Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
I
SYSTEM FOR LOADING ELONGATED MEMBERS SUCH AS TUBES
ONTO A CONVEYOR FOR LATER PROCESSING
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system for loading elongated members,
for example tubes or bars, onto a conveyor for later processing. The system
described
in detail in this application is designed particularly but not exclusively for
use at an initial
stage of an overall material processing system including a laser cutting
machine which
performs cutting operations on elongated metal members one member at a time.
BACKGROUND
In the example of laser cutting machines such as those manufactured by
Mazak Corporation, many such cutting machines (also termed 'cutters') operate
on the
members, which are to be cut, one member at a time. The laser cutting machine
is itself
relatively automated; however, typically a system for feeding members to the
cutter
machine is substantially manual. That is, the feeding system typically
involves loading
by hand or by overhead crane each member into a respective movable support
carried
by a conveyor from which, at a location downstream of the loading location
where the
member was placed onto the conveyor, the respective member is removed and
processed by the cutter. Additionally, using the overhead crane still requires
human
intervention to arrange supports of the crane for holding the member around
same.
Therefore, conventional manual loading presents a considerable safety risk to
human
operators/workers.
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
2
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a system for
loading members which are elongated in a longitudinal direction onto a
conveyor which
feeds the elongated members to another machine for processing said elongated
members, the system comprising:
an elevator defining a first support surface extending longitudinally in the
longitudinal direction for carrying a set of the elongated members each
oriented
longitudinally of the elevator;
the elevator being movable in an upward direction to lift each elongated
member carried thereon to a predetermined height;
a second support surface provided at the predetermined height with a first
side adjacent the elevator and an opposite second side spaced transversely
outwardly
thereof;
the second side of the second support surface that is distal to the elevator
being raised relative to the first side so that the second support surface is
inclined
upwardly and outwardly in a transverse direction transversely of the elevator;
one or more pusher arms at spaced locations longitudinally of the elevator
that are arranged at the predetermined height and carried for movement
transversely
of the elevator for moving the elongated members in the transverse direction
from the
elevator onto the second support surface;
one or more gripper arms at longitudinally spaced locations at or adjacent
the second side of the second support surface in opposite relation to the
elevator;
said one or more gripper arms being movable in upward and downward
directions from the second support surface to an unloading location below said
second
side of the second support surface where the elongated members are arranged
for
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
3
unloading from the gripper arms and loading onto the conveyor;
said one or more pusher arms being movable across the second support
surface in the transverse direction for additionally moving the elongated
members from
the second support surface over the second side thereof to the gripper arms
adjacent
thereto.
The system can handle elongated members having cross-sections of
different shapes for example circular; rectangular; square; C-shaped as with
for
example channel iron; L-shaped as with for example angle iron; and l-shaped as
with
for example I-beam.
The system also can handle various forms of elongated members for
example tubes/tubing with a hollow inside and bars having a solid cross-
section
throughout.
All of the components of the system for loading onto the conveyor may be
supported on a generally unitary structure such that the system forms a single
machine.
Alternatively, at least one of the components may be separate from a
machine which is defined by two or more of the remaining components of the
system.
For example, the elevator may be formed by a shuttle carrying a stack of
elongated
members which is movable from a shipping/receiving area where the stack of
elongated
members is placed on the shuttle and into a cooperative working position in
which the
elevator is appropriately located relative to the second support surface for
cooperating
with the remaining components of the system.
An important independent optional feature is that there is provided an
upstanding surface at one end of the second support surface at the unloading
location
and the gripper arms are also movable toward the upstanding surface so as to
bring an
end of the respective elongated member carried thereby into butting engagement
with
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
4
the upstanding surface so as to load each elongated member onto the conveyor
at a
common reference point longitudinally of the conveyor.
The upstanding surface may extend upwardly beyond the unloading
location towards the second support surface so that the elongated member may
be
brought into butting engagement with the upstanding surface above the
unloading
location.
The upstanding surface may also extend transversely of the elevator in a
direction away from the second support surface such that the upstanding
surface
extends along the conveyor so that the elongated members may be maintained at
the
common reference point until processed by a system or machine downstream of
the
unloading location.
There may also be provided another upstanding surface which is at one
end of the elevator proximally to the upstanding surface at the unloading
location. This
other upstanding surface is preferably one of (i) aligned with the upstanding
surface at
the unloading location, longitudinally of the elevator, and (ii) spaced from
said
upstanding surface in a direction towards an opposite end of the elevator.
This other
upstanding surface acts to engage ends of the elongated members as they rest
on the
elevator prior to moving therefrom onto the second support surface. As such,
this other
upstanding surface provides an initial reference point to ensure that these
ends of the
elongated members are not located longitudinally beyond the upstanding surface
at the
unloading location before being moved across the second support surface.
There may additionally be provided yet another upstanding surface which
is at one end of the second support surface proximally to the upstanding
surface at the
unloading location. This further upstanding surface may be arranged with
similar
considerations taken with respect to the upstanding surface at the unloading
location
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
5
as described in the previous paragraph. This further upstanding surface acts
to engage
ends of the elongated members as they move across the second support surface
so
that these ends are not located longitudinally beyond the upstanding surface
at the
unloading location before the respective elongated member is received by the
gripper
arms for movement to the unloading location.
In one arrangement each gripper arm is guided in upward and downward
movement by a support member extending downwardly from a gripper hand for
holding
the respective elongated member with a central pivot point and a pin
therebelow
extending transversely of the support member that is mated in a substantially
vertically
extending track which follows an uninterrupted path having components in two
dimensions in an upstanding plane oriented longitudinally of the elevator.
In this arrangement the central pivot point is in fixed relation
longitudinally
of the elevator so as to move vertically upwardly and downwardly as the pin
traverses
the uninterrupted path of the track such that a horizontal displacement of the
pin with
respect to the central pivot point causes the respective gripper arm to pivot
thereabout
thereby locating the hand in a position by which the pivot point is
horizontally
intermediate the gripper hand and the pin.
Typically, the central pivot point is not mated with the track.
Another important independent optional feature is that each gripper arm
forms a support surface inclined upwardly and outwardly in a transverse
direction with
a stop at a lower end of the support surface that is raised upwardly from said
support
surface for resisting the respective elongated member carried by the gripper
arms from
rolling off the lower ends of the gripper arms.
Typically said support surface extends outwardly in the same transverse
direction as the second support surface.
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
6
In one arrangement the elevator comprises a platform defining the first
support surface that is movable in the upward direction, inclined transmission
members
at longitudinally spaced positions of the platform that extend downwardly
therefrom and
horizontally in a predetermined direction, and a pushing assembly disposed
under the
first support surface that is arranged for movement in a horizontal plane in
the
predetermined direction for pushing against the transmission members so as to
effect
movement of the platform upwardly.
This arrangement may, in a more consistent manner, provide uniform
lifting for the elongated members in an orientation which matches the first
side of the
second support surface so that the respective member may be properly moved
from
the elevator onto the second support surface.
Typically there is provided a plurality of the pusher arms for pushing the
elongated members which may thus each have a contact area spanning a fraction
of
the length of the respective elongated member. This is more practical for a
system
which handles elongated members having lengths for example in the range of 8
feet to
24 feet.
In one arrangement there are a pair of the pusher arms and wherein
longitudinal spacing between each one of the pair of pusher arms is adjustable
such
that elongated members of different lengths are movable thereby.
