Patent Publication Number: US-7594418-B2

Title: Arc type blade transfer apparatus

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates to an arc type blade transfer apparatus for transferring an arc type blade in a blade bending apparatus, and more particularly to an arc type blade transfer apparatus which can transfer an arc type blade having an inner radius and an outer radius, transferring distances of which are different from each other. 
   BACKGROUND ART 
   In general, a blade bending apparatus is an apparatus for continuously bending a strip-shaped blade, which is wound around a roll, by using a bending pin. In order to continuously bend the strip-shaped blade in the blade bending apparatus, it is important to transfer the blade from the roll at an adequate rate. When the strip-shaped blade has a straight shape, the blade is put on a horizontal rotating roller and transferred by a frictional force between a surface of the blade and the roller. 
   However, in case of an arc type blade  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , because an inner radius r and an outer radius R of the blade are different from each other, it is needed to make the transfer of the inner radius portion and the transfer of the outer radius portion different so as to maintain the shape of the arc type blade as it is. Because the horizontal roller used for transferring the conventional straight type blade has a constant diameter over the whole circumferential surface, the horizontal roller is not useful for transferring the arc type blade which should be transferred under the condition that the transfer of the inner radius portion is different from the transfer of the outer radius portion. 
   An arc type blade transfer apparatus of a prior art is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 8-332524. As shown in  FIG. 2 , an arc type blade transfer apparatus of the prior art comprises pressure rollers  700  and  701  for pressurizing the outer peripheral surface of the arc type blade  10 , and a driving gear  720  for transferring the arc type blade  10  by being tooth-engaged with slits  11  formed at the inner peripheral surface of the blade  10 . Another arc type blade transfer apparatus of a prior art is disclosed in Korean Patent Laid-open Publication No. 10-2003-0025677. As shown in  FIG. 3 , an arc type blade transfer apparatus of the prior art comprises a transfer unit  800  which holds the arc type blade  10  and is rotated around a center point O. 
   However, because the prior art transfer apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 2  uses the slits  11  formed at the inner peripheral surface of the arc type blade, when a shape of the slits  11  or a gap between the slits  11  is changed, the driving gear  720  should be replaced correspondingly to the changed slits. Also, because the prior art transfer apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 3  requires devices for supporting the arc type blade and rotating the transfer unit  800  around the center point, a structure becomes complicated. 
   DISCLOSURE 
   Technical Problem 
   Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an arc type blade transfer apparatus which provides a transfer roller capable of transferring an arc type blade having an inner radius and an outer radius, transferring distances of which are different from each other, in a circumferential direction, thereby simplifying a structure of a transfer apparatus. 
   Technical Solution 
   In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of an arc type blade transfer apparatus for transferring an arc type blade having an inner radius and an outer radius, transferring distances of which are different from each other, the apparatus comprising: a main body which is formed with a space through which the arc type blade passes; and a transfer roller which is rotatably mounted to the main body and is rotated to transfer the arc type blade, the transfer roller being formed in a truncated-conical shape including a small-diameter end, a large-diameter end and a tapered peripheral surface formed between the small-diameter end and the large-diameter end, and being slantedly mounted with respect to a surface of the arc type blade so that the tapered peripheral surface of the transfer roller is in parallel contact with the surface of the arc type blade. Accordingly, the arc type blade having the inner radius and the outer radius can be transferred by one transfer roller. 
   Preferably, a ratio of a circumferential length of the inner radius of the arc type blade to a circumferential length at a small-diameter contact point of the transfer roller with an inner peripheral portion of the arc type blade is equal to a ratio of a circumferential length of the outer radius of the arc type blade to a circumferential length at a large-diameter contact point of the transfer roller with an outer peripheral portion of the arc type blade. Accordingly, the accurate transfer of the arc type blade can be achieved. 
