Rail tie plate distribution system

Abstract

A rail tie plate distribution system is disclosed. The system includes a hopper for holding a quantity of tie plates. A plurality of stations are provided and are configured to arrange the tie plates into an orientation for placement on railroad ties. A distributor is provided for depositing the tie plates on railroad ties as the system advances along a track.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for placing railroad tie plates, the method comprising:
 (a) transferring a tie plate from a hopper to an orientation station using a magnet affixed to a mechanical arm, wherein the hopper is a storage hopper or a receiving hopper;   (b) orienting the tie plate along one or more of a side axis, a left/right axis, and an up/down axis for correct positioning onto a railroad tie using any one or more of a mechanical wiper, a mechanical device that squeezes the tie plate and rotates the tile plate 180 degrees, and a mechanical device that flips the tie plate, respectively; and   (c) laying the tie plate onto a railroad tie via a conveyor with the assistance of an automated tie location and analyzing systems.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising transferring a plurality of tie plates from a sidetrack area to the storage hopper, then transferring the tie plates to a receiving hopper, then transferring the tie plates to a picking area before transferring the tie plate to the orientation station. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the tie plates are transferred to the storage hopper using a magnet affixed to a stick and boom of an excavator positioned proximate to the storage hopper and the receiving hopper, and the tie plates are transferred from the storage hopper to the receiving hopper to the storage hopper using the same magnet affixed to the same stick and boom of the excavator. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the ties plates are transferred by gravity from the receiving hopper to the picking area. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the tie plate is transferred from the picking area to a conveyor using a magnet affixed to a single-pick picking arm, then the tie plate is transferred to a first orientation station where the tie plate is oriented along a side axis using the mechanical wiper. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  comprising sensing if two tie plates are stacked one on top the other on the conveyor; lifting a top tie plate off of a lower tie plate with a magnet; and then placing the lifted top tie plate to an open space behind the lower tie plate or to another suitable location, prior to delivering the lower tie plate to the orientation station.