For example, each pusher arm includes a pushing surface carried along
an elongate track which is pivotally supported by an upstanding post alongside
the
elevator distally to the second support surface. An adjacent pair of the
upstanding posts
may be interconnected by a horizontal cross-member which has a first
telescoping
portion coupled to one of the posts that is slidably receivable in a second
telescoping
portion coupled to a second one of the posts.
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
7
In one arrangement the pusher arms each include the pushing surface
carried along the elongate track which is pivotally supported alongside the
elevator
distally to the second support surface such that the respective track is
arranged for
swivelling movement about an upstanding axis so as to be movable from a
working
position in which the track is oriented transversely of the elevator to a
member loading
position in which the track is oriented longitudinally of the elevator
alongside thereto.
Typically there is provided a plurality of the gripper arms for moving the
elongated members from the second support surface to the unloading location
for
unloading onto the conveyor, which is more practical for a system which
handles
elongated members having lengths for example in the range of 8 feet to 24
feet.
In one arrangement longitudinal spacing between each one of a pair of
the plurality of the gripper arms is adjustable such that elongated members of
different
lengths are movable thereby.
In one arrangement one of the plurality of the gripper arms is fixedly
located between said pair of the gripper arms and wherein a drive assembly
arranged
for driving the gripper arms in upward and downward movement includes a
longitudinally extending shaft formed in at least two sections where one of
the sections
forms a receptacle for slidably receiving another one of the sections so as to
adjust the
longitudinal spacing of the pair of the gripper arms relative to the gripper
arm that is
fixedly located.
In one instance the one of the sections forming the receptacle is
polygonal-shaped in transverse cross-section with at least four sides.
In this instance the other one of the sections received therein may be for
example circular in transverse cross-section.
In one arrangement, the conveyor, in combination with the system,
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
8
comprises a plurality of movable supports each arranged to carry one of the
elongated
members therein.
Thus, the gripper arms are arranged to carry one elongated member at a
time from the second support surface to the unloading location for unloading
therefrom
onto the conveyor.
In one arrangement each one of the movable supports of the conveyor
for carrying the elongated members is generally V-shaped and oriented
transversely of
the second support surface, and the unloading location of the gripper arms is
arranged
to locate the respective elongated member upon initial contact with the
respective V-
shaped support transversely outwardly of its apex.
Typically the initial contact is made with the V-shaped support
transversely outwardly of its apex in a direction (transversely) away from the
second
support surface.
In one arrangement, the processing machine, in combination with the
system, is a laser cutting machine.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method
for loading elongated members which are elongated in a longitudinal direction
onto a
conveyor which feeds the elongated members to another machine for processing
said
elongated members, the method comprising:
providing a system for loading the elongated members onto the conveyor
comprising:
an elevator defining a first support surface extending longitudinally
in the longitudinal direction for carrying a set of the elongated members each
oriented
longitudinally of the elevator;
the elevator being movable in an upward direction to lift each
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
9
elongated member carried thereon to a predetermined height;
a second support surface provided at the predetermined height
with a first side adjacent the elevator and an opposite second side spaced
transversely
outwardly thereof;
one or more gripper arms at longitudinally spaced locations at or
adjacent the second side of the second support surface in opposite relation to
the
elevator;
said one or more gripper arms being movable in upward and
downward directions from the second support surface to an unloading location
below
said second side of the second support surface where the elongated members are
arranged for unloading from the gripper arms and loading onto the conveyor;
one or more pusher arms at spaced locations longitudinally of the
elevator that are arranged at the predetermined height and carried for
movement
transversely of the elevator for moving the elongated members in the
transverse
direction from the elevator and across the second support surface so as to
move the
elongated members from the elevator across the second support surface over the
second side thereof to the gripper arms adjacent thereto;
providing the set of the elongated members arranged in one or more
layers in a stack on the first support surface on the elevator;
arranging a topmost layer of the stack at the predetermined height by
raising the first support surface of the elevator;
moving the topmost layer of the stack of the elongated members out of
the stack across the second support surface towards the gripper arms arranged
at a
height of the second side of the second support surface;
wherein the step of moving the topmost layer comprises pushing each
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
10
one of the elongated members forming the topmost layer by engaging with said
one or
more pusher arms a first one of the elongated members forming the topmost
layer
which is farthest from the first side of the second support surface so as to
effect butting
engagement of each elongated member and the next in a manner conducing
movement
of the elongated members across the second support surface in a direction from
the
first side to the second side;
and with the respective elongated member received on the gripper arms,
lowering the respective elongated member to the unloading location.
Therefore, a grouping of the elongated members may be provided and
the system operates to load each member from the grouping individually onto
the
conveyor.
In one arrangement there is provided an upstanding surface at one end
of the second support surface at the unloading location, and at a point during
the step
of lowering the respective elongated member to the unloading location an end
of said
elongated member is brought into butting engagement with the upstanding
surface so
as to load each elongated member onto the conveyor at a common reference point
longitudinally of the conveyor.
In one arrangement there is provided the conveyor comprising a plurality
of movable supports which are generally V-shaped and oriented transversely of
the
second support surface, and the respective elongated member arranged at the
unloading location is located upon initial contact with the respective V-
shaped support
transversely outwardly of its apex causing the respective elongated member to
rotate
about its longitudinal axis as the gripper arms are moved downwardly until the
elongated member is seated in the apex of the V-shaped support.
In one arrangement the second support surface is inclined so that the
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
11
second side thereof is raised relative to the first side such that the
elongated members
of the topmost layer are pushed across an incline towards the gripper arms
arranged
at the height of the second side of the second support surface.
