Device for straightening a strip of semi-rigid material and feeding it into a machine

Abstract

A device ( 1 ) for straightening a strip of semi-rigid material and feeding the strip into a machine, in particular a metallic sheet into a press or the like. The device comprises a lower frame ( 3 ) which carries a set of lower straightening rolls ( 30 ), an upper frame ( 4 ) which carries a set of upper straightening rolls ( 40 ) arranged staggered relative to the lower straightening rolls ( 30 ), and a traction mechanism ( 5 ) for the strip of material arranged both upstream and downstream from the sets of straightening rolls ( 30, 40 ). The device comprises a mechanism for opening and closing ( 7 ) the frames ( 3, 4 ) in order to carry out a function of gripping/releasing the strip of material which is integrated with a mechanism for adjusting ( 6 ) the position of the upper straightening rolls ( 40 ) relative to the lower straightening rolls ( 30 ), both of the mechanisms are designed to move the upper frame ( 4 ) relative to the lower frame ( 3 ) in a translation movement perpendicular to the frames and using guiding elements ( 60 ) of the mechanism for adjusting ( 6 ) the vertical translation.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . A device ( 1 ) for straightening a strip ( 2 ) of semi-rigid material and feeding the strip ( 2 ) into a machine, in particular a metallic sheet into a press or the like, the device comprising:
 at least one lower frame ( 3 ) which carries a set of lower straightening rolls ( 30 ),   an upper frame ( 4 ) which carries a set of upper straightening rolls ( 40 ) arranged staggered relative to the lower straightening rolls ( 30 ),   traction means ( 5 ) for the strip of material arranged both upstream and downstream from the sets of straightening rolls ( 30 ,  40 ),   means for adjusting ( 6 ) the vertical position of the upper straightening rolls ( 40 ) relative to the lower straightening rolls ( 30 ), the means for adjusting ( 6 ) comprising guiding elements ( 60 ) for the vertical translation of each upper straightening rolls ( 40 ), and means for opening and closing ( 7 ) the upper ( 4 ) and lower ( 3 ) frames designed such that, in a closed position, the strip ( 2 ) of material is gripped between the lower straightening rolls ( 30 ) and the upper straightening rolls ( 40 ) and, in an open position, the strip ( 2 ) of material is released from the constraint of the straightening rolls ( 30 ,  40 ),   wherein the means for opening and closing ( 7 ) the frames ( 3 ,  4 ) are integrated with the means for adjusting ( 6 ) the position of the upper straightening rolls ( 40 ) and are designed to move the upper frame ( 4 ), relative to the lower frame ( 3 ), in a translation movement perpendicular to the frames ( 3 ,  4 ), and comprise guiding elements ( 60 ) of the adjustment means ( 6 ) in vertical translation.   
   
   
       12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the means for opening and closing ( 7 ) the frames comprise a lifting module ( 70 ) arranged between the upper frame ( 4 ) and the upper straightening rolls ( 40 ), and coupled to at least one lifting mechanism ( 71 ,  72 ) designed to move the lifting module ( 70 ) and, at the same time, the upper frame ( 4 ) and the upper straightening rolls ( 40 ) in vertical translation between the close and open positions, and vice-versa. 
   
   
       13 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the lifting mechanism comprises at least one cam ( 71 ) rotationally driven about a fixed rotation axle (A) by at least one actuator ( 72 ), the cam ( 71 ) cooperating with at least one roller element ( 74 ,  75 ) fixed on the lifting module ( 70 ) and having a cam profile designed so that the close position corresponds to a stable condition of the device ( 1 ) and the open position corresponds to a temporary, unstable condition of the device ( 1 ). 
   
   
       14 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the cam ( 71 ) has two first flat sections ( 711 ) separated by an angle of about 90° and connected by a first essentially circular sector ( 712 ), the cam ( 71 ) cooperating with a first, upper roller element ( 74 ) fixed on the lifting module ( 70 ) in such a manner that the first essentially circular sector ( 712 ) defines the unstable open position of the device ( 1 ) and the first flat sections ( 711 ) form rolling ramps on which the upper roller element ( 74 ) rotates between the close and open positions. 
   
   
       15 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein the cam ( 71 ) has a second flat section ( 712 ), diametrically opposite the first essentially circular sector ( 712 ) and connected to the first flat sections ( 711 ) by second essentially circular sectors ( 714 ), the cam ( 71 ) cooperating with a second, lower roller element ( 75 ) which is fixed on the lifting module ( 70 ) and diametrically opposite the upper roller element ( 74 ) in such a manner that the essentially circular second sectors ( 714 ) define the stable, close position of the device ( 1 ) and the second flat section ( 713 ) forms a clearance zone which defines the opening travel C of the device ( 1 ). 
   
   
       16 . The device according to  claim 15 , wherein a gap (E), separating the two, upper ( 74 ) and lower ( 75 ) roller elements fixed on the lifting module ( 70 ), is wider than the largest transverse dimension (D) of the cam ( 71 ), and allows a clearance which defines the opening travel (C) of the device ( 1 ). 
   
   
       17 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the lifting mechanism comprises at least one central control lever ( 78 ) articulated at one end to the actuator ( 72 ) and at the other end to the fixed rotation axle (A) of the cam ( 71 ). 
   
   
       18 . The device according to  claim 17 , wherein the lifting mechanism has two actuators ( 72 ) mounted in opposition to one another on a fixed frame ( 73 ), each actuator ( 72 ) is coupled to the fixed rotation axle (A) of one cam ( 71 ) by a control lever ( 78 ), and the actuators ( 72 ) are mechanically connected so as to operate in opposition and combine their forces. 
   
   
       19 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the actuator ( 72 ) is selected from the group comprising a bistable pneumatic jack and a servomotor. 
   
   
       20 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the traction means ( 5 ) of the strip ( 2 ) of material comprise separate opening and closing means and the device comprises a central control unit for simultaneously controlling the means for opening and closing ( 7 ) the frames ( 3 ,  4 ) and the opening and closing means of the material strip traction means ( 5 ).