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EP 2 801 420 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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27.06.2018 Bulletin 2018/26 |
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Date of filing: 10.05.2013 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC):
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Spring transfer device and spring transfer method
Federübertragungsvorrichtung und Federübertragungsverfahren
Dispositif et procédé de transfert de ressort
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL
NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
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Date of publication of application: |
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12.11.2014 Bulletin 2014/46 |
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Proprietor: Spühl AG |
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9303 Wittenbach (CH) |
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Inventors: |
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- Bischof, Christoph
47121 Forlì (IT)
- Amadori, Luciano
47121 Forlì (IT)
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Representative: Banzer, Hans-Jörg |
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Kraus & Weisert
Patentanwälte PartGmbB
Thomas-Wimmer-Ring 15 80539 München 80539 München (DE) |
(56) |
References cited: :
EP-A1- 0 774 309 WO-A1-2004/011173
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WO-A1-95/30622 WO-A1-2005/077563
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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[0001] The present invention relates to a spring transfer device for the transfer of springs
from a spring coiling machine.to a spring transport unit and a spring transfer method.
In particular, the invention relates to such a spring transfer device that may be
used in a machine for manufacturing spring core units, e.g., spring core units for
mattresses.
[0002] Conventional machines for manufacturing spring core units comprise a spring coiling
machine, a spring transport unit, and a spring core assembling machine as basic units.
In the spring coiling machine, springs are coiled, knotted or bended and tempered.
A transport star with a plurality of transport arms with grippers or hooks at each
transport arm forwards the springs from the spring coiling machine to the transport
unit. The transport unit may comprise a pair of spaced and parallel conveyor belts,
the springs being inserted one after the other from the transport star between the
conveyor belts so that the conveyor belts transport the springs as rows of aligned
springs to the spring core assembling machine. In the spring core assembling machine,
the rows of aligned springs are assembled to form the finished product, i.e., the
corresponding spring core unit.
[0003] EP 2 316 783 A1 discloses a spring transfer device for the transfer of the springs from the transport
star to the spring transport unit, in which the springs are pushed one after the other
by means of pushers from the transport star between pairs of spaced rotary plates,
the rotary plates allowing for a rotation of the corresponding spring held between
the rotary plates around its longitudinal axis. This allows that the knots and/or
ends of the springs are brought into a desired position on the conveyor belt, so that
the knots and/or ends of the springs can be easily aligned individually for the assembly
in the spring core assembling machine. For example, it is often desirable to arrange
the springs in pairs with the knots or spring wire ends lying opposite to one another.
Furthermore, the outer springs in a row of springs are usually rotated by 180 degrees
about their longitudinal axes so that the free ends or the knots of these springs
are aligned towards the respective adjacent spring in order to prevent that the ends
of these outer springs penetrate through the mattress material.
[0004] The springs are transferred from the rotary plates to the conveyor belts by means
of a further pusher, and the conveyor belts are guided along a 90° deflection such
that the springs are brought from their horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation
in which they are conveyed to the assembling machine.
[0005] A spring transfer device according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from
WO 2005/077563 A1.
[0006] It is the object of the present invention to provide a spring transfer device and
a spring transfer method which require less space for the transfer of the springs
from the spring coiling machine to the spring transport unit and which allow that
the springs reach the spring transport unit already with the desired vertical orientation.
[0007] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a spring transfer device as
defined in independent claim 1 and a spring transfer method as defined in independent
claim 15. The dependent claims define preferred or advantageous embodiments of the
invention.
[0008] According to an embodiment of the invention, a spring transfer device for transferring
a spring from a spring coiling machine to a spring transport unit is provided, the
spring device being configured such that it takes over the spring from the spring
coiling machine at a first location and moves the spring to a second location for
transfer to the spring transport unit. The spring device comprises a pivot mechanism
for pivoting the spring, during the movement from the first location to the second
location, from a first orientation, which the spring has at the first location, to
a second orientation, which the spring has at the second location and which is substantially
perpendicular to the first orientation.
[0009] According to a preferred embodiment, the first orientation is a horizontal orientation
and the second orientation is a vertical orientation of the spring.
[0010] Furthermore, the spring transfer device may be configured such that it takes over
the spring from one of a plurality of transport arms of a transport star, the transport
star being rotated further by one transport arm per operating cycle and each transport
arm of the transport star transporting one spring from the spring coiling machine
to the spring transfer device. The pivot mechanism is configured such that it swings
or pivots a base member from the first location, where the spring has the first orientation,
to the second location, where the spring has the second orientation, and back from
the second location to the first location during each operating cycle.
[0011] Furthermore, the pivot mechanism is preferably configured such that it moves the
spring from the first location to the second location by a combined pivoting and translational
movement, the first location being spaced from the second location along both a width
direction and a height direction of the spring transfer device.
[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spring transfer device
comprises a rotating mechanism for rotating the spring about its longitudinal axis
while the spring is moved by the pivot mechanism from the first location to the second
location and is pivoted from the first orientation to the second orientation. This
allows that, once the pivoting by 90 degrees from the first orientation to the second
orientation is completed and the respective spring has been moved from the first location
to the second location, the knots of each spring are already in the correct position
to undergo the spiral process in the assembling machine.
