AUTOMATIC LOADING UNIT FOR BENDING PIN SUPPORTING BARS

Description

Field of application

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic loading unit for bending pins supporting bars, according to the preamble of claim 1, particularly adapted for replacing said bars in automatic bending systems for manufacturing three-dimensional lattice-like structures or frames derived from electro-welded metal grids, i.e., serving individual bending units for said grids.

[0002] The invention provides full automation of the operation for replacing bending pins supporting bars from bending units, eliminating completely the manual intervention by the operators. In practice one starts from a small magazine, provided with a series of bending pins supporting bars which have various dimensions - so as to obtain different bending shapes - and which are arranged at various mutual distances on each bar, with different technical characteristics adapted for bends on round steel bars or rods having various diameters. The automatic loading unit is arranged in a longitudinal direction with respect to the bending machine of the production system, i.e., transversely to the formation flow of the three-dimensional lattice-like structures. The movable bar supporting magazine is arranged in position by means of automatic devices controlled by computerized management systems and the bar suitable for the required bending operations is picked up by virtue of suitable means and arranged in a working position in the bending unit. The opposite operation, i.e., the pickup of the bending pins supporting bar from the bending unit to the magazine, also occurs in an automatic manner.

[0003] With the present invention it is possible to replace bending pins supporting bars quickly so as to allow the forming of three-dimensional lattice-like frames that have even different radii of curvature on the same frame.

Background art

[0004] US3120257A discloses a loading unit for bending pin supporting bars, adapted for systems for manufacturing three-dimensional lattice-like structures or frames derived from electro-welded metal grids.

[0005] In the current background art, in the field of automated systems for forming electro-welded metal grids and in the construction of three-dimensional lattice-like metal structures, such as for example reinforcement frames for concrete castings, bending units are used which have a bar that supports a plurality of bending pins and is rotated in both directions and around its own axis, so that they can perform their function. Said bending pins have different geometric characteristics and different radii of action and spacings depending on the dimensions of the round bars to be bent and on their positions. Therefore, if the continuous production of metallic frames is changed, varying for example the geometric characteristics of the round steel bars or rods used for the construction of said three-dimensional structures, it is necessary to intervene by calibrating the bending pins on the bars that contain them or to replace the bar itself completely. Currently, this operation is performed manually by two or more operators, in an area with a high risk of accidents, using considerable time for replacement and at the same time interrupting the continuous production of the system, affecting negatively the set-up costs and consequently the overall production costs.

[0006] The present invention obviates this drawback, since it provides replacement of the bending pins supporting bar completely automatically, thus avoiding any direct manual intervention of the operators, therefore with no risk of accidental injury and obviously without stopping production for long periods of time, or in any case with reasonable times which are substantially shorter than those that can be obtained by manual operators.

Summary of the invention

[0007] The aim of the present invention is therefore to provide an automated apparatus for loading bending pins supporting bars from a magazine, provided with a plurality of bars with pins having various geometric characteristics, which is arranged in a longitudinal direction with respect to the bending unit to be controlled, having the following main characteristics:

• the structure of the automatic loading unit for bending pins supporting bars is arranged longitudinally and coaxially with respect to the bending axis on the specific unit, so as to have a rectilinear continuity of the movements of the bars from the bending unit to the magazine and vice versa;
• said structure of the loading unit is in a perpendicular position with respect to the direction of the flow of continuous production of the system for forming metallic frames derived from electro-welded grids, since the bending bar mounted on the same-named unit also is perpendicular to said production flow;
• said bar magazine supporting structure is fixed with respect to the frame forming system or can move through 90° so as to free the space lateral to said system during the step in which the bars are not replaced, or it can be arranged so as to hang above the working plane of the system and whose bending pins supporting bars, in the magazine, are moved automatically by adapted automatic grippers;
• the magazine of the bending pins supporting bars is provided with a plurality of side-by-side stations, each of which accommodates a specific bending pins supporting bar that has specific geometric characteristics. Said magazine can slide horizontally in the same direction as the frame production flow and is arranged in the correct bar extraction position with suitable automation means known by persons skilled in the art. The magazine is arranged longitudinally and coaxially with the axis of the bending machine so as to facilitate both the extraction of the desired bar and the insertion of said bar in the bending machine;
• the bending pins supporting bar magazine can be of the single-level type or of the multilevel type, and each level can have several stations. In the case of several superimposed levels, the whole magazine can also move in a vertical direction so as to arrange the bar on the same axis of the bending machine;
• as an alternative to these types of magazine with movements on the horizontal plane and/or the vertical plane, there is provided the possibility of a multi-station loading unit of the circular type, capable of arranging automatically the desired bar coaxially to the axis of the bending machine to be served;
• the automatic loading unit is capable of avoiding completely manual intervention by operators for the replacement of the bending pins supporting bars on the bending unit of the frame forming system;
• said automatic loading unit with fast replacement of bending pins supporting bars provides frames that have different radii of curvature.

