US2146893A - Article handling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 14, 1939. H. R. @TTHARDT 2,146,893. ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS l Filed May 18, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l SWW Feb. 14, l1939. H R. GOTTHARDT 2,146,893

ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS Filed may 18, 195e 2 sheets-shawls 55 25 ze J/ 54 www 2,146.89: i ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS' Henry R. Gotthardt, Louisville, Ky., -alsignor to man Co. Inc., Louisville, Ky., a corporation o! Kentucky Application May 18.1938. serial No. 208.685I

' .9 claims. (ci. 'zu-Lian) 'I'his invention relates -to article handling apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for handling and turning coiled strip steel and the like.

In my prior Patent No. 2,101,738, granted December '7, 1937, I have disclosed a coil handling apparatus particularly adapted for receiving coils of strip steel in a vertical position, turning the coils to a horizontal position and feeding them into an uncoiler. The prior apparatus, generally speaking, comprises 'a pair of sections arranged approximately at right angles to each other with one section being adapted to receive an incoming coil. The two sections are mounted for bodily swinging movement through approximately 90 degrees whereby a coil on the normally horizontal receiving section will be turned with the sections to be supported on the other or discharging section with the latter in approximately a horizontal position. The discharging section is provided with a relatively movable portion adapted tobe tilted to discharge a coil-therefrom to be received in an uncoiler.

In certain instances it is highly desirable to provide a coil handling mechanism loi' the general character referred to which is adapted'to up-end or turn a coil in either direction. In'other words, it is desirable in an apparatus of the general type shown in my prior patent to sometimes use the discharging section as the receiving section to support a coil to be transferred to the other section, normally the receiving section, to be discharged therefrom. Moreover, in such particula'r installations it is customary when placing a coil on one of the sections to transfer it thereto substantially horizontally from a ram truck whereas, in some cases, a coil is placed on the' other section, when the latter is to be used as lthe receiving section, by means of a magnetic crane or the like. Accordingly it frequently occurs that a coil will be placed on the latter section with considerable shock, resulting in damage to the apparatus. 1

It is an important object of the present invention to provide improvements in my prior structure referred to whereby a coil may be received on either section and turned to a position supported on the other section to be discharged therefrom.

A further object is to provide an article handling apparatusV of the character referred to wherein one of the sections is providedwith a portion relatively movable to assist in feeding an article into or from the apparatus as may be desired.

A further object is to provide such an apparatus wherein the relatively movable portion referred to is mounted to turn on a horizontal pivot to slope downwardly toward the other section, when the latter is in approximately vertical position, to assist in feeding an article to the apparatus, or wherein the relatively movable section, under such conditions, may be turned to tilt downwardly away from the other section to assist in discharging an article from the apparatus by gravity.

A further object is to provide an auxiliary conveyor section, cooperating with said relatively movable section, to assist the latter in feeding an article to or from the apparatus.`

A further object is to provide an auxiliary conveyor section having means associated therewith for causing it to assume a position inclined downwardly toward the article turning meansv to assist in feeding an' article thereto, or downwardly away from the article turning means to assist in discharging an articlev therefrom, the conveyor section and the relatively movable section of the coil turning means being capable of assuming corresponding positions whereby each acts with the other in feeding an article to or from the apparatus.

A further object is `to provide means for cushioning the auxiliary conveyor section to absorb shocks incident to the. placing thereon of heavy articles such as coils of strip steel.

A further object is to provide means associated with the tilting means of the auxiliary conveyor for reslliently supporting oneA end of the latter to cushion shocks when heavy articles are placed on the auxiliary conveyor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings I have shownone embodiment of lthe invention. In this showing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus,

Figure 2 is a plan-view,

Figure 3 is a section on line 3--3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a similar' view on line I--l of Figure l,

Figure 5 is a similar view on line 5 5 of Figure 1, and

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view on line 6--6 of Figure 1. v

Referring to the drawings, the numeral i0' designates a pair of spaced parallel supporting frames suitably connected by end frame members il. The side frame members support opposite bearings I2 in which are rotatably mounted axles or shafts i3 carrying flanged wheels i4 at I their ends. The wheels i4 at the right hand side of the apparatusv as viewed in Figure 1 can be mounted on a common axle while the other pair of wheels i4 may be mounted on short shaft sections having their inner ends similarly mounted in bearings i2 carried by supports I0.

