US 11,786,950 B2
Method for changing the callibration range of a drawing chain, comprising chain links, of a caterpillar-track drawing machine, and caterpillar-track drawing machine
Thomas Cmiel, Moenchengladbach (DE); and Joerg Lindbuechl, Moenchengladbach (DE)
Assigned to SMS group GmbH, Duesseldorf (DE)
Appl. No. 17/420,269
Filed by SMS group GmbH, Duesseldorf (DE)
PCT Filed Dec. 2, 2019, PCT No. PCT/DE2019/101031
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 1, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/141005, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 9, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2019 100 142.0 (DE), filed on Jan. 4, 2019; and application No. 10 2019 106 362.0 (DE), filed on Mar. 13, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0088659 A1, Mar. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. B21C 1/30 (2006.01); B21C 1/28 (2006.01); B21C 1/20 (2006.01)
CPC B21C 1/28 (2013.01) [B21C 1/20 (2013.01); B21C 1/30 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A caliber changing method for changing a caliber range of a drawing chain of a caterpillar track drawing machine between a first caliber range and a second caliber range deviating from the first caliber range,
wherein the caterpillar track drawing machine comprises chain links, a drawing die, a caterpillar track disposed behind the drawing die, viewed in a drawing direction, which caterpillar track draws a workpiece through the drawing die along a drawing line aligned parallel to the drawing direction and shapes the workpiece, and a drawing chain that comprises chain links, the method comprising the steps of:
applying a press-on force to at least a gripping region of the drawing chain via a press-on bar, wherein the press-on force has a component directed at the drawing line,
arranging or configuring respective drawing tools, each comprising at least first and second drawing recesses on the respective chain links of the drawing chain, wherein the first drawing recesses are used for the first caliber range and the second drawing recesses are used for the second caliber range,
displacing the respective drawings tools perpendicular to the drawing line to align either the first drawing recesses or the second drawing recesses with reference to a drawing plane that intersects the drawing line and that is parallel to a plane in which the drawing chain circulates, so as to change the caliber range accordingly between the first caliber range and the second caliber range,
aligning the respective drawing tools jointly with the respective chain links, and
arranging idle rollers in an idle roller chain and running the idle rollers past or circulating the idle rollers around the press-on bar jointly with the drawing chain at a running speed different from a running speed of the drawing chain.