GB2127768A

GB2127768A - Oscillating stacking device

Info

Publication number: GB2127768A
Application number: GB08322696A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lawrence J Richards
Original assignee: BRANER ENTERPRISES Inc; BRANER ENTERPRISES
Current assignee: BRANER ENTERPRISES Inc; BRANER ENTERPRISES
Priority date: 1982-09-24
Filing date: 1983-08-24
Publication date: 1984-04-18
Also published as: GB2127768B; GB8322696D0; DE3328866A1; CA1160651A

Abstract

A transporting device comprises a rotatable central support turret 180 situated on a stationary pedestal 150. A pair of frames 202 extend radially outwardly from the turret. Each frame may be raised and lowered independently of the other and includes a beam along which carriages 210 can be moved. Each carriage has means 212 for gripping coils 40 to be transferred and stacked, movement of the carriages allowing coils of differing diameters to be transferred. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Turret stacker This invention relates to material transporting devices, and in particular to a device for relocating material from one position to a second position. In the disclosed embodiment, the invention pertains to equipment for handling coils of slit metallic sheet material.

In the coil slitting and processing industry, and as set forth in somewhat greater detail in the following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, large rolls of sheet material are unrolled, then passed through a slitter which longitudinally cuts the sheet material into a plurality of narrower strips of metal, which are then recoiled, and then handled downstream as required, normally by stacking, palletizing and weighing.

Our U.S. Patent No. 3,861,536 describes one type of device for transporting coils of material and stacking the coils on to a turntable, the stacked coils being later removed from the turntable at one or more locations. The transporting device of this patent, while representing a significant advance over stacking equipment then in existence, itself can prove to be a bottleneck in a complete line for slitting and processing metal coil since the stacker must reciprocate between an inlet conveyor and the turntable directly beneath the stacker. Thus, while material is being lowered to the turntable, upstream coils are prevented from entering the stacker until the stacker returns to a position to accept the next coil or several coils of material.

The transporting device according to the invention eliminates the above-delineated deficiencies of the prior art and others by providing an apparatus which, at one side, can accept incoming coils of material while, at the same time, the other side can independently place previously retrieved coils on to a turntable or other conveying equipment. Thus, the invention is able to perform two functions simultaneously which, in accordance with the prior art, could be accomplished only in serial fashion.

In accordance with the invention, a transporting device for relocating material from one position to a second position comprises a stationary central support pedestal, a turret rotatably mounted on the pedestal, a pair of frames mounted on the turret and extending radially outwardly thereof, each frame having means for raising and lowering the frame independently of the other frame and a pair of carriages movable along a beam, each carriage providing a support for holding material to be relocated and means for moving the carriages along the beam in opposite directions to accommodate material of varying horizontal dimensions and drive means arranged to rotate said turret relative to the pedestal.

A second pair of carriages may be located beneath each frame and the carriages are movable in opposite directions, with the second pair of carriages including rests for holding material to be relocated and being situated transverse to the first pair of carriages. Preferably, the rests of the first and second pair of carriages are situated such that the first pair of carriages engages the exterior diameter of a coil, while the second pair of carriages engages the coil from its inner diameter.

The invention is set forth in greater detail in the following description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a typical coil slitting, processing and packaging line including the transporting device according to the invention, Figure 2 is a top schematic illustration, with portions removed for clarity, of an embodiment of the invention, Figure 3 is a side elevational illustration of the embodiment of the invention, Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional illutration taken along lines 4-4 of Figure 3, and Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional illustration taken along lines 5-5 of Figure 2.

Turning first to Figure 1, a typical line for coil slitting, processing and packaging is depicted. Of course, depending on the particular requirements of the user, other or fewer equipment components might be employed in the line of equipment.

The line begins with an uncoiler 10 having a mandrel 1 2 upon which coils 14 of sheet metal are mounted for downstream processing. A coil car 16, carrying another coil 14, is employed to reduce line downtime as one coil 14 is exhausted and another situated in its place upon the mandrel 12.

Sheet metal 1 8 is withdrawn from the coil 14 within the uncoiler 10 and passed through a crop shear 20. The shear 20 is activated periodically to sever the metal sheet 1 8 into predetermined lengths.

From the crop shear 20, the sheet 1 8 passes through a slitter 22, such as the turret-type slitter described in our U.S. Patent No. 3,727,503. In the slitter 22, the metal sheet 18 is slit into a plurality of ribbons of metal 24 of desired widths. The metal ribbons 24 are then rewound into individual coils in a recoiler 26.

Often, although the great majority of the sheet 18 is slit in the slitter 22, a small marginal edge portion is not desired and it is, therefore, directed to a scrap winder 28 where it is collected and later removed for disposal.

Coils are removed from the recoiler 26 on to a transfer horn 30. The transfer horn 30 includes one or more lateral arms 32 which, when aligned with the recoiler 26, permit an overarm separator 34 to remove one or more coils from the recoiler 26 on to the arm 32. Coils on the arms 32 of the transfer horn 30 are removed by a downender 36 which receives individual coils from the transfer horn in their vertical orientation and reclines the coils to a horizontal orientation.

