Device for picking up sticks and corresponding method

Abstract

A pick-up device (10) configured to selectively pick up and remove at least one rod (B) from a supply surface (111) for depositing said at least one rod (B) on a delivery surface (11) has a support arm (11) at the end of which is provided a pick-up head (12). The invention further relates to an apparatus (100) for feeding rods (B) comprising the device (10) described above, and to a method for picking up rods (B).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for picking up bars, in particular metal bars used in the construction sector, such as wire rods, reinforcing bars, bars, round bars, square bars etc.

[0002] In particular, the apparatus and corresponding methods of the present invention are suitable for substantially automatically picking up one or more rods at a time from a supply surface and placing them on a delivery surface or directly on a processing machine. [Background technology]

[0003] For example, in the field of supplying bars to user machines such as bending machines, stirrup bender machines, welding or cutting machines, it is often necessary to supply bars which are picked up from a suitable storage location by means of a bridge crane or the like and placed on a supply device for delivery to a station or piece of equipment.

[0004] The rods are typically fed in the form of a bundle and randomly scattered on a feed surface with feed means driven to advance the rods, causing them to intertwine and twist with one another, causing the rods to vibrate at least partially apart.

[0005] These rods are then picked up, individually or in groups, by a suitable pick-up device, for example a magnetic pick-up arm, and delivered directly to a user machine or downstream by means of a ramp, roller way, or other means of movement which, in addition to moving the rods, can also impart a rhythm to their advancement if desired.

[0006] However, it often happens that the pick-up device does not correctly pick up the desired number of rods and / or the rods are picked up randomly without any particular spatial orientation, which can lead to both errors in rod counting and the need to accurately reposition rods that have already been transferred, resulting in wasted time, inefficiencies and increased costs.

[0007] Especially for very long rods, more than 25m, picking up the rods can be very difficult, especially if the corresponding ends are in a twisted state, and in this step these rods may even become bent or curved, so that once picked up and taken to their destination, these rods may be in a position or condition that is not suitable for use.

[0008] The devices for picking up rods known from EP 1934000, KR 2019-0103262 and EP 2412456 do not solve the above-mentioned shortcomings. Therefore, there is a need to perfect an apparatus for picking up rods and a corresponding method, so as to overcome at least one of the shortcomings of the prior art.

[0009] To achieve this, it is necessary to overcome the technical challenge of picking up one rod or more than one rod at a time from a supply surface of a rod supplying device and subsequently placing them on a delivery surface such that the rods are substantially linear with respect to their deployment direction.

[0010] In particular, one object of the present invention is to provide a device that can pick up, in an automated manner, one or more rods at a time and both maintain or return the rods to a substantially linear state prior to depositing them on a delivery surface.

[0011] Another objective is to be able to manipulate rods of virtually any length, as well as to ensure that these rods are counted and picked up without errors caused by undesirable overlap or multiple pick-up.

[0012] Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for feeding rods, comprising said pick-up device.

[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for picking up rods that is capable of both picking up, in an automated manner, one or more rods at a time and maintaining or returning the rods to a substantially linear state, for example before depositing the rods on a delivery face of a rod-supplying device.

[0014] Applicant has conceived, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other objects and advantages. Summary of the Invention

[0015] The invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims describe further features of the invention or variants or variations on the main inventive idea.

[0016] In accordance with the above objectives, a pick-up device has been invented for selectively picking up and removing at least one rod from a plurality of rods arranged on a supply surface for placement on a delivery surface and comprising a support arm having a pick-up head at its end.

[0017] According to one aspect of the invention, the pick-up device comprises temporary support means comprising at least one central support having a base configured to support a central portion of the at least one rod, and lateral support portions movable laterally away from the central support and configured to align each of the lateral portions of the at least one rod with the central portion and to support and remove the lateral portions.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present invention, the temporary support means includes a secondary support portion that is movable in the vertical direction, and the secondary support portion is normally disposed at a height lower than the height of the central support portion and the side support portions.

[0019] Further in accordance with the present invention, the support arm may be configured to move the pick-up head in a linear positioning direction to move the pick-up head closer to or further away from the temporary support means.

[0020] In the present invention, the pick-up head may further comprise a grip matrix movable in an operating direction transverse to both the positioning direction and the lateral direction.

