GB2069979A - Threading and separating device for slit strips - Google Patents

Abstract

A separating mechanism for strips slit from a wide strip has a roll (23) reciprocable axially and carrying separators, e.g. discs (24) spaced along the roll. At threading, the slit strips pass over the roll (23) to pinch rolls (21) and are pressed downwardly on the roll by a pressure roller (42). When the roll is reciprocated axially, the slit strips become engaged between consecutive separators and retained by the roller (42). Once the strips are properly located between the separators, roll reciprocation is stopped. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Slitting line This invention relates to a slitting and coiling line for flat elongate material, particularly but not exclusively metal strip.

After wide metal strip has been slit longitudinally it is passed to a coiler where the slit strips are coiled individually on a common coiler mandrel. It is of course essential that the coils forming on the mandrel should be separate from one another and should not overlap. To that end, a separator roll is arranged in advance of the coiler and has separator discs between which the individual slit strips are guided.

Problems have been encountered in the proper operation of the separator roll. If the strips are merely threaded through the line, there is the danger that they will ride on the edges of the discs rather than on the roll barrel between the discs, when the separator roll will fail to perform its required function of spacing the strips from one another axially of the roll; this is particularly so if the strips are cambered due to imperfections in the rolling. Furthermore, the manual positioning of the strips between the separator discs is a timeconsuming, difficult and often hazardous operation, particularly when dealing with very wide strip.

A slitting and coiling line for flat elongate material according to the present invention includes a mechanism for separating slit strips prior to coiling, that mechanism comprising a roll having separators between which the individual slit strips are to be guided, means for reciprocating that roll axially, and means for pressing the strips on to the roll and to urge the strips between the separators when aligned with the spaces between them.

The invention will be more readily understood by way of example from the following description of a slitting and coiling line in accordance therewith, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of the line, Figure 2 shows on larger scale the separating mechanism of Figure 1, Figure 3 is an axial section through the separator roll, and Figure 4 illustrates the equipment for reciprocating the separator roll.

The slitting line shown in Figure 1 is designed to slit wide metal strip lengthwise into a number of narrow strips, which are coiled on a common coiler. The wide strip 1 2 is fed by a pair of pinch rolls 1 3 to a continuous slitter 14 having pairs of co-operating rotary slitting blades spaced across the width of the strip 12. The narrow slit strips 1 5 then pass through a looping pit, consisting of two looping pit tables 1 6 located over a pit 1 7 in the foundations. The tables 1 6 are pivoted at 1 8 and, by means of hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies 19, can be lowered from the position shown in full line bridging the pit 17 to an inoperative position within the pit 17, as shown in chain line at 16A.Next, the narrow strips pass side by side over a separating mechanism indicated generally at 20 and between pinch rolls 21 before being coiled onto the mandrel 22 of a common coiler. A further separating mechanism 47 (Figure 2) is provided immediately upstream of the coiler.

For threading, the tables are in their elevated positions shown in full lines. When the line is running properly, the tables 1 6 are lowered, so that the narrow strips can form loops within the pit 1 7 if necessary. Frequently when a wide strip is slit, the resulting narrow strips have different lengths, due to imperfections in the rolling of the wide strip; the looping pit enables the line to operate in such circumstances.

As shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 3, the separating mechanism comprises a separating roll 23 carrying a number of separator discs 24 which are spaced along the roll at a spacing at least equal to the width of the narrow strips. The roll 23 consists of a hollow cylinder 25 supported through bearings 26 by a shaft 27 passing through the cylinder 25. Shaft 27 is in turn carried at its ends by sleeve bearings 28 in a pair of arms 30 which are pivoted at 31 (Figure 2) and which can be raised and lowered by hydraulic cylinder 32. The annular discs 24 are located about cylinder 25 and are held in position by spacing sleeves 33 of plastics material.

The shaft 27, and hence the roll 23, is axially reciprocated by a pair of back-to-back air cylinders 34, 34A carried by a cross member 35 between the two arms 30 (Figure 4). The cylinder 34A has a piston rod 39A, the outermost end of which is pivoted to a bracket 46 secured to the cross member 35. The cylinder 34 has a piston rod 39 pivoted to one end of a lever 36, which is itself pivoted intermediate its end on a pin 37. The other end of the lever 36 is forked, the forks being pivoted to slide blocks 38 received within slots 40 (Figure 3) of a block 41 bolted to the end of shaft 27. When the cylinders 34, 34A are intermittently fed with compressed air, the shaft 27 and the cylinder 23 are caused to reciprocate through a throw which is small proportion of the spacing of the discs 24.

