US3648736A

US3648736A - Coil forming and transfer device

Info

Publication number: US3648736A
Application number: US53488A
Authority: US
Inventors: William J Hill; Roger Kinicutt Jr
Original assignee: Morgan Construction Co
Current assignee: Siemens Industry Inc
Priority date: 1970-07-09
Filing date: 1970-07-09
Publication date: 1972-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 1989-03-14
Also published as: JPS512913B1; DE2129632A1; GB1345019A; DE2129632B2; DE2129632C3

Abstract

An apparatus for gathering product rings into a cylindrical coil and for thereafter pivotally transferring the coil to an adjacent transport device. The coil is formed within an enclosure by depositing product rings over a mandrel extending vertically through a plate. Upon completion of the coil forming operation, the mandrel and plate are pivoted through a side opening in the enclosure, thereby carrying the coil to an intermediate position overlying the transport device. The mandrel and plate are then axially retracted to deposit the coil on the transport device.

Description

United States Patent Hill et al. 1451 Mar, 14, 1972 [54] COIL FORMING AND TRANSFER 1,672,917 6/1928 Sommer ..242/82 DEVICE 3,439,882 4/1969 Woodrow et al. ..242/81 [72] Inventors: William J. Hill, Holden; Roger Klnicutt, prim A, Larson J Worcester, both of MaSS- Attorney-Chittick, Pfund, Birch, Samuels & Gauthier [73] Assignee: Morgan Construction Company, Worcaster Mass [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for gathering product rings into a cylindrical coil [22] July 1970 and for thereafter pivotally transferring; the coil to an adjacent [21] Appl. No.2 53,488 transport device. The coil is formed within an enclosure by I depositing product rings over a mandrel extending vertically through a plate. Upon completion of the coil forming opera- [52] US. Cl 140/ l, 242/81, 242/83 on, the mandrel and plate are pivoted through a Side opening [5 Int. Clin the enclosure thereby carrying the co to an intermediate of Search 2, 81, position overlying the transpgn device The mandrel and plate 83 are then axially retracted to deposit the coil on the transport device. [56] References Cited 12 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures UNTIED STATES PATENTS 760,323 5/1904 Edwards ..242/81 PATENTEDMAR 14 1972 3,613,736

SHEET 1 BF 7 INVENTORS ILLIAM J. IHILL ROGER KINNICUTT,JR.

ATTORNEYS PATENTEUMARIMIE 368,736

SHEET [1F 7 INVENTORS WILLIAM J. MILL OGER KINNICUTT JR.

TTORNEYS PAIENIEDIMR 14 I972 3, 6A8 7'36 SHEET 3 OF 7 INVENTORS WILLIAM J. HILL ROGER KINNICUTT, JR.

M Jaw, M

ATTORNEYS PATENTEDHAR 14 I972 SHEET 4 BF 7 INVENTORS WILLIAM J. HILL BYROGER KINMCUTT, JR.

ATTORNEYS PATENTEDMAR 'I 4 I972 SHEET 5 BF 7 v INVENTORS WILLlAM d. HILL BYROGER KlNNlCU-TT,JR.

ATTORNEYS PATENTEDMAR 14 I972 3, 6A8 736 SHEET 8 OF 7 NW h9- g INVENTORS WILLIAM J. HILL M LJBY ROG-ER KINNICUT'LJR.

S W, 6M4, JM fM ATTORNEYS PMENTEWR 14 I972 3,6dBJ36 SHEET 7 BF 7 INVENTORS I. WlLLflAM J. HILL P BYROGER KINNICUTT, JR.

0 U mmi zw ATTORNEYS COIL FORMING AND TRANSFER DlEVllClE DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to a coil forming and handling device, and more particularly to an apparatus for forming successively delivered product rings into a cylindrical coil and for thereafter transferring the coil to an adjacent transport device.

