Stretch rolling method and stretch rolling unit

Abstract

A stretch rolling method and a stretch rolling unit can roll out any gripping ends and uses the narrowest possible installation space. In the stretch rolling method, a workpiece is successively fed to at least two passes of a stretch rolling unit of a gripping device, wherein the workpiece is rotated by 180° about an axis of rotation lying perpendicular to the main direction of extent of the workpiece between the first pass of the two passes and the second pass of the two passes.

Claims

1. A stretch rolling method in which a workpiece (50) is successively passed by a gripping device to at least two passes (21, 22, 23, 24) of a stretch rolling unit (10) comprising two stretching rolls (20), wherein the workpiece (50) is rotated by 180°, about an axis of rotation (42) that lies perpendicular to a main expanse direction (54) of the workpiece (50), between the first pass (21, 22, 23) of the two passes (21, 22, 23, 24) and the second pass (22, 23, 24) of the two passes (21, 22, 23, 24), and wherein the gripping device (30) is displaced horizontally toward the stretching roll (20) as well as vertically to a height of the second pass (22, 23, 23) before the second pass (22, 23, 24), and (i) wherein the workpiece (50) is brought into a start-of-rotation position (63) by means of a first gripper of the gripping device (30), and a second gripper of the gripping device (30) holds the workpiece (50) in an end-of-rotation position (64), wherein the start-of-rotation position (63) is different from the end-of-rotation position (64), and wherein the second gripper of the gripping device (30) can take over the rotating workpiece from the end-of-rotation position, without having to newly position itself, and (ii) wherein stretch rolling free of gripping ends occurs without a reversal of direction of the stretching rolls (20) between two passes.

2. The stretch rolling method according to claim 1, wherein rotation takes place by way of a rotation device (40), and wherein the gripping device (30) transfers the workpiece (50) to the rotation device (40) for rotation between the passes (21, 22, 23, 24), and takes it over again from the rotation device (40) after rotation.

3. The stretch rolling method according to claim 1, wherein before rotation, a non-rolled gripping end (52) of the workpiece (50) is grasped by the gripping device (30), and after rotation, a rolled end (52) is grasped.

4. A stretch rolling unit (10) comprising two stretching rolls (20) that can be driven in opposite directions, having at least two passes (21, 22, 23, 24) and at least one gripping device (30), which can grip a workpiece (50) at a gripping end (52) and can be brought into at least a first loading position (61) and a first unloading position (62) for the first pass (21, 22, 23) and into a second loading position (61) for the second pass (22, 23, 24), wherein the gripping device (30) can be brought into a start-of-rotation position (63) and into an end-of-rotation position (64), wherein the stretch rolling unit (10) comprises a rotation device (40) that can bring the workpiece (50) from the start-of-rotation position (63) into the end-of-rotation position (64), by rotating it by 180° about an axis of rotation (42) that lies perpendicular to a main expanse direction (54) of the workpiece (50), wherein the gripping device (30) can be moved horizontally toward the stretching roll (20) as well as vertically to a level of the second pass (22, 23, 24) for the second pass (22, 23, 24), and (i) wherein a first gripper of the gripping device (30) is configured to bring the workpiece (50) into the start-of-rotation position (63), and a second gripper of the gripping device (30) is configured to hold the workpiece (50) in the end-of-rotation position (64), wherein the start-of-rotation position (63) is different from the end-of-rotation position (64), and wherein the second gripper of the gripping device (30) can take over the rotating workpiece from the end-of-rotation position, without having to newly position itself, and (ii) wherein stretch rolling free of gripping ends occurs without a reversal of direction of the stretching rolls between two passes.

5. The stretch rolling unit (10) according to claim 4, wherein the gripping device (30) is disposed on a manipulator (34) and can be brought into the positions (61, 62, 63, 64) by means of the manipulator (34).

6. The stretch rolling unit (10) according to claim 4, wherein the start-of-rotation position (63) and the end-of-rotation position (64) of the gripping device during rotation of the workpiece by the rotation device are identical.

7. The stretch rolling unit (10) according to claim 4, wherein the rotation device (40) comprises a turntable (44) or rotating plate (46).

8. The stretch rolling unit (10) according to claim 4, wherein the rotation device (40) comprises a gripping apparatus (48).

