JP7267596B2 - Steel bar counting separator - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a steel bar counting and separating device for separating counted steel bars from other steel bars.

Steel bars such as deformed steel bars and round steel bars are manufactured and shipped as follows. A billet is hot-rolled to form a long material with a total length of about 80 to 120 m. After cooling, the long material is cut into predetermined lengths (eg, 8 m), and a plurality of pieces are cut. of steel bars. These steel bars are then bundled and shipped by the required number.

In order to obtain the required number of bundles of steel bars, it is first necessary to count the steel bars and separate the counted steel bars from the other steel bars. For this purpose, a device for counting and separating steel bars (steel bar counting and separating device) is installed in the steel bar production line.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing part of a conventional steel bar counting and separating apparatus. In the conventional device, a plurality of device units each having a conveyor 80, a regulation plate 85, a first claw member 86, and a second claw member 87 are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction of the steel bar W. Of the plurality of equipment units, the equipment unit located on the end side of the steel bar W further has a sprocket 83 and a sensor 84 .
In this steel bar counting and separating apparatus, while the conveyor 80 conveys the steel bars W, the sensor 84 detects a part of each steel bar W that fits into the groove of the sprocket 83, and the steel bars W are counted thereby. In each device unit, a restricting plate 85 having a convex curved surface is provided on the downstream side of the sprocket 83 in the conveying direction. The steel bars W that have been transported by the conveyor 80 and have been counted cannot get over the regulation plate 85 and remain on the conveyor 80 .

The stagnant steel bar W is scooped up by the operation of the first claw member 86 (arrow G1 in FIG. 11) and conveyed to the top of the regulating plate 85 in order from the device unit on the end side of the steel bar W. The conveyed steel bar W is received by the second claw member 87 . When the operation up to the predetermined number according to the length of the steel bar W is completed, the operation of the second claw member 87 (arrow G2 in FIG. 11) causes the steel bars W to slide down the regulation plate 85 all at once, and onto the conveyor 80. return. In this way, the required number of steel bars W are separated from the other steel bars W.

However, when the steel bars W are scooped up by the first claw members 86 and when the steel bars W pass over the regulating plate 85 and fall onto the conveyor 80, the steel bars W may intersect each other to form twills. If a twill occurs in the steel bar W and it is bound as it is, the steel bar W will be bent and straightness will be deteriorated, resulting in a decrease in commercial value. Further, if the steel bar W has twills, for example, at a construction site, it becomes difficult to take out the steel bar W and other steel bars W intersecting with it, and the work efficiency deteriorates.

Therefore, a device has been proposed that does not allow the steel bars to drop when separating the counted steel bars (see Patent Document 1). This device transports the counted required number of steel bars in a row.

JP 2016-98097 A

According to the device described in Patent Document 1, the counted required number of steel bars are lifted and are not dropped, so it is possible to prevent the generation of twills in the steel bars. Such devices are very useful, and devices with similar functions are being developed.

Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a device that can separate a counted steel bar from other steel bars by new technical means without generating a twill.

The invention of the present disclosure is a steel bar counting and separating device for separating a counted steel bar from other steel bars, comprising a conveying device for conveying the steel bar in a conveying direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the steel bar; a sensor for detecting each of the steel bars; a processing unit that acquires the order and position of each of the steel bars in the conveying direction based on the detection result of the sensor; a separator having a lever that moves in the height direction to enter between a steel bar of a predetermined number in the conveying direction and an adjacent steel bar, and a plurality of the sensors are provided in the longitudinal direction of the steel bar. wherein each of the plurality of sensors is independently movable in the conveying direction, the plurality of levers are provided in the longitudinal direction of the steel bar, and each of the plurality of levers moves in the conveying direction The lever is independently movable, and when the lever moves in the height direction and enters between the steel bar of the predetermined number and the adjacent steel bar, it moves toward the downstream side in the conveying direction from that state. .

According to the steel bar counting and separating device, the lever enters between the predetermined numbered steel bar and the adjacent steel bar, and moves from this state toward the downstream side in the conveying direction. As a result, a desired number of steel bars can be separated from the other steel bars, leaving the other steel bars existing on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the lever. It is not necessary to lift and drop the counted steel bar in order to separate it, as in the prior art, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of twill in the steel bar.

