Wire-forming mechanism for spring making machine

A wire-forming mechanism for spring making machine includes a base frame with two first sliding rail sets, and two wire-forming assemblies for independently performing a two-dimensional action. Each wire-forming assembly includes a movable base panel slidably mounted on one respective first sliding rail set and providing a second sliding rail set that extends in a perpendicular manner relative to the first sliding rail sets, a tool panel slidably mounted on the second sliding rail set and providing an L-shaped tool mount, one or multiple tools selectively mounted in the L-shaped tool mount, and two driving mechanisms for moving the movable base panel along one respective first sliding rail set and the tool panel along the second sliding rail set respectively.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to spring making machine technology and more particularly, to a wire-forming mechanism for spring making machine, which uses two reversely arranged wire-forming assemblies for carrying two tools in L-shaped tool mounts at tool panels thereof selectively at different locations and angles, so that when one tool is moved back, the other tool is fed into the workpiece, accelerating the tool feeding and retracting speed.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many advanced spring making machines are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,166,786 B2 discloses a wire-forming machine, which comprises a machine frame, a wire feeder and a wire guide for transporting wire to a working area of the machine where the wire is processed by one or more tools. The tools are affixed on a tool plate on the machine frame and around a recess formed in the plate. A wire is fed through the recess to the working area of the machine. The tool plate is fitted on a second plate and is displaceable along a first direction (x) relative to the second plate, while the second plate is displaceable along a second direction (y) relative to the machine plate. Both directions (x, y) have an inclination of 45° each to the vertical normal axis of the wire-forming machine and are perpendicular to each other. According to this prior art design, all tools are affixed on the tool plate. When changing the operating tool, the originally used tool must be retracted prior to feeding of another tool, preventing the originally used tool from impacting the wire guide. Thus, the tool moving stroke is prolonged. Further, the space for tool replacement is limited, complicating the tool replacement operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a wire-forming mechanism for spring making machine, which uses two reversely arranged wire-forming assemblies for carrying two tools in tool panels thereof, so that when one tool is moved back, the other tool is fed into the workpiece, accelerating the tool feeding and retracting speed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a wire-forming mechanism for spring making machine, which has the two L-shaped tool mounts at the two tool panels of the two wire-forming assemblies arranged reversed to each other so that one L-shaped tool mount exhibits an L shape and the other L-shaped tool mount exhibits an inverted L shape, and the tools can be selectively mounted in the L-shaped tool mounts at different locations and angles.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a wire-forming mechanism for spring making machine, which has the two L-shaped tool mounts of the two wire-forming assemblies thereof so arranged with the respective L-shaped interior angles of the two L-shaped tool mounts facing toward each other in an oblique manner so that a large accommodation space is defined between the tool mounts for the mounting of tools in a conveniently replaceable manner.

To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, a wire-forming mechanism for spring making machine comprises a base frame and two independently operable wire-forming assemblies. Each wire-forming assembly comprises a movable base panel, a tool panel, at least one tool and two driving mechanisms. The movable base panel is slidably mounted on one respective first sliding rail set of the base frame, comprising a second sliding rail set located at an outer side thereof. The second sliding rail set extends in a perpendicular relationship with the first sliding rail sets of the base frame. The movable base panel is connected to one driving mechanism and controlled by the respective driving mechanism to move along the respective first sliding rail set. The tool panel is slidably mounted on the second sliding rail set, comprising an L-shaped tool mount for holding the at least one tool. The tool panel is connected to the other driving mechanism and controlled by the respective driving mechanism to move along the second sliding rail set of the movable base panel.

Further, the L-shaped tool mounts of the tool panels of the two wire-forming assemblies are arranged reversed to each other, respectively exhibiting an L shape and an inverted L shape. The two L-shaped tool mounts are so arranged with respective L-shaped interior angles thereof facing toward each other in an oblique manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, a spring making machine comprises a machine body10having mounted thereon a wire guide101and a rotator102. The rotator102comprises a servo motor1021, and a transmission belt1022coupled between the servo motor1021and the wire guide101and driven by the servo motor1021to rotate the wire guide101within a predetermined angle. The machine body10further comprises a power system, a central processing unit, a control system, power drive means, transmission means, etc. As the machine body10is not in the scope of the present invention, no further detailed description in this regard will be necessary.

Referring toFIGS. 1-5, a wire-forming mechanism in accordance with the present invention is installed in the aforesaid machine body10. The wire-forming mechanism comprises a base frame1, and two opposing wire-forming assemblies2,2′ that can independently perform a two-dimensional action.