[0013] In the preferred embodiment, three movements are done simultaneously. First, each
spring is transferred from the first location, where it is taken over from the spring
coiling machine, to the second location, where is can be transferred to the spring
transport unit. Second, the spring is simultaneously brought from its first orientation
into its second orientation that allows the transport by the spring transport unit
to the spring core assembling machine without need for any further re-orientation
or alignment means. Third, the spring is rotated about its longitudinal axis so as
to align the position of its ends and knots as desired. As these movements are done
simultaneously, the spring transfer device requires less space than prior art devices.
[0014] Moreover, the spring transfer device of the invention allows for ergonomic operations
as the springs come out of the spring transfer device at the correct height to be
processed by the spring core assembling machine. Only very few adjustments are required
if the spring height varies.
[0015] The pivot mechanism may comprise a pair of holding members, preferably in the form
of rotary disks or rotary plates, which are spaced from one another such that they
can take over the spring at the first location, hold it between the pair of holding
members and rotate the spring about its longitudinal axis by rotation of the holding
members. The holding members are preferably attached to the base member of the pivot
mechanism so that they are moved and pivoted together with the base member.
[0016] According to the invention, the pivoting or swinging base member of the pivot mechanism
is arranged movably along a fixed elongate shaft, the shaft having a curved groove
where the base member engages the shaft so that the base member is pivoted from the
first orientation to the second orientation when being moved along the shaft. Preferably,
the curved groove is substantially S-shaped.
[0017] An eccentric drive mechanism may be provided for moving the base member along the
shaft.
[0018] The present invention also provides a spring core manufacturing machine which comprises
a spring coiling machine for providing coiled springs, a spring core assembling machine
for manufacturing a spring core from a plurality of rows of coiled springs, a spring
transport unit for transporting rows of aligned coiled springs to the spring core
assembling machine, and a spring transfer device for taking over one spring from the
spring coiling machine and transferring the spring to the spring transport unit during
each operating cycle of the spring core manufacturing machine, the spring transfer
device having the features of the above described spring transfer device.
[0019] According to a further embodiment of the invention, a method for transferring a spring
from a spring coiling machine to a spring transport unit is provided, which comprises
the steps of taking over the spring from the spring coiling machine at a first location,
moving the spring to a second location for transfer to the spring transport unit,
and pivoting the spring from a first orientation, which the spring has at the first
location, to a second orientation, which the spring has at the second location and
which is substantially perpendicular to the first orientation, during the movement
step.
[0020] In the following, the invention will be described in detail with reference to preferred
embodiments of the invention.
Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a spring core manufacturing machine according to
an embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 2 shows a side view of the spring core manufacturing machine embodying a spring
transfer device according to an embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 3 shows an enlarged view of the spring transfer device during operation of the
machine.
Fig. 4A shows a front view of the spring transfer device, and Fig. 4B shows a cross-sectional
view along line A-A of Fig. 4A.
Fig. 5A shows a right side view of the spring transfer device shown in Figs. 4A and
4B, and Fig. 5B shows a cross-sectional view along line B-B of Fig. 5A.
Fig. 6A shows an enlarged right side view of central components of a pivoting mechanism
of the spring transfer device shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and Fig. 6B shows a cross-sectional
view along line C-C of Fig. 6A.
Fig. 7A and Fig. 7B show perspective views of the front and the back of the spring
transfer device shown in Figs 4 - 6.
Fig. 8A shows a side view of a spring transfer device according to a further embodiment
of the invention, and Fig. 8B shows a perspective view of the spring transfer device
of Fig. 8A.
[0021] Fig. 1 shows a machine for the manufacture of spring core units according to an embodiment
of the invention.
[0022] The machine shown in Fig. 1 comprises a wire swift 100 that supplies wire for the
manufacture of coiled springs to a spring coiling machine 200. The spring coiling
machine 200 processes the wire and manufactures coiled springs which are knotted at
both ends. Furthermore, in the spring coiling machine, the coiled springs are tempered.
The springs are forwarded from the spring coiling machine 200 to a spring transport
unit 300 which transports rows of aligned springs to an assembling machine 400. In
the assembling machine 400, the rows of aligned springs are assembled to form a finished
product 500, i.e., a corresponding spring core unit.
[0023] Fig. 2 shows a side view of the machine shown in Fig. 1. As depicted in Fig. 2, a
spring transfer device 50 is provided for the transfer of the springs from the spring
coiling machine 200 to the spring transport unit 300. Furthermore, the machine comprises
a transport star 10 having a plurality of transport arms to provide the springs from
the spring coiling machine 200 to the spring transfer device 50.
[0024] The transport star is step-wise or cycle-wise rotated so that, during each cycle
of the machine, one of the transport arms of the transport star 10 receives a new
spring from the spring coiling machine 200 and one other transport arm forwards another
spring to the spring transfer device 50. As will be described in the following in
more detail, the spring transfer device preferably is configured such that, during
each operating cycle of the machine, it takes over the spring at a first location
from the respective transport arm of the transport star 10 and moves the spring to
a second location where the spring is transferred to the spring transport unit 300.
