Tube feeder with self-adjusting loader

A feeder having a self-adjusting loader for delivering various diameter tubes or the like, one at a time to a fixed centerline location, comprising in combination

• a fixed base and a longitudinal support mounted for vertical movement thereon,
• centerless roller supporting means mounted on said longitudinal support in a fixed relationship for rotatably supporting a tube or the like horizontally for rotation about its centerline which is disposed at a variable height with respect to said longitudinal support which is determined by the diameter of the tube or the like being suported
• transverse track means secured to said longitudinal support and having a first portion inclined downardly toward said centerless roller supporting means for gravity feeding tubes or the like to said centerless roller supporting means, a second portion inclined downwardly in the opposite direction, and an uppermost mid portion therebetween,
• an inclined storage rack supported in fixed relationship to said fixed base and having a lower end surface portion positioned toward said centerless roller supporting means,
• lifter blade means longitudinally aligned with the second portion of said track means and slidably mounted for vertical movement with respect to said second portion of said transverse track means, said lifter blade means having a high point and an upper surface portion inclined downwardly therefrom in the transverse direction toward said centerless support means, one of said surface portions and said second portion defining an imaginary dihedral angle having an edge parallel to said centerless roller supporting means,
• means for raising and lowering said lifter blade means with respect to said transverse track, means between a first position whereat said high point of said lifter blade means intersects said imaginary dihedral angle at a location spaced from said edge away from said centerless roller supporting means, and a second position whereat said upper surface portion of said lifter blade means intersects the uppermost mid portion of said track means, and
• means for raising and lowering said longitudinal support with respect to said fixed base to adjust the height of said centerless roller supporting means to rotatably support a tube or the like of a given diameter with its centerline coincident with an imaginary horizontal centerline in fixed spatial relationship with respect to said fixed base and to concurrently adjust the height of said transverse track means and thereby shift said edge laterally for locating a major portion of a tube or the like of said given diameter above said lifter blade means when said lifter blade means are in said first position and said last mentioned tube or the like is positioned by said one surface portion and said second portion of said transverse track means defining said imaginary dihedral angle.

A feeder having a self-adjusting loader for delivering various diameter tubes or the like, one at a time to a fixed centerline location, comprising in combination

• a fixed base and a longitudinal support mounted for vertical movement thereon,
• centerless roller supporting means mounted on said longitudinal support in a fixed relationship for rotatably supporting a tube or the like horizontally for rotation about its centerline which is disposed at a variable height with respect to said longitudinal support which is determined by the diameter of the tube or the like supported thereon,
• transverse track means secured to said longitudinal support and having a first portion inclined downwardly toward said centerless roller supporting means for gravity feeding tubes or the like to said centerless roller supporting means and a second portion inclined downwardly in the opposite direction,
• an inclined storage rack supported in fixed relationship to said fixed base said inclined storage rack having a lower end portion interdigitated with said second portion of said track means whereby said second portion provides a stop for tubes or the like when such are stored on said inclined storage rack
• lifter blade means longitudinally aligned with the second portion of said transverse track means and the lower end portion of said inclined storage rack and slidably mounted in vertical guides supported in fixed relationship to inclined storage rack, said lifter blade means having a high point and an upper surface portion inclined downwardly therefrom in the transverse direction toward said centerless supporting means,
• means for raising and lowering said lifter blade means with respect to said track means and said inclined storage rack between a retracted position whereat said upper surface portion of said lifter blade means is coplanar with or below said lower end portion of said inclined storage rack and an extended position whereat said upper surface portion of said lifter blade means intersects an uppermost mid portion of said track means, and
• means for raising and lowering said longitudinal support with respect to said fixed base between a first position whereat said centerless roller supporting means rotatably supports a tube or the like of a first given diameter with its centerline coincident with an imaginary centerline in fixed spatial relation with said fixed base, and
• said second portions of said transverse track means locates first and second tubes or the like of said first given diameter stored on said inclined rack such that the high point of the lifter blade means passes between the centerlines thereof as said lifter blade means moves from said retracted position to said extended position and a second position whereat said centerless roller supporting means rotatably supports a tube or the like of a second given diameter with its axis coincident with said imaginary centerline and said second portions of said track means locates first and second tubes of or the like of said second given diameter such that the high point of the lifter blade means passes between the centerlines thereof as said lifter blade means moves from said retracted position to said extended position.

A feeder having a self-adjusting loader for delivering various diameter tubes or the like, one at a time to a fixed centerline location, comprising in combination

• a fixed base and a longitudinal support mounted for vertical movement thereon,
• centerless roller supporting means mounted on said longitudinal support in a fixed relationship comprising a plurality of pairs of wheels arranged in two rows with the axes of each pair coincident respectively with two laterally spaced centerlines, for rotatably supporting a tube or the like horizontally for rotation about its centerline which is disposed at a variable height with respect to said longitudinal support which is determined by the diameter of the tube or the like supported on said pairs of wheels
• transverse track means secured to said longitudinal support and having a first portion located between the wheels in one of said rows inclined downwardly toward an imaginary vertical plane which passes between said laterally spaced centerline for gravity feeding tubes or the like to said pairs of wheels and a second portion inclined downwardly in the opposite direction,
• an inclined storage rack supported in fixed relationship to said fixed base and having a lower end portion positioned adjacent said second portion of said track means whereby said second portion provides a stop for tubes or the like when such are stored on said inclined storage rack
• lifter blade means longitudinally aligned with the second portion of said transverse track means and the lower end portion of said inclined storage rack and slidably mounted in vertical guides supported in fixed relationship to inclined storage rack, said lifter blade means having a high point and an upper surface portion inclined downwardly therefrom in the transverse direction toward said imaginary plane,
• means for raising and lowering said lifter blade means with respect to said track means and said inclined storage rack between a retracted position whereat said upper surface portion of said lifter blade means is coplanar with or below said lower end portion of said inclined storage rack and an extended position whereat said upper surface portion of said lifter blade means intersects an uppermost mid portion of said track means,
• means for raising and lowering said longitudinal support with respect to said fixed base between a first position whereat said centerless roller supporting means rotatably supports a tube or the like of a first given diameter with its centerline coincident with an imaginary centerline in fixed spatial relation with said fixed base
• said second portions of said transverse track means locates first and second tubes or the like of said first given diameter stored on said inclined rack such that the high point of the lifter blade means passes between the centerlines thereof as said lifter blade means moves from said retracted position to said extended position and a second position whereat said centerless roller supporting means rotatably supports a tube or the like of a second given diameter with its axis coincident with said imaginary centerline and said second portions of said track means locates first and second tubes of or the like of said second given diameter such that the high point of the lifter blade means passes between the centerlines thereof as said lifter blade means moves from said retracted position to said extended position, and
• hold down means comprising a plurality of third wheels mounted on said longitudinal support and movable generally vertically with respect thereto for engaging a tube or the like supported on said pairs of wheels above said imaginary centerline and means for raising and lowering said plurality of third wheels.