SAMPLING DEVICE FOR SAMPLING PIPE PIECES

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a removal device for removing pipe sections according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a loading system with such a removal device and a method for removing pipe sections in the removal device or the loading system.

[0002] From DE 3403029 A1, a removal device with features of the preamble of claim 1 is known. For lifting and individually removing pipe sections from the storage cassette, a clamp is provided which picks up the pipe section and clamps it securely. The remaining pipe sections are returned to the storage cassette.

[0003] A disadvantage of this known extraction device is its complex design and therefore high cost. Furthermore, extraction using this device is very time-consuming and energy-intensive, as the storage cassette must be swung back after each individual pipe section is removed, and the lifting mechanism must be retracted to accommodate the numerous pipe sections. Additionally, handling with the tongs is cumbersome and prone to error. Switching to pipe sections of a different geometry or size can require cumbersome reprogramming and costly reconfiguration of the extraction device. Finally, the storage cassette must be held in place for the entire duration of the extraction process and cannot be used for other purposes or to hold additional pipe sections during this time.

[0004] The object of the invention is to reduce the disadvantages of the extraction devices known from the prior art, in particular to provide an extraction device that enables fast, reliable and cost-effective extraction of pipe sections.

[0005] The problem is solved by a removal device according to claim 1. Accordingly, a removal device for removing pipe sections, in particular individual pipe sections from a plurality of pipe sections, is proposed, wherein the removal device comprises: a receiving device with a loading edge, a receiving area for receiving the pipe sections and a loading surface connecting the loading edge with the receiving area, a pivotable storage cassette for storing a plurality of pipe sections, wherein the storage cassette is arranged or can be arranged in front of the loading edge of the receiving device and the storage cassette arranged in front of the loading edge is configured to be pivoted in front of the loading edge of the receiving device by a pivot angle of the storage cassette relative to a parallel of the horizontal, a lifting device for lifting the plurality of pipe sections from the storage cassette, wherein the lifting device is configured toto be moved in front of the loading edge of the receiving device in such a way that the lifting device lifts the plurality of pipe sections onto the loading edge, so that the plurality of pipe sections move along the loading surface into the receiving area, wherein the receiving device is arranged in the removal device at a defined angle of inclination and wherein the receiving device has a sliding unit that limits the speed of movement of the pipe sections along the loading surface.

[0006] The pusher unit enables the pipe sections to be unloaded into the receiving area at a controlled speed, ensuring safe and reliable unloading. For this purpose, the pusher unit can be designed to move linearly along the loading platform. Specifically, the pusher unit can be configured to pick up the pipe sections at the loading edge and convey them towards the receiving area. The pipe sections slide and / or roll into the receiving area. The pusher unit can also be used to convey pipe sections from the receiving area back into the storage cassette.

[0007] The extraction device may also include a lifting slide, which is or can be arranged at the receiving area and is designed to remove individual pipe sections from a plurality of pipe sections in the receiving area by lifting. The extraction device can thus also be described as an extraction device for removing individual pipe sections from a plurality of pipe sections.

[0008] By first moving the pipe sections into the receiving area, from where they are individually removed using the lifting slide, fast, continuous, and reliable removal of individual pipe sections is possible. The storage cassette only needs to be swiveled once, and the lifting mechanism only needs to be moved once. The removal device thus enables the individual pipe sections to be removed quickly, reliably, and cost-effectively from a large number of pipe sections.

[0009] The lifting device can be arranged, in particular, on the bottom of the storage cassette, or the lifting device can encompass the bottom of the storage cassette, with the multitude of pipe sections resting on the bottom. The lifting device is then moved within the storage cassette to lift the multitude of pipe sections, in particular layer by layer.

[0010] The lifting gate valve is designed so that it lifts only a single pipe section at a time from a multitude of pipe sections. To achieve this, the lifting surface of the valve, on which the individual pipe section rests during lifting, can be dimensioned such that only a single pipe section can be positioned on the lifting surface.