'Gripper arms' may also be referred to herein as 'lowering members'.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a system
for loading members which are elongated in a longitudinal direction onto a
conveyor
which feeds the elongated members to another machine for processing said
elongated
members, the system comprising:
an elevator defining a first support surface extending longitudinally in the
longitudinal direction for carrying a set of the elongated members each
oriented
longitudinally of the elevator;
the elevator being movable in an upward direction to lift each elongated
member carried thereon to a predetermined height;
at least one pusher arm arranged at the predetermined height and carried
for movement transversely of the elevator for transferring the elongated
members in a
transverse direction off of the elevator;
said at least one pusher arm each having a pushing surface facing in the
transverse direction for contacting a trailing side of the respective
elongated member
located at the predetermined height such that said at least one pusher arm
displaces
the elongated members in a pushing movement of said at least one pusher arm in
which
the elongated members lead said at least one pusher arm;
a second support surface for receiving the elongated members
transferred from the elevator that is provided at the predetermined height
with a first
side adjacent the elevator and an opposite second side spaced transversely
outwardly
thereof;
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
12
said at least one pusher arm being movable across the second support
surface in the transverse direction so as to move the elongated members
towards the
second side of the second support surface;
one or more lowering members at or adjacent the second side of the
second support surface which are movable in upward and downward directions
from
the second support surface to an unloading location below said second side of
the
second support surface, where the elongated members are arranged for unloading
from
the lowering members and loading onto the conveyor;
the second support surface being inclined downwardly from the second
side towards the first side such that the elongated members can be
controllably
transferred from the second support surface over the second side thereof to
the
lowering members absent any other surface opposite to the at least one pusher
arm
leading the elongated members in the direction of the pushing movement.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method
for loading elongated members which are elongated in a longitudinal direction
onto a
conveyor which feeds the elongated members to another machine for processing
said
elongated members, the method comprising:
providing a system for loading the elongated members onto the conveyor
comprising:
an elevator defining a first support surface extending longitudinally
in the longitudinal direction for carrying a set of the elongated members each
oriented
longitudinally of the elevator;
the elevator being movable in an upward direction to lift each
elongated member carried thereon to a predetermined height;
a second support surface provided at the predetermined height
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
13
with a first side adjacent the elevator and an opposite second side spaced
transversely
outwardly thereof;
one or more lowering members at or adjacent the second side of
the second support surface in opposite relation to the elevator;
said one or more lowering members being movable in upward and
downward directions from the second support surface to an unloading location
below
said second side of the second support surface where the elongated members are
arranged for unloading from the lowering members and loading onto the
conveyor;
at least one pusher arm arranged at the predetermined height and
carried for movement transversely of the elevator for moving the elongated
members
in the transverse direction from the elevator and across the second support
surface so
as to move the elongated members from the elevator across the second support
surface over the second side thereof to the lowering members adjacent thereto;
providing the set of the elongated members arranged in one or more
layers in a stack on the first support surface on the elevator;
arranging a topmost layer of the stack at the predetermined height by
raising the first support surface of the elevator;
pushing each one of the elongated members forming the topmost layer
by engaging, with said at least one pusher arm, a first one of the elongated
members
forming the topmost layer which is farthest from the first side of the second
support
surface so as to effect butting engagement of each elongated member and the
next in
a manner conducing movement of the elongated members across the second support
surface in a direction from the first side to the second side, such that the
topmost layer
of the stack of the elongated members is moved out of the stack and across the
second
support surface towards the lowering members arranged at a height of the
second side
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
14
of the second support surface;
and with the respective elongated member received on the lowering
members, lowering the respective elongated member to the unloading location.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method
for loading elongated members which are elongated in a longitudinal direction
onto a
conveyor which feeds the elongated members to another machine for processing
said
elongated members, the method comprising:
providing a system for loading the elongated members onto the conveyor
comprising:
an elevator defining a first support surface extending longitudinally
in the longitudinal direction for carrying a set of the elongated members each
oriented
longitudinally of the elevator;
the elevator being movable in an upward direction to lift each
elongated member carried thereon to a predetermined height;
a second support surface provided at the predetermined height
with a first side adjacent the elevator and an opposite second side spaced
transversely
=
outwardly thereof;
one or more lowering members at or adjacent the second side of
the second support surface in opposite relation to the elevator;
said one or more lowering members being movable in upward and
downward directions from the second support surface to an unloading location
below
said second side of the second support surface where the elongated members are
arranged for unloading from the lowering members and loading onto the
conveyor;
at least one pusher arm arranged at the predetermined height and
carried for movement transversely of the elevator for moving the elongated
members
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
15
in the transverse direction from the elevator and across the second support
surface so
as to move the elongated members from the elevator across the second support
surface over the second side thereof to the lowering members adjacent thereto;
providing the set of the elongated members arranged in one or more
layers in a stack on the first support surface on the elevator;
providing the conveyor comprising a plurality of movable supports which
are generally V-shaped and oriented transversely of the second support surface
so that
the elongated members oriented longitudinally of the second support surface
can be
received in the movable supports of the conveyor;
arranging a topmost layer of the stack at the predetermined height by
raising the first support surface of the elevator;
with said at least one pusher arm, moving the topmost layer of the stack
of the elongated members out of the stack across the second support surface
towards
the lowering members arranged at a height of the second side of the second
support
surface;
and with the respective elongated member received on the lowering
members, lowering the respective elongated member to the unloading location;
wherein the respective elongated member arranged at the unloading
location is located upon initial contact with the respective V-shaped movable
support
transversely outwardly of its apex causing the respective elongated member to
rotate
about its longitudinal axis as the lowering members are moved downwardly until
the
elongated member is seated in the apex of the V-shaped support.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a system
for loading members which are elongated in a longitudinal direction onto a
conveyor
which feeds the elongated members to another machine for processing said
elongated
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
16
members, the system comprising:
an elevator defining a first support surface extending longitudinally in the
longitudinal direction for carrying a set of the elongated members each
oriented
longitudinally of the elevator;
the elevator being movable in an upward direction to lift each elongated
member carried thereon to a predetermined height;
at least one pusher arm arranged at the predetermined height and carried
for movement transversely of the elevator for transferring the elongated
members in a
transverse direction off of the elevator;
said at least one pusher arm each having a pushing surface facing in the
transverse direction for contacting a trailing side of the respective
elongated member
located at the predetermined height such that said at least one pusher arm
displaces
the elongated members in a pushing movement of said at least one pusher arm in
which
the elongated members lead said at least one pusher arm;
a second support surface for receiving the elongated members
transferred from the elevator that is provided at the predetermined height
with a first
side adjacent the elevator and an opposite second side spaced transversely
outwardly
thereof;
one or more lowering members at or adjacent the second side of the
second support surface which are movable in upward and downward directions
from
the second support surface to an unloading location below said second side of
the
second support surface, where the elongated members are arranged for unloading
from
the lowering members and loading onto the conveyor;
said at least one pusher arm being movable across the second support
surface in the transverse direction so as to move the elongated members
towards and
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
17
over the second side of the second support surface to the lowering members;
wherein each lowering member forms a support surface inclined upwardly
and transversely outwardly with a stop at a lower end of the support surface
that is
raised upwardly from said support surface for resisting the respective
elongated
member carried by the lowering members from rolling off the lower ends of the
lowering
members.
According to a yet further aspect of the invention there is provided a
system for loading members which are elongated in a longitudinal direction
onto a
conveyor which feeds the elongated members to another machine for processing
said
elongated members, the system comprising:
an elevator defining a first support surface extending longitudinally in the
longitudinal direction for carrying a set of the elongated members each
oriented
longitudinally of the elevator;
the elevator being movable in an upward direction to lift each elongated
member carried thereon to a predetermined height;
at least one pusher arm arranged at the predetermined height and carried
for movement transversely of the elevator for transferring the elongated
members in a
transverse direction off of the elevator;
said at least one pusher arm each having a pushing surface facing in the
transverse direction for contacting a trailing side of the respective
elongated member
located at the predetermined height such that said at least one pusher arm
displaces
the elongated members in a pushing movement of said at least one pusher arm in
which
the elongated members lead said at least one pusher arm;
a second support surface for receiving the elongated members
transferred from the elevator that is provided at the predetermined height
with a first
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
18
side adjacent the elevator and an opposite second side spaced transversely
outwardly
thereof;
one or more lowering members at or adjacent the second side of the
second support surface which are movable in upward and downward directions
from
the second support surface to an unloading location below said second side of
the
second support surface, where the elongated members are arranged for unloading
from
the lowering members and loading onto the conveyor;
said at least one pusher arm being movable across the second support
surface in the transverse direction so as to move the elongated members
towards and
over the second side of the second support surface to the lowering members;
wherein the elevator comprises a platform defining the first support
surface that is movable in the upward direction, inclined transmission members
at
longitudinally spaced positions of the platform that extend downwardly
therefrom and
horizontally in a predetermined direction, and a pushing assembly disposed
under the
first support surface that is arranged for movement in a horizontal plane in
the
predetermined direction for pushing against the transmission members so as to
effect
movement of the platform upwardly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One arrangement of the invention will now be described in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of system for loading members which are
elongated in a longitudinal direction onto a conveyor, according to the
present invention.
