Abstract:
The manipulator includes a stationary tipping trough including a pair of longitudinally spaced substantially angular supporting surfaces each having a downwardly and inwardly sloping inlet side and an upwardly and outwardly sloping steeper outlet side. A apir of tipping levers are oscillatable by an associated fluid pressure actuator to engage a longitudinal corner edge of a billet in the tipping trough to tilt the billet so that it rests on a different side. A pair of lifters, having projecting fingers, are oscillatable about the same axis as the tilting levers by a different fluid pressure actuator so that the fingers engage the then lower side of a billet in the tipping trough and move the billet over the outlet sides of the supporting surfaces. The tipping trough preferably is arranged between a billet feeding roller conveyor and a billet discharge roller conveyor, and switch means are provided for engagement with a billet moving along the feeding conveyor. The billets have sloping ends providing respective projecting noses and the switch means are so arranged that, depending upon which switch is engaged by a sloping nose, an appropriate billet tipping operation is initiated. Alternatively, the switch means may be arranged beneath a billet support surface, again for corporation with the nose of a billet, or may be arranged to project into the tilting trough for engagement by the nose of a billet.
Abstract:
The method utilizes a stationary tipping trough including a pair of longitudinally spaced substantially angular supporting surfaces each having a downwardly and inwardly sloping inlet side and an upwardly and outwardly sloping steeper outlet side. A pair of tipping levers are oscillatable by an associated fluid pressure actuator to engage a longitudinal corner edge of a bar in the tipping trough to tilt the bar so that it rests on a different side. A pair of lifters, having projecting fingers, are oscillatable about the same axis as the tilting levers by a different fluid pressure actuator so that the fingers engage the then lower side of a bar in the tipping trough and move the bar over the outlet sides of the supporting surfaces. The tipping trough preferably is arranged between a bar feeding roller conveyor and a bar discharge roller conveyor, and switch means are provided for engagement with a bar moving along the feeding conveyor. The bars have sloping or tapered ends providing respective projecting noses, coplanar with one bar side surface, and the switch means are so arranged that, depending upon which switch is engaged by a projecting nose, an appropriate bar tipping operation is initiated. Alternatively, the switch means may be arranged beneath a bar support surface, again for cooperation with the nose of a bar, or may be arranged to project into the tilting trough for engagement by the nose of a bar.
Abstract:
A COMBINED LIFTING AND GRIPPING MECHANISM FOR USE IN AN ANODE PLATE CASTING PLANT INCLUDES A VERTICALLY MOVABLE COLUMN WHICH MAY BE DRIVEN UPWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY FOR EFFECTING THE LIFTING OF THE ANODE PLATES IN CONJUCTION WITH A TRAVERSE CARRYING A PAIR OF PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED ENGAGEMENT MEMBERS OR GRIPPERS WHICH HAVE MOVED INWARDLY INTO GRIPPING ENGAGEMENT DURING THE INITIAL STAGES OF LIFTING, IS CARRIED ON A LOWER END OF A GUIDE PIN WHICH IS TELESCOPIC WITHIN THE COLUMN. THE TRAVERSE IS MOVED VERTICALLY RELATIVE TO THE COLUMN BY MEANS OF SEPARATE LIFTING ELEMENTS SUCH AS LIFTING CHAINS AND THESE CHAINS ARE MOVED UPWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF EFFECTING A CLOSING GRIPPING MOVEMENT OF THE GRIPPERS, OR AN OUTWARD RELEASING MOVEMENT THEREOF FOR THE ENGAGEMENT OR DESENGAGEMENT OF THE ASSOCIATED ANODE PLATES.