Further, a plurality of sensors and levers are provided, each of the plurality of sensors can independently move in the transport direction, and each of the plurality of levers can independently move in the transport direction. For this reason, even if some of the steel bars are inclined with respect to other steel bars, the order and position of the steel bars can be determined by each sensor, and a lever can be placed between a predetermined number of steel bars and the adjacent steel bars. Intrusion is possible.

Further, preferably, the conveying device includes a carry-in conveyor provided upstream in the carrying direction, and a counting conveyor provided downstream of the carry-in conveyor in the carrying direction, The conveying speed of the steel bars by the conveyor is higher than the conveying speed of the steel bars by the counting conveyor, and the sensor detects the steel bars on the counting conveyor.
According to this configuration, when the steel bars are transferred from the carry-in conveyor to the counting conveyor, the distance between the steel bars in the conveying direction is widened on the counting conveyor due to the difference in the conveying speed. For this reason, the accuracy of acquisition of the order and position by the processing unit is enhanced, and the lever can easily enter between the steel bar of the predetermined number and the adjacent steel bar.

In addition, preferably, the most upstream lever inserted between the pair of steel bars at the most upstream position in the conveying direction is placed between the pair of steel bars more than the other lever inserted between the pair of steel bars. Also, the moving speed toward the downstream side in the conveying direction increases.
In the case of this configuration, the most upstream lever inserted between the pair of steel bars at the most upstream position in the conveying direction moves downstream in the conveying direction at a higher speed than the other levers. expensive. Therefore, the most upstream lever can catch up with the other levers. Therefore, even if some of the steel bars are inclined with respect to the other steel bars, it is possible to align the part of the steel bars with the other steel bars by being pushed by each lever.

Further, preferably, the steel bar counting and separating device further includes a detector for detecting the presence of the steel bar, and the lever pushes the steel bar in the conveying direction beyond a predetermined position on the downstream side in the conveying direction. The detector detects the steel bar present at the predetermined position.
According to this configuration, the steel bar is pushed by the lever and conveyed beyond the predetermined position. However, if one or both of a steel bar counting error and a steel bar separation error occurs, there is a possibility that some of the steel bars will not be conveyed beyond the predetermined position and will remain at the predetermined position. In such a case, the detector detects the steel bar that has not been conveyed beyond the predetermined position. Therefore, it is possible to detect one or both of the counting error of the steel bars and the separation error of the steel bars.

Further, preferably, each of the plurality of sensors detects all of the steel bars arranged in a predetermined range in the conveying direction, and the processing unit detects all of the steel bars based on the detection results of each of the plurality of sensors. for each sensor, and generates an error signal if the number obtained for each sensor differs by at least one.
According to this configuration, for example, when a steel bar that is shorter than other steel bars is included, it is possible to detect the inclusion.

According to the steel bar counting and separating device of the present disclosure, unlike the conventional method, the counted steel bars are not lifted and dropped to separate the counted steel bars. It becomes possible to separate from the steel bar.

It is a top view which shows an example of a steel bar counting separation apparatus. 1 is a side view of a steel bar counting separator; FIG. It is a side view explaining operation|movement of a steel bar counting separation apparatus. It is a side view explaining operation|movement of a steel bar counting separation apparatus. It is a side view explaining operation|movement of a steel bar counting separation apparatus. It is a side view explaining operation|movement of a steel bar counting separation apparatus. It is a top view explaining operation|movement of a steel bar counting separation apparatus. It is a top view explaining operation|movement of a steel bar counting separation apparatus. It is a top view explaining operation|movement of a steel bar counting separation apparatus. It is a top view explaining operation|movement of a steel bar counting separation apparatus. It is a side view which shows some conventional steel bar counting separators.

[Regarding the configuration of the steel bar counting and separating device]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of a steel bar counting and separating device. 2 is a side view of the steel bar counting and separating apparatus shown in FIG. 1; FIG. A steel bar counting and separating device 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a device that counts a required number of steel bars W from among a plurality of steel bars W being conveyed and separates the counted steel bars W from other steel bars W. . For this purpose, the steel bar counting and separating device 10 comprises a conveying device 11 , a sensor 13 , a processing section 14 and a separator 15 . The steel bar counting and separating apparatus 10 of the present disclosure further comprises a detector 17 for detecting the presence of steel bars W. As shown in FIG. The steel bar counting and separating device 10 also includes a moving mechanism 18 that moves the sensor 13 and the separator 15 .

