EP3325383A1 - Apparatus for removing elongate members from a bundle of elongate members - Google Patents
Apparatus for removing elongate members from a bundle of elongate membersInfo
- Publication number
- EP3325383A1 EP3325383A1 EP16739176.2A EP16739176A EP3325383A1 EP 3325383 A1 EP3325383 A1 EP 3325383A1 EP 16739176 A EP16739176 A EP 16739176A EP 3325383 A1 EP3325383 A1 EP 3325383A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- roller
- elongate members
- bundle
- body part
- protrusions
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
- B65G47/02—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors
- B65G47/04—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles
- B65G47/12—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from disorderly-arranged article piles or from loose assemblages of articles
- B65G47/14—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from disorderly-arranged article piles or from loose assemblages of articles arranging or orientating the articles by mechanical or pneumatic means during feeding
- B65G47/1407—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from disorderly-arranged article piles or from loose assemblages of articles arranging or orientating the articles by mechanical or pneumatic means during feeding the articles being fed from a container, e.g. a bowl
- B65G47/1478—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from disorderly-arranged article piles or from loose assemblages of articles arranging or orientating the articles by mechanical or pneumatic means during feeding the articles being fed from a container, e.g. a bowl by means of pick-up devices, the container remaining immobile
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
- B65G47/74—Feeding, transfer, or discharging devices of particular kinds or types
- B65G47/88—Separating or stopping elements, e.g. fingers
- B65G47/8807—Separating or stopping elements, e.g. fingers with one stop
- B65G47/883—Fixed stop
- B65G47/8846—Fixed stop with a pivoting pusher element which lifts or releases the article
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an apparatus for removing elongate members from a bundle of elongate members.
- Distribution facilities within the construction sector serve to facilitate transfer of building materials from manufacturers to contractors and construction markets.
- the standard situation for store level replenishment orders is the case when contractors and construction markets will order by the number, and not by the pallet/bundle.
- this process is performed manually.
- a specific problem when handling bundles of reinforcement rods is that the rods tend to become entangled within the bundle. Hence, a worker needs to detangle the reinforcement rod during picking of the order. This may be performed by whiplash movements of the heavy weight rods, which is physically demanding for the worker.
- One aspect relates to an apparatus for removing one or more elongate members from a bundle of elongate members, the apparatus comprising:
- - positioning means adapted for positioning a bundle of elongate members such that the internal angle between a vertical first plane containing the midline longitudinal axis of the bundle of elongate members and a second vertical plane containing the midline longitudinal axis of the roller is within the range of 0-45 degrees;
- roller comprises:
- Another aspect relates to an apparatus for removing one or more elongate members from a bundle of elongate members, the apparatus comprising:
- - positioning means adapted for positioning a bundle of elongate members in close proximity to the roller
- roller comprises:
- the term "internal angle” is to be understood as the smallest angle of the two angles formed between two intersecting vertical planes - one vertical plane containing the midline longitudinal axis of the bundle of elongate members, and the other vertical plane containing the midline longitudinal axis of the roller. The sum of the internal angle and the other angle (the external angle) will always be 180 degrees.
- the term "midline longitudinal axis of the bundle of elongate members” is to be understood as the longitudinal axis dividing the bundle of elongate members into two equal sized pieces.
- the term “midline longitudinal axis of the roller” is to be understood as the longitudinal axis dividing the roller into two equal sized pieces.
- the positioning means is adapted for positioning a bundle of elongate members such that the internal angle between a vertical first plane containing the midline longitudinal axis of the bundle of elongate members and a second vertical plane containing the midline longitudinal axis of the roller is within the range of 0-45 degrees, such as within the range of 1 -40 degrees, e.g. within the range of 2-35 degrees, such as within the range of 3-30 degrees, e.g. within the range of 4-25 degrees, such as within the range of 5-20 degrees, preferably within the range of 0-15 degrees.
- the positioning means is a storage rack.
- the storage rack is positioned in relation to the roller such that when a bundle of elongate members are positioned therein, the internal angle between a vertical first plane containing the midline longitudinal axis of the bundle of elongate members and a second vertical plane containing the midline longitudinal axis of the roller is within the range of 0-45 degrees, such as within the range of 1 -40 degrees, e.g. within the range of 2-35 degrees, such as within the range of 3-30 degrees, e.g. within the range of 4-25 degrees, such as within the range of 5-20 degrees, preferably within the range of 0-15 degrees.