A pressure roller 42 is carried on arms 43 above, but slightly upstream of, the roller 23 (Figure 2). The arms 43 are pivoted to trunnions 44 mounted on the housing of pinch rolls 21 and the roller 42 can be lowered from the position shown to one engaging the narrow strips 15, by means of a piston and cylinder assembly 45 carried between the arms 43 and the housing of the pinch rolls. The surface of the roller 42 is formed of a material having a high coefficient of friction to ensure that the strips remain stationary during reciprocation of the separator roll 23. The separating mechanism 47 is somewhat similar to the separating roll 23 and is freely rotatable.

Threading of the strip is effected as follows: The drives to the pinch roll 13 and the slitter 14 are engaged, and the leading end of the wide strip is fed to the pinch rolls and thence through the slitter 14. The pinch rolls 13 push the strip over the elevated tables 1 6 until their leading ends lie between the separating mechanism 20 and the pinch rolls 21. The drive to the pinch rolls 13 is then disengaged, stopping the forward feeding of the strips. Pressure roller 42 is lowered on to, and pressed against, the strips 1 5 by the assembly 45, and the cylinders 34, 34A (Figure 4) are operated to effect reciprocation of the roll 23.Assuming that the narrow strips are not initially located within the spaces between the discs 24 and, instead, overlie the discs 24, the reciprocation of the roll has the effect of bringing the discs 24 to the edges of the strips so that the strips are in alignment with the inter-disc spaces, and are forced into those spaces by the pressure roller 42.

Thus, within a very short period of time, the narrow strips are properly spaced on the roll 23, in which they are separated one from another by the discs 24. The drives to the pinch rolls 1 3 are taken up and the narrow strips are fed separately through the pinch roll 21 and the separating mechanism 47, and to the mandrel 22, on which the strips are separately and individually coiled.

Because the narrow strips have been separated by the separating roll and then maintained in place by the pinch rolls 21, it is found that the strips feed readily into place between the separating discs of mechanism 47, without the need for a similar roll reciprocation mechanism as is necessary upstream of pinch rolls 21.

When the strips are properly located on the roll 23, the reciprocation is stopped but the pressure roller 42 remains in its operative position shown in Figure 2 to prevent the strips riding out of their positions between the discs 24.

It is found that the narrow strips more readily respond to the reciprocating action of the separator roll 23 if they follow a descending path to the roll 23, than if they approach that roll horizontally. For that reason, it is advantageous to elevate the tables 16 somewhat before threading the strips towards the separating mechanism.

Claims (8)

1. A slitting and coiling line for flat elongate material which includes a mechanism for separating slit strips prior to coiling, that mechanism comprising a roll having separators between which the individual strips are to be guided, means for axially reciprocating that roll transversely of the strip path, and means for pressing the strips on to the roll and to urge the strips between the separators when aligned with the spaces between them.

2. A slitting and coiling line according to claim 1, in which each separator is in the form of an annular disc mounted radially on the roll.

coiling line according to claim 1, in which each separator is in the form of an annular disc mounted radially on the roll.

3. A slitting and coiling line according to claim 2, in which the separators are spaced axially from one another by sleeves carried by the roll between consecutive separators.

4. A slitting and coiling line according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the roll axis is substantially horizontal and there are strip guide means upstream of the separating mechanism, the guide means so disposable that the strip follows a descending path to the separating mechanism.

5. A slitting and coiling line according to claim 4, in which the guide means comprise pivoted looping pit tables jointly bridging a looping pit, and movable between a first disposition, in which they are each upwardly inclined towards one another, and a second disposition, in which they are downwardly inclined into the pit.

6. A slitting and coiling line according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the separating mechanism is followed downstream by a pair of pinch rolls which retain the slit strips separated.

7. A slitting and coiling line according to claim 6, in which there is a second separating mechanism downstream of the pinch rolls and immediately upstream of the coiler.

8. A slitting and coiling line for flat elongate material, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.