Patent ID: 6152396
Filing Date: 2000-11-28
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
A variable-force discharge mechanism for pipe or rod of a metal material loaded on a reel, said mechanism comprising:a reel (2) for containing metal material in the form of pipe or rod,a discharge motor (3) for assisting in unloading the reel (2),an external traction device (1) for applying a discharging traction force (F) to the metal material to be discharged, said external traction device (6) adapted to draw said metal material and to exert said discharging traction force in a predetermined direction,a reversing wheel (6) between said reel (2) and said external traction device (1), said reversing wheel adapted to travel along slide bars (13),an alignment unit (14) between said reversing wheel (6) and said external traction device (1), said alignment unit (14) having straightening rollers having straightening alignment which is parallel to said predetermined drawing direction, anda resilient assembly (7-9) in connection with said reversing wheel (6) for adjustable creating a counter-force produced by said resilient assembly (7-9) in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction of said discharging traction force (F), said counterforce being adapted to be produced by a piston-cylinder unit (7) having a gas pressure that is adjustable by means of a regulating valve (9) sustaining said adjustable counter force, said resilient assembly (7-9) having an operating range which allows a certain displacement (A) for said reversing wheel (6) caused by said discharging traction force in said predetermined direction against said counter-force, said resilient assembly (7-9) producing, when operating within this range, said counter-force determined by said adjustable gas pressure for said discharging traction force (F) and thus reducing the fluctuation of tensile stress applied to the material (5),a displacement sensor (10) for sensing the displacement of said reversing wheel (6) is adapted to control said discharge motor (3) for holding said resilient assembly (7-9) within said operating range, said displacement sensor (10) adapted to supply a regulating unit (12) of said discharge motor (3) continuously or stepwise with a regulation signal variable as a function of said reversing wheel displacement, said regulation signal increasing the discharge rate of said reel (2) as said reversing wheel (6) is displaced towards said reel (2) and said external traction device (1), wherein as a result of the fluctuation of forces produced by the resilient assembly (7-9) and said external traction device (1), the reversing wheel (6) is adapted to travel along said slide bars (13) linearly back and forth and parallel to said discharging traction force (F) and the drawing action of the material (5) whereby, when the material is moving, the material (5) present between said reversing wheel and said external traction device (1) maintains its direction unchanged.