Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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12 November 2015
SUPR P232 prem
Keyword:
flying mandrel
Feeding device for blank rings
The present invention relates to a feeding device for
blank rings. The feeding device is designed to bring a plu-
rality of blank rings, which in particular are provided at
a pick-up point in an unsorted manner, into a predefined
arrangement, for example to line up said rings, and to de-
liver the same to a delivery point in particular individu-
ally.
A feeding device is known for example from
DE 35 44 104 Al. There, a stacking magazine is arranged
above a rotatable plate, from which coining pieces can be
delivered individually into pockets of the plate. The
stacking magazine is divided. The coining pieces, which are
introduced from above, should be stacked flat on top of one
another. To this end, at least part of the stacking maga-
zine is vibrated relative to another, stationary part of
the stacking magazine, such that the coining pieces are
stacked flat on top of one another in the stacking maga-
zine.
Within a stacking magazine of this kind, the supplied
circular blank parts or coin parts require a certain amount
of play in order to be able to drop downwardly. In the case
of small parts, for example ring parts of a circular blank
having a small radial ring width, this play can cause the
ring parts to fall into one another, thus resulting in the
feed being blocked.
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The object of the present invention can therefore be
considered that of creating a feeding device that transports the
blank rings reliably from a pick-up point to a delivery point and
delivers the same to the delivery point in a sorted manner.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a feeding device for feeding blank rings to a transport
assembly, the feeding device comprising a guide mandrel for the
blank rings, which extends along a longitudinal axis from an upper
end to a lower end, an insertion channel, which is associated with
the upper end of the guide mandrel and which is arranged coaxially
with the longitudinal axis, a holding arrangement, which has at
least one holding part with a holding opening arranged coaxially
with the longitudinal axis, wherein an inner dimension of the
holding opening is greater than an outer dimension of the guide
mandrel, such that an annular channel for the blank rings is
provided in the holding opening, wherein the guide mandrel is
mounted movably along the longitudinal axis and a drive arrangement
is provided and configured to raise the lower end of the guide
mandrel from a transport surface by a field or a medium.
The feeding device is designed to receive for example an
unsorted plurality of blank rings at a pick-up point, to sort, and
to deliver the same to a delivery point, preferably individually. A
guide mandrel is arranged between the pick-up point and the
delivery point. The guide mandrel extends along a longitudinal axis
L from an upper end to a lower end. The longitudinal axis L is
preferably arranged vertically, but can also be inclined at an
acute angle to the vertical. In a preferred embodiment the guide
mandrel is embodied cylindrically at least along a guide portion.
The cross-sectional shape of this guide portion can be circular-
cylindrical, polygonal, or can also have any other shape as
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desired, said shape for example being adapted to the inner shape of
the blank rings. The guide mandrel is designed to lie against the
inner edge of the blank rings that are to be transported, more
specifically at a plurality of points distributed in the peripheral
direction, such that the blank rings can slide along the guide
mandrel. The sliding movement of the blank rings along the guide
mandrel is preferably caused exclusively by the force of gravity
and can be assisted optionally by pressing or sliding means.
An insertion channel is arranged at the pick-up point. The
insertion channel is associated with the upper end of the guide
mandrel. The insertion channel is arranged coaxially with the
longitudinal axis, such that blank rings that fall through the
insertion channel are threaded onto the guide mandrel so to speak
and surround it.
The feeding device additionally has a holding arrangement. The
holding arrangement has at least one holding part with a holding
opening arranged coaxially with the longitudinal axis. The inner
diameter of the holding opening is greater than the outer diameter
of the guide mandrel. An annular channel for the blank rings is
thus provided in the holding opening. The guide mandrel penetrates
through the holding opening at least in part and preferably fully.
The guide mandrel is arranged in a movable manner along the
longitudinal axis and in particular loosely. The guide mandrel is
positioned in one exemplary embodiment in that the guide mandrel is
supported on the holding part by way of one or more blank rings
which are disposed in the holding opening. It is thus possible to
apply the blank rings to the guide mandrel at the upper end and to
remove the blank rings again at the lower end of the guide mandrel.
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The guide mandrel is not directly mounted or guided by way of
mechanical means or arrangements.
In some embodiments, it is preferred if the upper end of the
guide mandrel protrudes into the insertion channel. It is thus
ensured that the blank rings do not fall past the guide mandrel,
and instead are threaded onto the guide mandrel. Here, an annular
space remains between the upper end of the guide mandrel and the
insertion channel for the blank rings.