[0008] The aim and objects of the invention are achieved by an automatic loading unit for bending pins supporting bars, according to claim 1, adapted for systems for the continuous manufacture of three-dimensional lattice-like structures or of frames derived from electro-welded metal grids with serving of the pertinent bending machine or unit of said system.

[0009] It is known that the production of three-dimensional lattice-like frames composed of electro-welded steel grids and/or simple round steel bars or rods uses a wide variety of materials having various geometric shapes and dimensions (diameters, spacings, meshes) and therefore there is the need to replace repeatedly the bending pins supporting bars on the bending machine in order to perform correct bendings of all the elements involved in the bending step.

[0010] The invention consists in an automatic loading unit in a position which is laterally adjacent and at right angles with respect to the direction of production of the system for forming metallic frames obtained from electro-welded grids. The loading unit is coaxial to the axis of the bending machine of the system, which in turn is transverse to the direction of the continuous production flow. It comprises a multiple-station magazine with bending pins supporting bars, each with specific geometric characteristics of the pins. The magazine can be of the horizontal type that can slide in that orientation in both directions and/or of the vertical type and/or of the circular type. The different bending pins supporting bars are correctly arranged for automatic extraction and insertion in the bending machine of the production system, and vice versa.

[0011] In a first embodiment of the present invention, the bar supporting magazine is of the horizontal type with a plurality of laterally adjacent stations, each of which accommodates a bar with specific bending pins. The magazine slides on adapted guides and a carriage at right angles to said bars and is moved in the correct position, with adapted automatic means, so as to make it possible to pick up the desired bar at the upper movement unit. Each bar has, at one end, a grip point for the upper movement unit. In this manner, the upper carriage grips the end of the bar and pushes it into the bending machine of the system. Thus, with just one grip point, the bar is pushed through the guide, which directs it exactly onto the bending machine. Here, the bar is released automatically from the upper conveyance carriage of the magazine and is gripped by the fastening devices of the bending machine.

[0012] The opposite operation comprises the automatic disengagement of the bar by the bending machine, the arrival of the upper gripping carriage of the magazine, which grips said bar at the end and draws it toward the free station of the magazine through the guides that are also provided on the specific station. Once the storage position has been reached, the grip of the upper carriage on the bar is opened, thus releasing the magazine to move automatically in the new position for the pick up of another bending pins supporting bar and to repeat the cycle.

[0013] In a second possible embodiment, the bar supporting magazine is of the vertically extending type, so that the correct positioning of the bending pins supporting bar occurs with a vertical motion and the automatic extraction and insertion devices are provided for this purpose.

[0014] In a third possible embodiment, the magazine for supporting bars with bending pins is of the circular type and therefore said bars are arranged in a circular manner and moved in an automatic circular manner, with arrangement of the desired bar in the position for extraction and insertion in the bending machine.

[0015] In a further variation, the bar supporting magazine can be fixed, i.e., at right angles to the direction of production flow of the system for forming lattice-like frames, or also movable, hinged to the floor and rotatable through 90°, arrangeable correctly like the fixed one when bar replacement occurs, so as to have more free space on the side of the system.

[0016] Another variation of the present invention consists in an arrangement of the magazine of the bending pins supporting bars above or below the working plane of the system for manufacturing the lattice-like frames, downstream with respect to the bending unit, i.e., superimposed on the working plane, so that with adapted overhead suspended grip means, again in an automatic manner, the desired bar is picked up and arranged on the underlying bending unit, and the same occurs for the reverse operations. Obviously, it is possible to intervene on the various bars contained in the magazine even when the production system is operating, for example for maintenance requirements.

