SHEET METAL MACHINING APPARATUS

Abstract

A sheet metal machining apparatus is disclosed, and the sheet metal machining apparatus includes a base, a driving device, a supporting device, a rolling device and an oscillating device. The driving device and the supporting device are set on the base. The rolling device is located on the supporting device, and has a first roller and a second roller. The oscillating device is associated with the second roller by a linear guide. Thus, the first roller and the second roller are driven by the driving device to rotate in an opposite directions wherein the second roller further reciprocates in a predetermined range through the oscillating device.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 96118246, filed May 22, 2007, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a sheet metal machining apparatus, and more particularly to a sheet metal apparatus of two rollers associated with an oscillating device which can longitudinally roll and transversely file metallic material.

2. Description of Related Art

Regarding metal machining, rolling is a forming process for metal wherein the metal is passed through a set of rollers to provide a plastic deformation. During the process, the machined metal is rolled until the desired cross-section profile, thickness or mechanical properties is obtained. The rolling is mainly divided into cold rolling and hot rolling. The cold rolling is carried out below the metal re-crystallization temperature to harden the metal, and then the metal is annealed to prevent it from becoming brittle and cracking. The hot rolling is carried out above metal re-crystallization temperature to produce sheet metal or simple cross section, and is primarily concerned with manipulating the material's shape rather than with the mechanical properties.

The compressive strain resulting from the rolling is concentrated on the rolled surface but lacks shear strain such that the machining strain is restricted. In addition, the strain inside the material varies at different portions on the machined surface during the deformation of the sheet metal wherein the strain is gradually decreased toward the center. As a result, the strain inside the material is spread disproportionally.

SUMMARY

It is therefore an aspect to provide a sheet metal machining apparatus to improve the problem that conventional rolling has limited machining strain.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present embodiment, the sheet metal machining apparatus includes a base, a driving device, a supporting device, a rolling device and an oscillating device.

The driving device and the supporting device are set on the base wherein the supporting device has a first supporting unit, a second supporting unit, a first linear guide and a connecting block. The rolling device is located between the first supporting unit and the second supporting unit, and has a first roller and a second roller. The connecting block is mounted on the first linear guide wherein the first linear guide is positioned below the second roller. The second roller is connected to the connecting block. The first roller and the second roller are respectively connected with the driving device by a first link shaft and a second link shaft. The oscillating device is positioned on the base and associated with the connecting block to oscillate transversely the second roller in a predetermined distance.

The supporting device has a second linear guide and a feeding platform wherein the second linear guide is operable for the first roller to move thereon for height regulation, and the feeding platform is operable to support a workpiece toward the space between the first roller and the second roller for machining.

Accordingly, the driving device drives the first roller and the second roller through the first link shaft and the second link shaft to rotate in opposite directions and at an identical rotational speed. In addition, the second roller has both axial oscillation and radial rotation movement because the second roller is connected to the connecting block on which the oscillating device is associated. Therefore, the workpiece is machined with rolling and transverse filing through the conduction of the feeding platform.

As a result, the sheet metal machining apparatus of the present invention has the following effects:

The first roller and the second roller of the sheet metal machining apparatus of the embodiment are driven to rotate in opposite directions and at an identical rotational speed wherein the second roller is further driven by the oscillating device associated with the connecting block to reciprocate such that both radial rotation and axial oscillation are provided. Therefore, the machined workpiece is forced with compressive strain and massive shear strain at the same time to increase total plastic strain in the material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a sheet metal machining apparatus of the embodiment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial view of the sheet metal machining apparatus of the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the cross line 3-3 of a second link shaft of the sheet metal machining apparatus in accordance with FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.

Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a sheet metal machining apparatus of the embodiment in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates a partial view of the sheet metal machining apparatus of the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 1. The sheet metal machining apparatus includes a base 100, a driving device 200, a supporting device 300, a rolling device 400 and an oscillating device 500.

The driving device 200 is set on the base 100 and may be a hydraulic device. In this embodiment, the driving device 200 is a hydraulic motor device and includes a first hydraulic motor 210 and a second hydraulic motor 260.

