Bar transfer device

Abstract

To provide a bar material transfer device for a circular saw cutting machine, capable of supplying a predetermined number of bar materials in an aligned state from a material supply conveyor to the circular saw cutting machine. The apparatus includes a batch support part 82 whose cross section in the transfer direction is formed in a concave shape and which can collectively support the bar materials BL in an aligned state on the concave bottomed part 82a, and a transfer drive mechanism 84 which moves the batch support part 82 while holding the bottomed part 82a horizontally to transfer the bar materials BL from the aligning conveyor 70 onto the roller conveyor 46. As a result, a predetermined number N (=4) of bar materials BL aligned adjacent to each other on the aligning conveyor 70 are transferred onto the roller conveyor 46 in an aligned state, and the predetermined number N (=4) of bar materials are supplied from the roller conveyor 46 to the circular saw cutting machine 10 in an aligned state.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a bar material transfer device that transfers a predetermined number of adjacently aligned bars to a material feed conveyor of a circular saw cutting machine. [Background technology]

[0002] When cutting to size, which involves repeatedly and continuously cutting long bars such as rebars, steel bars, and wire rods to a desired length with a circular saw cutter, a circular saw cutter equipped with a clamping device having a horizontal vise that holds multiple bars horizontally and a vertical vise that holds multiple bars vertically is used. An example of such a circular saw cutter is described in Patent Document 1. The clamping device grips the bars near the point where the circular saw passes, preventing them from moving during cutting and ensuring a stable life for the circular saw. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-73122 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, as the diameter of the bar material becomes smaller, it is desirable to increase the number of bars to be cut simultaneously, for example, a predetermined number (four bars) to be cut simultaneously, in order to obtain the efficiency of the circular saw cutting machine.

[0005] In the case of deformed reinforcing bars, for example, when the cross section of the reinforcing bars is oval-shaped, consisting of a pair of parallel sides and a pair of arcs connecting the sides, when the bars are lined up next to each other, the orientation of the oval shapes may not be uniform, i.e., the orientation of the oval shapes may be mixed and the height from the bottom may be uneven. If a certain number of bars are to be cut simultaneously with the aforementioned circular saw cutting machine in this state, the clamping device may not hold the bars securely, which may cause the bars to move during cutting, resulting in damage to the circular saw or a decrease in cutting accuracy. Therefore, it is desirable to align the orientation (height) of each bar on the material feed conveyor before feeding them into the circular saw cutting machine. However, in the past, the bars were rolled one by one by dropping or pushing them out and lining up in a predetermined position on the material supply conveyor. This meant that the orientation of the bars was unstable when the rolling stopped, and the aligned bars were pushed by the next bar, causing the orientation (height) of the bars to become inconsistent, posing a problem in supplying the required number of aligned bars from the material supply conveyor to the circular saw cutting machine.

[0006] The present invention has been made in light of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide a bar material transfer device in a bar material supply device for a circular saw cutting machine, which can supply a predetermined number of bars in an aligned state from a material supply conveyor to the circular saw cutting machine. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] That is, the gist of the first invention is (a) a bar material supply device for a circular saw cutting machine that simultaneously cuts a predetermined number of bar materials, the bar material supply device supplying the predetermined number of bar materials aligned adjacent to one another from a material supply conveyor to the circular saw cutting machine that simultaneously cuts the predetermined number of bar materials, the bar material transfer device comprising: an aligning conveyor provided parallel to the material supply conveyor; and a bar material transfer device that transfers the predetermined number of bar materials aligned adjacent to one another on the aligning conveyor onto the material supply conveyor, the bar material transfer device comprising: (b) a collective support part whose cross section in the transfer direction is formed in a concave shape and which can collectively support the bar materials in an aligned state on the concave bottom part; and (c) a transfer drive mechanism that moves the collective support part while holding the bottom part horizontally, and transfers the bar materials from the aligning conveyor onto the material supply conveyor. (d) of the pair of wall portions constituting the recess of the collective support portion, the first wall formed on the side of the material supply conveyor has a height lower than the height of the bar from the bottom portion, (e) of the pair of wall portions, the second wall formed on the side of the aligning conveyor has a height higher than the height of the bar from the bottom portion, (f) the collective support portion is movable on a circumference connecting the aligning conveyor and the material supply conveyor in the transfer direction, (g) the collective support portion is movable so as to load the bar from the aligning conveyor at a position where the movement direction on the circumference is diagonally upward, and to lower the bar onto the material supply conveyor at a position where the movement direction on the circumference is vertically downward. It is something.

