US2779550A - Apparatus for handling strip - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 29, 1957 E. R. MUDDIMAN 2,779,550

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING STRIP Filed May 6, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l J ==-E&.

CO/L STE/PPEQfi 24F Jan. 29, 1957 E. R. MUDDIMAN 2,779,550

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING STRIP Filed May 6, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. $4414 4. MUDfl/MA/Y United States Patent APPARATUS FOR HANDLING STRIP Earl] R. Muddiman, Levittown, Pa., assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application May 6, 1955, Serial No. 506,537

Claims. (Cl. 242-80) This invention relates to an improved apparatus for handling strip material which emerges from a high speed processing line and feeds into a succeeding lower speed line. i 1

An object of the invention is to provide an improved handling apparatus which both coils the full output of strip from a high speed line and also supports coiled strip for uncoiling and feeding into a low speed line up to the capacity of the latter.

A further object is to provide an improved handling apparatus which includes a series of mandrels or the like adapted either to coil strip emerging from a high speed line or to support coiled strip for uncoiling and feeding into a low speed line, along with a mandrel or the like for coiling excess strip beyond the capacity of the low speed line.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved details of structure, a preferred form of which is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevational view of a handling apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the apparatus with one mandrel coiling strip from the high speed line, a second mandrel idly supporting a coil in reserve, and a third mandrel supporting a coil feeding to the low speed line;

Figure 3 is a schematic view with the first mandrel idle and having the coil removed, the second feeding to the low speed line, and the third coiling from the high speed line;

Figure 4 is a schematic view with the first mandrel coiling strip from the high speed line, the second feeding strip to the low speed line, and the third idly supporting a coil in reserve; and

Figure 5 is a schematic view with the first mandrel idle, the second coiling from the high speed line, and the third feeding to the low speed line.

Figure 1 shows somewhat diagrammatically the exit end portion of a high speed strip processing line, the entry end portion 12 of a lower speed line aligned therewith, and a handling apparatus 13 constructed in accordance with my invention situated therebetween. By way of example, the respective lines can be an electrolytic tinning line for steel strip, which operates at a strip speed of about 1000 feet per minute, and a shear line, which operates efiiciently at a strip speed of only about 500 feet per minute.

My handling apparatus comprises a horizontal idler roller conveyor 14 adapted to support strip S as it emerges from the high speed line. A plurality of longitudinally spaced parallel power driven mandrels 15, 16, and 17 are journaled beneath said conveyor. Per se the mandrels can be of any standard or desired construction, and are shown equipped with conventional entry guide aprons 18 and belt wrappers 19. The apparatus includes three deflectors 20, 21, and 22 pivoted in the plane of the conveyor above the respective mandrels 15, 16, and 17, A

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conventional crop shear 23 straddles the conveyor adjacent its entry end preceding the first mandrel 15 and deflector 20. A conventional elevating type coil stripper 24 is located beneath the first mandrel 15. Hold-down rolls 25 and 26 are journaled below and on the exit side of the second and third mandrels 16 and 17 respectively. A removable horizontal idler roller conveyor 27 is located beneath the latter mandrels and the hold-down rolls. Preferably this latter conveyor has a separately removable section 28 under the second mandrel 16. Strippers or feeding carriages similar to 24 can be installed under either or both the second and third mandrels 16 and 17 in place of the conveyor 27 when desired. A pair of power driven pinch rolls 29 are journaled adjacent the exit end of the conveyor 27.

In operation, a continuous strip S emerges from the high speed line 10 and is supported on the conveyor 14. The strip can pass selectively beneath any one of the deflectors 20, 21, or 22 to the corresponding mandrel 15, 16, or 17, which acts as a coiler therefor. The particular deflector under which the strip travels is of course raised, while any deflectors over which it travels are lowered. Either the second or third mandrel 16 or 17 selectively can be used simultaneously as an uncoiler for feeding coiled strip S1 to the low speed line 12. The latter strip passes under the hold-down roll 25 or 26, over the conveyor 27 and is motivated by the pinch rolls 29. Commonly it hangs in a short loop L between the handling apparatus and the line 12. Whenever a coil is completely wound on one of the mandrels, the crop shear 23 is operated to sever the strip so that a new coil can be started on another mandrel. A completed coil can remain idly on either mandrel 16 or 17 in reserve for subsequent uncoiling and feeding to the line 12. The stripper 24 is operated to remove completed coils from the mandrel 15, since such coils are in excess of the capacity of the line 12.