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In one exemplary embodiment the guide mandrel has a
cylindrical guide portion, the outer dimension of which is
smaller than the inner dimension of the blank rings by a
guide play. As already explained, the guide portion can
have a circular cross-section, a polygonal cross-section,
or any other regular or irregular cross-sectional shape.
The guide portion can have a lateral surface which is
used as a guide surface for the blank rings.
Alternatively to the cylindrical guide portion, the
guide portion could also be formed by a plurality of ribs
which protrude radially away from the longitudinal axis and
which are distributed, preferably regularly, about the lon-
gitudinal axis in the peripheral direction. A type of star-
shaped arrangement thus results as considered in cross-
section. The inner edge of the blank rings then lies
against the corresponding edge of the ribs extending along
the longitudinal axis and running for example parallel to
the longitudinal axis. The guide surface for the blank
rings is not fully closed as considered in the peripheral
direction, but instead forms a plurality of guide points
arranged at a distance from one another.
The upper end of the guide mandrel can have a smaller
outer dimension than the guide portion of the guide man-
drel. The outer dimension of the upper end is preferably
smaller than the inner dimension of the blank rings at
least by a factor of 2 or 3, such that the blank rings are
threaded onto the guide mandrel at the upper end with a
high level of certainty.
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In one exemplary embodiment the guide mandrel has a tapering
portion, for example a conical portion. The dimension of this
tapering portion decreases in the direction of the upper end. This
tapering portion can directly adjoin the upper end or can belong to
the upper end. The tapering portion can preferably directly adjoin
the guide portion.
In some embodiments, the holding arrangement preferably has a
filling tube. The filling tube surrounds an axial portion of the
guide mandrel. In one exemplary embodiment this axial portion of
the guide mandrel which is surrounded by the filling tube includes
at least part of the guide portion. The filling tube is preferably
arranged closer to the lower end of the guide mandrel than to the
upper end.
The holding arrangement in one exemplary embodiment can have a
centring sleeve. The centring sleeve surrounds the guide mandrel
preferably coaxially with the longitudinal axis thereof. The
centring sleeve is arranged adjacently to the lower end of the
guide mandrel and is designed to position the blank rings in a
predefined position at the delivery point of the feeding device.
In a preferred embodiment the centring sleeve has a centring
channel. The centring channel extends along the guide mandrel and
preferably coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the guide
mandrel downwardly in the direction of the delivery point and in so
doing tapers at least at a plurality of peripheral points. For
example, the centring channel can have a conical shape if the outer
contour of the blank rings is circular. The centring channel can
also have a different cross-sectional shape, which for example can
correspond to the outer contour of the blank rings.
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However, it is sufficient that the blank rings lie against
the centring sleeve at a plurality of peripheral points
within the centring channel and are thus positioned radial-
ly relative to the channel axis.
It is advantageous if the lower end of the centring
channel associated with the delivery point has an inner di-
mension that is greater than the outer dimension of the
blank rings by a predefined centring play.
In an advantageous embodiment a tapering end portion
is provided at the lower end of the guide mandrel. This ta-
pering end portion can be formed for example by a chamfer
and/or a radius at the end portion of the guide mandrel.
The outer surface of the guide mandrel can extend in a
straight line or in a curved manner along the end portion
as considered in a longitudinal section along the longitu-
dinal axis, such that the radial dimension decreases in the
direction of the lower end. As considered in the direction
of the longitudinal axis, the end portion has a dimension
that is at least as great as the thickness of a blank ring.
In one exemplary embodiment the guide mandrel is sup-
ported with its lower end on a transport surface for the
blank rings at the delivery point. The blank rings slide
along the transport surface in the event of a transport
movement. By means of a revolving plate, slider or the
like, the blank ring can be moved away beneath the guide
mandrel, which is arranged movably along its longitudinal
axis. The guide mandrel can be moved by contact with the
removed blank ring or by way of a drive arrangement.
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It is also advantageous to move the guide mandrel along its
longitudinal axis L by way of a drive arrangement or to raise the
guide mandrel permanently from a transport surface at the delivery
point. For example, the drive arrangement can act on the guide
mandrel without mechanical means by way of a bodiless medium or
field. In one exemplary embodiment the guide mandrel can be held at
a distance from the transport surface in a magnetic field or can be
raised from the transport surface in order to deliver a blank ring.