[0009] No. 2 The gist of the invention is that in the first or second invention, the width of the bottomed portion is made larger than the width of the predetermined number of the rods by a predetermined value or more.

[0010] No. 3 According to the third aspect of the present invention, the width of the bottomed portion is set in accordance with the type of the rods and the predetermined number of rods.

[0011] No. 4 The gist of the invention is 3 In the invention, The first wall teeth ,before and the base is erected at a first predetermined angle from the base toward the material supply conveyor.

[0012] No. 5 The gist of the invention is 3 In the invention, The second wall teeth ,before The tray is erected at a second predetermined angle from the bottom toward the aligning conveyor. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] The bar transfer device of the first aspect of the invention includes a batch support part whose cross section in the transfer direction is formed in a concave shape and which can collectively support the bar materials in an aligned state at the bottom of the concave shape, and a transfer drive mechanism that moves the batch support part while holding the bottom part horizontally to transfer the bar materials from the aligning conveyor onto the material supply conveyor. As a result, a predetermined number of bar materials aligned adjacent to each other on the aligning conveyor are transferred onto the material supply conveyor in an aligned state, and the predetermined number of bar materials are supplied from the material supply conveyor in an aligned state to the circular saw cutting machine. Furthermore, the height of the first wall is lower than the height of the bar from the bottom, and the height of the second wall is higher than the height of the bar from the bottom. This allows the batch support unit to be shaped to easily maintain the alignment of the bar during the transfer operation, so that the bar is stably transferred from the aligning conveyor to the material supply conveyor in an aligned state. Furthermore, the batch support unit is movable along a circumference connecting the aligning conveyor and the material supply conveyor in the transfer direction, and is moved so that the bar is loaded from the aligning conveyor at a position where the direction of movement on the circumference is diagonally upward, and the bar is lowered onto the material supply conveyor at a position where the direction of movement on the circumference is vertically downward. As a result, even if the alignment of the bars on the alignment conveyor is insufficient, a horizontal force acts on the bars due to the diagonal movement of the batch support parts when the bars are placed on the alignment conveyor, and the bars can be expected to be realigned on the batch support parts. Also, when the bars are lowered onto the material supply conveyor, the batch support parts are moved vertically downward, so the bars are transferred onto the material supply conveyor while maintaining their alignment on the batch support parts.

[0015] No. 2 According to the bar transfer device of the present invention, the width of the bottomed portion is set to be greater than the width of the predetermined number of bar materials by at least a predetermined value, thereby ensuring an appropriate clearance between the collective support portion and the bar materials, and thus the bar materials are transferred from the alignment conveyor to the material supply conveyor in a stable, aligned state.

[0016] No. 3 According to the bar transfer device of the present invention, the width of the bottomed portion is set according to the type of bar and the predetermined number of bars, so that even if the type of bar and the predetermined number of bars change, an appropriate clearance is ensured between the collective support portion and the bar, and the bar is transferred from the alignment conveyor to the supply conveyor in a stable, aligned state.

[0017] No. 4 According to the bar transfer device of the present invention, The first wall teeth ,before The base is provided at a first predetermined angle toward the material supply conveyor. I'll As a result, the collective support portion is shaped to easily maintain the alignment of the bars during the transfer operation, so that the bars are stably transferred from the aligning conveyor onto the material supply conveyor in an aligned state.

[0018] No. 5 According to the bar transfer device of the present invention, The second wall teeth ,beforeThe batch support portion is provided at a second predetermined angle from the bottom toward the aligning conveyor, so that the batch support portion is shaped to easily maintain the alignment of the bars during the transfer operation, and the bars are stably transferred from the aligning conveyor onto the material supply conveyor in an aligned state. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view illustrating a circular saw cutting machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a diagram showing an example of a bar material to be cut by the circular saw cutting machine of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a diagram illustrating a bar material supplying device disposed behind the circular saw cutting machine of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is an enlarged view illustrating a main part of a first separating device in the bar feeder of FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 5] 4 is an enlarged view illustrating a main part of an aligning conveyor in the bar feeder of FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 6] 4 is an enlarged view for explaining the operation of the bar transfer device in the bar supplying device of FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the cross-sectional shape of a collective support portion in the bar transfer device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that in the following embodiment, the drawings are appropriately simplified, and the dimensional ratios and shapes of the various parts are not necessarily drawn accurately. [Example]

