Apparatus and method for removing dross ridges from a metal workpiece
AssigneeKeibler-Thompson Corp.
InventorMatthew A. Mancuso
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method are disclosed for removing the dross ridges which are formed on the lower surface of a metal workpiece during torch cutting of the workpiece. The apparatus includes a cutting blade having a generally flat outer surface and a cutting edge along each of its two opposite sides. The blade is positioned to extend across and below the workpiece path of travel, and the blade is rotatable between a neutral position wherein the blade is below the pass line of the workpiece, and opposite tilted positions in which one or the other of the cutting edges engages the lower dross carrying surface of the workpiece, and so that each cutting edge is adapted to engage and remove a dross ridge on the workpiece.
Claims19
An apparatus for removing a dross ridge along the edge of a metal workpiece of the type resulting from a torch cutting operation or the like, and comprising
- a cutting blade having an outer surface and a pair of longitudinally extending opposite sides, and with said sides each defining a longitudinally extending cutting edge at the junction of the side and said outer surface, and with said cutting edges being parallel to each other,
- means mounting said cutting blade for pivotal movement about a fixed longitudinal axis which is equally spaced from each of said cutting edges, and with the separation between said parallel cutting edges being at least substantially as great as the radial distance between said axis and each of said cutting edges, and such that the blade is adapted to be mounted immediately adjacent the path of travel of a metal workpiece supported by a conveyor system and with the longitudinal direction of said blade extending across the workpiece path of travel, and
- means for selectively pivoting said cutting blade about said longitudinal axis and so that either one of said cutting edges may be held in contact with the adjacent surface of a workpiece moving along said path of travel, and such that each of said cutting edges is adapted to engage and remove a dross ridge formed on the adjacent work-piece surface when the workpiece is moved along said path of travel with the dross ridge disposed substantially perpendicular to the path of travel and opposing said cutting edge.
An apparatus for removing a dross ridge along the edge of a metal workpiece of the type resulting from a torch cutting operation or the like, and comprising
- conveyor means for supporting and selectively advancing a metal workpiece in opposite directions along a horizontal path of travel,
- a cutting blade comprising a generally flat outer surface, and a pair of opposite sides extending in a longitudinal direction along the length of said blade, and so that each side defines a longitudinally extending straight cutting edge at the junction of the side and said outer surface,
- means mounting said cutting blade for pivotal movement about a fixed longitudinal axis, and with said cutting blade positioned immediately adjacent said workpiece path of travel and such that the longitudinal pivotal axis of said cutting blade extends across said path of travel, and
- means for selectively pivoting said cutting blade about said longitudinal axis, and such that said blade may be selectively pivoted to a neutral position wherein said outer surface is parallel to and spaced from the surface of a workpiece advancing along said path of travel, to a first tilted position wherein one of said cutting edges is adapted to engage the adjacent surface of the workpiece, and to a second tilted position wherein the other of said cutting edges is adapted to engage the surface of the adjacent workpiece, and such that each cutting edge is adapted to engage and remove a dross ridge formed on the adjacent workpiece surface when the workpiece is moved along said path of travel with the dross ridge disposed substantially perpendicular to the path of travel and opposing such cutting edge.
A method of removing the dross ridges formed on the lower surface along each end of a flat metal workpiece during a torch cutting operation or the like, and which includes the use of a cutting blade having a generally flat outer surface and a pair of opposite sides extending in a longitudinal direction along the length of said blade, and with each side defining a longitudinally extending cutting edge at a junction of the side and said outer surface, and comprising the steps of
- (a) advancing the workpiece across said outer surface of said blade in an initial direction which is substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction of said blade, with said lower surface facing said cutting blade and with the dross ridges disposed substantially perpendicular to the direction of advance, and such that one of said dross ridges passes the blade without contact,
- (b) tilting the blade so that the one of said cutting edges which faces said one dross ridge engages the adjacent surface of the workpiece, and
- (c) advancing the workpiece in the opposite direction so that said one dross ridge moves in a direction opposing said one cutting edge of the tilted blade and such that said one cutting edge engages and removes said one dross ridge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.