Counter for counting elongate objects

Abstract

A counter for counting elongate objects having a separating section which vibrates groups of elongate objects in order to separate such elongate objects and move them to a weighing device that determines the average weight of an elongate object in the lot to which this group belongs. Such average weight is then utilized to determine the number of elongate objects that are subsequently placed in a counting basked to be weighed. Optionally, a storage section retains groups of elongate objects and moves them to the separating section. Also optionally, the counting section, which contains the weighing device, is constructed with the capability of moving elongate objects to a delivery section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a lateral view of a first side of an embodiment of the Counter for Counting Elongate Objects in which the storage section does not overlap the crossbars and in which a vibrational motor is connected to a substantially rigid torsion bar.

FIG. 2 is a lateral view of a second side of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view from above the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a lateral view of a first side of an embodiment of the Counter for Counting Elongate Objects in which the storage section does not overlap the crossbars and in which a vibrational motor is directly connected to at least one crossbar.

FIG. 5 is a lateral view of a second side of the embodiment of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a plan view from above the embodiment of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a lateral view of a first side of an embodiment of the Counter for Counting Elongate Objects in which the storage section overlaps the crossbars and in which a vibrational motor is connected to a substantially rigid torsion bar.

FIG. 8 is a lateral view of a second side of the embodiment of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a plan view from above the embodiment of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a lateral view of a first side of an embodiment of the Counter for Counting Elongate Objects in which the storage section overlaps the crossbars and in which a vibrational motor is directly connected to at least one crossbar.

FIG. 11 is a lateral view of a second side of the embodiment of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a plan view from above the embodiment of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a plan view from above a Counter for Counting Elongate Objects comprised of two aligned counter units.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 13, two basic sections and two optional sections comprise the Counter for Counting Elongate Objects.

In an embodiment having an optional storage section 1, a forklift is utilized to place bundles of rebar or other elongate objects on the optional storage section 1. Support beams 2 of the storage section 1 are mounted on a base 100 and slope downward, with a stop 3 being located near the front 4 of at least one of the support beams 2 and, consequently, the front 4 of the storage section 1. The slope causes the bundles of rebar or other elongate objects, which are placed in a single layer on the storage section 1 with a forklift or the like, to move toward the stop(s) 3.

A lifting mechanism 200, preferably, comprising (a) a blade 5, located near the front 4 and also near (inside or outside but, preferably, inside) the first side 6 of the storage section 1, and (b) a blade 7, located near the front 4 and also near (inside or outside but, preferably, inside) the second side 8 of the storage section 1.

When it is desired to separate and count rebar or other elongate objects, the blades 5, 7 are raised (preferably, with pneumatic cylinders 9, although any elevating mechanism known in the art, such as an hydraulic cylinder or a screw, may be utilized) to elevate the bundle that is nearest to the stop(s) 3. The top 10 of each blade 5, 7 has an uppermost point 11 near the rear 12 of the blade 5, 7 and slopes from such uppermost point 11 both to the rear 12 and to the front 13 of the blade 5, 7. Consequently, as the blades 5, 7 are raised above the support beams 2, the forward facing-slope 14 of each blade 5, 7 acts to direct the bundle to the separator section 15 while the rearwardly facing slope 16 of each blade 5, 7 tends to retard further bundles from being elevated.

The separator section 15 comprises two or more crossbars 17. Preferably, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 12, the front 5 of the storage section 1, i.e., the fronts 4 of the support beams 2, extends past the rears 22 of the crossbars 17. Each crossbar 17 is mounted on a support structure 18; and where the storage section 1 and the separator section 15 are adjacent or overlap, a portion of the base 100 of the storage section 1 may also serve as a portion of the support structure 18 for the separator section 15. Preferably, one or more vibrational insulators 19 are located between each crossbar 17 and the support structure 18. A vibrational motor 20 may be attached to at least one crossbar 17. This may be a direct connection, as portrayed in FIGS. 4 through 6 and 10 through 12. Preferably, however, a vibrational motor 20 is directly connected to a substantially rigid torsion bar 21, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 and 7 through 9; and the substantially rigid torsion bar 21 is connected to two or more crossbars 17. There may be more than one vibrational motor 20; and, preferably, again as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 and 7 through 9, each crossbar 17 is connected to a substantially rigid torsion bar 21 that is attached to a vibrational motor 20. Also preferably, each crossbar 17 slants downward from the rear 22 of the crossbar 17 to the front 23 of the crossbar 17.

