Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
11 1 8~5 1
TURRET STACKER
~elated Application
This application is related to Canadian Serial
No. 397,036, filed February 25, 1982, entitled
"Turret Stacker".
5 Background of the Invention
This invention relates to material transporting devices, and
in particular to a device for relocating stacks of mat~rial from one
position to a second position. In the disclosed embodiments, the
invention pertains to equipment for handling coils of slit metallic
10 sheet material.
In the coil slitting and processing industry, and as set forth
in somewhat greater detail in the following description of the
preferred embodiments of the invention, large rolls of sheet material
are unrolled, then passed through a slitter which longitudinally cuts
15 the sheet material into a plurality of thinner strips of metal, which
are then recoiled, and then handled downstream as required~ normally
by stacking, palletizing and weighing.
U.S. Patent No. 3,861,536, assigned to the assignee of the
present invention, describes one type of device for transporting coils
20 of mflterial and stacking the coils onto a turntsble7 the stacked
coils being later removed from the turntable at one or more
locations. The transporting device of this patent, while representing
a significant advance over stacking equipment then in existence,
itself can prove to be a bottleneck in a complete line for slitting
25 and processing metal coil since the stacker must reciprocate between
an inlet conveyor and the turntable directly beneath the stacker.
Thus, while material is being lowered to the turntable, upstream
coils are prevented from entering the stacker until the stacker
returns to a position to accept the next coil or several coils of
30 ma~erial.
Summary of the Invention
The transporting device according to the invention eliminates
the above-delineated deficiencies of the prior art and others by
providing an apparatus which, at one side, can accept incoming coils
35 of material while, at the same time, the other side can independently
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place previously retrieved coils onto a turntable or other conveying
equipment. Thus9 the invention is able to perform two functions
simultaneously which, in accordance with the prior art, could be
accomplished only in serial fashion.
S In accordance with the invention, a transporting device is
provided comprising a stationary central support pedestal and a
rotatable turret situated at the top of the pedestal. The turret
includes at least two arms, each of which extends radially outwardly
from the pedestal. A lifting and stacking mechanism is located
beneath each arm. The turret is rotated by driving means situated
in the pedestal and attached to the turret.
The lifting and stacking mechanism includes a support for
the coiled material, means to raise and lower the material support,
and means to enlarge and contract the materi~l support to
accommodate coils of varying diameters. In accordance with a first
embodiment, the material support comprises a beam beneath each
arm and a pair of carriages movable along the beam in opposite
directions, each of the carriages including rests for holding material
to be relocated by the transporting device.
In order to raise and lower the beam, a double acting cylinder
is connected between each beam and its associated arm. A pair
of upstanding guides is attached to opposite ends of the top of the
beam and extend through corresponding guideways formed in the
arm in order to guide the beam as it is raised and lowered.
In the first embodiment the invention includes a motor
mounted on the beam to enlarge and contract the material support.
The motor is drivingly attached to the carriages by an endless chain
passing over sprockets at opposite ends of the beam, one side of
the chain being attached to one of the carriages and the other side
of the chain being attached to the other of the carriages such that
rotation of the chain in one direction drives the carriages toward
one another and rotation of the chain in the opposite direction
drives the carriages away from one another.
Each of the rests attached to each carriage comprises a leg
3 5 pivotally affixed to the carriage. A double acting cylinder is
connected between the carriage and the leg for pivoting of the leg
toward and away from material to be transported. With the legs
pivoted away from the material, the material support can be raised
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and the turret rotated, leaYing the material at a desired location
for further handling.
While the rota$able turret may include more than two arms,
in the preferred embodiments of the invention, the turret comprises
two arms. In the first embodiment, the arms are oppositely situated,
comprising opposite halves of an elongated frame. One arm is
therefore situated to receive a coil of material, while the other is
situated to simultaneously place a previously-received coil of
material onto a downstream turntable for further handling and
transportation. If desired, the rotatable turret can comprise any
number of such arms in order to handle a greater number of coils
of material at any one time.
In a second embodiment of the invention, the material support
comprises a frame portion of each arm and a first pair of carriages
located beneath the frame portion and movable in opposite
directions, the carriages including rests for holding material to be
relocated. A second pair of carriages is located beneath the frame
and the carriages are movable in opposite directions, with the second
pair of carriages including rests for holding material to be relocated
2 0 and being situated transverse to the first pair of carriages.
