GB1582337A - Apparatus for carrying out operations at selected positions along the length of an elongated workpiece - Google Patents

Description

(54) APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT OPERATIONS AT SELECTED POSITIONS ALONG THE LENGTH OF AN ELONGATED WORKPIECE (71) We, T. I. METRIC LIMITED, formerly METAL SECTIONS LIMITED, a British Company, of Birmingham Road, Oldbury, Warley, West Midlands B69 4HE, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to apparatus for carrying out operations at selected positions along the length of an elongated workpiece.

It may for example be required to carry out drilling, tapping, shearing, forming, or punching operations on such a workpiece and whilst the same operation need not necessarily be carried out at each of the selected positions, it is desirable, for reasons of manufacturing economy, that the operations should be carried out at the same time or approximately the same time. One example of a workpiece which can be operated on by apparatus in accordance with the invention is a steel roof purlin in which it is required to form holes at intervals along the length of the purlin although the apparatus can be used on elongated workpieces other than purlins.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved form of such apparatus.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided apparatus for carrying out operations at selected positions along the length of an elongated workpiece, said apparatus comprising elongated machine supporting means, a plurality of machines mounted on said supporting means for slidable movement along the length thereof, means for feeding an elongated workpiece into the apparatus so that it will be disposed in a predetermined position in which its length extends in a direction parallel to the length of said elongated machine supporting means, said feeding means including an escapement mechanism for feeding one workpiece at a time into the apparatus, there being also provided means for supplying when desired cushions of pressurised air between said machines and the supporting surfaces of said machine supporting means in order to lift said machines slightly from the machine supporting means whereafter they can be slid along the length of said machine supporting means to any new desired positions therealong and then secured in said new positions.

Conveniently, said means for feeding a workpiece into the apparatus is arranged to feed it laterally from one side of the apparatus. There is also preferably provided means for ejecting a workpiece from the apparatus after the desired operations have been carried out.

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of part of one example of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention and Figure 2 is a transverse section taken along the line II-II of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus shown therein is particularly intended for use in the manufacture of steel roof purlins 10, such purlins being formed in the example shown so that they are of Z-shaped cross-section. The purlins are produced in a known manner by passing coiled flat steel sheet through a rolling mill after which the rolled section can be cut to the desired lengths by means of a flying shear. The purlins thus formed are then moved in the direction of the arrow 12 along a powered roller conveyor track, of which only one roller 14 is shown. Associated with said roller conveyor is an inclined bar 15 which lies above the conveyor and which is arranged to be struck by the leading end of a purlin passing along the conveyor so that such purlin will then be deflected laterally from the conveyor and on to a downwardly inclined rack comprising a plurality of spaced storage bars 18. Each of said bars is provided with a pivoted stop 20 which can be raised and lowered by an associated pneumatic ram 22. Furthermore each of said storage bars 18 is provided, at that end remote from said conveyor, with an extension bar 24 and each of said extension bars is connected to an associated pneumatic ram 26 which can be operated to lift its extension bar 24 to a position as shown in Figure 2 in which it is aligned with the upper parts of die blocks 28 from a relatively lowered position in which said extension bar 24 is not so aligned.

The die blocks 28 are associated with a plurality of hydraulic presses 30, 32 and 34, each press including'a bed 38 from which an upright member 40 supports a vertically disposed hydraulically operated cylinder 42. Each cylinder 42 contains an operating piston 44 having fastened thereto a punch 46 arranged to co-operate with a die 48 mounted on the die block 28 and positioned beneath each punch 46. There is also provided in association with each of said hydraulic presses a horizontally arranged pneumatic ram 36 which, on actuation thereof, will engage a part of the purlin 10 when the latter is in a position in which it can be operated on by sad presses and thereby clamp said purlin .against upstanding parts of the die blocks 28.

The aforesaid hydraulic presses 30, 32 and 34 are mounted on an elongated machine supporting means which comprise an elongated track 54 having two parallel rails 50 and 52 and pressurised air bearings are provided between the undersides of the press beds 38 and the upper surfaces of said rails 50 and 52. Flexible air connections (indicated by reference numerals 86) are arranged to feed pressurised air along horizontal and vertical drillings 88 in each of said press beds 38 in order to discharge the pressurised air onto the rails 50 and 52 to provide air cushions so that by appropriate selection of the air pressure in relation to the weight of each press and the size of the upper surfaces of said rails 50 and 52 each of said presses may be raised slightly from the rails 50 and 52 when desired. Each press can then be moved longitudinally along the track 54 with very little effort so that they can be set on said track in any desired spacing therealong. An index 90 carried by each bed 38 can be used in conjunction with a -longitudinal scale 92 secured to the front edge of the rail 52 so as to assist in positioning each press.

