Method and apparatus for stacking for bars and the like

The specification discloses stacking of bars and the like. A plurality of stacking cradles are positioned adjacent to a table from which bars are moved transversely to the stacking cradles. Deflector members are selectively movable between a position in which they bridge over the stacking cradle and a position leaving the stacking cradles open. Members are provided for shifting the product in the stacking cradles for alignment of the ends of the product.

This application relates to methods and apparatus for stacking of bars and 
the like so that they may be bundled for further handling and shipping. 
More particularly this invention relates handling elongated products such 
as bars which issue from a shear onto a table and are then stacked and 
aligned end-to-end for further handling. 
The production of long thin articles such as bars and the like, e.g. rod 
and tubing, is well known in many production lines. In some instances a 
product is produced in separate lengths at high speed. In other instances, 
a continuous product is produced and is sheared on the fly. In either 
case, it is necessary to handle each discrete length of product with some 
type of apparatus. A common arrangement includes some type of table onto 
which lengths of product are delivered longitudinally and from which they 
are removed by transverse movement. Where small diameter products are 
involved the production speed is often very high and problems are 
presented in handling the material as it issues from the production line. 
As the speed of production increases, the problems of handling the product 
become increasingly greater due to the speed at which product is delivered 
to the table. 
I provide stacking apparatus for bars and the like comprising a run-in 
table to receive bars and the like from a production line, a plurality of 
stacking guides generally aligned with and parallel to the run-in table 
and deflector means operable to bridge over the stacking guides 
intermediate the run-in table and the stacking guide most remote from the 
run-in table. I provide deflector means which are operable between a 
position bridging over the stacking guides and an inactive position in 
which the stacking guides are open to receive product from the run-in 
table. I position the deflector means to receive product from the run-in 
table to deflect product across the associated stacking guide and 
alternatively to permit product to be received into the stacking guide. I 
prefer to connect all deflector means associated with each stacking guide 
for movement of said deflector means between a bridging position and a 
non-bridging position independently of movement of the deflector means 
associated with any other stacking guide. I prefer to provide fluid piston 
means for movement of the deflector means between bridging and 
non-bridging positions. 
I further prefer to provide pusher means associated with the stacking 
guides for alignment of product within the stacking guides. Preferably I 
provide pusher means which will simultaneously axially push the product in 
all stacking guides. I further prefer to provide removable stop means 
which may be fitted to each stacking guide to resist movement of product 
being pushed in the stacking guide by the pusher means. 
Other details, objects, and advantages of my invention will become more 
apparent as following description of a present preferred embodiment 
thereof proceeds.

The stacking apparatus is mounted on a series of longitudinal parallel 
rails in the form of channels 1 and I-beams 2 which are fixed to the floor 
of the mill. The rails are further maintained in spaced parallel 
relationship by one or more transverse members 3 welded to them and by the 
stacking cradles. 
A product run-in table is positioned along one side of the stacking 
apparatus. It comprises a base 4, a back guide 5 and a apron 6 which 
slopes down from the back guide toward the stacking apparatus. Bars which 
have been cut to length by a shear are delivered at high speed onto the 
run-in table. As they reach the table they roll down the slope of apron 6. 
Kickoff means may be incorporated to push the bar down the apron but are 
not normally required. Bars are delivered to the run-in table in the 
direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 1. 
Vertical posts 7, 8, 9 and 10 are mounted on channels 1 and I-beams 2. 
Posts 7, 8, 9, and 10, respectively, are arranged in rows which are 
transverse to the axis of the run-in table and the stacking apparatus. 
Only the bar entry end of the stacking apparatus is shown in the drawings. 
It will be understood that stacking apparatus of greater length will 
commonly be provided having additional rows of posts and associated 
fittings. Increase of length does not change the operation of the 
apparatus, however, and repetitive parts have been omitted from the 
drawings for clarity of illustration. 
