AU769498B2 - Tagging device - Google Patents

Description

WO 99/38146 PCT/SG99/00003 1 TAGGING DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is related to tagging devices. In particular, the present invention is related-to tagging devices used for tagging long products such as round or ribbed bars.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In bar mills, reinforced bars are rolled into shape and cut to standard stock length and the individual bars are bundled up into bundles. Each bundle has to be tagged for the purposes of identification and traceability, and to provide information required by the downstream processing parties.

Tagging is usually done when the bars are still hot, as it would be very inefficient and time-consuming if precious time has to be wasted while waiting for the bars to cool off before tagging.

Current tagging practices include wire tying and stud welding. In wire tying, a wire strung through a tag is simply tied manually onto a bar. This process is not easy, as the bars are stacked on top of each other and are still very hot when the wire is tied. The tagger must be very skillful in order to manipulate the wire with heavily gloved hands, making the process very slow and inefficient. As the tag is usually attached to the wire which is tightly tied to the bar, the tag often gets caught in between the bars within the bundle and get damaged. Due to contact of the tag with the bar, the material used to make the tag must also be able to withstand high temperatures.

mF ly* 11 I 0 7Wr *W R60R.Ir, "MM W i ~~*Nlfi 2 In the stud welding method, such as the HBS stud welding system produced in Hematic Bolzenschweiss System GmbH Co, a stud welding gun is used to weld pins and studs onto the ends of the bars. A tag is then pressed onto the welded pin. A washer is then pressed onto the welded pin to secure the tag. This method, however, may suffer from the problem of inadequate fusion between the stud and the bar, which frequently results in missing tags due to the studs dropping out. Also the washer may not grip on tightly to the studs, and drop out together with the tag. The stud welder requires power to operate and also requires considerable maintenance. In addition, the sparking caused by the arcing process, is unbearable, particularly during the night shift.

There is therefore a need in the industry to provide an easier, cheaper and efficient method for tagging hot metal bars.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is desirable if the preferred embodiments of the invention provide a device which can tag bars quickly and conveniently.

It is also desirable if the preferred embodiments provide a device which would reduce the cost, time and *oo.

labour required to do tagging.

According to a first aspect of the present .invention there is provided a tagging device comprising: a metallic spring coil for gripping the exterior surface of a hot bar, the spring coil having a first end and a second end, the first end having a diameter larger than the diameter of the second end, wherein, at least the S•first end is open, the coil further defining a hollow space therein, the coil being adapted to be attached to an ooooo S"end of the bar by pushing and twisting the first end of the coil over the end of the bar so the bar is enclosed S"and gripped within the hollow space; and S.a tag holder for attachment of a tag.

a tag holder for attachment of a tag.

3 According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for tagging a hot bar, said method using a tagging device having a metallic spring coil and a tag holder, the spring coil having a first end and a second end, the first end having a diameter larger than the diameter of the second end wherein, at least the first end is open, the coil further defining a hollow space therein, said method comprising the step of: attaching said coil to one end of the bar by pushing and twisting the first end of the coil over the one end of the bar such that the end of the bar is enclosed and gripped within the hollow space.

Throughout the specification "pushing and twisting" is understood to refer to the mechanism by which the coil of the present invention is attached to a hot bar. This mechanism involves one opened end of the coil being pushed over an end of the bar, and then by substantially continuous and simultaneous pushing and twisting of the coil, the coil is attached over the end of the bar. The pushing and twisting is required because the coil fits tightly over the end of the bar such that once it is attached by pushing and twisting it is held securely over the end of the bar by virtue of this tight fit. In 25 carrying out this mechanism, an operator does not touch the coil, but instead holds onto the tag holder of the tagging device. Thus, the pushing and twisting mechanism is applied by the operator to the coil via the tag holder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the present invention o will be hereinbefore described by way of example only with ooo• reference to the accompanying drawings in which: ooooo SFigure 1 is a front perspective view of the oo o• 35 preferred embodiment of the present tagging device; ooooo Figure 2 is a perspective view of the preferred e embodiment as attached onto a ribbed bar.

4 1. 'It .44 4I.~ 1~C-.4MI1i~ i2t~,M WA~.nt msPWV~'4.4.!4W,,hW~.*A*Vt4~r%,AA4, yA~;A4~RW~&Z WO 99/38146 PCT/SG99/00003 4 DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a convenient and effective tagging device particularly for solid objects. It is especially useful for objects which has a stud or arm with at least one free end, for example the end of a bar, whereon a jacket or sleeve may be wrapped around. In order for the wrapping to be performed conveniently, preferably in a one-handed operation, the material used for the jacket should be firm but resilient, with a dimension at one end larger than the bar, while the dimension of the jacket at the other end should be equal or smaller than that of bar. In this way, the jacket may be wrapped securely around the end of the bar by a simple pushing and twisting motion.

