EP1704941B1 - Positioning device for positioning of transverse wires in a grid welding machine and method of positioning transverse wires in a grid welding machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The positioner for cross wires in a mesh welding machine has a guide (101) to receive the wires and two freely movable pushers (120,140) to engage the wires on opposite sides. The pushers move a captured wire along the guide in a preset release position. The pushers are connected to a servo shaft. Claims include a wire mesh welding machine using the positioner.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a positioning device for positioning transverse wires for a mesh welding machine. The invention further relates to a method for inserting transverse wires in a mesh welding machine.

State of the art

Mesh welding machines, which are successively fed transverse wires to be welded to a series of spaced longitudinal wires, are well known. Often, the transverse wires should be positioned in a predetermined transverse position (relative to the longitudinal wires) prior to welding. By an exact positioning can be achieved, for example, that all transverse wires have a predetermined lateral projection over the longitudinal wires or flush with the longitudinal wires. A cutting of transverse wire ends with too much supernatant subsequent to the welding process is thus unnecessary. A transverse positioning is also necessary if the transverse wires are conveyed with different transverse positions or in the manufacture of complex grids, if different lengths of transverse wires and / or transverse wires are to be welded with different transverse positions with the longitudinal wires.

Various devices for positioning transverse wires are known:

The EP 0 622 136 A1 (Michael R. Koch) discloses a device for producing reinforcing gratings, with which it is intended to enable the transverse wire ends on one side to be automatically and reliably aligned with one another. For this purpose, a stop element is slidably disposed on a transverse guide, wherein the displacement can be effected for example by means of a spindle. The stop element is initially withdrawn and is moved after introduction of the transverse wire together with this up to a defined, adjustable position. In this end position of the transverse wire is welded to the longitudinal wires.

With this device, only protruding ends of successive transverse wires can be aligned on one side; further positioning is not planned. The disclosed device is thus less flexible. In addition, it can only achieve a low positioning speed.

The DE-OS 2,133,845 (ECG) shows a mesh welding machine, which transverse wires of different lengths can be supplied. For this purpose, driven transport rollers are provided for feeding the transverse wires, wherein the drive with a Actuator for the cross wire feed length is connected, so that when the desired cross wire welding position, the transport rollers can be stopped.

The position accuracy achievable with this device and the possible speed of positioning are limited. The device is also structurally complex.

The EP 0 241 449 A1 (ECG) describes a multi-point resistance welding machine, with which also grids can be produced, which have transverse wires of different lengths and which are arranged in any transverse position. For this purpose, two feeders for transverse wires are provided, of which at least one in a guide transversely to the feed path of the longitudinal wires is displaceable.

This device allows the positioning of transverse wires of different lengths. But if successive transverse wires of the same length to be welded in different transverse positions, a shift of the entire displaceable feeder is necessary, whereby the achievable speed is severely limited. This device is structurally complex and also not suitable for a larger number of different cross-wire lengths.

The DE 30 25 320 C2 (Masamitsu Ishihara) shows an apparatus for feeding bars with a feed member which abuts against one end of the bars and is movable along the conveying direction. At the other end, the rods abut against a likewise movable in the conveying direction stop, which is held by a restoring force in an initial position and is coupled to a device for measuring the position of the wire. The stopper is coupled to a piston rod which slides in a cylinder of a pneumatic piston-cylinder unit. The supply of the unit with compressed air is controlled so that a constant bias is applied to the stop.

The structure of this device is expensive. It is also less flexible, because the bars can only move in one direction, and in a change in the grid geometry conversions are necessary. Complex grids can not be manufactured with it.

Presentation of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide a the aforementioned technical field associated positioning for positioning of cross wires for a mesh welding machine, which is simple in construction and allows precise and fast positioning of the cross wire and a high flexibility in the production of lattice.

The solution of the problem is defined by the features of claim 1. According to the invention, the positioning device has a guide for receiving one of the transverse wires and two freely movable slides for contacting the transverse wire received in the guide on two opposite end sides. The slides are designed in such a way that the transverse wire stored in any desired position in the guide can be moved by the slides along the guide into any predetermined delivery position.

Due to the two freely movable slide, between which the cross wire is held, precise and rapid shifts of the cross wire in both transverse directions are possible, in contrast to known solutions with a fixed (or spring-mounted) stop and only a freely movable, the stop opposite Element. By two individually controllable slide a great flexibility in the cross wire positioning is made possible by transverse wires of different lengths can be detected in any receiving position in the guide and moved to any dispensing position. In addition, because the slides contact the transverse wire at the front, the positioning is independent of the cross section of the transverse wire to be positioned. This gives the device a high flexibility and allows the production of complex grids. Neither a change in the receiving position nor a change in the cross-wire lengths and / or the cross-wire diameter retrofitting the device is necessary.

In order to ensure a high degree of flexibility, the slides are preferably freely movable at least along substantially half the length of the guide. A maximum Flexibility is achieved when the slides are free to move along the entire length of the guide.

Furthermore, such a device can be easily converted to a two-lane operation. If two grids with widths are to be produced in an existing mesh welding machine, which at most add up to the maximum grating width of the machine, then two grids can be produced in parallel next to each other. The inventive device can be modified for this purpose in a simple manner by a fixed two-sided stop is mounted at the corresponding position of the guide between the bars to be produced. The cross bars of the two grids can then be moved by the two lateral slides each to the fixed stop. Although some further advantages of the invention may be lost after this conversion, in particular the flexibility of the transverse positioning is limited. However, the usual two-lane operation on a mesh welding machine remains unrestricted.

