Multipurpose machine for bending metal tubes, both small and large

Abstract

Machine for bending pieces of elongated form, both to the right and to the left, and of any transverse size and thickness compatibly with the maximum mechanical torque exertable by the machine itself, including a base, an upper surface on which all the mechanisms are mounted which allow bending the piece, as well as, within the base, the power unit which provide the necessary torque and power. The mechanisms include kits removably mounted on the machine and adaptable to the shape and size of the respective piece. An overturnable and rotatable member at one end bears a counter-matrix substitutable for small tubes and at the other end bears a counter-matrix substitutable for large tubes. The member allows selectively moving a matrix closer to the corresponding counter-matrix and bending the tube both to the right and to the left, according to which side of the overturnable member is momentarily directed upward.

1 . Machine ( 1 ) for bending a piece having longitudinal form such as a tube or a section bar, e.g. with circular, rectangular, oval section or the like, comprising a base ( 2 ) with an upper surface ( 3 ), as well as power means, for developing the power and the mechanical torque necessary for bending said piece to be bent, such as a gear motor, or the like, in which said power means transmit the rotary motion to a matrix ( 10   p ;  10   g ) mounted on the upper surface ( 3 ) and having substantially circular form with an annular groove whose profile substantially copies the form of the transverse half section of the piece, the machine ( 1 ) further comprising a counter-matrix ( 16   p ,  17   p ;  16   g ,  17   g ) cooperating with said matrix ( 10   p ;  10   g ) and which is mounted in front of the matrix itself above the upper surface ( 3 ), in a manner so as to make the piece pass between the matrix and the counter-matrix during operation, the matrix ( 10   p ;  10   g ) further comprising a drive bracket ( 19   p ;  19   g ) and the piece being inserted during the operation of the machine ( 1 ) also between the drive bracket ( 19   p ;  19   g ) and the wall of the annular groove of the matrix ( 10   p ;  10   g ), wherein the machine ( 1 ) provides for a member ( 13 ) which is mounted in an unthreadable or extractible manner from a vertical axle ( 12 ) as well as rotatable around the same vertical axle ( 12 ) above the upper surface ( 3 ), said member ( 13 ) having a first side and a second side, as well as a first end and a second end, said first end of the member ( 13 ) supporting a first counter-matrix ( 16   p ,  17   p ) for bending small pieces, with smaller transverse section, and said second end of the member ( 13 ) supporting a second counter-matrix ( 16   g ,  17   g ) for bending large pieces, with greater transverse section, said first end and said second end of the member ( 13 ) being substantially aligned with respect to the center of the matrix ( 10   p ;  10   g ) as well as with respect to said vertical shaft or axle ( 12 ) during operation, and said member ( 13 ) being rotatable around the vertical axle ( 12 ) in order to selectively bring one or the other of said counter-matrices ( 16   p ,  17   p  or  16   g ,  17   g ) in a position such to cooperate with the respective matrix ( 10   p  or  10   g ) during the operation of the machine ( 1 ), and wherein during operation, the member ( 13 ) assumes one of the four following positions and cannot rotate by virtue of anti-rotation means:
 a first position, with the first side of the member ( 13 ) directed upward, in which the first counter-matrix ( 16   p ,  17   p ) cooperates with a first matrix ( 10   p ), for small pieces, bending a small piece ( 4   p ) to the right;   a second position, rotated 180° with respect to the first position around the vertical axle ( 12 ) and in which the second counter-matrix ( 16   g ,  17   g ) cooperates with a second matrix ( 10   g ), for large pieces, bending a large piece ( 4   g ) to the left;   a third position, with the first side of the member ( 13 ) directed downward, in which the second counter-matrix ( 16   g ,  17   g ) cooperates with said second matrix ( 10   g ), for large pieces, bending a large piece ( 4   g ) to the right; and   a fourth position, rotated 180° with respect to the third position around the vertical axle ( 12 ) and in which the first counter-matrix ( 16   p ,  17   p ) cooperates with said first matrix ( 10   p ), for small pieces, bending a small piece ( 4   p ) to the left.   
     
     
         2 . Machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said member ( 13 ) is mounted on a block that can be translated ( 7 ) in the direction defined by said first and said second end when said ends are aligned with said center of the matrix ( 10   p ;  10   g ), said vertical axle ( 12 ) being integral and perpendicular to an upper surface ( 7 ) of the translatable block. 
     
     
         3 . Machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the position of the translatable block ( 7 ) is adjustable by means of guide and regulation means ( 5 ,  6 ,  8 ,  8 ′,  9 ), for moving the first counter-matrix ( 16   p ,  17   p ) closer to/away from the first matrix ( 10   p ), or respectively the second counter-matrix ( 16   g ,  17   g ) closer to/away from the second matrix ( 10   g ). 
     
     
         4 . Machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein said anti-rotation means are vertical abutment surfaces ( 22 ,  22 ′) formed respectively on the first side and on the second side of the member ( 13 ), which cooperate with a fixed projection, and in particular with a projection integral with the upper surface of the translatable block ( 7 ). 
     
