Bending head for welded wire mesh

Abstract

A bending head for welded wire mesh includes a frame, a bending face to be moved relative to the frame for bending a wire in a welded wire mesh, a counterholder on which the wire can be braced during bending by the bending face, a bending die which, at least in part, has a predefined bending radius, a bending arm on which the bending face is arranged, and an arm drive device with which the bending arm can be adjusted relative to the frame. A support is provided at which the bending arm is movably mounted. A support drive device, with which the support can be adjusted relative to the frame and which is separate from the arm drive device, is provided.

Claims

1. A bending head for welded wire mesh, comprising: a frame, a bending face configured to be moved relative to the frame to bend a wire in a welded wire mesh, a counterholder configured to allow the wire to be braced thereon during a bending process by the bending face, a bending die having a predefined bending radius, a bending arm having the bending face is arranged thereon, an arm drive device configured to adjust the bending arm relative to the frame so as to move the bending face during the bending process, a support at which the bending arm is movably mounted, and wherein a support drive device separate from the arm drive device and configured to adjust the support relative to the frame, and wherein the bending arm is mounted so as to be linearly displaceable at the support.

2. The bending head according to claim 1, wherein the support is mounted on the frame rotatably about an axis of rotation.

3. The bending head according to claim 1, wherein the support drive device comprises a slider crank mechanism.

4. The bending head according to claim 3, further comprising a bearing arranged on the support, a guide for guiding the bending arm being formed on the bearing.

5. The bending head according to claim 1, wherein the arm drive device has a drive shaft and a gearing mechanism configured to convert a rotational movement of the drive shaft to a linear movement of the bending arm.

6. The bending head according to claim 5, wherein the drive shaft of the arm drive device is rotatable about an axis of rotation, the support is mounted on the frame rotatably about an axis of rotation, and the axis of rotation of the drive shaft coincides with the axis of rotation of the support.

7. The bending head according to claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to actuate the arm drive device and the support drive device such that the bending face performs a bending trajectory relative to the frame conforming to a predefined bend of the wire, to a wire diameter of the wire, and/or to a predefined bending radius of the bending die.

8. The bending head according to claim 1, wherein the bending die is one of a plurality of bending dies with different predefined bending radii, the being head further comprising a bending die changing device configured to move each of the plurality of bending dies between a bending position and a storage position.

9. The bending head according to claim 8, wherein: the bending die changing device has a star-shaped holder with several arms, wherein a respective one of the plurality of bending dies is to be arranged on each arm, and/or the bending die changing device is mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation, the support being mounted on the frame rotatably about an axis of rotation and the axis of rotation of the bending die changing device coinciding with the axis of rotation of the support, and/or the bending head further comprises a die changing drive device configured to selectively move each one of the bending dies between the bending position and storage position.

10. The bending head according to claim 1, wherein: the support is mounted on the frame rotatably about a first axis of rotation, and/or the arm drive device comprises a drive shaft rotatable about a second axis of rotation, and/or the bending head further comprises a bending die changing device mounted rotatably about a third axis of rotation, and wherein at least two of the first axis of rotation, the second axis of rotation, and the third axis of rotation coincide.

11. The bending head according to claim 1, wherein a group consisting of the support and the bending arm arranged at the support is adjustably mounted as an integral unit relative to the frame.

12. The bending head according to claim 1, wherein: the counterholder is stationary on the frame, and/or the bending face is formed on a bending pin, and/or the bending head further comprises a position-detecting unit configured to detect a position of the wire to be bent relative to the bending head.

13. A system for producing welded wire mesh, comprising: a base frame, and the bending head according to claim 1 arranged on the base frame.

14. The system according to claim 13, further comprising a mesh table on which a welded wire mesh is to be positioned, wherein the mesh table has an opening in which the counterholder, the bending face, and the bending die of the bending head are to be arranged to bend the wire in the welded wire mesh.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein: the bending head is arranged rotatably relative to the base frame, and the system further comprises a bending head rotary drive configured to rotate the bending head relative to the base frame, and/or the bending head is arranged displaceably relative to the base frame, and the system further comprises a bending head displacement drive configured to move the bending head relative to the base frame, and/or the bending head is one of at least two bending heads arranged on two opposite ends of the base frame.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein the system comprises at least one of: a wire magazine including an unwinding device for unwinding a reel holding the wire, a straightening machine for straightening the wire, a welding device for welding intersecting longitudinal wires and transverse wires together to form the welded wire mesh, a beam bending device for simultaneously bending a series of wires arranged next to each other, and a transport device for transporting the welded wire mesh away, transport device being a chain conveyor.