[0017] Another particularity of the invention consists in that said unit can easily serve a simple bending machine for lattice-like frames derived from electro-welded metal grids or from simple round bars or rods or metal bars, without the necessity of being included in an actual more complex production system.

[0018] Ultimately, the present unit allows the automatic replacement of bending pins supporting bars without the employment of manual operators directly on the bending unit of the system, thus reducing set-up times and avoiding technical accidents or injuries, in this manner achieving fully the intended aim and objects.

Description of the drawings

[0019] Two embodiments according to the present invention are illustrated by way of preferential but non-limiting example in the accompanying seven drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the method for forming a lattice-like frame derived from an electro-welded metal grid;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of a lattice-like frame with identical bending radii r1 ;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of a lattice-like frame with three different bending radii, r1, r2 and r3;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the automatic loading unit for bending pins supporting bars arranged outside the production line, of the fixed and perpendicular type to enable insertion of said bars in the bending machine;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the automatic loading unit for bars similar to the preceding one, but of the movable type hinged to the floor, with rotation through 90° so as to reduce space occupation when not in use;

Figure 6 is a plan view of another variation in which the bending pins supporting bar magazine is arranged above the working plane of the bending machine and downstream and its bars are moved by adapted suspended automatic movable grippers;

Figure 7 is a front view of the bar loading unit, which highlights a bending pins supporting bar that is gripped at the left end by the upper transfer carriage;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view, taken along the plane A-A, of the automatic loading unit, which highlights the devices for moving the bar magazine toward the bending machine side;

Figure 9 is an enlarged-scale partial transverse sectional view, taken along the plane B-B, of the region of the magazine with four stations, of which one is free and three have different bars;

Figure 10 is a plan view of the automatic bar loading unit, of the fixed type and enlarged with respect to Figure 3, which highlights the various movement devices of the bar magazine and of the carriage for the longitudinal movement of the bars with respect to the axis of the bending machine of the system for manufacturing lattice-like metal frames derived from electro-welded steel grids.

[0020] As can be seen from the first three figures, the construction of the three-dimensional lattice-like frames derived from electro-welded metal grids 20 may occur, as in the case 21, with identical bending radii r1 or, in the case 22, with three different bending radii r1, r2 and r3. This last case would entail, if this operation were performed manually, considerable time, whereas in an automatic manner, with the use of the present loading unit for bending pins supporting bars 7, the whole operation is performed with greatly reduced time periods.

[0021] In fact, the automatic loading unit 3 for bending pins supporting bars 7 serves a bending machine 2 inserted in a system 1 for the continuous manufacture of metallic lattice-like frames 21, 22 derived from electro-welded steel grids 20. It may be of the type that is fixed, perpendicular and external to the manufacturing system, as shown in Figure 4, or of the movable type that is hinged to the floor 19, so as to rotate through 90°, from a working position to a resting position, in order to occupy less lateral space with respect to the production system 1, as shown in Figure 5, or arranged above the system as shown in Figure 6.

[0022] As shown in Figures 7 through 10, the automated unit for loading bending pins supporting bars 7 is composed of a framework that rises vertically so as to define an upper supporting beam 4, which supports a sliding guide 5 for the carriage 6 with automatic grip clamp. These structures are parallel to the horizontal magazine 9 of the bending pins supporting bars 7. The horizontal magazine 9 has, for example, four stations 13 for arranging the bars 7, which rest on idle rollers for facilitating their movement by sliding in the two directions for entry and exit from said magazine. Said magazine is moved automatically at right angles with respect to the bars so as to arrange correctly one bar at a time proximate to the exit seat, which shall coincide with the axis of the bending machine 2.

[0023] The magazine 9 is supported by a suitable framework 8, which rests at its two ends on the base frame 3 of the loading unit, on an adapted guide and a sliding carriage. On the side facing the bending machine 2, on the framework 10, there are means for movement, such as the carriage 12 on a guide 18 connected to a movable hydraulic cylinder 11 for the transverse movement of said magazine. On the opposite side, the respective end instead slides on an adapted guide 14, which is moved synchronously with the other side (carriage) by means of a transmission shaft 16, which crosses longitudinally the entire magazine and at the end of which a pinion 17 meshes with a straight and transverse rack which is fixed to the framework.

