WO2015181681A1

WO2015181681A1 - Multiwire frame for cutting blocks of stone or stone-like material into slabs

Info

Publication number: WO2015181681A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/053682
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luca Toncelli
Original assignee: Luca Toncelli
Priority date: 2014-05-27
Filing date: 2015-05-19
Publication date: 2015-12-03

Abstract

A multiwire frame (12) for cutting blocks of stone and stone-like material comprises: two columns (14, 16) on each of which a slide (19, 20) adapted to move along the respective column (14, 16) is provided. On each slide (19, 20) there is arranged at least one multi-groove drum (24, 26), each comprising a plurality of grooves (30), adapted to engage with a plurality of cutting wires (28) between the two slides (19, 20). The frame further comprises tensioning devices (32) for adjusting the tension of each cutting wire (28), comprising at least one groove (34) for each cutting wire (28). The frame is characterized in that it comprises gripping and positioning means (38) which are adapted to receive at least one portion of a cutting wire (28), exert a grip on said portion of cutting wire (28), move the cutting wire (28) opposite a groove (30) of the multi-groove drum (24, 26) and/ or a groove (34) of the tensioning devices (32), and release the portion of said cutting wire (28) into at least one groove (30, 34).

Description

"Multiwire frame for cutting blocks of stone or stone-like material into slabs"

The present invention relates to a multiwire frame for cutting blocks of stone and stone-like material into slabs. In particular the present invention relates to a system for mounting the diamond wires on a multiwire frame.

In the prior art many types of multiwire frame for cutting blocks of stone material are known, said frames comprising multi-pulley rollers or multi-groove drums wherein inside their grooves diamond wires slide for cutting blocks of stone material into slabs.

In the present description reference will be made explicitiy to multi-groove drums, it being clearly understood diat die principles of the present invention may be applied equally well also to a multiwire frame with multi-pulley rollers, as will become clear from die continuation of the present description.

In the present description reference will be made also to diamond wires and to cutting wires, understood as being die same, and they will not be furdier described since diey are well-known to the person skilled in the art.

An example of a multiwire frame is illustrated in Italian patent IT1369929, wherein it is described a machine comprising two columns along each of which a slide supporting a multi-groove drum travels. The diamond wires travel over the two multi- groove drums, one of which is a motor-driven drum and the other one an idle transmission drum. The two multi-groove drums have large dimensions, in particular the diameter must be greater d an the height of the block to be cut.

The frame comprises a cross-beam which is connected to the upper ends of die two columns and provided witii a wire-tensioning jockey wheel for each diamond wire, which may be lowered in order to adjust the tension on the single wire.

There also exist frame configurations which have four multi-groove rollers with small dimensions located at the four corners of a rectangle. In diis case the tensioning wheels are arranged along one of the two vertical sections situated between die two multi-groove drums.

Some types of frame according to the prior art comprise a tensioning wheel for each diamond wire, which wheels are located along the top section of the diamond wire and may be raised in order to increase the tension on each wire, causing die wires to assume a triangular configuration.

In this type of machine, die diameter of die multi-groove rollers may be smaller than in the preceding case of the frame with two multi-groove rollers which smaller than in the preceding case of the frame with two multi-groove rollers which have a diameter greater than then height of the block to be cut, since die top section of the diamond wires is raised by the corresponding tensioning wheel.

The present invention relates in particular to this type of frame, it being understood, however, that the same innovative principles may be applied, equally well, also to other types of machines, as will become clear from the detailed description below.

The number of wires which must be mounted on the multiwire frames is relatively high and may also be more than seventy and depends in particular on the size of the frame, but in particular on the width of the block to be cut and the thickness of the slabs to be formed.

The multiwire frames according to the prior art, although they are widely used and established, are not without drawbacks.

In view of the large number of diamond wires, mounting of the wires on the rollers, whetiier the frame is to be fitted with all the cutting wires or whether one or more worn or broken wires are to be replaced, is a very complicated operation.

