Patent Application
20140128169
The present invention relates to a guide for elongated metal objects such as nails, and to systems utilizing such a guide e.g. a nail producing machine.
Modern nail producing machines are capable of producing large quantities of nails from metal wires. The metal wire is cut into a plurality of elongated metal objects that are formed into finished nails. Flexibility, production speed, and reliability are three important properties of a nail production machine. A flexible machine capable of producing a wide variety of different types of nails, e.g. different lengths of nails, is highly desirable as it will be more capable of serving changing needs of a nail manufacture; a high production speed is desirable as the value of the machine depends on the machine's expected production capabilities; and reliability is important as a malfunctioning machine is costly both in direct reparation costs and in lost production.
Unfortunately, flexibility, production speed, and reliability are correlated so that an increase of flexibility and/or the production speed will result in a decrease in reliability.
Thus, it remains a problem to provide a nail producing machine that is both flexible, fast and reliable without significantly increasing the production costs of the machine itself.
According to a first aspect a guiding device is provided for receiving an elongated metal object being propelled by a first propulsion means and guiding it towards a second propulsion means, the first propulsion means and the second propulsion means being configured to propel the elongated metal objet along a longitudinal axis, wherein the guiding device comprises guiding means for receiving the elongated metal object and guiding it towards the second propulsion means,
wherein the guiding means have a shape configured to guide the elongated metal object to a predetermined position along a first axis, the first axis being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the predetermined position is determined by the shape of the guiding means.
Consequently, the position of the elongated metal object may be fixed reducing the risk that the elongated metal object jams other components. Thus, when the guiding device is used in a nail producing machine it will reduce the risk that the nail producing machine will malfunction, thereby enabling the speed of the nail producing machine to be increased and/or enabling the nail producing machine to manufacture shorter nails.
The elongated metal object may be an intermediate product in a nail production process. The elongated metal object may be produced by cutting a metal wire into a plurality of elongated meal objects. In some embodiments, the elongated metal objet may have a length between 10 mm and 300 mm, between 20 mm and 150 mm, or 32 mm and 130 mm. In some embodiments, the width/diameter of the elongated metal object may be between 0.5 mm and 2 cm, 1 mm and 6 mm or 1.8 mm and 4.5 mm.
The first means of propulsion may directly propel the elongated metal object or alternatively it may indirectly propel the elongated metal object e.g. by propelling another object pushing on the elongated metal object. The first means of propulsion may be a set of rotating wheels rotating above each other. In some embodiments, the first means of propulsion additionally comprises means for cutting a metal wire into a plurality of elongated metal objects. In some embodiments, the first means of propulsion does not comprise means for cutting a metal wire into a plurality of elongated metal objects.
The second means of propulsion may comprise at least one rotating cylinder for propelling the elongated metal object. The at least one rotating cylinder may rotate in a plane spanned by the longitudinal axis and a second axis, wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and the first axis. The second means of propulsion may comprise a plurality of cylinders rotating in a common plane. The second means of propulsion may comprise a first group of rotating cylinders positioned on a first side of the longitudinal axis, and a second group of rotating cylinders positioned on a second side of the longitudinal axis, where the first group of cylinders rotates in a first direction and the second group of cylinders rotates in a second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction so that the elongated metal object is pulled by the first group of rotating cylinders and the second group of rotating cylinders. The first group of rotating cylinders and the second group of rotating cylinders may comprise any number of rotating cylinders such as 1 to 10 rotating cylinders e.g. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 10 rotating cylinders.
The nail producing machine may be of the rotary type.
In some embodiments, the guiding means comprises a bottom section, wherein the position of the bottom section of the guiding means determines the predetermined position along the first axis of the elongated metal object.
In some embodiments, the guiding means comprise a first sloping wall and a second sloping wall protruding from the bottom section of the guiding means.
In some embodiments, the angle between a tangent of the first sloping wall and a tangent of the second sloping wall at a cross-section of the guiding means is between 5 degrees and 170 degrees, 10 degrees and 145 degrees, 25 and 120 degrees, or 45 and 100 degrees, where the angle is defined as the angle facing the guiding means.
The cross-section may be a cross-section of the guiding means in a plane spanned by the first axis and the second axis. If the first sloping wall and/or the second sloping wall are curved, the tangents of the first sloping wall and the second sloping wall may be selected as the tangents producing the smallest angle.
Consequently, as the second means of propulsion may force the elongated metal object to be positioned at a predetermined position along the second axis (an axis perpendicular to both the longitudinal axis and the first axis), the slope of the two protruding walls may in a reliable manner secure that the elongated metal object is positioned at the predetermined position along the first axis. Thereby divergence from the longitudinal axis in the transportation path of the elongated metal object created by the first means of propulsion or other components in a nail producing machine may be corrected for.
