US3566725A - Dual shearing mechanism and method - Google Patents

Abstract

Cutting apparatus including tandemly mounted first and second pairs of juxtaposed knives, each pair of said knives being disposed for passage therebetween of material to be cut, means for urging said first pair of knives against said material when disposed therebetween to score said material, means for mounting said second pair of knives in alignment with the scoring produced by said first pair of knives, and means for urging said second pair of knives toward one another for parting said material at said scoring when said material is disposed between said knives.

Description

United States Patent 72] Inventor John J. Sutyak Pittsburgh, Pa. [211 App]. No. 747,156 [22] Filed July 24,1968 [45 I Patented Mar. 2, 1971 [73] Assignee Mesta Machine Co.

Pittsburgh, Pa.

[54] DUAL SHEARING MECHANISM AND METHOD 13 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] [1.8. CI 83/7, 83/8, 83/9, 83/407, 83/503 [51] Int. Cl. B26d H24 [50] Field ofSearch 83/7, 8, 9, 51, 407, 503,169,10-12, 923, 45, 39

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,109,921 3/1938 Leach 83/169X 2,609,049 9/1952 Rayburn 83/9X 3,080,783 3/1963 Knepshield... 83/503X 3,364,803 l/l968 Senftleben 83/503 3,453,914 7/1969 Lemper et al 83/8 3,459,086 8/1969 Reeder, Jr. 83/503X Primary Examiner-James M. Meister AttorneyBuell, Blenko & Ziesenheim ABSTRACT: Cutting apparatus including tandemly mounted first and second pairs of juxtaposed knives, each pair of said,

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Patented March 2, 1971 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented MaQ' ch 2, 1971 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOH Clo/212 J. 15214 0,? zr

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DUAL SHEARING MECHANISM AND METHOD The present invention relates to a dual rotary shear and more particularly to shear mechanism, of the character described adapted for cutting thick steel having a thickness which precludes use of conventional rotary shears. The inven tion contemplates also scrap or trimming disposal apparatus used with the shear mechanism of the invention.

Although my rotary shear is of general utility in severing or cutting relatively thick steel plate, the invention will be described in connection with thick steel plate, the invention will be described in connection with lateral edge trimming in a conventional rolling mill. in this application, my novel rotary shear can be arranged to trim one or both lateral edges of moving plate while the rolling mill is in operation, if desired. Exemplary arrangements of my rotary shear mechanism can be provided with apparatus for continuousdisposal of plate side trimmings as the plate is passed through the rolling mill. Most importantly the operating power requirements of my novel shear mechanism are drastically reduced.

A number of rotary trimmers have been disclosed previously for use trimming the lateral edges of steel strip or the like as it passes through a rolling mill. Known rotary shears, however, have been useful only with strip material and relatively thin plate. Because of their power requirements, conventional rotary shears can accommodate a maximum thickness of about three-fourths inch of plate. As this thickness is approached, conventional rotary shears impose severe speed limitations upon rolling mills. For thicker plate, a guillotine-type shear must be used which further limits the speed of the rolling mill.

With either type of known shearing mechanism, the trimmed lateral edges of the strip cannot be maintained within acceptable tolerances, particularly at higher operating speeds of the mill. For certain applications, it has been necessary to retrim the lateral strip edges or to employ separate and subsequent cutting operations.

The shearing mechanism of my invention is more compact than a conventional guillotine shear line, presently required for shearing plate of the thickness which can be handled by my novel rotary shearing mechanism. My shearing apparatus is capable of cutting or trimming thicker plates with greater speed and less power consumption than hitherto possible with any known form of shear mechanism. Notwithstanding its greater speed capability, the shearing apparatus of the invention can hold closer cutting tolerances. Certain forms of my shearing mechanism are provided with novel apparatus for disposing of the resulting scrap. Still other arrangements of my shearing mechanism simultaneously and accurately trim both lateral edges of a relatively thick steel plate as it passes through the rolling mill.

