Method and apparatus for straightening one or more wires

Abstract

A method for straightening at least one original wire (F 0 ), by means of a travel path (AM), comprises a first bending-curving segment (AC) intended to bend and curve the original wire (F 0 ) in order to obtain downstream (C) of said first bending-curving segment (AC) a flow of bent and curved intermediate wire (F 1 ) having a given radius of curvature, and a second straightening segment (CM) arranged consecutively after said first bending/curving segment (AC) and intended to straighten the said flow of intermediate wire (F 1 ). —An apparatus for implementing said method, comprising a first series of bending/curving rollers ( 10, 20, 30, 40 ) and a second series of straightening rollers ( 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110 ).

1 )- Method for straightening at least one original wire by means of a travel path along which said original wire is made to travel longitudinally from upstream to downstream, characterized in that the travel path (AM; A′L′) comprises: 
 a first bending-curving segment (AC; A′C′) intended to bend and curve the original wire (F 0 ), in order to obtain downstream (C; C′) of said first bending-curving segment (AC; A′C′) a flow of bent and curved intermediate wire (F 1 ), having a given radius of curvature;    a second straightening segment (CM; C′L′) arranged consecutively after said first bending-curving segment (AC; A′C′) and intended to straighten the said flow of intermediate wire (F 1 ) on the basis of the bending-curving previously performed by means of the first bending-curving segment (AC; A′C′).    
   
   
       2 )- Method according to claim  1 , characterized in that said first bending-curving segment (AC; A′C′) comprises at least: 
 a first sub-segment (AB; A′B′) along which the original wire (F 0 ) is bent and curved by causing it to travel along a first bending-curving arc (AB; A′B′) having a first bending-curving direction, and    a second sub-segment (BC; B′C′) along which the original wire is bent and curved by causing it to travel along a second bending-curving arc (BC; B′C′) having a second bending-curving direction contrary to the first bending-curving direction of the first arc (AB; A′B′).    
   
   
       03 )- Method according to claim  2 , characterized in that said first bending-curving arc (AB; A′B′) has a radius of curvature (r 20 ) which is preferably equal to or less than the minimum radius of curvature of the original wire (F 0 ).  
   
   
       04 )- Method according to claim  2 , characterized in that said first bending-curving arc (AB; A′B′) has an amplitude preferably equal to about 1800.  
   
   
       05 )- Method according to one of claim  2 , characterized in that said second bending-curving arc (BC; B′C′) has a radius of curvature (r 30 ) preferably equal to or less than the minimum radius of curvature of the original wire (F 0 ).  
   
   
       06 )- Method according to one of claim  2 , characterized in that said second bending-curving arc (BC; B′C′) has an amplitude preferably equal to about 180°.  
   
   
       07 )- Method according to claim  1 , characterized in that said second straightening segment (CM; C′L′) comprises a third bending-curving sub-segment (CD; C′D′) which is arranged upstream and along which the intermediate wire (F 1 ) is bent and curved along a third bending-curving arc (CD; C′D′) having a bending-curving direction contrary to the bending-curving direction of the second arc (BC) and in that said third bending/curving arc (CD; C′D′) has an amplitude equal to about 135°.  
   
   
       8 )- Method according to claim  7 , characterized in that said second straightening segment (CM; C′L′) envisages a plurality of sub-segments (CD, DE, EF, FG, GH, HI, IL, LM; C′D′, E′F′, F′G′, G′H′, H′I′, I′L′) arranged in succession and intended to define a path for the intermediate wire (F 1 ) in the manner of a dampened sinusoid terminating in a rectilinear manner.  
   
   
       09 )- Method according to claim  1  ( FIGS. 3A-3B ), characterized in that said second straightening segment comprises at least one lateral bending sub-segment (D′E′) intended to bend the intermediate wire (F 1 ) in a direction inclined transversely with respect to the direction of bending-curving occurring along the first bending-curving segment (A′C′).  
   
   
       10 )- Method according to claim  1  for straightening a plurality of wires, characterized in that it envisages a plurality of identical travel paths (AM; A′L′) arranged alongside and parallel, each intended to contain a respective original wire (F 0   a , F 0   b , etc.) and comprising: 
 a plurality of first bending-curving segments (AC; A′C′) identical to each other and intended to bend and curve each wire of the plurality of original wires (F 0   a , F 0   b , etc.) until, downstream (C) of said first bending-curving segments (AC), a flow of a plurality of corresponding bent and curved intermediate wires (F 1   a , F 1   b , etc.) having a same given radius of curvature is obtained;    a plurality of second straightening segments (CM; C′L′) arranged consecutively after said plurality of first bending-curving segments (AC) and intended to straighten the said plurality of intermediate wires (F 1   a , F 1   b , etc.,) on the basis of the bending and curving performed by means of the plurality of first bending-curving segments (AC).    
   