That member which is resting in a support of the conveyor and another member
which
is on gripper arms of the system are shown with a portion of their length
cutaway for
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
19
clarity of illustration.
Figure 2 is an elevational view from one end of the system and conveyor
of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an elevational view from side end of the system and conveyor
of Figure 1 with that member in the support of the conveyor now omitted for
clarity of
illustration.
Figure 4 is an elevational view from another side of the system and
conveyor of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a perspective view from the top and one side of the system of
Figure 1 without the conveyor.
Figure 6 is a top plan view of the system on its own but with pusher arms
in a member loading position longitudinally of the system.
Figure 7 is an elevational view of the system on its own.
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view along line 8-8 in Figure 5.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
There is illustrated in the accompanying figures a loading system, which
is generally indicated at 100, for loading elongated members 1 onto a conveyor
10 by
which the members 1 are then carried to a location downstream of the loading
system
100 for processing thereat. (Hereinafter, the loading system may also be
referred to as
loader' for short.)
In the illustrated arrangement the elongated members 1 comprise tubes
(having hollow interiors) which are square in cross section, like the tube
indicated at
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
20
1A. The tubes which can be handled by the loading system 100 are not limited
to a
square cross-section however and may also, for example, be circular in cross-
section
or rectangular in cross-section, like the tube indicated at 1B. Furthermore,
alternatively
to tubes the elongated members may comprise bars (which are solid) which also
may
have cross-sections of different shapes such as C-shaped as with for example
channel
iron, L-shaped as with for example angle iron, and l-shaped as with for
example I-beam.
The subsequent processing performed on the elongated members 1
downstream of the loading system 100, in the illustrated arrangement,
comprises
cutting of the members 1 by a laser cutting machine 4 (schematically shown)
like that
manufactured by Mazak Corporation. An example of cutter manufactured by Mazak
Corporation that may be arranged in an overall material processing system as
shown
in the figures at S is Mazak 3D FABRI Gear 220 MKIf.
The laser cutter 4 includes arms supporting a chuck (not shown) which
sequentially remove one member 1 from the conveyor at a time and pass same
through
a cutting portion of the machine 4 where a head carrying a cutting laser (not
shown)
performs a cutting operation on the elongated member according to a
predetermined
plan/design programmed into the cutter. Thus, the loading system 100, conveyor
10,
and cutting machine 4 together form the overall material processing system S
for
processing the elongated members 1, in which the loader 100 is located at an
initial
stage so as to be upstream of the conveyor 10 and the cutter 4.
The loader 100 is thus operable to process the elongated members which
form raw material for use by the processing system S. The raw material is
typically
provided in the form of one or more bulk bundles which are more convenient for
shipping. However, only one member 1 may be processed by the cutter at any
time,
such that there is need to separate from the respective bunk bundle the
individual
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
21
members 1 forming same such that the raw material is readied for processing by
the
cutter 1.
We now turn to the structure of the loading system 100.
The loader 100 comprises an elevator generally indicated at 110; an
elevated table adjacent thereto that is generally indicated at 140 (and
hereinafter also
may be referred to as 'transition table'); pusher arms generally indicated at
170 which
are arranged over the elevator and elevated table; and gripper arms generally
indicated
at 200 that are adjacent the table 140 on the other side thereof relative to
the elevator
110.
Generally speaking, the elongated members 1 are placed onto a support
surface 111 of the elevator which then carries the members 1 in an upward
direction to
a predetermined height at which the elevated table 140 is arranged. The pusher
arms
170, which are also arranged at the predetermined height, are carried for
movement
transversely of the elevator 110 so as to move the elongated members in a
transverse
direction from the elevator onto a support surface 111 of the table 140. With
the
respective elongated member 1 moved from the elevator onto the table 140, the
pusher
arms 160 continue to move the respective member thereacross from one side 142A
of
the table 140 adjacent the elevator to another side 142B located transversely
distally
thereto, and over the second side 142B onto the gripper arms 200 which are
arranged
at a height of the second side 142B. The gripper arms 200 lower the member 1
to an
unloading location generally indicated at U at which the member is placed onto
the
conveyor 10.
The elevator 110 includes a platform 113 defining at its top face the
elevator support surface 111. The platform 113 is formed by a number of
interconnected
beam members 114, some of which are oriented longitudinally of the elevator
and some
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
22
which are oriented transversely thereof. A collection 114A-114D of the members
forms
a periphery of the platform, which is rectangular in shape. Another collection
of
members 114E are arranged at longitudinally spaced locations and span
transversely
between the members 114A and 1146 which are oriented longitudinally of the
elevator.
It is the transversely oriented members 114E and those at 114C and 114D
forming ends of the platform at its periphery which substantially define the
elevator
support surface 111. The longitudinal members 114A, 114B may be considered to
define the elevator support surface together with the transverse members 114C-
114E
though the latter are those which individually may receive thereon several
elongated
members arranged side by side in for example a horizontal layer.
It will be appreciated that the platform is elongated in a longitudinal
direction in which the elongated members 1 extend so that the members may be
oriented on the elevator longitudinally thereof. The platform 113 is sized in
length to
span at least a half of the length of the elongated members, which are
typically sized in
length in an example range between 8 feet to 24 feet. As such, the platform
may have
a length of about 12 feet so that the elevator may carry elongated members
with a
length in the range of 8-24 feet, In terms of width, the platform is sized to
support a
plurality of elongated members arranged each alongside the next in side-by-
side
configuration across the elevator support surface 111. Thus, for example the
elevator
may have a width of about 3-4 feet.
In order to reduce friction between the elevator support surface 111 and
the elongated members 1, which in the illustrated arrangement are metal just
like a
majority of the parts of the system 100, there is provided a plurality of
transversely
elongate plastic bearing strips 115 at a number (if not all) of the
transversely extending
members 114.
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
23
As mentioned before, the elevator is arranged for lifting the elongated
members carried thereon to the predetermined height at which the table 140 is
provided. The platform 113 is thus movable in the upward direction for lifting
the
member(s) carried thereon by cooperation of a pushing assembly 116 disposed
beneath the platform, which is arranged for pushing movement in a horizontal
plane in
a predetermined direction PD shown by a correspondingly labelled arrow in
Figure 4,
and two sets of inclined transmission members 118 at longitudinally spaced
positions
along the elevator. Each set of inclined transmission members comprises a pair
of the
members 118 which extend both downwardly from the platform 113 and
horizontally in
the predetermined direction PD. All of the inclined transmission members form
a
uniform angle with the platform. The transmission members 118 are coupled to
outward
faces of the longitudinal members 114A, 114B. Furthermore, the transmission
members 118 are braced at their lower ends 119A by a vertically extending
member
120 which bridges the lower end 119A and the platform thereabove.
The pushing assembly 116 is planar, and comprises a pair of
longitudinally extending beam members 122 forming sides of the pushing
assembly
that are spaced by a distance smaller than that between the longitudinal
platform
members 114A, 114B so that a width of the pushing assembly at the members 122
is
less than the distance between the members 114A and 114B. In addition to the
longitudinal members 122, there are provided a pair of transversely extending
members
124 each arranged at one end of the pair of longitudinal members 122 so as to
define
ends of the pushing assembly. These transverse beam members 124 extend
transversely outwardly beyond outward surfaces of the longitudinal members 122
so
that the width of the pushing assembly at the transverse members 124 is
greater than
that at the longitudinal members 122.
