US2315976A - Apparatus for operating on sheet material - Google Patents

Description

.Hf s. METHOD Aprily 6, 1943.

AP1 A R.1-.T11S. Fon vOPERAT ING oN' SHEETz MATERIAL Find ApriL 141 1941 s sheets-'sheet 1 April 6, 1943'.

H. ls. METHOD APPARATUS FOR OPERATING ON SHEET MATER-IAL y April 6, 194.3 H. sk. METHOD i 2,315-,976

APPARATUS FOR OPERATING ON SHEET MATERIAL Filed April 14, 1941 6 Sheets-Shea? 4 y Y XN 1% D@ u ,x l m l M w i N Ni l l l IE' A g I| :I MR Y gm I In I J l NR w l i I a v J Y' l April 6,1943. Rs. En-.Qn 2,315,916

APPARATUSJFOR OPERATING ON SHEET MATERIAL Filed Apri114h, 1941 6 sheets-sheet 5 'F2925 F. f5

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- April 6, 1943. H. s. METHQD` 2,315,976

APPARATUS FOR OPERATING ON SHEET MATERIAL l Filed April 14, 1941 (s sheets-sheet e yPatented Apr. 6, 1943 Harold S. Method, East Chicago, Ind., assigner to Inland Steel Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application April 14,1941, serial No. 388,531

18 Claims.

` My invention, generally stated, relates to situations in winch strip orsheet material, while being continuously fed, is operated on, particularly at intervals, in such a way as to interfere with the normal feed 'of the material, by exerting-on the material beyond the feed means, either a retarding action or an accelerating action. Examples of .such situations are those wherein the strip material is sheared at intervals into sheets, by shearing mechanism of .the rotary type or the guillotine type, or is operated on by punching action the material is apt to become impaired.

The use for which I more particularly devised y my invention, but without any intention of limit- .ing the invention to such use, is in connection with the shearing of strip material, such as for example, and more particularly, steel strip, either hot or cold rolled, into the desired sheet lengths, involving the use of a so-called rotary shear associated with mechanism by which'the strip to be sheared is continuously fed to the shearing mechanism which operates to cut the strip into sheets of a predetermined length.

Such a shearing mechanism, to meet the requirements in practice, must be capable of cutting sheets of widely varying lengths which, in.

the shearing of :both the longer and shorter the rotary shear mechanism continuously operates and the strip is fed thereto by a continuousV movement atconstant speed which results, in the case of the longersheets, in the exertion of such retarding actionby the shearing mechanism on the continuously fed strip as to cause ,the strip to so deform as to impair the strip or cause its leading edge to-follow around one of the rolls of the shearing mechanism instead of straight through the shearing mechanism as desired, and in the caseof the shorter lengths a tendency to the pulling of the strip through the feedrolls often the strip; the .retarding action referred to starting as soon as the'shearing knives startte bite into of the strip disengages from the `side of the shearing blade which itis caused to abut at the moment the sheet is severed from the strip.

My objects are to provide against' such retarding action on the strip material interfering with the proper passage of the material through the apparatus employed in operating on the strip material, or damaging the strip material operated on; to provide against such accelerating action on the strip material exerting such p ull on the strip material as would cause it to become dam- A aged by the feed rolls or otherwise become damaged; to provide improvements in apparatus of the character above referred to whereby, by acl- .n mu'm number of sheets from the strip; and other l. `lengths, involves problems due tothe fact that justing the apparatus, sheets of any desired predetermined length may be sheared from the strip; to provide for the making 'of such adjustments easily and quickly; to provide, in the use of the 'invention in connection with rotary shearing mechanism, against the possibility of thestrip material becoming vdamaged by retarding action exerted against it and the possibility of the leading edge of the strip following around a roll of the shearing mechanism, thereby to provide for the proper delivery of the sheets from the shearing mechanism; to provide against "the possibility of transmitting pull exerted on the strip material, as for example by the shearing mechanism when the machine is set for the cutting of the shorter length of sheets, to the portion of the strip between the feed rolls, to such degree as would cause the strip to be pulled through the feed rolls with likelihood of damage to the strip, or would cause the strip to bev otherwise damaged; to provide for the shearing of the maxiobjects as will be manifest from the following description. p p

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a combined strip-feeding mechanism and a shearing mechanism embodying my invention, and by which my improved method may be practiced.

