Step conveyor and method for conveying strip-shaped material

Abstract

This invention relates to a stepped conveyor for strip material (2), having a first step and a second step, the first step having at least two first step elements (5a, 5b, 5c) spaced apart from each other, the second step being movable vertically relative to the first step between a lower step position and an upper step position, having at least two second step elements (6a, 6b, 6c) spaced apart from each other, wherein the first and second step elements (5a, 5b, 5c) are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction (L), and lower first pedals (51a, 51b, 6c) are arranged side by side, wherein the first and second step elements (5a, 5b, 5c) are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction (L), and the lower first pedals (51a, 51b, 51c) of the first step elements (5a, 5b, 5c) and the lower second pedals (61a, 61b, 61c) of the second step elements (6a, 6b, 6c) together form a lower pedal at the lower step position, and the first step... The upper first pedal (52a, 52b, 52c) of the first step element (5a, 5b, 5c) forms the lower pedal at the upper position (52b, 52c) of the first step element (5a, 5b, 5c), and the lower second pedal (61a, 61b, 61c) of the second step element (6a, 6b, 6c) together form the upper pedal at the upper position. The first step element (5a, 5b, 5c) is located in the transition area between the first step and the pedal. The first tracks (16a, 16b, 16c) are connected to each other, forming a first sliding edge extending along the longitudinal direction (L) of the strip material (2), and / or the second step elements (6a, 6b, 6c) are connected to each other at the transition area between the second step and the pedal via a second track (11a, 11b), forming a second sliding edge of the strip material (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a cascade conveyor according to the general terminology of the invention. The invention also relates to a method for conveying strip materials. Background Technology

[0002] In modern pipe sawing systems, pre-materials, especially pipes, are processed in several steps. They are fed into the sawing system, where they are precisely cut to lengths and their ends are treated, such as chamfering and cleaning. Pipes must be fed to the sawing system individually. Pipes are typically transported in bundles and loaded into a tube bundle loader. The tube bundle loading table is loaded with pipes using adjustable-length belts. For small-diameter (e.g., <10 mm) or low-strength (e.g., aluminum) pipes, a so-called "spaghetti effect" occurs in the tube bundle. This means that the tubes in the bundle may twist, wiggle, or deviate, and therefore cannot be lifted as part of the bundle onto the tube bundle loading table, where the pre-material cannot be adequately separated. This leads to process interruptions.

[0003] DE 102008059507 B4 discloses a metalworking machine with a feeding device for strip-shaped workpieces. Pre-materials are separated from the tube bundle loader with the aid of a stepped conveyor.

[0004] The separation concept based on a tiered conveyor is based on the fact that tiered elements are positioned at defined points along the pre-material. If the pre-material twists on a lower step, it will not be picked up by all tiered elements when being lifted to the next step. If the pre-material has sufficient resistance to bending, the increase in its inclination will pull it down from the higher step. After falling, the pre-material is in a slightly different position, and the conveying test begins again. If the pre-material is conveyed upwards evenly by all conveying elements, separation is successful. A drawback of this principle is that separation only occurs when the resistance to bending is sufficiently high. If the resistance to bending is low, the pre-material is conveyed upwards on one side but not on the other, then reaches a stable position. It does not fall, but it cannot be conveyed further upwards either, and it also prevents other pre-material from being conveyed upwards. Furthermore, this situation often leads to plastic deformation of the pre-material, making further processing in the machine impossible. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to further develop the type of cascade conveyor described above, minimizing the aforementioned disadvantages.

[0006] Furthermore, the object of the present invention is to provide a method for conveying strip-shaped materials that minimizes the aforementioned disadvantages.

[0007] The objective is achieved, in a first aspect, by having a stepped conveyor for strip materials, the stepped conveyor having a first step having at least two first step elements spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction, and a second step movable vertically relative to the first step between a lower position and an upper position, and having at least two second step elements spaced apart from each other, wherein the first step elements and the second step elements are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction, and a lower first pedal of the first step element and a lower second pedal of the second step element together form a lower pedal in the lower position, and the first step... The upper first pedal of the element and the lower second pedal of the second step element also form an upper pedal at the upper position. The first step element is connected to each other at the transition area between the first vertical plate and the first pedal by a first track provided on the lower first pedal and the upper first pedal, each of the first tracks forming a continuous first sliding edge for the strip material, and / or the second step element is connected to each other at the transition area between the second vertical plate and the second pedal by a second track provided on the lower second pedal and the upper second pedal, each of the second tracks forming a continuous second sliding edge for the strip material.

