CA1163226A - Plate latch and guide system - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT Latch and guide system for gripping steel plate and the like while it is edge-formed. Pulley means are driven to apply tension to cables which actuate gripping clamps. The clamps travel within channel guides along the length of the system and restrain the plate from lat-eral movement.

Description

1 163226 ~

PI.ATE LATCI~ ~ND G~lDE SYSTE'M

Background of -the Inven'.Lo Field of the Invention _____________ This invention rela-tes to a system and appara-tus for restraining lateral movement of metal plates alld sheet and the like while they are being conveyed longitudinally through various stations as their edges are worked upon.
Examples of such operations are edge trimming and forming of plates prior to shaping into large diameter pipe, or in welding reenforcing elements thereon, or performi,n~ o-ther fabricating operations wherein skewing or misalignment of the pla-te may occur and would be undesirable and detrimental to subsequent operations.

Descr~tion oE ~rior Art __ It is well known to use clamping Ol^ gripping mcans on the trailing edges oE metal sheet and plate to restrain lateral mov~ment of a flat section as i-t is passe~d through a metal working opera-tion. In such arrangements the gripping elemen-ts may be positioned within channels or other yuiding arrangements to permit forward and reverse movement of the clamps and plates, and at the same time to prevent lateral movement thereof. These systems have not always been satis-factory because of the difficulty of maintaining ade~uate gripping pressure while the plate section moves forward and maintaining it in the proper position, or otherwise control-ling -the plates and clamps, while they are subject,ed to the tensions and side forces present during fabrication of the plate or any other working operation. ~urther, the various !l ~

~1 B3~26 -typcs of appara-tus presenLly in use ar- c;pr~nsivc~ and com-¦ plicated to operate.

¦ U.S. Patent 4,015,702 is to a mc~tllod and apparatus ¦ for successivcly conveying large metal plates of varying sizes to a particular position where a wclding operation oE
the like may be performed. It utilizes a guide beam in which yripping elements are used on -the forward and rear edges of each plate section. ~30wever, the gripping elemcnts are in-tended to be fas-tened to channel beam guides an~ the channel beams travel through the work area. Moreover, -the channel beams are moved by 2 rac]c and pinion arrangement which is cumbersome and far too slow to be practical for an opc-ration involvillg edge forming and trimming of a plate for use in making large diame-ter pipe.

U.S. 4,090,703 diseloses apparatus for feeding rec-tangular metal sheets to a cupping press in which can body blanks arc cut and drawn from -the metal sheets. Several sheet feeding mechanisms are provided alony a conveyor table.
Endless chains andfeedfingerarrangcments move the metal sheets. rrhc trailing edge of the shcet is engaged by a re-ciprocatingfeedfingerarrangement to advance and accurately position a sheet section from which blanks are to be stamped.
The scrap is discharged from the press or table on which the stamping takes place. A plurality of longitudinally extend-ing laterally narrow s-trips are provided to support the sheet sections which are to be blanked. There are also three separate feed units. The metal sections are not sub-jected to the lateral forces and torque comparable to roll forming or other Eabricating operations which would cause mi.,a~ignment and skewing during passage through the machine.

:,,' 11 ~ 1 63226 ].S. T~atent 1,986,857 disc~Loscs a compl.ica'Led machine for fol.ding corrugated paper blanks durillg the:ir passage across an operating table. Although chain and pulley arrangements are disclosed, t}le nature of the mate-rials which are being worked upon, tha-t lS, corrugated paper, and the problems involved are di.fferent than those encountered by applicant. The equipment employed in the patent is p~imarily a feeding device and would not be use-ful for handling steel plate.

Accordinyly, the ar-t does not suggest a simple, low cost and efficient arrangement such as the present inven-tion.

Description of the Drawings In the drawings:

Figure i is a diagrama-ti.c view in perspective of the latch and guide system in a typical application within the scope of the invention.

~`igure 2 i.s a longitud.inal view partly in section and broken away in places showing the clamps, pu].leys and cable means of one useful embodiment of the invention while the plate is engaged by the clamps and held in place for working.

Figure 3 is a view, partly in section,along li.ne 3-3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of the top portion . of a clamp of the invention and looking in a direction oppo-: si~e to that of Fig. 3.

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I ~163226 I`igures 5~ throug11 51~ show various operating pOSitiOrlS of the latch and guide system and apparatus of the invention during the sequence of steE)s en,ployed in the operation.

Figures 6A, 6s and 6C are diagL-an~atic longitu-dinal views oE an advantageous alternative arrangement of the clamp and pulley assen~ly of the invention.

