US2137478A - Sheet mill piler - Google Patents

Description

A. G DELANY Nav.. 22, 1938.

` SHEET MILL PILER Filed April 18, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS Nov.. 2, 1938.

y SHEET MILL PILER Filed April 18, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 \NVENTQR RG Dehny.

RTTURNEY Nov. 22, 1938. A. G. vlnx-:LAMY 2,137,478

SHEET MILL PILER Filed April 18, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR AT1-ORN EYE,

Nov. 22, 1938.

SHEET MILL PILER Filed April 18, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 -Z\ HLN L.. M m ,H

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ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 22,1938

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE N,

SHEET MILL HEER Albanus G. Delany, Gadsden, Ala., assigner, by

mesne assignments, to Republic Steel Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of New Jersey Application April 18, 1936, Serial No. 75,094

19A claims.

rocable pilers, to bring the sheets into the requisite alignment for the formation of the desired stack on the piler transfer table.

One distinctive feature of my invention is the provision on opposite sides of the receiving b'ed for the sheets to be stacked of oppositely movable piler heads which are reciprocated back and forth in synchronism by yieldable chain drives.

A further distinctive feature of my invention is to provide an automatic mechanism, responsive to the delivering of the sheet packs to the piler mechanism, and to the movements of the pliers, to control their reciprocation. f

A further distinctive feature is the provision, as a partE of the circuit controller mechanism for the pilers, of a delayed or slow acting circuit `closing switch which-prevents the reciprocatlon of the pliers responsive to the ydelivery of each packof sheets, as they normally come too rapidlyl from the shears to permit of the pliers recipro eating once for each pack, it being quite sufficient if they are reciprocated automatically at suitably timed intervals during the delivery of the sheet packs, or if one is thus caused to reciprocate and have relativemovement to the other.

My invention further comprises a novel ar rangement of'the piler guides'and of the reversible drive for reciprocating the pliers. in synchronism with a compression spring interposed in the drive to provide a yielding and shock absorbing drive for the pilers effective for both directions of travel.

More particularly, my invention comprises receiving the sheet stacks from pinch rolls on the shear table onto a lower table in position lbetween a pair of laterally reciprocable pilers which have roller bearings and, near each end, are connected to reversibly driven chains through compression or cushioning springs so ,interposed as to absorb the shock of the pliers when they engage the stacked stock and, if desired, when they are stopped at the end of. their return or idle stroke, suitable switch means being provided 50 under control of the stock and of the pliers themselves to effect their automatic operation at suitably timed intervals While stock is being fed between them.

The objects of my invention and the novel features of its construction are hereinafter more particularly described and claimed, reference be-V ing had to the `accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing an end cutting shear and its table for delivering packs of 5. sheets to the piler shown in outline only, and a table to carry o the piled stock.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the plier mechanism taken on the line III-III of Fig. 1. 10

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2 omitting any showing of the transfer table for carrying away the. stacked sheets from the piler.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3. l y 15 Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line V-V of Fig. 4. y f

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic layout of the wiring circuits and switches for the control of the piler.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

I have shown my invention associated with an adjustable end shear I0 for sheet packs I I which are delivered from the shear rolls onto a suitable chain table I2 by means of which they are conducted to a pair of pinch rolls, I3 and I4 having a suitable motor driven chain drive generally` designated by the numeral I5. The sheet packs in'their passage to the said pinch rolls engage and throw the trip I6 for a flag switch, the trip only being shown in Fig. 1. The pinch rolls deliver the sheet packs successively onto the chain transfer table of the plier mechanism, which table may be of any suitable design but is shown as comprising rolls I'I, driving chains I8 for the rolls, and spaced side angle bearings I9 for the rolls, and suitable roll driving sprockets 20.

The rolls comprise removable end sleeves 2| topermit the mounting of the sprockets 20 which are engaged by the chains I8 thereby to drive 40 the rolls. yThe chains have driving sprockets 22 driven through the chains 23 by the drive mech` anisrn 24 comprising the motor 25. It is understood that any suitable transfer table may be used for delivering the sheared sheets to the piler 45 and for carrying away the stacked sheets from the piler.