The conveying device 11 is a device for placing and conveying a plurality of steel bars W, and is configured with, for example, conveyor devices 25a, 25b, and 25c such as chain conveyors. A plurality of steel bars W are conveyed by the conveying device 11 with the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction as the conveying direction. The conveying direction of the steel bar W is the direction from the right side to the left side in FIGS. 1 and 2 . The conveying direction of the steel bar W is defined as the X direction. The horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveying direction (X direction) is the longitudinal direction of the steel bar W, and this direction is defined as the Y direction. A direction orthogonal to both the X direction and the Y direction is the height direction, and that direction is defined as the Z direction.

In the following description, the upstream side in the conveying direction of the steel bar W (the right side in FIGS. 1 and 2) may be simply referred to as the “upstream side”, and the downstream side in the conveying direction of the steel bar W (FIGS. 1 and 2 ) is sometimes simply referred to as the “downstream side”.

The conveying device 11 of the present disclosure includes a carry-in conveyor 21 provided upstream, a counting conveyor 22 provided downstream of the carry-in conveyor 21, and a carry-out conveyor 23 provided downstream of the counting conveyor 22. and That is, the conveying device 11 has an input conveyor 21, a counting conveyor 22, and an output conveyor 23 in order from the upstream side to the downstream side. The carry-in conveyor 21 has a plurality of (six in FIG. 1) conveyor devices 25a arranged in the Y direction. The counting conveyor 22 has a plurality of (six in FIG. 1) conveyor devices 25b arranged in the Y direction. The carry-out conveyor 23 has a plurality of (six in FIG. 1) conveyor devices 25c arranged in the Y direction.

The steel bars W transported by the loading conveyor 21 are transferred to the counting conveyor 22 , and the steel bars W transported by the counting conveyor 22 are transferred to the output conveyor 23 . The steel bars W placed on the unloading conveyor 23 are sent to the next bundling process. In the binding process, a required number of steel bars W are bound with wires (binding wires) by a binding machine (not shown).

The processing unit 14 controls the operation of the transport device 11 , that is, the start and stop of the operations of the loading conveyor 21 , the counting conveyor 22 , and the output conveyor 23 , and the control of changing the transportation speed. The processing unit 14 is configured by a computer device.

The posture of the steel bar W to be conveyed will be described. A steel bar W whose longitudinal direction coincides with the Y direction is a steel bar W in the correct posture. However, as shown in FIG. 1, the steel bar W may be transported with its longitudinal direction inclined with respect to the reference line that is straight along the Y direction. As will be described later, even if the steel bar W is tilted on the counting conveyor 22, the posture of the steel bar W is corrected so that its longitudinal direction coincides with the Y direction. The correcting operation will be described later. Since the steel bars W conveyed by the carry-out conveyor 23 are straightened as described above, the steel bars W can be easily bundled with wires later.

In FIG. 1, a plurality of moving mechanisms 18 (three in FIG. 1) are provided side by side in the Y direction. As shown in FIG. 2 , the moving mechanism 18 is provided above the conveying device 11 . Each moving mechanism 18 has a guide member 31 fixed to the floor and a moving body 32 movable along the guide member 31 . The guide member 31 is a linear member elongated in the X direction. A rack 33 is provided on the guide member 31 with the X direction as its longitudinal direction. A pinion 34 that meshes with the rack 33 and a motor 35 with a speed reducer that rotates the pinion 34 are mounted on the moving body 32 . The forward and reverse rotation of the motor 35 causes the moving body 32 to linearly move back and forth in the X direction.

Each of the three moving mechanisms 18 can operate independently of the other moving mechanisms 18 . Operation control of the moving mechanism 18 (motor 35 ) is performed by the processing unit 14 . Therefore, each of the three moving bodies 32 can move independently of the other moving bodies 32 . In the case of the form shown in FIG. 1, the first moving body 32-1, the second moving body 32-2, and the third moving body 32-3 are defined in order from the top of FIG.

The moving speed of each of the first moving body 32-1, the second moving body 32-2, and the third moving body 32-3 can be changed, and some of these moving bodies 32 can be changed to other moving bodies. 32 can increase the movement speed. As will be described later, the moving bodies 32 move downstream in order to separate the required number of steel bars W. As shown in FIG. At that time, the moving body 32 positioned upstream from the other moving body 32 has a higher moving speed than the other moving body 32, and the moving body 32 positioned upstream moves to the other moving body 32 can catch up.

