JP3360636B2 - Removal device for pipe end plug fitted to metal pipe - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for extracting a pipe end plug fitted to a metal pipe, and more specifically, for example, to apply galvanization to an outer surface and galvanize an inner surface. The present invention relates to an apparatus for extracting a pipe end plug fitted to a metal pipe, which is used in producing a hot-dip galvanized steel pipe.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a water pipe or a metal pipe (for example, a water pipe made of a steel pipe) used for pipes of gas, steam, oil, etc., mainly has excellent corrosion resistance to a liquid flowing therein. Inexpensiveness is required for two reasons. As such a metal tube, there is a steel tube in which both outer and inner surfaces are hot-dip plated with Zn, Al, Sn, Pb, or an alloy thereof. However, for example, when a steel pipe plated with double-sided plating is used as a water pipe, the corrosion prevention on the inner surface is insufficient due to the strengthening of the chlorine treatment, and red water and white turbidity are generated.

[0003] For this reason, an inner surface is coated with an organic coating such as a tar epoxy resin or a vinyl chloride resin and an outer surface is plated with a steel pipe (hereinafter referred to as Zn, Al, Sn, Pb, or an alloy thereof). , Referred to as "external plated steel pipe"). In general, this outer surface plated steel pipe is (1) chamfering the inner surface of the pipe → (2) high temperature sulfuric acid pickling → (3) drying → (4) fitting pipe end plugs on both ends → (5) flux treatment → ( 6) Drying → (7) Immersion in plating bath → (8) Water cooling → (9)
It is manufactured by the following process: pipe end plug removal → (10) inspection → (11) primary rust prevention (rust-proof oil application) → (12) pipe end treatment → (13) packing.

[0004] That is, in order to prevent the inner surface of the steel pipe from being plated, pipe end plugs are fitted to both end faces of the steel pipe to seal the inside of the steel pipe, and then immersed in a plating bath to perform plating. Need to remove the stopper. Conventionally, various inventions have been proposed in order to mechanize the fitting and withdrawal of such a pipe end plug to save labor and improve productivity.

For example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-51799 discloses a plan view of FIG. 13 (a), a front view of FIG. 13 (b), and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 13 (c) showing a cross section taken along the line HH in FIG. 13 (b), the detachment stand 3 is mounted on the base 1 via the elevating device 2, and is placed on the detachment stand 3 at the tip. There has been proposed an unplugging device for a pipe end plug 7 having a plug holder 9 for holding a flange portion 8 of the pipe end plug 7 and a cylinder 4 provided with a vibrator 5 at the rear end.

FIG. 14 (a) to FIG. 14 (e) illustrate the structure and operation of the device with time in Japanese Patent Publication No. 56-51225.
As shown in FIG. 5, a weight 19 fixed to the tip of the rod 15 of the cylinder 14 and having a passage 18 in which a piston 17 provided at the rear end of the shaft 16 moves, and a pipe end plug gripping device 20 at the tip. The pipe end plug gripping device 20 is mounted at the rear end and provided with a piston 17 that moves in a passage 18 formed in the weight 19 at the rear end.
A shaft 16 having a pair of claws 23 whose front end inner surface and rear end outer surface are formed in a tapered shape, a shaft support member 24 for slidingly supporting the shaft 16, When the pipe end plug gripping device 20 is retracted, a pair of cams 21 each having a tapered inner surface at the tip end for contacting the rear end of the claw 23 and expanding the claw 23.
A pipe end plug removing device including a shaft support member 24 and a spring 22 disposed between the weight 19 has been proposed.

[0007]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, FIGS.
The removal apparatus proposed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-51799 shown in FIG. 13 (c) has the following problems.

(I) The steel pipe 10 and the fitted pipe end plug 7
The plated metal has adhered and solidified. For this reason, in order to easily pull out the pipe end plug 7 fitted to the steel pipe 10, it is necessary to strongly grip the pipe end plug 7 from the vertical direction or the left and right direction and slightly deform it to destroy the adhered and solidified plated metal. is there. However, even if the stopper holding jig 9 and the vibrator 5 of the stopper removal device proposed by Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-51799 are used, the pipe end stopper 7 cannot be deformed. For this reason, in many cases, the pipe end plug 7 cannot be pulled out even with this stopper removal device.