17. A method for bending a wire in a welded wire mesh using the bending head according to claim 1, the method comprising: adjusting the support by rotating the support about an axis of rotation relative to the frame via the support drive device, and adjusting the bending arm by linearly displacing the bending arm relative to the frame and relative to the support by the arm drive device.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising actuating the arm drive device and the support drive device by a controller such that the bending face performs a bending trajectory relative to the frame conforming to a predefined bend of the wire, to a wire diameter of the wire, and/or to a predefined bending radius of the bending die.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the bending head comprises a plurality of bending dies with different predefined bending radii, of the method further comprising moving the bending dies between a bending position and a storage position by a bending die changing device, and rotating the bending die relative to the frame.

20. The method according to claim 17, further comprising adjusting a group consisting of the support and the bending arm arranged at the support as an integral unit relative to the frame in a vertical direction in a use position of the bending head.

21. The bending head according to claim 2, wherein the bending arm is arranged at the support such that the axis of rotation intersects the bending arm.

22. The bending head according to claim 3, wherein the slider crank mechanism includes crank, a lever, and/or a connecting rod.

23. The bending head according to claim 4, wherein the bearing is one of two bearings arranged on the support.

24. The bending head according to claim 5, wherein the gearing mechanism includes a gear wheel and a gear rack, and the gear wheel is configured to be driven by the drive shaft and the gear rack is arranged on the bending arm.

25. The bending head according to claim 6, wherein the gearing mechanism includes a gear wheel rotatable about the axis of rotation of the drive shaft.

26. The bending head according to claim 8, wherein the bending die is one of at least five bending dies with different predefined bending radii.

27. The bending head according to claim 11, wherein: the group is adjustable in a vertical direction in a use position of the bending head, and/or the bending head further comprises a group drive device to adjust the group relative to the frame.

28. The bending head according to claim 12, wherein the position-detecting unit includes a laser.

29. The system according to claim 13, wherein the bending head is one of at least two bending heads.

30. The system according to claim 14, wherein the opening has a maximum width of 250 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further details and advantages of the invention are explained in more detail below with the aid of the description and reference to the drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a bending head according to the state of the art in a schematically represented side view,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment according to the invention of a bending head in a schematically represented cross-sectional view from the side,

(4) FIG. 3 shows the preferred embodiment of the bending head in a further schematically represented cross-sectional view from the side, wherein a series of positions of the bending arm passed through one after another is marked by way of example in the figure,

(5) FIG. 4 shows the preferred embodiment of the bending head in a further schematically represented cross-sectional view from the side, wherein a mesh table and a cutout in a welded wire mesh arranged thereon are additionally represented,

(6) FIGS. 5a, 5b show the preferred embodiment of the bending head in two different schematically represented perspective views,

(7) FIG. 5c shows the preferred embodiment of the bending head in a further schematically represented perspective view, and

(8) FIG. 6 shows a preferred embodiment of a system for producing welded wire mesh in a schematically represented top view from above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) FIG. 1, which shows a bending head according to the state of the art, has already been described in the introduction to the description.

(10) FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment according to the invention of a bending head 1 for welded wire mesh 2 (cf. also FIG. 4), comprising a frame 3, a bending face 4, which can be moved relative to the frame 3, for bending at least one wire 5 in a welded wire mesh 2, a counterholder 6, on which the at least one wire 5 can be braced during bending by the bending face 4, and several bending dies 7, which in each case, at least in part, have a predefined bending radius 8. In the specific embodiment, a total of five bending dies 7 are provided. However, a number of bending dies 7 deviating therefrom can also be used.

(11) The bending head 1 has a bending arm 9, on which the bending face 4 is arranged, and an arm drive device 10, with which the bending arm 9 can be adjusted relative to the frame 3.

