BILLET TRANSFER LINE CLEAN-OUT DEVICE AND METHOD

摘要

A processing line material clear out devices and methods are disclosed. The device is particularly useful for clearing metal billets from induction heating units, but may be used for many other processes having sequentially ordered materials traveling down a conveyor or other processing line. In one example of the invention, a reciprocating push rod rack is used to sequentially deposit and remove at least two push rods used to abut and clear the downstream billets. A push rod advance device is used to interlink independent, sequential push rods positioned on the billet track. On clearing of the billets, the push rods are retracted, removed from the billet track and stored on the push rod rack for ready use.

主权项

1. A material transfer line clearing device for use in clearing material from a downstream portion of a processing line, the processing line having a material path of travel for moving the material along the path of travel, the clearing device comprising:
at least one push rod; a push rod rack removably supporting the at least one push rod and positioned proximate to the material path of travel, the push rod rack adapted to selectively position the at least one push rod in the material path of travel; and a push rod advance device for selectively moving the at least one push rod in a downstream or an upstream direction along the material path of travel.