JPS61235323A - Method and device for preventing confusion of bar stock bundle - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a stock clutter prevention device, and more particularly to a stock clutter prevention device for separating small groups of stock from a clutter prevention bundle.
The present invention relates to a new and improved skip disruption device with an undisassembled probe for cleaning.

[Prior Art] U.S. Patent Nos. 3,506,142 and 3,774;
No. 779 discloses a stock confusion prevention device,
These serve to receive bundles of elongated bars, prevent stock from being cluttered, and feed the stock into the conveyor mechanism in the desired parallel relationship. This kind of conveyor mechanism is, for example,
Provides stock for subsequent operations such as shearing, forging, or machining.

These patents are incorporated herein by reference.

An anti-clutter device of the type disclosed in the above-mentioned patent is designed to provide a festune for supporting a bundle of elongated rods.
Provide slings in two or more positions. Drive means raise and lower the sling from one side, producing a raising and lowering of the bundle with a rolling motion. This rolling action prevents confusion of the bars and attempts to move them in parallel relationship.

In this type of arrangement, the rods are raised to a position at the inlet end of a conveyor mechanism which transports the rods laterally to a discharge position, from where the individual rods are transferred for subsequent processing.

This type of machine generally works well. However, if this occurs, a blockage will occur at the inlet end of the conveyor, which will prevent subsequent feeds. When this blockage occurs, the sling usually has to be reused and, if necessary, kicker or ejector means are activated to clear the entrance to the conveyor. Such clogging is more likely to occur when the bar is non-circular and has a width to thickness ratio of 4:1 or greater.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a new and improved anti-disruption device. The anti-clutter device provides a driven probe or bundle breaker that acts to break up the bundle and present a small group of rods adjacent the conveyor inlet. This type of small grouping is less prone to jamming and provides more reliable feed, even when the bar has a relatively high width-to-thickness ratio.

The entire machine provides spaced slings that support the bundle at intervals along its length. The slings are raised and lowered from one side so that the bundles supported by the festunes of the slings are raised and lowered with a rolling motion. This action moves the bars to a position where they are generally aligned and parallel, as in the prior patent.

The slings act to raise the bundle to a position where the upper side within the bundle is approximately at and adjacent the conveyor entrance level.

In the illustrated embodiment, the valve O-b is driven by a piston and cylinder actuator, the actuator comprising:
It acts to extend the probe from a retracted position in which it does not act on the rod to an extended position on the upper side of the bundle. As the probes extend, they break up the bundle and separate small groups of rods from the bundle.

The upper surface of the probe slopes downward toward the entrance of the conveyor, and the rods supported by the probes in small groups of rods are
There is a tendency to form single layer groups of rods that are fed towards the conveyor entrance. Additionally, since there is only a small group of bars on the probe, non-circular bars, such as rectangular bars, position themselves on their sides and are normally oriented for entry into the conveyor. Do it like this.

The illustrated anti-clutter device also provides a kicker mechanism that acts to clear the conveyor entrance if a bar becomes jammed or improperly positioned at the conveyor entrance. With this machine, improved reliability is achieved and the reuse of slings is avoided, as is often the case during a given feeding operation.

These and other features of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in more detail in the following specification.

[Description of Embodiment 1 Figure 1 shows the entire machine. The various operating mechanisms of the machine are supported on the frame 10. Frame 10 includes an upright support 11 on which one end of a plurality of slings 12 is supported. The frame of the mechanism is elongated and provides a central longitudinal opening 13 extending substantially the entire length of the machine, the opening being sufficiently long to receive a bundle of bar stock. Although only one sling 12 is shown in the figure, it should be understood that several similar slings will be provided along the length of the machine, and the number of slings required will depend on the length of the stock to be prevented. Determined by size and model. In any case, one or more slings 12 are provided.

The other end of the sling extends to and wraps around an associated drum 14 supported on shaft 16. The shaft 16 is pivotally supported by a bearing (not shown) on the frame 10, and is driven by a drive source (not shown) to rotate around the axis of the shaft 16. The shaft 16 and the drum 14 supported thereon are driven to rotate in both directions, and the sling 12 is shortened to raise the festune and the bundle of stock supported thereon, or lengthened to raise the festune and the bundle of stock supported thereon. It is now possible to lower the bundle.