[0021] The grip matrix may be made entirely or partially from or coated with a magnetic or electromagnetic material, and the grip matrix may have a grip surface on which are provided a plurality of grip pedestals having downwardly facing recesses, each of the plurality of grip pedestals being spaced apart from one another by a predetermined pitch.

[0022] The central support may include a plurality of pedestals having the pitch distance from one another and having a depth greater than a lateral measurement of the bar, the pedestals being arranged in two opposing rows spaced apart in the lateral direction by an internal distance greater than a width of the grip matrix.

[0023] According to one aspect of the invention, each of the lateral supports comprises a base plate with a plurality of pegs or pins projecting vertically from the base plate and defining a straightening channel therebetween for the passage of the rod.

[0024] Finally, a plurality of the secondary supports are aligned in the lateral direction and spaced apart from one another at equal intervals to maintain the rod along its entire length.

[0025] According to another embodiment, an apparatus for supplying rods is provided, said apparatus comprising a supply surface on which a plurality of said rods can be arranged, a delivery surface downstream of said supply surface, and a pick-up device as described above.

[0026] According to another embodiment, a method for picking up rods is provided, said method comprising the steps of selectively picking up and removing at least one said rod arranged on a supply surface of an apparatus for supplying rods, and placing said at least one rod on a delivery surface downstream of said apparatus on which a pick-up device is provided, by moving a support arm on whose end a pick-up head is provided.

[0027] According to one aspect of the invention, the method comprises the step of temporarily supporting the at least one rod with a temporary support means, wherein a central support portion having a base supports a central portion of the at least one rod, and lateral support portions are moved laterally away from the central support portion to align each of the lateral portions of the at least one rod with the central portion and support and remove the lateral portions.

[0028] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a device for picking up rods according to the invention, which is part of an apparatus for feeding rods. [Figure 1a] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. [Figure 2a] FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic view of a detail of FIG. [Figure 2b] FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic view of a detail of FIG. [Figure 3a]3A-3D illustrate the operating steps of a method for picking up a rod according to the invention; [Figure 3b] 3A-3D illustrate the operating steps of a method for picking up a rod according to the invention; [Figure 3c] 3A-3D illustrate the operating steps of a method for picking up a rod according to the invention; [Figure 3d] 3A-3D illustrate the operating steps of a method for picking up a rod according to the invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] We must make it clear that the phraseology and terminology used in this specification, as well as the accompanying drawings, which are similarly described, have the sole function of better illustrating and explaining the present invention. Their function is to provide a non-limiting illustration of the invention itself, since the scope of protection for this application is defined by the claims.

[0031] For ease of understanding, the same reference numerals have been used, wherever possible, to identify identical common elements in the figures. It will be understood that elements and features of one embodiment may be advantageously combined with or incorporated into other embodiments unless further explained.

[0032] With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown a pick-up device 10 for picking up rods B associated with an apparatus 100 for feeding rods B suitable for placement upstream of a processing machine such as a stirrup bender, shaper, bending machine, strapper, cropper or other equivalent machine.

[0033] The rods B have a mainly oval shape, may be several meters long and may have different diameters and surface finishes. The rods B can be supplied to the device 100 in loose form or in bundled bundles.

[0034] The device 100 , which is partially shown, comprises a supply surface 111 on which a plurality of rods B can be arranged, and a delivery surface 112 downstream of the surface 111 .

[0035] The apparatus 10 is configured to selectively pick up and remove at least one rod B from a plurality of rods B disposed on the supply surface 111 for placement on the delivery surface 112. In the example described herein, the pick-up device 10 is configured to pick up three B rods at a time, although it is possible to pick up more or less rods B.

[0036] The device 10 for picking up the rod B comprises, from its central part b1, a support arm 11 equipped with a pick-up head 12 at its end.

[0037] The apparatus 10 comprises a temporary support means 13 comprising at least one central support 14 configured to support a central portion b1 of the rod B picked up by the pick-up head 12, and two lateral support portions 16 movable away from the central support 14 in the lateral direction T to support and remove the lateral portions b2, b3 of the rod B and align them with the central portion b1.