From the downender 36, individual coils are conveyed to a banding machine 38. The individual coils are banded with metal strapping or the like in the banding machine 38 and the banded coils, one of which is shown at 40 in Figure 1, are then conveyed to a transporting device 42' according to the invention.

In the transporting device 42', individual coils are removed from the upstream conveyor and are placed upon skids 44 situated on a turntable 46.

As many coils as desired are stacked on each skid 44 by the transporting device 42' and then the turntable 46 is indexed a desired amount (90 degrees in the turntable 46 illustrated), in order to place a succeeding skid 44 beneath the transporting device 42'.

From the turntable 46, the stacks of coils 40 pass on to a scale conveyor 48 where the individual coil stacks are weighed. Finally, the coil stacks pass on downstream for banding, shipping, or other handling as required.

The transporting device 42' includes, as primary components, a stationary central support pedestal 150, a rotatable turret 1 52 situated at the top of the support pedestal 1 50, and a pair of arms 1 54 extending radially outwardly from the support pedestal 1 50.

The pedestal 150 has an integral base 1 56 which rests upon a factory floor or some other solid surface. A rotary hydraulic actuator 1 58 is attached to the base 1 56 by any suitable means.

A coupling 1 60 joins the output shaft of the actuator 158 to a plate 1 62 secured to the base of the rotatable turret 1 52.

A ring bearing 1 64 is situated between the plate 162 and an outer vertical wall 166 of the pedestal 1 50. As best shown in Figure 5, the ring bearing 164 has an inner race 1 68 and an outer race 1 70. The inner race 168 is attached to the plate 162 by appropriate means, such as by a series of bolts 172 which also extend through the plate 162 into an annular base plate 1 74. The outer race 170 of the ring bearing 1 64 rests upon, and is attached to, an annular support 176 which is secured to the outer wall 1 66. In a manner similar to the inner race 1 68, the outer race 170 may be attached to the ring support 1 76 by means of a plurality of bolts 178.

The actuator 1 58 rotates the turret 1 52 1 80O in opposite directions. Other driving means can be substituted for the actuator in order to drive the turret 1 52 during the operation thereof.

The rotatable turret 1 52 is comprised of an upstanding metal cylinder 1 80 which sits upon, and is affixed to, the base plate 1 74. A metal cap 182 closes the upper end of the cylinder 1 80. A rectangular top plate is attached to the cap 1 82 by any suitable means, such as by a series of bolts 186 (Figure 2).

As illustrated, the arms 1 54 extend radially outwardly from, and are attached to, the rotatable turret 152. Each of the arms 1 54 includes a carriage bracket 188, as best shown in Figures 2 and 5. Each carriage bracket 1 88 is slidable upon a pair of guide rods 1 90. The guide rods 190 extend between the top plate 1 84 and the base plate 1 74 and are suitably secured thereto, such as within bores in each of the plates 174 and 184.

If desired, each of the rods 190, where protruding through the top plate 184, may include a seal or cap 192.

Each of the arms 1 54, as mounted upon its carriage bracket 1 88 and guided along the guide rods 190, is raised or lowered by means of a hydraulic cylinder 194. The body of each cylinder 1 94 is securely attached to the base plate 1 74.

The rod 1 96 of each cylinder 1 94 extends upwardly therefrom and is threaded into the top of the carriage bracket 1 88. Upon actuation of either hydraulic cylinder 194, its associated arm 1 54 is, therefore, raised or lowered along the guide rods 190.

Depending on the length of the rods 190 and the type of loads to be carried by the transporting device 42', one or more intermediate support plates 198 can be employed, attached to the centre of the cylinder 1 80. The plate 1 98 is recessed at 200 (Figure 2) to allow passage of the rods of the hydraulic cylinders 194.

Each of the arms 1 54 is composed of a framework comprising longitudinal frame members 202 extending between an end plate 204 and a mounting plate 206 which is attached to the carriage bracket 188. A beam 208, at the base of the centre of each of the arms 154, also extends between the end plate 204 and the mounting plate 206.

A pair of carriages 210 are mounted on the beam 208. As shown in greater detail in Figure 4, each of the carriages 210 is composed of a pair of vertical plates 212, the spacing of which is maintained by a rest 214 secured to the bottom thereof and a top plate 21 6 secured to the top thereof. Four rollers 21 8 extending between the plates 212 straddle the beam 208, two on top thereof and two beneath in order to facilitate movement of the carriages 210 along the beam 208.

The carriages 210 are interconnected and driven to and fro along the beams 208 by means of an endless chain 220. Each chain 220 passes over sprockets 222 and 224 attached to the end plate 204 and the mounting plate 206, respectively. One side of each chain 220 is attached at an anchor 226 to one of the carriages 210 while the other side of the chain 220 is attached at an anchor 228 to the other side of one of the carriages 21 0. Since the carriages are affixed to the chain 220 on opposite sides thereof, when the chain is rotated in one direction, the carriages 220 come together, while when the chain 220 is rotated in the opposite direction, the carriages 210 are spread. Driving of each chain 220 is by means of a drive motor 230 drivingiy attached to the sprocket 226.

