Patent Application
20140000762
The present invention relates to a new process and a new device for producing parts, notably elongated revolving parts of variable section in the longitudinal direction, by machining a bar held fixed in rotation.
Below, revolving parts means all parts of circular section, but also parts of a general elliptical shaped section or even, for certain possible applications, of general polygonal shape or, again, twisted parts, etc.
Machining means generally all manufacturing processes by the removal of material by cutting tools, abrasives, etc.
The aim of the invention is notably, but not exclusively, the production of wooden parts elongated in a main axial direction, in particular axisymmetrical parts, from long wooden bars. It can also apply to the production of parts made of other materials, notably plastic, synthetic materials. The invention applies particularly to the production, from a long bar, of parts with small sections in relation to their lengths. It also applies to the production of more bulky parts by a transformation by machining of a bar with a typically substantially square section, of any length, straight or curved, into parts of axisymmetrical section: circular, oval, square, possibly helicoidal, etc. of variable longitudinal profile and respectively straight or curved.
Processes and production machines, based on the principle of turning a tool or tools around the machined part which remains fixed in rotation, are already known.
A process and a device are already known from WO2010/046570, for producing revolving parts, or of general similar shape, notably wooden parts, elongated and of variable section in the longitudinal direction, allowing the machining, from straight or curved bars of any length held fixed in rotation, of parts of sections both circular and of any axisymmetrical shape, and according to a given longitudinal profile. This machining device also allows, among other things, the machining of heavy and bulky parts such as profiled bars, beam posts and similar, obtained from bars made of machinable materials, such as hard or soft wood, or other materials.
The device includes a fixed chassis carrying guide means to guide said bar in translation along a main axis and to hold it fixed in rotation, and a rotating assembly driven in rotation in relation to the chassis along the main axis. The rotating assembly includes a plate and at least two rotating tools supported by arms pivoting in relation to the plate in a plane orthogonal to the main axis. The tools are driven in rotation along respective axes of rotation substantially parallel to the main axis. Means for controlling the positions of the pivoting arms are provided to adjust the radial positioning of the tools in relation to the main axis. These control means include drive means attached to the chassis and mechanical transmission means ensuring the link between said drive means and said supports, so that the distance between the axes of the tools and the main axis is continuously adjustable by control of said fixed drive means. To allow continuous adjustment during machining of the radial positioning of the arms supporting the tools, while these arms are supported on a rotating plate, the device uses a first system which transforms a rotation of a fixed motor on the chassis into an axial translation of a rotating plate, connected to the tool support arms by a reversible screw-nut system which allows said axial translation to be transformed into a pivoting of the arms. The first transformation of the rotation of the motor into axial translation is done either by a rack-pinion system, or by a screw-nut system. This device thus allows a continuous variation of the radial positions of the tools to be ensured during the use of the device and, therefore, during the rotation of the plate, without the need to use for this a drive unit placed onboard the plate for this purpose.
One of the advantages of this device is that it allows the machining of revolving parts, according to the definition which was given at the start of this description, from long bars of substantially square or rectangular section, by tools rotating with an epicycloidal type movement around said bar and this by a device not requiring the use of motors onboard the rotating elements. Therefore, the rotating assembly is globally compact to minimize the centrifugal forces and thus reduce the weights of the structures in rotation, their costs and the energy needs required for their rotation. A drive unit located principally on the outside of the rotating structure allows the structure to be lightened and, notably, in the case of high rotational speeds of the rotating plate, to reduce any unwanted vibrations.
However, the mechanisms continually ensuring the radial positioning of the tools by the control of a fixed motor on the chassis, are mechanically complex, requiring a double conversion of rotational movement into translation movement then of this translation movement again into a rotational movement to pivot the tool support arms.
The aim of the present invention is therefore to propose a new system to continually ensure the radial positioning of the tools during the rotation of the plate which is simpler to manufacture, is more reliable and requires less moving mechanical elements.
With these targets in mind, the subject of the invention is a process for producing parts, notably elongated revolving parts of variable section in the longitudinal direction, by machining a bar held fixed in rotation, wherein a chassis is moved in relation to said bar, or conversely, along a main direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the bar, and the bar is machined, according to a required longitudinal and circumferential profile, by rotating tools carried by a main plate driven in rotation on the chassis in a plane transversal to said axial direction, the tools being attached to the plate by tool supports moving radially on this plate and according to said required profile, a radial movement of the tool supports is controlled according to the axial position of the bar in relation to the chassis and according to the circumferential position of the tools in relation to the bar.