     
         5 . Machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein an adapter is provided for adapting a power take-off of said power means to any one matrix ( 10   p ,  10   g ) for large pieces ( 4   g ) or small pieces ( 4   p ). 
     
     
         6 . Machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second counter-matrix, respectively mounted on the first and second end of the member ( 13 ), constitute counter-matrices comprising an arm ( 15   p ;  15   g ) rotatably mounted on the respective end of the member ( 13 ), and further comprising, on said arm ( 15   p ;  15   g ), a roller ( 16   p ,  16   g ) and an insert ( 17   p ,  17   g ) made of hard, anti-friction and wear-resistant material, e.g. cemented steel or amco, arranged at the opposite end of the arm with respect to the roller ( 16   p ,  16   g ). 
     
     
         7 . Machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said member ( 13 ) has a lever arm ( 14 ) in order to make it rotate from said first position thereof up to said second position thereof, as well as from said third position thereof up to said fourth position thereof. 
     
     
         8 . Machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said drive bracket ( 19   p ;  19   g ) mounted on the matrix ( 10   p ;  10   g ), is rotatable 90° between a first position for bending tubes to the right, and a second position, for bending tubes to the left. 
     
     
         9 . Machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the matrix, including its pin and its drive bracket of the piece or tube, the counter-matrix comprising the roller, the insert and the relative oscillating arm of the counter-matrix, form a kit with variable characteristics, including size and/or strength, mountable on the machine as a function of the size, thickness of the material and the material of the piece to be bent. 
     
     
         10 . Machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein its base ( 2 ) has on the lower part, on a longer side thereof, two recesses in which clamps of a fork lift are inserted, as well as on another side thereof, narrower, openings lacking bottom for the insertion of strips with wheels belonging to a manual pallet-carrier carriage with wheels restable on the ground, wherein the positions on the base ( 2 ) of the recesses for the clamps of the fork lift are selected in a manner such to be centered with respect to the center of gravity of the machine ( 1 ) itself. 
     
     
         11 . Machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said member ( 13 ) is configured in a manner so as to support at said first end, in a removable manner and selectively or alternatively, various counter-matrices that form the components of a kit of counter-matrices, for different types of pieces ( 4   p ) with smaller size, and in a manner so as to support at said second end, in a removable manner and selectively or alternatively, various counter-matrices that form the components of a kit of counter-matrices, for different types of pieces ( 4   g ) with larger size, compatibly with the maximum power and mechanical torque that can be developed by the machine ( 1 ). 
     
     
         12 . Machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein said adapter is configured in a manner so as to adapt the power take-off of said power means to any one pre-existing matrix, constituting part of a kit of matrices substitutable for pieces with smaller size up to the maximum size compatible with the operation of the machine, i.e. with its maximum power and maximum mechanical torque. 
     
     
         13 . Machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein it provides for a system of automatic control and two distinct virtual zero points, that is of reference for a respective initial starting portion of the matrix for bending the piece respectively to the right and to the left, from which the machine starts to bend the tube respectively to the right and to the left, and wherein, based on a selective command given by an operator, the automatic control system rotates the matrix up to the virtual zero point pre-selected for bending the piece respectively to the right and to the left. 
     
     
         14 . Machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 13 , wherein the two virtual zero points are visually indicated on the matrix by an arrow ( 20 ) or by another sign that is visible for the operator, and they are separated from each other by an alpha rotation angle of the matrix around its rotation axle ( 11 ). 
     
     
         15 . Machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein said anti-rotation means are vertical abutment surfaces ( 22 ,  22 ′) formed respectively on the first side and on the second side of the member ( 13 ), which cooperate with a fixed projection, and in particular with a projection integral with the upper surface of the translatable block ( 7 ). 
     
     
         16 . Machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein an adapter is provided for adapting a power take-off of said power means to any one matrix ( 10   p ,  10   g ) for large pieces ( 4   g ) or small pieces ( 4   p ). 
     
     
         17 . Machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein an adapter is provided for adapting a power take-off of said power means to any one matrix ( 10   p ,  10   g ) for large pieces ( 4   g ) or small pieces ( 4   p ). 
     
     
         18 . Machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein an adapter is provided for adapting a power take-off of said power means to any one matrix ( 10   p ,  10   g ) for large pieces ( 4   g ) or small pieces ( 4   p ). 
     
     
         19 . Machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the first and the second counter-matrix, respectively mounted on the first and second end of the member ( 13 ), constitute counter-matrices comprising an arm ( 15   p ;  15   g ) rotatably mounted on the respective end of the member ( 13 ), and further comprising, on said arm ( 15   p ;  15   g ), a roller ( 16   p ,  16   g ) and an insert ( 17   p ,  17   g ) made of hard, anti-friction and wear-resistant material, e.g. cemented steel or amco, arranged at the opposite end of the arm with respect to the roller ( 16   p ,  16   g ). 
     
     
         20 . Machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 14 , wherein alpha=90°.