US2762418A

US2762418A - Method and apparatus for unwrapping a coil of metal stock

Info

Publication number: US2762418A
Application number: US318028A
Authority: US
Inventors: Smith Arthur Dean
Original assignee: Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corp
Current assignee: Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corp
Priority date: 1952-10-31
Filing date: 1952-10-31
Publication date: 1956-09-11
Anticipated expiration: 1973-09-11

Description

p 6 A. D. SMITH 2,762,418

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNWRAPPING A COIL 0F METAL. STOCK FilQd Oct. 31, 1952.

9 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. BEEN SMITH BY Cg? ATTORNEY Sept. 11, 1956 A. D. SMITH 2,762,418

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNWRAPPING A COIL OF METAL STOCK Filed oct 51, 1952 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. fi- D3223) MITH flTTORNEY A. D. SMITH Sept. 11, 1956 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNWRAPPING A COIL OF METAL STOCK Filed Oct. 31, 1952 9 Sheets-Sheet :s

INVENTOR. f5. DEAN 5M1 TH ETTORNEY Sept. 11, 1956 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNWRAPPING A COIL OF METAL STOCK Filed Oct. 31, 1952 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. i3- EBN M 1TB ATTORNE Sept. 11, 1956 A. D? SMITH METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNWRAPPING A COIL OF METAL STOCK 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 31, 1952 INVENTOR. A DEAN SMITH Q n 0 FA ATTORNEY A. D. SMITH Sept. 11, 1956 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNWRAPPING A COIL OF METAL STOCK Filed Oct. 31, 1952 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 W V1 ,N mm m .N, T NW A i B 3 Wow A. D. SMITH Sept. 11, 1956 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNWRAPPING A COIL OF METAL STOCK Filed Oct. 31, 1952 9, Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG-5.

INVENTOR. A EJAN MITH 5 ATTORNEY 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 A. D. SMITH METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNWRAPPING A COIL OF METAL STOCK Filed 0C. 31, 1952 Sept. 11, 1956 INVENTOR. f5- EHN SMITH Sept..11, 1956 A. D. SMITH 2,

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNWRAPPING A COIL QF METAL STOCK Filed Oct. 51, 1952 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 FIG-.7.

INVENTOR. A. DEAN SMITH BTTORNEY United States Patent METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNWRAPPING A COIL OF NIETAL STOCK Arthur Dean Smith, Spokane, Wash., assignor to Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation, Oakland, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application October 31, 1952, Serial No. 318,028

22 Claims. (Cl. 153-54) This invention relates to a method and apparatus for unwinding coils of metal stock. More particularly, it is concerned with providing a novel method and apparatus for quickly and etficiently disengaging the tail end of a coil of sheet material from the remainder of a coil and for thereafter squaring and delivering this freed end portion of the coil to a metal working device, While maintaining the coil in proper alignment therewith.

Various devices have been developed in the past for unwrapping coils of metal and for feeding the unwrapped portions of the coil to a metal working machine. These have not always proven satisfactory for one or more reasons.

Certain of these devices were so constructed they could not be used without scarring or marking portions of the coils while other machines used to pry the tail end of the coil from the remainder of the coil cause undesirable creases or bends to be made in the sheet metal a result which is not only commercially unacceptable, but also to prevent the sheet metal from being properly threaded between the rolls of a subsequent metal working machine.

Since it is commonly accepted practice in. the metal working industry to coil the strip metal tightly, whenever it is necessary to unwrap the coil, the free tail end of: the coil, which forms a part of the last wrap of the coil, must first be pried loose from the remainder of the tightly wound coil.

Furthermore, additional care must be exercised during the removal of the tail portion and last wrap of the coil from the remainder of the coil so that the uncoiling will take place without causing a telescoping of the coil, which would then result in feeding the strip off center to the metal working machine.

A further disadvantage inherent in the use of certain of the tail pulling devices employed in the past is that they were not always capable of maintaining sufficient tension on the last wrap of the coil during the tail pulling operation so that looping and buckling occurred in the strip.

In using other tail pulling devices it also was necessary to employ a number of workmen who would catch the loose end of the coil with their hands, after it had been pried loose from the coil. These workmen would then manually thread the loose end of the coil through various working rolls into the metal working machine. The dangerous working conditions presented thereby are obvious.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel device for disengaging the tail of a coil of strip material from the remainder of the coil, which canbe used with a minimum amount of damage to the surface of the strip material.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel coil tail pulling device, which can be used to disengage the tail end of the coil from the remainder of the coil quickly and efliciently.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel coil tail pulling device, which will disengage the final wrap of strip material from the remainder of the coil, and thereafter feed the coil to another metal working device in a straight horizontal line and Without causing a telescoping of the coil. I

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel coil tail pulling device for disengaging the last wrap of a coil from the remainder of the coil along a line parallel to the axis of the coil.