[0008] The step conveyor according to the invention has a first step and a second step. The first step has at least two first step elements spaced apart from each other, and the second step has at least two second step elements spaced apart from each other and movable vertically relative to the first step between a lower step position and an upper step position. The first and second step elements are arranged side-by-side in the longitudinal direction, and a lower first step of the first step element and a lower second step of the second step element form a lower step in the lower step position, and an upper first step of the first step element and a lower second step of the second step element form an upper step in the upper step position. Each step has a tread and a vertical plate. A strip of material is arranged on the tread during transport, and the vertical plate extends substantially and preferably perpendicular to the tread, resisting impact to the strip of material and preventing further rolling or sliding.

[0009] The first step is preferably stable in position relative to the ground or floor during operation. The second step can move up and down. The terms "up" and "down," as well as "above" and "below," refer to directions relative to the ground or floor.

[0010] The first step elements are preferably arranged adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction at a certain distance. The second step elements are preferably arranged between, and more preferably between, all the first step elements. The longitudinal extension of the first and second step elements is preferably less than 10% of the distance between two adjacent step elements, and more preferably less than 5%.

[0011] The first step element is connected to each other via a first track in the transition area between the first vertical plate and the pedal, the first track forming a first slip edge for longitudinal movement of the strip material, and / or the second step element is connected to each other via a second track in the transition area between the second vertical plate and the pedal, the second track forming a second slip edge for the strip material.

[0012] The track helps the bent strip of material slide onto a lower step. Twisting, twisting, bending, or bending are collectively referred to as bending.

[0013] The first step element preferably has one, two, three, or more steps. The second step element preferably has one, two, three, or more steps, whereby the number of steps in the second step element is preferably one less than the number of steps in the first step element. Preferably, each first step element is assigned to exactly one second step element, and it moves up and down parallel to the assigned first step element during the lifting motion.

[0014] In the lower position, the lower first tread of the first step element and the lower second tread of the second step element form a lower tread, which are aligned with each other. In the upper position, the upper tread of the first step and the lower tread of the second step form an upper tread, which are also aligned. "Lower" and "upper" also refer to adjacent steps. These can be the first, second, third, or any higher step.

[0015] The first and second step elements are arranged adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction. They are preferably arranged alternately along the entire length of the step conveyor.

[0016] The first step elements of the first step can be connected to each other via a first track at the transition area between their first vertical plate and first tread. The first track preferably extends over the entire longitudinal range of the step conveyor.

[0017] The second step elements of the second step can be connected to each other via a second track at the transition area between their second vertical plates and second treads. The second track preferably extends over the entire longitudinal range of the step conveyor.

[0018] The cross-sections of the first and second tracks can be rectangular or polygonal. Preferably, they have wings extending along their entire longitudinal direction. The cross-sections can also vary along the longitudinal direction. This also applies similarly to the second track of the second ladder element.

[0019] The tracks facilitate the spreading of the inclined strip of material. The first track preferably promotes the spreading of the inclined material during the downward movement of the second step element, while the second track preferably promotes the spreading of the inclined material during the upward movement of the second step element. However, there are also interactions, and their effects cannot always be clearly separated.

[0020] The first and second tracks are preferably continuous over the entire longitudinal range of the cascade conveyor, but they may also have different lengths or be partially interrupted.

[0021] The step conveyor according to the invention is advantageously a component of a system for handling strip materials, comprising an actual sawing system, a tube bundle loader, and the step conveyor according to the invention, wherein the step elements of the step conveyor preferably mesh with the belt of the tube bundle loader, and the step conveyor advantageously conveys the strip material onto a tube bundle loading table. The strip material is then supplied from the tube bundle loading table to an actual profile processing machine, such as a pipe saw or tube processing machine. The strip material is preferably a metallic material. It can be a pipe, profile, or solid material. The strip material is preferably rollable, but this is not mandatory.

[0022] The step conveyor for strip materials according to the present invention has a first step and a second step, the first step having at least two first step elements, and the second step having at least two second step elements movable back and forth relative to the first step, wherein a vertical movement stroke preferably has the height of a vertical plate. Preferably, the vertical plates of the first and second steps have the same height.

