GB2038275A

GB2038275A - Apparatus for stacking elongated articles

Info

Publication number: GB2038275A
Application number: GB7943429A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Vallourec SA
Current assignee: Vallourec SA
Priority date: 1978-12-18
Filing date: 1979-12-17
Publication date: 1980-07-23
Also published as: NL7909085A; FR2444631A1; IT1127708B; DE2950561A1; FR2444631B1; ES8100197A1; DE2950561C2; ES486979A0; GB2038275B; IT7928042A0

Abstract

The apparatus, particularly for stacking tubes in the form of regular layers to provide loads having a quadrangular cross-section, comprises means for inclining a reception container 2 for the tubes at a predetermined angle, inclined feed means 18 for successively supplying by gravity the said tubes perpendicular to the highest part of the bottom, the tubes rolling on the inclined bottom and being aligned parallel to one another, a plurality of arms 6 parallel to said bottom which can be raised and lowered relative thereto to define a space of predetermined regulatable height for the formation of a first layer of juxtaposed aligned tubes, and means for raising the arms after the formation of each layer of tubes in order to define a further space having a predetermined height for the formation of the following layer. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for stacking long articles, particularly tubes in regular layers The present invention relates to an apparatus for stacking long articles, particularly tubes in the form of regular layers with a view to forming loads having a quadrangular and in particular square or rectangular cross-section.

It is conventional practice in the manufacture of tubes to package the tubes in such a way that circular banded loads or bundles are obtained. Such loads are relatively difficult to handle and require a large amount of space for storage purposes.

It has therefore proved to be very advantageous to package tubes in the form of square or rectangular banded loads formed by stacking in the form of regular layers the tubes produced in containers conventionally constituted by a plurality of U-shaped members spaced over the length of the container and formed by vertical lateral posts interconnected in their lower portion by spacers perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container and defining the bottom thereof for receiving the tubes. In practice the tubes are stacked one by one manually in the thus formed container. Therefore the operation of forming the loads is slow and requires a relatively large labour force.

The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for the automatic stacking of tubes in regular layers in such containers making it possible to obtain perfectly regular loads. This can be carried out rapidly and a large labourforce is not required for handling the tubes.

Hereinafter the apparatus according to the invention will be described as usable for effecting the stacking of tubes and in particular tubes having a circular cross-section. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such circular tubes and can instead be used both for non-circulartubes and for metallic or non-metallic, elongated articles having a random cross-section.

According to the invention the apparatus comprises means for inclining the reception container for the tubes in such a way that its bottom forms a predetermined angle relative to the horizontal, inclined feed means for successively supplying by gravity and in individual manner the said tubes perpendicular to the highest part of the bottom, the thus supplied tubes rolling on the inclined bottom and being aligned parallel to one another over the width of said bottom, a plurality of arms parallel to said bottom and which can be raised and lowered relative thereto in order to define a space of predetermined regulatable height above said bottom for the formation of a first layer of juxtaposed aligned tubes, means for raising the arms parallel to the bottom after the formation of each layer of tubes with a predetermined height in order to define above the layer formed a space having a predetermined height for the formation of the following layer.

According to a preferred embodiment the arms are inclined relative to the horizontal so as to be able to move parallel to the bottom in the inclined position and are fixed and articulated to a frame able to move in inclined guides. By moving the frame in the guides the arms can therefore move towards and spaced from the bottom, whilst remaining parallel to the latter, the length of the arms being such that it permits them to extend substantially over the entire width of the container up to a distance from the lateral posts opposite the support frame for the arms which slightly exceeds the diameter of the tubes to be stacked.The end of each of the arms can advantageously be constituted by a movable shoulder which can axially be moved away from or towards the remainder of the arm for the purpose of regulating the distance between the end of the shoulder and the lateral posts as a function of the diameter of the tubes to be stacked. Advantageously the shoulders of the arms also have on their upper end a chamfer for the guidance of the tubes in the space made between the end of the-shoulders and the lateral posts of the container.