An article turning support indicated as a whole by the numeral l5,is adapted to be supported by the wheels il for the purpose o f turning or up-ending articles to be handled by the by any suitable means apparatus. The support Il comm arcuate side plates It. each provided at ripherywithanarcuaterailmember i1 theretoandwiththewheeb cordinglyitwillbeapparentthat asawhole isadaptedtobe Thesupportll article handling and sections catedasawhoiebythenumeralsnandu support reasonably close to the center Il. plates liarecutbackasat22and22andthese 2l and 2| so as not to interfere with articles thereon.

The article handling section 2l comprises a pair of outer horizontal rail members 24 preferably of anglefsection as shown in Figure 5 and member 2l, parallel to the members 24. veyor rollers 21 are arranged between'the rail member 2l and each of the rail members 24. 'Ihe outerendofthesectioncarriesatransverse shaft 2l, such shaft being mounted in bearings 22 (Figure 5) secured to the rail members 24 andtoatransversebracetlextendingbetween the plates I4.

Prom the foregoing it will be apparent that while the section 2l is bodily movable with the support IS when the latter turns on the axis il thesection2lismountedtoturnonthehori zontal axis of the shaft to assume positions inclined slightly downwardly or upwardly with respect to the horizontal when the support Il is in the position shown in Figure 1. This change in angularity is provided in order to assist in moving articles to or from the support. depending upon whether the articles are being fed to the section 2l or are being discharged therefrom.

For the purpose of determining the vertical position o f the i'nner end of the section 2l, when the support ilisinthe positionshowninllgure 1, atransverseshaft Il ismountedinbearingsl! supportedonatransversebracememberextending between and secured to I t. Inwardly of each bearing 22 provided with a cam 24 having pointsllandll. Theshaftt such cams

audace thesection2lacisslmilarlytomovesrticlesintothesupporti,andthereasaisfor thisarrangementwilibeccme Wellb- IheseetionMh'similartotbesecttmnin This gear is used to deliver power the support Iltoturnitbetweenitstwopositionstobereferredto. Tofurnishpowerforthe turningmovement of the support Il, a motor 44 (Figures 1 and 2) is moimted between the side frame members il an'd is provided with a drive shaft 45 coupledtotheinputshaft cfa conventional speed reduction gearing 4l. The out put shaft 48 of the gearing 41 is provided with a gear 4I meshing with the segment gear 48. Accordingly it will be apparent that the motor 44 mayi'idrivenineitherdirectiontoturnthempport An auxiliary conveyor indicated as a whole by the numeral Il is associated with thesection 2l of the support Il. The conveyor It comprises side railsll anda centerbearingbracket l2and a plurality of rollers Il is mounted between the bearingbracketandeachofthesiderailsll. Therailsllmaybeconnectedbycrossmembers Mtowhichthebearingbracketisseeured. The rollers l2 preferably correspond in arrangement to the rollers 21 and form therewith a continuous conveyor, as will become apparait.

Adjacent the inner end of the conveyor I4 a pairofpostsil aremountedonandproiectupwardiy from the side frame members Il (Figure 1) andthesepostsareconnectedbyatransverse brace. Eachpostllearriesabearingll at itsupperendandtheinnerendoftheconveyor section I4 is supported by a horizontal transverse shaft Il mounted in the bearings l1. It will be apparent that the shafts 2l and It which support the section 2l and conveyor I4 are arranged adjacent each other and accordingly the adjacent rollers of the section 2l and conveyor Il remain at approximately the same horizontal position under all conditions.

Apairofshortchannelsectionsl. (Figuresl and4) arearranged onandsecured to theframe members Il at the end thereof remote from the support il. These channel members support s arcanes y f transverse member 66 of channel or suitable cross section and provided with bearing blocks 6I. ing members 62 are arranged above the transverse member 60 and are provided with .depending stems 63 vertically slidable in the blocks 6I and provided with cushioning springs 6I. A

transverse shaft 65 is journaled in the bearing members 62 and is provided adjacent opposite ends with cams66 having high and low points 61 and 68 engageable beneath the lower anges of the side rails 5I. A crank handle 69 is carried by one end of the shaft 65.