Figure 1'l is a similarview ofdriving rneans'for the mechanisms of 1, these two views'being complementary, the structures shown .therein joining along the irregular Adot and dash lines in these two gures.

Figure 2-is a section taken at theline 2-2 on Fig. 1.and viewed in the direction of thearrows.

.Figure 3 is asectiontaken atthe line'3-3 on Fig. 2 and viewed ,in the direction of the arrows. Figure 4 is a section taken'at the line 4 4 on Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

the'striprand continuing until the lleading-edge 55 Figure 5 is an enlarged section itaken at the line 5-5 on Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrows. Y

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan sectional view taken at the line 6--5 on Fig. 7 and viewed in the i direction of the arrows.

at the line 9--3 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 10, a fragmentary sectional view taken at the line, Ill-ll on Fig. 9 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the particular illustrated embodiment of my invention the delivery end, by way of example, of a shear-approach table to which the long strips produced on a hot strip mill are delivered from the mill, is shown at I I and in accordance with common practice is provided with sets of driven feed rolls, those at the delivery end of the table being shown at l2, upon which the 2 and 8, a position occupied by these blades immediately upon the-severing of a sheet from the strip I3.

According to the requirements of the trade the sheets are required to be cut of greatly varying lengths, according to present practice of from 66" to about 300". The length of the sheets to be cut from the strip I3 is determined by the relation of the peripheral speed of the shearing strip 'I3 to be sheared into sheets, is supported y and by which the strip is fed. In practice the l table is usually much longer than the strips pro-v duced on the mill so' that by the time the advance end of the strip has reached the delivery end of the table the strip is disengagedfrom the mill proper.

In front of the-rollers I2 is a pair of upper and lower pinch rolls I4 and I5, respectively, mounted ina stand I6 in accordance with common practice, and driven as hereinafter described, the rolls I4 and I5 operating to feed the strip I3, which extends between these rolls, in the direction of the feathered arrow in Fig. 2. I

Located in front of the pinch rolls. and I5 Y and in spaced relation thereto is a rotary shear mechanism II through which the strip I3 is continuously fed from the feed-rolls I4 and l5 and by which the strip is sheared into separate sheets (one of which is shown at V`I3) which are conveyed away by feed means I 9 located in front of the shearing mechanism, one of the feed rolls of which and which may form one of the sets of rolls of amagnetic-roll feed mechanism commonly known in the art, being represented at 20, the sheets feeding to the feeding .mechanism over a roller 2l, the feeding mechanism I9 commonly -operating at a' higher speed than the feed- rolls rolls 22 and 23 to the speed of travel of the strip I3 to these rolls, viz., to the speed of rotation of the feed rolls I4 and I5, and thus an apparatus to fulfill the requirements referred to must be capable of adjustmentto vary the speeds as required; preferably with the minimum loss of time. l

The driving mechanism shown and which serves as a very satisfactory means for this purpose comprises a motor 23 the drive shaft 33 of which is operatively connected with the pinch.

rolls I4 and ,I5 for drivingthese rolls at the same speed through any desirable construction of selective-speed mechanism for varying the speed at which these rolls rotate, as for example a three-speed Maag gearreducer which is of well known construction, is represented at 32 and has selector means for setting this mechanism for any one of the `three speeds. Accordingly, the shaft 30 is directly connected with the rotary selector shaft 32d of the unit 32, the shaft 32a having splined thereon gears of different diameters shiftable, as a unit,- by the operator from the outside of the casing ofthe unit, alongthe shaft 32a into intermeshed relation, respectively,

