US3545243A

US3545243A - Arrangement for treating strip material

Info

Publication number: US3545243A
Application number: US727589A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fritz Ungerer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1967-05-31
Filing date: 1968-05-08
Publication date: 1970-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 1987-12-08
Also published as: DE1602590B2; DE1602590A1; FR1568315A; BE712923A; GB1192698A

Description

Dec. 8,"

` uNssfnen SNL ARRANGEMENT FOR 'HEATING sr'rnn MATERIAL Filed may s. `Isfs United Safes Patent o1 ace 3,545,243 Patented Dec. 8, 1970 3,545,243 ARRANGEMENT FOR TREATING STRIP MATERIAL Fritz Ungerer, deceased, late of Pforzheim, Germany, by

Irma Ungerer, heir, Pforzheim, Germany, assignor to Irma Ungerer, Pforzheim, Germany Filed May 8, 1968, Ser. No. 727,589 Claims priority, applictirir 9(iermany, May 31, 1967,

Int. c1. Bzld 1/02 U.S. Cl. 72--160 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the treatingof strip material, and more particularly to an arrangement for treating the strip material. Still more specifically, the invention is directed to the treating of continuously advancing sheet metal strip.

In the manufacture of sheet metal plates and strips, which hereafter will simply be identified as strips but which term is intended to include also metal plate, the sheets and strips are produced from metal ingots n rolling mills. As a result of the rolling and other processing steps, including various thermal treatments which the material undergoes, the thus-produced strips are possessed of internal strains whose magnitude varies over the strip width, resulting in buckling and a wavy configuration of the strip material. It is clear that the strip must be straightened before it can be further processed into blanks and nished products, because otherwise exact dimensioning of the blanks and inished products would not be possible. Furthermore, the presence of the internal strains causing this wavy configuration also affects the deformability of the strip as well as its weldability and fatigue resistance and its ability to withstand so-called tensional corrosion.

To eliminate these objectionable features, and to render the strip flat and smooth while simultaneously eliminating the inherent tensions, it is known to treat the strip in straightening machines, usually of roller type. Machines of this type straighten the two outer-marginal zones of the strip, that is the bands, ribbons or plates being treated, by stretching them and flexing them. However, they are not capable of completely treating the center zone intermediate the marginal zones and heretofore it has therefore been accepted that the center zone retained aforementioned stresses upon undergoing straightening treatment in these machines. These residual stresses were then eliminated by stretching the strip in addition to treating it with the straightening machines so that the material in the center zone of the strip was also stretched to the yield point. 'Ihis composite treatment resulted in the provision of stress-relieved strip which was ready for further processing.

It is evident that for these composite treatments it is necessary to provide rather complicated machines, particularly in view of the fact that it is difficult to produce the desired stretchingV tof the strip if the strip `advances continuously. Particularly under this last-mentioned circumstance, it has heretofore been necessary tot utilize very expensive control devices.

It is thus a general object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages known from the prior art.

A further object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of the type here under discussion which is capable of subjecting strip material, that is plate or sheets as well as ribbons or strips, to a combined iiexing and straightening action as well as to extension in such a manner that the latter is not interfered with by the former and so that these treatments may be carried out on continuously advancing material with ease and simplicity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one feature of my invention I provide an arrangement for treating strip material, and more specifically continuously advancing sheet metal strip, which includes strip pay-out means and strip withdrawing means which latter is operative for withdrawing strip from the pay-out means in a predetermined path and at a predetermined tension. Strip flexing and straightening means is arranged adjacent to this path and is so constructed and arranged as to subject the strip in this path to iiexing and straightening without affecting the predetermined tension.

With this construction according to my invention the tensile force exerted by the withdrawing means on the strip is directly transferred to the pay-out means so that j the tension in the strip is the same upstream of as well as downstream of the strip flexing and straightening means. This, of course, makes it possible to control the elongation of the strip, that is the tensile force applied to it, simply by controlling the traction existing between the pay-outY means and the withdrawing means so as to obtain the` desired extension and stress relief requisite for use of the strip in a given application. The flexing which the strip undergoes in the ilexing and straightening` means, combined with the tension applied to the strip, serve to assure that the strip approaches the yield point `quickly.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specie embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of an arrangement according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similarto FIG. 1 but illustrating a further embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 3 illustrates an additional embodiment of the invention and a view similar to those of FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the three figures of the drawing, identical elements are identified with identical reference numerals. All three iigures show the respective embodiment in a diagrammatic side-elevation view.

