AU607333B2 - Manufacturing expanded metal mesh - Google Patents

Description

x Ir l:~r OPI DATE 12/12/89 AOJP DATE 25/01/90 APPLN. ID 35764 89 PCT NUMBER PCT/AU89/00217

PCI

INTERNATIONAL APPLICATIOLf U f U R E P iNT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (51) International Patent Classification 4 1J te a ona lication Number: WO 89/11356 B21D 31/04, 47/02 Al (43) International Publication Date: 30 November 1989 (30.11.89) (21) International Application Number: (22) International Filing Date: Priority data: PI 8286 17 May 1 PCT/AU89/00217 17 May 1989 (17.05.89) 988 (17.05.88) (71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): RONALD E GRAHAM (HOLDING) PTY LIMITED [AU/AU]; 127-153 Rookwood Road, Yagoona, NSW 2199 (AU).

(72) Inventors; and Inventors/Applicants (for US only) GRAHAM, Peter, Edward [AU/AU]; 27 Appian Way, Burwood, NSW 2134 GRAHAM, Ronald, Edgar [AU/AU]; 8 Spencer Street, Sefton, NSW 2162 (AU).

(74) Agent: SPRUSON FERGUSON; GPO Box 3898, Sydney, NSW 2001 (AU).

(81) Designated States: AT, AT (European patent), AU, BB, BE (European patent), BF (OAPI patent), BG, BJ (OAPI patent), BR, CF (OAPI patent), CG (OAPI patent), CH, CH (European patent), CM (OAPI patent), DE, DE (European patent), DK, FI, FR (European patent), GA (OAPI patent), GB, GB (European patent), HU, IT (European patent), JP, KP, KR, LK, LU, LU (European patent), MC, MG, ML (OAPI patent), MR (OAPI patent), MW, NL, NL (European patent), NO, RO, SD, SE, SE (European patent), SN (OAPI patent), SU, TD (OAPI patent), TG (OAPI patent), US.

Published With international search report.

amendments made -d r Section 49 anld is cor ect for printing (54) Title: MANUFACTURING EXPANDED METAL MESH 11 -0 (57) Abstract A method and apparatus for manufacturing expanded metal mesh wherein a longitudinally ribbed metal strip (13) passes through a series of straightening rollers (17) to a slitting (or slotting) means (21) whereby rows of transversely spaced longitudinally running slits (or slots) (46) are provided between the ribs (14) of the strip Driving rollers (19) cooperate with tensioning rollers (39 and 40) to pass the strip (13) to an expansion assembly (41) having die plates (42) which carry guide slots (43) that receive the ribs (14) relatively displacing them to form expanded metal mesh (11).

L_ ij i WO 89/11356 PCT/AU89/00217 -1- MANFAC= MA1E MAL MESN The present invention relates to the manufacture of expanded metal mesh and more particularly but not exclusively to the manufacture of expanded metal mesh from ribbed profile metal section.

Traditionally expanded metal mesh, when formed from ribbed metal section, has been manufactured from discreet sheets. On the other hand, where the expanded metal mesh has been manufactured from flat sheet, it has been known for the sheet to be supplied in coil form. However, these previous methods cannot be used to manufacture expanded metal mesh from ribbed profile metal section (preferably steel) supplied in roll form.

A still further disadvantage of known methods of producing expanded metal mesh, particularly when formed from discrete sheets, is that the sheets formed are not identical in size and configuration. This greatly hinders the installation of abutting sheets since their side edges do not match. Still further, when the mesh is expanded, the expansion may not be uniform over the width of the sheet.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantage.

There is disclosed herein an apparatus to manufacture metal mesh from longitudinally ribbed metal strip, said apparatus including: roll support means to rotatably support a roll of metal longitudinally ribbed strip; reforming means to receive the strip from said roll and to deliver said strip in a generally straight form; slitting means to longitudinally slit the strip delivered from said reforming means so as to provide transversely spaced rows of longitudinally spaced slits; driven rollers to move the strip generally continuously through the appaatus; and expansion means to generally continuously transversely expand the slit strip so as to form a mesh ribbon.

