Apparatus for handling protectors for elongate objects

Abstract

An apparatus is proposed for applying and removing protective caps (1) to and from the ends of elongate members (6). The protective cap (1) has a hard base portion (5) and a cover portion (2) of flexible, resilient material, extending from the base portion (5) and operative to cover a portion of an outer surface of the elongate member (6). The apparatus comprises: a gripping mechanism (44) operative to grip the hard base portion (5) of the protective cap (1); a drive mechanism, connected to the gripping mechanism (44), operative to move the protective cap (1) to and from the end of the elongate member (6); and a tool operative to perform at least one of the operations of (i) unfurling the cover portion to secure it to the outer surface of the elongate member, (ii) furling the cover portion to detach it from the outer surface of the elongate member.

1 . An apparatus for applying and removing protective caps to and from the ends of elongate members, the protective cap having a hard base portion and a cover portion of flexible, resilient material, extending from the base portion and operative to cover a portion of an outer surface of the elongate member, the apparatus comprising:
 a gripping mechanism operative to grip the hard base portion of the protective cap;   a drive mechanism, connected to the gripping mechanism, operative to move the protective cap to and from the end of the elongate member; and   a tool configured to perform at least one of the operations of (i) unfurling the cover portion to secure it to the outer surface of the elongate member, (ii) furling the cover portion to detach it from the outer surface of the elongate member.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool comprises a clamp operative to grasp the cover portion to unfurl the cover portion when securing it to the outer surface of the elongate member and to furl the cover portion when detaching it from the outer surface of the elongate member. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool comprises at least one rotating mechanism operative to unfurl the cover portion when securing it to the outer surface of the elongate member and to furl the cover portion when detaching it from the outer surface of the elongate member. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the hard base portion of the protective cap comprises a recess, and the gripping mechanism comprises a plurality of gripping members which converge to slot into the recess. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the gripping members are crescent shaped. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool comprises a plurality of engaging members operative to engage the cover portion. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein a centre of the gripping mechanism defines a central axis and the plurality of engaging members of the tool are spaced such that the tool is radially symmetric around the central axis. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool is provided with a sensing means operative to detect a distance between the tool and the elongate member. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool is provided with a sensing means operative to detect a distance between the tool and the cover portion. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the gripping mechanism is provided with a sensing means operative to detect a distance between the gripping mechanism and the hard base portion of the protective cap. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method of applying a protective cap to the end of an elongate member using a protective cap application apparatus, the protective cap having a hard base portion and a cover portion of flexible, resilient material, extending from the base portion and operative to cover a portion of an outer surface of the elongate member,
 the protective cap application apparatus comprising:   a gripping mechanism operative to grip the hard base portion of the protective cap;   a drive mechanism, connected to the gripping mechanism, operative to move the protective cap to and from the end of the elongate member; and   a tool configured to unfurl the cover portion to secure it to the outer surface of the elongate member; and   the method comprising:   using the gripping mechanism to grip the hard base portion of the protective cap;   using the drive mechanism to move the protective cap to the end of the elongate member; and   using the tool to unfurl the cover portion to secure it to the outer surface of the elongate member.   
     
     
         13 . A method of removing a protective cap from the end of an elongate member using a protective cap removal, the protective cap having a hard base portion and a cover portion of flexible, resilient material, extending from the base portion and operative to cover a portion of an outer surface of the elongate member,
 the protective cap removal apparatus comprising:   a gripping mechanism operative to grip the hard base portion of the protective cap;   a drive mechanism, connected to the gripping mechanism, operative to move the protective cap to and from the end of the elongate member; and   a tool configured to furl the cover portion to detach it from the outer surface of the elongate member;   
       the method comprising:
 using the tool to disengage the cover portion from the outer surface of the elongate member, while gripping mechanism grips the hard base portion of the protective cap; and 
 using the drive mechanism to remove the protective cap from the end of the elongate member.