The motor 35 is a servomotor, and the processing unit 14 can control the position (coordinates) of each moving body 32 in the X direction. That is, the movement of each moving body 32 in the X direction is numerically controlled. The processing unit 14 can acquire information on the positions of the three mobile bodies 32 in the X direction, and executes various processes based on the information. The "position in the X direction" of the moving body 32 and the equipment mounted on the moving body 32 are the same as the "coordinates in the X direction".

The sensor 13 of the present disclosure is a non-contact sensor (laser displacement gauge) and detects the steel bar W. The sensor 13 is mounted on the mobile body 32 . Therefore, the sensor 13 can move in the X direction, which is the direction in which the steel bar W is conveyed. In the present disclosure (see FIG. 1), three mobile bodies 32 are provided, and one sensor 13 is mounted on each mobile body 32 . Therefore, three sensors 13 are provided in the Y direction. Since each of the three moving bodies 32 can move independently, each of the three sensors 13 can move independently in the X direction.

The sensor 13 is attached to a predetermined position of the moving body 32 , and the position of the moving body 32 in the X direction is numerically controlled by the processing section 14 . Therefore, the processing unit 14 can acquire information on the laser irradiation position from the sensor 13 , that is, information on the position in the X direction of the detection position of the steel bar W by the sensor 13 . When the steel bar W is detected by the sensor 13 , the processing unit 14 can acquire information on the position of the steel bar W in the X direction based on the detection result of the sensor 13 .

Acquisition of information by the processing unit 14 will be further described. When each sensor 13 detects the steel bar W, the processing unit 14 obtains the position of the steel bar W detected by each sensor 13 in the X direction, and obtains the order of the detected steel bar W in the X direction. In the present disclosure, a plurality of steel bars W on the counting conveyor 22 are detected by each sensor 13, and each sensor 13 moves above these steel bars W in the X direction. Accordingly, the processing unit 14 can sequentially detect the plurality of steel bars W based on the detection result of each sensor 13 and count the number of detections by each sensor 13 . By counting the number of detections, the processing unit 14 can obtain information on the order (order) of each of the plurality of steel bars W in the X direction. Then, as described above, each time the sensor 13 detects the steel bar W, the processing unit 14 acquires information on the position (coordinates) of the detection, that is, the position (coordinates) of the steel bar W in each order in the X direction. can be obtained.

In the present disclosure, as described above, three sensors 13 are provided. Acquisition of information as described above is performed individually based on the detection results of each of the three sensors 13 . In the case of the form shown in FIG. 1, the first sensor 13-1, the second sensor 13-2, and the third sensor 13-3 are defined in order from the top of FIG. A plurality of (three) sensors 13 are provided, but only one processing unit 14 may be provided, and the processing unit 14 is configured to process data with each of the plurality of sensors 13-1, 13-2, and 13-3. can be sent and received. The processing unit 14 processes the detection data (results of the detection) from the sensors 13-1, 13-2, and 13-3 separately for each sensor 13. FIG.

Specifically, based on the detection result of the first sensor 13-1, the processing unit 14 determines each portion of the plurality of steel bars W located below the movement trajectory of the first sensor 13-1. , and the position of each part in the X direction in each order. Similarly, based on the detection result of the second sensor 13-2, the processing unit 14 detects each portion of the plurality of steel bars W located below the movement locus of the second sensor 13-2 in the X direction. and the position of each part in the X direction in each order. Similarly, based on the detection result of the third sensor 13-3, the processing unit 14 determines the X-direction and the position of each part in the X direction in each order.

As described above, each sensor 13 is movable in the X direction, and detects each steel bar W by the movement. The processing unit 14 can acquire information on the order and information on the position of each steel bar W in the X direction based on the detection result of each sensor 13 .

The separator 15 (see FIG. 2) has a lever 16 and an actuator 38 for raising and lowering the lever 16 . The lever 16 is a rod-shaped member mounted on the moving body 32 . Therefore, the lever 16 can move in the X direction, which is the direction in which the steel bar W is conveyed. One sensor 13 and one lever 16 are mounted on a common moving body 32, and the sensor 13 and the lever 16 move together. One sensor 13 and one lever 16 mounted on one moving body 32 are arranged at the same position in the Y direction on the moving body 32 (see FIG. 1).