The supporting device 300 is mounted on the base 100 and includes a first supporting unit 310, a second supporting unit 360, a guide device 350, a connecting block 380 and a feeding platform 370. The rolling device 400 is located between the first supporting unit 310 and the second supporting unit 360, and includes a first roller 410 and a second roller 460. The rolling device 400 is connected with the driving device 200 by a linking device 600 of a first link shaft 610 and a second link shaft 660. The first roller 410 of the rolling device 400 is connected with the first hydraulic motor 210 of the driving device 200 by the first link shaft 610, and the second roller 460 of the rolling device 400 is connected with the second hydraulic motor 260 by the second link shaft 660.

The guide device 350 includes a first linear guide 351 disposed between the first supporting unit 310 and the second supporting unit 360 and a second linear guide 352 disposed on the first supporting unit 310 and the second supporting unit 360. The first linear guide 351 is positioned below the second roller 460, and the connecting block 380 is mounted on the first linear guide 351 wherein the second roller 460 is connected to the connecting block 380. Therefore, the first linear guide 351 and the second linear guide 352 are respectively operable for the second roller 460 and the first roller 410 to move thereon. The feeding platform 370 is mounted on the supporting device 300 to support a workpiece toward the space between the first roller 410 and the second roller 460 for machining.

The oscillating device 500 is a hydraulic cylinder positioned on the base 100 and associated with the connecting block 380. The hydraulic cylinder is pressurized by a hydraulic system 120 set in the base 100 to transform the oil's energy to move the piston of the hydraulic cylinder in a linear work. Therefore, the second roller 460 connected to the connecting block 380 oscillates in a predetermined distance.

As a result, the driving device 200 rotates the first roller 410 and the second roller 460 through the first link shaft 610 and the second link shaft 660 connected between the rolling device 400 and the driving device 200. The first roller 410 and the second roller 460 are respectively driven to rotate in opposite directions at an identical rotational speed. In addition, the second roller 460 has both axial oscillation and radial rotation movement because the second roller 460 is connected to the connecting block 380 on which the oscillating device 500 is associated. Therefore, the workpiece (ex. sheet metal) is machined with rolling and transverse filing through the conduction of the feeding platform 370.

The sheet metal machining apparatus of the embodiment further includes a height regulation device 700 set on the supporting device 300 to elevate the first roller 410. The height regulation device 700 has a control motor 710, a disc 720 a clutch 730 and a power steering device 740.

The power steering device 740 is set on the supporting device 300 and connected with the first roller 410. The control motor 710 is connected with the power steering device 740 and secured on an upholder 750 attached with the supporting device 300 for coarse height regulation of the first roller 410. The disc 720 is connected with the power steering device 740 for fine height regulation of the first roller 410. The clutch 730 is disposed between the control motor 710 and the disc 720 to control engaging and disengaging operations between the control motor 710 and the disc 720. The clutch 730 prevents the disc 720 from causing potential danger that would result from the rotation of the disc 720 when the control motor 710 operates.

When the operator manipulates the height regulation device 700, the control motor 710 or the disc 720 forces the power steering device 740 (ex. a bevel gear device) to adjust the space between the first roller 410 and the second roller 460 wherein the first roller 410, connected with the power steering device 740, is elevated along the supporting device 300 via the second linear guide 352. Through this method, the space between the first roller 410 and the second roller 460 can be modified in accordance with various workpiece thicknesses.

Refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3. FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional view along the cross line 3-3 of a second link shaft of the sheet metal machining apparatus in accordance with FIG. 1. With regard to cooperation with the oscillating device 500 and the height regulation device 700, the first link shaft 610 includes a first shaft 611 and a first rod 613 wherein the first rod 613 is telescopically held in the first shaft 611, and the second link shaft 660 includes a second shaft 661 and a second rod 663 wherein the second rod 663 is telescopically held in the first shaft 661. The second rod 663 includes a plurality of keys 615, and the second shaft 661 includes a plurality of splines 616 wherein the keys 615 are held in the splines 616 to provide the second link shaft 660 both radial rotation and axial movement.