In another exemplary embodiment the guide mandrel can be held at a
distance from the transport surface by means of compressed air or
can be raised from the transport surface for delivery of a blank
ring.
The guide mandrel in the preferred exemplary embodiments is
supported indirectly in the at least one holding opening on the
holding part by way of one or more blank rings and is otherwise
arranged so as to be movable along its longitudinal axis loosely.
Advantageous embodiments of the feeding device will become
clear from the description and the drawings. Preferred exemplary
embodiments of the feeding device will be explained in detail
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
Fig. 1 shows a schematic block diagram-like illustration of a
transport arrangement having a feeding device,
Fig. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a circular blank
consisting of two blank rings and a circular blank core,
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Fig. 3 shows a plan view of a coin coined from the
components according to Fig. 2,
Fig. 4 shows the coin from Fig. 3 in a cross-section,
Figures 5 to 8 each show exemplary embodiments of a
feeding device in a schematic longitudinal section.
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Fig. 1 shows an assembly 10 comprising a transport ar-
rangement 11. The transport arrangement 11 in the exemplary
embodiment has two revolving plates 12, which each can be
driven about an axis of revolution R. The two axes of revo-
lution R are oriented parallel to one another. Each revolv-
ing plate 12 can be driven about its axis of revolution R
by a revolver drive (not shown). The revolving plates 12
here perform an incremental step movement. The incremental
step angle is adapted to the number of pockets 13 arranged
in the outer peripheral region of each revolving plate 12
in a manner distributed uniformly in the peripheral direc-
tion about the particular axis of revolution R. The pockets
13 are each used to receive a circular blank part 14 or a
circular blank formed of a plurality of circular blank
parts 14. A circular blank 14 can be formed by a blank ring
15 or a circular blank core 16. Each circular blank con-
sists of at least one blank ring 15 and a circular blank
core 16. In the exemplary embodiment described here, two
blank rings 15 and a circular blank core 16 are provided in
order to form the circular blank.
The circular blank can also be referred to as a coin
blank. The circular blank is transported by way of the
transport arrangement 11 to a coining station 17 comprising
a coining press and is coined there. The coined coin is
shown schematically in Figures 3 and 4. Here, the individu-
al circular blank parts 14 are non-positively engaged with
one another and in accordance with the example are addi-
tionally positively engaged with one another.
In order to feed the circular blank parts 14 to an as-
sociated revolving plate 12, feeding stations 20 are pro-
vided. One of the circular blank parts 14 is fed at each
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feeding station 20. In the exemplary embodiment described
here, three feeding stations 20 are provided accordingly
for the two blank rings 15 and the circular blank core 16.
At each feeding station 20, a blank ring 15 or circular
blank core 16 is inserted into a pocket 13 of the relevant
revolving plate 12 arranged at the feeding station 20. The
revolving plate 12 is then rotated further by an incremen-
tal step movement, such that the next pocket 13 is associ-
ated with the feeding station 20 and the next circular
blank part 14 can be inserted into the associated pocket
13. Before the coining station 17, a circular blank formed
of the (in accordance with the example) three circular
blank parts 14 is thus disposed in each pocket 13, and the
coin shown in Figures 3 and 4 is then coined herefrom.
A feeding device 21 is provided at each feeding sta-
tion 20 for feeding a blank ring 15, and various exemplary
embodiments of said feeding device are shown in Figures 5
to 8. The feeding device 21 is designed to bring the plu-
rality of blank rings 15, arriving at a pick-up point 22 in
an unsorted manner, into a predefined arrangement or order
and to deliver the same to a delivery point 23 individual-
ly. The pick-up point 22 can also be arranged downstream of
an arrangement, such as a funnel-shaped guide, such that
the blank rings 15 arrive at the pick-up point 22 in a row
one after the other. The delivery point 23 is associated
with the revolving wheel 12. The feeding device 21 delivers
the blank rings 15 individually into the respective associ-
ated pockets 13 of the revolving plate 12. As can be seen
from Figures 5 to 8, the revolving plate 12 moves along a
transport surface 24, on which the blank rings lie and
slide along during transport. The transport surface 24 is
shown merely in a considerably simplified manner in Figures
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to 8. It can be limited to an annular surface along the
path of the pockets 13.
