This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2010 014 353.7 filed on Apr. 9, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The invention relates to a device for producing a loop at the end of a coil spring, with a gripping unit with gripper jaws for retaining the spring in a processing application.
Devices for producing a loop at the end of a coil spring are, as a rule, positioned before a leg spring machine, wherein the spring is prefabricated, i.e., wound or bent, whereby the prefabricated spring, before the cutting of the wire, is gripped by the grippers of a gripping unit of the device, is fed to a loop producing device after the cutting and the second loop produced at the end of the spring. The first loop at the beginning of the spring is already produced in the spring machine. However, in principle, such devices for affixing of a loop can be coupled with any kind of spring machine.
From DE 1 402 878 C, a device is known, whereby in several stations loops are produced on both ends of a spring. However, this known device is very elaborate and requires significant floor space. The individual devices contained therein are driven by a continuous pull of drive shafts arranged rectangularly to each other and coupled by means of bevel gear pairs, one of which is driven by an assigned spring winding machine. The great number of applied mechanical parts in connection with the complicated kinematics and the continuous mechanical control of all elements requires that relatively great power be applied for the operation of said device simply to overcome the notable friction, whereby efficiency as well as processing speed of said device are markedly limited.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,782,425 A, a device for producing a loop at the end of a coil spring is described, whereby the coil spring is held in a processing position by a gripping unit with gripper jaws. Thereby, an upper end turn of the spring protrudes over the gripper jaws, which is gripped from underneath by a first tool with a beveled front edge approaching laterally and which is tilted upward to a certain height through a further approach of said tool. Subsequently, the tool is retracted and the end turn is moved still further in its exposed end position by means of a second tool approaching from the same side, whereby the upended spring turn is pressed against a third tool approaching from the opposite direction, acting as a type of stop. This known device operates in a relatively complicated manner and with a great number of individual steps, and allows for the execution of only one type of upward bending of the uppermost end turn of the spring.
Furthermore, another device is known (EP 0 117 097 B1) with which on coil springs that exhibit on their end a protruding tongue and the end of which exhibits a bent hook, the tongue, positioned tangentially to the end turn of the coil spring, is bent upward during the removal from the spring manufacturing machine in a direction parallel to the central axis of the spring. In this device, a gripping unit with gripper jaws for retaining the spring in a processing position with predetermined alignment of the central axis of the spring is provided, whereby the gripping unit can be moved to and also from the processing position. Thereby, the spring is positioned in the gripping unit in such a way that the contact tongue, positioned tangentially to the coil spring, with the already formed hook-shaped end bend protrudes sideways above the gripper jaws. For the tilting up of said tongue a tool is provided which is moved laterally in the direction of the spring and which exhibits on its upper side a beveled approach area, which approaches the protruding tongue at its free end from underneath and subsequently is tilted upward while entraining the tongue. At the same time, an additional tool is moved toward the spring from the opposite side, which exhibits a counter block with a bending edge as a bending form during the tilting up of the loop by the first tool. The approach of the second tool takes place in the processing position of the gripping unit in such a way that the counter block is moved via the uppermost end turn of the spring to a position at which the tongue is bent by the first tool. Thereby, the first tool consists of a tool bit, which is fastened to an angle lever. In order to swivel the tool bit, the angle lever grips, at its free lever end opposite of the tool bit, via a protruding roller into an assigned, inclined sliding-block track, which is designed as a rigid body. The angle lever sits on a mount, which is laterally movable, i.e., to and from the gripping unit, and the lateral movement of which is controlled via a cam gear.
Likewise, the approach and/or retraction of the second tool with the counter block is controlled, once again, by its own cam gear. Thereby, an additional third cam gear is provided, with which the spring can be removed from the processing position after the upward bending of the tongue. However, this known device is only suited for the upward tilting of a tongue of a coil spring protruding sideways over the gripper jaws but not for the forming of a loop for the upward tilting of an entire end turn or a part thereof, which does not protrude radially over the gripper jaws. In addition, due to the great number of applied cam gears, this known device is complicated with overall very complex kinematics, which in turn requires relatively great expenditure of energy for its operation, and the possible maximum processing speed is also not very high.
Therefore, it is the objective of the invention to provide a device which allows for the manufacture of half and whole German loops, English loops as well as hook loops on right-hand as well as left-hand spring bodies, whereby the loops can be pulled up from the spring body as well as bent up. In addition, the device should be designed relatively simply and allow for a high feed speed.
