Bundle feed device

Claim 2

A feed and orientation device for a plurality of elongated members, comprising: a frame; at least a pair of inclined feed sections in said frame, the elongated members being normally stored in lateral abutment with said feed sections at a location below the upper ends thereof; each of said feed sections including a fixed member having an upper inclined edge, said edge having spaced grooves adapted to receive the elongated members, a feed rack having grooves corresponding to those of said fixed member and mounted to said frame to be movable eccentrically with respect to said fixed member to move the elongated member from said stored position to progressively higher grooves in said feed sections; means for individually powering said feed racks; and means disposed at the upper ends of said feed sections, said means sensing the presence of one of the elongated members in a groove of one of said fixed members at a position higher than the position of the elongated member in the groove of the other of said fixed members and operable to deactivate the power to the rack associated with said first mentioned fixed member until the ends of the elongated member are aligned.

Claim 3

The device as defined in claim 1 and in which said powering means comprises a motor and first and second clutch means respectively connected intermediate said motor and said feed racks.

Claim 4

The device as defined in claim 2 and in which said sensing means comprises limit switches positioned to be actuated by the ends of the elongated members as said elongated members are moved up said fixed members, means connected with said limit switches and operable upon one of said limit switches being engaged prior to the other being engaged to actuate the clutch means to disconnect the motor means from the feed rack containing the higher end of the elongated member, said means being operable to actuate said clutch means to drivingly connect said motor means and said feed rack upon said other limit switch being engaged by the opposite end of the elongated member.

Claim 5

The feed device as defined in claim 1 and in which said powering means includes a motor, a shaft drivable by said motor, means at each end of said shaft for drivingly connecting said shaft to said feed racks to produce movement of said feed racks in a first direction perpendicular to the inclined edge of said fixed member and in a second direction parallel to the edge of said fixed member, said clutch means being connected intermediate said driving means and said shaft.

Claim 6

The feed device as defined in claim 1 and in which said powering means comprises a motor, a shaft driven by said motor, a first cam driven by said shaft and a second cam driven by said shaft, an arm connecting said first cam to said feed rack to produce movement of said feed rack in a reciprocating movement parallel to the inclined edge of said fixed member upon rotation of said first cam, said second cam being disposed beneath said feed rack to impart movement to said feed rack perpendicular to the edge of said fixed member upon rotation of said second cam.

Claim 7

A feed and orientation device for a plurality of elongated members, comprising: a frame, at least a pair of inclined feed sections in said frame, the elongated members being normally stored in lateral abutment with said feed sections at a location below the uppermost ends thereof; each of said feed sections including a fixed member having an upper inclined edge, said edge having spaced grooves adapted to receive the elongated members, a feed rack having grooves corresponding to those of said fixed member and mounted to said frame to be movable eccentrically with respect to said fixed member to move the elongated members from said stored position to progressively higher grooves in said feed sectIons; means for individually powering said feed racks; said powering means including a motor, a shaft drivable by said motor, means at each end of said shaft for drivingly connecting said shaft to said feed racks to produce movement of said feed racks in a first direction perpendicular to the inclined edge of said fixed member and in a second direction parallel to the edge of said fixed member, said clutch means being connected intermediate said driving means and said shaft, said clutch means being movable axially between a position producing a driving connection between said shaft and said connecting means and including linear fluid actuators connected with each of said clutch means to produce axial movement thereof; and means sensing the presence of one of the elongated members in a groove of one of said fixed members at a position higher than the position of the elongated member in the groove of the other of said fixed members and operable to deactivate the power to the rack associated with said first mentioned fixed member until the ends of the elongated members are aligned.

Claim 8

A feed and orientation device for a plurality of elongated members, comprising: a frame, at least a pair of inclined feed sections in said frame, the elongated members being normally stored in lateral abutment with said feed sections at a location below the uppermost ends thereof; each of said feed sections including a fixed member having an upper inclined edge, said edge having spaced grooves adapted to receive the elongated members, a feed rack having grooves corresponding to those of said fixed member and mounted to said frame to be movable eccentrically with respect to said fixed member to move the elongated members from said stored position to progressively higher grooves in said feed sectIons; means for individually powering said feed racks; said powering means including a motor, a shaft drivable by said motor, means at each end of said shaft for drivingly connecting said shaft to said feed racks to produce movement of said feed racks in a first direction perpendicular to the inclined edge of said fixed member and in a second direction parallel to the edge of said fixed member, said clutch means being connected intermediate said driving means and said shaft, said clutch means being movable axially between a position producing a driving connection between said shaft and said connecting means and including linear fluid actuators connected with each of said clutch means to produce axial movement thereof; and means sensing the presence of one of the elongated members in a groove of one of said fixed members at a position higher than the position of the elongated member in the groove of the other of said fixed members and operable to deactivate the power to the rack associated with said first mentioned fixed member until the ends of the elongated members are aligned.

Claim 9

A feed and orientation device for a plurality of elongated members, comprising: a frame; at least a pair of inclined feed sections in said frame, the elongated members being normally stored in lateral abutment with said feed sections at a location below the uppermost ends thereof; each of said feed sections including a fixed member having an upper inclined edge, said edge having spaced grooves adapted to receive the elongated members, a feed rack having grooves corresponding to those of said fixed member and mounted to said frame to be movable eccentrically with respect to said fixed member to move the elongated members from said stored position to progressively higher grooves in said feed sections; means for individually powering said feed racks; said powering means comprising a motor, a shaft driven by said motor, a first cam driven by said shaft and a second cam driven by said shaft, an arm connecting said first cam to said feed rack in a reciprocating movement parallel to the inclined edge of said fixed member upon rotation of said first cam, said second cam being disposed beneath said feed rack to impart movement to said feed rack perpendicular to the edge of said fixed member upon rotation of said second cam; clutch means connecting said shaft and said first cam, said second cam being axially offset from said first cam, and means driving said second cam through said clutch means and said first cam, and means sensing the presence of one of the elongated members in a groove of one of said fixed members at a position higher than the position of said elongated members in the groove of the other of said fixed members and operable to deactivate the power to the rack associated with said first mentioned fixed member until the ends of the elongated members are aligned.

Claim 10

A feed and orientation device for a plurality of elongated members, comprising: a frame; at least a pair of inclined feed sections in said frame, the elongated members being normally stored in lateral abutment with said feed sections at a location below the uppermost ends thereof; each of said feed sections including a fixed member having an upper inclined edge, said edge having spaced grooves adapted to receive the elongated members, a feed rack having grooves corresponding to those of said fixed member and mounted to said frame to be movable eccentrically with respect to said fixed member to move the elongated members from said stored position to progressively higher grooves in said feed sections; means for individually powering said feed racks; said powering means comprising a motor, a shaft driven by said motor, a first cam driven by said shaft and a second cam driven by said shaft, an arm connecting said first cam to said feed rack in a reciprocating movement parallel to the inclined edge of said fixed member upon rotation of said first cam, said second cam being disposed beneath said feed rack to impart movement to said feed rack perpendicular to the edge of said fixed member upon rotation of said second cam; clutch means connecting said shaft and said first cam, said second cam being axially offset from said first cam, and means driving said second cam through said clutch means and said first cam, and means sensing the presence of one of the elongated members in a groove of one of said fixed members at a position higher than the position of said elongated members in the groove of the other of said fixed members and operable to deactivate the power to the rack associated with said first mentioned fixed member until the ends of the elongated members are aligned.