Drawing bench for drawing machine

Abstract

A drawing bench of a drawing machine comprising a drawing carriage which is translatable along a predetermined direction on a base structure; a rack-pinion system adapted to translate the drawing carriage along said predetermined direction on the base structure; wherein the rack-pinion system comprises at least two motors; at least two pinions and one or more racks; and wherein each motor is adapted to drive a respective pinion.

Claims

1. A drawing bench of a drawing machine, comprising: a drawing carriage which is translatable along a predetermined direction on a base structure, a rack-pinion system adapted to translate the drawing carriage along said predetermined direction on the base structure; wherein the rack-pinion system comprises at least two motors, at least two pinions, and one or more racks; wherein each motor is adapted to drive a respective pinion; wherein the drawing carriage embraces the base structure on at least two sides; and wherein the rotation axis of each pinion is substantially orthogonal to a translation plane of the drawing carriage on the base structure.

2. The drawing bench according to claim 1, wherein said at least two pinions are engaged with the same rack of said one or more racks.

3. The drawing bench according to claim 1, wherein each pinion is engaged with a respective rack.

4. The drawing bench according to claim 1, wherein said at least two pinions are integral with the drawing carriage and said one or more racks are integral with said base structure; or wherein said at least two pinions are integral with said base structure and said one or more racks are integral with the drawing carriage.

5. The drawing bench according to claim 1, wherein said one or more racks are fastened to a side wall of the base structure; or wherein said one or more racks are fastened to a side wall of the drawing carriage.

6. The drawing bench according to claim 1, wherein the rack-pinion system comprises at least two racks, wherein a first rack and a second rack of said at least two racks are fastened to the same side wall of the base structure or of the drawing carriage, or wherein a first rack is fastened to a first side wall of the base structure or of the drawing carriage, and a second rack is fastened to a second side wall of the base structure or of the drawing carriage, opposite to said first side wall.

7. The drawing bench according to claim 1, wherein said at least two pinions and said one or more racks cooperate with one another on at least one plane substantially perpendicular to the translation plane of the drawing carriage on the base structure.

8. The drawing bench according to claim 1, wherein the rack-pinion system comprises at least three motors and at least three pinions.

9. The drawing bench according to claim 1, wherein each motor of said at least two motors is connected to the respective pinion by means of a gear reducer and/or wherein each motor of said at least two motors is an electric motor.

10. The drawing bench according to claim 1, wherein each motor of said at least two motors comprises a respective shaft having a rotation axis perpendicular to the rotation axis of the respective pinion.

11. The drawing bench according to claim 1, wherein said at least two motors are mounted on board the drawing carriage.

12. A drawing machine comprising a drawing bench according to claim 1.

13. The drawing machine according to claim 12, comprising, in sequence along the drawing direction, a guide bench, a die and said drawing bench.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the description of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which are provided by way of non-limiting example, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows a drawing machine according to the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of part of a drawing machine according to the present invention; and

(4) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of part of the drawing bench of the drawing machine of FIG. 2.

(5) The same elements, or functionally equivalent elements, have the same reference numeral.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(6) With reference to the Figures, exemplary embodiments of a drawing bench 3 and of a drawing machine 100 according to the invention are described.

(7) In all embodiments, the drawing bench 3 comprises: a drawing carriage 31 which is translatable, i.e., adapted to translate, along a predetermined direction X on a base structure 30; a rack-pinion system adapted to translate the drawing carriage 31 along said predetermined direction X on the base structure 30; wherein the rack-pinion system comprises at least two motors 36 (or, in other words, a plurality of motors 36), at least two pinions 34 (or, in other words, a plurality of pinions 34), and one or more racks 35; and wherein each motor 36 is adapted to drive a respective pinion 34, preferably only the respective pinion 34.

(8) Advantageously, since at least two motors 36 are provided, each connected to the respective pinion 34, the drawing force exerted on said one or more racks 35 can be distributed between the at least two pinion 34-motor 36 pairs. For example, when two motors 36, or three motors 36, are provided, the drawing force can be respectively distributed among the two or the three motors 36.

(9) Therefore, as compared to a drawing bench provided with a single motor and a single pinion, the motors 36 and preferably also the pinions 34 may have a smaller size, and also have a significantly lower cost.

(10) Furthermore, advantageously, a drawing bench 31 according to the invention allows greater versatility of use. Indeed, depending on the needs, only some of said at least two motors 36 can be activated. In other words, preferably, the motors 36 may be activated independently of each other.

(11) The motors 36 are, in particular, distinct from each other.

(12) The drawing bench 3 is, in particular, the drawing bench of a drawing machine 100 or, in other words, it is a drawing bench for a drawing machine.

(13) FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows a drawing machine in accordance with the invention, overall indicated with reference numeral 100.

(14) The drawing machine 100 is preferably, although not exclusively, used for drawing massive metal products or semi-finished products in the form of bars or pipes.

(15) The drawing machine 100 comprises, in sequence, along the drawing direction X, a guide bench 1, a die 2 and a drawing bench 3.