For example, in order to replace a diamond wire, in addition to removing it, it is required to lower all the tensioning wheels, so that the wire is less taut, and allow the wire to pass above the tensioning wheels.

For replacement at least three operators are required: one operator situated at the top of the frame and the other two situated in the vicinity of the two drums. The diree operators grip an endlessly wound diamond wire and pass it around the two drums and the tensioning wheels until it is arranged aligned wid the tensioning wheel and the two grooves of the rollers inside which it must be positioned. Then all the tensioning wheels are raised in order to tension again the diamond wires.

It is evident that the time needed to perform manually replacement even of only one diamond wire is considerable. The continuous presence of at least three operators is also required and this also involves a not insignificant cost.

In the case where it is required to mount all die diamond wires, the procedure is similar to that described above widi the difference diat the step of positioning the wires must be repeated for each wire before tensioning again the wires by moving the tensioning wheels.

In other types of frame four operators may also be required, widi a further increase in costs.

Furthermore, the large number of grooves on the drums and the large number of tensioning wheels may result in a positioning error on the part of the operators. The likelihood of an error by the operators may increase owing to the size of the plant on which they are working and the noisy surrounding conditions, with the consequent difficulty of communicating widi each other. The operators may not always realize immediately that an error has occurred, resulting potentially in an error in the positioning also of od er diamond wires. It goes without saying that the time required to remedy an error increases exponentially with an increase in the time which lapses between the moment the error is made and die moment it is noticed.

The object of the present invention is therefore to solve at least partially the drawbacks of the prior art.

A first task of die present invention is to provide a multiwire frame for cutting blocks of stone or stone-like material, on which the diamond wires may be easily mounted.

A second task of die present invention is to provide a system for mounting diamond wires which allows a smaller number of operators to be employed for the mounting operation.

A furtiier task of the present invention is to provide a multiwire frame in which die possibility of positioning errors on the part of the operators is drastically reduced.

The object and tasks are achieved with a multiwire frame for cutting blocks of stone or stone-like material into slabs according to claim 1.

Further advantageous characteristic features according to the present invention are contained in the dependent claims.

The advantages and characteristic features of die present invendon will emerge more clearly from the detailed description below of a number of examples of embodiment provided by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a multiwire frame according to the present invention;

Figs. 2-4 show a schematic perspective view of a part of a multiwire frame according to the present invention, in diree operating configurations;

Fig. 5 shows an enlarged view of a detail of the multiwire frame, in d e operating configuration shown in Fig. 4;

Figs. 6-10 show a side view of a part of the multiwire frame according to the present invention, in different operating configurations;

Fig^s- Π -15 show a view, from above, of a part of a multiwire frame according to die present invention, comprising a multi-groove drum, in different operating configurations; and in particular Fig. 13A shows an enlarged detail of two components of die frame according to the present invention.

In figure 1 a multiwire frame according to the present invention is shown, denoted generally by the reference number 12.

The multiwire frame 12 for cutting blocks of stone material comprises two columns 14, 16 each of which is provided with a slide 19, 20 adapted to move along the respective column 14, 16.

An upper cross-beam 18 is provided between die two columns 14, 16 so as to connect together die two upper ends of the columns 14, 16 and reinforce the structure of the frame.

The slides 19, 20 may be of the type known per se to person skilled in die art and are equipped widi at least one multi-groove drum 24, 26, one of which is motor- driven, while the other ones are idle transmission drums.

In particular, die embodiment shown in Figure 1 comprises two multi-groove drums 24, 26, one of which is a motor-driven drum and die other one of which is an idle transmission drum.

Since these components of die frame are known per se to the person skilled in the art they will not be further described.

The multiwire drums 24, 26 are adapted to engage a plurality of cutting wires (denoted throughout by the reference number 28 in the attached figures) which extend between d em over a plurality of grooves (denoted throughout by the reference number 30 in the attached figures) of the multi-groove drums 24, 26.

