Metal web handling method, apparatus and coil construct
OwnerJohn W. Rogersinventor
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Abstract
The disclosure includes method and apparatus for handling elongated webs of sheet metal, and a sheet metal construct formed as an intermediate product and comprising a parent coil pre-divided into a plurality of daughter coils. In one method sequence, separation can be completed by the end user of the coil just before it is fed into a press or the like. In another method sequence, separation is completed during wrapping of the parent coil. In still other sequences, completion of separation can be accomplished at stages intermediate these two. Slitting may be done directly off a mill. Edge trim strip may be wound as part of the parent coil to simplify scrap handling, and may be used to protect the coil in transit.
Claims26
A method of producing a plurality of strips from an elongated web of sheet metal comprising the steps of:
- (a) slitting said web along spaced, parallel parting lines defining sheet metal strips therebetween, said strips at least over a portion of the length of said parting lines being frangibly interconnected,
- (b) winding said interconnected strips into a coiled construct, and
- (c) completing severence of said web into separate strips after winding of said construct has commenced.
A method of producing a plurality of coiled strips from an elongated web of sheet metal varying in thickness across its width in which said strips tend to wind independently of each other when severed, comprising the steps of:
- (a) slitting said web along spaced, parallel parting lines defining sheet metal strips therebetween,
- (b) winding said strips simultaneously on a coiler;
- (c) sensing the differences in winding said strips on said coiler, and
- (d) interconnecting said strips intermittently along the length of said parting lines in response to said sensed differences.
In the method of producing a plurality of coiled strips from an elongated web of sheet metal in which said coiled strips are retained in a coiled construct prior to severence the step of controlling the degree of cohesion between adjacent coiled strips by selecting a cross sectional extent of individual interconnections between adjacent strip coils.
In the method of producing a plurality of coiled strips from an elongated web of sheet metal in which said coiled strips are retained in a coiled construct prior to severence the step of controlling the degree of cohesion between adjacent coiled strips by varying the frequency of interconnections between adjacent coiled strips.
In a method of producing a coiled construct by slitting a plurality of strips from an elongated web of sheet metal and simultaneously winding said strips on a coiler the steps of:
- (a) guiding said strips in parallel, substantially coplanar tracks by the slitting cutters for a limited distance in the feed direction of said strips from said cutters, and
- (b) taking up said strips on said coiler while said strips remain in said parallel, substantially coplanar tracks.
In apparatus including a plurality of laterally spaced slitting cutters operative to form spaced, parallel parting lines in an elongated web of sheet metal to define parallel strips therebetween and a coiler for winding the same into a coiled construct, the improvement comprising:
- (a) said slitting cutters continuously penetrating said web over the length of said parting lines to guide said strips in parallel, substantially coplanar tracking relation over a limited distance in the direction of feed of said web from said slitting cutters;
- and
- (b) said coiler operatively disposed with respect to said slitting cutters to take up said strips in the range of said tracking relation whereby said strips wind on said coiler without edge overhang throughout the diameter of said coiled construct.
A method of threading an elongated web of sheet metal for slitting comprising feeding the web from an unwind roll through a slitter, connecting, via the material of the web itself, the leading ends of the individual strips formed by the slitter as the leading end of the web passes through the slitter, continuing the feed of said connected leading ends to a take-up mandrel, and securing said connected leading ends to said mandrel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.