Method and apparatus for dipping metal fence posts
AssigneeCascade Steel Rolling Mills, Inc.
InventorsJoel B. Stevens, Mark C. Wirfs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A white cap dipper apparatus for metal fence posts and a method of dipping such posts, wherein the apparatus includes a shuttle car having a tilt frame for removing posts in successive groups from horizontal flow path cables, successively elevating such posts and dipping the same, and then returning the posts to the cables in horizontal position. The car reciprocates back and forth in the dipping zone in such timed relation to the flow path and with such speed that while it creates a gap in the flow path, it does not interrupt the continuity of the flow.
Claims11
In a machine for dipping fence posts without interrupting the continuous flow of such posts along a predetermined path in a predetermined direction,
- said machine comprising traveling means interposed in a gap in said flow of posts,
- said traveling means having means for picking up a group of posts in horizontal positions, elevating such posts to a vertical dipping position, dipping said posts and then returning them back to horizontal, and depositing them in said flow path,
- power means for driving said traveling means in said predetermined direction at a faster rate of speed than that of said rate of flow to advance said group beyond the positions they would occupy if left in said flow,
- said power means causing the traveling means to return in the opposite direction for picking up a second group of posts to be dipped,
- said power means operating at a speed such that the time for completion of a cycle of its travel is not greater than the time necessary for a group of posts in said flow path to move from one space into the next adjacent space.
In combination:
- a pair of parallel cables for carrying a series of posts along horizontally in a predetermined direction,
- traveling means for picking up the first group of posts, elevating such posts to a vertical dipping position, and dipping said posts and returning them to the horizontal and depositing them on the cables in advance of the positions they would occupy if not removed from said cables to provide a gap in said series,
- and means for causing said traveling means to return to pick up a subsequent post group and elevate such posts and return them to the horizontal and deposit them on said cables next to the first group to commence establishing a second series of posts.
The method of dipping fence posts without interrupting the continuous flow of such posts along a predetermined, horizontal path in a predetermined direction, comprising:
- removing the leading group of posts from said horizontal path,
- elevating said leading group to a vertical position, dipping said posts,
- advancing said posts in said predetermined direction at a faster rate of speed than the continuous flow rate
- returning said group of posts into said horizontal flow path in spaced relation forwardly of the trailing posts to provide a gap in such flow path,
- returning to a successive group of posts and then removing the same from such path, dipping the same, and advancing the same at said faster rate and then returning the same into said flow path in adjacent relation to the first mentioned group.
In a fence post dipping machine,
- a conveyor comprising a pair of endless cables having parallel horizontal upper reaches, adapted to carry a series of fence posts along in regularly spaced relation crosswise on said cables,
- means for driving said cables to cause the upper reaches to travel past a pick up station and then past a downstream located deposit station,
- fence post pick up means including a shuttle car mounted for movement back and forth parallel to said cables,
- means on said car projectable upwardly between said cables to pick up a group of fence posts therefrom at said pick up station and move said group to vertical dipping positions while traveling parallel to said cables,
- horizontally stationary dip tank means disposed to receive at least portions of said fence post group and having a length sufficient to permit travel of such group while it is being dipped,
- said fence post pick up means subsequently returning said group horizontally to said cables at said deposit station, and
- power means for driving said shuttle from said pick up station to said deposit station and back to said pick up station in the time it takes the next subsequent group of fence posts to arrive at said pick up station.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.