GB937377A - Improvements in or relating to work transfer apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

937,377. Rolling discs. KELSEY-HAYES CO. May 31, 1960 [July 20, 1959], No. 19266/60. Class 83 (4). In loading and unloading apparatus for a rolling mill adapted to roll discs to a tapered contour, e.g. for vehicle wheels, which apparatus comprises an unloader movable to and from an unloading position adjacent a work support, a loader movable to and from a loading position adjacent said support, the unloader operates means for moving said loader to loading position following withdrawal of the unloader from the unloading position. Circular metal discs are rolled in pairs placed back-to-back on a work support spindle 20, Figs. 3 and 7, comprising a vertically slidable resiliently-mounted stem 21, the stem 21 and a member. 23<SP>1</SP> being rotated together by a power unit 29 to rapidly accelerate the discs to the required speed for rolling and to rapidly brake the discs afterwards. The discs are secured during rolling by a hold-down 32 comprising a solenoid-controlled fluid-operated vertically slidable plunger 33. Rolls 51, 52 engage the discs at an inner radial limit and move radially outwards on carriages 65 slidable along guides 66 by a cylinder 67. A rod 75 transmits the drive to the carriage 65b through racks 76, 78 and a fixed pinion 77. During rolling the rolls are driven through gearing and motors 60 mounted on the platforms. To effect the desired taper of the discs vertically-movable cams 83b, 84b cause the roll-gap to be reduced during rolling, the followers 81b, 82b being biased against the cams by cylinder 85b, Fig. 4 (not shown). The pass is opened and closed by wedges 90b, 91b operated by cylinders 92b, 93b. The mill is similar to that disclosed in Specification 897,591. Blanks are fed to the mill by a loader 110 and discharged by a similarly-constructed unloader 111. The loader comprises a slide 112, Fig. 7,reciprocably driven along rails 114 by a cylinder 131 acting through rack and pinion gearing. A channel-shaped work-holder 134 pivoted on a support arranged on the slide 112 at the end remote from the mill is raised and lowered about the pivot by a cylinder 150. The end of the work-holder adjacent the mill carries a fork-shaped work support 144, Fig. 8, the forks of which encompass the spindle work support 20 of the mill in the inner position of the slide 112. In the retracted position of the loader a pair of blanks is positioned between pins 156 on the forked end of the work-holder 134 and the latter is elevated by the cylinder 150. The slide 112 then moves towards the mill and at the end of the stroke the holder 134 is lowered to deposit the blanks on the spindle 20, the slide thereafter being retracted ready for a fresh loading cycle. The unloader 111 is essentially the same as the loader but is elevated when the slide 112 is at its inner position to lift the rolled discs off the spindle 20 and discharge them on the outward stroke of the slide. When rolling of a pair of discs is completed a limit switch is operated to start the unloading slide moving towards the support 20 and at the same time the spindle is automatically braked so that on arrival of the slide the spindle is stationary. The unloader is raised after a time delay and the hold-down 32 is simultaneously released, the finished discs being lifted off the spindle 20. The arrival of the unloader at its inner position initiates the next inward stroke of the loader which after a time delay begins to move another pair of discs towards the work support 20. If the loader slide reaches the operative position before the adequate withdrawal of the unloader the loader is automatically checked. The sequence of operations is controlled by solenoid-operated fluid valves actuated by limit switches.