US2374174A

US2374174A - Apparatus for piling metallic sheets

Info

Publication number: US2374174A
Application number: US462997A
Authority: US
Inventors: Buccicone Dario
Original assignee: Carnegie Illinois Steel Corp
Current assignee: Carnegie Illinois Steel Corp
Priority date: 1942-10-22
Filing date: 1942-10-22
Publication date: 1945-04-24
Anticipated expiration: 1962-04-24

Description

April 24, 1945. D. BucclcoNE 2,374,174 l v APPARATUS FOR FILING METALLIC SHEETS Filed Oct. 22, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 l0 IG INVENTOR 0A/W0 50cc/GONE,

April 24, 1945. D. BUCClCONE 2,374,174

APPARATUS FOR FILING METALLIC SHEETS Filed Oct. 22, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR DA /P/o 50cc/GONE,

April 24, 1945. D. BucclcoNE APPARATUS FOR FILING METALLIC SHEETS Filed OCT.. 22, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTR 0,4/9/0 50cc/GONE, A

April 24, 1945. D. BucclcoNE 2,374,174

APPARATUS 4FOR FILING METALLIC SHEETS Filed oct. 2.2, 1942 4 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR 24R/0 .50cc/GONE,

Patented Apr. 24, 1945 APPARATUS FOR. PILING METALLIC SHEETS Dario Buccicone, Gary, Ind., assignor to Carnegie- Illinois Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application October 22, 1942, Serial No. 462,997

3 Claims.

This invention relates to the piling of metallic sheets and particularly to an improved apparatus for and method of piling the same.

In the steel industry it has been a diilicult problem to pile metallic sheets mechanically in a rapid and ecient manner without damaging the same, especially the larger size sheets. Heretofore, various types of pilers and conveyors have been suggested and used for piling such sheets but they were unsatisfactory for the reason that they tended to scratch or bend the sheets which of course was undesirable. scratching, bending or otherwise damaging the sheets, it was impossible in the pilers heretofore suggested and used to discard substandard or damaged sheets without stopping the piler or conveyor system and manually removing such tion, and at the same time apparatus which is easy and convenient to use.

It is a more specic object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for piling metallic sheets wherein the sheets are held in a suspended position by a magnetic means, conveyed to a predetermined point while held in such suspended position and dropped and guided to a point therebelow so that the sheets are neatly piled one on top of the other, thereby avoiding any danger of scratching and bending of the sheets.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an improved apparatus for and method of piling metallic sheets wherein the sheets can be continuously conveyed to any predetermined point and dropped therefrom so as to be piled one on top of the other, so that the standard sheets can be separated from the substandard sheets While the sheets are being conveyed.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for piling metallic sheets wherein relatively large sheets can be piled thereby as well as relatively `small sheets, thereby providing apparatus which is extremely ilexible in its use.

In addition to A Various other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent during the course of the following specification and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown, for the purpose of illustration, one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the improved sheet piling apparatus of my invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the same;

Figure 3 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a vertical section through one of the magnets in the rear end of my improved apparatus;

Figure 6 is a vertical section similar to Figure 5 through one of the magnets in the front end of my apparatus; and

Figure 7 is a wiring diagram showing how the magnets and switches are connected in the electrical circuit.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a conventional type roller conveyor 2 having rollers 3 and which is supported by legs 4. This conveyor is positioned preferably at the end of the flying shear line from which the metallic sheets are cut to length and delivered therefrom in a. manner well known to those in the steel industry. v

According tothe presentv invention, there is arranged at a spaced distance above therller conveyor 2, a pair oi spaced apart rows 5 of electro-magnets G. The magnets 6 in each of the rows 5 are spaced from each other preferably by means of spacing members 1. 'Ihe spacer members 1 and magnets 6 are connected to each other so as to'provide a longitudinally extending rigid unit or row of magnets. The two rows or units 5 are supported preferably by a pair of overhanging arms 8 and the arms are in turn supported preferably by a pair of upwardly extending structural or I-beam members 9 arranged to one side of the roller conveyor 2. Below the roller conveyor 2 there is arranged preferably a movablebase member I0 which supports the upwardly iextending I-beam members 9. The base I0 is preferably mounted on wheels or rollers I2 for moving the base together with the magnets away from the roller conveyor when it is desired not to use the same.

Along the bottom of each of the rows or units of the magnets 6, there is arranged preferably a longitudinally extending shoe I3 which is made preferably of brass. In other words, the shoes I3 extend throughout the length of the rows or units 5 below the magnets 6. The brass shoes I3 are held in position by the cores I4 of the magnets which extend through the brass shoes as shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings. 'Ihe cores I4 are held in position in their respective magnets preferably by means of cap screws I5 which extend through a hole in the top of the metal housing I6 of the magnets 6.

