A transportation system with a roll of material having an unsecured material portion is disclosed. The transportation system includes a first roller and a second roller spaced apart from the first roller. The spacing between the first roller and the second roller define a cradle. The cradle is operable to receive the roll of material, the roll of material having the unsecured material portion. At least one of the first roller and the second roller is rotatable about its axis to facilitate a securing of the unsecured material portion of the roll of material.

A method for storing cardboard tubes (2) in a storing unit according to the present invention comprising the following steps: providing a storage unit with an input section for the tubes (2), a storage section (AC) comprising a plurality of storing planes (13), an output section for the tubes (2), transfer means (3) for transferring the tubes (2) from the input section to the storage section, and discharge means for conveying the tubes (2) from the storing section to the output section; providing a plurality of cardboard tubes (2) in the input section (E) of said storage unit; transferring the tubes (2) from the input section of the storage unit to the storage section; storing a plurality of tubes (2) in said storage section (AC); transferring the tubes (2) from said storage section (AC) to said output section. The step of transferring the tubes (2) from said input section to said storage section involves more tubes (2) simultaneously, whereby a plurality of tubes (2) are transferred from said input section simultaneously on a plurality of storing planes (13) of the storage section (AC).

The invention relates to a method for an oriented deposition of hexagonal profiled rods (2) with their longitudinal edges (5) pointing downward in the direction of a stacking table (9) in a stacking installation (1). In doing so, an initial number of n-profiled rods (2) is provided on a feed table (8) and a stacking shaft (11) is built with the corresponding width (14). Then, several first transfer arms (17) are adjusted as protruding over the stacking shaft (11) on the side facing away from the feed table (8) and the profiled rods (2) are placed by means of a transfer device (10) on the support surfaces (18) arranged on the transfer arms (17) as well as are held by the transfer device (10) lying adjacent to one another. The transfer arms (17) are re-adjusted and, in doing so, the first profiled rod (2) is placed in the guide areas (21) aligned sloping on the transfer arms (17) as well as swiveled along its longitudinal axis. In case of further adjustment of the transfer arms (17), the first profiled rod (2) is lowered on the stacking shaft bottom (15) guided at the first stacking shaft walls (12) as well as the guide areas (21). The further profiled rods (2) are similarly swiveled and are lowed on the stacking shaft bottom (15) always adjacent to one another. The invention also related to an installation for an oriented deposition of profiled rods (2).

A system for loading elongated members, such as metal tubes and bars, onto a conveyor for later processing features an elevator, pusher arms, a support surface provided at a predetermined height, and gripper arms. The elevator acts to lift a topmost layer of the members, which are typically arranged in a stack thereon, to a predetermined height so that the pusher arms may transfer the members forming the topmost layer onto the support surface at this height. The pusher arms push these members across the support surface by engaging the member farthest from the support surface until the respective elongated member passes over a distal side of the support surface and onto the gripper arms arranged at a height of this side. The gripper arms lower that member to an unloading location below the support surface where an empty support cradle of the conveyor is arranged for receiving same.

The method involves a pipe bundle arrangement, each bundle having a length, a width and a depth and being a shape bundle having a rectangular or a round bundle having a hexagonal cross-section. Each bundle has a type, each type having predetermined ranges of length and width, the bundle being assigned to that type in respect of which the length and width falls within the predetermined ranges. In the arrangement: no stack exceeds a predetermined height; no round bundle has stacked thereupon a shape bundle nor a round bundle of another type; the predetermined length range of each bundle in a stack is common; the predetermined width range of each shape bundle in a stack is common; and in no stack is a round bundle stacked upon a shape bundle wherein the predetermined width range of the round bundle is greater than the predetermined width range of the shape bundle.

The invention relates to a method for an oriented deposition of hexagonal profiled rods (2) with their longitudinal edges (5) pointing downward in the direction of a stacking table (9) in a stacking installation (1). In doing so, an initial number of n-profiled rods (2) is provided on a feed table (8) and a stacking shaft (11) is built with the corresponding width (14). Then, several first transfer arms (17) are adjusted as protruding over the stacking shaft (11) on the side facing away from the feed table (8) and the profiled rods (2) are placed by means of a transfer device (10) on the support surfaces (18) arranged on the transfer arms (17) as well as are held by the transfer device (10) lying adjacent to one another. The transfer arms (17) are re-adjusted and, in doing so, the first profiled rod (2) is placed in the guide areas (21) aligned sloping on the transfer arms (17) as well as swiveled along its longitudinal axis. In case of further adjustment of the transfer arms (17), the first profiled rod (2) is lowered on the stacking shaft bottom (15) guided at the first stacking shaft walls (12) as well as the guide areas (21). The further profiled rods (2) are similarly swiveled and are lowed on the stacking shaft bottom (15) always adjacent to one another. The invention also related to an installation for an oriented deposition of profiled rods (2).

Some illustrative embodiments of a fire tube implement for extraction and insertion of a fire tube may include an elongate shaft that is configured to extend outward and to be received within an opening in the fire tube. In some embodiments, the elongate shaft may carry at least one extender that is moveable between an extended position and a retracted position normal to a longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft. The at least one extender may be configured to engage an internal surface of the fire tube within the opening when the at least one extender is in the extended position. In some embodiments, a stabilizer may be laterally disposed from an exterior surface of the elongate shaft and securable to the fire tube. The elongate shaft may be operable by a powered machine.

A tool (for gripping an object (e.g., a cylindrical object)) includes: an outer handle; a tubular neck having a proximal end connected to the outer handle; a linkage assembly having first and second ends connected to a distal end of the neck; an inner handle; a connecting rod having a proximal end connected to the inner handle and a distal end connected to a middle portion of the linkage assembly, partially disposed substantially coaxially within the neck thereby nesting the inner handle within the outer handle; and first and second claws attached to the linkage assembly, each claw having a compression surface (e.g., a concave cylindrical surface) configured to conform as a substantial complement to a portion of an outer surface of the to-be-gripped object (e.g., the to-be-gripped cylindrical object).

An implement is disclosed for use in moving a fire tube in relation to a heat treater. The disclosed implement includes a frame extending along a first axis, a shaft extending from the frame along a second axis, and a stabilizer extending from the frame that is configured to inhibit rotation of the fire tube when the implement is employed to move the fire tube.

The method involves a pipe bundle arrangement, each bundle having a length, a width and a depth and being a shape bundle having a rectangular or a round bundle having a hexagonal cross-section. Each bundle has a type, each type having predetermined ranges of length and width, the bundle being assigned to that type in respect of which the length and width falls within the predetermined ranges. In the arrangement: no stack exceeds a predetermined height; no round bundle has stacked thereupon a shape bundle nor a round bundle of another type; the predetermined length range of each bundle in a stack is common; the predetermined width range of each shape bundle in a stack is common; and in no stack is a round bundle stacked upon a shape bundle wherein the predetermined width range of the round bundle is greater than the predetermined width range of the shape bundle.