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US 4,398,629 AGranted
Plate latch and guide system
AssigneeKaiser Steel Corporation
InventorCalvin C. Williamson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Latch and guide system for gripping steel plate and the like while it is edge-formed. A pulley system is driven to apply tension to cables which actuate gripping clamps. The clamps travel within channel guides along the length of the system and restrain the plate from lateral movement.
Claims11
Apparatus for clamping and guiding a section of metal plate to restain lateral movement thereof as it travels longitudinally through a machine wherein said plate is subjected to mechanical work and to forces inducing lateral movement of the plate comprising,
- conveyor means for longitudinally moving the plates,
- first clamp means adapted to engage the trailing edge of said plate while moving on said conveyor means,
- second clamp means adapted to engage the leading edge of said plate while moving on said conveyor means,
- guide means for positioning said first and second clamps and extending along the length of said apparatus wherein said lateral forces are effective,
- first cable means to which said first clamp means are attached,
- second cable means to which second clamp means are attached,
- a first pulley system for actuating said first cable means whereby said first clamp means and said first cable means travel forward to engage the trailing edge of said plate travelling toward said machine on said conveyor means to thereby place said first cable means under tension and create a locking force sufficient to lock said first clamp means on said plate,
- a second pulley system for actuating said second cable means whereby said second clamp means travels forward after engagement with the leading edge of said plate travelling toward said machine on said conveyor means to thereby place said second cable means under tension and create a locking force sufficient to lock said second clamp means on said plate and enable said first and second cable means and clamp means to travel with said plate through said machine,
- said first pulley system and said second pulley system being located adjacent to the longitudinal centerline of said metal plate and in a plane parallel to and spaced from the path of travel of said metal plate to enable said first and second clamp means to engage said edges of said plate at points spaced from the longitudinal edges thereof to thereby leave said longitudinal edges unobstructed for the application of mechanical work thereto,
- and means for disengaging said clamp means from said plate edges after said plate has passed through said machine.
7 more elements
Apparatus for clamping and guiding a section of metal plate to restrain lateral movement thereof as it travels longitudinally through a machine wherein said plate is subjected to mechanical work and to forces inducing lateral movement of the plate comprising,
- conveyor means for longitudinally moving the plates,
- first clamp means comprising a pair of clamps adapted to engage the trailing edge of said plate while moving on said conveyor means,
- second clamp means comprising a pair of clamps adapted to engage the leading edge of said plate while moving on said conveyor means,
- guide means for positioning said first and second clamps and extending along the length of said apparatus wherein said lateral forces are effective,
- first cable means to which said first clamp means are attached,
- second cable means to which second clamp means are attached,
- said first and second clamp means each being affixed to each of said first and second cooperating cable means at equidistant points on each of said cable means,
- a first pulley system for actuating said first cable means whereby said first clamp means and said first cable means travel forward to engage the trailing edge of said plate travelling toward said machine on said conveyor means to thereby place said first cable means under tension and create a locking force sufficient to lock said first clamp means on said plate,
- a second pulley system for actuating said second cable means whereby said second clamp means travels forward after engagement with the leading edge of said plate travelling toward said machine on said conveyor means to thereby place said second cable means under tension and create a locking force sufficient to lock said second clamp means on said plate and enable said first and second cable means and clamp means to travel with said plate through said machine, and means to permit continued forward movement of said first and second cable means for disengagement from said plate edges to thereby return said first and second clamp means to their original positions to receive a new plate to be subjected to work.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.