US 5,328,086 A · Mechanism and method for removing twists in a tube forming machine

Abstract

A mechanism and method for counteracting and removing the twist of a rolled metal strip being formed into a tube by a tube forming machine. The mechanism has a frame rotatably mounted to the tube forming machine between the forming rolls and the seam guide. A pair of edge rolls are attached to the frame and are engageable with the opposing longitudinal edges of the rolled metal strip. Backing rolls, also attached to the frame, inhibit the transverse displacement of the rolled metal strip by the engagement of the edge rolls with the longitudinal edges of the metal strip. An adjustment screw rotates the frame relative to the tube forming machine about a longitudinal axis to align the longitudinal edges of the rolled metal strip with a seam guide prior to welding the longitudinal edges to each other.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A mechanism for counteracting a twist in a rolled metal strip being formed into tubing by a tube forming machine having a seam guide and a welder, the metal strip having a pair of parallel edges, said mechanism comprising:

a mounting bracket mountable to the tube forming machine;
a frame rotatably attached to said mounting bracket, said frame being rotatable about an axis concentric with an axis of said tubing being formed by said tube forming machine;
at least one pair of edge engaging rolls attached to said frame, each edge roll of said pair of edge engaging rolls rollingly engaging a respective one of the pair of parallel edges of the rolled metal strip;
at least one pair of backing rolls attached to said frame, said at least one pair of backing rolls engaging said rolled metal strip on a side opposite said pair of edge engaging rolls to prevent a transverse displacement of said rolled metal strip by said pair of edge engaging rolls;
and
means for rotating said frame to align the parallel edges of said rolled metal strip with the seam guide.

3 more elements

A method for counteracting a twist in a rolled metal strip being formed into a tube by a tube forming machine, said tube forming machine having a seam guide for aligning the parallel edges of the metal strip with a seam welder, said method comprising the steps of:

disposing at least one pair of edge engaging rolls, mounted on a frame, between parallel edges of the rolled metal strip, each edge engaging roll being oriented to engage the rolled metal strip parallel to a respective one of said parallel edges;
and
rotating said frame about an axis concentric with the rolled metal strip to engage one of said pair of edge engaging rolls with said respective one edge to counteract a twist in the rolled metal strip and to align said parallel edges with said seam guide.

A machine for forming tubing from a metal strip, said metal strip having a pair of longitudinal edges comprising:

at least one set of forming rolls forming said metal strip into a rolled tube;
a seam welder disposed downstream of said at least one set of forming rolls to weld a seam formed by said longitudinal edges to each other to produce a seam welded tube;
a seam guide disposed between said seam welder and said at least one set of forming rolls to align the longitudinal edges of the metal strip with said seam welder;
at least one pair of closing rolls disposed adjacent said seam welder to close said longitudinal edges to each other to form said seam;
and
a twist counteracting mechanism disposed between said seam guide and said at least one set of forming rolls, said twist counteracting mechanism having at least one pair of edge engaging rolls, each edge engaging roll of said at least one pair of edge engaging rolls engageable with a respective one of the longitudinal edges of the metal strip, said twist counteracting mechanism further including means for simultaneously rotating a pair of edge engaging roll about an axis concentric with the formed metal strip to remove a twist in said rolled tube and align said longitudinal edges with said seam guide.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Mechanism and method for removing twists in a tube forming machine

Life of this patent

Mechanism and method for removing twists in a tube forming machine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20