Another object of this invention is to provide a coil tail pulling device having novel means for grasping the tail of the coil, and for initially unwinding the coil.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel coiitail pulling device for use in disengaging the tail of a coil from the remainder of the coil, which can perform all of the necessary operations efficiently while requiring but a minimum amount of manual work.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel coil tail pulling device for use in disengaging the tail of a coil from the remainder of the coil having novel means for tensioning the unwrapped portions of the coil so as to prevent unnecessary bending and folding of the said unwrapped'portions of the coil, while the tail end portion is being disengaged from the remainder of the coil.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel method of unwrapping a coil of strip metal.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel method of unwrapping a coil of strip metal and thereafter feeding the unwrapped portions of the coil to a metal working apparatus while maintaining the coil in proper alignment with the latter device.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel method of unwrapping a coil of metal and of squaring the free tail portion of the coil so that it may be conveniently and properly threaded in the rolls of ametal working apparatus. a

These and other objects are accomplished by providing a novel tail pulling apparatus which'includes a carriage movable axially of and along the outer periphery of a coil forthe entire width thereof. r

A plurality of cooperating rolls are mounted lengthwise on the carriage. A wedge-shaped member is also mounted on the carriage adjacent the forward end of the cooperating rolls. Suitable means are employed for moving the carriage forward axially of and along the outer periphery of the coil adjacent the free tail of the coil so that the wedge-shaped member and the rolls can be successively inserted between the last wrap of the coil including the free tail portion thereof and the rest of the coil, thereby causing the last wrap of coil and the free tail portion to be disengaged from the remainder of the coil. Thereafter, the coil is rotated by means of the aforesaid rolls which grip the tail end of the coil and cause it to be fed in a straight line to a metal working machine such as a rolling mill.

Suitable shearingmeans may also be interposed between the tail pulling device and the rolling mill so that the leading edge of the coil may be properly squared prior to its entry into the rolling mill.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention will become more apparent from a review of the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein:

Figures 1 and 1a constitute a side'elevational view of the tail pulling device of the instant invention;

Figures 2 and 2a constitute a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 1a;

Figure3 is an enlarged broken side elevational view of the lower forward portion of the tail pulling device;

Figure 4 is an enlarged broken plan view of that portion of the tail pulling apparatus which is shown in Figure 4 with the coil which is engaged by the apparatus being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 6 is an end view partially broken of the coil cradle apparatus used with the tail pulling device of the instant invention showing its position with respect to a metal working machine such as a rolling mill and with a suitable shearing device disposed therebetween;

Figure 7 is an end view of the tail pulling device when taken along lines 77 of Figure 1. i

In the preferred embodiment of the invention and as indicated in Figures 1, 1a, 2 and 2a, the tail pulling apparatus of the instant invention may be generally comprised of the upstanding framework 10, which includes the

upright members

11 and 12 mounted on floor 2 of arolling mill, bridging members 13 and the upper crossbraces or frame members 14. A pair of tracks 15 is located on top of the

upright members

11 and 12 along which the rollers 16 affixed to a movable carriage 17 are adapted to travel.

Dependingly attached to the carriage 17 are a plurality of downwardly projecting cradle arms 18. All of these latter arms 18 are spaced a suitable distance apart. Attached to the lower portion of certain of the projecting arms 18 is a horizontal shelf 19. Mounted on shelf 19 is a gear box 20, the function of which will be described later. Mounted on the top portion of the carriage 17 is an electrical motor 21 adapted to drive a shaft 22 which is attached to suitable gears (not shown) in a gear box 23 by means of the coupling 24. Gear box 23 contains suitable reduction gears which in turn are adapted to control the rotation of a pulley 25 affixed to the shaft 26 which protrudes from the other end of the gear box housing 23. v

A pulley chain 27 connects pulley 25 to a second pulley 28 connected to a shaft 29, which shaft in turn is connected to suitable gears located in the gear box or housing 20, which gears operate to move the rolls 36 of the tail pulling device in a manner to be described later.

A pair of hydraulic cylinders 32 are suitably affix'ed to the upper frame members 14. Piston rods 33 are attached by means of the couplings 34 to the horizontal transverse bar member 35 on the movable carriage 17. Cylinders 32 and rods 33 are operated by any suitable means. Accordingly, it will be now observed that upon reciprocation of the piston rods 33 within hydraulic cylinders 32, the carriage 17 will be moved forward or backward depending upon the direction of the stroke of the piston rods 33 in cylinders 32.

Also affixed to certain of the depending members 18 adjacent the horizontal platform 19 is a group of rolls 36. This grouping of rolls includes a pair of pinch rolls 37 and 38 and bending rolls 39 and 40 which are located on the side of the pinch rolls 37 and 38 which is closest to the metal working device. Roll 37 is journaled at its extremities in vertically adjustable bearing members or blocks 42 and 44. Roll 38 is journaled in. the vertically fixed bearing

members

43 and 45. Roll 39 is jdurn'aled in a fixed bearing member 44 thereof at the forward end and at the other extremity in a fixed bearing member (not shown). Roll 40 is journaled in a fixed bearing member (not shown) at the rearward end thereof and at the forward end to a fixed bearing member 45'.