Stacking cradles 11, 12 and 13 are mounted between posts 8 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 
6). Each stacking cradle comprises a channel 14 which is connected to and 
extends horizontally between adjacent posts 8. A wooden pad 15 is 
positioned on channel 14 extending between posts 8. Vertical wooden pads 
16 are attached to a post 8 at each end of pad 15. Pads 15 and 16 are 
preferably attached to and removable from steel backing plates which 
attached directly to posts and channels 14. In that manner wooden pads 15 
and 16 may readily be replaced when worn. Similar stacking cradles are 
fitted between posts 9 and posts 10 and are given numbers corresponding to 
the aligned stacking cradles associated with posts 8. Stacking cradles 11 
are aligned, as are stacking cradles 12 and 13. The plurality of stacking 
cradles 11 forms a stacking guide as do stacking cradles 12 and stacking 
cradles 13. Colored bands 17, 18, 19 and 20 are painted on at least some 
of vertical wooden pads 16. The bands serve as guides to show the exact 
depth to which bars have been stacked within cradles 11, 12 and 13. 
Gudgeons 21 are bolted to post 9 which is closest to the run-in table (FIG. 
4). A shaft 22 is vertically and pivotally mounted in gudgeons 21 with its 
lower end resting against channel 1. A deflector bar 23 is connected to 
rod 22 sloping downwardly from rod 22 toward stacking cradle 12. Rotation 
of rod 22 will move deflector bar 23 between a position in which it 
bridges across the associated stacking cradle, as shown in FIG. 4, and a 
position in which it is parallel to the axis of bars in stacking cradle 
11. The end of deflector bar 23 which is connected to rod 22 is positioned 
beneath the lip of apron table 6 as shown in FIG. 3. 
A crank 24 is connected to rod 22. The end of crank 24 remote from rod 22 
is pivotally connected by a pin 25 to links 26 and 27. Link 26 is 
pivotally connected to a clevis 28 on the end of piston rod 29 actuated by 
movement of a piston in double-acting fluid power cylinder 30 which is 
mounted to the floor. 
A similar deflector bar 23 is mounted on post 10 closest to the run-in 
table and a like deflector bar is mounted to each succeeding post down the 
length of the stacking apparatus. Operating rod 22 for each deflector bar 
is connected by crank 24 to link 27. A similar deflector bar 31 is mounted 
adjacent each stacking cradle 12. Each deflector plate 31 is mounted in 
the same manner upon a vertical shaft and is operated between a bridging 
position and an inactive or open position by a fluid power cylinder. Like 
parts in the operating mechanism for deflector bars 31 are identified by 
the same numbers as the operating mechanism for deflector bars 23. In FIG. 
2 deflector bars 31 are shown in inactive position in which they are clear 
of stacking cradles 12. The elevation of deflector bars 31 is below the 
elevation of deflector plates 23 as seen in FIG. 3. Accordingly, when 
deflector bars 23 are in bridging position the movable ends of deflector 
bars 23 are located above the ends of deflector bars 31 attached to the 
associated operating rods 22. No deflector bars are provided for stacking 
cradles 13 which are the cradles most remote from the run-in table. 
Stays in the form of clips 32 are fitted to at least some of the stacking 
cradles. Clearance is provided between the lips of clips 32 and pads 16 to 
permit stop plates 33 to be dropped in position between the clips and the 
stacking cradles and to retain plates 33 upright. A handle 34 is provided 
on one side of each stop plate 33 to make installation and removal of the 
stop plate more convenient. The stop plate may be moved from one cradle to 
another along the length of the stacking apparatus dependant upon the 
length of bars which are to be stacked. 
Bar pusher apparatus is fitted at the bar entry end of the stacking 
apparatus. Guides 35 extend between vertical posts 7 and posts 8 which are 
mounted upon channels 1. A bar pusher plate 36 having bushings 37 is 
mounted upon guides 35 and can slide between posts 7 and posts 8 on guides 
35. A stiffening framework 38 is mounted to the back of bar pusher plate 
36. A cross-head 39 rests on I-beams 2 between posts 8 and posts 9. 
Cross-head 39 is movable between posts 8 and post 9 by the action of 
double-acting fluid power cylinders 40 which are attached to the floor. 