In the present disclosure, three moving bodies 32 are provided, and one lever 16 is mounted on each moving body 32, so three levers 16 are provided in the Y direction. In the case of the form shown in FIG. 1, they are defined as a first lever 16-1, a second lever 16-2, and a third lever 16-3 in order from the top of FIG. Since each of the three moving bodies 32 can move independently, each of the three levers 16-1, 16-2, and 16-3 can move independently in the X direction, which is the conveying direction of the steel bar W. is.

Each lever 16 is attached to the moving body 32 so as to be able to move up and down. The actuator 38 is an air cylinder, for example, and is attached to the moving body 32 . The operation of the actuator 38 reciprocates the lever 16 in the Z direction. A lever 16 and an actuator 38 are mounted on each of the three moving bodies 32 . Each lever 16 is operable in the height direction independently of other levers 16 . Operation control of the actuator 38 is performed by the processing unit 14 .

As will be described later, in order to separate the required number of steel bars W from other steel bars W, the lever 16 is moved in the height direction (downward) to enter between the two steel bars W (see FIG. 2). ), and from that state, the movement of the moving body 32 moves the lever 16 toward the downstream side. With the lever 16 lowered, the lower end of the lever 16 is positioned below the steel bars W on the counting conveyor 22 . Therefore, when the moving body 32 on which the lever 16 is mounted moves downstream, the steel bar W existing downstream of the lever 16 is pushed by the lever 16, and further, the steel bar W downstream of the steel bar W is pushed. is pushed by the steel bar W pushed by the lever 16 and sent downstream. When the lever 16 rises, the lever 16 is out of contact with the steel bar W.

As described above, the movement of each moving body 32 in the X direction is numerically controlled. A lever 16 is attached to a predetermined position of each moving body 32 . In addition, as described above, the processing unit 14 acquires the rank information and the position information of each steel bar W in the X direction separately for each sensor 13 . Therefore, the position of each of the three moving bodies 32 in the X direction is controlled, and the lever 16 mounted on each moving body 32 moves downward in the height direction, so that the lever 16 moves toward the target in the Y direction. It is possible to enter between a predetermined number of steel bars and the adjacent steel bars (see FIG. 5). In FIG. 5, if the steel bar W on the downstream side in the conveying direction is the head (the first steel bar W-1), the lever 16 enters between the eighth steel bar W-8 and the ninth steel bar W-9. It is in a state of

In FIG. 1, the detector 17 is a magnetic sensor, and detects the steel bar W when the steel bar W exists in the vicinity. A plurality of detectors 17 (three in the present disclosure) are provided spaced apart in the Y direction. Each detector 17 is installed in an area on the upstream side of the unloading conveyor 23 from the downstream end of the counting conveyor 22 . As shown in FIG. 1, each detector 17 is provided in the vicinity of the moving mechanism 18 in the Y direction in plan view. Each detector 17 is positioned below the conveyed steel bar W (see FIG. 2). When the steel bar W is present above the detector 17, the detector 17 outputs a detection signal. The functions provided by the detector 17 in the steel bar counting and separating apparatus 10 of the present disclosure will be described later.

[About the operation of the steel bar counting and separating device 10]
The operation of counting and separating the steel bars W performed by the steel bar counting and separating apparatus 10 having the above configuration will be described. In the present disclosure, 17 steel bars W are conveyed as one set, and by counting, 8 steel bars W among them are separated from the remaining 9 steel bars W, and conveyed by the carry-out conveyor 23 to the next An example of carrying out to the step of . The number of steel bars W included in one set and the number of steel bars W to be counted and separated can be changed.

A set (17 bars) of steel bars W conveyed by the carry-in conveyor 21 are sequentially transferred to the counting conveyor 22 as shown in FIG. The conveying speed v2 of the steel bar W by the counting conveyor 22 is higher than the conveying speed v1 of the steel bar W by the carry-in conveyor 21 (v1<v2). Therefore, when the steel bars W are transferred from the carrying-in conveyor 21 to the counting conveyor 22, the interval j1 in the conveying direction formed between the steel bars W on the counting conveyor 22 becomes the interval between the steel bars W placed on the carrying-in conveyor 21. wider than j2 (j1>j2).