9. The stretch rolling unit (10) according to claim 5, wherein the gripping device (30) has a gripper (32) having a gripping diameter that comprises both rolled and non-rolled diameters of a gripping end (52) to be gripped.

10. A stretch rolling method for the production of railroad axles in which a workpiece (50) is successively passed by a gripping device to at least two passes (21, 22, 23, 24) of a stretch rolling unit (10), wherein the workpiece (50) is rotated by 180°, about an axis of rotation (42) that lies perpendicular to a main expanse direction (54) of the workpiece (50), between the first pass (21, 22, 23) of the two passes (21, 22, 23, 24) and the second pass (22, 23, 24) of the two passes (21, 22, 23, 24), and wherein the gripping device (30) is displaced horizontally toward the stretching roll (20) as well as vertically to a height of the second pass (22, 23, 23) before the second pass (22, 23, 24), and wherein before rotation, a non-rolled gripping end (52) of the workpiece (50) is grasped by the gripping device (30), and after rotation, a rolled end (52) is grasped, and wherein one and the same gripper of the gripping device grips the workpiece, not only at the non-rolled gripping end before rotation but also at the rolled gripping end after rotation, and wherein stretch rolling free of gripping ends occurs without a reversal of direction of the stretching rolls between two passes.

11. The stretch rolling method according to claim 10, wherein rotation takes place by way of a rotation device (40), and wherein the gripping device (30) transfers the workpiece (50) to the rotation device (40) for rotation between the passes (21, 22, 23, 24), and takes it over again from the rotation device (40) after rotation.

12. A stretch rolling unit (10) for the production of railroad axles comprising two stretching rolls (20) that can be driven in opposite directions, having at least two passes (21, 22, 23, 24) and at least one gripping device (30), which can grip a workpiece (50) at a gripping end (52) and can be brought into at least a first loading position (61) and a first unloading position (62) for the first pass (21, 22, 23) and into a second loading position (61) for the second pass (22, 23, 24), wherein the gripping device (30) can be brought into a start-of-rotation position (63) and into an end-of-rotation position (64), wherein the stretch rolling unit (10) comprises a rotation device (40) that can bring the workpiece (50) from the start-of-rotation position (63) into the end-of-rotation position (64), by rotating it by 180° about an axis of rotation (42) that lies perpendicular to a main expanse direction (54) of the workpiece (50), and wherein the gripping device (30) can be moved horizontally toward the stretching roll (20) as well as vertically to a level of the second pass (22, 23, 24) for the second pass (22, 23, 24), and wherein the gripping device (30) has a gripper (32) having a gripping diameter that comprises both rolled and non-rolled diameters of a gripping end (52) to be gripped, and wherein stretch rolling free of gripping ends occurs without a reversal of direction of the stretching rolls between two passes.

13. The stretch rolling unit (10) according to claim 12, wherein the gripping device (30) is disposed on a manipulator (34) and can be brought into the positions (61, 62, 63, 64) by means of the manipulator (34).

14. The stretch rolling unit (10) according to claim 12, wherein the start-of-rotation position (63) and the end-of-rotation position (64) of the gripping device during rotation of the workpiece by the rotation device are identical.

15. The stretch rolling unit (10) according to claim 12, wherein the rotation device (40) comprises a turntable (44) or rotating plate (46).

16. The stretch rolling unit (10) according to claim 12, wherein the rotation device (40) comprises a gripping apparatus (48).

Description

(1) It is understood that the characteristics of the independent claims can also be combined so as to be able to implement the corresponding advantages accordingly.