(16) The aforesaid drawing direction X, or drawing axis, is, in particular, straight.

(17) The guide bench 1 is configured so as to define a support base 10, in particular a continuous or discontinuous support base, for guiding, preferably passively, a workpiece 200 towards the die 2 in the drawing direction X. To facilitate the movement of the workpiece 200, means can preferably be provided on the support base 10 to support and guide the translation of the workpiece towards the die 2. Said means may, for example, comprise or consist of idle sliding rollers 11 or other equivalent means.

(18) The die 2 is mounted, preferably in a removable manner (i.e., so that it can be disassembled), in a corresponding support 20, preferably integral with the guide bench 1 and/or with the drawing bench 3. The shape and size of the die 2 determine the profile and the size of the cross-section of the drawn product.

(19) As already mentioned, the drawing bench 3 comprises a base structure 30, or support base, and a drawing carriage 31.

(20) The base structure 30 extends, in particular, in the drawing direction X.

(21) The base structure 30 has, in particular, a fixed position.

(22) Preferably, the base structure 30 has a substantially beam-like shape.

(23) The drawing carriage 31 is capable of translating longitudinally, i.e., along the drawing direction X, on the base structure 30 itself.

(24) In particular, the base structure 30 defines a plane T, on which the drawing carriage 31 can translate. The plane T is also referred to as the translation plane T of the drawing carriage 31. The translation plane T is preferably defined by an upper surface of the base structure 30.

(25) Preferably, rolling or sliding support and/or guiding means are provided, such as for example wheels 32, by means of which the drawing carriage 31 and the base structure 30 can cooperate with each other. Exclusively by way of example, said rolling or sliding support and/or guiding means are fastened to the drawing carriage 31.

(26) The drawing carriage 31 can cooperate with the base structure 30 at only one side of the base structure 30 (FIG. 1), or, preferably, it can be configured so as to embrace, i.e., surround, the base structure 30 on at least two, more preferably three or at least three, sides thereof (FIGS. 2, 3).

(27) The drawing carriage 31 comprises a clamping device 33 adapted to receive and clamp one end of the workpiece 200 from the downstream side of the die 2. When the workpiece 200 is clamped by the clamping device 33, the drawing carriage 31, translating away from the die 2 along the drawing direction X, is capable of applying to the workpiece 200 the traction force required to pass it through the die 2, thus causing the drawing thereof. The length of the base structure 30 and the length of the translation stroke of the drawing carriage 31 are designed according to the length of the workpieces 200, i.e., of the products to be drawn with the drawing machine 100.

(28) The drawing bench 3 also comprises a drive system, or movement system, of the drawing carriage 31. In particular, the drive system comprises or consists of a rack-pinion system.

(29) More in detail, as already mentioned, the drawing bench 3 comprises a rack-pinion system adapted to translate the drawing carriage 31 along said predetermined direction X on the base structure 30. In other words, in order to translate the drawing carriage 31, said rack-pinion system is provided, i.e., a rack-and-pinion transmission.

(30) In the example shown in FIG. 1, two motors 36 and two pinions 34 are provided. One of the two motors 36 is adapted to drive one of the two pinions 34, and the other of the two motors 36 is adapted to drive the other of the two pinions 34.

(31) In the example shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, three motors 36 and three pinions 34 are provided.

(32) Preferably, but not exclusively, the pinions 34 are engaged with the same rack 35 of said one or more racks. In particular, only one rack 35 is preferably provided, as in the examples shown.

(33) Each rack 35 of said one or more racks extends longitudinally parallel to the drawing direction X.

(34) Preferably, each motor 36 is of the electric type. Preferably, each motor 36 comprises a respective shaft (not shown), in particular a respective motor shaft, adapted to rotate and to transmit the rotation motion to the respective pinion 34.

(35) Preferably, each motor 36, in particular the shaft of each motor 36, is connected to the respective pinion 34 by means of a gear reducer 37.

(36) Each motor 36 and the respective gear reducer 37 preferably form or are part of a respective gearmotor assembly.

(37) For a better distribution of the loads, the motors 36, in particular the gearmotor assemblies, substantially rest on the drawing carriage 31. In particular, the motors 36 preferably have a position such that the rotation axes of the respective shafts are substantially parallel to the translation plane T of the drawing carriage 31, and therefore perpendicular to the rotation axes R of the pinions 34. Preferably, the gear reducers 37 interposed between each motor 36 and the respective pinion 34 are angular.

(38) Preferably, but not exclusively, each pinion 34 is integral, in particular integral in translation, with the drawing carriage 31 and said one or more racks 35 are integral with the base structure 30. In particular, each pinion 34 can rotate about the respective rotation axis R thereof (FIG. 3), and the rotation of the pinions 34 causes the translation of the drawing carriage 31 and also of the pinions 34 together with the drawing carriage 31.

(39) Preferably, the motors 36 are advantageously mounted on board the drawing carriage 31, i.e., they can translate together with the drawing carriage 31, thus reducing the volume of the drawing machine 100 on the ground.