There is provided a plurality of conventional rubber and fabric or leather V-belts I1 for conveying the metallic sheets along while the sheets are held in suspended position by the magnets 6. While one V-belt arranged longitudinally along each row of magnets 6 would serve the purpose, in the present instance, there are shown two V-belts at the front end of the rows or units 5 and only one belt at the rear end thereof. There is arranged in suitable bearing preferably at the front end of the rows or units 5 and extending therebetween and to one side thereof, a drive shaft I8. At the front end of each row or unit 5 and directly opposite thereto there is mounted on the shaft I8, a pair of pulleys I9 over which the V-belts I1 at the front end of the apparatus are disposed. Intermediate the length of each row of magnets or units 5 there is arranged a pulley 2i) around which the V-belts I1 are disposed and there is provided above each row or unit between the pulleys I9 and the pulleys 2D thereof, an idler pulley 2| over which the V-belts also pass. The V-belts I1 in the front part of the assembly, as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, are disposed in V-shaped grooves or slots 22, arranged in the brass shoes I3 to either side ofthe cores I4 of the magnets, and the V-belt I1 at the rear end of the piler is disposed in a V-shaped groove arranged in the bottom of each of the cores I4 of the magnets centrally thereof, as shown in Figure 5. It will be understood that the bottom or outer side of the V-shaped belts I1 is disposed a slight distance below the bottom of the brass shoes i3 and the cores I4 of the magnets so that the metallic sheets will not contact the shoes or magnets directly as they are moved therealong by the v-belts. The V-belts at the rear end of each of the rows or units 5 are disposed around'the pulleys which drive the same and pass over and around similar pulleys 23 arranged at the extreme end of each of the rows or units 5. There is also provided an idler roller 24 arranged above each of the rows or units 5v between the

pulleys

20 and 23 in a manner similar to the idler pulley 2I Any suitable means may be provided for adjusting the tautness of the belts I1. It is preferred that one of the pulleys over which the belts are disposed be movable so that the belts may be kept reasonably taut at all times.

On the outer end of the drive shaft I8 there is disposed preferably a sprocket 25 over which a chain 26 is disposed. There is mounted preferably on the base I0 a motor 21 having a sprocket 28 arranged on the shaft thereof over which the chain 26 is also disposed. It will be understood that it is the purpose of the motor 21 to drive the V-belts I'I through the action of chain 26, sprocket 25 and pulleys I9 and 20. The motor 21 is controlled preferably by a switch 29 and a rheostat 30 arranged on the front or to one side of the pair of rows of magnets or units 5 as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.

Between the two rows of magnets or units 5,

l there is arranged substantially parallel thereto preferably a longitudinally extending angle-iron member 3| which is adapted to act as a trackway or guide. There is positioned on the angle-iron member or track 3I, a limit switch 32 which is adapted to be moved along and disposed at any position along the trackway 3I for a purpose hereinafter to be described. There is carried by the limit switch 32 a downwardly extending switchactuating member 33 which extends a slight distance below the bottom of the brass shoes I3 and the V-belts I'I as shown in Figure 1. The limit switch 32 as shown in the wiring diagram of Figure 'l is disposed in the main circuit for controlling the energization of the magnets 6.

There is also arranged on the front or to one side of the rows of magnets preferably a plurality of push switches 34 for controlling the energization of the magnets; that is, the switches are used to cut into or out of the circuit various magnets to compensate for variable lengths of sheets 'it is desired to convey and pile. These switches 34 are arranged in the electric circuit as shown in the wiring diagram of Figure 7.

Directly below the rows of magnets or units 5 on the roller conveyor 2, there is suitably disposed a plurality of vertically extending sheet guides 35 for the purpose of guiding the sheets to the top of the conveyor or pile after they have been released by, and dropped from the magnets 6. In other words, there is a guide 35 positioned to either side of the pile so as to align the sides of the sheets and to guide the same as they are dropped from the belts i1 and there is also arranged a guide 35 at either end of the pile for guiding and aligning the ends of the sheets as they are dropped from the magnets. It will be understood that these guides are so constructed and arranged that they may be adjusted to any desired position along the roller conveyor and to any point beneath the magnets. The end guides are arranged so that they may be moved away from the end of the pile of sheets so as to permit the pile to be conveyed along the roller conveyor after a desired number of sheets have been plled.