1 am, of course, aware of a number of previously proposed rotary shears capable of handling strip and relatively thin plate. For example the U.S. Pat. to Knepshield Nos. 3,080,783; Clayton 2,309,045; Nash 2,203,738; Grevich 3,191,474; and Jones 3,257,887 disclose the use of cutting heads involving a single opposed pair of rotary shears or knives. Certain of the patented apparatus are arranged for simultaneously trimming both lateral edges of thin strip or plate material as it passes through the rolling mill, for example U.S. Pat. No. 3,080,783. The latter patent also discloses (FIG. 4) the use of a single pair of appropriately mounted spare rotary shears for quick replacement. None of these patents however are capable of trimming the lateral edges of or otherwise cutting relatively thick plate. Of equal significance is the lack of close tolerance control demanded by subsequent, presentday manufacturing techniques.

The U.S. Fat. to Wickwire -Nos. 2,702,597; Repper 2,814,345; Karber 3,060,778; and Louehrs 2,318,173 show various types of rotary cutters employed for the most part in chopping steel scrap. U.S. Pat. No. 2,318,173 utilizes rotary choppers for severing thin sheets or strip into selected lengths.

None of these patents however are adaptable for chopping relatively thick plate trimmings or the like for scrap disposal purposes.

The U.S. Pat. to Bottenhorn Nos. 2,679,900; Thomas 1,619,684; Cohen 2,307,452; Hall 2,706,524 for the most part show the use of multiple annular knives and spacers on a single arbor for multiple slitting or for combined slitting and side trimming operations. These patents are likewise only adaptable to cutting, slitting or trimming relatively thin plate or strip material.

I overcome these disadvantages of the prior art by providing a novel rotary shearing mechanism and method involving the use of first cutting means for relatively deeply scoring the plate of my stepwise process and apparatus permits cutting of much thicker plate material than was therefore possible. At the same time the cutting operation is faster and more accurate than that possible with any type of conventional shear. By first deeply scoring the plate material, the work hardened surface or skin layers of the material are penetrated to facilitate the following shearing or parting operation. My apparatus and method, therefore, permit much faster and more accurate cutting operations than previously possible. In addition my apparatus and method can be used in conjunction with high speed plate rolling mills and are capable of suitable speed matching as expanding technology leads to further increases in rolling mill speeds. My method and apparatus can be adapted with equal facility to trimming one or both lateral edges of plate material as it passes through a rolling mill.

1 accomplish these desirable result by providing cutting apparatus comprising first cutting means for scoring material to be cut, second cutting means for shearing said material, means for mounting said second cutting means tandemly of said first cutting means in alignment with the scoring of said material produced by said first cutting means, and means for passing said material successively to said first and said second cutting means.

I also desirably provide similar apparatus wherein said material is steel plate having a work hardened skin layer, and said first cutting means are disposed for scoring said plate so as to penetrate said skin layer.

1 also desirably provide similar apparatus wherein each of said first and said second cutting means include a pair of juxtaposed rotatably mounted circular knives.

I also desirably provide similar apparatus wherein roll leveler and chopper means are mounted generally in tandem with said first and said second cutting means for disposing of cuttings or trimmings therefrom.

I also desirably provide similar apparatus wherein said cutting apparatus is arranged for trimming the lateral edges of strip or plate material and includes means for mounting said first and said second cutting means adjacent one of said lateral edges, and additional first and second cutting means are mounted adjacent the other of said lateraledges.

1 also desirably provide a method for cutting comprising the steps of scoring material to be cut on intended cut line, and subsequently shearing said material along said out line.

I also desirably provide a similar method wherein said material has a work-hardened skin layer, said method comprising the additional step of scoring said material at least to the depth of said skin layer prior to said shearing step.

During the foregoing discussion, various objects, features and advantages of the invention have been set forth. These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention together with structural details thereof will be elaborated upon during the forthcoming description of certain presently preferred embodiments of the invention and presently preferred methods of practicing the same.