Once a bundle of rebar or other elongate objects has been moved to the separator section 15, the straps holding the bundle together are removed. (If there is no storage section, the rebar or other elongate objects are placed by a forklift directly on the crossbars 17.) Activation of the vibrational motors 20 then separates the rebar or other elongate objects and causes them to move toward the front 23 of the crossbars 17. Vibration, as the adjective of that term is used herein, consequently, means rapid oscillatory motion of sufficient speed to separate and move the rebar or other elongate objects.

Continued operation of the vibrational motors 20 causes rebar or other elongate objects to drop, one at a time, into the counting basket 24 of the counting section 25.

The counting section 25 further comprises a weighing device 26. A desired number of rebar or other elongate objects are allowed to drop into the counting basket 24. Then the vibrational motors 20 are stopped, and the rebar or other elongate objects are visually counted. Dividing the total weight by the number of rebar or other elongate objects gives the weight for an average rebar or other elongate object of that lot.

When rebar or other elongate objects are subsequently dropped into the counting basket 24 through operation of the vibrational motors 20, the number of rebar or other elongate objects in the counting basket 24 is determined by dividing the weight determined with the weighing device 26 by the weight for an average rebar or other elongate object in the lot.

Preferably, the weighing device 26 is electronic and is electrically connected to a computerized control unit (not illustrated) that is well known in the industry. The number of rebar or other elongate objects in the counting basket 24 used to determine the weight for an average rebar or other elongate object in the lot is entered, using any technology that is well known in the art, by an operator into the computerized control unit which then automatically does the division to determine the weight for an average rebar or other elongate object in the lot. This weight is retained in the memory of the computerized control unit—until the computer removes such information either as a result of an instruction by a user, as a result of the passage of a specified amount of time, or the computerized control unit has been disconnected from a source of power (The preceding shall mean that computerized control unit can be one that is programmed to remove the information on the happening of only one of the preceding events, on the happening of any one of two of the preceding events, or on the happening of any one of three of the preceding events.)—and used subsequently by the computerized control unit for division into the total weight in the counting basket 24 to determine the number of rebar or other elongate objects in the counting basket 24.

Also preferably, the counting section 25 comprises a lifting device 300, preferably comprising (a) a blade 27 similar to blade 5, located outward from the first side 28 of the counting basket 24, and (b) a blade 29 similar to blade 7, located outward from the second side 30 of the counting basket 24. (Preferably, the weighing device 26 comprises an electronic scale under and near each side 28, 30 of the counting basket 24. Also, preferably the counting basket 24 has a bottom 500 between the first side 28 and the second side 30 but, if the counting basket 24 lacks a bottom 500, the blades 27, 29 can be located between the sides 28, 30.)

After the number of rebar or other elongate objects in the counting basket 24 has been determined (or the weight for an average rebar or other elongate object in the lot has been established), the lifting device is operated. In the preferred embodiment blades 27, 29, designated the counting basket blades 27, 29, are raised.

As the top 10 of each counting basket blade 27, 29 is raised above the top 31 of the front 32 of the counting basket 24 and also above the top 33 of the sloping ramp 34 of the delivery section 35, the forward-facing slope 14 of each counting basket blade 27, 29 acts to direct the rebar or other elongate objects to the delivery section 35 while the rearwardly facing slope 16 of each counting basket blade 27, 29 tends to retard additional rebar or other elongate objects from being elevated. (If there is no lifting device, a forklift or other device can remove the rebar or other elongate objects from the counting basket 24.)

