Metal working – Means to assemble or disassemble – Overedge assembling means
Patent
1992-01-08
1993-02-09
Watson, Robert C.
Metal working
Means to assemble or disassemble
Overedge assembling means
B23P 1100
Patent
active
051843846
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a folding machine, in particular for joining the edges of metal sheets by folding, comprising a machine frame which has supporting surfaces for the parts to be folded and a folding device consisting of a plurality of pairs of folding rollers.
In the known folding machines, four people are required when large sheets of metal are intended to be joined by folding because the two sheet metal panels have to be held by two people each at the front and back. This is due to the fact that the sheet metal edges must pass through the folding device which is rigidly connected to the frame and one metal sheet must hereby be held in engagement on the associated supporting surface. If, for example, ducts are formed from the metal sheets, the operators must bring the workpiece back into its original position following a bending or folding process, ready for the next bending or folding process.
The object underlying the invention is to provide a folding machine which enables two metal sheets, from which a duct having a rectangular cross section can subsequently be manufactured, to be joined together at right angles in a simple manner and dispensing with operating personnel. This object is accomplished by a folding machine having the features of claim 1.
Due to the fact that the pairs of folding rollers are provided on a carriage which is displaceable along a guide means of the machine frame, the workpieces, i.e., for example, two sheet metal panels which are to be joined to one another, can be secured in position on the machine since they need not be moved relative to the machine frame during the folding process. Therefore, no operator is required during the folding process to hold the workpiece or workpieces.
The carriage can be pulled or drawn, for example by means of a chain, or also pushed, for example by means of a cylinder/piston unit. In a preferred embodiment, however, a gear rack is provided and a gear wheel meshing therewith, in accordance with claims 3 and 4.
In order to keep both workpieces, sheet metal panels or the like in engagement on the supporting surfaces without auxiliary means, the first of the two supporting surfaces is preferably inclined relative to the vertical, in accordance with claim 5.
Handling of the workpieces is also made easier by a stop rail according to claim 6.
The generally panel-shaped workpieces are secured in position, in a preferred embodiment, by means of holding devices, which are preferably clamping devices and can overlap the forward and rear edges of a metal sheet. These holding devices are expediently provided so as to be adjustable on rails in their longitudinal direction in order to be able to adapt their position to the requirements of the workpieces which are of differing lengths. Since, however, the beginning of the workpiece can always be provided at the same location, it is sufficient for the holding device grasping the beginning of the workpiece to be displaceable in accordance with the width of the edge to be grasped and then released again. This displacement is brought about in a preferred embodiment by means of a pivotable actuating lever.
The machine frame, which is preferably U-shaped in cross section, advantageously has a guide rail for the carriage between the two arms. The supporting surface can then be provided in the region of the free ends of the two arms. The carriage is preferably guided on this guide rail in accordance with claim 11. The forces occurring can then be passed without problem into the guide rail. This also applies for the force brought about by the drive when a pinion driven by an electromotor is provided on the carriage and this pinion engages in a gear rack provided on the rail.
In a preferred embodiment, the carriage has a design according to claims 12 and 13. The cross section of the connecting member can then be selected to be relatively small.
So that the workpieces have and retain the correct position during the folding process, at least the first pair of folding rollers is designed according to claim 14. In ad
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patent: 3662699 (1972-05-01), Harn et al.
patent: 4027611 (1977-06-01), Ward et al.
patent: 4726107 (1988-02-01), Knudson
patent: 4872331 (1989-10-01), Skelton
patent: 4989308 (1991-02-01), Sanders
Reinhardt Maschinenbau GmbH
Watson Robert C.
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