US3837453A

US3837453A - Material handling apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3837453A
Application number: US00323642A
Authority: US
Inventors: K Klusmier
Original assignee: Morgan Construction Co
Current assignee: Siemens Industry Inc
Priority date: 1973-01-15
Filing date: 1973-01-15
Publication date: 1974-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 1991-09-24
Also published as: FR2213889A1; BR7309946D0; JPS49103374A; DE2361239A1; FR2213889B1; ZA738964B

Abstract

For receiving elongated elements, in particular ''''angles'''' and the like, an apparatus which includes an inclined surface along which the elements are permitted to slide laterally into a receiving notch. Counterweighted pivotal finger members protrude through slots at the receiving notch. The finger members absorb the sideward force of the elongated elements while at the same time exerting a retaining action thereon which serves to prevent elements entering the receiving notch from turning or flipping. The finger members are designed to recede into their respective slots as each element is removed from the receiving notch, and to thereafter return to their operative positions in preparation for receipt of the next element.

Description

llmted States Patent 11 1 1111 3,837,453 Klusmier Sept. 24, 1974 MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Primary Examiner-Frank E. Werner [75] Inventor: Kenneth L. Klusmier, Worcester, Attorney Agent or Firm Thompson Birch Gauthier Mass & Samuels [73] Assignee: Morgan Construction Company,

Worcester, Mass. ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Jan. 15, 1973 For receiving elongated elements, in particular angles and the like, an apparatus which includes an in- [211 Appl' 323642 clined surface along which the elements are permitted to slide laterally into a receiving notch. Counter- [52] US. Cl 193/40, 214/1 P weighted pivotal finger members protrude through [51] Int. Cl. B65g 11/20 slots at the receiving notch. The finger members ab- [58] Field of Search 214/ l P, 1 PB; 193/32, sorb the sidewardv force of the elongated elements 193/40 while at the same time exerting a retaining action thereon which serves to prevent elements entering the [56] References Cited receiving notch from turning or flipping. The finger UNITED STATES PATENTS members are designed to recede into their respective 2 710 104 6/1955 Putnam 214 PB X slots as each element is removed from the receiving 2949302 8/1960 Place 193/32 notch, and to thereafter return to their operative posi- 2:920:22 4/1961 cross/II: IIIII'III'IIIIl fffii/zo'x' tions in Preparation for receipt of the next element- 3 2 97 0 white 214/] P 3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures I b I4 38 .32 I

1 MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to an apparatus for handling elongated elements, in particular those commonly referred to as angles.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a means for receiving laterally moving elongated elements in a manner which prevents the elements from turning or flipping about their longitudinal axes. This is particularly important when handling elements such as angles where each element must be properly and predictably oriented before being transferred to other equipment. To this end, the present invention employs a downwardly inclined surface which terminates at its lower end in a receiving notch. Elongated elements are deposited on the inclined surface and are allowed to slide laterally down into the notch, at which point the elements come to rest. Counterweighted pivotal finger members protrude through slots at the receiving notch. The finger members absorb the sideward force of the elements as they enter the notch, while at the same time exerting a holding action which prevents the elements from turning or flipping as they come to rest. Thus for example, if an angle is deposited in an inverted position on the inclined surface, it will slide down into the notch and will come to rest in the same position. The finger members are further designed to recede into their respective slots as the elements are removed from the receiving notch, and to thereafter pivotally return to their operative positions in preparation for receipt of the next element.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion of an apparatus embodying the concepts of the present invention; and,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 22 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numbers designate like components throughout the several veiws, there is generally indicated at an apparatus embodying the concepts of the present invention. The apparatus includes a downwardly inclined support surface 12 which is provided at its lower end with an upturned vertical lip 14 defining a receiving notch generally indicated at 16. The apparatus is further provided at suitably spaced locations along its length with slots 18 which extend through the upturned vertical lip 14 and the lower portion of the inclined support surface 12.