Figure 7 is a vie~^~ partly in sec-tion along line 7-7 of Figure 6B looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fiyure 8 is a si,de view partly in section of a clamp of the type useful in the various embodiments of this inven-tion and showing the forces exerted by t11e jaws of the clamp when engaging a plate.

Detailed Descri~tion o~ the Invention ___ ___ ___ __ The drawings show the working of a steel plate sec-tion l0 which is to be edge trinuned and subjected to vari,ous edge beveling, planing and roll Eorming operations. Such an operation subjects the plate to lateral Eorces which if no-t con-trolled results in skewing and misalignment of the plate. Machine M is a roll forming machi,ne adapted to bend, trim, bevel and further bend the edges of plate l0 prepara-tory to passing the plate along a conventional runout table 24, having a plurality of spaced apart rolls 26, and on to a pipe forming operation (not shown).

Elements Cl and C2 are tail clamps and lead clamps, respectively, which are shaped in the manner shown in the drawings (see Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 8) so that the mouth portions thereof are adapted to engage the trailing and leading edges of plate l0.

;............................... _ ~ _ ~ 1 63226 Clamp C1 is hin(3ed aL ~2 so that it mcly pivc)t at that point as required during the various stayes of operation of the invention. Clamp C2 is hinged at 1~ in the same manner for the same purpose.

Cahle or chain means are provided to move clainps C1 and C2 as required for the variousoperations within the system. Clamp C1 is attached to cable or chain R1 or any other suitable wire rope or the like which can traverse the pulley assembly hereafter described and apply the forces required to cause sufficient gripping pressure on the plat~
10 as it travels along its path. A similar cable or chain arrangement R2 is provided to actuate clamp C2 and move it along its path of travel.

The hinge or pivot arrangement for clamps C1 and C2 at points 12 and 14, respectively, each includea base bar 20 affixed to each of the cables Rl and R2 as well as to the clamp whic}l is supports. Terlsion springs 18 are fas-tened at one of their ends to -the opposite ends of base bar 20 and extend -to the nearest face of the clamp supported on the particular bar with which it coopera-tes. Springs 18 are designed to ma:intain the clamps in an erect position when -the clamps are not engaqed and also to yield or depress when a plate contacts the clamp near its top at other than its open mouth or when the clamp contacts a stop element.
Other means of holding the clamp erect may be used to accom-plish the requiredfunctions such as compression springs, detents or the like.

The face of each clamp adapted to engage plate 10 has an open mouth or jaw section 21 adapted to receive plate 10 or the like to effect engagement bewteen the two e]cmel~ts. `~dvantageously, teeth 22 may be used in the clamps ~ 163226 to insure a tighter grip C)ll plate 10 at the area of CngclJe-¦ ment.

The clamps desi.gnated ~ and described hereirl, ~ includillg the jaw-like mouth 21, upper tecth 22 and the ¦ hinc3e or pivot point 12 or 14, are impor-~ant features of ¦ the inven-tion. ~s is disclosed in r~iyure 8, the jaws advan-¦ tageously have upper and lower inserts 16 and 17 respectively, ¦ of tool steel which can be changed as required to accomodate I wear or the requirements of a particu].ar product.

¦ One advantage of the design of clamp C is that ¦ it can firmly grasp the edge of a plate while a relatively low force is applied to provide tension to the cable means ¦ which actuates the clamp to cause it to move along its path ¦ of travel. As will be noted in Figure 8, I~2 and F3 are the respective forces applied by the upper and lower jaws ¦ 16 and 17 of a clamp when in engagement wi-th the edge of a plate. 11 is the lever arm extending the distance from a ¦ pivot point on base bar 10 a-ttached to the cable to the ¦ plate side which lower jaw 17 is in contact. 12 represen-ts I the distance between the poin-t cn the edge of plate 10 at ¦ which the force F2 is applied to the plate by upper jaw 16 l and the force 1'3 is applied by lower jaw 17. Thus, the ¦ greater the ratio of the length of 11 relative to the length ¦ of 12, the lesser is the force Fl which is the force applied to the force Fl re~uired to actuate the cables, or converse-ly the greater are the forces F2 and E`3 and the gripping engagement of the plate.

¦ Clamps C are normally relatively large castings of iron or steel and when gripping a plate ed~e during nor-~0 ~ mal p~ration can ~e ver~ effectivc to prevent misaliqnment.

