IE43031B1

IE43031B1 - Apparatus for, and a method of, transporting material between a first region and a second region

Info

Publication number: IE43031B1
Application number: IE108876A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Anic Spa; Pianelli & Traversa Snc; Gualchierani & C Spa
Priority date: 1975-06-30
Filing date: 1976-05-24
Publication date: 1980-12-03
Also published as: FR2316109A1; JPS526296A; AR221028A1; NL7606872A; IE43031L; ATA474076A; DE2629101C3; ES449477A1; FR2316109B1; GB1550445A; BE841275A; IT1036399B; AT350469B; DE2629101B2; DE2629101A1; CH606522A5

Description

This invention relates to apparatus for, and a » method of, transporting material between a first region and a second region, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to apparatus for transporting fibrous material between a region in which a machine for to!ding the material is disposed and a region in which a machine for making the material menu compact and packing the material into bales is disposed. The apparatus and method may advantageously be utilized in the-*transportation of synthetic fibres.

It is known to transport fibres between folding stations and subsequent compacting stations by means of internally powered transporter trucks driven by operators or by means of trucks drawn by a conveyor chain.

The use of direct drive internally powered trucks not only requires the presence of an operator for each truck, but does not lend itself to the automated programming of collection and transportation. The processing time of such apparatus is therefore slow and the overall yield is low.

The use of trucks drawn by a conveyor chain generally presents a greater degree of complexity; for instance there are appreciable structural complications resulting from the presence of motors, and return and guide members for the.conveyor chain which are generally sunk in the floor. Moreover the trucks and the conveyor chain require complex and frequent maintenance in order to guarantee the full efficiency of the apparatus. -243031 Γ~ According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for transporting material between a first region and a second region in which the material is to be compacted, which apparatus comprises: a) a gnideway extending between tiie two regions;' b) a plurality of vehicles, for carrying the material on a load bearing platform, propellable independently of each other alcng the guideway; and c) first magnet means capable of halting the vehicles on the guideway in the first region and in the second region; Liu: guideway being provided with a i»rtion in the second region, which portion is arranged to ix: lowered when a vehicle is disposed on that portion to a jxisiI.ion in which the load bearing platform of the vehicle is supported by a supixu’t so that the platform serves as a reaction surface during compacting oi tho material.

Pivlerably the iipptu’at.us further comprises sensing means for sensing tiie presence or absence of a vehicle ai a particular location on the guideway, and second magnet means capable of temporarily halting the vehicles on the guideway before they reach tiie first or second region. Conveniently the second magnet means are energisable and de-energisable in response to output signals from the sensing means. Ihe magnet means may be fixed on the guideway.

Advantageously each vehicle is self-propellable by means of internal drive means. The internal drive moans of each vehicle may comprise an electri. motor and at least one accumulator for supplying tiie motor with electric current.

According io a second aspect of tiie invention, there is provided apparatus according to the first aspect for transporting fibrous material U’tweon a first region in which means for loading the vehicles with the fibrous material is disposed and a second region in which means for compacting and unloading the fibrous material from the vehicles is disposed.Preferably means - 3 baling tlio fibrous material are also disposed in the second region and means for folding the fibrous material are also disposed in the first region.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of transporting material between a first region and a second region utilizing a plurality of vehicles r for carrying the material on a load bearing platform, propellable independently of each other and compacting the material in the second region, which method ecsiprises: enabling the vehicles loaded with the material to move along a guideway extending between the two regions; halting each vehicle on the guideway in the second region by the action of first magnet means: lowering each vehicle on a portion of the guideway in the second region Lo a position in which the load bearing platform of the vehicle is supported by a support; and contacting the material carried by each vehicle with the vehicle supported by the support.

In order that the invention may be; more easily understood a constructional exmiple of apparatus for transporting material between : a first legion and a second region according to the present invention will now bo described with reference to the accompanying drawings; in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic elevation of part of the apparatus; and Figure 2 shows a schematic plan view of the apparatus.