By referring to Figures 1, 4 and 5, it will be noted that the bearing or

journaling members

43, 45 and 45' and the other bearing member for roll 40 are suitably mounted upon the carriage 17 with journaling members 45 and 45' being located in suitable openings or recesses located in a tapered nose or wedge-shaped member 47 which is attached to the arms 18 on the carriage 17 by means of the elongated suspension arm 46 and brackets 46. This arm 46 can be made in the form of a casting or forging. When the suspension arm '46 is in the form of a casting or forging, it is contemplated that suitable longitudinal recesses will also be made in the casting or forging for receiving the main body portion of the lowermost pinch and bending rolls. This nose piece or wedgeshaped member 47 is adapted to be thrust into the last wrap of a coil 76 in order to pry the same away from the remainder of the coil. As the wedge shaped member 47 is thrust into the last wrap of a coil 76 it not only forces the last wrap of coil away from the main body portion of the coil, but in addition, it also forces the last wrap or free tail portion of the coil along its entire Width between the group of cooperating rolls 36. This group of rolls includes the several pinch rolls 37 and 38 as well as the bending rolls 39 and 46.

All of the aforesaid rolls are positively driven, roll 37 being connected to the gears in gear box 20 by means of thefiexible coupling 51', roll 38 by means of the flexible coupling roll 39 by means of flexible coupling 52, and roll 40 by means of similar flexible coupling (not shown).

All of the gears in box 20, which are driving gears, are driven bymeans of the pulley 28 attached to shaft 29, which pulley in turn, as stated before, is connected by the pulley chain 27 to the pulley 25 connected to 'shaft 26, 'thru gear reducer 23, which is driven ultimately by the fnOtOr 21.

Bearing blocks 42 and 44 for roll 37 are fastened at "their upper edges to the internally threaded

hollow rods

48 and 49, respectively. The adjusting screws 50 and "51 fit within these rods at their lower extremities. The upper extremities of

screws

50 and 51 are attached to the bevel gears 52 and 53. These gears in turn are adapted to mesh with the bevel gears 54 and 55 connected to the rod 56 horizontally mounted on the carriage 17. A handwheel -57 is also attached to rod 56. By turning this handwheel, minute adjustments of the pinch rolls 37 and 38 can be made after the pinch rolls 37 and 38 are. initially closed and the top bending roll 39 is seated adjacent the bottom bending roll 40 in the depression 39 in suspension arm 46 adjacent the nose piece 47, by means ofthe adjusting mechanism 60.

This'adjus'ting mechanism 60 includes a pair of hydraulically operated cylinders 61 connected by suitable means (not shown) to the carriage 17. Piston rods 62 are adapted to reciprocate in these cylinders and the free ends of these piston rods are affixed to the longithe upper rolls 37 and 39 from carriage 17 and cross bars 64, may be attached to frame member 63. Cross bars 64 and 65 and the

bracket members

66 and 67 may also be used for mounting the adjusting screws 50 and 51 and in turn roll 37 on carriage 17, and rod '56 to which the handwheel 57 is attached can be mounted on certain of these cross bars 64 and 65. The bearing blocks for roll 39 may be afiixed by any suitable means to the frame member 63.

'It will now be obvious that the screw-down mechanism or device 60 can be used to adjust the depth of the top bending roll 39 with respect to bending roll 40. The depth of this former roll must be adjusted with respect to roll 40 to remove the coil set for the various tempers and gauges of material engaged by the tail pulling mechanism so that as the tail on the metal is pulled it will remain approximately flat, and leave the tail pulling device in substantially a horizontal plane as indicated in Figure 5.

The means for operating the adjusting mechanism 66 comprises a hydraulic pump 30 mounted on the movable carriage 17. This pump receives liquid from a tank -31 and then discharges fluid through a suitable hydraulic system into the hydraulic cylinders 61 within which the piston rods 62 are adapted to reciprocate.

Attached to the movable carriage 17 adjacent the forward portion thereof is a face plate 70 and a lug mem ber 71 protrudes from the central lower portion of this plate.

The aforesaid tail pulling device, including frame 10 and carriage 17, is disposed adjacent a suitable coil and down ending device 81, an example of which is indicated in Figures 1a, 2a and 6. This down ending device 81 is locatedin a suitable depression 82 in the floor 2 of the rolling mill in such a way that when the down ending device is operated to place the axis of the coil 76 in a horizontal plane, the vertical center line of the coil will be aligned with the vertical center line of a metal working apparatus such as a rolling mill 75 to which the coil is to be fed. This down ending device comprised of coil cradle 78 is mounted within the depression 82 in the floor 2 of the building on a suitable framework 83 to which is attached a plurality of upstanding bracket members 84 for mounting the flanged rollers 85.

