Strip joining apparatus for pipe mill equipment

A strip joining apparatus for pipe mill equipment, comprising:

• a first cutting unit cutting a trailing end of a preceding steel strip, the first cutting unit comprising:
• a vertical clamp vertically pressing and clamping the trailing end of the preceding steel strip;
• and a first upper blade moving upwards and downwards, thus cutting the preceding steel strip;
• a second cutting unit cutting a leading end of a following steel strip, the second cutting unit comprising a vertical clamp vertically pressing and clamping the leading end of the following steel strip;
• and a second upper blade moving upwards and downwards, thus cutting the following steel strip;
• a first transfer unit transferring the first cutting unit forwards or backwards with respect to a direction in which the preceding steel strip is transferred;
• a second transfer unit transferring the second cutting unit forwards or backwards with respect to a direction in which the following steel strip is transferred;
• and
• a welding unit disposed between the first cutting unit and the second cutting unit, the welding unit welding cut surfaces of the preceding and following steel strips that have been moved next to each other by the first transfer unit and the second transfer unit and put into contact with each other, thus joining the cut surfaces of the preceding and following steel strips to each other,
• wherein the first upper blade and the second upper blade are inclined downwards and face each other, so that the trailing end of the preceding steel strip and the leading end of the following steel strip that are respectively cut by the inclined first and second upper blades are put into contact with each other in a ‘V’ shape, before the trailing end and the leading end are welded to each other by the welding unit, and
• wherein the first cutting unit further comprises a first inclined clamp disposed on a lower surface of a first lower horizontal frame inclined in a direction parallel to a direction in which the first upper blade moves to cut the preceding steel strip, and a first holder supporting the first upper blade is disposed on an upper surface of the first lower horizontal frame which faces opposite to the lower surface of a first lower horizontal frame, and
• wherein the second cutting unit further comprises a second inclined clamp disposed on a lower surface of a second lower horizontal frame inclined in a direction parallel to a direction in which the second upper blade moves to cut the following steel strip, a second holder supporting the second upper blade is disposed on an upper surface of the second lower horizontal frame which faces opposite to the lower surface of a second lower horizontal frame, and the second inclined clamp presses and clamps the leading end of the following steel strip.