US2331392A

US2331392A - Article-charging machine

Info

Publication number: US2331392A
Application number: US383624A
Authority: US
Inventors: Haig Paul
Original assignee: Inland Steel Co
Current assignee: Inland Steel Co
Priority date: 1941-03-15
Filing date: 1941-03-15
Publication date: 1943-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 1960-10-12

Description

Oct. 12, 1943. I

6 Sheets-Sheet 1 P. HAIG ARTICLE-CHARGING MACHINE Filed March 15 1941 7&507': QQ- I Oct. 12, 1943. P. HAIG I I ARTICLE-CHARGING MACHINE Filed Marh 15, 1941 e Sheet-Sheet 2 Jfdemiof: I V N (fazzz flm amw.

Oct. 12, 1943. P. HAIG v ARTICLE-CHARGING MACHINE Filed March 15,' 1941 e Sheets-Sheet 4 m2 Hazg- 2011a, 70W 3 P. HAIG ARTICLE-CHARGING MACHINE Oct. 12, 1943,.

Patented a.. 12 i943 ARTICLE-CHARGING MACHINE Paul Haig,Chicago, 111., assignor to Inland Steel Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware ' Application March 15, 1941, Serial No. 383,624 I I Claims. (01. 80-43) I My invention relates generally to machines for threading or charging article v to apparatus on which work is to be performed, as for example sheet or strip material particularly of metal such as steel, into continuously operating rolling apparatus such as a so-called cold mill to which the sheet or strip metal, wound in a coil, is fed for reducing it to a desired gauge.

My object generally stated, are to provide a machine for the purpose stated whereby danger to the workmen in the threading or charging operation is reduced to the minimum; to provide a comparatively simple and positively operating machine for this purpose; to insure the proper guiding of the article to the apparatus by which work is to be performed on the article; to avoid delay in the charging of the articles to the apparatus; and other objects as will be manifest from the following description.

It may be stated as a preface to a description of. my machine that the work of-charging or threading the tail end of a coil of sheet or strip metal into a cold mill as commonly provided, i quite dangerous to the workmen, as the sheet or strip is apt to be more or less violently thrust laterally in one direction or the other by the action of the rolls of the cold mill upon its initial entry between them, with such force as to injure the workmen handling the sheetor strip; my machine, which was devised for use more particularly, in connection with cold mills, though not to the exclusion of. its use in any other situation in which it would have utility, serving to avoiding danger to the workmen; insuring the f proper guiding of the sheet or strip to the cold mill; and avoiding delay in the operation of rolling successive lengths of sheets or strip.

7 Referring to the accompanyingidrawings:

Figure 1 is a view in sectional elevation of the ing or charging mechanism, involving my invention, associated with a cold mill, the mechanism being shown in normal position with the viewed from the right hand side of these figures.

Figure 4 i an enlarged view like Fig. 1 ofthe coil-threading or charging mechanism with certain parts broken away, this viewv showing the positions assumed by the parts of the mechanism immediately following. the entry of the tail end of the coil between, and into gripped condition with, the rolls of-the cold mill at-the entering end.

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation of a weighted lever device forming a part of means-for controlling the supporting and releasing. of thetail ends of the coils to be threaded or charged into the cold mill.

Figure 6 is a view in side elevation of one of two similar'weighted lever devices also forming parts of the means referred to in the above description of Fig. 5.

of the'arrows. Figure 10 is a section taken at the irregular entering end of a cold mill, showing coil-thread:

tail end of a coil positioned therein ready to be advanced to the cold mill, the section being taken at the irregular line l--l on Fig. 2 and viewed Figure 7 is a sectional view'taken at the irregular line l'! on Fig. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary 'view in elevation,

of means forming a part of the threading o'rcharging mechanism for gripping the tail end of the coil.

Figure 9 is a section-taken at the irregular line 99. on Fig. 8 and viewed in the direction line Ill-l0 on Fig. 4 and viewed in the direction of the arrows; and I Figure 11, a fragmentary sectional view of means for adjusting the sheet orstrip supporting members of the threading or charging mechanism for use with coil of different widths and into difierent positions in front of the cold mill.

As a preface to a detailed description of the illustrated embodiment of my invention, it may be stated that the machine shown comprises generally stated, a carrier l2 mounted at the entering end of a cold mill formovement toward and away from the mill and provided with members l3 for releasably supporting the tail end of the sheet-metal coil to be threaded into the cold mill, at the opposite longitudinal side edge-portions of the coil, the carrier 12 feeding the tail end of the coil to the cold mill; means for actuating the supporting members I3 to release the tail end of the coil; and means for restoring the sup- 1 porting members iii to a position for supporting the tail end of the'next coil to be threaded into the cold mill.