The term "cross-wire" is intended in the context of this description rod-like, d. H. comprise substantially straight elements with a substantially constant cross-section, which are welded in the mesh welding machine with a plurality of longitudinal wires, regardless of their cross-section (ie, in particular transverse wires of larger cross-section includes, which are also referred to as cross bars).

Advantageously, the device is controlled such that both slides are moved to lateral initial positions prior to the introduction of the transverse wire in the guide. The distance between the slides in these initial positions is a length of the transverse wire to be introduced plus a maximum expected positional tolerance of the transverse wire. The slides are thus positioned so that the transverse wire is securely inserted between the two slides in the guide. At the same time, however, the necessary displacement of the slide is minimized, which on the one hand reduces the time required and on the other hand, the mechanical load on the slide and its actuating mechanism. For the determination of the initial positions, a maximum expected cross-wire length is used, ie the predetermined cross-wire length plus a maximum expected length tolerance.

In certain cross-wire feeds, the device according to the invention can be operated such that the slides are moved to the opposite lateral ends of the guide prior to the introduction of the transverse wire, so that each transverse wire which is introduced into the guide at any receiving position moves to the predetermined dispensing position can be.

The control of the device is performed by a control device, which is integrated, for example, in the machine control of the mesh welding machine. The control device is controlled in particular by a computer program product, which brings the described here, the inventive method for inserting transverse wires to expiration.

Advantageously, the slides are each coupled to a servo axis. This allows a simple, fast and extremely precise control of the positioning. Servo axes can be easily operated by computer controls.

The coupling of the slides to the servo axes preferably takes place via endless coupling means, in particular toothed belts. These are lightweight, cost-effective and allow large displacement paths with high dynamics. Alternatively, other coupling means are provided, for example spindles.

In another preferred embodiment, the servo axes are formed by a linear drive or by a plurality of linear drives. These enable high position accuracy and high dynamics. In addition, the number of moving parts and thus the susceptibility to errors are minimized.

Advantageously, one of the slides has a spring-mounted stop to compensate for length tolerances of the transverse wires. As mentioned above, in the initial positioning of the slides, the length tolerances of the transverse wires can be accommodated by increasing the initial slider spacing by the expected maximum tolerance. Subsequently, the slides are moved inwards, ie toward each other, to contact the transverse wire and then move it to the predetermined position. Does the cross wire due to length tolerances one greater length than specified, so at fixed stops at least one of the slides can not be moved further before it reaches its predetermined target position. The spring-mounted stop can record this residual path, so that both slides can reach the predetermined end position. Thus, the slides do not abut the cross wire, but only the weak retroactive spring force is transmitted to the drives. These are therefore not burdened excessively.

The end positions of the slides are preferably set so that they correspond to the predetermined cross-wire length minus the maximum expected length tolerance. The spring travel of the spring-mounted stop corresponds then (at least) twice the maximum length tolerance. When positioning a crosswire of correct length, exactly half the spring travel of the stop is thus used up. Both slightly longer and slightly shorter cross wires can be precisely positioned without the need for adjustment of the control.

In one-lane operation, one of the slides may have the spring-loaded stop or both slides, depending on whether the wire center or a specific wire end should come to rest in a predetermined position for wires with undersize or excess length. In two-lane operation (see above), both slides are preferably equipped with a sprung stop. Conveniently, the slides are thus designed to be replaceable, so that when changing over to the two-lane operation of the slide can be replaced without sprung stop.

Alternatively, the stops of the slide are fixed, and the length tolerances are taken into account in other ways. The slide drive itself or coupling means between the drive and the slides can, for. B. be able to compensate for the tolerance. Also, the force increase upon contacting the crosswire can be detected and the sliders stopped accordingly, or the effective length of the crosswire is determined by sensors prior to performing the slider movement and taken into account in moving the sliders.

Preferably, one of the slides on a trigger mechanism, which is designed such that at a predetermined release force on the slide a Cross wire contacting element triggered, ie mechanically separated from the slider, z. B. notched, is. This avoids that the introduction of excessively long transverse wires can lead to machine damage, in particular to damage the positioning device. Advantageously, the trigger mechanism is combined with a spring-mounted stop (as described above). The spring-mounted stop may be repelled regularly, while the triggering of the trigger mechanism may only occur in very rare cases, namely, if the length of the introduced cross-wire smooth further operation of the welding machine would be impossible anyway.

Again, alternatively, a trigger mechanism may be provided, which is arranged at a different location of the positioning device. The increase in force when contacting the transverse wire can be detected and the process run can be stopped accordingly, or the effective length of the cross-wire is determined by sensors prior to carrying out the slide movement, so that the process can be interrupted.

The guide is advantageously designed as a transverse trough. In this, the cross wire is securely held and can be easily moved, for example, by slide with adapted to the trough attacks in the transverse direction. The trough defines by its shape a deployment position, which - regardless of the cross wire diameter - is given by the area of lowest possible positional energy. As a result, certain tolerances in the introduction of the transverse wire are allowed by this automatically passes into this deepest region of the trough due to gravity. The trough does not have to be formed continuously, but may be formed for example by a plurality of trough-like support elements.