(12) A support 11 is provided, on which the bending arm 9 is movably mounted, wherein a support drive device 12, which is separate from the arm drive device 10 and with which the support 11 can be adjusted relative to the frame 3, is provided. The support 11 is mounted on the frame 3 rotatably about an axis of rotation 13, and the bending arm 9 is arranged on the support 11 such that the axis of rotation 13 intersects the bending arm 9. An extremely compact construction of the bending head 1 is thereby achieved.

(13) The support drive device 12 comprises a slider crank mechanism, wherein the slider crank mechanism has a crank 14, a lever 15, and a connecting rod 16. The connecting rod 16 is arranged between the crank 14, which can be moved in the direction of the double arrow 66, and the lever 15 connected to the support 11.

(14) The bending arm 9 is linearly displaceably mounted on the support 11, and two bearings 17 are arranged on the support 11, on which in each case a guide for the bending arm 9 is formed. In the marked position of the support 11, the bending arm 9 can be moved in the direction of the double arrow 67 relative to the support 11 and relative to the frame 3, of which only a small section in the case of the counterholder 6 is marked in FIG. 2. During this movement, a distance of the bending face 4 from the pivot point 13 is altered. A leg length 44 of a bending (cf. FIG. 4) can thereby be altered in a particularly advantageous manner, to thereby move the bending face 4 during the bending process.

(15) The arm drive device 10 has a drive shaft 19 and a gearing mechanism, with which a rotational movement of the drive shaft 19 can be converted to a linear movement of the bending arm 9. The gearing mechanism can be designed differently. In the specifically represented case, the gearing mechanism has a gear wheel 20 and a gear rack 21, wherein the gear wheel 20 can be driven by the drive shaft 19 and the gear rack 20 is arranged on the bending arm 9. If the gear wheel 20 is made to rotate, the gear rack 21 and the bending arm 9, which is connected thereto in a movement-coupled manner, are linearly moved.

(16) It is appropriate that the arm drive device 10 and the support drive device 12 are designed with absolute encoders.

(17) A control and/or regulation device (controller) 22 is provided, which is indicated schematically by a dashed rectangle in FIG. 2. With the control and/or regulation device 22, the arm drive device 10 and the support drive device 12 can be actuated such that the bending face 4 can perform a bending trajectory 24 relative to the frame 3 adapted (conforming) to a predefined bend of the at least one wire 5, to a wire diameter 23 of the at least one wire 5, and/or to a predefined bending radius 8 of the at least one bending die 7. The control and/or regulation device 22 can be connected to the support drive device 12 and the arm drive device 10 via one or more signal lines 40, which can also be formed wireless.

(18) Through the combination of a rectilinear movement of the bending arm 9 and an angular movement of the support 11, it is possible to reach any desired point with the bending face 4.

(19) Due to the construction of the bending machine with a turntable for the pivoting movement and lifting of the bending arm via a gear wheel through the middle of the turntable, this is very compact and can also be used in unfavorable spatial conditions.

(20) It has proved to be advantageous that the control and/or regulation device 22 is designed such that a very short cycle time for a bending is achieved.

(21) The bending head 1 of the embodiment represented can be operated fully automatically.

(22) The bending head 1 comprises several, specifically five, bending dies 7 with different predefined bending radii 8, wherein a bending die changing device 25 is provided, with which the bending dies 7 can be moved between a bending position and at least one storage position. If a bending die 7 is in the bending position, it is arranged approximately between the counterholder 6 and the bending face 4. A position deviating therefrom in which a bending die 7 is not involved in a bending process represents a storage position. The top bending die 7 in FIG. 2 is in the bending position and the remaining bending dies 7 are arranged in a storage position.

(23) The bending die changing device 25 has a star-shaped holder 26 with several arms 27, wherein one of the bending dies 7 is or can be arranged in each case on each arm 27. In the specifically represented case, the holder 26 has five arms 27, on the free ends of which a bending die 7 is arranged in each case.

(24) The bending die changing device 25 is mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation 13, wherein the axis of rotation 13 of the bending die changing device 25 coincides with the axis of rotation 13 of the support 11.

(25) A die changing drive device 28 (cf. FIG. 5b) is provided, with which one of the bending dies 7 can be moved from the bending position into at least one storage position, and vice versa.

(26) With the aid of the bending die changing device 25, a suitable bending die 7 can be swapped in depending on the requirements and wire diameter 23 (cf. FIG. 4) of the wire 5 to be bent.