In some embodiments the guiding means may comprise a groove, wherein the predetermined position of the elongated metal object along the first axis is determined by the shape of the groove.
The first sloping wall and the second sloping wall may together form the groove so that the bottom section of the groove determines the predetermined position along the first axis. The guiding means may optionally comprise a lid section.
In some embodiments, the width of the groove is between, 0.25 mm and 50 mm, 0.5 mm and 25 mm, or 1 mm and 15 mm.
In some embodiment, the depth of the groove is between 0.25 mm and 50 mm, 0.5 mm and 25 mm, or 1 mm and 15 mm.
In some embodiments, the angle between a line positioned at the bottom section of the guiding means and the longitudinal axis is between 1 degree and 80 degrees, 0 degrees and 50 degrees, 2 degrees and 25 degrees, 2 degrees and 15 degrees, or 2 degrees and 10 degrees, where the angle is measured as the smallest possible angle.
Consequently, divergence created by the first means of propulsion or other components of a nail producing machine along the second axis in the transportation path of the elongated metal object may be corrected for.
In some embodiments, the guiding device is made of a rigid material.
In some embodiments, the guiding device is made of metal.
In some embodiments, the guiding device does not comprise any movable parts.
In some embodiments, at least a part of the guiding device has a wedge shape in a plane spanned by the longitudinal axis and the first axis, allowing the guiding device to be positioned in proximity of a set of rotating wheels.
Consequently, as the guiding device can be positioned in proximity of a set of rotating wheels, the elongated metal object may only need to move a short distance before being guided.
The wedge shaped part of the guiding device may comprise the guiding means and optionally also the elongated arm.
In some embodiments, the wedge shape is formed by two faces laying in two planes on the guiding device, wherein the angle between the planes is between 1 degree and 85 degrees, 1 degree and 60 degrees, 1 degree and 35 degrees, 1 degree and 20 degrees, or 1 degree and 15 degrees, where the angle is measured as the smaller of the two possible angles.
In some embodiments, the guiding means is connected to a first end of an elongated arm, the elongated arm being connected at a second end to a fastening structure for allowing the guiding device to be fastened to a machine.
In some embodiments, the elongated arm protrudes along a second axis, wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and the first axis.
In some embodiments, the fastening structure comprises a face positioned in a plane being approximately parallel with the plane spanned by the longitudinal axis and the first axis.
According to a second aspect, a system for transporting an elongated metal object is provided, wherein the system comprises:
wherein the guiding device is configured to receive an elongated metal object being propelled by a first propulsion means and guiding it towards the second propulsion means, the first propulsion means and the second propulsion means being configured to propel the elongated metal objet along a longitudinal axis, wherein the guiding device comprises a guiding means for receiving the elongated metal object and guiding it towards the second propulsion means, wherein
the guiding means have a shape configured to guide the elongated metal object to a predetermined position along a first axis, the first axis being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the predetermined position is determined by the shape of the guiding means.
In some embodiments, the second propulsion means comprises at least one rotating cylinder for propelling the elongated metal object.
In some embodiments, the at least one rotating cylinder rotates in a plane spanned by the longitudinal axis and a second axis, wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and the first axis.
In some embodiments, the system further comprises a cutting means for cutting a metal wire into a plurality of elongated metal objects, wherein the cutting means is positioned in front of the guiding device.
In some embodiments, the cutting means comprises a first wheel, the first wheel rotating in a plane spanned by the longitudinal axis and the first axis, wherein the first wheel comprises at least one cutting element positioned at the rim of the first wheel, the cutting element being configured to cut the metal wire into a plurality of elongated objects having a predetermined length.
In some embodiments, the cutting means further comprises a second wheel wherein the first wheel is positioned above the second wheel, the first wheel and the second wheel rotating in a plane spanned by the longitudinal axis and the first axis, wherein the second wheel comprises at least one cutting element positioned at the rim of the second wheel, the first wheel and the second wheel being synchronized so that the at least one cutting element of the first wheel and the at least one cutting element of the second wheel contacts the metal wire at approximately the same time and together cut the metal wire into a plurality of elongated metal objects of a predetermined length.
The different aspects of the present invention can be implemented in different ways including the guiding devices and systems for transporting elongated metal objects described above and in the following, each yielding one or more of the benefits and advantages described in connection with at least one of the aspects described above, and each having one or more preferred embodiments corresponding to the preferred embodiments described in connection with at least one of the aspects described above and/or disclosed in the dependent claims. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that embodiments described in connection with one of the aspects described herein may equally be applied to the other aspects.