' - 6 -~ ~3~

which extcnus the lcngth of thc g~ide systeln. ~he ilside vertical or side faces 30 of ch~r~ el 28 act as side c,uidcs for clamps Cl and C2 along their ~cl-~gth of travel withi.n the system. Runout table 24 and the series of rolls 26 pro-vide support for plate 10 during its passage through the system.

A series of pulley-., P1 and P2, are provided as tail and head pulleys, respectively, and define the path of travel of cable Rl to which tail cl.amp C1 is attached.
In like manner a pair of pulleys, P3 and P4, are provided as tails and head pulleys, respectively, to define the path of travel of cable R2 to which lead clamp C2 is attached.

In the embodiment shown, forming rolls 32, 40 and 42 of machine M are provided to crimp and preform the ed~es of pl.ate 10. In such an arrangement for example, roll 32 imparts the initial desired roll forming radius to the edges while rolls 40 and 42 insure conformity of the plate edges to the desired contour.

Cutters and bevelers34 , 36 and 38 trim, bevel and otherwise shape the edges of plate 10 to the width and edge contour required for the welding operation wherein the edges are joined to form the pipe section after the plate section is bent tc a U-shape, and then to an O-shape prior to final welding into a finished pipe.

It can be appreciated from the foregoing type of edge treatment that the metal plate is subjected to a vari-ety of lateral forces and that it is necessary to provide an efficient and reliable latch and guide system for direct-ing plate 10 through the system without misalignment or skewing.
_I_ :

1 :~ 63226 As her(tofore statcd, thc work ~-hat can be per-formed on the plate may take many forms. Althoug}-~-the arrangemen-t shown in M hereof is a machine ror preforming and edge trirnming plates prior to forming heavy gauge pipe for use in high pressure steel pipe lines, many other oper-ations requ;ring latch and guide syste~-ns to prevent misalign-ment and skewing of a metal section as it is conveyed to, -through and away from a forming operation may be employed.

In the embodiment of -the invention disclosed in the series of drawings of r`igs. 5~ through 5~l steel plate 10 is shown in various positions wherein the clamping system of -the invention is utilized during working.

Fiyure 5A shows clamp C1 and C2 in a stationary and starting upright position ready to receive advancing plate 10 moving forward on conveyor table 24.

As plate 10 is moved forward by separate conveying means its leading edge contacts clamp C1 while in a station-ary position at its top to depress it so that C1 pivots at 12 thereby extending the rearmost ten.sion spring 18 and per-mitting the cooperating forward spring to compress, as shownin Figure 5B. ~s plate 10 continues at uniform speed it also engages clamp C2 and forces -theclamp to move with it toward machine M while maintaining sufficient cable tenison to in-sure adequate gripping. Cable R2 is moving at the same speed as the plate and with sufficient tension to enable clamp C2 to maintain a firm grip on the leading edge of plate 10.

At the time of engagement of lead clamp C2 with the lead end of pla-te 10, the (See Fig. 5C) tail clamp C1 is no longer depressed by plate 10 and spring 18 returns it -to an I ' ~' ( C ~ ; i L ] ( ~ ] ~ I J (~ i ' ]-spced than that oL the plate so t~ tail clamp Cl Idvll~ccs and cngages the trailiny cdge of plate 10 as sho~n iJl Fig-ure 5D. Tension is then applied to both cables Rl and R2 so that they provide tension on lhe clamps C1 and C2 while moving at the speed ol the plate toward machine M and thus maintaining the required clamping pressure.

Plate 10 when fastened in this manner continues to travel at constant speed through the machine while clamps Cl and C2 restrain lateral motion as the plate is worked in the machine. Meanwhile the clamps are also restrained from lateral movement by the side guides 28 and 30 which extend along the length of the latch and guide system. Figure 5E
shows plate 10 while it is being worked in machine M.

After work has been completed on the side edges of the plate in the machine and the leading edges of the plate have passed from the machine, tension is applied in the reverse direction to both cables Rl and R2 to enable clamps Cl and C2 to disengage from the plate. Both clamps are shown inthe disengayed position in Figure5F

Figure sG shows clamp Cl in the course of its travel back to its original position shown in Figure 5~ Clamp C2, which has been drawn away from the leading edge of plate 10 at a speed greater than that of plate 10 proceeds forward until it contacts stop 48 which depresses C2 below the bottom of the plate to permit plate 10 to ride over it. Plate 10 proceeds forward as shown in Figure 5G while clamp C2 is in a lowered pusition and the plate rides freely over it.

Clamp Cl which is returned by reversing the direc-tion of cable Rl while the speed of cable Rl is increased.