The first shaft 611 of the first link shaft 610 and the second shaft 661 of the second link shaft 660 respectively include two ends linked with the rolling device 400 and the driving device 200. Furthermore, the first shaft 611 has a pair of universal joints 612 assembled on the ends respectively linked with the first roller 410 and the first hydraulic motor 210. The second shaft 661 has a pair of universal joints 612 assembled on the ends respectively linked with the second roller 460 and the second hydraulic motor 260. Consequently, the first link shaft 610 is operated with variable angles because of the universal joint 612 when the height of the first roller 410 is elevated by the height regulation device 700.

As embodied and broadly described herein, the sheet metal machining apparatus of the embodiment has the following effects:

The first roller 410 and the second roller 460 of the sheet metal machining apparatus of the embodiment are driven to rotate in opposite directions wherein the second roller 460 is further driven by the oscillating device 500 associated with the connecting block 380 to reciprocate such that both radial rotation and axial oscillation are provided. Therefore, the machined workpiece is forced with compressive strain and shear strain to enhance plastic deformation in the material.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, their spirit and scope of the appended claims should no be limited to the description of the preferred embodiments contained herein.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A sheet metal machining apparatus, comprising:

a base;

a driving device set on the base;

a supporting device mounted on the base and comprising a first supporting unit, a second supporting unit, a guide device and a connecting block wherein the guide device comprises a first linear guide disposed between the first supporting unit and the second supporting unit, and the connecting block is mounted on the first linear guide;

a rolling device located between the first supporting unit and the second supporting unit, and comprising a first roller and a second roller wherein the second roller is connected to the connecting block;

a linking device connected between the rolling device and the driving device; and

an oscillating device positioned on the base, and associated with the connecting block;

whereby the first roller and the second roller are capable of being rotated by the driving device, and the second roller is further capable of being oscillated by the oscillating device to reciprocate during rolling to provide both radial rotation and axial oscillation.

2. The sheet metal machining apparatus of claim 1, wherein the supporting device further comprises a feeding platform mounted on the supporting device to support a workpiece toward the rolling device.

3. The sheet metal machining apparatus of claim 1, wherein the linking device comprises a first link shaft and a second link shaft wherein the first link shaft is connected with the first roller, and the second link shaft is connected with the second roller.

4. The sheet metal machining apparatus of claim 3, wherein the driving device is a hydraulic device, and comprises a first hydraulic motor and a second hydraulic motor wherein the first hydraulic motor is connected with the first link shaft and the second hydraulic motor is connected with the second link shaft.

5. The sheet metal machining apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first link shaft comprises a first shaft and a first rod wherein the first rod is telescopically held in the first shaft.

6. The sheet metal machining apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second link shaft comprises a second shaft and a second rod wherein the second rod is telescopically held in the second shaft.

7. The sheet metal machining apparatus of claim 6, further comprising two pairs of universal joint, wherein each the first shaft and the second shaft has two ends, and the universal joints are respectively assembled on the ends of the first shaft and the second shaft.

8. The sheet metal machining apparatus of claim 7, wherein the second rod comprises a plurality of keys, and the second shaft comprises a plurality of splines wherein the keys are held in the splines to provide both radial rotation and axial movement.

9. The sheet metal machining apparatus of claim 4, wherein the oscillating device is a hydraulic cylinder.

10. The sheet metal machining apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a hydraulic system set in the base to provide oil into the hydraulic cylinder and the hydraulic device.

11. The sheet metal machining apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a height regulation device set on the supporting device to elevate the first roller.

12. The sheet metal machining apparatus of claim 11, wherein the guide device comprises a second linear guide disposed on the first supporting unit and the second supporting unit for the first roller to move thereon.

13. The sheet metal machining apparatus of claim 12, wherein the height regulation device comprises a power steering device set on the supporting device and connected with the first roller.

14. The sheet metal machining apparatus of claim 13, wherein the height regulation device comprises a control motor connected with the power steering device for coarse height regulation of the first roller.

15. The sheet metal machining apparatus of claim 14, wherein the height regulation device comprises a disc connected with the power steering device for fine height regulation of the first roller.

16. The sheet metal machining apparatus of claim 15, further comprising an upholder attached with the supporting device on which the control motor is secured.

17. The sheet metal machining apparatus of claim 16, wherein the height regulation device comprises a clutch disposed between the control motor and the disc to control engaging and disengaging operations between the control motor and the disc.

18. The sheet metal machining apparatus of claim 17, wherein the power steering device is a bevel gear device.