GB2025802A

GB2025802A - Method of and Apparatus for Stacking Rolled Strip Sections

Info

Publication number: GB2025802A
Application number: GB7922654A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Sundwiger Eisenhuette Maschinenfabrik Grah and Co; Sundwiger Eisenhuette Maschinenfabrik GmbH and Co
Current assignee: Sundwiger Eisenhuette Maschinenfabrik Grah and Co; Sundwiger Eisenhuette Maschinenfabrik GmbH and Co
Priority date: 1978-07-10
Filing date: 1979-06-29
Publication date: 1980-01-30
Also published as: AU4878579A; FR2430909A1; DE2830253A1; AU540400B2; JPS5527494A; SE7905840L; IT1120480B; BR7904354A; BE877513A; IT7949696A0; GB2025802B; DD144749A5; FI64302C; SE435143B; FI64302B; FR2430909B1; FI792161A; SU862815A3; DE2830253B2; DE2830253C3

Abstract

Apparatus for stacking rolled strip sections in which A strip (2) is advanced in a predetermined direction in a strip processing installation having cutting shears (4) upstream of a bending machine (6). A thicker end section (5) of the strip (2) is coiled by rolls (15 to 17) of the bending machine (6) and is cut off by the shears (4). The bending machine (6) carrying the coiled strip (7) is then moved on rails transversely to said predetermined direction to a position adjacent a stacking location where the coil (7) is then unrolled. This arrangement has the advantage that the thicker strip section takes up minimal space within the step processing installation. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method of and Apparatus for Stacking Rolled Strip Sections It is frequently necessary in strip processing installations to remove large strip sections simply and quickly, away from the strip path, more particularly at the beginning and the end of a strip. In the case of alloy steel and non-ferrous metals rolled, for instance, in a reversing double cage a non-rolled end is removed then welded to a strip destined for rolling thus allowing it to be re-used. The re-used lengths of strip usually measure from 4 to 10 m.

In order to avoid lost time, in the event of frequently occurring longer strip sections, these are removed in one piece and stacked in 91 10 m lengths alongside the strip processing plant. The strip processing equipment in known plants comprises, for this purpose, an extended roller conveyor behind a guillotine, onto which the strip sections are pushed then grasped by a special crane after shearing, and stacked alongside the strip processing plant following a transverse movement away from the path of the strip.

A disadvantage here is that the roller conveyor has to be located within the strip processing plant, allowing for the maxiumum strip length, thus requiring considerable space on the part of the installation. Losses may also occur at the end of the strip, because the strip cannot be maintained under tension to a greater length.

Further disadvantages in work scheduling may also arise when, for instance, only short strip sections need be removed, or strip lengths free from sheared lengths are processed. In each case the time required for feeding the strip into the installation is increased.

The objects of the present invention is to provide a method of and apparatus for stacking longer sheared strip sections alongside the strip processing plant without excessive loss of time or space.

According to the invention there is provided a method of stacking rolled strip sections, in which a band strip measuring at least four metres long and cut from a strip is transported transversely to the strip direction and placed at a stacking location alongside the strip, characterised in that, the strip section to be cut off is rolled into a coil and after cutting, is transported in the rolled condition transversely of the strip direction to said stacking location, the coil then being uncoiled so that the extended strip section is placed at the stacking location.

The process has the great advantage that the strip section rolled into a coil takes up only a fraction of its length within the strip processing plant and simultaneously allows economical stacking of the strip sections at the stacking location, the coil being uncoiled immediately after removal from the strip processing plant to the stacking location.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for carrying out the method in which a bending machine equipped with bending rolls for coiling and uncoiling said strip section, is movable transversely to the strip direction between a first position in the strip direction downstream of means for cutting off said strip section and a second position adjacent said stacking location.

Feed rolling machines operating according to the bending machine principle, whereby the strip is curved by a bending set consisting of three rolls are already known in the state of the art (for example see "Cold rolled strip production" published by Verlag Stahleisen Dusseldorf, 1970.

page 1 67). In order to allow the uncoiling operation immediately alongside the strip processing plant at the stacking location, the bending unit is also equipped with a bending set, for instance with three rolls. Only one extra bending roll is necessary, as the other two bending rolls can be used for coiling as well as uncoiling.

According to a further preferred design, the machine with the bending rolls rotates about its own axis, so that the spatial arrangement of the stacking position can be freely selected in relation to the strip processing plant.

A design is particularly favoured in which upstream of a first one of said bending rolls in the strip direction, the bending machine has a measuring cabinet, for instance a light barrier, relaying to the bending machine drive a stop signal actuated by the end of the cut strip section.

The light barrier prevents, on the one hand, excessive feed of the strip into a coil as the thicker section is coiled. The coiling operation is interrupted before the main strip reaches the first bending roll. No separate threading of the strip is thus necessary when uncoiling. The light barrier also serves to stop the bending machine after the uncoiling operation. The stop-signal can also be used for strip processing plant automation, in - order to trigger transverse movement from the strip direction into the position adjacent the stacking location, immediately after release of the stop-signal.