.into one position along this shaft the'shaft 32h will be driven at one speed, which may be termed intermediate speed, and by shifting these gears The shearingmechanism shown is of a com-V mon and well known construction and therefore a general description thereof will suice. Itcomprises generally stated' driven upper and lower rolls 22 and 23, respectively. journaled in a stand zltoextendcrowiseofthepathoftravel of the strip I3, these rolls being equipped with shearing blades 25 and 25, respectively, extending lengthwise thereof and projectingbeyond the peinto other positions along the shaft 32a, the shaft 32h will be driven at a higher or a lower speed, respectively, than in said setting forintermediate Speel-L The unit 32v also comprises an .upper rotary shaft 32e which is g'eared to the shaft 32b to rotate atthe same speed as the* shaft 32h and is directly connected to the upper pinch roll I4 by a coupler Ma.

Thus provision is made by the unit 32 for driving the pinch rolls I3 and I5 and thus the strip fed by these rolls, at three different speeds selectively.

The shearing rolls 22 and 23 are operatively connected together in accordance with common practice so that applying driving force tothe lower roll 23 will rotate both rolls in the directions ofthe respective arrows in Figs. 2 and 8 and cause the shearing blades 25 and 23 to meet as above described; the power for applying driv- 'Waterbury hydraulic unit u actuated from. the

shaft 33 through the medium of a speed reducing gear mechanism of any suitable construction represented generally at 35 and interposed between thelmituandthedriveshaft 3|.Y

YThe Waterbury hydraulic unit 3l is well known in the art and therefore does not need detailed description. It is sutllcient to say that it comprisa: an hydraulic pump 33 actuatedvbythe tion of the shearing blade 25, as shown in Figs. shaft 3l through the unit 35' for inches, respectively, lmay be cut ysired for the shearing of the shorter and longer sheet lengths, as for example sheet lengths of less than about 94 inches and more than about 196 inches, respectively, but byproviding an additional control .means, such as, for example, the unit 32 which operates toselectively drive the pinch rolls I4 and I5 at different predetermined speeds from the motor 23,- such shorter and longer sheet lengths may be produced very satisfactorily; the gearing of the speed changer 32 being such that when adjusted by the selector means thereof, to the intermediate speed position above referred to it eifects the drive of the pinch rolls I4 and I5, at such speed relative to the pump portion 36 of the unit 34 that sheets of any desired predetermined length Within the thus damaging it or otherwise damaging the strip. f

In further explanation of the action which takes place in the shearing of a sheet from the strip and the objectionable results produced in the shearing of the above referred to short and long lengths of sheets, it may be stated that the Y 'longer the sheet to be produced, the slower the travel of `the shearing blades and 26 relative to the speed at which the stripis fed to the shearing mechanism,and the shorter the sheets to be produced vthe faster the movement of the shearing bladesrelative to the speed at which the strip is fed to the shearing mechanism.

The-action of the cooperating shearingblades 25 and 26 in shearing a sheet lfrom the strip I3 is not instantaneous inasmuch'as the shearing blades, in moving through .arcuate paths at op- `posite sides of the strip, engage and press against these opposite sides by a progressive action, pressing moredeeply into the strip as they continue to rotate, until they reach a position in range of about 94 inches to about 196 inches' may be cut, under the control of the unit 34; and when adjusted to the high and low speed positions` above referred to, effect the drive of the pinch rolls I4 and I5 at such high and low speeds,

respectively, relative to the pump portion 35 that Y sheets of any desired predetermined lengths between the range of about 196 inches to about 300 inches and from about 66 inches to about 94 under the control of the unit 34.