- the drive means is adapted for rotating the roller.
- the drive means comprises a motor operatively connected to the roller.
- a drive shaft may be positioned in-between the roller and the motor.
- the drive means is operatively connected to a first end of the roller.
- the drive means further comprises a controller configured for reversing and/or deactivating the motor when the torque required to turn the roller at a given speed exceed a preset threshold. This is important to avoid that the elongate members are bent in a situation where they have not been properly released from the bundle.
- the controller may be configured to stop in such a situation, and a worker needs to remove the elongate members manually.
- the controller may also be configured to aid the worker in removing the elongate members from the roller by reversing the direction of motor, and hence reversing the rolling direction of the roller.
- the roller is the core element of the apparatus, and functions to release an elongate member from the bundle and to move it over the roller and into a picking rack or the like.
- the roller is adapted for rotating around its longitudinal center axis. In order to perform such an operation, the roller needs to passively hold on to the elongate member.
- the roller comprises a body part with a high-friction coating/layer, and/or a body part with protrusions extending radially outward from the body part.
- the protrusions comprises a high-friction coating/layer.
- the term "high-friction coating” means a coating of e.g.
- the high-friction coating has anti-skid properties and thus lowers the slipperiness of the roller and/or protrusions and increases the coefficient of friction between the coated roller and/or protrusions and the elongate members, compared to the coefficient of friction of the roller and/or protrusions without said coating.
- any type of a high-friction coating/layer may be used, such as an acrylic resin or rubber, such as an acrylic acid ester copolymer, a nitrile resin or rubber, a vinylacetate copolymer, a polystyrene resin, an acrylate-styrene copolymer, a styrene-butadiene resin, a SIS (styrene/isoprene/styrene) block copolymer, a latex, an EPDM (ethylene/propylene/diene monomer), an ABS (acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene), a PP (polypropylene) or PE (polyethylene) film, and combinations thereof.
- an acrylic resin or rubber such as an acrylic acid ester copolymer, a nitrile resin or rubber, a vinylacetate copolymer, a polystyrene resin, an acrylate-styrene copolymer,
- Inorganic materials such as silica particles, alumina particles, clay particles, abrasive particles etc. can also be used as high friction coatings. Good results can be achieved using combinations of organic and inorganic high friction coating materials such as blends of the above materials, and specifically copolymers of acrylic acid esters.
- the roller comprises a body part with protrusions extending radially outward from the body part, and wherein the protrusions are positioned on the body part in a pattern configured to induce a vibrational motion along the length of an elongate member being in contact therewith. This effect mimics the whiplash movement that the worker uses to release an elongate member from a bundle.
- the roller comprises a body part with protrusions extending radially outward from the body part, and wherein the protrusions are scalene triangular shaped plates.
- the inventors have shown that this particular shape is better than a squared, tube, spiral, or round shape.
- the drive means is operatively connected to a first end of the roller; wherein the roller comprises a body part with protrusions extending radially outward from the body part, and wherein the protrusions are scalene triangular shaped plates.
- the scalene triangular shaped plates comprises two side faces, a base edge face, and two leg edge faces.
- the base edge face is connected to the body part. The longest of the two leg edge faces is facing towards the first end of the roller. If the shortest of the two leg edge faces is facing towards the first end of the roller, the elongate members will become stuck between the protrusions.
- the roller comprises a first and a second roller section, each configured for rotating around its longitudinal center axis.
- an angle is formed between the first and the second roller section, and wherein the internal angle between the first and the second roller section is within the range of 90-179 degrees.
- Such a roller is useful when the middle segment of an elongate member, rather than one of the ends, is initially brought into contact with the roller. This process could e.g. be performed by the use of lifting means comprising an electromagnet.
- the term "internal angle” is to be understood as the smallest angle of the two angles formed between two connecting roller sections. The sum of the internal angle and the other angle (the external angle) will always be 360 degrees.
