Patent Publication Number: US-8522587-B2

Title: Joint jig of spiral duct manufacturing apparatus

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a joint jig of a spiral duct manufacturing apparatus, and more specifically, to a joint jig of a spiral duct manufacturing apparatus which is installed in a seaming device for forming a spiral duct to form a metal plate member into a cylindrical shape. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In general, spiral ducts are used in air handing units, pipelines for transferring particles and so on. 
     Normally, an apparatus for manufacturing the spiral ducts has a plurality of pressing rollers provided therein. While a thin metal plate member wound around a reel passes through the plurality of pressing rollers, both edges of the metal plate member are bent in the reverse direction. 
     As the metal plate member is pressed by the pressing rollers after both of the bent edges thereof are coupled to each other, the metal plate member is formed into a cylindrical shape. In this case, the metal plate member is guided while being supported by a plurality of guide rods installed in a circumferential direction on the cylinder. 
     As the metal plate member is connected continuously, a spiral duct is formed. When the spiral duct is formed to have a proper length, the spiral duct is cut by a circular cutter. 
     Such a representative spiral duct manufacturing apparatus is disclosed in Korean Unexamined Utility Model No. 1999-5329 (hereinafter, referred to as ‘the related art’). Referring to  FIGS. 1A to 1F , the construction of the spiral duct manufacturing apparatus will be described. 
     As shown in the drawings, the spiral duct manufacturing apparatus according to the related art carries a metal plate member  18 , supplied from a reel stand  19 , through a plurality of bending rollers  21  arranged in plural lines so as to bend both ends of the metal plate member  18 . Then, both ends of the metal plate member  18  are pressed by pressing rollers  31  so as to form a cylindrical duct, and the duct is cut by a circular saw blade  42 . At the exit side of the bending rollers  21 , a transfer unit  2  including a pair of driving rollers  22  is installed on a first table  11 . 
     The driving rollers  22  are composed of a lower driving roller  24  which is connected to a cylinder  25  so as to operate in the vertical direction and an upper driving roller  23  which is disposed above the lower driving roller  24  and receives power from a driving motor  26 . 
     On a second table  12 , a forming unit  3  is installed, including a bolt  32  which adjusts a pressing force for coupling the bent portions  18   a  and  18   b  of the metal plate member  18  supplied from the transfer unit  2 , a pair of pressing rollers  31  to which the distal end of a lever  33  having the bolt  32  fastened thereto is coupled, and a circular frame  34  which guides a duct which is formed in a cylinder shape while passing through the pressing rollers  31 . 
     The circular frame  34  has a spiral guide groove  35  formed on the inner circumferential surface thereof, the spiral guide groove  35  serving to guide the duct. 
     Under the forming unit  3 , a cutting unit  4  is installed on the second table  12 . The cutting unit  4  includes an operating plate  41  which slides on the second table  12 , a bracket  46  which is installed on the distal end of the operating plate  41  so as to connect the circular saw blade  42 , a motor  43  for rotating the circular saw blade  42 , and a cylinder  44  which adjusts the height of the circular saw blade  42 . 
     On the second table  12 , a cylinder  47  for moving and returning the cutting unit  4  is installed. The first and second tables  11  and  12  are connected through a guide plate  5 . 
     In the spiral duct manufacturing apparatus according to the related art, manufacturing the circular frame  34  having the guide groove  35  consumes a great deal of operation time. Further, since the spiral duct manufacturing apparatus includes the plurality of motors  26  and  43  and the cylinders  44  and  47 , a manufacturing cost increases. 
     Further, the spiral duct manufacturing apparatus can manufacture a spiral duct formed in a straight line, but cannot manufacture an elbow-shaped spiral duct. 
     DISCLOSURE 
     Technical Problem 
     In order to solve the foregoing and/or other problems, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a joint jig of a spiral duct manufacturing apparatus, which can manufacture an elbow formed into a spiral duct. 
     Technical Solution 
     In one aspect, the invention is directed to a joint jig of a spiral duct manufacturing apparatus, the joint jig comprising: a plurality of divided pieces forming a circle which is partially opened; a plurality of bearings that are fixed between the respective divided pieces; a plurality of length adjusting bars that are installed on projections which extend and project from both sides of the divided pieces; and a plurality of guide plates that are bent so as to be in contact with inner races of the divided pieces at one surface and are fixed in such a manner that a metal plate member passes through the guide plates. The metal plate member in which a straight line and waves are consecutively formed is formed into a cylindrical shape. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1A  is a cross-sectional view of a spiral duct manufacturing apparatus according to the related art. 
         FIG. 1B  is a front view of the spiral duct manufacturing apparatus which is partially cut. 
         FIG. 1C  is a perspective view of a forming unit. 
         FIG. 1D  is a perspective view of a cutting unit. 
         FIG. 1E  is a side view illustrating an operation state. 