The coil cradle 78 is generally comprised of a pair of spaced arcuate members 86, which engage the flanged rollers 85. These arcuate members are provided with small

arcuate lip portions

87 and 87 at each extremity thereof, which serve as stops, when the arcuate members or sections are rotated during the operation of the coil cradle 78. Suitable bridging members 88 are located at predetermined spaced points between each of the arcuate members 86. A platform 89 is also movably mounted on the coil cradle and it bridges the space between the arcuate members 86. Platform 89 is provided with a plurality of aligned freely rotating and coil engaging rollers 90.

As indicated particularly in Figures la, 2a and 6, the lower portion of the plate 89 is attached at each side thereof to a suitable roller 91. These rollers are adapted to travel in suitable guides 92 aflixed to the arcuate members 86 of the coil cradle 81 by means of the gusset plates 93. The back portion of platform 89 also has a plurality of adjusting screws 94 aflixed thereto. These screws are adapted to be inserted in sprocket wheels 94 journaled on the cross frame members 95'. All of the sprocket wheels 94 are linked together by an endless chain 95, which is operated by a main sprocket wheel or pulley 96 attached to shaft 97 driven by motor 98 through the medium of gears (not shown) located in gear box 98'. A suitable limit switch mechanism 97' may also be connected to shaft 97 if desired.

It will now be obvious that when the coil cradle 78 is down ended by any suitable mechanism well known in the art and not shown since it forms no critical part of the invention, the arcuate members 86 will be moved along the rollers 85 until the axis of the coil is located along a horizontal plane as indicated in the several figures of the drawings. At this time also, platform 89 can be adjusted by means of the screws 94 so that the vertical center line of the coil after it has been down ended can be located along the center line of the apparatus to which the coil is to be fed, such as, for example, the rolling mill 75. The use of adjustable platform 89 also makes it possible to adjust the coil with the mill 75 for the varying widths of material from which the coil might be made up.

Also suitably attached to the coil cradle 78 between the arcuate members 86 is a pair of cradle rolls 100, these rolls being journaled in

suitable bearing members

101 and 102. Rollers 100 can be raised or lowered so that the down ending device can be operated to accommodate various diameters of coils through the medium of the hydraulic cylinder 103 dependingly attached by suitable means to the coil cradle 78, within which a suitable piston rod 104 is adapted to be reciprocated. This piston rod in turn is connected at its free end by a flexible coupling 105 to the platform 105 upon which the bearing members for rolls 100 are mounted.

These cradle rolls 100 also act as the primary support ing means for the coil after it has been down ended by the down ending device 81, while the platform 89 serves as the primary supporting surface for the coil when the coil is located in an up-ended position having initially been placed on the down ending apparatus in this position by a suitable coil transfer device.

Means are also provided for rotating the cradle rolls such as an electric motor 106, which drives a suitable chain 107 or pulley belt connected directly to the cradle rolls 100. Motor 106 is advantageously provided with a suitable clutch arrangement (not shown) so as to permit free wheeling of the rolls 100 when a coil is rotated while motor 106 is not in operation. For example, it is contemplated that the loose wraps on a coil will be removed by the positive operation of rolls 100 when they are driven by motor 106. Thereafter, as the tail of the coil is played out from the remainder of the coil and threaded through the bending rolls of the tail pulling device, the main part of the coil will still remain on the rolls 100 and the motor 106 at this time is inoperative. Consequently, it is necessary for properly playing out the loosened tail portion of the coil that rolls 100 be still free to rotate as the coil is rotated. Otherwise, if the rolls remained stationary they would resist rotation of the coil when the loosened tail portion is fed to the bending rolls of the tail pulling device. Located adjacent the coil tail pulling device and coil cradle 78 is a coil kick-off device well known in the art and comprised of the hydraulically operated roll 108, which is employed for moving the coil ofi of the cradle rolls 100 at the desired time.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the coil cradle 78 is provided with a backing plate 151 located at the top thereof. A slot 150 is located within this backing plate. Slot 150 is employed so as to provide an opening in the coil cradle device for receiving the locking lug 71 afiixed to carriage 17 adjacent the wedge shaped member 47.

As indicated in Figures 2, 2a and 6, the preferred embodiment of the invention further contemplates that a suitable lateral shearing mechanism be located adjacent the coil tail pulling device and in between the coil tail pulling device and the apparatus to which the coil is being fed, this shearing mechanism being designated by the numeral 110. This shearing device is generally comprised of the elongated framework 111, which is located in spaced and parallel relationship to the upstanding framework 10 for the tail pulling device. This frame 111 is provided with a suitable trackway or guideway 112 within which the upper flanged portion 113 of the housing 114 for the cooperating

rotary shears

115 and 116 is adapted to travel. The free end of a piston rod 118, which is adapted to reciprocate in a hydraulic cylinder 119, rigidly attached to the framework 110, is also connected to the housing 114 for the

rotary shears

115 and 116.