[0021] FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a circular saw cutting machine 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention, which simultaneously cuts a predetermined number N of bars BL (N=4 in this embodiment). In FIG. 1, the circular saw cutting machine 10 includes a circular saw drive unit 14 mounted on a base 12 and rotatable about a horizontal first axis C1. The circular saw drive unit 14 includes a rotating frame (not shown) rotatable about the first axis C1, an electric motor (not shown) fixed to the rotating frame, a disk-shaped circular saw 20 supported on the rotating frame and rotatable about a second axis C2 parallel to the first axis C1 and driven to rotate by the electric motor, and an electric actuator (not shown) mounted on the base 12 and configured to rotate the rotating frame (not shown) about the first axis C1 and repeatedly reciprocate the circular saw 20 to the position shown in FIG. 1.

[0022] The circular saw 20 is covered by an openable cover 24 having a notch 22 for avoiding interference with the bar BL.

[0023] A clamping device 30 is provided on the base 12 to clamp and secure a predetermined number N (=4) of bars BL into which the circular saw 20 of the circular saw driving device 14 will cut. The clamping device 30 includes a horizontal vice 32 that clamps the bar BL near the portion where the circular saw 20 will cut from the lateral direction, i.e., horizontally, and a vertical vice 34 that clamps the bar BL near the portion where the circular saw 20 will cut from the vertical direction.

[0024] The vertical vise 34 is fixed in position and has a horizontal support surface FS that supports a predetermined number N (=4) of bar materials BL. The vertical vise 34 has a work table 34a that functions as a vertical fixed claw of the vertical vise 34, a vertical movable claw 34b that is arranged so that it can move towards and away from the work table 34a, and a vertical vise hydraulic cylinder 34c that drives the vertical movable claw 34b towards the work table 34a to clamp the bar material BL from the vertical direction.

[0025] The horizontal vise 32 has a backing plate 32a fixed to the work table 34a on the side of the circular saw drive unit 14, laterally movable claws 32b provided so as to be able to approach and move away from the backing plate 32a, and a horizontal vise hydraulic cylinder 32c that drives the laterally movable claws 32b toward the backing plate 32a to clamp the bar BL from the side. A groove 32d is formed in the laterally movable claws 32b to receive the circular saw 20 in order to avoid interference with the circular saw 20 during cutting operation.

[0026] The circular saw driving device 14 includes a switching valve that controls the horizontal vice hydraulic cylinder 32c and the vertical vice hydraulic cylinder 34c, and is equipped with a hydraulic control circuit 36 ​​that controls the operation of the horizontal vice 32 and the vertical vice 34 of the clamping device 30. The operation of the circular saw driving device 14 includes the hydraulic control circuit 36 ​​and is controlled by an electronic control device 90, which will be described later.

[0027] A bar feeder (not shown) is provided behind the circular saw drive unit 14, movably positioned along the longitudinal direction of the four bars BL shown in FIG. 1. The bar feeder grasps the four bars BL at a distance greater than the cutting length from their leading ends and feeds them at preset lengths onto a flat support surface FS of the work table 34a of the vertical vise 34. The four bars BL are fed to the bar feeder in a parallel, adjacent state from a roller conveyor 46 of a bar feeder 44 (described below). The roller conveyor 46 supplies the four bars BL to the circular saw cutting machine 10 in a parallel, adjacent state, and is oriented in the y direction (from the rear to the front of FIG. 1), i.e., parallel to the first axis C1 and the second axis C2. The roller conveyor 46 corresponds to the "feed conveyor" of this invention.

[0028] FIG. 2 shows an example of a bar BL. FIG. 2(a) is a plan view of the bar BL seen from above, and FIG. 2(b) is a cross-sectional view of the bar BL. The bar BL is a deformed reinforcing bar, e.g., 5 to 6 m long and having an average diameter of e.g., 10 mm (D10) to 19 mm (D19). For example, as shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), the bar BL does not have longitudinal ribs, but has spiral nodes 40 formed circumferentially at regular intervals along the longitudinal direction and flat surfaces 42 formed by removing portions of the nodes 40 along the circumferential direction. The cross-section has an oval shape consisting of a pair of parallel sides and a pair of arcs connecting the pair of sides. In FIG. 2(b), the length between the pair of sides in the cross section is indicated by the minor axis L1, and the length between the pair of arcs is indicated by the major axis L2. The bar BL in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 7 is assumed to be that shown in FIG. 2.

