GB2173491A - Bar stock unscrambler - Google Patents

Abstract

A stock unscrambler is disclosed which provides a plurality of slings (12) which are raised and lowered from one end so as to raise and lower the bundle of bars with a rolling movement. The slings are operable to position the top of the bundle adjacent to the entrance (22) of a conveyor (21). Bundle breaking probes (52) project out into the upper part of the bundle to separate a small group of bars from the remaining bundle and to deliver the bars in an orderly fashion to the conveyor (21) which transports the bars laterally to a delivery position from which the bars are transferred for further processing. An ejector is provided to clear any jams which occur at the entrance of the conveyor. The probes permit the unscrambling and feeding of bars having high width-to-thickness ratios without excessive jamming. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Stock unscrambler This invention relates generally to stock unscramblers, and more particularly to a novel and improved stock unscrambler providing bundle breaker probes for separating small groups of stock from the bundle being unscrambled.

In United States Letters Patent Nos.

3,506,142 and 3,774,779, stock unscramblers are disclosed which receive bundles of elongated bars or rods and which operate to unscramble the stock and feed it to a conveyor system in an orderly parallel relationship. Such conveyor system supplies the stock for subsequent operations, e.g., for shearing, forging, or machining. Such patents are incorporated herein by reference.

Unscramblers of the type described in such patents provide slings at two or more locations which provide festoons for supporting bundles of elongated bars. Power means raise and lower the slings from one side, causing the raising and lowering of the bundles with a rolling movement. Such rolling movement tends to unscramble the bars and move them to a parallel relationship.

In such machines, the bars are raised into position at the entrance end of a conveyor system which transports the bars laterally to a delivery position, from which the individual bars are transferred for further processing.

Such machines generally function very well.

However, in some instances, a jam occurs at the entrance end of the conveyor which prevents further feeding. When this occurs, the slings normally must be recycled and, in some instances, a kicker or ejector system is operated to clear the entrance of the conveyor.

Such jamming tends to be more prevalent when the bars are non-circular and have a width-to-thickness ratio in the order of 4:1 or more.

The present invention provides a novel and improved unscrambler. The unscrambler provides power probes or bundle breakers which operate to break the bundle and provide a small group of bars adjacent to the conveyor entrance. Such small group of bars has much less tendency to jam and results in more reliable feeding, even when the bars have a relatively high width-to-thickness ratio.

The overall machine provides spaced slings which support the bundle at intervals along its length. The slings are raised and lowered from one side so that the bundles supported by the festoons of the slings are raised and lowered with a rolling movement. Such movement, as in the prior art patents, supra, causes the bars to move to positions in which they are generally aligned and parallel. Such slings operate to raise the bundle to a position in which the upper bars within the bundle are substantially at the height of and adjacent to the entrance of the conveyor.

The probes, in the illustrated embodiment, are powered by piston and cylinder actuators which operate to extend the probes from a retracted position clear of the bars to an extended position in the upper side of the bundle. As the probes extend, they break up the bundle and separate a small group of bars from the bundle.

The upper surfaces of the probes are inclined down toward the conveyor entrance so that the probe-supported bars of the small group of bars tend to form a single layered group of bars which feed toward the conveyor entrance. Further, because there are only a small group of bars on the probes, the bars which are not circular, e.g., rectangular bars, tend to position themselves on their sides in proper orientation for their entrance into the conveyor.

The illustrated unscrambler also provides a kicker system which operates to clear the conveyor entrance in the event that bars jam or are improperly positioned within the conveyor entrance. With this machine, improved reliability is achieved and the recycling of the slings does not have to be performed as often during a given feeding operation.

These and other aspects of this invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and are more fully described in the following specification.

Figure 1 is an end section of a stock unscrambler in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary section illustrating the kicker system which operates to clear jams from the entrance of the conveyor; Figure 3 is an eniarged, fragmentary view of the probe system illustrating a typical one of the probes in a retracted position; and Figure 4 is a fragmentary view, similar to Fig. 3, illustrating one of the probes in an extended position in which it separates a small group of bars from the main bundle.