   
       11 )- Method according to claim  1 , characterized in that axial rotation ( FIG. 2C ) of the original wire (F 0 ) during its travel along the first bending-curving segment (AC) is prevented.  
   
   
       12 )- Method according to claim  1 , characterized in that the axial rotation ( FIG. 2B ) of the original wire (F 0 ) during its travel along the first bending-curving segment (AC) is allowed.  
   
   
       13 )- Apparatus for straightening at least one original wire (F 0 ) by means of a travel path along which said wire is made to travel longitudinally from upstream to downstream, characterized in that it comprises: 
 bending-curving means ( 10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40 ) intended to configure a first bending-curving segment (AC; A′C′) for the travel path of the wire, along which the original wire (F 0 ) is bent and curved until, downstream (C) of said first bending-curving segment (AC), a flow of bent and curved intermediate wire (F 1 ) having a given radius of curvature is obtained;    straightening means ( 50 ,  60 ,  70 ,  80 ,  80 ,  100 ,  110 ) arranged downstream of said bending-curving means ( 10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40 ) and intended to configure a second straightening segment (CM; C′L′) for the travel path of the wire along which the said intermediate wire (F 1 ) is straightened on the basis of the bending and curving previously performed by means of the first bending-curving segment (AC; A′C′).    
   
   
       14 )- Apparatus for straightening a plurality of original wires (F 0   a , F 0   b , F 0   c , etc.) according to claim  13 , characterized in that said bending-curving means ( 10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40 ) are intended to configure a plurality of first bending-curving segments (AC; A′C′) identical to each other and intended to bend and curve each wire of the plurality of original wires (F 0   a , F 0   b , etc.) until, downstream (C) of said first bending-curving segments (AC), a flow of a plurality of corresponding bent and curved intermediate wires (F 1   a , F 1   b , etc.) having a given radius of curvature is obtained and in that said straightening means ( 50 ,  60 ,  70 ,  80 ,  80 ,  100 ,  110 ) are intended to configure a plurality of second straightening segments (CM; C′L′) arranged consecutively after said plurality of first bending/curving segments (AC) and intended to straighten the said plurality of intermediate wires (F 1   a , F 1   b , etc.) on the basis of the bending and curving performed by means of the plurality of first bending/curving segments (AC).  
   
   
       15 )- Apparatus according to claim  13 , characterized in that said first bending-curving means ( 10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40 ) comprise a first series of bending-curving rollers ( 10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40 ) arranged in succession and intended to configure one or more first bending-curving segments (AC; A′C′).  
   
   
       16 )- Apparatus according to one of claim  13 , characterized in that said second straightening means ( 50 ,  60 ,  70 ,  80 ,  80 ,  100 ,  110 ) comprise a second series of straightening rollers ( 50 ,  60 ,  70 ,  80 ,  80 ,  100 ,  110 ) arranged in succession and intended to configure one or more second straightening segments (CM; C′L′) arranged consecutively after said one or more first bending/curving segments (AC; A′C′).  
   
   
       17 )- Apparatus according to claim  15 , characterized in that said rollers ( 10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40 , etc.) have on their casing one or more circumferential grooves ( 10   a ,  10   b , etc.;  20   a ,  20   b , etc.; etc.) which are axially spaced and each intended to seat a respective wire (F 0   a , F 0   b , etc.).  
   
   
       18 )- Apparatus according to claim  15 , characterized in that at least some of said rollers ( 10 ,  30 ,  50 ,  70 ,  90 ,  110 ) are movable and able to be adjustably positioned with respect to the other rollers ( 20 ,  40 ,  60 ,  80 ,  100 ,  120 ).  
   
   
       19 )- Apparatus according to claim  15 , characterized in that said first series of bending-curving rollers comprises four rollers ( 10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40 ) arranged in succession and alongside close to each other and in that the circumferential grooves ( 10   a ,  10   b , etc.;  20   a ,  20   b , etc.,; etc.) of each roller ( 10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40 ) are situated facing each other and aligned with respect to the grooves of the rollers alongside ( 10   a ,  20   a ,  30   a ,  40   a ;  10   b ,  20   b ,  30   b ,  40   b , etc.).  
   