   Preferably, the main body further includes guide members for supporting and guiding the arc type blade to be transferred. Accordingly, the arc type blade can be smoothly transferred while maintaining the shape of the arc type blade as it is. 
   Preferably, the main body further includes a pressure roller which is rotatably mounted to the main body on an opposite side of the arc type blade to the transfer roller and pressurizes the arc type blade toward the transfer roller. Accordingly, a frictional force between the transfer roller and the arc type blade can be adequately maintained. 
   Preferably, the pressure roller is rotatably mounted to an adjusting part which is up/down movably coupled to the main body above the pressure roller. Accordingly, by adjusting the up/down movement of the adjusting part, the pressurizing force of the pressure roller exerted to the arc type blade can be regulated. 
   Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a driving unit which is connected to a rotating shaft of the transfer roller to rotate the transfer roller which is slantedly mounted. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a view showing a general arc type blade; 
       FIG. 2  is a view showing an arc type blade transfer apparatus of a prior art; 
       FIG. 3  is a view showing another arc type blade transfer apparatus of a prior art; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing an arc type blade transfer apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line A-A in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a transfer roller of an arc type blade transfer apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 7  is a view showing a guide member of an arc type blade transfer apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   BEST MODE 
   Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings.  FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing an arc type blade transfer apparatus of the present invention,  FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line A-A in  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a transfer roller of an arc type blade transfer apparatus of the present invention, and  FIG. 7  is a view showing a guide member of an arc type blade transfer apparatus of the present invention. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , an arc type blade transfer apparatus of the present invention comprises a main body  20  which includes a base  21  fixedly mounted to a predetermined position, a transfer roller  30  which is mounted to the main body  20  to transfer an arc type blade  10 , and guide members  40  which guide the transfer of the arc type blade  10 . 
   The main body  20  includes side supporting blocks  22   a  and  22   b  which are vertically mounted on the base  21 , and a top block  23  which is horizontally coupled to upper ends of the side supporting blocks  22   a  and  22   b , so that the main body  20  has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The main body  20  is formed with a space  24  thereinside, through which the arc type blade  10  passes. 
   The guide members  40  ( 40   a  and  40   b ) for guiding the transferred arc type blade  10  are mounted to the main body  20 . In this embodiment, so as to guide and support the arc type blade  10  at both an inlet and an outlet of the main body  20 , the first and second guide members  40   a  and  40   b  are mounted to the inlet and the outlet of the main body  20 , respectively. However, according to the design, only one guide member may be selectively mounted to the inlet or the outlet of the main body. 
   The first guide member  40   a  mounted to the inlet and the second guide member  40   b  mounted to the outlet are formed with guide recesses  41  ( 41   a  and  41   b ) on their upper surfaces, on which the arc type blade  10  is disposed. A part of the guide recess  41   a  of the first guide member and a part of the guide recess  41   b  of the second guide member are protruded inward the space  24  of the main body  20 . The guide recesses  41 , on which the transferred arc type blade  10  is disposed, have a same curvature as the arc type blade  10 . Also, it is preferable to design each of the guide recesses  41  so that an inner radius of the guide recess is equal to an inner radius r of the arc type blade  10 . When the inner radius r of the arc type blade  10  is set to be equal to the inner radius of the guide recess, once the arc type blade  10  is loaded such that its peripheral surface contacts the inner peripheral surfaces of the guide recesses  41 , the inner peripheral surface of the arc type blade  10  is always kept in contact with the inner peripheral surfaces of the guide recesses  41  during the transfer of the arc type blade  10 . 
   A width of each of the guide recesses  41  is a little larger than a width (a difference between the outer radius R and the inner radius r) of the arc type blade  10 . In other words, the inner peripheral surface of the arc type blade  10  contacts the inner peripheral surfaces of the guide recesses  41 , while the outer peripheral surface of the arc type blade  10  is spaced apart a small distance from the outer peripheral surfaces of the guide recesses  41 , thereby preventing the transfer of the arc type blade  10  from being hindered by the guide recesses  41 . 