A considerable advantage of the arrangement according to the invention is that the coiled strip section takes up minimal space within the strip processing installation, and that it may be uncoiled into its extended condition and placed at the stacking location immediately after transverse transfer from the strip processing installation. In this way numerous strip sections can be stacked and eventually be removed as a stack while ensuring economic space requirements. At the! same time there is the advantage that the ends are straightened after uncoiling and can be re threaded into place for re-use. The economically designed arrangement ensures minimal hindrance for the operatives, greatly reducing accident hazard compared with the usual transverse movement by crane.In the preferred design the bending machine with the light barrier also has the advantage that the plant can be operated automatically to an extensive degree.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Fig. 1 is a side view, of apparatus for stacking rolled strip sections constructed in accordance with the invention, and Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

Strip 2 from a roll 1 passes first through a straightening roller unit 3 and then through shears 4. The strip 2, which is, for instance, approximately 3mm thick, has a considerably thicker end section 5 some 8 m long and, for instance, 8mm thick. This thicker strip end section 5 must be parted from the main strip 2 and be removed from the strip processing installation.

The section 5 is cut from the strip by means of the shears 4 and then rolled into a coil 7 by means of a bending unit 6.

As shown in Fig. 2, the bending machine 6 runs on rails 8 transversely to the direction of the strip direction between the strip location 9 and a position 10 at a stacking location 1 1.

The bending machine comprises four bending rollers 14, 15, 16 and 17. A roller cage 18 receiving the coil 7 is connected to the last bending roll 17. As the bending roll 16 is inserted between bending rolls 15 and 17, the section 5 is rolled into a coil 7 on introduction, whereas on uncoiling at location 10, the bending roll 15 comes between the externally located uncoiling roll 14 and the bending roll 16, so that the then coiled section 5 is uncoiled into the straight condition. A measuring barrier 19, for instance, a light barrier, is placed before the externally located uncoiling roll 14, and this relays a stopsignal to a drive of the bending unit 6, as the path between the two measuring components of the measuring barrier 19 is freed after the thicker end section 5 has passed.

In the example illustrated, the stacking location 11 is parallel to and alongside the straightening roller unit 3, so that the rolled coil 7 is transported transversely away from the bending machine 6 and is then placed at the stacking location 11.

The bending machine 6 is designed according to a preferred arrangement, in such a manner that it can rotate about a vertical axis, so that the stacking location 11 may equally well be disposed in a direction transverse to the strip direction or on the opposing side of the rails 8, i.e. as a mirror image to the arrangement illustrated here.

The unit operates in the following manner. The section 5, welded to the front end of the strip 2, is rolled into a coil 7 by the bending rolls 1 5, 16 and 17 and received by the bending machine. The shears 4 then cut the thicker end section 5 from the strip 2. As soon as the cut end of the section 5 passes the measuring barrier 1 9, the bending roll drive is stopped, so that the rear end of the thicker section 5 comes to a stop before the bending roll 14. The stop-signal also give an instruction for the bending machine 6 to move transversely to the strip from strip location 9 into position 10. The path is thus cleared for the strip 2, so that only a limited time interruption occurs to remove the thicker strip section 5. The uncoiling rolls 14, 15, 16 are triggered when the machine 6 reaches position 10 adjacent the stacking location 1 1, so that the thicker strip section 5 can be uncoiled and placed in the straightened condition at the stacking location 11. The same operation is repeated as the rear thicker strip section is sheared from the end of the strip 2, or for the subsequent strip, until a number of sheared thicker sections 5 have been placed at the stacking location 11. The stack of sections 5 can then be removed.

The coil 7 can be uncoiled at the stacking location 11, parallel to the strip rolling direction, following the operations required within the processing plant for the strip. The coil can thus be uncoiled as the strip 2 passes a processing unit 12, for instance, a longitudinal shearing unit, before reaching a coiling roll 13.

Claims

1. A method of stacking rolled strip sections, in which a band strip measuring at least four metres long and cut from a strip is transported transversely to the strip direction and placed at a stacking location alongside the strip, characterised in that, the strip section to be cut off is rolled into a coil and after cutting, is transported in the rolled condition transversely of the strip direction to said stacking location, the coil then being uncoiled so that the extended strip section is placed at the stacking location.

2. A method of stacking rolled strip sections comprising advancing a strip in a predetermined direction through a strip processing installation, rolling an end section of the strip, at least four metres long, into a coil, cutting off said coiled end section from the strip, transporting said coiled end section transversely to said predetermined direction, to a stacking location alongside the strip processing installation and uncoiling said end section at said stacking location.

3. Apparatus for carrying out the method of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a bending machine, equipped with bending rolls for coiling and uncoiling said strip section, is movable transversely to the strip direction between a first position in the strip direction downstream of means for cutting off said strip section and a second position adjacent said stacking location.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein at a position upstream of a first one of said bending rolls in the strip direction, the bending machine has a measuring barrier which monitors strip movement, and relays a stop-signal, triggered by the end of the sheared strip section, to a drive of the bending machine.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the bending machine is rotatable about a vertical axis so that after its said transverse movement it can deliver the coiled strip section to a stacking location extending transversely of the strip direction or to a stacking location extending parallel to the strip direction.

6. Apparatus for stacking rolled strip sections comprising means for advancing a strip in a predetermined direction to cutting means of a strip processing installation, a bending machine disposed downstream of said cutting means for rolling an end section of the advanced strip into a coil prior to the end section being cut from the strip, said bending machine being movable transversely of said pre-determined direction to a stacking location alongside said installation where the bending machine can uncoil therefrom the end section onto said stacking location.

7. A method of stacking rolled strip section substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

8. Apparatus for stacking rolled strip sections substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.