Figures 2 to 5 illustrate successive steps in my handling method. In Figure 2 coils previously have been wound on the second and third mandrels 16 and 17, while strip S from the line 10 currently is coiling on the first mandrel 15. The second mandrel 16 is holding its coil in reserve, while the third mandrel 17 is functioning as an uncoiler and feeding strip S1 into the line 12. Figure 3 shows the next step in which strip S from the line 10 is coiling on the third mandrel 17, the previous coil thereon having been fully processed in the low speed line. The second mandrel 16 is functioning as an uncoiler and feeding strip S1 to the line 12. The coil on the first mandrel 15 has been completed and removed for further processing elsewhere. Figure 4 shows the next step in which strip S from the line 10 again is coiling on the first mandrel 15. The third mandrel 17 is holding its coil in reserve, while the second mandrel still functions as an uncoiler as in Figure 3. Figure 5 shows the remaining step in which strip from the line 10 is coiling on the second mandrel 16. The third mandrel 17 again is functioning as an uncoiler, while the coil on the first mandrel has been removed.

The apparatus is highly flexible in its operation. In the event the two lines are operating at the same speed, and continuous operation is desired, the strip can pass over the upper conveyor 14 directly into the second line without being coiled. In the event it is not desired to operate the second line, the conveyor section 28 can be removed and a stripper similar to 24 substituted. Coils then can be wound alternately on the first two mandrels 15 and 16 and removed when finished. In the event it is not desired to operate the first line, conveyor 27 and its section 28 can be removed and two feeding carriages substituted. Coils can be fed alternately from the mandrels 16 and 17 to the second line. With this last set up the two lines also can be operated independently. While the example refers to a line speed ratio of two to one, other ratios are readily accommodated through proper adiustmentin the size of coilwound on the/various mandrels. For higher ratios. appropriately smaller. coils are wound on the second and third. mandrels 16- and 1'7, while tor lower ratios appropriately smaller coils are wound on the first mandrel 15.

While 1 have shown. and described only a single embodiment of my invention, it is apparent that modificaions may arise. Therefore, I donot wish to be limited to the disclosure. set forth but only by the scope of the appended claims.

lclairn:

l. The combination, with a high, speed strip processing line and a succeeding low speed strip processing line aligned therewith, of. a handling apparatus situated between said lines and comprising a conveyor and at least three. spaced parallel power drivenmandrels journaled beneath said conveyor, any selectedrone of saidniandrels being adapted to have strip from said highspeed line coiled thereon, either of at least two of said mandrels being selectively adapted to serve simultaneously as an uncoiler for feeding strip to said low speed line.

2. The combii ation with a'high speed strip processing line and a succeeding low speed strip processing line aligned therewith, of a handling apparatus situated between said lines comprising a roller conveyor, at least three spaced uarallel power driven mandrels journaled beneath said conveyor, any selected oneof said mandrels being adapted to have strip from said high speed line coiled thereon, either of at least two of said mandrels being selectively adapted to serve simultaneously as an uncoiler for feeding strip to said low speed line, and means beneath said latter two mandrels for. guiding the strip to said low speed line.

3. The combination, with a high speedv strip processing line and a succeeding low speed strip processing line aligned therewith,v of. a. handling apparatus situated between said lines and comprising a roller conveyor, a crop shear adjacent the entry end of said conveyor, at least three spaced parallel power driven mandrels journaled beneath said conveyor following said shear, any selected one of said mandrels being adapted to have strip from said high speed line coiled thereon, either of the last two of said mandrels being selectively adapted to "serve simultaneously as an uncoiler for feeding strip to said low speed line, hold-down rolisbelow and' on theexit side or said last two mandrels respectively, and a roller conveyor beneath said hold-down rolls.

4. The combination, with a high speed strip processing line and a succeeding low speed strip processing line aligned. therewith, of a handling apparatus situated between said lines and comprising a roller conveyor, a crop shear adjacent the entry end of said conveyor, three parallel power driven mandrels journaled' beneath r id conveyor following said shear, any selected-one of said mandrelsbeing adapted to have strip from said'high speed line coiled thereon, either of the last two of said mandrels being selectively adapted to serve simultaneously as anuncoiler' for feeding strip to said low speed line, a coil stripperbelow the first of said mandrels, hold-down rolls-below and on the exit side of said last two mandrels respectively, and a removable roller conveyor beneath said hold-down rolls and said last two mandrels;

5. A combination as defined iuclaim 4 in which said last named conveyor has a separately removable section located under the second mandrel.

References @ited in the '-file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,lll,054 Paul Mar. 15, 1938 2,200,656 Schefe May 14, 1940 2,389,443 Lyle Nov. 20, 1945

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