   Covers  42  ( 42   a  and  42   b ) are detachably coupled on the first guide member  40   a  mounted to the inlet and the second guide member  40   b  mounted to the outlet. By removing the covers  42  from the guide members, the arc type blade  10  can be easily loaded on the guide recesses  41 . By coupling the covers  42  onto the guide members, the arc type blade  10  is prevented from being separated from the guide recesses  41 . 
   The guide members  40  are detachably mounted onto the base  21  of the main body  20 . Accordingly, a variety of guide members, on each of which a guide recess is formed correspondingly to the shape of the arc type blade, are provided, and the guide members can be replaced according to the shape of the arc type blade to be transferred. 
   A transfer roller  30  is rotatably mounted inside the space  24  of the main body  20 , to contact a surface of the arc type blade  10 . In this embodiment, the transfer roller  30  is mounted in a lower portion of the space  24  between the first guide member  40   a  and the second guide member  40   b , and can be rotated with respect to the main body  20 . As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the transfer roller  30  is formed in a truncated-cone shape, which has a tapered peripheral surface  32 . In other words, a diameter of one end  33  (a small-diameter end) of the transfer roller is different from a diameter of the other end  34  (a large-diameter end). Accordingly, when the transfer roller  30  is rotated, a peripheral moving distance d of a contact point  33   a  (hereinafter, which will be called a “small-diameter contact point”) between the inner peripheral portion of the arc type blade  10  and the peripheral surface near the small-diameter end  33  of the transfer roller  30  is different from a peripheral moving distance D of a contact point  34   a  (hereinafter, which will be called a “large-diameter contact point”) between the outer peripheral portion of the arc type blade  10  and the peripheral surface near the large-diameter end  34  of the transfer roller  30 . 
   The present invention applies the above features, of that there is a difference between the peripheral moving distance d of the small-diameter contact point  33   a  and the peripheral moving distance D of the large-diameter contact point  34   a , to the transfer of the arc type blade. For this, the transfer roller  30  is mounted to the main body  20  in such a manner that a rotating shaft  31  of the transfer roller  30  is slanted with respect to the surface of the arc type blade  10  which contacts the transfer roller  30 . In other words, the transfer roller  30  is slantedly mounted so that the inner peripheral portion of the arc type blade  10  contacts the small-diameter contact point  33   a  of the transfer roller  30  and the outer peripheral portion of the arc type blade  10  contacts the large-diameter contact point  34   a  of the transfer roller  30 . Accordingly, the tapered peripheral surface  32  of the transfer roller  30  comes into contact with the overall surface of the arc type blade  10 . As a result, the arc type blade having the inner radius and the outer radius, the transferring distances of which are different from each other, can be transferred by the rotation of the transfer roller  30 . 
   In order to accurately transfer the arc type blade  10 , an inclination of the tapered peripheral surface  32  of the transfer roller  30 , i.e., a mounting inclination of the transfer roller  30  should have a prescribed relation with the inner radius and the outer radius of the arc type blade  10 . In particular, a circumferential length of the inner radius r of the arc type blade  10  is in proportion to a circumferential length at the small-diameter contact point  33   a  of the transfer roller  30 , and a circumferential length of the outer radius R of the arc type blade  10  is in proportion to a circumferential length at the large-diameter contact point  34   a  of the transfer roller  30 . Preferably, the above two proportional relationships have the same ratio so that the arc type blade  10  can be transferred by the rotation of the transfer roller  10 . 
