US2873803A - Apparatus for treating strip and the like - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 17, 1959 A. J. SARKA APPARATUS FOR TREATING STRIP AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 9, 1954 M M v 7 bfl m Feb. 17, 1959 A. J. SARKA APPARATUS FOR TREATING STRIP AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 9, 1954 rho APPARATUS FOR TREATING STRIP AND THE LIKE Albert J. Sarka, Maple Heights, Ohio, assignor to Wean Equipment Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 9, 1954, Serial No. 474,235

13 Claims. (Cl. 164-89) ,This invention relates to apparatus for treating strip and the like and more particularly to apparatus for treating moving material in strip-like form without stopping the movement of the material during thetreating operation. For purposes of illustration and explanation the invention will be described and illustrated as embodied in a punch press, although it may be similarly embodied in other forms of strip treating mechanisms. It has been one of the great problems in high-speed production of strip-like material to treat the moving strip-like material without stopping the movement of the strip at the time of treatment. Conventional methods of treating strip are unsatisfactory at high strip speeds because of the tendency of the strip to pile up at the treating machine due to the inherent limitations of the usual mechanisms. Many types of strip treating machines have heretofore been proposed but all are subject to one or more of the disadvantages of complex design, high cost, large floor space requirements, need for highly skilled operating personnel, and most important very real and definite limitations upon the accuracy of treatment and the operating speed.

.All of these disadvantages are overcome by the strip treating apparatus of this invention. This invention provides an apparatus which is simple, economical and virtually unlimited in operating speed. There is provided continuously operable means feeding strip material in a path, release means in the continuously operable means whereby the strip material can be drawn freely through the feeding means at a speed greater than the rate of feed, and a pair of members for simultaneously acting on strip and drawing the strip through the continuously operable means at a speed in excess of the rate of feed. Braking means are preferably provided on the continuously operable means preventing free rotation of the continuously operable means. Themembers for acting on the strip may be in the form of a flying shear, a press or other apparatus acting on the shear. In a preferred embodiment of the invention there is provided continuously operable means feeding strip material in a path, release means in the continuously operable means whereby the strip material can be drawn freely through the feeding means at a speed greater than the rate of feed, a first member for acting on the strip and the like mounted to operate in a circular path at a peripheral speed in excess of the rate of strip feed a portion of which circular path lies substantially in the first-mentioned path, a guide extending generally transversely of the first-mentioned path mounted to move with the first member, a second member for acting on the strip and the like mounted to reciprocate in the guide and move generally in unison with the first member and to move substantially into the first-mentioned path substantially with the first member to engage the strip and the like between said first and second members whereby the strip is moved with said members during a portion of their movement and is drawn through the feeding means at a speed greater than the rate of feed; Preferably drive means are provided simultaneously'driving the first member and the continuously operable means at I 2,873,803 Patented Feb. 17, 1959- two difierent peripheral speeds of which the speed of the first member is greater. The continuously operable means feeding the strip is preferably a pair of pinch rolls driven through an overrunning clutch which permits the strip to be drawn through the rolls at a speed greater than the rate of feed. Preferably a drag brake is provided on the pinch rolls to prevent their overrunning when the pulling or drawing force is released from the strip. In this way continuous control over the strip is maintained and the'length of the treated strip is continuously maintained at a figure equal to amount fed by the pinch rolls plus the amount drawn through by the pulling force. The first member acting on the strip is preferably mounted in a floating frame surrounding the path of strip travel and mounted on spaced apart eccentric cams. These cams are identical in size and shape and rotate about parallel axes in the same direction so that all points on the frame describe a circle of identical size during each revolution of the cams. The second member is preferably mounted in guides in the frame on the side of the strip opposite the first member and pivoted to an arm rotatable on a fixed axis opposite the first member so that the second member is caused to reciprocate in the guideways while it moves with the frame as the frame revolves about its cams.

Means may be provided on the first and second members for receiving interchangeable platens so that the punch press may be converted to a shear, a stamping machine or other treating mechanism simply by changing the platens. Preferably this is accomplished by providing platen holders with cooperating indexing means on each member. 7 7

Certain features, objects and advantages of this invention have been described above. Other features, objects and advantages will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a side elevational View of a punch press according to this invention;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the discharge end of the punch press of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the punch press of Fig ure 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the punch press of Figure 1 looking from the right of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a vertical section on the line VV of Figure 2;

Figures 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D are vertical sectional views through the floating frame used in the punch press of Figures 1 through 5 illustrating diagrammatically the sequence of motion of the floating frame, platens and pinch rolls during a single cycle;