_ g _ I ~ 6322~
; t}~us ~ t~ itt ~ 3i~1~] ~,o~;itioJ~ 1c~ ~-(;3~ s stationary to at~ait the n~xt plate. Ca~le ]~2 also revcrs~-s direction and returns clamp C2 to its starting position at an incrcased specd, all as sho~n in ~igure SE ~hen both clamps Cl and C2 have returned to their starting positions they are rcady to receive the next plate for its travel through the system as heretofore described.

Motors 44 and ~6 as shown in Fig. l, or other suit-able driving equipment, are provided to actuate the respective pulley system in the manner described and independent of the plate conveying means.

The alternative embodiment of the inventior. shown in Figure 6A, 6B, 6C and Figure 7 utilizes a clamp and pulley system wherein the clamps and cables are designed to travel forward about the pulleys after the work has been completed on a plate rather than returning the clamps by reversing the direction of the cables. This alternate arrangement dif-fers from that heretofore described and as shown in Figures l through 5 in that there are separate channels for each clamp and cable and in that there are two clamps on each cable. In other respects the latch and guide system is con-structed and operates in substantially the same manner as that heretofore described.

More specifically, clamps C5 and C7 which are adaptec to engage the trailing edge of plate lO' are mounted on the cable or chain strand R3 at points equidistant from each other.

Also, clamps C6 and C8 which are intended to engage the lead-ing edge of plate lO' are likewise mounted on cable R4. Cable R3 travels about pulleysAl and ~ while cable R4 travels about pulleys Bl and B2 Any suitable system can be used for .mounting the clamps on the cables or chains about which they ~ ~lS3226 are pivoted. The mounting mea~s disc~osc~d in ligure 2 can be used advantagcously in the syste3n of ~igurc 6A, 613 znd 6C.

Figure 6A shows clamps C5 and C6 mounted for en-gagcrnent at the trailing and leading edges, respectively, of plate 10'. By the system cable R3 is moved at a speed greate~
than that of 10' so that it speeds up to engage the trailing edge thereof immediately after the leading edge contacts lead clamp C6. The work then travels through the fabricating step as shown in Figure 6B where the speed of movement of plate 10' and that of cables R3 and R4 are the same.

After the working step the plate assembly with the engaged clamps moves out of the machine and the speed of cable R4 is increased over that of plate 10' and disengages from the plate. The speed of cable R3 is decreased to per-mit the plate moving to proceed ahead free of clamps C5 and C6. Thereafter, cables R3 and R4 proceed at a uniform speed with all clamps spaced from the plate. Meanwhile, a new plate enters the system and clamps C7 and C8, which cooperate in the same manner as clamps C5 and C6, engage the trailing and leading edges of the new plate and proceed through the system as described.

Figure 7 shows the arrangement of cables R3 and R4 within channels 50 and 52, respectively, wherein they are held in a side by side relationship with a common side wall.

The side walls of the channels serve as side guides for the respective pairs of clamps that travel through the twin chan-nels. As in the case of the embodiment of Figures 1 through 5 the channels of this aiternative extend the len~th of ~he system between Bl and A2 and are a single channel for cable R3 and R4 from A1 to Bl and A2 to B2 respectively.

1 ~163226 ~ thougll the opc~ratioll oL both o~ the cn~odimellts of the inven-tion described hereinabove contcmplates that the speed of the cable carrying the tail clamp shal], be slowed to enable the clamp to lag behind the moving plate until the leading edge therein engages the lead clamp, and after such contact, the movement of the cab],e for the tail clamp is increased to a spced greater than thc plate to effect locking engagement between the -tail clamp and the trailing edge, the operation may be modified within -the scope of -the invention by adjusting cable speeds so tha-t the tail clamp cllgages the plate edge before the lead c],amp cllgagement is effected or the two clamps may engage the plate at approximately the same time.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OF PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. Apparatus for clamping and guiding a section of metal plate to restrain lateral movement thereof as it travels longitudinally through a machine wherein said plate is subjected to mechanical work and to forces inducing lateral movement of the plate comprising con-veyor means for longitudinally moving the plates, first clamp means adapted to engage the trailing edge of said plate while moving on said conveyor means, second clamp means adapted to engage the leading edge of said plate while moving on said conveyor means, guide means for positioning said first and second clamps and extending along the length of said apparatus wherein said lateral forces are effective, first cable means to which said first clamp means are attached, second cable means to which second clamp means are attached, a first pulley system for actuating said first cable means whereby said first clamp means and said first cable means travel forward to engage the trailing edge of said plate travelling toward said machine on said conveyor means to thereby place said first cable means under tension and create a locking force sufficient to lock said first clamp means on said plate, a second pulley system for actuating said second cable means whereby said second clamp means travels forward after engagement with the leading edge of said plate travelling toward said machine on said conveyor means to thereby place said second cable means under tension and create a locking force sufficient to lock said second clamp means on said plate and enable said first and second cable means and clamp means to travel with said plate through said machine, said first pulley system and said second pulley system being located adjacent to the longitudinal centerline of said metal plate and in a plane parallel to and spaced from the path of travel of said metal plate to enable said first and second clamp means to engage said edges of said plate at points spaced from the longitudinal edges thereof to thereby leave said longitudinal edges unobstructed for the application of mechanical work thereto, and means for disengaging said clamp means from said plate edges after said plate has passed through said machine.

