ADAPTER, STRETCHER-LEVELLER AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A STRETCHER-LEVELLER

Abstract

In order to widen the field of application of a stretcher-leveller having a minimum nominal width, at least one gripping head of the stretcher-leveller 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-leveller, 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: Adapter (20) for a stretcher-leveler (10), having an adapter-side connection element (30) to a gripping head (12) of a stretcher-leveler (10), which head is designed for a minimum nominal stretcher-leveler width, and having adapter clamping elements (40) for clamping a plate to be stretched, which elements have a nominal adapter width below the minimum nominal stretcher-leveler width.

2: Adapter (20) according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the adapter elements (40) is adjustable, particularly hydraulically, relative to an adapter body (22), and that preferably, its position can be detected by way of a path measurement system (46).

3: Adapter (20) according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the adapter clamping elements (40) is adjustable perpendicular to the plate to be stretched.

4: Adapter (20) according to claim 1, wherein the adapter (20) comprises at least two adapter clamping elements (40) that preferably engage on the plate to be drawn from two different sides, preferably are both adjustable perpendicular to the plate to be stretched, and/or preferably the position or displacement of both can be detected by way of a path measurement system (46).

5: Adapter (20) according to claim 1, wherein the connection element (30) on the adapter side is structured as a handling plate (32).

6: Adapter (20) according to claim 5, wherein the handling plate (32) has two handling plate sides (33), which are each freely accessible.

7: Adapter (20) according to claim 5, wherein the handling plate (32) has a plate thickness that is greater than or equal to the minimum nominal stretcher-leveler width.

8: Adapter (20) according to claim 1, wherein the connection element (30) on the adapter side has at least one wear element (34), preferably at least one wear plate (36).

9: Stretcher-leveler (10) having two gripping heads (12), which can be displaced relative to one another in a stretching direction (16), have gripping head clamping elements (52) for clamping a plate to be stretched and are designed for a minimum nominal stretcher-leveler width, comprising an adapter (20) and a connection element (50) on the gripping head side, which interacts with the connection element (30) on the adapter side.

10: Stretcher-leveler according to claim 9, wherein the gripping head clamping elements (52) are adjustable in an acute angle to the plate to be stretched.

11: Stretcher-leveler according to claim 9, wherein the gripping head clamping elements (52) form the connection element (50) on the gripping head side.

12: Stretcher-leveler according to claim 9, wherein hydraulic and/or electrical quick couplings that are complementary to one another are provided on at least one of the gripping heads (12) and on the adapter (20).

13: Method for operation of a stretcher-leveler (10) having a minimum nominal stretcher-leveler width, wherein at least one gripping head (12) of the stretcher-leveler (10) is connected with an adapter (20), preferably all the gripping heads (12) of the stretcher-leveler (10) are connected with an adapter (20), in each instance, which adapter has adapter clamping elements (40) for clamping a plate to be stretched, having a nominal adapter width below the minimum nominal stretcher-leveler width, and wherein a plate to be stretched is connected with the respective gripping head (12) by way of the adapter clamping elements (40) and the adapter (20) before the stretching procedure is initiated.

14: Operating method according to claim 13, wherein first, the respective gripping head (12) of the stretcher-leveler (10) is connected with the respective adapter (20), and subsequently the plate is clamped by way of the adapter clamping elements (40) of the respective adapter (20) and connected with the respective gripping head (12).

15: Operating method according to claim 13, wherein before the plate is connected with the respective gripping head (12) by way of the adapter clamping elements (40), the respective adapter (20) is hydraulically and/or electrically connected with the stretcher-leveler (10).

16: Operating method according to claim 15, wherein before the plate is connected with the respective gripping head (12) by way of the adapter clamping elements (40), the respective adapter (20) is hydraulically and/or electrically connected with the respective gripping head (12).

Description

[0031] Further advantages, goals, and properties of the present invention will be explained using the following description of exemplary embodiments, which are particularly Shown also in the attached, drawing. The drawing shows;

[0032] FIG. 1 a schematic side view of a stretcher-leveler;

[0033] FIG. 2 the stretcher-leveler according to FIG. 1 in a top view;

[0034] FIG. 3 an adapter for the stretcher-leveler according to

[0035] FIGS. 1 and 2 in a top view;

[0036] FIG. 4 the adapter according to FIG. 3 in a side view; and

[0037] FIG. 5 the adapter according to FIGS. 3 and 4 set into a gripping head according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0038] The stretcher-leveler 10 shown in the FIGS. has two gripping heads 12, which can be displaced along a stretching direction 1b 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.

[0039] 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.

[0040] 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.

[0041] 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 head clamping elements 52.

[0042] Accordingly, this arrangement comprises an adapter 20 (see FIGS. 3 to 55, which has an adapter body 22 on which a handling plate 32 is disposed as a connection element 30 on the 32 is firmly connected with the adapter body 22 and has two handling plate sides 33 that lie opposite one another, which

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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.

[0045] In this respect, the gripping head clamping elements 52 then serve as a connect ion 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.

[0046] 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.

[0047] 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.

[0048] The adapter 20 has clamping hydraulics 44 to apply the clamping forces and to displace the adapter clamping elements 40.

[0049] 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.

[0050] 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 53 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 43, 49, 58, 59, in rapid and operationally reliable manner.

[0051] 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.

REFERENCE SYMBOL LIST

[0052] 10 stretcher-leveler [0053] 12 gripping head [0054] 14 pressure element [0055] 16 stretching direction [0056] 18 hydraulic line [0057] 19 electrical line [0058] 20 adapter [0059] 22 adapter body [0060] 30 connection element on the adapter side [0061] 32 handling plate [0062] 33 handling plate side [0063] 34 wear element [0064] 36 wear plate [0065] 40 adapter clamping element [0066] 42 direction of the clamping force [0067] 44 clamping hydraulics for the adapter clamping element 40 [0068] 46 path measurement system [0069] 48 hydraulic quick coupling [0070] 49 electrical quick coupling [0071] 50 connection element on the gripping head side [0072] 52 gripping head clamping element [0073] 54 clamping hydraulics for the gripping head 12 [0074] 58 hydraulic quick coupling [0075] 59 electrical quick coupling