EP0994062A1 - Apparatus for holding the free end and unloading a coil of an elongated element - Google Patents

Abstract

The closure device is intended to maintain the free end of a long element on an assembled torch (20) on a torch-making station (1) during the operations of making ligatures on this torch. The device comprises a support (30) capable of being rotated around a shaft (12) coaxial with the torch (20) and two actuation means (31,32) of bent arms (310,320) including portions of 'support (311,321) are capable of clamping the last layer of the torch. This device automates the torch finishing operations. It also helps to unload the finished torch from the torch-making station. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a device for closing automatically a torch made of a slender element assembled in a plurality of layers of a plurality of turns, on a post making a torch, as well as discharging said torch from the torch making.

Many elongated elements, such as tubes, profiles of any shape, insulated cables or other, are obtained by a continuous process of extrusion of a synthetic material or any other manufacturing process. Given their great length, these elements are wound on a fixed cheek coil placed on a winder or else on a false coil consisting of two flanges and a central body forming a barrel, minus a flange that can be detached in order to extract from the central body the torch consisting of the elongated element wound in a plurality of layers of a plurality of turns. Such a torch-making device is described in particular in application 98811010.2.

Generally, when the required length of the elongated element is reached, said element is cut slightly upstream of the place where the torch is assembled and an operator must grasp the cut end and the retain so that it wraps properly on the last layer, before a ligation can be done, manually or by automatic means, in order to maintain the assembled coil. This operation therefore requires the presence of an operator and is not without danger. In case the cut end is left free without being retained for a certain time, the torch tends to fall apart, monthly on its upper layer, which makes it less compact and less rigid once the ligatures are made.

After the torch has been ligated, it is necessary to unload from the torch-making station where it was assembled. Of separate means are generally provided for this purpose.

A first object of the invention is to propose a device to maintain the cut end of a slender member after it has been cut, so as to keep the torch, and in particular its last layer, well assembled.

A second object of the invention is to propose that the above device allows the torch to be finished automatically, respectively safe for the operator.

A third object of the invention is to allow the above device is designed to allow the discharge of a torch Assembly.

These various purposes are obtained by a closure device and unloading having the characteristics mentioned in the part characterizing of claim 1. Variants or other forms are described in the dependent claims.

la figure 1 est une vue partiellement en coupe transversale d'un dispositif selon l'invention associé à un poste de confection de torche,

la figure 2 est une vue latérale du dispositif de la figure 1, et

les figures 3A à 3G représentent une succession d'étapes montrant le fonctionnement du dispositif selon l'invention.

A preferred embodiment of a device according to the invention is described below, the description being to be considered with regard to the appended drawing comprising the figures where:

FIG. 1 is a view partially in cross section of a device according to the invention associated with a torch-making station,

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device in FIG. 1, and

FIGS. 3A to 3G represent a succession of steps showing the operation of the device according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a torch making station 1 seen partially in section along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the production line for the elongated element 2. The torch-making station 1 comprises a frame 10 supporting a first flange 11 intended to form lateral support for a torch 20 in formation. This first flange 11 is supported by a shaft 12 in a bearing 13 of the frame 10. The first flange 11 can be rotated freely in the bearing 13. A second flange 14 and a false center 15, supported by another frame element not shown in the figure, can be secured to the first flange 11 to form a false coil allowing the elongated element 2 to be collected and assembled in a torch 20. Rotational drive means, not shown in the figure, allow to drive one and / or the other of the flanges 11, 14, so to wind the elongate element 2 on the false center 15.

As seen in Figure 2, the first flange 11 shown in broken lines consists of a central disc 110 on which a plurality of circular crown segments 111 are regularly arranged radially, a free space remaining between two successive segments 111. The figure also shows in broken lines the diameter formed by the false center 15 on which the torch 20 will be assembled.

The closing device 3 is arranged coaxially on the shaft 12, between the frame 10 and the first flange 11. In general, the device 3 rotates freely on the shaft 12. The device 3 includes a support portion 30, provided with the bearing allowing it to rotate around the shaft 12, one side of said support being provided with two jacks 31, 32, each of them actuating a bent support arm 310, 320, each of said bent arms being provided with a support portion 311, respectively 321 (see FIG. 2). As indicated previously the device 3 can rotate freely around the shaft 12, it does not has no own drive in rotation but is on the other hand fitted with an indexing device of known technique, shown diagrammatically in 33. The indexing device 33 allows the device 3 to be locked in two angular positions relative to the frame 10, a first low position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, where the bent arms 310 and 320 are arranged at the bottom of the torch 20 and a second high position, offset by 180 ° relative to the first position where the bent arms are arranged at the top of torch 20 (see Figure 3C).