Dependingly aifixed to the lower portions of the guideway 112 on frame 111 is a horizontally disposed toothed rack 120. This rack is adapted to be contacted by the teeth of a pinion gear 120 journaled in housing 114. Gear 120 in turn meshes with the gear 121 journaled on a shaft 122 to which the upper rotating shear 115 is also connected. Gear 121 also is adapted to mesh with gear 123 mounted on shaft 124 to which the lower rotary shear 116 is afiixed. Accordingly, it will now be observed that as the housing 114 for the shears is moved forward along trackway 112, the pinion gear 120 will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction by means of the rack 120 when the carriage 114 is moved forward with the

several gears

121 and 123 in turn being rotated in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction, respectively, in such a fashion that the proper rotary motion will thereby be imparted to the rotary shears or

knives

115 and 116. When the carriage is moved backward, the motion of all the above gears will, of course, be reversed. Thus, the knives will rotate as a result of the forward and backward horizontal motion of the housing 114,v as it is driven by the pistonrod 118 operating. In the preferred embodiment ofin the cylinder 119. the invention, it is contemplated. thatthe pitch diameter of the rotary knives or

shears

116 and 115 be slightly larger than the pitch diameter of the gears. This in turn will give the rotary shears a function wherein the shears will tend to pull the material being cut into the knives, after it has first been threaded throughthe tail pulling device and fed to the shears. The point of peripheral contact between the

shears

115 and 116 is also preferably located on a horizontal line which is parallei to the top of the coil and the horizontal center line of the rolls in the case of a rolling mill. It is also contemplated that a suitable scrap collecting. receptacle may be afiixed to the housing 114 for collecting the scrap metal sheared from the coil 76.

The operation of the tail pulling mechanism and related apparatus isas follows: The coil is placed upon the down ending device in an up-ended condition after which, as indicated in the various figures, the down ending device 81 is rotated so that the end of the coil will be resting against the series of rollers 90 and directly upon the cradle rolls 100 in such a fashion that the axis of the coil is located in a horizontal plane. Platform 89 along with its rollers 98 is then adjusted by means of the screws 94 so that the vertical center line of the coil, after it has been down ended, is aligned with the vertical center line of the apparatus to which the coil is to-be fed.

At this juncture, the cradle rolls 100 are driven positively by means of the motor 106 so that the coil may be rotated to eliminate any looseness in the wrappings of the coil after which the coil is then further rotated if necessary so that it will assume a position where the last wrap or tail portion of thecoil is located approximately at the top of the coil where it can be conveniently engaged by the tail. pulling device. The coil is then elevated the necessary amount on the cradle rolls by means of the hydraulic cylinder and

piston

163 and 104 un til the outside wrap is brought in line with the piercing nose piece or wedge-shaped member 47 on the tail puller. When in this position, if the gap left in the outside wrap is not quite wide enough to permit the piercing nose or wedge-shaped member to enter, the operator may then pry a gap open with a bar to permit the entry of the piercing nose between the outside wrap and the remainder of the coil proper. In most instances, however, the coil will have been initially wrapped in such a way that a small set or crimp will be placed in the sheet near the tail end of the coil which will prevent the tail of the coil from nestling close to the main body of coil, and thereby leaving an adequate space for the nose 47 of the tail pulling device to enter the coil. At this time, the carriage 17 of the tail pulling device is operated and moved forward so that the piercing nose 47 will move through the coil between the last wrap on the coil and the coil proper until the nose enters a slot 159 in the backing plate 151 located at the top of the coil cradle 78. The wedge shaped member 47 is moved axially along and across the entire width of the coil adjacent the free tail portion thereof in such a manner that the wedge shaped member 47 will be inserted between the free tail portion of the coil and the remainder of the coil. During the movement of wedge shaped member 47 in this manner, it not only disengages the free tail portion of the coil, but in addition, it also acts to force the tail portion of the coil along its entire width between the group of cooperating rolls 36, which includes the pinch rolls 37 and 38 and the bending rolls 39 and 40. It will also be noted by referring to Figures la and 6, that the slot 150 is narrowed at the top. This is to provide an opening for receiving the locking lug 71 located adjacent the piercing nose 47 on the tail pulling apparatus. When the elongated locking lug '71 is inserted within the upper part of the slot 150 as indicated in Figure 1a and. Figure 2a in, the down ending device, the tail pulling mechanism will be securely locked tothe down ending device 81-50 that any separating force on the bending rolls caused, for example, bythe strip ma-, terial being threaded therebetween will be resisted by this locking lug located in the slot and thus it will. be impossible to separate the two devices during the tail pulling operation. With the tail pulling device and coil cradle device in the aforesaid positions, the tail of the. strip will now be resting between the two pinch rolls and the two bending rolls on the tail pulling device, it

being understood, of course, that the pinch rolls have been previously closed against the strip by means of the hydraulic cylinders and

