System and method for feeding electric welding machines with longitudinal wires for producing mesh

Abstract

A system and method for supplying electric welding machines producing meshes ( 5 ), wherein the longitudinal wires ( 1 ) come from material wound on at least one spool ( 4 ) that is unwound with assistance of a reel ( 15 ). The longitudinal wires are fed ( 29 ), subjected to advancement ( 20 ) and straightening ( 17 ), followed by a measurement of length ( 7 ) and cutting ( 4 ) to desired length. Thus, the wires ( 1 ) are supplied to positions of sheaths 19 on an appropriate supplier arrangement ( 2 ) for longitudinal wires ( 1 ), which positions ( 19 ) correspond to locations of the longitudinal wires ( 1 ) in the mesh ( 5 ) to be produced; furthermore the longitudinal wires ( 1 ) are transferred from the supplier arrangement ( 2 ) and introduced into a suitable welding line ( 6 ) where production of mesh ( 5 ) is effected. During the production of mesh ( 5 ) the supplier ( 2 ) for longitudinal wires ( 1 ) may return to its filling position to be supplied anew with longitudinal wires ( 1 ) for the next-to-be-produced mesh ( 5 ).

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A system for feeding longitudinal wires in a welded-mesh producing machine, comprising,
 a feeder configured to supply transverse wires originating either as precut wires or from one or more spools;   welding heads configured to receive the transverse wires and weld them to longitudinal wires in an under-production mesh;   an advancement mechanism for advancing the mesh under production;   a supplier for longitudinal wires;   said supplier includes a longitudinals carrier;   said longitudinals carrier including a plurality of sheaths configured to receive longitudinal wires;   said longitudinals carrier is seated on guides;   at least one spool for longitudinal wire;   a decoiling reel for said at least one spool;   a feeding unit configured to feed longitudinal wire decoiled from said reel to said longitudinals carrier and said sheaths, said feeding unit including an advancement mechanism for longitudinal wire, said feeding unit including a straightener for longitudinal wire, said feeding unit including a measuring mechanism for longitudinal wire, said feeding unit including a cutter for longitudinal wire; and,   a motor configured to drive said carrier and reposition it laterally to selectively align selected ones of said plurality of sheaths to said cutter for selectively filling said sheaths with longitudinal wires exiting said cutter.   
     
     
         14 . A system for feeding longitudinal wires in a welded-mesh producing machine as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 each of said plurality of sheaths includes a respective tube and a respective gripper for retaining longitudinal wires; and,   a respective motor connected to respectively energize each of said respective grippers.   
     
     
         15 . A system for feeding longitudinal wires in a welded-mesh producing machine as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a second carrier receiving longitudinal wires from said longitudinals carrier.   
     
     
         16 . A system for feeding longitudinal wires in a welded-mesh producing machine as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a plurality of spools for supplying longitudinal wire to said sheaths of said longitudinals carrier.   
     
     
         17 . A system for feeding longitudinal wires in a welded-mesh producing machine as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a plurality of spools, equal to the number of different diameters of longitudinal wires in a production mesh, supply said feeding unit.   
     
     
         18 . A system for feeding longitudinal wires in a welded-mesh producing machine as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a plurality of feeding lines for feeding longitudinal wires of the same diameter so as to facilitate faster spool changing.   
     
     
         19 . A system for feeding longitudinal wires in a welded-mesh producing machine as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an electronic computer, in which are entered the necessary characteristics of the under-production mesh, is operationally connected to effect the supervision, the coordination and the control of all the functions of the process of feeding the longitudinal wires and said computer also controls the other functions of the welded-mesh producing machine.   
     
     
         20 . A method of feeding longitudinal wires to a welded-mesh producing machine to produce meshes, comprising,
 feeding transverse wires originating either from a spool or as precut wires, to a welding line;   welding the transverse wires to longitudinal wires in the welding line to produce mesh;   advancing the mesh with continuous step-wise advancements of longitudinal wires in the welding line;   positioning a supplier for longitudinal wires at a filling position;   selectively aligning sheath positions of the supplier, that correspond to positions of the longitudinal wires in the to-production mesh, to a feeding unit;   unwinding longitudinal wire material from a spool with the aid of a means for unwinding;   feeding the unwound longitudinal wire material with the feeding unit;   advancing the longitudinal wire material in the feeding unit;   straightening the longitudinal wire material;   measuring the longitudinal wire material;   cutting the longitudinal wire material;   feeding an aligned sheath position with cut longitudinal wire material;   shifting the supplier for longitudinal wires linearly sideways to a new position;   transferring longitudinal wires from sheath positions of the supplier for longitudinal wires to the welding line;   returning the supplier for longitudinal wires to the filling position;   resupplying the supplier with new longitudinal wires of the next-to-be-produced mesh.   
     
     
         21 . A method of feeding longitudinal wires to a welded-mesh producing machine to produce meshes as claimed in  claim 20 , further comprising the step of:
 feeding longitudinal wires originating from more than one spool to sheath positions of the supplier for longitudinal wires.   
     
     
         22 . A method of feeding longitudinal wires to a welded-mesh producing machine to produce meshes as claimed in  claim 20 , further comprising the step of:
 feeding longitudinal wires originating from the uncoiling of as many spools as the number of diameters of longitudinal wires in the to-production mesh.   
     
     
         23 . A method of feeding longitudinal wires to a welded-mesh producing machine to produce meshes as claimed in  claim 20 , further comprising the step of:
 locating a starting filling position of the supplier either above the plane of welding line or below the plane of welding line.   
     
     
         24 . A method of feeding longitudinal wires to a welded-mesh producing machine to produce meshes as claimed in any  claim 20 , further comprising the step of:
 retaining longitudinal wires by energizing respective grippers via respective motors at sheaths of the supplier for longitudinal wires.