According to the invention, the process is characterized in that, to control said radial movement, a secondary plate is driven in rotation, coaxially to the main plate, the secondary plate including means for actuating tool supports, said means being arranged so that the positions of the tool supports are in relation to the relative angular position between the main plate and the secondary plate and, to permanently adjust the radial positioning of the tools during the rotation of the plate, said relative angular position is modified.
In stationary state, the two plates are fixed in relation to each other and the radial positions of the tools remain fixed to execute the machining of the cylindrical portions of the part. To modify this radial position during the rotation of the plates, it suffices to temporarily modify the speed of one of the plates and, therefore, the rotational speed ratio of the two plates, which induces an angular offset between these and, therefore, the variation in the radial positions of the tools.
Thus, to continually adapt, during machining, the positions of the tools in relation to the required lengthwise profile of the part, it suffices to temporarily vary the speed of the secondary plate, in acceleration or in deceleration, in relation to that of the main plate, to modify the angular offset between the plates. The plates are designed, as will be seen below, so that the radial positions of the tool supports and, therefore, of the tools themselves, depend on this angular offset between the plates.
According to a first embodiment, each plate has its own rotational drive motor and the modification of the relative angular positions of the plates is done by a speed variation control of at least one of the motors, for example, by electronic speed control means, which allow very rapid and very precise speed variations to be ensured. For this purpose, a computer controlling the motors according to an adapted program, predetermined according to the required shapes of the circumferential and longitudinal profiles can notably be used.
According to a second embodiment, the modification of the relative angular positions of the plates is done by mechanical control means varying the length of the tight strand of a belt or chain transmission used to transmit the rotation of a motor to at least one of the plates, more particularly the secondary plate. According to a particularly advantageous arrangement, a single motor is used to drive the two plates by different belts and the length of the tight strand of one of the belts is varied by means of a tensioner pulley, the position of which can be controlled by a jack or any other adapted actuator.
According to yet another embodiment, the modification of the relative angular positions of the plates is done by a dedicated motor mounted between a drive element of the main plate and the secondary plate.
The subject of the invention is also a device, intended to implement the process described above, which includes means for the translation movement of a chassis in relation to the bar, or vice versa, along a main direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the bar and a rotating assembly driven in rotation in relation to the chassis along a main axis, the rotating assembly including a main plate and at least two rotating tools supported by movable supports guided in relation to the plate in a plane orthogonal to the main axis and the device including positional control means of the supports to adjust the radial positioning of the tools in relation to the main axis.
According to the invention, the device is characterized in that said positional control means of the tool supports include:
According to a particular arrangement, said actuating means include main cams and the tool supports are connected to main fingers applied to said cams. The cams have a shape such that their radii increase over a predetermined angle corresponding to the maximum angular offset between the plates and the amplitude of the variation in the radius is determined so as to generate a radial movement of the tools of a maximum amplitude required.
Preferentially, the tool supports are arms pivotally mounted on the main plate and connected in rotation to the fingers bearing on the cams.
Preferentially again, each main finger consists of an end of a lever pivotally connected to a tool support arm, the opposite end of the lever comprising a secondary finger bearing on a secondary cam associated with the main cam on which the main finger is in contact, the shapes and dimensions of the main and secondary cams and those of the lever being determined in such a way that the secondary finger is in contact with the secondary cam when the main finger is in contact with the main cam whatever the position of the contact point on the cam.
Following a variation in the relative angular position between the plates, the main finger is moved on the main cam and thus induces the pivoting of the tool support arm. More precisely, when the relative angular position between the plates varies in the direction causing the main finger to move on the cam to a position where the radius increases, the tool is moved towards the axis of the rotating assembly. Consequently, it is the main cam which supports the bearing force of the main finger corresponding to the plunging force of the tool during the machining. The secondary cam and finger ensure the radial movement of the tool in the opposite direction, that is towards the exterior, when the relative angular position of the plates is varied in the opposite direction, the main finger moving on the main cam towards a position where the radius decreases. The secondary finger and cam also ensure that the play between the fingers and the cams is taken up; for this purpose, the secondary finger is elastically mounted on the end of the lever, for example by means of a pivoting rod and a return spring between the lever and said rod. Although it is the secondary fingers which ensure the radial movement of the tools in the direction away from the main axis, it is the contact of the main fingers on the main cams which determines the radial positions of said tools. The fingers will be advantageously made in the form of rollers rotationally mounted on the lever.
The rotational drive of the tools is preferentially ensured by a motor fixed on the chassis and transmitting its rotation by means of a rotating ring, which drives in turn two-groove pulleys by means of a belt, the pulleys being rotationally mounted on the pivoting axis of the tool support arms, each of the said pulleys rotationally driving a tool by another belt extending along the tool support arm.