Ihe apparatus illustrated is used for transporting fibrous material between a loading station in which the material is loaded into trucks by mans of a folding action and a compacting, baling mid unloading station. - 4 43031 Referring to Figure 1, reference numeral 10 is used to generically indicate a leading station within which one or tore folding machines 11 ai’e provided and beneath which are positioned one or more trucks 14.

Reference numeral 12 indicates generally a compacting, baling and unloading station which comprises one or more pressing machines 13 of hydraulic type. The trucks 14, having been loaded with fibres by means of the folding machine(s) 11, are transported in Lhe direction of the arrow along a guideway 15 to Lhe compacting, baling and unloading station where the fibres are compacted by means of the pressing machine(s) 13, baled and unloaded.

The trucks 14 are of self-propellable type and are equipped with one or more electrical traction members, for example an electric motor, supplied by means of at least one internal accumulator, for example a battery. The trucks are further equipped with magnetic steering members sensitive to the controlling action of magnetic actuators situated on a guideway 15 of known magnetic drive type.

Recharging means are provided in the vicinity of each processing·station 10, 12 for recharging the accumulators of the trucks, thus making use of the stationary periods of the trucks and eliminating the dead times required for recharging.

The guideway 15 has a section which is vertically below the folding machine(s) and a section which is vertically below the pressing machines(s). Positioning members, preferably of a hydraulic type known per se, are provided for - 5 3031 . centring each truck in a longitudinal and transversal direction with respect to the machines in response to signals from vehicle position sensors.

Referring Lo Figure 2, each station 10, 12 is moreover equipped with first magnet means, indicated by 18 and 19 respectively, consisting of magnets capable of halting each truck 14 on the guideway 15. The trucks arc fitted with a coupling device between the electrical traction member(s) and the wheels, which device may be disconnected by ^the magnetic field produced by these magnets and may also be manually disconnected by means of a control actuated by an operator.

Furthermore the guideway 15 is provided, upstream of each station 10, 12 with second magnet means 20, 22 and 23, respectively and sensing means 21 and 24 respectively which provide for the regulation of the movement of the trucks. Such magnet means are energizable by a centralized control moans incorporating a memory for storing a predetermined operational program. The magnet means 20, 22 and 23, 25 compris magnets for generating magnetic fields for the purpose of temporarily halting the trucks.

Also upstream of Lhe stations IQ mid 12 are respectively sensing meiins 21, 24 which are used for LrananitLing.a start-up signal Lo tlie trucks waiting upstream of each sensing means which moans are sensitive to the presence of a truck temporarily at a standstill in the vicinity of the means and serve to de-energise the magnet means 20, 23 upstream thereof. - 6 43031 'Hie apparatus is also provided with a truck build-up zone generally indicated by the reference numeral 16 and comprising three branches 160, 161, 162 disposed in parallel, each branch being provided with further second mallet means 280, 281, 282, and 290, 291, 292 and sensing means 270, 271, 272 and 300, 301, 302. Further sensing means 26 and 31 are disposed upstream and downstream of the truck build-up zone 16.

Keferrjng back Lo Figure 1, Lhe guideway 15 is provided, in tin’ vicinity of the compacting baling and unloading station 12, with a portion, or a number of portions in the event of said station comprising more than one pressing machine, the portion(s) being arranged to be lowered, for example by means of a hydraulic suspension having a central control interlocked with members sensitive to the presence of a truck, when a truck is disposed on the or each platform so as to allow a loading platform 14a of the truck to be supported by a supporting frame or guides and the wheels of the truck to be relieved of load so that the loading platform may assume the function of a reaction surface whilst the material is pressed by the? pressing machine.

