Feeding system

Abstract

A feeding system for delivering elongate workpieces to a forming machine includes a feeding apparatus with a coil-based workpiece supply receiving device and a straightening system with two adjustable rolling/straightening apparatuses to straighten the workpiece before forming. A measurement unit measures residual curvatures on the straightened material and establishes measurement data representing the residual curvature. A cutting device separates rod-shaped portions of a predetermined length from the straightened material. The measurement unit includes a measurement apparatus for receiving a rod-shaped portion in a measurement position and is configured for specific measurements associated with the straightening planes of the rolling/straightening apparatuses, enabling accurate assessment of residual curvatures in the workpiece.

1 . A feeding system comprising:
 a feeding apparatus for feeding an elongate, wire-shaped or tubular workpiece to a forming machine, wherein the feeding apparatus has a receiving device for receiving a workpiece supply in the form of a coil and a straightening system ( 400 ) which is downstream of the receiving device and which has two adjustable rolling/straightening apparatuses which are connected one behind the other and which have differently orientated straightening planes for straightening the workpiece before introduction into the forming machine;   a measurement unit for measuring residual curvatures on straightened wire-shaped or tubular straightening material which has passed through the straightening system of the feeding apparatus, and for establishing measurement data which represent a residual curvature of the straightened straightening material;   characterized in that a cutting device for separating rod-shaped portions of a predeterminable length from the straightening material which has passed through the straightening system;   the measurement unit has a measurement apparatus for receiving a rod-shaped portion, which is separated from the straightening material, of the straightening material which has passed through the straightening system in a measurement position; and   the measurement unit is configured for a measurement which is specific to the straightening plane and which allows association of the curvature portions which represent the measurement data with the different straightening planes of the rolling/straightening apparatuses.   
     
     
         2 . The feeding system as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the measurement unit has a cutting device for separating rod-shaped portions of predeterminable length from the straightening material which has passed through the straightening system, wherein preferably together with the measurement apparatus the cutting device is mounted on or at a common frame. 
     
     
         3 . The feeding system as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the measurement unit is configured in such a manner that the straightening material can be measured in the rotational position in which it passed through the straightening system. 
     
     
         4 . The feeding system as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized by rotation prevention devices which are configured in such a manner that a rotational position of a separated rod-shaped portion which is provided for measurement about the longitudinal axis thereof remains unchanged between the straightening and the measurement so that the straightening material can be measured in the rotational position in which it passed through the straightening system, wherein there are preferably provided actuatable rotation prevention devices which can be switched in response to control signals of a control unit between a neutral configuration without any engagement with the straightening material and an engagement configuration with contact with the straightening material. 
     
     
         5 . The feeding system as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized by a control unit which is configured in an operating mode so that the cutting device and the measurement apparatus are controlled in such a coordinated manner that a front end portion of the straightened straightening material is conveyed by a controlled advance to a measurement position in the measurement apparatus, afterwards the straightening material is secured to prevent rotation, in particular clamped in a horizontal direction, by rotation prevention devices of the measurement unit, and afterwards the cutting device is controlled to separate the rod-shaped portion which is intended to be measured from the remainder of the straightening material. 
     
     
         6 . The feeding system as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the measurement apparatus has, at an inlet side, a first clamping apparatus and, with spacing therefrom in a longitudinal direction, a second clamping apparatus, wherein in a region between the first and second clamping apparatuses components of a measurement system are arranged, in that a measurement plane which is orientated transversely, particularly perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction, is defined and configured to determine the position of the deposited rod-shaped portion in the measurement plane, wherein each of the clamping apparatuses preferably has a support roller which is mounted with a horizontal rotation axis and two transverse positioning rollers which are adjustable by a drive in such a manner that an introduced rod-shaped portion can be fixed at a fixing location which is defined in a vertical direction and in a horizontal direction. 
     
     
         7 . The feeding system as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that a spacing, measured parallel with the longitudinal direction, of the clamping apparatuses is adjustable steplessly, wherein preferably the clamping apparatuses are mounted on carriages which run on guide rails which are fixed at the upper side of a horizontally orientated base plate of the measurement system and/or components of the measurement apparatus are fixed to a carrier which is mounted on a carriage which can be displaced on the guide rails which also guide the clamping apparatuses. 
     
     
         8 . The feeding system as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that a measurement system of the measurement apparatus is an optical measurement system for determining the position of the rod-shaped portion in a measurement plane which is located between the clamping apparatuses, wherein preferably the measurement system has a first laser unit and a second laser unit which generate a laser light curtain which extends in the measurement plane in measurement directions which are orientated transversely, in particular perpendicularly to each other, wherein a sensor unit with photo-sensitive sensors for detecting a shadow projection of the part, which extends through the measurement plane, of the rod-shaped portion is arranged opposite a laser unit. 
     
     
         9 . The feeding system as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the workpiece supply is wound on a replaceable reel and the receiving device is configured so that the reel can be received by the receiving apparatus and is supported rotatably about a horizontal rotation axis in the received state. 
     
     
         10 . The feeding system as claimed in  claim 9 , characterized in that the receiving apparatus has two axially parallel carrier rollers with horizontal rotation axes, on which the reel can be positioned in such a manner that the circumference of lateral elements of the reel is positioned on the two carrier rollers and the position of the rotation axis is fixed in space, wherein preferably a drive which can be controlled via a control unit and which is in engagement with one of the carrier rollers and can drive them under the control of the control unit is provided. 
     
     
         11 . The feeding system as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the receiving apparatus has a redirecting device having an upper redirecting roller for receiving the workpiece which is unwound from the workpiece supply and a device which is arranged under the upper redirecting roller for receiving a workpiece loop before introduction into the straightening system. 
     
     
         12 . The feeding system as claimed in  claim 11 , characterized in that the device arranged under the upper redirecting roller for receiving a workpiece loop comprises a vertically orientated buffer store in the form of an upwardly, partially open storage box and an auxiliary intake device which is arranged between the upper redirecting roller and the buffer store and which can be driven by an auxiliary drive and is configured to convey the workpiece at a predeterminable conveying speed to the downstream buffer store, wherein preferably a sensor system is provided for detecting the filling level of the buffer store and for generating sensor signals which represent the filling level, wherein a control device is configured so that the conveying speed of the auxiliary intake device can be controlled in accordance with sensor signals of the sensor system. 
     
     
         13 . The feeding system as claimed in  claim 11 , characterized in that the device which is arranged under the upper redirecting roller for receiving a workpiece loop has a lower redirecting roller, the upper redirecting roller and the lower redirecting roller are rotatably supported in an axially parallel manner on a vertical carrier, wherein preferably the upper redirecting roller is in the form of a vertically displaceable dancer roller with resilient restoring and interrogation of the position of this redirecting roller is used to control a drive motor for reel rotation and/or wherein the lower redirecting roller is wrapped around over approximately three-quarters of the circumference thereof and has at the upper side thereof an outlet which is at the height of an inlet-side through-opening of the straightening system so that the workpiece material can run from the lower redirecting roller directly in a horizontal direction into the straightening system. 
     
     
         14 . The feeding system as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the straightening system has two rolling/straightening apparatuses which are connected one behind the other and which are adjustable independently of each other, wherein rotation axes of straightening rollers of the straightening apparatuses are orientated orthogonally relative to each other, preferably in such a manner that a first straightening apparatus defines a vertical straightening plane and a subsequent second straightening apparatus defines a horizontal straightening plane.