[0023] This allows the strip material to be lifted to the next higher step after the lift is performed, where it rolls or slides to the stop of the next higher vertical plate, and thus remains there when the second step element descends, and can be lifted to the next higher step with the next lift.

[0024] Ideally, the pedals slope towards the ground along the direction of the next, higher vertical board.

[0025] Preferably, the directly adjacent transition regions of the first step element are connected to each other via a first track, and / or the directly adjacent transition regions of the second step element are connected to each other via a second track.

[0026] Preferably, the adjacent transition regions between the second step elements are connected to the second track, and each of the lower first steps has a first notch with a cross-section larger than that of the second track, such that the second track disappears in the first notch during downward movement, and a flat lower step is formed at the lower position.

[0027] At the lower position, the second track disappears in the lower pedal and forms a rolling or sliding surface for the strip material.

[0028] Preferably, the adjacent transition regions between the upper first step elements are connected to the first track, and the pedals of the lower second step elements each have a second notch, the cross-section of the second notch being larger than the cross-section of the first track, such that the first track disappears in the second notch during upward movement, and a flat upper step is formed at the upper position.

[0029] Here, a rolling or sliding surface for the strip material is formed at the upper position.

[0030] Particularly preferred is that the transition region has a recess through which a continuous track connecting multiple ladder elements is guided.

[0031] Preferably, the outer contour of the track matches the outer shape of the first or second step.

[0032] The second-stage elements are particularly preferably each connected to a continuous drive shaft, which is connected to two drivers and can be controlled by the drivers so that the drive shaft can move in a torsional manner.

[0033] In this embodiment, it is envisioned that the upward and downward movements of individual second-level elements are not performed in exactly the same way but in an alternating manner, such that the upward or downward movement begins at the same position. During the duration of the upward or downward movement, the movement diverges, and at their ending position, i.e., the upper or lower level position, they are identical again.

[0034] Preferably, the drive shaft is connected to one of the second step elements via a corresponding drive rod, and the drive rod is rotatably fixed to the drive shaft such that a torsion can be formed in the drive shaft by activating the two drives, causing the drive rod to rotate to different degrees along the length of the drive shaft at specific points in time, and the second step element to rise or fall to different degrees at least temporarily.

[0035] The slight shift in the vertical movement of the second-stage element has indicated that the inclined strip material is easier to fall and transport during the second attempt to move upward.

[0036] The second aspect of the invention is achieved by a method of conveying strip material using a stepped conveyor, wherein the strip material is lifted from a lower step to an upper step by the upward movement of a second stepped element, and the strip material, which is placed at an angle on the lower step or the upper step, slides autonomously on one of the sliding edges.

[0037] The method according to the invention is suitable for implementation using one of the aforementioned step conveyors. Conversely, one of the methods described below can be performed using any of the aforementioned step conveyors. Similarly, embodiments of the step conveyor also relate to this method and are considered to be commonly disclosed with respect to the latter.

[0038] According to the present invention, a strip material is lifted from a lower step to an upper step by moving a second step element, and the strip material sliding on one of the steps automatically slides on one of the sliding edges.

[0039] Preferably, when the second step element moves downward, the inclined strip material slides down the upper step on the first sliding edge.

[0040] Particularly preferably, when the second step element moves upward on the second sliding edge, the inclined strip material slides down to the lower step pedal.

[0041] In a particularly preferred further development, the second-stage elements move offset from each other during relative movement. Specifically, one driver and the other driver will start at the same position, and one driver will run in front of the other driver, and at the end position, the two drivers will again run in the same direction. Attached Figure Description

