[0008] For the machining of such face, currently the beam is rotated by way of a device which is integrated in the advancement sliders, to the detriment of the structural economy of this type of machining center.

[0009] In fact, currently the need is particularly felt to simplify the structure of machining centers, thus allowing an economy of encumbrances and of the provision thereof.

[0010] Machining centers are also known which comprise a loading roller conveyor for a beam to be machined, a portal that supports the means for machining the beam, and an unloading roller conveyor for the machined beam, in which the means for machining the beams comprise two trolleys which are arranged so as to slide on the upper part of the portal, with each trolley provided with two independent cutting tools, or each one provided with a dedicated motor and dedicated means of movement.

[0011] Such machining centers, although free from means of rotation of the beam, are still relatively complex, both in terms of construction and from the maintenance viewpoint, as well as from the viewpoint of changing tools.

[0012] The aim of the present invention is to provide a machining center for machining beams, particularly for machining wood beams and the like, which meets such need in being structurally simpler than the machining centers known today.

[0013] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a machining center that enables the machining of all the faces of a beam, as well as of the heads, without requiring its rotation on the advancement sliders.

[0014] Another object of the invention is to provide a machining center that is versatile and easy to use, and can be implemented at low cost.

[0015] This aim and these and other objects which will become more evident hereinafter are achieved by a machining center for machining beams, particularly for machining wood beams and the like, of the type comprising a loading roller conveyor for a beam to be machined, a portal which supports the means for machining the beam, and an unloading roller conveyor for the machined beam, said machining center being characterized in that said means for machining the beam comprise a cutting assembly which is supported by means for its preset movement on two axes, said cutting assembly comprising two rotating tools which are not aligned and are moved by the same motor means, said two tools being supported by corresponding brackets at such a mutual distance as to allow one tool to machine a face of a beam over its entire length without the other tool touching said beam.

[0016] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the machining center according to the invention, which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machining center according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a detail of a machining center according to the invention, in a perspective view;

Figure 3 is an additional detail of the machining center according to the invention;

Figures 4 and 5 each show a different view of the cutting assembly of the machining center according to the invention;

Figures 6 to 13 each schematically show a step of machining of a beam conducted by a machining center according to the invention.

[0017] With reference to the figures, a machining center for machining beams, particularly for machining wood beams and the like, according to the invention, is generally designated with the reference numeral 10.

[0018] The machining center 10 comprises a loading roller conveyor 11 for a beam 100 to be machined, a portal 12 which supports the means 13 for machining the beam 100, and an unloading roller conveyor 14 for the machined beam.

[0019] The means 13 for machining the beam 100 comprise a cutting assembly 15 which is supported by means 16 for its preset movement on two axes X and Y, shown in Figure 2 and in Figures 6 to 13.

[0020] The cutting assembly 15 comprises two rotating tools, 17 and 18 respectively, which are not aligned and are moved by the same motor means 19, described below.

[0021] The two tools 17 and 18 are supported by corresponding brackets 20 and 21 which are positioned at such a mutual distance as to allow a tool 17 to machine a face 102 of a beam 100 over its entire length L1 without the other tool 18 touching the same beam 100, as is clearly shown in the machining steps shown in Figures 6 to 13.

[0022] In the present, non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the means 16 for the preset movement of the cutting assembly 15 along the two axes X and Y comprise

• a slider 23, which is arranged so as to slide on one or more corresponding horizontal guides 24 which are fixed to the upper part of the portal 12; such slider 23 determines the movements of the cutting assembly 15 along a first, horizontal axis X,
• and a column element 25, which is provided with opposite external rails 26 and 27 which are coupled to corresponding vertical guides 28 and 29 which in turn are mounted on the slider 23; the cutting assembly 15 is mounted to the lower end of the column element 25 and, by way of the column element, is moved along the second axis Y.

[0023] The slider 23 and the column element 25 are moved by respective independent motor drive means, of the electric or fluid-operated type, which should be understood as being of the conventional type, and for the sake of simplicity are not shown.

[0024] The movement of the slider 23, for example, can be determined by a pinion, motor-driven aboard the slider, and a rack, arranged in parallel to the horizontal guides 24.

[0025] The movement of the column element 25, again for example, can be determined by a similar corresponding rack and pinion device, with the rack fixed longitudinally to the column element 25 and the motor-driven pinion fixed to the slider 23.

[0026] The column element 25 is constituted here by a tube.

[0027] The cutting assembly 15 is fixed, by way of flange 32, to the lower end 31 of the column element 25.

[0028] The cutting assembly 15, as mentioned above, comprises two tools 17 and 18.

[0029] Both tools 17 and 18 comprise a shaft supporting body 35 and 36 and a disk for removing material 37 and 38 respectively, for example a disk for milling operations, keyed on the corresponding shaft.

[0030] The motor drive means 19 are constituted by an electric or hydraulic motor 40, or other similar and equivalent motor, with a shank 41 of the drive shaft which is toothed and has such a length as to allow meshing with two laterally adjacent torque transmission belts 43 and 44, one belt for each one of the tools 17 and 18, as can clearly be seen in Figure 4.

[0031] The brackets 20 and 21 which support the tools 17 and 18 extend from the outer casing of the motor 40, and are welded thereto along two planes P1 and P2 which are substantially mutually perpendicular, as can be seen in Figure 6.