Fig. 1 illustrates the overall arrangement of the machine. The various operating mechanisms of the machine are supported on a frame 10. The frame 10 includes upright supports 11 on which one end of a plurality of slings 12 is mounted. The frame of the machine is elongated and provides a central longitudinal opening 13 extending substantially the entire length of the machine and which is long enough to receive bundles of bar stock. Although only one sling 12 is illustrated in the drawings, it should be understood that a plurality of similar slings are provided along the length of the machine, with a number of slings required, determined by the length and type of stock being unscrambled. In any event, two or more slings 12 are provided.

The other end of the sling extends up and around an associated drum 14 supported on a shaft 16. The shaft 16 is journaled on bearings (not illustrated) on the frame fO, and is driven by a power source (not illustrated) for rotation about the axis of the shaft 16. The shaft 16 and the drums 14 mounted thereon are powered for rotation in both directions so that the slings 12 can be shortened to raise the festoons and the bundle of stock supported thereby, or lengthened to lower the festoons and the supported bundles Because the slings 12 are shortened or.

lengthened from one end only, namely, the end attached to the drums 14, the bundle of stock 17 is raised and lowered with a rotating or rolling type movement. For example, when the slings 12 are shortened by coiling in the end of the slings on the drums 14, the bundle of stock 17 rotates in a clockwise direction.

Conversely, when the length of the slings is increased to lower the bundle, the bundle rotates in an anticlockwise direction. This rolling action during the raising and lowering of the bundles causes the bars within the bundles to assume a substantially parallel position. Further, when the slings are shortened, the stock bundle tends to be carried up along the portion 18 of the slings 12 on the drum 14 side of the slings.

Mounted adjacent to the drum 14 is a conveyor 21 having an entrance end 22 and an exit end 23. The illustrated conveyor is a nonpowered conveyor containing a plurality of rollers 24 mounted on a lower support bar 26 and an upper support bar 27 which is adjustable toward and away from the lower support bar 26, and in turn the rollers 24, so as to adjust the size of the throat 28. The throat size is adjusted so as to ensure that only a single layer of bars can pass down along the conveyor from the entrance end 22 to the exit end 23. Further, when the stock is non-circular, e.g., rectangular in cross section, the throat is sized so that only bars resting on their sides can proceed down the conveyor to the exit end. This ensures that in such case two layers of bars cannot pass along the conveyor.

The illustrated conveyor 21 is a gravity conveyor, and is therefore inclined downward from the entrance end 22 to the exit end 23, and the rollers 24 promote smooth movement of the bars along the conveyor to the exit end. It should be understood, however, that other forms of conveyors may be used, e.g., powered conveyors can be employed, and that the present invention in its broader aspects should not be limited to a gravity conveyor of the type illustrated.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, a powered kickout system 31 is provided at at least two locations along the length of the machine. Such system includes a piston and cylinder actuator 32 in which the cylinder is mounted at 33 on an adjustable support member 34 carried by an upper frame beam 36. The beam 36 is supported at its ends and extends the full length of the machine so as to provide an open throat 28 along which the bars can move during the operation of the machine. An adjustment mechanism 39 is provided to permit adjustment of the position of the cylinder of the actuator 32.

The piston of the actuator 32 is connected at 41 to a kickout support block 42, which is in turn carried by a support shaft 40. Mounted on the kickout support block 42 is a kickout finger 43 which is movable by retraction and extension of the actuator 32 between the operative full-line position illustrated in Fig. 2 to a retracted position illustrated in phantom at 43'. In the retracted position 43' the kickout finger 43 is spaced back from the entrance 22 of the conveyor and is above the throat 28. Upon retraction of the actuator 32, the finger rotates to an intermediate position illustrated in phantom at 43" to the operative position illustrated in full-line. In the intermediate position, the end of the finger projects down past the throat as the finger approaches the entrance end 22 of the conveyor.Operation of the kickout therefore functions to eject bars from the entrance end 22 of the conveyor and clear any jams of bars. In fact, such bars are forcibly moved from the conveyor and are preferably projected out over the bundle to a location spaced a substantial distance from the entrance 22. The prior art patent No.

3,774,779, supra illustrates an unscrambler of this general type containing a kickout or ejector mechanism of the general type disclosed in the illustrated embodiment of this invention.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the structure and operation of the powered probes in accordance with the present invention. Such probes are again located at intervals along the length of the machine and there are two or more probes provided in each machine, depending upon the length of the machine and the type of bar stock to be unscrambled. Preferably, a probe is located adjacent to each sling.