Figure 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The jacket in this embodiment is a spring coil 20, and the tag holder is a tail hook 22 on one end of the coil. In the most preferred embodiment, this coil is tapered such that the back 24 of the coil wherefrom the tail hook extends is smaller in diameter to the front 26 of the coil. In this way, the coil can be conveniently pushed and twisted onto the object to be tagged. Figure 2 shows the tagging device after it has been twisted over the end of bar 28, with tag 30 attached to the tail hook.

While the present invention has been described particularly with references to Figs 1 and 2 for bar tagging, it should be understood that the figures are for illustration only and should not be taken as limitation on the invention. In addition it is clear that the method and device of the present invention has utility in many applications where tagging is required. It is WO 99/38146 PCT/SG99/00003 contemplated that many changes and modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of theinvention described.

The spring coil shown in Figure 1 is particularly useful for tagging objects which have an arm extension with at least one free end. As shown in Figure 2, the tagging device can then be simply pushed and twisted into place.

Three to seven coils gives a good grip on the object to be tagged, although there may be other applications where more or less coils are preferred. The pitch of the coils may be adjusted according to different applications. This device is particularly useful in bar mills, where the bars produced are very hot initially. Using this device, the operator simply has to hold the tagging coil by the tail hook, and twist the tag onto the bar. This virtually eliminates any accidental contact with the hot bar, giving substantial protection to the operator compared to the current methods. The tail hook allows for onehanded operation of the tagging process, and also allows for the tag to be prepared and attached to the device ahead of time. Using this method, the time required to tag the bundle of bar, is shortened significantly.

Although Figure 2 shows a ribbed bar, the object does not have to be ribbed for firm gripping to result, as the inherent resilience of the coil upon exertion of the twisting force is sufficient to give a firm grip even on a smooth surface. Although bars are used as examples of objects to be tagged, it is contemplated that other objects, for example rectangular block or studs, may also be tagged by the present invention.

For the application of tagging a hot bar, the material of the device has to be heat resistant, thus a metallic spring coil is preferred. It is contemplated ~*B~iwua n3 A ji I i 'n j lX ~AAA WO 99/38146 PCT/SG99/00003 6 that other materials which are firm and resilient can also be used for tagging other objects. For tagging a bundle of bars, it is desirable that the tag holder be a relatively long tail hook, as this keeps the tag as distance away from the bundle, and prevents the tag from being physically damaged by neighbouring bars or by the high temperature of the bundle. For other application, other tag holder can be designed using the teaching provided in this invention. It is also contemplated that the process of tagging using this device may be automated.

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Claims (9)

1. A tagging device comprising: a metallic spring coil for gripping the exterior surface of a hot bar, the spring coil having a first end and a second end, the first end having a diameter larger than the diameter of the second end, wherein, at least the first end is open, the coil further defining a hollow space therein, the coil being adapted to be attached to an end of the bar by pushing and twisting the first end of the coil over the end of the bar so the bar is enclosed and gripped within the hollow space; and a tag holder for attachment of a tag.

2. A tagging device according to claim i, wherein the tag holder comprises a tail hook.

3. A tagging device according to claim 1 wherein the tag holder comprises an elongate section and a tail hook.

4. A tagging device according to claim 3 wherein the elongate section is connected to the second end of the spring coil. 25

5. A tagging device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the spring coil comprises a plurality of loops.

6. A tagging device according to any one of the proceeding claims which is configured to allow an operator to attach the tagging device to the bar with only one hand without the operator having to come into contact with the bar. 35

7. A method for tagging a hot bar, said method ooooo S° using a tagging device having a metallic spring coil and a tag holder, the spring coil having a first end and a W 8 second end, the first end having a diameter larger than the diameter of the second end wherein, at least the first end is open, the coil further defining a hollow space therein, said method comprising the step of: attaching said coil to one end of the bar by pushing and twisting the first end of the coil over the one end of the bar such that the end of the bar is enclosed and gripped within the hollow space.

8. A method for tagging a bar according to claim 7 wherein an operator is able to tag the bar with only one hand holding the tagging device.

9. A method for tagging a bar according to claims 7 or 8 wherein the tag holder is a tail hook. A tagging device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 2 0 th day of September 2003 NATSTEEL TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS PTE LTD By their Patent Attorneys 25 GRIFFITH HACK *o AVW