(27) The bending dies 7 can have a structured surface in the region of the predefined bending radius 8, in order to increase the frictional force relative to the wire 5. For example, the structured surface can be formed barb-shaped in cross section at least in regions.

(28) The counterholder 6 is arranged stationary on the frame 3.

(29) The bending face 4 is formed on a bending pin 31 in the case represented.

(30) The bending head 1 can be used in a method for bending at least one wire 5 in a welded wire mesh 2, wherein the method comprises the following method steps: the support 11 is adjusted relative to the frame 3 by the support drive device 12, and in the specific embodiment is rotated about an axis of rotation 13, and the bending arm 9 is adjusted relative to the frame 3 and relative to the support 11 by the arm drive device 10, and in the specific embodiment is linearly displaced.

(31) In a further method step, at least one of the bending dies 7 is moved between a bending position and at least one storage position by the bending die changing device 25, wherein in the specific embodiment the at least one bending die 7 is rotated relative to the frame 3 at least in part.

(32) FIG. 3 shows the preferred embodiment of the bending head 1 in a further schematically represented cross-sectional view from the side, wherein a series of positions of the bending arm 1 passed through one after another in the course of a bending process of a wire 5 are marked by way of example in the figure.

(33) The arm drive device 10 and the support drive device 12 are actuated by the control and/or regulation device (controller) 22 such that the bending face 4 performs a bending trajectory 24 relative to the frame 3 conforming to a predefined bend of the at least one wire 5, to a wire diameter 23 of the at least one wire 5, and/or to a predefined bending radius 8 of the at least one bending die 7. In the specifically represented case, for example, it is appropriate to guide the bending face 4 or the bending pin 31 on a substantially circular bending trajectory 24 around the bending die 7.

(34) A larger part of the frame 3 is represented in FIG. 3. It is appropriate that a group consisting of the support 11 and the bending arm 9 arranged on the support 11 is mounted as a whole adjustably relative to the frame 3, and the group can be adjusted in a vertical direction 29 in the position of use of the bending head 1. A group drive device 30 (cf. FIG. 5b) is provided, with which the group can be adjusted relative to the frame 3.

(35) The frame 3 can have an opening 45, inside which the group can be adjusted. The opening 45 can for example be formed in the shape of an elongated hole and/or have end stops, which define the maximum positions of the group relative to the frame 3.

(36) The bending head 1 can be used in a method for bending at least one wire 5 in a welded wire mesh 2. It is appropriate that the group consisting of the support 11 and the bending arm 9 arranged on the support 11 is adjusted as a whole relative to the frame 3 in a method step, namely at least in a vertical direction 29 in the position of use of the bending head 1. This method step makes it easier to change dies in the case of a limited table cutout in a mesh table 33 (cf. FIG. 4) and/or to thread a wire 5. Moreover, the distance of the bending head 1 from the counterholder 6 can be optimally conforming to the wire diameter 23 of the wire 5 to be bent.

(37) FIG. 4 shows a preferred embodiment of the bending head 1 in a further schematically represented cross-sectional view from the side, wherein a mesh table 33 and a cutout in a welded wire mesh 2 arranged thereon are additionally represented.

(38) A mesh table 33 is thus provided, on which at least one welded wire mesh 2 can be positioned, wherein the mesh table 33 has at least one opening (having a width indicated by double arrow 35 in FIG. 4), in which the counterholder 6, the bending face 4, and the at least one bending die 7 of the bending head 1 are or can be arranged, in order to bend at least one wire 5 in the at least one welded wire mesh 2.

(39) The construction of the bending head 1 makes it possible to design the at least one opening relatively small compared with the state of the art. For example, the opening has a maximum width 35 of 300 mm, particularly preferably of 250 mm.

(40) Of the cutout in the welded wire mesh 2, several transverse wires 42 arranged next to each other are represented. These are arranged in a first mesh layer 41. The distance 43 between the transverse wires 42 can be 150 mm for example. This distance 43 is sufficient to carry out all bending processes by the bending head 1.

(41) In the specifically represented case, the welded wire mesh 2 comprises a wire 5 which is bent in two partial bends of in each case 90 with the aid of the bending head 1. The leg length 44 between the two partial bends is e.g. 110 mm. A second mesh layer can be fastened to the section of the wire 5 bent upwards. In this case, the wire 5 acts as a spacer from the second mesh layer.