In the case of the production of sheets of a length within what may be termed the middle range of lengths, such as for example sheets of from .about 94" length to sheets approximating 196I length, the apparatus in so far as-it'has been herein described, will operate reasonably satisfactorily to cutand properly deliver the sheets from the shearing mechanism without likelihood of such retarding action being exerted against the strip I3, by the shearing mechanism, as to cause the strip to become so deected as to follow around the lower roll of the shearing mechanism .or so deformed as to damage the strip, in the case of the cutting of the longer sheets within 4the middle range referred to; and without such pulling on the strip -by the shearing mechanism I'I inthe case of the cutting of the shorter sheets within the range referred to,

as would cause the. strip to become damaged byV the feed rolls I4 and I5 or otherwise damaged. However, in the case ofv the production of sheets of lengths longer or shorter than the middle range of lengths above referred to, as for example sheets longer than about 196" and shorterv than abouty 94", the mechanism in so iar as above described, presents the objection, in the case of the cutting of the longer lengths of sheets that the retarding action exerted on the strip by the shearing mechanism frequently results in the strip becoming so deformed as to follow around the lower roll of the shearing mechanism instead of l discharging straight through the shearing mechanism and also result in damage to the strip as by cracking it; and in the casevoi the -shorter lengths of sheets the pull exerted by the shearing mechanism on the strip is such as to pull the stripthrough the feed rolls I4 and I5.

which the adjacent edges of their faces 2'I and 28 approximately meet. Thusduring the period from the initial engagement of the shearing e' blades with the strip to the actual severing of the strip, the strip is rigidly held by the shearing blades.

Therefore, in the case of the cutting of the shorter lengths of sheets the shearing blades in engaging the strip exert objectionable pull. on the relatively Yslowly fed strip tending to pull it through the Afeed rolls; and in the cutting of the longer lengths -of sheets the above-referred-to clamping action of the relatively slowly rotating shearing blades presents a resistance to the forward movement of the strip under the action of the feed rolls I4 and I5, which resistance continues to be exerted on the strip, because of the abutment of its leading edge against the side of lthe lower shearing blade 26, until this blade, in

traveling in its arcuate path, moves out of the path of straight-line movement of the strip; the resistance thus presented to the leading edge of the strip so deforming it, unless provision is made to prevent such deformation, as to cause the strip, under the impelling action of the feed rollers I4 and I5, to 'followaround the lower roll 23 of the shearing mechanism, instead of discharging straight through the shearing mechanism and also to damage the strip.

According to one phase of my invention I provid'e against the occurrence of the above noted objectionsyemploying, in accordance with the preferred-embodiment of my invention, mechanism of which the following is a description.

Located between the feed-roll stand I6and the shearing mechanism II and closely adjacent the `latter and at a vconsiderable distance from the feed-roll stand, is a roll stand ,.38 comprising rolls39 and 40 extending transversely of the path of movement of the strip I3, the lower roll 40 be- -ing shown as mounted'in stationary journalbearings and the upper roll 39 in vertically slidable journal-bearings lil. The rolls 39 and 40 are y shown as positively driven by the motor 29V in the .direction of travel of the strip I3, and at the gear 48 fixed on a shaft 50 operatively connected with the lower roll 40.

I'he journal-bearings 4I for the upper roll 39 are shown as connected with the movable member 5I of solenoid devices 52 stationarily mounted on the` frame of the roll stand 38, which serve when energized to raise the upper roll 39 into a i position in which it is spaced from the lower roll 40 avgreater distance than the thickness of the thickest strip I3 toibe operated on, as for example spaced about 1".

Located between the roll-stands I6 and 38 are means 53 for exerting upward pressure against the strip I3 deilecting it upwardly into looped condition. The means shown for this purpose comprise a pair of rollers ,54 and 55 extending machine -shown is also provided with a set of crosswise of the path of movement of the strip I3 adjacent its under side and preferably driven in the direction of travel of the strip as by a. light power motor 54a connected' with these rollers by gearing in the case 54b. Th'e rollers 54 and 55 are rotatably mounted in a frame 55 on which the motor 54a and the gear case 54h are mounted, the frame 55 being Asupported on a stationary part of the apparatus to swing about a horizontall axis for movement of the roller 54 into and out of a position in which its uppermost surface extends above the normal path'of movement of the strip I3, an example of such position of the frame 55 and roller 54 being shown by full lines in Fig. 2, the lowermost position of these parts being shown by dotted lines in this figure.