In the accompanying drawings 1 have shown certain presently preferred embodiments of the invention and have illustrated certain presently preferred methods of practicing the same, wherein:

F IG. 1 is a top plan view of one form of shearing apparatus of my invention, arranged here for trimming both lateral edges of steel plate or the like. This FIG. shows also scrap disposing and cutting apparatus likewise arranged in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 and taken along reference line II-II thereof;

FIG. 3 is a vertically sectioned view of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partially sectioned partial view of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 3 and taken along reference line V-V thereof;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 3 and taken along reference line VI-VI thereof;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 3 and taken along reference line VII-VII thereof; and

FIG. 8 is another enlarged, partial cross-sectional view of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 3 and taken along reference line VIII-VIII thereof.

My invention will now be described in detail in connection with an exemplary modification thereof, employed in conjunction with a plate rolling mill, for simultaneously trimming both lateral edges of the plate material passing therethrough and for the concomitant disposing of the resulting scrap. It will be understood as this description proceeds, however, that my in vention can be employed in other applications for accurately and rapidly cutting relatively thick materials of various types, with a significant reduction in power requirements in comparison to known cutting apparatus. It will also be apparent that certain features of my invention can be employed to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and initially to FIGS. l3 thereof, my cutting apparatus includes a rotary shearing apparatus denoted generally by the reference character 20 and scrap chopping and disposing apparatus 22. In this arrangement of my invention the cutting apparatus and scrap disposal mechanism 20--22 is arranged for operation upon a continuously moving length of material supported in this example on pass line 24. The pass line typically can be that afforded by a conventional rolling mill (not shown). The maximum plate width is determined by the solid outline positions of trimmer housings 26a, 26b while the minimum width thereof is denoted by the positions of fixed trimmer housing 26a and chain outline 28 of the other housing 26b.

The material being cut is supported by a number of rollers 30 located on standard 32 disposed intermediately of the trimmer housings 26a, 26b. The positions of the movable trimmer housing 26b and the movable intermediate plate standard 32 are adjusted by leadscrew 34 having a first pitch section 36 and a second pitch section 38. In this example, the pitch sections have a pitch ratio of 1:2 so that the standards 32 are moved half the adjusting distance of the movable trimmer housing 26b. In consequence, as the lead screw 34 is turned by drive motor 40 the plate standard 32 remains midway between the trimmer housings 26a, 26b.

Save for the novel and useful adjustment feature described above the cutting apparatus 20-22 is substantially identical on each side of centerline 42. Both lateral edges of the material (supported at pass line 24) therefore are trimmed simultaneously and in the same manner as described below. Obviously, my novel cutting apparatus can be employed for trimming a single lateral edge of the material at pass line 24. The scrap disposal apparatus 22 is likewise provided with fixed and movable housings 44, 46 between which is disposed a movable support 48 for the aforementioned material. The support 48 and the movable housing 46 can be adjusted by means of lead screw 50 which can be constructed in a manner similar to the dual pitch lead screw 34.

As better shown in FIG. 1 of the'drawings, the rotary shearing mechanism 20 includes a pair of cutting heads 52, 54 disposed adjacent each lateral edge of the plate material. Each cutting head 52, 54 includes a pair of substantially vertically juxtaposed knives 56, 58, or 60, 62, each having a substan- 5 juxtaposable knives can be substituted within the principles of my invention, as dictated by specific applications thereof.

Each cutting head 52 or 54 (on a selected side of the material to be cut) is provided with a drive motor 64 or 66, each of which is coupled to reducer 68 and pinion stand 70 through output shaft 72 or 74. The output shafts 72, 74 are individually connected with similar shafts 72, 74 forming part of the cutting apparatus on the other side of the material by means of connecting shafts 76, 78 respectively. Complementing the aforementioned tandem connection (transversely of the pass line 24), each pair of adjacent shafts 72, 74 are laterally interconnected (parallel to the pass line 24) reducer 68 and pinion stand 70, of otherwise conventional construction. With this arrangement the circumferential speeds of the eight rotary knives 5662 are precisely synchronized relative to one another and to the material urged along pass line 24.