The base frame1comprises two first sliding rail sets11,11′ located at an outer side thereof. The two opposing wire-forming assemblies2,2′ are respectively mounted on the first sliding rail sets11,11′ of the base frame1. Each wire-forming assembly2,2′ comprises a movable base panel21,21′, a tool panel22,22′, at least one tool23,23′ and two driving mechanisms24,25,24′,25′. The two movable base panels21,21′ are respectively slidably mounted on the first sliding rail sets11,11′ of the base frame1. Each movable base panel21,21′ comprises a second sliding rail set211,211′ located at an outer side thereof. The second sliding rail sets211,211′ extend in a perpendicular relationship with the first sliding rail sets11,11′ Further, the movable base panels21,21′ are respectively coupled to the driving mechanisms24,24′, and controlled by the respective driving mechanisms24,24′ to move along the respective first sliding rail sets11,11′ of the base frame1. As illustrated inFIG. 2, each driving mechanism24,24′ comprises a servo motor241,241′, a lead screw242,242′, and a screw seat243,243′ affixed to the associating movable base panel21,21′. Operating the servo motor241,241′ can rotate the lead screw242,242′, causing movement of the screw seat243,243′ and the associating movable base panel21,21′ axially along the respective lead screw242,242′.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1-5, the tool panels22,22′ of the two wire-forming assemblies2,2′ are respectively slidably mounted on the second sliding rail sets211,211′ of the associating movable base panels21,21′, each comprising an L-shaped tool mount221,221′ for the mounting of the respective tool23,23′. Further, the tool panels22,22′ are respectively connected to the driving mechanisms25,25′, and drivable by the respective driving mechanisms25,25′ to vmove along the respective second sliding rail sets211,211′ of the respective movable base panels21,21′. As illustrated inFIG. 4, each driving mechanism25,25′ comprises a servo motor251,251′, a lead screw252,252′, and a screw seat253,253′ affixed to the associating tool panel22,22′. Operating the servo motor251,251′ can rotate the lead screw252,252′, causing movement of the screw seat253,253′ and the associating tool panel22,22′ axially along the respective lead screw252,252′.

Referring toFIGS. 3-7, the L-shaped tool mounts221,221′ of the tool panels22,22′ of the two wire-forming assemblies2,2′ are arranged reversed to each other, respectively exhibiting an L shape and an inverted L shape. The two L-shaped tool mounts221,221′ are so arranged with the respective L-shaped interior angles thereof facing toward each other in an oblique manner so that a large accommodation space is defined between the tool mounts221,221′ for the mounting of tools23,23′ in a conveniently replaceable manner. Further, the aforesaid two L-shaped tool mounts221,221′ each comprise an oblique side block2211,2211′ located at the L-shaped interior angle thereof. This oblique side block2211,2211′ reinforces the structural strength of the respective tool mount221,221′, and also provides an oblique angle for the mounting of the tool23,23′.

Further, as illustrated, the tool panel22,22′ furthert comprises a plurality of screw holes located in the tool mount221,221′ and the oblique side block2211,2211′ for the fastening of screws to affix different tools23,23′. In the application examples shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, tools23,23′ are mounted in the L-shaped tool mounts221,221′ and the oblique side blocks2211,2211′ at different locations and angles.

Referring toFIGS. 3-7, different tools23,23′ are adapted to provide different functions, such as guiding, positioning, rotating, curving or cutting, and respectively carried to move by the respective tool panels22,22′. The tool panels22,22′ are respectively carried to move by the respective movable base panels21,21′. Therefore, the loaded tools23,23′ can be moved in two axial directions within a predetermined range, thereby making springs20subject to predetermined specifications, as shownFIG. 5. Because the wire-forming mechanism of the invention provides two wire-forming assemblies2,2′, the two wire-forming assemblies2,2′ can be moved at the same time after one tool23,23′ completed an operation. At this time, one tool23,23′ is moved back, and the other tool23,23′ is fed into the workpiece, and thus, the tool feeding and retracting speed can be significantly accelerated.

Referring toFIG. 8, the tool panels22,22′ of the two wire-forming assemblies2,2′ have supplementary air cylinders3,3′ connected thereto. These supplementary air cylinders3,3′ are fixedly mounted at the base frame1with the piston rods31,31′ thereof respectively connected to the tool panels22,22′. The reciprocating operation of the supplementary air cylinders3,3′ is designed to be implemented in a synchronous manner relative to the movement of the tool panels22,22′ to share the pressure that is applied to the tool panels22,22′, enabling the tool panels22,22′ to be moved with less resistance.