Claims
- 1. A coil spring forming machine and transfer conveyor assembly comprising a transfer conveyor operable through a succession of operational cycles and including an endless conveyor assembly arranged for periodic travel along a predetermined path and through a coil spring loading station, and a conveyor driving device drivingly connected to said conveyor assembly and operative, upon each energization thereof, to drive said conveyor assembly through one operational cycle thereof, a first coil spring forming machine located adjacent said predetermined path, operable through a succession of operational cycles to form coil springs, and, during a period of non-movement of said conveyor assembly, to load a coil spring on said conveyor assembly at said loading station, and including a first coil spring forming driving device operative, upon each energization thereof, to drive said first coil spring forming machine through one operational cycle thereof, a second coil spring forming machine located adjacent said predetermined path, operable through a succession of operational cycles to form coil springs, and, during a period of non-movement of said conveyor assembly, to load a coil spring on said conveyor assembly at said loading station, and including a second coil spring forming driving device operative, upon each energization thereof, to cause actuation of said second coil spring forming machine through one operational cycle thereof, and a control system operative to cause energization of said conveyor driving device in response to completion of one operational cycle of one of said first and second coil spring forming driving devices, and operative to cause energization of one of said first and second coil spring forming driving devices in response to completion of one operational cycle of said conveyor driving device.
- 2. An assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said control system operates to cause energization of said conveyor driving device in response to completion of one operational cycle of both of said first and second coil spring forming driving devices, and operates to simultaneously energize said first and second coil spring forming driving devices in response to completion of the same operational cycle of said conveyor driving device.
- 3. An assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said control system operates to energize said first coil spring forming driving device in response to completion of one of the operational cycles of said conveyor driving device, and wherein said control system operates to energize said second coil spring forming driving device in response to completion of the next one of the operational cycles of said conveyor driving device.
- 4. An assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said driving devices are servo-motors.
- 5. An assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said conveyor assembly includes a series of pallets which are pivotally connected, which, when located in said loading station, extend vertically, and which have a length which extends in the direction of conveyor assembly travel and which is approximately equal to a multiple of the diameter of the coil springs.
- 6. An assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein said first and second coil spring forming machines simultaneously deliver fully completed coil springs to the one of said pallets which is located in said loading station.
- 7. An assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein aid first coil spring forming machine delivers a fully completed coil spring to the one of said pallets which is located in said loading station, and wherein said second coil spring forming machine delivers a fully completed coil spring to the next one of said pallets which is located in said loading station.
- 8. A assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first coil spring forming machine also includes a first coil spring forming head which is periodically operative to at least partially form coil springs and which also includes a first wire feed advancing mechanism, a first wire feed driving device drivingly connected to said first wire feed advancing mechanism and being operative in response to operation of said conveyor driving device, a first pitch control tool, a first pitch control driving device drivingly connected to said first pitch control tool and being operative in response to operation of said first wire feed driving device, a first diameter control tool, and a first diameter control driving device drivingly connected to said first diameter control tool and being operative in response to operation of said first wire feed driving device, and wherein said second coil spring forming machine also includes a second coil spring forming head which is periodically operative to at least partially form coil springs and which includes a second wire feed advancing mechanism, a second wire feed driving device drivingly connected to said second wire feed advancing mechanism and being operative in response to operation of said conveyor driving device, a second pitch control tool, a second pitch control driving device drivingly connected to said second pitch control tool and being operative in response to operation of said second wire feed driving device, a second diameter control tool, and a second diameter control driving device drivingly connected to said second diameter control tool and being operative in response to operation of said second wire feed driving device.
- 9. An assembly in accordance with claim 8 wherein said pitch control and said diameter control driving devices are servo-motors.