Generally L-shaped members 20 are attached to the up-turned vertical lip 14 at locations adjacent to each slot 18. The L-shaped members are secured by any convenient means, for example bolts 22. Each L- shaped member has a vertical leg with a lateral extension 24 which overlaps the adjacent slot 18 and serves as a stop. The horizontal leg 26 of each member 20 ex-. tends beneath the support surface 12 and has affixed to its edge a short shaft 28. The shafts 28 extend in a direction transverse to the lengths of the slots 18 and pivotally support members generally indicated at 30. Each member 30 has an upwardly inclined finger 32, a laterally extending shoulder 34, and an oppositely extending counterweight portion 36.

The counterweight portion 36 serves to rotatably urge the member 30 into the operative position shown in the drawings with the shoulder 34 in contact with stop 24 and with the inclined finger 32 protruding vertically through the slot 18 at the receiving notch 16 where the inclined surface 12 joins the inside face 38 of the upturned vertical lip 14.

The apparatus operates in the following manner: elongated elements, for example angles, are initially deposited by other handling means (not shown) in an inverted condition on the inclined support surface 12 at a location indicated in dotted at 40 The elements then slide down the surface 12 into the receiving notch 16 where they come to rest at the position shown by the solid lines at 40. As each element arrives at the receiving notch, it comes into contact with the upwardly inclined fingers 32, the latter being pivotally operable about the axis defined by shafts 28 to absorb the kinetic energy of the elements 40. This is accomplished by pivotally raising the counterweight portions 36 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2. The fingers 32 also exert a downward holding action on the elements which prevent them from turning or flipping about their longitudinal axes as they come to rest. Where angles are involved, as shown in the drawings, this insures that the angles remain in their original inverted condition, and thus avoids complications that might otherwise be presented if the angles were to turn or flip in the receiving notch 16 before being removed therefrom.

After each element comes to rest in the receiving notch 16, it is vertically removed by means (not shown) and transferredto other equipment. As this occurs, the fingers 32 pivotally recede into the slots 18 as the members 30 pivot in a counter-clockwise direction to the inoperative positions indicated by the dot-dash lines at 30'. As soon as an element clears the upper edge of lip 14, the members 30 pivot back downwardly under the influence of the counterweight portions 36 to their inoperative positions as shown by the solid lines in the drawings.

In light of the above, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although the invention has been described in connection with the handling of angles, much the same results and advantages will be obtained when handling other cross-sectional shapes.

It is my intention to cover all changes and modifications of the embodiment herein chosen for purposes of disclosure which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for laterally receiving elongated elements comprising in combination: a downwardly inclined support surface along which elongated elements deposited thereon are permitted to move laterally towards the lower end thereof, an upwardly extending lip cooperating with the lower end of said support surface to define a notch for receiving the elements moving along said support surface, a slot extending through said lip into the adjacent lower portion of said support surface, holding means pivotally mounted for movement about an axis extending in a direction transverse to the length of said slot, said holding means being provided with a shoulder, a finger and a counterweight portion, stop means extending across said slot, said holding means being rotatable about said axis under the influence of said counterweight portion to an operative position at which the said shoulder is in contact with said stop means and said finger protrudes upwardly through said slot at the junction of said lip with said support surface, whereupon an elongated element laterally entering said notch will be yieldingly engaged by said finger and prevented from turning or flipping.

2. Apparatus for laterally receiving elongated elements, comprising: a downwardly inclined surface having an upturned lip at its lower end which cooperates with said surface to form a notch, the inclination of said surface being such that elongated elements deposited thereon will slide laterally downwardly into said notch; a slot in said surface and said lip extending laterally across said notch; a fixed stop member adjacent to said when said holding means is in said operative position.

Claims

2. Apparatus for laterally receiving elongated elements, comprising: a downwardly inclined surface having an upturned lip at its lower end which cooperates with said surface to form a notch, the inclination of said surface being such that elongated elements deposited thereon will slide laterally downwardly into said notch; a slot in said surface and said lip extending laterally across said notch; a fixed stop member adjacent to said slot; holding means mounted for pivotal movement in said slot about an axis extending transversally relative to said slot, said holding means having an element engaging finger, a shoulder and a counterweight section, the said counterweight section being effective to rotatably urge said holding means into an operative position with said shoulder contacting said stop member and with said element engaging finger protruding upwardly through said slot into said notch.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said element engaging member cooperates with said inclined surface to define an acute angle therebetween when said holding means is in said operative position.