Guide with adjustable nose cone

Abstract

A guide is adapted to be positioned for encirclement by a helical formation of rod rings free falling from the delivery end of a. conveyor. The guide comprises a vertically projecting mandrel terminating at its upper end in a nose cone. The nose cone has a horizontal profile defined in part by at least one element having an outer edge separated by a variable radial distance from a central axis of the mandrel.

1 . A guide adapted to be positioned for encirclement by a helical formation of rod rings free ailing from the delivery end of a conveyor, said guide comprising:
 a vertically projecting mandrel terminating at its upper end in a nose cone, said nose cone having a horizontal profile defined in part by at least one element having an outer edge separated by a radial distance from a central axis of said mandrel; and   adjustment means for changing said horizontal profile by increasing said radial distance.   
     
     
         2 . The guide of  claim 1  wherein said at least one element is adjustably mounted on said nose cone, and wherein said adjustment means serves to shift said at least one element outwardly from a central axis of said mandrel. 
     
     
         3 . The guide of  claim 2  wherein said at least one element is located on a downstream side of said nose cone. 
     
     
         4 . The guide of  claim 1  wherein said adjustment means serves to enlarge said horizontal profile in the direction of delivery of rings from the end of said conveyor. 
     
     
         5 . The guide of  claim 2  wherein said at least one element is pivotally adjustable. 
     
     
         6 . The guide of  claim 1  wherein said nose cone comprises a plurality of angularly spaced fins extending radially with respect to a central axis of said mandrel, wherein said horizontal profile is defined by outer edges of said fins, and wherein said adjustment means serves to adjustably project at least one of said fins outwardly from said central axis. 
     
     
         7 . A guide adapted to be positioned for encirclement by a helical formation of product rings free falling from the delivery end of a conveyor, said guide comprising:
 a vertically projecting mandrel having a nose cone at its upper end defined by plurality of angularly spaced fins extending radially from a central axis of said mandrel, said fins defining a horizontal profile as viewed from above; and   adjustment means for enlarging said horizontal profile in the direction of delivery of rings from the end of said conveyor by shifting at least one of said fins outwardly from said central axis.   
     
     
         8 . A method of handling a helical formation of rod rings free falling from the delivery end of a conveyor, said method comprising:
 providing a vertically projecting mandrel terminating at its upper end in a nose cone positioned for encirclement by said rings, said nose cone having a horizontal profile has viewed from above; and   changing the shape of said horizontal profile to accommodate rings of differently sized rods.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the shape of said profile is changed by adjustably projecting at least one element of said nose cone radially outwardly from a central axis of said mandrel. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said at least one element is projected outwardly in the direction of delivery of rings from the end of said conveyor. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said profile is enlarged on a downstream side of said nose cone. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the shape of said horizontal profile is changed when rod rings are not free falling from the delivery end of the conveyor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the shape of said horizontal profile is change while rod rings are free falling from the delivery end of the conveyor.