GB2057996A - Walking beam conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

A walking beam conveyor comprises a walking beam 12 which is movable along a closed path with respect to a fixed part 13 of the conveyor. As the beam is raised with respect to the fixed part it lifts objects to be transported from the fixed part, moves forward and deposits them again on the fixed part of the conveyor. If the objects are relatively large compared with the width of the beam or if the objects are relatively unstable then they may fall off the beam. To avoid this from happening it is proposed to provide the walking beam with transverse arms 17 which serve to support the objects to be transported even when those objects are decentralised relative to the beam. The upper faces of the arms may have U-sections to support cylindrical objects with their axes horizontal. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Walking beam conveyor This invention relates to a walking beam conveyor for conveying objects, such as coils of metal strip.

Present walking beam conveyors, employing a walking beam which is caused to follow a closed path relative to the fixed part of the conveyors floor plate or fixed beams-can cope efficiently when the object to be transported from station to station along the fixed part is properly centralised on the walking beam; otherwise safe carrying and/or landing of the object may be jeopardised. However proper centralisation of the object on the walking beam can be difficult and haphazard, for example when it is loaded on to the conveyor by crane or truck. Further, although the object, such as a coil, being carried may be centralised at least approximately, irregularities in symmetty of the object can tend to interfere with the centralisation as the object is lifted, transported and lowered through the stages of transport.

An object of the invention is to provide a design of walking beam conveyor which will accept objects with a degree of decentralisation relative to the walking beam, and to cope with an object of which the centralisation has been altered through the lifting, transporting and lowering of the object during operation.

One aspect of the invention resides in a walking beam conveyor in which the walking beam has transverse arms which when the walking beam is in elevating position support, wholly or in conjunction with the beam itself, an object to be transported, even if that object is decentralised relative to the beam. When the fixed part of the conveyor are floor plates, on which object is supported when not carried by the walking beam, those plates have transverse slots through which the transverse arms pass during movement of the walking beam.

Particularly for conveying coils of strip with their axes horizontal, the arms of the walking beam may be aligned and trough shaped.

When coils with their axes vertical are to be conveyed, the arms and the walking beam may be recessed to receive telescoping inner turns of the coil.

The invention will be more readily understood by way of example from the following description of walking beam conveyors in accordance therewith, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of part of a first form of conveyor, particularly for conveying coils with their axes vertical, Figure 2 is a plan view showing an alternative design, and Figures 3 and 4 show in perspective alternative forms of conveyor for conveying coils with their axes horizontal.

In Fig. 1, the walking beam conveyor is illustrated as consisting of a walking beam 1 2 which moves relative to the fixed part of the conveyor represented by floor plates 1 3 having a slot 14 to accommodate the beam 12.

As in known conveyors, the walking beam is caused to follow a rectangular path with its upper face 1 5 always horizontal, so that the beam elevates from below the plates 1 3 upwardly through the slot 14, thereby picking up objects located at the stations spaced along the length of the beam, traverses lengthwise with the upper face above the floor plates, then descends to deposit each object at the next station, and finally return travels below the plates to the start of the next cycle.

An object to be conveyed is represented by a coil of strip 1 6 shown in chain line.

The beam 1 2 carries, at intervals along its length equal to the separation of consecutive stations or the distance moved by an object in each cycle, pairs of aligned transverse arms 17, while the plate 1 3 has at each station transverse slots 1 8 which extend from the slot 14 and through which the arms 1 7 can pass during the movements of the beam 1 5 through the plate 1 3. For example, the right hand pair of arms, shown as having just risen through the right hand slots 17, descends through the left hand slots after the beam has performed the conveying part of each cycle.

The arms 1 7 give lateral support to the object to be conveyed, that object being supplied jointly by the arms 1 7 and the beam 15, so that large diameter coils, as well as those of small diameter, can be conveyed with safety, even when decentrnlised relative to the beam 15.

While not being always essential, Fig. 1 shows the beam 1 5 at each support point being recessed at 20, with the adjacent arms 17 being similarly recessed at 21. The coil 16 is then supported by the unsupported parts of the beam and the arms and the central recess formed by 20 and 21 can receive the tail of the coil if it should telescope downwardly.

In the modification of Fig. 2, each arm 1 7 is widened at its end in the length direction of the beam 1 2 to form an enlarged platform 22 which gives enhanced support for the coil.

Figs. 3 and 4 show arrangements for conveying cylindrical objects, such as coils, with their axes horizontal. As in Figs. 1 and 2, the beam 1 2 has at each supporting location a pair of transverse arms 1 7 but in each of Figs.

3 and 4 each arm is trough-shaped. In Fig. 3, a cruciform fabrication 23 is secured to the beam at each supporting position, the upper face of the fabrication having a shallow Vsection which is prolonged at 24 above the beam 1 2. Adjacent the transverse slots 18, blocks 25 extending transversely of slot 14 are secure to the floor plate 1 3 at each station. Those blocks 25 have inclined faces 26 which support the coil against movement when the walking beam deposits the coil on the floor plates in each cycle of movement.

The conveyor of Fig. 4 is similar in principle to that of Fig. 3, but differs from it in that, at each supporting position, the upper face 1 5 of the beam 1 2 is recessed downwardly at 27 with a V-section. The arms 1 7 have similar Vsections with the same inclinations as that of the beam 1 2. The floor plates 1 3 are provided with holding blocks similar to those of Fig. 3, although those blocks are not illustrated for the sake of simplicity.

Claims (9)

1. A walking beam conveyor having a walking beam movable along a closed path with respect to a fixed part of the conveyor and wherein the walking beam has transverse arms at fixed spaced apart intervals along its length, said arms, in some positions of the beam, serving to support objects to be transported even when those objects are decentralised relative to the beam.

2. A walking beam conveyor as claimed in Claim 1 in which the transverse arms are arranged in pairs with the arms of each pair being on opposite sides of the beam and aligned at right angles to the length of the beam.

3. A walking beam conveyor as claimed in Claim 2 in which the arms and the beam are recessed where the arms interconnect with-the beam.

4. A walking beam conveyor as claimed in Claim 1 in which the transverse arms are mounted on the beam and extend at right angles to the length of the beam.

5. A walking beam conveyor as claimed in Claim 2 or 4 in which the upper surface of each arm is trough-shaped with the longitudinal access of the trough at right angles to the length of the beam.

6. A walking beam conveyor as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which each transvere arm has an end portion away from the beam which extends parallel to the length of the beam.

7. A walking beam conveyor as claimed in any preceding claim in which the fixed part of the conveyor comprises stationary supports coinciding with the pitch of the beam and each having a slot therein for receiving the beam and slots through which the transverse arms pass as the arms are moved between positions above and below the supports.

8. A walking beam conveyor substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A walking beam conveyor wherein the width of the beam is not governed or related to the dimensions of the object being carried.