Adapter, stretcher-leveller and method for operating a stretcher-leveller

Abstract

In order to widen the field of application of a stretcher-leveler having a minimum nominal width, at least one gripping head of the stretcher-leveler is connected to an adapter having clamping elements for clamping a plate to be stretched, the adapter having a nominal width that is smaller than the minimum nominal width of the stretcher-leveler, and a plate being stretched is connected to the gripping head via the adapter clamping elements and the adapter, before starting the stretching process.

Claims

1. A method of operating a stretcher-leveler, the method comprising the steps of: providing a stretcher-leveler having a plurality of gripping heads, the plurality of gripping heads comprising gripping head clamps for gripping a plate to be stretched, wherein the gripping head clamps are adjustable between a maximum gripping width and a minimum gripping width via clamping hydraulics for the gripping head; connecting an adaptor to at least one gripping head of the plurality of gripping heads, the adaptor having adaptor clamps for clamping a plate to be stretched, the adaptor clamps being adjustable between a maximum adaptor clamping width and a minimum adaptor clamping width via clamping hydraulics for the adaptor; clamping a plate between the adaptor clamps; and stretching the plate.

2. The operating method according to claim 1, wherein first, the respective gripping head of the stretcher-leveler is connected with the respective adapter, and subsequently the plate is clamped by way of the adapter clamps of the respective adapter and connected with the respective gripping head.

3. The operating method according to claim 1, wherein before the plate is connected with the respective gripping head by way of the adapter clamps, the respective adapter is hydraulically and/or electrically connected with the stretcher-leveler.

4. The operating method according to claim 3, wherein before the plate is connected with the respective gripping head by way of the adapter clamps, the respective adapter is hydraulically and/or electrically connected with the respective gripping head.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

(2) In the drawings,

(3) FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a stretcher-leveler;

(4) FIG. 2 shows the stretcher-leveler according to FIG. 1 in a top view;

(5) FIG. 3 shows an adapter for the stretcher-leveler according to FIGS. 1 and 2 in a top view;

(6) FIG. 4 shows the adapter according to FIG. 3 in a side view; and

(7) FIG. 5 shows the adapter according to FIGS. 3 and 4 set into a gripping head according to FIGS. 1 and 2;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(8) The stretcher-leveler 10 shown in the figures has two gripping heads 12, which can be displaced along a stretching direction 16 by way of two pressure elements 14 configured as rods. In this exemplary embodiment, the two gripping heads 12 can be displaced, wherein it is understood that in different embodiments, only one of the gripping heads is mounted to be displaceable, because ultimately, only a relative movement of the two gripping heads 12 of the stretcher-leveler 10 is important.

(9) Now, plates having a specific nominal stretcher-leveler width can be clamped in place between the two gripping heads 12, by way of gripping head clamping elements 52 (see FIG. 5), and stretched in the stretching direction 16.

(10) As is evident from FIG. 5, the gripping head clamping elements 52 can be adjusted in an acute angle to the stretching direction 16 or to the plate to be stretched, by way of clamping hydraulics 54 for the gripping head 12; this guarantees good clamping particularly also during stretching.

(11) The stretcher-leveler 10 structured in this manner is designed for a specific nominal stretcher-leveler width, wherein the maximum nominal stretcher-leveler width follows from the maximum opening of the gripping head clamping elements 52, while the minimum nominal stretcher-leveler width is brought about in that the gripping head clamping elements are moved toward one another only up to a minimum distance and can apply sufficient clamping forces even at this minimum distance, and that plates that are thinner than the minimum nominal stretcher-leveler width are subject to the risk of damage caused by the gripping head clamping elements 52.

(12) Accordingly, this arrangement comprises an adapter 20 (see FIGS. 3 to 5), which has an adapter body 22 on which a handling plate 32 is disposed as a connection element 30 on the adapter side. In this exemplary embodiment, the handling plate 32 is fixedly connected with the adapter body 22 and has two handling plate sides 33 that lie opposite one another, which sides are freely accessible in the respect that the gripping head clamping elements 52 can grip and clamp the handling plate 32. It is understood that in different embodiments, a one-piece design or also a different placement of the handling plate can be provided, if applicable. Likewise, it is conceivable that in other embodiments, it is possible to do without a handling plate as such, or a different connection element 30 on the adapter side can be provided.

(13) Two wear plates 36 are disposed on the handling plate 32 as wear elements 34, on which plates the gripping head clamping elements 52 make contact when the adapter 20 is inserted into the gripping head 12 (see FIG. 5), and which plates can be rapidly unscrewed from the handling plate 32 and replaced in case of wear.

(14) In this respect, the gripping head clamping elements 52 then serve as a connection element 50 on the stretcher-leveler side, wherein the connection element 30 on the adapter side and the connection element 50 on the gripping head side are accordingly part of a two-component connection system, with which the adapter 20 can be connected with the respective gripping head 12.

(15) It is understood that in a modified embodiment, the handling plate 32 can be disposed on the adapter 20 in replaceable manner, for example, in order to serve as a closure element as such.

(16) The adapter 20 has adapter clamping elements 40 that can be displaced in the direction 42 of the clamping force, wherein the direction 42 is oriented perpendicular to the stretching direction 16.

(17) The adapter 20 has clamping hydraulics 44 to apply the clamping forces and to displace the adapter clamping elements 40.

(18) Furthermore, a path measurement system 46 is provided, with which the displacement or the position of the adapter clamping elements 40 with reference to the adapter body 22 can be measured. Possible further measurement systems for measuring the clamping force or the clamping pressures are not shown.

(19) Furthermore, a hydraulic quick coupling 48 and an electrical quick coupling 49 are provided on the adapter 20, which couplings can be connected, by way of a hydraulic line 18 and an electrical line 19, with a hydraulic quick coupling 58 and an electrical quick coupling 59, respectively, of the respective gripping head 12 (see FIG. 5), so that the adapter can be operated by way of the electrical supply as well as the hydraulic supply of the respective gripping head 12. A corresponding connection of the adapter 20 with the gripping head 12 can be made or eliminated by way of the quick couplings 48, 49, 58, 59, in rapid and operationally reliable manner.

(20) As is directly evident, the adapter 20 is designed for smaller nominal plate widths, so that it is possible, using the stretcher-leveler 10, to particularly stretch plates having a thickness that lies below the nominal stretcher-leveler width of the actual stretcher-leveler 10 or its gripping heads 12.

(21) Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

REFERENCE SYMBOL LIST

(22) 10 stretcher-leveler 12 gripping head 14 pressure element 16 stretching direction 18 hydraulic line 19 electrical line 20 adapter 22 adapter body 30 connection element on the adapter side 32 handling plate 33 handling plate side 34 wear element 36 wear plate 40 adapter clamping element 42 direction of the clamping force 44 clamping hydraulics for the adapter clamping element 40 46 path measurement system 48 hydraulic quick coupling 49 electrical quick coupling 50 connection element on the gripping head side 52 gripping head clamping element 54 clamping hydraulics for the gripping head 12 58 hydraulic quick coupling 59 electrical quick coupling