In particular, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the spring transfer device 50 moves
the spring received from the transport star 10 to the second location and simultaneously
swings or pivots the spring from a horizontal first orientation to a vertical second
orientation so that the spring reaches the spring transport unit 300 already in the
desired vertical orientation. Furthermore, during the same cycle, the spring transfer
device 50 swings back or returns to the first location so that it is ready to take
over a spring from the next transport arm of the transport star 10 during the next
operating cycle of the machine.
[0025] The spring transport unit 300 comprises a pair of parallel and spaced conveyor belts
41, 42 which extend in the longitudinal direction or width direction of the transport
unit 300. When one of the springs has been moved to the second location, the spring
is drawn in between the two conveyor belts 41, 42 so that a row of aligned springs
30 is conveyed by the spring transport unit 300 to the spring core assembling machine
400.
[0026] Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the spring transfer device 50 shown in Fig. 2.
[0027] In particular, Fig. 3 shows the spring transfer device 50 in a state where it has
already moved a spring 30 to the second location for transfer to the conveyor belts
41, 42 of the spring transport unit 300. Also shown in Fig. 3 is the transport star
10 with some of its transport arms 11 that are arranged spaced along the circumferential
direction of the transport star. Each transport arm 11 has a gripper or hook 12 at
its end portion and forwards a spring 30 from the spring coiling machine 200 to the
spring transfer device 50 such that, when the spring transfer device takes over this
spring 30 from the respective transport arm 11 at the first location, the spring 30
has a horizontal orientation. Thereafter, during the same operating cycle, the spring
transfer device 50 moves the spring 30 to the second location shown in Fig. 3 and,
thereby, pivots the spring 30 so that the spring has a vertical orientation at the
second location and, thus, can be easily drawn in between the two conveyor belts 41,
42.
[0028] As will be explained in more detail below, in the preferred embodiment, the spring
transfer device 50 is configured such that the movement of the spring 30 from the
first location to the second location is a combined pivoting and translational movement.
This means that the orientation of the spring at the second location is not only substantially
perpendicular with respect to its orientation at the first location, but the second
location is also spaced from the first location both in the width direction and in
the height direction of the arrangement shown in Fig. 3.
[0029] Once the spring 30 has been transferred to the conveyor belts 41, 42, the spring
transfer device 50 returns during the same cycle to the first location so as to receive,
in the following cycle, another horizontally oriented spring from the next transport
arm 11 of the transport star 10.
[0030] In the following, the functionality and structure of the spring transfer device 50
will be described in detail with respect to Figs. 4-7.
[0031] Fig. 4A shows a front view of the spring transfer device, and Fig. 4B shows a cross-sectional
view along line A-A of Fig. 4A. Fig. 5A shows a right side view of the spring transfer
device shown in Figs. 4A and 4B, and Fig. 5B shows a cross-sectional view along line
B-B of Fig. 5A. Fig. 6A shows an enlarged side view of central components of a pivoting
mechanism of the spring transfer device shown in Figs. 4 and 5 (from the right in
Figs. 4 and 5), and Fig. 6B shows a cross-sectional view along line C-C of Fig. 6A.
Finally, Fig. 7A and Fig. 7B show perspective views of the front and the back of the
spring transfer device shown in Figs 4 - 6. Each of these figures shows the spring
transfer device 50 at the second location for transfer to the spring transport unit
300.
[0032] The spring transfer device 50 comprises a pair of spaced holding members 70, 71 which
are provided to receive a spring from one of the transport arms of the transport star
at the first location and to hold the spring clamped between the holding members 70,
71 during the movement to the second location. When the holding members 70, 71 are
at the first location, one of the transport arms of the transport star moves a spring
between the two holding members 70, 71, and the holding members 70, 71 take over the
spring from the respective transport arm.
[0033] In the preferred embodiment, both holding members 70, 71 are provided as rotary disks
that are rotated during the movement of the spring transfer device 50 from the first
location to the second location so as to rotate the spring, which is held between
the holding members 70, 71, about its longitudinal axis to align the position of the
knots and ends of the springs as needed. For this purpose, the holding members 70,
71 are mounted at a transmission shaft 74, e.g. a hexagonal transmission shaft, and
are provided with cylindrical gears 72 that are in engagement with cylindrical gears
76 and 77, respectively. Each of the cylindrical gears 76 and 77 is supported by a
gear shaft 78. The gears 72, 76 and 77 are driven by an electric motor 80, preferably
a step motor, which is mounted at a motor support 79 adjacent a base 82 for the lower
holding member 71.
[0034] The upper holding member 70 is supported by an arm 81 that is attached to a fixed
column 73.
[0035] The base 82 for the lower holding member or rotary disk 71 is attached to a central
base member 53 of a pivot mechanism that is provided for moving the holding members
70, 71 with the spring from the first location to the second location and, at the
same time, pivot the holding members 70, 71 with the spring from the horizontal orientation
at the first location to the vertical orientation at the second location.
