Bundling system for long products

Abstract

A system for bundling long ferrous products comprises a roller table for delivering the products longitudinally to a receiving station. A cradle is spaced laterally from the receiving station and is constructed and arranged to receive and accumulate the products in bundle form. A stacker is positioned between the receiving station and the cradle, and a pre-stacker is positioned between the stacker and the receiving station. A transport system laterally advances products from the receiving station to the pre-stacker, and the pre-stacker operates in concert with the transport system to pre-stack multiple layers of the products into sub-bundles and to transfer the sub-bundles to the stacker, which then operates to deposit the sub-bundles in the cradle.

1 . A system for bundling long ferrous products, comprising:
 a roller table for delivering said products longitudinally to a receiving station;   a cradle spaced laterally from said receiving station, said cradle being constructed and arranged to receive and accumulate said products in bundle form;   a stacker positioned between said receiving station and said cradle;   a pre-stacker positioned between said stacker and said receiving station; and   a transport system for laterally advancing products from said receiving station to said pre-stacker, said pre-stacker being constructed and arranged to operate in concert with said transport system to pre-stack multiple layers of said products into sub-bundles and to transfer said sub-bundles to said stacker, said stacker being operative to deposit said sub-bundles in said cradle.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said stacker comprises support arms that are movable in a transfer cycle between a first position receiving the sub-bundles from said pre-stacker, and a second position depositing said sub-bundles in said cradle. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said pre-stacker comprises upper and lower fingers that are manipulable in a pre-stacking cycle to stack selected product layers into sub-bundles and to transfer said sub-bundles onto the support arms of said stacker. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein said fingers are manipulable in said pre-stacking cycle to grip and invert selected product layers in the course of forming said sub-bundles. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claims 3  or  4  wherein said pre-stacking cycle overlaps said transfer cycle.