The above and/or additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be further elucidated by the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:
a-d show a guiding device according to an embodiment of the invention.
a-c show a part of a nail producing machine.
a-c show a part of a nail producing machine comprising a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
a-d show guiding means according to some embodiments of the present invention.
a-b show a part of a nail producing machine comprising a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying figures, which, by way of illustration, show how the invention may be practiced.
a-d show a guiding device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The guiding device 100 is configured to receive an elongated metal object being propelled by a first propulsion means and guiding it towards a second propulsion means, the first propulsion means and the second propulsion means being configured to propel the elongated metal object along a longitudinal axis 101. The guiding device 100 comprises guiding means in the shape of a groove 102 configured to receive an elongated metal object at a first end 104 and guide it towards second propulsion means at a second end 108. The groove 102 comprises a first sloping wall 117, and a second sloping wall 118 protruding from a bottom section. The shape of the groove 102 guides the elongated metal object towards a predetermined position along a first axis 103 being perpendicular to the elongated axis 101. This allows the guiding device to correct for divergence from the longitudinal axis in the transportation path of the elongated metal object.
The guiding device 100 further comprises an elongated arm 106 protruding along a second axis 105, the second axis being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 101 and the first axis 103. The elongated arm 106 is connected at a first end 115 to the groove 102 and connected at a second end 116 to a fastening structure 107. The fastening structure 107 may comprise a face positioned in a plane spanned by the longitudinal axis 101 and the first axis 103. The fastening structure may additionally comprise one or more fastening holes 109110111 for allowing the fastening structure 107 to be fastened to a machine e.g. a nail producing machine, using suitable fastening means e.g. screws, bolts.
A part of the guiding device 102, 106 has a wedge shape in a plane spanned by the longitudinal axis 101 and the first axis 103 allowing the guiding device to be positioned in proximity of a set of rotating wheels. The part of the guiding device having a wedge shape comprises the groove 102 and the elongated arm 106. The wedge shape is formed by two faces 122, 123 laying in two planes 112, 113. In some embodiments, the angle 114 between the two planes is between 0 degrees and 85 degrees, 0 degrees and 60 degrees, 0 degrees and 35 degrees, 0 degrees and 20 degrees, or 0 degrees and 15 degrees, where the angle is measured as the smaller of the two possible angles.
In some embodiments, the angle 119 between a tangent 120 of the first sloping wall 117 and a tangent 121 of the second sloping wall 118 at a cross-section of the groove 102 is between 5 degrees and 170 degrees, 10 degrees and 145 degrees, 25 and 120 degrees, or 45 and 100 degrees, where the angle is defined as the angle 119 facing the groove 102, the cross-section is a cross-section of the groove 102 in a plane spanned by the first axis 103 and the second axis 105, and the tangents 120, 121 of the first sloping wall 117 and the second sloping wall 118 are selected as the tangents producing the smallest possible angle.
In some embodiments, the angle 223 between the line 222 positioned at the bottom section and the longitudinal axis 201 is between 1 degree and 80 degrees, 1 degree and 50 degrees, 2 degrees and 25 degrees, 2 degrees and 15 degrees, or 2 degrees and 10 degrees, where the angle is defined as the smallest possible angle.
Consequently, divergence created by the first means of propulsion or other components of a nail producing machine along the second axis in the transportation path of the elongated metal object may be corrected for.
a-c show a system for transporting an elongated metal object at three different points in time.
The system comprises second propulsion means 303 and cutting means 301302. The cutting means comprises a first wheel 301 and a second wheel 302 both rotating in a plane spanned by the longitudinal axis 309 and the first axis 310. The first wheel 301 is positioned above the second wheel 302. The first wheel and the second wheel each comprise at least one cutting element 305, 306 positioned at the rim of the first wheel 301 and the second wheel 302, respectively. The cutting elements are configured to cut a metal wire 304 into a plurality of elongated metal objects 307. The first wheel 301 and the second wheel 302 are synchronized so that the cutting element 306 of the first wheel 301 and the cutting element 305 of the second wheel approximately contact the metal wire 304 at the same time and together cut the metal wire 304 into a plurality of elongated metal objects 307 as illustrated in
The cutting means may additionally directly propel the elongated metal object 307, thus the cutting means may additionally function as first propulsion means propelling a newly cut elongated metal object towards second propulsion means 303 along the longitudinal axis 309. The cutting elements 305, 306 of the first wheel and the second wheel 301, 302 may propel a newly cut elongated metal object 307 towards second propulsion means 303, additionally or alternatively the first wheel 301 and the second wheel 302 may comprise gripping elements (not shown) configured to propel an elongated metal object. The gripping elements may be positioned at the rim of the first wheel 301 and the second wheel 302. The gripping elements may have a lower height than the cutting elements 305, 306. The gripping elements may be positioned in front of the cutting elements on the rim of the first wheel 301 and the second wheel 302, so that the gripping elements contact the metal wire 304 before the cutting elements contact the metal wire.