Each probe assembly includes a probe support 51 journaled on and supported by the shaft 16. Mounted on the probe support 51 and guided thereon for reciprocating movement is a probe 52 movable from a retracted position illustrated in Fig. 3 to an extended position illustrated in Fig. 4. The power for moving the probes back and forth is provided by a piston and cylinder actuator 53 providing a cylinder connected at 54 to the probe support 51 and a piston 56 connected to the associated probe 52. A screw adjustment 58 is connected through a link 59 to the rearward end of the probe support 51 to provide angular adjustment of the probe assembly.

In Figs. 3 and 4, the operation of the probe in unscrambling and feeding rectangular bar stock is illustrated. Fig. 3 illustrates how the bar stock of such cross section can, and of ten does, create a jam and prevent proper feeding of the stock down along the conveyor 21 if probes are not provided or are not operated. If the stock remains on its edge instead of lying flat, it cannot enter the conveyor. In order for such stock to properly feed, the individual bars must be positioned on their sides at the time they pass through the entrance of the conveyor into the throat 28.

If it were not for the presence of the probes and their operation as described below, a condition as illustrated in Fig. 3 would tend to occur fairly often and prevent proper feeding. It would then be necessary to recycle the slings to lower the stock away from the conveyor. Further, in many instances, it would be necessary to operate the kickout system to clear the entrance 22 of the conveyor. In most instances, however, the operation of the probes prevents the occurrence of a jam as illustrated in Fig. 3.

In normal operation of the machine, the slings 12 are shortened by rotation of the drums 14 in an anticlockwise direction as viewed in the drawings until the upper side of the bundle is located slightly above the end of the probe. Suitable sensors (not illustrated) are provided to establish when such condition occurs. Such sensors can, for example, be photocells, limit switches, or proximity switches.

When the bundle of stock is positioned in alignment with the probes, the probes are simultaneously extended into the bundle to the position of Fig. 4. During the extension of the probe, which is provided with a blunt outer end 61, a portion of the bundle is moved by engagement with the blunt end to the right as viewed in Fig. 3, and a small group of bars 62 is separated from the main bundle and is supported on the upper surface of the probe.

Preferably, the upper surface of the probe provides two planar surface portions 63 and 64. The first planar portion 63 is inclined with respect to the line of movement of the probe at a relatively small angle, but is inclined rearwardly of the. probes with respect to the horizontal direction, however, so as to tend to cause the bars resting thereon to slide down toward the entrance 22 of the conveyor. The second planar surface 64 is aligned with the direction of movement of the probe and is positioned at a substantially greater angle with respect to the horizontal direction so as to further facilitate movement of the bars within the small group 62 toward the throat of the conveyor. Further, as the bars move from the planar portion 63 onto the steeper portion 64, the bars tend to separate, and this ensures that the bars assume a position resting on their sides.

When the bars are located within a large group, as in the bundle, the various bars adjacent to a given bar often tend to hold the bars in an upright position, resting on their edge, in which they cannot enter the throat, as illustrated in Fig. 3. However, when the bars are in a small group as illustrated in Fig.

4, resting on the probes, the bars inherently tend to tip over and rest on their sides. In Fig. 4, one bar 65 is illustrated resting on its edge. However, as the bars on the probe move down into the throat, that bar will also.

tip over and assume the proper position for feeding.

The upper surface 64 of the probe is spaced from the throat 22 a small distance, and a portion 66 of the periphery of the drum bridges the. distance between the surface 63 and the throat 22. The anticlockwise direction of movement of the drum, therefore, functions to provide a bridging powered feed for transferring the individual bars from the support of the probe into the throat 22 of the conveyor.

The system is structured so that the drum raises the bars a small distance as they move to the entrance end 22. The action of the drum further operates to feed individual bars as a single layer, even though adjacent bars actually supported by the probes may, for example, contain two layers of bars resting on their sides.

The operation of the probe, because it separates a small group 62 of bars from the main bundle, results in a condition in which even rectangular bars having a substantial width-to-thickness ratio rest on their sides as they move toward the throat and are carried into the throat by engagement with the periphery 66 of the drum 14.