While the carriages 210 are situated to pick up a coil of metal 40 on the outer diameter thereof, the arm 1 54 also includes a pair of transverse carriages 232 situated on a transverse beam 234 for engaging the coil 40 on the inner diameter thereof. The carriages 232 are similar in form and function to the carriages 210. Each of the carriages 232 includes guide rollers 236 on opposite sides of the beam 234 to facilitate movement of the carriages 232 along the beam 234. An endless chain 238 passes over sprockets 240 attached for rotation at opposite ends of the beam 234 adjacent outermost frame members 202. One side of the chain 238 is attached to one side of one of the carriages 232, while the other side 238 is attached to the other side of the other of the carriages 232.A cylinder 244, having its body attached to the beam 208 and its rod 242 attached to one of the carriages 232, is used to spread or close the spacing between the carriages 232. Since the carriages 232 are interconnected by the endless chain 238, one cylinder 242 only is required to drive both carriages 232. Each of the carriages 232 includes a bottom rest 246 positioned to engage the coil 40.

The transporting device 42' is situated to relocate coils 40 from an upstream conveyor 1 32 and place them on skids 44 located on the turntable 46. The coils enter the transporting device 42' on a conveyor section 132. When a coil is sufficiently far on to the conveyor section 132, the coil passes over an electric eye (not illustrated) which actuates a cylinder 248 to raise a centering device 250 to engage the inner diameter of the coil 40. The centering device 250 includes an up-standing peg 252 which engages the inner diameter of the coil 40. When so engaged, the conveyor section 1 32 is operated for a brief period of time to assure that the coil 40 is centred on the conveyor section 1 32.

With the coil thus in place, the left cylinder 1 94 is activated to lower the left arm 154 sufficiently so that the carriages 210 and 232 can be driven to engage the outer and inner diameters of the coil 40, respectively. With the coil thus engaged, the cylinder 194 is again actuated to raise the coil 40 above the conveyor section 1 32. Then, the rotary actuator 1 58 is activated to rotate the turret 1 52 and arms 1 54 1800. The sequence of raising the coil 40 is then reversed. The cylinder 1 94 is activated to lower the coil 40 on to the skid 44. The carriages 210 are driven apart and the carriages 232 are driven together to release the coil 40.The cylinder 1 94 is then again activated to raise the arm 1 94 above the coil.

While the coil 40 is being released, another coil 40, which has been positioned on the conveyor section 132, is picked up. After the right coil 40 is released and the left coil 40 is picked up, the actuator 1 58 is then again activated to return the turret 1 800 to aliow the same sequence to be repeated. Thus, so long as coils 40 are periodically entering the transporting device 42' on the conveyor section 132, the successive sequence of picking up coils 40 and depositing them on the turntable 46 is continuously repeated.

The turntable 46 is indexed a sufficient amount to locate another skid 44 in place for receiving coils 40 after a desired number of coils have been reposited on one of the skids 44. The number of coils 40 stacked upon a skid 44 is dictated only by the thickness of the coils and the height to which the arms 44 can be raised above the turntable 46.

Various changes may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof or scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A transporting device for relocating material from one position to a second position, said transporting device comprising a stationary central support pedestal, a turret rotatably mounted on the pedestal, a pair of frames mounted on the turret and extending radially outwardly thereof, each frame having means for raising and lowering the frame independently of the other frame and a pair of carriages movable along a beam, each carriage providing a support for holding material to be relocated and means for moving the carriages along the beam in opposite directions to accommodate material of varying horizontal dimensions and drive means arranged to rotate said turret relative to the pedestal.

2. A transporting device according to claim 1, wherein each frame has a second pair of carriages movable in opposite directions, said second pair of carriages each including a support for holding material to be relocated and being situated transverse to said first pair of carriages.

3. A transporting device according to claim 2, in which the first pair of carriages are moved by a motor mounted on said frame and means drivingly connecting said motor to said first pair of carriages, actuating means connected to said second pair of carriages serve to move said second pair of carriages.

4. A transporting device according to claim 3, in which said actuating means comprises a cylinder attached to said frame and one of said second pair of carriages and means interconnecting said second pair of carriages such that extension of said cylinder increases the spacing between said second pair of carriages and contraction of said cylinder decreases the spacing between said second pair of carriages.

5. A transporting device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, in which said means to raise and lower said frame comprises a double-acting cylinder connected between said frame and said turret.

6. A transporting device according to claim 5, including a guide for the raising and lowering of each frame, each guide comprising a pair of vertical rods affixed to said turret and a bracket assembly on the frame, said bracket assembly being located on said rods for vertical movement thereon.

7. A transporting device for relocating material from one position to a second position substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.