[0029] 3 is a diagram illustrating a bar supply device 44 that supplies the bar BL to the circular saw cutting machine 10. The bar supply device 44 includes a roller conveyor 46, a first separator 54, a second separator 56, an aligning conveyor 70, and a transfer device 80. The first separator 54, the second separator 56, the aligning conveyor 70, and the transfer device 80 are each arranged in plurality along the longitudinal direction (y direction) of the roller conveyor 46 so as to support the bar BL at multiple locations in the longitudinal direction, and feed the bar BL toward the roller conveyor 46 in the x direction (a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the bar BL).

[0030] The first separating device 54 is equipped with an unbundling table chain conveyor 50 that also functions as an unbundling table, and transports a large number of parallel bars BL that have been unbundled on the unbundling table chain conveyor 50 in the x direction by the unbundling table chain conveyor 50, separating them one by one, and sending them out to a stock section 52 that is inclined so that the downstream side in the x direction is lower.

[0031] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view illustrating the main components of the first separating device 54. The first separating device 54 includes a stopper 58 and a separation lever 60. The stopper 58 is a positioning member that stops the moving bars BL placed on the unbundling table chain conveyor 50, which is driven by the drive motor 50a. The separation lever 60 is plate-shaped, and its cross section in the conveying direction is formed into a right-angled triangle shape with a vertex 60b and a hypotenuse 60c that slopes from the vertex 60b toward the stopper 58. The separation lever 60 is also movable vertically by a drive cylinder 60a. As the separation lever 60 moves upward, the vertex 60b enters between the leading bar BL and the following bar BL among the bars BL blocked by the stopper 58, and the hypotenuse 60c lifts only the leading bar BL, causing it to overcome the stopper 58 and be sent to the stock section 52. As a result, the bars BL are separated one by one. The operation of the drive motor 50a and the drive cylinder 60a is controlled by an electronic control device 90, which will be described later.

[0032] The second separating device 56 lifts up the bars BL remaining in the stock section 52 and sends the bars BL one by one onto the aligning conveyor 70. The second separating device 56 includes a lifter 64, which is formed with a bar receiving portion 64a of a predetermined width for scooping up a bar BL on the stock portion 52 and an arc-shaped portion 64b passing through the outer end of the bar receiving portion 64a, and which is rotated reciprocally between an elevated position and a lowered position by a lifter hydraulic cylinder 64c about a center line of curvature C3 of the arc-shaped portion 64b with the arc-shaped portion 64b in sliding contact with the bar BL supported by the stock portion 52. The second separating device 56 also includes a stopper member 68, which is fixed to a frame 66 so as to be in a position that prevents the bar BL received by the bar receiving portion 64a from moving toward the center line of curvature C3, and which is inclined so as to move away from the stock portion 52 as it rises, so that the effective length of the bar receiving portion 64a that receives the bar BL in the elevated position of the lifter 64 becomes shorter as the lifter 64 rises, allowing only one bar BL to be placed thereon. The two-dot chain line in FIG. 3 indicates the elevated position of the lifter 64 and the bar BL supported by it. The inclined support member 62 receives the bars BL scooped up by the lifter 64 and slides them onto the upstream end of the aligning conveyor 70. This causes the bars BL to be sent out one by one onto the aligning conveyor 70. The operation of the lifter hydraulic cylinder 64c is controlled by an electronic control device 90, which will be described later.

[0033] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view illustrating a main portion of the aligning conveyor 70. The aligning conveyor 70 includes an endless loop-shaped chain 72 that functions as a conveying member for conveying the bars BL, a drive motor 76 that continuously rotates one of a pair of sprockets 74 around which the chain 72 is wound, and a fixed stopper 78 that is fixed to the frame 66. In the aligning conveyor 70, the bars BL sent out from the second separating device 56 are continuously moved toward the stopper 78. Bars BL arrive one after another and are prevented from moving by the stopper 78. However, the chain 72 is continuously driven to move the bars BL toward the stopper 78. Therefore, the frictional force between the chain 72 and the bars BL causes them to rotate around their axes, as indicated by the arc-shaped arrows in FIG. 5. The operation of the drive motor 76 is controlled by an electronic control device 90, which will be described later.

