Feed Channel for Cylindrical Workpieces

This application relates to the art of work-piece feed channels and, more particularly, to such feed channels into which workpieces are dropped from above. The invention relates to means for smoothly lowering workpieces into the feed channel for minimizing any noise associated with dropping of the workpiece into the channel. Although the invention is particularly applicable to feed channels of the type described, it will be appreciated that certain aspects of the present invention may be used in other workpiece handling apparatus.

Elongated cylindrical workpieces, such as rods, pipes and wire, are commonly fed longitudinally through peeling or straightening machines. During feeding of such workpieces through the peeling or straightening machine, the workpiece is supported in a feed channel which is substantially circumferentially continuous to surround the workpiece. The workpiece is rotated about its longitudinal axis and moved longitudinally from the feed channel through the peeling or straightening machine.

In apparatus of the type described, a workpiece is commonly dropped from above down into the feed channel which can be opened and closed for respectively receiving a new workpiece and then feeding same longitudinally. Dropping metal workpieces of the type described down into the feed channel through a relatively great distance produces very loud noises which are objectionable in modern manufacturing facilities. Mechanical devices have been developed for smoothly lowering the workpieces into the feed channel and thereby reducing the noise. However, the mechanical devices for smoothly lowering the workpieces are very expensive to manufacture and maintain, and the controls for such devices further increases the costs.

A feed channel of the type described is provided with flexible band means extending transversely across the channel bottom portion. A workpiece falling downwardly toward the channel bottom portion is caught and supported by the flexible band means which then moves downwardly and lowers the workpiece onto the channel bottom portion.

In one arrangement, the flexible band means includes an elongated flexible band having opposite band ends attached to movable band support members located on opposite sides of the channel bottom portion. Movement of the band support members toward one another causes the band to assume a pronounced U-shaped configuration for releasing a workpiece from the bands onto the channel bottom portion. Movement of the band support members away from one another pulls the bands out of their pronounced U-shaped configuration, and raises the bands to an upper workpiece receiving and supporting position.

In a preferred arrangement, the movable band support members are defined by movable channel segments which cooperate with the channel bottom portion to form a circumferentially continuous channel surrounding a workpiece received therein. The movable segments are pivoted on pivot axes located on opposite sides of the channel bottom portion, and the band ends are attached to the movable channel segments above the pivot axes.

Movement of the movable channel segments away from one another to an open position allows a workpiece to fall therebetween toward the channel bottom portion. In the open position of the movable channel segments, the flexible band means is located in an upper workpiece receiving and supporting position spaced above the channel bottom portion. Movement of the movable channel segments toward one another to a closed position also moves the flexible band means toward a lower workpiece releasing position in which a workpiece is released from the band means for support by the channel bottom portion.

The movable channel segments may have upwardly facing workpiece supporting surfaces for supporting a workpiece thereon in the closed position of the movable channel segments. When the movable channel segments are moved toward their open position, a workpiece falls from the upwardly facing workpiece supporting surfaces onto the flexible band means for lowering of the workpiece onto the channel bottom portion when the movable channel segments are moved to their closed position.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a feed channel with economical and simple means for smoothly lowering workpieces into the channel with a minimum of noise.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a feed channel with flexible bands for lowering workpieces onto the channel bottom portion, and controlling movement of the bands through movement of movable channel segments.

FIG. 1 is an end elevational view of a workpiece feed channel having the improvements of the present application incorporated therein, and with a workpiece and pivot shafts for movable channel segments in section for clarity of illustration, with the movable channel segments being shown in their open position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 and showing the movable channel segments in their closed position; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing spaced plural bottom channel portions and spaced plural pairs of opposed channel segments in open positions.

With reference to the drawing, there is shown a group of channel segments 1, 2 and 3 which cooperate with one another to form an opening in which a workpiece 11 is surrounded as shown in FIG. 2. The entire workpiece feed channel includes a plurality of longitudinally-spaced channel bottom portions 3, and a plurality of generally opposite pairs of movable channel segments 1, 2 as shown in FIG. 3. The movable channel segments 1, 2 are longitudinally-spaced from the channel bottom portion 3 and are also spaced longitudinally from one another as shown in FIG. 3.

