Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a strip accumulator for
use in a continuous processing line. More particularly,
this invention relates to a strip accumulator which holds
inner and outer convolutions of strip material, the convolutions
being de~ined by inner and outer roll baskets.
Industrial processing lines which utilize a strip
material, such as a metallic strip material, as an input
usually require that the strip be continually fed thereto.
The input strip is usually ~ed from a supply coil to the
processing line and because it would be highly undesirable ~ -
to stop the processing line upon depletion of a coil, strip
accumulators, such as that shown in United States Patent No. ~-
3,506,210, are placed between the supply coil and ~he pro-
cessing line. These accumulators receive strip from the
supply coil, hold or store a quantity of the same and at the
same time pay out strip so held to the processing line.
Such accumulators are thus intended to permit the processing ;
line to remain acti~e, utilizing strip stored in the accumulator,
during the time a new supply coil is attached, as by welding,
to the end of a coil which has just been depleted.
In these prior ar~ accumulators, such as United
States Patent No. 3,506,210, inner and outer convolutions of
strip material are defined by inner and outer sets of rollers.
These rollers are oriented generally in a circular configuration
and as the strip builds up against them, they are designed
to move radially to maintain proper spacing between the - 3
convolutions.
The manner in which the prior art has accomplished
this radial expansion has not been totally satisfactory,
particularly economically, since the design is quite complex,
having a number of parts with attendant maintenance problems.
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In the prior art the shafts of the inner set of rollers are
supported on one end by a linkage arrangement and extend
through guide slots in a heavy backing plate. Through a
linkage arrangement for each roller, rotation of a aisk by a
- pneumatic cylinder moves the rollers radially. Such an
arrangement not only includes hundreds of moving parts and
heavy support structure, but it also is subject to severe
bending stresses because of the cantilever construction.
~n some prior art designs the outer set of rollers
are mounted much like the inner set construction just described,
that is, movable in a trac~ formed in the backing plate with
attendant linkages and the like. In the design of United
States Patent No. 3,506,210, the outer set of rollers are
cantile~erly extended from arms which are affixed to rotatable
sleeves. The sleeves include a sprocket so that a chain
actuated by a pneumatic cylinder will rotate all the sleeves
to move the rollers. This design suffers from the same
problems including the multiplicity of parts and cantilever
construction, as discussed previously.
Another problem in prior art accumulators is their
requirement to have a separate guide system for the sides of -
the strip, again calling for a number of complex parts.
Usually the strip in both the inner and outer convolutions
is maintained laterally positioned by two sets of rollers,
each set contacting one edge of the strip. These edge
guides are usually journalled in brackets extending from the
backing plate with the brackets being slotted so that the
position of the rollers may be adjusted to accommodate strip
of varying widths.
In short as to the prior art accumulators, the
guiding and accumulating functions are accomplished by a
complex design requiring a number of moving parts all supported,
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in one way or another, by a heavy backing plate which itself
must be precision machined to include a plurality of tracks
or guide slots. As such, these accumulators are expensive
to manufacture and maintain, thereby rendering them economically
feasible at ~est only for large installations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is thus a primary object of the present invention
to provide a strip acc~mulator which is simple in design
having less parts and maintenance problems and yet one which
will efficiently handle and store strip material~
It is another object of the present in~ention to
provide a strip accumulator, as above, in which inner and
outer convolutions of strip material are formed on expandable
rol~ers without each individual roller being provided with
complex linkage and arm arrangements to effect the expansion.
It is a further object of the present invention to -- -
provide a strip accumulator, as above, which eliminates the
need for a heavy backing plate to carry the rollers which
define the supports for the inner ~nd outer convolutions of
strip material. -
It is yet anotber object of the present invention
to provide a strip accumulator, as above, in which the
rollers defining the supports for the inner and outer convolu-
tions of strip material are supported at both ends thereby
obviating the bending stresses occasioned by the cantilever
construction.
.,
It is a still further object of the present invention
to provide a strip accumulator, as above, in which the guide
means for the edges of the strip mater al are associated
3Q with the supporting structure for the~inner and outer convolu-
tions of strip material rather than being a separate guiding
system.
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These and other objects of the present in~ention which ;`
will become apparent from the description to follow, are
accomplished by the improvements hereinafter described and
claimed.
In general, the apparatus for accumulating strip
material comprises a frame support, means forming an outer set
of convolutions of the strip material, and means forming an
inner set of convolutions of the strip material, said means
forming said inner set of convolutions including first and -
second arcuate means carried by said frame support and
defining the inner convolutions, roller means mounted on said
first and second arcuate means to contact the first inner
convolution of the strip material, and control means to move
said first and second arcuate means toward and away from each
other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE D3~AWINGS
Fig.l is a somewhat schematic elevational view of ~ ;
the strip accumulator according to the concept of the present ;~
invention having some parts broken away and some parts
omitted for clarity.
Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the outer convolution
forming and supporting assembly shown in more detail than in
Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along
line 3-3 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the inner convolution
forming and supporting assembly shown in more detail
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than in Fig. l.
Fig. 5 is a se~tional view taken substantially
along line 5-5 of Fig. l.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EM~30DIMENT
.
The strip accumulator according to the present in-
vention is indicated generally by the numeral lO and is -
shown in Figs. l and 5 as having a main ~rame in the form of
a box-like structure including vertically oriented angle
irons ll, 12 and 13 (the fourth vertical angle irons not
10 being shown) and several horizontal angle irons 14, 15, 16,
17, 18 and l9 (two horizontal angle irons not being shown)
interconnecting the vertical angle irons at the tops and
bottoms thereof to ~orm the box-like frame. This frame
carries, either directly or indirectly, the remaining portions
of accumulator lO.
Accumulator lO receives strip S, which may be of
any material and gauge, but which is generally a metallic
material, and which may be of any width, from an uncoiler
tnot shown) which carries a coil of strip S. The strip is
20 threaded into accumulator lO between guide rollers 20 and 21 -
carried between plates 22 (only one shown~ that are supported
by the frame. Strip S then passes through edge on guide
assemblyj indicated generally by the numeral 23, which
includes four rollers 24 (two being shown) to align the
strip laterally so that it may be properly received between
pinch rolls 25 and 26. Roll 26 is carried between plates 28
-(only one shown) which in turn is carried by the main frame.
Roll 26 is driven by a motor (not shown) to provide the
motive force drawing strlp S into accumulator lO. Roll 25
is carried between plates 29 (only one shown) and is adjustably
movable toward and away from drive roll 26 by an adjustment
mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 30. Mechanism
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30 is attached to plates 29 by means of angle iron 31 and
includes an adjusting screw 32 and spring 33 so that the
tension between rolls 25 and 26 may be adjusted in a conven-
tional manner dependent on the gauge of the strip S.
The driven strip then passes between a wear plate
34 held by mounting plate 35 and a series of rollers 36
carried between plates 28. Strip S contacts additional
rollers 38 mounted between mounting plates 39 and 40 (Fig.
5). Plates 39 and 40 are carried by angle irons 41 and 42
which extend between angle irons 14 and 16 of the main
frame. In addition, plates 39 and 40 are each connected to
their adjacent plate 28 by a splice bracket 43. As strip S
is passed over rollers 38, side edge gu~des 44 (only one
shown) carried by plates 39 and 40 assure th~t ~he strip is
still laterally aligned. ;~
Strip S then has a-loop formed therein positioned
between an outer convolution forming and support assembly
indicated generally by the numeral 45 and shown in detail in
Fig. 2, and an inner convolution forming and support assembly
indicated generalLy by the numeral 46 and s~own in detail in
Fig. 4 . As will hereinafter be described in detail, as
strip is fed into accumulator 10, the loop between outer
convolution support assembly 45 and inner convolution support
assembly 46 orbits therebetween depositing a convolution of
strip material on the inside of the outer assembly 45 and on
the outside of the inner assembly 46.
As will also be described in det~il, strip is
removed from accumulator 10 from the inside convolution of
inner assembly 46 and directed around a take-out arbor 48,
omitted for clarity in Fig. 1 and shown schematically in
Fig. 5. Take-out arbor 48 is mounted on rear crossbeam 49
supported by the main frame and ser~es the purpose of spiralling
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the strip out of the plane of the convolutions. A typical
take-ou~ arbor is shown in Costello, et al. U.S. Patent No.
3,885,748 issued May 27, 1975 to which reference is made for
whatever details are contained therein relative to the take-
out arbor needed to understand the present invention. A~ter
passing around arbor 48, strip S leaves accumulator 10
through exit rolls 50 and 51 which are supported by plate
52, moun~ed between angles 53 that extend between angles 11
and 13 of the main frame.
With particular reference to Fig. 2, the outer
convolution support assembly 45 will now be described in
detail. Outer support assembly 45 includes a flexible expandable
band 54 which, as will hereinafter be described, is bent to
form a generally circular configuration. A plurality of
generally U-shaped brackets 55 are mounted on band 54 and
- haYe branches which extend generally radially inward of the
band to support both ends of a roller 56 therebetween.
Rollers 56 are thus adapted to en~age the first con~olut~on
of strip S thereon and together with b~nd 54 support all the
outer convolutions of strip material. Also mounted on band
54 are pairs of edge guide rollers 58 which extend radially
inward o band 54, w~ich are circumferentially spaced along
the length of band 54 and which are mounted outside of the
axial extent of rollers 56 to m intain the strip aligned on
band 54. Rollers 58 may be adjustably mounted to accommodate
strip of varying widths.