Alternatively, the guide is formed as a flat, horizontal or inclined surface.

A device for inserting transverse wires into a mesh welding machine preferably comprises a positioning device as described above, which is arranged at a distance from a welding position of the mesh welding machine.

In some of the known mesh welding machines, the final transverse positioning of the transverse wires takes place only at the welding position. The welding process can thus take place only when the transverse positioning has taken place. The duration of a cross-wire welding cycle is thus determined by the required welding time and additionally the time required for the transverse positioning. This reduces the throughput in conventional mesh welding machines. The known solutions also require a complex and unwieldy construction, because in a small space both the welding tools and the means for the transverse positioning of the transverse wire must be accommodated.

The introduction of the transverse wire into the positioning device which is distanced from the welding position and the subsequent transverse positioning of the transverse wire in the guide can take place parallel to the welding process of a preceding transverse wire and do not lead to an extension of the welding cycle. Only after the transverse positioning of the transverse wire is transported to the welding position. Immediately after inserting the cross wire in the welding position, d. H. after contacting the longitudinal wires to be welded to the transverse wire, the welding operation can be carried out. This increases the possible throughput of the welding machine.

At the same time, without reducing the capacity, it is possible to move the transverse wire a greater transverse distance without having to increase the dynamics of the positioning device. The transverse wire can thus be stored in principle with any position on the guide, after which he is moved to the predetermined position. Thus, no high demands are placed on the upstream feeder for the transverse wires. These can be carried out correspondingly simple and inexpensive.

The device for inserting transverse wires also advantageously comprises a transport device for transporting the positioned transverse wire from the guide into the welding position, which is designed such that the transverse position of the transverse wire is maintained during transport. Thus, a precise positioning of the cross wire in the guide is maintained even during transport. The combination of the positioning device according to the invention with such a transport device thus allows a flexible and extremely precise positioning of the transverse wires, without the throughput of the mesh machine is impaired.

Advantageously, the transport device comprises a movable gripper for gripping, transporting and depositing the transverse wire. This is preferably movable in a vertical plane, which is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the mesh machine, and is not moved out of this plane during the transport process. The gripping mechanism of the gripper is also designed so that the cross wire with respect to the gripper can not be moved transversely, as long as it is detected by the gripper. This ensures that the transverse position of the cross wire is maintained during the gripping, transporting and depositing of the cross wire. Preferably, a further device is provided for the insertion of the transverse wires. Thus, immediately the next transverse wire of the guide can be supplied as soon as the gripper has taken a guide wire located in the positioned cross-wire and removed from the guide. Preferably, a plurality of grippers are provided, which can detect the transverse wire along its axis.

Alternatively, the transverse wire is transported out of the guide, for example, along an inclined plane to the welding position, wherein the positioning device comprises lateral inclinations for the inclined plane, which ensure that during the sliding down of the transverse wire no displacement in the transverse direction can take place. As a further possibility, the transport device may comprise, for example, a conveyor belt.

With lower requirements for the precision of the cross wire position, the transverse wire positioned in the guide can be brought into the welding position in another way. For example, it may fall freely from the guide along an obliquely downwardly extending plane into the weld line.

For gripping the cross wire, the gripper engages with advantage in a space between two spaced sections of the (for example, trough-like) guide. In this way, the gripper unhindered by the guide include the cross wire, thus safely seize and remove it from the guide. The dimensions of the Gripper are also made less demanding than when he must intervene to grasp the cross-wire in a continuous guide.

For gripping a cross wire usually several grippers are used, which capture the transverse wire along its length at several points. The number and thus also the arrangement of the required gripper depends on the length, the cross section and the material of the transverse wire. So that the device according to the invention for inserting transverse wires can be adapted quickly to the material to be processed, the guide is advantageously formed by a plurality of optionally removable sections. At those points where a gripper is to embrace the cross wire, one of the sections is omitted or removed, so that a gap is formed, the dimensions of which allow the gripper to engage. Because larger interspaces are only available where they are really needed during operation, there is also an optimal reception of the cross wire in the guide.

The selectively removable portions of the guide are preferably fastened with a clip connection to a carrier. This allows a simple construction with a minimum number of fasteners and a simple and time-saving attachment and removal of the sections. The clip connection can be designed such that the section can be fastened to or removed from the carrier without the aid of a tool.

Alternatively, the individual sections are screwed to the carrier, for example, or the guide consists of a plurality of fixedly arranged segments, between each of which a sufficiently large intermediate space for engaging the gripper is recessed.

For successive transverse wires, depending on the shape of the grid to be produced and depending on the length of the transverse wires to be introduced, different transverse positions can be specified. This allows the production of gratings, which comprise transverse wires of different lengths and / or with a different transverse positioning. The initial position of the slider is determined in such a case, for example, by that of. a predetermined position of the center of the transverse wire is assumed, wherein the slide on both sides each half the cross-wire length (with length tolerance, see above) plus half the maximum expected position tolerance away from the center position.

Alternatively, the device is controlled so that the transverse position of the wires is constant during a production run.

A mesh welding machine with a positioning device according to the invention may comprise two or more devices arranged for the insertion of the transverse wires upstream of devices for providing transverse wires, wherein the transverse positions of these devices are different. Thanks to the flexible positioning device introduced by the facilities in the leadership of the positioning transverse wires can be moved regardless of their receiving position in any predetermined dispensing positions. This allows many configurations of a plurality of devices, they can be arranged not only one behind the other but also for example in the transverse direction next to each other, whereby the space requirement of the cross wire feeds can be reduced in the machine longitudinal direction.

