Device for stretching a metal semi-finished product in the form of individual plates along a stretching section with a stretching frame, and method for stretching a metal semi-finished product using the device

Abstract

A device for stretching a metal semi-finished product in the form of individual plates along a stretching section with a stretching frame (2) includes pressure columns (7, 8) extending in the axial direction of the stretching section. A first clamping head (3) in which a first short side of the semi-finished product to be stretched can be clamped can be axially moved by means of stretching cylinders (5, 6). A second clamping head (4) in which the second short side of the semi-finished product to be stretched can be clamped is provided. At least one axial inlet and one axial outlet of the stretching frame (2) are provided. The clamping heads (3, 4) are designed such that the semi-finished product to be stretched can be guided axially through at least one, preferably through both clamping heads (3, 4).

Claims

1.-12. (canceled)

13. A device for stretching a semi-finished metal product in form of individual plates along a stretching section, comprising: a stretching frame (2), comprising a first pressure column (7) and a second pressure column (8) extending in an axial direction of the stretching section, a first stretching cylinder (5) supported on the first pressure column (7), a second stretching cylinder (6) supported on the second pressure column (8), a first stretching rod (9) aligned with the first pressure column (7), the first pressure column (7) forming an abutment for the first stretching rod (9), and a second stretching rod (10) aligned with the second pressure column (8), the second pressure column (8) forming an abutment for the second stretching rod (10); a first clamping head (3) in which a first short side of the semi-finished metal product to be stretched can be clamped, the first clamping head (3) being axially movable within the stretching frame (2) by the first stretching cylinder (5) and the second stretching cylinder (6); a second clamping head (4) in which a second short side of the semi-finished metal product to be stretched can be clamped; and an axial inlet and an axial outlet of the stretching frame (2), wherein the first clamping head (3) and/or the second clamping head (4) is designed such that the semi-finished metal product to be stretched can be guided axially through the first clamping head (3) and/or the second clamping head (4).

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the axial inlet comprises an inlet roller conveyor (12) and wherein the axial outlet comprises an outlet roller conveyor (13).

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the inlet roller conveyor (12) and/or the outlet roller conveyor (13) comprise driven rollers.

16. The device according to claim 14, wherein the inlet roller conveyor (12) and/or the outlet roller conveyor (13) is adjustable in height.

17. The device according to claim 13, further comprising a first loading device (14) assigned to the first clamping head (13) and a second loading device (15) assigned to the second clamping head (4).

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the first loading device (14) and the second loading device (15) each comprise driven rollers.

19. The device according to claim 17, wherein the first loading device (14) and the second loading device (15) each comprise a centering unit.

20. The device according to claim 13, wherein at least one transverse straightening press is provided between the first clamping head (3) and the second clamping head (4).

21. A method for stretching a semi-finished metal product in form of individual plates along a stretching section with the device according to claim 17, comprising: feeding a plate with its second short side in the axial direction of the stretching section to the first clamping head; guiding the plate through the first clamping head and feeding the second short side of the plate to the second clamping head in the axial direction of the stretching section; fixing the plate in the first clamping head and the second clamping head; stretching the plate with a predetermined stroke to a predetermined length to produce a stretched plate; and conveying the stretched plate in the axial direction of the stretching section through the second clamping head.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein guiding the plate through the first clamping head and feeding the plate with the second short side to the second clamping head, along with conveying the stretched plate through the second clamping head, is performed by the first loading device and the second loading device.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the plate is transversely straightened during stretching.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein at least one transverse straightening press is moved along in a stretching direction of the plate during stretching.

25. The method according to claim 21, wherein the plate is automatically positioned in a predetermined position within the stretching frame by at least one position measuring system before being fixed in the first clamping head and the second clamping head by the first loading device and/or the second loading device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The invention is explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of an exemplary embodiment.

[0029] FIG. 1 is a side view of a plate stretcher.

[0030] FIG. 2 is a top view of the plate stretcher according to FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The plate stretcher 1 comprises a stretching frame 2 with a first and a second clamping head 3, 4 movable within the stretching frame 2. The stretching frame 2 comprises a first and a second stretching cylinder 5, 6, wherein the first stretching cylinder is supported on a first pressure column 7 and the second stretching cylinder 6 is supported on a second pressure column 8. The first and second pressure columns 7, 8 respectively form the abutment for first and second stretching rods 9, 10 of the first and second stretching cylinders 5, 6. The first and second stretching rods 9, 10 are each arranged in alignment with the first and second pressure columns 7, 8 and form the stretching frame 2. The first clamping head can be moved along the stretching rods 9, 10 by means of the stretching cylinders 5, 6. A hydraulic drive is used to apply a pressure medium to the stretching cylinders 5, 6, causing a movement of the first clamping head 3 in the axial direction of the stretching section formed by the stretching frame 2 relative to the second clamping head 4. With the described exemplary embodiment, the second clamping head 4 is locked relative to the pressure columns 7, 8; i.e., it is fixed, whereas the first clamping head 3 is movable relative to the second clamping head 4.

[0032] Each of the clamping heads 3, 4 has a clamping head mouth 11. The clamping head mouths are turned away from each other inside the stretching frame 2. The clamping head mouth 11 of the first clamping head 3 is open in the direction of an inlet roller conveyor 12, the clamping head mouth 11 of the second clamping head 4 is open in the direction of an outlet roller conveyor 13. Each of the clamping heads 3, 4 comprises clamping jaws 16, which wedge the plate in the direction of stretching and which can be opened to allow the plate or the semi-finished product, as the case may be, to be guided through. Both the inlet roller conveyor 12 and the outlet roller conveyor 13 comprise driven rollers.

[0033] A first loading device 14 is assigned to the first clamping head 3, which loading device is arranged on the side turned towards the clamping head mouth 11, whereas a second loading device 15 is assigned to the second clamping head 4, which loading device is arranged on the side turned away from the clamping head mouth 11. The loading devices 14, 15 comprise driven rollers and effect a positioning and centering of the plate within the stretching frame 2.

[0034] A plate, not shown in the drawings, is fed to the stretching frame 2 from the right via the inlet roller conveyor 12. This plate is then taken over by the first loading device 14 and guided through the clamping head mouth 11 of the first clamping head 3, centered accordingly. A first short side of the plate (short side leading in the conveying direction) is fed to the second clamping head 4, where it is inserted and fixed. The second short side of the plate (short side lagging in the conveying direction) is or will be fixed in the first clamping head 3. Thereupon, the first clamping head 3 is moved relative to the second clamping head 4, whereby the plate is stretched between the first and second clamping heads 3, 4. After completion of the stretching process, the clamping or wedging, as the case may be, of the plate is released and the plate is conveyed further through the second clamping head 4 onto the outlet roller conveyor 13. Immediately after this, an additional plate can be loaded via the inlet roller conveyor 12.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0035] 1 Plate stretcher [0036] 2 Stretching frame [0037] 3 First clamping head [0038] 4 Second clamping head [0039] 5 First stretching cylinder [0040] 6 Second stretching cylinder [0041] 7 First pressure column [0042] 8 Second pressure column [0043] 9 First stretching rod [0044] 10 Second stretching rod [0045] 11 Clamping head mouth [0046] 12 Inlet roller conveyor [0047] 13 Outlet roller conveyor [0048] 14 First loading device [0049] 15 Second loading device [0050] 16 Clamping jaws