In the construction shown, the roll stand at the entering end of a cold mill, and shown of the four-high roll type, is represented at I4, the

mill being shown as provided, in accordance with common practice, with wiper or tensioning means l5 for engaging the tail end of the coil of sheet or strip metal, to be threaded, or charged, into the cold mill between its rolls Ma. The wiper means shown and of a well known construction comprises a stationary guide l6 extending lengthwise, and in front of, the roll stand H and across the full width of the sheet or strip to be threaded or charged into the cold mill; at bar located directly above, and parallel with, the guide H: and of the same length asthis guide, and means for moving the bar I! toward and away from the guide l8 to exert the desired degree of clamping pressure against the sheet or strip positioned between the guide l6 and bar to produce the desired tension on the sheet or strip, or to relatively separate these parts to permit of the insertion of the strip or sheet to position in the wiper mechanism; the upper face of the guide I5 and the under surface of the bar being surfaced with any suitable material, as

represented at l8 and I9, respectively, as for example wood. The bar I1 is supported by links pivoted at their lower ends to the ends of the bar l1 and at their upper ends to brackets secured to the inner sides of the frame 20 of the roll stand |4, one of the links and brackets being shown at 22 and 23, respectively, and the pivotal connections of this link at 24 and 25; the support for the bar I! also comprising a link 25 located midway between the ends of the bar I! and pivoted on a rod 21 connecting the brackets 23 together, the link 26 being pivoted at 28 to an arm 29 on the bar II. The link 26 is pivotally connected at 39 with the lower end of the piston-stem 3| of a fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder mechanism 32 having any suitable means for controlling the forcing of its piston in either direction as desired in accordance with common practice, for moving the bar |1 into and out of operative position.- The mechanism 32 is pivotally connected at the upper end of its cylinder 33 as indicated at 34 to a plate 35 mounted on a rod 36 supported on the frame The carrier I2 is mounted on a supporting frame 31 rigidly secured to the frame 20 of the roll stand I4, the frame 31 comprising a pair of upper and lower horizontal

parallel angle irons

38 and 39, respectively, extending crosswise of the machine and connected together by parallel vertical plates 40 extending crosswise of, and below, the angle-irons 3B and 39; a horizontal plate 4| below the angle-iron 39 between the lower ends of the plates 40; spaced apart parallel angle-irons 42 extending lengthwise of the machine and located at the-underside of the plate 4| between the lower ends of the plates 40 (Fig. the

plates

40 and 4| and the angle--

irons

38, 39 and 42 being rigidly secured together with bracing angle-irons 43 and 44 secured to the plate 4|;

plates

45 and 46 extending crosswise of the angle-irons 42 and rigidly secured thereto at the forward end of the supporting frame and adjacent its rear end, vre-- spectively, and parallel guide rods 41 extending lengthwise of the machine and rigidly connected at their ends with the

plates

45 and 46.

The frame 31 is shown as supported on the frame of the cold mill at its entering end by vertical pins 48 extending through the ends of the

angle irons

38 and 39 and through angle clips 49 secured to thecold-mill frame 20. Preferably at least one of the pins 48 is removable to adapt the supporting frame 3! to be swung, if desired, horizontally to one side of the cold mill.

The carrier l2 comprises an inverted channel member having a top plate portion 50 and depending side plate portions 5|, and parallel sleeve 52 rigidly secured to the top of the plate 50 and surrounding, and slidable along, the guide rods 41. The sleeves 52 are connected together at their forward ends by a plate 53 to which means for reciprocating the carrier l2 are connected, these means being shown as in the form of a fluid-pressure-operated piston and cylinder mechanism carried by the supporting frame 31, the cylinder of this mechanism and represented at 54 being secured to the supporting frame 31 by the

cylinder ends

55 and 55, and the piston stem thereof, which is connected with the plate 53, being represented at 51. Valve means for controlling the admission to the ends of the cylinder 54, alternately, of actuating fluid pressure supplied from any suitable source through a pipe 58, and for venting the cylinder of spent fluid pressure, are represented diagrammatically at 59. The valve means shown are of the well known two-way-valve type with pipeconnections 60 and GI to the opposite ends of the cylinder 54 and pipe connection 62 to exhaust.