Preferentially, the plates are rotationally driven by one or more motors to which they are connected by pulleys and notched belts or chains to avoid all slipping of these transmission means between motors and plates.
According to a first embodiment, each plate has its own motor and motor speed adjustment means are provided so that the speed of at least one of the motors can be varied momentarily to generate a variation in the angular offset between the plates.
According to a second embodiment, one of the plates, preferably the secondary plate carrying the cams, is rotationally driven by a belt passing over a first idler pulley movable in translation on which the tight strand of the belt passes, that is the strand transmitting the rotational force, said first pulley being movable so that the length of the tight strand can be varied. A variation in the length of this tight strand during the rotational drive, at constant speed of the motor, generates a temporary variation in the speed of the driven plate and, therefore, a relative angular offset in relation to its previous position, this offset allowing the relative angular offset between the plates to be created when, for example, the other plate is maintained at constant rotational speed.
Preferentially then, the two plates are driven by the same motor, connected by a nonslip belt to the main plate and which therefore gives the rotational speed of the rotating assembly and the secondary plate is connected to the same motor by a belt passing over the first idler pulley. To generate the angular offset between the two plates, it suffices therefore to move the idler pulley, for example by means of an actuator controlled according to the profile of the required machined part. To compensate for the variations in the length of the tight strand during the movement of the first idler pulley, a second idler pulley acting as tensioner is mounted on the free strand of the belt.
According to yet another embodiment, the device includes drive means to rotationally drive the two plates by a same main motor, said drive means including an ancillary motor mounted between the main motor and the secondary plate and ancillary motor control means to generate a variation in the angular offset between the plates. The ancillary motor has, for example, its shaft rotationally attached with a drive shaft of the main motor and its stator attached to the secondary plate by a notched belt. When the shaft of the ancillary motor is rotationally stationary in relation to its stator, the two plates are rotationally fixed in relation to each other. To obtain an angular offset between the plates, it suffices to control the ancillary motor to induce a relative rotation between its rotor and its stator. The ancillary motor can be a step motor or any other onboard drive component on a drive shaft of the main plate and capable of, alternatively, rotationally connecting this drive shaft with the secondary plate or of creating a controlled angular offset between them.
Other features and advantages of a machine in compliance with the invention and its use will become apparent on reading the following description.
Refer to the appended drawings where:
a is a perspective view showing the rotating assembly with the two plates, the tool support arms not being represented,
b is a perspective view similar to that of
The machining machine shown on
For further details on the principle of machining elongated revolving parts of variable section in the longitudinal direction, by machining of a bar fixed in rotation, refer to the above-mentioned document WO2010/046570.
It is simply briefly recalled here that the rotating assembly 21 carries machining tools 3 driven in rotation and radially mobile so that the distance between the rotational axis of the rotating assembly and the tools can be modified during the rotation of said rotating assembly. Thus, the section of the machined part 9 can be varied when it is moved relatively in relation to the gantry frame along the direction shown by arrow F, oriented substantially along the main rotational axis A of the rotating assembly. It can be noted that the part can be moved in relation to the gantry frame remaining fixed, or the gantry frame moved, in the direction shown by arrow F′, in relation to the part held fixed. The main rotational axis A can be oriented in the longitudinal direction of part 9 or obliquely in relation to this direction.
The rotating assembly 21 includes a main plate 5 driven in rotation in the direction shown by arrow F1. To ensure the radial movement of the tools 3, these are installed on arms 4 which are themselves pivotally mounted on the main plate 5 along axes B parallel to the main axis A so that they can pivot in the direction shown by arrow F2 in a plane perpendicular to axis A. For this, each arm 4 is attached to a shaft 41 guided in rotation along axis B in a bearing 54 of plate 5. The main plate 5 is driven in rotation by a motor 50 on the shaft of which a pulley 51 connected to plate 5 by a belt 52 is mounted.
A secondary plate 6 is rotationally mounted, also along the main axis A, between the main plate and the chassis 20. The secondary plate 6 is driven by a motor 60, a pulley 61 and a belt 62. The secondary plate 6 includes two cam assemblies 7, symmetrical in relation to axis A, on which the fingers bear. These fingers consist of rollers 43, 44 carried by the respective ends of levers 42 pivoting around axes B and attached to shafts 41. The levers 42 are therefore attached to the arms 4 pivoting around axes B. One of the rollers 43 is mounted at the end of a rigid arm 421 of the lever 42; the other roller 44 is mounted on a pivoting arm 422 of the lever 42.