(2) Further advantages, goals, and properties of the present invention will be explained in the following description of the drawing, in which stretch rolling units are shown and stretch rolling methods are clarified, as examples. In the drawing, the figures show:

(3) FIG. 1 a first stretch rolling unit in a schematic top view, with a gripping device and a workpiece in a loading position for the first pass, and the workpiece in a readiness position on a feed mechanism, shown with broken lines;

(4) FIG. 2 the arrangement according to FIG. 1 after the first pass, with the gripping device and the workpiece in a removal position;

(5) FIG. 3 the arrangement according to FIGS. 1 and 2 before the second pass, with the gripping device and the workpiece in a loading position;

(6) FIG. 4 the arrangement according to FIGS. 1 to 3 after the second pass, with the gripping device and the workpiece in a removal position;

(7) FIG. 5 the arrangement according to FIGS. 1 to 4 after the second pass, with the gripping device and the workpiece in a start-of-rotation position;

(8) FIG. 6 the arrangement according to FIGS. 1 to 5 after rotation, with the gripping device and the workpiece in an end-of-rotation position;

(9) FIG. 7 a second stretch rolling unit in a similar state as shown in FIG. 2, wherein, however, instead of a turret, a magazine for different grippers is used, and a turntable having a vertical axis of rotation is used as the rotation device;

(10) FIG. 8 a third stretch rolling unit in a similar state as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, wherein a gripper having a sufficient gripping width for both an non-rolled and a rolled gripping end is used for gripping, and a turntable having a vertical axis of rotation is used as the rotation device; and

(11) FIG. 9 a third stretch rolling unit in a similar state as shown in FIGS. 2, 7, and 8 wherein not only the gripping device but also the rotation device are implemented by way of a manipulator or robot having arms, and the rotation device is also used for deposit onto the removal mechanism.

(12) FIG. 1 shows a first stretch rolling unit 10 in a schematic top view, with a gripping device 30 and a workpiece 50 in a loading position 61 for the first pass 21, as well as the workpiece 50 in a readiness position on a feed mechanism 12, shown with broken lines.

(13) The gripping device 30 consists of a turret 35 as well as the grippers 32.

(14) The gripping device 30 is disposed on a manipulator 34, which, in this exemplary embodiment, can move the gripping device 30 in two dimensions by way of rails 38. The passes 21, 22, 23, 24 are disposed between a drive and main roll bearing 28 and a counter-bearing 29. The readiness position of the workpiece 50, shown with broken lines, is oriented according to the main expanse direction 54 of the workpiece 50. The stretching roll 20 thereby comprises the passes 21, 22, 23, 24 as well as the drive, the main roll bearing 28, and the counter-bearing 29, wherein the discharge mechanism 14 is disposed at the level of the fourth pass 24 on the counter-bearing 29.

(15) The rotation device 40 comprises a separate gripping apparatus 48 as well as an axis of rotation 42 for rotation of the workpiece 50. The rotation device 40 is connected with the manipulator 34 in such a manner that the gripping device 30 can be brought toward the rotation device 40 by means of the manipulator 34.

(16) FIG. 2 shows the basic arrangement according to FIG. 1 after the first pass 21, with the gripping device 30 and the workpiece 50 in an unloading position 62. In this method step, the manipulator 34 has moved the gripping device 30 horizontally away from the stretch rolling unit 10.

(17) In FIG. 3, the arrangement according to FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown before the second pass 22, with the gripping device 30 and the workpiece 50 in a loading position 61. For this purpose, the manipulator 34 has moved the gripping device 30 both horizontally in the direction of the stretching roll 10 and also vertically to the level of the second pass 22.

(18) In FIG. 4, the arrangement according to FIGS. 1 to 3 is shown after the second pass 22, with the gripping device 30 and the workpiece 50 in an unloading position 62. For positioning of the workpiece 50 into the unloading position 62, the manipulator 34 has moved the gripping device 30 and thereby the workpiece 50 horizontally away from the stretching roll.

(19) FIG. 5 shows the arrangement according to FIGS. 1 to 4 after the second pass 22, with the gripping device 30 and the workpiece 50 in a start-of-rotation position 63. The start-of-rotation position 63 is established in such a manner that the main expanse direction 54 of the workpiece 50 lies perpendicular to the axis of rotation 42 of the rotation device 40, and that the workpiece 50 is positioned directly on the gripping apparatus 48 of the rotation device 40. In this regard, the gripper 32 still grips the workpiece 50 at its non-rolled gripping end 52.