Claim 2 The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said guide means com-prises a recessed channel beam having a pair of vertically disposed side walls adapted to serve as side guides for said first and second clamp means and to restrain lateral move-ment thereof as each of said clamp means travels along the length of said machine.

Claim 3 The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein means are provided to reverse the direction of movement of said first and second cable means after said first and second clamp means have been disengaged from said plate edges to thereby return said clamp means to their original positions to receive a new plate to be subjected to work.

Claim 4 The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said guide means comprises a channel beam having a pair of recessed areas having vertically disposed side walls, one of said recessed areas being adapted to serve as side guide means for said first clamp means and the other of said recessed areas being adapted to serve as side guide means for said second clamp means, whereby both of said side guide means restrains lateral movement of both of said clamp means.

Claim 5 The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein means are provided to permit continued forward movement of said first and second cable means after disengagement from said plate edges to thereby return said clamp means to their original positions to receive a new plate to be subjected to work.

Claim 6 The apparatus of Claim 5 wherein said first and second clamp means each comprise a pair of clamps affixed to each of said first and second cooperating cable means at equidistant points on each of said cable means.

Claim 7 The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein each of said clamp means is pivoted at a base affixed to one of said cable means and is maintained in operative position by a pair of separate spring means, one end of said spring means being attached to an end wall of said clamp means and the other end of said spring means being attached at the other end wall of said clamp means, and each of the other ends of said spring means being attached to opposite ends of said base.

Claim 8 The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein each of said clamp means comprise an element having at one of its ends an opening in one end wall thereof and whereby it may receive a plate in gripping engagement therewith, and the opposite end of said clamp means being pivotally attached to cable means for actuating said clamp means.

Claim 9 Apparatus for clamping and guiding a section of metal plate to restrain lateral movement thereof as it travels longitudinally through a machine wherein said plate is sub-jected to mechanical work and to forces inducing lateral movement of the plate comprising conveyor means for longi-tudinally moving the plates, first clamp means comprising a pair of clamps adapted to engage the trailing edge of said plate while moving on said conveyor means, guide means for positioning said first and second clamps and extending along the length of said apparatus wherein said lateral forces are effective, first cable means to which said first clamp means are attached, second cable means to which second clamp means are attached, said first and second clamp means each being affixed to each of said first and second cooperating cable means at equidistant points on each of said cable means, a first pulley system for actuating said first cable means whereby said first clamp means and said first cable means travel forward to engage the trailing edge of said plate travel-ling toward said machine on said conveyor means to thereby place said first cable means under tension and create a locking force sufficient to lock said first clamp means on said plate, a second pulley system for actuating said second cable means whereby said second clamp means travels forward after engagement with the leading edge of said plate travelling toward said machine on said conveyor means to thereby place said second cable means under tension and create a locking force sufficient to lock said second clamp means on said plate and enable said first and second cable means and clamp means to travel with said plate through said machine, and means to permit continued forward movement of said first and second cable means for disengagement from said plate edges to thereby return said first and second clamp means to their original positions to receive a new plate to be subjected to work.

Claim 10 The apparatus of Claim 9 wherein said guide means com-prises a recessed channel beam having a pair of vertically disposed side walls adapted to serve as side guides for said first and second clamp means and to restrain lateral movement thereof as each of said clamp means travels along the length of said machine.

Claim 11 The apparatus of Claim 9 wherein each of said clamp means is pivoted at a base affixed to one of said cable means and is maintained in operative position by a pair of separate spring means, one end of said spring means being attached to an end wall of said clamp means and the other end of said spring means being attached at the other end wall of said clamp means, and each of the other ends of said spring means being attached to opposite ends of said base.