The leading cutting heads 52 are arranged in this example for scoring the plate or similar material at least to a sufficient depth to cut through any work-hardened skin layer or layers of the plate. In furtherance of this purpose, the leading rotary knives 56, 58 are somewhat smaller in diameter than the rear ward or parting rotary knives 60, 62 as better shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. In addition, the lower scoring knife 58 is forwardly offset (.FIG. 3) slightly in advance of the upper scoring rotary knife 56. This arrangement facilitates penetration of the rotary knives 56, 58 into the work hardened skin layers of the plate or other material.

The shearing knives 60, 62, as noted previously, are of larger diameter than the scoring knives 56, 58. The lower shearing knife 62 is similarly and forwardly offset, but to a greater extent, than the leading or scoring rotary knives 56, 58. The greater forward offset is necessitated by the larger diameter of the rotary knives 60, 62 and their relatively deeper penetration into the plate being trimmed.

I have determined that my progressive or stepwise cutting operation, involving scoring and subsequent parting or shear ing steps, reduces to a considerable extent the power requirements of the cutting operation. Thicker plate material therefore can be severed with rotary knives than was heretofore .possible. The prescoring or definition of the intended line of cutting or severing by the leading or scoring cutting head or heads 52 leads faster and more accurate parting of the material by the tracking cutting heads 54.

Each of the cutting heads 52, 54 is horizontally adjustable to ensure tracking of the shearing knives 60, 62 relative to the scorings made by the leading or scoring rotary knives 56, 58. One arrangement for effecting such adjustment includes a worm gear and screw adjustment, driven by a suitable motor and speed reducer.

In order to accommodate differing thicknesses of plate or other material, means are provided for varying the cutter opening or vertical spacing between each pair of rotary knives 56, 58 or 60, 62. As better shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, one arrangement of such vertical adjustment means includes at least one, and more advantageously, a pair of eccentrics 80, 82 or 84, 86 mounted on each cutter head 52 or 54. The aforementioned cutter openings are determined by the rotated positions of each pair of eccentrics 80, 82 or 84, 86. Each pair of eccentrics are angularly displaced respectively by drive motor 88 or 92 and speed reducer or 94. The output shaft of each reducer 90, or 84 is coupled to the associated pair of eccentrics 84, 86 or 80, 82 by means of drive pinions, for example, which are enmeshed with driven gears mounted on the eccentrics.

After complete severing by the shearing knives 60, 62 the trimmings pass through a roll leveler 96 disposed, in this example, on each side of the plate or to the material and in general alignment with the adjacent rotary knives 56, 58 and 6t), 62. Each roll leveler 96, as better shown in FIG. 3,

better shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 the first two pairs of opposed leveler rollers 100 and 102 are skewed relative to the direction of travel of the trimmings to aid in guiding and straightening the scrap. Cooperating with the skewed configuration of the opposed rollers 100, 102 of the leveler 96 is the concave contour of the roll faces of the rollers 100, 102.

To accommodate differing thicknesses of material, the leveler rollers are mounted for movement toward and away from the scrap pass line 104 as better shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 of the drawings. For this purpose the lower rolls of the leveler 96 are mounted on an adjustable table 106. The normal adjustment thereof relative to the pass line 104 is controlled by jack screw 108 which in turn is rotated by motor reducer unit 1 10.

To accommodate the normal adjustment of table 106, a curved runout table 112 is provided for entry of the scrap. The table 112 extends generally from the cutter opening of the shearing rotary knives 60, 62 to the feed end of the roll leveler 96. To accommodate differing thicknesses of material and corresponding transverse adjustments of the roller table 106, the runout table 112 is pivoted at 114.

At the lower or exit end of the roll leveler 96, a chopping head 116 is positioned for severing the scrap into convenient lengths to facilitate subsequent handling. For the latter purpose to chute 118 is juxtaposed to the other side of the chopper head 116.