The last roller 59 on band 54 is mounted between
elongate plates 60 (only one shown~ which are also pin con-
nected, as at 61, to a plate Inot shown~ which is adjustably
connected to plate 28. Thus, pin 61 acts as the pivot point
~or band 54. As best seen in Figs. 2 and 5, the first
r~ller 62 on band 54 is mounted by a U-shaped bracket 63,
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similar to brackets 55. However, the axle of roller 62
extends through the radially inward directed branches of ~ :
bracket 63 to engage one end of link arms 64 and terminate
ln roller bearings 65. The other end of link arms 64 carry
a roller 66, the axle of which extends t~rou~h link arms 64, .
one end of additional link arms 68, and terminates in roller
bearings 69. The other end o link arms 68 carry a roller
70, the axle of which.carries bearings 71. Bearings 6~, 69
; and 71 are adapted to ride on tracks indicated generally by
the numeral 72, one track 72 being ~ffixed to the inside ofplate 39 and the other to the inside of plate 40. As shown
in Fig..l, each track 72 includes two arcuate surfaces 73-
and 74. When roller bearings 69 and 71 are on surface 74,
rollers 66 and 70 are out of the path of the strip m~terial.
Howe~er, as convolutions o~ strip material begin to bui~d up
on the inside of band 54 against rollers 56, the band begins :.
to expand, in a manner to be hereinafter explained, and
bearings 69 and 71 begin mo~ing up surface 74 and onto
~ sur~ace 73 thereby permitting rollers 66 and 70 to contact
20 the strip and a.dd support thereto.
The expansion and/or contraction of band 54 is ~.-
.:regulated by a control assembly generally indicated by the
:numeral 75 and shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Control assem~ly 75 : :
i~cludes a pneumatic cylinder 76 connected on one end to a
bracket 78 mounted on angle 14 and having its piston rod 7
clevis connected to a plate 80 welded to an angle iron 81.
Angle 81 is affixed to the back of band 54 thus enabling
cylinder 76 to control the expansion and/or contraction of
the band. Dependent on the weight of the strip S, cylinder
3Q 76 may either be set to provide resistance to band expansion
so that sudden expansion does not occur or can be set to
actually create the expansion itsel~. ~ost often ~or heavy
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gauge strip, cylinder 76 will be set to resist or otherwise
hold back expansion and for lighter gauge material it wil~
promote or assist expansion. In addition, cylinder 76 will
retract rod 79 when a previously ull outer set of convolutions
has been emptied to thereby return the band to its original
position.
An additional band expansion control is provided
by means of two band support and guide assemblies indicated
generally by the numerals 82 and shown in detail in Fig. 3.
Band support and guide assemblies 82 are carried by angle
members 83 which extend between rear crossbeam 49 ~Fig. 5)
and front crossbeam 84 (~igs. 1 and 5~. Mounted on each
angle member 83 are two pivot blocks 85 which have a pin
member 86 journalled therein. Prox~mate each pi~ot block
85, pin member 86 carries pivot arms 88 which have a shaft
89 extending therebetween. Shaft 89 carries two stabilizer
rolls 90 which are spaced ~rom pivot arms 88 by sleeves 91
and spaced from each other-by a block 92. Arms 88 are
biased toward band 54 by a spring assembly indicated generally '-
by the numeral 93 which includes a bac~-up plate 94 mounted
Qn angle 83. A spring retainer 95 extends through plate 94
- and holds a coil spring 96 between plate 94 and block 92.
Thus, dependent on the tension of spring 96, rolls 90 are
u~ged against band 54 to control and somewhat restrict the
expansion thereof. In addition, the edges of band 54 are
guided and stabilized by pin members 98 affixed to the side
of pivot arms 88.
As con~olutions of strip material build up against
rollers 56, band 54 will begin to expand under the control
of control assembly 75 including cylinder 76. and band
support and guide assemblie~ 82. When expanded, ~and 54
will take on the configuration shown in chain lines in Fig.
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2 with substantially every portion along the length thereof
having a radial component of expansion. When fully expanded, -
rollers 66 and 70 Will have moved along sur~aces 74 and 73
of trac~s 72 to complete the almost circular support. When
the strip is withdrawn from the outer convolution support
45, cylinder 76 may retract the band to its original position
shown in Fig. 2.