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation of an apparatus to manufacture expanded metal mesh; Figure 2 is a schematic top plan view of a rotary slitting device and expansion device employed in the assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic side elevation of the slitting device and i. 1 i T$ WO 89/11356 PCT/AU89/0021l7 -2expansion device as shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a schematic side elevation of a rotary cutting blade employed in the slitting device of Figures 2 and 3; Figure 5 is a schematic part sectioned end elevation of the blade of Figure 4; Figure 6 Is a schematic top plan view of the expansion device employed In Figures 2 and 3; Figure 7 is a schematic part sectioned side elevation of the device of Figure 6; and Figure 8is a schematic top plan view of a portion of expanded metal mesh manufactured by the apparatus of Figure 1.

In the accompanying drawings there Is schematically depicted an apparatus 10 to manufacture expanded metal mesh 11. The apparatus receives a roll 12 of metal ribbon 13 which has longitudinally extending ribs 14. Joining the ribs 14 are sections of reduced thickness The apparatus 10 includes a support to receive the roll 12 so that lengths of the strips 13 can be delivered therefrom to a pair of sizing rollers 16 which ensure the accuracy of the profile of the strip 13. From the roller 16, the strip 13 is delivered to a set of straightening rollers 17 which ensure that the strip 13 Is delivered to the next station in a generally accurately profiled straight condition. If so required, a welding apparatus is provided to join successive strips when a roll 12 has been exhausted and a new roll 12 introduced to the apparatus After leaving the rollers 12, the strip 13 is passed through the heater means 18, which in this embodiment is an induction heater. The temperature of the metal strip 13 is raised to aid in its later plastic deformation.

After the heater means 18, the strip 13 is engaged by driven rollers 19 which pull the strip from the roll 12 and thorugh the rollers 17.

The straight strip 13 may also pass through a pair of cutting rollers which cut the strip 13 to a correct width. Excess material would be gathered by means of further rollers.

Either of the rollers 19 or 39 could be used to more accurately form the profile of the strip 13 by plastic deformation.

After leaving the rollers 19, the strip 13 is delivered to a slitting assembly 21, which forms longitudinally extending slits 46 in the strip 13. There is further provided a "flying" punch die assembly 22 which may also be used to punch slits In the strip 13. There may also be provided i

I;

SWO 89/11356 PCT/AU89/00217 -3 mobile punch dyes 22 which are reciprocated in the direction of the movement of the strip 13, so that a punching operation is carried out while the punching assembly 22 is travelling at the same speed as the strip 13.

The punch assembly 22 is provided to be selectively operated in order to vary the regular pattern of slits produced by the rotary slitting assembly 21. Operation of the assembly 21 may be computer controlled in order to produce a desired pattern.

The slits 46 are arranged in rows which extend longitudinally of the strip 13. The rows are transversely spaced, with the slits 46 of adjacent rows being staggered.

The slitting apparatus 21, Is a rotary slitting apparatus and includes a base 20 upon which there is mounted a frame 25. The frame includes a pair of generally parallel coextensive transversely spaced plate members 26 which are pivotally mounted by means of a shaft 27 on the base 20. Extending between the plates 26 so as to be rotatably supported thereby, is a rotary blade roller 28 and a strip support roller 29. Also rotatably supported by the plates 26 are adjustable rollers 30 which cause the strip 13 to pass angularly about the support roller 29 so that the strip 13 is upwardly convex during the slitting operation. The rollers are vertically adjustable. The adjustment of the rollers 30 as well as the vertical inclination of the frame 25, enable the slitting apparatus 21 to be adjusted for initial feed of the strip 13 into the slitting apparatus 21. The adjustment also enables correct alignment of the blade roller 28.

This adjustment also enables the apparatus to be adapted as the blades wear and to fit various feed stock thicknesses and gauges.

The roller 28 includes a floating shaft 31 upon which there is mounted a plurality of generally annular blades 35. The blades 35 have cutting portions 36 located at angularly spaced intervals about the blade Accordingly as the strip 13 passes beneath the roller 28, rows of longitudinally spaced slits are formed. Mounted between the blades 35 are guide spacers 37 which have a profile 38 to match the longitudinally extending ribs 14. Preferably the strip would be engaged as it leaves the roller 28, to Inhibit the strip 13 being dragged along angularly with the roller 28.