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
24
Where the transverse pushing members 124 extend transversely beyond
the longitudinal pushing assembly members 122 a pair of wheels or rollers 126A
and
126B are attached thereat in a manner so as to be arranged for rolling
movement with
an axis of rotation oriented transversely perpendicular of the elevator.
Thus, a rigid frame of the pushing assembly 116 collectively defined by
the longitudinal members 122 and transverse members 124 is movable in the
predetermined direction PD by rolling movement provided by the rollers 126A
engaging
longitudinally extending rails 302 of a underframe 300 thereunder.
The rollers 126B are supported for rotational motion at a top face of the
respective transverse member 124 by upstanding flanges connected to the member
124 so as to be arranged at a position where the roller 1266 can rollably
engage the
inclined member 118 of the platform.
As such, the transverse members 124 which locate the rollers 126B
engaging the inclined members 118, as well as the rollers 126A engaging the
rails 302
of the underframe, are spaced from one another by a distance equivalent to
spacing
between the two sets of inclined transmission members 118. Thus, as the
pushing
assembly 116 is displaced horizontally, the platform is displaced vertically
in level
orientation as each roller 126B engages the corresponding transmission member
118
at a common horizontal location thereon.
The pushing assembly 116 is driven for movement in its horizontal plane
by a chain drive 400 comprising an endless chain 401 forming a loop residing
generally
in the horizontal plane of the pushing assembly. The loop formed by the
endless chain
is elongate in the longitudinal direction and is supported in rotation at one
end 401A by
a sprocket 213 attached in fixed relation at the underframe and at an opposite
end 4018
centrally of the underframe 300 and platform 113 at a sprocket 404 coupled to
a drive
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
25
motor 405 via a drive coupling arrangement 407 formed by another pair of
sprockets
drivably interconnected by a chain. The drive motor 405 is supported by the
underframe
300 in fixed relation thereto.
The pushing assembly 116 thus includes another transversely extending
member 128 at a location along the pushing assembly 116 which is intermediate
the
sprockets 401, 404. This transversely extending member is located closer to
one of the
members 124 than the other one thereof and thus there is provided a bracing
member
130 bridging between the closer one of the members 124 and the member 128. The
member 128 supports a carrier 129 attached for example by a conventional
arrangement to the endless chain 401 so as to be carried by the chain in
movement
longitudinally of the elevator. For example, the carrier may form a housing
with teeth
matingly engaged with links of the endless chain so as to be in fixed relation
therewith.
It will be appreciated that in this arrangement the drive motor 405 is
arranged for movement in forward and reverse directions so that the pushing
assembly
is movable correspondingly in both the predetermined direction PD and that
opposite
thereto for both raising and lowering the platform 113.
In order to help guide the platform in its upward and downward movement,
there is provided a downwardly depending post 131 generally centrally of the
platform
that is connected at its upper end to one of the transverse members 114E of
the
platform. Accordingly, the underframe 300 supports a roller 306 disposed in
the
predetermined direction PD of the post 131 so that when the pushing assembly
116
moves in the predetermined direction so as to urge the platform 113 upwardly,
the roller
306 acts as a stop resisting the platform from shifting in the predetermined
direction PD
and instead helps to transmit the horizontal movement in the predetermined
direction
of the pushing assembly 116 to vertical movement of the platform in the upward
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
26
direction.
A lower end of the post 131 is braced by an inclined member 133
extending from one of the transverse platform members 114E downwardly and
horizontally in the predetermined direction towards the post.
As mentioned previously, the underframe 300 is disposed beneath the
pushing assembly 116 which is beneath the platform 113. The underframe
comprises
a number of longitudinal frame members defining the rails 302 and transversely
oriented frame cross-members.
Additionally, the underframe 300 includes upstanding posts 320 which are
disposed on a side of the elevator which is distal to the table 140. At a top
of the
upstanding posts 320 there is supported the pusher arms 170 which will be
described
in more detail shortly.
At an opposite side of the elevator with respect to the upstanding posts
320, the underframe 300 includes a pair of C-shaped members forming brackets
340
at spaced positions from one another longitudinally of the elevator 110. A
first leg 341
of each of the C-shaped brackets extends upwardly from a base of the
underframe,
where the rails 302 are located, to the predetermined height, and a second leg
343 of
each C-shaped bracket at a top of the first leg extends transversely outwardly
away
from the elevator so as to form on its top face a support surface 145 of the
transition
table 140. That is, the top faces of the C-shaped brackets 340 collectively
define the
table support surface 145.
As such, the top faces of the C-shaped brackets carry thereon plastic
bearing strips 147 similar to those on the platform 113.
Furthermore, the first leg 341 of each C-shaped bracket provides a
surface facing the elevator against which the elongated members carried on the
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
27
elevator may be abutted so as to maintain same on the platform. In the
illustrated
arrangement, there is provided in opposite relation to the first legs 341 of
the C-shaped
brackets on the other side of the platform an adjustable side stop 133 which
is movable
transversely of the platform. The adjustable stop 133 defines a surface
upstanding from
the elevator support surface 111 that cooperatively with the elevator-side
surface of the
first leg 341 may act to restrict transverse movement of the elongated members
resting
on the platform which may be undesirably caused by for example vibration of
the
platform as it moves upwardly. Typically the adjustable side stop 133 is set
at a position
relative to the first legs 341 of the C-shaped brackets so as to substantially
sandwich
the elongated members resting in a space therebetween, such that undesirable
transverse movement is substantially prevented altogether.
Turning now to the pusher arms 170, the pusher arms are pivotally carried
at a top of the upstanding posts 320 and are arranged at longitudinally spaced
positions
of the elevator. Each pusher arm includes an elongate track 172 pivotally
connected at
the respective upstanding post 320 such that the respective pusher arm be
moved in
swivelling movement about an upstanding axis defined by the post 320 between a
working position, in which the track is oriented transversely of the elevator,
and a
member loading position, in which the track is oriented longitudinally of the
elevator
along its side that is distal to the table 140. The pivotal connection is for
example
provided by a conventional pin-in-aperture arrangement with a locking
mechanism for
holding the track 172 in the selected one of the positions.
Further to the track 172, each pusher arm includes a pusher body 174
connected at its top to the track so as to depend downwardly therefrom, and
which
carries a transversely-facing pushing surface 175. The pusher body 174 which
forms a
transversely oriented plate is movable along the track 172 by a chain drive
system 500
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
28
including a chain 501 forming an endless loop and similar in arrangement to
that drive
system indicated at 400. The endless chain is elongated in the same dimension
in which
the track is, The chain 501 rotates about a freely rotating sprocket 503
located at a free
end of the respective track 172 and another drive sprocket 505 located along
the
upstanding axis where the track pivots at the post 320. This drive sprocket
505 is
coupled to a vertically oriented shaft 508 extending through the respective
upstanding
post 320, with another drive sprocket 511 at its bottom end 508A coupled by a
driving
chain to a drive motor 514 which is thus able to drive the endless chain 501
at the track.
Furthermore, a top 174A of the pusher body thus forms a carrier in mating
engagement
with one longitudinally extending run of the endless chain 501 so that the
pusher body
is movable with that run in fixed relation thereto.
The pusher bodies 174 are thus arranged at the predetermined height at
which the first side 142A of the table 140 is located so that those elongated
members
lifted to the predetermined height by the elevator 110 may be moved therefrom
onto
the table support surface 145.