Figure 7 is an enlarged view partly broken away of the drag brake used on the pinch rolls of the press of Figures 1 through 6; and

Figures 8 is an end elevation broken away of an overruning coupling as used in the embodiments of Figures 1 through 6.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a housing 10 having a base 11 and side members 12. of parallel shafts 13 and 14 are journaled for rotation adjacent the top and bottom of the side members 12, vertically one above the other. Each of these shafts is provided with eccentric cams 15 adjacent the side members 12. A floating frame made up of side frames 16 mounted for rotation on the earns 15 and spacer members (not shown) is provided between the side members 12 of the housing. A top press die 17 is fixed between the side frames 16 below the upper shaft 13 to travel with the side frame. Each side frame 16 is provided 19 is vertically reciprocable.

The lower press die 19 is A pair pivotally mounted on the end of vertical arms 29 which are in turn pivoted on the lower shaft 14 alongside the eccentric cams 15. The two shafts 13 and 14 are driven by a motor 21 acting through a drive pinion 22 and identical gears 23 on the shafts 13 and 14.

A pair of pinch rolls 24 and 25 are provided within the housing side members 12 adjacent the floating frame to continuously feed strip on a path through the frame. The lower pinch roll 24 is journalled in the side members 12 and is driven by a variable speed gear drive 26 of the PIV or equivalent known type through a conventional overrunning coupling 27 from a gear 28 on the lower shaft 14. The overrunning coupling 27 may, for example, be made up of an outer ring 27:: fixed to gear 28. The gear 28 and the ring 27a fixed thereto are freely rotatable on the shaft 14. A ramp wheel 27]) fixed to the shaft 14 is rotatable within ring 27a. Locking balls 27c lie between housing 27a and the ramps of the ramp wheel 27b. When the gear 28 is moved at a speed greater than the shaft 14, the balls 27c drop into the pockets in the ramp Wheel 2712. When the shaft 14 is rotating more rapidly than gear 28, the balls 27c ride up the ramps and are trapped between the ramps of ramp wheel 27b and ring 27a locking the two together so that the gear 28 is rotated with shaft 14. The upper pinch roll is journalled in lever arms 29 pivotally mounted on the side members 12 above the bottom pinch roll 2 Outwardly extending arms 36 are fixed to the side members 12 above the lever arms 29 and parallel thereto. Suspended from each arm 30 is a screw jack 31 hearing against a spring 32 which in turn bears upon the free end of the corresponding lever arm 29. By adjusting the position of the screw jack 31, the pressure on the lever arm 29 and thereby the pressure between the pinch rolls may be varied. The lower pinch roll 2 is provided with a gear 33 which drives the upper pinch roll 25' through a gear 34. A drag brake of conventional design is provided outboard of the drive gears 33 and 34 on the pinch roll 24 to prevent overrunning of the pinch rolls except when tension is applied to the strip to draw the strip through between the rolls. The drag brake may be made up of a drum 35a mounted on the shaft of roll 24. Surrounding the drum 35a is a shoe 35b. The shoe 35b is provided with brake lining 35c and with an adjusting thrumb screw 35d so that the pressure applied to the brake drum 35a may be regulated.

A set of rollers 36 in the form of a roller leveler may be provided in advance of the pinch rolls to level the strip leaving the uncoiler 37 and align it with the roll nip.

The operation of the punch press described above will be perhaps best explained by reference to Figure 1 and the diagrammatic showing of Figures 6A through 6D. The strip 38 to be treated leaves the uncoiler 37 and passes through the roller leveler 35 into the nip between the pinch rolls 24 and 25. The strip is fed by the pinch rolls at a constant rate of speed through between the side frames 16 of the floating frame and between the upper die 17 and lower die 12. As the motor drives shafts 13 and 14 the eccentric earns 15 carry the side frames 16 of the floating frame in a circle about the two shafts as illustrated in Figures 6A through 6D at a peripheral speed in excess of the rate of strip fed by the pinch rolls 24 and 25. This in turn carries the upper die 17 through a circle identical with that of the frame and below the shaft 13. At the same time the lower die 19 is moved reciprocally in the slot 18 and back and forth horizontally with the floating frame, thereby following an arcuate path (see Figures 6A through 6D). Both the upper die 17 and the lower die 19 move with the same speed as the frame and in excess of the rate of speed of the strip fed by the pinch rolls so that when the strip is engaged between them as at position 6C they exert a tension on the strip, pulling it through between them. The pinch rolls are accordingly moved at a rate of speed greater than their normal speed of feed and the overrunning coupling comes into play, permitting the rolls to run freely without interference from their drive. As the dies 17 and 19 release the strip (position 6D) there is a tendency for the rolls to continue to decelerate slowly by reason of their higher rotary momentum down to the normal feed speed. In order to prevent this the drag brake brings the pinch roll immediately to normal speed when the tension caused by the rapidly moving dies is released. In this way a constant precise amount of material can be treated with each revolution of the dies, the amount being the sum of the length fed by the pinch rolls from the instant of release by the dies to the instant of pickup by the dies on the next revolution plus the distance travelled by the strip in tension betwen the dies. This latter distance will be the chord of the arc beginning at the instant of pickup to the instant of discharge by the dies.

