BENDING DEVICE

Abstract

Disclosed is a tube bending device which includes at least one bending roller mounted to be rotatably movable relative to a frame and at least one crease erasing member. This device is specific in that it includes a plate designed with: reception surfaces to receive, support and position the crease erasing member which is attached thereto, a unit for fixing to the frame, and guide surfaces pivotably connected for the roller.

Claims

1. Device for bending tubes (D) comprising at least one bending roller (200) mounted to be rotatably movable with respect to a frame (B) and at least one crease erasing member (500), the device comprising a plate (300) designed with: reception surfaces to receive, support and position said crease erasing member (500) which is attached thereto, a fixing means for fixing to said frame (B), guide surfaces pivotably connected for said roller (200), being pre-formed with at least one bore (311) allowing the guiding of the cylindrical surface of a coaxial cylindrical projection (231) projecting outwardly from one of the upper (230) or lower (240) surfaces formed by the roller (200).

2. The device (D) according to claim 1, further comprising an independent crease erasing interface (600) which is inserted between the plate (300) and the crease erasing member (500).

3. The device (D) according to claim 1, wherein said roller (200) comprises an upper flat surface (230) and a lower flat surface (240) from each of which a coaxial cylindrical projection (231) projects outwardly, said plate (300) being comprised of two half-plates (310, 320) each pre-formed with a bore (321 and 321) allowing the guiding of the cylindrical surface of said projection (231).

4. The device (D) according to claim 1, wherein the crease erasing member (500) is pivotally connected to the plate (300) about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the roller (200) allowing a rotation of the crease erasing member (500) according to a limited number of degrees.

5. The device (D) according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical projections (231) do not project beyond the outer surfaces of the half-plates (310 and 320).

6. The device (D) according to claim 1, wherein said cylindrical surface of the cylindrical projection is pre-formed with a groove facing a corresponding groove pre-formed in the cylindrical surface of the guide bore, a plurality of balls being inserted between the grooves in order to guide in rotation.

7. The device (D) according to claim 2, wherein the crease erasing interface (600) is pivotably connected to the plate (300) about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the roller (200), allowing a rotation of the crease erasing interface (600) on a limited number of degrees.

8. The device (D3) according to claim 1, wherein when several rollers are stacked, the two half-plates (810, 820) are common to the stack of rollers (710, 720) and crease erasing member (910, 920), the cylindrical guide projections then equipping only the lower flat surface of the roller located at the bottom of the stack and the upper flat surface of the roller located at the top of the stack.

9. The device (D) according to claim 2, wherein said roller (200) comprises an upper flat surface (230) and a lower flat surface (240) from each of which a coaxial cylindrical projection (231) projects outwardly, said plate (300) being comprised of two half-plates (310, 320) each pre-formed with a bore (321 and 321) allowing the guiding of the cylindrical surface of said projection (231).

10. The device (D) according to claim 3, wherein the cylindrical projections (231) do not project beyond the outer surfaces of the half-plates (310 and 320).

11. The device (D) according to claim 9, wherein the cylindrical projections (231) do not project beyond the outer surfaces of the half-plates (310 and 320).

12. The device (D) according to claim 3, wherein said cylindrical surface of the cylindrical projection is pre-formed with a groove facing a corresponding groove pre-formed in the cylindrical surface of the guide bore, a plurality of balls being inserted between the grooves in order to guide in rotation.

13. The device (D) according to claim 9, wherein said cylindrical surface of the cylindrical projection is pre-formed with a groove facing a corresponding groove pre-formed in the cylindrical surface of the guide bore, a plurality of balls being inserted between the grooves in order to guide in rotation.

