SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRODUCTS FROM WIRE

Abstract

A process of production of three-dimensional products from wire (1) or other suitable material, which process may be implemented in a system (8) that may include an advancement mechanism (9), a straightening mechanism (11), a length measuring arrangement (18) towards which advances the material (1), a gripper arrangement (14) suitable to hold the material with fixed grippers (15) and simultaneously with other grippers (16) to twist it to a desired angle around its longitudinal axis (X), and a rotatable bending mechanism (12) that can bend the material plastically in one plane and simultaneously can rotate at a desired angle around the longitudinal axis (X) of the wire (1) so that it may generate bends in different planes. The system (8) implementing the process may also carry a cutting arrangement (13). The process of production of three-dimensional products affords the ability of choosing and energizing within the same product shape either the gripper arrangement (14) or the bending mechanism (12) thus providing the flexibility of bettering the times of production of various three-dimensional shapes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts in idealization a process of production and its kinematic requirements, according to the present invention

FIG. 2 schematically depicts an exemplary system that implements the process of production of three-dimensional products according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 depicts in idealization a first process of production of the three-dimensional products according to the prior art.

FIG. 4 depicts in idealization a second process of production of the three-dimensional products according to the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The process may be understood to comprise several steps. With reference to FIG. 1, the wire 1, rod, rebar, or other suitable material 1 able to undergo plastic deformation, originating from spool 2, is advanced 3, may be straightened 4, there may occur a measurement 17 of its length of the advanced material, and afterwards the material 1 passes sequentially from two arrangements 7, 10 of which the first 7 can hold the wire 1 and rotate it around the longitudinal axis X, while the second 10 can rotate around the longitudinal axis X of the wire 1, having the capability to bend the wire 1 at a desired and predetermined angle and to cut it 6. With this process, it is possible to effectively choose from these two ways of creating the third dimension in the entire product or in a portion thereof, the more suitable and faster, each time. Thus, with the flexibility afforded by this process one can significantly reduce the time of production of the product, independent of its shape, its dimensions and its other geometric characteristics.

Accordingly, the process may provide for production of three-dimensional products from wire 1, rod or other suitable material of any cross-section, originating from a spool 2, and capable of undergoing plastic deformation. The process may comprise advancement 3 of material 1, measuring 17 of the advanced length, and straightening 4. Bending is effected with a bending mechanism 10, that has the ability to rotate around the longitudinal axis X of the wire 1 and to controllably bend the material 1 plastically, at selected and predetermined angles in different planes that may be different amongst themselves within the same shape. A cutting 6 may occur upon completion of the three-dimensional product. The process may be characterized in that according to the form and individual geometric characteristics and the dimensions of the for-production three-dimensional product it is possible to generate bendings in different planes. For each portion of the for-production shape there is selected separately, either the rotatable bending mechanism 5 for generating a different-plane bending, or a gripper arrangement 7 via which is held fixed the wire 1 at one location and gripped at another location so as to be twisted around its longitudinal axis X, securing thus the most suitable and fastest manner of generation of individual portions of the product so as to improve the time for its production.

A process according to the aforegoing description may be further characterized in that the location of twisting of wire 1 is located after the location at which the material is held fixed.

Furthermore, a process according to the aforegoing description may be further characterized in that the twisting of wire 1 around its longitudinal axis X may be made with either right directional twist or left directional twist.

In further aspect, and with reference to FIGS. 1-2, the process may be implemented in an innovative system 8 which comprises an advancement mechanism 3,9 for wire 1 originating from spool 2. Also included are a straightening mechanism 11, 4 that straightens the wire 1; an arrangement 18, 17 for measuring length of the material advanced; a gripper arrangement 14, 7 able to hold the material with suitable stationary grippers 15 and simultaneously with other rotating grippers 16, that grip the material, to twist it at desired angle around its longitudinal axis X; a bending mechanism 12 that may bend the material plastically in one plane and may be controllably rotated at a suitable angle around the longitudinal axis X of the material 1, capable thus to controllably generate selected and predetermined bendings on different planes, which bendings may be different amongst themselves within the same shape; and a cutting arrangement 13, 6 that may be carried by the bending mechanism.

