Apparatus and method for collecting elongated products - Patent Application 20070122997

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for collecting elongated products, preferably metal products, comprising a first receiving device (11) movable between a working position where the first receiving device (11) can receive a plurality of elongated products (P) from a processing machine and a delivery position where the metal products (P) are captured. The invention also relates to a method for collecting the elongated products (P) and a production installation (100) for processing the products.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The embodiments described herein relate to an apparatus and method for collecting elongated products, preferably metal. In particular, the present invention can be used to collect several elongated products having the same shape, or similar or similar shapes, in an orderly, automatic, and homogeneous group and move the products towards a manual or automatic delivery and capture zone to be stored and / or transported for subsequent use.

[0002] The term elongated product is used herein and hereinafter in general to mean a product manufactured in a circular, polygonal or flat cross-sectional shape starting from an elongated, possibly straight rod such as wire, reinforcing bar, round or square piece, etc. By way of example, elongated products can be medium and large stirrups, straight rods or shaped pieces with a curve at one or both ends. [Background technology]

[0003] Various cutting and bending machines, also called stirrup making machines or forming machines, are known for producing stirrups and / or shaped pieces, starting both from bundles of straight rods, for example made of steel, and from coils of metal wire.

[0004] These machines can also start with a coil of metal wire and straighten the wire before it is cut and bent. These machines can also produce simple straight rods.

[0005] Associated with the manufacture of said metal products is the problem of discharging the metal products at the end of the operation and collecting and moving the metal products for possible subsequent operations such as packaging, bundling, storage and transportation.

[0006] To facilitate the ejection of the metal products, stirrup making / forming machines usually have an inclined working surface so that the metal products can simply fall off after the work cycle is completed without the need for any ejection devices or dedicated operators.

[0007] Below the working surface there is usually provided a device for collecting the metal products, which usually comprises a container, e.g. a trolley, which is movable so that its entire volume can be filled with the products as they are gradually produced by the machine.

[0008] Once filled, the storage device moves to a delivery zone where the products are captured, automatically or manually, individually or in groups, and optionally bundled. One drawback of the known apparatus is that the machine itself must be stopped every time a storage device is filled and moved out of the machine towards the discharge zone, which results in wasted time and reduced productivity. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] Therefore, there is a need to perfect an apparatus and method for collecting elongated products, preferably metal, that can overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the current state of the art. In particular, one object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for collecting elongated products that allows a processing machine to operate continuously or nearly continuously.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for collecting elongated products that is simple and inexpensive and that guarantees good safety, e.g. with a dedicated operator present throughout the unloading process.

[0011] Another object is to perfect a method for collecting elongated products that makes it possible to increase the overall productivity of a workshop and reduce production costs. 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. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other features of the invention or variants of the main inventive concept. In accordance with the above objectives, an apparatus for collecting elongated products, preferably metal products, which overcomes the limitations of the state of the art and eliminates the deficiencies present in the state of the art, comprises a first storage device capable of undergoing a first movement between a working position in which the first storage device is arranged near a machine for processing the elongated products, and a delivery position in which the first storage device is arranged away from the processing machine and in which the metal products are captured or released.

[0013] According to one aspect of the invention, the apparatus also comprises at least a second storage device also capable of a first movement between the working position and the delivery position or vice versa, and at least one of the first storage device or the second storage device is also adapted to perform at least a second movement so as to assume a position that does not interfere with the other.

[0014] By maintaining one of the two storage devices in a non-interfering position, the two storage devices can essentially exchange working and delivery positions without interruption of continuity in the sense that the storage device will always or almost always be associated with the processing machine.

[0015] According to some embodiments, there is provided a production installation for processing elongated products, preferably metal products, comprising a processing machine and an apparatus for feeding the processing machine, the production installation also comprising an apparatus for collecting said elongated products.

[0016] According to some embodiments, there is also provided a method for collecting the elongated products described above, comprising the steps of moving a first storage device between a working position and a delivery position, and moving a second storage device between the working position and the delivery position, wherein during movement between the working position and the delivery position or vice versa, at least one of the first storage device or the second storage device is also moved vertically to assume at least one position that does not interfere with the other.

[0017] The apparatus and method advantageously allow processing machinery to operate continuously without shutdown, which can increase the overall productivity of a factory and greatly reduce the number of machine shutdowns that often require subsequent readjustment of several components.

[0018] These 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 explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a production facility for processing elongated metal products, including an apparatus for collecting the elongated products, according to some embodiments described herein; [Figure 2] 2A-2C show the device of FIG. 1 in different operating positions; [Figure 3] 2A-2C show the device of FIG. 1 in different operating positions; [Figure 4] Enlarged detail of Figure 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] For ease of understanding, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the figures, and it will be understood that elements and features of one embodiment may be combined or incorporated in other embodiments as appropriate without further specification.