14. The device (D3) according to claim 2, wherein when several rollers are stacked, the two half-plates (810, 820) are common to the stack of rollers (710, 720) and crease erasing member (910, 920), the cylindrical guide projections then equipping only the lower flat surface of the roller located at the bottom of the stack and the upper flat surface of the roller located at the top of the stack.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of an exterior perspective top view of a bending head embodying a bending device according to the invention;

[0043] FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of the bending head of FIG. 1 at the moment of starting the bending;

[0044] FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of an exterior perspective top view of a bending head in which several rollers operating in the same bending direction are stacked;

[0045] FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing of an exterior perspective top view of a bending head for bending in the opposite direction to that implemented by the bending head of FIG. 1;

[0046] FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of an exterior perspective top view of a bending head in which two rollers operating in the reverse bending direction are stacked;

[0047] FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing of a more detailed exterior perspective top view of the bending device alone, installed in the bending head of FIG. 1;

[0048] FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing of an exterior perspective top view of the bending device of FIG. 6 in an angular position corresponding to the start of the bending;

[0049] FIG. 8 is a schematic drawing of an exploded exterior perspective top view of the bending device of FIG. 6;

[0050] FIG. 9 is a schematic drawing of an exterior perspective top view of another embodiment of a bending device according to the invention,

[0051] FIG. 10 is a schematic drawing of an exterior perspective top view of another embodiment of a bending device according to the invention,

[0052] FIG. 11 is a schematic drawing of an exploded exterior perspective top view of the bending device of FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0053] As illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 2, the bending head comprises a frame B relative to which pivots a bending arm 100 provided with movable jaws 110, according to the arrow F1, about a shaft 120. On this shaft 120, is mounted a bending device denoted D comprising a bending roller 200 associated by means of a plate or yoke 300 to a crease erasing member (which is not shown in these figures).

[0054] The plate 300 is fixed in rotation to the frame B by the key 400.

[0055] The rolling surface of the roller 200 is equipped with a jaw 210 opposite which the movable jaw 110 of the bending arm 100 is positioned, the jaws facing each other. The end of the tube to be bent (not shown) fits between these jaws 110 and 210 before bending, which jaws are tightened (arrow F2) and the rotation according to the arrow F1 around the roller 200 starts as illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0056] As illustrated by FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the tube bending device denoted D as a whole comprises at least one bending roller 200 rotatably mounted and a crease erasing member 500 associated with a crease erasing interface 600. According to the invention, the device further comprises a fixed plate 300 comprised of two identical half-plates 310 and 320 arranged one above the other so as to form a guide bearing for the roller 200 as well as a receiving surface for receiving, supporting and positioning the crease erasing interface 600, which in turn receives the crease erasing member 500. As explained above, the roller 200 is guided in rotation around the fixed shaft 120. Thus, the function of the guide bearing of the plate 300 is to make it possible to precisely position the receiving surfaces of the crease erasing interface 600 with respect to the axis of rotation of the roller 200 without hindering the rotation of said roller 200.

[0057] According to an embodiment not shown, said plate is made in a single part equivalent to a single half-plate, guiding the roller at only one of its flat surfaces.

[0058] The start of the rotation according to the arrow F1 of the roller 200 is illustrated by the drawing of FIG. 7 where the jaw 210 associated with said roller 200 moves away from the crease erasing member 500, being gradually replaced by the groove 220 occupying the rest of the rolling surface of said roller 200.

[0059] According to the illustrated embodiment, the crease erasing interface 600 and therefore the crease erasing member 500 are pivotally mounted (arrow F3) relative to the plate 300 about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the roller 200 and according to a limited number of degrees in order to allow an angular movement allowing an adaptation of the crease erasing member 500 to the constraints to which it is subjected during the bending.

[0060] In more detail, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the two half-plates 310 and 320 are identical and arranged one above the other, sandwiching the roller 200 and the crease erasing interface 600.

[0061] To this end, each half-plate 310 and 320 consists of a flat sheet cut so as to be provided with: [0062] a large central hole 311 and 321, [0063] a small side hole 312, 321, [0064] a notch 313, 323.

[0065] The large central hole 311 and 321 serves to receive, guide and retain the roller 200.