Preferrably, the rests of the first and second pair of carriages are
situated such that the first pair of carriages engages the exterior
diameter of a coil, while the second pair of carriages engages the
coil from its inner diameter.
In the second embodiment in order to enlarge and contract
the two pairs of carriages, the first pair of carriages is driven in
precisely the same manner as the carriages in the first embodiment
of the invention. The second pair of carriages includes an actuating
means in a form of a cylinder attached to the frame of the ar
3 and one of the second pair of carriages. The c~rriages are
interconnected by means of a chain and sprocket arrangement such
that extension of the cylinder increases the spacing between the
second pair of carriages and contraction of the cylinder decreases
the spacing between the second pair of carriages.
In the second embodiment the arms ~re mounted for raising
and lowering in order to raise and lower the material support. The
means for raising and lowering the arms comprises a double acting
cylinder connected between each arm and the rotatable turret. A
1 ~ 6~85 1
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guide for raising and lowering of each arm comprises a pair of
vertic~ rods affixed to the turret and a bracket assembly to which
each arm is attached. The bracket assembly is mounted on the
rods for vertical movement thereon, thus permitting the vertical
movement of each arm as it is driven by its associated double-
acting cylinder.
Thus, according-to the present invention, there is
provided a transporting device for relocating material fram
one position to a second position. The transporting device
camprises a stationary central support pedestal, and a
rotatable turret situated at the top of the pedestal. The
turret includes at least two arms each of which extends
radially outwardly fram the pedestal, a material support for
each arm, means to raise and lower the arm to raise and lower
the material support, and means to enlarge and contract the
material support to acco~modate material of varying horizontal
dimensions. The material support camprises a frame portion
of the arm and a pair of carriages located beneath the
frame portion and each carriage is movable in a direction
opposite to the other carriage. The carriages include rests
for holding material to be relocated. A bearing means is pro-
vided between the pedestal and the turret to facilitate rotation
of the turret, and a driving means is situated in the pedestal
and attached to the turret to rotate the turret.
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Brief Description of the Drawings
The invention is set ~orth in greater detail in the following
description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with
the drawings, in which:
5Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a typical coil
slitting, processing and packaging line including the transporting
device according to the invention,
Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational illustration, with
portions in cross section, illustrating a first embodiment of the
10transporting device according to the invention,
Figure 3 is a top plan illustration of the coil transporting
device of Figure 2,
Figure 4 is an enlarged end illustration of the coil lifting
and stacking mechanism7
15Figure S is a top schematic illustration of the means for
enlarging and contracting the material support, aE~Pearing with Figure 1,
Figure 6 is a top schematic illustration, with portions removed
for clarity, of a second embodiment of the invention,
Figure 7 is a side elevational illustration of the second
20embodiment of the invention,
Figure 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional illustration taken ~long
lines 8-8 of Figure 7, and
Figure 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional illustration taken along
lines 9-9 of Figure 60
25Description of the Preferred Embodiments
One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 1
through 5. Turning first to Figure 1, a typical line for coil slitting,
processing and packaging is depicted. Of course, depending on the
particular requirements of the user, other or fewer equipment
30components might be employed in the line of equipment.
The line begins with an uncoiler 10 having a mandrel 12 upon
which coils 14 of sheet metal are mounted for downstream
1! 1 6~65 1
processing. A coil car 16, carrying another coil 14, is employed
to reduce line downtime as one coil 14 is exhausted and another
situated in its place upon the mandrel 12.
Sheet metal 1~ is withdrawn from the coil 14 within the
5 uncoiler ~0 and passed through a crop shear 2û. The shear 20 is
activated periodically to sever the metal sheet 18 into predetermined
lengths.
From the crop shear 20, the sheet 18 passes through a slitter
22, such as the turret-type slitter described in U.S. Patent No.
3,727,503, assigned to the assignee of the present invention. In the
slitter 22, the metal sheet 18 is slit into a plurality of ribbons of
metal 24 of desired widths. The metal ribbons 24 are then rewound
into individual coils in a recoiler 26.
Often, although the great majority of the sheet 18 is slit in
15 the slitter 22, a small marginal edge portion is not desired and it
is, therefore, directed to a scrap winder 28 where it is collected
and later removed for disposal.
Coils are removed from the recoiler 26 onto a transfer horn
30. The transfer horn 30 includes one or more lateral arms 32
2 0 which, when aligned with the recoiler 26, permit an overarm
separator 34 to remove one or more coils from the recoiler 26 onto
the arm 32. Coils on the arms 32 of the transfer horn 30 are
removed by a downender 36 which receives individuai coils from
the transfer horn 30 in their vertical orientation and reclines the
25 coils to a hori~ontal orientation.
