A METHOD AND A DEVICE FOR EXTRACTION OF TUBULAR SLEEVES ONE BY ONE

Abstract: A method of extracting tubular sleeves (14) one by one from a container (12) having open end walls (16). The container is deposited on a stand (10). A gripping means (28) is arranged to be operated by means of a piston-and-cylinder unit (32) and a number of positioning mechanism (34, 36, 38) to the open end wall of the container (12) and to be inserted into the end of a sleeve (14). The gripping means is expanded to engage the inner walls of the sleeve (14) and to pull it in the lengthwise direction of the sleeve (14) out of the container. The sleeve (14) is moved to a guide plate (40) and is deposited thereon to by guided towards a channel (44) or equivalent means. The invention likewise comprises a device for performing the method.

Description: A Method and a Device for Extraction of Tubular Sleeves One by One The subject invention concerns a method and a device for extrac¬ ting tubular sleeves or similar objects one by one from an open end- -wall container. The sleeves are positioned inside the container in such a manner that the sleeve ends face the open container end walls. The sleeves may be of the kind which are intended to serve as the core in paper-roll machines. Tubular sleeves designed to be used in paper-roll machines in paper mills are usually handled manually. The manual handling, compris- ing selecting and extracting the sleeves from a container, severing the sleeves and depositon thereof in the Intended location In a paper-roll machine as well as other operation steps, Is work-consuming and not mechanized. The subject invention concerns a method of extracting sleeves one by one, which method is carried out in a mechanized and automised manner and may be performed without the sleeves being handled manually. In addition, the method allows efficient and rational post-handling of the sleeves after the selection and extraction thereof from the con¬ tainer. The method in accordance with the Invention is characterized therein that a gripping means which is designed to engage and extract the selected sleeve from the container and which is mounted on a rod arranged to perform lenghtwise reciprocating movements is operated for vertical and horizontal movements along the open end wall of the con¬ tainer to a position opposite the sleeve sleeted for extraction, that the gripping means is moved up to the open end of the selected sleeve, that the gripping means is moved into engagement with said sleeve end to retain the sleeve, that the sleeve is pulled outwards from the con¬ tainer in its lengthwise extension through the open end wall to a posi¬ tion in which is goes clear of the container, and that the gripping means is operated to displace the sleeve from the discharged position to a predetermined position for further handling, in which position the gripping means is disengaged from the sleeve. The invention also concerns a device for performing the method. The device is characterized therein that a positioning assembly is provided to perform the vertical and horizontal movements of the gripping means to position the latter opposite a sleeve, that the gripping means is arranged to be moved from this position to a position adjacent the container end to engage said end of the sleeve and assume a sleeve-retaining position and in that the positioning assembly is arranged to displace the gripping means with the sleeve retained there¬ by in the lengthwise direction of the sleeve to a position 1n which the latter goes clear of the container and to displace It further to a pre¬ determined position for further handling of the sleeve. Further characteristics of the invention will appear from the subordinated claims. The invention will be described in closer detail 1n the follow¬ ing with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective overall view of a device in accordance with the invention, and Fig. 2 is a schematical view from the side of the same device. The device in accordance with the Invention comprises a stand 10 on which is positioned a container 12 holding tubular sleeves 14 there¬ in. The container 12 is formed with open end walls 16 and Its bottom and side walls may consist of beams 18, as shown 1n Fig. 1. At its upper corners the container 12 is provided with guide sleeves 20 and at its lower corners with legs 22 matching the sleeves 20 in order to facilitate stacking of a number of containers 12 in superposed posi¬ tion. Also the stand 10 is provided with guide sleeves 20 at the cor¬ ners matching the legs 22, whereby a container 12 positioned on the stand 10 will assume a predetermined position. The container 12 prefer¬ ably is handled by means of an overhead crane. Removal of the sleeves 14 from the container 12 is effected by means of a positioning assembly 26 comprising a conically expendible gripping