The two jacks 31 and 32 act on the two bent support arms 310 and 320 to position them in a relaxed position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 where the two support portions 311 and 321 are disengaged from the flange 11 and from the torch 20, or a clamping position according to which the two support portions 311 and 321 of the support arms 310 and 320 are engaged in a space separating two segments 111 and pressing the last layer constituting the torch 20.

Preferably the two support arms 310 and 320 can be operated simultaneously as well as independently of each other.

An angular position detector 16 detects the angular position relative of the flange 11 relative to the closing device 3, respectively with respect to the two bent arms 310 and 320, so that that a tightening of the support portions 311 and 321 can only be controlled when said support portions are in a space separating two segments 111, this in order not to risk damage to one and / or the other of the two bent arms 310,320 as well as a segment 111.

Preferably, the device 3 can also be provided with another indexing device of known technique, shown diagrammatically at 34, suitable for lock the device 3 in a number of angular positions relative to the flange 11, in which said support portions 311 and 321 can engage between two consecutive segments 111. When the lock 34 between the device 3 and the flange 11 is engaged, an an rotation of the flange 11 causes the rotation of the device 3.

The closing device 3 is controlled by a unit of control 17, which can be specific to the device itself, which can be integrated into the control unit of the torch-making station or capable of be integrated into the production line control unit. The unit of control 17 preferably comprises a microprocessor unit provided a program allowing to carry out the operations of closing the torch which will be described below.

FIG. 3A and the following diagrammatically show a torch 20 being assembled and the functioning of the closing and unloading 3. In these figures only the elements strictly necessary for understanding the operations have been shown.

FIG. 3A shows an elongated element 2 during production, by an extrusion or other process, the element 2 moving as indicated by arrow A, the torch 20 being assembled being in rotation, as indicated by arrow B, the device 3 is locked in the low position against the frame of the torch-making station, the two bent arms 310 and 320 being clear of the flange and torch and is unlocked relative to the flaccid.

When the desired length of element 2 on torch 20 approach the desired length, a ligature device 18, technique known, provided with two movable arms 180 only one being visible in the figure, is approached torch 20 nearing completion. The rotation of the garment station torch, respectively torch 20 is stopped, its stop position being controlled by the angular position detector 16 described above, from so that a space separating two consecutive 111 segments from the flange 11 is located opposite the two bent arms 310 and 320. The device for closure 3 is unlocked relative to the frame and is locked relative to the flange. Simultaneously, the two cylinders 31 and 32 are actuated so that the two support portions 311 and 321 tighten the last layer of the torch 20. A rotation of a portion of the torch 20's turn is then controlled driving the device 3 by the lock 34 between the device 3 and the flange or by the support portions 311 and 321 clamped against the upper layer of the torch 20, so that a cutting device 19 is only actuated when the length of the section of element 2 already on the torch 20 added length not yet on the torch, up to the cutting point, corresponds to the desired final length of the elongate element 2 on the torch 20. At this moment the rotation of the torch 20 is again stopped, the device for section 19 is activated and the execution of a first ligature 181 can then be ordered to maintain the assembled torch as soon as possible.

This step is visible in Figure 3B where we see that the device section 3 has been driven in rotation by a portion of a tower and that the section of the end of the elongate element 2 was made and that a first ligature 181 Has been done.

In Figure 3C we see that the torch 20 has again been driven in rotation of a portion of a tower, causing the closure device 3 to that the latter is in position so that it can be locked in high position on the frame. The two support portions 311 and 321 always tighten the torch 20. The end of the element 2 not yet assembled on the torch 20 follows freely. The ligature device makes up the second ligature 182.

In FIG. 3D, the closing device 3 remains locked in high position relative to the frame but is unlocked relative to the flaccid. The two jacks 31 and 32 are actuated in order to release the torch 20 and it is rotated by a portion of a tower.

Then, as seen in Figure 3E, the rotational movement torch 20 is stopped, the two cylinders 31 and 32 are actuated so that the support portions 311 and 321 again tighten the torch 20, and a new ligature 183 is made.

Alternatively, it is also possible that when rotating the torch between the step of figure 30 and that of figure 3E, a slight pressure remains applied by the two bearing portions 311 and 321 on the outer layer of the torch, so as to press the free end of the elongate element against the already assembled turns of the torch 20.

The last two operations described in relation to 3D figures and 3E are then repeated, until the free end of element 2 is completely assembled on the torch and held by a ligature and that the desired number of ligatures is made on torch 20 in order to maintain it rigidly.