Furthermore each press is provided with a clamping mechanism 94 mounted within a slot in the rail 52, said mechanism being operated by a handle 96. Each press can thus be securely locked in position on the track 54 after the associated air supply has been turned off.

The aforementioned - storage bars 18 together with the stops 20 and extension bars 24 provide a means for feeding the purlins laterally into the apparatus, the stops 20 acting as an escapement mechanism so that when it is desired to release one purlin from the storage bars 18 into the apparatus the stops 20 will be lowered by the associated pneumatic rams 22. At this stage the extension bars 24 will be set in tile position shown in Figure 2 so that the purlin can then be guided by the operators along said bars 24 and onto the apparatus. The purlin will then extend in a direction parallel to the length of the track 54 and will lie across the die blocks 28.

The operators will then adjust the longitudinal position of the purlin so that one end thereof locates against a block 56, such movement actuating a micro switch 58 which will inhibit operation of the presses 30,-32 and 34 until the purlin engages said block 56. Once the purlin is in position the presses can be actuated but for reasons of safety the operators (two operators would be required with the apparatus as shown) have to operate at the same time a pair of controls.

As shown in Figure 1 one control comprises a pedal 60 connected to a control unit 62 mounted on a post 64 whereas the other control unit comprises a push button 66 connected to a control unit 68 on a post 70.

It is however to be understood that both controls may have a push button or both controls may have a foot pedal. In any case however the arrangement is such that both operators have to stand clear of the presses 30, 32 and 34 before they will operate. Once the control units 62 and 68 have been operated however the pneumatic rams 26 will be actuated to lower the extension bars 24 away from their operative positions in which they are aligned with the die blocks and in their lowered position the bars will permit a beam of light emitted from a lamp 72 to fall on a receiver 74 mounted on the control unit 62. The beam of light thus acts in effect as a guard for the presses and the pneumatic rams 36 will next be actuated to clamp the purlin 10 which is actually in position in the apparatus. After clamping of the purlin has been effected the rams 44 will be actuated automatically to lower the punches 46 and thereby punch the desired holes in the purlin 10. However because of possible variation in the thickness of the material of the purlin along the length thereof clamping of the purlin may not be effected simultaneously at all the clamping positions by the rams 36. Accordingly a timing device is provided to delay slightly the operation of the last press 34 but as soon as the punch 46 of this press rises on completion of the punching operation, the rams 26 are again automatically operated to raise the extension bars 24 to their working position. Simultaneously the pneumatic rams 36 retract to free the purlin 10 and a further pneumatic ram 76 connected to the block 56 is operated to engage the rear end of the purlin and provide partial longitudinal ejection of the purlin.

There is also provided a roller 78 which is covered with polyurethane, synthetic rubber or the like, and this roller is continuously driven by an electric motor 80 through a belt 82. The roller 78 is carried on one or more arms 84 pivoted on or near the axis of the motor 80 and after partial ejection of the purlin by the ram '16 the roller 78 is automatically lowered onto the leading end of the purlin thus causing it to be drawn through the presses 30, 32 and 34 and onto a further powered roller conveyor (not shown).

Thus it will be understood that the purlins may be conveniently made in batches and each batch may have a different crosssectional form, or length, or material thickness from the next batch. Also the spacing and size of holes which are required to be punched in the purlins may vary from batch to batch. Such longitudinal variations in the positions of these holes may be very easily catered for by adjustment of the longitudinal spacing of the presses 30, 32 and 34 as above explained.

Furthermore apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention can be used to operate on elongated workpieces other than purlins and of course operations other than the punching of holes can be carried out if desired.

Moreover, whereas many of the functions have been described as being performed by operators, apparatus in accordance with the invention is particularly suitable for partial or full automation.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS;- 1. Apparatus for carrying out operations at selected positions along the length of an elongated workpiece, said apparatus comprising elongated machine supporting means, a plurality of machines mounted on said supporting means for slidable movement along the length thereof, means for feeding an elongated workpiece into the apparatus so that it will be disposed in a predetermined position in which its length extends in a direction parallel to the length of said elongated machine supporting means, said feeding means including an escapement mechanism for feeding one workpiece at a time into the apparatus, there being also provided means for supplying when desired cushions of pressurised air between said machines and the supporting surfaces of said machine supporting means in order to lift said machines slightly from the machine supporting means whereafter they can be slid along the length of said machine supporting means to any new desired positions therealong and then secured in said new positions.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Clam 1 wherein said means for feeding a workpiece into the apparatus is arranged to feed it laterally from one side of the apparatus.