[0042] The present invention is described with reference to several embodiments illustrated in 26 figures. These figures show: Figure 1a The diagram shows a cascade conveyor in the lower stage according to the prior art. Figure 1b The step conveyor in Figure 1 is shown in the upper position. Figure 1c An isometric view of the stepped conveyor with the pipes in place, as shown in Figure 1, is presented. Figures 2a-2d The operating principle mode of a two-step stepped conveyor according to the prior art is shown. Figures 3a-3d A schematic diagram showing the pipe not being fully raised is provided. Figures 4a-4f A description of the operating mode of the first-stage conveyor with a second track according to the present invention is shown. Figures 5a-5dA description of the operating mode of a second-stage conveyor with a first track according to the present invention is shown. Figures 6a-6e An illustration shows the operating mode of a third-stage conveyor with a first track and a second track according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0043] Figure 1 shows a stepped conveyor 1 for pre-material in the form of pipe 2 according to the prior art. The stepped conveyor 1 has three steps 3a, 3b, and 3c. Figure 1 shows a side view of a first stepped element 5a fixed to the ground 4 and a second stepped element 6a movable vertically relative to the first stepped element 5a. The second stepped element 6a can be moved vertically by a drive rod 7a, which is mounted in an elongated hole 8a via a pin 9a in the second stepped element 6a. The steps 3a, 3b, and 3c of the stepped conveyor 1 are inclined from the open side to the closed side relative to the ground 4, so that the pipe 2 placed laterally on the open side of the steps can roll down the steps 3a, 3b, and 3c. The stepped conveyor 1 has a tube bundle holder 10 movable vertically for the pipe 2.

[0044] The second-stage element 6a is shown in Figure 1 as being in the lower stage position. Figure 1b The same side view of the step conveyor 1 in Figure 1 is shown, with the second step element 6a shown in the upper position. The drive rod 7a rotates clockwise by approximately 70 degrees. When in the lower position as shown in Figure 1, the lower second pedal 61a of the movable second step element 6a forms a horizontal pedal with the lower first pedal 51a of the first step element 5a, while in the upper position, the lower second pedal 61a of the movable second step element 6a forms a horizontal pedal with the upper first pedal 51a of the first step element 5a. It should be noted that in Figure 1a and 1b In addition to the lower pedal 51a and upper pedal 52a of the first step element 5a, there is also an even higher pedal 53a.

[0045] Figure 1c An isometric view shows a prior art stepped conveyor 1 in a lower position, with some pipes 2 shown in various conveying positions. The stepped elements are spaced apart from each other. First stepped elements 5a, 5b, and 5c are evenly spaced. Second stepped elements 6a, 6b, and 6c, movable relative to the first stepped elements, are arranged directly adjacent to each of the first stepped elements 5a, 5b, and 5c. The pipe bundle holder 10 can move vertically independently of the second stepped elements 6a, 6b, and 6c.

[0046] Figures 2a to 2dThe basic operating mode of a known step conveyor 1 with only two steps 3a and 3b is shown. The first step elements 5a, 5b, and 5c have two pedals 51a, 52a, 51b, 52b, 51c, and 52c, while the movable second step elements 6a, 6b, and 6c have only one pedal 61a, 61b, and 61c. Due to the inclined slope and flat design of the lower step 3a, the parallel pipes 2 can abut against each other. Figure 2a The next higher first vertical plates 54a, 54a, 54c move and are conveyed to a higher step 3b by the uniform upward movement of the second step elements 6a, 6b, 6c. There, they roll off the edge of the step due to the same inclined ramp of the upper step 3b and can be fed for further processing. The upper step 3b is formed by the upper first pedals 52a, 52b and 52c and the raised second pedals 61a, 61b, 61c. The processing is in Figures 2a to 2d The various steps are shown in the diagram.

[0047] Figures 3a to 3d The problem of skewed pipe 2 in the prior art is illustrated graphically. Figure 3a The pipes 2 in the middle are not parallel to each other, but are angled to each other on the lower step 3a. Therefore, it is particularly likely that not all pipes 2 will be able to be locked when the second step elements 6a, 6b, and 6c move upward. Figure 3b and 3c As shown, Figure 3a At the starting position, the right side of one of the tubes 2 is already in front of the right second-stage element 6a, and therefore cannot be lifted at all, while the left side and center of the same tube 2 are clamped and lifted by the associated central second-stage element 6b and left second-stage element 6c. Figure 3c As shown, pipe 2 then rests at a certain angle on different steps 3a and 3b at the upper position. Disadvantageously, the skewed pipe 2 prevents the other two pipes 2 from spreading out on the upper step 3b at the upper position, thus hindering the processing.