[0036] As shown in Figs. 6A and 6B, the pivot mechanism also comprises left and right sliding
rings 51, 52 that are arranged together with the central base member 53 movable along
a fixed elongate shaft 54. The shaft 54 has a curved groove 55 which is in engagement
with a projection 57 of the central base member 53. In a preferred embodiment, the
curved groove 55 is S-shaped. The curvature of the groove 55 is such that, when the
central base member 53 is moved in a horizontal direction along the shaft 54, the
central base member 53 and the holding members 70, 71 attached thereto are pivoted
by 90 degrees. This arrangement is attached to a connecting plate 59 that acts as
a support for the pivot mechanism.
[0037] Figs. 4 - 7 show two eccentric drives. Reference numeral 63 designates a cam for
an extractor device for drawing the spring, when the spring transfer device is at
the second location, between the conveyor belts of the spring transport unit 300.
The cam 63 is coupled with a lever 65 that is supported by a shaft fixing support
66.
[0038] The spring transport unit 300 is equipped with two carriers 43, 44 at each conveyor
belt 41, 42 that are coupled by a vertical shaft 45 (see Fig. 3). The lower carrier
44 is coupled with a bearing 67 for the transmission of the movement. The bearing
67, fixed on a slider, is driven by the lever 65 and the cam 63 synchronously with
the spring coiling machine 200. Each of these carriers 43, 44 is equipped with a pair
of grippers 46, 47 that are preferably controlled by a solenoid. When the carriers
41, 42 move forward against the spring transfer device 50, the grippers 46, 47 are
open. They close when the final position is reached, thereby drawing the respective
spring 30 into the belt conveyor.
[0039] In addition, reference numeral 64 designates a cam of an eccentric drive for the
pivot mechanism. The cam 64 is coupled to a lever 62 supported at a lever support
68. The lever 62 operates a pull-tie rod 61 shown in Fig. 5B (and also in Fig. 8).
[0040] The cams 63, 64 are both coupled to a cardan drive 60 of the main machine so that
the operation of the cams 63, 64 is synchronized with the operation of the cardan
drive 60 to ensure that the operating cycles of the cams 63, 64 correspond to the
operating cycles of the other components of the machine.
[0041] When the spring transfer device is at the first location, i.e., when the holding
members 70, 71 and the column 73 as well as the transmission shaft 74 are pivoted
together with the central base member 53 to the horizontal orientation, and when the
eccentric drive comprising the cam 64, the lever 62 and the pull-tie rod 61 is operated,
the central base member 53 and the left and right sliding rings 51, 52 are moved along
the shaft 54 in the width direction (i.e., to the right in Figs. 4 and 5). As the
projection 57 of the central base member 53 is engaged with the curved groove 55 of
the shaft 54, the base member 53 is at the same time pivoted or swung upwards so that,
ultimately, it reaches together with the holding members 70, 71 the second location
and the vertical orientation shown in Figs. 4 and 5 for transfer of the respective
spring to the spring transport unit 300. Once the spring has been drawn into the spring
transport unit 300, the cam 64 moves the central base member 53 and the sliding rings
51, 52 during the same operating cycle horizontally back along the shaft 54, thereby
pivoting or swinging the base member 53 and the holding members 70, 71 back to the
first location where they assume the horizontal orientation again.
[0042] As shown in Fig. 6B, the shaft 54 is provided with a second groove 56 that extends
along a straight line in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 54 and is in engagement
with a further projection 58 so that it serves as a guide for the horizontal movement
of the above described arrangement along the shaft 54.
[0043] It should be noted that Fig. 6A shows a side view of the shaft 54, the central base
member 53 and the right sliding ring 52 from the right side in Fig. 4A so that the
orientation of the shaft 54 in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 6B is reversed with
respect to the cross-sectional view shown in Fig. 5B.
[0044] The spring transfer device 50 also comprises a pair of support plates 86, 87 with
curved recesses for the holding members or rotary disks 70, 71 when they are arranged
with the horizontal orientation at the first location to receive a new spring from
the transport star and a pair of support plates 84, 85 for the holding members 70,
71 when they are arranged with the vertical orientation at the second location for
transfer of the respective spring to the spring transport unit 300. The support plates
84, 85 are mounted to a profile 83.
[0045] Fig. 8A and Fig. 8B show a spring transfer device according to another embodiment.
In Figs. 8A and 8B, those parts which correspond to the parts shown in Figs. 4 - 7
are designated by the same reference numerals.
[0046] Figs. 8A and 8B shows the spring transfer device 50 in the horizontal position for
receiving a spring from the transport star 10. As can be seen from Fig. 8A, the holding
members/rotary disks 70, 71 are arranged with the transmission shaft 74 and the column
73 such that they can receive between them a horizontally aligned spring from the
transport star. Also shown are the gears 72 and 76, 77 and the step motor 80 for rotating
the holding members 70, 71 during the pivoting movement of the pivot mechanism.
[0047] The functionality of the spring transfer device 50 shown in Figs. 8A and 8B is substantially
the same as that of the spring transfer device discussed above with respect to Figs.
2 - 7, so that reference can be made to the above explanations in their entirety.
