# US 4,332,357 A · Strip feeding

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- Number: US 4,332,357 A
- Document ID: US4332357A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/180,620
- Filed: 1980-08-25
- Granted: 1982-06-01
- Earliest claimed: 1979-08-21
- Assignees: British Steel Corporation
- Inventors: David A. Armstrong
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4332357A

## CPC

- B65H 19/1852: {taking place at a distance from the replacement roll}
- B65H 75/00: Storing webs, tapes, or filamentary material, e.g. on reels (fishing reels A01K89/00; storing means for record carriers, specially adapted for cooperation with the recording or reproducing apparatus G11B23/02)
- B65H 75/28: Arrangements for positively securing ends of material
- B65H 2301/46011: in winding process
- B65H 2301/4634: Heat seal splice
- B65H 2701/173: Metal
- B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES

## Abstract

A method for producing continuous feed of strip from finite lengths includes producing coils by locating strip at a predetermined point along its length, in the gap between two segments of a mandrel and rotating the mandrel so that the strip feeds from two directions for coiling.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for producing continuous feed of strip from finite lengths comprising producing a plurality of coils by winding each strip on to a mandrel having at least two portions separated by a gap between which the strip is located and completing a series of cycles, each cycle comprising unwinding one of said coils to feed the head thereof into apparatus requiring said continuous feed and to feed the tail-end thereof to a fixed station whilst storing the balance of the tail end of said coil in a first accumulator, and unwinding another of said coils to feed the head thereof to the fixed station for attachment to the tail end of said one coil whereby to maintain a continuous feed; the tail end of said other coil subsequently being fed to said fixed station whilst the balance of its tail end is stored in a second accumulator.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein the strip is located at between one-third and one half of its length between the two portions of the mandrel before rotation for coiling.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tail of one coil is secured to the head of the next coil by welding.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the capacity of each accumulator is selected so that the length of storing strip available is consistent with the period required for welding.

### Claim 5

Apparatus for producing continuous feed of strip from finite lengths comprising a first and a second uncoiling station for uncoiling coil produced from strip wound on to a mandrel having two portions separated by a gap between which the strip may be located for coiling, a strip accumulator adjacent each of the uncoiling stations and disposed between them to receive strip unwound from the coils together with a station intermediate the accumulators for securing the head of one coil to the tail of the other coil.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the station for securing strip comprises a welding station.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5, 6)

Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein each accumulator comprises a chamber dimensioned to accommodate convoluted strip.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the chamber base has a central saddle providing troughs which define the strip convolutions.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the accumulator is provided with closure doors at its upper end.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which an uncoiling station includes tensioning rolls.