When the steel pipe 10 has a small diameter such as 15A to 40A, the pipe end plug 7 does not fall off in the plating bath. However, in the case of a large diameter steel pipe 10 exceeding 50A, the pipe is rarely used. The end plug 7 may come off and lead to a big trouble. For this reason, in the case of a large-diameter steel pipe 10 exceeding 50 A, a part of the pipe end plug 7 is usually connected to the steel pipe 1 after the pipe end plug 7 is fitted.
Spot weld to zero. In the unplugging apparatus proposed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-51799, this spot weld cannot be broken, and the pipe end plug 7 cannot be removed.

(Ii) In this unplugging device, the plug holding jig 9 stands by at the limit of the advance of the cylinder rod 6, and the steel pipe 10
Then, the elevating device 2 rises and inserts the plug holding jig 9 into the gap between the end face of the steel pipe 10 and the flange portion 8 of the pipe end plug 7. Therefore, it is necessary to fix the steel pipe 10 with high positioning accuracy, but it is difficult with this detachment device. what if,
The upstream side not shown in FIGS. 13 (a) and 13 (b)
13 (a) and (right side in FIG. 13 (b)), even if a pipe end stopper for abutting the steel pipe 10 is
Also, it is not possible to cope with the displacement of the pipe end caused during the transfer on the push-in device 13. For this reason, in order to accurately position the pipe end of the steel pipe 10, it is necessary to always work manually.

(Iii) The dimensional tolerance of the steel pipe (SGP) according to JIS is
In the length direction, they are defined as +40 mm and −0 mm. For this reason, in order to simultaneously remove the pipe end plugs 7 fitted at both ends, the outer surface plated steel pipe 10 must be provided with two pipe end plugs 7 at both ends.
Is mounted, one end needs to be positioned with high precision as described in the above item (i), and the other end needs to move the plug holding jig 9 within a tolerance range. For this reason, in the unplugging apparatus proposed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-51799, the pipe end plugs 7 fitted to both ends of the steel pipe 10 cannot be simultaneously removed.

As described above, the unplugging device proposed by Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-51799 cannot reliably remove the pipe end plug 7 fitted to the steel pipe 10. Further, since the apparatus is configured to extract the pipe end plug 7 from each of the steel pipes 10 one by one, the productivity is low and the apparatus cannot be actually used in a mass production line.

FIG. 14 (a) to FIG.
The pipe end plug removal device proposed by
As with the unplugging device proposed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-51799, the pipe end plug 25 cannot be deformed during removal. For this reason, this unplugging apparatus cannot remove the pipe end plug 25 with high reliability. Further, in this pipe end plug removal device, the mounting state of the shaft 16 and the pipe end plug holding device 20 is not clear, but when the outer diameter of the steel pipe 25 is changed,
Since it is necessary to replace the entire pipe end plug holding device 20,
In particular, when changing to a large-diameter steel pipe 25, it is necessary for a plurality of persons to carry out replacement work for a long time by using a lifting machine, which lowers productivity.

As described above, in any of the conventional pipe end plug removing devices, the pipe end plug is slightly deformed to reliably remove the pipe end plug, and in particular, a large-diameter pipe end plug is spot-welded. In the case of a steel pipe, it was difficult to break the welded portion by slightly deforming the tube end plug, and it was not possible to reliably remove the tube end plug.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pipe end plug fitted to a metal pipe such as a steel pipe, for example, in a reliable and easy manner while coping with the length tolerance of the metal pipe and the pipe end shift occurring during transfer. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a pipe end plug extraction device that can easily extract a pipe end plug while changing the size of a metal pipe.

[0016]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The gist of the present invention resides in the point that a gap between a flange of a pipe end plug fitted to an end of a fixed metal pipe and an end face constituting this end is provided. And an engaging member driving device for operating the inserted engaging member in a curved manner in a plane including the axis of the metal tube while engaging the engaged member with the flange of the pipe end plug. A tube end plug removal device fitted to a metal tube.