Accordingly, in a version of the invention there is provided a system 8 for the production of three-dimensional products from wire 1 or rod or other suitable material of any cross-section capable of undergoing plastic deformation. The system 8 may include an advancement mechanism 9 suitable for advancing the material originating from spool 2, a suitable straightening mechanism 11 that straightens the advancing material 1, and a length measuring arrangement 18 towards which advances the material. Also included are an arrangement of a bending mechanism 12 that can bend the material plastically on one plane and that may be rotated via a motor 19 to a desired angle around the longitudinal axis X of the wire 1, capable thus of generating at-will selected and predetermined bendings in different planes, which may be different amongst themselves within the same shape. The bending mechanism may include an arm, and the plastic bending may be effected with a rotatable bending head 20. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the rotatable bending mechanism 12 may carry a cutting arrangement 13 for the material. The system 8 is characterized in that between the straightening mechanism 11 and the bending mechanism 12, that bends the material in the plane and also in the product space, is interposed a gripper arrangement 14, able to hold the material with suitable stationary grippers 15 and simultaneously with other grippers 16 to twist it to a desired angle around the longitudinal axis X, deforming it plastically at a desired location, so that the bends that have been made by the bending mechanism 12 may change plane. Either the bending mechanism 12 rotation, or the arrangement 14 may be selectively energized via motors, at choice, according to the geometric characteristics of the for-production shape. Thus it is possible to produce three-dimensional products from wire 1 or other suitable material capable of undergoing plastic deformation, with the suitable and best choice of advancement, bending and torsion and with the best speed corresponding with the dimensions and the requirements of the shape, each time.

A system 8 according to the aforegoing description may be further characterized in that the gripper arrangement 14 that is able to hold steady the material with suitable fixed grippers 15 and simultaneously with other rotating grippers 16 to twist it to a desired angle around its longitudinal axis X to deform it plastically at a desired location, may be located between the straightening mechanism 11 and the bending mechanism 12.

Furthermore, an system 8 according to the aforegoing description may be further characterized in that the arrangement 14 holds steady the material with suitable grippers 15 and simultaneously with other grippers 16 may twist it to a desired angle around its longitudinal axis X with right directional twist or left directional twist.

Yet further, a system 8 according to the aforegoing description may be further characterized in that the supervision, the coordination and the control of all the functions of the process of production of the three-dimensional product are made by a suitable electronic computer, in which are entered the necessary characteristics of the for-production three-dimensional product.

The individual elements and mechanisms that comprise the system 8 according to the present invention may be arranged in series, so that the gripper arrangement 14 may be located between the straightening mechanism 11 and the bending mechanism 12.

As has been explained, the layout 8 according to the present invention may work wire 1, rods, rebar, or other suitable material of any cross section, able to undergo plastic deformation.

The coordination and control of all the functions of the process of production of the three-dimensional products are effected by a suitable electronic computer, in which are entered all necessary product characteristics for the production of the product and via which may be chosen in which portions of the product, which mechanism 12,14 shall be employed.

The present invention is not limited in any manner to the example described and in-the-drawing-portrayed implementation, but may be implemented in many forms and dimensions without departing from the scope and region of protection of the invention. Furthermore, in the implementation of the invention, the materials that are used as well as the dimensions of the individual elements may be in accordance with the requirements of the particular construction.

Various exemplary devices and methods have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description but it will be understood that the claims to the methods and devices shown and described are not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, as these may be capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions, and may be implemented in many forms and dimensions without departing from the scope and spirit of the claims set forth below. Consistent with legal precedent, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein. Accordingly, the techniques and structures described and illustrated herein should be understood to be illustrative only and not limiting upon the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims, including known equivalents and unforeseeable equivalents at the time of filing of this application.

Claims

1. A system for producing three-dimensional products from wire, rods, rebar, or other suitable material, comprising: an advancement mechanism configured to advance the material;a rotatable bending mechanism configured to bend the material, said rotatable bending mechanism being selectively rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the material to a selected angle to controllably select a plane in which said rotatable bending mechanism generates a corresponding selected bend of the material; and,a gripper arrangement configured to selectively twist the material about its longitudinal axis to controllably select a plane in which said rotatable bending mechanism generates a corresponding selected bend of the material.

2. A system for producing three-dimensional products from wire, rods, rebar, or other suitable material as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: said gripper arrangement including a stationary gripper; and,said gripper arrangement including a rotary gripper.