- the internal angle between the first and the second roller section within the range of 90-179 degrees, such as within the range of 95-175 degrees, e.g. within the range of 100-170 degrees, such as within the range of 105-165 degrees, e.g. within the range of 1 10-160 degrees, such as within the range of 1 15-155 degrees, e.g. within the range of 120-150 degrees, such as within the range of 125-145 degrees preferably within the range of 140-160 degrees.
- each first and second roller section comprises a body part with protrusions extending radially outward from the body part, and wherein the protrusions are scalene triangular shaped plates; wherein the scalene triangular shaped plates comprises two side faces, a base edge face, and two leg edge faces; and wherein the shortest of the two leg edge faces is facing towards an angular connection point, such as an angular shaft coupling.
- the apparatus further comprises means for catching the one or more elongate members as they pass over the roller.
- means for catching the one or more elongate members as they pass over the roller are a plurality of brackets positioned alongside the roller.
- the means for catching the one or more elongate members may be adapted for holding a plurality of elongate members.
- the means for catching the one or more elongate members as they pass over the roller are positioned alongside both sides of the roller. This enables the worker to use the apparatus for removing one or more elongate members from a bundle of elongate members positioned on each side of the roller. In such a situation, the drive means is adapted for rotating the roller in a forward and a backward direction. In one or more embodiments, the means for catching the one or more elongate members are configured to be in an active state when the roller is rotating towards it; and configured to be in an inactive state when the roller is rotating away from it.
- the apparatus further comprises means for positioning the end section or the middle segment of one or more elongate members into contact with the roller.
- the positioning means is adapted for positioning the bundle of elongate members at a level below the roller. In this way, the weight of the elongate member is used to obtain better contact with the roller. Furthermore, the level difference prevents the roller from dragging, in an uncontrolled manner, several elongate members from the bundle at the time.
- one or more roller sections are configured for lateral/sideways movement relative to the positioning means.
- one or more roller sections are configured for pivotable movement.
- the apparatus further comprises lifting means for lifting the end section or the middle segment of one or more elongate members, and wherein the roller, or a roller section, is configured for lateral/sideways movement relative to the positioning means.
- the lifting means may e.g. comprise an electro magnet, and/or means for counting the amount of elongate members being lifted.
- the apparatus further comprises a sensor system for controlling the release of an elongated member from the bundle.
- the sensor system is configured for reversing and/or deactivating the drive means if the release does not occur within a preset time period.
- a third aspect relates to the use of an apparatus according to the present invention for removing one or more elongate members from a bundle of elongate members.
- a fourth aspect relates to a system comprising a plurality of apparatuses according to the present invention, wherein a first apparatus is positioned above, but laterally displaced, in relation to a second apparatus.
- the system further comprises a receiving station (such as a conveyor) adapted for receiving elongate members from both the first and the second apparatus.
- system further comprises a chute for directing the elongate members from both the first and the second apparatus towards the receiving station.
- Figure 1 A shows a perspective view of an apparatus for removing one or more elongate members from a bundle of elongate members in accordance with various embodiments of the invention
- Figure 1 B shows an enlarged view of a part of Figure 1 A
- Figure 2A shows a perspective view of the apparatus in Figure 1 A, but at a later stage in the process of drawing the end section of an elongate member towards the other side of the roller;
- Figure 2B shows an enlarged view of a part of Figure 2A
- Figure 3A shows a top view of an apparatus for removing one or more elongate members from a bundle of elongate members, where the roller comprises a first and a second roller section;
- Figure 3B shows an enlarged view of a part of Figure 3A
- Figure 4A shows a top view of the apparatus in Figure 3A, but at a later stage in the process of drawing the middle section of an elongate member towards the other side of the roller
- Figure 4B shows an enlarged view of a part of Figure 4A
- Figure 5A shows a top view of an apparatus comprising a roller with a plurality of roller sections.
- the last roller section is configured for pivotable movement;
- Figure 5B shows an enlarged view of a part of Figure 5A.
- FIG. 1A the general scheme of the invention is shown in perspective view.
- Figure 1A shows an apparatus 100 for removing one or more elongate members 10 from a bundle 20 of elongate members.
- the elongate members are here exemplified as reinforcement rods.