         FIG. 1F  illustrates a metal plate member. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a joint jig according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the joint jig according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the joint jig according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a seaming device in which the joint jig according to the present invention is installed. 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of the seaming device in which the joint jig according to the present invention is installed. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE 
     Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 6 . 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of a joint jig according to the present invention.  FIG. 3  is a rear view of the joint jig according to the present invention.  FIG. 4  is a side view of the joint jig according to the present invention.  FIG. 5  is a front view of a seaming device in which the joint jig according to the present invention is installed.  FIG. 6  is a plan view of the seaming device in which the joint jig according to the present invention is installed. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 to 6 , the joint jig according to the present invention includes a plurality of divided pieces  100  having an inner race formed thereon, a plurality of bearings  200  which are coupled between the respective divided pieces  100  such that the divided pieces  100  are rocked, a plurality of length adjusting bars  300  which are installed on the left, right, and upper sides of the divided pieces  100 , and a plurality of guide plates  400  which are installed on the inner race of the divided pieces  100  so as to guide the movement of a metal plate member. 
     The plurality of divided pieces  100  are coupled to each other so as to form a circular arc of which a lower portion is partially opened. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the divided pieces  100  are composed of first to third divided pieces  110  to  130  which are divided at different angles from each other. The first divided piece  110  is formed in a circular arc of which the center angle is set to more than about 90 degrees, and the second and third divided pieces  120  and  130  are formed in a circular arc of which the center angle is set to about 70-80 degrees. 
     The first divided piece  110  has a side projection  111  formed in one side thereof, the side projection  111  extending and projecting outward. 
     The side projection  111  has a first fixing plate  112  installed thereon, and a first bolt  113  is fastened to the first fixing plate  112  through a through-hole formed in the first plate  112 . Further, a length adjusting bar  300  is installed on the bolt  113 . 
     The first divided piece  110  has an upper projection  115  formed in the upper portion thereof, the upper projection  115  extending and projecting upward. The upper projection  115  has a second fixing plate  112  installed thereon, the second fixing plate  112  having an upper fixing member  117  installed thereon. The fixing member  117  serves to stably fix the first divided piece  110  to a seaming device which will be described below. 
     The second divided piece  120  is disposed between the first and third divided pieces  110  and  130 . The second divided piece  120  has a side projection  121  formed in one side thereof, the side projection  121  extending and projecting outward. The bearing  200  is coupled between the first and second divided pieces  110  and  120 . 
     The third divided piece  130  has a side projection  131  formed in one side thereof, the side projection  131  extending and projecting outward. The side projection  131  has a third fixing plate  132  coupled thereto, and a second bolt  133  is fastened to the third fixing plate  132 . Another length adjusting bar  300  is coupled to the second bolt  133 . 
     The second and third divided pieces  120  and  130  are coupled in such a manner that the side projections  121  and  131  are set adjacent to each other. The outer ends of the side projections  121  and  131  are coupled to each other by a vertical fixing plate  135 . Between the first and second divided pieces  110  and  120  and between the second and third divided pieces  120  and  130 , the bearings  200  are respectively coupled. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , each of the bearings  200  has a self-aligning bearing  211  built in a fixed bearing outer-race body  210 . 
     Further, a bolt  220  for connecting two divided pieces  110  and  120  is fastened to the self-aligning bearing  211  so as to pass through the self-aligning bearing  211 . 
     As such, the bearing  200  having the self-aligning bearing  211  built in the outer-race body  210  is coupled between the second and third divided pieces  120  and  130 . 
     The length adjusting bars  300  are coupled to the side projection  111  of the first divided piece  110  and the side projection  131  of the third divided piece  130 , respectively. 
     One end of the length adjusting bar  300  coupled to the side projection  111  of the first divided piece  110  is fixed to the first bolt  113  of the first fixing plate  112 , and the other end thereof is fixed to a spiral duct manufacturing apparatus through a bolt (not shown). One end of the length adjusting bar  300  coupled to the side projection  131  of the third divided piece  130  is fixed to the second bolt  133  of the third fixing plate  132 , and the other end thereof is fixed to the spiral duct manufacturing apparatus through a bolt (not shown). 
     Between the one end of the length adjusting bar  300  and the first bolt  113  and between the one end of the length adjusting bar  300  and the second bolt  133 , self aligning bearings  310  are respectively coupled. Between the other end of the length adjusting bar  300  and the bolt, the self aligning bearing  310  is coupled. 
     Each of the length adjusting bars  300  includes a first bar  320  coupled to the first or second bolt  113  or  133  and a second bar  321  fastened to the first bar  320 . 
     Alternatively, a stud bolt may be interposed between the first and second bars  320  and  321  such that the first and second bars  320  and  321  are fastened to both sides of the stud bolt. 