'I'he operation of the apparatus is as` follows:

As previously stated, the present apparatus, as distinguished from my prior construction referred to, is adapted to receive an article, such as a coil of strip steel on the section 20, and these turn the support I5 and place the coil on the section 2| to be discharged therefrom, or it may eceive a coil in horizontal positionon the section 2I when the latter is in horizontal position, where- `upon the support may be turned to the position shown in Figure 1 tosupport the coil on and discharge it from the section 2li. Assuming that a coil is to be received on the section 20 to be discharged from the section 2|, the coil will be placed in position on the conveyor 50. When the apparatus is being so employed, each of the cranks 31 and 69 will be rotated 180 degrees from the position shown in Figure 1 whereby the free end of the section-20 will be supported on the low points 36 of the cams 34 while the free endof the conveyor 50 will be supported upon the high points 61 of the cams 66. Accordingly both-the section 20 and conveyor 50 will be inclined downwardly toward the right as viewed in Figure 1, the tops of the conveyor rolls 26 and 53 lying in a common inclined plane.

In the particular type of installation for which the present apparatus is especially intended, it is the common practice to handle the coils by magnetic cranes and the coils are sometimes rather roughly placed in position with accompanying shocks to the parts. With the present construction it will be apparent that the free end of the conveyor 50 is supported by the cushioning springs 64 and when a coil is placed on the rollers of the conveyor 50, the shock incident to the placing of the coil is absorbed by the springs 64, thus protecting any of the parts from injury.

In the particular case being considered the coil f is placed in positionon the rollers 53 in a vertical position, and it readily may be rolled over the rollers 53 and then over the rollers 21 to a position in contact with the rollers 36 of the section 2l. The curved side of the coil will lie against the rollers 38 and, as stated, these rollers form a troughed conveyor for the particular purpose of handling substantially cylindrical articles such as sheet metal coils.

With the coil supported on the rollers 21 and lying against the rollers 33, the motor 64 is started and the gear i9 (Figure 5) will be driven through the reduction gearing. The gear t9 meshes with the segment gear 43, and accordingly the support i5 will be turned to the dotted line position shown in Figure 1 with the section 20 approximately in vertical position and the section 2i approximately in horizontal position. If desired, in order to assist in discharging the article from the section 2l, the latter may be turned slightly beyond a horizontal position to be inclined downwardly and outwardly with respect to the support I5. The coil will lie on its side on the rollers 38, and

may be moved along the rollers to be `discharged from the section 2l.

When it is desired' reverse the previously describedoperation of t e apparatus the parts are moved to the dotted line position shown in Figure `1 with the section 2| arranged horizontally orv slightly above the horizontal to incline the rollers 33 downwardly and inwardly; .The section2I is then ready to receive a coil which ordinarily is placed thereon by means of a ram truck, the coil lying on its side in horizontal position. 'I'he coil is moved over the rollers 36 until the end of the coil contacts the rollers 21, whereupon the motor 44 may be operated to turn the support in a counter-clockwise direction to the solid line position shown in Figure 1.

Under the conditions referred to the section 20 becomes the discharging section of the support, under which conditions it is desired to slope the section 20 and also the conveyor 50 downwardly and outwardly with respect to the support I5. Under such conditions the cranks 31 and 69 will be turned to the positions shown in Figure 1. Therefore, the section 20 will be supported on the high points of the cams 3l while the conveyor 5I will be supported on the low points of the cams 66. With the parts so arranged, the tops of the rollers 21 and 53 will lie in a common plane sloping slightly downwardly and outwardly with respect to the support I5. Accordingly the coil will stand on end on the rollers of the section rollers of the conveyor 50 will facilitate the movement of the coil from the support for delivery as may be desired. y

As previously stated, the shafts 28 and 58 are arranged relatively close together to support the remote ends of the section 20 and conveyor 50 for vertical movement when the support I5 is in the position shown in Figure 1. Whether the section 2li and conveyor 50 slope downwardly and outwardly with respect to the section I5 or downwardly and inwardly with respect to the section I5, the tops of the rollers 21 and 53 in either case will lie approximately in the same horizontal plane and therefore will form, in effeet, a single continuous conveyor which may be used either for feeding articles to the apparatus or for discharging articles therefrom. It will be apparent that the use ofthe conveyor 50 with its cushioning means saves the section 20 from substantial shocks incident to the placing of coils in position by overhead cranes or the like. Accordingly the apparatus is highly eicient for handling strip steel coils in either direction, depending upon the destination and the desired position of the coil. It also will be apparent that the apparatus is relatively simple in construction and is effectively protected against injury from shocks incident to the placing in position of veryv heavy objects such as the coils referred to.

