US2323477A - Cradle reel - Google Patents

Description

July 6, 1943.

F. M. LITTELL CRADLE REEL Filed June 24, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l F. M. LlTTELL July 6, 1943.

CRADLE REEL Filed June 24, 1940 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. M. LITTELL CRADLE REEL July 6, 1943.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 24, 1940 W N NW V V 1 .m 1 31.... 1

Patented July 6, 1943 UNITED STATES aren't QF F. J. Littell Machine Company,

Chicago,

IlL, a corporation of Illinois Application June 24, 1940, Serial No. 341,989

2 Claims.

The invention relates to reels for supporting coil stock and has reference more particularly to an improved cradle type reel having rotary guide plates for protecting the edges of the material against damage.

In reels of the cradle type the coil of metal strip is supported and rotated by shafts having contact with the periphery of the coil and to protect the strip material against damage and injury during feeding of the same rotary guide plates have been provided which are adjustable to and from each other to accommodate coils of different widths. It is also necessary to protect the coil against damage in the operation of placing the same on the supporting rolls of the reel.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide improved mounting means for rotary guide plates which will permit adjustment thereof in a direction parallel to the axes of the supporting shafts.

Another object resides in the provision of rotary guide plates which will depend below the rolls on the supporting shafts of the reel and wherein provision is made for adjustment of the plates outwardly and certain supporting rolls inwardly for handling relatively wide coils.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a cradle type reel embodying the improvements of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view with parts being shown in section of the reel of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is an end view of the cradle reel of the invention looking toward the front of the device.

Referring to the drawings, the frame for the present reel consists of side member H3 and H suitably supported on a base l2 and connected along the vertical front edges thereof by the front frame member l3. The rear of the frame is open and a coil of strip material is rolled onto the supporting shafts it and i5 through said rear opening. Each shaft, as best shown in Figure 2, is suitably journalled in the side members it and H by roller bearing units it. Each shaft carries a plurality of supporting rolls H and IS, the rolls 11 being located substantially centrally of each shaft, and the rolls l8, which are somewhat narrow in width, being normally positioned outwardly on the respective shafts toward the side members It and II. The rolls have a covering of Duprene rubber to provide the necessary friction for rotating the coil of strip material but said rolls may also be formed of wood or other material in order to provide the necessary friction and at the same time protect the surface of the material in contact therewith.

Adjacent the bearing units I6, mounted in the side frame H3, each shaft M and I5 is provided with a sprocket 28 so that the shafts may be operatively connected by the chain 2| having associated therewith an idler sprocket 22 for keeping the correct tension on the chain. Shaft !5 also carries a sprocket 23 which is located adjacent the side member ii and the driving chain 24 which passes around this sprocket also passes around sprocket 25 fixed to the shaft 26 of a motor rive unit indicated in its entirety by numeral 2'3, suitably mounted by means of base 28 on the front frame member l3 of the machine. Said motor drive unit includes an electric motor 29, Figure 3, and variable driving means en losed within housing 3&3 whereby the shaft 26 is constantly driven during operation of the motor but at variable speeds, depending on the adjustment of the variable drive means which is effected by rotation of handle 3!. Both supporting shafts i4 and 15 are therefore driven in unison and at the particular speed required for feeding the strip material from the coil, thereby reducing the stopping and starting of the motor 28 to a minimum.

Each supporting shaft is provided with a longitudinal groove identified by numeral 32 with respect to shaft I4 and 33 for shaft l5, the groove extending from end to end of its particular shaft, and by means of a key 34 of conventional constructicn each supporting roll is non-rotatably held on its shaft although movement in a direction longitudinally of the shaft is permitted by said groove. The center supporting rolls H are locked in adjusted position by set screws 35 and each supporting roll i8 is likewise locked in adjusted position on its respective shaft by set screw 36.

For centering the coil of stock within the present reel and to also protect the side edges thereof against damage during feeding operations rotary guide plates 33 and 59 are provided, each being suitably supported by means of hub portions 4! on an axially adjustable shaft which accordingly mounts the rotary guide plates for adjustment toward and from each other. The hub portions M are each secured to their respective guide plates by the radially extending fingers 42 and said hub portions contain bearing units for journalling the guide plates. With respect to the plate 38 the hub portion 4I rotatably journals the same on the axially adjustable shaft 43. In a like manner the hub portion 4| journals the guide plate 40 on the end of shaft 44. It will be observed by reference to Figure 3 that the rotary guide plates are of fairly large diameter and that the plates accordingly depend below the supporting rolls I1 and I8. This is desirable since it assures that the entire side area of the coil supported within the reel will be in contact with a rotary guide plate.

When the coil is relatively narrow the center supporting roll I1 will provide sufiicient contact for supporting the coil and rotating the same due to the peripheral contact therewith. For Wider coils it is desirable to support the same on the rolls I8 in addition to the center rolls I'I. However, when not in use the rolls I8 are positioned outwardly on their respective shaft and to render the same operative for supporting a coil these rolls must be moved inwardly past their respective guide plate. Each guide plate, as shown in Figure 1, is provided with a semi-circular insert 45 normally located Within a semi-circular cut-out portion formed by the rib 46 in the periphery of each plate. The screw 4'! functions to hold the insert in place.

When it is necessary to move the plates farther apart to accommodate wide coil stock the semicircular insert in each plate is removed and the opening thus provided is aligned with the sup porting rolls I8 on the shaft I4 and I5, successively. When alignment is effected with respect to each supporting roll I8 the same is moved inwardly along its shaft and as a result the roll can be positioned to the inside of its guide plate and relatively close to but spaced somewhat from the center supporting roll II, depending on the size of the coil stock to be supported by the reel. The additional support provided by rolls I8 eliminates any possibility of damage to the strip material during the operation of uncoiling the same.