The arms are articulated to the frame supporting the same in such a way that they move with respect to the frame between a retracted position substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the container and an operating position which is perpen circular to this axis.

According to an embodiment of the invention the means for inclining the container comprise a pivoting chassis supporting the container and which can be inclined by a given angle relative to the horizontal by the action more particularly of a pneumatic jack.

According to the invention the inclination angle of the bottom of the container with respect to the horizonatal, i.e. also the angle of inclination relative to the horizontal of the moving arms and the angle of inclination relative to the vertical of the support frame of said arms, is preferably approximately 200 and is advantageously between 10 and 30 .

The inclined feed means for successively supplying by gravity the tubes perpendicular to the highest part of the bottom of the container have a plurality of spaced cables, each fixed to the end of an arm, i.e. a moving shoulder, when the latter is provided. These cables extend at a given angle from an upper support to which the tubes are supplied by a random conventional tube distribution system.

According to a special embodiment the angle of the cables with respect to the horizontal is between approximately 21", when the arms are in the upper position above the container and 330 when the arms are in contact with the bottom of the container.

The operating speed of the apparatus according to the invention makes it possible to supply up to one tube per second. The tube distribution system can be installed "in secondary manner" or directly at the outlet from the tube welding line.

In the latter case it is possible to provide two tube stacking apparatuses with a view to producing loads arranged on either side ofthe discharge line so as to ensure a continuous production by the welding apparatus positioned in the tube welding line. When one container is filled the filling of the second container can start.

The distribution system can also be constituted by the outlet from a straightening machine, a drawing bench, a non-destructive control apparatus and in more general manner by any secondary or successive distribution system. It is also obvious that other distribution systems can be provided in the case where the apparatus according to the invention is used for elongated articles, other than tubes.

At the end of the apparatus according to the invention there is also a plunger, particularly a pneumatic plunger, for the purpose of longitudinally aligning the tubes during the stacking process.

In the case of tubes with a circular cross-section the apparatus permits a stacking in the form of parallel layers in which the tubes are staggered from one layer to the next.

To this end for the formation of the first layer on the bottom of the container the arms are arranged above the latter in such a way as to provide a space whose height is only a few millimetres greater than the diameter D of the tube in order to form a first layer of N tubes on the bottom of the container, after which the arms are raised by D for the formation of the second layer and then for the formation of each following layer by a quantity (D V3)/2, thus providing above the layer formed a space which is just sufficient for the following layer to be formed with a staggered arrangement of the tubes. As a result a succession of layers is obtained having successively N and N-l tubes.

To maintain a perfect alignment of the rows constituted by N-l tubes it is possible to provide in conventional manner for certain of the vertical posts forming the container to be equipped on their inner face with pinned wooden members, whose length and centre-to-centre distance are variable as a function of the diameter of the tubes. It is also possible to replace this system of pinned wooden members by a system of retractable stops fixed more particularly to the moving arms.

The apparatus is also completed in per se known manner by guide bindings distributed over the length of the container in order to receive the encircling wooden members of the load of tubes formed.

The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter relative to non-limitative embodiments and the attached drawings, wherein show: Figure 1 a partial perspective view of the apparatus according to the invention in the operating position.

Figure 2 a front plan view of the apparatus according to the invention, the tube supply means being omitted for reasons of clarity.

Figure 3 a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 2.

Figures 4to 9 diagrammatic side elevations illustrating the operation of the apparatus according to the invention.

The apparatus according to the invention essentially comprises a chassis 1 mounted so as to pivot about a horizontal axis and which can be tilted under the action, more particularly of a pneumatic jack, from a horizontal position as shown in Figure 4to an inclined position relative to the horizontal, as shown for example in Figure 5. According to the invention the preferred inclination angle is approximately 20ç.

This pivoting chassis 1 is able to receive a container for tubes constituted by a plurality of U-shaped members 2, each formed by two vertical posts 3 joined in their lower portion by a spacer 4.

The system of spacers 4 forms the bottom of the container.

