Product handling system for cooling beds

Sale of booklets at IMPRIMERIE NATIONALE, 27, rue de la Convention - PARIS (15^e)

The present invention relates to a counter-baling mechanism, and more particularly a mechanism capa ble of receiving a succession of elongated elements continuousl y cut (for example steel bars in a laminating plant), of moving them laterally by means transport and deposit a predetermined number of these elements in a pocket of a wheel rotating step by step, whereby the elements deposited in the pocket can, after partial rotation of the wheel, be belted or. strapped into boots. Each bundle can then be transported by carriers associated with a weighing station where several bundles of items can be grouped into a larger bundle, then weighed and made ready to be removed and taken to a store or shipping location. <

Although the invention is applicable to the bundling and peeling of all types of elongated elements which can come from a production source, a particular application of the invention has been found in the industry. steel (to which, of course, this is not limited) to bundle the products of a rolling shop. These products can be bars, rods, profiles and the like, which must be collected and bundled immediately after the rolling operation. The product, when it leaves the rolling mill on a roller conveyor, is immediately cut into pieces of appropriate length. The object of the invention mechanism described in this application is designed to accumulate these cut lengths and to bundle and weigh them before storage or shipment to the customer. Hitherto, other types of machines have been produced to achieve these results, and two of these machines can be found in United States Patents N^bone 3,135,076 and 3,299,609 /:;

The invention provides a mechanism capable of receiving, counting, baling and weighing a succession of elongated elements which, for reasons of convenience, will be considered in the following jjtÿ as bars. Ge term bars must however be considered to include all types of products manufactured by rolling or other workshops in which the product is conventionally cut into desired lengths when it leaves the rolling process. _ _ .. _

The mechanism first receives a succession of bars which i

-21599343 move in. standing side by side with their ends aligned by contact with stops, then, by specially designed chain conveyors, these are lifted on rollers which move them and transferred laterally to a second chain conveyor with which is associated a counting mechanism and means controlled by this counting mechanism to stop the movement of the second conveyor. The bars leave the ends of the chains of the second conveyor, either one by one, or in small groups more or less parallel to each other to fall into one of the series of aligned receptacle pockets present in the peripheries of several spaced wheels mounted on a common tree. The counting mechanism counts the number of bars falling in the pockets and, when the desired number has fallen, it stops the second conveyor. Said wheels on the com15 mun shaft advance one step, so that the first group of bars collected is presented in a position in which the bars can be joined together in a bundle.

While this bundling is being carried out, a new pocket is presented at the outlet end of the second chain conveyor which is then automatically restarted with the counting means, so that a second group of bars can be accumulated in the newly presented pocket. As soon as the desired number of bars has been accumulated, as determined by the counting mechanism, the wheel advances another step.

The first group of bundled bars in the first pocket is then placed so that it can exit by gravity from the first pocket to be lowered onto a third conveyor. This advances the first boot formed and that which follows to a final collecting box, baler and weigher. In this way

OJ the final large boot can be weighed exactly before being removed and shipped or stored.

Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawings, and giving by way of indication but in no way limiting, an embodiment of the invention.

In these drawings:

- Figure 1 is an elevational view, with vertical section of an assembly according to the invention; and:

- Figure 2 is a corresponding plan view, with arra40 chement.

-We can use any base, base or support to mount the mechanism described below. As can be seen schematically in FIG. 1, this support comprises vertical columns supporting beams longitudinally and transversely which are sufficiently well-known in technical technology so that they are not described in detail. - -.

In s <.^: referring to the drawings, we see that - the bars. 2 arrive on rollers. They can arrive one by one or in groups and their front or leading ends S are aligned 10 by contact with any chosen one of stops 8, 10 or 12 which can be retracted vertically. In the present description, the stop 12 has been chosen and lifted and it is this stop that will preferably be used to handle lengths of 4.80 m and 9.36 m. Stop 10 is used with lengths of 9.50 m, and stop 8 is used with lengths of 4.80 m (alternatively with stop 12), for lengths of 12 m or lengths of 21 , 30 m. These figures are given only to show the general flexibility of the device but they do not limit the invention in any way, since it is understood that the total length of the mechanism can be reduced or increased at will so that it corresponds at any desired length of bars. Similarly, the position of the stops can be changed as appropriate. .

