Drawing and straightening apparatus for metal wire, and corresponding drawing and straightening method

Abstract

Apparatus for drawing and straightening at least a metal wire, comprising a drawing unit of the metal wire along a direction of advance which comprises a first motorized main roll, on part of the periphery of which first idle contrast rolls are disposed, with a smaller diameter than the first main roll. The apparatus also comprises a straightening only unit of the metal wire, independent from the drawing unit, disposed along the direction of advance and upstream of the drawing unit, the straightening only unit comprising a second idle main roll, on part of the periphery of which second idle contrast rolls are disposed, with a diameter smaller than the second main roll.

Claims

1. Apparatus for drawing and straightening at least a metal wire, comprising a drawing unit for drawing said metal wire along a direction of advance which comprises a first motorized main roll having a periphery and including first idle contrast rolls disposed on part of the periphery of the first main roll, with the first idle contrast rolls having a smaller diameter than a diameter of said first main roll, and including a straightening only unit for straightening said metal wire, independent from said drawing unit, disposed along said direction of advance and upstream of said drawing unit, said straightening only unit comprising a second idle main roll having a periphery and including second idle contrast rolls disposed on part of the periphery of the second idle main roll, with the second idle contrast rolls having a diameter smaller than a diameter of said second idle main roll.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said drawing unit or said straightening only unit comprises a straightening member, disposed along the direction of advance and provided with respective rolls.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein at least one of said straightening only unit or said drawing unit further comprises a second straightening member disposed along the direction of advance.

4. Apparatus for drawing and straightening at least a metal wire, comprising a drawing unit for drawing said metal wire along a direction of advance which comprises a first motorized main roll having a periphery and including first idle contrast rolls disposed on part of the periphery of the first main roll, with the first idle contrast rolls having a smaller diameter than a diameter of said first main roll, and including a straightening only unit for straightening said metal wire, independent from said drawing unit, disposed along said direction of advance and upstream of said drawing unit, said straightening only unit comprising a second idle main roll having a periphery and including second idle contrast rolls disposed on part of the periphery of the second main roll, with the second idle contrast rolls having a diameter smaller than a diameter of said second idle main roll, and wherein at least one of said straightening only unit or said drawing unit comprises a finishing roll having an axis of rotation and lying on a plane substantially parallel to a lying plane of said first main roll or second idle main roll and selectively translatable in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4, and further including a pressing roll cooperating, during use, with said finishing roll and selectively movable in a direction orthogonal to the direction of advance.

6. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said straightening only unit and said drawing unit comprise a respective supporting frame.

7. Method for drawing and straightening at least a metal wire and comprising: the drawing of said metal wire in a direction of advance with a drawing unit provided with a first motorized main roll having a diameter and a periphery, and disposing first idle contrast rolls having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the first motorized main roll on part of the periphery of the first main roll, and including a straightening step using a straightening only unit of said metal wire, independent from said drawing unit, disposed in said direction of advance upstream from said drawing unit, and further comprising a second idle main roll having a diameter and a periphery and disposing second idle contrast rolls on part of the periphery of the second idle main roll, the second idle contrast rolls having diameters smaller than the diameter of said second idle main roll.

8. Method as in claim 7, wherein said metal wire passes first through said straightening only unit and then through said drawing unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawing wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a drawing and straightening apparatus according to the invention.

(3) To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE FORM OF EMBODIMENT

(4) With reference to FIG. 1, a drawing and straightening apparatus 10 according to the present invention can be associated with a shaping machine, not shown in the drawings, for working oblong metal products such as metal wires F.

(5) The drawing and straightening apparatus 10 is suitable to perform both drawing functions and also straightening functions simultaneously.

(6) The drawing and straightening apparatus 10 in this case comprises two distinct operating units, respectively a first operating unit 11, or straightening unit, configured to perform only straightening and anti-rotation operations on the metal wire F, and a second operating unit 12, or drawing unit, configured to exert on the metal wire F not only a straightening and anti-rotation action but also a drawing action in a direction of advance D, which substantially coincides with the direction of advance that a metal wire F already linearized would have, in order to reach the devices disposed downstream.

(7) The first operating unit 11 is disposed upstream, with respect to the direction of advance D of the metal wire F, of the second operating unit 12. This configuration guarantees uniformity and continuity in the advance of the metal wire F, preventing problems of blocking of the metal wire F in the first operating unit 11, and a more effective extraction of the metal wire F.

(8) With reference to FIG. 1, is describe the configuration of the first operating unit 11 which, unless otherwise indicated, should be understood as valid also for the second operating unit 12.

(9) The first operating unit 11 comprises a supporting frame 13 on which a main roll is mounted, rotatable around its axis of rotation disposed substantially orthogonal to the direction of advance of the metal wire F. Hereafter the main roll of the first operating unit 11 is indicated by the reference number 14a whereas that of the second operating unit 12 is indicated by 14b.

(10) In this case, two contrast rolls 15a or 15b respectively with reference to the first operating unit 11 and the second operating unit 12 act on the periphery of the main roll 14a or 14b, and, forming a loop in the contact zone with the corresponding main roll 14a, 14b exert a straightening and anti-rotation action on the metal wire F around part of the periphery of the main roll 14a or 14b.

(11) The main roll 14a or 14b has a bigger diameter than the diameter of the contrast rolls 15a or 15b. Merely by way of example, the main roll 14a or 14b can have a diameter comprised between 300 mm and 600 mm, while the contrast rolls 15a or 15b can have a diameter comprised between 100 mm and 200 mm.