In normal operation, the slings are cycled up and down to cause the bars to move with a rolling action to assume a relatively unscrambled condition in which the bars individually extend parallel to each other. The slings then operate to raise the bundle to a position in alignment with the probes which extend to separate a small group 62 of bars from the main bundle. The drums 14 are normally then rotated in a clockwise direction to lower the bundle. Thereafter, the drums are reversed and rotate in an anticlockwise direction to cause feeding of the individual bars from the small group 62 into the throat 22. As the bundle approaches a position below the probes and after most or all of the bars of the group 62 have been fed into the conveyor, the probes 52 are retracted and the cycle of operation is repeated.In the event that a jam occurs, the kickout system is operated to clear the jam and allow continued operation of the machine.

Suitable sensing devices are provided along the length of the machine, and are located so as to sense the conditions which are present, and such sensors can be used to virtually automate the operation of the machine. For example, if a bar properly enters one throat of the conveyor but is not properly positioned within another throat spaced along the length of the machine, sensors establish such fact and are normally programmed to automatically cause the operation of the kickouts to clear the incorrectly fed bar from the conveyor and allow continued operation of the machine.

Although a machine incorporating this invention, in which probes are provided to break up the bundle and separate small groups of bars from the main bundle, is particularly useful in the unscrambling of non-circular stock, and in particular stock having a relatively high widthto-thickness ratio, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the unscrambling of such stock, and provides efficient operation for unscrambling of even round bar stock.

Although the preferred embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it should be understood that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as disclosed and claimed herein.

Claims (16)

1. An apparatus for unscrambling bundles of bar stock comprising conveyor means structured to receive parallel pieces of stock at an entrance end and to convey said parallel stock to a discharge end, supply means oper- able to position said bundles of bar stock substantially adjacent to said entrance end, and separator means operable to separate small groups of bar stock from said bundle and to move individual bars into said entrance end.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said separator means includes probes operable to extend into said bundles and separate said small groups therefrom.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said separator means includes inclined surfaces operable to support said small groups of bar stock and to move said small groups toward said entrance end.

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4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein power means are provided to move bars of said small groups from said inclined surfaces into said entrance end.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said bundles are supported on slings, and said power means connect to said slings and operate said- slings to raise said bundles with a rolling motion.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein ejectors are provided to clear jams of bars from said conveyor means.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said inclined surfaces cause rectangular bars to be supported on their sides as they move toward said entrance end.

8. An apparatus for unscrambling bundles of bar stock comprising conveyor means structured to receive elongated parallel pieces of stock at an entrance end and to convey said parallel stock to a discharge end, spaced flexible slings supported at spaced locations to provide festoons operable to support a bundle of bar stock, length control means operable to shorten and lengthen said slings to raise and lower said bundles with a rolling movement causing said bars to move toward parallel positions, said slings being operable when raised to position at least some of said bars in a position substantially adjacent to said entrance end, and probes powered for movement between first and second positions, movement of said probes to said second position while said slings position bars substantially adjacent to said entrance end operating to separate small groups of bars from bundles supported by said slings and operating to guide said small groups of bars toward said entrance end.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said probes provide surfaces inclined downwardly toward said entrance end.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein each probe provides two inclined surfaces the first of which is inclined toward said entrance end at a first angle, and the second of which is located between said entrance end and said first inclined surface and is inclined at a second angle greater than said first angle.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said length control means includes means intermediate said probe and entrance end operable to move bars from said inclined surface to said entrance end.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said means intermediate said probe and said entrance end operates to raise said bars as they move from said inclined surfaces to said entrance end.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein ejector means are provided to clear jams from said conveyor.

14. A method of unscrambling bundles of elongated bar stock comprising rotating said bundles substantially around the longitudinal axis thereof to move bars to a substantially parallel relationship, positioning at least an upper portion of said bundles substanuai1Thadja- cent to the entrance end of a conveyor, separating small groups of bars from said bundle and supporting said small groups on surfaces inclined toward said entrance end, and moving said bars of said small groups of bars from said inclined surfaces to said entrance end with mechanical means in an upwardly inclined direction.

15. An apparatus for unscrambling bundles of bar stock constructed substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

16. A method of unscrambling bundles of elongated bar stock substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.