Each -truck 14 is provided with a material container 17 open aL its up[x;r mid lower ends (when the truck is positioned upright on the guideway) to allow for automatic expulsion of the baled fibres when the pressing member 13a of the pressing machine 13 rises at the end of Lhe pressing operation; after pressing, the container is lifted to allow the pressed fibres to be baled and to provide access for means for removing the baled fibres. Such a container is of light weight as well as being of low cost to produce. Both surfaces 031 on the pressing member 13a and the loading surfaces 14a of the trucks are preferably provided with channels which serve for the passage of the binding straps for baling the fibres.

The method of operation of the above described apparatus will now be described. Assuming that there is a build-up of empty trucks 14 in the truck build-up zone 16, a truck 140, which has been halted by the magnet means 290 on the branch 160, for example, is released onto the guideway 15 under the control of the centralized control means. A second truck in the branch 160 of the build-up zone 16 upstream of the truck 140, which is also at a standstill due to its being held by the magnet means 280,is caused to move forward as soon as the first truck 140 passes the sensing means 31 and causes the sensing means 31 to produce a signal to deactivate the magnet means 280, until this truck reaches the zone of influence of the magnet means 290 which serves to halt the truck. The sensing means 300 advises the centralized control means that a new truck is ready and waiting to move off from the branch 160'when summoned. When a new truck is required on the guideway 15, the centralized control means will relay a summoning signal to the magnet means 290, 291, 292 or whichever branches 160, 161, 162 has a truck waiting to be summoned as indicated by the sensing means 300, 301, 302.

The exit of the trucks from the branches of the buildup zone may be controlled either (a) on a cyclic basis, or (b) from line to line in response to signals emitted by the sensing means 300, 301, 302. - 8 43031 The first truck 140 will proceed along the guideway until it reaches the magnet means 20 upstream of the loading station 10 and here will either come to a halt or continue its course according to the signal sent out by the sensing means 21 which varies according to whether or not another truck is present in the vicinity of the magnet means 22. Having passed these magnet means 20 and 22, the truck reaches the Loading station 10 where the magnet means 18 disconnects its-traction,thus halting the truck for the time necessary to effect filling of the container 17 with fibres.

Upon disconnection, the truck is positioned exactly below the folding machine 11 by means of the corresponding positioning members. When filling has been completed, the operator, by actuating a reconnection button, starts up the truck again, which then proceeds towards the compacting, baling and unloading station.12.

The truck is again either halted or allowed to proceed on its course by the magnet means 23 and 25, the state of the magnet means 23 depending on the signal emitted by the corresponding sensing means 24, When it reaches station 12, the truck is brought to a halt by the magnet means 19, which disconnect its traction,allowing the pressing operation and expulsion of tho baled fibres to take place. The traction is then again reconnected by the operator, and the truck recycled towards the build-up zone 16. The truck may, however, be temporarily halted by the magnet means 26 before reaching the build-up zone 16. The centralized control means will then shunt the truck to one of the branches 160, 161, 162 according to the signals produced by the sensing means 270,271, 272 which -9(0 31 vary according to whether or not trucks are present on the’ branches 160, 161, 162 respectively.

The above described apparatus is advantageous since it provides a means of collecting and transporting fibres, especially synthetic fibres, which makes it possible to reduce to a minimum, or even eliminate, the waiting times of the trucks between the stations, thus permitting maximum yield of the operating cycles. Furthermore the apparatus is such that trucks may be fed to each processing station at a production rate which is independent of the production rate of the other processing station (except in so far as a truck cannot be fed to the compacting, baling and unloading station until it has passed through the loading station), so that, for example, a truck may be supplied to the loading station at the request of the operator in charge of this station without the consensus of the operator in charge of the subsequent compacting, and baling and unloading station. Also the collection and transportation of the fibres takes place without intermediate loading and unloading of the trucks which, at the compacting, baling and unloading station, cooperate with the pressing machine(s) to effect compacting of the fibres. Lastly the apparatus has a high degree of reliability and operational safety, has a simple structure, is easy to maintain, and the trucks are easily removable from the apparatus in the event of breakdown without prejudicing the functionality and production rate of the apparatus. Furthermore the apparatus may be adapted to any route requirement between the stations.