This is because the sling 12 is shortened or lengthened from one end, the end attached to the drum 14, so that the bundle of stock 17 is raised and lowered with a rotating or rolling motion. . For example, at the end of the sling on the drum 14, the sling 12 can be
is shortened, the bundle of stocks 17 rotates clockwise. Conversely, as the length of the sling increases and the bundle is lowered,
The bundle rotates counterclockwise. This rolling action during the raising and lowering of the bundle causes the bars within the bundle to assume a substantially parallel position. Additionally, as the sling is shortened, the stock bundle will be lifted along the portion 18 of the sling 12 on the drum 14 side of the sling.

A conveyor 21 is supported adjacent drum 14 having an inlet end 22 and an outlet end 23 . The illustrated conveyor is a non-driven conveyor that includes a plurality of rollers 24 supported by a lower support bar 26 and an upper support bar 27 that is adjustable toward and away from the lower support bar 26 and the O-roller.・28 sizes can be adjusted. The size of the throat is adjusted so that only a single layer of rods can pass down the conveyor from the inlet end 22 to the outlet end 23. Additionally, if the stock is non-circular, such as rectangular in cross-section, the throat is sized so that only the side-seated rods can advance down the conveyor toward the exit end. This ensures that in the above case two layers of bars cannot pass along the conveyor.

The illustrated conveyor 21 is a gravity conveyor, thus the inlet end 2
2 to the outlet end 23 and also the roller 24
forms a smooth movement of the rod along the conveyor towards the exit end. However, it should be understood that other types of conveyors may be used, such as, for example, driven conveyors, and the scope of the invention is therefore not limited to the illustrated conveyor type.

As shown in FIG. 2, drive kickout mechanisms 31 are provided at at least two locations along the length of the machine. This type of mechanism includes a piston and cylinder actuator 32 in which the cylinder is supported at position 1233 on an adjustable support member 34 supported by an upper frame beam 36. The beam 36 is supported at one end thereof and extends the length of the machine, providing an open throat 28 along which the bar can move during use of the machine. An adjustment mechanism 39 is provided to allow adjustment of the position of the cylinder of the seven cutout units 32.

The piston of actuator 32 is connected to a kickout support block 42 at location 41, while block 42 is supported on support shaft 40. A kickout finger 43 is supported by the kickout support block 42, and is movable by the retraction and extension of the actuator 32 between the active position shown in solid line in FIG. 2 and the retraction position 43' shown in phantom line. It becomes.

At the retracted position 43', the kickout finger 4
3 is spaced rearwardly from the inlet end 22 of the conveyor and positioned above the throat 28. Retraction of the actuator 32 causes the finger to rotate from the active position shown in solid lines to an intermediate position @43'' shown in phantom lines.

In the intermediate position, the fingers touch the inlet end 22 of the conveyor.
As it approaches, the ends of the fingers pass through the throat and project downwardly. The use of a kickout thus facilitates ejecting the rod from the inlet end 22 of the conveyor to eliminate any rod stickiness. In fact, the bar is forced out of the conveyor, preferably projected beyond the bundle, and moved to a position a substantial distance away from the inlet end 22. Prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,774,77
No. 9 depicts an anti-disruption device of the general type that includes a kickout or ejection mechanism of the general type disclosed in the illustrated embodiment of the present invention.

3 and 4 show the structure and operation of the driven probe according to the present invention. Such probes are spaced along the length of the machine, and depending on the length of the machine and the type of rod stock to be tampered with, two or more probes are provided on each machine. Desirably the probe is placed adjacent to the dangling chain.

Each probe assembly includes a probe support 51 pivoted by shaft 16. A probe 52 is supported on the probe support 51 so as to be movable from a retracted position shown in FIG. 3 to an extended position shown in FIG. 4 for reciprocation. Power for moving the probe back and forth is provided by a piston and cylinder actuator 53 having a cylinder connected to the probe support 51 at location 54 and a piston 56 connected to the associated probe 52. The screw adjustment part '4A58 is the link 59
connected to the rear end of the probe support 51 via
Provides angular adjustment of the probe assembly.