A sloping ramp 34 of the delivery section 35 has a first side 36 and a second side 37; each of such sides 36, 37 contains apertures 38 in which removable stops 39 are located. (Of course, the delivery section 35 can optionally have one or more intermediate members 400 having an upper surface 401 parallel to the upper surface 402 of the first side 36 and the upper surface 403 of the second side 37 of the sloping ramp 34; or the sloping ramp 34 can be a unitary structure. The apertures 38 can then be in the intermediate members 400 only; in the sides 36, 37 only; in both the intermediate member 400 and the sides 36, 37; or at any location in the unitary structure.)

The rebar or other elongate objects move down the sloping ramp 34 until they reach the first removable stops 39 that have not been removed to permit the passage of rebar or other elongate objects. Then the next stops 39 up the sloping ramp 34 are reinserted into the apertures 38 in order to contain the next counted group of rebar or other elongate objects. This process is subsequently continued, as desired, for the remaining stops 39.

A forklift or the like can then remove any counted bundle.

Optionally, the sloping ramp 34 can be replaced with any other delivery equipment that is known in the art, such as rollers with a short ramp adjacent to the counting basket 24 and leading to the rollers or a longer ramp containing the apertures 38; or a forklift or the like can simply take the rebar or other elongate objects from the counting basket 24 to any desired location.

Finally, if desired, two or more Counters can be utilized together by being aligned with one another, as illustrated in FIG. 13, (so that a rebar or other elongate object can simultaneously move along the aligned Counters) and having all weighing devices 26 electrically connected to one computerized control unit (not illustrated). When two or more Counters are so utilized, each is referred to as a counter unit 40; and the overall device is designated the Counter. Although each counter unit could be any of the embodiments discussed herein, it is, of course, preferable that all counter units that are utilized together are identical.

As used herein, the term “substantially” indicates that one skilled in the art would consider the value modified by such terms to be within acceptable limits for the stated value. Also as used herein the term “preferable” or “preferably” means that a specified element or technique is more acceptable than another but not that such specified element or technique is a necessity.

Claims

1. A counter for counting elongate objects, which comprises: a separator section, which comprises: a support structure;at least two crossbars mounted on said support structure and with all said crossbars slanting downward from a rear of each said crossbar to a front of each said crossbar; anda means for vibrating at least one of said crossbars in order to separate and move elongate objects; anda counting section, which comprises: a counting basket to receive elongate objects from said separator section; anda weighing device in contact with said counting basket.

2. The counter as recited in claim 1, further comprising: at least one vibrational insulator located between each of said crossbars and said support structure.

3. The counter as recited in claim 2, further comprising: a means for moving elongate objects from said counting basket.

4. The counter as recited in claim 3, wherein: said weighing device is electronic; and, further comprising:a computerized control unit, said computerized control unit being electrically connected to said weighing device, having a means for an operator to enter instructions and numbers, being programmed—when so instructed—to divide the weight received from said weighing device by a number entered by a user, being programmed to retain the quotient from such division in a memory until (a) being instructed by a user to remove such quotient from the memory, (b) the passage of a specified amount of time, or (c) said computerized control unit has been disconnected from a source of power, and being programmed to divide the quotient in memory into the weight provided by said weighing device after a quotient has been put in memory.

5. The counter as recited in claim 4, further comprising: a storage section, which comprises: a base;support beams mounted on said base, said support beams sloping downward toward a front of said support beams;a stop located near the front of at least one of said support beams; anda means for moving elongate objects from said support beams of said storage section to said crossbars of said separator section.

6. The counter as recited in claim 5, wherein: the fronts of said support beams of said storage section extend past the rears of said crossbars of said separator section.

7. The counter as recited in claim 5, further comprising: a delivery section.

8. The counter as recited in claim 7, wherein: the fronts of said support beams of said storage section extend past the rears of said crossbars of said separator section.

9. The counter as recited in claim 4, further comprising: a delivery section.

10. The counter as recited in claim 3, further comprising: a storage section, which comprises: a base;support beams mounted on said base, said support beams sloping downward toward a front of said support beams;a stop located near the front of at least one of said support beams; anda means for moving elongate objects from said support beams of said storage section to said crossbars of said separator section.