1. A spring transfer device (50) for transferring a spring (30) from a spring coiling
machine (200) to a spring transport unit (300),
wherein the spring transfer device (50) is configured such that it takes over the
spring (30) from the spring coiling machine (200) at a first location and moves the
spring to a second location for transfer to the spring transport unit (300), and
wherein the spring transfer device (50) comprises a pivot mechanism (51-59) for pivoting
the spring (30), during the movement from the first location to the second location,
from a first orientation, which the spring (30) has at the first location, to a second
orientation, which the spring (30) has at the second location and which is substantially
perpendicular to the first orientation,
characterized in that
the pivot mechanism (51-59) comprises a base member (53) which is arranged movably
along a fixed elongate shaft (54), the shaft (54) having a curved groove (55) where
the base member (53) engages the shaft (54) so that the base member (53) is pivoted
from the first orientation to the second orientation when being moved along the shaft
(54).
2. The spring transfer device (50) according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the pivot mechanism (51-59) is configured such that it pivots the spring (30) from
the first orientation being a horizontal orientation to the second orientation being
a vertical orientation.
3. The spring transfer device (50) according to claim 1 or claim 2,
characterized in that
the spring transfer device (50) is configured such that it takes over the spring (30)
at the first location from one of a plurality of transport arms (11) of a transport
star (10), the transport star (10) being rotated further by one transport arm (11)
per operating cycle and each transport arm (11) of the transport star (10) transporting
one spring (30) from the spring coiling machine (200) to the spring transfer device
(50), and
the pivot mechanism (51-59) is configured such that it moves from the first location,
where the spring (30) has the first orientation, to the second location, where the
spring (30) has the second orientation, and back from the second location to the first
location during each operating cycle.
4. The spring transfer device (50) according to any one of claims 1-3,
characterized in that
the pivot mechanism (51-59) is configured such that it moves the spring (30) from
the first location to the second location by a combined pivoting and translational
movement, the first location being spaced from the second location along both a width
direction and a height direction of the spring transfer device (50).
5. The spring transfer device (50) according to any one of claims 1-4,
characterized in that
the spring transfer device (50) comprises a rotating mechanism (70-87) for rotating
the spring (30) about its longitudinal axis while the spring (30) is moved by the
pivot mechanism (51-59) from the first location to the second location and is pivoted
from the first orientation to the second orientation.
6. The spring transfer device (50) according to claim 5,
characterized in that
the spring transfer device (50) comprises a step motor (80) for driving the rotating
mechanism.
7. The spring transfer device (50) according to any one of claims 1-6,
characterized in that
the spring transfer device (50) comprises a pair of holding members (70, 71) which
are spaced from one another such that they can hold the spring (30) between the pair
of holding members (70, 71) at the first location.
8. The spring transfer device (50) according to claim 7 and any one of claims 5-6,
characterized in that
the holding members (70, 71) are rotary disks being rotated by the rotating mechanism.
9. The spring transfer device (50) according to any one of claims 7-8,
characterized in that
the holding members (70, 71) are coupled to the base member (53) such that they are
moved and pivoted together with the base member (53).
10. The spring transfer device (50) according to any one of claims 1-9,
characterized in that
the curved groove (55) is substantially S-shaped.
11. The spring transfer device (50) according to any one of claims 1-10,
characterized in that
the shaft (54) has a straight further groove (56) extending in a longitudinal direction
of the shaft (54) for guiding the movement along the shaft (54).
12. The spring transfer device (50) according to any one of claims 1-11,
characterized in that
the spring transfer device (50) comprises a drive mechanism (61-62, 64) for moving
the base member (53) along the shaft (54).
13. The spring transfer device (50) according to claim 12,
characterized in that
the drive mechanism comprises an eccentric drive (64) being coupled to the base member
(53) via a lever (62).
14. A spring core manufacturing machine, comprising
a spring coiling machine (200) for providing coiled springs (30),
a spring core assembling machine (400) for manufacturing a spring core unit (500)
from a plurality of the springs (30),
a spring transport unit (300) for transporting rows of the aligned springs (30) to
the spring core assembling machine (400), and
the spring transfer device (50) according to any one of claims 1-13 for taking over
one spring (30) from the spring coiling machine (200) and for transferring the spring
(30) to the spring transport unit (300) during each operating cycle of the spring
core manufacturing machine.
15. A method for transferring a spring (30) from a spring coiling machine (200) to a spring
transport unit (300), comprising the steps
taking over the spring (30) from the spring coiling machine (200) at a first location
and moving the spring (30) to a second location for transfer to the spring transport
unit (300), and
pivoting the spring (30), during the movement from the first location to the second
location, from a first orientation, which the spring (30) has at the first location,
to a second orientation, which the spring (30) has at the second location and which
is substantially perpendicular to the first orientation,
characterized in that
the step of pivoting the spring (30) uses a pivot mechanism (51-59) which comprises
a base member (53) movably arranged along a fixed shaft (54), the shaft (54) having
a curved groove (55) where the base member (53) engages the shaft (54) so that the
base member (53) is pivoted from the first orientation to the second orientation when
being moved along the shaft (54).
16. The method of claim 15,
characterized by the step of
using the spring transfer device (50) according to any one of claims 1-14 for the
transfer of the spring (30) from the first location to the second location.
