The subject matter of the invention is explained below with reference to a preferred exemplary embodiment which is illustrated schematically in the attached drawings, in which:
a shows a side view of the transfer unit according to
b shows the transfer unit according to
a to 5f show schematic illustrations of the delivery of spring to the transporting device in six steps.
The transporting star 1 rotates about its axis, as a result of which the springs F, which are held individually, pass through finishing stations. For example, an end ring is bent towards them in a first rotational position or the spring is bound together, and in a second rotational position they are hardened, for example.
In a last rotational position, the gripping arm 10 delivers the spring F to a transfer unit 2. This transfer unit 2 is mounted pivotably and pushes the spring F into a cassette compartment 30 of a cassette wheel 3. Rotation of the cassette wheel 3 about a central axis 31 causes the spring F to be rotated from its previous horizontal, lying orientation into a vertical, standing orientation and to be brought to a spring-transporting apparatus T. A transfer element or delivery means 32 pushes the spring F, which is now standing, into the spring-transporting apparatus T from where it is conveyed into the processing and assembly station (not illustrated in the figures).
The spring-transporting apparatus T is explained once again in more detail later on in the text with reference to
In
a and 3b illustrate the two extreme positions of the transfer unit 2. These can also be seen in
In the position according to
The transfer unit 2 is now pivoted about its axis 23 towards the cassette wheel 3. At the same time, the spring F can be brought by means of rotation of the rotary plates 21 via servomotors into any desired rotational position. This rotation does not have to take place during each transfer of a spring F; rather, it depends on the type and ensuing position of the spring in the finished padding. For example, each spring which, in the finished padding, comes to rest at one end of a row can be rotated in such a manner that its free end is directed towards the row. The rotary plates, and also all of the other elements, described previously and below, of the transporting star, of the turning apparatus and of the spring conveyor are driven and controlled preferably in accordance with a common, central control. The movements of the transporting star 1, of the transfer unit 2 and of the cassette wheel 3 preferably take place cyclically during the cycle of the spring-coiling machine.
In the end position which is illustrated in
As can be seen in
This delivery can be seen in
This transfer conveyor 4 has a lower transfer conveyor belt 40 and an upper transfer conveyor belt 41. The two belts are endlessly revolving conveyors which are, however, preferably operated synchronously with each other.
The transfer conveyor 4 runs parallel, at at least approximately the same height as and adjacent to a spring conveyor 6. It extends at least in some sections, namely in the region of the upper and lower delivery points A, B, parallel to the spring conveyor 6. The spring conveyor 6 preferably likewise comprises two revolving, synchronously operated belt conveyors, the upper spring conveyor belt in
The transfer of the individual springs F from the transfer conveyor 4 onto the spring conveyor 6 preferably takes place by means of a change unit 5. The change unit 5 has a pivoting frame 50 with vertically running legs 51 and a horizontally running guide rod 52 arranged between the legs. A second delivery means in the form of a clamp 53 is arranged in a laterally displaceable manner on this guide rod 52. The clamp 53 has, at its free end facing the transfer conveyor 4, a stop surface 54 which runs at least approximately perpendicularly to the conveying direction of the transfer conveyor 4 and which is directed towards that delivery point A of the transfer conveyor 4 which is at the top in the conveying direction.
The clamp 53 is displaced along the guide rod 52 by means of a motor as determined by the central control. The drive or deflection pulley 55 used for this and the revolving toothed belt 56 are illustrated in
The transfer of the individual springs F is described below:
After a spring F has been pushed from the cassette wheel 3 onto the transfer conveyor 4, the transfer conveyor 4 is moved at a relatively high speed in the direction of the arrow until the spring F reaches the clamp 53 or a position predetermined by the control. The transfer conveyor 4 is stopped again and the clamp 53 is pivoted in the direction of the spring conveyor 6 by means of the pivoting frame 50. As a result, the spring F is delivered at a lower delivery position B from the transfer conveyor 4 to the spring conveyor 6. During this delivery, the two conveyors 4, 6 are preferably at a standstill. The spring conveyor 6 then continues in its customary cycle and the transfer conveyor 4 takes over the next spring F supplied by the cassette wheel 3 and conveys it to the clamp 53. In the meantime, the clamp 53, owing to its lateral displaceability, can now move to a different lower delivery position B relative to the spring conveyor 6.
In one variant of the method, the transfer conveyor 4 is not completely stopped, rather continues to run at a reduced speed during the transfer. In this case, the spring F is kept in its position owing to the stop surface 54.
In a preferred alternative of the method, the transfer conveyor 4 is being always operated in the same cycle. Thereby its velocity is several times higher than the velocity of the spring conveyor 6. During transport of the spring F to the lower delivery point B the transfer conveyor drives further than the actual delivery point B. However, the clamp 53 stops the spring F at the lower delivery point B, so that the transfer conveyor 4 drags under the spring F. It waits in that position until the spring conveyor 6 reaches its desired position. If that is the case, the spring F will be delivered to the spring conveyor 6. Preferably the frequencies of the conveyors 4, 6 are such, that during the delivery at least the spring conveyor 6, preferably also the conveyor 4, stand still between two cycles.
Only one single spring F is preferably ever situated on the transfer conveyor 4. However, it is also possible to transport two or more springs F simultaneously on the transfer conveyor 4, since the conveying speed of the transfer conveyor 4 relative to the conveying speed of the spring conveyor 6 can be selected freely.
a to 5f schematically illustrate a delivery of the springs. In
In a further embodiment (not illustrated here), the individual springs are pushed directly from the cassette compartment 30 between the belts of the spring conveyor 6. In order to attain any desired groupings and distances between the springs on the spring conveyor 6 in this case, the spring conveyor 6 can be operated by means of a servomotor. However, it is also possible to already carry out a prepositioning process in the cassette wheel 3 by, for example, each spring F being displaced laterally to a desired position during its transportation in the associated cassette compartment and the delivery point from the cassette wheel to the spring conveyor therefore being changed.
Furthermore, it is possible to deliver the spring F to a conveyor apparatus configured in a different manner. In a further embodiment, although the transfer of the individual springs from the transfer conveyor to the spring conveyor takes place as described above, the delivery of the springs to the transfer conveyor is obtained with a means other than the rotary cassette.
The spring-turning apparatus according to the invention increases the flexibility in the delivery of springs from a spring-coiling machine into a processing station. The method according to the invention for forming rows of springs and the spring-transporting apparatus according to the invention permit a flexible arrangement of the springs while at the same time minimizing operational breakdowns of the machine.
F Spring
F1 First spring
F2 Second spring
F3 Third spring
T Spring-transporting apparatus
A Upper delivery point
B Lower delivery point
B1 First lower delivery point
B2 Second lower delivery point
1 Transporting star
10 Gripping arm
11 Clip
2 Transfer unit
20 Clamping plate
21 Rotary plate
22 Pivoting flag
220 Arm
221 Sliding plate
23 Axis
3 Cassette wheel
30 Cassette compartment
31 Central axis
32 Sliding arm
33 Axis
4 Transfer conveyor
40 Lower transfer conveyor belt
41 Upper transfer conveyor belt
42 First deflection pulley
43 Second deflection pulley
5 Change unit
50 Pivoting frame
51 Leg
52 Guide rod
53 Clamp
54 Stop surface
55 Pulley
56 Toothed belt
6 Spring conveyor
60 Upper spring conveyor belt
61 Lower spring conveyor belt
62 First deflection pulley
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
229/04 | Feb 2004 | CH | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/CH05/00078 | 2/11/2005 | WO | 00 | 3/15/2007 |