From the downender 36, individual coils are conveyed to a
banding machine 38. The individual coils are banded with metal
strapping or the like in the banding machine 38 and the banded
coils, one of which is shown at 40 in l~igure 1, are then conveyed to
30 a transporting device 42 according to the invention.
In the transporting device 42, individual coils are removed
from the upstream conveyor and are placed UpOIl skids 44 situated
on a turntable 46. As many coils as desired are stacked on each
skid 44 by the transporting device 42 and then the turntable 46 is
35 indexed a desired amount (90 degrees in the turntable 46 illustrated),
in order to place a succeeding skid 44 beneath the transporting
device 42.
3 B 5 1
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From the turntable 4ii, the stacks of coils 40 pass on to a
scale conveyor 48 where the individual coil sta~ks are weighed.
Finally, the coil stacks pass on downstream for banding, shipping,
or other handling as required.
Figures 2 through 5 illustrate the transporting device 42 in
greater detail. The transporting device 42 includes, as primary
components, a stationary central support pedestal 50, a rotatable
turret 52 situated at the top of the pedestal 50 and a pair of lifting
and stacking mechanisms 5~ extending from each arm of the turret
52.
The pedestal 50 has an integral base 56 which sits upon a
factory floor or some other substantial location. Gussets 58 may
be employed to strengthen the junction between the pedestal 50
and base 56 and assure rigid placement of the pedestal 50.
The pedestal 50 includes a horizontal plate 60 attached near
the top9 such as by welding, bolting, or other appropriate means. r
A driving means is attached to the plate 60 and the turret 52 for
rotation of the turret. In the embodiment illustrated, the driving
means comprises a rotary hydraulic actuator 62 attached by bolts
2 64 to the plate 60. A coupling 66 joins the output shaft of the
actuator 62 to a shaft 68 affixed to a plate 70 securely attachsd
to the turret 52. A ring bearing 72 is situated between the plate
70 and the top of the pedestal 50 to support the turret 52 and
permit rotation of the turret by the hydraulic actuator 62.
The actuator 62, which is conventional, is designed to rotate
its output shaft in predetermined increments, such as 180. Reverse
activation of the actuator 62 causes return rotation. Thus, in the
embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, when the
actuator ~2 is activated, the turret 52 is therefore rotated 180.
Reverse activation of the actuator 60 causes the turret 52 to rotate
180 in the opposite direction. Of course, if desired, the actuator
62 can be replaced by a motor or other driving means which can
rotate the turret 52 in desired increments in one direction rather
than the two-directional rotation of the actuator 62.
The rotatable turret 52 is comprised of a pair of vertically
oriented support members 7~ which are joined by a pair of
horizontally oriented support members 76. The support members
74 and 76 preferably are made of metal and are joined at their
1 1 B~5 1
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abutting locations by welding or other appropriate means to form
a box beam. The metal thickness of the support members 74 and
76 depends on the material to be supported and handled by the
lifting and stacking mechanism 54.
S As best illustrated in ~igures 2 and 3, the turret 52 is
symmetrically situated upon the support pedestal 50, each half of
the turret 52 therefore comprising an arm which extends radially
outwardly from the pedestal 50. Each of the arms is the sole
support for each of the lifting and stacking mechanisms 54. Of
course, depending upon the requirements of the transporting device
42, the rotatable turret 52 can be composed of more than two
arms, the number of arms being determined by the requirements of
the transporting device 42. Normally, however, since materials of
great weight are hand]ed by the transporting device 42, the arms
of the rotatable turret 52 are symmetrically situated to provide
the best possible weight distribution.
Each of the lifting and stacking mechanisms 54 is composed
of a beam 78 beneath the rotatable turret 52. Similar to the
structure of the rotatable turret 52, and as best illustrated in Figure
4, the beam 78 comprises a pair of vertical support members 80
separated by a pair of horizontal support members 82.
The beam 78 is supported beneath the turret 52 by a double
acting cylinder 84. The shaft 86 of the cylinder 84 is attached to
the top horizontal support member 82 of the beam 78. The housing
25 of the cylinder 84 is ~irmly rnounted to and through the two
horizontal support members 76 of the turret 52.
