GB1359027A - Apparatus for guiding sheet metal - Google Patents

Abstract

1359027 Grinding sheet or strip metal BRITISH IRON & STEEL RESEARCH ASSOCIATION 30 Nov 1972 [3 Dec 1971] 56287/71 Heading B3W Magnetizable metal sheet or strip 2 being fed in a predetermined direction P is guided laterally by a first series of rollers 18, the longitudinal axes of which are inclined to the normal to the direction P so that sheet contacting the rollers is given a lateral component of movement in a first sense, and one or more linear linear induction motor primary members 24 disposed relative to the rollers so that when the primary member(s) is/are energized, a lateral force in the first sense is applied to the sheet and the sheet is attracted to contact the rollers. A fixed guide may be arranged at one opposite edge of the sheet but preferably a second series of rollers 20 with linear induction motor primary members 24 are arranged below the sheet to operate in the opposite sense to the first sense. The angle of the roller axes to the normal direction P is less than 3 degrees. A sensor 30 actuates the primary members when the sheet deviates from its predetermined path. The primary members 24 may be energized with their windings reversed to supplement the guiding action of rollers 18 and primary members 20 and vice versa. The supplementary primary members are energized with less power than, or slightly after, the main primary members. In an alternative embodiment, Figs. 3 and 4 (not shown), the first and second series of rollers and their associated primary members are mounted in respective frames (54) (56) urged apart by springs (58). Whichever series of primary members is energized the frame (54) will move towards the frame (56). A stop 60 limits upward movement of the frame (54). A pair of rolls (62) located at the front and the rear of the frames space the frames by a distance which takes into account the thickness of the sheet being fed. Each series of rollers has a load cell which indicates which series is in contact with the sheet. In a further embodiment, Figs. 5-7 (not shown), both series of rollers &c. are on the same side of the sheet with a roller of one series arranged end to end across the sheet with a roller of the other series, the planes tangent to the respective series of rollers being inclined to one another so that energizing one series of primary members and rollers lifts the sheet from the other. The sheet guide may be mounted on a carriage (10), Fig. 1 (not shown), biased by a spring (12) to take up slack while a new coil is welded to the end of the sheet being processed. Alternatively the guide may be mounted on a separate carriage.