3. Apparatus as claimed in either of the preceding claims wherein there is provided means for ejecting a workpiece from the apparatus after the desired operations have been carried out.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 wherein said workpiece ejecting means comprises a fluid-pressure actuated ram which is arranged to engage the rear end of the workpiece and effect partial longitudinal ejection thereof, and a driven roller which is arranged to engage the front end of the workpiece after said partial ejection has been effected to complete the removal of the workpiece from the apparatus.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein there are provided flexible connections to said machines for feeding the pressurised air via drillings formed in the beds of the machines to provide said air cushions between the machines and said machine supporting means.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said workpiece feeding means comprises a plurality of spaced storage bars which are each provided with a movable extension, there being also provided safety means incorporating a light remitting device which is aligned with said storage bar extensions and with a receiver forming part of a control unit which is arranged to permit operation of said machines only when said storage bar extensions have been moved to their inoperative positions in which light can pass from said light-emitting device to said receiver and in which the storage bars cannot feed another workpiece to said machines.

7. Apparatus for carrying out operations at selected positions along the length of an elongated workpiece, said apparatus being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

1. **WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

   device is provided to delay slightly the operation of the last press 34 but as soon as the punch 46 of this press rises on completion of the punching operation, the rams 26 are again automatically operated to raise the extension bars 24 to their working position. Simultaneously the pneumatic rams 36 retract to free the purlin 10 and a further pneumatic ram 76 connected to the block

   56 is operated to engage the rear end of the purlin and provide partial longitudinal ejection of the purlin.

   There is also provided a roller 78 which is covered with polyurethane, synthetic rubber or the like, and this roller is continuously driven by an electric motor 80 through a belt 82. The roller 78 is carried on one or more arms 84 pivoted on or near the axis of the motor 80 and after partial ejection of the purlin by the ram '16 the roller 78 is automatically lowered onto the leading end of the purlin thus causing it to be drawn through the presses 30, 32 and 34 and onto a further powered roller conveyor (not shown).

   Thus it will be understood that the purlins may be conveniently made in batches and each batch may have a different crosssectional form, or length, or material thickness from the next batch. Also the spacing and size of holes which are required to be punched in the purlins may vary from batch to batch. Such longitudinal variations in the positions of these holes may be very easily catered for by adjustment of the longitudinal spacing of the presses 30, 32 and 34 as above explained.

   Furthermore apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention can be used to operate on elongated workpieces other than purlins and of course operations other than the punching of holes can be carried out if desired.

   Moreover, whereas many of the functions have been described as being performed by operators, apparatus in accordance with the invention is particularly suitable for partial or full automation.

   WHAT WE CLAIM IS;- 1. Apparatus for carrying out operations at selected positions along the length of an elongated workpiece, said apparatus comprising elongated machine supporting means, a plurality of machines mounted on said supporting means for slidable movement along the length thereof, means for feeding an elongated workpiece into the apparatus so that it will be disposed in a predetermined position in which its length extends in a direction parallel to the length of said elongated machine supporting means, said feeding means including an escapement mechanism for feeding one workpiece at a time into the apparatus, there being also provided means for supplying when desired cushions of pressurised air between said machines and the supporting surfaces of said machine supporting means in order to lift said machines slightly from the machine supporting means whereafter they can be slid along the length of said machine supporting means to any new desired positions therealong and then secured in said new positions.
2. 2. Apparatus as claimed in Clam 1 wherein said means for feeding a workpiece into the apparatus is arranged to feed it laterally from one side of the apparatus.
3. 3. Apparatus as claimed in either of the preceding claims wherein there is provided means for ejecting a workpiece from the apparatus after the desired operations have been carried out.
4. 4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 wherein said workpiece ejecting means comprises a fluid-pressure actuated ram which is arranged to engage the rear end of the workpiece and effect partial longitudinal ejection thereof, and a driven roller which is arranged to engage the front end of the workpiece after said partial ejection has been effected to complete the removal of the workpiece from the apparatus.
5. 5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein there are provided flexible connections to said machines for feeding the pressurised air via drillings formed in the beds of the machines to provide said air cushions between the machines and said machine supporting means.
6. 6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said workpiece feeding means comprises a plurality of spaced storage bars which are each provided with a movable extension, there being also provided safety means incorporating a light remitting device which is aligned with said storage bar extensions and with a receiver forming part of a control unit which is arranged to permit operation of said machines only when said storage bar extensions have been moved to their inoperative positions in which light can pass from said light-emitting device to said receiver and in which the storage bars cannot feed another workpiece to said machines.
7. 7. Apparatus for carrying out operations at selected positions along the length of an elongated workpiece, said apparatus being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.