In the illustrated arrangement, the table support surface 145 is inclined
upwardly and outwardly in a transverse direction transversely of the elevator
such that
the second side 142B distal to the elevator is raised relative to the first
side 142A of the
table. As such, elongated members with cross-sections shaped such that the
elongated
member may have a tendency to roll (for example, a circular cross-section) may
be
moved in a controlled manner across the table 140. That is, by the inclination
of the
table 140 gravity conduces potential rolling movement of the respective
elongated
member towards the lower first side 142A but the pusher body 174 acts as a
stop with
the pushing surface 175 facing in the transverse direction towards the second
side
142B of the table. As such, by cooperation of the pusher body 174 and
inclination of
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
29
the table support surface 145 the elongated members may be controllably moved
thereacross from the first side 142A to the second side 1426.
At the free end of one of the tracks 172, distally to the upstanding post
320, there is provided a stop guard in the form of an L-shaped flange 177 with
a
downwardly depending leg 177A spaced from the end of the track longitudinally
thereof.
This stop guard may limit movement of the pusher body along the track so as to
maintain the body 174 on same,
Longitudinal spacing between the adjacent pusher arms 170 may be
adjusted so that the loader 100 may handle are a variety of different lengths
of
elongated members. The upstanding posts 320 are interconnected by a horizontal
cross-member 322 of the underframe extending longitudinally of the elevator
intermediate the upstanding posts. The horizontal cross-members comprises a
first
telescoping portion 322A (schematically shown) at coupled to one of the posts
320 that
is slidably receivable in a second telescoping portion 322B (schematically
shown)
coupled to a second one of the posts.
Each upstanding post 320 is connected via a transversely extending base
member 308 of the underframe 300 to the respective C-shaped bracket 340
forming
the table 140 at its top. Furthermore, each gripper arm 200 is supported
between a
bottom third leg 346 of the respective C-shaped bracket 340, which extends
transversely from the first leg 341 in a direction outwardly away from the
elevator 110,
and the C-shaped bracket's upper second leg 343. As such, the C-shaped bracket
and
gripper arm are movable with the respective upstanding post, with the base
member
308 supporting wheels 310 for rolling movement on a support surface (i.e., a
floor)
beneath the loader 100 so that the longitudinal spacing between the two
pushers arms
170, two outermost ones of the gripper arms 200, and two outermost ones of the
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
30
brackets 340 forming the table 140 may be adjusted.
The extent to which the longitudinal spacing between the aforementioned
components can be adjusted is limited by placement of the conveyor 1.
Therefore, on
at least one of the pusher arms 170 there is provided an extension piece 179
in the
shape of a U that projects transversely with respect to the track 172 in a
direction
towards an opposite one of the pusher arms. This extension piece serves to
effectively
widen the pushing surface 175 of the corresponding pusher arm should the
elongated
member(s) being processed by the loader 100 be shorter than a minimum distance
between the pusher bodies 174.
Also, it will be appreciated that the tracks 172 are connected by a
longitudinally extending member 182 which is pivotally connected to each track
172.
One of the tracks 172 includes a lever 185 which is operable to swivel the
pusher arms
170 between the working position and the member loading position shown in
Figure 6.
The interconnecting member 182 at one end includes a slot (not shown)
elongated
longitudinally of the member 182 with a pin passing therethrough to provide
the pivotal
connection with the track 172, so that the longitudinal spacing between the
pusher arms
is allowed to be adjusted as the interconnecting member 182 remains connected
there between.
Turning now to the gripper arms 200, each gripper arm 200 comprises a
gripper hand 201 supported in fixed relation at a top of a support member 203
depending downwardly from the hand 201. A pair of pins, one 205 located at a
bottom
of the support member 203 and another one 206 located generally centrally of
the
support member 203 between its top and bottom, extend transversely to the
support
member with the bottom pin 205 being mated with a slot 208 in vertical plate
209 and
the upper pin defining a central pivot point of the respective gripper arm
that is not
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
31
mated with the slot. The vertical plate is supported in its upstanding
condition from the
bottom leg 346 of the C-shaped bracket 340.
The slot 208 which forms a track following a pre-selected path for guiding
movement of the gripper hands in a controlled fashion is disposed on a side of
the
support member 203 distally to the elevator.
On an opposite side of the support member 203 from the vertical plate
209 the central pin 206 is pivotally connected to an intermediary arm 211
which is L-
shaped. The intermediary arm 211 is attached to a carrier 213 arranged to
travel
vertically upwardly and downwardly along a post 214 spanning vertically
between the
second and third legs 343, 346 of the C-shaped bracket. The post 214 supports
a chain
drive system 600, similar to those indicated at 400 and 500, which drives the
carrier
213 up and down along the post. The chain drive system 600 includes a drive
sprocket
603 at a bottom of the respective post 214 that is connected to a common main
shaft
605 extending longitudinally of the elevator and connecting all of the gripper
arms 200
together to a drive motor 608 so that all of the gripper arms are driven in
unison.
Due to limitations on adjustability of the spacing between the outermost
ones of the gripper arms, there is provided one gripper arm 200C which is
fixedly
located between the pair of outermost gripper arms. In order to provide
adjustability of
the spacing, the common drive shaft 605 is formed in at least two sections and
are
joined together in a telescoping configuration, in the illustrated embodiment,
the main
shaft is formed in three sections 606A-606C, where that portion of the drive
shaft 605
extending through the fixedly located gripper arm 200C forms a receptacle 606C
slidably receiving in telescoping configuration separate shaft sections 606A,
606B
directly connected to the outermost gripper arms respectively. The receptacle
606C is
polygonal-shaped in cross section, with at least four sides. In the
illustrated
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
32
arrangement, the shaft section 6060 forming the receptacle is square in cross-
section
and the remaining sections 606A and 606B are circular in cross section.
Despite being
formed in separate sections, the sections are coupled to one another in a
manner
allowing them to rotate about an axis defined by the drive shaft 605 in fixed
relation to
one another. For example, the outer sections 606A, 606B may cooperate with the
central polygonal section 6060 for rotating together by a spline arrangement
inside the
section 606C which extends longitudinally along the receptacle so as to allow
relative
longitudinal movement of one section with respect to the next but resisting
relative
rotation therebetween. Also, couplers 609 may be provided on ends of the
receptacle
section 606C to strengthen connection with the other sections 606A, 606B.
Returning to the slot track 208 of the gripper arms guiding upward and
downward movement thereof, each slot follows an uninterrupted path lying in an
upstanding plane of the vertical plate 209 that is oriented longitudinally of
the elevator.
The uninterrupted path has components traversing two dimensions of this
upstanding
plane, so that the movement of the gripper hands 201 from an upper receiving
position
at the second side 142B of the table to the unloading location U at the
conveyor below
is not strictly vertically linear. That is, the gripper hands have some
horizontal
displacement as they are moved between the upper receiving position and the
unloading location.