By the use of the apparatus of this invention it is possible to cut, punch or otherwise treat a constant length of material with each revolution of the floating frame just as effectively as if the strip were stopped and the operation performed in a stationary manner.

While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I-claim:

1. Apparatus for treating rapidly moving strip and the like comprising continuously operable rotating means feeding strip material and the like in a path, release means in the continuously operable means whereby the strip material may be drawn freely through the feeding means at a speed greater than the rate of feed, retarding means acting on the continuously operable means to limit free rotation of the continuously operable means, a first member for acting on the strip and the like mounted to operate in a circular path at a peripheral speed in excess of the rate of feed a portion of which circular path lies substantially in the first mentioned path, a guide extending generally transversely of the first mentioned path mounted to move with the first member, a second member for acting on the strip and the like mounted to reciprocate in the guide, and means causing the second member to reciprocate in the guide and move generally in the direction of the first mentioned path generally in unison with the first member and to move substantially into the first mentioned path substantially simultaneously with the first member to engage the strip and the like between said first and second members whereby the strip is moved with said members during a portion of their movement and is drawn through the feeding means at a speed in excess of the rate of feed, and overcoming the effect of the retarding means.

2. Apparatus for treating rapidly moving strip and the like comprising continuously operable rotating means feeding strip material and the like in a path, an overrunning coupling in the continuously operable means whereby the strip material can be drawn freely through the feeding means at a speed greater than the rate of feed, retarding means acting on the continuously operable means to limit free rotation of the continuously operable means, a first member for acting on the strip and the like mounted to operate in a circular path at a peripheral speed in excess of the rate of feed a portion of which circular path lies substantially in the first mentioned path, a guide extending generally transversely of the first mentioned path mounted to move with the first member, a second member for acting on the strip and the like mounted to reciprocate in the guide, and means causing the second member to reciprocate in the guide and move generally in the direction of the first mentioned path generally in unison with the first member and to move substantially into the first mentioned path substantially simultaneously with the first member to engage the strip and the like between said first and second members whereby the strip is moved. with said membersduring.

a portion of their movement and is drawn through the. feeding means at a speed in excess of the rate of-feed and overcoming the effect of the retarding means,

3. Apparatus for treating rapidly moving strip and the like comprising continuously operable rotating means feeding strip in a path, release means in the continuously operable means whereby the strip material can be drawn freely through the feeding means at a speed greater than the rate of feed, brake means on the continuously operable feed means acting thereon to prevent free rotation of the continuously operable means,v a first member for acting on the strip and the like mounted to operate in a circular path at a peripheral speed in excess of the rate of feed a portion of which circular path lies substantially in the first mentioned path, a guide extending generally transversely of the first mentioned path mounted to move with the first member, a second member for acting on the strip and the like mounted to reciprocate in the guide and means causing the second member to reciprocate in the guide and move generally in the direction of the first mentioned path generally in unison with the fiirst memher and to move substantially into the first mentioned path substantially simultaneously with the first member to engage'the strip and the like between said first and second members whereby the strip is moved with said members during a portion of their movement and is drawn through the feeding means at a speed in excess of the rate of feed.

'4. Apparatus for treating rapidly moving strip and the like comprising continuously operable rotating means feeding strip and the like in a path, release means in the continuously operable means whereby the strip material can be drawn freely through the feeding means at a speed greater than the rate of feed, retarding means acting on the continuously operable means to limit free rotation of the continuously operable means, a floating frame surrounding the path of strip travel, a first member for acting on said strip mounted in said frame, eccentric drive means acting on said frame to operate it to cause the first member to operate in a circular path at a peripheral speed in excessof the rate of feed, a portion of which circular path lies substantially in the first mentioned path, a guide-in said frame extending generally transversely of the first mentioned path mounted to move with the first member, a second member for acting on the strip and the like mounted to reciprocate in the guide, and means causing the second member to reciprocate in the guide and move generally in the direction of the first mentioned path generally in unison with the first member and to move substantially into the first mentioned path substantially simultaneously with the first member to engage the strip and the like between said first and second mem bers whereby the strip is moved with said members during a portion of their movement and is drawn through the feeding means at a speed in excess of the rate of feed and overcoming the effect of the retarding means.