Hereinbelow "transverse direction" is understood as meaning a direction parallel to the direction of die axis of the multi-groove drums 24, 26. In the same way, "longitudinal direction" is understood as meaning a direction perpendicular to die transverse direction, widiin a plane parallel to die lie of a cutting wire 28.

Tensioning devices 32 for adjusting the tension of each cutting wire 28 may be provided on a connecting cross-beam 17 situated between the two slides 19, 20. According to a possible embodiment of die present invention, the tensioning devices 32 may be tensioning wheels 32, each provided with a groove 34 inside which die cutting wire 28 travels.

Although the cutting wire 28 in the operating condition is moving, from the arrangement of the multi-groove drums 24, 26 it is always possible to define a cutting section 36 which, as can be clearly seen in Figure 1 , is situated between the two multi- groove drums 24, 26 and which during operation exerts the cutting action on die block of stone material. In die type of muldwire frame described, die tensioning devices 32 act on the section opposite to die cutting section 36, pushing it upwards and creating a triangular-like configuration of die diamond wire.

Other parts of die muldwire frame according to the present invention, such as the motor means for rotation of die multi-groove drums, die means for displacing die slides along the columns, or die means which allow displacement of the tensioning devices 32, will not be further described both because tiiey are well-known per se to the person skilled in the art and because they do not form die specific subject of the present invention.

The invention is characterized in diat the muldwire frame comprises gripping and positioning means 38 adapted to:

- receive at least one portion of a cutting wire 28;

- exert a grip on the portion of cutting wire 28;

- move the cutting wire 28. opposite a groove 30 of at least one multi-groove drum 24, 26 and/ or a groove 34 of the tensioning devices 32; and

- release the portion of said cutting wire 28 into at least one groove 30.

In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, the gripping and positioning means 38 comprise upper gripping and positioning means 40 (which will be indicated below also as upper means 40) which are adapted to remove one cutting wire 28 at a time and position it along the grooves 34 of the wheels of the tensioning devices 32.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, which can be seen in Figures 2-10, the upper means 40 comprise movement means 42, which are adapted to move a gripping device 44 transversely.

In accordance with a possible embodiment of the movement means 42, diese may comprise a cross-beam 46 adapted to slide at least on one side guide 48 arranged in a direction transverse to die sides of the muldwire frame. Advantageously, the side guides 48 may be two in number. The side guide 48 may be arranged in the proximity of one or both the multi-groove drums 24, 26.

The movement of the beam 46 in the transverse direction along die at least one side guide 48 may be achieved in a manner known per se to the person skilled in the art and dierefore will not be furdier described.

The gripping device 44 may comprises a plate (denoted throughout by die reference number 44) which is folded so tiiat an edge 50 thereof, which is slighdy longer dian die thickness of die cutting wire, is folded upwards so as to retain a section of diamond wire. The gripping device 44 is movable between two positions: a first position where it is adapted to hold a portion of a cutting wire and a second position where it is adapted to release a portion of the cutting wire.

The movement of die gripping device 44 may be obtained in a manner known per se to the person skilled in the art, for example by using a pneumatic piston 52 adapted to operate a hinged mechanism 54.

In accordance with a possible alternative embodiment of the present invention, not shown in the attached drawings, the gripping device 44 may be for example a clamp.

Two pneumatic cylinders 56 may be mounted on die movable structure of the gripping device 44, the bottom ends 58 of tiieir respective rods being provided with a guide fork 60 for the cutting wire 28.

Before inclining the plate downwards and causing die cutting wire 28 to slide so as to enter into the groove 34 of the tensioning devices 32, the two rods and therefore die forks are lowered so that they act as guides for the wire which slides along die forks as far as die groove 34. Advantageously, die edge 50 of the folded plate of die gripping device is situated between the guide forks 60.

The guide forks 60 are adapted to mate with die edge of the tensioning wheel 32 inside which the cutting wire must be positioned and have a travel way 61 which terminates inside the groove 34 of the tensioning devices 32 and along which the cutting wires may slide down.

A possible operating sequence of the upper gripping and positioning means 40 will now be described.