Fig. 5 shows a first exemplary embodiment of the feed-
ing device 21. An insertion part 27 is arranged at the
pick-up point 22. The insertion part 27 is arranged on a
subsurface in a stationary manner by way of a machine
frame. The blank rings 15 arrive at the insertion part 27
for example in an unsorted manner or in a row and at the
insertion part 27 are guided into a groove-like insertion
track 28 in the insertion part 27 by means of a funnel or
the like. The insertion track 28 can be inclined relative
to the horizontal in the direction of an insertion channel
29 so as to bring about or support the transport of the
blank rings 15. The blank rings 15 can also be transported
along the insertion track 28 by arrangements (not shown)
that slide the blank rings 15 in the direction of the in-
sertion channel 29. The insertion channel 29 is formed in a
tubular connecting piece 30 of the insertion part 27 and in
the exemplary embodiment extends coaxially with a working
axis A. The working axis A is preferably oriented vertical-
ly or is inclined relative to the vertical merely by an
acute angle of at most 15 . The length of the insertion
channel 29 can vary. The connecting piece 30 can thus have
an accordingly adapted length or alternatively can be omit-
ted.
In the exemplary embodiment shown here, blank rings 15
having a circular outer contour and a circular inner con-
tour are fed. The contours of the components of the feeding
device 21 guiding the blank rings 15 therefore likewise
have a circular cross-sectional shape. Reference is there-
fore made to 'diameters' in conjunction with the exemplary
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embodiment according to Fig. 5. In the case of corrugated,
polygonal, or other contours of the blank rings, suitably
adapted outer or inner dimensions of the components of the
feeding devices 21 can be provided, which will be explained
in further detail hereinafter in conjunction with Fig. 8.
The insertion channel 29 has an inner diameter that is
greater than the outer diameter of the blank rings 15. It
is thus ensured that the blank rings 15 can drop downwardly
through the insertion channel 29 without causing a block-
age.
The feeding device 21 has a guide mandrel 34. The
guide mandrel 34 extends along a longitudinal axis L from
an upper end 35 to a lower end 36. The longitudinal axis L
is preferably parallel to the working axis A or inclined
with at most an angle of inclination of up to 50, 100 or
15 relative to said working axis, which is defined by the
insertion channel 29. The guide mandrel 34 is movable rela-
tive to the insertion channel 29 or the insertion part 27,
in particular in the direction of its longitudinal axis L
or in the direction of the working axis A. The upper end 35
is arranged within the insertion channel 29 in the exempla-
ry embodiment, such that an axial portion of the guide man-
drel 34 that borders the upper end 35 is disposed within
the insertion channel 29. The lower end 36 is associated
with the delivery point 23 and in the exemplary embodiment
according to Fig. 5 is supported on the transport surface
24 if a pocket 13 of the revolving plate 12 is associated
with the feeding device 21 and the longitudinal axis L of
the guide mandrel 34 protrudes approximately centrally into
the pocket 13.
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The guide mandrel 34 has a guide portion 37, the lat-
eral surface of which forms a guide surface 38. The length
of the guide portion 37 along the longitudinal axis L is
greater than that of the other portions of the guide man-
drel 34. The guide portion 37 in the exemplary embodiment
has a cylindrical design and in particular a circular
cross-section.
The outer dimension, and in accordance with the exam-
ple the outer diameter, of the guide portion 37 is smaller
than the inner dimension, and in accordance with the exam-
ple the inner diameter, of the blank ring 15 by a guide
play. The blank rings 15 can therefore slide along the
guide surface 38 smoothly and in a manner oriented approxi-
mately coaxially with the longitudinal axis L of the guide
mandrel 34. The guide play for example can be at most 1.0
mm to 1.5 mm or up to 2.0 mm.
The guide portion 37 is adjoined by a tapering por-
tion, and in accordance with the example a conical portion
39. As a result of the conical portion 39, the outer diame-
ter of the guide mandrel 34 reduces starting from the guide
portion 37 in the direction of the upper end 35. The coni-
cal portion 39 can extend as far as the upper end 35. In
the exemplary embodiment described here, a further cylin-
drical portion is provided adjacently to the upper end 35
and adjoins the conical portion 39. The outer diameter at
the upper end 35 is smaller, and preferably smaller at
least by a factor of 2 to 3, than the outer diameter of the
guide portion 37. It is thus ensured that the blank rings
15 are threaded onto the guide mandrel 34 within the inser-
tion channel 29 and cannot strike against the upper end 35
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and become wedged or blocked within the insertion channel
29.