- the apparatus 100 comprises a roller 200, drive means 300 adapted for rotating the roller, and positioning means 400 adapted for positioning a bundle 20 of elongate members in close proximity of the roller 200.
- the positioning means 400 may be adapted for positioning a bundle 20 of elongate members such that the internal angle between a vertical first plane containing the midline longitudinal axis of the bundle of elongate members and a second vertical plane containing the midline longitudinal axis of the roller is within the range of 0-45 degrees.
- the internal angle is 0-5 degrees - the bundle 20 positioned approximately parallel to the roller 200.
- the roller is the core element of the apparatus, and functions to release an elongate member from the bundle and to move it over the roller and into a picking rack or the like. In order to perform such an operation, the roller needs to passively hold on to the elongate member.
- Figure 1 B is an enlarged view of a part of the apparatus 100.
- the roller 200 is shown comprising a body part 210 with protrusions 212 extending radially outward from the body part 210.
- the protrusions 212 are positioned on the body part 210 in a pattern (rows of uniform protrusions) configured to induce a vibrational motion along the length of an elongate member being in contact therewith. This effect mimics the whiplash movement that the worker uses to release an elongate member from a bundle.
- the shown protrusions 212 are scalene triangular shaped plates attached to the body part 210.
- the inventors have shown that this particular shape is better than a squared, tube, spiral, or round shape.
- the drive means 300 is operatively connected to a first end 201 of the roller 200 ( Figure 1 A).
- the scalene triangular shaped plates comprises two side faces, a base edge face, and two leg edge faces.
- the base edge face is connected to the body part 210.
- the longest of the two leg edge faces is facing towards the first end 201 of the roller 200. If shortest of the two leg edge faces were to face towards the first end of the roller, the elongate members would become stuck between the protrusions.
- the apparatus also comprises means 500 for catching/receiving the one or more elongate members 10 as they pass over the roller 200.
- the catching means 500 are here shown as a plurality of brackets positioned alongside the roller.
- the means 500 for catching the one or more elongate members (e.g. the brackets) are adapted for holding a plurality of elongate members.
- the apparatus also comprises means 600 for positioning the end section Figure 1 B, the end section 12 is positioned within the means 600. In a rotational movement, the means 600 then draws the end section 12 towards the other side of the roller 200 - thereby bringing the elongate member 10 into contact with the roller 200 (Figure 2A). The roller 200 then pulls the entire rod 10 towards the other side of the roller 200.
- Figure 2B-C are an enlarged view of a part of the apparatus 100.
- the placement of the one or more elongate members into contact with the roller may simply be performed manually by placing an end section of one or more reinforcement rods from the bundle into contact with the roller.
- the apparatus 100 is shown comprising roller 200 with a first 220A and a second 220B roller section, each configured for rotating around its longitudinal center axis.
- An angle is formed between the first and the second roller section, and the internal angle between the two roller sections is about 172 degrees. The angle is made possible by an angular connection point 222, positioned in-between the two roller sections.
- Such a roller is useful when the middle segment of an elongate member, rather than one of the ends, is initially brought into contact with the roller.
- This process is shown performed by the use of lifting means comprising an electromagnet 700.
- the positioning means 400 is adapted for positioning the bundle of elongate members at a level below the roller.
- Figure 3B is an enlarged view of a part of the apparatus 100.
- the apparatus 100 also comprises a sensor system 800 adapted for controlling the release of an elongated member from the bundle. If the release does not occur within a preset time, the sensor system 800 is configured for reversing and/or deactiv
- roller sections 220 are configured for lateral/sideways movement relative to the positioning means 400.
- the roller sections have been positioned beneath the middle segment of a couple of elongate members lifted from the bundle by the electromagnet 700.
- Figure 4B is an enlarged view of a part of the apparatus 100.
- the apparatus 100 comprising roller 200 with a plurality of roller sections, each configured for rotating around its
- the last roller section 220B is configured for pivotable movement. This embodiment is suitable to avoid flexion of the end section of an elongate member in order to bring it into contact with the roller. Rather, the end section of the elongate member only needs to be lifted upwards by a worker/means adapted for lifting the end section.