The force imposed on the elongated metal object 307 from the cutting elements 305, 306 of the cutting means 301, 302 may create divergence from the longitudinal axis 309 in the transportation path of the elongated metal object. The divergence is correlated with the imposed force and is therefore affected by the operational speed of the system. If the divergence exceeds a limit, the elongated metal object 307 will not be able to be propelled by the second propulsion means 303 and/or jams the second mean of propulsion 303 or other components of the system. Thus, to avoid the divergence to exceed the limit the operational speed of the system has to be kept low.
a-c show a system for transporting an elongated metal object at three different points in time, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
a shows the system at a first point in time,
The system comprises second propulsion means 403 and cutting means 401, 402. The cutting means comprises a first wheel 401 and a second wheel 402 both rotating in a plane spanned by the longitudinal axis 409 and the first axis 410. The first wheel 401 is positioned above the second wheel 402. The first wheel and the second wheel each comprise at least one cutting element 405, 406 positioned at the rim of the first wheel 401 and the second wheel 402, respectively. The cutting elements are configured to cut a metal wire 404 into a plurality of elongated metal objects 407. The first wheel 401 and the second wheel 402 are synchronized so that the cutting element 406 of the first wheel 401 and the cutting element 405 of the second wheel approximately contact the metal wire 404 at the same time and together cut the metal wire 404 into a plurality of elongated metal objects 407 as illustrated in
The cutting means may additionally directly propel the elongated metal object 407, thus the cutting means may additionally function as first propulsion means propelling a newly cut elongated metal object towards second propulsion means 403 along the longitudinal axis 409. The cutting elements 405, 406 of the first wheel and the second wheel 401402 may propel a newly cut elongated metal object 407 towards second propulsion means 403, additionally or alternatively the first wheel 401 and the second wheel 402 may comprise gripping elements (not shown) configured to propel an elongated metal object. The gripping elements may be positioned at the rim of the first wheel 401 and the second wheel 402. The gripping elements may have a lower height than the cutting elements 405, 406. The gripping elements may be positioned in front of the cutting elements on the rim of the first wheel 401 and the second wheel 402, so that the gripping elements contact the metal wire 404 before the cutting elements contact the metal wire.
Additionally or alternatively, the system may further comprise first propulsion means (not shown) positioned before the cutting means 401, 402 (to the right in the drawings). The first propulsion means may comprise a third wheel and a fourth wheel both rotating in a plane spanned by the longitudinal axis 409 and the first axis 410. The third wheel may be positioned above the fourth wheel.
The system shown in
a shows a cross-section of a guiding means 502 having a triangular shape according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cross-section is taken in a plane spanned by the first axis 503 and the second axis 505. The guiding means comprises a first sloping wall 506 and a second sloping wall 507 protruding from a bottom section 508. The position of the bottom section along the first axis determines the predetermined position.
b shows a cross-section of a guiding means 502 having a soften triangular shape according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cross-section is taken in a plane spanned by the first axis 503 and the second axis 505. The guiding means comprises a first sloping wall 506 and a second sloping wall 507 protruding from a bottom section 508. The position of the bottom section along the first axis determines the predetermined position.
c shows a cross-section of a guiding means 502 having an uneven triangular shape according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cross-section is taken in a plane spanned by the first axis 503 and the second axis 505. The guiding means comprises a first sloping wall 506 and a second sloping wall 507 protruding from a bottom section 508. The position of the bottom section along the first axis determines the predetermined position. In this embodiment the first sloping wall 506 is shorter than the second sloping wall 507.
d shows a cross-section of a guiding means 502 having a rounded shape according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cross-section is taken in a plane spanned by the first axis 503 and the second axis 505. The guiding means comprises a first sloping wall 506 and a second sloping wall 507 protruding from a bottom section 508. The position of the bottom section along the first axis determines the predetermined position. The first sloping wall 506 and the second sloping wall 507 are curved. The guiding means may additionally/optionally comprise a lid section 509.
a-b show a system for transporting an elongated metal object according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system corresponds to the system described in relation to
Although some embodiments have been described and shown in detail, the invention is not restricted to them, but may also be embodied in other ways within the scope of the subject matter defined in the following claims. In particular, it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilised and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
In device claims enumerating several means, several of these means can be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims or described in different embodiments does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.
It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/DK2011/050216 | 6/15/2011 | WO | 00 | 1/23/2014 |