Located before the slitting apparatus 21 is a first set of tensioning rollers 39 which co-operate with rollers 40 to tension the s'trip 31 extending through the slitting apparatus 21. Preferably the rollers would be driven.

SWO 89/11356 PCI-/AU89/002 7 -4- Located after the rollers 40 is a "scrap shear" 23 which severs from the strip 13, the waste initial material which is first delivered to the slitting assembly 21, prior to the strip 13 being delivered to the punch assembly 22.

The slit strip 13 is now delivered to an expansion assembly 41 which is best seen in Figures 6 and 7. The expansion assembly 41 includes a pair of co-operating dye plates 42 which provide guide slots 43 which receive the ribs 14. In this particular embodiment, the slots 43 are radially extending from a central point, and are generally planar. However it should be appreciated that the particular configuration and orientation of the slots 43 may be varied to manufacture expanded metal mesh of different configurations. For example, the slots 43 may follow the surface of a cone so as to form expanded metal mesh which is circular in transverse cross section. As the strip 13 passes through the expansion assembly 41, the ribs 14 are displaced relative to each other so that the transverse distances between the ribs 14 increase. Accordingly the strip 13 will expand apart from where the ribs 14 are joined by the areas of reduced thickness 15 not cut by the slitting apparatus 21. Located adjacent the entrance of the expansion assembly 41, is a pair of rollers 44 which push the strip 13 into the expansion assembly 41. Located adjacent the exit of the expansion assembly 41 is a further pair of rollers 45 which pull the strip 13.from within the expansion assembly 41. The strip 13, now having been expanded provides the expanded metal mesh 11. Accordingly, as the strip passes through the expansion assembly 41, the strip 13 is plastistically deformed.

Following the expansion assembly is a set of rollers 47 which flatten the strip 13.

Located downstream from the expansion assembly 22 is a rotary shear assembly 32 which cuts the expanded mesh into discreet lengths which are subsequently stacked at a stacking station 33. Alternatively, the expanded metal mesh may not be cut to length but merely recoiled by means of a coiling apparatus 34. In such an instance, the coiled expanded mesh can then be transported to a convenient location, possibly closer to the intended retail market, whereat it is uncoiled and cut to appropriate sheet lengths.

The punch assembly 22 could be adapted to provide a variety of i patterns in respect of the expanded metal mesh. This can be achieved by providing individual dyes which are movable into a punch operative position -electively by means of computer control.

Claims (8)

1. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said slots extend generally radially from a predetermined point, and are generally coplanar.
2. 3. The apparatus of claim 2 or 3, further including a first set of rollers located at the entrance of said expansion means, and a second set of rollers located adjacent the exit of said expansion means, with the first set of rollers being adapted to push said strip into said expansion A means, and said second set of rollers being adapted to draw the strip from a within said expansion means. I
3. 4. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, further including co-operating rollers, which tension the strip as it passes through the slitting means. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said slitting means is a rotary slitting apparatus, including a slitting roller with a plurality of slitting blades.
4. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the slitting blades are rotatably supported about an axis transverse of the strip, with the blades being transversely spaced and each being provided with blade portions which p are angularly spaced about the periphery of the blade. STA/44 A S -6- 6
5. 7. A method of manufacturing expanded metal mesh from longitudinally ribbed metal strip, said method including the steps of providing a roll of said strip, feeding the strip from said roll and straightening the strip, slitting the strip longitudinally, so as to provide longitudinally extending transversely spaced rows of longitudinally spaced slits, and expanding the strip generally continuously transversely, wherein said strip is expanded transversely, by passing the ribs of the strip along diverging slots, so as to form said expanded metal mesh.
6. 8. The method of claim 7, including tensioning the strip as it is slitted.
7. 9. A method of manufacturing expanded mesh substantially as S, hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
8. 10. An apparatus for manufacturing expanded mesh substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. o* DATED this THIRTY-FIRST day of OCTOBER 1990 Ronald E Graham (Holding) Pty Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON S SSTA/1 4 A STA/1436w