Patent Publication Number: US-8117880-B2

Title: Billet-rearranging device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to a billet-rearranging device. More specifically, this invention relates to a billet-rearranging device which rearranges two of the billets fed in a row from a chute in tandem and feeds them to the charger of an automatic multi-step forging press. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Multi-step forging presses are coming into use to raise productivity. They consist of a plurality of steps (for example, four steps), each step provided with a forging die, to do the pressing of all the steps at a stroke. However, because each step has only one forging die and, therefore, only one billet is fed to each step at a time, there is a limit to the improvement of productivity (see page 199,  Plastic - Working Technology: Series  4  Forging . Tokyo: Corona. First Edition in August 1995). 
     Under the circumstances, multi-step forging presses consisting of a plurality of steps, each step provided with more than one die, are being developed. However, billets are fed in a row through a chute; therefore, the same number of billets as the number of dies in each step have to be rearranged in tandem before they are fed to the first step of the press. However, such a billet-rearranging device is not yet available. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems that the Invention is to Solve 
     Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a billet-rearranging device which rearranges two of the billets fed in a row from a chute in tandem. 
     Means of Solving the Problems 
     According to the first feature of the present invention, there is provided a billet-rearranging device disposed between a chute with an outlet to feed billets in a row to the device and a charger with a holder unit to hold two billets in tandem. The billet-rearranging device has a billet-rearranging mechanism to rearrange two billets in tandem and feed them to the holder unit of the charger. 
     According to the second feature of the present invention, there is provided the billet-rearranging device according to the first feature. The billet-rearranging mechanism of the billet-rearranging device comprises (i) an upper slide plate positioned below the outlet of the chute, (ii) a lower slide plate positioned below the upper slide plate, and (iii) a fixed plate positioned below the lower slide plate, above the holder unit of the charger. The upper slide plate has the function of rearranging two billets in tandem. The lower slide plate has the function of feeding two billets in tandem one by one to the fixed plate. The fixed plate has the function of guiding two billets in tandem simultaneously to the holder unit of the charger. 
     According to the third feature of the present invention, there is provided the billet-rearranging device according to the second feature. The holder unit of said charger is provided with a first and a second holder in tandem, the first holder positioned in front of the position (hereinafter “center position”) right under the outlet of said chute and the second holder positioned in the rear of the center position. The fixed plate of the billet-rearranging mechanism of the billet-rearranging device has a first and a second guide hole which are positioned right above the first and second holders, respectively, of the holder unit of the charger. The lower slide plate of the billet-rearranging mechanism of the billet-rearranging device has a first and a second receiving hole, the first receiving hole coming to the center position when the lower slide plate is slid most forward and the first and second receiving holes positioned right above the first and second guide holes, respectively, of the fixed plate when the lower slide plate is slid most backward. The upper slide plate of the billet-rearranging mechanism of the billet-rearranging device has a rearranging hole, the rearranging hole positioned right above the first receiving hole of the lower slide plate when the upper and lower slide plates are slid most backward and forward, respectively, and the rearranging hole positioned right above the second receiving hole of the lower slid plate when the upper and lower slide plates are slid most forward and backward, respectively. 
     Effects of the Invention 
     The advantage offered by the first feature of the present invention is as follows. Because the billet-rearranging mechanism rearranges two billets in tandem, two billets in tandem are fed to the holder unit of the charger. 
     The advantage offered by the second feature of the present invention is as follows. The upper slide plate has the function of rearranging two billets in tandem. The lower slide plate has the function of feeding two billets in tandem one by one to the fixed plate. The fixed plate has the function of guiding two billets in tandem simultaneously to the holder unit of the charger. Thus, two billets in tandem are fed to the holder unit of the charger. 
     The advantage offered by the third feature of the present invention is as follows. Each of the billets fed in a row from the chute first enter the rearranging hole of the upper slide plate, and a billet is put in each of the first and second receiving holes of the lower slide plate by sliding the upper and lower slide plates. Then, the first and second receiving holes of the lower slide plate are positioned right above the first and second guide holes, respectively, of the fixed plate by sliding the lower slide plate to feed two billets into the two holders in tandem of the holder unit of the charger. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration showing the construction of an embodiment of the billet-rearranging device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an illustration showing the working of the billet-rearranging device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an illustration showing a chute, the billet-rearranging device of  FIG. 1 , a billet charger, and an automatic multi-step forging press. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic plan view of a multi-step forging press. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     By referring to drawings, an embodiment of the billet-rearranging device according to the present invention will be described below.  FIG. 4  is a schematic plan view of a forging press “P” which the billet-rearranging device feeds billets to. The forging process of the forging press “P” consists of four steps I, II, III, and IV as shown in  FIG. 4 . The reference numeral  0  is a pre-step. A pair of dies is provided in tandem in each of the steps I, II, III, and IV. The reference signs “C” are press columns. The four pairs of dies are arranged along the path line “L” of the forging press “P.” 
     Because a pair of dies is provided in each of the steps I, II, III, and IV, the production efficiency is double what it would be if a single die were provided in each step. 
