GB1431477A - Strand drawing apparatus including means for preparing the leading end of the strand - Google Patents

Abstract

1431477 Drawing; straightening AETNA-STANDARD ENG CO 3 Oct 1973 [20 Oct 1972] 46190/73 Headings B3P and B3E A drawing apparatus comprises means for moving at least one receptacle 2 containing a coil C of material T to be drawn to predetermined locations, means 54 for withdrawing the leading end of a coil C from a receptacle 2 located in one of the predetermined locations, means 73 for pointing the leading end and means 56 for moving the pointed end to a drawing die 6. At a station S 1 , a tray 2 containing a coil of tube T to be drawn is moved from a conveyer system 4 having a movable portion 39 on to one of a plurality of cars 30 each of which comprises a C-shaped base 31 having wheels 33 movable along endless tracks 34. The car 30 supporting the tray 2 is moved by an endless chain 36 to a station S 2 where the leading end of the tube T is prepared for drawing. The tube end is first gripped by a clamp 54, Fig. 5, which is raised by a winch drum 52 to enable the tube to be gripped by a gripper 60 mounted on a carriage 57. Whilst the tube is so gripped, a mandrel retaining dimple (42) (Fig. 4, not shown) is formed in the tube wall by a fluid cylinder operated dimpler 64 mounted on the carriage 57. After inserting a mandrel and lubricant into the tube end, the latter is pointed by a unit 73 which includes a pointing head 74 movable relative to a supporting member 75 by a fluid cylinder 76. The pointing unit 73 is mounted on an arm 77 which is pivotable by a fluid cylinder (78) (Fig. 7, not shown) about a vertical axis X into an inoperative position to enable the carriage 57 to be moved along a beam 46 by a motor 68 after the pointing operation so as to insert the tube T through the drawing die 6. The tube end may also be straightened by a unit 81 having four driven straightening rolls 82 mounted on a housing 83 which is pivotable by a fluid cylinder (88) (Fig. 9, not shown) into an operative position shown on dotted lines. At the following station S 3 , the tray 2 is raised from its supporting car 30 and rotated by a mechanism 16 to permit the tube to be drawn through the vertically movable die 6 by a capstan 9 which is provided with a cutter 22. Below the capstan 9, a tray 2 is raised and rotated by a mechanism 17 to receive the drawn tube from the capstan 9, from which the tube is pushed by a rotating member (21) (Fig. 2, not shown). The tray 2 containing the drawn tube is thereafter moved successively through stations S 5 around a closed path until it reaches station S, whereupon the cycle is repeated or the tray 2 discharged on to the conveyer 4. Straight lengths of tube to be drawn may be supported on a rack (89) (Fig. 2, not shown).