(42) In the course of a bending process, the wire 5 is pressed upwards in the vertical direction 29 by the bending face 4 of the bending arm 9 and in the process is bent around the bending die 7. The wire 5 is held by the stationary counterholder 6. Because the bending die changing device 25 can be adjusted in the vertical direction 29, the die's lower edge can adapt to the wire diameter 33, which can be 8 mm for example.

(43) Because of the stationary counterholder 6 and the adjustable bending die changing device 25, an advantage additionally results to the effect that the weight of the group consisting of bending arm 9 and support 11 assists with the holding up during the bending and the group drive device 30 only needs to be able to hold the weight of the group. The group drive device 30 need not absorb any force from the bending.

(44) FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c show the preferred embodiment of the bending head 1 in different schematically represented perspective views.

(45) A base frame 36 is provided, on which the bending head 1 is arranged, wherein the bending head 1 is arranged rotatably relative to the base frame 36. A bending head rotary drive 37 is provided, with which the bending head 1 can be rotated relative to the base frame 36.

(46) The bending head 1 is arranged displaceably relative to the base frame 36, wherein a bending head displacement drive 38 is provided, with which the bending head 1 can be displaced relative to the base frame 36.

(47) The displaceable arrangement can be realized by a guide 55 as in the case represented. A gearing 56, in which a drivable gear wheel of the bending head displacement drive 38 engages, can be formed on the guide 55.

(48) The frame 3 of the bending head 1 is arranged on a base 54, which can be formed e.g. in the shape of a plate.

(49) Another further bending head 1 can also be arranged on the base frame 36, with the result that a total of two bending heads 1 are or can be arranged on two opposite ends 39 of the base frame 36.

(50) As follows from FIG. 5c, a position-detecting unit 18 can be provided, with which the position of at least one wire 5 to be bent relative to the bending head 1 can be detected, and the position-detecting unit 18 in the case represented comprises a laser 34. The laser 34 can emit a laser beam 58, which runs substantially parallel to the bending arm 9 and in the wire plane due to the arrangement in the specific case.

(51) The bending dies 7 can be arranged on retaining plates 57, wherein the retaining plates 57 can be releasably connected to the star-shaped holder 26. In this way, when worn out or as needed, the bending dies 7 can be replaced with a bending die 7 not held in stock having a further predefined bending radius 8 in a few maneuvers.

(52) The group drive device 30 can have a gear wheel 59 and a guide 60 for adjusting the group consisting of bending arm 9 and support 11.

(53) The die changing drive device 28 can have a gear wheel 61.

(54) FIG. 6 shows a preferred embodiment of a system 32 for producing welded wire mesh 2.

(55) The system 32 comprises a wire magazine 46, wherein the wire magazine 46 has an unwinding device 47 for several reels 48, on which wires 5 with different properties, e.g. different wire diameters 23, can be stored. The system 32 further comprises a straightening machine 49 for straightening at least one wire 5 unwound from one of the reels 48, and a welding device 50 for welding intersecting longitudinal wires 51 and transverse wires 42 together to form at least one welded wire mesh 2.

(56) As in the embodiment represented, the longitudinal wires 51 are conveyed from the straightening machine 49 in the direction of the welding device 50 by a platform 62 guided on rails 69 in the direction of the double arrow 69.

(57) The transverse wires 42 can be fed to the welding device 50 for example in a transverse direction 65.

(58) The welded wire mesh 2 welded together by the welding device 50 can be conveyed further in the transverse direction 65 along a transverse table 70. A bending station 71 extends in the longitudinal direction 64 on one side of the transverse table 70. The bending station 71 comprises two bending heads 1, which can be designed according to the embodiment example represented in FIGS. 2 to 5c.

(59) Furthermore, neighboring the bending heads 1, beam bending devices 52 can be provided for simultaneously bending a series of wires 5 arranged next to each other.

(60) A transport device 53 for transporting at least one welded wire mesh 2 away is arranged on an opposite side of the transverse table 70, wherein the transport device 53 can be formed e.g. as a chain conveyor. The finish-machined welded wire mesh 2 can be taken out of the transport device 53 manually for example.

(61) Mesh grippers 63 can be provided, with which the welded wire mesh 2 can be moved between the transverse table 70, the bending station 71 and the transport device 53.