[0048] Figures 4a to 4f A first embodiment of the ladder conveyor 1 according to the present invention is shown, wherein a second track 11a is fixedly arranged on movable second ladder elements 6a, 6b, 6c and extends in the entire longitudinal direction L of the ladder conveyor 1. The second track 11a has a rectangular cross-section and is made of aluminum or metal, but other materials may also be used. The second track 11a is fixed in the transition area between the pedals and the vertical plates of the second ladder elements 6a, 6b, 6c. Preferably, the second track 11a has a second sliding edge 12a extending in the entire longitudinal direction L. The length of the second track 11a is preferably at least as long as the length of the pipe 2 to be conveyed. Figures 4a to 4dA schematic diagram of the cascade conveyor 1 in four processing steps is shown. At the lower stage, such as... Figure 4a As shown, pipe 2 is located on the lower step 3a. Pipe 2 is in a torsional state. For example, it can bend itself or stop at an angle on the lower step 3a. During the upward movement of the second step elements 6a, 6b, 6c, pipe 2 slides over the second sliding edge 12a of the movable second track 11a during the upward movement of the second step elements 6a, 6b, 6c, and falls back onto the first step 3a, as shown. Figure 4c As shown. In Figure 4d During the downward movement of the second-stage components 6a, 6b, and 6c, pipe 2 can be picked up a second time after the stage conveyor has reached the next stage position. Since the position of pipe 2 is now likely to be... Figure 4a The difference in the process increases the possibility that pipe 2 will stop exactly on the lower pedals 51a, 51b, 51c of the first step elements 5a, 5b, 5c during the second lifting attempt, and then roll or slide at a lower position onto the lower second pedals 61a, 61b, 61c of the second step elements 6a, 6b, 6c, and can be lifted correctly.

[0049] Figure 4e and 4f The ladder conveyor 1 is shown in two isometric views, in which three additional movable lifting arms of the tube bundle holder 10 are shown. Figures 4a to 4d Two steps, 3a and 3b, are shown, while Figures 4e to 4f The third step 3c is shown.

[0050] Figure 4f The step conveyor 1 in its lower position is shown. Three second step elements 6a, 6b, and 6c move to the lower position, and two second tracks 11a and 11b completely disappear into the first recess 131, each recess 131 being recessed into one of the first pedals 51a, 52a, 51b, 52b, 51c, and 52c of the first step elements 5a, 5b, and 5c. The upper edges of the tracks 11a and 11b, the first pedals 51a, 52a, 51b, 52b, 51c, and 52c, and the second pedals 61a, 62a, 61b, 62b, 61c, and 62c each form a flat pedal, which allows the pipe 2 to slide or roll from the open side of the pedal to the closed side of the pedal.

[0051] Figure 4f A drive mechanism is shown, which is driven by three drive rods 7a, 7b, and 7c. One end of each drive rod is securely connected to the drive shaft 14, and the other end is movably mounted in slots 8a, 8b, and 8c by pins 9a, 9b, and 9c, respectively.

[0052] exist Figure 4eIn the middle, the second-stage elements 6a, 6b, and 6c have moved upwards slightly. This position roughly corresponds to... Figure 4d The position in the middle.

[0053] Figures 5a to 5d A second embodiment of the ladder conveyor 1 according to the invention is shown, which has a continuous first track 16a that is securely connected to the first ladder elements 5a, 5b, 5c. The first track 16a is fixed in the transition area between the pedal and the vertical plate. For this purpose, a first recess 20 can be embedded into the transition area. However, it is also conceivable to fasten the track members between the transverse longitudinal beams of the first ladder elements 5a, 5b, 5c. Of course, similar devices are also conceivable for the first embodiment with a second track and for embodiments with both the first and second tracks 16a, 16b, 11a, 11b, which are still to be discussed. Figure 5a This shows the elevation of pipe 2, which is in Figure 5b It is parked at a certain angle on the upper step 3b.

[0054] Figure 5c The downward movement of the second-stage elements 6a, 6b, and 6c is shown. The right side of the tube 2 rests on the right-side second-stage element 6a and moves downward in a guided manner. During the downward movement, the tube 2 slides on the first sliding edge 17a of the first track 16a and then rests again on the first step 3a. A second lifting can then be performed.

[0055] Figures 6a to 6c A cascade conveyor 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 6b A series of first tracks 16a, 16b, and 16c are fixed between first step elements 5a, 5b, and 5c, and a series of second tracks 11a and 11b are fixed between second step elements 6a, 6b, and 6c. Figure 6a The side view of the cascade conveyor 1 is shown in the middle. Figure 6a The positions of the upper levels of the second-stage elements 6a, 6b, and 6c are shown.