- 10. An assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first coil spring forming machine also includes a first coil spring forming head which is periodically operative to at least partially form a first coil spring having opposite ends, and a first coil spring completing and delivering mechanism operative to complete formation of the partially formed first coil spring and to deliver the completely formed first coil spring to said transfer conveyor, and including a first forming station including a first device for forming the opposite ends of the partially formed first coil spring to form a completely formed first coil spring, and a first tempering station including
- 11. An assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein said first coil spring completing and delivering mechanism also includes a first coil transporting device for removing the first coil spring from the first coil spring forming head and for transporting the first coil spring through said first forming and tempering stations to said transfer conveyor, and wherein said second coil spring completing and delivering mechanism also includes a second coil transporting device for removing the second coil spring from the second coil spring forming head and for transporting the second coil spring through said second forming and tempering stations to said transfer conveyor.
- 12. A coil spring forming machine and transfer conveyor assembly comprising a transfer conveyor operable through a succession of operational cycles and including an endless conveyor assembly arranged for periodic travel along a predetermined path and for passage through a coil spring loading station, and a conveyor driving device drivingly connected to said conveyor assembly and operative, upon each energization thereof, to drive said conveyor assembly through one operational cycle thereof, a first coil spring forming machine located on one side of said predetermined path, operable through a succession of operational cycles to form a first coil spring, and, during a period of non-movement of said conveyor assembly, to load the first coil spring on said conveyor assembly in said loading station, and including a first coil spring forming driving device operative, upon each energization thereof, to drive said first coil spring forming machine through one operational cycle thereof, and a second coil spring forming machine located on the other side of said predetermined path, operable through a succession of operational cycles to form a second coil spring, and, during a period of non-movement of said conveyor assembly, to load the second coil spring on said conveyor assembling said loading station, and including a second coil spring forming driving device operative, upon each energization thereof, to drive said second coil spring forming machine through one operational cycle thereof, and a control system operative to cause energization of said conveyor driving device through one operational cycle in response to completion of one operational cycle of both of said first and second coil spring forming driving devices, and operative to cause simultaneous energization of said first and second coil spring forming driving devices in response to completion of one operational cycle of said conveyor driving device.
- 13. An assembly in accordance with claim 12 wherein said series of pallets are pivotally connected, extend vertically when located in said loading station, and have a length which extends in the direction of conveyor assembly travel and which is approximately equal to twice the diameter of the coil springs.
- 14. An assembly in accordance with claim 12 wherein said first coil spring forming machine also includes a first coil spring forming head which is periodically operative to at least partially form coil springs and which also includes a first wire feed advancing mechanism, a first wire feed driving device drivingly connected to said first wire feed advancing mechanism and being operative in response to operation of said conveyor driving device, a first pitch control tool, a first pitch control driving device drivingly connected to said first pitch control tool and being operative in response to operation of said first wire feed driving device, a first diameter control tool, and a first diameter control driving device drivingly connected to said first diameter control tool and being operative in response to operation of said first wire feed driving device, and wherein said second coil spring forming machine also includes a second coil spring forming head which is periodically operative to at least partially form coil springs and which includes a second wire feed advancing mechanism, a second wire feed driving device drivingly connected to said second wire feed advancing mechanism and being operative in response to operation of said conveyor driving device, a second pitch control tool, a second pitch control driving device drivingly connected to said second pitch control tool and being operative in response to operation of said second wire feed driving device, a second diameter control tool, and a second diameter control driving device drivingly connected to said second diameter control tool and being operative in response to operation of said second wire feed driving device.