means 28 designed so as to allow it to be Inserted inside the end of a sleeve 14 wherein the gripping means, when expanded, engages the inner faces of the sleeve wall. This could be effected for instance by designing the gripping means 28 (which may be operated hydraullcally or mechanically) as a chuck type device. It Is likewise possible to equip the gripping means 28 with a number of arms which may pivot outwards or with a number of pins that may project outwards from the wal l s of the gripping means . The grippi ng means 28 is mounted on a piston rod 30 incorporated in a pi ston-and-cy under unit 32 which is movable on a fi rst horizontal positioning mechanism 34. The l atter extends in parallel with the sleeves 14 stored in the container 12, thus al lowing a sleeve 14, when engaged by the gripping means 28, to be pul led outwards fully in its lengthwise direction from the container 12 with the ai d of the positioning mechanism 34 and the piston-and-cyl in- der unit 32. A wheel provi ded on the positioning mechanism 34 serves to support the sleeve 14 when the latter is pulled out from the con- tainer. The first positioning mechanism 34 of the positioning assembly 26 is mounted on a pair of second parallel vertical positioning mecha¬ nisms 36 and it may be lowered and raised in a parallel motion pattern. A pair of third parallel horizontal positioning mechanisms 38 is mount- ed in a fixed position (for instance on a part of the stand 10) and at right angles to the first positioning mechanism 34. The second positio¬ ning mechanisms 36 are arranged to move on the third positioning mecha¬ nisms 38 in order to allow parallel lateral movements of the positio¬ ning mechanism 34. The range of movements of the positioning assembly 26 just described allows the positioning mechanism 34 to be moved to the desired position adjacent the end wall of the container 12 while retaining its parallel relationship with the sleeves 14. This in turn means that by operating the positioning assembly 26 the gripping means 28 has access to all sleeves 14 arranged in the container 12. Laterally of the positioning assembly 26 are positioned a couple of guide plates 40, 42. The latter assume an inclined position (see Fig. 2) in order to guide a sleeve 16 which has been deposited on the first plate 40 towards a channel 44. In the handling of the sleeves 14 in accordance with the inven- tion the movements of the positioning mechanisms 34, 36, 38, of the piston-and-cylinder unit 32 and of the gripping means 28 may be controlled manually from a control panel 46. It is likewise possible to make the entire sleeve-handling process computer controlled, thus obviating the need for manual operation. It is likewise possible to use a "vision-control" type of device (for instance of type Erisoft®) for insertion of the gripping means 28 into the end of the sleeves 14. Owing to the conical shape of this means 28 and its expansion grip in¬ side the sleeves 14 the gripping force exerted on the sleeve 14 may be considerable without any particular demands on precision of the inser- tion movements of the gripping means 28 inside the sleeve 14. The extraction of sleeves 14 one by one is effected In accor¬ dance with the subject invention in the following manner. A container 12 holding sleeves 14 therein is deposited on the stand 10. The posi¬ tioning assembly 26 displaces the gripping means 28 to a position oppo- site one of the sleeves 14 at the open end wall 16 of the container and is inserted into the end of that sleeve 14 with the aid of the piston- -and-cylinder unit 10. The gripping means 28 is then expanded until it engages the sleeve walls 14 and is operated to pull the sleeve 14 lenghtwise out of the container 12 through the open end wall 16 until the sleeve goes clear of the container 12. The sleeve 141s retained by the gripping means 28 and is then moved by the positioning assembly 26 to a position above the guide plate 30. In this position the grip of the gripping means 28 on the sleeve is loosened and the sleeve 14, guided by the plates 40, 42, is moved down into the channel 44 and advanced therein for further handling, such as cutting Into pieces of desired size suitable for serving as the cores for paper rolls wound onto the core. The embodiment of the invention described above is but one exampel and a number of other embodiments are possible within the scope of the appended claims. The positioning mechanisms 34, 36, 38 are of cylinder type which are functionally well suited for the purposes herein but they could be replaced by other details having a similar function. It Is likewise possible to tilt the container 12 somewhat, whereby the sleeves 14 will have a tendency to shift towards the lowest level inside the container. In this way it becomes possible to extract the sleeves 14 from the container 12 from one and same position.

