Apparatus for continuously forming a coating layer on unbonded pc steel

Abstract

Steel bars are continuously fed along a path in a direction transverse to the bar axes, are separated by a separator and are then supplied by a roller conveyor to an axial interval regulating station. From this station each steel bar is supplied in the axial direction at regular intervals by means of sets of pinch rollers which are provided at specific intervals and which can be separately dislocated out of the path of movement of the bars and by means of a rod and a spacer fitted to the tip of a swing rod pivotally connected to the rod. Steel bars are thus delivered at regular intervals to a coating station and thereat have the entire lengths thereof, except the threaded end portions thereof, coated with a coating layer. Thereafter, the coated bars are sent to a taping station, whereat the entire lengths of the bars, including the coating layers, are tightly wrapped by a thermo-shrinking tape. Then, with movement of the steel bars, the tubular tape portion is heated by a heater, whereupon the tubular tape shrinks, thereby closely fitting around the steel bar surface including the coating layer. Thus, plural steel bars are continuously axially connected and integrated by the tape. The thus axially connected steel bars are then moved to a cutting station by a special caterpillar whose grip distance can be adjusted to the diameter of the steel bar to be transported.