In the extracting device according to the present invention,
It is exemplified that the engaging member has a pair of claws arranged to face each other, or that the engaging member operates in an arc shape.

When the engaging member operates in an arc shape, the engaging member driving device moves the supporting member supporting the engaging member and the supporting member in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the metal tube. It is desirable to have two cylinders that each support two spaced apart points.

Further, the extracting apparatus according to the present invention may further include a pipe end plug forced dropping mechanism for ejecting a fluid toward the pipe end plug which has been extracted and pressed against the tip of the engaging member. It is desirable to ensure that the lightweight pipe end plug is dropped after being removed.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which a pipe end plug removal device fitted to a metal pipe according to the present invention is applied to an automatic tube end plug removal device for an outer surface plated steel pipe will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. This will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a simplified and partially omitted pipe end plug removing apparatus 30 for an externally plated steel pipe. FIG. 2 is a top view of the tube end plug automatic withdrawal device 30, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the automatic pipe end plug removing apparatus 30 includes a steel pipe taking-in mechanism 31 and a pipe end aligning mechanism.
32, a support device 55, a clamp device 50, a pipe end plug removal device 33, 33 according to the present invention, and a steel pipe dispensing mechanism 34. Hereinafter, the structure of these components will be sequentially described together with the operation.

[Steel Pipe Loading Mechanism 31] FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a portion B of FIG. 3 in an enlarged manner. 1 to 4, a steel pipe 35 fitted with a pipe end plug 35a at the end is cooled by water after being immersed in a plating bath, and is continuously continuous with almost no space by a flat conveyor or a transfer skid 36 (not shown). Transported.

Steel pipe 35 conveyed by transfer skid 36
Is taken in by four take-in stoppers 37 shown in FIG. The intake stopper 37 is formed with a flat portion 37a on which the steel pipe 35 is mounted so as to have a height slightly lower than the conveying line of the steel pipe 35. Transfer skid
The steel pipe 35 conveyed by the pipe 36 is transferred to the flat portion 37a and temporarily stopped, and the four claws shown in FIGS.
It is taken between the claws 38a of the conveyor 38 with a 38a.

As shown in FIG. 2, each take-in stopper 37 is connected to a take-in stopper forward / backward handle 39 via a rotary shaft 40. When the take-in stopper forward / backward handle 39 is operated, the steel pipe is moved. It is configured to be able to advance and retreat in 35 transport directions. By operating the handle 39 for moving the take-in stopper back and forth, if the steel pipe 35 has a large diameter,
At the same time, and when the diameter is small, by simultaneously retracting each intake stopper 37, regardless of the outer diameter of the steel pipe 35 to be imported, the four claws 38a are always provided.
One steel pipe 35 can be taken in between each of the claws 38a of the conveyor 38.

As shown in FIG. 1, the conveyor 38 with four pawls 38a is rotated in the direction of the arrow by a rotating shaft 41 connected to the other end and a driving device 42 fixed on the same axis. Being driven. The start and stop of the drive device 42 are controlled by a control device (not shown). In this embodiment,
The steel pipe take-in mechanism 31 is configured as described above.

[Pipe end aligning mechanism 32] In FIGS.
The steel pipes 35 housed one by one between the claws 38a of the conveyor 38 with the base claws 38a are conveyed to the pipe end aligning mechanism 32 by the conveyor 38 with the claws 38a. When the steel pipe 35 reaches the fixed position of the pipe end aligning mechanism 32, the conveyor 38 with the claw 38a stops according to the signal from the control device described above. And steel pipe 35
As shown in FIG. 2, below the pass line, three aligning rolls 43 are provided on adjacent conveyors 38 with claws 38a.
Between, each is installed.

FIG. 5 is a view taken in the direction of arrows CC in FIG. 2, showing the aligning roll 43 extracted. As shown in FIG. 5, the aligning roll 43 includes four short contact rolls 43a to 43d, and these contact rolls 43a to 43d.
And a shaft portion 44 adhered to the shaft portion. Each contact roll
43a to 43d are arranged at the same distance as the pitch of the steel pipes 35 accommodated one by one between the claws 38a of the conveyor 38 with the claws 38a. A drive mechanism (not shown) is mounted on the shaft 44. As a result, the aligning roll 43
Rotates in both directions.

