GB1602861A - Apparatus for and methods of stacking elongate articles - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR AND METHODS OF STACKING ELONGATE ARTICLES (71) We, BRITISH STEEL CORPORATION, a Corporation incorporated and existing under the Iron and Steel Act 1967 whose principal office is at 33 Grosvenor Place, London, S.W.1, do hereby declare 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 and methods of stacking elongate articles, and more particularly although not exclusively to stacking steel rods, bars and tubes (for example) automatically as such articles exit from a forming mill.

In the handling of such articles it is desirable in practice that for ease and convenience of handling they be collected together, stacked, and secured into bundles of appropriate size immediately they leave their forming mill.

It is an object of the present invention to provide convenient and effective stacking apparatus of this kind.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for stacking elongate articles comprising an assembly location for collecting a group of articles in side by side disposition and article transporter means adapted for cyclical movement to carry the group of articles from the assembly location to a stacking location wherein said transporter means comprises a plurality of lifting platforms each supported on the ends of a freely movable pair of parallel levers connected at their other ends to an intermediate support member which in turn is linked by a second pair of parallel levers to a pair of turntable drive shafts.

The invention also includes a method of stacking elongate articles including the steps of collecting in side by side disposition a group of articles and transporting the group of articles by means of plurality of lifting platforms moving in a two dimensional cycle to a stacking table, the lifting platforms being drive from a pair of turning shafts via a pair of freely movable parallel levers connected to an intermediate support member linked to the turning shafts by a second pair of parallel levers.

The assembly location may be at the output of a conveyor transporting the articles from their forming process.

Thus in one embodiment, the articles may be transported to the assembly location by means of a walking beam conveyor and may be collected in side by side disposition in the assembly location by operation of the walking beam conveyor Iby means for example of appropriate physical stop members associated with the conveyor in a known manner.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood one embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1 to 5 illustrate in diagrammatic side elevation successive steps in the operation of stacking apparatus according to the invention; and Figure 6 comprises a diagrammatic front elevation of part of the apparatus in the position shown in Figure 4.

The apparatus essentially is adapted for incorporation at the end of a walking beam conveyor system 1 and includes an assembly location 2 at which a group of articles (in this case steel tubes of rectangular hollow section) are collected. In a well known manner stops 3 and 4 are provided to enable the grouping of a predetermined number of tubes in side by side relationship in location 2. Located adjacent the assembly area 2 and the end of the conveyor 1 are a plurality of tube transporting arrangements 5 (one only shown for convenience).

The arrangement 5 comprises a pair of linked parallel driving shafts 6 and 7, driven by a motor (not shown). Each of these shafts has secured to it and spaced along it a plurality of levers 8 and 9 arranged parallel to each other. The upper ends of levers 8 and 9 are freely pivotally connected to an intermediate support member 10. This in turn is connected in a freely pivotted fashion to one end of each of parallel levers 11 and 12. The other ends of levers 11 and 12 are connected as shown to the supporting framework of a lifting platform 13.

In operation shafts 6 and 7 are rotated so as to move the platforms 5 via the parallelogram lever arrangement through the cycle of operations shown in Figures 1 to 5. As viewed in these figures shafts 6 and 7 each rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. In Figure la lifting platform 13 is shown immediately below a collected group of five tubes 18 located in the assembly area 2 at the end of the walking beam conveyor 1.

Upon rotation of the shafts 6 and 7 to the position shown in Figure 2 the platform 13 lifts the group of tubes away from assembly area towards and over stop 3. In Figure 3 rotation of the shafts 6 and 7 has now taken the platform 13 to a position at which the tubes it carries are moved into a stacking cradle area 14, and directly above a plurality of tubes 16 previously stacked therein.

Upon further rotation of the shafts, the platform 13 separates from the intermediate support 10, and the freely pivoting parallel lever system 11 and 12 causes the transport platform 13 to be withdrawn horizontally from below the collected group of tubes 18 so that these are integrated with the tubes 16 already in the stacking cradle 14. This point in the cycle is illustrated in Figure 4.

Upon the tip of the platform 13 exiting from between the tubes in the stacking cradle 14, the platform 13 is able to fall away, by movement of the free linking levers 11 and 12, to the position shown in Figure 5 resting upon the intermediate support 10. The stacking arrangement is now ready for a further cycle upon the collection of a fresh group of tubes ready for stacking in assembly area 2.

A damping cylinder may be provided (not shown) to slow down the fall away of the platform from the position shown in Figure 4 to that shown in Figure 5.