[0021] Reference will now be made in detail to possible embodiments of the invention, one or more non-limiting examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The phraseology and terminology used herein is also intended to present non-limiting examples.

[0022] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings relate to an apparatus for collecting elongated products, preferably metal products, generally designated by the reference numeral 10 in the accompanying drawings.

[0023] The apparatus 10 comprises a first storage device 11 which is movable between a working position in which the first storage device 11 can receive a plurality of metal products P from a processing machine 110 and a delivery position in which the elongated products P are captured.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus 10 comprises a second storage device 13 which is also movable between a delivery position and a working position. Furthermore, at least one of the first storage device 11 or the second storage device 13 is movable, in this particular case also vertically, in order to assume at least one position which does not interfere with the other and to allow mutual position exchange without necessarily requiring the processing machine to be stopped.

[0025] According to some embodiments described herein, between the delivery position and the working position, the first storage device 11 is movable on a first movement guide 12 in an operating direction X, and the second storage device 13 is movable on a second movement guide 14 that is more inward than the first movement guide 12 in an operating direction X opposite to the first storage device 11.

[0026] The first storage device 11 comprises a box 15 that is also vertically movable so as to move from a lowered state, which is preferably found when in the working position or the delivery position, to a raised state when the first storage device 11 moves from the working position to the delivery position or vice versa.

[0027] In particular, in the raised state, the box 15 is at a level higher than the level of the second storage device 13, so that the second storage device can slide under the box. This solution allows the machine 110 for processing elongate products P to operate continuously without having to be stopped, by appropriately coordinating the movements of the first and second storage devices 11, 13.

[0028] According to some embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 3, the box 15 is delimited laterally by a pair of parallel and opposite side portions 18, a pair of parallel and opposite edge portions 19, and, at the bottom, by a bottom portion 16, onto which the elongated products P are respectively deposited. The side portions 18, the edge portions 19, and the bottom portion 16 define an upwardly open receiving space having a substantially parallelepiped shape. In particular, the side portions 18 are parallel to the operating direction X, and the edge portions 19 are transverse to the operating direction X, in this specific case substantially perpendicular thereto. Advantageously, the presence of the edge portions 19 and the side portions 18 prevents the elongated products P from falling out, in particular when the box 15 is raised or lowered.

[0029] According to some embodiments, the box 15 is provided with a pair of support portions 23, each cantilevered on a respective one of the sides 18 outside the storage space. The distance between the support portions 23 substantially defines the overall lateral size of the box 15.

[0030] The support portion 23 can be made integral with or attached to the side portion 18. In the example described herein, the support portion 23 has an inverted U-shaped profile facing downward toward the first moving guide 12.

[0031] The box 15 may be provided with organizing elements 17 that protrude vertically from the bottom 16 and divide the storage space. For example, these organizing elements 17 may be arranged in a checkerboard pattern with a uniform or non-uniform configuration to define multiple zones within which the elongated products P are to be deposited, preventing the products from scattering. The zones defined in this way may be useful for collecting and organizing elongated products P of different shapes and lengths into uniform groups.

[0032] The first storage device 11 also comprises a slider mounting support means 20, on the top of which the box 15 is mounted corresponding to the support part 23. The support means 20 slides on the first movement guide 12 to move the first storage device 11 in the actuation direction X.

[0033] 4, each support means 20 comprises a support 27 to which wheels 28 are associated at the front and rear, which can slide on the first moving guide 12. The support 27 has a wide extension, i.e. length, in the direction of the moving guide 12 and has an upper surface 29 on which the support portion 23 can rest, for example when the box 15 is in the lowered state. The support 27 preferably has a length equal to or, better still, exceeding the distance between the edges 19, in order to ensure stability during movement.

[0034] According to some embodiments, the support means 20 are associated with respective drives 21 that can be selectively activated to regulate their forward movement and speed.

[0035] 1 to 3, the first movement guide 12 comprises at least two rails 22 laterally spaced apart from one another by a distance L1, in particular in a direction perpendicular to the actuation direction X, which distance L1 in this example is approximately equal to the length of the edge 19 in that direction. The two rails 22 are coplanar and delimit on two sides a sliding path inside which both the first receiving device 11 and the second receiving device 13 slide.

[0036] Preferably, the first storage device 11 slides on two pairs of rails 22. A respective support means 20 is associated with each pair of rails 22. The two pairs of rails 22 are laterally spaced apart from each other by a distance L1, the rails 22 of the same pair being placed close to each other, for example at a distance equal to the width of the support 27 (Fig. 4). Advantageously, sliding on multiple pairs of rails 22 allows for more precise and stable movement.