- 15. A coil spring forming machine and transfer conveyor assembly comprising a transfer conveyor operable through a succession of operational cycles and including an endless conveyor assembly arranged for periodic travel along a predetermined path and for passage through a coil spring loading station, and a conveyor driving device drivingly connected to said conveyor assembly and operative, upon each energization thereof, to drive said conveyor assembly through one operational cycle thereof, a first coil spring forming machine located on one side of said predetermined path, operable through a succession of operational cycles to form a first coil spring, and, when one of said pallets is in said loading station and during a period of non-movement of said conveyor assembly, to load said first coil spring on said conveyor assembly in said loading station, and including a first coil spring forming driving device operative, upon each energization thereof, to drive said first coil spring forming machine through one operational cycle thereof, a second coil spring forming machine located on the other side of said predetermined path, operable through a succession of operational cycles to form a second coil spring, and, when said one pallet is in said loading station and during a period of non-movement of said conveyor assembly, to load said second coil spring on said conveyor assembly in said loading station, and including a second coil spring forming driving device operative, upon each energization thereof, to drive said second coil spring forming machine through one operational cycle thereof, and a control system operative to cause energization of said conveyor driving device through a first operational cycle in response to completion of one operational cycle of said first coil spring forming driving device, operative to cause energization of said second coil spring forming driving device in response to completion of said first operational cycle of said conveyor driving device, operative to cause energization of said conveyor driving device through a second operational cycle in response to completion of one operational cycle of said second coil spring forming driving device, and operative to cause energization of said first coil spring forming driving device in response to completion of said second operational cycle of said conveyor driving device.
- 16. An assembly in accordance with claim 15 wherein said first coil spring forming machine also includes a first coil spring forming head which is periodically operative to at least partially form coil springs and which also includes a first wire feed advancing mechanism, a first wire feed driving device drivingly connected to said first wire feed advancing mechanism and being operative in response to operation of said conveyor driving device, a first pitch control tool, a first pitch control driving device drivingly connected to said first pitch control tool and being operative in response to operation of said first wire feed driving device, a first diameter control tool, and a first diameter control driving device drivingly connected to said first diameter control tool and being operative in response to operation of said first wire feed driving device, and wherein said second coil spring forming machine also includes a second coil spring forming head which is periodically operative to at least partially form coil springs and which includes a second wire feed advancing mechanism, a second wire feed driving device drivingly connected to said second wire feed advancing mechanism and being operative in response to operation of said conveyor driving device, a second pitch control tool, a second pitch control driving device drivingly connected to said second pitch control tool and being operative in response to operation of said second wire feed driving device, a second diameter control tool, and a second diameter control driving device drivingly connected to said second diameter control tool and being operative in response to operation of said second wire feed driving device.
- 17. A coil spring forming machine and transfer conveyor assembly comprising a transfer conveyor operable through a succession of operational cycles and including an endless conveyor assembly arranged for periodic travel along a predetermined path and through a coil spring loading station, and a conveyor driving device drivingly connected to said conveyor assembly and operative, upon each energization thereof, to drive said conveyor assembly through one operational cycle thereof, a coil spring forming machine located adjacent said predetermined path, operable through a succession of operational cycles to form a first coil spring, and, during a period of non-movement of said conveyor assembly, to load the first coil spring on said transfer conveyor, and including a coil spring forming driving device operative, upon each energization thereof, to drive said coil spring forming machine through one operational cycle thereof, and a control system operative to cause energization of said conveyor driving device in response to completion of one operational cycle of said coil spring forming driving device, and, thereafter, operative to cause energization of said coil spring forming driving device in response to completion of one operational cycle of said conveyor driving device.
- 18. An assembly in accordance with claim 17 wherein said coil spring forming machine also includes a coil spring forming head which is periodically operative to at least partially form coil springs and which also includes a wire feed advancing mechanism, a wire feed driving device drivingly connected to said wire feed advancing mechanism and being operative in response to operation of said conveyor driving device, a pitch control tool, a pitch control driving device drivingly connected to said pitch control tool and being operative in response to operation of said wire feed driving device, a diameter control tool, and a diameter control driving device drivingly connected to said diameter control tool and being operative in response to operation of said wire feed driving device.