The level of the piler table rolls I1 is substantially below that of the pinch rolls I3 and the requisite number of stacks of sheets can be read- 50 ily delivered by these pinch rolls into stacked relation on the piler table. The piler mechanism acts on the sheet packs that are pushed onto the rolls I1 and comprises a pair of duplicate transversely reciprocable pilers 26 which will now be 55 described by reference particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the description of one applying to both.

The vertical piler face plate has its sheet receiving end edge flared outwardly at "21 and its oupper edge similarly flared at 28. I connect to each plate on its outer side two parallel housings, each comprising aV pair of spaced triangular shaped vertical plates 23 disposed normal to the face plate and suitably bolted together with interposed sp'acer sleeves. Each housing is connected to its respective piler face plate in any suitable manner, such as by the provision of vertical angles 30 along their junction with the piler plate and with horizontal gusset plates or braces 3l.

As shown in Fig. 5, the lower ends of the side plates 29 of each housing are connected together by bolts 32, the upper bolts carrying spacer sleeves 39 between its rollers. Track and roller supports,

33 engaging the side plates and the lower bolts carrying shorter sleeves 34 interposed between the side anges of a bracket 35. The outer ends of the several bolts near each end of the housing pass through an opposed pair of bearing plates 36 and bolt them to the housing with their lower ends depending below the housing and slottedy so as to be slipped down over the ends of an axle 31. Nuts 38 are screwed on the ends of each axle 31 and clamp it to the lower end of the bearing plates, an interposed spacer bearing sleeve 33 being mounted on each axle 31 and having mounted thereon a pair of oppositely bevelled rollers 40. By removing either of the nuts 38, the roller mountings can be readily detached from the several housings for repair or replacement.

The rollers 40 havel their inwardly tapering treads engaging the base 4I of a track rail, the web of which is cut away except at the outer track end 42 where the web and tread present a stop for the housing by engaging an axle bearing such as described, are provided for each housing of each piler plate and the tracks are suitably supported by chairs 43 elevated above the base platform 44 of the piler. These chairs, shown more clearly in Fig. 4, raise the track into position for the lower flight of 'a drive chain 45 to pass alone thereunderand about an idler sprocket 46, suitably journalled at the outer-edge of the frame, and about a driving sprocket 41 fast on a drive shaft 48 journalled in suitable bearings 49 under the roll bed between the pilers.

Each end of each drive chain 45 is secured to a head 50 oi a pin 5I which is slidable through the transverse web 62 of its respective bracket 35 and works in a sleeve or housing 63 having a coil spring 54 that bears at one end against the web 52 and at the other end against a nut 55 screwed on the outer end of the rod and movable freely through the housing 53. This arrangement being identical for both ends of the two driving chains for each piler, it follows that for-each direction of motion imparted by the chains to the pilers, a shock absorbing unit is provided to take up the jar resulting from their opposed impact against the stacked sheets to be piled on their inner or working stroke and their engagement with the track stops 42 at the completion of their outer or return stroke.

As will be seen more clearly in Fig. 3, one shaft 48 has fast thereon the sprockets 41 for driving the two operating chains 45 for the right hand piler anda similar shaft 48 is provided for the sprockets controlling the two drive chains 46 for the left hand piler. T'hese shafts 48 are journalled in spaced bearings 43 and are geared to rotate in unison reversely by means of the meshing gears 66. 'I'he right hand shaft 48 has a double sprocket 51 mounted fast thereon adjacent to a bearing 58. A double drive chain for this sprocket leads outwardly under the right hand piler plate to the double sprocket 60 fast on a drive shaft 6 l, that has suitable bearings 62, both mounted. on the piler bed and it carries at its end opposite the sprocket 60 a large gear 63 within a housing 64, which gear meshes a small driving gear 65 fast on the shaft of a reversible motor 66.

When' the motor is driven in one direction it will, through the driving elements described, cause the several chains 45 to pull the pilers together until they engage the side edges of the piled stock resting on the roll bed l1 between them and align the side edges of the stacked sheet packs. When the motor 66 is reversed, the chains 45 will pull the pilers apart. While the pilers may be thus operated very effectively by manually operated switch control of the motor 66, I contemplate an automatic control for this motor which will now be described.

