GB1576321A

GB1576321A - Stock bundling apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB1576321A
Application number: GB12189/76A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Wyko Equipments Ltd
Current assignee: Wyko Equipments Ltd
Priority date: 1976-03-26
Filing date: 1976-03-26
Publication date: 1980-10-08
Also published as: ZA771564B; DE2712950A1

Description

(54) STOCK BUNDLING APPARATUS (71)1 We, WYKO EQUIPMENTS LIMITED, a British company of Newtown Works, Cradley Road, Netherton, Dudley, do hereby declare that the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to apparatus for use in bundling elongate stock for example elongate metal rods and hexagonal, square, and flat section, and the like.

Bundling apparatus according to the invention includes a flexible sling, a pair of sling supports between which the sling can hang defining an open loop, means whereby at least one of said sling supports can be moved from a position wherein the stock can ,pass between the supports and into the loop, in a direction to reduce the width of the open end of the loop, said at least one support being movable in said direction sufficiently far to cause the end regions of the sling to cross over one another closing the loop, and, means whereby the length of the sling between the supports, defining said loop, can be adjusted.

Desirably said at least one sling support is carried by a pivotable arm.

Preferably the sling supports are sheaves.

Preferably each of said sling supports is carried by a pivoted arm and each arm is movable by mechanical means.

Desirably said mechanical means is a worm wheel and screw mechanism.

Alternatively said mechanical means is an hydraulic ram.

Preferably said flexible sling is defined by a parallel slat chain.

Desirably a plurality of the above apparatuses are utilised in unison, spaced along the length of the stock.

Conveniently, where said sling support is carried by a pivotable arm. the pivot axis of said arm is so positioned that the weight of the stock in the loop acts on the arm by way of the sling in the crossed over configuration of the sling to urge the arms to move relative to the other sling support in a direction to tighten the sling around the stock.

One example of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of apparatus for use in bundling of elongate stock, and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of part of the sling of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus is intended for use in bundling of elongate stock which may be elongate metal tube or rod of circular cross-section, or elongate lengths of cross-sectional shapes other than circular, for èxample hexagonal square or flat bar and the like. The apparatus is intended to support and arrange the stock in a compressed bundle ready for binding with any convenient form of strapping to hold the bundle during transportation thereof.

The apparatus as shown in the drawings, comprises first and second horizontally pivoted vertically extending arms 11, 12.

The arms 11, 12 are pivotally mounted on a hollow floor structure 13 and are thus movable towards and away from one another about parallel axes, the arms 11, 12 being offset from one another in the direction of said axes as will be described in more detail later. Adjacent the arm 12 is a rigid pillar 14 supporting a work and screw mechanism 15, one end of which bears against the arm 11. Operation of the mechanism 15 thus causes movement of the arm 11 about its pivot axis 1 Ia.

Anchored to the arm 12 for movement therewith is a lever 16 which extends downwardly through the hollow floor structure 13 and co-operates at its lower end with a further worm and screw mechanism (not shown). Operation of the further worm and screw mechanism thus moves the arm 12 about is pivot axis 12a through the intermediary of the lever 16. An alternative arrangement is illustrated in Figure 1 where, in broken-lines, a lever 17 replacing the lever 16 extends upwardly rather than downwardly, and co-operates at its uplper free end with a worm and screw mechanism in a manner similar to that described with reference to the arm 11. The operation of either arrangement is the same in that operation of the worm and screw mechanism pivots the arm 12 about the axis 12a.

At its upper free end the arm 11 is provided with a bracket 18 extending generally towards the arm 11 and rotatably supporting a chain sheave 19. Similarly, the arm 12 adjacent its upper free end includes a bracket 21 extending generally towards the arm 11 and rotatably supiporting a further chain sheave 22.

A stock supporting sling 23 is defined by part of a non-extensible flexible chain 24, the chain 24 preferably being a parallel slat chain as shown in Figure 2. One end of the chain 24 is anchored to the arm 11 by means of a bracket 25, the chain 24 extending from the bracket 25 over the sheave 19 and over the sheave 22. With the arms 11, 12 in generally vertically orientation the chain 24 hangs between the sheaves 19, 22 to define a sling in the form of an open topped loop. When no stock is within the sling then the loop will be generally in the form of a catenary curve.