Claims

CLAIMS:43031

1. Apparatus for transporting material between a first region and a second region in which the material is to be compacted, which apparatus comprises: a) a guideway extending between tbe two regions; b) a plurality of vehicles, for carrying the material on a load bearing platform propellable independently of each other along the guideway; and c) first magnet means capable of halting the vehicles on the guideway in the first region and in the second region; tho guideway being provided with a portion in the second region, which portion is arranged to be lowered when a vehicle is disposed on that portion to a position in which the loud bearing platform of the vehicle is supported by a support so that tho platform serves as a reaction surfact* during compacting of the material.

2. , Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising sensing means for sensing the presence of absence of a vehicle at a particular location on the guideway.

3. Apparatus according to claim l.or 2, further comprising second magnet means capable of temporarily halting the vehicles on tlie guideway before they reach the first or second region.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 when appended to claim 2, wherein tlie second magnet moans are energisable and do-energisable in response to output signals from the sensing means. 5 lowering each vehicle on a portion of the guideway in the second region to a position in which the load bearing platform of the vehicle is supported by a support; and compacting the material carried by each vehicle with the vehicle supported by the support. lb 22. Λ method according to claim 21, further comprising halting each vehicle temporarily at a location intermediate the first and second regions by the action of second magnet means, when sensing means indicates the presence of a vehicle at a particular location ahead of said intermediate location.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, » wherein the guideway communicates with a vehicle build-up zone in which the vehicles may be stored when not in use.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the magnet means are fixed to the guideway,

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein each vehicle is self-propellable by means of internal drive means.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, wherein the internal drive means of each vehicle comprises an electric motor and at least one accumulator for supplying the motor with electric current.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein recharging means are provided in the vicinity of the first region and/or the second region for recharging the accumulators of the vehicles

10. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the first magnet means, having halted a vehicle in-the first or second region, is capable of being de-energised so as to enable the vehicle to move out of that region. -1243031

11. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein hydraulic means are provided for accurately positioning the vehicles in the first and second regions in response to signals from vehicle position sensors. 5

12. Apparatus according to any of claims 5 to 11, wherein the vehicle build-up zone comprises a plurality of branch guideways disposed in parallel, each of Which leads at one end to a common guideway which passes through the first and second regions and joins the branch lo guideways again at their opposite ends.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the second magnet means includes means for halting vehicles on each of the branch guideways, and the sensing means includes means i'or sensing the presence of vehicles on 15 each of the branch guideways. 14. 43031 enabling Lhe vehicles loaded with the material to move along a guideway extending between the two regions; halting each vehicle on the guideway in tho second region by Lhe action of first magnet means;

14. Apparatus according to any preceding claim for transporting fibrous material between a first region in which means Cor loading the vehicles with the fibrous material Is disposed and a second region in which means for compile.I. i ng 20 mid uni end ing flic fibrous material. 1'rom the vehicles is disposed. 15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein means ior baling tlio fibrous material are also disposed in the second region. -13D31 16. Apparatus according to any one of claims 14 or 15, wherein means ior folding the fibrous material are also - » disposed in the first region. 17. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the portion of the guideway which is arranged to be lowered when a vehicle is disposed on that portion is arranged to be supported by supports in such a manner that wheels of the vehicle are relieved of load. 18. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein a hydraulic suspension is provided for lowering the portion of the guideway. 19. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein each vehicle is fitted with a material container open at its upper and lower ends when the vehicle is positioned upright on the guidoway. 20. Apparatus for transporting material between a first region and a second region, the apparatus being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings. 21. Λ method of transporting material between a first region and a second region utilizing a plurality of vehicles, for carrying the material on a load bearing platform, propellable independently of each other and compacting the material in the second region, which method comprises:

15. 23. Λ method of transporting material between a first region and a second region,Lhe method being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to tlie, accompanying drawings .