Movable Bar Magazine with Closed-Loop Transfer for Safer Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for supplying bar loaders in metalworking environments are burdensome, hazardous for operators, and fail to meet safety and efficiency standards, particularly when manual handling or overhead crane systems are used, which can lead to accidents and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A movable magazine device with swivel wheels and adjustable support and removing mechanisms, allowing for safe and efficient transfer of bars to bar loaders, either singly or in pairs, without the need for rails or overhead operations, featuring a simplified structure for reduced manufacturing and maintenance costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual operations are used to move bars, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but operator safety deteriorates and operational burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an automated overhead transfer system that acts as an intermediary between the magazine and bar loaders. This system includes overhead travel cars that move along rails, automatically picking up bars from the magazine and delivering them to bar loaders without requiring manual handling. The system eliminates direct operator contact with heavy bars while maintaining operational flexibility through programmable control.
2Productivity
If overhead crane systems are used to transfer bars, then productivity increases, but operator safety deteriorates due to risks from bundle release or breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the bar transfer operation into discrete segments handled by individual overhead travel cars. Each travel car is equipped with its own grasping system and can operate independently along the overhead rail. This segmentation allows for controlled, incremental bar transfer rather than moving entire bundles, reducing the risk associated with large bundle handling while maintaining high productivity through continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses multiple identical overhead travel cars that can be deployed in sequence. Each travel car is a standardized unit with replicated grasping and transfer mechanisms. This standardization allows for reliable, repeatable operations while enabling parallel or sequential transfer operations to match productivity requirements without increasing the size of individual bar bundles being handled.
3Stability of the object's composition
If fixed magazine systems are used, then structural stability is maintained, but adaptability to different bar loaders deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs overhead travel cars that can dynamically reposition themselves along the overhead rails to serve different bar loaders. The system includes adjustable positioning mechanisms that allow the travel cars to align with various discharge points. This dynamic repositioning capability enables a single magazine system to adapt to different bar loader configurations and locations while the magazine itself remains structurally stable and fixed.
Data Source
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AI summary
A movable magazine device (1;101) suitable for supplying loaders (2) of bars (B) for a user machine comprises a frame structure (3; 103) provided with movement means (4) by means of which the movable magazine device (1; 101) can be brought towards/moved away from the bar loader/s (2; 2A, 2B); support means (5; 105) obtained on the frame structure (3; 103) and configured for supporting a plurality of bars (B) intended to be transferred to the bar loader/s (2); removing and transferring means (6; 6A, 6B) fitted to the frame structure (3; 103) and movable along a closed loop (P) to remove single bars (B) from the support means (5; 105) in sequence to be lifted and transferred one after the other to the bar loader/s (2; 2A, 2B).