pistons

61 and 62 and the bending rolls, with the pinch rolls being further adjusted if necessary by means of the screw down mechanism re-- ferred to above. At this time also'the top bending roll 39 is properly nestled between the pinch roll 38 and bending roll 40. As indicated above, it is necessary that the top bending roll 39 be adjusted in this manner to remove the coil set for the various tempers and gauges of material and it should be so adjusted that when the tail is pulled on the coil it will remain approximately flat as it is peeled off of the coil. Pressure between the bending rolls and the top pinch roll which has been created by the

hydraulic cylinder pistons

61 and 62 andv can be made further adjustable by regulating pressure on-the hydraulic system used to operate these pistons, all of which operations will, of course, depend on the results desired. All of the aforesaid rolls are positively driven by means of the motor 21. As the pinch rolls are driven they will feed a predetermined amount of coil outward, for example, two feet from the tail pulling device at which time the rotary shearing device is then operated topass across the strip and'trim this two foot piece. An additional two feet can be fed if necessary into the shear by further rotating the pinch rolls 37 and 38 and the rotary shears can be operated to cut oif anotherpiece of metal from the strip. This cutting oil may be continued until a square end of the proper gauge is formed on the leading edge of the sheet, so that this edge of the sheet will then be in proper condition for entry into the metal. working apparatus. At this time, the rotary shears are retracted out of the way and a long tail of metal is fed out by further rotating the pinch rolls 37 and 38. When the tail of the sheet is moved out from the coil tail pulling device and fed to a mill, it iscustomary in the rolling mill art to first thread the strip through a suitable take-up mechanism such as a bridle roll assembly located immediately adjacent the mill as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 6. After a sufficient amount of sheet material has been played out and threaded in the bridle roll assembly 160, the piercing nose 47 and carriage 17 is moved axially out of contact with the coil, and the coil may then be lowered to an unloading position, if necessary, as for example in the case of where a coil with a small diameter is unwrapped, since in this instance the coil would have had to be initially elevated for the original piercing operation by the nose 47 of the tail pulling device. Thereafter, the coil may be kicked out of the down ender 81 by means of roll 108 and across the several roller platforms 161 and 162 into the cradle 163 indicated in Figure 6, it being understood also that as the coil is moved away from the down ender sufiicient tension is exerted on the loosed wraps of the coil by the bridle roll assembly 160 to prevent buckling of these loosed wraps.

In addition, after the tail has been initially received between the pinch rolls and bending rolls of the coil tail pulling device referred to aboveduring the first part of the tail pulling operation, the preferred embodiment. of the invention contemplates that the coil will at that time be lowered if necessary to the bottom position indicated in Figure 6' where it is then ready for kicking into the 9 mill while the tail is being pulled by the pinch rolls and bending rolls.

It will be noted also that the sheet material is threaded into another device such as a rolling mill in such a way that the coil is uncoiled tangentially therefrom in a straight line, that is to say, the strip material is unrolled from the remainder of the coil in such a way that it projects outwardly therefrom in a straight line, while also being tangent thereto. This means that there is no unnecessary crimping or bending of the coil, which would otherwise destroy certain portions of the coil and render them useless for all commercial purposes. In feeding a straight line of coil or strip material to the mill, the bending rolls are also advantageously used to remove the coil set for the various tempers and gauges of the ma terial and they are so adjusted that the tail which is pulled on the metal will always remain approximately flat and be properly fed to the mill along the horizontal center line thereof. This has not always been possible with the various tail pulling mechanisms devised in the past.

By moving the tapered piercing nose 47 of the tail pulling device horizontally and axially with respect to the coil in such a Way that the nose will move the entire width of the coil, while passing under the entire width of the outside wrap of the coil, it is obvious that the entire tail piece will be loosened from the coil. The tapered nose piece 47 located adjacent to the forward end of the bending and pinch rolls also insures proper entry of the tail of the coil therebetween.

Furthermore, by moving this nose piece 47 along the entire width of the coil in the manner proposed and thereby forcing the entire width of the coil between the group of rolls 36, the tail of the coil along its entire width is freed from the coil and is advantageously placed in the proper position for the feeding of the same to the metal working device 75.

in this way, no longitudinal creases or folds are placed in the unwrapped tail portions of the coil and the smooth surface of the strip metal is maintained along its entire width.

It is obvious that other types of apparatus besides the specific shearing device 110 and the coil down-ending device 81 shown in the drawings can be utilized in conjunction with the novel tail pulling device for carrying out the steps proposed of unwrapping a coil and thereafter placing the freed tail portion of the coil, which then becomes the leading edge of the coil, in the proper condition and position for entry into a metal working device such as a rolling mill.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention has been herein disclosed and described. It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined by the appended claims, wherein what is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for unwrapping a coil of strip metal,

the combination of a carriage movable axially along and across the entire width of a coil, a plurality of cooperating rolls mounted upon the said carriage, a wedge-shaped member mounted upon the said carriage adjacent theforward end portions of said rolls, and means for moving said carriage axially along and across the entire width of said coil adjacent the free tail portion thereof in such a manner that the said wedge-shaped member will be inserted between the free tail portion of the said coil and the remainder of the coil so as to first disengage the free tail portion of the coil and thereafter force said tail portion along its entire width between said cooperating rolls.