With the bars 2 resting on the rollers 4 and aligned against the stop 12, there are the transport chains 14 entrained.

born by the motor 1S, the angle gears of the reducer 18, the shaft 20, the chain sprockets 22 on this shaft, and idler chain sprockets 24 on the shaft 2S. All these organs are simultaneously. raised enough to lift the bars out of the rollers 4, 30 and to start moving them laterally in the direction of the arrows visible in Figures 1 and 2 ...

The chains 14 are raised by the following mechanism. Sounds each chain 14 is arranged an elevator, chain 28 in the form of. elongated plate which can be seen in elevation in FIG. 1 and J5 in plan in FIG. 2, in which the fourth chain 14 which has been torn off appears. The chain elevators have, arranged under them, as shown on the left of FIG. 1., cams 30 which have inclined surfaces 32 resting on rollers 34 and, on the right of FIG. 1, a bell lever-55 pivoting at 40 38 and whose upper arm 36 is articulated on the lifting of

-4. chain 28 and the lower arm 40 is arranged to be lifted by the action of a hydraulic cylinder 42.. The mechanism operates as follows, when the arm 36 is turned to the right by the cylinder 42, the chain elevator 28 is moved to the right and, simultaneously, it is raised both by the arm 36 and the cam 32 to a., sufficient height to bring the chains 14 into contact with the lower sides of the bars 22, which raises the latter above the rollers 4. As soon as the moving chains 14 are lifted, the bars

2 begin to advance laterally from their initial position A to

1a. position indicated in B ...

At position 3, the bars 2 gradually descend on a second set of conveyor chains considered as counting chains 44. These chains, between the chains 14, are driven by a motor 46, a reduction gear 48 and a control shaft 50 on which chain sprockets 52 are mounted. The chains are supported at their other end by idler sprockets 54, on the shaft 56. The upper bar supporting part of each chain 44 is kept level by a fixed chain support

58 (figure 1).

The bars are thus distributed by the transfer chains 44 which are normally in action to advance the bars to the 0 position.

Immediately adjacent to the outlet end of each chain 44, is arranged a bundling wheel 60. These wheels, which can be seen in elevation in FIG. 1, are carried by a common shaft 62 which allows them to be simultaneously turned step by step by the motor 64 and the reduction gear 66..

A. the periphery of the wheels 60 is provided with multiple pockets 50 68, 70 and 72, for example, these pockets having different dimensions and also being spaced. The purpose of the different dimensions is to facilitate reception in the pockets of bars of different sizes and in different numbers.

Guides 74 are arranged at the discharge ends of the counting chains 44, to direct the bars 2 in the pockets of the adjacent wheels which, in this case, are the pockets 68.

Between the chains 44 are counting devices 76 functioning automatically and which are capable of counting exactly the number of bars which leave the chains'44 to fall

40. in the pockets 58. These counters 75 are known mechanisms and

BAD ORIGINAL there is no need to describe them in detail. They can be adjusted to stop the motor 46 as soon as a predetermined number of bars 2 has fallen into a pocket 68.

A counter 76 which has been found satisfactory for use in the device of the invention is a reflected light explorer of the General Electric Company. This counter is here placed at the discharge end of. counting chains. Each bar crossing this point produces a pulse which activates an electronic pulse counter having two counts reset to zero beforehand. This explorer acts even when the bars are adjacent and touch each other. Tests have shown that it can count up to 12 bars (22 mm in diameter) per second. It is assumed that the boots of weighers weigh one tonne each and collect round irons 12.5 ® in diameter and 4.80 m long, at the rate of 270 pieces of this dimension per tonne. The first preparatory counting of the counter is used to slow down the counting chains 44 and it is set to effect this slowdown after 185 coins for example have been deposited in pocket 68. The second counting on the counter stops the counting chains 44 and it is set to 270 pieces. If the round irons of 12.5 W in diameter were cut with bar shears in loads of 80 bars for example, the chain would then run at high speed on the first two total loads - 150 bars. Towards the end of the third charge, the counting chains 44 slow down when the count reaches 185 and they then move at increasing speed until 210 bars have been deposited in the pocket 68, at which time the counters 76 operate to stop the chains 44 by cutting the power to the motor 46.