1. Federüberführungsvorrichtung (50) zum Überführen einer Feder (30) von einer Federwindemaschine
(200) zu einer Federtransporteinheit (300),
wobei die Federüberführungsvorrichtung (50) ausgestaltet ist, dass sie die Feder (30)
an einer ersten Stelle von der Federwindemaschine (200) übernimmt und die Feder zu
einer zweiten Stelle bewegt, um sie zu der Federtransporteinheit (300) zu überführen,
und
wobei die Federüberführungsvorrichtung (50) einen Kippmechanismus (51-59) umfasst,
um die Feder (30) während der Bewegung von der ersten Stelle zu der zweiten Stelle
von einer Ausrichtung, welche die Feder (30) an der ersten Stelle aufweist, zu einer
zweiten Ausrichtung, welche die Feder (30) an der zweiten Stelle aufweist und welche
im Wesentlichen senkrecht zu der ersten Ausrichtung ist, zu kippen,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass der Kippmechanismus (51-59) ein Basisteil (53) umfasst, welches entlang einer festen
länglichen Welle (54) bewegbar angeordnet ist, wobei die Welle (54) eine gebogene
Vertiefung (55) aufweist, wo sich das Basisteil (53) mit der Welle (54) in Eingriff
befindet, so dass das Basisteil (53) von der ersten Ausrichtung in die zweite Ausrichtung
gekippt wird, wenn es entlang der Welle (54) bewegt wird.
2. Federüberführungsvorrichtung (50) nach Anspruch 1,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass der Kippmechanismus (51-59) ausgestaltet ist, dass er die Feder (30) von der ersten
Ausrichtung, welche eine horizontale Ausrichtung ist, in die zweite Ausrichtung, welche
eine vertikale Ausrichtung ist, kippt.
3. Federüberführungsvorrichtung (50) nach Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass die Federüberführungsvorrichtung (50) ausgestaltet ist, dass sie die Feder (30) an
der ersten Stelle von einem von mehreren Transportarmen (11) eines Transportsterns
(10) übernimmt, wobei der Transportstern (10) weiter um einen Transportarm (11) pro
Betriebszyklus gedreht wird und jeder Transportarm des Transportsterns (10) eine Feder
(30) von der Federwindemaschine (200) zu der Federüberführungsvorrichtung (50) transportiert,
und
dass der Kippmechanismus (51-59) ausgestaltet ist, dass er sich von der ersten Stelle,
wo die Feder (30) die erste Ausrichtung aufweist, zu der zweiten Stelle, wo die Feder
(30) die zweite Ausrichtung aufweist, und zurück von der zweiten Stelle zu der ersten
Stelle während jedes Betriebszyklus bewegt.
4. Federüberführungsvorrichtung (50) nach einem der Ansprüche 1-3,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass der Kippmechanismus (51-59) ausgestaltet ist, dass er die Feder (30) durch eine kombinierte
Kipp- und Translations-Bewegung von der ersten Stelle zu der zweiten Stelle bewegt,
wobei die erste Stelle von der zweiten Stelle sowohl entlang einer Breitenrichtung
als auch einer Höhenrichtung der Federüberführungsvorrichtung (50) beabstandet ist.
5. Federüberführungsvorrichtung (50) nach einem der Ansprüche 1-4,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass die Federüberführungsvorrichtung (50) einen Drehmechanismus (70-87) umfasst, um die
Feder (30) um ihre Längsachse zu drehen, während die Feder (30) durch den Kippmechanismus
(51-59) von der ersten Stelle zu der zweiten Stelle bewegt wird und von der ersten
Ausrichtung in die zweite Ausrichtung gekippt wird.
6. Federüberführungsvorrichtung (50) nach Anspruch 5,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass die Federüberführungsvorrichtung (50) einen Schrittmotor (80) umfasst, um den Drehmechanismus
anzutreiben.
7. Federüberführungsvorrichtung (50) nach einem der Ansprüche 1-6,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass die Federüberführungsvorrichtung (50) ein Paar Halteteile (70, 71) umfasst, welche
voneinander beabstandet sind, so dass sie die Feder (30) zwischen dem Paar Halteteilen
(70, 71) an der ersten Stelle halten können.
8. Federüberführungsvorrichtung (50) nach Anspruch 7 und einem der Ansprüche 5-6,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass die Halteteile (70, 71) sich drehende Scheiben sind, welche durch den Drehmechanismus
gedreht werden.
9. Federüberführungsvorrichtung (50) nach einem der Ansprüche 7-8,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass die Halteteile (70, 71) mit dem Basisteil (53) gekoppelt sind, so dass sie zusammen
mit dem Basisteil (53) bewegt und gekippt werden.
10. Federüberführungsvorrichtung (50) nach einem der Ansprüche 1-9,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass die gebogene Vertiefung (55) im Wesentlichen S-förmig ist.
11. Federüberführungsvorrichtung (50) nach einem der Ansprüche 1-10,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass die Welle eine geradlinige weitere Vertiefung (56) aufweist, welche sich in einer
Längsrichtung der Welle (54) erstreckt, um die Bewegung entlang der Welle (54) zu
führen.
12. Federüberführungsvorrichtung (50) nach einem der Ansprüche 1-11,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass die Federüberführungsvorrichtung (50) einen Antriebsmechanismus (61-62, 64) umfasst,
um das Basisteil (53) entlang der Welle (54) zu bewegen.