[0038] Indeed, when the rods B are picked up with respect to their central portion b1, the lateral portions b2, b3 still remain on the feed surface 111 and may be twisted or overlapped with other rods B present therein. While the central support 14 remains fixed in cooperation with the pick-up head 12 with the central portion b1 of the rods B, the lateral supports 16, starting from a position close to the central support 14 and moving away from it, perform a kind of "combing" of the lateral portions b2, b3 of the rods B present on the feed surface 111 so that they are completely removed from the rods B present on the feed surface 111 and aligned for longitudinal development.

[0039] The temporary support means 13 may comprise a secondary support 17 that is normally disposed in a lowered position at a height lower than that of the central support 14 and the lateral support 16, and is vertically movable toward a raised position aligned at the same height as the central support 14 and the lateral support 16, in order to support the corresponding portions of the lateral portions b2, b3 straightened and aligned by the lateral support 16. In particular, in the lowered position, the secondary support 17 is below the delivery plane 112, and in the raised position, it is above it.

[0040] The central support 14 is movable downward in the vertical direction simultaneously with the vertical movement of the secondary support 17 between a raised holding position for receiving the rods B from the pick-up head 12 and a lowered delivery position for placing the removed and aligned rods B on the delivery surface 112. In the raised holding position, the central support 14 is above the delivery surface 112, while in the lowered delivery position, it is below it.

[0041] According to an embodiment, the support arm 11 extends substantially linearly and can be of the telescopic or piston type.

[0042] The support arm 11 is configured to displace the pick-up head 12 substantially linearly in a positioning direction D. This substantially linear displacement allows the pick-up head 12 to be alternately positioned above the feed surface 111 for picking up a rod B, or above the temporary support means 13 for positioning and releasing a rod B.

[0043] In this particular case, the support arm 11 is arranged in a central position relative to the respective lateral edges of the supply face 111 and the delivery face 112 (see FIG. 1).

[0044] The support arm 11 is mounted on a framework 18 and comprises a fixed part 19 and a movable part 20 which slides relative to the fixed part 19 and is provided with the pick-up head 12 at its end. The fixed part 19 unfolds in a cantilever shape relative to the framework 18 in a positioning direction D, in which the movable part 20 moves to properly position the pick-up head 12.

[0045] The pick-up head 12 has a fixed support 22 and a grip matrix 23. The grip matrix 23 slides relative to the support 22 in a movement direction F transverse to both the positioning direction D and the lateral direction T. The movement direction F is directed towards the supply surface 111 or the delivery surface 112 of the device 100. In the example of Fig. 1, the movement direction F is substantially perpendicular to the positioning direction D and perpendicular to both the supply surface 111 and the delivery surface 112. In other words, the grip matrix 23 is movable towards or away from the supply surface 111 or the delivery surface 112.

[0046] The pick-up head 12 is magnetic or electromagnetic. In particular, the gripping matrix 23 is made entirely or partly of a magnetic or electromagnetic material or is at least entirely or partly coated with a magnetic or electromagnetic material, which makes it possible to generate an attractive force that lifts at least one rod B, advantageously its central part b1, i.e. at least partially removes it from the other rods B present in the feed surface 111.

[0047] 2, the grip matrix 23 comprises a gripping surface 26 facing either the top of the rod B to be picked up or the top of the temporary support means 13. The gripping surface 26 thus faces either the supply surface 111 or the delivery surface 112 and is substantially parallel thereto.

[0048] A plurality of grip pedestals 27 are formed on grip surface 26 .

[0049] The grip seats 27 have a downward recess and are each configured to receive a corresponding rod B. In particular, each grip seat 27 has a hollow shape, for example semi-cylindrical or another shape, and is suitably formed to accommodate a portion of the rod B by opening at its longitudinal end. In the example described here, the grip surface 26 is provided with three grip seats 27. However, as mentioned, it is not excluded that the number of grip seats 27 may be more or less than this number.

[0050] The grip seats 27 are spaced apart from one another, and the distance between one grip seat 27 and another grip seat 27 may be the same predetermined pitch P or may be different.

[0051] Advantageously, the presence of the gripping base 27, which is not a flat or other prepared surface, allows the rods B to be engaged in a more reliable manner and allows the required distance to be pre-spaced rather than requiring a subsequent spacing action. Furthermore, the presence of the gripping base 27 ensures that only the planned and desired number of rods B are picked up.