[0024] Once the bar to be extracted has been positioned, by moving the magazine automatically, the automatic clamp of the upper carriage 6 grips the tab that protrudes upward of the end of the bar 7 and moves it, making it slide on the idle rollers of the magazine 9, thanks to the actuation of the motor 15 connected to the carriage supported by the upper guide 5.

[0025] The selected bending pins supporting bar 7 is thus inserted in the bending machine of the system, and the operation of picking up the bar in order to replace it with another one that is present in the external magazine occurs in the reverse manner.

[0026] All the operations for movement and selection of the type of bending pins supporting bar that is present in the magazine 9 occur automatically with the use of computerized means for automatic management which are known to persons skilled in the art.

Claims

1. An automatic loading unit for bending pins supporting bars, adapted for systems for manufacturing three-dimensional lattice-like structures or frames derived from electro-welded metal grids, characterized in that it cooperates in coordination to service a machine for bending electro-welded metal grids and/or to serve to a bending machine that is included in a system for the continuous production of three-dimensional lattice-like frames derived from said grids, having a frame-supported station (3) and a magazine (9) for bending pins supporting bars (7), wherein

- the frame-supported station (3) rests on the floor on two shoulders, of which one (10) is proximate to the bending machine to be served, said shoulders being mutually connected in an upward region by an adapted lattice girder system that is capable of supporting a rectilinear sliding guide (5), which is horizontal and longitudinal with respect to the bending machine, on which an upper carriage (6) slides which is provided with a clamp or clamps or other means for the automatic grip of the ends of the bars (7), which are directed downward, and moved by an adapted motion transmission system and associated motor (15), two other guides (14, 18) being arranged on the two shoulders, in a downward position with respect to the sliding guide (5), said two other guides (14, 18) being horizontal and perpendicular to the sliding guide (5), the two ends of the structure for supporting the magazine (9) for supporting the bars (7) sliding on command said two other guides (14, 18); and wherein

- the magazine (9) for bending pins supporting bars (7) is preferably of the horizontal type and has a plurality of side-by-side stations (13), each provided with a plurality of idle rollers for the longitudinal sliding of the bars, the magazine (9) being movable automatically in both directions at right angles to the guide (5) and to the bending machine, the seats on the stations (13) that accommodate the bars (7) of the magazine being therefore individually arrangeable in the horizontal direction and on the same longitudinal working axis of the bending machine to be served, in order to facilitate the movement of the bars longitudinally and coaxially to the bending machine from the magazine to the machine and vice versa by means of said upper carriage (6).

2. The automatic loading unit for bending pins supporting bars for bending machines according to claim 1, characterized in that the structure of the automatic loading unit (3) for bars (7) is of the movable type and is hinged to the floor (19), so as to allow its rotation through 90° during the inactive step, i.e., if replacement of the bars from the magazine to the bending machine (2) does not occur.

3. The automatic loading unit for bending pins supporting bars for bending machines according to claim 1, characterized in that the structure (8) of the magazine (9) of the bars (7) may be arranged above and/or below the working plane and downstream of the bending machine, the bars of which are replaced and inserted in said bending machine, and vice versa, by means of adapted automated clamps which work above the working plane.

4. The automatic loading unit for bending pins supporting bars for bending machines according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the magazine with multi-stations for bending pins supporting bars for bending machines for electro-welded metal grids may be provided with movements of the stations in a vertical direction with consequent modifications of the arrangement of the carriage for extraction and/or insertion of said bars from the magazine.

5. The automatic loading unit for bending pins supporting bars for bending machines according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the magazine with multi-stations for bending pins supporting bars for bending machines for electro-welded metal grids (20) may be of the type with revolver-like rotation with the same carriage for automatic extraction (6) and/or with a different constructive technical solution.

6. The automatic loading unit for bending pins supporting bars for bending machines according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the handling of the magazine, in a direction at right angles with respect to the axis of the bending machine to be served, occurs with the help of electric step motors and of a respective mechanical transmission.

7. The automatic loading unit for bending pins supporting bars for bending machines according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is adapted for simple bending machines for bending electro-welded metal grids and is arranged exactly longitudinally and coaxially with the axis of said bending machine.

8. The automatic loading unit for bending pins supporting bars for bending machines according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is adapted to serve the bending machine longitudinally and coaxially with respect to the axis of the machine, although the bending machine is inserted in a system for the continuous production of three-dimensional lattice-like frames obtained by bending electro-welded metal grids, wherein in this technical solution, the bending machine in a continuous production line is arranged at right angles to the production flow, and consequently the loading unit (3) also is arranged at right angles despite being external to the production flow.