[0056] Figure 6b Shown in isometric view Figure 6a The tiered conveyor 1 is not equipped with pipes 2. Approximately half of the tread depth is formed by the depth of the first tread, and approximately half by the depth of the second tread.

[0057] The second-stage elements 6a, 6b, and 6c have second notches 132 on their pedals, and the first tracks (16b, 16c) are inserted into the second notches at the upper stage position. This forms a flat pedal.

[0058] Figure 6c and 6dThis demonstrates a further development of the cascade conveyor 1. Figure 6c It is shown that the continuous second tracks 11a, 11b no longer extend horizontally and parallel to the continuous first tracks 16a, 16b, 16c, but are tilted at an angle relative to the ground 4 at a position between the upper and lower positions.

[0059] Figure 6d The image shows a tube 2 being placed therein. Figure 6c The state. Figure 6e It shows Figure 6c A rear view of the step conveyor 1. The second step elements 6a, 6b, 6c are driven by drive rods 7a, 7b, 7c. Drive rods 7a, 7b, 7c are rotatably connected to drive shaft 14 and movably pass through slots via pins 9a, 9b, 9c. However, unlike the prior art, drive shaft 14 has individual drives 21, 22 at each of its outer ends, preferably in the form of motors or servo motors. Drives 21 and 22 can be controlled individually. During lifting or lowering movements, the drives are not controlled synchronously but rather biased, causing drive shaft 14 to twist. Thus, drive rods 7a, 7b, 7c rotate by different amounts depending on their position along drive shaft 14, and the associated second step elements 6a, 6b, 6c rise or fall by different amounts. This results in… Figure 6c and 6d The tilting state of the pedals of the second step elements 6a, 6b, and 6c shown, and the tilting state of the tube 2 located thereon, in relation to them. Preferably, the first drive 21 and the second drive 22 operate alternately in front of and behind each other during continuous up-and-down movements. The tilting state of the tube 2 changes according to the lifting process, making it easier for the bent or kinked tube 2 to slip off.

[0060] List of reference numerals 1. Cascade Conveyor 2 Pipes 3a Step 3b Steps 3c Steps 4. Ground 5a First-stage element 5b First-stage components 5c First-stage components 6a Second-stage element 6b Second-stage element 6c Second-stage components 7a drive lever 7b drive lever 7c drive lever 8a Slender hole 8b Slender Hole 8c narrow hole 9a sales 9b sales 9c pin 10. Tube clamp holder 11a Second Orbit 11b Second Track 12a Second sliding edge 12b Second sliding edge 14 drive shafts 16a First Track 16b First Track 16c First Track 17a First sliding edge 17b First sliding edge 17c First sliding edge 20 concavity 21 drives 22 drives 51a Lower-level first pedal 51b Lower-level first pedal 51c Lower-level first pedal 52a Upper First Pedal 52b Upper First Pedal 52c Upper Level First Pedal 53a Next higher first pedal 53b Next higher first pedal 53c Next higher first pedal 54a Next higher first vertical board 54b Next higher first vertical board 54c Next, the first vertical board 61a Lower-level second pedal 61b Lower-level second pedal 61c Lower-level second pedal 62a Upper Second Pedal 62b Upper Second Pedal 62c Upper Second Pedal 131 First notch 132 Second notch L represents the longitudinal direction.

Claims

1. A stepped conveyor for strip material (2), said stepped conveyor having: The first step has at least two first step elements (5a, 5b, 5c) spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction (L), and The second step, which is movable vertically relative to the first step between a lower position and an upper position, has at least two second step elements (6a, 6b, 6c) spaced apart from each other, wherein... The first step elements (5a, 5b, 5c) and the second step elements (6a, 6b, 6c) are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction (L), and The lower-level first pedals (51a, 51b, 51c) of the first step element (5a, 5b, 5c) and the lower-level second pedals (61a, 61b, 61c) of the second step element (6a, 6b, 6c) together form a lower-level pedal at the lower-level position. The upper first pedal (52a, 52b, 52c) of the first step element (5a, 5b, 5c) and the lower second pedal (61a, 61b, 61c) of the second step element (6a, 6b, 6c) also form upper pedals at the upper position. The first step elements (5a, 5b, 5c) are connected to each other at the transition area between the first vertical plate and the first pedal by first tracks (16a, 16b, 16c) disposed on the lower first pedals (51a, 51b, 51c) and the upper first pedals (52a, 52b, 52c) of the first step elements (5a, 5b, 5c), wherein each of the first tracks (16a, 16b, 16c) forms a continuous first sliding edge (17a, 18b, 19c) for the strip material (2). 7b, 17c), and / or the second step elements (6a, 6b, 6c) are connected to each other at the transition area between the second vertical plate and the second pedal by second tracks (11a, 11b) provided on the lower second pedal (61a, 61b, 61c) of the second step elements (6a, 6b, 6c) and the upper second pedal (62a, 62b, 62c) of the second step elements (6a, 6b, 6c), each of the second tracks (11a, 11b) forming a continuous second sliding edge (12a, 12b) for the strip material (2).