As is diagrammatically shown in Figure 1 certain of the posts 3 have on their inner face pinned wooden members 5, whose length and centre-tocentre distance are variable as a function of the diameter of the tubes, the pinned wooden members serving to ensure the maintaining of the staggered arrangement of the tubes for a good presentation of the load.

The apparatus according to the invention also comprises a plurality of arms 6 fixed and articulated at 7 to a frame 8, which can be displaced by means of ball boxes 9, shown in Figures 4 to 9, along straight guides 10 fixed to supports 11.

The supports 11 also support pinions 12 for controlling the chains 13 permitting the displacement of frame 8 supporting arms 6. As can be seen more particularly in Figures 4 to 9 the straight guides 10 along which the frame 8 slides are inclined by a given angle relative to the vertical, this angle being the same as that by which chassis 1 supporting container 2 can be inclined relative to the vertical. As stated hereinbefore this angle is preferably approximately 20 .

It is readily apparent that the arms 6 are movable with frame 8, whilst always remaining parallel to themselves and by forming relative to the horizontal the same angle as the bottom 4 of container 2.

Thus, the arms 6 can be moved towards and spaced from the bottom of the container whilst remaining parallel to the latter when it is in the inclined position.

Pinions 12 which make it possible to ensure the displacement and positioning of the frame 8 and consequently arms 6 are moved by a geared motor 14 (Figure 1) at a variable speed by means of a bidirectional electronic variator making it possible to drive frame 8 and consequently arms 6 in the upwards or downwards directions at appropriate regulatable speeds.

The assembly of frame 8 and arms 6 is balanced by means of counterweights 15 in Figure 1.

Each of the arms 6 has at its end a shoulder 16, which can be axially regulated with respect to the corresponding arm 6, said shoulder 16 having in its upper end portion a chamfer 17. A cable 18 for feeding in the tubes to be stacked is fixed to the end of each of the shoulders 16.

As can be seen particularly clearly in Figures 5 to 7 the tubes T to be stacked are made to move by gravity along cables 18 extending in inclined manner from a support 19, the tubes being supplied bya random tube distribution systEm 20 in Figure 4.

The apparatus according to he invention also has a plunger, particularly a pneumatic plunger 21 (Figure 3) for aligning the end of the stacked tubes in container 2.

In per se known manner the apparatus also has guide bindings 22 (Figures 2 and 3) for receiving the load encircling wooden members once the stacking of the tubes in the container is completed.

The operation of the apparatus according to the invention for forming a stack of regular layers of tubes in a container will now be described, with particular reference to Figures 4 to 9.

The control of the apparatus according to the invention can advantageously be automated by means of an electronic logic with integrated circuits or by means of a microprocessor.

In the starting position shown in Figure 4 a container 2 is placed on chassis 1 which is maintained in the horizontal position. Frame 8 is in the upper position and arms 6 are in the retracted position parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container.

The relative position of the shoulders 16 relative to the arms 6 is regulated in such a way that when these arms 6, provided with the shoulders 16 are in a position perpendicular to the longitudinl axis of the container (Figures 5 to 7) the distance between the end of the shoulders 16 and the posts 3 of the container 2 opposite to supports 11 is slightly greater than the diameter of a tube in order to permit the passage of the latter.

The lower wooden members for encircling the load have been introduced into the guide bindings 22.

Container 2 is tilted into the inclined position by pivoting chassis 1 and then support frame 8 and arms 6 are lowered at high speed to the bottom 4 of the container, after which the arms are raised in such a way that their lower face is at a distance from bottom 4 equal to D+j, j being a clearance of a few millimetres and D the diameter of the tubes to be stacked.

Thus, the position shown in Figure 5 is reached and the tube distribution system is started up. The tubes are lowered by cables 18 and arrive at the chamfered end 17 of shoulders 16, and then between the latter and the lateral posts 3, after which they roll on the inclined bottom 4 without overlapping being possible, due to the reduced space between bottom 4 and arms 6.

Thus, as can be seen in Figure 5 a first regular layer of N juxtaposed aligned tubes is obtained on bottom 4.