The members I3 for releasably supporting the sheet or strip to be delivered to the cold mill and which extend lengthwise of the machine are pivotally supported at their upper portions as indicated at 63, to swing at their lower edge portions, provided with inwardly directed flanges 64 upon which the sheet or strip is supported, in a direction crosswise of the machine into and out of the full line and dotted line positions shown in Fig. 10.

The pivots 53 on which the members l3 swing are shown as provided on heads 65 slidable crosswise of the machine on a pair of parallel rods 68 and on an intermediate square shaft 61, mounted in the side plates 5| of the carrier I2, the shaft 61 being -journaled in these plates.

The pivotal connections 63 of the members |3 with the heads 65, are provided between upwardly extending ears 68 on the members l3 and depending ears 69 on the heads; and the portions of the heads through which the square shaft 61 extends are formed of pairs of upwardly extending apertured ears 10, containing bushings rotatable therein and having square openings to receive the shaft 61.

The heads 65 are slidable on the rods 66 and the shaft 61 to permit the sheet or strip supportin members l3 to be adjusted for sheets or strips of different widths and into any desired position in front of the rolls of the cold mill; such adjustment being effected by means of a pair of screws 12, having hand wheels 13 rigid therewith, joumaled in the side plates 5|, but held against longitudinal movement by collars 14 on these screws, and having threaded engagement with square nuts 15 held stationary by the heads 65 and confined between depending pairs of ears 16 on these heads.

The means controlling the position of the sheet or strip supporting members l3 comprise arms H on the square shaft 61 between the ears 10 of each pair thereof and rotatable with this shaft, the outer ends of the arms 11 being loosely pivotally connected at 18 with the upper ends of links 19 loosely pivotally connected at their lower ends, as indicated at 80, to the supporting members I3 at spaced apart ears 8| thereon. Thus rocking position shown in Fig. 1 in which movement thislever has engaged the stop 86 on lever 8nd, rocked the shaftfi'l counterclockwise, in which} operation the sheet or strip supportin me'mbers I3 have been moved to sheet or trip supporting,

83 is provided with stops 86'and '81 at opposite sides of the shaft 67, the stop 86 being'shownas in the form of a screw, thus rendering it adjustable. A stop 88 on one of the side plates 5| of the carrier I2 serves, in conjunction with the lea ver 83, to 1imit clockwise turning of the shaft 61 in Fig. 5 in which turning movement the sheet or strip supporting members I 3 are swung outwardly to sheet or strip releasing position as shown inv full lines in Fig. 10.

Cooperating with the lever 83 is what may b i termed a flying weight shown as in the form of a lever 89 rotatable on the shaft 51 and having a weight 90 at its outer end. The lever 89'which.

cooperates with the stops 86 and 8'! alternately, is provided with an upwardly inclined arm 9|. adapted in the reciprocations of the carrier I2 to alternately engage

stops

92 and 93 on the stationary supporting frame 31 for throwing the lever 89 first in one direction and then in the other to oscillate the square shaft 61 by alternately engaging the

stops

81 and 86 on the lever 83 and thus swing the sheet or strip supporting members I3 out of sheet or strip supporting position in the movement of the carrier I2 toward the cold mill, and into such supporting position in the movement of the carrier away from the cold mill.

Fig. 1 illustrates the mill inthe process of rolling a sheet or strip from a coil X, shown in dotted lines, the greater portion of which has already passed through the mill, and shows-the next succeeding coil Y from which the leading end of the sheet or strip, is to be threaded or at 91, and extending thr'oughfthe opening in the coil X. The succeeding coil Y'is rolled up to a stop shoulder 98 which prevents this coil from rubbing against the coil ahead of it, but over which stop shoulder the'coil rides when pull is exerted on the sheet or, strip of this coil, by the cold mill, the dottedrepresentation Z of a coil in Fig. 1 representing econ which has been pulled over the stop shoulder 98 to the-rollers 94 by the action of the cold mill. a

The leading end of the sheet or strip of the succeeding coil Y, while-the one ahead of it is being passed through the cold mill, is partially unwound from the coil as shown and introduced into the carrier I2 to rest at its lateral edgeson the supporting member's I3 positioned as shown by dotted lines in Fig-lopand extend at its terminal edge close to the wiper'device I5 (Fig. 1). In this position of th'e'pa'rts of the mechanism the carrier I2 is in its rearwardmost position in which the engagement of the arm 9| of the lever 89 with the stop 93 has rocked the lever 89 from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position;