9. The automatic loading unit for bending pins supporting bars for bending machines according to one or more of claims 1-8, characterized in that it allows the fast replacement of said bars (7), making it possible to provide three-dimensional lattice-like frames with mutually different bending radii (r1, r2, r3) of the electro-welded grids (20) - see for example Figure 3 - and/or different bending shapes.

10. The automatic loading unit for bending pins supporting bars for bending machines according to one or more of claims 1-9, characterized in that the magazine (9) is movable automatically in both directions at right angles to the guide (5) and to the bending machine with a hydraulic system provided with a cylinder (11) which can move on the guide (18) that causes the movement of the end carriage (12), which transmits the coordination motion to the other end, provided with a pinion (17), which meshes with a rack that is fixed on the other shoulder of the frame, by means of the shaft (16) arranged below the bar surface of said magazine.

11. The automatic loading unit for bending pins supporting bars for bending machines according to one or more of claims 1-10, characterized in that the motor (15) is a gearmotor.

12. The automatic loading unit for bending pins supporting bars for bending machines according to one or more of claims 1-11, wherein the replacement and/or loading of the bending pins supporting bars (7) on the bending machine (2) occurs completely automatically, by placing the selected bar from the magazine on the axis of the bending machine; then the upper carriage (6) with the clamp grips the end of the bar and pushes it onto the bending machine, the reverse operation also occurring completely automatically without direct manual interventions by the operators.

Ansprüche

1. Automatische Ladeeinheit für Biegestifte tragende Stangen, angepasst an Systeme zur Herstellung dreidimensionaler gitterähnlicher Strukturen oder Rahmen, gewonnen aus elektrogeschweißten Metallgittern,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass,
sie in Abstimmung zusammenarbeitet, um eine Maschine zum Biegen elektrogeschweißter Metallgitter zu bedienen, und/oder um eine Biegemaschine zu bedienen, die in einem System zur kontinuierlichen Herstellung dreidimensionaler gitterähnlicher Rahmen, die aus den Gittern gewonnen werden, eingeschlossen ist, und eine rahmen-gestützte Station (3) und ein Magazin (9) für Biegestifte tragende Stangen (7) aufweist, wobei

- die rahmen-gestützte Station (3) auf dem Boden auf zwei Schultern ruht, wobei eine davon (10) benachbart zu der zu bedienenden Biegemaschine angeordnet ist, wobei die Schultern wechselseitig in einem aufwärts gerichteten Bereich durch ein angepasstes Gitterträgersystem verbunden sind, das geeignet ist, eine geradlinige Gleitführung (5) zu tragen, die in Bezug auf die Biegemaschine horizontal und längslaufend angeordnet ist, auf der ein oberer Schlitten (6) gleitet, der mit einem Greifer oder Greifern oder anderen Mitteln für einen automatischen Zugriff auf die Enden der Stangen (7) versehen ist, die nach unten gerichtet sind, und durch ein angepasstes Bewegungsübertragungssystem und einem damit verbundenen Motor (15) bewegt wird, wobei zwei andere Führungen (14,18) auf den beiden Schultern angeordnet sind, in einer nach unten gerichteten Position in Bezug auf die Gleitführung (5), und wobei die zwei anderen Führungen (14, 18) zu der Gleitführung (5) horizontal und senkrecht sind, wobei die beiden Enden der Struktur zum Tragen des Magazins (9) zum Tragen der Stangen (7) auf Kommando die beiden anderen Führungen (14, 18) gleiten lassen; und wobei:

- das Magazin (9) für Biegestifte tragende Stangen (7) bevorzugt vom horizontalem Typ ist und eine Vielzahl an Seite-an-Seite-Stationen (13) aufweist, jede davon mit einer Vielzahl an Mitläuferwalzen für das längslaufende Gleitenlassen der Stangen versehen, wobei das Magazin (9) automatisch in beide Richtungen rechtwinklig zu der Führung (5) und zu der Biegemaschine bewegt werden kann, wobei die Plätze auf den Stationen (13), die die Stangen (7) des Magazins beherbergen, deshalb in der horizontalen Richtung und auf der gleichen längslaufenden Arbeitsachse der zu bedienenden Biegemaschine individuell angeordnet werden können, um die Bewegung der Stangen längslaufend und koaxial zu der Biegemaschine von dem Magazin zu der Maschine und umgekehrt mittels des oberen Schlittens (6) zu erleichtern.