   In this embodiment, the circumferential length of the inner radius r of the arc type blade  10  is ten times larger than the circumferential length at the small-diameter contact point  33   a  of the transfer roller  30 , and the circumferential length of the outer radius R of the arc type blade  10  is ten times larger than the circumferential length at the large-diameter contact point  34   a  of the transfer roller  30 . In other words, while the transfer roller  30  is rotated ten times, the arc type blade  10  is transferred by one rotation around a center point O. Accordingly, based on the circumferential lengths at the small-diameter contact point  33   a  and the large-diameter contact point  34   a  of the transfer roller, respectively, which are decided by the inner radius r and the outer radius R of the arc type blade  10 , a radius a at the small-diameter contact point  33   a  and a radius A at the large-diameter contact point  34   a  can be determined, and other dimensions necessary for manufacturing the transfer device, such as the inclination of the tapered peripheral surface of the transfer roller  30  adequate for the transfer of the arc type blade  10 , are determined. 
   Further, so as to transfer the arc type blade  10  by the transfer roller  30 , the mounting inclination of the transfer roller  30  with respect to the main body  20  is set to be equal to the inclination of the tapered peripheral surface  32  of the transfer roller  30  so that the tapered peripheral surface  32  of the transfer roller  30  is in parallel with the surface of the arc type blade  10 . Accordingly, the inclination of the tapered peripheral surface of the transfer roller  30  becomes the inclination of the transfer roller  30  with respect to the main body  20 . Also, in order to slantedly mount the transfer roller  30 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , the side supporting blocks  22   a  and  22   b  of the main body  20  may be modified to have slanted surfaces which are perpendicular to the rotating shaft  31 . 
   The rotating shaft  31  of the transfer roller  30 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , is driven by a driving unit  60  like a motor or the like, and a reduction gear  61  and a coupling  62  are mounted between the rotating shaft  31  and the driving unit  60  to adequately adjust the rotation of the transfer roller  30 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the arc type blade  10  disposed on the transfer roller  30  is pressurized by a pressure roller  50  which is mounted to an upper portion of the main body  20 . By the pressurizing force of the pressure roller  50 , a frictional force between the transfer roller  30  and the arc type blade  10  can be adequately maintained, so that the rotating force of the transfer roller  30  is exerted on the arc type blade  10 . The pressure roller  50  is rotatably mounted to an adjusting part  70  which is up/down movably coupled to the main body  20 . Accordingly, the pressure roller  50  is rotated by friction with the transferred arc type blade  10 , and does not affect the transfer of the arc type blade  10 . The pressure roller  50  may be a horizontal roller, or a truncated-conical roller which has the same inclination as the transfer roller  30  and is slantedly mounted with respect to the main body. Such a pressure roller  50  has a function of pressurizing the arc type blade  10  toward the transfer roller  30 . In this embodiment, the horizontal roller is used as the pressure roller  50  because the pressure roller  50  is in line-contact with the arc type blade  10  and does not affect the transfer of the arc type blade  10 . 
   Also, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the pressure roller  50  is designed to contact only a portion of the arc type blade  10 . If the pressure roller  50  pressurizes the overall surface of the arc type blade  10 , the arc type blade  10  may be pressed and deformed so that the inner radius and the outer radius are changed. It is preferable that the pressure roller  50  pressurizes a portion near the outer periphery (i.e., a portion where the slits  11  are not formed) of the arc type blade  10 . If the pressure roller  50  pressurizes the portion where the slits  11  are formed, the pressure roller  50  cannot always constantly pressurize the arc type blade  10  by the slits  11 . 
   The adjusting part  70  includes side plates  71   a  and  71   b  which are mounted to move up and down along guide recesses  220  formed at the side supporting blocks  22   a  and  22   b  of the main body  20 , and a top plate  72  coupled to upper ends of the side plates  71   a  and  71   b . A rotating shaft  51  of the pressure roller  50  is rotatably mounted to the side plates  71   a  and  71   b  of the adjusting part  70 . The top block  23  of the main body  20  is formed with a through-hole  230 . A pressure rod  73  is screw-coupled to the through-hole  230  to move up and down by the rotation, and pressurizes the top plate  72  of the adjusting part  70 . By rotating the pressure rod  73  to adjust the up/down movement of the adjusting part  70 , the pressurizing force of the pressure roller  50  exerted to the arc type blade  10  is regulated. 