[0034] In the aligning conveyor 70, if a portion of a longitudinal direction of a bar BL other than the multiple bars BL (three in FIG. 5 ) blocked by the abutment stoppers 78 becomes entangled with the three blocked bars BL and is positioned above the three blocked bars BL, the three bars BL rotate about their axes, causing the other bar BL to move upstream of the aligning conveyor 70 and fall onto the aligning conveyor 70. As the other bar BL is moved from position P1 via position P2 to position P3, the three bars BL and the other bar BL are aligned adjacent to each other in a parallel state. In the case where the bars BL are deformed reinforcing bars having an oval cross section as shown in FIG. 2 , when the four bars BL are aligned adjacent to each other by the aligning conveyor 70, the flat surface 42 becomes the bottom and the four bars BL are aligned at height L1.

[0035] When the bars BL held back by the stoppers 78 on the aligning conveyor 70 reach a predetermined number N (=4), the bars BL are aligned horizontally and adjacent to one another in a parallel state, and a space for placing the bars BL is formed on the roller conveyor 46, the transfer device 80 performs a transfer operation MVBL to transfer the four bars BL, while they remain aligned horizontally and adjacent to one another in a parallel state, onto the roller conveyor 46. The transfer device 80 corresponds to the "bar transfer device" of the present invention, and includes a collective support unit 82 and a transfer drive mechanism 84.

[0036] The collective support portion 82 has a concave cross section in the transfer direction, and is configured so that a predetermined number N (=4) of rods BL aligned horizontally adjacent to each other can be collectively supported by the concave bottom portion 82a.

[0037] The transfer drive mechanism 84 is rotatably mounted on the frame 66 and includes two parallel links 88a that are rotationally driven by a drive motor 86, and a horizontal link 88b that supports the collective support part 82 and is rotatably connected to the upper end of the parallel links 88a. When the parallel links 88a are rotated by the drive motor 86, the horizontal link 88b (and the collective support part 82) is moved counterclockwise on the page on a circumference CF (described later) that connects the alignment conveyor 70 and the roller conveyor 46 while maintaining its horizontal position. The operation of the drive motor 86 is controlled by an electronic control device 90 (described later).

[0038] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view illustrating the operation of the collective support part 82 in the transfer operation MVBL. As the parallel link 88a rotates, the collective support part 82 is moved counterclockwise in the transfer direction (xz plane) on a circumference CF (indicated by a dashed line) connecting the aligning conveyor 70 and the roller conveyor 46 while holding the bottom part 82a horizontally, as shown in FIG. 6. The circumference CF and the roller conveyor 46 intersect vertically, and the collective support part 82 is moved so that the direction of movement on the circumference CF is vertically downward and the bar BL is lowered onto the roller conveyor 46. Meanwhile, the aligning conveyor 70 is located above the roller conveyor 46, and the collective support part 82 is moved so that the direction of movement on the circumference CF is vertically downward and the bar BL is loaded from the aligning conveyor 70 to a position where the direction of movement on the circumference CF is from the diagonally downward right to the diagonally upward left. In FIG. 6, the operation indicated by the solid arrow for transferring the bar BL from the alignment conveyor 70 onto the roller conveyor 46 corresponds to the transfer operation MVBL.

[0039] Returning to Fig. 1, the electronic control device 90 is configured as a so-called microcomputer, and controls the cutting operation by the circular saw cutting machine 10 and the bar supply operation by the bar supply device 44. The electronic control device 90 functionally comprises a first separation control unit 92, a second separation control unit 94, a transfer control unit 96, a cutting control unit 98, etc.

[0040] The first separation control unit 92 transports the unbundled bars BL on the unbundling table chain conveyor 50 in the x direction and controls the first separating device 54 to separate the bars BL one by one and send them to the stock unit 52.

[0041] The second separation control section 94 controls the second separating device 56 to send the bars BL sent to the stock section 52 onto the aligning conveyor 70.