A pair of guides 88 are attached to opposite ends of the top
horizontal support member B2 of the benm 78. The guides 88 pass
through guideways 90 situated in the rotatable turret 52 between
30 the spaced horizontal support members 76. Thus, as the cylinder
84 is actuated to raise and lower the beam 78 (actuating means
not illustrated), the guides 88 assure that the beam 78 is firmly
aligned directly beneath the rotatable turret 52.
The lifting and stacking mechanism 54 also includes a pair
35 of carriages 92 mounted on the beam 78. As shows in greatest
detail in Figure 4, each of the carriages 92 is composed of a pair
of vertical plates 94, the spacing of which is maintained by a
separator 96. Each of the vertical plates 94 includes wheels 98
.
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which are rotatably mounted upon shafts 100 and which bear on
opposite edges of the vertical support members 80. Shoes 102,
attached to the plates 94 and butting against the vertical support
members 80, maintain the proper orientation of the carriage 92 on
the beam 78.
Each of the carriages 92 ineludes a pair of downwardly
depending legs 104. Legs 104 are pivotally mounted on a central
axle 106 which passes through and is firmly attached to the b~se
of the vertical plates 94. Spacing of the legs 104 is maintained by
a brace 108.
A double acting cylinder 110 is mounted between each of
the vertical plates 94 and legs 104 in order to permit pivoting of
the legs 104 toward and away from the coils 40 (Figure 1). Means
for actuating the cylinders 110 is not illustrated, but is conventional.
As best shown in Figure 4, one end of each of the cylinders 110
is pivotally attached to a bracket 112 affixed to a vertical plate
94. The opposite end of the cylinder 110 is attached to a U-shaped
bracket 114 which, in turn, is pivotally attached to a bar 116 affixed
to the leg 104. Thus, actuation of the cylinders 110 will cause the
legs 104 to pivot about the axles 106.
The two carriages 92 on each beam 78 are driven toward
and away from each other in order to accommodate coils 40 of
varying diameters. A motor 118 is located within the beam 78, ~t
one end thereof, and is drivingly attached to a sprocket 120. A
similar sprocket 122 is located at the opposite end of the beam 78.
An endless chain 124 passes over the sprockets 120 and 122. The
chain is attached to one of the vertical plates 94 in each of the
carriages 92 on opposite sides of the beam 78. Thus, as shown in
Figure 4, the chain 124 is attached to the left vertical plate 94
by means of an anchor 126. The chain is not attached to the right
vertical plate 94. In the corresponding carriage 92 at the opposite
end of the beam 78, the chain 124 is attached to an anchor 128
attached to the right vertical plate 94. Thus, as best shown in
Figure 5, when the motor 118 is driven in one direction, by virtue
of the location of the anchors 126 and 128 on opposite sides of the
carriages 92, the carriages are driven toward each other. When
the motor is driven in the opposite direction, the carriges 92 are
driven away from one another. Thus, the spacing between the
6 ~ ~
g
carriages ~2 on each of the beams 78 can be enlarged or contracted
to accommodate material of various diameters.
Each of the legs 104 includes rests 130 for support of the
coils 40. As shown in Figure 2, the rests 130 may be tapered to
help the rests 130 slip beneath the coils 40 when the legs 104 are
pivoted to the vertical position.
As shown in Figures 2 and 4, each separator 96 extends
vertically downwardly from the carriage 92. The separators 96
serve as limits for the carriages 92 so that the carriages 92 can
be drawn toward each other only to the limit of the diameter of
the coil 4û located between the separators 96. The separators 96,
when drawn against a coil 40, also help stabilize the coil when it
is raised and transported.
As shown in Figures 1 through 3, the transporting device 42
is situated to relocate the coils 40 from an upstream conveyor and
place them on skids 44 located on the turntable 46. The coils enter
the transporting device 42 on a conveyor section 132. Then, with
the legs 104 separated a sufficient distance, either by pivoting of
the legs 104, or by separating of the carriages 92, or a combination
thereof, the cylinder 84 is activated and the beam 78 is lowered.
The carriages 92 and legs 104 are appropriately adjusted so that
the rests 130 are located beneath the coil 40. Then, the cylinder
84 is again activated to raise the coil 40 above the conveyor section
132 to the position shown in Figure 2.
With the coil 40 firmly held in place, the actuator 62 is
activated, rotating the turret 180. The sequence is then reversed.
The cylinder 84 is activated to lower the coil 40 onto the skid 44.