According to the invention, this task is achieved with the device of the aforementioned type in such a way that a first slewing gear unit is provided, the output shaft of which is drivable in opposing rotational directions and is equipped with a coupling section for detachable coupling of a tool for the forming of a loop on the spring through upward bending of the end turn section protruding over the gripper jaws. The output shaft runs essentially vertically to the central axis of the spring held in the gripping unit and is movable vertically as well as parallel to the direction of travel and parallel to the central axis of the spring. An additional counter block is provided attached laterally to the travel direction of the gripping unit with a bending edge as a bending form for producing a loop by the tool and the counter block is movable in the processing position of the gripping unit over the section of the end turn of the spring protruding over the gripper jaws.
In one embodiment a device according to the invention allows for producing a loop at the end of a coil spring in two different ways with only the mounting of an appropriate tool on the rotary shaft of the first slewing gear unit is required.
In an embodiment of a method according to the invention during which the loops are “pulled up” on the spring body, the manufacture of the loop takes place from a spring body, which was produced in a compression spring or leg spring machine, whereby the basic form of the loop does not require prior forming. Hereby, half and whole German loops, English loops as well as low hook loops can be fabricated.
In another embodiment of a method according to the invention whereby the loops are “bent,” the basic form of the loop is already produced in a compression spring or leg spring machine. Then the loop is bent upward by means of a positioning plate. Hereby, half and whole German loops, English loops as well as hook loops can be produced.
The device, according to an embodiment of the invention, allows for a manufacture of loops with only one device on both paths. With the counter block, the bending radius is determined, allowing for the creation of a precisely defined bending radius between spring body and loop.
The device, according to an embodiment of the invention, in its overall concept is designed modularly in such a way that loops can also be produced with springs coiled the other way around, whereby the devices for the bending of the loop must solely be positioned in a mirrored arrangement.
Due to the adjustability, according to embodiments of the invention, of the individual units of the device their rotational axes can be respectively aligned correctly to the spring without difficulty, resulting in a high functionality of the device, whereby the exchangeability of the tool on the output shaft of the first horizontal slewing gear unit of the device contributes significantly to its high functionality.
The fact that essentially only one movable first slewing gear unit and one movable counter block must be applied for the device, according to embodiments of the invention, results overall in a relatively low constructive effort, whereby the travel and rotational motions are achievable with an electronic control as well as quickly and precisely, resulting in an overall significantly greater processing speed of the overall device. Preferably, the device can be controlled by a central control unit.
It is of particular advantage when the gripping unit is directly movable between the processing position and an intake position in both devices, according to embodiments of the invention, whereby in the latter, the gripping unit picks up the spring in a spring manufacturing machine, which ensures a particularly quick work sequence.
Preferably, the spring can be held in the gripping unit in any random alignment if the rest of the components are aligned in correspondence to the device.
It is particularly preferable, however, when the spring is held in the gripping unit in a vertical alignment of its central axis, allowing for the execution of the forming of the loop on the upper side of the spring.
A further embodiment of the invention also entails that at least one section of the end turn of the spring protrudes on the opposite side of the gripper jaws, i.e, on the bottom side of the gripping unit, and that the gripping unit is rotatable via a rotational axis, situated vertically to the central axis of the spring. This embodiment of the device even offers the option of forming a loop not only on one end of a coil spring but also on both its ends on the same device.
Furthermore, the in another embodiment of the invention a second slewing gear unit with a pivoting cantilever is provided, which supports the bending block such that the bending block is pivotable via the feed body in the processing position of the gripping installation to the stop at the free wire end of the end turn, preventing a dodging of the loop during the upward bending of the end turn of the spring. This also allows for a rebending of the already bent loop in the interest of a particularly precise alignment of said loop.
A further embodiment of the device, also provides for a bending block, pivoting around the rotational axis of the output shaft, which is attached as tool to the output shaft of the first slewing gear unit, for underneath gripping and upward bending of the forward end area of the section of the end turn of the spring protruding over the gripper jaws. The application of said tool provides the option of “pulling up” the tension spring. Thereby, the tool, before the approach of the gripping unit to the processing position, is already in a position from which the process of upward bending takes place, so that the section of the end turn protruding axially via the gripper jaws is moved onto the bending tool during the approach of the gripping unit to the processing position. Once the processing position is reached, the protruding end turn of the spring is already gripped underneath by the tool and is bent upward through the introduction of the counter block and rotating of the tool.
In order to execute the other option for producing loops, i.e., to “bend the loops upward,” a positioning plate is provided as tool preferably at the output shaft of the first slewing gear unit, mounted on a radially rotating tongue attached to the output shaft parallel to the rotational axis of the output shaft, and where said positioning plate during the approach of the gripping unit to the processing position, is guided below the section of the end turn of the spring protruding over the gripper jaws, and with which the section of the end turn, resting on the position plate, is bent upward during the rotation of the slewing gear unit.
