US2341793A

US2341793A - Sheet piler

Info

Publication number: US2341793A
Application number: US411502A
Authority: US
Inventors: Keil Walter Michael
Original assignee: Youngstown Foundry and Machine Co
Current assignee: Youngstown Foundry and Machine Co
Priority date: 1939-05-20
Filing date: 1941-09-19
Publication date: 1944-02-15
Anticipated expiration: 1961-02-15

Description

W. M. KEIL SHEET FILER Feb. 15, 1944.

Original Filed May 20, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m M w MICHAEL KEIL w. M. KEIL SHEET FILER Feb. 15, 1944.

Original Filed May 20, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Elma/who'd WALTER MICHAEL KEIL Paiented-Feb. 15, 1944 sneer Walter Michael Keil, Youngstown, Ohio, usilnor to Youngstown Foundry and Machin e Company, Youngstown, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original application May 20, 1989, Serial No.

274,770. Divided and this application September 19, 1941, Serial No. 411,502

l Claims.

This invention relates to an automatic machine tor stacking sheets, plates or similar arti-' cles as they issue i'rom production or finishing I apparatus and more particularly to a machine for the purpose stated which is capable of rapidly stacking highly finished metallic sheets without marring or otherwise injuring the same.

Apparatus for thepurpose stated usually consists 0! a mechanism for conveying the sheets or plates along a generally horizontal path and when the sheets or plates have reached a predetermined position along the path, the supporting devices are withdrawn to allow the sheet or plate to fall onto a stack or pile positioned below the horizontal path of travel. The present invention is concerned only with the support for the stack or pile as capable of adaptation to a sheet piling machine employing any suitable means for supporting the sheets for travel along a horizontal path and to drop the sheets when the proper position is reached. In co-pending application, Serial No. 274,770, filed May 20, 1939, now D. S. Patent No. 2,257,469, dated September 30, 1941, of which the present application is a division, an improved arrangement for supporting, moving and dropping the sheets is disclosed and claimed and the improved stack supporting arrangement of the present application is illustrated as being used in combination therewith.

Heretofore it has been common practice to position a truck or other wheeled support beneath the dropping point of the sheet piling mechanism and the sheets were allowed to accumulate thereon until the desired number or load was reached, after which the truck or other support waswithdrawn and an empty truck or support substituted. Since the desired stack or pile may be of substantial depth, the sheets falling first onto the truck or support have a substantial length of fall and some become damaged as they reach the support or pile under impact. Also, when the distance of fall is great, it is dimcult to maintain the horizontal alignment of the sheets since the sheets have a tendency to incline and move horizontally as they fall. It is accordingly the primary object of the invention to provide in a sheet piling assembly a durable mechanism for supporting the pile of sheets accumulated in such manner that the distance of fall may be kept to in accordance with the invention by mounting the table or immediate support for the pile on a rugged and durable mechanism which is operative to lower the table or support, either automatically or manually as the pile of sheets accumulates. In this manner the sheet on the top of the pile may be always maintained a substantially uniform interval below the sheet dropping mechanism.

' A further object of the invention is to facilitate the removal of a completed'pile from below the dropping mechanism of the piling machine while reducing the amount of attention and labor required on the part of the machine'operator and the amount of subsequent handling of the pile. This is accomplished in accordance with the invention by employing a pivotally mounted table or other immediate support for the pile which a minimum and maintained substantially equal at both the beginning and the, end of formation of a pile of sheets. In this manner the probability of damage to the sheets is greatly minimized and the maintaining of the required alignment is iacilitated. This obiect is accomplished operates automatically in such manner that when in elevated or sheet receiving position, it lies substantially in a horizontal plane but when moved to lowermost or run-out position, it automatically assumes an inclined position whereby the completedv pile of sheets is automatically moved out of the machine by gravity. To this end the pile supportis provided with a series of rolls and is constructed similarly to a run-out table. It is common practice to support a sheet pile on a pair of longitudinally extending blocks or sleepers and in the preferred embodiment of the invention, a pairol spaced parallel roller tables is employed, one for each of the blocks to provide the immediate support for the pile of sheets.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a simply constructed arrangement for aligning the sheets as they accumulate on the pile, which aligning device is operative as the pile is lowered,

as explained above, but which, nevertheless, is

readily removable to enable the pile to roll out of the machine upon its completion.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed specification and the accompanying drawings wherein there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a, sheet piling apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of the apparatus of Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a plan view of the pile support of the apparatus of Figure 1.