[0042] When a predetermined time has elapsed since the four bars BL held by the stoppers 78 on the alignment conveyor 70 reached the position where they were held up horizontally, and when a sensor (not shown) detects that a space has been created on the roller conveyor 46 where the four bars BL can be transferred, the transfer control unit 96 controls the transfer device 80 to perform the transfer operation MVBL and transfers the four bars BL onto the roller conveyor 46.

[0043] The cutting control unit 98 uses a belt conveyor (not shown) to pull out a predetermined number N (=4) of bars BL from the roller conveyor 46 from their tips until they hit a positioning stopper (not shown), and then cuts them by moving the circular saw 20 back and forth while the bars are held by the clamping device 30.

[0044] In conventional bar supply devices, the transfer operation MVBL is not performed, and the bars BL are rolled one by one by dropping or pushing them out, etc., and lined up in a predetermined position on the roller conveyor 46. As a result, the orientation of the bars BL is unstable when the rolling stops, and an aligned bar BL is pushed and moved by the next bar BL, resulting in problems with the orientation (height) of the bars BL being out of alignment and supplying the predetermined number N (=4) of bars BL from the supply conveyor to the circular saw cutting machine in an aligned state. This causes problems with the clamping device 30 holding the bars BL unstably, and the bars BL may move during cutting, leading to damage to the circular saw 20 and a deterioration in cutting accuracy. In this embodiment, the transfer operation MVBL is performed by the transfer device 80, and the predetermined number N (= 4) of bar materials BL aligned adjacent to each other on the alignment conveyor 70 are transferred in an aligned state onto the roller conveyor 46, so that the predetermined number N (= 4) of bar materials BL are supplied in an aligned state from the roller conveyor 46 to the circular saw cutting machine 10.

[0045] 6, in the transfer operation MVBL, the batch support parts 82 are moved so that they load the bars BL from the aligning conveyor 70 at a position where the direction of movement on the circumference CF is from the diagonally lower right to the diagonally upper left of the page, and lower the bars BL onto the roller conveyor 46 at a position where the direction of movement on the circumference CF is vertically downward. As a result, even if the alignment of the bars BL on the aligning conveyor 70 is insufficient, a horizontal force acts on the bars BL due to the diagonal movement of the batch support parts 82 when loading the bars BL, and the bars BL can be expected to be realigned on the batch support parts 82. When the bars BL are lowered onto the roller conveyor 46, the batch support parts 82 are moved vertically downward, so that the bars BL are transferred onto the roller conveyor 46 while maintaining their alignment on the batch support parts 82.

[0046] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of the cross-sectional shape of the batch support portion 82, showing a state in which a predetermined number N (=4) of bars BL (BL1, BL2, BL3, BL4) are aligned, i.e., loaded at a height L1 with the flat surface 42 as the bottom. FIG. 7(a) shows an example in which the concave first wall 82b formed on the roller conveyor 46 side and the second wall 82c formed on the aligning conveyor 70 side of the batch support portion 82 are erected vertically upward from the bottom portion 82a. FIG. 7(b) shows an example in which the first wall 82b is modified from the shape of FIG. 7(a) so that it extends from the bottom portion 82a toward the roller conveyor 46 at a first predetermined angle θb. FIG. 7(c) shows an example in which the second wall 82c is modified from the shape of FIG. 7(b) so that it extends from the bottom portion 82a toward the aligning conveyor 70 at a second predetermined angle θc.

[0047] 7(a), (b), and (c), the width Wmv of the bottom of the collective support part 82 is set larger than the width Wbl of a predetermined number N (=4) of bars BL by a predetermined value Wn or more. This ensures an appropriate clearance between the collective support part 82 and the bars BL, so that the bars BL are stably transferred from the alignment conveyor 70 onto the roller conveyor 46 in an aligned state. The predetermined value Wn is set in advance by design or experimentation to a suitable value so that an appropriate clearance is ensured, and the width Wmv is set.

[0048] Preferably, the width Wmv of the bottomed portion 82a is set according to the type of bar BL and the predetermined number N. This allows the same effect as in the previous paragraph to be obtained even when the type of bar BL and the predetermined number N are changed.