The aligning roll 43 includes a pair of left and right bearings.
The bearings 45, 45 are mounted on a mounting table 46. The mounting table 46 is supported by a lifting cylinder 47. By operating this lifting cylinder 47,
The aligning roll 43 also moves up or down.

When the four steel pipes 35 are stopped at the fixed positions above the aligning rolls 43, the lift cylinder 47 is operated by a signal from a control device (not shown), and the aligning rolls 43 The outer peripheral surfaces of 43a to 43d
The conveyor rises until it comes into contact with the four steel pipes 35 housed one by one between the claws 38a of the conveyor 38 with a. At this time, the aligning roll 43 is driven and rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. 1 according to a signal from the control device described above. For this reason, the four steel pipes abutted on each of the abutting rolls 43a to 43d
35 is sent upward in FIG.

2 by rotating the aligning roll 43.
The four steel pipes 35 sent upward in
One of the tube ends 35b is pressed against the aligning stopper 48. Thereby, the positions of the pipe end plugs 35a fitted to the four steel pipes 35 are aligned. As described above, in the pipe end plug removal device 30 of the present embodiment, even if the length tolerance of each of the four steel pipes 35 and the insertion amount of the pipe end plug 35a are not constant, the pipes of each of the four steel pipes 35 are The four steel pipes 35 can be sent to the extracting device 33 by aligning the positions of the end plugs 35a.

After the other pipe ends 35b of the four steel pipes 35 are pressed against the aligning stopper 48, the elevating cylinder 47 is actuated by a signal from the above-described control device, and the aligning roll 43 is moved to the corresponding position. The outer peripheral surfaces of the contact rolls 43a to 43d are lowered to a fixed position apart from the four steel pipes 35. This allows
The four steel pipes 35 are housed one by one between the claws 38a of the conveyor 38 with four claws 38a, with the positions of the respective pipe end plugs 35a aligned.

In order to align the positions of the pipe end plugs 35a of the four steel pipes 35, the aligning roll 43 as in this embodiment is used.
Instead of using the aligning stopper 48, for example, it is also effective to set a large forward / backward stroke of the extraction frame 67 described later. However, if the forward / backward stroke of the extraction frame 67 is set to be large, the cycle time of the extraction device 33 increases accordingly, and the target cycle time (for example, about 9.5 sec / cycle in the pipe end plug automatic extraction device 30 of the present embodiment) May not be achieved. Therefore, it can be understood that the present embodiment using the aligning roll 43 and the aligning stopper 48 is also effective in shortening the cycle time of the automatic pipe end plug extracting device 30. In the present embodiment, the pipe end alignment mechanism 32
The configuration is as described above.

[Elevation Device 55, Clamping Device 50] In FIG. 1, the positions of the pipe end plugs 35a are aligned by the pipe end alignment mechanism 32, and again between the claws 38a of the conveyor 38 with the four claws 38a. The four steel pipes 35 housed one by one are conveyed to the extraction device 33 by the conveyor 38 with the claws 38a. The conveyor 38 with the claw 38a stops at a predetermined position above the extracting device 33 in response to a signal from the control device described above.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, below the four stopped steel pipes 35, a support device 55 and a clamp device 50 having a pair of upper and lower clamp hardware 49, 49 'are arranged. You. FIG. 6 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow D-D in FIG. FIG. 7 is a front view of the clamp device 50 in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, the supporting device 55 has a deflection prevention pedestal 56 on which four steel pipes 35 stopped at a predetermined position above the extracting device 33 are mounted. This deflection prevention pedestal
Reference numeral 56 denotes a member for preventing the steel pipe 35 from bending due to its own weight in the longitudinal middle portion. The support device 55 rises at the same time as or immediately before the operation timing of the clamp hardware 49, 49 'of the clamp device 50 described later, and supports the steel pipe 35 according to a signal from the control device described above. Thereby, the bending generated in the steel pipe 55 is prevented. By supporting the steel pipe 35 by the support device 55, the posture of the steel pipe 35 can be kept horizontal when the steel pipe 35 is clamped by the clamp device 50.