In modern rolling mill installations, the current tendency is to form certain rolled products, for example rod or small diameter bar, into large cylindrical coils weighing upwards of 3,000 lbs. A number of problems are encountered when forrning and subsequently handling such large coils. For example, experience has indicated that any sliding movement of large coils along a support surface tends to scratch the exposed rings and thus spoil a substantial amount of the coiled product. Such large coils also lack vertical stability and thus must be axially supported both during and after formation.

One of the principle objects of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for forming and transferring large cylindrical product coils without scratchingor otherwise marring the coiled productand without deforming the cylindrical shape of the coils. A more particular object of the invention is to provide uninterrupted axial support for the coil during the coil forming operation, and thereafter when the completed coil is being transferred to a coil transport device located adjacent to the coil forming apparatus. A further object of the present invention is to avoid sliding engagement between the coil bottom and the underlying support surfaces of the apparatus when the coil is being transferred from the coil forming station to an adjacent delivery station. Still another object of the presentinvention is the provision of an apparatus which is rugged in design and capable of extended periods of operation without requiring frequent maintenance.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 11 is a view in side elevation of an apparatus embodying the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 11A is a sectional view taken along line llAllA of FIG.

FIG. 2 is an end view showing the delivery side of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along lines 33 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 3A is a sectional view taken along lines 3A3A of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4i is a vertical sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of the operating means employed to pivot the mandrel;

FIG. 6 is a somewhat schematic illustration of the means employed to vertically displace the coil elevator platform;

FIGS. 7 to 9 are schematic illustrations depicting a typical operational sequence of the apparatus; and,

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the operating means arranged to impart a shaking action to the mandrel during a coil forming operation.

The invention will hereinafter be described in connection with the formation of cylindrical coils from product rings being delivered from a conveyor on which the rings have previously been arranged in an overlapping non-concentric pattern. It will be understood, however, that the association of the invention with this particular industrial application is employed herein for illustrative purposes only, and is not intended nor should it be construed as a limitation upon the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings with initial reference to FIGS. 1-4, a coil forming and transfer apparatus embodying the concepts of the present invention is generally indicated at 10. The apparatus includes a vertically extending enclosure means made up in part by a plurality of laterally spaced upstanding pipes indicated typically at 112. The pipes 12 extend upwardly from a base M and are connected by a short intermediate housing section 16 to a generally cylindrical upper section T3 of the enclosure means. Cylindrical section 118 is preferably open at the top as at 20, with another lateral opening 22 which is suitably arranged and dimensioned to receive overlapping non-concentric product rings 24 being delivered by a conveyor means generally indicated at 26. As the product rings 2 1i leave the delivery end of conveyor means 26 and enter the cylindrical enclosure 18 through opening 22, they are rearranged in a generally concentric helical pattern.

Accordingly, it will be seen that the apparatus illustrated in the drawings includes a generally vertically extending enclosure means which may be descriptilvely subdivided into an upper reforming chamber A" within which laterally delivered non-concentric rings are concentrically rearranged into a descending helical pattern, and. an underlying coil forming chamber B within which the descending helical ring formation is accumulated in an upstanding cylindrical coil.

As is best shown in FIG. 3, the upstanding pipes 12 which surround the coil forming chamber B are arranged in a generally U-shaped configuration, thus providing a side opening 28 facing a coil transport mechanism shown in FIG. 1 at 30. The coil transport mechanism 30, which is the subject of a copending application Ser. No. 53,469 filed July 9, 1970 of the preset inventors, includes a pivotal coil receptacle made up of a curved rear wall 30a and a. bottom 30b. As is best shown in FIG. 11A, bottom 30b has an opening therein as at 3] the purpose of which will be made clear as the description proceeds. In the coil receiving position, the receptacle of transport mechanism 30 is inclined as: shown in the drawings.

A casing member 32 is pivotally mounted beneath the coil forming chamber B between bearings 34. The pivotal axis P of casing 32 extends in a direction transverse to and is offset laterally a distance d from the longitudinal casing axis L. When vertically positioned as shown by the solid lines in FIG. l, the longitudinal axis L of casing 32 is aligned with the center of the coil forming chamber B.

