JPS5843289B2 - Method and device for protecting the ends of long objects using metal caps - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to the end portion of a bundle of long objects such as electric conduit pipes, PVC pipes, etc., or rods, etc. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for protection.

A long object bundle has threaded parts cut into both ends of the long object.

To protect edges with chamfers, etc. from damage that tends to occur during transportation, the ends of long objects are fitted with plastic caps or covered with thick cloth. A protection method in which a thermoplastic cap is automatically fitted to the end portion is conventionally known (Japanese Patent Publication No. 46-25067, filed by the applicant).

Covering with a thick cloth is a laborious method that is usually done manually, so when talking about plastic caps, (
1) Since it is an injection molded product, the price is high in terms of material costs and molding costs.

(2) Since the material is plastic, the amount of deformation is large, the molding accuracy is poor, and the dimensional accuracy of the cap is poor.

Since the inner surface of the cap is in point or line contact with the outer periphery of the electrical conduit, etc., the cap may not be completely fitted due to dimensional errors, and the cap may come off during transportation.

(3) Automatic feeding is difficult due to the complicated shape of the cap.

(4) It is necessary to keep a certain amount in stock for automatic supply, but since the shape is complex, it takes up a lot of space.

(5) Since they are made of plastic, insufficient recycling or other treatment after use can cause pollution.

(6) Since it is made of plastic, magnetic force cannot be used as a means of transportation or attachment.

(7) For the reasons mentioned above, there were drawbacks such as difficulty in completely continuous automation of the entire process.

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks and to provide a more effective method and device for protecting the ends of a bundle of long objects.

The present invention will be described in detail below based on the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of long objects 1 such as pipes or rods are handled as a bundle 2 of long objects.

The cap 3 attached to the ends of the long bundles 2 for protection is press-molded from a relatively thin metal plate, for example, an iron plate, and its shape is such that it envelops the outer peripheral contour of the ends of the long bundles 2. It needs to be punched into a shape that looks like the one shown in Figure 2.

As is clear from the cross-sectional view in FIG. Surroundings 3a of cap 3
is widened at an angle θ with a plane perpendicular to the bottom wall 3b, and the angle θ is the relief angle (draft angle) of the mold during cap molding.

It is attached for the purpose of making the cap guide angle when it is attached to a long object bundle and making it easier to attach it.

The cap 3 is fitted onto the end of the long object bundle 2 in order to protect the end.
As shown in the figure, the inner periphery of the cap 3 and the outer periphery of the long object bundle 2 are not in sufficient contact with each other.

Note that the cap and the end of the long object may partially contact each other due to deformation of the cap, irregularity of the end of the long object, etc., but this does not pose a problem.

Next, in the present invention, a plurality of pressing claws 4 are pressed against the ends of the cap 3 and the long object bundle 2 in the state shown in FIG. 4, and the periphery 3a of the cap 3 is pressed as shown in FIG. Then, it is deformed toward the space S formed between the outer circumferential contour of the long bundle and the inner circumferential surface of the cap.

Since there are a plurality of spaces S, the same number of pressing claws 4 as the number of spaces S are usually used.

By pressing and plastically deforming the periphery of the cap in this manner, the periphery of the cap comes into contact with the outer periphery of the long object bundle over a larger area along the outer peripheral contour of the end of the long object bundle.

As shown in the partially enlarged view of FIG.
At a, a tensile stress f is generated along the outer periphery of the elongated object 1 such as a tube and bar material forming the elongated object bundle 2 due to the pressing force F of the pressing claw 4.

When the cap 3 is tightened and a force is exerted to cause the cap 3 to fall off from the end of the bundle of long objects, a strong frictional force is generated on the pressure contact surface between the inner peripheral surface of the cap and the outer periphery of the long object. This prevents the cap from falling off.

By changing the number of pressing claws 4, the pressing locations, and the pressing force, the tension f can be adjusted and a more appropriate holding force can be obtained.

Next, one of the devices that can be used when carrying out the method of this invention
An example will be explained.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the cap storage box body 9 that accommodates the cap 3 has a recess 9a shaped like the peripheral outer shape of the cap 3, and one cap 3 is stored in this recess. , covering almost the entire outer surface of the cap.

The box body 9 has a plurality of guide grooves 10 cut at required locations (locations corresponding to the spaces S), and the guide grooves 10 slidably accommodate and guide the pressing claws 4.

As shown in FIG. 8, the pressing claw 4 is connected to a piston rod 5 of a first pressing force actuating device 8, which is appropriately supported on a box body 9 and includes, for example, a fluid pressure cylinder 7, a piston 6, and a piston rod 5. 1. By the operation of an actuating device 8 connected to a fluid pressure 1 drive source (not shown), the cap can be moved forward and backward toward the space S so as to press the periphery of the cap and plastically deform it.

