Device that feeds an elongated workpiece to a forming machine, retrofit kit, forming installation, and method of operating a device

Abstract

A device that feeds an elongated workpiece to a forming machine includes a reeling unit with a frame and a reel carried by the frame and accommodates a workpiece supply formed as a coil of workpiece material. The reel is mounted rotatably about a reel axis relative to the frame. The device has a weight-distribution sensing device set up to sense a lateral distribution of a reel weight with respect to the reel axis, the reel weight representing a weight of the reel with or without an accommodated coil.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device that feeds an elongated workpiece to a forming machine that has a drawing-in device that draws in the fed workpiece and conveys the workpiece to a tool area of the forming machine, comprising:
 a reeling unit with a frame and a reel carried by the frame and accommodates a workpiece supply formed as a coil of workpiece material, the reel being mounted rotatably about a reel axis relative to the frame,   wherein   the device has a weight-distribution sensing device set up to sense and determine a lateral distribution of a reel weight with respect to the reel axis, the reel weight representing a weight of the reel with or without an accommodated coil.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the weight-distribution sensing device is set up to sense the reel weight. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the weight-distribution sensing device has at least one force sensor arranged at a radial distance from the reel axis and is set up to sense a component of the reel weight that acts as a load on the force sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the weight-distribution sensing device has at least three force sensors,   each force sensor being set up to sense a component of the reel weight that acts as a load on the respective force sensor.   
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the frame has at least three standing feet that place the device on an underlying surface, and   at least one of the standing feet has a force sensor of the weight-distribution sensing device.   
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the frame and the reel are connected to one another by a bearing unit of the weight-distribution sensing device, and   the bearing unit forms at least one force sensor of the sensing device.   
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one force sensor of the weight-distribution sensing device has an elastically deformable or annular disc-shaped deformation element, which is elastically deformable depending on the component of the reel weight that acts as a load on this force sensor and to which a deformation detector of the force sensor that determines a deformation of the deformation element is attached. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the bearing unit has first supporting elements and second supporting elements between which the deformation element is arranged,   the first supporting elements being arranged offset from the second supporting elements transversely to the reel axis,   the first supporting elements being adjoined by the reel, and   the second supporting elements being adjoined by the frame.   
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the weight-distribution sensing device has at least one hinge-like bearing device that supports a component of the reel weight,
 the bearing device being arranged at a radial distance from at least one force sensor of the weight-distribution sensing device with respect to the reel axis, and   the force sensor being set up to sense a component of the reel weight that acts as a load on this force sensor.   
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one force sensor of the weight-distribution sensing device has a piezoelectric element and/or a strain gauge. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the weight-distribution sensing device has a torque sensor with a force sensor, and the torque sensor is integrated in a sensor unit of the weight-distribution sensing device. 
     
     
         12 . A retrofit kit that retrofits a basic device designed to feed an elongated workpiece to a forming machine, the basic device having a reeling unit with a frame and a reel carried by the frame and accommodates a workpiece supply formed as a coil of workpiece material, the reel being mounted rotatably about a reel axis relative to the frame,
 the retrofit kit having components of a weight-distribution sensing device set up to sense a lateral distribution of a reel weight with respect to the reel axis, the reel weight representing a weight of the reel with or without an accommodated coil.   
     
     
         13 . A forming installation with a forming machine having a drawing-in device that can be operated with a varying drawing-in speed and draws in an elongated workpiece and conveys the workpiece to a tool area of the forming machine,
 the forming installation comprising the device according to  claim 1 , and   the device is set up to feed an elongated workpiece to the forming machine.   
     
     
         14 . A method of operating the device according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a) determining a lateral distribution of a reel weight with respect to the reel axis, the reel weight representing a weight of the reel with or without an accommodated coil, by the weight-distribution sensing device;   b) if the distribution of the reel weight determined in a) is greater than a predetermined weight-distribution tolerance value, carrying out at least one of:   b1) issuing a warning message to warn against an imbalance,   b2) stopping a rotary movement of the reel relative to the frame,   b3) outputting a handling instruction to balance the coil, and   b4) balancing the coil with respect to the reel axis.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein, in a), the reel weight is additionally determined. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 c) displaying an instantaneous reel weight determined in a) by a display device, which is assigned to the forming machine of the forming installation comprising the device.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 d) if the reel weight determined in a) is equal to or less than a predetermined minimum weight, issuing a warning message to warn against depletion of the workpiece supply and/or catching on the reel of an end of the coil remote from the drawing in;   e) if the reel weight determined in a) is equal to or greater than a predetermined maximum weight, issuing a warning message to warn against overloading of the device;   f) if the reel weight determined in a) is between the predetermined minimum weight and the predetermined maximum weight, outputting a range of the workpiece supply on the basis of the determined reel weight by a display device, the display device being assigned to a forming machine of the forming installation comprising the device.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein,
 when the method is carried out, the reel together with the coil is at least for a time turned about the reel axis relative to the frame while removing workpiece material from the workpiece supply; and/or   when the method is carried out, the reel together with the coil is at least for a time at rest relative to the frame.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 g) generating a control signal that controls a forming machine of the forming installation comprising the device, the control signal being generated depending on the distribution of the reel weight determined in a).   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein, in d), the control signal is additionally generated depending on the reel weight determined in a).