2. The cascade conveyor according to claim 1, Its features are, A vertical movement has a height of a vertical plate (54a, 54b, 54c), wherein the vertical plate includes the first vertical plate and the second vertical plate.

3. The cascade conveyor according to claim 1, Its features are, The directly adjacent transition regions of the first step elements (5a, 5b, 5c) are connected to each other via the first track (16a, 16b, 16c), and / or the directly adjacent transition regions of the second step elements (6a, 6b, 6c) are connected to each other via the second track (11a, 11b).

4. The cascade conveyor according to claim 1, Its features are, The first step elements (5a, 5b, 5c) and the second step elements (6a, 6b, 6c) are arranged alternately in the longitudinal direction (L).

5. The cascade conveyor according to claim 1, Its features are, The adjacent transition regions between the second step elements (6a, 6b, 6c) are connected to the second rails (11a, 11b), and the lower first pedals of the first step elements (5a, 5b, 5c) each have a first notch (131) with a cross-section larger than that of the second rails (11a, 11b), such that the second rails (11a, 11b) disappear in the first notch (131) during downward movement, and a flat lower pedal is formed at the lower position.

6. The cascade conveyor according to claim 1, Its features are, The adjacent transition regions between the first step elements (5a, 5b, 5c) are connected to the first rails (16a, 16b, 16c), and the lower second pedals of the second step elements (6a, 6b, 6c) each have a second notch (132) with a cross-section larger than that of the first rails (16a, 16b, 16c), such that the first rails (16a, 16b, 16c) disappear in the second notch during upward movement, and a flat upper pedal is formed at the upper position.

7. The cascade conveyor according to claim 1, Its features are, The transition region has a recess (20) through which a continuous track is guided, the continuous track connecting a plurality of step elements to each other, wherein the track includes a first track (16a, 16b, 16c) and a second track (11a, 11b), and the plurality of step elements includes a first step element (5a, 5b, 5c) and a second step element (6a, 6b, 6c).

8. The cascade conveyor according to claim 1, Its features are, The second step elements (6a, 6b, 6c) are each connected to a continuous drive shaft (14), which is connected to two drivers and can be controlled by the drivers so that the drive shaft (14) can move in a torsional manner.

9. The cascade conveyor according to claim 1, Its features are, The drive shaft (14) is connected to one of the second step elements (6a, 6b, 6c) via corresponding drive rods (7a, 7b, 7c), and the drive rods (7a, 7b, 7c) are rotatably fixed to the drive shaft (14).

10. A method for conveying strip material (2) using a cascade conveyor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, Its features are, The strip material (2) is lifted from the lower step (3a) to the upper step (3b) by the upward movement of the second step element (6a, 6b, 6c), and the strip material (2) placed at an angle on the lower step (3a) or the upper step (3b) slides autonomously on one of the first sliding edge (17a, 17b, 17c) and the second sliding edge (12a, 12b).

11. The method according to claim 10, Its features are, On the upper step (3b), as the second step element (6a, 6b, 6c) moves downward, the inclined strip material (2) slides on the first sliding edge (17a, 17b, 17c).

12. The method according to claim 10, Its features are, On the lower step (3a), during the upward movement of the second step element (6a, 6b, 6c), the inclined strip material (2) slides downward on the second sliding edge (12a, 12b).

13. The method according to claim 10, Its features are, Each of the plurality of second step elements (6a, 6b, 6c) moves offset relative to the other second step element (6a, 6b, 6c) during relative motion.

14. The method according to claim 10, Its features are, The first driver (21) and the second driver (22) start at the same initial position, with the first driver (21) running in front of the second driver (22), and at the end position, the first driver (21) and the second driver (22) again run in the same direction.

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