[0037] According to some embodiments shown in Figures 2 and 4, the first storage device 11 also comprises lifting means 24 arranged between the respective support means 20 and the box 15 and capable of moving the latter from a lowered state to a raised state and vice versa.

[0038] According to some embodiments shown in FIG. 4, the lifting means 24 can be pivoted at the bottom relative to the support means 20, in particular relative to the support 27, and at the top relative to the box 15, in particular relative to the support part 23, preferably corresponding to the end closest to the edge 19.

[0039] Each lifting means 24 comprises a pair of levers 25, 26, the first lever 25 being motor-driven and the second lever 26 being idle. The first lever 25 is associated with a cylinder-piston type drive device 31 that allows its rotation (Fig. 4).

[0040] The first lever 25 and the second lever 26 may be partially placed in a recess in the seat 30 of the support 27. In this way, when each lever is rotated to move the box 15 from the raised position to the lowered position, the levers 25, 26 are almost completely inside the seat 30, and the support portion 23 may therefore rest on the upper surface 29 of the seat 30 (FIGS. 1 and 3).

[0041] According to possible embodiments, lifting of the box 15 can also be performed in other ways: for example, as an alternative to a lever mechanism, one or more hydraulic or pneumatic jacks can be provided, which allow the box 15 to be lifted vertically.

[0042] 1 to 3, the second storage device 13 comprises a collection surface 32 that can slide along a second movement guide 14. The second movement guide 14 comprises at least two rails 37 that are parallel to the actuation direction X and to the rails 22. The rails 37 are also flush with the rails 22 and inside the aforementioned sliding path.

[0043] According to some embodiments, the collection surface 32 may slide on four equidistant rails 37 that are slidably mounted below the collection surface 32. The outermost rails 37 are spaced apart by a distance L2 that is less than the distance L1.

[0044] Furthermore, according to some embodiments, the collection surface 32 is delimited laterally by a pair of parallel and opposing side walls 33, a pair of parallel and opposing top walls 34, and at the top by a collection base 35 onto which the elongated products P are deposited in each instance. The distance between the side walls 33 substantially defines the overall lateral size of the collection surface 32. In particular, the side walls 33 are parallel to the working direction X, while the top wall 34 is transverse to the working direction X, in this specific case substantially perpendicular thereto. It goes without saying that the side walls 33 are parallel to the sides 18 and the top wall 34 is parallel to the edges 19.

[0045] According to a possible embodiment, the collection surface 32 may be provided with lateral storage elements such as walls, edges or sides that can define a physically separated storage volume so that the elongated products P do not fall during movement of the collection surface 32 or when the elongated products P are collected on the collection base 35.

[0046] According to some embodiments, the overall lateral dimension of the collection surface 32 is smaller than the overall lateral dimension of the box 15. This is necessary so that the collection surface 32 can pass under the box 15 without mutual interference when moving from the working position to the dispensing position.

[0047] According to some embodiments, and similar to those provided in the box 15, the collection surface 32 can be provided with organizing elements 36 which protrude vertically from the collection base 35 and divide the collection base to define a number of containment zones inside which elongated products P of different shapes and even lengths can be deposited, thereby preventing the products from scattering.

[0048] According to some embodiments, the rails 22, 37 are separated longitudinally by end-of-travel elements 40, which may function as brake shock absorbers and may incorporate position sensors for determining the position of the accommodation devices 11, 13.

[0049] According to some embodiments, the device 10 comprises an optical or laser sensor 38 at an intermediate position between the working position and the sending position, which is capable of detecting the passage of the receiving devices 11, 13. The sensor 38 comprises two receiving and sending towers 39 arranged on the sides of the rail 22 on the outside of the sliding path. The height of the towers 39 is approximately equal to, and preferably exceeds, the height of the boxes 15 when they are in the raised position. In this way, it is possible to control the mutual vertical position between the boxes 15 and the collection surface 32.

[0050] Some embodiments described in Figures 1 to 3 also relate to a production facility 100 comprising a processing machine 110 for processing elongated products P, preferably metal products, a device for feeding the elongated products P to the processing machine 110, and a collection device 10.

[0051] According to possible embodiments, the processing machine 110 may be selected from the group consisting of a cutting and forming machine, a bending machine, a machine for cutting to size, or others. With particular reference to the example described herein, the processing machine 110 is a bending machine with a work surface 111 on which are arranged two bending units 112 capable of defining the specific bend that the elongated product P should have. The work surface 111 is also arranged with a drawer unit 113 capable of feeding one or more elongated products P to the bending units 112 at a time. Between the bending units 112 there is a clamp-type holding element 114, possibly movable, capable of supporting and holding the elongated product P during operation. The work surface 111 is inclined downwards so that the elongated product P produced at each time can fall by gravity and be collected by the collecting device 10.

