GB1006202A - Strip joining method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1,006,202. Joining metal strips; shearing; welding by pressure; planishing and beating. TAYLOR-WINFIELD CORPORATION. Sept. 10, 1963, No. 35629/63. Headings B3A, B3H, B3R and B3W. A travelling head seam welder having opposed weld wheels engaging opposite sides of overlapped strip portions has means mounted for movement with said head in trailing relation to said wheels to trim off excess portions of the overlap of said strip outwardly of the line of weld. The remaining narrow welded area is planished to the thickness of the parent strip by air-operated hammers which move across the strip behind the trimming means. The apparatus comprises a base 10 on which is a screw-driven head 11 which carries a welding transformer 12 and chain-driven welding wheels 13 and 14. Also mounted on the base 10 are strip clamps 22 and 23, of which the clamp 23 is moved longitudinally of the strip path by double-acting fluid cylinders 25, between adjustable stops. The welding wheels 13 and 14 are kept clean by motor-driven abrasive wheels or wire brushes 26, and the upper wheel 14 is moved vertically by a fluid cylinder 16 which also applies the welding pressure. Mounted for vertical movement by cylinder 27 on the carrier 11 is an upper shearing device 28, and a similar lower shearing device 29, which is moved by a cylinder 30. The upper shearing device is attached to a slide 31 and comprises an L-shaped member 35 which has two lugs 37 carrying a pivot pin 38 supporting a roller 39 and a carrier 40. The carrier has a central opening 41 in which is journalled a first knife 42 and a second knife 43. The knives are formed by bevelling flanges on small steel rollers, and the first knife only scores the work, the final severance being made by the knife 43. In the case of the upper device only, the end of the carrier is loaded by a spring 44 and retained by a clip 45. The width of the carrier 40 is such that it just fits between the clamps 22 and 23 when they are in their closest position. Rigidly mounted on the carrier is a wedge 46 which enters under the overlap of the top strip and lifts it into cutting engagement with the knife 43. Rearwardly of the shearing assemblies, relative to the direction of working travel of the carrier 11 are anvils 60 and air-operated peening hammers 61. Operation.-The entry clamp 22 is closed and the exit clamp 23 opened, and the trailing end of a strip, a portion of which has been bent down is moved backwardly against the clamp 22. The exit clamp is closed, the entry clamp opened and the leading end of a new length of strip is advanced until a bent-up portion engages the clamp 23. The entry clamp 22 is closed and the clamp 23 is moved in the direction of strip travel to give the required welding overlap. The welding wheels and shear assemblies are moved toward the strip until the gauging rolls 39 and 51 engage the strip and the carrier 11 then moves transversely of the strip. The strips are welded by the wheels 13 and 14, scored by the knives 42 and 54, Fig. 10, and severed by the knives 43 and 55, Fig. 7. The remaining weld area is peened by the hammers 61. The unwanted portions of the overlap are diverted by deflectors behind the knives 43 and 55, so that they do not interfere with the hammers 61. The apparatus is stated to be particularly suitable for joining soft or very thin strips.