A mandrel member 36 is supported for axial movement through casing 32. As is best shown in FIG. 4, the mandrel member is provided along opposite edges with tracks 38a and 33b which are engaged respectively by inwardly disposed

guide rollers

40a and 40b on the casing 32. Gear racks 42 (See FIG. 2) straddle the track 38a running along one edge of the mandrel. The racks 42 are engaged by a pinion gear 44 keyed to a transverse shaft 36. Shaft 46 is joumaled between bearings 43 mounted within a laterally extending section 50 of casing 32. Shaft 46 is driven through a coupling 52, gear reducer 54 and reversible motor 56. Motor 56 may be energized to rotate shaft 416 in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, thereby lowering or raising mandrel 36 relative to casing 32.

A vertically movable coil supporting plate 58 surrounds the mandrel member 36. When located] within the coil forming chamber B as shown in FIGS. 1-3, the coil supporting plate 58 is vertically movable by means of an elevator platform 60 between a raised position as shown by the solid lines in FIGS. ll3 and a lowered position indicated in dotted at 58'. The elevator platform has a generally U-shaped configuration made up of a pair of

parallel sides

60a and 60b joined at the rear by a back section 600. The inside edges of the

sides

60a and 60b are recessed as at 62 (See FIG. 3a) to provide receiving grooves for the laterally extending flanges 64 on the coil supporting plate 58. Thus, when the coil supporting plate 58 is being carried by the elevator platform 60, both components combined to provide a flat substantially continuous surface onto which rings may be deposited when forming a coil within coil forming chamber "B." i

As is best shown in FIG. 3, the outside edges of

sides

60a and 60b and back section 60c are suitably recessed or indented as indicated typically at 64 to clear the upstanding pipes 12 surrounding the coil forming chamber B.

An example of an operating means which may be employed to raise and lower the elevator platform 60 will now be described with additional reference to the schematic illustration shown in FIG. 6. A pair of L-shaped brackets 72a and 72b are attached to the rear section 600 of the elevator platform, and another pair of similar brackets 74a and 74b are attached to the platform sides 60a and 60b. Each of the platform sides are further provided with

sprockets

76a and 76b.

A drive shaft 78 is mounted for rotation by any convenient means such as for example by bearing blocks 80, the latter being attached to the fixed support structure adjacent to the coil forming chamber B. A plurality of

drive sprockets

82a, 82b, 82c and 82d are keyed to shaft 78.

A pair of short idler shafts 84a and 84b extend through and are supported by the rearward ends of a pair of I-beams 86 running beneath the base plate 14.

Additional idler sprockets

88a, 88b, 88c and 88d are carried by the idler shafts 84a and 84b. The forward ends of the I-beams 86 are further provided with short laterally extending shafts on which are rotatably mounted additional idler sprockets 90a and 90b.

A first elevator chain 92 is attached at one end as at 94 to the elevator platform bracket 72a and extends from this point over drive sprocket 82b and around idler sprocket 88b before again being attached as at 96 to the same elevator platform bracket 7 20. Similarly, a second elevator chain 98 has one end attached as at 100 to the other elevator platform bracket 72b and extends from this point over drive sprocket 82c and around idler sprocket 880 before being attached as at 102 to bracket 72b. A third elevator chain 102 is attached as at 104 to elevator platform bracket 74a and extends from that point over sprockets 76a and 82a and then downwardly around sprockets 88a and 90a before again being attached as at 106 to bracket 74a. A fourth elevator chain 108 is attached as at 110 to bracket 74b and extends from this point over

sprockets

76b and 82b and then downwardly and around

sprockets

88d and 90b before again being attached as at 112 to elevator platform bracket 74b.