3. A system for producing three-dimensional products from wire, rods, rebar, or other suitable material as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: said rotatable bending mechanism including a rotary bending head configured to generate bends in the material.

4. A system for producing three-dimensional products from wire, rods, rebar, or other suitable material as claimed in claim 3, further comprising: a cutter located on said rotatable bending mechanism.

5. A system for producing three-dimensional products from wire, rods, rebar, or other suitable material as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a motor configured to selectively rotate said rotatable bending mechanism.

6. A system for producing three-dimensional products from wire, rods, rebar, or other suitable material as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a straightening mechanism for straightening the material.

7. The system for producing three-dimensional products from wire, rods, rebar, or other suitable material as claimed in claim 6, wherein: said straightening mechanism is disposed between said advancement mechanism and said gripper arrangement.

8. The system for producing three-dimensional products from wire, rods, rebar, or other suitable material as claimed in claim 6, wherein: said gripper arrangement is disposed between said straightening mechanism and said rotatable bending mechanism.

9. A system for producing three-dimensional products from wire, rods, rebar, or other suitable material as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a length-measuring arrangement configured to measure the length of material advanced.

10. A process for producing three-dimensional products from wire, rods, rebar, or other suitable material, comprising: advancing the material;passing the material through a gripper arrangement configured to hold the material fixed at a first location and to simultaneously twist the material around its axis by gripping it at a second location;bending the material with a rotatable bending mechanism configured to selectively rotate around the longitudinal axis of the material to a selected angle to controllably select a plane in which the material is bent; and,choosing one of either, (a) twisting the material around its axis with the gripper arrangement, or, (b) rotating the rotatable bending mechanism about the axis of the material; to select a plane of bending.

11. The process for producing three-dimensional products from wire, rods, rebar, or other suitable material as claimed in claim 10, wherein: said choosing one of either, (a) twisting the material around its axis with the gripper arrangement, or, (b) rotating the rotatable bending mechanism about the axis of the material; to select a plane of bending; is based on the characteristics of the three-dimensional product.

12. The process for producing three-dimensional products from wire, rods, rebar, or other suitable material as claimed in claim 10, wherein: said choosing one of either, (a) twisting the material around its axis with the gripper arrangement, or (b) rotating the rotatable bending mechanism about the axis of the material; to select a plane of bending; is made based on securing the fastest suitable manner of generating an individual portion of the three-dimensional product.

13. A process for producing three-dimensional products from wire, rods, rebar, or other suitable material as claimed in claim 10, further comprising: cutting the material.

14. A process for producing three-dimensional products from wire, rods, rebar, or other suitable material as claimed in claim 10, further comprising: measuring the material advanced.

15. A process for producing three-dimensional products from wire, rods, rebar, or other suitable material as claimed in claim 10, further comprising: straightening the material.

16. A system for producing three-dimensional products from wire, rods, rebar, or other suitable material, comprising: an advancement mechanism configured to advance the material;a straightening mechanism configured to straighten the advanced material;a length-measuring arrangement configured to measure the length of advanced material;a rotatable bending mechanism configured to bend the material, said rotatable bending mechanism being selectively rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the material to a selected angle to controllably select a plane in which said rotatable bending mechanism generates a corresponding selected bend of the material; and,a gripper arrangement configured to selectively twist the material about its longitudinal axis to controllably select a plane in which said rotatable bending mechanism generates a corresponding selected bend of the material;said gripper arrangement including a stationary gripper configured to hold the material fixed at a first location; and,said gripper arrangement including a rotary gripper configured to grip said material at a second location and twist it around its axis.

17. A system for producing three-dimensional products from wire, rods, rebar, or other suitable material as claimed in claim 16, further comprising: a cutter located on said rotatable bending mechanism.

18. A system for producing three-dimensional products from wire, rods, rebar, or other suitable material as claimed in claim 16, further comprising: said rotatable bending mechanism including a rotary bending head configured to generate bends in the material.

19. The system for producing three-dimensional products from wire, rods, rebar, or other suitable material as claimed in claim 16, wherein: said straightening mechanism is disposed between said advancement mechanism and said gripper arrangement.

20. The system for producing three-dimensional products from wire, rods, rebar, or other suitable material as claimed in claim 16, wherein: said gripper arrangement is disposed between said straightening mechanism and said rotatable bending mechanism.