As soon as the inner bar; and also conditions the valve 59 to admit operating fiuidpressure to the rear end of the cylinder 54 and open its forward .end to exhaust, whereupon the carrier I2 moves forwardly toward the cold mill, carrying the leading end of the sheet orstrip through the wiper device and into the nipof the rolls I4a of the roll stand 20 whereupon theoperatorilowers thebar I! to operative position. a 3 r 3 Immediately before the carrier I2 reaches its forwardmost position the rolls I Ia of the roll stand I4 grip the leading end of the sheet or strip and pull it into the mill, the arm 9| of the the sheet or strip supporting members I3 out of,

supporting position, whereupon the sheet or strip drops from the carrier I2 intoitsnatural curve belowjthe members I3 and the sheet or strip" is unwound from the coil as the cold mill continues to operate; the coil Y, under the pull of the cold mill, riding over the stop shoulder 98 and upon 7 therollers 94 in which position the coil-restraining rod 96 is applied to position. r

During such unwinding of the coil Y the operator restores the threading or charging mechanism to normal position (Fig. 1) and positions in this mechanism the leading end of the next coil to be operated onby the cold mill. v The threading or charging mechanism is restored to normal position by the operatonmanipulating the valve 59 to admit operating fluid pressure to the forward end of the cylinder 54 and open its rear'end to exhaust. Insuch movement of the carrier I2 the arm 9I on thelever 89 strikes the stop 93thus. throwing the lever 89 against the stop 88 on the leverv83 which swings means shown for this purpose comprise dogs I00 pivoted at IN to clips I02 secured to the sides of the sheet or strip supporting members I3 and normallyspring pressed to clamp. the sheet. or strip'to these members and drag it forwardly in the forward movement of the carrier.

. The spring means shown for this purpose comprise, for each dog I00, a rod I03 pivoted at I04 to an ear I05 on the dog I 00 .and slidable in. a

lug I06 on the adjacent supporting member I3 and a coil spring I01 surrounding .the rod I03 and confined between the lug I06 and a stop I08 on the rod; and tending to rock the dog I00 down wardly. The lower ends of the dogs I00are serratedas indicated at I09 of the dog shown in,

Figs. '7 and 8 and the-sheet or strip is clamped against inclined guidesJ I0 which, with reversely inclined guides III on the supporting members ortrailing endof the coil X has passed beyond the roll-stand I4 the operator-actuates'the mechanism 32 to lift the wiper l3, form throats to receive the edges of the sheet or strip, the dogs I being preferably set in from the longitudinal edges of the sheet or strip, as shown of the one dog in Fig. 9, to avoid clamping the sheet or strip at its edges which sometimes are rough and if so prevent the proper grip on the sheet or strip.

As will be understood, the pull exerted by the rolls of the mill, on the sheetor strip automatically releases the grip of the dogs I00 on the sheet or strip and thus the dogs do not interfere with the swinging of the supporting members [3 out of supporting position in the forward movement of the carrier l2.

While I have illustarted and described a particular construction embodying my invention I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto as the same may be variously modified and altered and the invention embodied in other forms of structure without departing from the spirit of my invention, it being my intention to claim my invention as fully and completely as the prior state of the art will permit; and inlthis connection, it may be stated that while I have illustrated and described my invention as applied to the threading or charging of sheet or strip coiled material to a cold mill, I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto as it is my intention to cover the invention for any and all uses to which it may be'put.

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

1. A machine of the character set forth, comprising a movable carrier having means for supporting an article to be fed, said means comprising movably supported article-supporting mem bers adapted to move crosswise of the machine in the direction of the width of the article into and out of article-supporting position, a shaft journaled on said carrier, connections between said members and shaft for actuating said members upon rotating said shaft, and means for rotating said shaft comprising stops relative to which said carrier moves and a member movable on said carrier and cooperating with said stops and operating, when said carrier 'is moved in one direction to engage one of said stops and rotate said shaft in one direction andwhen said carrier is moved in the other direction to engagethe other of said stops and rotate said shaft in the opposite direction.

2; A machine of the charatcer set forth, com

prising a movable carrier having means for supporting an article to be fed, said means comprising movably supported article-supporting mcmbers adapted tomove crosswise of the machine in the direction of the width of the article into and out of article-supporting position, a shaft Journaled on said carrier, connections between said members and shaft for actuating said members'upon rotating said shaft, and means for rotating said shaft comprising stops relative to which said carrier moves and a lever movable on said carrier to opposite sides of a vertical position and cooperating with said stops andoperating upon engaging one of said stops to swing in one direction beyond vertical position and rotate said shaft in one direction and upon engaging the other of said stops to swing in the opposite direction beyond vertical position anr rotate said shaft in the other direction.