- As is best shown in FIG. 2, drive shaft 78 is powered by means of a gear reducer 114 and reversible drive motor 116, the latter two components being supported on a horizontally extending platform 118 attached to the stationary supporting structure surrounding the apparatus. With the foregoing arrangement, it will be seen that as viewed in FIG. 6, if the drive shaft is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the elevator platform 60 will be raised within the coil forming enclosure B. Counterclockwise rotation of drive shaft 78 will result in the elevator platform being lowered.

As already noted, the casing member 32 is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis P between bearings 34. The operating means employed to pivotally move the casing member and its associated components, including the mandrel member 36 and the coil supporting platform 58 will now be described with further reference to FIG. 5. A double acting cylinder 120 is pivotally mounted as at 122 on a fixed pedestal 124. Cylinder 120 is provided with an extensiblepiston rod 126 which is pivotally attached as at 128 to the casing member 32. When the piston rod 126 is fully retracted as shown in FIG. 5, the casing member 32 is held in the vertically disposed position shown with a shoulder 130 contacting a stop 132 on a collapsible link generally indicated at 134. Extension of piston rod 126 causes the casing member 132 to pivot about axis P to the inclined coil delivery position shown in dotted at 32' in FIG. 1. When the casing 32 and mandrel 36 are pivoted as previously described, the elevator platform 60 remains within the coil forming chamber B."

The operation of the apparatus will now be reviewed with further reference to the schematic illustrations contained in FIGS. 7 to 9. Beginning with the apparatus as shown in FIG. 1, the elevator platform 60 and the coil supporting plate 58 carried thereon are adjusted to their uppermost positions. Rod rings 24 are delivered by conveyor 26 through side opening 22 and are deposited in helical fashion around the mandrel 36 and onto the surface defined by the coil support plate 58 and the elevator platform 60. As the coil grows vertically, the

elevator platform 60 is lowered to maintain the upper surface of the growing coil at a level which is approximately constant relative to the delivery end of the conveyor 26.

FIG. '7 shows the next stage in the operation sequence wherein a fully formed coil C has been accumulated in the coil forming chamber B. At this stage, retaining means such as for example pivotal members 136, are moved into position to prevent further descent of rod rings into the coil forming chambers. The elevator platform 60 continues to drop to its lowermost position surrounding and slightly beneath the upper end of casing member 32, thus depositing the coil supporting plate 58 on the adjustable stops 138 located on either side of the mandrel member 36. As previously mentioned, the elevator platform 60 is lowered by energizing motor 116 to rotate drive shaft 78 in a clockwise direction.

Motor 56 is next energized to axially lower mandrel member 36 to a position indicated in dotted at 36' in FIG. 8. The purpose of initially axially lowering the mandrel to this level is simply to provide vertical clearance from overlying components in preparation for pivoting the mandrel to the coil delivery position. The operating cylinder is then actuated to pivot the combined assembly of the casing member 32, mandrel 36, coil supporting plate 58 and the coil C to the position shown in solid in FIG. 8. This pivotal action occurs about axis P, the latter being laterally spaced from the central axis of the coil forming chamber by the distance d. Thus it will be understood that even the elevator platform 60 may not have been completely lowered prior to commencing the pivotal action of the mandrel, due to the aforementioned lateral displacement of the pivotal axis P, the coil supporting plate 58 will in effect be lifted off the elevator platform 60, thereby avoiding any sliding or scraping of the coil bottom that might otherwise take place.

Referring now to FIGS. la and 9, the next step in the operational sequence involves complete retraction of mandrel member 36 down through casing member 32. As the mandrel is retracted, the coil supporting plate 58 and the coil resting thereon is also retracted. The coil supporting plate passes through the opening 31 in the bottom member 30b of transport mechanism 30 and when this occurs, the coil is deposited on the bottom member. Once the mandrel member has been completely retracted, with the coil supporting plate 58 now resting on the top of casing 32, piston rod 126 is retracted to pivot the entire assembly back to the vertical position and the elevator platform 60 is again raised to return the coil supporting plate to the position shown in FIG. 1. Once this has been accomplished, the pivotal retaining members 136 are retracted and the next coil forming operation commenced.