The frame 56 is shown as comprising end members each formed of a pair of angle irons 5l extending lengthwise of the apparatus and positioned in back-to-back relation, but spaced apart, a tubular-bearing member 58 rigidly serollers I 0l and III. in front of the frame 55 and preferably driven in the direction of feed of the strip by a light power motor Il! connected with the rollers IMI and III by gear mechanism in the case |03.

Preliminary to the starting of the shearing operation the hydraulic unit 34 and the selector unit 32 are conditioned, for causing the shearing rolls 22 and 23 to rotate at the proper speed,

relative to the speed of the feed-rolls I4 andvI5,

for shearing the strip- I 3 into sheets of the desired length; by way of example, the speed-reducer unit 32 being set in its low-speed-driving position for cutting Isheets from about 66"V lengths toy about 94" lengths; in its high-speeddriving position for cutting sheets from about 196" lengths to about 300" lengths and in its intermediate-speed driving Position forV cutting sheets from aboutj94" lengths to aboutV 196" lengths, the control of the hydraulic unit 34 being manipulated for close control of the speed of the shearing rolls 22 and 23 for cutting the sheets to the exact lengths desired, any corrections of adjustment of the hydraulic unit 34 to produce sheets of the accurate predetermined cured to the angle irons 5l of each pair;' a pair of spaced apart angle- irons 59 and 60 extending crosswise of the apparatus and secured `to the innermost ones of the angle irons 51 and journaling members SI for the shafts 54 and 55 mounted on the pairs of angle irons 5l.-

The pivoting support for the frame 56, located Y adjacent its right-hand edge in Figs. 2 and 6, comprises a stationary shaft 52 rigidly secured at its ends of ears.63 rising from the stationary Aframe of the apparatus, the shaft 52 extending through the depending iianges of the angle-irons 5l and the bearing members 5I, the latter being journaled on the shaft 52. Between the angle irons 5l of each pair and secured to the stationary frame of the apparatus, is a channel-block 64 shown as provided with a pad 54a on its upper surface forming a rest for the rock-frame 56 in its lowermostposition.

Associated with the frame 56 are means for exerting force against the frame for rocking it on its pivotal support clockwise in Fig. `'1 for looping the strip I3, these means beingpreferably of such construction that the force theyexert against the frame 56 is a yielding force variable in degree, asdesired, under the control of the operator. 1

'Ihe particular construction of means shown for this purpose comprises a fluid-pressure piston and cylinder device 'trunnionedat 55 on angle-irons 5l supported on the stationary frame of the apparatus, the piston rod 68 of'which is4 pivotally connected at B9 to a. pair of spaced angle irons l0 secured to the angle irons 59 and.

SII and receiving between them the outer end .of the piston-rod. The piston 'of device 85 is operated by elastic iiuidpressure, such as for length being made after the trial cutting of the iirst sheet.

In using the apparatus for the shearing of the strip I3 into sheets of such long lengths (as for example sheets approximating a length of 196" Vlower shearing roll as this roll continues to operate, instead o1' discharging straight, through the shearing mechanism and also tends to crack the strip, the mechanism for upwardly rocking the frame 8l, carrying the rollers I4 and Il, is brought into action by the operator, by supplying actuating fluid pressure to the cylinder 1I' of the piston and cylinder device Il which exerts force tending to move the roller, at its upper surface, above the normal path of travel of the strip I 3 and thereby 4tends to denect th'e strip upwardly into a relatively long loop' between the feed-rolls and I5 and the rolls 3! and 4l whichA latter are spaced apart as above Preferred to, in

which position the upper roll 3l serves merely.

as a means for preventing upward movement of the strip at this point when force is .applied to the strip tending to deilect it into loop form.

