Railroad tie plate distribution apparatus and method therefore
Present embodiments relate to a railroad tie plate distribution apparatus and method therefore. The tie plate distribution apparatus which may be used in manual or automatic distribution modes in order to place tie plates on a railroad tie in a spaced apart sequence as the apparatus moves over a track being serviced. The tie plate distributor includes an actuator to feed tie plates on to a railroad track system being serviced.
1. A tie plate distributor, comprising:
a conveyor having a first end and a second end;
a stop near the second end of said conveyor, said stop being movable to allow advancing of a tie plate in a distribution zone;
a second stop disposed in said distribution zone, said second stop biased to a blocking position;
an actuator which engages the tie plate and forces said tie plate past said second stop.
2. The tie plate distributor of claim 1 , said distribution zone having a frame.
3. The tie plate distributor of claim 1 , said second stop being a first support and a second support.
4. The tie plate distributor of claim 3 , said second stop being pivotal for movement from a first position to a second position, wherein one of said first and second positions is said blocking position.
5. The tie plate distributor of claim 3 further comprising a spring disposed between a fixed position and said second stop.
6. The tie plate distributor of claim 1 , further comprising a magnet disposed on said actuator, said magnet retaining or releasing said tie plate.
7. The tie plate distributor of claim 6 wherein said actuator pushes said tie plate and said tie plate pushes said second stop open.
8. The tie plate distributor of claim 6 wherein said magnet is one of a permanent magnet or an electromagnet.
9. The tie plate distributor of claim 6 wherein said magnet retains said tie plate at a third stop and releases said tie plate on to a railroad tie.
10. The tie plate distributor of claim 1 further comprising a gripping device at an end of said actuator.
11. The tie plate distributor of claim 1 further comprising a sensor which is operably connected to one of said actuator or a magnet.
12. The tie plate distributor of claim 1 further comprising a manual switch to actuate at least one of said actuator or a magnet.
13. The tie plate distributor of claim 6 further comprising a second sensor which is operably connected to said magnet.
14. A method of distributing tie plates, comprising the steps of:
moving a tie plate to a first stop position;
moving said tie plate from said first stop position to a second stop position within a distribution zone;
actuating an actuator to move said tie plate out of said second stop position by moving at least one support at said second stop position;
biasing said at least one support of said second stop position back to a first condition independent of said actuator; and,
moving said tie plate on to a railroad tie.
15. The method of claim 14 further comprising sensing a position of the tie plate.
16. The method of claim 14 further comprising manually actuating one of said actuator or a magnet.
17. The method of claim 14 further comprising releasing said tie plate on to said railroad tie.