Machine for forming sheets by longitudinal stretching

Abstract

Disclosed is a machine for forming sheets by longitudinal stretching, the machine includes: two stretch heads located on either side of a forming tool for the sheet, the stretch heads each including a line of grippers integral with a support structure which is associated with way of stretching and which is mounted on a chassis by the intermediary of a tipping axis; at least one tipping cylinder being inserted between the chassis and the support structure, in order to allow for the maneuvering in rotation of the support structure about the tipping axis; and the chassis being carried by a support frame. The stretching machine includes a unit, inserted between the support frame and the chassis, arranged to allow for an adjusting of the vertical positioning of the tipping axis.

Claims

1. A machine for forming sheets by longitudinal stretching, said machine (1) comprising: a support frame (3); a forming tool (4) for the sheet; a first chassis (10) and a second chassis (10) mounted on the support frame (3) respectively on first and second sides of the forming tool (4); a first stretching cylinder (9) and a second stretching cylinder (9); first and second support structures (8); a first tipping axis (11) and a second tipping axis (11) associated respectively with each of the first and second support structures (8), a vertical position of each of the first tipping axis and the second tipping axis being vertically adjustable; a first tipping cylinder (12) inserted between the first chassis (10) and the first support structure (8), the first support structure (8) being mounted at said first tipping cylinder (12) to thereby allow for a pivoting maneuver of said first support structure (8) about said first tipping axis (11); a second tipping cylinder (12) inserted between the second chassis and the second support structure (8), the second support structure (8) being mounted at said second tipping cylinder (12) to thereby allow for a pivoting maneuver of said second support structure (8) about said second tipping axis (11); a first stretch head (2) and a second stretch head (2) located respectively on the first and second sides of the forming tool (4), said first and second stretch heads (2, 2) comprising respectively a first line of grippers (5) integral with the first support structure (8) and a second line of grippers (5) integral with the second support structure (8), the first support structure (8), the first stretching cylinder (9), and the first line of grippers (5) being mounted at the first tipping axis (11) on the first chassis (10), the second support structure (8), the second stretching cylinder (9), and the second line of grippers (5) being mounted at the second tipping axis (11) on the second chassis (10), said first chassis (10) and said support frame (3) being mounted together at a third tipping axis (13); a third tipping cylinder (14) being inserted between said first chassis (10) and said support frame (3), the third tipping axis (13) being parallel to the first tipping axis (11), the third tipping axis (13) and the third tipping cylinder (14) allowing for a maneuver in rotation of said first chassis (10) about said third tipping axis (13) to thereby vertically adjust the vertical position of said first tipping axis (11), said second chassis (10) and said support frame (3) being mounted together at a fourth tipping axis (13); and a fourth tipping cylinder (14) being inserted between said second chassis (10) and said support frame (3), the fourth tipping axis (13) being parallel to the second tipping axis (11), the fourth tipping axis (13) and the fourth tipping cylinder (14) allowing for a maneuver in rotation of said second chassis (10) about said fourth tipping axis (13) to thereby vertically adjust the vertical position of said second tipping axis (11).

2. The machine according to claim 1, wherein both said first tipping axis (11) and said third tipping axis (13) extend horizontally.

3. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the third tipping axis (13) is located on a first side of the first tipping axis (11) and the first line of grippers (5) is located on an opposite, second side of the first tipping axis (11), wherein the fourth tipping axis (13) is located on a first side of the second tipping axis (11) and the second line of grippers (5) is located on an opposite, second side of the second tipping axis (11).

4. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said support frame (3) comprises: a first movable frame portion (31), that carries said first vertical positioning mechanism, a second movable frame portion (31), that carries said second vertical positioning mechanism, a base frame portion (32), said first movable frame portion (31) and said second movable frame portion (31) being mounted mobile in translation on said base frame portion (32), along a direction perpendicular to said first tipping axis (11) and to said third tipping axis (13).

5. The machine according to claim 4, wherein the base frame portion (32) is common to the first and second stretch heads (2, 2) and supports the forming tool (4).

6. The machine according to claim 1, wherein displacement of said first tipping cylinder (12) and of at least one element of said first vertical positioning mechanism adjusts the vertical position of the first tipping axis (11), the adjustment of the vertical position of the first tipping axis (11) changing a spatial position of the first line of grippers (5), and wherein displacement of said second tipping cylinder (12) and of at least one element of said second vertical positioning mechanism adjusts the vertical position of the second tipping axis (11), the adjustment of the vertical position of the second tipping axis (11) changing a spatial position of the second line of grippers (5).