[0011] The numerous pipe sections arrange themselves into the receiving area as a bundle of pipe sections. Therefore, the receiving area is capable of accommodating multiple pipe sections, i.e., a bundle of pipe sections. The receiving area can, for example, have a V-shaped or U-shaped cross-section.

[0012] The extraction device may, in particular, include a control unit configured to control the extraction device. The control unit may be configured to control the receiving device, the storage cassette, the lifting mechanism, and / or the lifting slide in order to perform the process steps described above and below.

[0013] It is also possible to design the ejector, the slide unit, and / or the lifting slide to be linearly movable. In this way, the ejector, the slide unit, and / or the lifting slide can be equipped with linear actuators. This allows for a cost-effective design of the ejector, the slide unit, and / or the lifting slide, as well as easy handling of the pipe sections.

[0014] Furthermore, the lifting mechanism and the storage cassette can be designed to pivot together through the swivel angle. Similarly, the lifting mechanism can be fixed in position relative to the storage cassette, so that it always pivots with the swivel angle. This eliminates the need to position the lifting mechanism itself at an angle to the storage cassette. In this way, the lifting mechanism, or a section of the storage cassette moved by the lifting mechanism, can have its bearing surface at a right angle to the walls of the storage cassette. This prevents scratching of the pipe sections during lifting, unlike when the lifting mechanism is angled relative to the storage cassette.

[0015] Furthermore, the swivel angle can be set to range from 15° to 45°. In particular, the swivel angle can be set to range from 20° to 40°. A swivel angle in these ranges has proven advantageous for the reliable movement of numerous pipe sections from the storage cassette into the receiving area.

[0016] Furthermore, the retrieval system may include a rack and a storage and retrieval machine for removing the storage cassette from the rack and / or transferring pipe sections from the rack into the storage cassette. The rack may be configured with multiple storage cassettes or shelf compartments for storing pipe sections. This allows pipe sections of varying sizes, particularly length, material, and shape, to be stored in different storage cassettes or shelf compartments and retrieved by the storage and retrieval machine as needed. The storage system may be designed as a storage tower with several storage cassettes or shelf compartments stacked on top of each other. The storage system may be modular in design, allowing for vertical expansion with additional storage cassettes and shelf compartments. It is also possible to arrange multiple storage systems, such as two, side by side.Furthermore, the extraction device can have several receiving units and lifting slides, for example, two each. This allows different receiving units to be supplied with storage cassettes containing pipe sections and fed into a pipe processing machine for processing.

[0017] The storage cassette can be designed to be movable. For example, the storage cassette can be mounted on rails so that it can roll. Positioning the storage cassette in front of the loading edge of the receiving device can then be achieved by moving the storage cassette accordingly.

[0018] Finally, the receiving area can also be dimensioned so that all pipe sections that could be accommodated in the storage cassette can be held in the receiving area. This allows the storage cassette to be completely emptied, or the receiving area to hold all the pipe sections stored in the cassette. This ensures that the receiving area is adequately supplied for the subsequent individual removal of the pipe sections, freeing up the storage cassette. The storage cassette can then, for example, be loaded with new pipe sections for further removal and subsequent processing.

[0019] The aforementioned problem is also solved by a loading system for loading a pipe processing machine with individual pipe sections, wherein the loading system comprises a removal device and a loading device, the loading device having a pivoting gripper configured to grasp individual pipe sections from the receiving area and move them to the pipe processing machine. In particular, the pivoting gripper can be configured to grasp the individual pipe section removed by means of the lifting slide and move it to the pipe processing machine.

[0020] This allows the pipe sections to be fed to the pipe processing machine easily and quickly. The pipe processing machine can, in particular, be equipped with a laser for laser cutting the pipe sections.

[0021] The loading system may include a length measuring device for measuring the length of individual pipe sections. This allows the individual pipe sections to be fixed at the correct distance from a processing point within the pipe processing machine.

[0022] The aforementioned problem is also solved by a method for removing pipe sections from the removal device or the loading system, wherein the method comprises the steps of: storing pipe sections in the storage cassette, arranging and pivoting the storage cassette in front of the loading edge of the receiving device, lifting the plurality of pipe sections from the storage cassette onto the loading edge of the receiving device, and moving the plurality of pipe sections from the loading edge into the receiving area.