2. The combination of claim 1 including means for driving said rolls.

3. The combination of claim 1 including means for adjusting said rolls with respect to one another.

4. An apparatus for unwrapping a coil of strip metal, comprising the combination of a carriage movable axially of a coil, a plurality of cooperating rolls rotatably mounted upon the said carriage, the axis of all of said rolls being located parallel to each other in a horizontal plane, a wedge-shaped member mounted upon the said carriage adjacent the forward end portions of said rolls, and means for moving said carriage and said rolls and wedgeshaped member axially along and across the entire width of said coil adjacent the free tail portion thereof in such a manner that the said wedge-shaped member will be inserted between the free tail portion of the coil and the remainder thereof so as to disengage said free tail portion of said coil from the remainder of said :coil and thereafter cause said free tail portion along its entire width to be passed between said cooperating rolls.

5. The combination of claim 4 including means for rotating said rolls.

6. An apparatus for unwrapping a coil of strip metal, comprising the combination of a carriage movable axially of and across the entire width of the coil, a plurality of cooperating rolls mounted lengthwise of said carriage, a wedge-shaped member mounted upon said carriage adjacent the forward ends of the said rolls, means for moving said carriage forward axially along and across the entire width of the coil adjacent the free tail portion thereof in such a manner that said wedge-shaped member will be inserted between the free tail portion of the coil and the remainder thereof so as to disengage said free tail portion from the remainder of said coil and thereafter force said tail portion along its entire width between the said cooperating rolls, and means for holding said carriage in a fixed position above said coil after said carriage has been moved across the entire Width of the coil.

7. The combination of claim 6 including means for driving the said cooperating rolls. 8. The combination of claim 6 including means for adjusting said rolls with respect to one another.

9. In an apparatus for unwrapping a coil of strip metal,

the combination of a carriage movable axially along and across the entire width of the coil, a plurality of pinch rolls mounted lengthwise of said carriage, a wedge-shaped member mounted upon said carriage adjacent the forward ends of said rolls, and means for moving said carriage forward axially along and across the entire width of the coil adjacent the free tail portion thereof in such a manner that said wedge-shaped member will be inserted between the free tail portion of the coil and the remainder thereof so as to disengage said free tail portion from the remainder of said coil and thereafter force said tail portion along its entire width axially along and between said pinch rolls.

10. An apparatus for unwrapping a coil of strip metal comprising the combination of a carriage movable axially along the entire width of the coil, a plurality of bending rolls mounted lengthwise of said carriage, a wedgeshaped member mounted upon said carriage adjacent the forward ends of said rolls, and means for moving said carriage forward axially along and across the entire width of the coil adjacent the free tail portion thereof in such a manner that said wedge-shaped member will be inserted between the free tail portion of the coil and the remainder thereof so as to disengage said free tail portion from the remainder of said coil and thereafter force said tail portion along its entire width axially along and between said bending rolls.

11. An apparatus for unwrapping a coil of strip metal, comprising the combination of a carriage, a plurality of pinch rolls mounted lengthwise of said carriage, a plurality of bending rolls also mounted lengthwise of said carriage in spaced relationship with and parallel to said pinch rolls, a wedge-shaped member mounted upon said carriage adjacent the forward ends of all of said rolls and means for moving said carriage forward axially along and across the entire width of the coil adjacent the free tail portion thereof in such a manner that said wedgeshaped member will be inserted between the free tail portion ofthe coil and the remainder thereof so as to disengage said free tail portion from the remainder of said 11. coil and; thereafter force saidv tail portion. axially alongits entire width between allof the said rolls.

. 12.. In an apparatus for unwrapping a coil of. strip metal, the combination of a carriage, a plurality of pinch rolls mounted lengthwise of said carriage, a plurality ofsbending rolls. also mounted lengthwise of said carriage in spaced. relationship withand parallel to said pinch rolls,.. a. wedge-shaped member mounted upon said carriage adjacent the forward ends of all of said rolls, means for moving said carriage forward axially along and across the entire width of the coil adjacent the free tail portion thereof in such a manner that said wedge-shapedmember will be inserted between the free tail portion of the coil and the remainder thereof so as to disengage said free tail portion from the remainder of said coil and thereafter force. said tail portion axially along its entire width and between all of the said rolls, means for rotating the said rolls and means for adjusting thesaid pinchrolls with respect to each other and said bending rolls withrespect to each other.