3. A machine of the character set forth, comprising a movable carrier having means for supporting an article to be fed, said means comprising movably supported article-supporting members adapted to move crosswise of the machine in the direction of the width of the article into and out of article-supporting position, a shaft journaled on said carrier, connections between said members and shaft for actuating said members upon rotating said shaft, and means for rotating said shaft comprising a stop relative to which said carrier moves, a lever rotatable with said shaft and having a stop, and a member movable on saidcarrier and cooperating with said stops and operating upon engaging said first-named stop to engage said secondnamed stop and swing said lever for rotating said shaft.

4. A machine of the character set forth, comprising a movable carrier having means for supporting an article to be fed, said means comprising movably supported article-supporting members adapted to move crosswise of the machine in the direction of the width of the article into and out of article-supporting position, a shaft journaled on said carrier, connections between said members and shaft for actuating said members upon rotating said shaft, and means for rotating first and second-named stopsQsaid member in' the movement of said carrier in one direction engaging one of said first-named stops and operating toengage one of said second-named stops and move said lever in a direction for actuating said shaft in one direction, and in the movement of said carrier in the other direction engaging the other of said first-named stops and operating to engage the other of said second-named stops and move said lever in a direction for rotating said shaft in the other direction.

5. A machine of the character set forth, comprising a movable carrier, means thereon for supporting an article to be fed at its opposite lateral edges, said means being movable crosswise of said carrier in the direction of the width of the article into and out of article-supporting position, and means carried by said first-named means operating in the feeding movement of said carrier to feed the article therewith, releasable, upon the exertion of force against the article, independent of thatexerted by said carrier, in the direction of the feeding movement.

6. Apparatus for feeding successive articles to rolls comprising, a movable carrier; means on said carrier for supporting an end of an article in a position vertically spaced from the previously fed article with said end adjacent the rolls ready for introduction to the rolls when the previously fed article has passed through the same; means to move the carrier to feed said end to the rolls; and means to automatically release the supporting means from the article when the article is moved by the rolls.

7. A machine of the character set forth, comprising a movable carrier, a stationary support therefor, means on said carrier for supporting an article to be fed in a feeding position vertically spaced from a previously fed article while the latter is being worked, said last named means operable for movement out of article supporting position, means operating upon movement of said carrier on its feed stroke to a predetermined position, to actuate said first named means to release the article, and means comprising a stationary abutment upon the carrier-supporting-means and means moving with the carrier crosswise of said carrier in 2,331,892 and movable thereon contacting with said abutment operating upon movement of the carrier on its return stroke to return the first named means to article supporting position.

8. In amachine of the character described, a movable carrier, threaded shafts mounted on said carrier, pivot blocks having respective'screwthreaded engagement with said shaftsyarticlesupporting means pivotally supported by said blocks for swinging movement in the direction of the width of the supported article, into and out ofsupporting position, a non-cylindrical shaft mounted in the. carrier parallel with said threaded shafts, actuating blocks slidably mounted on said non-cylindrical shaft to be oscillated thereby, connections between said actuating blocks and the respective article supporting means to cause swing of the latter when the actuating blocks are oscillated, means to cause partial rotation of said. non-cylindrical shaft to move said supporting means between article supporting and releasing positions, and means to cause rotation of said threaded shafts to move said threaded and actuating blocks whereby to adjust the spacing of said supporting means for articles of different widths.

9. A machine ofthe character set forth comprising a movable carrier, means thereon for supporting an article to be fed, said means having a supporting surface and being movable the direction of the width of the article into and out of article supporting position, and means for feeding the article by movement of said carriage comprising a clamp member for clamping the article against said supporting surface, said clamp member mounted on said first named means and movable relative to the latter and mount of said member whereby contact of an article to be fed with said member moves the latter away from said supporting surface to allow free movement of the article in a feeding direction relative to said last named means while preventing retrograde relative movement be-' tween the article and said last named means.

10. A machine of the character set forth, comprising a movable carrier, means thereon for supporting an article to be fed, said means having a supporting surface and being movable crosswise of said carrier in the direction of the width of the article into and out of article sup- 4 porting position, a clamp pivoted on said support upon an axis spaced from said surface a distance less than the extension of said clamp toward said surface, and means to urge said clamp toward said surface about its pivot, said clamp and said surface lying at an angle less than with the apex of the angle'facing in the direction of feed of the article, whereby an article placed on the support and moved forwardly on said surface will be automatically clamped against retrograde movement and released from.

action of the clamp when force against the article is exerted independent of that exerted by said carrier in a direction of feed.

' PAUL HAIG.

means involving the