In each of FIGS. 1-3 a sheet metal strip 1, supplied by a non-illustrated coil or other source, moves in the direc- `tion from the left-hand side towards the right-hand side of the drawing in the path indicated by the arrows associated with the upstream and downstream end portions of the strip. In all three figures the strip is assumed to pass through a tirst drawing-roller station 2 comprising two or more drawing rollers 3, and from there towards and through a second drawing-roller station comprising two or more rollers 6. These stations are conventional and well known to those in the art. They could be replaced by a strip pay-out device, also of conventional construction, which could substitute for the station 2 and by a strip take-up device of conventional construction which could substitute for the station 5. For'the purposes of the invention it is immaterial whether such substitution is indeed made; the station 2 or the substitute therfore may be considered the strip pay-out and the station 5 or the substitute therefor may be considered the strip withdrawing means.

As the strip 1 moves in its predetermined path between the

stations

2 and 5 it is subjected to a predetermined tension intermediate the station 5 where this tension originates, and the station 2.

A strip flexing and straightening means in form of a conventional straightening unit 4 is provided. In the embodiment shown in FIG. l this unit 4, which comprises a plurality of rollers which engage and flex the strip between themselves as shown in FIG. 1, has a drive for at least one of the rollers, and this drive in FIG. 1 is assumed t-o be a variable-speed motor which may be of conventional construction. The drive serves to turn the associated roller or rollers about the indicated axes of rotation which extend transversely of the direction of movement of the strip 1, and to affect such rotation in the direction oppositely the direction of movement of the strip 1. In other words, in the rollers of the unit 4 rotate towards the left whereas the strip 1 advances towards the right-hand side of the drawing. The unit 4 is arranged adjacent the path of the strip 1 intermediate the

stations

2 and 5 freely movable along an elongated zone of this path. The unit 4 may for instance be mounted via suitable wheels, which are indicated diagrammatically, on a rail or other guide means and can move in shuttle fashion in the direction of the double-headed arrow associated with lthe unit 4. The rail is identified with reference numeral 7 although this could simply be a oor or other support.

The unit 4 does not have a drive and it will be clear that if the speed of rotation of the roller or rollers of the unit 4 in the direction opposite the direction of advancement of the strip 1 is smaller than the speed of advancement of the strip 1, the unit 4 will slowly move towards the right-hand side of the drawing. If, on the other hand, the speed of rotation of the rollers of the unit 4 is greater than the advancing speed of the strip 1, then the unit 4 will propel itself along the strip 1 to the left-hand side of the drawing. In neither case, however, will it affect the tension of the strip intermediate to

stations

2 and 5.

Reference numerals 8 and 9 identify in diagrammatic form suitable control means, such as limit switches, photoelectric cells or the like, which are operative for reversing the direction of the unit 4. A more detailed description of the operation of the control means 8 and 9 is not believed to be necessary because they are well-known to those skilled in the art both as to their construction and operation. The important point here is simply that, if the unit 4 approaches the end of the zone which extends from the control means 8 to the control means 9, for instance if it approaches the end identified by the control means 8, a signal Will be produced by the latter which will cause the variable-speed motor 10` to rotate the rollers of the unit 4 at a higher speed than heretofore. Thus, the unit 4 will propel itself along the strip 1 towards the left-hand side until it encounters the control means 9 whereupon, when the latter is triggered, a signal generated thereby will reduce the speed of rotation of the rollers of the unit 4 the variable-speed motor 10 so that the unit 4 will now again move slowly towards the right along with the strip 1. Thus, the unit 4 will shuttle back and forth between the control means 8 and 9, straightening and exing the strip 1 in conventional manner without,

however, in the least affecting the tension of the strip 1 intermediate the

stations

5 and 2. The need for control devices of the type heretofore required is thus eliminated and the arrangement according to the present invention is significantly simpler and less expensive than what is presently known in the art. It will now be clear why a reel or strip pay-out a device could be substituted for the unit 2 and why a take-up device could be substituted for the unit 5.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 corresponds substantially to that shown in FIG. l except for the fact that the drive means here is identified with reference numeral 1 and is not a variable-speed motor but rather a constant-speed motor. In the embodiment in FIG. 1 the variation in the speeds of rotation of the rollers of the unit 4 is accomplished by interposing a differential, illustrated diagrammatically and identified with reference numeral 11, intermediate the motor 10a and the rollers of the unit 4. An auxiliary motor 12 is operatively associated with the differential 11 and serves to add to or substract from the speed of rotation of the rollers of the unit 4 by acting upon the differential 11 in response to signals produced by the control means 8 and 9, respectively. This embodiment is advantageous if the strip 1 advances at uniform speed.