13. An apparatus for unwrapping a coil of strip metal, comprising the combination of a carriage, a wedge-shaped member mounted upon the carriage adjacent the forward end thereof and parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof, meansfor moving said carriage and said wedge-shaped member axially along the entire width of the coil adjacent the free tailportion thereof, whereby said wedgeshaped member will be made to slide between the said free tail portion of the coil along the entire width of the coil so as to disengage the free tail portion of the coil along its entire width from the remainder of the coil, and means for receiving and holding the freed tail portion of the coil along its entire width after it has been disengaged. from said coil.

14. The combination claimed in claim 13 including means for locking said carriage and saidwedge-shaped member against further movement after said carriage and wedge-shaped member have passed between the free tail portion ofthe. coil and the remainder of the coil along the entire width of the coil and while said coil is being received and engaged by said last mentioned means.

15. In an apparatusfor unwrapping a coil. of strip metal, comprising the combination of a member for engaging andremoving the free tail portion of the coil from the remainder of the coil together with means for moving said:tailengagingmember into and out of contact with said free tail portion of the coil, the improvement comprising a carriage, a wedge-shaped member mounted upon the forward end of the said carriage, means for moving said carriage and said wedge-shaped member axially along the entire width of said coil adjacent the free tail portion thereof whereby said wedge-shaped member will be made to slide along the entire width of the coil and between the free tail portion and the remainder of the coil thereby disengaging the said free tail portion of the coil fromthe remainder of the coil, and means for receiving and holding the freed tail portion of thecoil along its entire width after it has been disengaged from. the-coil.

16. In an apparatus for unwrapping a coil of strip metal, comprising the combination of a member for engaging and removing the free tail portion of the coil from the remainder of the coil together with means for moving said tail engaging member into and out of contact with said free tail portion, the improvement comprising a carriage, a plurality of cooperating rolls mounted upon the said carriage parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof, a wedge-shaped member mounted upon the said carriage adjacent the forward end portions of said rolls, and means for moving said carriage axially along the entire width of said coil adjacent the free tail portion thereof in-such a manner that said wedge-shaped member will be made to slide axially across the entire width of the coil and between the free tail portion and the remainder of the coil thereby disengaging the said free tail portion of the coil from the remainder of. the coil and forcing said disengaged tail portion axially along and between said cooperating rolls. l

17. The improvement claimed in claim 16 including means for locking said rolls and wedge-shaped member in position adjacent the outer periphery of the coil during the initial unwrapping thereof.

18. The improvement claimed in claim 16 including means for rotating said cooperating rolls.

19. A method of unwrapping a coil of strip metal, comprising the steps of rotating said coil until the outer peripheral free tail portion thereof has been placed in a readily accessible position, then moving an inclined surface axially along and across the. entire width of the said coil and in between the free tail portion of said coil and the remainder of the coil, so as to cause said free tail portion along its entire width to be pried continuously and evenly away from the remainder of the coil along a straight line parallel to the axis of the coil, and then continuing the unwrapping of the coil by rotating said coil while directing the unwrapped portions of the coil away from the coil along a straight line tangential to the outer periphery of the coil, and simultaneously tensioning said unwrapped portions.

20. A method of unwrapping a coil of strip metal, comprising the steps of rotating said coil until the outer peripheral free tail portion thereof has been placed in a readily accessible position, then moving an inclined surface axially along and across the entire width of the said coil and in between the said free tail portion of the coil and the remainder of the coil, prying said free tail portion along its entire width away continuously and evenly and in a straight line from the remainder of the coil and then moving said loosened tail portion to a position between a plurality of flat endless and rotatable surfaces.

21. A method of unwrapping a coil of strip metal, comprising the steps of continuously moving an inclined surface axially of and in a straight line across the entire width of the said coil and in between the said free tail portion and the remainder of the coil so as to disengage said free tail portion from the remainder of said coil and immediately thereafter directing said loosened tail portion for its entire width axially along and between a plurality of endless and rotatable cooperating surfaces.

22. A method of unwrapping a coil of strip metal and preparing said strip metal for proper entry into a metal working device, comprising the steps of continuously moving an inclined surface axially of and in a straight line across the entire width of said coil and in betweenthe said free tail portion and the remainder of the coil thereby causing successive portions of said free tail portion along its entire width to be pried away from the remainder of the coil along a line parallel to the axis of the coil and immediately thereafter to be inserted between a plurality of endless rotatable and cooperating surfaces, moving said freed tail portion between said cooperating surfaces and away from said surfaces in a'straight horizontal line, and cutting the freed tail portion along a straight line parallel with the axis of the coil so as to produce a uniform and true straight edge on the said freed tail portion, while maintaining said freed tail portion in a proper position for entry into a metal working device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,943,748 Talbot Ian. 16, 1934 2,070,444 Mikaelson et al. Feb. 9, 1937 2,140,928 Talbot et al. Dec. 20, 1938 2,266,067 Nyberg Dec. 16, 1941 2,280,564 Wilson Apr. 21, 1942 2,494,399 McCleary Ian. 10, 1950