[0049] Preferably, the first wall 82b is provided so that at least one of the following is true: the height Hb is smaller than the minor axis L1, which is the height of the bar BL from the bottom portion 82a, as shown in FIG. 7(a); or the first wall 82b is provided so that it stands at a first predetermined angle θb (0<θb≦90°) from the bottom portion 82a toward the roller conveyor 46, as shown in FIG. 7(b). When loading the bar BL from the alignment conveyor 70, the collective support portion 82 moves to scoop up the bar BL from the diagonally lower right to the diagonally upper left of the drawing. By making the height Hb of the first wall 82b smaller than the minor axis L1 and by providing the first predetermined angle θb toward the roller conveyor 46, the upper end and its peripheral portion of the first wall 82b are prevented from interfering with the bar BL (BL1 in this case) by moving from the diagonally lower right to the diagonally upper left. The height Hb and the first predetermined angle θb (0<θb≦90°) are determined and set to suitable values ​​in advance through design or experimentation. This allows the collective support portion 82 to have a shape that makes it easy to maintain the alignment of the bars BL during the transfer operation MVBL, so that the bars BL are stably transferred from the aligning conveyor 70 onto the roller conveyor 46 in an aligned state.

[0050] Preferably, the height Hc of the second wall 82c is greater than the minor axis L1, as shown in FIGS. 7(a), 7(b), and 7(c). When the bar BL is placed on the bar BL, the collective support portion 82 moves from the diagonally lower right to the diagonally upper left, causing a horizontal force (a force that moves the bar BL to the right side of the page). However, by making the height Hc of the second wall 82c greater than the minor axis L1, this force can be absorbed with a sufficient margin. A suitable value for the height Hc is determined and set in advance through design or experimentation. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 7(c), the second wall 82c is erected at a second predetermined angle θc (0<θc≦90°) from the bottom portion 82a toward the aligning conveyor 70. This reduces the risk of interference between the second wall 82c and the bar BL (BL4 in this case) when the bar BL is placed on the bar BL. The second predetermined angle θc (0<θc≦90°) is determined and set to a suitable value through design or experimentation in advance. In this way, the collective support portion 82 is shaped to easily maintain the alignment of the bars BL during the transfer operation MVBL, so that the bars BL are stably transferred from the aligning conveyor 70 onto the roller conveyor 46 in an aligned state.

[0051] As described above, the transfer device 80 of this embodiment includes the batch support part 82, whose cross section in the transfer direction is formed in a concave shape and which can collectively support the bar materials BL in an aligned state at the bottomed part 82a of the concave shape, and the transfer drive mechanism 84, which moves the batch support part 82 while holding the bottomed part 82a horizontally, to transfer the bar materials BL from the aligning conveyor 70 onto the roller conveyor 46. As a result, the predetermined number N (=4) of bar materials BL aligned adjacent to each other on the aligning conveyor 70 are transferred onto the roller conveyor 46 in an aligned state, and the predetermined number N (=4) of bar materials are supplied from the roller conveyor 46 to the circular saw cutting machine 10 in an aligned state.

[0052] Furthermore, according to the transfer device 80 of this embodiment, the batch support parts 82 are movable in the transfer direction (on the xz plane) on a circumference CF connecting the aligning conveyor 70 and the roller conveyor 46. The batch support parts 82 are moved so as to load the bars BL from the aligning conveyor 70 at a position where they move diagonally upward on the circumference CF, and to lower the bars BL onto the roller conveyor 46 at a position where they move vertically downward on the circumference CF. As a result, even if the alignment of the bars BL on the aligning conveyor 70 is insufficient, the diagonal movement of the batch support parts 82 when loading the bars BL acts on the bars BL in a horizontal direction, which is expected to realign the bars BL on the batch support parts 82. Furthermore, when lowering the bars BL onto the roller conveyor 46, the batch support parts 82 are moved vertically downward, so that the bars BL are transferred onto the roller conveyor 46 while maintaining their alignment on the batch support parts 82.

[0053] Furthermore, according to the transfer device 80 of this embodiment, the width Wmv of the bottomed portion 82a is set to be larger than the width Wbl of the predetermined number N (=4) of bars BL by a predetermined value Wn or more. This ensures an appropriate clearance between the collective support portion 82 and the bars BL, so that the bars BL are stably transferred from the alignment conveyor 70 onto the roller conveyor 46 in an aligned state.

[0054] Furthermore, according to the transfer device 80 of this embodiment, the width Wmv of the bottomed portion 82a is set in accordance with the type of bar BL and the predetermined number N. As a result, even if the type of bar BL and the predetermined number N change, an appropriate clearance is ensured between the collective support portion 82 and the bar BL, so that the bar BL is stably transferred from the alignment conveyor 70 onto the roller conveyor 46 in an aligned state.