2. Automatische Ladeeinheit für Biegestifte tragende Stangen für Biegemaschinen nach Anspruch 1,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
die Struktur der automatischen Ladeeinheit (3) für Stangen (7) vom beweglichen Typ ist und an den Boden (19) angelenkt ist, um ihre Drehung um 90° während des inaktiven Schritts, d.h. wenn es zu keinem Austausch der Stangen aus dem Magazin zu der Biegemaschine (2) kommt, zu ermöglichen.

3. Automatische Ladeeinheit für Biegestifte tragende Stangen für Biegemaschinen nach Anspruch 1,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
die Struktur (8) des Magazins (9) der Stangen (7) über und/oder unter der Arbeitsebene und der Biegemaschine nachgelagert angeordnet sein kann, wobei deren Stangen mittels angepasster automatisierter Greifer, die über der Arbeitsebene arbeiten, ausgetauscht und in die Biegemaschine eingefügt werden, und umgekehrt.

4. Automatische Ladeeinheit für Biegestifte tragende Stangen für Biegemaschinen nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 1 bis 3,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
das Magazin mit mehreren Stationen für Biegestifte tragende Stangen für Biegemaschinen für elektrogeschweißte Metallgitter mit Bewegungen der Stationen in einer vertikalen Richtung mit entsprechenden Modifikationen in der Anordnung des Schlittens zum Herausziehen und/oder zum Einfügen der Stangen aus dem Magazin bereitgestellt werden kann.

5. Automatische Ladeeinheit für Biegestifte tragende Stangen für Biegemaschinen nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 1 bis 3,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
das Magazin mit mehreren Stationen für Biegestifte tragende Stangen für Biegemaschinen für elektrogeschweißte Metallgitter (20) vom Typ mit revolverartiger Drehung mit dem gleichen Schlitten für ein automatisches Herausziehen (6) und/oder mit einer unterschiedlichen konstruktiven technischen Lösung sein kann.

6. Automatische Ladeeinheit für Biegestifte tragende Stangen für Biegemaschinen nach einem oder mehreren Ansprüchen 1 bis 5,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
die Handhabung des Magazins in einer Richtung rechtwinklig in Bezug auf die Achse der zu bedienenden Biegemaschine mit Hilfe elektrischer Schrittmotoren und einer entsprechenden mechanischen Übertragung stattfindet.

7. Automatische Ladeeinheit für Biegestifte tragende Stangen für Biegemaschinen nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 1 bis 6,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
sie an einfache Biegemaschinen zum Biegen elektrogeschweißter Metallgitter angepasst ist und genau längslaufend und koaxial zu der Achse der Biegemaschine angeordnet ist.

8. Automatische Ladeeinheit für Biegestifte tragende Stangen für Biegemaschinen nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 1 bis 7,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
sie daran angepasst ist, die Biegemaschine längslaufend und koaxial in Bezug auf die Achse der Maschine zu bedienen, auch wenn die Biegemaschine in einem System zur kontinuierlichen Herstellung von dreidimensionalen gitterähnlichen Rahmen, die durch Biegen von elektrogeschweißten Metallgittern erhalten werden, eingefügt ist, wobei in dieser technischen Lösung die Biegemaschine in einer kontinuierlichen Herstellungslinie rechtwinklig zu dem Produktionsfluss angeordnet ist, und dementsprechend die Ladeeinheit (3) ebenfalls rechtwinklig angeordnet ist, ungeachtet, dass sie außerhalb des Produktionsflusses liegt.

9. Automatische Ladeeinheit für Biegestifte tragende Stangen für Biegemaschinen nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 1 bis 8,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
sie den schnellen Austausch der Stangen (7) gestattet, was die Bereitstellung dreidimensionaler gitterähnlicher Rahmen mit voneinander unterschiedlichen Biegeradien (r1, r2, r3) aus den elektrogeschweißten Gittern (20) - siehe zum Beispiel Figur 3 - und/oder unterschiedliche Formen ermöglicht.

