Apparatus for bending plates with rolls

Abstract

An apparatus for bending plates comprises a support structure ( 5 ) carrying two rollers ( 2, 3 ) and a pressure roller ( 4 ) which, in co-operation with each other, define a curved feeding path (P) for a plate (L) to be bent. The rollers ( 2, 3 ) are movable relative to the pressure roller ( 4 ) to vary at least one curvature value of the feeding path (P). The apparatus ( 1 ) further comprises a pair of articulated kinematic mechanisms ( 13 ) each of which acts on a respective roller ( 2, 3 ) to move said roller along a plurality of trajectories lying in a plane transverse to a rotation axis (X 1 , X 2 ) of the roller ( 2, 3 ).

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . A calendering apparatus, comprising:
 a support structure ( 5 ), and   at least two rollers ( 2 ,  3 ) and one pressure roller ( 4 ), said rollers ( 2 ,  3 ) and pressure roller ( 4 ) being carried by said support structure ( 5 ) and, in co-operation with each other, defining a curved feeding path (P) for a plate (L) to be bent, said rollers ( 2 ,  3 ) being in addition movable relative to the pressure roller ( 4 ) to vary at least one curvature value of said feeding path (P);   guide means ( 12 ) connected to the support structure ( 5 ) and acting on said rollers ( 2 ,  3 ) to move the latter close to and away from the pressure roller ( 4 );   
     characterised in that said guide means ( 12 ) comprises, for at least one of said first and second rollers ( 2 ,  3 ), at least one articulated kinematic mechanism ( 13 ) having at least one support portion ( 14 ) for the respective roller ( 2 ,  3 ), said support portion ( 14 ) being movable along a plurality of trajectories lying in a plane transverse to a rotation axis (X 1 , X 2 ) of the respective roller ( 2 ,  3 ), to move said roller ( 2 ,  3 ) in a plurality of directions relative to the pressure roller ( 4 ). 
   
   
       18 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , characterised in that said guide means ( 12 ) is movable according to a plurality of positions included between:
 a first operating position, at which said means arranges the rotation axis (X 1 ) of the first roller ( 2 ), the rotation axis (X 3 ) of the pressure roller ( 4 ), and respective contact lines between the plate (L) and said first roller ( 2 ) and pressure roller ( 4 ) in a mutually aligned position along a first common plane (Y 1 ), while keeping the plate (L) pressed between the first roller ( 2 ) and pressure roller ( 4 ), and   a second operating position at which said means arranges the rotation axis (X 2 ) of the second roller ( 3 ), the rotation axis (X 3 ) of the pressure roller ( 4 ), and respective contact lines between the plate (L) and said second roller ( 3 ) and pressure roller ( 4 ) in a mutually aligned position along a second common plane (Y 2 ), while maintaining the plate (L) pressed between the second roller ( 3 ) and pressure roller ( 4 ).   
   
   
       19 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , characterised in that said support portion ( 14 ) can be rotatably moved around a movable fulcrum ( 22 ), rotation of the support portion ( 14 ) around said movable fulcrum ( 22 ) and displacement of the position of said fulcrum ( 22 ) allowing said support portion ( 14 ) to follow said plurality of trajectories. 
   
   
       20 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , characterised in that said at least one articulated kinematic mechanism ( 13 ) has at least one portion connected to the support structure ( 5 ) by a fixed-axis hinge (C). 
   
   
       21 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , characterised in that said fulcrum ( 22 ) is movable along a rectilinear adjustment path (R). 
   
   
       22 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , characterised in that said at least one articulated kinematic mechanism ( 13 ) comprises at least one arm ( 17 ) defining said support portion ( 14 ), said arm ( 17 ) being movable under the action of at least one pair of actuator members ( 23 ,  24 ) connected to the support structure ( 5 ), said arm ( 17 ) and pair of actuator members ( 23 ,  24 ) defining an articulated quadrilateral ( 15 ). 
   
   
       23 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 22 , characterised in that a first one of said actuator members ( 23 ,  24 ) comprises a linear guide ( 24 ) fastened to the support structure ( 5 ) and having a slider ( 24   b ) rotatably connected to a first portion ( 17   a ) of said arm ( 17 ) to guide said first portion ( 17   a ) along a fixed rectilinear translation direction. 
   
   
       24 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , characterised in that said slider ( 24   b ) is connected to said arm ( 17 ) by a universal joint. 
   
   
       25 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 24 , characterised in that said linear guide ( 24 ) comprises a screw threaded rod ( 24   a ) on which a threaded portion of said slider ( 24   b ) is rotatably engaged, rotation of said threaded rod ( 24   a ) generating translation of said slider ( 24   b ) along a major extension direction of the threaded rod ( 24   a ). 
   
   
       26 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 25 , characterised in that the second one of said actuator members ( 23 ,  24 ) is a linear actuator ( 23 ) acting between a second portion ( 17   b ) of said arm ( 17 ) and the support structure ( 5 ) to rotate the arm ( 17 ) around a hinging fulcrum ( 22 ) relative to the first actuator member ( 24 ). 
   
   
       27 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 26 , characterised in that said linear actuator ( 23 ) has a first end secured to said support structure ( 5 ) by a fixed-axis hinge (C) and a second end hinged on said second portion ( 17   b ) of said arm ( 17 ). 
   
   
       28 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , characterised in that in said first operating position, the linear actuator ( 23 ) is disposed along said first common plane (Y 1 ). 
   
   
       29 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , characterised in that said guide means comprises one said articulated kinematic mechanism ( 13 ) for each of said first ( 2 ) and second ( 3 ) rollers. 
   
   
       30 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , characterised in that said at least one articulated kinematic mechanism ( 13 ) comprises two articulated quadrilaterals ( 15 ) acting on axially opposite ends (Z) of a respective roller ( 2 ,  3 ) and operable independently of each other to enable calendering of plates (L) according to conical conformations. 
   
   
       31 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , characterised in that it comprises a control box operatively interlocked with the actuator members ( 23 ,  24 ) of said articulated quadrilaterals ( 15 ) to move at least one of said rollers ( 2 ,  3 ) between a first position at which said roller ( 2 ,  3 ) generates a thrust towards the pressure roller ( 4 ) to give rise to a grip action on the plate (L), and a second position at which said roller ( 2 ,  3 ) is moved apart from the pressure roller ( 4 ). 
   
   
       32 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , characterised in that said linear actuator ( 23 ) associated with the first roller ( 2 ) is disposed at an intermediate position included between the respective linear guide ( 24 ) and the second roller ( 3 ).