In general, it should be noted that with the positioning device according to the invention the requirements for the transverse positioning of the transverse wires and thus to the position of devices for providing transverse wires compared to known solutions are significantly reduced, so that in particular accounts for a precise adjustment of the transverse position-giving elements of the means for providing the transverse wires can.

A mesh welding machine with a positioning device according to the invention may further comprise a system for producing the transverse wires from a wire supply. This is the device for inserting the cross wires upstream. By means of this system, the cross wires from a wire supply, z. As a wire roll, subtracted, cut to a predetermined length and finally introduced into the leadership of the positioning. Therein, they are then moved independently of their transverse position during insertion to a predetermined transverse position. This allows a simple and flexible construction of the mesh welding machine. Advantageously, the system for generating the transverse wires is capable of producing a sequence of transverse wires of arbitrary lengths. For example, round grids (eg grill grids) can be used which the length of cross wire to cross wire first on and then decreases again are made easily and without loss of material.

Advantageously, the system for generating the transverse wires is arranged such that cut transverse wires are deposited directly from the system in the guide for positioning. This eliminates the need for an additional device for inserting the transverse wires in the guide, and the process is optimized. The positioning device can be controlled so that the transverse wires are always "picked up" regardless of their length at the same location and then moved to the predetermined transverse position. A cutting device (shears) of the system for generating the transverse wires can thus remain stationary even at different predetermined discharge positions of successive transverse wires. Because the position of the relatively heavy scissors thus does not have to be changed during the course of the process, even when the transverse wires are of different lengths and / or can not be arranged differently, a higher dynamic in the process sequence is possible with undiminished flexibility. As a system for producing transverse wires for use with the inventive mesh welding machine is suitable, for example, the wire straightening and cutting Syrocut the H. A. Schlatter AG, Schlieren, Switzerland.

From the following detailed description and the totality of the claims, further advantageous embodiments and feature combinations of the invention result.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

Eine Schrägansicht der erfindungsgemässen Positioniereinrichtung zum Positionieren von Querdrähten für eine Gitterschweissmaschine;

Fig. 2

einen vertikalen Querschnitt durch die Positioniereinrichtung parallel zur Längsachse der Gitterschweissmaschine;

Fig. 3

eine Schrägansicht eines Schiebers der Positioniereinrichtung mit einem federnd gelagerten Anschlag und einer Auslösevorrichtung;

Fig. 4

einen vertikalen Querschnitt durch die Positioniereinrichtung und eine Transporteinrichtung einer erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung zum Einlegen von Querdrähten parallel zur Längsachse der Gitterschweissmaschine;

Fig. 5A-D

schematische Darstellungen des Verfahrensablaufs bei der Positionierung eines Querdrahts;

Fig. 6A-F

schematische Darstellungen des Verfahrensablaufs beim Positionieren von Querdrähten unterschiedlicher Länge;

Fig. 7A-D

schematische Darstellungen des Verfahrensablaufs beim Positionieren von direkt aus einem System zur Erzeugung von Querdrähten aus einem Drahtvorrat in die Führung abgelegten Querdrähten;

Fig. 8

eine Schrägansicht einer zweiten Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemässen Positioniereinrichtung mit einer Führung mit mehreren wahlweise entfernbaren Abschnitten; und

Fig. 9

einen vertikalen Querschnitt durch die zweite Ausführungsform der Positioniereinrichtung parallel zur Längsachse der Gitterschweissmaschine.

The drawings used to explain the embodiment show:

Fig. 1

An oblique view of the inventive positioning device for positioning transverse wires for a grid welding machine;

Fig. 2

a vertical cross-section through the positioning parallel to the longitudinal axis of the grid welding machine;

Fig. 3

an oblique view of a slide of the positioning with a spring-mounted stop and a triggering device;

Fig. 4

a vertical cross-section through the positioning and a transport device of an inventive device for inserting transverse wires parallel to the longitudinal axis of the grid welding machine;

Fig. 5A-D

schematic representations of the procedure in the positioning of a cross-wire;

Fig. 6A-F

schematic representations of the procedure when positioning transverse wires of different lengths;

Fig. 7A-D

schematic representations of the process flow in positioning directly from a system for generating cross wires from a wire supply stored in the guide cross wires;

Fig. 8

an oblique view of a second embodiment of a positioning device according to the invention with a guide with a plurality of selectively removable sections; and

Fig. 9

a vertical cross section through the second embodiment of the positioning parallel to the longitudinal axis of the grid welding machine.

Basically, the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures.

Ways to carry out the invention

The FIG. 1 is an oblique view of the inventive positioning device for positioning transverse wires for a grid welding machine. The FIG. 2 shows a vertical cross section through the positioning device 100 with the guide 101 parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mesh machine. The longest extent of the guide 101 extends in the transverse direction (with respect to the mesh welding machine). The guide 101 is formed by a plurality of well elements 102.1 ... 102.16, which together form a form a transversely extending trough 103, in which a transverse wire can be accommodated. The trough elements 102.1... 102.16 comprise a trough part 106 in which the trough 103 is formed, and a guide part 107 directed obliquely downwards towards the trough 103, on which transverse bars conveyed by an upstream feed unit can slide in the direction of the trough 103. The trough parts 106 and the guide parts 107 of the trough elements 102.1... 102.16 are screwed to a transversely extending carrier 108. Like from the FIG. 2 is visible, the trough has a V-shaped cross-section, that is formed by two tapered walls 104, 105, of which the rear wall 104 is approximately vertical and the front wall 105 is inclined at an angle of about 40 ° to the vertical.