In a modification of the presented exemplary embodi-
ment, the guide mandrel can also taper to a point conically
and/or in a convexly curved manner and/or in a spherical
dome-like manner at the upper end 35. It can be formed
without a flat end face at the upper end 35.
Adjacently to the lower end 36, the guide mandrel 34
has an end portion 40, which tapers in the direction of the
lower end 36. The length of this end portion 40 along the
longitudinal axis L is at least as great as the thickness
or size of a blank ring 15 along the longitudinal axis L.
The tapering end portion 40 for example can have a
dome shape and/or a cone shape. As considered in the longi-
tudinal section along the longitudinal axis L, the lateral
surface can extend in a straight line or in a convexly
curved manner from the guide portion 37 to the lower end
36, and in so doing the outer diameter of the guide mandrel
34 can reduce.
A holding arrangement 44 is arranged on the transport
surface 24. The holding arrangement 44 has a holding part
45 with a cylindrical holding opening 46. The holding open-
ing 46 is oriented coaxially with the working axis A. The
connecting piece 30 with the insertion channel 29 is ar-
ranged in the direction of the working axis A at a distance
from the holding part 45 with the holding opening 46.
The inner diameter of the holding opening 45 is great-
er than the outer diameter of the guide mandrel 34 and in
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particular of the guide portion 37, such that an annular
channel 47 for the blank rings 15 is formed in the holding
opening 46. The inner diameter of the holding opening 46 is
greater than the outer diameter of the blank rings 15.
An axial portion 48 of the guide mandrel 34, which in
accordance with the example is formed by a region of the
guide portion 37, runs within the holding opening 46. The
holding part 45 is formed in accordance with the example by
a filling tube 49. In addition to the filling tube 49, the
holding device 44 can optionally also have further holding
parts. The holding parts can be arranged directly adjacent-
ly along the working axis A or can be arranged offset from
one another at a distance.
The filling tube 49 or the holding part 45 is adjoined
in the exemplary embodiment of the holding arrangement 44
by a centring sleeve 52. The centring sleeve 52 has a cen-
tring channel 53, which is oriented coaxially with the
working axis A. The centring channel 53 extends fully
through the centring sleeve 52 from an upper opening 54 to
a lower opening 55. The centring channel 53 tapers at least
along at least a portion between the upper opening 54 and
the lower opening 55. In the exemplary embodiment the upper
opening 54 is adjoined by a conical portion, which transi-
tions into a cylindrical portion of the centring channel
53, which adjoins the lower opening 55. In the region of
the lower opening 55, the inner diameter of the centring
diameter 53 is greater than the outer diameter of the blank
rings 15 merely by a small centring play, such that these
blank rings 15 are positioned coaxially with the working
axis A with the predefined, necessary precision.
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The filling tube 49 and the centring sleeve 52 are
held jointly by a holding body 56 of the holding arrange-
ment 44 and in accordance with the example are arranged on
the transport surface 24.
The feeding device 21 according to Fig. 5 operates as
follows:
The blank rings 15 are fed in a sorted or unsorted
manner at the pick-up point 22 and enter the insertion
track 28, and slide out therefrom into the insertion chan-
nel 29. In the insertion channel 29, the blank rings 15
drop downwardly and in so doing are threaded onto the guide
mandrel 34. The blank rings 15 thus surround the longitudi-
nal axis L of the guide mandrel 34 substantially coaxially.
They can slide downwardly along the guide mandrel 34. As
shown in Fig. 5, a stack of blank rings 15 thus forms
around the guide mandrel 34. Adjacent blank rings 15 lie
against one another. The blank ring 15 arranged adjacently
to the lower end 36 lies on the transport surface 24 in the
pocket 13 associated with the feeding device 21. The guide
mandrel 34 is supported on the transport surface 24. By way
of the incremental step movement of the revolving plate 12,
the blank ring 15 is also moved along in the pocket 13 to-
gether with the revolving plate 12 and comes into contact
with the end portion 40 of the guide mandrel 34. By way of
the shape of the end portion 40, which tapers in the direc-
tion of the lower end 36, the guide mandrel 34, with con-
tinued movement of the blank ring 15 in the pocket 13,
moves upwardly along its longitudinal axis L and releases
the lowermost blank ring 15. As soon as the next pocket ar-
rives beneath the guide mandrel 34, the guide mandrel 34
engages again in the next pocket 13 by means of its end
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portion 40. If this pocket 13 is arranged beneath the stack
of blank rings 15, the blank ring 15 which is now the low-
ermost ring is pushed into the pocket 13. The situation as
shown in Fig. 5 is thus produced again. With the next in-
cremental step movement of the revolving plate, the lower-
most blank ring 15 moves away from the feeding device 20 or
away from the feeding station 20 as described above, and
the described process sequence is repeated.