(40) Preferably, said at least two pinions 34 and said one or more racks 35 cooperate with each other on at least one plane, for example one plane, parallel to the drawing direction X and preferably substantially perpendicular to the translation plane T of the drawing carriage 31 on the base structure 30.

(41) In particular, as in the examples shown, the rack 35 is preferably arranged on a longitudinal, preferably external, side 301 of the base structure 30. Said longitudinal side 301, in particular, extends perpendicularly to the translation plane T of the drawing carriage 31. The pinions 34 preferably extend in a cantilever manner from the drawing carriage 31 at the same longitudinal side 301 of the base structure 30, with a respective rotation axis R perpendicular to the translation plane T of the drawing carriage 31.

(42) The aforesaid longitudinal side 301, or side wall 301, is in particular a wall which extends substantially perpendicularly to the translation plane T.

(43) The arrangement of the one or more racks 35 on one or more side walls, for example, of the base structure 30, allows reducing the overall volume as compared to a solution in which the one or more racks are arranged on an upper surface of the base structure 30, the latter however being a possible variant.

(44) The one or more racks 35 may also be mounted on an internal longitudinal side, i.e., on an internal surface of a side wall, of the base structure 30.

(45) Exclusively by way of example and not by way of limitation, a drawing machine 100 may be adapted to deliver high traction forces, for example, at least 100 tons, for example, equal to about 100 tons.

(46) Advantageously, in all embodiments, each pinion 34-motor 36 pair (in particular, each pinion 34 and the related gearmotor assembly) can be configured to withstand only a fraction of the maximum load corresponding to the maximum traction force which can be generated in the drawing machine 100.

(47) For example, when three motors 36 and three pinions 34 are provided, each pinion 34-motor 36 pair may be configured to withstand one third of said maximum load.

(48) Optionally, operating modes may be provided in which only some (for example, one or more) of the pinions 34 are active, while the others (one or more) remain idle and do not transfer power, so that the drawing machine 100 may deliver in a flexible manner and always with high efficiency even traction forces below the maximum traction force.

(49) Optionally, in all embodiments, two or more racks 35 may be provided.

(50) For example, a rack may be provided for each pinion 34, and each pinion 34 is engaged with a respective rack 35.

(51) Or, for example, when four motors 36 and four pinions 34 are provided, two pinions 34 may be engaged with a rack 35 and the other two pinions 34 may be engaged with another rack 35.

(52) When at least two racks 35 are provided, for example two racks 35, preferably, a first rack and a second rack of said at least two racks are fastened to the same side wall 301 of the base structure 30; or a first rack is fastened to a first side wall 301 of the base structure 30, and a second rack is fastened to a second side wall of the base structure 30, opposite to said first side wall 301.

(53) Exclusively by way of example, each rack 35 may be fastened to the external surface or to the internal surface of the respective side wall of the base structure 30.

(54) The pinions 34 and the related motors 36 may be appropriately distributed among the racks 35, preferably so as to ensure a force transmission symmetrical with respect to the drawing direction X.

(55) In light of the present description, those skilled in the art are able to understand that said one or more racks 35 may be integral with the drawing carriage 31 and said at least two pinions 34 may be integral with the base structure 30.

(56) In this case, preferably, said one or more racks 35 are preferably fastened to a side wall of the drawing carriage 31.

(57) For example, when at least two racks 35 are provided, for example two racks 35, a first rack and a second rack of said at least two racks may be fastened to the same side wall of the drawing carriage 31; or a first rack is fastened to a first side wall of the drawing carriage, and a second rack is fastened to a second side wall of the drawing carriage 31, opposite to said first side wall.

(58) Although reference has been made in particular to a single-line drawing machine 100, the invention may also be implemented in multi-line drawing machines, adapted to simultaneously draw multiple workpieces 200 in parallel.

(59) In all cases, the drawing force can be advantageously distributed among more than one motor 36, so as to reduce the size and generally the cost of each motor, in particular as compared to when only one motor is provided.

(60) Advantageously, moreover, flexible transmission elements, in particular chains, for driving the drawing carriage are preferably absent. This allows for a more versatile and efficient operation, a reduction in manufacturing and operating costs and in noise levels, and the obtainment of high-quality drawn products.

(61) Advantageously, the rack-pinion system for driving, in particular for moving, the drawing carriage 31 is a particularly simple, compact, robust and easy-to-maintain technical solution for moving the drawing carriage 31 and generating the traction force required for the drawing, preferably using only rigid transmission elements. Furthermore, as already explained, this solution is easily scalable, as the traction force can be increased by increasing the number of active pinions on the rack (or on the racks).

(62) It is clear that the number of motors 36 and of the related pinions 34 may be selected according to the needs, and may be at least equal to two, for example two, at least equal to three, for example three, at least equal to four, for example four, and it may even be more than four.

(63) Preferably, but not exclusively, the motors 36 are equal or substantially equal to one another; and/or the pinions 34 are equal or substantially equal to one another.