, 5. Apparatus for treating rapidly moving strip and the like comprising continuously operable rotating means feeding strip and the like in a path, release means in the continuously operable means whereby the strip material can be drawn freely through the feeding means at a speed greater than the rate of feed, retarding means acting on the continuously operable means to limit free rotation of the continuously operablemeans, a floating frame surrounding the vpath of strip travel on the exit side of the feeding means, rotary eccentric means causing the top and bottom of the frame to move in identical spaced apart circles on opposite sides of the path of strip travel, drive means simultaneously driving the eccentric means and the continuously operable means, said eccentric means being driven at a peripheral speed greater than that of the continuously operable means, a first member for acting on the strip mounted in the frame on one side of the path of travel, guideways on the frame transverse to the path of'strip travel, a second member for acting on the strip mounted to reciprocate in the guideways, and means causing the second member to reciprocate in the guideways and move generally in the direction of the path of strip travel generally in unison with the first member to engage the-strip between said first and second members whereby the strip is moved-with said members during a portion of their movement and is drawn through the feeding means at a speed in excess of the rate of feed and overcoming the effect of the retarding means.

6. Apparatus for treating rapidly moving strip and ing frame surrounding the path of strip travel on the exit side of the feeding means spaced rotary eccentric means acting on the frame to cause it to move in a circle whose radius is the length of the throw of the eccentric, drive means simultaneously driving the eccentric means and the continuously operable means at two different peripheral speeds of which the eccentric speed is greater, a first member for acting on the strip mounted in the frame on one side of the path of strip travel, guideways on the frame transverse to the path of strip travel, a second member for acting on the strip mounted to reciprocate in the guideways, and means causing the second member to reciprocate in the guideways and move generally in the direction of the path of strip travel generally in unison with the first member to engage the strip between said first and second members whereby the strip is moved with said members during a portion of their movement and is drawn through the feeding means at a speed in excess of the rate of feed and overcoming the effect of the retarding means.

7. Apparatus for treating rapidly moving strip and the like comprising continuously operable rotating means feeding strip and the like in a path, an overrunning coupling in the continuously operable means whereby the strip material can be drawn freely through the feeding means at a speed greater than the rate of feed, brake means on the continuously operable means acting thereon to prevent free rotation of the continuously operable means, a floating frame surrounding the path of strip travel on the exit side of the feeding means spaced rotary eccentric means acting on the frame to cause it to move in a circle whose radius is the length of the throw of the eccentric, drive means simultaneously driving the eccentric means and the continuously operable means at two different peripheral speeds of which the eccentric speed is greater, a first member for acting on the strip mounted in the frame on one side of the path of strip travel, guide ways on the frame transverse to the path of strip travel, a second member for acting on the strip mounted to reciprocate in the guideways and means causing the second member to reciprocate in the guideways and move generally in the direction of the path of strip travel generally in unison with the first member to engage the strip between said first and second members whereby the strip is moved with said members during a portion of their movement and is drawn through the feeding means at a speed in excess of the rate of feed.

8. Apparatus for treating rapidly moving strip and the like comprising continuously operable rotating means feeding strip material and the like in a path, a first member for acting on the strip mounted to operate in a circular path at a peripheral speed in excess of the rate of feed, a portion of which circular path lies substantially in the first mentioned path, a guide extending generally transversely of the first mentioned path mounted to move with the first member, a second member for acting on the strip and the like mounted to reciprocate in the guide,

means causing the second member to reciprocate in the guide and move generally in the direction of the first mentioned path generally in unison with the first member and to move substantially into the first mentioned path substantially simultaneously with the first member to engage the strip and the like between said first and second members whereby the strip is moved with said members during a portion of their movement and is drawn through thefeeding means at a speed in excess of the rate of feed, drive means simultaneously driving the first member and the continuously operable means at two dififerent peripheral speeds of which the speed of the first member is greater, an overrunning coupling between the drive means and the continuously operable means whereby strip may be freely drawn through the continuously operable means while engaged between the first and second members and retarding means acting on the continuously operable means to limit free rotation of the continuously operable means.

