Automatic loader for drill rods

Device to automatically load drill rods (11) in a boring machine provided with a drive assembly (12), comprising at least a store (13) able to contain a plurality of said drill rods (11) and movement means (14) arranged in an intermediate position between said store (13) and said drive assembly (12) and able to selectively remove, one at a time, said drill rods (11) from said store (13) to position them on said drive assembly (12), wherein said movement means (14) comprise at least a pick-up arm (22), movable between a first working position associated with said store (13) and a second working position associated with said drive assembly (12), and gripper means (24) mounted on said pick-up arm (22), the device being characterized in that said pick-up arm (22) in its movement between said first and second working positions remains constantly outside the bulk of said store (13) and in that said gripper means (24) comprise at least pincers pivoted on said pick-up arm (22) and able to rotate between a first pick-up position wherein they face towards said store (13), to cooperate with one of said drill rods (11), and a second release position wherein they face towards said drive assembly (12), said pick-up arm (22) comprising a first end pivoted on a fixed pin and a second end, opposite the first, on which said pincers (24) are pivoted, actuation means being provided to make said pick-up arm (22) oscillate between said first and second working positions, said pincers being pivoted on a pin (32) mounted on said second end of said pick-up arm (22), with a toothed pinion (33) that is solid with said pin (32) and engages with a corresponding toothed conductor element (34), said toothed conductor element (34) comprising a toothed sector pivoted on said pick-up arm (22) and able to be selectively actuated by a first actuator (36).

Device to automatically load drill rods (11) in a boring machine provided with a drive assembly (12), comprising at least a store (13) able to contain a plurality of said drill rods (11) and movement means (14) arranged in an intermediate position between said store (13) and said drive assembly (12) and able to selectively remove, one at a time, said drill rods (11) from said store (13) to position them on said drive assembly (12), wherein said movement means (14) comprise at least a pick-up arm (22), movable between a first working position associated with said store (13) and a second working position associated with said drive assembly (12), and gripper means (24) mounted on said pick-up arm (22), the device being characterized in that said pick-up arm (22) in its movement between said first and second working positions remains constantly outside the bulk of said store (13) and in that said gripper means (24) comprise at least pincers pivoted on said pick-up arm (22) and able to rotate between a first pick-up position wherein they face towards said store (13), to cooperate with one of said drill rods (11), and a second release position wherein they face towards said drive assembly (12), said pincers (24) comprising at least a pair of jaws (31) movable between a closed position wherein they clamp said drill rods (11) and an open position wherein said drill rods (11) are released, a balancing mechanism (60) being associated with each pair of jaws (31) in such a fashion that said jaws (31) have a symmetrical movement with respect to a median longitudinal plane (“X”) passing through an axis of a pin (32) operably associated with said pincers (24) and through an axis of the drill rod (11) to be gripped, and an alignment and centering assembly (53) comprising at least two elastic containing extensions (55) mounted on opposite sides and symmetrical with respect to said median longitudinal plane (“X”) and able to cooperate with the cylindrical surface of said drill rods (11).

Device to automatically load drill rods (11) in a boring machine provided with a drive assembly (12), comprising at least a store (13) able to contain a plurality of said drill rods (11) and movement means (14) arranged in an intermediate position between said store (13) and said drive assembly (12) and able to selectively remove, one at a time, said drill rods (11) from said store (13) to position them on said drive assembly (12), wherein said movement means (14) comprise at least a pick-up arm (22), movable between a first working position associated with said store (13) and a second working position associated with said drive assembly (12), and gripper means (24) mounted on said pick-up arm (22), the device being characterized in that said pick-up arm (22) in its movement between said first and second working positions remains constantly outside the bulk of said store (13) and in that said gripper means (24) comprise at least pincers pivoted on said pick-up arm (22) and able to rotate between a first pick-up position wherein they face towards said store (13), to cooperate with one of said drill rods (11), and a second release position wherein they face towards said drive assembly (12), said store (13) comprising at least a base element (16) with a plate or disk, able to contain said drill rods (11) underneath, said store being substantially cylindrical in shape and rotatably mounted around a central shaft (17), at least one of said base elements (16) being movable longitudinally with respect to said shaft (17) to adapt its position according to the length of said drill rods (11).