The apparatus of the invention, in its preferred and illustrated embodiment, comprises a base constructed of structural steel members l8 and extending upwardly from the base are a plurality of supporting columns ll. Columns II are arranged to support the sheet moving and dropping mechanism and for this purpose, cross beams l2 are mounted on the columns. As indicated in Figures 1 and 2, cross beams l2 slldably support a pair of longitudinally extending endless chain supports I3, one on either side of the path of travel of the sheets throughout the machine. The chains l4 are entrained over driven sprockets l5 and idler sprockets l6 and are provided with a multiplicity of spaced hangers l1, to each of which is pivoted a sheet supporting finger l8. Each of the fingers I8 is provided with an attached roller l9 and the operation of the assembly is such that as the fingers, during their orbital movement, enter the sheet supporting reach of their path of travel, the rollers 19 engage a cam surface 20 to move the fingers I8 to sheet supporting position. As the fingers traverse the. inner reaches of their paths, rollers l9 move along bars 21 to maintain the fingers in sheet supporting positions. When a particular sheet has advanced to its proper dropping position, bars 2| are removed from behind rollers l9 thereby allowing fingers l8 to rotate downwardly, thus withdrawing suddenly all support of the sheet. This mechanism is shown and described more fully in the above mentioned co-pending application and is only schematically shown herein, since it forms no essential part of the invention which is the subject matter of the present application. It should be apparent as the description proceeds that other specific constructions for moving, supporting and dropping the sheets may be employed in conjunction with the structure of the present invention.

In addition to the sheet supporting, moving and dropping mechanism as outlined above, the complete sheet piling device includes some means for supportingthe stack or pile of sheets. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, this additional mechanism comprises a pair of laterally extending but longitudinally spaced saddles 23, each of which is provided with a boss 24 at each end. Bosses 24 are bored and threaded vertically to have screw-threaded connection with the vertically extending screws 25. The latter are rotatably mounted in gear boxes 26. Within each of the boxes 26 is a, gear (not shown) keyed to the screw and meshing with a second gear (not shown) keyed to a horizontally extending shaft 21. The shafts 21 on one side of the machine are simultaneously driven from a. reduction gear 28, while the shafts 21 on the other side of the machine are simultaneously driven from a reduction gear 29. A motor 38 drives the reduction gears 28 and 29 in unison through coupling 3| and transverse connecting shaft 32. The screw driving mechanism thus described is assembled in such manner that rotation of motor 30 in one direction will elevate both saddles 23 evenly, while rotation of the motor in the opposite direction will lower the saddles in unison.

As indicated in Figure 1, each of the saddles 23 is provided with a transversely extending groove 34 in its upper surface. Extending longitudinally and spanning the longitudinally spaced saddles 23 are two transversely spaced run-out tables 35 which consist of structural side members 36 and rollers 31 journaled therein. Welded or otherwise suitably secured to the lower surface of the structural members 36 are transversely extending lugs or projections 38 which are adapted to be received in the grooves 34 of the saddles 23; When the tables 35 are in elevated or sheet receiving positions, the grooves 34 in both saddles are engaged and the tables 35 are in horizontal position. As the tables are lowered, however, by rotation of the screws 25, one of their ends comes to rest on a transversely extending abutment 48 which is mounted on a beam 4| supported on certain of the structural members ll! of the base. The other ends of the table, however, continue their downward movement and the tables are thus caused to be inclined and the accumulated pile of sheets will move out of the machine by gravity. Referring to Figure 2, it will be noted that the pile of sheets designated by reference numeral 42 rests on blocks or sleepers 43 which are placed on the rolls 31 before the piling operation is begun. The sheet piles coming off the tables 35 may pass onto other conveying equipment as the plant may be provided with.