9. Apparatus for treating rapidly moving strip and the like comprising continuously operable rotating means feeding strip material and the like in a path, a first member for acting on the strip mounted to operate in a circular path at a peripheral speed in excess of the rate of feed, a portion of which circular path lies substantially in the first mentioned path, a guide extending generally transversely of the first mentioned path mounted to move with the first member, a second member for acting on the strip and the like mounted to reciprocate in the guide, means causing the second member to reciprocate in the guide and move generally in the direction of the first mentioned path generally in unison with the first member and to move substantially into the first mentioned path substantially simultaneously with the first member to engage the strip and the like between said first and second members whereby the strip is moved with said members during a portion of their movement and is drawn through the feeding means at a speed in excess of the rate of feed, drive means simultaneously driving the first member and the continuously operable means at two different peripheral speeds of which the speed of the first member is greater, and overrunning coupling between the drive means and the continuously operable means whereby strip may be freely drawn through the continuously operable means while engaged between the first and second members and drag brake means applying retarding force on the continuously operable means to limit rotation of the continuously operable means to rotation caused by the drive means and the pull of the first and second members.

10. Apparatus for treating rapidly moving strip and the like comprising continuously operable rotating means feeding strip material and the like in a path, release means in the continuously operable means whereby the strip material may be drawn freely through the feeding means at a speed greater than the rate of feed, retarding means acting on the continuously operable means to limit free rotation of the continuously operable means, means intermittently acting on the strip and drawing the strip through the continuously operable means at a speed in excess of the rate of feed, means driving the intermittently acting means at a substantially constant rate and connections between the intermittently acting means and the continuously operable means whereby the continuously operable means are driven simultaneously through the intermittently acting means.

11. Apparatus for treating rapidly moving strip and the like comprising continuously operable rotating means feeding strip material and the like in a path, release means in the continuously operable means whereby the strip material may be drawn freely through the feeding means at a speed greater than the rate of feed, brake means on the continuously operable means acting thereon to prevent free rotation of the continuously operable 8 means, means intermittently acting on the strip and drawing the strip through the continuously operable means at a speed in excess of the rate of feed, means driving the intermittently acting means at a substantially constant rate and connections between the intermittently acting means and the continuously operable means whereby the continuously operable means are driven simultaneously through the intermittently acting means.

12. Apparatus for treating rapidly moving strip and the like comprising continuously operable rotating means feeding strip material and the like in a path, release means in the continuously operable means whereby the strip material may be drawn freely through the feeding means at a speed greater than the rate of feed, retarding means acting on the continuously operable means to limit free rotation of the continuously operable means, a first member for acting on the strip and the like mounted to operate in a circular path at a peripheral speed in excess of the rate of feed a portion of which circular path lies substantially in the first mentioned path, a guide extending generally transversely of the first mentioned path mounted to move with the first member, a second member for acting on the strip and the like mounted to reciprocate in the guide, means causing the second member to reciprocate in the guide and move generally in the direction of the first mentioned path generally in unison with the first member and to move substantially into the first mentioned path substantially simultaneously with the first member to engage the strip and the like between said first and second members whereby the strip is moved with said members during a portion of their movement and is drawn through the feeding means at a speed in excess of the rate of feed, and drive means connected to the first and second members to drive them in unison and connections between one of the first and second members and the continuously operable means whereby the continuously operable means are driven through said one of the first and second members simultaneously with the movement of the first and second member.

13. Apparatus for treating rapidly moving strip and the like comprising continuously operable rotating means feeding strip material and the like in a path, release means in the continuously operable means whereby the strip material may be drawn freely through the feeding means at a speed greater than the rate of feed, retarding means acting on the continuously operable means to limit free rotation of the continuously operable means, a first member for acting on the strip and the like mounted to operate in a circular path at a peripheral speed in excess of the rate of feed a portion of which circular path lies substantially in the first mentioned path, a guide extending generally transversely of the first mentioned path mounted to move with the first member, a second member for acting on the strip and the like mounted to reciprocate in the guide, means causing the second member to reciprocate in the guide and move generally in the direction of the first mentioned path generally in unison with the first member and to move substantially into the first mentioned path substantially simultaneously with the first member to engage the strip and the like between said first and second members whereby the strip is-moved with said members during a portion of their movement and is drawn through the feeding means at a speed in excess of the rate of feed, and means driving the first and second members, connections between one of the first and second members and the continuously operable means whereby the continuously operable means and first and second members are driven simultaneously and means acting on said connections to vary the relative speeds of rotation of the continuously operable means with respect to the first and second member.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Brooks Nov. 4,1890 Meisel Mar. 22, 1898 Swift Mar. 5, 1907 Trump May 26, 1931 10 Behrens Nov. 18, 1941 Hallden June 23, 1953 Eaton Oct. 26, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Jan. 30, 1932

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