Patent GB-643818-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to apparatus for gauging and sorting lengths of tubing or rod
IPC: B07C5/07
Filed: 1948-04-21
Abstract: 643,818. Sorting-gauges. BRITISH THOMSON-HOUSTON CO., Ltd. April 21, 1948, No. 11010. Convention date, April 22, 1947. [Class 106 (ii)] Tubes 1, to be gauged and sorted according to their diameter, are delivered by an inclined table 2 to a carrier 3 comprising plates 5 provided with slots 4<SP>1</SP>. The tubes are lifted from the table 2 by teeth 4 and conveyed in the slots 41 to a horizontal path parallel to a second conveyer chain 8 provided with similar slotted carrier plates 37 having slots 7<SP>1</SP> provided with gauging means. The two chain carriers are rotated in synchronism and with the course of the plates 5 slightly downward with respect to the course of the carrier plates 37 so as to allow the tubes to slide gently from the slots 41 into the slots 7<SP>1</SP> whilst moving at speed. Each slot 7<SP>1</SP> in the carrier plates 37, shown in Fig. 4, is provided with a fixed gauge roller 42 mounted on an eccentric rod 43, and a movable gauge finger 44 movable towards and away from the roller by means of an arm 40 provided with a roller 39 co-operating with a cam 41. The movable fingers are urged towards the rollers, i.e. the closed position by a spring 56. During the transfer of the tubes referred to above the movable gauge fingers are retained in their open position by means of the cam 41, permitting the tubes to descend into the bottom of the slots 7<SP>1</SP>. At the point where the carrier plates descend around the end sprocket to the inverted position occupied during the lower run of the chain conveyer 8, the cam 41 terminates and the gauge fingers 44 close towards the fixed rollers 42 a sufficient distance to retain the tubes in the slots 7<SP>1</SP>. During the lower horizontal run of the conveyer plates 37 a second cam 60 supported on studs 61 co-operates with the roller 39 and arm 40 to open progressively the gauge fingers allowing the tubes 1 to fall out of the slots 7<SP>1</SP> at a point along the path of the carrier dependent on the diameter, on to pads 12 positioned to receive them and transfer them to collecting points 13. As the gauge fingers open gradually along the path of the carrier as many collecting pads 12 as desired may be positioned along the path. Fig. 2 shows a cam 60 increasing gradually the gap in the gauge, but if desired a stepped cam may be employed giving definite gauging points along the path. It will be seen from Fig. 4 that the gauging fingers 44 are arranged in groups of three, and in order to prevent overlapping of the various sizes sorted, a slight variation of the position of the fixed roller 42 by means of the eccentric rods 43 is necessary to compensate for the fact that the second and third slots 7<SP>1</SP> of each group are behind the position of the cam roller 39 controlling all three gauge fingers. The difference between the spacings of the gauge fingers 44 and gauge rollers 42 of successive slots 7<SP>1</SP> must be equal to the adjustment made by the actuating arm 40 in advancing one slot to the position of the preceding slot as the gauge fingers 44 and gauge rollers 42 are then spaced correspondingly at the time of passing over any given location in the course of movement. After the largest diameter tubes have been dropped on to the last pad 12 the chain carrier 8 returns to the upper run passing over the sprocket 6, the delivery chain carrier 3 returning over sprocket 14 to the drive source, not shown.