[0052] According to one possible embodiment, the grip matrix 23 is of a type that can be replaced if the distance between the picked-up rods B is different or if a different number of rods B is required.

[0053] According to some embodiments, the central support 14 is associated with a framework 18 and can be, for example, cantilevered above the delivery plane 112 , protruding from the end of a beam or pair of beams 21 .

[0054] The lateral supports 16 slide on guide means 28, in this particular case on tubular rails 29 extending in the lateral direction T (see FIG. 1a) and which may be attached to the same pair of beams 21. In particular, the lateral supports 16 are movable between a central proximal position, aligned laterally with respect to the central support 14, and an end distal position, spaced from the central support 14 at a distance greater than the length of the processed rod B.

[0055] The central support 14 and the two lateral supports 16 are typically arranged above the delivery plane 112 and at a height different from, in particular higher than, the height of the feed plane 111. In this way, the initial removal of the rods B is facilitated, since a first release of the picked-up rods B has already occurred relative to what is present on the feed plane 111. Furthermore, picking up the rods B relative to their central parts b1 significantly reduces the effort required by the pick-up head 12, since the rods B are usually intertwined and overlap correspondingly at their ends.

[0056] The central support 14 is vertically movable to pass from a position above the delivery plane 112 to a position below it and then back to the starting position. This vertical movement of the central support 14 is coordinated with the movement of the secondary supports 17 so that the rods B descend parallel to one another without tilting or deforming.

[0057] Furthermore, the central support 14 may be provided with a pedestal 30 having an upwardly facing recess, configured to support the rod B released / positioned by the pick-up head 12 .

[0058] The pedestals 30 are arranged opposite each other and aligned in pairs to define two support points for each rod B.

[0059] Advantageously, the pedestals 30 are designed with the same number and spacing as the grip pedestals 27 of the grip matrix 23 .

[0060] The pedestals 30 have a depth greater than the diameter, or more generally the lateral size, of the rods B that they have to accommodate. Moreover, the pedestals 30 are arranged in two opposing rows spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction T by an internal distance L greater than the width W of the grip matrix 23 (see FIG. 1a). In this way, when the pick-up head 12 descends to position the rods B, they can be held firmly in place while the lateral supports 16 act in the lateral direction T.

[0061] According to some embodiments, each lateral support 16 comprises a base plate 31. A number of pegs or pins 32 project vertically from the base plate 31 and define between them straightening channels 33 for the passage of said rods B. These straightening channels 33 are aligned with the seats 30 of the central support 14.

[0062] More specifically, a first row of pegs 32 spaced apart from one another by at least a measure slightly greater than the diameter of the rod B, and a second row of pegs 32 facing the first row of pegs 32 and spaced apart in the lateral direction T, are provided.

[0063] Between the pegs 32 of the first row and the pegs 32 of the second row there is a roller 34 on which a part of the rod B supported in the straightening channel 33 can rest (see Figures 1a and 3b). In this way, friction is limited when the lateral supports 16 move in the lateral direction T to retrieve and straighten the rod B.

[0064] The secondary supports 17 are aligned in the lateral direction T and are equally spaced apart to maintain the rod B in stages over its entire length.

[0065] The lateral supports 16 have a lateral amplitude of movement such that they can move past the last secondary supports 17 on either side, completely releasing rod B at the end of the "combing" leaving rod B resting only on the central support 14 and the secondary supports 17. These are already described, as the lateral supports 16 are movable to deposit rod B on the delivery surface 112.

[0066] The secondary supports 17 are provided with inlets 35, each capable of supporting a corresponding portion of the rod B. When the secondary supports 17 are in the raised position, the inlets 35 are aligned with both the straightening channel 33 and the seat 30 of the central support 14. The seat 30, the straightening channel 33 and the inlets 35 define a temporary support surface L for the rod B, as shown, for example, in Figures 2 and 3a to 3d.

[0067] According to some embodiments, as shown in Figures 3a to 3d, a method for picking up rods B according to the invention is provided, which comprises selectively picking up and removing at least one rod B arranged on a supply plane 111 of an apparatus 100 for supplying rods B, and placing the at least one rod B on a delivery plane 112 downstream of the apparatus 100, on which a pick-up device 10 is provided, by moving a support arm 11, at the end of which a pick-up head 12 is provided.