In order to replace a wire in the event of breakage or mount the complete set of wires die upper gripping and positioning means 40 are arranged in an initial rest position where the gripping devices 44 are completely displaced to the back of the machine (towards the columns 14, 16) and therefore in an "out of machine" position, with the edge 50 of die gripping device 44 inclined upwards and the guide forks 60 raised (Figure 6).

The wheels of die tensioning devices 32 are lowered so that die cutting wires are no longer tensioned and so that the movement means 42 may move the gripping means 40 without die latter striking the wheels of die tensioning devices 32.

As shown in Figure 7, the movement means 42 move die upper gripping means 40 towards the front of the machine. The movement means 42 may be operated by means of manual operation by the operator or may be under the control of a control unit (not shown) which, following insertion of data by die operator, positions automatically the upper gripping means 42. An operator then positions a cutting wire 28 on the gripping device 44.

The device is dien moved by the movement means 42 so that the gripping device 44 is arranged opposite the groove of the wheel of the tensioning devices 32 on which the cutting wire 28 must be positioned (Figure 2 and Figure 8).

At die same time the cutting wire is guided towards the corresponding grooves

30 of the drums 24, 26 by two operators on the ground (Figure 8).

The pneumatic cylinders 56 are then operated so that die guide forks 60 come into contact or nearly so with die edge of the wheels of the tensioning devices 32 (Figures 3 and 9).

By means of the pneumatic piston 52 the gripping device 44 is operated so that the cutting wire 28 is released and, guided by the forks 60, falls and reaches the groove 34 of the tensioning devices 32 (Figures 4, 5 and 10).

The process is repeated and, if necessary, odier cutting wires are replaced or simply arranged in posidon.

Once the wires have been mounted, the tensioning devices 32 are raised and the cutting wires are tensioned.

According to a possible embodiment of die present invention, the frame may be provided with pointers (not shown) for example of the laser type, which help die operators on die ground to locate the groove 30 of the drums 24, 26 onto which the cutting wire must be posidoned. The operating mode of the pointer devices is known per se to die person skilled in the art: depending on the position of die gripping device, they are adjusted in combination, if necessary automatically, so as to point towards a corresponding groove of the drum.

Figures 1 1 -15 show an alternative embodiment of die present invention in which the bottom drums 24, 26 are provided with lower gripping and positioning means 62 (subsequendy also referred to as lower means 62) adapted to cooperate with the upper positioning and gripping means 40.

The lower means 62, one for each drum 24, are adapted to transport a diamond wire 28 from an "out of machine" position to a specific groove 30 of the drum 24, 26 and then release it inside the groove 30.

From Figures 1 1 - 15 it can be noted that each of the lower means 62 comprises a carriage 64 sliding along die transverse guides 66 arranged in a transverse direction and close to the drums 24, 26. The sliding carriage is therefore adapted to move in a transverse direction.

The sliding carriage 64 is also provided widi a movable support 68 which slides with respect to the carriage 64 along longitudinal guides 70. Therefore die movable support 68 is adapted to move in a transverse and longitudinal direction.

At die end of the movable support 68 is provided with a recessed curved guide profile 72 matching the form of the drum 24, 26. The curved guide profile may for example be adapted to cover partially the drum 24, 26. Moreover, the curved profile 72 is adapted to contain inside it a portion of the diamond wire 28. T

The curved guide profile 72 is adapted to move between two positions, a position remote from the respective drum 24, 26 and a position close to die drum 24, 26. Figure 13A shows an enlarged view of a radial section of the drum 24 and the curved guide profile 72 in die adjacent position.

On the curved guide profile a seat 74, is provided adapted to contain a portion of the cutting wire 28. The seat 74 has dimensions similar to the groove 30 of the drum 24, 26.

A series of electromagnets 78 is arranged in the vicinity of die bottom 76 of the seat 74, said electromagnets, when activated, being adapted to hold a cutting wire 28 inside the seat 74.