[0066] The small side hole 312 and 322 is used for receiving, guiding and retaining the crease erasing interface 600.

[0067] The notch 313 and 323 is intended to cooperate with the key 400 fixed to the frame (see FIG. 1).

[0068] As illustrated, the crease erasing interface 600 is inserted between the inner faces of the half-plates 310 and 320 facing each other, and receives the crease erasing member 500. Cylindrical projections 610 projecting from the crease erasing interface cooperate with the holes 312 and 322. The positioning of this crease erasing member 500 relative to roller 200 can therefore be very precise and positioned only once without the movement of the device disturbing it. A connecting spacer 330 is inserted between the two half-plates 310 and 320 to ensure the connection between the latter while allowing the rotation of the crease erasing interface 600 and of the roller 200. This spacer 330 is pre-formed to take up the profile of the notches 313 and 323 and also cooperates to the connection with the key 400.

[0069] Said roller 200 comprises an upper flat surface 230 and a lower flat surface 240 from each of which outwardly projects a coaxial cylindrical projection (only the one numbered 231 appears due to the point of view).

[0070] These cylindrical projections will cooperate with the cylindrical surfaces of the holes 311 and 321 formed in the half-plates 310 and 320 for the purpose of guiding and retaining the roller 200.

[0071] As illustrated in the drawing of FIG. 6, once the device D is mounted, the cylindrical projections (only 231 appears) do not project beyond the outer surfaces of the half-plates 310 and 320. This characteristic facilitates the stacking of the devices to create simple, inexpensive and rigid multi-height bending tools. An example of such a tool is illustrated in FIG. 3 where, above device D, is stacked coaxially a device D having a smaller roller diameter. Another example of such a tool is illustrated in FIG. 5 where, above a first device D, is stacked coaxially another device D inverted so as to operate in the opposite direction of rotation with respect to the first one.

[0072] It is thus understood that such a configuration favors the use of the same device in the opposite direction of bending: it is indeed sufficient to turn the device D as illustrated in FIG. 4. Provided that the crease erasing member always remains associated with the roller, it is no longer necessary to review the position adjustment.

[0073] According to a non-illustrated embodiment, said cylindrical surface of the cylindrical projection (only 231 appears) is pre-formed with a groove located opposite a corresponding groove pre-formed in the cylindrical surface of the guide bore (311 and 321), a plurality of balls (not shown) being inserted between the grooves in order to guide in rotation.

[0074] FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of the bending device D where the crease erasing interface 600 is retained by two fixing points on the plate 300 and therefore does not allow degrees of freedom to position the crease erasing member 500.

[0075] FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate one embodiment of a stacked configuration. The design of the device of the invention makes this configuration particularly compact. In this device D3, two rollers 710 and 720 are stacked. Only the upper flat surface of the upper roller 720 and the lower flat surface of the lower roller are pre-formed with a cylindrical projection for guidance purposes (for drawing reasons, only the projection 721 of the roller 720 appears). The upper flat surface of the lower roller 710 and the lower flat surface of the upper roller 720 combine one with the other. Consequently, only two half-plates 810 and 820 are necessary despite the doubling of the rollers.

[0076] As illustrated, a plurality of elements are used in common in this stacked configuration.

[0077] Thus, two crease erasing members 910 and 920 (one for each roller) are necessary but a single crease erasing interface 930 ensures their fixing and their positioning relative to the roller with which it cooperates. This crease erasing interface 910 is linked to the upper half-plate 810 and to the lower half-plate 820. Likewise, a single connecting spacer 830 is implemented.

[0078] It is understood that the bending devices which have been described and shown above have been described and shown for the purpose of disclosure rather than limitation. Of course, various arrangements, modifications and improvements can be made to the above examples, without departing from the scope of the invention. It is thus understood that despite the fact that the illustrated embodiments illustrate the presence of a crease erasing interface, the plate can as well directly receive the crease erasing member without an intermediate part in accordance with the invention.