The legs 104 are then pivoted and the cylinder 84 is reactivated
to raise the beam 78 above the coil. The actutor 62 is then again
activated to return the turret 180 to pick up the next coil 40
from the conveyor section 132. Of course, at the same time, while
one coil 40 is being lifted from the conveyor section 132, another
is being lowered onto a skid 44 on the turntable 46.
Normally, the coils 40 enter the transporting device 42 on
35 the conveyor section 132 in a single file fashion. However, one or
more of the coils 40 may be stacked on one of the skids 44.
Accordingly, after a desired number of coils 40 are stacked on a
skid 44, the turntable 46 is indexed a sufficient amount to locate
6 5 1
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another skid 44 in place for receiving of the coils 40. In the
example shown in Figure 1, indexing would normally be 90, although,
depending on several factors including the size of the turntable and
the next desired location for the coil 40, indexing can be as much
5 rotation of the turntable 46 as required. The number of coils 40
stacked upon a skid 44 is dictated only by the thickness of the
coils and the limiting height of the lifting and stacking mechanism
54 when raised to its full extent within the rotatable turret 52.
A second embodiment of a transporting device 42' is shown
10 in Figures 6 through 9. The transporting device 42' includes, as
primary components, a stationary central support pedestal 150, a
rotatable turret 152 situated at the top of the support pedestal
150, and a pair of arms 154 extending radially outwardly from the
support pedestal 150.
The pedestal 150 has an integral base 156 which rests upon
a factory floor or some other solid surface. Similar to the first
embodiment of the invention, a rotary hydraulic actuator 158 is
attached to the base 156 by any suitable means. A coupling 160
joins the output shaft of the actuator 158 to a plate 162 secured
20 to the base of the rotatable turret 152.
A ring bearing 164 is situated between the plate 162 and an
outer vertical wall 166 of the pedestal 150. As best shown in
Figure 9, the ring bearing 164 has an inner race 168 and an outer
race 170. The inner race 168 is attached to the plate 162 by
25 appropriate means, such as by a series of bolts 172 which also
extend through the plate 162 into an annular base plate 174. The
outer race 170 of the ring bearing 164 rests upon, and is attached
to, an annular support 176 which is secured to the outer wall 166.
In a manner similar to the inner race 168 the outer race 170 may
be attached to the ring support 176 by means of a plur~lity of bolts
178.
The aetuator 158 is the same as the actuator 62 of the first
embodiment of the invention. Thus, the actuator 158 rotates the
turret 152 180 in opposite directiQns. As in the first embodiment
35 of the invention, other driving means can be substituted for the
actuator in order to drive the turret 152 during the operation thereof.
The rotatable turret 152 is comprised of an upstanding metal
cylinder 180 which sits upon, and is affixed to, the base plate 174.
5 1
A metal cap 182 closes the upper end of the cylinder 180. A
rectangular top plate is attached to the cap 182 by any suitable
means, such as by a series of bolts 186 (Figure 6).
As illustrated, the arms 154 extend radially outwardly from,
5 and are attached to, the rotatable turret 152. Each of the arms
154 includes a carriage bracket 188, as best shown in Figures 6 and
9. Each carriage bracket 188 is slideable upon a pair of guide rods
190. The guide rods 190 extend between the top plate 184 and the
base plate 174 and are suitably secured thereto, such as within
bores in each of the plates 174 and 184. If desired, each of the
rods 190, where protruding through the top plate 184, may include
a se~l or cap 192.
Each of the arms 154, as mounted upon its carriage bracket
188 and guided ~long the guide rods 190, is raised or lowered by
means of a hydraulic cylinder 194. The body of each cylinder 194
is securely attached to the base plate 174. The rod 196 of each
cylinder 194 extends upwardly therefrom and is threaded into the
top of the carrige bracket 188. Upon actuation of either hydraulic
cylinder 194, its associated arm 154 is therefore raised or lowered
along the guide rods 190.
Depending on the length of the rods 190 and the type of
loads to be carried by the transporting device 42', one or more
intermediate support plates 198 can be employed, attached to the
center of the cylinder 180. The plate 198 is recessed at 200 (Figure
6) to allow passage of the rods of the hydraulic cylinders 194.
Each of the arms 154 is composed of a framework comprising
longitudinal frame members 202 extending between an end plate
204 and a mounting plate 206 which is attached to the carriage
bracket 188. A beam 208, at the base of the center of each of
3 the arms 154, also extends between the end plate 204 and the
mounting plate 206.