The guide mandrel 34 is not directly mechanically
guided or held in the feeding device 21. It is indirectly
supported on the centring sleeve 52 or on the holding part
45 by way of a blank ring, and in accordance with the exam-
ple a plurality of blank rings 15. In accordance with the
play provided there, the longitudinal axis L of the guide
mandrel 34 is oriented approximately along the working axis
A, wherein the longitudinal axis L can run at a slight in-
cline to, and/or offset in relation to the working axis A.
The guide mandrel 34 is therefore arranged loosely so to
speak in a movable manner along its longitudinal axis L. It
is thus possible to thread or slide blank rings onto the
guide mandrel 34 at the pick-up point 22 and to remove the
same from the guide mandrel 34 and transport them on fur-
ther at the delivery point 23.
The exemplary embodiment of the feeding device 21
shown in Fig. 8 corresponds substantially to the exemplary
embodiment shown in Fig. 5. The difference lies in the fact
that, in the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 8, the
guide portion 37 of the guide mandrel 37 does not have a
circular cross-section. It is cylindrical and for example
can have a polygonal cross-section or a cross-section with
a corrugated contour, which is shown in Fig. 8 by the exem-
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plary cross-sectional images (line of section X-X). Outside
the guide portion 37, the guide mandrel 34 in the exemplary
embodiment has a circular cross-section all over and for
example can have dome-like portions, conical portions, or
circular-cylindrical portions. Otherwise, the exemplary em-
bodiment according to Fig. 8 is identical to the exemplary
embodiment according to Fig. 5, and therefore reference can
be made to the explanations provided above.
In the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 8, the
cross-sectional shapes of the centring channel 53 and/or of
the insertion channel 29 and/or of the holding opening 46
can also be adapted to the outer contour of the blank rings
15, and for example can match the outer contour of the
blank rings 15, apart from any play necessary.
Each of Fig. 6 and 7 shows an exemplary embodiment in
which a drive arrangement is provided in order to raise the
guide mandrel 34 from the transport surface 24 at the de-
livery point 23 temporarily or permanently. The drive ar-
rangement for this purpose can use compressed air, a mag-
netic field, or another bodiless, non-mechanical means or
medium.
Fig. 6 shows a modified exemplary embodiment of the
feeding device 21. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment
from Fig. 5, the lower end 36 of the guide mandrel 34 is
not adjoined by a tapering end portion 40. In accordance
with the example the guide portion 37 runs as far as the
lower end 36. The lower end 36, in contrast to the flat end
face, can also have a different form, for example can have
a conicity or a dome shape. A blind bore 60 is preferably
formed in the lower end 36 and for example is oriented
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along the longitudinal axis L and opens out at the lower
end 36.
A compressed air channel 61 opens out along the work-
ing axis A at the transport surface 24 at the delivery
point 23. Compressed air P can be expelled permanently or
in bursts through the compressed air channel 61. The com-
pressed air P impinges on the lower end 36 and in accord-
ance with the example penetrates the blind bore 60. The
guide mandrel 34 is thus raised from the transport surface
24. The lowermost blank ring 15, which is disposed in the
pocket 13, can be transported away by the revolving plate
12 when the guide mandrel 34 is raised at the delivery
point 23.
The compressed air P can be expelled permanently or
only when an incremental step movement is actuated by the
revolving plate. The expulsion of compressed air is in any
case interrupted by the revolving plate 12 if there is no
pocket 13 disposed above the compressed air channel 61, but
instead a closed surface of the revolving plate 12. During
this time, the compressed air expulsion can be interrupted
in order to minimise the compressed air consumption.
In this exemplary embodiment there is no contact at
the delivery point 23 between the guide mandrel 34 and the
blank ring 15 to be discharged that leads to the movement
of the guide mandrel 34 along its longitudinal axis L. Ra-
ther, the guide mandrel 34 is moved away from the transport
surface 24 by a bodiless medium, and in accordance with the
example compressed air.