The improved sheet pilingapparatus of my lnvention functions in the following manner. The sheets are delivered from the ying shear line preferably over a belt conveyor 36 which is disposed directly opposite the forward end of the row of magnets or units 5. The top of the. belt conveyor 36 is preferably spaced a slight distance below the bottom of the V-belts VI of my improved piling apparatus as shown in Figures l and 4 of the drawings. As the sheets are delivered from the dying shear line over the belt conveyor 36 they pass in under the electro-magnets 6, the brass shoes I3 and the v-belts I1. The circuit to the electro-magnets 6 having been closed, the magnets are now energized and the sheets as they are delivered from the conveyor belts 36 are drawn upwardly by the magnetic force of the magnets 6 against the bottom side of the V-belts I1. The circuit to the motor 21 having been closed and the V-belts set in operation, the sheets 4are conveyed along by the V--belts I1 while they are held in such suspended position by the magnets 6. Before the delivery of the sheets to the apparatus has been started, the guides 35 are set at the proper position on the roller conveyor 2 and the limit switch 32 is positioned at the proper point along the rows of magnets. As the sheets are conveyed along the rows of magnets by the V- belts I1 they successively strike the downwardly extending finger-like actuating member 33 of the limit switch 32 so as to open the circuit to the magnets, thereby deenergizing the same. Due to the fact that the magnetic force of the magnets no longer exists due to the deenergization thereof, the sheets drop from the bottom of the V-belts I1 down between the vguides 35 and onto the roller conveyor 2 and the top of the pile of sheets between the guides. It will be seen that as the sheets drop from the V-belts l1 they are maintained in substantially a horizontal plane and drop in a perfectly flat condition upon the roller conveyor and the pile of sheets.

It will be understood that the guides 35 may be positioned at the forward end of the conveyor and the standard sheets may be made to drop on the magnets at that point. However, if the operator notices a sheet which is not up to standard he can close push switch 29 which cuts all of the magnets into the circuit as shown in Figure '7 of the drawings, thereby energizing the same, and maintains them in action so that the magnets will not be deenergized when such sheet strikes the actuating iinger member 33 of the switch 32. Such substandard sheet will then be carried to the end of the rows of magnets or units by the v-belts I1 and piled on top of the roller conveyor 2 at a point removedfrom the location of the pile of standard sheets.

As the result of my invention it will be seen that there is provided apparatus which is simple in its construction and use and at the same time apparatus which neatly and efficiently piles the sheets one on top of the other. It will also be seen by the use of my improved apparatus that the substandard sheets may be easily and conveniently separated from the standard sheets and conveyed to a point removed from the pile of standard sheets without the need of manual handling the same.

While I have shown and described one specic embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that this embodiment is merely for the purpose of illustration and description and that various other forms may be devised within the scope of my invention, as deiined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. iAppar'atus for conveying metallic sheets, including longitudinally extending magnetic means for receiving and holding the sheets in a suspended position as they are delivered thereto, said magnetic means having a longitudinally extending nonmagnetic shoe at the bottom thereof, a relatively narrow longitudinally extending groove arranged in\ the bottom of said shoe, a relatively narrow nonmagnetic conveyor belt arranged in said groove with the lower side thereof disposed a slight distance below said magnetic means `for conveying the sheets along while they are held in a suspended position by said magnetic means, means for driving said conveyor belt, and means arranged below said magnetic means and said belt for receiving the sheets as they are released by said magnetic means.

2. Apparatus for conveying metallic sheets including a plurality of horizontally aligned, spaced apart, electrically energized magnets for receiving and holding the sheets in a suspended position as they are delivered thereto, a longitudinally extending nonmagnetic shoe at the lower end of said magnets and extending therebetween, a. relatively narrow longitudinally extending groove arranged in the bottom of each of said magnets, a relatively narrow nonmagnetic V belt arranged in and extending through the groove of each of said magnets with the lower side of said belt positioned a slight distance below each of said magnets for conveying the sheets along while they are held in a suspended position by said magnets, means yfor driving and means for tensioning said conveyor belt, and means arranged below said magnets and said belt for receiving the sheets as they are released by said magnets.

3. Apparatus for conveying metallic sheets including at least two rows of horizontally aligned, spaced apart, electrically energized magnets for receiving and holding thersheets in a suspended position as they are delivered thereto, longitudinally extending nonmagnetic shoes at the lower end of said rows of magnets and extending longitudinally therebetween, a longitudinally extending groove arranged in the bottom of each of said magnets, a relatively narrow nonmagnetic V- belt arranged in and extending through the groove of each of said magnets with the lower side of said belt positioned a slight distance below each of said magnets for conveying the sheets along while they are held in a suspended position by said magnets, means for driving and means for tensioning said conveyor belt, trigger means operable by said sheets as they are moved along t0 deenergize said magnets to release said sheets, means arranged below said magnets and said belt for receiving the sheets as they are released by said magnets, and means to render said trigger means ineffective whereby selected sheets will not be released above said sheet receiving means.

DARIO BUCCICONE.