GB2213128A

GB2213128A - Cores for supporting coils of strip material

Info

Publication number: GB2213128A
Application number: GB8828338A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lief Andresen
Original assignee: Spiro Machines SA
Current assignee: Spiro Machines SA
Priority date: 1987-12-04
Filing date: 1988-12-05
Publication date: 1989-08-09
Also published as: GB8828338D0

Abstract

A core for supporting a coil of strip, e.g. metal strip, comprises a drum frame 10 on shaft 12 and arcuate segment members 14 mounted on the frame. Drive means, to urge the segment members 14 outwardly into engagement with the surface of a central cylindrical opening in the coil, comprise shaft 24 carrying gears 25 engaging gears 23 to rotate three cams 20 about the shaft to move segment members 14. The members, suitably three in number, are spring-loaded inwardly by springs 17 are driven radially outwardly by means of the cams. <IMAGE>

Description

CORES FOR SUPPORTING COILS OF STRIP MATERIAL This invention relates to cores for supporting coils of strip material such as metal strip to be formed into spirally-seamed tubing.

The formation of strip into tubing is well-known and in, for example, SPIROMATIC machines, metal strip is passed through a forming head which produces so-called sprial lock-seam tubing. Alternatively, the edges of the metal strip can be joined by welding.

One problem with machines of the above kind is that the supply coils of metal strip, which are rather heavy and possibly springy, tend to be undesirably mobile and require heavy and strongly-based mountings. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved core which will at least reduce the above problem.

According to the present invention there is provided a core for supporting a coil of strip material, the core comprising a frame, a plurality of arcuate segment members mounted on the frame, and drive means to urge the segment members outwardly into engagement with the surface of a central cylindrical opening in the coil of strip material.

The segment members, which are suitably three in number, are springloaded inwardly and driven radially outwardly by means of cams.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a core structure according to the invention; and, Figure 2 is a section on the line II-II of Fig.

1.

Referring to the drawings, the core structure comprises a drum-like steel frame 10 having a central bore 11 to receive a support shaft 12. Slidably mounted in guides 13 on the frame is a set of three segment members 14 which are staggered at 1200 and each of which has an arcuate outer part 15 and an inwardly-extending shaped limb 16 which engages opposed pairs of the guides 13.

The segment members are urged radially inwardly by means of leaf-like or bow springs 17 which are anchored on pegs 18 formed on the frame, and which extend through openings 19 in the members 14.

A set of three sprial cams 20 are secured by three studs or bolts 21, and it will be noted that the cams are angularly staggered by 1200. The cams are rotatably mounted on the cylindrical hub 22 of the frame, together with outer pinion members 23 which sandwich the cams.

A shaft 24 extends through the frame and carries internal pinions 25 which are in mesh with the pinion members 23. The shaft is formed with external flats 26 for engagement by a spanner or powered rotary drive.

In use of the core structure according to the invention, the segment members 14 are moved inwardly so that their arcuate parts 15 lie just proud of the cylindrical face of the casing 10. The structure is then inserted into the central opening in a coil of metal strip (not shown), and the shaft 24 is rotated to turn the pinion members 23, with the cams 20, in a clockwise direction as shown in the drawing. As the cams turn, the inner (follower) faces 26 of the limbs 26 are driven outwardly until the parts 15 are in firm engagement with the innermost winding of the coil; the drawings show the core expanded to it's maximum. The expanded coil holds the coil stably, and the known disadvantages of axial shift and radial oscillation are more or less eliminated.

It will be appreciated that the core structure can be used to support coils of material other than metal strip, and it is envisaged that the core structure will have further uses in mounting objects formed with central or other support openings. Also, the structure may be modified by, for example, employing two or more than three segment members 14.

Claims

1. A core for supporting a coil of strip material, comprising a frame, a plurality of arcuate segment members mounted on the frame, and drive means to urge the segment members outwardly into engagement with the surface of a central cylindrical opening in the coil 'of strip material.

2. A core as claimed in Claim 1, in which springs anchored on the frame urge the segment members radially inwardly.

3. A core as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the segment members are driven radially outwardly by means of cams rotatably mounted on a central hub of the frame.

4. A core as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, in which each segment member comprises an arcuate outer part and an inwardly-extending limb which is slidably received in guides carried by the frame.

5. A core as claimed in Claim 4, in which the frame is drum-like and said guides are formed in opposed inner faces of the drum.

6. A core as claimed in Claim 5, in which a rotary shaft extending between the walls of the drum-like core is in driving engagement with the cams and has connection means for engagement by a hand or power tool to rotate said cams and so expand the segment members.

7. A core as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, in which three segment members are provided.

8. A core for supporting a coil of strip material, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. The features herein described, or their equivalents, in any patentably novel selection.