In Figures 3 and 4, the operation of the probe with respect to clutter prevention and feeding of rectangular bar stock is shown. FIG. 3 shows how bar stock of such a cross-section could form a blockage and prevent accurate downward feeding of the stock along conveyor 21 if the probe were not provided or inoperative. show. If the stock remains on its edges instead of lying flat, it cannot enter the conveyor. In order to accurately dispense such stock, the individual rods must be positioned on their sides as they enter the throat 28 through the conveyor entrance.

If it were not for the operation of the valve and the like as described below, the condition shown in FIG. 3 would occur very frequently and would prevent normal feeding. The sling must then be reused to lower the stock away from the conveyor. Additionally, it is often necessary to activate a kick-out mechanism to clear the entrance to the conveyor 22. However, in many cases the action of the probe will prevent the blockage shown in FIG. 3 from occurring.

In normal use of the machine, the sling 12 is shortened by rotation of the drum 14 counterclockwise in the figure until the upper side of the bundle is positioned slightly above the end of the tube O-bu. Appropriate sensors (not shown) are provided for when such a situation occurs. Sensors of this type can be, for example, phototubes, limit switches or proximity switches.

When the stock bundle is positioned in alignment with the probe, the probe simultaneously extends into the handle to the position shown in FIG. A bulb O- provided with a blunt outer edge 61
During extension of the probe, a portion of the bundle is moved by engaging the outer end on the right side of FIG. 3, and a small group of bars 62 is separated from the bundle and supported on the upper surface of the probe. be done.

Preferably, the upper surface of the probe provides two flat surface portions 63,64. The first flat portion 63 is inclined at a relatively small angle to the line of flow of the probe, but is inclined to the rear of the probe relative to the horizontal direction, directing the rod seated therein towards the exit end 22 in the conveyor. It is designed to slide down.

A second flat surface 64 is aligned with the direction of motion of the probe and is disposed at a substantially greater angle to the horizontal to further facilitate the motion of the rods in the subgroup 62 toward the throat of the conveyor. Furthermore, as the bars move from the flat section 63 onto the steeper section 64, the bars tend to separate, which ensures that the bars assume a position where they are seated on their sides.

When rods are arranged in a large group, such as a bundle, the various rods adjacent to a given rod often tend to hold the rod in an upright position as they sit on their edges. , in this case the rod cannot enter the stall as shown in FIG. However, when the rods are in small groups as shown in FIG. 4 and seated on the probe, the rods tend to collapse at the tips and seat on their sides. In Figure 4,
One rod 65 is shown seated on its edge. However,
As the rod on the probe moves down into the throat,
The tip of the rod collapses to assume its normal position for feeding.

The upper surface 64 of the drum O-b is spaced a small distance from the throat 22, and the peripheral portion 66 of the drum
bridging the distance between the two. Therefore, the counterclockwise movement of the drum is from the probe support to the throat 2 of the conveyor.
2 serves to provide a bridging driven feed for transporting individual rods into the rod. The system is configured such that the drum raises the rod a small distance as the rod moves toward the inlet end 22. The actuation of the drum may further include, e.g.
- acts to feed the individual rods as a single layer even if the adjacent rods actually supported on the bar include two layers of rods seated on their sides;

The bar O-bu is used to separate small groups 62 of bars from a bundle.
The action is such that rectangular rods having a substantially a wide width-to-thickness ratio move toward and are supported within the throat by engagement with the periphery 66 of the drum 14. This results in a sitting situation on the side.

During normal use, the slings are hoisted and retracted, moving the bars with a rolling motion, resulting in a relatively mess-free situation in which the bars extend individually parallel to each other. The sling then raises the bundle into alignment with the probe, which extends a small group 62 of rods Wi from the bundle.

The drum 14 is then typically rotated clockwise to lower the bundle. The drum is then reversed and rotated counterclockwise, delivering individual rods from the small group 62 to the throat 22. As the bundle approaches the lower position of the probe, and after most or all of the bars of group 62 have been fed onto the conveyor, probe 52 is retracted and the cycle of operation is repeated. When stickiness occurs, a kick-out mechanism operates to clear the blockage and allow continued operation of the mechanism.