Shafts 43 and 44 extend. through hubs 48 formed integral with and projecting from the outside surface of side frames I II and II. Although each shaft 43 and 44 is adjustable in an axial direction, rotation of the shaft is prevented by the key 49 having location within each hub and fitting within a key-way 50 extending the length of each shaft. The end of shaft 43, projecting beyond its hub 48, has fixed theret a depending arm 5|. The lower end of the arm is apertured for receiving the operating rod 52 which is held against endwise movement with respect to the arm by the collars 53, which, however, permit rotation of said rod. The rod is threaded for a greater portion of its length and said end has threaded engagement with the stationary nut 54 suitably mounted in and secured to the side member I of the frame. The rod 52 is adapted to be rotated by the operator for which reason the projecting end has a square forma tion 55 for receiving a handle or the like, and as a result of said rotation the rod will be caused to travel axially and to impart similar movement to the shaft 43 and thus to the rotary guide plate 38. In a similar manner shaft 44 is provided with a depending arm 56 with which is associated the operating rod 51, likewise threaded for the greater portion of its length and which threaded portion passes through the stationary nut 58. Rotation of rod 51 will cause axial movement of the same with respect to the side member II and similar movement will be imparted to shaft 44 and to the rotary guide plate 40.

Each rotary guide plate is accordingly adjustable in an axial direction for accommodating coils of different widths and the supporting rolls I8 can also be varied in position on their respective shafts in order to provide the additional support for relatively wide coils. Irrespective of the width of the particular coil of stock supported by the present reel the same will be guided by the rotary discs and automatically centered on the reel. The said rotary discs in contacting the side edges of the coil protect the same against damage such as curling. It will be observed that although shafts 43 and 44 are held against rotation, nevertheless the guide plates 38 and 40 are mounted by the hubs 4I so as to have free rotation and means are provided in the form of operating rods 52 and 51 for adjusting the plates in an axial direction for elfectively holding the same in adjusted position.

There is associated with the present reel a coil catcher of novel design comprising an air cylinder 60 located below the diagonal end plate BI and pivotally mounted at 62 to a bracket 63 located adjacent the base I2 and the front wall I3 of the reel. The cylinder has connection with a source of air supply by pipe 64 and when air is admitted to the cylinder movement is imparted to the piston rod 65. The outer .end of the piston rod has pivotal connection as at 66 with the arm 61 supported for swinging movement as at 68 from the front wall I3 of the reel. At the connection 66 of the swinging arm with the piston rod the said arm provides a member III providing a contact surface for engagement with the periphery of the coil. As a result of the pivotal connection of the arm 61 with the frame and the pivotal support for the air cylinder 6| it will be observed that the said member III is directed forwardly and upwardly when air is admitted to the cylinder. In accordance with the invention the construction is such that member ID will contact the periphery of the coil and maintain the same in balanced relation on the rear shaft I4. When supported and balanced in this manner the center of the mass of the coil is located at C, Figure 1, which point is positioned on a vertical line slightly to the right of shaft I4. This locates the mass of the coil between the two supporting points and accordingly the coil will maintain its position, being mostly supported by shaft I4, which position is indicated by the dotted lines II, Figure'l.

The coil can now be gradually lowered onto the shaft I5, which operation only requires that the air be allowed to exit from cylinder 5i. As air issues from the cylinder the piston rod 65 will gradually move inward and the member III will move downward and inward. In the lowermost position of member I0 the coil will come to rest on shafts I4 and I5 and member 10 will have moved entirely out of contact with the periphery of the coil. The air cylinder makes it possible for heavy coils to be located on the reel without damage to the periphery of the coil or to the outer turns adjacent the periphery. In most plants the coils are rolled down an incline onto the reel from the rear. In the present reel the air cylinder is actuated preceding this operation and the member I0 acts as a catcher for the coil, preventing a rapid descent onto the forward shaft I5 which heretofore has been the cause of serious damage to the outer turns of metal on the coil. The present coil catcher also prevents damage to the supporting rolls and shafts of the reel since the heavy coils are prevented from contacting the front shaft l5 with excessive impact such as would be the case if the coil catcher were not present. The position of member 10 when located upwardly and forwardly, as in dotted lines in Figure 1, is important since the coil when supported by shaft [4 and said member 10 is balanced and the coil will maintain this position, allowing the operator to gradually lower the same in place when desired.

The invention is not to be limited to or by details of construction of the particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawingsi, as various other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a reel of the cradle type for supporting coil stock and the like, a frame member, a plurality of circumferentially disposed shafts journalled by the frame member, axially adjustable supporting rollers on each shaft adapted to contact the periphery of the coil for supporting the same, guiding means for the coil comprising a pair of rotary plates positioned on the respective sides of the coil, said rotary plates depending below the upper surface of the supporting rollers, and a removable insert in the periphery of each rotary plate providing clearance when removed to permit adjustment of the rollers along their respective shafts to either side of the rotary plates.

2. In a reel of the cradle type for supporting coil stock and the like, a frame member, a plurality of circumferentially disposed shafts journalled by the frame member, axially adjustable supporting rollers on each shaft adapted to contact the periphery of the coil for supporting the same, guiding means for the coil including a pair of rotary plates positioned on the respective sides of the coil, said rotary plates depending below the upper surface of the supporting rollers, a removable insert in the periphery of each rotary plate, said insert when removed providing a semi-circular opening to permit adjustment of the supporting rollers along their respective shafts to either side of the rotary plates, and axially adjustable shaft members mounting said plates for free rotation.

FREDERICK M. LITTELL.

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