The embodiment of FIG. 3 is again substantially similar to those of FIGS 1 and 2 except for the fact that the constant-speed motor 10a has interposed between itself and the rollers of the unit 4 which it drives, a variable-ratio gear arrangement 13 which cooperates with an auxiliary or servo motor 14. The latter is of course again controlled by signals originating from the control lmeans 8 and 9, respectively, and the motor 14 effects modification of the gear ratio of the gear device 13 in response t0 such signals. This particular embodiment is especially advantageous if the operation of the strip-treating arrangement is irregular, for instance if the strip advances at irregular speed, because it permits automatic control of the arrangement in dependence upon the prevailing advancing speed.

In details concerning the variable-speed motor 10 0f FIG. l, the transmission 11 of FIG. 2, and the variableratio gear arrangement 13 of FIG. 3, as well as the

servo motors

12 and 14 respectively associated with the latter two devices, have deliberately not been given, because all such information is well known in the art and does not constitute any part of the invention. This is also true of the construction of the

units

2 and 5 as well as of the unit 4. This is also true of the precise construction and operation of the control means 8 and 9.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in an arrangement for treating strip material, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foreging will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An arrangement for treating strip material, particularly continuously advancing sheet metal strip, comprising in combination, strip pay-out means; strip withdrawing means operative for withdrawing strip from said pay-out means in a predetermined path and at a predetermined tension; and strip flexing and straightening means arranged adjacent said path and being constructed and arranged for shuttling along the same and subjecting the advancing strip in said path to iiexing and straightening without affecting said predetermined tension.

2. An arrangement for treating strip material, particularly continuously advancing sheet metalstrip, comprising strip pay-out means; strip withdrawing means operative for withdrawing strip from said pay-out means in a predetermined pathand at a predetermined tension; and strip flexing and straightening means for flexing and straightening the strip Without affecting said predetermined tension, including a unit arranged for travel along said path in a predetermined elongated zone intermediate said pay-out and said withdrawing means, roller means engaging the strip in said zone, drive means for driving said roller means at a predetermined peripheral speed relative to the advancing strip for flexing and straightening the same, and control means associated with said drive means and operative for varying said peripheral speed in response to said unit approaching the respective opposite ends of said zone so that said unit will shuttle along said path between such opposite ends of said zone.

3. An arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said drive means comprise a variable-speed motor.

4. An arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said drive means comprise a constant-speed motor, a differential interposed between said constant-speed motor and said roller means and operatively connected `with both, and an auxiliary motor associated with said control lmeans and said diiierential and being operative for varying the speed of the latter in dependence upon signals generated by the former in response to said unit approaching the respective opposite ends of said zone.

5. An arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said drive means comprise a constant-speed motor, a variableratio gearing interposed between said constant-speed motor and said roller means and operatively connected with 6 both, and an auxiliary motor associated with said control means and said gearing and being operative for Varying the ratio of the latter in dependence upon the signals generated by the former in response to said unit approaching the respective opposite ends of said zone.

6. An arrangement as defined in claim 2, said control imeans comprising switch means respectively arranged in the region of the opposite ends of said zone and adapted to be actuated by said unit.

7. An arrangement as defined in claim 2, said control means comprising photoelectric means respectively arranged in the region of the opposite ends of said zone and adapted to be actuated by said unit.

8. An arrangement as dened in claim 2, wherein said roller means comprise at least two rollers each having an` axes of rotation extending transversely of said path and in substantial parallelism with the general plane of the strip advancing in said path, said rollers rotating in a direction opposite to the direction of advancement of the strip.

9. An arrangement as dened in claim 2; further comprising rail Imeans extending along said zone and` said unit being mounted on said rail means for rolling movement therealong.

10. An arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said pay-out means comprise a feed reel carrying a coil of convoluted strip, and wherein said withdrawing means comprise a take-up reel on to which the strip is wound subsequent to advancing n said predetermined path.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,333,282 11/1943 Wilson 72-160 2,432,828 12/1947 Stone 72--160 2,760,546 8/1956 Lorig 72--160 2,963,071 12/1960 Krynytzky 72-165X 3,171,464 3/1965 Holtz 72--160 3,397,565 8/1968 Ritter et al. 72-164X MILTON MEHR, Primary Exaniinei`