   At least one separation-preventing member  80  is mounted to a side of each of the guide recesses  41  formed at the guide members  40 . In this embodiment, because the inner peripheral surface of the arc type blade  10  comes into contact with the inner peripheral surfaces of the guide recesses  41  and the outer peripheral surface of the arc type blade  10  is spaced apart a small distance from the outer peripheral surfaces of the guide recesses  41 , the separation-preventing members  80  are positioned near the outer periphery of the guide recesses  41  and support the outer peripheral surface of the arc type blade  10 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 7 , a roller is used as the separation-preventing member  80 . Two separation-preventing members  80  are provided near the outer periphery of the guide recess  41   a  of the first guide member  40   a  mounted to the inlet, and two separation-preventing members  80  are provided near the outer periphery of the guide recess  41   b  of the second guide member  40   b  mounted to the outlet. The separation-preventing members  80  are rotatably coupled to ends of supporting brackets  82 . The supporting brackets  82  are rotatably mounted about supporting shafts  81  which are vertically mounted on the guide members  40 , and elastically supported by elastic members (not shown). Thus, after the supporting brackets  82  are rotated about the supporting shafts  81 , the supporting brackets  82  can return to original positions by the elastic restoring force of the elastic members. 
   The rotation of the supporting members  82  about the supporting shafts  81  is performed by position adjusting members  83 . The position adjusting members  83  are screw-coupled to fixing plates  84  which are fixed on the guide members  40 , and move forward and backward by the rotation to pressurize the supporting members  82  toward the guide recesses  41 . Accordingly, by adjusting the forward/backward movement of the position adjusting members  83  to pressurize the supporting members  82 , the supporting members  82  are rotated about the supporting shafts  81 , and the separation-preventing members  80  come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the arc type blade  10 . As a result, the separation-preventing members  80  do not only support the outer periphery of the arc type blade  10  but also prevent the arc type blade  10  from being separated from the guide recesses  41 . 
   Hereinafter, an operation of the arc type blade transfer apparatus according to the present invention will be described. The arc type blade  10  is put on the guide recesses  41  of the guide members  40 , and the guide members  40  are covered by the covers  42 . By adjusting the movement of the position adjusting members  83  so that the separation-preventing members  80  support the outer peripheral surface of the arc type blade  10 , the position of the arc type blade  10  in the guide recesses  41  is adjusted in the radial direction. By rotating the pressure rod  73  to adjust the up/down movement of the adjusting part  70 , the pressurizing force of the pressure roller  50  exerted to the arc type blade  10  and the vertical position of the arc type blade  10  are adjusted. 
   Then, the driving unit  60  is driven to rotate the transfer roller  30 , and the arc type blade  10  which is in contact with the transfer roller  30  is transferred along the guide recesses  41  of the guide members  40 . Since the transfer roller  30  is formed in the truncated-cone shape which has the tapered peripheral surface corresponding to the shape of the arc type blade  10 , the transfer roller  30  can transfer the arc type blade  10  having the inner radius and the outer radius, the transferring distances of which are different from each other. 
   INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
   As apparent from the above description, since the arc type blade transfer apparatus in accordance with the present invention can transfer the arc type blade having the inner radius and the outer radius, the transferring distances of which are different from each other, by one transfer roller, the structure of the transfer apparatus can be simplified. 
   Also, since the inclination of the tapered peripheral surface of the transfer roller is determined correspondingly to the shape of the arc type blade and the transfer roller is slantedly mounted so that the overall surface of the arc type blade contacts the tapered peripheral surface of the transfer roller, the accurate transfer of the arc type blade can be achieved. 
   Also, since the arc type blade transferred along the guide recesses is kept to be disposed at constant position in the guide recesses by the pressure roller and the separation-preventing members, the arc type blade can be always regularly transferred. 
   Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.