US3346995A

US3346995A - Strip marking apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3346995A
Authority: US
Inventors: Konrad J Hofmeister; George R Swann
Original assignee: Jones and Laughlin Steel Corp
Current assignee: Jones and Laughlin Steel Corp
Priority date: 1964-11-18
Filing date: 1964-11-18
Publication date: 1967-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 1984-10-17

Description

STRIP MARKING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 18, 1964 III w 4 Amy INVENTORS KONRAD J. HOFMEISTER AND GEORGE R. SWANN BY their ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,346,995 STRIP MARKING APPARATUS Konrad J. Hofmeister and George R. Swann, Pittsburgh, Pa, assignors to Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Nov. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 412,208

Claims. (Cl. 51-156) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to apparatus for marking selected portions of traveling strip. It is more particularly concerned with apparatus for placing a marking spot of restricted area on rapidly moving strip.

In the manufacture of continuous strip, particularly steel strip, it is frequently necessary that the material be inspected for surface defects as it continuously travels. It is then necessary that areas containing defects so discovered be marked so that they can later be identified and cut out. It is generally necessary that strip traveling at high rates of speed be inspected by electro-optical apparatus 'which provides an electrical signal indicating the presence of a defect. The electrical signal must then be used to actuate marking apparatus which is positioned over the path of the strip travel. When this travel is at a high rate of speed, the marking apparatus must operate quite rapidly, otherwise the mark is so elongated by the movement of the strip that it over-indicates the defect. Where, as will appear hereinafter, the mark is a scratch on the surface of the strip, it may occasion the rejection of more strip than the defect does.

The apparatus of our invention is constructed so that it can be actuated by the signal of an automatic inspection device, and in response to that signal operates sufl'iciently rapidly that a mark of restricted length is placed on the strip in the region of the defect. An embodiment of that apparatus presently preferred by us is illustrated in the attached figures, to which reference is now made. FIG- URE 1 is a side elevation of our apparatus, the casing being shown in section taken on the plane 11 of FIG- URE 2 and the marking element also being shown partly in section. FIGURE 2 is an end elevation of our apparatus taken on the plane 22 of FIGURE 1. FIGURE 3 is a view of the underside of the marking element of our apparatus taken on the plane 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

Our apparatus is mounted in a generally rectangular casing 10. Within casing at one end is positioned an electric motor 11 having a shaft 12 which is attached by a coupling 13 to the shaft '16 of an electro-magnetic clutch 14. The structure of clutch 14 is not a part of our invention and is not shown in detail, as electro-magnetic clutches are known to the art. Terminals 15 of clutch 14 are connected to automatic inspection apparatus the signal from which causes clutch 14 to engage shaft 16 with oppositely extending shaft 17. Shaft 17 of clutch 14 is connected to a slip clutch 18 which comprises disk or driving element 19 and abutting disk or driven element 20 Which are urged into contact with each other by coil spring 21. Disk 19 is attached to shaft 17 and disk 20 carries a crank 23 which is pivotally connected to arm 22. Arm 22 extends downwardly and at its lower end is formed as a clevis 24 in which is mounted an abrasive wheel 25. Abrasive wheel 25 is held in place by pin 26 through the forks of clevis 24 and the center of wheel 25, and is not freely rotatable. The wheel 25 serves as a means for marking the surface of moving material upon downward movement of arm 22 and clevis 24 by means of which wheel 25 is carried. The forks of clevis 24 are attached at their outer ends to

flat springs

28 and 29, respectively, which are positioned more or less horizontally. Springs 28 and 29 are fastened at one end by a pin 30 to housing 10, and at the other end to pin 31 which is attached to a swinging arm 32. The other end of arm 32 is pivotally mounted by a pin 33 to housing 10. The

springs

28 and 29 are positioned so that normally the rim of wheel 25 does not project outside of housing 10.

A dash-pot 35 is positioned above disk 20 so that its plunger 36 in its extended position engages crank 23 when the latter is rotated a few degrees from its normal or at rest position.