In accordance widi a possible embodiment of die present invention, the surface directed towards die drum 24, 26 of the curved guide profile may be provided with locating elements 80 which are adapted to mate with respective recesses 82 on the surface of the drum 24, 26. As may be now easily imagined by die person skilled in the art, the function of the recesses 82 and the locating elements 80 is that of centring the seat 74 with respect to the groove 30 of die drum 24, 26.

A possible mode of operation of the lower means 62, which also comprises die upper means 40, will now be described.

In the rest position, the two lower means (one per drum 24, 26) are located at die back of the multiwire frame, i.e. in the vicinity of die columns 14, 16, in a so-called "out of machine" position, while the movable support 68 is located spaced from the respective drum (Figures 6 and 1 1).

When the upper means 40 are moved and positioned on the front of the frame, die lower means are also moved towards die front of the frame, so that diey are also able to load respective cutting wire portions. For example they may be moved so that the seat 74 of the curved guide profile 72 is located opposite the second groove 30 of the drum 24, 26 (Fig. 12).

As indicated above, an operator positions a portion of die cutting wire on die upper means (the procedure for die upper means will not be described again in detail), while a single operator on ground positions die wire inside the second groove 30 of the drums 24, 26. The two curved guide profiles 72 are moved closer and next to the respective drum 24, 26 so that the seat 74 of die curved guide profile is located facing the second groove of the drum (Fig. 13).

The electromagnets 78 are activated so as to attract and hold d e cutting wire inside the curved guide profiles 72, as shown in Fig. 13A.

Then the curved guide profiles 72 are spaced from d e respective drums 24, 26 and positioned opposite the groove 30 of the drums 24, 26 on which the cutting wire must be positioned (Figure 14).

At die same time, die upper means 40 have also moved opposite the groove 34 of the tensioning devices 32 on which the cutting wire must be positioned.

The curved guide profile 72 is then moved towards the groove 30 of die drums 24, 26 (Figure 15) and die electromagnet is deactivated so that the cutting wire 28 enters into the groove 30. At d e same time the upper means also position the wire inside the groove 34 of the tensioning devices 32.

Then both die upper means and die lower means are moved away from the tensioning device and the drums, respectively, and brought into the "out of machine" position.

However, if it is required to replace another wire or if it is required to perform mounting of the entire set of wires, the preceding operations are repeated until all the wires have been mounted.

According to one possible embodiment of die invention, both the upper means and die lower means may not be motor-driven and controlled by a control unit, but may be manually operated.

In a more advanced configuration, bodi the upper means and the lower means (or the corresponding lower laser pointers) may be motor-driven and controlled by encoders, and there is therefore a control unit able to manage the entire wire mounting sequence.

There may also be intermediate configurations. For example, only die upper means may be motor-driven, while the two lower means are absent, or are replaced by laser pointers, or are manually operated.

Moreover, a version of the frame provided widi the upper means only or die lower means only may also be provided.

As will now be obvious to the person skilled in the art, the present invention may be advantageously applied also to other types of frame. For example it could be applied to die multiwire frame which has four drums arranged in a rectangle. In this configuration, four means could be provided opposite each drum. The advantages which can be achieved with a frame according to the present invention are therefore now clear.

Firstiy a wire may be replaced more rapidly in die event of breakage or preparation of the machine where the complete set of diamond wires must be mounted.

Moreover, there is a reduction in the number of operators who need to be employed in order to replace the cutting wires.

Furdiermore the probability of positioning errors being made by die operators decreases, with a consequent further saving in the amount of time needed to replace the diamond wires.

The person skilled in the art, in order to satisfy specific requirements, may make modifications to die embodiments described above and/or replace die parts described with equivalent parts, without thereby departing from the scope of the accompanying claims.

In the description provided here and in die attached drawings, explicit reference has been made to the embodiment of a multiwire frame for cutting blocks of stone or stone-like material into slabs, of the type comprising two multi-groove rollers and a set of tensioning pulleys adapted to tension the diamond wires by means of their upwards movement, i.e. by moving the non-operating section of the diamond wires away from the operating section. The reference to this arrangement does not limit in any way the scope of protection of die present invention since the principles of the present invention may also be applied to other configurations of the multiwire frame, as may be now easily imagined by the person skilled in the art.