- 19. A coil spring forming machine and transfer conveyor assembly comprising a transfer conveyor operable through a succession of operational cycles and including an endless conveyor assembly arranged for periodic travel along a predetermined path and through a coil spring loading station, and a conveyor driving device drivingly connected to said conveyor assembly and operative, upon each energization thereof, to drive said conveyor assembly through one operational cycle thereof, a first coil spring forming machine located adjacent said predetermined path, operable through a succession of operational cycles to form coil springs, and, during a period of non-movement of said conveyor assembly, to load a coil spring on said transfer conveyor, and including a first coil spring forming driving device operative, upon each energization thereof, to drive said first coil spring forming machine through one operational cycle thereof, a second coil spring forming machine located adjacent said predetermined path, operable through a succession of operational cycles to form coil springs, and, during a period of non-movement of said conveyor assembly, to load a coil spring on said transfer conveyor, and including a second coil spring forming driving device operative, upon each energization thereof, to drive said second coil spring forming machine through one operational cycle thereof, and a control system including first and second counting and switching devices which are respectively connected to one of (a) said conveyor driving device, and (b) said first and second coil spring forming driving devices, and which are respectively connectable to and disconnectable from the other of (a) said conveyor driving device, and (b) said first and second coil spring forming driving devices, said first counting and switching device being adjustable to select a desired number of successive operational cycles of said first coil spring forming machine, being operable to effect said selected desired number of successive operational cycles of said first coil spring forming machine by successive energization of said first coil spring forming driving device in response to each successive completion of said selected desired number of operational cycles of said conveyor driving device, and being operable, upon completion of said selected desired number of operational cycles of said conveyor driving device, to cause disconnection of said conveyor driving device and said first counting and switching device and connection of said conveyor driving device and said second counting and switching device, and said second counting and switching device being adjustable to select a desired number of successive operational cycles of said second coil spring forming machine, being operable to effect said selected desired number of successive operational cycles of said second coil spring forming machine by successive energization of said second coil spring forming driving device in response to each successive completion of said selected desired number of operational cycles of said conveyor driving device, and being operable, upon completion of said selected desired number of operational cycles of said conveyor driving device, to cause disconnection of said conveyor driving device and said second counting and switching device and connection of said conveyor driving device and said first counting and switching device.
- 20. An assembly in accordance with claim 19 wherein said first coil spring forming machine also includes a first coil spring forming head which is periodically operative to at least partially form coil springs and which also includes a first wire feed advancing mechanism, a first wire feed driving device drivingly connected to said first wire feed advancing mechanism and being operative in response to operation of said conveyor driving device, a first pitch control tool, a first pitch control driving device drivingly connected to said first pitch control tool and being operative in response to operation of said first wire feed driving device, a first diameter control tool, and a first diameter control driving device drivingly connected to said first diameter control tool and being operative in response to operation of said first wire feed driving device, and wherein said second coil spring forming machine also includes a second coil spring forming head which is periodically operative to at least partially form coil springs and which includes a second wire feed advancing mechanism, a second wire feed servo-driving device drivingly connected to said second wire feed advancing mechanism and being operative in response to operation of said conveyor driving device, a second pitch control tool, a second pitch control driving device drivingly connected to said second pitch control tool and being operative in response to operation of said second wire feed driving device, a second diameter control tool, and a second diameter control driving device drivingly connected to said second diameter control tool and being operative in response to operation of said second wire feed driving device.
- 21. A coil spring forming head which is periodically operative to at least partially form coil springs and which includes a wire feed advancing mechanism, a wire feed driving device drivingly connected to said wire feed advancing mechanism, a pitch control tool, a pitch control driving device drivingly connected to said pitch control tool and being operative in response to operation of said wire feed driving device, a diameter control tool, and a diameter control driving device drivingly connected to said diameter control tool and being operative in response to operation of said wire feed driving device.
- 22. A coil spring forming head which is periodically operative to at least partially form coil springs and which includes a wire feed advancing mechanism, a wire feed driving servo-motor drivingly connected to said wire feed advancing mechanism, a pitch control tool, a pitch control driving servo-motor drivingly connected to said pitch control tool and being operative in response to operation of said wire feed driving device, a diameter control tool, and a diameter control driving servo-motor drivingly connected to said diameter control tool and being operative in response to operation of said wire feed driving device.