[0023] In particular, it may be provided that all pipe sections from the storage cassette are moved into the receiving area. Furthermore, it may be provided that the pipe sections move into the receiving area, particularly predominantly or solely, by the action of gravity.

[0024] A method for removing individual pipe sections from a multitude of pipe sections may also be provided, comprising the steps of the method for removing pipe sections in the removal device or in the loading system, and further comprising the step of removing an individual pipe section in the receiving area by lifting it using the lifting slide.

[0025] Further details and advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the following description, which provides further description and explanation of exemplary embodiments of the invention.

[0026] The single figure shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a loading system for a pipe processing machine with a removal device.

[0027] The removal device 10 shown in the figure comprises several storage cassettes 20.1, 20.2, 20.3, 20.4, 20.5, 20.6, 20.7, 20.8, 20.9, 20.10, a bearing 50 and a receiving device 30. The loading system 100 shown in the figure comprises the removal device 10 and a loading device 40.

[0028] In storage unit 50, storage cassettes 20.2, 20.3, 20.4, 20.5, 20.6, 20.7, 20.8, 20.9, and 20.10 are stored, while storage cassette 20.1 is arranged on the receiving device 30. For this purpose, storage cassette 20.1 was moved on a rail 51 in front of the receiving device 30. Storage cassette 20.1 contains a number of pipe sections 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3. These are to be individually removed from storage cassette 20.1 to load a pipe processing machine 60.

[0029] For this purpose, the storage cassette 20.1 is displaced about a first pivot point 21 in the direction of arrow A by a pivot angle γ relative to the rail 51, the floor, or a line P. The pivot angle γ is 30° in this case. A lifting device 22 is linearly movable within the storage cassette 20.1 and, by moving in the direction of the receiving device 30 or arrow B, lifts all pipe sections 1.1 stored in the storage cassette 20.1. 1.2, 1.3 high.

[0030] As soon as the lifting device 22 reaches a loading edge 31 of the receiving device 30, the pipe sections 1.1 arranged in a top row of the storage cassette 20.1 move, 1.2, 1.3 from the storage cassette 20.1 along a loading surface 32 of the receiving device 30 into a receiving area 33 of the receiving device 30. For this purpose, the loading surface 32 is inclined at an angle φ in the direction from the loading edge 31 to the receiving area 33 relative to a horizontal H in the direction of gravity G. The horizontal H is parallel to the ground. The horizontal is also perpendicular to the direction of gravity G or the gravitational field lines (running in the direction of gravity G). The line P is a parallel P to the horizontal H. . By a further movement of the lifting device 22, further pipe sections 1, arranged in a next row in the storage cassette 20.1, can be moved over the loading edge 31 onto the loading platform 32.

[0031] Otherwise, the outsourced storage cassette 20.1, e.g. when it has been completely unloaded, can be moved to the storage 50 and another pipe section 1 stored from the storage cassettes 20.2, 20.3, 20.4, 20.5, 20.6, 20.7, 20.8, 20.9, 20.10 can be removed by means of a storage and retrieval device (not shown) and arranged at the receiving device 30.

[0032] The receiving device 30 further comprises a sliding unit 36, which is designed to be linearly movable along the loading surface 32. To convey the pipe sections 1 from the loading edge 31 into the receiving area 33 in a particularly controlled manner, the sliding unit 36 ​​can be gradually moved from the loading edge 31 towards the receiving area 33. The pipe sections 1 rest against the sliding unit 36 ​​and are conveyed into the receiving area 33 together with the sliding unit 36 ​​by means of gravity and the inclination of the loading surface 32. Likewise, the sliding unit 36 ​​can be moved from the receiving area 33 towards the loading edge 31 to move pipe sections 1 from the receiving area 33 back into the storage cassette 20. The linear mobility of the sliding unit 36 ​​in both directions mentioned above is indicated by the arrow F.