The chain 24 extends from the sheave 22 through an aperture in the hollow floor structure 13 and around a sheave 26. From the sheave 26 the chain 24 extends within the hollow floor and around a further sheave 27 and from the sheave 27 to an anchor point 28 within the hollow floor structure. The sheave 27 is carried by a carrier 30 which is movable by a worm and screw mechanism 29 in the direction of the length of the run of the chain between the sheave 27 and the anchor point 28 and the sheave 26. Thus it will be appreciated that by operating- the mechanism 29, the length of the chain 24 defining the sling 23 between the sheaves 19, 22 can be adjusted.

Moving the sheave - 27 in a direction to increase the spacing between the sheaves 27, and 26 reduces the length of the chain between thé sheaves 19, 22 and thus similarly decreasing the spacing between the sheaves 26, 27 increases the length of the chain defining the sling 23.

Since the stock is elongate, it is preferable to apply the bundling procedure to the stock at at least a pair of points spaced along its length. Thus preferably, a second, and identical apparatus is apced from the first mentioned apparatus in the direction of the length of the stock and is operated simultaneously therewith.

The apparatus operates in the following manner. The apparatus is positioned at a stock collection point, which may for example be the outlet of a tube or bar straightening machine. The mechanism 29 is initially operated to ensure that a relatively short length of the chain 24 defines the sling 23, so that the lowest point of the sling 23 is quite close to the sheaves 19, 22. Stock is lowered, or allowed to roll in a controlled manner into the sling 23, the stock thus passing between the sheaves 19, 22 and being supported by the sling 23 of the or each operative apparatus. As the quantity of stock supported by the sling increases, the mechanism 29 is operated to increase the length of chain defining the sling, so that stock entering the sling always has the same distance to drop in order to be supported.In other words, as the quantity of stock within the sling increases the stock supported by the sling is lowered by increasing the length of the sling so that the uppermost lengths of stock at any given time during the loading of the stock into the sling are at the same height relative to the sheaves 19, 22. This effect can be obtained automatically, by means of a photo-electric cell control device. A light source is positioned on the arm 12, and a photo-electric ceil is positioned on the arm 11. When the path of light from the source to the cell is obscured by stock supported by the sling, the photo-cell ceases to produce an electrical output, and the absence of an electrical output of the photo-cell is used to control operation of the mechanism 29.Immediately light once again falls on the photo-cell from the light source the mechanism 29 ceases to operate in a direction to increase the length of the sling. As more stock enters the sling the light path will again be obstructed, and again the mechanism 29 will be operated to increase the length of the sling thus effectively lowering the whole of the bundle so that the uppermost lengths of stock are always in the same relationship with respect to the sheaves 19, 22.

When a predetermined weight of stock has been introduced into the sling, or slings, the predetermined weight being determined by an operator, on the basis of the nature of the stock and the size of the bundles to be produced, no further stock is permitted to enter the slings, and the mechanism 29 is operated to increase the length of the sling, between the sheaves 19, 22 to a length of excess of the circumference of the bundle to be produced.

After lengthening the sling to the re quired length the mechanism 15 controlling the position of the arm 11, and the mech anism controlling the position of the arm 12 are operated to pivot the arms 11, 12 towards one - another. Thus the sheaves 19, 22 which define the points of suspension of the sling are moved towards one another to close the loop over the stock, thus tighten ing the loop around the stock. The arms 11, 12 are offset from one another in the direction of their pivot axes to permit the arms to be moved sufficiently far towards one another -for the sheave 19 to pass beyond the sheave 22 so that the ends of the sling cross-over one another above the bundle.It will be understood that with such a configuration the weight of the stock itself tends to tighten the sling around the stock, the cross-over of the ends of the sling utilizing the tightening effect resulting from the weight of the stock to optimum advantage. It will of course be understood that the step of lengthening the sling before moving the arms towards one another will involve lengthening the sling beyond the circumference of the bundle to be produced in order for there to bè sufficient length of sling for the end portions thereof to cross above the bundle. Thereafter the mech anism 29 is operated to shorten the loop thus further tightening the loop around the stock to form the bundle of generally cir cular cross-section.In broken lines in Figure 1 is shown positions of the sheaves 19, 22 during movement of the arms 11, 12 towards one another. As previously men tioned one or more further sets of the apparatus will be positioned along the length of the stock, and the screw jacks of the further sets of apparatus are operated in unison with the screw jacks of the first mentioned set so that all of the sets of apparatus operate simultaneously and in the same manner to provide the bundling effect along the length of the stock. If desired, a tension sensor can be incorpor ated into the chain mechanism so that the tension in the sling can be determined.