13. Federüberführungsvorrichtung (50) nach Anspruch 12,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass der Antriebsmechanismus einen exzentrischen Antrieb (64) umfasst, welcher über einen
Hebel (62) mit dem Basisteil (53) gekoppelt ist.
14. Federkernfertigungsmaschine umfassend
eine Federwindemaschine (200), um Spiralfedern (30) bereitzustellen,
eine Federkernmontagemaschine (400), um eine Federkerneinheit (500) von einer Mehrzahl
der Federn (30) zu fertigen,
eine Federtransporteinheit (300), um Reihen der ausgerichteten Federn (30) zu der
Federkernmontagemaschine (400) zu transportieren, und
die Federüberführungsvorrichtung (50) nach einem der Ansprüche 1-13, um während jedes
Betriebszyklus der Federkernfertigungsmaschine eine Feder (30) von der Federwindemaschine
(200) zu übernehmen und die Feder (30) zu Federtransporteinheit (300) zu überführen.
15. Verfahren zum Überführen einer Feder (30) von einer Federwindemaschine (200) zu einer
Federtransporteinheit (300), welches die Schritte umfasst Überführen der Feder (30)
von der Federwindemaschine (200) an einer ersten Stelle und Bewegen der Feder (30)
zu einer zweiten Stelle, um sie zu der Federtransporteinheit (300) zu überführen,
und
Kippen der Feder (30) während der Bewegung von der ersten Stelle zu der zweiten Stelle
von einer ersten Ausrichtung, welche die Feder (30) an der ersten Stelle aufweist,
in eine zweite Ausrichtung, welche die Feder (30) an der zweiten Stelle aufweist und
welche im Wesentlichen senkrecht zu der ersten Ausrichtung ist,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass der Schritt des Kippens der Feder (30) einen Kippmechanismus (51-59) einsetzt, welcher
ein Basisteil (53) umfasst, welches entlang einer festen Welle (54) bewegbar angeordnet
ist, wobei die Welle (54) eine gebogene Vertiefung (55) aufweist, wo sich das Basisteil
(53) mit der Welle (54) in Eingriff befindet, so dass das Basisteil (53) von der ersten
Ausrichtung in die zweite Ausrichtung gekippt wird, wenn es entlang der Welle (54)
bewegt wird.
16. Verfahren nach Anspruch 15,
gekennzeichnet durch den Schritt
Verwenden der Federüberführungsvorrichtung (50) nach einem der Ansprüche 1-14 für
die Überführung der Feder (30) von der ersten Stelle zu der zweiten Stelle.
1. Dispositif de transfert de ressort (50) pour transférer un ressort (30) d'une machine
à enrouler les ressorts (200) à une machine de transport de ressort (300),
dans lequel le dispositif de transfert de ressort (50) est configuré de façon à amener
le ressort (30) de la machine à enrouler les ressorts (200) au niveau d'un premier
emplacement et à déplacer le ressort jusqu'à un second emplacement pour un transfert
à l'unité de transport de ressort (300), et
dans lequel le dispositif de transfert de ressort (50) comprend un mécanisme de pivot
(51 à 59) pour faire pivoter le ressort (30), pendant le déplacement du premier emplacement
au second emplacement, d'une première orientation, qu'a le ressort (30) au niveau
du premier emplacement, à une seconde orientation, qu'a le ressort (30) au niveau
du second emplacement et qui est sensiblement perpendiculaire à la première orientation,
caractérisé en ce que
le mécanisme de pivot (51 à 59) comprend un organe de base (53) qui est agencé mobile
le long d'un arbre allongé fixe (54), l'arbre (54) ayant une gorge incurvée (55) où
l'organe de base (53) s'enclenche avec l'arbre (54) de sorte que l'organe de base
(53) soit pivoté de la première orientation à la seconde orientation lorsqu'il est
déplacé le long de l'arbre (54).
2. Dispositif de transfert de ressort (50) selon la revendication 1,
caractérisé en ce que
le mécanisme de pivot (51 à 59) est configuré de façon à faire pivoter le ressort
(30) de la première orientation qui est une orientation horizontale à la seconde orientation
qui est une orientation verticale.
3. Dispositif de transfert de ressort (50) selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication
2,
caractérisé en ce que
le dispositif de transfert de ressort (50) est configuré de façon à amener le ressort
(30) au niveau du premier emplacement de l'un d'une pluralité de bras de transport
(11) d'un système de transport en étoile (10), le système de transport en étoile (10)
étant mis en outre en rotation par un bras de transport (11) par cycle de fonctionnement
et chaque bras de transport (11) du système de transport en étoile (10) transportant
un ressort (30) de la machine à enrouler les ressorts (200) au dispositif de transfert
de ressort (50), et
le mécanisme de pivot (51 à 59) est configuré de façon à se déplacer du premier emplacement,
où le ressort (30) a la première orientation, au second emplacement, où le ressort
(30) a la seconde orientation, et le retour du second emplacement au premier emplacement
pendant chaque cycle de fonctionnement.