At both lateral ends of the guide 101 housings 111, 112 of the positioning device 100 are arranged. Each of the housings 111, 112 comprises a servomotor 113, 114. These are coupled via drive shafts rotatable about vertical axes, each with a circulating toothed belt 115, 116. The deflection pulleys for the toothed belts 115, 116 are arranged rotatably about a vertical axis in the housing 111, 112 opposite the servo motor 113, 114.

Parallel to the toothed belts 115, 116, a rail 117 is fastened between the housings 111, 112. This has an H-shaped profile with recesses on the top and bottom. Two slides 120, 140 are movable on the rail 117 in the transverse direction. For this purpose, the sliders 120, 140 (as in the FIG. 2 Shown schematically on the slide 120) two opposite rollers 121, 122, which run in the recesses of the rail 117. The first slider 120 is attached to the first toothed belt 115, the second slider 140 on the second toothed belt 116.

The slides 120, 140 are disposed obliquely below the trough 103, ie, between the guide 101 and the welding position. Starting from the main part 123 of the slide 120, 140 extends (again shown with reference to the slider 120) a stop member 124 upwards and backwards. At the end of the abutment part 124, a stop 125 is formed, whose cross section fits into the trough 103 and thus can contact the transverse wire 300 located in the deepest region of the trough 103.

The FIG. 3 is an oblique view of a slider of the positioning device with a spring-mounted stop and a triggering device. The slider 120 includes, as mentioned, a main part 123 and a stopper part 124 with a stopper 125. The stopper part 124 is resiliently supported on the main part 123. For this purpose, the main part 123 on a connecting part on two guide pins 126, 127, which are oriented with mounted slide 120 in the transverse direction. The stop member 124 slides on the two guide pins 126, 127. For this purpose, it has sliding guides 128, 129, which are executed in a foot region of the stop member 124. Between the guide pins 126, 127, a further pin 130 is arranged, which is held in a fixed to the main part 123 clamping ring and passes through a corresponding opening 131 of the stop member 124. On the outside of the stop member 124 and spaced therefrom, the pin 130 has a head 132. Between the head 132 and the stopper member 124, a coil spring 133 is held on the pin 130.

As soon as a certain force acts on the rear side of the stop 125, it is pressed outward against the force of the helical spring 133 with respect to the main part 123, wherein it slides on the guide pins 126, 127. This allows a compensation of different cross-wire lengths. At too long cross wires whose excess length exceeds the spring travel or other disturbances that lead to high forces on the stop 125, the stop member 124 is pushed as far out until the spring is fully compressed and the stop member 124 directly to the head 132 of the Pin 130 presses. The clamping ring in the main part 123 is designed so that the pin 130 is released from the main part 123 with a certain force. Once this is done, the stop member 124 may continue to slide on the guide pin 126, 127 outwardly until it releases from the pins 126, 127 and thus from the main body 123. The stop member 124 is thus disengaged at large forces, so that the forces do not act on the main part 123 of the slider 120 and thus not on the coupling means on the drive for the slider 120.

The FIG. 4 shows a vertical cross section through the positioning device 100 and a transport device 200 of an inventive device for inserting transverse wires parallel to the longitudinal axis of the grid welding machine. The transport device 200 comprises a plurality of grippers 201 with two mutually movable, tong-like gripping jaws 202, 203, which are designed such that the transverse wire 300 between the gripping jaws 202, 203 grasped, held during transport and can be released at the destination again. All grippers 201 are attached to a transversely extending tube 204. This is held by a plurality of parallel and synchronously operated articulated arm mechanisms (not shown). The illustrated gripper 201 can thus in the in the FIG. 4 shown vertical plane to be moved parallel to the machine longitudinal direction. The articulated arm mechanisms will not be discussed further here. There are a variety of solutions that allow by means of the tube 204 a transport of the gripper 201 and optionally a rotation of the gripper 201 about a horizontal axis transverse to the transport plane. For example, articulated-arm robots (with two or more parallel axes of rotation, eg conventional SCARA robots) or even Cartesian robots can be used. The number of articulated arm mechanisms arranged transversely along the tube 204 is selected depending on the width of the mesh welding machine and thus the length of the tube 204. In typical mesh welding machines, three parallel mechanisms are sufficient. For narrow machines, two are enough; for wide machines four or more mechanisms are necessary.

The gripper 201 has a small extent in the transverse direction and can therefore between the well elements 102.1 ... 102.16 (see FIG. 1 ) engage and in the trough 103 of the guide 101 inserted transverse wire as in the FIG. 4 capture shown. In order to ensure secure transport, at least two, but preferably up to 8 or more synchronously controlled grippers 201 are provided, depending on the transverse wire length.