10. Automatische Ladeeinheit für Biegestifte tragende Stangen für Biegemaschinen nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 1 bis 9,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
das Magazin (9) automatisch in beide Richtungen rechtwinklig zu der Führung (5) und zu der Biegemaschine mit einem hydraulischen System bewegt werden kann, versehen mit einem Zylinder (11), der sich auf der Führung (18) bewegen kann, was die Bewegung des Endschlittens (12) verursacht, der die Koordinationsbewegung an das andere Ende überträgt, versehen mit einem Getrieberad (17), das in eine Zahnstange eingreift, die auf der anderen Schulter des Rahmens befestigt ist, mittels des Schaftes (16), der unter der Stangenoberfläche des Magazins angeordnet ist.

11. Automatische Ladeeinheit für Biegestifte tragende Stangen für Biegemaschinen nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 1 bis 10,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
der Motor (15) ein Getriebemotor ist.

12. Automatische Ladeeinheit für Biegestifte tragende Stangen für Biegemaschinen nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 1 bis 11, wobei der Austausch und/oder das Laden der Biegestifte tragenden Stangen (7) auf die Biegemaschine (2) vollständig automatisch vor sich geht, durch Platzieren der aus dem Magazin ausgewählten Stange auf die Achse der Biegemaschine; wobei anschließend der obere Wagen (6) mit dem Greifer das Ende der Stange ergreift und sie auf die Biegemaschine schiebt, wobei die umgekehrte Operation ebenfalls vollständig automatisch abläuft, ohne direkte manuelle Eingriffe durch die Betreiber.

Revendications

1. Unité de chargement automatique pour des barres de support d'axes de pliage, adaptée pour des systèmes de fabrication de structures tridimensionnelles en treillis ou de cadres obtenus à partir de grilles métalliques électro-soudées, caractérisée en ce qu'elle coopère en coordination pour alimenter une machine pour plier des grilles métalliques électro-soudée et/ou pour alimenter une machine de pliage qui est incluse dans un système pour la production continue de cadres tridimensionnels en treillis obtenus à partir desdites grilles, comportant une unité (3) supportée par un châssis et un magasin (9) pour des barres (7) de support des axes de pliage, dans laquelle

- l'unité (3) supportée par un châssis repose sur le plancher sur deux épaulements, dont un (10) est proche de la machine à plier à alimenter, lesdits épaulements étant mutuellement reliés dans une zone haute par un système de poutre en treillis adapté à supporter un guide (5) coulissant rectiligne, qui est horizontal et longitudinal par rapport à la machine à plier, sur lequel coulisse un chariot supérieur (6) muni d'une pince ou plusieurs pinces ou d'autres moyens de prise automatique des extrémités des barres de support (7) dirigées vers le bas, et déplacé par un système de transmission de mouvement adapté et un moteur associé (15), deux autres guides (14, 18) étant disposés sur les deux épaulements, dans une position basse par rapport au guide (5) coulissant, lesdits deux autres guides (14, 18) étant horizontaux et perpendiculaires au guide (5) coulissant, les deux extrémités de la structure pour supporter le magasin (9) pour supporter les barres (7) coulissant sur commande lesdits deux autres guides (14, 18); et dans laquelle

- le magasin (9) pour les barres de support d'axes de pliage (7) est de préférence de type horizontal et comporte une pluralité de stations (13) côte-à-côte, chacune pourvue d'une pluralité de rouleaux libres pour le glissement longitudinal des barres, le magasin (9) étant mobile automatiquement dans les deux directions perpendiculaires au guide (5) et à la machine à pliage, les sièges sur les stations (13) qui logent les barres (7) du magasin étant par conséquent individuellement agençable dans la direction horizontale et sur le même axe de travail longitudinal de la machine à plier à alimenter, afin de faciliter le mouvement des barres longitudinalement et coaxialement à la machine à plier du magasin à la machine et vice versa au moyen dudit chariot supérieur (6).

2. Unité de chargement automatique pour barres de support d'axes de pliage pour machines à plier selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que la structure de l'unité (3) de chargement automatique pour barres (7) est du type mobile et est articulée au plancher (19), de manière à permettre sa rotation à 90° pendant l'étape inactive, c'est-à-dire si le remplacement des barres du magasin à la machine à plier (2) ne se produit pas.