4. Dispositif de transfert de ressort (50) selon l'une quelconque des revendications
1 à 3,
caractérisé en ce que
le mécanisme de pivot (51 à 59) est configuré de façon à déplacer le ressort (30)
du premier emplacement au second emplacement par un déplacement pivotant et de translation
combinés, le premier emplacement étant espacé du second emplacement le long à la fois
d'une direction de largeur et d'une direction de hauteur du dispositif de transfert
de ressort (50).
5. Dispositif de transfert de ressort (50) selon l'une quelconque des revendications
1 à 4,
caractérisé en ce que
le dispositif de transfert de ressort (50) comprend un mécanisme de rotation (70 à
87) pour mettre en rotation le ressort (30) autour de son axe longitudinal tandis
que le ressort (30) est déplacé par le mécanisme de pivot (51 à 59) du premier emplacement
au second emplacement et est pivoté de la première orientation à la seconde orientation.
6. Dispositif de transfert de ressort (50) selon la revendication 5,
caractérisé en ce que
le dispositif de transfert de ressort (50) comprend un moteur pas à pas (80) pour
entraîner le mécanisme de rotation.
7. Dispositif de transfert de ressort (50) selon l'une quelconque des revendications
1 à 6,
caractérisé en ce que
le dispositif de transfert de ressort (50) comprend une paire d'organes de maintien
(70, 71) qui sont espacés l'un de l'autre de façon à pouvoir maintenir le ressort
(30) entre la paire d'organes de maintien (70, 71) au niveau du premier emplacement.
8. Dispositif de transfert de ressort (50) selon la revendication 7 et l'une quelconque
des revendications 5 et 6,
caractérisé en ce que
les organes de maintien (70, 71) sont des disques rotatifs mis en rotation par le
mécanisme de rotation.
9. Dispositif de transfert de ressort (50) selon l'une quelconque des revendications
7 et 8,
caractérisé en ce que
les organes de maintien (70, 71) sont couplés à l'organe de base (53) de façon à être
déplacés et pivotés conjointement avec l'organe de base (53).
10. Dispositif de transfert de ressort (50) selon l'une quelconque des revendications
1 à 9,
caractérisé en ce que
la gorge incurvée (55) est sensiblement en forme de S.
11. Dispositif de transfert de ressort (50) selon l'une quelconque des revendications
1 à 10,
caractérisé en ce que
l'arbre (54) a une gorge supplémentaire droite (56) s'étendant dans une direction
longitudinale de l'arbre (54) pour guider le déplacement le long de l'arbre (54).
12. Dispositif de transfert de ressort (50) selon l'une quelconque des revendications
1 à 11,
caractérisé en ce que
le dispositif de transfert de ressort (50) comprend un mécanisme d'entraînement (61-62,
64) pour déplacer l'organe de base (53) le long de l'arbre (54).
13. Dispositif de transfert de ressort (50) selon la revendication 12,
caractérisé en ce que
le mécanisme d'entraînement comprend un élément d'entraînement excentrique (64) couplé
à l'organe de base (53) via un levier (62).
14. Machine de fabrication de carcasse de ressort, comprenant
une machine à enrouler les ressorts (200) pour fournir des ressorts enroulés (30),
une machine d'assemblage de carcasse de ressort (400) pour fabriquer une unité de
carcasse de ressort (500) à partir d'une pluralité des ressorts (30),
une unité de transport de ressort (300) pour transporter des rangées des ressorts
alignés (30) vers la machine d'assemblage de carcasse de ressort (400), et
le dispositif de transfert de ressort (50) selon l'une quelconque des revendications
1 à 13 pour emmener un ressort (30) de la machine à enrouler le ressort (200) et pour
transférer le ressort (30) à l'unité de transport de ressort (300) pendant chaque
cycle de fonctionnement de la machine de fabrication de carcasse de ressort.
15. Procédé de transfert d'un ressort (30) d'une machine à enrouler les ressorts (200)
à une unité de transport de ressort (300), comprenant les étapes
le fait d'emmener le ressort (30) de la machine à enrouler les ressorts (200) au niveau
d'un premier emplacement et le déplacement du ressort (30) jusqu'à un second emplacement
pour un transfert à l'unité de transport de ressort (300), et
le pivotement du ressort (30), pendant le déplacement du premier emplacement au second
emplacement, d'une première orientation, qu'a le ressort (30) au niveau du premier
emplacement, à une seconde orientation, qu'a le ressort (30) au niveau du second emplacement
et qui est sensiblement perpendiculaire à la première orientation,
caractérisé en ce que
l'étape de pivotement du ressort (30) utilise un mécanisme de pivot (51 à 59) qui
comprend un organe de base (53) agencé mobile le long d'un arbre fixe (54), l'arbre
(54) ayant une gorge incurvée (55) où l'organe de base (53) enclenche avec l'arbre
(54) de sorte que l'organe de base (53) soit pivoté de la première orientation à la
seconde orientation lorsqu'il est déplacé le long de l'arbre (54).
16. Procédé selon la revendication 15,
caractérisé par l'étape de
l'utilisation du dispositif de transfert de ressort (50) selon l'une quelconque des
revendications 1 à 14 pour le transfert du ressort (30) du premier emplacement au
second emplacement.
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only.
It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has
been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and
the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description