After gripping the cross wire 300 by the grippers 201, it is transported along a transport path 210 without changing the transverse position to the welding position 220. There it is deposited on the longitudinal wires 310. Immediately thereafter, the welding process can take place by moving the upper electrode 221 downwards to the intersections between the transverse wire 300 and the longitudinal wires 310 and to the counterelectrodes 222 arranged below the welding position 220, after which a welding current is conducted through the intersection points until a desired welding is made. The transverse wire 300 is further transported along with the longitudinal wires in the further course.

As soon as the transverse wire 300 has been deposited in the welding position 220, the gripper 201 returns to that in the welding position FIG. 4 shown position to seize the next cross wire, which has been positioned in the trough 103 in the meantime in the transverse direction.

The Figures 5A-5D are schematic representations of the procedure in the positioning of a cross-wire. The FIG. 5A shows the predetermined positioning of a cross wire 301 correct length and the initial position of the slide 120, 140. The feeding device is designed such that the transverse wire 301 is deposited with a maximum position error Δx next to the predetermined position in the trough 103. The possible wire positions are indicated by dashed lines. The maximum expected deviation in the length of the cross wire is ΔL. It should be noted that for clarity, the expected length error of the transverse wires is greatly exaggerated.

The sliders 120, 140 are now positioned so that a maximum length wire with the maximum expected position error still comes to lie between the sliders 120, 140, i. H. their distance from the predetermined center of the transverse wire 301 to be positioned is (L + ΔL) / 2 + Δx. The sprung stop 125 of the slider 120 is closer to the corresponding end of the transverse wire 301 by half the spring travel than the unsprung stop of the other slider 140 the opposite transverse wire end.

The FIG. 5B shows now inserted into the trough 103, not yet positioned transverse wire 302. This is (within the length tolerance) slightly longer than specified and is located to the left of the predetermined position. Once the transverse wire 302 has been inserted into the trough 103, the sliders 120, 140 will simultaneously move inward toward the transverse wire ends at the same speed.

Like in the FIG. 5C shown, the stopper of the slider 140 reaches the transverse wire end facing it first, whereupon the transverse wire 302 is displaced from the slider 140 to the right. The end position of the unsprung slider 140 is given by the predetermined position of the corresponding end of a correct length cross wire. The slider 120 with the sprung stop 125 compensates for the excess length of the transverse wire 302 by the spring means are compressed by more than half the spring travel ( FIG. 5D ). In this position, the transverse wire 302 is removed by the gripper and then fed without changing the transverse position of the welding device. The slides 120, 140 can be moved back to the outside after positioning, before or after grasping the cross wire 302 by the gripper. So that the compressed spring of the spring-mounted stop 125 does not lead to a change in position of the transverse wire 302, first the slider 120 is retracted with the spring-loaded stopper 125 and only with a certain delay of the other slider 140th

The FIGS. 6A-F are schematic representations of the procedure when positioning transverse wires of different lengths. In addition to the guide 101 with the sliders 120, 140 and the welding device 223 arranged at a distance therefrom, three transverse wire magazines 401, 402, 403 for providing transverse wires of different lengths and a feed device 500 arranged upstream of the guide 101 are shown schematically. The feed device 500 is formed by a conveyor belt with ribs 502.1... 502.9 arranged transversely to the transport direction 501. The transverse wire magazines 401, 402, 403 are arranged above the feed device 500, wherein the two transverse wire magazines 401, 402 are arranged side by side for small transverse wire lengths transversely to the transport direction. The third cross wire magazine 403 for long transverse wires is located behind the other magazines 401, 402.

In the in the FIG. 6A already shown various transverse wires 303, 304, 305, 306, 307 from the cross wire magazines 401, 402, 403 have been stored in the feeder 500. These are in this order a short transverse wire 303, two middle transverse wires 304, 305, again a short transverse wire 306 and a long transverse wire 307. The transverse position of the transverse wires 303 ... 307 in the feeder 500 corresponds to the transverse position of the corresponding cross-wire magazines 401, 402, 403 with respect to the feeder 500. Before the respective foremost transverse wire, in FIG. 6A the transverse wire 303 is placed in the guide 101, the sliders 120, 140 are moved to corresponding initial positions (see above).

After placing the transverse wire 303 in the guide 101 (see FIG. 6B ), the sliders 120, 140 are moved so that the cross wire 303 in the guide 101 is transported to the predetermined discharge position; the feeder 500 continues to run (see FIG. 6C ). As soon as the transverse wire 303 has been removed from the guide 101 by the transport device (not shown), the slides 120, 140 are moved into an initial position adapted to the length and the position of the next transverse wire 304 (FIG. FIG. 6D ).

After placing the next transverse wire 304 in the guide 101 (see FIG. 6E ), the slides 120, 140 are again moved so that this transverse wire 304 is transported to its predetermined discharge position (see FIG. 6F ), from which it can be removed by the transport device and the welding device 223 can be supplied.

The in the FIGS. 6A-F The configuration shown is intended to be an example only. The number and arrangement of the magazines can be adapted to the geometry of the grid to be produced as well as the construction of the feeder. Several magazines can also be arranged one above the other; because the slides can detect and position any cross-wire introduced into the guide, no high demands are placed on the accuracy of the insertion position.