As shown in FIG. 6, a receiving portion for mounting each of the four steel pipes 35 is formed in a concave shape on the bending prevention receiving base 56. The deflection prevention pedestal 56 is supported by a lifting cylinder 57 so as to be able to move up and down. When the steel pipe 35 is conveyed by the conveyor 38 with the claw 38a, the support device 55 operates the elevating cylinder 57 according to a signal from the control device described above, and descends to a lower limit position where the steel pipe 35 does not interfere with the conveyed steel pipe 35. .

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, the clamp device 50 comprises a pair of upper and lower clamp hardware 49, 49 ', and a lifting cylinder 51 for supporting the clamp hardware 49, 49' so as to be able to move up and down.
51, a spacer 52 interposed between the clamp hardware 49 and the lifting cylinder 51 to adjust the degree of opening of the clamp hardware 49, 49 ', and a frame for housing and supporting the lifting cylinders 51, 51
53, an elevating cylinder 54 for elevating and lowering the frame 53, and a mounting table 55 on which the elevating cylinder 54 is mounted. A pair of upper and lower clamp hardware 49, 49 'has an arc-shaped contact portion with the steel pipe 35 at the same pitch as the four steel pipes 35. The steel pipes 35 are simultaneously clamped together. Lifting cylinder
54, the frame 53 is moved from the lower limit position where the upper surface is located below the pass line of the steel pipe 35 to the clamp hardware 49, 4
9 'moves up and down to the upper limit position where the steel pipe 35 can be clamped.

The clamping force when the four steel pipes 35 are clamped by the clamp fittings 49, 49 'can sufficiently withstand the withdrawing force of the pipe end plug 35a by a withdrawing device 33, which will be described later. It is important that the surface of each of the steel pipes 35 is not damaged. From such a viewpoint, in the present embodiment, the clamping force per steel pipe 35 by the clamping device 50 is set to 2500 kg.

Thus, the four stopped steel pipes 35
Is a clamp device supported by the support device 55.
Clamped by 50. In the present embodiment, the support device 5
5. The clamp device 50 is configured as described above.

[Extractor 33] The pipe end plug 35a is extracted from the four steel pipes 35 clamped by the clamp device 50 by the extractor 33 shown in FIGS. FIG. 8 shows FIG.
FIG. FIG. 9 is a plan view of FIG. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion F in FIG. Furthermore, the figure
11 is a view as viewed from the direction of the arrow I in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 8 to 11, the extraction device 33 of the present embodiment comprises a pair of oppositely arranged paired members which sandwich the fitting portion of the pipe end plug 35a of the steel tube 35 from above and below. Extraction claws 60 a and 60 b are provided as the engagement member 60.

As shown in FIG. 11, the extraction claws 60a, 60b
Has a tip with a radius of curvature larger than the respective radii of curvature of the flanges of the steel pipe 35 and the pipe end plug 35a, and this tip is located between the end face of the steel pipe 35 and the flange of the pipe end plug 35a. Is inserted. As shown in detail in FIGS. 1 and 10, the extraction claws 60a, 60b are provided with support brackets 61a, 61b.
b are fixed and supported respectively.

As shown in FIG. 10, the support bracket 61a
Is rotatably supported by a cylinder 63-1a by a fulcrum 62-1a, and is supported by a cylinder 62-2a by a fulcrum 62-2a.
Is supported rotatably. When the cylinder 62-2a is operated with the cylinder 63-1a fixed, the support bracket 61
a rotates about the fulcrum 62-1a. As a result, the extraction claw 60a performs an arc-shaped curved motion about the fulcrum 62-1a as the rotation center.

