Coil spring product with rotary cutter

Abstract

A mechanism for producing coil springs ( 10 ) includes a winding stage ( 110 ) for engaging with a wire ( 20 ) and deforming the wire ( 20 ) to coil windings as the wire ( 20 ) moves through the winding stage ( 110 ). Further, the mechanism comprises a feed mechanism ( 120 ) configured to feed the wire ( 20 ) to the winding stage ( 110 ). Further, the mechanism comprises a rotary cutter ( 130 ). The rotary cutter ( 130 ) is configured to cut the deformed wire ( 20 ) into portions forming separate coil springs ( 10 ) and a blade ( 135 ) which is driven for rotation about a stationary rotation axis.

1 . A mechanism for producing coil springs, the mechanism comprising:
 a winding stage for engaging with a wire and deforming the wire to coil windings as the wire moves through the winding stage;   a feed mechanism configured to feed the wire to the winding stage; and   a rotary cutter configured to cut the deformed wire into portions forming separate coil springs;   wherein the rotary cutter comprises a blade which is driven for rotation about a stationary rotation axis,   wherein the blade comprises a protrusion configured to engage between two coil windings of the deformed wire and separate the two coil windings as the blade rotates.   
     
     
         2 . The mechanism according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the feed mechanism is configured to maintain a constant speed of feeding the wire while the rotary cutter cuts the deformed wire.   
     
     
         3 . The mechanism according to  claim 1 or 2 , further comprising:
 a mandrel for cooperating with the blade to cut the wire.   
     
     
         4 . The mechanism of  claim 3 ,
 wherein a position of the mandrel relative to the rotation axis is adjustable.   
     
     
         5 . The mechanism according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a position of the rotary cutter relative to the winding stage is adjustable.   
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The mechanism according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the blade is formed on a terminal surface of a shaft portion driven to rotate about the rotation axis.   
     
     
         8 . The mechanism according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the winding stage comprises at least one bending tool which engages the wire at positions set according to a geometry of the coil springs being produced,   wherein the winding stage is configured to maintain engagement of the at least one bending tool with the deformed wire while the rotary cutter cuts the deformed wire.   
     
     
         9 . The mechanism according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the least one bending tool is driven to move the wire to a position in which the rotary cutter cuts the deformed wire.   
     
     
         10 . The mechanism according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a heating stage configured to heat the wire before feeding into the winding stage.   
     
     
         11 . The mechanism according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an output stage for transferring the coil springs from the mechanism,   wherein the output stage comprises a guide element for guiding movement of the deformed wire in the winding stage and towards a transport mechanism.   
     
     
         12 . The mechanism according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the transport mechanism comprises at least one magnetic carrier for engaging with the deformed wire and moving the coil spring from the winding stage.   
     
     
         13 . The mechanism according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein the output stage is configured to cause engagement of the at least one magnetic carrier with the deformed wire before the deformed wire is cut by the rotary cutter to release the coil spring being produced.   
     
     
         14 . A method of producing coil springs, the method comprising:
 feeding a wire to a winding stage;   engaging the wire in the winding stage to deform the wire to coil windings as the wire moves through the winding stage; and   by a blade rotating about a stationary rotation axis, cutting the deformed wire into portions forming separate coil springs,   wherein the blade comprises a protrusion configured to engage between two coil windings of the deformed wire and separate the two coil windings as the blade rotates.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein the method is performed by a mechanism according to any one of claims  1  to  13 .