Guild International Inc.

Michael S Wheeler

Orst P Kurylo

Lee Kothera

A strip accumulator for supporting a continuous length of strip material includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced stationary idler rolls for supporting an inner bundle of convolutions of the strip material on edge and an outer rotatable table surrounding the stationary idler rolls for supporting an outer bundle of such strip convolutions on edge. The upper surfaces of the stationary idler rolls are at a height above the table support surface for ease of transfer of the convolutions of the inner bundle from the stationary idler rolls to the table as the convolutions of the inner bundle expand during filling of the accumulator with strip material. Also, the height difference between the upper surfaces of the stationary idler rolls and the support surface of the table is such that a lead-in of the strip material from the outer bundle to the inner bundle is sufficiently angled to cause the convolutions of the outer bundle to slide up onto the stationary idler rolls during both mill match operation when the rate of infeed of the strip material to the accumulator matches the rate of outfeed of the strip material from the accumulator and during a joining mode when movement of the incoming strip material is interrupted to permit a supply of strip material to be replenished externally of the accumulator while the strip material is still being withdrawn from the accumulator.

Strip accumulators

A strip accumulator for supporting a continuous length of strip material includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced stationary idler rolls for supporting an inner bundle of convolutions of the strip material on edge and an outer rotatable table surrounding the stationary idler rolls for supporting an outer bundle of such strip convolutions on edge. During overspeed filling of the accumulator, lifters are activated to facilitate transfer of the convolutions from the inner bundle to the outer bundle. Circumferentially spaced, radially extending skid bars may be provided on the upper surface of the rotatable table to reduce drag on the strip material during such transfer of the strip material from the stationary idler rolls to the rotatable table during overspeed filling of the accumulator. When the accumulator is filled to the desired capacity, the lifters are lowered out of the way so as not to interfere with the smooth transfer of the convolutions from the outer bundle to the inner bundle. Relatively short rods or bars are provided in the gap between the rotatable table and stationary idler rolls to prevent irregular or bent strip from getting hung up in the gap during transfer of the strip material from the rotatable table to the stationary idler rolls.

Strip accumulator

Strip joining apparatus for joining the ends of two metal strips in overlapping relation includes a shear assembly mounted for indexing movement from a remote location to a first shear position for shearing an end of one of the strips and a second position for shearing an end of antoher strip which is located further from the remote location than the first shear position by a distance corresponding to the desired overlap between the sheared strip ends. Different gauging or stop surfaces are used for locating the shear assembly in the first and second shear positions. Also, the end of the strip that is sheared at the first shear position is moved out of the way during movement of the shear to the second shear position so as not to interfere with the shearing of the other stirp at the second shear position.

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Chagrin Falls, OH, United States of America

Michael S Wheeler