Billet manipulator
AssigneeAkron Standard, division of Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc.
InventorsEarl L. Bishop, James L. Giffels
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for rotating a billet. A frame presents an upwardly facing surface to support a billet, the surface having a slope so that the rectangular billet presents a surface which slopes toward an operator for the purpose of grinding and the like. The frame supports a plurality of lift arms having L-shaped ends which are adapted to engage a corner of a billet and lift the billet to cradle it for corner grinding and then to lower the billet to present a new surface for grinding. The frame also carries a plurality of clamp arms for engaging one side of a billet and pushing it against an abutment projecting above the surface of the frame to clamp it there during the grinding operation. The frame also supports a plurality of eject arms mounted on a common shaft for discharging a billet from the frame.
Claims11
A billet manipulator comprising,
- a frame presenting an upper supporting surface lying generally in a horizontal plane,
- a lift arm pivoted to said frame at one end and having an L-shaped free end having an upwardly projecting leg,
- means for swinging said arm up and down,
- said leg, upon upward movement of said arm, being engageable with the under side of a billet supported on said surface to rotate said billet through an angle greater than 45.degree.,
- said billet, upon downward movement of said arm, engaging said surface and rotating through an angle to rest on the surface of said frame.
In billet grinding apparatus,
- an elongated car for carrying a billet past a grinder,
- a plurality of longitudinally spaced vertical plates mounted on said car,
- said plates having upper edges presenting a generally horizontal billet supporting surface,
- an abutment at one end of said surface,
- at least two longitudinally spaced lift arms each pivotally mounted at one end between two of said plates, each said lift arm having an L-shaped free end with an upwardly projecting leg normally located immediately below said abutment,
- each said upwardly projecting leg being engageable with a billet resting on said surface against said abutment,
- means for swinging said lift arm up and down,
- said projecting leg, upon upward movement, being engageable with the underside of a billet supported on said supporting surface to rotate said billet through an angle greater than 45.degree.,
- at least two clamp arms each pivotally mounted at one end between two of said plates, and having a free end projecting above said surface,
- and means for swinging said arm toward and away from said abutment to clamp and release a billet.
A billet manipulator comprising,
- a frame presenting an upper supporting surface,
- a lift arm pivoted to said frame at one end and having an L-shaped free end having an upwardly projecting leg,
- means for swinging said arm up and down,
- said leg, upon upward movement of said arm, being engageable with the under side of a billet supported on said surface to rotate said billet through an angle greater than 45.degree.,
- said billet, upon downward movement of said arm, engaging said surface and rotating through an angle to rest on the surface of said frame,
- said lift arm being generally horizontal, said L-shaped free end being formed by a downwardly sloping portion and an upwardly sloping leg to form a cradle for a billet,
- said upwardly sloping leg engaging a corner of said billet to swing it upwardly and to cause said billet to slide, bringing the adjacent billet corner into the juncture of said sloping portion and leg,
- said swinging means adapted to hold a billet in that attitude to present a corner for grinding.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.