Patent GB-1400790-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for automatic supply of bar stock to automatic cutting machines
IPC: B23D33/02
Filed: 1972-12-06
Abstract: 1400790 Storage system KEURO MASCHINENBAU GmbH & CO KG 6 Dec 1972 [18 Dec 1971] 56218/72 Heading A4T [Also in Divisions B3 and B5] Apparatus for supplying bar stock to a programme-controlled cutting machine, e.g. a circular saw, bandsaw, power hacksaw, or flamecutting machine, comprises a plurality of identical pallets 2, Fig. 1 each accommodating stock of one material and one cross-section, a row of racks 1 providing compartments for storage of the pallets, a pallet receiving station 11 in a compartment of a rack and from which a reversible conveyer 20 extends to the cutting machine 12, Fig. 2 a bar handling device 19, Fig. 1 at the pallet receiving station for transferring a bar to the conveyer 20 from a pallet or vice-versa, a pallet transporter 4, Fig. 2 for moving a pallet from its storage compartment to the receiving station, and free compartments 13, 14 Fig. 3 adjacent the receiving station for parking pallets in transit to or from that station. The operations of the transporter, the bar handling device, and the conveyer are controlled by the programme control system of the cutting machine, each pallet having a data carrier and the pallet receiving station having a sensing device connected in the programme control system and co-operable with the data carrier of a received pallet for setting the work speed and pressure values of the cutting machine according to the stock contained in the pallet. As described a pallet 2 is removed from a storage compartment by vertically movable arms 9, 10 of the pallet transporter 4, Fig. 2, and the latter runs along rails 7, 8 to bring the pallet into one of the parking compartments 13, 14 before placing it in the pallet receiving station 11. The pallet is positioned longitudinally at this station by rollers engaging in recesses in its undersurface, and is positioned horizontally and vertically by piston and cylinder devices 15, 16, 28 Fig. 3, urging it against stops 22, 23 and 27. Piston and cylinder devices 34, 35 raise a rack 17 carrying members 18 which pass through apertures in the bottom of the pallet 2 to raise the bars 33 therein, so that the upper row of bars lies in the path of a feed pusher 38 which moves horizontally to push a bar on to the conveyer 20. Sensing devices are provided to ensure that one bar only is pushed on to the conveyer. Whilst the pallet is at the pallet receiving station the data carrier of the pallet, in the form of an apertured strip into which a number of pins have been inserted in accordance with a code, engages a number of contacts at the pallet receiving station so that information relating to the nature of the bar stock in the pallet is transmitted to the cutting machine to control the work speed and pressure thereof. The bar is guided along the conveyer 20, Fig. 11, by a rail 71 until it reaches a stop 64. A sensor 67 ensures that the bar is in contact with the stop before jaws 68, clamp and feed the bar through the desired distance prior to its being held by jaws 69, 70 and cut by a circular saw blade 65, Fig. 12. A sensor 84 just ahead of the saw blade in the direction of its feed controls the feed speed and extent of withdrawal of the blade. Cut pieces of bar may be returned to a pallet at the station 11 by reversing the conveyer 20 and using a bar pusher 50, Fig. 3. Means are provided in the apparatus for trimming the leading end of a bar if this is not smooth, for removing separating plates 56, Fig. 3, from between layers of bars, for replacing an empty pallet by a full one if more material of one size is required, for ensuring that the piece to be cut is long enough, and for removing undersize pieces. In a second embodiment, Fig. 14, two parallel rows of racks are provided, the free compartments in each row being aligned and the free compartments in the front row lying adjacent, rather than above, the pallet receiving stations of which two are provided to feed two cutting machines. The pallets are moved from one row to another and from the free compartments to the pallet receiving stations by trolleys and further trolleys are provided on rails 115 for use in feeding full pallets to and removing empty pallets from the apparatus.