On the other hand, although omitted in FIG. 10, like the support bracket 61a, the support bracket 61b is connected to a fulcrum 62.
-1b is rotatably supported by the cylinder 63-1b, and the fulcrum 62-2b is rotatably supported by the cylinder 62-2b. When the cylinder 62-2b is operated with the cylinder 63-1b fixed, the support bracket 61b
It turns around 62-1b. As a result, the extraction claw 60b performs an arc-shaped curved motion about the fulcrum 62-1b as the center of rotation.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the extraction claw is used.
Support brackets 61a, 61b for supporting the engaging member 60 constituted by 60a, 60b, and support brackets 61a, 61b
Are supported at two points separated in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the steel pipe 35, and are supported by two cylinders 63-1a and 62-2a, 63-1b and 62-2b which operate independently of each other. , An engagement member driving device 64 is configured.

As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG.
-1a and 62-2a are fixed to the upper frame 65a, and the cylinders 63-1b and 62-2b are fixed to the lower frame 65b.
A claw opening setting shaft 66a and a handle 66b are provided on the rear end side of the upper frame 65a and the lower frame 65b, and by operating the handle 66b, the opening degree of the upper frame 65a and the lower frame 65b, that is, withdrawal The opening of the nails 60a and 60b is adjusted. The upper frame 65a and the lower frame 65
The extraction frame 67 is fixed to the rear end side of b. The extraction frame 67 is provided with a cylinder 66 for operating the extraction frame.
By this, it is installed so as to be able to reciprocate in the axial direction of the steel pipe 35. At the front end side of the extraction frame 67, a round bar type pipe end stopper 68 is installed. The pipe end stopper 68 comes into contact with the front surface of the pipe end plug 35a fitted to the steel pipe 35 clamped by the clamp device 50 as the extraction frame 67 advances. The upper frame 65a, the lower frame 65b, and the extraction frame 67 are all mounted on the mounting base 69. The mounting table 69 is supported by a removal device lifting drive device 70. For this reason, the upper frame 65a, the lower frame 65b, and the extraction frame 67 are all arranged so as to be able to move up and down, and do not interfere with the steel pipes 35 until the four steel pipes 35 are clamped by the clamp device 50. And after clamping, by the signal from the above-mentioned control device,
It rises to a predetermined height.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, four sets of the upper frame 65a, the lower frame 65b and the extraction frame 67 are arranged in parallel with the four steel pipes 35 at the same pitch.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the extraction device 33 is also installed on the other end side of the steel pipe 35 (the position indicated by reference numeral 33-1 in FIG. 2). The extraction device 33 is configured so that extraction operations can be simultaneously performed on the pipe end plugs 35a fitted to both ends of the steel pipe 35.

The extraction device 33 in this embodiment extracts the pipe end plug 35a in the following procedure. After the four steel pipes 35 are clamped by the clamp device 50, the removal claw 60a is raised by operating the cylinders 63-1a and 62-2a, and the removal claw 60b is moved to the cylinders 63-1b and 62-2b. Operate and lower.

By starting the extraction frame operating cylinder 66 and moving the extraction frame 67 forward, the pipe end plug is moved.
The pipe end stopper 68 is advanced toward 35a, and the pipe end stopper 68 is brought into contact with the pipe end plug 35a fitted to the steel pipe 35. If the pressing force when the pipe end stopper 68 is pressed against the pipe end plug 35a is too strong, the steel pipe 35 will buckle, the pipe end plug 35a will be re-inserted, the flange of the pipe end plug 35a will be deformed, and the steel pipe 35 will be deformed. It is important to minimize the force required for operation and cycle time, as this may lead to deformation of the ends. In this embodiment, when the size of the steel pipe 35 is 15A to 32A, 585 kg
785 kg when the size of the steel pipe 35 is 40A to 100A
, Respectively.

As shown in FIG. 11, the extraction claw 60a is lowered by operating the cylinders 63-1a and 63-2a, and the extraction claw 60b is operated by operating the cylinders 63-1b and 63-2b. To raise. As a result, the extraction claw 60a and the extraction claw 60b are
a between the flange of a and the end face of the steel pipe 35
Hold 35a firmly from above and below. As a result, the pipe end plug 35a is slightly deformed, and particularly when the pipe end plug 35a is spot-welded to the steel pipe 35, the spot weld is broken. This causes a crack in the plated metal adhered and solidified between the pipe end plug 35a and the steel pipe 35 to separate the pipe end plug 35a from the steel pipe 35.