The interval j1 between the steel bars W on the counting conveyor 22 increases, and each sensor 13 detects the steel bars W on the counting conveyor 22 (see FIG. 4). Therefore, the processing unit 14 can acquire the order and position of the steel bar W with higher accuracy, and each lever 16 can control the predetermined number (eighth in the present disclosure) steel bar W and the adjacent steel bar W (the eighth in the present disclosure). In the case of , it becomes easy to enter between the 9th) steel bar W.

As shown in FIG. 4, when a set (17 bars) of steel bars W is placed on the counting conveyor 22, each of the three moving bodies 32 moves in the X direction, and each sensor 13 detects the set of steel bars W. Scan. That is, each of the three sensors 13 detects all of a set of steel bars W arranged in a predetermined range in the conveying direction. Based on the detection results of the three sensors 13 , the processing unit 14 acquires the number of all steel bars W included in one set for each sensor 13 . At this time, the counting conveyor 22 temporarily stops conveying the steel bars W. In addition, the carry-in conveyor 21 is also stopped.

Each sensor 13 scans all the steel bars W included in one set to obtain information on the ranking of each steel bar W and information on the position of each steel bar W in the X direction. Information on the order of each steel bar W and information on the X-direction position of the steel bar W in that order are associated with each other and stored in a storage device provided in the processing unit 14 . Here, as shown in FIG. 1, on the counting conveyor 22, there are steel bars W that are inclined with respect to a reference line that is straight along the Y direction. Therefore, even if the steel bars W have the same order, the positions of the steel bars W in the order in the X direction are the result based on the first sensor 13-1, the result based on the second sensor 13-2, and the result based on the third sensor 13-2. 13-3. The results of each of the three sensors 13-1, 13-2, and 13-3 (the position of the steel bar W in the X direction) are associated with the order of the steel bar W, and distinguished for each detected sensor 13, and sent to the processing unit. 14 storage devices.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, when a set of steel bars W includes only one (sixth) shorter steel bar WS, the first sensor 13-1 and the second sensor 13-2 The overall ranking of the set of steel bars W obtained by the respective detection results (that is, the total number) and the overall ranking of the set of steel bars W obtained by the detection result of the third sensor 13-3 (that is, the total number) ) is different. Specifically, the order of a set of steel bars W obtained by the first sensor 13-1 and the second sensor 13-2 is "1 to 17" (the number is 17). The order of a set of steel bars W by the three sensors 13-3 is "1 to 16" (the number is 16).

In this case, the processing unit 14 generates an error signal. When the error signal is generated, the operation of the steel bar counting and separating device 10 is stopped, and the administrator is notified of the abnormality (that is, the mixture of different types of short steel bars WS). In this way, if the number of steel bars W contained in one set determined for each sensor 13 differs by at least one, an error signal is generated. With this configuration, when a steel bar WS shorter than another steel bar W is included, it is possible to detect the inclusion.

In the following, unlike the case of FIG. 7, a case (normal state) in which all of the set of steel bars W have the same length will be described. As noted above, in the present disclosure, eight steel bars W are counted and separated from the remaining nine steel bars W. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the lever 16 is inserted between the eighth steel bar W-8 and the ninth steel bar W-9 from the top on the downstream side. Therefore, the processing unit 14 operates the moving body 32 and the actuator 38 . This operation is performed for each of the three levers 16 . Assuming that the number of steel bars W to be counted and separated is "N", each lever 16 enters between the Nth steel bar W and the (N+1)th steel bar W adjacent upstream thereof.

As described above, on the counting conveyor 22, there are steel bars W that are inclined with respect to the reference line in the Y direction. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 8, even between the eighth steel bar W and the ninth steel bar W having the same order, the three levers 16 are located adjacent to each other at different positions in the X direction. It is inserted between the steel bars (W-8, W-9). Since the eighth and ninth steel bars W-8 and W-9 are inclined, the third lever 16-3 is located upstream of the second lever 16-2. is located upstream of the first lever 16-1.

As shown in FIG. 5, when each of the three levers 16 is lowered and inserted between the eighth steel bar W-8 and the ninth steel bar W-9, the lever 16 is in its lowered state. , the moving body 32 moves downstream. As a result, the eight steel bars W from the top to the eighth are conveyed by being pushed downstream. During such movement of the lever 16, the counting conveyor 22 conveys the steel bars W downstream. The moving speed of the lever 16 may be higher than the conveying speed of the counting conveyor 22 . Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the distance J between the eight steel bars W from the top to the eighth and the steel bars W after the ninth increases.