11. The counter as recited in claim 10, wherein: the fronts of said support beams of said storage section extend past the rears of said crossbars of said separator section.

12. The counter as recited in claim 10, further comprising: a delivery section.

13. The counter as recited in claim 12, wherein: the fronts of said support beams of said storage section extend past the rears of said crossbars of said separator section.

14. The counter as recited in claim 3, further comprising: a delivery section.

15. The counter as recited in claim 2, wherein: said weighing device is electronic;a computerized control unit, said computerized control unit being electrically connected to said weighing device, having a means for an operator to enter instructions and numbers, being programmed—when so instructed—to divide the weight received from said weighing device by a number entered by a user, being programmed to retain the quotient from such division in a memory until being instructed by a user to remove such quotient from the memory, as a result of the passage of a specified amount of time, or said computerized control unit has been disconnected from a source of power, and being programmed to divide the quotient in memory into the weight provided by said weighing device after a quotient has been put in memory.

16. The counter as recited in claim 15, further comprising: a storage section, which comprises: a base;support beams mounted on said base, said support beams sloping downward toward a front of said support beams;a stop located near the front of at least one of said support beams; anda means for moving elongate objects from said support beams of said storage section to said crossbars of said separator section.

17. The counter as recited in claim 16, wherein: the fronts of said support beams of said storage section extend past the rears of said crossbars of said separator section.

18. The counter as recited in claim 16, further comprising: a delivery section.

19. The counter as recited in claim 18, wherein: the fronts of said support beams of said storage section extend past the rears of said crossbars of said separator section.

20. The counter as recited in claim 15, further comprising: a delivery section.

21. The counter as recited in claim 2, further comprising: a storage section, which comprises: a base;support beams mounted on said base, said support beams sloping downward toward a front of said support beams;a stop located near the front of at least one of said support beams; anda means for moving elongate objects from said support beams of said storage section to said crossbars of said separator section.

22. The counter as recited in claim 21, wherein: the fronts of said support beams of said storage section extend past the rears of said crossbars of said separator section.

23. The counter as recited in claim 21, further comprising: a delivery section.

24. The counter as recited in claim 23, wherein: the fronts of said support beams of said storage section extend past the rears of said crossbars of said separator section.

25. The counter as recited in claim 2, further comprising: a delivery section.

26. The counter as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a means for moving elongate objects from said counting basket.

27. The counter as recited in claim 26, wherein: said weighing device is electronic; and further comprising:a computerized control unit, said computerized control unit being electrically connected to said weighing device, having a means for an operator to enter instructions and numbers, being programmed—when so instructed—to divide the weight received from said weighing device by a number entered by a user, being programmed to retain the quotient from such division in a memory until (a) being instructed by a user to remove such quotient from the memory, (b) the passage of a specified amount of time, or (c) said computerized control unit has been disconnected from a source of power, and being programmed to divide the quotient in memory into the weight provided by said weighing device after a quotient has been put in memory.

28. The counter as recited in claim 27, further comprising: a storage section, which comprises: a base;support beams mounted on said base, said support beams sloping downward toward a front of said support beams;a stop located near the front of at least one of said support beams; anda means for moving elongate objects from said support beams of said storage section to said crossbars of said separator section.

29. The counter as recited in claim 28, wherein: the fronts of said support beams of said storage section extend past the rears of said crossbars of said separator section.

30. The counter as recited in claim 28, further comprising: a delivery section.

31. The counter as recited in claim 30, wherein: the fronts of said support beams of said storage section extend past the rears of said crossbars of said separator section.

32. The counter as recited in claim 27, further comprising: a delivery section.

33. The counter as recited in claim 26, further comprising: a storage section, which comprises: a base;support beams mounted on said base, said support beams sloping downward toward a front of said support beams;a stop located near the front of at least one of said support beams; anda means for moving elongate objects from said support beams of said storage section to said crossbars of said separator section.

34. The counter as recited in claim 33, wherein: the fronts of said support beams of said storage section extend past the rears of said crossbars of said separator section.