The output of the tension sensor can be used to control the operation of the mech anism 29 so that the tension is not per mitted to exceed a predetermined value, thereby preventing inadvertent damage to the stock or the chain as a result of over tightening of the sling around the stock to form the bundle. Alternatively a preset slipping clutch or the like could be incor porated into the drive of the mechanism 29 to prevent over-tightening.

While the stock is held by the closed loop of the sling, in the bundle of generally circular cross-section any convenient form of strapping apparatus is used on the ex posed regions of the stock between the slings to strap the bundle in the form in which it is held by the slings. After strapping of the bundle the worm and screw mechanisms of the arms 11, 12 are reversed to open the loop so that the strapped bundle can be removed from the sling or slings. Thereafter the mechanism 29 is operated to reduce the length of the sling back to the original length in readiness for receiving further stock to be bundled.

The chain 24 is preferably a parallel slat chain, as is shown in Figure 2. Thus a plurality of sets of links 31, 32, are utilized, each of the links being in the form of flat strip and all of the lengths extending parallel to one another. The links of each set 31 are spaced apart by the links of each set 32 and the links of set 32 are interleaved with the links of the adjacent sets 31. Where the links are interleaved they are interconnected by a transversely extending pivot pin 33. Such chains are of course well known, and although this form of chain is preferred it is to be understood that the nature of the sling 23 may well be determined by the weight and nature of the stock to be bundled.Thus where the stock is relatively light and only small diameter bundles are to be produced, it is possible that the sling 23 could be defined by a non-extensible belt or strip rather than a chain.

The off-setting of the arms 11, 12 to permit crossing of the ends of the sling presents a problem with the parallel slat chain in that it requires some distortion of the chain to permit the end regions of the loop of the sling to cross-over one another.

As shown in Figure 2, by specially constructing a parallel slat chain, with some of the sets of links 3 lea, 32a offset from the remainder, a laterally stepped chain can be produced. Thus as is readily apparent from Figure 2, the chain can have two laterally spaced regions interconnected by the stepped region containing the offset sets of links 31v, 32eel! and thus overlapping of the two laterally offset regions is facilitated without subJecting the chain to distortion.

It will be understood that the tightening of the sling around the stock could be achieved, in any of the arrangements described above, Iby the movement of the arms towards one another provided the previous lengthening of the sling is controlled to achieve a sling length substantially equal to the bundle circumference.

In practice however, it is more convenient to operate the mechanism 29 to perform the final tightening after closure of the loop. In addition while an apparatus could be produced wherein the relative movement of the arms is achieved by movement of only one of the arms towards and away from the other it is preferable in practice to move both arms towards one another since this obviates or minimises lateral movement of the stock during operation of the apparatus.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Apparatus for use in bundling elongate stock including, a flexible sling, a pair of sling supports between which the sling can hang defining an open loop, means whereby at least one of said sling supports can be moved from a position wherein the stock can pass between the supports and into the loop, in a direction to reduce the width of the open end of the loop, said at least one support being movable in said direction sufficiently far to cause the end regions of the sling to cross over one another closing the loop, and, means whereby the length of the sling between the supports, defining said loop, can be adjusted.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said at least one sling support is carried by a pivotable arm.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the sling supports are sheaves.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein each of said sling supports is carried by a pivoted arm and is movable by mechanical means.

5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 wherein said mechanical means is a worm wheel and screw meohanism.

6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 wherein said mechanical means is an hydraulic ram.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein said flexible sling is defined by a parallel slat chain.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 7 wherein the pivot axis of said arm is so positioned that the weight of the stock in the loop acts on the arm by way of the sling, in the cross over configuration of the sling, to urge the arm to move relative to the other sling support in a direction to tighten the sling around the stock.

9. Apparatus for use in bundling elongate stock comprising the combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A stock bundling system utilizing a plurality of the apparatuses claimed in any one of the preceding claims in unison, said apparatuses being spaced along the length of the stock.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. practice to move both arms towards one another since this obviates or minimises lateral movement of the stock during operation of the apparatus. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Apparatus for use in bundling elongate stock including, a flexible sling, a pair of sling supports between which the sling can hang defining an open loop, means whereby at least one of said sling supports can be moved from a position wherein the stock can pass between the supports and into the loop, in a direction to reduce the width of the open end of the loop, said at least one support being movable in said direction sufficiently far to cause the end regions of the sling to cross over one another closing the loop, and, means whereby the length of the sling between the supports, defining said loop, can be adjusted.