[0068] According to this method, at least one, for example three, rods B are temporarily supported by the temporary support means 13, the central support portion 14 stably supports the central portion b1 of at least one rod B, and the side support portions 16 are moved in the lateral direction T away from the central support portion 14 to align each of the side portions b2, b3 of the at least one rod B with the central portion b1, and support and remove the side portions b2, b3.

[0069] It will be apparent that modifications and / or additions may be made to the apparatus 10 and method for picking up a rod described hereinabove without departing from the field and scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims.

[0070] Furthermore, although the invention has been described based on several specific examples, it is clear that a person skilled in the art can obtain many equivalent forms of devices for picking up rods and corresponding methods having the characteristics as recited in the claims and therefore belonging to the field of protection defined thereby.

[0071] In the following claims, the sole purpose of the reference signs in parentheses is to facilitate reading; they shall not be considered as limiting factors with regard to the field of protection defined by the same claims.

Claims

1. A pickup device (10) configured to selectively pick up and remove at least one rod (B) from a supply surface (111) for placing the at least one rod (B) on a delivery surface (112), wherein the pickup device (10) comprises: a support arm (11) provided with a pickup head (12) at an end; a temporary support means (13) comprising at least one central support portion (14) having a pedestal (30) configured to support a central portion (b1) of the at least one rod (B); a lateral support portion (16) movable laterally (T) away from the central support portion (14), the lateral support portion (16) being configured to align respective lateral portions (b2, b3) of the at least one rod (B) with the central portion (b1) and support and remove the lateral portions (b2, b3); The pickup device (10) is characterized by comprising the above.

2. The temporary support means (13) comprises a secondary support portion (17) movable in the vertical direction, The pickup device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the secondary support portion (17) is normally arranged at a height lower than the heights of the central support portion (14) and the lateral support portion (16).

3. The support arm (11) is configured to move the pickup head (12) in a linear positioning direction (D) to bring the pickup head (12) closer to or away from the temporary support means (13), the pickup device (10) according to claim 1.

4. The pickup head (12) comprises a grip matrix (23) movable in an operating direction (F) transverse to both the positioning direction (D) and the lateral direction (T), the pickup device (10) according to claim 1.

5. The grip matrix (23) is made of or coated with a magnetic material or an electromagnetic material, either wholly or partially, The grip matrix (23) comprises a grip surface provided with a plurality of grip pedestals (27) having downward recesses, The pickup device (10) according to claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of grip pedestals (27) is spaced apart from each other by a predetermined pitch (P).

6. The plurality of pedestals (30) have a distance of the pitch (P) from each other and have a depth greater than the lateral measurement of the rod (B). The pickup device (10) according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of pedestals (30) are arranged in two facing rows spaced apart by an internal distance (L) greater than the width (W) of the grip matrix (23) in the lateral direction (T).

7. Each of the side support portions (16) includes a base plate (31). The pickup device (10) according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of pegs or pins (32) project vertically from the base plate (31), and a correction channel (33) for the passage of the rod (B) is defined therebetween.

8. The pickup device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of secondary support portions (17) are aligned in the lateral direction (T) so as to maintain the rod (B) over its entire length and are arranged at equal intervals from each other.

9. An apparatus (100) for supplying a rod (B), the apparatus (100) comprising: a supply surface (111) on which a plurality of the rods (B) can be arranged; a delivery surface (112) located downstream of the supply surface (111); a pickup device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8; and characterized by comprising the above.

10. A method of picking up a rod (B), the method comprising: selectively picking up and removing at least one of the rods (B) arranged on a supply surface (111) of an apparatus (100) for supplying the rod (B); placing the at least one rod (B) on a delivery surface (112) on the downstream side of the apparatus (100) provided with the pickup device (10) by moving a support arm (11) provided with a pickup head (12) at an end; temporarily supporting the at least one rod (B) by temporary support means (13); and comprising: a central support portion (14) having a pedestal (30) supports a central portion (b1) of the at least one rod (B); The side support portion (16) is moved away from the central support portion (14) in the lateral direction (T) to align each of the lateral portions (b2, b3) of the at least one rod (B) with the central portion (b1), and the lateral portions (b2, b3) are supported and taken out.

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