     In  FIG. 3 , the reference sign “A” is an embodiment of the billet-rearranging device according to the present invention and the reference signs “S” and “Cg” are a chute and a charger, respectively. The charger “Cg” has a holder unit “B,” which is provided with a pair of holders “B 1 ” and “B 2 ” in tandem. Billets are heated in a heating furnace (not shown) and fed in a row to the billet-rearranging device “A” through the chute “S.” The billet-rearranging device “A” sets two billets in the holders “B 1 ” and “B 2 ” and the charger “Cg” feeds the two billets to the pre-step  0  of the forging press “P.” 
     Next, the billet-rearranging device “A” will be described below. 
       FIG. 1  is an illustration showing the construction of the billet-rearranging device “A.”  FIG. 2  is an illustration showing the working of the billet-rearranging device “A.” 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the billet-rearranging device “A” is disposed between the chute “S” and the charger “Cg.” Billets are fed in a row through the chute “S” to the billet-rearranging device “A.” The holder unit “B” of the charger “Cg” comprises two holders “B 1 ” and “B 2 ” in tandem. The billet-rearranging device “A” has a billet-rearranging mechanism to rearrange two of the billets fed in a row from the chute in tandem at a time before they are fed to the charger “Cg.” As shown in  FIG. 1 , when the holder unit “B” is in its billet-receiving position, the holder “B 1 ” is positioned in front of the position (hereinafter “center position  0 ”) right under the outlet of the chute “S” and the holder “B 2 ” is positioned in the rear of the center position  0 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the billet-rearranging mechanism comprises an upper slide plate  1  positioned below the outlet of the chute “S,” a lower slide plate  2  positioned below the upper slide plate  1 , and a fixed plate  3  positioned below the lower slide plate  2 , above the holder unit “B.” 
     The upper slide plate  1  is slid by a cylinder  1   s  and has the function of rearranging two billets in tandem. 
     The lower slide plate  2  is slid by a cylinder  2   s  and has the function of feeding two billets in tandem one by one to the fixed plate  3 . 
     The fixed plate  3  has the function of guiding two billets in tandem simultaneously into the holders “B 1 ” and “B 2 .” 
     Next, the construction of the plates  1 ,  2 , and  3  will be described below. 
     The fixed plate  3  has a first guide hole  31  and a second guide hole  32  which are positioned right above the holders “B 1 ” and “B 2 ,” respectively, when the holder unit “B” is in its billet-receiving position. 
     The lower slide plate  2  has a first receiving hole  21  and a second receiving hole  22 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , when the lower slide plate  2  is slid most forward, the first receiving hole  21  comes to the center position  0 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , when the lower slide plate  2  is slid most backward, the first and second receiving holes  21  and  22  are positioned right above the first and second guide holes  31  and  32 , respectively. 
     The upper slide plate  1  has a rearranging hole  11 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , when the upper and lower slide plates  1  and  2  are slid most backward and forward, respectively, the rearranging hole  11  is positioned right above the first receiving hole  21 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , when the upper and lower slide plates  1  and  2  are slid most forward and backward, respectively, the rearranging hole  11  is positioned right above the second receiving hole  22 . 
     Next, the working of the billet-rearranging device “A” will be described below. 
     (Initial State) 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , in the initial state of the billet-rearranging device “A,” the rearranging hole  11  of the upper slide plate  1  and the first receiving hole  21  of the lower slide plate  2  are in the center position  0 . Accordingly, the first and second billets “b 1 ” and “b 2 ” fed from the chute “S” enter the first receiving hole  21  and the rearranging hole  11 , respectively. Namely, the first billet “b 1 ” falls onto the fixed plate  3  to rest in the first receiving hole  21  and the second billet “b 2 ” falls onto the first billet “b 1 ” to rest in the rearranging hole  11 . 
     (Alignment) 
     Next, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the upper and lower slide plates  1  and  2  are slid most forward and most backward, respectively, so as to position the rearranging hole  11  right above the second receiving hole  22  and the first and second receiving holes  21  and  22  right above the first and second guide holes  31  and  32 . 
     (Feeding) 
     Accordingly, the third billet “b 3 ” falls onto the upper slide plate  1 , the first billet “b 1 ” falls from the first receiving hole  21  into the holder “B 1 ” through the first guide hole  31  and the second billet “b 2 ” falls from the rearranging hole  11  into the holder “B 2 ” through the second receiving hole  22  and the second guide hole  32 . 
     As described above, the first and second billets “b 1 ” and “b 2 ” are fed into the holders “B 1 ” and “B 2 ” in tandem. Next, the charger “Cg” moves the holder unit “B” forward to feed the first and second billets “b 1 ” and “b 2 ” to the pre-step  0  of the forging press “P.” 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     This invention is applicable to a billet-rearranging device which receives billets in a row from a chute and feeds two billets in tandem at a time to the charger of an automatic forging press. 
     EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SIGNS IN THE DRAWINGS 
     
         
           1  Upper slide plate 
           2  Lower slide plate 
           3  Fixed plate 
           11  Rearranging hole 
           21  First receiving hole 
           22  Second receiving hole 
           31  First guide hole 
           32  Second guide hole 
         S Chute 
         B Holder unit 
         Cg Charger