(20) In FIG. 6, the arrangement according to FIGS. 1 to 5 is shown after rotation, with the gripping device 30 and the workpiece 50 in an end-of-rotation position 64. In this regard, the end-of-rotation position 64 is identical with the start-of-rotation position 63, which is shown in FIG. 5. As a result of the rotation of the workpiece 50, the non-rolled gripping end 52 is now situated on the opposite side, rotated by 180° about the axis of rotation 42. The end 52 to be gripped is now the end that has already been rolled, due to the rotation, and thereby has a smaller diameter than the non-rolled gripping end 52. For this purpose, the grippers 32 of the gripping device 30 have also be changed by means of turret 35, so that a gripper 32 having a smaller gripping diameter grasps the new gripping end 52.

(21) FIG. 7 shows a second stretch rolling unit 10 in a similar state as shown in FIG. 2, wherein, however, a magazine 36 for different grippers 32 is used, and a turntable 44 having a vertical axis of rotation 42 is used as the rotation device 40, instead of a turret 35. In this regard, rotation of the workpiece 50 can take place in very operationally reliable and simple manner, by means of the turntable 44, wherein instead of a turret 35 from the previous exemplary embodiment making a new gripper 32 available, the gripper 32 is made available by the magazine 36. Therefore, if the newly rolled gripping end 52 has a correspondingly small diameter or a different geometry, the gripper 32 can be replaced with a suitable gripper 32 from the magazine 36, so that a gripper 32 having a different gripping diameter or gripping geometry can grasp the newly rolled gripping end 52 after rotation by means of the rotation device 40.

(22) For rotation of the workpiece 50, the manipulator 34 only has to move the gripping device or the workpiece 50 horizontally and vertically, accordingly, so that the workpiece 50 lies on the turntable 44, so that the workpiece can be rotated by 180° there, very easily and quickly.

(23) FIG. 8 shows a third stretch rolling unit in a similar state as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, wherein a gripper 32 having a sufficient gripping width for both a non-rolled and a rolled gripping end 52 is used for gripping, and a turntable 46 having a vertical axis of rotation 42 is used as the rotation device 40. If, as shown in this exemplary embodiment, the gripper 32 can grip both the non-rolled and the rolled gripping end 52, the procedure of gripper change is eliminated, which also brings with doing without a turret 35 or a magazine 36, and thereby is better suitable for tight spatial conditions, if applicable. Furthermore, the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 8 brings with it that the discharge mechanism 14 can be positioned somewhat more advantageously, using a rotating plate 46 as the rotation device 40.

(24) FIG. 9 shows a third stretch rolling unit in a similar condition as shown in FIGS. 2, 7, and 8, wherein not only the gripping device 30 but also the rotation device 40 are implemented by way of manipulators 34 or robots 49 having arms 39, and the rotation device 40 is also used for deposit onto the discharge mechanism 14. A very dynamic movement sequence of the workpiece 50 during the rotation procedure as well as the deposit onto the discharge mechanism is made possible by means of the use of such arms 39 or robot arms as the rotation device 40 or gripping device 30. Furthermore, this embodiment is very advantageous in the case of tight spatial conditions, since the arms 39 or robot arms 40 can be structured to be very flexible, and the movements can be performed on the smallest amount of space.

(25) It is understood that the details of the different exemplary embodiments can be combined in different ways. In the present case, rotation takes place between the second pass 22 and the third pass 23, in each instance. Depending on the concrete application, rotation can also take place, alternatively or cumulatively, between other passes 21, 22, 23, 24. Likewise, the number of passes can be adapted to the needs of the current process, upward from two.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

(26) 10 stretch rolling unit

(27) 12 feed mechanism

(28) 14 discharge mechanism

(29) 20 stretching roll

(30) 21 first pass

(31) 22 second pass

(32) 23 third pass

(33) 24 fourth pass

(34) 28 drive and main roll bearing

(35) 29 counter-bearing

(36) 30 gripping device

(37) 32 gripper

(38) 34 manipulator

(39) 35 turret

(40) 36 magazine

(41) 38 rails

(42) 39 arm

(43) 40 rotation device

(44) 42 axis of rotation

(45) 44 turntable

(46) 46 rotating disk

(47) 48 gripping apparatus of the rotation device 40

(48) 49 robot arm of the rotation device 40

(49) 50 workpiece

(50) 52 gripping end

(51) 54 main expanse direction of the workpiece 50

(52) 61 loading position

(53) 62 unloading position

(54) 63 start-of-rotation position

(55) 64 end-of-rotation position