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A further modified exemplary embodiment is shown in
Fig. 7. In accordance with the exemplary embodiment accord-
ing to Fig. 6, the guide mandrel 34 is raised from the
transport surface 24 without mechanical influence and is
moved along the longitudinal axis L. Instead of compressed
air P. a magnetic field is used in the exemplary embodiment
according to Fig. 7. To this end, a permanent magnet 65 is
inserted into the guide mandrel 34 adjacently to the lower
end 36. In the exemplary embodiment the north pole N of the
permanent magnet 65 is associated with the lower end 36.
The permanent magnet 65 is oriented along the longitudinal
axis L and directly adjoins the lower end 36. The lower end
36, in contrast to the flat end face, can also have a dif-
ferent form, for example can have a conicity or a dome
shape.
A further permanent magnet 66 is arranged at the de-
livery point 23 directly adjacently to the transport sur-
face 24 along the working axis A, the north pole N of which
further permanent magnet is arranged facing towards the
lower end 36. The magnetic fields of the two permanent mag-
nets 65, 66 repel one another, such that the guide mandrel
34 is pushed away from the transport surface 24. A gap thus
remains between the lower end 36 and the transport surface
24, by means of which gap the lowermost blank ring 15 can
be transported away at the delivery point 23.
Instead of the permanent magnet 66, an electromagnet
could also be used. Similarly to the embodiment with the
compressed air P according to Fig. 6, the magnetic field of
the electromagnet can be generated permanently or only when
it is necessary to raise the guide mandrel 34 from the
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transport surface 24 as a blank ring 15 is transported
away.
It is understood that the magnetic field could also be
oriented in a reversed manner in a modification of the il-
lustration according to Fig. 7. The two permanent magnets
65, 66 could thus be arranged in each case in a rotated
manner, so that the two south poles S are arranged directly
adjacently and repel one another.
The invention relates to a feeding device 21 to pick
up a sorted or unsorted quantity of blank rings 15 at a
pick-up point 22, to sort, and to deliver the same sporadi-
cally to a delivery point 23. To this end, the feeding de-
vice 21, at the pick-up point 22 has an insertion channel
29, which is arranged coaxially with a working axis A. A
transport surface 24 is provided at the delivery point 23,
along which transport surface the blank rings 15 are dis-
charged sporadically. The feeding device 21 has a holding
arrangement 44 with a holding part 45, which delimits a
preferably cylindrical holding opening 46. The holding
opening 46 is oriented coaxially with the working axis A. A
guide mandrel 34 extends along a longitudinal axis L from
an upper end 35, which is associated with the pick-up point
22, to a lower end 36, which is associated with the deliv-
ery point 23. The longitudinal axis L is oriented substan-
tially along the working axis A. The guide mandrel 34 is
not directly held or guided by mechanical means. It is sup-
ported in the holding opening 46 on the holding part 45
and/or in the insertion channel 29 by way of one or more
blank rings 15, which surround the guide mandrel 34 coaxi-
ally. The guide mandrel 34 is thus arranged loosely in a
freely movable manner, in particular along the longitudinal
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= CA 03003939 2018-05-02
axis L thereof. In this way, the blank rings 15 at the up-
per end 35 can be threaded or placed on the guide mandrel
34 and can be stacked along the guide mandrel 34 coaxially
with the longitudinal axis L. The blank rings 15 can be re-
moved from the guide mandrel 34 at the delivery point 23 in
that the guide mandrel is raised from the transport surface
24. The lifting can be done mechanically and/or magnetical-
ly and/or electromagnetically and/or by means of a fluid,
in particular compressed air P.
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List of reference signs:
assembly
11 transport arrangement
12 revolving plate
13 pocket
14 circular blank part
blank ring
16 circular blank core
17 coining station
feeding station
21 feeding device
22 pick-up point
23 delivery point
24 transport surface
27 insertion point
28 insertion track
29 insertion channel
connecting piece
34 guide mandrel
upper end of the guide mandrel
36 lower end of the guide mandrel
37 guide portion of the guide mandrel
38 guide surface
39 conical portion of the guide mandrel
end portion of the guide mandrel
44 holding arrangement
holding part
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CA 03003939 2018-05-02
46 holding opening
47 annular channel
48 axial portion of the guide mandrel
49 filling tube
52 centring sleeve
53 centring channel
54 upper opening of the centring channel
55 lower opening of the centring channel
56 holding body
60 blind bore
61 compressed air channel
65 permanent magnet
66 permanent magnet
A axis
= longitudinal axis
= north pole
= compressed air
= axis of revolution
= south pole
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