Anti-bending profiling head and profiling machine fitted with such heads

Abstract

The use of shafts of small diameter in profiling heads gives rise to problems of bending and of loss of adjustment. In addition, the runout of the shafts can cause them to be ejected. To remedy these problems, the invention provides anti-bending means securing together shaft adjustment and forming means. A profiling head ( 1 ) of a profiling machine includes at least one forming cassette ( 2 ) including a set of two parallel shafts ( 20, 30 ) having wheels ( 201 to 217; 301 to 310 ) separated by spacers ( 200; 300 ) mounted thereon to form rolling tooling, and a frame including uprights ( 41, 51 ) for supporting the shafts ( 20, 30 ) and a base ( 60 ), which uprights are provided with vertical adjustment means ( 44 to 46; 54 to 56 ). According to the invention, the head also includes elements ( 61, 71 ) for adjusting tooling alignment, which elements are mounted laterally on each shaft ( 20, 30 ) being connected ( 4, 5 ) with at least one upright ( 51 ), and anti-bending adjustment means ( 90, 91 ) mounted substantially in a central position of each shaft ( 20, 30 ) connected ( 4, 5 ) with the base ( 60 ) and an adjustment beam ( 80 ) mounted on the uprights ( 41, 51 ) of the frame parallel to the shafts ( 20, 30 ).

1 . A profiling head including at least one wheeled forming cassette comprising a set of two parallel shafts having wheels separated by spacers mounted thereon to form rolling tooling, and a frame comprising uprights for supporting the shafts and a base to which the uprights are fastened, which uprights are provided with vertical adjustment means for vertically adjusting the shafts, the head being characterized in that it also includes elements for adjusting the alignment of the tooling, the elements being mounted laterally on each shaft in connection with at least one upright, and at least one anti-bending adjustment element mounted substantially in a central position of a shaft with a connection to the base and/or an adjustment beam in the event of such an adjustment beam being mounted on the uprights of the frame parallel to the shafts, the lateral adjustment and anti-bending elements, mounted on bearings, then adapt automatically to the vertical adjustment means. 
   
   
       2 . A profiling head according to  claim 1 , wherein the beam can be mounted relative to the forming cassette(s) either on the side opposite from the base, or on the side opposite from the base and on the same side as the base. 
   
   
       3 . A profiling head according to  claim 1 , wherein the connection between the shafts and the base and/or the beam is made by means of rods, at least one of the rods being of adjustable height. 
   
   
       4 . A profiling head according to  claim 3 , wherein the height of the rod is made adjustable by clamping means mounted on an end of said rod that is inserted in an orifice of an endpiece. 
   
   
       5 . A profiling head according to  claim 1 , wherein the lateral adjustment of the alignment of the tooling is performed by centering means in connection with the upright. 
   
   
       6 . A profiling head according to  claim 1 , wherein the connection between the centering means and the upright takes place via cheekplates disposed on either side of the upright. 
   
   
       7 . A profiling head according to  claim 5 , wherein the centering means comprise threaded-shank bolts. 
   
   
       8 . A profiling head according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one anti-bending adjustment element includes a split conical ring of sufficient thickness to act as a spacer, and a bearing having an inner shell presenting the same cone angle as the ring, the inner shell being mounted on the ring. 
   
   
       9 . A profiling head according to  claim 8 , wherein the relative position of the bearing on the ring is adjusted laterally by relative movement of the conical shell along the conical ring driven by adjustment means. 
   
   
       10 . A profiling head according to  claim 9 , wherein the adjustment means comprise a nut in connection with a threaded portion of the split ring. 
   
   
       11 . A profiling head according to  claim 9 , wherein the adjustment means are formed by a wheel bearing against the ring. 
   
   
       12 . A profiling head according to  claim 9 , wherein the adjustment means are formed by a spacer bearing against the ring. 
   
   
       13 . A profiling head according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one anti-bending adjustment element possesses a partial outer shell formed by a section of a cylinder, to which the rod connecting to the base or to the beam is fastened. 
   
   
       14 . A profiling machine including a sheet metal storage reel, a plurality of progressive profiling heads, an outer conveyor fitted with shears for cutting the profiled sheet into plates, a vessel in which the plates are stacked, and electronic equipment for controlling the profiling lines formed by each profiling head, the machine being characterized in that the profiling heads are defined in accordance with  claim 1 . 
   
   
       15 . A profiling machine according to  claim 14 , also including a bender for bending the profiled sheet metal plates.