The Figures 7A-D Fig. 2 are schematic illustrations of the process flow in positioning crosswires directly loaded into a system for producing transverse wires in the guide. The system 600 for producing cross wires from a wire supply is arranged laterally next to the guide 101, wherein the cutting device 601 of the system 600 for cutting the cross wires is positioned so that cut transverse wires can be deposited directly from the system 600 into the guide 101. The cross wires are after cutting, for example, first in one Discharge channel of the system 600 injected, which is arranged vertically above the guide 101 and parallel to the guide 101. After opening a flap in the bottom of the discharge channel of the transverse wire located therein falls directly into the guide 101st

Before cutting off, as in the FIG. 7A shown, in this embodiment, the slider 120, 140 regardless of the length of the cut transverse wires initially moved in initial positions near the two ends of the guide 101. The cut cross-wire 308 falls after cutting from the discharge channel in the guide 101 between the slides 120, 140. It can thus be detected at its end faces and moved to a predetermined discharge position ( FIG. 7B ). From this dispensing position, it is again removed from the transport device (not shown) and fed to the welding device 223.

Thereafter, the sliders 120, 140 are again moved to their initial position at the ends of the guide 101 ( FIG. 7C ), so that the next cross wire 309 can be cut off. Also this falls after cutting off the discharge channel directly into the guide 101 and is then moved by the slide 120, 140 to the predetermined discharge position. If the positioning process is to be accelerated, also in the context of the embodiment shown here, the first slide 120 arranged on the side opposite the cutting device 600 can only be moved outwardly to the extent that the transverse wire to be cut off can be deposited between the slides 120, 140.

The FIG. 8 shows an oblique view of a second embodiment of a positioning device according to the invention with a guide with a plurality of optional removable sections. The FIG. 9 shows a vertical cross section through this second embodiment, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mesh machine.

The guide 151 comprises a series of selectively removable well elements 152 which together form a transversely extending well 153 in which a transverse wire can be received. The well elements 152 comprise a bowl part 156, in which the trough 153 is formed, and an obliquely downward to the trough 153 directed guide member 157, on which from an upstream Feeding unit conveyed cross bars in the direction of the trough 153 can slide. Again, the trough has a V-shaped cross section, that is formed by two tapered walls 154, 155. These include an angle of almost 90 °.

With the front side of a profile carrier 158, a holding plate 159 is screwed, which extends along the profile carrier 158 and thus along the guide 151. Along its upper edge projecting beyond the profile carrier 158, the holding plate 159 has a plurality of openings 159a. At the back of the profile carrier 158, a series of spring elements 160 are attached. These have in a likewise projecting beyond the profile carrier 158 section a through opening 160a and at its upper, free end a cutout 160b.

The individual tray elements 152 have on their underside a nose 152a, on the front side of which a projection 152b is formed (see FIG FIG. 9 ). On the back of the well elements 152, a further projection 152c is formed. The trough elements 152 can now be held between the holding plate 159 and in each case one of the spring elements 160. In this case, the forward projection 152b engages the nose 152a on the underside of the trough element 152 in one of the openings 159a of the holding plate, while the projection 152c engages on the back of the trough element 152 in the through hole 160a of the corresponding spring element 160. A projection 152d of the trough element 152 is also held in the cutout 160b at the free end of the spring element 160. Due to the three contact areas, the trough element 152 is held firmly on the profile carrier 158.

In order to mount a trough element 152 on the profile carrier 158, it is inserted from above between the holding plate 159 and one of the spring elements 160, wherein the spring element 160 is pressed by overcoming its spring force to the rear. Finally, with its projections 152b, 152c, the trough element 158 will snap into the openings 159a, 160a of the holding plate 159 or of the spring element 160. It is held in the sequence by the spring force of the spring element 160 on the profile carrier 158. In order to remove a tray element 152, it is pushed backwards, overcoming the spring force, until the projection 152b on the nose 152a on the underside of the tray element 152 is released from the opening 159a of the holding plate 159. Subsequently For example, the tray member 152 can be moved up and down and finally removed.

A parallel to the profile support 158 and thus to the guide 151 extending rail 167 is mounted on the support plate 159. The slides 120 movable along the rail 167 correspond to those shown above in connection with the first embodiment. Even with the transport device there are no changes. The trough elements 152 are arranged on the profile carrier 158 in such a way that in each case a trough element 152 is discharged at the positions of the grippers of the transport device, i. H. one of the places provided by the holding plate 159 and the spring elements 160 remains empty.

If the positions of the grippers should be changed, z. B. because transverse wires of a different length range are to be processed, the gaps are occupied with well elements 152, and removed according to well elements 152 at the new locations of the gripper. The area of use of the guide with optionally removable tray elements is not limited to the present inventive device with two freely movable slides. In principle, this guide can always be used when an elongated object located in a guide is to be removed from the guide by means of a gripper.

The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. Details of the guide, the positioning and the transport device can be changed in many different ways and adapted to the particular needs. The positioning and control of the slide (or other positioning) can be done in other ways.

In summary, it should be noted that a device for inserting transverse wires in a mesh welding machine is provided by the invention, which allows a high efficiency of the welding machine and is structurally simple.