During the coil forming operation, it may at times be desirable to impart a shaking action to the coil to obtain a more uniform distribution of rings and to also increase coil density. With reference to FIG. 10, the coil shaking operation may for example be carried out by first actuating a small cylinder 142 to extend a piston rod 144, thereby collapsing the collapsible link assembly 134 to the position shown. The net effect of the collapsing link 134 is to retract stop 132. Thereafter, the main operating cylinder 120 may be operated through suitable control means to alternately extend and retract piston 126 through short strokes which are limited in one direction by an alternate stop member 146. This imparts a shaking action to the casing member 132 and the mandrel 36, which shaking action is transferred to the growing coil being accumulated in the coil forming chamber B.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of the invention, the advantages to be derived from its use will now be more evidence to those skilled in the art. Among these advantages is the ability to transfer a coil from a coil forming station onto an adjacent transport device without sliding or scraping the coil along underlying support surfaces. Coil transfer is accomplished while maintaining continuous axial support for the coil, thereby avoiding any possibility of the coil becoming deformed.

It is our intention to cover all changes and modifications of the embodiments herein chosen for purposes of disclosure which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A coil forming and transfer device comprising: an enclosure into which product rings are delivered to accumulate therein in cylindrical coil form; plate means in said enclosure for supporting the coil being formed; mandrel means protruding upwardly through said plate means into said enclosure, the said mandrel means being positioned to axially receive the product rings and to cooperate with said enclosure in controlling the shape and wall thickness of the coil being formed; a side opening in said enclosure; and operating means for axially and pivotally manipulating the combination of said mandrel means and said plate means to transfer the fully formed coil from said enclosure through said side opening and onto a coil transport device located exterior of said enclosure.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim ll further characterized by an upper opening in said enclosure through which the product rings are delivered by means exterior of said enclosure, and elevating means for vertically adjusting said plate means to maintain the top of the coil being formed in said enclosure at approximately the same elevation relative to said upper opening.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim ll further characterized by the pivotal motion of said mandrel means occurring about an axis which is transverse to and laterally displaced from the central axis of said enclosure.

l. Apparatus for receiving a succession of product rings from a feed mechanism, for collecting the rings into a cylindrical coil, and for transferring the coil onto the inclined supporting surfaces of a coil carrier positioned laterally of the apparatus at a coil delivery station, said apparatus comprising: a vertically extending enclosure means for gathering a succes sion of product rings into a cylindrical coil, said enclosure means having an upper opening through which the product rings are received from the feed mechanism and a side opening facing the coil delivery station; plate means for supporting the coil being formed within said enclosure means; elongated mandrel means cooperating with said enclosure means to control the shape and wall thickness of the coil being formed therein, said mandrel means extending vertically through and being movable axially relative to said plate means, the position of the upper end of the mandrel means relative to said upper opening being such that the entering product rings encircle said mandrel means; stop means on said mandrel means for supporting said plate means when the coil is completely formed; and first and second operating means for axially and pivotally manipulating the combination of said mandrel means and said plate means to transfer a fully formed coil from said enclosure means through said side opening onto the inclined supporting surfaces of the coil carrier.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4i further characterized by a third operating means for vertically adjusting the elevation of said plate means within said enclosure means during the formation of the coil, whereupon the plate means is inilowermost limit of travel within the enclosure means being defined by said stop means.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said third operating means is comprised of an elevator platform arranged to vertically carry said plate means within said enclosure means, said elevator platform having a side opening facing the side opening in said enclosure means and through which the said mandrel means may be pivoted when transferring a coil to the coil delivery station.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said third operating means further includes a drive shaft and drive motor carried by said enclosure means, and elevator chains connecting said drive shaft to said elevator platform.

d. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 further characterized by control means for controlling the operation of said drive motor in response to the growing height of the coil during the coil forming operation.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said mandrel means is supported by and movable axially in relation to a casmg member underlying said enclosure means, the said casing member in turn being supported for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis which is displaced laterally from and which extends in a direction transverse to a downward extension of the longitudinal axis of said enclosure means.

110. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said first operating means is comprised of a gear rack on said mandrel member, a pinion gear on said casing member, said pinion gear being in meshed relationship with said gear rack, and means for rotating said pinion gear in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction in order to axially raise or lower said mandrel means relative to said casing member.

1111. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said second operating means includes a double acting piston and cylinder assembly, the said cylinder being pivotally mounted on a fixed base and the said piston being pivotally connected to said casing member, and a first stop member against which the said casing member is held in a vertical position when said piston is retracted, whereupon extension of said piston will cause said casing member and the mandrel means carried thereon to pivot about said horizontal axis towards the coil delivery station.

112. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1111 further characterized by a second stop member for laterally supporting said casing member in a position inclined away from the coil delivery station, and means for retracting said first stop member, whereby said piston and cylinder assembly may be employed to pivot said casing member about said horizontal axis alternately away from and then against said second stop member for the purpose of shaking the coil during the coil forming operation.

Claims

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further characterized by an upper opening in said enclosure through which the product rings are delivered by means exterior of said enclosure, and elevating means for vertically adjusting said plate means to maintain the top of the coil being formed in said enclosure at approximately the same elevation relative to said upper opening.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further characterized by the pivotal motion of said mandrel means occurring about an axis which is transverse to and laterally displaced from the central axis of said enclosure.

4. Apparatus for receiving a succession of product rings from a feed mechanism, for collecting the rings into a cyLindrical coil, and for transferring the coil onto the inclined supporting surfaces of a coil carrier positioned laterally of the apparatus at a coil delivery station, said apparatus comprising: a vertically extending enclosure means for gathering a succession of product rings into a cylindrical coil, said enclosure means having an upper opening through which the product rings are received from the feed mechanism and a side opening facing the coil delivery station; plate means for supporting the coil being formed within said enclosure means; elongated mandrel means cooperating with said enclosure means to control the shape and wall thickness of the coil being formed therein, said mandrel means extending vertically through and being movable axially relative to said plate means, the position of the upper end of the mandrel means relative to said upper opening being such that the entering product rings encircle said mandrel means; stop means on said mandrel means for supporting said plate means when the coil is completely formed; and first and second operating means for axially and pivotally manipulating the combination of said mandrel means and said plate means to transfer a fully formed coil from said enclosure means through said side opening onto the inclined supporting surfaces of the coil carrier.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further characterized by a third operating means for vertically adjusting the elevation of said plate means within said enclosure means during the formation of the coil, whereupon the plate means is initially raised to an uppermost position at the initial stage of coil formation and is thereafter lowered during coil formation, the lowermost limit of travel within the enclosure means being defined by said stop means.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 further characterized by control means for controlling the operation of said drive motor in response to the growing height of the coil during the coil forming operation.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said mandrel means is supported by and movable axially in relation to a casing member underlying said enclosure means, the said casing member in turn being supported for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis which is displaced laterally from and which extends in a direction transverse to a downward extension of the longitudinal axis of said enclosure means.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said first operating means is comprised of a gear rack on said mandrel member, a pinion gear on said casing member, said pinion gear being in meshed relationship with said gear rack, and means for rotating said pinion gear in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction in order to axially raise or lower said mandrel means relative to said casing member.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said second operating means includes a double acting piston and cylinder assembly, the said cylinder being pivotally mounted on a fixed base and the said piston being pivotally connected to said casing member, and a first stop member against which the said casing member is held in a vertical position when said piston is retracted, whereupon extension of said piston will cause said casing member and the mandrel means carried thereon to pivot about said horizontal axis towards the coil delivery station.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 further cHaracterized by a second stop member for laterally supporting said casing member in a position inclined away from the coil delivery station, and means for retracting said first stop member, whereby said piston and cylinder assembly may be employed to pivot said casing member about said horizontal axis alternately away from and then against said second stop member for the purpose of shaking the coil during the coil forming operation.