In my exemplifying arrangement, the chopper head 116 includes a pair of rotary choppers 120, 122, each of which has a number of chopper blades 124, mounted askew about its cirinvention is readily adjustable, moreover, for handling plate or the like materials of differing thicknesses.

Although the invention has been described primarily in connection with trimming the lateral edges of plate material, it will be understood of course that the invention is of general utility in applications where rapid and accurate cutting is desired. For example, my cutting apparatus, when arranged as a double head side trimmer for use in a high speed hot or cold strip mill can be used to advantage for rapidly and accurately trimming the lateral edges of sheet or strip.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that novel and efficient forms of dual shearing mechanisms and methods have been disclosed herein. While I have shown and described certain presently preferred embodiments of the invention and have illustrated presently preferred methods of practicing the same, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the'scope of the following claims.

Iclaim:

1. Cutting apparatus comprising first cutting means for scoring material to be cut, second cutting means for shearing said material, each of said first and said second cutting means including a pair of laterally offset and substantially square knife edges, means for mounting said second cutting means in sub-' stantially tandem alignment with said first cutting means and in alignment with the scoring of said material produced by said first cutting means, and means "for passing said material successively between the knife edges respectively of said first and said second cutting means.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein each of said first and said second cutting means includes a pair of juxcumferential surface. The choppers 120, 122 are generally cylindrical in contour to accommodate the skewed chopper blades 124.

The scrap cutters 120, 122 are rotated by drive motor 126 coupled to speed reducer 128. In order to accommodate differing thicknesses of plate trimmings and the like exiting from the roll leveler 96, the cutter opening between the cutters 120, 122 can be varied by moving one of the cutters, for example the lower cutter 122 toward and away from the upper cutter 120. One arrangement for thus varying the chopper opening includes the apparatus better shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings. The output shaft of speed reducer 128 is coupled to pinion shaft 130 mounted generally below the lower cutter 122. Pinion 132 on shaft 130 engages ring gear 134 formed in this example integrally on eccentric 136. The eccentric 136 serves in addition as a bearing housing for lower cutter shaft 138 which is mounted therein by means of suitable bearings 140, 142. The ring gear 134 of the lower eccentric 136 is enmeshed with a similar ring gear 144 of an upper eccentric and bearing housing 146 which the upper cutter shaft 148 is similarly mounted on. As shown in FIG. 6 the eccentrics 136, 146 are disposed for a minimum opening 150 between the cutters 120, 122. When a half revolution is imparted to the eccentrics 136, 146 by rotation of the pinion shaft 130 the cutter opening 150 assumes its maximum size (not shown).

As better shown in FIG. 6 shaft extensions 152, 154 of the cutter shaft 138, 148 respectively are coupled to a suitable gearing train in turn connected to the output shaft of the speed reducer unit 128 shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

My novel cutting apparatus disclosed herein provides rapid and accurate means for trimming or otherwise severing plate material. The cutting apparatus optionally includes novel means for chopping and disposing of the scrap that may be produced in the cutting or trimming operation. In the latter connection I have disclosed convenient and novel means for straightening, directing and chopping any such scrap into convenient lengths. Most importantly, my cutting apparatus can accommodate thicker plate material or the like than has been feasible with known equipment. The cutting apparatus of my taposed knives, and means are provided for varying the opening between each pair of knives for accommodating differing thicknesses of said material.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said material is steel plate having a work hardened skin layer, and said first cutting means are disposed for scoring said plate so as to penetrate said skin layer.

4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein means are provided for adjustably and laterally moving one of said first and said second cutting means relative to the other to ensure tracking of said second cutting means with the scoring produced by said first cutting means.

5. The combination according to claim 1 wherein each of said first and said second cutting means include a pair of jux taposed rotatably mounted cylindrical knives.

6. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said opening varying means include at least one eccentric member for each of said first and said second cutting means, a knife of each cutting means is mounted upon the associated eccentric member, and means are provided for angularly displacing said eccentric members to vary said openings respectively.

7. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said cutting apparatus is arranged for simultaneously trimming the lateral edges of strip or plate material and includes means for mounting said first and said second cutting means adjacent one of said lateral edges, and additional first and second cutting means are similarly mounted adjacent the other of said lateral edges.

8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein driving means are provided for each of said first and said second cutting means, and means are provided for coupling the outputs of said first cutting means driving means respectively together to ensure synchronous engagement of each of said first and each of second cutting means with said strip or plate.

9. The combination according to claim 1 wherein each of said first and said second cutting means include at least one rotary shear blade, and the diameter of said first cutting means blade is smaller than that of said secondcutting means blade.

10. The combination according to claim I wherein each of said first and said second cutting means includes a pair of juxtaposed rotary shear blades, and one of each of said pairs of blades is forwardly offset relative to the other of each pair of opposing directions respectively over adjacent surface portions of said material and laterally of said out line, and directing said pairs of forces successively along said cut line so that said first pair of forces partially cut and said second forces completely sever said material along said out line.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein said material has a hardened skin layer and including the additional step of setting the magnitude of said first force pair at least to penetrate the hardened layer of said material.

Claims (13)

1. Cutting apparatus comprising first cutting means for scoring material to be cut, second cutting means for shearing said material, each of said first and said second cutting means including a pair of laterally offset and substantially square knife edges, means for mounting said second cutting means in substantially tandem alignment with said first cutting means and in alignment with the scoring of said material produced by said first cutting means, and means for passing said material successively between the knife edges respectivEly of said first and said second cutting means.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein each of said first and said second cutting means includes a pair of juxtaposed knives, and means are provided for varying the opening between each pair of knives for accommodating differing thicknesses of said material.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said material is steel plate having a work hardened skin layer, and said first cutting means are disposed for scoring said plate so as to penetrate said skin layer.

4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein means are provided for adjustably and laterally moving one of said first and said second cutting means relative to the other to ensure tracking of said second cutting means with the scoring produced by said first cutting means.

5. The combination according to claim 1 wherein each of said first and said second cutting means include a pair of juxtaposed rotatably mounted cylindrical knives.

6. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said opening varying means include at least one eccentric member for each of said first and said second cutting means, a knife of each cutting means is mounted upon the associated eccentric member, and means are provided for angularly displacing said eccentric members to vary said openings respectively.

7. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said cutting apparatus is arranged for simultaneously trimming the lateral edges of strip or plate material and includes means for mounting said first and said second cutting means adjacent one of said lateral edges, and additional first and second cutting means are similarly mounted adjacent the other of said lateral edges.

8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein driving means are provided for each of said first and said second cutting means, and means are provided for coupling the outputs of said first cutting means driving means respectively together to ensure synchronous engagement of each of said first and each of second cutting means with said strip or plate.

9. The combination according to claim 1 wherein each of said first and said second cutting means include at least one rotary shear blade, and the diameter of said first cutting means blade is smaller than that of said second cutting means blade.

10. The combination according to claim 1 wherein each of said first and said second cutting means includes a pair of juxtaposed rotary shear blades, and one of each of said pairs of blades is forwardly offset relative to the other of each pair of blades and relative to the travel direction of said material therebetween.

11. The combination according to claim 10 wherein the forward offset of said second cutting means blades is greater than the forward offset of said first cutting means blades.

12. A method for cutting material, said method comprising the steps of applying first and second pairs of opposing forces to said material, magnitude the application of the opposing forces of each force pair relative to an intended cut line in said material, spreading the opposing forces of each force pair in opposing directions respectively over adjacent surface portions of said material and laterally of said cut line, and directing said pairs of forces successively along said cut line so that said first pair of forces partially cut and said second forces completely sever said material along said cut line.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein said material has a hardened skin layer and including the additional step of setting the magnitude of said first force pair at least to penetrate the hardened layer of said material.

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