This horizontal movement causes the respective gripper hand 201 to be
tilted about the central pivot point at pin 206 of the arm in a longitudinal
direction
generally towards one end of the table 140 where there is provided next to the
conveyor
10 an upstanding stopper surface 216. The stopper surface 216 which is
supported on
upstanding legs 217 is located at the unloading location U so that an end of
the
respective elongated member 1 carried from the table 140 to the conveyor may
be
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
33
brought into butting engagement with the stopper surface 216 so as to load
each
elongated member onto the conveyor 10 at a common reference point
longitudinally of
the conveyor. As such, this reference point is defined by the upstanding
surface 216
which is oriented transversely of the table 140. The surface 216 also extends
from the
unloading location U at a start 11A of the conveyor 10 to a location
downstream thereof
(which may be a terminal end of conveyor where the cutter is located 4) such
that the
surface extends parallel to the conveyor. Thus, as each elongated members
moves
down the conveyor the surface 216 may act to maintain the members at the
reference
point, which typically corresponds to a requirement of the cutter 4 or other
processing
machine receiving the members downstream of the loader 100.
Additionally, the end stopper surface 216 extends upwardly in a direction
from the unloading location U generally towards the second side 142B of the
table. As
such, the members 1 may be brought into butting engagement with the stopper
surface
216 prior to being unloaded onto the conveyor 1.
In order to effect the horizontal movement of gripper hands, the slot 208
has a first top portion 219 extending vertically downwardly from a closed top
of the slot
at a top of plate 209 to a first transition area 221A. At the first transition
area begins a
second intermediate portion 223 of the slot 208 where the slot extends both
downwardly
and horizontally so as to be inclined relative to the first top portion 219.
The intermediate
portion 223 ends at a second transition area 221B where a third bottom portion
225 is
provided, extending vertically downwardly therefrom parallel to the first top
portion 219
of the slot. The bottom portion 225 terminates at a closed bottom of the slot
208. It will
be appreciated that the bottom portion 225 is longer than the top portion 219,
and edges
of the slot are curved at the first transition area 221A defining a junction
of the first top
portion 219 and the second intermediate portion 223. However, the edges of the
slot
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
34
form a vertex at each side of the slot at the second transition area 221B
which defines
a junction of the second intermediate portion 223 and the third bottom portion
225.
Thus, when there is a horizontal displacement between the pins 205 and
206 the hand 201 is tilted about the central pivot point 206, which travels
vertically
upwardly and downwardly without any horizontal movement in the illustrated
arrangement, so as to locate the hand in a position opposite the bottom pin
205 such
that the central pin 206 is intermediate the two. That is, movement of the
bottom of the
support member 203, where the bottom pin 205 is located, in one horizontal
direction
so that a horizontal displacement is formed relative to the central pin 206
causes the
hand to be displaced in the opposite horizontal direction by tilting about the
central pivot
point. (The support member 203 may or may not be free to rotate about the
central pin
206 depending on, for example, whether the pin 206 is fixed to the member 203
or to
the intermediary arm 211 such that the pin would not be rotatable relative
thereto.)
Therefore, the path of the slot is shaped to guide the pin 205 in a manner
effecting
movement of the gripper hand about the pivot point 205 towards the stopper
surface
216.
In the illustrated arrangement there is also provided a similar type of
stopper surface 227 at the elevator 110 at a common end thereof so as to be
alongside
the end stopper surface 216. This additional stopper surface 227 is aligned
with the
stopper surface 216 longitudinally of the elevator such that the stopper
surface 227 at
the elevator provides an initial reference point longitudinally thereof to
ensure that ends
of the members 1 are not located longitudinally beyond the stopper surface 216
at the
unloading location U before being moved across the table 140 for receipt on
the gripper
arms 200. As the pusher arms 170 move perpendicularly transverse to the
elevator and
table in the illustrated arrangement of the loader 100, a similar type of
upstanding
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
35
stopper surface may be omitted at the common end of the table 140 which would
otherwise act to engage the ends of the members 1 as they are moved across the
table
140 so as to prevent these member ends from being located longitudinally
beyond the
stopper surface 216.
Returning to the gripper arms 200, each gripper hand 201 forms an
inclined support surface 229 on which the respective member 1 is supported,
with a
stop 230 at a lower end 231A of the respective gripper hand that is raised
upwardly
from the support surface 229. The respective hand 201 thus comprises a tubular
body
232 which is supported in inclined orientation at its lower end by the support
member
203. The hand 201 includes a flange 235 at an upper end which projects
upwardly
beyond an upper surface of the tubular body that defines the support surface
229. There
is also provided a smaller flange 236 at the lower end of the tubular body
that is raised
above the top surface 229, that is above that portion of the surface 229 which
is at the
lower end of the hand. This smaller flange 236 defines the stop 230.
In the illustrated arrangement, the flange 235 is removably coupled at the
upper end of the tubular body 232 by a conventional removable quick pin 235A.
The
pin 235A passes through an aperture in the flange 235 and into a receptacle
with
cooperating conventional coupling arrangement (not shown) within the tubular
body of
the respective hand 201 for holding the pin in fixed relation thereto. Thus
the flange 235
is selectively removable allowing the gripper arms 200 to be arranged in a
manner
which may be suited for handling elongated members with cross-sections sized
so as
to exceed the length of the inclined support surface 229 as it is measured
from the lower
end 231A to the upper end where the flange 235 is locatable. As such, when the
flange
235 is removed larger elongated members may be rested with one face thereof
substantially flat against the surface 229 of the respective hand.
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
36
The inclined support surface 229 and the stop 230 are cooperative to
maintain the respective member 1 on the hands 201 regardless of cross-
sectional
shape of the elongated member 1. For example, members having rounded cross-
sections, whether wholly rounded like a circle or ellipse or partially
rounded, have a
tendency to roll about the rounded portion of their outer surface, so the
inclined support
surface 229 and cooperative stop 230 may maintain such members on the gripper
arms
in a controllable manner. Thus, by the incline of the body 232 of the hand,
gravity
conduces the member 1 towards the lower end 231A where the flange 236 acts to
stop
the member 1 from entirely falling off, thereby maintaining the member 1 on
the hand.
The support surface 229 of the respective one of the gripper hands is
inclined upwardly and transversely outwardly in the same transverse direction
as the
table 140.
The conveyor 10 comprises a plurality of member supports 12 movable
in a direction transversely of the loader 100. Each member support 12 is
generally
shaped like a 'V' thereby forming a cradle transversely of the elongated
member that is
arranged to carry one of the elongated members 1 therein. The respective
support 12
comprises a plurality of the V-shaped supports 13 which are arranged in a row
longitudinally of the table 140 and carried in movement along an individual
drive track
15 so as to collectively form a single support 12 for one of the members 1.
The respective member support 12 is shaped so as to carry each member
in a stably seated manner therein. That is, each support has a first side 16
extending in
linear fashion both upwardly and transversely in a direction away from the
table 140
from an apex 17 of the member support 12 to a free terminus 20 of the first
side, and a
second side 19 extending in linear fashion both upwardly and transversely in a
direction
towards the table 140 from the apex 17 to a free terminus 22 of the second
side. The
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
37
first side 16 and second side 19 are arranged to form a right angle so that at
the apex
17 of the member support 12 the respective elongated member 1 may be received
matingly in the support with each one of two faces of the elongated member
resting
against one of the sides 16, 19 and an edge bordering the two faces seated
matingly
at the apex 17.
We now turn to use of the loader 100 and same in combination with the
conveyor 10.
Initially, prior to being processed by any machinery or equipment such as
the loader 100, the elongated members 1 are typically provided in a bundled
set as
such a set is easier to ship or transport in comparison to moving around such
members
arranged loosely in bulk. More specifically, the set of the members 1 is
typically
arranged in a stack comprising one or more horizontal layers with each layer
having a
plurality of the members, as shown in the illustrated arrangement.