Referring to Fig. 6, the diagrammatic layout of the switches and circuits will be best understood by relating the same to the pilers shown both in side elevation and in plan so that the response of the switches both to stock control and piler control may be better understood. The trip I6, which is actuated by the passage of sheet packs il to the pinch rolls I3 and i4, is held in upright position by any suitable means, such as a spring 10, and when it is tripped with a counterclockwise motion by the passing stock, it acts through the links 1l and 12 to move a single blade switch 13 to open contacts 13a and close contacts 13b. One of the pilers 26 carries a trip element 14 which, when the pilers are fully retracted, engages a pivoted` switch arm 15 and opens contacts 15a.

The power leads P and N to the piler control circuits are given a plus and minus mark and, under control of the double blade forwarding switch 16 and the double blade reversing switch 11, pass current to the motor 66 to reversibly drive same and reciprocate the pilers 26. These switches 16 and 'l1 are actuated by their respective control magnets 16a and 11a and the circuits which they control will be described in connection with the operation of the apparatus.

I provide a five blade switch 18 controlled by its respective magnet 18a, also a three blade switch 19 controlled by its respective magnet 19a. The switches 16 to 19 are what may be termed quick action electrically operated switches and they may be of any suitable design.

I provide a slow-acting single blade switch 80 adapted to alternately close the contacts 88a or h responsive to the action of its respective magnet 80o as modified by the effect of a dash pot 8| which is adapted to produce the desired slow or retarded action for this switch.

The diagrammatic layout shows the circuit connections between the contacts controlled by the several switches and the motor 66, and the circuits as they are closed will now be traced throughout a complete cycle of operation of the pilers.

With the trip I6 standing in the idle position shown, switches 16, 11 and 19 stand with all contacts open; switch 80 stands with contacts 80h closed; switch 13 stands with the contacts 13a closed; switch 18 stands with contacts 18h, 18o and 18d open and contacts 18e and 18f closed; and switch 16 stands with contacts 15a g 19h holds the magnet 19a, energized. When the flag switch trip I6 is released by the passing pack of sheets, it opens contacts 13b and closes f contacts 13a and will establish a circuit to energize the motor 66 and drive the pilers on their inward or working stroke, as follows: P-5, magnet 16a, across closed contacts 183 and 19d, P-B, contacts 13a, to N-I. The completion of this circuit closes all contacts controlled by switch 16 so that current then flows from P-5 across the upper contacts controlled by switch IB and line P-I to the motor `Iil, returning by line N- across the lower contacts controlled by switch I6 and line N-4 to line N-I. The motor will respond, driving the pilers on their working or inward travel. At the same time magnet 80e becomesl energized by the 4circuit P-I, magnet 80e, P--r8, contacts 19o, P-G, contact 63a to N-I.

The switch 80, being of the hesitating or slowaction type will open contacts 80h and move slowly towards position to close the contacts 80a. This slow action allows ample time for motor G6 to drive the pilers through their full working stroke.- When contacts 80a close. the following circuit is established;P-I', P-8, contacts 15a. magnet ita, contacts 80a to line N-I, thereby raising switch i3, closing its contacts lb. 'itc and .'ld and opening its contacts 18e and llif. This switch 'IIB forms its own holding circuit P W, "Ia, and closed contacts 'itc to line N-I. When contacts 'lili open the magnet 'lIa is de-energized, opening the forward driving switch It and contacts 'ltd are closed so that current flows through the circuit P-l, P-8. contacts 15a, P-Wmagnet lilla, contacts ltd to the line N-I. and passes current in a reverse direction through motor lit so as to move the pilers outwardly on their return stroke. At the same time switch |19 drops due to the breaking of the circuit to its magnet 19a', by the opening of contacts 78e. The motor tti continues to run in reverse until the pilers open fully when the trip 'M will strike switch 'it and open contacts Iba, de-energizing magnets 'l'ia and Ita and dropping switches v'lll and it which cuts out the motor and opens contacts 'ib to de-'energize magnet Mc and start the switch til to drop slowly towards its position for closing contacts tmb. vDuring the time switch tl] is dropping and switches 'it and 'i9 stand open, the pilers remain inactive. When switch Bil iinally closes contacts till) the apparatus is reset forithe same cycle to commence as soon as a pack of sheets III moves the trip It to close contacts Ithand lock switch I9 closed.

During each cycle of switch control operations, it is contemplated that a number of packs II may pass over the trip Iii, the number being largely determined by the rate of delivery of the packs to the table It and the time required for the switch 80 to operate. Thus I obtain automatic switch=control which always starts the cycle in timed relation to a passing pack without reciprocating the pilers more rapidly or fre-` vquently than good practice may indicate.