Claims

1. Multiwire frame (12) for cutting blocks of stone and stone-like material, comprising:

two columns (14, 16) on each of which a slide (19, 20) adapted to move along the respective column (14, 16) is provided, on each slide (19, 20) there being arranged at least one multi-groove drum (24, 26), each comprising a plurality of grooves (30), adapted to engage a plurality of cutting wires (28) extending between the two slides (19, 20);

tensioning devices (32) for adjusting die tension of each cutting wire (28), comprising at least one groove (34) for each cutting wire (28);

characterized in that it comprises gripping and positioning means (38) adapted to receive at least one portion of a cutting wire (28), exert a grip on said portion of cutting wire (28), move the cutting wire (28) opposite a groove (30) of the multi- groove drum (24, 26) and/or a groove (34) of said tensioning devices (32), and release die portion of said cutting wire (28) into said at least one groove (30, 34).

2. Multiwire frame according to claim 1 , characterized in that a multi-groove drum (24, 26) is provided on each slide (19, 20), said frame comprising a connecting cross-beam (17) which connects the two slides (19, 20), said tensioning devices (32) for tensioning each cutting wire (28) being provided on the connecting cross-beam (17).

3. Multiwire frame according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said gripping and positioning means (38) comprise upper gripping and positioning means (40) adapted to release the portion of said cutting wire (28) into a groove (34) of said tensioning devices (32).

4. Multiwire frame according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in diat said gripping and positioning means (38) comprise lower gripping and positioning means (62) adapted to release the portion of said cutting wire (28) into a groove (30) of said drums (24, 26).

5. Multiwire frame according to any one of die preceding claims, characterized in that said upper gripping and positioning means (36) comprise a gripping device (44) and movement means (42) for said gripping device (44).

6. Multiwire frame according to claim 5, characteiized in that said movement means (42) comprise a beam (46) adapted to slide widi one of its ends on at least one side guide (48) arranged in a direction transverse to die sides of the multiwire frame in die proximity of the multi-groove drums.

7. Multiwire frame according to claim 5, characterized in that said gripping device comprises a folded element having an edge (50), said gripping device being movable between two positions:

- a rest position in which the edge (50) is slightly inclined upwards so as to support and retain the diamond wire; and

- an operating position in which the edge (50) is inclined downwards so as to discharge the diamond wire.

8. Muluwire frame according to claim 5, characterized in diat said gripping device (44) is a clamp.

9. Multiwire frame according to any one of claims 5-8, characterized in that said gripping device (44) comprises at least one pneumatic cylinder (56), the lower end (58) of its rod being provided with a guide fork (60) adapted to mate with the edge of the tensioning devices.

10. Multiwire frame according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one pointer device for example of laser type, for automatically locating the groove into which the cutting wire is to be inserted.

1 1. Multiwire frame according to claim 4, characterized in diat said lower means (62) comprise a carriage (64) sliding along transverse guides (66) arranged in the vicinity of the drums (24, 26), on said sliding carriage (64) there being provided a movable support (68) which slides relative to die carriage (64) along longitudinal guides (70).

12. Multiwire frame according to claim 1 , characterized in that a curved guide profile (72) is formed at the end of the movable support (68) so as to match the form of the drum (24, 26), said guide profile being adapted to cover at least partially the drum and being adapted to contain and transport a portion of the cutting wire.

13. Multiwire frame according to claim 12, characterized in that said curved guide profile (72) is adapted to move between two positions: a position remote from the respective drum (24, 26) and a position close to the drum (24, 26).

14. Multiwire frame according to claim 13, characterized in that a seat (74) adapted to contain a portion of the cutting wire (28) is provided on the curved guide profile, a series of electromagnets (78) being arranged in the vicinity of a bottom (76) of d e seat (74) and, when activated, being adapted to hold a cutting wire (28) inside the seat (74).