35. The counter as recited in claim 33, further comprising: a delivery section.

36. The counter as recited in claim 35, wherein: the fronts of said support beams of said storage section extend past the rears of said crossbars of said separator section.

37. The counter as recited in claim 26 further comprising: a delivery section.

38. The counter as recited in claim 1, wherein: said weighing device is electronic;a computerized control unit, said computerized control unit being electrically connected to said weighing device, having a means for an operator to enter instructions and numbers, being programmed—when so instructed—to divide the weight received from said weighing device by a number entered by a user, being programmed to retain the quotient from such division in a memory until being instructed by a user to remove such quotient from the memory, as a result of the passage of a specified amount of time, or said computerized control unit has been disconnected from a source of power, and being programmed to divide the quotient in memory into the weight provided by said weighing device after a quotient has been put in memory.

39. The counter as recited in claim 38, further comprising: a storage section, which comprises: a base;support beams mounted on said base, said support beams sloping downward toward a front of said support beams;a stop located near the front of at least one of said support beams; anda means for moving elongate objects from said support beams of said storage section to said crossbars of said separator section.

40. The counter as recited in claim 39, wherein: the fronts of said support beams of said storage section extend past the rears of said crossbars of said separator section.

41. The counter as recited in claim 39, further comprising: a delivery section.

42. The counter as recited in claim 41, wherein: the fronts of said support beams of said storage section extend past the rears of said crossbars of said separator section.

43. The counter as recited in claim 38, further comprising: a delivery section.

44. The counter as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a storage section, which comprises: a base;support beams mounted on said base, said support beams sloping downward toward a front of said support beams;a stop located near the front of at least one of said support beams; anda means for moving elongate objects from said support beams of said storage section to said crossbars of said separator section.

45. The counter as recited in claim 44, wherein: the fronts of said support beams of said storage section extend past the rears of said crossbars of said separator section.

46. The counter as recited in claim 44, further comprising: a delivery section.

47. The counter as recited in claim 46, wherein: the fronts of said support beams of said storage section extend past the rears of said crossbars of said separator section.

48. The counter as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a delivery section.

49. A counter for counting elongate objects, which comprises: a separator section, which comprises: a support structure;at least two crossbars mounted on said support structure and with all said crossbars slanting downward from a rear of each said crossbar to a front of each said crossbar;at least one vibrational insulator located between each of said crossbars and said support structure; anda vibrational motor directly attached to at least one of said crossbars;a counting section, which comprises: a counting basket to receive elongate objects from said separator section;an electronic weighing device in contact with said counting basket;a computerized control unit, said computerized control unit being electrically connected to said electronic weighing device, having a means for an operator to enter instructions and numbers, being programmed—when so instructed—to divide the weight received from said weighing device by a number entered by a user, being programmed to retain the quotient from such division in a memory until (a) being instructed by a user to remove such quotient from the memory, (b) the passage of a specified amount of time, or (c) said computerized control unit has been disconnected from a source of power, and being programmed to divide the quotient in memory into the weight provided by said weighing device after a quotient has been put in memory; a lifting device, which comprises: a first blade, located outward from a first side of said counting basket, said first blade having an uppermost point near a rear of said blade and sloping from such uppermost point both to the rear and to a front of said first blade;a means for elevating said first blade of said lifting device of said counting section;a second blade, located outward from the second side of said counting basket, said second blade having an uppermost point near a rear of said second blade and sloping from such uppermost point both to the rear and to a front of said second blade; anda means for elevating said second blade of said lifting device of said counting section;a storage section, which comprises: a base;support beams mounted on said base, said support beams sloping downward toward a front of said support beams;a stop located near the front of at least one of said support beams; anda lifting device, which comprises:a first blade, located near a front and also near a first side of said storage section, said first blade having an uppermost point near a rear of said blade and sloping from such uppermost point both to the rear and to a front of said first blade;a means for elevating said first blade of said lifting device of said storage section;a second blade, located near the front and also near a second side of said storage section, said second blade having an uppermost point near a rear of said second blade and sloping from such uppermost point both to the rear and to a front of said second blade; anda means for elevating said second blade of said lifting device of said storage section; anda delivery section, which comprises: removable stops; anda sloping ramp containing apertures for said removable stops.