As the packs are pushed by the pinch rolls I3.

This closes reversing switch 'il' I4 between the pilers they fall more or less naturally into a pile or stack 85 resting on the rolls I1 of the piler table which at the time arev sired number of sheets, when a switch is thrown to energize motor 25 and drive the piler table rolls I1 by the chains I8 in a direction to carry oi the pile of sheets for further treatment.

The yielding naturel of the chain and spring drive for the pilers will avoid damaging the sheets and yet will have the power to adjust them to proper position.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specically set forth in the appended` claims.

What I claim is:

1`. The combination with a piler transfer table, of delivery means to feed sheared sheets onto the piler table, opposed pilers oppositely reciprocablev in synchronism toward and from sheets piled on said table, a yieldable drive for actuating said pilers, means responsive to the delivery of sheets for inaugurating the working stroke of the pilers automatically, means to reverse the pilers drive, and means responsive to the return travel' of the pilers to stop them at the completion of a reciproca'ing cycle.

2. A piler mechanism according to claim 1, in combination with means to control the elapsed time in each cycle independently of the delivery of sheets to said table.

3. A piler mechanism comprising means for delivering a sequence of sheet packs, a table tol receive the sheet packs, a motor control element responsive to the passage of sheet packs to the piler table, oppositely reciprocable pilers on each side of said piler table, a motor drive for reciprocating the pilers oppositely in synchronism through a working cycle, means to start the pilers on a cycle responsive to the operation of said motor control element, means to stopthe pilers at the completion of a cycle, and means to render the passage of sheet packs ineffective to inuence the operation of the pilersY during a working cycle.

4. A piler mechanism comprising means for de livering a sequence of sheet packs, a piler table to receive the sheet packs, a motor control ele- ,1n/ent responsive to the passage of sheet packs to the .piler table, oppositely reciprocable pilers on each side oi said piler table, a motor drive for reciprocating the pilers in synchronism through a working cycle, means to start the pilers on a cycle responsive to the operation of said motor control element, means to stop the pilers at the nism through a working cycle, means to start the pilers on a cycle responsive to the passing of a sheet pack, means to stop the pilers at the completion of a working cycle, means to render the passage of sheet packs ineffective to influence the pilers during a working cycle, and means effective in each working cycle of the pilers to control the time intervals elapsing between the start of their working stroke, the start of their return stroke and 'the completion of the wol-ing cycle.

6. The combination with a piler having a transfer table adapted to receive sheet packs, of means to feed the sheet packs thereto, a reciprocable piler, means to drive it inwardly to engage and shape the sheet pile, means to return the piler to initial position, means responsive to the passage of a sheet pack to start the piler on its working stroke, and means independent of the passage of sheet packs to time the reversal of the piler and its restoration to the control of the sheet packs.

'7. In a piler, the combination with a sheet support, means to feed sheets onto the support, oppositely reciprocable pilers movable in synchronism into engagement with the sheets stacked on said support, a reversible electric motor drive comprising yieldable' connections to actuate the pilers on their working stroke, means responsive to the delivery of sheets to the piler to start said motor to moving the pilers on their working stroke, and means adapted to interpose a time delay in the reversal of the motor drive to return the pilers to initial position, said means being adapted to interpose a time delay in the restoring of the motor drive to the control of the sheets for inauguration of another cycle of operation.

8. In a piler, the combination with a sheet support, means to feed sheets onto the support, oppositely reciprocable pilers movable in synchronism into engagement with the sheets stacked on said support, a reversible electric motor drive comprising yieldable connections to actuate the pilers on their Working and return strokes, stop means to arrest the return stroke of the pilers, means responsive to the delivery of sheets to the piler to start said motor to moving the pilers on their working stroke, and means adapted to inter- `pose a time delay in the reversal of the motor drive to return the pilers to initial position, said means being adapted to interpose a time delay n the restoring of the motor drive to the control of the sheets for inauguration of another working cycle.

9. ln combination, means to convey sheet packs to a piler receiving table, a switch adapted to be thrown and released by the passing' packs, oppositely reciprocable pilers movable into and out of engagement with the sheets piled on said table, a reversible motor for drivingsaid pilers, circuit connections closable bysaid switch to start the pilers only from initial position on a working stroke, automatic switch means for selectively closing and holding closed said circuits for a predetermined time interval during the working and return Vstrokes of the pilers, and means to stop the. motor and restore it to the control oi' the first mentioned switch and to hold said switch iny effective during the working cycle of the pilers.