Suitable means may be employed to align the sheets horizontally as the same fall onto the pile 42 and this may include either fixed or oscillating guides, the latter of which move inwardly to align each succeeding sheet as it falls onto the pile. In the embodiment illustrated, the sheets are aligned longitudinally by a pair of transversely spaced oscillating guides 45 which are keyed to a transversely, extending shaft 48 journaled in bearings 41 secured to certain of the columns I I. Shaft 46 is arranged to be rocked by an air cylinder 48 which is coupled with a lever 49, also keyed to the shaft 46. Guides 45 are positioned opposite a normally fixed guide 68 which is carried by the block 5| slldably mounted on a bar 52 extending between the two tables 35. Block 5| is arranged to be adjusted along bar 52 and locked in selected position to accommodate sheets of different lengths. Further, guide 59 is pivotally mounted in a slot in block 5| so that moved to the piling machine by the plant conveyor, not shown, are first supported and moved to proper position by the fingers I8 and then allowed to fall onto the supporting blocks 43. Cylinder 48 is actuated either manually or automatically to move the sheet against the fixed guide 50, after which the oscillating, guide 45 is retracted to .allow the next sheet to fall freely onto the preceding sheet. It should be observed that by reason of the elevated position of the blocks 43, the sheets fall but a short distance and thus are not subjected to damaging impacts. Also, the sheets do not move far out of their desired horizontal position and, therefore, the sheets of the pile may be neatly aligned with a minimum of sliding movement between the respective sheets. It should be understood that, if desired, suitable fixed or moving guides may also be provided to engage the side edges of the sheets in the pile. As the sheets accumulate on the pile, the motor 36 is energized under either manual or automatic control to lower the tables 35 as the pile builds up.

It should now be apparent that I have provided an improved assembly for supporting, guiding and moving the piles of sheets in a sheet piling machine, which accomplishes the objects initially set out. The interval between the top of the pile and the sheet dropping mechanism is substantially constant and at a minimum, thereby reducing the probability of injury to the stock and facilitating the aligning of the sheets in the pile. The aligning mechanism is operative either while the pile is at rest or is moving downwardly and when the pile is moved to lowermost position, it assumes an inclined position and will roll out of the machine by gravity. These are the essential broader characteristics of the invention and, therefore the above specifically described embodiment should be considered as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. Reference should therefore be had to the appended claims in determining the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a sheet piling apparatus having a pair of horizontally spaced parallel conveyors to engage and support the opposite side portions of metal sheets to thereby move the sheets in succession along a predetermined path and means to withdraw said support as the sheets reach a predetermined position immediately above the location of the pile to be formed; means to support said sheets as they fall comprising a runout table, a vertically movable frame supporting said table, means to lower said frame as the sheets accumulate on said table, said frame comprising a pair of longitudinally spaced laterally extending saddles positioned below the level of said conveyors, a vertically extending screw at each end of said saddles and having screw threaded connection therewith, said table spanning said saddles and having pivotal connection with one of said saddles. means to rotate said screws in unison, and an abutment ad- Jacent the other saddle to limit the downward movement of the adjacentcnd of said table whereby the table is moved to inclined position as the saddles reach their lowermost positions.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising in combination two longitudinally spaced pairs of vertically extending screws, the screws of each pair being laterally spaced, each of said pairs supporting and having screw-threaded connection with a laterally extending saddle, means to rotate said screws simultaneously whereby said saddles may be raised or lowered in unison, a longitudinally extending run-put table supported on said saddles, and means to limit the downward movement of one end of said table whereby said table is moved to an inclined position as it approaches its lowermost position upon rotation in one direction of said screws. i

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 further including a retractable stop extending upwardly from adjacent one end of said run-out table, and an oscillating member positioned adjacent the opposite end of said table to engage the sheets falling onto saidtable to align the same against said stop.

4. Apparatus of the character described comprising in combination two longitudinally spaced pairs of vertically extending screws, the screws of each pair being spaced laterally and having screw threaded connection with a laterally extending saddle, a longitudinally extending sheet pile support carried on said saddles and adapted to be raised and lowered by rotation of said screws, means to rotate said screws in unison comprising a motor, a pair of spaced speed reducing mechanisms aligned with said motor and adapted to be driven thereby. inwardly directed shafts coupled with two of said screws and with the output shaft of one of said mechanisms, and inwardly directed shafts coupled with the other of said screws and the output shaft of the other of said mechanisms.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 further characterized in that said sheet pile support comprises a run-out table. and means to limit the downward movement of one end of said table whereby the same will be caused to assume an inclined position as it reaches its lowermost position.

WALTER mcnam. Km