Suitable sensor elements are provided along the length of the mechanism and arranged to detect the current situation; such sensors can be used to virtually automate the operation of the machine. For example, if a bar is normally inlet from one throat of the conveyor, but abnormally positioned in another throat spaced apart along the length of the machine, the sensor will detect this fact. The machine is normally programmed to automatically generate a kickout operation to clear the conveyor of abnormally fed bars and permit continued operation of the machine.

A machine incorporating the present invention, in which the probe is arranged to disassemble the bundle and separate small groups of rods from a bundle, is particularly useful for use in decontamination of non-circular stock;
It is also particularly useful for stocks with relatively high width-to-thickness ratios, although the scope of the invention is not limited to preventing clutter in such stocks; provide action.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it should be understood that various changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. It is.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view of the stock confusion prevention device according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is an enlarged partial side view of the probe mechanism showing one of the typical probes in the retracted position, and Figure 3 is an enlarged partial side view of the probe mechanism showing one of the typical probes in the retracted position. Figure 4 shows one of the probes in an extended position separating a small group of rods from a bundle.
Enlarged partial side view similar to figure. 12...Sling 14...Drum 17...Stock 21... Conveyor 22... Inlet end 23... Outlet end
28... Throat 31... Kickout mechanism 4
3...Kickout finger 52...Probe 62...Small group of bars 65...Bar

Claims (14)

[Claims] (1) An apparatus for preventing confusion of bundles of bar stock, comprising conveyor means configured to receive parallel pieces of stock at an inlet end and convey said parallel stock to an outlet end; a supply means operable to position the bundle of rod stock substantially adjacent the inlet end and to separate small groups of rod stock from the bundle and move individual rods into the inlet end; A clutter prevention device for a bundle of rod stock, characterized in that it consists of: 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said separating means includes a probe extending into said bundle and operable to separate said subgroups therefrom. (3) The separating means includes an inclined surface operable to support the small groups of rod stock and move the small groups toward the inlet end. The device described. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein drive means are provided to move said small group of rods from said inclined surface into said inlet end. (5) The bundle is supported by a sling, and the driving means is connected to the sling and operates the sling to raise the bundle with a rolling motion.
The device described in section 4). (6) An apparatus as claimed in claim (5), wherein an ejector is provided to clear bar jams from the conveyor means. (7) The inclined surface allows rectangular bars to be supported on their sides as they move towards the inlet end. equipment. (8) A device for preventing confusion of bundles of bar stock, the conveyor being configured to receive a longitudinal parallel piece of stock at an inlet end and to convey said parallel stock to an outlet end. means and spaced flexible slings supported in spaced positions to provide festunes operable to support a bundle of rod stock, and shortening and lengthening said slings and oriented to parallel positions. length control means operable to raise and lower the bundle with a rolling motion to move the rods; The first and second
a probe driven to actuate between positions; and movement of the probe to the second position while the sling positions a rod substantially adjacent the inlet end supported by the sling. and separating small groups of rods from a stack of rods and directing the small groups of rods toward the inlet end. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the probe includes a surface that slopes downwardly toward the inlet end. (10) the probe includes two angled surfaces, the first surface angled toward the inlet end at a first angle;
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second surface is located between the inlet end and the first angled surface and is angled at a second angle that is greater than the first angle. (11) The length control means includes means, intermediate the probe and the inlet end, operable to move the rod from the inclined surface to the inlet end.
10) The device according to item 10). 12. The means intermediate the probe and the inlet end act to raise the bar as it moves from the inclined surface to the inlet end. equipment. (13) The apparatus according to claim (12), further comprising ejector means for clearing blockages from the conveyor. (14) A method for preventing disorganization of a longitudinal rod stock bundle, the method comprising: rotating said bundle substantially about its longitudinal axis;
moving the bars in a generally parallel relationship; positioning at least an upper portion of the bundle generally adjacent an inlet end of the conveyor; separating a small group of bars from the bundle and moving the small group into the inlet supporting on a surface sloped towards an end; and moving said rods of said small group of rods from said sloped surface to said inlet end in an upwardly sloped direction by mechanical means. A method for preventing confusion in a bundle of bar stocks.