^ Therefore, during the mutual engagement oi' the stripil and the shearing blades 2l and 2l (which latter are moving slower than the feed of the strip from the start of the engagement of the .shearing blades with the strip until the lower shearing blade 2t has moved to a position in whichit is withdrawn vby its movement in an arcuate path from engagement with the leading edge of the strip after the sheet-cutti8-0peration, during which time resistance is offered by the shearing mechanism to the free travel of thestrip), the continuing force applied to the strip by the piston and cylinder strip-looping device 65 serves to so relieve the strip of, the force exerted against it by such retarding action, by

the looping of the stripbetween the f eed rolls I4 and I and the rolls 39 and 40, that the portion of the strip between the rolls 39 and 40 and the lshearing mechanism remains substantially straight whereby the strip moves straight through lthe .shearing mechanism without following around the lower shearing roll 23 and the strip between the rolls 39 and Il) and the feed rolls Il and I5 is in the form of such long length tually drawing back the leading edge of the strip from engagement wtih the lower shearing blade 25 at the instant of shear, but not suiliciently great as to cause the strip, at the portion thereof engaged by the feed-rolls I4 andI5, to be pulled with suoli force that it will slip between these rolls and thus present likelihood of damage.

The gist of my invention as to one phase thereof, consisting in relieving the strip of the objectionableiretarding action by the shearing mechanism as stated, it will be understood that the loop thrown into the strip to relieve this action need not be thrown therein throughout the 'travel of the strip through the shearing mechanism I1 butI only simultaneously with the engagement of the shearing mechanism with the strip, this being performed in any suitable way.

In the shearing of the strip I3 into sheets of such short lengths, as for example sheets approximating a length of 94" and shorter, that the strip speed is enough slower than the speed of they shearing rolls 22 and 23 as to cause the shearing blades 25 and 26 in engaging the strip. to exert a. p ull on the strip which, if not relieved, would pull the strip in the feed-rolls Il and I5 and damage the strip, the strip-looping mechanism 53 is also highly useful as it serves to yield, responsive to said pull on the strip, thus causing the looped portion of the strip to approach flat condition and prevent the tension of the strip at the feed-rolls I4 and I5 to be suflcient to pull the strip in these feed rolls. the looping mechanism 53, as soon as the sheet has been sheared from the strip, restoring the strip to'normal looped condition.

To insure the production of the maximum number of sheets from any givenlength of strip I provide for the shearing from the tail end of the strip I3, when such tail end is of a length greater than that of thel sheets being sheared from the strip but less than double the length of such sheets, the extra sheet obtainable therefrom, whereby the waste therefrom is less than such sheet length.

This I accomplish by transforming the roll, stand 38 from a mere guide for the strip I3 (serving to hold the strip down at this point) to a positive feed means therefor, by deenergizing the solenoid'devices 52 to permit the roll 39 to lower upon the strip I3, when the trailing edge of the strip closely approaches the feed-rolls I4 and I5, whereby the strip, before leaving these feed-rolls, is engaged and driveny by the rolls 39 and 4I) to the shearing mechanism I1. This may be accomplished in any suitable way, as -fo'r example as shown, by providing target electrical switch mechanism located to the rear of, and closely to, the roll stand 38 and in circuit with the solenoid devices 52 andl the source of current supply (not shown) and 'by which the switch is held closed during the travel of the strip along the target device of the switch mechanism, but automatically opens when the trailing edge of the strip passes the target device.

The target switch mechanism shown comprises a rotary shaft 12 (Figs. 1, 9 and 10) carrying a target device 13 which registers with a slot 1l in the bedA 15 of the apparatus, the shaft being coupled to a switch device shown generally at 16 which would be connected in circuit with the coils of the solenoid devices 52 and is actuated to and from circuit-closing position by rotation of the shaft 12', in opposite directions, respectively, a spring (not shown) associated with the shaft 12 tending to rotate this shaft to circuit-open position in which position the target device 13 projects upwardly through. the slot 14 as shown by full lines in Fig. 10. As will be understood the target device 13 is held in circuit-closed position so long as the strip is Vsuperposed on the bed 15 of the apparatus extends in registration therewith, but as soon as the trailing edge of the strip passes beyond the target device 13 the latter swings upwardly under the action of the spring referred to, permitting the shaft 12 to be rotated by the spring to a position in which the circuit through the solenoid devices 52 are broken, Whereupon feeding of the tail end of the strip by the rolls 39 and 40 of the stand is initiated.