Next, as shown in FIG.
By operating the cylinder 2a and the cylinder 63-2b, the support brackets 61a, 61b are turned in an arc around the fulcrums 62-1a, 62-1b as the center of rotation. As a result, the extraction claws 60a, 60b supported by the support brackets 61a, 61b are
While engaging with the flange of the pipe end plug 35a, the fulcrum 62-1a, 62
It turns in an arc with -1b as the center of rotation. This allows
The fitting of the pipe end plug 35a with the steel pipe 35 is released by the lever principle.

After the fitting of the pipe end plug 35a is released, the extraction frame 67 is returned to the original position by the extraction frame operating cylinder 66, so that the pipe end plug 35a is dropped downward, and the pipe end plug 35a is dropped. 35a can be reliably removed from the end of the steel pipe 35. The extraction frame 67 stops at the original position and waits, preparing for the next extraction.

Pipe end plug 35a released from fitting with steel pipe 35
Operates the cylinders 63-1a and 63-1b to raise the extraction claw 60a and
Drop by lowering b. In addition, steel pipe 35
If the pipe end plug 35a is lightweight due to its small diameter,
With the plated metal adhered to the pipe end plug 35a, the flange portion of the pipe end plug 35a bites into the gap G between the extraction claws 60a and 60b and the pipe end stopper 68, and does not fall by its own weight alone. Sometimes. In this case, in order to drop the pipe end plug 35a securely, the operation of the cylinder 63-1a and the cylinder 63-1b is repeated a plurality of times, or a fluid is supplied near the center between the pipe end stopper 68 and the pipe end plug 35a. The jetting nozzle 71 for ejecting the plug is installed as a pipe end plug forced dropping mechanism, and the fluid is ejected from the nozzle 71 for ejecting the plug along with the operation of the cylinder 63-1a and the cylinder 63-1b, so that the pipe end plug 35a is moved. It can be reliably dropped.

As shown in FIG. 3, the dropped pipe end plug 35a is discharged out of the line by an existing collection chute (not shown) provided below the extraction device 33, a discharge conveyor 72, and the like.

In the extraction device 33 of this embodiment, the steel pipe
If the outside diameter of 35 changes, remove the claw 60a and 60
Replacement of b with proper size, removal claw 60a and 60b
Opening / closing operation of the opening setting shaft 66a and handle 66b, replacement of the clamp opening setting spacer 52, replacement of the ascending limit stopper of the deflection prevention pedestal 55, switching of the forward force of the extraction frame 67, etc. become. All of these can be performed in a short period of time with a small number of persons and without the need for a hoist.

In the extraction device 33 of this embodiment, when the steel pipe 35 has one type of size, this setup change is unnecessary. When the size of the steel pipe 35 is only a small diameter or only a middle / large diameter, it is not necessary to switch the pressing force of the extraction plate 67.

Further, in this embodiment, in order to install a pipe end plug extracting device on the existing steel pipe conveying line, each device constituting the pipe end aligning mechanism 32 and the extracting device 33 is provided with a lifting function. When manufacturing a steel pipe without a pipe end plug, each apparatus is lowered below the pass level of the steel pipe so as not to hinder the transport of the steel pipe.

[Steel Pipe Discharge Mechanism 34] The steel pipe 35 from which the pipe end plug 35a has been removed in this manner is sent to the next step (inspection step, primary rust prevention step, etc.) by the existing steel pipe discharge mechanism 34 (not shown). Can be As described above, according to the automatic tube end plug extracting device 30 of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

(I) When removing the pipe end plug 35a, the pipe end plug 35a may be slightly deformed, and particularly in the case of a large-diameter steel pipe 35, the spot weld between the steel pipe 35 and the pipe end plug 35a may be broken. it can. (ii) It is possible to easily and surely cope with the length tolerance of the steel pipe 35 and the displacement of the pipe end generated during transfer.