It is to be understood that the formof the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape,.size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutv armas aontalnandmeansforturningsaidsection inadirectionoutwardlywithrespecttosaid on said axisy to cause such section to asume support,andaconveyorsectionmovahlysupport eltheroftwopositionsslordngupwardiyordownedtoassumepositiouinalignment'withand wardlyawayfromtheothersectionwhensaid formingineil'ectacontinuationofsaidportion g othersectionisinverticalpoaition. ofsaidsupport.

articlehandlhigapparatuscompriainga sectionsarrangedetrlsht xivotallysupportingonesectionmahorisontalaxis, ahorizontal shaftspaeediromsaidaxis,

-anglestoeachothenmeansforbodilyturning saidsectionstoturnanarticleandtotransfer upwardly or downwardly away from said other section when the latter is in vertical position.

4. An article handlingapparatus comprising a of sections arranged approximately at right to' each other, means forbodily turning seetionstoturnanarticle andtotransfer the article from one section to the other, means for pivotally supporting one section on a horlzontal axis'sdjacent the edge of such section remote from the other section, ahorizontal shaft arranged adjacent the end of said pivoted section adjacentsaid other section,acamcarried by said shaft and having hlsh and low points engageable with said pivoted section to support the latter tilted in either of two positions inclined upwardly o r downwardly away from said other section when the latter is in vertical position il. An article handling apparatus comprising a support adapted to receive an article. means for swingingaaidsupporttoturnthearticletoa different position with the article supported on a portion of said support, means for supporting said portion for turning movement on a horizontal axis, means for engaging said portion of the support to turn it about said axis to either of two positions inclined upwardly or downwardly in a direction outwardly with respect to said support when the latter is in a predetermined position, and a conveyor section movably supported to assume positions in alignment with and forming in eect a continuation of said portion of said support.

6. An article handling apparatus comprising a support adapted to receive an article, means for swinsinasaid supporttoturnthearticletoa different position with the article supportedV on a portion of said support, means for supporting said portion for turning movement on a horizontal axis, a horizontal rotatable shaft, a cam carried by said shaft and having high and low points selectively engageable with said portion of the support to tilt it upwardly or downwardly igt of sections arranged approximately atright 'LAnarticlehandlingapparatuscomprisinga pairofsections arrangedapproximatelyatright anglestoeachotherandmountedtotmnabout ahorizontalaxisparalleltothdrline ofintersectlontoturnanarticleandtotramferitfrom one section to the other, means for pivotally supporting oneofsaid sections for turningmovementwith respect to ahorizontalaxis'parallel tosaidlineofintersectionandlocatedadjacent the end of the pivoted section remote fran said -line of intersection, a horizontal shaft beneath said pivoted section adjacent the inner end thereof,acamonsaidshaftsaid pivotedsectionto turnitonitsaxis toincline it upwardly or downwardly away from the other section when the latter is in approximately vertical position, and a conveyor section arranged in end to end relation with said pivoted section and pivoted on a' horizontal axis at the end adjacent said pivoted section to assume positions forming a continuation thereof in approximately a common plane therewith.

8. An article handling apparatus comprising a pair of sections arranged approximately at right angles to each other and mounted to turn about a horizontal axis parallel to their line of intersection to turn an article and to transfer it from one section to the other, means for pivotally supporting one of said sections for turning movement with respect to a horizontal axis parallel to said line of intersection and located adjacent the end of the pivoted section remote from said line of intersection, a horizontal shaft beneath said pivoted section adjacent the inner end thereof, a cam on said shaft engaging said pivoted section to turn it on its axis to incline it upwardly or downwardly away from the other section when the latter is in approximately vertical position, a conveyor section arranged in end to end relation with said pivoted section and pivoted on a horizontal axis at the end adjacent said pivoted section to assume positions forming a continuation thereof in approximately a common plane therewith, a horizontal shaft adjacent the outer end of said conveyor section, and a cam carried by said last named shaft constructed and arranged to tilt said conveyor section to either of two positions coinciding with the tilted position of said pivoted section.

9. An article handling apparatus comprising a support formed of a pair of sections arranged approximately at right angles to each other, means for bodily turning said sections to tum an article and to. transfer it from one section to the other, means pivotally supporting one section on a horizontal axis adjacent the end of such section remote from the other section, a conveyor section arranged in end to end relation with 'and pivoted adjacent said pivoted section when said support is in a predetermined position,` and co-related cams engaging the remote ends of said pivoted section and said conveyor section to cause them to assume substantially corresponding angles tothe horizontal to form substantial continuations of each other.

HENRY R. GUI'I'HARDT.

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