In this mode of operation, the positioning plate is also in its starting position for the subsequent rotation process when the gripping unit is led to the processing position. Thereby the rotational axis of the slewing gear unit is aligned in such a way that it lies parallel to the bending axis, i.e., the axis around which the loop is to be bent and which is predetermined by the counter block. With this type of producing loops, even longer loops, so-called “extended loops,” with a precise bend can be produced. Once again, the bending block of the second slewing gear unit prevents a dodging of the coil during the bending process and allows for a rebending of the coil for a precise alignment of the loop, if necessary.
In embodiments of the device with a second slewing gear unit with a pivoting cantilever, which holds a bending block, it is advantageous when said second slewing gear unit is movable parallel to the central axis of the spring held in the gripping unit as well as vertically to the spring and the direction of travel of the gripping unit.
Furthermore, in a device, according to an embodiment of the invention, it is advantageous when the counter block is also adjustable in the direction parallel to the central axis of the spring held in the gripping unit.
Finally, a device, according to an embodiment of the invention, also provides an alignment unit, adjustable essentially vertically to the direction of travel of the gripping unit and to the central axis of the spring held therein, and parallel to the latter, with which the position of the end turn of the spring, protruding over the gripper jaws, with respect to a predetermined spring position is adjustable through the rotation of the spring in the gripper jaws of the gripping unit. In this case, the gripping unit with the retained spring on the travel path to the processing position is, preferably, at first moved to said alignment unit, where the verification of the correct alignment of the spring in the gripper jaws and, if necessary, a required correction is effected and only subsequently moved to the processing position with the spring correctly aligned in the gripping unit.
In the following, the invention is further explained in principle by way of example with the help of the drawings:
For a more detailed depiction of the design in the device 1,
The coil spring 4 held by the gripper jaws 3 is exactly aligned with its central axis A (see
Furthermore, the device 1 comprises a first slewing gear unit 8 with an output shaft 9 which is drivable in both rotational directions (see
Moreover, the device 1 comprises a counter block 12, which is attached to the protruding end of a slider 13 and attached laterally to the direction of travel a of the gripping unit 2. By means of the slider 13, the counter block 12, which exhibits at its protruding end a bending edge 14 as bending form for the manufacture of the loop through the tool 11, can be moved to and from the processing position of the gripping unit 2. In addition, the slider 13 is movable laterally to the central axis A and the direction of travel a of the gripping unit 2, whereby preferably an essentially vertical movability in transverse direction is provided.
Furthermore, the device 1 can provide for a second slewing gear unit 15, the rotational axis B of which is directed essentially vertically upward (preferred vertically to the travel axis a) and which is adjustable, preferably movable, via lateral slot guides 16 in a vertical steering plate 17 in transverse direction, particularly vertically, to the travel axis a. In addition, the second slewing gear unit 15 is also movable, as shown in
Finally, the device 1 can also provide for an alignment unit 20 which is adjustable in the direction of the travel axis a to and from the gripping unit 2 as well as in the latitudinal direction. The alignment unit 20 ensures a correct positioning of the coil spring 4 in the gripper jaws 3 for the subsequent processing, whereby said alignment unit, arranged above the spring 4, detects the spring's actual position and, in case of deviations from the desired position, turns the spring, e.g., through gripping at the upper spring end within the gripper jaws 3 in such a way that the spring eventually assumes the desired rotational alignment.
Now
In
The tool 11 exhibits a bending block 21, which is attached below to the tool 11, whereby the rotational axis of the first slewing gear unit 8 is positioned before the spring 4 (in travel direction of the spring 4 toward the processing position). Thereby, the leading edge of the bending block 21 grips the last coil 6 of the spring 4 from underneath while the first slewing gear unit 8 is turned counterclockwise and bends said coil with a further rotary movement at the bending edge 14 of the counter block 12 positioned above the spring body 7. With this tool 11, loops can be “pulled up” from “normal” coils (i.e., the end turn 6 has the same diameter as the spring body 7).
In the following, the sequence of the bending process as shown in
In the following, the “bending up” of the loop as shown in
The coil spring 4 can also be held in the gripping unit 2 in such a way that it not only—as shown in the drawings—protrudes over the gripper jaws 3 axially above by at least the section of the end turn 6 but similarly also on the opposite side of the gripper jaws 3 at the respective spring end. In this case, which is not depicted in the drawings, the gripping unit 2 must be designed swiveling around its longitudinal axis parallel to the direction of travel a, in order to allow for its bottom side to be swiveled upward and to also process the protruding spring end on that side, i.e., to equip with a loop.
Finally,
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2010 014 353 | Apr 2010 | DE | national |
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Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
0 117 097 | Aug 1984 | EP |
1 294 495 | Oct 1972 | GB |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20110247717 A1 | Oct 2011 | US |