While I have illustrated and described a particular construction of mechanism and certain modifications thereof, embodying my invention and by which my novel method may be practiced,

I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit the invention thereto as the structure may be further modified and altered and the invention embodied in other forms of structure and my novel method practiced by the use of other constructions without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In apparatus comprising means for feeding sheet material and means to which said material is fed and operating on said material during the feeding of said material and in such operation exerting an accelerating action on the material and reciprocatory piston and cylinder fluid-pressure means between said first and second named means for yieldingly exerting force against the material in a direction to deect the material during said accelerating action.

2. In apparatus comprising means for feeding sheet material and means to which said material is fed and operating on` said material during the feeding of said material and in such operation exerting an action on the material at variance with the speed at which the material isffed by said nist-named means, reciprocally piston and cylinder fluid pressure means between said first action of said second named means for yieldingiy cylinder fluid pressure means between said first and second named means for yieldingly exerting force on the sheet material in a direction to deflect the material, and means between said second and third named means and adjacent said second named means for restraining deflection of the material at this point by said third named means.

4. In apparatus comprising means for feeding sheet material and means to which said material is fed and operating on said material during the feeding of said material'and in such operation exerting either a retardingaction or an accelerating action on the material, reciprocatory piston and cylinder uid pressure means between said first named means and said second named means operative during said action of said secand said shearing mechanism for restraining deflection of the sheet material at this point.

9. In apparatus comprising a rotary shearing mechanism, feed means for feeding sheet material to said shearing mechanism and means for driving said shearingu mechanism at different speeds relative to said feed means, reciprocatory piston and cylinder fluid pressure means operating automatically in the shearing of long sheets from the sheet material, during which operation the shearing mechanism operates at a much slower speed than said feed means, to deflect the sheet material for preventing such forcing of the leading edge of the sheet material against the` shearing blade of the lower roll of the shearing mechanism under the action of said feed means,4

ond-named means for yieldingly exerting force against the sheet material in a direction to deflect the material. f

5. In apparatus comprising means for feeding sheet material and means to which said material isfed `and operating on said material during the feeding of said material and in such operation exerting either a retarding action or an accelerating action on the material, reciprocatory piston and cylinder fluid pressure means between said first-named means and said second-named means for yieldingly exerting force against the sheet material in a direction to deflect the material, andmeans between said second and third named means and adjacent said second named means for restraining deflection of the material at this point by said third-named means.

6. In apparatus comprising a rotary shearing 'mechanism and feed means for feeding sheet material to said shearing mechanism, reciprocatory piston and cylinder fluid pressure operated means between said shearing mechanism and said feed means `for exerting force against the sheet material for deflecting it at a time when the knives of said shearing mechanism are in engagement with the sheet material.A

- 7. Inv apparatus comprising a rotary shearing mechanism and feed means for feeding sheet material to said shearing mechanism, means between said shearing mechanism and said feed means for yieldingly exerting force against the sheet material at a time when the knives of said shearing mechanism are in engagement with the sheet material for deflecting the sheet material comprising a rock frame having a sheet engaging portion, ,and means for rocking said frame against the sheet material, the apparatus being free of restraintto the longitudinal movement of the sheet materialunder the action of the knives of said shearing mechanism.

8. In apparatus comprising a rotary shearing mechanism and feed means for feeding sheet material to said shearing mechanism, reciprocatory piston and cylinder fluid pressure means between said shearing mechanism and' said feed rolls movable against the material for exerting force against the sheet material for defiecting it. and means between said second named means as to cause the sheet material to follow around said roll.

10. In apparatus comprising shearing mechanism and feed means for feeding sheet material to said shearing mechanism, means for looping the sheet material between said shearing mechanism and said feed means and mechanism between said shearing mechanism and said secondnamed means controllable to serve selectively as means for restraining deflection of the sheet material at this point and as a feed means for the sheet material, and means controlled by the position of the sheet material for controlling the conditioning of said second-named mechanism.

