Apparatus for high speed loading of elongated members

摘要

An apparatus for singly loading perpendicularly conveyed elongated members from a first conveyor to a second conveyor. The apparatus is positioned downstream of the first conveyor and upstream of the second conveyor. The apparatus comprises plural stopper arms each analogously displaceable between an abutting position, wherein the stopper arms hold elongated members from moving forward on the first conveyor, and a bypassing position, wherein the stopper arms are disposed away from the first conveyor for allowing the elongated members to move forward as displaced by the first conveyor. Plural analogously moving lower loaders wheel each have a generally circular body with a gripping surface on an outer periphery thereof. The gripping surface is adapted for abutting an elongated member. Plural analogously moving upper loader wheels are generally positioned above the lower loader wheels and have a resilient peripheral portion. Plural stabilizer wheels are idle and adapted for lying on a top surface of an elongated members at least when the elongated member is abutted against the stopper arms. The apparatus is synchronized such that the elongated member is lifted by the gripping surfaces of the lower loader wheels when the stopper arms are moved to the bypassing position, whereby the elongated member is engaged between the gripping surfaces of the lower loader wheels and the stabilizer wheels or the resilient portions of the upper loader wheels while being transferred from the first conveyor to the second conveyor.