[0032] The first bracket 20, which supports the first tool 17, must have, along the axis X, such a dimension that the distance F1 between the tangent T1 to the second disk 38, which is parallel to the axis Y, and the straight line T2 that passes through the center of the first disk 37, which also is parallel to the axis Y, is greater than the width L1 of the beam 100 in the direction of the axis X, i.e. F1 > L1; in this manner the first tool 17 can machine the beam 100 over its entire width L1 in the direction of the X axis without the second tool 18 grazing the same beam 100 on its adjacent vertical face 103, as can clearly be seen in Figure 9.

[0033] Similarly, the second bracket 21, which supports the second tool 18, must have, along the axis Y, such a dimension that the distance F2 between the tangent T4 to the first disk 37, which is parallel to the axis X, and the straight line T3 that passes through the center of the second disk 38, which also is parallel to the axis X, is greater than the width L2 of the beam 100 in the direction of the axis Y, i.e. F2 > L2; in this manner the second tool 18 can machine the beam 100 over its entire width L2 in the direction of the Y axis without the first tool 17 grazing the same beam 100 on its adjacent horizontal face 102, as can clearly be seen in Figure 10.

[0034] An example of machining for creating a perimetric groove in a beam that is rectangular in cross-section, for example for the construction of prefabricated wooden houses, is shown in Figures 6 to 13.

[0035] In Figure 6 the first tool machines the lower face 101 of the beam 100 in the direction X, from the right to the left.

[0036] In Figure 7 the first tool 17 has finished the removal of material from the lower face 101, and in Figure 8 the cutting assembly 15 is translated upward in the direction Y in arrangement for a second machining to remove material horizontally, with the first tool 17 ready to machine the upper face 102.

[0037] In Figure 9 the cutting assembly 15 performs a translational motion to the right in the direction X and the first tool 17 removes material from the upper face 102.

[0038] In Figure 10, the cutting assembly 15 performs a translational motion upward in the direction Y in order to machine a first lateral face 103 with the second tool 18.

[0039] In Figure 11 the machining of the first lateral face 103 has been completed, and in Figure 12 the cutting assembly 15 is translated to the right in the direction X, and the second tool 18 is arranged to work on the second lateral face 104.

[0040] Figure 13 shows the conclusion of the last operation of the machining cycle, with the removal of shavings from the lateral face 104 by the second tool 18.

[0041] In practice it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, by providing a machining center for machining beams, particularly for machining wood beams and the like, which is structurally simpler than the machining centers known today, likewise making it possible to machine all the faces of a beam, as well as the heads, without requiring its complex and laborious rotation on advancement sliders or other supports.

[0042] Moreover, a machining center according to the invention is versatile and easy to use, and can be produced at relatively low cost.

[0043] The invention, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

[0044] In practice the materials employed, and the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

[0045] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. PD2012A000181 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0046] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, such reference signs have been inserted for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A machining center (10) for machining beams, particularly for machining wood beams and the like, of the type comprising a loading roller conveyor (11) for a beam (100) to be machined, a portal (12) which supports the means (13) for machining the beam (100), and an unloading roller conveyor (14) for the machined beam, said machining center (10) being characterized in that said means (13) for machining the beam (100) comprise a cutting assembly (15) which is supported by means (16) for its preset movement on two axes (X, Y), said cutting assembly (15) comprising two rotating tools (17, 18) which are not aligned and are moved by the same motor means (19), said two tools (17, 18) being supported by corresponding brackets (20, 21) at such a mutual distance as to allow one tool (17) to machine a face (102) of a beam (100) over its entire length (L1) without the other tool (18) touching said beam (100).

2. The machining center according to claim 1, characterized in that said means (16) for the preset movement of the cutting assembly (15) on the two axes (X, Y) comprise

- a slider (23), which is arranged so as to slide on one or more corresponding horizontal guides (24) which are fixed to the upper part of the portal (12),

- and a column element (25), which is provided with opposite external rails (26, 27) which are coupled to corresponding vertical guides (28, 29) which in turn are mounted on the slider (23), the cutting assembly (15) being mounted to the lower end of the column element (25),
the slider (23) and the column element (25) being moved by respective independent motor drive means of the electric or fluid-operated type.

3. The machining center according to claim 1, characterized in that said cutting assembly (15) comprises two tools (17, 18), which in turn comprise a shaft supporting body (35, 36) and a disk (37, 38) for removing material.

4. The machining center according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said motor drive means (19) are constituted by an electric or hydraulic motor (40), or another similar and equivalent motor, with a shank (41) of the drive shaft which is toothed and has such a length as to allow meshing with two laterally adjacent torque transmission belts (43, 44), one belt for each one of the tools (17, 18).

5. The machining center according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said brackets (20, 21) that support the tools (17, 18) extend from the outer casing of the motor (40) and are welded thereto along two planes (P1, P2) which are substantially mutually perpendicular.

6. The machining center according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first bracket (20), which supports the first tool (17), has, along the axis (X), such a dimension that the distance (F1) between the tangent (T1) to the second disk (38), which is parallel to the axis (Y), and the straight line (T2) that passes through the center of the first disk (37), which also is parallel to the axis (Y), is greater than the width (L1) of the beam (100) in the direction of the axis (X).

7. The machining center according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second bracket (21), which supports the second tool (18), has, along the axis (Y), such a dimension that the distance (F2) between the tangent (T4) to the first disk (37), which is parallel to the axis (X), and the straight line (T3) that passes through the center of the second disk (38), which also is parallel to the axis (X), is greater than the width (L2) of the beam (100) in the direction of the axis (Y).

Drawing