(Iii) The pipe end plugs 35a fitted to both ends of the plurality of steel pipes 35 can be simultaneously extracted. (iv) The setup change at the time of changing the dimensions of the steel pipe 35 can be performed in a short time with a small number of persons and without the need for a lifting machine.

Therefore, according to the automatic pipe end plug removing apparatus 30 of the present embodiment, the pipe end plug can be reliably removed and dropped after the removal, and the setup can be easily changed when the dimensions of the steel pipe are changed. The pipe end plugs fitted to both ends of a plurality of steel pipes can be simultaneously and continuously extracted online automatically.

(Modification) In the description of the embodiment, the case where the metal pipe is a steel pipe is taken as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to steel pipes, and can be similarly applied to metal pipes other than steel pipes.

In the description of the embodiment, the case where the engagement member driving device is composed of a support member and two cylinders is taken as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this mode. For example, the same operation may be performed by attaching the engaging member to the end of the arm of the handling multi-axis robot.

Also, from the relation of the processing amount and the equipment cost, the extracting device is installed only at one end of the steel pipe, and after removing the pipe end plug at only one end by the extracting device, the steel pipe is turned over in the longitudinal direction. You may make it pull out the pipe end plug of the other end.

Further, when there are two or more types of steel pipes from which the pipe end plugs are to be removed, reference numeral 33- in FIG.
A sampling device may be installed at a position 2 or the like, and the installed sampling device may be selectively used according to the length of the steel pipe.

[0068]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, a pipe end plug fitted to a metal pipe such as a steel pipe can be used in accordance with the length tolerance of the metal pipe and the pipe end shift generated during transfer. It has become possible to remove the tube reliably and easily while responding, and furthermore, to facilitate the work of changing the size of the metal tube when changing the size. The significance of the present invention having such an effect is extremely remarkable.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a tube end plug automatic withdrawal device according to an embodiment, partially simplified and omitted.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the automatic tube end plug removing device of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a portion B in FIG. 3 in an enlarged manner.

FIG. 5 is a view taken in the direction of arrows CC in FIG. 2, showing an aligning roll extracted.

FIG. 6 is a view taken in the direction of arrow DD in FIG. 2, showing the support device extracted.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the clamp device shown in FIG. 3;

8 is a view as seen from the direction of arrows EE in FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of FIG.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion F in FIG. 8;

11 is a view as viewed from the direction of the arrow I in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing the installation state of a plug blowing nozzle.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view of a decoupling device proposed by Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-51799. FIG. 13 (a) is a plan view, FIG. 13 (b) is a front view, and FIG. 13 (c) is FIG. FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken along line HH in FIG.

FIGS. 14 (a) to 14 (e) are explanatory views showing the structure and operation of a pipe end plug removing device proposed by Japanese Patent Publication No. 56-51225 with time.

[Explanation of symbols]

 33 Extraction device 33 35 Steel pipe 35a Pipe end plug 60 Engagement member 60a, 60b Extraction claw 61a, 61b Support member 63-1a and 62-2a, 63-1b and 62-2b Cylinder 64 Engagement member drive

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shigeru Mizui 3 Oaza Hikari, Kashima City, Ibaraki Prefecture Inside Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd. In-company (56) References JP-A-54-112735 (JP, A) JP-A-54-13425 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Application Sho-53-67826 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. . ^7, DB name) C23C 2/00 - 2/40 B65D 59/06 F16L 57/00

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. An engaging member inserted between a flange of a pipe end plug fitted to an end of a fixed metal pipe and an end face constituting the end, and the inserted inserted. An engagement member driving device for operating a member in a curved manner in a plane including the axis of the metal tube while engaging the member with the flange. Sampling device. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the engaging member has a pair of claws arranged opposite to each other. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the engagement member operates in an arc shape. 4. The engagement member driving device includes a support member that supports the engagement member, and a support member that supports the support member at two points separated in a direction parallel to an axial direction of the metal tube. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a base cylinder. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pipe end plug forcible dropping mechanism for ejecting a fluid toward the pipe end plug pressed against the tip of the engaging member after being extracted.
An apparatus for removing a pipe end plug fitted to a metal pipe according to any one of claims 1 to 4.