` 11. In apparatus comprising -a rotary shearing mechanism, feed means for feeding sheet material to said 'shearing mechanism and apower device, means operated by said power device for driving said feed means selectively at different speeds relative to said power device and means for driving said shearing `mechanism from saidI power device at different speeds selectively relative to said power device, said second-named means and said third named means being adjustable independently of each other for different speeds and serving, respectively, as coarse control means and4 ilne control means for producing a selected speed differential between said feed means and said shearing mechanism.

12. In apparatus comprising a rotary shearing mechanism, feed means for feeding sheet material to said shearing mechanism and a power device, means operated by said power device for driving said feed means selectively vat different speeds relative to said power device, and a Waterbury hydraulic unit for driving said shearing vmechanism from said power device at different speeds selectively relative to said power device, said second named means and said Waterbury to said shearing mechanism and a power device, means for driving said shearing mechanism and said feed means by said power device comprising means operated by said power device and interposed between said shearing mechanism and said power device and operative, when -used alone, to i control the length of sheetJcLtrt within a certain range only of lengths and means whereby sheets of less length and sheets of greater length than those within said certain range, may be selectively sheared by said shearing mechanism by the power supplied to said shearing mechanism through said third named means.

14. In apparatus comprising a rotary shearing mechanism, feed means for feeding sheet material to said shearing mechanism and a power device, means for driving said shearing mechanism and said feed means by said power device comprising a Waterbury hydraulic unit operated by said power device' and interposed between said shearing mechanism and said power device and operative when used alone to control the length ofsheet material and means to which said material' is fed and operating on said material during the feeding -of said material and in such operation exerting an action on the material at variance with the speed at which the material is fed by said first-named means, means between said first and second-named means for yielding exerting force on the sheet material in a direction to deflect the material, said last-named means comprising a roll which engages the sheet material and means for driving said roll in the direction of travel of the material.

16. In apparatus comprising a rotary shearing mechanism and feed means for feeding sheet ma- -terial to said shearing mechanism, means between said shearing mechanism and said feed means for yieldingly exerting force against the sheet material at a time when the knives of said shearing mechanism are in engagement with the sheet material for deiiecting the sheetmaterial comprising a rockv frame having a sheet engaging roll,

Patent No. 2,515,976.

HAROLD s. METHOD.

4 may be positioned across said means andthe ap-Y means for rocking said frame to force said roll against the sheet material and means for driving said roll in the direction of travel of the sheet material, the apparatus being free of restraint to the longitudinal movement of the sheet material under the action of the knives of said shearing mechanism.

17. In apparatus comprising means for feeding sheet material and means to which said material is fed and operating on said material during the feeding of said material and in such operation exerting an action on the material at variance with the speed at which the material is fed by said first-named means, reciprocatory piston and cylinder fluid pressure means between said first and second-named means operative, during said actionof said second-named means, by the application of Il uid pressure to said mechanism for.

yieldingly exerting force on the sheet material in a. direction to deect the material.

18. In apparatus comprising means for feeding sheet material and means to which said material is fed and operating on said material during the feeding of said material and in such operation exerting force on the sheet material in a direction to deflect the material, said last-named means being movable on the apparatus to a position in which the sheet material in straight'condition paratus being free of restraint to the longitudinal movement of the sheet material under the action of the knives of said shearing mechanism.

^ HAROLD S. METHOD.

Apr-11 6, 1945.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: 'Page 2, second column, line 6, after from insert -about, *line 11.8, for "of"I before "ears" read -to- 72, claim 2, for "freciprocallyi read j-reciprocatory",

page h., first column, page 5, second. column, -line page Y, first co1- umn, line 214.; claim 15, for yieiding read yie1ding1y`; and that the said Letters 4Patent should be read'with this correction therein thetthe v same may conform -to the record of the casein the latent Office.

`Signedand sealed this 18th day of may, A. D.' 19MB.

'pissen Henry Van-Ars'dale, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

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