A pair of carriages 210 are mounted on the beam 208. As
shown in greatest detail in Figure 8, each of the carriages 210 is
composed of a pair of vertical plates 212, the spacing of which is
maintained by a rest 214 secured to the bottom thereo. Four
rollers 218 extending between the plates 212 straddle the beam 208,
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two on top thereof and two beneath in order to ~acilitate m~vement
of the carriages 210 along the beam 208.
In exactly the same manner as the first embodiment of the
invention, the carriages 210 are interconnected and driven to and
fro along the beams 208 by means of an endless chain 220. Each
chain 220 passes over sprockets 222 and 224 attached to the end
plate 204 and the mounting plate 206, respectively. One side of
each chain 220 is attached at an anchor 226 to one of the carriflges
210 while the other side of the ehain 220 is attached at an anchor
228 to the other side of one of the carriages 210. Since the
carriages are affixed to the chain 220 on opposite sides thereof,
when the chain is rotated in one direction, the carriages 220 come
together, while when the chain 220 is rotated in the opposite
direction, the carriages 210 are spread. Driving of each 220 is by
means of a drive motor 230 drivingly attached to the sprocket 22~.
While the carriages 210 are situated to pick up a coil of
metal 40 on the outer diameter thereof, the arm 154 also includes
a pair of transverse carriages 232 situated on a transverse beam
234 for engaging the coil 40 on the inner diameter thereof. The
carriages 232 are similar in form and function to the carriages 210.
Each of the carriages 232 includes guide rollers 236 on opposite
sides of the be&m 234 to facilitate movement of the carriages 232
along the beam 234. An endless chain 238 passes over sprockets
240 attached for rotation at opposite ends of the beam 234 adjacent
outermost frame members 202. One side of the chain 238 is
attached to one side of one of the carriages 232, while the other
side 238 is attached to the other side of the other of the carriages
232. A cylinder 244, having its body attached to the beam 208 and
its rod 242 attached to one of the carriages 232, is used to spread
or close the spacing between the carriages 232. Since the carriages
232 are interconnected by the endless chain 238, one cylinder 242
only is required to drive both carriages 232. Each of the carriages
232 includes a bottom rest 246 positioned to engage the coil 40.
Similar to the embodiment of Figures 1 through 5, the
transporting device 42' is situated to relocate coils 40 from an
upstream conveyor 132 and place them on skids 44 located on the
turntable 46. ~he coils 44 enter the transporting device 42' on a
conveyor section 132. When a coil is sufficiently far onto the
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conveyor section 132, the coil passes over an electric eye (not
illustrated), which actuates a cylinder 248 to raise a centering
device 250 to engage the inner diameter of the ~oil 40. The
centering device 250 includes an u~standing peg 252 which engages
5 the inner diameter of the coil 40. When so engaged, the conveyor
section 132 is opersted for a brief period of time to assure that
the coil 40 is centered on the conveyor section 132.
With the coil thus in place, the left cylinder 194 is activated
to lower the left arm 154 sufficiently so that the carriages 210
10 and 232 can be driven to engage the outer and inner diameters of
the coil 40, respectively. With the coil 40 thus engaged, the cylinder
194 is again actuated to raise the coil 40 above the conveyor section
132. Then, the rotary actuator 158 is activated to rotate the turret
152 and arms 154 180. The sequence of raising the coil 40 is
then reversed. The cylinder 194 is activated to lower the coil 40
onto the skid 44. The carriages 210 are driven apart and the
carriges 232 are driven together to release the coil ~0. The cylinder
194 is then again activated to raise the arm 194 above the coil.
While the coil 40 is being released, another coil 40, which`
has been positioned on the conveyor section 132, is picked up. after
the right coil 40 is released and the left coil 40 is picked up, the
actuator 158 is then again activated to return the turret 180 to
allow the same sequence to be repeated. Thus, so long as coils 40
are periodically entering the transporting device 42' on the conveyor
section 132, the successive sequence of picking up coils 40 and
depositing them on the turntable 46 is continuously repeated.
In the same manner as described in connection with the first
embodiment of the invention, the turntable 46 is indexed a sufficient
amount to locate another skid 44 in place for receiving coils 40
30 after a desired number of coils have been deposited on one of the
skids 44. The number of coils 40 stacked upon a skid 44 is dictated
only by the thickness of the coils and the height to which the arms
44 can be raised above the turntable 46.
Various changes may be made to the invention without
35 departing from the spirit thereof or scope of the following claims.