(12) The contrast rolls 15a or 15b are mounted on a slider 16 translatable in a direction orthogonal to the direction of advance D of the metal wire F in order to vary the pressure and hence the anti-rotation action which the contrast rolls 15a or 15b exert on the metal wire F and consequently on the main roll 14a or 14b, also in relation to the diameter of the metal wire F and/or the requirements of uniform advance.

(13) The slider 16 is in turn mounted on a fixed support structure 17, solid with the supporting frame 13.

(14) An actuator 18 is associated with the support structure 17 and slider 16, and is suitable to move the slider 16 toward the main roll 14a or 14b.

(15) The actuator 18 can comprise hydraulic, pneumatic, electric actuators, worm screw mechanisms, racks or suchlike.

(16) Upstream and downstream of the main roll 14a or 14b a first straightening member 19 is provided, and respectively a second straightening member 20.

(17) The first straightening member 19 and second straightening member 20 are provided with respective rolls 21 that cooperate during use with contrast rolls 22 associated with the supporting frame 13.

(18) Some forms of embodiment provide that the supporting frame 13 of the first operating unit 11 and the second operating unit 12 are independent from each other and able to be selectively put adjacent and coupled with each other by means of suitable reciprocal connection means.

(19) In the form of embodiment in FIG. 1, the first straightening member 19 and second straightening member 20 are mounted on respective frames 23 which can be moved, by means of respective actuators 24, toward the contrast rolls 22 to regulate the pressure that the rolls 21 exert on the metal wire F, also in relation to the diameter of the latter and/or the requirements of uniform advance.

(20) The actuators 24 can comprise hydraulic, pneumatic, electric actuators, worm screw mechanisms, racks or suchlike.

(21) The rolls 21 and the contrast rolls 22 are mounted idle respectively on the frames 23 and the supporting frame 13, and rotate around axes of rotation substantially orthogonal to the direction of advance of the metal wire F.

(22) The metal wire F is deformed in order to straighten it by passing through a path with curved segments, both in the first operating unit 11 and the second operating unit 12, which is defined by the cooperation between the first straightening member 19 and the contrast rolls 22, between the main roll 14a or 14b and the contrast rolls 15a or 15b, and between the second straightening member 20 and the contrast rolls 22. The metal wire F is subjected to straightening on a plane substantially orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the rolls 14a or 14b, 15a or 15b, 21, 22.

(23) Downstream of the second straightening member 20 a finishing member 25 is provided, which exerts a straightening action on the metal wire F on a plane substantially orthogonal to the straightening plane of the other rolls.

(24) The finishing member 25 is provided with a finishing roll 26 lying on a plane substantially parallel to the lying plane of the main roll 14a or 14b, and is selectively translatable by suitable movement means in a direction parallel to its axis of rotation.

(25) Some forms of embodiment may provide that the apparatus 10 comprises a pressing roll 27, cooperating during use with the finishing roll 26 of at least one of either the first operating unit 11 or the second operating unit 12, in this case the pressing roll 27 of the second operating unit 12.

(26) The pressing roll 27 is selectively movable in a direction orthogonal to the direction of advance D by a respective actuator 28, in order to keep the metal wire F, plastically deformed by the finisher roll 26, inside the groove or grooves of the latter, and to exert an adequate straightening action.

(27) Upstream of the first operating unit 11 an introduction unit 29 is provided, which allows the correct introduction and guide of the metal wire F toward the units disposed downstream.

(28) Downstream of the second operating unit 12 another finishing member 30 is provided, substantially analogous to the finishing member 25 but acting on the metal wire F on the opposite side with respect thereto.

(29) Downstream of the other finishing member another introduction unit 31 is provided toward the operating units located downstream, such as for example a counter roll, a shears, or guide rolls for the metal wire F.

(30) According to the present invention the main roll 14a or 14b of one of either the first operating unit 11 or the second operating unit 12, in this case of the second operating unit 12, is motorized.

(31) To this purpose, a motor 32 is associated to the main roll 14b of the second operating unit 12, and determines a drawing action on the metal wire F stored for example in a wire collection device disposed upstream.

(32) The wire collection device comprises in general a spool on which the metal wire F is wound in coils. The spool can be associated with auxiliary devices that unwind the metal wire F when the drawing and straightening apparatus 10 is driven. In other forms of embodiment, the spool is mounted fixed and the drawing and straightening apparatus 10 provides to extract from the spool the quantity of metal wire F required on each occasion.

(33) Even if the drawing and straightening apparatus 10 has been described with reference to advancing a single metal wires F at a time, it is not excluded that in other forms of embodiment it may be suitable to advance two or more metal wires F.

(34) In this case the main roll 14a or 14b, the contrast roll 15a or 15b, the rolls 21, the contrast rolls 22, the finishing roll 26 and the pressing roll 27 are each provided with respective guide grooves disposed substantially aligned and each suitable to guide one of the metal wires F.

(35) Some forms of embodiment may provide that the rolls are made in a single body and provided with the guide grooves.

(36) If the rolls are made in a single body, it may be provided that at least some of them are associated to a unit pivoting on the plane containing the axis of rotation and orthogonally to the axis of the metal wire F, so that they are always able to press with the desired value on the metal wire F in transit.

(37) In other forms of embodiment it is provided that the rolls are divided and that each part into which they are divided is provided with a respective guide groove.

(38) It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the drawing and straightening apparatus 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

(39) It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of drawing and straightening apparatus, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.