For the formation of the following layer frame 8 and arms 6 are raised by a distance D and then in the space made between the upper part of the first layer formed and the lower face of the arms 6 a second layer of N-l tubesis formed.

Frame 8 and arms 6 are then raised by a height (D < )/2, in order to form the following layer of N tubes and then by the same height for each of the following superimposed layers until the final layer of N tubes has been made. These phases are diagram matically shown in Figures 6 and 7.

Frame 8 and shoulders 16 are then raised at high speed to the upper position shown in Figure 8, the shoulders 16 then being retracted.

The filled container is then tilted into the horizontal position as shown in Figure 9.

The operator then introduces the vertical wooden members into the guide bindings, together with the upper horizontal wooden members for the banding of the load.

With the wooden members in place the operator introduces an encircling strap into the guide bindings and bands the rectangular load or bundle by means of a pneumatic apparatus.

The load is then removed from the container by means of a mobile overhead crane and is placed on a weighing machine. Using the overhead crane it is also possible to raise the assembly constituted by the container and the load, afterwhich an empty container is placed on chassis 1.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, the invention is obviously not limited thereto and various modifications can be made without pasing beyond the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for stacking elongated articles and in particular tubes in the form of regular layers with a view to forming in a container loads having a quadrangular cross-section, wherein it comprises means for inclining the reception container for the tubes in such a way that its bottom forms a predetermined angle relative to the horizontal, inclined feed means for successively supplying by gravity and in individual manner the said tubes perpendicular to the highest part of the bottom, the thus supplied tubes rolling on the inclined bottom and being aligned parallel to one another over the width of said bottom, a plurality of arms parallel to said bottom and which can be raised and lowered relative thereto in order to define a space of predetermined regulatable height above said bottom for the formation of a first layer of juxtaposed aligned tubes, means for raising the arms parallel to the bottom after the formation of each layer of tubes with a predetermined height in order to define above the layer formed a space having a predetermined heightfor the formation of the following layer.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arms are inclined relative to the horizontal in such a way as to be able to move parallel to the bottom in the inclined position, whilst being fixed and articulated to a frame moving in inclined guides,

3. An apparatus according to either of the claims 1 and 2, wherein the inclination angle relative to the horizontal of the arms, which is equal to the inclination angle relative to the vertical of the support frame for the arms is between approximately 10 and approximately 30 and is preferably approximately 20 .

4. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container comprises a plurality of U-shaped members spaced over its length and formed by vertical lateral posts interconnected in their lower part by spacers which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container and define the bottom of the latter for receiving the tubes.

5. An apparatus according to any one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the length of the arms is such that it permits them to extend substantially over the entire width of the container up to a distance from the lateral posts opposite to the support frame for the arms which is slightly greater than the diameter of the tubes to be stacked.

6. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the end of each of said arms is constituted by a moving shoulder which can be axially moved away from or towards the reminder of the arm in order to regulate the distance between the end of the shoulder and the lateral posts as a function of the diameter of the tubes to be stacked.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the shoulders have at their upper end a chamfer for guiding the tubes in the space made between the end of the shoulders and the lateral posts of the container.

8. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the arms are articulated to the support frames so as to be movable with respect to the latter between a retracted position substantilly parallel to the longitudinal direction of the container and an operating position which is perpendicular to said axis.

9. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the means for inclining the container comprise a pivoting chassis supporting the container and which can be inclined by a predetermined angle relative to the horizontal by the action of in particular a pneumatic jack.

10. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inclined feed means for successively supplying by gravity the tubes perpendicular to the highest part of the bottom of the container comprise a plurality of spaced cables, each fixed to the end of one of the arms, said cables extending by a given angle from an upper support to which the tubes to be stacked are supplied by a tube distribution system.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the angle of the cables relative to the horizontal is between approximately 21", when the arms are in the upper position above the container and 33 , when the arms are in contact with the bottom of the container.

12. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein it terminally has a plunger, particularly a pneumatic plunger, for longitudinally aligning the tubes during stacking.

13. An apparatus acording to any one of the preceding claims, wherein it has guide bindings distributed over the length of the container.