Claims (23)

1. A positioning means for the positioning of transverse wires for a mesh-welding machine, having a guide (101; 151) for holding one of the transverse wires (300, 301, 302) and, at two opposing ends, two freely movable sliders (120, 140) for contacting the transverse wire (300, 301, 302) held in the guide (101; 151), wherein the sliders (120, 140) are formed so that the transverse wire (300, 301, 302), which is deposited in the guide (101; 151) in any reception position, is movable along the guide (101; 151) by the sliders (120, 140) into any predetermined placement position.
2. A positioning means according to claim 1, characterised in that the sliders (120, 140) are each coupled to a servo shaft (113, 114).
3. A positioning means according to claim 2, characterised in that the coupling to the servo shafts (113, 114) takes place via endless coupling means (115, 116), especially toothed belts.
4. A positioning means according to claim 2, characterised in that the servo shaft is formed by a linear drive.
5. A positioning means according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that one of the sliders (120) has a resiliently mounted stop (125) in order to compensate for longitudinal tolerances of the transverse wires (300, 301, 302).
6. A positioning means according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that one of the sliders (120) has a release mechanism (132) which is formed so that, when a predetermined release force is exerted on the slider (120), a component (124) contacting the transverse wire (300, 301, 302) is released.
7. A positioning means according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the guide (101; 151) is formed as a trough (103; 153).
8. A positioning means according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the guide (151) is formed by a plurality of optionally removable portions (152).
9. A positioning means according to claim 8, characterised in that the optionally removable portions (152) of the guide (151) are fixable to a carrier (158) by means of a clip-type connection (152b, 152c, 159, 160).
10. A device for inserting transverse wires into a mesh-welding machine, having a positioning means (100), according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which is arranged with spacing from a welding position (220) of the mesh-welding machine and is intended to move one of the transverse wires (300, 301, 302) into a predetermined transverse position.
11. A device according to claim 10, characterised by a transporting means (200) for transporting the positioned transverse wire (300, 301, 302) into a welding position (220) of the mesh-welding machine, wherein the transporting means (200) is formed so that the transverse position of the transverse wire (300, 301, 302) is retained during transportation.
12. A device according to claim 11, characterised in that the transporting means (200) comprises a movable gripper (201) for gripping, transporting and depositing the transverse wire (300, 301, 302).
13. A device according to claim 12, characterised in that the gripper (201) for gripping the transverse wire (300, 301, 302) engages in a gap between two spaced portions (102.1 ... 102.16; 152) of the guide (101; 151).
14. A mesh-welding machine comprising a device according to any one of claims 10 to 13.
15. A mesh-welding machine according to claim 14, characterised by a system (600) for producing the transverse wires (308, 309) from a wire reservoir arranged upstream of the device for inserting the transverse wires.
16. A mesh-welding machine according to claim 15, characterised in that the system for producing the transverse wires (600) is arranged so that transverse wires (308, 309) which have been cut to size are deposited directly in the guide (101; 151) in order to be positioned.
17. A mesh-welding machine according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterised by at least two arrangements (401, 402, 403) which are intended to supply transverse wires (303, 304, 305, 306, 307) and are arranged upstream of the device for inserting the transverse wires, wherein a transverse position of a first of the arrangements (401) is different from a transverse position of a second of the arrangements (402).
18. A mesh-welding machine according to any one of claims 14 to 17, having a control device which is formed so that it can move the two sliders (120, 140), which are movable in relation to the guide (101; 151) and are intended to position the transverse wire (300, 301, 302), independently of one another by means of servo drives (113, 114), wherein the two sliders (120, 140) are moved into lateral starting positions before introduction of the transverse wire (300, 301, 302) into the guide (101; 151) so that a distance between the sliders (120, 140) corresponds to a length of the transverse wire (300, 301, 302) to be introduced, including a maximum expected positional tolerance (Δx) of the transverse wire (300, 301, 302).
19. A method of inserting transverse wires into a mesh-welding machine, wherein, in order to position one of the transverse wires (300, 301, 302) in the transverse direction, the following steps are carried out:

    a) introduction of one of the transverse wires (300, 301, 302) into a guide (101; 151), wherein the transverse wire (300, 301, 302) adopts a random reception position; and

    b) movement of the transverse wire (300, 301, 302) located in the guide (101; 151) into a predetermined placement position by displacement of two sliders (120, 140) which are freely movable in relation to the guide (101; 151), wherein a first of the sliders (120) contacts a first end of the transverse wire (300, 301, 302) and wherein a second of the sliders (140) contacts a second end of the transverse wire (300, 301, 302), said second end lying opposite said first end.
20. A method according to claim 19, characterised in that, before introduction of the transverse wire (300, 301, 302) into the guide (101; 151), the two sliders (120, 140) are moved into lateral starting positions, wherein a distance between the sliders (120, 140) located in the starting positions corresponds to a length of the transverse wire (300, 301, 302) to be introduced, including a maximum expected positional tolerance (Δx) of the transverse wire (300, 301, 302).
21. A method according to claim 19 or 20, characterised in that, for successive transverse wires (300, 301, 302), different transverse positions are predetermined depending upon a shape of a mesh to be manufactured and a length of the transverse wires (300, 301, 302).
22. A method according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the transverse wires (308, 309) are produced in a system (600) for producing transverse wires from a wire reservoir and are deposited directly in the guide (101; 151) in order to be positioned, wherein there is no movement of a cutting device (601) of the system (600) in the transverse direction, even with different predetermined placement positions and/or different lengths of successive transverse wires (308, 309).
23. A method according to any one of claims 19 to 22, wherein the transverse wire (300, 301, 302) positioned in the guide (101; 151) is moved into a welding position (220) of the mesh-welding machine in such a way that a transverse position of the transverse wire (300, 301, 302) is retained during transportation.

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