3. Unité de chargement automatique pour barres de support d'axes de pliage pour machines à plier selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que la structure (8) du magasin (9) des barres (7) peut être agencée au-dessus et/ou en dessous du plan de travail et en aval de la machine à plier, dont les barres sont remplacées et insérées dans ladite machine à plier, et vice versa, au moyen de pinces automatiques adaptées qui travaillent au-dessus du plan de travail.

4. Unité de chargement automatique pour barres de support d'axes de pliage pour machines à plier selon une ou plus des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisée en ce que le magasin à multi-stations pour barres de support d'axes de pliage pour machine à plier pour grilles métalliques électro-soudées peut être munie de mouvements des stations dans une direction verticale avec des modifications consécutives de l'agencement du chariot pour extraction et/ou insertion desdites barres du magasin.

5. Unité de chargement automatique pour barres de support d'axes de pliage pour machines à plier selon une ou plus des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisée en ce que le magasin à multi-stations pour barres de support d'axes de pliage pour machines à plier des grilles métalliques électro-soudées (20) peut être du type à rotation revolver avec le même chariot pour extraction automatique (6) et/ou avec une solution technique constructive différente.

6. Unité de chargement automatique pour barres de support d'axes de pliage pour machines à plier selon une ou plus des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisée en ce que la manipulation du magasin, dans une direction perpendiculaire à l'axe de la machine à plier à être alimentée, se produit à l'aide de moteurs pas à pas électriques et d'une transmission mécanique respective.

7. Unité de chargement automatique pour barres de support d'axes de pliage pour machines à plier selon une ou plus des revendications 1 à 6, caractérisée en ce qu'elle est adaptée pour des machine à plier simples pour plier des grilles métalliques électro-soudées et est agencée de manière exactement longitudinale et coaxiale avec l'axe de ladite machine à plier.

8. Unité de chargement automatique pour barres de support d'axes de pliage pour machines à plier selon une ou plus des revendications 1 à 7, caractérisée en ce qu'elle est adaptée pour alimenter la machine à plier longitudinalement et coaxialement par rapport à l'axe de la machine, bien que la machine à plier soit insérée dans un système pour la production en continu de cadres tridimensionnels en treillis obtenus par pliage de grilles métalliques électro-soudées, dans lequel, dans cette solution technique, la machine à plier dans une ligne de production continue est disposée perpendiculairement au flux de la production, et par conséquent l'unité (3) de chargement est également disposée perpendiculairement bien qu'elle soit en dehors du flux de production.

9. Unité de chargement automatique pour barres de support d'axes de pliage pour machines à plier selon une ou plus des revendications 1 à 8, caractérisée en ce qu'elle permet le remplacement rapide desdites barres (7), permettant de fournir des cadres tridimensionnelles en treillis avec des grilles électro-soudées (20) avec des rayons de pliage différents les uns des autres (r1, r2, r3)- voir par exemple la figure 3 - et/ou différentes formes de pliage.

10. Unité de chargement automatique pour barres de support d'axes de pliage pour machines à plier selon une ou plus des revendications 1 à 9, caractérisée en ce que le magasin (9) est mobile automatiquement dans les deux directions perpendiculairement au guide (5), et la machine à plier avec un système hydraulique muni d'un cylindre (11) mobile sur le guide (18) qui provoque le mouvement du chariot (12) d'extrémité, qui transmet le mouvement de coordination à l'autre extrémité, muni d'un pignon (17), qui s'engrène avec une étagère qui est fixée sur l'autre épaulement du cadre, au moyen de l'arbre (16) disposé sous la surface de barre dudit magasin.

11. Unité de chargement automatique pour barres de support d'axes de pliage pour machines à plier selon une ou plus des revendications 1 à 10, caractérisée en ce que le moteur (15) est un motoréducteur.

12. Unité de chargement automatique pour barres de support d'axes de pliage pour machines à plier selon une ou plus des revendications 1 à 11, dans laquelle le remplacement et/ou le chargement des barres (7) de support d'axes de pliage sur la machine à plier (2) se fait de façon complètement automatique, en plaçant la barre sélectionnée du magasin sur l'axe de la machine à plier; alors le chariot supérieur (6) avec la pince saisit l'extrémité de la barre et la pousse sur la machine à plier, l'opération inverse se produisant aussi de façon complètement automatique sans interventions manuelles directes par des opérateurs.

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