At the same time a convolution o~ strip is being
deposited against outer conv~lution support 45, a convolution
is being deposited against inner convolution support 46. As
shown in Figs. 4 and 5, inner convolution support 46 includes
an upper crescent shaped frame member composed of two plates
lOQ having rollers 101 extending therebetween along the
arcuate portion thereof. Similarly, support 46 includes a
lower crescent shaped frame member composed of two plates
102 having rollers 103 extending therebetween along the
arcuate portion thereof. Bot~ plates also support strip
edge guide rollers 104 much like rollers 58. In addition,
plates 102 have brackets 105 affixed thereto to support an
addition~l roller 106 to bridge the gap between rollers 101 ;`
and 103. Plates 10~ and 102 are supported by channels 107
and 108, respectively. Channel 107 has end plates 109
; ~$~ixed t~ereto and si~ilarly channel 108 is pro~ided with
end plates 110. - `
Fr~me members 100 and 102 are movable toward and
away from each other by means of an inner convolution support
; control assembly now to be described. An angle 111 extends ~-
between angle irons 15 and 17 of the main frame to support,
through clevis bracket 112, a cylinder 113. The piston rod
114 of cylinder 113 is clevis connected, as at 115, to a
link arm 116 which extends from a pi~ot sh~ft 118. Shaft
118 is ~ounted in journal bearings 119 carried by angle
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irons 15 and 17. Shaft 118 carries two additional link arms
120 which are spaced axially on shaft 118 from link arm 116
and extend at generally a right angle therefrom. The spacing
of link arms 120 is such that one will be located on each
side of the inner convolution support assembly 46, as shown
in Fig. 5.
The outer ends of arms 120 are clevis connected,
as at 121, to connecting rods 122 which are in turn clevis
connected, as at 123, to channel 107 at two locations in -
front of and behind inner convolution support assembly 46.
Ch~nnel 107 is clevis connected, as at 124, to yoke bars or -
linkages 125 which are each pin connected, as at 126, to
actuator arms 127 which are pivoted on pins 128 connected to
; channels 49 and 84, respectively. The other end of each arm
127 is pin connected, as at 129, to second yoke bars or
linkages 130 each of which are clevis connected, as at 131,
to plates 110. Thus, as piston rod 114 is stroked, arms 120
pull channel 107 and the upper crescent shaped frames upwardly
which through the linkage arrangements, 125, 127 and 130,
move channel 108 and lower crescent shaped frames downwardly
to expand the inner convolution support 46. Such movement , ~
is guided by rods 132 mounted on plates 133 carried by ~-
crossbeams 49 and 84, with rods 132 extending through bushings
134 mounted on plates 109 and 110.
Thus, ~s the inner convolution of strip adjacent
rollers 101 and 103 is being fed around arbor 48 and to the
processing line, cylinder 113 can control expansion of the
inner convolution support assembly 46 to account for the
strip material which has passed to the processing line. In
order to feed strip from assembly 46 to arbor 48, a ta~e-off
roll 135 is provided to receive the first convolution of
strip as it leaves the last roller 103. A channel 136
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extends between crossbeams 49 and 84 and carries two pivot
blocks 138 (only one shown). Roll 135 is mounted between
upright flanges of a U-shaped plate 139 which has a shaft
140 affixed thereto which is received within the aperture of
pivot block 138 to thus permit plate 139 to swing on the
axis of shaft 140. Each of the upright flanges of plate 139
is slotted to receive a guide rod 141 for springs 142 (only
one shown) which are situated between each upright flange of
plate 139 and a bearing block 143 mounted on channel 136. :
Thus, roller 135 is biased outwardly and pro-~ides a cushioned
take-off for the strip material which, as it leaves roller
135, will pass over rollers 144 and 145 mounted on frame 146
supported by channel 136. From roller 145, the strip is
transferred around ta~e-out arbor 48 and to the processing
line.
In summary as to movement and storage of strip S
in accumulator 1~, strip is drawn in through pinch rolls 25
- and 26, over rollers 36 and 38 and into the area between
outer convolution support assembly 45 and inner convolution
support assembly 46. When the strip is initially threaded
into the accumulator, a loop is formed between assemblies 45 -~
and 46 so that as strip is automatically drawn in, the loop
will orbit in a clockwise direction in Fig. 1, depositing
convolutions of strip against rollers 56 of the outer assembly .-~
and rollers 101, 103 and roller 106 of the inner assembly. .
As the convolutions build up, spacing between the inner and
outer assemblies is maintained by the expansion of the outer
assembly as regulated by the control assembly 75. If the
processing line is demanding strip with accumulator 10
either filled or filling, the first convolution of strip
resting against the inner assembly is drawn off around roll
135 and rollers 144 and 145, and directed around arbor 48 to
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exit between rolls 50 and 51. The inner assem~ly can thenexpand to account for the drawn out strip. The strip is at
all times edge guided first by entry rollers 24, then by
side edge guides 44 and finally by edge guide rollers 58 of
the outer assembly and edge guide rollers 104 of the inner
assembly.
It should thus be evident that an accumulator con-
structed according to the in~ention described herein will
substantially improve the art by providing an efficient
operating accumulator yet one which is manufactured, and
controlled with far less moving parts than those of the
prior art. :
'~
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2Q
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