- 23. A coil spring forming head which is periodically operative to at least partially form coil springs having a plurality of coils and which includes a wire feed advancing mechanism operative to feed the wire which is formed into coil springs, a pitch control mechanism operative to control the pitch of the coils of the coil springs being formed, a diameter control mechanism operative to control the diameter of the coils of the coil springs being formed, and a control including a storage area containing instructions for operation of said wire feed advancing mechanism, said pitch control mechanism, and said diameter control mechanism, a wire feed controller connected to said wire feed advancing mechanism to control operation thereof, a pitch controller connected to said pitch control mechanism to control operation thereof, a diameter controller connected said diameter control mechanism to control operation thereof, and a programmable switching device connected to said wire feed controller, to said pitch controller, and to said diameter controller and selectively connectable to said storage area to afford forwarding of selected instructions from said storage area to said wire feed controller, to said pitch controller, and to said diameter controller.
- 24. A coil spring forming head which is periodically operative to at least partially form coil springs having a plurality of coils and which includes a wire feed advancing device, a wire feed driving device drivingly connected to said wire feed advancing device and operative to feed the wire to be formed into coil springs, a pitch control tool, a pitch control driving device drivingly connected to said pitch control tool and being operative, in response to operation of said wire feed driving device, to control the pitch of the coils of the coil springs being formed, a diameter control tool, a diameter control driving device drivingly connected to said diameter control tool and being operative, in response to operation of said wire feed driving device, to control the diameter of the coils of the coil springs being formed, and a control including a storage area containing instructions for operation of said wire feed driving device, said pitch control driving device, and said diameter control driving device, a wire feed controller connected to said wire feed driving device to control operation thereof, a pitch controller connected to said pitch control driving device to control operation thereof, a diameter controller connected said diameter control driving device to control operation thereof, and a programmable switching device connected to said wire feed controller, to said pitch controller, and to said diameter controller and selectively connectable to said storage area to afford forwarding of selected instructions from said storage area to said wire feed controller, to said pitch controller, and to said diameter controller.
- 25. A coil spring forming head which is periodically operative to at least partially form coil springs having a plurality of coils and which includes a wire feed advancing device, a wire feed driving servo-motor drivingly connected to said wire feed advancing device and operative to feed the wire to be formed into coil springs, a pitch control tool, a pitch control driving servo-motor drivingly connected to said pitch control tool and being operative, in response to operation of said wire feed driving servo-motor, to control the pitch of the coils of the coil springs being formed, a diameter control tool, a diameter control driving servo-motor drivingly connected to said diameter control tool and being operative, in response to operation of said wire feed driving servo-motor, to control the diameter of the coils of the coil springs being formed, and a control including a storage area containing instructions for operation of said wire feed driving servo-motor, said pitch control driving servo-motor, and said diameter control driving servo-motor, a wire feed controller connected to said wire feed driving servo-motor to control operation thereof, a pitch controller connected to said pitch control driving servo-motor to control operation thereof, a diameter control controller connected said diameter control driving servo-motor to control operation thereof, and a programmable switching device connected to said wire feed controller, to said pitch controller, and to said diameter control controller and selectively connectable to said storage area to afford forwarding of selected instructions from said storage area to said wire feed controller, to said pitch controller, and to said diameter control controller.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/005,346 filed Jan. 9, 1998, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Provisionl Application Ser. No. 60/057,213, filed Aug. 29, 1997. This application also claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/120,832, filed Feb. 19, 1999.
Provisional Applications (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60057213 |
Aug 1997 |
US |
|
60120832 |
Feb 1999 |
US |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09365371 |
Jul 1999 |
US |
Child |
09753936 |
Jan 2001 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09005346 |
Jan 1998 |
US |
Child |
09365371 |
Jul 1999 |
US |