With the pusher arms 170 arranged in the member loading position as
shown for example in Figure 6, the set of elongated members is placed on the
platform
113, using for example an overhead crane, such that the elongated members 1
are
oriented longitudinally of the platform. More specifically, the set is
arranged on the
platform 113 with one side thereof against the first legs 341 of C-shaped
brackets 340
and with ends of the members 1 against the elevator end stopper surface 227.
Additionally, the adjustable side stop 133 is arranged in position opposite
the first legs
341 of the C-shaped brackets 340 against the opposite side of the set so as to
sandwich
the bundled set of members between the legs 341 and the side stop 133. Straps
holding
the set together may then be removed as the members are contained in a space
on the
platform 113 that is delimited about a periphery of the platform by the first
legs 341,
adjustable side stop 133, and the end stopper surface 227.
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
38
A topmost layer 2 of the stacked set is arranged at the predetermined
height where the first side 142A of the table is located by raising the
platform 113 of the
elevator. Although the topmost layer of members is thus presented at a height
where
they may be transferred onto the table 140, the members may be resisted from
moving
by their own inertia onto the table 140 as the table is inclined, that is its
second side
142B distal to the elevator 110 is raised relative to the first side 142A of
the table.
The topmost layer of members is then moved out of the stack and across
the table 140 towards the second side 142B thereof where the gripper arms 200
are
arranged so as to be at the height of the second side 142B. This is achieved
by
operating the pusher arms 170 arranged in the working position to push the
members
forming the topmost layer 2 out of the stack and across the inclined table
surface 145,
and continue pushing until the member which is farthest from the first side
142A of the
table (and thus closest to the second side 142B thereof) passes over the
second side
142B to the gripper arms 200 adjacent thereto. More particularly, the pusher
arms 170
are operated to engage a first one of the members forming the topmost layer
which is
farthest from the first side 142A of the table so as to effect butting
engagement of each
member 1 and the next. In this manner movement of the elongated members across
the table 140 in a direction from the first side 142A to the second side 1428
is conduced.
Thus, the pusher arms 170 act on the elongated members 1 transversely thereof
to
move them in the transverse direction. One member 1 at a time is loaded onto
the
gripper arms waiting in the upper receiving position at the height of the
table's second
side 1428.
It will be appreciated that in Figure 2 the topmost layer is shown as having
a larger number of members than lower layers of the stack, but this is
strictly for
illustrative purposes.
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
=
39
With one of the elongated members 1 received in the gripper arms, that
member 1 is lowered to the unloading location U so as to be unloaded from the
gripper
hands 201 to the member support 12 of the conveyor. As the member 1 is being
lowered
into the member support 12, the gripper arms 200 provide movement
longitudinally of
the elongated members so as to bring the one end of the respective member into
butting
engagement with the upstanding stopper surface 216, thereby placing that
member at
the common reference point suited for the cutter 4.
During transfer of the respective member from the gripper hands 201 to
the cradle support 12 of the conveyor, the respective elongated member 1 is
located
upon initial contact with the support 13 transversely outwardly of the apex
17, as
illustrated more clearly by Figure 2 at I. This initial contact causes the
respective
elongated member 1 to rotate about its longitudinal axis in a rotational
direction that
would otherwise urge the member (by rolling movement) over the lower end 231A
of
the hand and towards the apex 17. The elongated member 1 continues to rotate
about
its axis in this fashion as the gripper arms are moved downwardly, until the
elongated
member is seated in the apex 17 of the V-shaped support.
The gripper hands 201 are arranged at the unloading location U with their
lower ends 231A spaced transversely of the apex 17 in a direction to the other
side of
the apex from where the elongated member makes its initial contact with the
cradle
member support 12, which in the illustrated arrangement is made at the first
side 16 of
the member support. It will be appreciated that the member 1 received in the
gripper
hands 201 is typically resting against the stop 230 due to the incline of the
support
surface 229 as the hands move downwardly from the table 140 towards the
unloading
location U. As such, the stop 230 in cooperation with the inclined support
surface 229
act to retain on the gripper arms the elongated member 1 in a controllable
manner
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
40
thereon with minimal movement transversely of the hands, which is particularly
suited
for members which have a cross-section shaped so as to be susceptible to
rolling
movement. Furthermore, the stop 230 can act to retain the member 1 on the arms
200
after its first contact with the conveyor member support 12 even as the member
is
rotating about its axis in the rotational direction that would otherwise cause
the member
to roll off over the lower end 231A. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the
support
surface 229 of the hands 201 is inclined at a smaller angle to the horizontal
than either
side 16 or 19 of the conveyor member support 12 relative thereto, such that a
rate of
rotation of the elongated member 1 that occurs from the initial contact as the
gripper
arms is sufficiently controllable to maintain the member 1 on the arms 200
until the
hands are arranged at or below the apex 17.
Once one of the member supports 12 of the conveyor has received one
elongated member, that support 12 is advanced downstream along the conveyor 10
in
a direction transverse of the elongated members. As such, another empty
support is
locatable at the start 11A of the conveyor at the unloading location U for
receiving
another one of the members 1. The member supports 12 are supported along the
conveyor on a closed loop 18 thereof (shown partially and represented
schematically)
so that empty supports are returnable to the unloading location which is at an
upstream
terminus of the conveyor.
It will be appreciated that in some instances the gripper arms 200 may be
operated to lift and bring back up one of the elongated members that were
lowered into
the respective cradle support 12. As such, in the illustrated arrangement
there is
provided a guide 240 with an inclined surface 241 which extends from a top end
located
generally in line with the second side 142B of the table transversely thereof,
to a bottom
end which is arranged spaced therefrom in the opposite transverse direction
towards
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
41
the elevator 110. This guide 240 may act to prevent the respective member from
being
caught in upward movement by an underside of the table 140 at the table's
second side
1428. Furthermore, this guide 240 may be cooperative with an inclined side of
the table
140 at its second side 142A.
It also will be appreciated that the cooperative components of the loader
100 may be operated by a human operator who uses a controller C (schematically
shown) to for example operate each one of the elevator 110, the pusher arms
170, and
the gripper arms 200, as well as the conveyor 10 in a cooperative manner as
described
hereinbefore.
Alternatively, the loader 100 may include a control system at C in lieu of
the controller described in the previous paragraph, where the control system
facilitates
autonomous operation of the loader. The control system for example includes a
plurality
of sensors tracking movement of the members on and from the elevator 110,
across
the table 140, and in movement on the gripper arms 200.
In one such arrangement having the control system, one or more sensors
may be arranged to detect a condition of the topmost layer of the members
being
arranged at the height of the first side 142A of the table. Once this
condition is satisfied,
the control system instructs the pusher arms to push the members forming the
topmost
layer across the table at a predetermined speed or rate. Another set of one or
more
sensors arranged at the second side 142B of the table may detect movement of
the
respective member over the edge of the table at this second side and thus onto
the
gripper hands 201 arranged thereat. Additionally, yet another set of one or
more
sensors arranged at the unloading location determine when the respective
elongated
member 1 is properly seated in the apex of the member support 12 so that that
support
12 can be advanced. Should the member 1 not be properly seated, the gripper
hands
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
42
201 may be brought up to lift the member out of the cradle support 12 for
another
attempt at placing the member properly therein.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above
described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made, it
is
intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be
interpreted
as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
CA 2930841 2017-10-25
