Material handling apparatus

{
  "publication_number": "US3823812A",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A",
  "title": "Material handling apparatus",
  "abstract": "An apparatus for handling elongated elements, for example bar products being delivered laterally from the delivery side of a cooling bed in a rolling mill. The apparatus includes a longitudinally extending assembly device for receiving and temporarily accumulating the elements at a first location. At least two longitudinally extending element conveyors are positioned at other locations spaced laterally from and parallel to the assembly device. A transfer mechanism is employed to carry groups of elements laterally from the assembly device onto one or the other of the conveyors.",
  "claims": [
    "1. ApparatuS for handling elongated elements comprising in combination: longitudinally extending assembly means for laterally receiving and accumulating a plurality of elongated elements; at least two longitudinally extending conveying means spaced laterally from each other and from said assembly means, said conveying means being operable to axially convey elongated elements deposited thereon; support means fixed relative to said assembly means and said conveying means; carrier means mounted on said support means for movement horizontally thereon over said conveying means in opposite directions transverse to said assembly means; and element engaging members mounted on and movable vertically relative to said carrier means for removing elements from said assembly means and for depositing said elements on one or the other of said conveying means.",
    "2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further characterized by a plurality of transversely extending element support members spaced along the length of said assembly means.",
    "3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said element support members are fixed, and wherein movable carryover members are employed to laterally transfer elongated elements along said fixed element support members.",
    "4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said fixed element support members and said carryover members are notched to maintain a predetermined lateral spacing between the elongated elements received by said assembly means.",
    "5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said conveying means each comprise roller tables having a plurality of laterally extending driven table rollers spaced along the lengths thereof.",
    "6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the element engaging surfaces of each of said conveying means are located at a level which is beneath that of the element engaging surfaces of said assembly means.",
    "7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said assembly means and said conveying means are arranged in parallel.",
    "8. In a rolling mill, apparatus for handling bars and the like being delivered laterally from a cooling bed, said apparatus comprising in combination: longitudinally extending assembly means for laterally receiving bars from the cooling bed, said assembly means having transversely extending support members spaced along the length thereof onto which the bars are arranged in parallel lateral alignment, at least two longitudinally extending run-off tables spaced laterally from and parallel to said assembly means, each said run-off tables including a plurality of transversely extending table rollers spaced along the length thereof, support means fixed relative to said assembly means and said run-off tables, and transfer means movable horizontally on said support means over said run-off tables for laterally transferring bars from said assembly means to one or the other of said run-off tables, said transfer means having bar engaging members which are movable vertically between the transversely extending support members of said assembly means when removing bars therefrom, said bar engaging members being movable vertically between the table rollers of said run-off tables when depositing bars thereon.",
    "9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said carrier means is comprised of a first elongated frame member extending in a direction parallel to said assembly means and said conveying means, a plurality of laterally spaced second frame members rigidly attached to and extending laterally from said first frame member, and wherein said support means includes roller means engaging said second frame members in a manner which permits horizontal movement of said carrier means over said conveying means in opposite directions transverse to said conveying means and said assembly means.",
    "10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said drive means is comprised of gear racks on said second frame members, rotatable pinions in engagement with said gear racks, and means for driving said pinions in either a clockwise or coUnterclockwise direction in order to move said carrier means in opposite directions transverse to said conveying means and said assembly means.",
    "11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said element engaging members are pivotally mounted on said first frame member, and wherein said operating means includes a pair of double-acting piston-cylinder assemblies arranged in an axially aligned relationship.",
    "12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further characterized by the transversely extending support members of said assembly means being arranged at a level which is above the level of said run-off tables, and wherein said transfer means is movable over said run-off tables in opposite directions transverse to the lengths thereof.",
    "13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said transfer means includes a carrier having a first frame member extending in a direction parallel to said assembly means and said run-off tables, a plurality of parallel second frame members attached to said first frame member, said second frame members extending laterally from said first frame member in a direction transverse to said assembly means and said run-off tables, and rotatable drive means cooperating with said second frame members to move said transfer means laterally relative to said assembly means in opposite directions transverse to the lengths of said underlying run-off tables.",
    "14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said bar engaging members are pivotally mounted on said first frame member, and operating means mounted on and cooperating with said first frame member for pivotally adjusting said bar engaging members between a lowermost position which is beneath the level of the table rollers of said run-off tables, an uppermost position which is above the level of the support members of said assembly means, and an intermediate position which is above the level of said table rollers but beneath the level of said support members.",
    "15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said operating means is comprised of an assembly of two axially aligned piston-cylinder units, one end of said assembly being pivotally fixed relative to said first frame member, the other end of said assembly being pivotally attached to an arm member which is in turn pivotally attached to said bar engaging members.",
    "16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the relative lengths of said piston-cylinder units are such that one is larger than the other, and wherein extension of only the longer piston will adjust said bar engaging members to the intermediate position, extension of both the longer and shorter pistons will adjust said bar engaging members to the uppermost position, and retraction of both pistons will adjust said bar engaging members to the lowermost position."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "B21B 43/006",
    "B65G 47/52",
    "B65G 47/82"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "MORGAN CONSTRUCTION CO"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1972-10-18",
  "publication_date": "1974-07-16",
  "grant_date": "1974-07-16",
  "priority_date": "1972-10-18",
  "application_number": "US-30073372-A",
  "family_id": "23160356",
  "citations": [
    "US2364386A"
  ]
}