10. A piler mechanism according to claim 9, in which the support for the sheet stack is a transfer table having a drive means to adapt it to carry off the nished piles of sheets from the piler. I

I11. A piler mechanism comprising a sheet support, pilers on opposite sides of said table, piler supports and guides therefor upon which the pilers are reciprocable, drive chains for the pilers having yieldable connections at each end to the piler supports, a common reversible drive means for said chains adapted to move the pilersl oppositely in synchronism through al working cycle, and means to control the elapsed time involved in such work cycle. v

12. A piler mechanism comprising a sheet support, pilers on opposite sides of said table, piler supports and guides therefor upon which the pilers are reciprocable, drive chains for the pilers having yieldable connections at each end to the piler supports, a reversible electric motor for driving said chains to move the pilers opposltely in synchronism through a working cycle, and means .to control the elapsed time involved in such work cycle, comprising a. quick action starting switch controlled by the feed of sheets to the piler, a quick action lstop switch controlled by the pilers to stop their return drive, a delayed action control switch means operable automatically and adapted to determine the elapsed time for the piler working cycle, and means under-control of said switches for supplying current to energize said electric motor.

13. A piler for metallic sheets, comprising a rtable adapted to receive the sheets to be piled,

opposed reciprocable pilers for periodically engaging and shaping the sheets piled on said support, tracks upon which said pilers are movable, a pair of chains for each piler` having at each end a spring connection to a piler for yieldably driving it in both directions, means reversibly driven by a. motor for moving the pilers opposltely and in synchronism through their work cycle, and means automatically responsive to the feed of sheets and to the return movement of the pilers to effect and control their reciprocation automatically.

14. A piler for metallic sheets comprising a table adapted to receive the sheets to be piled, opposed reciprocable pilers for periodically engaging'and shaping the sheets piled on said support, tracks upon which said pilers reciprocate,v

a pair of chains for each piler having at each end a spring connection to the piler to yieldably drive them in both directions, means reversibly driven by a motor for moving the pilers oppositely and in synchronism through a work cycle, means automatically responsive to the feed of sheets and to the return movement of the pilers to effect their reciprocation automatically, and means to render the pilers unresponsive to the passagev of sheets during their work cycle.

15. A piler lmechanism comprising a transfer table,v oppositely reciprocable pilers at the receiving end of said table, means to feed sheets onto said receiving end of said table, means responsive to the feed of sheets to drive the pilers through a work cycle in which' they move oppositely into and out of engagement `with the piled l sheets, and means to drive said transfer table to carry ci the completed pile of sheets.

16. A piler mechanism comprising a sheet support, piler elements on opposite sides of said support, at least one' of said pilers being reciprocable, guides for the reciprocable piler, a chain drive for the reciprocable piler having a yieldable connection at each end tothe piler, a reversible drive for said chain, and means .to control the elapsed time involved in a work cycle of the reciprocable piler.

17. A sheet metal piler, comprising a support adapted to receive the sheets to be piled, conveyor means to deposit the sheets so as to form a pile on saidsupport, reciprocable piler means on opposed sides of said support, yieldable drive i elements for each of said piler means, means by which each of said piler means is caused to, engage opposed edges of the piled sheets to arrange them, and means responsive to the passage of sheets to be piled over said conveyor means for producing operating cycles of said piler drives.

` 18. A sheet metal piler, comprising a support, means to deliver a sequence of sheets to form a pile on said support, c'oacting reciprocable piler means on opposite sides of said support, means to produce movement of the piler means in opposite directions to yieldably compress the piled sheets between them, and means automatically responsive to the passage of sheets toward the pile toactuate said piler means.

19. A sheet metal piler comprising a support to receive a pile of sheets, conveyor means to deposit the sheets so as to form a pile on said support, coacting piler means on opposed sides of said support, means to reciprocate at least one of said piler means to even up the pile of sheets between them, timing means to control the periodic functioning of said reciprocating means, means to actuate said timing means responsive to the'passage of sheets over said conveyor, and means to stop said reciprocating means at the conclusion of an operating cycle.

.ALBANU S G. DELANY.

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