7. A method for operating the machine according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises: controlling the displacement of said first tipping cylinder (12) and of said third tipping cylinder (14) to adjust the vertical position of the first tipping axis (11) according to a desired spatial position of said first line of grippers (5); and controlling the displacement of said second tipping cylinder (12) and of said fourth tipping cylinder (14) to adjust the vertical position of the second tipping axis (11) according to a desired spatial position of said second line of grippers (5).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

(1) The following description with respect to the annexed drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, will indeed provide understanding of what the invention consists of and how it can be carried out.

(2) In the annexed drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a machine for forming sheets by longitudinal stretching in accordance with the invention;

(4) FIG. 2 is a top view of the stretching machine shown in FIG. 1;

(5) FIGS. 3 to 7 are diagrammatical side views which show different possible spatial configurations of the stretch heads of the stretching machine shown in the FIGS. 1 and 2;

(6) FIG. 8 diagrammatically shows an alternative embodiment of the means for adjusting the height of the tipping axis, in the form of a vertically guided carriage, here in bottom position;

(7) FIG. 9 is a diagrammatical view similar to FIG. 8, showing the vertically guided carriage, in top position.

(8) The longitudinal stretching machine 1 in accordance with the invention, shown in the FIGS. 1 and 2, comprises two stretch heads 2, 2, here identical, mounted facing one another on a support frame 3, on either side of a forming tool 4.

(9) The forming tool 4 is positioned and fixed on socket pieces 3a which in turn are fixed on the frame 3 between the two stretch heads 2, 2; its active face is adapted according to the final shape of the pieces of sheet T that are to be obtained.

(10) Each stretch head 2, 2 consists of a line of grippers 5 carried by mechanical means suited to provide it with the desired spatial movements.

(11) These lines of grippers 5 have for function to clamp the edge of the width of the sheet worked, through the grasp of grippers. They each here consist of a juxtaposition from five to eleven grippers 6 (here numbering seven); and they are arranged in a plane perpendicular to the direction of stretching (marked 7 in FIG. 2), or substantially perpendicular to this direction of stretching, in order to suitably fulfill their function.

(12) Each line of grippers 5 comprises means allowing it to be placed in a straight, curved (concave or convex), or S configuration.

(13) In FIGS. 1 and 2, the line of grippers 5 of the two stretch heads 2, 2 is placed in a horizontal straight position; but it can also have other configurations, for example a position that is straight, curved by a certain angle with respect to the horizontal, in an S configuration, or in a convex curved position.

(14) The configuration adopted is according to the inclination and/or the curved shape that is sought for the sheet, so that the latter can follow the profile of the edge of the tool 4 with a concern for the precision of the part carried out.

(15) In order to fulfill their stretching function, the lines of grippers 5 are each integral with a support structure 8 subjected to the action of one or of several stretching cylinders 9.

(16) This support structure 8 (with the line of grippers 5 and the associated stretching cylinders 9) is mounted on a chassis 10 by the intermediary of a tipping axis 11; and at least one tipping cylinder 12 is inserted between the chassis 10 and the support structure 8, in order to allow for the pivoting maneuver of this support structure 8 about the tipping axis 11.

(17) As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the embodiment shown, two tipping cylinders 12 provide the pivoting maneuver of the support structure 8 with respect to the chassis 10.

(18) The tipping axis 11 extends horizontally or approximately horizontally, perpendicularly to the direction of stretching 7.

(19) In accordance with the invention, the forming machine 1 comprises means which are inserted between the support frame 3 and the chassis 10, arranged to allow for an adjustment of the vertical positioning of the tipping axis 11 (i.e. to allow for an adjustment of the height of the tipping axis 11 and therefore of the line of grippers 5).

(20) For this, such as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the chassis 10 is mounted on the support frame 3 by the intermediary of a complementary tipping axis 13, and at least one complementary tipping cylinder 14 is inserted between said chassis 10 and said support frame 3, arranged to ensure the maneuver in rotation of said chassis 10 about said complementary tipping axis 13.

(21) The complementary tipping axis 13 extends horizontally, parallel or substantially parallel to the tipping axis 11.

(22) As can still be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, this complementary tipping axis 13 is located on the opposite side of the tipping axis 11 with respect to the line of grippers 5, here under the horizontal plane through which said tipping axis 11 passes.