The movable channel segments 1, 2 are fixed to shafts 7, 8 which also define pivot axes for the movable segments. The shafts 7, 8 extend the full length of the feed channel and a plurality of the movable segments 1, 2 are fixed thereto at spaced locations. Lever arms 9, 10 on the movable channel segments 1, 2 are suitably connected with a hydraulic cylinder or the like for rotating the movable segments and the shafts 7, 8 for moving the segments 1, 2 between the open position of FIG. 1 and the closed position of FIG. 2.

An elongated flexible band 4 is attached between the movable channel segments 1, 2 and extends transversely across the channel bottom portion 3. The flexible band 4 is preferably of any suitable woven textile material. However, it will be appreciated that other flexible materials can also be used. The flexible band 4 has opposite band ends attached to the movable channel segments 1, 2 at attachment points 13, 14 of FIG. 2 spaced above pivot axes 7, 8.

The horizontal centerline of the largest cylindrical workpiece to be fed through the channel is represented by line 5 and the vertical center thereof is represented by line 6. These lines also represent the horizontal and vertical centers of the substantially closed circumferential channel in which the workpieces are substantially surrounded for transportation. The attachment points 13, 14 are located above the horizontal centerline 5 and are symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the vertical centerline 6. The flexible band 4 has a length of approximately 1.2 to 3 times the diameter of the largest workpiece 11 to be fed through the channel. The length of the flexible band depends upon the type of movement imparted to the band ends. The pivot axes defined by the shafts 7, 8 are located well below the horizontal centerline 5 so that pivotal movement of the movable channel segments 1, 2 moves the band attachment points 13, 14 both vertically and horizontally.

The movable channel segments 1, 2 have upwardly facing workpiece supporting surfaces which cooperate to define a generally V-shaped trough 12 in the closed position of the movable channel segments 1, 2 as shown in FIG. 2. When the movable channel segments 1, 2 are moved generally away from one another to their open position as shown in FIG. 1, a workpiece 11 formerly supported in the trough 12 falls downwardly between the movable channel segments 1, 2. When the movable channel segments 1, 2 are moved to their open position of FIG. 1, the flexible band 4 is moved upwardly and pulled across the channel bottom portion 3 in upwardly-spaced relationship thereto to define a workpiece receiving and supporting position. Thus, the workpiece 11 is caught and supported on the flexible band 4 as shown in FIG. 1. As the movable channel segments 1, 2 are moved toward their closed position of FIG. 2, the band attachment points 13, 14 move downwardly and toward one another so that the flexible band 4 assumes a pronounced U-shaped configuration to define a workpiece releasing position in which the workpiece 11 is supported on the channel bottom portion 3. The band 4 hangs in the space between the segments 1, 2 and 3 so it is located below the upwardly facing workpiece supporting surface of the channel bottom portion 3. This insures free rotation of the workpiece 11 within the channel as the workpiece is fed longitudinally therethrough without engaging the flexible band 4. The inner surfaces of the movable channel segments 1, 2 are spaced outwardly from the workpiece to allow rotational and longitudinal movement of the workpiece therethrough.

In the arrangement shown and described, the flexible band 4 is attached to movable members which also define the movable channel segments 1, 2. However, it will be appreciated that other movable band support members can be provided if so desired. In addition, it will be recognized that it is possible to move only one end of the band for moving the band between its upper workpiece receiving and supporting position and its lower workpiece releasing position. With the attachment points 13, 14 located above the pivot axes defined by the shafts 7, 8, the weight of a workpiece 11 on the bands 4 aids in moving the movable channel segments 1, 2 toward their closed position of FIG. 2.

The workpiece feed channel may be considered to be circumferentially continuous as shown in FIG. 2 in the sense that the workpiece 11 cannot be laterally displaced therefrom even though small spaces exist between the movable segments 1, 2 and the fixed channel segment defined by the channel bottom portion 3. A flexible band 4 extends between each pair of movable channel segments 1, 2 and there are a plurality of pairs of such movable segments at spaced locations along the length of the feed channel. Therefore, there are a plurality of transverse flexible bands 4 at longitudinally-spaced locations along the length of the feed channel.

While there have been described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and it is aimed, therefore, in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.