Claims: C l a i m s 1. A method of extracting tubular sleeves (14) or similar objects one by one from a container (12) having open end walls (16), said tubular sleeves (14) being positioned inside the container in such a manner that the sleeve ends face the open container end wall (16). the extraction of the sleeves being effected with the aid of a gripping means (28) which is mounted on a rod which is arranged to perform length wise reciprocating movements, c h a r a c te r i z e d therein that the gripping means (28) is operated for vertical and horizontal movements along the open end wall (16) of the container to a position opposite the sleeve (14) selected for extraction, that the gripping means (28) is moved up to the open end of the selected sleeve (14), that the gripping means (28) is moved into engagement with said sleeve end to retain the sleeve (14), that the sleeve (14) is pulled outwards from the container (12) in its lengthwise extension through the open end wall (16) to a position in which the sleeve goes free of the con¬ tainer (12), and that the gripping means (28) is operated to displace the sleeve (14) from the discharged position to a predetermined posi¬ tion for further handling, in which position the gripping means (28) is disengaged from the sleeve. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d therein that the gripping means (28) moves the sleeve (14) laterally up to one or a number of guide plates (40, 42), that the gripping means (28) is disengaged from the sleeve and that said guide plates (40, 42) guide said sleeve to the desired position. 3. A device for performing the method of claim 1 for extraction of tubular sleeves (14) one by one from a container (12) which has at least one open end wall (16), said sleeves (14) being positioned Inside said container in such a manner that the sleeve ends face the open end wall (16) of the container, the extraction of the sleeves being effec¬ ted with the aid of a gripping means (28) which is mounted on a rod arranged to perform lengthwise reciprocating movements, c h a¬ r a c t e r i z e d therein that a positioning assembly (26) is provided to vertically and horizontally displace the gripping means (28) to position said means opposite a sleeve (14), that the gripping means (28) is arranged to be moved from this position to a position adjacent the container (12) to engage said end of the sleeve and assume a sleeve-retaining position, and that the positioning assembly (26) is arranged to displace the gripping means (28) with the sleeve (14) retained thereby in the lengthwise direction of the sleeve to a position In which said sleeve (14) goes clear of the container (12) and to displace it further to a predetermined position for further handling of the sleeve. 4. A device as claimed in claim 3, c h a r a c te r i z e d therein that the positioning assembly (26) comprises a number of posi¬ tioning mechanisms (34, 36, 38), which are arranged in three perpendi¬ cular positions for three-dimensional operation and control of said gripping means (28). 5. A device as claimed in any one of claims 3 and 4, c h a - r a c t e r i z e d therein that a stand (10) is arranged for mounting the container (12) thereon, that the stand (10) is formed with sleeves (20) and the container with legs (22) for guiding the container (12) to a definite position on said stand. 6. A device as claimed in any one of claims 3 - 5, c h a - r a c t e r i z e d therein that the gripping means (28) is mounted on the piston rod (30) of a piston-and-cylinder unit (32) and is arranged to be moved thereby, and in that the piston-and-cylinder unit (32) is supported on a positioning mechanism (34) comprised in said positioning assembly (26). 7. A device as claimed in any one of claims 3 - 6, c h a - r a c t e r i z e d therein that the gripping means is an expendible conical gripping means (28) designed and arranged to be inserted into the end of a sleeve (14) and to be moved into engagement internally therein against the sleeve walls. 8. A device as claimed in any one of claims 3 - 7, c h a - r a c te r i z e d therein that a couple of guide plates (40, 42) are arranged to guide said sleeve (14) towards a channel (44).

Inventors: JARREBY BERTIL, JARREBY, BERTIL
Applicants: SKANDINAVISKA APPARATIND, SKANDINAVISKA APPARATINDUSTRI AB SAIAP
Application year: 1985
Main classification: B65G67
IPC codes: B65G47, B65G61