(23) Here, in the embodiment shown, two complementary tipping cylinders 14 provide the pivoting maneuver of the chassis 10 with respect to the support frame 3.

(24) In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, each stretch head 2, 2 (with its chassis 10, the complementary tipping axis 13 and the associated complementary tipping cylinders 14), is carried by a movable frame portion 31, in the form of a carriage, which is mounted on a fixed base frame portion 32.

(25) The two carriages 31 have the possibility of being displaced in translation in the direction of stretching 7 on the base frame portion 32, i.e. along a direction perpendicular to the tipping axis 11 and to the complementary tipping axis 13, this under the action of suitable means of displacement (for example cylinders, rack and pinion systems or screw-nut systems). In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 the displacement of each movable frame 31 is carried out by direct action thanks to a cylinder of which a portion is fixed on said movable frame 31 and the other on the frame base 32.

(26) The fixed base frame portion 32 is common to the two portions of movable frame 31 and it is also used as a support for the forming tool 4 by the intermediary of socket pieces 3a.

(27) The stretching machine 1 in accordance with the invention comprises control means suitable for managing the displacement of the tipping cylinders 12, of the complementary tipping cylinders 14 and of the stretching cylinders 9, according to the desired spatial position of the lines of grippers 5, this simultaneously or successively.

(28) As shown in FIG. 3, the tipping axis 11 of the stretch heads 2 of the stretching machine 1 in accordance with the invention can be used conventionally, by means of tipping cylinders 12, in order to pivot the line of grippers 5, for example on an angular sector a of about 30.

(29) For example, as can be seen in FIG. 4, starting from a dimension of height x to the horizontal of the lines of grippers 5 (able to correspond to a bottom minimum position of the line of grippers), the stretching machine 1 can be adapted to pivot said line of grippers 5 between a negative angle b (for example about 5 to 10) and a positive angle c (for example about 5 to) 30.

(30) Starting from this bottom minimum position of the chassis 10, the management of the complementary tipping axis 13 by the complementary tipping cylinders 14, makes it possibility to raise the tipping axis 11, as shown in the FIGS. 5 and 6: in order to obtain an inclination of the chassis 10, and therefore of the line of grippers 5 (FIG. 5), or to carry out an edge compensation on the sheet (FIG. 6).

(31) It is also possible to obtain a top maximum horizontal position of the line of grippers 5, such as shown in FIG. 7 (with the dimension of height x+ x of the line of grippers 5 in FIG. 7 being greater than the cote x of FIG. 4).

(32) Any other combined management of the tipping axis 11 and of the complementary tipping axis 13 can be implemented.

(33) Generally: the complementary tipping cylinders 14 make it possible to raise or lower the tipping axis 11 in order to adjust the level of the lines of grippers 5, and allow for the combined or uncombined implementation of an edge compensation operation; the tipping cylinders 12 allow for the tipping of the supports of the lines of grippers 5 according to the stretching sought, and make it possible to offset the action of the complementary tipping cylinders 14; the stretching cylinders 9 are used to stretch the sheet and/or to offset the effect of rotation of the supports of the lines of grippers (so as in particular to retain the distance between the two lines of grippers).

(34) According to an alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the chassis bearing the support structure 8 is mounted on the support frame 3 by the intermediary of means that allow for the displacement thereof parallel to itself along a vertical axis.

(35) These means of displacement then advantageously consist of a chassis 10 in the form of a carriage sliding vertically along sliders 15 integral with the movable frame 31, and actuated by at least one hydraulic cylinder 14. For example two hydraulic cylinders 14 are placed on either side of the carriage 10. The cylinder or cylinders 14 can be placed at the bottom or at the top of the movable frame 31.

(36) The raising/lowering function of the support structure 8 and therefore of the line of grippers 5 is carried out by acting directly on the tipping axis 11 placed on the sliding chassis 10. The dimension of height x+ x of the line of grippers 5 in FIG. 9 is greater than the dimension x in FIG. 8.

(37) For this embodiment also, control means are suitable for managing the displacement of the tipping cylinders 12 and of the carriage with vertical guiding, according to the desired spatial position of the lines of grippers 5, this simultaneously or successively.

(38) The longitudinal stretching machine in accordance with the invention has the following advantages: avoids the presence of socket pieces that can be adjusted in height on the forming tool (simplified tools and implementation), increases the possibility of adjustment, makes it possible to conform the sheet as close as possible to the tool, better versatility for forming, possibility of edge compensation during the forming, possibility of adjusting the angles and the heights during forming.