Cross-head 39 is attached to framework 38 by longitudinal members 41. (The 
longitudinal member furthest from run-in table has been omitted from FIG. 
6 for clarity of illustration). 
In operation of the apparatus the length of bars which are to be stacked is 
first selected. For purposes of illustation it will be assumed that bars 
of relatively short length will be cut such that the bars will rest in the 
stacking cradles mounted between posts 8, 9 and 10. If longer bars where 
to be cut they would extend beyond the stacking cradles between posts 10 
and would rest in like cradles which are located beyond the edges of the 
drawings. 
Stop plates 33 are fitted to each of the stacking cradles between posts 10. 
Stop plates may be installed in stacking cradles 11 and 12 as shown in 
FIGS. 2 and 5 and will additionally be installed in stacking cradle 13. 
The piston rods of fluid power cylinders 40 are retracted. They draw 
cross-head 39 toward posts 8 and push bar pusher plate 36 toward posts 7. 
The piston rods of cylinders 30 are retracted to swing deflector bars 23 
and 31 to inoperative position in which they will leave the associated 
stacking guides open to receive product and will be parallel to the run-in 
table as deflector bars 31 are shown in FIG. 2. The bar feeding and 
cutting apparatus is then started and lengths of bars are delivered to the 
run-in table. As the bars reach the run-in table they will roll down the 
surface of apron 6 and into stacking cradles 11 between posts 8, 9 and 10. 
The forward ends of the bars will come to rest in stacking cradle 11 
between posts 10. The ends of the bars may bump against stop plates 33, 
but there will be other bars whose ends are spaced from stop plates 33. 
The three stacking cradles 11 between posts 8, 9 and 10 serve as a 
stacking guide and gradually build a stack of bars as they are delivered 
from the run-in table. Colored bands 17, 18, 19 and 20 will give an 
indication of the amount of product which has been delivered to the 
stacking guide. When a number of bars to form a desired size of bundle has 
been placed in the stacking guide comprising cradles 11, cylinder 30 
associated with deflector bars 23 is operated to swing deflector bars 23 
into bridging position over stacking cradles 11 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. 
Bars then being delivered from the run-in table will roll across deflector 
bars 23 and into the stacking guide formed by stacking cradles 12. The 
process of accumulating bars to form a bundle is repeated in stacking 
cradles 12 at which time piston 30 associated with deflector bars 31 is 
operated to move bars 31 to bridging position. Bars delivered from the 
run-in table then roll across deflector bars 23 and 31 and are delivered 
into the stacking guide formed by cradles 13. The process of building a 
bundle is repeated in stacking cradles 13. When stacking cradles 13 have 
been filled to the desired level the line is shut down. Power is applied 
to cylinders 40. Operation of cylinders 40 moves bar pusher plate 36 
toward posts 8 and forces the bars in the stacking cradles toward stop 
plates 33. In that manner the bars are dressed into a bundle with their 
ends all in substantially the same planes determined by plates 33 and 
plates 36. 
Cylinders 30 are actuated to swing deflector bars 23 and 31 to inoperative 
position. The bundles are then lifted from the stacking guides by a crane. 
They may be banded or otherwise prepared for shipping. After removal of 
the bars from the stacking guides, the line is restarted and the process 
is repeated. 
It will be apparent that the apparatus may be made of any convenient length 
to accomodate the length of bars being cut. Also it will be apparent that 
the stacking apparatus can be enlarged transversely by providing 
additional stacking guides parallel to the run-in table. In that event 
additional deflector bars are also be provided to carry product over each 
stacking guide between the run-in table and the stacking guide most remote 
from the run-in table. 
While I have illustrated and described a present preferred embodiment of my 
invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself thereto and 
that the invention may be otherwise variously practiced within the scope 
of the following claims.