Since the pressing claws 4 press the periphery of the cap in this way, their tips are shaped so as not to damage the cap and are configured to provide high hardness to prevent wear. are activated at the same time, and cap 3
The deformation is done uniformly.

The cap storage box body 9 is further arranged as shown in FIG.

The long object is moved forward and backward toward the end surface.

For example, cylinder 14. Piston 13. Piston rod 1
A second force actuating device 15 such as a 2° bracket 11 is provided.

It will be easily understood that the second actuating device 15 and the first actuating device 8 are not necessarily limited to the fluid actuating device shown in the drawings.

With such a device, first, the cap storage box body 9 is supplied with the cap 3 into the recess 9a by a cap feeding device (not shown) while controlling its posture, and the cap storage box body 9 is supplied with the cap 3 at the bottom of the cap 3. The wall 3b is held facing the end face of the long object bundle.

As a holding method, the above-mentioned pressing claw may be used, or a conventional method such as magnetic force or pneumatic force may be employed.

Next, the camp storage box body 9 is advanced by the second actuating device 15 toward the end surface of the long object until the bottom wall 3b of the cap 3 comes into contact with the end surface of the long object, and the cap 3 is moved toward the end surface of the long object.
Insert so as to enclose the ends of the

When the cap insertion is completed, the plurality of pressing claws 4 are activated by the first actuating device 8, and the cap 3 is pressed and deformed as shown in FIG.

After the deformation is completed, the pressing claw is released and returns to its original position, and the cap 3 is held tightly on the end of the long bundle.

The cap storage box body 9 is moved back by the second actuating device 15 and returned to its original position, leaving the cap 3 held at the end of the long article bundle.

A new cap 3 is supplied from the cap supply device.

In this manner, the apparatus can supply and attach the cap 3 to the end of a bundle of long articles, and then tighten and fix the cap 3 on the outer periphery of the end of the bundle of long articles.

The power source may be any known source such as hydraulic pressure, pneumatic force, magnetic force, or lice power, and for its transmission, other known sources such as screw chains, cams, levers, gears, belts, etc. may be used in addition to the cylinders shown. Since it is easy to understand, the explanation will be omitted.

According to this explanation, (a) since the cap is made of relatively thin metal, it can be formed at low cost;

(b) Good molding accuracy of the cap.

(c) The cap is fitted to the end of the long object bundle, and the periphery of the cap is deformed by pressure toward the space formed between the outer peripheral contour of the long object bundle and the inner peripheral surface of the cap. The contact area between the outer circumference of the restraint and the inner circumferential surface of the cap is increased, and the tension generated in the press-deformed cap makes the fastening strong and reliable, and the cap does not fall off.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the end of a bundle of long objects, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the cap, Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the cap along line i-■ in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the long object bundle. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a cap is inserted into a bundle of goods, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the periphery of the cap is compressed and deformed. FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a front view showing a state in which a cap of one embodiment of the device of the present invention is inserted into the end of a long object bundle within a storage box. Figure 8 is the line in Figure 7 ■
9 is a sectional view along line -■, and a front view similar to FIG. 7, showing a state in which a plurality of pressing claws press and deform the cap. 1... Long object, 2... Long object bundle, 3.
...Cap, 4...Press claw, 5...
... Piston rod, 6... Piston, 7.
...Cylinder 18...1st (7) Push E
Actuation device, 9... Cap storage box body, 10...
...Guide groove, 11...Bracket, 12
...Piston rod, 13...Piston, 14...Cylinder. 15...Second pressing force actuating device, S...
・Space part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A metal cap formed in a shape that envelops the outer peripheral contour of the long object bundle is attached to the end of a long object bundle obtained by bundling a plurality of long objects. The periphery of the cap is pressed against the plurality of spaces formed between the outer circumferential contour of the long object bundle and the inner circumferential surface of the cap, and the cap is shaped so that the inner circumferential surface contour of the cap approximates the outer circumferential contour of the long object bundle. A method for protecting an end of a long object using a metal cap, the method comprising firmly fastening the cap to the end of the long object by plastic deformation. 2. In a device that attaches a metal cap formed in a shape that envelops the outer peripheral contour of the long object bundle to the end of a long object bundle obtained by bundling a plurality of long objects, only one of the caps is installed. A cap storage box body to hold, and a first pressing force actuating device that is slidably mounted on the storage box body and moves back and forth with respect to the surface of the cap to match the outer circumference contour of the long bundle and the inner circumference of the cap to be attached. a plurality of pressing claws that press the periphery of the cap toward the plurality of spaces formed between the surfaces; and a second pressing force actuating device that moves the storage box body toward the end surface of the long object. and after pressing the storage box body holding the cap against the end face of the long bundle by the second pressing force actuating device,
A metal cap characterized in that the first pressing force actuating device is configured to simultaneously press and plastically deform the periphery of the cap inserted into the end of the long object bundle using the plurality of pressing claws. Protective device for the ends of long bundles.