- Figure 5B is an enlarged view of a part of the apparatus 100.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Rollers For Roller Conveyors For Transfer (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DKPA201500426 | 2015-07-22 | ||
PCT/EP2016/067026 WO2017013052A1 (en) | 2015-07-22 | 2016-07-18 | Apparatus for removing elongate members from a bundle of elongate members |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3325383A1 true EP3325383A1 (en) | 2018-05-30 |
Family
ID=56413692
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP16739176.2A Withdrawn EP3325383A1 (en) | 2015-07-22 | 2016-07-18 | Apparatus for removing elongate members from a bundle of elongate members |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP3325383A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2017013052A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
IT201600132141A1 (en) | 2016-12-29 | 2018-06-29 | M E P Macch Elettroniche Piegatrici Spa | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MANIPULATION OF BARS, IN PARTICULAR METAL BARS |
Family Cites Families (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3151747A (en) * | 1962-02-06 | 1964-10-06 | Mannesman Meer Inc | Bundle separator |
US3189162A (en) * | 1962-12-26 | 1965-06-15 | Soderhamns Verkst Er Ab | Roller conveyor |
FR1388823A (en) * | 1963-12-16 | 1965-02-12 | Delattre & Frouard Reunis Ets | Apparatus for separating and counting bars or other rolled or drawn metallurgical products |
FR1436072A (en) * | 1964-11-19 | 1966-04-22 | Botalam | Bar selector and its applications |
JPS6097192A (en) * | 1983-11-02 | 1985-05-30 | フジタ工業株式会社 | Feeder for long-sized bar steel material |
CH694886A5 (en) * | 2001-03-14 | 2005-08-31 | Stamatech Ag | Magazine for rolled objects has device for disturbance-free withdrawal of individual objects |
EP1927412B1 (en) * | 2006-11-30 | 2008-07-16 | WAFIOS Aktiengesellschaft | Method and device for separating bar-shaped elments |
IT1401607B1 (en) * | 2010-07-30 | 2013-07-26 | Oscam Spa | PLANT AND METHOD FOR THE TREATMENT OF METAL BARS |
-
2016
- 2016-07-18 EP EP16739176.2A patent/EP3325383A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2016-07-18 WO PCT/EP2016/067026 patent/WO2017013052A1/en active Application Filing
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2017013052A1 (en) | 2017-01-26 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US11213978B2 (en) | Stripping of a dip-moulded glove from a former | |
CN108724240B (en) | Flexible finger, flexible clamping jaw and mechanical clamp | |
CA3034444C (en) | Glove stripping apparatus and method as well as a production line and production process using the glove stripping apparatus and method | |
JP2018509319A5 (en) | ||
EP3325383A1 (en) | Apparatus for removing elongate members from a bundle of elongate members | |
US10507499B2 (en) | System for facilitating the transportation of hangers | |
US6390430B1 (en) | Paint brush holder having flexible gripping fingers | |
WO2020240542A1 (en) | Adhesive based gripping of objects | |
CN211313272U (en) | Floor tile grabbing mechanism and floor tile laying robot with same | |
CA3088706C (en) | A grasping affordance for use in a robot system | |
CN104477617A (en) | Conveyor for textile workshops | |
WO2020000808A1 (en) | Uniform mixing device, analyzer, and uniform mixing method | |
JP5098445B2 (en) | Green tire grip and transfer device | |
CN218539284U (en) | Anti-falling gripper of filling stacker crane | |
CN109048968A (en) | A kind of self-adapting intelligent catching robot | |
EP3389989B1 (en) | Method and apparatus for applying a layer of material to a leading edge of a wind turbine blade | |
CN207957185U (en) | A kind of steel pipe blanking handling device | |
KR200479552Y1 (en) | Carrying vessel moving at a construction site | |
NZ734672B2 (en) | Stripping of a dip-moulded glove from a former | |
GB2552835A (en) | Method and apparatus for making a layer of material to be applied a leading edge of a wind turbine blade | |
JP2008074619A (en) | Pulling implement |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20180222 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Extension state: BA ME |
|
DAV | Request for validation of the european patent (deleted) | ||
DAX | Request for extension of the european patent (deleted) | ||
GRAP | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1 |
|
INTG | Intention to grant announced |
Effective date: 20190521 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
|
18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 20191001 |