GB1220025A - Compact strip accumulator - Google Patents

Abstract

1,220,025. Strip accumulator. ARMCO STEEL CORP. 2 May, 1969, No. 22503/69. Heading B8R. Strip material is accumulated by forming a length of the strip into a coil comprising an inner set of convolutions supported by rollers 21, Fig. 6, of a roll cage 20 and an outer set of convolutions on rollers 31 of a roll cage 30, the two sets being connected by a reverse loop 50, the arrangement being such that when some strip is taken for consumption from the innermost part of the inner set or some extra strip is fed for accumulation on the outside portion of the outer set, a part of the strip from the inner portion of the outer set is transferred to the outer portion of the inner set by rotation of the reverse loop so that a constant predetermined difference between the number of convolutions on the two sets is maintained at all times. An accumulating device for this purpose may be of horizontal, inclined or vertical disposition. A vertically disposed device 1, Fig. 1, has a supporting base 10 with its outer cage 30 comprising two spaced groups of rollers 12, 12a and 15, 15a for supporting the strip edges and a number of annularly disposed roller units 31 arranged between these two groups of rollers. The inner cage 20 comprises a number of rollers 21 mounted on a stationary central plate 11 on the base 10. For accumulation, the strip is fed by feed rolls 48 into the outer cage 30 by a drive (not shown). For consumption, the strip is fed out from a pay-off roll 22 by a drive or by a pull applied to the strip by the machine that uses the strip, the inner set of convolutions being in rotation and the outer set stationary. Additional strip can be added whilst some strip is being paid out. The effective diameter of the outer and inner cages can be changed by operation of cylinders 46 and (29), (Fig. 7, not shown). To use the device for different widths of strip, the groups of rollers 12, 12a and 15, 15a can be adjusted to alter their spacing. A micro-switch 51 responsive to a pre-determined amount of strip on the outer roll actuates feed rolls 48 to accumulate more strip. A photo-cell &c. 52, Fig. 6, may be located before the rolls 48 to indicate a strip-end. Means may be provided to stop the feed rolls 48 when maximum amount of strip is accumulated.