Each cam assembly 7 includes a main cam 71 and a secondary cam 72. The main cam 71 is arranged so that, when the secondary plate 6 rotates in relation to the main plate 5 in the direction shown by arrow F3 (see
Thus, on account of the rotational direction Fl of the rotating assembly 21 and, therefore, of the two plates 5 and 6, if the secondary plate 6 which carries the cams is temporarily slowed down, a relative angular offset is created between the two plates in the direction shown by arrow F3, inducing therefore a pivoting of the levers 42 and of the arms 4 in the direction shown by arrows F21 and a movement of the tool 3 towards the axis A and, therefore, a reduction in the radius of the machined part. Conversely, if the secondary plate 6 is momentarily accelerated when the rotational speed of the main plate 5 remains fixed, the levers 42 and the arms 4 will pivot in the direction opposite to that of arrow F21 leading to an increase in the radius of the machined part. Therefore, it can be understood that by simply controlling the rotational speeds of motors 50 and/or 60, the machining radius can be rapidly varied and, therefore, not only machine a part with any lengthwise profile, within the limits of course of the maximum travel of the tools, but also machine a part with a radius variable in a same section orthogonal to the main axis. This possibility in particular allows the machining of parts of polygonal section, notably square or rectangular, of oval section, and parts of helicoidal shape for example, or, generally, all parts the envelope, that is the solid form, of which is defined by a transverse section the shape and area of which can vary in the longitudinal direction of the part.
The speed control of motors 50 and 60 can be of any type adapted to ensure the highest possible accuracy in the variations of the relative speeds, in particular by electronic control.
For safety reasons, to avoid all risks of too high a relative angular offset between the plates, stops 55 are attached to the main plate in order to block the movement of the cams. Although
The rotational drive of the tools 3 is done in the following manner:
On the rear side of the device, that is on the side opposite from the one where the tools are found, and visible on
B and, therefore, a rotation of the tools. In fact, the motor allows, by a rotational drive of the ring 32 in the direction opposite (arrow F4) to the rotation of plate 5, as is shown on
The secondary plate 6 is driven from this main shaft 92 by means of an onboard ancillary motor 94 the rotor 941 of which is connected in rotation to the shaft 92. The stator box 942 of the motor 94 carries a pulley 943 which drives the secondary plate 6 by a nonslip link, for example by notched belt 944. The ratio of the diameters of the pulley 932 and of the plate 5 is the same as that of the pulley 941 and of the plate 6 in such a way that the two plates 5 and 6 rotate at the same angular speed if the pulleys 932 and 943 also rotate at the same speed.
The motor 94 is supplied by a regulator via a rotating electrical collector 945 allowing accurate control of the speed and the angular position between rotor and stator. In stable state, without variation of the machining radius, the motor 90 is not supplied and its stator and its rotor are fixed in relative rotation. The two plates 5 and 6 are driven therefore exactly at the same speed. To command a variation in the machining radius, it suffices to command a rotation of the motor 94 which will induce an angular offset of the plates 5 and 6 and, therefore, a pivoting of the tool-holder arms as described previously.
Also, in an equivalent manner, the stator of the ancillary motor 94 can be connected to the main drive shaft 92, and the rotor to the pulley 943. Also, the motor 94 can be replaced by any other equivalent control means allowing an angular offset to be generated between the main drive shaft 92 and the pulley 943.
The invention is not limited to the examples described above and includes all variants in the systems allowing a controlled relative angular offset to be ensured between the two plates 5 and 6 during their rotation. Also, the tool rotational drive system can be modified. In particular, it will be possible to ensure the rotation of the tools by motors onboard the plate 5 or on the arms 4.
The tool-holder arms can also be curved, with a concavity oriented towards the main axis, in order to avoid all risks of contact between the arm and the machined part, for example at corners when machining parts with a square or rectangular section. Also, one or more of the intermediary idler pulleys can be used to ensure the transmission of the rotational movement from the pulley 34 mounted on the pivoting axis of the arms to the rotating tool so that the belt 35 follows the curvature of the arm and/or to vary the speed ratio between the pulley 34 and the tool 3.
The arms 4 can also be made in two parts, adjustable in angular position in relation to each other, for example along axis B, to allow a fine adjustment, with an accuracy of 0.05 mm, of the radial position, in relation to axis A, of each tool, independently of each other. This allows equal spacing of the tools to be ensured in relation to the main axis of the machine and therefore allows accurate and identical machining by the two tools.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1152237 | Mar 2011 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/FR12/50538 | 3/15/2012 | WO | 00 | 9/16/2013 |