[0033] The slide unit 36 ​​is used to control the movement speed of the pipe sections 1. By means of a linearly movable lifting slide 35, which is arranged at the receiving area 33, a single pipe section 1 is finally selected from the plurality of pipe sections 1.1. 1.2, 1.3 in the receiving area 33 by lifting in the direction of arrow D.

[0034] The separated pipe section 1 is fed to the loading device 40. A gripper 41 grasps the separated pipe section 1 and moves it by pivoting about a third pivot point 42 in the direction of arrow E to the pipe processing machine 60. The separated pipe section 1 is then processed in the pipe processing machine 60.

Claims

1. A removal device (10) for removing pipe sections (1), wherein the removal device (10) has: (a) a holding device (30) with a loading edge (31), a holding area (33) for holding the pipe sections (1) and a loading area (32) connecting the loading edge (31) to the holding area (33), (b) a pivotable storage cassette (20) for storing a plurality of pipe sections (1), wherein the storage cassette (20) is arranged or can be arranged in front of the loading edge (31) of the holding device (30) and the storage cassette (20) arranged in front of the loading edge (31) is configured to be pivoted in front of the loading edge (31) of the holding device (30) by a pivoting angle (γ) of the storage cassette (20) relative to a parallel (P) of the horizontal (H), (c) a lifter (22) for lifting the plurality of pipe sections (1) out of the storage cassette (20), wherein the lifter (22) is configured to be moved in front of the loading edge (31) of the holding device (30) in such a way that the lifter (22) lifts the plurality of pipe sections (1) onto the loading edge (31) so that the plurality of pipe sections (1) move along the loading area (32) into the holding area (33), characterized in that, the holding device (30) is arranged at a fixed angle of inclination (φ) in the removal device (10), and in that the holding device (30) has a slide unit (36) which delimits the speed of movement of the pipe sections (1) along the loading area (32).

2. The removal device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the removal device (10) also has a lifting slide (35) which is arranged or can be arranged on the holding area (33) and is configured to remove individual pipe sections (1) from the plurality of pipe sections (1) in the holding area (33) by lifting.

3. The removal device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lifter (22) and / or the lifting slide (35) and / or the slide unit (36) are designed such that they can be moved in a linear manner.

4. The removal device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lifter (22) and the storage cassette (20) are configured to be pivoted together about the pivoting angle (γ).

5. The removal device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pivoting angle (γ) is in the range from 15° to 45°.

6. The removal device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the removal device (10) has a shelf (50) and a storage and retrieval unit for removing the storage cassette (20) from the shelf (50) and / or for transferring pipe sections (1) from the shelf (50) into the storage cassette (20).

7. The removal device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding area (33) is dimensioned relative to the storage cassette (20) such that all pipe sections (1) of the plurality of pipe sections (1) that can be received in the storage cassette (20) can be received in the holding area (33).

8. A loading system (100) for loading a pipe machining apparatus (60) with individual pipe sections (1), wherein the loading system (100) has a removal device (10) according to one of the preceding claims and a loading device (40), wherein the loading device (40) has a pivotable gripper (41) which is configured to grip individual pipe sections (1) and to move them to the pipe machining apparatus (60).

9. The loading system (100) according to claim 8, wherein the loading system (100) has a length measuring device for measuring a length of the individual pipe sections (1).

10. A method for removing pipe sections (1) in a removal device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 or in a loading system (100) according to any one of claims 8 to 9, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) storing a plurality of pipe sections (1) in the storage cassette (20), (b) arranging and pivoting the storage cassette (20) in front of the loading edge (31) of the holding device (30), (c) lifting the plurality of pipe sections (1) out of the storage cassette (20) onto the loading edge (31) of the holding device (30), and (d) moving the plurality of pipe sections (1) from the loading edge (20) into the holding area (33).

11. The method for removing individual pipe sections from a plurality of pipe sections (1), with the steps of the method in accordance with claim 10 in a removal device (10) according to one of claims 2 to 7 or in a loading system (100) according to one of claims 8 to 9 and further with the step of: removing an individual pipe section (1) in the holding area (33) by lifting by means of the lifting slide (35).