   
       20 )- Apparatus according to claim  15 , characterized in that said first series of rollers ( 10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40 ) have their circumferences arranged close so that the respective circumferential grooves ( 10   a ,  10   b ;  20   a ,  20   b , etc.) in the vicinity of the point of possible tangency between adjacent rollers define one or more channels ( 10   a ,  20   a ;  10   b ,  20   b ; etc.) intended to contain the original wires (F 0   a , F 0   b , etc.).  
   
   
       21 )- Apparatus according to claim  20 , characterized in that said one or more channels ( 10   a ,  20   a ;  10   b ,  20   b , etc.) each have a width such as to clamp-grip the respective original wire (F 0   a , F 0   b , etc.).  
   
   
       22 )- Apparatus according to claim  20 , characterized in that said one or more channels ( 10   a ,  20   a ;  10   b ,  20   b , etc.) each have a width such as not to clamp-grip the respective original wire (F 0   a , F 0   b ).  
   
   
       23 )- Apparatus according to claim  15 , characterized in that said first series of bending-curving rollers ( 10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40 ) comprises: 
 a frame comprising two side walls (Ta and Tb) extending longitudinally and vertically and intended to support, from upstream to downstream, in succession:    two first slides ( 11   a ,  11   b ) movable vertically and guided ( 12   a ,  12   b ) on a respective wall (Ta, Tb) and able to be adjusted vertically by means of respective adjusting members ( 13   a ,  13   b ), said first slides ( 11   a ,  11   b ) being intended to support the opposite ends of a first roller ( 10 ) having a first axis of rotation (10×);    the opposite ends of a second roller ( 20 ) having an axis of rotation (20×) arranged parallel with respect to the first axis (10×);    two second slides ( 31   a ,  31   b ) movable vertically and guided ( 32   a ,  32   b ) on a respective wall (Ta, Tb) and able to be adjusted vertically by means of adjusting members ( 33   a ,  33   b ), said second slides ( 31   a ,  31   b ) being intended to support the opposite ends of a third roller ( 30 ) having an axis of rotation (30×);    the opposite ends of a fourth roller ( 40 ) having an axis of rotation (40×) arranged parallel with respect to the first axis (10×).    
   
   
       24 )- Apparatus according to claim  23 , characterized in that said second series of straightening rollers ( 50 ,  60 ,  70 ,  80 ,  80 ,  100 ,  110 ) comprises: 
 two third slides ( 51   a ,  51   b ) movable vertically and guided ( 52   a ,  52   b ) on a respective wall (Ta, Tb) and able to be adjusted vertically by means of respective adjusting members ( 53   a ,  53   b ), said third slides ( 51   a ,  51   b ) being intended to support the opposite ends of a fifth roller ( 50 ) having a fifth axis of rotation (50×) arranged parallel with respect to the first axis (10×);    the opposite ends of a sixth roller ( 60 ) having an axis of rotation (60×) arranged parallel with respect to the first axis (10×);    two fourth slides ( 71   a ,  71   b ) movable vertically and guided ( 72   a ,  72   b ) on a respective wall (Ta, Tb) and able to be adjusted vertically by means of adjusting members ( 73   a ,  73   b ), said fourth slides ( 71   a ,  71   b ) being intended to support the opposite ends of a seventh roller ( 70 ) having an axis of rotation (70×) arranged parallel with respect to the first axis (10×);    the opposite ends of an eighth roller ( 80 ) having an axis of rotation (80×) arranged parallel with respect to the first axis (10×).    
   
   
       25 )- Apparatus according to claim  15 , characterized in that said first series of bending/curving rollers ( 10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40 ) comprises a second roller ( 20 ) and/or a third bending-curving roller ( 30 ) having a radius preferably equal to or less than the minimum radius of curvature of the original wire (Fa).  
   
   
       26 )- Apparatus according to claim  15  ( FIGS. 3A and 3B ), characterized in that a roller ( 40 ) has the circumferential grooves ( 40   a , etc.) arranged in one plane (X 1   a , etc.) and the following roller ( 50 ) has the circumferential grooves ( 50   a , etc.) arranged in a second plane (X 2   a , etc.) arranged spaced transversely with respect to the first plane (X 1   a , etc.) in order to configure between said two rollers ( 40 ,  50 ) a travel path for the wires comprising a fourth sub-segment (D′E′) for lateral bending and oriented skew alongside the first plane (X 1   a ).