GB1348083A - Apparatus and method for leveling metal strip - Google Patents

Abstract

1348083 Tension levelling strip; feeding strip; shearing PRODUCTION MACHINERY CORP 1 Sept 1972 [17 Dec 1971] 40683/72 Headings B3A B3E and B3W A method of tension levelling metal strip comprises feeding strip A in a longitudinal direction 22, gripping the strip at longitudinally spaced locations with grippers G, H, moving the grippers apart to stretch the strip, transferring the stretched strip from the grippers while simultaneously transferring a fresh strip length to the grippers, and trimming opposite edges (136), Fig. 3 (not shown), of the stretched strip in the region of the spaced locations to a width not greater than the width of the stretched strip. Rolls 36, 38 continuously feed strip A to loop forming station F while rolls 80, 82 continuously pull the strip from loop forming station K. Pinch rolls 60, 62 are intermittently operated to feed an unstretched strip length to gripping jaws G, H where an hydraulic cylinder J, when activated, moves jaws H away from jaws G in direction 22. At least one of each of the pairs of feeding, pulling and transferring rolls is continuously driven so that the strip feed may be stopped by removal of the driven roll from the strip. A parting shear L is positioned adjacent rolls 80, 82 and precedes longitudinal trimming means M. An additional loop forming station N is provided between the trimming means and further feeding means O. The strip can be fed through shear P for shearing short lengths of strip damaged by the gripping jaws, or alternatively, roll 104 can be lowered and the strip coiled at station Q on to coil 120 with subsequent shearing at another location. Instead of forming coil 120 guide roll 108 may be lowered and a driven conveyer R may be lowered to receive sheared strip lengths fed by a vacuum lifting device S which also sorts out reject strip material. Feeding of strip A in direction 22 reduces the size of loop 34 and increases loop 58. When jaws G, H grip the strip roll 60 is raised, or the motor drive is stopped, to cease movement in loop forming stations F, K. Rolls 36, 38 continue to feed strip to increase loop 34. During the stretching, rolls 80, 82 continue to pull strip from station K to reduce the size of loop 58. After the stretching, jaws G, H are released from the strip and rolls 60, 62 feed the strip to increase the size of loop 58. Loop forming station N provides a slack loop 92 so that rolls 102, 104 may intermittently move stretched portions of metal strip past shear P to removed damaged areas (T), (U) by shearing along lines (138), Fig. 4 (not shown). Vertical loops provided by vertically movable loop rolls may be used instead of the stations F, K, N. Photocells 160 may be provided for sensing imperfections or perforations in locations (T), (U) and for accurately stopping the strip so that shear P will remove only the damaged strip lengths. The trimming means may comprise transversely spaced pairs of upper and lower shearing discs (140), (142), Fig. 2 (not shown).