FIG. 3F shows the torch 20 completely finished, a certain number of ligatures having been carried out in order to maintain it rigidly. The ligature device has been moved away and closure device 3 has been brought back in the low position where it is again locked on the frame. The two cylinders 31 and 32 are activated in order to clamp torch 20. At this stage, the second flange 14 and the false center 15 are released, by known means, from the flange 11 and torch 20, the latter remaining supported by the two support arms 311 and 321.

Figure 3G shows the use of device 3 for unloading torch 20. The latter being supported only by the support arms 311 and 321, it is now sufficient to slightly lower the support arm 321, or to slightly raise the support arm 311, so that the torch 20 is unbalanced and begins to pivot to free itself from the garment station torch. A ramp 35 and guide means not shown allow it to be brought to an intermediate storage station from where it may be taken up by known means.

The different steps mentioned above to close and discharge a torch were only as a possible example of a closing and unloading process. Variants, are obviously also possible, for example it is not essential that the first ligature 181 is performed as soon as the end of the element is cut long was made, it can for example be made a little earlier, during the first stop of the torch-making station, or later, the ligature 182 then being the first ligature performed on the torch. Other variations of processes are still possible.

The device 3 has been described with two jacks 31 and 32, these can be hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders. Other ways of the elbow support arms 310 and 320, for example at rack, worm gear or other mechanical means can also be considered.

The device for closing and unloading a torch has been described to be advantageously incorporated in a garment making station torches as described in application 98811010.2. In this case, the post torch making is double, so we would have two devices such as described, one for each position. It is obvious that such a device can be combined at torch-making stations having different configurations; those skilled in the art will be able to adapt the constructive and operation described above to those of the torch making station that he has to equip.

Likewise, it is not essential that the means described to discharge the torch from the garment station are included in the torch closing device. In the case where the garment torch is already equipped with an unloading device the device described could be simplified by providing for example that the two cylinders 31 and 32 do not can operate only simultaneously or with only one cylinder.

As indicated above, the different operations described above are preferably carried out under the control of the control unit 17. Thus, it is possible to fully automate the finishing operations of the torch as well as its unloading from the torch-making station. Since the operator no longer has to grasp the free end of the longitudinal element, nor even push the finished torch out of the garment station, significant danger risks are thereby eliminated.

Claims (11)

Device for closing a torch (20) of a long element (2), assembled on a torch-making station (1) comprising at least one frame element (10), a flange (11) capable of being put in rotation and fixed to a shaft (12) supported by a bearing (13) fixed to said frame element (10) and a device for making ligatures (15),
characterized in that it includes a support (30) in free rotation around said shaft (12) and at least one actuating element (31,32) fixed to said support (30), capable of radially moving at least one bent arm (310,321) comprising a support portion (311,321) fixed parallel to the axis of rotation of said support (30). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that each support portion (311,321) is able to assume a position for tightening the last layer of turns assembled on the torch (20) and a position of loosening of said last layer of assembled turn. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that that it comprises two actuating elements (31, 32), each being suitable, simultaneously or separately, to radially move a bent arm (310,311) each comprising a support portion (311,321). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each actuating element is constituted by a jack (31, 32), the piston rod of said cylinder directly actuating the bent arm (310,320) corresponding. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an angular position detector (16) detecting the angular position of the flange (11) and not allowing actuation towards a clamping position of the actuating means (31,32) only for certain angular deviations determined between the angular position of the flange (11) and that of the device. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a first locking element (34) capable of locking said device according to at least one determined angular position relative to said flange (11), said angular position or positions corresponding to the less an angular position according to which the actuating means (31,32) can be actuated in clamping. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a second locking element (33) capable of locking said device in at least one determined angular position relatively to said frame element (10). Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the second locking element (33) is capable of locking the device according to two angular positions offset by 180 ° along a vertical axis. Torch-making station (1) comprising at least one frame element (10), a flange (11) capable of being rotated and fixed to a shaft (12) supported by a bearing (13) fixed to said frame element (10) and a ligature making device (15), characterized in that it comprises further a closure device according to one of the preceding claims. Use of a device according to one of claims 1 to 8 on a torch-making station, associated with a device for making ligatures (15), for maintaining the free end of the elongated element (2) intended to constitute the torch during the preparation of at least one ligature (181.182) on said torch (20). Use of a device according to one of claims 1 to 8 on a torch-making station provided with means enabling the minus a flange (12) and a false center (15) which were used to make the torch, said device being capable of supporting the torch terminated (20) by its two support portions (311,321) and to actuate a single actuator (31,32) of a support portion (311,321), so as to tilt the torch (20) out of the torch-making station.

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