The operation of our apparatus will now be described, again with reference to the attached figures. Motor 11 of our apparatus runs continuously and, therefore, continuously rotates shaft 16 of clutch 14 through coupling 13. Clutch 14 is normally disengaged so that its shaft 17 is normally not rotating. When a defect signal is applied to terminals 15 of clutch 14, the latter is engaged, thus coupling its

shafts

16 and 17. Motor 11 then through clutch 14 causes shaft 17 to rotate in a clockwise direction as seen in FIGURE 2. Shaft 17 carries

disks

19 and 20 of slip clutch 18 with it and causes crank 23 also to rotate in a clockwise direction. Crank 23 thereupon moves arm 22 substantially vertically downwardly, depressing marking wheel 25 against the pull of

springs

28 and 29 until it engages the surface of the moving strip below, thus marking the strip surface. When marker wheel 25 engages the strip surface disk 19 of slip clutch 18 slips on disk 20, so that no damage is done to the apparatus by the continued rotation of motor 11 even though clutch 14 may not be fully disengaged. It will be understood that the defect signal applied to terminals 15 of clutch 14 is of short duration and that clutch 14 disengages as soon as the defect signal is removed. However, this requires a finite time, and slip clutch 18 prevents damage to the apparatus during this interval.

When clutch 14 is disengaged, the

springs

28 and 29 return to their normal position and raise marker wheel 25 so that it no longer engages the strip. Link 32 pivots on pin 33 so as to allow for the necessary movement of the free ends of

springs

28 and 29 in so doing.

When crank 23 rotates in the clockwise direction, plunger 36 of dash-pot 35 moves out to its fully extended position. When crank 23 is carried back toward its normal position by the restoring force of

springs

28 and 29, it makes contact with plunger 36 of dash-pot 35 before it reaches its rest position and is slowed down by the action of dash-pot 35, so as to prevent bouncing.

When abrasive wheel 25 becomes worn on the marking portion of its edge, it may be rotated a few degrees so as to bring an unworn portion of its edge into use by loosening screw 26.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for placing a marking spot on the surface of moving material comprising a continuously rotating motor, a shaft operatively connected to said motor for continuous rotation therewith, a disengageable clutch connected to said shaft and to a slip clutch, said slip clutch including a driving element directly connected to said disengageable clutch and a driven element in abutting relation crank, whereby upon engagement of said disengageable clutch said crank is caused to move downwardly so as to drive said carrying means and marking means substantially vertically downwardly.

2. Apparatus of claim 1 including damper means adapted to engage the crank at a predetermined point in its up stroke and to retard that up stroke.

3. Apparatus of claim 1 including yieldable means connected to the carrying means urging the carrying means and associated marking means into a position clear of the moving material.

4. Apparatus of claim 3 in which the yieldable means is a flat strip of springy material supported at its ends so as to permit flexing, and the carrying means is attached to the center of the strip.

5. Apparatus of claim 1 in which the marking means comprises a non-rotating abrasive wheel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,244,536 6/ 1941 Herchenrider 51150 2,585,623 2/ 1952 Brockley 51-156 2,924,048 2/ 1960 Sjostrand 51165 2,957,563 10/1960 Thumirn 19218 3,180,230 4/1965 Judd et a1 90-15 LESTER M. SWINGLE, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. APPARATUS FOR PLACING A MARKING SPOT ON THE SURFACE OF MOVING MATERIAL COMPRISING A CONTINUOUSLY ROTATING MOTOR, A SHAFT OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID MOTOR FOR CONTINUOUS ROTATION THEREWITH, A DISENGAGEABLE CLUTCH CONNECTED TO SAID SHAFT AND TO A SLIP CLUTCH, SAID SLIP CLUTCH INCLUDING A DRIVING ELEMENT DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO SAID DISENGAGEABLE CLUTCH AND A DRIVEN ELEMENT IN ABUTTING RELATION WITH THE DRIVING ELEMENT, A CRANK MOUNTED ON SAID DRIVEN ELEMENT, MEANS FOR MARKING THE SURFACE OF THE MATERIAL UPON DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE CRANK, AND MEANS FOR CARRYING SAID MARKING MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID CRANK, WHEREBY UPON ENGAGEMENT OF SAID DISENGAGEABLE CLUTCH SAID CRANK IS CAUSED TO MOVE DOWNWARDLY SO AS TO DRIVE SAID CARRYING MEANS AND MARKING MEANS SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY DOWNWARDLY.