As soon as the last bar has fallen into the pocket 68, the motor 64 is started to advance the wheel 90 degrees by bringing the pocket 68 and the bars it contains into a position adjacent to an operator 0 who monitors the belt of the group of bars 2 so that they are put in the form of a boot of generally cylindrical shape

The next pocket 68, 90 degrees back from. the first, at the same time arrived in position at the discharge end of the chains 44, which causes the restarting of the motor 46^: and chains 44, so that a next group of bars 2 falls

-51599343 in the next pocket 68. The bars are counted by the counter. 76 and the chains 44 are stopped when the correct number of bars has fallen into the pocket.

Motor 64 is the new engine to turn wheels 5 60 by another 90 degrees. The first hood 7S falls from the first pocket 68 onto a series of arms 80 for lowering the spaced aligned boots, fixed on the shaft 62 and actuated by hydraulic cylinders 84. The jacks 84 act immediately to pull the pistons of bottom up, so that all of the arms

80 spaced along the shaft 82 which support the boot 78 are simultaneously rotated counterclockwise (observing Figure 4), to lower the boot 7θ on the chains 86 of transfer hoods. The chains 86 are driven by a motor 90, the reduction gear 92, the chain 94 and the shaft 96 carrying the chain sprockets 98. Idler sprockets 400 on a shaft 404 support the other end of the chains 86. These chains are adjusted in time to move the wheels 60 step by step. Thus, as soon as the wheels-60 advance by another angle of 90 degrees, the chains 86 advance to move the hood

78 by one step forward in position 78 'in which it is removed from the path of the next descending hood? 8. With the first hood 78 in position 78 ', and apart from the arms 80, the latter are then actuated by the cylinders 84 in a clockwise direction so as to be ready to receive the following hood 78 falling from the pocket next 68. To ensure correct advance of the hoods 78 on the chains 86, aligned lugs 88 are provided.

From the preceding description, it appears that bars, in predetermined number, can be successively collected, cein30 turées automatically, or manually by an operator, if preferred, and then deposited in succession on the transfer lines of hoods.

When the first boot 78 reaches the end of the transfer chains 86, it rolls in a bucket or weighing box

402. However, since the henna has a considerable depth since it is designed for a certain number of boots 78, it is preferable that the descent of the boot is facilitated, which takes place using a henna pocket chain 404 which, when '' it is discharged, is stretched across the mouth of the large pocket

406 of the weigh bucket 402. One end of each bucket pocket chain is attached to a shock absorbing spring 108. The chain passes over pulleys 110 and 112 and, from there, over a chain pulley 114 driven by a motor 11p.

As the number of boots 73 on the chains 104 increases, the chains are gradually and simultaneously unloaded, so that the bottas are gently lowered into the pockets 106 until the latter cases are filled. The total number of boots? 8 in the bucket 102 is then weighed by an associated weighing mechanism 116, of known construction. Finally, the group of boots 78 is belted or strapped automatically, or manually, in a master boot and evacuated by a transport mechanism suitable for the store or in the shipping position.

The assembly in the weigh bucket in which the mistress, boot is assembled was, in one case, provided for 5 one-tonne boots and, in another case, for two two-tonne boots.

The capacity of the pockets 68 is suitable for receiving two tonnes of bars from the counting chains 44.

The electrical assembly for advancing the wheel step by step and producing the corresponding movements of the chains 14, the chain elevators 28 and the chains 44 and 86 is conventional and does not serve, not described since it is in the field of Man of Art. When the bars 2 are initially belted or strapped by an operator to constitute a boot 78, it could be considered preferable to leave the triggering of the next rotation of 90 degrees of the wheel 60 under the control of the operator, instead of doing it obey a specific time cycle.

When the stopper is used as shown, there is no need to operate the left side of the machine. Since there are motors 46, 64, 92 and 115 at both ends of the mechanism, clutches 118, 120 and 122 can be disengaged and the left motors 46, 64, 92 and 115 can be stopped.

In the event that any of the foregoing mechanisms fail to function properly by allowing des.barres 2 to accumulate to an extent necessitating stopping the rolling mill, means are provided for reversing the direction of the motor 16 so that the chains 14 move in the opposite direction (that is to say to the right by observing FIG. 1), in order to collect all the bars 2 immediately adjacent to the open side of the distribution table, below the chain sprocket 24.