50. The counter as recited in claim 49, wherein: the fronts of said support beams of said storage section extend past the rears of said crossbars of said separator section.

51. A counter for counting elongate objects, which comprises: a separator section, which comprises: a support structure;at least two crossbars mounted on said support structure and with all said crossbars slanting downward from a rear of each said crossbar to a front of each said crossbar;at least one vibrational insulator located between each of said crossbars and said support structure;a substantially rigid torsion bar connected to at least two of said crossbars; anda vibrational motor directly attached to said substantially rigid torsion bar;a counting section, which comprises:a counting basket to receive elongate objects from said separator section;an electronic weighing device in contact with said counting basket;a computerized control unit, said computerized control unit being electrically connected to said electronic weighing device, having a means for an operator to enter instructions and numbers, being programmed—when so instructed—to divide the weight received from said weighing device by a number entered by a user, being programmed to retain the quotient from such division in a memory until (a) being instructed by a user to remove such quotient from the memory, (b) the passage of a specified amount of time, or (c) said computerized control unit has been disconnected from a source of power, and being programmed to divide the quotient in memory into the weight provided by said weighing device after a quotient has been put in memory;a lifting device, which comprises: −a first blade, located outward from a first side of said counting basket, said first blade having an uppermost point near a rear of said blade and sloping from such uppermost point both to the rear and to a front of said first blade; a means for elevating said first blade of said lifting device of said counting section;a second blade, located outward from the second side of said counting basket, said second blade having an uppermost point near a rear of said second blade and sloping from such uppermost point both to the rear and to a front of said second blade; anda means for elevating said second blade of said lifting device of said counting section;a storage section, which comprises: a base;support beams mounted on said base, said support beams sloping downward toward a front of said support beams;a stop located near the front of at least one of said support beams; anda lifting device, which comprises: a first blade, located near a front and also near a first side of said storage section, said first blade having an uppermost point near a rear of said blade and sloping from such uppermost point both to the rear and to a front of said first blade;a means for elevating said first blade of said lifting device of said storage section;a second blade, located near the front and also near a second side of said storage section, said second blade having an uppermost point near a rear of said second blade and sloping from such uppermost point both to the rear and to a front of said second blade; anda means for elevating said second blade of said lifting device of said storage section; anda delivery section, which comprises: removable stops; anda sloping ramp containing apertures for said removable stops.

52. The counter as recited in claim 51, wherein: the fronts of said support beams of said storage section extend past the rears of said crossbars of said separator section.

53. A counter for counting elongate objects, which comprises: a means for holding elongate objects;a means for weighing elongate objects and determining the number of elongate objects being held by said holding means; anda means for separating elongate objects and individually conveying such elongate objects to said holding means.

54. The counter as recited in claim 53, further comprising: a means for storing elongate objects; anda means for moving elongate objects from said storing means to said separating means.

55. The counter as recited in claim 54, further comprising: a means for delivering elongate objects; anda means for moving elongate objects from said weighing and determining means to said delivering means.

56. The counter as recited in claim 53, further comprising: a means for delivering elongate objects; anda means for moving elongate objects from said weighing and determining means to said delivering means.

57. A counter for counting elongate objects, which comprises: a means for holding elongate objects;a means for weighing elongate objects and determining the number of elongate objects being held by said holding means;a means for separating elongate objects and individually conveying such elongate objects to said holding means;a means for storing elongate objects;a means for moving elongate objects from said storing means to said separating means;a means for delivering elongate objects; anda means for moving elongate objects from said weighing and determining means to said delivering means.

58. A counter for counting elongate objects, which comprises: at least two counter units, all of said counter units being aligned with one another and each counter unit having an electronic weighing device; anda computerized control unit to which all of the electronic weighing devices of said counter units are electrically connected.