Furthermore, the most upstream third lever 16-3 inserted between the pair of steel bars W-8 and W-9 at the most upstream position is positioned between the pair of steel bars W-8 and W-9. It moves downstream at a higher speed than the other levers (the second lever 16-2 and the first lever 16-1) in the inserted state. In the present disclosure, the third lever 16-3 moves more downstream than the downstream second lever 16-2, which moves more downstream than the first lever 16-1. high speed to move towards

For this reason, as shown in FIG. 9, the third lever 16-3 can catch up with the second lever 16-2, and the third lever 16-3 and the second lever 16-2 move toward the first lever 16. It becomes possible to catch up with -1. Therefore, even if the steel bar W is in an inclined state, the levers 16-1, 16-2, and 16-3 push the inclined steel bar W to align it with other steel bars W, and finally , and the Y direction as the longitudinal direction.

As shown in FIG. 6, each of the three levers 16 continuously moves from a position on the counting conveyor 22 to a position on the carry-out conveyor 23 to forcibly convey the steel bar W. As shown in FIG. In conjunction with the operation of the lever 16 , the carry-out conveyor 23 operates, and the steel bars W pushed by the lever 16 and transferred from the counting conveyor 22 to the carry-out conveyor 23 are conveyed by the carry-out conveyor 23 . Note that when each of the three levers 16 reaches the downstream end of the counting conveyor 22, the counting conveyor 22 stops operating. As a result, the ninth and subsequent steel bars W are left on the counting conveyor 22 . On the other hand, the 1st to 8th steel bars W are conveyed by the unloading conveyor 23, and the distance J between the 1st to 8th steel bars W and the 9th and subsequent steel bars W is further widened ( See Figure 6).

Each of the three levers 16 pushes and conveys the steel bar W beyond a predetermined position P1 on the downstream side of the upstream end of the unloading conveyor 23, and when it reaches the central position P2 of the unloading conveyor 23, these levers 16 move. Movement stops. Then, the lever 16 is lifted and the moving body 32 returns to the counting conveyor 22 side. The truck 32 carrying the lever 16 and the sensor 13 is then ready for counting and separating the next set of steel bars W.

Here, for example, a case where the sensor 13 incorrectly counts the steel bars W on the counting conveyor 22 or the wrong position for inserting the lever 16 will be described. For example, if the third lever 16-3 is mistakenly inserted between the seventh steel bar W-7 and the eighth steel bar W-8, as shown in FIG. is pushed downstream by the first and second levers 16-1 and 16-2, but not by the third lever 16-3. For this reason, part of the eighth steel bar W-8 does not reach the central position P2 of the unloading conveyor 23, but exists at a predetermined position P1 on the upstream side and in front of it.

Therefore, the detector 17 detects such steel bar W-8. That is, as described above, the detector 17 is configured to detect the steel bar W (part of the steel bar W) present at the predetermined position P1. Therefore, the steel bar W is pushed by the lever 16 and conveyed beyond the predetermined position P1. There is a possibility that W (the eighth steel bar W-8) will not be transported beyond the predetermined position P1 and remain at the predetermined position P1. In such a case, the detector 17 detects the steel bar W-8 that has not been conveyed beyond the predetermined position P1. As a result, it becomes possible to detect one or both of the counting error of the steel bar W and the separation error of the steel bar. When the detector 17 detects part of the steel bar W-8, the operation of the steel bar counting/separating device 10 is stopped and an abnormality is notified to the administrator.

In FIG. 6, while the counting conveyor 22 is in operation, when the last steel bar W-17 among the remaining ninth and subsequent steel bars W passes the position P0 on the counting conveyor 22, the carrying-in conveyor 21 is driven to transfer the next set of steel bars W onto the counting conveyor 22 . As a result, the ninth and subsequent steel bars W (included in the previous group) left on the counting conveyor 22 and the next group of steel bars W are aligned on the counting conveyor 22 . Then, the sensor 13 scans these steel bars W as objects.

The subsequent operation of the steel bar counting and separating apparatus 10 is as described above, and the operation is repeatedly performed.