     Further, a plurality of guide plates  400  are fixed to the respective inner races of the first to third divided pieces  110  to  130 . The guide plates  400  are composed of a first guide plate  410  fixed to the first divided piece  110 , a second guide plate  420  fixed to the second divided piece  120 , and a third guide plate  430  fixed to the third divided piece  130 . 
     The guide plates  400  are formed in a bent shape so as to be in contact with the inner races of the divided pieces  100 , and have a concave groove portion  401  formed on the inner surfaces thereof, through which a single folded portion of the metal plate member passes. The groove portion  401  is formed in a triangle shape. 
     The joint jig constructed in such a manner is installed on a spiral duct manufacturing apparatus which is shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Hereinafter, the construction of the spiral duct manufacturing apparatus will be described briefly. 
     As shown in the drawings, the spiral duct manufacturing apparatus  500  includes a wave bending device (not shown) which cuts and bends the metal plate member supplied from an uncoiler (not shown). 
     The wave bending device cuts one side of a belt-shaped metal plate member with a predetermined width such that a straight line and waves are formed, and then forms a double folded portion and a single folded portion at both edges of the metal plate member, respectively. 
     The spiral duct manufacturing apparatus  500  includes a detection sensor  501  which detects the projecting wave portions of the supplied metal plate member, a ball caster  502  composed of a pair of upper and lower ball casters which bend the projecting wave portions of the metal plate member upward, and a cam  503  which is provided in one side of the ball caster  502  and is moved along an inclined plate. 
     Further, the spiral duct manufacturing apparatus  500  includes a pair of transfer rollers  504  which transfer the metal plate member, a rotating device  505  which rotates a frame by a predetermined angle, and the joint jig provided on the rotating device  505 . 
     In front of the joint jig according to the present invention, upper and lower cutters  506   a  and  506   b  are installed. The upper and lower cutters  506   a  and  506   b  are rotated by the rotating device  505 . The upper cutter  506   a  is lifted upward by a first cylinder (not shown), and the second cutter  506   b  is lifted and lowered along a rail by a second cylinder (not shown). 
     The spiral duct manufacturing apparatus further includes a horizontal guide rail  508  which is horizontally moved. The horizontal guide rail  508  has a vertical guide rail  509  installed at the distal end thereof, the vertical guide rail  509  being vertically moved. 
     The joint jig according to the present invention is installed under the vertical guide rail  509 . More specifically, the upper fixing member  117  of the joint jig is installed under the vertical guide rail  509 . 
     The two length adjusting bars  300  are fixed to the frame. 
     The joint jig according to the present invention includes upper and lower pressing rollers (not shown) which press the single folded portion and the double folded portion of the metal plate member such that the metal plate member is formed into a spiral duct. 
     The metal plate member cut by the wave bending device is formed into a cylindrical shape through the detection sensor  501 , the ball caster  502 , and the joint jig. In such a state, the metal plate member is installed in such a manner that the single folded portion thereof is inserted between the divided piece  100  of the joint jig and the guide plate  400 . 
     When the spiral duct manufacturing apparatus having the metal plate member installed therein is driven, the metal plate member wound around the uncoiler is continuously supplied by the transfer rollers  504 . Then, when the projecting wave portions of the metal plate member enter, the ball caster  502  is retracted. 
     Accordingly, the cam  503  is lifted along an inclined surface, and the supplied metal plate member reaches the joint jig in a state where the metal plate member is bent upward. 
     At this time, the metal plate member is transferred in a state where the single folded portion thereof is inserted between the divided piece  100  of the joint jig and the groove portion  401  of the guide plate  410 , and the single folded portion and the double folded portion of the metal plate member are pressed by the upper and lower pressing rollers (not shown). 
     Further, as the metal plate member is pressed by the upper and lower pressing rollers, a spiral duct is formed. Then, the spiral duct is cut by the upper and lower cutters  506   a  and  506   b.    
     As such, a cylindrical spiral duct elbow is formed by the joint jig according to the present invention. When the spiral duct elbow is formed, the divided pieces  100  of the joint jig are systematically moved through the bearings  200  and the length adjusting bars  300 . 
     That is, as the spiral duct elbow is formed, the previously formed elbow is rotated and freely moved. 
     As the elbow is moved and rotated, the divided pieces  110  to  130  of the joint jig are moved through the bearings  200 . 
     At this time, the respective divided pieces  100  to  130  are moved within a displacement where the self aligning bearings  211  are moved. The first and third divided pieces  110  and  130  are moved as much as the displacement of the self aligning bearings  310  installed in the length adjusting bars  300 . 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. 
     In particular, the wave bending device and so on excluding the joint jig may be substituted with other devices, and the detection sensor  501 , the ball caster  502 , and the cam  503  may be omitted. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     As the joint jig is installed on the spiral duct manufacturing apparatus, the elbow can be easily manufactured. When the elbow is manufactured, the elbow can be freely moved. Therefore, there is no trouble in forming the elbow.