[0052] According to some embodiments, there is provided a method for collecting elongated products P, preferably metal products, comprising the steps of moving a first receiving device 11 between a working position where it can receive a plurality of elongated products P from a processing machine and a delivery position where the metal products P are captured.

[0053] According to one aspect of the invention, the method also includes moving the second storage device 13 between the delivery position and the working position. Furthermore, at least one of the first storage device 11 or the second storage device 13 is also moved vertically to assume a position that does not interfere with the other.

[0054] Operatively and periodically, the method performs a first filling step in which the first receiving device 11 is moved to a working position and remains in that position to receive a first plurality of metal products P from the processing machine (FIG. 1).

[0055] Once the first receiving device 11 is filled, the method performs a first delivery step in which the first receiving device 11 is moved towards a delivery position where it remains to allow a first plurality of metal products P to be captured (Figure 2). Simultaneously with the first delivery step, the method performs a second filling step in which the second receiving device 13 is moved towards a working position where it remains to receive a second plurality of metal products P from the processing machine (Figure 3).

[0056] Still referring to FIG. 2, during this movement the box 15 is lifted vertically above the collection surface 32 while the first and second storage devices 11, 13 slide towards each other.

[0057] Finally, the method includes carrying out a second dispensing step simultaneously with the first filling step, in which the second containing device 13 is moved towards the dispensing position and remains in that position to allow a second plurality of metal products P to be captured.

[0058] In this way, it is possible to continuously produce and collect elongated products P without having to pause the processing machine and without creating collection "lungs". It will be apparent that modifications and / or additions of components or steps may be made to the apparatus and method for collecting elongated products, preferably metal products, described hereinabove without departing from the field and scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

[0059] In the appended claims, the sole purpose of reference signs placed between parentheses is to facilitate readability, i.e. they should not be considered as limiting elements with regard to the scope of protection claimed in a particular claim.

Claims

1. A device (10) for collecting elongated products (P), comprising: a first storage device (11) adapted to perform a first movement between a working position in which the first storage device (11) is arranged near a machine for discharging the elongated products (P) and a delivery position in which the first storage device (11) is arranged away from the machine, or vice versa; - providing at least a second receiving device (13) which is also capable of performing said first movement between said sending position and said working position or vice versa; and The apparatus (10) is characterized in that the first storage device (11) comprises a box (15) mounted on a slider-mounted support means (20) and configured to slide horizontally on a first moving guide (12) along an actuation axis, the first storage device (11) is further configured to be moved vertically by a lifting means (24) arranged between the support means (20) and the box (15) so as to move from a lowered state to a raised state and vice versa, and the box (15) in the raised state is at a level higher than the level of the second storage device (13) and thereby is in a position not to interfere with the second storage device (13).

2. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the first storage device (11) is movable on the first movement guide (12) in an operating direction (X), and the second storage device (13) is movable on a second movement guide (14) that is more inward than the first movement guide (12) in the operating direction (X) opposite to the first storage device (11).

3. 2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that each lifting means (24) comprises a pair of levers (25, 26), the first of which (25) is motor-driven and the second of which (26) is idle, and that said levers (25, 26) are pivoted at their bottom relative to the support means (20) and at their top relative to the box (15).

4. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the second storage device (13) comprises a collection surface (32) that can slide along the second movement guide (14), and that the overall lateral size of the collection surface (32) is smaller than the overall lateral size of the box (15).

5. 5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the box (15) and the collecting surface (32) comprise respective organizing elements (17, 36) capable of defining a plurality of zones for accommodating the elongated products (P) protruding perpendicularly from the bottom (16) of the box (15) and the collecting base (35) of the collecting surface (32), respectively.

6. 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, at an intermediate position between the working position and the delivery position, a sensor (38) capable of detecting the passage of the receiving devices (11, 13) and / or their mutual vertical position.

7. A production installation for processing elongated products, comprising a machine (110) configured to discharge the elongated products (P) and a device for feeding the machine (110), characterized in that it comprises a device (10) for collecting the elongated products (P) according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. 8. A production facility according to claim 7, characterized in that the machines (110) are selected from the group consisting of machines for cutting and shaping the elongated products (P), machines for bending and shaping, and machines for cutting to size.

9. A method for collecting elongated products, comprising: Providing a device according to any one of claims 1 to 6; moving the first receiving device (11) between the working position and the sending position or vice versa; and also moving the second containing device (13) between the delivery position and the working position or vice versa, 10. The method of claim 9, wherein during movement between the working position and the delivery position and vice versa, at least one of the receiving devices (11, 13) is also moved in a direction such that it assumes at least one position that does not interfere with the other.

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