The completed stack of tubes may now be strapped together and moved to an output position 19 for transport away from the apparatus.

Although having wide applications the invention described particularly herein above is particularly suited for the collection and stacking of tubes as they exit from an appropriate forming mill.

WHAT I CLAIM IS : - 1. Apparatus for stacking elongate articles comprising an assembly location for collecting a group of articles in side by side disposition, and articles transporter means adapted for cyclical movement to carry the group of articles from the assembly location to a stacking location wherein said transporter means comprises a plurality of lifting platforms each supported on the ends of a freely movable pair of parallel levers connected at their other ends to an intermediate support member which in turn is linked by a second pair of parallel levers to a pair of turntable drive shafts.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the assembly location is at the output of a conveyor transporting the articles from their forming process.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the conveyor is a walking beam conveyor having associated therewith stop members by means of which the elongate members can be collected in side by side disposition in the assembly location.

4. Apparatus for stacking elongate articles substantially as shown in and hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5. A method of stacking elongate articles including the steps of collecting in side by side disposition a group of articles, and transporting the group of articles by means of a plurality of lifting platforms moving in a two dimensional cycle to a stacking table, the lifting platforms being driven from a pair of turning shafts via a pair of freely movable parallel levers connected to an intermediate support member linked to the turning shafts by a second pair of parallel levers.

6. A method of stacking elongate articles substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. each other. The upper ends of levers 8 and 9 are freely pivotally connected to an intermediate support member 10. This in turn is connected in a freely pivotted fashion to one end of each of parallel levers 11 and 12. The other ends of levers 11 and 12 are connected as shown to the supporting framework of a lifting platform 13. In operation shafts 6 and 7 are rotated so as to move the platforms 5 via the parallelogram lever arrangement through the cycle of operations shown in Figures 1 to 5. As viewed in these figures shafts 6 and 7 each rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. In Figure la lifting platform 13 is shown immediately below a collected group of five tubes 18 located in the assembly area 2 at the end of the walking beam conveyor 1. Upon rotation of the shafts 6 and 7 to the position shown in Figure 2 the platform 13 lifts the group of tubes away from assembly area towards and over stop 3. In Figure 3 rotation of the shafts 6 and 7 has now taken the platform 13 to a position at which the tubes it carries are moved into a stacking cradle area 14, and directly above a plurality of tubes 16 previously stacked therein. Upon further rotation of the shafts, the platform 13 separates from the intermediate support 10, and the freely pivoting parallel lever system 11 and 12 causes the transport platform 13 to be withdrawn horizontally from below the collected group of tubes 18 so that these are integrated with the tubes 16 already in the stacking cradle 14. This point in the cycle is illustrated in Figure 4. Upon the tip of the platform 13 exiting from between the tubes in the stacking cradle 14, the platform 13 is able to fall away, by movement of the free linking levers 11 and 12, to the position shown in Figure 5 resting upon the intermediate support 10. The stacking arrangement is now ready for a further cycle upon the collection of a fresh group of tubes ready for stacking in assembly area 2. A damping cylinder may be provided (not shown) to slow down the fall away of the platform from the position shown in Figure 4 to that shown in Figure 5. The completed stack of tubes may now be strapped together and moved to an output position 19 for transport away from the apparatus. Although having wide applications the invention described particularly herein above is particularly suited for the collection and stacking of tubes as they exit from an appropriate forming mill. WHAT I CLAIM IS : -

1. Apparatus for stacking elongate articles comprising an assembly location for collecting a group of articles in side by side disposition, and articles transporter means adapted for cyclical movement to carry the group of articles from the assembly location to a stacking location wherein said transporter means comprises a plurality of lifting platforms each supported on the ends of a freely movable pair of parallel levers connected at their other ends to an intermediate support member which in turn is linked by a second pair of parallel levers to a pair of turntable drive shafts.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the assembly location is at the output of a conveyor transporting the articles from their forming process.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the conveyor is a walking beam conveyor having associated therewith stop members by means of which the elongate members can be collected in side by side disposition in the assembly location.

4. Apparatus for stacking elongate articles substantially as shown in and hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5. A method of stacking elongate articles including the steps of collecting in side by side disposition a group of articles, and transporting the group of articles by means of a plurality of lifting platforms moving in a two dimensional cycle to a stacking table, the lifting platforms being driven from a pair of turning shafts via a pair of freely movable parallel levers connected to an intermediate support member linked to the turning shafts by a second pair of parallel levers.

6. A method of stacking elongate articles substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.