[0055] Furthermore, according to the transfer device 80 of this embodiment, the first wall 82b of the collective support part 82 is provided so that at least one of the height Hb is smaller than the minor axis L1, which is the height from the bottom part 82a of the bar BL, and the first wall 82b is provided so as to stand at a first predetermined angle θb from the bottom part 82a toward the roller conveyor 46. As a result, the collective support part 82 has a shape that makes it easy to maintain the alignment of the bar BL in the transfer operation MVBL, so that the bar BL is stably transferred from the aligning conveyor 70 onto the roller conveyor 46 in an aligned state.

[0056] Furthermore, according to the transfer device 80 of this embodiment, the second wall 82c of the collective support part 82 has a height Hc that is greater than the minor axis L1, which is the height of the bar BL from the bottom part 82a, and is erected at a second predetermined angle θc from the bottom part 82a toward the aligning conveyor 70. This gives the collective support part 82 a shape that makes it easy to maintain the alignment of the bars BL during the transfer operation MVBL, so that the bars BL are stably transferred from the aligning conveyor 70 onto the roller conveyor 46 in an aligned state.

[0057] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment and can be implemented in other modes.

[0058] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the predetermined number N of the bars BL was four, but it is not necessarily limited to four, and the effects of the present invention can be enjoyed as long as there are two or more bars.

[0059] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the bar material BL is a deformed reinforcing bar, but it may be a rod-shaped steel material, etc. Even with a rod-shaped steel material, there is variation in the cross-sectional shape, and the same problem occurs.

[0060] The above is merely one embodiment, and although other examples will not be given, the present invention can be implemented in various forms with various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 10:Circular saw cutting machine 44: Bar material feeding device 46: Roller conveyor (material supply conveyor) 70: Alignment conveyor 80: Transfer device (bar material transfer device) 82: Bulk support part 82a: Bottomed part 82b: 1st wall 82c: Second wall 84: Transfer drive mechanism BL: Bar material CF:Circumference Hb: Height (height of the first wall) Hc: Height (height of the second wall) L1: Minor diameter (height from the bottom of the bar) N: Predetermined number Wbl: Width (width of the specified number of bars) Wmv: Width (width of bottom) Wn: predetermined value θb: first predetermined angle θc: Second predetermined angle

Claims

1. A bar material supply device for a circular saw cutting machine that simultaneously cuts a predetermined number of bar materials, the bar material being supplied from a supply conveyor in a state where the bar materials are aligned adjacent to one another, the bar material supply device comprising: an alignment conveyor provided parallel to the supply conveyor; and a bar material transfer device that transfers the predetermined number of bar materials aligned adjacent to one another on the alignment conveyor onto the supply conveyor, a collective support part having a concave cross section in the transfer direction, the collective support part being capable of collectively supporting the rods in an aligned state at a bottom of the concave cross section; a transfer drive mechanism that moves the collective support part while holding the bottom part horizontally, and transfers the bar material from the aligning conveyor onto the material supply conveyor, a first wall formed on the material supply conveyor side of a pair of wall portions constituting the recess of the collective support portion has a height lower than a height of the bar material from the bottom portion; Of the pair of wall portions, a second wall formed on the aligning conveyor side has a height greater than a height of the bar from the bottom portion, the collective support unit is movable along a circumference connecting the alignment conveyor and the material supply conveyor in a transfer direction; The collective support unit is moved so as to load the bar material from the alignment conveyor at a position where the direction of movement on the circumference is obliquely upward, and to lower the bar material onto the material supply conveyor at a position where the direction of movement on the circumference is vertically downward. A bar material transfer device characterized by:

2. The width of the bottomed portion is greater than the width of the predetermined number of the rods by a predetermined value or more.

2. The bar transfer device according to claim 1.

3. The width of the bottomed portion is set depending on the type of the rod material and the predetermined number of rod materials.

3. The bar transfer device according to claim 2.

4. The first wall is erected at a first predetermined angle from the bottom portion toward the material supply conveyor side.

4. The bar transfer device according to claim 3.

5. The second wall is erected at a second predetermined angle from the bottom portion toward the alignment conveyor side.

4. The bar transfer device according to claim 3.

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