[Regarding the steel bar counting and separating device 10 of the present disclosure]
As described above, according to the steel bar counting and separating device 10 of the present disclosure, each lever 16 enters between the eighth steel bar W-8 and the adjacent ninth steel bar W-9 (see FIG. 5), From that state, it moves downstream (see FIG. 6). As a result, a desired number (eight) of steel bars W can be separated from the ninth and subsequent steel bars W, leaving the ninth and subsequent steel bars W existing upstream of the lever 16 .

Further, three sensors 13 and three levers 16 are provided. 1, 16-2, and 16-2 are independently movable in the transport direction. Therefore, even if some of the steel bars W are inclined with respect to other steel bars W, the rank and position of the steel bars W can be determined by the sensors 13-1, 13-2, and 13-3, respectively. The levers 16-1, 16-2 and 16-2 can be inserted between the steel bar W-8 and the adjacent steel bar W-9 (see FIG. 8).

According to the steel bar counting and separating device 10 of the present disclosure, it is not necessary to lift and drop the counted steel bar W to separate the counted steel bar W as in the conventional art, and it is possible to prevent the steel bar W from being twilled. becomes. That is, it is possible to separate the counted steel bar W from other steel bars W without forming a twill.

As described above (see FIG. 11), in the conventional device, a plurality of devices ( For example, 10 units) are provided side by side. Conventionally, a predetermined number of steel bars W are separated by operating the apparatus unit (first claw member 86) in order from the end of the steel bar W. As shown in FIG.
On the other hand, according to the apparatus of the present disclosure, the steel bars W can be counted in a short time, and the plurality of counted steel bars W can be quickly separated, thereby greatly shortening the processing time. It becomes possible to

The embodiments disclosed this time are illustrative in all respects and are not restrictive. The scope of rights of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes all modifications within the scope of equivalents to the configurations described in the claims.
Although the case where the number of sensors 13 and levers is "3" has been described, the number of these may be "2" or "4 or more" as long as they are plural.

10: Steel Bar Counting Separation Device 11: Conveying Device 13: Sensor 14: Processing Unit 15: Separator 16: Lever 17: Detector 21: Incoming Conveyor 22: Counting Conveyor 23: Outgoing Conveyor W: Steel Bar

Claims (5)

A steel bar counting and separating device for separating counted steel bars from other steel bars,
a conveying device for conveying the steel bar with the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the steel bar as the conveying direction;
a sensor movable in the conveying direction for detecting each of the steel bars;
a processing unit that acquires the order and position of each of the steel bars in the conveying direction based on the detection result of the sensor;
a separator having a lever that is movable in the conveying direction and moves in the height direction to enter between a steel bar of a predetermined number in the conveying direction and an adjacent steel bar;
with
A plurality of the sensors are provided in the longitudinal direction of the steel bar, and each of the plurality of sensors is independently movable in the conveying direction,
A plurality of the levers are provided in the longitudinal direction of the steel bar, and each of the plurality of levers is independently movable in the conveying direction,
When the lever moves in the height direction and enters between the predetermined number-th steel bar and the adjacent steel bar, it moves toward the downstream side in the conveying direction from that state.
Steel bar counting separator. The conveying device has a carry-in conveyor provided on the upstream side in the carrying direction, and a counting conveyor provided on the downstream side of the carrying-in conveyor in the carrying direction,
The conveying speed of the steel bars by the counting conveyor is higher than the conveying speed of the steel bars by the loading conveyor,
The steel bar counting and separating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor detects the steel bars on the counting conveyor. The most upstream lever inserted between a pair of steel bars at a position on the most upstream side in the conveying direction is positioned further in the conveying direction than the other levers inserted between the pair of steel bars. 3. A steel bar counting and separating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the speed of movement towards the downstream side of the is increased. further comprising a detector for detecting the presence of the steel bar;
The lever pushes and conveys the steel bar in the conveying direction beyond a predetermined position on the downstream side in the conveying direction,
The steel bar counting and separating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the detector detects the steel bar existing at the predetermined position. Each of the plurality of sensors detects all of the steel bars arranged in a predetermined range in the conveying direction,
The processing unit has a function of acquiring the number of all the steel bars for each sensor based on the detection results of each of the plurality of sensors,
The steel bar counting and separating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an error signal is generated if the number determined for each sensor differs by at least one.

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